The safety of those who use WES’s building is an important concern for all of us. At our Fall Membership Meeting, representatives of the WES Safety Team shared the news that WES received a $100,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to finance safety and physical security improvements to the WES building. Questions arose at the Membership Meeting about details of the improvement plan, as well as policies and procedures surrounding building safety at WES. To share more details and discuss these questions, we held a Town Hall meeting on January 3rd, and we’d like to share some of the valuable information that was discussed at that Town Hall with everyone.
In 2018, two of WES’s long-term renters, Fabrangen (a Jewish fellowship community whose values align with ours) and ILMA (a Koranic school) expressed concerns about physical safety and security of the WES building in light of some of the recent threats and attacks on religious institutions. You will recall how many active shooter events were taking place during that period of time at synagogues, churches, mosques, schools, and other places where groups of people gathered.
In response to these very legitimate concerns, WES staff met with representatives from Fabrangen and ILMA to consult with several experts in this field, to include safety and security professionals, DC metro police, local interfaith groups, and neighboring synagogues and churches to gather ideas about what types of building improvements might be most appropriate and effective for WES’s security.
WES initially applied for the FEMA grant in the spring of 2019 to fund four safety upgrades: improved door locks, window film to prevent/delay unauthorized entry, emergency alarms, and an upgraded security camera system. Unfortunately, this grant was denied, but with the help of an experienced grant-writer from the Fabrangen community, WES reapplied for the grant in 2020 (for the same four safety upgrades) and this time was successful. The grant was approved in June 2020.
Our project management plan has been approved and we are waiting for our environmental and historic preservation filing to be reviewed by FEMA. If all goes according to plan, we would begin the phased implementation of upgrades and improvements in the spring of 2021 with the goal of completing the project by the end of summer 2022.
While this grant process accounts for the planned physical security upgrades, WES will still need to develop and implement our internal safety policies and procedures to be sure our use of these security upgrades aligns with WES’s values. None of those policies and procedures have been formulated as of yet, and there will be time and opportunity for input. Our Board of Trustees will be providing direction to the Interim Leader, Staff, and Safety Team in this area. The Board is committed to ensuring members have visibility and input on the crafting of these policies and procedures as we move forward.
We are also very interested in expanding membership on the Safety Team. If you are interested in getting more involved in the upcoming implementation of the security upgrades and with the development of safety guidelines and procedures for our community, please contact Tom Hutton (tomh@ethicalsociety.org).
The safety of our community, and that of our valued renters, is important. It is unfortunate that this is the reality that we and so many other communities face in these times, but it is a reality that we must meet head on. Although after these improvements and upgrades are completed we will need to remain vigilant, we have an opportunity to help ensure that we can gather with more confidence in our safety once this pandemic has passed and to continue to prioritize the important service and social justice work that is at the heart of WES’s mission.
-WES Safety Team