Building Community Resilience: Meet Our New Family Success Center Manager, Angela Draughn

This October, in collaboration with the Anacostia community and Families First DC, Martha’s Table will expand its community-driven services to better support children, families, and individuals. Martha’s Table’s Family Success Center – located at The Commons in Southeast – will serve as a one-stop-shop for Ward 8 residents, offering comprehensive resources in health, wellness, parenting, and workforce readiness.

Martha’s Table’s Family Success Center – located at The Commons in Southeast – will serve as a one-stop-shop for Ward 8 residents, offering comprehensive resources in health, wellness, parenting, and workforce readiness.

This exciting expansion of services requires a leader connected to the Ward 8 community who embodies the mission and vision of Martha’s Table. A leader with the vision necessary to direct essential programming that meets the needs of our neighbors.

MT’s leadership conducted a thorough search to find the perfect team member to lead this new initiative. Meet our new Family Success Center Manager, Angela Draughn:

Having a tremendous opportunity to serve my community in this capacity is my life’s greatest honor.

Angela is a native of the Randall Highlands community and currently resides in Ward 8. A proud graduate of Anacostia Senior High School, she attributes her success to the resilience of her single mother, school programs, and the collective loving support of her family and community.

Angela has a BA&S in Communications from Bennett College and a professional Advance Leadership Certificate from the United States Postal Service with a focus on engagement and cultural change. She has over 20 years of experience in program management and support and has served as a long-term substitute teacher with DCPS. Angela first connected with Martha’s Table during her tenure as a substitute art teacher at Turner Elementary School.

We recently sat down with Angela for a more in-depth conversation around her experiences as a Ward 8 resident and her plans for the Martha’s Table Family Success Center as she steps into her new leadership role.

We understand the power of support and knowledge and how it plays a vital role in success. We take our mission seriously and look forward to building sustainable relationships with our community.

What are your thoughts on Martha’s Table’s relocation to Ward 8?
I think it is an incredible gesture of solidarity and speaks volumes about the mission of this great organization.

What inspired you to join Martha’s Table as our new Family Success Center Manager?
When I reviewed the position description, I could hardly believe my eyes. This was the work I had been dreaming about for years. I have always felt a great sense of responsibility for giving back, but this job was more than that. It was paying it forward. The cultural exposure I got at Anacostia Senior High helped shape my dreams and my potential. Having a tremendous opportunity to serve my community in this capacity is my life’s greatest honor.

What can the Anacostia community expect with the expansion of resources through Martha’s Table’s Family Success Center?
The community of Ward 8 can expect a team that is loving, mindful, intentional, and enthusiastic about providing resources to our neighbors. We understand the power of support and knowledge and how it plays a vital role in success. We take our mission seriously and look forward to building sustainable relationships with our community.

Why do you think the resources and programming Martha’s Table is offering is essential and what role do you see Martha’s Table playing within Ward 8 in the future?
I believe it is crucial because knowledge is power. Connecting our community to solutions helps develop hope. Hope is the inner belief that brighter days are coming and when they do, it is the testimony of those experiences that builds resilience in a community. I see Martha’s Table expanding the partnerships and resources we provide to the citizens of Ward 8.