At just 21, Keith Moore embodies the heart of public service—determined, community-rooted, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. A graduate of KIPP DC Legacy College Prep, Moore’s journey has been shaped by a loving family, strong mentors, and an unwavering belief in the power of advocacy. These were the keys that led to his appointment as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Ward 8’s Single Member District AD04, representing the Bellevue area near DC’s Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant and the police impound lot.

“I knew I wanted to be a politician when I was still in high school,” Moore says. “A lot of people like to complain, but they don’t always take the steps to make things better. I thought—why not me?” He is driven by a vision for safer streets, meaningful youth interventions, and more grocery stores.

Growing up with a disability, Moore knows what it feels like to be misunderstood or dismissed. “Some kids made fun of me, others were cool with it. It took time to find my people and my voice,” he recalls. And he did, graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, later serving as Freshman Class Senator at Morgan State University, and now studying political science at the University of the District of Columbia after transferring to be closer to and support his mother. His time at Morgan helped him discover a wealth of untapped resources: study groups, campus clubs, and a job as a customer service rep in the student center—all tools that shaped his sense of leadership and responsibility. He credits the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and his first vocational rehabilitation specialist for helping him lay a foundation for success. “They talked with me about my goals and helped me build on them. I always felt guided in the right direction.” And now, he’s paying it forward.

During the school year, Moore is a special education paraprofessional with DC Public Schools. “I want to give kids with special needs the kind of support I didn’t always have.” He also spends summers with DC Parks and Recreation’s Camp Discovery, working with children from ages six to ten. As a father to a young daughter, Moore says his greatest goal is to model consistency, hope, and resilience. “She’s my little star. I want her to grow up happy and successful.”  He is quick to remind employers, voters, and others with disabilities that ability comes in many forms. “Having a disability doesn’t mean we can’t do the job. Our story and our capabilities are ever evolving. Just give us a chance, and we’ll get the work done.”