Jamila White (8A05) believes in solving the big problems to give her neighbors the life they deserve. She said the COVID-19 pandemic was what led her down her ‘unexpected’ path to the ANC.
White’s work as a humanitarian first responder had her serving on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. White said when COVID hit the US she immediately realized that local response efforts were not robust enough to get ahead of the virus, and would increase inequities in Ward 8.
White holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Hampton University and a master’s in public administration with a concentration in economic development and international affairs from Indiana University. She currently serves her community by mentoring students through the College Bound program, through volunteer work with her church and other local organizations in Ward 8, and racial equity and racial justice activism in DC.
White saw that 80,000 Ward 8 residents have access to just one major grocery store, one hospital, and live in an area of concentrated poverty despite being in the seventh richest city worldwide. She ran for ANC because she saw this as a moment of reclaiming power and embracing potential.
She believes that increasing access to quality education, affordable housing, economic opportunities, food, elderly services, community-led healing and crime prevention efforts must be guided by community input.
Learn more about ANC 8A by visiting anc8adc.org. Reach Commissioner White by email at 8A05@anc.dc.gov
