George,

To further Mr. Fields commentary about Black History Month may I suggest that your readers consider making a donation to ONE DC?

ONE DC hails from the historic Shaw neighborhood of the district (home to Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month) and helps poor, typically minority residents of DC to purchase their own apartment buildings, preserve their neighborhoods against gentrification and have a voice in their city. ONE DC has "distinguished itself as one of a few organizations in Washington, DC that moves beyond service provision to build sustainable community capacity and leadership so that low-income people of color can speak for themselves." - www.onedconline.org

Shaw has also been home to Blanche K. Bruce, the first African American to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate; composer and band leader Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington; Washington Color Field School painter Alma Thomas; poet Langston Hughes; Grand Canyon explorer John Wesley Powell; actress Helen Hayes; United House of Prayer Founder Charles Manuel "Sweet Daddy" Grace; union leaders A. Philip Randolph and Samuel Gompers; urban renewal leader Watha T. Daniel; Nation of Islam leaders Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X; and many more.

You can learn more about Shaw's past and present here

Our small employee-owned web design company CartaNova volunteers occassional web site help with the organization - I know that the recession hit them particularly hard in 2008-10 and that they can use all the assistance they can get.

For a slightly more local option, donating to Virginia Organizing may also be appropriate to celebrating Black History Month.

Thanks,

Andrew J. Holden (Electronic mail, February 3, 2011)