MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
February 20, 2024
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 4 of the Commission on the Arts and
Humanities Act, effective October 21, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-22; D.C. Official Code § 39-203), I am
pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Cora Masters Barry
Raleigh Street, SE
Washington, DC 20032
(Ward 8)
for reappointment as a member with specific interest, ability, or experience in the humanities of the
Commission on the Arts and Humanities, for a term to end June 30, 2027.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments,
should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
 1
2
3 at the request of the Mayor
4
5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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8
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10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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12
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15 To confirm the reappointment of Cora Masters Barry to the Commission on the Arts and
16 Humanities.
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18 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
19 resolution may be cited as the "Commission on the Arts and Humanities Cora Masters Barry
20 Confirmation Resolution of 2024".
21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
22
23 Ms. Cora Masters Barry
24 Raleigh Street, SE
25 Washington, DC 20032
26 (Ward 8)
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28 as a member with specific interest, ability, or experience in the humanities of the Commission on
29 the Arts and Humanities, established by section 4 of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities
30 Act, effective October 21, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-22; D.C. Official Code§ 39-203), for a term to end
31 June 30, 2027.
32 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
33 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
34 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
 CORA MASTERS BARRY
Cora Masters Barry's lifelong dedication to empowering youth, creating opportunities, and breaking
barriers makes her a transformative force in the realms of sports, education, and community
development.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Community Impact Award from DC Chamber of Commerce.
"Salute Her: Champion for Children Award" from Café Mocha radio show.
Named "Washingtonian of the Year, 2013" by The Washingtonian Magazine.
Founders Award recipient, USTA's Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation.
Black Tennis Hall of Fame inductee (2018).
LEADERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS
• National Council of Negro Women • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
• National Coalition of Civic Participation • Leadership Greater Washington
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
• Sought-after speaker, moderator, and panelist on organizational building, management,
philanthropy, non-profit development, empowerment of children and youth, and voter
registration and education.
UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Professor of Political Science
• Specialized in Black Politics, Comparative Political Studies, the Presidency, and the
Constitution.
• Inspired students to understand and utilize the political process for positive change.
MILLION MAN MARCH VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
Head of Voter Registration Drive Team
• Orchestrated the registration of over one million men before and during the March.
• Co-organized "Women for the Million Man March" with Dr. Dorothy I. Height.
SOUTHEAST TENNIS AND LEARNING CENTER (SETLC)
• Named the “Youth Tennis and Learning Facility of the Year,” by the United States Tennis
Association (USTA) at the 2005 U.S. Open
 Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Cora Masters Barry
A current member of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities,
Ms. Cora Masters Barry has a long history of public service and
commitment to the District. She is currently the Chief Executive
Officer of the Recreation Wish List Committee, and a member of the
Commission on the Arts and Humanities. In this capacity, Ms. Masters
Barry has helped lead the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center
where youth in Washington, DC can learn about tennis.
In 1980, she was appointed as the first woman on the three-member
DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission, where she ultimately became chairperson.
Ms. Masters Barry is a former University of the District of Columbia political science professor
and began her career in Washington, DC completing community projects in the Anacostia and
Shaw neighborhoods. Ms. Masters Barry worked as a counselor for teenage girls with Operation
Sisters.
A Ward 8 resident, Ms. Masters Barry earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Southern
University and her Master of Arts degree from Howard University.
 GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
To: Tomas Talamante, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: January 25, 2024
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolutions nominating Gretchen Wharton,
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti, Cora Masters Barry, and Reginald Van Lee as
members of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced resolutions and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
724-1303, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681