Chair: Micaela Deming, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Though “community safety” often implies police intervention, FBC believes in community centered solutions to violence that do not rely on law enforcement and respect the lives and dignity of all people. This group focuses on influencing policies and budget priorities that:

• Address problems of mass incarceration, detention and deportation
• Divert people away from our justice system
• Support victims and survivors of crime
• Decriminalize poverty

Chair: Mark Levota, DC Behavioral Health Alliance 

There are significant disparities in the health of white DC residents and that of Black and other people of color. Poor health outcomes of residents East of the River—such as infant and material mortality, cancer and diabetes—can be linked directly to poverty and racism.  This group focuses on influencing policies and budget priorities that:

• Improve equality in healthcare access
• Address mental and healthcare needs for residents
• Acknowledge the connection between health issues and access to housing, food and income

Chairs: LaMonika Jones, DC Hunger Solutions and Jaren Hill Lockridge, Ward 8 Health Council

79% of the grocery stores in DC are concentrated in the 4 wards whose residents are primarily high-income and white. In comparison, DC’s lowest income wards with the highest concentration of Black residents share 4 grocery stores, contributing to widespread food insecurity and poor health outcomes.  This group focuses on influencing policies and budget priorities that:

• Address food access and equality
• Invest in programs to fill the gaps
• Acknowledge the connection between lack of food access and poor health outcomes

Chair: Jen Jenkins, Legal Aid DC 

The poorest families in DC have continued to suffer loss since the Great Recession: their income now is lower than in most major cities. Income inequality is also far higher in DC than in almost any US city.  This group focuses on influencing policies and budget priorities that:

• Invest in DC’s lowest income residents
• Protect workers
• Ensure that all eight wards and all income levels have access to resources needed to thrive

Chair: Karla Reid-Witt, Decoding Dyslexia 

DC has a budget of $15 Billion and is more prosperous than ever.  Yet every year, human service needs are severely underfunded, while the administration funds public deals and administers land giveaways to wealthy individuals and corporations.  This group focuses on influencing policies and budget priorities that:

• Prioritize DC residents over developers
• Ensure that wealthy individuals pay their fair share