(WASHINGTON, DC) The Department of Public Works will kick off the 2016 American Public Works Association National Public Works Week at the city’s first annual “Great Graffiti Wipeout,” May 16, 2016, 10:00 am at 631 T Street, NW. Councilmembers, business owners, residents, the APWA Executive Director and other DC government leaders will join DPW Director Christopher J. Shorter to clear walls of graffiti. The “Great Graffiti Wipeout” is a six-week program highlighting the city’s efforts to eradicate graffiti, reduce illegal tagging, and remove illegal posters citywide. In FY 2015, DPW addressed about 56,000 incidents of graffiti and illegal posters.

Other NPWW activities:     May 18, 11:00 am – Feeding the 5000 DC
                                           May 18, 1:00 pm– Path to Zero Waste: Organics Waste Summit                                          

                                           May 20, 1:00 pm – MuralsDC Unveiling

WHAT:      Great Graffiti Wipe Out Kick Off
WHEN:     Monday, May 16, 2016
                 10:00am – 11:00am
WHO:       Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) (confirmed)
                 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (D-Ward 4) (confirmed)
                 DPW Director Christopher J. Shorter (confirmed)
                 APWA Executive Director Scott Grayson (confirmed)
                 Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Patrick Burke (confirmed)
                 DDOT Chief Operating Officer Suzette Robinson
                 More than 30 aea business leaders and residents who will clear graffiti
WHERE:   631 T Street, NW (the lot in front of the Howard Theatre)
                  *Closest Metro: Green Line, Shaw/Howard University Station
                  *Bus Lines: 90 and 92
                              
VOLUNTEER TEAMS will work in the following areas of Ward 1:
1.  The alley of 1800 Wiltberger Street (including the residential home at 1813 Wiltberger)
2.  The alley of 700 V Street, NW
3.  The alley in the 600 block of “T” street between T and Florida Avenue, NW
4.  The commercial block at 7th street between U and T Streets, NW
5.  The commercial block of 8th and W Streets, NW
6.  2112 Georgia Avenue, NW
7.  618 T Street, NW

WHAT:     Feeding the 5000 DC is an international event, coming to Washington, DC for the first time. Thousands of people will be provided a delicious, free feast sourced entirely from top-quality produce that would        otherwise have gone to waste! Feeding the 5000 DC will bring together an alliance of organizations to raise awareness of the scale of both domestic and global food waste, its environmental and social impact and to promote solutions to the problem. The event will draw attention to DC's priorities around decreasing both food waste and hunger.
WHEN:                 Wednesday, May 18
                                11:00 am – 4:00 pm
WHO:      DPW Director Christopher J. Shorter
                Department of Energy and Environment Director Tommy Wells
                Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
                Celebrity chefs, including Skip Mendelsohn and Jose Andres
                Feeding the 5000 DC partners include: The Rockefeller Foundation, DC Central Kitchen, The Campus Kitchens Project, EPA, USDA, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), DC Department of        Energy & Environment, DC Food Policy Council, DC Department of Public Works, DC Food Recovery Working Group, DC Greens, The Accokeek Foundation, Dreaming Out Loud, NRDC, National Consumers League, ReFED, Together We Bake/Fruitcycle, Means Database, Community Food Rescue, Food Recovery Network, Capital Area Food Bank, and the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
                Natural Resources Defense Council, Capital Food Bank and others
WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
*Closest Metro: Metro Center Station
*Bus Lines: 52, 59, A9

WHAT:         Path to Zero Waste: Organics Waste Summit will convene community leaders, businesses, and environmental advocates to demonstrate support of US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Agriculture and United Nations goals to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, celebrate the launch of the District’s Food Policy Council and provide greater understanding of the opportunities and benefits of reducing organic waste. Approximately 100 to 250 people are expected to attend.
WHEN:       Wednesday, May 18, 2016
                   1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
WHO:         DPW Director Christopher J. Shorter (confirmed)
                   Cheryl Coleman, Director Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division, US Environmental Protection Agency (confirmed)
                   Bridget Anderson, Sustainability and Recycling Director, New York City      Department of Sanitation (invited)
                   Department of Energy and Environment Director Tommy Wells
                   Rockefeller Foundation
                   Maryland and Virginia state and local government representatives
                   Businesses, including private waste haulers and composting facilities
                   Food Policy Council; Capital Area Foodbank; DC Central Kitchen
WHERE:    Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Polaris Room
                  1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                  *Closest Metro: Metro Center Station
                  *Bus Lines: 52, 59, A9
                                          
WHAT:       MuralsDC Mural to Recognize Homelessness – Meet the Artist
WHEN:      Friday, May 20, 2016
                  1:00 pm
WHO:        DPW Director Christopher J. Shorter
                  Artist Rose Jaffe
                  Representatives of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities
                  Representatives of the DC Commission on Human Services
                  Representatives from the Community for Creative Non-Violence
WHERE:   Community for Creative Non-Violence
                 2nd and D Streets, NW
                 *Closest Metro: Judiciary Square Station
                 *Bus Lines: X1, 97