The Collins D.C. Council Report: Black History Unfolding in the Wilson Building in Real Time

February 4, 2026

The D.C. Council held a February 3rd legislative meeting focused on Black History Month commemorations, approving several measures honoring African American community leaders and civil rights advocates. The Council unanimously passed a ceremonial resolution for Donna Lorraine Wright-Miller, a dedicated social worker and community organizer from Petworth who passed away in November 2025 at age 61. Additionally, the Council gave first reading approval to legislation renaming an elementary school after Gardner Bishop, a civil rights hero who led school boycotts and integration efforts in the 1940s, replacing the name of Robert Brent, a mayor associated with discriminatory "Black Codes.

Who is affected

Donna Lorraine Wright-Miller's family, particularly her widow Kevin Orlando Miller
Wright-Miller's Petworth community members
Students, families, and alumni of the school currently named Brent Elementary (approximately 700 participated in the renaming process)
Billy Schutte-Pratt and other current Brent Elementary students
D.C. Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) clients and families
Timothy Thomas, Lauren McHale, and Chris Morrison (newly approved HPRB members)
Residents of Wards 1, 4, 7, and 8 (underrepresented on HPRB)
D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4), Charles Allen (Ward 6), and Council Chair Phil Mendelson
Rebecca Miller and DC Preservation League
Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration

What action is being taken

The D.C. Council is conducting oversight over the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), with Councilmember Lewis George leading efforts
Timothy Thomas, Lauren McHale, and Chris Morrison are now serving on the Historic Preservation Review Board following their unanimous approval
The Historic Preservation Review Board is holding meetings focusing on various landmarks including Francis Junior High School, Metropolitan AME Church, U Street Historic District, Alexander Crummell School, and others
The Executive Office of the Mayor is working with 1,700-plus boards and commissions (according to Mayor Bowser's statement about their ongoing approach)
Lauren McHale is working in Historic Anacostia (according to Mendelson's testimony)

Why it matters

This legislation and recognition matter because they address the preservation of Black history and the correction of historical injustices in Washington, D.C. Honoring Wright-Miller preserves the legacy of grassroots community service and social work advocacy, particularly for vulnerable populations like children and families. Renaming the school after Gardner Bishop rather than Robert Brent removes the commemoration of a figure associated with discriminatory policies while elevating a civil rights hero whose actions directly contributed to school desegregation and the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. The geographic diversity concerns on the Historic Preservation Review Board are significant because they risk perpetuating inequitable preservation practices that favor wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods over historically Black and lower-income areas east of the Anacostia River. These issues connect to broader themes of whose history gets preserved, whose contributions get recognized, and whether government bodies truly represent all District residents.

What's next

The Gardner Bishop Elementary School Redesignation Act of 2025 must pass on second reading before becoming law
The renamed school is scheduled to reopen by the 2027-2028 school year following its current modernization
One citizen vacancy remains to be filled on the Historic Preservation Review Board, with advocates pushing for a nominee from Wards 1, 4, 7, or 8
A FOIA request has been submitted to gather information about the total number of applicants for HPRB positions
The nation will celebrate 199 years of the Black Press during the week of March 16

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer