Rashad Young

This morning at Mayor-Council Breakfast we are discussing FEMS improvements. You can follow the conversation at mayor.dc.gov/live!

Today I had the opportunity to serve District residents battling chronic homelessness at Miriam's Kitchen. My sincere thanks to the many organizations across our city that work every day to ensure our residents have a safe and stable place to call home.

Many thanks to Team OCA for spending this morning at DC Central Kitchen and ensuring families across the District can enjoy a hearty meal and a warm hug this holiday season. It's just one reason we are

Last week marked a great time for resilience planning in the District!

First, we launched Climate Ready DC with DOEE Director Tommy Wells and Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden. We understand that economy and environment, particularly environmental preparedness, are deeply linked. Many of the actions set out in Climate Ready DC will make the difference for our families in the Watts Branch area.

Later in the week, Team OCA spent time with our partners at 100 Resilient Cities, beginning the process of bringing together even larger numbers of stakeholders to participate in the District’s first city-wide Resilience Strategy. We also met residents in parts of the city experiencing rapid development and DC community leaders who are working with DOEE and Anacostia Waterfront Trust to bring every area of the Anacostia River back to life.

It was a great week and we are thankful that there is more to come!

This week the OCA Resilience Team participated in the “Our Cities, Our Climate Learning Exchange,” which brought nearly 2 dozen leaders from 16 different countries to the District to discuss climate action and resilience. DOEE discussed our leadership in climate action and adaptation, including being the first city in the United States to require the certification of green buildings, energy and water benchmarking, and strong storm water requirements. The District was also recognized as the first city to pass all of the chapters of the International Green Construction Code as a mandatory code. It's no accident that DC has more LEED and ENERGY STAR certified buildings and square footage than any other large city in the U.S.

Next month, we announce our first ever climate adaptation plan - Climate Ready DC. These and other efforts will also help set the stage for our next phase of strategic investments as part of Rockefeller's 100 Resilient Cities network. Climate action and resilience are about protecting our people, lowering their energy and water costs, and preparing them to participate in a changing workforce that will offer greater economic opportunities.

We're building a safer, strong DC. Today, we visited with Ward 5 residents near Brentwood Recreation Center to hear about their challenges and concerns. It is always a great day to serve.

Last week was very significant for resilience in the District of Columbia.

On Thursday, Team OCA and the DC Resilience Launch Team, took officials from 100 Resilient Cities on a tour of the District.

During a strop at Navy Yard, the group discussed the constant need to learn, coordinate and grow related to the ever-evolving threats of crime and terrorism with the Commanding Officer and MPD’s Homeland Security Bureau.

Touring the Anacostia Arts Center in Southeast DC, lunch was hosted at Art-drenaline Café, which is not only a fantastic economic investment in Historic Anacostia, but a true social investment as well. The Café employs many returning citizens and teaches the skills needed to succeed.

A tour of the District focusing on resilience isn't complete without spending time on the Anacostica River. Thankfully, Anacostia Riverkeeper Emily Franc hosted a boat trip down the river, discussing the importance that the vision of a swimmable, fishable Anacostia is achieved as quickly as possible and that all DC residents have access to this renewed resource.

As we plan to craft a new, transformative resilience strategy for the city, we were reminded that resilience isn’t inside a government office – it is in our communities. It’s in how we protect and preserve our assets and gird against changing threats.

Please stay tuned to find out how you can be part of the conversation - http://oca.dc.gov/page/resilient-dc

oca.dc.gov

I appreciate Team OCA's commitment to learning and development. Today our Lunch & Learn group is leading a discussion on mobility, smart growth, and using the lessons and techniques from the start-up industry to create change in local communities. Our special guest... Gabe Klein, DC resident and author of Start-Up City.

Many thanks to those able to participate and to Gabe for lending his energy and perspective to the conversation.

There are many great employees across District Government, but today, we have the opportunity to enjoy a WUSA9 profile on Tyrone Neal who serves as a DPW Parking Enforcement Officer.

Check out Tryone's story: http://www.wusa9.com/news/features/washington-dc-parking-meter-worker-has-great-outlook/302816096

Many thanks to Tyrone and the nearly 35,000 District Government employees who work daily to keep the District moving forward.

DC parking meter worker has great outlook Every day, Tyrone Neal walks up and down the blocks on the north side of the White House for hours. He's not a tourist hoping to get a glimpse of President Obama. Neal is working, checking people's license plates and parking times for the D.C. Department of Public Works.

The Office of the City Administrator thrives to create change in the District Government as the Office of Performance Management leads the way.

She is always working hard for . Even at the .

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington Speaks Up for Statehood Ms. Bowser has helped put making the nation’s capital the 51st state back in the Democratic platform for the first time in 16 years.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, thank you for this investment in the resilience of Washington, DC.

This morning, I signed the Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Act to increase access to clean energy for our residents and create a long-term pipeline for green jobs and business creation.

Click here for details about the Department of Energy & Environment and the DC Sustainable Energy Utility's Affordable Solar Program that helps install panels at no cost to income-qualified District residents: http://doee.dc.gov/node/1162192

This summer, the Department of Energy & Environment entered into a grant agreement with GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic to launch GZEP Solar Plus, in partnership with the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program ( ), to provide young adults ages 18 to 24 paid training in solar panel installation, energy efficiency, and basic safety and construction skills.