Be the Change in DC Blog

An update with great news

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:15:00 +0000

It's been a while since there's been a blog post but Be the Change in DC has been busier than ever. On May 18th, Be the Change in DC had a successful fundraiser at Dhalak Restaurant in the Dupont area. Many showed up to support the organization and we had two wonderful music performances. Additionally, Marvin Roane, a cell phone program participant, said a few words about how the cell phone and Be the Change in DC's mentorship have helped him get back on his feet. About a week later, Marvin found out that he had been awarded transitional housing and that he would be moving out of 801 East Men's Shelter. This is great news for the cell phone program and Be the Change in DC but most importantly for Marvin as he can now put all of his attention into finding employment. Getting a place of his own is that much closer to becoming a reality for Marvin and we could not be happier for him. Stay tuned to learn more about Marvin and the other cell phone participants.

Still rising...

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:43:00 +0000

At the top of today's (04.14.11) Express newspaper, the headline reads "Local Homeless Rate is up 9.5 Percent Since 2007." The number of homeless families in the Washington region rose nearly 10% during the economic downturn, according to data released as part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' annual survey. The annual "point-in-time" survey found 11,988 homeless people, up from 11,744 last year. Nearly a third were children and 5,315 were in families, an increase from 4,995 last year. Clearly, there is still many people who need our help. Please donate or volunteer or do both but do something. Don't just sit there. Be the Change.

"Becoming the Change: A Volunteer's Perspective"

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:08:00 +0000

Below is what was submitted by volunteer, Bela Shah, as her thoughts on the March sleeping bag event. Since her thoughts address Be the Change in DC more generally, I thought I would post it as a standalone entry: Recently there was an interesting deal on Living Social.com. ``Purchase a $5 donation through Living Social and the popular online business would double the amount and donate it to the Red Cross relief efforts for Japan. My initial reaction was, “Wow, what a great idea! Just click to make a difference.” I believe Living Social ended up raising close to a million dollars through this scheme. However, later that day, I had an interesting conversation with a close friend. He had seen the deal as well and for some reason, the idea didn’t sit well with him. He later understood his uneasiness when he came across a blog entry on Charity Focus.org. After the writer of the blog came across the Living Social deal, his first thought was, “Wow, now donations are for sale!” It’s interesting to examine the multiple facets of service. The Living Social deal, for example, could be a terrific way to make a quick impact for a worthy cause. In just one day, Red Cross’s budget for Japan relief efforts increased by a million dollars. But what the Charity Focus blog went on to describe was the human to human transformation that is lost in this type of transaction based giving model. Clicking to purchase a $5 donation not only creates zero connection to the individuals in Japan that you are hoping to help, but because of this lost connection, you become detached from a global catastrophe, limiting your own reflection on your individual accountability. In other words, the “click and give” model generally doesn’t lead us to question how our micro decisions impact the world at the macro level, and how these decisions may contribute to global warming, climate change, and an increase in natural disasters. Without going off on too much of a tangent, there is something to be said about a giving model that creates a human to human connection. While volunteering with Be the Change in DC, I realized at a more profound level the impact of direct service. Offering sleeping bags to homeless individuals huddled under blankets in the cold DC night created a beautiful opportunity. I was able to engage with the homeless at a level which is difficult to achieve when you are rushing to work or some other appointment with a million thoughts flying through your mind. At times, guilt muddled with misplaced generosity might lead you to donate a few coins or bills without making eye contact and rushing onwards. But the opportunity to spend time talking to the homeless, through the medium of a sleeping bag, allowed me to remember how much we fundamentally have in common. So many of the individuals that I met shared with me their struggle to remain positive and revealed terrible instances of misfortune and bad luck. Their personal stories led me to question the impact of my own thoughts, decisions, and actions on the world around me. Nothing could replace the human experience of direct service. And this is why my friend had that unsettling feeling when he came across the Living Social deal. Choosing to purchase a $5 donation, while honorable in its intent, forgoes the opportunity to connect with each other and experience an inner transformation. I could easily donate $35 for Be the Change’s sleeping bag fund but how would this create a deeper understanding of what homeless people are dealing with and how their dreams are so similar to my own? Why is this important? Because it reminds us that we are not alone….that we are all connected in our desire to live in a better society. Ultimately, to create sustainable change in this world, the kind where all of us are accountable for the impact of our individual decisions, human to human giving is essential. It makes you work harder to be the change you wish to see in the world.

March 2011 Sleeping Bag Event

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:25:00 +0000

Some of the volunteers had some thoughts about the March sleeping bag event and I think it's best to hear directly from volunteers about their experiences.

"I think the observation that most resonated with me was that of the huge discrepancy between the stereotypical 'homeless person' and the people we interacted with. Jim, Bill, etc were all seemingly normal, kind people with friends, a community, a routine, etc but simply had alternate living situations. I wish more people knew this for themselves because one of the harshest misfortunes of homelessness is the exclusion from society; people walk right by without even a glance."

- Sandra Flores

"This was my second time providing sleeping bags to the people in need within DC, and I for one thought that this past event made me feel more involved with the principle behind handing out sleeping bags. The area we focused on this time was Dupont Circle, and the recipients of the sleeping bags were much more engaging than those during the past event. We spent considerable time talking to these recipients and I for one gained a better perspective on their individual situations and other issues dear to their hearts. What I found fascinating is the community these people have established and how they view and respect their fellow friends. For instance, one man denied taking a sleeping bag from us but pointed out where others less fortunate than him needed one. Another recipient of a sleeping bag decided that he did not need his extra blanket and provided it to a fellow friend on the bench. I think those interactions are why I feel more connected to the event and connected to the people."

- Kirtan Parikh (KP)

These statements embody the volunteer experience with Be the Change in DC; it can be more intense and demanding of the volunteers, but the direct exposure to the homeless population of DC makes you realize the homeless are not very different from you or me. Remember that the next time you pass one by.

Official corporate sponsor: Virgin Mobile USA

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Virgin Mobile USA is now officially sponsoring Be the Change in DC's Cell Phones for the Homeless Program. They recently began providing 1,500 minutes a month for our three current participants (pictured here, from left to right, Fred, Marvin, and Sam).

We are super excited to have a corporate partner that not only preaches corporate social responsibility but also practices it. Kudos to Virgin Mobile USA for really "getting" what we are trying to do with the prepaid cell phone initiative and for believing in Be the Change in DC to make it happen.

A Sleeping Bag Distribution in late February

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:51:00 +0000

While we didn’t find homeless people in each location we visited during this event, when it comes down to it, we gave out 11 sleeping bags to the “street” homeless on Sunday, February 20th. I’m glad we had the event because the next day, there was sleet and the freezing temperatures that come along with it in DC. Be the Change in DC and its volunteers certainly made an impact on those 11 people who received sleeping bags.

In my opinion, two interesting things happened during the event:

1) The first thing is that while giving out sleeping bags near Union Station, we ran into Wally. Wally immediately recognized me from last year. As I asked him if he wanted a sleeping bag, Wally told me that we had met before. I asked him where and he reminded me that exactly one year ago, I had asked him if he thought a prepaid cell phone would be a good thing for Be the Change in DC to distribute to the homeless. Wally’s support for the idea one year ago is what gave us the encouragement as an organization to push forward on our “cell phones for the homeless” initiative, which we officially started in August of 2010 after months or research and planning. We handed Wally a sleeping bag and found a way to keep in touch with him through his contact with DC Central Kitchen, another organization that helps the homeless and with whom Be the Change in DC works with. Wally is at the very top of out list when we expand our cell phones for the homeless program and the February sleeping bag event enabled us to reconnect with him, bringing that initiative full circle.

2) Not surprisingly, most of the sleeping bags were given out at the same location as we did during the January event (on the corner of 14th and New York Avenue, NW). That location has become, at least in my mind, a hotspot for finding the “street” homeless in Northwest DC. While at that location, we ran into Ed, a homeless veteran. Ed told us his story of becoming homeless and he definitely had our attention the entire time. We are looking into connecting Ed to services meant specifically for veterans, and we will consider Ed as a potential candidate for our cell phone program.

Both Wally and Ed stand out in my mind. People like them make us love what we do at Be the Change in DC. They both said “thank you” but it wasn’t what the “thank you” that made the strongest impression on me; it was meeting them, talking to them and hearing their stories. Make no mistake; their voices were heard.

Are "We" doing super?

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:23:00 +0000

Happy Super Bowl, everyone. Things seem good and Be the Change in DC is growing. We are distributing sleeping bags and soon you will hear about the expansion of our "cell phones for the homeless" program. That's great and all but this post asks if we (not just as an organization but more as a society as a whole) are doing super.

The answer is: no. Quite simply, there's still so much suffering going on. It pains me to see it. Look at the picture I took today. This was taken on the corner of 15th and L Street, Northwest in the heart of Washington, DC. It's about two blocks from the White House. So I ask you, how is this possible? A homeless person makes a makeshift shack a few blocks from the White House and we think we are doing well as a society. We look with pity at the slums and shacks of other countries, like those in Mumbai that became famous in the movie Slumdog Millionaire, but look to the shacks in our own backyard. They are right there in front of you, whether you choose to see them or not.

We need to do more. Donate. Whether it's time or money, everyone has a role to play in fixing society. Don't think someone else will do it. They may not but you can. Come out and volunteer with Be the Change in DC. We're having another sleeping bag distribution event from 8pm to 11pm on Sunday, February 20th. Can't make it? No problem, come to another event or consider donating to our cause or other causes out there. But, seriously, do something. People talk about society getting worse. People talk about the environment and how it is worsening. Why can't we buck this trend and make things better? Why can't "we" be super? It starts with one person. It starts with you.

January 2011 Sleeping Bag Distribution

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Since Be the Change in DC was founded, we’ve had a few goals. Those goals include educating the general public about homelessness and enabling the formerly homeless to help those who are homeless. On Sunday, January 16th, 2011, we made progress toward these goals with a successful event in which seven volunteers distributed 14 sleeping bags to the homeless.

By day, the corner of 14th and New York Avenue in downtown DC is bustling. The stores there, including an AT&T store and a Starbucks, are as busy as any. At night, the location transforms. Tucked under the awnings of some of the most familiar retail stores, more than a dozen homeless people can be found at night under blankets, even when the temperature dips below freezing. Be the Change in DC volunteers gave out 12 sleeping bags at this location alone.

Volunteering to help distribute sleeping bags to DC’s homeless can be intense: you come across not only a range of personalities on the street but you also experience a range of emotions yourself. One may think that a homeless person would not turn down a (free) sleeping bag. Interestingly, we were turned down by the first three people we approached. While this may seem discouraging, we were certain that when the bags were accepted, they would certainly be used. By 8pm (when the distribution occurred), shelters are mostly full and the people outside tend to stay out for the remainder of the night. It was about 35 degrees on Sunday night in DC. The very next night DC received about two inches of snow/sleet.

Fred, who is one of the participants in Be the Change in DC’s cell phone initiative and has slept out on the streets himself, volunteered to distribute sleeping bags with us. While distributing the bags, Fred asked a homeless man: “Why aren’t you in a shelter?
The man responded: "I don’t like the way they treat me in there. They don’t respect people and that’s not the way I was raised to treat people.”

That same homeless man in Rowland Park (18th and E St, NW) renewed hope in all of us with his confidence. After explaining how the security firm that he worked for went out of business due to competition and that he had been on the streets for a few weeks, he said: “When I get a job, and I know I will, then I’ll get an apartment.” It was encouraging that this man had confidence in his ability to find work, and as we walked away having given him our last bag, he said: “Thank you, thank you for the sleeping bag.”

Sometimes a simple “thank you” is enough and sometimes it’s more than enough.

Happy new year. Do Something.

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:38:00 +0000

Be the Change in DC wishes everyone a happy new year. As 2011 begins, it's a good time to think about how we can make an impact. This doesn't have to be helping the homeless (sure, we'd love to have you volunteer with us) but it could be something closer to you or more dear to your heart. For example, you could start recycling this year. Or maybe you rescue an animal from a shelter. I say this because today I noticed a campaign from the Washington Humane Society that says "Don't look away from animal cruelty. Do something. Call somebody. Spay or neuter your pet. Volunteer. Donate."

This campaign struck a chord with me. It's not because I have a pet. It's because the message is to do something, whatever it is or however small, but do take action. Don't say you want to get involved in something and then never act on it. Gandhi once said that "you must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi's words inspired me to start Be the Change in DC over four years ago. Today on the first day of 2011, this Washington Humane Society campaign inspired me to write this blog post and hopefully can inspire someone to do something good. Maybe you could pick up that piece of trash lying next to the garbage can and throw it away. Or instead of throwing away your aluminum can or plastic bottle, hold on to it a bit longer until you get to the recycling bin that you know is around the corner. Instead of taking a cab, try using the metro or subway or taking the bus. Why not? Save some money and the environment. Or even better... say you walk by a homeless person on your way into a food or coffee shop and decide not to give them money because you don't know how that money would have been used. Try asking the homeless person if he or she is hungry/thirtsy. If so, ask the person to come in with you to the local eatery and buy him/her a sandwich or a cup of coffee. You will feel better about yourself for helping someone and knowing that your "donation" was put to good use and that person will have gotten a meal or drink. Try it. Do something.

Tell us your stories about the homeless

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:56:00 +0000

As we give out sleeping bags to the homeless and the holidays near, we want to reiterate one of the goals of Be the Change in DC: to personalize homelessness for the general public. We at Be the Change in DC would like to hear about your interactions with the homeless. Is there a homeless person on the street corner with whom you have developed a relationship with? Or perhaps a homeless person whom you normally see is no longer in the same place, have you wondered where he or she is? Tell us stories, good or bad, about your personal interactions with DC's homeless. We are listening...

Sleeping bags for the homeless, Dec 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:43:00 +0000

Braving the rain and cold weather, a few Be the Change in DC volunteers gave out ten sleeping bags to DC's homeless on Sunday, December 12th. This particular distribution focused on the homeless in Northwest DC and specifically targeted McPherson Square, 19th and Penn and Dupont Circle; future events may focus on other areas of DC. We all stayed together and distributed the bags after 9pm, thus ensuring the bags would be used to help stay warm for the night (as shelters were closed). Please let us know if you are interested in volunteering with us in the coming winter months as we will be giving out many more sleeping bags!

Permanent housing for homeless during this winter

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:24:00 +0000

The Washington Post has reported that a total of 185 units (a mix between apartments and single rooms) will be available for the District's homeless during the upcoming winter:

"The plan approved by the Interagency Council on Homelessness, a coalition of D.C. agencies and nonprofit groups, lists 185 units that will be used for families when emergency shelters are full. Some advocates for the homeless say they are worried that number will be insufficient, but D.C. officials say it's a better use of city money to put people in more permanent housing instead of temporary shelters."

Under D.C. law, the city must provide emergency shelter to homeless people during the coldest months, from Nov. 1 to March 31. This marks an effort by the government to help the homeless and follow the Housing First Initiative (in which the homeless individual's first and primary need is permanent housing (instead of temporary shelters) and that all other issues/ problems can and should be solved after the individual is given this housing). While there may be some concern that this initiative is moving too quickly and that there's a lack of experience in administering this type of program, Be the Change in DC is happy to hear about the goverment taking action to help the homeless. An earlier version of the plan proposed adding 100 units to the Family Emergency Shelter at the former D.C. General Hospital but was rejected because adding beds would cause even more crowding. This final plan appears to offer more units and at least a path to more permanent housing.

We hope the execution of such housing initiatives goes as smoothly as they are intended and we know firsthand that when someone is suffering in the bitter cold, you sometimes have to act first and think later. We also hope this means that fewer homeless people need the sleeping bags we distribute during the winter but regardless, we are gearing up to give out sleeping bags in December, January and February.

Sizing

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 01:34:00 +0000

Whether we are talking about the private sector or the public sector, it’s important to understand the size of a market (or a problem). Knowing the size of the addressable market you are about to enter or the size of a problem you are trying to solve is an important first step. Consultants are great at sizing a problem at the outset of a case study. When thinking of distributing sleeping bags to the homeless during the winter or cold bottles of water during the summer (and expanding our cell phone initiative), we must be thinking along these lines.

A few weeks ago, I received a mailing from So Others Might Eat (SOME), a large and well-established nonprofit that helps the homeless of DC. The mailing included some updated numbers on DC’s homeless population. I thought I should share them:

“A 2010 government survey documented 11,770 homeless persons in the DC metropolitan area, with the highest number, 6,540, located in the District. This number includes over 800 families with 1,535 children who are living on the streets, in abandoned buildings, cars or emergency shelters. The count would be even higher if the survey counted people who are doubled-up and even tripled-up in housing, living with family members or friends.”

That’s a lot of sleeping bags, bottles of water and cell phones to give out. Clearly, Be the Change in DC is not in this alone. In fact, we have and will continue to work with other organizations to fill in the gaps of services that are provided to the homeless. We could always use more help and at least we have a sense for the size of the problem.

One house at a time

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:53:00 +0000

As you probably know, Be the Change in DC gave out cell phones to four homeless men about two months ago. We believe that over time the phones can help Marvin, Sam M., Fred and Sam W. find housing and employment and access medical services. I recall being worried initially that these men may not stay in touch with us once we gave out the phones. I could not have been more wrong. A few days ago when I was too sick to make a meeting, I received a worried phone call from Marvin. He was checking in on me, making sure that I was ok since I missed our meeting. The other guys in the program call me frequently to check in as well. I also found out that Sam M., who has been on the housing authority's list for some time now, recently received a call that he was next-in-line for an apartment in Silver Spring. Because of the phone we provided, Sam M. was accessible and able to receive this call. He just signed the lease on his new place last Friday. I can't say that we got Sam M. housing, but we facilitated his ability to get housing and made the system more efficient. Now I call that a success, especially for a trial program.

Free computer class in local DC library

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 04:41:00 +0000

In researching ways to help the participants in our phone trial program, I found out about free computer classes at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. The classes cover a variety of topics, including typing, web browsing basics, and Microsoft applications such as MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint at both the basic and intermediate levels. Additionally, these classes are meant to be "walk-in" access only so reservations are not required and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as space is available. We at the Be the Change in DC are pushing the participants in our phone trial program to join these classes to make themselves more attractive candidates for jobs.

Prepaid cell phone initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Rohit Dixit) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:09:00 +0000

In early August, Be the Change in DC gave out prepaid mobile phones to four DC homeless men who are eagerly looking for employment. We had met these men previously and identified them as great candidates to use the phones to help contact employers, reach out or be reached for housing opportunities, and keep in touch with family and/or medical professionals. The idea behind giving out the phones is simple- you need a contact number in order to get a job and the price of technology has declined substantially over time. We also partnered with Community Voice Mail (www.cvm.org), a Seattle-based nonprofit, to equip the phone with an additional voicemail service that has weekly updates about local job opportunities.

Since Be the Change in DC has given out the phones, the participants have contacted me regularly and I can honestly say these are upstanding men who are really trying to get back on their feet. Some of them have resumes ready to go, most have email addresses and two are veterans. It's been a pleasure getting to know these men and I sincerely hope we can help them find jobs. But you don't have to take my word for it, check out our website, www.bethechangeindc.org, to see pictures and profiles of the participants and if you think you may have an opportunity for them, let us know and we will get you in touch with them.

Health Reform Will Help Reduce Homelessness

noreply@blogger.com (Be the Change in DC) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Washington Post reporter Alexi Mostrous reports that new Obama health care initiative will help reduce the rising number of homeless families nationwide.

Read more at The Washington Post

Blog Redesign

noreply@blogger.com (Be the Change in DC) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:46:00 +0000

We have just redesigned our blog! Please give us your feedback.

Affordable Housing Key Component to Ending Family Homelessness

noreply@blogger.com (Be the Change in DC) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Affordable Housing Key Component to Ending Family Homelessness

News and Notes from Around the Region - June & July 2009

noreply@blogger.com (T. Benjamin Anderson) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:28:00 +0000

In the news:

These Boots were made for walking: In impressive and inspiring fashion 11 year old Zach Bonner walked 1,225 from his hometown of Tampa, Florida to Washington D.C. to raise awareness of homlessness. He arrived in town July 9th on behalf of Little Red Wagon Foundation with a red wagon full of letters written by children addressed to the President. He spent his time in the city on the steps of the Capitol speaking about the issue of homelessness nation wide and sleeping at the Sasha Bruce emergency shelter for kids in Northeast DC. A kid like this should be commended and supported for his efforts.

To find out more about the Sasha Bruce House in Northeast DC click here.

Kicking for the Goal: In Washington D.C. from July 31 - Aug 2 the organization Street Soccer USA will be hosting an event known as the 2009 Street Soccer USA Cup. They will host teams from 16 cities to determine the United States National Street Soccer Champion as well as trials for an 8 person team that will represent the United States in Milan, Italy for the Homeless World Cup. Street Soccer USA attempts to bring soccer to the most marginalized members of our society and instill in them a sense of worth and commitment.

Street Soccer USA is looking for voluteers and donations to make this even a success. To read more about the 2009 Street Soccer USA Cup click here.

The District has been given $7.4 Million dollars in federal stimulus money to aid the homeless population. As the Washington Post points out the number of homeless families in Washington DC has increased 20% over the past year balloning to 703 families with more than 1,400 children. The money is earmarked for families that face eviction in 2 weeks time and residents in soon to be condemned locations. It also is targeted to people whose income has decreased due to the economy and whose utility bills have skyrocketed.

News and Notes from Around the Region - May 2009

noreply@blogger.com (T. Benjamin Anderson) — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:40:00 +0000

The issue of homelessness in the National Capitol Region has many facets. In order to be effective in dealing with the issue it is important to know what is currently being done by the district and surrounding locals. This is why we'll be updating this blog occasionally with news and notes we have found dealing with homelessness in the region.

By no means a clearinghouse of complete information, Be The Change in DC hopes to pose issues for further discussion amongst your co-workers, friends, family etc. We also hope to propose service projects geared toward allowing those in the metropolitan region to become involved with solutions to the problem of homelessness in and around Washington DC.

Of note this month:

1) The Maryland Examiner reports that the state of Maryland has signed into law a bill making it a hate crime to attack the homeless. Various homeless advocates have indicated that homeless persons are often attacked simply due to their vulnerability. As the bill goes into effect Oct 1 of this year it is important to consider if a bill such as this should be emulated in other locals such as the District of Columbia or Virginia?

3) The Washington Post reports that the Metropolitan Washington Council's new data suggests number of homelessness families in the Washington region has increased 15% this year. Due to the economic downturn, the unemployment rate and the already high cost of housing in the area families are hardest hit. This is not just a local trend but is happening nationwide as families continue to struggle to make ends meet.

2) The First Lady was seen at Miriam's Kitchen this week spooning out meals to homeless persons in the District. How AWESOME is that!!!! See her remarks about the importance of getting involved. Modeling volunteerism for our nation is not only commendable but necessary. Be The Change in DC provides young adults in the DC area a chance to engage the community in volunteering. Come out to our Water Bottle Distribution Event this June and inspire others to do the same!!!!!

Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon This Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:33:00 +0000

Be the Change in DC (BTCDC) is participating in the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon and on behalf of BTCDC, I would like to invite you to join the team. To join us on Saturday, follow the Team Page link here: http://www.helpthehomelessdc.org/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=8878&pg=team&fr_id=1000&et=bqmX9PdJNgsOEEd9ZWedOw..&s_tafId=3880
Enter "BTCDC" as the team
password when requested.

BTCDC is in the process of obtaining its 501(c) 3 status and could not be named an official beneficiary organization for the Walk. However, SOME (So Others Might Eat) is a terrific organization that shares our commitment to helping the homeless and we have chosen to direct our proceeds to them.

Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Program is a community-wide program to raise funds and awareness in support of beneficiary organizations that work to prevent and end homelessness. This Program spans several months, culminating in the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless 5K Walkathon on the National Mall on Saturday, November 22, 2008. The Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program has grown into the nation's largest fundraising event benefiting the homeless.

You can make a difference by joining our team and participating in Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Walkathon on November 22, 2008!