Meet Your Neighbors: An advocate for children and the homeless takes a neighborhood leadership role

When we introduced you in May to ANC 3F’s Schools and Universities Committee, its chair was James Tandaric.

The leadership has changed. Tandaric is now an ANC 3F commissioner and Tvonne Donovan, a founding member of the committee, is now the committee’s chair. Like her predecessor, Donovan is interested in engaging and advocating for the community. Donovan has an extensive advocacy background, as we learned when we asked her to introduce herself:

I am a single mother of three young adults; Destiny (21), Luis (19), and Isaac (17). We moved to the District of Columbia in July 2017 and have resided in Forest Hills for 4.5 years. My eldest two children attended Woodrow Wilson High School and my youngest attended Alice Deal and is now a senior at Woodrow Wilson.

I was born into a military family. My father served in the Navy for 10 years. I was born in San Diego California and raised in New York until age 16. My father retired to Newport News, Virginia and that is where I started my family and continued my education. I graduated from Denbigh High School and later attended Strayer University and acquired a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Administration/International Business in 2014. Soon after I went on to pursue my Master’s in Public Policy Administration.

Currently, I am a Match Support Specialist of 4 years at Big Brothers Big Sisters National Capital. My main responsibility is to access mentors/volunteers, parents, and youth to determine if they are a good fit to officiate a mentor partnership.

My passion and involvement in the community is catering to the homeless; providing resources and connecting outreach groups to come together and create an impactful experience by meeting their basic needs. I have volunteered with a nonprofit organization, Deep Launching, active in Upper Marlboro area. I assisted with administration, bagging and distributing personal hygiene packages, having cookouts and creating special dinner events, for those who are on the street or experiencing economic hardship.

I also have a passion for helping trafficking victims and those who are experiencing unwanted or unexpected pregnancies. I was an ambassador team member for four consecutive seasons for Care Net Peninsula, a nonprofit which provides counseling, free ultrasounds, supplies, and resources to women and families experiencing unwanted pregnancies. Every year this organization fundraises for their Walk 4 Life event to increase awareness of the importance of pro-life policies and the issues surrounding it. Here, I assisted with the fundraising portion.

As Chair of the ANC 3F School and Universities Committee I want to create more unity by creating family and community events in connection with the schools and share and allocate resources that will bring the community together, in-person. Right now I am working on organizing an in-person event at the Forest Hills Playground.

ANC 3F committees are open to all residents who wish to join or attend meetings. Email [email protected] if you are interested.