Shaw, DC, has long been a cultural intersection. Emerging after the Civil War as a vibrant center of Black intellectual, social, and commercial life, then weathering periods of hardship before re-entering a renaissance of growth and energy. Amid its evolving landscape, a few constants remain, people like Ike, a loyal and familiar presence who has faced life’s challenges with resilience. Every day, he greets neighbors as a crossing guard while carrying the memories and spirit of the community he’s called home for decades. Just down the street, Wanda Henderson continues to shape the neighborhood’s future. A lifelong resident and entrepreneur, she opened Wanda’s on 7th in 2003 and has since become a trusted pillar in the community, offering not just hair care but strength and compassion to all who walk through her doors. Together, Ike and Wanda reflect the enduring spirit of Shaw.