A Greater Washington’s Organizational History

Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist and author of Citistates, noted in 1993 that the Washington region was falling behind other regions in global competition: “across our citistate we simply do not talk with each other, do not know each other well enough to build caring alliances and common-sense solutions.”

Peirce elaborated on this problem in three key points: First, the real city is the region. Despite the fact that our governments are established at the local, state, and national levels, the reality is that we live our lives at neighborhood, regional, and global levels. Second, other regions in this country and around the world understand this, and they are organizing and acting regionally. They know that collaboration and cooperation are the keys to success in the global marketplace. Third, Washington is way behind the curve.

Inspired by Peirce’s words, in an October 1996 speech at The Smithsonian Institution, Bruce Adams challenged the region to become “A Greater Washington,” to imagine “a Washington that is better, stronger, and more vibrant than the Washington of today as well as a Washington that is larger than the city, a Washington that is metropolitan in its vision.”

This initial challenge led to the creation and evolution of A Greater Washington and remains as the guiding principle from which all of the organization’s initiatives grow. John W. Gardner, founder of Common Cause & Independent Sector, has said "The leadership challenge of our times is to build working relationships of trust across the boundaries that traditionally divide and diminish a community. Bruce Adams and the other leaders of A Greater Washington have the right idea."

Today, A Greater Washington’s focus is on four priorities:

• Fostering a working relationship among key leaders from diverse constituencies and different jurisdictions;

• Building trust throughout the region by sharing successes of individuals and organizations at the regional and neighborhood levels in an effort to help foster better cooperation and coordination;

• Demonstrating the value of regional collaboration by organizing a structure for developing regional solutions on critical issues, including the involvement of all types of leaders as well as detailed strategies to implement new policies; and

• Conducting on-going public education about the interdependence of our region.

A Greater Washington remains firmly committed to challenging the citizens of our region to fulfill our potential. Bruce Adams, founder and President of A Greater Washington, stated that "With a broad vision of a greater Washington, a determination to make real change, and a willingness to work together, we will be able to help make the Washington region the finest place to live, work and raise children in all the world. Together we can do it. We should not settle for less."