A big lobby day at the Wilson Building today by @wearedcaction.bsky.social arguing for the reversal of planned cuts to childcare/healthcare programs. @brianneknadeau.bsky.social is speaking in support of new 2% surcharge on passive income to do so.

91% of #WashingtonDC parents are satisfied with summer programming, meaning when families can access it, #AfterschoolWorks. Affordability & transportation remain major barriers, which is why we need to expand OST for all.

< half of income-eligible infants and toddlers were enrolled in the child care subsidy program 2019-2023. While enrollment has increased since, many eligible families still don't benefit. Read more: wearedcaction.org/wp-content/u... (1/2)

DC’s care economy is under threat — and we’re showing up to protect it! Join us and @wearedcaction.bsky.social on Wed, May 20 @ 9:30am at the Wilson Building to speak up for child care, paid leave & healthcare! RSVP: bit.ly/20may26

We can’t afford to weaken critical supports for young people. DC’s proposed FY27 budget cuts youth homelessness funding by ~12% including $1.53M from Extended Transitional Housing and $755K from Transitional Housing. Restore the cuts. #WashingtonDC youth deserve stability, not setbacks.

We’re at the Youth Mayoral Candidate Forum with a bunch of our partners and we’re so proud of our young leaders facilitating tonight! Take a look at this student-created guide about the candidates present: www.canva.com/design/DAHCL...

At the Wilson Building @wearedcaction.bsky.social is rolling out a new report arguing the childcare pay equity fund delivers way more in benefits than it costs: Bowser plans to eliminate it. It also argues most benefits flow to parents (despite Bowser's assertions otherwise)

With multiple At-Large and Mayoral candidates running and the June 16 primary just weeks away, let's take a look at the latest data about voters in DC: • 92% of DC’s adults are registered to vote • 50% of registered DC voters are Black, 31% white, 6% Latinx, and the remaining 13% other/unknown

To eliminate the Pay Equity Fund and further squeeze an already tightened knot on the DC’s Child Care Subsidy Program is cruel to District families doing their best to raise their kids in the city and make ends meet.Our latest poll shows DC voters strongly support fully funding both. bit.ly/47USWh6

In our new blog, “They Ask For Help, Nearly Two-Thirds Didn’t Get It,” our Deputy Director of Youth Advocacy, Rachel White, breaks down what young people in #WashingtonDC told us about trying to access mental health care and where the system is falling short. @councilofdc ➡️https://bit.ly/4tAo39N

Congratulations on hosting a successful candidate forum @wearedcaction.bsky.social and @dcjwj.bsky.social and thank you to all candidates who showed up, listened, and shared with our community! DC deserves strong, responsive leadership committed to taking care of our people.

This is a monumental election year for #WashintonDC. Join us to hear directly from Democratic candidates for Mayor & At-Large Council at the Building A District That Cares For All Candidate Forum. 🗓 Mar 29 | 3–5 PM 📍 Festival Center – 1640 Columbia Rd NW ➡️ Register here: bit.ly/4ul12ZE

THIS is what advocacy in #WashingtonDC looks like! We joined @fairbudgetdc.bsky.social in sharing their FY27 Budget platform with @councilofdc.bsky.social today, urging councilmembers to raise revenue from those with the most, protect our safety net, and defend DC's self-governance. #WeGotUsDC!!

We'll be joining the @fairbudgetdc walkaround tomorrow, where we will call for local leaders to develop a budget that invests in care and sustainability 🌱 #WeGotUsDC @MayorBowser @ChmnMendelson, build a budget that allows DC to take care of our own. FY27 FBC Budget platform: bit.ly/WeGotUsDC

Early educators in #WashingtonDC were finally seeing better pay thanks to the Pay Equity Fund, which is now at risk due to budget cuts. But even with the PEF increase, many still can't afford rent, groceries, or childcare for their own kids. Read more: wearedcaction.org/wp-content/u...

Children in #WashingtonDC are facing the highest child poverty rates in over a decade, with 28% now living below the poverty line and major racial disparities. And that doesn't even capture the true cost of raising a family here. Check out our DC KIDS COUNT Report: wearedcaction.org/wp-content/u...

This morning, the TANF is Still a Lifeline Coalition held a Council briefing on the District's only cash assistance program for families with children and the devastating impact of cuts. TY @cmfrumin.bsky.social and staff from other council offices for engaging in this important conversation.

"My message to the Senate is don't disrupt tax-filing season," says @mayorbowser.dc.gov today, ahead of an expected vote in the Senate this week on a Republican resolution that would repeal a D.C. law that made changes to the local tax code.

Opinion: D.C. must restore TANF to pull more children out of poverty 51st.news/opinion-dc-r...

"When adults struggle less with physical & mental health they have more capacity to support their children...Furthermore, the extent of children’s coverage should be more clearly communicated throughout DHCF, to health care providers & offices, & to families" More: wearedcaction.org/publications...

NEWS: The D.C. Council just rejected an emergency bill that would have extended the summer's expanded youth curfew for another three months. The votes against came from Trayon White, @robertwhitedc.bsky.social, @brianneknadeau.bsky.social, @cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social, and @chenderson.bsky.social.

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And @freedcproject.bsky.social has put together a 2025 Back to School Community Safety Toolkit — check it out at freedcproject.org/schools

DC has not had cash bail since 1992. We’ve been collecting data. In FY23, 92% of individuals released pretrial were not arrested for a new offense. www.courtexcellence.org/news-items/2...

Over the last week, we've heard countless concerns about harmful federal law enforcement activity in our communities.   I have created an online form where neighbors can anonymously report and document concerning incidents involving federal agents.   Submit reports here: ➡️ bit.ly/4msqJmU

DCCAPE results are out. Good: progress for nearly every group! Bad: massive gaps remain, and those who we aren't getting to proficiency also have fewer edu opportunities (and in the current political climate even more challenges). To see how your ward's doing go to wearedcaction.org/dc-kids-coun...

PSA

Tonight!

From a HUD lit review: "Sweeps of encampments do little to...resolve the problem of encampments...Clearance with little or no support may actually reduce the likelihood that people will seek shelter because it erodes trust and creates an adversarial relationship" www.huduser.gov/portal/sites...

Even without Trump militarizing District law enforcement, Black children were already disproportionately policed. Black youth under 18 were stopped at > 10x the rate of their white peers. Police also searched Black youth under 18 far more often than they did white youth: 935 compared to just 6. 1/3

Want to support DC residents? Call these Coucilmembers today: CM Christina Henderson - (202) 724-8105 office CM Matt Frumin - (202) 724-8062 office CM Robert White - (202) 727-8174 office Tell them to vote in support of Parker's amendment to raise revenue via capital gains.

Chairman Mendelson circulated an amendment to the budget last night to pull back $30M in appropriations. Join us in making phone calls to the Chairman's office (202-724-7002) ASAP asking them to preserve ECE funds.

DC Council still has time to keep 26k adults from losing Alliance health coverage and 6k children in ICP from having health coverage reduced. If you want to brush up on what those programs are before you contact councilmembers check out our snapshot: wearedcaction.org/publications...

🚨 Before Congress’s Medicaid cuts take effect late 2026, DC Council plans to shift many #WashingtonDC residents off #Medicaid. About 10% won’t qualify for the alternative and must fend for coverage on the Exchange. Learn more about Medicaid at wearedcaction.org/publications...

One of the many blows to children and families is the plan to reduce medical insurance for immigrant children (no longer covering any specialist visits) and cutting healthcare entirely for most adult immigrants. Email the Council about this now at actionnetwork.org/letters/inve...

NEW: Leaders from 20 local anti-poverty orgs sent a letter to Council to raise alarm about the proposed DC budget and the long-lasting harm it will cause to the poorest residents. www.dcfpi.org/nonprofitlea...

This week, @CouncilofDC committees adopted revisions to the Mayor’s proposed FY26 budget. We want to thank CMs for the many positive changes they made for children, youth, and families - but there is still A LOT of work to be done in the days ahead. 🧵

Tell DC Council to stand against the Mayor "saving money" by cutting coverage for sick kids to see specialists and cutting healthcare for thousands of parents! Sign the Alliance/ICP letter at actionnetwork.org/letters/inve...

Not hyperbole, the estimate is 51k dead each year from the health care cuts - ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/res...

Estimates from @itep.org show the wealthiest 1% of DC residents getting a $37k tax cut each year in the Senate reconciliation bill, which is also estimated to cut health care to 16 million people. They're killing people so the rich get richer itep.org/analysis-of-...; www.cbpp.org/research/hea...

Grateful to the Youth Committee for finding some money to try reinstate DC's Child Tax Credit, and hope the Committee of the Whole finds the rest of the funding needed to do so

“The school setting has many of the standard areas we think of as learning: science, math, reading. But a lot of important learning happens in out-of-school time. Things like social skills, leadership, and a lot of interest development.”

Where a child grows up shapes their access to opportunities. Some states have made gains in graduation rates or reducing concentrated poverty, but every state still has work to do. The 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book shows both progress and persistent challenges, state by state. See how your state ranks.

This is part of why we were so glad DC passed its own Child Tax Credit, and are saddened that it's cut in the mayor's proposed budget

On the line is the well-being of 141,000 DC residents, half of these households are in Ws 7&8, 47% have a member w/disability, 43% have children, 37% have older adults. 9/

New details on federal SNAP cuts: the Senate has released its own cruel proposal for massively cutting food assistance for economically struggling Americans to give tax cuts to the wealthiest, incl in DC🧵

Thank you to @chenderson.bsky.social and @brianneknadeau.bsky.social for pushing on support for home visiting

DC has made real progress in areas that affect child and youth well-being thanks to bold policy interventions. We must ensure that the current budget tension does not result in undoing improved support for children and youth.

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈 🧵 Thrilled as we are that the District (though maybe not MPD and the NPS in Dupont...) is welcoming LGBTQ+ folks from around the world to celebrate World Pride, we don't want District leaders to neglect our own LGBTQ+ young people.