First Fridays | April 2025

In This First Friday:

• Home Reimagined 2025
• Happenings at the Hub
• Furniture Poverty
• Circling Back
• March at AWC

Home Reimagined 2025

In 2024, we transformed 10 homes in one day.

In 2025, we will transform 35.

Yes, 35 homes, all in one day.

On May 8, 2025, our annual Home Reimagined initiative will be back and bigger than ever — culminating in a one-day event where we transform THIRTY-FIVE unfurnished spaces into fully furnished, professionally designed, functional homes for our neighbors.

Sponsors, moving companies, and designers needed!
Learn how you or your company can get involved here.

Happenings at the Hub

On Friday, March 14, DC fire crews responded to a fire right across from our Ward 8 Hub. Working with the Highland Dwellings Resident Council, the Mayor’s office, and several generous neighbors, we were able to set up a respite center. The same day, we were able to provide clothing, dog crates, and gift cards to the families affected. We continue to support the fire victims — we have purchased dog food for one of the victims, assisted another victim with his medication, and several of those affected make daily visits to the Hub to have a safe space to go. We will continue to provide support and set up full furniture appointments for them as soon as they’re ready.

Heal DC Partnership

The Ward 8 Hub is thrilled to partner with Peace For DC on the new Heal DC program, providing career and educational guidance to a group of the most violence-impacted young adults in DC. The message below from Peace For DC highlights the impact of this partnership:

“After just a few short months of continuous daily engagement and programming, we are already starting to see the glimmers of transformation within the young men in our HEAL DC program.

For these young men every day is about just surviving. All participants are highly impacted by gun violence, many are both victims and perpetrators, all exhibit numerous risk factors and unique challenges, making them ideal candidates for our individualized, long-term, wrap-around program. They are experiencing ongoing forms of crises, including housing instability, lacking basic necessities like toiletries and food, self-medicating to cope with trauma, and very limited education and job opportunities.

Through the work of our Support Team: in-house Program Manager, Case Manager, & Cognitive Behavioral Interventions Instructor; Therapists (For Us Therapeutics); Life Coaches and Violence Intervention Specialists (NAARC); and Education/Career Coaches (A Wider Circle’s Ward 8 Hub); we are helping these individuals and their families (many of them are fathers to young children) courageously move away from their daily survival goals and begin envisioning their lives beyond pain, fear, and grief.

Wrap-around support for each participant includes:

• Weekly 1-on-1 sessions with a Therapist, Case Manager, Life Coach, and Education/Career Coach
• Group sessions 2x each week with instruction in life skills topics like Roca’s Rewire Cognitive Behavioral Theory, Healthy Masculinity, Anger Management, Financial Literacy, Basic Computer Skills
• A Chromebook for each participant to keep
• A weekly stipend based on participation
• Collaboration with our research partners, Dr. Webster (JHU) and Dr. Richardson (UMD)

This program is modeled on successful programs like READI and Chicago CRED, and incorporates Roca’s Rewire Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT). Recent research on Chicago CRED indicates impressive results with no further charges for violent crime among 73% of individuals who completed the program.

We are helping these young men break free from the cycle of violence and trauma they are locked in, strengthening their capacity to thrive, and helping them to become: Healthy, Empowered, Achieving Leaders for DC.”

Our Career Support team is also seeking GED & CASAS Math/Reading tutor volunteers to assist with the Heal DC program. Learn more here.

Furniture Poverty

Did you know that at some point in time, over 90% of low and no-income households will lack critical furniture items that make their homes safe and functional for their families?

While furniture poverty is an issue A Wider Circle has worked to address locally since our founding, we have recently begun efforts to shed more light on the issue on a national scale, working with partners across the country towards building long-term solutions. Check out our new Furniture Poverty page to learn more about these efforts.

2025 Prom Giveaway

On Saturday, April 12, from 12:00 pm-4:00 pm, in partnership with Once Upon a Prom, we’ll be hosting a prom attire giveaway!

The giveaway will take place at our Center for Community Service at 9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Available attire will include: dresses, suits, tuxedos, dress shirts, dress pants, heels and dress shoes, jewelry and other accessories, and self-care products.

Items are FREE. Prior registration is not needed and there are no eligibility requirements.

Questions? Email Maddy Corsi at mcorsi@awidercircle.org.

P.S. We’re also accepting donations of prom attire through April 11. Want to help? Click here for more info!

Thank you, MGM!

Many thanks to MGM for recognizing A Wider Circle among many other great local organizations at their Community Champions Brunch on March 5!

Leaning on community in a time of uncertainty

We understand that the current upheaval in Washington is affecting many neighbors in our community, including individuals, families, and local businesses who have been generous partners in our efforts.

• If you’re looking for support in seeking new employment opportunities, you can learn more about the services offered by our Career Support program or fill out our Career Support interest form.

• If you’ve been impacted by recent events and would like to pause your recurring gift or opt out of fundraising emails, we completely understand. To make any changes, please email our Development team to let us know how we can assist you.

• If you are a neighbor who is uplifted by volunteering, you can click here to find a time to join our team. Helping others can be a powerful way to find hope and connection in our community.

• If you’d like to read about more ways to support local organizations, check out this article from the Greater Washington Community Foundation: Supporting Nonprofits in Uncertain Times: What You Can Do Right Now.

Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring Fundraiser

On Sunday, May 4, the Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring Foundation will host a fundraiser at El Golfo where they’ll also collect liquid laundry detergent to support A Wider Circle’s Market Bag program! Click here for details.