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
Primary election voting If you're a registered D.C. voter, you should have received a ballot in the mail. You can vote by filling out that ballot and dropping it off at any of the ballot drop boxes around the city, or by heading to an early voting center this week through Sunday, June 14, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Find an early voting center here). And of course, you can vote in person on Election Day! Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16; find a location here. And if you're like, "Wait, who's running?" or "How does ranked-choice voting work again?" — consider checking out our (we think!) thorough and user-friendly voter guide.
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
DC Election Protection Volunteer Training ⏰ 7 - 8:30 p.m. 📍 Virtual The DC Election Protection Coalition's non-partisan field volunteers show up outside of polling places to help voters and resolve any issues that arise. If you have a legal background, consider becoming an Election Protection Field Attorney; if you don't have a legal background, you can show up as a Grassroots Poll Monitor. The coalition is made up of folks from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Advancement Project, Free DC, Harriet's Wildest Dreams, and more. RSVP here.
Panel discussion: Safe For Whom? Panel discussion ⏰ 6 - 8 p.m. 📍 Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ (3845 South Capitol St. SW) Hosted by local advocacy group Decrim Poverty DC, this panel will focus on how Black, brown, working-class, and poor people have been criminalized and erased in service of a narrative of a "safe and beautiful" D.C. Panelists from Decrim Poverty, Miriam's Kitchen, Black Swan Academy, and the Sex Workers Advocacy Coalition will discuss how to shape safety policies that keep all D.C. residents safe ahead of an expected "summer surge" of federal law enforcement in the city. Food and beverages will be provided. RSVP here.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Punk Archive Processing Night ⏰ 6 - 8 p.m. 📍 MLK Library (901 G St. NW) Help the D.C. Public Library organize it archival materials! They have plenty of boxes that need to be sorted, alphabetized, and categorized. No experience is required. Space is limited, so register here.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Living History Panel: How We Fought ⏰ 7:30 - 9 p.m. 📍 The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center (1827 Wiltberger St. NW) This event from the DC Center will reflect on queer activism in the time before official Pride celebrations turned corporate. Featuring a panel of "local icons, elders, and activists," the talk will focus on connecting the past to the future — and preserving the memory of what Pride meant to LGBTQ+ Washingtonians. Secure a $20 ticket here. All proceeds will go toward Friends of Dorothy Cafe.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Shepherd Branch Trail Visioning Workshop ⏰ 2:30 - 5 p.m. 📍 Anacostia Neighborhood Library (1800 Marion Barry Ave. SE) The DC Go-Go Trails Collective and the River East Design Center want you to help shape the future of the Shepherd Branch Trail — an inactive rail corridor that's set to become a multi-use path for walking and biking. The visioning workshop will focus on naming the new trail, submitting questions to the D.C. Department of Transportation, and learning about the design of the new gateway entrance. Reserve your spot here.
Family bike ride to Rhode Island Avenue NE Porchfest ⏰ 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 📍 Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave. NE) Ward 5 Family Biking will be leading a (marshaled and police-escorted) group ride through Brookland that will end at Rhode Island Avenue Porchfest. Get to know your neighbors and get out in the sunshine! No RSVP necessary.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Bee the Change: Starting a pollinator garden ⏰ 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. 📍 Edgewood Community Farm (2304 2nd St. NE) Bees are essential to a healthy ecosystem, but habitat loss and the growth of non-native plants in D.C. threaten their population. At this workshop, folks from Edgewood Community Farm will show you how to plan and start a native pollinator garden; they'll cover which plants to prioritize, how to prepare your soil, and what you can do to ensure it's both cute and functional. Everyone will go home with a native seedling, and all other materials will be provided. Tickets are $5 (and if you need the fee waived, just ask!).
They Fight, We Feed ⏰ 5 - 7 p.m. 📍 McPherson Square (901 15th St. NW) While the president hosts a UFC fight in on the White House Lawn on his birthday, D.C. partners are coming together to feed neighbors in need. Free DC, DC Local to Global, Ward 2 Mutual Aid, and more will gather in McPherson Square to donate food and share a community meal. Bring nonperishable food items (list here) and come hungry for a picnic-style dinner. RSVP here.
Pride flag cross-stitch workshop ⏰ 2 - 4 p.m. 📍 MLK Library (901 G St. NW) This workshop will send you home with your own cross-stitched mini pride flag. No prior experience in fiber arts is required, but it might be helpful. Registration is required, and you have to have a library card to participate. Register here.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
Election Protection Field Volunteers ⏰ 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. 📍 Multiple locations For those who trained up — this is the big day! Election Day volunteer roles include Field Attorneys (for those with a legal background) or Grassroots Poll Monitors (for those who do not have a legal background). Morning, afternoon, and evening shifts are available. Sign up 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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