Dennis Chestnut is a native Washingtonian, and a lifetime resident of Ward 7. Dennis is a master carpenter and vocational educator by profession, his dedication to youth development, community improvement and civic duty has led to his involvement with many civic and conservation projects. He has a passion for conservation and the environment, and has advised many community, business and government leaders on civic ecology and civic engagement issues.

Growing up in Ward 7, Dennis became connected to the many green spaces, parks, streams, and the Anacostia River, where he learned to swim as a child. Dennis is the retired founding executive director of Groundwork Anacostia River DC. Among the many programs and projects developed by Groundwork, the Green Team program, the Green at Parkside, the Marvin Gaye Park Trail Connector, and the Bandalong litter traps stand out.

Managing four litter traps resulted in the removal of tons of trash and floatable debris from the Anacostia River, becoming one of Groundwork’s signature programs. 

Dennis is a board member with the East of the River Steelband, Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens where he chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee.

Dennis is a Senior Fellow of the Chesapeake Region Environmental Leadership Program, an appointee to Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River and Urban Forestry Advisory Council. Dennis is a founding member of the National Capitol Region Anacostia Watershed

Stewards Academy, and the Anacostia Watershed Community Advisory Committee. Dennis has received numerous awards including the Greater Washington Interfaith Partnership Vision Award, the Lankford/Giles/Vaughn Minority Architect Award for Community Activism, the Ward 7 Health Alliance Community health Champion award 2015, the DC Appleseed 2019 Sustainable Living and Leading Award, the 2019 River Network River Hero, the 2020 Cox Communications Trust for Public Land Cox Conserves Heroes Award, the Chesapeake Conservancy 2020 Lifetime Champion Award, and most recently the Mayor Bowser Spirit of Service award 2022. Dennis has also appeared in numerous publications, books and video documentaries that highlight his work on restoring the health of the Anacostia River, improving the natural resources in the East of the River communities, and developing high quality youth programs.