About

AboutMartha’s Table

At Martha’s Table, we believe that every Washingtonian deserves the opportunity to thrive. For 41 years, we’ve been committed to advancing a more equitable Washington, D.C.

We stand firmly alongside Washingtonians day-in and day-out on both sides of the Anacostia River by operating nationally accredited education programs, pairing healthy food access with physical and mental health services, and promoting family success by investing in family leaders.

At Martha’s Table, we believe in doing things differently in support of our neighbors. As a community-led organization, we rely on the guidance of our neighbors to help us deliver on our mission to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities in the District of Columbia.

In the summer of 2020, Martha’s Table began planning for our next phase of impact. With the onset of a global pandemic and a long-overdue reckoning on racism in America, we knew it was more important than ever to center the voices of our neighbors in our planning.

We convened a community panel of respected Southeast D.C. leaders to help design an intentional engagement strategy, resulting in over 1,000 meaningful connections with neighbors. We heard from residents in several languages, including Spanish and Amharic, from young adults, returning citizens, seasoned citizens, families enrolled in our early childhood programming, volunteers, and grocery market guests. In their own words, the community told us what they need, what they hope for, and what they entrust Martha’s Table to act on.

Four key strategies will guide our work and help us achieve the promise of a truly equitable D.C.

It’s time for us to take bold action, doubling down on the work we do to meet the community’s pressing needs and go even further in our mission, creating pathways for stability and mobility for our neighbors.

We need collective action to ensure all Washingtonians can thrive in their home city as it grows.

Visit our blog to learn more about the announcement of our 5-year community-led vision and the voices, partners, and community leaders who are joining us in standing alongside strong, children, strong families, and strong communities.