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 Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Community Partners Highlight Vision for Providing Quality Education from Birth through Early Adulthood
On May 2, Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined leaders from the government, private, philanthropic and non-profit sectors to highlight his overall vision for ensuring high-quality educational outcomes for District children from birth through early adulthood.
Mayor Gray’s administration has instituted a number of innovative citywide efforts to ensure the best educational support and resources are available. To ensure that these efforts are coordinated to create collective impact, Raise DC provides a comprehensive, overarching collaborative strategy to create an educational system that prepares children and youth for success in an emerging economy. The Early Success Framework, an effort to more closely coordinate across D.C. government agencies and community partners to ensure that all District children develop and learn in nurturing and healthy environments, is the first component of Raise DC to be rolled out. Read more.
 Mayor Vincent C. Gray and D.C. Department of Health Announce Historic Decrease in District’s Infant Mortality Rate
Last week, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and officials from the DC Department of Health (DOH) announced an infant mortality rate of 8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births – a historic low for the District. This figure and the declining infant-mortality trends reflect the District’s 10-year path to achieving its Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing infant mortality. The infant mortality rate is the best-known indicator of a community’s health status. The measure is used nationally and internationally to compare the health outcomes of jurisdictions and communities.
Continuous research and data collection have enabled DOH to identify factors such as low birth weight, lack of adequate prenatal care and prematurity as contributors to infant mortality. Early, high-quality prenatal care is one of the cornerstones of a safe motherhood program. It helps to maximize healthy outcomes for infants and mothers. Women who receive late (third trimester of pregnancy) or no prenatal care are at risk for having undetected pregnancy complications that can result in severe maternal morbidity and sometimes death. Read more.
 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fiscal Year 2013 Grants Kick-Off
On May 7, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) Director Lionell Thomas launched the Fiscal Year 2013 grant cycle at the Lincoln Theatre. Along with D.C. Government officials, many District arts leaders and artists were present to recap the arts in DC for Fiscal Year 2012 and to hear the changes to DCCAH's grant structure and new programs that the agency is offering the arts community for FY2013.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray Announces Second-Round Recipients of H Street NE Retail Priority Grant Program
Last Friday, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins announced the second round of awards for the H Street NE Retail Priority Grant Program. The grants are meant to stimulate small-business development and expansion while also creating new job opportunities for District residents along the booming H Street NE retail-and-entertainment strip. Read more.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray Releases Statement on South Capitol Street Tragedy Verdict and His Commitment to Public Safety
Mayor Vincent C. Gray released a statement on the verdict in the 2010 South Capitol Street shootings case and his continued commitment to ensuring public safety citywide:
“Every neighborhood in the District should be a safe neighborhood, and I won’t rest until that’s a reality. I want to applaud our law enforcement personnel for the work they did in this case and the work they do every day. I’d also like to thank the community for stepping forward and working with law enforcement. We must redouble our commitment to ensure that this type of senseless tragedy could never happen again.
My administration will continue to stand firmly against violence in our communities. That’s why our approach is to be tough on crime while also addressing the underlying systemic and individual causes. We’ve worked to ensure that our law enforcement and human services agencies work together to share information to help us intervene before violence occurs. Additionally, we are investing in mental health, education, workforce development and substance abuse programs that meet the needs of all of our citizens while strengthening our communities, and thus hopefully preventing crime.”
 First MPD Recruit Graduation Ceremony Under Mayor Vincent C. Gray's Administration
Last Friday, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier participated in a graduation ceremony for members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) first Recruit Class of 2011. The funding for new officers began at the start of Fiscal Year 2012 last October, and the Metropolitan Police Department began training recruits shortly thereafter. Public safety is one of Mayor Gray’s top priorities, and this is a substantial step in rebuilding the size of MPD’s officer corps to better serve residents, visitors and those doing business in the District of Columbia. Read more.
 DC Fire & EMS Award Ceremony
Last week, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice Paul A. Quander, DC Fire & EMS Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe and WTOP/WJLA reporter Mark Seagraves recognized firefighters and emergency medical services personnel who have distinguished themselves in their service to District residents for 2010 and 2011 in an award ceremony. In 1929, an Act of Congress created the annual Awards for Valor ceremony to recognize the courageous efforts of the District of Columbia’s Fire and EMS Department. Almost every year since its inception, the ceremony has been held to recognize the men and women who have valiantly served the District as firefighters and EMS personnel.
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