Monthly Archives: January 2012

Check It!: Fashion Transformation

Check It - Fashion Transformation

Excerpts from the Check It! press release on their Facebook event page:

Gay gang goes from Gallery Place to Peace on the runway of entrepreneurship during Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend

This information is regarding “Check It.” We hope to get support from the community for these youth who are taking great strides in the right direction. As you know, the group that many held responsible for the wave of violence and theft at the stores in the Gallery Place metro, have made the decision to turn over a new leaf.

Due to the response to the article in the Washington Post September 27, 2011, several community organizations, as well as the media, and DCMPD have responded and have “adopted” these young people. Currently, the former gang members are getting trained as entrepreneurs and branding their own fashion/clothing line which will be launched in the event. This will be a long process but leaders of “Check It” have taken giant steps through the positive reinforcement of the community and agencies such as MPD who have allowed these youth to use their gym to practice for this great event.

This experience will show what happens when community and business’s wrap it’s arms around disadvantaged youth, in this case the majority are LGBTQ youth. There is a proverb that states “hurt people hurt people.” This event will show their pain and the pain that they have endured, as well as the pain they have caused others. It will also show them on the road of recovery and redemption. We must hold them accountable but we must also create roads and avenues to success.

This group originated in Ward 5’s Trinidad neighborhood and now exist in Wards 1,2,4,5,6,7,8 and various parts of P.G. County Maryland. They need our support, so we hope all make a small sacrifice to support them by attending the New Beginning as they tell their story.

On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 there will be a Press Conference/VIP Fundraiser Reception. This event will allow them to tell their story and raise money for supplies for their clothing line. Tickets are $40 and will also allow access into “Check It’s” Fashion Show and Clothing Line Launch on Saturday January 14, 2012. (The media is allowed free admission into both events)

Fashion Extravaganza
Date: Saturday January 14, 2012
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: ROC-North Community Auditorium, 801 Shepherd St. NW, 20111
Advance Admission: Youth 17 and under, $10; Adults, $15 (call 202.499.9332 or purchase advance tickets online)
Day-Of Admission: $20

First ANC-5B meeting of 2012: Thursday, January 5

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5B Monthly Meeting

When: Thursday, January 5, 2012, 7-9 pm. Although the meeting is scheduled from 7 pm until 9 pm, the public notice states that the meeting will adjourn at 8:40 pm (and that public comment is limited to 60 seconds).

Where: MPD-5D, 1805 Bladensburg Road NE

Agenda Includes:
· Moment of silence, greetings, and introductions
· ANC-5B Officer Elections
· Medical Marijuana Cultivation Centers in ANC-5B
· New Business
· Community Concerns/Announcements

It is worth noting that after former ANC-5B chair William Shelton stole nearly $30,000 from the commission’s bank account, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Security Trust Fund Board of Trustees recently reimbursed ANC-5B for $15,467.67 in order to cover “outstanding, unpaid operating expenses.”

For additional information and background, a collection of documents related to ANC-5B are located in this Google Docs folder.

Hello Trinidad, DC! Hello 2012!

Welcome! As you can see, we’re gearing up to re-launch our social media and 2012 meeting schedule and would love for you to join us!

Our new website is currently a little dusty and under construction – please let us know in the comments what would you like to see on it (i.e. types of information, resources, links, etc.).

Please “like” us over on our new Facebook page.

And, you can now find us on Twitter.

Thank you, and have a happy and healthy 2012!