Perseverance, Hope and Healing: N Street Village Gala Raises $1.6 Million
“Things will get better over time,” N Street Village resident Sharon Baker shared, almost prophetically, from the stage at N Street Village’s annual Gala in early March. Triumph, perseverance, hope, and healing were her personal aims — now the objectives of us all.
The Gala, one of the last events to happen in DC before a rash of cancellations and postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated the resiliency of the women brave enough to seek the support of the non-profit, which gives housing and services to low income and homeless women in the DC area in an effort to make it “rare, brief, and non-reoccurring” (in the words of N Street’s Executive Director Shroeder Stribling).
“You imagine the new world where Justice is the coin of our realm, Compassion is our exchange market, Equity is our dividend,” Stribling said. “What I know about you here tonight is that you believe we cannot afford anything less.”
Among those in attendance at the event included Senator Mike and Mrs. Diana Enzi (Co-Chairs), Representative Brenda L. Lawrence, Polly Donaldson (Director Department of Housing and Community Development), Madame Gumarova of the Czech Republic, Madame Gakoko and Ambassador Pitteloud of Switzerland, Madame Ljilijana Vidovic of Slovenia, and Laura Green Zeilinger (DC Director of the Department of Human Services).
Intended to be a celebration of generosity, the evening at the Marriott Marquis included a silent auction and raffle, as well as a musical performance from Grammy-nominated hip hop artist and DC native, Christylez Bacon performing with the N Street Village and Luther Place Ambassadors of Praise.