Celebrating 50 Years of Advancing Justice Housing
On Tuesday, November 14, Jubilee Housing celebrated its 50th anniversary with longtime friends, former and current leadership, supporters, elected officials, residents, and new partners, with the soaring vaults of the Washington National Cathedral as an inspiring backdrop. More than 600 guests gathered to toast Jubilee’s auspicious anniversary, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, members of Presenting Sponsor Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund, and many, many more valued Jubilee partners that have been instrumental to Jubilee’s growth and success over the years.
The evening’s program included a special message of support from Academy Award-nominated actor Edward Norton, the grandson of legendary developer Jim Rouse, a critical partner in Jubilee’s founding. Rouse was inspired by his experience with Jubilee and went on to found Enterprise Community Partners and advance affordable housing nationwide. The evening also included award presentations to Jubilee co-founders Barbara Moore and Terry Flood for their extraordinary lifetime contributions to making DC a city that works for everyone.
Generous sponsors and attendees raised nearly $620,000 that will help Jubilee expand its mission over the next few years, doubling the impact of its Justice Housing® model in Ward 1 by developing new deeply affordable apartment homes, sustaining and bolstering resident services, and implementing exciting innovations. For instance, Jubilee will launch DC’s first affordable-housing based aquaponics farm with a workforce development program and community kitchen. The farm is expected to generate 13,000 fresh fruits and vegetables a month for Jubilee residents and the wider community, while the workforce development program will help returning citizens and community members develop essential job skills.
The event couldn’t have happened without the efforts of Gala Host Committee co-chairs Alex Orfinger, Catherine Buell, and Evelyn Lee; our legion of incredible sponsors and guests; our remarkable presenters and speakers; as well as Rachel Tillman of Cool River Marketing; Brisa Baron and Jean-Luc Quevauvilliers of Carel Creative; Benjamin Ross, Rachael Marcum, and the video crew of Metamer Studios; Aneisha Persaud of the Washington National Cathedral; Spilled Milk Catering; 4Wall; Nomad Event Systems; Terra Rossa; and our own internal team for such an elegant and inspiriting event!