Operations Manager
Born and Raised in the District of Columbia, Josh has been working with Grassroots DC for the past 8 years and this year joins us as our Content Strategist. They received a BA in Architecture from University of Maryland and hope to use this background in advocating for better housing policy. Ida B. Wells is a source of great journalistic inspiration for them.
Around 10:00 AM, on Thursday, January 18, 2024, an Anacostia community member called 911 about a gas leak near the DanAkil Convenience Store on Marion Barry Avenue SE. Next door to the convenience store is the Baby Einstein Child Development Center. The staff at the childcare center quickly began packing up all of the children and rushed them to safety at a local business outside of the safety zone before the Fire/EMS arrived.
Conversation about the Residents of Ridgecrest's housing struggle from WPFW and Empower DC’s Taking Action on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 at 1:30pm.
Follow along with Grassroots DC’s reporting to see what happens next with the resident’s of Ridgecrest Community Campagin.
Join us on the lawn at 4000 E St. SE Washington, DC 20019 on Saturday September 30th at 11am for the launch of the Ridgecrest Community Campagin to take back control of the condominiums!
Josh and Liane discuss the concept of a slum condo by exploring what’s happening at Ridgecrest Condominiums. This segment was played on WPFW’s Voices with Vision on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 from 9am to 10am.
Follow along with Grassroots DC’s reporting to see what happens next with the resident’s of Ridgecrest Community Campagin.
Join us on the lawn at 4000 E St. SE Washington, DC 20019 on Saturday September 30th at 11am for the launch of the Ridgecrest Community Campagin to take back control of the condominiums!
A series of important events affecting our communities
Representation for Ward 8 residents is under attack. As you may have heard, Councilmember Trayon White (D, Ward 8) was arrested on a criminal complaint of bribery on August 18th. The claim alleges that White accepted payments in exchange for the extension of contracts with the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE). The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI, the D.C. Office of the Inspector General, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Washington Field Office.
Not unlike many other council members who have been involved in scandals and/or criminally charged, Trayon White is not perfect. The violence interruption programs that he supports are being credited for reducing crime and violence in Ward 8. If fully supported, they could transform policing to one that is more community-based. An increase in the number of violence interrupters may also result in a decrease in the need for the current number of patrol officers in the areas, something that the Office of the DC Auditor’s MPD audit suggests is needed. Trayon White’s involvement in a potential bribery case could jeopardize those programs. What's more consequential, is that the case could leave Ward 8 without DC council representation, in a city filled with residents who are not given equal representation in congress.
On Monday, September 9th at 7pm many residents of Ward 8 and the city at-large signed into a virtual community town hall hosted by Harriet’s Wildest Dreams (HWD) titled “What’s at Stake for Ward 8”. The meeting was facilitated by HWD’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, NeeNee Taylor and HWD Policy Organizer, Jillian Burford. Who, after grounding the meeting in the organization's principles, gave the virtual floor to Councilmember Robert White (D, At-large) to go over what will and may happen next in regards to Trayon White’s seat on the DC Council and several committees.
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Many mainstream media outlets are reporting as though Trayon is sure to be found guilty but during the community town hall many called for reminders that we are all innocent until proven guilty in this country. As an elected official, he continues to represent Ward 8 until voters decide otherwise. Federal charges don't change that immediately, and with an upcoming election, we'll soon find out who Ward 8 residents choose to represent them.