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WINNER OF TEN MEDIA AWARDS

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

Mayor Muriel Bowser presents... 'Becoming Douglass Commonwealth'

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 

Here are three other NEWorks that may interest you...

Our DC Home Rule 50 Exhibit

Our WOKE! Digital Arts Campaign

Our WOKE! Digital Arts Campaign

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.

More Info

Our WOKE! Digital Arts Campaign

Our WOKE! Digital Arts Campaign

Our WOKE! Digital Arts Campaign

 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. 

More Info

Our FREEDOM FORWARD Campaign

Our WOKE! Digital Arts Campaign

Our FREEDOM FORWARD Campaign

  

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.

MORE INFO

A Call to Action

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!

Find out more

OUR PRODUCTION TEAM

Producers

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

  • Nolan Williams, Jr., Producer/Director
  • Michael D. DuBose, Associate Producer
  • Rod McDonald, Consulting Producer

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

  • Kadesh DuBose

Production Supervisor

Director of Photography

Production Supervisor

  • Michael D. DuBose

Writers

Research Consultant

Production Supervisor

  • Chris Myers Asch
  • George Derek Musgrove
  • Nolan Williams, Jr.

Research Consultant

Research Consultant

Research Consultant

  • Jane Levey

Editors

Research Consultant

Research Consultant

  • Kadesh DuBose, lead editor
  • Adrienne Boykin
  • Michael D. DuBose
  • Michael Lyon

Graphics

Post production

Camera Ops

  • Regi Allen
  • Reginald Butler
  • Kat Davis
  • Kadesh DuBose
  • Robert Ellis, title banner

Camera Ops

Post production

Camera Ops

  • Kadesh DuBose
  • Paul Fifield
  • William P. Haywood
  • Henry Joseph
  • Marcus Smith, III
  • Camille Toussaint
  • William P. Haywood, jib operator

Post production

Post production

Audio Technicians

  • William P. Haywood
  • Jacques Richmond
  • Ryan Romkema

Audio Technicians

Production Assistants

Audio Technicians

  • Todd Berger
  • C. Anthony Miller
  • Shari Thomas

Music Team

Production Assistants

Production Assistants

  • Nolan Williams, Jr., Music Supervisor/Editor
  • Michael DuBose, Sr., Music Editor

Production Assistants

Production Assistants

Production Assistants

  • Sylveta Brown
  • Kyana Waters

Sound Track Creatives

  • Allyn Johnson, original documentary score
  • Nolan Williams, Jr., contributing composer
  • Michael A. DuBose, contributing composer
  • John Stoddart, contributing arranger

Special Acknowledgements

  • D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment
  • D.C. Office of Community Affairs
  • D.C. Public Library
  • Office of Federal and Regional Affairs
  • Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia
  • Office of the Senior Advisor to the Mayor

Acknowledgements

  • Alice Deal Middle School
  • BONI Productions
  • DC History Center
  • DWP Productions
  • FedNet
  • Friendship Public Charter School
  • Lateef Mangum, D.C. photo archivist
  • ThinkFoodGroup

Filming Locations

  • DC History Center
  • D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment
  • Marion S. Barry, Jr. Building
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library

30-SEC TRAILER


Copyright © 2025 NEWorks Productions - All Rights Reserved.

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