HUONG CAO

571-699-8779 • Hcao4@masonlive.gmu.edu • CaoHuongPR.weebly.com • @HCaoMason

From: Huong Cao

To: Ad 2 DC Public Services Committee
Research on potential partnerships for client Washington Parks & People
October 10, 2018

Summary
Below are a few potential businesses and organizations that Washington Parks & People can work with. Because
Washington Parks & People has multiple locations, so my first step was using Google to locate local businesses,
organizations, and foundations near each park’s (zip code).

When I evaluate which businesses can be good partners, I try to think of what the client could provide for its
partners and the benefits that client could gain when cooperating with them, and only include mutually beneficial
partnership opportunities.

In the middle of my research, I came across a report about Partnership for Parks, published by the Lila Wallace-
Reader’s Digest Fund and the Urban Institute. According to page 15 of this report, a number of groups united
around common interests make natural constituents on which to build park partnerships include: civic culture,
community-building, environmentalism, historic preservation, and national history. I think it’s better to locate
potential partnerships by using this idea.

I would truly appreciate any feedback on my research (am I on the right track or should I have looked into
something else). I am working on finding more opportunities and my next step would be looking at environmental
organizations, civic groups, and historic preservation places such as museums, cultural organizations...as well as
looking at local businesses near other locations.

Local business near Meridian Hill Park

Inner Glow Circle
• Inner Glow Circle (IGC) is a coach training and personal branding company for women. The company helps
women start their own businesses.
• Social media: ~3600 Facebook followers, 11.6K Instagram followers
• Address: 13th St NW 20010 Washington, District of Columbia
• Founders: Katie Depaola
o Contact: Katie@innerglowcircle.com
• The client could help the business organize a free coaching class (they used to offer free masterclass) for
local female residents near Meridian Hill Park. While I initially think that the Park often ties to the image of
children and family, I also think that the park may become a place that local residents like going to because
they can relax and learn new things, skills or knowledge.

YogaWorks
• YogaWorks provides yoga programs remain authentic to ancient yoga tradition while tackling modern
challenges.
• Social media: 78K Facebook followers, 150K Twitter followers, 80K Instagram followers
• They are not really a local small business but they have a location near Meridian Hill Park (2301 ½ 14th
Street, NW D.C. 20009), maybe they could give a free yoga class for local residents in the park. This will give
help them attract more local members, while turning the part into a relaxing space for local residents.
• Contact: Jean Fontana, Investors Relations, at 646-277-1200 or IR@yogaworks.com

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington (BGCGW)

• BGCGW offers accessible and affordable after-school time programming to children and teens in
Washington, MD and Northern VA.
 • Social media: 2,270 Facebook followers, 2,115 Twitter followers
• This club offers many programs for youths, so I think the client can partner with them by providing event
space for their youth activities. In return, the client can reach more youth and parent volunteers.
o Jelleff Boys & Girls Club is a club that belongs to BGCGW and the nearest location to Meridian Hill
Park
o 3265 S St NW Washington DC 20007 2945
o Phone:202-462-1317
• Their activities and programs include:
o Health & Life skills programs:
 Passport to Manhood: Passport to Manhood promotes and teaches responsibility in Club boys
ages 11 to 14. Passport to Manhood consists of 14 sessions, each concentrating on a specific
aspect of character and manhood through highly interactive activities.
 SMART Girls: An outgrowth of the popular and effective SMART Moves program, SMART Girls
is a health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program for girls
ages 8 to 17.
 Healthy Habits: A Triple Play Program: Designed to incorporate healthy living and active
learning in every part of the Club experience, Healthy Habits emphasizes good nutrition,
regular physical activity and improving overall well-being.
o Sports Fitness & Creation
 Triple Play: a comprehensive health and wellness program, strives to improve the overall
health of Club members ages 6-18 by increasing their daily physical activity, teaching them
good nutrition and helping them develop healthy relationships.
 Sports Leagues: A variety of sports leagues including basketball, soccer flag football, running
etc. Sports leagues emphasize healthy competition, teamwork and sportsmanship. Visit the
Club pages to find out which sports are offered at your local Club.
o Summer Camp
 The clubs offer educational summer programs designed to prevent summer learning loss.
Summer camp programs focus on S.T.E.M. programming to help youth, ages 5-13, maintain
and enhance math and reading skills in a safe and fun environment.
• Contact: Marya Kawmy at 202-540-2328 or mkawmy@bgcgw.org.

The Carlyle Group

• The Carlyle Group is a is a global alternative asset manager with $210 billion of assets under management
across 335 investment vehicles as of June 30, 2018. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on
behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions.
• Social media: 2, 926 Facebook followers, 28.9K Twitter followers, 695 Instagram followers
• They have actively participated in community activities such as volunteering with local non-profit DC Green
to work in their K Street Farm, supporting Community of Hope DC to pack and deliver 1,200 student
backpacks, and volunteering with Rock Creek Conservancy. As they are open to community activities, I think
there are potential opportunities for volunteer recruitment.
• Contact: I am not sure about who to reach out, but maybe we can contact Lori R. Sabet, the Managing
Director and Carlyle’s Chief Human Resources Officer, as she oversees Carlyle’s Global Human Resources
team, which is responsible for employee engagement activities. If you think this could be a good
opportunity, I am happy to look more into this.
Sitar Arts Center
• Sitar Arts Center provides after-school, weekend and summer classes in the visual arts, music, drama, dance,
digital arts and creative writing to 900 students a year.
• Social media: ~ 2000 Facebook followers, ~1650 Twitter followers
• List of partners
• As their arts programs include dancing, music, and drama, I think our client can offer this center event space
if they organize music or dance events. These events could gather youths and parents, so this partnership
opportunity brings the client more exposure and enhances client’s image in the community.
• Contact: Essence Newhoff, Senior Director of Development at 202.797.2145 x101 or
essence@sitarartscenter.org
Local businesses near Josephine Butler Parks Center
Neighborhood Development Company
• Neighborhood Development Company (NDC) is a closely held and vertically integrated real estate
development company.
• Social media: 518 Facebook followers, 291 Twitter followers, 95 Instagram followers
• Their vision is to remain a company that builds communities with style and substance to meet the needs of
every market we serve. Their mission is to develop exciting residential and commercial properties that
cultivate vibrant communities.
• As NDC focuses on community development, they can become a partner supporting the client projects.
Partnering with us also provides them with opportunities to network with local residents, which I think is
necessary, especially when they are in the real estate.
• Contact: Karen McClurg, Director of Administration at 202.567.3204 or
kmcclurg@neighborhooddevelopment.com

Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

• This is a non-profit organization that provides pro bono legal services to address discrimination and
entrenched poverty in the Washington, DC community.
• Social media: 1,278 Facebook followers, 1,647 Twitter followers
• As parks can become a place that connects people and brings power to local community, some of the
projects that this organization carries out are relevant to the idea that the client tries to get across. For
example:
o Immigrant & Refugee Rights (IRR) Project
• Community Outreach – To prevent further exploitation and abuse of immigrants and refugees,
the IRR Project partners with community-based organizations to raise greater awareness of
housing and employment rights among immigrant groups. The Project staff provides “Know Your
Rights” presentations at various community centers in the D.C. area, and encourages victims of
discrimination and harassment to report any of these violations to the authorities.
• The client could offer them a space to educate local residents as well as the public about
discrimination and harassment among immigrants and refugees.
• Public Education Project
o This organization partners with a lot of law firms and DC public schools, so if the client
supports its public education project by providing them with event space for their activities
and annual events, client can also reach more volunteers (parents, law firms - potential
sponsors, and youths).
• Contact: Gregg Kelley, Director of Development and Communications at gregg_kelley@washlaw.org