Washington, DC—On Saturday, March 26, 2005, from 12 noon until 4 pm, at Benning Terrace, 4450 “G” Street, SE, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and more than 15 other District government agencies, community organizations, and faith-based entities will provide information on numerous programs and services to disadvantaged residents of Kenilworth, Parkside, Eastland Gardens, Mayfair, and Paradise Manor communities.
 
The event, called “Reclaiming Our Families Through Unity in Our Community Day,” is designed to uplift the lives of low-income residents from the five communities and to encourage self-sufficiency by providing information on a number of free programs and services that help to improve lives.
 
Thousands of residents are expected to attend the event and will be able to sign up for jobs, summer recreation programs, free health insurance, dental checkups, G.E.D. programs, drug and substance abuse programs, ex-offender counseling and mentoring, emergency and regular Food Stamps, first time homebuyers programs, and much more.

Youth will also be able receive information to sign up for the Roger Leonard boxing program. Roger Leonard, the brother of boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, runs a non-profit community-based boxing and mentoring program. A live demonstration featuring the program’s participants will be featured part of the day’s event.

“Reclaiming Our Families Through Unity in Our Community Day” is a collaborative strategy representing the first time ever that resident leadership in the Kenilworth, Parkside, Eastland Gardens, Mayfair, and Paradise Manor communities have partnered with District government agencies, community organizations, faith-based entities, and civic organizations to help disadvantaged residents in these five low-income communities improve their lives and achieve full self-sufficiency.