I met Ms. Linda in 2004 at Empower DC events when I was working as parent volunteer advocating for affordable childcare and housing for DC residents, a project launched by Empower DC. Ms. Linda and her Coworker Ms. Parisa Norouzi lead the project at Empower DC, teaching and organizing parents to fight and advocate for their own rights to affordable housing and childcare. I learned a lot from them. After every event we attended, Ms. Linda made sure my young children and I got home safely. She will give us ride home in her car. Ms. Linda captured the advocacy moments by taking many pictures that she printed and shared with us in the recent years. Thanks to Ms. Linda, I got to continue to live in DC when I joined the EJBICC, in 2012, the cooperative that she created. I wouldn’t be able to afford living in DC if it wasn’t for the opportunity to be a member of the EJBICC and live in the same building with Ms. Linda. I’m so grateful to have her as my neighbor. Thank you Ms. Linda for all your work and legacy that will stay forever for generations to come. Merci Madame Linda.

Submitted on Aug 26

Spoke Truth to Power, Affordable Housing challenged Moderate Income Scheme in Ward 6 Wharf 1 circa 2017. Many discriminatory barriers redressed allowing me and other low-income families to be approved for apartments as voucher holders. Ref. ONEDC and IIFHA organizations.

Also I recall Project WISH formerly St. Augustine Church 1995 - 2000'

Please accept my donation in gratitude for the life's work of Linda Leaks. We as co-op developers have so much to learn from her tenacity and the grassroots organizing she has done.

Congratulations Linda! I'm so happy you received this well-deserved honor. I got to know Linda when she was a graduate student in a program, I directed at Southern New Hampshire University. Linda was an inspiration to the faculty and fellow students who attended the program. We admired the work she was doing with cooperatives at that time. I'm happy but not surprised Linda received this honor!