Who Makes The 51st

President, Managing 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 and Finance
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 local food trucks, bars, and Trader Joe’s (when there was only one in the District). Eric 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 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 Growth and Engagement
maddiepoore@51st.news

Maddie (she/her) is a co-founder of The 51st. She has called D.C. home for over a decade. She worked at WAMU for six years, launching and running 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.

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

Phresh (he/him) is a D.C. based visual storyteller and cultural worker committed to documenting truth, honoring spirit, and building community through the lens. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, his work lives at the intersection of portrait journalism, film photography, and community-centered storytelling. Phresh’s practice is grounded in intuition, rhythm, and deep listening. Whether behind the camera or cultivating space beyond it, he is invested in creating moments for conversation, reflection, and healing. His work is guided by the belief that creativity is sacred and, at its core, an act of love.

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.

Community Connector: Ward 7
communityconnector@51st.news

Jennifer (she/her) is a Washington, D.C.–based photographer, avid reader, and devoted museumgoer with a deep appreciation for art, storytelling, and visual culture.

Lead Community Connector: Ward 7
georgekevinjordan@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.

Editor
graciemckenzie@51st.news

Gracie (she/her) is an editor for The 51st. She moved to D.C. in 2016 for a temporary contract at WAMU. Ten years and five apartments later, the city is home. She’s the managing editor for 730DC and a community organizer in Mt. Pleasant, as well as an independent digital strategist and community builder working on projects in journalism, education, and civic engagement. Across her work in public radio, at The Atlantic’s CityLab, and with nonprofit The Trace, she’s been interested in what it means to make journalism work better for people — both audiences and journalists — so being part of The 51st is a dream.

Bookkeeper

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.

Trustee, Board Chair

Viyas (he/him) is a proud father to two daughters, seasoned technology executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder and CEO of Middleburg Barrel Company, which is home to numerous luxury spirit brands including Provenance Bourbon, The Reveries, and Hunt Country Bourbon. Viyas is also the founder of the Fountain Inn DC, Provenance Estate, and The Bourbon Concierge. His career is defined by a commitment to innovation, fostering strong cultures, and executing transformative business strategies that leave a lasting impact.

He is equally dedicated to philanthropic initiatives that support historical and ecological preservation, the arts and free press, and foster youth development. Viyas currently serves on boards for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Georgetown Day School, and The 51st.

Trustee

Caroline (she/her) is the Director of Development at the Constitutional Accountability Center. She came to CAC from the Global Investigative Journalism Network, and before that was at The Atlantic, where she was the first director of strategy and planning for foundation relations.

She was previously director of foundations at The Center for Public Integrity, and began her development career at NPR, where her fundraising focused on international reporting and new institutional initiatives. Caroline is an MFA graduate of the University of Houston Creative Writing Program and Tulane University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She’s also a widely-published nonfiction writer and co-editor of Vita Poetica literary journal.

Trustee

Eli (he/him) is a technologist and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience building digital products, leading high-performing teams, and supporting independent journalism. As co-founder of Industry Dive, a business journalism startup, he helped scale the company from its inception to a newsroom of more than 100 journalists and $100 million in annual revenue.

Beyond his entrepreneurial success, Eli is deeply committed to supporting mission-driven organizations that advance equity and improve people's lives. He believes that sustainable, independent journalism is essential to strong communities and a healthy democracy, and he is honored to serve on The 51st's Board of Trustees.