The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (CEPL) hosted the 19th and 20th Annual Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Awards Gala, which was held June 30 at the University Student Center to honor outstanding D.C. government leaders and innovative teams. This combined event honored 2020 and 2021 recipients as no gala was held the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Established in 2000, the awards honor individuals and teams whose commitment and professionalism demonstrate the best in public service. The program is made possible by a grant from the Cafritz Foundation and was created by DC Agenda and GW’s (CEPL), which currently manages the awards.
These winners have made an extraordinary impact in the lives of those who live, work and travel in D.C. For example, Aisha Williams set up mass COVID-19 testing sites—of which GW was a key partner. Another winner, Thennie Freeman, runs a program for 10,000 youths throughout the District—a program GW Provost Christopher Alan Bracey once went through.
Individual winners received a $7,500 cash prize, and the winning team received a $15,000 cash prize. Their stories are available on the Cafritz Awards website, and a recording of the ceremony is also online and was featured on the District of Columbia Network.
“When the...
REUTERS/Eric Lee U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin gave his own account of conversations he and President Trump had with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding the IC...