Dear Southwest Neighbor:
Have you ever wondered how you can make a difference in building a better Southwest community?
I’d like to share with you the story of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA), our nonprofit civic organization. SWNA was formed for the purpose(s) of: improving the quality of life for all residents; opening to every resident the wide cultural horizon of urban living; helping to create rich and equal social, educational, and economic opportunities for residents of Southwest; assisting in providing the opportunity for gainful employment for all; promoting development of the economic and aesthetic potential of Southwest, and preserving its diverse history.
Founded in 1963, SWNA has been serving the near Southwest community for over four decades and was one of the first integrated civic organizations in the city. During the past few decades, SWNA has helped to represent community residents during periods of urban renewal and development, helping to ensure that current residents are not forgotten in the process. We have worked with several other local groups to inform and educate the neighborhood.
SWNA has established various task forces to address issues common to near Southwest and the parts of Southeast covered by the ANC 6D.
• History Task Force: The History Task force documents and promotes our rich heritage–from famous residents like Thurgood Marshall to our nationally-noted modernist built structures.
• Youth Activities Task Force: The Youth Activities Task Force enriches and adds to the developmental experiences of neighborhood youth through programs like Safe Sitter, computer classes, and cultural and educational trips as well as support for team sports.
• Scholarship Task Force: The Scholarship Task Force has helped over 260 neighborhood students pursue college degrees over the past 35 years, generally assisting six or seven students each year with financial assistance.
• Technology Task Force: The Technology Task Force maintains the SWNA web site www.swdc.org and also collects and refurbishes donated computers to make available to needy families.
• Emergency Preparedness Task Force: The Emergency Preparedness Task Force’s mission is to create and train a “SW Neighborhood Corps” to serve Southwest in preparation, response and recovery in the event of a disaster.
• Southwest Retail Task Force: The Southwest Retail Task Force is charged with promoting the development of retail businesses in Southwest DC, especially along Fourth Street, the Southwest Waterfront and L’Enfant Plaza.
• The Southwester newspaper: The Southwester publishes monthly and is written, edited, and distributed by local volunteers. The Southwester recounts community events from the past month and brings news of events to come. Look for it in your apartment building, in our distribution boxes, or online at thesouthwester.com.
Today we have a tremendous opportunity to further expand our program and help to improve the quality of life of all Southwest residents for the better. We are asking for your support. To carry forward our ambitious projects to make our community a better place, we request you to help us financially. Any amount of monetary donations is welcome and we will be highly honored and obliged for the support you have offered.
We are counting on your support. We do hope that you will respond positively to our request. Remember that your contribution is tax-deductible!
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Kael Anderson President
Make your donation payable to SWNA and mail to: SWNA P.O. Box 70131 Washington, DC 20024
Southwest Neighborhood Assemblyis a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, and your contribution is tax deductible as allowed by law.
More about SWNA: 1101 Fourth Street, SW, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20024; (202) 580-8188; www.swdc.org
By giving to SWNA I know that together we can make a difference in building a better Southwest community.