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Dear Members of Our Community,

I’m excited to share some wonderful news: Jean-Michel Giraud, our President and CEO, has been named one of Washingtonian magazine’s 2025 Washingtonians of the Year. 

This recognition honors ten leaders across the region who are making our community a better place to live. Jean-Michel was selected for his work leading Friendship Place’s mission to end homelessness—work that you help make possible. 

Jean-Michel has spent more than four decades fighting for the idea that everyone deserves dignity and respect, no matter their circumstances. Early in his career, he advocated for moving mental health care out of institutions and into communities. He went on to become one of the country’s leading voices for Housing First and person-centered approaches for ending homelessness. 

Since joining Friendship Place 19 years ago, he has transformed what was once a small neighborhood organization into a regional force in the fight against homelessness. His insistence on results-driven solutions that treat every person as an individual has influenced countless professionals, policymakers, and advocates to think differently and act boldly. 

The January issue featuring Jean-Michel and the other honorees is at newsstands now. If you’re near one, I hope you’ll pick up a copy. 

Yours truly, 

David Dirks

Board Chair

Friendship Place Board of Directors