Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities —a DC Bar Foundation grantee partner—is dedicated to being a force for change in the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families, so they can succeed, thrive, and experience full membership in the community. Their values are rooted in people, family, and support, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have a sense of respect, belonging, value, and can shape their own lives. In this Q&A with Keri Flora

As we close out 2025, I am reflecting on the successes that the Foundation and the DC legal services community accomplished this year, while also acknowledging that we were presented with challenges that made us feel uncertain, unsettled, and perhaps even scared.     Even when times feel heavy and hard, I believe there are glimpses of hope and inspiration that help keep us going. For my final letter of 2025, I’m sharing with you some of the reflections, quotes, and resources

Read the Latest Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program Report The Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (CLCPP) is a grant initiative administered by the DC Bar Foundation, aimed at providing legal assistance to low-income DC residents at risk of eviction or losing housing subsidies.   The latest Biannual CLCPP report evaluates the programs, activities, and outcomes during the reporting period from January to June 2025. In this period, CLCPP partners closed nearly 1,700 cases, 9

Mark your calendar; Giving Tuesday is fast approaching! On Tuesday, December 2nd, people worldwide will come together to make a positive impact in their local communities by donating to their favorite nonprofit organizations. We hope you will help us reach our $7,500 fundraising goal by adding the DC Bar Foundation to the list of organizations you plan to support this Giving Tuesday.   The donations we receive through Giving Tuesday provide critical, unrestricted grants to le

Rising for Justice  (RFJ)—a DCBF Grantee Partner—is a leader in training social justice advocates and representing clients with low income in matters critical to their well-being. Part of its mission is to prevent injustices today, build a better tomorrow, and ensure justice always. As part of that, their clinics and programs help and empower DC’s most vulnerable residents.   In this Q&A, Chijioke Akamigbo, executive director of Rising for Justice, talks about some of the wor

The 2025 Walk for Justice 5K is now behind us, but the joy and excitement that we collectively experienced that day remain with me. The Walk is becoming one of my favorite events of the year because we get to bring together our local community, colleagues, and family for a purpose that is far bigger than all of us. A similar sentiment was shared in feedback the DCBF staff received the day after the event: “Thank you for hosting such a meaningful and beautifully paced Walk for

Nominations for the DC Access to Justice Commission Due Oct. 31 The DC Access to Justice Commission was established in 2005 by the DC Court of Appeals with the responsibility of "assuring high-quality access for low- and moderate-income residents and others in the District of Columbia, who suffer disparate access barriers to the civil justice system, and with raising the profile in our community of the need for equal access to justice." Nominations for a three-year appointmen

The DC Bar Foundation invites you to join us on Tuesday, November 18, for our annual Fall Reception. This year’s reception will be held at the Foundation’s offices (200 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Second Floor) from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.   Each Fall, the DC Bar Foundation gathers with members of DC’s civil legal aid community to celebrate a year of work dedicated to ensuring access to justice for all District residents.   We look forward to highlighting the Foundation’s recent initiati

Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP)—a DC Bar Foundation grantee partner—provides free civil legal services to District residents with low income in a number of different service areas, including consumer law, housing law, family law, and domestic violence. While they work across many areas, their housing law practice is the largest, and they represent individuals and families. NLSP has a rich 60-year history, and they have witnessed tremendous growth in its programs an

The graphic above seems so simple. But it represents a significant moment in the history of our legal aid community. If I knew how to set up this newsletter so that a drumroll played when you open it, I would. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE HAVE ONE PHONE NUMBER THAT DC RESIDENTS CAN CALL FOR LEGAL HELP. Full stop. Deep breath. And a prayer of thanks for the many who made this moment possible. Over the years, I have shared many of the DC Resource Bridge ’s milestones, the lates