2023
annual report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2023 the Festival Center reopened our building after a three-year closure due to renovations. The five-million-dollar renovation transformed the Festival Center and has strengthened our sustainability for the future, deepened and broadened our community, national, and global impact, launched new and innovative programs, and furthered our call to faith, hospitality, and justice.
A key achievement has been the successful occupancy of all office spaces and a successful co-working space, housing over 20 nonprofit organizations dedicated to justice. Remarkably, 30% of these organizations are establishing physical offices for the first time, marking a significant milestone in their efforts to effect real and enduring change.
The organizations that rely on the Festival Center subsidized office and desk rentals are:
Breadcoin creates a lasting impact by providing food with dignity, supporting local businesses, and resourcing community groups.
Mute the Violence DC is focused on bringing awareness to gun violence to not only youth, but all individuals in the Metropolitan area.
L’arche Greater Washington DC works to make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, revealed through mutually transforming relationships. Foster an environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members,
while being faithful to the core values of our founding story. And engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society.
Food Rescue US is dedicated to eliminating hunger and food waste (keeping food out of landfills and reducing greenhouse gasses). We engage volunteers and food donors through our proprietary web-based app to directly transfer nutritious excess food to social service agencies serving the food insecure.
LifeNet International transforms African health facilities to provide quality, sustainable healthcare and save lives.
Life Asset is a non-profit organization that offers microloans, training, and support for entrepreneurs in the Greater Washington D.C. area.
Open Goal’s Project mission is to create opportunities for young players from low-income families and underserved communities to access high-level soccer and grow with the game, on and off the field, to provide resources that empower those players and families to navigate the costs and overcome hidden barriers associated with playing, and to use soccer as a vehicle for cultural enrichment, higher educational opportunities, and greater life experiences.
Founded in 2009, ROC-DC is a multiracial membership-based organization that combines worker advocacy, workplace justice campaigns, job training, and research.
Girls Rock! DC works at the intersection of art and activism, providing music programs for young people to learn, grow, and use the power of their communities.
Faith and Money Network fosters relationships with individuals and churches, leading reflections and discussions on the role of money in our lives as people of faith and in our work as the community of faith.
The Congregation Action Network is an interfaith network striving to create a community where everyone, no matter their immigration status, has the same access to rights and resources. CAN amplifies the power of faith through community organizing to push just policies at the local, state, and federal level. With relationships at the core of its mission, CAN works closely with advocates, activists, faith leaders, and congregations to fight for a world where immigrants have decision-making power and everyone can thrive.
The Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA) is a cooperative that leverages the buying power of community institutions to accelerate progress towards sustainability, equity, and justice.
Little Bird Community Acupuncture provides high quality acupuncture treatment at affordable rates in a supportive community setting.
The National Domestic Workers Alliance is an advocacy organization promoting the rights of domestic workers in the United States.
Platform of Hope provides one-on-one coaching, access to external services, and facilitates cohort-based family-centered gatherings and leadership opportunities, so families of color will (1) reach their holistic self-identified goals, (2) actively build community and connection and, (3) engage in campaigns to address structural inequalities.
DC Jobs with Justice is a dynamic coalition of labor organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, and student groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people, supporting community struggles, and promoting racial justice to build a more just society.
First Shift is working with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and other partners to advocate for a domestic worker’s bill of rights in DC that would require employers to have a written contract with their household employees and allow domestic workers to enjoy the employment protections that other DC workers enjoy, such as protection from workplace discrimination and worker health and safety protections.
Beloved Community Incubator is a solidarity economy movement organization, incubator, lender, and worker self-directed non-profit in the Washington, DC metro region. BCI focuses on building a regional solidarity economy that centers people, especially poor and working-class workers and people of color, over profit.
20 Degrees is a team of innovative, irreverent optimists changing the culture of philanthropy and the business of childcare.
SACReD is a national alliance of multiracial, multifaith, multiethnic, mixed gender and sexual identity religious leaders, congregations, movement organizations, activists, academics, and directly impacted communities collaborating to advance Reproductive Justice through congregational education, culture change, community building, and direct service.
The MOMENTUM Residency offers a small community of committed learners, a cohort of professional colleagues from various organizations and schools, and access to a variety of professionals in clinical care but also in restorative justice, equity driven practice, public health, advocacy, policy, primary care and community members.
Truth in Common translates disinformation and social division research into skills people can use at home, at work and in the community. Through workshops, a newsletter, talks and partnerships, we create safe, brave spaces where people learn about today’s information ecosystem, how to access the information they need and how to feel comfortable talking about the issues again — respectfully.
These organizations embody our commitment to fostering a more just and equitable society, and their presence at the Festival Center underscores our dedication to supporting their vital work.
Throughout the year, the Festival Center hosted monthly community meetings featuring esteemed speakers who addressed a range of pivotal topics aimed at bolstering the endeavors of the organizations within our establishment. These topics encompassed:
Organizational Strengthening: Fostering growth and honing skills in fundraising, crafting organizational vision, and advancing organizational development.
Investment in Leadership: Recognizing, nurturing, and propelling leaders poised for future contributions within the nonprofit and justice-driven spheres.
Community Engagement: Situated at the crossroads of Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, and Columbia Heights, we are dedicated to ensuring that our organizations positively impact the local communities of Washington, DC, fostering safe and inclusive spaces for all.
In 2023, the Festival Center mobilized community leaders in support of critical grassroots movements responding to urgent social justice and human rights issues. At the core of this work is a commitment to centering the needs of those who have been directly impacted by racism, colonialism, and other systems of oppression. To this end The Festival Center has galvanized the community around Domestic and Excluded Workers rights, DC Statehood, ending mass incarceration, peace for Palestine/Israel, the protection of immigrant rights, and for harm reduction centers.
Furthermore, the 2023 Collectives Program gathered over 25 learners to focus on two areas:
- The Discernment for the Inward Journey Collective delved into a different discernment tool each class and built community through experiential learning engaging body, mind, and heart.
- The Climate Justice Collective explored the work of climate justice. Grassroots activists and students discerned together the gifts each participant offered to this work, and supported each other in moving from awareness to action.
The Festival Center also provided Narcan training, equipping community members with essential life-saving interventions, as well as classes on climate justice, harm reduction, and mass incarceration to over 180+ individuals.
A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends
2023 has been the most exciting year at the Festival Center! We started the year waiting for the final renovations to be finished on our building – which was a three-year project! – and now all of our offices are filled with nonprofit organizations with even more in our co-working space on the 2nd floor. Altogether, we ended 2023 with close to 20 nonprofits being housed here. On top of the nonprofits we house, we also hosted over 150 events in one of our brand-new event spaces. I loved the energy groups brought with them into our space. Here is just some of what groups worked on this year:
- Organizational retreats,
- Conferences,
- Lobby days,
- Art and music shows,
- Memorial services,
- Educational events – LOTS of teach ins and trainings,
- Religious services,
- Cultural celebrations,
- And parties – LOTS of parties!
Since most of these events were organized by nonprofit organizations they were able to do so at reduced rates, well below market rates. Altogether, they saved over $50,000 in event rentals alone. 
Our call is to provide the necessary support for nonprofits, faith communities, and justice-seeking organizations to be able to build justice movements. At the heart of our call to build justice movements are our values: hospitality, faith, and justice. When these three values merge together, the result is solidarity among those most impacted by injustice. Every day we come alongside those directly impacted and those serving the most impacted by injustice and we find whatever way we can to serve and support them. Sometimes this happens through providing a beautiful space for them to plan, strategize, teach, collaborate, and sit in silence so that they can receive spiritual replenishment. We also host monthly Community Gatherings where we bring in teachers and trainers to work with our member organizations and others we partner with on developing organizational capacity and spiritual grounding for working for the long haul.
In fact, one of my favorite memories from 2023 was a Community Gathering led by Spiritual Director Colleen Thompson. In a room filled with activists, community organizers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates – all from diverse backgrounds and beliefs, Colleen led us in a time of silence that left several of our members near tears. It had been so long for some of them to experience the gift of centered silence. This gathering exemplified the importance of providing a space for spiritual healing, especially for those tirelessly working and serving those who experience oppression and suffering in this country.
From the moment we settled into our newly renovated space on March 27, 2023, we wasted no time in opening our doors to faith leaders, activists, and organizers who sought a common ground for working towards reproductive justice in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe. Since then, we have hosted a myriad of events, though my favorite kind of meeting has been impromptu meetings where activists discover one another’s passions and dream up ways to get into some good trouble together, as John Lewis called it. I love those kinds of meetings and they happen all of the time here.
Every single day since our inception, the Festival Center staff and I have been unwavering in our commitment to welcome, encourage, nourish, and support those who dedicate themselves to serving others. Our mission is sacred, and we strive to be agents of God’s healing, grace, and love to some of the most incredible individuals you can imagine.
For a just city, nation, and world,
Bill Mefford
Executive Director
IMPACT
In 2023, the Festival Center provided over
in subsided event space to over 60+ different organizations
catering meals have been prepared in our new commercial kitchen
We’ve held
community gatherings for nonprofit and justice leaders on spiritual grounding, capacity building, organizational recruitment, harm reduction, and more.
Our new community art gallery has hosted
exhibits for up-and-coming artists
We’ve hosted over
people for events around mass incarceration, harm reduction, and worker’s rights
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INCOME
EXPENSES
FOR A JUST CITY, NATION & WORLD
Mission
Through hospitality, education, spiritual development, and practice, the Festival Center serves as a generative source for all people to work against all forms of oppression and to strive for a just city, nation, and world.
Vision
The Festival Center is an organization rooted in a faith that compels us to be a meeting place and a participant in the struggle for the common good. Our call is to be in solidarity with God, each other, and all of creation.
Faith Identity
We believe in a liberating God who offers unconditional love to all, sides with the oppressed, and seeks the flourishing of all of creation. We are eager for a world where people of all faiths & no faith can live together without need, in mutual affirmation, & in joy.
OUR VALUES
Mutual Solidarity
We believe in the interdependence of our oppressions and the interdependence of our liberation, therefore we seek out partnerships with individuals and organizations. We look to the leadership of the people and communities most affected by oppression and we provide support for their work.
Generous Hospitality
We welcome people of all identities and expressions into our space and programming and commit to treat all people with openness and respect. We are committed to making our space accessible to all mission-driven individuals and groups. We seek partners working for justice for mutual learning and engagement.
Collective Formation
Through relationships of trust, patience, listening, & support, we provide space for individuals to pursue growth through reflection, meditation, and spiritual practices. Our educational courses and events offer opportunities for critical thinking, creativity, & dialogue with others and we believe tension & discomfort can be productive and move us toward new growth and change.
You made a big impact.
Our donor community is dedicated to creating a fair city, nation, and world. Their continuous support reverberates throughout all aspects of our efforts. The milestones achieved in the past year played a crucial role in bringing together activists, artists, and mission-driven groups in the fight for a more just and inclusive society.
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
Shalom Agtarap
Donald Allen
Eddy Ameen
Betsy Amey
Isaac Ampadu
Clare Archer
Gail Arnall
Alice Bagwill
Marjory and Peter Bankson
Kristen Barden
Maria Barker
Jason Barnes
Ann Barnet
Maybelle Taylor Bennett
Kirk Fitch and Alice Benson
Dixcy and Nolan Bosley-Smith
Kevin Boteler
Koyla Braun-Greiner
Marica Harrington and Michael Brown
Basil Buchanan
Will & Dolly Cardwell
Jolene Carter
Sylvia Ceja-Gonzalez
Linda and Randy Chapin
Beverly and Larry Charles
Vikram Chiruvolu
Brad Clark
Amber Cooper
Stephen Cox
Rev Joseph P. Deck III
Daniel Dixon
Douglas and Joan Dodge
David and Wendy Dorsey
Betsy and Jim Edmonds
James Emrich
David Farley
Cathy Feil
Barbara and Allan Fertig
Sarah and Lindsay Fertig-Johnson
Paul and Videlbina Fitch
Herman Fleishman
Laurel Gilbert
Tura Gillespie
Phil Glatfelter
Jacob Schramm and Lauren Goodyear
Jennie Gosche
Ariel Griffin
Sharon Groves
Kathleen Hardy
Margaret Harrington Trust
Alana Hill
Allen and Phyllis Holt
Connie Hubbard
David Hudgens
Michael Jaeger
Anne Jarman
Loretta Johnson
Emi and Keith Johnson
Susie O. Jones
Kathy and Don Doan
Brigette and Stephan Ladisch
Michelle Lanier
Judy Lantz
Kate Lasso and Ernesto Griljalva
Andrew Lewis
Sharon and David Lloyd
Sharon and David Lockwood
Dawn Longenecker and Jim Rice
Gerald Lorentz
Jeanne and Steve Marcus
Carol Marsh
Tim Fretz and Carol Marsh
Jim Marsh Jr.
Rebecca Martin
Carol Martin
Martin and Sandra McCann
Helen McConnell
Raymond McGovern
Marti and Bill Mefford
Pete and Lyn Mefford
Sandra Miller
Audrey Miller Hallet
William Mills
Joseph Mizener
Lewis and Barbara Moore
Elizabeth McMeekin and Phil Moses
Alli O’Connell
Doris and Bruce Obenshain
Carolyn Parr
Trudy Perry
Carol Petrie
Bruce Pickle
Julie Potyraj
William Alfred Rose
Camila Salvador
Noel Schroeder
Ben and Paula Schuster
J.J. and Mike Steiner
Ken Suhr
Kathy Gille and Doug Tanner
Rusty Teeter
Diane Thompson
Marlon Tilghman
Haley Todd
Cary and Andrew Umhaus
Lauren VanKirk
AnaYelsi Velasco-Sanchez and Matt Collinson
Chris Vogelsang
Jackie Wright
Shiri Yadlin
Kelsey Zimmerman
Robert I Schattner Foundation
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Eighth Day Faith Community
L’Arche GWDC
T. Averill Architect
DC Sustainable Energy Utility
Faith Bible Church
Seekers Church
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Festival Church
Main Street Bank
Church of Christ Right Now
Bread of Life Church
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
Jubilee Church
FUTURE OUTLOOK
As we reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and set our sights on the horizon, we are driven by the vision where the Festival Center resides at the intersection of hospitality, justice, and faith. As these values are incarnated in all we do and proclaim, significant change will come about in our city, nation, and world.
Serve as a Model for Purposeful Space Utilization
The three year-long renovation process we started in early 2020 has established our building as a model for other houses of worship in DC and beyond. Demonstrated through the renovations is a mission-driven utilization of space that combines energy savings and important community services. The impact of what happens within these walls reaches beyond our neighborhood into all of DC and the rest of the nation as well. All that we do focuses on fostering a sense of community, spirituality, and environmental stewardship. In the coming year, we will continue to support houses of worship as they seek to create spaces that serve their congregations and provide safe spaces for community aid, engagement, and education, all the while being a good neighbor through using clean energy. We will do this by regularly hosting open houses and creating support programs so that other organizations and houses of worship can learn from the knowledge we gained and from the shared knowledge of one another. By embracing a mission-driven approach, we aim to demonstrate how intentional space design can benefit both our community and the planet.
Foster Life-Affirming Leadership
Nourishing life-affirming leadership within non-profit and social justice organizations is essential for driving positive change and advancing our collective goals. In the year ahead, we are committed to investing in leadership and capacity development programs, mentorship initiatives, and advocacy efforts that nurture the next generation of changemakers. Through our monthly community meetings, we are coming alongside justice-seeking organizations and non-profits to provide needed practical and spiritual support. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and collaboration, we aim to create a ripple effect of impact that extends far beyond our walls.
Develop an Authentic Faith-Based Movement for Peace and Healing
In a world paralyzed by division, conflict, and uncertainty, the need for an authentic movement dedicated to fostering peace, restoration, and healing has never been more urgent. Building on our foundation of faith, hospitality, and justice, we will renew our passion to build movements that brings together people of all backgrounds in pursuit of a more just and equitable world. Through grassroots organizing, interfaith dialogue, and community-building initiatives, we aspire to be catalysts for positive change and beacons of hope in a world yearning for healing and reconciliation. By embodying the values of faith, hospitality, and justice, we have the power to create a world where all individuals are valued, all voices are heard, and all communities thrive.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Your support furthers the mission of the Festival Center in several ways:
Helps us subsidize office and event rentals for nonprofits and justice-seeking organizations which adds up to tens of thousands of dollars per year.
Provides a safe space for nonprofit leaders to work and create new ideas to more effectively serve DC residents and people across the country and world.
Provides leadership development and organizational capacity building programs for the 20+ nonprofits and justice-seeking organizations.
Provides a faith presence in the ongoing advocacy and organizing work in DC and beyond on issues like ending solitary confinement, harm reduction and decriminalization, workers’ rights issues, and much more.
WAYS TO GIVE
ONE-TIME DONATIONS
Every dollar counts, and your one-time donation will directly support our ongoing initiatives described above.
MONTHLY GIVING
Join our community of sustaining donors by making a monthly contribution. Your consistent support will subsidize event rental space for dozens of groups that meet in our space to plan, strategize, celebrate, educate, and mobilize for justice.
GIFTS IN HONOR OR MEMORY
Make a donation in honor of a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate those who have touched your life.
CORPORATE MATCHING
Many companies offer matching gift programs. Check with your employer to see if your donation can be multiplied to make an even greater impact.
Your support will help us continue to provide a nurturing space for justice organizations and create meaningful connections that drive positive change.