The DC Metropolitan Police Department Beat the Streets Summer Event family (“Street Beats”) brings DC businesses and community-based organizations to provide resources and services to underserved communities in DC. Tzedek DC was proud to deepen our partnership with Street Beats in the summer of 2023.
This year, the Street Beats series included ten events, drawing an estimated 13,500+ people cumulatively. Tzedek DC staff, with leadership by Tzedek DC team member Stephen Jefferson, Sr., supported the events with tents, flyers, “Know Your Rights” information, water, and real-time consults for community members on credit, credit reports, and protecting your legal and financial rights. Hundreds of community members engaged with these materials, asked questions and got answers from Tzedek DC staff at the tables.
Stephen Jefferson, Sr., who serves as Tzedek DC’s Community Outreach Coordinator, said, “It’s truly a blessing to be a part of the MPD Street Beats family. This year was especially a blessing because a lot of DC residents didn’t realize that Tzedek DC is legal help for people in debt and other consumer-related issues, and to see the look of hope in the eyes and on the faces of the people who visited our table is priceless and a game changer. Because of our presence at these events, we have been invited to table at events hosted by DC Councilmembers’ offices, ANC members, Manage Care Organizations (MCO), Churches, Community Based Organizations (CBO), and other DC Government Agencies throughout the city. It’s a humbling feeling when you can bless others so they will have what they need to move on.”
Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC’s Founding President and Director-Counsel, said, “We are grateful to the leaders at MPD and fellow nonprofits for the partnerships in this outreach work and to our outstanding colleague Stephen Jefferson for leading our successful efforts to get the word out to residents on key credit and related information on tools available to DC community members.”