To successfully execute this initiative, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) must be more than buzzwords for the NoMa BID. These concepts must be the compass that points the way forward.

NoMa’s diversity is its greatest strength, and the only way to preserve and fortify that diversity is to invest the time, money, and work in preventing its erosion.

Progress on this initiative in 2023 included:

• Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment efforts for both staff and the NoMa BID Board of Directors.  
• Further increasing the base wages across the board for our Ambassador staff, to a minimum of $19.00/hour. 
• Offering a bigger slate of NoMa BID events at no cost to participants and ensuring that they are accessible and welcoming to all. 
• Working with Diverse Markets Management, which recruits local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color) makers, to manage the NoMa Farmers Market, ensuring vendor diversity. 
• Preparing for the launch of a BIPOC-owned operator for the café space at Alethia Tanner Park. 
• During Black History, Women’s History and Pride months, spotlighting and celebrating on social media members of the NoMa community who represent these diverse communities. 
• Contracting with small, local, queer-owned, and woman-owned, and BIPIOC-owned vendors for the BID’s equipment and supply needs. 
• Supporting Eckington Hall, an art gallery and flexible creative and event space led by a local Black entrepreneur, through social media promotion and paid sponsorship. 
• Selecting films for our CiNoMatic movie series that represent diversity in front of and behind the camera. 
• Taking on the curation of NoMa’s signature mural festival, shifting the focus to be exclusively on a diverse group of local artists, including representatives of the deaf community. 
• Deepening connections with Gallaudet University, including partnering on public safety initiatives, supporting legislation for open captioning, and the provision of closed captioning services at all CiNoMatic movies. 
• Establishing an internal goal-setting structure that incorporates Inclusivity and Equity as required parameters for all staff. 
• Centering diversity and representation in the selection of artists for the NoMa in Color Mural Festival and K Street Virtual Gallery. 

Targeted work on this initiative for 2024 will include:

• Gathering information from more diverse sources to increase business engagement and idea generation. 
• Centering Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in artist selection for NoMa in Color and the K Street Gallery. 
• Highlighting the historical and current contributions to NoMa of Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.