February 2021 Newsletter

Entertainment and Sports Arena Used as Vaccination Megasite

The Entertainment and Sports Arena is hosting the DC Department of Health and their medical partner One Medical to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to registered teachers, first responders, and District government employees. The arena will be utilized as a vaccination site until April 10, 2021, on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM.

On average, about 250 registered professionals receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine daily. The Entertainment and Sports Arena vaccination site is crucial to expedite the vaccine distribution process, ensuring these essential professionals can safely return to work for the benefit of the District. 

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Dance Institute of Washington to premiere Black History Month Virtual Production, Our Spiritual Journey, created and directed by Ashanté Green

On February 28, 2021, at 6:00 PM, the Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) will unveil the Fabian Barnes Black Box Theater with the virtual streaming of a new 40-minute dance production, created and directed by Ashanté Green.

The production takes viewers on a journey through Black diasporan history, culture, and ancestry through dance. It will be performed by current students of the Dance Institute of Washington and will additionally showcase a DIW alumna. The show is divided into seven scenes and focuses on the way history interfaces with the present moment of Black life.

It starts with a depiction of bondage - physical, intellectual, and emotional – and then moves into a series of ensemble and solo works that portrays hope in the midst of oppression. The show will feature a piece choreographed by a distinguished DIW alumna, Dallas Black Dance Theater company member Sierra Jones. Ms. Jones will choreograph “Soul-idified” for DIW’s middle and upper division students.

Our Spiritual Journey is suitable for viewers of all ages. It will be streamed on the Dance Institute of Washington’s website (www.danceinstituteofwashington.org), Youtube, and Facebook page for one night only on February 28, 2021. The performance is free and open to all to watch. Immediately following the performance, Ashanté Green, along with the guest choreographer and students, will discuss the inspiration and execution of the pieces during COVID-19 restrictions. Support for Our Spiritual Journey comes from DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, and Events DC.

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A New Dining Experience in Anacostia

Busboys and Poets Anacostia now offers street dining, becoming the second restaurant east of the Anacostia River to successfully implement the District’s outdoor dining program. To date, more than 700 restaurants have applied for the temporary “streetery” permit, allowing them to accommodate guests with outdoor seating by placing tables in nearby alleys, sidewalks, and parking lanes.

The Busboys and Poets Anacostia streetery will provide residents East of the River the opportunity to enjoy dining alfresco in a safe, comfortable environment. 

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Events DC Community Grant Awardee Spotlight: The Nicholson Project

The Nicholson Project was chosen as a grant awardee of Cycle 1 of the Fiscal Year 2021 Events DC Community Grant Program for providing a unique, innovative cultural hub in a former single-family row house in Southeast DC for artists in the community. Since its opening in September of 2019, The Nicholson Project welcomed artists, designers, makers, chefs, gardeners, architects, engineers, and scientists to stay at the residence.  

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, The Nicholson Project had to pause its onsite program. Larry W. Cook was the last artist-in-residence in the summer of 2020. Ten artists have participated in the modified Digital Residency via the group’s Instagram account since April 2020 with Mariama Bramble being the latest artist-in-residence for December 2020.

Learn more about The Nicholson Project:

• The Nicholson Project is an artist-in-residence program that provides a safe and equitable space for 1-3 months with free stay and $2,000.00/mo. For more information, click here.   

• The Nicholson Project celebrated its one-year anniversary with a YouTube video featuring former resident artist Larry W. Cook.  

• For more information on the December 2020 Digital Resident winner Mariama Bramble, visit her Instagram.  

• The rowhouse at 2310 Nicholson Street SE hosts a neighborhood garden installed by Love and Carrots to provide vegetables to the neighborhood as a whole.   

How the Washington DC Police Foundation is Boosting Community Relations

The Washington DC Police Foundation/DC Police Athletic/Activities League (DC PAL) Chapter funds and supports all the youth and community outreach initiatives of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  

There are over 130 MPD officers that work with youth, schools, and the community. Together, the Foundation and MPD reach over 15,000 youth annually through programs like Officer Friendly, Junior Cadets and Youth Creating Change.  Additionally, the Foundation sponsors the Ward 7 and 8 baseball program, as well as the Marshall Heights Bison football team. Both programs are led by MPD officer coaches, who not only coach but act as leaders and mentors to youth players. Officer coaches inspire youth to understand and fall in love with the game, and more importantly, give them an opportunity to mature as all-around student athletes.  

The Marshall Heights Bison Youth Football Organization has been active since 1992. The organization has grown from 40 kids participating in football on Saturdays to a year-round program that focuses on empowering more than 180 youth. Marshall Heights has produced numerous championships on the field including 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and the 2017 National Championships. Over 200 alumni are higher education graduates attaining degrees from universities including Colorado State, Howard, Hampton, Syracuse, Delaware State, UDC, Bowie State, and Cornell. Three alumni currently participate in the NFL. 

Throughout the pandemic, the Foundation has sought innovative ways to continue to work with players.  Individual home sports kits were delivered to each of the 60 baseball players, so that they could continue their workouts from home.  Virtual fitness challenges were also shared with youth and families.  The Bison team held leadership virtual learning sessions where youth could ask questions of coaches and athletes.  In the Fall, Bison players began masked practices at the Fields at RFK Campus to continue their program in a safe setting.   

Foundation and DC PAL programs not only promote success as student athletes, but also allow youth to develop a positive mentorship with their officer coaches.  Players often have open and honest conversations with their coaches about life, their experiences and what they are seeing in the world.  It is very important for conversations around police-community relationships to take place, especially with our young future leaders. Together, through sports, the youth and officers are able to get to know one another while working together to address neighborhood challenges and build a better future.   

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Events DC Community Grant Awardee Spotlight: The Fishing School

The Fishing School, whose name is based on the old adage, “If you give a man a fish, you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will feed himself for a lifetime” is an Events DC Fiscal Year 2021 – Cycle 1 Community Grant awardee. While offering afterschool programs, parent engagement programs, and summer camps The Fishing School incorporates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), life skills, read alouds, and self-confidence boosting clubs. All programs are open to 1st – 5th graders and families in Wards 7 and 8.

Like many programs across the city, the COVID-19 global pandemic forced The Fishing School to transform its in-person programming to virtual programming to ensure that youth learn in a safe and healthy environment. One of the most pivotal impacts The Fishing School has made since the onset of Covid-19 is providing families with resources. These resources include distance learning, digital libraries, digital lesson plans, free and discounted utilities, connectivity resources, and childcare resources in addition to information about locations where free meals are being provided. To learn more about The Fishing School or to enroll for any of the programs click here.

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DC Salutes You

As a thank you to servicemembers, law enforcement and first responders, we are happy to welcome you back to DC with these special offers.

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Community Grant Program

The Events DC Community Grant Program provides financial support to qualifying non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting youth sports, cultural or performing arts in the District of Columbia.

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