FRIENDS FACT SHEET

FRIENDS is a group started at the request of local residents with the hope of bettering the relationship between Foggy Bottom/West End and GW. FRIENDS facilitates dialogue and mutual understanding through open public meetings held the first Tuesday of each month. The group started meeting five years ago with little more than a vague goal of establishing a positive dialogue between the University and the community. Given the relatively short time this group has been together, its accomplishments are impressive.

At each monthly forum the agenda is full of items that community members have asked be discussed. In addition to area residents, officials from various University departments regularly attend FRIENDS meetings. This provides a good opportunity for personal interaction between residents and those university officials who can actually do something about the issues being discussed.

FRIENDS was the driving force behind GW's updated community concern policy and the formation of a Neighborhood Action Team. In addition to now having one centralized number (202/994-6110) to report GW-related concerns such as noise or student misconduct, community members can expect a prompt response and a follow-up call to let them know how the situation was resolved.

At the urging of FRIENDS, GW now produces a monthly Community Calendar of Events that clearly lists all of the GW activities open to our Foggy Bottom/West End neighbors. The calendar is now published in the West End Guide, made available online, and posted around the community.

This past fall the group held the 6th Annual Foggy Bottom/West End Neighborhood Block Party. Over 3000 people came together to celebrate our shared community. Nearly 120 local businesses, restaurants, groups and institutions had booths at the event.

We would be delighted to have you attend our next meeting. The regular monthly meetings of FRIENDS take place on the first Tuesday of each month. We generally alternate between a business meeting one month and a social event the following month. FRIENDS is not designed to be a burden on your time. You can be as active as your schedule allows.

FRIENDS meetings and events are open to everyone. We simply ask that those who join the group bring a positive attitude and are committed to making our shared community a better place. We are committed to working together towards a harmonious present and future.

For more information on FRIENDS, please contact:
Britany J. Waddell
Director of Community Relations at
202/994-9132 or email discover@gwu.edu