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Vol 62 No 3

The Culture’s Final Plea to Vote

From Hip-Hop to Civic Power, Faith Leaders Rally Youth for the Midterm

Maryland Leaders, Residents Promote Heading to the Polls: ‘This is About Our Values’

Ballot Measures, Competitive Races,Getting Involved

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

When final ballots are cast Nov. 3, the hope is to see a reversal of the election where more than 90 million people failed to vote in 2024. From eliminating disenfranchisement to dispelling trends against civic engagement, civil rights and religious leaders alike are at the center of what’s become a national plea to restore faith in democracy. More than that, the Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. says this midterm marks a pivotal time to reignite a fire in the generations that hold the future of America in the palm of their vote, whether they realize it or not. “What I want this generation to understand is that this is your fight more than ever,” Yearwood, president and CEO of the Hip-Hop Caucus, told The Washington Informer. “We're dealing with an enemy who wants to destroy us, whose business plan means a death sentence for our communities…We got to

With early voting underway, voters across Maryland and the country have been making their voices heard at the polls ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, a critical time to work toward change that starts in citizens’ communities and trickles to Capitol Hill and

The White House. “This midterm election matters because decisions made in Washington have real consequences for our jobs, families, and financial security,” said Juwan Blocker, a longtime civic activist who previously ran for Prince George’s County Board of Education. “Federal

MARYLAND ELECTIONS Page 12

Before Historic Midterm Election, Commissioner Markita Bryant Reflects on Her ANC Tenure

VOTE Page 38

Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions to Navigate Change in Government, Efforts to Fill Seat Vacancies

4 The Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip-Hop Caucus, is among the faith activists working to restore Gen Z and Millennials’ faith in the voting process. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

GWRCC Highlights Importance of Midterm Elections for a Greener Future Clean Cities Coalition Celebrates 15 Years, Acknowledges More Work Needs to be Done

By Mya Trujillo WI Multimedia Reporter

5 With midterm elections on the horizon, many environmental trailblazers are encouraging people to vote for legislators focused on policy toward a greener future. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

October 29 – November 4, 2026

With midterm elections on the horizon and a nation feeling the effects of climate change, many environmental trailblazers, changemakers, and innovators are pushing for legislation to ensure a greener future. On Oct. 22, the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition’s (GWRCCC) annual Clean Energy and Transportation Conference gave experts a space to have these conversations and explore the work needed to drive the Washington Metropolitan Area toward sustainability and environmental resilience. 2026 marks GWRCCC’s 15th year developing and supporting environmental solutions and fighting to reverse the climate crisis. The coalition’s efforts are especially necessary as the current administration has overturned

GWRCCC Page 22

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Staff Writer When the dust settles on Nov. 3, hundreds of District residents will be elected and re-elected as advisory neighborhood commissioners — hyperlocal government officials who represent their neighbors and advise the local and federal government on community issues. Markita Bryant, an advisory neighborhood commissioner who decided against a re-election bid, won’t count among that number. However, as she makes her transition out of public office, she has a bit of advice for those taking on the 5 D.C. native Markita Bryant is concluding her mantle of local leadership. “Whatever you do, you do it tenure as advisory neighborhood commissioner of SMD from the goodness of your heart,” 6/8F02. She served during Trump administration-induced layoffs, federalization of local police, and mass

BRYANT Page 43 teen gatherings in Navy Yard. (Courtesy Photo)

Celebrating 62 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information. OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 1

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2 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

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CONTENTS

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wi hot topics

STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER

‘I Will Not Back Down’: Virginia’s Louise Lucas Defies Federal Indictment as Election Timing Draws Fire Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D-District 18) survived Jim Crow, became one of the most powerful Black women in state politics, and spent more than three decades challenging political adversaries. On Thursday, the 82-yearold Democrat faced federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges, with President Donald Trump’s Justice Department accusing her of using her political influence to advance an illegal marijuana operation just 12 days before the midterm elections. “Today, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the full weight of the federal government have been wielded against an 82-year-old great-grandmother,” Lucas declared in a statement. “I grew up under Jim Crow. I’ve seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $96 per year, two years $168. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to:

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STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager Jada Ingleton, Content Editor REPORTERS Stacy Brown, National Reporter Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr., Political/Education Reporter Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter Ed Hill, Sports Reporter Richard Elliott, Reporter Skylar Nelson, Sports Reporter Mya Trujillo, Multimedia Reporter PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor Roy Lewis, Jr. Robert R. Roberts Anthony Tilghman Abdullah Konte Cleveland Nelson FALL INTERNS Jumana Alsaadoon Kree Anderson Isabella Johnson Draia Shelton

4 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

stand up to them. I spent my life fighting back, and I’m not stopping now.” Lucas, the Virginia Senate president pro tempore and chairwoman of its powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee, was among seven people charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday. Federal authorities allege that she, along with relatives and associates, participated in an operation involving marijuana distribution and money laundering, and prosecutors accuse Lucas of exploiting her elected position to benefit the enterprise. The longtime Portsmouth lawmaker, who entered the Senate in 1992, surrendered to federal authorities on Thursday. She has not been convicted of any crime. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

‘The Capital’ Reclaims D.C.’s Place in the American Story As the nation continues to commemorate its 250th anniversary, a new documentary turns its attention to the city at the center of the American experiment — Washington, D.C. “The Capital,” a documentary series presented by the Institute of Politics, Policy and History (IPPH), explores how Washington became the permanent seat of the federal government, who helped build it and how the city’s complicated history reflects the continuing American story. At a recent premiere at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum, former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt, founding director of IPPH, said the strong turnout of more than 250 guests demonstrated an interest in understanding the history and evolution of the nation’s capital. “We are really thrilled at IPPH that we’re getting such a turnout,” Pratt said, adding that people care about the nation’s capital and how it was created. The Smithsonian’s participation in the September premiere also gave the event special significance, she said. Speakers described the capital as a place of democratic innovation, protest, struggle and 5 Former D.C. Mayor Sharon resilience. Its history includes the British attack on Washington during the War of 1812, Pratt, founding director of the Institute of Politics, Policy and His- the Civil War, the suffrage movement, the 1963 March on Washington and generations of tory, shares her enthusiasm for “The demonstrations in which Americans traveled to the capital to demand that the country live Capital” docuseries at the Sept. 9 up to its democratic promises. premiere. (Robert R. Roberts/The WI Washington Informer) Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Black Political Power Faces Historic Opportunity and Growing Threats as America Approaches Midterms Black Americans could elect the nation’s first Black woman governor in November, even as congressional redistricting threatens to strip Black communities of representation and a blistering new civil rights report accuses Congress of surrendering its independence to President Donald Trump. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, in its latest Inside Black Policy: Government Diversity roundup, examines those competing developments, including a 51-page voting record from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights that condemns the 119th Congress for weakening protections affecting millions of Americans. “The 119th Congress has been the most devastating one we have encountered in The Leadership Conference’s 76-year history,” the coalition declared. “It used its power of the gavel to undermine longstanding civil 5 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and human rights laws.” Chair Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama. A new Joint The assessment, featured in the Joint Center’s roundup, examined 24 Center report includes warnings from six Black House votes and 23 Senate votes between January 2025 and September congressional leaders, including Sewell, noting that 2026. Only 158 House members and 44 senators supported the coali- Supreme Court redistricting decisions could reduce tion’s positions more than 90% of the time. WI Black representation in the House by nearly onethird. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts) Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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AROUND THE REGION

ballots by Oct. 30 make plans to D.C. Attorney General Warns Federal Agents, National mail vote in person. Residents who encounter threats, Guard Against Interfering with November Election intimidation, coercion, or unautho-

residents who have not received their

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Armed federal agents, National Guard troops and unauthorized election monitors have no authority to descend on District polling places, question voters, seize ballots or interfere with vote counting, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb warned Oct. 21 as the nation’s capital prepares for the Nov. 3 election. Ahead of early voting, which began on Oct. 26, Schwalb issued a detailed advisory outlining restrictions on federal law enforcement, military personnel, and anyone attempting to influence or disrupt an election. The warning specifically addresses Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, National Guard troops, and election monitors sent by the U.S. Department of Justice. “Voting in D.C. is simple, secure, and reliable,” Schwalb said. The advisory leaves little room for misunderstanding about the authority of armed federal personnel at polling places. According to Schwalb’s office, federal law generally prohibits deploying armed federal officers or military personnel to election locations, and no federal official can use government authority to influence the outcome of a congressional or presidential election. That prohibition extends to the National Guard troops already deployed in the District, whose presence has generated a separate legal confrontation between Schwalb’s office and the federal government. The attorney general said those troops have been specifically directed not to monitor or secure polling locations. The advisory also addresses the possibility of armed immigration agents appearing where residents cast their ballots. Federal law generally bars the government from sending armed personnel to polling locations, Schwalb’s office said, regardless of whether they work for ICE, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service or another federal agency. Federal officials also cannot simply order District police officers to monitor polling places. Local government employees, like their federal counterparts, may face criminal penalties for improperly using their authority to

interfere with federal elections. The restrictions also apply to civilian observers. Anyone seeking to observe voting or ballot counting inside a District polling location must obtain authorization from the D.C. Board of Elections. Approved observers cannot touch ballots or voting machines, speak to voters while they cast ballots, interfere with election workers, or photograph activity inside polling places while voting is underway. Even Justice Department election monitors, who have observed elections across the country for decades, must comply with District requirements, according to the advisory. They cannot demand personal information from voters, inspect or confiscate ballots, determine which votes should be counted or interfere with election administration. Their role is limited to observation. Schwalb’s office also rejected the notion that federal officials could independently assume control of the District’s election machinery. “The Constitution gives states primary responsibility for administering federal elections, subject to laws Congress enacts,” Schwalb stated. “Although Washington is not a state, Congress has delegated authority to the District to administer its elections. Federal executive officials cannot unilaterally replace those rules.” The advisory does not prohibit legitimate election observation. Representatives of candidates, ballot initiatives, and other approved observers may witness election proceedings after receiving the required credentials. They must follow restrictions designed to prevent interference with voters and election workers. Every registered D.C. voter is being mailed a ballot, and residents who choose to return their ballots through the Postal Service must postmark them by Nov. 3 and have them received by Nov. 13. Ballots can also be deposited at designated drop boxes until 8 p.m. on Election Day. “A reminder that you can vote by mail, vote in person early between [Oct. 26- Nov. 1], or vote on Election Day, [Nov. 3],” Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter in response to Schwalb’s announcement..

During the early period, District residents can place their ballots at voting centers, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, centers will operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents may vote at any District vote center, and eligible unregistered voters may register in person and cast a ballot during early voting or on Election Day. Election officials recommend that

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rized interference can contact the attorney general’s office at 202-7273400 or OAGVoting@dc.gov. Complaints may also be submitted to the D.C. Board of Elections at 202-7272194 or ogc@dcboe.org. “Anyone who experiences or witnesses interference with our local elections should report potential violations to our office and the DC Board of Elections,” Schwalb said. WI

5 Early voting in the District runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 5

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Clarence Thomas (left)

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Oct. 29

1945 – Tony Award-winning actress and singer Melba Moore is born in New York City. 1949 – Alonzo G. Moron is inaugurated as the first Black president of Hampton Institute, later known as Hampton University. 1969 – The Supreme Court orders the immediate end of school segregation. 1981 – William O. Walker, publisher of the Cleveland Call Post, dies in Cleveland at age 85.

Oct. 30

1974 – Muhammad Ali regains the world heavyweight championship by knocking out George Foreman in the 8th round of the "The Rumble in the Jungle." 1954 – The Defense Department announces the elimination of all segregated regiments in the armed forces. 1991 – BET Holdings, Inc. the parent company of Black Entertainment Television, sells 4.2 million shares of stock in an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first African American company listed on the exchange.

Oct. 31

1893 – William Henry Lewis, the first Black All-American collegiate football player, makes the team for the second consecutive season while playing for Harvard. 1896 – Early 20th-century actress and singer Ethel Waters, the first African American woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award, is born in Chester, Pennsylvania. 1950 – Earl Lloyd becomes the first African American to play in an NBA game.

6 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

OCT. 29 - NOV 4, 2026 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

Earl Lloyd (right)

Nov. 1

1945 – John H. Johnson publishes the first issue of Ebony magazine. 1946 – Charles S. Johnson becomes the first Black president of Fisk University. 1951 – Jet magazine publishes its first issue. 1991 – Clarence Thomas is sworn in as the 106th associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Nov. 2

1930 – Haile Selassie is coronated as emperor of Ethiopia. 1983 – President Reagan signs a law designating the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Nov. 3

1868 – John Willis Menard of Louisiana becomes the first Black man ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, though a challenge of the electoral results by his defeated foe prevents him from taking office. 1992 – Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois becomes the first African American woman to be elected to the United States Senate.

Nov. 4

1844 – Cathay Williams, the only known female Buffalo Soldier, is born in Independence, Missouri. 1879 – Inventor Thomas Elkins patents an improved refrigerator design. 1954 – Hulan Jack is elected borough president of Manhattan in New York City, becoming the highest-ranking African American municipal official at the time. 1969 – Entertainment and business mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is born in Harlem, New York. 2008 – Barack Obama defeats John McCain to become the first Black president of the United States. WI

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AROUND THE REGION

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 7

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Honoring the ‘Warrior on the Hill’: Eleanor Holmes Norton Legacy Fund Luncheon Celebrates Namesake’s Longtime Leadership Councilmember Robert White, Future Changemakers Hope to Further Norton’s Work, Legacy

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

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While it might take longer than two-and-a-half hours to summarize all that Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) has done in her more than six-decade career and nearly 35 years on Capitol Hill, politicians, community leaders and District residents gathered on Oct. 25 to honor her longtime leadership and advocacy for people across D.C. and the nation. The Eleanor Holmes Norton Legacy Fund (EHNLF) held its annual event to raise scholarship funds for female students at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law, at The Potomac Hotel in Southwest D.C. However, this year’s luncheon was particularly special because the nonprofit organization honored its namesake for her trailblazing work, which started far before she was given the title: “Warrior on the Hill.” “As the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Eleanor broke barriers and opened doors for many. It was thrilling to welcome Eleanor to Congress and work with her as she led the fight for women's rights, equal rights, and human rights,” said

5 District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton with Virginia Ali, co-founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl, and Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, during the Eleanor Holmes Norton Legacy Fund luncheon on Oct. 25. Held at The Potomac Hotel, the event celebrated Norton’s leadership and raised scholarship funds for women at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi in a recorded video played during “A Salute to Our Warrior on the Hill: Honoring the Legacy of the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton.” “In Congress, Eleanor has been a relentless champion for the people of the District of Columbia, demanding the full representation and equal rights they deserve.” The former House speaker was one just one of many politicians and local leaders who paid tribute to Norton— who was present for the event— and her years as of service as: a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Commission (SNCC), helping to organize the March on Washington, an attorney, a barrier-breaking leader with EEOC, and as a delegate whose lack of vote never silenced her voice on Capitol Hill. “Eleanor Holmes Norton, is a giant in American history,” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), told the crowded hotel

ballroom. “I've had the honor of serving with Eleanor for 35 years. She's a young person, so she came 10 years after I went into Congress." At 87 and 89, respectively, Hoyer and Norton are stepping down from their service in the House, ushering a new generation of congressional leaders for the District and Maryalnd. “People are asking, ‘Why are we retiring? I get that all the time. And my response is, ‘I did not think that 87 was a premature retirement,’” Hoyer continued. “But I am sorry to [see you] retire, because the country needs more leaders like Eleanor Holmes Norton.” As she prepares to step down, Councilmember Robert White (D-At-large), the Democratic candidate for D.C. delegate, honored her years of service on the Hill, something

NORTON Page 33

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AROUND THE REGION

AFRO and Washington Informer Collaborate for D.C. High Tea, Celebrating Women Who ‘Educate, Build and Lead’

Event Puts the ‘Tea’ in Teamwork, Honors Vision, Highlights Power, of the Black Press By Micha Green WI Managing Editor Donning colorful dresses, suits and skirts, eye-catching accessories, fascinators and show-stopping hats, 200 people gathered at the National Press Club in Northwest D.C. on Oct. 24 for a celebration of sisterhood, women in leadership, legacy and the power of the Black-owned media. AFRO News, founded in 1892 and The Washington Informer, which marked 62 years on Oct. 16, teamed up for the D.C. High Tea: Honoring Women Who Educate, Build and Lead.” Honorees included: 96.3 WHUR’s Jacquie Gales Webb, Howard University’s (HU) Dr. Kimberly R. Moffitt and Dr. Dana A. Williams, Morgan State University’s Jackie Jones, University of the District of Columbia’s (UDC) Dr. April Massey, AARP CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, and Georgia Ellard, a 97-year-old barrier breaker, who received a special recognition. “They are doing more than talking about making a difference,” said Vic Jagger, host “VJ in the Midday” on MAJIC 102.3, who served as the host for the Saturday afternoon event.

“They are out here doing the work. They are opening doors. They are creating opportunities and making an impact.” For Denise Rolark Barnes and Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publishers of The Informer and AFRO, respectively, the event put the “tea” in teamwork. While the AFRO has hosted high teas in Baltimore and D.C. for years, such an event was a new undertaking for Rolark Barnes, who was inspired by the 135-year-old paper’s community event. “I attended one of those teas and I said, ‘Toni, we ought to do this together,’” Rolark Barnes told the crowd. “She said, ‘Why not?’ Next thing I know, here we are.” Featuring food, live music from the F.A.M.E. Band (provided by the Foundation for the Advancement of Music Education) and various vendors, the Saturday afternoon event offered entertainment and calls to action. “We are going to honor some amazing, incredible women, and have a good time. Meet someone who you don't know, and then be sure to

HIGH TEA Page 11

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HungerIsHere.org 5 Marlene Hunt Moss presents flowers to Georgia Ellard, 97, who received a special recognition during the AFRO and Washington Informer High Tea on Oct. 24. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 9

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District Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) gathered with students in Ward 8 to celebrate postsecondary planning and achievement at the DC College Application and Exploration Month Rally held at Thurgood Marshall Academy took place on Oct. 26. As a surprise to the attendees, Ramon G. Griffin, a veteran educator at Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School in Ward 8, was named the 2027 DC Teacher of the Year. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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Ms. Black United States 2026 Kendall Smith reads The Washington Informer after the AFRO and Washington Informer D.C. High Tea on Oct. 24. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

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HIGH TEA from Page 9 spread the word that the Black Press will celebrate 200 years in March of 2027,” Draper said. “It’s not too many businesses of any kind that can say that, but it's because of you and your ancestors— our foremothers and our forefathers.”

Honorees Drop Gems: ‘May All Black people be Free or Die Trying’

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and world in the name of health at all ages. Honored to be recognized during the event, the trailblazer offered advice for all women to achieve their goals. “I'll encourage other Black women to chase their dreams,” she said. “I think that the important thing is to be ready and to do the very best that you can in every assignment that you're given.” In accepting her award, Williams said she was honored to not only be recognized among such a group of visionary women, but also by the two Black- and woman-owned publications. “I join [the honorees’] voices in celebrating, not just each other, but these two Black women publishers. The future is bright for many reasons, but most especially because they keep alive our ancestors' dreams,” Williams, dean of the HU Graduate School, said before offering a short phrase that sent the crowd into roaring applause. “May all Black people be free or die trying.”

when I got there, in 2012, journalism was the smallest major and now it's the biggest.” Like Morgan, the Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications, celebrating 55 years, is also focused on the future. “Our motto this year is ‘Beyond 55’ because we are working and marching very hard to help that next generation for the next 55 years,” Moffitt told attendees during her acceptance speech. “So we've got people in line for you.” Gales Webb, who has worked for Howard University’s WHUR radio for 36 years, highlighted the major influence media can have on the public. “When I first fully realized the importance of what God had given me, I had gone out to a church service… A woman came up to me when she realized who I was, gave me a hug and cried, simply because I had played the right song at the right time in her life and it brought her closer to God,” said Gales Webb, a six-time Emmy-winner, who chronicled her time in radio and television over the past five decades. “That's when I realized the importance of what we do.” While awardee Minter-Jordan was unable to attend the high tea, the event also celebrated Ellard’s groundbreaking work as the first Black woman superintendent in the National Capital Region National Park Service. “I served in this capacity for seven years as a superintendent of Rock Creek Park,” the nanogenarian told The Informer. “However, my entire career was with the National Park Service.” Although she is retired, Ellard still takes to the great outdoors as a member of The Wisdom Walkers, a group who walks treks across the District

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5 A group of friends attending the AFRO and Washington Informer High Tea pose around their decorated table. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

An event steeped in legacy, leadership and vision, each honoree emphasized the importance of their work in the community, while also leaving attendees with optimism and goals to work toward strengthening society overall. “When I was young in church, the pastor would say to the congregation ‘That nothing that you get is for you. It is to pass through you for others, who should be the beneficiaries of your good,’” Massey, UDC chief academic officer, said. “UDC is a place where those of us who have been tapped to serve, understand that we are but vessels to move good through to people who are depending on us to get it to them.” Massey explained that an education at UDC means embracing and working to serve the District and its more than 700,000 residents, through the lessons learned while at the second oldest historically Black institution in the country. “We understand the base of our souls in terms of this world. We understand the responsibility to this city. We take very seriously that it is the taxpayer dollars that funds the university— keeps the doors open,” she continued. “We know that our responsibility rests with every ward across the city, every constituent who needs something from U.D.C.— from our workforce, to our doctoral programs and law school.” Jones said there’s also great work happening in Baltimore to strengthen the next generation of changemakers. As dean of the School of Global Journalism and Communication at Morgan State, she said the educators and staff there are committed to growth and doing all they can to empower future media professionals. “At Morgan State, we try to give our kids the best. We fundraise, we train, we call in all our chips and bring in the experts,” Jones said. “We get them jobs, and

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Preserving the Black Press

While the high tea honored women in leadership, the event, hosted at the National Press Club, also underscored the importance of fact-based, trustworthy reporting— particularly at a time when news outlets and journalists have been victim to federal threats and attacks. Further, with the AFRO and Informer logos side-byside on the podium, the gathering encouraged uplifting and preserving the Black Press. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 11

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MARYLAND ELECTIONS from Page 1 job losses have hit close to home for us, and that uncertainty is part of why my wife, Chakeia, and I created The Meet Up Podcast to have honest conversations about navigating life when things don’t go as planned.” Throughout the nation, polling has shown President Donald Trump with record-low approval ratings and current polling shows Democrats standing poised to secure a majority of the seats in both chambers of Congress. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore (D) is maintaining a strong lead in polling as he, like in November 2022, faces Republican candidate Dan Cox. Nonetheless, local leaders like Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D- District 21) contend the election is bigger than simply if the state votes red or blue. “This is not about party,” Peña-Melnyk said, speaking at Fort Washington’s St. Mark AME Church in early October. “This is about values. This is about survival for many of us.” This year’s election, which includes gubernatorial, congressional, county executive and delegate races, portends transformative change with more than 20 new legislators expected in Annapolis for their first session in January and multiple jurisdictions expected to elect their first African American county ex-

ecutive. Maryland voters have a choice to support or oppose ballot measures that could potentially improve negotiation standards for state workers, allow temporary appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, and expand the rules regarding congressional redistricting. “A yes on Question 3 is a no to Donald Trump. It means that Donald Trump does not get to control our elections nor our democracy. The people of Maryland get to control that,” said Moore. “By voting yes on Question 3, this is a chance for us to be able to not allow Donald Trump to rig elections and to put more MAGA Republicans inside of Congress.” Democrats hold veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate of the Maryland General Assembly, and Josh Hastings, Adrianne Mathis, Stephanie Popescu, and Chuck Cook are some of the Democratic nominees in competitive, rural districts. “We’ve been overloaded, overcrowded,” said Mathis during an early October debate for a vacant St. Mary’sbased subdistrict. “We need to have more mixed-use housing, but we don’t have infrastructure for it. You can’t keep packing and piling on.” As early voting continues through Oct. 29 and Nov. 3 quickly approaches, Blocker encourages residents to stay

“People are excited right now because they’re looking for leadership that’s not just going to push back against this corruption from Donald Trump,” said Moore in a WBAL interview, “but push forward for a new direction.” 12 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

3 Speaker of the House Joseline Peña-Melnyk, the first Afro-Latina to lead a Maryland legislative chamber, underscored the need for civic action while speaking at St. Mark AME Church. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

active, informed, and involved. “From advocating for students at Bowie State to working in government and public affairs, I’ve seen firsthand how decisions made by elected officials impact our everyday lives,” he told The Informer. “Voting is about more than showing up on Election Day. It’s about making your voice heard, holding leaders accountable, and having a say in the future of your community.”

Competitive Races

The gubernatorial rematch between Moore and Cox isn’t particularly close, and most observers project Moore to win re-election. Moore has remained a critic of Trump and prioritized economic development and job recruitment to Maryland. “People are excited right now because they’re looking for leadership that’s not just going to push back against this corruption from Donald Trump,” said Moore in a WBAL interview, “but push forward for a new direction.” Cox, a conservative Republican who was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 and called Vice President Mike Pence (R) a “traitor,” was a strong critic of Maryland’s vaccine policies during the pandemic and opposes Maryland’s reparations commission. Cox has focused his campaign on energy affordability and restricting data centers. “Marylanders are looking at electric bills that have tripled,” Cox said in an interview with WUSA9. “Governor Shapiro in Pennsylvania is lowering taxes, spending less, and creating opportunities for business to flourish. Meanwhile, in Maryland, our electric bills are tripling, and our taxes are rising.” Moore has maintained a strong lead throughout the general election, and is projected to receive more than 60% of

the total vote. The most competitive congressional race in Maryland is between Rep. Andy Harris (R- Md.), a Trump-endorsed conservative and member of the House Freedom Caucus, and Democratic nominee Dan Schwartz, a consumer watchdog who has been endorsed by Moore and other state Democratic leaders. Following an Oct. 13 debate in Cambridge, Harris berated Capital News Service reporter Cat Murphy and accused her of violating Maryland’s two-party recording consent laws, despite the federal lawmaker being otherwise surrounded by cameras and microphones during the public debate. The video of the interaction, posted by The Baltimore Banner, went viral across social media platforms. Schwartz reported a surge of over 3,400 new donors and nearly $200,000 following Harris’ outburst: enough to buy TV ads in the closing days of the race. “We really had a definitive win,” Schwartz said in a post-debate interview with the Baltimore Banner, “but we also had this incredible fundraising bump, and this earned media attention, which is priceless.” In Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, voters lean overwhelmingly Democratic and virtually all of the local, state, and congressional races are effectively already decided excluding the Board of Education races. Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy (D) faces no official challenger listed on the ballot, but attorney Tonya Sweat is running as a write-in candidate for the seat after she was denied a ballot positioning. “I’m not here to point fingers. Maybe the intentions were good. But good intentions don’t excuse missteps, and it’s our kids, our seniors, and our working families who end up paying for them,” Sweat posted on Facebook

shortly before the early voting period began. “That’s why I’m running. To restore public trust. Fixing this will take time and real work, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves.” Jawando, poised to become only the second African American county executive in Montgomery County’s history, is recovering from a recent heart attack while thanking his family for their dedication. “When democracy is under attack in Washington, Montgomery County feels the shockwaves first,” Jawando posted on X. “That's why it's not enough for us to be a safe harbor. We must be the vanguard.”

‘Be the Change’

As people across the state and nation emphasize the importance of the Nov. 3 midterms, Blocker contends each time someone has an opportunity to vote, it’s important. “I know what it feels like to think your voice or vote doesn’t matter. I once felt that way myself, until I was elected to the Prince George’s County Board of Education as a student representative. That experience showed me that your voice can make a difference, regardless of your age.,” he said. “I once thought my voice didn’t matter. Now I know better, and I want others to know their voices matter, too.” While politicians are vying to get citizens to vote for them, Blocker said it’s important to encourage people placing a ballot in general. For the civic activist, voter education and mobilization does not start once people turn 18 and are eligible to place a ballot. “I started using my voice as a teenager, and I believe every generation deserves to understand that their voice matters long before they ever step into a voting booth,” Blocker said. “You don’t have to love politics to participate. Learn the issues, hold leaders accountable, and make your vote count.” T.E. Wills, a member of the Prince George’s Republican Central Committee, was excited to plant yard signs and knock on doors in his Glenn Dale neighborhood. He pledges to remain involved to raise voter turnout in future elections. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com. There, residents are voting for Sen-

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Governor Wes Moore is Delivering for Us Since taking office, violent crime is at its lowest in 40 years. Thanks to record investments in public schools the teacher vacancy rate was cut in half and test scores were raised. And Governor Moore is giving critical support to HBCUs and minority owned businesses. That’s why Maryland is ranked number 1 for minority owned businesses. Governor Moore is showing up in every corner, every day for us.

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 13

BUSINESS Behind the Pitch: The Opportunities and Challenges Facing DMV Startups Innovation Meets the Realities of Entrepreneurship

By Kree Anderson WI Intern As home to a diverse range of innovators working to solve problems across multiple industries, the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region has cultivated a growing tech ecosystem. However, for many entrepreneurs, like Jay Tailor and Santiago Sanchez, founders of BlueHealer, access to capital and opportunities can be challenging. “We’ve been around for over two years now, and I think we’re only right now starting to see an

increase in people understanding what we’re doing, people caring for what we’re doing,” Sanchez told The Informer during the D.C. Startup & Tech Week “Battle of the Regions” Championship pitch competition on Oct. 23. Sanchez and Tailor, third place winners of the competition, are developing implant technology that uses bone to help heal wounds and prevent amputations among patients with diabetes and vascular conditions. However, it’s been a rough road in getting the funding necessary to advance their technol-

5 Attendees listen to pitches during the “Battle of the Regions” Championship on Oct. 23, the final day of D.C. Startup & Tech Week. (Kree Anderson/The Washington Informer)

ogy and bring it closer to patients who could benefit from it. “The biggest challenge is probably communicating that this an emerging biology but can give a new option for [patients],” Tailor said.” Getting non-medical folks to believe [in it] is not always easy, but we’ve gotten better at it through these kinds of pitches.” Through workshops, pitch competitions, panel discussions, keynote speakers and networking opportunities, the D.C. Startup & Tech Week (Oct. 19-23) connected startup founders with the resources and relationships needed

to develop and scale their businesses. “[With] D.C. Startup & Tech Week, how we’re supporting founders and touching founders [involve] three core components: access to community, access to capital, access to the educational resources that you need in order to start, scale, and grow your company,” Rachel Koretsky, founder and CEO of D.C. Startup & Tech Week, told The Informer. “That’s the beauty of the week that we’re bringing together, where it’s a community that’s willing to help one another, learn from one an-

5 Rachel Koretsky (left), founder and CEO of UPace, hosts a fireside chat with Areo Nazari, former CEO and co-founder of CaryHealth (Acquired) and executive vice president of Product and Technology at CareTria. (Kree Anderson/The Washington Informer)

14 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

other, celebrate with one another, but also be there for one another. ” Featuring products developed to address issues ranging from health care to space exploration, the Battle of the Regions final pitch competition offered a glimpse into what it takes to turn an innovative idea into a successful business. The panel of judges, representing various business sectors, listened as companies vied for the grand prize. In the end, two Maryland businesses TechNovaTime and BlueHealer Inc. took first and third place, while Virginia’s Torev Motors secured second place and a $2,500 cash prize. TechNovaTime received $10,000 and an opportunity to compete for a $1 million investment at the November Startup World Cup pitch competition in San Francisco. “It's really important that we are putting together events as today,” Koretsky said. “It's where the whole region is able to rise.” Winning third place, the BlueHealer founders said, is a step in the right direction as they work to grow their business. Nonetheless, there’s still more work to be done. “Next steps are further developing [from this conference] towards funding opportunities and partnerships, bringing people into our newsletter, setting up further calls so that they can get their questions answered and get up to speed on all the recent traction we’ve had,”

BUSINESS Page 15

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BUSINESS from Page 14 Tailor said.

Working to Overcome Hurdles, Access to Opportunities

From restrictions on grant eligibility due to their immigration status to securing proper funders and supporters, Tailor and Sanchez have had to navigate various obstacles in working to bring their technology to the market. “You know, it’s just the cards that we were dealt with, that we have to play, and we’re finding ways around it,” Sanchez told The Informer. “[We’re going] for some other kinds of funding, some other kinds of competitions and grants and raising diluted funding. I would say that’s one of the biggest hurdles.” Adam Hugh Phillips, managing partner of Athletes Innovate Ventures and emcee for the pitch competition championship, said that people like the BlueHealer founders are not alone. “When they need capital, it is a critical juncture,” Phillips told The Informer. For Phillips, opportunities like the D.C. Startup & Tech Week pitch competition is a valuable way for founders to build relationships with potential investors, partners and other supporters. There were notable industry figures in the room, from the audience to the panel of judges, who included: William Bowser, principal at High Street Equity Partners; Khalil Bilal, investor and principal at 100KM Ventures; Andrey Mikhalcuk, co-founder and man-

aging partner at Station Alpha; Emily McMahan, co-founder and general partner of AIN Ventures; and Vincent Perez, founder and CEO of Long View Partners. With about 250 gathered in the space, Phillips encouraged entrepreneurs to view the entire audience as a potential source of future opportunities, rather than focusing solely on the judges evaluating their pitches. “You’re pitching the whole room,” Phillips said to The Informer. Aspiring entrepreneur Unda March, who has a background in data science and physics, attended the competition to learn more about the resources available to founders across the region. “I haven’t really met anybody who’s like, I had this idea, and this person gave me $50,000 to approach it the right way,” said Unda March during the convening’s pitch competition, hosted the final day of the conference. While she appreciated the pitch competition, March still maintains her concern for up-and-coming founders’ abilities to gain access to early-stage funding for the development of their ideas. “In order to meaningfully test something and especially compete, you should still be able to come with resources,” March told The Informer. In the meantime, Koretsky hopes D.C. Startup & Tech Week and the pitch competition can be a strong start in helping startups realize their full potential. “You’re pitching the whole room,” Phillips said to The Informer. WI

BUSINESS

5 BlueHealer founders Santiago Sanchez and Jay Taylor place third in the pitch competition. BlueHealer is a medical startup that is developing an internal leg implant to save the feet and legs of diabetic patients from being amputated. (Kree Anderson/The Washington Informer)

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 15

NATIONAL

3 Giselle Crawford, 30, is the founder of the Giselle Cares Foundation, a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault cover expenses that can become immediate obstacles to safety. (Courtesy Photo)

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

One Woman Offers a Way Out for Abuse Survivors

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

One woman already knew where she needed to go. She had a young child, a safe place waiting in another city, and a reason to leave the abusive home where she was living. What she did not have was a way to get there. Giselle Crawford remembers that case because so little money, compared with the danger confronting the woman, stood between staying and getting out. “Something that may seem rela-

tively simple, transportation, was actually the barrier standing between her and safety,” Crawford said. “Once that barrier was removed, she was able to get away from her abuser and begin a new chapter for herself and her child.” Crawford, 30, is the founder of the Giselle Cares Foundation, a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault cover expenses that can become immediate obstacles to safety: gas, transportation, hotel rooms, clothing, food, safe phones, security deposits, and other costs of leaving.

16 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

This year, the organization began with less than $10,000 set aside for relocation assistance. The money is gone. Before the fund was fully committed, it helped three individuals and families with immediate relocation needs. Roughly 15 additional

people sought help as the money became limited or unavailable, Crawford said. The foundation now tries to connect survivors with shelters, advocates and other organizations when it cannot provide funds directly. “The need does not stop when the money runs out,” Crawford said. For Crawford, that reality has revealed an overlooked aspect of escaping abuse. A survivor may decide to leave and even identify a safe place to go, yet remain trapped because she cannot afford gasoline, a rental car, or several nights in a hotel. In other cases, the cost is significantly higher. A security deposit and first month’s rent can range from $1,200 to $1,800 or more, Crawford said. Someone fleeing suddenly may also need clothing, food, a new phone, or cash for necessities. The foundation is working to provide care kits for sexual assault survivors, including clean clothing, undergarments, toiletries, and other essentials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), intimate partner violence imposes a staggering economic burden on the United States, totaling nearly $3.6 trillion in lifetime costs across all adult victims. The CDC's data shows that the average lifetime cost reaches $103,767 per female survivor and $23,414 per male survivor. The CDC said the financial toll is heavily driven by medical and mental health care, which accounts for 59% of the total expense, followed by $1.3 tril-

lion in lost workplace productivity due to roughly 8 million missed workdays annually. Ultimately, officials said, public funding shoulders about 37% of these costs through health care, law enforcement, and criminal justice proceedings, making domestic violence a massive public health and societal drain. “Sometimes a person already knows where they need to go and what they need to do,” Crawford said. “They just need someone to help close that final gap between being trapped and being able to leave.”

Building a Business that Could Help Someone Else

Giselle Cares grew from the assistance Crawford once provided quietly and informally. As The Giselle Collection, her business, began to grow, Crawford said she started questioning what she wanted that success to accomplish beyond selling products. “I didn’t want success to only be measured by sales or how many products we could sell,” she said. “I wanted the business to be connected to something that could genuinely help someone else.” Initially, people in trouble reached Crawford through word of mouth. If someone needed immediate help, she might simply give them money for a hotel, transportation, food, or another expense. Eventually, she wanted something more permanent. “I realized I didn’t want supporting survivors to be something I only did privately or occasionally,” Crawford said. “I wanted to create something intentional and lasting, something that could provide real resources, comfort and support to people during some of the hardest moments of their lives.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Democrats Could Take Congress, but Trump May Still Hold the Power to Defy Them By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer In the last two years of his presidency, President Donald Trump could face Democrats investigating his family’s finances, questioning his Cabinet secretaries under oath, blocking his judicial nominees, and possibly threatening a third impeachment. His administration might spend millions defending against congressional inquiries, as lawmakers investigate issues like immigration detention contracts, military spending, and the president’s cryptocurrency ventures. Trump could also choose not to cooperate, challenge subpoenas in court, and veto any legislation aimed at undoing his policies. “The problem isn’t the fecklessness of whoever leads both chambers,” legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin wrote in an Oct. 18 essay. “It’s the structure of our constitutional system, which is more tilted than ever in favor of the executive branch.” As the Nov. 3 midterm elections get closer, Democrats need to gain four seats in both the House and Senate to take control. If they win the House, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries could become the first Black speaker, gaining investigative powers that Republicans have mostly kept from the opposition. “We’re going to hold the crooks accountable,” Jeffries has promised. Rep. Robert Garcia (D) from California might lead investigations into Trump’s businesses, the Jeffrey Epstein files, immigration enforcement, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policies. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D) from Maryland, who could chair the Judiciary Committee, has already investigated Jared Kushner’s foreign business ties and how the administration uses executive authority. Raskin has described the potential investigative workload as “gargantuan.” This possibility is already causing concern within the administration. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump officials and business associates have started looking for legal help as they prepare for possible Democratic investigations.

Toobin warned that subpoenas might lead to long court battles instead of quick answers. During Trump’s first term, Democrats spent years trying to get census records and his tax returns. Some of these disputes were settled only after President Joe Biden took office. The Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling on presidential immunity could give Trump more legal reasons to resist investigations, though it did not take away Congress’ power to investigate. A Democratic Senate could present another challenge. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has promised to oppose more Trump-aligned judges. Democrats could reject lifetime federal judicial appointments and block a Supreme Court nominee, using the same approach Republicans took in 2016 when they refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

NATIONAL

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5 While Democrats like Maryland’s Rep. Jamie Raskin are working to investigate President Donald Trump and his family’s finances, the commander in chief could also choose not to cooperate, challenge subpoenas in court, and veto any legislation aimed at undoing his policies. (WI File Photo/Shevry)

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INTERNATIONAL

From the River to the Sea: D.C. Activists March for Palestine to be Free Three Years Later, Activists Continue to Rally for Palestine

By Mya Trujillo WI Multimedia Reporter October 2026 marks the third year of the ongoing human rights violations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip, prolonging the displacement, ethnic cleansing and occupation of Palestinians and their land that began in 1947. On Oct. 10, at least hundreds of people marched in the nation’s capital, joining more than a million people worldwide in unwavering solidarity for Palestine and the injustices its people are enduring. “We will keep showing the true power of the people, from our flotilla participants who have sailed to break the siege, to our students who continue to confront institutional ties with Zionism, to the masses who’ve shut down their cities to demand an immediate arms embargo,” said the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) chapter of Traditional Help Buttons

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5 Saad Ijaz, an organizer with American Muslims for Palestine, tells the crowd of activists to continue speaking out against injustices in Palestine. (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)

the Palestinian Youth Movement. Since the escalation on Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian death toll

across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has reached a combined total of 75,453 per the World Health Organization’s Health Cluster. Across the world, activists are demanding an end to the Palestinian genocide, for countries like the United States and the United Kingdom to cease military exports to Israeli forces and for the imposition of economic and diplomatic sanctions on Israel in support of justice and accountability efforts. At the rally on Capitol Hill, participants were clad in keffiyehs, a traditional cloth worn in North Africa and Southwestern Asia that typically symbolizes solidarity with Palestinian liberation efforts, and chanted slogans “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Free, free Palestine.” Their action showed that people around the world are still doing what they can to raise awareness and push for an end to the violence. “If you take one thing from this march… it’s that the people of Palestine have sacrificed everything,” said Saad Ijaz with the American Muslims for Palestine DMV Chapter during the demonstration. “The least we can do is refuse to sacrifice our conscience for comfort.” WI

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 19

HEALTH D.C. Startup & Tech Week Concludes with Wellness Reset People from across the Washington region attended the third annual Tech Wellness Reset Walk Fest on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Anacostia Park in Southeast D.C. Hosted by the Tech Wellness Society, this outdoor health and networking event served as the official closing experience for DC Startup & Tech Week. It provided a structured break from screen time for tech professionals, SaaS founders, remote workers, and creatives. 5 Personal trainer Kwame Wutoh leads attendees through a shadowboxing warm-up. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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5 A Tech Wellness Society representative speaks with an attendee at the organization’s tent, stocked with Zenjoy relaxation teas and Serenjoy Box giveaways. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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5 Attendees set out on the guided walk at the Tech Wellness Reset Walk Fest, a free morning of movement and networking for the region’s tech community. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 21

OUR

EARTH

GWRCCC from Page 1 numerous green initiatives in the last two years. “We’re growing, and we’re being intentional and impactful to improve our environment to create a better future for generations to come in clean energy, clean transportation and environmental sectors,” GWRCCC Executive Director Antoine Thompson told The Informer. “We have to continue to accelerate.” The conference, themed “Onward to a Cleaner Future,” featured a lowto-zero emissions vehicle showcase, an awards luncheon recognizing industry pioneers, and various panels on transportation electrification, renewable fuel, data centers’ environmental impacts, government regulations and more. Industry veterans, newcomers and people interested in learning more about clean energy and sustainability were able to network, learn from each other, discuss challenges and opportunities, and figure out how to create the green future they envision. Thompson and many others at the assembly emphasized the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections to ensure the appointment of elected officials who will push for

environmental policy. This is a matter that hits close to home for Thompson, who served as a New York state senator from 2007 to 2011. “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain,” he told The Informer. “Elections have consequences, so when you don’t vote, you’re saying you’re happy with the way things are. At the end of the day, the government is going to function 52 weeks a year, 365 days a year, and either you’re at the table by voting, or you’re on the menu by not voting.” Conference attendees and panelists stressed that young people should be casting ballots and paying attention to matters, leaders and legislation that will work to protect the environment and improve conditions for future generations. For Larry Glover, CEO of energy consulting firm The Glover Group, the 2026 midterms are especially significant because, as he told The Informer and conference attendees, either the Republican Party will hold the majority in Congress and continue the deep governmental polarization under this administration, or the Democratic Party could take control and cause a legislative struggle over authorizations, but still foster change. Because of the

Rest in Peace Joseph Jacob Romm Joseph Jacob Romm of Washington, DC, born June 27, 1960 in Middletown, NY, died September 14, 2026, at the GWU Hospital.

22 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

3 Aside from various energy panels and an awards luncheon, the conference holds an electric vehicle showcase outside of the venue featuring low- to zero-emission buses, cars and trucks. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer)

weight these elections hold, Glover encourages everyone, especially younger generations, to vote on Nov. 3. “If we look at our history, we know change actually happens when young people get involved,” Glover told The Informer. “We’re seeing student movements… engaged where they have been less engaged before. It’s so important that change starts with our young people, and anything that we can do to encourage them to be more vigilant, I think we should.”

Upholding EV Policy and Infrastructure Programs

With transportation being the largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the country, many advocates, experts and leaders are pushing for policies that invest in clean transportation and infrastructure that will support electrification in the sector. A successful transition to lowto-zero-emission transportation could be a monumental stride in mitigating

the effects of climate change and increased GHG emissions. “Today, from a legislative standpoint,... we’re moving from a space where clean energy has been looked at as a way to adopt technology,” Glover said. “I think our challenge today is how do we implement? And I think implementation is going to be a big part of what we see going forward.” The five-year transportation reauthorization plan within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expired on Sept. 30, but Congress extended funding until Dec. 11. This federal law updates and funds programs supporting the country’s roads, bridges, public transit and railway systems. Experts at Sierra Club, like Katherine Garcia, the director for Clean Transportation for All, are adamant about advocating for the continuation of the law passed in 2021, as it pioneered federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Incentives within the legislation, like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP), create plans to construct EV charging infrastructure nationwide. The 2021 bill also includes the Low- or No-Emission (LowNo) Grant Program, which provides funding for states to purchase or lease zero- or low-emission transit buses as well as the construction of supporting facilities. “The next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill… has incredible opportunities for investing in clean transportation, so everything from buses to rails to reducing pollution around ports, and making sure that we have a robust, interconnected charging infrastructure network across the country,” Garcia said in a panel offering conference attendees a legislative update.

Biofuels as Another Sustainable Alternative

A complete shift to electrified transportation isn’t feasible, so another way to make the sector more sustainable and strengthen the nation’s environmental resilience is by advancing renewable fuel sources, like biofuels, alongside EV infrastructure. Biofuels are liquid fuels made from renewable biological sources, like bioethanol, which is an alcohol fuel produced through the fermentation of crops like corn, wheat, sugarcane, sugar beets and potatoes. Biodiesels– alternatives or additives to petroleum diesel– are made from the chemical combination of plant oils with alcohol. In 2024, the United States imported 651,000 barrels of motor gasoline per day and consumed approximately 1,252 barrels of biofuels per day. International conflicts, especially those derived from a lack of and disregard for diplomatic negotiations from the current administration— like the current war in Iran— can quickly put a strain on foreign crude oil supply and shock gas prices nationwide. “We’ve got to get people to understand that this thirst for oil from other places not only is bad for us from a national security perspective, but it’s also bad from a human perspective in terms of life expectancy,” Thompson told The Informer. “Everything does not have to be electric, but… we need to use more low- to zero-emission fuels and energy sources so that we can reduce these massive gaps in health [and] educational outcomes, and life expectancies in communities in the United States of America.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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EDUCATION H.D. Woodson Celebrates Homecoming With ‘Go-Go VOTE’ Event Encourages Youth to Use Their Voices and Voting Rights

WI Web Staff The sound of the “go-go swing” offered more than entertainment at H.D Woodson on Oct. 24. The District’s official music provided the soundtrack behind a message of democracy and civic responsibility at the Northeast D.C. school’s homecoming, embracing the theme “GO-GO VOTE: My Voice Matter, Your Voice Matters.” A celebration in partnership with the Go-Go Museum, local leaders and representatives from the National Women’s Foundation, teamed up to promote civic education and empower youth by helping them understand the value of their voices in shaping their communities and overall future. “Our young people want to be heard,” said Summaya Lane, a community advocate who participated in speaking with students during the event. “The message to them is: Use the voting rights that

our ancestors have fought and died for.” The Go-Go Museum’s brought out TOB Band on its bus, which goes throughout the city for live activations, bridging the District’s unique sound across all eight wards. This time, the bus and band were at H.D. Woodson to emphasize the importance of voting, even before students are able to cast ballots. For Pamela Johnson, National Women’s Foundation board president, connecting with young people at events like H.D. Woodson also means reaching relatives and friends. “We all have people in our lives that may not have registered to vote. Johnson said. “We have approximately 4 million young people who are turning 18 every year, and it’s our responsibility to communicate about the importance of voter participation and that their voice matters.” WI

NOV. 24 - DEC. 6

5The “GO-GO VOTE,” initiative provides entertainment through D.C.’s official musical genre, while promoting the importance of civic engagement. (Courtesy Photo)

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 23

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EDITORIAL

The Price of the Ballot

Honor Those Who Fought for the Right to Vote by Exercising it on Nov. 3 The right to vote was not freely granted. Americans won it through sacrifice, struggle, and the courage to risk their lives so that future generations could participate in our democracy. As voters prepare for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, we should remember those sacrifices and recognize that we all share responsibility for protecting the ballot. From the Mississippi Freedom Vote of 1963 to the Selma marches and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, generations of Americans confronted intimidation, violence, and discrimination to secure access to the ballot. Civil rights leader Medgar Evers paid the ultimate price for his commitment to equality. Countless others endured threats, economic retaliation, and physical harm simply for demanding the right to vote. Their sacrifices should never become distant history or mere ceremonial talking points. They remain a reminder of what is at stake whenever Americans choose their representatives.

Consider the students at historically Black colleges and universities in North Carolina who recently marched to early-voting sites after officials did not select their campuses as voting locations. For some, reaching a polling place meant a 45-minute walk. Although election officials noted that the campuses had not hosted early voting in a midterm election before, the episode raises an important question: Why should access to the ballot become more difficult for students determined to exercise their civic rights? Critics of these decisions argue that eliminating convenient campus voting locations disproportionately burdens young Black voters. Whatever the explanation for individual decisions, the broader lesson is clear: Voting access matters, and so does the determination to overcome obstacles. Here in Washington, D.C., Nov. 3 holds particular significance. District voters will choose a mayor, Council members, and a successor to Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton

(D), whose decades of public service have helped give Washington a voice in Congress. These elections will shape public safety, housing, education, neighborhood investment and the District's ongoing struggle for greater autonomy. Local elections are not secondary elections. Their outcomes affect our neighborhoods, families, and future. Every eligible Washingtonian should understand the candidates, consider the issues, and make an informed decision. The students marching to the polls offer a powerful example of civic resolve. They remind us that democracy requires participation, not merely admiration for those who fought to establish it. On Nov. 3, let us honor Evers and the countless Americans who sacrificed for our voting rights. Let us also honor today's students, who refuse to be discouraged by obstacles. Above all, let us honor their legacy by casting our ballots. The price of the ballot was high. At the very least, we can use it. WI

Every Vote Counts to ‘Move This Nation Forward’ Early voting began in the District on Monday, Oct. 26, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 1, and, unless you’re doing sameday voter registration, you don’t need to bring any specific form of ID (proof of residency) to vote in person. Meanwhile, in both Maryland and Virginia, early voting numbers have already reached or surpassed one-day records as voters showed they recognize how important it is to vote. However, what may just tip the scales in the midterms are nonpartisan efforts like the inaugural National Black Man Voter Day – a nationwide Week of Action – which culminated on Saturday, Oct. 24. According to NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, the goal was to mobilize 100,000 Black men to exercise their constitutional right before Election Day, using the various options available in their respective states or dis-

tricts. And while final numbers have yet to be reported, officials remain encouraged. “This midterm election is a critical turning point for our community and our democracy," Johnson said. “For many generations, Black men have fought to secure access to the ballot. Today, we wield our collective power and make our voices heard from the bottom of the ballot to the top. [This is] about more than an election – this is about protecting our future and refusing to ever be silenced.” NUL President and CEO Marc H. Morial said, Black men voting is not simply about casting ballots. “We are claiming our power to shape the future of our families, our communities and our nation,” he said. “National Black Man Voter Day was about turning that power into action.” Ray B. Shackelford, the Urban League’s vice president of equitable justice, said he and his colleagues remain excited because of the re-

sponse to the Black Man Voter Day initiative. “Men, especially men under 50, backed Trump by a wider margin in 2024, as he narrowly won men under age 50 – a shift from 2020 when men in that age group favored Biden by 10 points,” said Shackelford, who emphasized the following caveat. “In the overall electorate and among key demographic groups, Republican-leaning eligible voters simply were more likely to turn out than Democratic-leaning eligible voters in 2024.” Still, President Trump remains intent on using the Justice Department to disrupt the midterm vote-counting process by forcing election officials in California to set aside the votes of suspected noncitizens who have been issued mail ballots. As the president continues to make baseless claims of massive voter fraud, the Justice Department has also interjected itself in Alaska and in Kansas.

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TO THE EDITOR “Such a beautiful and relatable read! As my cousin Kiana shared, sometimes we don’t realize how much we’re carrying because it has become our normal. I’m so grateful for family, community, little getaways, group chats, laughter, and even the simplest memes that brighten our days. Having a safe space to laugh, cry, and simply be ourselves is truly a blessing.” - Tomah Wellington (In reference to the article: “Under Pressure: The Mental Health Challenges Facing Black Communities.”)

“I vividly remember Dr Rolark’s passion while I studied journalism at Howard University some 50 years ago. And I am proud that my classmate, his daughter, kept that flame alive!” -Rev. Marlow L. Mitchell (In reference to the article: “Washington Informer Celebrates 62 Years of Community Coverage with Photo Exhibition, Reception.”)

But former President Barack Obama set the record straight while recently campaigning for the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed and commenting on the divisive comments and tactics used by the current president. “We’ve seen this movie before,” Obama said. “I starred in it.”

With such attempts, it’s important to follow the footsteps of such initiatives like Black Man Voter Day, and get family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances to the polls en masse. “Our voices matter, our votes matter,” Morial said, “and when we move together, we can move this nation forward.” WI

OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Anthony Tilghman

Yes, We Can Afford the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Our Children Are Worth It.

A child's education is not a luxury we fund when convenient. It is a moral obligation and one of the smartest investments Maryland can make. As the father of a daughter with autism and as a former educator, I take that obligation personally. When politicians debate education funding, I think about families working every day to ensure their children receive the

support they deserve. Education is nonnegotiable. Funding it should be, too. Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future represents a commitment to improving public education. But passing legislation and allocating money mean little if families cannot see the results in their children's classrooms. The Blueprint is already being implemented, including expanded community schools and additional resources for students who need them most. That progress matters, but I will

say what many parents are thinking: It is not good enough. Not while children with disabilities continue facing barriers to receiving the services they need. Not while parents struggle to get answers about their children's progress. And certainly not while schools lack the staffing and resources necessary to deliver on their promises. The Blueprint specifically calls for increased special education funding and additional student support. Those commitments must translate into action.

Guest Columnist

I often refer to the economic conditions we see in our Black community is Black-a-nomics. But that description is truly rooted in Feel-a-nomics: the economy that you can feel. Feel-a-Nomics gets past the philosophical abstractions you hear about so much on the news that politicians use to paint a rosier picture than the reality you're facing. Feel-a-Nomics

come barriers, including tutoring, counseling, food assistance and health care. In northern Prince George's County, Sonia Sotomayor Middle School in Adelphi provides an example. Its community school program connects families with mentoring, academic support, food assistance referrals and workforce development opportunities. The school also has a health center through a partnership between Prince George's County Public Schools and

our food, but to send it to us too. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level since 2014. The median household income in America is $87,460 but it takes a median income of $150,000 to buy a home. Affordable housing is sitting vacant because folks still can't afford it particularly with the dramatic cuts to SNAP and Medicaid we saw in Trump's "Big Ugly Bill." The MAGA healthcare cuts are piling on new premiums and high deductibles. High inflation, particularly at the gas pump and the grocery store, is cutting our legs from under us. The

value of our dollar is shrinking at every turn and it doesn't matter anymore if you want to get a second or third job because, according to another pisspoor jobs report, the work just isn't out there. According to the Federal Reserve, the net worth of Black households is down 25%. That's our home. That's our community. Those are our families! That's Feel-a-Nomics and, here in the Black community, it hurts. So let's turn that pain into progress.

gy, becomes the true common denominator behind every candidate-voter relationship. The operative questions are relational: Can the voter trust what the candidate says? Can they trust the candidate will govern in their best interest after the election? Because trust can be manipulated, some candidates still receive unwavering support even when the answer to these questions is a resounding "no." I personally believe people are turned off by politics more from the weaponization of mistrust than from a general lack of understanding of the issues and candidates.

In 2018, CBS "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl revealed a candid remark then-presidential candidate Donald Trump made to her in 2016. Stahl told a group of fellow journalists at the Deadline Club Awards Dinner in New York City that Trump had admitted his consistent attacks on the media were meant to "discredit" journalists so that negative stories about him would not be believed. His use of the term "fake news" became part of a strategy to sow seeds of doubt so reputable jour-

TILGHMAN Page 45

Antjuan Seawright

For Us, It's Feel-a-Nomics doesn't care about corporate profits or dividend projections because those earnings don't trickle down to your wallet. It doesn't pay any attention to inflated job numbers when we know that it takes at least two of those jobs to earn a living wage. Feel-a-Nomics is the economy that affects every day of your life. Foreclosure rates are skyrocketing up 21% for the first half of 2026 and car repossessions were up 43% as of January. That's Feel-a-Nomics because it's your home on the chopping block and that's the car you need to get to

An individualized education program, or IEP, means little without qualified staff to implement it. A communication device cannot help a child if educators lack proper training. Specialized instruction requires time, preparation and consistency. We cannot celebrate progress while overlooking the children still being left behind. Community schools offer an opportunity to address some of these challenges. These schools connect education with services that help families over-

and from your job. Credit card debt is surging as more than half of Americans are forced to rely on credit cards to pay for basic needs like groceries, rent and utilities. Student debt has jumped since the Trump administration reversed course on Biden repayment and forgiveness plans. This unconstitutional war has brought us record high diesel prices and fertilizer costs along with 16 unnecessary American deaths with a Feel-a-Nomics impact of higher prices at the pump and the grocery store as it costs our farmers more not just to grow

Guest Columnist

SEAWRIGHT Page 45

David W. Marshall

The Lies Will Catch Up With You

A big part of a citizen's disengagement from politics isn't accidental — it is a failure to understand the issues, compounded by the deliberate weaponization of mistrust. In other words, a structural crisis. Many of the challenges facing voters often come down to a lack of information. While passive voters may lack the time and discipline to research candidates, voting records or

local ballot issues, they default to name recognition and party affiliation. Most passive voters do not attend candidate forums and instead rely on slate voting, which lets them support an entire team with one selection. This "blind voting" is driven by tribal loyalty and convenience rather than informed judgment. They vote but remain uninformed. As uninformed voters, there is no mischievous agenda behind their voting. They simply are unaware of many facts and issues. In cases where a candidate's red flags are visible and documented, the moral

26 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

weight shifts from the candidate to the voter. A candidate with multiple known red flags who still receives loyal support implicates the voter as a knowledgeable participant — not merely a passive, uninformed one. It highlights that the voter's character is as important as the candidate's. They cannot be considered blind voters when they are willing to trust a questionable candidate even when facts and evidence show that trust is unwarranted. Trust is a firm belief or confidence in a person's honesty, reliability or truthfulness. Trust, not policy or political ideolo-

MARSHALL Page 45

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Shawna Watley

Our Children Need Us: A Call for Education on Today's Tobacco Dangers

God has called me to be a voice for our children. I am a woman of faith, a longtime policy advocate and the mother of a 16-year-old — my most important role. Until recently, I did not know much about e-cigarettes or vape pens. Conversations with my daughter opened my eyes to the dangers and a frightening reality: I might not have recognized a vape even if one

was sitting in front of me. I am not alone. Many parents and educators are in the same position. Smoking came with obvious warning signs: a lit cigarette, the shrill alarm of a smoke detector, that unmistakable smell. Today, those warning signs are harder to spot — and often, they barely exist at all. We have even found young people vaping in a church bathroom during a service. An adult could have walked right past them and never known. While we have made significant progress, about two million U.S.

Guest Columnist

middle and high school students still use tobacco products, with e-cigarettes being the most prevalent. That is not by accident. Many parents do not fully understand what these products are, what is in them or just how dangerous they can be. And that is not because parents do not care — it is because these products have evolved faster than information about their harm is available to most families. That is why education must be our priority. Today's tobacco products look nothing like those of the past. They

are sold in sweet flavors, designed to look harmless, and made easy to conceal. Some of the latest e-cigarettes can contain nicotine comparable to the amount found in hundreds of cigarettes, depending on the product and how it is used. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain, affecting attention, learning and memory. Research also suggests that nicotine exposure during adolescence may increase vulnerability to addiction. Parents and students need to understand these facts.

Recent regulatory decisions, including the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authorization of multiple flavored e-cigarettes, show why we cannot wait on government alone. Let me be clear: an FDA marketing authorization applies to specific products. It does NOT mean these products are safe, or that young people should use them. Policy matters, but the most immediate protection for our children comes from informed parents, engaged educators

WATLEY Page 46

Ben Jealous

Could Trump's Execution Push Help End the Death Penalty?

What if President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's push for more executions ends up helping America abolish the death penalty? After this wild October, the question is not so far-fetched. Hegseth wanted Americans to watch the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, convicted of murdering

13 people at Fort Hood. But some of the sharpest objections came from conservatives. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called streaming the execution "beyond disgusting," adding: "Public executions are what oppressive dictatorships like Iran and Afghanistan do." Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis warned, "A civilization erodes when it cultivates an appetite for executions as a form of entertainment." A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found 80% of Americans opposed the broadcast, including 64% of

Guest Columnist

Republicans. Trump canceled the livestream on Oct. 15. The execution itself remains scheduled. That distinction matters. Opposing a spectacle is not the same as opposing capital punishment. But look at what else happened this year. On Oct. 20, Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted Toforest Johnson's death sentence to life without parole. Johnson was convicted of murdering a sheriff's deputy. His conviction stands, but the local district attorney, former judges and others had ques-

tioned the evidence. "I had concerns there was not enough direct evidence to carry out the most serious punishment, death," Ivey explained. She did not declare him innocent. She recognized that execution leaves no opportunity to correct a mistake. Then there is Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. As a state senator in 1981, he voted to restore Ohio's death penalty. After decades as a prosecutor, attorney general, U.S. senator and governor, he called for its abolition in June. "The moral justification I had,"

DeWine said, "no longer exists." He concluded that the death penalty does not deter murder and described the toll that decades of appeals exact on victims' families. Ohio has not executed anyone since 2018. Bipartisan repeal legislation is pending, although legislative oppo Those are not identical positions. They do, however, raise questions conservatives have particular reasons to ask: How can we distrust government with ordinary powers yet trust it never

JEALOUS Page 46

Marc H. Morial

North Carolina A&T Is a Reminder That the Kids Are Going to Be Alright

"Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society." — John Lewis Racism in America is a virus that eats at our moral foundation and breaks down our institutions from the inside out — including our political system. Nearly two years into this new ad-

ministration, Black Americans have been targeted by an executive order that stripped hundreds of thousands of hard-working public servants of their jobs and created hostile work environments for all of us. We've been denied promotions in the military, had our positions of power threatened by the president himself, and had the voting rights many of us died for in the 1960s gutted by federal courts packed with loyalists. But like any other virus that tries to overtake us, we build our defenses and fight back.

At the top of this year, in a continuation of their efforts to suppress voters, right-wing extremists in North Carolina voted to deny North Carolina A&T (NCAT) students access to an on-campus polling station where they could cast their votes in the midterm election. Despite allowing one in the 2024 presidential election, the election board decided to keep playing with the voting rights of an entire population of HBCU students, even as their peers at UNC-Chapel Hill had access to a polling station just a two-minute walk away.

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In the spirit of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was founded at Shaw University in North Carolina in 1960, students took to the streets this week in a visible show of resistance, marching to the polls to vote. Seeing thousands of students walk 45 minutes each way in the heat to make their voices heard reminds us what's possible when our youth work together. This was more than an act of defiance against the labels the media has given Gen Z and Gen Alpha, calling them lazy, entitled and academically

left behind. It highlighted for the world what this generation is capable of. The fight to keep us from the ballot box in the 1950s and 1960s was largely institutional and physical. Poll taxes and literacy tests were designed to create barriers by sowing confusion and anxiety. And for those who managed to travel to polling locations across the South, they faced extreme violence from authorities and the Ku Klux Klan. Today's young people navigate a

MORIAL Page 46

OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 27

LIFESTYLE Washington Informer Weekend Checklist WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV! By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor Happy Halloweekend! The month closes out with a taste of music, culture and District history, from Washington Ballet’s Go-Go 50 to a party cruise and African American quilt documentation. Plus, love is in the air! Get a whiff of the vibes with R&B icon Charlie Wilson and join a communal discussion on “Black Love in All Its Forms.” Your weekend starts here –– with the Washington Informer Calendar.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Defining Love Community Salon: Black Love in All Its Forms 6:30 p.m. | Free Busboys and Poets- Anacostia, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., 20020 What does Black love look like

beyond romance? Join D.C. filmmaker Zoë Poindexter for “Black Love in All Its Forms,” a free community gathering featuring a proof-of-concept screening of her documentary “Defining Love: Voices of Black D.C.,” inspired by Black Love Day, which was founded in the District in 1993. The evening brings together Black Love Day founder and author Mama Ayo Handy-Kendi and D.C.-based romance novelist and cultural anthropologist Nikki Payne for readings and a conversation exploring how Black love shapes relationships, identities, and communities. Afro-Cuban All Stars 8 p.m. | $28.00+ The Music Center, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852 Afro-Cuban All Stars is a multigenerational orchestra devoted to

5 In a double-entendre celebration, The Washington Ballet is kicking off its 50th season with a nod to the sound of the city: go-go music, which also celebrates 50 years in 2026. (WI File Photo)

promoting the full range of Cuban music, bringing together musicians across styles and eras. Led by bandleader Juan de Marcos González—also a central figure in the Buena Vista Social Club project—the ensemble reflects a long-standing, tradition-rooted approach while embracing contemporary Cuban sounds. Their program moves across son, bolero, and rhythm-driven dance styles, drawing on the musical traditions of Cuba’s mid-20th-century golden age. More than a fixed ensemble, Afro-Cuban All Stars operates as a shifting orchestra, adapting its sound to reflect different periods and styles, grounded in González’s concept of building on musical

roots while creating space for the future.

Friday, Oct. 30

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story of Odessa Madre 6 p.m. | $23.18 Busboys and Poets- 14th & V, 2021 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20009 “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story of Odessa Madre” invites audiences to explore the stories they tell, the histories they risk losing, and the power of being remembered. Presented by ARound Robin Production Company and Democracy Does, this special evening brings together film, history, journalism, and community dialogue to shine a light on the story of Odessa Madre and its place in Washington, D.C.’s history. The evening will feature a screening of the 22-minute documentary “Odessa's Reign,” followed by a community conversation with local historians, journalists, and cultural preservationists. Guests will have an opportunity to engage in an audience Q&A. Charlie Wilson 8 p.m. | $113.90+ The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Avenue, Forest Heights, MD 20745 The rescheduled Mother’s Day extravaganza is finally here, and tickets are still available to purchase!

28 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

Treat a special lady to an unforgettable evening with R&B icon Charlie Wilson, live on stage. Known for his smooth vocals, timeless hits, and electrifying performances, “Uncle Charlie” will bring the house down with favorites like “Outstanding,” “There Goes My Baby,” and “You Are.” Whether swaying in the seat, dancing to the beat or singing along to every lyric, this is the perfect evening of love, music, and celebration. Join Wilson in honoring mothers with soulful melodies and good vibes.

Saturday, Oct. 31

Go-Go 50 2 p.m. | $186.03 Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20004 Fifty years of movement. One unforgettable night. Celebrate the opening of The Washington Ballet’s 50th season with a powerhouse program at the Warner Theatre. Choreographer Chanel DaSilva and D.C.’s own Black Alley unite in “An Artist’s Prayer” for an electrifying collaboration that bridges the dynamic language of classical ballet with the enduring legacy of Go-Go. Then find your center with Edwaard Liang’s “The Art of War,” and feel the soul of the blues with Trey McIntyre’s “Blue Until June.” Rooted in the culture and sound

TO DO Page 30

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BAI - Washington Informer_Artigo5_Sibos_Miami.pdf

22/10/26

12:04

Angola Comes to Miami: BAI and the Plumbing of the Atlantic Bridge By Banco Angolano de Investimentos S.A. (BAI, PLC)

[ FOTO A INSERIR ]

BAI: Your Bridge from Miami to Luanda

Miami Beach Convention Center — semana da Sibos 2026 3,94 in × 2,62 in · 300 dpi · ≈ 1182 × 786 px · horizontal Imagem a licenciar (Miami Beach Convention Center / Swift / banco de imagens)

What BAI Went to Miami to Do

CMY

Rebuilding the Dollar Connection The Unglamorous Half of a Partnership

Why This Matters to an American Reader

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LIFESTYLE

TO DO from Page 28 of the city, this new work honors the District’s rich artistic heritage in an immersive performance that can only be seen with The Washington Ballet. DC Halloween Party Cruise 9 p.m.| $61.31 Spirit of Washington DC by Hornblower, 580 Water Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20024 From the creators of Pier Pressure, prepare for the ultimate Halloween party cruise aboard the Spirit of DC, which will transform into a haunting Titanic packed with 400+ ghosts “raised from the dead.” Featuring two of D.C.’s hottest DJs live on two decks, rock the boat with club mixes and spooky vibes never before seen.

Sunday, Nov. 1

HOST & MC

African American Quilt Documentation Day in DC 10 a.m. | Free registration required National Museum of Women in the

NOV. 17-22, 2026

Support The Washington Informer as we Celebrate 62 Years.

Arts - Great Hall, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20005 The African American Quilt Documentation Study Group (AAQDSG) will host a free quilt documentation event in Washington, D.C., inviting the African American community to bring family quilts to be documented, preserved and honored as part of the diaspora’s shared history. The process reaches beyond individual families; documented quilts become part of the historical record that scholars, museums, and researchers rely on to understand African American creativity, survival, faith, and community. Without this work, those stories remain untold, and the historical record remains misrepresented and incomplete. Black Washingtonians are encouraged to bring their family quilts, in whatever condition (the older, the better), to the Nov. 1 event to have them photographed, documented, and to share the stories behind them. WI

Donate online today at wicharities.org Purchase an ad to support our education programs. Email rburke@washingtoninformer.com

30 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

5 Local filmmakers and authors are gathering in Anacostia on Oct. 29 to examine how Black love shapes relationships, identities, and communities in D.C. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

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UDC didn’t just give me opportunities; it helped me believe I was worthy of them.

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LIFESTYLE

Director Psalmayene 24 Switches the Script from Vienna to the Jim Crow South in Folger Theatre’s ‘Measure for Measure’ By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer

HOST Jacquie Gales Webb CEO, Gales Webb Productions & WHUR 96.3 Host

Join FAME for ’Tis the Season, our annual intergenerational HOLIDAY CONCERT CELEBRATING MUSIC, COMMUNITY, and the SPIRIT OF THE SEASON through an exciting blend of musical genres. The Thomas A. Wright Memorial Scholarship will be presented. FEATURING The FAME Jazz Band Langston Hughes II, Artistic Director The FAME Jazz Ensemble

GET TICKETS HERE! SPECIAL GUEST The Mark Copeland Band featuring Vocalists Tolieth Rattigan, & Samantha Jordan and Much More

Sexuality, desire, and the limits of morality take center stage in Folger Theatre’s season opening production of William Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” running now through Nov. 1 at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Directed by Helen Hayes Award-winning director Psalmayene 24 (Psalm), and featuring Renea S. Brown in the role of Isabella— a novice nun who serves as the moral center of the play— the production explores the tensions within society between unyielding purity and human mercy. Last performed at the Folger in 2006, this reenvisioned production shifts the venue from 16th century Vienna to the American South in the 1950s, employing cultural and historical cues from the period. “After several initial readings of

the play and considering its many themes, I realized that America’s Jim Crow South was a good match and that this play confirmed the malleability of Shakespeare’s work,” Psalm told The Informer. “For our purposes, it also provides an opportunity for audiences to reexamine and reflect upon that dark period in our nation’s history.” Brown said she was immediately impressed with the changes the director has made to the play and to her character, whose journey to womanhood is significantly enhanced from the original version. “Psalm and I have worked together before and so we have a kind of shorthand form of communicating which we’ve made the best of in bringing this production to the stage,” Brown said. “As an actor, he’s allowed me to be bold as my character deals with the uncomfortable truths and violence that African American women

FOLGER Page 33

Sunday, December 20, 2026 at 3pm Newton White Mansion 2708 Enterprise Road • Mitchellville, MD 20721

FAMEmusic.org • 301-805-5358 • info@famemusic.org

5 JaBen Early as Claudio (seated) and Renea S. Brown, playing Isabella, shares a poignant moment in Folger Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s“Measure for Measure.” Directed by Psalmayene 24, the play continues onstage at the Folger Shakespeare Library through Nov. 1. (Courtesy Photo/Erika Nizborski)

32 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

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NORTON from Page 8

he once got to witness up-close as a member of her Hill staff. “What I found out in the five years that I got to work with Congresswoman Norton is how passionate she is about the city, how selfless she has always been about our city, and that she is going to put every single thing on the line every day to get there,” he said. “Eleanor Holmes Norton has blazed more trails than most of us will ever even walk.” Hoping to soon walk in Norton’s footsteps, the council member looked toward the future, particularly with the Nov. 3 midterm elections a bit more than a week away. “I believe that the greatest tribute to a great leader is to build on the legacy that they did. So as we look to the election day… I think there's going to be a sweep across the nation. And it is so important that we know that it is not just because of the evilness we're seeing on one side of the aisle,” White told the 250 luncheon guests. “It is because of the sustained work of people like Eleanor Holmes Norton and Steny Hoyer that have built the platform that people are now believing in.”

Preparing the Next Generation of Scholars, Changemakers

As attendees enjoyed the threecourse luncheon, sounds of the Davey Yarborough Ensemble featuring Esther Williams, and a tribute performance from Joe Coleman of The Platters, they also contributed to a greater cause: raising funds for not just female aspiring attorneys, but bud-

ding changemakers. “We are building the next generation of ‘Warriors on the Hill,’ women who will pursue careers that will exemplify the Congresswoman’s activism and service,” said EHNLF President Hazel Bland Thomas in a statement. Throughout the event, speakers celebrated the work of the fund— started in 2018— through spotlighting contributions and people who have benefited from the scholarship and gone on to do great work, such as Kadian Townsend. “I think it's important to see the manifestation of your contributions and your investment,” Townsend, a former EHNLF scholarship recipient, who graduated from UDC David A. Clarke School of Law in 2022. “It's not just writing a check. You're actually impacting lives.” The Jamaican-born attorney and daughter of a single mother received the EHNLF scholarship during her second year in law school, during what she said was a critical time for her family. “My mom had to retire to take care of my late grandmother who passed away from cancer. And receiving that a scholarship was a tremendous help to me. So I just personally want to say, congresswoman, thank you so much for selecting me for your scholarship. It was an immense help,” she told Norton. “Your investment in me, the organization and the donors, it did not go in vain.” Five years later, she is managing attorney at Townsend Law Firm, and was recently named one of the “Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2026 and 2027)” as well as Washington Bar Association’s Power 100

5 Rep. Steny Hoyer, who is retiring at the end of his term in January 2027, honors Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, as event host Leslie Foster, of WUSA 9, takes in the moment. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

Young Lawyers. Considering Norton’s work and influence, Townsend, who was also celebrating her birthday on Oct. 25, offered a charge for this year’s EHNLF awardees and all the potential change agents present for the Sunday afternoon affair. “I just want to say to the younger generation of lawyers and politicians and changemakers, you know, we have an exceptional example and it is our duty to category, to carry it with audacity and courage and vigor and excitement for what the future holds,” she said. In a video statement, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) celebrated the work of the legacy fund, which hopes to continue work in Norton’s honor even after she wraps her time on the Hill on Jan. 3. “She’s fought for justice, civil rights, and the people of D.C.,” Moore said in a recorded statement. “She broke barriers so others could actually walk through them. And her legacy fund turns that walk into a run.”

Looking Toward the Future

While the delegate did not speak during the event, attendees got to take in highlights from Norton's nearly 35year career in the House in a tribute video that spotlighted powerful moments of her speaking on the House floor, advocating for statehood, and fighting for District residents.

FOLGER from Page 32 repeatedly faced throughout the Jim Crow period.” Chinai Routté, who was named a member of the resident company of artists at Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre in 2025, portrays two characters: Mistress Overdone, a madam whose business is targeted under newly enforced laws; and Francisca, a seasoned nun who mentors Isabella as she begins her training as a novitiate. “This is my first time working with Psalm and it’s been a pleasure to be in his space and see how he pulls artists together and lifts the play off the paper,” Routté said. “As the owner of the brother, I become a servant for the people – a spokesperson if you will. “My role is enhanced beyond the original text and I do something that has become more relevant and necessary in today’s culture – serving as a

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LIFESTYLE

5 District of Columbia Councilmember Robert White, the Democratic candidate for D.C. delegate, pays tribute to his former boss Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who he hopes to succeed in the House of Representatives in January. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

“The District of Columbia has spent 206 years yielding to people who would deny them the vote, I yield you no ground,” Norton declared in a 2007 excerpt included in the video. Although D.C. residents are preparing for new leadership, the event also highlighted ways to build on Norton’s legacy, particularly her commitment to achieving D.C. statehood. “We must continue the fight until statehood is secured,” Pelosi said. With work happening across the

Democratic Party to take control of Congress as a result of the upcoming midterms, White is optimistic about the possibility of the District becoming the 51st state. “I believe that because of the redistricting battles that these folks have kicked off, they have created a national opening for people across the nation to finally understand that D.C. statehood isn't just important to us. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

sexual health advocate for the women who work in the sexual industry. If Miss Overdone were alive today, she could easily star on a reality show like the ‘Housewives of Atlanta.’” The director said he’s been both pleased and surprised by how audiences have embraced and responded to the production. “People are seeing things that I didn’t intend to include – some even moving the conversation to levels and themes that have caused me to further reflect on the brilliance of Shakespeare and admire how his work still remains relevant centuries later,” Psalm said. “From the start, I wanted this production to foster conversations about the strength of Black women who were forced to endure sexual violence and abuse during the Jim Crow era – forced to endure it in silence out of fear. Beyond examining the past, the director hopes the show offers messages

to carry as audiences navigate current societal challenges. “Power, often used indiscriminately and without regard to its impact on marginalized people, was something that Shakespeare wanted us to confront,” he continued. “Centuries later, it’s still a pervasive problem within the global society.” For Brown, stepping into the role of Isabella is deeply emotional work. “Before entering from the wings, I ask my ancestors to use me as a vessel as I shout what they were never allowed to say,” Brown told The Informer. “Then I remind myself that if they could endure 400 years of slavery and Jim Crow, I can too.” WI Tickets for Folger Theatre’s production of ”Measure for Measure,” which runs through Nov. 1, are available online at folger.edu/MFM or by calling the Folger Box Office at (202) 544-7077.

OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 33

34 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

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wi book review "The Tiki Factor: 4 Key Principles to Turn Your Losses Into Wins" By Tiki Davis, foreword by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon c.2026, Amistad $28.99 / 320 pages Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Pull yourself up by the bootstraps. That's often the advice given to someone who's down and out and left with nothing. Get ahold of yourself, find your spine, and just do it. Take that first step, be brave, don't accept "no" for an answer. There's all kinds of advice for getting ahead but advice ignores one important thing: as in the new book "The Tiki Factor" by Tiki Davis, you can't pull yourself up by the bootstraps unless you have boots first. His life, he says, was never anything "normal." Neither of Tiki Davis' parents completed high school; he wasn't even sure who his father was until he was older. For much of Davis' early childhood, he was shuttled between Artesia, New Mexico and Odessa, Texas, between his mother and his grandmothers. He was almost killed by his mother's customer at age 9; he wore his older brother's raggedy hand-me-downs until he was 11 years old. That was when Davis landed a job so he could pay for his own food and clothing. Even then, he resorted to theft when he needed something he couldn't buy. Adults pushed him toward sports to channel his aggression and energy, and football became Davis' passion. He set his sights on playing for a specific local high school team, but doing so meant leaving The Flats behind and entering a boys' home, where he found safety in what was left of his childhood. He became a leader, and he dared to dream of college. But his track to success fell apart when he was accused, arrested, and imprisoned for a crime he could prove he didn't commit. He missed his high school graduation, and job prospects were bleak but he was good at spotting opportunity. Still, "It seemed every time I took two steps forward," he says, "I was knocked back five or ten." At the risk of being a spoiler, "The Tiki Factor" is not without an happy ending. You'll find goodness in this story, actually pretty quickly. What you won't find — at least not overtly — are the promised "4 Key Principles." Those are inside this book somewhere, subtly, probably. Maybe. The good news is, you won't mind if you miss them while you're enjoying this biography, because author Tiki Davis is brutally honest about his early life. And yet, despite every slight and disadvantage, through every denial and hardship, and because of mentors and angels that came when he needed them most, he succeeded, which is a riveting tale. Davis is a businessman now, an entrepreneur, and a philanthropist and, after chapters and chapters of heart-in-your-throat reading, just knowing that might come as a whoosh of relief to most readers. Perhaps that's where the "Principles" are: in the overall book, hidden in tales of poverty, crime, abandonment, perseverance, inspiration, and leadership. Readers will want to possess a willingness to wait, though, to read between the lines, or at least not fret so much about these cloaked "Principles." Do that, find "The Tiki Factor," and strap in. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE OCT.29 - NOV. 4, 2026

ARIES A conversation may bring an old ambition back into focus, but you don't have to pursue it exactly as you once imagined. Think about what attracted you to the goal in the first place and whether that reason still holds. A useful opportunity could emerge through someone whose approach differs from yours. Listen before deciding you have nothing in common. Lucky Numbers: 3, 22, 64 TAURUS Your patience may be tested by a process that seems to move at someone else's pace. Instead of checking for updates every few minutes, use the waiting period to handle something within your control. A household purchase or shared expense deserves a practical conversation before anyone reaches for a solution. You don't need to agree on every preference to make a sound decision together. A comforting routine will help you reset. Lucky Numbers: 14, 36, 57 GEMINI You may have more to say than a conversation can comfortably hold. Choose the point you most want understood and let the discussion develop from there. A quick remark could be interpreted differently than you intended, so clarify rather than assuming the other person knows your humor. This is also a good week to sort through notes, links, or unfinished ideas you've collected. Lucky Numbers: 5, 31, 68 CANCER A familiar responsibility could feel heavier because you've been carrying it without asking for help. Consider which parts truly require your attention and which could be shared, postponed, or handled another way. Someone close may offer assistance, but they might need you to explain what would be useful. Be specific instead of hoping they'll guess. Lucky Numbers: 10, 27, 53 LEO You may be tempted to defend a decision simply because you've already announced it. Give yourself permission to revise your thinking when new information arrives. People are more likely to respect your judgment when they see you can distinguish confidence from stubbornness. A social plan could also put you in touch with someone whose experience broadens your outlook. Ask questions and let them talk. You might leave with a better idea than the one you brought. Lucky Numbers: 16, 42, 70 VIRGO An overlooked detail could save you trouble if you catch it now, so take a second pass through the practical matters on your list. Still, don't let checking become an excuse to delay a decision you already have enough information to make. A small change to your workspace, schedule, or morning routine may make the next few weeks easier. Choose a fix you can maintain, not an elaborate system that demands constant attention. Lucky Numbers: 2, 34, 61 LIBRA You might be ready to say yes to something simply because everyone else seems enthusiastic. Pause long enough to decide whether the plan suits your interests and energy, too. Honest limits can protect a friendship from the resentment that grows when you agree reluctantly. Meanwhile, an unexpected compliment or kind gesture could remind you that people notice more than they say. Lucky Numbers: 19, 40, 55 SCORPIO A question you've been turning over privately may become easier to answer when you explain it to someone impartial. Choose a listener who can be honest without trying to take control of the outcome. At work or in a group, keep track of what has actually been agreed upon; vague expectations can lead to avoidable friction. Your instincts still matter, but pair them with evidence before making a consequential move. Lucky Numbers: 7, 29, 66 SAGITTARIUS A change of scenery could help you recover your curiosity. You don't need an elaborate trip; explore a neighborhood you've overlooked, try a new route, or spend an hour somewhere that invites you to notice your surroundings. Before making a larger commitment, check the practical details and leave yourself a little flexibility. Someone may challenge an opinion you hold strongly. Lucky Numbers: 12, 38, 59 CAPRICORN Your calendar may be crowded with tasks that all claim to be urgent. Take a moment to distinguish what genuinely needs attention now from what can wait without serious consequences. A colleague or relative could have a different idea of what matters most, so explain your priorities rather than expecting them to be obvious. Lucky Numbers: 4, 25, 71 AQUARIUS An unusual suggestion may prompt you to reconsider a routine you've followed without much thought. Try the alternative on a small scale before deciding whether it deserves a permanent place in your life. In a personal conversation, resist the urge to jump straight to solutions; the other person may need to feel heard first. Lucky Numbers: 8, 33, 62 PISCES You may notice that a certain commitment leaves you feeling depleted more often than fulfilled. Rather than making a sweeping change overnight, look for one boundary or adjustment that would make it more sustainable. A creative project could benefit from a playful approach, especially if you've been judging every attempt too early. Let yourself experiment without demanding a polished result. Lucky Numbers: 11, 30, 56

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 35

SPORTS Black, Gold and Bulldog Pride The oldest HBCU in Maryland, Bowie State University celebrated more than 90 years of Homecoming traditions. The campus was electric as alumni, staff, and students gathered for cookouts, football and mini reunions. The Bulldogs football team sent fans home excited after defeating Johnson C. Smith University 16-13. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

5 Bowie State’s football team

5 Bowie State President Aminta Breaux and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

5 Bowie State takes the field. (Courtesy Photo/Stacie Burgess, Bowie State)

6 Players from Johnson C. Smith’s football team

5 Syeir Mays, Miss 1865

36 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

5 Ryan Lynch, Mister Bowie State 2026-2027

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CAPTURE the moment

People from across the District flocked to O Street NW for the Dunbar High School Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 24. Held under the theme “A Legacy in Motion,” the celebration centered around history, pride and community connections associated with the Northwest D.C. high school. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 Howard University's Marching Band, "Show Time." 3 The Dunbar King's Court. 6 Dunbar alumni.

5 The Friendship Armstrong Elementary School Wolfpack cheer team. 4 Khalil Veney (Mister Dunbar) and Samierah Woods (Miss Dunbar).

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 37

RELIGION VOTE from Page 1 be much more serious. Our genius, our excellence, must show up now to do everything we can to literally fight for our lives.” While organizers focus on increasing voter turnout, fusing culture and strategy seems to be an asset for the faith leaders aiming to amplify youth voices and foster renewed hope. Recent data from the Black Opps Coalition show that crucial rollbacks on civic protections, including the Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act in April, have made for an activated, albeit hopeless Gen Z–– which evidently makes up 50 million of eligible voters in 2026, according to the Feminist Majority Foundation. Coupled with legislative controversies like housing and energy bills, Yearwood said the call-to-democracy is just as pertinent as the ones “our parents” fought, and so is the task to

center cultural influence in pursuit of “a roadmap to freedom.” “Our schools, our hospitals, our barber shops…even our funeral homes––we've been able to do all that through our culture. When we didn't have food, we made food happen. When we weren't allowed to have fun…we made Black joy happen,” the CEO reminded. “We've always used our culture for freedom, and so I think we must use it now, particularly in some cases, to do things in code.” That code can look like anything from launching the largest and longest-running hip-hop voter campaign in history to local pastors uplifting communities via principles of faith. With Election Day less than a week out, the best path to reach those often sidelined at the polls is by letting “the culture” do the talking, starting with empowering those that define it. “We're definitely, without a doubt, still fighting for equality now, but

5 The Rev. Nathaniel “Nate” Douglas, pastor of Seven Mountain Ministries in Laurel, Maryland, continues to leverage performing and cultural arts to empower communities in faith and civic engagement. (Courtesy Photo/Maurice Fitzgerald)

we're also fighting for existence in the 21st Century,” Yearwood said, before emphasizing the importance of engaging in local and general elections. “We can vote for the governors that are pushing [policy]; we can still vote for the numerous members of Congress in office. That's why this generation and [their] voice is so important. Not only is America watching, but the whole world is.”

Campaigns, Culture and the Formula to Freedom

Four months before the U.S. would elect its first Black president, the HipHop Caucus established a foundation to ensure voter participation became synonymous with African American culture. With the launch of the nonpartisan Respect My Vote campaign in 2008, Yearwood laid the groundwork for generations to leverage hip-hop as a mouthpiece for civic participation, all the while reclaiming what it means to “meet voters where they are.” Eighteen years, and some critical rollbacks on civic protections later, the CEO emphasized that mobilizing for midterms is not a matter of fulfilling civic or ancestral duty, but a call to change the modern suppressive tactic that aims to “beat [voters] down.” “Those who don't feel like they're part of the American dream, who don't feel like they have a voice in this democracy…we're educating, we're mobilizing, we're energizing them

38 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

to get out,” Yearwood continued, “to know that their genius is needed, their wisdom is needed, and to make America better, honestly, they are needed.” In its 18th year, Respect My Vote is campaigning a four-pronged goal: reach 20 million people, mobilize 500,000 to the polls, make 4.5 million voter contacts, and generate 175,000 online voter registrations, voter pledges, and registration checks. While working in key states –– such as the Deep South, Michigan, Ohio, and several others –– the movement examines the power of culture, media, partnerships, and digital engagement to advance justice and community-driven solutions through voting. “My mom and dad looked at Harry Belafonte and Eartha Kitt and Dick Gregory. For me, I’ve worked with artists from T.I. to Keke Palmer within the early days of the campaign. This new generation…how do you use your influence?” Yearwood posed. He then highlighted the new-age culture of social media, where influencers from Howard University students to the most celebrated household names can engage thousands of followers across one platform to effect change. Native Washingtonian the Rev. Nathaniel “Nate” Douglas credited this tool as the focal point of today’s voting movement: political agitation and the “responsibility” of creators to use it to engage youth. “When you become a political agitator, you become more aware and

more conscious of everything that's happening around you, and that is what influences people to vote in the right direction,” said the senior pastor of Seven Mountain Ministries in Laurel, Maryland. “A lot of our artists don't even realize that they are political agitators––they have the power to provoke thought. And it's no better way to provoke thought than through song, through rhyme.” Douglas, a veteran of merging performing arts and ministry, cited cultural expression as not just a way to attract young minds, but also to evolve the landscape in which African Americans assume power–– and even a better understanding of God’s. Reflecting on what once stood as “testimony music,” in his words, the 46-year-old pointed to the origins of hip-hop as a prime example of creatives serving as powerful influences in social and political progress, from uniting African Americans with meaningful directives to reminding them of the strength in their roots. “Once [people] get that sense of identity, there are no limits at that point. They walk in these streets… with their head held high, knowing that every decision they make represents the people whose shoulders they're standing on, and it represents their future children,” he told The Informer. When he isn’t inspiring residents with music, free resources and the word of God, Douglas’ political agitation looks like working on behalf of the Black Men Agenda, a nonpartisan motion by Million Man Vote to address societal injustice against African American males. Further, he adds, in order to reach overlooked demographics and youth voters alike requires action that is as consistent as it is deliberate–– plus coming to terms with an unwavering truth: “people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” “It starts with the love of God, and it starts with being consistent and deliberate about giving that to people. And then you create a space where you can create that paradigm shift,” Douglas said. “The [churches] that are doing it right are the ones listening to their youth, empowering them, giving them true mentorship…If we stick to that formula, then we'll continue to see a lot more…as far as civic engagement, through music and…support from faith-based organizations.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

My Dream for America: The Dawn of Accountability and the Blue Wave of Justice Two hundred and thirty-nine years ago, the Framers of our Constitution laid the foundation for a nation built on the promise of liberty and justice for all. They envisioned a republic anchored in checks and balances, a sacred covenant ensuring that no single executive ruler could ever claim absolute authority over the children of God. Yet today, as this column reaches you, we must confront the tragic reality that our nation's founding promises are being severely tested. We have watched with heavy hearts as the executive branch repeatedly wandered into the wilderness of overreach. We saw the constitutional power of the purse, rightfully belonging to the representatives of the people, unilaterally bypassed to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars explicitly appropriated for our local schools and public safety. We witnessed an aggressive attempt to restrict the ballot itself through decrees imposing rigid passport requirements on voter registration and moving local polling places, alongside a direct assault on the 14th Amendment's sacred guarantee of birthright citizenship. In this wilderness, a small circle of billionaires and special interest groups seemed to lock arms with power, completely forgetting the hard-working middle Americans of every race, color and creed who form the true backbone of this nation. They forgot about everyday people, the working class and the common man. Scriptural wisdom has long diagnosed the spiritual weariness that settles over a community under such unequal governance. As Proverbs 29:2 warns, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that the broad vaults of

opportunity in this nation are empty. Right now, across this country, early voting windows are wide open and the ballot box is active. Our faith is not a passive waiting game; it is an active, unyielding movement. Even as we stand in early voting lines that stretch down city blocks and prepare for Election Day in America, we are walking by faith, not by sight. We are living out the promise found in Galatians 6:9: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." So I say to you today, my friends, that even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, just like in the words of the famous speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I have a dream, too. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that when the final tallies are counted, the American people will have completely altered our national trajectory, sparking a weeklong celebration across this land as a magnificent Blue Wave rolls from coast to coast. I have a dream that the week following the election will be defined by the joyful songs of victory as the Democratic Party reclaims control of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. This vision transcends mere partisanship; it is about restoring the constitutional equilibrium required to keep a democracy intact. When a co-equal legislature is restored to hold the executive branch accountable, America can finally return to being the true democracy it was conceived to be. I have a dream today! This dream is deeply personal to me. You see, I come from humble beginnings. I am a sharecropper's daughter from the rural fields of North Carolina. Yes, I myself picked cotton. In the late 1950s and '60s, my family worked under the hot sun and labored in those fields. I know what it means to work hard,

and I know what it feels like when the people at the top look right past the common man. That is why I know exactly how vital this upcoming election is for middle-class America. We need a government that remembers the hands that built this country, not just the bank accounts of billionaires. When you look into the mirror today, I want you to see yourself. I want you to see the power, the resilience and the divine purpose that rests within you. Look back and remember how America has looked over these last two years, marred by division, strained by executive overreach and heavy with the concerns of everyday working families who felt unseen. But look at how it will look when we finish doing our part! Look forward to the dawn of a new day, bright with the promise of equality and restored justice, all because we refuse to sit on the sidelines. Let us rise up. Let us stand the test. Let us make sure that when the election is over, we can look back proudly and say: We did our part. We voted! I have a dream that this upcoming election will be enshrined in history because ordinary people rose up in the highest, record-breaking voter turnout ever witnessed in this country's history. For 250 years, this great nation has existed, weathering storms, fighting for freedom and striving toward a more perfect union. Today, we stand on the shoulders of two and a half centuries of struggle. Despite systemic hurdles and calculated voting obstacles, millions of citizens are already standing resolute at early voting locations. The iconic civil rights leader John Lewis understood the sacred nature of this civic duty, writing: "The vote is precious. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it." WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 39

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724 Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Joel R. Limerick Pastor

Rev. Dr. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

Service and Times In Person Worship: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. Streaming: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org Prayer & Study: Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M.

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

www.livingwatersmd.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. / Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301.899.8885 – Fax 301.899.2555 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship 8:00 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Tuesday: 7:00 PM – Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: 12:30 PM – Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00 PM – Evening Bible Study Baptism - 3rd Sunday – Communion 4th Sunday Free Food Giveaway – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm “We are One in the Spirit” www.ssbcmd.org | secretary@ssbcmd.org

Campbell AME Church

Rev. Dr. T. Ashby Banister, III Senior Pastor

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Senior Pastor

901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 7: 00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

All Nations Baptist Church

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness - Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland Assistant & Youth Pastor

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

40 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church Rev. Christopher L. Nichols Pastor 2409 Ainger Place SE Washington, DC 20020 / Office: (202) 678-0884 “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven! Service and Times Sunday: Worship Service – 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM 3rd Sunday: Unity Service – 11:00 AM (Only One Service) Sunday School: 10:00 AM Monday: Unity Bible Study – 5:00 PM Call-In Number: (646) 749-3112/ Access Code: 971155757 Tuesday: Prayer Service – 6:00 PM & Family Bible Study – 7:00 PM Call-In Number: (872) 240-3212/Access Code: 164695965 Wednesday: Noonday Worship – 12:00 PM Thursday: Adult Bible Study – 7:00 PM Call-In Number: (646) 749-3112/Access Code: 843069541 Friday: Impact Focus (Online) – 7:30 PM Saturday: Children's Church (Online) – 6:00 PM Website: www.ebcwdc.org

Third Street Church of God Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor 4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day Elder Jonathan M. Carson Senior Pastor

5701 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Phone: 301 559-5262 Service and Times Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Wednesday - Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Web: shiloh7thday.org Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com "A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Place your church ad here! Contact Ron Burke rburke@washingtoninformer.com

A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Israel Baptist Church Rev. Lance Aubert Senior Pastor

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

Rehoboth Baptist Church

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor 5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

“Where God is Praised, Christ is Obeyed, and People are Loved”

New Commandment Baptist Church Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

The Reverend Canon Michele Hagans Priest

621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Promised Land Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM Sunday School: 8:15 AM Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 / Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday

Service and Times Adult Sunday School: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Youth/Young Adult Sunday School 12:00 PM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ." Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180

Join us for our live broadcast every Friday at Noon!

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OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 41

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000976

2026 ADM 000974

2026 ADM 001024

2026 ADM 000875

2026 ADM 000971

Mary F. Henson Decedent

Edward Matthew Warren aka Edward Warren Decedent

Dorothy Mae Farley Decedent

Gwendolyn Jones Decedent

Jeanette Waugh Decedent

Donata Edwards 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20006 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Cheryl Henson-Everson, whose address is 5506 Yorkshire Drive, Camp Springs MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary F. Henson who died on August 5, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/15/2027. 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 4/15/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/15/2026 Cheryl Henson-Everson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Shelia Warren, whose address is 1904 M Street NE, #3, Washington DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Matthew Warren aka Edward Warren who died on 4/14/2016 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/15/2027. 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 4/15/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/15/2026 Shelia Warren Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Suren G. Adams Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie MD 20716 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Melvina Loreese Farley, whose address is 1612 Erskine Street, Hyattsville, MD 20783, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dorothy Mae Farley who died on 2/2/2026 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/22/2027. 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 4/22/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS LaMar Johnson, whose address is 206 Malcolm X Ave., SE Washington DC 20033, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gwendolyn Jones who died on June 25, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/22/2027. 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 4/22/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/22/2026 LaMar Johnson Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 10/22/2026

TRUE TEST COPY

Melvina Loreese Farley Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Carmiller Dorsey, whose address is 3210 Norbeck Rd., #129 Silver Spring, MD 20906, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jeanette Waugh who died on April 26, 2008 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/22/2027. 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 4/22/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/22/2026 Carmiller Dorsey Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001361

2026 FEP 000134

2026 ADM 001046

2026 ADM 001033

2026 ADM 001062

William A. Amis aka William Armstrong Amis Decedent

Nehemia J. Williams Decedent

Juanita C. Burgess Ginyard Decedent

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

Yvonne Davis Smith, Esquire 2501 Northampton Street, NW Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

Washington Informer

Laura R. Long Decedent

June 21, 2024 Date of Death

Brian L. Kass, Esq. 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 434 Washington, DC 20008 Attorney

Frances M. Simmons aka Frances Marie Henrietta Simmons Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF AFTER DISCOVERED WILL AND NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TRUE TEST COPY

Agnes H. Simmons whose address is 400 Simmons Lane POB 942, Stevensville, MD 21666 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Frances M. Simmons aka Frances Marie Henrietta Simmons, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 8/6/2024. Service of process may be made upon Registered Agents Inc., 1717 N Street, NW Suite 1, Washington, DC 20002 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 1404 3rd Street NW, Washington DC 20001. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Date of first publication: 10/22/2026

Brian L. Kass, whose address is 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 434, Washington DC 20008, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laura R. Long, who died on March 25, 2020 with a Will. Objections to such appointment or to the probate of decedent’s Will shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/22/2027. Date of first publication: 10/22/2026 Personal Representative

Washington Informer

1. Amended to include two newspapers for publication pursuant to the Order dated September 9, 2026.

Agnes H Simmons Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

42 OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Susan M. Cherry, whose address is 6440 Cardinal Lane, Columbia, MD 21044, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William A Amis aka William Armstrong Amis who died on November 18, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/29/2026 Susan M. Cherry Personal Representative

Washington Informer

Shahida Williams, whose address is 720 Otis Place, NW, Washington DC 20010, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nehemia Jamaane Williams who died on February 13, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/29/2026 Shahida Williams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Bradley R. Gordon, whose address is 7824 Freehollow Drive, Falls Church Virginia 22042, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Juanita C. Burgess Ginyard who died on August 26, 2026 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/29/2026 Bradley R. Gordon Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 001021

2026 ADM 001034

Hazel Frazier Decedent

Raymond Baylor Decedent

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

Teresa Valentine, whose address is 3405 Accolade Drive, Clinton MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Hazel Frazier who died on August 15, 2026 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Fred Wendell Baylor, whose address is 3760 Minnesota Ave., NE, Apt. 416, Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Raymond Baylor who died on April 29, 2001 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 10/29/2026

Teresa Valentine Personal Representative

Fred Wendell Baylor Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 001038

2026 ADM 001051

Thomas Donald Moore Decedent

Elizabeth Evelyn Grice aka Elizabeth E. Grice aka Elizabeth Grice Decedent

Janell F. Wheeler, Esq. The Geller Law Group, PLLC 4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100, PMB 6084 Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lauren Hayley Moore and Dylan Thomas Moore, whose address is 12464 Notch Trail Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89138, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Thomas Donald Moore who died on June 22, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication:10/29/2026

Angela Marie Grice (self-represented) 617 Underwood Street, NW Washington, DC 20012 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Angela Marie Grice, whose address is 617 Underwood Street, NW, Washington DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elizabeth Evelyn Grice aka Elizabeth E. Grice aka Elizabeth Grice who died on 12/16/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/29/2027. 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 4/29/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Lauren Hayley Moore Dylan Thomas Moore 12464 Notch Trail Avenue Las Vegas, VV 89138 Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Date of first publication: 10/29/2026

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY

Washington Informer

Angela Marie Grice Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

BRYANT from Page 1 said Bryant, albeit with a caveat. “It can become a challenge, especially in this economy where some people have to take two or three jobs,” she continued. “They may have wanted to run for office, but they got to pay the bills, they got to have somewhere to live, or they have children to feed. It's choosing between serving our community or going to get that second or third job.” Bryant’s single-member district (SMD), 6/8F02, was birthed out of a redistricting process in 2021 that created nearly 50 new advisory neighborhood commission (ANC) seats and expanded the boundaries of Ward 8 west of Anacostia River, where Bryant and her colleagues in ANC 6/8F currently live. In 2024, at the end of a hotly contested ANC race, Bryant, a Navy Yard resident, came out on top by fewer than 70 votes against now-Transporation Security Administration investigator Elissa De Souza and WMATA project manager Antonio Rossi. Rossi, the lone candidate on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, is anticipated to succeed Bryant in 2027. In early 2025, shortly after entering office, Bryant stood as the only woman elected official in her commission as she tackled the fallout from Trump administration-induced federal layoffs and, soon after, mass youth gatherings at Navy Yard and the president’s federalization of the local police force. “I had community members walk up to me not as their best selves, but I tried to give them hope or reach out to our council or the mayor to see what we are doing,” Bryant told The Informer. “We still had the violence that we had to deal with. We still had other issues of affordability. A lot of businesses were, in a way, suffering and I wanted to hear them out on how best to move forward with them.” As she nears the end of her term, Bryant has under her belt the passage of ANC resolutions to: install stop lights for bike lanes and earmark funds from the Capitol Riverfront Parks Foundation to Van Ness Elementary’s parent-teacher organization. She also assisted in the Bowser administration’s launch of a multiagency effort toward crime prevention and youth intervention. Bryant’s crown jewel, however, is what she describes as an even-keeled response to the so-called teen takeovers in Navy Yard. In her role as commissioner of SMD 6/8F02, Bryant often spoke with young people congregating on the streets and collaborated with

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5 Longtime community leader Wendy Glenn commends Commissioner Markita Bryant for taking on a leadership role and making tough decisions in response to mass teen gatherings at Navy Yard. (Courtesy Photo)

D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation to coordinate late-night teen activities in Navy Yard throughout the summer, as well as secure time slots at Arthur Capper Recreation Center for young people and families. As she recounted, she did so while working with the D.C. Council and Executive Office of the Mayor for the passage of permanent curfew legislation and creating a direct line of communication with MPD’s First District Headquarters to get information about hotspots. “My baseline for making these hard decisions coming into the situation of the teen takeover was that I didn't want anyone to die on my watch,” Bryant told The Informer. “I know some of the things were not popular, but...in due time, people understand how severe it was. It was getting to a point where we were going to lose lives on any side, and I didn't want that to happen.”

A Civic Duty during Perilous Times

For more than 50 years, advisory neighborhood commissioners have weighed in on matters involving: traffic, parking, recreation, liquor licensing, zoning, economic development, public safety, sanitation and the District's budget. For nearly half that time, they’ve had the support of the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC). Amid commission seat vacancies, and questions about how the government can spur civic engagement, longtime Ward 8 resident and community leader Wendy Glenn says that it’s incumbent upon community members to take matters into their own hands. “Civic engagement is for you to decide that you care enough about your community, your neighborhood, your

residents, your neighbor, and your city to say, ‘I want to be involved.’” Glenn told The Informer. “Being an ANC commissioner is hard work and it’s thankless work. Are you willing to do that? If nobody ever pats you on the back, if nobody ever says thank you, are you still willing to be committed to what you signed up to do?” For Glenn, Bryant best exemplifies how Ward 8 residents, on both sides of the Anacostia River, can utilize their lived experiences and bridge gaps while serving on the ANC. “Markita is a single mom raising a magnificent young man,” Glenn said. “She has her own career that she's fostering, but she doesn’t forget her civic engagement. Yes, she’s ANC commissioner for Navy Yard but she also stays engaged in other things that are going on east of the river. She’ll share that information so that we’re not separated.” Glenn, Bryant’s friend and colleague of a decade, worked closely with the advisory neighborhood commissioner throughout her tenure. In her former role as Ward 8 manager of the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (MOCRS), Glenn often spoke with Bryant about how best to ensure the wellbeing of Navy Yard’s elders, children, and public housing residents. As Glenn recounted, she and Bryant also spoke extensively as Bryant, against the wishes of some of those on both sides of the issue, gelled together a balanced, multiagency response to the mass teen gatherings at Navy Yard. That work, Glenn told The Informer, required Bryant to reach out to MOCRS, the Executive Office of the Mayor, Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, civic associations, and local nonprofits. “Markita really wanted to make sure that people understood that if young people had safe spaces, if there was enough police presence, that it could work,” Glenn said. “She fought really hard to have that happen. That wasn’t a popular decision to have them down there in that area, but she didn't want to make it that young people were vilified. But she also didn't want to make it so that the police were vilified.” Navy Yard resident Tori Collins echoed Glenn’s sentiments, telling The Informer that Bryant made the tough decisions in the collective interests of youth, businesses, and residents. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 4, 2026 43

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TILGHMAN from Page 26 Children's National Hospital. That is the kind of investment families should see throughout our county. But what about communities where families struggle with transportation, limited services or aging school buildings? Students in southern Prince George's County deserve the same access to meaningful resources as those in northern communities. State and county leaders must identify gaps and ensure investments reach neighborhoods where the needs are greatest. These decisions must also include improvements to school buildings. Children deserve safe classrooms, reliable heating and cooling, accessible

SEAWRIGHT from Page 26 After gutting the Voting Rights Act and more, President Trump and the MAGA Congress has done everything they can to cripple Black progress and Black communities. They've picked our pockets and our bodies to the bone. But there's something we can do about it. The economics of voting are undeniable and, try as they might, they can't keep us out of the voting booth. That's why we have groups like State Voices, Repairers of the Breach, Common Cause, No Kings and more coming together to drive voter mobilization and participation. That's why Repairers of the Breach is organizing 1,000 marches to the polls across the South and bat-

MARSHALL from Page 26 nalists are seen as enemies who can't be trusted. As a result, when journalists speak the truth or challenge lies, their efforts are automatically dismissed. This is one reason why Democrats do not trust Trump-supporting Republicans. So, which is worse? The candidate or elected official who spreads lies and misinformation, or the voter or constituent who embraces and perpetuates the lie despite all publicly available facts? Where journalists and the free press are the targets of this strategy of mistrust, the same is also true for Democratic lawmakers, who are also presented as the "enemy." Trump has already touted election fraud in some states. The contrast is clear. Democratic mistrust of Republicans is characterized as real, pure and organically generated — grounded in actual events and legitimate concerns. Republican mistrust of Democrats is characterized as fabricated, orchestrated and strategically seeded for

restrooms and learning environments that support their needs. Accessibility should extend to playgrounds, cafeterias, entrances and transportation routes. Along corridors such as Marlboro Pike, we should connect school improvements with safer sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and nearby family resources. For a family raising a child with disabilities, access does not begin and end at the classroom door. We also need to improve how schools communicate with parents. I recently spoke with a mother who described having to jump through hoops just to receive consistent updates about her daughter's progress. That should never be acceptable.

Parents have a responsibility to remain engaged, but schools must be equally committed to keeping families informed. Parents should not have to chase down information about services, staffing changes or their child's academic development. For children with disabilities, communication can determine whether families recognize problems early enough to address them. Parents know their children. Their voices belong in decisions about services, school improvements and how education dollars are spent. And that brings us to accountability. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

tleground states like North Carolina where 201,609 voters cast their ballots on Thursday's first of early voting. That's a 46.7% increase in early voting from 2022. That's huge! But it's just the start. We need a generational, presidential-year-type turnout if we're going to turn this ship around and find the Feela-Nomics relief we need in our communities. That means we all have to do our part from the streets to the suites. We need everyone from the Ph.D.'s to folks who don't have a GED. We need the farmers and forklift drivers, college students to life students, front line workers for everyone who works on the line. We need everyone. We've all felt the impact of MAGA-

nomics and Trumpism. We've all felt the pain whether it's that empty feeling looking at bills you just can't pay no matter what you cut or the cramp in your stomach because you're skipping meals trying to keep the lights on. We've all felt the pain of these Feela-Nomics. But the good news is that we have an opportunity right now to do something about it. We have the opportunity to make a change at the ballot box. But it's going to take all of us to make it happen. It's going to take every shoulder against the wheel to push back on the big money holding us down. It's going to take all of us but we've done it before. Are you ready to do it again? WI

political gain — not rooted in authentic evidence. Trump has engineered mistrust as a replicable strategy, converting typical political debates between parties into a political weapon against those you don't agree with. With the midterm elections coming up, President Trump is now urging Republicans to pretend he is on the ballot on Election Day. This is a form of desperation. The lies, deception and strategy of mistrust are catching up with Republicans, and they know it. Republicans are positioning themselves as defenders of the country's ailing rural healthcare system even as hospitals and providers nationwide struggle under the financial strain imposed by President Trump and the GOP's cuts to Medicaid. The advocacy group Protect Our Care said Republicans in key congressional races "are touting bald-faced lies" by highlighting their support for a $50 billion rural health fund that pales in comparison to the roughly $900 billion in Medicaid cuts that Trump signed into law last

summer. The health policy organization KFF estimates that the Republican law will cut $137 billion in Medicaid spending for rural areas over the next decade. Rural voters throughout Trump country are now beginning to see who the real enemy is. Before this bill became law, Democrats warned the nation about the serious consequences. Protect Our Care calls out multiple Republicans by name for misleadingly promoting their support for health funds, including Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Jon Husted of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine and Ted Cruz of Texas. "Rural Americans are rapidly losing the care they need, and over 1,250 hospitals, clinics, and essential service providers are closing, cutting services, or are at risk of doing so," said Protect Our Care. It is easy to say that the distrust rural Americans have for liberals and the liberal agenda is at the root of this problem. Unfortunately, rural communities are the only communities that will suffer. WI

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tics used to market these products, they are better equipped to make informed choices and resist peer pressure. Parents, teachers and health care professionals are on the front lines. When we stay informed and keep talking with our young people, we create places where children feel safe asking questions and seeking help. I am grateful that leaders like U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) understand the importance of youth tobacco prevention and have supported education and awareness efforts. I hope other leaders will join in championing resources for commu-

nity education programs and schoolbased prevention initiatives. That is the kind of leadership our children deserve — leaders willing to invest in education and empower families. As First Lady of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, I have seen how trusted institutions, including churches, can help families navigate difficult issues. We must use that trust to educate parents and young people on the dangers these products pose. And we need to equip teachers, coaches, pastors and community leaders to recognize the signs and have honest, informed conversations with our children. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

JEALOUS from Page 27

Just three more abolition states would make a majority. That would not automatically make capital punishment unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has no simple 26-state rule. But the growing rarity of executions is evidence future justices would have to confront. The cruelty, meanwhile, is impossible to dismiss. In September, Tennessee's attempt to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection failed. She survived, and Republican Gov. Bill Lee halted the state's remaining scheduled executions pending an independent review. September also marked 15 years since Georgia executed Troy Davis. I stood outside that prison. Seven of nine key witnesses had recanted or changed their accounts. William Sessions, FBI director under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, urged Georgia to stop. It did not. I helped lead Maryland's successful abolition campaign in 2013, making it the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to end capital punishment. I learned then that this cause can unite

people who disagree on almost everything else: believers in redemption, skeptics of government and people determined not to risk an irreversible injustice. Virginia became the first former Confederate state to abolish the death penalty five years ago. More executions are taking place in some states now; today's Court may be unwilling to overturn the punishment. Hope should not be confused with certainty. But this October brought something real: Republicans rejected an execution broadcast, one governor spared a man amid doubts, and another is asking his state to end executions altogether. Those are not the same steps. They are steps in the same direction. Maybe Trump and Hegseth have inadvertently done something abolitionists could not: made more Americans look squarely at what government killing means. Fifty years after executions resumed, that may help us finally bring them to an end. WI

MORIAL from Page 27

youth use to communicate with one another and stay connected to the world around them. Disinformation is being amplified by intentional decisions to gerrymander election maps, including one in North Carolina that splits the campus of North Carolina A&T down the middle, an intentional move to dilute the student body's collective political power. But the resistance continues to grow. As I write this column, hundreds of students are marching again, this time with When We All Vote cochair and actress Marsai Martin, in an increasing show of support from our organizations and pop culture icons. No election is worth sitting out.

It's something that my generation, which lived through segregation and Jim Crow, understands deeply. One of our greatest fears has been the idea that our children would become complacent in the fight for equality and accept the status quo as the virus of institutional racism continued to prey on our weaknesses. I'm proud to see this generation becoming not only a defensive line against these tactics but also a sharpened, savvy weapon in the fight for our liberation, advancement and prosperity in this country. I commend every student taking this fight seriously and stand in solidarity with the next generation of changemakers. WI

and aware students. We must equip families to recognize these products and understand the risks. Schools should build tobacco and nicotine education into health curricula, and students themselves can become advocates among their peers. Federal tobacco prevention and control programs provide funding, data and support for education and outreach tailored to each community across the nation. Yet this federal infrastructure is eroding — and our children will pay the price. Knowledge is power. When young people understand the science of addiction and the often-aggressive tac-

to execute an innocent person? And what does justice require when punishment becomes a spectacle? There is also a constitutional reason to pay attention. Fifty years ago, in Gregg v. Georgia, the Supreme Court allowed executions to resume. But the Eighth Amendment still forbids cruel and unusual punishment. In Atkins v. Virginia, the Court prohibited executing people with intellectual disabilities. In Roper v. Simmons, it prohibited executing people for crimes committed before age 18. Both rulings considered America's "evolving standards of decency," including the number of states rejecting those practices and the direction of change. Today, 23 states have abolished the death penalty. Ten more retain it but have gone at least a decade without carrying out an execution. That is 33 states — two-thirds of the country — where executions have been abolished or absent for at least 10 years.

new system designed to sow confusion — social media algorithms. The same weekend NCAT students marched to the polls, millions of Americans took to the streets in protest of the antidemocratic policies coming from the White House in the No Kings rally — one of which I spoke at in Atlanta. The day of the rally, organizers found that social media accounts linked to the movement were shadowbanned and suppressed as disinformation about candidates, voter registration and voting deadlines continued to proliferate across the same platforms. These are the same platforms our

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