District Chronicles V14 Issue 35 by District Chronicles

FRIDAY

Apr 24

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SUNNY

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H: 65 CLOUDY

H: 66 PARTLY

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SATURDAY

MAYA ANGELOU FOREVER STAMP UNVEILED AT WARNER THEATRE 4

Marion Christopher Barry hopes to fill father’s shoes in Council seat election Page 7

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April 23 - April 29, 2015

Ward 8 to see new charter school in 2016 Page 12 www.districtchronicles.com

Volume 14 Issue 35

Editorial

Holding the Loretta Lynch nomination hostage By Charlene Crowell NNPA Columnist

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t is ironic that April is Fair Housing Month and the U.S. Senate has yet to schedule a vote on the nomination of the first Black woman to become the nation’s Attorney General. Nominated on November 14, the nomination of Loretta Lynch has lingered longer than the seven previous attorneys generals combined. The delay is even more disturbing because Lynch was previously and unanimously approved by the Senate – twice – to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Representing the interests of 8 million people residing in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island, Lynch won a number of Wall Street financial fraud cases. That kind of leadership and experience would rightfully continue the fights for fair housing and a stop to predatory lending. As with any organization, the tone is set at the top. At the Justice Department (DOJ), the successor to outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder will determine whether aggressive enforcement of laws designed to provide equal access to housing and credit will be sustained. In 2015, 47 years since passage of the Fair Housing Act, DOJ’s actions prove we are still seeking justice in housing – especially in instances where consumers of color have been denied fair and equal treatment under the law. Since 2010, according to Vanita Gupta, acting assistant attorney general, DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has reached settlements in 18 lawsuits charging discrimination in mortgage lending, pricing discrimination, racial steering and redlining affecting both large and small numbers of consumers. These cases have been as large as the $335 million settlement with Countrywide that brought a measure of justice for 200,000 borrowers who were targets of discrimination and shared $335 million in relief. Wells Fargo, one of the nation’s largest banks, paid more than $184 million to thousands of victims of steering and pricing. Other actions have affected far

The Lynch nomination delay will affect the Department of Justice’s fight for fair housing.

fewer victims, but still led to monetary compensation. For example, eight Brooklyn families who were sold homes at inflated prices by a developer, United Homes, shared a $1 million settlement. In addition, HUD officials advise that in FY 2014, its Fair Housing Assistance Program partner agencies received 8,468 complaints alleging discrimination based on one or more of the Fair Housing Act’s seven protected classes: race, color, national origin, religion, gender, family status, and disability. Enforcement actions resulted in almost $33 million in compensation for victims and victims’ funds. The two top reasons cited in these complaints were disability and race. The combined fair housing efforts of DOJ and HUD have forced substantial settlements for those who have violated the law. Even so, more housing litigation is pending. For example, in November 2014, the National Fair Housing Alliance, a consortium of more than 220 private, nonprofit fair housing organizations throughout the nation, expanded a racial discrimination complaint filed against U.S. Bank. The original lawsuit, filed in 2012, alleged multiple fair housing violations in

the neglect of bank-owned foreclosures in communities of color. The amended complaint now adds the cities of Cleveland, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Muskegon to those already filed for Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver, Dallas, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Memphis, Milwaukee and other locales. With these and other housing issues, it is inexcusable for the Senate to delay a floor vote on the Lynch nomination. The upper chamber has a constitutional duty to offer “advice and consent.” Fortunately, a few members of the majority have indicated their commitment to vote for the delayed nominee. On February 26, the day that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on the Lynch nomination, its former chair and longest-serving member, Sen. Orrin Hatch (RUtah) said, “The case against her nomination, as far as I can tell, essentially ignores her professional career and focuses solely on about six hours that she spent before this committee on January 28. I do not believe that is a proper way to evaluate any nominee’s fitness for any position.” Loretta Lynch and the nation are waiting – still.

Finance

Chavis: American economy racially segregated By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. NNPA Columnist

espite ill-intended efforts to do it for us, Black Americans have a responsibility to define our own reality. It is a fundamental human right recognized and respected by the United Nations. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to define, without apology, the deadly and debilitating manifestation of racial discrimination and injustice as “economic racism.” Why are so many Black Americans still mired down in intergenerational poverty, lack of health care, inadequate education, raging unemployment, disproportionate imprisonment, the highest rate of housing foreclosures and housing discrimination, the lowest rate of bank lending and overcall exclusion from access to sustainable wealth generation in every region of the nation? How is it mathematically possible for Black Americans to spend more than $1.2 trillion annually in the United States, and yet the overwhelming majority of the companies that make huge profits from the annual spending of Black Americans do nothing more than invest far less than 1 percent of their profits back into Black-owned businesses and grassroots organizations throughout the country? Why does the American economy remain racially segregated in 2015? Why are Black Americans consigned to poverty and economic inequality? The answer is amazingly simple: It is the reality of economic racism, defined as the intentional racial discrimination against Black Americans and other people of color to prevent economic equality, justice, parity, advancement, and empowerment; it is the systematic racial exclusion of Black Americans and other people of color from economic policy-making at local, state and national levels in both corporate and governmental entities; and, it is economic institutionalization of racial oppression, stereotyping, and profiling coupled with the ignorance of racial prejudice and hatred. We have not concentrated on

YOU Choose The Deal! Economic racism continues to put many African Americans in bottom class.

economic racism as much as we should have because of the overemphasis on politics. But we eventually had to recognize that even our political system is controlled by economics and politicians tend to be more responsive to those who support their campaigns economically. The perpetrators of racial injustice and discrimination are always reluctant to confess or acknowledge the reality of these centuries-old phenomena. In the United States, in particular, there is a historic and contemporary denial of how race plays a determinative role in all aspects of society. As former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) was fond of saying, “Slavery was America’s original sin, and racism remains its unresolved dilemma.” And we said that racism manifested in so many ways. Today, it now appears that the only way to get people to acknowledge racially-motivated police misconduct against Black Americans and other people of color is to have a videotape of the transgression. Thank God for the recent videotape of the police murder of unarmed Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina. Sometimes, as was the case with Eric Garner in New York City, we can have videotape and rogue cops still escape punishment. In my home state of North Carolina more than 32 years ago, while helping to lead civil rights

protests against the digging of a massive toxic waste landfill in predominantly African American Warren County, I coined the term “environmental racism.” Warren County was also the place where Congress of Racial Equality Chairman Floyd B. McKissick Sr., the first African American to receive a law degree from the University of North Carolina, attempted to build Soul City as an economic empowerment zone and a new city for Black Americans and others who considered themselves progressive. Environmental racism is the intentional racial discrimination in the deliberate targeting of ethnic and minority communities for exposure to toxic and hazardous waste sites and facilities, coupled with the systematic exclusion of racial minorities in environmental policy making, enforcement, and remediation. As a result of the definitive work that we did on this issue back in the 1980s, today there are effective and transformative environmental justice movements and organizations across America and throughout the world. One day, I hope we’ll be able to look back and say the same about economic racism. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa. org.

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Neighborhood

Maya Angelou is the face of the newest Forever Stamp

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Oprah Winfrey among the notable guests at the unveiling of the Maya Angelou stamp in the Warner Theatre in D.C.

By Jazelle Hunt NNPA Washington Correspondent

4 | Apr. 23 - Apr. 29, 2015 | District Chronicles

(NNPA) – Less than a year after her death, Maya Angelou has been further immortalized on a U.S. Postal Service commemorative Forever Stamp. An all-star assembly earlier this month, gathered to witness the first-day-of-issue stamp unveiling ceremony, held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. The at-capacity audience included First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, musician Roberta Flack, two of Malcolm X’s daughters, Ilyasah and Qubilah Shabazz, and other notables. Melissa Harris Perry, who first came under Angelou’s wing in the early 1990s as her intern at Wake Forest University, emceed the event. Andrew Young, former United Nations ambassador gave the invocation. Singer Alyson Williams, who was introduced as Angelou’s “personal songbird,” performed the national anthem and the Black National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice.” “The truth is, this Forever Stamp registers the applause of tens of millions of readers over the world where the prose and poetry of Maya Angelou is translated in 17 languages and still counting,” said author and educator, Eleanor Traylor, just before reading a passage from “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Traylor was on a short list of

featured speakers at the ceremony, which included Oprah Winfrey, writers and advocates Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez, and journalist Sophia A. Nelson, who each recited original poetry. “On this past Saturday, her birthday April 4th, it would’ve been her 87th birthday,” said Winfrey, adding that she had spent the day reading Angelou’s poetry in commemoration. I miss her so. I’m honored to be here, to stand as her daughter sister-friend at the unveiling of the Maya forever, Forever Stamp.” In the middle of her tribute, an area-wide power outage cut electricity to the theater, but Winfrey powered through a recitation of “Phenomenal Woman,” without the microphone. The image featured on the stamp is a reprint of the oil painting portrait by Ross Rossin on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. The portrait’s unveiling, held the day after Angelou’s 86th birthday last year, was her final public appearance. “Today, this new Forever Stamp serves as a tribute to Angelou’s humanity, and contribution to our nation,” said Megan J. Brennan, postmaster general and CEO of the USPS. “You will notice that there’s some other words on her stamp: forever and USA. It is the postal service’s way of honoring and remembering those who left an enduring and indelible mark on our society, and who represent the best

of America.” The featured words on the stamp, however – “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song” – have caused some controversy. Although Angelou has used the line in her travels, and has become widely associated with it as a result, the quote actually originated with another writer. The Washington Post was the first major outlet to point this out. It also reported that USPS spokesman, Mark Saunders responded via email: “Had we known about this issue beforehand, we would have used one of [Angelou’s] many other works. The sentence held great meaning for her and she is publicly identified with its popularity.” Currently, the USPS has no plans to alter the quote. Angelou’s stamp is a commemorative one – as such, it will only be issued once and for a limited time. If the USPS does cease production and reissue the stamps with a different quote, this single batch will become an even more valuable collector’s item. After the actual unveiling, her son, author Guy Johnson delivered an original ode to his mother. “I point to the life of a little Black girl from Stamps, [Arkansas], whose words and actions we honor here today. With heart in hand she stepped out on His word and believed. She spoke out in clarion tones for justice and truth – and look at what the little Black girl from Stamps achieved.”

Divine Intervention Supreme Court urged to uphold gay marriage bans By Richard Wolf USA Today

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(WASHINGTON) — Republican officials and religious organizations dominate a growing list of more than 60 groups urging the Supreme Court to uphold state bans against same-sex marriage. The influx of “friend of the court” briefs easily made the upcoming case the most heavily lobbied in recent history. Earlier this month, more than 70 briefs were filed by proponents of gay marriage, including one signed by more than 200,000 people. Sixteen states led by Republican governors were among those calling for the bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to be upheld. Among them were nine states where same-sex marriage bans have been struck down by federal courts – an indication that the battle there and elsewhere will be renewed if the justices uphold the bans. “How much better for this issue to play out, state-by-state, with citizens locked in urgent conversation,” says one of the briefs. “That is precisely what was happening before the courts began to intervene two years ago. The court should let that process of self-governance continue.” States opposing gay marriage include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and West Virginia, where federal appeals court rulings have struck down state bans. The Supreme Court refused to reconsider most of those decisions last October. In March, 18 states submitted briefs opposing bans on same-sex marriage, including some with Republican governors. The major one was written by officials from Massachusetts, the first state to legalize gay marriage, and included California, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania. The flood of legal briefs from both sides is indicative of what’s at stake in the debate. Unlike 2013, when the court ruled 5-4 that the federal government must grant benefits to legally married gays and lesbians, the justices likely will decide this June on same-sex mar-

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Many politicians, groups hope to sway the Supreme Court as it takes on gay-marriage.

riage rights nationwide. The case will be heard April 28. Fifty-seven Republican members of Congress called on the court to use restraint in this “unchartered area” and let states act as laboratories. “The relative novelty of samesex marriage weighs against the mandatory redefinition of marriage,” they argued. Only six senators, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and presidential candidate Ted Cruz of Texas, signed the brief, along with 51 members of the more conservative House. Missing were House Speaker John Boehner and other White House hopefuls, including Sens. Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. By contrast, 44 Democratic senators and 167 Democratic House members filed a brief last month urging the court to approve samesex marriage. The brief included the full House and Senate leadership teams. And while some members of the 2012 Republican National Convention platform committee filed a brief against gay marriage last Friday, it notably did not include GOP Chairman Reince Priebus. Scores of prominent Republicans last month joined a brief on the other side filed by former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. They included Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and

Mark Kirk of Illinois and former presidential candidates Rudolph Giuliani and Jon Huntsman. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops focused on marriage as a traditional institution that “furthers the interests and well-being of children.” The group’s brief specifically urged the court to reject theories that same-sex marriage bans are based on bigotry against gays and lesbians because it “would needlessly create church-state conflict for generations to come.” Similarly, a brief filed by major religious organizations said a decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationally “would generate church-state conflicts that will imperil vital religious liberties.” “Because we cannot renounce our scriptural beliefs, a finding of animus would consign us to second-class status as citizens whose religious convictions about vital aspects of society are deemed illegitimate,” said the groups. “Assaults on our religious institutions and our rights of free exercise, speech, and association would intensify.” A brief from national religious broadcasters and prominent evangelical and Baptist ministries and seminaries, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, goes even further in painting religious believers as future victims of discrimination whose freedom of speech would be threatened. Richard Wolf writes for USA Today.

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Cover Blacks missing out on ‘Obamacare’ savings By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent

According to the report, less than half of the African-American respondents had e-mail addresses (49.3 percent) and only 47.7 percent had Internet at home, below the national average, compared to 64.8 percent of Whites who had e-mail addresses and 77.5 percent with Internet at home. Antron McKay-West of Upgrade, Mississippi, a youth development and community group, said that it’s so rural, most people can’t imagine life there. “Most people don’t have Internet, if they do, it is very slow, it’s not the technology most are used to,” McKay-West, who grew up in the Mississippi Delta, said in the AJS report. “During enrollment, some people were told to just go to the library and use the Internet. In the neighborhood where I grew up, the library is 15 miles away.” More than 40 percent of Black enrollees and more than half of White enrollees didn’t know which services were covered under their health plans and which services they would pay for out-of-pocket. The report offered a number of recommendations, including ex-

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(NNPA) – Even as health care costs continue to cause concerns for the poor, nearly 40 percent of African Americans and about half of Whites didn’t know that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can help those that need it the most to cover some of those costs. According to the new report by the Alliance for a Just Society (AJS), a national research network that analyzes health issues including Medicaid, prescription drugs, and insurance industry practices play a major role in coverage savings. In “Breaking Barriers: Improving health insurance enrollment and access to health care,” researchers detail the stories of 1,200 low- to moderate-income earners, living in 10 states (California, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas). Six of those states refused to expand Medicaid programs using federal funds, effectively pushing many poor people into the coverage gap and limiting their access to

health care. The AJS report said that the rejection of Medicaid expansion in those states remained the most significant barrier to health care for the poor and African Americans. Linda Quick, the president of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, states in the report, “Trying to convince legislators with economic arguments has NOT persuaded the supposedly ‘businessoriented’ chambers-of-commercebacked legislators about Medicaid expansion. Their objection is clearly ideological, not practical.” Twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C., have expanded Medicaid and Blacks accounted for 16.7 percent of the marketplace enrollees and Whites made up 62.9 percent of the enrollees. The second enrollment period just ended in February 2015, and 11.4 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance coverage through marketplace exchanges. But cost technology and language access created barriers that made it more difficult for some to register, especially poor people of color.

The AJS report highlights barriers for African Americans trying to enroll for insurance.

panding Medicaid in the 22 states that refused federal funding, ensuring that all health plans cover yearly check-ups, immunizations and screenings at no additional cost and measuring results by collecting data on by race, ethnicity, primary language, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. The report also recommended expanding schoolbased health clinics in underserved communities. LeeAnn Hall, the executive di-

rector of AJS, said, “We will continue to fight to see that disparities are addressed, and that these recommendations are put in place.” Gary Delgado, the author of the report and a long-time civil and human rights leader, said that the Affordable Care Act is a big, new house built on the old foundation. “We’re still not serving people of color,” said Delgado. “We need to build a more inclusive health care system.”

Hillary runs for President: how will she earn the Black vote? By Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com) - She’s officially in. Hillary Clinton, the former first lady who ran for president against Barack Obama; then served as his secretary of state has finally announced that she is running for the presidency again. “I’m getting ready to do something too. I’m running for president,” Clinton says in a two minute video released Sunday. Her part comes at the tail end of a video that features racially and sexually diverse Americans speaking of the new endeavors in their lives. The first issues she mentions is economic inequality. “Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times,” she says. “But the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. So you can do more than just get by. You can get ahead, and stay ahead. Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote, because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.”

By far, Clinton is the most wellknown candidate – Republican or Democrat – in the race so far. With a video announcement with strong Black participation, she obviously realizes that the Black vote will again be key in a Democratic election. And a Clinton spokesman this week indicated she will not take the Black vote for granted. “Hillary Clinton has a record of advancing opportunities for African-Americans and their families, and will work hard over the course of her campaign to earn their vote. That’s why she has African American staff overseeing all the activity in the states, running the campaign’s political operation and Human Resources among other key functions. She made clear yesterday that she is running for President to be a champion of everyday Americans and fight to make sure that they and their families don’t just get by, but that they get ahead and stay ahead,” said a statement released from the campaign in response to a question from the Trice Edney News Wire. Upon her announcement Sunday, President Obama immediately

6 | Apr. 23 - Apr. 29, 2015 | District Chronicles

praised her, saying, “I think she would be an excellent president.” But, members of the Congressional Black Caucus which split 5050 between their support of Obama and Clinton the last time may again hold off on their endorsement until they see the full slate of candidates. So far, other Democratic contenders don’t come close to Clinton, according to a poll conducted by CNN – even Vice President Joe Biden. Republican contenders are many. But, they have an uphill battle to win the Black vote which has been key in the last two elections. BET.com reporter Joyce Jones recently wrote an article saying Clinton has a strong start in hiring Blacks in high places in her campaign. “This is the strongest start when it comes to diversity in presidential politics that I’ve seen and I’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” Jones quoted Jamal Simmons, a principal at The Raben Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm. “She is hiring Black and Latino department heads and women in important positions. It’s aggressive and to be commended.”

Among those heads is Tyrone Gayle, who this week set up a press call in advance of Clinton’s visit to Iowa a coveted early primary state. Most recently, Gayle worked as a press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Other than the key issues like the economy, incarceration rates, police misconduct and education as indicators of sensitivity to Black voters, another litmus test for any Democrat who decides to run will be the amount of money spent with Black media. That includes Black newspapers, broadcast, on line and social media. Meanwhile the fight is on. While Clinton is praised as “a forceful advocate for women, children, and families, and an effective ambassador on the global stage” by Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz, Republican Committee Chairman Reince Priebus did not mince words: “Americans need a president they can trust and voters do not trust Hillary Clinton. Over decades as a Washington insider, Clinton has

left a trail of secrecy, scandal, and failed policies that can’t be erased from voters’ minds,” Priebus said in a statement. “Republicans have a strong and diverse set of candidates who will engage in a productive debate on how to move our country forward. Clinton’s coronation represents more of the same, and voters have made it clear they want a new direction.” Though Clinton appears far ahead as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Shultz agrees it will be a lively race: “While we expect a competitive primary for the Democratic nomination, one thing is for certain — next November, voters will face a choice between Democrats who will continue to build on the middle class economic success of President Obama, and Republican candidates who want to bring back the failed, trickle-down economics of the past,” Shultz states. “I look forward to the contributions that Secretary Clinton, and all of our eventual candidates, will bring to this debate between two very different visions for the country.”

Politics Barry wants to replace father on city council By Shannen Hill Howard University News Service WASHINGTON -- Marion C. Barry has been putting up signs for months throughout Ward 8 as he runs for to fill the former District City Council seat his deceased father, Marion S. Barry. As he walks through the southeast Washington neighborhood, almost everyone knows who he is. Many have known him since he was a child. His notoriety, however, has worked in his favor and against him. Some say that he is immature and unfit for the position and is riding on the name of his father, who served three terms as mayor and was on the council when he died in November. Others say he has a unique connection with Ward 8 that makes him the perfect person to serve. “It’s challenging when some of the people that I thought would be supportive aren’t,” Barry said, “but I have a passion for the people in this community. “I grew up here, I’m from here. I know the people here, but at the same time, I’ve also had the blessing of having a father where I have been exposed to the government end.” Barry has not held any elected or legislative positions. His opponents have held titles in the ward from chairman of the Advisory Neigh-

borhood Commission to elected representative for the State Board of Education. Still, Barry has been able to stand and compete, say some. “I was impressed, because I didn’t know what to expect from him,” said LaChett Landrum, after a recent candidate forum. “I have a higher respect for him after this. I just don’t know about his experience or if this is long term.” Barry’s strengths lie in his relationship with residents, said Liz Matory, his campaign manager. “The most rewarding part has been to watch him grow and watch how residents interact with Marion,” Matory said. “It’s like this organic connection that’s really inspiring” Barry says that his impact is shown through his construction business, which has created jobs for hundreds of the residents. The most recent project was the new $142 million Ballou High School. Barry said he is providing jobs in the ward with the highest unemployment. “I am the only candidate that has built schools and rec centers in this area,” Barry said. “Ward 8 residents need opportunity and jobs, and I am the only one who has directly given residents jobs and built in this community.” In conversations with voters and political pundits during candidate forums and debates, the criticism of Barry is summed up in the refrain

Marion C. Barry and his family. The son of the former Mayor and councilman hopes to win a council seat in a Ward 8 special election.

“He’s just not ready.” Barry’s foibles, have been documented, from run-ins with police for drug allegations and driving offenses to temper flare-ups, including a clash with his father that led to him being barred from a local hospital. In his most recent incident, Barry, who is currently on probation for an earlier offense, in January, when he allegedly threw a trash can at a bank teller window. “I’m going to have someone waiting for you when you get off, you bitch,” he is alleged to have told the clerk. This makes his critics concerned about whether he has the maturity to work with other members of the

council. His campaign said Barry is at an unfair disadvantage, because the media and his critics don’t pay attention to the good that he does. “He’s never been in the media for anything positive that he’s done.” said Carl Thomas, director of field operations for Barry’s campaign. “They always want to catch him in those ‘gotcha’ moments, when in between those ‘gotcha’ moments he’s been doing things that really are extraordinary and should be highlighted as well.” “But I think that the people of Ward 8 really understand who he is, what he is, where he comes from, what his understanding is and his level of expertise as it relates to following this process, you know, because he’s been around this his whole life.” Barry said yes, he has had some bumps along the way, but he feels that he is the best to represent the ward given his background. He said he plans to improve the school systems by investing more money into the extracurricular activities of school. It would also lower the crime rate among youth and they would have the resources to spend their time on more productive activities, he said. “I want to make sure that they have a full school experience instead of just their report card,” he said. “I want to put more money into the band, athletic equipment, ROTC ex-

change programs, so that when the child wants to go to college, they actually have a resume.” Barry said he also has a particular interest in public housing, a hot issue in Ward 8 with the imminent destruction of the Barry Farms public housing. It’s demolition will displace 400 residents to move. Barry said he wants to create more job opportunities for the residents. “This is where former slaves and the children of slaves established their first homes and businesses,” he said. “I would like to see Ward 8 stay predominantly black and at the same time, develop a strong middle class with black-owned businesses.” Some who have been longtime observers of Ward 8 politics said Barry’s campaign is “a joke.” “You know it’s bad when the people who changed your diapers won’t vote for you,” said an attorney who has worked in the community. Barry counters that he has a unique experience, seeing the issues of the ward and how they are dealt with since he was child. “I have love for this city and I understand the importance of maintaining this community and developing a strong middle class,” he said. There will be early voting on April 21 at Malcolm X Elementary School. General voting is on April 28.

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Arts and Entertainment

Book gives young, other readers intro to space exploration

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Along with an education on the universe, the book gives a biographical account of astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

ighttime is a popular time of day. Some people choose to hang out with friends after dark. Some go to movies, listen to music, or just go to sleep. But you, as soon as it’s dark, lay down somewhere quiet and look up because that’s where the stars are. In the new book “Explore the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson,” by CAP Saucier, you can learn how to decipher the stars. Born a few days before NASA began, Tyson likes to say he’s the same age as the government agency. By the time he was nine years old, he was “in love with the night sky” and at 11, he knew he wanted to be an astrophysicist. He was so fascinated by planets and stars that he almost got in trouble with a telescope as a teenager. Tyson’s parents both stressed that skipping college was not an option, so, though he wasn’t a great student in high school, Tyson went to Harvard, then to the University of Texas, and then to Columbia University. Why, you might ask, didn’t he become an astronaut? Back then the program wasn’t open to African Americans, so being an astronaut never even entered his mind. But that never stopped his admiration for the

night sky. He’s not alone. More than 2,500 years ago, the Greeks looked upward and tried to understand what they saw. Other cultures studied the heavens, too; Ptolemy tried to count the stars and stopped at a thousand. In recent years, we’ve learned more about the cosmos than ever before, but there’s still so much we don’t know. To study the stars, you need to understand light and physics. You’ll need to know about galaxies and Nebulas, which look different and have descriptive names. You’ll want to find out the truth about black holes, and why you never, ever want to be “spaghettified.” And above all, says Tyson, stay in school, learn math, and go for the best education you can get. Even if you don’t end up studying stars, that’s always a good path to take. I was pleasantly surprised and a little daunted by “Explore the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson.” The delight comes in the biography part of this book. Author CAP Saucier lets us explore the life of Neil deGrasse Tyson, from his childhood to his fascinating career today, and what

he thinks about the future of space exploration. Along the way, we’re given an education on the universe and what’s in it. That part, however, can be formidable; the language is more advanced than I would have liked to see in a book for middle schoolers. Kids who tackle those sections will need an above average understanding of astroscience. I think maybe a science-loving 9-year-old could try this book, but it’s really better suited for someone older. For a sharp child with their head in the stars, “Explore the Cosmos like Neil deGrasse Tyson” is pretty cosmic.

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 303 Samuel Shields Name of decedent Billy L. Ponds, The Ponds Law Firm 1250 24th Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20037 Name and Address of Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs Regina Marie Shields, whose address is 215 Adams Street, N.E., Apartment 2, Washington, DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Samuel Shields who died on June 17, 2014, without a will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington D.C. 20001, on or before 9/26/15. 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 9/26/15, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication 3/26/15 Personal Representative Regina M. Shields 202-333-2922 TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Name of newspaper and/or periodical: District Chronicles 525 Bryant Street, NW Washington, DC 20059 Tel. 202-806-9401

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In the Neighborhood

Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington Fairfax Register for Bike to Work Day 2015!

egistration is open for Bike to Work Day 2015, scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2015. New and experienced bicycle commuters are invited to register at www.biketoworkmetrodc. org or by calling 800-745-7433, TTY 711, and to sign-up for their local pit stop. Fairfax County has a total of 14 pit stops where registrants can pick-up free t-shirts, receive giveaways, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes. Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is hosting two pit stops this year. Bike to Work Day celebrates a clean, healthy and fun way to get to work at close to 80 different pit stopsthroughout the metropolitan Washington region. The pit stops hosted by FCDOT are located at: Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035, 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Burke VRE Station– near the train platform, 10399 Premier Court Burke, VA 22015, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. For other pits stops located in Fair-

Prince George’s Prince George’s County Council supports Exelon-Pepco merger The Prince George’s County Council believes a merger between Exelon Corporation and Pepco Holdings would benefit county constituents and has asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to approve it. “Exelon and Pepco have made commitments that will deliver a top performing utility, promote job creation in the county, help prepare our students for advanced

fax County visit www.biketoworkmetrodc.org. This free event is coordinated regionally by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. For more information, contact Vanessa Aguayo, Fairfax County Department of Transportation, at 703-877-5764, TTY 711

Calvary Women’s Services will host the 14th Annual Hope Awards Dinner on May 14, 2015 to honor local leaders and celebrate the accomplishments of women who are overcoming homelessness. All proceeds from the event will support Calvary’s housing, health, education and employment programs for homeless women in Washington. The Hope Awards Dinner is Calvary’s largest fundraising event of the year, and more than 300 guests are anticipated to be in attendance. Rosie Allen-Herring, president and chief executive officer of United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA), will be presented with the Hope Award. She has more than 20 years of ex-

perience in strategic leadership, public and private partnership development, corporate philanthropy and community investment. She oversees United Way NCA’s efforts to help all individuals lead better lives through initiatives that support quality education, financial stability and good health. Allen-Herring will join a distinguished list of past honorees who have received the Hope Award, including Katie Couric, Sheila Johnson, Diane Rehm and Judy Smith. The Hope Awards Dinner will be held in the Atrium Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, live auction and award presentation. Tickets and sponsorships for the Hope Awards Dinner may be purchased at http://bit.ly/2015hope. MGAC is the Presenting Sponsor of the 14th Annual Hope Awards Dinner. The event is sponsored by Battelle Memorial Institute, Performix Consulting and Walmart, in addition to many other organizations and individuals. For additional information about Calvary Women’s Services or the Hope Awards Dinner, contact Amanda Griesser at 202.678.2341 ext. 223 or agriesser@ calvaryservices.org.

careers in the energy sector, assist low- and moderate-income residents who are struggling with their energy bills, and position the county as a leader in the field of renewable and distributive energy,” said Council Chair Mel Franklin. The “support resolution also includes requests for safeguards for utility ratepayers and consideration for the undergrounding of existing utility facilities.” The settlement, which is subject to the approval of the Maryland Public Service Commission, was filed by Exelon and Pepco Holdings and signed by Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, the National Consumer Law Center,

National Housing Trust, Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition, the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers and a consortium of nine recreational trail advocacy organizations led by the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE). “Pepco has been a partner with Prince George’s County for many years,” added Council Vice-Chair Derrick L. Davis. “It was important for us to know that this merger will enable Pepco to maintain its charitable contributions and local community support for at least another 10 years. We are also pleased to see the commitments made to employees, and to hire more union workers after the merger closes.”

District of Columbia Hope Awards dinner to raise money for homeless women

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District Chronicles | Apr. 23 - Apr. 29, 2015 | 11

In the Neighborhood Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington District of Columbia Rocketship Education to break ground on new school in Ward 8

ocketship Education held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new elementary school in the Washington, D.C. region last week. The school will serve K-5 grade students in the Ward 8 community, providing an education based on three pillars: excellent teachers and leaders, blended personalized learning for Rocketeers, and deeply engaged parents. This event will mark a significant milestone towards the school’s opening in August 2016.

Rocketship Education is a nonprofit network of public charter elementary schools working to eliminate the achievement gap in our lifetime. Rocketship schools serve primarily low-income students in neighborhoods where access to excellent schools is limited. Rocketship schools are also located in three others regions: San Jose, California; Nashville, Tennessee; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the school in Ward 8, Rocketship will construct a 54,000 square foot building on a campus of nearly four acres. The school’s cafeteria, learning lab, outdoor gathering space, playgrounds and southern-facing classrooms will enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding trees and hills. The cam-

pus will also include a nature trail for student to enjoy, a unique offering in the school’s urban setting. The Washington, D.C. community is dedicated to providing every student access to a stellar education. And while the city has made great strides towards this goal, less than half of students in Washington, D.C. are on grade level. The southeast communities in the District demonstrate an even greater need with less than a third of students on grade level. Rocketship Education is committed to providing the community’s children the education they deserve. Presently, Rocketeers across the country are on track to make an average of 1.5 years of academic growth this year.

Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles

Robert Eubanks/DistrictChronicles

Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles

Robert Eubanks/DistrictChronicles

Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles

12 | Apr. 23 - Apr. 29, 2015 | District Chronicles

From top right clockwise: Jacque Patterson, Regional Director of Rocketship Education Washington D.C. talks with guests at the groundbreaking site in Southeast D.C. ANC 8B Commissioner Lorenzo Green addresses the guests. Ward 8 Council seat candidate Marion C. Barry attended the event. The campus is scheduled to open in 2016. (Photo Credit: Robert Eubanks)