EAST RIVER FAMILY STRENGTHENING COLLABORATIVE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PARTNERSHIP
Rooted in Community.
Transforming Futures.
The Community Engagement and Partnership (CEP) department’s primary purpose is to engage community residents to identify their needs and provide those services directly or indirectly through partnerships. We also enter into agreements with partners to ensure that their services are available to Ward 7 residents, preferably in the neighborhoods where they live.
Find out how you can take advantage of our programs.
SAFE PASSAGE

Safe Passage is a program designed to protect students and families as they travel to and from school. It helps keep students safe and improve their attendance through community relationship building, conflict resolution, and mediation services.

  • Locations: Our safe passage sites are in the heart of the Ward 7 business district. Students and their families can travel safely to and from their homes to the following sites: Cesar Chavez Public Charter School, Friendship Collegiate Academy, Two Rivers Middle School, Phelps Ace High School, Sousa Middle School, Kimball Elementary School, and the Minnesota Metro Station.
  • Trusted Advisors: Our safe passage workers are trained and trusted community members who work to build relationships with school staff, students, families, and community members.
  • Funding & Support: Safe Passage is an investment made by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Since February 2022, we have subcontracted InnerCity Collaborative to provide a safe route for scholars attending schools along Minnesota Avenue.

Contact us today to learn more.

Ward 7 Faith
Leaders

The Ward 7 Faith Leaders group was formed with a purpose to include the faith community in violence reduction initiatives. On every first Saturday of the month, the group comes together to strategize and develop ways to decrease violent crimes in Ward 7.

In 2019, ERFSC joined hands with Council Member Gray, The East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, and the 6ᵗʰ District Metropolitan Police Department to form the Ward 7 Faith leaders.

If you are a faith leader, we welcome you to join our cause. Contact us today to learn how.

Group-293-750
Out of School Time
Programming

The Out of School Time program offers a structured, safe, and enriching program to youths of Lincoln Heights, aged 5 to 21, during the school year and summer break. In 2018, we received a grant from the Deputy Mayor’s Office of Education for a summer scheme which later expanded to a year round program in 2020.

Collaboration, Connection, Community- By giving to us, we can give to others.

Live Long DC

Live Long DC is a program aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. Our objective is to prevent the onset of opioid use among youth and reduce the risk factors for substance use, including perceptions, behaviors, and local conditions, among adolescents, families, and communities.

To meet our objective, we provide the youth of Ward 7 with opioid misuse outreach, education, and referral service through pop up events. As a subgrantee to the Ward 7 & 8 Prevention for the District of Columbia Opioid Response grant, we also provide a $15,000 grant that runs for a period of four months from June to September.

At Lincoln Heights, we hold a Safer Stronger Summer Experience Program where we educate students about the ill effects of substance use. With the use of Photovoice, the students create messages for their peers and family members highlighting the negative effects of alcohol, tobacco, and opioids.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to get involved, we encourage you to contact us about the program.

Madeline Leach

After her Haitian Catered experience, Ms. Madeline Leach at Mayfair said that she really enjoyed the Haitian Luncheon. It was a new experience for her; she never had the cuisine. She appreciates all the EOTR Hub has done this year. She really enjoys and loves the decorations, which she feels are more homely and inviting. After being sick for months, she returned to the site in April. She recently had fun doing fitness with Andrew at the Spirit Club and hopes to see him return soon. Thank you to East River and for all you do for the seniors at Mayfair.

Mr. Donnie Joyner

I appreciate all East River has done for us at Knox Hill. With the wall painting and new decorations, it feels like a new community room. I especially enjoyed the trips with Ms. Rose and the DHH division. From the Summer Fest, Cookout, and the trip to National Harbor, you all at East River have spoiled us. The next time I see her, I will make sure to tell Ms. Anita Bonds how great the East River has been for us at Knox Hill.

Other Services

We educate Ward 7 and 8’s residents about low calorie beverage options to reduce sugary drink consumption and promote balanced lifestyles. Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the American Beverage Association, we are able to provide Sugary Beverage Education to the residents of Ward 7 and 8.

We welcome you to learn more about how you can benefit from our program.

We provide a seven-week Diabetes Self-Management Program to help those living with diabetes manage it better. Our program provides assistance through trained peer support to monitor and reduce risks of diabetes. The program includes community members and local medical providers as stakeholders.

In February 2022, we received funding from the United Way of the National Capital Area to provide Diabetes Education to residents in Wards 7 and 8.

Reach out to us for more information on how you can participate in the program.

We provide the residents of Wards 7 and 8 with COVID 19 vaccination and education. In April 2022, we received funding from the United Way of the National Capital Area to implement the program.

Reach out to us to learn more about our vaccine education program.

Help your neighbors in Ward 7
lead fulfilling lives.