At-Large Councilmember Brown Challenges Schools and Tours DC Main Streets
BROWN JOINS TOGETHER WITH PARENTS TO CHALLENGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Washington, (D.C.) - Yesterday, D.C. Councilmember At-Large Kwame R. Brown joined fellow Councilmembers and parents of DC Public School children on the steps of the John A. Wilson Building to challenge DC area schools to raise their level of performance in the coming school year and pledge their commitment to be active participants in their children’s education. “A solid education provides our children with the knowledge they need to create a better quality of life for themselves and their families," declared Brown. "I'm challenging DC Public Schools to raise the bar by decreasing truancy rates and increasing AYP scores by over 10% during the next school year," declared Councilmember Brown. "The schools that make the most progress by the end of the year will be rewarded for their achievements." The top three schools to enhance their AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) scores by over 10% and the school that has the greatest decrease in its truancy rate will have their choice of either going to Six Flags or having a Family Fun Day. The winners will be announced and recognized at a citywide event in 2008 when the test results are released. To spearhead progress and inspire the community, Councilmember Brown created the Parental Engagement Pledge. Parents, grandparents and caregivers of the community, who sign the pledge, promise to volunteer 10 hours of their time with their local school. They also commit to finding five more parents to sign the pledge. "Our schools will need help as they seek to improve our educational standards," continued Brown. "That's why I'm encouraging parents to get engaged in their schools by volunteering their time. I'm proud of the parents who stand with me today and have promised to get more involved in our children's education." "I want to thank the organizations that helped kick off our pledge by finding motivated parents including: Parent Watch, Inc., East of the River Clergy-Police-Community Partnership, Ward 4 Education Council, Gregory Project, DC Fatherhood Initiative, East of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative, DC Children First, Progressive Sports and Entertainment Alliance, Alliance of Concerned Men, Ceasefire Don’t Smoke the Brothers, Pre-K for All DC and Peaceaholics." Parents already willing to take the pledge joined Councilmember Brown and other members of the Council. Also partnering in the event were fellow D.C. City Councilmembers, Council Chair Vincent C. Gray, Phil Mendelson, Harry Thomas Jr., Mary Cheh, Yvette Alexander, Muriel Bowser and Marion Barry. In a letter to Councilmember Brown written from Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Johnston, USMC, expressed that, "Looking to the future as a country at war, in a land far from DC, the challenges are great; we have much at stake. A superior education is absolutely critical for the future of America, our future leaders and the future of succeeding generations." Lt. Col. Johnston continued, " Let us not forget that America's best and brightest are made one day at a time from involved parents, involved teacher[s], and involved communities. The success of succeeding generations are being fought everyday in our DC classrooms. Get out there parents and fight for your child's education. This is a fight we can not afford to lose." "The administration has created an Office of Parent and Community Involvement to further encourage parents throughout the school year," said Brown. The office is under the responsibility of the Deputy Mayor for Education Victor Reinoso and parents can reach the office at 202-727-3636. "The Parental Engagement Pledge is just one step towards a better public school system," concluded Brown. "If our city is going to improve the learning environment for its children, we must begin caring for our children at home. This pledge is a symbol of the commitment we share as parents and caregivers to providing our children with the best education possible." _____________________________________________________________________ PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT PLEDGE
2007-2008 School Year AS A PARENT, GRANDPARENT, OR CARING ADULT, I hereby pledge to help the District of Columbia’s children and Public Schools to achieve excellence. My declaration of engagement and commitment to the District’s children and public schools is further expressed: -As a resident of the District of Columbia, I am a very important stakeholder of the public schools
-As a stakeholder, it is my responsibility to be an engaged participant in my child’s education
-Review homework
-Participate in Teacher Parent Conferences
-Encourage my child to explore academic interests I am a vital partner with the schools in improving public education I will encourage and assist other parents and community members become engaged partners in education Our future depends on the improvement of public education
This improvement depends on my participation
THEREFORE AS A PARENT, GRANDPARENT, OR CARING ADULT, I take personal responsibility for the education of the children in this community.
I pledge to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours of my time to my public schools during the school year. I pledge to build a culture of parental engagement by compelling a minimum of five parents to sign the engagement pledge.
____________________________
Signature
____________________________
Date _____________________________________________________________________
COUNCILMEMBER BROWN RECEIVES IMPASSIONED LETTER FROM IRAQ ON EDUCATION
Below is a letter from a DCPS parent serving in Iraq sent to Councilmember Kwame Brown on Wednesday, August 22, 2007. [T]his is Frank Johnston (LtCol Frank Johnston, USMC) writing to you from Iraq. I was last years PTA President at Ross Elementary and attended one of Councilmember Brown's Living Room Sessions. I also testified to the council in regards to the school take over plan. Although unable to attend, I whole heartedly support you and all the parents who become involved in their school. If I were present I would yell from the depths of my lungs to all DC parents, "Get involved and stay involved!" It is not a crime to have high expectations, but is is a crime to fail in the education of our kids. If you look at the incredible steps Ross made last year, as the recent scores illustrate, high achievement was an outcome of involved parents, no, demanding parents, extremely hard working AND flexible teachers, and an incredibly talented principal. In sum it takes a team. A team that fights together to give the best opportunities for our children's future.
Looking to the future as a country at war, in a land far from DC, the challenges are great; we have much at stake. A superior education is absolutely critical for the future of America, our future leaders and the future of succeeding generations. My father served in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Despite his best efforts, my generation's inheritance from his sacrifice was a Cold War. The Cold War was a different war that needed bright well educated Americans to bring to a close. Now, despite my best efforts, my fear is that I will leave my daughter's generation with a much harder war, a more lethal war, and a more determined foe, whose violent actions will transcend generations. It is a fight with an enemy who has no borders, does not hesitate to slaughter innocent women and children living in the US or elsewhere, whose new set of tools includes the internet and indiscriminate suicide bombers. Once again America's best and brightest are needed to win another war-to ensure the values we hold so dear are upheld and allowed to flourish in a very demanding and challenging future. Let us not forget that America's best and brightest are made one day at a time from involved parents, involved teacher[s], and involved communities. The success of succeeding generations are being fought everyday in our DC classrooms. Get out there parents and fight for your child's education. This is a fight we can not afford to lose.
Regards,
Frank Johnston
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BROWN TOURS BARRACKS ROW AND SHAW MAIN STREETS
Councilmember Kwame R. Brown continued his tour of D.C.'s Main Streets by visiting Barracks Row Main Street with President Linda Gallagher and Executive Director Cristina Amoruso. He also visited visiting Shaw Main Streets with Executive Director Alexander Padro on Thursday (Picture to the left). "I started this tour to review the D.C. Main Streets program and member efforts to attract and retain businesses throughout the city's busiest corridors," stated Councilmember Brown. "It is essential that we provide D.C. residents and businesses with the tools they need to create economic growth. As chair of the Economic Development Committee, I am committed to supplying the resources we need to revitalize our communities." As the program moves forward Councilmember Brown plans to help the program burgeon in new neighborhoods that need help and resources. In fact, he has allocated Neighborhood Investment Fund (NIF) dollars for new DC Main Streets programs in Wards 4, 7, & 8 that will be available October 1st. Councilmember Brown has also allocated $266,667 for each of the new Main Street programs for next year for a total of $800,000. Local residents and businesses will be able to apply for the funds to create new DC Main Streets in the three new NIF areas. He also added $725,000 to the Business Improvement District Litter Cleanup Assistant Fund with D.C. Main Streets in mind, to give them the ability to apply for up to $125,000 annually to clean the streets. The Small Business Commercial Property Tax Relief Act of 2007, which Councilmember Brown supported, reserves $11 million in local funds for commercial property tax relief for small businesses.
Tours are confirmed for the following neighborhoods: Wednesday, August 29 – (10:00am) Dupont Circle Main Streets
Thursday, August 30 – (11:00am) Anacostia Main Streets Upcoming Tours - Dates to be announced:
Brookland Main Streets; Georgia Avenue Gateway Main Streets, H Street Main Streets
_____________________________________________________________________ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 'DOING BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON, DC' GUIDEBOOK NOW AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Have you ever wanted to start a business in the District of Columbia or needed advice on expanding or relocating one and didn't know where to start? The 2007 Doing Business in Washington, DC free guidebook helps navigate aspiring entrepreneurs or business owners through all the steps. Published yearly by the Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) and made available to the public today, the 96 page "how to manual" covers the nuts and bolts for successfully starting from conception to reality. It also offers invaluable information and resources for medium to large sized businesses. Designed to help every type of business, the guide also includes numerous public and private resources filled with indispensable information on making the most of your business in the District of Columbia. Nearly 150 residents waited in line to receive the first copies of the guidebook today. One of the most vibrant and fastest growing economies in the nation, it is no wonder people want to start, expand or relocate businesses in the District. In fact, DC ranked the sixth city in the nation for entrepreneurship and ranked second in the nation for real estate development. The city is also a hotbed for women entrepreneurs, a recent study of business opportunities for women in 100 of the nation's largest cities found DC came in second next to San Francisco. "Local businesses of all sizes anchored by DC's local labor force are continuing to fuel the unprecedented economic renaissance occurring in our city today. Innovative organizations and programs, like the Washington DC Economic Partnership, DC Main Streets, and the Department of Small Local Business Development, deliver tangible results from the ground up. This guidebook is yet another tool in our economic arsenal to revitalize our communities," remarked, Councilmember Kwame R. Brown, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development. "Doing Business in Washington, DC compiles a wealth of information in one book to help businesses connect with the public and private resources they need not only to start a business but keep it growing and thriving," said Neil O. Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. "This administration remains committed to bringing economic opportunity to all corners of the city and providing innovative programs that continue to support the growth of entrepreneurs and businesses in our great city," added Albert.
Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a medium sized business looking to expand, there are requirements you need to know to successfully operate your business in DC. The 2007 Doing Business in Washington, DC is divided into nine chapters covering everything from writing a business plan and defining ownership structure to business insurance and government contracting. It also has a chapter devoted to starting a non-profit in DC. Non-profits are the second largest employers in the District, totaling 44,078 employees. Many existing business may not be aware of the financial benefits of operating a business in our city. The guide dedicates a chapter to providing businesses with information on the wide array of tax and other financial benefits available to businesses through federal and district incentives. For example, the District offers one of the most attractive incentive packages for high-tech businesses in the country. The New E-conomy Transformation Act of 2000 (NET 2000) provides certain credits, exemptions and other benefits for a Qualified High Technology Company (OHTC). Regardless of the business you want to start or currently operate, you will find Doing Business in Washington, DC is a roadmap to running a successful business filled with information, tips, and resources in one handy guide. The book is available to consumers at the Washington DC Economic Partnership office. Published annually by WDCEP, this year's 2007 edition was made possible by generous contributions from the following organizations: Deputy Mayor's Office of Planning and Economic Development, Citibank, District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, Euclid Mortgage Services, Government of the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, District Department of the Environment, and BusinessPremier, an initiative of WDCEP. WDCEP's BusinessPremier is a collaborative effort of the Government of the District of Columbia, the Washington DC Economic Partnership, and economic development, community development and workforce development organizations. It has been designed to help businesses grow and thrive in the District of Columbia by providing no-fee access to business resources and services. About the Washington DC Economic Partnership -- http://www.wdcep.com/
The Washington DC Economic Partnership is a public/private partnership with the mission of facilitating economic development by contributing to the business retention and attraction in the District of Columbia. The Partnership is your first point of contact for doing business in Washington, DC, offering a host of resources and information. Contact: Crystal Wright
Baker Wright Group
202/829-0848
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