Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
Do you know where your food comes from? In our modern era, we have become increasingly disconnected from the farms, people, and systems that help put food on our tables. The pandemic revealed how fragile our food system is, and how important it is to have more food grown here regionally. What’s more, an increase in climate disasters like we’ve seen recently with Hurricanes Helene and Milton demonstrate the importance of investing in climate-friendly, locally supported food systems, rather than “big [corporate] agriculture” which is a significant contributor to climate change.
The Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report shows that food insecurity in our region is on the rise across virtually every category of geography, income, race, education level, and more. The report states, “Prevalence rates for food insecurity span from a low of 23% in Arlington, VA—still 1 in 4 households—to a high of 50% in Prince George’s County,” with the District landing in the middle at 38%—more than 1 in 3 households.
The report also reveals important insights about who is experiencing food insecurity: “As noted in past years, the food insecure population is disproportionately comprised of people of color, families with children, and those with lower incomes and levels of education. However, looking at trends year over year, it stands out that the food insecure population is growing increasingly educated and more middle-class.” Looking at the data in the newsletter, you’ll notice that employment rates are higher among those who are food insecure.
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Monday, October 14, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring and celebrating American indigenous peoples and commemorating their cultures and heritage. The holiday also soberly reflects on the horrific history of colonization, imperialism, and centuries of broken promises that displaced and destroyed countless groups of indigenous peoples. Not just on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but every day, we honor the people who first called the land we now live on in the DC region home—the Nacotchtank, Piscataway, Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Monacan, Powhatan, and Pamunkey peoples. May the celebrations of their cultures and the reflections on imperialist harm continually move us toward reparative and restorative action.
Please note that due to the holiday, many District government services will be modified on Monday and into next week. You can read a full list at this link, but here’s a quick run-down of what will be affected on Monday, October 14:
- DPW will not collect household trash and recycling. Collections will “slide” one day for the rest of the week into Saturday.
- The Fort Totten Transfer Station will be closed, and re-open to the public on Tuesday, October 15 for bulk trash and recycling.
- DDOT will suspend construction and work zones for non-emergency work in roadways, alleys, and sidewalks within the District’s right of way.
- All parking enforcement will be suspended, except for Streetcar ticketing and towing.
- DC Public Library neighborhood locations and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library will have modified hours. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library will be open from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Anacostia Library, Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library, Mt. Pleasant Library, Petworth Library, Southwest Library, Tenley-Friendship Library, and Woodridge Library (Ward 5) will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Remember, the library is always available online at dclibrary.org.
- DPR recreation centers, community centers, and indoor aquatic centers will be closed. Outdoor playgrounds, parks, fields, and athletic courts will remain open.
- DC Public Schools will be closed.
In this week’s Ward 5 Weekly newsletter, you’ll also find public safety updates, a recap of the meeting on October 9 for the community about renovations coming to the Harry Thomas Recreation Center, a survey for Riggs Park neighbors with responses due today, a public meeting about the Arboretum Bridge connecting to the Anacostia River Trail on October 15, a public roundtable in the Subcommittee on Libraries and Youth Affairs on October 16, the next Ward 5 Monthly Public Safety Call on October 16, surveys for DCPS alumni, the final version of the Ivy City Small Area Plan, new Notices of Intent modifying traffic/parking requirements in Ward 5, programs to benefit from including a reminder to apply for the sidewalk shoveling exemption program by October 30, and community events including the Queens Chapel Community Fun Day tomorrow. Keep reading for more!
