Happy Mother’s Day from the @dcrotaryclub!

#dcrotaryclub #rotaryinternational #rotary7620 #imaginerotary #mothersday #letscelebrate ...

Our guest speaker this week is Kymone Freeman, an award-winning playwright, activist and commentator.  He is the subject of one chapter of the book Beat of a Different Drum: The Untold Stories of African Americans Forging Their Own Paths in Work and Life (Hyperion). 
🎭
Kymone is a 2010 Green for All Fellow & co-founder of We Act Radio DC’s Best Social Justice Radio Station 2017 by Washington City Paper and 1st Place 2017 Public Media Journalists Association Award winner for his Lion and the Map Commentary from the Anacostia Unmapped radio series on WAMU/ NPR’s most successful local production in 2016.  He founded the Black L.U.V. Festival in 1997 & was honored at the Kennedy Center as a Mayor`s Art Award Finalist for Excellence in Service to the Arts 2005.
🎭
The 25th Anniversary of the Black Luvfest was the largest event of the 50th Anniversary of the Ft. Dupont Amphitheatre Summer Series sponsored by the National Park Service in 2022.  He was featured as a contributing writer in the most controversial Ebony Magazine in recent history as the last publication in print and PBS Online Film Festival for his short film Fresh Prince of Anacostia.  His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Washington Informer and NY Times: Can Anacostia Build a Bridge w/o Displacing Its People?  He has appeared nationally and internationally on BBC, French 24 TV, German ZDF, RT, CGTN America, Cuban National TV and TV One. 
🎭
Freeman serves on the board of the Douglass Community Landtrust and is publishing a novel, Nineveh: a conflict over water with Strong Arm Press.  He was honored by the Catalogue of Philanthropy at the Word Museum with the 2022 Change Maker Award.
🎭
Our Rotary Club is fortunate to have so many members with wonderful contacts such that we are able to attract a wide variety of newsworthy, sought-after speakers! The diversity of our speakers reflects the diverse interests of our members.
🎤
#DCRotaryClub #hybridmeeting
#clubmeeting #zoommeeting #newsworthy #guestspeaker #RotaryInternational #RI #RotaryDistrict7620 #ImagineRotary #playwright #activist #commentator ...

Our guest speaker this week is Ben de Guzman, Director of the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA).  He has been a leading voice at the local and national level on issues of racial equity, immigrants` rights, veterans affairs, and LGBT justice for more than two decades. He comes to MOAPIA from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, where he served as the Community Outreach Specialist.  During his tenure there, he helped execute two major first time events for the Office- the “District of Pride” LGBTQ cultural performance event and the 32nd Annual 17th Street High Heel Race, presented by the Mayor’s Office as lead organizer.
🎉
Ben has authored articles and op-eds that have appeared in mainstream and special interest media, anthologies, and academic publications, including the Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Today.  In 2015, he received a Community Service Award from Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and is pleased to come to MOAPIA and help recognize exciting new leaders moving forward.  In June 2019, he was recognized by the Capital Pride Alliance in Washington, DC as a Capital Pride Hero. In October 2019, he received one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans Award for LGBT Advocacy.
🎉
As an advocate for equity and recognition for Filipino veterans of World War II, Ben played a key role in two of the most significant legislative victories on behalf of these soldiers. He led communications, outreach, and political strategies for the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project and he served as the National Coordinator for the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, where he organized a national legislative campaign.
🎉
Our Rotary Club is fortunate to have so many members with wonderful contacts such that we are able to attract a wide variety of newsworthy, sought-after speakers! The diversity of our speakers reflects the diverse interests of our members.
🎤
#DCRotaryClub #hybridmeeting
#clubmeeting #zoommeeting #newsworthy #guestspeaker #RotaryInternational #RotaryDistrict7620 #ImagineRotary #AsianAmericanPacificIslander ...

Join @dcrotaryclub in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month!🎉 This month and throughout the year, we applaud the accomplishments of these communities and enjoy supporting their contributions to our lives.

#dcrotaryclub #dcrotaryfoundation #letscelebrate #jewishheritagemonth #asiapacificislandermonth #rotaryinternational #rotary7620 ...