Georgia Avenue Has Already Awakened

· Beverley East regularly teaches a class for first-time authors at Georgia Avenue's Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park public library. A District resident and published author, East teaches aspiring writers how to land their first publishing contract. Her students are completing books on a range of topics: aging parents, church folk, "work camps" and memoirs of city life through the eyes of native Washingtonians. The library also hosts a speakers' series for published authors living along the Georgia Avenue corridor. A writers' colony is emerging along upper Georgia Avenue.

· Over the past two years, community leaders Jourdinia Brown, Tom Black and Steve Whatley successfully ended single-beverage sales of alcohol at liquor stores along upper Georgia. These pioneering leaders negotiated agreements with local business owners. Their work and that of others has eliminated blight along vast stretches of The Avenue.

Yes, good things are happening along Georgia Avenue in the District. Come and see for yourself.

-- Marc D. Loud

Washington

The writer is executive director of the Gateway Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corp. His e-mail address isgatewaycdc@aol.com.