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

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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 [email protected] 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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RESOURCES FOR NEIGHBORS FACING EMPLOYMENT UNCERTAINTY

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Resources for Unemployed Neighbors

Your Penn Branch Community Association cares. Here is a list of Resources for Federal Employees, Contractors, and Others Facing Uncertainty

The Penn Branch Community is proud of its rich history as a home to many distinguished public servants. We stand with our neighbors and friends in these difficult times. We honor your service on behalf of our country and communities, and we are committed to supporting each other through these hardships and into a brighter future that delivers justice for all who have been harmed.

Please share additional recommended resources with [email protected] for potential inclusion in future updated resource guides. Please also share ideas for how Penn Branch can best support you or others who have been affected.

The resources below apply to anyone who faces job loss or uncertainty, regardless of whether they were employed by the Federal government.

Comprehensive Resource Sites

Unemployment Compensation

Workers should file for unemployment insurance in the jurisdiction of their last duty station (listed on final SF-50 form). For example, a DC resident who was terminated from a Federal job based at the Pentagon in Virginia should apply for unemployment benefits in Virginia. The links below provide more information.

Healthcare, Housing, Food, and Other Assistance

Federal Employee Rights, Resources, and Legal Action

Job Seeking

Sharing Your Stories

Federal News and Discussion Board

Penn Branch Launches Memorial Paver Campaign to Improve 9/11 Memorial Gateway Park

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9/1 Memorial Park Paver Campaign

Donate a paver in honor of your family, organization, or a beloved neighbor | LINK: Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

Penn Branch Community Association is asking for your support to help us improve 9/11 Memorial Park. Our goal is to beautify this gateway to our neighborhood by covering the main surface area (along Carpenter Street SE) with personalize pavers that memorialize the many great families, elected servants, and organizations that has made this community great.

Donate a personalized paver in honor of your Penn Branch Family, Ward 7 organization, or a beloved neighbor.

Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

#wearepennbranch#DC#campaign#SEDC

donate.brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

My Community | Essays and Images by Azola Burton

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By Azola Burton

The Purpose

I have lived in Penn Branch since 2017 when I was 6 years old.

For my 8th grade community project I want to create a blog to provide a youth perspective on Penn Branch Community events. As a 13-year-old, I think community events are a great way to bring people together and have fun. I like seeing how different activities can help people connect and talk, whether it’s a local community event or sports event.
I want to increase the number of children and families that attend Penn Branch Community Associations events. To do that I have taken pictures and videos to put on the Penn Branch Community Association website.
My goals with this project :

  1. To send out information about my project to the neighborhood listserv
  2. To share pictures and my reflections of events I have attended
  3. To create an article for the monthly newsletter to highlight events that I have attended
  4. To design a presentation board to show how kids and families can be more involved with a QR code
    for people to join the Penn Branch Community Association

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT | JUNE 18, 2024

One of the new events that my family hosted was a family movie night. This event was specifically to get families out into the community. I set up tables, snacks, and helped my mom with shopping to contribute to the event. I also picked a kid friendly movie.

COMMUNITY DAY, AUGUST 24, 2024

Penn Branch Community Day Will take place on Saturday, August 24 from 1-6pm

Penn Branch Walking Tour

The Penn Branch walking tour was sponsored by Events DC and The Penn Branch Community Association. The tour was led by Jim Byers who hosts the Latin Flavor jazz show on WPFW 89.3 FM. On the tour our tour guide shared facts about certain neighborhood houses, apartments,and landmarks. One of the most interesting things he shared was how African Americans contributed to the design of the houses.

I helped by taking pictures and videos of the tour for our neighborhood website.

Block Party

Every August the neighborhood hosts community day. The planning committee gets donations, finds community organizations to have tables, gets food, reserves the location, and finds volunteers. During this time the neighborhood gets time to talk and connect with each other.

This year of 2025 I have helped with setting up tables and yard games

GROW THE BLOCK: NEIGHBORHOOD GARDENING GROUP

Our family has been gardening since I was 2 years old. Since 2017, we have been gardening here in DC. We have 6 raised garden beds and we grow things like blackberries, strawberries, spinach, lettuce, raspberries, okra, eggplants, tomatoes, bok choy, flowers, and herbs.

In 2024 my mom started a local garden group and at some of the meetings held at our home they talked about how they grow certain vegetables and fruits.

I helped others by cutting and prepping food for everybody, setting tables, and cleaning up at the end.

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    9/11 Memorial Gateway Park Paver Campaign (FY2025)

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    9/1 Memorial Park Paver Campaign

    PBCA has been working hard to renovate and improve our 9/11 Memorial Gateway Park. The ultimate goal is to greatly improve usability, access, and sustainable plan for water and erosion. We also want to make this pocket park a destination that tells the story of our great Penn Branch neighborhood and memorializes those D.C. residents who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the September 11, 2001.

    PBCA design plan for 9/11 Memorial Park

    Penn Branch Community Association is asking for your support to help us improve 9/11 Memorial Park. Our goal is to beautify this gateway to our neighborhood by covering the main surface area (along Carpenter Street SE) with memorial pavers.

    DONATE YOUR PAVER

    Donate a personalized paver in honor of your Penn Branch Family, Ward 7 organization, or a beloved neighbor.

    4″ x 8″ | $150.00
    *3 lines personalized text
    *Up to 20 characters per line

    8″ x 8″ | $200.00
    *For military service families, elected, public servants, and non-profits

    *6 lines personalized text
    Up to 20 characters per line

    TO MAKE YOUR DONATION :
    Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

    Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

    DC Residents who lost their lives on 9/11

    • David Charlebois Washington DC ,first Officer
    • Bernard Curtis Brown 11,student Leckie Elementary School
    • Sarah Clark 65,Columbia Md, sixth grade teacher ,Bertie Backus Middle School ,DC
    • Asia Cotton 11 student, Backus Middle School DC
    • James Debeuneure 58,Upper Marlboro MD fifth grade teacher, Ketcham Elementary School
    • Rodney Dickens11 student Ketcham Elementary School ,DC
    • James Joe Ferguson 39,Washington,education outreach director National Geographic Society
    • Ian Gray 55,Washington President of health care consulting firm
    • Karen A. Kincaid 40 attorney, Wiley Rein & Fielding ,DC
    • Hilda E. Taylor sixth grade teacher at Leckie Elementary School. DC
    • Carolyn B Halmon  49, Washington DC
    • Brenda Kegler 49 Washington, DC
    • Major Ronald D. Milam  33 Washington DC., US Army
    • Edna L Stephens 53,Washington DC
    • Johnnie Doctor, Jr., Washington DC
    • Paul Ambrose 32 ,Washington, DC
    • Major Ronald D. Milam 33 Washington ,DC

    DESIGN CONCEPTS

    PHASE I: Infrastructure, Design Improvements

    Installation of electrical power, energy efficient LED lighting for the main sign, and community-approved plans for the redesign of the main area to expand the common areas and restore all pathways (80% Hardscaping). 

    Also; to update and restore primary park signs and memorial plaques bearing the names of DC residents who lost their lives on 9/11.

    PHASE II: Improved Gardening and Installation of Hardscaping (Memorial Pavers)

    Leveling main area; Small Retaining Wall; Widen and restore all wood framing around steps and pathways

    Our second phase efforts centered around making the pocket park a functioning town square or gathering space for the neighborhood. This includes wider walking paths and improving the grading of the severely sloped landscaping . 

    The expanding redesign/ landscaping will create a defined memorial garden area and the addition of a (3.5ft high) retaining wall that runs horizontally through the park, parallel with the 3100 Block of O Street ST SE) to level the primary surface area.  All wood framing around walking paths and steps were replaced at the front entrance/ sign area (facing Penn Ave SE), and as well as other areas in the 9/11 Memorial Park in an effort to preserve the integrity of the landscape from erosion.

    Resurfacing /Restoration of Pathways

    Restoration of pathways and expanding the primary surface areas (80% Hardscaping/20%  Memorial Garden), increasing the capacity for public gatherings and improving overall accessibility to the park from Carpenter Street and O Street SE entrances.

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