Archived News and Events

LISC Supports DC Promise Neighborhood

LISC Target Neighborhood Awarded Promise Neighborhood Grant

What the Washington Post Didn't Say

LISC Helps Bring Educational Opportunities to Middle Schoolers in Ward 8

LISC joins with Redskins, Beacon House and the City to celebrate renovation of Edgewood     
Football Field

 

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LISC Supports DC Promise Neighborhood

January 10, 2011- In 2010 DC LISC selected Parkside-Kenilworth as a "Sustainable Communities" neighborhood. To that end, we have committed to the following:

1.) $50,000 grant as a match for the Federal Department of Education Promise Neighborhood grant
2.) Overall support and technical assistance for the DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI) team
3.) Consultant services to create the infrastructure and day-to-day operating capacity of DCPNI
4.) Funding and technical support for community engagement
5.) Investing in real estate development (e.g. we are providing Low Income Housing Tax Credits for Victory Square senior housing)
6.) Increasing the availability of early childhood resources
7.) Documenting the process and results. See our video by clicking HERE.

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LISC Target Neighborhood Awarded Promise Neighborhood Grant

September 21, 2010 After months of waiting, today it was announced that the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School in the Parkside- Kenilworth neighborhood of Ward 7 was awarded a Promise Neighborhood Planning Grant. With over 350 applicants and only 21 awards given, the competition was fierce. This was the only Promise Neighborhood Grant awarded within the District of Columbia.

LISC is partnering with the team at Cesar Chavez, aptly named the DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI) to help build capacity of the newly formed nonprofit organization who will oversee this effort. In addition, we are supporting community engagement, ensuring that residents are at the table throughout the planning process. We are also helping to document the process through interviews and videos.

The Promise Neighborhood awards are one year grants that will help recipients create plans to provide comprehensive services that improve the educational achievement and healthy development of children from birth to college.

We congratulate the team at Cesar Chavez and look forward to a continued partnership to help transform this neighborhood.

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What the Washington Post Didn't Say...

September 8, 2010 Over the past weekend, the Post  ran an article highlighting the changes that have come to the Deanwood Heights community. But what the article doesn't mention is the years of quiet investment by LISC and others that helped the nonprofit organization Washington Parks and People usher in this positive change.

This article describes the transformation of Marvin Gaye Park in the Deanwood Heights neighborhood. It rightfully gives credit to the nonprofit organization Washington Parks and People for their role in reclaiming the park. (Pictured above: The Riverside Park Center, just across the street from Marvin Gaye Park)

LISC has worked with Washington Parks and People since the late 1990s, providing critical technical assistance, loan and grant support to help build their capacity and secure their current headquarters in Columbia Heights. LISC also helped the organization gain a permanent stake in the Deanwood Heights neighborhood, by supporting their purchase and renovation of the Riverside Parks Center, a community facility just across the street from the park.

The return on our investment cannot be measured by numbers - but when we see children once again playing in the park and a community reconnecting with land that was once laid to waste, we know that our resources were put to good use.

We salute the vision and persistence of Executive Director Steve Coleman and the thousands of volunteers who helped transform this historic northeast corner of our city.

To view the complete article click "Marvin Gaye Park in NE has neighbors reclaiming their sense of community." By Stephanie Lee

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LISC Helps Bring Educational Opportunities to Middle Schoolers in Ward 8

July 20, 2010- Chants of “Yes I Can!” and “Yes I Will!” were echoing throughout Savoy Elementary School as dozens of 5th and 6th graders celebrated the newly opened Ward 8 Higher Achievement Center.   The Center, which operates out of Savoy Elementary School in the Anacostia neighborhood, is an expansion of the Higher Achievement Program (HAP), a rigorous afterschool and summer program that prepares middle school students to attend top area high schools.  

LISC provided a $50,000 grant in partnership with State Farm to help bring HAP’s quality programming to Ward 8.  Several years ago, LISC also provided financing for their DC headquarters at 317 8th St. NE and provided grant funds to assist with student, or scholars as they are called by HAP, recruitment efforts. 

The Ward 8 achievement center currently has 45 scholars enrolled.  In a couple years, they plan to ratchet that number up to 85. HAP also has achievement centers in Wards 7, 6, 4, 1 and in Alexandria and Baltimore. 

The celebratory event filled the Savoy Elementary School gymnasium with HAP scholars, supporters, elected officials and proud parents.  Former HAP scholar and Ward 8 resident Dominique Jones, now a junior at Sidwell Friends High School, recounted her experience with HAP.  “I was raised in an environment where academics were not valued.  I was a good student but afraid to show my intellect.” Then after one summer in the Higher Achievement Program, she gained confidence and realized that “being smart was not just ok, it was something to be praised”. She challenged the scholars to be proud of being smart and to excel in school.

LISC is proud to support the Higher Achievement Program’s expansion to Savoy Elementary School in Ward 8. This program is providing opportunities for middle school students from neighborhoods throughout Ward 8 to develop strong academic habits, behaviors, and skills.  

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LISC joins with Redskins, Beacon House and the City to celebrate renovation of Edgewood Football Field

May 15, 2010 - It was a day of great celebration as the Edgewood Community, LISC, the Redskins, Beacon House and City officials celebrated the official opening of the new Edgewood Recreation Center football field. Located at 3rd St. and Evarts St. NE, the football field is home to the Championship Beacon House Falcons.

LISC, through our partnership with the NFL provided a $100,000 grant to Beacon House to support the re-seeding of the field, an irrigation system, new bleachers and a new scoreboard. The DC Department of Parks and Recreation provided new, energy efficient lighting. The Redskins Charitable Foundation will be responsible for maintaining the field.

Now, the championship Beacon House Falcon football teams will have the opportunity to play their home games and practice on a fully renovated, high quality athletic field. Beacon House is a nearly 20 year old organization that provides mentoring, cultural, athletic ,after school,and summer programming. Over 350 young people participate in the Beacon House football program along with hundreds of parents and supporters that come out to games and practices.