Mayor Gray and OAA Host the 2nd Annual DC to Africa Business Symposium: ‘Growing Local, Going Global’
Over 300 business owners, entrepreneurs, and resource providers attended
 On Monday, November 25, 2013, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and his Office on African Affairs hosted a highly successful and well-received 2nd Annual DC to Africa: ‘Growing Local, Going Global’ Business Symposium. Held at the Mayor’s Citywide Conference Center at One Judiciary Square, this all-day symposium brought together over 300 local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in direct contact with more than 20 business resource providers from District, federal and nonprofit agencies.
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Mayor Gray Announces Distribution Schedule for New Supercans, Trash Cans and Larger Recycling Cans
 Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined other District leaders today to announce that the Department Public Works (DPW) will begin distributing new Supercans in January 2014 to residents who receive once-a-week trash collection services from DPW. Mayor Gray made the announcement at a press conference attended by Ward 3 Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, and Kenyan McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee on Government Operations.
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In Weekly Radio Address, Mayor Gray Highlights District’s Unprecedented $187 Million Investment in Affordable Housing
 In his weekly radio address this week, Mayor Vincent C. Gray highlighted his administration’s unprecedented $187 million investment that – along with leveraging resources in the District’s private and non-profit sectors – will help create or preserve 10,000 units of affordable housing in our fast-growing city by 2020.
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Mayor Gray Recalls Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
Marks 50th Anniversary with Proclamation and District Flags at Half-Staff
Last Friday, Mayor Gray marked the 50th anniversary of the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy with a proclamation and an order – in compliance with a similar order from+ President Obama – for District flags to fly at half-staff alongside the national flag. “I remember well where I was 50 years ago when we received the heartbreaking news that President Kennedy had been killed in Dallas,” Mayor Gray said. “I was a 21-year-old student at The George Washington University, and the campus was overcome with emotion for those of us who saw in President Kennedy a bright, shining hope for generational change and progress on issues ranging from civil rights to the Cold War to the war on poverty. Today, we reflect not only on the great loss of potential with President Kennedy’s death, but also on the great progress he made during his far-too-brief time in office.”
National Museum of African Art Receives $1.8 Million Gift for Collaborative Educational Initiative
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art today announced that the Sultanate of Oman will give $1.8 million to support a series of programs celebrating Omani and East African arts and culture. This is the largest donation to the museum to date. This partnership has been made possible by the Sultan of Qaboos Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.
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Early Education for Dual Language Learners Report
A new report by the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy profiles this population of young Dual Language Learners (DLLs), who represent nearly one-third of all US children under age 6, outlining their school readiness and patterns of achievement. The report defines DLLs as being children from birth to age 5 who are learning more than one language.
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First Abuja Transport Investment Summit to Hold November 25
The FCT Administration has concluded arrangements to organize the 1st Abuja Transport Investment Summit to showcase and exploit the about $30 billion investment opportunities abound in the FCT Transportation sector. The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON who made this disclosure after meeting the officials of the FCT Transportation Secretariat on Friday in his office at Area 11, Garki I District,
Abuja, revealed that the Summit has been scheduled for Monday November 25, 2013.
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SCORE Small Business Loans Workshop
This one-hour workshop reviews the SBA business loan guaranty programs with emphasis on Express Loans which are in the range of $5,000 to $350,000. The Community Express loan program combines financial and technical assistance to enable small and home-based business owners access to business loans instead of consumer loans.
Date: Wednesday| December 4, 2013|9:30 -10:30 AM
Location: SCORE DC|409 3rd Street SW|Suite 100A|Washington, DC|20024
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Defense Industry Opportunities & Best Practices For International Proposals
In this export training seminar designed for defense-related companies, participants will hear from NATO experts on the procurement process and learn from local companies that have successfully completed international proposals. VEDP-International Trade’s calendar of export training seminars will help your defense-related company diversify into international markets.
Date: Wednesday|December 04, 2013|09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
Location: Double Tree Hilton Crystal City|300 Army Navy Drive|Arlington, Virginia|22202
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Start the Holiday Season Off Right With #GivingTuesday
Next Tuesday, December 3rd, the Humanities Council will join with thousands of other organizations and businesses across the country to launch #GivingTuesday – a national day of giving that kicks off the holiday season. #GivingTuesday follows on the heels of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday as an official day dedicated to philanthropy, volunteerism, and giving back to our communities.
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Child and Family Services Agency (the “District”) Is Seeking A Contractor
The District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency (the “District”) is seeking a Contractor for the implementation of an enterprise content management (ECM) platform focused on imaging management solution(s) (IMS) integrated with an electronic document records management system (EDRMS) for the purpose of CFSA meeting its short and long term goal of converting paper documents to digital format by way of imaging management, documents management, records management, workflow management, e-Mail management, e-Discovery management, and storage management. CBE certified business will be given a higher rating when competing for the contract.
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Pro Bono Professional Services to Nonprofits
The Taproot Foundation offers funding of at least $45,000 per grant to connect DC nonprofits organizations that provide arts, education, environment, health, and social services programs with the services of professional consultants on a pro-bono basis. Potential grantees must have at least three full-time employees and an annual budget of at least $350,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2013
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2013 DC Community Heritage Project Showcase
The DC Community Heritage Project, is a partnership between the Humanities Council of Washington, DC, the DC Historic Preservation Office, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. It began in 2005 as a way to empower communities to construct their own local history narratives, preserving DC's collective memory in advance of rapid changes.
Date: Thursday| December 5, 2013|06:30 - 09:00 PM
Location: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School| 101 N Street NW|Washington, DC|20001
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The Big Read
Arts Midwest announces funds to develop community-wide reading programs which encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences including activities such as author readings, book discussions, art exhibits, lectures, film series, and music or dance events. Funds available between $2,500 and $20,000 in 75 awards to state governments and nonprofit organizations.
Application Deadline: January 28, 2014
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Media Project Grant
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announces funds to support interactive digital media, film and television projects, and radio projects. Interactive digital media may be websites, games, mobile applications, virtual environments. There will be $1,000,000 in funds available to city or township governments, county governments, special district governments, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, state governments, nonprofit organizations and private institutions of higher education to be allocated on a competitive basis.
Application Deadline: January 8, 2014
Contact: Crissy Cortina at (202) 606-8269 or ccortina@neh.gov or www.grants.gov GD5275
Walgreens Named National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association
 The American Diabetes Association announced that Walgreens has been named a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association, in recognition of its commitment to support the mission and the Association’s movement to Stop Diabetes.Walgreens is committed to helping the Association educate the public about their risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, providing support for tools and resources to help those with the disease better manage it as well as help raise critical funds to help stop this deadly disease.
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CareFirst, Kaiser Will Allow Health Plan Renewals in Maryland
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Kaiser Permanente will allow Maryland customers to renew insurance policies that had been scheduled for cancellation in 2014, taking advantage of President Barack Obama's decision last week to not enforce the Affordable Care Act's minimum coverage standards. The extended policies will reflect the most recently approved rate, which may have been increased since those customers initially purchased the plan.
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Feds And Pediatricians, Decrying Overuse, Crack Down On Children’s Antibiotics
Federal health authorities have issued new guidelines for the prescription and use of antibiotics in children, saying they’ve been misused and prescribed in error for years — leading to a scenario that could soon see the medication rendered useless. Bacteria have been able to strengthen and resist certain antibiotics in recent years because the medicine has been overprescribed, many in the medical community have argued. That means antibiotics gradually are becoming useless in the fight against certain bacteria-related illnesses, and health officials have been watching this scene unfold with alarm.
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DCHR Writing Resumes & Job Interview Techniques Course
The Writing Resumes & Job Interview Techniques course will help participants to construct a résumé that makes an effective and dynamic first impression. Participants will also gain insight into strategies that today’s interviewers use when making their selection.
Date: Every Tuesday|10:00 AM – 12: 00 PM
Location: One Judiciary Square|441 4th Street NW|The South Lobby| Washington, DC|20001
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DCHR Writing Ranking Factors & Completing the Application Process Course
The Ranking Factors course will provide tips & strategies to write effective Ranking Factors. Ranking Factors should be written in a personal, yet professional style, to highlight your knowledge, skills and abilities to the hiring manager. In the same class, we will also support participants to get a strong understanding on the importance of properly filling out the DC2000.
Date: Every Thursday|10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: One Judiciary Square|441 4th Street NW| The South Lobby| Washington, DC|20001
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DOES Volunteer Recruitment Event
The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) is seeking organizations to participate in Path2Serve: A One City ∙ One Hire Volunteer-to-Work Initiative for a volunteer recruitment fair. This event will engage between 100-200 jobseekers in exploring volunteer service opportunities to get involved and give back to the DC community.
Date: Thursday|December 12, 2013|01:00 -4:00 PM
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center|801 Mt Vernon Pl NW|Washington, DC| 20001
DOES is seeking organizations that are actively recruiting volunteers for a range of roles and focus areas. To be considered as an exhibitor for the event, please contact Scott Sibley at scott.sibley@dc.gov with responses to the questions below by 5:00pm on Tuesday
2014 Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
The Washington Fellowship is the new flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This program will bring over 500 young leaders to the United States each year, beginning in 2014, for leadership training and mentoring, and will create unique opportunities in Africa to put those new skills to practical use in propelling economic growth and prosperity, and strengthening democratic institutions. Application forms will be available December 2013.
Learn More | Apply Here
Online Courses Project
This project is a free and comprehensive resource that is a collection of open college courses that spans videos, audio lectures, and notes given by professors at Harvard, Princeton and MIT. We offer highly relevant courses such as iPhone Application Development from Stanford and Cyber Humor from Oxford. This is something I believe would be a wonderful resource for those looking to explore additional educational topics and to see what a college level course has to offer.
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Microsoft Government Virtual Summit
 Join Microsoft on December 10th for the Microsoft Government Virtual Summit streaming LIVE from Microsoft Studios, featuring interviews and conversations with thought leaders, industry experts and government organizations. You’ll gain a strategic perspective on the innovative ways governments are using technology to modernize and streamline their operations and citizen services.
Date: Tuesday|December 10th, 2013|09:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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Public-Private Partnerships: Bridging the Gap, Landmark Research Results Revealed
 With government’s broader needs today, officials are creating new and innovative ways to involve private sector partners in their solutions. As a result, American City & County has completed its first Benchmark Survey on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and invites you to hear the results. Experts also will analyze PPP’s current trends and issues, and explain how to effectively use PPPs in your projects.
Date: Thursday|December 12, 2013|02:00 PM
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Journey to Writer - Webinar/ Teleseminar Series
It's Finally Here – Introducing a step by step plan you need to place pen to paper, finger to keyboard, and share your book with the world. Step into author-hood. Visualize this – In seven weeks, you’ll have obtained the foundational tools you need to: gain the confidence to write your book for the world to see, take action on your dreams of being an author or writer, be the author signing books at your own book signings, have the basic tools to create the book.
Date: Tuesday|December 3, 2013|7:00 PM
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Job Seekers Info Session with DCHR
 Information session for customers who recently participated in DCHR resident classes. The session will provide you with details about two new initiatives developed to increase the capacity and success of job Seekers.
Date: Tuesday|December 3, 2013|9 am|
Wednesday|December 4, 2013|4 pm|
Thursday|December 5, 2013|9 am|
Location: Judiciary Square|441 4th St.|NW Washington, DC|20001| Customer Care Resource Center
RSVP
E Pluribus Unum Prizes - Panel and Awards Ceremony
Please join E Pluribus Unum Prizes on December 4 for a ceremony and reception honoring this year's recipients of the E Pluribus Unum Prizes, our national awards program providing $50,000 prizes to exceptional US immigrant integration initiatives. Preceding the reception and awards ceremony.
Date: Wednesday| December 4, 2013|04:00-07:00 PM
Location: Mayflower Hotel|Colonial Room|1127 Connecticut Ave NW|Washington, DC|20036
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DPR Hosts Community Meetings to Discuss Fees and Regulations
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will convene a series of open community meetings to offer the public an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to DPR’s permit fees and regulations. At the meetings, DPR will solicit opinions on a proposal to revise its permit fees from a flat rate to an hourly rate, and to discuss a plan on a new “fee-based use” permit for applicants who charge their participants for activities and for priority of use.
Date : Thursday|December 5, 2013|06:30-8:00 PM
Location: Kennedy Recreation Center|1401 7th Street NW|Washington DC|20001
If a resident is unable to attend any of the meetings, written comments may be submitted to the Constituent Services and Permits Manager Jacqueline Alvarado at jacqueline.alvarado@dc.gov .
Submission Deadline: Thursday,|December 5, 2013
Want Your Event Featured in the 'African Beat'?
'The African Beat' is distributed to over 5,000 subscribers every other Friday. If you would like to submit your event to be included in our calendar, please submit the following event details: what, when, & where, and provide a link to where readers can go for more information. Submission deadline for the next edition is Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 5:00PM (Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov).
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