2011 Review: Best of East of the River

What are your predictions for life East of the Anacostia in 2012? Possibly the near completion of the 11th Street Bridge, more bike lanes, new restaurants or even new council members. 

What's lies ahead of us?

Was 2011 the best year for residents East of the River? Looking back, we've come a long way, but have a longer road ahead of us! Here are my choices for the Best of 2011 East of the River Year in Review.

1. Community Collaboration and Protests 
 Anacostia is well known for its rebellious spirit as the Frederick Douglass house serves as a reminder of our historical achievements against injustices.  So it comes as no surprise that we would carry on his fight for equality by demanding better parking meters, rallying behind the Our DC Jobs movement and expecting more from our leaders for economic development. Our vocal community members know how to tap into an unhappy populace and get results.

  Please send a big shout out by voting for blogger Nikki Peele for her role as a mobilizing force in getting the word out. Also thank you to R.E.E.L. for celebrating the best and brightest East of the River.

REEL Honorees for their service to Wards 7 & 8

Maceo Thomas, Dr. Autumn Saxton-Ross, Rebecca Renard enjoying the REEL holiday party.

River East Ladies who volunteer time and effort to community building at REEL Holiday Party.
More Photos by Kellie Armstead of www.reeldc.org

2. Anacostia River Walk Trail
Anacostia's biggest draw is our natural asset, the river. The river must be cleaned, maintained and accessible for recreation in order for any real economic development to happen in the surrounding communities. The ribbon cutting of the Anacostia River Walk Trail is a collaborative effort by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Mayor Vincent Gray and the federal representatives serving as a major move in the right direction.


3. Anacostia Web Series
Anthony Anderson is a renegade producer with the creativity and wit to put Anacostia on the map.  The Anacostia web-series continues to win awards and fans while forcing people across the country learn about "Anacostia". Watch with caution because this show is addicting!


4.  Health Revolution
The state of  our health cannot go unchecked. Our clinics, hospitals, water supply, fresh food options and safety are paramount in shifting the neighborhood.  This year, Washington Gas announced its commitment to address their role in polluting the Anacostia River, the DC Circulator expanded over the bridge while the presence of a new Aya Community Market provided everyone with affordable organic options.  In 2012, we need more yoga, wellness classes, upscale private health clinics and fresh healthy fast food within walking distance of our homes.

5. Obamas in Anacostia
I love President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama  for their consistent effort to walk across the river to mentor, support and encourage our youth. Let's hope their economic policies in 2012 match up with their efforts!

First Lady Michelle Obama supporting Anacostia High School Valedictorian Jordan Smiley.
More Photos of First Lady here

2011 made for an interesting year and our community is  lively, creative and unpredictable which makes it fun, but we have lots of room for improvement. I predict 2012 will bring more small business entrepreneurs and an influential social media collective that will eventually change life for the better East of the River.

Next up, the Worst of East of the River!

5 Features of a "Nice Neighborhood"

"Why is there so much litter in poor black neighborhoods?" asked my Anglo-Saxon friend visiting from the "pristine" state of Utah. 

"Green the Ghetto" Movement by Majora Carter

My first reaction was to slap him upside his head. Luckily I practice yoga, so I went with my second reaction and said, "I don't know." I introduced him to the more visually appealing parts of Southeast, but his questions still lingered.

I was prepared to give him a history lesson on "institutional racism, mental slavery and self-hate".  Maybe throw in some theories on the American ghetto mimicking the conditions of a slave plantation causing our people to have low sense of self or civic pride. My hope was to intellectually explain away the beer bottles, potato chip bags, and random junk on the streets. But my responses didn't get to the core of my friend's follow-up questions, "Why does it have to look this way and what can we do to change it?"

Do you really need a sign to remind you to sit on a toilet?

What makes a neighborhood "nice"? 

This inspired me revisit the  5 Critical Features of  a "Nice Neighborhood":

1. Aesthetic Appreciation
"Everything in its place and a place for everything" said Benjamin Franklin.  I recently noticed a few attractive metal trash cans in downtown Historic Anacostia. On Pennsylvania SE, the bus stops are littered with trash that blocks sewers and doorways. Even in areas of Adams Morgan, what could be a beautiful little nook might be cluttered with trash. Is this the city's responsibility or that of the citizen to keep their block clean and healthy? Trash is an eyesore and creates air pollutants. Clean up requires a joint effort by community leaders, tax-payers and the workers who keep our streets clean!

2. Diversity 
Say what you want, but we are living in a post-racially homogeneous world. Diversity is everywhere and running from it only means the extinction of your species. That means Caribbean, African, Asian, Latino, Gay, Straight, rich, poor and all the variations in between.  Adams Morgan and U Street are great because within a 5 minute walk, you can dance to soul music at Marvin, eat Ethiopian at Dukem and catch a punk rock show at Black Cat.  Some of my favorite cities in America (South Beach and Berkeley) thrive based on their diversity in economics, job options and belief systems. By welcoming in new thoughts, we learn to create a community-led hybridization which ultimately garners both economic and energetic support.

3. Youth Activities & Education
Hitler and Noriega were able to start their movements with an idle and disgruntled unemployed youth. In Ward 8, we have over 20% of the population under the age of 35. So  we better start engaging the youth or else! Anacostia's resident and librarian Rebecca Renard started a web-based resource for students called Youth202. The service offers young people affordable and accessible activities throughout Washington D.C.

Instead of complaining about teens, she found a way to develop their creative skills and roll it back into the community.





4. Culture of Health & Safety
Prevention is the new Prescription. Investing in health doesn't mean more hospitals but also doctors and preventive health services. During the summer, I volunteered at the Reston Sprint Triathlon and witnessed everyone ages 8 to 80 participate. The event was supported by local businesses offering logistical and organizational support.  Reston, VA is designed to be a walk-able, bikeable suburban community. The neighborhood is filled with green spaces, clean public pools, fresh food, and constant activities to promote an active lifestyle.

5. Civic Pride
 If you don't believe in your neighborhood, then who will? Like money, nice neighborhoods don't fall out of the sky. They are made with hard work and dedication. I often read negative comments on twitter, or blogs about Anacostia. People who drive down one street for 3 minutes give their opinion on the entire area. Even people who have lived here for years yet refuse to get active but weigh down community energy. Either lead , follow or get out of the way!


Bronx Leader Majora Carter on if she was President.

Green the Ghetto
http://www.majoracartergroup.com/
For more on building a nice neighborhood visit PBS
http://www.pps.org/articles/great_places_tips/
http://www.ourbetternature.org/litter.htm

Yoga in My Hood: Hillcrest SE

I must give love and a humongous shout out to the lovely flexible ladies (and one powerful gentleman) of our "Mocha Yoga Mondays" yoga classes at the Hillcrest Recreation Center.

Power, flexibility and spirit in action, Hillcrest Residents

We celebrated our last yoga class of 2011 sharing inspirational quotes, poems and goals.  Everyone carved out their own pathway to self development ranging from "Starving Fear" and "Using My Big Voice" to focus, discipline and letting go. And somehow, we tied this all into our yoga asana practice by holding variations of tree pose (vrkasana) , warrior 3 (Virabhadrasana I) and getting deep into our breath.

I love guiding this class because we are not afraid to show our weaknesses and get emotional on issues that mean alot to us personally and collectively. During the summer, we started our yoga journey practicing the fundamentals to the grooves of  Aretha Franklin and Lauryn Hill. Overtime, our class has grown to discover it's own unique yogic rhythm. 

Collective Activism

After a hiccup in scheduling, two passionate yoginis (Ms. Thaddanie and Marguerite) fought hard to get classes back up and running. We also received support from the DC Social Innovation Lab, US Dept of Health Office of Women's Health, Stonyfield Organic and the Hillcrest Recreation Center's Mr. Moton and Director Kim McPherson. With their financial and logistical support, our classes popped off again in October including a new Zumba instructor.

The People United...

The Hillcrest community is just one small example of what happens when we collectively speak up for our health.

If you want it and demand it, whatever you need will come to your community.
Let's take our demands up a notch and ask for more healthy restaurants, gourmet convenience stores and affordable access to healthy food within walking distance of our homes.  Take some time to encourage and support small business owners through patronage and pooling resources. If everyone makes one small act of change, we will see ripple effect throughout the community at large. 

The health revolution starts at home.

Have a happy holiday and stop by our Soulful Flow Yoga on Mondays in February 2012. 

Soulful Flow Yoga aka Mocha Mondays
Instructor: AnacostiaYogi
Hillcrest Recreation Center
3100 Denver Street SE
Washington, DC 20020
email: anacostiayogi@gmail.com
Namaste - "The light in me honors the light in you"

Yoga & Yogurt Holiday Social - Mon Dec. 19, 2011

Come kickoff  your healthy holiday season with the first "Yoga & Yogurt Holiday Social" sponsored by Stonyfield Organic on Monday, December 19, 2011 at the Hillcrest Recreation Center. We will enhance the yogurt experience with fresh holiday berries, mint, granola and other delightful toppings!

Come celebrate the holiday season with with a healthy treat.

Stonyfield Organic generously donated organic yogurt to our Monday night Soulful Flow Yoga class to support the growing organic health movement East of the River.  Stonyfield Organic offers a refreshing detour from all the products on the market that bombard us with processed sugar and artificial sweeteners. 

Stonyfield Organic  is a  company based in New Hampshire that distributes all natural yogurts across the globe. It is one of the few companies that advocate for the labeling of genetically modified foods and a healthy planet.

Check out the Stonyfield CEO, Gary Hirshberg, who raps about the state of health today!

It can be a major challenge to find quick healthy foods that are fresh, organic and natural East of the River. But, I haven't had any trouble finding  Stonyfield Organic products at Yes! Organic on Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Safeway on Alabama Ave and sometimes at the CVS on  Branch Avenue.

I would like to send a big thank you and "Namaste" to fellow yoga teacher Carrie at Stonyfield for recognizing the potential for an organic health consumer base East of the Anacostia River!

"Yoga and Yogurt Holiday Social" sponsored by Stonyfield Organic

Monday, December 19, 2011 

Hillcrest Recreation Center 

FREE!

7pm-8pm Yoga Tricks/ 8-8:30pm Yogurt Treats

3100 Denver Street SE

Washington, DC 20020

For more about Stonyfield Organic, visit http://www.stonyfield.com or tell them what kinds of products you like to purchase at http://sweetitude.com/

Who's the Boss? 20 Rules for 2012

How do you handle yourself in and outside the boardroom?

Bossy by Kelis

"You don't have to love me

You don't even have to like me

But you will respect me

You know why?

Cuz I'm a boss!"

Being the boss doesn't stop or begin in the workplace. It also doesn't mean controlling other people and wielding your power like a wild woman. A boss is someone who responsibly and fairly handles their business with compassion, while maintaining or improving their surroundings. 

But what are the rules to becoming someone worthy of the title "BOSS?"

My twitter feed lit up when the handle "Boss Chickquotes" asked the folks to submit their personal mantras for grooming yourself to "bosshood". The quotes came rolling in with some good, some bad, but all with a sharp dose of reality. 

 I picked out my top 20 favorite quotes  for
 handling your personal and professional biz!

Disclaimer: These rules may apply to all genders.

1. Never slow down for a man that can't keep up.
2. Sometimes you have to be selfish. People will drain the life out of you if you let them! Put your all in to YOU!
3. I never FAIL: I simply have minor set-backs that prep me for major come-ups.
4. Stop tryna tell people who you are and what you are about and just.. BE.
5. Respect is earned... Not given.
6. Analyze ur Circle. Learn to separate the real from the faux.. & a friend from a foe.
7. U lose focus once u start watchin the next chick... Stop Watching.. and Start Living.
8. Watch who gets Fake when shit gets Real.
9. Learn to be unapologetic ... sometime's u gotta let these b*tches have it...
10. Never argue with heauxs outside ur tax bracket.
11. Never share your dream with the dream-killers.. And if ur circle lacks loyalty.. it's better to move in SILENCE
12. Everybody can't be a GOLD-DIGGER.. too many cheap men out here... u better off being a GOAL-DIGGER.
13. Never envy the SUCCESS of another.. U have no idea how much she had to SWEAT to get there! 
14. in order to conduct the orchestra, u must turn ya back to the crowd, never be afraid to stand alone! 
15. Be careful who you open up to. Only a few people actually care, the rest are just curious. 
16.   You don't have to like me... But u WILL respect me 
17. Never let your insecurities speak for you.
18. Never try to befriend every hand you shake... Business is Business... never personal.
19.  Learn to separate the critics from the haters.. not everyone is hating, someone's telling u the TRUTH!
20. There is no competition.. Its just You vs You!

I am taking these tips into 2012 as I prepare to fulfill my dharma (purpose) with passion! Do you have any words of wisdom or an old saying that just sticks with you? Tweet it to @bosschickquotes or @anacostiayogi

Deck the Halls of the Honfleur Gallery

Come out to Anacostia's best party of the year on Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 7pm. The River East Emerging Leaders Holiday Party at the Honfleur Gallery will honor the most passionate residents East of the River.

For more information on REEL visit http://www.reeldc.org/
Contact Charles Wilson

When "FAT" Runs in the Family

Don't miss Joy Marie Conway's one woman show "FAT" on Friday, December 9, 2011 at the 

DC Jewish Community Center. 

Conway will explore the cultural norms and family belief systems that frame gender, race, weight and identity. The play is just one aspect of a larger movement encouraging women to embrace healthy and realistic representations of their bodies. There is a facebook page soley dedicated to an unapologetic body.

Conway touches on the issues of self-care for Black Women and our emotional connections to our diet, weight loss and the greater impact on health in the black community. 

For more information on "FAT" visit http://cereusarts.com/

@cereusarts

$20 Advanced Tickets available at

www.cereusartsfat.eventbrite.com