For the past several months, The 51st has been on a listening tour in Ward 7, trying to figure out what issues are important to residents. Our hope is to close the gap between our reporting priorities and the community's needs.
This work is part of our Community Connector program, a pilot intended to amplify voices we felt were unheard or underrepresented in mainstream media; the two populations we currently focus on are D.C. natives and Ward 7 residents.
Since January, we reached out to Ward 7 residents by tabling, attending, or hosting more than 19 events. Funded by a grant from the Listening Post Collective, we also conducted a survey that residents filled out in person or online. More than 500 District residents responded — over 300 of whom reside in Ward 7.
We asked simple demographic questions, along with two key questions:
What issues do you wish local media covered more deeply in D.C.?
What’s a story in your community that’s not getting told — but should be?
Through the survey and a multitude of conversations, respondents told us they wanted to see articles that balance the rich history and culture of Ward 7 neighborhoods, while also addressing pressing community issues like food accessibility and concerns about the new RFK stadium redevelopment project. (You can read our full report here).
While we know this does not represent the entire population of Ward 7, we hope it offers a sample of residents' concerns and a pathway for our editorial team to ensure our reporting addresses their needs. (And if you haven’t filled out our survey yet, we still welcome your feedback.)
History and culture
A majority of residents surveyed (61%) thought stories about community history and culture needed to be covered more deeply. While a broad category, residents dug deeper and called for stories about the work of local creatives in the community, history pieces, and profiles of figures like Nannie Helen Burroughs and Marvin Gaye. Residents were also interested in a story about the Black builders who helped shape parts of the Deanwood neighborhood.
Other top coverage interests included education and schools (55%), affordable housing (54%), public safety and policing (51%), and gentrification and displacement (50%).
The “untold” stories in Ward 7
We got more than 200 responses to an open-ended question about the stories residents want to see, and the list was as diverse as the ward. People pointed toward themes of gentrification and displacement, crime safety, and drug activity in their neighborhood, but two specific subjects bubbled to the surface.
Food access
Ward 7 has long had food accessibility challenges, with only three full-service grocery stores for a population of about 90,000 residents. By comparison, Ward 1 and 2 have 13 grocery stores each, and Ward 3 has 17, according to a 2025 study from D.C. Hunger Solutions.
Residents want to know what happened to the ill-fated grocery store that was supposed to anchor the Capitol Gateway Project. They also want more coverage on the quality of food access they do receive, as well as what restaurants are popping up and the challenges they may face.
RFK Stadium
The $3.8 billion RFK football stadium and redevelopment project has been a divisive issue throughout the District and remains a hot topic of conversation for Ward 7 residents, where the project is anchored. Residents not only wanted more information on the process, but also about the project’s environmental impacts, increased traffic and parking, as well as transit options.
Post-report event
We came up with a list of recommendations for news coverage based on the survey results. And at an event highlighting our findings, we asked more than two dozen residents to help us prioritize the issues.
Food access topped the list of coverage that attendees wanted prioritized, followed by an oral history project highlighting Ward 7 residents. Recording these histories before we lose our elders was important to residents. Coverage of RFK was also discussed in person, much like in our report.
What happens next?
We have already begun conversations with the editorial team about stories we can prioritize in the immediate future. Expect regular updates on what we've published and what we're working on based on our report data and resident feedback. If you live in Ward 7 and want to get on our Community Connector email list for updates, email georgekevinjordan@51st.news.
George Kevin Jordan is a freelance writer, editor, and author with more than 25 years of experience. He currently lives in Ward 7, and is still discovering new things about 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:
