Neighborhood: Parkside-Kenilworth: A Promise Neighborhood. The neighborhood is comprised of seven contiguous neighborhoods: 1) Kenilworth Courts; 2) Kenilworth-Parkside Resident Management Corporation; 3) Eastland Gardens; 4) Mayfair Mansions; 5) Paradise; 6) Lotus Square; and 7) Parkside.  

Boundaries: Eastern Ave, NE, Benning Road, NE, I-295 and the Anacostia River in the northeast quadrant of Washington, DC.

Background: Born of a desire to better educate their children and to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood the residents of Parkside-Kenilworth, in 2008,  in concert with principals, teachers, government officials, funders, local and national partners, nonprofits and many others embarked on a journey that would develop and implement a  comprehensive approach to academic and life success for  children, building a cradle to college to career pipeline of supports for students and their families.

They modeled their efforts after the Harlem Children's Zone.  This lead to the submission of a Promise Neighborhood application to the U.S. Department of Education Request for Proposals for designation and funding as a Promise Neighborhood.   The applicant was the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy.

Promise Neighborhood: In September, 2010 Parkside-Kenilworth became one of 21 neighborhoods across the nation to be designated a Promise Neighborhood and to receive a $500,000 planning grant.  

Choice Neighborhood:  In January 2012, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that Parkside- Kenilworth was one of only 13 neighborhoods nationwide to be designated a HUD Choice Neighborhood.  The designation results in a $300,000 planning grant to the DC Housing Authority to enhance existing public housing and voucher assisted housing in the neighborhood.

Founding Organization and Leader:   Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy – Founder and CEO:  Mrs. Irasema Salcido.

Implementing Nonprofit: DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative, Inc (DCPNI, Inc). See detailed information on mission, vision and approach at www.dcpni.org.

Click on the slideshow below to view the people and places within Parkside Kenilworth.

LISC Investments and Support

In the winter of 2010, DC LISC received a request from the Parkside-Kenilworth team to join their team as a funder, supporter and technical assistance provider.  We have been working as a member of the Parkside- Kenilworth team since we designated them a LISC sustainable community in April, 2010.   We chose six points of support:

1.) Provide overall support and technical assistance.  Examples include:
        • helping to prepare the Promise Neighborhood application;
       • serving on the DCPNI Local Advisory Board during the Promise Neighborhood Planning Year;
       • helping vet and seat the Board of Directors of the newly created nonprofit, DCPNI, Inc.

2.) Provide funding and technical support to build the infrastructure and operations of the newly created DCPNI, Inc.   To this end, LISC contracted with MOSAICA to provide documents, counsel and advice to the team to put in place the board of directors, staffing plan, financial management system, etc.  MOSAICA has been working with the team since the summer of 2010. LISC pays for their services.

3.) Provide grant funding for the operations of DCPNI, Inc. To date, provided a $50,000 grant with additional funding in 2012.

4.) Provide funding and technical support to facilitate community engagement.  Examples:
      • Facilitating the work of one of the Results Driven Work Groups (RDWG) – a team of neighborhood residents and partners who spent the last year researching and developing  the objectives, milestone, indicators and partners for the goals of the Promise Neighborhood (see www.dcpni.org).
      • Serving on planning committee and providing fund for community retreats, dinners and work sessions.

5.) Invest in the complimentary real estate development occurring in the neighborhood, specifically the Planned Unit Development being undertaken by the developer,  City Interests.
    • first investment was $4 million of LIHTC equity for the development of Victory Square – a new 98 unit apartment building for seniors – to be completed in spring 2012.

6.) Provide funding and technical support to document the work of the Parkside-Kenilworth team and to highlight the positive changes occurring in the neighborhood.  LISC contracted with Harry Hanbury Productions to create videos, take pictures, etc. to communicate the work and to create a history for the initiative.