On January 2, 2021, 19 newly-elected representatives were sworn in for the five Ward 7 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs). The ceremony, like much of the campaign, took place virtually, with Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D) administering the oath of office.
The large incoming class means that many Ward 7 ANCs will meet in January with a majority of their seven seats filled by new commissioners. They come to a difficult job in a difficult time, meeting virtually to help residents confront the all-too-real issues raised and, in many cases, exacerbated by the pandemic, including issues of health, public safety, education and housing.
Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. Each commissioner represents a Single Member District (SMD) of approximately 2,000 residents. The ANCs’ main role in the District is to be their neighborhood’s official voice in advising the District government (and Federal agencies) on things that affect their neighborhoods.
Meet your newly elected representative below. Learn more about ANCs by visiting anc.dc.gov.
Natasha Dupee (7E04) is a native of Washington DC and a graduate of DC Public Schools. She currently works in the Office of Disability Support Services at George Washington University (GWU) where she is also completing a master’s degree in public health policy, exploring the intersection of health care, education, and employment.
After beginning her career as a high school science teacher in St. Louis, MO, Dupee worked in management and diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitation for Teach For America while engaging in independent consulting. She received her undergraduate degree in women’s studies and public health from GW and a master’s degree in education from The University of Missouri – St. Louis. In 2019, she became a homeowner in Marshall Heights.
Dupee said she wanted to represent 7E04 constituents to better connect people to one another and to resources and to be a responsive point of contact for neighbors and other stakeholders in the community. She said that, as a native Washingtonian, she has witnessed a full spectrum of lived experiences. “Our community has creativity, nuance, and a lot of love,” she said. “This reality exists with historical legacies of discrimination, policies that are not comprehensive in scope and an increase in violent crimes.”
Dupee said the major concerns in her SME include the development of the Fletcher-Johnson site, employment, access to amenities, youth development opportunities and violent crime. She said residents of 7E04 would benefit from increased funding to amplify the use of violence interrupters and community health workers as well the effective communication of updates for accessing things like utility assistance, workforce development opportunities, returning citizen supports, and pending development projects. Those, she said, are the issues on which she intends to focus.
“My commitment is to increase collaboration for information sharing, to persistently advocate for equitable policies, and to be responsive to my constituents,” Dupee said.
Reach Commissioner Dupee at 7E04@anc.dc.gov.
