This week, the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) welcomed three new staff members to our team. They bring a wide array of experience, perspectives, and skills and we are so excited to have them on board.
Maria Manansala Joins DCFPI as a State Policy Fellow
DCFPI is excited to welcome Maria Manansala as one of our new State Policy Fellows! In this role, Maria will work with our policy team to advance economic security for DC’s children and families through key income supports, including cash transfers and tax credits.
Maria brings an extensive background in poverty alleviation, with a specialized focus on strengthening safety net programs. Her passion for economic justice is informed by both her lived experiences and her professional work with organizations including the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Rx Kids, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Baby’s First Years, and the High Road Strategy Center.
Maria holds a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Social Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Outside of work, Maria enjoys crafting, reading fantasy novels, going to concerts, collecting trinkets, and trying new restaurants.
Diontre Davis Joins as a State Policy Fellow
DCFPI is excited to welcome Diontre Davis, our new State Policy Fellow, to the team. Diontre will support DCFPI’s policy team to advance affordable housing and fines and fees reform.
Before joining DCFPI, Diontre worked on policy analysis at the Center for Racial Equity in Education to provide advocacy guidance and legislative strategies fostering racial equity in North Carolina’s school systems. From 2021-2024, he operated as one of the founding members and Joint International Chair of the youth division of The Black Policy Institute , a think tank in the UK. As a Joint International Chair, Diontre led youth leaders globally to advocate for criminal justice policies and foster economic equity and inclusion of Black people of African and Caribbean heritage.
Diontre received a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts from The Ohio State University. In his spare time, Diontre enjoys reading, watching movies, and traveling.
Sydney Lewis Joins as a Communications Manager
Sydney Lewis joins DCFPI as communications manager, leading media engagement and visibility strategies to amplify the organization’s impact and elevate key issues.
Previously, Sydney was on the communications team at the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, focusing on editorial development, expert thought leadership, and media relations strategy, highlighting the role of business in communities. She has experience across sectors and industries, including in-house and agency roles supporting nonprofit, public sector, issue advocacy, and corporate communications.
Sydney graduated summa cum laude from Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications with a B.A. in Strategic, Legal, and Management Communication, concentrating in public relations with a minor in Brazilian Portuguese & Afro-Brazilian Studies.
Sydney lives in Penn Quarter and, in her spare time, can be found redecorating, planning her next trip, or closing down restaurants thanks to her love of long conversations.
