What went well?
I created the foundational materials for the DC Drug Take-Back Initiative: a one-pager outlining the project, flyers, a “Share Your Story” form, and a partnership interest form. I also launched the official email and Instagram (dcdrugtakeback) accounts to make the initiative public-facing and began using Notion to track tasks and outreach. I started identifying and compiling a list of trusted community locations across Wards 7 and 8 as potential host sites.
What could have been done differently?
I could have created a clearer system for outreach tracking earlier in the week—initially, I was managing outreach through loose notes and drafts. A template to log emails and responses would have made it easier to manage follow-ups.
What did I learn about myself when working with others?
I realized I am proactive in creating systems and that I value clarity and accessibility, as this is shown in how I designed materials to be community-friendly and informative. I also learned that I have a strong drive to turn ideas into actionable plans.
What did I learn about leadership?
This week taught me that leadership begins with clarity and self-discipline. Before I could expect others to support the initiative, I had to articulate it myself. It also reminded me that a good leader equips others with tools to understand and get involved.
What do I want to develop or focus on next?
I want to start connecting with people in the community and transition from planning to relationship-building. My next goal is to schedule meetings and initiate outreach both in person and via email.
My name is Fathia Fasasi, and I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University with hopes of majoring in Global Health and minoring in sociology. A fun fact about me is that I was hit by a motorcycle at five years old (I'm fine now, lol!).
I am involved in a faculty project called The Black Central Americas (BCA) this summer. I am primarily engaged in the first phase, "Constellating Black Central America," where we focus on researching cities and documenting their histories, cultures, and migration patterns. Our primary aim with this project is to fill in the historical gaps of these cities and create a valuable resource for future researchers interested in this history.
Please sign in
If you are a registered user on Laidlaw Scholars Network, please sign in