Healthy Food Takes Root in DC’s Wards 7 and 8

For decades, communities east of Washington, D.C.’s Anacostia River—Wards 7 and 8—have suffered from chronic underinvestment in healthy food access. Often referred to as “food deserts,” these predominantly Black neighborhoods have long struggled with limited grocery options, high rates of diet-related illnesses, and systemic barriers to fresh food. But thanks to a coalition of passionate residents, nonprofits, educators, and farmers, that reality is starting to change. These food champions are not only planting seeds in the soil—they’re planting hope, health, and economic opportunity in their communities.

Washington View: A Model for Healthy Community Living

Location: 2629 Douglass Road SE
Supporters: Novo Nordisk, Bank of America, CareFirst, BBAR, National Housing Trust, Black Nurses Rock, and others

Washington View, a 365-unit affordable housing development in Ward 8, now hosts a vibrant fresh fruit and vegetable garden, thanks to a collaboration with The Interrupt and Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR). The initiative, called View Strong, launched in June and gives residents free access to produce through the on-site Fresh Market.

According to Scott Kratz, Senior Vice President at BBAR, the project addresses an urgent need: “This neighborhood has one full-service grocery store serving 75,000 residents.” The initiative is more than just a garden. It includes health screenings by Black Nurses Rock, job training through the Skyland Workforce Center, and transportation to local parks. The impact of the three-year, seven-figure investment will be tracked by GW University’s Global Food Institute, serving as a potential model for future developments.

More food plots part of this network: THEARC Farm, Union Temple Baptist Church, Allen Chapel AME, National Children’s Center, and Wayne Place.
Learn more: www.buildingbridgesdc.org

Lederer Community Gardens: A Green Oasis in Ward 7

Location: 4801 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE
Supported by: DC Department of Parks and Recreation

Tucked alongside Marvin Gaye Park, Lederer Gardens is a cornerstone of the Ward 7 community. It offers garden beds, fruit trees, composting stations, and educational workshops on topics ranging from honey harvesting to medicinal plants. Weekly giveaways of food, seeds, and plants encourage community participation.
More info: www.dpr.dc.gov

Garfield Elementary: Teaching Kitchen + Food Orchard

Location: 2435 Alabama Ave SE
Partners: FRESHFARM, Casey Trees, DCPS, DOEE

When Garfield Elementary in Ward 8 underwent a transformation, one of the most exciting additions was its Teaching Kitchen and Food Garden. Through FRESHFARM’s FoodPrints program, students learn math, science, and health by slicing fruit, baking Juneberry coffee cake, and harvesting produce.

Thanks to Casey Trees and DOEE’s Nature Near Schools initiative, children even help pollinate Paw Paw trees with paintbrushes and name them as part of their environmental education.
Learn more: www.freshfarm.org

The Fresh Food Factory at Sycamore & Oak

Location: 1110 Oak Dr SE
Founded by: Amanda Stephenson

Inspired by her father’s cancer recovery through nutrition, Amanda Stephenson launched The Fresh Food Factory—a market and eatery designed to bring healing through food. Based in Congress Heights, it provides affordable access to fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in a community with just one full-service grocery store.

Stephenson also hosts nutrition and entrepreneurship workshops, collaborates with local schools, and advocates for food policy reform.
More info: www.thefreshfoodfactory.com

Dreaming Out Loud: A Food Movement, Not Just a Market

Location: 1303 Marion Barry Ave SE
Founded by: Christopher Bradshaw
Director of Strategic Partnerships: Jaren Hill Lockridge

Dreaming Out Loud is more than just a market—it’s a hub for food equity and empowerment in Ward 8. Their team of 30 operates CSAs, farmers markets, and the Food as Medicine initiative in partnership with Children’s National Medical Center and Georgetown Pediatrics.

They’ve reclaimed the term “Food Apartheid” to better describe the systemic barriers faced by their community. Their upcoming Market on Marion Barry Ave will include three commercial kitchens, a café, a retail food space, and programming to support local growers and entrepreneurs through the Dream Entrepreneurship Program.

“This isn’t a grocery store—it’s a space for conversations, connections, and growth,” says Hill Lockridge.
More info: www.dreamingoutloud.org

Resources for Fresh Food Access in Wards 7 and 8

Martha’s Table: www.marthastable.org
Ward 8 Farmers Market: www.ward8farmersmarket.org

Growing a Healthier DC, One Garden at a Time

From school gardens to urban farms and community-run markets, Wards 7 and 8 are becoming blueprints for how food justice, education, and economic development can grow hand-in-hand. These efforts are redefining what’s possible when residents are given the tools to feed themselves and their communities—nourishing not just bodies, but futures.