Martha's Table is moving to Ward 8, here's why

This Summer, Martha’s Table will expand to two new locations: The Commons at Stanton Square (The Commons) and The Maycroft. Through the collaborative efforts of the Horning Family Fund, Horning Brothers, Community of Hope, and Martha’s Table, we will open The Commons, a newly-constructed, 43,000-squarefoot facility located in the Fort Stanton/Hillsdale area of D.C.’s Ward 8. The Commons will serve as our new headquarters and hub for programs and community supports. Meanwhile, we will house additional early childhood education programs and food supports at our satellite location in D.C.’s Ward 1, in partnership with Jubilee Housing at the historic Maycroft building in Columbia Heights.

AN EXTENSION OF OUR HISTORY

This expansion is an extension of our history. We have always gone where the need is greatest. When we opened our doors in 1979 at the corner of 14th and W streets, we were stationed at the epicenter of great need in the city. Nearly four decades later, the 14th Street Corridor and the surrounding area have changed dramatically. Yet, many neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River have not benefitted proportionately from the economic prosperity enjoyed across the city. Moving our headquarters to the Fort Stanton/Hillsdale area in Ward 8 and maintaining a location in Ward 1 will allow us to stand directly with children and families in a neighborhood that has been under-resourced for generations, while also maintaining our commitment to families in an area we have called home for 37 years.

A COLLECTIVE IMPACT

In keeping with our dedication to a collective impact model, both of our new centers will be co-located with highly effective nonprofits with expertise in critical issues which our families face. In Ward 8, we will share our headquarters with Community of Hope, while in Ward 1 we will be located within a Jubilee Housing facility, expanding our ability to offer families access to a wide range of supports. In addition to these exciting new partnerships, we have also been collaborating with the Capital Area Food since 2015 on our Joyful Food Markets, a network of no-cost markets that bring access to healthy food to families east of the Anacostia River. We are also building important relationships with organizations in Wards 7 and 8 in advance of our move, among which are Critical Exposure and Project Create, which engage our older youth students in arts-based projects that promote community involvement.  Finally, we are working with Georgetown University, across all our programs, to improve our methodology, measure impact, and expand our reach.