Grassroots DC Recognizes DCHA Award Recipient, Aquarius Vann-Ghasri

By Liane Scott, on December 13th, 2013

Iris McLauren-Southall and Commissioner Aquarius Vann-Ghasri

We would like to congratulate Grassroots DC member and DC Housing Authority Commissioner Aquarius Vann-Ghasri who was awarded DCHA’s “Excellence in Resident-Driven Leadership for outstanding performance and lasting contributions to Resident Council Leadership.” The award was presented on December 12,2013. Vann-Ghasri currently serves as the Vice President of the Potomac Gardens Resident Council and is on the Executive Board of the DCHA Citywide Advisory Board. She also works with many nonprofit organizations throughout the metropolitan area and holds several certificates for nonprofit leadership.

Commissioner Aquarius Vann-Ghasri’s latest award.

Commissioner and Resident Council President Vann-Ghasri would like to thank the following residents who her interpretation of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (which governs the resident input into HUD governance) and her vision of the Potomac Gardens Family as a model for public housing: Tomasia Moore, Tina Hawkins, Shirley Marshall, Shonda, Ann Brown, Mrs. Brown, Quaina, Melinda, Shane, Carolyn Johnson, Ms. Lu, Mitchell, Ditesha, Larry Johnson, Tim Tim, Lorraine Leonard, Ms. Betty,Vernita Abney, Marry, Terry, Cortney, Carolyn Proctor and Bridget. “I thank you all. This is our award!”

Ms. Vann-Ghasri studied to become a paralegal at the Antioch School of Law, Urban Law Institute. She graduated with honors from the DCHA Community Monitoring Program. She served for two years with AmeriCorp Vista, and has worked with local groups such as Community Vision, Inc., National People Action, United Public Housing, DC Justice for Youth and the National Coalition for Homelessness. It is thanks to her support that Grassroots DC has a home at the Potomac Gardens Public Housing Complex. Our work here is fast becoming an integral part of Vann-Ghasri’s resident-driven leadership vision for public housing.

 

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Potomac Gardens’ Graduates 2013

By Liane Scott, on December 3rd, 2013

Every year, the Potomac Gardens Resident Council, under the leadership of Council President Aquarius Vann-Ghasri, recognizes students from the public housing complex who graduate from school. The Resident Council doesn’t discriminate; Students graduating from elementary, middle, high school and college are given an award. This year the celebration took place on July 19 and was videotaped by 3 talented and ambitious young Potomac Gardens’ residents–Larry Jackson, Alexander Ross and Lenwood Ward. Other obligations kept me from editing this footage until now, but you can expect to see more from the young people of Potomac Gardens in 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jozBwk4ni8w

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Author’s Night at Potomac Gardens Featuring Nissa Harper

By Liane Scott, on November 18th, 2013

On October 23, 2013, the Potomac Gardens Resident Council (under the leadership of Council president Aquarius Vann Ghasri) hosted author Nissa Harper for a discussion of her first book “Confessions of a Crazy Baby Mama,” which she admits is a title designed to catch a reader’s attention. Ms. Harper is not only a published author, she is also a public housing resident and advocate who works to keep public housing safe and affordable. She never misses the opportunity to remind her audiences that public housing residents are working people who want nothing more than to raise their children in a safe environment.

At the Potomac Gardens Author’s Night, a number of residents spoke about their own efforts to maintain and care for the Potomac Gardens community. The video was shot and edited by filmmaker and Grassroots DC contributor Brenda Hayes. Portions of the video may be included in the future documentary “Potomac Gardens: Inside and Out.” Stay tuned to this channel for more information on that project.

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