Author: Jamoni Overby
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Advocacy Works: Reflecting on the FY27 DC Budget
Advocacy Works: Reflecting on the FY27 DC Budget This spring, Nature Forward joined residents, partners, and advocates from across the District to urge the DC Council to protect critical environmental and public health investments in the FY27 Budget Support Act. Through testimony, coalition advocacy, meetings with Councilmembers and staffers, and community engagement, we emphasized that…
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Building Community for Clean Water: Reflections from the 2026 Choose Clean Water Coalition Annual DC Workgroup Member Event
On April 23, 2026, Nature Forward welcomed members of the DC Workgroup of the Choose Clean Water Coalition (CCWC) for an inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and community building in “The Great Ward 8,” Southeast Washington, DC. Led by DC Conservation Advocate and DC Lead for CCWC, Jamoni Overby gathered nineteen advocates, practitioners, and partners…
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Building Flood Wise Communities Expanded
As climate change intensifies, flooding is no longer a distant possibility for Washington, DC, it’s a present and growing reality. In response, Nature Forward, alongside powerful community partners, Ward 7 Resilience Hub Community Coalition, The Green Scheme, and Washington Interfaith Network has expanded and reimagined Building Flood Wise Communities Workshop Series. Through the support of…
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DC’s Fight for a Bottle Bill: How the 3RC for DC Coalition Is Leading the Way
Washington, DC is drowning in beverage container waste. From the banks of Oxon Run to neighborhoods across all eight wards, plastic bottles litter our public spaces and waterways. But a powerful grassroots movement is fighting back using strategy, determination, and collaboration. 3RC for DC, the Return, Refund, Recycle Coalition, the driving force behind the District’s…
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The Potomac Interceptor Sewage Spill: Water Infrastructure Wake-Up Call
In January 2026, one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history occurred along the Potomac River, exposing vulnerabilities in aging wastewater infrastructure and raising urgent concerns about environmental health, economic impacts, and public accountability across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line not only polluted a critical regional…
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2026 DC Performance Oversight Priorities
The DC Council holds annual Performance Oversight hearings. These hearings are an opportunity to give feedback on how DC has been protecting the environment and addressing climate change. At the hearings, you can also help shape budgetary and policy priorities moving forward. The schedule for 2026’s hearings is available here. You can sign up to testify through…
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Lighting the Way to a Safer DC: Shine Safely Act of 2025
Washington, DC is taking an important step toward a healthier, more sustainable future, and your voice can help make it happen. The Shine Safely Act of 2025, introduced by Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau, Brooke Pinto, and Charles Allen, aims to phase out the sale and distribution of mercury-containing fluorescent…
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DC Home Rule At Risk: A Threat to the Environment
The District of Columbia has always lived in the shadow of federal power. Unlike states, DC lacks full autonomy over its own budget, policies, and representation. Now, with the National Guard deployed into the city, residents face yet another reminder that their rights and the principles of democracy are treated as optional when it comes…
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Rising Waters, Rising Urgency
In late July 2025, torrential weather swept across the I‑95 corridor, from Washington, D.C. to New Jersey. The storms dumped 2–6 inches of rain in under an hour, triggering flash floods across DMV neighborhoods including Bethesda, Parkside and Silver Spring. The devastation was immediate as residents took to social media to show vehicles stranded, basements…
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Sustainable Standards for RFK
UPDATE: September 18, 2025 Yesterday, September 17th, DC Council made the final decision to approve the legislation for the Washington Commanders to return to the RFK site and develop a new stadium. This plan is providing $1 billion in taxpayer subsidies to the billionaires who own the team while they have ignored the environmental concerns…