Living on Capitol Hill

The First Tuesday of the month has become an institution on U St.  Each first Tuesday of the month for nearly five years a group of conscientious professionals have met to relax, unwind and share their resources over drinks and food.

I started the group when I was just out of grad school and full of energy and looking to find a way to connect with my public health colleagues in other ways that would build community.  At the time, I was going in and out of many of the DC public and charter skills managing HIV prevention efforts. Through those efforts and community meetings, I quickly built a network of other professionals that were involved in the adolescent HIV prevention, treatment and care world.

All too often we would pass each other at meetings and inquire, “When are we going to get together for happy hour?” When never materialized.

However one day two colleagues of mine, Irwin Royster at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington and Jennifer Augustine at Advocates for Youth, and I ended up eating and drinking somewhere. We actually seemed to enjoy each other outside the professional world.

“Let’s do this again and invite others,” was the consensus.

First Tuesdays was born. Every first Tuesday of the month the group meets. We always meet at Jojo’sat 1518 U St. NW three blocks from the U St. Metro. Each month a different local community-based organization is featured where they share who they are with attendees.

This month in recognition of National Mentoring Month, we feature the fantastic work of Mentoring Today.  Started several years ago by two American University law students, Penelope Spain and Hill resident Whitney Louchheim, Mentoring Today is the only organization focusing on reintegrated formerly incarcerated youth back into the community.  Located in Anacostia, Mentoring Today links DC youth incarcerated in Oak Hill Youth Center (read detention center or prison) with dedicated positive mentors. The mentors are matched with the youth when the youth have a few more months before being released.  Mentors visit the young men at Oak Hill (just outside Laurel, MD) each Thursday for three months and then stay connected with them for a year in the community after their release.

Mentoring Today also works with the youth’s families.  Chevy Chase Bank on the Hill and Realtors at Long & Foster Capitol Hill are developing financial education series.  Guest speakers are always welcomed.

Learn more about Mentoring Today at First Tuesdays…just off the Hill.

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First Tuesdays is now one of the stable of events and supportive activities of arts and community sponsored in partnership with my long-time friend and creative partner Khadijah Ali-Coleman through our collaboration Liberated Muse Productions.