Since 2019, the Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative has coordinated the Anacostia Park Meaningful Engagement Cohort. Through this cohort, diverse organizations are growing their capacity to meaningfully engage people through programming in Anacostia Park.

Through a series of workshops and events led by Akiima Price, Community Liaison to Anacostia Park, and Erin Garnaas-Holmes, Ambassador to the Anacostia Watershed Urban Waters Partnership, these organizations work with the National Park Service to build relationships with park visitors and prototype engagement activities to better connect with “hard to reach” communities in Ward 7 and Ward 8 of the District of Columbia. The cohort is strengthening alliances between community organizations, schools, non-profits, businesses, and other stakeholders to identify shared community goals and accelerate partnerships that positively impact and enhance both community and park health.

You can read an update on some of the summer 2019 programs here, and download materials from previous workshops below!

Workshop Materials

June 11, 2019: (Webinar) Meaningful Engagement in Anacostia Park

September 17, 2019: Introduction to Trauma Informed Engagement and Anacostia Park

  • Slides: Karen Johnson, National Council for Behavioral Health (PDF, 5mb)

  • Slides: Akiima Price, National Park Foundation (PDF, 2.6 mb)

  • Video: How Childhood Trauma Can Make You a Sick Adult - Vincent Felitti (link)

  • Video: How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime - Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (link)

  • RSVP/Attendee List (PDF, 478 kb)

February 12, 2020: Applying the Principles of Civic Ecology to Community Engagement in the Anacostia River Corridor