Significant Accomplishments

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The following is a chronological listing of significant accomplishments of Zion Community Enterprise:

• January 19, 2024 — The Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Center Lead Agency for Ward Four received a grant in the amount of $75,000.00 from the DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) for an Alzheimer’s Disease and Related-Dementias (ADRD) program. Accordingly, the GNJ Senior Center will be responsible for efficiently and effectively planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing an Alzheimer’s Disease and Related-Dementias (ADRD) Program that ensures a continuum of services are available for seniors dealing with memory loss in the District of Columbia while carrying out the mission of the Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL). The GNJ Senior Center prides itself on serving as a catalyst for change, a clearinghouse for resources, an identifier for gaps in services, and the provision of results-oriented linkages and coordination for service delivery.
• January 4, 2024 – The Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Center Lead Agency for Ward Four received a grant in the amount of $75,000 from The Washington Home (TWH) as an extension of the GNJ Senior Center’s “Caregiver’s Lounge,” which is uniquely designed to serve as a dedicated multi-functional “safe space” for caregivers in order to learn more about available resources, participate in peer support sessions and enjoy get-togethers. At the “Caregiver’s Lounge,” participants can experience self-directed learning sessions to support and enhance their caregiving journey. Caregivers can also get to enjoy some respite time while their care recipients are engaged in activities. The “Caregiver’s Lounge” is perfect for small group sharing sessions and is able to accommodate about twenty (20) persons in a workshop-style setting for each session. The “Caregiver’s Lounge” is more than just a gathering place – it is a welcoming environment focusing on getting to know each caregiver and their story. The “Caregiver’s Lounge” provides an unbiased, non-judgmental environment where a caregiver can also learn from other caregivers and the staff. The goal of the “Caregiver’s Lounge” is to create a trusted environment that is available whenever needed. Caregivers need their own “safe space” where they can be heard, supported, and engaged – and that is what the GNJ Senior Center Lead Agency for Ward Four seeks to offer through its “Caregiver’s Lounge.”
• October  1, 2023 – The Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL) awarded the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Center with an annual grant to function as the Lead Agency for Ward Four. This recognition will include responsibility for providing seniors in Ward Four with recreation/socialization programs, managing community dining sites, and local bus transportation to sponsored activities and events in the District of Columbia.
• July  27, 2023 – Zion Community Enterprise Board Members met with Phyllis Dillenger, CEO and COO of The Washington Homes in order to discuss potential collaboration on a strategic partnership with the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences development project and the Community-Based Cooperative Grocery Store initiative. Further discussion on collaborations will be undertaken as we move forward with these noteworthy endeavors.
• June 14, 2023 – Zion Baptist Church Humanitarian Spirit Award for Volunteerism
  The Board of Trustees of The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) recognizes Zion Baptist Church with its Humanitarian Spirit Award for Volunteerism for its critical role as a pillar of volunteerism, community education, and outreach in Washington, DC. This award will be presented in-person at NCCF’s upcoming community gala, CONNECTED! The HeART of Community on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 6:00-10:00 PM at Bethesda Blues & Jazz. Please refer to the attached document for additional information.
  Read More
  
• January 17, 2023 – Zion Community Enterprise met with the Honorable Robert C. White, Jr. an At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia and Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors. Councilmember White was recently appointed as the Chair of the Housing Committee. Our purpose for the meeting was to provide him with an update on Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences development project.Great News! Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center Receives Additional Grants in Year 2022. We are extremely pleased to share with you fantastic news and information regarding the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center being the recipient of three special grants during the year 2022 as follows:The DC Commission on Arts and Humanities provided two grants in October 2022: One grant in the amount of $24,000 to conduct a Timeslips Storytelling Program and the other grant in the amount of $17,400 to conduct a Music Memory Café Program for a total amount of $41,400.Music Memory Café: The GNJ Center proposes to design a specialized Musical Memory Café composed of retired musicians with Alzheimer’s and other Related-Dementias diseases providing them with the opportunity to talk about music and create a DC Rhythm City Band performing with others throughout the District of Columbia. The Musical Memory Cafe will be established as a safe environment that will allow musicians to continue their love for music through socialization and performance. The Musical Memory Café’s overall goal is to support the well-being of participants throughout the District of Columbia using a creative approach to opening up imaginative memories through a structured series of creative engagements. Led by a musician who is a certified facilitator, participants will be able to create musical expressions that reflect their interest. With the guidance of the teaching musician, and special guest musicians as appropriate, the Musical Memory Café will develop a product to be shared with the broader community. Each of the participant’s family members, care partners and others within the community will be invited to a celebratory event featuring the participants in a way that is culturally appropriate and memory friendly, honoring their inspiration and their work with an artistic value and connection to their communities.Timeslips Storytelling: The GNJ Center proposes to design a specialized TimeSlips Storytelling engagement approach using a creative approach to open up imaginative storytelling through a structured series of creative story sessions. Led by a teaching artist who is a certified facilitator, participants will be able to co-create a collaborative work of artistic expression that reflects their interests, tastes, hopes and desires. With support from the facilitator, group stories will be crafted into a “text” for sharing – works of original poetic stories, images, and visual artworks. The final form will be determined by the participants themselves. Using the format of a “Memory Café” each participant’s family member, care partners and others within the community, will be invited to a celebratory event featuring the participants-artist in a way that is culturally appropriate and memory friendly, honoring their inspiration and the work with artistic value and connection to their communities.The TimeSlips Storytelling pilot-project will offer a short series of engagement sessions, through the Create and Thrive! Program, that offers a taste of this work, and is shared as an example and inspiration. These creative sessions will be designed to reflect joy and well-being as evidenced by their active participation and memory recall. The interactive workshops will provide each participant with an opportunity to enjoy self-expression while sharing heartfelt stories and other creative modalities to provide a sense of self and reminiscent play. The TimeSlips Storytelling pilot-project model is designed to shift away from the expectation of memory – where participants with Dementia can feel shame and loss – toward imagination, where participants, staff, family and artistic collaborators can participate as equals from a position of strength.The Washington Homes provided a $51,000 grant in June 2022 to the GNJ Center. This grant is designed to address the lack of Respite Care Support Services for our caregivers and participants. The GNJ Center understands that being a caregiver is so hard because they are watching a loved one change, often for the worse. This could be mental due to a form of Dementia or due to a physical disability. A caregiver might find it hard to see the person they care for the way they were before they became sick, or they might feel like they have lost the person they were before they became a caregiver. It is difficult because they are still on call as a caregiver 24/7, especially if they are doing it alone. This problem impacts at least 95% of our clientele and nearly 92% of the targeted population. Doctors often think of caregivers as hidden patients. If the bad feelings are lasting a long time and impacting your life, then this could mean that you as a caregiver are stressed and could lead to possible burnout known as Compassion Fatigue. This can be dangerous because it can lead to medical errors and/or disrupted relationships with the person you are caring for, as well as other family and friends. Compassion fatigue can be a cloud over your empathy, meaning you might not notice things are going wrong, with others or yourself.The GNJ Center’s solution was to create a comfortable learning environment that will allow us to train, educate and provide resources to the caregivers and participants. Services that we provide include: a weekly caregiver support group, registered nurse contractor (to provide health education talks and weight/blood pressure screenings), social worker contractor (to provide emotional support to participants), community outreach events (to raise awareness on dementia and caregiving), senior friendly durable furniture for participants and the provision of food/snacks. We intend to serve fifty (50) caregivers and seventy-five (75) participants with this grant. This particular grant is uniquely designed to serve as a dedicated multi-functional “safe space” for caregivers in order to learn more about available resources, participate in peer support sessions and enjoy get-togethers. The participants experience self-directed learning sessions to support and enhance their caregiving journey. In particular, the “Caregivers’ Lounge” is perfect for small group sharing sessions and is able to accommodate up to twenty (20) persons in a workshop-style setting. The goal of the TWH grant is to create a trusted environment that is available whenever needed as caregivers need their own “safe space” where they can be heard, supported and engaged – and that is exactly what the GNJ Center seeks to offer through this TWH grant.
• April 27, 2023 – Zion Community Enterprise met with DC Green Bank in order to discuss a potential pre-development loan in the amount of $2.5 million dollars for the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences development project. DC Green Bank’s mission is to provide access to capital, growing the clean economy in order to develop affordable financing options for clean energy, energy and resource efficiency and resilience.
• April 22, 2023 – Zion Community Enterprise met with the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) regarding a “bridge loan” in the amount of $250,000 to provide Zion Community Enterprise with working capital. If Zion Community Enterprise is successful with obtaining working capital from WACIF then DC Green Bank will “pay off” the WACIF loan.
• Sunday, May 21st – Zion Community Enterprise Celebrates the Legacy of Genevieve
  Mother Johnson on Sunday, May 21st, 2023.

  41 Years of GNJ: Celebrating the Legacy of a Visionary Leader Mrs. Genevieve N. Johnson.

  The Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center,
  also known as the GNJ Center, is a program that
  focuses on adult care. It serves as an adult care
  center situated a…

• Friday, May 19th – Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center Celebrates Forty-First Anniversary. On behalf of the staff, participants and caregivers of the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center we wish to extend our utmost gratitude for how Zion Baptist Church has continued to be a trusted and valued partner. We truly appreciated having Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, Sr., Pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Reverend Veronica McAlpine, Executive Assistant to the Pastor and Minister Donna Vance, Minister for Youth and Community Outreach along with Deacon Debbie Moon representing Zion Baptist Church at the 41st Anniversary Celebration event this afternoon. We also want to acknowledge representation from the Trustee Ministry by Trustee Roy Castleberry who is the Trustee Liaison to the GNJ Center’s Advisory Council. We are also extremely thankful that Zion Baptist Church has agreed to support Genevieve N. Johnson’s legacy.We were pleased to have had representation from the Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL), The Washington Homes and the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities (CAH). A representative from DC Councilwoman Janeese Lewis-George staff also attended. Special
  acknowledgements were provided by Sister Loretha Young (former GNJ Center’s Nurse of 41 years), Sister Regina Johnson (former GNJ Center’s Director of 25 years), Sister Stephanie Saunders (former GNJ Center’s Activity Coordinator of 25 years), Sister Elaine S. Saunders (Chair, GNJ Center’s Advisory Council), Sister Stephanie Bryant (Grant Monitor from DACL), Sister Delores Walker (Senior Participant and Mrs. Senior GNJ Center 2023), Brother Reggie Bo Watson (Grandson of Genevieve N. Johnson) and myself (Chairman, Zion Community Enterprise).

  I was pleasantly surprised and truly humbled to receive a recognition plaque from the GNJ Center staff and participants and definitely look forward to many more years of soaring together with the GNJ Center’s staff, participants, caregivers, sponsors and members of Zion Baptist Church. I wish to thank everyone for their sharing of themselves on this special day and for more information about Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center please visit the GNJ Center’s website at www.GNJSeniorDaycare.com

  In closing, while we have faced many challenges these past few months we are most grateful for Zion Baptist Church’s consistent support and assistance. We believe that we have finally risen above the “turbulence” and are resuming with our efforts to keep soaring as we strive to enhance the quality of life for our deserving seniors and their care providers. Please continue to stay tuned for great news about our next steps with the growth and enhancement of the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center.

  Thank You.
  David J. Saunders, Chairman
  Zion Community Enterprise

• Zion Community Enterprise Celebrates the Legacy of Genevieve Mother Johnson on Sunday, May 15, 2022
• Meeting with DC Councilmember Anita Bonds – Wednesday, March 16th, 2022.Members of the Executive Board of Zion Community Enterprise met with DC Councilmember Anita Bonds. As a background, she is an At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia and is currently the Chairwoman of the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration. She is also the Chairwoman of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization as well as oversees the Senior Programs in the District of Columbia. She is a champion for increasing opportunities for homeownership, preserving and increasing the District’s affordable housing stock, and putting an end to the displacement of longtime Washingtonians.The purpose of the meeting was to discuss on how she can assist Zion Community Enterprise with the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences Project. She was very pleased to learn that the proposed Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences would not only be designed as affordable housing for seniors but that is also intended to expand the existing Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center. She also expressed her interest in visiting the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center. Zion Community Enterprise attendees at the meeting included: David J. Saunders (ZCE Chairman), James E. Brown (ZCE Vice-Chair and Legal Counsel), and Horace Jeffery Abney (ZCE Treasurer and Director for Business Development and Community Engagement) as well as Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. (Pastor, Zion Baptist Church).
• The GNJ Senior Day Care Center has received a grant in the amount of $51,000.00 from The Washington Home (TWH). These grant funds will be utilized in support of adults with dementia and their caregivers. The grant period will begin on May 9th, 2022 and conclude on June 9th, 2023.
• David – April 26, 2022 – Zion Community Enterprise participates in Community Impact Initiative. Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor of Zion Baptist Church was a guest panelist on this Community Impact Initiative event. Pastor Byrd spoke about a unique partnership with DC Green Bank, ThinkBox Group and Go Green Together. Discussion focused on the provision of technical support and affordable funding initiatives by upgrading the infrastructure of faith-based communities. Zion Baptist Church has benefited immensely from the PACE initiative that installed a state-of-art HVAC system to improve both energy savings and efficiency through “green projects”.
• Meeting with DC Councilmember Anita Bonds – March 16th, 2022 – Members of the Executive Board of Zion Community Enterprise met with DC Councilmember Anita Bonds. As a background, she is an At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia and is currently the Chairwoman of the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration. She is also the Chairwoman of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, as well as oversees the Senior Programs in the District of Columbia. She is a champion for increasing opportunities for homeownership, preserving and increasing the District’s affordable housing stock, and putting an end to the displacement of longtime Washingtonians.The purpose of the meeting was to have a discussion on how she could assist Zion Community Enterprise with the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences Project. She was very pleased to learn that the proposed Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Residences would not only be designed as affordable housing for seniors but is also intended to expand the existing Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center.She also expressed her interest in visiting the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center. Zion Community Enterprise attendees at the meeting included David J. Saunders (ZCE Chairman), James E. Brown (ZCE Vice-Chair and Legal Counsel), and Horace Jeffery Abney (ZCE Treasurer and Director for Business Development and Community Engagement), as well as Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. (Pastor, Zion Baptist Church).
• Effective January 1, 2022 – The Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center successfully transitioned to Zion Community Enterprise. Accordingly, all administrative oversight will now be the responsibility of Zion Community Enterprise, including the management of personnel and finances, as well as the oversight of the GNJ Center’s Grant from the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL).
• December 5, 2021 – Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, Sr., Pastor of Zion Baptist Church, was recognized by the Board of Directors of Zion Community Enterprise with the Meritorious Community Service Award for his outstanding community service contributions. This award was presented in conjunction with the Zion Baptist Church Men’s Ministry awards program during Men’s Day on Sunday, December 5, 2021.
• November 23, 2021 – Zion Community Enterprise (ZCE) successfully completed the Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI) cohort training offered by Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. The cohort training consisted of a twelve-week lecture series providing real estate development assistance, legal resources, access to capital and related training to faith-based organizations to help move them through the pre-development stages. FBDI greatly aids in the awareness and understanding of what is involved in undertaking a faith-based real estate development project and how to build connections to strategic partners, navigate legal complexities and identify financial resources that can take a development project from concept to reality. ZCE sees the FBDI cohort training as the initial step in a long-term strategy to develop under-utilized real estate assets into affordable senior housing properties in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. (Pastor, Zion Baptist Church), Trustee James E. Brown (Member of the Trustee Ministry of Zion Baptist Church) and Brother David J. Saunders (Chair, Zion Community Enterprise) comprised the ZCE Team that completed the FBDI cohort training.
• September 23, 2021 – The Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) agreed to provide the GNJ Senior Day Care Center with a grant in the amount of $27,000 in order to provide transportation services for the pick-up and drop-off of seniors attending the GNJ Center through a contract with Capital Limousine Services. This will include one 14-passenger bus and one driver and it will be managed in collaboration with Iona Senior Services. The period of transportation service will be from October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
• September 15, 2021 – Zion Community Enterprise (ZCE) received a grant in the amount of $10,000 in pre-development funds from Enterprise Community Partners in support of a proposed affordable senior housing development project at the Family Life Center.
• July 31, 2021 – Officers of the Board of Directors of Zion Community Enterprise elected as follows: Brother David J. Saunders (Chair), Trustee James E. Brown (Vice Chair), Brother Horace Jeffery Abney (Treasurer), Sister Maureen A. Barnes (Secretary), and Rev. Dr. Ella V. Redfield (Chaplain).
• July 24, 2021 – Brother Horace Jeffery Abney, Sister Maureen A. Barnes, Trustee James E. Brown, Rev. Dr. Ella V. Redfield, and Brother David J. Saunders each elected for a two-year term (2021-2023) as members of the Board of Directors of Zion Community Enterprise.
• May 1, 2021 – Pastor Keith W. Byrd, Sr., Trustee James E. Brown and Brother David J. Saunders selected as Zion Community Enterprise (ZCE) cohort participants in the Enterprise Community Partners’ Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI) in order to design affordable senior housing opportunities so people can live in decent housing with dignity.