Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital

Voice
From the Executive Director
Dear Friend: DC Vote is hopeful that in 2009, headlines will proclaim, DC Voting Rights Bill Signed by President Obama. With the historic election of DC voting rights supporters Barack Obama and Joe Biden, DC Vote feels more confident about achieving success than ever before. We are greatly encouraged by the results of the November elections. We now have two crucial allies in the White House and have also gained a number of supporters among the newly elected members of Congress, including some who defeated senators who filibustered the DC Voting Rights Act (DCVRA). Longtime DC voting rights advocates are understandably anxious for a victory, and we hear the calls from some who would like to see us pursue alternate routes to full democracy for DC. We, too, believe that District residents deserve full congressional voting representation and greater control over local issues. However, now is the time to win. And, our best chance for victory is in the existing legislation, the DCVRA. We know that we have the votes in the House and the Senate to pass the DCVRA we already came within three votes of winning. DC Vote, DCs elected leadership and our coalition partners understand that this is the time for a DC voting rights victory and that the DCVRA is the right vehicle to move forward. A voting representative in the House is a monumental step towards full democracy for the District. Once the DCVRA passes, we will have a seat at the table and will be able to win even greater victories for the District. As close as we are to winning, we are not taking anything for granted. Now, more than ever, we need your continued support. We have a lot of work to do to educate new members of the 111th Congress and to ensure that this critical issue gets priority consideration. We will highlight the issue through advocacy steps like lobby days, a voting rights march and through multi-media advertising to spread our message far and wide. In the past two years, your engagement in this issue brought us closer to a win in Congress than any time in the last 30 years. Please continue to support DC Vote by joining us for our events, volunteering, spreading the word to family and friends and by making a contribution to support the cause. Make a secure donation through our Web site, www.dcvote.org, today. It will take some hard work to win, but we look forward to celebrating our shared success in 2009! Sincerely,

WIN TER 2 0 0 8 www.dcvote.org

DC City Councilmembers rally at the Denver Mint for DC Voting Rights.

DC Votes Eli Zigas (L) meets the other Abe at the Republican National Convention.

DC Vote volunteers and staff have a blast at Adams Morgan Day 2008.

Sam McCoy, DC Vote Board Member, participates in DC Votes DC 50 TV commercial.

Ilir Zherka, Executive Director

Thousands celebrate at the Democratic National Convention.

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WINTER 2008 www.dcvote.org

Hundreds Gather for DC Vote Veterans Day Rally

Close to three hundred DC Vote supporters gathered on a beautiful fall day for the DC Vote Veterans Day Rally on November 11. DC veterans joined DC Vote, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and the Shadow Delegation in honoring those who have fought and died for America. They also called on Congress to provide equal representation for the DC soldiers who fight today in Iraq and Afghanistan while being denied a vote in Congress. The crowd heard from a number of DC veterans, including: Bernard Siler, Active Duty DC Reservist, U.S. Army; Hector Rodriguez, U.S. Army; Joe Wynn, NABVET, U.S. Air Force; Richard Klass, VETPAC, U.S. Air Force; Adam Clampitt, Active Duty Reservist, U.S. Navy and Rev. Anthony Motley, U.S. Army. All speakers praised the hard work of their fellow veterans and soldiers while asking Congress to give them the vote they deserve. Matt Cary, President of Veterans and Military Families for Progress, stressed the importance of caring for our veterans once they return home from war and urged members of Congress to pass legislation giving DC veterans and their families a voice on important

issues like healthcare. Other speakers recited original poems and lyrics honoring Americas veterans and soldiers. The event was a wonderful homage to Americas bravest men and women and a powerful reminder that DC residents serve their country while being denied basic rights at home. Special thanks to our event co-sponsors: American Jewish Committee; Anacostia Coordinating Council; Common Cause; Friends of the Earth; Greater Washington Urban League; Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO; Public Citizen; Unite HERE local 25; USAction; Womens National Democratic Club; ROOTS and the National Capitol Region of Veterans and Military Families for Progress.

DC veterans gather for the 2008 DC Vote Veterans Day Rally.

Crowd listens to the Star-Spangled Banner.

DC Vote Calls on Congress to Stop Interfering with Home Rule

In an effort led by House members in September 2008, Congress attempted to force through legislation on a bill, the National Capital Security and Safety Act (H.R. 6842), which would have repealed the Districts gun laws. DC Vote, several of our coalition partners and local elected officials joined the fight to prevent congressional interference in District

Adam Clampitt, U.S. Navy Reservist and DC resident, speaks about his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

DC Veterans demand the vote!

DC Vote supporters at the Veterans Day Rally.

Howard University Air Force Color Guard presents the colors.

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governance. Nineteen of our local and national partners signed on to our letter to all House members, urging them to respect local democracy for citizens living in our nations capital. Ilir Zherka, DC Vote Executive Director, also responded to the bill in a statement on August 1: Washington, DC, is home to more than half a million, tax-paying Americans who are entitled, like every other American, to elect officials who act in their interest and write local laws. What some members of Congress are attempting to do shows disdain for the rights of Washingtonians. After passing the House on September 17, the bill ultimately died in the Senate. commercial live on the DC 50 Network yet? Watch it on our Web site at http://www.dcvote.org/library/ videocwtvspot.cfm

Voice

The Outreach Round-Up: DC Vote Reaches Thousands at Local Events

In September, DC Vote staff, volunteers, and Students for DC Vote educated hundreds by tabling at community festivals and events around the District. The season was kicked-off by the vibrant Adams Morgan Day Festival, where DC Vote obtained more than 300 petition signatures! This set the pace for a successful weekend at the National Black L.U.V. Festival, where signs decrying Taxation Without Representation were proudly displayed throughout John Marshall Park. The momentum continued at the 2008 Stone Soul Picnic where our Let Washington Vote stickers were a hit among our youngest supporters! The month concluded with a joint DC Vote and DC City Council appearance at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundations 38th Annual Legislative Conference. Conference attendees were eager to learn more about DCs denial of democracy. Special thanks to students, volunteers, elected officials, community and civic leaders who supported all of our efforts!
Group joins to spread DC Votes message at the Congressional Black Caucus. Tyler Lewis, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (R) volunteers at the 2008 Capital Pride Festival.

As Seen on TV: DC Vote on the DC 50 Network!

DC Vote has taken our message to the DC 50 network (WDCW)! Our thirtysecond commercial spot, featuring half a dozen of our volunteers, has reached an audience of millions in the DC, Maryland and Virginia markets from September to December 2008. The commercials theme of Let Washington Vote captures the imagery and voices of real-life DC residents who are affected by DCs denial of equal voting representation. Havent caught the

Nell Schaffer, of Students for DC Vote, chats up former presidents at the 2008 Capital Pride Festival.

Camera crew shoots DC Votes commercial for the DC 50 television network (WDCW).

Jewell Fenzi gets in character for the commercial shoot.

The commercial crew sets up the proper lighting for Sam McCoy, DC Vote Board Member.

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Champions of Democracy Awards Dinner 2008
More than 450 DC Vote supporters came together on October 22 at the Mayflower Hotel to celebrate Ten Years Together and to honor DC Vote founder and philanthropist, Daniel Solomon. Elected officials, business leaders and community activists joined supporters from across the District to make this years gala an unprecedented success. After dinner and several heartfelt speeches, attendees were treated to a live performance of the new DC voting rights go-go song Demand the Vote. Local artist Joe L. Da Vessel and the band Melodic brought the house down and guests to their feet, with their extended jam session.

WINTER 2008 www.dcvote.org

DC Vote Selected for Excellence by Catalogue for Philanthropy

DC Vote is pleased to be chosen as one of the best small nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington in its 2008-2009 Guide to Giving. The Catalogue chose DC Vote, along with 67 other small nonprofits, from more than 230 candidates. Charities were selected for excellence, innovation, cost-effectiveness and financial transparencyand for what they can teach us about the extraordinary ways that philanthropy works, explained Barbara Harman, Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation and President of the Catalogue. These are certainly among the best small charities in the Washington, DC region. Thirty thousand individuals and hundreds of foundations received copies of the Catalogue in November. To date, the Catalogue has helped to raise more than $5.4 million in donations for local nonprofits. The Catalogue has highlighted the work of so many excellent organizations in the DC area and DC Vote is privileged to join this group.

About Daniel Solomon

As a distinguished philanthropist and DC Vote founder, Daniel Solomons vision, hard work and dedication to ending DC's denial of democracy have allowed the organization to grow and flourish. For the past decade, Daniel has helped establish DC Vote as an institution. He served not only as the chair of DC Vote's founding board, but also as a devoted volunteer for community and outreach events, communications, and development during DC Vote's early years. His outstanding commitment to social justice and local issues makes Daniel a true Champion of Democracy. Thanks to all who helped us celebrate Ten Years Together in true DC Vote style!

Photos courtesy of Joe Libertelli.

Daniel Solomon, 2008 Champion of Democracy, take the stage to accept his award. (L to R) Sheryll Cashin, Marque Chambliss and Harriette Chambliss DC Vote Board Members Stefan Nicholas (L) and Joe Perta (R) join the festivities (L to R) Joe Sternlieb, Daniel Solomon, the Hon. Donna Edwards (D-MD) and Ilir Zherka.

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Voice

Council Considers Taxation Without Representation Street

On Monday, November 24, the DC City Council considered a bill to rename a portion of South Capitol Street, SE, Taxation Without Representation Street, SE. At the suggestion of longtime DC Vote supporter John Capozzi, Councilmembers Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas, Tommy Wells and Carol Schwartz introduced Bill 17-909, which would designate the portion of South Capitol Street, SE, between N Street, SE, and Potomac Avenue, SE, in Ward 6, as Taxation Without Representation Street, SE

Eugene Dewitt Kinlow, DC Vote Outreach Director, testified on behalf of DC Vote in support of the bill, noting, DC Vote fully endorses Bill 17-909 as an important measure to highlight the fact that DC residents pay the second highest amount of federal income taxes, yet are denied the basic right to voting representation in Congress. On December 2, the bill passed on first hearing. A final reading will be needed before the bill becomes law. Earlier, in July, the Council approved a Taxation Without Representation tax ticker. Plans are underway to have this electronic display boardfeaturing the total dollar amount DC residents pay while being denied voting representation installed outside the John A. Wilson building in time for 2009 inaugural festivities.

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WINTER 2008 www.dcvote.org

Students for DC Vote: Busier than Ever!

Students for DC Vote has done a lot to engage students this year, but we couldnt do it without the help of our fantastic university partners. Here are just a few ways students are pitching in to help the DC voting rights movement: On November 11, 2008, members of the Howard University Air Force Color Guard presented the colors at DC Votes Veterans Day Rally. The University of the District of Columbia featured DC Vote at its annual Constitution Day ceremony, where we passed out copies of the United States Constitution and Taxation Without Representation bumper stickers. Students also had the opportunity to sign up to get involved with DC Vote events and activities. American University students were especially active this year. In addition to tabling with petitions on the Tenleytown campus and turning out volunteers for our Tax Day protest, two groups of AU students kicked off this academic year by hitting the streets. Armed with DC Vote material, they visited businesses in the Dupont Circle neighborhood passing out I Demand the Vote window signs and seeking petition signatures. Many of the students were originally from other states and they received a crash course in taxation without representation when they later visited the offices of Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Representative Tom Davis (R-VA). Students from George Washington University joined DC Vote for a project to paint murals at Stanton Elementary.

The 2008 Students for DC Vote Winter Kick-Off Was a Huge Success.
In efforts to shake up Students for DC Vote, we opted for a hands-on activity for our annual Winter Kick-Off. In partnership with our friends at City Year, volunteers lent a hand with a mural project at Stanton Elementary. Together we engaged many young people for a powerful day of service. We painted murals with themes of service and DC voting rights. We feel this event will spark future Students for DC Vote collaborations with other agencies serving DC-area youth.

Students watch the performance at Votes, Voices & Visions.

Joe L. Da Vessel demands the vote in a rousing musical performance.

Student Summer Send-Off Brings Together Artists for the Cause

Annually, we host a Summer Send-Off event to inspire students to spread the word when they return to their schools both in DC and across the country. Here at DC Vote we always strive to engage students in our fight for democracy. This September, we upped the ante by incorporating spoken word on the topic of DC voting rights in an event at Busboys and Poets. At Votes, Voices & Visions: A Night of Creative Expression, eight artistshailing from all over DC, Maryland, Virginia, and even New York performed original pieces for students from across the country. Joe L. Da Vessel and band Melodic entertained the crowd with a finale performanceplaying the original song Demand the Vote. This event drew a crowd of more than 100 students and supporters eager to learn about the denial of voting rights in our nations capitol.

The nights emcee, Scyril, takes the stage.

Students for DC Vote and City Year created beautiful murals around the theme of voting rights at Stanton Elementary.

Volunteers are the back bone of our efforts and without your support, Students With so many creative students ready for DC Vote could never have made it this to speak out, we look forward to the Students for DC Vote Arts and far. Keep up the good work guys! Humanities Contest scheduled for April 14, 2009.

Erica Spell, DC Vote Outreach Associate, welcomes volunteers at the Winter Kick-Off.

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Voice

Want to learn more about Students for DC Vote? Contact Erica Spell, Outreach Associate at 202.462.6000 x18 or via e-mail at espell@dcvote.org.
Supporters wait for Obama to take the stage.

DC Vote Takes Message to the National Conventions

DC Vote took our message on the road againthis time to the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In a whirlwind week of events at both the DNC and RNC, DC Vote staff members Eugene Dewitt Kinlow and Eli Zigas met one-on-one with hundreds of people, collected hundreds of petition signatures, passed out thousands of flyers, buttons and stickers, and took tons of photos of our own Abraham Lincoln look-alike, Eli, with many happy passers-by! At the DNC, DC Votes Demand the Vote music video premiered in a special, 60-second version that aired before Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton took the stage at Denvers Pepsi Center. DC Vote also co-hosted a Taxation Without Representation rally at the Denver Mint. DC Vote supporters joined with Del. Norton, the DC City Council and the DC Democratic State Committee to hand out wooden coins with a Taxation Without Representation message and to demand the vote!

Inaugural Activities Are an Opportunity to Highlight DC Voting Rights

With millions of visitors anticipated in DC for the 2009 Inauguration, DC Vote doesnt want to miss an opportunity to spread our message to this politicallyengaged audience! We have a number of activities planned. We are a sponsor of the Inaugural Peace Ball on January 20a sold-out gala presented by Busboys and Poets and Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Additionally, we are working to distribute DC Vote materials such as banners, buttons and flags to inaugural parade viewers. We are also calling upon our volunteers, supporters and coalition partners to help us with a postcard campaign. We have created a postcard to President Obama, urging quick action on expanding democracy to the citizens of DC. We will also have a virtual postcard on DC Votes home page, www.dcvote.org. We know that the new Obama-Biden administration supports DC voting rights but we want to ensure a victory in 2009. Please help us send a message to the President that we cant wait another year for a vote in Congress! Interested in distributing materials or postcards? Visit www.dcvote.org or contact Erica Spell, Outreach Associate, at espell@dcvote.org.
DC Vote meets with members of the DC Republican Committee.

Eli encounters a famous face at the RNCactor, Jon Voight.

Attendees gather for McCains speech at the RNC.

Eli has an opportunity to personally thank Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for her support of DC voting rights.

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WINTER 2008 www.dcvote.org

DC Vote Welcomes New Staff and Board Members

The new year brings three additions to the DC Vote family! We are pleased to welcome PascaleEmmanuelle Nouama, Abby Levine and Jennifer Matson. Pascale and Abby will be the cornerstones of our new development team as Development Director and Program Manager. Jennifer joins us as Administrative Assistant. And, for those of you who have not had the opportunity to meet the most recent members of our outreach team, Erica Spell and Joel Donelan have joined us as DC Votes Outreach Associate and Student Outreach Intern. Everyone brings an amazing skill set to our team as we move into what will be a very busy year.
Use the enclosed envelope or visit our Web site today at www.dcvote.org to make a contribution to DC Vote.

We are also pleased to announce two new members of the Board of Directors. Vincent Orange Sr., Pepcos Region Vice PresidentDistrict of Columbia; and Joe Sternlieb, co-founder of DC Vote and Vice President for Acquisitions at Eastbanc. Welcome to all!

DC Vote is a 501 (c)(3) educational and advocacy organization whose mission is to secure full voting representation in Congress for the residents of the District of Columbia.

The VoiceDC Votes Newsletter Editor: Kevin Kiger Associate Editor: Jaline Quinto; Contributor: Eli Zigas Copyright 2008 DC Vote

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