Derrick Ward is a general assignment reporter for News4. A native of the District of Columbia, Ward grew up in Marshall Heights and the H Street Corridor in Northeast. He lived through the 1968 riots and documented his experiences on News4 as part of the station's 40th anniversary coverage. Ward attended HD Woodson High School and the University of Maryland. Ward's journalism career began in radio. He worked for WPFW, WAMU and WTOP, covering major stories such as the Iran-Contra hearings, the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, and the Washington-area sniper shootings. When Ward made the move to television reporting, his first job was at WKBW-TV in Buffalo. He returned to Washington in 2006 and began reporting for News4. When not working, Ward spends time with his three children. He also plays guitar and golf. Ward currently lives in Bowie, Md.
show notes: The History of Urban Renewal, Social Protests and the Struggle for Affordable Housing In DC With Derrick Ward
Washington DC Urban Regeneration
At 01:17, Ward explains the wave of construction in DC during Urban Renewal that brought a new era of schools and public housing, like Tyler house, in the neighborhood. According to Ward, DC had no new schools built for a long time and the Urban Renewal wave was an encouraging move, but it came with the displacement of the communities residing in those neighborhoods. Urban Renewal programs were meant to provide low-income people with access to resources and opportunities, but he argues that they clustered everything together, which didn’t promote moving out, thereby trapping people in their circumstances.
The Dichotomy Between Protests in the 60s and Demonstrations Today
Ward was born in 1962 during the civil rights movement that protested for affordable housing. He argues that protests in that time can’t compare to anything of the present time. The immediate issues today are not the same as in the 60s, and though some movements are still in existence, they have shifted their focus to meet people’s needs. According to Ward, there is less movement for affordable housing today, and the model has changed, making it hard to find affordable housing. As a result, many people have moved to the suburbs. To hear more on housing and protests, tune in at 07:28.
View of the Rapid Changes In the Landscape and Their Interpretations
At 08:35, Ward talks about how the landscape has changed over time and how the market has transformed over the same period. The changes have been very impactful to the economy, but has created an informal displacement as people who grew in such neighborhoods no longer identify and recognize them as what they grew up in. According to Ward, involving the community in architectural projects and informing them of the mass changes to take place can help them identify with new structures and thrive in the new environment.
Uncovering The Manifestation of Politics in Architectural Practice
The thought of architecture being political or self-driven has been debated for a long time. At 13:53, Ward shares his thoughts on the political dimensions of architecture in DC. He admits that it has gone through a revolution in which people care less about the style and culture of architecture practices. He also describes the improvement in public housing that was witnessed in the initial phase of Urban Renewal and the push from political dynamites that led to the realization that such efforts can disrupt lives and make it impossible for people to come back.
The Motivation Behind Ward’s Journalism Career Aspirations
Ward is passionate about communication; he loves telling stories and doing things that resonate with people to get their attention, just as they do in music. On the other hand, Melissa grew up in Tyler’s house and felt that no kid should live as she did. According to her, architecture is the path to making the desired change, and she has been pursuing this by examining deeper as to where she lived and how the environment shaped her into the person she is today. To hear more about their inspiration to their career, and an intrigue about George town concentric changes turn in at 18:45.