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Ajia Meux, president Deanwood Citizens Association, explains the simple, cost-effective ingredients in the yogurt parfait to MPD Assistant Chief Diane Groomes and Sixth District Captain Frank Hill.

The Deanwood Citizens Association recently joined with Sylvia Brown, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner 7C04, to sponsor a successful neighborhood clean-up and community cookout. The Korean American Grocers Association supplied the hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, snacks and drinks while Sixth District Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers manned the grilled for the day. Forney Enterprises-Manhattan, the construction team for the 63,000-square-foot Deanwood Community Center and Library, provided cooling stations and informed residents about job opportunities and updates on the facility, which is expected to deliver in summer 2010.

New and seasoned residents, students from the University of the District of Columbia,and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency representatives, assisted in the neighborhood clean-up and participated in the healthy food demonstration. Nearly 200 free samples of smoothies, guacamole, yogurt parfaits and berries, bananas and pineapples were distributed. The samples were made with fresh fruits and vegetables funded by a mini-grant from East River Family Strengthening Collaborative. The demonstration even shared how to prepare homemade tortilla chips from fresh corn tortillas.

The clean-up and healthy food demonstration are two initiatives the Deanwood Citizens Association has implemented as it works to improve the neighborhood's quality-of-life and build community cohesion.

The Deanwood Citizens Association meets the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 1008 45th St. NE (First Baptist Church of Deanwood). To stay in touch with neighborhood happenings and help plan next year's events please join the listserv at deanwoodcitizensassociation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, visit the website at www.deanwood.org, or call 202-398-5100.