Welcome Kai Hall to our policy team!

Hi! I’m Kai Hall, the new policy officer for Greater Greater Washington and coordinator for the DC Transportation Equity Network (DC TEN).

Last spring, I started working for GGWash as an Engagement Intern and later moved into the Editorial Assistant role. I’m excited to rejoin GGWash, this time as a member of the policy team.

I was raised on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. The American side of my family, however, has a history in DC dating back to the early 1900s. My grandparents both attended Howard University and my grandfather was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha. Many of my relatives still proudly call the Washington region home. Having grown up on the other side of the world, I’m back to where my family got its start. In some ways, I guess DC called me back.

I recently graduated from the George Washington University where I studied geography and international affairs. Last summer, I also studied Dutch cycling planning with a focus on gender and economic equity at the University of Amsterdam. I carry the lessons I learned with me into my role at GGWash.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Mama Agatha, a Ghanaian immigrant cycling activist, who teaches immigrant women in Amsterdam how to bike. Because cycling is an integral part of Dutch society, her lessons empower other immigrant women to take advantage of the world-class infrastructure at their disposal and get around the city independently. Her clients feel an increased sense of belonging in Dutch society. Mama Agatha’s leadership inspires me in the work to make DC’s transportation system more accessible.

As a child growing up in Japan, I relied on my region’s safe and efficient bus and train systems from a young age. My neighborhood’s network of people-centered streets were a big part of that: I was just 7 years old when I started using transit on my own. And that was normal!

Moving to the US as a teenager, I was consistently surprised and frustrated by the scope and number of challenges riders face on a daily basis. Whether it was rider dignity (dirty stations, lack of seating), unreliable or infrequent service, or lack of communication from transit agencies when service disruptions occur, I felt like my mobility needs were neglected by the powers-that-be.

Today, I am a regular transit rider and do not own a car. I know firsthand what kinds of spaces are welcoming and which are not. I believe we all deserve to have good, reliable, and dignified transit options. To me, dignified transit means starting with frequent and reliable service, well-maintained bus shelters, and affordable fares.

DC has a responsibility to guarantee these basic standards for all of its residents. Communities east of the Anacostia River, in particular, have poorer transit service and fewer transportation options compared to other parts of the city. Whether it is unreliable bus service, few connections to Metro stations, or dangerous street design that imperils non-drivers, it’s time for the District to address long standing transportation inequities to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.

The DC Transportation Equity Network is a coalition of direct service and advocacy organizations committed to ensuring that critical work happens. I hope to continue building on the impact the DC TEN has made since the coalition’s founding in 2020, from submitting testimony supporting initiatives that advance riders’ interests to connecting decision makers in DC government and at WMATA to our membership, and more. If you have questions about the DC TEN or would like to connect, please contact me at khall[at]ggwash.org.

Safe riding!