One World enters its 19th year having impacted more than 65,000 DC students with results that will shape our city for generations. On the heels of receiving our second Library of Congress Literacy Award and being recognized as one of the city’s top-performing afterschool programs, we are gearing up for big changes. Or as Eric refers to it, an upgrade!

After 19 years, One World Founder and CEO Eric Goldstein is stepping down, and Deputy Director Summer Xavier will step up as our next Executive Director on July 1, 2026. This leadership succession plan has been in place for two years, led by a Board-driven transition committee with input from One World’s program and philanthropic partners.

Eric will transition into the role of Chief Advancement Officer, where he’ll temporarily focus on financial sustainability and special projects. We’re excited for our community to meet Summer and hear her vision for One World in a series of discussions and events this year.

Thank you for your support and partnership as we continually improve and expand our impact in Washington, DC, and beyond.

Eric and Summer

 

Welcome to Board Members

We have not one, but four new Board Members this year!

Erika Bryant is the Chief Development Officer at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School.

Jorge Membreño serves as the Director of Youth Advocacy at DC Action, where he leads the Youth Economic Justice Coalition and the Out-of-School Time Coalition.

Joann Weiner is an associate professor of economics and Director of the Applied Economics graduate program at the George Washington University.

Trish Yan is Vice President of Business Development and Community Leadership for TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

Featured Student Writing

In her essay describing the effects of poverty, Friendship SE PCS 6th-grader Brielle Holton takes us into the world of a DC construction worker struggling to find enough work. She highlights the ways that workforce development programs, like the ones at the University of the District of Columbia, provide training for jobs with the highest number of opportunities. It’s programs like these, Brielle argues, that can be instrumental in fighting poverty. Read more.