Community is at the center of everything we do at The 51st. It’s part of why we launched specifically with a worker-led model. This allows our local newsroom to stay fiercely independent, without interference from shareholders, billionaire owners, or powerful institutions. ICYMI, my colleague Maddie wrote more about what that means for you last week.
But being community-driven means more than protecting our work from influence: We started The 51st to tell stories with you, not simply about you. In the year we’ve been publishing, so many D.C. residents have informed our reporting, helping our team better meet your local news needs.
To continue this work sustainably into 2026, we’re working towards the goal of welcoming 551 new members to help support our community-centered reporting. Our crowdfunding efforts have given us a runway, but there’s still a gap to close in terms of membership to continue this work long-term and grow the team to bring D.C. more trustworthy local news.
Here are some of the ways we're working together and what you’re supporting when you join us:
Pop-ups: Before we even started publishing, we hit the streets to connect with D.C. residents. We’ve set up tables at farmers’ markets, festivals, and community meetings in all 8 wards. Those early conversations guided our editorial priorities, and continue to help refine and expand what we cover.
D.C., Explained: This column directly listens and responds to readers’ questions about life in the city. When people tag us on social media, email our tips inbox, or share their concerns with us in person, we’ve researched the answers and shared them with everyone in the community.
Community Connectors: We understand that not all D.C. residents feel seen, heard, and connected to local media. Through this program, we’re prioritizing hearing directly from often-marginalized communities about how to meet their information needs. We currently have a Community Connector for Ward 7 and a Community Connector for D.C. Natives who show up, listen, and share with folks to ensure that all of D.C. is reflected in our work.
Ask a D.C. Native: In a city where transplants can overshadow longtime residents, this column is a platform for D.C. natives to share their unique experiences and serve as experts, cultural preservationists, and historians of the city where they grew up.
Opinion Articles: We’re not the only experts in the chat. We launched our opinion section to give voice to District residents to share how local policies, leaders, and movements are shaping their daily lives.
YouStreet: This recurring section of our newsletter asks readers to share your thoughts, usually about current events. We’ve included your responses in the newsletter and used them in our reporting on important local issues.
None of our work could be done without your contributions (of all kinds!), and we’re so happy to stroll down this two-way street with you.
If you’re already a member, consider sharing our work with your community. And if you’re a subscriber who hasn’t yet joined, becoming a paid member would make a big impact in sustaining local news as a public good!
Christina is an editor at The 51st, who's written for more than two dozen publications. As a staff writer at DCist, she wrote more than 1,600 stories about life in The District.
With your help, we pursue stories that hold leaders to account, demystify opaque city and civic processes, and celebrate the idiosyncrasies that make us proud to call D.C. home. Put simply, our mission is to make it easier — and more fun — to live in the District. Our members help keep local news free and independent for all:
