A Fresh Start

January 23, 2015  |  Volume 1, Issue 1

Dear Washingtonians,

I am honored to serve you as your seventh mayor of Washington, DC. It’s an exciting time for our city – a fresh start for all of the families that call our city home. It’s a time to reinvent our city’s government, to make it better, more efficient, and dedicated to supporting every Washingtonian.

We work for you, and our goal is to provide you with the services you need while ensuring that you get the customer service you deserve from your government. That starts, of course, by meeting, in-person, with residents in all 8 of our wards. My team and I remain committed to that kind of hands-on, community-focused approach.

At a time when more and more of us are using technology to connect with one another and to solve challenges in our neighborhoods, my administration and I will send periodic updates about the direction we plan to take the city.

So think of this newsletter as a tool – a way for you to see how my office, city agencies, and public servants are working to make the District the best place it can be to live, work, and raise a family.

Washington is a city on the move. As we move forward, we won’t leave anyone behind.

This is your city. So let’s get to work!

A WEEK IN REVIEW I hosted my first international delegation with Mayor Miguel Mancera of Mexico City where I also introduced my appointee for the Office of Latino Affairs, Jackie Reyes.

I continued to appoint and announce key positions and offices within my administration including the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the Executive Director of ServeDC among others.  My team is still growing and you can join us! Apply for a board or commission by visiting mota.dc.gov or all DC government career vacancies by visiting dchr.dc.gov.

Every year we continue to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by recommitting ourselves to his vision and by volunteering in our communities to help make his dream a reality.  I commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in a number of events throughout the city.  It was an honor to participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Reflection Service with The Memorial Foundation, The Faith and Politics Institute, and IMPACT. I also joined Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, members from The Memorial Foundation Board, and others to lay a wreath at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Stone of Hope Memorial as a sign of reflection and tribute to Dr. King’s legacy.

As a part of the National Day of Service, I also joined City Year to discuss ways to build on Dr. King’s legacy by fostering a culture of volunteerism. Later in the day, I helped prepare and serve meals for the homeless population at Miriam’s Kitchen.  Last but certainly not least, I had the privilege to serve as the Grand Marshal for the second-oldest Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade in the country, the 9th Annual Peace Parade. It was exciting to see all the talented DC youth performing and to meet more residents along the parade route. I’m proud that the residents, business owners, and families of the District of Columbia were heavily involved in commemorating the holiday. The Washington Informer hosted the parade and peace walk, and I am thankful for their vigorous work to make sure that these MLK Holiday traditions continue and grow grander, year after year.

I had the chance to see what it was like to host a radio show, just like Moon Man and Petey Greene, when I visited Radio One studios.  I joined Cheryl “Action” Jackson on Praise 104.1FM as a co-host, where we talked about our hometown and my recent announcements and plans for a “fresh start.” I then joined Michel Wright on Majic 102.3FM, where we recapped my first few weeks in office.

Later, DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson and I launched Empowering Males of Color at Frank W. Ballou Senior High School.  This initiative is part of my administration’s effort to boost achievement and opportunity for boys and men of color across Washington, DC.  In the coming years, my administration will target the most urgent and persistent challenges by using three key strategies to address the urgent needs of male students of color. 

The US Conference of Mayors hosted its 83rd Winter Meeting here in the District.  This meeting brought together more than 300 mayors from around the country to engage with Federal and business leaders to address the issues within American cities. I welcomed the mayors to our world-class city.

On Thursday, I announced the appointments of Sheila Alexander-Reid, as Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, and Terrance Laney, as Deputy Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs. Representatives from Freedom to Marry were in attendance as I recommitted the District to Mayors for Marriage Equality, allowing the District to stand in solidarity with cities across the nation in support of the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Early in the next week, I will head to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle with one simple goal: to begin to forge a new path for Statehood and full democracy in the District. That starts with legislative and budget autonomy and making sure the will of the voters is heard.

On Wednesday, I will participate in the Point-in-Time Count joining volunteers from across the country to count our residents in need of homes. The count is part of a larger effort to end homelessness. To learn more about the initiative, click HERE.

Throughout the week, I’ll be meeting with community members from all eight wards. If you have an event or community meeting that you would like me or a representative from my administration to attend, let us know by filling out a request HERE.  

Stay in contact with me. Connect with me on Facebook and be sure to check out our This Week in Pictures (TWiP) where we give you the best pictures from the week.  Follow me on Twitter @TeamMuriel to check out what I am doing and let me know what you think.  Follow me on Instagram at @Mayor_Bowser to see pictures in real time as I continue to represent the District at a variety of events.

Let me know what's working and what's not working. We are Washington.  We are all working together to make #DCProud.