The National Coalition to Save Our Mall was founded as a coalition of professional and civic organizations and other concerned artists, historians, and citizens in the spring of 2000 to provide a national constituency dedicated to the protection and preservation of the National Mall in Washington, DC. It was incorporated in 2000 and received its tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service in March 2003.
Its mission is to seek a broad, forward-looking visionary plan for the National Mall that recognizes its value to all Americans as a symbol of American founding ideals, the People’s Place, and a stage for our evolving democracy. The Coalition is the only organized voice for the public on Mall matters.
“The DC Jazz Jam has provided a tremendous boost to DC’s indigenous jazz scene. [The] cadre of fine musicians at Dahlak have managed to create a warm, inviting, encouraging, and creative environment at their weekly jam sessions, which is no small accomplishment. Experienced professionals, like myself, attend the jam to relax, stretch out musically, and network with other players. But at the same time, the DC Jazz Jam has proved to be the perfect setting for younger talent to come out, and have some of their first experiences playing in front of an audience and to learn their craft in the laboratory of a nurturing jam session. In this manner, the DC Jazz Jam is but the latest chapter in Washington’s long history with America’s classical music, jazz.”