Ward 8 Woods Conservancy Inc

WARD 8 WOODS CONSERVANCY WORKS TO REJUVENATE AND ENHANCE THE BEAUTY, ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, AND PUBLIC ENJOYMENT OF THE MORE THAN 500 ACRES OF FOREST IN THE WARD 8 SECTION OF WASHINGTON, DC. WE ENGAGE RESIDENTS AS PAID STAFF AND AS VOLUNTEERS TO RESTORE THE WOODLAND ECOLOGY, BUILD TRAILS, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING. WE USE THE WOODS AS A TOOL FOR HEALING AND EMPOWERMENT.

PARK STEWARD PROGRAM - THE PARK STEWARD PROGRAM PROVIDES INCOME, MEANINGFUL WORK AND PAID TRAINING TO RESIDENTS WHO FACE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM - WARD 8 WOODS WELCOMED 227 VOLUNTEERS AT 29 VOLUNTEER EVENTS. FT. STANTON PARK VOLUNTEER DAYS WERE HELD THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, AND SHEPHERD PARKWAY COMMUNITY CLEAN-UPS EVERY SECOND SATURDAY. IN ADDITION, WE HAD FIVE SPECIALLY ARRANGED GROUPS THAT WORKED AT OTHER TIMES. AT ALL OF THESE EVENTS, VOLUNTEERS WORKED ALONGSIDE OUR PARK STEWARDS TO REMOVE 187,000 POUNDS OF TRASH AND RESCUE MORE THAN 1,000 TREES FROM BEING SMOTHERED BY INVASIVE VINES.

ADVOCACY PROGRAM - NATHAN IS A FORCEFUL AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP IN WARD 8. HE HAS MADE A CONCERTED AND CONSISTENT EFFORT TO KEEP THE WOODS AND WARD 8 WOODS IN THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS. HE MAINTAINED AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH A WASHINGTON POST REPORTER, KEEPING THE REPORTER AWARE OF THE WARD 8 WOODS PROGRAM THROUGH A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS. THIS RESULTED IN AN ARTICLE IN THE POST THAT GARNERED EXTENSIVE PUBLICITY AND DONATIONS. HE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE DC CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION, REQUESTING IMPROVEMENTS AND WASTE DIVERSION. HE IS IN FREQUENT CONTACT WITH APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGERS AND CHURCHES IN WARD 8, REQUESTING CLEAN UP AND INVOLVEMENT.