Ward 6 Mutual Aid Marks Fourth Anniversary

By Katrina Avila  Celebrating its fourth anniversary on March 15, Ward 6 Mutual Aid (W6MA) emerged in 2020 to address community needs. Founded in 2009, Serve Your City (SYC) pivoted in 2020 to become W6MA’s lead partner. Together with almost 100 community partner organizations, SYC/W6MA has worked diligently to address […]

25 Years of Small Grants, Big Projects for Friends of Southwest DC

Nataniel Pickett Foundation Health Fair at the Southwest Market. Courtesy of the Author  By Regina Harrison, Board Member, Friends of Southwest DC For 25 years, Friends of Southwest DC (FOSW) has awarded small grants to support neighborhood nonprofit organizations and residents in Southwest. In 2023, FOSW celebrated a quarter century […]

SWNA Emergency Preparedness Task Force Seeks Volunteers

Neighbors interested in serving as a Vice-Chair of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly Emergency Preparedness Task Force, known as “Southwest Strong!” please contact Ben Curran at benimon at hotmail.com  The term would be for one year with the option to extend longer.  Southwest Strong! works with other organizations to promote disaster […]

Community Raises Funds for Family of Mother Killed in December Shooting

The Harris family. Courtesy of GoFundMe By Southwester Staff On December 21, 2023, a drive-by shooting outside the Friendly Food Market on Half Street SW and O Street SW killed two people, including local resident Patricia Harris. Harris’ three children, ages 14, 8 and 4, attended neighborhood schools, including Van Ness […]

Where Are They Now: Southwest Neighborhood Assembly’s Education and and Scholarship Task Force Catches Up with Multi-Year Winner Sergio Rozelle

by Wilma Goldstein The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA) Education and Scholarship Task Force (ESTF) has supported young people in the Southwest DC community for more than 45 years. All together, more than 530 scholarships totaling $444,000 have been awarded to 230 young people who have gone on to great educational, […]

Winter Warmth from Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid

By Katrina Avila The enduring mission of Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid (SYC/W6MA) remains steadfast: to provide resources to Black and Brown youth and families across DC that others may already possess. Whether it involves offering after-school enrichment and tutoring programs or essential support, SYC/W6MA plays a pivotal role […]