• Enough is Enough

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    Enough is enough.

    America's politics should be driven by the priorities of the people, not sound bites, special interest money, partisan gridlock, and polarizing rhetoric.

    It is time for a change.

    We believe that politics cannot and should not be a spectator sport. No politician, party or ideology will solve America's mounting problems alone. Only by providing authentic opportunities for the people to be part of the solution can we rebuild trust in our political institutions and create mandates for meaningful action on the critical issues facing our nation.

    So begins the introduction to the November 5th Coalition, an all-partisan alliance, committed to civic partnerships that address our biggest challenges. Check out the website, and sign the petition, for this promising effort. Members include American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), AmericaSpeaks, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), Mobilize.org, National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, National Civic League, National Wildlife Federation, Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network, Take Back our Citizenship (student group), and the Study Circles Resource Center.

  • Collaboration DC helps Near SE, SW Aim for Consensus

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    Collaboration DC, a network of practitioners working to build civic capacity and solve community problems in the Nation's Capital, has been working with residents and community based organizations in Near Southeast and Southwest for over a year to help forge a collective approach to neighborhood change.  Collaboration within the community has not always been the case.  As Reverend Ruth Hamilton, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, says in the Hill Rag, “The rap on our community is that we can’t get along.”

     Now, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D, Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, and the Southwest/West of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative have worked together to engage the community and build a "consensus vision on what community benefits residents most want to demand from developers."

     The process of relationship building was supported by Mary Jacksteit, former director and now consultant to Collaboration DC.  Residents see the benefit.  Rev. Hamilton, continued, "“The relationships that we have built, they pay for this process already. We just have to continue doing this as new residents come in.”

     This story is excerpted from the June 2007 edition of the Hill Rag.  The full story can be found here.