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LOCAL D.C. CLUB HOSTS TRAM TOURS AT ARBORETUM 11
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April 30 - May 6, 2015
District teacher gets Agnes Meyer Award Page 4 www.districtchronicles.com
Volume 14 Issue 36
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Editorial
From drums to hashtags: The generational conversation By Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire.com) – When a colleague dropped the line, “you can’t hashtag your way to freedom,” I loved it! I laughed out loud, and promised that I’d not borrow the line, but steal it, since I was so enamored of it. I’ve used it quite a few times since then, and gotten my share of grins and guffaws. So I used it again and again, always getting the same reaction. Imagine my surprise, then, when Frenchie Davis, 35, the Howard University alumna who burst onto the music scene with her 2003, turn on “American Idol,” took me to school by telling me she thought my remark was “condescending,” I didn’t mean to condescend, just to make the point that there is a difference between tweeting and fighting for change. Hashtags are not votes. Even if a million people hashtagged #bringbackourgirls, the hundreds of Nigerian young women abducted by Boko Haram are still missing. Frenchie Davis thought my glib remark dismissed a form of communication that young people find effective, a form of communication that raises their awareness. She is right to point out that electronic and
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social media is far more consequential today than it was just a decade ago, and that her generation relies on social media more heavily than it does on traditional media. While many people of my (Baby Boom) generation use electronic media, we are not as immersed in it as younger folks are. Reality check. The median age of the African-American population is 31. The average African American is closer in age to Frenchie Davis than she (yes, most African Americans are women) is to me. The young people too often disdained by their elders for their work ethic, commitment to civil rights, or style of dress – are the ones who will propel the civil rights movement into the future. So Sister Frenchie was right to call me on my snarly/ funny remark about hashtagging to freedom. If the hashtag takes you to a conversation, and that then takes you to action, then the hashtag may be a step in the right direction. My conversation with Frenchie Davis took place when I moderated a panel Race, Justice, Change, as part of the Washington, D.C., Emancipation Day commemoration. (The Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 paid the owners of
3100 slaves $300 each to emancipate them; for the past decade D.C. commemorates this day with an official holiday). The other panelists, Malik Yoba, Doug E. Fresh, and Mali Music, are, like Davis, socially and politically active artists, also concerned with ways to increase involvement in civil rights matters. Mali Music, 27, was the youngest member of the panel. His comments about young Black male alienation offered an important perspective in a conversation structured to address voting, policing, and organizing. I’d not heard of the Grammy Award nominee before, which perhaps reveals the generational silo I occupy. I’m uncomfortable in my silo. Uncomfortable with how easy it is to join a conversation about generational differences without embracing generational similarities. “Back in the day,” a phrase I probably should use much less, many of our radio shows or stations were called “The Drum” after the drumbeat, after the need to communicate. If hashtag is another word for drum, for communications vehicle, that’s a good thing. And getting out of my silo, it’s important that drummers (or hashtaggers) both teach and learn. Are we insisting that young people be involved in the movement as we know it? New organizations and movements are emerging, and some younger folks won’t embrace or engage in organizations they consider irrelevant. Has anyone marketed the contemporary civil rights movement to younger African Americans? Do we feel that we need to? Do we expect people to show up (where?) and roll their sleeves up, task undefined? I am energized, enlightened, and privileged when I am pushed out of my silo. I am grateful to Frenchie Davis, Malik Yoba, Mali Music and Doug E. Fresh for helping me connect the drums with the hashtags. The generational conversation is engaging, frustrating, and effervescent. It is an essential part of our movement for social and economic justices, and its many definitions and experiences. Julianne Malveaux is a writer and economist. She can be reached at www. juliannemalveaux.com.
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ccording to a new study commissioned by Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the Purple Line light-rail project would provide benefits other than transportation. It would generate more than 40,000 permanent and temporary jobs, add tens of millions of dollars to the region’s tax rolls and boost property values by the billions. The 81-page report from Frederick-based Transportation Economics & Management Systems (TEMS) is based on an analysis of job markets, transportation patterns, land prices and demographics along the planned 16-mile line that would connect Bethesda and New Carrollton. The Purple Line would create “opportunities to fundamentally change the character of business in the area while expanding the level of social, personal and tourist interaction,” concludes the study. The study is the latest in a series of appeals from local political, corporate and civic leaders hoping to play to the governor’s pro-business sensibilities by touting the economic benefits of the project. Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) decision on the fate of the long-planned and debated transit venture is expected by mid-May. Hogan has balked at the project’s $2.45 billion price tag and $55 million in expected annu-
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The report says a purple line would generate jobs and boost property values. Governor Larry Hogan is expected to make a decision on proposals for a purple line that will run through Montgomery and Prince George’s County.
al operating costs. Officials say he will review cost-cutting proposals from bidders and a state analysis. Former Lockheed Martin chief executive Norman Augustine, who chairs the Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission, wrote to Hogan in March, urging him to support the plan. Economic Partners of the Purple Line, an ad hoc developer group organized by the Chevy Chase Land Company – which has holdings along one of the line’s proposed stations – has also made its case to the governor, as have opponents from community organizations on the route who are concerned about the environmental impact. The TEMS report estimates
that the project will create 4,000 full-time construction jobs annually over the estimated five-year building schedule. After construction, improved access to communities along the route could generate 27,000 new jobs a year along with $635 million annually in increased tax payments to Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the District. Over the anticipated 30-year life of the project, residential property values in areas near the line could grow by $11 billion, the study predicts. Bill Turque, has spent more than 30 years as a reporter and editor for The Washington Post, Newsweek, the Dallas Times Herald and The Kansas City Star.
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Neighborhood
Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington
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Dionne Hammiel and principal Janeece Docal (inset) will be honored at the Washington Post.
District of Columbia DCPS principal and teacher earn excellence award
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DCPS principal and teacher will be recognized for excellence and will receive prestigious awards for their service by The Washington Post. Janeece Docal, principal of Powell Elementary School and DCPS’ 2014 Principal of the Year, is one of 20 recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award. Dionne Hammiel, a teacher at John Burroughs Education Campus, is one of 20 recipients of the 2015 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards. The metro-area educators recognized for this honor were chosen by their school systems for demonstrated leadership abilities and a commitment to creating an exceptional educational environment for students, faculty and staff, among many other attributes. “Excellent teachers and school leaders have the power to inspire students to greatness, empower
them to take ownership of their education and change life outcomes,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “These two outstanding educators have done amazing work in their schools and deserve this honor. Congratulations to Principal Docal and Ms. Hammiel!” Winners of the 2015 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards will be honored during a ceremony at The Washington Post on Tuesday, May 19. Winners of the 2015 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award were honored during a ceremony at The Post on Tuesday. Winners in both categories will receive a personalized trophy, a monetary award and mentions in The Washington Post Magazine and website. Hammiel, a kindergarten teacher at Burroughs EC for the past 15 years, sets high expectations for her students and takes creative approaches to subject matter to engage students at all levels. A former Orr Elementary School student and graduate of Wilson High School, Hammiel, 37, started her career in education as a social worker in a local day-care center before becoming a teacher in a Head Start program.
Docal, who has served as Powell ES principal since the 2009-2010 school year, began her time in school leadership as an assistant principal at the Columbia Heights Education Campus, where she was previously an educator for nine years. In her tenure, Powell has doubled its enrollment, significantly increased student proficiency and become a strong neighborhood school because of Docal’s leadership and vision for the bilingual school. The Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards, formed in 1983, recognize pre-kindergarten12 teachers who ensure students receive a high-quality education through first-class and creative instruction. The Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards were established in 1987, and honors principals who go beyond the daily responsibilities of their position to create an exceptional educational environment through dedicated leadership. In presenting these awards, The Washington Post hopes to encourage excellence in school leadership and to contribute to the improvement of education in the Washington metropolitan area.
Divine Intervention Lessons from resignation of Bishop Robert Finn By David Gibson (RNS) – Three years ago, Missouri Bishop Robert Finn was convicted for failing to report a priest suspected of child abuse. When Pope Francis accepted Finn’s recent resignation, the pontiff sent a powerful message to the Catholic Church. Here are five takeaways from the news, which the Vatican announced on April 21:
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2. Finn was an easy case Finn is the only U.S. bishop ever convicted in court of failing to report a suspected abuser, the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who was later sentenced to 50 years on federal child pornography charges. Ratigan had hundreds of lewd pictures of children from local parishes on his computer and he attempted suicide when the diocese learned of them in 2010. But Finn waited six months to report Ratigan to authorities. Finn pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 2012 and was sentenced to two years’ probation after a legal battle that cost the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph millions of dollars. 3. Francis had to take action
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1. This is a big deal During the past decade, thousands of priests have been punished or defrocked for abusing children and a few bishops found guilty of molestation have quit. However, until Finn, no American bishop had ever been forced from office for covering up for a predator priest. This sets a precedent in an institution where many have regarded the hierarchy as a privileged caste. Some feared that if a bishop were pushed out for failing to do his job, it would create a domino effect that could topple the entire superstructure. However, Francis seems to be betting this sort of accountability at the top will strengthen the church, and even help restore the credibility of the bishops.
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Bishop Finn (far left in the group of bishops with mozzettas and zucchettos) resigned after being convicted of failing to report a suspected abuser.
Locally, the diocese was a mess. Kansas City-St. Joseph had lost a quarter of its members since Finn took over in 2005, and the past few years of scandal and financial outlays left Catholics deeply disillusioned. Moreover, Francis’ credibility was on the line. While his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, had taken steps to address abusive priests, Benedict hadn’t done much to hold bishops accountable. After a slow start in addressing the scandal following his March 2013, election, Francis eventually sent strong signals that bishops would no longer be protected. Finally, Francis will be making his first visit to the U.S. in September, a highly anticipated trip to a key church in his global flock. But it’s also a church whose members have been traumatized by the abuse scandal. 4. It’s all about the system, not the bishop There are few bishops in office today who have shielded predators the way bishops did in the past. That older generation has largely retired and today’s bishops are quick to report suspected cases. Also, the statute of limitations in most states has expired on the vast majority of cases, so it’s unlikely there would be many bishops subject to criminal charges like Finn.
The key is setting up a system for investigating and disciplining bishops that would work for prelates around the world, not just in the U.S. It can’t be a matter of targeting one bishop or another. A process will be more effective and credible than one-off firings. 5. It’s another hit for U.S. conservatives Finn’s resignation is yet another hit for Catholic conservatives who have been reeling since Francis was elected and began re-orienting the Catholic Church away from a few hot-button issues such as abortion and gay marriage. Finn had been hailed as a strong conservative who would help turn the church away from any liberal tendencies, and the steps he took to do that alienated many Catholics in his diocese. Even after his conviction, conservative apologists such as William Donohue of the Catholic League forcefully defended Finn and argued that the bishop was being targeted because he was so traditional. That theory isn’t operative any longer. Finn is 62 and could have served until he was 75. Francis is promoting men like Archbishop Blase Cupich, a hero to moderate and progressive Catholics who succeeded Chicago the late Cardinal Francis George last fall.
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Cover World’s first African American piano maker By Rachel Kersey Howard University News Service
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6 | Apr. 30 - May 6, 2015 | District Chronicles
finger right where the logo was on his old piano exclaiming, ‘that right there should say ‘Shadd’ because you’re the only one.’ “I had written down some ideas about how to enhance the volume and the sound of acoustic pianos. So, I dusted-off these drawings and notes that I wrote four or five years previously, and started really tinkering around with the piano sound.” That was the inception of SHADD Pianos, USA, he said. Now, twelve years later, the company has embarked on a historical achievement with a SHADD acoustic concert grand piano being built exclusively for the Vatican, he said. “The Vatican seemed untouchable, unattainable, yet it has become a reality for SHADD” he says.” Aside from having a piano inside the Vatican, Shadd, whose pianos have been played by jazz pianists Monty Alexander, Harry Connick, Jr., Patrice Rushen, Cyrus Chestnut, Chip Crawford, Ellis Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Antonio Ciacca, Wayne Linsey, Orrin Evans, and Geri Allen in addition to a host of other famous musicians, also would like to build a piano for President Barack Obama. With a creative brain that never shuts off, Shadd has also developed a Hybrid Interactive Piano (H.I.P.), equipped with speakers on the front and underneath the piano, a bench with surround sound speakers, a powerful concealed computer, several touchscreen monitors and video cams that allow for online interactive teaching and learning, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface - to create synthesizer keyboard sounds), and many other innovative features. This technology was created for performance, recording, education (distance learning), and to change lives. “We tested a full year with autistic, deaf, and blind children,” Shadd said. After a year of strict punctilious tests, Shadd and Dr. Phillip Pearl (Chief of Neurology at Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s Hospital along with a dream team of decorated researchers, music therapists, and medical scientists), wrote a medically detailed dissertation based upon Shadd’s groundbreaking Assistive technology which included his patented computerized, musical, interactive, therapeutic, and audio innovations which encourages social interaction, uplifts spirits, ascends skill sets, brings out embedded talents, instills confi-
SHADD Pianos/Courtesy Photo
eticulously placed artifacts grace the walls of Warren Shadd’s Maryland home in the suburbs of Washington, DC. On one wall hang photographs of his family — his grandmother, his father, and his mother — all playing musical instruments. Another wall displays a retro article from The Washington Daily News about him as a 13-year-old professional drummer. Of all the remembrances particularly significant to him is a certificate from the Piano Technicians Guild awarded on May 1, 1967 to his father, James H. Shadd, a registered piano technician and professional pianist. Shadd is a third generation musician, second generation piano technician and first generation piano manufacturer, as well as the first African American piano manufacturer in the world. It is what he was destined to do, he explains: “I am the chosen one,” he said, without a hint of sarcasm. “Not only am I the first African American piano manufacturer, but remarkably enough, we don’t make any other musical instruments in abundance. So, I humbly say that makes me the first and only large-scale musical instrument manufacturer.” His company, SHADD Pianos, USA, is headquartered in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC and his manufacturing facility is located in the Bronx, New York, however, at his home, he showcases seven of his exquisite pianos, including the acoustic concert grand piano that was played on American Idol last season and one that Grammy Award-winning gospel singer/pianist Richard Smallwood used for his latest CD, Anthology. Smallwood, who once accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price at a White House Christmas celebration, had nothing but praise for Shadd’s pianos. “First of all, for a pianist, it feels and sounds like every piano you’ve ever wanted to play,” he said, “[it’s] your dream piano in terms of the highs, the lows, the mids, the harmonics. It’s just an incredible piece of work. “Not only does it have a wonderful sound, but it’s beautiful, just a gorgeous piece of furniture. I would
play it every day!” Technically, Shadd has received a great deal of recognition and accolades for the sound, touch, feel, and quality of his pianos. Aesthetically, they are beautiful with the SHADD brand name highly visible on the side of the pianos. Yes, his last name does appear in large gold block letters, but unapologetically, he says it’s more of a symbol - paying homage to those who nurtured him to be the accomplished achiever he is today. “I have so much respect for my family name,” he said. “It has a lot to do with the blood, sweat and tears of my father and all of the family - my mother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, mentors…all the people that were immensely engaged in music that influenced me.” Producing world-class instruments was not always Shadd’s dream. Starting as a young child and throughout his tenure at Howard University, he performed as a drummer with famous jazz icons such as Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Smith, Joe Williams, Lionel Hampton, and his aunt, Shirley Horn. During his Howard years, he got a record deal as a solo artist (producing his original Funk/Pop music, singing and playing most of the instruments) and further fine tuning his capabilities as a piano technician/rebuilder - a skill he learned from his father beginning in his early teens. Having the ultimate high proficiency skill in ‘music chart-reading,’ Shadd also played drums for numerous big band jazz orchestras, recording sessions, and Broadway shows including the hit musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” starring actress/entertainer, Nell Carter along with the original cast. After the death of his father in 1992, Shadd took over his father’s business, Shadd’s Piano Hospital Service. Shadd’s father had been the exclusive piano technician for the Howard Theatre, Shadd said. So, he would go with his father to the theater while he tuned pianos for great artists such as James Brown, Count Basie, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Motown, Pearl Bailey, and Peggy Lee. One day, Shadd was tuning a piano when his client gave him the idea for manufacturing pianos. Old Mr. Tucker started crying and without any hesitation he pointed his
Warren M. Shadd, Inventor/CEO/Manufacturer of SHADD Pianos, USA, the first African American piano manufacturer.
dence, improves mental and physical capabilities, produces vibrations for the deaf to identify pitches, and introduces visual colors for the blind. This breakthrough information was published in the highly regarded Music and Medicine Journal, July 2013. Ree Rinn, a partially deaf pianist and teacher, expressed excitement when she was introduced to Shadd’s H.I.P. Numerous ear infections from childhood left Rinn unable to detect high register sounds, and even though she received a bachelor’s degree in music, Rinn said she was never able to hear the last 10 notes on a piano until she heard Shadd’s hybrid interactive piano that delivered deliberate high frequencies that were unexpected by her. “I suddenly found myself nearly in tears when I realized I could hear piano notes I had never heard before,” she said. “This was astonishing to me and an immensely moving experience.” Along with SHADD’s interactive piano model, there is also a keyboard version. As a humanitarian effort, Shadd plans to distribute the keyboard version around the world to children in impoverished communities and developing countries, empowering them with the opportunity to interact with other children and teachers to learn firsthand about new cultures, computer technology, international business, languages, tolerance, music, and more. “I believe it is important to share this innovative technology to introduce a whole new world of social,
musical, educational, technological, and medical interaction as a beacon of goodwill.” Contact SHADD: For more information on sales, rentals, TV and movie product placement, concerts, advertising, and recordings, contact us at: info@shaddpianos.com website: www.shaddpianos.com Marta Reid Stewart of Duke Ellington School of the Arts contributed to this story. CORRECTION ON FREDERICK DOUGLASS PICTURE: The February 12 –February 18, 2015 edition of District Chronicles (Volume 14, Issue 25) had a photograph on the front cover with the following title: “Boogie with Douglass” “District throws a party bash across Anacostia in honor of Frederick Douglass’ 197th birthday.” That front cover photograph provided to this newspaper was not of Frederick Douglass; it was a photograph of nationally-known Frederick Douglass interpreter, Mr. Fred Morsell, and we regret our unauthorized use of his copyrighted photograph. Mr. Morsell, who has done a number of programs for the National Park Service, can be contacted at: Fremarjo Enterprises, Inc. Email: fremarjo@att.net
Politics
Reporters should ask tough questions about abortion By Trevin Wax
Woodleywonderworks/Creative Commons
(RNS) – When Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul was asked about abortion in cases of rape and incest, he volleyed back a question to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Does she support the “killing” of a “seven-pound baby that is not born yet?” Schultz’s response: That is a decision for a woman and her doctor. Forty-two years after Roe v. Wade, the nation’s two major parties are more entrenched than ever regarding the question of abortion rights. It is inconceivable that the Republicans would nominate a candidate who fails to support legislation protecting the rights of those in the womb. Likewise, the Democrats will not nominate a candidate who doesn’t believe in easing access to abortion in virtually all stages of pregnancy. Charles Camosy, associate professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University, believes the partisanship surrounding abortion is unfortunate. The truth is, most Americans occupy a middle ground – a majority that neither opposes abortion in all cases nor supports its legality for virtually any reason. In his book, “Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for a New Generation,” Camosy writes that we are not in a hopeless stalemate over abortion. “A majority of Americans actually agree about broad ideas with respect to abortion morality and law.” Camosy’s “way forward” is the Mother and Prenatal Child Protection Act. This policy does three main things: It gives legal recogni-
tion to the prenatal child, offers protection and support for the mother and allows for certain abortive procedures in rare circumstances. The details of the policy include changing the social structures of society so that the choice to carry a pregnancy to term is less of a burden for women today. I appreciate Camosy’s incremental approach to reducing abortion, but I am less optimistic that we are on the verge of major change. One reason public opinion is unlikely to break through the hardened positions of both parties is because the media coverage of the abortion issue is so often one-sided. Camosy compares the shifting tide of prolife activism to society’s growing support of same-sex marriage. But there is a crucial difference between those two causes: on gay marriage, media coverage is largely framed around the “right” to marry, while on abortion, coverage is largely framed around “reproductive choice,” not the human right to life. This brings me back to Paul. When Paul tossed a question back to Schultz, he was doing what reporters rarely, if ever, do: He was asking a pro-choice activist a hard question. Every candidate gets asked about abortion in extreme and difficult circumstances. Remember Todd Akin who, answering a question about allowing abortions in the case of rape, answered: “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down?” But when was the last time you saw reporters ask an abortion rights candidate if they worry about what The Economist in 2010 named “gen-
An exhibit of a real fetus at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Abortion will be a divisive and difficult topic for candidates running for president in 2016 even if the rest of the country is mostly on the same page.
dercide,” the rise of abortion based solely on the sex of the baby? When was the last time a reporter asked a candidate why he or she supports unrestricted abortion access in the second and third trimester, when upwards of 70 percent of Americans do not? When have you seen a candidate asked about their implicit support for eugenics and what it says about our society when we screen out and consign Down syndrome
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children to an early demise? When Paul said it makes no sense for the Democratic Party to support the killing of a sevenpound unborn baby while we have one- and two-pound babies born prematurely who can survive outside the womb, he was merely doing what most reporters won’t. He was pushing abortion rights activism to its logical extreme. Camosy may have identified a way forward “beyond the abortion
wars,” but it’s unlikely to get very far until reporters gather up some courage and ask tough questions of candidates on both sides of this debate. Let’s hope this time around there are some real reporters out there. Trevin Wax is managing editor of The Gospel Project and author of multiple books, including “Clear Winter Nights: A Journey Into Truth, Doubt and What Comes After.”
District Chronicles | Apr. 30 - May 6, 2015 | 7
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It might save you some money to buy a fairly used car rather than brand new.
(BPT) – Having a car is a necessity for most people, so buying and selling one shouldn’t be so draining. Industry insiders know there are steps that can help both buyers and sellers maximize their investment while minimizing stress. “The process of buying or selling a car can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Mike Dodd, a 25-year veteran of the automotive industry and CEO of CARPHORIA, a consumer service company that streamlines car acquisitions and sales. “The key is to be smart and thoroughly consider your options. Don’t assume you have to sell and buy the same way your parents did.” Dodd offers these tips that savvy car owners can rely on when buying and selling a vehicle: Know your budget: Buying a car is a large purchase, so make sure to stick to your budget. If you are financing your vehicle, be sure to get pre-approved for a loan at the lowest rate you qualify for. Often getting financed at the dealership doesn’t allow you to get the lowest rate. Even a small increase in interest rates can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. If you do finance through a dealership, ask to speak to the lender directly to confirm you are getting the rate that you actually qualify for and that you aren’t giving a few percentage
points to the dealer as part of their “facilitation fee.” Buy used rather than brand new: Financially savvy car buyers understand that buying a brand new car is expensive. According to Edmunds, an online resource for information on automobiles, new cars decline in value by about 25 percent each year for the first five years. That means if you change your mind next year, your $40,000 car will only be worth $30,000 (and chances are if you financed it, you owe more for it than it is actually worth). Instead, research the car you’d like to own and look for one a year old, with less than 15,000 miles on it. That will instantly save you money. Also, allow yourself some time to shop online and in person so you can find the price you want without feeling pressured to buy on the spot. Remember, there will always be another car you like. Buy and trade separately: Most people leave money on the table by simply trading in their vehicle when they purchase their new one. You should negotiate your purchase without any sort of trade-in taken into consideration. The same goes for negotiating the sale of your old car. By separating the two, you are able to focus on the getting the best outcome in both transactions. With a nationwide network of dealer partnerships, selling services like
CARPHORIA find the best price possible for used cars based on nationwide demand. For example, a dealer in the northeast may pay more for a vehicle from a state like Texas than they would from other northern states because they don’t have to worry about rust damage. Thoroughly inspect used vehicles: Third-party history reports on automobiles are a great starting point when you are looking to purchase a used vehicle. But, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, half of motor vehicle crashes go unreported and more than 450,000 vehicles each year have false odometer readings. Whether from a dealer, private owner or personal friend, always get a comprehensive inspection done on used vehicles before signing anything. Having an accurate picture of the current state of everything from the motor to the air conditioner could affect the price you should be paying. Get an extended warranty: Car repairs are an inevitable part of car ownership. However, extended warranties provide peace of mind and can save you a lot of money on repairs once a manufacturer’s warranty is up. Shop around to get the highest-quality plan for the lowest cost from a reputable company.
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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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Finding Senior Housing can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be. “You can trust A Place for Mom to help you.” – Joan Lunden
(800) 967-8641 A Place for Mom is the nation’s largest senior living referral information service. We do not own, operate, endorse or recommend any senior living community. We are paid by partner communities, so our services are completely free to families. A.Currell/Creative Commons
Chinese Pavilion in the U.S. National Arboretum. The Eastland Garden Flower Club will host tram tours at the Arboretum in May.
District of Columbia May 9: Ward 7 flower club fundraiser at U.S. Arboretum
T
he Eastland Gardens Flower Club will once again host its annual fundraiser tram tour at the U.S. Arboretum during the peak of azalea blooming season May 9 at 12 pm. “We’re always excited to host this event and hope to fill the tram to capacity this year,” said club president Javier Barker. “During the 59-year-old history of the
Annual Duke Ellington School Exhibition runs through May 10, at I Street Galleries The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is presenting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Student Exhibition through May 10, 2015. The I Street Galleries located at 200 I (Eye) Street SE, will house the annual show, as the historic Georgetown school building completes extensive renovations. As this exhibit is hosted by DCCAH, it signifies an important opportunity to deepen the Commission’s commitment to support and nur-
Eastland Gardens Flower Club, we have always reached outside of the community to share our gifts and to learn from others. And this year is no different. The U.S. Arboretum, surprisingly, is still unknown to so many of our residents. This tram tour will give residents, old and new, in addition to tourists, the opportunities to enjoy this amazing resource.” The Eastland Gardens Flower Club Tram Tour will feature a 35minute tram tour, a boxed lunch and shaded seating for networking and games. The club hosts Earth Day community clean ups, garden tours
and makes donations to community projects. The club is part of the National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs. Tram tour attendees will meet Saturday May 9 at 11:30 a.m. and board the 12 p.m. tram which will take visitors on a 35-minute tour highlighting the 446-acre campus. The tour will be followed by lunch supplied by the club and door prizes.Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by emailing eastlandgardensflowerclub@gmail. com, calling the Club President at 202.450.3155. For more information, visit www.eastlandgardensdc.org.
ture programs that support artistic expression for our city’s youth. Over 70 student artists within the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades will offer artwork that reflect their practice in studio arts over the current school year. At the helm of this project, Mike Easton, Visual Arts Department chair, and Melchus Davis, instructor of painting and drawing, coordinated with DCCAH Curator Zoma Wallace to select at least one piece of art to represent each student. Duke Ellington School of the Arts was born out of a professional training program called Workshops for Careers in the Arts, held on the campus of George Washing-
ton University during the summer of 1968. Philanthropist, Peggy CooperCafritz and renowned choreographer, Mike Malone led the charge, intending the program to serve as a pilot for a public arts high school in the city. With three major departments, theater, dance, and visual arts, the campus accepts exceptionally talented student from the metropolitan area. In 1974, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts was established and is still the only D.C. public high school to offer a dual curriculum that equally balances professional arts training with academic rigor.
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In the Neighborhood Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington District of Columbia US Embassy New Zealand/Creatvie Commons
Step Afrika! Celebrates 20 Years of Impact in District, Across Globe
F
or C. Brian Williams, founder and executive director of Step Afrika!, step one was to start the world’s first nonprofit dedicated to the performing art of stepping. Step two: expand, adding enrichment programs for youth at high schools and colleges. Step three: share an African-American dance tradition with an international audience. Twenty years later, Step Afrika! is known as Washington, D.C.’s premier arts education, cultural exchange and contemporary performing arts organizations, and one of the top 10 African-American dance companies in the U.S. “I can’t believe we are looking at 20 years,” said Williams. “I remember coming up with a semblance of an idea to offer the culture I lived, loved to my local community – and here we are now, 40+ countries, 100,000 audience members and 200,000 young students later. This year, we are planning big things and we want District residents to be a part of our biggest platinum year performance.” To celebrate 20 years in Washington, D.C. – and beyond – Step Afrika! hosts its Home Performance Series (HPS) at Howard University in June.
Step Afrika performing in Samoa. The troupe will celebrate it’s 20th anniversary with a Hope Performance Series at Howard University.
Kicking off the first performance Thursday, June 4, a special VIP gala for supporters, politicos and lovers of dance will include theatre seats, a reception and dinner at the Blackburn Center. The performance, open to the public, begins at 8 p.m., and will be followed by post-show drinks and dancing. “We’re very proud to have performed and inspired thousands in Washington, D.C., for 20 years, and we want to use this monumental opportunity to say thank you to our supporters, to make new friends, and to share our work and spirit with those new to the District,” said Step Afrika! Board Member Brady Birdsong. “We also want to use this opportunity to introduce ourselves to those who may not have heard about our work in the community and abroad.” All performances take place at the Ira Aldridge Theater at Howard University in Washington, D.C. For box office and group sales, call 202.399.7933 x 110. Schedule of
shows is as follows: Thursday, June 4 at 8 p.m.; Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday June 7 at 4 p.m. The VIP gala will be held at Howard University’s Blackburn Center at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and dinner. For more information, contact Joanne Coutts at development@stepafrika.org or visit www. stepafrika.org.
Bill to require health care providers training in LGBT cultural competency Washington, D.C. Councilmembers David Grosso and Yvette Alexander have introduced a bill that would “require continuing education for licensed health professionals on the subject of cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment for individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity
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and expression.” “LGBT people face substantial systemic discrimination in healthcare due to a lack of understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by the community,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “Cultural competency training is critical to reducing healthcare disparities for LGBT people and improving access to high-quality healthcare, especially for transgender people.” “Although the District has taken great strides toward reducing health care related discrimination against LGBT people, training in cultural competency for most healthcare providers is very limited,” added HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “This bill would go a long way toward addressing that disparity and promoting care that respects the diversity in the patient population and the cultural factors that can affect health and healthcare, such as language, thoughts, communication styles, beliefs, values, and attitudes.” The LGBTQ Cultural Competency Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2015 would amend any existing continuing education requirements for licensed clinical health care providers in the District to include two credits of instruction on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on LGBT patients. As outlined in the 2014 HRC Healthcare Equality Index, in a 2009
survey by Lambda Legal, 56 percent of LGB patients surveyed have experienced some type of discrimination in health care, such as being refused needed care, health care providers refusing to touch them or using excessive precautions, health care providers using harsh or abusive language, being blamed for their health status, or health care providers being physically rough or abusive. Transgender individuals face even higher disparities. Seventy percent of transgender or gender nonconforming patients surveyed have experienced some type of discrimination in health care. One in five transgender individuals has been denied services by a doctor or other provider due to their gender identity. One in four transgender individuals said they have postponed care when sick or injured and postponed preventive healthcare due to discrimination and disrespect by providers. Most professional ethics codes require providers to be culturally competent. However, competency training may be insufficient for marginalized groups, such as the LGBT population, who are at risk for stigmatization and discrimination. Initial cultural competency training and continuing education provided to most healthcare providers can be limited or out of date. For example, homosexuality was still treated as a mental disorder (until 1973) and transgender clients were labeled with a disorder (as late as 2013).