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Robert C. White
At-Large Councilmember
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Monthly E-Newsletter January 14, 2025 |
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 Pictured: A year ago at the Spice Suite, speaking with young people about what they need to stay on the right path
I’m so proud to share that the Council voted unanimously to pass my Youth Mentorship Through Community Engagement Act. In response to rising juvenile crime, I introduced this bill to address what young people told me they need to succeed and stay on the right path: jobs and mentors. My bill will do two things: 1) It creates a pool of professional, paid mentors for young people with acute needs who have faced childhood trauma. And 2) It exponentially increases the number of volunteer mentors for District young people by creating DC’s first-ever Community Service Leave! This allows DC Government employees to take up to 1 hour a week to mentor or tutor a young person. I cannot wait to see this important bill implemented!
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Earlier this month I was honored to be sworn in for my third term as your At-Large Councilmember. I am deeply humbled and grateful for the support that has brought me to this moment.
In my speech, I shared that the work ahead is not just about fixing broken systems—it's about fulfilling broken promises. For too long, families like mine have been told that hard work and patience will eventually lead to progress. But promises and good intentions have often fallen short. District families are waiting for real change, and that’s what we must deliver.
As your Councilmember, I remain committed to working tirelessly for all residents, so everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Let's continue moving forward, together.
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 Video: Watch my swearing-in remarks
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Building Trust With Unhoused Residents & Changing Lives
This month, we’re shining a light on Nikila Smith, a powerful advocate for unhoused residents in DC. Formerly homeless herself for over two years, Nikila is now housed and works for the People for Fairness Coalition (PFC).
In her role with PFC, Nikila is a vocal advocate to hold DC accountable to staying true to its promises to unhoused residents and providing the support they need. She also participates in PFC's Peer Mentorship program, mentoring coalition members and individuals in the community who lack housing and employment to support them on their journey to get involved in their own recovery. Nikila also does outreach with PFC to get blankets, water, and other supplies to unhoused residents and building trusting relationships with them day by day.
Nikila says, "building rapport and still trusting: that's what makes me a different advocate." DC still has a long way to go to fully support unhoused residents, but we are lucky to have Nikila as a compassionate leader in this work.
We want to hear from you! Send us your nominee for who we should feature next:
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What's Happening at the DC Council? |
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First Council Vote Approving Washington Teacher’s Union contract
After lining up with our teachers on the picket line last year, I’m so proud to share that the DC Council recently took a major step in supporting our educators by approving the Washington Teachers’ Union contract. This new agreement includes fair incremental pay raises over the next five years, more planning time for teachers, and stronger protections like controlled class sizes and assurances that special education teachers remain in the classroom. It also focuses on maintaining diversity in our schools and improving classroom conditions, including air quality and ventilation. By investing in our educators with better compensation and support, we’re ensuring that we retain the best teachers and provide our students with the quality education they deserve. This contract is a win for our schools, our teachers, and the future of DC!
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First, congratulations to all the newly sworn-in ANC Commissioners! I look forward to working alongside you in this new term to address the needs of our neighborhoods. Recently, my office had the opportunity to attend the Ward 8 ANC meeting at the RISE Demonstration Center, where several important issues were raised, including illegal renovations, trash and street cleanliness, crime and public safety concerns, real estate misconduct, and much more. I want you to know that I have an open ear and am committed to assisting in every way I can to address these challenges and work toward solutions.
We are also actively collecting information from ANC Commissioners to ensure residents stay informed about important community updates. Commissioners: please continue sending us events and neighborhood updates so we can help amplify the great work you’re doing. Starting next month, we’ll be rolling out exciting ANC stories in our newsletter to highlight your contributions.
Together, we will foster more connection across DC, and I am excited to see all that we will accomplish in this term.
For our first update, check out this accomplishment from Commissioner Steven McCarty in ANC 2G 🚗: As of December 1, 2024, in partnership with DDOT, ANC 2G established the first rideshare zone and geofenced area in the District outside of Nationals Park. This is specifically for the historic Blagden Alley and is an instrumental piece of our work in safeguarding the alley's history while making it safer for pedestrians to access and enjoy.
To find out who your ANC representatives are, visit here.
 Video: Celebrating DC's ANCs at their swearing-in ceremony
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Here’s a glance at some of the places I will be this month!
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Saturday, January 18
20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk & Parade This year, the MLKDC Parade & Wellness Fair will be hosted indoors at the Entertainment & Sports Arena. Registration is required for participation. I will be there to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and continue to promote peace and unity in our community. Sign up here.
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Wednesday, January 22
Black Swan Academy Town Hall I will attend the Black Swan Academy Town Hall at Trinity University. The discussion will center around community engagement and advancing educational opportunities for all.
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Thursday, January 23
DCPS Standing Ovation I’m excited to attend the Standing Ovation for DC Public Schools. This star-studded event brings together business leaders, government officials, philanthropic champions, and top educators to honor the outstanding achievements of DCPS' finest teachers, administrators, and staff through individual and community awards.
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Monday, January 29
Neighborhood Favorites Launch Party at The Kiley Celebrate the launch of this exciting new series that highlights local businesses, community stories, and hidden gems. I’ll be there to connect with the community and support local initiatives.
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Tuesday, January 30
Alpha Phi Alpha Fireside Chat I will be attending the Fireside Chat hosted by the Omicron Lambda Alpha (OLA) Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The event will focus on leadership, community, and the ongoing pursuit of social change.
I hope to see you out and about! If you’d like me to attend an event, feel free to email me.
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Now accepting applications! The MORCA-Georgetown University Paralegal Program offers students who have previously been incarcerated an opportunity to build successful and rewarding careers in the field of law through education, professional development, and employment support. Learn more and apply here by February 9th. |
Free Walk-in Legal Clinic: Meet with a Neighborhood Legal Services attorney at Anacostia Neighborhood Library, Tuesday, January 14: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, no appointment needed.
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LEGO Challenge! Tuesday, January 14: 3:30-5 PM at Georgetown Neighborhood Library |
Healing Your Spirit: Thursday, January 30, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Highland Addition Center 3828 9th Street SE Washington, DC, 20032 |
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The 60th Presidential Inauguration will take place in Washington, DC on January 20th. Please be aware that temporary road closures, parking restrictions, and Metro disruptions will begin on January 18th and continue through January 21st. To stay in-the-know on announcements and resources during this time, visit inauguration.dc.gov and sign up for updates.
You can view the full list of WMATA impacted routes and temporary detours here.
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Did you know that January is National Mentorship Month? I’m proud that the Council voted unanimously to pass my Youth Mentorship Through Community Engagement Act. I want to hear from you: are you involved in mentoring in DC? Let me know in this quick survey:
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This month, my team and I supported dozens of residents navigating all kinds of issues.
- ✅ Helped 5 voucher holders navigate the housing voucher system: We ensured families had a safe place to call home during the holiday season. 🏠💙
- 💬Continued communication with the Talbert Street homeowners to make progress on a full circle resolution
- 📢 Addressed Bullying Complaint: Promptly escalated a school bullying concern to Superintendent Ferebee, who took swift action to resolve it. 👏📚
- 💼 Saved a Legacy Business: A 30-year business owner sought our help to save her school and salon. We connected her to critical resources from DMPED, giving her a pathway to sustainability. ✂️🏫
- 🏗️ Community Business Enterprise Success Story: A CBE owner visited us to get involved in the Capital One Arena revamp. With our support, they secured inclusion in this major project! 🎉🏟️
- 📊 Enhanced Service Efficiency: Successfully launched a new CRM system to better track and address constituent needs, making our services more responsive than ever. 🚀💻
- 🛡️Championed Workers’ Rights: Advocated for Council’s office building security staff to receive their retroactive health and welfare benefits, ensuring their insurance coverage was restored. 💼✅
- 🚰 Resolved Hydrant Placement Issue: Assisted a neighbor by coordinating the relocation of a fire hydrant that was improperly placed, restoring safety and order in the area. 🏡🚧
- 🎁 Community Perks: Distributed concert tickets, spreading joy and fostering community connections. 🎶❤️
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Our team worked tirelessly this December, tackling challenges and creating opportunities to uplift our community! ✨
If you're facing issues like any of these, or something else, my team and I are here to help! If you have a constituent services request, call my office at (202) 724-8174.
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My office is available to you: Please call my personal office at (202) 724-8174, or my Housing Committee office at (202) 727-8270. |
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