(WASHINGTON, DC) – The DC Office of Planning (OP) welcomes Anita M. Cozart as the new Deputy Director of Community Planning and Design. Cozart is a racial equity advocate with years of experience in transportation, land use and equitable development both nationally and in Washington, DC. Cozart brings her skills to the agency as it is in the process of amending the Comprehensive Plan with a focus on equity. OP will release its proposal for public review on October 15, 2019.

Most recently, Cozart was the Managing Director at PolicyLink, where she led place-based, equitable development initiatives in 35 cities. During her time there, she established the Transportation Equity Caucus, a national coalition that promotes policies that yield just and fair infrastructure investment; led a philanthropic partnership dedicated to expanding access to housing and opportunity; and served as a lead coordinator of Equity Summit 2015. Prior to joining PolicyLink, Cozart spent six years with OP as a neighborhood and citywide planner, and ultimately as the chief of staff, leading the agency’s media activities, legislative initiatives, and special projects.

Cozart holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her spouse and three children.

For more information about the Comprehensive Plan amendment process, visit plandc.dc.gov. For more information about DC Office of Planning, visit our home page at planning.dc.gov.