The DC Upward Mobility Project is an interagency initiative from the District of Columbia Government (the District) to increase upward economic mobility and make pathways to prosperity more accessible for our residents. Washington DC is recognized as a regional and national leader for its commitment to equity. However, there is still progress to be made with pronounced disparities across race and ethnicity. For example, in 2020, Black residents were three times more likely than white residents to experience poverty, while Latinx and Asian residents were about twice as likely, according to the 5-year American Community Survey (ACS).

In early 2021, the District government was selected for the inaugural Upward Mobility Cohort, funded by the Urban Institute (Urban). Eight counties were selected of nearly 30 applicants for this new program. The DC Upward Mobility team worked with agency and community partners to develop an inventory of District mobility programs, identify key mobility metrics, and establish a new “Stability-Mobility-Prosperity” framework to guide program alignment. This work resulted in a Mobility Action Plan (MAP) that offers recommendations for initial actions to build towards an integrated cross-sector approach to boost upward mobility from poverty.

The DC Upward Mobility Project focuses on three priority policy areas: housing, financial wellbeing, and workforce development/adult education. Building on existing District agency efforts, this work resulted in a cross-agency action plan that will help align District programs and improve the systems that support residents in achieving greater financial security, stronger self-determination, and deeper connections to the community.

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