Richard Trent

Richard Trent has spent over a decade organizing at the intersection of economic justice, public policy, and community power. Raised by small business owners, he brings both lived experience and deep organizing roots to his role as Executive Director of Main Street Alliance. He began his career advancing education equity with Higher Achievement and Reach Out and Read, then led coalition efforts with Friends of Island Academy to help end youth detention at Rikers Island through the Raise the Age campaign. As Founding Executive Director of Friends of Anacostia Park, he mobilized returning citizens, small business owners, and environmental advocates to reclaim public space in Ward 8. A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Richard brings a policy-informed, ground-up approach to movement building—mobilizing a 30,000-strong network of small business owners whose trusted voices are key to advancing a just and inclusive economy.