Galvanized by the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation’s trailblazing approach to community empowerment, Black Women Thriving East of the River has spurred hope in Wards 7 & 8 in Washington, DC.
Launched in 2019, a group of community residents and leaders spent more than two years working with the Foundation to design and begin implementing innovative solutions to address workforce development and cancer survival among Black women East of the River.
We envision a future in which Black women living in Wards 7 & 8 thrive with more access to opportunities, resources, and effective treatment, leading to optimal health and economic success.
Hear the voices and see the faces of the women who are driving change with Black women living in Wards 7 & 8.
Who We Are
Black Women Thriving East of the River
Wards 7 and 8 of Washington D.C. are communities marked by decades of neglect, marginalization and the effects of systemic racism. And they are also home to community resilience.
Leveraging an innovative new process called the Strategic Design Initiative, a diverse group of women living and working east of the river is transforming the lives of their community and families through workforce and healthcare interventions.
Open Letter
Dear Friends,
To the world, Washington, D.C., is America’s capital – our seat of power and global influence. But we know Washington, D.C., is the proverbial tale of two cities, divided by an expanse of water called the Anacostia River. Our story centers on this divide, a narrative about life east of the Anacostia River, away from the symbols of power and glamour. On these pages, we chronicle our visions and aspirations for a brighter future and the route we have chosen to get there.
In Washington, its citizens pay taxes but do not have a U.S. Senator or U.S. House of Representatives member who can vote. Yet, it is home to more than half a million people.
