A look at historical, systemic racism in Petworth real estate

A look at historical, systemic racism in Petworth real estate

Historians Mara Cherkasky and Sarah Jane Shoenfeld, of Prologue DC, along with GIS specialist Brian Kraft, have devoted efforts since 2014 to mapping racially restricted property covenants in DC to illuminate the racism ingrained into DC housing history. Similarly, Tanya Golash-Boza is a sociologist who grew up in Petworth and now studies race and gentrification. Both Cherkasky and Golash-Boza have presented in TedX seminars examining housing segregation in DC and Petworth-area gentrification. Petworth News met with these historians and sociologists to talk more about the history of segregation and racism in our neighborhood.

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DC residents with qualifying medical conditions can sign up for vaccine appointments starting Friday, February 26th [updated]

DC residents with qualifying medical conditions can sign up for vaccine appointments starting Friday, February 26th [updated]

DC Health announced today that at 9am, Thursday, February 25th, approximately 4,350 appointments will be made available for DC residents who live in priority zip codes (20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593)

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Wanna help with Porchfest in Petworth? Music, social distancing and good vibes

Wanna help with Porchfest in Petworth? Music, social distancing and good vibes

Porchfest is coming to Petworth, and they’re looking for bands, volunteers… and porches.

Petworth PorchFest 2021 will take place on Saturday, April 24th, from 2-6pm. Following in the footsteps of other successful PorchFests throughout the District, Petworth PorchFest is a neighborhood-wide live music event that will feature dozens of bands hosted on porches throughout Petworth.

They’re looking for volunteers, porches and bands!

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Some sweet local Valentine's Day special offers for your sweet valentine!

Some sweet local Valentine's Day special offers for your sweet valentine!

Love is in the air... and coronavirus. Since going out to celebrate with your sweetie likely isn’t happening this Valentine’s Day, check out a list of local Covid-friendly options for Valentine gifts, meals and cocktails. All can be enjoyed, regardless of your relationship status. The cheesy puns are BACK!

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“Yardi Gras” may be coming to a block near you

“Yardi Gras” may be coming to a block near you

Walk, bike, drive, skip or crawl over to the 400 block of Quincy Street NW this weekend. For it is there that Olga and her neighbors have fabulously decorated a total of seven attached row houses. Olga sketched the original design, found Virginia artist Rodrigo Pradel on Craigslist, and hired him to bring her sketches to life.

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Temporary artwork and community input planned for the Petworth mural

Temporary artwork and community input planned for the Petworth mural

After it was discovered that the Petworth mural on the 800 block of Upshur Street NW was tagged and damaged, Petworth News put out the call for neighbors to help repair it. People have really responded to the GoFundMe campaign, a sign of how much this mural means to the neighborhood.

We reached out to Tom Pipkin, who helped spearhead the initial design of the mural in 2015, to see about next steps.

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Fixing the Petworth Mural after vandals tag it

Fixing the Petworth Mural after vandals tag it

Sometime at the beginning of February, maybe yesterday, some enterprising person or group decided their crudely done spray paint smatterings were better than the Petworth Mural located on the 800 block of Upshur Street NW. The mural was defaced.

Together, we can fix it.

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DCPS Term 3: In-person learning starts with equity and transparency questions

DCPS Term 3: In-person learning starts with equity and transparency questions

After a false start on February 1st due to snow, DC Public Schools starts Term 3 with some in-person learning at most elementary schools this week. After months of trying to reopen schools, city leaders have allowed each school through their Reopen Community Corps to develop their own plans. As a result some schools in upper northwest are bringing back a large percentage of their students, such as Key Elementary bringing back 75% of their students.

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Watch a wonderful piece of Petworth-area family history on PBS with Linda & Eric White

Watch a wonderful piece of Petworth-area family history on PBS with Linda & Eric White

Petworth native, Linda Crichlow White and her husband Eric White, were featured on PBS’s Legacy List on January 11th. Linda and Eric had lived in their six-bedroom house in 16th Street Heights on the 1600 block of Nicholson Street NW for 28 years and were getting ready to downsize. Through mutual friends and acquaintances, she connected with the PBS show Legacy List, a show about the hidden treasures and heirlooms found while families downsize across America, and they were seeking to feature more black families on the show. Learn more and watch the episode.

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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George commits to a “people first” agenda in Ward 4

Councilmember Janeese Lewis George commits to a “people first” agenda in Ward 4

Like many of us, newly elected Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is shaped by her environment. Her visions, aspirations and policies are a product of Ward 4, the community she grew up in. And as of January 2nd, she’s now representing her community on the DC Council, sharing Ward 4’s and Petworth’s ideals and aspirations with the rest of the city. Here’s our first interview with Janeese as the Ward 4 Councilmember.

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Building real estate equity in the new year

Building real estate equity in the new year

With the new year in full swing, we want to help make your financial goals come true. Property appreciation has not been higher since 2014. The historically low interest rates combined with the demand in housing has helped the average homeowner gain around $17,000 in equity year over year. [Sponsored]

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Update: DCPS plans for 15,000 students to return to schools in Term 3

Update: DCPS plans for 15,000 students to return to schools in Term 3

On Wednesday, January 13th, DCPS resumed their town halls to discuss reopening for Term 3. Dr. Lewis Ferebee, DCPS Chancellor, kicked off the meeting by going through the four models that Reopen Community Corps reviewed.

Due to the brief opportunity for questions, Petworth News followed up with DCPS to additional clarity on several questions.

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A Petworth resident casts one of DC’s Electoral College votes for Biden

A Petworth resident casts one of DC’s Electoral College votes for Biden

On January 20, 2021, Joseph R. Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. It’s been a long road in many, many ways — and Petworth’s own Jacqueline Echavarria was an important part of that process.

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Petworth’s newest Mexican cuisine restaurant uses heart to overcome the odds

Petworth’s newest Mexican cuisine restaurant uses heart to overcome the odds

DC Corazon is a labor of love — emphasis on the labor, and emphasis on the love.

Love, because corazon means “heart” in Spanish. Owner Josefina A. Darui has adored the shape since she was little, and the small, warm restaurant is covered in them. But love is used also because of what she’s hoping to bring to the area.

“I love DC; that’s one of the reasons that I named my business ‘DC Corazon,’” says Darui. “I want people to know that in DC Corazon everything we make comes from our heart.”

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