History in the Making: DC History's Trip to Ben’s Chili Bowl!

From Brae Sullivan, Middle School Humanities teacher: Last week, Grade 7 DC History students had an incredible experience visiting the legendary Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street! As part of our Black History in DC unit, we had the absolute honor of meeting members of the Ali family and co-founder Mrs. Virginia Ali — who actually just received an honorary doctorate in public service from George Washington University!

The students watched a video detailing the restaurant’s deep roots in the Civil Rights Movement and, of course, got to enjoy some of their famous, delicious food! The real highlight of the day was how deeply our kids engaged with history. Many of them spoke with Mrs. Ali personally, asking thoughtful questions about her life and the legacy of the neighborhood. I was so incredibly proud of how articulately they represented our school.

While there, the kids also shared their own creativity. Since Ben’s is currently taking community suggestions for their new outdoor wall mural, our students created a collaborative mural banner made of individual segments they designed themselves, which we proudly presented directly to Mrs. Ali. What an unforgettable field trip!