When I first glanced at my phone around 4 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, the litany of social media alerts signaled a new era. The White House had announced that first lady Dr.
Jill Biden would visit Whitman-Walker Health’s 14th Street location, a five-minute walk from where I live. Yes, the first lady’s initial visit outside the White House would be to a beloved community health center that is a proverbial welcome mat for people who are often unseen and unheard in the health system.
On another, more personal note, the first lady’s visit brought together many parts of my 22 years as a D.C. resident. In addition to using the testing services, I have also volunteered at Whitman-Walker.