Reverend Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), is honoring the legacy of Black women’s leadership as she highlights the organization’s headquarters— the only Black and woman-owned building on Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington, D.C.
In a recent interview with WHUT – Washington Howard University TV, Arline-Bradley reflected on the historic significance of the NCNW building, which sits along the ‘corridor of power’ between the U.S. Capitol and the White House.
“When I think about this building that we’re sitting in, it’s a bit emotional because we are the only Black and woman-owned building on Pennsylvania Avenue,” she said. “I need to honor Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. She was our longest-serving president and chair, and she had the vision that Black women would be seated in the middle of power, not only in this country, but in the world.”
The building, once on land where enslaved people were sold, now stands as a symbol of resilience and progress. Civil rights icon Dr. Height led the effort to secure the NCNW headquarters, ensuring Black women had a permanent seat at the table in national policy discussions.
Founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune, NCNW continues to advocate for social justice, economic empowerment, and education. Arline-Bradley explained that the headquarters is more than a building—it represents the past, present, and future of Black women’s leadership.
“This space not only represents the resilience of the enslaved ancestors that we have grown to learn about and love, but it speaks about the future—that we have a place in history and a place for longevity that we believe will be sustained until the end of time,” she said.
