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Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc.
Annual Report 2002 - 2003

As stated in the By-Laws Article HI, the objectives of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly are:

This year has been a year of tremendous interest in the plans for renewal and change in our neighborhood. First among these changes has been the final disappearance of EPA from our mall, the new management of Kaempfer Company, and the potential and in many cases, the loss of the small business people who have served us so well throughout all the past years. Many meetings have been devoted to the presentation and discussion of plans for the future.

Change is also coming to our waterfront, to the Arena Theater, to Capitol Park Apartments, and to the L'Enfant Plaza and Overlook. We have had many neighborhood meetings to discuss all these potential changes and community members have had opportunities to express their reactions. In many cases, the developers and planners have changed their ideas to accommodate local views.

We were sorry to lose Gerard Catus, our President. He left to accept a job in Florida. We have had meetings to "Meet the Candidates", to enjoy the Artomatic presentation in our mall building, to learn about the Underground Railway, to hear about what was going on in the four districts which make up the Assembly area, to celebrate Black History Month, and this month as we transition to new leadership, we are celebrating Women's History Month.

Many Southwesters are reluctant to think about the changes which are coming, particularly since the changes are slow in coming. We are not looking forward to the potential years of lack of services and disruption. In spite of all of this, we must continue our community activities and work together toward our objectives.

TREASURER'S REPORT
Statement of Operations (in PDF Format)

The History Task Force was started in 1999 with an announcement to the community. People interested in the history of South West were invited to attend an organizational meeting and about 15 showed up.

The first project was gathering information and pictures for a photo display to be mounted in vacant windows inside Waterside Mall. By late June 2000 the exhibit was ready in time for the Smithsonian midsummer Folk Life Festival which focused on the District of Columbia. Southwest was accepted as one of the neighborhoods to be featured and our events were listed in the official program.

On Friday, the first afternoon of the Festival, we opened our photo exhibit with a reception in the old Roy Rogers restaurant site. James Banks told about his part in finding homes for those who would be displaced by Urban Renewal. Irene Alexander told of her research on the fascinating life of Lewis Jefferson, Washington's first Black millionaire. He owned a fleet of ships and ran day cruises down the River to his amusement park for Black people which some old timers of the Southwest still remember. The foundation of his mansion at T and First Sts. has been reported to exist under the asphalt on a parking lot at that corner.

That same night Westminster Church Jazz Night and Fish Fry were also on the Festival program. Later in the next week a group of Southwest people were featured on a "Front Porch" hour on the Festival grounds where they told their remembrances of growing up in Old Southwest.

The next project involved becoming the neighborhood advisory group for a Heritage Trail in SW to be developed by the DC Heritage Tourism Coalition. Task Force members decided upon the notable points in the area to be featured and researched photos and historic facts to be included on the 17 signs of the Trail. Lisa Bentley was hired as a researcher and the committee met with her on a biweekly basis to share findings.

The trail is now in the final stages of editing by the Heritage Coalition and approval has been obtained from all the necessary DC and federal agencies. We have been assured the signs will be installed this year. We plan a major community celebration for the opening of our Heritage Trail which we hope will be a source of pride and education for both tourists and residents of Southwest.

The Task Force initiated and sponsored the June 2nd 2001 Southwest Parade with some 400 participants from all sections of our neighborhood. On the following day an Oral History event was held at the Millennium Art Center where people told of their remembrances of growing up in SW.

In October of that year the Task Force sponsored a cruise of the Anacostia with historic narrative by Captain Eric Slaughter. A capacity crowd of fifty five people enjoyed this event.

Summary – Margaret Feldman, TF Chair

We feel that the activities of the Task Force have provided enjoyable opportunities for developing community interactions and appreciation of our past. We look forward to the opening of our Heritage Trail this year.

Task Force Members:

• Keith Melder
• Christine Rourke
• Joseph Curtis
• Arthuryne Taylos
• Gary Young
• Herbert Holmes
• Carolyn Crouch
• Clarence Jackson
• Sheila Witkowski
• Kirn Holien-US Army Historian

The scholarship program started in 1974 when six neighbors in the River Park Cooperative Apartments thought it would be a worthwhile endeavor for the Cooperative to support neighborhood youth who wanted to go to college. That year, the neighbors contributed $700 to three students. This year. Southwest residents contributed $8,637 for the scholarship fund. Of these funds, the River Park Friends contributed $1,000, $1,240 came from Southwest Education Excellence Team/S.W.E.E.T., residents of Townhouse Management Four community, Council members Carol Schwartz, Sharon Ambrose, Linda Cropp and Mayor Anthony Williams and the proceeds from an estate donation that was sold in two yard sales.

Scholarship Committee members are all volunteers who devote many hours to this community effort that includes the solicitation of funds, review of applications, and personal interviews conducted by Henry Evans, Herbert Holmes, past recipients, David Wormack and Tony Murray. This past year, the Committee included: Dale Maclver, Henry Evans, Herbert Holmes, Veronica Davis, and Barbara Murray, Chair. Awards for students ranged from $400 to $1,000.

The Students -

The committee is very proud to recognize Amber Drummond, one our scholarship recipients for the past four years who received a degree of Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Our first student thank you letter was received from freshman, Eugenia Norde who said,

A few years ago it was noticed that applications from African American males had significantly dropped. After hosting a college information session for students and their parents, we launched a special outreach effort to encourage male students to apply for the community grants. Over the past two years, we have seen an improvement in the number of male applicants, and, this year, we will have more male scholarship recipients than female. Because of the varied housing and income levels, our scholarship recipients come from public housing, subsidized housing (Section 8), and middle-income residences.

Scholarship recipients for year 2002 are:

• Eugenia Serita Norde (River Park Friends), North Carolina A & T State University
• Quanicia L. Alston, University of Tampa
• Gregory Rouse, Virginia State University
• Winifred Najjuma, Salem State University
• Enoch Long, Temple University
• Dontria M. Brawner, Penn State University
• Fatoumata Bah, New York University
• Paris Davis, Hampton University
• John Thompson, Winthrop University
• Alexander T. McMahan, Rutgers University
• Joseph Johnson, University of the District of Columbia
• Keith A. Thompson, Virginia State University
• Jamal 0. Jones, Guilford Technical Community College

I. Twelve Monthly issues of The Southwester were published in 2002.

II. Financial report

All income of The Southwester was deposited in the SWNA bank account by the SWNA treasurer. All expenses of The Southwester were paid by check by the SWNA treasurer.

Cash income and expenses were as follows for 2002:

• Paid by advertisers $21,635.50
• Total income $21,635.50
• Desktop publishing and printing expenses $20,365.50
• Cost of Post Office Box 55.00
• Total expenses $20,403.28
• Net excess income over expenses$1,232.22

In kind donations not included above:

• Treasurer's services
• Office telephone paid by SWNA
• Office supplies and computer service donated
• Delivery by volunteers; delivery services paid by others

"Balance sheet" of the Southwester, as shown by SWNA Treasurer:

• Cash in bank from years previous to 2002 $2,319.31
• Add excess income over expenses for 2002 $1,232.22
• Southwester cash in bank on 12/31/02 $3,551.53

(In addition there were Current Accounts Receivable from advertisers.)

The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly established the Southwest D.C. Web-site (www.swdc.org) early in 1999 to provide a resource for information for residents of Southwest, and to introduce people outside our community to the many things Southwest, D.C. has to offer.

March 1, 2003 marked the fourth anniversary of the Web-site.The site-counter recorded 14,170 visits to the home page in that time. Thanks are due Sherry Klein who has worked hard in maintaining the Web-site, especially since the death of co-webmaster Eugene Bellin last year. Among many other things, the swdc.org web-site archives several years of "The Southwester", making it possible to check past issues for items of interest. It now also contains links to some of the city planning studies of interest that will affect our community.

Perry Klein

Some of Waterfront Mall /Waterfront Task Force accomplishments are:

Throughout the year Dale Maclver provided information about the Waterfront Mall and other economic development in the Southwester and Naomi Monk did likewise by e-mail. The public was asked to check for information on Southwest development on websites: www.waterfrontdc.com and www.anacostiawaterfront.net.

January, Carol Early, Margaret Feldman and Naomi J. Monk orchestrated the SWNA fourth Monday Public meeting. At this meeting the Waterfront Mall two developers: The Kaempfer Co and The Forrest City Washington Incorporated presented preliminary plans for the development of the Waterfront Mall. The DC Planning Director was a spokesman on the Waterfront development as well. There was standing room only. Ms Monk furnished the refreshments.

November, Meg Brinkman, Tracey B. Hooks, Naomi Monk and Ellen Winship arranged for the SWNA Fun Day at the Art-0-Matic display. Ms Brinkman provided a list of Artist affiliated with Southwest and a flyer and greeted attendees at the front desk. Ms Monk and Ms Winship greeted the entertainers and guests in a private room set aside for SWNA's entertainment. Ms Monk and Ms Winship served the refreshments in a room provided for entertainment. Monies from the SWNA, Waterfront Mall/Waterfront Task Force were used to purchase the refreshments. Mrs Hooks contacted Ms Shirley Foote (Ma Ma Foote) and the 15 (G2G) girls from James Creek who gave several beautiful renditions of song and dance. Ms Monk contacted Ashley Martin a 12 years old from Carrollsburg, A Condominium who gave several renditions on the violin. An article and pictures are shown in the Southwester.

Throughout the year Irving Gamza, Mrs Hooks and Ms Monk diligently worked toward reduction in crime and a drug free environment. These endeavors are directly related to the Southwest Neighborhood Bylaws primary objective: Work to improve the quality of life for all Southwest residents at ail socioeconomic levels. Mr Gamza, Mrs Hooks and Ms Monk worked diligently with PSA 110 Police officers, US Attorney's Office, DC Housing Authority Management and Police, Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency (CSOSA), Neighborhood Services Coordinator, etc.

At a PSA 110 meeting in October 2002, Mrs Hooks was the primary person that recruited Public Housing youths to pick up 62 applications for employment with the DC Housing Authority Section 3 Program employment representative, Johnny Walker. In December 2002, Mr Walker advised that out of the 62 applicants, 29 were working.

Ms Monk volunteered to coordinate, facilitate, write minutes, make flyers, provide agendas, contact persons by telephone, etc. Mr Gamza has worked with Ms Monk to provide minutes, agendas, flyers and refreshments at monthly PSA 110 meetings.

Mrs Hooks, Ms Monk and Gene Solon promoted harmony, cooperation between residents of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds at the Greenleaf Gardens Extension Traditional Christmas party December 2002. They were the first three people to arrive at the St Matthews church at 4 pm and stayed until it closed at 9 pm. They set up the tables, served dinner to Greenleaf residents and children, help the AF Honor guards give out toys to children, etc.

The Task Force has the largest sum of money in the SWNA treasury. Oftentimes there are those who wish to deplete these funds without meeting to raise funds to replace any portion of these funds. These funds might be needed to fund the Southwester in the future for lack of ads, pay for insurances, etc.

Respectfully,

Naomi J. Monk

YOUTH ACTIVITIES TASK FORCE
Annual Report 2002-2003

In 2002 the YATF celebrated its 20th year of continuous operation as an all volunteer group. A reception and benefit celebration was held at the Old Vat Room, generously donated by Arena Stage. Many SW residents and businesses helped to make this a successful occasion, chaired by Dr. Beryl Rice. SW residents became aware for the first time of our extensive outreach into the community. The Arena Stage Outreach program is now involving many of our SW youth in theatre workshops.

Every task force member has contributed to programs which we have sponsored. We have worked closely with King Greenleaf and Randall Recreation Centers, and with the MPBG Club #4. This has been very beneficial as these organizations can recruit the youth to fill the programs we can offer. We also fund some of the uniforms and equipment needed for football.

The Southwester agreed to publish the monthly schedule of the Rec Centers to ensure the widest audience for the activities. It has also published articles and photos of YATF sponsored activities.

YATF, the only registered Safe Sitter site in the nation's capital, sponsored the first graduating class of baby sitters certified by Safe Sitters Inc. It is a continuing program. First sponsored by YATF, a program on entrepreneurship, NEFTE, was so successful it has been incorporated into Jefferson Jr. High School classes.

A SW college graduate, once the recipient of both SW Scholarship aid and YATF programs, ran a well attended teen mentoring program this summer, a perfect thank you for previous help. Another mentoring program, "In the Know" for girls, was held at King Greenleaf. There was also an image awareness program at Jefferson for teenagers

The TaeKwonDo program began January with a graduation ceremony where new belts were awarded and trophies donated by a TaeKwonDo Master, Robert Chung of Fairfax, Virginia. This occasion brought out many parents. It continues to be a popular activity. The program received a gift of $4500 from a very generous friend and a grant of $4020 from the D.C. Dept of Health. This program is our heaviest expense.

The tennis program at the Washington Tennis and Educational Foundation stopped in May due to the Foundation no longer providing transportation. (Tennis lessons will begin again in 2003 at the Southeast Tennis Center.) The tennis group received T-shirts as well as racquets and balls. During the summer there were swimming lessons at Randall Rec.

Two years after applying, the YATF was surprised to receive $3,020 from the Escheated Funds. A volunteer grant writer helped put together a proposal for funding our activities. A letter of inquiry for funds for TaeKwonDo has been sent to the World Bank YATF members are: Rick Bardach, Zakia Brown,(Randall Rec), Melonee Bryant, Joyce Carey, Marcus Ellis, (King Greenleaf Rec), Rhonda Hamilton, Ida Hernandez, Maria Hernandez, Alvin Hudgens, Thelma Jones, Dale Maclver, Kiera Proctor, Beryl Rice, Gina Santos, Delmar Weathers, Niles White, Eve Wilkins, Emma Wright, Jean Macdonald, Chair.

This entire report in PDF format     2003-2004 Report