About Us | Chevy Chase Forward

Building Community, Bridging Divides

Chevy Chase Forward was organized on February 23, 2026, as a 501(c)(4) organization led by a 17-member volunteer board, driven by the belief that Chevy Chase can and should lead by example. The organization comprises a diverse coalition of neighbors—busy parents raising young children, professionals advancing careers, residents enjoying a well-earned retirement, and seniors who have cherished the community for a lifetime.

These residents united around a simple but powerful set of core principles: caring deeply about the neighborhood’s future while also prioritizing the District and its residents beyond local borders. Chevy Chase Forward rejects the status quo in favor of a path that builds bridges, fosters inclusivity, and solves real neighborhood problems.

We build progress through cooperation and commit to solutions that move DC forward. Chevy Chase Forward models a future defined by generosity, optimism, and the understanding that a better community emerges only when neighbors work together.

Founding Executive Board Members

Andrew Aurbach

Katherine Curley

Ron Eichner

Jim Feldman

Lisa R. Gore

Merilee Janssen

Carl Lankowski

Elizabeth Martin

Ellen McCarthy

Karrenthya Simmons

Maria Sims

Randy Speck

Renee Turner-Inman

Maurice Werner

John Wheeler

Tai (Green) Wingfield

Shannon Wulf Tregar

Our Mission and Vision

Chevy Chase Forward's mission is to strengthen the social and civic fabric of Chevy Chase by empowering residents to advocate for justice and amplifying the voices of residents who view progress as an opportunity for everyone. By fostering relationships across DC and supporting leadership committed to an equitable and inclusive community, we are committed to our core purpose: working together to build a more inclusive, vibrant, and better Chevy Chase for all.

We envision a Chevy Chase that bridges divides and builds community within Chevy Chase and across DC—a place where collaborative leadership is focused on solving our most pressing challenges. We see a neighborhood where public spaces bring diverse neighbors together, where civic engagement is transparent, responsive, and effective, and where our legacy is defined by the opportunities we create for the entire District.

Our Strategic Pillars

Progress Through Collaboration

Our community thrives on collaboration, not conflict. Though many of us juggle busy lives, our commitment to the neighborhood is strong. Chevy Chase Forward serves as a home for this majority, amplifying our thoughtful approach to progress and moving past division by focusing on the values that actually drive progress:

Civility: We’re replacing political divisiveness with respectful dialogue and optimistic, solution-based community organizing.
Engagement: We are establishing a permanent hub for neighbors to connect and mobilize, ensuring a safe place to connect. Take the first step in engaging with our community by joining our listserv at main+subscribe@ChevyChaseForward.groups.io.
Leadership: We support leaders with the courage to make hard decisions, proving that doing the right thing for our city is the best way to win votes in Chevy Chase.

An Inclusive Civic Core

For too long, the Civic Core on Connecticut Avenue has been underutilized. Chevy Chase Forward advocates for replacing scarcity with abundance by revitalizing this space - with housing, viewing it not just as a project, but as a generational investment in our social infrastructure. To make this generational investment a reality, our advocacy focuses on:

Modern Civic Spaces: We champion a state-of-the-art library and community center to serve as a model for learning and play in the District.
Economic Vitality: We support adding residential and retail space to generate the foot traffic our small businesses need to thrive on Connecticut Avenue.
Smart Partnerships: We believe in leveraging public-private collaboration to deliver affordable housing and community assets without overburdening taxpayers.
Fact-Based Advocacy: We ground our vision and community organizing in solid research and documented facts.

Building Bridges Across DC

Chevy Chase straddles the line between Wards 3 and 4, but that line has acted as a wall for too long. We are here to build a bridge. We reject the idea that character means exclusivity; instead, our true character is defined by our ability to be a good neighbor to the entire city. We believe that most residents of Chevy Chase want not only a vibrant and inclusive community that is a great place to live, but also to do our part to make our city great. Those two goals are in sync, not in opposition. We are putting these shared values into action by:

Equitable Policies: We advocate for policies that dismantle the architecture of inequality and foster a community of genuine belonging.
Unified Coalition: We are organizing across Ward lines to form a powerful coalition that advocates for a more accessible, sustainable, and integrated District.

Values in Action

At Chevy Chase Forward, our work is guided by a core set of principles that shape how we organize, advocate, and engage with our city. We know that meaningful progress requires more than just good intentions; it demands an active commitment to fairness, courage, and fact-based dialogue. These values serve as our compass, ensuring that our actions consistently reflect the inclusive, forward-thinking neighborhood we are working to build.

Everything we do is rooted in these five strategic values:

Voice for the Majority: We believe most residents are ready for fairness and greater inclusion. We exist to ensure that optimism and reason lead in local conversations.
Political Courage: We believe in leveraging our capital for the greater good. We support leaders who take hard votes for a more vibrant and inclusive Chevy Chase, proving that Chevy Chase rewards courage rather than punishing it.
Community as a Verb: We believe community isn't just where we live, but what we build. We advocate for the spaces—libraries, parks, and homes—that allow connections to flourish.
Justice in Practice: We believe equity requires action. We move beyond slogans to advocate for opening doors to opportunity, and bringing the benefits of a more diverse and vibrant community to all of us.
Constructive Citizenship: We believe in being reasonable leaders. We approach every conversation and discussion with facts, solutions, and a commitment to the long-term health of our neighborhoods and city.

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Join the Conversation

Become Part of the Solution

Ready to help build a more vibrant and inclusive neighborhood? Join the Chevy Chase Forward listserv to connect with neighbors. Whether we are sharing the latest resources, discussing plans for a revitalized Civic Core, or working to build bridges across our community, this is where the thoughtful majority mobilizes.

To subscribe, simply email: main+subscribe@ChevyChaseForward.groups.io