DC WALK FOR JUSTICE 5K | DC Bar Foundation

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EVENT INFORMATION

JOIN US FOR THE INAUGURAL
DC WALK FOR JUSTICE 5K!

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The DC Bar Foundation invites you to support the inaugural DC Walk for Justice 5K on October 24, 2024!

Join fellow justice-loving individuals for an afternoon of community, education, and fun! Walkers will follow a route showcasing views of Nationals Park and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail.

And it doesn't stop there! After the Walk, participants will celebrate with a finish line party with food, drinks, and music at Centerfield Plaza inside Nationals Park Stadium.

The DC Walk for Justice 5K aims to raise $250,000 for the District’s pressing civil legal needs. All proceeds from the DC Walk for Justice 5K benefit the DC Bar Foundation, which works to make civil legal aid more accessible for all District residents through grantmaking, network coordination, community engagement, and more. The DC Bar Foundation is committed to transforming the District’s civil legal aid network so that all residents have a fair and equal legal experience.

The Foundation has three goals for the Walk:

to increase community awareness of the significant civil legal aid needs in the District of Columbia,
to expand the network of lawyers, judges, and community members committed to supporting legal aid, and
to raise at least $250,000 for the Foundation's transformative work.

The Walk is patterned after the London Legal Walk, which raises more than $1 million annually for civil legal aid needs in London. Other communities in the UK, Australia, and the United States host annual legal walks.

The DC Walk for Justice 5K route will provide a uniquely “DC” experience for all participants, offering views of the iconic Nationals Park stadium and the scenic Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Click on the image below to view an enlarged version of the map.

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Come hungry and ready to have fun! Participants will end the 5K Walk with a finish line party with food, drinks, and music at Centerfield Plaza inside Nationals Park stadium. The finish line party will provide a great opportunity to gather with fellow justice-minded individuals while supporting civil legal aid in the District.

DAY-OF TIMELINE

3:00 pm - Centerfield Gates, located on N Street SE, open for Walk participants
- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Walk participants check in to receive their bibs and free drink tickets.
4:00 pm - Welcome Remarks and Warm-Up
4:30 pm - Walk Starts
5:00 pm - Finish Line Party food & beverage service begins

ADHERENCE TO NATS PARK BAG POLICY

All attendees must adhere to Nationals Park’s bag policy. Small non-clear clutch bags measuring 5” by 7” by ¾” or smaller, with or without a handle or strap, can be taken into the ballpark. Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 16” by 16” by 8” are also permitted. Please click here for a complete list of prohibited items and the Nationals Bag Policy. Medical bags, diaper bags, and strollers are allowed. Walkers may bring their own plastic water bottles (metal and glass containers of any kind are prohibited).

Self-pay storage lockers run by BinBox will be located outside the Centerfield Gates. If your bags do not fit these dimensions, you will be asked to check them in a BinBox locker.

$12: Medium Lockers (10″ height, 16″ width, and 22″ deep).
$15: Large Lockers (16” height, 16″ width, and 22″ deep).

Please be advised that there is no bag check option INSIDE the Centerfield Plaza gates. If you do not wish to carry your small bag for the duration of the Walk and finish line party, please check your bag in a BinBox locker outside the gates. Those driving and parking in Garage C can leave their belongings in their vehicle.

Those taking the metro/Uber/bus, etc., should plan to leave any bags that do not fit Nationals Park’s bag policy at the office/home or use the Bin Box self-pay storage lockers located outside the stadium to store their belongings.

COMPLIMENTARY PARKING

Complimentary parking in Garage C at Nationals Park is available for guests driving to the ballpark. The garage is located at the corner of N Street SE and First Street SE, with the vehicle entrance on First Street SE. When entering the garage, drivers will need to let the parking attendant know that they are there for the DC Walk for Justice 5K event. Guests are encouraged to park near the elevator banks located on each level on the plaza side of the garage.

Once parked, take the elevators or stairs down to “PL” (Plaza), which is street level. Once you have exited the garage, turn right to reach N Street. From here, take a left, and Center Field Gates will be on your left along N Street. Event security will be located at the gate to screen guests into the park.

The parking garage will remain open until 7:30 PM.

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WHY IS THE DC BAR FOUNDATION LAUNCHING THE DC WALK FOR JUSTICE 5K?

We have three goals for the DC Walk for Justice 5K:

1) to increase community awareness of the significant civil legal aid needs in the District of Columbia;

2) to expand the network of lawyers, judges, and community members committed to supporting legal aid; and

3) to raise significant funds for the Foundation's work.

DO OTHER COMMUNITIES DO SIMILAR WALK FOR JUSTICE EVENTS?

Yes, the DC Walk for Justice is patterned after the London Legal Walk, which raises more than $1 million annually for civil legal aid needs in London. Other communities in the UK and Australia host annual legal walks.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION IN THE DC WALK FOR JUSTICE 5K?

The DC Bar Foundation supports a network of more than 30 legal aid organizations in the District of Columbia, providing grants, training, technical assistance, and coordination. This network has provided legal aid to 130,000 District residents with low incomes in the past four years.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE WALK?

Anyone! The DC Walk for Justice 5K benefits DC's legal aid community, but you do not have to be an attorney or work in the legal field to participate. We encourage all justice-loving individuals to join us for the Walk.

WHEN IS THE WALK?

The Walk is on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.

WHAT IS THE WALK ROUTE?

The Walk will begin and end at Nationals Park and weave through the surrounding neighborhood, including the Anacostia River Trail. The course is designed not to require street closures.

IS THE WALK A RACE?

No. This social and educational event allows participants to learn to know each other and become informed about legal aid issues in the District. The course will be a 5K length, but the event will not be timed.

HOW DO I REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WALK?

Walkers can sign up by completing our online registration form. After completing registration, registrants will be prompted to create or join a fundraising team for the DC Walk for Justice 5K if they so desire. Click here to register.

WILL THERE BE FOOD AFTER THE WALK?

YES! Join us for a finish line party with food, drinks, and music at Centerfield Plaza in Nationals Park Stadium after completing the walk.

MISSION AND VISION

Since 1977, the DC Bar Foundation's mission has been to fund, support, and improve the legal representation of financially disenfranchised or otherwise underserved persons in the District of Columbia.

Our work is grounded in a commitment to racial justice and equity. As the leading funder of civil legal aid in the District, the Foundation is a catalyst for systems change. We foster collaborative, community-informed solutions that break down access to justice barriers for residents experiencing housing, financial, and personal insecurity. Our vision is that all residents of the District have equal access to justice.

PROGRAMS

The DC Bar Foundation makes grants, provides training, offers technical assistance, and fosters collaboration among dozens of legal aid organizations in Washington, DC. This network has provided legal aid to 130,000 District residents with low incomes in the past four years. Over half of our grants target housing insecurity (eviction & foreclosure defense to keep people in their homes). Since 1977, the Foundation has granted more than $177.5 million to legal aid providers in DC. The Foundation also provides loan repayment assistance to qualified attorneys working for legal aid organizations.

IMPACT

By working with all stakeholders, the DC Bar Foundation is changing how District residents discover and experience life-changing legal assistance. Bar Foundations nationwide identify the DC Bar Foundation as the pacesetter in making systemic changes that transform access to legal services.

For example, the Foundation is leading the effort to launch a Coordinated Intake and Referral (CIR) system, allowing clients to get legal help with a single phone call. This transformative effort will make it easy for all DC residents to get legal help quickly. DC residents must now navigate a maze of 50 organizations to determine which one can help them. We have gathered client feedback in the CIR design process and will evaluate each step as the system comes online in late 2024.

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE DC WALK FOR JUSTICE 5K?

Registering for the DC Walk for Justice 5K is simple! Please fill out the registration form at this link. This should take no more than 5 minutes. Please note that the registration form will not work on Internet Explorer.

WHY DO I NEED TO REGISTER?

We require participants to register for several reasons. (1) To collect important emergency contact information (2) To keep track of participant numbers for capacity and safety reasons, and (3) To understand where our participants learned about the Walk!

IS THERE A REGISTRATION FEE?

There is no registration fee, but walkers are encouraged to make a donation to the DC Bar Foundation to support civil legal aid in DC. Once you complete the registration form, you will be prompted with a link to our donate page where you can make your gift.

WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE?

October 10. We need a firm number of walkers so we’re sure to have enough food and drink for the finish line party!

WHAT ARE FUNDRAISING TEAMS?

Online fundraising teams give individuals the opportunity to raise funds for the DC Walk for Justice 5K in support of civil legal aid in DC. It is free to join a fundraising team - but, of course, you are encouraged to donate and invite your friends to do so as well. Joining a fundraising team also does not mean you are required to walk.

Sometimes, individuals or workplaces like to gather teams of friends, family, and/or colleagues to walk together at 5K charity events. If you would like to do that for the DC Walk for Justice 5K, it may be easiest to establish and keep track of your walking team roster by creating an online fundraising team and inviting your friends, family, and/or colleagues to join. You can then, if you desire, fundraise together as a team in support of our event using your online fundraising page.

If your team decides to walk together, we encourage you to come to the October 24 event wearing matching shirts! If you wish to design a custom shirt, you can access our event logo HERE.

DOES CREATING OR JOINING A FUNDRAISING TEAM AUTOMATICALLY REGISTER ME FOR THE WALK?

No. Because we need to collect important participant information, including emergency contact information, any individual interested in walking MUST fill out the walker registration form, available at this link.

However, you do not need to be a walker to fundraise or donate.

HOW DO I CREATE A TEAM?

To create an online fundraising team, click HERE.
Click the “I Want to Fundraise for This” button and follow the on-screen instructions for Creating a Team in the “Fundraising as a Team?” Box.
As you invite individuals to join your online fundraising team, please be sure that everyone who wants to walk also registers at this link.

HOW DO I JOIN AN EXISTING TEAM?

To join an existing fundraising team click HERE.
Click the “I Want to Fundraise for This” button and follow the on-screen instructions for Joining a Team in the “Fundraising as a Team?” Box.
If you haven’t already done so, please make sure to register for the Walk at this link.

CAN I BE ON MORE THAN ONE TEAM?

Participants are only able to join one fundraising team.

CAN I DONATE WITHOUT WALKING?

Yes, you do not have to be a walker to fundraise or donate. You can create or join a fundraising team by following the above instructions. Or, if you would simply like to make a donation without creating or joining a fundraising team, please click HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE INAUGURAL DC WALK FOR JUSTICE 5K!

TOGETHER, WE RAISED OVER $162,000 FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID IN DC!

Thank you to all of our walkers, volunteers, sponsors, and donors for making the first inaugural DC Walk for Justice 5K a success! We could not have done it without your enthusiasm, generosity, and support for access to justice.

All proceeds from the DC Walk for Justice 5K benefit the DC Bar Foundation's work to make civil legal aid more accessible for all District residents through grantmaking, network coordination, community engagement, and more.

Whether you sponsored, made a donation, or joined a fundraising team, your generosity will have a direct impact on District residents needing civil legal services.