What’s next for GGWash? We’re glad you asked.

Ten weeks ago, I poured a cup of coffee and opened up my laptop on the kitchen table to kick off my first day as executive director at Greater Greater Washington. Right off the bat, I found myself in the midst of a whirlwind of creative energy, ideas, action, and heart, and that dynamic hasn’t slowed.

GGWash has seven full-time staff, including me. It’s a smaller organization than some people expect because the level, and impact, of GGWash’s work is by many accounts remarkable. Much of that is a testament to the skill and dedication of this powerhouse team. The rest of it is due to the support — the time, dollars, and encouragement — of the organization’s vast network of friends and volunteers.

GGWash is writing its next chapter after our founding executive director, who grew the organization from a volunteer project to an incorporated nonprofit, stepped down last year. I’d like to share a little bit about that whirlwind of activity currently underway, where we’re heading in the coming months, and how you can help (hint: fun is involved!).

A little GGWash history (there will not be a quiz)

As many of you know, GGWash’s publication has been a source of information and commentary on housing, transportation, and land use for 13 years. It has had an undeniable effect on the way many people think about urban development in the region (or the fact that people think about it at all).

Five months ago, with the launch of a new editorial policy, the publication took an important step to institutionalize its editorial independence and adherence to journalistic ethics. Internal “firewalls” ensure that editorial staff—who are reporters and editors by trade, not policy wonks or activists—control content decisions. George Jordan, the managing editor, and Libby Solomon, an editor and housing reporter, make up the publication’s staff, while volunteer contributors, interns, and occasional freelancers round out the coverage. Together, they churn out top notch articles.

Involving fewer headlines (in the literal sense), but of equal importance, GGWash’s policy team advocates for reforms that make it possible to build more, and more affordable, housing to address the region’s housing crisis. Recent work on DC’s Comprehensive Plan amendments, for example, lays the ground for increases in density in strategic areas across the District.

The policy team also fights for a well-connected transportation network in which people can get around easily and quickly without a car. In partnership with the DC Transportation Equity Network and DC Sustainable Transportation, two coalitions that we manage, staff have advocated throughout the pandemic for improved transit service and increased access to safe(r) outdoor spaces. Alex Baca, policy manager, and Ron Thompson, policy officer, make up the policy team, as well as Caitlin Rogger who, as GGWash’s deputy director, also dedicates time to overarching organization needs.

Alongside journalism and policy, our third main area of work is learning and engagement. This includes both networking and educational events, volunteer opportunities, and our internship program—shout-out to our intrepid summer interns, Natalia Rios Martinez, Josh Montgomery-Patt, and Abby Wester! In other words, this work encompasses all the ways in which we seek to grow the field of advocates who care about building a more equitable, sustainable region. Kate Jentoft-Herr coordinates much of this important work.

What’s coming down the pipeline?

Throughout the remainder of 2021, we’ll be launching a couple of exciting new series on the publication, hosting a handful of free learning events, and advising and advocating on the rollout of the District’s latest budget and the amended Comp Plan, while teeing up some new policy work. I know, I know, that’s a little vague on the details, but we’ll be sharing more about these projects soon.

We’re also prepping for the future through a strategic planning process this fall. We’ve already identified some clear needs, including (but definitely not limited to):

• Reporting capacity. Our publication would benefit from an in-house transportation reporter and more coverage on the local impacts of climate change. And we’re hoping to boost our freelance budget. Our volunteer contributors are awesome, but we want to ensure we’re also creating opportunities for writers who aren’t in a position to volunteer their time.
• Expanded endorsements. The GGWash elections endorsements process is a big deal—and a big lift logistically. We want to revamp and strengthen that process and build out the capacity to do so effectively.
• Regional work. The Washington region is just that: one region, with interconnected housing and transportation needs. Most of our policy work, and a lot of our reporting, is focused on DC, but we are eager to build our team out and work more in Maryland and Virginia to advance equity, walkability, sustainability, and affordability.

The reality, however, is that growing in these and other critical ways require expanding our funding base. In an upcoming update, I’ll go into more detail about GGWash’s current budget and plans for growth.

How can you help?

Please consider joining the GGWash Neighborhood as a recurring donor. A lot of the work listed above isn’t easily funded through foundation grants. The reliable support of hundreds of donors makes all the difference in the world. If you already support us in this way, thank you so much.

Join the GGWash Neighborhood!

In the near future, we also need to grow our volunteer board of directors. Stay tuned for an announcement later this week from Tracy Hadden Loh, our board chair, with all the details about the opportunity to play a critical role in the vision and governance of GGWash.

And one of the simplest ways to help is, well, to come party with us!

Usually, GGWash throws an annual birthday bash in March. As with so many of the joys we used to take for granted, we missed out on the 2020 and 2021 celebrations due to the pandemic. We’d love to see you—and we’re going to try to make up for lost time. Save the date for a GGWash Half Birthday Party on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Metrobar in Northeast DC (with 11,000 square feet of outdoor space!). We’ll share more information and launch ticket sales in early August.

As GGWash grows to meet the current moment, we couldn’t be more fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible network of friends and supporters. It takes a village to build a greater Greater Washington.