3 minute read
Community Family Life Services: Celebrating 50 Years
By Melissa DeLiso
In 2019, Community Family Life Services (CFLS) celebrates the 50 th anniversary of its founding, creating a long-term impact for people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Washington, DC. CFLS programs provide housing, meals, mentoring, and assistance to women after incarceration to help them achieve self-sufficiency. In 2014, CFLS was named nonprofit of the year by the DC Chamber of Commerce
Junior League of Washington (JLW) made CFLS a Community Partner during the 2004–2005 year through the creation of a book club placement. CFLS engages about 25 JLW members on its committee each year, who serve biweekly at CFLS’s Connection Nights. For these events, League members plan healthy dinners and activities for children and their mothers. In the past, JLW members have created vision boards, facilitated discussions on budgeting and couponing, and led yoga and salsa dancing classes. Connection Nights that encourage mothers to participate with their children are especially popular, as they allow for special bonding time.
In addition to Connection Nights, JLW supports CFLS programming through several fundraising initiatives. In September, members support a back-to-school drive; in November, JLW collects food donations to distribute in Thanksgiving baskets; in December, JLW members can adopt a family for the holidays; and in March, the League contributes Community Cash Cards for Tossed & Found. JLW also provides hundreds of books through Resolution Read to CFLS women and their children. To advance the League’s Readers2Leaders campaign, the committee received books for the new CFLS Kids Corner at the DC jail, the CFLS Women’s Book Club, and
CFLS participant Evian Rodgers with her children Madison and Mason enjoying a Connection Night. CFLS Participant Nikaiya Jones and Kennedi, daughter of DiAnna Stewart (CFLS participant) enjoying dinner.
CFLS Committee Chair Tashi Brown, CFLS Participant Rahketa Steele, and JLW volunteer Elizabeth Boylan working together at a Connection Night.
the Children’s Reading Circle at CFLS headquarters.
Tashi Brown, CFLS Committee Chair, was drawn to volunteer with Community Family Life Services because she enjoyed “having the flexibility to choose between planning healthy meals for the families, designing life-changing activities for the women, or simply rounding up the children, putting on my funny face and reading their favorite book.” This is Brown’s fourth year on the CFLS Committee and first year as chair.
Brown noted, “Truly, there’s something special about the CFLS women, children, and staff who keep me coming back to CFLS. Little do they know, their hope and perseverance inspire me!”
When asked about the most rewarding part of serving on the committee, Brown cited the ability to collaborate with a diverse group of JLW women, who are just as committed as she is to improving the lives of the CFLS families and the Washington, DC, community. Brown said, “When I get to see one of the CFLS ladies I mentor working joyously at my favorite lunch spots, or simply shopping with a CFLS mom to pick out decorative home items or the latest fashions at Tossed & Found, that’s my reward—their smiles bring me joy.”
To mark their 50 th anniversary, CFLS is creating a video highlighting their achievements and work in the community. CFLS invited JLW to participate in the film by having JLW President Carly Mitchell share commentary and highlights on the partnership. CFLS also marked their milestone on September 25, 2019, by hosting “Rise Together: Our 3rd Annual Visible Voices Event, Celebrating 50 Years in the DC Community,” with the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton serving as the keynote speaker. JLW and CFLS look forward to many more years of collaborative service to come. •
