|
 MPNA Participates in American University's Discover DC Program
Discover DC is designed as a way for first year students to get to know one another while getting to know Washington, DC. Since its inception in 2000, it has grown into an exciting program that introduces over 300 students to civic engagement and the value of diversity in the DC area.
During the program small groups of students visit different DC neighborhoods each day, having lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, visiting with a community leader or association, and taking a walking tour of the neighborhood. In the evenings students return to campus for dinner and engage in discussions of the diverse characteristics of the neighborhoods.
As part of our program, Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance host one groups of students on two different dates. MPNA Board Member Nick Mattera led talks and tours with the AU students. Discussion ranged from the history of the neighborhood, architecture, the activities of the Alliance, and civic engagement. |
MPNA Supports Capital City Public Charter School Move
Last week MPNA sent a letter of support to Ms. Byrd, Principal in support of their expansion move of the Capital City Public Charter School. Capital City plans to expand the upper school to a new location in Mount Pleasant--3220 & 3224 16th Street, NW.
"We recently learned about the proposed move of the Capital City Public Charter school to Mt Pleasant. Members of the Alliance's Board believe that residents would truly welcome the school to the neighborhood and that it would make an excellent neighbor. There are a very large and growing number of families with young children in the neighborhood. Please let us know how we can work with you to make your move to Mt Pleasant an easy transition and how we can help you move on to more important issues - like education for the children," stated Marika Torok, MPNA Vice President. |
Fiesta DC Coming to Mt. Pleasant?
MPNA trying to make sure that traffic is handled better and that local businesses are accommodated if or when Fiesta DC comes. We ask for your feedback. |
Operation Live Link
MPNA still needs your support to make this stay alive. Click on the card to donate:
 |
Lemonade Day Coming to Mount Pleasant
 Lemonade Day is coming to the nation's capital on May 2nd, 2010. For a city like Washington D.C. that has strong community ties with various educational programs, Lemonade Day will be a very exciting addition of which the MPNA will be involved with.
What is Lemonade Day?
Lemonade Day introduces kids to entrepreneurship! This city-wide event encourages kids to start a lemonade stand and sell their lemonade to the entire community. Schools, community groups and businesses get involved to make this all happen. If you wish to join in and help, please contact us. |
Community-Based Energy Efficiency & Rewards Program
Earth Aid (www.earthaid.net) has developed the first free service that enables individuals to monitor their electric, gas, and water usage online in one place; provides customized tips to help them save energy and water; and is launching the first-of-its-kind consumer rewards program where people will be able to earn points based on their savings and redeem those points for discounts from local merchants.
Earth Aid has already signed on a variety of District businesses to their rewards program (e.g., Busboys and Poets, Agraria, Local 16), and they're launching it at a press conference with Councilmember Cheh on September 8.
We are posting this to invite you to see if you may be interested in this service as well as seeking feedback.
If you think you would like to attend the press conference, please let us know off-line @ admin@mtpalliance.org.
Overview Earth Aid (www.earthaid.net), a Washington, DC-based social venture founded in 2007, has developed a free online service that enables individuals to track their electric, gas, and water usage in one place and provides customized tips to help them save. In September, Earth Aid is also launching the first-ever consumer rewards program through which households will be rewarded based on their energy and water savings.
How Earth Aid's System Works Households sign up online at www.earthaid.net and link their utility accounts to the Earth Aid system. Earth Aid's patent-pending software then gathers households' consumption data from the utility companies and presents that information all together, in context, on the user's personalized Earth Aid dashboard. In addition to helping individuals track their energy and water use, our service actively works with households to save. Every month, we send households customized tips about how they can reduce their energy and water consumption. Households also can view their usage information and compare it to the usage of their friends and family.
Earth Aid's New Consumer Rewards Program & Washington, DC Launch
Starting in September, Earth Aid subscribers will earn points by reducing their electric, gas, and water usage, and will be able to redeem those points for discounts and offers from local merchants. Local businesses such as Busboys and Poets, Agraria, Founding Farmers, Local 16, Greater Goods, and Live Green have already agreed to participate, and Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chairperson of the DC Council's Committee on Government Operations & the Environment, will be headlining a press conference on Tuesday, September 8, at 11 AM, to formally announce the program. |
NEWS from THE FAMILY PLACE
For almost 3 decades, The Family Place has provided services to low-income families that help them maximize the healthy development of their children. Their programs build on solid research that has established the critical importance of the first years of a child's life. In the row house on 16th St. near Monroe St. NW, participants find information and social services. They assist families in solving problems, and they work with them to build on their strengths.
Although the worsening economic situation is straining their resources, in 2008 The Family Place was able to meet the needs of 19% additional families than the prior year; 190 families were new, 226 families returned from the previous year, totaling 416 families served.
As of September 2008, The Family Place has a new Executive Director --- Haley Wiggins, who was The Family Place's coordinator of literary services for 4 years - replacing Camille Fountain, who now is employed by the Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative.
The old row house on 16th St. NW that The Family Place has occupied since 1986 continues to serve the organization well, but it is splitting at the seams as enrollment increases. It needs maintenance and repairs, some of which must be done in 2009, which could well mean diverting of financial resources from serving families in order to do this, unless additional funds can be located. Additionally, they are in need of upgrading their kitchen and food pantry (they serve meals there) and are hoping to raise funding for this project.
The Family Place indicates that they know many families who would benefit from their services but who aren't getting them now. A sizeable waiting list for the English and literacy programs, a ballooning number of people who need food, and the increase in numbers of women who request services related to family violence are examples of the rising need.
The economic downturn presses hard on the low-income and poor families served by The Family Place and, ironically, as their need and numbers increase, The Family Place finds it harder to find the funds to aid them. The Family Place's budget for 2008 was about the same as their income, $630,000.
Your donations in the form of money, gently used items for families of young children, and/or your volunteer time would be appreciated. You can contact The Family Place directly on tel 202.265.0149 or by email at info@thefamilyplacedc.org or visit their website at www.thefamilyplacedc.org to learn more about their programs. |
Become A Member or Renew Your Membership Today!
Join us! |
|
|