Mission 

Most Americans are disillusioned with the direction of the country and the lack of any viable political representation. Most of us in Petworth can relate. With Trump taking office again, people are rightfully scared and angry. But the truth is, whether it was Trump or Harris or Biden, things keep getting worse for all of us. We can no longer fall for the idea that we’re are “saved” or “doomed” depending on whether there is an (D) or an (R) in next to the White House. Our best chance is to create the society we want, brick by brick, community by community. Fortunately, the blueprint has always existed, irrespective of election cycles: creating communities of care, prioritizing neighborhood-centered solutions, and investing in mutual aid over charity. These principles make us stronger, more united, more resilient, and also more independent. So, what can we do now to get there? The same things we’ve been doing, but with more intention and solidarity

Build Communities of Care

Our first challenge is to overcome the fragmentation and isolation pushed on us by modern society. Let’s create communities of care. Let’s know our neighbors and our neighbors’ neighbors, and their neighbors. Let’s create trust among ourselves so we can understand each other, support each other, and rely on each other. And as we encounter challenges in our neighborhood, let’s problem-solve together rather than waiting for help. When we know our common purpose, we know our common ground, and we can resolve disagreements and grow stronger as a community

We must also ensure that we all have an equitable say in decisions that affect our neighborhood. It’s time to move past the old dogmas of D vs. R, liberal vs. conservative, urban vs. rural. We all have differences, of course, but these artificial divides prevent us from realizing what we all collectively need and prevent us from challenging those who are actually blocking progress. For there to be large-scale change across the country, this idea has to spread, and it must start at the community level.  

For example, gentrification is a central issue in Petworth. We need to build a bridge between the newcomers and legacy community and better integrate. We need to ensure everyone’s needs/wants are appropriately addressed, particularly those from the legacy community.

What could this look like?

• Every household that opts into the project would be encouraged to introduce themselves to every neighbor within a two block radius and exchange names

• Regular hosted social events, open to all (barbeques, picnics, open play dates, bicycle rides, etc.)

• Hold regular, open forums where community members can safely express challenges, frustrations, needs, desires, and ambitions for their families and for the future of the neighborhood

Prioritize Neighborhood-centered Solutions 

Challenges in Petworth require solutions that are tailored to the needs/wants of the community in Petworth. We, the community, should decide the what future of Petworth looks like, not outside entities (not real estate developers, not MPD, not NPS). We should push for a greater share of decision-making power for the choices that affect our neighborhood. Let’s align on what we want as a community and advocate for those solutions so that we’re active co-creators and  not not merely consulted or ignored.

We should also aspire to drive change in our neighborhood regarding  the problems plaguing  our nation and our  world. We are, after all, global citizens. Our society faces  multiple crises, and we can’t solve them on our own. But how can we ever create the society we want if we aren’t practicing it right now in the spaces we control? When we build sustainable, autonomous communities, we’re proving to ourselves—and to the world—that another way is possible. This is where the change starts: in our neighborhoods, homes, and relationships.

What could this look like?

• Participating in park/playground renovation design through committees rather than surveys.

• Neighborhood beautification projects (trash pickups, pollinator garden plantings, etc.) to reduce littering behaviors.

• Presenting unified opposition to development projects that accelerate deforestation, pollute waterways, worsen air quality, or displace/disenfranchise certain communities. 

Invest in mutual aid over charity

Petworth is a diverse and dynamic community. Between us, we have a huge variety of resources, skills, knowledge, and ideas. By freely sharing and exchanging these asset , we can meet so many more of our own needs without wasting resources or depending on outside institutions. These systems of exchange, mutual aid networks, are the foundation of meaningful impact.  Mutual aid gathers resources from the community, distributes it within the community, and trusts the community to decide the best way to use those resources. Mutual aid ensures we’re  accountable to each other, not to some detached philanthropists. The end goal isn’t charity, but empowerment.  It’s giving people the tools to meet their needs independently and collectively. Robust mutual aid builds resilience, so we have the capacity to withstand adversity and emerge stronger as a community

What could this look like?

• Creating a directory of knowledge and skills around the community (e.g., growing food, sewing, woodworking, tying knots, painting, producing music, social media, writing, financial accounting, etc.)

• Growing and sharing food

• Holding teach-ins with neighbors to share your skill or knowledge

• Creating a collective babysitter-share where parents can trade babysitting services with each other (which only works if you develop a wide trust network through a community of care)

• Higher-income community members dedicating a certain percentage of their income to mutual aid