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Neighbors,
We’ve reached the end of performance oversight season! We appreciate the 186 residents and advocates who volunteered their time and energy to testify during the Council Period 25 oversight cycle for the Committee on Health. Council cannot effectively do our work without the input and feedback of residents and advocates. I also appreciate the coordination and frankness of agency directors and government witnesses who provided vital information regarding the operational structures and needs of their respective agencies.
As we kick off Women’s History Month, I’m proud to stand on the shoulders of the women who have trailblazed for the rights and humanity of DC residents. We have so many examples of powerful and determined women, such as Linda Cropp, the first woman to serve as Chairman of the Council; Nannie Helen Burroughs, an educator, businesswoman, and activist who championed the rights of girls in DC by founding the National Training School for Women and Girls; Mary McLeod Bethune, who helped to secure the property at 1318 Vermont Ave NW for the National Council of Negro Women, the first Black-led organization to be headquartered in DC. We also have stellar women who lead several DC government agencies, including DC Health, Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE), the budget directors for both the Mayor and the Council, and many others who serve.
It is encouraging and imperative for my daughters and all our girls to see themselves in these roles. Even though we have made huge strides, there are still many “firsts” and glass ceilings that are being shattered. I’m inspired to continue creating legislation that supports women receiving the full benefits of this city and its resources.
In service,
Christina Henderson
Councilmember, At-Large
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Transportation Planning Board Committee
Councilmember Henderson was named the chairperson of the Transportation Planning Board’s (TPB) Access for All Advisory Committee (ACA) for 2023. The committee, which held its first meeting February 27, advises the TPB on transportation issues, programs, policies, and services important to traditionally underserved communities, including low-income communities, underrepresented communities, people with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, and older adults.
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Final Performance Oversight Hearing
Thursday, the Committee on Health held its final performance oversight hearing of the season. Government witnesses for DC Health accompanied Interim Director Dr. Sharon Lewis. As you can see, we had a full house due to the size and function of the agency.
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Legislative Updates
This week, Councilmember Henderson introduced two bills that address trash collection and adjusting the District’s residential parking permit (RPP) program.
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Performance Oversight Updates
February 28: Boards of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Psychology, and Social Work. Public witnesses testified about the lack of representation of LISW-A board members for the Social Work Board and the implicit bias within the Social Work Board Exam. White, first-time test-takers passed at 98%, while Black candidates passed at 56%, and Hispanic candidates passed at 71%. Several witnesses have pointed out that the National Association of Social Workers has publicly denounced the usage of the exam for licensure.
Board Chairs for Psychology and Pharmacy testified that they would like to increase the lines of communication between the Boards and Council, as well as ensuring that Boards’ concerns and recommendations are given the same consideration as representatives from corporations. Click here to view the full hearing.
March 2: Department of Health (DC Health)- The Committee was encouraged by the number of District high schoolers who testified on a variety of issues, including more access to school based mental health workers and programs and a comprehensive sexual education program. Students expressed that topics such as consent, puberty, and managing emotions should be taught earlier in a child’s school. The government witnesses discussed the agency’s need for additional health inspectors, concerns about healthcare worker licensure and reciprocity, and strategies to combat the opioid crisis. Councilmember Henderson stressed the need for additional Food Safety Sanitarians, or Health Inspectors, as the department only has 16 for the entire city, as well as what can be done to ensure the agency has a current and reliable website to guide residents to desperately needed health resources. Click here to view the full hearing.
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Christina in the Community
BASIS DC
This week, Councilmember Henderson took a trip to BASIS DC Charter School, along with Dr. Walker-Davis of the DC Charter Board. During her visit, she observed students in Advanced Placement classes for Calculus and African American Studies.
Urban Outreach
This weekend, Councilmember Henderson visited the Urban Outreach Center in Marshall Heights. The Center, run by Reverend William Stroman aka "Pastor Will", provides emergency food, clothing, and afterschool programming, as well as workforce development in the visual and media arts. Urban Outreach operates with the help of dedicated community members. As the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments return to pre-pandemic levels, residents will lose roughly $93 in monthly benefits. Programs like Pastor Will's play an integral role in ending hunger in the District.
Hillcrest Civic Association
Councilmember Henderson spent time this past Saturday in a listening session at Hillcrest Recreation Center. Residents expressed concern healthcare access east of the Anacostia. The group discussed solutions to issues such as healthcare providers making house calls for neighbors with limited mobility, increasing food access, and how retailers like CVS could ease the strain on our hospitals and urgent care centers with resources such as the Minute Clinic.
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Team Henderson Has Grown!
We are now fully staffed and have two amazing additions to the team.
Meet Taylor Coleman, Staff Assistant
Taylor holds a B.A. from Georgia State University and is pursuing a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University. Her academic research focused primarily on peace building in South Sudan, political polarization, and political favorability. After graduating, she worked for Global Strategy Group, a public opinion firm, as a Research Assistant on the Elections team. Taylor is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and enjoys crawfish, writing poetry, and spending time with family. Outside of work, you can usually find her watching a political documentary or trying new foods.
Meet Boyd Jackson, Policy Counsel
Boyd is excited to join Councilmember Henderson’s team as Policy Counsel to the Committee on Health. Prior to joining the Committee staff, Boyd was an associate at a law firm on the health care regulatory team working on coding, coverage, and reimbursement issues for innovative medical technologies. Boyd received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in economics and received his law degree from Stanford Law School. In his spare time, Boyd is finishing up the dissertation phase of his PhD in Health Policy and Management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health with a focus on ways Medical-Legal Partnerships can address health-harming legal needs and the social determinants of health. Originally from Alabama, Boyd lives in Eckington and is a proud Ward 5 resident.
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Constituent Service Corner
Stay Connected
Thank you for reading! Please stay in touch.
Christina Henderson
At-Large Councilmember
chenderson@dccouncil.gov
Mike Shaffer
Chief of Staff
mshaffer@dccouncil.gov
Heather Edelman
Deputy Chief of Staff
hedelman@dccouncil.gov
Gabrielle Rogoff
Legislative Director
grogoff@dccouncil.gov
Ana Berríos-Vázquez
Constituent Services Director
aberriosvazquez@dccouncil.gov
Nicholas Pcholkin
Legislative Assistant
npcholkin@dccouncil.gov
Chantal Fuller
Communications Director
cfuller@dccouncil.gov
Taylor Coleman
Staff Assistant
tcoleman@dccouncil.gov
Health Committee
Ona Balkus
Committee Director
obalkus@dccouncil.gov
Marcia Huff
Senior Policy Advisor
mhuff@dccouncil.gov
Ashley Strange
Legislative Assistant
astrange@dccouncil.gov
Boyd Jackson
Policy Counsel
wjackson@dccouncil.gov