(Washington, DC) – The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, in partnership with the George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, part of the GW College of Professional Studies, and the DC Government, is proud to announce the five individual and two team winners of the 22nd Annual Calvin Cafritz Awards.
Established in 2000, this prestigious program celebrates the exceptional dedication, innovation, and impact of DC Government employees who have gone above and beyond to serve the residents, workers, and visitors of our nation’s capital. Each of the five individual winners receives a $7,500 cash prize, and each team receives a $15,000 cash prize shared among their team members.
“Calvin Cafritz established these Awards because he appreciated the outstanding efforts of DC Government employees and sought to encourage excellence and innovation by recognizing that remarkable work. We continue his legacy with the Calvin Cafritz Awards to honor his commitment to Washington DC and those who strive to make it a wonderful place to live and work,” said Jane Lipton Cafritz, President and CEO of the Cafritz Foundation.
Presenting the 22nd Annual Cafritz Awards Individual Winners:
Jessica Marie Bress
Strategic Projects Advisor to the Chief of Police
Metropolitan Police Department
Jessica Marie Bress created and directed the DC Police Leadership Academy, a nationally recognized program addressing the leadership gap in mid-level law enforcement. Jessica oversaw the training of over 280 officers from more than 40 U.S. and international law enforcement agencies, including MPD, the FBI, and Secret Service. The academy received the 2023 Webber-Seavey Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement due to MPD’s strengthened leadership, community engagement, and crisis response strategies.
Anwar Mahmood
ADA Architect
DC Office of Disability Rights
Anwar Mahmood initiated accessibility assessments of over 230 parks, 82 schools, and numerous polling places across the District, resulting in key ADA compliance improvements. As the government’s sole in-house accessibility expert, Anwar provides citywide training, technical reviews, and capacity-building initiatives that have reduced costs and advanced inclusion in public spaces.
Dr. Kofi Onumah
Pharmacist
DC Health
Dr. Kofi Onumah led the District’s COVID-19 mass vaccination rollout by launching eight clinics in underserved areas of the city, co-authored and implemented the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to combat opioid misuse, and rebranded DC’s continuing education platform for healthcare providers to promote evidence-based training.
Phillip Walker
Chief of Recreation for All
DC Department of Parks and Recreation
Phillip Walker transformed the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute by incorporating mentoring to over 100 youth annually and launched the Global Education Program, which enabled emerging DC Government leaders to travel to South Africa, Colombia, and Canada. He created the RECreator’s Academy to train more than 150 Department of Parks and Recreation staff in leadership and professional development. During the pandemic, Phillip ensured continuity of citywide youth training programs, keeping thousands of young participants engaged and supported.
Gashaw Woldehanna
Cluster Controller, Government Operations Cluster
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Gashaw Woldehanna implemented financial system overhauls across 39 District agencies, including launching an online rent collection platform that resolved long-standing audit findings and improved payment tracking. Gashaw automated the Direct Voucher process and redesigned year-end accruals, boosting accuracy, speeding closeouts, and strengthening internal controls District-wide.
Presenting the 22nd Annual Cafritz Awards Team Winners:
PEER CASE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (PCMI) TEAM
Lindsay Curtin, Rachel Pierre, Miati Taliaferro
DC Department of Human Services
The PCMI Team launched a groundbreaking workforce development program that empowers individuals with lived experience of homelessness to become case managers. The forty participants selected from over 500 applicants achieved an 88% graduation rate. Twenty-two graduates were supported in securing employment as case managers assisting others experiencing homelessness. With a dedicated team of just three members, they built strong partnerships leading to immersive training and internships and earned national recognition for their person-centered model. Now funded for a second year, the PCMI is serving as a blueprint for similar programs across the country.
LOW TITER O WHOLE BLOOD PROGRAM TEAM
Holly O’Byrne, Ryan Elborne, Gabriel Gan, Jeffrey Lenard, Dr. David Vitberg
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
and
Timothy Hutchinson
DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer
The Low Titer O Whole Blood Program Team implemented the first prehospital whole blood transfusion program in the District, administering nearly 170 units of blood in the first seven months. The program achieved a 93% survival rate for critical trauma patients, most of whom were treated east of the Anacostia River. The Team built a real-time tracking and chain-of-custody system to ensure precision, safety, and equity in care delivery. Their innovative, data-driven approach is transforming emergency response and saving lives in DC’s most underserved communities.
