All right, let's do this. You attended Council hearings in person. You tuned into our televised proceedings on channel 13. Now, you have the chance to listen to us on the radio as we demystify our work and the people who do it. This is not a Council hearing. This is Hearing the Council with your host, Josh Gibson. Thank you, deep voice person with a funky backbeat. Indeed, this is not a Council hearing. This is Hearing the Council. You can't have a government without a Council, so you can't have a government radio station without a Council show. This is it. I'm Josh Gibson, Director of Communications for the DC Council. You may also know me as our voice on social media. And I'm very excited to say that we are joined by a new guest for the first time in a while. Ward 7 Council member Wendell Felder. So, thank you so much, Council member, for being here. No, thank you, Josh, for having me. I'm looking forward to today's conversation. We we have an unblemished record since our first show in April of 2018. Every single Council member has sat for at least one interview. So, the streak was we were worried for a second with the streak, but with you here the streak goes back to 100%. So, uh so we're very grateful. And as you see, as you'll see, it's like potato chips. You can't have just one. You know, a Council member and a Council member White have done a dozen interviews going all the way back on the podcast. So, hopefully you hopefully you uh will develop a taste for it. Absolutely. So, anyway, let's start at the very beginning. So, you are a fourth generation Washingtonian, if I understand. >> Yes. Yeah. That's that's proud. That's that's that's something to take pride in. And what what parts of uh DC have you lived in? I will cover things. So, to your point, being a fourth generation Washingtonian, you have a lot of historic context about the city. I've had the pleasure to live in just about all quadrants of the city. Southeast, Northeast. I don't I don't want to say Southwest. With that, uh if we were breaking this down in the wards, I've lived in Ward 5, 7, 8, and 6. Very good. Very good. What are your strongest memories about childhood growing up in DC? Ooh. Uh that's really good question. Um I would say just how DC was back then. I think I came up in the area in the era in which you could still play in the street with the um with the fire hydrant. Right? You know, your parents it was post I've been in the house when the lights when the street lights came on. More so like, hey, you know, if if there were a number of neighborhood kids playing, your mother would leave, you know, the door open and then as long as she could hear kids' voices, you were good. I think you know, obviously the city has changed, but for the most part, best city in the world. Absolutely. And you see little little did young you realize when you were playing in those fire hydrants that you'd end up being on the board for DC Water. Yes. You probably Yes. thought young you would be unhappy with old you, but I bet old you had a great time. I had a really good time. I had a really good time. Yeah, and how about school memories? Um positive, negative, any of them? Uh so, I I went to Murchland, Wilkerson, Winston, Johnson, McKinley. And when I got to McKinley, I think that's when my life changed. That's when I became more civically engaged. I participated in the student um uh government association. Became the SGA vice president. And it really gave me a introduction into local government. I think at the time Michelle Rhee was the Chancellor, Adrian Fenty was the mayor. And as the vice president of that organization, I would have to go down to um DCPS Central to testify to speak with members of leadership and or testify in front of the DC Council about priorities that was important to me and my classmates. So, that was one of that was a good memory. In addition to that, I was known I was pretty popular. My nickname in high school was Scholar. I think I was a student athlete. So, I ran track and it really exposed me to working hard, the importance of teamwork, always showing up. Some of the same values that I carry over to the Council today. So, those were probably my most memorable experiences in high school. How was it sounds like in those early days though you were bouncing around a bit. How is I bet that had an effect as being the new kid at a school is always a challenge. Bouncing around was I understand. I was flying off of the wall. I transferred from Johnson which was off of Suitland Parkway in Ward 8. Was definitely a different experience nonetheless. Gave me the foundation to be resilient, be tough. And when I got to McKinley, because of my experiences at Johnson from like a cultural standpoint, it's kind of a cakewalk. Got you. And I will say Scholar is about the least malicious school nickname I've ever heard. You could do a lot worse than Scholar. I think most people if they have to think of their school nickname, you know, it was like crazy legs or you know, something silly like that. Yours is like yours is solid. Yeah, man. Yeah, it was good. It was a good time at McKinley. It's funny because um I remember uh my teachers they were they were telling me, "Oh, you're a politician. You're a politician." before I really knew what the word politician meant. And when I when I ran for SGA vice president, I was somewhat popular because like I said, I ran track. But um every speech that I gave to Well, I'm going to take a step back. When I got there in the 10th grade, I ran for SGA vice president. I'm sorry, I ran for class president. But I lost. Mhm. So, then I ran when I got to the 11th grade, I'm like, "Okay, well, I've been here for a year now. People should know me by now." And I ran again and I lost. And then I came to the conclusion, maybe my class isn't really feeling me the way I think they're feeling me. So, you know what? I'm going to run for SGA vice president of the whole school. So, because I had somewhat of a popularity cuz I ran track, uh some people knew me. But I think what what won the election was like my energy. So, after every uh speech I gave going across the school, I would end it with one candidate can't guard him. Two candidates can't guard him. 35 candidates can't guard him. You voting for a Scholar, S C H O L A R. And people would go crazy. Oh, that's nice. Yeah, I I never heard that before. It was a thing. Yeah, it's almost like you had a like a campaign consultant, but you were the campaign consultant. >> the campaign consultant. It was good. It was good. That's impressive. That's impressive. >> Yeah. And you know, it's it sometimes and it it there are Council members who are in both categories. Sometimes you got to run and lose before you can run and win. You know, that teaches you one of course the folks who have run and never lost an election, of course you hear about that, but I don't know, I kind of think like to run, lose, and then come back and succeed is is more powerful to me as a voter. Yes. You know, I I did that. You may not know, but in 2014, I ran for City Council and lost. Oh, I don't I did not know that. >> You did not know that, yeah. I ran I was um I ran as an independent. I was about 23 years old. I ran against Elissa Silverman, Courtney Snowden, Robert White. So, it was a very interesting race. Uh, but that's how I got my feet wet. So, when I decided to run recently, I already know I knew what to do. It's like day and night. Yeah. Yeah, I I I mean, I obviously wouldn't wish that on anyone, but I think ultimately from a long-term standpoint, that's the way to do it. Yes. Yes. If If you can get it I will say this. Uh, this will be um this will be my message to anyone who has political aspirations. You don't necessarily need to run and lose. Uh, just be active in your community. And it can start by just going to your local ANC meetings. If you choose to run for ANC, then that's fine. Or go to your civic associations uh meetings or uh volunteer to your local church. Uh, like develop a name for yourself and uh become a trusted and respected agent. And I think that goes such a long way. Right. Um, now you mentioned this a little bit already, but uh I get how student government directly translated into your current work and and taught you direct lessons. But talk to me about uh about track a bit more. About cuz I know Bowie State you ran track. I guess in high school you ran track. Um, and from my little bit of research, it looks like you ran relay. Um Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, so I'll take it I'll take it back. So, I was um Well, your question was how did track what? Well, I'm just tell me a little bit about your background in track. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, what happened was um I started running track in about the 10th grade. I had a terrific uh physical education teacher uh by the name of An- Oliver Wan- Wanda Oliver McKenzie. And I had a lot of energy back then. And uh she she captured my attention in physical education. But uh I was more so looking forward to PE. Right? You know, like one semester is physical education and the other part of the semester more physical activities. Uh, so um we transitioned into the spring. And she she we had to uh do a a mile pre-run. Um so um at the time what she did was she took her students outside and she made us run a mile, but she didn't make us run a mile consistently. She said, "Hey, run one time around the track as fast as you can. And then once you're done, the next group is going to run, then you're up again." And she so she did that and when I finished I she I saw the biggest smile on her face. And I said, "What's Why you Why are you smiling?" And she was like, "Uh because young man, you got talent." And I said, "What you mean?" She was like, "I'm looking at your mile time and I'm very impressed." And I said, uh "I appreciate that." Uh she said, "Have you ever thought about running track?" And I was and I I said, "Well, you know, I've been chased home a couple times in like middle school. Like but outside of that, nah, I never really uh thought about uh running track." And she said, "Well, okay. Well, come to my office on Monday and we're going to sign you up for track." Uh so, I went to her office and she signed me up and you know, she she was like, "You want to get conditioned?" So, I started running cross country. Then from running cross country, we went to indoor and outdoor. And uh instantly I asserted myself as a leader. Um I took the summer off. So, going or doing the summer rather, I didn't take the summer off. I just put in the time and you could see a significant increase between my senior my sophomore year going into my junior year. Uh and then uh by the time I hit my senior year uh I was we had the DCSAA, which is the track division uh in the city. I was in the top three and the 800 uh the steeplechase and the 400. And what happened was uh and I always did the 4 by 4 to your point about relays. Um and what that did was uh exposed me to a lot and it really put the foundation in place to be able to do things over and over and over and over again. Uh and then from there I went to a small school in Lawrenceville, Virginia. And if you know uh McKinley, McKinley was it just got renovated. It looked like a college, right? Especially uh coming from Johnson. It was like day and night. Uh and then um so going to McKinley and then going to a small school in Lawrenceville, Virginia called Saint Paul's College where we had a dirt track. So >> Wow. the school was a mile away from uh the high school track where we practiced. So, I would run to warm up. If I missed the uh my coach, he would drive a van. If I missed the van I would jog a mile away from uh the campus. And I'll tell you, being a city kid going to Lawrenceville, Virginia where it's kind of like the country uh it was kind of it was it was different. And I'll never forget this. Uh one day I was uh This is when I was I was much faster then. But uh one day I went to practice and my coach says, "Hey, team. I need help getting tires out of the back of the van." I'm scratching my head. I'm like "What do you want us to change the tires on the van?" He like, "Nah, we we're taking these to the track." I'm like, "What you mean?" So, we put the tires on the track. And then he put a rope around the tires and then he tied the tires around our waists and we ran on a dirt track with tires. Real old school guy. That's That was my guy. Yeah, but that I bet you ran that uh Oh. I bet you up fast. Oh my gosh, did it. Did it. So, uh so I I was there for uh 2 years and then unfortunately uh they lost their athletic program and then that's when I transferred to Bowie State. And I ran at Bowie for a year. And then I had to have an honest conversation with myself and I said, "Hey, what do you want to do? Do you want to be a professional athlete or you want to do something else?" And then I came to the conclusion that I wanted to run a different type of race. And then so I stopped running track and then I ran as an ANC commissioner. And then the rest is history. And man, that's that's a bit of a transition cuz having having been an ANC commissioner myself uh decades ago um you're going from the public arena where you're racing, you know, in a track and folks are applauding and I mean, I love being an ANC commissioner. I wouldn't give it back for the world, but but you know, there's there's not a ton of glory in being an ANC commissioner. It's important work, but but there's no glory. So, that's a could I could say it'd be a bit of a tough transition. Uh nah, it was fun. You know, it was fun. Uh and you know, I'm 21 been an ANC commissioner. I think uh there may have been a couple of a couple of younger ANC commissioners. However, uh it was new. I mean you're learning your neighborhood, you get a title. Uh you really building relationships. Like I remember I would spend Well, when I first ran I would knock on people doors and uh you know you have no experience, right? So, I had my flyer that I made uh went to Staples, printed off a bunch of flyers and I was going off of when I ran for uh SGA president in high school. So, I really didn't have anything to compare it to. And I remember this one lady saying uh She was like, "I love your energy." She was she said like some of the things you have in your flyer, you can't do it. Like it's a it's an internal government function. So, she was like, "I would remove this. Maybe say instead of uh uh instead of stopping crime, you will work to decrease crime." All right? Like So, she just kind of gave me a bunch of tips. And then from there um you just go door to door. And you just continue to be consistent and you start knowing the mayors on blocks and you get the historic information and people say, "Well, you know, I knew Marion Barry or I knew Vincent Gray or you know, I remember Mayor Bowser knocking on my door." And after a while it just start coming together. Uh and you know, I've been an ANC commissioner four times in Ward 7. In different commissioners. I'm sorry, in different commissions. So uh it was really good. I mean, I can probably rattle off about 150 names. Like I can scan the ward and know everyone who I've met throughout my process by being a ANC commissioner. Yeah, I mean, I say this a little tongue in cheek, but I almost wish every DC resident was required in their lifetime to do a 2-year term as a commissioner. Cuz A, you would have have more respect for ANC commissioners, but also there's no better way to learn about how the DC government works legislatively, administratively, than being an ANC commissioner. Cuz you I think you've got nothing but the bully pulpit. You know, but you got to meet people, you got to know names, you got to Oh, it's a pothole. So, who's the best person to run that by? You know, it's it's like a graduate level class in government in the guise of this little unpaid part-time elected role. Yeah, no, absolutely. Absolutely. Uh and shout out to all the ANC commissioners, especially doing work in these unprecedented times, you know. So, most of them. Yeah, and I mean, as we've seen, you know, cuz yourself and a bunch of fellow past and present council members, it's also like a farm team, you know, for uh council members. That there I mean, there's so so many good talented people. And we have such a tiny legislature compared to most other states, that it's a shame. There's this pent-up energy, and it just goes to show the lengths people are willing to go that they'll take this role with no glory and no pay, and you have to do it in addition to whatever your normal job or jobs are in life. But man, people love it, and they get a lot of stuff done. Remedial. Remedial. This how I got my training par- partially training before coming becoming a council member. Is there like one big victory or big moment you remember from your ANC time that was like, "Yeah, that Um I think um So, the district in 2022 underwent the redistricting process. So, Ward 7, we had we got some new neighbors. New neighbors further within Kingman Park, Hill East. Um uh Rosedale. Uh so, with that being said, you know, you have a group of individuals who all care about their community, all um all want to see the commission do well. Uh and with that being said, uh be- because I was a chair of a commission and because I kind of figured I knew the ward, I said like, "Hey, let me just convene folks together. Like, let's get in front of this. Like, let's let's come together." And um and after maybe 3 months of planning, I was I said, "All right, guys. So, we've got some uh next steps and action items. We need to start being prepared to designate who we want uh to serve in what leadership roles within the commission." And uh the commissioners were like, "Nah, we already know who the chairman going to be." I was like, "What you talking about?" They like, "We want you to be the chairman." I was like, "Oh, man." Uh and then uh and then and then I think the biggest uh not thing that I'm proud about, uh not taking anything away from any other commission in the ward, but um someone said, "Either you guys are really going to do are going to do exceptionally well as a commission, or it's going to be a a circus." And um I'm glad to say that, you know, under my leadership and my vice chair at the time, Commissioner Alcorn, and shout out to all the ANC commissioners across the ward, specifically in 7D, uh you know, we we made sure that we elevated the commission. We got a lot of good things done. Uh and I think that's one of the things that I'm very proud about. Yeah, it sounds like the kind of common thread running through a lot of your background is a combination of being a natural and doing the hard work anyway. You know. >> you something. Everything you want on the other side I'm sorry. Everything you want is on the other side of hard work. I love it. That's what I get into. Right. It It helps to be a natural, but there's no replacing the work it takes. >> Not at all. Not at all. Not at all. All right. So, quick pivot to your time between coming out of school and starting on the council. Uh I know you worked in different work for the city administrator, worked at Sibley Hospital. Shout out Sibley. My daughter was born there, and I had a medical issue years ago, and they were wonderful. Um >> Right. So, uh talk a little bit about some time at Howard. Um Talk about a little bit about that chapter. So, became a ANC commissioner while I was at the air- uh while I So, I transferred schools from Boy State to um from St. Paul's to Boy State. When I decided I wasn't running anymore and became a commissioner, uh I think I was a junior. So, I I hadn't quite graduated yet. Uh start working at the Airports Authority. Then once I graduated, that's when I picked up a role working in the mayor's office of community uh relations and services as the Ward 7 liaison. And that kind of amplified my work as a ANC commissioner because at the time being elected, you kind of have your group of supporters, and then other leaders have seen you across the ward. Uh with that, I said um uh I got in a role, and it's like you get you got a master's in government. Uh cuz to your point, uh some commissioners don't know the inner workings of DC government. So, that was helpful. So, I did that about for about 18 months. And then um I said, "Well, at the time, I wanted to go to law school." So, I was like, "Do I really want to practice law?" Like, I do, but like what would give me something that was more fulfilling and kind of complemented my uh professional experience? And uh at the time, Georgetown had Uh so, I was I left being a moker and started out as a special assistant to the city administrator, and then became his deputy chief of staff while getting my master's in city planning. Uh so, like that took my government knowledge to another level. Then uh did that for a couple years, and I said, "Well, you know what? I like development. I want to like you need a specialty." So, I had an opportunity to work in the deputy mayor's office for planning and economic development managing uh development projects uh east of the river. And because I was in the city administrator's office helping with budget, policy, and helping him run the day-to-day operations of the city, focusing on one ward, it wasn't as strenuous as, you know, it would have been had I not had that experience. Uh so, then I said, "I've been in government for a while like most. I think I need to take a time out." And um I transitioned into a role at uh Sibley Hospital, where I was the director of community engagement. So, we they had a focus on communities overlooked and underserved communities east of the river. And my So, coming from Demp Hill, where I focused on development projects, and now having an opportunity to work at Sibley, I still engaged with the same population. So, it wasn't a heavy lift. It was kind of actually what they needed. Um and then I was appointed to the board of directors for DC Water. And um So, that was a good experience. And then after being at Sibley, uh I ended up transitioning to Howard being the director of regional affairs. So, I would go to different governments and basically figure out how we could develop partnerships, or we can get resources to help further advance the mission of Howard University. So, when it came to when it came time to uh decide if I was going to run or not, I was in a really good space at Howard. Uh but because I've been doing so much work in the ward, folks kind of recruited me. That's why I was kind of the last person to file. And then I had a really good relationship and still have a really good relationship uh with Council member Gray. He's a dear friend, mentor, uh colleague. So, I wasn't sure what he was going to do, uh and I wanted to respect that before I made any decision. Right. Yeah. Two things. One is I'm glad I was waiting to see when I saw that you work for the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development in that office. Half the people in the city say dimped and half the people in the city say demped. And I'm team dimped. So I'm glad that you said dimped cuz I to me that's the way that abbreviation should be pronounced. So I was >> Yeah. had my fingers crossed. Glad to see you came out on the right side on that one. Um the other one was speaking of mentors cuz in a future interview we'll get into the the transition to council cuz we're starting to run low on time. But it sounds like Rashad Young was maybe a mentor as well between the city administrator's office and the time at Howard. It He tells us Rashad is the best. Okay. He is the epitome of a professional. He's brilliant. I mean this guy has has a privilege to run five cities, right? Like becoming a city administrator is no easy feat. Let alone having the pleasure of running five of them or four of them before coming into the district. I think uh I think it's no secret. I probably would not be where I am today if it were not for his investment in me. And you know, I'm grateful for him as well as individuals like the mayor. I think that's one of the benefits. You talked about the city, growing up in the city. And maybe this is a full circle moment. Oftentimes, you think about where the city is now and opportunities for individuals born and raised in the city are like slim to none, right? A lot of folks move to the city with greater resources and partially because of our job market. With that being said, having an individual growing up in a single family home in public housing a product of DCPS escaping all of that then going to Georgetown and having an opportunity to work in its my local government, right? Like that speaks value for my city and that's because of individuals' willingness to invest in me. And as a council member, I'm so committed to creating opportunities where I'm investing other people as well as try to get folks to take their investments in the war to a whole 'nother level. Yeah. And I think what what folks don't realize is DC might be the national capital, the world capital. It's also kind of a small town in its own you know. It's talking about just climbing up on the shoulders of giants. You do you do keep running into the same people. You keep coming back across the same people and uh I don't think DC a lot of folks realize that about DC. That it's a real community. It's a it's a community. It's a town before as much as it's a city or a capital. Absolutely. No, I mean I think it's the best uh town, some people call it a county, city in the world. Like DC is where you want to be. Yeah. That is for certain. Um okay. So we are just about out of time, but always going all the way back to 20 At the end of each interview, there's always a fun round to try to shake things up and have a little fun. Always at the end of the first interview I do with the council member, I ask you to look at this list of uh desserts. Cake, candy, cookies, ice cream, and pie. And I want you to rank those from your favorite to your least favorite. Um uh Cookies first, ice cream second. Uh pie will probably be the fourth one. Candy is at the bottom of the list. And there was one more out there. Uh cake. Cake will be three. Cake will be Okay. Got you. Um it's very funny. It teaches us A, what kind of desserts you like if anyone wants to bring you a dessert. But also how people think cuz there's some council members that are like, well, I couldn't possibly respond to that. I don't know enough about the data points. And then there's other council members that are like, okay, we're doing a test. I'm taking the test. Here are my answers. So anyway, so then I I will I have to put you into the spreadsheet and figure out who is in the similar category as you. I appreciate That way you can figure out who your who your brethren are among past and present council members. I appreciate that. And pie pie is really polarizes people. You're either love pie or it's like in the bottom one or two. And I'm bottom one or two. So I'm there with you. That's it. But but anyway, thank you once again for your generosity with your time. Um and going to go ahead and close this out. Listeners, please remember to subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search under Hearing the Council. Thanks again for joining us, council member. Thank you, listeners. Tune in next time. We're on DC Radio at 96.3 on your FM HD4 dial or at dcradiio.gov. I'm Josh Gibson. This is not a council hearing. This is Hearing the Council. Thanks, council member. Have a good day. Thanks, Josh. Have a good day as well. All right. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.