In view of the overwhelming amount of separate development projects in process or scheduled for completion in the future, the major community organizations in Southwest DC are jointly hosting community meetings to engage Southwest and near Southeast residents in roundtable discussions this next week. The community meetings are planned to achieve community consensus on the priorities of community amenities desired by the community as a guide for negotiating Community Benefits from developers.  The concept of the hosting organizations is to unify as a community toward achieving sustainable partnerships within the community and with developers in support of the stability and diversity of the community and residents’ quality of life after development.  

The 6D Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANC), the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA) and the South Washington/West of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative (SWWR) are the hosts for the meetings. Extensive outreach is being made to publicize the meetings and to encourage a broad spectrum of the existing residents to attend one of the two meetings and voicing their ideas. Councilmember Tommy Wells will be attending to hear and consider how he might assist the SW/SE community as it works further to shape its vision and efforts to implement the priorities defined by the community.

The first meeting will be held Saturday May 19 from 10am – 1:00pm at Second Baptist Church, First and M Streets, SW.  The second meeting will be Monday, May 21 from 6:30 – 9:30pm at Southeastern University, Sixth and I Streets, SW.  Refreshments will be served.

The community meetings are being produced by the SW/SE Community Benefits Coordinating Committee, a working group comprised mainly of individual members of the host groups.