By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
In 1957, Washington, D.C. became the first major U.S. city with a majority Black population, hence the nickname, “Chocolate City.” The term, which grew in popularity, in part, because of the 1975 Parliament-Funkadelic same-titled album, celebrated the city’s rise as a thriving epicenter of Black culture, politics and power.
But with escalating prices and the impact of gentrification, more African Americans were forced to move out of the District, as the Black population declined from 70 percent in 1970 to below 50 percent by 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
However, some Washingtonians, steadfast and determined to find ways to remain in D.C., moved east of the Anacostia River to Wards 7 and 8. Black people faced significant challenges rooted in historical disinvestment, systemic racism and profound socioeconomic disparities compared to the rest of the District.
Fortunately, a group of concerned citizens formed the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) in 1983 to address the disproportionately higher rates of poverty, unemployment and health disparities that residents were experiencing.
Lamont Mitchell, a third-generation, native Washingtonian and Howard University alum, now serves as the chairperson and COO of the ACC. The volunteer- based consortium of organizations and individuals focused on the revitalization of Anacostia and its adjacent neighborhoods has become a significant voice in Washington, D.C.
“We organized community support to get the Anacostia Metro Station built and soon realized that we needed to expand in numbers and scope to address the many issues plaguing our community,” said Mitchell who proudly noted that in 2026, the ACC has grown to more than 80 organizations who partner with them along with 22 board members who are “thought leaders, and movers and shakers who live and work east of the river.”
Taking care of business, one issue at a time
The ACC was slated to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 27, but due to inclement weather, held its 2026 kickoff luncheon meeting virtually. Featured speakers included Kenyatta M. Smith, Grow Democracy DC Civic Education Fund, Engagement and Outreach Director; Catherine Buell, co-chair of the Save our Museum Committee; and Monica Ray, ACC vice chair.
Since its founding, the ACC has welcomed over 1,000 guest speakers to its monthly meetings to discuss some of the community’s most pressing issues and to share important information pertaining to the community. Meanwhile, its mission has remained the same: to facilitate information gathering and sharing, networking, advocacy, and community organizing.
“We advocate for all things good east of the river with an emphasis on Ward 8, but also pay close attention to Ward 7 because of the connection between the two areas,” Mitchell said. “During our monthly meetings, we provide a space where anyone in attendance can share ideas – from developers and community groups to the police chief and the mayor. As the chair, I ensure that it’s a space where different points of view can be discussed in a respectful manner. Then, we ask the tough questions.”
Mitchell noted that while the ACC’s focus is to identify organizations who are already working toward achieving specific goals and to point to resources already in place, the organization has developed several initiatives. They include: Know Your Numbers DC, a Black men’s health project in partnership with Martha’s Table; Transformers DC, which in partnership with the Department of Behavioral Health, educates youth about the dangers of opioid use with strategies for prevention, and recommendations for making better decisions for the future; and The ACC Transformers ROPE program which offers children opportunities to engage in a range of exciting activities, make new friends, and participate in career-building workshops. Another initiative focuses on enhancing the health of community residents.
Later this year, the ACC will host several forums, tentatively slated for the spring, that will educate residents about the large number of candidates running for open political seats. Another forum will address environmental issues that impact those who live east of the river.
ACC Vice Chair Monica Ray said among her tasks is making information available, so people are motivated to volunteer.
“There’s never been a time when our community has faced such unprecedented pressure,” she said. “And when we look for volunteers to help us meet so many needs, a lot of people either don’t know how they can help or think that it may be too difficult. Of course, we can always use financial contributions, but just giving a few hours to a phone bank or distributing fliers goes a long way.”
“Our work is deeply rooted in community engagement, and we focus on creating and maintaining a collective platform that’s based on an agenda we set, not one set by others,” said Ray.
Salim Adofo, an ACC outreach specialist, agreed with Ray, adding that helping residents become more aware of resources available east of the river remains one of his primary goals.
“We have some amazing volunteers and members who represent the ACC, but we always want to reach more people,” he said. “In my role, I am aware that while information may be shared and disseminated once or twice, that’s often not enough. In our community, we have a lot of people in crisis, while some are dealing with an overload of information, so we must be consistent in keeping them informed.”
When asked what remains in his basket of dreams for the Anacostia community, Adofo was quick to reply.
“I want our community to be so great that we (ACC) work ourselves out of business,” he said.
