By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
Report for America Corps Member,
tmcqueen@afro.com
On Dec. 3, Mayor Muriel Bowser hosted the Together, D.C! Big Challenges and Bigger Ideas Engagement Forum at the Planet Word, a D.C.-based museum. The transition committee created this event for residents to share their ideas on combating the District’s largest challenges.
“D.C. residents hired us to take in the information,” said Bowser at the forum. “It is our job to learn as much as possible about everybody and every issue to service members as quickly as possible.”
“Our residents and stakeholders have big ideas and we want to make sure we hear all of these ideas,” said Bowser. “We need smart people who like to work hard to help us.”
Bowser started by commending Ann Friedman, founder and CEO of Planet Word, highlighting how she made great contributions to improve the Franklin School where the museum now sits. The Franklin School is a national historic landmark that was completely renovated in 2018 and 2020.
Bowser addressed the need for open conversations about top issues that concern D.C. residents, like gun violence, democracy and education. She also stated how this event would help her create a more inclusive D.C. government into her third term as mayor.
The gathering included three panels covering topics like gun violence, democracy, education and building a sustainable future.
Featured in the discussions were administration leaders such as Linda Harllee Harper, director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and community leaders.
“Gun violence is not just a department-by-department issue, it is an interagency issue,” said Jamal Holtz, lead organizer for the 51 for 51 [D.C. statehood].
Holtz believes D.C. officials and residents should not have to go through the halls of congress to address local issues like gun violence. To have people who better understand the D.C. community create and pass laws affecting the community.
“You have to understand the whole picture when approaching violence,” said LaQuandra Nesbitt, chair of the Together, D.C.! Transition Committee. “If you don’t understand the communal environment these issues are occurring in, you may fail to absolve the issue.”
The Mayor also attended the Bar Association of D.C. 150th Anniversary Gala on Dec. 3, commending the award winners of the night and the organization for 150 years of operation. The event included music, dinner, dancing and fellowship.
They honored a number of notable community members, including Bridget Bailey Lipscomb, assistant director of the Department of Justice, and attorney Elizabeth Paige White.
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