Oramenta Newsome: Community Development Icon; Jubilee Champion
Oramenta Newsome spent more than 25 years advancing thoughtful, equitable community development in Washington, D.C. Among her final efforts was a loan to ensure that Jubilee could hold onto the Maycroft and keep it affordable for families with few financial resources. She passed away on February 1, 2018.
Newsome supported Jubilee on a variety of projects during her tenure as executive director of LISC DC. However, she made her most significant contribution at a critical juncture for Jubilee and the Maycroft.
In the face of litigation that could have allowed another developer to convert the Maycroft’s units to market-rate, Newsome stood boldly by Jubilee’s side. She convened, with the Meyer Foundation, a group of influential philanthropic partners to help Jubilee think about ways to raise the capital Jubilee needed to continue fighting for the Maycroft and its residents. And she convinced LISC to make a $1-million-dollar loan to Jubilee—despite obvious risks—to help Jubilee withstand delays associated with the predatory lawsuit.
“She wanted to ensure housing affordability for residents unable to compete in the Columbia Heights rental market. She wanted to speak out forcefully against unscrupulous players seeking to reduce housing opportunities for residents with low incomes. And she knew Jubilee needed capital to withstand the unfounded litigation,” said Martin Mellett, Jubilee’s vice president of Strategic Initiatives, who worked with Newsome at LISC for 16 years.
Mellett said Newsome understood affordable homes are the base, but that they must be paired with services found at health centers and child care programs, for example, and with cultural and educational resources.
Jubilee Executive Director Jim Knight described Newsome as “one of the most effective fighters for justice our city has known. Her legacy lives on in neighborhoods all across the District,” he said.
Jubilee Residents Learn to Advocate for Their Causes
Like citizens across the District, Jubilee residents care about a variety of issues. So, Jubilee is offering them the tools they need to make their views heard.
In early February, Jubilee hosted Awesta Sarkash, director of Advocacy at the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), for an advocacy training with Jubilee residents. Participants at the session, which was held in the Rouse Room of Jubilee’s Ritz building, learned about the D.C. legislative process, City Council members, and key dates on the Council’s calendar when speaking out can make a difference. They also learned about effective methods for expressing their concerns.
Among the takeaways for Jubilee staff member Audrey Walker: Call your representatives or contact them by social media. Ask friends who share your views to deliver similar messages to the same representatives, because there is power in numbers. Plan your outreach around times when the City Council is discussing your issue.
“Jubilee residents sometimes feel their voices aren’t enough,” said Walker. “The training taught us that if we bond together and figure out the appropriate ways and times to advocate, we can make a change.”
One such opportunity is coming up on March 17 at the “Rally for Racial Equity, Housing, and Jobs” sponsored by CNHED. The rally takes place from 10 a.m. till noon, in the Savoy Elementary Gymnasium, 2400 Shannon Place SE, and features Mayor Muriel Bowser. Jubilee will offer transportation to the event if enough people sign up by emailing awalker@jubileehousing.org. Child care and Spanish-language interpretation will be provided.
Jubilee hopes to provide additional advocacy training with CNHED in the future, including a session for sponsors and donors. Stay tuned.
Forging Deeper Bonds Across the Community
Earlier this month, Jubilee resident Gilma Merino invited a handful of Jubilee supporters and staff, along with a couple of her Jubilee neighbors, to lunch at her home in the Fuller building. The purpose, she said, was to swap stories, make connections, break bread, and enjoy each other’s company. The result: A fun way to bring together diverse Jubilee stakeholders.
Over a delicious, home-cooked meal, members of the group talked about their lives, their hopes and plans, their challenges, and their histories with Jubilee. Before the meal had ended, Gilma’s two Jubilee neighbors had offered to team up on another luncheon, with a similarly composed group, in March.
“Jubilee’s work naturally presents occasions for people from different backgrounds and experiences to get to know each other more deeply,” said Jubilee Executive Director Jim Knight. “These shared experiences can foster a common understanding and a foundation for action. Convening individuals from across divides and nurturing those relationships helps promote equity,” he said.