^{Original Photo Double Reflection by Emma K Alexandra}

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Dear Neighbors,

Happy New Year! The holiday season was a good time to recharge, reflect and set intentions for the year to come. And I hope you took time to do just that because we’re a mere week into 2026 and she’s been A LOT. One of my own resolutions is a continuation from previous years –– ensuring that our District government is working efficiently, which means it's time to get back to work. I just wanted to note a few things as we end this first full week of January.

Performance oversight season is one of my favorite times of the year. I plan to hold agencies accountable and stay vigilant during the process to ensure that all parties are doing their share to deliver for DC residents. You can expect the first performance oversight hearings for the Committee on Health to start the week of January 26. Once that schedule is finalized, I will invite you to sign up to testify or send us testimony regarding the performance of agencies in the health cluster. The Committee on Health also will hold two roundtables soon: one on operational and safety concerns regarding Saint Elizabeths Hospital on January 22; and another on nominees to the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition on January 23. You can register to testify or submit testimony for the roundtables, here.  

Now, I’m not trying to be a Grinch – but if you have live Christmas trees or greenery, the time to remove those from your home is upon us. The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will collect holiday trees and greenery from January 2 through February 28 from DPW serviced households, which include single-family homes and apartment dwellings with three or fewer units. You can find more information on holiday tree collection, here.

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, the MLK Library will present Freedom and Resistance: An Exhibition Inspired by The 1619 Project from January 16 through March 15. The Opening Salon of the exhibit will be on January 16 and features a mainstage talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times, in conversation with artists from The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience. All are invited and you can register for that event here.

Setting aside some of the chaos thus far, 2026 is actually a pretty special year for milestones. In 2026, I’ll be celebrating my 40th birthday, my 10th wedding anniversary, and my 20th year as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. This year, the District also has many notable milestones, including:

• The University of the District of Columbia is celebrating 175 years of learning and legacy;

• The DC Public Library system is celebrating its 130th anniversary;  

• The Metrorail system is celebrating its 50th anniversary in DC;  

• The renowned Arena Stage is celebrating 75 years contributing to DC’s performing arts scene;  

• A favorite among our youngest residents and visitors, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is celebrating 50 years;  

• And city hall’s neighbor, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will celebrate its first decade.  

This is all on top of the America 250 celebrations that are already underway. There will likely be a lot of articles and reflections this year about America’s history and what it means to be an American citizen in 2026. I hope you hold on to the fact that freedom, resistance, diversity, and innovation are built into the very fabric of this country – and also should be celebrated and remembered. I am excited to continue working for DC residents in this new year toward the fruition of our collective resolutions for the city and our country.

In Service,

Christina Henderson
Councilmember, At-Large  
ChristinaHendersonDC.com

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