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Real Safety D.C.: Thomas Penny on Opportunity, Community, and Preventing Violence

December 4, 2025

The Washington Informer hosted a roundtable discussion at the historic True Reformer Building featuring DC leaders exploring alternatives to incarceration for enhancing community safety. Thomas Penny III, President of Donohoe Hospitality, shared his company's two-decade commitment to creating hospitality career opportunities for DC residents, including formerly incarcerated individuals, operating 20 hotels across multiple regions. Penny emphasized that employment is crucial to crime reduction, stating "The best way to stop a bullet is with a job," though he noted the hospitality industry has faced challenges over the past 18 months with reduced hours and unemployment.

Who is affected

  • DC-area residents, particularly formerly incarcerated people seeking employment
  • Workers in the hospitality industry experiencing reduced hours and unemployment
  • Communities experiencing violence in the District of Columbia
  • Employees and potential employees of Donohoe Hospitality's 20 hotels
  • Families of workers seeking stable income opportunities

What action is being taken

  • Donohoe Hospitality is partnering with organizations like the Greater Washington Urban League, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, and DC Department of Employment Services to connect residents to jobs
  • Thomas Penny III serves on several boards including the Mayor's Workforce Investment Council, DC Public Ed Fund, and DC NAF Hospitality Executive Advisory Board
  • The roundtable discussion is being held to explore non-carceral solutions to prevent violence

Why it matters

  • This initiative matters because it addresses the connection between employment opportunities and public safety, offering an alternative to incarceration-focused approaches to crime reduction. By providing career pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals and vulnerable community members, it tackles root causes of violence while strengthening workforce development. The approach is particularly significant given recent economic challenges in the hospitality industry that have reduced job opportunities and threatened community stability.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer