Residents of Wards 4, 5, and 7 are invited to vote on the subject for a future commemorative work from now until Friday, August 25. The DC Office of Planning previously accepted nominations for commemorative works subjects and has now prepared information on each as well as a dedicated website for each ward to vote on. The selected subject will be the focus of artists and consultants hired by the Office of Planning to prepare a concept design of a work, with additional community feedback and updates informing the final design.

Read about the nominations and vote at https://publicinput.com/cwtap#4 by August 25, 2023.

Ward 4 Nominations

• DC Caribbean Carnival on Georgia Avenue – Long-standing celebration held on Georgia Avenue NW showcasing the traditions and culture of the Caribbean islands.

• Founding of DC Youth Orchestra – Organization providing access to musical training and the first youth orchestra to play at the Kennedy Center.

• Highway Revolts – Integrated coalition of activists who prevented the construction of a highway system through DC.

• Vanilla Beane – An influential milliner and small business owner who was inducted into the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers Hall of Fame.

• Neighbors Inc. – Actively fought against discriminatory real estate practices and promoted integrated communities in DC.

• Stephen Whatley – ANC Commissioner and veteran who fought for community participation in the redevelopment of Walter Reed.

• United Blacks Against Discrimination (U-BAD) – Organization that protested working conditions and racial inequality at Walter Reed.

Ward 5 Nominations

• Dr. Alexander Augusta – First African American medical professor and hospital leader in the US, highest-ranking African American officer in the Union Army, and civil rights activist.

• Charles L. Bryant and Robert E. Bryant – Founders of the oldest Black owned architecture firm in the US and mentors to young architects and engineers.

• Empower DC – Citywide non-profit focused on strengthening low-income Black communities.

• Enslaved People Who Built the U.S. Capitol – Recognition of enslaved people forced to construct the Capitol.

• Founding of Dance Place – Community institution providing access to movement arts regardless of means or background.

• Hurd v. Hodge – Landmark Supreme Court case that struck down racial covenants in DC.

• Integration of Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association – First integrated community association in DC and influential force fighting highways and advocating for Metro.

• Lillian Huff – Community and Democratic political activist who served as the chair of the first Statehood Convention and was appointed to the White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services.

• Mary Jane Patterson – First African American woman to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in the US and a prominent DC educator.

• Shirley Horn – Grammy Award winning singer who performed at the White House, was honored by Congress, and named to the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters.

• Sterling Allen Brown – Renowned poet considered an integral part of the Harlem Renaissance and DC’s first Poet Laureate.