Introducing Cohort III of the Community Voices Academy

September 25, 2024

Home News and Updates Introducing Cohort III of the Community Voices Academy

We’re excited to welcome 19 new incredible participants into Cohort III of the Community Voices Academy (CVA), The Coalition’s signature program that helps District residents turn their lived experiences into real policy impact. This is our largest cohort yet!

Over the next 10 months, these advocates will deepen their understanding of how decisions around housing, the city budget, and community development get made, and how to influence them. From learning the ins and outs of the legislative process to building relationships with decision-makers, CVA gives participants the tools and connections to create lasting change in their communities.

Community Voices Academy isn’t just about training. It’s about power, leadership, and ensuring that the people most affected by DC’s policies have a genuine voice in shaping them. CVA members also help bring their neighbors into the conversation, building a stronger, more informed, and more active community.

The Coalition’s Community Voices Academy is made possible thanks to generous support from The Marriott Foundation and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Their investment in local leadership is helping to build a more equitable and responsive DC, one voice at a time.

We can’t wait to see what this dynamic group accomplishes. Welcome, Cohort III!

2024-2025 CVA Cohort III Members

Emanuel Alston
Ward 7

Nikila Smith
Ward 6

Tania Smith
 Ward 8

Adirah Prather
Ward 6

Corvette Burke
Ward 7

Kisha McDougald
Ward 8

Deborah Warren
Ward 5

Velle Perkins
Ward 1

King Osiris
Ward 1

Don L. Gardner
Ward 6

David Schultz
Ward 5

Leslie Moore
Ward 7

Aneshia McIntyre
Ward 4

Kenneth Taylor
Ward 2

Juraine McElhaney
Ward 5

Rhonda Edwards-Hines
Ward 8

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