Get Involved! Become a Member of Empower DC!
Empower DC is a membership-based organization.
Membership is open to any person who supports the mission of Empower DC and would like to participate in fulfilling the mission. Our membership fee is $10 per year.
Become a member of Empower DC by sending a check or money order made out to Empower DC to 1419 V St, NW Washington, DC 20009.
Join a Campaign and a Project Team!
Empower DC is currently involved in several campaigns, addressing critical social issues identified by our membership. Our current primary campaigns include:
Affordable Housing- Empower DC works to preserve and protect existing affordable housing, ensure the creation of more affordable housing, and heighten tenants’ knowledge of their housing rights. We do this through a number of initiatives including:
- Section 8 Working Group –A project of Empower DC. The mission is to equip tenants, living in Sect.8 property or voucher recipients, with the necessary knowledge, information, technical assistance and opportunities to effectively participate in the preservation of their at-risk federally assisted affordable housing.
- Housing Cooperative Sustainability Initiative- Empower DC supports the creation and longevity of affordable housing cooperatives, also called limited-equity cooperatives. Our initiative assists tenants with exercising their first right to purchase, forming a housing cooperative, and sustaining the cooperative through ongoing training. We also work to connect cooperatives across the city and come together to advocate for needed policy to protect affordable housing cooperatives, such as lowering the property tax burden on affordable housing cooperatives as we successfully did in 2005.
- Affordable Housing Budget Advocacy– Empower DC works to educate and engage low and moderate income DC residents in raising their voices to ensure tax dollars are allocated for critical affordable housing programs. Among our priorities are the Housing Production Trust Fund, which is a source of money for the preservation and creation of affordable housing and the Rent Supplement which assists low income renters in covering the high cost of rent.
Childcare for All Campaign:Our child care work includes building a strong group of low and moderate income parents who are advocating to win quality, affordable child care for all DC families. Our current priority is to expand and improve child care services for children with special needs, a group which is currently largely excluded.
People’s Property Campaign: Empower DC is spearheading a campaign to end the sale, transfer and giveaway of valuable public property in DC – such as schools, parks and other buildings – to private profit interests. We are working towards implementing a policy that reserves public property for public uses such as recreation, affordable housing & shelter.
Empowerment Circles: Empower DC works to build the skills and confidence of low and moderate income DC residents and to improve residents’ ability to be effective self-advocates on behalf of themselves and their communities. Our monthly Empowerment Circles provide a forum for residents to gather information necessary for their empowerment in a safe learning environment. Topics range from discussions around policies or programs, such as the Housing Production Trust Fund and the DC Disability Rights Office, or skills and political awareness such as How DC government Works, How to Chair a Meeting, etc.
But wait! There are even more ways to get involved with Empower DC. We are currently building project teams to assist with important organizational work, including:
- Membership Team
Follow up with new contacts
coordinate membership renewals - Affordable Housing Series Team
Coordinate monthly forum series on housing topics - Newsletter Team
Produce newsletter quarterly - City Council Advocacy Team
Schedule and coordinate annual Empower DC city council day - Fundraising Team
Assist with fundraising events & grants - Empowerment Circles Team
Assist with monthly empowerment circles series - Outreach Team
Coordinate general street outreach - Administrative Team
Assist with office tasks including Phone calling, Mailings, Data entry
Download the membership form here and join a campaign or a team!
For more information about how to get involved, contact Parisa Norouzi,parisa@empowerdc.org (202) 234-9119.