Penn Branch News – Page 23 – Penn Branch Community Association

Dec 8th Annual PBCCA Holiday Dinner and December Meeting

Published on December 7, 2015January 8, 2016

Please join us on December 8th at 7:00 PM at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church rear basement community room, as we celebrate this years’ blessings at this year’s PBCCA Annual Holiday Dinner Party, titled the “Culinary Branches of Holiday Cheer”.

This year we will focus on sharing the culinary delights of those in the neighborhood that wish to contribute their favorite entrée, main course, side dish, dessert. We are also looking for vegetarian and gluten-free dishes for neighbors with special dietary needs. Suggested dishes include chicken, fish, vegetables, potato salad,

If you are not a culinary wizard, a financial contribution to support the celebration will be greatly appreciated. Festivities will be immediately following our brief community meeting.

Please contact Hospitality Chair, Janet Strickland, by telephone or email at, (202) 584-0880 or [email protected] to coordinate your dinner dish selections.

Admission is free for those PBCCA members. Guests should pay a reasonable $10.00 and children under 12 years old are free. Payment can be made using cash, check or credit cards.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Guest Speaker at Nov. 10 PBCCA Meeting

Published on November 3, 2015January 8, 2016

Penn Branch News

congresswoman-eleanor-holmes-norton_seal-770x434 The Honorable Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton will be the guest speaker at the next Penn Branch Citizens Civic Assocation (PBCCA) 7:00 pm Tuesday, November 10 PBCCA meeting at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

A long-time civil rights activist, lawyer, professor and champion and representative for the citizens of the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, now in her thirteenth term as the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia. Congresswoman Norton is the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. She serves on two committees: the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Among her accomplishments are senatorial courtesy to recommend federal judges, the U.S. Attorney, and other significant federal law enforcement positions for the District; up to $10,000 per year for all D.C. high school graduates to attend any public U.S. college or university and up to $2,500 per year to many private colleges and universities; a unique $5,000 D.C. homebuyer tax credit, which has sharply increased home ownership in the District and was a major factor in stabilizing the city’s population; and D.C. business tax incentives, including a significant wage credit for employing D.C. residents, which has maintained businesses and residents in the District.

We are very pleased to have Congresswoman Norton attend the November 10th PBCCA meeting.

Penn Brancher – NAACP DC President Speaks on the Mall

Published on October 19, 2015October 19, 2015

Penn Branch News/Ward 7

Akosua Ali, Penn Branch resident and NAACP DC Branch President, was one of the guest speakers at the Saturday, October 11, 2015 JUSTICE OR ELSE! rally that was held on the Washington Mall on the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March. Ali addressed the crowd emphasizing the need to stand together to demand equality and justice. Ali has also been a guest speaker at our Penn Branch Civic Citizens Association meetings. The purpose of the JUSTICE OR ELSE! Rally was to demand change and commit to working together for justice for every individual regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status.

Ali is now busy planning for the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner which takes place November 4, 7:00 pm at the Washington, Hilton Hotel. Speakers will include NAACP President and CEO Reverend, Cornell Brooks, Esq.

For more information: http://www.naacpdc.org/events/index.htm

Penn Branch Residents Launch Business Ventures

Published on October 18, 2015October 18, 2015

Community Acknowledgements/Community Activities/Penn Branch News/Ward 7

Escape the Oval Office located at 1322B, H Street NE, second floor and Urban Grown Veggies are just a few of the businesses owned and operated by Penn Branch residents located in Ward 7. Business owners, friends, relatives, and customers gathered on Saturday, October, 17 at a reception held at the recently opened Escape the Oval Office, which is owned by Ayana Canty and Tim Smith. Attendees welcomed the launch of Urban Grown Veggies by Lisa and Darrell Baker.

Master gardener Lisa Baker, who also launched the You Tube video series Lisa and Bean Stalk, offers consulting services and tips to healthy eating and a sustainable city garden that could reduce your food costs, feed your family, and teach healthy values and gardening skills.

Escape the Oval Office offers more than some of the ‘escape’ rooms that have been emerging nationwide. In addition to the well-planned escape room, there are class rooms equipped for educational activities. The two floor layout, which is also includes a well-laid out reception room, is perfect for team building and group activities. Attendees included, Ward 7, Councilwoman Yvette Alexander, Penn Branch President, Jimmie Williams, many Penn Branchers and lots of families and children.

2015 Lloyd D. Smith Foundation Scholarship (Ward 7: Deadline April 16th)

Published on February 8, 2015February 8, 2015

Community Acknowledgements/Penn Branch News/Ward 7

The Lloyd D. Smith Foundation is pleased to announce scholarship opportunities for 2015 high school graduates of Ward 7.

Two scholarships will be awarded – applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements. Applications must be received by the Lloyd D. Smith Foundation by April 16, 2015. To download an application should visit http://www.lloyddsmithfoundation.org or email the Foundation at info@lloyddsmithfoundation

Lloyd D. Smith Foundation
PO Box 10473
Washington, DC 20020-9994

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ABOUT LLOYD SMITH
Lloyd Smith was a long-time Penn Branch resident and husband of Penn Brancher Mary Ann Smith.

Lloyd D. Smith was recognized as a pioneer and leader in housing, community and economic development throughout the Washington Metropolitan area. He also received national and international recognition for his many accomplishments and achievements. During the 1980s and 1990s, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO). Under his leadership, the organization grew from an annual budget of $115,000 to over $5 million and became known for developing single and multi-family housing and commercial properties, and for managing numerous social service programs. Prior to leading MHCDO, Mr. Smith had 27 years of federal and district government service. Mr. Smith was an organizing director of City First Bank of DC and was a mayoral appointee to the Board of the National Capital Revitalization Corporation. He became Chairman and served as Acting President of both organizations.

Mr. Smith was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 1993 Local Minority Business Advocate Award; 1994 Points of Light Foundation Community Leadership Award; the DC Building Industry Association’s Community Service Award; and the Local Minority Business Advocate Award presented at the 8th Annual Salute to Blacks in Business. Mr. Smith was a graduate of the Leadership Washington Class of 1991, a recipient of the 1996 Washingtonian of the Year Award, and was inducted into the District of Columbia Hall of Fame Society in 2002.

Mr. Smith has been featured in several documentaries, and his story has been chronicled in The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Smith was instrumental in arranging for former First Lady Barbara Bush and Queen Elizabeth II of England to visit Ward Seven in 1991. President William Jefferson Clinton toured the area in 1993. Mr. Smith had a passion for African-American history and genealogy. He founded The Pearl Coalition, which was formed to commemorate the escape attempt by 77 local slaves in 1848. He also did extensive research on his family ancestry and was compiling his memoirs prior to his death.

Penn Brancher, Mary Ann Smith is a founding member of the Lloyd D. Smith Foundation, and served as chairperson for five years. Recently, she assumed the role of treasurer. Mrs. Smith was married to the late Lloyd D. Smith for 25 years and is a long time resident of Penn Branch. We are proud of his contributions and legacy to the Penn Branch and Ward 7 community.