District Bridges

⭐️Join our team!⭐️ We’re seeking a full-time, Spanish speaking, Community Navigator at District Bridges! This role focuses on supporting our Ward-based ecosystem development through street outreach, volunteer engagement, and connecting residents to essential city resources, particularly those facing housing insecurity or substance abuse issues. Check out the post below for more info! https://lnkd.in/gR42bKSe

So excited to have our Community Navigation team supporting this event! Thank you N Street Village for all you do!

So it’s officially October - which seems wild! The last weekend of September District Bridges hosted 5 Art All Night events in 2 days. It was a whirlwind of a weekend and then the following Monday we closed the books on fiscal year 2024. I’m still catching up and recovering but I am so incredibly proud of the DB team. They are problem solvers, community builders, and passionate professionals who are dedicated to this work - all of this could not happen without them! Bring on FY25!

👀 District Bridges is hiring!

This week we got to bring some of the District Bridges team out to Seattle, Washington for the International Downtown Association’s annual conference. It was so wonderful to be surrounded with other place management professionals sharing ideas and exploring another great city. Cannot wait for next year when the conference will be held in DC and we will get to share our incredible city with these folks! #placemanagement #communitydevelopment #economicdevelopment

Thank you, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders for hosting a fantastic annual conference last week! It was such a pleasure to share our work with your network of professionals during the Columbia Heights site visit.

Have you heard? We're #hiring a new Main Street Manager! Do you love the 14th Street NW/Logan Circle area and want to help it thrive? Apply today or share this post with your network.

"I think one misconception people have is that they assume if a restaurant is still open in 2024, that they've 'made it' through Covid...The real challenge, for us at least, came in 2022 when landlords were knocking at the door once again and SBA loan payments were due. Taking care of deferred rent and staying current and paying back loans began to take its toll. Along with soaring food costs, labor increases and major increases in packaging (e.g., take-out containers, bags, gloves) forced us to make the difficult decision to close." - Chris Nardelli, owner of Blue 44 Restaurant and Bar in Chevy Chase DC. After closing their doors earlier this year, Nardelli sat with Jerry Malitz of Chevy Chase News and Notes (link below) to reflect on his 13-year run with the restaurant. He mentions the numerous grants, pandemic-era relief programs, and many community events that helped him pull through difficult years as a business owner, but also articulates what we see so frequently in our work here at District Bridges: that small businesses are still suffering in a post-pandemic economy. Read the full interview via the link below. https://lnkd.in/ekW2MVEY

"Man... all these love stories from our neighborhoods keep getting great engagement on social media! I wish there was a way to document them more meaningfully and have a place for folks to submit their story and celebrate their love of their neighborhood!" (Spongebob voice) 1 month later..... I give you: Love Your Neighborhood with District Bridges! 😍 A new webpage devoted to collecting and highlighting stories of love in our communities, and a brand new line of merch highlighting our obsession with our DC neighborhoods! ❤️ I'm so excited to launch this new campaign and have the opportunity to interact with so many heartwarming stories. With everything going on in DC right now, this is the perfect "touch grass" reminder that our communities are filled with love. https://lnkd.in/ejeCQy_f

Why do we provide small business technical assistance, put on free community events, and strive to connect our neighbors to resources? Because we want people to LOVE where they live! Proposals at restaurants, becoming best friends with a gym buddy, bringing your kids to a toy store you used to go to as a child- these experiences add so much meaning to our daily lives! While stories of community connection aren’t often deemed newsworthy, the folks at District Bridges want to take a moment and celebrate how small businesses and community events enhance our experiences in our neighborhoods. Our “Love Your Neighborhood” Campaign features stories of love and connection from the 7 neighborhoods we work in, and has exclusive limited edition merchandise like bucket hats, tshirts, and stickers, so you can show your neighborhood spirit. https://lnkd.in/exDEzQNX