Who Makes The 51st

President, Senior Editor
abigailhiggins@51st.news

Abigail (she/her) is a co-founder of The 51st. She moved to D.C. after almost a decade as a foreign correspondent in East Africa. She’s worked as an editor at DCist and WAMU, a regular contributor to the Washington Post, and has investigated corporate landlords and forced labor. She’s the First Vice President of the National Writers Union and trains incarcerated writers and community journalists. On days off she’s usually biking the C&O Canal Trail, hiking Rock Creek, or escaping to the Delaware shore with a book. Get to know Abigail more through her staff Q&A and her writing.

Executive Editor
christinasturdivantsani@51st.news

Christina (she/her) has worked in local news since 2011 and is a proud Washington, D.C. native. As a former staff writer at DCist, Christina wrote more than 1,600 breaking news stories on politics, transportation, education, policing, food, and entertainment, among other topics. She has freelanced for nearly two dozen publications including The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington City Paper, Zagat, PBS, and CityLab. Many of her feature stories highlight Black life and culture in the District and unpack issues faced by marginalized communities. She studied print journalism at Hampton University. You’re likely to spot her working remotely at your favorite D.C.-area coffee shop. Get to know Christina more through her staff Q&A and her writing.

Treasurer, Director of Operations
ericfalquero@51st.news

Eric (he/him) is a co-founder of The 51st. He has lived in D.C. longer than anywhere else in his life. Before his journalism career, he worked for food trucks, bars, and Trader Joe’s (when there was only one in the District). He spent a decade collaborating with residents experiencing homelessness to amplify their voices and report on poverty for Street Sense Media. He went on to build partnerships and projects for WAMU/DCist. In his free time, he contributes to his neighborhood compost co-op and can often be found at music venues or watching birds at parks such as Hains Point, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and Rock Creek. Get to know Eric more through his staff Q&A and his writing.

Director of Development
maddiepoore@51st.news

Maddie (she/her) is a co-founder of The 51st. She has called D.C. home for almost a decade. She worked at WAMU for six years and during her time there she launched and ran the DCist membership program. Bridging the space between editorial and fundraising, she’s passionate about local journalism that improves the lives of people in D.C. Outside of work she enjoys co-hosting Flower Potluck DMV, swimming with friends at Banneker, and foraging for snacks from fruit trees. Get to know Maddie more through her staff Q&A and her writing.

Senior Reporter
martinaustermuhle@51st.news

Martin (he/him) is a former reporter and editor for WAMU 88.5 and DCist.com. He's been in D.C. for 22 years, and tries to ride his bike everywhere he can.

Co-Founder, Editor-at-Large
nataliedelgadillo@51st.news

Natalie (she/her) has lived in four different neighborhoods and three different quadrants of D.C. across her near-decade in the city. She’s been covering her adopted home as a local journalist since 2018, and was previously the managing editor of DCist. Before that, she was a bilingual journalist covering environmental justice and immigration issues for English and Spanish language publications. You can usually find her roaming bookstores across the city, sitting in local coffee shops on sunny days, or eating tacos at one of several great spots on 14th. Get to know Natalie more through her staff Q&A and her writing.

Co-founder, Spanish Editor
teresafrontado@51st.news

Teresa (she/her) moved to D.C. to be the executive editor at WAMU/DCist in 2022. She has since become obsessed with documenting the city's seasonal changes on her Instagram account. She dragged her dog through the tidal basin at 6 a.m. to see the cherry blossoms (twice), loves Rock Creek Park and the National Arboretum, and is permanently surprised by the resilience of flowers in the District (you can find them everywhere). Teresa is an award-winning journalist and editor with over 20 years of experience helping newsrooms navigate the complexities of multiplatform publishing. She has led newsrooms in Florida, Texas, and the DMV. Get to know Teresa more through her staff Q&A; and her writing.

Co-Founder, Editor-at-Large
colleengrablick@51st.news

Colleen (she/her) called D.C. home for nearly eight years. She began her local journalism career at Street Sense Media before working as a general assignment reporter at DCist and WAMU, where she covered everything from public health, to local elections, to what residents overheard in the city. After DCist shuttered, she freelanced for The Washington Post and worked at the D.C. institution, Capitol Hill Books. She currently lives in New York, where she’s pursuing a graduate degree in creative writing. Get to know Colleen more through her staff Q&A and her writing.

Lead Community Connector: Ward 7
communityconnector@51st.news

George (he/him) is a Hillcrest resident, working as a community connector focused on Ward 7. He loves his neighbors, his community, and his ward. He wants to learn how local news can better serve his community. He is also a contributing writer for The 51st, previously covering D.C. for The AFRO and Greater Greater Washington. Get to know George more through this introduction and his reporting.

Community Connector: D.C. Natives
communityconnector@51st.news

Dwayne (they/them) is a father, poet, playwright, and crochet kingpin. A proud D.C. Native, Dwayne has served their hometown for their entire adult life through HIV prevention education, museum education and advocacy, and informing artists of funding opportunities through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Artistically, Dwayne is the former co-host of Spit Dat, the longest running open mic in Washington, D.C., has performed and hosted at several prominent arts venues across the city. Get to know Dwayne more through this introduction.

Bookeeper

Noel Schroeder (they/them) has called DC home for 12 years. They're a nonprofit leader and community organizer, with a background in teaching. They support The 51st's bookkeeping, they're Executive Director of Girls Rock! DC, and they're a core organizer with Ward 2 Mutual Aid and the Greens & Beans Grocery Cooperative.