In my April blog post, I shared my commitment to ensure that every DC community member, regardless of Ward, race, ethnicity, or economic status, has a seat at the table as we plan for our city’s future. DC 2050 will only succeed if we build it in true partnership with those who have been left out of the conversation historically.  

One of our goals is that the demographics of the people who engage with DC 2050 align with the demographics of the residents of the city. Though the DC 2050 team engaged with over 2,600 people across the District during spring and summer 2025, we identified several participant gaps when we looked at the data. Out of all the people we connected with in spring and summer 2025: 

• Only 24% identified as Black and 8% as Latino. White residents make up only 39% of the District, while 41% of all residents are Black and 12% are Latino/a.  
• Less than 15% of people were from Wards 7 and 8. 
• Though DC’s median household income is $108,120 (for a family of 4), nearly 50% of virtual workshop participants reported household incomes over $150,000.   
• 71% were ages 25 to 54, an age group that makes up less than 50% of District residents; both younger and older populations were underrepresented. 

From March-June 2025, we found that the largest racial/ethnic population that participated in DC 2050 engagement efforts was white DC residents, while white residents make up only 38.8% of all DC residents. 

In addition to virtual outreach efforts, we hosted community meetings, focus groups, pop-ups, and presentations at partner events in every Ward in March-June 2025. 

How community partners serve as bridges to marginalized communities 

Starting in September 2025, we worked with city, educational, and nonprofit partners who already work with these groups to understand how to reach and learn from DC residents in ways that are culturally relevant and accessible. These partners have been vital in co-hosting 17 focus groups this year.  

While participation numbers are smaller than other engagement forums like public meetings and virtual workshops, these focus groups elevate perspectives that are often missing from the broader conversations and offer deep insight into the nuances of where and how District residents want their city to grow. Here are some things they’ve helped us learn: 

Housing quality and size are just as important as building enough units for the District’s anticipated population growth 

• Some participants of both in person and virtual workshops, as well as focus groups noted that maximizing housing density does not necessarily meet the needs of home-seekers - for example, many families need 3 or 4 bedrooms to live comfortably in the city, while others raised concerns about where the density is concentrated in the District. 
• Quality matters, too. Some participants from public and affordable housing focus groups highlighted that new construction buildings sometimes offer a poorer quality of life, with thinner walls and smaller living spaces. Maxing out the number of units in new developments does not always create quality homes.  
• In some cases, more density isn’t the answer, but improving the current state of homes is. Residents of Wards 7 and 8 called for the District to focus on rehabilitating homes and properties, not just approving new large-scale development projects.  
• Right-sizing units by family size could better distribute density. For example, some seniors expressed a strong desire to downsize but lack the options to do so. 
• In contrast, in person and virtual workshop respondents generally called for maximizing density and in some cases building for more than the anticipated population growth.  

What’s ahead 

Community partnerships have been instrumental in reaching residents of all backgrounds through focus groups. We plan to continue this practice and working with partner organizations throughout the next stages of DC 2050. As we shape DC 2050, our team is listening closely to the varying and sometimes opposing perspectives. We are developing policies through an equity lens, asking who benefits and who might be left out, and adjusting our recommendations so they work better for those facing the biggest hurdles. What we learned from focus group conversations plays a central role in our process over the coming months. These conversations help us understand the real‑life challenges residents face, show us where policies for development might fall short, and highlight ways we need to adjust our draft plan to increase opportunities for all DC residents.  

When we release the full draft of DC 2050 in September for public comment, we will also publish an engagement summary report. In it, we will share not only what we heard from residents, but also how those insights directly shaped our policies and informed the DC 2050 draft plan. Thank you to everyone who has lent their voice so far in this process – your voices help us plan for a future where everyone in our city can truly thrive.  

If you would like to get in touch with us to organize a focus group or connect with your community, please reach out to our team at [email protected].