Aaron is a Information Technology leader and advisor with over 19 years of experience delivering high-impact solutions across the commercial, federal, and trade association sectors. Specializing in program and project management, he bridges the gap between complex business challenges and scalable IT strategies. Aaron has built a strong reputation as a collaborative problem solver and team leader dedicated to driving project success and elevating product offerings.

Deeply committed to community leadership, Aaron serves on the Board of Directors for Computer Core, helping underserved adults gain vital digital literacy and professional skills. He also actively shapes local infrastructure and civic policy as a committee member for ANC 7B, serving on both the Transportation and Public Space Committee and the Economic Development, Housing Justice, Zoning, and ABC Committee.

Aaron holds an M.B.A. in Information Systems Management from Southeastern University and a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He resides in Washington, DC, with his wife and two children. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, attending sporting events, and spending quality time with his family.

Over the past two years I built a supply-side progressivism group from nothing into a network of about 500 people, most of them new to DC civic life. We run events in free spaces. Usually, 20-50 show up, even for a narrow technical topic like health care accessibility. I raised the funding that sustains it now and recruited the volunteers who help run it. I would love to help the committee with these same things: recruiting, convening, fundraising, and retention!

​

I am a Latina who grew up working class in El Paso and started at community college. I can help reach renters, young professionals, transplants who vote but don't stay engaged otherwise. As an Add-On Member I would help the party grow!

At 86. I have 60 years of experience with national and DC politics 
During my career, I have served in numerous management positions 
Retiring as an SES member

We are at a critical inflection point in this nation’s history.  Bending but never breaking.  I am a Black millennial and granddaughter of a sharecropper who planted roots in Washington DC over 75 years ago.  The democratic party is still the party of the people and I am running to continue to fight for our voice as Washintonians who DESERVE an equitable and just country. 

​

I bring more than 15 years of public service and civic leadership experience spanning the U.S. Senate, DC Council, and community organizations. From advising and staffing Members of Congress in official and political capacities to serving on the board of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, I have developed a diverse skill set in strategic planning, project management, coalition building, community outreach, and leadership development.

​

I am a thoughtful, results-oriented leader with a track record of bringing people together, developing leaders, and creating opportunities for young people.  As chair of the Washington DC NAACP ACT-SO program, I have mentored countless youth throughout the city. I am passionate about creating an inclusive party that prioritizes youth voices and their civic engagement. I believe in calling folks in and centering the lived experiences of everyday Washingtonians.

As an add-on member, I would bring federal and local political experience, a deep understanding of the DNC and Democratic Party structure, and a commitment to ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of everyday Washingtonians.  I am ready to help build a stronger, more inclusive Democratic Party and advance the cause of DC Statehood.

“I want the seat, but the seat is not about me—the seat is about doing the work.”
 

I believe representation must come with work. I come from a community that is often underrepresented at political tables, and while Ward 5 is my home, my commitment is to residents across all eight wards of the District.

I am a “worker bee.” I am not seeking this position for personal gain, a title, or recognition. Having a seat at the table means having a responsibility to work, produce results, and create opportunities for others to have a seat at that table too.

I bring creativity, integrity, grassroots organizing, community outreach, event planning, fundraising, relationship building, and years of experience working directly with DC residents. I know how to bring people together, connect communities to resources, and turn ideas into action.

I want to help strengthen Democratic participation throughout DC by registering and engaging more Democratic voters, strengthening ward organizations, and reaching residents who have become disconnected from the political process. I also want to bring fresh ideas to fundraising and create more opportunities for residents to volunteer and become meaningfully involved.

Our Democratic organizations should be visible and active year-round in every ward, not only during elections.

I will make the calls, knock on doors, organize events, raise funds, build relationships, ask difficult questions, and stay until the work is finished. I am ready to bring that same work ethic to the DCDSC and help strengthen participation across all eight wards. Let me say this in two words:I’m ready to DEFEND DC.

In addition to my role as senior legislative policy advisor to a sitting councilmember, I also care deeply about my community and my city. I'm a Ward 8 homeowner with a vested interest in fostering safety, community, and belonging for myself and my neighbors. I am a friend, a sister, a mentor, a daughter, and most importantly, a Black woman who is passionate about giving back. Social justice and advocacy are not just job titles for me - they reflect my daily commitment to uplifting the voices of those traditionally silenced. My professional and academic experiences reinforce this commitment, and I'd be honored to continue that commitment within my local Democratic Party.

I believe I would be a strong Add-On Member of the DCDSC because I bring a combination of government experience, constituent services, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and strategic problem-solving. My career has centered on helping residents navigate government, addressing complex issues, building partnerships, and ensuring that community voices are reflected in decision-making.

​

As a Director of Constituent Services in the DC Council, I have firsthand experience working with residents across the District, responding to crises, navigating government agencies, and translating policy into meaningful assistance. I understand both the opportunities and challenges of engaging residents in our political process, particularly communities that may feel disconnected from government and political institutions.

​

I also bring experience working with nonprofit organizations, community leaders, elected officials, and grassroots stakeholders. Through these roles, I have developed strong skills in coalition building, outreach, strategic planning, communications, conflict resolution, and relationship management. I am comfortable bringing people with different perspectives to the table and finding areas of common purpose.

​

Most importantly, I would bring a service-oriented perspective to the DCDSC. I am interested in strengthening the Democratic Party’s connection with DC residents, not only during election cycles, but through sustained community engagement and meaningful civic participation.

I would be honored to contribute my experience, relationships, and commitment to the District while learning from and working alongside other members to build a stronger, more inclusive Democratic organization.
 

I am currently an Add-On Member of the DCDSC and am running for re-election as an Add-On Committeeman to the State Committee.  I am the best person to serve again as an Add-On Member because of my strong knowledge of the DCDSC and its activities as a current member, my eagerness to work together with the entire membership of the DCDSC to realize our goals, and my extensive experience in local and national Democratic politics.  I have worked for the D.C. Government in a number of capacities for many years.  I currently serve as an attorney for the D.C. Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, where I assist our local elected ANC Commissioners in a variety of matters.  I also worked previously at the D.C. Council and for several other District agencies.  In addition, I was an Alternate Delegate from D.C. for Kamala Harris at the DNC Convention in 2024 and Joe Biden in 2020.  I am skilled in organizing, outreach, communications, campaigning and voter education.  I strongly believe that we need to move the State Committee and this city forward through new ideas and thinking.  I am also inspired by the energy and passion of the individuals we recently elected to lead the State Committee, and I want to be able to continue to work together with our new leadership and the entire membership of the DCDSC as an Add-On Member to achieve our important goals.  I respectfully ask for your support. 

The DCDSC needs to bring energy and purpose to our mission to achieve statehood, protect democracy and improve our home city, I have been a representative to the DCDSC for the Metropolitan Women;s Democratic Club and the DC Democratic Women's Club for 2 years, I have been active in the Ward 3 Democrats for 7 years and co-chair the Ward 3 Democrats Transportation & Environment Task Force. The DCDSC and the Democratic Party are facing significant challenges and I would work with the Committee to identify actions to address these challenges. I am a good problem solver, in my career and my more recent civic involvement, I have demonstrated my capability -- I have testified on behalf of a number of environmental actions in the city council, I have been involved in several strategy sessions with the DCDSC and I am currently working on issues including housing vouchers and other housing issues and to protect my Chevy Chase neighborhood. I also feel that Ward 3 needs to have more representation on the DCDSC as we bring new insights to the Committee and  should better coordinate between our Ward leadership and the state party leadership, I would facilitate this coordination.

I bring three strengths to the DCDSC: the strategy of a campaign organizer, the perspective of a global advocate, and the commitment of someone who has volunteered in DC public schools. 

Together, these experiences prepare me to serve as an Add-On Member who connects political goals to people’s everyday lives.

​

Campaign work has taught me that a compelling message matters, but trust determines whether people act on it. I bring skills in outreach, communication, collaboration, and organizing, along with an understanding that meaningful engagement requires listening before asking for support. I would help translate Democratic values into clear reasons for residents to participate, stay involved, and hold leadership accountable.

Global advocacy has strengthened my ability to navigate differences, recognize shared interests, and approach challenges with both empathy and resolve. It has taught me to ask whose perspective is missing, whose opportunity is limited, and what practical action can change that. Those questions would guide my contributions to the DCDSC.

​

Volunteering in DC public schools has grounded my advocacy in the experiences of children, educators, and families. It reinforces my conviction that educational opportunity must remain central to our work, because a city’s future takes shape in its classrooms.

My contribution would be creative thinking backed by disciplined follow-through. I am prepared to build relationships, contribute ideas, support collective decisions, and do the work that makes those decisions matter. I seek this role because I am ready to help make participation more accessible, representation more responsive, and our shared Democratic commitments tangible. 

​Hello! I am Antonio Suarez, a Democrat in Washington, DC. I've been part of the community for more than 10 years. I live in the Marshall Heights neighborhood in Ward 7 and have been involved at the neighborhood-level to improve my community for just as long. I served on the Marshall Heights Civic Association leadership team during Keith Hasan-Towery's tenure. Together, we advocated for increased resources from DC leaders and government for Marshall Heights. Especially, in the areas of transportation and the redevelopment of the Fletcher-Johnson Campus. Throughout this time, I have donated and participated on and off in DC Democratic Party events and meetings. Today, I host a Free DC monthly coffee social in Ward 7 to provide neighbors an opportunity to get to know each other, learn about the work Free DC is doing, and what's going on in our neighborhoods. I bring a history of collaboration, overcoming obstacles, and setting visions for action. I would love to bring that experience along into this opportunity to increase my involvement and contribute in a meaningful way to the work that is ahead of the party and our city in the coming years. 

I'm running for Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee because this is a critical moment for DC and our party, with federal overreach and rising costs hitting our neighbors, and I want to commit my time and experience to meeting it.

I've spent my career at the intersection of strategy and execution: as a management consultant on national security projects for the federal government, I learned to execute complex initiatives and manage sprawling IT portfolios and budgets.

After pivoting to politics, I managed and worked on campaigns from city council to the presidential level, helping uplift a new generation of leadership across the country. There, I developed fundraising, earned and paid media, and coalition-building skills.

I also served in the Biden administration on some of the largest program implementations in modern history, learning to navigate complex policy while building and managing public-private partnerships.

Since then, I've led multistate issue campaigns shaping media narratives and public sentiment on hot-button policy topics, engaged with Congress, governors, and presidential candidates, and used that perch to advocate for DC statehood.

DC is my home. My wife and I are raising our two sons here, and I'm a proud DCPS parent and PTA president who has volunteered across a range of DC organizations. I'm also deeply involved in DC's adult sports leagues, which help fund and grow youth sports across the District.

I would be honored to bring national experience and local commitment to the DCDSC, and I'm ready to get to work.
 

Growing up as a child of immigrants, I decided to dedicate my life to service. That upbringing taught me early on what it means to show up for your community, even when it’s difficult. That’s the lens I bring to everything I do, from my work as a former military officer and government contractor, to my commitment to the AAPI community. Through the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), I’ve taken a workshop on the stages of campaigning, and I’ve advocate on Capitol Hill about protect the Southeast Asian community and immigration rights. I care deeply about seeing more AAPI voices represented in political leadership, and that commitment continues to grow. 

Passion means more to me when it’s backed by real work. That’s why I earned my Masters in Public Management from Johns Hopkins, and why I am finishing my second Masters in Environmental Science and Policy there as well. I believe through policy and collective action we can build a better future for generations to come. Being the child of immigrants means I don’t take representation for granted. Diversity is what makes us a strong state and country. It’s something we have to actively build and protect, especially somewhere as diverse as DC while fighting for our statehood. 

I will bring the same mix of heart and rigor to DCDSC, someone who leads with empathy and never stops doing homework. 
 

I would bring to the DCDSC a combination of civic leadership, communications expertise, organizational experience, and a deep commitment to moving Washington, D.C. forward through collaboration and effective Democratic leadership.

I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and I am now raising my own family here. I am an active member of the Ward 2 Democrats and currently serve as the ANC Commissioner for 2F04. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that strong communities and strong political organizations are built by bringing people together, listening to different perspectives, and working collaboratively toward shared goals.

Professionally, I have spent more than two decades leading operations, marketing, communications, fundraising, partnerships, and community engagement for mission-driven organizations. I know how to build coalitions, communicate effectively, organize people, develop strategy, and—just as importantly—turn plans into action.

I believe the Democratic Party is strongest when we focus on what unites us while creating space for constructive discussion and different perspectives. D.C. faces significant opportunities and challenges, and progress requires collaboration among elected officials, party leaders, community organizations, and residents across all eight wards.

As an Add-On Member, I would bring an operator’s mindset, strong communications skills, energy, reliability, and a willingness to do the work. I want to help strengthen the DCDSC, broaden participation, build greater unity within the Democratic Party, and help move the District forward.

I would bring to the DCDSC a combination of elected leadership, community engagement, leadership development, and political organizing experience.

As a current elected member of the DC State Board of Education, I have had the opportunity to represent Ward 6, work alongside residents and community leaders, navigate complex policy issues, and build coalitions around issues that matter to families across the District. Although my term will conclude in January, I want to remain deeply engaged in strengthening our local Democratic Party and developing the next generation of leaders.

Professionally, much of my career has focused on identifying, developing, coaching, and supporting people who want to make a difference in their communities. I bring experience in candidate development, political strategy, program design, team leadership, and building systems that help people move from interest to meaningful action.

I would also bring a strong commitment to expanding who sees themselves as part of the Democratic Party and who has access to leadership opportunities within it. Strong parties are built not only during elections, but through year-round relationships with residents, neighborhood leaders, advocates, and emerging candidates.

As an Add-On Member, I would bring a collaborative approach, a willingness to do the work, and experience connecting people, organizations, and opportunities. I would be excited to help the DCDSC strengthen its leadership pipeline, deepen community engagement, support Democratic candidates, and ensure that more Washingtonians see the party as a place where they can participate, lead, and belong.

DC is more than where I live. It is home. I was born and raised here, educated here, and at 19 years old I started my career in public service. Since then, serving DC residents has been at the heart of the work I have done.

I have spent years working directly with residents, helping people get answers, connecting them with District agencies, organizing community events and making sure their concerns did not get lost in the shuffle. I have also worked behind the scenes managing staff, schedules and office operations. I know how to bring people together, get things organized and, most importantly, follow through.

What I bring to the DCDSC is someone who truly knows and loves this city. I know DC from working in government, but I also know DC as a resident. I know the conversations that happen on our blocks, at community meetings, at cookouts and around kitchen tables. I understand that people want to feel heard, but they also want to see action.

I am not someone who needs to be the loudest person in the room. I am a worker. I listen, I show up and I get things done. I also believe there is always room to bring more people to the table, especially people who may not always feel connected to politics or know how to get involved.

Serving as an Add-On Member would give me another opportunity to pour into the city that poured so much into me. For me, this is personal. DC raised me, and I want to continue doing my part to serve it.

I am the best person to serve as an Add-On Member to the DC Democratic State Committee because I bring election protection experience, almost a decade of roots in Ward 7, and a record of raising resources for mission based organizations. 

​

On DC primary day, I led a team of eleven volunteers including attorneys for the Janeese Lewis George campaign that covered every polling site across all eight wards, so every vote counted and the process was fair. We made sure that all volunteers understood election protection issues and were on the look out for any violations. I also responded directly to sites and directed the team to respond directly to sites that were operating outside of DC election law.  I will bring that work to the Party for the general election on November 3rd.

​

This commitment grows from sixteen years as an attorney. At the DC Office of the Attorney General, I served as Assistant Chief of both the Criminal and Juvenile Sections, developing strategies that held people accountable for harm while keeping our response fair and just. I then joined senior staff, shaping policy and programming for young people citywide. 

​

I live in Ward 7 with my husband and first grade son, and I chair the Ward 7 Education Council, where we are strengthening parent-teacher organizations and parent voice. As PTO president at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School for two years, I grew membership and fundraising.

As founder of Command Joy Co., I help mission-driven organizations build the infrastructure to attract the funding they deserve. A party committee needs people who can raise resources and build systems, and I have done both. I would be honored to serve as an add-on member.
 

I am the best person to serve as an Add-On Member because of my dedication to empowering communities to get involved and a track record of getting our people out when we need them. I am a lifelong resident of Ward 7 with organizing experience at both the local and federal level. In addition to my organizing experience I have also worked to administer DC government programs and have a deep understanding of our multi-family housing system.

​

I spent three years working for the Greater Washington Urban League. I helped to deliver COVID-era rental assistance to DC residents. In that time also served as a Data Analyst at the Greater Washington Urban League, helping to process monthly rental payments in excess of $500k. For the last three years I've held events across the city featuring local films, historical exhibits and go-go concerts that were open to the community. My event planning experience has resulted in tangible community engagement and awareness building around pivotal issues facing our city.

​

I have been a community organizer since 2018 when I began working with the descendants of two families whose ancestors were forced out of Northwest Washington due eminent domain. I traveled between Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida advocating and working with communities and legislators on a range of issues that required mobilization at the municipal and federal level. For the last 6 years my organizing has been squarely focused on housing in DC and mobilizing tenants for better housing conditions.

In January 2026 I began my campaign as Ward 4 candidate for the DCDSC with the Free DC Slate. I actively participated in chat channels and meetings to refine slate objectives. I am proud of our work together and encouraged knowing it will support the revision and implementation of the Party platform.

As a first-time candidate, I enjoyed engaging with my community in a new way- talking about the committee, the party, the importance of DC Statehood and Home Rule, gathering signatures for my candidacy, and working on the signature validation team. My experience demonstrated the remaining work in voter education, motivation, valid registration, and party affiliation. As a data analyst by training, I can support identifying low levels of party representation and strategize for voter education and outreach.

As an active community participant in the DC Food Policy Council; on the Wasted Food Working Group, and more recently the DC Jail Food Working Group, I am very familiar with the food landscape in and surrounding DC.  As a food waste researcher and project manager, I am familiar with successful food policy, procurement, and planning approaches required to ensure a resilient food system in all eight Wards.

The opportunity to join the committee as an Add-on Member would allow me to continue the work I began as a Ward 4 candidate and continue as a community member. I would support the committee in designing a party platform that reflects the needs of all DC residents while contributing to strategies that advance DC Statehood and Home Rule. These efforts are vital to ensuring that the people of DC can achieve true democratic governance and have a stronger role in shaping the decisions that affect their communities

I believe I would be a strong Add-On Member because I bring hands-on experience in DC politics, grassroots organizing, constituent engagement, and youth political involvement. Most importantly, I have demonstrated that I am willing to do the day-to-day work necessary to strengthen Democratic organizing and expand participation across the District. As an intern with Robert White for Congress, I have worked directly on voter outreach and grassroots organizing through canvassing, phone banking, GOTV efforts, event coordination, and volunteer engagement. Previously, while interning for U.S. Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa, I attended congressional and community events, conducted legislative research, and worked with congressional and nonprofit offices to advance DC statehood initiatives. These experiences have taught me how to communicate with voters, work within political organizations, and build relationships around shared goals. I am also actively involved in DC’s political community through organizations including the GW College Democrats, GW Votes, GW Swing Left, and Ward 2 Democrats. Through these experiences, I have developed skills in outreach, organization, coalition building, event planning, and political communication. As an Add-On Member, I would particularly focus on strengthening the DCDSC’s engagement with young Democrats. College students and other young Washingtonians should see the local Democratic Party as an accessible place to organize, lead, and make a tangible difference in their communities. I would bring both that perspective and the practical organizing experience necessary to help turn engagement into lasting participation. I bring a youth voice to the DCSC and how the party can advocate for younger democrats in DC.

I think I'm pretty good at politics, and I enjoy working with other people who are, which includes anyone who might be reading this. I have been involved in the rebuilding of the Ward 1 Dems, which has thought me a lot and given me ideas of how foster a local Democratic party that is modernized and more engaging. Along the way, I got to help plan and count votes for the first ranked-choice ballot endorsement meeting of a ward Dem club; I am excited for a DC Dems that proudly embraces RCV -- and non-citizen voting -- and advances pro-voter interests in the national party.

I try my best to be a constant student of DC history and how DC residents have successfully built power to advance home rule and statehood in the past. 

I have a strong understanding of local media and DC government -- I was a writer/editor for 730DC for ~4 years, and have worked for Council for the last 8, in both legislative and comms roles. 

Above all, I fucking love the District of Columbia and I think our state Democratic party serves an important role in its future.

Washington is my home, and having lived in DC since 2014, I care deeply about its future. My career has been dedicated to advancing the Democratic agenda, from serving as the Midwest States Counsel on the Biden and Harris campaigns to a policy advisor in the Obama White House.

Through these roles, I built deep operational expertise and trusted relationships with the DNC General Counsel, Convention General Counsel, Rules and Bylaws Committee outside counsel, and state party leaders throughout the Midwest, including Michigan, Wisconsin, the Minnesota DFL, and Nebraska.

Today, as Executive Director of Capital Rights Lab, my commitment is grounded in local action. I have represented neighbors in petition challenges before the D.C. Board of Elections and against unauthorized National Guard intrusions, alongside representing asylum seekers pro bono before USCIS. I have testified before the DC Council on the federal takeover of the MPD and ranked-choice voting, and published commentary advocating for DC statehood in GGWash, The 51st, the George Washington Law Review (forthcoming 2026), the Anchorage Daily News, and The Tennessean.

Separately, as an elected Ward 1 Precinct Representative and ANC candidate, I am fully invested in our neighborhoods. I am eager for change within the party, ready to leverage my experience, and committed to helping deliver results. I am running for Add-On Member to leverage my national party relationships directly on behalf of our local movement, uniting grassroots D.C. advocacy with the DNC to fiercely advance our statehood agenda.

I am the best person to continue serving as an Add-On Member because I bring a combination of demonstrated service, leadership experience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to do the work. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of serving as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee. I have attended meetings, remained actively engaged, and gained a deeper understanding of both the opportunities before the DCDSC and the challenges we must address together.

I bring extensive experience no in community engagement, public policy, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. I served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner from 2018 to 2024, including four years as Chair, and as 1st Vice Chair of the Ward 7 Democrats. In these roles, I organized candidate forums, helped coordinate a straw poll and Unity Breakfast, supported strategic planning, tracked voter participation, and worked to increase community engagement.

Most importantly, I am a doer. I know how to take an idea, develop a strategy, bring people together, and move the work forward. I also understand how to work effectively with people who may have different perspectives while remaining focused on our shared goals.

If selected to continue serving, one of my priorities will be strengthening the DCDSC’s advocacy around

DC self-determination. At a time when the District’s autonomy continues to face challenges, we must remain focused on freeing DC, protecting Home Rule, regaining and strengthening local oversight, and advancing the fight for DC Statehood.

I am ready to continue showing up, contributing, and doing the work.

Hello I am Deonte Leach born and raised in Washington DC and plan on staying here for the reaming of my years in this great city of mine. Greadutated from DC public schools got my high school diploma from Ballou Senior high School in 2010 in the great Ward 8 took a break for 1 year to decided what I wanted to do with my life I knew that I always like to help people succeed in life. As a young boy I always like politics as well. I volunteered for my first campaign under Mayor Fenty. and Vincent Gray, Rodney Red Grant and now Janeese lewis George. But during  my mind to late 20's I got an internship from DOES youth department where I received internship at the office of zoning for 2 years following my internship I received a Job offer and I worked at that department for 5 years then got another higher position at the DCRA Department of consumer and regulatory affairs. And at those jobs it's about serving and helping others get what they need to be successful in Washington DC.I also was a volunteer for Concern black men organization for 3 years.and I served as volunteer for the Capitol Pride Alliance DC for 6 years. 

And  with all my connections in DC Government,  Business and Communites and My knowledge in the city I know I can do more and ready to do more to make DC better I am ready to learn more on the way because u never stop learning in life.I am ready to do more to advocate for more in dc and ready to stand for DC State Hood once and for all. One thing that life has taught me is that it's not a one person thing it's not a me thing and not to be self centered or selfish. It's about giving up half your self to do more for the common good of humanity. I am ready to serve on day one.

Ready To Serve Today for a Better Dc Tomorrow.
Deonte Leach 

I would bring to the DCDSC a combination of grassroots organizing experience, communications expertise, and a record of public and community service across the District.

For the past several years, I have worked at the intersection of organized labor, education, community organizing, and local government. As a three-term Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 1, I have worked directly with residents, District agencies, elected officials, and community organizations to address neighborhood concerns and connect residents with their government. As Vice President of the DC Latino Caucus, I have also worked to strengthen the political voice and participation of one of the District’s growing constituencies.

My labor and political organizing experience would also strengthen the Committee. Through my leadership in the Washington Teachers’ Union and my current work as a communications organizer, I have experience developing communications strategies, organizing members, building leadership, and translating complex issues into information people can understand and act on. My involvement with FREE DC has also given me experience organizing around Home Rule, self-determination, and the broader fight for full democracy and statehood for District residents.

Most importantly, I would be an active, working member of the DCDSC. I would bring skills in communications, political organizing, member engagement, coalition building, and bilingual outreach to help strengthen the Committee’s relationships with Democratic voters and organizations across the District and expand meaningful opportunities for residents to participate in local Democratic politics.

My name is Dr. LaJoy Johnson-Law and I believe I am well-positioned to serve as an Add-On Member to the DCDSC because my commitment to Ward 8 and the District is rooted in service, relationships, and a deep belief that our democracy is strongest when residents feel seen, heard, and empowered to participate.

​

As the elected Ward 8 State Board of Education Representative, I have worked to bring families, young people, schools, government leaders, and community partners together around issues that directly affect our communities. From engaging students in civic education and advocacy, to helping mobilize hundreds of families through Recess at the Capitol, to advancing policies at the State Board of Education, I have demonstrated that I can turn community concerns into meaningful action.

Additionally, I would bring the DCDSC strong community engagement, coalition-building, policy, communication, and advocacy skills. More importantly, I bring relationships with residents who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional political spaces. I believe we must continually create pathways for young people, families, and historically underrepresented communities to see themselves not simply as voters, but as leaders and decision-makers.

I would be honored to bring that same energy to the DC Democratic State Committee—building bridges across our city, strengthening civic participation, developing the next generation of Democratic leaders, and ensuring Ward 8 has a strong and authentic voice at the table.

My name is Ebony Payne, I am a third-generation Washingtonian, and I currently serve as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for the historic Ward 7 community of Kingman Park where I was raised. I am running to be an Add-On DC Democratic State Committee Member to support the effort of achieving DC Statehood. I am uniquely qualified because I bring highly valuable connections with nationally elected Democratic Congressmen and Senators in red, purple, and blue states that can be strategically utilized to build relationships in Congress and foster allies for our cause. 

For the past 4 years, my public service has been focused on the local ANC level and most may know me for my strong advocacy work to create a community driven RFK Stadium Campus redevelopment. This issue led to my 2024 campaign for Ward 7 DC Council where I was the runner up, placing second out of ten candidates. During the campaign, I received nearly 20 endorsements from Congressional Democrats including from states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. 

Now more than ever, DC residents understand the importance of having local control over our affairs, especially our budget and National Guard. We must end taxation without representation and to do so, we need a strategic plan. The 2026 mid-term elections present a unique opportunity to build on the momentum the Democratic party is experiencing nationally. It would be an honor to have your vote and achieve DC Statehood in my lifetime.
 

I am asking for your support for my election as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC). As a dedicated District resident since the early 1980s and a community activist since the 1990s, I am prepared to leverage my extensive leadership experience to expand our party’s reach and elevate resident engagement through the Communications Committee while advancing our national call for DC Statehood support. 
 
My background reflects a lifelong commitment to the District’s political and civic advancement. I have previously served the community as a U.S. (Shadow) Representative, President of the DC Latino Caucus, and an officer for both the DCDSC and the Ward 5 Democrats. Additionally, my strategic organizing capabilities are grounded in firsthand experience as a Presidential Campaign State Field Coordinator.

Professionally, I offer a unique blend of analytical and technological expertise. I hold a B.A. in Finance from George Washington University and an M.A. in Economics from American University. As a technology professional, media founder (DCiReporter.com), and contributing writer for national and local outlets, I possess the technical and communications skill set required to modernize our party’s messaging strategy.

I respectfully ask for your vote to help build a stronger, more inclusive, and highly communicative DC Democratic Party.  Thank you for the support.
 

I am a native Washingtonian, two-term ANC Commissioner, entrepreneur, and Vice President of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society. Across each of these roles, I have built a record of growing organizations, strengthening engagement, and getting results.

As Vice President of UDCNAS, I have helped lead efforts that doubled membership and organizational funding while strengthening the Society’s communications and digital presence. Social media is today’s center stage, and I understand how to use modern communications to turn an organization’s priorities into messages that inform, engage, and mobilize its community.

I am also an entrepreneur who has built and operated multiple businesses, bringing firsthand experience in budgeting, financial management, business development, and creating sustainable revenue. Combined with my professional background in government procurement, that experience would allow me to contribute meaningfully to the State Committee, including through its finance work.

As a two-term ANC Commissioner representing historic Barry Farm, I have worked directly with residents and District agencies on housing, public safety, development, senior advocacy, and quality-of-life issues.

I bring government experience, business acumen, grassroots organizing, fundraising, and communications together in one package. I am seeking this opportunity because I am ready to put that experience to work strengthening the DC Democratic State Committee, expanding engagement, and effectively communicating its work to District residents.

As a lifelong Democrat and proud Ward 8 resident, it would be an honor to serve as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee.

My political journey began here in the District. At 22, after traveling to South Carolina to support Barack Obama alongside community leaders such as Philip Pannell, I returned home determined to organize Washingtonians behind his historic campaign. I began as a volunteer and was later elected co-chair of DC for Obama.

Since then, I have worked on a presidential campaign, organized with national labor unions, and served as National Field Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, helping elect Democrats across the country during the 2014 midterm elections.

My commitment to public service extends beyond electoral politics. As a gun violence survivor and longtime advocate, I helped lead the movement that resulted in the creation of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. As its Deputy Director, I helped advance 54 executive actions and nearly $42 billion in federal investments supporting community violence intervention, crisis intervention, mental health, and other public-safety priorities.

As an Add-On Member, I would bring extensive electoral experience, a strong policy background, and a deep commitment to the city I have called home for nearly 20 years. I would be proud to put that experience to work strengthening our party, supporting Democratic candidates, engaging voters (particularly in Ward 8) and advancing the policy priorities of the DCDSC.
 

I believe that joint commitment to results is more important than to any ideology that can divide us.  Although relatively new to the State Committee, I am not new to DC politics nor public service, since I served on numerous campaigns in DC and in battleground states.  I could be considered an older candidate, but I can add experience, expertise, and balance to the DCDSC demographics.  Age should NOT be the determinant of my ability to be an asset to the work of the organization.  I would like to continue the work I’ve begun, especially on the Bylaws Committee. For nearly 4 years, I have served diligently on the State Committee, as well as with the Ward 5 Democrats and I believe I would be well suited to serve on the Black Caucus or the Senior Caucus.  
 

I am a skillful organizer, a lifelong learner and a former DMPED Communications Director. I served as a Harris Delegate at 2024 DNC Convention, vice chair of the Ward 5 Democrats, President of the DC Federation of Democratic Women, and Co-Chair with Christine Pelosi on the National Federation of Democratic Women in Blue Advocacy Committee.  I am President of the Eleanor Holmes Norton Legacy Fund which provides scholarships to students at the UDC School of Law; and I am a member of the Shiloh Social Justice Ministry.  I have an MPA from GWU in Public Administration and Policy; and most recently worked with the US Dept. of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. 

I believe I am well-positioned to serve as an Add-On Member because my record reflects a sustained commitment to public service, responsible governance, and direct community engagement. As a native Washingtonian, my commitment to the District is both professional and personal. I understand that public service requires remaining accessible, informed, accountable, and responsive to the people we represent.

I bring government experience, policy and legal analysis, constituent advocacy, strategic communication, and coalition-building. Throughout my career, I have worked alongside residents, elected officials, community leaders, and government agencies to navigate complex issues, interpret laws and administrative processes, and move matters toward meaningful resolution. My legal education has further strengthened my ability to examine issues critically, understand institutional responsibilities, and approach decisions with respect for both substance and due process.

I also understand how to build relationships across communities and institutions, identify common ground, communicate directly, and stand firm when circumstances require it. I am comfortable asking difficult questions, briefing leadership, engaging residents, and ensuring that decisions remain grounded in facts.

Most importantly, I do not view this opportunity as another title. I view it as another responsibility to serve the city that raised me. Representation is not ceremonial; it requires judgment, preparation, integrity, and accountability. I am prepared to bring those qualities, along with my lived experience and record of government service, to the DCDSC and contribute meaningfully from day one.
 

My background in advocacy and policy makes me a strong candidate to serve on the DC DSC. I have a strong understanding of the history of the Democratic Party, writing my undergraduate thesis on the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the Democratic Party in the 1980s, with a specific focus on the DC Democratic Party. 

Furthermore, I have been an advocate for the Black LGBTQ/SGL+ community, working with the National Black Justice Collective. Finally, I gained experience by working on a variety of local and federal political campaigns, which familiarized me with the process of organizing electoral coalitions and speaking with voters about the issues.

I am an active member of the DC Democratic Party and have attended several official party events, including the Democratic Party Holiday Party and various Ward 1 Dem events. That engagement gave me familiarity with the stakeholders and citizens involved with the party.

My academic background would be an asset in this position. My degree in public administration taught me how to analyze and manage organizations, which is a skill that would serve me well in this role.

During my time at American University, I researched DC-specific policy issues. I delivered a presentation about an attempt by Congressional Republicans to pre-empt local safety regulations and completed my capstone project on the role of Business Improvement Districts in local sanitation policy, which included original research. My familiarity with local issues and strong research skills would be an asset as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee.

This June, DC Democrats voted for a party that takes bold collective action, defends our neighbors, and fights for DC’s right to govern itself. I want to help deliver on that mandate.

I’ve served DC as a twice-elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, where I founded the ANC Rainbow Caucus, and as a mayoral appointee leading citywide policy and grantmaking. I don’t want DC Democrats to be a party people forget about between elections, or worse, a party that forgets what it’s here to do.

​

I’ve led change inside institutions before. As Vice President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, I helped lead its transformation into Capital Stonewall Democrats, honoring our history while opening the doors to a new generation. I founded the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition, which grew to 30+ organizations and won $10M+ in annual public investments.

​

As an Add-On Member, I would add support to:

​

Build the Bench: Create an intergenerational advocacy series pairing longtime organizers with young Washingtonians to build relationships, skills, and the next generation of DC leaders.

Show Up Year-Round: Keep the party visible and useful between elections through testimony, voter registration, rapid-response issue support, and service in every ward.

Fill the Room. Fund the Work: Organize events and raise resources. I helped lead WorldPride 2025 preparations across 65+ agencies and 380+ events. I know how to bring people together and turn participation into resources.

​

I can commit 10–15 hours a month, and more when it counts. When the Committee calls, I’ll show up.

DC deserves a party that acts. Let’s build it together.

Hello, Washington Democrats! My name is Jesse, I’m a policy analyst and a community organizer. I’ve been in the city for 5 years so far, having come here to pursue a Masters degree at Georgetown in Public Policy. I’ve spent most of my adult life in political spaces, and I’d like to bring my experience to the State Committee.

​

I’ve done this kind of work before: I came to DC from Washington state, where I first got involved in Democratic Party politics. For several years, I was involved with my county organization, and also represented the county to the State Committee, where I served on the Exec Board, and the Rules Committee. I saw what makes a party successful, and also what doesn’t work as effectively. 

Since moving to DC, I have been involved with the Ward 5 party, where I serve as the Recording Secretary. I spent much of this year working for the campaign to re-elect Zachary Parker in Ward 5, and the campaign to elect Oye Owolewa to the at-large seat.

​

I fundamentally believe that both the country and the Democratic Party need institutional change, and I am committed to doing my part in bringing about that change. As a city, we just selected Jannese Lewis George as our incoming mayor, and we’ve given her a more progressive council. Let's keep pushing to set her up for success in fighting for the city that we all love. I humbly ask for your support.
 

I am applying to serve as an Add-On Member because I believe the DC Democratic Party can be a stronger organizing force, and I have spent the last few years building my skills to help make that happen.

​

As Chair of ANC 1E, I know how to help residents feel heard. I regularly knock doors in my SMD and drop off newsletters so residents can keep up to date without having to attend evening meetings. I remain accessible to my constituents and have learned how to navigate the DC government to improve our parks, roads, and agencies. 

​

Earlier this year, I led an effort pushing the Office of Unified Communications to improve 311, which prompted District listening sessions, a City Cast DC episode, and discussions on what the future of 311 should look like.

​

I also bring experience as a three-time treasurer, twice for campaigns and currently for the Ward 1 Democrats. Through this experience, I’ve developed tools to automate OCF reporting, and I would love to bring that to the DCDSC.

​

With DistrictJosh.com, I’ve built civic tools to help residents understand election results, the DC budget, pool and splash pad closures, and even DC's opaque municipal regulations. I would love to help the DCDSC with data challenges and build tools that help Democrats across the city make their voices count.

​

If elected, I will work to build a party that shows up for DC residents the way I try to show up for my neighbors.
 

I am the best person to serve as an Add-On Member because I bring a unique combination of local leadership, hands-on community advocacy, professional expertise, and a demonstrated commitment to serving Ward 8 and DC.

​

As the incumbent Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for SMD 8C08, I have gained firsthand experience listening to residents, building partnerships, navigating District government, and advocating for solutions. Since being sworn in in October 2025, I have focused on public safety, housing, seniors, youth, grocery access, and community improvements. This experience gives me a direct understanding of residents’ priorities and the importance of connecting community concerns with broader District-wide action.

​

I also bring more than 15 years of professional experience in strategic planning, project management, financial oversight, risk management, governance, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership. With a background in accounting, an MBA, and PMP certification, I bring the ability to develop strategy, manage resources, strengthen processes, build coalitions, and move initiatives from ideas to measurable results.

​

I would bring to the DCDSC a perspective that is both community-centered and results-driven, with a focus on voter education and engagement, stronger outreach, and deeper connections between the Democratic Party, Ward 8, and communities across DC.

​

I show up, listen, collaborate, and follow through—and I would bring that same commitment, energy, and accountability to the DCDSC.
 

I am seeking to serve as an Add-On Member because I believe the Democratic Party is strongest when we organize beyond election season and bring more Washingtonians into the work of our party.

My career has been built at the intersection of politics, community organizing, and culture. As the Executive Director of Long Live GoGo, co-founder of the Free DC Project, former Organizing Director of DC Vote, and former National Committeewoman for the DC Young Democrats, I have organized locally and nationally around DC statehood, Home Rule, voting rights, and racial justice. I have worked with residents, artists, nonprofits, elected officials, national advocacy organizations, and members of Congress—and I know how to build coalitions among people who may not traditionally see themselves as part of the same political space.

​

Running for DNC National Committeewoman strengthened my commitment to this work. While I did not win that race, I built relationships across the District, listened to voters, and saw firsthand both the opportunities and gaps in how our party engages residents. I want to bring those lessons to the DCDSC.

​

I bring organizing experience, coalition building, fundraising, communications, event production, and the ability to connect politics with culture in ways that reach people beyond traditional party spaces.

Most importantly, I am a doer. I know how to take an idea from a meeting room into the community, organize people around it, and build the partnerships necessary to move it forward. I want to help make the DCDSC more visible, accessible, and connected to the people it represents.

I believe I am the most qualified to serve as an Add-On Member because of my service history and determination to uphold our democratic values. As a former U.S. Army Officer, I have served the American people at home and abroad as a Missile Defender, protecting my fellow soldiers from attack.

Recently, I had the opportunity to serve as D.C.'s NAACP Delegate at the Chicago National Convention, where we ratified over 90 resolutions to expand the fight for civil rights. Combined with my degree from North Carolina A&T State University, I hold strong values of inclusion and participation, regardless of one's social and economic background. I will bring a hunger for progress to the D.C. Democratic Party and fight for a free district. 

​As a proud DC Dem, native Washingtonian, lifelong member of the Carpenters Union, and a returning citizen, I know the power of our movement to bring change to working class men and women across Washington D.C. I am ready to create the next generation of middle class workers throughout the District, and I know that advocating for an affordability agenda rooted in good union jobs for everyone is my mission in life. Our party is the party of second chances and our shared calling is to create a city where everyone can thrive no matter who they are or what their background is. I am a workforce development leader dedicated to advocating for our youth, second chance citizens, and the rights of workers everywhere. I am ready to serve and give our most disadvantaged the chance to live and flourish in the city I've called my home for my entire life.

Service for the common good is a pillar for creating experiences that help me become the person that I want to be.  Through community, I show up to learn from the people that I respect and admire.  During many years of community service with multiple community organizations, I’ve learned of the efforts that the DC Dems make and the recent changes in leadership.  When I saw the recent opening to be an add-on member in a post, I was excited to see the opening that I would like to fill.
I live from the inside, out.  Meaning, I work to make myself better, so I am better able to make my family and community better.   In that spirit, I see DC not as a piece of land, but a community of people.  DC is my favorite city in the world.

My father had me read the Washington Post during my school years through the late 80s and early 90s.  Since then, I’ve been frustrated that government officials would prioritize the penal system over education.  Through my lived experiences, I’ve watched the government fail young people that look like me repeatedly.  I read a quote on the Douglass bridge that summarized my thoughts perfectly… “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”  

If believe that the DC Dems’ ideals align with mine, and if that’s the case I would like to help to solidify a state party platform and engage neighbors in the political process. 

I am the best person to serve as an Add-On Member in the DC Democratic State Committee because I am deeply invested in my community, I am an organizer, and I am a dedicated advocate for DC statehood. I would come into this role with a strong understanding of progressive public policy and a people-first mindset.

​

As a DMV native, I have been politically engaged in the DC area for my entire adult life. I have written post cards to voters, canvassed, and text banked. I am an active member of my community, both in Ward 2 and as a queer person. I am also a proud union member in The NewsGuild-CWA. Currently, I’m spending my free time preparing to bargain for our next contract, and fighting to protect DC’s autonomy in the wake of authoritarian attacks and ongoing disenfranchisement.

​

Some skills I would bring to the DCDSC are community organizing, political education, project management, and video editing. I love to talk to people about the issues that affect them because I believe that good public policy is developed in partnership with the people most impacted by it. Moreover, good public policy should build power for people and provide avenues for them to use it. I would be excited to engage DC residents politically as an Add-On Member in service of this vision.

I’m Makia Green, a Ward 5 resident and organizer who has spent more than a decade building political power in DC. I helped elect Janeese Lewis George to the Council in 2020 and most recently served as Political Director for her 2026 mayoral campaign. I’ve also served as Organizing Director for DC Working Families Party, co-founded Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, organized with Black Lives Matter DC, and trained thousands locally and internationally in mass-movement strategy.

What I bring to the DCDSC is the ability to connect people, develop leadership, and turn political energy into sustained participation.

​

As an Add-On Member, I will be a bridge between longtime Democrats and newer movement leaders. I want to help make the DCDSC more accessible, more intergenerational, and more present in people’s lives beyond election season.

​

I will push for a bolder political and outreach agenda and bring greater national attention to DC’s electoral project. DC can model what a Black-led, multiracial Democratic Party looks like when it is rooted in organizing, responsive to its communities, and able to bring new people into political leadership.

​

I’m running because I know how to build movements that bring people in, move them to action, and leave behind stronger leadership and organization. I want to put that experience to work for the DCDSC.

I believe I would bring to the DC Democratic State Committee a combination of public service, community engagement, strategic communications, and an ability to build trust with communities that are too often discussed in politics without being meaningfully engaged.

​

My career in District government and public health has required me to work at the intersection of government, policy, and community. In my role with DC Health, including serving as a community liaison to the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, I have worked directly with residents, community organizations, advocates, and government leaders to translate policy and public-health priorities into information and resources people can actually use.

​

I am also a storyteller and communications strategist. Through public speaking, media, podcasting, community events, and national conferences, I have learned how to take complicated issues and make them accessible, human, and relevant to diverse audiences. I would bring those skills to voter education, outreach, communications, event planning, and efforts to strengthen civic participation across the District.

​

Most importantly, I understand that effective leadership begins with listening. I know how to enter communities, build relationships, identify barriers to participation, and help create strategies rooted in what residents say they need.

​

I would bring the DCDSC a collaborative spirit, strong communication skills, experience navigating District government, and a demonstrated commitment to ensuring Washingtonians are not simply represented, but heard, engaged, and empowered.

I’m Michael Grier, a Ward 8 resident, lifelong Democrat, and current member of the DC Democratic State Committee. I am seeking another term as an Add-On Committeeman because I believe our State Committee should work for Democrats across our city while continuing to build for DC’s future.

Since joining the State Committee, I have worked to be an active, present, and dependable member supporting our programming, our leadership, and the work of the Democratic Party. Recently, my fellow State Committee members elected me Treasurer and DNC Vice Chair, responsibilities I take seriously. In those roles, I have committed to transparency, accountability, accessibility, and ensuring that every member - regardless of how long they have served - has an opportunity to be heard.

​

I have called DC home for more than a decade. Professionally, I have nearly 15 years working in health policy and public service. I currently serve at the DC Council and previously served in the executive branch, where my work included strengthening behavioral health systems and supporting services for seniors and residents with disabilities. My federal policy experience also includes advocating for greater transparency and equity in our healthcare system. Lastly, I serve as Chair of Issues and Legislative Affairs for Ward 8 Democrats. 

​

Continuing as an Add-On Committeeman would allow me to build on this work and contribute to a stronger, more transparent, responsive, and inclusive State Committee.
 

I believe I am well-positioned to serve as an Add-On Member because my career has been rooted in connecting people to government, building relationships across communities, and turning those relationships into meaningful action.

​

I am a native Washingtonian, and I have spent the last six years serving District residents across multiple roles in DC Government. I began in the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, working directly with residents and neighborhood leaders. At the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, I gained experience navigating policy, legislation, and interagency coordination. Today, at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, I focus on partnerships and economic development, building relationships with businesses, community organizations, and stakeholders across the District.

​

That experience has given me skills I believe would be valuable to the DCDSC, including community outreach, strategic communications, coalition building, event planning, stakeholder engagement, and a strong working knowledge of District government.

​

I also bring a perspective shaped by the city itself. I grew up in a bilingual, working-class household in Ward 1 and understand that people engage with government and politics in different ways. I want to help the DCDSC reach Washingtonians where they are, strengthen relationships with communities that may feel disconnected from local politics, and create more opportunities for residents, particularly younger Washingtonians, to see themselves as active participants in our local democracy.

Most importantly, I know how to listen, build trust, and bring people together around a shared purpose.

I seek to serve as a DCDSC Add-On Member because I bring deep DC roots, party experience, and a record of mobilizing neighbors. As a fifth-generation Washingtonian, I have served three terms as an At-Large Committeewoman, currently serve as Ward 2 Democrats Vice Chair, and served two terms as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. I was a Democratic National Convention delegate, have led postcard-writing parties, and have traveled to other states to knock on doors for Democratic candidates, including Kamala Harris.

​

As a public-school administrator, I listen carefully, bring people together, explain complex policies, and follow through. I will put those skills to work strengthening DCDSC outreach, welcoming volunteers, and helping residents understand their voting rights, DC Home Rule, and the fight for statehood. I will press for quality education, affordable housing, and a party that responds to every ward.

Healthcare advocacy is personal to me. I have lived with lupus, an autoimmune disease with no cure, for 33 years. For 20 years, I have advocated for patients and legislation to improve their care. Through the DC Walk to End Lupus Now, I have raised research funds and been recognized among its highest individual fundraisers. Lupus disproportionately affects people of color. I will fight for DC residents to get the medical care and prescription coverage they need, including affordable medication, protected copay assistance, and an end to insurance barriers that delay treatment.

​

I am ready to organize, speak up, and hold leaders accountable until residents’ concerns lead to action.

​My experience and skillset make me a strong candidate. I have been invested in Democratic campaigns since I was in Middle School and my home was foreclosed. I felt a sense of abandonment, but found that the Democratic Party, especially Barack Obama was not ignoring the suffering of myself or others similarly situated. Since then, I have been an active volunteer for numerous campaigns including taking a semester off from school to work for Hillary Clinton’s campaign in Wisconsin. In DC, I have been engaged with local government since graduating from GW including volunteering for local campaigns and serving as an ANC and as Co-Chair for Jews United for Justice’s Housing Security Working Group. While the later two positions were non-partisan they deepened my understanding of DC issues. As a result of my commitment to DC matters, friends often ask me for opinions about candidates and legislation. I always approach these conversations with conviction but an interest in avoiding heavy handedness, an approach I aim to replicate. Professionally, I work for a private foundation that supports civic engagement work which has further honed my political insights. I deeply believe in the importance of this work and hope to be selected to serve in this role. Lastly, I am committed to staying in Washington DC forever and am thrilled that my son was born last year as a DC native. I welcome the opportunity to participate in the selection process for a new DC Councilmember. 

Greetings Fellow D.C. Democratic State Committee Members,

My name is Neena Murphy Martin, and I am running to continue my commitment in serving as one of your next add on committee members. I am driven by passion, purpose, priority, and provision, I bring a lifetime of leadership, service, and fierce dedication to growing our party.

​

As a Woman Veteran in United States Air Force Military Intelligence and a former JAG Paralegal, I have spent my life defending Democratic values. Today, I channel that commitment into civic action. I serve as President of the Metropolitan Women’s Democratic Club (MWDC) and Chair the Growth and Development Committee for the National Federation of Democratic Women (NFDW). Locally, I protect public safety as Chairperson of the Fourth District Citizens Advisory Council (4D CAC).

​

My devotion to our party is proven. I have self-funded my travel to DNC and NFDW conventions to advocate for D.C. Statehood nationally. I am deeply committed to true accessibility, having personally managed transportation and access needs to ensure our caucus members, including wheelchair users, could participate fully in DNC activities. Furthermore, I proudly supported our DC Young Democrats on their convention trip to Philadelphia a few years ago.

​

Through my work with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD), Federally Employed Women (FEW) and Blacks in Government, I build coalitions that deliver results. 

I ask for your vote so I can bring this expertise, energy, and advocacy to the DCDSC. Together, we will build a stronger, more inclusive, and more impactful DC Democratic Party.

Neena Murphy Martin (NMM) 
571-293-0358

I would bring the DCDSC a perspective shaped by two parts of my career: developing elected leaders across the country and working directly with communities here in DC.

​

In my current role, I design leadership programs for a national network of more than 1,800 Millennial and Gen Z state legislators. Much of my job is figuring out what will make their participation useful: listening for what they need, challenging assumptions about what we think they need, bringing the right people into conversation, and creating experiences that help them solve problems, build stronger relationships, and become better public leaders. I also know how to take an idea from a conversation to a plan, get people around it, and carry it through.

​

My social work background and years working with residents and community organizations in Southeast DC taught me to look at institutions from the other side: whether people understand how to engage, whether they feel their time and perspective matter, and whether there are real ways for them to contribute.

​

That is where I see my greatest value to the DCDSC. I can help the Committee think critically about how we invite people in, learn what they have to offer, and create more meaningful ways for DC Democrats to participate, contribute their skills, build community, and stay engaged in the life of the Party.

I believe I am well-positioned to serve as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee because I bring grassroots organizing experience, Democratic Party leadership, public policy knowledge, and a strong commitment to serving District residents.
 

I have served as a Ward 7 Democratic Committeewoman and on the DC Democratic Party Executive Committee, giving me firsthand experience with party leadership and the importance of making Democratic institutions accessible, responsive, and accountable. Since 2020, I have remained engaged in community organizing, education advocacy, civic engagement, and neighborhood issues.

The skills I bring to the DCDSC include coalition building, constituent engagement, public speaking, policy analysis, community outreach, and the ability to translate complex issues into language residents can understand. My background in public administration and education has strengthened my ability to listen to diverse perspectives, identify practical solutions, and build partnerships around shared goals.

​

I also believe effective party leadership extends beyond election cycles. It requires building year-round relationships, developing new leaders, encouraging civic participation, and ensuring residents feel heard and represented.

​

As an Add-On Member, I would bring a grassroots perspective, institutional knowledge, and a willingness to do the work. I would work to strengthen relationships between the Democratic Party and communities across the District while helping build a more inclusive, connected, and effective Democratic Party.

I am the best person to serve as an Add-On Member as I have the experience necessary to be successful in the role and the network available to help make a large impact in our community, boosting our effectiveness as an organization. I am a former precinct representative, currently a member of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America, on the Executive Committee of the Ward 1 Democrats, and am currently running for ANC. I am a known quantity in our community, and I am someone who can help voters be heard, organized, and mobilized. I brought these skills to Aparna Raj’s campaign, where I knocked doors, led field organizing, and spoke on strategic planning calls, and I am ready to bring that same energy and leadership to the DC Democratic Party by working with everyone to build a stronger Democratic Party that delivers for this city. 

​

I want to make DC a state and build a DC Democratic Party that has real teeth. The current Democratic Party has so much potential to be a real power player; we need people who are able to build those institutions and the necessary organizing capacities to make the party stronger. If I am selected, I will fight to get the residents of DC the ability to have real representation, to stop being a colony in our own country. DC and DCDSC deserve a brighter future, and I am eager to work to make that dream a reality.  

I have spent nearly 20 years in policy and government, beginning my career in the Massachusetts State Senate and including nearly five years inside the Wilson Building working for Mayor and the DC Council. I know how to turn Democratic values into results for DC residents. 

At the DC Council and the Executive Office of the Mayor, I analyzed District budgets, provided interagency liaisoning, and drafted legislation, for Council Chairman Phil Mendelson on housing and tenant protections, and coordinated the Mayor's legislative agenda with the Council. That experience matters for a Committee that can appoint interim councilmembers.

In the private sector, I've built coalitions with broad stakeholder groups on housing, environmental, trade, and labor policy. I've advocated before Congress and lawmakers and regulators in DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and California, bringing together interests that rarely agree. Internationally, I've advocated in Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, and today I lead public affairs and sustainability strategy across the Americas for a large EU-based multinational fashion brand and retailer.

To the Committee, I'd bring budget and policy analysis members can use with voters, a practiced hand at negotiation, and a desire to work in a team. I'm a Ward 4 resident, and I'd like to serve on Issues and Programming or Voting Rights and Statehood. I show up prepared and do the work between meetings.
That is the work this moment demands, and I am ready to do it.

I am a dedicated and loyal DC Democrat. I have been arrested twice protesting for DC Statehood. I am a former Chairman of the Ward 5 Dems. I am a military service-connected disabled veteran. I received the Walter E. Fauntroy Lifetime Achievement Award from New Bethe Baptist Church, the DC Federation of Civic Associations, Inc. Civil Rights Award, and the DC Office of People's Counsel  Public Advocate Award. I have also been awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. I support the principles of the Democratic Party.

I believe I would be a strong Add-On Member because I bring more than a perspective—I bring lived experience, community relationships, and a commitment to doing the work on the ground.

My journey in Washington, DC reflects the experiences of many people who are working hard every day to survive, provide for themselves and their families, and build a better future. I know what it means to navigate this city while working to get ahead, and that experience has shaped how I show up for others. My voice will never forget the people who are still fighting to be seen, heard, and represented.

My community work has included advocating for gun violence prevention, supporting youth empowerment, and creating spaces where people can see themselves represented and know that their voices matter. I believe real representation means more than being present in a room—it means bringing the stories, concerns, and aspirations of the people who are often left out of those rooms with you.

​

I am especially passionate about the intersections of our communities and the ways race, culture, gender identity, sexuality, economic opportunity, and public safety shape our everyday lives. I know that no single community exists in isolation, and I believe meaningful progress happens when we recognize those connections.

​

I would bring an honest, grounded, and community-centered voice to the discussions, one that listens, speaks up, builds bridges, and remains accountable to the people who are too often asked to wait for their turn. We should be a voice for those still working to get ahead, while helping ensure they are never forgotten along the way.

I would be honored to serve as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee because my personal journey, professional expertise, and commitment to service reflect the transformative impact of Democratic values and initiatives.

​

As a young person, I benefited from Democratic-led programs aimed at helping underserved minority youth like myself overcome poverty and gain access to education, economic opportunity, and exposure to thriving careers. Those initiatives contributed to my journey from humble beginnings into the upper-middle class. I am a proud graduate of Spelman College and earned my graduate degree from Georgetown University. My experience has given me a deep appreciation for policies that expand opportunity and help individuals and communities realize their potential.

​

Professionally, I am an accomplished Cybersecurity leader with expertise in security architecture, governance, risk management, compliance, policy development, and team leadership. I would bring these skills to the DCDSC to help protect sensitive information, strengthen organizational resilience, legitimize false-truths, promote responsible technology practices, and safeguard public trust.

Most importantly, I would bring gratitude, integrity, and a sincere desire to give back. Serving as an Add-On Member would allow me to help advance the same principles of opportunity, inclusion, education, and community empowerment that made such a meaningful difference in my own life!

I bring a combination of policy expertise, communications experience, equity-centered leadership, and firsthand experience serving students, families, and communities.

​

Before entering policy, I began my career as a classroom teacher and later served as a literacy coach, supporting educators in strengthening instruction and improving outcomes for students. Those experiences continue to shape how I approach public policy: understanding that decisions made at the systems level ultimately affect real people in classrooms, homes, and communities. My career has allowed me to see public education from multiple perspectives—from directly serving students and coaching teachers to engaging families and now helping shape citywide education strategy.

As an Education Policy Analyst, I work across DC government, schools, and community organizations on complex challenges, particularly those affecting marginalized communities. I also lead our Racial Justice and Equity Team, building on years of experience advancing equity and anti-racism in educational institutions. I believe that in order to develop good policy, institutions must listen to communities.

​

Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for building a society where liberation is possible for everyone. As an Add-On Member, I would bring that commitment alongside a practitioner’s perspective, strategic thinking, strong communications skills, and equity-focused leadership to help the DCDSC remain connected and accountable to the communities it represents.

I believe I am the best person to serve as an Add-On Member of the DCDSC because I bring strategic leadership, fundraising capacity, institutional knowledge, and deep networks to turn priorities into sustained action. My experience directly aligns with the focus on strengthening Democratic engagement, expanding voter participation, building community partnerships, and supporting the District.

​

To directly support our financial goals, I will leverage my professional, civic, nonprofit, business, and community networks to identify prospective donors, cultivate relationships, and support sustained fundraising efforts. These resources will help the DCDSC invest in year-round voter education, community organizing, candidate support, and outreach to historically under-engaged communities.

My service as Deputy Chief of Staff to a Mayor and as Chief of Staff to two Councilmembers has made me highly adept at building coalitions, engaging stakeholders, shaping strategic messaging, and advancing policy. Additionally, my federal experience gives me a strong understanding of how District priorities intersect with federal policy and the pursuit of greater local autonomy.

Through my work with the Ward 8 Democrats, DCDSC, and The Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., I have led and supported voter registration and civic education initiatives focused on ranked-choice voting, home rule, statehood, and legislative advocacy. This background qualifies me to contribute immediately to our voter engagement goals.

As a lifelong Washingtonian and Ward 8 resident, I bring a personal commitment and a practical understanding of how government, politics, and advocacy intersect to move our city forward.

As a lawyer, process engineer and political strategist, I bring a unique combination of policy analysis, Democratic organizing, and operational planning to help build a strategic, disciplined and effective campaign for statehood and voting representation in Congress. I can develop persuasive arguments, translate complex issues into clear calls to action, track outreach, and measure progress.

​

My political commitment began at North Carolina A&T, working with The Rainbow Coalition. In Detroit, I formed a PAC focused on engaging voters ages 18 to 35. Having campaigned for Democrats at the federal, state, and local levels, I understand how to recruit supporters and build coalitions. I look forward to applying this experience to expand participation in statehood advocacy. 

​

As Communications Director and later Campaign Manager for Councilmember Zachary Parker’s Ward 5 campaigns, I developed core messaging, coordinated stakeholders, and elevated constituent issues. These skills will help the committee effectively communicate why representation matters and equip residents to advocate for their rights.

​

I have direct experience navigating Congress. I facilitated an advocacy day for Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, coordinating meetings with multiple House and Senate offices and creating opportunities for students to learn the importance of having their voices heard. This experience will directly support our congressional coordination with advocacy partners.

​

Finally, in my fifth year as a Ward 5 Democrats executive board member, I aim to bring my experience to create a collaborative strategy that connects neighborhood engagement with congressional advocacy to highlight the needs for funding in areas which are under-resourced.
 

I ran in this year's Democratic primary for one reason: I want the DC Democratic Party to be active in the life of this city and to fight for statehood the way Free DC does. I ran on that platform with the Free DC slate, and it is still why I am putting my name forward as an Add-On Member.

​

At Free DC, I work at that every week. I organize protests and public demonstrations. I help run boycott campaigns, street performances, and blockades. I knock doors and talk with residents about statehood, about the attacks on our autonomy, and about what home rule means for their schools, their rent, and their vote. I also went to Virginia with Councilmember Robert White to knock doors and turn out voters for the Democratic candidate, because this work does not stop at the District line. I train people in non-cooperation, and I have done this work with activist communities abroad as well, so I know what it takes to keep people showing up after the first rally is over.

​

Those are the skills I would bring to the DCDSC: organizing, direct action, and voter outreach. I don’t think the Party needs another statement of support for statehood; it needs bodies that can put people at the doors and in the street every time the administration attacks our city.
 

As a native and third-generation Washingtonian, I have a deep understanding of the communities, institutions, and challenges that shape the District. My commitment to Washington, D.C. is personal as well as professional.

​

I have demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills, with extensive experience bringing community concerns to government agencies, elected officials, and community stakeholders. Throughout my career, I have prepared position papers, public testimony, advocacy statements, and policy recommendations addressing critical issues affecting District residents. Several of these efforts have helped shape policy discussions and contributed to the development of legislation at the DC Council.

​

My professional background as a registered nurse, former nurse educator, community advocate, author and publisher has strengthened my ability to listen, analyze complex issues, communicate effectively, and develop practical solutions. 

​

As an Add-On Member to the DCDSC, I would bring an informed community voice, strong advocacy skills, and the ability to translate ideas into actionable recommendations. I understand the importance of collaboration, respectful dialogue, accountability, while contributing constructively to the goals of the DCDSC.

I am seeking to serve as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee because I bring a combination of community leadership, public service, and social work experience that allows me to understand both the needs of DC residents and the systems that impact their everyday lives.

As a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 8B01, I had the opportunity to listen directly to residents, advocate for community priorities, engage with District agencies, and connect constituents with resources and solutions. That experience strengthened my commitment to civic engagement and ensuring that residents, particularly those whose voices are often overlooked, have meaningful representation in decisions affecting their communities.

​

As a social worker, I bring skills in advocacy, community engagement, problem-solving, stakeholder collaboration, and navigating complex systems. My professional experience working with youth, families, and District government has taught me the importance of listening first, building relationships, and translating community needs into meaningful action.

​

I am also committed to DC Statehood and the District’s right to self-determination. DC residents deserve full representation and the ability to govern our communities without federal interference. I would bring that commitment to the DCDSC while helping engage residents in understanding how Statehood, Home Rule, and local policy directly affect their lives.

​

As an Add-On Member, I would bring innovative ideas, a social-work lens, and a demonstrated commitment to public service. I am prepared to be an active, collaborative, and dependable member of the Committee and to help strengthen civic engagement throughout the District.

I am delighted to submit my application to serve as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC).

​

As a Chapter Lead of DC YIMBYs, I bring grass-roots experience with local issues, organizing to deliver more affordable housing for DC residents. Whether it's knocking doors for local ANC candidates in Ward 5 or supporting YIMBY social events across the city, I know the value of getting on the street and forming sincere, human connections to effectuate policy change.

​

As a public affairs professional, I have experience researching complex policy issues and communicating what matters to both electeds and voters. My work includes interpreting polling data, conducting landscape analyses, writing policy memos and backgrounders, and crafting public campaigns for digital audiences. I also have rapid-response experience, anticipating risks, monitoring emerging developments, and articulating compelling messages so organizations can effectively operate in dynamic and unpredictable political environments.

​

Recognizing a key Committee priority, I deeply care about defending Home Rule and achieving DC statehood. I am also eager to support the Committee's work engaging young people and voters in under-resourced communities, ensuring that all DC residents can have a meaningful say in our political process and civic life.

​

Above all, I would show up for the Committee, putting in the time and effort to attend monthly meetings, support the state party platform, organize and communicate the Committee's policy priorities, and grow the DC Democratic Party.

​

Thank you for your consideration.
 

I am seeking to serve as an Add‑On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC) because I bring a combination of grassroots organizing experience, governance expertise, and a deep commitment to building a more inclusive, accountable, and community‑centered Democratic Party. My work as Chair of DC for Democracy, Vice Chair of ANC 4B, and Commissioner for ANC 4B06 has given me hands‑on experience mobilizing residents, strengthening civic participation, and advancing progressive policy priorities across the District. I understand how to bring people together, navigate complex systems, and translate community needs into actionable solutions.

​

I bring strong skills in organizational leadership, policy analysis, community engagement, and strategic communication. I have led governance reform efforts, modernized bylaws, facilitated member‑driven decision‑making processes, and built collaborative structures that empower volunteers and elevate diverse voices. My work with the DC Department on Disability Services also grounds me in equity‑focused public service and ensures that disability justice, accessibility, and inclusion remain central to my approach.

​

As an Add‑On Member, I would strengthen the DCDSC by bringing a disciplined, values‑driven perspective; a commitment to transparency and accountability; and a proven ability to organize across neighborhoods, coalitions, and constituencies. I am deeply invested in ensuring the Democratic Party reflects the priorities of everyday Washingtonians — renters, workers, families, youth, seniors, and residents with disabilities — and that our party continues to grow through meaningful engagement, not just election‑year outreach.

​

I am ready to contribute my experience, energy, and dedication to help the DCDSC build a stronger, more representative Democratic Party for DC.

I am a Black nonprofit leader, ordained minister, and public policy professional dedicated to advancing racial and economic justice. My career has focused on mobilizing resources and strengthening institutions to help communities thrive through stable housing, economic security, health equity, high-quality education, and affordable care. 

​

Through leadership roles at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, Bread for the City, and DC Appleseed, I have raised and managed multimillion-dollar philanthropic portfolios, forged partnerships across sectors, and translated complex ideas into compelling messages for diverse audiences. These experiences have taught me to earn trust across differences, translate complex ideas into clear, accessible narratives, and turn shared goals into coordinated action. 

​

My graduate education in public administration and policy informs my understanding of government finance, civic participation, and public accountability, including how decisions are made, funded, and implemented. My theological training shapes my approach to leadership as service and a responsibility to those with the least power in the room.

​

As an Add-On Member, I would bring fundraising expertise, strategic communications skills, and relationship-building experience to help advance the leadership’s vision for the DC Democratic Party. Working alongside Party leaders and fellow members, I would support shared priorities, strengthen connections with residents, and broaden opportunities for meaningful participation. Through careful listening, sound judgment, and consistent follow-through, I would help translate that vision into tangible progress and contribute to a responsive, inclusive, and effective Party. 
 

I am prepared to serve as an Add-On Member because I bring a unique combination of political experience, community organizing, education advocacy, strategic leadership, and lived experience that can strengthen the DCDSC.

​

As the First Vice Chair of the Ward 7 Democrats, I have demonstrated my ability to organize, build relationships, engage residents, and turn ideas into action. As an educator and strategist, I understand how to build systems, manage complex initiatives, bring diverse stakeholders together, and remain focused on results.

​

My understanding of public service was also shaped on Capitol Hill. I had the opportunity to work with then-Congresswoman Karen Bass, now Mayor of Los Angeles, whose congressional work included significant leadership on child welfare policy. I also had the tremendous privilege of having Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton serve as a mentor during my time as the DC Congressional Foster Care Delegate. That experience gave me an opportunity to learn from a leader whose career has been deeply connected to the fight for DC representation, democracy, and statehood.

​

Those experiences helped me understand how relationships, coalition building, and federal advocacy can be used to elevate issues affecting our communities.

​

My commitment to this work is also deeply personal. As a former foster youth and now a mother to twin boys, I understand that the decisions we make today will shape the DC our children inherit. Motherhood has made my commitment to helping build a stronger DC even more personal. I want my sons and every child growing up in this city to inherit a District where they can thrive and where their voices and representation matter.

​

I also bring a network that extends beyond the District. Through my national advocacy, Capitol Hill experience, and years of relationship building, I have developed relationships with leaders, advocates, organizations, and changemakers across the country. I want to use those relationships to help expand national engagement around DC statehood and full representation for District residents.

Most importantly, I AM PREPARED TO WORK. For me, serving as an Add-On Member is not about adding another title. It is about bringing my experience, relationships, lived experience, and commitment to service to the table.

I am an educator, advocate, community leader, former foster youth, and mother raising two little boys in this city. I want to use every relationship, skill, and experience I have gained to help fight for a stronger DC and the future our children deserve.

I was born and raised in Washington, DC, in Ward 4, where I began my education in the DC Public School system. As the son of Honduran immigrants, I grew up surrounded by the diversity that defines our city and developed an early commitment to public service and civic engagement. Even today, when friends or colleagues from out of town visit, I love showing them the vibrant communities that make up DC beyond the federal government and monuments, because this is home and where I see my future.

​

Today, I serve as a Special Assistant (bodyman) to a United States Senator, working closely with senior staff, elected officials, community leaders, and stakeholders while supporting the Senator’s day-to-day operations. Previously, I worked in the House of Representatives, where I helped lead Latino outreach efforts. My political experience also extends beyond the federal level, having served as a campaign manager in a Maryland House of Delegates race in Prince George, MD.

My commitment to service extends into my community and military service. I am an active United States Navy Reservist, serve in one of the Mayor Latino affairs commissions, and am involved with a local LULAC chapter.

​

These experiences have given me a perspective spanning my upbringing, federal service, campaigns, community advocacy, and military service. As a young Washingtonian from an immigrant family who knows Ward 4 and its Latino and immigrant communities firsthand, I would bring that perspective, along with a strong unifying mindset to my service as an Add-On Member.

As the Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7B and a Commissioner since 2021, I bring both hands-on experience in DC governance and a strong track record of building relationships across Ward 7 and beyond. My work on the ANC has required me to navigate competing interests, build consensus among neighbors and stakeholders, and advocate effectively with city agencies and Councilmembers on transit, land use, and community priorities, skills that translate directly to representing the interests of District Democrats on the DCDSC.

​

Professionally, I have spent nearly 15 years in federal government relations, currently serving as Manager of Government Relations at Independent Sector, a national nonprofit representing the charitable sector. This work has sharpened my ability to build coalitions, communicate persuasively with policymakers, and understand how organizations move from strategy to action, skills that are directly applicable to Party-building and voter engagement.

I have also served as the finance and compliance lead on two At-Large Council campaigns here in DC, giving me firsthand knowledge of campaign finance law, reporting requirements, and the operational realities candidates face, expertise that would be a direct asset to the DCDSC as it supports Democratic candidates and ensures Party infrastructure runs smoothly and compliantly.

Finally, as a DC resident since 2011 and a homeowner in Randle Highlands, I have deep roots in this city and a genuine stake in its future. I bring a rare combination of grassroots civic experience, professional advocacy skills, and campaign finance expertise, and I am ready to put all of it to work for the DC Democratic Party.

For 11 years, I've called Ward 7 home, and that rootedness shapes how I see the work of the DCDSC. As a community advocate and founder of a Ward 7–focused real estate company built around being a foundational pillar for the community, I've seen how policy decisions land on residents' doorsteps, and how often East of the River voices are missing when those decisions are made. I want to help change that.

​

I'm especially drawn to two parts of DCDSC's mission: engaging, educating, and empowering residents in the political process, and building a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable party. At their core, these are change management challenges, and that's where I can contribute most.

My background is in change management and operations strategy, where I helped large organizations and non profits align stakeholders, communicate complex changes clearly, and build the processes that make good intentions stick.

​

As an Add-On Member, I would bring a fresh perspective to an already successful organization, along with practical tools: structured outreach plans, real feedback loops with residents, and the operational discipline that turns transparency and accountability from goals into daily practice. I'm service-minded at heart, and I'm ready to listen, roll up my sleeves, and help DCDSC reach residents who haven't yet felt invited in.

I am seeking election as an Add-On Member of the DC Democratic State Committee because I bring decades of leadership, community service, organizational development, and advocacy grounded in the values of democracy, equality, inclusion, and opportunity.

​

For more than 35 years, I have worked as a clinical social worker, transformational educator, consultant, entrepreneur, and community leader.  I successfully advocated for professional licensing for social workers in the District of Columbia, directed a national initiative involving Black churches in 14 states, secured more than $1. 5 million for community-based programs, and developed partnerships among residents, faith communities, educators, professionals, and public institutions.

​

My leadership is practical and people-centered.  As Ms. Senior DC 2021, President and President Emeritus of the DC Seniors Cameo Club, and co-creator of the Queens Mentoring Academy, I have worked to preserve valuable traditions while preparing women to lead, mentor, and serve.  My professional life has taught me how to listen carefully, build consensus, manage complex responsibilities, and turn ideas into measurable action.

As an Add-On Member, I will bring an intergenerational perspective, disciplined follow-through and an optimistic,  joyful energy and strong commitment to DC statehood, voting rights, fair elections, responsive government, and vibrant communities.  I understand that service requires presence.  I am prepared to attend meetings consistently, participate actively, work collaboratively across differences, and represent the interests and concerns of District residents with integrity, sound judgment, and purpose.

As current President of the DC Latino Caucus, I am a strong fit to represent the diversity of DC Democrats. I have worked and volunteered on several democratic races, most recently including the Janeese Lewis George race for the Mayoral Democratic Party. I have worked with and for DC local nonprofits advocating for child care workers and immigrant families. I am passionate about working with energetic democrats to protect DC Homerule and advocate for DC statehood. 

As DC continues to see ICE and federal agents harm and kidnap our neighbors, I want to work with democrats in urging our elected leaders to protect our neighbors. 

​

I am proud to have been a DC Democrat At Large Member before and chair an Outreach committee. Since then I’ve grown in my role with DC Latino Caucus, served as Organizing Director for DC for Democracy, and I continue to support local and federal democrats. I am excited to represent the makeup of DC and rich Latino culture we see and benefit from in the city. 

I strive to work towards a DC Democrats that represents the diversity in thought, culture, and experiences of this city. I am committed to continually electing not only democrats in DC, but democrats elsewhere who see the importance of DC statehood. 

I am seeking to serve as a DCDSC Add-On Member because I bring a long record of civic leadership, community engagement, and public service in Ward 7. As a six-term Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and current president of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association, I have worked to bring residents’ concerns into public decision-making and to build productive relationships across neighborhoods and institutions.

​

I would bring the DCDSC practical experience listening to residents, organizing and facilitating community conversations, communicating policy issues clearly, and connecting people with opportunities to participate. My work as an educator, community leader, and former Ward 7 Council candidate has strengthened my ability to work with people who hold different perspectives while keeping attention on shared goals.

​

I want to help the DCDSC stay connected to the communities it represents and make participation meaningful, accessible, and consistent. I would contribute a Ward 7 perspective, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to showing up, listening, and doing the work.