Meet our team: Eric Falquero
It takes a village to make The 51st. We’ll occasionally dedicate some space to introducing a member of the team.
What’s your relationship to D.C.? Are you from the area and, if not, why did you move here?
D.C. is home. I became a transplant when my then-girlfriend came here for grad school, and we’ve since been married for more than a decade. I’ve lived here most of my adult life and longer than anywhere else – all in the same apartment complex, clinging to its eligibility for rent control. That’s enabled me to build relationships with neighbors, colleagues, and favorite businesses. In short conversations, I usually say I’m from WBest Virginia, which is where I attended high school and college. But I grew up in five states and was born in Fort Lauderdale, so I have to admit that “Florida man” is a technically accurate label.
What do you love about local news and why did you decide to become a co-founder of The 51st?
An internship with Street Sense taught me I wanted to be a local journalist. It transformed me from a passive news consumer to an advocate for the importance of informing, amplifying, and connecting people. Their model of empowering community members to tell their own stories, and collaborating with all sorts of people and organizations to make it possible, is what drew me in.
I was fortunate to be hired on staff and spent a decade bringing stability and expansion to the organization. My view of what journalism can and should be – produced in constant communication with the people it serves, giving the most attention to those with the least power, and equipping readers with resources – was fundamentally shaped by all of the people I had the privilege to work with. In many ways, modern efforts to improve “engaged journalism” and “community listening” are just catching up to street papers.
I was working to implement this same ethos on a broader scale at WAMU. When they shuttered DCist and shrank their local newsroom, I became a co-founder of The 51st to take a more active role (as part of a worker-led organization) in shaping the business decisions that support the kind of local news I think our community deserves.
What’s your perfect D.C. day?
That's a tough one. Um, I'd have to say April 25th, because it's not too hot, not too cold… I couldn’t resist. Truly though, April and October are unmatched in terms of cool temps and lack of humidity. My perfect day in D.C. would have to be a Tuesday so I could get out early, grab a bikeshare, and ride over to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by 8:30 a.m. for their bird walk. (Well, return the bike at Deanwood Rec Center by 8:20 a.m. and walk a little farther.)
There’s a great mix of good-humored regulars and new folks, super friendly and knowledgeable guides, and always cool sites. Maybe wander there until lunchtime and grab the Metro from Deanwood to downtown. Hit up Kazi Mannan’s place for lunch (renamed Sakina Halal Grill to honor his mother) and meander through the National Portrait Gallery + the Smithsonian American Art Museum by Gallery Place. Then dinner and a show with friends, at a venue such as Pie Shop, 9:30 Club, or Pearl Street Warehouse. This is all assuming unlimited leisure time and money – otherwise, I’d be content with the bird walk.
Do you have any pets?
I’m a friend to all animals and have adopted from three rescues in the District. But I only grew up with dogs and didn’t know how much I loved cats until two forces collided: many apartment buildings not allowing dogs and a co-worker fostering a litter of kittens. We worked at Trader Joe’s (when there was only one in the District, shoutout 653!), and they posted photos in the break room – it was a setup.
At the time, the two we brought home were named Sherman (Ave.) and Kenyon (St.). We lost both too soon due to chronic health issues (everything fellow co-founder Colleen Grablick wrote about pet grief is true). We’ve since adopted Biscuit World (named after the Tudor’s chain from West Virginia) and Waffle House. Yes, I’m always happy to share photos.
What do you wish people knew about D.C.?
It seems obvious, but we have such an amazing local arts scene. Yes, we’re fortunate to have large stages and galleries to attract national and international music, theater, dance, and visual artists. But I’m talking about the innumerable people sharing their talents and helping to uplift each other across D.C. A few faves include Bad Medicine sketch comedy, Emma G and Fly Zyah’s music and community work, The Pack’s “Express” editions (I still need to get to an event), and Super Art Fight (who are overdue for a return to the Black Cat!).
