Organizing Neighborhood Equity (ONE DC)

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ONE DC was founded in 1997 and is a progressive organizing and equitable community development organization that is helping to forge a model and legacy of community-led policy advocacy, progressive organizing, popular education, and capacity building in Shaw and the District of Columbia. The mission of ONE DC is to exercise political strength to create and preserve racial and economic equity in Shaw and the District.

In its short history, ONE DC has distinguished itself as one of a few organizations in Washington, DC that moves beyond service provision to build sustainable community capacity and leadership so that low-income people of colour can speak for themselves. ONE DC promotes leadership that does not tell others what to do, but helps them take charge to build their abilities and skills; it is not about being the leader, but about building more leadership in the community to increase capacity for the long term. Finally, ONE DC recognizes that leadership cannot exist without the support and power of the whole community. Central to ONE DC's leadership style is the identification and dismantling of systemic influences such as racism, classism and sexism that manifest both individually and institutionally.

ONE DC's progressive organizing values are heavily influenced by the principles and achievements of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), as well as other groups and people-led movements for justice and human rights that have occurred throughout the world.

As part of its commitment to creating sustainability and supporting progressive initiatives in Shaw and in the city, ONE DC has also incubated, assisted in the development, and/or supported several community based projects, some of which have grown to become autonomous 501c3 organizations.

Marta Vizueta is a popular educator and progressive organizer who has worked in grassroots and national programs primarily in low-income communities of colour. She has overseen and partnered on projects that include parent organizing, youth organizing, labor rights, anti-racism and community building, teacher development, and the rights of immigrants and the working poor. Her most recent work includes initiating a community-organizing project focusing on the rights of hotel workers in Northern Virginia as well as co-developing training curricula and tools for national and local health justice initiatives. Marta is also very active in creating networks for other young progressive organizers of colour that provide support, capacity building, and mentorship.

For other net participants we can offer expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information, deliver a lecture and establish new contacts in the field of our work.