CER 26-0192

                                                                      ENROLLED ORIGINAL
                               A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
                                            26-192
                  IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
                                         July 14, 2026
To recognize ANC Commissioner Harold Cunningham for his extraordinary advocacy on behalf
       of returning citizens, his unwavering commitment to restoring educational and
       rehabilitative programming at the District of Columbia Jail, and his exemplary public
       service to the residents of the District of Columbia.
        WHEREAS, Commissioner Harold Cunningham was elected by his neighbors to serve as
 an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, where he has represented District residents with
 integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice and community service;
       WHEREAS, Commissioner Cunningham left school after the eighth grade and entered
 the District of Columbia correctional system without the ability to read, yet through remarkable
 determination taught himself to read while incarcerated, transforming adversity into a lifelong
 commitment to learning and advocacy;
       WHEREAS, Commissioner Cunningham spent 34 years incarcerated, including 20
 consecutive years in solitary confinement, during which no educational programming was
 available;
       WHEREAS, despite those extraordinary circumstances, Commissioner Cunningham
 refuses to allow his confinement to define him and instead is committed to ensuring that others
 would have access to education, programming, and opportunities for personal growth while
 incarcerated;
       WHEREAS, Commissioner Cunningham independently studied the District’s budget and
 appropriations process to advocate effectively for the restoration of educational and
 rehabilitative programming at the District of Columbia Jail;
       WHEREAS, through diligent research, persistent engagement, and informed advocacy,
 Commissioner Cunningham played an instrumental role in restoring funding for the Lead Up!
 Lead Out! initiative and the numerous educational, rehabilitative, and reentry programs
 operating under its umbrella at the District of Columbia Jail;
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                                                                      ENROLLED ORIGINAL
      WHEREAS, Commissioner Cunningham has demonstrated that lived experience, when
combined with perseverance, thoughtful research, and civic engagement, can shape public
policy and improve government for the benefit of countless District residents;
      WHEREAS, Commissioner Cunningham continues to advocate for policies that expand
opportunity and improve conditions for incarcerated and returning residents of the District of
Columbia;
      WHEREAS, Commissioner Cunningham’s journey to becoming a respected community
leader, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and advocate for justice reflects the
transformative power of education, resilience, and second chances.
      RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “ANC Commissioner Harold Cunningham Recognition
Resolution of 2026.”
       Sec. 2. The Council expresses its profound gratitude for Commissioner Cunningham’s
resilience, leadership, and dedication to ensuring that every resident has access to education,
opportunity, and the possibility of a second chance.
      Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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