The Downtown Cluster of Congregation's founded a community loan fund, Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif). We are currently the largest single investor. Click Here for more information about Wacif.

• DC church leaders demand action to fix bike lane barrier blocking accessible entrance
  NBC4 Washington 6/17/2024
• Downtown DC grapples with widespread streetlight outages amid rising crime concerns
  ABC7 News 6/3/2024
• St. Patrick's Day mass shooting in NW DC sparks scrutiny of unlit streetlights
  WJLA 10/20/2024
• Surging crime leads Columbia Heights Safeway to boost security and install gates
  WJLA 2/5/2024
• Jack Evans is back on D.C. stage four years after scandal forced him to quit
  Washington Post 1/29/2024
• A funding dispute could cost D.C. 65 new units of affordable housing
  Washington Post 9/27/2023
• DC resident raises red flags about violent crimes in areas with burned out streetlights
  WJLA 8/24/2023
• To help deter crime, a DC nonprofit wants to keep the lights on
  wtop 8/15/2023
• Street, School and Park Lights Out in Adams Morgan
  Washington Informer 8/9/2023
• SEE IT: Bowser holds Public Safety Summit to address violent crime in DC
  WJLA 5/10/2023
• DC Addresses Broken Street Lights in High-Crime Areas
  NBC4 Washington 3/25/2023
• Walmart Store Closure in Downtown D.C. Generates Concern
  Washington Informer 3/8/2023
• We Want Them Fixed': Group Calls Attention to Streetlight Outages in Northwest DC
  NBC4 Washington 3/7/2023
• Group Calls on DC to Fix Dozens of Streetlight Outages
  NBC4 Washington 3/6/2023
• D.C. Churches Challenged But Not Giving Up, Working for Affordable Housing
  The Washington Informer 1/25/2023
• DC looks to hire more officers to address rise in illegally parked cars
  ABC7 News 1/23/2023
• As election nears, D.C. s mayor looks ahead to an expected 3rd term
  Washington Post 10/30/2022
• D.C. AG reaches $10 million settlement with firms in housing discrimination suit
  NPR 10/21/2022
• DC real estate companies to pay $10M in 'historic' housing discrimination settlement
  WJLA 10/20/2022
• D.C. wins historic $10 million in housing voucher discrimination case
  Washington Post 10/20/2022
• Former DC Deputy Mayor Chris Geldart assault charge court hearing set for Dec. 8
  WJLA 10/17/2022
• 'It was bullying.' Gym trainer speaks out on confrontation with DC Deputy Mayor Geldart
  WJLA 10/6/2022
• A survey was meant to help the homeless. Some say it hurts Black people.
  Washington Post 5/18/2022
• Residents seek answers after 25+ cars hit in tire slashing spree in Northwest DC
  WJLA 8/3/2022
• DC Wawa store closed, residents suspect ongoing shoplifting, violence as reason
  WJLA 6/7/2022
• A survey was meant to help the homeless. Some say it hurts Black people.
  Washington Post 5/18/2022
• The annual Blue Mass honoring fallen law enforcement officers
  Heather Graf @Heather7News. 5/3/2022
• Fallen officers, first responders honored at St. Patrick's 'Blue Mass' on Tuesday
  WJLA 5/2/2022
• Corporate naming raises concerns in D.C.
  Axios Washington D.C. 2/3/2022
• The first Christmas as a layperson: Burned out by the pandemic, many clergy quit in the past year
  Washington Post 12/24/2021
• Some Religious Holiday Services Change With Rising COVID-19 Infections
  NBC4 Washington 12/24/2021
• As Bowser launches reelection bid, her high-profile appointee is under fire
  Washington Post 11/8/2021
• 'We are prepared': Police hope for calm but plan for violence at Justice for J6 rally
  Fox Baltimore 9/17/2021
• Ahead of right-wing rally, Washington DC churches ask for extra police protection
  Washington Post 9/17/2021
• 'We are prepared': Police hope for calm but plan for violence at Justice for J6 rally
  WJLA 9/17/2021
• Some DC Neighbors Concerned About Justice for J6 Rally
  NBC4 Washington 9/17/2021
• 'An all-hands-on-deck situation' | DC church group calls for special precautions ahead of Justice for J6 protest
  WUSA9 9/10/2021
• Proud Boys leader Henry Enrique Tarrio sentenced to five months in jail
  Washington Post 8/23/2021
• Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio pleads guilty in burning of Black Lives Matter banner in D.C.
  Washington Post 7/19/2021
• Four historic African American churches receive preservation grant
  Religion News Service 7/15/2021
• D.C. motorcade celebrates role of Black fathers on Father s Day
  Washington Post 6/20/2021
• Full House scheduled to vote Thursday on D.C. statehood
  Washington Post 4/16/2021
• From the filibuster to DC statehood, clergy rally around a growing voting rights agenda
  RNS 4/16/2021
• 'Congregations see it as a necessity' | DMV places of worship, faith groups can apply for federal grants for security
  WUSA9 4/8/2021
• With vaccinations rising, religious groups see hope on horizon as major holidays approach
  Washington Post 3/24/2021
• Fencing Around St. John's Episcopal Church Removed
  NBC4 Washington 3/1/2021
• 'It is a new day' | Fencing removed from around historic St. John's Church after 8 months
  WUSA9 3/1/2021
• Fencing around St. John s has been taken down.
  Popville 3/1/2021
• Fencing Comes Down At St. John s Church, Lafayette Park, After Nearly Nine Months
  DCist 3/1/2021
• 'We believe in the science': DC officials tap pastors to overcome racial divide on vaccine
  WJLA 2/21/2021
• Biden attends mass at St. Matthew the Apostle ahead of inauguration
  WUSA9 1/5/2021
• 'They've asked for increased police coverage' | President Trump rallies bring concerns for DC churches
  WUSA9 1/5/2021
• National Guard to assist DC police at pro-Trump demonstrations, businesses board up again
  WJLA 1/5/2021
• D.C. houses of worship beef up security as Trump defenders descend on D.C.
  The Washington Post 1/4/2021
• Churches Call For Extra Security Ahead of Protests After BLM Signs Destroyed
  NBC4 Washington 1/1/2021
• Out with the old, in with the few: The pandemic has changed New Year's Eve
  The Washington Post 12/31/2020
• Trump has helped keep the flames of hatred alive. It s up to us to make sure the flames go out.
  The Washington Post 12/14/2020
• Opinions | The vandalism of D.C.'s Black churches is sickening. It must be prosecuted.
  The Washington Post 12/14/2020
• Historic D.C. Black churches attacked during pro-Trump rallies Saturday
  The Washington Post 12/13/2020
• Chinatown Friendship Arch restoration is complete
  WDVM/WDCW 11/19/2020
• D.C.'s iconic Chinatown Friendship Arch has been restored
  WJLA 11/18/2020
• Controversy over plan to replace, remove trees
  ABC7 News 8/13/2020
• Activist group to National Park Service: don't remove healthy, mature 100+ year old trees
  WJLA 8/13/2020
• The Downtown Cluster of Congregations celebrates the exemplary life of Congressman John Lewis. "More than a Congressman, he was a prophet for America", says Terry Lynch, Executive Director. "His life's work is not just a history lesson on making America a more just and equitable place, but a roadmap we must follow going forward. Godspeed Brother John."

• Statement by Rev. Rob Fisher of St. John's Church, Lafayette Square

  We at St. John's Church were shocked at the surprise visit from the President this evening and even more appalled at the violent clearing of Lafayette Square to make the visit possible. St. John's is a community that welcomes all-from powerful presidents to the homeless-to worship God. We fully espouse the words of our Baptismal Covenant, which says, in part, that we "will strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being."

  Living that covenant, we stand with those peacefully protesting the tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd, and the far too many who came before him.

  We pray that our nation finally confronts its history of racism and, as a result, can fully embrace the peace of God that passes all understanding.

  https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Reflection--A-Statement-from-St--John-s.html?soid=1103211030371&aid=5dYRY4D6K-g

  In faith,
  Rob

• Mayor Bowser s budget is an example of pragmatic politics
  The DC Line 5/21/2020
• Coronavirus inspires new look in retail: Boarded-up storefronts
  Washington Post 3/30/2020
• Homeless Man Woke Up on Fire in Mt. Pleasant; Arson Investigation Underway
  NBC4 Washington 3/4/2020
• Advocacy group hopes to turn vacant properties in DC into affordable housing
  WJLA 2/26/2020
• 'This has got to be a wake-up call': Community reacts to fatal shooting near Gallery Place
  WJLA 2/14/2020
• Churches Moving Out to Make Way for Condos
  ABC7 News 12/11/2019
• I m heartbroken : Congregants prepare to vacate historic church once attended by Teddy Roosevelt
  Washington Post 12/8/2019
• DC to remove graffiti, replace signs; complaint sent listing over 300 affected locations
  WJLA 12/6/2019

• The Downtown Cluster of Congregations joins Baltimore, Maryland, and the country in mourning the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings.

  "Death will not diminish his greatness", says Terry Lynch, Executive Director. "Indeed, it will surely inspire others to do more, as Rep. Cummings would have wanted. God Speed Elijah", he said.

• The District's Office of Unified Communications is a Trailblazer
  8/1/2019
• Press Statement: Executive Director Calls on President to Act In Response To His Tweets Slamming Baltimore and Rep. Elijah Cummings
  8/1/2019
• UDC criticized for inviting Josh Lopez, tarnished by anti-Semitism scandal, to speak
  Washington Post 2/20/2019