May 6, 2022
Dear Washingtonians,
Earlier this week, I stood shoulder to shoulder with health care workers, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and members of the DC Council to send a clear message: Washington, DC is a proud pro-choice city.
We know that in DC, the stakes of overturning Roe v. Wade are high—even if the court allows states to decide abortion policy, that won’t apply to DC. And we have seen before what happens when Congress intervenes with our ability to provide health care. Congress’s ban on needle exchange programs in the District was deadly.
And we also know that overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey is just the beginning. It is a decision will fall hardest on those with the fewest resources. And even in states that ban abortions—they will still happen, they just won’t be legal or safe.
The bottom line is this: Women in the United States of America, women everywhere, should have control over their own bodies.
A majority of Americans support a woman’s right to choose.
We cannot leave our children, our girls, a less free society than the one we were born into. We cannot build a society where our girls look to other, freer nations and wonder why they can’t have the same rights.
We need the Congress to act now. It is time to codify the rights of Roe v. Wade into national law. And it is time to make Washington, DC the 51st state.
And remember: this week's news didn't change access to care. Women still have access to health care in DC, and we are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hundreds of millions of Americans who share our values to keep it that way.
Sincerely,
 It is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and residents are invited to celebrate our AAPI community with the Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs!
We invite community members to the Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. At the celebration, AAPI performers will share their amazing cultures and stories through song and dance.
Register for your tickets at tinyurl.com/DCAAPIHM22.
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 On Monday, Mayor Bowser kicked off Small Business Week by announcing the first round of investment recipients of the $1.25 million Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund (IIEIF), which is designed to address the gap in capital for businesses that would otherwise not receive early-stage funding through conventional financing.
The primary goal of the Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund is to increase access to capital for eligible businesses. The secondary goal is to create a pipeline of eligible businesses that are attractive investment opportunities in the District and to provide 12-month individualized business plans and technical assistance to eligible businesses.
Eligible businesses are defined as businesses that have $2 million or less in annual revenue and certify that its business is unable to obtain conventional financing or is a business enterprise that cannot reasonably be expected to qualify for financing under the standards of commercial lending. In addition, the business must be a resident-owned business and a small business enterprise that can demonstrate that it is at least 51% owned by an individual who is, or a majority number of individuals who are, economically disadvantaged individuals or individuals who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
Applications for the Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund are open until June 1, 2022.
For more information and to apply, visit bit.ly/dcinnovate.
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 This year, for the second year in a row, Washington, DC's park system was ranked number one in the nation by the Trust for Public Land.
Learn more about why DC was ranked #1 HERE.
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 Mayor Bowser and Serve DC, the Mayor's Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships, invite you to nominate an individual or organization for the 2022 Spirit of Service Awards!
This celebration is designed to shine a spotlight on Washingtonians who step up and serve their community. Nominate people for the following awards:
- Mayor Bowser DC Hope Award
- The Donor Difference Award
- Ready, Set, Serve: Emergency Preparedness Award
- The Commission’s Award for National Service
- The Community Impact Award
- Public-Private Partnership: Achievement in Collaboration Award
- The Unsung Hometown Hero
Learn more and submit nominations HERE.
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