Cafritz Foundation Awards

The daisy is a delightful flower that opens each morning — the origin of its name, derived from an Old English term meaning “day’s eye.” So it’s only appropriate that Gloria Torrento Del Cid is known to everyone around her by a twist on…

It’s early morning, and Jose Santos peers at the computer monitor in his basement office at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus on 16th Street NW. On the screen, a blue-and-green diagram corresponds to the water pumps, boilers and air…

Everyone knows Lassie, the heroic collie from novels, movies and TV who repeatedly saves her human from near-death experiences. But in DC, there’s a real-life canine hero, whose companion rescued her from a shelter and trained her to…

Given his joyful nature, it’s hard to believe Imhotep Newsome routinely works 15-hour days between a full-time job and volunteer tasks. Newsome’s job as the language access program manager for the Metropolitan Police Department is all…

With standing ovations and teary eyes, guests at the 18th annual Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Awards Ceremony last week celebrated “everyday heroes” in the DC government, including a fire sergeant and his cadaver dog. Honored…

“Jambalaya.” The word typically refers to a large pot of Louisiana-style stew. It’s also the term Abimbola George uses to describe the melting pot of educational programs he’s helped introduce since 2014 at Malcolm X Elementary School in…

Chanel Dickerson has the strong will of an ox. As patrol chief for three of the Metropolitan Police Department’s six districts and in her previous positions with the agency, Dickerson has witnessed any number of heart-wrenching crimes.…

Few people are humbler than Josh Singer. Even with a successful career, numerous adoring fans and a Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Award for outstanding government service, Singer would still rather spend time with plants than talk about…

Lakedia Edwards knows her son is not a criminal. So, when she got a phone call that her 15-year-old son, Jaharee, was being detained for robbery, she couldn’t believe it. “We went to court and the attorney presented his case,” Edwards…