Aramark Building Community 2011 Innovation Awards

DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI)
DC Promise Neighborhood
Communication Campaign
Washington, DC

The DC Promise Neighborhood Communications Campaign is a widespread effort to inform and engage a broad range of stakeholders around the DCPNI initiative. This “seeing is believing” approach encouraged dynamic, continuous interaction among individuals and organizations with a stake in the initiative’s success by bringing “those serving, and those served” together in the very environments where neighborhood change happens.

DCPNI is one of 21 recipients of the Promise Neighborhood planning grants awarded by the US Department of Education, from a pool of over 300 national applicants. Grants are given to increase the number of children who complete their education and enter adulthood as productive participants in the 21st century economy and in the civic life of their communities.

In executing the campaign, DCPNI forged deep partnerships with the local charter school, its feeder public schools, community residents, service providers, and other public and private partners to create a neighborhood-based solution to the academic and social problems affecting the children who live in Parkside-Kenilworth. Its on-the-ground, intensive community engagement featured:

• Various forums for information sharing and collaboration to develop community-based solutions.
• Monthly neighborhood dinners open to the entire community
• Monthly tours of Parkside-Kenilworth for stakeholders
• The development of an advisory board comprised of neighborhood residents, local government officials, and other key district-wide representation
• “Results Driven Work Groups” and resident retreats
• DCPNI’s campaign has generated nearly $500,000 in matching funds from local organizations and funders and an additional $600,000 in in-kind support from partners.