Welcome to Project Petworth! Our aim is to make our neighborhood more resilient and self-reliant by strengthening connection, reciprocity, and mutual aid. We want to take care of each other without depending on outside institutions for help.
We can no longer fall for the idea that we’re “saved” or “doomed” depending on what political leaders are in office. Let's create the society we want, brick by brick, in the spaces we control.
This is a collaboration for everyone in the neighborhood. We will continue to evolve and help build the best Petworth possible, for everyone in the community.
Get involved!
Live in Petworth? Want to connect with neighbors?
Send us an email to get added to the WhatsApp group: projectpetworth@proton.me
OR
Subscribe here for neighborhood updates.
Join this group to plan cooperative food projects, such as a:
✨️ Sliding scale grocery pop-up
✨️ Buyers club
✨️ Or enticing Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op's 2nd location to our neighborhood
THE PROBLEM: Inflation and the ongoing affordability crisis means that many of us are facing sticker shock at the grocery stores.
THE SOLUTION WE NEED: Equitable and sustainable food systems that ensure our neighbors can all access affordable and nutritious food.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED: We’re still just getting started and welcome more people to join us in building out this vision! If you are interested, please message any of the Project Petworth WhatsApp group admins to request to be added to our group chat!
What is a food co-op? A food co-op is a grocery store owned by folks in their community (and by you, if you choose). Unlike corporate chains, food co-ops are owned by the community members who shop there. So instead of focusing on investors, food co-ops focus on their community — nourishing everyone according to their budget and cooking style.
What’s a sliding scale grocery? By partnering with area farms to offer a sliding-scale market, making nutritious, locally produced foods more accessible. The sliding-scale model is structured in tiers to offer discounts based on customers’ budgets. Read more about initiatives like this here!
What is a buyers club? A buying club is any group of people that combines their purchasing power to order goods. Members’ orders are compiled so that case quantities and minimum orders can be met for suppliers. When the orders are delivered to a central distribution point, volunteers (or staff) of the club divide up the products according to the orders placed and members come to pick up their goods. Buying Clubs can range in size from a few households to hundreds. Read more here!
Welcome! Welcome!
We are a fairly casual group that started in April 2025. We have no strict rules or criteria for book selection but have been maintaining a few (very flexible) guidelines:
- We try to meet monthly and alternate fiction and nonfiction.
- Usually meet at someone’s home or a local bar/cafe, typically weeknights around 7:00/7:30 seem to be the time that works best to meet. We usually send out a poll to confirm meeting date and time.
- It is a very come-as-you-are and welcoming group, and you should feel free to join, offer suggestions, and participate in whatever way works for you even if you haven’t read or finished the book each month.
- Books are typically selected at the end of each meeting. Folks will throw out ideas and whatever sticks is what we go with.
- We typically get our books from local libraries, pass around copies, or if purchasing many of us like to shop at Loyalty Bookstore on Upshur to support local business. They’re a great spot and have options for physical copies, eBooks or audiobook formats.
Books, meeting times and locations are here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JKd00QjYKBzW0h44Qek5qyIQFQB890ZGQFWM0M0fRc/edit?usp=sharing
❌ MARTIAL MONDAYS ❌
Martial Mondays is a casual, all experience-levels and body types welcome neighborhood meetup of neighbors working on martial arts together. We alternate between grappling and striking focused Mondays.
Come learn with us!
Have a project idea of your own? There’s no better place to start than your neighborhood!