Doctor Henry Claude Hudson founded Broadway Federal Savings and Loan in 1946 and, beginning in 1949, served as Chair of the Board of Directors for 23 years. He was a dentist, lawyer and businessman from Marksville, Louisiana. The son of a Louisiana slave, he dedicated his life to civil rights advocacy and was a pioneer…
Lloyd D. Smith 1933-2004 The founding organizing director for City First Bank, Lloyd D. Smith’s pioneering leadership in housing, community and economic development in the Washington Metropolitan area yields a long and storied list of accomplishments. As the President and CEO of the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, during the 1980s and 1990s, Smith ushered…
Debbi Hurd Baptist 1949-2000 A 15-year veteran of banking, finance and capital markets transactions, Debbi Hurd Baptist was the founding president and CEO of the first community development bank in the nation’s capital. Prior to her death on November 6, 2000, Ms. Baptist served as one of City First’s organizing directors and shareholders, making an…
The Atlas Performing Arts Center Washington, DC’s H Street in Northeast was a thriving commercial corridor from 1849 until the 1968 riots. After decades of decline, City First partnered with a local visionary, Jane Lang, to redevelop the historic Atlas Theatre catalyzing the resurgence of the H Street community’s cultural and economic potency. The Atlas…
So Others Might Eat (SOME) With investment from City First Bank, So Others Might Eat (SOME) expanded its reach and deepened its impact in Ward 7 of Washington, DC. SOME’s whole-person approach—providing housing, healthcare, job training, and critical support services—empowers individuals and families experiencing poverty and homelessness to achieve long-term stability and well-being. SOME developed…
YMCA Anthony Bowen City First Bank facilitated $24 million in financing to redevelop the YMCA Anthony Bowen into a modern, mixed-use facility—preserving its legacy as a vital community resource. The revitalized Y anchors a 170-unit apartment building with underground parking and retail, and offers a full-service fitness and wellness center, child-care facility, indoor swimming pool,…
Martha’s Table Barry Farm is today known for the 432 dilapidated housing units built in 1943 by the National Capital Housing Administration. However, the African American community traces its history to 1867 when the Freedmen’s Bureau acquired 375 acres of land in Southeast DC. This land was divided into smaller plots and purchased by African…
Bread for the City Since 1976, Bread for the City has been a vital lifeline for homeless and low-income families in Washington, DC—particularly in the Shaw neighborhood, which faced decades of disinvestment following the 1968 riots. Bread for the City now serves over 100,000 clients, offering food, clothing, medical and dental care, legal services, and…
Mary’s Center The changing physical and human landscape of DC’s neighborhoods is not unusual, but the story of Petworth exemplifies negative effects of gentrification like the involuntary displacement of residents. Bordered by Rock Creek Park on the West, Petworth has seen a massive population change in the last 30 years. While the population of Petworth…
The Tivoli Theatre Originally named for Columbian College (now George Washington University), Columbia Heights was once a horse track and farmland. In the late 19th century, Columbia Heights transformed into an upscale suburban neighborhood, which was home to federal workers and military officers. By 1904, the federal government had purchased land to develop Meridian Hill…