UPO’s Washington: A city of thriving communities and economically secure residents.
Uniting People with Opportunities
COMMUNITY ACTION
The United Planning Organization (UPO) is one of our nation’s 1,000+ Community Action Agencies (CAAs) dedicated to fighting poverty by helping people become economically secure. Established in 1964 during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, CAAs serve 99% of the counties in the nation. UPO serves as the only CAA for Washington, DC’s residents with low incomes, and is one of only 12 agencies to ever win the Agency of Excellence award.
ON THE COVER
This darling girl was painted by Luis Del Valle (@luis202artist) during our 60th Anniversary Gala Celebration. He is deeply connected to our DC community. See p.24 to discover more about the wonderful event. UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION
UPO’S COMMUNITY ACTION PROMISE
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
52,852
236,605
Andrea Thomas CEO and President
Ruthven Phillip, Esq. Board of Directors Chair
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.
- from Maya Angelou’s poem
FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO AND BOARD CHAIR
Since 1962, UPO has helped District residents through every crisis, then showed them how to rise again. That’s in our nature — our nonprofit was born to identify and fill gaps in social programs for people with low incomes.
In our early years, that meant inventing ways to improve equity on a range of systemic issues including housing, employment, education, and legal services. Over the decades, UPO has kept evolving, consistently seeking the most effective ways to help people:
� In 1965, UPO ran a pilot program for Head Start. Today our Office of Early Learning is DC’s largest Early Head Start provider … and we see the need for an even better path. So we are collaborating with WeVision EarlyEd and the Bainum Family Foundation on a pilot for an ideal child education system: One that’s better for students, parents, and educators.
� After the 1968 riots, UPO addressed the huge food insecurity problem by creating food co-ops and a food bank: the UPO Community Food and Nutrition Program. This led to the 1979 development of the Capital Area Food Bank. Today we work hand-in-hand with CAFB on new initiatives — and push them to distribute even healthier food.
� In 1964, with funding from the Ford Foundation, UPO created the Neighborhood Legal Services Program to provide free legal aid. This bold effort launched a national movement that expanded access to the civil justice system. Today we work with the activists at Tzedek, and UPO’s Legislative Advocacy division is fighting for systemic changes … which brings us full circle.
� In 1966, UPO created a nonprofit real estate development firm to buy, build, rehabilitate, and manage housing. By 1975, the firm had developed or rehabilitated homes for 1,375 families. Today, UPO and our Community Development Corporation are partnering with premier developers to deliver new affordable homes for people who earn up to 50% of the area’s median income.
� Since the pandemic began, we have seen more customers with mental health struggles, so we have continued our efforts in this area:
o Our Office of Early Learning was already focused on socialemotional learning, which cultivates important “protective factors” to buffer children against mental health risks. Now we have added webinars and other ways for parents and staff to learn about mental health and get a referral to a specialist for help.
o Youth Services “bakes” socialemotional learning into its programs.
o Case managers who help people emerging from homelessness (through our Permanent Supportive Housing and Shelter Plus Care programs) are adept at recognizing when a customer exhibits a mental health issue and they know how to talk with them about seeking help.
We are always striving to improve our programs in response to residents’ needs. That’s how UPO and our customers will keep rising, innovating, and experiencing a better tomorrow.
OUR PROGRAMS
How DC Residents Become the Change Agents of Their Lives
Everyone deserves to be economically secure and reach their full potential. We partner with people on their journey to economic security, tailoring our approach to help them build on their strengths and add knowledge and skills.
Office of Early Learning
educates, empowers, and supports children and their families.
Youth Services
sparks academic success and personal development for grades 1-12 through tailored programs designed to close the opportunity gap; our Beavers Scholarships make college dreams come true; and our “Foster Grandparents” are senior volunteers who become children’s mentors.
UPO Workforce Institute
develops customers’ skill sets and powers their careers via national certifications. We also place customers in jobs, accelerating the upward trajectory of their careers and increasing their earning power.
Community Reinvestment
helps customers build on and leverage their assets to generate wealth.
Affordable Housing
delivers affordable homes and improves housing equity and security.
Community Health
Shelter Hotline protects people who are living on the streets; Comprehensive Treatment Center supports health and well-being through education, treatment, and outreach; Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program ensures that customers can keep food on their tables; and Permanent Supportive Housing helps people move from homelessness to stability and self-sufficiency.
Community Impact
reduces the causes and conditions of poverty through place-based strategies articulated and driven by community residents.
Advocacy Initiatives
change lives and strengthen communities through direct service and by amplifying the voices of DC residents who lead the transformation of their neighborhoods. Our Community Advocacy, Volunteering, and Legislative Advocacy teams collaborate with residents to fight for systemic changes by voicing how policy affects opportunity. MEMBERS OFFICERS
Ruthven R. Phillip, Esq.
Chair
Representative of Major Groups & Interests
Kevin Chavous, Esq.
Vice Chair
Community Elected by Ward 7
Dr. Mary Ellen Curtin
Secretary Representative of Major Groups & Interests (Ward 4)
Barbara Bovbjerg
Treasurer
Designated by Congresswoman Norton
Salim K. Adofo
Community Elected by Ward 8b
Michael Austin, Esq.
Designated by Mayor of the District of Columbia
Lafayette Barnes
Designated by Mayor of the District of Columbia
Christian Clansky
Elected by UPO’s Board
Dr. Loren Cox
Elected by UPO's Board
Rhonda N. Hamilton
Community Elected by Wards 2 & 6
Laura Manville Representative of Major Groups & Interests
Hadiyah M. Muhammad
Community Elected by Wards 4 & 5
Dr. Jennifer Park Elected by UPO’s Board / Head Start Policy Council
Oliver Spurgeon III
Community Elected by Ward 8a
Aron Szapiro
Elected by UPO’s Board
Robert Thorne
Elected by UPO’s Board
Dr. Christine M. Warnke
Community Elected by Wards 1 & 3
Robert W. Warren
Elected by UPO’s Board
PRO-EDUCATION
Programs Spark Learning
Education is the key to rising out of poverty into economic security. Our PRO-EDUCATION efforts give people at every age what they need to succeed. We invite pregnant mothers to learn about prenatal care, then we help to nurture their children in Early Head Start. As students grow, our programs follow them with afterschool and summer programs that prepare them for college and careers. We also train senior volunteers to mentor children — which helps all of them thrive!
UPO is DC’s LARGEST EARLY HEAD START PROVIDER
OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING
UPO operates 17 centers throughout the city (see p.32) and was chosen by the District to oversee 13 others in the Quality Improvement Network, which is a citywide effort to improve educational outcomes. The intent is to ensure that our training and technical assistance (with systems and coaching, for example) raises every center to a level that meets or exceeds federal standards.
Our holistic approach to helping families includes crisis interventions, mental health care, and, through our partnership with the Greater DC Diaper Bank, support with many items that families need: 120,400 diapers for 368 babies, along with Nursery Project and Baby Pantry items including 8,900 PullUps, 5,000 ounces of baby food and formula, 6,100 period pads, 3,700 nursing pads, 434 pounds of wipes, as well as tampons, diaper rash cream, and soap.
85%
of children are meeting expectations in Social-Emotional, Physical, and Cognitive skills
ENGAGING PARENTS
We encourage parent involvement through in-person events such as Baby Showers and Backpack Giveaways, and online events such as healthy recipes, Family Health, and How to Navigate the School Lottery. Since we are eager to help parents build their parenting skills, we also held an ACT Raising Safe Kids course in Spanish for 19 parents.
In Literacy, we began the year with 67% of children meeting expectations and leaped to
85%
meeting or exceeding expectations before the end of the year
Students’ scores rose due to intentional teaching, and all teachers received coaching and feedback from our Early Learning Specialists. Education Managers met with site directors regularly to share results and create an action plan for improvement. All of these strategies are part of our continual striving for excellence.
RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE NEW COOLIDGE CENTER
It was a delight to unveil UPO’s Coolidge HS Early Childhood Education Center! Our speakers included Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George, who said the center is extremely valuable to the community.
UPO operates 17 Early Childhood Education Centers throughout the District, and now 7 of them are inside DC high schools, including Ballou, Anacostia, Dunbar, H.D. Woodson, Luke C. Moore, and Roosevelt. Our educators use a family-led “whole family approach” to helping our customers, including teenage mothers and fathers, achieve their goals.
A GREAT MOTHER AND LEADER: JOSIANE YEPMO
“My daughter Elora was so happy and grew so much at the SED Early Ed Center! I enjoyed communicating with the teachers; I wanted to advocate for parents and teachers so I joined the Parent Policy Council. Then I was elected to UPO’s Board of Directors, where I learned how to lead and advocate in new ways. By then, I was a full-time Biology student and UPO was a great support for me and my family. I’m so grateful.”
PRO-EDUCATION Programs Spark Learning
YOUTH SERVICES DIVISION
provides essential support to students through tailored programs and resources that spark academic success and personal development. Our team addresses the immediate and long-term needs of youth, fosters community, and unites them with opportunities that powerfully affect their decision-making.
CREATE - Destination Imagination
HOW TO TURN HATERS INTO READERS
Our CREATE elementary afterschool program offers structured activities and academic support, fostering enrichment and social development beyond regular school hours through funding from the 21st Century grant and CSBG.
CREATE students compete in Destination Imagination, a tournament where they answered open-ended questions and dove deeply into the 4 Cs: Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking.
80%
of CREATE students began the year at basic literacy skills or below
90% of them improved their skills by the end of the school year
(Statistics measured by the ANET ELA assessment, a holistic view of reading)
These students lacked literary confidence and had contempt for reading. Through homework help, tutoring, and intentional activities, their attitudes towards reading shifted positively, followed by their skills.
POWER offers a comprehensive 6-year initiative supporting middle school students through high school, focusing on SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) strategies, personal development, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), STEM in Sports, financial literacy, and college readiness. Below: Over the summer, our middle schoolers learned the science behind various sports. Then, armed with that knowledge, they played each sport. Digital Pioneers Academy students attended Nats baseball camp to learn the intricacies of baseball.
E PI C
BOOK CLUB LITERACY PROGRAM
The EPIC Book Club after-school program helps elementary-aged students by integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies with a diverse selection of literary works. By reading books featuring characters from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, students gain insights into different lives and experiences. “Watching the love of reading grow was an inspirational breath of fresh air,” said teacher Gabrielle Gregory. “The children were respectful, enthusiastic, obsessed with achievement, and kind citizens to each other.”
EPIC Book Club iSpy Field Trip
POWER Middle School program participant engineering a color projector lamp.
PRO-EDUCATION
Programs Spark Learning
WHITE HOUSE WELCOMES FOSTER GRANDPARENTS FOR EASTER EGG ROLL
The White House invited 17 UPO “Foster Grandparents” (senior volunteers who mentor schoolchildren) to help at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Our seniors loved the laughter, smiles, and wonder on the children’s faces! Honestly, our Foster Grandparents gain a sense of purpose as they help children grow: By staying active and engaged, seniors improve their mental and physical health. (UPO proudly runs the DC chapter of Foster Grandparents as part of AmeriCorps Seniors.)
463 children to mentor serving at 28 sites including classrooms + Howard University Hospital
153
seniors Our 78,928 hours volunteered
MAKING COLLEGE DREAMS COME TRUE AT THE MLK BREAKFAST
The theme of Economic Justice resonated at our 39th annual MLK Jr. Memorial Breakfast, where Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced keynote speaker Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver. He said to the 500+ UPO supporters: “Use the memory of Dr. King, who gave everything, including his life — now you can give something.” The audience listened and “paid it forward” to the leaders of tomorrow.
UPO presented Beavers Scholarships to 5 outstanding DC students to help ease the costs of college. Thanks to our generous donors, UPO has invested over $1 million to support 200 scholars and guide them through college. Keiri Sánchez, a 2019 Beavers Scholar, was the event’s MC. She thanked UPO for transforming her life and said that “everything is possible if you put your heart and passion into it.”
UPO awarded Beavers Scholarships to emerging leaders (l. to r.) Christian Washington (with then-UPO Board Chair Jeffrey Page behind him), Benicia Zouma, Mahanna Moore Dargbeh, Sumora Box, and Josue Acevedo.
PRO-WORK
Programs Open Doors
UPO is devoted to helping people reach their full career potential.
The UPO Workforce Institute is a licensed institute of higher education with nationally recognized vocational training programs in high-demand fields. Our wraparound approach to Career Development helps people overcome employment barriers with a practical action plan for how to rise out of poverty. Our team gives District residents the skill set, resources, and opportunity to get and keep jobs that launch careers.
All of our programs open doors for customers. And we’re never “done” with them. They become part of the UPO Family for life.
TRAINING COURSES FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Construction Trade
Professional Building Maintenance (PBM)
Electrical Technician Plumbing
Telecommunications/Broadband
Introduction to Telecommunications (+ additional certifications)
Information Technology
IT Helpdesk and Application Support Specialist (CompTIA A+)
Culinary Arts
ServSafe Food Protection Manager
Education
Child Development Associate (CDA)
Commercial Driving
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A and B
479
customers obtained jobs through UPO and our partners
264
national certifications earned
70
high school students attended Construction Trade Workshops and discovered new career possibilities
1,604
customers received employment services
397
customers received job readiness training
TRAINING IS HIS PATH TO SUCCESS
After he was laid off, Rahlik Smith was referred to UPO by a former teacher. In Feburary 2023, Rahlik enrolled in the Professional Building Maintenance course taught by Richard Cochran. Eager to learn and determined to change his life, Rahlik buckled down and studied intently.
While in class, he gained a part-time job at Giant Foods with the help of UPO Job Developer Annie Higginbotham but he stayed focused on his goal of earning his certification. In July 2023, Rahlik secured a position at Chiarmonte Construction as a construction apprentice and then became a carpenter apprentice. Rahlik is grateful to UPO, Mr. Cochran, and Ms. Higginbotham for teaching him skills and introducing him to opportunities that enabled him to get work that he enjoys.
At the Workforce Institute graduation, this class earned Childhood Development Associate certifications; below are Culinary Arts graduates.
PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives
UPO helps District residents amplify their voices so they can build stronger neighborhoods and live healthy, productive lives. We address the causes and conditions of poverty and give people the tools they need to succeed, from affordable housing to education, from food to free tax prep, from healthcare to the city’s first Financial Empowerment Center. With this toolkit, people can pave a path to economic security.
THE SOURCE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
People throughout the District need financial counseling. The ideal place for any resident to get expert help is the city’s Financial Empowerment Center, inside UPO’s Petey Greene Community Service Center.
The FEC is a public-private partnership between UPO, the DC Dept. of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB), and the Mayor’s Office. Our certified financial counselors give professional, one-on-one, free financial counseling to any District resident, virtually and in person.
In the FEC’s first year, our 5 counselors completed 1,032 counseling sessions and helped people with banking, saving, credit, and debt. The team also held workshops and built community partnerships. The District’s intention is that our center (in Ward 8) will serve as a model: DISB intends to create a center in each Ward to help people meet their financial goals.
EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Ward 8 Community Development Plan (W8CED) is a grassroots effort to generate a wealth-building economy that supports and sustains all residents. UPO serves on the steering committee and endorses the W8CED’s approach and goal:
“As the Community Action Agency for Washington DC, UPO believes in the maximum feasible participation of residents defining, creating, and living in communities and spaces that lead to a high quality of life. The W8CED, with its bottom-up approach, respects and elevates the collaboration of residents, businesses and community partners to give voice and a framework for community-directed growth with an emphasis on resident-directed, equitable economic development.”
The cover of W8CED’s report shows highlights of Ward 8, including (in the upper left) UPO’s “Robonauts” team, which was the champion of the DC VEX IQ Robotics League.
FREE TAX PREPARATION IS VALUABLE
UPO offers free tax preparation by IRS-certified experts to all DC households who earn under $58,000/yr. In 2023, our volunteers prepared 801 tax returns for people who then received $1,272,427 in refunds.
Over 100 of these customers were referred to the Financial Empowerment Center to receive financial counseling. As a result, many of them increased their credit scores, opened a banking account through Bank On DC, and reduced their debts. All of these customers said that they would return to UPO next year to have their taxes prepared.
801
customers received Free Tax Preparation, leading to $1,272,427 in tax refunds; our free tax program is the largest in Ward 8 and the 2nd largest in DC
1,032
financial counseling sessions that are showing people a path to greater prosperity
24,538
customers eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program received EBT cards to keep food on their tables
299
customers remained housed, thanks to rental assistance that prevented eviction and gave them a second chance; funding from TD Bank helped to address this vital issue
297
customers received housing counseling
PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives
ROBERT TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND
“Permanent Supportive Housing” describes the wraparound services that UPO’s dedicated team provides to 84 highly vulnerable individuals and families emerging from homelessness. With intensive case management, they finally gain the stability they need. We help them to find homes, stay in their new homes, and achieve the highest possible quality of life.
We are proud of Robert, a customer who turned his life around. He became homeless at 17 because of addictions to crack cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Over the next 30 years, he had no home. Due to his alcohol and drug abuse, he was imprisoned many times.
On February 22, 2018, while in prison, he decided to focus on a new road to sobriety and mental health. After he was released from prison, Robert was placed in a shelter for a year, then came to UPO’s Permanent Supportive Housing program in March 2020. He gained an apartment and a Case Manager who helped him thrive despite the pandemic
For over a year, he proved his self-sufficiency and maintained stability in his housing and finances. At that point, he opted out of our PSH program. We call him a graduate!
Now he works as a peer recovery coach, dedicated to helping people who are experiencing the trauma of drug and alcohol abuse. Robert celebrated the 5th anniversary of his sobriety on February 22, 2023 and looks forward to celebrating many more years to come.
NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UPO partnered with premier developer TM Associates to create new, high-quality, dignified affordable housing for households who earn up to 50% of the area’s median income. The first building was the 76-unit MDL Flats at 1550 First St. SW, which is fully occupied, and its 101-unit sister community next door is scheduled for completion in 2024.
In these buildings, UPO’s Permanent Supportive Housing team helps tenants who are emerging from homelessness stabilize their lives with the education, employment, and healthcare they need. With this support, they can celebrate their “home sweet home.”
UPO PUBLIC TESTIMONIES DEMAND EQUITY
Our Legislative Advocacy team fights for systemic changes to address economic and racial inequities by lifting up the voices of directly impacted residents and through policy analysis and advocacy. That’s why UPO customers testified at 6 DC Council hearings to influence important budget and legislative proposals. The testimonies included ways to improve DC’s workforce training programs, support for a new “social housing” model, and the need to reform DC’s flawed Rapid Rehousing program for families experiencing homelessness.
POLICY PAPER ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING: PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
A UPO policy paper showed that compared to a decade ago, 10,000 more DC households are spending half of their income on housing, despite substantial city investments in affordable housing. “The city is literally losing ground in our affordable housing fight,” said UPO President and CEO Andrea Thomas. The DCist news site (pictured) highlighted our analysis, and WTOP Radio interviewed Andrea Thomas about our recommendations. A separate UPO analysis of guaranteed income pilots also suggested ways to improve equity throughout the District.
WTOP Radio interview with UPO President and CEO Andrea Thomas (includes link to UPO's policy paper on affordable housing)
TM Associates and UPO are finishing another building with 100% affordable housing at 1530
1st St. SW
PRO-COMMUNITY
Programs Transform Lives
SHELTER HOTLINE
OUR IMPACT IS POWERFUL
“I was in prison, then living on the street. UPO’s Shelter Hotline team was the reason I got clean and turned my life around. They always stopped and checked on me, and gave me food and blankets. They cared. UPO saved my life. Now I’m 12 years clean with a home, a wife, and two children. Thank you!” – M.
Every day, our Shelter Hotline team of outreach workers protect the health of people who are experiencing homelessness. They make a huge difference in people’s lives.
Sometimes the results of their efforts are clear many years later: When M. ran into UPO staff, he started telling his story and tears ran down his face.
84,029 emergency calls responded to
Hotline
195,794 life-sustaining items distributed
SUCCESS STORY: TREATING OPIOID ABUSE
In the District, 2,548 people died from drug overdoses between 20172022. Yet UPO’s Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC) lost only one customer to an overdose during that time. Why?
Because CTC uses Medication Assisted Treatment and counseling as part of a holistic, resultsoriented approach. Education is the key, including talking with our customers about the lethality of using fentanyl, training them on how to use fentanyl test strips, and distributing those for free along with Narcan. We are helping 180 customers turn their lives around.
HE REGAINED EVERYTHING HE LOST
Mr. L is a customer who successfully completed his treatment. When he enrolled in CTC 7 years ago, he was addicted to drugs, homeless, unemployed, penniless, and on the verge of divorce. He had hit bottom. The 7 years of intensive treatment at CTC helped him regain everything he lost and now he owns a business with several employees. He has been completely drug-free for 3 years. Bravo!
29,839 rides to shelter, healthcare, social services, and case management gave
HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO
Our Advancing Health Literacy team invited DC residents to enjoy the 1st Annual Health & Wellness Expo, proudly presented by UPO, the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, and DC Health. People enjoyed group fitness and yoga classes and discovered new ways to lead a healthier life by talking to health-based vendors at their tables. We look forward to expanding this event next year!
SUCCESS STORY: HEALTH EDUCATION
Joan Williams is a phenomenal volunteer for UPO’s Community Impact team. She develops ideas for programs in Ward 6’s Greenleaf Senior Building (where she has lived for 12 years).
For example, she helped to bring in a series of Living Well workshops on Chronic Disease Self-Management. The series was sponsored in partnership with UPO’s Advancing Heath Literacy initiative (within the UPO Workforce Institute) and DC Health’s Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention Bureau.
Joan was excited to participate because she has 3 chronic diseases. In the workshops, she gained a strong foundation of community (as part of a group of people who actively look out for each other) and she gained new resources to navigate her diseases. “Because my faith is so strong, I’ve had years to learn how to manage my pain well,” she said. “[But I needed more, and] the workshops gave me a better understanding of how to manage my conditions.”
Thank you, Joan, for taking care of yourself and your neighbors!
Our team of Health Education heroes will even put on costumes on Halloween to make a Covid vaccination clinic less scary and more inviting.
PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives
BUILDING OURSELVES UP: UPO’S COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
By learning how to amplify their voices, DC residents are jumpstarting policy changes and economic development, seizing their power and making their visions real. 96 residents graduated from our academy this year, including the ones pictured with their certificates. One resident wrote, “I like the way we were able to learn, find common ground, and know more about Congress, leadership, and who represents our community. The way it’s presented made all of us more aware and want to volunteer. And the facilitator kept us wanting more!”
These motivated residents share our hopes for the future:
� Resilient, self-sustaining communities that can advocate for their needs.
� Inclusive progress, ensuring that all community members, regardless of background, benefit from advocacy efforts.
� A unified community voice that effectively influences policy and drives systemic change.
MCAP VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: UPO’S MURIEL LANGFORD
We are proud of Muriel Langford, a UPO volunteer since 2020, who was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Maryland Community Action Partnership (which includes UPO, the nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Washington, DC). Muriel has been a servant all her life and has supported UPO’s Covid relief efforts, Grocery Plus Senior Food Program, holiday turkey distribution, and Children’s Holiday Cheer events. UPO is so grateful for Muriel’s devotion!
230 volunteers donated 1879 hours — that’s a value of $35,905
96
DC residents graduated from our Community Leadership Academy
Volunteers are the backbone of our nonprofit. They are actively building their own neighborhoods by helping with Community Advocacy, Outreach and Engagement, and Neighborhood Improvement.
APPRECIATION CELEBRATION
Our volunteers, donors, and partners are our lifeblood. We are truly connected, and at our annual Appreciation Celebration, you could feel the love in the room. It truly takes a village to help our community thrive!
AYANA BIAS EARNS LEADERSHIP HONOR
UPO’s Director of Community Advocacy & Volunteer Services Ayana Bias inspires our community … and beyond.
Each year, Nonprofit HR honors the Social Impact Women to Watch: Outstanding women across North America “who accomplish the seemingly impossible against all odds.” This year they chose Ayana Bias as one of the professional women who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, unwavering dedication, and powerful achievements.
Nonprofit HR is the country’s leading talent management firm for the social sector. UPO is proud that they recognize Ayana Bias as an inspirational leader. Congratulations!
At our glorious event, (l. to r.) a guest joined our volunteers Wanda Dudley and Ervin Waddy, Katherine Landfield of the Fair Budget Coalition, and volunteer Leroy Jackson.
UPO Board member Barbara Bovbjerg (center) presents a Most Valuable Partner award to Medstar Health Family Choice DC.
PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives
COMMUNITY IMPACT: HOW WE RISE TOGETHER
The Community Impact team collaborates with residents and partners to tackle the root causes of poverty and improve living conditions. We address racial, economic, and geographic inequities in these Community Impact Zones (CIZ):
� Brentwood Neighborhood (Ward 5)
� Buzzard Point (Ward 6)
� Marshall Heights (Ward 7)
� Washington Highlands (Ward 8)
Our efforts constantly respond to residents’ needs. Here are highlights of our work in Ward 6:
� The DC Housing Authority and UPO agreed to set up a satellite UPO office in the Greenleaf Senior Building. The space includes an office, computer lab, and community room for ongoing empowerment sessions on computer literacy, health and fitness, nutrition, substance abuse, and domestic violence.
� The Black Coalition Against COVID partnered with UPO for the Back-toSchool event (distributing 200 backpacks with essential school supplies) and Winter Wonderland (distributing 60 children’s coats).
� 25 SW residents completed a 5-day session on Being Well in the Post-COVID World and 15 completed a 5-day session on The Way to Happiness, a practical guide to living better (and then became ambassadors to teach others!).
� 60+ residents attended a meet-and-greet where they learned about programs at UPO and 12 community partners.
� Pepco/Exelon donated 300 turkeys and 25 $20 gift cards to residents for a joyous Thanksgiving.
� In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we held a Day of Service with community partners and Alpha Kappa Alpha. We distributed 97 bags of food and PPE items.
CREATING SOLUTIONS: EQUITY FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH
Covid took a toll on our community’s mental health. UPO responded by showing people how to seek help (see p.4) and by convening an Equity Forum on Resilience & Mental Health: Emerging from the Pandemic. The distinguished panel included H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH, Yanique Lockhart-Walker, PhD, and Teneisha McIntyre, PhD, and was moderated by Mary Roary, PhD. They discussed tools such as communication, collaboration, and education to create sustainable solutions that improve equity.
Please watch the video to discover more:
https://youtu.be/ FRruv5oNpEQ
EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO ADVOCATE ON PUBLIC HOUSING AND SAFETY CONCERNS
In a landmark collaboration, residents of the Atlantic Gardens, Atlantic Terrace, and Wingate communities partnered with UPO’s Legislative Advocacy Committee to plan and host a Community Forum addressing urgent public housing, safety, and communications concerns. This initiative brought together local and government officials from the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), DC’s Dept. of Buildings, DC’s Office of the Attorney General, and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, and community residents to discuss and develop solutions to critical issues.
The forum for 200+ residents led to these outcomes:
� Clarification and Insight: Residents received detailed explanations about ongoing and upcoming initiatives to improve housing conditions and safety measures.
� Commitment to Action: The Office of the Attorney General and MPD committed to increased patrols and community policing efforts. The Dept. of Buildings agreed to a streamlined process for addressing maintenance requests.
� Recommendations for Solutions:
Participants proposed several recommendations, including the creation of a resident advisory council to interact with housing authorities and regular community meetings to monitor progress.
The forum gave residents a sense of their power — they saw how their voices can drive change now and in the future. It also set a new standard for collaboration between the community and local authorities. The forum’s success inspired neighboring communities who saw the value of such events, creating a ripple effect of engagement and advocacy across the District.
UPO has a Thanksgiving tradition of distributing turkeys, boxes of groceries, and hot meals to our community. With partners such as TM Associates, MedStar Family Choice DC, Islamic Relief USA, Cure the Streets, and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White’s office, we distributed 650 turkeys along with hundreds of hot meals.
GALA HONORING
60 YEARS OF HELPING PEOPLE & CHANGING LIVES
UPO’s 60th Anniversary Gala Celebration was a joy to behold! UPO was founded in 1962 to help DC residents become the change agents of their lives and lift themselves into economic security. Who could have imagined our legacy and impact?
The event theme was the title of Maya Angelou's poem “Still I Rise” to evoke the resilience of District residents who rise to meet every challenge, and the many times over 6 decades that UPO has risen higher to help our community.
The entire UPO team appreciates the hundreds of people who joined us to make the event so special, including our friends, donors, volunteers, partners, and:
� Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who introduced UPO Hall of Fame inductee Rev. Dr. Dana M. Jones
� Lifelong activist for children Mark K. Shriver
� The family of the late Vanessa L. Rawls, who was also inducted into the UPO Hall of Fame
� Marica Cox Mitchell, VP of Early Childhood for the Bainum Family Foundation; she accepted UPO’s first-ever Spirit of Philanthropy Award on behalf of the Foundation
� Mercedes Synder, who graduated with an IT certification via UPO and turned her life around
� Our MC for the evening, radio and TV personality Guy Lambert
“UPO GAVE ME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE”
After returning home from prison, Reginald Tucker, Sr. needed to change his life. He came to UPO to earn national certifications in Broadband Telecommunications. While taking the class, he recommended it to his son Reggie Tucker, Jr. Both men graduated and have jobs they are proud of. Now they envision starting a family business!
Video of a family’s transformation:
https://youtu.be/ vVEFHYNAGaQ?si=DKAz4bKXZs0ju7c7
“I
ACCOMPLISHED MY DREAMS THANKS TO A BLUEPRINT FROM UPO.”
Mercedes Snyder was struggling financially and ached for custody of her son. Then her cousin recommended UPO’s IT training course. Mercedes had nothing left to lose and a life with her son to gain. Mercedes signed up, earned her A+ certification, gained custody, and has been rising financially ever since. She is grateful to UPO and has now become a mentor: “My future is giving back to others because I received so much.”
Video with her powerful speech:
https://youtu.be/ mZnxWJ71C0w?si=nvsGhMF6_azjyA9r
FY 2024 – FY 2026
STRATEGIC GOALS
As we look toward the future, we are aiming for these targets.
GOAL #1
Provide high-quality resultsoriented programs and services to DC residents who aim to achieve economic security.
GOAL #2
Optimize organizational performance through staff capacity development and business process improvements.
GOAL #3
Ensure long-term sustainability through strategic partnerships, diversified funding streams, and improved brand awareness.
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
INCOME MANAGEMENT
customers received Financial Counseling and Capability Skills training
customers received free Tax Preparation Assistance
EMPLOYMENT
EMERGENCY
phone calls received and processed by Shelter Hotline
NUTRITION
EDUCATION
623 children between 0-5 served by Early Head Start
youth mentored by Foster Grandparents
youth engaged through youth programs
AGENCY SCORECARD
SELF-SUFFICIENCY/CASE MANAGEMENT
The
LINKAGES
151 seniors participated in recreation and socialization activities
96 DC residents completed the Community Leadership Academy 78,928 hours served by Foster Grandparents
378 people received wellness classes (stress reduction, medication management, mindfulness, etc.)
175 people demonstrated improved physical health and well-being
160 Mental Health Counseling sessions to improve quality of life
HOUSING
297 customers received housing counseling
299 customers received rental assistance and their threat of eviction was resolved
MEASURING AGENCY RESULTS
FUNDING SOURCES
Bainum Family Foundation
– $200,000
Outreach Global Group (OGG)
Principal Foundation
–
Maryland Community Action Partnership (MCAP) The Wollenberg Foundation
Anonymous Events DC - Washington Convention and Sports Authority
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Pepco, an Exelon Company
We are pleased to acknowledge and thank our most generous benefactors who made gifts during FY 2023 between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. INVESTMENTS OF $5,000–$9,999 INVESTMENTS OF $2,500–$4,999
Clark Construction Group, LLC
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Comcast NBCUniversal Delta Housing Corporation of the District of Columbia Gallagher Benefit Services Georgetown University
Giant Food Gayle Maslow
John & Leslie Oberdorfer
Office Catering
Office of the Secretary of State of the District of Columbia PNC Bank United Bank
INVESTMENTS OF $10,000–$20,000
RCM&D
Safeway Foundation
TM Associates, Inc.
UPO Community Development Corporation (CDC)
UPO Inspire
Accenture
Al's Twin Air LLC
Black Coalition Against COVID (BCAC)
Erik Boas and Susanne Morris
CDW
City National Bank Global Giving
ALLN1 Proservices, LLC
American Psychological Association
Amerigroup Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
Lafayette and Denise Barnes
Jo Raffa Boukhira
Barbara and Randall Bovbjerg
Brookfield Properties Development
Christian Clansky
Collaborative Solutions for Communities
CSI Corporation of DC
DC Health Link
DC Housing Authority
DC Office of the People's Counsel
Eagle Academy Public Charter School
Nita Evans and Akayleb Evans
1st CDL Training Center of NOVA
Friends of Kennedy Playground
Thomas Gore
Harry Gough
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Donna Grigsby
Dianna Guinyard
Laurette Hilliard
Dana M. Jones
Jubilee Jobs DC
L. Larry Kibler
Scott Kratz
Maria and John McPhail
Quiana Mitchem
National Community Action
Partnership (NCAP)
Daniel Ofori-Addo
Jeffrey Page
Thornell Page
Jennifer Park-Jadotte
Lawrence Parks, II
Percy Public Affairs, LLC
Ruthven Phillip
Tara Plochocki
Prashanth Rajashekhar
Robert Half
Kaye Savage
Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP
Aron Szapiro
Andrea Thomas
Robert and Shay Thorne
UBT
William B. & Sallie B. Wallace
Franklin and Vivian Wilds
WIPFLI LLP
Hyvron and Estelle Jean
Kaiser Permanente Mid-
Atlantic States
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission
MedStar Family Choice - DC PAVE
Lisa Arcari
ASAP FAST!
Ayana Bias
Byte Back
Raymond Bell (The Hope Project)
Mary Ellen Curtin
CWA Local 2336
Gregory Dyson
Edgewood Brookland
Family Support
Collaborative
Educare DC
Etta Grove Footwear
F.S. Taylor & Associates
Arrealia Gavins
Royace Hagler
Andrew Harris
Branden Isaac
Juan Jara
TD Bank
T. H. Easter Consulting United Way of the National Capital Area (NCA)
Joseph Vaughan WinnCompanies
Alice Jordan
Matthew Kahn
Kaplan Early Learning Company
Keenan Keller
Kutak Rock LLP
Ned Laskowski
Long Fence
Regina Murphy
Neil Mutreja
Paula Ralph
Zach Ratzman
De Angelo Rorie
Oliver Spurgeon
Wayne Thompson
Wilbur Wiley
Vivian Wilkins
We also thank our many other donors who made gifts during FY 2023. We are deeply grateful for all our donations no matter the size. Your generosity makes our lifesaving work possible as we guide our neighbors on a path toward financial stability and wellness.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
We thank Comcast for their support of our local communities and commitment to advancing digital equity.
They are a long-term partner focused on creating a better and more equitable world for the residents of Washington, DC and beyond.
“Comcast’s partnership with UPO began more than a decade ago when they became one of our first Internet Essentials partners, helping to provide affordable home Internet to low-income households in Washington, DC.
We knew then that this would be the start of an incredible journey to help achieve our ongoing and shared mission of closing the digital divide and advancing digital equity. Our continued partnership has helped to promote digital skills training in the region through initiatives such as UPO’s Foster Grandparents program, supporting college scholarships for youth, and expanding access to the tools and resources needed to navigate today’s digital economy.
We look forward to deepening our partnership and continuing to drive initiatives that advance economic mobility and create a future of unlimited possibilities.”
-Veronica Santos, Director of External Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region
PROVIDERS & PARTNERS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Each year, we partner with myriad organizations throughout the Washington, DC area to provide the highest-quality programs, all designed to help our customers attain economic security. Thank you for your continued support.
AimHire
Ajilon
Allied Universal
America Works of Washington, DC
American University
Amidon-Bowen Elementary School
Anacostia Coordinating Council
Anacostia Economic Development Corporation
Andrews Federal Credit Union
Anne Beers Elementary School
APB Associates
Ballou Senior High School
Ballou STAY Opportunity Academy
Bank of America
Bethesda Baptist Church DC
Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School
Black Coalition Against COVID
Bombas
Bowie State University
Bravo Zulu Chess Academy
Bread for the City
Brentwood Recreation Center
Bright Beginnings
Early Childcare
The Brooks Group, LLC
Browne Education Campus
Building Bridges, LLC
Burroughs Education Campus
Burville Elementary School
Byte Back
C3 Cares
Calvary Health Care
Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB)
Capital Area Food Bank
Capitol Skyline Hotel
Career Gear
Catholic Charities - Archdiocese of Washington
Central Union Mission
CentroSync
Cesar Chavez Public Charter School
Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients (CRISP)
Children & Charity
Children’s Health Project
Children’s Hospital
Children's Legacy Theater
Chimes DC
Christ Church
CityWorks DC
Coalition for Non-Profit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED)
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Collaborative Solutions for Communities
Community Bridges, LLC
Community Connections
Community of Hope
Community Service Agency, Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO
Community Tax Aid
Community Wellness Venture
Compass DC
Competitive by Nature
Competitive Innovations
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
Covenant House
C-Tech
CURE the Streets
DASH - District Alliance for Safe Housing
David Lynch Foundation
DC127
DC Board of Elections
DC Central Kitchen
DC Child and Family Services Agency
DC Community Courts
DC Dept. of Behavioral Health
DC Dept. of Disability
Services - Rehabilitation Services Administration
DC Dept. of Employment
Services
DC Dept. of Health
DC Dept. of Housing and Community Development
DC Dept. of Human Services
DC Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking
DC Dept. of Parks and Recreation
DC Healthy Families
DC Housing Authority
DC Hunger Solutions
DC Public Library
DC Mayor’s Office
DCPS Office of Early Childhood Education
DC Safe
DC Strong Start
DC Students Construction Trades Foundation
DC Superior Court
DCTV
District Health Care Services
DOES Project Empowerment
Dress for Success
Drew Elementary School
Eagle Academy PCS
East River Family Strengthening Collaborative Educare of Washington, DC
Edward C Mazique PCC - Infant
Edward C Mazique PCC - Reeves
Edward C Mazique PCC - Tyler House
Edward C. Mazique PCCDeveloping Families
El Bethel Baptist Church
Empowerment Center
E.R. Bacon Development, LLC
Ethiopian Community Center
Events DC
Excel Academy
EYL 365 Projects, LLC
Famalay Staffing, LLC
Family Medical Counseling Service
Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative
Fedcap, Inc.
1st CDL Training Center of NOVA
First Rock Baptist ChurchChild Development Center
Fishscale
Fort Lincoln New Town
Foster & Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center
Foulger-Pratt
Friendship Public Charter School - Blow
Friendship Public Charter School - Cham
Friendship Southeast Elementary School
Friendship Technology Preparatory School
Friendship Woodridge Elementary School
Future Resources Learning
Genesis Healthcare, Bradford Oaks Center
George Washington University - Milken Institute School of Public Health
Giant Food
Giant Pharmacy
Gonzaga - Omega Men for the Homeless GOODProjects
Greater DC Diaper Bank
Greater Help Ministries
Greater Washington Urban League
Natalie Greenbaum
Greenleaf Resident Council
H Street Community Development
Health Management Associates
Healthy Babies
Health Services for Children with Special Needs
Healthy Families/ Thriving Communities
Collaborative Council
Higher Development Academy
Home Depot
House of Ruth - Kidspace
Howard University
Howard University Hospital
The HSC Pediatric Center
Hubbard Place
Hutchins 360 STEM
illuminatED
Imagine Public Charter School
Industrial Bank
InnerCity Collaborative CDC
Israel Baptist Church
James Creek Resident Council
J.C. Nalle Elementary School
Jobs Have Priority
Jones Memorial United Methodist Church
JPMorgan Chase
Jubilee Housing
K&L Gates
Kavi Wellness
Ketcham Elementary School
King Elementary School
Labcorp
Langdon Elementary School
Langley Elementary School Language Solutions
Latin American Youth Center
Learn24
LightHouse DC
Little Lights Urban Ministries
Living Classrooms FoundationNational Capital Region
Logan Elementary School
Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
Malcolm X Elementary School
Martha’s Table
The Mary Elizabeth House
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
The Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs
Medstar Family Choice DC
Melwood
Meiger Health
Metropolitan Police Department
Michael’s Creative Minds
Mid City Management (Brookland Manor)
National Family Engagement Alliance
The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens
National Restaurant Association
Neighborhood Legal Services
Northeastern Presbyterian Church
NRI-Staffing
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Office of Latino Affairs
Office of Neighborhood & Safety Engagement
Om Shanti
OSSE: 21st Century
Parents with Partners
Payne Elementary School
PNC Bank
Pragmatics
Prestige Healthcare Resource
Prive’ Demeure, Inc.
Providence Hospital
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
UPO is an education hub for DC’s Quality Improvement Network. We’re partnering for excellence with these child development centers across the city.
Bell Teen Parent
Big Mama’s Board of Child Care
Community Education House of Ruth
Jubilee JumpStart
Kennedy Institute Kids Are People Too Kids Are Us Learning Center
Loving Care
Love First
Sunshine Early Learning
NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS
We rely on effective organizations such as these to help fulfill our mission.
Catholic Charities - Archdiocese of Washington Collaborative Solutions for Communities
Community Services Agency, Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
PSI Service III, Inc.
R. Emmanuel Bell Consulting
Randle Highlands Elementary School
Reading Partners - J.C. Nalle
Richard Wright Public Charter School
R.I.S.E. Center
Rockstar Cutz
Roots Public Charter School
S.A.F.E. DC
Safeway, Inc.
Salvation Army
Shelters to Shutters
SkyPoint FCU
SNAP/Hunger Solutions
Spanish Education Development Center
Stanton Elementary School
Storyline Strategies
Street Sense Media
Suited for Change
Sunshine Early Learning Center
SW BID
Syphax Gardens Resident Council
T Mobile
Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc., Xi Chapter
Tel Cort Cooperative
TD Bank
Tele Court Coop
Thrive, DC
TM Associates
Toki Underground
Temple University, Harrisburg
Tony Thomas Associates
DC Central Kitchen
Edgewood/Brookland Family
Support Collaborative
Thrive DC
US Vets
Vida Senior Centers
The Training Center
Transitional Care Center
Trinity University
Turner Elementary School
Tzedek DC
Umbrella Therapeutic Services
United Bank
United Way of the National Capital Area
University of the District of Columbia (UDC)
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development
US Vets
Van Ness Elementary School
Wards 7 & 8 DC Prevention Center
Ward 8 Community Economic Development Plan
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington Center
VIDA Senior Centers
Washington Leadership Academy
Westlink Career Institute
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Wheatley Education Campus
A Wider Circle
Kirsten Williams, ANC 5C06 Commissioner
WinnCompanies
WMATA
The Wollenberg Foundation
World Central Kitchen
WPFW 89.3 FM
Zane Networks
WHERE WE SERVE
SERVICE
A UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION (Headquarters)
301 Rhode Island Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001
202-238-4600
Early Learning | Shelter Hotline for people experiencing homelessness B ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER
1649 Marion Barry Ave. SE Washington, DC 20020
202-610-5900
202-610-2796 (Youth Services Office)
Youth Services | Foster Grandparents Program
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Processing
EARLY LEARNING NETWORK
C RALPH WALDO “PETEY” GREENE COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER
2907 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave SE Washington, DC 20032
