Block Captain Ayanna Connects with Community, Creates Pollinator Pathways in River Terrace

Ayanna Williams is a D.C. resident, through and through. She grew up in Penn Branch, and while she moved to Prince George’s County at one point, she says she always knew she wanted to move back. And she did. Ayanna happily lives in Ward 7’s River Terrace which is nestled around D.C.’s Anacostia River, miles of bike and walking trails and an impressive pollinator pathway thanks to acres of green space and DC Natives’ planted gardens in the area. In addition to being heavily involved in the community and serving as a fixture of Rooting DC, the District’s annual urban gardening forum, Ayanna has been a DC Natives co-block captain in River Terrace for three years, serving alongside Julie Lawhorn.

“I wanted to be a part of helping other people create their garden spaces,” said Ayanna. “Naturally, I started attending more plantings, learning more about plants, and then I realized there was a role for what I’m doing. I love learning about my community through being a block captain. It’s not just about the plants; it’s really the community engagement.”

DC Natives is always looking for new block captains to help with things like recruiting neighbors interested in pollinator gardens, planting, and information sharing. Ayanna shared advice for those on the fence about becoming a DC Natives block captain.

“You should not be an expert,” she said. “It’s best if block captains have less knowledge and more willingness to learn new things and meet new people and have the desire and capacity to learn. The role is ever-evolving. I’m a federal employee. For me, DC Natives, my growing community at Rooting DC, and through First Flower Fridays, this community and network we have has been a life saver. It’s been a light in some dark times.”

Learn more about Ayanna in our Q & A and please do consider a block captain role with DC Natives for 2026! You can learn more by emailing us at dcnatives.org@gmail.com.

Q: What’s your favorite native pollinator-attracting plant? 

A: Today, my favorite pollinator-friendly plant is yarrow. I struggled with it for years and finally was able to grow it through seed. Typically, my favorite is one that I’ve been able to grow from start to finish.

Q: At what point did you realize you were a gardener?

A: Looking back at it, when I was in the midst of gardening, I wouldn’t think I was a gardener. When I retrospectively look back, it is, in fact, from the moment I had an appreciation of plants. I’ve been a gardener all my life. I just didn’t have the tools and resources to grow that desire.

Q: What’s your favorite part about of a block captain?

A: It’s the community engagement. In some ways, it is forcing me to meet someone new that I really wanted to meet anyway. I love learning about my neighborhood, the history of my neighborhood and the people who make up the history.