The Naomi & Nehemiah Cohen Foundation's Long Standing Commitment to Equity & Tackling The Challenges of 2020 and Beyond

For nearly 40 years, LISC has worked with residents and partners to forge resilient and inclusive communities--great places to live, work, do business and raise a family. During that time, we have worked with changing cities, different political and policy contexts, and economies that have been stagnant, strong, overheated, and everything in between. However, the pandemic and economic recession were entirely new challenges.

When COVID-19 struck in March of 2020, LISC turned to its long-standing relationships with nonprofit organizations, foundations, and community leaders, all of whom were standing up to the challenge. LISC leaned on the expertise and wisdom of our Local Advisory Committee (LAC), a locally rooted, deeply committed and diverse group, whose insights have played a crucial role in helping us address various needs and challenges that arose.

Front and center has been the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, and their Executive Director, Alison McWilliams. From the very beginning, Alison kept us up to date on philanthropic responses to the pandemic, including as relief funds were being set up, what policies were moving on the local and federal level, and thinking through ways to redirect funds equitably to meet immediate needs within the community.

Adaptability became essential. Things were changing from week to week, and Alison’s insights ensured that LISC met the moment. In December of 2020, the vaccine rollout presented new set of challenges that required careful navigation. Alison exemplified her commitment to equity by volunteering on the front lines at vaccination sites. She brought that experience to help us think through ways to address the barriers to vaccine access, especially the potential for free rides for those without cars of their own.

Bread for the City's COVID-19 Vaccination Site, 2021. (Photo Credit: Bread for the City)

Over the past 60 years, the Cohen Foundation has been working to address homelessness, education, increase civic engagement and more, by forming partnerships all across the city to create a more inclusive, prosperous and safe community. Founded by Nehemiah Meyer Cohen and his wife, Naomi Halperin in 1959, the Cohen Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities for human services in Washington D.C, increase access to affordable housing and resources for at-risk and homeless populations, create spaces for the Jewish community, and much more.

Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen, and the legacy of the Foundation, has been a pillar within the DC community for decades, dating as far back to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968. Four days of civil unrest and rioting erupted in Washington D.C., and all across the country following the murder of MLK Jr. The Giant grocery store, owned by the Cohen family, was one of the few places that remained open along the 14^th street corridor to ensure they could provide food for the community in the midst of chaos.

The Foundation has supported LISC DC every year since 2012, totaling to over $400,000. In addition to the support and guidance provided throughout the pandemic, LISC has been able to invest in affordable housing and homeownership opportunities across the city, and support nonprofit partners who serve the community,

Maycroft Apartment Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 2019

Alison shared that one joint project that stands out is Jubilee Housing’s development of the Maycroft Apartments. In 2016, LISC DC’s late executive director, Oramenta Newsome, approached Cohen Foundation about offering a lifeline to a shared partner, Jubilee Housing. Jubilee had embarked on a 65-unit project in Columba Heights, a neighborhood where Jubilee had deep roots, but had become very expensive.  Snagged in legal and financial delays, the project was weighing down the nonprofit. Thanks to the Cohen Foundation, LISC created a credit enhancement fund and extended a lifeline of credit to sustain Jubilee. Today, the Maycroft is a model of energy efficient, affordable housing for families facing homelessness, and the Martha’s Table space on site provided food to struggling neighbors throughout the pandemic.

LISC DC is grateful to Alison McWilliams and the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation for its ongoing support over the years, particularly through the last year, helping us to empower our partners’ working to create resilient neighborhoods in DC for families to work and live.