What does affordable housing look like in the Greater Washington region?

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

To be considered affordable, a household needs to spend less than 30% of its income on housing costs. As you can imagine, that’s really hard to do in our region.

In WRAG’s new installment of our What Funders Need to Know series, we take a detailed look at local housing – what it costs, how transportation factors in, what it means to live in different parts of our region. Then we discuss what our future looks like if we don’t fix this problem, and what funders can do to get involved.

COMMUNITY | The Consumer Health Foundation’s president and CEO, Yanique Redwood, is highlighted in the new issue of Bethesda Magazine as a rising star who is making a difference in our region at a young age. The magazine talked with Yanique about what drives her (Bethesda, May 2013):

[She] was inspired to pursue a career in public health after learning about a shameful chapter in America’s past. Beginning in 1932, the Tuskegee syphilis experiment followed the disease’s progression in poor, African-American sharecroppers over a 40-year period without ever providing treatment.
…
A tearful Redwood discussed it with her professor, who encouraged her “to use my anger and do something about this injustice.”

EQUITY | The recession was bad news for just about everybody, but a new report from the Urban Institute finds that the wealth gap between non-Hispanic white Americans and minorities widened considerably during the downturn. As NYU professor Darrick Hamilton puts it, “It was already dismal…it got even worse.” (NYT, 4/29)

AGING
- Yesterday, hundreds of older District residents rallied for increased spending on senior services in the 2014 budget. (WaPo, 4/30)

- The AARP Foundation has a great series of short videos featuring experts discussing senior isolation. (AARP)

EDUCATION | Different reports have claimed to prove that D.C. education reform has been either a success or a failure, but Greater Greater Education says that nobody is even reading the source data correctly. (GGE, 4/30)

Happy 80th birthday to Willie Nelson! If you ever get a chance to see him live, I recommend taking the opportunity. He’s a lot of fun – and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. I especially love his cover of City of New Orleans. Whoever uploaded the slideshow to accompany the song has an unfortunately literal mind.

On an unrelated note (unless Willie is an intergalactic musician), check out these photos of a massive, gigantic, humongous, gargantuan, other dramatic adjective storm on Saturn. The color-corrected photos make it look like the sixth planet from the sun is actually a gateway to a terrifying hell.

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Education news from across the region

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

On Friday, we briefly noted that Prince George’s County Interim School Superintendent Alvin L. Crawley announced his resignation, which will end his tenure about a month before his contract was scheduled to expire. The reasons for his departure are unclear, but the Board of Education alluded to “the passage of the recent legislation changing the governance structure of our school system.”

As County Executive Rushern Baker searches for a permanent replacement for Crawley – the position’s new title will be chief executive officer – the Post looks at school performance in Prince George’s County. Despite measurable gains in the last five years, the county still lags behind state and regional averages. Demographics might have a lot to do with it (WaPo, 4/29):

Even though Prince George’s is one of the most affluent majority-black jurisdictions in the country, many middle-class families send their children to private schools. Of the 200 schools in the county, 135 contain a student population where 50 percent or more are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, a measure of poverty.

- Big changes to summer school for elementary- and middle-schoolers in the District. Starting this year, summer school will be by invitation only. Changes to the program are designed to help students who are most likely to benefit from it, but students who are too far behind are being cut loose. (WaPo, 4/29)

So, we’re left with academic Darwinism. In the meantime, it’s not hard to imagine what will happen to the children who need the most help.

Related for WRAG Members: Join us this Thursday for a briefing on D.C.’s summer youth programming. [More info.]

- On the other hand, D.C. tops nation in preschool spending, though spending in Maryland and Virginia is declining. (Examiner/WaPo, 4/29)

- And finally, Kaya Henderson, chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, wrote an op-ed for the Post that makes a really great point about the media. She says that the school system is making big gains, but you might not realize it with the media only focusing on drama (WaPo, 4/29):

These investments do not generate headlines. They do not create controversy. They do not fit neatly into the box of what others think of as school reform. But they will result in student achievement and in more families choosing DCPS.

REGION | If you’ve ever wondered how our region ranks against others for economic performance, well then today is your lucky day! The answer is fifth, according to the Milken Institute’s index of best performing cities – and we’ve shot up from a puny 17th place in last year’s ranking. (Atlantic, 4/29) Very nice. High five!

- We’re also the ninth most ozone-polluted region in the country. (WAMU, 4/28)

GRANTMAKING | In 2010, WRAG convened members for a Project Streamline workshop  on reducing the paperwork burden on grantees. A number of WRAG members subsequently went on to streamline their application and reporting processes. We recently checked in with CareFirst, which has substantially revised its grant reports. (Daily WRAG, 4/29)

Well that was a lot of education news for one day. Do you feel like you’ve learned something? Good! Because now you have to test your knowledge of famous literary titles. Can you pick out the mistakes here?

Apparently we’re in for a wet week. Here are two songs that come to mind – Sugar Magnolia, in which blossoms bloom, and Africa, wherein the rains are blessed.

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WRAG members continue to streamline

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Rebekah Seder, Program Manager

Back in 2010, WRAG convened our members to look at ways funders can adjust their application and reporting processes to reduce the administrative burden on grantseekers. This sector-wide effort, called Project Streamline, is intended to help funders right-size their applications and reports. This way nonprofits don’t have to spend an inordinate amount of staff time and resources applying for and reporting on grants relative to the size of the actual grant. Over the past three years, we’ve heard from a number of members about changes, big and small, that Project Streamline has inspired them to implement. Here’s one member’s story.

Julie Wagner, grants program manager at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, attended the streamlining program. The message resonated with her and her colleagues, who were already thinking about ways to streamline their processes due to the sheer volume of funding requests they receive each year.

With the Project Streamline recommendations in mind, CareFirst brought in a consultant to help the staff analyze their reporting process and determine how best to improve it. Up until this point, CareFirst left their reporting requirements somewhat open-ended. Consequently, from some grantees they would receive 100 page reports, and from others, just a few short paragraphs. Wading through long reports and following up on too-short ones took up a lot of staff time, and the lack of clear guidelines didn’t help the grantees reflect on their successes or challenges.

CareFirst developed a one-page form that meets their due diligence needs and makes the process simpler and more straight forward for grantees. The form asks for the purpose of the original grant, the specific objectives, and how the organization did in achieving those objectives. In addition, CareFirst implemented a tiered reporting structure in which large grants are reported on quarterly, medium grants semi-annually, and small grants annually.

Similarly, CareFirst went from having monthly phone calls with groups who receive large grants to having quarterly calls. Not only has this lessened the burden on both CareFirst and their grantees, it just makes more sense. Due to the nature of their work, some of the programs that CareFirst funds experience monthly fluctuations that belie a true understanding of progress toward the grant objectives. Positive change is much easier to show over a longer period of time.

CareFirst has committed to making the application and reporting process for their grantees as manageable as possible, and improving their procedures is a continual process. Here is another way funders have streamlined their grants processes. Have you implemented any of the Project Streamline recommendations? Let us know!

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C. Marie Henderson named new head of The Community Foundation for Montgomery County

April 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

COMMUNITY | We’re excited to welcome C. Marie Henderson to the WRAG community! She has been named to lead The Community Foundation for Montgomery County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. Marie comes to the new post after serving as executive director at Interfaith Works.

Terri Lee Freeman, president of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region and chair of WRAG’s board, announced the appointment by saying:

Marie is a creative, energetic, and passionate leader who is committed to encouraging people to learn as much as possible about their community.

EQUITY/EDUCATION | In her latest column, Judith Sandalow writes about the huge disparities in higher education preparation between low-income and moderate/high-income students – and what we can do to address them. (HuffPo, 4/25)

EDUCATION | As a multihyphenate millionaire, high-school dropout Mark Wahlberg might be a bit of an ironic choice to deliver messages about staying in school. Still, it’s pretty cool that he is using his fame to encourage T.C. Williams students to stick with their education. You might say that he’s sending them Good Vibrations. (WaPo, 4/25)

NONPROFITS
- Pablo Eisenberg remembers Common Cause president Robert Edgar, who died suddenly on Tuesday. Eisenberg outlines an impressive career of service and says of Edgar, “In a nonprofit arena where egos so often dominate, Bob’s style was one of collaboration and coalition building. He inspired trust and confidence in his leadership.” (Chronicle, 4/25)

- How to Impress Donors With Your Programs in a Tough Economy (Chronicle, 4/25) Or you could try magic. I impress people by pulling dimes from their ears (quarters are worth too much).

WRAG | Check out our newest Philanthropy Fellow interview with Maggie Croushore, who served as a fellow with the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. WRAG Members: Don’t forget! The deadline to apply for a Philanthropy Fellow for Fall 2013 is coming up. More information here. (Daily, 4/25)

LOCAL | “Who lives in a monument under the sea? Spongebob Squa….” Oops, sorry. The Capital Weather Gang has some visualizations of what the District could look like if some of the more dire global warming predictions are realized. (WaPo, 4/25) In a few thousand years, the city might even be a submerged mystery like this one.

Have you seen the new $100 bill? It’s pretty spiffy. And, it has the word “SPECIMEN” printed all over it! Presumably, that makes counterfeiting nearly impossible…or maybe it is because the picture a non-legal tender sample. It would be fun to request a withdrawal in “Benjamin Franklin specimens” though.

On a similarly historical note, the tradition of the presidential library is a really great one. The new library of George W. Bush, whose place in history has improved considerably since he left office, was dedicated today. Here are some pictures of the beautiful building – and some of the ceremony, where his father wore amazing socks.

- Christian

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Philanthropy Fellows in the Field: Reflections from a Fellow

April 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Maggie Croushore served as a Philanthropy Fellow with the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. She is currently completing her Master’s in Public Policy, focusing on education policy and nonprofit management. We spoke with her recently about her experience working at the Marriott Foundation and how it has complemented her graduate degree.

WRAG Members: Don’t forget! The deadline to apply for a Philanthropy Fellow for Fall 2013 is coming up. More information here.

Tell us about the work you’ve done as a Philanthropy Fellow.

I have had the opportunity to work at the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation for almost two years. I have worked on numerous projects ranging from reviewing proposals for Board meetings to researching and helping with the development of the foundation’s education strategy. I have also had the unique opportunity to attend meetings and briefings with funders throughout the region, especially surrounding issues of education reform, as well as visiting the foundation’s many extraordinary grantees.

How do you think you have benefited from participating in the program, particularly in relation to your coursework at UMD?

I have benefited in countless ways from the program already and foresee myself continuing to benefit throughout my career. Prior to attending Maryland, I was a teacher in D.C. for four years—two years as a Teach for America corps member and two more years teaching at KIPPDC: KEY Academy. Therefore, it was an interesting experience to be able to see education reform from a different lens. I was privileged to sit at the table with people I had long admired for their dedication to education in D.C. This experience has opened new doors and involved me in important conversations that have allowed me to see nonprofits from an entirely new, and more comprehensive, perspective.

Being able to apply skills directly from my coursework to the workplace has been a powerful and rewarding way to learn. For example, one week I would be analyzing a case about a foundation board and the next week I was observing the board meeting of a major family foundation. In fact, I will never forget when a trustee asked me a question directly in a board meeting; it was a surreal moment. Luckily, I was prepared with an answer!

What are some of the skills and knowledge you’ve gained while working at Marriott?

I have had wonderful mentors at the Foundation with vast experience in the world of philanthropy. I have learned the importance of partnerships and collaboration. Many of the issues philanthropists are tackling today are challenging and complex; therefore, it is essential for funders to collaborate with each other and their nonprofit partners. Anne Gunsteens has provided such excellent leadership at Marriott, illustrating for me the power of true collaboration. I have also learned how to think critically about complex issues. As a teacher, I was used to thinking about social issues from a practitioner’s perspective; my work at the Foundation has allowed me to think more broadly. I have also learned how to analyze budgets and navigate GIFTS, two things I never knew I needed to know!

Tell us about something unexpected that you learned during your fellowship.

I had no idea how differently every foundation was organized and run. I quickly realized that no two foundations are the same; it is an incredibly diverse community. On the other hand, I learned that even though foundations may be different, they all share an incredible passion for the populations with which they collaborate.

Earlier this month, we featured interviews with WRAG members Tobi Printz-Platnick of the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and Amina Anderson of the Community Foundation for Prince George’s County about their experiences participating in the Philanthropy Fellows program, as well as with Charlie Cummings, a Philanthropy Fellow who is working at the Cafritz Foundation.

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A longer-term look at obesity could convince more legislators to support prevention policies

April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Obesity rates in the United States have doubled among adults over the last two decades – and tripled among kids in just one generation. The related health care spending is estimated to be as much as $210 billion annually.

Evidence-based obesity prevention strategies have been identified, but policymakers are hesitant to adopt these strategies because they don’t properly understand the cost-savings benefits. That’s partly because the Congressional Budget Office looks at obesity policies over a ten-year window. The cost savings actually accumulate, in huge numbers, over a longer period of time. So, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released a new report that maps out the savings over 75 years, a much longer period than the CBO considers. (RWJF, 4/24)

RACE | At the Council on Foundations conference this month, 26 foundations made a groundbreaking pledge to address issues facing boys and men of color in the United States. Tamara asked two local philanthropic leaders for their thoughts on the pledge – Nat Williams of the Hill-Snowdon Foundation, an expert on social justice, and Nicky Goren of The Women’s Foundation, who understands the value of a gender-specific philanthropic goal. (Daily, 4/24)

Related: Read the pledge here.

Related: City Paper highlights a massive racial disparity. A whopping 91 percent of marijuana charges in the District were against black residents. Over the last few years, the paper reports that “charges filed against blacks rose 6 percent and declined 10 percent for whites between 2005 and 2011.” To give some context, the number of white residents has increased as charges have decreased. (CP, 4/24)

GIVING | Walmart has become an increasingly influential philanthropic presence in our region over the last few years. The company has just announced that its total national giving last year, between the company and its foundation, exceeded $1 billion for the first time.

HEALTH | A new report finds that non-English speakers are at a disadvantage at D.C. pharmacies, even when language assistance is offered. New legislation calls for over-the-phone interpretation services. (WAMU, 4/24)

Aren’t non-native language speakers generally at a disadvantage in most situations in most countries? The phone-based solution seems like a simple but innovate solution, and a scalable one for other situations.

EDUCATION
- U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of top public high schools is out, and a lot of schools in the region made the list. Thomas Jefferson in Alexandria is ranked as the fourth best in the country. (WTOP, 4/24)

Related: The racial demographics at Thomas Jefferson has shifted significantly recently, which is quite relevant to the articles above about racial disparities. (WaPo, 4/22)

- Report claims Rhee’s reforms harmed D.C. schools (Examiner, 4/24)

TRANSIT | The Columbia Pike streetcar project seemed to hit a speed bump when it wasn’t included in the federal Small Start grant program  And speed bumps (or “humps” if you’re from New England) are probably really bad news for railed vehicles! But fear not, because Greater Greater Washington assures that the project is in good shape and may still get federal funds. (GGW, 4/24)

I was in a store yesterday and heard, for the first time, a song called Arizona by Paul Revere and The Raiders. It’s pretty catchy! Listen just once and I bet you’ll have the chorus stuck in your head.

Since we’re already (or only?) halfway through the week, here are two amusing things to keep you going. First, a list of 19 reasons that your day probably isn’t so bad. Let the page load fully so that the animations play. Second, liars claiming to be fans of fake bands for a Jimmy Kimmel segment.

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A new public-private infrastructure bank?

April 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

Federal City Council head Anthony Williams, who previously served for eight years as the District’s mayor, is leading conversations with both Mayor Vincent Gray and members of the D.C. Council about the potential development of a new, nonprofit D.C. Public-Private Development Trust (WBJ, 4/23):

The Federal City Council is lobbying D.C. leaders to create an infrastructure bank that would pool public and private dollars for critical capital and social projects without saddling the District with more debt — a groundbreaking idea that would, if adopted, transform how the city tackles its major development projects.

WRAG’s president, Tamara Copeland, is interested in learning more about the exploration of new ways to meet challenges facing our region. She says:

When Anthony Williams met with WRAG CEOs earlier this year, this wasn’t an idea that he shared, but it’s definitely an interesting one. As we think about the societal problems facing our region, it’s exciting to have new concepts for social financing on the table. WRAG will be monitoring these conversations as they move forward. How might philanthropy be a part of the social finance solution?

IMPACT | On a similar subject, Rebekah recaps our recent Brightest Minds event with the Strive Network’s Jeff Edmondson. He spoke to funders and local leaders about the concept of “collective impact” and its four key elements. (Daily, 4/23)

VOTE | For our readers who live in the District, don’t forget to vote in today’s special election for At-Large Councilmember! Here’s where to find your polling station.

Related: Housing is a big priority for WRAG – here’s where the candidates stand on the issue. (UT, 4/22)

HOUSING | According to a new report from the MacArthur Foundation, home ownership is a decreasingly essential component of the American Dream. About 70 percent of American adults believe that “it is less likely for families to build equity and wealth through home ownership today compared with two or three decades ago.” (Atlantic, 4/23)

AGING | In the Greater Washington region, Prince William County has seen the sharpest rise in residents 65 and older. Thanks to new developments aimed at attracting this cohort, the Post has labeled the county as “a regional retirement mecca, a small-scale version of Florida on the outskirts of Washington.” (WaPo, 4/23)

A few thoughts. First, how did “mecca” become a casual noun? Second, does this “version of Florida” include alligators, hurricanes, and sinkholes? Third, if it does, can we have some Disney theme parks to make up for that stuff? Thanks.

EDUCATION
- D.C. Education Advocates Seek More Funding For Adult Programs (WAMU, 4/23)

- Council questions push for special-ed students in D.C. public schools (WaPo, 4/23)

HEALTH | WRAG’s Health Working Group has been focused on supporting local implementation of the health care reform. Just a reminder that the National Health Law Program is hosting a webinar on the subject – Health Reform: An Overview – tomorrow. [Details and registration.]

 

As I was walking to lunch yesterday, one of the at-large candidates was unceremoniously standing in front of the grocery store greeting shoppers and handing out flyers. No staffers, no press – just a final push for a few more votes. That’s a really great work ethic and it made me confident in my vote.

In other news, did anyone downtown see the giant blue whale replica at Freedom Plaza yesterday? I only saw pictures, which reminded me of two things: my favorite Star Trek line and the Michael Jackson song from Free Willy.

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Strive’s Jeff Edmondson explains the power and the pitfalls of collective impact

April 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

By Rebekah Seder, Program Manager

All of us working in the social sector are concerned about the impact of our work. But, too often we work in isolation from others focused on the same problems or serving the same populations, stuck in our own silos. An enormous amount of public and private resources get thrown at issues without any real change — the so-called “spray and pray” approach. What if funders, nonprofits, government, and others concerned about a particular problem in their community came together around a common agenda, understood how their work aligned, adopted the same goals, and committed to doing their own work in the most effective ways possible?

This is the basic spirit of the “collective impact” approach. Jeff Edmondson, who spoke to local philanthropic and nonprofit leaders last week at our second Brightest Minds event, knows the ins and outs of collective impact better than anybody. As head of the Strive Partnership in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, he led a cradle-to-career initiative that has seen remarkable gains in student achievement, and now, as head of the Strive Network, he advises partnerships around the country on how to start and sustain effective collective impact initiatives.

The collective impact approach can be adopted for diverse issues in diverse places. There is no specific model to be followed. Rather, it is a framework with four key elements:

A shared community vision: All involved must agree on the specific goals that the initiative is working toward, and how they are going to move the dial on them. Choosing four or five outcomes that everyone can align around, assessing where you stand now in relation to those outcomes, and figuring out how to most effectively achieve them is difficult, but necessary to effect change. As Edmondson said, paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, you can’t find true north without a compass.

Evidence-based decision making: Decisions have to be guided by data. Data ensures transparency and accountability, and allows initiatives to report to the larger community where they are relative to their goals. Even more importantly, using data effectively allows stakeholders to see what approaches and interventions are working, and what needs to improve.

Collaborative action: Stakeholder engagement is key, and this is where collective impact can be especially hard and messy. Convincing funders, practitioners, and government to be transparent with their data – particularly when the data shows that things aren’t going right – requires a high level of trust among everyone involved.

Investment and sustainability: Moving a cross-sector agenda forward requires committed staff to serve as the, in Edmondson’s words, “chief cat herder.” A backbone organization is necessary to keep everyone on track, provide data analysis, and to serve as facilitator.

The widely read Stanford Social Innovation Review articles  about collective impact that highlight the work of the Strive Partnership, he says, are a “sanitized version of reality.” Creating the civic infrastructure to take on entrenched issues requires a high level of trust, a willingness to acknowledge and learn from past failures, and deep engagement and support from respected leaders. Collective impact isn’t simple or easy, but it does hold incredible potential to change our communities for the better.

You can check out Jeff Edmondson’s slides here.

Filed Under: WRAG events, WRAG Voices Tagged With: , , , ,

Putting a face on sequestration

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sequestration is easy to discuss in vague terms and big numbers, particularly for the policymakers whose lack of leadership allowed the cuts to be implemented. But we don’t frequently hear stories of how the budget cuts are affecting people on a personal level.

Today, the Post profiles Elmer Gilbert Winn Jr., a chronically-ill Fairfax resident whose nominal income has forced him to live in a friend’s apartment for more than a decade. Last year, Winn was offered a glimmer of hope when he was granted a housing voucher. But the sequester cruelly twisted his – and other low-income residents – plans (WaPo, 4/22):

The federal housing voucher Winn received in December, which he hoped to use to find his own place, was rescinded earlier this month by Fairfax officials, who cited the loss of $2.5 million in federal funds. Assistance for up to 150 homeless individuals or families, and others who had reached the top of Fairfax’s years-long waiting list to get a voucher, will be blocked in 2013, officials said.

PHILANTHROPY | The Chronicle covered last week’s Global Philanthropy Forum. Here are some of the takeaways – Data, Risk Aversion, and Social Investing Dominate Donors’ Concerns. (Chronicle, 4/19)

EDUCATION | WAMU interviewed DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson about allegations of cheating within the school system. The questions are anything but softballs. (WAMU, 4/22)

HEALTH | The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation partnered with the American Enterprise Institute to study market-based solutions to the Medicare funding crisis. A new report – Reforming the “800-Pound Gorilla of American Health Care” - was released late last week. (RWJF, 4/16)

Where did the term “800-pound gorilla” originate? Why not 1,000 pounds? Or 1,500 pounds? A gorilla of that size would be far more imposing.

EARTH DAY | Happy Earth Day, folks. It’s a great opportunity to do a little something to make the planet better. Pick up some trash. Do some gardening. Take public transit instead of driving. Punch an alien in the face. Just remember, we only get one planet – and we’re nowhere close to being able to get to a new one.

ARTS | For Mike Franklin, the art’s the thing in Hyattsville (WaPo, 4/20)

Happy Monday, everyone. The effects of last week’s various tragedies are still lingering (especially in the news), but hopefully we can get a bit of a fresh start today.

In honor of the successful launch of the Antares rocket yesterday, he are a few laughs to start your week: Ali G interviewing Buzz Aldrin. It’s a classic. 

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New report highlights the importance of civil legal aid

April 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Public Welfare Foundation, in partnership with the Kresge Foundation, has released a new report on civil legal aid titled Natural Allies: Philanthropy and Civil Legal Aid. We’ve written before about how civil legal aid is frequently confused with criminal law. This report has a great section that clarifies what civil legal aid is – and why it is a critical area for philanthropy to support:

Legal aid helps people solve problems…Tenants facing wrongful eviction; Homeowners facing foreclosure due to fraudulent schemes; Women who are victims of domestic violence; Veterans and military families struggling in civilian life; Consumers bankrupted by predatory lenders; Workers cheated out of wages or denied lawful benefits; Children who need a stable home or special education; Elderly whose economic security or health care is in jeopardy; Disabled people denied opportunities; Immigrants who work the lowest-wage jobs without benefits or contracts; Communities devastated by natural disasters…

Related: WRAG Board member and Public Welfare Foundation president Mary McClymont recently wrote an op-ed on this. (Daily, 4/18)

WORKFORCE | The Community Foundation’s Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative has launched an advocacy campaign around adult literacy in the District. They are encouraging the D.C. Council to fully fund the Pathways to Adult Literacy Fund. Sarah Oldmixon, who leads the collaborative, shared this with us:

Over 64,000 D.C. residents lack a high school diploma or its equivalent. Moreover, forthcoming changes to the GED and National External Diploma Program will require expanded nonprofit capacity to address the needs of adult learners, making expanded funding opportunities critical. A new initiative of the Adult and Family Education office in the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent for Education, the proposed Pathways to Adult Literacy Fund will help 1,000 District residents enhance their basic skills and earn a GED, high school diploma, or post-secondary credential.

This WAMU story helps demonstrate the importance of the funding. It feature the Academy of Hope and Southeast Ministry. (WAMU, 3/31)

The Community Foundation has a change.org portal for their effort, with talking points, action items, and recent news.

EDUCATION | A new report from the Walton Family Foundation finds that per pupil funding in the District is $13,000 higher for traditional public students than charter students. (Examiner, 4/18) Here’s the research, which actually finds similar disparities in other cities.

- Parents, activists say chancellor’s budget undermines D.C. schools (WaPo, 4/18)

TRANSIT | The Columbia Pike streetcar project didn’t get the federal funding it sought, but the project is pressing forward nonetheless. (WAMU, 4/18)

It’s been a bad week, right? The bombings, the Senate utterly failing at representing the will of the people, the factory explosion in Texas. Well, here’s something that might cheer you up: funny notes written by kids. Scroll down after reading the love note for a whole gallery of notes.

Also, check out these houses that have indoor slides! The pirate-themed one is especially cool.

- Christian

Filed Under: WRAG's "In the News" Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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