WIN Annual Reports June 2018 Midyear Report | Page 7

THE DC WATER JOBS CAMPAIGN
In 2013 WIN began a campaign pressing
for DC Water to hire more DC residents,
especially given that DC residents were
being asked to invest $2.7 billion in the Clean
Rivers Project. The project was designed
to clean up stormwater runoff as a result of
an EPA mandate. In 2014, DC Water signed
an agreement including a 51% local hire
commitment, contribution of $1.25 million to
open job training programs in DC, and the
creation of a national certification for Green
Infrastructure work. In 2017, DC Water Works
hired 51 (60%) DC residents, this is up from 11%
district residents in FY 2013. Also in 2017 the
first two classes produced 16 DC residents who
are certified in Green Infrastructure.
ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS STRATEGY
In 2017 WIN launched a new strategy aimed at
getting DC employers in key sectors to make
hiring commitments of unemployed people
especially focusing on communities with the
highest unemployment rates: Returning Citizens
and Young People. In 2017 WIN initiated a series
of relational meetings and house meetings to
deepen our base in the heavily segregated,
Photo by David Choy
African American area of the city east of the river
where living wage jobs is a central issues. At a
700-person action in July 2017 with Mayor Muriel
Bowser the front rows of church were filled with
over 200 leaders from wards 7 and 8 including 50 returning citizens.
(See our Transit section for more on our organizing with transportation workers)
2018 MIDYEAR REPORT
7