Black disability advocates who helped shape civil rights
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
Black history and disabled history are more aligned than people realize, with many Black icons experiencing some form of disability. Abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth had a disabled right hand, Fannie Lou Hamer had physical disabilities stemming from polio, pioneering lawyer and lawmaker Barbara Jordan had multiple sclerosis and used a wheelchair and actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte had dyslexia.
But in the annals of disabled Black history, Brad Lomax and Lois Curtis stand out as figures who spoke up for both disability rights and Black rights in spaces where Black voices were often sidelined. As advocates, they fought not just for accessibility but also for justice at the intersection of race and disability—an ongoing challenge today, though shaped and lessened in many ways by their work.
“Their contributions to the disability rights movement as Black disabled leaders was both paramount and monumental,” said Monica Wiley, voter engagement specialist with the National Disability Rights Network.
Wiley shared that the conversation around disability began to take shape in the 1800s, though at that time, perceptions of disabled people were deeply skewed and discriminatory. This led to their widespread exclusion from participating in society and their overall social invisibility.
“It wasn’t until the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act that a paradigm shift commenced in the disability movement,” said Wiley. Brad Lomax
Wiley shared that during the passage of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, Brad Lomax, a Black Panther who developed multiple sclerosis at Howard University, witnessed severe
“As Lois Curtis once stated, ‘I raise my voice high’ and that is what we are doing today, raising our voices and getting into good trouble.”
inaccessibility and discrimination as a disabled person.
“He did his due diligence by helping to organize and support the 504 sit-in by having the Black Panther Party (BPP) provide food and other resources to Judith Heumann–the queen of the disability movement–and other participants,” said Wiley.
“Lomax also connected the Black Panther Party to the East Oakland Center for Independent Living (CIL), which–in my opinion–is the epitome of true coalition building and intersecting civil rights and disability activism. This began the birth of inclusive democracy.”
Lomax joined the BPP in the late 1960s, according to the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning
Council. He went on to found the Washington, D.C., chapter of the BPP and coordinated the first African Liberation Day demonstration in 1972.
In 1975, Lomax worked with Ed Roberts, the founder of the Center for Independent Living (CIL), in Berkeley, Calif., to launch another site in East Oakland with the help of the BPP. In 1977, disability rights activists held a sit-in at San Francisco’s federal building to demand enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which forbids discrimination against people with disabilities. Lomax joined the protest.
He camped out in the facility alongside other protestors for three weeks despite the government cutting off the building’s phone lines and water supply.
Though Lomax died at the age of 33 in 1984, his legacy has lived on, paving the way for decades of activism that has profoundly enhanced disabled individual’s access and opportunities.
Lois Curtis
Another notable figure from the Disability Rights Movement is Lois Curtis who grew up with a cognitive and developmental disability. At the age of 11, she was sent to Georgia Regional Hospital, where she remained confined until she was 29.
She eventually became the lead plaintiff in Olmstead v. L.C., in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that confining people with developmental disabilities in inadequate institutions—like she experienced— when they are able to live in the community is unconstitutional.
“Lois believed in her heart that she deserved to live in the community like other members of society,” said Wiley. “Because of her tireless advocacy, people with disabilities can live in the community with the proper home-based support services they need.”
Since the Olmstead case, hundreds of thousands of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities have moved from institutions to community-based homes, according to the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
According to the Council, in 2014 Curtis was asked what she would
say to people still institutionalized, and she responded: “I hope they live long lives and have their own place. I hope they make money. I hope they learn every day. I hope they meet new people, celebrate their birthdays, write letters, clean up, go to friends’ houses, and drink coffee.”
Curtis eventually was able to move into her own apartment, get a job as an artist and exhibit her work in Georgia galleries. Her talents and passion motivated her to make art and advocacy her top ambitions. Her artwork is a heartfelt, bold expression of how deeply she values personal relationships.
Curtis died at age 55 on Nov. 3, 2022, at her home in Clarkston, Ga.
“Because of their fierce, bold and unapologetic leadership, people with disabilities have the ability and freedom to live independently, command respect as a member of the human race and are policymakers who have advanced our rights to access socially, economically and academically,” said Wiley. “Their tenacity has emboldened my community to continue to carry the mantle for parity, equity and justice. As Lois Curtis once stated, ‘I raise my voice high’ and that is what we are doing today, raising our voices and getting into good trouble.”
Current day disability advocates Disability advocates of today such
as Heather Watkins and Ola Ojewumi continue to build on the legacies of Lomax and Curtis. Watkins works to highlight the experiences of women of color with disabilities via her writing and activism. Ojewumi, being a cancer survivor and organ transplant recipient, champions healthcare rights and uplifts disabled voices in the media.
Haben Girma, another leading disability advocate of today, was born with a progressive condition that left her deaf and with only 1 percent of her eyesight. As a first-generation immigrant, she became the first deaf and blind graduate of Harvard Law School. Today, she is an award-winning author, advocate and keynote speaker.
“What we can learn from Brad Lomax and Lois Curtis is the ability to embrace those who aren’t disabled,” said Wiley. “While there are some members of society that have a one-dimensional or discriminatory perception of people with disabilities—it’s not everyone. We as people with disabilities have got to step out of our comfort zone and embrace others different from [us].”
Wiley also encourages persons with disabilities to shift the narrative.
“Allow your authentic, audacious, unapologetic self to exude and shine,” said Wiley. “Be comfortable with who you are and show
and show out.”
up
Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Haben Girma, the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, is among the new wave of Black and disabled advocates.
Photo courtesy of United Community Options of South Florida Brad Lomax, the late Black Panther and disability rights activist, connects the Panthers with the disability movement and helps lead the 504 Sit-In, advancing the fight for justice at the intersection of race and disability.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama looks at a painting presented to him by artist Lois Curtis, center, during their meeting in the Oval Office, June 20, 2011. Joining them are, from left, Janet Hill and Jessica Long, from the Georgia Department of Labor, and Lee Sanders, of Briggs and Associates.
Photo courtesy of Monica Wiley
Monica Wiley is the voter engagement specialist for the National Disability Rights Network.
Short-staffed and stretched thin: Special Ed crisis leaves Black students with disabilities at risk
By Tavon N. Thomasson
AFRO Intern
In many schools across the country, Black students with disabilities often rely on individualized education programs (IEPs) that are designed to give students the personalized support they need. But a shortage of trained staff in the classroom is making this support harder to provide.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ 2023-24 School Pulse Panel, 70 percent of K-12 public schools reported vacancies in special education teacher roles, making it one of the most understaffed positions in the country.
“Special education is a specialized field that we’re losing a lot of teachers in, or we’ll have teachers that’ll start in that field but they get burned out very easily just because of the caseload that a lot of them have,” said Brittany Shuford, a counselor at Katherine Johnson Elementary School in Newport News, Va. “We’ve been fortunate this past year that we did have a fully staffed special education department, but I know of a lot of schools that each year they don’t.”
A special education teacher in Washington, D.C., who asked to remain anonymous, has also seen firsthand how understaffing can impact special education services.
“I have witnessed a grade going the entire year without having a special education teacher in a core subject, and it was very difficult to contribute data to the rest of the team, subsequently making it hard to write students
progress reports and accurately modify their IEP,” he said.
At Louisa County Public Schools in Virginia, instructional assistant Nakia Johnson said the nature of the work in special education can push people away from applying. In classrooms with students who have more intensive needs, Johnson said staff are sometimes required to assist with toileting and, if qualified, manage feeding tubes or check insulin levels. Not everyone, she said, is comfortable taking on that kind of responsibility.
Recruiting new special education teachers is only part of the problem. The other side of the issue is retention, with many leaving the field due to burnout. Johnson noted that working with students who have behavioral challenges can be particularly draining.
“You can get burnout quickly, especially if you’re in a classroom that has very high demanding students where they need that constant one-on-one,” said Johnson. “I’ve worked on both parts, where I’ve been in with the behavior and it’s constant. You can get tired, and it takes a strong person to be able to endure that.”
In addition to the demands of the classroom, the constant paperwork and caseload required in special education adds to the burnout many educators experience.
“My brother-in-law works in the Newport News school system, and he’s a special education math teacher. He kind of stopped working for a minute because of the burnout,
Supreme Court win for girl with epilepsy expected to make disability lawsuits against schools easier
By Lindsay Whitehurst
A teenage girl with a rare form of epilepsy won a unanimous Supreme Court ruling on June 12 that’s expected to make it easier for families of children with disabilities to sue schools over access to education.
The girl’s family says that her Minnesota school district didn’t do enough to make sure she has the disability accommodations she needs to learn, including failing to provide adequate instruction in the evening when her seizures are less frequent. But lower courts ruled against the family’s claim for damages, despite finding the school had fallen short. That’s because courts in that part of the country required plaintiffs to show schools used “bad faith or gross misjudgment,” a higher legal standard than most disability discrimination claims.
The district, Osseo Area Schools, said that lowering the legal standard could expose the country’s understaffed public schools to more lawsuits if their efforts fall short, even if officials are working in good faith.
The family appealed to the Supreme Court, which found that lawsuits against schools should have the same requirements as other disability discrimination claims.
Children with disabilities and their parents “face daunting challenges on a daily basis. We
hold today that those challenges do not include having to satisfy a more stringent standard of proof than other plaintiffs,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. The court rebuffed the district’s argument, made late in the appeals process, that all claims over accommodations for people with disabilities should be held to the same higher standard — a potentially major switch that would have been a “five-alarm fire” for the disability rights community, the girl’s lawyers said. Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, wrote separately to say he would be willing to consider those arguments at some point in the future, though he didn’t
“Special education is a specialized field that we’re losing a lot of teachers in, or we’ll have teachers that’ll start in that field, but they get burned out very easily just because of the caseload that a lot of them have.”
the paperwork,” said Johnson. “So he took a leave, and now he’s back at it. But he had to do that mentally for himself, to just check out for a moment and then come back to it.”
While burnout is a serious challenge for many special educators, many remain in the field because they find the work deeply rewarding. For
them, no amount of paperwork or understaffing outweighs the importance of showing up for the students who count on them every day.
“Some people don’t want to deal with the special education part, but it can be very rewarding because those kids need love,” said Johnson.
say whether they would win.
But Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, saw it differently. Sotomayor wrote in another concurrence that adopting those higher standards more broadly would “eviscerate the core” of disability discrimination laws.
The girl’s attorney Roman Martinez, of Latham and Watkins, called the June 12 ruling a win for the family and “children with disabilities facing discrimination in schools across the country.” He added that “it will help protect the reasonable accommodations needed to ensure equal opportunity for all.” This
Unsplash / Nathan Cima
Special education teachers across the country face mounting burnout and staff shortages, making it harder to consistently support Black students with disabilities.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
A teenage girl with epilepsy secures a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that strengthens the rights of students with disabilities nationwide.
Why gunshot injuries disrupt manhood for Black men
Black men disabled by gun violence expressed frustration with no longer being able to provide for their families and move around on their own.
By
It used to be that Tariq prided himself on providing for his family, earning enough money to pay for food, the rent and more. “I used to tell my wife, ‘Hey babe, you don’t like your job? You don’t have to work. You can go back to school, stay at home, and do whatever you want. I’ll take care of everything, and I was in a position to do that,” he says.
But that was before he was shot.
Now, as he told researchers from Rutgers University School of Public Health, who authored a new study on Black men who survive gun violence, he has gone from being a provider to being dependent — and that’s taken a huge toll on the 38-year-old.
“I just stay at one spot, don’t move around too much this way. I don’t work up an appetite,” he said. “I feel like a burden. You know now I can’t be burden lifter so my phone don’t ring and it f*cking sucks.”
The study was published in the American Journal of Men’s Health in February 2024, but its findings ring true today. Among their findings, the researchers discovered that, much like Tariq, survivors struggle with a loss of independence. Participants described how that can balloon into
other issues, too, causing them to feel like a burden on their caretakers and to struggle with how the circumstances of their injuries undermined their sense of manhood.
“In describing some optimal characteristics of what it means to be a man, disabled violently injured Black men discussed the importance of being a protector, provider, responsible, independent and having self-awareness,” Nazsa Baker, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Rutgers New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, said in a statement. “Most of the men described hegemonic ideals of manhood and how their definitions of manhood would impact others.”
Gun-related injuries among Black males
Gun violence is a leading cause of death among Black males. In 2021, Black boys and men ages 15 to 24 died from more gun homicides than unintentional injuries, suicide, heart disease and COVID-19 put together, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But not all shooting injuries result in death.
More than 110 Black Americans are injured daily. And about half of young Black men who survive shootings are hospitalized for similar injuries within five years, making
“Because their injuries had impacted their bodies, they felt hampered in their ability to be men.”
gunshot wounds the leading cause of disability among this population.
How firearm injuries impact Black men
Survivors of firearm-related assaults face unique challenges.
Physically, it can be difficult to complete daily activities, such as bathing, getting dressed and working. Mentally, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance use disorder may develop in the wake of a shooting injury. Victims may avoid mental health services due to stigma, fear and a lack of trusted resources.
The Rutgers researchers interviewed 10 Black men about their psychological and physical experiences as they recovered from gunshot wounds.
Racial stereotypes have defined Black men as hyper-aggressive, hypersexual and muscular.
“However, in this study, participants consistently defined manhood as being able to take care of one’s responsibilities—especially their financial responsibilities,” the authors wrote.
The participants define a man as a “protector, provider, nurturer,” and someone who is supposed to “build a foundation, an empire, and a business,” and “takes care of responsibility by any means necessary.” All of which becomes more difficult to do after being shot, especially for those who lose mobility as a result of their injuries.
The researchers found that expressing manhood is an essential aspect of Black men’s lives and identities.
“I was shot 16 times. I get upset about little things. I’ll be mad my foot will go out on me, and my back
getting stiff,” Reginald, 34, said.
“My body is just mad different now, it’s not the same.” Barry, 22, said he hasn’t adjusted to his wheelchair.
“It affects me because right now, the chair is too big to go into the bathroom, so I gotta do other things to get to the bathroom,” he said. “I have to get out my chair and get into something else, then roll to the bathroom. There are areas that I can’t fit in the house.”
Ultimately, the researchers found
that expressing manhood is an essential aspect of Black men’s lives and identities.
“Because their injuries had impacted their bodies, they felt hampered in their ability to be men. This appeared to create mental and emotional distress for the men in this study, suggesting that in a sense, manhood serves as a social determinant of health of Black men.”
This story was originally published by WordinBlack.com.
Alexa Spencer Word in Black
Kampus Production/Pexels Black men disabled by gun violence often struggle to regain a sense of manhood, according to a Rutgers University study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health.
Report, testimonies reveal hardships faced by inmates with disabilities
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
From boisterous barbershop banter in America’s urban centers, to soulful, street corner soliloquies, it’s not unusual to hear returning citizens share testimony on the day-to-day struggles they faced while being incarcerated.
Some may brag about how they successfully managed their loss of freedom while behind bars, while others are more honest about the barriers placed in their path before, during and after incarceration.
But the stakes for those with disabilities, mental or physical, are even higher, and even life-threatening, according to the “US Department of Justice, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016,” released in March 2021.
Key findings of the report indicate the following:
High prevalence: Nearly two in five state and federal prisoners reported having at least one disability, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Overrepresentation: Prisoners with disabilities are significantly more likely to be incarcerated compared to the general population.
Cognitive Disabilities: Cognitive disabilities, such as intellectual, learning and attention deficit disorders, are frequently reported by incarcerated individuals. Many prisoners also report disabilities like hearing, vision and mobility impairments.
Vulnerability: Prisoners with disabilities may face increased risks of violence, exploitation and inadequate access to necessary accommodations and support services.
Reentry Challenges: Individuals with disabilities face unique challenges in reentering society after incarceration, including finding suitable housing, employment and accessing healthcare.
The report further noted that both Blacks and women in female state (50 percent) and federal (40 percent) prisoners were more likely than male state (39 percent) and federal (28 percent) prisoners to report having a disability. Blacks in state prisons (33 percent) were less likely to report their disabilities than their White counterparts (44 percent), no
mental or physical disabilities, finding solutions calls for Carey and his staff to often seek help from local businesses or grassroots organizations and to think outside of the box.
“We’re different from other D.C. agencies because we focus on those needs as identified by returning citizens themselves,” Carey said. “So, our numbers are even more impressive because returning citizens are not mandated to use our services. Because many of our staff members are either returning citizens themselves or have family members who were or still are incarcerated, people find us more sensitive, [and] understand and trust us.”
since his incarceration, and has committed himself to service for young, Black males at risk.
matter how severe.
Lamont Carey, a native Washingtonian who serves as the director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs (MORCA) – the District’s coordinating and advisory agency for reentry – said negotiating multiple barriers to reentry and breaking the cycle of recidivism can prove even more daunting for those who also suffer from disabilities.
“Inmates who are wheelchair bound or blind are not usually placed with the general population, but to my knowledge, there’s no specific policy. So, it often depends on the warden in the prison or jail in which they are placed,” Carey said.
“Even so, the ratio of inmates to medical staff, which can be as much as 2,000 inmates in a facility to 12 physicians and nurses, makes it impossible for inmates, whether disabled or not, to receive medical care close to the time of their request.”
During the October 2023 –September 2024 fiscal year, Carey and his staff handled 5,454 cases, mostly men, according to the director, but with an increasing number of women. Some have specific and immediate needs: securing an ID, a Social Security card, a driver’s license or a birth certificate, which can be facilitated with one or two visits. But for those who lack family support and require housing, employment, or have
James Corbin, 75, a Vietnam War veteran who lives in Southeast D.C., said during his two stints behind bars totalling 16 years, he saw a lot of men with disabilities who were forced to wait an unreasonable length of time before eventually receiving medical treatment.
“There was no such thing as a regular checkup, and I even had a good friend who was so far down on the waiting list to see a doctor that he died before being treated,” Corbin said. “But my heart especially goes out to younger brothers who are shuffled in and out of the system like a modern version of slavery.
“Most young guys have never learned how to control their emotions and the way inmates are treated often results in a lot of anger – frustrations they don’t know how to positively release. And even after being released, the probation requirements make you feel like you’re on a chain gang.”
Rhozier “Roach” Brown, 81, said extreme poverty forced him to embark upon a life of crime when he was just 8 years old, living in a segregated D.C. neighborhood in which he and his family had neither indoor plumbing nor running water.
“We didn’t consider ourselves to be criminals or thugs – it was all about staying alive and making sure we had food to eat,” said Brown who was sentenced to life in prison for murder in 1965 at the age of 18, after he and two others shot and killed a man during an attempted robbery.
“They sent me to the Lorton Correctional Complex where I began to speak up for the rights of prisoners,” he said.
“After Dr. King was murdered, there was a riot in the prison and I was targeted by the guards who beat me so badly that I became paralyzed. I was thrown into solitary without any medical treatment where I remained for about eight months. It was only God who healed me. I realized that God had other plans for me.”
Brown’s case, his life and the initiatives he led while being incarcerated, eventually came to the attention of President Ford, who commuted his sentence on Christmas Day, 1975. Brown’s sentence had been reduced to 30 years, making him eligible for parole.
“I saw a lot of guys come in who were disabled – one with one leg shorter than the other, another with one arm, a few who were blind – they all had to find ways to survive or to find a walk buddy who would help them out,” Brown said.
“I remember one guy who was blind and to whom I was assigned to walk around with three hours a day. One day, he had to see the doctor and when we got to his office, the doctor ordered me to leave. My dude wasn’t hearing that and when he got up to walk out, he bumped into the doctor. They said he had attempted to assault the doctor, charged him and added time to his sentence. That’s just another example of how insensitive officials can be to those who are both disabled and incarcerated.”
Courtney Stewart, 63, has made the most of his life and
At 18, he was sent to Lorton Correctional, where he served eight years.
In 2010, Stewart, now living in Clinton, Md., founded the National Reentry Network, a nonprofit organization that works with Black males, ages 18 to 32, who come from broken families, have limited education or job skills and have few options after being released from prison.
Stewart said after witnessing so many young Black men repeatedly being returned to prison, many of whom were burdened by mental disorders, he was determined to make a difference.
“I don’t have any disabilities, but I can tell you I remember a lot of brothers
who did when I was locked up and even more since I got out many years ago,” he said. “If it’s something that’s visible, like a physical disability, you may get some help. But if it’s a mental thing, you’re on your own. Inmates often get more help from each other than they do from those in charge of the institution. And once you get out, if you don’t have good friends or a supportive family, it’s fair to say that the choices you made in the past will be repeated and you’ll end up in jail again.”
He continued, “It’s a vicious cycle – one which is even more difficult to escape for those with physical or mental disabilities. Sadly, if they were given the proper treatment, a lot of them could go on and do something positive with their lives.”
Courtesy photo
Lamont Carey is the director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Photo courtesy Roach Brown Roach Brown hosts “Crossroads,” a weekly radio broadcast, during which he advocates for those currently incarcerated and for returning citizens like himself.
Photo courtesy Courtney Stewart Courtney Stewart dedicated his life to serving young, atrisk Black males after his stint behind bars and has since founded the National Reentry Network.
Photo courtesy James Corbin
James Corbin, a Vietnam War veteran, said a support system is essential once a person is released from prison.
From stigma to power: Empowering those with invisible disabilities in the Black community
By Elijah Qualls AFRO Intern
Individuals with invisible disabilities are everywhere in society, but because of stigmatization of disabilities, people choose not to disclose for fear of being unfairly judged. That choice has effects in various fields such as work, school and even everyday life, especially for Black people who have enough preemptive labels placed on them as it is.
Executive director of the Invisible Disability Association Jess Stainbrook explained to the AFRO that an invisible disability is any disability that may not be physically apparent.
The list is incredibly expansive and includes autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, dyslexia, diabetes, epilepsy and depression, to name a few.
“You’ll hear a lot of people refer to them as hidden disabilities,” Stainbrook said. “Well they’re not hidden. We’re not trying to hide them.”
When people elect not to share about their invisible disabilities, it causes others to conjure their own
presumptions about the disability. It is an infinite cycle that feeds on itself. People don’t talk about it, which causes others to be afraid of it, which discourages more people from talking about it.
“Many individuals do not disclose their epilepsy in the workplace because there is a misunderstanding of what epilepsy is,” said Bernice Martin Lee, CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. “Many people think that because it is a disorder that is abnormal activity in the brain, then it must cause cognitive impairment or intellectual disability and neither are the case. So, therefore, many people living with epilepsy in the African-American community do not disclose.”
Epilepsy is not the only invisible disability to be stamped with a presumption of lower intelligence.
Frank Latham is a member of the National Black Disability Coalition. He grew up with dyslexia and had to battle with labels placed on his cognitive ability.
“I wish individuals with invisible disabilities, in particular, were given
Invisible disabilities can form in a child’s early years and affect them for the rest of their
inclusive and understanding spaces early on will socialize children to accept and welcome each
internal differences.
the benefit of the doubt of presumed competence, and that applies across the disability continuum. That is specifically relevant to individuals of color and even more specifically to African-American individuals,” Latham said. “There is an inherent bias that does not presume competence at the door.”
Martin Lee explained how the Epilepsy Foundation is working to advocate for individuals with
invisible disabilities.
“The counter to stigma is empowerment,” she said. “And that’s why we use the word ‘empowerment’ at the Epilepsy Foundation because when you empower people to talk about their epilepsy, it becomes organic that the stigma is broken down.”
Stainbrook, Martin Lee, and Latham all emphasized the importance of representation and
self-advocacy in different spaces. Whether it is in school or, years down the road, at work, the conver
sations need to be had.
“I don’t look like I’m a person who has a disability,” Latham said. “Oftentimes students are shocked when I share that with them, and I try to share that with all the students that I interact with because I think it’s a valuable opportunity to be able to say ‘I was you.’”
A symbol of safety: How Eric’s ID Law is changing police encounters for people with invisible disabilities
By Victoria Mejicanos
In 2023, Linda Carpenter-Grantham and her son 20-year-old Eric Carpenter-Grantham were having the necessary conversation that all Black families have about what to do if stopped by law enforcement, except there was an extra factor impacting Eric’s safety–his autism.
Although there is no database that captures how many people with disabilities have been killed by police, 2024 was the deadliest year for police violence on record, and Black people are killed at higher rates than any other race or ethnicity. This issue is compounded by the fact that Black people are less likely than White people to be diagnosed as having autism and other learning disabilities, according to a National Institutes of Health report. The combination makes police interactions even more tenuous for Black individuals who aren’t neurotypical.
Eric, who has high functioning autism, realized that some of his friends who have different needs on the neurodivergent spectrum may not be able to interact with the police in the same way he could. The flashing lights, the sounds of the sirens and being touched are all things that can cause sensory overload for individuals with autism and can cause them to panic, which can be dangerous
when interacting with law enforcement.
“So many people with disabilities are getting hurt and harmed and killed out here by law enforcement,” said Eric. “The police are not understanding that this person is not doing [anything] wrong; it’s their disability.”
Out of concern for his friends and others like them, Eric was moved to action. He came up with the idea to put a logo on an ID to show that a person has an invisible disability, such as being hearing impaired or dealing with other mental health struggles. In prayer, as a believer in God, Eric and his mother sought guidance on which logo would best represent people with hidden disabilities.
“I searched up what the butterfly represents, and it actually represents hope, peace, freedom and change,” Eric said. “Then I searched up what colors represent all hidden disabilities, and that’s how the butterfly became a reality.”
As of Oct. 1, 2025, Eric and many others with hidden disabilities across the state will be able to have this designation on their identification cards. Additionally, according to the bill, “The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission in consultation with the department of state police and other interested stakeholders, shall implement training concerning interactions with individuals who have a non-apparent disability notation on their license, identification card, or moped operators permit.”
The victory, however, did not come easy, and could not have happened without the help of local politicians across the state. Both mother and son said that Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, D-District 20, and Del. Kym Taylor, D-District 23, were instrumental in the effort, especially when it came to addressing opposition toward the bill.
Wilkins, who represents the district that the Carpenter-Granthams live in, shared her gratitude and respect for the mother-son duo.
“I was grateful and honored to take on the bill, especially because it truly came from a full idea from constituents,” said Wilkins. “And that’s how our democracy and representation should work, that residents who have a problem, and especially have a solution, that we take it and help advocate for it and bring it to fruition.”
The issue is personal for Del. Taylor, as she has a son with autism. She shared that there were several issues presented by advocacy groups that were addressed.
“They understand the everyday challenges of this population of citizens, so they’re very protective. And that’s understandable and quite frankly it’s applauded,” said Taylor.
Some issues presented were privacy concerns and the rise of insurance rates. Wilkens and Taylor both spoke with the Maryland Insurance Administration and found that insurance rates would not be affected. As far as privacy, the designation is completely voluntary. If someone ever wants to remove the designation they can.
Linda Carpenter-Grantham had also worried that initial opposition to the legislation stemmed from lawmakers, who were not of color, not grasping the urgency of the issue. That is why the perspective of Black legislators proved so important, Taylor said.
“It’s that age old conversation that Black mothers have with the world, that we need to do extra to protect our sons. We have to have conversations that other races do not have to have with their sons. Other races might not feel that same sense of urgency and fear like we would,” she said. “Our voice matters in the conversation because we come from a different perspective.” Overall, the Prince George’s County representative credited the Carpenter-Grantham family for their advocacy, and shared her excitement for the bill to become a national reality. She said, “It’s the magic of Eric and Linda.”
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Courtesy Photo / EmanuelTheLensman
lives. Cultivating
other’s
AFRO Intern
Courtesy of Eric and Linda Carpenter-Grantham
Eric (right) and Linda Carpenter-Grantham appear on ABC Network’s “The View” to speak about Eric’s Law with an eye to taking the initiative nationwide.
Maryland Office of the Governor / Flickr Eric and Linda Carpenter-Grantham presented Gov. Wes Moore with a T-shirt illustrating what ID cards would look like with the butterfly logo subtly indicating invisible disabilities.
Courtesy image
This is a mockup of what ID cards would look like with the butterfly logo subtly indicating invisible disabilities. Law enforcement officials are now being trained on how to address people with invisible disabilities and are supposed to look out for the logo.
An overlooked crisis: Women with disabilities and maternal health inequity
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Black and disabled pregnant women face compounded challenges when bringing a child into the world. They navigate not only racial disparities in maternal care but also systemic barriers against those with disabilities.
“Black mothers face disproportionately high rates of maternal death and complications, not because of personal choices but because of racism embedded in our health systems,” said Kavelle Christie, a health policy expert. “Their pain is often minimized. Their concerns are more likely to be dismissed. Even when they do everything ‘right,’ outcomes are worse.”
According to a large-scale analysis by the National Institutes of Health, women with physical, sensory or intellectual disabilities faced much higher rates of birthing complica-
“Black
her experience being pregnant while disabled, shedding a light on the unique struggles women in her position face, the gaps in care and support and how they push forward with resilience.
Lovejoy shared that she suffers chronic migraines. Throughout a series of health episodes—including numbness, weakness and exhaustion following childbirth—she was repeatedly dismissed by doctors who prescribed antidepressants rather than investigating her symptoms.
“My first child was born in 2000 and immediately after, I lost sensation in my hands and was beyond tired,” said Lovejoy via the Disability Visibility Project. “I slumped and schlepped into parenthood with fingers that didn’t work. My hands didn’t feel heat. I burned my baby’s bottom. I freaked out, but my general practitioner and obstetrician said, ‘You’re just scared of your kid. Take some
mothers face disproportionately high rates of maternal death and complications, not because of personal choices but because of racism embedded in our health systems.”
tions compared to those without them. Women with disabilities faced 11 times the risk for maternal death, a 27 percent higher risk for hemorrhage and four times the risk for cardiovascular events such as a heart attack.
Black mothers faced a mortality rate of 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births—more than three times the rate for White women, 14.5, and much higher than Hispanics, 12.4, and Asians, 10.7, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System in 2023.
Rachel Lovejoy, a disability advocate and community activist from Minnesota, shared
happy pills.’”
Lovejoy shared how she also felt isolated within her community and the places where she got her medical care because she was the mother of biracial children and a Black woman.
During her second birth, the anesthesiologist refused to give her an epidural saying she was “too fat” for it. She ended up hemorrhaging.
“I spent 4.5 hours in pain, blacking out and being harassed by a night nurse who said my behavior was exaggerated,” she said. “I had to petition for medical care. My hands were more numb than before and then my feet followed suit. Even though my list of symptoms seemed
to be mounting, I left the hospital to care for my newborn and 15-month-old.”
After a long battle of advocating for herself within the healthcare system, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004. She later learned she also had heart murmurs, leukemia, endometriosis and uterine fibroids— compounding her health struggles as both a patient and a mother.
Inspired by her experiences, Lovejoy became a disability advocate, working to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities.
Brooke Shapiro, chief mom officer at Sprinkles Parents, a solutions platform for families with kids under 5 years old, highlighted three critical challenges Black mothers often face when it comes to navigating the healthcare system during pregnancy: medical gaslighting, disparities in access to care and financial burdens.
“Many Black mothers report their pain and symptoms being dismissed. Every mother deserves to be heard,” said Shapiro. “Advocacy—whether self-advocacy or support from a doula or partner—is essential.”
Shapiro recognized that not all families have access to or can afford the newest, safest baby products or high-end care.
A study by Rebecca A. Gourevitch, of the University of Maryland School of Public Health, and colleagues found that Black women paid the highest out-of-pocket costs for pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, averaging about $2,398. Hispanic women followed with $2,300, Asian women with $2,202, and White women with $2,036.
“That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t receive safe, quality resources,” said Shapiro. “Community donations and safety education are key.”
Christie shared a word of encouragement for Black mothers and their support network.
“These systems were not built with Black mothers in mind, so we have to show up with urgency and clarity,” said Christie.
But she didn’t put the weight of this change on mothers and their supporters, she put it on politicians.
Licensed but locked out: Why Vilissa Thompson built her own path in disability advocacy
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer
Before dedicating her life to disability justice, Vilissa Thompson had dreams of becoming a therapist with her own private practice. But, when she finished graduate school with a master’s degree in social work, she realized the job market was not accessible to her.
Thompson, a licensed master social worker (LMSW), was born with osteogenesis imperfecta— a rare genetic condition, also known as brittle bone disease, that causes bones to break easily. She often uses a wheelchair to get around. With home visits being a central part of social work, she quickly realized that navigating clients’ homes— many of which aren’t wheelchair accessible— would be nearly impossible. Thompson knew she would need to get creative with her career trajectory.
Today, she is the founder of Ramp Your Voice, a disability rights consultation and advocacy organization that has a special focus on empowering Black women and femmes with disabilities. The AFRO spoke with Thompson about the inspiration behind Ramp Your Voice, the gaps it seeks to fill and how she envisions political and social inclusion.
AFRO: When you founded Ramp Your Voice, what needs were you looking to address in the Black disability community?
Vilissa Thompson: There was definitely a gap in Black, disabled women and femmes trying to find other people who could understand their experiences. It’s one thing to be disabled and connect that way. But, when you’re Black, a woman or queer, there’s nuances in those identities that are very important to cover. You want to be able to connect with people on those nuances—people who you don’t have to explain them to.
It’s like, if you know, you know. It’s similar to when Black people see something funny going on, and we kind of give each other “the look.” It’s a communal connection in a way, and that’s
what I wanted to provide with my work. I wanted to create a space as a Black disabled woman for other Black disabled women and femmes who are either starting their disability journey or may have been disabled their whole lives and want a space for themselves.
AFRO: What programs, initiatives or events have you organized to further the mission of Ramp Your Voice?
VT: Last year in June, we held the inaugural Ramp Your Voice Conference, a virtual event that centers the identities and experiences of disabled Black people who are not cisgender, heterosexual men. It was a beautiful gathering. As of July 2025, I am actually getting the conference team back together so we can hold it again in 2026. I want to have the conference every other year because it’s a lot of planning, and I want to make sure it’s sustainable for my team and me.
I am also working on launching a pilot program for disabled college students of color, particularly for those who are about to graduate in the fall. As someone who graduated from college and had to find out on their own that my employment experience would be looking different from others, I think it’d be nice to hold space for disabled college students to talk about what life will be like post-undergrad—whether it’s going to graduate school, going to work or another path.
A lot of my work going forward is going to center young adults because it’s a tricky age. You’re an adult, but you’re still trying to figure out what to do with your life. If you’re disabled on top of that, there’s a lot of things that come with navigating systems or figuring out accessibility.
AFRO: What are some of the misconceptions that able-bodied people have about the disability community?
VT: One is this whole idea of disabilities being an unfortunate experience. It’s interesting how that mentality spreads. For example, I know a lot of people across racial lines have experienced hurt by the church due to ableism. I never had that experience, but I learned about them when I got into this work.
“Black maternal health outcomes will not improve without policies that address racial bias in medical education, expand access to Black-led maternal care models and hold systems accountable,” said Christie. “This is not just about bedside behavior. It is about structural reform.”
States such as Maryland are taking some of those steps in their legislatures.
“Black maternal health, we work to ensure that our birthing hospitals are held accountable, that their outcomes for Black women are transparent, and that they must have specific follow-up with high-risk women,” said Maryland Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Md.-20), chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.
In recent years, the Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation requiring hospitals to adopt policies that allow at least one doula during birth, mandate transparency, ensure continued funding for maternal health programs, and require prenatal risk assessments along with postpartum referral forms within 24 to 48 hours of discharge.
It’s this warped thought process that makes them feel like they need to save people who are different from them in order to make them “good.”
I don’t need to be saved. What I need as a disabled person is wheelchair ramps, appropriate curb cuts and affordable, reliable transportation options. Seeing me as a disabled person, particularly as somebody who has a very visible disability, your first reaction shouldn’t be pity. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me because I’m disabled.
People need to think about the unconscious biases they carry when they see people who have an experience that’s different from them. They don’t interrogate that enough or really at all, and we’re living in this time where we’re seeing how fearful people are of difference.
It feels like there’s a social and political regression of accepting people. We need to do more than tolerate people—we need to accept people for who they are, and we need to interrogate our own prejudices that may come out in ways we don’t intend. A lot of people are unaware as to how deep ableism runs in our culture—from our religion, to our media to the words we use every day.
AFRO: What does true inclusion look like to you politically and socially?
VT: Politically, we need to understand that disability is a part of every societal issue we have. For example, cuts to Medicaid are obviously a disability issue. Medicaid is a lifeline. It fills in the gap for people who either earn too little or don’t earn anything at all.
I know that my life would be totally different if my grandmother didn’t have Medicaid. She didn’t have the money for the physical therapies that I needed. My health would have been very different if reductions and eliminations like we’re seeing today took place.
Socially, we need to understand that we are all connected. People need to start having more empathy and calling out people who don’t show it. There’s a lot of cruelty that we’re seeing with the elimination and reduction of services and aid to people with disabilities. We have to hold our politicians accountable. We need to be calling them
and showing up to every town hall
Photo courtesy of Rachel Lovejoy
Rachel Lovejoy advocates nationwide for people with disabilities, drawing inspiration from her own experiences with medical dismissal and pregnancy complications.
Photo courtesy of Vilissa Thompson Vilissa Thompson is the founder of Ramp Your Voice, an organization promoting self-advocacy and empowerment for Black women and femmes with disabilities.
Left out twice: Shawn Callaway fights for inclusion at the crossroads of race and disability
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
As a sophomore at South Carolina State University, Shawn Callaway’s life changed in an instant when a stray bullet—accidentally fired by a fellow student playing with a gun—struck him in the temple and left him blind.
The accident led him to rethink his future, leading him to believe that becoming a parent was no longer possible. But, after attending a meeting with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), he saw blind parents thriving and realized his aspiration was still possible.
Today, Callaway serves as president of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders, a division within the NFB. Established to address the unique challenges and compounded exclusion experienced by Black blind Americans, the organization has become a vehicle for awareness and advocacy.
The AFRO spoke with Callaway about the organization’s origins, the misconceptions Black blind people face within their own communities and his efforts to advance inclusion.
AFRO: What prompted the launch of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders division within the National Federation of the Blind, and what gaps were you trying to fill?
Shawn Callaway: We started off in 2018 as a committee called Black Leaders Serving for Advancement. The ultimate goal was to bring awareness to Black people within the blindness community and make inclusive spaces for us within the blindness community. But, then a couple of things happened.
George Floyd was murdered, and there were all of these discussions and town halls about how Black people needed to be treated better in the community.
However, when these discussions were had, there were no blind people or people with disabilities at the table. We felt marginalized by our own people. We wanted to transform that by raising awareness. In 2022, we started the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders. Within our organization, we also reach out to and recruit the Black members of the National Federation of the Blind. Then, what we do is discuss issues that affect us as Black people within the blindness community.
AFRO: What are some of the common biases that Black people in the blindness community face?
SC: It’s always assumptions about our capability. For example, in the Black church there’s been countless discussions on how we can be inclusive in the church. They tell us we have the ability to serve God by participating in different ministries, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received calls from a blind person who says a ministry is apprehensive about them joining. They don’t think the person can be a part of the
kitchen ministry and cut vegetables or be an usher because they’re blind.
This also extends to the dating realm. I’ve been married for 20 years now, but prior to that it was hard. I would meet a young lady, and next thing I know she would tell her parents about me and they would question why she was dating a blind man. These are Black people telling their daughters don’t date that blind man because you might have to take care of him or do things for him.
Another example is “The Breakfast Club,” which is a wildly popular show, questioning the ability of a blind person to take care of a child or be a caregiver. They made fun of us, and I’ll never forget it. What hurt the most is that Charlamagne said he didn’t believe that blind people should be watching children, but he would be willing to learn how they can. But, when we reached out, “The Breakfast Club” never responded. Simply put, it’s like you’re being marginalized by marginalized people. We don’t have a voice.
AFRO: What are the core values and goals that drive the work of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders today?
SC: The main thing we preach is information and awareness. We have several groups and committees, including a women’s group, men’s group; seniors’ group, mentor and outreach group, Black elected leaders group, historically Black college and university (HBCU) committee and health and wellness committee. We use them to discuss and bring awareness to the things that may plague us in our community. We also bring in outstanding speakers that cover different topics within
those groups. It’s not all doom and gloom.
We’ve had Haben Girma, the first deafblind lawyer to graduate from Harvard University, present in the women’s group to show them what success can look like as a blind, Black woman. The National Federation of the Blind also just had its convention in New Orleans, and we invited a representative from the National Council of Negro Women to come to our meeting.
We’re trying to make inroads with major organizations, like the NAACP, National Urban League and others, to say we’re here and we would like a seat at the table as well.
AFRO: What programs, events or initiatives have you held to further the mission of the organization?
SC: We conduct several different Zoom programs every month where we have special guest speakers. We talk about health issues, dating, employment, independent skills training, mental health and more. We also mentor people who are newly blind. We try to provide guidance because they are around people in their families who don’t know anything about blindness, and that can put them in a position of dependency.
One of the things we are preparing to do is raise funds for scholarships for blind, Black students. The National Federation of the Blind, as a whole, is also working hard to establish a museum for the blind people’s movement. It would be located in Baltimore, and it would tell the stories of blind people throughout history.
For more information about the National Federation of the Blind and National Organization of Blind
Black Leaders, visit: www.nfb.org.
Photo by Thirdman/ Pexels
The National Organization of Blind Black Leaders mentors people who are newly blind, is raising money to create scholarships for blind, Black students and holds frequent workshops discussing issues such as physical and mental health, dating, employment, independent skills training and other programs.
Courtesy photo
Blinded by a stray bullet in college, Shawn Callaway once believed fatherhood—and a full life—were out of reach. Now, as president of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders, he’s fighting to dismantle the stigma at the intersection of race and disability.
Raising Adam: From diagnosis to empowerment
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
Raising a child with a disability often comes with challenges, but for many families, it also brings unexpected joy, strength and a deeper sense of purpose.
Across the country, families like the Forbes of Prince George’s County, Md., are embracing the journey, finding pride not only in their child’s progress but in their own growth as advocates, caregivers and champions of inclusion. Al and Denise Forbes say raising their 5-year-old son Adam, who has
autism, has reshaped how they see the world and filled their lives with pride and purpose.
“You don’t realize what you take for granted until you wait almost four years to hear your child say ‘Mama,’” said Denise. “That was one of the greatest joys of my life.”
Adam was diagnosed with autism at age 2, after early signs such as lack of eye contact and delayed speech. Since then, the couple—who have been married since 2007 and have three sons— have committed to early intervention, therapy and constant encouragement.
“Adam is incredibly resilient,” said Al. “Every time we’re nervous about a new environment, he adapts better than we expect. He always surprises us.”
The couple said their pride stems not only from Adam’s milestones, but from who he is—a bright, curious child with a passion for cars and an exceptional memory.
with autism is different. We’ve learned to approach people with more understanding.”
Kimaria Wentz, a registered behavior technician ( RBT), certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) and med aid (MA) among other qualifications, works with children on the autism spectrum and says watching a child progress and empowering families to be part of that process is at the heart of her work.
“It’s very exciting and rewarding being there with the parents and showing them it’s possible to go from one step to the next, and teaching them how to do it too,” Wentz said. “I love the work.”
She adds that meaningful progress requires teamwork across a child’s entire support system.
“This kind of therapy isn’t just for specialists,” she said. “It’s meant to include everyone — parents, caregivers, all the stakeholders in a child’s life.”
“Adam changed our entire outlook on life—how we see ourselves, other families, and the world.”
“I can show him a word one time and he’ll remember it,” Denise said. “That’s one of his little superpowers.”
The diagnosis changed more than their parenting style—it changed their perspective.
“Adam changed our entire outlook on life—how we see ourselves, other families, and the world,” said Denise. “It’s made us more empathetic.” Al added, “It doesn’t cost anything to be kind. Everyone’s experience
Early intervention was a critical step for the Forbes family. Denise credits a friend who encouraged her to get Adam evaluated after noticing early signs.
“I don’t define Adam by his diagnosis,” she said. “He is so much more, and I’m proud we took the steps early to help him be his best self.”
Though the family has kept Adam’s diagnosis private until now, they believe sharing their story can help others.
“When you share your story, you empower another parent to take action,” said Denise. “It creates community.” Al emphasized the importance of preparation and support.
“Our job is to prepare him to take care of himself, even when we’re no longer here,” he said. “This journey is challenging, but it’s rewarding. Seeing growth and progress after all the effort—that’s what makes it worth it.”
Photo courtesy Denise Forbes Adam Forbes is a 5-year-old that has been diagnosed with autism, but early intervention has seen him making major strides in development.
Photo courtesy Denise Forbes
The Forbes family doesn’t define Adam, 5, by his autism diagnosis, and his impact on their family has changed them all for the better. Seen here from back left: Al Forbes and Trey Forbes; middle left: Denise Forbes and Aiden Forbes; and front: Adam Forbes.
AFRO NEWS
The endgame behind the MLK Files — erase
the
By Frances Murphy Draper AFRO Publisher
Let’s call this what it is.
The sudden release of over 230,000 pages of FBI files on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—two years ahead of schedule—is not about transparency. It’s a calculated, racially motivated campaign to tarnish the legacy of one of America’s greatest moral leaders. Discredit the man. Discredit the movement. Then—discredit the holiday.
This latest move unfolds amid a broader reactionary wave: voter suppression, book bans, attacks on civil rights—all aimed at rewriting history. Dr. King, the moral backbone of nonviolent protest, is the latest target. First comes character assassination via selective FBI leaks; next comes “debate” over whether he deserves a day on the federal calendar.
Let’s talk timing—or rather, twisted purpose. Charlie Kirk, a far-right activist and founder of Turning Point USA, recently declared, “MLK was awful … not a good person.” His real issue? That King helped usher in the Civil Rights Act of 1964—a law Kirk now calls “a huge mistake.”
Other right-wing voices
man, then erase the holiday
Beloved ‘Cosby Show’ star MalcolmJamal Warner dies tragically at 54
Fans mourn cultural icon
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
Fans shared glowing testimonies on social media on July 21, as news quickly spread about the tragic death of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who reportedly died in a drowning accident while on a family vacation in Costa Rica.
Warner, 54, became a fan favorite among Americans of all economic and racial backgrounds because of his unique portrayal of Theo Huxtable on the hit sitcom, “The Cosby Show,” which debuted in 1984.
suggest replacing MLK Day with Juneteenth, calling him “heinous” and using long-debunked allegations to justify erasing him from memory. These aren’t just fringe opinions—they’re test balloons. Once public trust frays, the question becomes: Why honor him at all?
We have a stark warning from Fort Gregg-Adams, recently renamed back to Fort Lee. The base, once named for a Confederate general, was renamed in 2023 to honor two distinguished
AP Photo
Attorney Ben Crump (left), stands beside Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, and Kenneth Walker, Taylor’s boyfriend, outside the federal courthouse calling the sentencing of an officer involved in Taylor’s death “a start,” though it remains uncertain whether true justice was served for Breonna.
Black military heroes: Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, commander of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion. Two years later, the base was renamed again—this time after Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Buffalo soldier. A symbolic walk-back dressed in careful language but make no mistake: it was a retreat.
A retreat from reckoning with history. A retreat from centering Black excellence. A retreat that reeks of political calculation.
The same playbook applies
elsewhere. Take the recent removal of Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress.
The first Black and first female appointee to the post, Dr. Hayden is an esteemed champion of access, literacy and the preservation of marginalized voices. Yet, in a sudden and unexplained move, her leadership was pushed aside under pressure from those who claimed her stewardship was “too political”—code, in many circles,
After the television industry finally began to showcase stories about Black life featuring Black actors, including the groundbreaking “Julia,” in 1968, audiences became more vocal with demands for shows that represented a greater breadth of perspectives on African-American life.
Iconic shows would emerge portraying Black families, albeit with varying themes, from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Good Times,” to “The Jeffersons,” “Sanford and Son,” and “Family Matters.” But none reached the popularity of “The Cosby Show,” which featured a unique and unprecedented view of Black family life: a household in which two parents resided, both of whom were college graduates and professionals in their roles as a physician and an attorney.
‘3 by 30’ aims to create 3 million Black homeowners—but barriers persist
By DaQuan Lawrence AFRO International Writer DLawrence@afro.com
Black homebuyers are 1.7 times more likely to be denied a mortgage than all other racial groups in the nation, according to a recent study by LendingTree. Considering the historical trend of housing disenfranchisement and disproportionate racial homeownership, the AFRO spoke with policy experts about the implications of the phenomenon, ways to mitigate the situation as well as strategies for future homebuyers.
factors driving the disparities, Nikitra Bailey, executive vice president of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), told the AFRO
“However, we are not yet on track to fully meet our goal by 2030 without accelerated action and policy reinforcement.”
the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.
By Joseph Williams Word In Black
In 2024, when a federal jury convicted a former Louisville cop for his role in the botched raid that killed Breonna Taylor, he faced life behind bars. But last week, the Department of Justice — under new leadership hand-picked by President Donald Trump — argued that the defendant is carrying a heavy “emotional burden” and shouldn’t serve more than a day. On July 21, a federal judge said no. In a sharp rebuke of the revamped DOJ, Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings ruled that
Brett Hankinson — the only officer involved in the raid to answer for Taylor’s death, even though he didn’t shoot her — should spend almost three years in a federal prison. Saying she was “troubled” by the department’s argument for leniency, Jennings imposed the sentence against Hankinson, 49, during an afternoon hearing in Louisville U.S. District Court. Jennings said the one-day sentence prosecutors wanted “is not appropriate,” it minimizes the jury’s verdict, and that it was startling Hankison’s
Based on U.S. Census figures, in 2020, the share of national homeownership varied by racial or ethnic group, with Black Americans comprising 7.9 percent, Hispanic Americans comprising 10.5 percent and Asian Americans representing 4.7 percent, compared to White Americans, who represented 73.1 percent of homeownership.
In October 2024, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development released “Separate and Unequal Neighborhoods: A Baseline Report” which reported homeownership by race during 2020. The rate of African Americans homeownership was 52.6 percent, compared to 55 percent for Hispanic Americans and 78.5 percent of White Americans, respectively.
“Everything [from] redlining, exclusionary zoning laws, contracts for deeds, appraisal bias, discriminatory credit scoring and risk-based pricing systems to modern-day algorithmic bias, and more” are among the
At the beginning of the decade, Washington, D.C.’s homeownership rate for Black households stood at 34 percent, compared to the 49 percent rate for White households, according to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development in the District. To address the homeownership disparity in the nation’s capital, Mayor Muriel Bower announced a $10 million investment to increase Black homeownership and implemented a Black Homeownership Strike Force with a goal of creating 20,000 Black homeowners in D.C. by 2030.
While Bowser and other municipal and national leaders in the public sector continue efforts to close the gap in homeownership, public policy experts and advocates are working across public, private and civil society to reduce housing inequalities. The Black Homeownership Collaborative consists of partners from various sectors who are working to create new homeowners.
“The Black Homeownership Collaborative is driven by the ‘3 by 30’ campaign, which has made measurable progress and is considered a promising and impactful initiative,” Cy Richardson, senior vice president for programs at the National Urban League (NUL), told the AFRO
“We seek to generate 3 million net new Black homeowners by 2030,” Richardson said.
3 by 30 is a product of collaborators such as the NFHA, NUL and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as well as the Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association for Realtors, National Housing Conference and
‘State
“As one of the founding members of the collaborative, NFHA views the ‘3 by 30’ initiative as both a call to action and a coordinated policy and industry response to generations of exclusion,” Bailey told the AFRO. “That said, the road to
of Emergency’
AP Photo/Jack Thornell, File
The Rev. Ralph Abernathy, right, and Bishop Julian Smith, left, flank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during a civil rights march in Memphis, Tenn., March 28, 1968. Dr. King’s children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, have publicly condemned the release of FBI files tied to their father’s assassination, citing privacy concerns and historical misuse of government surveillance.
AP Photo/ Jordan Strauss Fans flood social media with tributes following news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s tragic death while on vacation in Costa Rica.
Enoch Pratt announces construction of Park Heights library branch
By Kendra Bryant AFRO Intern kbryant@afro.com
The Enoch Pratt Free Library has announced plans to begin construction on a new Park Heights branch this summer.
“The Park Heights Library will be the first new library branch built by the Enoch Pratt Free Library system in more than 15 years,” said Chad Helton, president and CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. “This brand new construction will bring critical resources to the community that hasn’t had a dedicated library since 1991.”
The new branch will provide
Protesters defend Marilyn Mosby amid reported complaint by Baltimore State’s Attorney
By Tavon N. Thomasson AFRO Intern tthomasson@afro.com
Supporters of former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby gathered outside the State’s Attorney’s Office on July 18, condemning what they believe to be a political effort to discredit her and strip Mosby of her law license.
Demonstrators said the protest was organized in response to Mosby’s recent public claim that current State’s Attorney Ivan Bates filed a formal complaint with the Attorney Grievance Commission, concerning her involvement in the Adnan Syed case.
“That’s why I was down there, to expose this stuff,” said Tyrone W. Bost, one of the protest organizers and a member of the grassroots group Committee to Free Marilyn Mosby. “All this stuff filed to the Attorney Grievance [Commission], it’s nothing more than an attempt to make her look bad when they go to try to take her law license.”
According to an executive summary released by the State’s Attorney Office, Mosby’s administration filed a motion in 2022 to vacate Adnan Syed’s conviction in the 1999 killing of Hae Min Lee, citing issues such as the
suppression of information about other possible suspects and doubts about the reliability of key trial evidence. While the state did not declare Syed innocent, it argued that the fairness of the original trial had been compromised and that Syed should be granted a new one. A judge agreed, vacating the conviction based on what the court described as significant flaws in how the case had been prosecuted. That decision–once hailed by Mosby’s supporters as a landmark moment–has since been walked back by her successor.
Walter P. Carter Institute launches civic leadership program to empower Baltimore’s future changemakers
By Megan Sayles
Staff Writer
The Walter P. Carter (WPC) Institute of Leadership and Service, created by former Maryland State Sen. Jill P. Carter, has launched its first major initiative, the Community Leadership and Empowerment Program (CLEP). The free 10-week civic education and leadership development course was designed to foster Baltimore’s next generation of changemakers.
Carter collaborated with Aaron Maybin, local educator, community organizer and former NFL player, and Kristerfer Burnett, deputy chief equity officer for the city of Baltimore, to establish the program. She noted that the initiative honors the legacy of her father, Walter P. Carter, for whom the institute is named.
“CLEP is deeply personal for me. It reflects the principle of self-determination that my father believed in. Walter P. Carter was ‘Mr. Civil Rights’ because he lived his purpose in organizing, educating and mobilizing people to lead themselves,” said Carter. “He knew change would never come from the top, so he worked to build it from the ground up—from the grassroots in our communities.”
Walter P. Carter was a civil rights legend in Maryland— coordinating residents for the 1963 March on Washington, chairing the Congress of Racial Equality’s local chapter and leading demonstrations to eliminate segregation in the state.
Carter was only 7 years old when her father died. She said even at such a young age, she knew he dedicated his life to fighting for justice. She’s taken on this calling and hopes to advance it with CLEP.
“CLEP carries his mission forward. It gives people real tools and knowledge to step into leadership, challenge injustice and serve their communities,” said Carter. “It’s about making sure that the people closest to the problems are also closest to the solutions. That’s what he believed in, and it’s what I believe in too.”
The application for CLEP is now open. It includes a few components, including a personal essay, three letters of
recommendation and résumé. The program is open to individuals who are 21 and older, or at least a junior in college. There is also a special emphasis on reaching individuals from marginalized communities, who are often denied equal access to civic education and leadership development opportunities. The deadline to apply is Aug. 8.
“CLEP is about removing the gatekeeping that has kept so many capable leaders out
of public service,” said Aaron Maybin. “We want to equip everyday people with the knowledge and skills to lead with purpose and without
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library reveals the main entrance and outdoor seating area of the new Park Heights Branch.
The 18,000-square-foot building is set to open in 2027 and will offer books, technology access and community programming.
AP Photo Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates has filed a grievance complaint against former Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby related to the Adnan Syed case.
Photo by Stephen Jones
Maybin (left), local educator, community organizer and former NFL player; former Maryland State Sen. Jill P. Carter; and Kristerfer Burnett, deputy chief equity officer for the city of Baltimore
Orioles go all in on Harlem Park school, setting the bar for MLB community outreach
By Ali Halloum AFRO Intern ahalloum@afro.com
“I’ve never worked somewhere where everyone on staff, from the highest levels of the organization to the brand new interns here, from the general manager to the newest player coming on, understands and knows the work that we’re doing in the community, and they are an active participant in the work.”
Baltimore Orioles’ executive vice president of public affairs Kerry Watson said this in an interview with the AFRO, during which he shared that their community service efforts – centered on their campaign to aid Harlem Park Elementary and Middle School in West Baltimore – have the direct attention and involvement of the entire Orioles organization.
The effort is part of Major League Baseball’s Adopt-A-School initiative. While all 30 MLB organizations engage in this campaign, they tend to change schools every year, while the Orioles have homed in on Harlem Park. Harlem Park is no stranger to redlining, disinvestment and neglect over the decades, a point not lost on Watson. He believes that
Mosby
In a Feb. 25 press release, Bates announced his office had withdrawn the motion to vacate Syed’s conviction filed by Mosby’s administration. The previous motion, he stated, contained “false and misleading statements that undermine the integrity of the judicial process.”
Bost said the group wants to ensure that decisions involving Mosby and the Syed case are made transparently and with public accountability.
“Before he went to office, he campaigned that he was going to let Adnan Syed go, exonerate him on the spot and now you’re changing your mind,” said Bost regarding Bates. “The whole thing just stinks. We are not going to give him the privacy to do this stuff behind closed doors.”
The AFRO reached out to the State’s Attorney’s Office for further comment regarding the complaint. A representative responded, “Filings are confidential, and we cannot comment.”
as a brand with recognition in the city, the Orioles organization must do what it can to uplift the community.
“The government in the early 1900s created this disparity, and so this community in West Baltimore has suffered,” Watson said.
“We have a responsibility to be as impactful as possible, to change for the better communities within the city, and hopefully we set an example for other companies, businesses, organizations [and] sports franchises.”
With the recent ruling by the United States Supreme Court allowing the 47th president’s termination of Department of Education employees, as well as plans to eventually dismantle the agency as a whole, efforts such as those undertaken by the Orioles become lifelines for schools like Harlem Park.
The Orioles organization has, in its adoption of Harlem Park, given gift cards to teachers to purchase school supplies for their classrooms, and invited students and staff to Friday night games, where the team wears its City Connect jerseys and paints the name of the school on the mound.
Pre- and postgame reporter for Mid-Atlantic Sports Network Rob Long has also played a role in these efforts. The West
Through Major League Baseball’s Adopt-A-School program, the Orioles is making a long-term commitment to Harlem Park Elementary and Middle School, providing resources, mentorship and visibility to a historically underserved community.
Baltimore native told the AFRO that the organization Orioles and Harlem Park principal Venus Jackson have done great work on this campaign.
According to Long, the buy-in also extends to the players on the team. When catcher James McCann was an Oriole last season, he hosted baseball camps at Harlem Park, conducting drills used at the major league level and guiding kids throughout the process.
On the current squad, All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and third baseman Jordan Westburg spend time with students and staff when they come to the ballpark. Players have donated their playoff share from the 2024 postseason to the school, funding which was allocated to the construction of a new classroom.
“The players actually go over to and acknowledge them, and talk to them, have real
Photos courtesy of
Tyrone W. Bost, a member of the Committee to Free Marilyn Mosby, joins other demonstrators outside the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office on July 18, holding signs that protest what they describe as an unfair grievance targeting Mosby and her former deputy Becky Feldman.
“That’s why I was down there, to expose this stuff. All this stuff filed to the Attorney Grievance [Commission], it’s nothing more than an attempt to make her look bad when they go to try to take her law license.”
Park Heights library branch
long-overdue free access to technology, books and educational support for residents of Park Heights, a historically Black neighborhood in West Baltimore.
“This project is about more than just a building, it’s about access and equity,” said Helton. “We believe libraries are cornerstones of strong communities, and this branch will help open doors for generations to come.”
The library is a part of the city’s Park Heights Main Street District Initiative, led by Mayor Brandon M. Scott. According to the mayor’s official website, “The program is a city-wide effort to revitalize neighborhood economies and support business and community development.”
The 18,000-square-foot building will include a children’s reading room, multi-purpose assembly space, books, comfortable study areas, public access computers, Wi-Fi and computer training.
The initiative will also include several new additions, including a park, pavilion and new residential units built by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP).
“With the new amenities to a growing neighborhood, we want to provide as much as we can so that folks can enjoy their neighborhood,” said Katherine Brower, design planner with BCRP’s Capital Division.
Brower has worked on the project since 2019. “For the past 15 years, we’ve been working to expand the area as a part of the neighborhood plan that was created by the
“We want to equip everyday people with the knowledge and skills to lead with purpose and without compromise.”
Baltimore City Department of Planning. The idea has always been to build along Park Heights to Woodland Avenue, ” said Brower.
“During this same time, the library was looking for a site to create a new branch.”
The library will be located at the corner of Park Heights and Woodland avenues, within walking distance of the CC Jackson Recreation Center and local schools.
“With the library so close to the schools, the kids can go to the library easily,” said Brower.
And she added, “As new residency is built, there will be more Black homeowners. And the fact that there are going to be residents right near the new additions is fantastic.”
Helton emphasized the library system’s commitment to community involvement as the project begins. “As the design and construction process moves forward, we’ll continue engaging residents to ensure the new branch reflects their needs and priorities,” he said.
Funding for the project includes the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the Pratt Library’s private fundraising efforts, and the Pimlico Local Impact Aid. Baltimore City Board of Estimates also approved approximately $18.6 million for the project.
“The Pratt Library raised $6 million in
conversations with them,” Long said. “That’s what gets me: not just baseball conversations, but just real conversation with them. They’re very familiar with the children.”
According to Watson, the extent of the Orioles’ community outreach does not stop at Harlem Park. In fact, their other programs extend to assistance for state and federal employees, veterans, first responders, women of color in the inner city and sickle cell anemia awareness drives.
“Those kids have to go home and still have the challenges that exist in the community, so you have to essentially adopt an entire community,” Watson said. “ [We] listen to the residents, listen to the teachers, listen to the principal, listen to the staff about what the needs are, and what we do is the very best we can to provide those resources to give the kids in that school an opportunity to thrive.”
engagement in Maryland, including grassroots organizing, public service, issue advocacy and legislative literacy. It was also intentionally designed to be nonpartisan as national politics become more divisive.
“It’s not about pushing an agenda. It’s about making sure people understand how the government works, how laws are made and how to navigate systems that too often feel out of reach,” said Carter. “You don’t have to be a politician to make change. You need access to information and someone willing to break it down without judgment.”
Though the founders expect that some participants will go on to run for public office, churning out new political candidates is not the ultimate goal of CLEP. Instead, the top priority is to instill in participants a sense of integrity, accountability and a desire to better serve their communities.
“For me, this work didn’t stop when I left elected office,” said Burnett, a former Baltimore councilman. “CLEP is about building a bench of future leaders who are confident, informed and rooted in something bigger than politics.”
private donations, including the largest single gift in the Library’s history from philanthropists Rheda Becker and Bob Meyerhoff,” said Helton.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Aug. 27 at the site of the new location.
Where Everyone Belongs
THIS FALL! This vibrant new mixed-income community fosters social connection among neighbors and engagement with the wider community. Patuxent Commons is a place where people of all ages and abilities can live, thrive and connect.
Photo courtesy of Orioles
Tyrone W. Bost
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WASHINGTON-AREA
John Lewis’ spirit lives on in ‘Good Trouble’ rallies in D.C., other cities
Protestors use events to condemn White House administration
By Ashleigh Fields Special to the AFRO
afields@afro.com
Protestors across the country gathered on July 17 for a national day of action in honor of late Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.). Organizers from the “Good Trouble Lives On” movement arranged demonstrations in the District, Arlington and Fairfax, Va., among 1,600 broader community efforts.
This year marked the fifth annual John Lewis National Day of Action, which has taken place on July 17 each year since Lewis died in 2020.
“At events, local leaders, elected officials, activists, and community members will respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people,” leaders wrote in a statement.
“In memory of former
Rare Essence,
“John Lewis didn’t wait for permission to demand change — and neither will we.”
Congressman Lewis, event participants will take to the streets, courthouses and community spaces to carry forward his fight for justice, voting rights and dignity for all,” they added.
The organization said protests were held to demand an end to the Trump administration’s “extreme crackdown
D.C.’s legendary go-go band, proves they still have the magic touch
By D. Kevin McNeir Special
to the AFRO kmcneir@afro.com
Rare Essence, Washington, D.C.’s iconic go-go band, has performed to the delight of its ever-growing fanbase for more than four decades. Now considered a D.C. institution, the band has secured a throng of supporters which today represents multiple generations and ethnic groups.
It all began back in 1976, when the fledgling band quickly attracted a small but devoted cadre of fans who were drawn to the indigenous funk sound first created by musical wizards like Chuck Brown, often referred to as the “Godfather of Go-Go.” And make no mistake–gogo still rules in the District and the wider metropolitan area as was evident on July 20, when Rare Essence appeared before a full house for an evening funk fest at The Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse in the city.
As always, they delivered what their fans have long come to expect – a foot-stomping, finger-popping, musical interlude of their best-loved songs and instrumental creations that kept fans on their feet until the last beat of the drums reverberated on the venue’s rooftop. Years ago, rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh, who often col-
Darryll Brooks, a highly respected concert promoter, businessman, and a D.C. legend himself with a career that spans more than five decades, was instrumental in the development of Rare Essence and other go-go groups back in the ‘70s.
While some may be unaware of Brooks’ significance in the band’s development,
on our civil rights – from our right to vote to our right to protest and speak freely,” immigration enforcement policies and plans to cut Medicaid, food stamps, and Social Security benefits.
“John Lewis didn’t wait for permission to demand
PROTECTING MOSES AFRICAN CEMETERY:
Residents return to court to safeguard the remains of Bethesda’s historic Black community
By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com
For years, current and former residents of the Westbard community along River Road in Bethesda, Md., have insisted that remains of their Black ancestors have been defiled before their eyes.
They say Black corpses have been paved over, dug up and removed from the common law burial site known as the Moses African Cemetery for years. While residents were hoping for help to arrive sooner, they have done what others in Louisiana, Georgia and Florida had to do–go to court to protect the basic rights of their deceased loved ones.
On Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, descendants and supporters of Moses African Cemetery will return to Montgomery Circuit Court, seeking accountability from county authorities regarding the treatment and handling of the remains interred in an underground cemetery that has been buried and forgotten in one of “America’s most ethnically diverse counties.”
What is the Moses African Cemetery? Who is buried there?
hundreds of
The Moses African Cemetery is buried beneath a parking lot close to a busy thoroughfare in Bethesda, one of the most highly educated communities in America. The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) states that hundreds of formerly enslaved individuals and free Black residents from as far back as the 1800s are buried beneath Westwood Tower Apartments, its parking lot, and sections of the Moses cemetery lie unmarked on a grassy knoll off River Road. Westwood Towers and the adjoining parking lot are public property, under the
among the upper echelon of go-go groups,” Brooks said.
“What I admire most about them is their willingness to give free concerts repeatedly for their D.C. fans. It’s never been about the money or stardom for them. It’s always been about the music.”
laborated with Rare Essence and counts as one of several artists who would incorporate the go-go percussive element into his own recordings, described them as “The Wickedest Band Alive.”
he was one of only a handful of promoters who provided a platform for the emerging artists when others were reluctant to embrace the go-go sound.
“They’re still one of the best, and they’ve always been
“I knew when I first heard White Boy and the rest of the group that they had something special, and I was honored to assist them as they gained recognition in the District and beyond. Their sound is unique
and special and that’s why they’re still received with so much love and enthusiasm by anyone who likes the go-go groove.”
Chris McLaughlin, a D.C. native, said his fondest memories include the moment in childhood when he first became enamored by Rare Essence.
“I love them just as much today as I did when I was a child back in the ‘80s,” he said. “Their sound never gets old, and I still listen to them frequently. I can recognize Rare Essence after just a few notes are played by the band. And as a D.C. mainstay, they continue to serve as one of the city’s best and most creative go-go bands, bar none.”
Another fan, Anthony Selby, said he was a stranger to go-go music when he first moved to the nation’s capital from his hometown in Delaware. But it didn’t take long for him to become an ardent supporter.
“They’re a great group, and while I haven’t seen them perform in a while, I still listen to their recordings,” he said. Their sound is original and vibrant, and they have kept the tradition alive. What I admire most about them is their willingness to give free concerts repeatedly for their D.C. fans. It’s never been about the money or stardom for them. It’s always been about the music.”
Photos courtesy of Bill Lee Photography
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) motivates a crowd of protestors gathered to honor the life of late Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.)
Photo courtesy Black Cemetery Network
Marsha Coleman–Adebayo, president of the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition, says
Black remains are buried at Moses African Cemetery.
AFRO Photo/ J. Pamela Stills
Go-go elite Rare Essence continues to draw audiences to its live performances of Washington, D.C.’s homegrown sound delivered in the band’s signature style.
D.C. wants to stop kids from gathering at night
By Martin Austermuhle The 51st
At some point before this weekend, large yellow signs are likely to pop up in a “hot spot” D.C. neighborhood warning kids to, well, stay away – at least after 8 p.m. The extended curfew is part of a new policy pushed by Mayor Muriel Bowser and adopted by the D.C. Council to manage what some say is a worrying uptick in mobs of juveniles causing trouble late at night.
But a youth curfew is not new, much less are the concerns over what kids might be doing at night. Below is everything you need to know about D.C.’s curfews, new and old, and whether or not they accomplish anything.
What’s the current curfew for youth in D.C.?
Under the emergency bill approved by the council earlier this month, anyone under the age of 18 can’t be out and about from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day through Aug. 31. The rest of the year, the curfew is the same on weeknights, but begins at midnight on weekends; it will continue to apply to kids under the age of 17.
More notably, the new law also gives D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith the power to designate temporary ”extended juvenile curfew zones” where the curfew starts even earlier, and runs for four days at a
time. In those areas, a gathering of nine or more kids under the age of 18 is unlawful after 8 p.m., though police have to give two verbal warnings to disperse the group before they can make arrests.
The first such zone was designated last weekend in Navy Yard, and the idea came from similar temporary drug-free zones that MPD has been able to declare since last year. It was also initially tested at The Wharf over Memorial Day weekend, largely in response to an incident the weekend before where a large group of juveniles created havoc that resulted in six arrests.
So far, it has just been one at a time, but police can set up as many zones as they deem necessary – they just need to give advance notice.
– until they can be picked up by a parent or guardian. The law also allows them to be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service, and for their parent or guardian to be fined up to $500. (These punishments aren’t often meted out.)
According to D.C. data, during the entire fiscal year 2024 some 76 juveniles were taken into custody for violating curfew. (Of those, 45 were released to a parent or guardian, 25 were transferred to the Child and Family Services Agency, and the remaining six were released to the custody of DYRS.)
Throughout 2025, MPD has only picked up a handful of kids at a time for curfew violations.
“We want our young people to be able to socialize safely and appropriately.”
During one week in mid-May it was 11 kids; during another week in early June it was 10. Are there any exceptions to the curfew?
What happens if a juvenile is caught out after curfew? How often does it happen?
Generally speaking, the kid is taken to a D.C. facility – sometimes a police station, other times a Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services facility
Why did city officials implement the new rules?
Over at least the last two years, D.C. officials have been concerned with the overall spike in violent crime, and the related increase in juvenile crime – and victims. They’ve additionally been critical of incidents where large numbers of juveniles gather in a specific place and cause trouble; Navy Yard and U Street have been recent targets.
One new motivating factor has been social media. City officials have said that large-scale mobs organized on social media pose a new challenge, and that the new expanded curfew zones are supposed to give police new tools to help deal with them.
Yes. Kids are allowed to be out past curfew if they are with a parent or guardian, running an errand for their family, standing in front of or near their house, attending a school or religious event, and other situations.
change — and neither will we,” the Transformative Justice Coalition, one of the organizers, said before groups rallied.
“He taught us that nonviolent direct action is a moral force, and that we must confront injustice wherever it lives,” they added.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a former presidential candidate and civil rights leader, was honored for his commitment to “Good Trouble” at a rally in Chicago, while local lawmakers urged demonstrators to follow in his footsteps at sites across the United States.
“We don’t want to wait. We
need this Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and other democracy reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, the Native American Voting Rights Act, and D.C. statehood,” Leslie Proll, of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said of the rallies.
Many participants touted signs and t-shirts with similar messages echoing her rhetoric to uplift equality inside and outside of the voting booth.
Some of the day’s most vocal participants were from national labor unions advocating on behalf of workers and their families.
“This is more than a protest; it’s a moral reckoning. We took to the streets in D.C. today to speak out against
(HOC) of Montgomery County. The HOC wants Westwood and the parking lot sold to make way for new housing.
Segun Adebayo, pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Bethesda, said his ancestors are buried in the Moses cemetery.
“No one thought about the community’s right to have a voice about what happens to the land where our Black bodies are buried. These are the remains of relatives and friends to the scores of Black people who lived, worked and worshiped in this community,” said Marsha Coleman – Adebayo, president of BACC and Macedonia’s first lady.
How did Montgomery County acquire the burial ground?
Westwood Towers and the adjoining parking lot right off River Road were built over the Moses African Cemetery graves in the 1960s when Black residents living in the area were being displaced, according to pastor Segun Adebayo, an eyewitness to the disbursement of a once cohesive Black community in Bethesda.
“This was all a Black village right here, dating back to the 1800s,” Adebayo said, pointing to the area now lined with gas stations, a high-rise apartment building and a shopping plaza with a natural foods grocery and other high-end shops. “Free Black people lived here, worked and worshiped.
the Trump administration, because as Rep. John Lewis taught us, progress will come, but it will not come on its own!” the Service Employees International Union said in a statement following the District demonstrations. The organization added, “Today, on the anniversary of Rep. John Lewis’ passing, we’re fired up in Alexandria, VA with a clear message: in America, the power lies in the hands of the people!”
Organizations representing educators also weighed in, sharing their outrage for present times and hopes for a brighter future.
“When fear & tyranny threaten our communities, we must be in the streets peacefully fighting back. The hope + light we get from each
“Macedonia was a community of worship that survived from the 1800s and is still active today,” he added. “What is left now is the church and the Moses cemetery where we buried our ancestors.”
The HOC of Montgomery County began leasing Westwood in the late 1990s and finally gained control of the property and parking lot in 2018.
What is happening to stop the sale and further desecration of Moses African Cemetery graves?
BACC was formed in 2016 to work with local, state and federal officials to keep the property from being sold and protect the rights of the deceased buried in Moses African Cemetery. But BACC leadership said discussions were going nowhere.
“We were getting no cooperation from local
Is a youth curfew new for D.C.?
Not at all. Variations of a curfew for kids go back to before D.C. gained home rule in the mid-1970s, with the underlying rationale being similar to today: groups of kids causing trouble
late at night, often during the summer months.
The current youth curfew, though, dates back to the mid-1990s, when the council ordered kids under the age of 17 to be home before 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends. That curfew was challenged by the ACLU, which argued that it was an unconstitutional infringement of a person’s ability to freely move about the city – even if they were a minor. A panel of federal judges agreed, but that ruling was eventually overturned and the curfew was allowed to take effect in 1999.
Amidst a spike in violent crime in 2006, though, the council imposed a stiffer temporary youth curfew for the summer months, requiring anyone under the age of 18 be off the streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (In 2007 and 2010, a pair of councilmembers also unsuccessfully pushed for similar expanded youth curfews).
other will keep this movement vibrant and show the vulnerable among us that we will not let their American Dream be taken away,” Randi Weingarten, president of the
American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement after demonstrations.
Evelyn DeJesus, the American Federation of Teachers’ executive vice president,
officials, and even our federal representatives were not helping with our specific concerns.
The sacred space where our ancestors were buried was being sold out from under us, and no one helped to raise the alarm,” said Coleman-Adebayo. “We (the community) have had to do this ourselves.”
Rep. Jaime Raskins (D-Md.-08), who represents Bethesda, said his office connected with BACC representatives and their plight was inspiration for The African American
Active enforcement of the youth curfew, though, has ebbed and flowed. It was only in 2023 – when violent crime and homicides spiked in D.C. – that Bowser said police would proactively enforce the longstanding curfew, with a particular emphasis on eight neighborhoods (including Chinatown, Navy Yard, U Street, portions of 14th Street in Columbia Heights, and Congress Heights) where police said data showed juveniles often congregate.
Do our neighbors have similar curfews? Yes, and part of what D.C. is now doing was influenced by them. Last year – after similar incidents involving large groups of kids – Prince George’s County imposed a 5 p.m. weekend curfew on kids under the age of 17 at National Harbor; the curfew was implemented again this year. This article was reprinted with permission from The51st. com.
joined a “Good Trouble Lives On” event in Annapolis, Md.. to combat the 47th president’s new policies and rhetoric.
“The Trump administration is trying to defund education unilaterally through government outreach,” DeJesus said.
“The administration does not have the right to starve children because of would-be savings.”
The budget bill signed by the president is set to increase mandatory work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries and defund other social services, including food stamps. People across the country have opposed the sharp restructuring of government programs, alleging children, who are among the most vulnerable population, will be hurt by new legislation.
Burial Grounds Preservation Act, co-sponsored by Raskins and passed in 2022.
Natalie Adams, Rep. Raskins’ communications director, said of the lawmaker, “He has met with the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition both on Capitol Hill and River Road and with their lawyer to discuss ongoing state law litigation.”
Adams added that they are prepared to help report any potential federal violations BACC identifies.
It took hard work to accomplish everything you’ve achieved. Now’s your time to enjoy it all. Settle into a tastefully designed home amid the nature of Hunt Valley, built to adapt to your changing needs and supported by a continuum of care for every age and ability. And focus on what you enjoy.
Brian Strege
In new extended curfew zones, which are implemented for four days at a time, large groups of young people are banned after 8 p.m.
Courtesy photo
Historic Macedonia Baptist Church sits in front of the Westwood Apartment complex, where parts of the Moses African Cemetery are submerged in Bethesda, Md.
Photos courtesy of Bill Lee Photography
A young protestor carries a sign in support of the “Good Trouble Lives On” movement during a demonstration in Franklin Park in Washington, D.C.
Healthy Aging
Grandma’s house endures as the heart of family, even in changing times
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
For generations, family gatherings often centered around one place: Grandma’s house. While shifting lifestyles, the pandemic and modern technology have changed how families come together, that familiar home still serves as the heart of connection for many.
Olivia McCall, a 25-yearold professional ballerina from Baltimore, said she has seen the way her family gatherings shifted in recent years.
“I would say family gatherings are less frequent and smaller,” McCall said. “But it’s definitely still the heart
‘3 by 30’
of the family. From holidays to birthdays, we’ve always gone to Grandma’s house. It’s a place where the whole family comes, is the most familiar and where we may even meet new family.”
She believes the pandemic played a major role in that change.
“That shift truly happened during and after COVID,” she said. “We weren’t allowed to safely be around each other for like two years, and it definitely affected big gatherings. For a minute, it would only be the immediate cousins.”
Now, McCall sees her extended family slowly returning to old traditions.
“In 2025, more extended family is starting to come to
family events again,” she said. Technology, she added, has helped her family stay connected even when physically apart.
“It definitely helped us connect as a family during those COVID times,” McCall said. “It still helps now, since all of our family doesn’t live in Baltimore. We’re able to connect through Zoom and catch up with one another, even though we may be in different states.”
Gavriel Batey, a 22-yearold student at Morgan State University, shares a similar experience. He sees his family’s gatherings today as smaller but still rooted in tradition.
“I honestly think that
my family gatherings now, compared to how my grandparents’ were, aren’t too far off,” Batey said. “Of course, it used to be bigger, but with family members getting older and kids becoming adults and doing their own thing, it’s definitely gotten smaller.”
Still, he said, the elders’ family home remains central to their celebrations.
“My grandmother’s birthday was just this past week, and she had everyone over for it,” Batey said. “It doesn’t even have to be a major holiday. Any holiday, it’s always at her house. Never anyone else’s.”
Batey sees these changes as a natural part of life.
“You appreciate the times
when it was big, and those memories will stay with me forever,” he said. “But life is about transitions. It’s not going to be that way forever.”
He agrees that technology now plays a major role in keeping families close.
“With so much going on in the world and people’s lives, FaceTime or Zoom lets you still connect with family
members who might’ve moved away or are just busy,” he said. Though the shape of family gatherings may change, both McCall and Batey believe the spirit behind them endures. For many, Grandma’s house remains more than a place, it’s a symbol of continuity, connection and care across generations.
achieving our goals has become more challenging in the current political environment.” With funding provided by partners such as JPMorgan, Chase and Co., Bank of America,
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reckless actions didn’t harm more people.
Federal sentencing guidelines recommended Hankison serve between 10 and 14 years for violating Taylor’s civil rights. The former officer, who was fired from the Louisville Police Department, apologized to Taylor’s family before the sentence was imposed; he’ll remain free on bond until the Bureau of Prisons assigns him to a facility.
Outrage at the Justice Department
Speaking after the hearing, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Taylor’s family and helped them win a $12 million wrongful-death judgment against the city, said he was outraged by the Justice Department’s suggestion that Hankison should not be punished — and praised the judge for ignoring it.
Seeing both the prosecutors and the defense lawyers argue for leniency made the five-hour hearing seem like “a George Orwell story,” Crump said.
“Never in my career as a lawyer have I heard the prosecutor argue so adamantly for a convicted felon who had been convicted by a jury who heard all the evidence,” he said, noting that the DOJ under the Biden administration retried Hankison after a mistrial in 2023. “The judge talked about how she was troubled. She agreed … that it seemed to be a
Wells Fargo, FHL Bank San Francisco, Rocket Mortgage and Airbnb, and research provided by the Urban Institute, the ambitious initiative consists of a seven-point plan to generate millions of Black homeowners by 2030.
180-degree, about-face in the courtroom.”
Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, told reporters that Jennings “did the best she could with what she had to work with … there was no prosecution [in the courtroom] for us. There was no prosecution in there for Breonna.”
She was unsure, however, if there was justice for her daughter: “We got something. I don’t think it was a fair sentencing, but it was a start.”
Death at the hands of police
The July 21 hearing likely marks the end of a case that rocked the city, triggered outrage in the Black community, and led to weeks of protesters taking to the streets nationwide, demanding justice for a woman most had never met.
A 26-year-old emergency medical technician, Taylor was among a spate of unarmed Black people who died at the hands of police in 2020, drawing attention to the issue of unjust, racist deadly force in America. Her killing came just months before a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck on a downtown street corner.
The incident in Louisville unfolded early on March 12, when officers investigating a suspected drug ring obtained a “no-knock” search warrant to raid his home. Acting on bad information, however, the officers erroneously targeted Taylor’s home,
“We’ve unearthed historical barriers like redlining and credit discrimination which continue to impact progress. Affordability issues and inventory shortages also disproportionately affect Black households,” Richardson said. “However, policy gaps and uneven
implementation of supportive programs have really slowed momentum.”
Despite such challenges, Bailey mentioned that the ‘3 by 30’ movement remains vital as the nation experiences a fair and affordable housing crisis.
“Never in my career as a lawyer have I heard the prosecutor argue so adamantly for a convicted felon who had been convicted by a jury who heard all the evidence.”
barging in as she slept with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker III.
Alarmed at the commotion, Walker grabbed his gun and opened fire at the intruders, wounding one officer in the thigh. Stunned police returned fire, killing Taylor.
Though Hankinson didn’t hit Taylor — he was outside, and, without looking, fired 10 shots into the apartment through a window during the chaos — none of the other officers who actually shot her faced criminal charges. State prosecutors concluded the officers were justified because they were defending themselves against Taylor, but the police department sacked them.
Several others involved in the raid were disciplined or lost their jobs for providing faulty information about the raid and attempting to cover it up.
“He did not kill or wound Breonna Taylor”
In their sentencing memo, federal prosecutors wrote that, even though Hankison’s actions the night of the raid were “unreasonable given the benefit of hindsight,” he “did not kill
or wound Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend, her neighbors, the defendant’s fellow officers or anyone else.”
The government’s request for leniency, experts say, intentionally sends the message that the Justice Department — which, under former President Joe Biden, had reached an agreement to help reform the Louisville Police Department — now will likely abandon that deal. The retrenchment is in line with Trump’s “anti-woke” agenda, and signals that prosecutors will no longer challenge race-based discrimination.
During the hearing, attorneys for Hankison and federal prosecutors seemed almost in sync in defending Hankison and recommending no prison time. At times, Taylor’s loved ones expressed frustration with prosecutor Rob Keenan — particularly when he agreed with Hankison’s defense team that their client wasn’t a threat to the public and should not receive a lengthy sentence.
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
As these shows slowly became staples in African American society, the actors on those shows were met with similar success.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who began acting at the age of 9, counts as a childhood actor who rose to stardom through his outstanding performances on weekly episodes of “The Cosby Show.”
The New Jersey native was a young teenager when he was cast as the only son of Claire and Heathcliff Huxtable on the show, which aired its final episode in 1992.
In interviews about the Emmy-winning sitcom and what it represented, Warner discussed how the rare and non-stereotypical portrayal of African Americans impacted the culture.
“The fact that the ‘Cosby Show’ for Black America and White America, alike, finally legitimized the Black middle class, which has always been around since the inception of this country but, as with everything, is not legitimate ‘til it’s on television,” Warner said. “When the show first came out, there were White people and Black people talking about (how) the Huxtables don’t really exist, Black people
don’t really live like that. Meanwhile, we were getting tens of thousands of fan letters from people saying, ‘Thank you so much for this show.’”
Following the final season of the show, Warner, along with the other young actors who portrayed his siblings, followed their individual paths while remaining stars in the entertainment industry.
Warner continued to work primarily on television until recently but also worked both on stage and behind the camera.
In his comments following the tragic news in 2015 about Bill Cosby’s unethical sexual escapades that led to his conviction of sexual misconduct, Warner said he was most concerned that Cosby’s wrongdoings had “tarnished” the sitcom’s legacy.
“My biggest concern is when it comes to images of people of color on television and film, no matter what … negative stereotypes of people of color, we’ve always had ‘The Cosby Show’ to hold up against that,” Warner told reporters, adding how “painful” it was to watch someone who had such a profound influence on his life facing allegations of rape.
Later in his career, Warner would use the popularity he garnered due to his role
as Theo as a springboard to display his other talents, including his musical prowess for which he received a Grammy Award.
Reflections from fans were varied on social media with many coming from among the millions of people who grew up watching Warner.
On X, @FranklinLeonard wrote, “This one hurts,” with a gif of Warner as Theo.
Another user, @IAMNJERA, wrote, “I literally screamed over that Malcolm-Jamal Warner news. I can’t believe it.”
One post said Theo was “one of the most beloved characters in sitcom history. One of the best to ever do it. MJW, you will be sorely missed.”
Still, there were some, like @ KevCoke6, who, while celebrating the significance of the show and the stellar talent of its cast, also acknowledged the fact that since the Bill Cosby rape allegations, a “dark cloud” had hovered over the show and its history.
To his credit, Warner rose above the unfortunate scandal and never looked back, and his innate talent always shined through.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter.
Continued from B1
for too inclusive. Too committed to truth. Too willing to tell the full story.
If they can quietly sideline Dr. Carla Hayden…If they can erase Fort Gregg-Adams…If they can ban books by Black authors and call it curriculum reform…If they can target AP African American Studies and claim it lacks “educational value”…If they can question the legitimacy of the Civil Rights Act…If they can tell lies about Dr. King and expect no accountability…
What makes us think they’ll stop short of dismantling MLK Day?
Legally, repealing the holiday would require an act of Congress. It’s never been done before. But in an era when cultural memory is increasingly shaped by ideology and outrage, the unthinkable becomes possible.
Let’s be clear: Dr. King didn’t march for a day off. He marched for justice—for a multiracial democracy that still struggles to be realized. The holiday is not a handout. It is a moral marker. That’s precisely why it’s in the crosshairs.
These attacks are not about the past. They’re about controlling the future. About silencing symbols that inspire progress. About rewriting American memory in ways that serve fear, not freedom.
The AFRO has always been on the frontlines of the fight for equality—speaking truth to power, exposing injustice and amplifying Black voices. We’ve done it for more than 130 years and we’re not stopping now.
We must heed the warning signs. Because if they can do all this in plain sight, imagine what they’ll try to do next.
Photo courtesy Gavriel Batey Gavriel Batey expresses that his grandmother’s house will always be a symbol of family unity and gathering. Seen here: Far left: Nicole Batey, Gaveriel Batey and Shirley Batey.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001383 ANNIE DOLORES PARKER Name of Decedent
JAMES K. DAVIS, ESQ. 10905 FORT WASHINGTON ROAD, SUITE 201 FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
SENORA PARKER ATAKULU, whose address is 7263 STRAWBERRY PLACE, BRYANS ROAD, MD 20616 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANNIE DOLORES PARKER who died on MARCH 7, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Date of first publication: JULY 25, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
SENORA PARKER ATAKULU Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/25, 08/01, 08/08/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO.
2025ADM000734
ANNIE MARCUS THOMAS AKA
ANNIE LOU THOMAS Name of Decedent
STEPHEN J. O’CONNOR, ESQ. 5335 WISCONSIN AVE., NW, STE. 400 WASHINGTON, DC 20015
Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
DORIANN RENEE THOMAS, whose address is 1625
COLONIAL HILLS DRIVE, MCLEAN, VA 22102 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANNIE MARCUS THOMAS who died on APRIL 10, 2015 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 25, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
DORIANN RENEE THOMAS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/25, 08/01, 08/08/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM0096 ROBERT WOODROW MURPHY Name of Decedent
DONALD M. TEMPLE, ESQ. 2522 VIRGINIA AVE., NW, SUITE B WASHINGTON, DC 20037 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs JANET SHEEN, whose address is 4713 WISCONSIN AVE., NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20016 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBERT WOODROW MURPHY who died
or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication:
JANET SHEEN Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM592 JOAN B. LEWIS Name of Decedent HORACE LEE BRADSHAW JR 1644 6TH STREET NW WASHINGTON DC, 20001 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs LELAR EPPS & THEATRICE LEWIS, whose addresses are 6117 CLAY ST, NE #104, WASHINGTON DC, 20019 & 2101 I STREET NE, APT 3, WASHINGTON DC, 20002 were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of JOAN B. LEWIS who died on JULY 13, 1989 without a Will and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 11, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 11, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 11, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
LELAR EPPS THEATRICE LEWIS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/11, 07/18, 07/25/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000719
VERNON MONTA BROWN Name of Decedent
CHARLES E. WALTON, ESQ. 10905 FORT WASHINGTON ROAD, SUITE 201 FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND 20744 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs SHERMANITA ISLER, whose address is 705 TRENARY CIRCLE, FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of VERNON MONTA BROWN who died on JANUARY 5, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 25, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
SHERMANITA ISLER Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/25, 08/01, 08/08/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000634
DERYCK ALVIN LONDON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
DEREK DONTE PHILLIPS, whose address is 4000 BENNING RD NE APT 413 WASHINGTON DC 20019 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DERYCK ALVIN LONDON who died on APRIL 20, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 11, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 11, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 11, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers DEREK DONTE PHILLIPS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/11, 07/18, 07/25/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000694
ANTHONY B. WOODARD Name of Decedent DIANN DAWSON, ATTORNEY 2101 STEUBEN WAY SILVER SPRING, MD 20905 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs STEVEN-PAUL WOODARD, whose address is 14800 CARROLTON ROAD, ROCKVILLE, MD 20853 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANTHONY B. WOODARD who died on MARCH 15, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 25, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
STEVEN-PAUL WOODARD Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/25, 08/01, 08/08/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000662 ZENOBIA LAMONT Name of Decedent KEITH A. ANDERSON 4700 BLAINE STREET, N.E. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20019 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
KATRINA LAMONT, whose address is 743 TOLA COURT, HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND 20785 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ZENOBIA LAMONT who died on NOVEMBER 22, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 11, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 11, 2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 11, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
KATRINA LAMONT Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/11, 07/18, 07/25/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000660 LANDONIA B. HENSON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
RUSSELL H HENSON, JR, whose address is 1670 WHITE OAK VISTA DRIVE, SILVER SPRING, MD. 20904 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LANDONIA B. HENSON who died on JANUARY 29, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000721 PATRICIA HENRY Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs JAMES HENRY, whose address is 2540 SOUTHERN AVE SE APT 11, WASHINGTON, DC 20020 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PATRICIA HENRY who died on SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 without a Will and will serve (with/without) Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 25, 2026 or be forever
Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
JAMES HENRY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 07/25, 08/01, 08/08/25
utilized to assist small minority and women
tifying potential teaming partners and should be submitted within five (5) days of the date of the project’s advertisement. The Letter of Interest must provide the name and number of your firms contact person. Failure to submit a “Letter of Interest” will not disqualify a firm submitting a proposal for the project.
Only individual firms (including, for example, individuals, sole proprietorships, corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships) or formal Joint Venture (JV) may apply.
Two firms may not apply jointly unless they have formed a joint venture.
COSTS OF RFP RESPONSE
There will be no payment or compensation provided to firms w ho desire to participate in any part of the submission. All expenses related to
sponsible for reimbursing any
or expenses incurred as a result of providing a submission to this RFP.
Payment Policy for legal notice advertisements.
Effective immediately, The Afro American Newspapers will require prepayment for publication
accepted in the form of checks, credit card or money order. Any returned checks will
result in the suspension of any future advertising at our discretion.
MBE/WBE Requirements – Mayor’s Office (SMBA&D) It is the policy of the City of Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development (SMBA&D) to promote equal business opportunity in the City’s contracting process. Pursuant to Article 5, Subtitle 28 of Baltimore City Code (2000 Edition) – Minority and Women’s Business Program, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) participation goals apply to this contract.
The firms interested in providing these services must demonstrate and document:
1.Experience in analyzing CCTV inspection data from various platforms (using industry standards such as NASSCO’s PACP, MACP, etc., and
2.
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION CITY OF BALTIMORE OFFICE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PUBLIC NOTICE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - PROJECT NO. 1416
Construction Management Assistance for Sanitary Contract 1037 Effluent Sand Filter Rehabilitation at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Baltimore City Office of Boards and Commissions has been requested by the Department of Public Works, Office of Engineering and Construction, to certify the qualifications of engineering firms to provide Construction Management Assistance for the 1037 Effluent Sand Filter Rehabilitation. One contract will be awarded for a period of 2.5 years.
Scope of Workn
The Project and Construction Management Assistance services to be pro-vided include, but are not limited to, assisting the City Office of Engineer-ing and Construction with construction monitoring and inspection, prepa-ration of daily reports, maintenance of project records and documentation, review of contractor’s application for payment, attendance at progress meetings, preparation of record drawings, review of contract claims and support documents, cost estimating, scheduling, time impact analysis, quality control, project engineering, constructability reviews, submittal re-views and responses, RFI reviews and responses, and other documents.
• Experience in Facilities Rehabilitation and Construction at Wastewater Treatment Plants.
•Experience in development and implementation of a Construction Project Management program for Wastewater Treatment Plants.
•Familiarity with standard construction inspection procedures and requirements for Civil, Structural, Mechanical, and Electrical disciplines, SCADA system, Effluent Filters installation and implementation.
•Familiarity with the most current applicable building codes, Electrical NEC, and Wastewater Treatment Plant standards.
•Experience in providing and managing field inspection staff with Quality Control and Quality Assurance experience and with change orders and claims analysis.
•Experience with Critical Path Method construction scheduling, and Time Impact Analysis, using Primavera version 6 scheduling software.
• Experience with Primavera Contract Management version 14 and Unifier project tracking software.
•Overall team approach to utilize, coordinate, and manage, assigned tasks of the Minority/Women Business Enterprises partners, and conform to City goals.
DPW encourages all contracting firms that have the experience and capacity to work on this scope to submit their proposals. All firms must demonstrate and document their capacity and resources to deliver the required services on time. Project fees have been estimated at $6,000,000.00 for a period of 2.5 years.
Should you have any questions regarding the scope of the project, please contact Mr. Maung Htay at 443-984-3512 or by email at maung.htay@baltimorecity.gov
Prequalification Requirement
All firms listed in the specific proposal for the Project must be prequalified by the Office of Boards and Commissions for each applicable discipline at the time of submittal for this Project. A copy of the prime and subconsultant’s current Prequalification Certificate should be included in the bid submittal package. Information regarding the prequalification process can be obtained by calling the Office of Boards and Commissions on 410-396-6883.
Projects must comply with the 2006 edition of “The Specifications for Materials, Highways, Bridges, Utilities and Incidental Structures”. City personnel will utilize the City of Baltimore Guidelines for the Performance Evaluation of Design Consultants and Construction Contractors for this contract/project.
Submittal Process
Each Firm responding to this Request for Proposal (RFP) Project #1405 is required to complete and submit an original Standard Federal Form (SF) 255 / 330 unless otherwise specified in this RFP. Provide one (1) original submittal, along with five (5) additional copies to the Office of Boards and Commissions at 4 South Frederick Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on or prior to the due date by NOON Friday, September 26, 2025. Submittals will not be accepted after the due date (NOON) and cannot be emailed. The Federal Standard Form (SF) 255 cannot be supplemented with additional pages, or additional information such as graphs, photographs, organization chart, etc. All such information should be incorporated into the appropriate pages Applications should not be bound; simply stapled in the upper left-hand corner Cover sheets should not be included. Inclusion and/or submittal of additional material may result in the applicant being disqualified from consideration for this project.
Firms interested in submitting a proposal for this Project, shall address a “Letter of Interest” to the Office of Boards and Commissions, or you may email: OBC.consultants@baltimorecity.gov. Letters of Interest will be utilized to assist small minority and women business enterprises in identifying potential teaming partners and should be submitted within five (5) days of the date of the project’s advertisement. The Letter of Interest must provide the name and number of your firms contact person. Failure to submit a “Letter of Interest” will not disqualify a firm submitting a proposal for the project.
Only individual firms (including, for example, individuals, sole proprietorships, corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships) or formal Joint Venture (JV) may apply. Two firms may not apply jointly unless they have formed a joint venture.
COSTS OF RFP RESPONSE
There will be no payment or compensation provided to firms w ho desire to participate in any part of the submission. All expenses related to the preparation of a response, including additional requested information, interviews, and any other necessary information, will be the sole responsibility of the firm. T he City, i ts s taff, or its re presentatives wi ll no t be responsible for reimbursing any costs or expenses incurred as a result of providing a submission to this RFP.
The MBE goal is _30_% The WBE goal is _15_%
Both the proposed Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise firms must be named and identified as an MBE or WBE within Item 6 of the Standard Form (SF) 255 in the spaces provided for identifying outside key consultants/associates anticipated for utilization for this project.
Any submittals that do not include the proper MBE/WBE (in some instances DBE) participation will be disapproved for further consideration for this project.
Verifying Certification
Each firm submitting a SF 255 for consideration for a project is responsible for verifying that all MBEs and WBEs to be utilized on the project are certified by the SMBA&D prior to submitting the proposal. A directory of certified MBEs and WBEs is available from SMBA&D. Since changes to the directory occur daily, firms submitting SF 255s should call SMBA&D at (410) 396-3818 to verify certification, expiration dates and services that the MBE or WBE is certified to provide.
Non-Affiliation
A firm submitting a proposal may not use an MBE or WBE to meet a contract goal if:
•The firm has a financial interest in the MBE or WBE
•The firm has an interest in the ownership or control of the MBE or WBE
•The firm is significantly involved in the operation of the MBE or WBE (Article 5, Subtitle 28-41).
Insurance Requirements
The consultant selected for the award of this project shall provide professional liability, auto liability, and general liability and workers’ compensation insurances as required by the City of Baltimore.
Local Hiring Law
Article 5, Subtitle 27 of the Baltimore City Code, as amended (the “Local Hiring Law”) and its rules and regulations apply to contracts and agreements executed by the City on or after the Local Hiring Law’s effective date of December 23, 2013, which is applicable to all vendors. The Lo-
cal Hiring Law applies to every contract for more than $300,000 made by the City, or on its behalf, with any person. It also applies to every agreement authorizing assistance valued at more than $5,000,000 to a City-subsidized project. Please visit www.oedworks.com for details on the requirements of the law.
Additional Information
Any firm submitting a SF255 in response to the RFP that fails to comply with the requirements of Article 5, Subtitle 28 of Baltimore City Code when executing a contract is subject to the following penalties: suspension of a contract; withholding of funds; nullification of contract based on material breach; disqualification as a consultant from eligibility to provide services to the City for a period not to exceed 2 years; and payment for damages incurred by the City.
A resume for each person listed as key personnel and/or specialist, including those from MBE and WBE must be shown on the page provided within the application.
Please be advised that for the purpose of reviewing price proposals and invoices, the City of Baltimore defines a principal of a firm as follows:
A principal is any individual owning 5% or more of the outstanding stock of an entity, a partner of a partnership, a 5% or more shareholder of a sub-chapter ‘S’ Corporation, or an individual owner.
Out-of-State Corporations must identify their corporate resident agent within the application.
Firms providing a SF255 in response to an RFP who are not prequalified at the time of the submittal due date will be deemed not qualified or considered for further participation in the project.
Failure to follow directions of this advertisement or the application will cause disqualification of the submittal.
Deena Joyce, Executive Secretary Chief, Office of Boards and Commissions
Issue of: July 25, 2025 The Afro-American The Baltimore Sun The Baltimore Times The Daily Record eMaryland Marketplace
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION
CITY OF BALTIMORE
OFFICE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PUBLIC NOTICE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - PROJECT NO.1414 ON-CALL DESIGN
PROJECT 1042
ENGINEERING SERVICES
The City of Baltimore Office of Engineering and Construction (OEC) has been authorized to request the Office of Boards and Commissions (OBC) to advertise Project 1414 for the selected services for the City of Baltimore from qualified Engineering firms. It is the expectation of the City’s that interested firms providing these services must demonstrate and document the following services for the City of Baltimore: rehabilitation of Sanitary sewers.
ADD SCOPE OF WORK
The work to be performed by the selected firm includes the evaluation, selection and design of the rehabilitation method, preparation of design reports and contract documents including plans and specifications, cost estimates, permit applications, easements, participation in community meetings, post award services including shop drawings review, review and response to RFIs, construction schedule review, construction inspection and consultation during construction, and review and evaluation of post-repair CCTV. Additional assessment of the sewer mains may be necessary at the discretion of the City.
The firms interested in providing these services must demonstrate and document:
1.Experience
3.Experience in the preparation of design reports, contract documents including plans and specifications, all permit applications, easement/ ROW documents and other related items necessary for the procurement of construction.
4.Experience in geotechnical engineering, subsurface exploration, test pit, test holes and survey services for utility designs.
5.Experience in construction management services that includes inspection during construction, review and response to RFIs, review and tracking of shop drawings, submittals and change orders, review of substitutions and technical consultations.
6.Knowledge of Baltimore City Wastewater Collection System.
7.Experience in various aspects of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as reading and generating maps; gathering, understanding, review and verification of GIS data; and manipulating GIS data.
8.Experience in developing and managing an overall team with Minority/Women Business Enterprises utilization and demonstrate manpower availability to complete the project.
The consultant will have the following responsibilities:
1.Review and analyze CCTV inspection data in accordance with NASSCO standards to determine sewer and manhole rehabilitation methods based on sewer, manhole and field conditions.
2.Perform a site assessment/review of existing field conditions.
3.Provide field surveying and geotechnical testing services as required.
4.Prepare a preliminary design report.
5.Prepare all required engineering design plans in accordance with DPW requirements, including sewer alignment plans, profiles, standard details, erosion and sediment control plans, traffic control plans, forest conservation plans, wetland delineation plans, planting plans, etc. and submit to the city for 35% 70% and 100% design review. Prepare written responses to all review comments.
6.Perform constructability reviews of all design plans.
7.Prepare contract specifications in accordance with the Baltimore City Standard Specification “Green Book”
8.Prepare an engineer’s cost estimate during each design phase.
9.Identify all ROW requirements, and any off-road access paths that may be required for construction equipment.
10.Identify all required permits, prepare permit applications and coordinate with the various agencies to obtain permits, with the assistance of DPW. Incorporate all agency permit review comments into the final design plans.
11. Assist with the contractor selection process.
12. Attend the pre-construction meeting and provide written responses to all contractor questions.
13.Provide post award design services (PAS), including review of contractor submittals, provide responses to requests for information (RFI), change orders, review and track shop drawings and attend meetings, either on-site or in the office to resolve issues arising during construction. 14. Update design plans with as-built information at the conclusion of construction.
The City intends to select the services of three (3) firms for a p eriod of Five (5) years, with an option to extend for one (1) year additional term at City’s discretion, for a fee not to exceed $5,000,000.00 for each selected firm. T he O ffice of En gineering an d Co nstruction re serves th e ri ght to have a second interview with eligible consulting firms. D PW encourages all contracting firms that have the experience and capacity to work on this scope to submit their proposals. All firms m ust d emonstrate a nd document their capacity and resources to deliver the required services on time. Projects must comply with the 2006 edition of “The Specifications for Materials, Highways, Bridges, Utilities and Incidental Structures”. City personnel will utilize the City of Baltimore Guidelines for the Performance Evaluation of Design Consultants and Construction Contractors for this contract/project.
Should you have any questions regarding the scope of the project, please contact Dr. Franco Egbe at 410-642-0069 or by email at franco.egbe@ baltimorecity.gov
All firms listed in the specific proposal for the Project must be prequalified by the Office of Boards and Commissions for each applicable discipline at time of submittal for this Project. Any construction contractor listed in the specific p roposal f or the P roject t o p erform work in a n e xisting prequalification category must also be prequalified. A copy of the prime and sub consultant’s current Prequalification C ertificate sh ould be in cluded in the bid submittal package. Information regarding the prequalification process can be obtained by calling the Office o f B oards and C ommissions on 410.396.6883.
Submittal Process
Each Firm responding to this Request for Proposal (RFP) Project #1414 is required to complete and submit an original Standard Federal Form (SF) 255 unless otherwise specified i n t his RFP. P rovide o ne ( 1) original submittal, along with five (5) additional copies to the Office of Boards and Commissions at 4 South Frederick Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on or prior to the due date by NOON Friday September 26, 2025. Submittals will not be accepted after the due date (NOON) and cannot bbe emailed. The Federal Standard Form (SF) 255 cannot be supplemented with addi-tional pages, or additional information such as graphs, photographs, or-ganization chart, etc. All such information should be incorporated into the appropriate pages. Applications should not be bound; simply stapled in the upper left-hand corner. Cover sheets should not be included. Inclusion and/or submittal of additional material may result in the applicant being disqualified from consideration for this project.
Firms interested in submitting a proposal for this Project, shall address a “Letter of Interest” to the Office of Boards and Commissions, or you may email: OBC.consultants@baltimorecity.gov. Letters of Interest will be utilized to assist small minority and women business enterprises in identifying potential teaming partners and should be submitted within five (5) days of the date of the project’s advertisement. The Letter of Interest must provide the name and number of your firms contact person. Failure to submit a “Letter of Interest” will not disqualify a firm submitting a proposal for the project.
Only individual firms (including, for example, individuals, sole proprietorships, corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships) or formal Joint Venture (JV) may apply. Two firms may not apply jointly unless they have formed a joint venture. COSTS OF RFP RESPONSE There will be no payment or compensation provided to firms’ who desire to participate in any part of the submission. All expenses related to the preparation of a response, including additional requested information, interviews, and any other necessary information, will be the sole responsibility of the firm. The City, its staff, or its repre
LEGAL NOTICES
Subtitle 28 of Baltimore City Code (2000 Edition) – Minority and Women’s Business Program, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) participation goals apply to this contract.
The MBE goal is 30%
The WBE goal is 15%
Both the proposed Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise firms must be named and identified as an MBE or WBE within Item 6 of the Standard Form (SF) 255 in the spaces provided for identifying outside key consultants/associates anticipated for utilization for this project.
Any submittals that do not include the proper MBE/WBE (in some instances DBE) participation will be disapproved for further consideration for this project.
Verifying Certification
Each firm submitting a SF 255 for consideration for a project is responsible for verifying that all MBEs and WBEs to be utilized on the project are certified by the SMBA&D prior to submitting the proposal. A directory of certified MBEs and WBEs is available from SMBA & D. Since changes to the directory occur daily, firms submitting SF 255s should call SMBA & D at (410) 396-3818 to verify certification, expiration dates and services that the MBE or WBE is certified to provide.
Non-Affiliation
A firm submitting a proposal may not use an MBE or WBE to meet a contract goal if:
*The firm has a financial interest in the MBE or WBE
* The firm has an interest in the ownership or control of the MBE or WBE
* The firm is significantly involved in the operation of the MBE or WBE (Article 5, Subtitle 28-41).
Insurance Requirements
The consultant selected for the award of this project shall provide professional liability, auto liability, and general liability and workers’ compensation insurances as required by the City of Baltimore.
Local Hiring Law
Article 5, Subtitle 27 of the Baltimore City Code, as amended (the “Local Hiring Law”) and its rules and regulations apply to contracts and agreements executed by the City on or after the Local Hiring Law’s effective date of December 23, 2013, which is applicable to all vendors.
The Local Hiring Law applies to every contract for more than $300,000 made by the City, or on its behalf, with any person. It also applies to every agreement authorizing assistance valued at more than $5,000,000 to a City-subsidized project. Please visit www.oedworks.com for details on the requirements of the law.
Additional Information
Any firm submitting a SF255 in response to the RFP that fails to comply with the requirements of Article 5, Subtitle 28 of Baltimore City Code when executing a contract is subject to thebfollowing penalties: suspension of a contract; withholding of funds; nullification of contract based on material breach; disqualification as a consultant from eligibility to provide services to the City for a period not to exceed 2 years; and payment for damages incurred by the City.
A resume for each person listed as key personnel and/or specialist, including those from MBE and WBE must be shown on the page provided within the application.
Please be advised that for the purpose of reviewing price proposals and invoices, the City of Baltimore defines a principal of a firm as follows:
A principal is any individual owning 5% or more of the outstanding stock of an entity, a partner of a partnership, a 5% or more shareholder of a sub-chapter ‘S’ Corporation, or an individual owner.
Out-of-State Corporations must identify their corporate resident agent within the application.
Firms providing a SF255 in response to this RFP who do not follow the guidelines within this RFP including being prequalified, meeting SMBA & D goals at the time of the submittal due date will be deemed nonresponsive.
Failure to follow any of the guidelines of this advertisement will cause disqualification of the submittal. and will disqualify the entire team for further participation in the project.
Issue of: July 25, 2025
The Afro-American
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Times
The Daily Record
eMaryland Marketplace
Deena Joyce, Executive Secretary Chief, Office of Boards and Commissions
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION CITY OF BALTIMORE OFFICE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PUBLIC NOTICE
PROJECT NO. 1413– CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS
The City of Baltimore, Office of Boards and Commissions, has been requested by the Department of Public Works, Office of Engineering and Construction (OEC), to advertise for services from qualified engineering and construction management firms to provide Construction Management Services for the City’s wastewater collection systems.
The City intends to select construction management services from one (1)consultant firm for a period of five (5) years with an option to extend for two (2) years additional term at the City’s discretion, for a fee not to exceed $5,000,000 for each selected firm. The Office of Engineering and Construction reserves the right to have a second interview with the eligible firm.
The firms interested in providing these services must demonstrate and document the following:
1.Experience in the development and implementation of construction management services, including but not limited to constructability support, pre-construction assistance, and construction and post-construction support, which may include change order and claims analysis, progress meetings, budget management, CPM, daily progress reporting, and asbuilt reviews.
2.Experience with standard construction inspection procedures and requirements for water main and appurtenance installation, rehabilitation, and restoration in accordance with applicable codes and standards. Knowledge of bypass pumping planning, installation, and maintenance during construction in urban residential and business areas.
3. Experience with tracking and reporting procedures for state or federally funded projects.
4. Ability to supplement the City staff to provide full-time on-site construction management staff and field inspection if needed.
5.Experience with Primavera Contract Management version 14 (CM14) project tracking software or Unifier and Primavera P6 scheduling software, version 8.1 or higher
6.Experience developing
3.
4. Ability to supplement the City staff to provide full-time on-site construction management staff and field inspection if needed.
5.Experience with Primavera Contract Management version 14 (CM14) project tracking software or Unifier and Primavera P6 scheduling software, version 8.1 or higher
6.Experience developing effective communication processes and community outreach engagement, including stakeholder engagement, public information, utility notifications, conflict mitigation, and emergency responses.
7.An overall team approach to utilize, manage and coordinate assigned tasks of the Minority/Women Business Enterprises partners and conform to City goals.
DPW encourages all contracting firms that have the experience and capacity to work on this scope to submit their proposals. All firms must demonstrate and document their capacity and resources to deliver the required services on time. Projects must comply with the 2006 edition of “The Specifications for Materials, Highways, Bridges, Utilities and Incidental Structures”. City personnel will utilize the City of Baltimore Guidelines for the Performance Evaluation of Design Consultants and Construction Contractors for this contract/project.
This project will be managed by Benjamin Wang. Should you have any questions regarding the scope of the project, please contact Benjamin Wang at (410) 396-4700 or by email at Benjamin.wang@baltimorecity. gov.
All firms listed in the specific proposal for the Project must be prequalified by the Office of Boards and Commissions for each applicable discipline at time of submittal for this Project. Any construction contractor listed in the specific proposal for the Project to perform work in an existing prequalification category must also be prequalified. A copy of the prime and sub consultant’s current Prequalification Certificate should be included in the bid submittal package. Information regarding the prequalification process can be obtained by calling the Office of Boards and Commissions on 410.396.6883.
Submittal Process
Each Firm responding to this Request for Proposal (RFP) Project # 1413 is required to complete and submit an original Standard Federal Form
(SF) 255/330 unless otherwise specified in this RFP.
Provide one (1) original submittal, along with five (5) additional copies, to the Office of Boards and Commissions 4 South Frederick Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on or prior to the due date by NOON Friday, September 26, 2025. Submittals will not be accepted after the due date (NOON) and cannot be emailed.
The Federal Stardard Form (SF) 255 cannot be supplemented with additional pages any additional information such as graphs, photographs, organization chart, etc. All such information should be incorporated into the appropriate pages. Applications should not be bound; should simply be stapled in the upper left-hand corner. Cover sheets should not be included. Inclusion and/or submittal of additional material may result in the applicant being disqualified from consideration for this project.
Firms interested in submitting a proposal for this Project, shall address a “Letter of Interest” to the Office of Boards and Commissions, 4 South Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202 or you may email: OBC.consultants@baltimorecity.gov). Letters of Interest will be utilized to assist small minority and women business enterprises in identifying potential teaming partners and should be submitted within five (5) days of the date of the project’s advertisement.
The Letter of Interest must provide the name and number of your firms contact person. Failure to submit a “Letter of Interest” will not disqualify a firm submitting a proposal for the project.
Only individual firms (including, for example, individuals, sole proprietorships, corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships) or formal Joint Venture (JV) may apply. Two firms may not apply jointly unless they have formed a joint venture.
Cost of RFP Response
There will be no payment or compensation provided to firms’ w ho desire to participate in any part of the submission. All expenses related to the preparation of a response, including additional requested information, interviews, and any other necessary information, will be the sole responsibility of the firm. T he City, i ts staff, o r i ts r epresentatives w ill n ot b e responsible for reimbursing any costs or expenses incurred as a result of providing a submission to this RFP.
MBE/WBE Requirements – Mayor’s Office (SMBA & D)
It is the policy of the City of Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development (SMBA & D) to promote equal business opportunity in the City’s contracting process. Pursuant to Article 5, Subtitle 28 of Baltimore City Code (2000 Edition) – Minority and Women’s Business Program, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) participation goals apply to this contract.
The MBE goal is 30% The WBE goal is 15%
Both the proposed Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise firms must be named and identified as an MBE or WBE within Item 6 of the Standard Form (SF) 255 in the spaces provided for identifying outside key consultants/associates anticipated for utilization for this project. Any submittals that do not include the proper MBE/WBE (in some instances DBE) participation will be disapproved for further consideration for this project.
Verifying Certification
Each firm submitting a SF 255 for consideration for a project is responsible for verifying that all MBEs and WBEs to be utilized on the project are certified by the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office (MWBOO) prior to submitting the proposal. A directory of certified MBEs and WBEs is available from MWBOO. Since changes to the directory occur daily, firms submitting SF 255s should call MWBOO at (410) 396-4355 to verify certification, expiration dates and services that the MBE or WBE is certified to provide.
Non-Affiliation
A firm submitting a proposal may not use an MBE or WBE to meet a contract goal if:
1. The firm has a financial interest in the MBE or WBE
2. The firm has an interest in the ownership or control of the MBE or WBE
3. The firm is significantly involved in the operation of the MBE or WBE (Article 5, Subtitle 28-41).
Insurance Requirements
The consultant selected for the award of this project shall provide professional liability auto liability and general liability and workers’ compensation insurances as required by the City of Baltimore.
Local Law Hiring
Article 5, Subtitle 27 of the Baltimore City Code, as amended (the “Local Hiring Law”) and its rules and regulations apply to contracts and agreements executed by the City on or after the Local Hiring Law’s effective date of December 23, 2013 which is applicable to all vendors. The Local Hiring
Please
FOR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM RFP NUMBER: B-2046-25
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) will issue a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for interested and qualified firms provide professional services to assist with processing recertification transactions as part of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). The selected vendor will be responsible for managing the recertification process effectively, ensuring compliance with the local and federal regulations and HCVP Administrative Plan.
PROPOSALS WILL BE DUE no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 29, 2025
A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., which will be scheduled as a virtual meeting.
The entire RFP can be viewed and downloaded by visiting https://habc. bonfirehub.com/projects on or after Monday, August 4, 2025.
Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated below and must include the reference: HABC RFP Number B-2034-25.
Housing Authority of Baltimore City Division of Fiscal Operations, Procurement Department
Attention: Mary Kate Gagliardi, Senior Buyer Tel: (410) 396-3105 mary.gagliardi@habc.org
