Muslims, Jews, Orthodox Christians, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Catholics, Presbyterians and non-denominational leaders joined forces to address the District’s growing unemployment rate and insufficient units of affordable housing.

The gathering held on Dec. 5 at the historic Metropolitan AME Church was filled with residents eagerly waiting to receive directions for action. WIN members demand that $45 million from the city’s surplus be allocated towards employment and affordable housing by Jan. 17, 2012 or pressure for a citywide a moratorium on subsidies for major development projects will occur.

“This is reminiscent of the Civil Rights Movement,” said the Reverend Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church. “The energy was awesome. People are ready to do whatever it takes in a peaceful manner to demand jobs for DC residents and affordable housing from the companies and contractors controlling our great city.”

Youth swarmed the audience making film productions of the movement while a slide show captivated the viewers showing large city-sponsored construction projects instead of affordable housing.

“This is a more diverse gathering than ever before in our history,” said the Reverend Dr. Joseph Daniels, pastor of Emory United Methodist Church and WIN organizer.

“We have a brand new power base. This is evident that we’ve got to rise up. It’s time for us to take back our city.”

More than just a feel-good session, WIN hopes it longtime friends and new allies will support the endeavors so carefully laid out in the gathering.

The WIN agenda for 2012 includes:

• Full employment for 10,000 DC residents
• A workforce intermediary for all future DC assisted projects that requires the identification of the number and types of jobs that will be created; the hiring schedule; and job skills and certifications needed. The intermediary would also work with federal quasi government entities and private employers to identify upcoming vacancies and job growth areas.
• Accountability to ensure city dollars create jobs for all city contracts, subsidies, land deals, etc.. The city entering into binding agreements with money back guarantees that requires the contractors or developers to repay subsidies, with penalties and interests, if the company fails to create the quality of jobs and or affordable housing in the agreement.
• Expand affordable housing investment to a $43 million increase over the approved FY 2012 budget.
• Build 3,000 Nehemiah Homeownership housing units affordable to families earning $20 to $75 thousand annual income.
• Build and preserve 5,000 affordable rental housing units through new construction and renovation as well as expanding rental assistance, aggressive housing code enforcement, HUD Sect. 8 contract extensions and owner preservation incentives.
• End chronic homelessness by financing and developing 2,000 permanent supportive housing units.
• Expand emergency shelter beds for 3,000 homeless youth ages 16 to 24.
• Dedicate public land to affordable housing and continue to require 30 percent affordable housing on all city-owned land and financed projects.

Throughout the conference several council members nodded their heads in agreement. But many participants in the crowd weren’t buying the gestures.

“Jobs for Americans,” said Stevie Love, a videographer who believes that there are enough jobs in the District for all residents but businesses and contractors continue to hire immigrants over skilled American labor in all fields. “This movement should make the first criteria for hiring is that the workers are Americans. The second requirement should be that they are District residents or the unemployment rate among Americans will continue to rise.”