2023 Communicator Award of Excellence for Best Documentary
2023 Anthem Awards Silver Prize for Best Human & Civil Rights Film
2022 Davey Awards Gold Prize for Best Online Documentary
2022 Telly Awards Gold Prize for Best TV Documentary
2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best News Feature for Television
2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Direction for Television
2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Editing for Television
2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Writing for Television
2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Political/Commentary for Television
2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Government Relations for Television
A documentary by NEWorks Productions presented by the Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Produced, directed & co-written by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Hosted by Andrea Roane and Bruce Johnson
Narrated by Ralph UriYah Wesley
This award-winning one-hour documentary chronicles the long and complicated journey towards Washington, District of Columbia becoming our 51st state, Washington, Douglass Commonwealth. To date, 'Becoming Douglass Commonwealth' has aired in five CBS markets and on DCTV.
Featuring:
· José Andrés, Chef/Restauranteur
· Chris Myers Asch, Visiting Instructor, History, Colby College; Co-Author of Chocolate City
· Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher, The Washington Informer
· The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (2015 to present)
· Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC 6th District
· Robert J. Contee, III, Acting Chief, Metropolitan Police Department
· Linda Cropp, Former Chairwoman, Council of the District of Columbia
· John J. DeGioia, President, Georgetown University
· C.R. Gibbs, Historian
· The Honorable Vincent Gray, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (2011-2015)
· The Honorable Eric Holder, Jr., Former Attorney General of the United States
· Jamal Holtz, Co-founder, Statehood 51 for 51
· Harry Holzer, John LaFarge Professor of Public Policy, Georgetown University and Nonresident Senior Fellow-Economic Studies, Brookings Institution
· Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader, D-MD 5th District
· Ted Leonsis, founder, Chairman, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment
· Jane Levey, Historian, DC History Center
· Ezra Levin, Co-founder, Indivisible
· William P. Lightfoot, Former Member, Council of the District of Columbia
· Abbe Lowell, D.C. statehood advocate
· Gregory McCarthy, Trustee, Federal City Council; SVP, Washington Nationals Baseball Club
· Phil Mendelson, Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
· George Derek Musgrove, Professor of History, University of Maryland, Baltimore; Co-Author of Chocolate City
· Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC
· Philip Pannell, DC statehood advocate
· Robert Patterson, Professor of African American Studies, Georgetown University
· Beverly Perry, Senior Advisor to the Mayor
· The Honorable Sharon Pratt, Mayor of Washington, DC. (1991-1995)
· Rep. Jaime Raskin, D-MD 8th District
· Bruce V. Spiva, DC Vote and DC Statehood PAC Board Member
· Paul Strauss, U.S. Shadow Senator, D.C. (1997 to present)
· George Vradenburg, Vice President, AOL and AOL Time Warner (retired)
· The Honorable Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (1999-2007)
#DCStatehoodNow
A photo exhibit exploring self governance, full citizenship, free elections, and statehood.
Currently on display at the DC History Center. Click below to learn more and plan your visit today.
WOKE! included voting rights educational materials curated in partnership with the L.A.-based Constitutional Rights Foundation; “Gen-Z Perspectives on Voting and Human Rights,” a digital art exhibition featuring works by students from the Art Institutes of Atlanta, Virginia Beach and Miami; and the star-studded “I Have A Right To Vote” anthem and viral video.
Our non-partisan civic initiative designed to educate, motivate, and mobilize communities for the 2024 national election. This comprehensive campaign--which we will launch soon--encompasses media assets including civic anthems, music videos, PSAs, and social media challenges, all aimed at enhancing voter engagement.
Inspired by the documentary? Good! Click below to learn what you can do to help the 713,000 residents of Washington, D.C. earn full citizenship!