2023 Eat Well, Do Justice!® Recap

Last week, Tzedek DC held our seventh annual Eat Well, Do Justice!® celebration. We are enormously grateful for the outpouring of support reflected at the event, which helped us raise over $403,000—and still counting!—in support of our justice mission over the course of a fun, substantive, and tasty evening. A huge thank you to all who made the evening, the second back in person after a two-year hiatus, a special one!

The program kicked off with a video compilation of features from previous Eat Well, Do Justice events, including past years’ messages from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, then-Attorney General Karl Racine, and DC Councilmembers Robert White and Brianne Nadeau. Tzedek DC’s Board Chair Rachel Kronowitz delivered welcoming remarks.

Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman spoke about our work, including our financial counselor program and our new Youth Empowerment Program with UDC Community College and other partners. He and Associate Director Sarah Hollender presented Volunteer Senior Advisor Janet Lowenthal with our inaugural Volunteer Service Award. CNN Anchor and Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash also sent in her words of support virtually from New York City, where she had been called away for her day job!

The five stellar chefs, recruited by Honorary Chair Bonnie Benwick, stole the show that evening, however, each with their own unique creations. Maurice Dixon of Reese’s Catering showcased an inspired Sweet Potato Soul Roll, Jerome Grant of Mahal Afro-Filipino BBQ fame (among other accomplishments) highlighted local ingredients with a Mushroom and Walnut Lumpia, Katherine Thompson of Thompson Italian provided the perfect end-of-summer dish in the form of a Sweet Corn Tortellini with Aleppo Butter and Chives, and Padua Player, the SugaChef himself, brought in the dessert with Caramel Apple Profiteroles.

Even though it may feel like picking your favorite child, as moderator Laura Kumin noted, one stuffed creation shone especially! The Sweet Potato Puchka with a Kokum Shot on the side from Rahul Vinod & Sahil Rahman of RASA won the judges’ hearts and took home the evening’s well-deserved victory.

We are especially grateful to guest judges Doron Azrad and Rachell Bitton, owners of Kosher Sustenance, and Donna Henry of Soup Up, cumulatively co-winners of Eat Well, Do Justice 2022: Soup for the Soul! We are also grateful to Congressman Glenn Ivey (a former Tzedek DC volunteer lawyer!), who generously supported the event with his name but was held up in debates at the nearby Capitol.

The event was skillfully co-chaired by Annie Binder, Laura Kumin, June Kress, and Nina Simon. The Host Committee and Sponsors were also instrumental in the evening’s success. For those who were unable to attend, links to the recap video, as well as Dana Bash’s remarks, are available above. In addition, you can check out this great story about the event in DC Bar by reporter Jeremy Conrad!

As announced at the event, gifts to Tzedek DC this month are being matched thanks to the extraordinary generosity of several anonymous donors. The match extends up to $18,000 and has not yet closed. Please consider donating now to double the impact of your gift!

As in past years, this Eat Well, Do Justice event sold out days before the event. Make sure to secure your tickets for EWDJ 2024 when they become available next summer!

Pro Bono Training on October 16!

Debt-related legal crises for residents with low incomes are a major, persistent problem in DC that, with legal counsel, can be avoided altogether—with success rates above 90%—or settled on terms that protect the client. For example, legal representation can be instrumental in cases involving insufficient proof by the collector, mistaken identity, when the amount claimed is wrong, when the debt has already been paid, or when the debt is too old to be collected under the governing law. Additionally, debt collection practices are shaped by decades of oppressive policies that target persons of color. Therefore, debt is not only an economic issue, but a civil rights issue.

In response to these issues, Tzedek DC offers direct legal services at no cost to low-income and working-class DC residents with debt- and consumer-related legal issues. We are able to provide legal assistance free of charge through our partnerships with the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, community groups, and individual lawyers and law firms from the DC private bar.

Join Tzedek DC for a training on October 16 from 3:30-5:00 PM to help us meet this increase in demand for legal help and to learn about Tzedek DC’s work and the nuts and bolts of taking a case.  This training will be presented in hybrid fashion via Zoom and in person at the DC office of Paul Hastings, LLP at 2050 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20036.

This presentation overviews the steps that are taken at Tzedek DC from client intake to trial in DC Superior Court, including crucial information regarding debt collection laws, statements of claim, and specific statutes of limitations. Additionally, we will outline the assignment process for pro bono volunteers at Tzedek DC and additional aid that can be given to clients. See a matter through from intake to completion in about a total of 15 hours (on average) over a few months.

You can register by emailing Tzedek DC’s Pro Bono Coordinator A.J. Huber at ah@tzedekdc.org.  When you register, please let us know whether you would like to attend in person or remotely.  In person seats are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.  Although attending the training is a requirement for taking a pro bono case with Tzedek DC, taking the training does not obligate anyone to take a pro bono case.

We hope to see you there!

DMV Back-To-School Events & Resources

Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents facing debt-related problems. DMV agencies and community organizations have planned a series of back-to-school events from August to September and are inviting students, families, and educators to participate. These events provide financial, supplies, and information-related support to families gearing up for the return to school.

Make sure to mark your calendars!

DYRS Back to School Celebration

Join the Department of Human Services Youth Services Division for a DYRS Back to School Celebration that is free for all ages. The event will include free giveaways, food, free school supplies, live DJs, a game truck, ice cream, a bounce house, 360 camera, free haircuts, and games and prizes. For more information, contact Quyen Nguyen at quyen.nguyen@dc.gov.

  • When: Wednesday, August 16, 12 pm – 4 pm

  • Where: The ARC (1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020)

  • Register to attend

DCPS Back-to-School Information Session

Join Chancellor Ferebee and DC Public Schools leadership for a webinar to learn important updates on the coming school year. Topics include student health, safety, academics, early childhood, attendance, and more!

Multilingual Learner Institute

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education invites District educators to attend this annual event to learn and share best practices for supporting multilingual learners. Registration is required to attend.

  • When: Thursday, August 17, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

  • Where: Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University (800 Florida Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002)

  • Register to attend

Public Safety Back-to-School Event

Join the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice for the 6th annual back-to-school event featuring a book bag and school supplies giveaway, food, games, and more.

  • When: Thursday, August 17, 2 pm – 7 pm

  • Where: Columbia Heights Educational Campus (3101 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20010)

9th Annual Chuck Brown Day

Chuck Brown Day commemorates the life legacy and music of DC legend and the Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown. Every year, the celebration features musical performances by the Chuck Brown Band and others. The Chuck Brown Foundation will be giving out free backpacks for the kids. This year’s Chuck Brown Day will be bigger, better, and more cranking.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 2 pm – 7 pm

  • Where: Fort DuPont Park (Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019)

Community and Resource Day

Join the Community Crisis Services, Inc. and Christian Life Center along with their partners for free groceries, community resources, and school supplies.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 11 am – 2 pm

  • Where: Tanglewood Park (rear side of Fletchers Field, 5567 Tanglewood Dr, Riverdale, MD 20737)

Back-to-School Drive & Jacob’s Ladder Technology Center Grand Opening

300 backpacks with school supplies and non-perishable food items will be given out by the Jacob's Ladder Youth Foundation, with refreshments from Dunkin’ Donuts.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 12 pm – when supplies last

  • Where: 11418 Livingston Rd, Fort Washington, MD 20744

Back 2 School Supply Drive

The 9th annual school supply drive is being presented by DMV Road 2 Success.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 1:30 pm – while supplies last

  • Where: Look Fabulous Unisex Hair Salon (2203 Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020)

  • To qualify, the child must be present and accompanied by an adult

7th Mega Health Fair

Join Redeemers Church of Christ and American Diversity Group for back-to-school giveaways, free food, and free screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, EKG, eye exams, mammogram, mental health, pain management, weight management, and dental. For more details, call (240) 929-6185 or email info@redeemerschapel.org.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 10 am – 2 pm

  • Where: Redeemers Church of Christ (10001 Aerospace Rd, Lanham, MD 20706)

Ward 8 Back 2 School Backpack Giveaway & Family Fun Day

Join Councilmember Trayvon White for a fun-filled day of activities such as moon bouncing, haircuts and styling, face painting, concessions, food, and arts and crafts. For more information, call (202) 724-8045 or email jjessie@dccouncil.gov.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 12 pm – 4 pm

  • Where: Gateway Pavilion DC (2700 MLK Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032)

  • Register to attend (Must show proof of Ward 8 residency to attend)

5th Annual Free School Supplies Giveaway

Join the Rock for Life Foundation's annual school supply giveaway in honor of Sterling "Rocky" Parker II. Contact Ms. Dhyana Parker at (240) 719-1644 or rockforlife@yahoo.com for details.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 12 pm – 3 pm (or until supplies last)

  • Where: Iverson Mall (3737 Branch Ave, Temple Hills, MD 20748)

Missionary Ministry Annual Drive Thru Backpack Giveaway

Join First Baptist Church of Highland Park's backpack giveaway event for students from Pre-K to college. Students must be present in the car to be eligible.

  • When: Saturday, August 19, 11 am – 1 pm

  • Where: First Baptist Church of Highland Park (6801 Sheriff Rd, Landover, MD 20785)

Back-to-School Giveaway

Join Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative for a half-day event with free food, health exams, games, music, raffles for new balance shoes, and community resources. For more information, reach out to the event host via (202) 889-1425, @Farsecollab, or www.fsfsc.org.

  • When: Wednesday, August 23, 1 pm – 5 pm

  • Where: Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative (4301 9th St SE, Washington, DC 20032)

End of Summer Back-to-School Event

Join the Department of Parks and Recreation for getting ready for another successful school year, with a giveaway of school supplies, amusements, refreshments, music, and more.

  • When: Thursday, August 24, 12 pm – 4 pm

  • Where: Ridge Road Community Center (830 Ridge Rd SE, Washington, DC 20019)

Back 2 School Event with DYRS

Meet with DYRS staff, community agencies, and local schools to enroll in the upcoming school year and build a support network. The event will include free backpacks, school supplies, hygiene items, school uniforms, haircuts, resources, food, and games. To learn more, contact the program manager Janay Williams by email at janay.williams2@dc.gov or by phone at (202) 330-2370.

  • When: Friday, August 25, 12 pm – 5 pm

  • Where: The Fields at RFK Campus, Pavilion A&B (401 Oklahoma Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019)

Soles4scholars School Drive

Join Bullard Academy for free school supplies, food, moon bounce games and much more. During the back-to-school celebration, students accompanied by an adult will receive one pair of shoes each. For further details, please send a direct message or an email to bullardacademyinc@gmail.com. 

  • When: Friday, August 25, 5 pm – 8 pm

  • Where: Landover Police Station (7600 Barlowe Rd Landover, MD 20785)

Ward 6 #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash

Join Serve Your City DC and Ward 6 Mutual Aid Back for the new school year kickoff event! Get a backpack filled with supplies and a digital device. Register for tutoring and youth programs, get help with school paperwork, and get vaccinated. Lots of resources are available, so don't miss it!

  • When: Saturday, August 26, 11 am – 4 pm

  • Where: Eastern Market Metro Plaza (701 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003)

  • Request backpack (backpacks must be requested in advance)

Back-to-School Backpack Drive with Free Kids Haircuts

Join the Alpha Sigma Chapter's Back to School Backpack Drive & Block Party. Get free book bags, school supplies, haircuts, food, and music.

  • When: Saturday, August 26, 11 am – 1 pm   

  • Where: 5100 Block of Brooks & Blaine St NE, Washington, DC 20019

  • Register to attend (must register in Eventbrite in order to get a book bag or haircut, and child must be present to receive backpack)

Annual Community Day Health and Wellness Fair 2023

The DC Health Places of Worship Advisory Board, in partnership with Valley Avenue, is excited to present the 7th Annual Community Day Health and Wellness Fair. This Fair will provide community members with lots of free opportunities for food, friends, and fun, as well as free school supplies, vaccinations, and dental exams for children.

  • When: Saturday, August 26, 2 pm – 6 pm

  • Where: Oxon Run Park (1200 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032)

  • Register to attend

Shepherd Park Welcome Back Party

Join the Department of Parks and Recreation for a welcome back to school party for community members.

  • When: Wednesday, September 27, 3:30 pm – 6 pm

  • Where: Shepherd Park Community Center (7800 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20012)

Afterschool in the City 2023

Join Deputy Mayor for Education’s Out of School Time Office, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and other partners for the opportunity to hear about various opportunity available for youth during the school year.

  • When: Saturday, September 9, 11 am – 2 pm

  • Where: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017)

  • Register to attend

DCPS Back-to-School Block Party

Join the DC Public Schools community for a DCPS Back to School Block Party. The event will include free food and fun activities, the ability to learn more about city resources, and will include student performances to celebrate the start of a new school year with families and neighbors.

  • When: Saturday, September 23, 11 am – 2 pm

  • Where: McKinley Tech High School (151 T St NE, Washington, DC 20002)

  • Register to attend

To stay informed about upcoming events pertaining to your child's school community or additional uniform assistance, it's recommended that you reach out to your child's school.

Tzedek DC and Venable Secure Systemic Litigation Victory

Federal Court Lawsuit Leads to Policy Changes for DC Residents Seeking Drivers Licenses; Residents Who Brought Suit Receive Payments

In a step forward for fairness in DC’s fines and fees system, a 2022 federal court constitutional challenge brought by Tzedek DC and pro bono co-counsel at Venable LLP on behalf of DC resident clients has led to the DC Government agreeing to end its longstanding policy under the Clean Hands Law to automatically disqualify residents from obtaining or renewing a driver’s license as punishment for unpaid fines and fees of over $100. The District has announced that policy on the DMV website, https://dmv.dc.gov/, and in a DMV newsletter and social media post. 

In addition, Tzedek DC is pleased to announce that the DC Government agreed to reimburse a portion of Tzedek DC’s and Venable’s pro bono attorneys’ fees, and that families of the individual former plaintiffs in the case are each receiving up to $3,000 to help them pay off their fines and fees or otherwise stabilize their finances.

These results followed the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia’s December 2022 ruling in the case Parham v. District of Columbia. There, the Court ordered the DC government to immediately stop enforcing the Clean Hands Law against residents applying to obtain or renew a driver’s license while owing over $100 in fines or fees to the District.

In the case, Tzedek DC and Venable challenged the constitutionality of the District’s Clean Hands Law on behalf of a number of DC residents disqualified from obtaining driver’s licenses due to unpaid fines and fees. In granting the motion for a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found that our clients had demonstrated that they were likely to succeed in their argument that the law violated constitutional guarantees of due process because the District was automatically disqualifying individuals with no opportunity for a hearing. The Court found that they “are just some of the tens of thousands of DC residents who have been barred from receiving driver’s licenses under the Clean Hands Law.” Citing a report by the DC Council’s Office of Racial Equity, the Court noted that “ending the application of the Clean Hands Law to driver’s licenses will likely improve… [the] quality of life outcomes for Black residents who have a debt to the District government,” and will “mitigate the burden on D.C. residents with disabilities, those who lack stable housing, and those who are struggling to maintain steady employment.”

Carlotta Mitchell, one of the DC residents who shared her story and was a plaintiff in the case, said, “It's a new lease on life… I have had a permit and a driver's license since I was 16 years old. So when I was stripped of my driver's license, I felt empty. A sense of belonging had been taken away.”

Another plaintiff, Victor Hall, is a DC native and a veteran who served for 14 years as a reservist with the DC National Guard and in active duty as a sergeant with the U.S. Army. Due to the Clean Hands Law, Mr. Hall has faced daily hardships because he could not legally drive. He had to rely on friends or expensive rideshare services for rides to his medical and physical therapy appointments and to visit family members. Mr. Hall, who recently obtained a driver’s license and has begun a new job search, said, "I appreciate the [advocacy team’s] time and effort. There are a lot of people out there who need their driver's licenses."

Mr. Hall displaying his new driver’s license.

Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC's Founding President and Director-Counsel, said, “The Court’s ruling recognized and halted the unconstitutional impact that the Clean Hands law was having on DC residents’ ability to find and get to work, take care of loved ones, and manage their daily lives. We have been honored to represent these community members as they fought this fight and catalyzed change that benefits tens of thousands of DC residents burdened by fines and fees. The public owes them a debt of gratitude."

Public Advisory: A law that the DC Council passed in mid-2022 abolished the application of the Clean Hands Law to driver’s licenses, effective October 1, 2023. However, thanks to the Court’s ruling and the resulting settlement, the policy change has been made by the DC Government and has already taken full legal effect. Tzedek DC encourages DC residents who have been previously disqualified from obtaining their driver’s license due to fines and fees to apply to the DC DMV and to call us at 202-274-7386 with any questions.

DC Youth Free Meals Program

During the summer, children and teenagers under 18 years old can receive complementary meals at over 100 locations in DC. Here is a list of locations in your area for the youth meal program. Each DC ward has at least one location available for the program, which is currently in effect and will continue until August 27th, just before the start of school. The program is open to all DC children, and there are no identification or pre-registration requirements. Most sites distribute breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. Details vary by site, so be sure to check online before you go.

Additionally, if you are preparing for the upcoming school year, keep an eye out for back-to-school events happening in August and September. These events often distribute free school supplies, book bags, and food. Please be on the lookout for our upcoming newsletter, which will provide updated information to help you stay informed.

Tzedek DC’s Jennifer Holloway on CFPB Medical Debt Panel

On July 11, Jennifer Holloway, an Equal Justice Works Medical Debt Fellow at Tzedek DC, participated with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the National Consumer Law Center, Community Catalyst, and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy in a panel discussion with CFPB Director Rohit Chopra on the issue of medical debt and challenges faced by Americans when using certain high-interest and deferred-interest medical payment products. More than 100 million Americans owe medical debt, and Americans have paid more than $1 billion in deferred interest on medical credit cards, potentially on medical care that rightfully should have been covered by their insurance or offered at a reduced rate via charity care through the provider. 

Medical debt is both the largest category of debt in collections in the United States and the leading cause of bankruptcy, and community members of color in DC are, on average, 300 percent more likely than white residents to be burdened by medical debt. Medical debt not only impacts nearly one in three Americans financially but also affects their future ability to see a physician and receive healthcare. Medical debt can reduce credit scores, increasing the difficulty of renting an apartment, purchasing a vehicle, or even getting a job.

Jennifer, who leads Tzedek DC’s medical debt project, shared the challenges her DC resident clients have managing both their medical debt and their ongoing health and financial needs: “Clients can feel pressured into opening medical credit cards and are often unaware of the high rate of deferred interest, leading to bills that are much higher than anticipated and that they are unable to afford.” 

The CFPB, along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury, are seeking to understand more about medical billing and collections and the impacts medical payment products have on patients. These federal agencies are interested in a deeper understanding of the specialty medical payment product market, patient experiences and downstream consequences, billing and financial assistance issues, and healthcare provider incentives for offering such payment products. 

Comments are open on the Request for Information until September 11, 2023. 

About Tzedek DC 

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof, or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents. 

Tzedek DC Brings Constitutional Challenge Against DC’s Clean Hands Law

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Tzedek DC, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP have filed a constitutional challenge to the District of Columbia’s Clean Hands Law on behalf of workers punished by the law for unpaid debt to the DC Government by being disqualified from obtaining occupational and small business licenses.

DC’s Clean Hands Law violates the constitutional rights of financially distressed residents by automatically disqualifying them from occupational and small business licenses as punishment for unpaid fines or fees, the lawsuit says. In doing so, it deprives already distressed families of critical income, reinforces cycles of poverty, and exacerbates racial inequalities.

The suit is brought on behalf of seven individuals. Their stories are told in their sworn declarations, linked to at each of their names in the full story available at the link below.

This story has also been featured in NPR's All Things Considered and an accompanying written article in DCist, available here.

Tzedek DC and UDC Celebrate Renewed Partnership and Hiring of Three UDC Law Alums

Tzedek DC and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law are jointly celebrating both the formal renewal of their long-standing partnership and Tzedek DC’s recent hiring of three outstanding School of Law alums.

Elsie Daniels is a Staff Attorney at Tzedek DC who focuses on intakes and brief services. Since graduating from the School of Law in 2020, Elsie has worked in the areas of criminal, guardianship, estate planning, domestic relations, and consumer law. Elsie is also a Tzedek DC alum, having volunteered as a student with Tzedek DC starting in 2017 through law school and in 2018 as one of Tzedek DC’s first-ever summer law student interns. Elsie has a passion for helping people reach their financial goals; along with her work at Tzedek DC, Elsie also volunteers with the Financial Fortitude Committee of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Naji Mujahid Fenwick is a Staff Attorney leading Tzedek DC’s Disabilities Community Project. Naji was born and raised in the DC area and earned degrees from UDC for his undergraduate studies (2013) and from the School of Law (2016). Naji’s lived experiences, including as a person who is neurodivergent, bring an important lens to his disability work in DC. Prior to joining Tzedek DC, Naji worked as a Staff Attorney at Philadelphia Legal Assistance and as an Assistant Public Defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Before becoming an attorney, Naji was an activist-journalist in DC focused on issues of racism and injustice related to crime and punishment.

Melissa Millar joined as Tzedek DC’s first-ever Policy Director and is responsible for leading and facilitating Tzedek DC’s systemic and coalition work related to debt, credit, fines and fees, consumer rights, and related areas at the DC Council, Congress, and other government agencies. Since graduating from the School of Law in 2008, she has gained substantial experience with the legislative and executive branches of the DC government, including having served as the legislative and government affairs representative for DC’s Department of General Services, Legislative Counsel and Analyst for three different DC Council Committees, and Policy Director for Community of Hope.

“We’re thrilled to continue our wonderful partnership with Tzedek DC,” said Dr. Twinette Johnson, Dean of the School of Law. “Since Tzedek DC first launched in 2017 as a public interest center headquartered here, we have been proud to see many UDC students and alumni, including these three talented alums now working full-time at Tzedek DC, contributing to the group’s crucial work fighting for DC residents facing debt, credit, financial abuse, identity theft, and fines and fees-related problems.”

“We’re celebrating both the renewed partnership with the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law under Dean Johnson’s strong leadership and the arrival of these three outstanding colleagues,” said Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC’s Founding President & Director-Counsel. “We have enthusiastically recruited Elsie, Naji, and Melissa and are already seeing that they are terrific additions to our team.”

Tzedek DC Awarded $1M Health Equity Fund Policy Advocacy Grant

Tzedek DC is proud to announce a significant grant from the recently established Health Equity Fund, administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The four-year grant, totaling $1,000,000, will support Tzedek DC’s policy advocacy work to catalyze change in DC’s fines and fees and medical debt systems. The award marks the second multi-year grant that Tzedek DC has been awarded; in October 2022, the Health Equity Fund committed $400,000 of funding across two years to support our work addressing the structural and social determinants of health by targeting DC’s racial wealth gap. 

With this latest support, Tzedek DC’s systemic advocacy reform program will scale up to reform debt-related laws in DC that, in effect, criminalize poverty, impose disproportionate burdens on Black and Latino residents, and, by perpetuating DC’s vast racial wealth gaps, pose formidable roadblocks to health equity. 

Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC’s Founding President and Director-Counsel, said, “We are honored to be in a cohort with this extraordinary group of organizations and look forward to using this funding to implement systemic change in the District through our proven coalition-based advocacy approach.” 

“The Community Foundation is proud to support Tzedek DC through the Health Equity Fund,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “Their work to advocate for the reform of DC's medical debt and fines and fees systems is instrumental to addressing the social and structural determinants of health in DC.” 

About the Health Equity Fund

 The $95 million Health Equity Fund is designated to improve the health outcomes and health equity of residents of the District of Columbia. The historic fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Created against a backdrop of urgent healthcare needs in the District of Columbia, the Health Equity Fund will be used to address health disparities and social determinants of health for historically underserved District residents.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation was independently selected to manage the Health Equity Fund because of its track record of working with individual donors, businesses, and local government to manage effective community investments and create tangible, lasting change in the region. Health Equity Fund goals align with The Community Foundation’s ongoing work and 10-year strategic vision to close the racial wealth gap by eliminating the historic, racialized disparities in the Greater Washington region.

About Tzedek DC 

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof, or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

NPR Article and Podcast Feature Tzedek DC’s Medical Debt Work 

Tzedek DC was recently featured in an NPR/WAMU article and associated NPR All Things Considered podcast episode on medical debt. The pieces discuss Mayor Bowser’s recent commitment to invest District funds to allow for the cancelation of an estimated $80 million in medical debt for DC residents. 

“For so many, medical debt is not optional,” Tzedek DC’s Founding President & Director-Counsel, Ariel Levinson-Waldman, noted in the article. “Medical debt is a result of your health, and that’s not something we all control.” 

In the podcast clip at the top of the article and beginning at the 2:33 minute mark, he further elaborates on the medical debt as a racial justice and disability justice issue: “It's shouldered disproportionately by members of the disability community who are disproportionately from communities of color in DC.” 

The Mayor’s decision follows recent testimony by Tzedek DC to the DC Council highlighting medical debt and, along with allied organizations, urging swift action to improve the lives of some of the District’s most vulnerable residents. 

Spring Showers: Rainy Day Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a savings account where you set aside funds for an emergency, such as the loss of a job, an illness, or one of life’s many “what ifs.”

The biggest financial worry for most people is how to pay for unexpected emergencies. It's incredibly hard to avoid unexpected financial emergencies, so the best thing to do is to plan for them. When you have an emergency fund, you will not need to pay for emergencies with credit cards that are not in your spending plan.

Experts recommend saving three to six months of income for a rainy day fund. That can be intimidating, and we acknowledge that half of Americans have less than one month’s income saved for a rainy day, and one in three say they cannot cover a $400 emergency. The good news is that you can start small. Try opening a savings account with $50 or $100 and build your rainy day fund from there.

You may find that $400-$2,000 will cover the majority of minor crises, but costly emergencies may arise. These include situations like: 

  • A trip to the hospital emergency room

  • A surgery that maxes out your insurance

  • A sick pet

  • Your vehicle breaking down

  • Plumbing or electrical problems

  • Your electronics or home appliances need to be replaced

  • You get sick and miss time from work and have no paid time off

Your financial counselor may encourage saving as your single most important financial task! They adhere to the personal finance philosophy of “Pay Yourself First!” Think about it: If you earn the money, shouldn’t you be paid first? If you need assistance setting up a savings account for an emergency fund, reach out to your financial counselor for one-on-one help!

Volunteer Staff Attorney Josh Levin Named to Northwestern Law School Distinguished Alumni

Tzedek DC Volunteer Staff Attorney Josh Levin was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumni award from his alma mater, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The ceremony recognized his distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice and his current work with Tzedek DC. 

After a nearly three-decade career at DOJ, Josh joined Tzedek DC as a Volunteer Staff Attorney in 2019, after seeing a 2017 Washington Jewish Week article about Tzedek DC’s founding. Josh now co-leads Tzedek DC’s efforts on fines and fees reform. Thanks in significant part to Josh’s efforts, the DC government no longer enforces the Clean Hands Law against residents applying to obtain or renew a driver’s license while owing over $100 in fines or fees to the District. 

“Words cannot express how overjoyed and accomplished it makes me feel to finally have completed a milestone in my recent life. And it is because of [Josh] and [Tzedek DC’s] expert attorneys who have been behind the scenes working on behalf of me and thousands more who are in the same predicament." 

— Tzedek DC client Carlotta Mitchell, after working closely with Josh for over 2 years to change the law and allow her to apply again for her driver’s license without fines and fees as a disqualifying obstacle. 

“Josh was instrumental in pushing our fines and fees reform work forward,” said Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman. “From the release of our 2021 ‘Driving DC to Opportunity’ report to our coalition advocacy and resulting legislative win last summer and the subsequent legal victory in December, we could not have done it without Josh’s commitment, intensely felt sense of fairness, and his talent and expertise. Josh’s award is so richly deserved.” 

Josh and the fines and fees team are now turning their attention to ending Clean Hands enforcement for occupational licenses as well.  

“I am deeply touched that Northwestern honored me for my career at the Department of Justice working as an environmental attorney in environmental law and my current work at Tzedek DC, co-leading our efforts on fines and fees reform,” Josh said. “Thanks to Northwestern and to Dean Hari M. Osofsky for their warm welcome and for the great honor they have bestowed.” 

Josh was one of six honorees selected by Northwestern's Student Funded Public Interest Fellowship Program, a program that lends financial support to law school students planning careers dedicated to public service. Distinguished Alumni honorees are selected for their “outstanding contributions to public service and the legal community over the course of their careers.” 

Josh Levin receiving his award from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Dean Hari M. Osofsky 

Tzedek DC and Coalition Members File Amicus Brief Supporting the Constitutionality of CFPB’s Funding Structure

Tzedek DC and ninety other coalition member organizations from 34 states and DC filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) independent funding mechanism does not violate the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution. A finding against the CFPB could plunge the housing and financial markets into chaos by undermining years of consumer protections rulemaking and enforcement. 

The brief, drafted by the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, which also organized signatories focused on state and local consumer advocacy, argues that the CFPB’s funding structure is echoed not only among other federal agencies but also, crucially, in dozens of independent state regulatory agencies across the country. Since long before Congress created the CFPB, the States (and DC) have created regulatory agencies with certain self-sustaining funding mechanisms that do not require allocation of taxpayer money. 

The brief explains that the CFPB’s funding scheme, therefore, reflects an unexceptional and well-established federal and state practice to provide fiscal autonomy to particular government agencies, one not likely to conflict with either state constitutions' appropriations provisions or the U.S. Constitution’s Appropriations Clause. Because state courts often look to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on the federal Constitution to interpret their own constitutions and identically worded appropriations clauses, the brief warns that a decision disapproving of the CFPB’s financial structure could prompt a seismic shift in how the States are permitted to set up and operate their own agencies. 

The amicus brief is here. 

Tzedek DC Testifies on Ending Clean Hands Enforcement for Occupational Licenses

Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman testified last week before the DC Tax Revision Commission regarding the effects of continued enforcement of the Clean Hands Law for small business and occupational licenses.

While the Clean Hands Law no longer applies to driver’s licenses, it does still disqualify people from renewing or obtaining an occupational or small business license if they owe the District more than $100 in parking, traffic, or other fines or fees. The testimony notes that this creates a poverty trap, preventing indebted people from securing a license to earn the income they need to pay their debts.

Read the full testimony here.

Tzedek DC Awarded $100,000 Principal® Foundation Grant

Tzedek DC is honored to announce a significant grant from Principal® Foundation. The one-year grant of $100,000 will support Tzedek DC’s mission of safeguarding the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles.

Principal Foundation provides philanthropic support to programs focused on building financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group® operates. Principal Foundation grants target community organizations and social enterprises with funding focused on financial empowerment and needs, including financial health, social and cultural connections, and research.

Tzedek DC carries out our mission as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. We seek to serve and empower our client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

“Tzedek DC is grateful to be in collaboration with the Principal Foundation working together to expand access to justice within our DC community,” said Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman.

“Having a lawyer or financial counselor can make all the difference for individuals and families who are facing problems related to issues like debt, predatory lending, identity theft, and credit report challenges,” says Jo Christine Miles, Director of Principal Foundation and Principal community relations. “The work of Tzedek DC is crucial to ensuring there is support and resources available for communities in need of services such as civil legal advice and financial education to help overcome these challenges. Principal Foundation is pleased to support Tzedek DC’s mission that will continue to positively impact the lives of their clients.”

About Principal Foundation

Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.

Principal community relations supports the communities where affiliates of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392 operates. Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392.

About Tzedek DC 

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black folks, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 2,700 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

It's Financial Literacy Month!

April is National Financial Literacy Month, which is an excellent opportunity to review and grow financial awareness. You are not alone if you believe your financial literacy is lacking; if you are financially literate, do not take it for granted!

Here Are Some Financial Literacy Facts!

  • Few people have a financial education.

  • In most economies around the world, men are taught more about basic financial concepts than women.

  • Loan terms are not always fully understood.

  • Financial literacy classes are lacking in schools.

  • Personal finance skills are important for retirement planning.

  • Half of Americans have less than one month's income saved for a rainy day, and one in three say they cannot cover a $400 emergency.

  • Half of adults say they do not have a spending plan.

  • Sixty percent of Americans say they find it difficult to meet monthly expenses.

How to Advance Financial Literacy

Increase Awareness

Recent economic times have been tough and caused some negative impacts to personal finances, making Financial Literacy Month even more essential. We must continue to increase awareness about the importance of financial literacy.

Offer Financial Education in Schools

A financially educated younger population will make more informed money management decisions.

Make a Personal Vow to Review Your Personal Finances

Get creative and think about ways you can commit to a personalized spending plan and financial improvements. Work toward a financial goal!

A Super Saver’s Advice!

How can you save a portion of your income but also live a more financially comfortable life? Super Savers, like many others, have mortgages or rent, pay for school, and take vacations. They also have financial peace of mind because they have grown a sizable cushion of savings and investments. Some Super Savers' secrets include the following:

  • Set achievable goals for your savings and investments with realistic deadlines.

  • Shop with purpose by asking yourself, "Do I really need it?" to avoid spontaneous purchases, which account for 40% of all purchases.

  • Choose to wait two months before purchasing anything expensive to see if the "need" is still present. To avoid spending money you don't have, avoid debt (such as installment loans for computers, vehicles, TVs, cell phones, electronics, and furniture) and using credit cards. 

  • Reduce spending on expensive items such as homes (not the biggest in the neighborhood) and vehicles (drive older ones) and enjoy creative budget-friendly vacations.

  • Choose to spend wisely on daily expenses by comparison shopping, clipping and using coupons, purchasing cheaper discounted goods and services, and practicing careful planning when it comes to entertainment and expenses.

  • Set up automatic transfers from a checking account to a savings account, a 529 plan for college savings, a retirement account like Roth IRA, and/or a high-yield savings account, and make the maximum contribution to your employer's 401(k) retirement plan. Save more as your income grows.

Tzedek DC Applauds Mayor Bowser’s Decision to Cancel Tens of Millions of Medical Debt

Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced a commitment to fund the cancellation of medical debt held by District of Columbia residents.

The initial investment of $900,000 by DC is expected to allow as much as $90 million in medical debt held by DC residents to be canceled—both ending the patients’ obligation and leading to its removal from their credit reports. With this innovative investment that leverages a modest amount of public funds to accomplish a great deal of social good, DC will become the first state-level government in the nation to use public dollars to cancel medical debt. 

Tzedek DC Founding President and Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman applauded the move: “Mayor Bowser’s commitment to canceling medical debt is a commendable step towards racial and health equity in DC. With local budgets tightening here and around the country, purchasing and eliminating residents’ debt is a cost-effective and immediate way to end one of the most common poverty traps afflicting our neighbors.” 

The Mayor’s decision follows recent testimony by Tzedek DC to the DC Council highlighting medical debt and, along with allied organizations, urging swift action to improve the lives of some of the District’s most vulnerable residents. Tzedek DC’s testimony is available here.

Estimates suggest that more than 90,000 District residents may have outstanding medical debt, with more than 40,000 residents facing a medical debt in active collections. As in the rest of the country, the burden of this medical debt falls disproportionately on residents who are Black or persons of color, who are three times more likely to hold medical debt than white DC residents.

Medical debt is a key driver of overall health, specifically impacting mental health, physical health, financial stability, and health equity. Those with medical debt often forgo further medical care for fear of the expense. Medical debt also negatively impacts residents’ credit. As Mayor Bowser has said, “We know that by addressing the social determinants of health, we can attack disparities in health outcomes, empower families, and transform communities.”

In a recent fact sheet, the White House uplifted the several municipal and county governments that have embraced this strategy to relieve medical debt.

About Tzedek DC, Our Medical Debt Work, and the Health Equity Fund

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles, including those arising from medical debt. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

A portion of Tzedek DC’s medical debt work is funded by the Health Equity Fund, as administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation in partnership with the Health Equity Committee. The Health Equity Fund is designated to improve the health outcomes and health equity of residents of the District of Columbia. The historic fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents.  Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Health Equity Fund adopts an economic mobility frame to address the root causes of health inequity and advances a sustainable network of people, organizations, and projects to ensure equitable health outcomes for Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color and other marginalized populations in DC.

We are especially grateful to the Health Equity Fund for the support and shared vision of health equity and racial and economic justice.

Tzedek DC Testifies in Support of Canceling Medical Debt

Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman, with support from Equal Justice Works Medical Debt Fellow Jennifer Holloway, submitted testimony this week for two Performance Oversight Hearings before the DC Council Committee on Hospital & Health Equity and Committee on Health. The testimonies highlight the efforts of Mayor Bowser, Deputy Mayor Turnage, and the Department of Health Care Finance to relieve medical debt.

As the testimony notes, medical debt is a racial justice and disability justice issue. DC households of color are three times more likely than white households to have medical debt and five times more likely to be uninsured. Additionally, illness is a stronger predictor of medical debt than insurance, making the disabled community particularly vulnerable to medical debt. Because of medical debt, disabled individuals are more likely to forgo future medical care, often worsening their health problems. The scope of the problem is also significant. In the District, more than 90,000 residents may have outstanding medical debt, with more than 40,000 residents facing a medical debt in active collections.

Read the full testimonies here and here.

Tzedek DC Testifies in Support of Access to Justice Initiative

Tzedek DC and Legal Aid DC jointly testified today before the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety at a Performance Oversight Hearing for the DC Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants.

The testimony highlighted the positive impact on consumer justice for DC residents from DC's Access to Justice Initiative as administered by our funding partner, the DC Bar Foundation. The joint testimony focused on the racial equity implications of the issues that the Initiative is supporting in the consumer area, as well as the Initiative's ability to allow providers to respond with a networked strategy to address the expanded scope and needs of consumer work for DC residents, including ensuring residents' rights on paper are translated into justice on the ground under the newly reformed DC debt collection rules.

Read the full testimony here.