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Volume 122 No. 28
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FEBRUARY 15, 2014 - FEBRUARY 21, 2014
White House State Dinner Draws A-List Notables
Howard Dentistry Students Make Kids Smile Howard University College of Dentistry, in conjunction with the District of Columbia Dental Society and the American Dental Association, hosted the national kickoff of Give Kids A Smile Day at the Northwest Washington school. Nearly 200 elementary school students from C.W. Harris and Kimball Elementary schools who may not otherwise have access to oral health care Continued on A6
Dr. Barbara Worthy, a second-year resident, helps improve a smile.
Photo courtesy Howard University
H. Beecher Hicks to Step Down as Pastor of D.C.’s Metropolitan Baptist Church By Keith Harriston Special to the AFRO
Cicely Tyson, Ben Jealous, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Cong. Elijah Cummings, Al Sharpton, and Stephen Colbert Among Guests--Mary J. Blige Entertained AP Photo
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Michelle and Barack Obama found just the right spot to seat a gent going stag to Tuesday’s state dinner: They plopped French President Francois Hollande down right between them in a giant party tent, and put the pshaw to all that drama about his solo trip to the U.S. after a very public breakup from his first lady. The A-list guest roster for the biggest social event of Obama’s second term — flush with celebrities, Democratic donors, politicians and business types — mostly tried not to go there, tactfully
avoiding talk about “l’affaire Hollande.” “I don’t get involved in those things,” demurred actress Cicely Tyson, who at age 80 said she’s been to plenty of state dinners over the years. Former NAACP official Ben Jealous was nothing but admiring of the French intrigue. “I think the French are way cooler than we are on a whole lot of fronts,” he said, including “way better gossip.” On a frigid night, the evening’s pomp and pageantry were all designed to wrap
Continued on A5
D.C.’s Inclusionary Zoning Affordable Housing Program Finding Success By Zenitha Prince Special to the AFRO
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By Darlene Superville Associated Press
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A District of Columbia program aimed at increasing the availability of affordable housing for city residents is showing signs of success, a government spokesman said. The Inclusionary Zoning program, based on legislation enacted in March 2007, requires that a certain percentage of units in a new development or a substantial rehabilitation project that expands an existing building set aside affordable units. In exchange, the project developer gains bonus density, or more units. “From a developer’s standpoint, that’s a plus because you’re able to build more market-price units,” said Marcus Williams, spokesman for the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development, which oversees the program. The program is also a plus for the government and District residents, he added. “From a [city] standpoint, the IZ program supports the mission of this agency to create and preserve affordable housing for residents of the city,” Williams said. “It is the goal of this agency and the priority of the mayor to build and revitalize mixed communities—places with people of mixed incomes, mixed races, backgrounds and ages. “This program aids with that charge,” he added, “because it allows residents with moderate-to-low income ranges to live
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The Rev. H. Beecher Hicks Jr. is stepping down as pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest
Rev. H. Beecher Hicks Jr. is stepping down. metropolitanbaptist.org
Washington, citing health problems as a factor in his retirement. Hicks has served as pastor of Metropolitan Baptist for 37 years, making him one of the longest continuously-serving pastors in the District of Columbia. He announced the decision to his congregation from the pulpit on Feb. 2. Hicks told a meeting of approximately 200 members of his congregation about his decision the previous Friday. According to several church members in attendance, Hicks said he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Hicks told church members that a committee has begun forming
a succession plan. Hicks became pastor of Metropolitan in 1977, and under his guidance it became one of the District’s most socially and politically influential churches. From the mid-1980s through the 1990s, worshipers filled the 1,400-seat church sanctuary at 13th and R streets NW. Both early- and late-morning services were often standing room only. On Sundays during election seasons, D.C. candidates had to make sure to visit Metropolitan and be welcomed by Hicks. At its zenith in the early 2000s, Metropolitan boasted a congregation of more Continued on A4
BEYA Conference Honors, Inspires By Mia Alexander-Davis Special to the AFRO They came from all across the nation to honor STEM stalwarts and to reach out to young people considering careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The location was the Marriott Wardman Park in Northwest Washington, where hundreds gathered for workshops and social events at the 2014 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Conference Feb. 6-8. The BEYA-STEM Conference, organized by Career Communications Group Inc., created a community of support
Continued on A6
Dr. Eugene M. DeLoatch, right, dean and full professor of the Clarence Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering, Morgan State University, presents the Presidents Award to Dan Akerson, retiring CEO and chairman, General Motors Company
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The 2014 Black Engineer of the Year honoree, Stephanie C. Hill, president, Information Systems and Global Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Presenting the Community Service Award Gen. Lester Lyles, U.S. Air Force(Ret) to Ms. Paige Lewter (left) Electronics Engineer Naval Air System Command