The Council is on recess but in many instances, this time is when the WORK begins. The legislative schedule has cleared up and my team and I are working on outreach, engagement, and plans for the Fall. There are several events taking place this weekend and next week that I encourage residents to take advantage of. The full list is further down in the newsletter, but here are some that are right around the corner:
Join the DC Public Library for the Summer Sidewalk Dance Party at MLK Library Sunday, July 30, from 2pm-5pm: Don't miss out on the ultimate throwback! Get ready to groove to the best retro jams from the 60's - 90's, Personal chairs are permitted. Visit DCPL’s website for additional information.
National Building Museum’s “Look Here: Ward Days”: As part of the Washington, D.C. community, the National Building Museum invites residents of each D.C. Ward to visit the Summer Block Party installation, Look Here, with free admission to all exhibitions during your specific Ward Day. For more details, visit the Museum’s website. Team Henderson will be there to welcome you on August 3 from 10am-12pm.
Project Create Arts Center presents: Family First Fridays Art Therapy: Friday, August 4, from 4pm-6pm at Project Create Arts Center (2208 MLK Jr. Ave, SE). Join art therapist, Anna Hailstone, as she leads the Family First Friday Art Therapy dinner and workshop. Families will create an underwater-themed project: a family aquarium! For more information and to register, visit the event’s website.
SAVE THE DATE- Saturday, August 12, from 10am-2pm. Maternal Health Resource Fair at Bard Early College High School: Team Henderson, in partnership with several community organizations, is hosting a Maternal Health Fair. Tell all your mom, community mom, and caregiver networks. There will be activities for children, as well as refreshments, gift bags, and more! More information will be available next week.
This newsletter is full of activities, events, and grant opportunities. I recognize that many summer camps are ending or coming to an end next week, which means many of us will have a house full of children who need to be entertained. The Department of Parks and Recreation has planned engaging, free activities for residents of all ages and abilities. Many of these programs will continue into the fall months. Please use them and other agencies, such as the DC Public Library as a resource for you and your family. As always, our office is open to guide you to the cornucopia of resources available to all District residents.
Prior to the start of recess, Councilmember Henderson introduced two new bills this past week:
The Automatic Retirement Savings Act of 2023 would establish a Retirement Savings Board which would manage a universally available and voluntary Retirement Savings Program for employees of private businesses who are not offered a retirement plan through their workplace and for certain self-employed individuals. Employees would have 3% of their earnings automatically deducted from their wages to contribute to the program unless the employee makes an election not to contribute or to contribute a different amount. These accounts would also be portable if a participating employee changes jobs because the accounts would be managed by the District, not the employer.
Require Institutions of higher education in the District to retain a confidential resource advisor (CRA) to provide emergency and ongoing support to reporting parties at institutions of higher education;
Require amnesty protections for reporting parties of sexual misconduct for violations of an institution’s student conduct policy if the violation occurred immediately before, during, or immediately after the incident of sexual misconduct, unless the violation put an immediate and severe risk to the health and safety of others;
Require institutions to facilitate mandatory annual sexual misconduct trainings for all students with information about consent, the impact of drugs and alcohol on an individual’s ability to consent, procedures following sexual misconduct, contact information for the CRA, bystander intervention strategies, the rights of reporting parties, and the institution’s responsibilities regarding no-contact orders, orders of protection, or restraining orders;
Require institutions of higher education personnel who are involved in an institution of higher education’s investigative and disciplinary process regarding sexual misconduct to receive annual training in handling sexual misconduct complaints and in the operations of the institution’s disciplinary process;
Require that CRAs, Title IX coordinators, and an institution of higher education’s public safety personnel be educated in trauma-informed responses, and investigators receive annual training on conducting investigations using trauma-informed responses;
Establish minimum criteria for institutions’ sexual misconduct policies;
Allow institutions to grant students who report experiencing sexual misconduct to specific institution personnel a waiver from minimum GPA, credit hour load, or other academic requirements or disciplinary record standards if the reporting student consents for a CRA, Title IX coordinator, public safety personnel, or local law enforcement to confirm to the institution the report of sexual misconduct, and
Require institutions of higher education to prepare and submit to the Higher Education Licensure Commission a report containing data about sexual misconduct on campus, to submit to the Commission and, starting in 2026, publish on its website the results of the online survey for campus safety that will be biennially administered.
Councilmember Henderson chats with Team Rayceen Last week, Councilmember Henderson was interviewed by Rayceen Pendarvis and Team Rayceen. They discussed the importance of students receiving their routine vaccinations, environmental and health issues related to poor housing conditions, the upcoming Maternal Health Resource Fair on August 12 at Bard High School, traffic safety concerns, as well as the construction and opening of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center. Watch the full interview.
Deanwood Radio Broadcast Journalism Program Councilmember Henderson had the privilege of meeting and conversing with the students from Mr. Salih Williams’ Journalism program, operated out of Deanwood Recreation Center. The students asked tough questions about supporting unhoused neighbors, mental health supports for parents and caregivers, the opioid and fentanyl crisis, and how to authentically engage younger and teen residents. The Councilmember encouraged the students to testify and to hold their ANCs, Councilmembers, and other elected officials accountable.
Constituent Services Corner
Late Night Hype continues this Friday: On Friday, July 28, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hosting the next installment of Late Night Hype, at Rosedale Recreation Center (107 Gales St., NE), from 6pm-11pm. Late Night Hype is a nighttime carnival-style event featuring a bounce house, music, food, video games, free haircuts, hair braiding, manicures, arts and crafts, and more. It is fun for the entire family. For additional information, visit DPR’s website.
Bring the family to Kids World, July 28-30, from noon-8pm at Franklin Park: Kids World is a free, fully immersive experience designed for youth ages 3-15. Enjoy hands-on science activities, story time, arts and crafts, fitness fun, and learn from kid entrepreneurs at Franklin Park (1315 I St. NW). For more information and to register, visit the Downtown DC BID’s website.
Apply for the Enhanced Mobility Program: The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) will conduct a solicitation for applications for the Federal Transit Administration’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) grant program. Applications will be accepted August 1 through September 30, 2023. To find out more information and to apply, visit the COG’s website.
Apply for Capital Area Food Bank’s Client Leadership Council by September 1: Recruitment has begun for the 4th Annual Client Leadership Council, apaid, ten-month advocacy training program for people who are experiencing food insecurity in the Greater Washington DC Area. The goal of the CLC is to empower individuals to shape policy, inform the media, and influence food bank programming by sharing their lived experience and becoming advocates. All members are paid a living wage stipend for their time, including any transportation costs to and from the food bank. The program curriculum is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information and to apply, visit the Capital Area Food Bank's website.
SAVE THE DATE- Saturday, August 12, from 10am-2pm. Maternal Health Resource Fair at Bard Early College High School: Team Henderson, in partnership with several community organizations, is hosting a Maternal Health Fair. Tell all your mom, community mom, and caregiver networks. There will be activities for children, as well as refreshments, gift bags, and more! More information will be available next week.
Ward 4 eCYCLE event this Saturday, July 29, from 9am-1pm: Drop off your old TV, computer, and other electronics, free of charge. The collection vehicle is expected to be south of Petworth Farmers Market on Taylor St NW east of 9th St NW. The Department of Energy and the Environment hosts these events throughout the year. For more details and accepted items, visit DOEE’s eCYCLE website.
Hyundai Anti-Theft Mobile Clinic: The multi-day clinic will provide District motorists who own or lease certain Hyundai makes and models with the latest anti-theft technology. This technology, which takes less than an hour to install and will be installed by on-site Hyundai technicians, will come at no cost to residents and will be available starting Thursday, July 27 through Monday, July 31 from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m, at RFK Parking Lot 8, located at 2400 Independence Avenue SE, with no appointment necessary. For additional information and to see which models are eligible for the technology upgrade, visit the Mayor’s website.
Join the DC Public Library for the Summer Sidewalk Dance Party at MLK Library Sunday, July 30, from 2pm-5pm: Don't miss out on the ultimate throwback! Get ready to groove to the best retro jams from the 60's - 90's, Personal chairs are permitted. Visit DCPL’s website for additional information.
Medicaid Renewal, Don’t Wait to Update: On April 1, 2023, all DC residents with health coverage through Medicaid, Alliance, or the Immigrant Children’s Program must renew their coverage. Please visit the District Direct website to update your address, phone number, and/or email so that the Department of Healthcare Finance (DHCF) knows where to send your Medicaid renewal letter. If you require assistance, please call the Public Benefits Center at 202-727-5355.
Celebrate Disability Pride Month at Sycamore & Oak with Express Out Loud, Saturday, July 29, at 1pm: In honor of Disability Pride Month, join the Mayor’s Office of Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing and the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs for an open-mic event highlighting and celebrating the Deaf Disabled communities with storytelling, poetry, and other artistic performances. Come and express out loud! To register, visit the event’s website.
Greater Washington’s Black Restaurant Week runs until July 30: Explore Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, and more. There are more than 100 local restaurants, lounges, and bakeries offering specials. For a full list of all participating establishments, visit the Black Restaurant Weeks’ website.
Join the Metropolitan Police Department for National Night Out: National Night Out is an annual event, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, that takes place on the first Tuesday in August. Each of the seven police districts will host an event in their respective areas. For more information, visit MPD’s website.
Children’s Legacy Theatre (CLT) invites you to Shades of Resilience: This production, held on August 2nd & 3rd, is creatively headed by Wards 7 & 8 teens, featuring student-written plays, student-led design, and student management. For more information, visit CLT’s website.
Attend the Summer Youth Employment Program’s SYEP Showcase, The Awakening- A Variety Show, on August 3, from 1:30pm-4pm. Comprised of four programs, Drama, Film/Photography, Architectural Design, and Robotics. The participants from the Drama class and Film/Photography will be displaying their final projects. Our Drama class will be presenting THE AWAKENING: A collection of poems, monologues, and scenes written, conceived, and performed by the SYEP Summer Drama Ensemble. For more information, visit the event’s website.
Project Create Arts Center presents: Family First Fridays Art Therapy: Friday, August 4, from 4pm-6pm at Project Create Arts Center (2208 MLK Jr. Ave, SE). Join art therapist, Anna Hailstone, as she leads the Family First Friday Art Therapy dinner and workshop. Families will create an underwater-themed project: a family aquarium! For more information and to register, visit the event’s website.
DEADLINE EXTENDED! Calling all Artists! Apply for the Juried Exhibition Grant (JEG): The Commission on Arts and Humanities (CAH) is offering a funding program for local artists. The Juried Exhibition Grant (JEG) opened earlier this month seeking applications from DC artists who’ve made artwork that reflects on and engages with the past 60 years of social and political progress in the District and beyond. This exhibition will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and art works that were inspired by its promises. Applications are currently open; apply by August 14 at 9pm. Click here for more information.
Provide feedback on the OST Strategic Plan: The Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Commission) is seeking feedback from programs, school staff, and families on the draft 2023-2026 OST Strategic Plan. The plan contains details on district-wide priorities related to out of school time programming including, but not limited to, expanding afterschool and summer opportunities and addressing barriers for students with special needs. Click here for more information.
Office of Unified Communication (OUC) Junior Academy Fall Cohort application: The next cohort for the Junior Academy will begin on September 21, 2023! The program will consist of 5 once a week sessions aiming to familiarize youth with OUC career opportunities. They are accepting interested forms on a rolling basis. To learn more information, visit their website to complete the form.
DPW's trash collection gets an earlier start: Due to constant high temperatures & poor air quality, DPW will begin trash & recycling collections at 6:00 am until September 1st. Please place your trash and recyclables outside the night before the scheduled collection. For more information, visit DPW's website.
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:30am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.
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