Mt. Pleasant – A “Village in the City”

Heller's Bakery in Mt. Pleasant
As the District’s “Village in the City,” Mt. Pleasant is a relatively secluded spot tucked between Rock Creek Park and Columbia Heights. Originally a white, middle-class suburb, the neighborhood was incorporated into the city in the early 20th century. It saw an influx of black residents in the 1950’s and became known, several decades later, as the heart of D.C.’s Latino community.
Today, D.C. natives and transplants share this tiny neighborhood. The neighborhood’s vibrant commercial strips are home to restaurants and bars, churches and community centers, many of which function with the neighborhood’s diversity in mind.
— Mia Steinle
Stories
St. Stephen’s fosters community in Mt. Pleasant
Text and photographs by Mia Steinle
Heller’s Bakery
Text and photographs by Josh Kramer
Uniting a community through micro-grants
Text and photographs by Michaela Gonzales
A neighborhood in flux
Video story and text by Kirana Bammarito