Community Acknowledgements

Penn Branch Mourns of Passing of Alberta Paul, Former PBCA President & Chair, Public Works Committee

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In Memoriam: Alberta Paul, September 29, 1950 – September 27, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we share that our beloved neighbor and friend, Ms. Alberta Paul passed away earlier today. She had been in recovery following a medical procedure earlier this week.

Alberta Paul has been a dogmatic champion for our Penn Branch neighborhood. She served as president of the Penn Branch Community Association (PBCA) for 10 years. As president, she re-establish Penn Branch Citizens/ Civic Association as a non-profit and was instrumental in getting the city to pass emergency legislation to maintain the O Street Street (Retaining) Wall in 1997. She frequently raised funds and coordinated volunteer efforts to improve 9/11 Memorial Park, located at the gateway of our neighborhood. After serving as President, Alberta was Chair of our neighborhood Public Works Committee for much of the last twenty five years. In this capacity she led many beautification projects and also helped many neighbors and as well as other Ward 7 residents to gain better access to city services. She was also lifelong advocate for youth and senior citizens in our community.

Alberta retired from District Depart of Transportation (DDOT) last fall after many years of distinguished service. She championed investing in youth, cultivating the next generation of community leadership, and greater support for seniors. Her friendship, service, and her tireless advocacy for Penn Branch, Ward 7, and our city will be greatly missed.

A Champion for Penn Branch Neighborhood

From Left: Donna Cooper (PEPCO Regional President) and PBCA Public Works Chair Alberta Paul and President Stan Benton Receive 25K Award-
Alberta Paul at National Night Out Event
Alberta Paul spearheads 9-11 Park Clean up Event

Funeral Service for Ms. Alberta Paul

Date:
Saturday, October 11, 2025 

Wake:
9:30AM -11:00AM

Funeral Service:
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

 Location:
Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Washington, DC 20020

Final Interment:
Cedar Hill Cemetery 4111 Pennsylvania Ave Suitland, MD 20746

 Send cards to:
3721 Carpenter Street SE WDC, 20020

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family please visit: Pope Funeral Home Sympathy Store.

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Live

‘Penn Branch Cares Campaign’ to Offer Support, Encouragement for Our Neighborhood Public Servants

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Penn Branch Cares Campaign

Our community is standing up to support those of us whose livelihoods are threatened by the recent terminations of Federal workers and contractors, as well as dramatic cuts to U.S. Government-supported programming. We are launching a new effort that will allow us to show support for our impacted neighbors while raising funds to deliver care packages to affected households and host additional community events to bring neighbors together during these difficult times.

Proceeds will fund care packages and additional community gatherings to lift up those who are affected.”

1. Renew Your Membership

In coordination with our 2025 membership drive, we are offering yard signs that say Penn Branch Supports Public Servants—this includes not only Federal employees, but also contractors, non-profit employees, and others who are directly and substantially affected.

2. Make A Donation (+$20)

Please make a $20 donation on our website (See below), or by check, and let us know if you would like to have one of these signs. Proceeds will fund care packages and additional community gatherings to lift up those who are affected. Please consider choosing a membership renewal option (include link) that bundles your membership and sign donation to maximize your impacts on behalf of the community.

MAIL CHECKS TO:

P.O. Box 6730 Washington, DC 20020 –Be sure to note: “Penn Branch Cares Campaign”

3. Help Us Out

We also need your help to identify neighbors who have been directly and substantially affected by recent Federal government terminations and funding cuts. This will help us ensure we are directing care packages to the right folks. If you or one of your neighbors are among this group, please reach out to k.anthony.murphy@gmail.com to let us know.

We will take the next step in reaching out to neighbors. Please also know that your neighbors and friends are standing with you in solidarity and are ready to listen to anything you need and any ideas you may have for improving our support.

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Let’s Stay Informed! Join Penn Branch Neighbors on #GroupMe

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Sign Up for Penn Branch GroupME Account!

PBCA established a Penn Branch Community on GROUPME so neighbors can share and receive text messages with other neighbors about crime, emergencies, community notices, and pass along other critical information about what is going on in our neighborhood.

The GroupME app will send a text message to your cellphone. Please DO NOT use this platform for: Self-Promotion, Political / Policy Debates, and/or Advertising merchandise sales or paid community events.

Only critical notices only. Also, remember to never share information related to suspected crime in the neighborhood. ALWAYS report suspicious activities to the police first, dialing either 911, at 31, or 50411, to place an anonymous first.

Stay safe. Stay informed. And when you see something, say something.

JOIN THE PENN BRANCH GROUPME

PBCA Listening Session with O Street SE Neighbors

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O Street SE Retaining Wall-Penn Branch DC

On Feb. 23, members of the Penn Branch Community Association executive board met virtually with a handful of Penn Branch’s O Street neighbors for a listening session. The PBCA board reached out to introduce ourselves and to gain a better understanding of neighborhood-specific challenges.  Residents of O Street shared their thoughts regarding development in the Penn Branch Shopping Center and construction of the new CVS which is expected to be built on the existing laundry mat property.

Residents reported that they did not have concerns about retaining wall maintenance but are interested in engineering studies prior to future development, including in the areas adjacent to the shopping center and along the walled hillside, due to settling and water flows in the area. Residents also raised concerns about potential CVS parking lot overflow onto their street, increased traffic, aggressive driving, and trash and vagrancy on O Street.

Participants explored traffic calming measures and other ways to work collaboratively to benefit the community.

 

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PBCA Official Statement Regarding Violence at the U.S. Capitol

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The U.S. Capitol Dome

We are outraged by the violent extremist attacks on the U.S. Capitol today that aimed to subvert our sacred democratic processes and principles.

Our first concern is for the health and safety of our community and our fellow Washingtonians, especially when so many are already suffering the consequences of a failed response to COVID-19. Many in Penn Branch have dedicated their lives to public service, and we stand in solidarity with those brave civil servants and elected officials working now to ensure our democratic procedures continue and the will of the American people is upheld.

Though these abhorrent events happened just blocks away from our community, they could not be farther from the values we stand for in Penn Branch. We cherish democracy, justice, peace, and unity. We abide by the U.S. Constitution, the law, and the agreements we have adopted as a community. We believe in truthfulness and public debate informed by verifiable facts. We respect each other and resolve disagreements peacefully through dialogue.

Today’s violence is the predictable outcome of years of anti-democratic escalation by national leaders and some of their supporters. The attacks, the unacceptable incitement that preceded them, and the woefully inadequate response were fueled in-part by longstanding injustices in the United States.

Systemic racism undermines democracy and must be fully dismantled if our country is to live up to its founding ideals and thrive. Civil society organizations, including ours, have an important role to play in perfecting our union. We pledge to work with all of you to find the best ways to carry-out this responsibility.

We call on all community associations in the District of Columbia and nationwide to speak-out in defense of our democracy and join our community in taking action to address these existential challenges.

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Statement from the Penn Branch Community Association Board of Directors (01-06-2021)

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