Mayor Vincent C. Gray Invites D.C. Residents to‘One City Summit Feb. 11

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray today invited District residents to join him on Saturday, February 11 for a crucial community conversation about improving the future of the District of Columbia. Residents who attend the “One City Summit” will have an opportunity to provide their input on important decisions that will impact the city for years to come.

“Join me and 1,000 of your fellow D.C. residents on February 11 as we have a frank and open conversation about how we can work together to improve our city’s services, outcomes, environment and quality of life for all of our residents,” Mayor Gray said. “This citywide town-hall-style meeting will show us ways we can work together to move our city forward.”

The event revives and expands a model for community input started by Mayor Anthony Williams during his administration. It will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and will give District residents the opportunity to make their voices heard by:

• Voting on specific priorities for action in the coming year
• Brainstorming new ideas about how the D.C. government can work more effectively with its citizens
• Identifying ways residents can be more involved in future efforts to create a more unified city that works for everyone
• Learning about current efforts to grow the District’s economy, improve public education, create more jobs, and other initiatives underway to move D.C. forward
• Discussing some of the biggest challenges that prevent the District from truly becoming “One City”
• Sharing their views in small-group discussions and listening to neighbors from every part of the District

Along with other top city officials, Mayor Gray will be present all day to listen to residents’ concerns and hear their ideas. The meeting will feature high-tech methods of feedback and communication for participants and real-time results for questions posed to the community.

The event will also include lunch for participants.

“Have you ever wondered what ‘One City’ really means?” Mayor Gray said. “One City is not just a logo or a slogan. It is the recognition that all District residents, no matter their differences, are bound together by a common destiny and a shared desire to make the city even better for the people who live here. We all want a vibrant, sustainable city, where all residents have an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, where every neighborhood is safe, where every student goes to a good school, where every tax dollar is spent wisely on a government that works and where citizens’ voices really count.”

He concluded: “This summit will provide us with clearer guidance on how to implement that vision. And we need your help to provide us with that guidance.”

To register for the One City Summit call (202) 709-5132.

Media Contacts

• Robert Marus - (202) 727-6853
• Doxie McCoy - (202) 727-9691