Washington DC

Turning the Page was established in Washington, DC in 1998. 

Ward 7 is on the eastern side of DC and shares a border with Maryland. Originally populated with tobacco plantations, Ward 7 became the crossroads for many important rail lines after the Civil War. The community also featured many attractions such as a nationally renowned horse racing track, an aquatic garden, and an amusement park. The 20th Century saw  a population boom, leading to Ward 7 being the location of the nation’s largest privately owned African American apartment complex in the 1940s. In the past few decades, Ward 7 has been the focus of many economic and housing developments, featuring a number of environmentally focused projects, leading to the community being nicknamed the “green” ward. 

Ward 8 was originally farmland when DC was first established. Located on the south side of DC, Ward 8 was an important line of defense for the Union during the Civil War, as well as a welcome beacon of hope for people fleeing enslavement in the South. Ward 8 was also the center of many abolitionist activities such as the first school in DC for African American children, as well as being the home of Frederick Douglass.  After the Civil War, Ward 8 became a prime location for many industries and military facilities. Due to discriminatory housing policies in the mid-1900s, Ward 8 was and continues to be a predominantly black community. 

We currently partner with schools in Wards 7 and 8 which are selected based on their investment in engaging families, the capacity of their staff to support parent leadership and advocacy efforts, and the percentage of families enrolled in the school who are eligible for free breakfast and lunch programs. TTP recognizes partners who both have a vision for engaging families and have a need for additional engagement to bridge the communication divide between educators and caregivers. 

Turning the Page helps our school partners engage parents in support of increased student learning and build teacher and staff capacity for engaging parents. TTP also ensures that families of our partners can access educational resources, such as books and enrichment opportunities and community learning opportunities.