We have offered to post brief statements from all of the ANC candidates running for seats on Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods that we cover here on The Hill is Home. These statements are not endorsements and have been posted exactly as submitted by the candidates.
Serving my community is at the core of my being, both personally and professionally. I have dedicated my career to helping government, non-profit and private organizations transform so they can serve their constituents and beneficiaries more effectively and efficiently. As a management consultant for 20+ years specializing in organizational change management, I have worked with multiple governments, non-profits and NGOs of all sizes to transition smoothly from the old to the new while maintaining their focus on what’s most important – the people. Change is difficult for everyone, but if it’s managed properly we can all get through it together and be the better for it on the other side. The SW Waterfront and Single-Member District 6D01 will be experiencing a tremendous amount of change in the next two years and I would like to serve as the ANC who ensures they are positive changes for the people of our community.
My personal time has been dedicated to volunteering for organizations to improve the communities in which I have lived. I am currently serving on two committees of the non-profit Waterfront Village, an organization dedicated to enabling the elderly to age in place by connecting them with a neighborhood support group. Previous volunteer efforts have spanned a variety of causes and organizations, including SEARCH (serving the homeless), Gulf Coast Blood Center, Catholic Charities, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few. Ten years ago, my wife and I spent a three-year sabbatical in Cambodia and Laos working for NGOs that served the victims of human trafficking and vulnerable youth populations striving to improve their lives. The experience confirmed my desire to live a life of service, dedicated to the people of my community.
As part of that service to my community, I would like to serve as the ANC for SMD 6D01. If elected, I will commit my time, energy and passion to listening to my neighbors and responding to their needs. The development in our neighborhood will bring an increase in residents, visitors and businesses. This growth will bring challenges in many areas such as traffic, security, noise, and infrastructure. I want to represent our community and address these challenges the way our neighborhood wants to see them handled. I have no “pet issues”, loyalties or pre-conceived personal opinions of how we should care for our neighborhood. I am an open mind ready to channel the collective voice of the SW community and turn that voice into action.
I am available at venjohnson@gmail.com if you would like to talk in more detail about how we can continue to make DC and the SW Waterfront a wonderful place to live! On Tuesday, November 8, please vote for Wes Ven Johnson for ANC 6D01. You can’t have the Southwest without “Wes”!