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▪ New Name: ONE DC
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Manna CDC Transitioning to New Independent Organization New organization to emphasize community organizing and equitable development. Manna CDC—the 9-year-old grassroots community development corporation that helped invigorate the Shaw neighborhood’s economic and social renaissance—is forming a new, independent organization, ONE DC (Organizing Neighborhood Equity), focused on community organizing, equitable development, popular education and resident-led policy advocacy. Manna CDC has operated under the Manna, Inc. corporate structure. Recognizing Manna CDC’s extraordinary growth and progressive values, the Manna board of directors believes restructuring will enable Manna CDC to expand its capacity and create a new, progressive organizational model in line with its goals.
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The new mission of ONE DC will be: To exercise political strength to create and preserve racial and economic equity in Shaw and the District.
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ONE DC: Organizing Neighborhood Equity
On March 2006, Manna CDC announced its new name and initiated an outreach and marketing transition plan to ensure a smooth changeover process for the organization, its constituents, leaders, and partners.
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December, 2005 Manna CDC Transitioning to Independent Community Development Corporation Dear Friends, Neighbors and Supporters, We are pleased to announce the transition of the Manna CDC from an affiliate corporation of Manna Inc. to an independent community development corporation that will have its own board of directors and a new name. Manna Inc. formed the Manna CDC in 1997 with a broader charter and community development mission than the affordable housing and homeownership mission of Manna Inc. In addition, the CDC’s work was focused solely in the Shaw neighborhood, while Manna Inc.’s geographic focus was citywide. Approximately 10 years ago Manna Inc. embarked on an expansion of its efforts by purchasing, renovating and moving into its current headquarters at 828 Evarts St. N.E. In addition, the Manna Inc. Board also decided to maintain and expand Manna’s historic presence and work in Shaw by making the Manna CDC fully operational in Manna Inc.’s former offices in the community. To that end, the Board hired Dominic T. Moulden as Executive Director of the Manna CDC. While the possibility of the CDC becoming an independent organization has been discussed by the board and executive staff for some time, we have been working in earnest towards that end for the past year and a half. We feel that both organizations have now grown to a size, complexity, stability and uniqueness making this transition the right and necessary thing to do at this time. This transition will be most beneficial to the communities and people each organization serves. With the aid of a committed and skilled staff and full support of the board of directors and Manna Inc, the CDC has grown and developed into one of the most highly respected, trusted and effective community organizations in Shaw. The CDC works collaboratively with many neighborhood entities and functions on behalf of the broad and diverse cross section of Shaw residents, businesses and organizations. The CDC places special emphasis on supporting those at greatest disadvantage in Shaw. In response to the expressed needs and desires of community residents, the CDC has developed a number of programs to address youth employment and training; living wage jobs; small neighborhood minority businesses; community organizing around tenant rights, affordable housing and jobs. It created Shaw Education for Action (SEA), Enterprising Staffing Solutions (ESS), pioneered an "equitable development" model for negotiating community benefits agreements with the city government and for-profit developers (SEDI), and sponsored popular education events to name a number of its initiatives. While Manna Inc’s and CDC’s overall mission and goals have some similarities, the CDC has developed it’s own unique philosophy, emphasis, style, mission, focus and approach that, at several points, differ from Manna Inc.’s. These organizational differences have always been valued and worked with in a complimentary fashion. They have helped make Manna Inc. and Manna CDC stronger, wiser and more effective organizations and have given the community a greater benefit. We feel very good about this transition. We feel confident that it will enable both the CDC and Manna Inc. to do an even better job in the future. While all the details have not yet been finalized, we wanted you to hear it from us first. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We hope you will continue your love, support, prayers and involvement in each organization as we make this transition and move into this new and exciting phase of our journey. Peace, Dominic Moulden, Executive Director, Manna CDC George Rothman, President & CEO, Manna, Inc. Jim Dickerson, Chairman, Manna, Inc.
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