Highlights

The #MeToo movement has changed the way we think about and understand consent and assault and continues to illuminate how society has normalized illegal and abusive behaviors.

But when those behaviors happen within the context of a relationship, determining what is illegal or abusive can be more difficult, especially for young people in vulnerable situations. How can we help them define and identify abuse and feel empowered to make safe choices?

Like nearly every year that preceded it, 2019 brought rapid growth and change for the Greater DC area. But while new opportunities and development could lead to greater security and stability for some, many area residents could be left behind. How can we work toward a better Greater DC for all?

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments recently announced that 56,250 new housing units are needed in the next decade to serve low- and moderate-income households in the region. Ten percent of those units may come from a somewhat surprising partner: the faith community.

The Housing Act of 1949, part of Harry Truman’s Fair Deal, sought to ensure a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family. But 50 years later, as we face a housing affordability crisis and crumbling infrastructure, can urban redevelopment achieve better outcomes for residents?

In its new Housing Equity Report (PDF), the District of Columbia sets ambitious targets for expanding housing affordability in every part of the city.

Exclusionary zoning policies restrict housing supply, drive up costs, and perpetuate the racial and economic disparities that lead to unequal access to opportunity.

Chelsea Coffin of the DC Policy Center contributed to this post.

In Maryland, several school districts have recently begun talking about redistricting—that is, redrawing boundaries to reduce overcrowding in schools and enhance racial and economic integration. Much of the coverage has focused, rightfully so, on the current demographics of schools in Howard and Montgomery Counties.

But the historical context can be informative, too, and with today's launch of version 1.0 of our Education Data Explorer, it’s easier than ever to find.

For too many DC-area families, rents and house prices are climbing out of reach. Some neighborhoods that have long been home to people with low and moderate incomes face especially steep housing cost increases and displacement. And many residents fear that, with the arrival of new businesses, jobs, and workers, these pressures will intensify and our region could become the next San Francisco or Seattle.