Washington, DC Councilmember Anita Bonds

2018 Eleanor Holmes Norton Award

Anita Bonds has spent her entire adult life as a grassroots organizer, activist, and trusted political ally for campaigns and causes across the spectrum of civil rights, social justice, worker’s rights, and LGBTQ and women’s equality movements.

As a student at the University of California at Berkeley, she was active in the Free Speech Movement, where she developed an array of skills that would later prove useful in her efforts to support the District’s struggle for civil rights and equal justice.

Throughout her career, Anita has remained dedicated to bringing about civil, social, and economic reforms for underserved communities, and has held key leadership roles in organizations such as the Young Democrats of America, D.C. Women’s Political Caucus, National Women’s Political Caucus, the Perry School Community Services Center, and Africare. Anita has also worked on numerous national campaigns to elect like-minded, high-profile Democratic candidates at the national, state, and municipal levels, and has served as a cabinet member in the administrations of Mayors Anthony Williams, Sharon Pratt, and Marion Barry.

Since 2012, Anita Bonds has served as an At-Large Councilmember on the Council of the District of Columbia and is currently the Chair of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. During her tenure on the Council, Anita has voted favorably for over 172 pieces of legislation that have led to better education policy, economic and social improvements, and created more opportunities for affordable housing for all residents.