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Volume 123 No. 13
$1.00 Nation’s #1 African American Newspaper 2014 Nielsen-Essence Consumer Report
Special Homecoming section–B1 NOVEMBER 1, 2014 - NOVEMBER 7, 2014
Commerce Chamber Honors City Leaders Norton Receives Lifetime Achievement Award By Shantella Sherman Special to the AFRO The D.C. Chamber, the largest chamber in the Washington region, recently honored Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) with the Lifetime Legacy Award during its Chamber’s Choice Awards Gala Oct. 25. Other honorees included Hines (Economic Impact Award), Disabled American Veterans facebook.com (Community Impact Award), George Hawkins of The D.C. Chamber recently honored Eleanor Holmes Norton. D.C. Water (Business Leader of the Year), Walmart (Business of the Year), Marie Johns (Chairman’s made a significant impact on the District, and we are grateful Distinction Award), and Events D.C. (Chamber’s Choice for their dedication and commitment to the city.” Award). Last year, Industrial Bank, a full-service community bank “The capital’s business community continues to be vibrant, and D.C.’s sole minority-owned bank, received the Lifetime thriving landscape. Corporations large and small continue Legacy Award. to open offices downtown and beyond, and commercial real A special dedication was also extended to Margaret Beatrice estate developments under way have brought new life to Hill Stewart, the late matriarch of the Stewart Funeral Home neighborhoods throughout the District,” Kristina Bouweiri, family, who passed away at her home earlier this year at age president and CEO of Reston Limousine, said. “Each 97. She was the first female to serve as president of the District [awardee] has had a significant hand in building D.C.’s business of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, where she served as chair community, from creating emeritus until her death. Stewart was celebrated as “a woman jobs to shaping policy. Their INSERTS of extraordinary accomplishments… with a strong support for investment of time, money • Walmart and resources into our city has Continued on A3
Bowser, Candidates Push for Strong Voter Turnout File Photo
By James Wright Special to the AFRO D.C. Council member and Democratic mayoral candidate Muriel Bowser is one of many political leaders in the District that wants residents to vote in
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–D.C. Council member Yvette Alexander unprecedented numbers in the Nov. 4 general election. On Oct. 25, Bowser was joined by 200 people that consisted of residents,
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remembrance of her baby brother Oct. 25 during the Walk to End HIV, formerly known as the AIDS Walk Washington. The event was held at Freedom Plaza in the District
“We’re in a more hopeful place.” – Dave Mallory and attracted more than 5,000 walkers and runners who raised roughly $600,000 for Whitman Walker-Health, a community health center in Northwest, along with 12 community partners said Dave Mallory, the walk’s director. Not only did Whitman
colleagues and union leaders and activists at the Murry’s parking lot on Minnesota
Continued on A3
Walker-Health organize the walk, but it also serves people facing obstacles to quality care, according to its website. It has been part of the community since 1973 and specializes in LGBT and HIV care. The AIDS walk has been a District fixture for 28 years and is D.C.’s biggest fundraiser and community event focused on HIV and AIDS, Mallory said. The walk included a three mile walk, a timed 5K run, and debuted its new name this year. The name switch was due to the overall decline in the number of new AIDS cases in the District, Mallory said. Figures from the District’s health department also show Continued on A4
The District Celebrates 40 Years of Home Rule By James Wright Special to the AFRO
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Photo by Lenore T. Adkins
Yvonne Jackson, who walked in honor of her younger brother, Terrence Keith Richard, joins nearly 5,000 people in the District for the Walk to End HIV.
Yvonne Jackson of Washington, D.C. remembered holding her younger brother’s hand in 2012 as he lay dying in a hospital bed in Los Angeles. Her brother, Terrence Keith Richard, 37, was dying of complications from AIDS. He had contracted HIV 12 years earlier after having unprotected sex with another man, she said. She comforted her brother in his final moments by singing “Jesus loves me,” a song familiar to them both from childhood. “And he took his last breath,” Jackson, 44, said. Jackson walked in
fellow Democrats, candidates for other offices, council
“Your voice counts and there is strength in numbers.”
D.C. Resident Shares Story at AIDS Walk By Lenore T. Adkins Special to the AFRO
Muriel Bowser wants residents to vote in unprecedented numbers in the Nov. 4 general election.
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Rebecca Sheir, moderator and panelists Buwa Binitie, Dominic Mouldon and Bernard Demczuk
The District of Columbia recently celebrated a milestone in its long march toward full political participation in American politics and government. Past District elected leaders joined present day politicians and 50 guests at a ceremony highlighting the 40th anniversary of the city gaining the right to limited self-governance or Home Rule from the U.S. Congress on Oct. 28. The event took place on the ground floor of the John A. Wilson Building and while the mood was somewhat upbeat, there was a sense of melancholy. “I wish it was not limited home rule but it is what it is,” D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D) said. District residents have been advocating for the right to be represented in the U.S. Congress and for the ability to manage its own affairs without congressional oversight since the early 19th century. The move toward self-governance advanced in 1961 when District residents gained the right to vote in presidential elections, starting in 1964. President Lyndon Johnson spearheaded a process with the District getting a presidentially-appointed mayor and commissioners in 1967 and that was followed by an elected school board in 1968, a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970 and Home Rule in 1973, where an Continued on A4
Photos by Hamzat Sani
D.C. Housing Crises: Gentrification, Revitalization or Renaissance?
By Christina Sturdivant Special to the AFRO
An in-depth discussion about housing trends in D.C. was hosted by Elevation DC Magazine, Oct. 21. The conversation was an effort to explore
Long-time District residents and newcomers attended the discussion.
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the line between preserving affordable housing for long-time District residents and making way for newcomers to enjoy living in the city as well, said David Bowers, vice president and market leader at Mid-Atlantic and representative from Enterprise Community Continued on A4