Welcome to the Rotary Club of Washington, DC
Upcoming Lunch Programs
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Mike Johnson
Community Service Grant: Growing Resilient Food Systems for DC's Food Insecure
Mike Johnson is the Founder and Executive Director of OurFarm DC, a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit building a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient local food system through hydroponic urban farming, food access programming, and community education. Since installing its first container farm at Covenant House Greater Washington in 2023, OurFarm has grown into a network of indoor and outdoor garden installations across schools, community organizations, and institutional partners throughout the DC/Maryland/Virginia region — harvesting thousands of pounds of fresh produce for food-insecure communities while creating hands-on educational and workforce training opportunities along the way.
Mike brings a background in design strategy, user research, and venture development to OurFarm's mission. Before founding OurFarm, he worked with a diversity of companies to design, test, and build new products and services, using human-centered research and design methodologies. His earlier career spanned international development and social enterprise work, including roles with the American India Foundation in Bangalore, India working with sustainability and workforce development ventures. He holds a degree from Brown University.
Mike has built OurFarm from the ground up - gradually accumulating partnerships and resources to develop scalable and impactful programs with organizations like Prince George’s Community College, Bread for the City, DC Central Kitchen, Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, and schools across PG County and DC.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Marco Davis
President & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
Marco A. Davis is President and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders.
CHCI provides internship and fellowship programs with an emphasis on leadership development and public policy for outstanding Latino/a/x students and young professionals, and also convenes Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community.
Prior to joining CHCI, Mr. Davis was a partner at New Profit, a national nonprofit venture philanthropy. He served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and as Director of Public Engagement for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Previously, he was Director of Global Fellowship and Regional Manager for Latin America at Ashoka's Youth Venture, and led leadership development for UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), where he created
the Uderes Initiative.
Mr. Davis has more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, educational achievement, community advocacy, and civic engagement, and is a frequent speaker on the Latino community and leadership. He has been an Ambassadors for Health Equity Fellow, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, and a Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Lideres Fellow. In June 2021, he was appointed by President Biden to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
Mr. Davis serves on the boards of directors of several national nonprofit organizations and represents CHCI on the executive committee of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the board of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and holds a B.A. in History and Latin American Studies from Yale University. Originally from the New York City area, he lives in the District of Columbia with his wife and daughter.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Nicholas Bassey
The African Diaspora: Engagement Beyond Remittances
Nicholas Bassey brings senior leadership experience from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, USAID, the Peace Corps, where he led programs in private sector engagement, university partnerships, and international policy. His early career was in the nonprofit sector, where he led programs at the UNCF Special Programs Corporation, Council for Opportunity in Education, Children’s Defense Fund, and Morehouse College. He has been part of ADN's network for over a decade.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Craig Barnard-El
Bridging the Opportunity Gap in Workforce Development
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Craig Barnard-El is a strategic business development and corporate engagement leader with extensive experience building partnerships that connect employers with high-performing, emerging talent. As Director of Corporate Engagement for Year Up United in the National Capital Region, Craig leads employer acquisition efforts by developing relationships with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and growing businesses to create paid internship opportunities that address workforce needs while expanding economic mobility for young adults.
Craig specializes in consultative, skills-first workforce strategies, helping organizations strengthen their early-career talent pipelines in areas including information technology, cybersecurity, software development, business operations, finance, customer success, and project management. He works closely with executive leaders and hiring teams to align talent solutions with organizational priorities, resulting in long-term, high-impact partnerships.
Driven by a passion for creating equitable career opportunities, Craig is committed to helping young adults, ages 18–29, gain the technical and professional skills needed to launch meaningful careers while supporting employers with diverse, internship-ready talent. His work centers on relationship building, strategic collaboration, and creating sustainable workforce solutions that deliver measurable value to both employers and the communities they serve.
Known for his authentic leadership, collaborative approach, and ability to connect people and purpose, Craig is dedicated to building partnerships that strengthen organizations, transform lives, and contribute to a more inclusive and future-ready workforce.
Our Upcoming Events
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Mike Johnson
Topic: Community Service Grant: Growing Resilient Food Systems for DC's Food Insecure
More info
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Marco Davis
Topic: President & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
More info
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Nicholas Bassey
Topic: The African Diaspora: Engagement Beyond Remittances
More info
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Craig Barnard-El
Topic: Bridging the Opportunity Gap in Workforce Development
More info
Interested in the Rotary Club of Washington DC?
ATTEND LUNCH
Visitors are warmly invited to attend a weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C. to experience our culture of service, leadership, and fellowship. The Club meets every Wednesday from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at the University Club of Washington, D.C. (1135 16th Street NW), with informal fellowship beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m. Guests are encouraged to register in advance using the link below and to introduce themselves at the registration table upon arrival. The cost of lunch is $42.
MEMBERSHIP INFO
We would also like to invite you to attend a New & Prospective Membership Orientation, which takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Please register HERE.
It’s the best opportunity to meet Club leaders and learn more firsthand about why joining us is so rewarding personally and professionally.
APPLY TODAY
If you are looking for a place to serve, lead, and connect with others who care about making a difference, we invite you to apply for membership in the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C. Our members come from many professions and backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to “Service Above Self” and to building community in the nation’s capital. Simply complete the application using the link below, and a member of our team will reach out to welcome you and guide you through the next steps.
Impacting the Community
Our members take action to create lasting change in Washington, D.C. and around the world. Through service projects, partnerships, grants, and hands-on volunteerism, we work to address real needs in our community while building meaningful relationships with those we serve and with one another.
Rotary is where people come together to turn commitment into impact.
Our Impact
Club Officers & Board of Directors
