Collaborating for Equity in the Washington Region

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Collaborating for Equity in the Washington Region

• mindSHIFT

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The Washington Region Is Composed Of Suburbs From
Two States And Washington, The Nations Capital

• Collaborating Across State Lines is Complex And
  The Washington Region Is Unique
• The Federal Government is a Regional Player
• The Jurisdictions Compete Economically
• State Policies Differ
• Tax Bases Are Not Shared
• State Capitals Compete With Washington For The
  Attention Of Their Suburbs

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Focusing On Equity Poses Special Challenges In
The Washington Region

• Poverty is Concentrated In The City
• Public Dependency Is Heavily Concentrated In The
  City
• City And Suburbs Are Not In The Same State
• Region Lacks State Capacity To Spread Affluent
  Suburban Tax Bases To Address Concentrated Inner
  City Need

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Nonetheless, Several Voluntary Equity
Collaborations Exist in The Region

• Robust Collaborations Promote Equity Focus On A
  Number of Issues, Including
• Affordable Housing Foster Care
• Education Immigration
• Race and Diversity Youth Service
  Philanthropy

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Collaborations For Equity Involve Government,
Business, The Nonprofit Sector, and
Community-Based Organizations

• Two Key Institutions Provide Major Leadership For
  Regional Collaborations and Partnerships
• The Metropolitan Washington Council of
  Governments
• The Community Foundation For The National Capital
  Region

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Council of Governments Initiatives I.
Washington Area Housing Partnership

• Since 1991, A Regional Public/Private Initiative
  To Preserve And Expand Supply of Affordable
  Housing For Low- Moderate-income Families
• Members Include The District of Columbia, 12
  Suburban Jurisdictions The U.S. Dept. Of
  Housing Urban Development
• What It Does
• Convenes Regional Leaders Stakeholders
• Researches Reports on Housing Policies Trends
• Provides Technical Assistance
• Advocates For Expansion Of Affordable Housing

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Council of Governments Initiatives, cont.II.
Washington Area Housing Trust Fund

• Spin-off From Housing Partnership
• Private Nonprofit 501(c)(3)
• 17 Board Members from Private, Nonprofit Sector,
  Government
• Dedicated Operating Support From Local
  Jurisdictions
• Support From Foundations, Banks, Board of Trade,
  and Council of Governments
• Loan Fund Seeded by Federal Grants Thru Area
  Congressional Delegation

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Council of Governments Initiatives , cont. II.
Washington Area Housing Trust Fund, cont.

• Target Moderate, Low, Very Low Income
  Borrowers
• 2 Short-term Loans Up To 250,000 Thru
  Nonprofit and For Profit Developers of Affordable
  Housing
• Since 2002, Created or Preserved 250 Units 108
  Units Under Development Predevelopment Loan For
  102 Section 8 Units in Reston
• Near Term Goals
• 10,000 units Throughout the Region
• Diversify Expand Capital Base

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Council of Governments Initiatives , cont.III.
Education Transition To Teaching

• A New Initiative (Application Deadline April 15,
  2005)
• Partnership Between COG, US Dept. Of Education,
  Community Teachers Institute, Howard University,
  Public Schools In The District, Alexandria,
  Prince Georges County
• How It Works
• Recent College Graduates Mid-Career
  Professionals Trained Placed In Partner Schools
• Receive Credit Toward Certification Or Masters
  Degree
• Receive Full-Time 3-Year Teaching Contract

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Council of Governments Initiatives , cont.IV.
Washington Area Foster Care Initiative

• On Any Given Day, 6000 Kids In the Region Are In
  Foster Care 1,400 Are Free For Adoption
• COG, Feds Freddie Mac Foundation Have Created 2
  New Programs
• The 1st Regional Program In The Nation To Train
  Foster And Adoptive Parents
• A Volunteer Respite Program to Provide Breaks For
  Foster Care Parents One Weekend Per Month
• Immediate Goals
• Recruit, Train, License 125 Foster Parents Who
  Will Accept Special Needs Groups Of Siblings
• Increase Number Of Foster Parents Offer Them
  The Respite They Need

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Community Foundation InitiativesI.
Race/Diversity/Social Justice

• The Common Ground Fund - A Partnership of
  National and Local Foundations
• Mission
• Address Social Justice Issues Impacting
  Communities of Color
• Focus On Racially Diverse Neighborhoods
• Projects
• Organize Residents From Diverse Racial/Ethnic
  Groups
• Fight To Maintain Affordable Housing
• Gain Influence in Schools To Address Achievement
  Gap
• Advocate for Affordable, Culturally Competent
  Health Care

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Community Foundation Initiatives, cont.II.
Race/Diversity/Social Justice, cont.

• The Bridging Differences Initiative Has Provided
  Over 2 Million To Date In Order to
• Build Awareness By Educating Grantmakers,
  Policymakers And The Public About Growing
  Diversity In the Region
• Strengthen Partnerships Between Individuals and
  Organizations Around Racial Justice and Social
  Change
• Invest In Efforts To Enhance Diverse Leadership
  And Promote Inclusion And Tolerance

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Community Foundation Initiatives, cont.III.
Race/Diversity/Social Justice. cont.

• Immigrants Account For One In Six Metro Area
  Residents From Nearly 200 Countries
• Washington Area Partnership For immigrants, A
  Funding Collaborative
• Has Provided 1.8 Million To 50 Organizations
• Helps Local Foundations Better Direct Their
  Grantmaking
• Conducts Focus Groups With Immigrant Leaders
• Assists Immigrant Groups With Nonprofit
  Management
• Program Focus
• Education Employment
• English Acquisition Civic Engagement
• Leadership Development Advocacy
• Legal Services

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Community InitiativesI. The Washington
Scholarship Fund

• 501(c)(3) Funded By Individuals, Foundations, and
  Corporations
• 13-Member Board of Directors From Private Sector
  Education (Including George Vradenburg, ARS
  Chair)
• Mission
• Expand and Improve Options In Elementary, Middle,
  and High School For Low-Income Families In DC
• Support Provided
• Over 10 Million To More Than 2,700 Young People
  Since 1993
• This Year, 1.7 Million In Scholarships To 1,000
  Students From 672 Families In 130 Schools
• 1,700 Average Per Student As high As 3,000

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Community Initiatives, cont.II. Hoop Dreams
Scholarship Fund

• (501(c)(3) Working To Expand Academic Career
  Horizons for DC Public School Students
• Strong Multi-Sectoral Sponsorship Support
• Raises Scholarship Funds Through Annual Events,
  Including 3-on-3 Charity Basketball Tournament
• Activities
• Sponsor Mentoring, SAT Prep Courses, Internships
  Job Connections, and Community Service
• Outcomes To Date
• 2.5 Million In 900 College Scholarships (1,000
  to 10,000) for 700 Students
• Developed 1,000 Mentors Internships
• Raised SAT Scores By As Much As 200 Points

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Community Initiatives, cont.III. Washington
Regional Network For Livable Communities

• Grassroots Network Of Leaders
• Mission
• Diverse, Walkable Communities Linked By Transit,
  Graced By Parks, And Surrounded By Forests And
  Farms, With The District Of Columbia As The Hub.
• Activities
• Education, Outreach Policy Advocacy
• Promoting Transportation, Land Use,
  Neighborhood Design That Enhance Communities
  Protect The Environment

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Community Initiatives, cont.III. Washington
Regional Network For Livable Communities, cont.

• Programs Reports
• Mass Transit
• Transit-Oriented Development
• Shoring Up Metro
• Affordable Housing
• Housing Trust Funds
• Affordable Housing Progress Report
• Current Campaigns
• Regional Trust Fund
• DC Campaign For Inclusionary Zoning
• DC's Comprehensive Plan Update
• Arlington Affordable Housing

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Reality CheckAn Emerging Regional Collaboration

• What Is It?
• A One-Day Participatory Planning Exercise In
  February 2005, Involving Over 300 Political,
  Business, Environmental, Real Estate And Civic
  Leaders
• Cosponsors
• ULI Washington
• The Smart Growth Alliance, An Initiative Of
  Environmental Civic And Development Groups
• Numerous Other Regional Institutions
• Objectives
• Promote Awareness Of Growth That Is Coming
• Allocate Projected Housing Employment Growth
  Among Jurisdictions
• Recognize Legitimate Points Of View of Different
  Stakeholders
• Lay Foundation For Developing Concrete Next Steps
  To Assure Quality Growth
• Status
• Plan To Use Lessons From Envision Utah In
  Following Up
• Palpable Need To Increase Diversity Of
  Participants