Washington, D.C. – With the November 3 midterm election approaching, District residents will vote for a new slate of advisory neighborhood commissioners (ANCs). One of the outgoing officials, Markita Bryant, chose not to run for re‑election and is using her final weeks in office to offer guidance to those who may follow her lead.
Heart‑centered service amid economic pressure
“Whatever you do, you do it from the goodness of your heart,” Bryant said, noting the difficulty many citizens face when balancing public service with the need to hold multiple jobs, pay rent, and care for families. She emphasized that true civic engagement often requires personal sacrifice, especially in today’s economy.
Election history and district background
Bryant represented single‑member district 6/8F02, a seat created in the 2021 redistricting that added nearly 50 new ANC positions and expanded Ward 8 west of the Anacostia River. In the hotly contested 2024 race, she won by fewer than 70 votes over Transportation Security Administration investigator Elissa De Souza and WMATA project manager Antonio Rossi. Rossi is the lone candidate on the November 3 ballot and is expected to succeed Bryant in 2027.
Key accomplishments during her tenure
During her time on the commission, Bryant helped pass several resolutions that directly benefited the community:
- Installation of stop lights to protect cyclists on key bike lanes.
- Securing funds from the Capitol Riverfront Parks Foundation for the Van Ness Elementary parent‑teacher organization.
- Supporting the Bowser administration’s multi‑agency effort on crime prevention and youth intervention.
Perhaps her most notable achievement was the coordinated response to the so‑called “teen takeovers” in the Navy Yard area. Working with the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District Headquarters, and the mayor’s office, Bryant helped create late‑night programming, secure recreation‑center time slots, and push for permanent curfew legislation. She explained, “I didn’t want anyone to die on my watch. Some decisions weren’t popular, but they were necessary to keep lives safe.”
Community voices praise her balanced approach
Longtime Ward 8 resident and community leader Wendy Glenn described Bryant as a “single mom raising a magnificent young man” who never let her career or civic duties interfere with her commitment to neighbors on both sides of the Anacostia River. Glenn, a former manager of the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services, highlighted Bryant’s ability to bring together multiple agencies and nonprofits to address youth safety without vilifying either young people or police.
Neighborhood resident Tori Collins echoed that sentiment, noting Bryant’s diplomatic style and focus on creating safe, clean environments for families and teenagers alike. Collins, who considered an ANC run in 2024, praised Bryant’s willingness to listen to business owners, elders, and youth during safety walks.
Looking ahead
As Bryant prepares to leave office, she urges future commissioners to serve “from the goodness of your heart” and to remember that effective local governance often means making tough choices for the greater good. Her legacy includes tangible infrastructure improvements, increased funding for schools, and a proven model for multi‑agency collaboration on public‑safety challenges.
Residents who wish to stay involved can attend upcoming ANC meetings, join neighborhood associations, or volunteer with local nonprofits focused on youth development and community safety.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
