About Petworth News

Petworth News offers hyperlocal news and updates about the people and events in the Petworth and surrounding neighborhoods of Washington DC.

Petworth News was started on Facebook in early 2015 by Drew Schneider to provide local information, helping to keep neighbors informed and engaged with each other. The Petworth News website launched in June 2015 and was chosen by Washington City Paper readers as runner-up Best Community Blog in their 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 Readers' Choice Polls, was profiled by Curbed DC and named by The Washington Post as one of their favorite DC blogs. Drew received a Community Cornerstone Award from DC Councilmember Anita Bonds in December 2018 for his local activism.

Petworth News was a semi-finalist for a 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Local Journalism for the story about Momma, a pitbull left out in the cold that went viral nationally and led to establishing new animal welfare legislation in DC. 

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Writing Team

Drew Schneider
Founder

Drew is the founder and main writer of Petworth News. He has lived in Petworth for almost 20 years, once unsuccessfully ran for ANC (which led to this site being inadvertently created), is an unabashed geek and Apple fan, a happy husband and a proud parent. Drew was also a contributing writer to the Washington Post in its All Opinions Are Local section. Drew was profiled twice by the Washington Post as one of their favorite DC bloggers. (See more interviews with Drew on the #humblebrag page.)

You can learn a bit more about Drew and how Petworth News came about by listening to a podcast interview from 2015 when the site was first starting, or read his interview with CurbedDC about Petworth (after our neighborhood totally won the Curbed Cup for the Best Neighborhood in DC). Drew takes responsibility for all content on this site, so contact him with questions, praise or criticism.

Lois Cooper
Writer

Lois is a native Washingtonian and proud parent of two daughters who recently graduated from college. She is the founder and Director of the District of Columbia African American Legacy Foundation (DCAALF), a grassroots organization that helps underserved populations.

Lois is also the creator and producer of the “The Pride and Promise of Petworth” documentary. Ms. Cooper credits Petworth with helping her to develop into the person she is today. You can email Lois with questions or suggestions on articles about social issues.

Steven Feingold
Writer / Photographer

Steven moved to Petworth in 2013, and he and his wife have since adopted three of the neighborhood's finest felines. He works in the biotech industry, programming robotic laboratory equipment. He writes the Petworth Blooming series about local color and flowers.

He enjoys gardening, hiking, carpentry and playing pickup soccer.  You can contact Steve with any plant or gardening questions you might have.

Phillip Ford
Photographer

Phillip Ford is a 15-year seasoned photographer specializing in weddings, portfolios, professional/personal (studio), real estate photography, corporate and school events.  A native Washingtonian, Phillip grew up in the NE corridor of DC and currently resides in Petworth. His belief is “a picture represents a life-long memory,” and that is what he captures in his photography.

See more of his photos on his website infokuzproduction.

Ingrid Gillies
Writer

Ingrid Gillies moved to Petworth in June 2023 after graduating college and immediately developed a deep appreciation for the neighborhood. She formerly resided on a cul-de-sac, so Ingrid loves living within walking distance from a library, pool and many other awesome public amenities. When Ingrid isn’t working, she is playing frisbee, reading, writing or running in Rock Creek!

Sacha Haworth
Writer

Sacha has been living in Brightwood Park since early 2019, settling off of Kennedy St once her family's bike collection expanded beyond the limits of an Eckington apartment. She’s lived in DC since 2012, having been drawn to the area to attend Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. After working and winning in Democratic politics for a decade, she’s currently the Founder and Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project, as well as a Board Member of the Twin Cities Ballet School. She and her husband enjoy getting outside and exploring Rock Creek Park with their two young boys, trips to Everyday Sundae, and sharing a Timber Pizza Bentley or two with visitors and friends over a campfire.

Cesse Ip
Writer

Cesse Ip moved to DC in 2008, and in 2014 she and her husband decided to make Petworth their home. Petworth is where she found her best friends, her kids’ friends and her “people.” When she’s not working for the Department of Defense or chasing around her two small sons, she enjoys cooking, eating (especially when someone else is doing the cooking), reading and playing Settlers of Catan. A true nerd with two degrees in mathematics, writing came late to her, but she did a phenomenal job. Cesse passed away from cancer on August 24, 2023 and will always be remembered.

Kenji Jasper
Writer

Kenji Jasper grew up in the Fairfax Village section of Southeast DC where he published his first article for the Washington Informer at the age of 12.  After stints in New York and Los Angeles, he returned to the DMV and landed in Petworth.  

He’s the author of the novels Dark and Nostrand Avenue, and his writings have appeared in Brooklyn Noir, DC Noir and The Hurston/Wright Foundation’s Gumbo. He lives in Brightwood.

Yuliya Panfil
Writer

Yuliya moved to Petworth in late 2016 and fell in love with the neighborhood's vibe and offerings. She's a former journalist and recovering lawyer, now working in international development. When she's not working, Yuliya loves to travel, try new food, drink red wine, and write (preferably at the same time!). Yuliya and her husband, Michael, chronicle some of their adventures through their blog, Window 3. You can email Yuliya with any story ideas, particularly human interest stories about interesting area residents. 

Ereftu Patel
Intern / Writer

Ereftu moved to Petworth in 2021 and is a student at the School Without Walls and Petworth News' first intern. He enjoys spending a good portion of his time at the E.L. Hanes field playing soccer. From time to time, he and his family enjoy a bite at Slash Run and volunteer at the Old Soldiers Home and DC Thrive. He's happy to have an opportunity to be more engaged with his community.

Austin Schott
Writer

Austin moved to the DMV for graduate school in 2015 to study Public Administration. Having lived for short stints in Guinea, South Africa, Colorado, Iowa, and northern Wisconsin, Austin finally settled in DC, making Park View his home. Eager to put down roots, Austin joined community groups, became a regular patron at Timber Pizza, and subscribed to Petworth News. Austin loves the outdoors and spends weekends camping or hiking. (As a federal employee, he has to note that the views and opinions expressed in his articles are his, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the US government.)

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