Washington AFRO-American Newspaper May 11 2013

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Volume 121 No. 40

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MAY 11, 2013 - MAY 17, 2013

On Mother’s Day, A Grandmother Celebrates a New Relationship

By Andrea Crews Special to the AFRO

Charles Ramsey Photo courtesy Cleveland Call and Post

‘Dead Giveaway’

By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO

Charles Ramsey never imagined he’d be thrust into the national spotlight from the yard of his Cleveland home much less called “hero” for, of all things, rescuing three women from who’d been kidnapped.

However, that is exactly what happened on May 6.

“I heard screaming. I was eating my McDonald’s. I went outside and saw this girl throwing nuts trying to get out of her house, “ Ramsey told ABC News affiliate WEWS. Clad in a plain white tee and flashing a less than perfect smile, Ramsey explained how he rescued Amanda Berry, 27, Continued on A6

INSIDE A4

Washington View Race in the DMV Races

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Character Education Essay Winners

Hear the AFRO on The Daily Drum, Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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Evelyn Crews admires a photo of herself and her late husband.

Photo by Andrea Crews

Medical Marijuana Dispensary to Open in District

Black Banks Face Challenges

The Popeye’s on Eighth Street Southeast sells the typical fare of fried chicken and biscuits, but the space upstairs from the fast food restaurant will soon sell something a little more unusual and a lot more green.

A mere two miles from the U.S. Department of Justice, Metropolitan Wellness Center, one of three medical marijuana dispensaries preparing to open in the District within the next few months, will sell dried cannabis, edibles and paraphernalia to qualifying individuals.

Proponents say medical marijuana can help patients manage pain and deal with other symptoms of diseases such as cancer.

But marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

“It’s hilarious, isn’t it?” said Vanessa West, Metropolitan Wellness Center’s general manager. “It’s funny, the public has it in their heads that people are going to be up here smoking and then going downstairs to eat chicken.”

Medical marijuana was approved in the District in 1998, though Congress, which controls the city’s budget, blocked implementation until recently.

Despite pot’s illegal status federally, 19 states, most recently

By Zenitha Prince Special to the AFRO

By Ethan Rosenberg Capital News Service

Maryland, have passed legislation allowing the distribution of medical marijuana. Voters in both Colorado and Washington state approved ballot measures in November allowing the recreational use of pot.

Maryland’s law, which Gov. Martin O’Malley signed Thursday, will allow academic medical centers, designated by a commission within the state’s Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, to distribute marijuana to patients who have received a recommendation from their physician.

The law will take effect Oct. 1, although the bill’s sponsor, Del. Dan Morham (D-Baltimore County), has estimated it will take a couple of years before treatment will become available.

Marijuana has had its place on the federal government’s Schedule 1 listing of illegal substances without a known medical use and a high potential for abuse since 1970 as part of the Controlled Substances Act. “The fact that the District of Columbia can pass it legally, and the District of Columbia is in the land of the federal government ... is a contradiction and it speaks to the fact that federal law needs to sort of get on board with what more states are saying,” West said.

See more at afro.com.

Stop the Music!

“All we do is care for Medicaid folks”–Michael A. Rashid, President & CEO Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Anne Morrissey and Executive Director Karen Dale outlined the important changes that went into effect on May 1.

As AmeriHealth District of Columbia “I’m very excited to continue to be here takes over for D.C. Chartered Health Plan serving a population that has a lot of need,” this month, the top level managers are said Dale, who was Chartered Health’s homing in on one health care element– chief operating Medicaid for officer and is 100,000 D.C. now overseeing residents. a staff of more “All we than 150 do is care experienced for Medicaid Medicaid folks,” said workers under Michael AmeriHealth A. Rashid, District of president and – Executive Director Karen Dale Columbia. chief executive “All of this officer of additional ACFC. “We support and expertise is only going to help are focused and we believe that any time us do tremendous good in changing the lives you focus on something, and that’s your mission, you’re going to do it better than if and the health of our members.” you don’t focus.”

With the AmeriHealth takeover, D.C. Rashid’s remarks came during a recent area Medicaid recipients, effective May 1, conversation with the AFRO as Executive Continued on A4

By Albert Phillips Special to the AFRO

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The once-towering stature of the Black bank has diminished. After almost 125 years of serving the underserved, the Black banking community has been brought low by a shrinking clientele, questions of relevance, competition from big banks and the fluctuating fortunes of its traditional client base— churches, small businesses and lower- and middle-income Blacks, who have borne the brunt of the economic recession.

“The state of Black banks is bleak,” said Paul O’Connor,

Continued on A6

AmeriHealth District of Columbia Brings Medicaid Expertise to D.C.

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The sweetest joy of my life has been getting to know my grandmother.

I never knew her well growing up. Grandma Evelyn lived in Greensboro, N.C., so I only saw her on occasional visits. There were few chances to hug her, sitwith her or laugh with her. I learned from my limited contact with her that she was a woman who did not smile often, had the gnarled hands of someone who worked hard, had a commanding bearing and always kept her home pristine from the baseboards to the ceiling.

I learned around Thanksgiving that she was Continued on A6

“All of this additional support and expertise is only going to help us do tremendous good in changing the lives and the health of our members.”

AP Photo/ Evan Agostini/Invision

Beyonce attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit celebrating “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” on May 6, in New York.

Copyright © 2013 by the Afro-American Company

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013

NATION & WORLD

Death Penalty Favored for Boston Bomber— But Not Among Blacks

An overwhelming majority of Americans—but African Americans to a lesser degree—support the death penalty for the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings should he be convicted, according to a recent national poll.

Seventy percent of those surveyed in the Washington PostABC News poll support capital punishment for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Federal prosecutors indicted the 19-year-old on capital charges of using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property in the bombings that killed three and injured almost 200 persons.

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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Republican lawmakers wanted Tsarnaev, an American citizen, to be deemed an “enemy combatant” so he could be questioned at length without being read his Miranda rights before being released to the federal judicial system.

Tsarnaev’s defense attorneys include not only public defenders but also Judith Clarke, a renowned lawyer in death penalty cases, according to news reports. Her clients have included Jared Loughner, who killed six people in the 2011 supermarket shooting in Tuscon, Ariz. that wounded thenRep. Gabrielle Giffords (D); and Theodore J. Kaczynski, the Unabomber.

According to the Washington-ABC News poll, however, 74 percent of Americans seemed to back the Obama administration’s decision to try Tsarnaev in federal courts rather than a military tribunal. That support was mostly consistent across political and racial lines.

Backing for Tsarnaev’s execution was also mostly comparable across party lines, although Democrats were the least likely to support the measure. Republicans (84 percent) were most supportive of the death penalty, followed by Independents (69 percent) and Democrats (64 percent).

But, there were wider racial gaps on support for the death penalty, reflecting ideological divisions that exist in the general public.

While three-quarters of White respondents supported the death penalty for Tsarnaev, only a little over half of African Americans support execution and 43 percent opposed it.

And Hispanics were also less likely to support the death penalty for Tsarnaev; 62 percent supported the punishment and 35 percent opposed.

Fantasia Barrino is proving again why she is an “American Idol,” as her fourth and newest album, “Side Effects of You” took the No. 2 slot on the Billboard 200 chart in the first week of May. But even amid her professional triumph, the soulful singer suffered a personal defeat when she was forced to give up her five-bedroom North Carolina mansion.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, Barrino avoided foreclosure by signing over her house to a bank in February.

The singer has faced an ongoing battle with her home since 2008, when she was accused of defaulting on a $58,000 loan from Florida-based company Broward Energy Management. The 6,500-square-foot house, which was purchased for $1.3 million, was almost auctioned off in 2009 before the foreclosure was stopped at the last minute. And last April, she put the house up for sale at an asking price of $800,000—but no one bit.

In a 2010 CNN interview to promote her VH1 reality series, “Fantasia For Real,” the star addressed the foreclosure rumors, including talk that “Idol” creator Simon Cowell had bailed her out.

“The show will set the record straight: I am still in my house, it wasn’t a foreclosure and no, Simon Cowell did not help me pay any of my bills, though I thought that story was cute,” she said. “At the time I had a lot of different lawsuits, people just trying to come after me and for awhile I went without management. I did have a lawyer, but I guess, I don’t know if it was a money situation or the lawyer just had too much on his hands, I don’t know, but he wasn’t showing up for court.”

She later added, “The courts put both of my homes up for auction, so there was no foreclosure. It wasn’t that we weren’t paying the bills or didn’t have money. I guess when people heard I was doing “The Color Purple” [on Broadway] they thought I had Color Purple/Oprah Winfrey money.”

Former CBC Chair Watt Nominated to Head Federal Housing Finance Agency

Amid Chart-Topping Sales, Fantasia Loses Home to Foreclosure

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Mel Watt

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Fantasia Barrino

President Obama has nominated former Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which regulates government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. CBC Chair Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) had earlier suggested Watt as a choice for Secretary of Commerce and was one of several critics who had questioned the homogeneity of the president’s cabinet, but praised Obama for his choice of Watt.

“I congratulate President Obama and his Administration for making such an outstanding choice…. Rep. Watt will be the transformational leader the FHFA needs to make sure this country stays on the path to full economic recovery,” she said in a statement.

In making his announcement on May 1, President Obama said Watt is the right leader to build on successes and continue the work of healing the crippled housing industry.

The 11-term Democratic congressman from North Carolina has served on the powerful House Financial Services Committee for two decades. He is known for his efforts to combat predatory lending, and to promote homeownership among lower-income Americans.

If confirmed by the Senate, Watt will replace Edward DeMarco, FHFA’s acting director for more than three years.

May 11, 2013 - May 11, 2013, The Afro-American

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Phone selection and availability may vary by store. Coverage and services not available everywhere. See store or metropcs.com for coverage, details and Terms and Conditions of Service (including arbitration provision) for additional information. MetroPCS features and services for personal use only. Nationwide long distance only available to the continental United States and Puerto Rico. Nationwide coverage of over 280 million population based on 2011 Target Pro data. Abnormal Usage: Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted for misuse, abnormal use, interference with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users, or roaming usage predominance. MetroPCS related brands, product names, company names, trademarks, service marks, and other intellectual property are the exclusive properties of MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks, service marks, and other intellectual property are the properties of their respective owners. Copyright Š2013 T-Mobile USA, Inc.

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013

Washington View

Race in the DMV Races

Post-racial politics?

The issue of race in 2014, particularly in the local Democratic primaries, is already a determining factor. The rapidly changing demographics in the “DMV” [DistrictMaryland-Virginia tri-state area] are not only redrawing the landscape but also restrucuturing the political playing fields. And all are reading those color-coded Adrienne 2012 election results like tea Washington leaves.

AFRO Columnist Take a look at where the DMV candidates set their starting gates – in majority/ minority districts which delivered President Barack Obama’s 2012 “urban” victory. But can the DMV candidates depend on the shifting black and brown electorate to win?

In Maryland, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown is ready to make “a very special announcement” May 8 at Prince George’s County Community College. No secret, it’s about his bid to succeed Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is also looking to get a promotion himself [to president].

Then, Brown plans “an announcement tour” of multiethnic Frederick, Silver Spring and Baltimore this weekend.

“If I were [Brown’s] strategists, I would forget about white males and concentrate on white women, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians,” said Radamase Cabrera, Clinton community activist and political insider. “White males are irrelevant,” in winning Maryland Democratic elections given today’s demographics.

Strong stuff. Cabrera explains that most of the voterrich jurisdictions in Maryland are now “majority-minority” filled with Democratic minorities, even in those in suburban Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties. White voters in those counties are split one-third each between Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The latter two cannot vote in

the June 2014 Democratic primary for governor.

“That’s why the labor unions are talking to Brown; they can read the numbers just like I can,” Cabrera said.

Brown will be up against a strong Democratic foe in State Attorney General Doug Gansler who is not without his longstanding party ties. “The battle comes down to a vote between Brown and Gansler, and the word on the street is that Gansler is looking for a black woman as a running mate for his ticket,” Cabrera said.

“The white candidate needs a black female and the black candidate needs a white, conservative,” Cabrera quipped. To that end, Brown is reportedly considering Howard County Executive Ken Ulman as a running mate, Cabrera added.

Still, it is not a given that the Harvard educated Brown

earlier this week, McAullife’s Republican contender, the ultraconservative Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccineili has a 46 to 41 percent lead. Though most Virginians, including Blacks, said they were unfamiliar with McAullife, 69 percent of Black voters said they would vote for the Democratic candidate. But it’s unlikely that they will turnout in high numbers without Obama on the ballot.

Still, McAullife apparently knows he needs them and other increasing minorities for a winning edge.

Traveling up I-395 into downtown D.C., Ward 2 D.C. Council Member Jack Evans, made it official May 6 he will definitely toss his business bowler in the ring for a second bid at mayor, no doubt because “Chocolate City” is now “Vanilla Swirl,” which increases his winning chances.

Only Ward 4 Council Member Muriel Bowser (D), who is black and represents a majority black district, has officially announced her mayoral bid. Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells, also white and representing Capitol Hill, has established an exploratory committee. Whether Mayor Vincent Gray, who acts more like a candidate every day, will run is still a big question.

Evans, who is white and represents Georgetown, pledged to campaign in all eight wards, saying that for the next mayor “it’s critical they have that kind of support across the city.” But you can bet that his strategist are scouring last month’s special election to see where to invest their campaign dollars to get the most likely voters. It’s no secret that in that last election even with its abysmal turnout, there was a geographic divide that matched the racial divide in the whiter, wealthier nation’s capital.

So much for post-racial politics.

“The rapidly changing demographics in the “DMV” [District-Maryland-Virginia tri-state area] are not only redrawing the landscape but also restrucuturing the political playing fields.” can get enough black voters, who may view him as aloof, to the polls to ensure a win in the primary or general election.

Cabrera suggests that Brown’s folks are attempting to show the Prince George’s resident as a homeboy by hosting a lowkey kickoff at the Prince George’s Community College. This event harkens back to the days of “an old fashioned Friday night fish fry,” Cabrera said. But he offered a caution: this first campaign rally “shows they misunderstand the black voter” in Maryland, the longtime political operative contends, who would be more appreciative of “a National Harbor-type venue.”

Across the “Nice Bridge” into Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, businessman and former Democratic National Committee chair, launched his candidacy for governor in majorityminority Norfolk and Richmond touting his urban agenda for a better economy, education and jobs.

In a newspaper poll Washington Post released

Veteran journalist Adrienne Washington writes weekly for the AFRO about relevant issues in the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Send correspondence to her at editor@ afro.com.

Social Security Changes Could Hurt Blacks Most

By Maya Rhodan NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Social Security changes proposed by President Obama could hurt African Americans more than other groups, according to a new report by the Center for Global Policy Solutions.

In this fiscal year 2014 budget, President Obama is proposing switching the way benefit programs such as Social Security and civil service retirement adjust for inflation to the chained consumer price index, or chained CPI. Chained CPI calculates inflation differently from the consumer price index, the current yardstick. The move would save approximately $230 billion, according to the president’s budget.

“The chained CPI significantly reduces the purchasing power of those who rely on benefits issued by the federal government, and especially disadvantages retirees and the long-term disabled because it fails to take into account the higher costs they shoulder as a result of their increased need for health care services and related products,” the report said.

The Center for Global Policy Solutions report finds that the changes may cause

particular harm to older African Americans.

Nearly half of African American beneficiaries rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income, compared Social Security changes proposed to 35 percent of all

by President Obama could hurt beneficiaries. Two African Americans more than out of five Black other groups.

Stock Image retirees over 65 depend on Social consider burdening those Security for their who are most in need of our entire income. support.”

The report shows that 18 The changes proposed percent of Black adults over by the president do not fare 65 had an income below the well with the constituents federal poverty level. Without they will affect the most. In Social Security benefits, April, AARP released a poll 53 percent of older African that showed that 70 percent Americans would be living of older voters are not in in poverty according to the favor of using chained CPI AARP. for the Social Security costThe changes to COLA of-living adjustment and 78 will also impact the one in percent are opposed to using five Black children receiving the adjustment for veteran disability benefits, according benefits. to the report. Black children “This cut to Social are twice as likely to receive Security would break the survivor benefits as well. promise to seniors and hurt “Chained CPI is also veterans who’ve sacrificed so a poor policy considering much for this great country,” that Social Security does AARP executive vice not contribute to our annual president Nancy LeaMond deficit, and the trust will run said in a statement. a surplus of more than $2.7 According to the report, trillion until the 2030s,” Rep. the coming reductions will John Conyers (D-Mich.) result in about $3 lost for said in a statement. “I am every $1,000 in benefits. disappointed then that That amounts to a lot for the President Obama would

African Americans over 65 who receive about $13,000 a year in benefits.

Although President Obama has proposed to protect “the most vulnerable Americans,” including those over 76 and beneficiaries who receive benefits for longer periods of time, Mikki Waid, AARP senior strategic policy advisor, says older African Americans won’t reap the benefits of being protected.

“African Americans don’t live as long, so even though the president has proposed these bump ups, an African American male that has made it to 65 is only expected to live to 81, women to 84,” Waid said. “They aren’t going to benefit from the protections.

Waid added, “The fact that they decided to exempt some individuals makes you wonder if it’s a more accurate cost of living adjustment. Is it really an accurate inflation measure of older Americans?”

No, the report finds.

A large portion of retirement income goes toward medical expenses, figures that are not considered in the chained CPI adjustment.

The average 65-year-old couple retiring will need $240,000 to cover future medical costs, according to Fidelity Investments, which tracks retiree health care

costs. The median annual income for African Americans on Social Security is $14,400.

The report also said that African Americans will be the most negatively impacted by the switch to chained-CPI because they have much less wealth that could be used to supplement the reduction in Social Security.

“As a result of racial wealth disparities, African Americans will be negatively affected by implementation of the chained CPI regardless of the non-means tested federal program from which they receive their benefits,” said Maya Rockeymoore, president and CEO of the Center for Global Policy Solutions. “With precious few other assets to help meet expenses, African Americans will experience deeper economic pain as a result of the chained CPI.” In 2010, Whites had six times the wealth of their African American counterparts, according to the Urban Institute. Whites who were age 32-40 in 1983 had an average family wealth of $184,000, a figure that rose to $1.1 million in 2010. Blacks, in comparison, had an average family wealth of $54,000 in 1983, which had only grown to $161,000 in 2010, when both groups were nearing retirement age.

Blacks have historically

started off with less wealth than their White counterparts, and on average have not reached equal levels of wealth by retirement. Factors such as low wages, high unemployment, and lesser job opportunities have contributed to Blacks inability to accrue enough wealth to keep such large portions of the community from being solely dependent on Social Security into retirement.

The Great Recession, however, also lead to an increased loss of wealth within the African American community, especially in terms of retirement savings.

Blacks, according to the Urban Institute report, lost about 35 percent of their retirement assets during the recession, while White families saw an increase.

A major problem, Waid said, with chained CPI is that the negative impact to benefits will take effect immediately.

“Chained CPI will affect beneficiaries immediately and it will affect all beneficiaries,” Waid said.

She adds that because of this, unfortunately, there is little one can do to prepare.

“It’ll affect them now,” Waid reiterated. “But really what can you do? If you’re an African American 70-year-old woman, I wish I could tell them something they could do, but I just can’t.”

AmeriHealth Continued from A1

now have access to a “comprehensive suite of services” that include physical and behavioral health coverage through the company’s PerformCare business, pharmacy services through the company’s Perform Rx subsidiary and dental and vision services designed to improve quality outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries, the firm said in a recent news release.

AmeriHealth District of Columbia is a member of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family Companies (ACFC), a national leader in managed care and other health care services, which operates in 13 states and serves over 4.7 million beneficiaries.

Most of AmeriHealth D.C.’s target patient group live in the eight, seventh, and fourth wards, parts of the city in which diabetes and obesity are widespread, Dale said, noting that she plans to tailor services to treat that population.

AmeriHealth D.C. intends to bring a bigger and more efficient structure to healthcare, the firm’s executives said, starting with a new 35,000-square-foot headquarters at 1120

Vermont Ave, N.W in downtown D.C. “We’ll bring some of our community programs, enhanced technology, and our care management system,” said Morrissey, a D.C. native who is also a registered nurse and clinical and business expert.

There will be a transition period during which many aspects of Chartered will remain intact to help prevent confusion among patients. Rashid said that the health benefits, doctors, and even the phone number will remain the same. He also added that member identification cards will remain valid until new cards are issued. AmeriHealth staff has been placed at local pharmacies to provide assistance to members during the transition.

“Starting today, any services that are rendered, AmeriHealth is standing behind paying doctors 100 percent of the contracted rate and paying them promptly,” said Rashid who has over 30 years of experience working in the Medicaid field.

According to Families USA, a national nonprofit, non-

partisan health care advocacy organization, more than 58 million people currently rely on Medicaid. They also note that the Patent Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed into law by President Obama in 2010 will allow millions more to qualify.

“It’s a 1,800-page document so of course you’re not going to like everything, but the dominant thing for us is that it’s an effort to cover 40 million uninsured people,” said Rashid. “If it’s going to provide coverage for people who are dying every day, we’re all for it.”

Staffs at AmeriHealth D.C. estimate that currently around 165,000 people receive managed care services in D.C., but as the PPACA begins to take effect in 2014, those numbers will increase.

In the interim, AmeriHealth D.C. officers say they want to encourage local physicians to become part of the AmeriHealth network of providers.

May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013, The Afro-American

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BUSINESS D.C. Millennials Explore Tech with On-Demand Delivery App

by Krishana Davis AFRO Staff Writer Anyone in the middle of a boring Friday night on the couch and in desperate need for a treat from Georgetown Cupcake might not feel like pulling themselves away from their favorite movie. To meet that need, Washington, D.C.-based “millennials” Adrienne Sheares and Ron Cade are exploring the district’s booming tech scene with the launch of their new on-demand delivery service app, Urban Delivery.

“Unlike other delivery services in D.C., we’re mobile so it allows you more access,” said Sheares. “It originally started as a taxi app, but the market is really (Courtesy Photo) saturated for apps like that in Founders Adrienne Sheares and Ron Cade thank the 2013.” crowd for joining them at the launch party for Urban The app, available for Delivery. iOS and Android devices, uses a GPS tracking system to allow users to get any carriable item from anywhere in Washington, D.C. delivered in about one hour via courier. Deliveries start around $12.99 and couriers can make purchases on a user’s up to $150.

Sheares said the company currently has 15 couriers who deliver items via bikes, and one who rides a long skateboard. The app’s GPS locator allows users to track the courier’s moves, alerts them when their courier gets to the location, confirms the purchase and gives users the courier’s contact information if they need to amend the order, she said.

While Sheares has a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University and

The Urban Delivery logo

COMMUNITY CONNECTION May 10

National Association of Black Accountants Scholarship & Awards Banquet Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave., N.W. D.C. 6:30 p.m. The National Association of Black Accountants, D.C. Chapter will hold the 34th Annual NABA Scholarship and Awards Banquet. Justin Jones-Fosu, inspirational speaker, radio host and one of Ebony Magazine’s 30 Young Leaders on the Rise. $55.

May 11

Laurel Main Street Festival 2013 342 Main St., Laurel, Md. 9 a.m. The Main Street Festival will include 350 vendors with arts and crafts, food, services and live entertainment. For more information: 301-438-0838.

Veterans Professional Development Day and Hiring Fair Douglas Memorial United Methodist Church, 800 11th St., N.E. D.C. 11 a.m. As part of Military Appreciation Month, the D.C. Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Douglas Memorial United Methodist Church, will be sponsoring a Veterans Professional Development Day and Hiring Fair. For more information: 202.724.5454.

Speak Life Concert Artisphere Spectrum Theatre, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington, Va. 7 p.m. MiGODi Entertainment will partner with various promoters, churches, organizations and Christian artists to host a series of events to help increase awareness to issues like bullying, negative thinking and drugs. $25. For more information: wespeaklifeconcerts.eventbrite.com.

May 24-26

D.C. Black Pride Weekend 2013 Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., N.W. D.C. Various times. The D.C. Black Pride Festival will feature activities for the entire family including performances from national recording artists, 200 exhibition booths, book signings from noted writers, participation from national and local health organizations and arts & crafts. For more information: dcblackpride.org.

Cade possesses a law degree from Howard University Law School, they did not let their lack of coding skills or tech-knowledge stop them from launching the company.

“I’ve always been interested in technology, especially social media” said Sheares, who is the mastermind behind the popular tweet-up group, blog Heart Social Media DC, creating a hub for social media pros in the district. “I had always surrounded myself around a lot of entrepreneurs and people in the tech field.”

Unlike many new tech ventures, the founders did not launch a KickStarter campaign or other crowd-funding campaign—instead, the start-up chose a more personal route.

“We are still at the friends and family level,” said Cade. “Fortunately, we were able to get up and running without excessive overhead.”

Cade is a serial entrepreneur and, while he did not pursue a career in law after graduating from law school, he used his education to ensure Urban Delivery met all legal statutes. After passing the New York Bar Exam, Cade worked as a courier in Washington, D.C. to learn the industry while the pair developed the start-up.

“Tech, to me, is a means to an end. I am really more interested in entrepreneurship,” said Cade.

“Even as a little kid, I was an entrepreneur--selling Halloween candy to my classmates. Even though I attended law school, I always planned on running my own business and doing something fun. Hence, Urban Delivery.”

Sheares has already taken full advantage of the app. “I used it to get a new Macbook charger when my exploded and I was in the middle of writing,” said Sheares. “I watched them on the app go from U St. to Georgetown to A screen shot of the Urban Delivery app. pick up the charger.”

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013

Howard Faculty Helps Evaluate Psychological Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Victims the natural science research. They are working in conjunction with Vernon Morris, Ph.D., director of NCAS and professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Bill Stockwell, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Hurricane Sandy and its destruction have largely moved out Members from the team spent three days visiting Atlantic of the media headlines, replaced by more recent news events.

City, N.J., and Breezy Point and Staten Island, N.Y., talking with But for New York and New Jersey residents still dealing with residents about Hurricane Sandy and their personal experiences. devastation in its wake, it remains fresh.

“We found that Hurricane Sandy had devastating effects on It is fresh, too, for the National Oceanographic Atmospheric the impacted communities,” Adams said. “The normal things Administration (NOAA) Center for Atmospheric Sciences that we take for granted on a day-to-day basis, like running water (NCAS) at Howard University, where faculty and students are and electricity, were wiped out. It damaged a number of homes assisting with research. NCAS is exploring the sociological to the point where residents were basically forced to move out of impacts of the storm on residents, how people responded and their homes and relocate to other communities.” why they reacted the way they did, as part of its research on how NCAS is funded by NOAA. NCAS research supports NOAA’s weather and climate impact society. mission and provides educational opportunities for students.

NCAS recently surveyed some of the communities in the “With the social science research, we’re trying to find New Jersey and New York areas that were affected by the out what are some of the things that motivate people to take In New Jersey and New York, areas that were affected by protective action and what are some of the most effective October storm, which flooded New York’s subway system, destroyed more than 100 homes, left 53 people dead and caused the October storm destroyed more than 100 homes, left communication tools that will encourage people to process the 53 people dead and caused $18 billion in damages. $18 billion in damages, lost wages and income. information and respond accordingly,” Adams said, “so that we Terri Adams, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department can share these findings with NOAA.” of Sociology and Anthropology, said the team of natural and social scientists from Howard are In addition to their findings on large community displacement, the group also gathered examining the storm on a number of levels. preliminary data that support the idea that social class might affect people’s responses to “When a disaster happens, there are multiple layers of devastation that can impact an disasters, Adams said. individual or a community,” Adams said. “A focus of the research is to examine how people “If you look at some of the communities affected by Hurricane Sandy, you see large numbers respond to or take calls to action before a disaster. Then we examine how people respond to the of White Americans who were not necessarily left behind, but chose to stay behind,” she said. disaster after it has happened.”

“So, what we’re trying to do is disentangle why people make those choices, and we think that The research is a collaborative effort being conducted by scholars in both the social and there might be some race, class and gender implications associated with this phenomenon.” natural sciences. Adams will lead the social science research alongside Carolyn Stroman, The research is a part of the larger, interdisciplinary research efforts taking place among the Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Communications and Culture; Tia Tyree, Ph.D., scientists of NCAS that will explore several different natural disaster sites. The research is still associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Journalism; and Cynthia Winston, in its developmental stage, Adams said, and the group has plans to return to New York and New Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychology.

Jersey to gather additional data.

Everette Joseph, Ph.D., the NCAS deputy director, Beltsville Center for Climate and Systems Observations and professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will lead Harris is communications director for Howard University Hospital.

By Ronald J. Harris Special to the AFRO From Howard University

On Mother’s Day Continued from A1

coming to live with us because dementia had left her unable to care for herself.

The day my grandmother, now 87, moved to Baltimore, I was unsure how to feel.

Though I knew her face, I had a lot to learn about this woman who had gone from being a six-hour drive away to living right above my basement bedroom. Her walk had become slower, her hair greyer, her back more curved.

But she was still my grandmother. * Dementia is a cruel thing.

It robs sufferers of the details that make them who they are.

That’s what it is doing to my grandmother.

Grandma Evelyn had always been a woman in control. I remember how

nice her house was when we visited—the elephant sculptures and other memorabilia she had placed meticulously around the room. Her home was a time capsule of her family.

The thing I valued most, though, were the details of my life she was able to fill in. Her stories about her children’s childhoods--including my dad, Reginald--enthralled me when I would visit.

“Crews and them boys,” she’d say, referring to her husband, Bynum, my grandfather; my dad and three uncles. She was a very traditional Black woman who did everything she could to take care of her family. I remember that at meal time, she never sat to eat until her family had been fed. It was

always clear that her home and her sons were what made her the happiest.

It was also great seeing her do the things that grandmas often do. Even into her 80s, she kept up with her gardening. Grandma Evelyn loved to stay busy.

She survived her children growing to adulthood and one by one leaving home. She also survived the loss in 2008 of Granddad, her beloved, who died at age 86. They were married more than 60 years.

Now, she’s dealing with her biggest challenge yet. * These days, instead of waking up to make breakfast, then spend the day working about the house and yard, Grandma Evelyn is limited to minor tasks. She will sweep

Carolina for her. She stares at a favorite picture of Granddad Bynum. She may tell a story about their life together. She often talks about two friends

the floor, put away dishes, fold laundry. There are signs posted around the house reminding her where the bathroom and telephone are and to beware of dangers like the stove. She watches gospel stations and listens to songs playing on the programs.

A favorite activity is looking at the photo albums my dad brought from North

Photos by Andrea Crews

from her church back home.

Amazingly, she does several

crossword puzzles each week.

Now that I see her every day, she means so much more to me. It’s uplifting to see her eyes light up when she says “Hello!” and when she shouts out, “Grandma’s Andi Andi” when I walk into the room.

We spend time together almost every day. I do her hair. I prepare her food if my dad is not at home. I help her fold clothes. I talk to her. She talks to me. It still gives me great joy to hear her speak, even though these days she may repeat her words several times.

I know that she may not remember everything we share, but that’s okay because I will always be able to look back and recall those memories.

I feel blessed to finally have them.

Black Banks Continued from A1

founder of Angkor Strategic Advisors, a Chicago-based investment firm that works with Black banks, speaking about conditions within the minority banking community in that city.

In the past few years, several Black-owned banks, including the $2 billion-asset ShoreBank, one of the most active lenders on Chicago’s South Side, Covenant Bank and Highland Community Bank have closed or been absorbed into another institution.

And the city’s statistics mirror those nationwide. The number of Black banks has been steadily dwindling since the 1960s. As of March 2011, the FDIC counted 28 Black-owned banks in the United States, down from 54 in 1994. And there are several others teetering on the brink of extinction.

Black banks grew out of the barren soil of segregation. Beginning in 1888 with the Capital Savings Bank in Washington, D.C., these institutions provided loans for homes, small businesses, expanding churches and more, services that majority banks refused to provide to African Americans.

“Black banks played a major role in helping to develop Black communities,” said Michael Grant, president of the National Bankers Association, which has represented the interests of Black banks for the past 86 years. “These banks were there for the community then and still, when everyone else turns them down, Black banks are still there as the last resort—though we wish we were there first.”

With integration, and the implementation of laws such as the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act, which requires depository institutions to lend in the less-advantaged portions of the communities in which they operate, Black banks faced stiff competition from major lending institutions. And later, as these banks consolidated into financial behemoths, the smaller community banks were inched out even more.

“After integration, one of the most toxic side effects is that we started to run and spend our money elsewhere,” Grant said. “We’re the only group in America that refuses to spend money in our community and we’re paying a high price

for it.”

Access to major banks made Black-owned banks somewhat irrelevant, O’Connor argued.

“They don’t have the same significance. A lot of what made them unique has disappeared,” he said. “[And] unlike other racially-concentrated banks, their best customers have outgrown them.”

With desegregation, middle-income African Americans fled their inner-city communities for the suburbs. The defections meant that Black banks found themselves in mostly indigent

services such as non-bank money orders, nonbank check-cashing services, payday loans, rentto-own agreements, or pawn shops.

The recent Great Recession, which was initiated by the implosion of the housing bubble in 2007, has created an even bleaker economic climate for Black banks, as the AfricanAmerican community faced unduly high jobless rates and the onerous toll of subprime loans.

“Even though Black banks didn’t lead us into the Great Recession they were disproportionately hurt,” said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, director

“The number of Black banks has been steadily dwindling since the 1960s. As of March 2011, the FDIC counted 28 Black-owned banks in the United States, down from 54 in 1994.” communities with high levels of unemployment, lower education attainment, drug addiction and crime, including vandalism, which meant higher costs of insurance.

And Black churches, an important part of the banks’ clientele, also lost their best tithers, meaning they soon found themselves in arrears on their loans.

“The need and role of Black banks were not to serve people who were not bankable,” said Joseph Haskins Jr., co-founder, president and CEO of Harbor Bank of Maryland. “Part of the problem that developed with Black banks is that they were too narrowly focused in communities that had changed radically.

And many Black banks who failed to change their profile of banking were disproportionately serving those who were less capable of meeting the requirements of paying loans and other responsible aspects of banking.”

African Americans comprise the largest rate of unbanked consumers, according to the FDIC. More than one-fifth of Blacks do not use any banking services, mostly due to lack of income.

Another 33.9 percent are underbanked--meaning these households have a checking or savings account, but often rely on alternative financial

of NAACP Economic Department. “Even if you made a good loan, if your customer lost their job, they can’t make their mortgage.”

As more and more customers—including churches, whose congregants had less capacity to give—defaulted on their loan payments and mortgages, the banks found their portfolios bogged down with toxic assets that could not be off-loaded.

And, some financial experts say, Black banks were less able to access relief programs such as the Community Development Capital Initiative program, which was geared toward financial institutions that serve underserved communities and financed under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Linus Wilson, assistant professor of finance at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and coauthor of the study “Discrimination in TARP Investments,” said his research shows that nonAfrican American institutions were as much as 10 times more likely to receive federal subsidies from the program than Black-owned institutions after controlling for the financial health of the banks.

“The TARP program is distasteful enough to most Americans. [But] the finding that racial

discrimination may have played a role in the selection of banks for the program is even more disconcerting,” he told the AFRO. Grant had a more optimistic outlook, saying despite the grave losses, Black banks survived the recession based on their conservative, riskaverse approach to banking and will continue to thrive because survival is part of their DNA. “These banks are doing well considering they have a very low percent of capital,” he said.

“If you look at these banks, you would find a lot of resilience and creativity. They are experts at managing with few resources and small margins.”

There is hope for the future of Black banks, the NAACP’s Asante-Muhammad added.

“More and more, big banks are not looking to serve middle-income consumers and are leaving that to smaller banks and credit unions, etc. [For them] if the customer does not have $100,000 or more, [they question] is it worth the risk? And that opens up a space for individual community banks,” he said.

Haskins agreed. Harbor Bank claims to be the first community bank in the country to have an investment subsidiary, Harbor Financial Services.

Haskins said his bank survived by diversifying it’s services and clientele and using the latest technology.

“It comes back to the survival of the fittest: Those that survive are the ones that are most adaptable to the changing times.”

‘Dead Giveaway’ Continued from A1

from the house in the 2200 block of Seymour Avenue. Georgina DeJesus, 23, and Michelle Knight, 32, were also rescued, according to Cleveland police. Each had been held about 10 years against her will.

The suspects are brothers Pedro Castro, 54; Ariel Castro, 52; and Onil Castro, 50.

They are held in police custody pending the filing of charges.

May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013, The Afro-American

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OPINION

Is Growth Without Full Employment Real Progress?

It is time for the Congress to take action that addresses the linkage between unacceptable levels of unemployment and our federal budgetary policy.

As I had hoped, my 16th Annual Job Fair last month was a tangible success for many of the 3,500 job-seekers, more than 60 employers and 40 workforce investment experts who participated. I only wish that some of my Republican House colleagues could have attended.

I will not criticize them for failing to make the drive from Washington to Baltimore. What I do question, however, is their failure to actively participate in our Joint Economic Committee’s April 24th hearing on solutions to this nation’s long-term unemployment.

Our committee’s Democratic Staff has confirmed that Rep. Elijah “nearly 40 percent of America’s 12 million unemployed Cummings workers have been out of work for more than six months . . . 25 percent of them for more than a year.”

Helping the 4.4 million Americans who have been seeking work for more than six months find good jobs is a crucial national objective. We must unravel the economic knot that has kept unemployment too high, even as the private sector has added 6.5 million new jobs over the past three years.

I am encouraged that Black and Hispanic Americans, among the hardest hit by the Bush Recession, are making modest progress in returning to our labor force – and I believe that grassroots efforts like my annual job fair are helping.

Nevertheless, my Republican colleagues’ apparent disinterest in policies that could address our structural unemployment challenges ignores the harsh reality that many American communities, especially communities of color, are mired in depression-like valleys of despair.

Democrats and Republicans alike should enthusiastically endorse the practical, bipartisan initiatives advanced by my colleague, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, vice chair of our Joint Economic Committee.

Here is why.

We know that those lacking the education and skills that are central to our 21st Century economy are among the most likely to be excluded from good jobs that pay a living wage.

Yet, without sufficient encouragement, our private sector has been less than enthusiastic about providing that training “on-the-job.”

We also know that when our government and educational sectors support skills training and continuing education, our unemployed neighbors gain the ability to qualify for better jobs.

All of us gain as a result.

The expert witnesses at our April Joint Economic Committee hearing were clear in their

The Hip Hop Dilemma

I call it the hip hop dilemma. The symptoms are all around us. You hate the new direction hip hop is going in and you hate that the young boys are wearing tight jeans.

Still, hip hop has a tremendous pull, something that you can’t ignore.

And if it’s a dilemma for our younger generation, imagine what it’s like for adults. Ask your mother or aunt what is their dilemma with hip hop and the question will ignite a long, drawn out conversation because in some way or another hip hop bothers them. Deeply.

I am writing this column, in part, because I want to help bridge the generation gap in our community. Just because our elders don’t like our music doesn’t mean I have to ascribe negative motives to them or they to us.

Civil rights leaders just want us to use our power wisely and remember the battles from which we came. At the same time, the hip hop pioneers and legends just want to be recognized for their greatness and they want the true meaning of hip hop to be appreciated by all age groups.

True hip hop artists and fans have been preparing for the day real hip hop returns. In the meantime, a new school of young people are making their own way, making their own rules with the power that has been prematurely handed to them.

What is Hip Hop? If you ask most, it’s music gone wild. But it’s more than that. This art form represents a way of communicating – an attitude, a position, a swag, life lived freely. When people talk about hip hop, they say it’s a youth movement. This is our first dilemma. Hip hop will be 39 years old this year (it began Aug. 11, 1973). That was the age of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was assassinated in Memphis.

Instead of teaching the younger generation, some elders have left the youth to their own devices.

Consequently, some of our artists make missteps. Lil Wayne’s denigration of Emmitt Till is one example .Our music legends are not spending enough time with younger artists.

Jineea Butler

recommendations for bipartisan action.

First, Congress should expand our support for smart, cost-effective public investments in workforce training, especially those programs that target the expanding sectors of our economy.

Second, we should better focus our job search initiatives so that they more accurately target job opportunities aligned with unemployed workers’ skills.

Finally, we also should do all that we can to strengthen our community colleges’ training partnerships with the private sector.

To be fair, many of my Republican colleagues see the wisdom in these three recommendations. Yet, they fail to give them the priority that they warrant.

Concerned about our federal budget deficits, many are reluctant to spend the money – and that, in my view, is a fundamental mistake.

My parents’ generation – the men and women who survived and brought America back from the Great Depression of the 1930s – had an insight that applies to our failure to adequately support workforce investment today. They advised us to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish.

Their wisdom accurately describes our failure to make the necessary investments in our workforce. As a direct result of our failure, we reduce economic growth in the short term and run the risk of budget deficits for decades to come.

I suspect that too many Tea Party Republicans have come to believe their own political metaphor linking our budget debates to a family’s kitchen table spending decisions.

Although that homespun image is politically powerful, it is not accurate.

As Princeton’s Nobel Prize winning economist, Paul Krugman, recently observed: “The economy is not like an individual family . . . . In the economy as a whole, my spending is your income, and your spending is my income.”

If we are serious about both stimulating growth and reducing unemployment, Dr. Krugman continues, “now is the time for above-normal government spending to sustain the economy until the private economy is willing to spend again.”

Expanded federal spending – if applied wisely to job creation and training – will lead to longer-term prosperity and more balanced federal books.

While our overall economy is slowly recovering and is no longer in recession, far too many Americans continue to face a depression.

Growth without full employment is not the progress that we need.

We should be investing in economic progress that includes America’s abandoned working families. They, in turn, will gain the skills and jobs that will allow them to repay our nation with interest.

That would be real progress indeed.

Congressman Elijah Cummings represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional Districtin the United States House of Representatives.

Who should be leading them?

Logically, legends such as Afrika Bambataa, Kool Herc, Grand Master Caz, Pebblee Poo, Roxanne Shante and Kangol Kid. They should be schooling the young people on respectful content, situations to avoid and direction. The Tru School artists like Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-ONE, Del La Soul Brand Nubian, and Monie Love should nurture the music we know and love at the record labels and the radio stations.

Young people naturally look to their elders for direction, but what do they see? Do they see role models? Or, do they see broken homes and gun shot wounds?

Where else can you make $300 million with no educational requirements, no drug testing and no prior experience? Your only responsibility is to come up with a slick line that everybody in the hood will repeat.

Hip hop teaches them they can stay true to themselves and represent who they are in the streets. The street is the place where they feel most comfortable because the streets are real to them. The streets give them experiences that are relevant to the world they are growing up in.

The schools are not teaching at the pace that these young people are learning and absorbing information. So hip hop music becomes their outlet but today there is no agenda, no demand for progress.

We therefore render our entire community defenseless when we allow major entities to use the power of money to entice our young people with a false sense of reality. We have cookie cutter artists who have no vision, who have no morals and who have no idea what kind of damage they are causing. These artists, corporations, and record labels have access to the minds and ears of our most precious cargo. When we don’t step in and protect our children from harm in any form, we ourselves are an accessory to the crime.

This conversation will be continued.

Jineea Butler, founder of the Social Services of Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Union, can be reached at jineea@gmail.com or Tweet her at @flygirlladay.

Clarence Thomas’s Deep-Seated Jealousy For someone who seems to revel in being silent during the Supreme Court’s traditionally lively oral arguments – when a public display of his professional competence would be appropriate – Clarence Thomas’s out-of-court comments are extraordinarily revealing. They show a man whose exalted position has brought him no inner peace, a man who continues to see himself as being victimized by this or that person or cabal.

In an early-April interview with C-SPAN, Thomas tried to diminish President Obama’s achievements. Asked about Obama, the nation’s first Black president, Thomas said, “I always knew that it would have to be a Black president who was approved by the elites and the media because anybody that they didn’t agree with, they would take apart.”

He went on to say “that will happen with virtually, you pick your person, any Black person who says something that is not the prescribed things that they expect from a Black person will be picked apart. You can pick anybody, don’t pick me, pick anyone who has decided not to go along with it. There’s a price to pay. So I always assumed it would be somebody the media had to agree with.”

Thomas didn’t identify which “elites” and which “media” he was referring to.

But presumably the latter doesn’t include Fox News or the Wall Street Journal and other conservative-leaning newspapers and publications nor the innumerable conservative pundits and talk-show jockeys that have been hammering Obama since he won the Democratic nomination in 2008.

And presumably the elites don’t include the long list of wealthy conservatives who’ve spent millions upon millions opposing the president’s initiatives and his re-election. But then, Clarence Thomas has never been one to let facts undermine his raging self-pity.

In fact, Thomas’s attempt to diminish the president just underscores what they have – and don’t have – in common.

Both men are products of elite colleges and law schools. But while Thomas hid behind a self-perceived “defect,” Barack Obama took an active role in the life of the institutions he attended. At Harvard, he sought and won membership on the law review, and then, the approval

Lee A. Daniels

of the review’s members to be their president.

Clarence Thomas drew no job offers from law firms when he graduated in 1974. He’s claimed this was the result of the “taint” of affirmative action. But numerous articles over the years have shown that Thomas’s Black Yale Law peers have a decidedly different view of their experience.

“Did Affirmative Action Really Hinder Clarence Thomas?,” available on the web site {Law. com}, should be required reading. It found “in interviews with a dozen African-American lawyers who attended Yale in the same years” that they described their Yale experience “in largely positive – even glowing – terms.”

The most striking contrast between Clarence Thomas and Barack Obama, of course, is what they’ve done after law school.

Thomas, taken up by then-Senator John Danforth, a Missouri Republican, shortly after graduation, has been a government appointee his entire adult career – while declaring that Blacks as a group are too dependent on the government. With, at best, minimal qualifications he was appointed to the two most prestigious positions in the federal judiciary, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and less than two years later, the Supreme Court.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, spurned lucrative offers from law firms and potential federal court clerkships, to become a community organizer in Chicago. There, he began his career of standing for elective office at the local, statewide, and national level. His galvanic speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention instantly made him a future presidential contender. He won the presidency twice in the toughest kind of combat outside of actual warfare by out-thinking and out-organizing his Republican opposition to garner the approval of millions of voters.

Personal and professional jealousy is always unseemly – the more so in a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His most recent book is Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America.

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 11, 2013

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May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013, The Afro-American

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The Ways and Means Committee Ann Mackey of Mackey’s Assisted Home Care with Louise Long, celebrating 100 years of youthfulness.

Remarks by Dr. Maxine Jenkins, Section president

(Standing) Marie Richardson, Mary Budd, Marcia Pullard, Virginia Thomas, Lawrence Barrett, Willie Barrett (seated) Johnnie Jones, Annie Mack, Gail Lewis, Josephine Thomas, Annie Frazier, Thelma Johnson

Catherine Leggett and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett

Dr. Barbara Shaw and Alotta Taylor

Guests patronizing the vendors.

The Montgomery County Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) presented its annual fundraiser, an Afternoon of Music, featuring the Jonathan Davis Band with vocalist Tamika Moore, April 21, at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Md. Guests were treated to a sumptuous buffet, up-tempo music, door prizes and an array of vendors. Proceeds from this popular event will be used to support some of the Section’s many community projects— food drives, health fairs, senior

And so we dance…

citizens and people in crisis. Through the Female Achievers Maintaining Excellence (FAME) Youth Section, monthly cultural, social, academic and enrichment activities are provided for girls, ages 12–17.

Special guests included Montgomery County County Executive Ike Leggett and Catherine Leggett, Dr. Barbara L. Shaw, immediate past chair, NCNW and national board member; Vice Chair Prince George’s County, District 8 Councilman Obie Patterson; Surry County, Va. County Administrator Tyrone Franklin and Andrea Bray of WPFW FM Radio. The Section president is Dr. Maxine Jenkins; the planning committee chair is Janice Jetter.

(Standing) Robin Williams, Monique Dalmeida, Verna Broden; (seated) Sabrina Washington, Eleanor Clark, Catherine Leggett, first lady of Montgomery County; Donna Dalmeida

Potomac Valley Section members

The Jonathan Davis Band featuring Temika Moore on vocals

Members of the Montgomery County Section of NCNW

Joan Stanard, Linda Morton, Anita Prout, Bobbi Polton

Katie Whitney, Beverly Anderson, Joan Stanard, Spurgeon Stanard, Edma Romeo, Jackie Green, Helen Allen, Jackie Hill, Lorraine Washington

Amanda and Earl Stafford, honoree, with Va. Rep. Jim Moran

Meshon Watkins, Ashleel Floyd, Tiara Hicks, Christy Ball

Miss Black Va. , Natasha Stovall; Miss Exquisite, Amina Gilyard; Rep. Jim Moran(Va.-D); Miss Corporate America, Kimi Holloway, Miss Black D.C. , Tecoya Gordon

State Farm Representative Rodney Lewis presents check to chapter president, Monica Leak

Krysta Jones, Chaka A. Donaldson, Cindy McLaughlin, Gisselle Brown

TC Williams High School Jazz Combo

Sheila Jackson, Tamra West

Members of Nu Xi Zeta Chapter (Northern, Va.), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

The H.A.V.E. Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority/Alexander chapter, Gisselle Brown and MeShon Watkins present Scholarship Essay Award winner Madison Fay Moran, center

Photos by Rob Roberts

Ladies entering the ballroom

French Thompson and Linda Thompson, former national executive director, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

Santita Glover, right, presenting the Chapter‘s Community Service Award to Krysta Jones

Welcome and introduction by Shauntai Dudley

Line dancing at the Afternoon of Music luncheon

The Alexandria (Nu Xi Zeta) Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority held its 6th Annual Spring Luncheon, April 27, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va. Led by Chapter President Monica Leak, Nu Xi Zeta has been serving the Alexandria/Arlington communities for over 25 years. During the luncheon, outstanding leaders in the community were honored and the theme was “Celebrating the Strength of Community.” Honorees included Woman of the Year, Karen Arrington; their first Man of the Year, Earl Stafford; Nu Xi Zeta Soror of the Year, Gisselle Brown, and the Nu Xi Zeta H.A.V.E Foundation Scholarship winner, Madison Moran. Also, the Direct Community Support Award recipient was the Virginia Leadership Institute (VLI). Luncheon Co-Chairs Denise Boamah and Shauntai Dudley were happy Special remarks to welcome, Rep. Jim Moran(D-Va.) , members of the Alexandria City Council, by Amelia McIntyre, Va. John Chapman and Del Pepper as state well as Kimi Holloway, Ms. director Corporate America and Amina Gilyard, Miss Exquisite International, among other local pageant (Seated) Retired titleholders.

Nu Xi Zeta signature service project chair Chaka Donaldson, Five Pearls of Wisdom partners: Kendra Gillespie, president, Top Ladies of Distinction, Alexandria Chapter; Alexis Williams, manager, Nauck Community Service Center and the Honorable Gwen Lewis, founder/executive director, Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria

Col. Fannie Allen, Gwendolyn Day Fuller, Gwendolyn Hubbard Lewis, Betty Morrison (Standing) Brenda Kelly-Nellum, Kendra Gillespie

Photos by Rob Roberts

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013

Character Education Essay Contest Winners Nassir Holder Franklin Middle School Baltimore County

Camille Offendel, Assistant Vice President Legg Mason Global Fiduciary Camille Offendel’s profile inspired me to incorporate positive traits into my life. She said, “The most important lesson I’ve learned is that regardless of your background and circumstances, you are responsible for who you become.” She looked past what was currently going on in her life and made a solid foundation for her career. I chose the article because it spoke to me. It taught me you cannot complain about your life because you have the power to fix it. I also believe that you and only you can find your special gift. She had an eye opener that made her realize what she needed to do to be the best she can be. Her eye opener was realizing a better education would raise her up the corporate ladder. This article is my eye opener and helps me see what I have to do in school for later on in life. In the article, Offendel said her college degree was her foundation for reaching where she is right now. I also think education is an opportunity that will get me to my successful life in the future. I want to be an entrepreneur of my own soda company and education is necessary in the business field. As Offendel said, you have to be humble when working with people. I want to be proud when I look in the mirror and say this is how my life is supposed to be because of me. I want to reach the goals I have set for myself. This article is an exact replica of my plan for success because I believe I can change things.

I plan to use this article as a road map to my perfect destination. I will use what I learned to shape my future because this article taught me I am my future. I can change my future for the better or I can ruin it. Offendel says in her article that you have to be responsible with your life. That means doing what you have to do and doing it thoroughly. Although I am interested in the business field, many people my age are interested in careers in music and theater. This article can be used to shape your goals for any career. If you want to have a career in singing, your foundation would be music school.

You cannot sit down and hope you have your “big break.”

You have to associate with people who can help you get there but you have to take control. This article encourages me to use self-discipline because Offendel states that if you don’t, your success will be short-lived.

One of her biggest points that I agree with is, the time to change your life is now. In seventh grade I learned my grades could affect what high school I could attend.

By the time I realized this, my grades weren’t as high as I wanted them to be. I had a B average which is not the best in my house because my parents and I know that doesn’t truly reflect me. It was then that I also realized that if I wanted to be an entrepreneur I should focus on business in high school. That was another eye opener which will take me very far. I am zoned for Owings Mills High School but I am going to Carver Center and participating in the business management and finance magnet. I was accepted into Carver because I took the time to make things right.

Offendel’s profile showed that the only thing that can stop you from reaching your highest potential is you. It taught me that you can’t sit around and let opportunities pass by you. I learned from her mistake and I now know that sitting around will hurt me. I have to be responsible because one mistake can mess me up, as it almost did in seventh grade.

Although it is hard to admit, my peers and I sometimes like to blame our failures on others. Offendel’s article helped me realize that in order to change my life I have to act upon it and do so. Her profile reminds me of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” because they both state that change starts with you. Now my life’s plan is to do things that will help my success and benefit my education and my career, while doing what’s right and helping others too.

Joshua Chen Roberto Clemente Middle School Montgomery County

Kyle Carson, Senior Engineer Smart Grid Engineering Baltimore Gas and Electric

One article that inspired me was “Be a Good Influence” by Kyle Carson in the Character Education Week 2 newspaper. This article inspired me because I connected to the parts of the article about having parent support, spending time with good peers and helping others with my education.

Like Carson, my parents are also very supportive.

Before a big test my parents will sometimes cut my screen time and tell me to study. Even though it seemed that they are just cutting out my fun and making me do something boring, in reality they are trying to help me be successful in life. From seeing my parents constantly work hard and wake up early in the morning to walk the dog or make our lunches, I am inspired to work harder and show them that all the hard work they put into me has paid off. Even if I don’t want to work or if I am tired I will still do my best in everything.

One other thing I got from this article is that I have to be dedicated and hardworking in order to do well in life; that I have to stay focused on what I want to become and continue my education and classes in order to reach that goal. One way this article inspired me is that Carson talks about how he chose a high school that specializes in science and media because that’s what he wanted to do. Before I read this article I was deciding between two different high schools; one specializing in all the subjects I really enjoy and the others that almost all my friends are going to, but specializing in only some of the classes I enjoy. After reading this article I decided to choose the high school that specializes in what I enjoy even though I won’t see a lot of my friends, because to have a good education I have to choose what I enjoy myself and not just based on my friends’ choices.

One important theme that I got from this article is to choose the right friends. Many times I’ve seen bright students start hanging out with other students that encourage them to do what is wrong and their grades start dropping. Then when they get in trouble all their “friends” abandon them. I choose friends who I can connect with and who will always push me to the next level in my education and character. My friends will stick with me even if I can’t sometimes hang out with them because I have a lot of homework just like in the article when Carson says, “that having a few close, loyal friends is better than having lots of friends who don’t completely support you.”

I know that sometimes even though it may be something that I really want to do I have to put my priorities first and education is one of my top priorities.

Another thing that Carson has influenced me to do is to be a good influence to my friends and not just have them influencing me; that I should be loyal to my friends and help them to improve in their education and character as well. This article has reminded me that even though it can be hard, I need to continue to balance my education with my social life so that I can relax and improve at the same time.

The last thing that I have received from this article is that as I work hard now in school that later on I can help others with my education. Even though I am young and having a job seems really far away, that one day I’ll be graduating from college and having to find a job. I want to have a job like Carson, where I can help those in need.

I want to study hard now so that in the future others can benefit as well. I enjoy all subjects in school which is why I’m choosing a high school that specializes in all subjects and I plan to use what I’m going to learn to help others. Whether it’s through my writing to help people gain knowledge of current events or engineering a robot to help save people, I want to help others and that is why I’m going to work hard in school and all that I do.

Niara Hicks Kingsville Middle School Montgomery County

Taneka Francis, Marketing Manager T. Rowe Price The person I chose to write about was Taneka Francis.

Three traits I admire about her are that she is hard working, determined and focused.

From the article I can tell that Francis is very hard working. She said in middle school, she had to be at school from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. because she was on the school basketball team and she did many extra-curricular activities. Because of all the things she had to do, she had to be up really late to finish her school work. She must have been a hard worker to maintain such excellent grades and still be able to do her time consuming activities. Her work ethic also impresses me because her parents got a divorce which probably made it even harder to keep up with her studies. Francis’ hard-working attitude reminds me of myself. Once in sixth grade, I had to do a project on Egyptians for social studies. I remember working so hard and long on that project that I was up until 9 every night. It took me a little longer than two weeks but I finished and I put in my best work. All that hard work paid off in the end because I got an award for the most creative project out of the entire grade and my project was displayed in the sixth grade showcase.

After this experience, I learned that I have to do my best in everything because I never want to leave a bad impression on anyone.

Another trait I like about Francis is her determination.

In her article, she talked about how she managed to squeeze in her extra-curricular activities with school work. This is an example of her determination because she was determined to do well in school while still doing what she liked to do. She also wrote about how she wanted to get into a prestigious college when she got older, so she spent a majority of her free time studying and reading. In the end, she ended up going to the college she dreamed of. I was determined last year when I tried out for the school soccer team. I was scared to try out at first because I didn’t play on a travel team like all the other girls. After my friend talked me into it, I tried out anyway. I tried very hard to keep up with the others and did my best tricks. I didn’t make the team, but I’m very thankful for the experience.

One last character trait I admire about Francis is, she is focused. In middle school, she only focused on school and didn’t get distracted with parties and such. This must have been very hard for her to do because middle and high school students are usually always on the Internet or watching TV. I will try to be more focused because I am going to high school next year so it is going to be a little harder to stay on track.

Francis has inspired me to be more focused on my grades and not be influenced by the crowd. I know that in order to be successful and get a good job in the future, I must have good grades in school. I also know I should stay above the influence because if I hang out with the wrong kind of people, my reputation will be ruined and I can’t have that happen because there are so many negative stereotypes toward Black people and I have to prove to society that they aren’t true. To keep my grades up, I will stop going on the Internet as much as I do and study and read instead. To stay above the influence, I will keep hanging out with people like me who don’t drink or smoke or make bad decisions. I know that my decisions don’t only affect me, but everyone around me and I don’t want to bring shame to my family and friends.

Congratulations to the winners!!

A special thanks to everyone who submitted an essay to this year’s contest!!

May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013, The Afro-American

B3

SPORTS

AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff

How Many MVP Titles Will LeBron Win?

He’s a smarter player with a better jumpshot and better basketball IQ. He takes excellent shots, makes excellent passes and is an excellent rebounder, everything an NBA player would need to run off consecutive MVPs. Green: The one thing you’re forgetting is that LeBron James isn’t the only great player in the league, Riley. What about Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, etc. The NBA is buzzing with talent right now, and just handing not just one, but several MVPs to James and waving off everyone else is a huge mistake. It’s also disrespectful. His performance this postseason should make Curry a favorite to win MVP next year. The NBA rewards nice guys for great seasons and there’s not a nicer guy then Curry right now.

By Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley LeBron James doesn’t know his ceiling. After winning his fourth MVP title, James, 28, has a chance to not only match, but exceed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record six MVP crowns.

On Sunday May 5, James was awarded the KIA Most Valuable Player of the Year Award for his exploits this season. The award is James’ fourth in five seasons, a feat shared by NBA great Bill Russell.

So where does James go from here and how many MVPs can he rack up before he calls it a career? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley of the AFRO Sports Desk debate this question.

Riley: I have James topping out at eight MVPs. At 28, James has just entered the prime of his career, and all he’s accomplished so far isn’t anything compared to what’s coming. The next three to five years will really define his career and, with Dwyane Wade diminishing, James is set to crank up his dominance.

We’re witnessing greatness and obtaining another four MVP titles—or even just exceeding AbdulJabbar’s six—is going to be a cakewalk.

Green: Winning four MVPs is definitely an accomplishment, but asking him to match six awards or more is a bit of a stretch. Yes, James is only 28, but he’s been in the league 10 years already. Between shouldering heavy loads in his Cleveland years and during the last two in Miami, asking him to play at an MVP-level for the next three seasons to exceed Abdul-Jabbar is a bit much, even for James.

Riley: Why is it too much? We’re talking about perhaps the greatest athlete to ever lace up a pair of shoes. There’s nothing that James can’t do and we have to remember that he’s entering his prime. His game isn’t just physical anymore.

LeBron James

Riley: Correct, the NBA does reward nice guys but it also rewards its most marketable figures, and who’s more marketable than James? If you’re the NBA, you have to have a player like James winning NBA titles and MVPs and market him heavily. Plus, he actually is the best player in the league, so I’m not simply waving off the other superstars, I’m just crediting

the best playing right now.

Green: Four MVPs is impressive. Six is legendary and anything past that would be unequaled. I just think it’s going to be tough to overlook all the younger talent and hand James trophies year after year. Both Anthony and Durant had strong cases to be the MVP, and I see them coming back with even stronger performances next year. It would be a great accomplishment to see James pass Kareem, but considering the mileage on his legs and the other great players around the Association, I can’t see it happening.

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013

OBITUARIES Gia R. Jones, 36 Teacher

Gia Rondora Jones hymns.

“GiGi” was born on Gia began her April 2, 1976 to the primary education late Deacon Ronald at West Elementary A. Jones and Amy School in Northwest Ann Anthony Jones at Washington, where her Columbia Hospital for devoted grandmother, Women in Northwest Mozella Anthony, Washington, D.C. would walk with her At an early age, to school each day.

Gia developed what Gia then moved on to would become a St. Matthias Catholic lifelong love of music, School. Gia graduated like her father, and from Elizabeth enjoyed dancing and Seton High School, singing. She displayed Bladensburg, Md. Her her love of dance in undergraduate time various venues from was spent at Bowie Mrs. Hammond’s State University, where dance recitals at she majored in Early Zion Baptist Church Childhood Education. to the dance floor at the Gia continued studies GIA R. JONES Core family reunions. in education and Fond memories were made during summer technology at the Department of Human camping experiences, many of which were Service, Prince George’s Community shared with her two cousins closest in age, College, Technical Learning Centers and the Angelique (Manning) Okeke and Scotia Stratford Career Institute.

(Little) Moore. Above all, Gia enjoyed Following in her mother’s footsteps, Gia spending tine with family. She was a willing was drawn to the field of education. She traveler on lengthy car trips with her four began working with children in high school, first cousins, the Mannings. The annual working summers as a camp counselor and family vacation adventures included travels teaching assistant at Xi Omega Summer to places like Montreal, Canada, New Jersey, Enrichment Camp and Humpty-Dumpty Day Pennsylvania, throughout the sate of North Care Center. She was great with children Carolina, Florida, the Bahamas and Aruba. and had a loving, patient way with them. Gia As the daughter of a Baptist Deacon and became an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher devout Catholic mother, Gia was afforded a at Humpty Dumpty. Gia also enjoyed helping rare gift of dual Christian perspectives and to make people look and feel beautiful, as an two supportive church families! She regularly independent Mary Kay consultant. attended Sunday school at Zion Baptist Most recently, Gia enjoyed gaming on Church, where her father and the Jones Facebook and was a Crossword and Wordfind family long-standing and active members. enthusiast. At any family gathering, Gia Contemporaneously, Gia received all of her would be up for a hand of Mau Mau, a family sacraments at St. Matthias Catholic Church card game that she simply adored and was in Lanham, Md., where she was a student. pretty good at.

Gia’s great cousin, Elise C. Hawkins ensured Gia is survived by her loving mother, her active involvement in various church Amy Anthony Jones; her brother, Gerard ministries including attendance at Vacation Jones; nephews, Anthony and Amari Bible School at M. Horeb Baptist Church Jones; her cousin, Elsie C. Hawkins; aunts, where her mother served as member of Kathy Manning (Bernard) and Laverne Chancel Choir for more than 30 years. Gia’s Montgomery; uncle, William Jones (Jeretta), strong Christian foundation was evident in and many devoted aunts, uncles, cousins and her ability to quote scripture and her absolute a host of other loving relatives, her church elation when hearing certain spirituals and families, neighbors and friends.

Willis J. Martin

Chief of the Division of Older Workers He retired as chief of the Willis Jefferson Division of Older Workers Martin was born in in 1985 after 30 years.

Decherd, Tenn. and Mr. Martin was raised in Gary, WV. unwaveringly dedicated He graduated Cum to helping those in need laude from Bluefield on and off the job, and State College in W. Va. was a staunch defender and held a teacher’s of equal rights of all. He certificate award by the was a driven and vocal West Virginia Board of volunteer and member Education. He did two of such organizations as years of graduate work C.O.R.E., the NAACP, the in economics at the Urban League, the United Catholic University of Mine Workers of America, America, and earned his and the United Way of J.D. from Georgetown the National Capital Area, University Law School where he served tirelessly in 1956. for over fifteen years in His work life was many capacities, including rich and varied. He chairman. He was also toiled as a coal miner WILLIS J. MARTIN a member of the Alpha in the mountains of West Phi Alpha Fraternity and Virginia at the age of Peoples Congregational United Church of eighteen, then served in the U.S. Navy from Christ.

1943-1946. He was a Military Intelligence Mr. Martin was preceded in death by Analyst in the Air Research Division after his parents, Effie and Napoleon Bonaparte being a Librarian Assistant at the Library of Martin, three brothers and a sister, and his Congress, earned his Real Estate license, and beloved wife of fifty-two years, Henriene became an Economist and Statistician in the Topps Martin. He is survived by his children, Office of the Secretary of the Army.

Willis J. Martin III, Angela Martin, Lynn His longest affiliation was with the Martin, and his four grandchildren, Antar U.S. Department of Labor, where in 1965, and Aziza Tichavakunda, and Penelope and he was named the National Industrial Alexandra Segerdahl. He is also survived by Training Advisor of the department’s his siblings McKinley Martin, Fannie Martin Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. His Smith, Pamela Butts, Elizabeth Smith, Alice appointment there ensured there would be Martin, Francis Martin, Phillip Martin, and no further discrimination against Black men numerous nieces and nephews. and women at the Department of Labor.

Free Service Obituaries are printed for free by the AFRO-American Newspapers. Send funeral program and picture to: Obituaries The Washington Afro-American , 1917 Benning Road, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002

Hilda O.L. Thomas, 85

Federal Government Employee Hilda Odel Lewis In 1975, Hilda Thomas was born in joined the Washington Washington, D.C. on Bridge Unit (WBU) June 11, 1927 to the of the American late Deacon Edward Bridge Association. and Deaconess Mary She served a couple Lambert Lewis. She of terms as Treasurer peacefully transitioned of the WBU. She at home surrounded was an accomplished by her family on Jan. tournament bridge 30, 2013. player who participated As a child, in tournaments around Hilda was baptized the country. She Baptist and raised actively played for 30 as a member of years resulting in many the Metropolitan first-place trophies.

Baptist Church. In In 1979, Hilda her twenties, Hilda became a federal became Catholic and government retiree was an active member from the Office of of St. Benedict The Personnel Management Moor, Nativity of with over 30 years of Our Lord and then St. service.

Francis Xavier Church.

Hilda was the HILDA O.L. THOMAS She was an youngest and sole accomplished pianist and organist. She surviving daughter of the six Lewis girls. She played for her home churches and several was preceded in death, by her sister, Thelma other churches and choirs, Trinidad Baptist Duvall, Virginia Ward, Elizabeth Carpenter, Church Community choir, throughout the Esther Cleveland and Lucille Banks Washington metropolitan area. She also Robinson Miller. played for many wedding and funerals.

Hilda leaves to cherish her memory, Hilda was educated in District of her two children, Khalid and Sheryl; five Columbia public schools, Shaw Junior High grandchildren, Sabriya Abdul Kareem, Dina, School and a 1945 graduate from the famed Abdus Salaam (Siddiq), Eric Ellis, Jibrelle Dunbar High School. She attended Howard Faulkner and Jaden Faulkner; two greatUniversity on scholarship. grandchildren, Robert Jamal and Yasmeen; In 1946, Hilda was married to the late seven nieces and nephews; 12 great nieces James Leroy Thomas. Two children were and nephews, 11 great-great nieces and born of this union, Khalid Abdul Kareem and nephews and a host of other loving relatives Sheryl Thomas. and friends.

Cardiss Collins, 81 U.S. Representative

of 1991. She also authored Cardiss Collins, who legislation to create the Office served in the U.S. House of Minority Health in the from 1973 to 1997, died National Institute of Health.

Feb. 3 in Alexandria, Va. For three years, the Congresswoman Collins House adopted Mrs. Collins’ was born Sept. 24, 1931 resolutions designating in St. Louis, Missouri, and October as National Breast moved to Detroit at the age Cancer Awareness Month. of ten. She graduated from Mrs. Collins wrote the the Detroit High School of 1990 law which expanded Commerce and attended Medicare coverage for Northwestern University. screening mammography She has received honorary for millions of elderly degrees from Barber-Scotia and disabled women and College, Spelman College, sponsored the Medicaid Infant and Winston-Salem State Mortality Act of 1991. She University. She also has also sponsored legislation received awards from both which expanded Medicaid Loyola University and coverage for PAP smears for Roosevelt University CARDISS COLLINS early detection of cervical in Chicago, as well as and uterine cancer. numerous other awards and commendations.

She authored the Child Safety Protection In 1990, the Congressional Black Caucus Act of 1993, legislation requiring warning presented Mrs. Collins with the William L. labels on dangerous toys and federal safety Dawson Award for Legislative Development standards for bicycle helmets. She also in recognition of her legislative agenda and wrote the Armored Car Industry Reciprocity successes.

Act of 1993 to allow armored car crew She was an outgoing fun-loving person members to lawfully carry firearms for who enjoyed her family, friends and security of valuable goods during interstate colleagues. transportation.

Mrs. Collins was first elected to Congress Investigations by Mrs. Collins into child on June 5, 1973 in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by her husband, Congressman care facilities and services offered to federal employees resulted in more than a three-fold George W. Collins, who was killed in an increase in the number of child care centers airplane crash. A trailblazer, she was the for federal workers. Child care legislation first African-American woman to represent developed by Mrs. Collins, together with a Congressional district in the Midwest, the other member of Congress, became law in first woman and first African-American to 1990. serve as Democratic Whip-at-Large. She As chair of the Government Activities was elected chair of the Congressional Black and Transportation (GAT) Subcommittee Caucus in the 96th Congress. from 1983 to 1991, Congresswoman Collins In 1991, she became the first woman, pushed ground breaking laws controlling and first African-American to chair a the transport of toxic materials and led the subcommittee to the Committee on Energy charge to provide safer and more secure air and Commerce when she was named travel. Findings from an investigation led by Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Mrs. Collins of the nation’s aviation security Commerce, Consumer Protection, and system led to adoption of the Aviation Competitiveness. In January, 1993, she was elected to serve a second term as chair of this Security Improvement Act of 1990.

Mrs. Collins was a member of the subcommittee.

Friendship Baptist Church of Chicago, as Mrs. Collins was also a member of well as the Alfred Street Baptist Church of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Alexandria, Va.; the National Association on Oversight and Investigations. Her for the Advancement of Colored People investigations of college sports resulted in increased pressure on colleges and (NAACP); the Chicago Urban League; the universities to carry out the mandates of Links; the Coalition of 100 Black Women the Title IX of the Education Amendments of Black Women’s Agenda; the National council 1972, which calls for equal opportunities for of Negro Women; the Alpha Kappa Alpha women athletes to participate in collegiate and Alpha Gamma Phi Sororities; secretary sports and to improve graduation rates of of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s athletes.

Issues; and Vice Chairman, the Congressional Congresswoman Collins was a long-time Black Caucus. advocate for universal health insurance. She She leaves one son, Kevin, a cosponsored the Universal Health Care Act of granddaughter Candice and a host of friends.

1991, and the Family and Medical Leave Act

May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013, The Afro-American

ARTS & CULTURE

B5

Craig Robinson – Poised for a Breakthrough in Peeples

By Krishana Davis AFRO Staff Writer

When Tyler Perry’s latest film Peeples hits theaters on May 10, it will be a movie of firsts.

It will be the directorial debut for Tina Gordon Chism, who wrote the screenplay for Drumline and ATL. It will be the first comedy role for ABC-TV “Scandal” star Kerry Washington, too.

But for funnyman Craig Robinson, it will be his first chance to show off his acting chops in a lead role.

Robinson talked with the AFRO recently about the movie and what’s next for his career.

In the film, Robinson plays Wade Walker, boyfriend of Grace Peeples (Kerry Washington), who crashes the Peeples’ annual family reunion to ask for her hand in marriage. Wade quickly realizes that the Peeples are up-scale Black folks, unlike himself, but they aren’t without their own secrets.

Prepping for the role of Wade, Robinson said he courted co-star Washington to get to know her better, taking her out on dates and buying her gifts.

“Kerry and I we went on a couple of dates and we got to know each other,” Robinson told the AFRO. “We got to know who [Wade and Grace] were as a couple and it involved me sending her roses and stuff. It was sweet. It was me preparing to fall in love with Kerry Washington, which is not that hard.”

Although Washington does not have a background in comedy, Robinson said she is a natural and can make anyone laugh.

While the film took more than two and a half years to go from script to the big screen, Robinson said he can still remember what made him decide to commit to the project--Chism’s excitement about the story.

“Tina Gordon Chism-- as a first time director-- she was pitching it to me and you could see the passion when she was talking about it,” said Robinson. “And the thing that closed it, she said, ‘You get to spank Kerry Washington.’”

Robinson said he was also drawn to the film by the chance to work with one of his comedic idols, David Alan Grier, who he called the “father of the set.”

Some movie critics, such as Travis Hopson of the Examiner, compare Peeples to a “in-law comedy that looks like someone was desperately trying to make an urban Meet the Parents.” But Robinson said he does not quite see it that way.

“The premise sounds like it a little bit, yes, but once you get into it, I think it’s quite different,” he said defending the film. “We’ve got David Alan Grier, the funniest dude that’s on

Kerry Washington, Craig Robinson, and David Alan Grier (l-r) star in Peeples. the planet. And then we got some wild things that happened in [the movie].”

Robinson cited, for example, one his favorite scenes. He said while filming the scene when Grier’s character Virgil Peeples says, “We are Timex people, Timex,” and the entire family shows him their watches, he would burst out laughing during every take.

Like many comedians, Robinson said he realized when we was a young boy he could make people laugh. He could also ad lib, something he did during story time with his father.

Robinson said he contributes his big break to his role as Darryl Philbin on the hit television comedy series “The Office.” “’The Office’ has definitely been amazing for my career. It’s opened so many doors and it also makes me feel like I’m everybody’s friend when I go places,” said Robinson.

Robinson said he is excited about upcoming projects. He just finished a pilot for NBC called “Mr. Robinson” based on his former career as a music teacher. And in the wings are two films that are to be released this summer-- Rapture-Palooza which is scheduled to open in theaters June 7 and This Is The End, which is to open June 12.

Blue-Collar Beau Meets Bourgie Fiancee’s Family Peeples Film Review

By Kam Williams After dating for over a year, Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) is head-over-heels in love with his girlfriend, Grace (Kerry Washington).

He’s ready to pop the question, and has even purchased a ring, but there’s a slight problem: he still hasn’t met her parents yet.

Because of her background, Grace is a little ashamed of her beau’s modest background. After all, she’s a high-powered Manhattan attorney with a proven pedigree, while he hails from the ‘hood and makes a living by performing at children’s birthday parties.

Concern about their class differences has Grace taking off alone to the tip of Long Island for a weekend getaway at her family’s waterfront mansion. Rather than sit at home licking his wounds, Wade decides to force the issue by crashing the gathering.

His unexplained presence gets under the skin

of Grace’s father, Judge Virgil Peebles (David Alan Grier), an overbearing patriarch with a need to control. Furthermore, Grace is afraid to tell him the truth about the nature of her relationship with Wade, which serves to establish the familiar, sitcom scenario revolving around a big lie that must be kept hidden at all costs.

Written and directed by Tyler Perry protégé Tina Gordon Chism, Peeples is a fish-out-ofwater comedy whose stock-in-trade is making fun of the contrast between po’ and bourgie black folks. Like popular Perry TV programs like House of Payne and Meet the Browns, the production is littered with colorful, two-dimensional characters bordering on caricatures.

There’s Wade’s embarrassingly-ghetto brother (Malcolm Barrett) who also shows up unannounced. He’s an oaf who puts his foot in his own mouth by suggesting that Grace’s lipstick lesbian sister (Kali Kawk) “looks too good to be gay.” Wade conveniently loses his wallet upon arriving which means he looks like a total loser when he can’t pay for anything.

You get the idea. Is it funny? I suppose, provided you’re in the target demo and haven’t seen Jumping the Broom, another comedy set at a beachfront estate (on Martha’s Vineyard in that case) and pitting crass blacks from the wrong side of the tracks against the others with their noses in the air. From shoplifting to lip-synching to skinny-dipping to a sweat lodge to skeletons-inthe-closet, Peeples throws everything at the screen but the kitchen sink, and just enough sticks.

An amusing, if not exactly original, African-American-oriented variation on Meet the Parents.

Good HH Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Running time: 95 minutes Distributor: Lionsgate Films

Downey Back as Bon Vivant Billionaire/Smart Aleck Superhero Iron Man 3 Film Review

By Kam Williams

This film represents the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series kickstarted by Iron Man in 2008, and since followed in succession by The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America and The Avengers. The sensible question I suppose you’re probably interested in having answered is whether the franchise is showing any signs of running out of steam or if it’s worth investing in yet another episode.

Great news! The movie more than lives up to its billing as the first blockbuster of this summer season. Yes, the plot remains true to the basic comic book adaptation formula in that it pits a superhero against a diabolical villain bent on world domination.

However, Iron Man 3 adds a little more to the trademark mix of derring-do and visually-captivating special f/x thanks to Robert Downey Jr.’s bringing so much charm to the title character. Downey again delights, delivering a plethora of pithy comments, whether playing bon vivant billionaire Tony Stark or his intrepid alter ego.

Also reprising their roles are People Magazine’s reigning Most Beautiful Woman in the World Gwyneth Paltrow as Iron

Man’s love interest Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle as his best friend Rhodey, and Jon Favreau (the director of episodes 1 and 2) as chauffeur-turned-obsessive chief of security Happy Hogan. And critical additions include Ty Simpkins as Harley, Iron Man’s prepubescent, new sidekick and Sir Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin, the maniacal spokesman for an international terrorist organization.

The point of departure is Bern, Switzerland on New Year’s 2000 which is where we find Tony Stark declining an offer to go into business being made by Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), a disabled scientist who ostensibly covets an experimental drug being developed by Stark Industries botanist Dr. Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall). The storyline immediately fast-forwards from Y2K to the present as a string of bombings are being ostensibly orchestrated by The Mandarin.

Against his better judgment, Tony dares the madman to a fight, and no sooner is his oceanfront home leveled by a barrage of incoming rockets.

Fortunately, a number of Iron Man outfits were left unscathed and, with the help of precocious Harley and pal Rhodey (aka Iron Patriot), he proceeds to get to the bottom of who is really behind the attacks bombings.

Far be it from me to spoil the surprising developments

which ensue en route to the big showdown, suffice to say brace yourself for an array of visually-captivating stunt work interrupted intermittently by comical, tongue-in-cheek comments courtesy of our smart aleck protagonist. Patient audience members willing to sit through the long (and I mean long) closing credits will be duly rewarded with a brief session of Iron Man decompressing on the shrink’s couch with Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).

In sum, a worthy addition to the vaunted Marvel franchise.

Excellent HHHH Rated PG-13 for intense violence and brief sensuality.

Running time: 130 minutes Distributor: Walt Disney Studios

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Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2009ADM306 Vinez T. Canady Decedent Wesley L. Clarke 1629 K Street Suite 300 Washington DC 20006 Attorney NOTICE OF TYPESET: Tue Apr 23 11:04:19 EDT 2013 APPOINTMENT, LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO Superior Court of UNKNOWN HEIRS the District of Wesley L. Clarke whose adDistrict of Columbia dress is 1629 K Street, Suite PROBATE DIVISION 300, Washington DC 20006 Washington, D.C. was appointed personal re20001-2131 presentative of the estate of Administration No. Vinez T. Canady, who died on December 15, 2008 with a 2013ADM355 Will, and will serve without Hratch A. Abrahamian Court supervision. All unDecedent known heirs and heirs whose John E. McCullough whereabouts are unknown Esq,/McCullough Law shall enter their appearance Firm, PLLC in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment 1413 K Street NW shall be filed with the Regis15th Floor ter of Wills, D.C., Building A, Washington DC 20005 515 5th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Attorney NW, Washington, D.C. NOTICE OF 20001, on or before October APPOINTMENT, 26, 2013. Claims against the NOTICE TO decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a CREDITORS copy to the Register of Wills AND NOTICE TO or filed with the Register of UNKNOWN HEIRS Wills with a copy to the

Karen Hatchik whose address is 8435 Peace Lily Court #112, Lorton VA 22079 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Hratch A. Abrahamian, who died on March 19, 2013 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 NW, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013. 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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Karen Hatchik Personal Representatives 703-646-5282 TRUE TEST COPY TYPESET:OFTue Apr 23 REGISTER WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM357 Adele Mills Banks Decedent Clinton L. Evans Jr. Esq./1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20006 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Wanda A. Smith whose address is 13219 Poppy Hills Court, Brandywine, MD 20613 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Adele Mills Banks, who died on March 2, 2013 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 NW, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013.

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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Wanda A. Smith Personal Representatives 202-508-3662 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

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undersigned, on or before October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Wesley L. Clarke Personal Representatives 202-257-9730 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER WILLS TYPESET:OFTue Apr 30 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM360 Eva W. Ladrey Decedent Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS 11:04:41 2013 AND EDT NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estelle Carolyn Ladrey whose address is 5415 Connecticut Ave., NW # 134 Washington DC 20015 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Eva W. Ladrey, who died on February 16, 2013 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 NW, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013. 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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Estelle Carolyn Ladrey Personal Representatives TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

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Payment Policy for legal notice advertisements. Effective immediately, The Afro American Newspapers will require prepayment for publication of all legal notices. Payment will be accepted in the form of checks, credit card or money order. Any returned checks will be subject to a $25.00 processing fee and may result in the suspension of any future advertising at our discretion.

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013

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Mail in your ad on form below along with CHECK or MONEY ORDER to: WASHINGTON AFRO-AMERICAN CO. 1917 Benning Road, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002-4723 Attn: Clsf. Adv. Dept.

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NAME: ________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _____________________________________________ PHONE NO.:____________________________________________ CLASSIFICATION: ______________________________________ (Room, Apt., House, etc.)

INSERTION DATE:_________________

WASHINGTON AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER Legal Advertising Rates Effective October 1, 2008 PROBATE DIVISION (Estates) 202-332-0080 PROBATE NOTICES a. Order Nisi $ 60 per insertion 14:55:12 EDT 2013 (single publication $ 60 per insertion b. Small Estates c. Notice to Creditors 1. Domestic $ 60 per insertion 2. Foreign $ 60 per insertion d. Escheated Estates $ 60 per insertion e. Standard Probates

CIVIL NOTICES a. Name Changes 202-879-1133 b. Real Property

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1-800 (AFRO) 892 For Proof of Publication, please call 1-800-237-8892, ext. 244 TYPESET: Tue2013 Apr 23 11:05:43 EDTTue 2013 TYPESET: Tue Apr 23 11:03:54 EDT TYPESET: Apr 30 10:56:21 EDT TYPESET: Tue2013 Apr 30 10:56:45 LEGAL NOTICES Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM339 DeLong Harris, Jr. Decedent W. Alton Lewis 1450 Mercantile Lane Suite 155 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Stephanie Harris whose address is 31 R Street, NW, Washington DC 20001 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Delong Harris, Jr., who died on January 15, 2013 without a Will, and will service 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 NW, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013. 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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Stephanie Harris Personal Representatives 202-667-0385 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM331 Luther T. Christian, Jr Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Monica Y. Christian whose address is 708 Emerson Street, NE Washington DC 20017 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Luther T. Christian Jr., who died on February 5, 2013 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 NW, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013.

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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Monica Y. Christian Personal Representatives 202-367-2810 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM287 William D. Alexander aka William D. Alexander, Sr. Decedent Archie L. Palmore, Esq 7829 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt, MD 20770 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Archie L. Palmore, whose address is 7829 Belle Point Drive, Greenbelt MD 20770 was appointed personal representative of the estate of William D. Alexander aka William D. Alexander, Sr., who died on December 17, 2012 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 (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 3, 2013. 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 November 3, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 3, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Archie L. Palmore Personal Representative 301-345-3955 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2009ADM000529 Barbara Rosamond Stewart Decedent W. Alton Lewis 1450 Mercantile Lane Suite 155 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Beryl Roberts, whose address is 1524 Varnum Street, NW, Washington DC 20011 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Barbara Rosamond Stewart, who died on December 31, 2008 with a Will, and will service with Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 3, 2013. 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 November 3, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 3, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Beryl Roberts Personal Representative 202-726-4037 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

May 11, 2013 - May 17, 2013, The Afro-American

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TYPESET: Tue May 07 09:33:15 TYPESET: Tue2013 May 07 09:38:26 EDT TYPESET: Tue2013 May 07 09:34:35 TYPESET: Tue2013 May 07 09:36:10 EDT TYPESET: Tue2013 May 07 09:37:36 TYPESET: Tue2013 May 07 09:39:42 TYPESET: Tue2013 Apr 23 11:06:40 EDT 2013 TYPESET: Tue Apr 30 10:57:14 TYPESET: Tue2013 May 07 09:39:17 LEGAL NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No. 13-0002566 IN RE: Chevella Marie McAllister Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Chevella Maria McAllister having filed a complaint for judgment changing Chevella Marie McAllister name to Chevella Marie and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 10th day of April 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 29th day of May, 2013 at 3:15 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailed objections five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further 0 the applicant must send the application for change of name of an adult and notice of final hearing to the applicant’s creditors personally or by registered or certified mail and show proof of service by filling the affidavit/ declaration of service.

SO ORDERED JUDGE TYPESET: 5/3, Tue5/10, Apr5/17 23

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM334 Barbara Lett Simmons Decedent Nathan A. Neal Esq Law Offices of Nathan A. Neal PLLC 3108 Cherry Road NE Washington DC 20018 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

David C. Simmons and Robert A. Simmons whose addresses are 1249 Maryland Ave, NE Washington DC 20002 and 6409 13th Street NW, Washington DC 20012 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Barbara Lett Simmons, who died on December 22, 2012 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 (or to the probate of decedent´s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013. 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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter David C. Simmons Robert A. Simmons Personal Representatives 202-210-6600 202-704-6794 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Sandra Evette James having filed a complaint for judgment changing Sandra Evette James name to Sandy Evan James and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 22nd day of April 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 10th day of June, 2013 at 2:30 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailed objections five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further 0 the applicant must send the application for change of name of an adult and notice of final hearing to the applicant’s creditors personally or by registered or certified mail and show proof of service by filling the affidavit/ declaration of service.

SO ORDEREDTue Apr 23 TYPESET: JUDGE 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 10:58:43 EDT 2013 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM340 Jacqueline Vesta Wright aka Jacqueline V. Wright Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Angela Maria Wright whose address is 4740 C Street, SE #201, Washington DC 20019 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Jacqueline Vesta Wright aka Jacqueline V. Wright, who died on August 23, 2012 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 (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street NW, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 26, 2013.

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 October 26, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Angela Maria Wright Personal Representatives 202-450-5161 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER WILLS TYPESET:OFTue Apr 23 4/26,2013 5/3, 5/10 11:03:30 EDT

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Foreign No. 2013FEP44 Date of Death January 31, 2011 Rodney H. Medford Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Gail Stewart Medford whose address is XXXX was appointed personal representative of the estate of Rodney H. Medford, deceased, by the Orphans’ Court for Prince George’s County, State of Maryland on March 21, 2011.

Service of process may be made upon Thomas A. Medford, Jr., 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20006 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Colombia real property: 3606 14th Street, NE. Washington DC 20017.

Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, 500 Ind i a n a A v e n u e , N . W. , Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. (Strike preceding sentence if no real estate.)

Gail Stewart Medford 301-805-4125 301-385-6785 Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS Date of first publication: April 26, 2013 Name of newspapers and/or periodical: The Daily Washington Law Reporter The Afro-American 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM20 Barbara Gaston Decedent Anita Isicson 4616 Fessenden St. NW, Washington DC 20016 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Anita Isicson, whose address is 4616 Fessenden Street, NW., Washington DC 20016 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Barbara Gaston, who died on February 11, 2012 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 (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law 2013 11:06:03 EDT Reporter Anita Isicson Personal Representative 202-237-7400 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER WILLS TYPESET:OFTue May 07 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM395 King W. Peterson Decedent

Charles E. Walton Esq 10905 Fort Washington Rd #201 Fort Washington, MD 20744

Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Lorraine P. Rue, whose address is 4103 Massachusetts Ave. SE., Washington DC 20019 was appointed personal representative of the estate of King W. Peterson, who died on September 23, 2012 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 (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: 11:06:22 EDT 2013 Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Lorraine P. Rue Personal Representative 301-292-8357 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS TYPESET:5/10, Tue5/17, May 07 5/24

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM409 Adria E. Reed Decedent Wendell C. Robinson 4308 Georgia Ave NW Washington DC 20011 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Rosalynd P. Reed-Walker, whose address is 690 Pike Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Adria E. Reed, who died on January 25, 2013 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., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Rosalynd P. Reed-Walker Personal Representative 803-347-8026 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM249 Lulu Goodwin Decedent William A. Bland Esq 1140 Connecticut Ave NW, #1100 Washington DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Joseph W. Cummings Jr, whose address is 8 New Boston Road, South Royalston, MA 01368 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Lulu Goodwin, who died on January 21, 2013 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 (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 500 Indiana Ave NW Washington DC 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Joseph W. Cummings Jr. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY TYPESET:OFTue May 07 REGISTER WILLS 09:34:04 EDT 5/10, 2013 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM129 Emanuel G. Carr, Jr. Decedent Ronald Dixon, Esq. 1010 N Camerson St Alexandria VA 22314 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ronald Dixon, whose address is 1010 N Cameron Street, Alexandria VA. 22314 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Emanuel G. Carr, Jr., who died on August 6, 2004 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Ronald Dixon Personal Representative 703-549-7211 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OFTue WILLS TYPESET: May 07 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of

09:34:58 EDT 2013 the District of

District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM50 Joseph L. Bishop Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ferial S. Bishop and Kelli C. Bishop, whose address are 3210 Chestnut Street NW Washington DC 20015 and 3216 S. Stafford Street, Arlington VA 22206 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Joseph L. Bishop, who died on October 7, 2012 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs a n d h e i r s w h o s e whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Ferial S. Bishop Kelli C. Bishop Personal Representatives 202-606-1175 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM388 Denise Joan Greenfield Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Lynn Diane Young and John R. Tyler Jr., whose address are 4400 18th Street NW, Washington DC 20011 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Denise Joan Greenfield, who died on January 26, 2013 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., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 10, 2013. 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 November 10, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Lynn Diane Young John R. Tyler Jr. Personal Representatives 202-882-1760 TRUE TEST COPY TYPESET:OFTue May 07 REGISTER WILLS 5/10, 2013 5/17, 5/24 09:35:19 EDT

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM400 Estate of Sterling Jackson Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Nelson C. Johnson for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representative. Unless 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 publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

0 in the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate 0 appoint an unsupervised personal representative Register of Wills Clerk of the Probate Division Date of First Publication May 10, 2013 Names of Newspapers: Washington Law Reporter Washington AFRO-AMERICAN Nelson C. Johnson PR-3-7-13 651-33rd Street Newport News VA 23607 202-251-0619 Signature of Petitioners/Attorney TYPESET: Tue May 07 5/10, 5/17

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM398 Estate of Mary E. Turner aka Mary Turner 09:35:45 EDT 2013 Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Izu I. Ahaghotu for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representative. Unless 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 publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

0 in the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate 0 appoint an unsupervised personal representative Register of Wills Clerk of the Probate Division Date of First Publication May 10, 2013 Names of Newspapers: Washington Law Reporter Washington AFRO-AMERICAN Izu I. Ahaghotu 7211 Georgia Avenue NW. Washington DC 20012 202-726-4171 Signature of Petitioners/Attorney 5/10, 5/17

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2012ADM352 John Turner Baysmore Decedent Kenneth H. Rosenau 1304 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington DC 20005 Attorney NOTICE OF AFTER DISCOVERED WILL AND NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

Kenneth H. Rosenau, whose address is 1304 Rhode Island Ave., NW., Washington DC 20005 was appointed personal representative of the estate of John Turner Baysmore, who died on February 4, 2012 with a Will.

Objections to such appointment or to the probate of decedent’s Will shall be filed with the Register of Wills, District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, NW 3rd Floor, Washington DC 20001, on or before November 10, 2013.

Date of Publication: May 10, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Kenneth H. Rosenau Personal Representative 202-386-8680 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER WILLS TYPESET:OFTue May 07 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No. 13-0003014 IN RE: Claudius James Cole Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Claudius James Cole having filed a complaint for judgment changing EDT Claudius James 09:36:39 2013 Cole name to Casidy Renee Henderson and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 30th day of April 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 18th day of June, 2013 at 2:45 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailed objections five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further 0 the applicant must send the application for change of name of an adult and notice of final hearing to the US Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, Washington Field Office, 2675 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, Virginia 22031 personally or by registered or certified mail and show proof of service by filling the affidavit/declaration of service.

SO ORDERED JUDGE 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No.13-0002860 IN RE: Keajuan Eugene Butler Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Keajuan Eugene Butler having filed a complaint for judgment changing Keajuan Eugene Butler name to Kymoria Morgan Stanfield and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 23rd day of April 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 11th day of June, 2013 at 3:15 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailedEDT objections 09:37:59 2013 five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further SO ORDERED TYPESET: Tue May 07 JUDGE 5/10, 5/17, 5/24 Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No.13-0002857 IN RE: Deangelo Dominique Armstead Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Deangelo Dominique Armstead having filed a complaint for judgment changing Deangelo Dominique Armstead name to McKayla Nysia Armstead and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 23rd day of April 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 11th day of June, 2013 at 2:30 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailed objections five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further SO ORDERED JUDGE 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No.13-0002875 IN RE: Ronnie Lloyd Middleton Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Ronnie Lloyd Middleton having filed a complaint for judgment changing Ronnie Lloyd Middleton name to Kevette Marsha Middleton and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 23rd day of April 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 11th day of June, 2013 at 3:30 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailed objections five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further TYPESET: SO ORDEREDTue May 07 09:38:47 EDT 2013 JUDGE 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No. 2033-2013 IN RE: Vernon Simpkins Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Vernon Simpkins having filed a complaint for judgment changing Vernon Simpkins name to Vernon Charles Perry and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required by law in such cases; it is by the Court this 3rd day of May 2013, hereby ORDERED, that a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in The AfroAmerican Newspapers, a newspaper of general circulation of the District of Columbia; and it is further ORDERED, that the publication must began no later than 12 days after the filing of the application; and is further ORDERED, that the FINAL HEARING on this application to change name will be held in Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW Washington DC 20001, on the 21st day of June, 2013 at 3:30 pm.If any person desires to oppose this application, that person or his or her attorney must be present at the hearing or file written detailed objections five (5) days in advance of the hearing with Judge-inChambers and mail a copy of the applicant or applicant’s counsel; and it is further SO ORDERED JUDGE 5/10,2013 5/17, 5/24 09:40:06 EDT

PUBLIC NOTICE The First Baptist Church Senior Center is in the process of submitting a proposal for a capital assistance grant to implement and expand our program to provide transportation services to elderly persons and/or persons with disabilities in the District of Columbia.

The Center will use the funds to purchase a vehicle for transporting seniors to and from the Center, field trips, limited medical/social service appointments, Rec/Soc activities and home and resource visits.

The detailed service plan is available at First Baptist Church Senior Center from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Any private transit or paratransit operator wishing to obtain additional information or desiring to submit comments or proposals in relation thereto, should contact this agency within seven (7) days of this publication date. Further information may be obtained by calling (202) 723-4313.

CALL TODAY! 202-332-0080

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CAREER CORNER

Anna Daragan-Cadena, whose address is 54 Lake George Rd., Brookfield, Connecticut 06804 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Nancy W. Daragan, who died on January 13, 2013 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 (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 3, 2013.

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 November 3, 2013, 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 first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: May 3, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Anna Daragan-Cadena Personal Representative 301-654-5757 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OFTue WILLS TYPESET: Apr 30 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No. 13-0002830 IN RE: Sandra Evette James President Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME

Thursday, May 9th 9:00am-2:00pm & 6:00pm-9:00pm Friday, May 10th 9:00am-2:00pm & 6:00pm-9:00pm Saturday, May 11th 9:00am-noon

First Transit will provide a shuttle from the Morgan Blvd metro station to the job fair every ten minutes.

All candidates must have 5 years of domestic driving experience and be able to pass a new employee drug screen, criminal background check, and DOT physical. If you have specific questions please leave a message, a team member will respond.

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Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM351 Nancy W. Daragan Decedent Thomas A. Gentile 5530 Wisconsin Ave Suite 1209 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

• No experience required • Age 17 1/ 2 at time of application • U.S. Citizen or permanent resident • Possess a high school diploma or GED • Valid drivers license (non-provisional)

Apply online between May 1 and May 17, 2013 www.montgomerycountymd.gov (click on Careers) For more information:

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The Afro-American, May 11, 2013 - May 11, 2013