I AM WARD 8: William Borum of Savannah Terrace
Ask anyone who lives in Ward 8 and they will tell you, the best thing about living here is the people. The “I am Ward 8” series asks a Ward 8 resident eight questions about their life living in Ward 8. It offers insight into the varied backgrounds, perspectives, and hopes of the people who call the many neighborhoods of Ward 8 home.
6. What is your favorite thing about Ward 8?
7. Your wish for Ward 8?
This month’s honoree is William A. Borum. Mr. William has deep ties to Ward 8. He grew up in Barry Farm, lives in Savannah Terrace, and works in Historic Anacostia as a Project Administrator for Estimé Enterprises, Inc., a minority-owned strategic solutions consulting firm. Mr. William is a “glass is half full” type of person, he always see a silver lining in a cloud, and believes that every person - regardless of their past - has a purpose. He is inspirational yet humble and is filled with much hope and excitement for the next chapter in the Ward 8 story.
It is with great pleasure that I present March’s “I am Ward 8” honoree, William A. Borum.
Project Administrator
Believer
Success Story
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William A. Borum Project Administrator and Ward 8 Resident |
1. Your name/age/occupation?
William A. Borum
Age 50
Project Administrator
Estimé Enterprises, Inc.
2. Your neighborhood?
Savannah Terrace
3. What brought you to Ward 8?
More like “when”, I was born in Knoxs Terrance in 1960 in Ward 7 behind 7th District and my grandma lived in Barry Farm from 1958 up to 1980, she lived at 1234 Stevens Rd. So “Soufeas” (lol), in Ward 7 and Ward 8, up and down this MLK Avenue is home to me. My parents lived here, and my grandparents lived here and I was fortunate enough to live here.
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Good Hope Road SE |
I can remember way back when...it was always a closeness, even in the neighborhoods we would always protect our neighborhoods, we wouldn’t let anyone come in and do anything, even on a teenage level we looked out. Growing up we would make mistakes and learn a lesson. Then leaving Southeast I thought about it in a new way, I saw it a new way, something I couldn’t see until I stepped away from it. Then five years after being away I came back after living in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. Then through no decision of my own I was brought back, through no decision of my own, I saw there was a purpose. I have experience having made bad decisions and paying for those bad decisions. I came back and I am empowering the people who I used to know, to show them a new way. The knowledge has been brought to me and it’s great. We are in a different place. If we have our ears and eyes open we can take advantage of this opportunity. This is why I am back. Unlike Northwest, the Ward 7 and Ward 8 resident didn’t receive the type of “care taking” that other residents had. There is a difference. In Southeast, I always recognized that the Southeast resident, especially Ward 8, did not receive the same treatment of upper Northwest and it was sad. It is sad now when I look at it. I have an opportunity now to embrace each and every brother and sister out there in these streets who doesn’t think there is a way out. It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past if you are willing to submit and make a change. They can take advantage of the opportunities. The change and progress is here. You feel it. I am not going anywhere. I have never felt this type of change and “overhaul” before. I am glad to be here and I love it.
I am going to open up a business here and I am going to hire people and employ black men and youths and empower them. I am doing “this” for the brothers and sisters and out here. This isn’t hard. These people aren’t much smarter than me and you. You can do this.
4. How long have you lived in Ward 8?
I grew up here.
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(l-r) Jim Shelby and William Borum in their new office in Anacostia |
5. What do you think is the biggest misconception about Ward 8?
I am not going to say that everybody feels this way, cause I have met a lot of people and business owners and they are enthused about employing Ward 8 residents, I work for such a company, Estimé Enterprises.
Now then you have others who may say, “Lets go in and do what we got to do cause they don’t want to do nothing.”
You have some that have a sincere heart and want to help, and others who just want to do their business and get out.
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Sign of Success |
70% of the people who look into this Ward say “lets do what we got to do to get out because they [Ward 8 residents] won’t do the work, they are lazy.” You can’t judge a people, you have to take us as individuals not a whole. If you sit down with me, we are going to have an intelligent conversation.
No one is going to look down on me, I work hard and I have a lot of common sense and that goes a long way. There is a transition going on. I would want people who don’t have the best impression of Ward 8 to give us a chance.We can all benefit.
So many! The potential of the people. I went up to the Overlook the other day and I stood in the parking lot and looked over to Virginia. It was so beautiful. The chair, I remember in 1965 when Santa Claus used to sit in that chair and ring his bell -- that was cool. Someone should do that again.
That one day (and it’s coming soon) that it won’t be looked down upon. I would like at least 50% of Ward 8 to still be black. Because if another race comes in and totally eliminates the black race to a small percentage it will look like we have never been here before. I think a good even split will be good for the Ward -- it will allow everyone to get to know each other and they can get along, they can learn form each other. If it can start in one of the underutilized parts of the city it would spread. It could be Hispanics, whites, and blacks getting along over there, it’s such a beautiful place. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue -- people should be able to say that and have a good time, all this racial harmony.
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William Borum, businessman |
8. Which do you prefer? East of the River, East Washington, or River East?
In my younger days we called it “Soufeas”, now I say “Southeast” - I’m a businessman.