From left to right: Jacy, Karly, and Paul

This spring, GGWash is thrilled to welcome Jacy Heidorn, Karly Meyer, and Paul Medvetsky to our team.

Jacy, Karly, and Paul will be supporting our community engagement education, fundraising, and events. You’ll also see some posts from them over the course of the spring: we’re excited to learn from them!

As we work toward our vision of a Washington region where we make choices about the built environment for people, justice, and our planet, it is critical to make sure the next generation of leaders is at the table. We wanted to give Jacy, Karly, and Paul a chance to introduce themselves in their own words.

Jacy Heidorn, a senior at GW passionate about the role of land use in addressing the climate crisis

Hey y’all! My name is Jacy Heidorn and I am very excited to be joining the GGWash team this spring as one of the Engagement Interns. I am currently a senior majoring in Geography and double minoring in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Public Health at George Washington University.

Growing up in rural New Hampshire meant that walkable spaces and public transportation were practically nonexistent in my life. This meant that when I would visit cities such as Boston or New York I would always be thrilled that I could walk from place to place or, if needed, take the subway. When choosing a college, one of my key requirements was to be in a human-oriented area rather than a car-oriented one, which is why I fell in love with GW and DC.

I arrived at GW interested in the environment and learning about the different ways I could help address the climate crisis. As I have learned more about land use and transportation planning, I have discovered just how important they are in the fight to save the environment. Not only that, but designing urban spaces more sustainably can also help make an area safer, more accessible, and better for overall public health.

As an Engagement Intern I am ready to take a deep-dive into transportation and housing equity in the greater DMV area and exploring how that knowledge can be applied to other cities and suburbs in the US. I am also looking forward to learning about how a nonprofit operates, especially one that shares my passion for creating urban spaces that improve peoples’ lives while simultaneously benefiting the earth.

Karly Meyer, a senior at GW who lifts up connections between land use, the environment, and public health

Hi everyone! My name is Karly Meyer and I am a senior at George Washington University majoring in Public Health with minors in Sustainability and Biology. I am thrilled to join the GGWash team this spring as an Engagement Intern! I grew up in the car-dependent town of Exeter, New Hampshire, and currently reside in Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C. While studying sustainable development in Copenhagen, Denmark, I discovered my interests in urbanism and strategies to foster resilient, equitable, and livable communities.

Before GGWash, I was an undergraduate research assistant examining the water quality and presence of microplastics in the Potomac River watershed, which increased my familiarity with the relationship between the environment and health. The stormwater runoff and pollution from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) during heavy rains prevent the Potomac River, Rock Creek Park, and Anacostia River from reaching their full potential as free natural resources for communities, especially as DC continues to experience more extreme heat.

GGWash’s vision of making walkable, human-centered communities in the Washington region more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive directly aligns with my passion of using urban planning as a tool to improve public health and combat climate change. While I have a deep appreciation for my home state of New Hampshire, living in more walkable communities has allowed me to understand how urban design directly affects how I live, work, and gather. As a dedicated transit rider and Capital Bikeshare member, I love being able to walk, bike, and Metro throughout the region. I believe everyone deserves access to reliable, affordable modes of transportation. Through advocating for urbanist policies and developments, I hope to be a part of the solution in promoting communities where the most sustainable (and typically, health-enhancing) options are the most convenient and affordable choice.

As an Engagement Intern, I am excited to meet and work alongside so many passionate individuals who appreciate the lovely Washington region and are dedicated to making it even greater! I hope to further explore my interests in affordable housing, transit equity, food accessibility, and sustainable development. I look forward to learning more about nonprofit operations and management while encouraging all residents to advocate for equitable urbanist policies and issues in their communities!

Paul Medvetsky, a Georgetown junior keenly focused on the role of good transportation policy in creating great cities

Hi everyone! My name is Paul, and I’m currently a junior at Georgetown University pursuing an

Urban Studies degree through the Culture and Politics BSFS program at the School of Foreign Service. I’m very excited to be joining the GGWash Engagement team this spring! I am a New Yorker, born in Brooklyn and living in Staten Island since age five.

I am keenly interested in advancing GGWash’s mission of furthering the development of better transportation and housing for the DMV area. Before joining GGWash, I was an organizer with Riders Alliance, an advocacy nonprofit based in New York City focused on improving the city’s public transportation network. This experience taught me a great deal about organizing and community engagement, and solidified my love of transit.

I have always been fascinated by cities and the many ways in which they work. Most of all, I am interested in transportation and micromobility, having always been surrounded by transit, and being car-free since late 2020. I’m a firm believer that transportation networks are the lifeblood of all cities, and that better transit policy and investment in DC can transform the DMV region into an urbanist powerhouse.

I’m looking forward to getting closer to DC’s urbanist community, and to meeting and working with so many passionate and incredible people in fulfilling GGWash’s goals! Through this work, I hope to build upon my urban planning experience, so that I can attain a master’s degree in planning and build a career as a planner.

Continue the conversation about urbanism in the Washington region and support GGWash’s news and advocacy when you join the GGWash Neighborhood!

Tagged: about ggwash

Jacy Heidorn was an Engagement Fellow at GGWash. She grew up in Alstead, New Hampshire before moving to Foggy Bottom in Washington, D.C. to attend undergrad at George Washington University. She graduated with a BA in Geography and is interested in working in fields that tie together urban land use and transportation planning with environmental and public health.

Karly Meyer was an Engagement Fellow at Greater Greater Washington. She was a student at George Washington University majoring in Public Health with minors in Sustainability and Biology. Karly discovered her interests in urban planning and active transportation while studying sustainable development in Copenhagen, Denmark. She grew up in Exeter, New Hampshire and used to live in Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC.

Paul Medvetsky was one of GGWash's Fall 2023 Engagement Interns. Hailing from New York City, Paul is passionate about transportation and urban planning. He has a degree in urban studies education from Georgetown. Paul is car-free; catch him riding around on his bike!

Kate Jentoft-Herr is GGWash's Engagement Manager. Previously the Development Manager at the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Kate is interested in exploring the relationships between land-use, racism, and the Climate Crisis and in making discussion of urban issues accessible to folks from all backgrounds. She loves DC and being able to walk to work.