Volume 134 No. 21
THE BLACK MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM
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DECEMBER 20, 2025 - DECEMBER 26, 2025
Celebrating the Holidays
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FROM CHRISTMAS TO KWANZAA
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A2 The Afro-American December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025
WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM A beginner’s guide to Kwanzaa By Graham Lee Brewer Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966 and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations. The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression, spans seven days from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day. It is observed in large, city-sponsored events as well as in smaller communities and homes nationwide. Kwanzaa has grown in popularity in the decades since its founding and is celebrated by 3 percent of the country, according to a 2019 AP-NORC survey. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all released statements commemorating the holiday, and in 1997 the U.S. Postal Service began issuing Kwanzaa stamps. It is not recognized as a federal holiday. Kwanzaa emerged during the Black Freedom Movement
of the 1960s as a way to reconnect Black communities in the U.S. with important African cultural traditions that were severed by the transatlantic slave trade. It also promotes unity and liberation. “It was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s,” Maulana Karenga, the holiday’s founder, wrote in his annual Kwanzaa address in 2023. “Kwanzaa thus came into being, grounded itself and grew as an act of freedom, an instrument of freedom, a celebration of freedom and a practice of freedom.” Karenga, an African American author, activist and professor, founded Kwanzaa following the Watts Riots, also known as the Watts Rebellion, in Los Angeles in 1965. Karenga described Kwanzaa as a “political-motivator holiday” in an interview with Henry Lewis Gates Jr. for PBS. “The idea is for African and African descended
AP Photo/Ric Francis
Stephanie Haynes, center, with the Ouzria Karuma Dance Troupe, along with members of the Los Angeles Drummers Ensemble celebrate the start of the seven-day Kwanzaa holiday at the Howling Monk Coffee Bar and Jazz Emporium in Inglewood, Calif. people to come together around family, community and culture so we can be in spaces where, in Dr. Karenga’s words, we feel fully African and fully human at the same time,” said Janine Bell, president and artistic director at the Elegba Folklore Society in Richmond, Va.
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Many people who observe Kwanzaa, which is a secular holiday, celebrate it alongside religious festivals such as Christmas. People of any faith, race or ethnic background can participate. The name Kwanzaa derives from “mutanda ya kwanza” a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits” or “first harvest.” The final “a” was added to the name to accommodate the seven children present at the first Kwanzaa, each of whom was given a letter to represent. The holiday is governed by seven principles, known collectively as the Nguzo Saba, and a different principle is celebrated each day: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). The Nguzo Saba is represented by a candleholder with seven candles called a kinara. Each night, one of those candles is lit. The candles are the same colors as the Kwanzaa flag: Black representing the people, red their struggle and
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Mark Harris lights candles for the kinara before speaking about the history, meaning and importance of Kwanzaa at the Mims House on the second night of the seven-night Kwanzaa holiday in Eugene, Ore., Dec. 27, 2017. green their hope. Large Kwanzaa celebrations happen across the country every year in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta and Detroit. These events often feature storytellers, music and dance. Bell said the theme at this year’s Capital City Kwanzaa Festival in Richmond is “knowledge of self,” and an African descendent will be selected by drawing a name from a fishbowl to win a free DNA test so they can learn where they come from. The holiday is also observed in individual homes,
often focusing on children, because they are key to the survival of culture and the development of community. This concept of children and the future they embody is often represented symbolically by corn. “The intention is that it’s 365 (days a year),” Bell said. “The need for the principles and the strengthening value of the principals don’t go away on January 2nd.” Family celebrations also involve giving gifts and sharing African American and Pan African foods, culminating in the Karamu, a feast featuring
dishes from across the African diaspora. Typical meals include staples of southern cuisine like sweet potato pie or popular dishes from Africa like jollof rice. Activities over the seven days are geared toward reaffirming community bonds, commemorating the past and recommitting to important African cultural ideals. This can include dancing, reading poetry, honoring ancestors and the daily lighting of the kinara. This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
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This photo taken Dec. 8, 2009 shows Ruth Ndiagne Dorsey with a Kwanzaa setting set up for a media photo at her church, The Shrine of the Black Madonna, in Atlanta.
December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American A3
Culture and community: Marking Kwanzaa one day at a time Black dollar. Kwanzaa is the perfect time of year to patronize a Black business or invest in a local entrepreneur.
By AFRO Staff The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Kwanzaa website offers family-friendly activities and recipes designed to help readers engage with the purpose and meaning of each day. The guide blends cultural tradition with hands-on celebration and features dishes from “A Kwanzaa Keepsake: Celebrating the Holiday with New Traditions and Feasts,” by acclaimed food historian and chef Jessica B. Harris.
Day 5 - Nia (Purpose)
Sautéed Pecans Ingredients • 1 pound shelled pecans • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Another recipe straight from Chef Jessica B. Harris’ book is sure to be a hit around the Kwanzaa holiday. Gather up family and friends and follow the directions below: Rake through the pecans and remove any shells and shriveled nuts (even if they are listed as shelled!) Heat the butter to foaming in a large cast-iron skillet. Add the pecans and cook them for
Day 1 - Umoja (Unity)
Cooking together This Kwanzaa season, take time with family and friends to cook a meal. There are several dishes that kids can help with that are not complicated.
Day 2 - Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Trying something new Kwanzaa is the perfect time to try something new or take on a new challenge. Getting out of your comfort zone is a powerful way to use self-determination and build resilience.
Day 3 - Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) Recipe Caribbean Sorrel Ingredients • 3 heaping cups dried sorrel pods • 3 whole cloves • 1 tablespoon grated
3 to 5 minutes, stirring them occasionally with a wooden spoon to make sure that they are well coated with butter. When they are ready, drain on absorbent paper and serve warm. Serves 8
Day 6 - Kuumba (Creativity)
Create a better space How can you use creativity to better yourself and your community? This Kwanzaa, spend some time exploring the ways your creativity could inspire and uplift the village.
Day 7 - Imani (Faith)
Believe in yourself Kwanzaa is about faith. This year, write a bold affirmation that reminds you to believe when times get rough.
Unsplash/ Melody Zimmerman
Sorrel is a vibrant red, spiced drink made from the sepals of the hibiscus plant, and is a popular staple in households throughout the Caribbean during the holidays. orange zest • 1 (3 inch) stick cinnamon • ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg • 1 ½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger • 1 quart boiling water • 1 cup superfine sugar, to taste • Several grains uncooked white rice According to the recipe listed in Chef Jessica B. Harris’ book, the directions are as follows: Place the sorrel pods,
cloves, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a large crock or heavy bowl. Pour the boiling water over them and allow the mixture to steep for 24 hours. When ready, strain the sorrel and add the sugar, stirring well. Pour the sorrel into a scalded quart jar that can be loosely capped and add the rice (There are a lot of theories about what it does, but all agree that the best reason to add it is that it’s traditional).
Allow the jar to remain in a cool, dark place for 2 days or longer, then serve. This sorrel is strong and should be served diluted: half sorrel, half water. Whether or not you choose to add rum is strictly up to you. Makes 1 Quart
Day 4 - Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) Shop local/provide local This year, African Americans across the country showed the true power of the
Unsplash/ Deryn Macey
Sautéed pecans are a tasty treat that can be made and served to family and friends during the holidays.
Darlene Love reflects on her enduring holiday classic, ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ By Hillel Italie Darlene Love will never stop thinking of her holiday classic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” At this time of year, she couldn’t if she tried. “The post office, grocery store, elevator,” she says with a laugh, listing a few locations where she keeps hearing the song. “It just feels funny that my song is in that many places at Christmastime.” Her signature song, first released in 1963, is as set in the pantheon as such predecessors as Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and such successors as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Love sang “Christmas” for years on David Letterman‘s late night show, which ended in 2015, and has since followed with appearances on “The View” and “The Tonight
Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where she will perform on Dec. 18, along with Steve Van Zandt and former Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer among others. Interviewed at the Sony Music Entertainment offices just off Madison Square Park, the 84-year-old Love has a youthful, open-hearted spirit that makes you believe she could break out at any time into the joyous roar of “Christmas,” or “He’s a Rebel,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love” and other showcases. Revered by generations of musicians, Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and was among the singers featured two years later in the Oscar-winning documentary, “Twenty Feet from Stardom.” She was born Darlene Wright in Los Angeles, a minister’s daughter who had been
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performing in front of people for years before Phil Spector signed her up in 1962. He renamed her “Darlene Love” and launched her career as a lead and backing singer whose mighty mezzo-soprano was more than equal to the producer’s booming orchestrations, what he called “little symphonies for the kids.” When Spector decided to record an album of Christmas music, he featured Love on oldies (“White Christmas” and “Marshmallow World”) and the original composition that became her trademark: “Christmas” was conceived by Spector and one of the great songwriting teams of the era, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Love questioned the whole idea of a “rock n roll Christmas song,” but remembered a transcendent, exhausting session, and the challenge of making a summertime studio gathering feel like winter. “What Phil Spector did was he went out and got Christmas lights and a Christmas tree and made it freezing cold in the studio,” she says. “I told him ‘You can’t do that because that’s going to close up all our throats if you make it that cold in here.’ So the only thing we had left were the lights and everybody was in a great mood.”
Standing up to Spector
Love had a troubled relationship with Spector well before his mercurial personality turned lethal and he was convicted in 2009 for the murder of actor Lana Clarkson. (Spector died in prison in 2021). The producer infuriated Love soon after they began working together when he recorded her singing “He’s Sure the Boy I Love” and, without telling her, released it as a single by another Spector act, the Crystals. In the 1990s, she sued Spector for unpaid
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
Darlene Love performs during the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular in Boston on July 4, 2024. royalties for various songs and received $250,000. But during her interview, she spoke warmly of Spector, recalling how she would tease him about his hairpiece and his elevated shoes, or refuse to sing another take when she was sure she had done it right. Love was in her early 20s at the time but was married (her first of three), with a young son and found herself acting as elder sibling and protector for two teenagers who would become iconic in their own right — the producer’s future wife, Ronnie Spector, then known as Ronnie Bennett; and the shy, but tough future wife of session man Sonny Bono, Cher. As Cher wrote in her eponymous 2024 memoir, and Love confirms, Darlene Love was unafraid to challenge the men in the room. During breaks between sessions, she would go out for hamburgers across the street and bring Cher and Bennett with her, indifferent to the objections of their controlling boyfriends. “Come on, let’s go do this. Let’s go do this,” she remembered urging her friends. “I was always getting everybody in trouble.” Love and Cher have worked together often. Cher sang
backing vocals on “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and Love has backed Cher on tour. A couple of years ago, Cher was recording a Christmas album and phoned Love, hoping she would join her on “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” They grew up together in show business, but Love at first didn’t recognize the famous voice on the other end of the connection. “We talk to each other like maybe twice a year, and our careers went in totally and completely different avenues,” Love says. “So Cher calls and says, ‘Hey, doll.’ That’s what she calls me. She said, ‘This is Cher.’ And I said ‘Who?’ She said, ‘Cher, bitch!’ So I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, this is you. What’s up?’”
A slow path to the top
“A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector,” now regarded as a landmark, also features such long-running favorites as the Ronettes’ “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “Frosty the Snowman” and the Crystals’ “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” But the album was originally famous for its tragic timing; the release date was Nov. 22,
1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. “A Christmas Gift” would take years to fully catch on, while “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” only became a perennial on Letterman’s show in the 1990s. Love thinks “Christmas” endures because it’s easy to sing (although try singing it like her) and because the words can be about anyone, a lover, “a sister who got lost, or somebody who passed.” Asked if there was another holiday song she’d like to perform as often as “Christmas,” she quickly answers, “Silent Night.” “It’s one of those songs that makes you feel good, and can make you feel sad, too,” she explained. “Because you’re talking about night, and you’re talking about a silent night, but a clear night, where you can see all the stars. “And you never know how many stars are in the sky. Somewhere in the mountains where it’s black-dark. And it’s millions and millions and millions of stars. So when you say ‘Silent night, holy night,’ you’re talking about stars.” This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
A4 The Afro-American December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025
COMMENTARY
This Christmas, don’t let our elders be the last ones noticed By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper Word in Black Every family has its holiday routines. In many Black households, the music starts early — Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas,” the Temptations’ “Silent Night,” and that one cousin who insists on singing lead every year despite no one ever assigning them the role. The kitchen hums before sunrise, and depending on the house you grew up in, the “children’s table” is still very much alive. And let’s be honest: some of the people relegated there are fully grown, paying rent and filing taxes. Yet there they sit, knees squeezed under a folding table, pretending this is normal. Most families laugh about it. But something less funny happens when the “grown-ups” table gradually stops making room — not for the young adults, but for the older adults who helped establish these traditions in the first place. It doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in moments. People talk around them. Talk over them. Move faster than they can respond. Or assume they’re no longer interested in certain conversations or decisions. And yes,
sometimes they repeat themselves — occasionally twice, sometimes three times. But repetition is part of family life. Many of us have told the same story repeatedly to the same people; elders shouldn’t be singled out for something the rest of us do regularly. Besides, none of us knows how many more holidays we will celebrate together. Why rush anyone? Why treat the stories that shaped us as interruptions instead of gifts?
clarity — Christmas offers us a rare and necessary chance to slow down. To breathe. To notice the people who sit right in front of us. Peace isn’t only the absence of conflict; peace is the presence of care. And one of the clearest ways to create it is by tending to the relationships that anchor our families, especially the ones that stretch across generations.
Elders have a responsibility too. Don’t assume your voice has expired. Speak when you have something to contribute. Laugh freely. Join the fun. You helped build these traditions — your presence is part of the celebration. Whether you are quiet by nature or fond of offering commentary, there is room for you. Take your seat. It’s yours.
The cost of leaving elders out of the conversation
How to include elders in your celebration
This Christmas, include elders in your conversations. Ask about the traditions that mattered to them. Invite them to weigh in on the menu or the music. Let them finish their stories, even if you can recite the ending yourself. These stories are family history delivered in real time, not something you can look up later. And while you’re buying gifts for children, godchildren, nieces, nephews, or the adults still stuck at the kids’ table, remember the elders in your family. They don’t need anything expensive. A framed photo. A handwritten note. A promise to stop by once a month. A breakfast outing. These gestures carry far more weight than anything wrapped in shiny paper.
Why including every generation matters
Some elders respond by shrinking back. They “stick to their knitting,” keep quiet, and fade into the background so they won’t be in the way. Others do the opposite and become self-appointed experts on everything from politics to potato salad technique. And younger relatives don’t escape blame either — many smile politely, nod at convenient moments, and wait for conversations to wrap up. But polite toleration is not the same as genuine connection. And connection is exactly what this season requires. This year, with so much noise in the world — conflict abroad, debate at home, and more confusion than
Black families have always relied on strength across generations. Our history shows that the bonds we nurture — around kitchen tables, church pews, and living rooms — are the ones that steady us when the world feels unsteady. Unity does not happen by accident. It takes intention, attention and affection. This Christmas, as music fills our homes and the scent of holiday cooking fills the air, may we pause long enough to notice the wisdom sitting among us. May every elder feel valued. May younger adults slow down long enough to listen. And may every family — however big or small — find a peace that pushes back against the confusion of the world outside.
Photo courtesy of John Hopkins University / Will Kirk
Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper serves as AFRO CEO and publisher. This week, she discusses the importance of including and honoring the elders of the family during the holiday season. Christmas isn’t complete until every generation is seen, welcomed, and included. And the celebration is always richer when the people who helped build the family are fully part of the joy. This commentary was originally published by Word in Black.
Black consumers fight back with holiday shopping boycotts owned by Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. It’s a push for racial solidarity the campaign is calling “We Spend Where We Get Respect,” and the campaign’s website includes a directory of local businesses that consumers can buy from instead. It’s not a new idea — Black consumers mounted similar antiracist campaigns against retailers who refused them service during Jim Crow. But in the racially regressive era of Trump, the idea has grown in scale and resonance.
By Erin Aubry Kaplan When it comes to struggle, there are no holidays. But this year, there’s a new effort to make the winter shopping season a gift to a growing consumer movement against racist Trump policies and the multibillion-dollar companies that have bowed to them. Black Friday, which kicked off the busiest shopping weekend of the year, also marked the launch of a new consumer boycott targeting Amazon, Home Depot and Target. Organizers of the boycott are urging Americans to stop spending money at high-profile companies they say are participating in the oppression of people of color on a massive scale, from scuttling their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to tolerating the brutal ICE raids happening regularly at their stores.
A California movement, national implications
The California-specific campaign, which runs through the end of December, is being organized by We Are California, a group that promotes social change through multiracial coalition-building
Photo courtesy of erinaubrykaplan.net
Erin Aubry Kaplan is an esteemed author and journalist. This week, she encourages all to use their holiday spending power to challenge racism. and action. It’s a state-level version of a national boycott, We Ain’t Buying It, that also urged consumers to pause their spending at the same three companies from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, for the same reasons. The California campaign, however, goes further. Organizers are urging people to redirect dollars that might have gone to big stores to smaller businesses
Why California matters so much
California can play an outsized role because of its status as the world’s fourth-largest economy, as well as its history as a national leader on many social justice causes. Perhaps none has become more crucial, or more fundamental, than the cause of racial equality. What has long been an open-ended aspiration has, in the age of Trump, taken on the fierce urgency of now. We Are California says on its website that “we need a multiracial, multigenerational, multi-issue movement to create the California we dream of.” Its boycott has a diverse list of supporters, including Community Coalition and Inner City
Struggle in Los Angeles, two grassroots organizations that serve Black and Brown neighborhoods. In coming together, they are sending the message that California has an obligation to do more than celebrate its diverse population — it has to empower it. In the process it has to remind the country of who and what it is.
The loudest pro-democracy voice we have
Disseminating a call to counter the multiple and profound injustices of the Trump administration through decisions about where you choose to shop for gifts may feel a little incongruous. But at a moment in which corporate wealth and capitulation to blatantly antidemocratic policy have become so intertwined, the choice of where they spend their money may be the loudest pro-democracy voice Americans have. The Black-led boycott of Target that’s been going on since March in response to Target’s reneging on its public DEI commitments has certainly had an impact; the company’s sales and profits have declined, and its CEO is stepping down. While Target hasn’t restored its DEI policies — that’s why it’s still on the
list — since April, it’s tried to reaffirm core diversity values in public statements. Suffice it to say that the boycott is not just affecting bottom lines; it’s establishing diverse America as a force to be reckoned with, financially and culturally.
Boycotts change America
Boycotts also serve to remind Target and other Trump-accommodating corporate giants that it’s their customers who are the true source of their billions, not the president. The old adage that the customer is always right still has currency, and in many cases, moral weight. It’s not a coincidence that 70 years ago, Black people in Montgomery, Ala., launched a boycott of the city’s bus service that eventually forced the city to drop the strict segregation of public transit that had been in place since the end of slavery. The boycott took a year to work. In the context of history, especially the history of American struggle, that wasn’t long at all. This article was produced by the nonprofit publication Capital & Main. It is republished here with permission from Word in Black.
Deconstructing December By Isisara Bey What I love most about December is the convergence of rites from several spiritual traditions, including the Christian, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Islamic faiths, as well as the secular observance of Kwanzaa. Each brings a singular perspective from their particular school of thought, rooted in the nature-based celebrations that preceded them. Lights, ornaments, gifts and gatherings, it’s a month-long vibe with ancient origins. These popular festival customs were eventually included in the story of the birth of Jesus The Christ, which most scholars place between 6 and 4 B.C. This is based on the dates of King Herod’s reign, who died in 4 B.C. After Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, the first formal celebration of Christmas on Dec. 25 was in A.D. 336. Gita Jayanti celebrates the birth of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture that forms part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. It is a 700-verse poem describing
a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna. It addresses themes of duty, righteous action and the spiritual paths (yogas) of knowledge/jnana, devotion/bhakti and selfless action/karma. Christian Orthodox communities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East make up more than 12 percent of all Christians. Coptic Orthodox Christmas, celebrated primarily in Egypt, Ethiopia, Russia and Serbia, falls on the same date as Orthodox Christmas, Jan. 7. Copts precede it by 43 days of fasting in preparation, 40 days for Orthodox, and four weeks of Advent for the Christian mainstream. Three Kings Day, or Epiphany, is a Christian holiday celebrated on Jan. 6. It commemorates the biblical story of the three Magi or wise men who followed a star to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Some scholars assign Persia as the place of origin for Melchior, India for Gaspar and Ethiopia for Balthazar. The main Jewish holiday in December, this year beginning on Dec. 14, is Hanukkah, an eight-day
commemoration also known as the “Festival of Lights. It remembers the battle, recovery and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. One key observance is lighting the menorah, a ninebranched candelabrum evoking the time during the fight when a small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days. The main Muslim holiday in December 2025 is Laylat al-Raghaib (Night of Wishes), observed on the 22nd, and is significant as a night of prayer and reflection. I’ve always been partial to the practice of Kwanzaa, a non-religious, non-heroic holiday based on African harvest traditions. Each night from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, libation is poured, a different candle is lit and a community-building principle, such as Unity, Self-Determination, Creativity and Faith, is discussed. And it always means lots of family, fun and feasting. The planetary phenomenon of the Winter Solstice is the connective tissue across all these traditions. Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and the
longest nighttime. It falls on Dec. 21 or 22 when the Northern hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun. But beyond the ceremonies and commercial aspects of the holidays are their more profound meanings. The African ancients symbolized (not worshiped) the sun as the potential for us to realize our higher purpose above the need for basic survival. The manger invokes the humble, authentic place where one can strip away ego in finding the true self. The star represents the illumination of a transcendent consciousness, as in the sixth chakra (energy center) in ancient Indian traditions. Candles share a core meaning of light overcoming darkness, representing hope and spiritual illumination. The Magi stand in for spiritual seekers and the power of wisdom and knowledge, surrendering to an innocent, loving consciousness. Picture this: all these powerful intentions are emanating from billions of people around the planet. For one month, despite our differences, we are immersed in an ocean of aspirations for the best in humanity, our love for each other,
Courtesy photo
Isisara Bey is CEO of Journey Agent Productions and artistic director of March On!, the annual film festival that focuses on stories from the Civil Rights Movements and leaders of today who are on the frontlines of the fight for equality. goodwill to all and the connection to something far greater than we. Whatever you celebrate, may it be so. “Out beyond ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. I will meet you there.” -- Jelaluddin Rumi This commentary was originally published by March On!
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December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American A5
Mrs. Santa returns with Christmas joy and cheer By AFRO Staff Mrs. Santa returned to West Baltimore with bikes, games and gifts for all ages on Dec 13. Working with Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy as her partner school, Mrs. Santa welcomed children, volunteers and members of the Afro Charities and AFRO News teams as she carried the AFRO tradition into yet another year. “It really does give me an opportunity to just bring some smiles to children’s faces,” said Diane Hocker, the AFRO director of community and public relations who has served as Mrs. Santa for 25 years. “I’m passing the baton to the Afro Charities team, but when you pass the baton you still run behind to support. I
think they’re doing a great job. They have definitely elevated how the program is recognized in the community.” For more than six decades the annual Mrs. Santa toy giveaway event has served as a time to make Christmas wishes come true for Baltimore families. This year, toy drives were once again held by the Baltimore Kappa Silhouettes and the Steppin’ Out Bunch, with a new drive hosted by Next Phaze Café. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. made their annual donation of bikes, and individuals looking to bless others added toys and school uniforms. All together, Afro Charities leaders say roughly $5,000 was raised to help families across the city this holiday season. Forty families participated in this
AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor
Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper (left), AFRO News CEO and publisher, shares a moment with Afro Charities Director of Programs and Partnerships Deyane Moses, Baltimore Ravens mascot “Poe,” AFRO Director of Community and Public Relations Diane Hocker, and Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood. year’s event. Afro Charities forged a partnership with Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy in Baltimore’s Upton neighborhood last year, ahead of a planned move into the area’s famed Upton Mansion. As renovations to the space continue, the Afro Charities team has worked hand in hand with members of the school community. Deyane Moses, director of programs and partnerships for Afro Charities, spoke on why it’s important to keep the Mrs.
Santa going year after year. “So many families are in need,” she said. “We want to help our community by giving them exactly what they need for the holiday season. We give because we love them, we’re building community, and we want them to know they matter. We want to make sure they have a special and memorable holiday season.” Additional donors for this year included the Mechanic Foundation; Kappa Continued on A6
Claye Murphy, an Afro Charities board member, chats with attendees Amour Rollins (center) and Devyn Moye (right) as they choose their gifts.
L A N FI S E C AN
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is comin’:
A MOTOWN
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MUST CLOSE JAN 4! CENTERSTAGE.ORG
A6 The Afro-American December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025
Members of the AFRO News and Afro Charities team celebrate another successful year of Mrs. Santa’s annual toy giveaway at Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy with members of the community and “Poe,” the mascot of the Baltimore Ravens.
Mrs. Santa Continued from A5 Alpha Psi Foundation; Craig Talley, chair of community service and engagement for the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Arthur Varnado; The Philomathians; Enyinna Anthony of the Anthony Management Group; Joan Pratt and Frederica Vaughn; Michael Howard of the The Baltimore Alpha Wives; the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation; Brian “Keith” Talley; Mary Cook; Lavone Grant; Geraldine Bates; Next Phaze Café; and Edith Holland Bryant Woman’s Missionary Society. Journey Yates, an 11-yearold attendee, learned about the program through her participation in Unlimited Potential, a non profit organization founded by Haneef Hardy that mentors children in West Baltimore. Yates left the event with Play-Doh and an Orbeez kit. For this holiday season, she said she wants people to “feel great and get some presents.” While some took portraits
with Mrs. Santa, others lined up to receive a face painting from artist Desiree Thaniel, or paid a visit to the arts and crafts table to make a holiday ornament. Aside from Christmas presents, the day featured an appearance by “Poe,” the mascot for the Baltimore Ravens NFL franchise. Attendees also enjoyed food by Exquisite Catering as Antoinella “DJ Tuturella” Peterkin filled the halls with sounds of Motown Christmas. Breyana Crowder, a parent who attended with her family, spoke about why the event was meaningful to her. “I came out to support and bring my kids out for the Christmas experience, just to get the feel of Christmas,” said Crowder. After losing her grandmother this year, Crowder said the Mrs. Santa event was healing because it offered a chance for her to spend time with her loved ones. “I just love feeling that warmth…being around people that feel like family really warms my heart.”
Olmec Roberts, 4, holds on tight to his gifts from Mrs. Santa.
Antoinella “DJ Tuturella” Peterkin sets the tone for the party with Christmas tunes.
Photo courtesy of Afro Charities / Savannah Wood
Educational games, musical instruments, Barbie dolls and more are offered at the Mrs. Santa toy giveaway.
Tylen Camlin shows off his gift of choice, a pack of bubble wands.
Items for the Mrs. Santa toy giveaway are put on display.
AFRO Director of Community and Public Relations Diane Hocker (left) reprises her role as Mrs. Santa at Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy on Dec. 13. Shown here, Hocker with Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood.
Devyn Moye creates a holiday ornament.
David Parker (left), Aaron Moore, Donnell Jenkins and Dwayne White, all members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, present brand new bikes donated by the organization.
Wesley Terry (center), attends the event with his cousin, Nikita Rollins, and his daughter, Lesley Terry (left).
Demi Allen receives a design in face paint from Desiree Thaniel. All AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor, except where noted
December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American A7
Dance Institute of Washington’s ‘Spirit of Kwanzaa’ – standing for the culture and community By Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor For a generation, the Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) has graced the Washington, D.C., community with “The Spirit of Kwanzaa”, the Institute’s longest running and most treasured cultural creation. So, as we approach the 2025 holidays, one might ask, with so many cultural
“culture” full force, and inviting the public to celebrate Kwanzaa and represent together with them. In the 30th year of the DIW’s beloved “Spirit of Kwanzaa” celebration, there was no holding back, said Kahina Hayes, executive director of the Dance Institute of Washington in an exclusive interview with the AFRO. “This is a moment where courage matters. Institutions across the
“What’s even more meaningful is the way the audience has deepened in its connection to the work. People don’t just attend this show, they return to it because it feels like home.”
and educational institutions backing away from or treading lightly with all things “Black heritage,” what will DIW leaders do about their premier production this holiday season? The DIW doubled down from Dec. 19-21, representing the
country are feeling pressure around how they present stories tied to race and identity, but at DIW, our work has never been dictated by politics. It’s dictated by purpose,” Hayes said. “We lean into the principles of Kwanzaa, especially
Photo courtesy of Virginia Zandler
Dance Institute of Washington artists perform in the “Spirit of Kwanzaa” dance celebration, held Dec. 19-21. self-determination and collective responsibility.” The DIW staged an electrifying performance featuring the Washington area’s best young performing dance artists as they recreate the beloved “Spirit of Kwanzaa” production in honor of the Institute’s founder, Fabian Barnes. Hayes said
Photo courtesy of Virginia Zandler
A second generation of youth now perform in Dance Institute of Washington’s “Spirit of Kwanzaa” celebration.
it has been both a celebration of an institute that has stood the test of time as well as time to step up. “This year, instead of shrinking back, we’re standing firmly in cultural truth. Dance has always been a language of freedom for our community. That hasn’t changed. We stay rooted in engaging our families, inviting dialogue and ensuring our young people feel seen and supported. We don’t respond to political pressure, we respond to the needs of our community.” The Dance Institute of Washington was founded by the late Fabian Barnes in 1987 as a summer intensive dance program for hearing impaired youth at Gallaudet College. The institution’s excellence in training youth has earned the DIW praise from near and far, ranging from Oprah Winfrey, Congressman Kweisi Mfume and the Points of Light Foundation to recognition and funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies and MacKenzie Scott, who gave the organization a $2 million
grant in 2024. Scott recognized the organization for “spotlighting dance as a pivotal tool for unity, healing and empowerment, especially for marginalized communities.” For DIW and the D.C. community, the 30th year anniversary was a “full circle” moment for the Kwanzaa dance celebration. “We’ve watched this audience grow from a tight-knit neighborhood tradition into a regional, intergenerational celebration. We now see parents who once danced with us as children bringing their own kids to the production. That continuity is powerful.” “What’s even more meaningful is the way the audience has deepened in its connection to the work. People don’t just attend this show, they return to it because it feels like home,” said Hayes. Remaining performance times are as follows: Saturday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m.
How to support college students this holiday season
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By Fajr Eutsey College is a time of significant transitions. Students are stepping out of their comfort zones, making hard decisions and learning to balance independence with responsibility. That growth can be exhilarating, but it can also be overwhelming. The holiday season, with its mix of family expectations, financial pressures and cultural traditions, often magnifies those challenges. Dr. Annelle Primm, M.D., MPH, senior medical director of the Steve Fund, has spent her career addressing mental health disparities. She explains how the break between semesters can be both restorative and isolating, and what families and communities can do to help students feel supported.
Independence meets family traditions
“College students who have grown accustomed to independence may have to readjust to their family environment when they come home for the holidays,” Dr. Primm says. That shift can spark conflicts over routines or even political beliefs. For students without supportive home environments, the break can feel isolating rather than restorative.
Signs your student may be struggling
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Families should pay close attention to changes in behavior. Dr. Primm points to withdrawal from activities, sleeping much more or less than usual, or significant shifts in appetite. “Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or frequent tearfulness are important signals,” she explains. More concerning signs include talk of being a burden, reckless
Photo courtesy of Black Health Matters
This holiday season, college students across the world are returning home to family members and friends that should know how to spot mental health challenges. behavior, or giving away meaningful possessions.
The extra burdens Black students may carry
While all students face stress, Black students often shoulder additional burdens. “Financial concerns may affect Black students disproportionately,” Dr. Primm notes, pointing to the ripple effects of job losses among Black families. Grief also weighs heavily, as shorter life spans in Black communities mean young people often face losses earlier. “These pressures converge during the holidays, when financial strain intensifies, and family absences feel most acute,” she says.
Belonging can feel complicated
Returning home can strengthen a sense of belonging through cultural traditions and family connections. But for some, it highlights differences. “If the student’s family is conflicted about them attending college and the student has adopted new ways of thinking, they may feel out of place or estranged,” Dr. Primm observes. For those staying on campus,
an empty environment can amplify loneliness. Social media often compounds the feeling, showing peers surrounded by family and celebration.
Family moves that make a difference
Dr. Primm recommends mindfulness meditation as a way to reduce stress. “Take one step at a time so as to focus on the here and now,” she says. She also urges families to start open, judgment-free conversations, validate students’ experiences and respect their independence while maintaining connection. The Steve Fund’s Holiday Mental Health Toolkit offers practical tips and reflection tools to help families navigate this season.
Faith and community as healing spaces
Churches and community groups can play a vital role in reducing stigma. “It is important for people to know that mental health concerns do not signify a failure of faith,” Dr. Primm explains. Trusted messengers can reassure students that seeking help is not a weakness but a strength. Read more on AFRO.com
A8 The Afro-American December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 WINTER BREAK FUN:
Holiday events in the D.C., Baltimore area By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com The end of the year is here and with it, a host of Christmas and Kwanzaa family-friendly holiday activities. From tree lighting celebrations and holiday markets to seasonal performances and light displays, take a look at events sure to make this season bright for kids and adults alike.
Maryland Baltimore City Christmas Village in Baltimore
The Inner Harbor is hosting a holiday celebration for their 12th season. The corner of Light street has been transformed into a magnificent holiday family-friendly destination, including ice skating, vendors and Christmas carolers. Date: 11/22/25 - 12/24/25 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Location: 501 Light St. Baltimore, MD 21230 Cost: Free
Merry Marathon
A holiday movie marathon is the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve. The Southwest Sports and Fitness Alliance is hosting a “Polar Express” movie marathon, bring your favorite snacks and your blanket and get cozy with an all day movie marathon. Date: 12/24/25 Time: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Location: 1049 West Saratoga St.
Baltimore, MD 21223 Cost: Free
It’s All About the Children: Kwanzaa Celebration
The National Great Blacks in Wax museum is hosting an amazing Kwanzaa celebration for children at Henderson-Hopkins Elementary School. There will be special wax displays, giveaways, cultural drumming and light refreshments for participants. Date: 12/26/25 Time: 6-8 p.m. Location: Henderson-Hopkins Elementary School 2100 Ashland Ave. (the “security” entrance) Baltimore, MD 21205 Cost: Free
Kwanzaa Jeopardy
This event is perfect for those who are new to the Kwanzaa holiday and would like to learn more about it. There will be surprises, refreshments and team activities. Date: 12/30/25 Time: 6-9 p.m. Location: 807 East Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 Cost: Free
Baltimore County Kwanzaa Live w/ Culture Queen
At the Owings Mills Public Library, Culture Queen will be teaching children and teens about Kwanzaa. She will be assisting in crafts and teaching ways to celebrate the 7 principles of Kwanzaa through games
and storytelling. Date: 12/27/25 Time: 2-2:45 p.m. Location: 10302 Grand Central Ave. Owings Mills, MD, 21117 Cost: Free
Washington D.C. Frosted at Franklin Park 2025
For the entire holiday season Franklin park has been celebrating with a dazzling light show, sing-a-long carolers and free hot chocolate and apple cider. This event is perfect for the family that wants to celebrate outdoors, be amazed by life sized ice sculptures and take pictures with Santa. Date: 11/21/25 - 1/7/26 Time: 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Location: 1332 I St., NW Washington, D.C. Washington, DC 20005 Cost: Free
Kwanzaa at ACM
Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will be hosting a seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa with Culture Queen. Each day’s theme mirrors the acknowledgements that take place during the holiday. This gives an opportunity to experience the true meaning of Kwanzaa on more than one occasion. Date: 12/26/25 - 1/1/26 Time: 12-2 p.m. Location: 1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020 Cost: Free
Unsplash Annie Spratt
Christmas offers opportunities to connect and bond. Make sure you take advantage of the extra time with friends and family by visiting some of the events on this year’s holiday calendar.
Exploring the seven principles at the heart of Kwanzaa Test your knowledge of the seven principles of Kwanzaa with the AFRO’s crossword celebrating unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
ACROSS
3. To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. 4. To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. 5. To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. 6. To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
our problems and to solve them together. 2. To believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. 3. To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
DOWN
1. To build and maintain our community together and make our community’s problems
Photo courtesy of Bill Moore
Each year, Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. This year, a variety of events will offer fun for the whole family.
See answers on B3 This crossword puzzle was generated using the Puzzle Maker on DiscoveryEducation.com.
December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American B1
AFRO NEWS
Anxiety grows in Trinidad and Tobago as U.S.-Venezuela conflict escalates By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
AP Photo / Brian Witte
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-MD-District 21), 59, is now officially the Speaker of the House of Delegates in Maryland. Peña-Melnyk was sworn in on Dec. 16.
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk sworn in as Maryland House speaker By Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Md.-District 21), 59, was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Delegates in Maryland on Dec. 16.
Peña-Melnyk will now be the chamber’s second female leader, the first Afro-Latina, and the first born in the Dominican Republic to hold the position. She follows Delegate Adrienne Jones (D- Md.-District 10) who announced on Dec. 4 that she was stepping down after holding the post for over six years.
Maryland to consider slavery reparations after Gov. Wes Moore’s veto is overridden By Brian Witte Maryland will create a commission to study potential reparations for slavery after lawmakers voted Dec. 16 to override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore — currently the nation’s only Black governor — that disappointed many fellow Democrats. Moore said in his veto letter in May that it was a difficult decision to veto the bill, which was a priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. But he wrote there has been enough study of the legacy of slavery, and it was now time to “focus on the work itself” to address it. But Democrats who control both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly decided the commission was needed to better examine how to do that. “This topic isn’t easy, but, again, without formal study, reparations risk being dismissed as symbolic or unconstitutional, regardless of moral merit,” said Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Democrat. After his veto was overridden, Moore said that while he disagrees with the legislature’s decision, “I am eager to move forward in partnership on the work of repair that we all agree
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston, File
Maryland General Assembly lawmakers at the State Capitol in Annapolis, Md. are moving forward with a plan to create a commission that will study potential reparations for slavery, despite Gov. Wes Moore’s argument that the state should focus on direct action rather than further study. is an urgent and pressing need.” “I believe the time for action is now -– and we must continue moving forward with the work of repair immediately,” Moore said in a statement. “That mission is especially vital given the immediate and ongoing effects of this federal administration on our constituents, including communities that have been historically left behind.” Potential reparations outlined in the bill include official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social service assistance, as well as licensing
and permit fee waivers and reimbursement. Reparations also could include assistance with making a down payment on a home, business incentives, childcare, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education. Maryland’s Black population is about 30 percent, the highest percentage of any state outside of the Deep South. Support for reparations gained momentum in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. However, the issue has been a difficult one,
particularly for high-profile Democrats, and comes amid a broader conservative backlash over how race, history and inequality are handled in public institutions. “At a time of growing attacks on diversity and equity, today’s action reaffirms our shared commitment to truth-telling, accountability, and meaningful progress for Black Marylanders,” the state’s Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement. This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
As the tension between the United States and Venezuela continues to escalate, residents of Trinidad and Tobago feel they have been thrust into the conflict, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar backing America’s recent strikes and military build-up in the region. In recent months, the U.S. has ramped up its naval presence in the Caribbean. According to a Pentagon News report on the Department of Defense (DOD) website, “U.S. Southern Command has conducted at least 20 lethal maritime strikes on intelligence-confirmed narco-terrorists in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean since September.” On Nov. 24, DOD leaders officially named “Venezuela’s state-embedded criminal network Cartel de los Soles a terrorist organization,” with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at the helm. DOD officials are quoted in the article as saying the new designation will bring “a whole bunch of new options” when it comes to deterring drug smugglers. The attacks have led to more than 90 deaths. On Dec. 10, Trump seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. On Dec. 16, he used his social media platform to order “a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela.” On Dec. 15, leaders of Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs said that the country reinforced a “commitment to sustained cooperation with the United States of America (U.S.A.) in advancing regional safety, security, and stability.” Leaders of the Caribbean nation say that Americans have been helpful by conducting joint military training exercises, making improvements to surveillance systems and donating money to improve everything from educational initiatives to infrastructure projects. In return, the United States now has open access to airports in Trinidad and Tobago. Now, Trinbagonians (as natives are called) are increasingly worried that the country’s alignment with Washington, D.C. could place them in the crossfire. “Venezuela has made it very clear that they used to see us as friends, but now with us going against that and going with the United States, they are now seeing us as enemies,” said an entrepreneur living in Trinidad and Tobago who requested to remain anonymous. “They have said very categorically that if America does invade their country—while they cannot invade America because of the distance—they would believe it is because of Trinidad that they were invaded and
Unsplash/ Fredrik Öhlander
Residents in Trinidad and Tobago are fearful of the military strikes being carried out by the United States military in the body of water the country shares with Venezuela. The bombing of multiple fishing boats, at the command of the 47th president’s administration, is said to be a campaign against narcotics trafficking. will therefore attack Trinidad directly.” The entrepreneur said he is feeling uneasy and frustrated with the Trinidad and Tobago government. Before tensions erupted between Venezuela and the U.S., he described his country’s relationship with Venezuela as a “love-hate” one. While most Trinbagonians recognize that Venezuela is under an authoritarian regime, he noted that the country has historically refrained from interfering in its neighbor’s internal affairs and maintained a cooperative trade relationship. Now, he believes all of that is at risk. “We should have continued in the same vein of not meddling in people’s internal politics, but now we have been bullied by another power to become complacent in wrongdoing,” said the resident. “The country has enough politicians and everybody else if they want to overthrow the government—it’s their business.” The Caribbean has long been declared a “Zone of Peace.” Still, Trinidad and Tobago has been one of the few Caribbean Community (CARICOM) members to break from this tradition. Along with Guyana, it has openly supported U.S. operations in the region, while the majority of CARICOM members have stressed adherence to international law and called for peaceful, diplomatic solutions. One woman living in Trinidad and Tobago, who also requested to remain anonymous, acknowledged that while drug trafficking is a problem in the region, there is deep concern over the lack of transparency surrounding the U.S. military operations and the potential risks they pose to civilians. In a November conversation with an AFRO reporter, she argued that the 47th president’s actions toward Venezuela are ultimately aimed at seizing its natural resources— the South American country is known to have the largest oil reserves in the world. Given the past two weeks, it appears she could be right. Read more on AFRO.com
December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American B2
WASHINGTON-AREA Accountability takes center stage at gun violence summit in D.C. By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com The Center for American Progress (CAP), a progressive public policy think tank, held its 11th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit on Dec. 10 in Washington, D.C. The event brought together advocates, survivors, policymakers and more from across the nation and abroad. The summit aimed to foster new partnerships, empower attendees and highlight what more can be done to help end gun violence in the U.S. It featured panels and discussions with top voices in the gun violence prevention movement, including New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D). Nick Wilson, senior director of gun violence prevention at CAP, highlighted how the event was designed to focus on progress rather than setbacks such as disappearing grants dedicated to tackling gun violence. “Today is about hope and about progress and about our successes,” said Wilson. “When we zoom out and look at the trajectory of the past decade, something remarkable becomes clear. We’re winning, we’re saving lives, we’re reshaping what is possible in this country and we need to savor each and every victory.” Wilson emphasized that gun violence is declining in cities that have invested in prevention and stronger gun laws.
“Gun violence is falling in communities across the country, and some of the largest declines are in cities that have invested in prevention, have stronger gun laws that are holding the gun industry accountable,” he said. One of those cities is Baltimore. “Gun violence is the reason at six or seven years old, I decided I wanted to be the mayor of Baltimore,” said Scott. Baltimore City experienced eight consecutive years of 300 homicides annually from 2015 to 2022. Under Scott’s administration, homicides have reached a 50-year low, with an approximately 30 percent decrease this year and a 60 percent drop since 2021. Scott credited the city’s distinct improvement in public safety to the group violence reduction strategy (GVRS), which reduces gun violence by helping individuals at highest risk of committing violent crimes while delivering certain consequences for violent acts. He also cited their all-of-government approach that does not overly rely on a single funding source, such as federal dollars, to keep the initiative effective. “We have to make sure that the numbers continue to go down,” said Scott. “To me, those numbers are people. They are lives saved, families not being impacted, communities that still have people that are able to grow into the best version of themselves.”
Photo courtesy of the Office of the Mayor Baltimore/J.J. McQueen
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D), left, speaks on reductions in violent crime with Nick Wilson, senior director of gun violence prevention at the Center for American Progress. The two participated in a fireside chat session during the National Gun Violence Prevention Summit in the District. New Jersey has seen similar progress. “Every year I’ve been in office as I sit here today, over 800 fewer people have been shot in New Jersey than the same time the year before I took office,” said Platkin. “One of the reasons is the affirmative lawsuits that we brought to hold bad actors and the firearms
industry accountable.” According to the Public Rights Project, a national organization providing litigation support, affirmative lawsuits are cases that enforce laws that protect the people’s rights as individuals and community members. Under affirmative lawsuits, government lawyers file cases that confront violations
that harm residents at a local, state or federal level. Breakout sessions and networking opportunities during the summit allowed attendees to exchange information and build alliances within the movement. Sylvia Stitt Smith, executive director of the Samuel Harrison Stitt Foundation, named after her son who died of gun
violence on Aug. 9, 2019, shared the topics she found most pressing at the summit. “There is a distinct difference between violence in a community and a mass shooting,” said Sylvia Stitt Smith, executive director of the Samuel Harrison Stitt Foundation, named after her son who died of gun Continued on B3
Smith, Bowser respond to congressional panel accusing D.C. leaders of manipulating crime data By Michael Kunzelman
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith addresses questions during a news conference at the Department of Justice.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser are responding to allegations about the manipulation of crime data in the District. A Republican-led congressional committee says that the police chief in the nation’s capital pressured subordinates to manipulate department data to artificially lower the city’s crime rates, according to a report by a Republican-led congressional committee. The report, released Dec. 14 by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, says that the police chief often threatened, punished and retaliated against police commanders who presented her with “spikes in crime.” A separate investigation by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office also found that a significant number of MPD reports had been misclassified to make crime rates appear lower than they are. Pirro’s office began its investigation in August at the height of a political showdown between
Republican President Donald Trump’s administration and the city over control of the police department. Trump claimed violent crime in Washington was getting worse as he ordered a federal takeover of the police department, Neither investigation found grounds for charging anybody with a crime. Smith, who is stepping down at the end of the year after two years in charge of the department, has said she doesn’t believe any crime numbers were manipulated during her tenure. “I have never and will never authorize or even support any thought processes or activities with regards
to crime numbers being manipulated,” she told Fox 5 during an interview earlier this month. Washington Mayor Bowser on Dec. 15 defended Smith’s performance and accused the House committee’s leaders of rushing to judgment “in order to serve a politically motivated timeline.” “It is my expectation that the crime statistics we publish and rely on are accurate and of the highest quality possible,” Bowser, a Democrat, wrote in a letter addressed to the House committee’s chair and ranking member.
0
125
Past Seven Days
Continued on B3
2025 Total
B3 The Afro-American December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025
Maryland, D.C. attorneys general oppose CFPB proposal they say weakens lending discrimination protections By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO News Staff Writer vmejicanos@afro.com Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb are part of a coalition of state attorneys general pushing back against a proposed plan by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that would change how the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is enforced. The proposal, now open for public comment, would weaken tools that prove discrimination in lending, according to the attorneys general. A Dec. 12 letter from the coalition says the proposed
changes violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and weaken the ECOA’s protections against discriminatory and unfair treatment in credit markets. “Unlike the existing regulations, which help to effectuate ECOA’s goal of ensuring that all people have equal access to credit without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status, and age (among other bases), the proposed changes will lead to more discrimination, undermining Congress’s purpose in enacting the statute,” the coalition of attorneys general wrote. Consumer advocates argue that the proposal would effectively erase the disparate impact
“The proposed rule will make it even more difficult for underserved markets to access credit, particularly communities of color that continue to experience redlining and lending discrimination.”
doctrine, which allows regulators and advocates to identify discrimination in lending through patterns and outcomes rather than explicit bias. In addition to state officials, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), a network of more than 700 community-based organizations, submitted its own comments to the CFPB, warning that the proposal would rollback critical protections against discriminatory lending. “The proposed rule will make it even more difficult for underserved markets to access credit, particularly communities of color that continue to experience redlining and lending discrimination,” the NCRC wrote. Dr. Dina El Mahdy, an associate professor of accounting at Morgan State University, explained that although it’s likely a version of these changes will be finalized, it will not be exactly as proposed. According to an email sent to the AFRO by El Mahdy, the most affected groups would be communities that already face higher denial rates and thinner access to mainstream credit such as Black and Latino borrowers, residents of historically redlined neighborhoods, women‑owned and minority‑owned small
Stephanie Scarbrough/ AP
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is the first Black person to hold the office. He joined other attorneys general from several states in opposition to Equal Credit Opportunity Act enforcement changes. businesses, and older or lower‑income applicants. This would impact Baltimore City greatly. As previously covered by the AFRO, Baltimore City has the lowest average credit score of the 100 most populous counties surveyed by Opportunity Insights, a Harvard University-based research team. Additionally, across the nation, Black individuals fare worse than their White peers, even with perfect repayment history. According to data presented, the average credit score for Black individuals is nearly 100 points lower
Gun violence summit
D.C. crime data
Continued from B2
Continued from B2
violence on Aug. 9, 2019. “A lot of the violence in the community happens in Black and Brown neighborhoods.” Smith praised CAP for elevating survivor voices beyond mass shooting narratives. “Stories create awareness,” she said. “Hearing stories from those who have the moral authority to share how it has impacted our lives, our families, our communities at large will give people a sense of awareness that this issue impacts all of us.” Hudson Munoz, executive director of Guns Down America, emphasized consumer advocacy and economic pressure as tools for gun violence prevention. “The accountability process in gun violence prevention can open a wider
aperture to look at the role of business regulation,” said Munoz. Munoz said financial incentives shape corporate conduct and consumer behavior, influencing public safety outcomes. “I think there’s an opportunity for us to lay down our own standards for how these businesses operate in our communities,” he said. “That is where we are looking outside of the gun law space and looking at the role of shareholders and consumers.” As the summit concluded, attendees were encouraged to bring what they learned back to their communities and press forward despite federal challenges. They were also urged to stay connected with new networks to continue making a difference nationwide.
Homicides are down 31 percent this year, from 181 in 2024 to 125 with roughly two weeks left in 2025, according to MPD crime data. Bowser said independent data on hospital visits shows a 33 percent drop in firearm injuries for the first 10 months of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. The mayor accused the committee of cherry-picking critical quotes from commanders without interviewing Smith or any assistant chiefs. “Even a cursory review of the report reveals its prejudice: of the 22 block quotes presented as complaining about Chief Smith’s management style, 20 of them were made by only two command officials interviewed,” Bowser wrote. The House committee said its findings are based in part on interviews with the
than White peers by the time they are 30. This gap persists throughout adulthood. “These groups are especially vulnerable to ‘neutral’ rules that have unequal effects in practice, and they are the primary beneficiaries of special-purpose credit programs that the proposal would restrict,” said El Mahdy. For most people, the application process for a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card would look the same, but the legal protections that prevent discrimination would be weaker. According to El Mahdy, “Lenders would face less
pressure to adjust facially neutral policies—such as minimum credit scores, marketing strategies, or branch and loan‑officer placement—that disproportionately screen out applicants of color, older borrowers, and other protected groups, so those disparities are more likely to persist.” The CFPB proposal closed out their public comment period on Dec. 15. The agency will review feedback and may revise the proposal before issuing a final rule with a date that the rule would become effective, which could take months or longer.
“I have never and will never authorize or even support any thought processes or activities with regards to crime numbers being manipulated.”
commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and a former commander who is currently on leave. Commanders testified that Smith pushed for a more frequent use of “intermediate” criminal charges that go unreported as opposed to more serious charges that must be publicly reported, according to the committee. “These combined efforts, as explained by commanders, amounted to manipulating MPD crime statistics in an effort to show lowered rates of crime to the public,” the report says. Pirro, who was appointed by Trump, said her office reviewed nearly 6,000 police reports and interviewed more than 50 witnesses in
concluding that a “significant number of reports had been misclassified, making crime appear artificially lower than it was.” “The uncovering of these manipulated crime statistics makes clear that President Trump has reduced crime even more than originally thought, since crimes were actually higher than reported,” Pirro’s statement says. The committee’s Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said Smith “cultivated a culture of fear to achieve her agenda.” This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
Answer Key ACROSS 3. Kuumba 4. Ujamaa 5. Umoja 6. Nia DOWN 1. Ujima 2. Imani 3. Kujichagulia
December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American B4
BALTIMORE-AREA Baltimore residents demand end to private police force at Johns Hopkins University
Photo Courtesy / Raven Parker
Co-founder Raven Parker with Danielle Alease and Omar Muhammad, partners with Morgan State University’s Entrepreneurial Development Assistance Center, are pictured at the Youth Wealth Summit in Baltimore.
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com Residents and students from across Baltimore joined the Baltimore Abolition Movement (BAM) on Dec. 15 at War Memorial Plaza to demand an end to the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD). Protesters braved frigid temperatures to request a hearing from the Baltimore City Council, a hiring halt at JHPD, an exit from the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between JHPD and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the complete elimination of the private police force. More than 1,000 people have signed BAM’s petition thus far. The organization delivered their petition to 12 of the 14 council members during the rally. “We want to make sure that the people’s voices are being heard in these moments. Even though we got to this point, this is just the starting point on our path to abolish this unnecessary threat to
AFRO Photo/Megan Sayles
Malcolm Walker, organizer with the Baltimore Abolition Movement (BAM), calls for an end to the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) during a Dec. 15 rally at War Memorial Plaza. our community,” said Malcolm Walker, BAM organizer. “With that being said, rather than wait for our city council members to sit on their hands, we’re going to continue to put pressure on them.” The demonstration comes as the private police force at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has been gradually taking shape over the past several years. The push emerged in 2018 when school officials voiced concerns about rising violent crime on and near the campus. Though the plan was met with opposition from students and surrounding community members, the Maryland General
Assembly passed a bill in 2019 allowing JHU to establish its police force. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the formation of the department was put on hold amid widespread protests over police violence and accountability. A few years later, the effort resumed. Branville G. Bard Jr. was appointed the inaugural police chief of the JHPD in 2023, and the first officers were sworn in in December 2024. During the rally, undergraduate student Francis Phillip, a member of the Continued on B5
Charles F. Robinson III, award-winning journalist and news director, dies at 69 By Alexis Taylor AFRO Managing Editor Veteran journalist and news director Charles F. Robinson III died Dec. 15. At the time of print, a cause of death had not been disclosed. Robinson was a giant of the Black Press and a vital member of the Maryland Public Television (MPT) team. Travis Mitchell, senior vice president and chief content officer at MPT, described Robinson as “one of the rare individuals that was able to produce content on multiple platforms, in a way that content was meant to be delivered. He could report for radio, he could produce stories for TV, he could shoot, he could edit, he could write.” “His journalism skills were impeccable,” said Mitchell. The two men knew each other for more than three decades. Mitchell told the AFRO that Robinson was “a man of integrity, a trusted voice, with an incredible network of sources.” “Charles was always a trusted news gatherer, but he was–most importantly for me–a trusted mentor,” he said. Mitchell arrived at MPT six years ago. He saw Robinson take on major stories such as the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, CIAA tournaments, the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd. Robinson’s roots run deep in the media landscape of the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. Though he was born in Richmond, Va., on Oct. 20, 1956, Robinson grew up in Baltimore. He first ventured into the media business as a member of the Black Press. The junior high school student who got his start delivering the Baltimore AFRO-American Newspaper evolved into an award-winning journalist that received the National
AFRO Archives File Photo
Charles F. Robinson III, for Maryland Public Television, poses a question at a 2013 book signing event for Simeon Booker at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch in Baltimore. Association of Black Journalist’s (NABJ) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. According to information released by MPT, Robinson’s path in journalism included three stops as a reporter at news stations from Florida to Ohio. In radio, he was a political analyst and news director for WEAA FM 88.9 and an executive producer for a station in D.C., TPT Radio Network. Robinson was very active in NABJ and led the organization’s Mid-Atlantic Region. His passion for journalism even extended to his beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Robinson served as editor-in-chief of The Sphinx, the official magazine of the first Black Greek Letter Organization in America. At the time of his death, the Virginia Commonwealth University alum was an
MPT correspondent for news and public affairs. He was also teaching students at Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC). Dean Jacqueline Jones leads SGJC, located on the historically Black institution’s Northeast Baltimore campus. She met Robison roughly 25 or 30 years ago through NABJ and said he was always an “upbeat, smart guy.” Jones said Robinson became known for mentoring journalism students working in the SGJC building and recruiting the ones with nothing to do for trips to cover the state legislature in Annapolis. “He would come into the digital newsroom and he might look over a student’s Continued on B5
Youth Wealth Summit empowers students with hands-on financial skills By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com The Youth Wealth Summit returned for its fourth year with a new direction and a deeper partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools. Each year the summit serves an opportunity to expand financial education for middle and high school students in a city where economic mobility is a tough challenge for many. The event is run by the CEO Empowerment Network, founded by Anthony and Raven Parker. Anthony Parker said the summit was created to blend community education and entertainment while giving young people meaningful access to financial literacy. “The basic goal of the Wealth Summit is to empower people in our community and underprivileged youth with the knowledge they need to advance in wealth creation,” he said. “We saw a gap in the market and a yearning for people wanting to be more informed.” About 130 middle and high school students attended the summit, choosing from
five workshops and a panel discussion centered around the theme “CEO of Your Life.” Post-event surveys showed strong engagement, with students reporting that the hands-on workshops helped them feel more confident about money, leadership and entrepreneurship. Participants also earned student service learning hours, and members of the youth advisory council who helped design the event were paid for their work. Several of the workshops offered real-world simulations of wealth-building concepts. Anthony Parker led a session on business ownership that introduced students to purchasing businesses as a path to wealth, followed by a Shark Tankstyle pitch activity. Another workshop, led by Morgan State University’s Entrepreneurial Development Assistance Center, walked students through stock market investing using real-time scenarios. Additional sessions focused on budgeting, entrepreneurship and student-led Continued on B5
“My favorite part of the event was getting to understand different ways to make money and to save money, not just spending it on things that you want.”
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December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American B5
Rally
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Black Alliance for Peace, criticized the public safety rhetoric used to justify the department’s creation. He argued that crime is often framed as a neutral, objective problem, when in reality it functions as what he dubbed a “Trojan horse for colonial control”— or a politically constructed concept used to legitimize expanded policing and surveillance. “It is rarely about public safety, but instead functions as the primary language through which state agencies validate their own existence—justifying the expansion of control, the suppression of dissent and the cultural enforcement of the social order that maintains hegemony,” said Phillip. “This manipulation reveals a continuum where the domestic police state and global imperialism are interconnected systems using the same logic of criminalization to manage population resources.” In response to the concerns raised by protesters, a JHU spokesperson offered the university’s perspective on the department’s creation and mission. “Johns Hopkins is committed to building and supporting a safe environment for our students, faculty, staff, patients and neighbors. The Johns Hopkins Police Department upholds the highest standards of constitutional, accountable law enforcement, working to address the root causes of crime and establish community
shoulder and say, ‘What are you writing?’.... ‘What does that mean?’ ‘What’s this story about?’ He would basically coach them through their lede,” said Dean Jones. “He would take them and introduce them to lawmakers, or to cabinet officials, or communication officers. He’d get them passes so they could sit in on sessions, and the students began to look forward to his visits.” “He was working on a podcast with students, he was always around during election season, and always had ideas,” she said. “I saw him about two weeks ago, and he said, ‘Dean, we need to talk about next semester, and we need to talk about what we’re gonna do in the fall for midterms.’ And that was just how he was. He was always there, whether he was working for us officially, or if he was just coming through and just kind of giving us some of his time.” Dean Jones said that as a member of the Black
AFRO Photo/Megan Sayles
Francis Phillip, an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), expresses his support for the abolition of the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) at a rally held at Baltimore’s War Memorial Plaza on Dec. 15. trust,” said Doug Donovan, spokesperson for JHU. “Since being signed into law in 2019, the comprehensive statutory process the Maryland General Assembly set out for the development and operation of the Johns Hopkins Police Department has been affirmed by the Maryland courts and supplemented by community input.” Over 2025, the JHPD has hired 25 police officers, according to Donovan. The department has plans to expand the force to 100 employees— the legal maximum— by the end of 2027. “These new officers will work alongside the university’s Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team and the more than 1,000 public safety personnel who are already working across the university and health system,” said Donovan. “Additionally, Johns Hopkins recognizes the
importance of having officers who are a part of the community in Baltimore City, and we are establishing several initiatives to promote local hiring and residency.” Now that BPD is under local control, the city council has the power to terminate its collaboration with JHPD. BAM plans to continue pressing council members and calling for the department’s abolition in 2026. The organization is looking for more people to join their effort. “When we come together as a united front to challenge policing at every level, from JHPD, to BPD, to ICE, we can begin to shift the balance of power together,” said Jack Lewis, organizer with BAM. “We can reject the lie that more police means more safety and embrace the simple idea that true safety comes from giving people what they need to live.”
Youth wealth Continued from B4
Photo courtesy Raven Parker
Quill Hamilton, the summit’s SECU partner, is speaking at one of the workshops offered at the summit teaching financial literacy.
opportunities within Baltimore City Public Schools, including how students can access school funding to create new programs. According to information from the American Bankers Association, “nearly ninein-10 consumers (87 percent) agree that financial concepts should be taught in high school and 72 percent believe they would be better off financially if they had learned the basics of personal finance at an earlier age.”
Raven Parker said exposure is a central goal. “We wanted to be able to expose them to more opportunities so they can actually see what wealth looks like right around them,” she said. “Putting them in rooms with people they look up to has been very rewarding. A lot of mentorship has been happening and they have been able to get access to grants through pitch competitions.” One student said the summit helped broaden his understanding of financial responsibility. “My favorite part of the event was getting to understand different ways to make
AFRO Photo
Charles F. Robinson III is remembered for his work as a journalist, news director, producer and mentor. Press, Robinson will be remembered for encouraging African-Americans to become civically engaged and for working to “make sure that our community had everything it needed to keep people informed.” “We’ll find some way to salute him, to keep his memory alive in the school,” she said. “Charles was a force of nature. He was always around. Always helping, always thinking, always pushing. I want to make sure that people remember that.”
money and to save money, not just spending it on things that you want,” said Nathaniel Monroe Jr., a student from the Academy of College and Career Exploration. Funding remains the summit’s biggest challenge. “Passion projects do not always bring income,” Raven Parker said. SECU opened 30 bank accounts for youth last year and deposited $100 into each. She credited long-term partners, including First National Bank, Wells Fargo, EDAC and CQ Bank for sustaining the program.
December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025 The Afro-American B6
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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001246 CLARENCE LIVINGSTON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs CRAIG ROBINSON whose address is 3729 JAMISON STREET NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20018 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CLARENCE LIVINGSTON who died on SEPTEMBER 2, 1990, without a Will. 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 JUNE 5, 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 JUNE 5, 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: DECEMBER 5, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001238 LEROY HICKMON JR. Name of Decedent MARILYN CAIN GORDON 7603 GEORGIA AVENUE NW SUITE 304 WASHINGTON, DC, 20012 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs DWAYNE JONES whose address is 2919 Knight Court, Bryan Road, MD 20616 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LEROY HICKMON JR., 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 JUNE 5, 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 JUNE 5, 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: DECEMBER 5, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001258 MILDRED A. FOSTER Name of Decedent KARL L. CHEN 9701 APOLLO DRIVE, SUITE 381 LARGO, MD 20774 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs REGINA D. WHITE , whose address is 9306 WELLINGTON STREET, LANHAM MD, 20706 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MILDRED A. FOSTER who died on SEPTEMBER 12, 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 JUNE 19, 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 JUNE 19, 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: DECEMBER 19, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
CRAIG ROBINSON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/25
DWAYNE JONES Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2025ADM001285 Estate of SYDNEY L.A. BASCOMBE Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE (For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995)
Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by KAREN CLEAVER-BASCOMBE for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading inthe form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first pub-lication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. *in the absence of will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determing that the decendent died intestate
Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by KAREN CLEAVER-BASCOMBE for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading inthe form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first pub-lication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. *in the absence of will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determing that the decendent died intestate
*appoint an unsupervised personal representitive Date of first publication:
*appoint an unsupervised personal representitive Date of first publication: DECEMBER 5, 2025 Names of newspapers: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers KAREN CLEAVER-BASCOMBE 4314 VARNUM PLACE NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017 Signature of Petitioner/Attorney Register of Wills Clerk of the Probate Division 12.5, 12.12.25
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REGINA D. WHITE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/19, 12/26/25, 1/2/26
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2025ADM001285 Estate of SYDNEY L.A. BASCOMBE Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE (For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995)
DECEMBER 5, 2025 Names of newspapers: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers KAREN CLEAVER-BASCOMBE 4314 VARNUM PLACE NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017 Signature of Petitioner/Attorney Register of Wills Clerk of the Probate Division 12.5, 12.12.25
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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000672 WARREN SINGLETARY JR Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ANNETTE SINGLETARY, whose address is 7902 VELTRI DRIVE, FRT WASHINGTON, MD 20744 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WARREN SINGLETARY who died on FEBRUARY 16, 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 JUNE 19, 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 JUNE 19, 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: DECEMBER 19, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
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ANNETTE SINGLETARY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/19, 12/26/25, 1/2/26
Source: Gun Violence in the U.S. 2022, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
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BOARD OF LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE – DECEMBER 2025 Petitions have been filed by the following applicants for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages at the premises set opposite their respective names. The real property for these applications will be posted on or about December 15, 2025. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after December 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM in the Liquor Board Hearing Room, located at 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2300, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Please visit llb.baltimorecity.gov under the link for “Hearing Schedules” for confirmation of the date, time, and place for all matters being heard by the Board. 1. CLASS “A” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE Applicant: BSAFI, LLC T/a Brown Liquor Store - Rusom Woldemariam Andom and Biniam Debesai Petition: Transfer of ownership Premises: 2300 Edmondson Avenue 21223 (City Council District: 9th; State Legislative District: 40th) 2. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE Applicant: 190 Octane North, LLC T/a Fat Tuesday - Robert George Petition: New restaurant license Premises: 718-22 S. Broadway 21231 (City Council District: 1st; State Legislative District: 46th) Applicant: HM Management Latrobe, LLC T/a Swann House - David Gjerde and Corey Polyoka Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment Premises: 909 N. Charles Street 21201 (City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 46th) Applicant: Copper Café, LLC T/a Copper Café - Mark D. Larkin, Jr. Petition: Request to add live entertainment Premises: 5736 Falls Road 21209 (City Council District: 5th; State Legislative District: 41st) Applicant: Limoncello of Baltimore, LLC T/a Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar - Andrea Formisano, Gennaro Di Benedetto, and Francesco Schiano Di Cola Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting outdoor table service, off-premises catering, and delivery of alcoholic beverages Premises: 900 E. Fort Avenue, Suite 101 21230 (City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th) Applicant: Blu Cal, LLC T/a Blu Ca - Di’Andra S. Tucker Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment, outdoor table service, and off-premises catering Premises: 2450 Rye Street 21230 (City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 46th) 3. CLASS “BD7” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE Applicant: PNJ Beverages, LLC T/a Anchor Spirits - Norma Giardini Petition: Transfer of ownership and location of a Class “BD7” BWL license presently located at 1708 Fleet Street to 3500-E Eastern Avenue Premises: 6500-E Eastern Avenue 21224 (City Council District: 1st; State Legislative District: 46th)
CITY OF BALTIMOR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals for the TR-26008 RECONSTRUCTION OF ALLEYS CITY WIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until January 21, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of December 19th, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labelled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” which can be electronically emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book in person may do so by appointment only for the non-refundable cost of SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) at the Department of Transportation located at 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Office of Boards and Commissions, 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project is, A02601 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVING & D02620 CURB, GUTTER SIDEWALKS. The Cost Classification Range for this project will be from $1,600,000.00 to $2,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Informational Meeting” will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on January 7th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. By no later than January 6th, 2026 at 3 pm prior to the pre-bid meeting, email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are CLASS 1 EXCAVATION 5700 Cubic Yards; 6 IN. SUB-BASE USING CRUSHER RUN 16,530 Square Yards; 7 IN. CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT MIX, NO. 7 16,030 Square Yards. The MBE goal is 20%; The WBE goal is 7%- APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates.
LEGAL NOTICES CITY OF BALTIMOR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals for the TR19018 REPLACEMENT OF RETAINING WALL ON DARTMOUTH ROAD will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until February 4, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of December 19th, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda. simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labelled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” which can be electronically emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book in person, may do so by appointment only for the non-refundable cost of SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) at the Department of Transportation located at 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Office of Boards and Commissions, 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project is, C02300 Pile Driving and G90046 Concrete and Brick Retaining Walls. The Cost Classification Range for this project will be from $1,000,000.00 to $2,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Informational Meeting” will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on January 14th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. By January 13th, 2026 at 4 pm prior to the pre-bid meeting, email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to christopher.brown@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are: PERMANENT TOP-DOWN RETAINING WALL-LUMP SUM; CONCRETE STAIRS-LUMP SUM. The MBE goal is 5%; The WBE goal is 2%- APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates. CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals for the TR-26001 RECONSTRUCTION OF FOOTWAYS CITY WIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until January 21, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of December 19th, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labelled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” which can be electronically emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book in person may do so by appointment only for the non-refundable cost of SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) at the Department of Transportation located at 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Office of Boards and Commissions, 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project is, A02601 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVING & D02620 CURB, GUTTER SIDEWALKS. The Cost Classification Range for this project will be from $1,800,000.00 to $2,200,000.00; A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on JANUARY 7, 2026 @ 9:00AM hosted by the Department of Transportation. Roll call will be taken at the beginning of the pre-bid meeting. By no later than 3pm on JANUARY 6, 2026 email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are: 5” Concrete Sidewalk 162,000 square feet; 5” Exposed Aggregate Sidewalk 6,000 square feet; 7” Concrete Pavement 6,000 square feet. The MBE goal is 30%; The WBE goal is 10%- APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates. CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for BALTIMORE CITY NO. RP24822R - Patterson Park Wading Pool will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M. January 21, 2026. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. The proposed Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, at the Dept. of Rec & Parks at 2600 Madison Ave, Baltimore, Md. 21217 by appointment only Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:00pm by emailing ganiyat.adigun@baltimorecity.gov as of December 19, 2025 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of $100.00. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is G90073 Swimming pool construction and repair, Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $1,200,000.00 to $1,900,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams at 10:30 A.M. on January 6, 2026. Email your contact information to demos.anastasiades@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting) no later than January 5, 2026 at 4:00pm. Principal Items of work for this project are Removal of site improvements, Earthwork, Underground utilities, Storm water facilities, New Swimming Pools, New Site Amenities Landscaping and Hardscaping. The MBE goal is 20% and WBE goal is 9%. APPROVED: M. Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates
For More Information Please call the number above LEGAL NOTICES CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals for the e TR-26004 RECONSTRUCTION OF ALLEYS CITY WIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until January 21, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of December 19th, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labelled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” which can be electronically emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book in person may do so by appointment only for the non-refundable cost of SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) at the Department of Transportation located at 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Office of Boards and Commissions, 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project is, A02601 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVING & D02620 CURB, GUTTER SIDEWALKS. The Cost Classification Range for this project will be from $1,600,000.00 to $2,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Informational Meeting” will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on January 7th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. By no later than January 6th, 2026 at 3 pm prior to the pre-bid meeting, email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are CLASS 1 EXCAVATION 5800 Cubic Yards; 6 IN. SUB-BASE USING CRUSHER RUN 16,820 Square Yards; 7 IN. CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT MIX, NO. 7 16,320 Square Yards. The MBE goal is 20%; The WBE goal is 7%- APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates. CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals for the TR-26005 CURB REPAIR CITYWIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until January 21, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of December 19th, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labelled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” which can be electronically emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book in person may do so by appointment only for the non-refundable cost of SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) at the Department of Transportation located at 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Office of Boards and Commissions, 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project is, D02620 (curb, gutter & sidewalk). The Cost Classification Range for this project will be from $500,000.00 to $750,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Informational Meeting” will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on January 7th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. By no later than January 6th, 2026 at 3 pm prior to the pre-bid meeting, email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to Gaylord.Dutton@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are MISCELLANEOUS CURB REPAIRS 6,500 Linear Feet; 5 INCH CONCRETE SIDEWALK 18,000 Square Feet. The MBE goal is 30%; The WBE goal is 10%- APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC NOTICE For Housing Choice Voucher Program Opening of the Project-Based Waiting List The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) is announcing the opening of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) project- based voucher waiting list. The project-based voucher program provides federally funded rental assistance for eligible very low-income families up to five (5) bedroom households, elderly households, and non-elderly single persons with disabilities to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. The project-based voucher is attached to specific housing units. The waiting list will open at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and will close on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. HABC will be accepting preliminary applications online only at www.habc. org. Online applications will be available in multiple languages. Applicants with disabilities or those requiring additional assistance are encouraged to visit www.HABC.org when applications open for more information. Submission of a complete pre-application is necessary to be considered for placement on the waiting list. Selections will be randomized. Applications must be received between 9:00 AM January 14, 2026, and 11:59 PM January 23, 2026. Public Housing residents will be required to submit a separate application if wanting to apply for the HCVP Project-Based Waiting List. To assist applicants with the pre-application process, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) will be available on HABC’s website at www.habc.org.
B8 The Afro-American December 20, 2025 - December 26, 2025