Press Release: Southwest BID partners with GOODProjects and DC Central Kitchen on SW Community Peace Gardens and is awarded $50,000 in Building Blocks grant funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Southwest BID partners with GOODProjects and DC Central Kitchen on SW Community Peace Gardens and is awarded $50,000 in Building Blocks grant funding.
The Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID) and GOODProjects are excited to announce the creation of three new Peace Gardens in Old Southwest that will transform centrally located community spaces into flower and herb gardens with art and enhanced public amenities. These gardens were created with the intention of preventing gun violence in our community. Once complete, these gardens will serve as safe spaces for passive uses like calm contemplation and remembrance, as well as programmed activities like youth community service and recreation, social events, and sites for service distribution to area residents.
Work began on Monday, September 20th to build out these community spaces and will continue throughout the end of the month. Locations include the Southwest Family Enhancement Center at Greenleaf Gardens, the James Creek Resident Council building, and the Syphax Garden housing complex on 2nd St. SW. The Peace Gardens will include flowers and herbs, hardscape elements, public art, and seating for the community to enjoy.
To celebrate the opening of these new neighborhood spaces, there will be a community kick-off event on October 7th with food, music, guided meditations, painting of the beds and little free libraries, community input for additional public art installations, and much more! More information on the community event is available on the SWBID Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SWBID.
This project was made possible thanks to the Building Blocks DC (BBDC) grant program, an innovative community-based approach to curbing violence throughout the District of Columbia by directing resources and services to the people most at risk of committing violence and the places most prone to violent occurrences. The Southwest BID and GOODProjects are looking forward to collaborating with our community partners on this exciting initiative in the southwest neighborhood, and especially in our communities south of M St SW. Neighbors can get involved with beautification efforts, garden maintenance, and special events by contacting Jasmine Campbell at jcampbell@GOODProjects.org.
About SWBID
The Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID) is working towards a better, more beautiful D.C. by focusing on community cohesion, mobility solutions, better parks and public space, and expanded opportunity. The 501(c)(6) organization was established in 2014 and is located in the Southwest quadrant of Washington, D.C.
When you’re out and about in the neighborhood, you may see members of our ambassador team working to maintain a beautiful and welcoming neighborhood. Our ambassadors are the backbone of our organization, keeping our streets clean, working to beautify the neighborhood with planters and landscaping plans, and serving as a friendly resource for residents and visitors. Don’t be shy and say hello when you bump into a team member in blue!
About GOODProjects
Since 2016, GOODProjects has helped families in Southwest D.C. live fulfilling lives free from poverty and violence while promoting health and wellness within the same communities. With the goal of lifting 500 families out of poverty by 2030, GOODProjects has measurably improved overall financial and health outcomes in low-income “Opportunity Zone” neighborhoods by eliminating common roadblocks so families can achieve their own personal definition of success. GOODProjects’ flagship programs emphasize academic achievement, economic empowerment, and self-sufficiency. To learn more, please visit www.GOODProjects.org or follow us at @GOODProjectsDC.