Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                                A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

                                              25-105

                    IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                        September 19, 2023

To recognize and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Anacostia Coordinating Council.

        WHEREAS, the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) was established in 1983 as a

volunteer, membership consortium of organizations and individuals involved with the

revitalization of Anacostia and its adjacent neighborhoods;

       WHEREAS, the ACC central purpose in its initial years was to organize community

support for the building of the Anacostia Metro Station;

      WHEREAS, once the station opened in 1991, the ACC Board of Directors decided to keep

ACC in existence to further economic development around the Anacostia Metro Station;

      WHEREAS, the ACC has expanded its mission to address the myriad issues that face the

community by engaging organizations and individuals in information gathering and sharing,

advocacy, networking, and community organizing;

       WHEREAS, since its inception, ACC has welcomed over 1,000 guest speakers to its

monthly meetings to discuss some of the community's most pressing issues and to share important

information pertaining to the community;

        WHEREAS, over its 40-year history, the ACC has made tremendous strides on behalf of

the community it serves, including hosting monthly luncheon meetings to hear presentations about

community projects and share community concerns, hosting an annual boat ride (which is now one

of the oldest annual events east of the Anacostia River) to bring together community leaders and

activists and to raise funds to support ACC's activities, and hosting an annual multicultural holiday

celebration to raise toys and gifts for the MPD Seventh District's holiday party for children;

        WHEREAS, the ACC also has helped to establish and host monthly breakfast meetings for

clergy and faith leaders, helped to establish, restore and revitalize civic associations in the

Anacostia neighborhood, helped to found the Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative, and

stood at the forefront of COVID-19 testing and vaccination outreach;

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        WHEREAS, during the past 40 years, there have been only 3 chairs of the board of

directors: James Banks, Arrington Dixon and Lamont Mitchell;

       WHEREAS, Philip Pannell has been the only person to serve as executive director of the

organization since its inception; and

        WHEREAS, for 4 decades, the Anacostia Coordinating Council has provided invaluable

service to residents of the Anacostia community and the District of Columbia at large through its

advocacy, activism, and ability to bring residents and other organizations together for the greater

good.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the “Anacostia Coordinating Council 40th Anniversary Ceremonial

Recognition Resolution of 2023”.

       Sec. 2. The Council recognizes and celebrates the Anacostia Coordinating Council for its

40 years of robust commitment to improving the quality of life in Anacostia and its surrounding

neighborhoods through networking, community organizing, and advocacy.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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