The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) Ambassadors headed to the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G Street NW) in July to learn about this historic landmark in Downtown and get a brief respite from the heat of summer.
The historic church’s parish dates back to1842, when the first service was held. The church has since hosted President Abraham Lincoln and President Theodore Roosevelt and its bells have rung for every presidential inauguration since President Calvin Coolidge in 1925. The parish was utilized as a hospital for union troops and played many other roles throughout history.
Today, the church is an active member of the Downtown community, conducting outreach to support individuals who are experiencing homeless or in need, hosting a Tuesday free concert series and many additional seasonal events that attract many Downtown workers.
At the July employee-of-the-month meeting for Downtown’s Ambassadors known as SAMs (Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance employees), Parish Administrator Catherine Manhardt thanked the SAMs for their work and commitment to keeping the neighborhood safe and invited all in attendance to take part in their services and events.
Kristi Whitfield, the BID’s director of public space operations, expressed her gratitude to the SAMs for their commitment and work in downtown. Whitfield stressed that under her leadership, she will be implementing many changes in addition to the decision to reevaluate where and when SAMs are deployed to maximize coverage and adopt new uniform designs updated with the BID’s new logo.
Additionally, each month, two SAMs are chosen as employees-of-the-month. The winners for June were: Safety/Hospitality Ambassador Montee Saunders and Maintenance Ambassador DeMarco Head.
Montee Saunders has been with the BID for ten years and has earned the honor of employee of the month twice before. Saunders says meeting different people is one of the things she likes about her work with the BID. Saunders is a native Washingtonian and enjoys spending time with her children.
DeMarco Head has been with the BID for seven years and has been named employee of the month three times as well as employee of the year. Head also was born and raised in D.C. A Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers fan, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and listening to music.