and we need want your help!

Dear Ward 8 Residents,

This week, we spotlight black motherhood by uplifting the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of black mamas in honor of Black Maternal Health Week.

This annual week-long public health campaign was founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance​ observed from April 11th thru April 17th to build awareness, activism, and community-building​ around black maternal health.

Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right. Mothers living east of the river have long been without obstetrics care following the closure of United Medical Center's maternity ward.

I am proud to support the Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, the new full-service hospital currently under construction in Ward 8. This facility will finally close the access gap to services for expectant mothers with a dynamic 2,500-person maternity ward and include an array of women's health services such as gynecology, maternal care, a newborn delivery with a neonatal intensive care unit, and much more.

While this project is underway, black mothers still need access to healthcare resources for their prenatal and postnatal appointments. This is why mothers need to take advantage of the opportunities this week in Ward 8.

This week, let us bring awareness of the ongoing maternal health crisis plaguing black mothers and birthing people.

Regards,

Trayon White, Sr.
Councilmember, Ward 8

It is time for some spring cleaning! We want to collaborate with our community partners to help us with a community clean-up on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

If your organization is interested in partnering with Councilmember White's office, please sign-up here: [link removed].

For more information, do not hesitate to reach out.
The Division of State Initiatives is hosting an in-person hiring event where job-ready candidates can connect with local employers to meet and interview.

🗓️ When: Wednesday, April 12 at 10:00 AM
📍 Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
👔 Dress to impress, and please bring multiple copies of your updated resume.

To register, visit bit.ly/DSIHiringEvent ([link removed]) .
FREE Lifeguard training is still available to those seeking summer employment. Get certified and get placed!
Learn more: dpr.dc.gov/lifeguard ([link removed][0]=AT2jUWil647DBuDUbT7HlgGQyNp8l2rDsZ0HmVU-6BGuJ4ZCm7t6SWcG4FHvzCAZVCXt-vU4Ez97w4eyyYfT2ZI0fV-GfwT42nwVx7_qp5YOzIko8-pMzP0Y93ZGEWzSuRgWN_CM6CLTxhWF7PZZA3e-ntl6Gz7r0U-_Z7kcPwZmaYLhMznYNA) | EarnwithDPR.com ([link removed])
🚨 Ward 8 — This is definitely how we #WIN ([link removed][0]=AZWOIuAM7B5Ra-04XG-GLhYOVqvGVH51j1OCGvh24sa72qDck77DAotIAnCoCeEt6FL4i5dCC1pgvohHnYonEe3KBg-qnlhlP2gUZUq8ntKr5WRZfKgMPLapb0Xjwj4AyrAs0hHseZn0Xa14mQyOk2t_vY11QtrHX4sWuYftEXEmsQ&__tn__=*NK-R) through gainful employment 🚨

“Spring into a New Career!” @dchrdc ([link removed][0]=AT1r36PFM19ElO5o7sVvUYwNHqUbrrikrKj_FpgWXojjQIbqiUbDmf2b0bJ_o4QEz3IRS7pz3ouYT_FDNGd473W_O-XE8BeCbflcyBbjbj2RqxK4-vYAw67jwuEjr3Fxn0xXpIBCGudWo4eJxtbfWybwXpLeMe2_4dsb0k3kyV0UODHzWWANTA)
Hiring Event: Meet directly with those who can HIRE

📆 Wednesday, April 19th
⏰ 10AM - 6PM
📍 901 G St NW (MLK Jr Library)

The Committee of the Whole held important and well-attended budget hearings for the District’s education agencies: the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), the Deputy Mayor for Education, the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (PCSB), and the State Board of Education.

On Wednesday, April 5, public witnesses, including principals, parents, and representatives from non-profit organizations testified regarding the Mayor’s proposed budget.

On Friday, April 7, the Deputy Mayor for Education and the Director of each agency appeared before the Council to respond to questions about the Mayor’s proposed budget. Councilmember White highlighted the importance of safe schools and his support for the Safe Passage Program and the reinstatement of the School Resource Officer Program, the need to find and fund ways to retain teachers, the urgent need to modernize and renovate the schools in the ward, and his disappointment in the reduction of individual school budgets in the Mayor’s upcoming budget. There was also discussion of whether the District was fairly allocating funds to charter schools and ways of maintaining relative pay parity between public and charter school teachers.


This week is the last week of budget oversight hearings. Next, each committee will finalize its budget proposals and vote at meetings called “markup” meetings before voting is held on the budget by the entire Council.

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs has held several budget oversight hearings. Check out these highlights below:


On Monday, April 3, we held a budget hearing for the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME). Director LaToya Foster discussed the office’s budget and how it plans to implement programs. The operating budget for the office decreased by 2.8% to $15.25 million. However, Director Foster believes that the office can still maintain the success that it has had.


Foster discussed the success of programs, such as the Go-Go People’s Plan, Creative Economy Career Access Program (CECAP) and 202Creates, all of which are programs that support DC culture and/or residents.


The director also stated that in the seven years of the DC Film Rebate Fund, OCTFME has awarded $11 million to 64 projects – including 29 from local production companies. The total economic impact of these 64 projects for the District has been $161.1 million, and the projects have created 1,704 District resident job hires and $6.5 million in total compensation to District residents.


On Wednesday, April 5, we held a budget hearing for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). This hearing had 55 public witnesses that discussed a variety of topics from Out-of-School-Time, pickleball and upgrades to recreational spaces.


The new budget allocated $4 million to Fort Greble Park and a $5 million enhancement for Douglas Recreation Center.


Director Delano Hunter spoke on the overall operating budget of DPR, which decreased by 5.6% to $80.4 million. He discussed $5 million being allocated to create “My Afterschool DC,” a central online hub for parents to access afterschool opportunities. He also spoke about the $17 million investment in the Recreation for All program to increase recreational offerings for all residents and a $3 million investment into Recreation for All Community Grants for community-based programs.


This spring, DPR has expanded its hours from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays for 37 recreation and community centers. In Ward 8, Barry Farm Pool will have Sunday hours and Ballou High School’s pool will have additional public use hours.
[link removed]
Budget Oversight Hearing on the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
April 11, 2023

[CLICK TO WATCH]
On Tuesday, April 11, Chairperson White held a budget hearing for the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). In his budget hearing in his new position, Interim Director Trey Stanback discussed how DYRS had its budget decreased by 2% to $87.83 million.

Director Stanback discussed several programs under DYRS, including their 67 Credible Messengers, two Achievement Centers, and their new DC Youth Leadership Oasis, which is a 16-week program for 10-17-year-olds designed to provide mentorship and connections to community programs.

In addition to the decrease in budget, Councilmember White was concerned with the reduction of 46 full-time positions with DYRS, especially after several recent incidents in which committed youth have assaulted staff at Youth Services Center.

With the rise in crime in the District, DYRS remains a priority for the Councilmember.
The D.C. Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to pass a bill that will loosen restrictions around street vending.

The Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act of 2023 will decriminalize vending without a license, create vending zones, and waive unpaid civil citations related to licensing.
As introduced Bill 25-68 would remove criminal penalties for a violation of the Vending Regulations Act of 2009. It would allow the Mayor to establish sidewalk vending zones for sidewalk vendors to legally operate.
The bill still needs to be approved by Mayor Muriel Bowser, and go through a Congressional review period before it can be enacted into law, and eventually be funded. Once it passes the first two steps, street vending without a license will be effectively decriminalized.


** Finalized Budget Oversight Hearing Schedule
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Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs


** All hearings will stream live at:
[link removed]
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On Tuesday, April 4th, Councilmember Trayon White's Constituent Services Team walked with the MOCRS and the Mayor's Office of African Affairs to speak with our African business owners who have small businesses within the Bellevue and the Congress Heights business district.


** Quick Links
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* Check out the 2020 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])
* Check out the 2021 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])
* Check out the 2022 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])
* Visit our website w ([link removed]) ww.trayonwhite8.com ([link removed])
* CM White's Social Media Facebook ([link removed]) | Instagram ([link removed]) | Twitter ([link removed])

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** Twitter ([link removed])
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Council of the District of Columbia . 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW . Suite 400 . Washington, DC 20004 . USA