Building community -- the Brookland Example -- Go to the Spaghetti Dinner

Brookland is a DC neighborhood that is one of the most "mixed" African-American and white communities I've seen, mixed in terms of not just who lives where, but in terms of interaction and friendship.

Colonel Brooks and Ellis Island are two restaurants that have a good mix of white and black customers, whereas most city restaurants seem to have a preponderance of one or the other demographic, but not a good mix of both. Community events are not white or black, but community events, and I think that is a great thing to see--even though it could be under threat as the increase in demand for urban living brings more whites to Brookland, and new residents without a nuanced view of where the community has been, its history, and where it is going.

Anyway, Brookland has a community dinner, the Annual Spaghetti dinner sponsored by the Brookland Community Development Corporation/Historic Brookland Main Street program.

You should go. It's tomorrow night.

It's also a model of what more neighborhoods could do--community potlucks and the like, to bring people together. I remember when I was young and there was a death in our family and there was an outpouring of response from neighbors and friends, people bringing food dishes by for our family, etc. The Brookland Spaghetti Dinner evokes similar feelings and memories.

___________From the Brookland Listserv__________________
Event: ANNUAL SPAGHETTI & COMMUNITY AWARDS DINNER
Date: Saturday, March 19, 2005
Time: 3:00--8:00 p.m.
Place: St. Anthony's Margot Hall, 12th Street NE between Lawrence & Monroe

SPONSORS & DONORS.
A. Litteri, Inc.--Wine & Food.
Colonel Brooks--Wine.
Dean Bakery & Gourmet Foods--The Services of Chef Wartti.
Kelly's Ellis Island--Italian Bread.
Linens of the Week--Table Cloths, Napkins, Aprons.
The Menkiti Group Real Estate Team--Italian Meatballs.
Petals, Ribbons & Beyond--Table Centerpieces.
St. Anthony's--Margot Hall.
Washington Engraving--Printing Services.
Whelan's--San Pelligrino
Sponsorship opportunities are still available.Call 529-8400 to learn more about sponsorship.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER (To Date). Sue Barnes. Kathryn Barnsdale. June Blanks. Roxanne Carter. Bartek Chwlek. Ralph Bucksell. Joan Corboy. Darcy Flynn. David Goodwin. Emily Hendricks. Jason Hendricks. Sarah Koch. Richard Layman. Jim Lowen. Estell Llyod. Reginal Mackie. Ted Quimby. Phil Raidt. Dean Wartti. Bob White. Tsedale Yigezu

VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED

You can still join friends and neighbors in staging Brookland's signature annual community dinner. Call the CDC office on 526-4848 or 529-8400to volunteer, or email BrooklandCDC @ AOL.com.

DAY-OF-DINNER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
On Saturday, March 19, the day of the Dinner, you may volunteer to help in any of the following capacities:

Set-Up Staff (12:30--3:00).
Kitchen Helpers (2:30--5:30 & 5:30--8:00).
Hosts/Hostesses (3:00--5:30 & 5:30--8:00).
Ticket Table Staff (3:00--5:30 & 5:30--8:00).
Servers (3:00--5:30 & 5:30--8:00).
Beverage and Dessert Table Attendants (3:00--5:30 & 5:30--8:00).
Clean-Up Crew (8:30--10:00)
Call 526-4848 to volunteer. All volunteers are welcome to a complementary Spaghetti Dinner. Those who choose to take advantage of this offer should arrive 30 minutes before their shift starts in order to have time to eat before they begin working.

MENU.
Pasta. Homemade Marinara Sauces.
Salad of Mixed Greens w/ Homemade Vinaigrette.
All-Beef Meatballs.
Italian Bread

Available At Additional Cost.
San Pellegrino Aranciata & Limonata.
San Pellegrino.
Dry Red & White Wine.
Dessert

CARRY OUT ALSO AVAILABLE
Carryout orders may be placed at the front desk.

PRICE OF ADMISSION$10.00 Adults$ 5.00 Children Under Ten$ 6.00
Students (student rate effective from 3:00--5:00 p.m. only)
Master and Visa cards accepted.

SEATING & RESERVATIONS
Guests will be seated "family-style," as they arrive, at tables that accommodate eight people. Reservations are recommended but not required. Those who reserve an entire table for eight in advance will be given two complimentary bottles of San Pellegrino. For reservations and additional information, call 526-4848 or email BrooklandCDC @ AOL.com.

DINNER PROGRAM
6:30 Community Service Awards
-- Volunteer of the Year Award
7:30 Raffle Drawing

SILENT ART AUCTION
This year's Dinner will feature a Silent Art Auction sponsored by and to benefit the Brookland Works on Paper Gallery, a nonprofit program of the Brookland CDC.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF THE DINNER
The Dinner provides an opportunityfor the Greater Brookland neighborhood to come together and share a meal and to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the betterment of Brookland and/or the city at large. At the same time, the Dinner benefits the community, as the proceeds support the cultural and economic development programs of the Brookland CDC, including The Brookland Visitors Center and its Works on Paper Gallery, the Historic Brookland Main Street Program, and the Brookland Farmers Market.

OUTREACH

Help is still needed to distribute flyers and get the word out in the neighborhood. Please forward and post this notice, and call the CDC office on 526-4848 or 529-8400 if you can pick up flyers at the Visitors Center and distribute them on your block.

CONTACT:
Phone or email the Brookland CDCwith the times that you are available:phone: 526-4848 or 529-8400email: BrooklandCDC @ AOL.com
_______
Formed in 1998 by residents of Greater Brookland, the Brookland Community Development Corporationis a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that was created to promote the arts and to protect and capitalize on the cultural resources of the neighborhood for the purpose of building community pride and fostering economic development