Although the extremely cold temperatures make it hard to think of the summer, the series is only 12 weeks away.
The 11 highest ranking movies will be shown from May 22 to July 31 at Farragut Square Park at 17th and K Streets in the Golden Triangle.
The movie choices include “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Wedding Planner,” “Anchorman,” “Empire Records” and “Nine to Five.” The voting is taking place at: www.goldentriangledc.com/movie-vote
Voting is occurring from now until Fri., March 6. The Golden Triangle BID will announce the winners on its website Mon., March 23. Check back and be sure to visit our events page for a full list of fun events coming this spring.
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About Golden Triangle BID
The Golden Triangle BID is a non-profit organization that works to enhance D.C.’s Central Business District from the White House to Dupont Circle and 16th Street NW to New Hampshire Avenue NW. The BID’s primary focus is to provide a clean, safe, and friendly environment within its 43 blocks of public space for area workers, local residents and visitors.
It’s a given that when the president comes to town, it’s a big news story. The key for ASPR is to find ways for its clients to connect in meaningful and insightful ways to such a visit. George M. Pullman Educational Foundation and its executive director Robin Redmond had an important perspective to share about their benefactor when President Obama recently visited Chicago and declared the Pullman community a historic landmark. This op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times opened minds and created new visibility for the foundation at a critical time.
George Pullman, much maligned, opened doors to opportunity
President Barack Obama’s visit to Chicago on Thursday to designate the community of Pullman as a national monument marks a first and a great honor for Chicago. Established as a company town by the railroad magnate and industrialist George Mortimer Pullman, the community of Pullman and the man who established it are more than worthy of such a tribute.
Sadly, George Pullman today is most known for his role in the Strike of 1894. But Pullman was an entrepreneur and — like his peers of that era — he had to make difficult decisions during tough economic times. He wasn’t always right, but he was an innovator who took risks and opened doors for many who had been excluded from the opportunities that the industrial revolution created.
The creation of his company town and his decision to hire freed blacks as porters for his rail line, while controversial, were progressive ideas and contributed in many ways to social progress. The results of these bold ideas equaled economic and social mobility for thousands of families for over a century. While most laborers in the 1880s lived in deplorable conditions in Chicago’s crowded tenement on the city’s west and south sides, Pullman employees lived in their own homes. Nearby were clean parks and good schools. And in the African-American community, Pullman porters, who traveled across the United States, quietly sharing news of black life in America, were held in the highest regard.
Although he quit school in the 4th grade, Pullman had a passion for education and the foresight to conceptualize and endow the Pullman Free School of Manual Training. Established in 1915 with $1.2 million bequeath by Pullman, Pullman Tech, as it was known in the Pullman/Roseland community, was a groundbreaking vocational high school that educated the children of Pullman employees in trades like auto mechanics, architectural and mechanical drawing, and machine shop, 20th century skills and revolutionary concepts for the time.
When the Pullman Tech could no longer meet the educational needs of a changing work force, Pullman’s granddaughter, Florence Lowden Miller, established the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation with funds her grandfather bequeathed. In 1950, the Foundation awarded its first set of merit-based, need-based scholarships to 60 young men and women to attend the college of their choice. Sixty-five years later, nearly 13,000 proud Pullman Scholars are a living testament to Pullman’s bold vision. Now professionals — doctors, lawyers, executives, scientists, and engineers — the majority of Pullman Scholars were the first in their families or neighborhoods to attend college. Younger siblings and neighborhood friends often followed their example. Currently, 160 Pullman Scholars are receiving more than $800,000 in scholarships and educational support annually to attend Stanford University, Grinnell College, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and many more.
Research documents the value of a college education in promoting economic efficiency, social justice, and social mobility. Opportunity is much greater among college-educated adults than it is among adults with less education. Bricks and mortar are a lovely, singular testament of one’s accomplishments in life. But imagine the power of earning a college degree and its effect on the economic and social trajectory of a family, and perhaps, a community. It is called a ripple effect. That is George Pullman’s legacy.
Two of my great uncles worked as porters on Pullman’s rail line, a bit of family history my parents shared with me a shortly after I became the Foundation’s executive director. I am honored to be a steward of George Pullman’s legacy, working to ensure future generations of young people and their families have the opportunity to earn a college degree, and as such, pursue their own vision of the American Dream. And as I learn more about George Pullman, I am not surprised that my family has been influenced by him.
Robin Redmond is the executive director of the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation.
Lincoln Park Strategies is a full-service public opinion research firm. ASPR has delved into its approach and shared success stories with influential reporters. This media relations work has resulted in successful media placements, including live national TV interviews, that have raised the profile of the firm and its CEO, Stefan Hankin.
“Give Like a Local” Launches as the Giving Season Kicks Off in Greater Washington
Catalogue for Philanthropy Provides Guide for Washingtonians
Looking for Local Charities Vetted by Local Experts
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nov. 3, 2014—When people look for a restaurant or want to know what a neighborhood is like, their number one choice is to ask a local person, even before they go online. The Catalogue for Philanthropy applies this thinking to the nonprofit sector; its local experts have released their latest selection of charities that have gone through a successful program review, financial assessment and site visit.
Catalogue reviewers carefully selected 78 charities to join the network of more than 330 vetted charities. All of the nonprofits are locally based and operate with budgets below $3 million; they work in the arts, education, environment, and human services sectors throughout greater Washington.
The Catalogue is launching its “Give Like a Local” campaign to raise awareness of the Catalogue, the charities and the easy way donors can support local charities that mean the most to them. TheCatalogue also offers gift cards, so families and friends can continue the giving tradition with the charities of their choice.
“You can think of the Catalogue as the GPS for the sometimes confusing set of choices when you want to help,” says Barbara Harman, president and editor, Catalogue for Philanthropy.“Especially at this time of year, when there are so many activities, people need a trusted source for navigating where and how their dollars should go.”
Since its founding 11 years ago, the Catalogue has raised more than $24 million for nonprofits in D.C. and nearby Virginia and Maryland. The charities are selected and participate without any charge; the Catalogue raises funds separately to support its efforts.
Some of the new nonprofits this year include:
Computer CORE in Alexandria, which teaches tech and life skills for low-income adults.
Hope House DC, which connects children and fathers during periods of incarceration.
KEEN Greater DC, based in Bethesda, which serves children with disabilities through community sports and recreation.
Returning nonprofits also recognize the value of the initiative. “The Catalogue not only introduces to friends and supporters the work we do with vulnerable children and youth, but it also gives us invaluable, instant credibility. In a very real sense, the Catalogue does for Beacon House what it might take us years to accomplish, if ever,” says Gerry Kittner, executive director, Beacon House.
Saturday night the Catalogue brought together hundreds of supporters and its new nonprofits at the “Inspiration to Action” event at the Harman Center in order celebrate the start of the unofficial giving season (November–December).
Innovative Program that Connects Trained Educators to At-Risk Families to Nearly Double in Florida
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters Aims to Improve Reading, Math Skills for 3-to-5 Year Olds
TAMPA, Fla.—Oct. 14, 2014—An evidence-based education initiative that already operates in 11 communities throughout Florida will soon add 10 more counties, thanks to an increase in state funding.
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (www.hippyusa.org) is a non-profit that helps underserved families prepare their children for success in school and offers the service at no charge.
The new programs are located in the following counties: Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Hardee, Madison, Miami-Dade, Putnam, Wakulla and Washington.
Parents in these communities will be able to request extra help assisting their young children with reading and math lessons. Then, HIPPY will provide books, learning activities and training to support them.
Independent research shows that HIPPY increases student achievement scores and makes families stronger. This also provides a return-on-investment, because 3-to-5 year olds in the program will need fewer remedial services as they go through the education system.
The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning has allocated $2.5 million for the HIPPY expansion in 2014–15 in addition to $1.4 million for existing program sites.
“Parents are their child’s first teacher, so giving them the tools, skills and confidence they need to work with their children in the home makes sense,” says Shan Goff, executive director of the Office of Early Learning, Florida Department of Education. “HIPPY has been helping us do that in Florida since 1997. The program works, and we are pleased to be able to expand it to other counties.”
The counties were selected for the program expansion based on these factors: geographical areas where children scored below 70 percent on the Early Childhood Observation System and Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading, counties without an existing HIPPY program and counties located in “high-need” areas.
“Florida has made a very smart decision to invest in a program that has a legacy of bringing results to its taxpayers,” says Linda Frank, board chair, HIPPY USA. “America is falling behind in the education race, and experts say it’s a threat to our economy. HIPPY is an important way to help prepare Florida for the future.”
In the HIPPY model, community-based home visitors meet with parents in their homes to share books and early education learning activities one hour a week for 30 weeks per program year. Parents then spend time each day with their children using the HIPPY books and activity packets. In addition to home visits, programs also have regularly scheduled parent group meetings.
Additional HIPPY programs started this fall in Nevada, North Carolina and Texas.
Dr. Avima Lombard developed HIPPY in Israel in 1969 as a way to help immigrants and their children adjust to their new lives. It is currently implemented in 10 countries.
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Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters USA programs (www.hippyusa.org) focus on family literacy, school readiness and parent involvement. HIPPY helps parents prepare their preschool children to succeed in school. Currently, HIPPY serves more than 15,000 families in almost 140 communities across the country.
