We request that the 2700 block of Quarry Rd, located between Lanier Pl NW and Columbia Rd NW, be ceremonially renamed to “Casilda Luna Way” to honor the life and legacy of a pioneer in DC’s Latinx community, Casilda Luna.

A native of Sánchez, Samaná in the Dominican Republic with ancestral roots in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, Casilda Luna moved to Washington, DC, in 1962. She served as the first Latino Community Liaison for Change Inc. in 1968, where she helped improve the quality of life for hundreds of city residents. Luna’s early advocacy efforts made her a well-known pioneer in the Latino community. Her leadership was instrumental in the founding of the annual DC Latino festival, Educational Opportunities for Latin Americans (now known as VIDA Senior Centers), Latin American Youth Center, Mujeres Unidas Latinas en Acción, Imperial Apartment Tenant Association, and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, where she promoted the inclusion of Latinos in the Metropolitan Police Department. Luna’s efforts were recognized by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton in 2016

DC Code-9-204.05 currently states that the “Use of living person’s names prohibited; use of deceased person’s names restricted” on street signs.  A public street may be named after a person only after they have been deceased for at least two years. Nonetheless, exceptions have been made. The Friends of Casilda Luna Committee and members of the broader community believe that Mrs. Luna should have the opportunity to see her name proudly displayed in the same Ward where she advocated for thousands of DC residents for over sixty years.