A recent article in the Washington Post describes the widening income disparities between residents of Washington, DC. Much of it is driven by new development and the so called "robust economy." What does this mean for small non-profits that teach art and culture providing services and programs not being offered in DCPS?
If we look around the U street corridor where the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute exists development has driven prices for houses, condo's and rental spaces to new heights. What lies ahead for organizations that provide after school arts enrichment programs for inner city Washington, DC youth? Will everything be provided through DC government recreation centers? Many rec center directors are having difficulty finding qualified instructors for programs requested by the youth dropping-in and then unfortunately quickly dropping-out because of the lack of supervised programs of their liking. Nearby new developments (U St. corridor) have not provided space for community non-profits or arts organizations in their buildings. So what is the future of arts organizations in Washington, DC when floor space is moving towards $70 per square foot? Does it matter that many arts organizations are moving out of the city or just closing shop altogether? Soon most DC residents will be able to go just a few feet from their doorstep to buy a morning latte, make copies, visit a law firm or architects office, buy a $6 ice cream cone, and look for miles between the new multi-storied buildings and not find a single place devoted to teaching and training our young residents in art and culture. Welcome to Sin City.
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- Poverty Rate Grows Amid an Economic Boom, D.C.'s Poorest Left Behind By Renewal, Report Finds | Washington Post 24 October 2007
- Separation Between Rich, Poor Widening in D.C., Study Finds | Washington Post 27 January 2006
- The Gap Between Rich and Poor Widened in U.S. Capital | Washington Observer
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