D.C. needs artists who remain connected to the city, so we can preserve things that money, development, and time can’t recreate. Here are some tips to keep you here.
Domestic violence survivors, among others, say the process at DHS’s Virginia Williams Family Resource Center “feels like it’s designed to break you down when you are at your lowest point.”
Each week, we list some ways to get engaged in the city — whether that’s protesting, organizing with your neighbors, or testifying before your councilmembers. This isn't an exhaustive list; share your events and trainings with us at 51st.news/submit-events.
For more ways to get connected, check out our resources roundup; and for more to do around the city, don't miss our Weekend Events post.
ONGOING
Street Sense Media pre-winter donation drive Our friends at D.C.'s street newspaper are collecting items to prepare their vendors and clients for the cold season. They're looking for clothing items like T-shirts, hoodies, and jackets; personal care items including soap, shampoo, and toothpaste; and other essentials including hand warmers, blankets, towels, umbrellas, laundry detergent, and gift cards. You can mail your donation to 1317 G St. NW, or drop it off there yourself!
Bread for the City Holiday Helpings As the holiday season approaches, Bread for the City is aiming to raise $1.35 million to feed 17,000 families in the D.C. region later this month. To help them out, you can donate, host a fundraiser, or sign up to volunteer. Learn more here.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Election Day It's perhaps the most classic form of civic engagement of all: Your last chance to vote in D.C.'s general election. Find your polling location here, and read our full voter guide here before you head out.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
DSA New Member Orientation ⏰ 7 - 8 p.m. 📍 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, Room 401-A (901 G St. NW) If the election on Tuesday lights a fire under you, the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is hosting a (very well-timed) new member meeting. You'll learn about the organizational structure, campaigns, and where to fit in. Whether you're a brand new member or a member who is looking to get more active — all are welcome! RSVP here.
Technology, Surveillance, and You ⏰ 6 - 8:30 p.m. 📍 MLK Library (901 G St. NW) To mark the release of his book, Means of Control, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Byron Tau will be leading a discussion and workshop about how everyday tech uses your data — and how you can take back control. It's free to attend, and copies of the book will be for sale.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Hearing on D.C. safety bills ⏰ 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. 📍 John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) The D.C. Council will be hosting a hearing on three major safety bills: One would require D.C. police to release their body camera footage if a federal officer uses force in front of them; another would require MPD officers to list the federal officers and agencies present in arrest reports and affidavits; and the final one would prohibit MPD from assisting with federal operations in schools, churches, and other "safe places." These bills come more than a year into the federal occupation of D.C., and Free DC wants residents like you to show up and pack the room. RSVP here.
Advocating for an arts and humanities budget ⏰ 12 - 1:30 p.m. 📍 Zoom As the city prepares for new leadership and another budget season, the D.C. Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative is getting started on ensuring support for the arts. This meeting will address the FY28 budget landscape, pin down consistent messaging, and align fiduciary priorities. Participants will leave with data, talking points, and confidence to begin lobbying their local leaders. RSVP here.
People's Potluck ⏰ 6 - 9 p.m. 📍 Location provided upon RSVP Building local power with your neighbors could be delicious, as DC Local 2 Global opens up a space for people to gather and break bread post-election. Bring a dish to share if you can – as well as any zines, flyers, or other materials for any D.C.-area organizing opportunities you'd like plugged on the community bulletin board. RSVP here.
An evening with Ally Theatre and Voices Unbarred ⏰ 6:30 - 9 p.m. 📍 The Festival Center (1640 Columbia Rd. NW) Through its programming arm Voices Unbarred, Ally Theatre "combines theatre and advocacy to support people impacted by incarceration." This week, the nonprofit is celebrating another year with an evening of food and live performances. A sliding-scale donation gets you a ticket — all of which goes toward their $10,000 fundraising goal. Sign up here.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Chocolate City Social ⏰ 6 - 8 p.m. 📍 Mixxed DC (2427 18th St. NW) Free DC's Chocolate City faction is holding a social (featuring a DJ!) for Black folks looking to meet and mingle with neighbors. They'll discuss what comes after Tuesday's election, where support is needed, and how communities can come together.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
DC2050 in your neighborhood: Brookland ⏰ 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 📍 Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave. NE) A comprehensive plan certainly isn't the most sexy element of life in our city, but it's a crucial one — and as D.C.'s Office of Planning works on the next one, they want residents to see their neighborhood through the eyes of an urban designer. This weekend, they'll be in Brookland, where the tour will start with a brief presentation, catching you up to speed on the DC 2050 process. RSVP here, and find the full list of fall tours here.
Eat the Rich: A Workshop for Abolitionists ⏰ 12 - 4 p.m. 📍 Location in SE D.C. shared upon RSVP How does economic inequality show up in our lives in D.C., and what can we do to push for change? Local organizers from Harriet's Wildest Dreams want your help building a nationwide movement for racial, economic, and social justice. RSVP here.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9
The DC Occupation: A discussion with local veterans ⏰ 6 - 7:30 p.m. 📍Petworth Neighborhood Library (4200 Kansas Ave. NW) Fifteen months into the federal occupation of our city, members of Free DC's Veterans Constituency Group will be answering questions like: What does a deployment usually look like? What choices do National Guard members have? What consequences would someone deployed here face if they refused orders? Joining the panelists will be Common Defense, a national organization of progressive veterans and military families that advocates for democracy, civil rights, and responsible national security. Stay through the end for a public Q&A. RSVP here.
Colleen is a 51st co-founder and a former DCist reporter. Her work has appeared in NPR, Street Sense Media, and The Washington Post. She currently lives in New York, where she's pursuing an MFA.
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