My first job out of college was as the Community Outreach Organizer with DC Jobs With Justice. With Mackenzie as my teacher and the support of labor greats like Chris Garlock, Roger Newell and Jos Williams I learned how to fight for workers rights aka human rights. I carry the lessons with me today, almost 20 years later, now as an ED of another human rights organization. I’ll forever be grateful for the teachers, friends, sisters and brothers that I gained during my time at JWJ.

I’m proud of many things we’ve accomplished together at DC JWJ — from protections for immigrants to increases in the city-wide minimum wage to wage theft protection policies and procedures. The thing I am proudest of though — the establishment and ongoing necessary work of the DC Just Pay Coalition for accountable implementation of workers rights.

May 2012, as Mayor Vincent Gray and his allies attempt to force Walmart on the District, DC JwJ and community allies and residents from across the city held a massive parade to make sure everyone know Gray was in bed with Walmart, marching from the proposed Walmart that is now at 1st and H NW to Walmart’s federal lobbying headquarters in Chinatown.

My memories of being an intern with DC JWJ speak most clearly to my time canvassing with Sequnely Gray. Sequnely is the reason I arrived at JWJ National. She is home to so much oral history about housing battles in DC and Barry Farms. She showed me how histories matter, and how our stories drive us home. Thank you Sequnely!

I loved my time at DC Jobs with Justice. I was able to work on many campaigns including the 99% Spring, Caring Across Generations, and Respect DC. But working on the Verizon Campaign on 2011–2012 was the most fulfilling and fun campaign. I still love to watch the video that we made “Alms for the Rich.” Check it out on Youtube.

I love that DCJWJ combines a big-picture worldview with vibrant local organizing. It provides us in the DMV with the support and community to fight for rent control, fair wages, racial justice–to have an effective presence on the issues that matter. I know few organizations that can stretch such modest resources to yield such significant results.

As a volunteer, and for a time as the Jews United for Justice representative to the Steering Committee, I have learned so much with DC JwJ about how to build meaningful partnerships across difference to tackle the hard problems facing workers and communities of color in DC. The exuberance and costumes of the Verizon campaign team were a highlight!