MY SENIORS KEEPER FOUNDATION

My Seniors Keeper Foundation, Inc. (MSK) is an intergenerational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives and land through a holistic framework of stewardship, service, advocacy, and education. Rooted in Washington, D.C., MSK has evolved from a resident-led initiative into a multi-state movement spanning Tulsa, Oklahoma, Greenville, Mississippi, and other frontline communities, while staying firmly grounded in its original mission: to care for the overlooked and underserved.

From Garfield Terrace to a Regional Movement

MSK was born in the heart of Garfield Terrace, a public housing complex in Washington, D.C., where residents—particularly seniors and disabled individuals—organized to address unsafe conditions, health disparities, and policy neglect. What began as tenant advocacy soon evolved into a full-service organization empowering communities at the intersection of public housing, aging, environmental degradation, and racial injustice.

Since then, MSK has continued to support and advocate for residents in other public housing communities, such as Richardson Dwellings in Clay Terrace, by offering youth development programs, neighborhood clean-ups, and intergenerational leadership training. We intentionally stand in the gap for individuals and families impacted by systemic barriers, including those with developmental disabilities and altered cognitive abilities, ensuring they are not excluded from community progress or denied access to essential resources.

MSK’s name reflects a sacred charge: to keep, uplift, and defend those society is quickest to forget.

What We Do: Programs with Purpose

Across our growing footprint, MSK implements programs that meet both immediate needs and long-term goals. From building climate resilience and expanding green job pathways, to advancing food access and intergenerational healing, we are working to repair what was broken, plant new seeds, and build what’s never been built before.

Applied Research Garden (ARG), Washington DC

Our flagship site in Ward 7 is a nationally recognized urban innovation hub, producing thousands of pounds of fresh produce annually while offering over 1,000 hours of sustainability and green workforce training each year. Through composting, permaculture, biochar experimentation, and solar-powered systems, we empower youth and adults to become environmental stewards and problem-solvers.

The garden’s transformation has also led to a documented reduction in local crime, thanks to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies, offering a living example of how environmental design supports public safety.

Core Program Areas
1. Green Job Readiness & Workforce Development
• Certifications and hands-on training in composting, biochar, solar energy, sustainable agriculture, and construction
• Career pathways for returning citizens, veterans, and low-income youth
2. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice
• Building solar-powered resilience hubs across Tulsa, DC, and Mississippi
• Turning vacant and neglected land into productive, safe community assets
3. Health & Wellness
• Holistic, culturally grounded healing through movement, nutrition, gardening, and mental health support
• Interventions designed for those often excluded from traditional care systems
4. Elder Advocacy & Intergenerational Healing
• Bridging seniors with youth through mentorship, oral history, and joint leadership
• Supporting aging residents to live with dignity, autonomy, and community connection
5. Public Housing Engagement & Disability Inclusion
• Hosting accessible workshops and programming for residents with developmental challenges
• Navigating public systems to ensure fair treatment, representation, and support

Advocacy as a Way of Life

MSK is not just a service provider—we are advocates and organizers. We:
• Champion community-driven legislation that ensures land, funding, and development benefit the people who live there
• Push for equitable representation in decision-making at the local and national levels
• Build relationships with HBCUs, grassroots coalitions, and technical assistance centers to scale best practices and shift narratives

Through participatory research, crime and health data analysis, and policy advocacy, we ensure that the voices of our people are at the center of change.

Governance Rooted in Stewardship

Our board is comprised of leaders with deep personal and professional ties to the work, including:
• Sharod Wade (Vice President) – A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and project manager who champions environmental justice and intergenerational strategy
• Muhsin Umar (President) – A leading expert in biochar and regenerative agriculture, committed to developing youth and green infrastructure
• Wallace Kirby (Treasurer) – A strategic advisor and elder statesman who has stewarded nonprofit growth and compliance for decades
• Kambridge Giles (Secretary) – A tech-savvy administrative leader who ensures operational and digital excellence

Every initiative reflects our collective commitment to biblically-rooted justice, sustainable transformation, and love in action.

MSK has received support from and partnered with:
• EPA Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)
• WK Kellogg Foundation
• DC Central Kitchen
• Pepco Sustainable Communities Grant
• Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub
• DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)

We’ve also been recognized for advancing environmental justice, food equity, and restorative systems change.

Get Involved

MSK is a movement of volunteers, faith leaders, practitioners, youth, and elders walking out a shared mission: to reclaim dignity, restore community, and reimagine what’s possible.

Whether you give financially, donate time, or offer in-kind resources — you become part of a legacy of transformation that spans generations and geographies.

Learn more at www.mskdc.org
Connect: service@mskdc.org | @msk_w7 on Instagram and Facebook