A native Washingtonian and proud Ward 8 resident, Tamisa Brooks brings over 20 years of expertise to the early childhood field. Currently, the Family Engagement Manager at Educare DC, she leads a team of engagement specialists dedicated to Ward 7 families. From managing federal training projects to grassroots advocacy, Tamisa’s career is fueled by a deep passion for supporting children and families.
GFI’s Darcy Cherlin talks with Tamisa Brooks about her work in Wards 7 and 8, highlighting the need for affordable grocery stores and consistent nutrition and health messaging for the community.
Can you talk about what work you do in your community?
I’m someone who is deeply connected to the community. I attend many community events and actively look for opportunities to volunteer, support outreach efforts, and connect families with resources. I truly enjoy being a source of support and information for others. In my leadership role at Educare, I have the opportunity to work closely with families of children ages birth to five, helping them identify and achieve goals that strengthen their overall well-being, whether that’s improving their health, accessing community resources, or building greater stability for their families.
If I can help children and families build healthy habits now, then I know this work is making a meaningful difference for their future.
And how does food fit into your job?
Food plays a major role in the work we do with children and families. We partner with FreshFarm to help ensure families have consistent access to fresh fruits and vegetables while also promoting healthy eating habits. We also participate in their innovative FoodPrints pilot program, which combines gardening, cooking, and nutrition education for children and families.
One of the things I love most is seeing children introduced to foods they may not otherwise have the opportunity to try. Some families may not have grown up eating foods like kiwi, eggplant, or bok choy, so these experiences help expand children’s understanding of healthy foods and different cultures. We even have a beautiful garden right in the center of our building, which gives children hands-on opportunities to learn where food comes from and develop a positive relationship with healthy eating.
What motivates you to do this work?
The families we serve are what motivate me every day. For me, this work is truly heart work, not hard work. Many of the families we support are living below the poverty line and often face real barriers to accessing healthy, affordable food. As a Ward 8 resident, I see those challenges firsthand in my own community, which makes this work deeply personal to me.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also become more aware of how the choices we make around food and health can impact both our bodies and our overall well-being. That perspective motivates me even more. If I can help children and families build healthy habits now, before they experience some of those long-term effects, then I know this work is making a meaningful difference for their future.
I wanted to be part of conversations and solutions that center the real experiences of Wards 7 and 8 families.
What made you interested in being part of this Community Advisory Board?
There was a moment that really stayed with me. When the grocery store Good Food Markets opened on South Capitol Street in Southeast, I was genuinely excited because I thought it would finally bring healthier food options to the community. But when I went inside, I left feeling disappointed. The prices were so high that many of the families I work alongside simply would not be able to afford to shop there regularly.
That experience made something very clear to me: having a grocery store in the neighborhood is not enough if the people in the community cannot realistically afford the food being sold there. It shifted my thinking from just food availability to food equity and accessibility. Healthy food has to be both available and financially accessible for families.
That’s one of the reasons I was interested in joining the Community Advisory Board. I wanted to be part of conversations and solutions that center the real experiences of Wards 7 and 8 families. I also really admire initiatives like the Healthy Corners program led by DC Central Kitchen, where healthier, lower-cost food options are being made available directly in neighborhood corner stores. Programs like that meet families where they are and help make healthy choices more attainable for the community.
What are the biggest changes you'd like to see in Wards 7 and 8 to improve food access and health outcomes?
I would like to see a stronger and more intentional approach to community outreach that highlights the connection between food, physical health, and mental health.
I believe nutrition and wellness education should be embedded across multiple touchpoints throughout the community, in schools, medical offices, early childhood programs, and family support services, so families consistently receive the same message: that healthy food is essential to the well-being of the whole child and the whole family.
Right now, the messaging is often inconsistent. Some families receive information in one setting but not in another, and in some places, those conversations are not happening at all.
We’ve talked a lot about what you would like to see improve in the community, what do you think are the greatest strengths of Wards 7 and 8?
The greatest strengths of Ward 7 and Ward 8 are the resilience, connectedness, and resourcefulness of the people who live here. East of the river, there is a real sense of community. If someone needs help, there is almost always somebody willing to step in and say, “I know someone who can help,” or “Let me connect you to a resource.” People genuinely look out for one another.
The families in this community face challenges that many people cannot even imagine, yet they continue to persevere with strength and determination. I’ve seen mothers navigate tremendous loss, financial hardship, and the everyday demands of parenting, and still show up focused on doing what is best for their children and families. That kind of resilience is powerful.
Of course, everyone’s experience is different, but there is a shared spirit here, a willingness to keep going, to support one another, and to bounce back even during difficult times. That strength and sense of community are what make Wards 7 and 8 so special.