Our Story
The Wanda Alston Foundation was formed in 2008 to honor the life and legacy of Wanda Renita Alston, a fierce LGBTQ+ activist, feminist, and organizer. Wanda dedicated her life to fighting for justice, never backing down. Thanks to her leadership, the LGBTQ+ community secured greater representation on DC’s local governing boards. Wanda was the driving force behind the creation of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, despite facing significant opposition.
Raised in Newport News, Virginia, Wanda overcame a difficult childhood with resilience and determination. After high school, she joined the U.S. Air Force, then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University and an MBA from Southeastern University. She also faced and overcame addiction, channeling her journey into a lifelong mission to uplift others.
Her trailblazing career included leadership roles at the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Human Rights Campaign, John Kerry’s Presidential campaign, the National Rainbow Coalition, and the DC Mayor’s Office. Wanda’s courage, conviction, and love for her community helped shape the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Today, her legacy lives on through the work of the Foundation.
Wanda’s Legacy
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Wanda Alston played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the DC Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs.
Wanda is pictured, third from right, at a signing ceremony in September 2004.
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Wanda was a leader in the movement for equality, including the fight for domestic partnership rights.
She is featured on the Kojo Nnamdi Show as the Special Assistant to Mayor Anthony Williams, spotlighting that issue and many more.
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Since 2008, every DC Mayor has proudly stood by the Foundation and played critical role helping us provide lifesaving services to some of our city’s most vulnerable LGBTQ+ neighbors.
Pictured here are Mayor Muriel Bowser, Mayor Anthony Williams & former Executive Director June Crenshaw at the Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Gala.
Awards and Honors
The 3rd National Black Lesbian Conference in 2005 was dedicated to the life and legacy of Wanda.
National LGBTQ Wall of Honor (2019): Wanda Alston was named one of the inaugural fifty American pioneers, trailblazers and heroes inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument.
Trusted Servant Award (2004): Presented by the Transgender Health Empowerment organization for outstanding service.
National Welfare Rights Union Community Award (1995): Given as the highest community service award by the Black LGBT community;
DC Coalition of Black Lesbians, Gay Men and Bisexuals Community Service Award (1995): Honoring her commitment to social justice.
Welmore Cook Award (1994): The highest community service awared presented at DC Black Pride
Success Stories
Our resilient Black and Brown youth come from all walks of life. These are a few of their stories.
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After coming out to his parents at 16, Kadeem was kicked out of his home. He moved to Congress Heights and enrolled at Ballou STAY High School while living in an abandoned apartment building.
Eventually, Kadeem found shelter at the Wanda Alston House, where he was able to complete his high school education, enroll at UDC and intern for Mayor Vincent Gray.
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Casidy became homeless after being expelled from her Southwest Virginia Christian boarding school because of her sexual orientation.
She found refuge at the Wanda Alston House, where she earned her GED with a nearly perfect score. After completing the housing program, Cassidy secured her own apartment, gained employment and landed an internship. She later joined Code for Progress.
In Cassidy’s words:
“I was free to be myself. I had other peers who were trans. The whole LGBT community was in the house. It’s really not a shelter. It’s a three-story house with a deck. We had a therapist who came in once a week. We would discuss issues and problems. We were a team. That really helped me.
It nurtured me spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. Being in the house was a place for me to heal myself. Being in that safe place was everything for me. I never before had issues that could be addressed and had a whole team work on it.”
Read more here.
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Ronae experienced homelessness at a young age, often referred to on the streets as “gay girl.” Through the Wanda Alston Foundation’s support and programming, she was able to reclaim her identity, find stability and thrive.
In Ronae’s words:
“I finally found a place of peace within this foundation that I’ve been searching for. They say home is where the heart is. And Wanda Alston became my heart. The director, the staff, the residents there, they all became my family.”
“I built, I made, I thrived within this foundation — something I never thought I could do on my own. This foundation opened their heart to me and told me the world is yours…And that’s all the foundation has been to me — unimaginable support.”
Now, more than ever our LGBTQ+ youth need your support.
“We know that our LGBTQ youth have special needs. We know they’ve been bullied in school, bullied at home, bullied out in the world. And they don’t more than any other group have a safe place to live. So, our focus on the Wanda Alston Foundation is so critical to a very vulnerable group of people.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser