The Washington Informer - March 30, 2023

Local Public Charter School Network Criticizes Mayor Bowser’s Budget Proposal

Charter School Leaders Argue Violation of School Reform Act

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

In her fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget proposal, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) responded to public charter school teachers who were pondering whether they would receive funds matching what their counterparts secured in their contract negotiations with D.C. Public Schools (DCPS).

However, charter school leaders aren’t SUPERCHARGING CAREERS

DCSEU Program Connects Job Seekers to Green Industry

By Kayla Benjamin Climate & Environment Reporter

Rolanda “Vicky” Washington, 51, worked at the publishing company ProQuest for 30 years as a facilities manager. But when another company bought it in 2021, the facilities department was dissolved.

“That forced me to look for a different career,” Washington, a Ward 5 resident, said. “I hadn’t interviewed in years—everything had changed.”

SCHOOL Page 35

Family Members Challenge Narrative about Teenager Slain by Park Police

Local Activists Mull How to Combat Police-Involved Shootings, Violent Crime

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

ting the world know the whole truth about their son, brother and nephew.

fashion, video games and swimming.

5 Gleniss V. Brown Wade, Program Manager for the DCSEU’s workforce development program, speaks to the class during a Wednesday training session on March 15.

(Rob R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

cent D.C. transplant. He graduated from Ohio University in 2020 with a degree in entrepreneurship, and came to the District to get involved in the solar energy industry.

On paper, Sullivan and Washington might not seem to have a ton in common.

Jack Sullivan, 25, is a relatively re- JOB SEEKER Page 39

More than a week after a U.S. Park Police officer shot and killed District teenager Dalaneo Martin, members of his family said they've yet to receive official documentation about the encounter that ended Dalaneo's life.

As family and friends of Dalaneo, affectionately also known as Debo, continue to demand information about the officers involved, they remain adamant about let-

"Debo was goofy. He could get under your skin, but he would give you his socks [and clothes] off his back," said Dalaneo’s mother Terra Martin on Sunday at the culmination of a march that started at a Shell gas station on the 3300 block of Benning Road in Northeast and ended on the 300 block of 36th Street where Dalaneo was pronounced dead eight days earlier.

Martin, flanked by Dalaneo’s siblings, friends, along with his significant other and their infant son, spoke about Dalaneo and his affinity for

Celebrating 58 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

The grieving mother also recounted her last Facetime conversation with Dalaneo, the night before he was killed, during which he told her that he would pick up his sixmonth old son, Jordan, from her house in the morning. "Since he had his baby, he tried to change his

POLICE Page 39

5 Family and friends of Dalaneo “Debo” Martin held a prayer vigil and marched from the 3300 block of Benning Road to the 300 block of 36th Street in Northeast on March 26th where a U.S. Park Police officer shot and killed Dalaneo days earlier. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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With the End of Extra SNAP Allotments, Millions Face Hunger, Privation

The end of disbursement of extra allotments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the end of February 2023 has already begun to send ripples across the country as families and individuals who depended on the extra benefits to feed themselves have been left hanging.

Food insecurity activists, policymakers, social justice advocates, elected officials and families are worried that more people will go hungry, an already overburdened food distribution system will buckle under the weight of demand and the most vulnerable will be pushed into greater poverty and despair.

Daniel del Pielago, organizing director of Empower DC, said these cuts and Republican plans to disembowel the social safety net – including Medicare and Social

Security – is a deliberate and cruel policy choice aimed directly at the working class, low-income households and the poor in this country.

“It’s part of this onslaught of safety net services being cut. I just heard from [the] city that they’re cutting the Emergency Rental Program 6½ months earlier than expected. And rents in May will go up 8.9% here in the District,” del Pielago said. “D.C. is super expensive, there are no livable wages for a certain segment of the population and there’s a sustained attack on low-income people. What we’re seeing in terms of the onslaught is the ‘Trump effect’ coming into play. We have a bunch of people making these decisions which don’t benefit low-income residents and Black people. They were attempting and now they’re having success.” WI

Two Ex D.C. Politicians Remember the Start of Home Rule

Arrington Dixon and Carol Schwartz were the panelists for the session, “The DC Home Rule Act of 1973: A 50th Anniversary Remembrance” that occurred at the 49th Annual DC History Conference on March 25 at the Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Library in Northwest. Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes served as the moderator of the session that had 250 people in attendance.

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The passage of the DC Home Rule Act of 1973 by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Richard Nixon led to the District’s first local election for

the D.C. Council and a popularly-elected mayor since Reconstruction. Advisory neighborhood commissioners were also included as a part of the new government in the District. Congress authorized the election of a board of education in 1969.

Dixon was elected to the first D.C. Council in 1974 representing Ward 4, while Schwartz served on the board of education when Home Rule became the law. He said many Washingtonians were skeptical of their new electoral and governing responsibilities.

“There was a division in the city on Home Rule,” Dixon, 80, said. “Some residents didn’t appreciate the value of elected officials. Julius Hobson, a statehood activist, called it ‘Home Fool.’ For a long time, the District government didn’t mean anything to a lot of people. They said Congress was in control anyway.” WI

The Washington Chorus Celebrates Dr. King in D.C. Premier Performance

While April 4 marks the 55th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, The Washington Chorus is taking the historic day to celebrate the civil rights icon’s life.

“April 4, our ‘Free At Last,’ concert is our chance to celebrate,” Eugene Rogers told the Informer.

Commemorating the 60th anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream,” speech, the “Free At Last,” concert will feature a performance of Undine Smith Moore’s “Scenes from the Life of a Martyr,” (1981) and French composer Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem” (1947).

“What better way to celebrate [the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech] than highlighting a Black female composer, who was born in Jarratt, Virginia,” emphasized Rogers, noting this is the D.C. premier of Moore’s work, which was groundbreakingly nominated for a Pulitzer prize in 1981.

Featuring performances of Moore’s and Durufle’s work offers the audience, what Rogers described as,

“something new and something traditional.”

Rogers, who has served as artistic director since 2020 and recently learned his contract has been extended another five years, has been intentional in furthering his and The Washington Chorus’ mission of elevating diverse work.

“Everybody talks about diversity, equity and inclusion, and for me it’s a lived experience. I’m not doing things to check a box, I’m not doing things with an agenda, I just am not comfortable if everybody’s story, or at least as many people’s stories as possible is not told on that stage. That’s diversity in the arts,” Rogers explained. WI

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

5 Eugene Rogers, artistic director of The Washington Chorus, is preparing for the “Free At Last,” concert on April 4 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. (Courtesy Photo/ The Washington Chorus)

Georgetown Park Commissions Chris Pyrate for Cherry Blossom Season

D.C.-based muralist Chris Pyrate is bringing his signature cherry blossom street art to Georgetown Park to celebrate cherry blossom season. Pyrate’s public art installation, “Georgetown was on the Journey,” will feature art displays throughout the complex from East Market Lane to Grace Street Plaza and will be on view to visitors through May.

“I look forward to contributing a public art installation to Georgetown Park. This partnership signifies how far D.C. has come with embracing artistic expression throughout the city,” said Chris Pyrate, a visual multimedia artist from Southeast known for his signature cherry blossom art murals throughout the city.

Pyrate has previously worked with notable clients, including Grammy Award-winning musician Lupe Fiasco, Nike, and the Washington Wizards.

Read the full story on www.wibridgedc.com or scan the QR code below.

to 70% of the federal

Additionally, individuals with qualifying children receiving the DC

will be paid differently than in previous years.

● Taxpayers will receive a refund equal to 40% of their federal EIC as usual after their return is processed.

● The balance of the EITC will be paid in equal monthly installments over the next 11 months.

4 (Albert Ting/ Courtesy Photo)

6 (Diana Biruk/ Courtesy

AROUND THE REGION

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy," a mural at Hampton University, is born in Chicago.

1932 – World renowned Black cowboy Willie "Bill" Pickett dies at 61 in a Ponca, Oklahoma, hospital after he was kicked in the head by a horse.

1984 – John Thompson becomes the first African American head coach to win a major collegiate championship when his Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown Hoyas defeat the University of Houston 84-75 in the NCAA mens' basketball title game.

APRIL 3

1950 – African American historian, author and journalist Carter G. Woodson, known as the "father of Black History," dies in his Washington, D.C., home of a heart attack at 74.

1961 – Legendary comedian and actor Eddie Murphy is born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

1990 – Iconic jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan dies at her Hidden Hills, California, home of lung cancer at 66.

APRIL 4

1913 – Musician Muddy Waters, who is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues," is born in Issaquena County, Mississippi.

MARCH 30

1870 – The 15th Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote, is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution.

MARCH 31

1797 – Gustavus Vassa, a freed slave whose autobiography, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," is regarded as one of history's most influential literary works, dies in southeast England.

1878 – Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, is born in Galveston, Texas.

1891 – George "Little Chocolate" Dixon knocks out Cal McCarthy to win the featherweight title, becoming the first Black world boxing champion in any weight class.

1980 – Track and field star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens dies in Tucson, Arizona, of lung cancer at 66.

1988 – Toni Morrison's "Beloved," a novel about the remembrances of a former slave in post-Civil War Ohio, wins the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

APRIL 1

1917 – Famed African American composer and pianist Scott Joplin, known as "the King of Ragtime," dies in New York City at 49.

1984 – One day before his 45th birthday, iconic soul singer Marvin Gaye is fatally shot by his father during a dispute at the Los Angeles house they shared.

APRIL 2

1918 – Black artist Charles White, best known for "The

1928 – Famed poet, memoirist and civil rights activist Maya Angelou is born in St. Louis.

1968 – Civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39.

APRIL 5

1856 – Educator and famed African American leader Booker T. Washington is born in Hale's Ford, Virginia.

1937 – Colin Powell, retired four-star general in the U.S. Army and the first African American secretary of state, is born in Harlem, New York City. WI

EDDIE MURPHY

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Actor Jonathan Majors was arrested in New York City for allegedly assaulting a woman. However, Majors’ lawyer said video evidence and a woman recanting allegations that the movie star assaulted her will get all criminal charges dropped against him.

Nevertheless, the incident has reignited a conversation if ‘innocent until proven guilty’ can outweigh the stain of allegations. What are your thoughts?

ASHANA GORDON / WASHINGTON, DC

The media is so annoying sometimes. They probably messed up his career over another white lie. He can be vindicated, but it’s hard for Black artists of any kind to redeem themselves once they’re associated with negative ish.

SHATAYA SIMMS / ATLANTA, GEORGIA

People really act like women in domestic abuse situations don’t recant their stories out of fear/love/stupidity. Not saying he did or didn’t do the things he’s being accused of, but…yeah.

SHARON DENISE / WASHINGTON, DC

As his career takes off, he must be careful who he allows to get close to him because a lie can ruin his career.

KEVIN O. / WASHINGTON, DC

The damage is already done.

SHARON HARDISON / CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE

This is why it is so hard for real victims to be heard. Let’s stop crucifying people before you get all the facts.

AROUND THE REGION

DC History Conference Scholars Explore Women’s Political History

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

As Women’s History wraps, the annual conference that examines the District’s past highlighted women who had non-traditional roles during the pre-Civil Rights era in the political and social arenas.

On March 25, 40 people listened to scholars talk about “The Politics of Remembrance: Women in DC History” at the 49th Annual DC History Conference held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Northwest.

Three scholars spoke on projects they were working on related to how women in the 19th and early and middle 20th centuries in the District fought for respect and recognition.

The first speaker, University of Maryland doctoral student Alisa Hardy, elaborated on the topic “The Construction of the Black Mammy Monument and Lost Cause Ideologies.” Hardy said in the early 1920s, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) proposed the construction of a Black “mammy” monument in the District. The purpose of the monument, according to the UDC, was to remember the Black female servants who joyfully served their masters and mistresses during slavery.

“Mammy was the dominant stereotype of Black women during slavery,” Hardy said. “Mississippi Sen. John Williams (D) obliged the UDC and sponsored a bill authorizing the mammy monument. However, the National Association of Colored Women and the NAACP fought this bill and the idea.”

On an overhead projector, Hardy showed letters from UDC members Mary Solari and Gilliland Aston and others opposing it from Hallie Brown Quinn and Mary Church Terrell. Quinn and Terrell refuted the UDC’s perception of slavery as benevolent toward the enslaved and talked about its brutality and inhumanity. The idea eventually was shelved and the legislation never moved forward, Hardy said.

Historian Randolph Harris, who resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania., spoke on the topic, “Lydia Hamilton-Smith: A Remarkable Black Businesswoman in a Tale of Two Cities.” Harris said Smith navigated the complexities of 19th century America with few civil or legal rights. He said Smith became the property manager and confidant of U.S. Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (R-Pennsylvania) for the last 20 years of life in Lancaster and in the District.

Harris said the pair showed a commitment to equality of races and genders during a time when that was rare and rejected ideas

that relegated women to inferior status. He said Stevens authored a bill on Dec. 28, 1858 that granted women the right to vote but it never moved legislatively.

When Stevens died in 1868, his will designated $5,000 for Smith. Using that gift, Smith bought property from Stevens’ estate. Harris said Smith died in the District on Feb. 14, 1884.

Susan Ferentinos, a researcher and writer, presented “The LGBTQ Significance of Lucy Diggs Slowe: African American Educational Leader.” Slowe was appointed the first dean of women at Howard University in 1922 and as a student, was a founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc in 1908. Ferentinos points out that Slowe lived with her partner, Mary Burrill, a playwright and teacher in the District’s segregated school system for over 20 years. She also said Slowe had a tough time working at Howard University.

“Slowe and Howard University President Mordecai Johnson had an antagonistic relationship,” Ferentinos said. “She refused to quit under pressure from Johnson. Johnson wanted her to move to campus. The fight to live off campus was very stressful for Slowe.”

Ferentinos said Slowe died at the age of 53 in 1937 and speculated that the stressful battle with Johnson contributed to her death.

WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Among many groundbreaking firsts in her life, Lucy Diggs Slowe was appointed the first dean of women at Howard University in 1922. (Courtesy Photo)

District Student Celebrates his Dreams at Walt Disney Academy

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Richard Wright Public Charter School in Southwest, Washington D.C. can boast of yet another accomplished student. Miguel Coppedge, a 17-year-old junior and ambassador at the school, recently participated in the 16th Disney Dreamers Academy.

Along with six other high school students from the District-area, Miguel had a life-changing experience at the academy held at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Miguel is already a bestselling author with three children’s books to his name, a CEO of a crème/hair butter for boys and men, a filmmaker, speaker, philanthropist, social change maker, and app developer.

By age 10, Miguel had already published his first book, “The Adventures of FireMan,” followed by the sequel, “The Case of The Stinger,” and “Friendly Officers.”

The proceeds from his books go to St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth, and Families, where he was once a foster child.

The young author said he was thrilled to participate in the Disney Dreamers Academy and spoke to the Informer about his experience.

“I hope to take home what I’ve gained here,” Miguel said. “I will also take home that I had breakfast with Halle Bailey, who was really down to earth and helped me to see that I can realize my dreams.”

Bailey, the star of the upcoming Disney film, “The Little Mermaid,” served as this year’s celebrity ambassador.

Miguel said her presence only helped to further his aspirations.

He aspires to be an NBA player and sports analyst and recently, the Disney Dreamers Academy added something else to his wish list: model.

“They said I have the height, and that I’m thin and look like a model, so they had me participate in a fashion show, and it was a lot of fun,” Miguel stated.

The Disney Dreamers Academy is an immersive, four-day program designed to inspire young minds and encourage them to dream big.

Since its inception 16 years ago,

AROUND THE REGION

the academy has been a mechanism for African American children to realize their dreams.

The academy seeks to inspire diversity and the power to dream in all its attendees. The program is tailored to offer participants the opportunity to engage with industry experts and celebrities from various fields, including entertainment, business, and politics. Participating students receive guidance and mentorship from Disney professionals, including executives, cast members, and other experts, who help them navigate their paths towards success.

Actress and singer Bailey, followed Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland as celebrity ambassador.

The academy’s focus on inspiring diversity and empowering young people of color to dream has continued to yield positive results over the years.

Miguel’s participation in the program is yet another example of the academy’s success in providing young people of color with the tools to realize their dreams.

“You’re never too young to do anything,” Miguel stated, noting that’s his life’s motto.

The academy’s focus on diversity and empowerment has helped to

HOW

create a pathway towards success for many young people.

As Miguel continues to blaze a trail towards greatness, he serves as an inspiration to many young people who aspire to realize their dreams.

“I have no doubt that the program has helped and will continue to help me in my journey,” Miguel said. “My dreams will come true.”

WI

@StacyBrownMedia

EVENT DETAILS

WHEN:

Saturday, April 22 10:30 am–12:00 pm

WHERE: Shiloh Baptist Church 1500 9th Street NW

TO REGISTER & GET MORE INFO: DISB.dc.gov/lifeinsuranceinfo

5 Richard Wright student and entrepreneur Miguel Coppedge. (Stacy M. Brown/ The Washington Informer)

“I hope to take home what I’ve gained here,” Miguel said. “I will also take home that I had breakfast with Halle Bailey, who was really down to earth and helped me to see that I can realize my dreams.”

AROUND THE REGION

The Newsletter

The Howard University Black Press Archives & Center for Women Gender and Global Leadership presented the Black Press Day 2023 Symposium on March 16 at the Howard University Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library with (L-R) Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, Trice Edney Communications President & CEO Hazel Trice Edney, and Howard University Journalism Professor Yanick Rice Lamb. The panel centered on the contributions of Black women in the press. (Marckell Williams/The Washington Informer)

Who’s Reading the Informer?

Charlie Gussom and DonVito Premier read the Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

– Maya Angelou

Real Estate Round-Up

By Andrew S. Jacobson WI Contributing Writer

The real estate sector is one of the leading industries in Washington, D.C.’s private economy. From affordable housing production, driven by government investment, to private real estate development, the District is constantly evolving to accommodate the growth and needs of existing residents.

As real estate continues to boom, minority professionals are hustling and leading in this competitive space.

KYLE DETHOMAS

Real estate centric law firm, Ballard Spahr, is a widely recognized name in the local real estate market. At the helm of this community-oriented practice is Co-Chair of the Diverse Lawyers Group and Associate Kyle DeThomas. From real estate development matters to unique practice areas, like helping clients navigate the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), DeThomas leads a team of lawyers to handle the needs of real estate professionals from planning to ribbon cutting. Active in the community, DeThomas is also the firm lead for Project Destined. Project Destined works with diverse students, to help them unlock career opportunities through training, mentoring and unparalleled networking opportunities. A veteran, DeThomas earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School (‘13) and vigorously en-

gages the community via his pro bono efforts.

JIMMIE DRUMMOND

Drummond Projects is a full-service multidisciplinary architecture firm, based in Washington, D.C. If you’ve visited Bronze restaurant on H Street Northeast, or HQ-DC in Penn Quarter, you’ve probably experienced Drummond’s immersive stylings. His Afrofuturisim rounded arches and James Turrell-esque lighting are Drummond Project’s signature look. From landscape architecture to interior design and project execution, Drummond’s work is unparalleled. This rising talent is unique, both in the rar-

ity of African-American architects (2% nationally) and his immense talent at such a young age. Many are looking forward to following his prodigious trajectory.

FELIPE ERNST

Ernst Equities is a mixed-use transit-oriented development firm. Founded in 2015, Felipe Ernst has led his firm from a home-equity line of credit loan against his parent’s home to over 400 units, in fewer than 10 years. This extraordinary talent also doubles as a professor at Georgetown University, teaching Muti-Family Value Add courses in the School of Continuing Studies. Ernst is paving the way for young Latinx and African American development professionals in the District. If you’re interested in the multi-family space, be sure to secure an invitation for the next Ernst Equities Happy Hour.

According to The Real Deal real estate news, only 1% of private development firms are Black or Latinx-owned. Moreover, fewer than 2% of attorneys and architects are African American men. It is critically important to highlight these individuals and shed light on trailblazers throughout the industry.

To learn more about movement in the real estate industry in Washington, D.C., visit @balmoreproperties on Instagram. WI

5 Kyle DeThomas is co-chair of the Diverse Lawyers Group and firm lead to Project Destined. (Courtesy Photo)

5 Felipe Ernst

4 Jimmie Drummond (Courtesy Photos)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

South County Dems Swear In New Club Leadership Health Emergency Cuts Event Short

By Richard D. Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

On March 21, new officers were appointed to lead the South County Democratic Club (SCDC) at the Forest Heights Municipal Center.

With Clerk of Court Mahasin ElAmin presiding, Courtney Finklea Green was sworn in as president, District Heights Councilmember Troy Barrington Lilly as vice president, Helen Bearden as corresponding secretary and Mary McIver as

recording secretary. Mirinda Jackson will continue serving as club treasurer and Laverne Poteat Scott will continue serving as parliamentarian.

“It is a new day for the South County Democratic Club and we are on the move,” Finklea Green said following her swearing-in.

Acknowledging the sizable crowd as he began his speech, Lilly thanked first-term Delegate Jamila Woods for her years in service to the Forest Heights area. After acknowledging present elected leaders, the event was cut short when an audience member suffered a health emergency. Responders were quickly called and the meeting was promptly ended.

Former Board of Education Chair and Delegate Juanita Miller and longtime community advocate Tamara Davis Brown previously served as President and Vice President respectively and are longtime members of SCDC. One of Davis Brown’s biggest accomplishments in club leadership was expanding the club.

“We coalesced all of the South County clubs,” she said. “We had Surrats/Clinton, the club I was president of. We combined them with the Fort Washington, Brandywine, Accokeek and Oxon Hill clubs under one club to bring the people’s power together and give South County one voice.”

The swearing-in drew a countywide crowd of young leaders and retired politicians, particularly strong for a Tuesday night.

Maryland Democratic Party Vice Chair Everett Browning, County Councilmember Wala Blegay (DDistrict 6) and Central Committee Chair Kent Roberson (D) all served

as keynote speakers.

Senator Joanne Benson (D- District 24), retired Senators District 26 Senators Gloria Lawlah (D) and Obie Patterson (D), District 26 Delegate Jamila Woods (D), Cheverly Councilmember Marverly Nettles Simpson (D), Greenbelt Councilmember Ric Gordon (D), and Central Committee members Antwan Brown (DDistrict 26) and Yolanda Quintinilla (D- District 47) were on hand for the ceremony alongside a crowd of nearly 100.

Brown will be serving as Chair of Community Engagement. Deo Kawunde will be serving as Chair of Membership, Todd Hughes will be Chair of Business and Entrepreneurship and LaVerne Poteat Scott will be Club Parliamentarian.

WHAT IS SOUTH COUNTY AND SCDC?

The South County can be described as the areas south of and adjoining Route 414, including Fort Washington, Accokeek, Aquasco and Brandywine. State legislative Districts 25, 26 and 27 and Council Districts 7, 8, and 9 include portions of South County. Relative to population, the South County has a larger proportion of votes than the north or central county in the Democratic primary while some residents have criticized a lack of attention on their issues such as air quality, slow commercial development and transportation.

Monique Anderson-Walker, who previously represented this area on the County Council, attended and

was given wide applause when introduced. She said, “It’s critical for everyone to have a voice. South County has a huge population and in many ways is the economic engine of the county. Voices from the south county need to be heard. Leadership is critical and engagement is necessary. We will continue to have our voices heard and engage with the citizens.”

When asked of the future of the club, Tamara Davis Brown said “We started local high school Democratic clubs particularly at Gwynn Park and Friendly high school to get the next generation involved. That’s why tonight is so important for me, so we can build younger and new leadership. I’m proud to see Courtney and Troy step up to be the next leaders in the Democratic Party.”

“‘With the new day comes new strengths and new thoughts,’” said Finklea Green, quoting Eleanor Roosevelt.

Prince George’s County Young Democrats Vice President Januari McKay was one of numerous young leaders on hand for the ceremony.

“We must make it a priority to include and engage the young people who will be leading our country and our party if we want to continue making progress," said McKay. “Young people have what it takes to lead- the energy, the solutions, and the tenacity. It’s the responsibility of the clubs to foster relationships and invest in young people so that

GROWING SCDC

Councilmember Ric Gordon (D) is in the leadership of the Greenbelt-based Roosevelt Democratic Club. He wants his club to partner with the SCDC.

“I see it many different ways. Through how we grow the clubs,” Gordon said. “Now that you have new leadership like Courtney, we can bounce ideas off each other on how to grow our clubs and the local Democratic Party.”

Finklea Green plans to continue the work of past leadership in growing the club, one Democrat at a time.

The stated goals of the SCDC are to encourage active participation in the Democratic Party and Process, interact with various community based groups, communities, businesses, conduct education events and seminars for greater political awareness and provide speakers concerning ongoing political and government issues. The yearly membership fee is $15.

“Fanny Lou Hamer once said, ‘There is one thing you have got to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people.’ Hamer proved that a movement can start with a few and can yield great change. Democrats must work together to show up and show out at the polls. Remember, your vote is your currency. It is your power. Use it,” said Finklea Green. WI

5 Finklea Green was sworn in by Clerk of Court Mahasin El-Amin (D). (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer) we create a pipeline of leaders who are equipped to lead and serve.”

5 Forest Heights Councilmember Troy Barrington Lilly (D) was sworn in as Vice President. Community advocate Tamara Davis Brown previously served as Vice President. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)

Laurel’s Love Life Cafe Offers Coffee, Juices and Vegan-Friendly Fare

By Richard D. Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

At Laurel’s Love Life Cafe, you can find a vegan-friendly menu with fresh pressed juices such as the Punch Shot and Hydration Station that are so popular, they are now offered for bulk purchase.

Owner Magdalena Gebrekristos has decades of experience in government and tech consulting, but her true passion is coffee and health.

“My healthy lifestyle and love for coffee was the impetus for opening the Love Life Cafe – a place that would uplift and inspire the community, where folks could meet and share an enhanced coffee experience,” she said. Now, this space offers vegans and non-vegans a place to grab ready made and healthy food

without sacrificing taste.

The beverage menu features cafe staples such as espresso, cafe au lait and lattes. Their food offerings include avocado toast and an açaí bowl.

Some past events hosted at this space include a quarterly paint and sip, along with past collaborations with the Prince Georges County Chamber of Commerce and the Bowie Business Innovation Center.

Gebrekristos would like to see the General Assembly and Governor Moore level the playing field for Black entrepreneurs.

She plans to grow her business in coming years to neighborhoods in Prince George’s with a need for healthy food and delicious drinks.

Read the full story on www. washingtoninformer.com WI

GEORGE’S COUNTY

5 A view of Black art posted in the cafe. (Courtesy Photo/ Magdalena Gebrekristos)

4 The cashew butter and jam toast is a speciality of the Cafe. (Courtesy Photo/ Magdalena Gebrekristos)

BUSINESS

James

briefs

WDCEP’S ANNUAL MEETING

The Washington, D.C. Economic Partnership’s Annual Meeting will take place on April 13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest.

“Cranes, Conversions and Coffee” will occur from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and the main event runs from 12-2 p.m.

The Annual Meeting draws over 700 leaders, visionaries and stake-

holders to celebrate economic development and highlight the impacts and accomplishments of the city. This year the focus is on “The Shape of DC” in regards to the state of the economy and how we can reshape the city’s physical spaces and the future of D.C. business.

Justin Dean, the managing director and senior partner of the Boston Consulting Group will serve as the featured speaker while renowned architect Eran Chen will deliver the keynote address. Other speakers

include D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Interim Director of the Deputy Mayor for Office of Planning and Economic Development Keith Anderson and D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large).

For more information call 202661-8670.

MOBILE SMALL BUSINESS KIOSK IN ANACOSTIA

In partnership with the Anacostia Improvement District, the 11th Street Bridge Park has created a temporary mobile pop-up location for east of the river small businesses to vend and receive technical assistance through the Mobile Small Business Kiosk.

The kiosk is designed to provide resources, tools and support for small businesses looking to test their brand and allow consumers to learn about their business in multiple locations during their monthlong tenure. This program also provides one-on-one kiosk operations assistance, capacity building, and marketing support for pro bono in collaboration with Accenture. In addition, selected businesses can access the Anacostia BID’s Business Communications Access Portal (BCAP). Plus, participating companies can visit the BCAP resource library and the online help desk and network and share knowledge with other participants.

East of the River entrepreneurs who are interested in the program must apply by March 31 at 5 p.m. For more information, call 202897-5060. WI

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Video Production

Two Rivers is seeking to procure the services of a video production company to produce several short videos in a school setting. For a copy of the RFP, please email Liz Riddle at procurement@tworiverspcs.org.

CAAB GETS $30,000 SHARE FUND GRANT

The Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) announced on March 23 that it has received $30,000 in general operating funding to support the work to address and close the racial wealth gap in the District. The grant, awarded by Share Fund, will enable CAAB to advance its mission for the benefit of low-and-moderate income Dis-

trict residents of color.

CAAB’s CEO & Executive Director said “we are honored to receive this grant from Share Fund.”

“We are fully committed to advance CAAB’s mission for the benefit of low-and moderate-income Black, Latinx and immigrant families in Washington, D.C.,” he said. WI

@JamesWrightJr10

The District Awaits Disparity Study Release

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

The Bowser administration hasn’t revealed when it will announce the completion of the DC Disparity Study backed by D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), but a prominent African American business leader hopes it is soon so the city can get to work on opening the contracting and procurement process to Black entrepreneurs.

The Informer was told by an Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development spokesperson that the formal announcement could be made in early April. Al Swailes, the president of the DC Black Business Task Force, looks forward to the announcement.

“We are waiting for it to come out so that the city can start working on the recommendations of the study,” Swailes, 66, said.

The D.C. Council, spurred by Swailes’ organization and led legislatively by Committee on Business and

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Economic Development Chairman McDuffie, mandated the creation of the Disparity Study in 2021 to analyze the availability and awarding of government contracts to minority and women-owned businesses.

The Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program, utilized by the city, is racial and gender neutral. It was implemented by city leaders after an appeals court ruling found the District’s prior publicly funded contracting and procurement program specifically for one race of business owners was unconstitutional. The administration hired two local CBE companies—Pantera and Tiber and BBC Consulting to conduct and write the Study.

Swailes said he hopes the study will be able to serve as the basis of a new minority business enterprise program that prioritizes Black firms and can withstand reverse discrimination charges and legal action by critics.

WI @JamesWrightJr10

Wright / WI Staff Writer

5 Boston Group Managing Director and Senior Partner Justin Dean will speak at the Washington, D.C. Economic Partnership’s Annual Meeting on April 13. (Courtesy Photo)

5 D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie champions a disparity study showing Black businesses lacking in District government contracts.

Miskiri Expands Culinary Empire with The Breakfast Club Plans for D.C. in the Works

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Silver Spring entrepreneur Jason Miskiri added another restaurant—The Breakfast Club—recently to his list of possessions and has plans to expand to Howard County and the District.

“I have had this concept in mind for a decade,” Miskiri, 47, said speaking of The Breakfast Club. “I wanted a classy type of place for people who like breakfast food. I have learned the DMV loves breakfast any time of day.”

Miskiri co-owns The Society Restaurant & Lounge, a casual spot that features American dishes and Caribbean cuisine in an entertaining setting and owns The Angry Jerk, a West Indies-oriented eatery in which many customers carry out their food. Both restaurants are located on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. The Breakfast Club sits east of the two other restaurants.

The Breakfast Club features salad offerings, entrees such as Avocado Toast, the Club Omelet, Steak & Eggs, Jumbo Stack of Pancakes, Seafood Grits, the Breakfast Club Burger and the Veggie House. Sides such as chicken and impossible sausage, grits and bacon are offered to customers, also. Dessert choices include vanilla rum and bread pudding. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are offered along with fruit juices.

The Breakfast Club charges an 18% service fee for each check and tipping is encouraged.

Decorated with brown wood floors, the restaurant’s dining tables are white, the chairs are black with gold padding, and the napkins are black cloth. As customers dine, soft rhythm and blues music plays throughout the sound system.

The restaurant also has a bar with two flat screen televisions facing the customers.

Miskiri said he wants to open another location of The Angry Jerk

in Columbia, Maryland located in Howard County. He also wants to open a gym for dedicated athletes in Burtonsville. He also has plans to open in the nation’s capital.

“I am looking to move to D.C. and expand on a few concepts,” Miskiri said. “I am looking at an east of the Anacostia River location.”

Miskiri mentioned prospective locations at the St. Elizabeths East campus close to the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Ward 8 and the Skyland Town Center in Ward 7. Miskiri said the District is receptive toward the building of new restaurants.

“My people live in D.C. and I think we can do well there,” he said.

Read the full story on www. washingtoninformer.com WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Jason Miskiri. (Courtesy Photo/Jason Miskiri)

Who is Alvin Bragg, the Black District Attorney Prosecuting Donald Trump?

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

As Americans watched with great anticipation the criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump, one man shouldered the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Alvin Bragg, Manhattan’s first Black district attorney, already has dealt with a bomb threat, political attacks, and a demand by Republican leaders in Congress to testify on Capitol Hill as to why he’s pursuing Trump.

The former president faces charges related to alleged hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and campaign finance violations.

It’s the first time that a U.S. president – sitting or past – is

facing criminal charges.

A man of few words, Bragg often lets his work do his talking.

When pressed about the threat of protests and violence surrounding Trump’s indictment and GOP House leaders’ verbal intimidation, Bragg deferred to a spokesperson.

“We will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law,” Bragg said through a spokesperson.

Bragg, 49, maintained that no one is above the law, and everyone receives equal treatment.

“In every prosecution, we follow the law without fear or favor to uncover the truth,” his statement continued. “Our skilled, honest, and dedicated lawyers re-

main hard at work.”

When Republicans sent a letter demanding Bragg’s appearance before Congress, he wasn’t deterred.

“Your letter is an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution,” Bragg wrote in a response to the letter from GOP Reps Jim Jordan of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky, and Bryan

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The Republicans incredulously claimed that Bragg’s prosecution of Trump is an attempt to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.

Trump currently is the leading GOP candidate for president.

“The letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene,” Bragg’s letter continued.

Further, “the letter’s requests are an unlawful incursion into New York’s sovereignty,” Bragg’s general counsel Leslie Dubeck stated.

The 37th elected Manhattan district attorney, Bragg grew up in Harlem.

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He earned an A.B. from Harvard University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and clerked for Judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. in the Southern District of New York.

A former member of the Board of Directors at the New York Urban League and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Bragg once served as a Sunday school teacher at his New York church.

According to his official bio,

before his 2021 election as Manhattan district attorney, Bragg served as an Assistant Attorney General (AG) at the New York State Attorney General’s Office and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

In these roles, Bragg handled a wide array of criminal cases, including armed robbery, assault, gun possession, witness tampering, narcotics and gun trafficking, wage and hour violations, public corruption, money laundering, and antitrust violations.

He left the State AG’s Office as the Chief Deputy Attorney General, overseeing more than 1,500 people, a budget of $225 million, and the office’s criminal and civil investigations and litigation, including health care fraud, public corruption, narcotics trafficking, wage-and-hour investigations, tenant harassment, and securities fraud.

Bragg also oversaw the 2022 Attorney General’s litigation against the Trump Foundation and served as the first Chief of a special unit that investigated deaths caused by police conduct.

5 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. (Courtesy Photo/ Bragg official campaign photo)

As Trump, Nation Await Indictment, The Fallout Has Already Begun

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Friends and foes alike are prepared for Donald Trump’s indictment and arrest, and everyone is bracing for the consequences, which is expected to spark protests and possibly worse.

As the prospect of an indictment and even arrest grew closer, Trump increased his vitriol.

He took to his Truth Social account and shared a photo of himself swinging a bat at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s head.

He reportedly stated that his impending arrest would result in “death and destruction.”

“What kind of person charges another person,” Trump wrote, “in this case a former President of the United States, who received more votes than any sitting President in history, and who is the leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a crime?”

He continued by labeling Bragg a “degenerate psychopath.”

As an indictment looms and memes of Trump’s arrest created by artificial intelligence circulated the internet, some of the ex-president’s former allies have distanced themselves.

The New York Post, owned by one-time Trump supporter Rupert Murdoch, published an editorial denouncing the demagogue.

“This is Donald Trump,” the newspaper’s editorial determined.

“He hasn’t changed in the slightest. There is no shame,” the Post wrote.

“After riling up rioters, cheering for a coup, and agreeing that his vice president needed to be hanged, he’s back to making violent threats against fellow Americans.”

Trump falsely predicted that New York authorities had planned to arrest him by March 21.

That didn’t happen, and Bragg’s office said Trump simply misled the public about an imminent arrest.

“We will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice

process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law,” Bragg said through a spokesperson.

Bragg, 49, maintained that no one is above the law, and everyone receives equal treatment.

“In every prosecution, we follow the law without fear or favor to uncover the truth,” his statement continued.

“Our skilled, honest, and dedicated lawyers remain hard at work.

Trump’s social media attack on Bragg could reveal the frustrations and even the concern he might possess over all the legal problems he currently faces.

Bragg’s case, in which the former President allegedly paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and committed campaign finance crimes, is just the tip of the iceberg for the bombastic Trump.

Most legal experts believe Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis might have a more serious case.

A special grand jury disbanded in January after reportedly recommending charges that include obstruction, bribery, and interfering with a presidential election.

Additionally, a Special Counsel’s investigation into Trump allegedly mishandling classified documents at his Florida home has amped up with a federal judge ordering the former President’s lawyer to testify.

Finally, the Congressional committee that investigated the January 6 insurrection has recommended serious charges against Trump to the U.S. Department of Justice. Those charges could include treason.

“It would be a travesty of justice,” Mississippi Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson said if Trump isn’t prosecuted by federal authorities for his role in the insurrection.

“Nobody is above the law, not even the President of the United States,” said Thompson, who chaired the commission.

“What we saw after interviewing more than 1,000 people – the majority of whom identify with the Republican Party – we are con-

vinced that whatever happened, happened because of one person. So, we are clear in our recommendation.”

WI @StacyBrownMedia

4 An artificial intelligence generated photo of a possible Trump arrest. (Courtesy Photo)

5 U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greets school children during her arrival ceremony at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana Sunday, March 26, 2023. Harris is on a seven-day African visit that will also take her to Tanzania and Zambia. (Misper Apawu/ AP)

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In Ghana, Kamala Harris ‘Excited About the Future of Africa’

Vice President Kamala Harris was greeted by schoolchildren, dancers and drummers as she arrived on Sunday, March 26 in Ghana for the start of a weeklong visit to Africa intended to deepen U.S. relationships amid global competition over the continent’s future.

"We are looking forward to this trip as a further statement of the long and enduring very important relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those who live on this continent,” Harris said.

The children cheered and waved Ghanaian and American flags as she stepped off her plane after an overnight flight. She smiled broadly and placed a hand on her heart as she passed by the dancers.

“What an honor it is to be here in Ghana and on the continent of Africa," Harris said. “I'm very excited about the future of Africa.” She said she wanted to promote economic growth and food security and welcomed the chance to ”witness firsthand the extraordinary innovation and creativity that is occurring on this continent.”

Ghana is one of the continent's most stable democracies, but Harris is arriving at a time of severe challenges for the West African nation. Its economy, among the fastest growing in the world before the COVID-19 pandemic, faces a debt crisis and soaring inflation that is driving up the cost of food and other necessities.

A country of 34 million people that’s slightly smaller than Oregon, Ghana is also wary of threats from instability in the region. Burkina Faso and Mali have each endured two coups in recent years, and local offshoots of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group operate in the area known as the Sahel, which is north of Ghana. Thousands of people have been killed and millions more have been displaced.

The fighting has created an opening for the Russian mercenary outfit known as Wagner, which maintains a presence in Africa despite participating in the invasion of Ukraine as well. Mali welcomed Wagner after it pushed out French troops that were based there, and there are fears that Burkina Faso will do the same.

Reports projected, Harris would discuss the economic and security challenges when meeting with Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo.

The two leaders have met twice before, both times in Washington. WI

Barbados Government Reopens Drilling for Oil

The Government of Barbados has reopened the second Offshore Licensing Round for the drilling of oil offshore Barbados after the decision was postponed last December because several companies had requested additional time to evaluate acreage and data, Barbados Today reported on Saturday, March 25.

5 Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. (Courtesy Photo)

According to a statement the delay also allowed for amendments to the legislative and licensing frameworks that allowed the country to “improve efficiency and ease of doing business” within the sector.

During her March 14 Budget presentation, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said: “I expect that the new round will take place in the second week of April and this new push, therefore, will facilitate and fast-track the processes and the direct state-to-state negotiations with the amendments to come to Parliament.”

Mottley said the Cabinet has already approved the recommended amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Act that should facilitate the launching of the new offshore bidding round.

She explained officials from Scotland are expected to provide technical assistance in the area of offshore wind, with assistance from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

“The initial prospectivity suggests that there may well be as much as over 42 trillion cubic feet of gas or 13 billion barrels of undiscovered oil,” said Mottley.“The reality is, though, that while you may have that cumulative amount, the 3-D seismic work will tell you what is immediately extractable and, therefore, I don’t count my eggs before they are hatched.”

The country currently produces about 1600 barrels of onshore oil per day. WI

HEALTH

Researchers Find Obamacare has Significantly Reduced Racial Disparities in Health Care Access

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Former President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation has proved the gift that’s kept on giving for Black and Brown communities in America.

Since its passage in 2010, the Af-

fordable Care Act – better known as Obamacare – has helped cut the uninsured rate in the U.S. nearly in half, while significantly reducing racial and ethnic disparities in both insurance coverage and access to care – particularly in states that expanded their Medicaid programs, according to a new report issued by the Commonwealth Fund,

a nonprofit that promotes a high-performing healthcare system.

Obamacare has reduced racial and ethnic disparities in both insurance coverage and access to care — particularly in states that expanded their Medicaid programs, the report’s au-

thors noted.

While much of that progress occurred between 2013 and 2016, federal data show that more than 5 million people gained coverage between 2020 and early 2022, driving the uninsured rate down to a historic low of 8%.

Researchers found that insurance coverage rates improved for Black, Hispanic, and white adults between 2013 and 2021.

The coverage gap between Black and white adults dropped from 9.9 to 5.3 percentage points, while the gap between Hispanic and white adults dropped from 25.7 to 16.3 points.

Additionally, uninsured rates for adults in all three groups improved during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a finding that held true in states that had expanded Medicaid and those that had not.

The report further noted that Black and Hispanic adults experienced larger gains in Medicaid and individual market coverage than white adults between 2019 and 2021.

Between 2013 and 2021, states that expanded Medicaid eligibility had higher rates of insurance coverage and health care access, with smaller disparities between racial/ethnic groups and larger improvements, than states that didn’t expand Medicaid.

For example, the authors found that after Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2019, its uninsured rate for lower-income adults dropped substantially in comparison to neighboring North Carolina, a non-expansion state, and the disparities between Black and white adults narrowed.

Compared to lower-income white adults, larger percentages of lower income Black adults and lower-income Hispanic adults live in states that haven’t expanded

Medicaid, the report revealed.

Researchers said Black and Hispanic adults had higher uninsured rates than white adults in 2013, before Obamacare took full effect.

The disparities reflected lower access to employer-sponsored insurance among people with low incomes, an unregulated and unsubsidized individual insurance market, and lack of Medicaid coverage for adults except for very low income parents in most states. Obamacare attempted to improve coverage rates in several ways, including by allowing states to expand Medicaid eligibility to everyone below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (in 2023, $20,120 for an individual and $41,400 for a family of four), funded nearly fully by the federal government; and by subsidizing and regulating coverage purchased through the individual market.

According to the report, uninsured rates for adults in each of the three racial/ethnic groups fell after the coverage expansions went into effect in 2014, and Black and Hispanic residents reported the largest gains.

Uninsured rates for Hispanic adults fell by 15.7 percentage points between 2013 and 2021.

Also, the Black adult uninsured rate dropped by 10.9 points, and the white uninsured rate declined by 6.3 points.

“These gains reduced coverage disparities considerably,” the authors determined.

The gap between white and Black adults has dropped from 9.9 percentage points to 5.3 points, and the gap for Hispanic adults has declined from 25.7 to 16.3 points.

While the largest coverage gains occurred from 2013 to 2016, adult uninsured rates for these three groups, and for the nation overall, dropped again between 2019 and 2021, as new federal policies aimed at boosting coverage took effect.

“In fact,,” the researchers wrote, “they reached historic lows, despite modest declines in employer-based coverage from pandemic-related job losses.”

They concluded that Obamacare “has been a powerful force for racial equity in health and health care over the past decade.”

“The expansion in access to affordable coverage has served as the backbone for this progress, helping to remove financial barriers and increase access to primary care clinics and other providers where people can get the care, they need to stay healthy,” the authors wrote. WI

@StacyBrownMedia

5 President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. (Courtesy photo/Wikimedia/Lawrence Jackson-whitehouse.gov)

AARP DC: A Wise Friend and Fierce Defender for the District

Louis Davis, Jr., AARP DC State Director

In 2023, AARP DC continued its fight for policies that help empower District residents to improve their lives and choose where and how they live as they age. AARP DC has a long history of supporting older District residents who want to live independently as they age, which is why as the District Council crafts its budget for the upcoming year, we are focused on three main objectives. The District Council must increase funding for senior nutrition programs; increase funding to help seniors connect with their community; and ensure appropriate resources are available for grandparents and close relatives caring for a child.

AARP DC also offers many free, enriching programs available to both members and non-members alike to help you connect with peers. Throughout the year, we offer presentations such as the Fraud Watch Network to teach you about scams and offer ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim, and CAREversations, which offer a chance for caregivers to connect with one another to get tips and encouragement, and find local resources.

Recently, AARP DC has been proud to support activities to help folks stay active, socialize and interact with those in the community. We sponsored tennis clinics; hosted Tertulias, a term used to describe an informal social gathering in the Hispanic and Latino community to talk about life, and current affairs in their neighborhoods; forums for connecting veterans to the assistance they need in accessing their earned benefits; a conversation on Black women’s mental health; events with DC Black Pride and DC Capital Pride, among many more.

Stay tuned for more information on what we have planned later this year, including new events such as a walk club and pickleball tournament.

As AARP DC continues our work, we can’t do it without your help. We will keep fighting for the policies you care about and help all District residents 50+ live their best lives. If you want to volunteer with us to make real improvements in your neighborhood, your Ward, or across the District, join us! If you are interested, please email dcaarp@aarp.org with your name, contact information, which Ward you live in and what issues you care most about!

For the latest and most up to date information on the issues listed here, and for upcoming announcements, please visit our website, aarp.org/dc, or follow us on social media at facebook.com/ aarpdc or twitter.com/aarpdc.

We look forward to working with you and seeing you at an upcoming event!

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan member organization, and has been working to promote the health and well-being of older Americans for more than 60 years. AARP’s District of Columbia State Office engages its 80,000 members and all District residents 50+ through advocacy and outreach, and with fun and interactive programing both in-person and virtually.

Corner

People today can spend nearly half their lives over the age of 50. That’s a lot of living. So, it helps to have a wise friend and fierce defender like AARP in your community. Find us at aarp.org/dc

What on (Our) Earth is Going On? Here’s What’s Up in Local Environmental News

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

Happy springtime! Temperatures rose, jackets started to come off and the District’s favorite flower hit its peak last week. With more sunshine and greener grass on its way for “Earth Month” in April, now’s a great time to look back on the environmental stories you might have missed this month.

CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE BLOOMING EARLIER THANKS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The National Park Service called it official on March 23—the cherry blossoms had hit “peak bloom.”

That’s the period when about 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossom trees are flowering. This year, the timing lined up nearly perfectly with the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival— the pink petals were at their fullest over the weekend during Saturday’s grand

opening ceremony and the annual kite festival on Sunday.

But the nice timing also serves as a reminder that climate change is tangibly changing our world. Over the last century, the cherry blossoms’ peak bloom date has crept forward in the season; it now comes about a week earlier on average than it did in 1920, according to National Park Service data. That’s because average temperatures—globally and locally— have gotten warmer as fossil fuels have increased the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.

IT’S ELECTRIFYING! GETTING AROUND WITHOUT GAS, THAT IS

Electric transportation in the District continued to grow this month.

Capital Bikeshare—the D.C.-area-specific company that allows riders to rent a bike from one dock and drop it at another—unveiled a new e-bike

5 A Capital Bikeshare e-bike. (Joe Flood via Flickr)

model on March 20. The city will get more than 700 of the e-bikes, which have a 60-mile range and can go up to 20 miles per hour, according to reporting from DCist.

In other non-gas transit news from last week, WMATA released its “Zero-Emission Bus Transition Plan” March 23. The initiative aims to switch to a fully-electric bus fleet by 2042, three years before the Metro Board’s original goal. Earlier in the month, the transit agency broke ground on Bladensburg Bus Garage, which is slated to host about 150 zero-emissions buses when it reopens. Electric transit isn’t just good for reducing the carbon emissions that are rapidly turning up our planet’s thermostat. It also cuts down on air pollution, which causes serious and deeply unequal public health harms. The District’s historically Black and brown neighborhoods experience higher levels of air pollutants that increase risks for health problems like lung cancer and strokes compared to whiter parts of the city. One 2021 study published in the journal GeoHealth found that some neighborhoods in Southeast experience more than four times as many pollution-related premature deaths as some wealthy areas in Northwest do.

SECRETARY GENERAL ON LATEST UN REPORT: “THE CLIMATE TIME-BOMB IS TICKING”

Here’s a boring-sounding sen-

tence for you: The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its most recent Synthesis Report on March 20. Here’s a translated version: the world’s leading climate experts said to the world last week, ‘act now or it will be too late.’

“Our world needs climate action on all fronts -- everything, everywhere, all at once,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said, making a reference to this year’s Oscar Best Picture winner.

A few of the top-line findings from the report, in plain English:

• Humans have already caused the Earth to warm up by 2 degrees Fahrenheit, and that has caused changes to the climate unprecedented in human history. The last decade was the warmest in about 125,000 years.

• Climate change impacts on people and ecosystems have been worse than expected. Some vulnerable communities have already lost their homes and livelihoods.

• Meeting the world’s agreed-upon goal—limiting warming to 2.7

degrees Fahrenheit—remains possible. It would require immediate and sweeping action to reduce and then eliminate fossil fuel burning.

• Even if the world misses the 2.7-degree mark, every tenth of a degree beyond that will matter. Every additional bit of warming increases risks immensely, but by the same token, every bit of warming avoided makes a big difference.

• Climate change exacerbates global inequality. The impacts of global warming hit poorer, historically marginalized communities hardest—and those same people produce the fewest emissions. Efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts will add to inequities unless justice features centrally in every climate conversation.

Readers: The Informer has some exciting plans for our environmental coverage this spring—and we want to hear from you! Would you read an environmental roundup newsletter, similar to this one, delivered to your inbox monthly? Let us know at kbenjamin@ washingtoninformer.com. WI

“Our world needs climate action on all fronts – everything, everywhere, all at once,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said, making a reference to this year’s Oscar Best Picture winner.

Harriet Tubman, the ‘Original Outdoors Woman’

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

In a conversation with her biographer, Harriet Tubman described her 1849 escape to freedom this way: “When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven.”

In that quote, Tubman conceptualizes her own freedom, which she and two of her brothers risked everything to attain, in terms of her faith in the divine and recognition of beauty in the natural world. That first trait—her strong Christian faith—is widely recognized, both by people today and by Tubman’s abolitionist contemporaries. When she began to return to Maryland, leading more than 70 others out of slavery on at least 13 successful trips, she earned the biblical nickname “Moses.”

Less commonly acknowledged, though, is Tubman’s deep connection to the natural world.

“She was the original ‘outdoors woman,’” said Dana Paterra, Park Manager for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Dorchester County, Maryland. “She was illiterate in the traditional sense, but she was very good at reading this landscape.”

Born around 1822, Tubman—or Araminta Ross, her birth name— spent much of her early life outdoors in the wetlands of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Her parents were enslaved, and at the age of 7, the family’s owners hired Tubman out to check muskrat traps in the marshes. She also worked with her fathers and brothers in the timber fields and at nearby wharves.

“I'm not sure if you have any ex perience walking through salt marsh, but when you come across an area that has water in it, sometimes it's really difficult to tell how deep that water is—you could sink up to your waist or it could just be a few inches,” Paterra explained. “She learned how to walk in the marsh.”

That skill was just one of many that Tubman perfected during a childhood and adolescence spent in the woods and wetlands. Those skills became

crucial as she traversed the landscape from slaveholding Maryland to freedom across the Pennsylvania border.

Paterra said Tubman “learned how to read the trees,” picking up on signifiers like moss, which grows on trees’ northern sides.

“She knew about the tidal cycles and when it was safest to use the low water crossing and walk through the marshes; she knew how to forage for food, how to find shelter in some of these large trees that are hollow on the inside,” Pattera said. “She was very adept at using nature to fuel her success as well as the success of others that she personally escorted to freedom.”

With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, the route along the Underground Railroad became even more dangerous. Still, Tubman kept returning to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to lead family members and others north—not just to Philadelphia and New York but also as far as Canada.

Paterra said Tubman’s groups often traveled in winter, when the cover of night would last longest. Like many enslaved people who escaped north,

Tubman learned to read the night sky, seeking out the North Star and reading constellations like a map.

Tubman also famously used bird calls, particularly the hoot of an owl, as signals—unnoticeable to any slave catchers waiting in the dark—to the people she traveled with.

“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say: I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger,” Tubman said at a women’s suffrage convention in 1896.

In addition to foraging for food, Tubman knew how to use plants for healing and other needs, such as quieting infants during times when silence meant survival. That botanical expertise would also serve her well during the Civil War, when she served as nurse. Later, her intimate knowledge of the landscape—including the mid-Atlantic region’s many rivers and streams—became a vital asset to the Union when she served as a spy.

Today, some who work to preserve cultural and natural resources related

to Tubman’s story see her intimate connection to nature as a key piece of her legacy. That’s especially true, Paterra said, at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park.

“When we can connect people to

Tubman’s story through a landscape and they can actually see it—you know, they're seeing what Tubman saw,” Paterra said. “It creates a very powerful personal connection.” WI

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5 Harriet Tubman (Courtesy photo)

EDUCATION

Program Allows Black Male Students to Speak

Candidly with Elders

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Since establishing a presence in D.C. Public Schools, the Becoming A Man (BAM) program has allowed young men in at least five schools to form positive relationships with one another while gleaning wisdom from Black male professionals.

An important element of this program involves intergenerational conversations where the high school students speak candidly with their older counterparts about aspects of the Black male experience.

At Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, a dozen young men recently took part in this activity with DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee and BAM affil- iates from D.C. and Chicago. For a couple hours on March 22, they sat in a circle, watched an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and discussed how the themes in that episode resonated with them.

In Season 4, Episode 24 of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the main character Will, who’s played by Will Smith, is visited by his estranged father Lou, played by Ben Vereen. Against the wishes of his uncle, played by the late James Avery, Will spends time with Lou and becomes hopeful that they’ll make up for 14 years of Lou’s absence. However, Lou disappoints Will, who’s then left wondering, in an iconic, heart wrenching scene, why his father doesn’t love him.

Aidan Lee, a sophomore at Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, said that episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air resonated with

him as a young man who, after losing touch with his father, got to make up for lost time early on in life.

Aidan, who’s in BAM for a second year, said some of his peers often don’t get the same opportunity, and that manifests in how they view the world. “The lesson I learned is to have integrity when it comes to your emotions and actions,” Aidan said as he reflected on the screening and subsequent conversation. “[It’s also about] learning what to prioritize, being accountable and not taking things for granted. The dialogue was very open. I was comfortable sharing out in that mix of elders and peers. It gave me more comfortable and confident feelings.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF OPENING UP

Rasheem Rooke, executive director of Youth Guidance DC, a local nonprofit that established the Fellowship Initiative with JP Morgan Chase, said that students benefited from seeing the chancellor and other adult men in a different light.

“In the circle, titles get left at the door and it gives students a chance to see adults’ human side,” Rooke said. “The most important piece for

this group is to see life drawn from their experiences to our experiences. Nothing is new under the sun. We have to find a way to utilize these resources.”

The American Counseling Association estimates that 40% of Black male teenagers suffer from persistent sadness and feelings of hopelessness, with nearly one out of four seriously considering suicide. On the education front, the D.C. Policy Center found two years ago that 14 percent of high school graduates who enter college could expect to obtain their degree within six years.

BAM counts among a bevy of offerings DCPS students can access to tackle socioemotional and academic issues.

“Students might look at us like we got it figured out but we don’t. We’re just being honest and transparent about what it means to improve and work toward the best version of yourself, acknowledging your failures and fears,” Ferebee said. “ Becoming A Man came before the pandemic and it couldn’t have been at a better time. We have an entrepreneurial spirit in our young people who think about what they want to do when they grow up.”

Read the full story on www.washingtoninformer.com. WI @SamPKCollins

5 At Ron Brown College Preparatory High School in Northeast, a dozen young men sat down with Becoming A Man affiliates from D.C. and Chicago and D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis D.Ferebee to watch a classic episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and discuss the themes surrounding it. (Marckell Williams/ The Washington Informer )

3 Rasheem Rooke photo (Courtesy)

Kramer Middle School Recognizes Honor Roll Students

Muhammad Hill and LeGreg Harrison of

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Nearly 60 young people received recognition for their academic excellence during an honor roll assembly at Stephen E. Kramer Middle School in Southeast.

Students, parents, teachers, administrators and visitors from nearby Ketchum Elementary School filled the auditorium on Tuesday morning as school leaders congratulated 6th, 7th and 8th graders who had a 3.0 grade point average or higher during the second quarter.

Muhammad Hill and LeGreg Harrison, co-owners of The MuseumDC clothing store on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast, also spoke to students about their journey through D.C. Public Schools and explained how their scholastic achievements can lay the foundation for future success.

Such words resonated with Ladawn Humphries, an 8th grade honoree who spent much of second quarter constantly checking her grades and gathering feedback from teachers about how she could improve the quality of her assignments. Ladawn told the Informer that her consistency pushed her through her toughest moments.

“It’s important, not just for the grades, but to have a good record as I get older and to make my family happy,” Ladawn said as she reflected on her experiences this academic year. “My favorite subject is history. I like learning about what happened in the past. I recently learned about the Temperance [Movement] to keep alcohol away because it was causing abuse. For class, I wrote what I thought about it.”

During Tuesday’s ceremony, student Tayveon Nixon sang the Black National Anthem while Serenity Stewart sang her rendition of Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine.” Dr. Joelle Davis Carter and Kourtney Purham later presented certificates to each honor roll student. As Carter and Purham read each student's name, applause rang throughout the auditorium.

In her remarks, Carter, who’s in her first year teaching at Kramer Middle School, said that, in addition to scor-

ing a 3.0 grade point average, honor roll students must show integrity and respect while exhibiting solid student conduct via attendance and positive interactions with teachers and administrators.

For Carter, the honor roll ceremony served as the first step in bolstering morale among the student population at Kramer. With PARCC and MAP testing soon approaching, she has her sights set on providing honor roll students more opportunities to speak to their peers about how they accumulated high grades.

“This was collective work and organization from previous teachers and pushing from staff members to get the students,” Carter said. “Those who made Ds and Fs [last term] stepped it up this term. To see that motivation was exciting. This is a catalyst for us to use competition in a friendly way so students can show their parents that they’re really try ing.”

As of last academic year, 272 stu dents attend Kramer Middle School, with nearly 80% of them designat ed as “at-risk.” The majority of the student population comes from the surrounding communities, includ ing: Fairlawn, Randle Heights, Penn Branch, Fort Davis Park, and Du pont Park. PARCC testing data post ed online shows that 94% of students either didn’t meet expectations or partially did so in math, while 81% did the same in English and language arts.

This honor roll assembly builds upon ongoing efforts to expand stu dent enrichment and provide teach ers more planning time and profes sional development, via a flexible scheduling program administrators launched this school year.

In her closing remarks, Kramer Middle School principal Katreena Shelby spoke candidly about the negative perception that her school receives, telling students, parents and colleagues that the community must take every opportunity to celebrate its wins in a world where such accolades rarely get recognized.

Kramer Middle School parent Darius Parks echoed Shelby’s sentiments.

Parks, father of honor roll student

The MuseumDC Speak at Ceremony

and eighth grader, Davien Parks told the Informer that he was proud that his son focused on his studies and received the fruits of his labor. He expressed his hope that, with high school soon approaching, Davien would be able to build upon his recent success.

“We’re showing what really goes on in the walls of the school,” Parks said. “As a parent, I’m glad my son is able to make the honor roll. It takes a lot to make the honor roll, like concentration under [the threat of] peer pressure and laziness. You have to be on task. I want my son to make it again so I can come back to another ceremony.” WI

@SamPKCollins

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5 LeGreg Harrison (left) and Muhammad Hill, both keynote speakers for the honor roll assembly at Stephen E. Kramer Middle School recognizing student achievements. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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New Leadership for D.C. Government and What That Means for Business

With the departure of long-time Bowser aide John Falcicchio, the business community has been left searching for contacts. The next generation of leadership appear to be Chief of Staff Lindsey Parker and interim Deputy Mayor Keith Anderson. Though both have extensive public service records, can they work amongst the agencies to effect the policy objectives laid out by the Executive like Falcicchio?

Parker, another long-time Bowser confidant, has risen through the ranks, most recently serving as Assistant City Administrator and Chief Technology Officer. Anderson has also served the District in a variety of roles, most recently as the Director of the Department of General Services agency.

As Falcicchio had served the Mayor since her first term, his fingerprints were demonstrably left on D.C,’s Comeback Plan. The Comeback Plan, released in January, illustrates a vision for the next five years of economic development in the city. With the American Rescue Plan Act monies drying up, residents have been vocal in questioning the direction of the city. Moreover, the question remains, “Who do we talk to?” one business leader anonymously remarked.

Prior to Falcicchio’s departure, he had served contemporaneously as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development, and, at one point, as the Mayor’s appointee for the District of Columbia Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. This concentration of power, in unelected politicos, resembles the Tammany Hall infrastructure of New York City.

Parker’s curriculum vitae supports the greatest proximity to the Mayor. She’s spent two decades in public service, worked as the Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, and has held contemporaneous roles in the Administration. Therefore, she has great access to the Executive, and can work across agencies on behalf of industry.

However, the Mayor’s habitual decision to have key personnel hold two or more contemporaneous roles breeds potential conflict. Nineteenth century British historian, Lord Acton, once famously uttered “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Whether this still proves true in the twenty-first century remains to be seen. WI

Nashville Shooting Another Tragic Reminder There’s a Need for Change

It’s not quite the fourth month of the year, and according to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 130 mass shootings in 2023.

Mass shootings, as defined by the FBI, is when one or more than one individual is “actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” While the FBI has not set an exact number for the amount of casualties to constitute a mass shooting, the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012 defines “mass killing,” as “three or more killings in a single incident,” according to Brittanica.

Six people died on Monday as a result of a mass shooting at Nashville’s the Covenant School, a private elementary school in conjunction with and located on the grounds of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Three children senselessly robbed of their lives; three adults, including the active shooter, murdered. Six lives lost, hundreds of family and friends affected, thousands rattled in the community, and millions of Americans and people around the world mourning yet another mass shooting– one of 130 in less than four months.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. This year alone, 59 children ages 0-11 and 347 teens 12-17 were killed due to gun violence, the Gun Violence Archives reports.

The total number of gun violence deaths this year thus far, for all causes, is more than 10,000. These statistics alone should be a big enough wake-up-call for lawmakers surrounding gun reform.

If the five-figure fatalities isn’t enough to change the minds of firearm enthusiasts, gun rights activists and politicians alike, then let’s think about the children at least.

According to an April 2021 Pew Research Center Study, 48% of Americans saw gun violence as a major issue and 53% supported some level of gun reform or stricter laws.

However, here we are, not quite in April 2023, and families have to bury their loved ones because 28-year-old, Audrey Hale, who used he/him pronouns, entered the Covenant School armed with two AR-style guns, a rifle, a pistol and a handgun.

With the statistics from this year alone, Hale’s violence isn’t isolated, but rather a reminder that gun reform is necessary to reverse the tragic statistics this country currently faces. WI

Spell It Out

Congratulations to Lesly Hernandez for winning the Prince George’s County Spelling Bee. It’s so lovely to see kids are still able to participate in these kinds of activities that significantly help with their development.

Rose P. Hartman

Washington, D.C.

TO THE EDITOR

Time to Clean House in D.C.

There seems to be a lot of turmoil in D.C. politics at the moment. I’m hoping we can get the bad actors out and not make a show out of it. Because there are politicians from around the country advocating for D.C. to be under federal rule. As a District, we need to focus and put our resources toward keeping our rights, not lengthy investigations.

Melinda Phines

Washington, D.C.

Readers' Mailbox The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsaxton@washingtoninformer. com or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you.

Guest Columnist

The Unequal Cost of Protesting

The 45th president is in the news again, facing indictments in New York and Georgia for criminal behavior regarding illegally paying a porn star (New York) and election tampering (Georgia). While the former president has not yet been indicted, he has already wallowed in his victimhood, describing the legal proceedings as "political" and biased.

His attorneys have attempted to slow the process in Georgia by lobbing accusations against Fulton County District Attorney

Fani Willis, who happens to be a Black woman. She is biased, they say, incapable of prosecuting. As usual, the 45th president and his ilk have it all wrong. And as he has done for the past 50 years, the Orange Man attempts to wiggle out of his legal challenges.

The former president has attempted to rally his troops, just as he did on Jan. 6, 2021. Fewer may be inclined to take it to the streets, given that about a thousand insurrectionists have been charged for disorderly and dis-

Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

ruptive conduct and more. The average sentence for these miscreants was 16 months, but so far, at least five have been sentenced to more than seven years. Some were found not guilty, and many received minor sentences.

Contrast the treatment of traitorous criminals witH the treatment of Brittany Martin, a South Carolina woman who participated in a May 2020 protest against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd. She was vocal with a police officer, shouting "no

Praise for Wonderful Dr. Fauci

When a guest at the white-tie Gridiron Club Dinner earlier this month in Washington, D.C., collapsed, hit her head on a table and fell motionless to the ground, many of the people around her were not sure what to do next. But then a familiar fellow guest quickly came through the crowd to help: Dr. Anthony Fauci.

In retrospect, it feels like little surprise that Dr. Fauci, who is also the

subject of a just-released PBS documentary, was in the right place at the right time to provide aid when it was needed. As a physician and immunologist who has been an adviser to every president since Ronald Reagan and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation's highest civilian honor — by President George W. Bush, Dr. Fauci has spent his entire professional life serving and helping others.

Dr. Fauci's distinguished service to our nation's public health began decades ago when he joined the Na-

Guest Columnist

justice, no peace," and, allegedly, "I'm willing to die for the Black, are you willing to die for the blue? This is just a job for you; this is my life."

Her comments were perceived as "threats" (she had no weapon), and she was charged with aggravated breach of peace, instigating a riot, and five counts of threatening police officers. She was grossly overcharged for her verbal reaction to police violence and was sentenced in May to four years in jail. Appeals to shorten her sen-

Marian Wright Edelman

tional Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1968, just a few years after graduating first in his class from Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medicine). He became director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in 1984, and served in that position until December. As director of NIAID, Dr. Fauci guided our nation's research and work on HIV/AIDS, SARS, swine flu, MERS and Ebola.

During President George W. Bush's administration, Fauci oversaw the development of the United States Pres-

Ben Jealous

ident's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a global response to the HIV/ AIDS crisis that has saved millions of lives. When President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008, the citation read: "As a physician, medical researcher, author, and public servant, Dr. Anthony Fauci has dedicated his life to expanding the horizons of human knowledge and making progress toward groundbreaking cures for diseases. His efforts to advance our understanding and treatment of HIV/AIDS have brought hope and healing to tens of millions in

Wisconsin Race Reminds Us How Important Every Election Is

half of us switched to powering our homes and cars with solar and wind energy, emissions and fossil fuel extraction would drop precipitously.

Whether it's protecting the planet or preserving our democracy, it can seem at times that our individual actions fall short against the biggest challenges. Let me tell you why that isn't true.

We tend to overlook that issues like these arise in the first place because of the sum of a lot of individual actions. If one by one,

It's the paradox of the aggregate. One of us doing something has a minimal impact, a lot of us doing the same thing moves the needle — for the good or the bad.

Voting is no different. I've spent a good part of my career fighting to ensure people can vote and encouraging them to get out and do it.

Next week, on April 4, Wisconsin will hold a spring election, mainly for local races. It's the kind of election that historically voters across the country skip. Voter turnout in the Wisconsin primaries last month was 21%, and that was a four-point improvement. Badger State voters should see this election differently.

This election will pick the swing vote on the state's Supreme Court, which is dominated by a far-right majority that's ruled against everything from broad use of ballot

tence were unsuccessful, and there is evidence that she was brutally treated in jail. She was disciplined because she refused to cut her dreadlocks for religious reasons. Brittany Martin got a sentence of four years for yelling at a police officer. Most insurrectionists on January 6 got less than a year and a half. If everyone who shouted "no justice, no peace" at a rally were sent to jail, the jails would overflow. Why was she electively

drop boxes to make voting more convenient to the right of citizens' groups to challenge environmental permits (the dissenting justices said that decision "slam shut the courthouse doors" to Wisconsinites).

The Wisconsin race may even decide the next Presidential election. Those justices may well be called on in 2024 to rule on election challenges in a state whose 10 electoral votes have decided presidential elections. It happened that way in 2020, and the conservative

both developed and developing nations. The United States honors Anthony Fauci for his commitment to enabling men, women, and children to live longer, healthier lives."

That lifelong commitment faced an enormous test against the fear and deadly unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Dr. Fauci was up for the fight. Dr. Fauci became a nationally familiar face and voice while leading NIAID's response to the pandemic. He also became the focus of

in this year's race advised the national and state Republican parties and those who sought to submit fake paperwork for Donald Trump electors after he lost the 2020 race.

A few more people stepping up to vote could decide this race. Statewide contests in the Dairy State often turn on razor thin margins. Wisconsin has 72 counties. If 140 more people in each one chooses to vote for the same candidate in the supreme court

MALVEAUX Page 49

E. Faye Williams

The Scam

hood that supports that thought as character assassination.

The one thing I will not accept or acknowledge is that age has rendered me incompetent. I do admit that, like the other body parts among the aging, circumstances affecting individuals exist which affect their cognitive acuity. Now, unlike the thoughts of many, age has not rendered ALL elders mentally deficient. I consider any manifestation or act against my person-

The fact that elders are frequently targeted by unprincipled and unscrupulous scam artists is well known. Incalculable amounts of money and personal property are swindled from elders each year. Right-thinking individuals condemn these acts and wonder how people can live with themselves after such contemptible behavior. It should be emphasized that although acts against the elders are, seemingly, more well-publicized, young people fall victim to scam

Guest Columnist

artists as well. I can only guess that fact is omitted because it flies in the face of the belief that the young, like Superman, possess invulnerability commensurate with their youth.

You may wonder why I use this article to address the issue of scamming. I do so because I was recently the target of a scam. I did not lose any money or property, but I was inconvenienced by having to adjust personal financial accounts and the loss of the time it took to resolve those issues. From the perspective of a non-professional, I

Marc H. Morial

want to remind my readers of the pitfalls of conducting personal/financial business in the ever-changing and wide-open digital environment.

Rather than begin my thoughts in the digital landscape, I want to address the mind — our own minds — their strengths and the hazards they open for us. Our greatest strength rests in attention to detail, emotional self-control, the acknowledgment that we live in an environment where scamming has become more of a norm, and, most importantly, the recog-

No One, Not Even a Former President, Is Above the Law

the secret of rule of law, in which no one is above accountability." — Da-

vid A. Graham

"An indictment of the former president, followed by orderly due process, would show that no one is immune to following the law simply because he is famous, wealthy, politically powerful, willing to threaten the justice system, or possessed of intemperate and powerful followers such as Representative Andy Biggs. Biggs has accidentally stumbled on

It's meant to be a dire warning — a call to arms for the MAGA army:

"Remember, if they can do this to me, they can do it to anyone!"

Donald Trump howls.

Trump's lieutenants, like Rep. Biggs — an election denier who refused to denounce white supremacy — dutifully parrot this line.

Guest Columnist

They are of course, absolutely correct, although they got it somewhat backward. If "they" — meaning duly-elected or appointed prosecutors following the law — can do it to anyone, "they" can do it to Trump.

It must be said, however, that Trump clearly means something different when he says "they."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis and New York State Attorney General Letitia James are Black. Trump

Svante Myrick

Conservative Groups Don't Speak for All Moms

should be, without a doubt.

As Women's History Month comes to a close, I've been thinking about moms and honoring motherhood. I've written before about how my mom instilled values in me, including respect for everyone's rights — not just my own. Mom also worked multiple jobs to support our family through some very hard times. She represents my ideal of what a mother

And maybe she would represent yours too, or my neighbor's. I certainly think so — but the truth is I can't say for sure, and I can't insist on it.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what some on the Right are trying to do by claiming to speak for all mothers and even all parents. This effort to steal the moral authority of motherhood only for themselves is wrong, and it has to be stopped.

The far-right group Moms for Liberty is a marquee example with

an especially insidious name. The group is behind book banning efforts in numerous states. Its main targets are books and materials that address race, racism, and gender and gender identity issues. It supports a bill that is coming to the floor of the U.S. House as I write this, called the Parents' Bill of Rights.

This House bill would more accurately be called a bill of rights for some parents. Moms — and dads, like myself — who oppose the bill see it for what it is: a vehicle that opens the door to more book censorship

nition that the scam CAN HAPPEN TO US.

I have noticed an increasing number of tempting online offers (scams) that come from those presenting themselves as reputable businesses. These offers include logos and images we associate with legitimacy and present no immediate reason for caution. For all electronic communication, I have learned to look first at the correspondence's originating address. If the address suggests a source other

WILLIAMS Page 50

never misses an opportunity to stoke the flame of the racial resentment at the heart of his political appeal.

"One of the impacts of this rhetoric of anti-white racism is that it invites everyday Americans to see themselves as victims of a Black takeover," Tayo Bero wrote in The Guardian. "This isn't just absurd, it also lends credence to the farright 'white replacement theory' that underpins Trump's political strategy."

Deplorable though his appeals

to racism may be, they are an undeniably effective tactic in a broader strategy to divert attention from the crimes alleged in the myriad of cases against him. They are historic in their scope and gravity: Inciting an insurrection. Conspiracy to defraud the United States. Obstructing Congress. Racketeering. Falsifying documents. Violating the Espionage Act. Obstruction of justice. Removing and concealing federal records.

and book bans, not to mention bullying and discrimination. Instead of creating a school environment where children are challenged and thrive and all parents are treated as partners, this bill prevents students from learning and teachers from teaching. In fact, supporters of the bill rejected amendments to fund Statewide Family Engagement Centers and to designate a parent coordinator at every school.

Fortunately, the bill has little chance of passage in the Senate. But it mirrors "parental rights bills" that are passing in state after state. Moms for Liberty is

often behind these efforts. Of course, it's not hard to see that what this "pro-liberty" group is actually doing is infringing on your liberty — specifically, what political scientists call your negative liberty. That's your right to pursue your interests free from interference from others.

But interference with your choices is what Moms for Liberty is all about. What they and other groups like them are claiming is their prerogative to decide what is right not just for their

LIFESTYLE

Debra Lee Reveals How She Found Her Superpower

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Whenever audiences saw Debra Lee as chairman and CEO of Black

Entertainment Television (BET), she was an example of a powerful, confident woman head of a global media empire. As it turns out, she never enjoyed making those

television appearances on BET’s awards shows. Lee was a “let’s get it done” leader who did not require on-camera visibility, as she shares in her new memoir “I Am Debra Lee,” published by Legacy Lit. With this book, Lee’s goal was to share insights that could guide women, especially Black women, on how to attain C-suite status in corporate America. Lee felt her approach would be received better if her advice were backed by her real-life experiences, peppered with humor.

“Playing small and staying quiet not only stole my power, but it also took away my purpose, said Lee about one thing she learned climbing the ladder to success.

BRINGING HER MEMOIR TO LIFE

Lee was recently in a conver-

sation at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture with Michel Martin, newly named co-host of NPR’s “Morning Edition.” The vibe in the Oprah Winfrey Auditorium was set as Lee walked on stage to applause and the sounds of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” After reading her memoir, it felt like Lee always wanted to be respected, but she first had to figure out a few things about herself, then own her value.

Lee credits the late attorney and activist Vernon Jordan, who convinced her to write an autobiography. When she stepped down from BET four years ago, Lee began the writing project.

“As I got more into my career, I thought about writing a book, but was not sure what it would be about,” Lee said when Martin asked Lee if she hesitated about writing the book.

Starting from humble beginnings in Greensboro, NC., Lee’s mother was a ward clerk at the Black hospital. Her father was a career military man raised in D.C. and graduated from Dunbar High School. It was instilled in Lee to always be nice, with the idea that was how you get ahead.

LIFE LED BY MALE DRIVERS

In the interview with Martin, Lee said her father had mapped out her Ivy League education and career. Readers learn about Lee’s experiences at BET, there are parallels between her father’s approach to her life and how Bob Johnson, former BET chairman

and CEO, planned her career trajectory at the company. She went from being BET’s general counsel to COO, then succeeded her boss at the company.

Lee did talk to Martin about her affair with Johnson, which started after she had been with BET for a decade. But the Me Too and Times Up movements clarified for Lee what she had knowingly been doing. Yes, she was having an affair, but the many times she attempted to end it, she was threatened that her career would be over. That is sexual harassment.

MOVING AHEAD

Like with other challenges in her career, Lee forged ahead, gaining control of her business life to retire with an impactful legacy. Under her leadership, Lee moved BET forward following the merger with media giant Viacom. The network produced movies and awards programs that elevated “the culture.”

In addition to now being an author, Lee is founder and chairman of the Leading Women Defined Foundation, an organization committed to uplifting and supporting black female thought leaders. She also launched the Monarch Collective, a venture to put more people of color on corporate boards and executive leadership positions. This is Debra Lee, and she feels good about it.

Listen to the Smithsonian Institution recording of Debra Lee and NPR’s Michel Martin at https:// bit.ly/DebraLeeSmithsonianVideo WI @bcscomm

5 (L-R) Michel Martin, co-host of NPR’s “Morning Edition” talks with Debra Lee, retired chairman and CEO of BET Networks, about her memoir “I Am Debra Lee.” The program took place recently at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Courtesy photo/Smithsonian Institution)

Black Appraisers Needed to Combat Racial Bias

By Angela Swinson Lee

Devin Minnis was between careers when his wife, a loan officer, suggested that he may want to explore becoming a real estate appraiser. He took her advice and has been in the appraiser business for the past two years as an appraiser trainee.

Chris Jackson was flipping houses in Florida when an appraiser came in for 10 minutes and received a check for $400. The market crashed, and Jackson thought it might be time for a career pivot.

Minnis and Jackson are two Black men in an extremely white profession as licensed appraisers, where they assign a value to a property. Appraisals are used by buyers, sellers, and lenders to determine a property’s value and how the value compares to other similar properties in a neighborhood.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 75,000 appraisers in the United States, 97% are white, and most are over 45.

As racial bias in appraisals continues, both men agree that recruiting Black appraisers is one way to combat the problem.

A December 2022 report by Brookings Institute found that homes in Black neighborhoods are valued roughly 21% to 23% below their valuations in non-Black neighborhoods. The report also found that appraisals in majority Black neighborhoods are 1.9 times more likely to be appraised below the contract price than homes in majority-white neighborhoods.

With over 15 years in the appraiser business, Jackson, owner of Jackson Appraisal Group in Bowie, has seen his share of unfair practices.

“It’s when an appraiser goes out of his way to do a lower value, subconsciously or consciously, that is not justified. You go into a white neighborhood, and you see a Black family, and because it’s a Black family, they get a lower value,” Jackson explained about one-way appraisal bias can be defined.

Jackson reviewed a house in Baltimore where the loan amount was based on the value of a home being renovated. The first appraisal was $220,00. The second appraisal was $180,000.

In the first scenario, the appraisal took a comparative market analysis in a four-block radius without crossing major roads. The second appraiser crossed major roads and went to different neighborhoods for comparables in an area where housing varies drastically from block to block.

“When I looked at that report, I thought there is no logical reason for this to happen. My first impression as a Black man is this is racial bias, but it’s hard to tell if it’s racial bias or incompetence,” Jackson said. He also noticed it on the sale side, where he represented a Jewish friend looking to purchase a home in Bethesda. The seller-agent coached him on how to win the bid. He later learned that the neighbors reviewed the Facebook profiles of all the people who submitted offers and thought Jackson’s client would be the best fit for the neighborhood.

“Basically, that was 2020 redlining,” Jackson said of the incident.

Jackson added that appraisers also need to be geographically competent. He said an appraiser coming from Hartford County needs to understand the geography of Prince George’s County. Although report guidelines exist for appraisers to make an objective decision, sometimes, the reports can be subjective.

“Let’s just say the house is updated, but somebody is cooking food that doesn’t smell right to me. Subconsciously, I might be thinking less of this property. Just think about the fact that you have a human being walking through this house, and their opinions are going to be swayed by maybe things they shouldn’t be swayed by,” Jackson said.

He gave an example of a house he was assigned to appraise where the owner had confederate flags and guns throughout the home. Jackson admits that he was a little apprehensive about entering the home. The way he overcame it was to have a conversation with the homeowner, and they found a connection.

“All of those feelings, subconsciously I may have had, went away,” Jackson said.

Both Jackson and Minnis agree that the appraiser industry needs to be more diverse.

“The thing is that Black families don’t get told about these kinds of careers. It’s passed down from father to son. That’s why it’s so dominant by white males,” Minnis said, adding that recruitment needs to occur at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to spread the word about the profession.

5 Chris Jackson, Owner, Jackson Appraisal Group, LLC. (Courtesy of Chris Jackson)

FRIENDS OF CARTER BARRON FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Where Historic Preservation for The Carter Barron Amphitheatre and Education for DMV Performing Arts Youth Counts

FRIENDS OF CARTER BARRON in partnership with Erwin Pendergrast and DEO, CDC

Presents An Intimate Evening with The Legendary Temptations

BLACK-TIE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND AWARDS AFFAIR

Women in D.C. Art Leading the Pack

By Andrew S. Jacobson WI Contributing Writer

Over the past month, the Washington Informer has seen some terrific art from District artists. In honor of International Women’s Month, here are some of the artists curators, to check out in March and beyond.

Cultural DC’s Kristi Maiselman has curated a wonderful exhibition by New Jersey-native Nyguen Smith. Smith has been in residency with Cultural DC for the past several months, and the Informer previewed the show, engaged Smith in a studio visit, and even attended a celebratory brunch hosted at Bammy’s.

Leah Lewis has been on the rise, displaying prominently with Stable Arts and being featured in their programming. Maleke Glee, curator and director of Stable Arts, has long been a supporter of Lewis, and made a point to mention the artists and her work, prior to her showing at Georgetown’s Kreeger Museum, when the Informer attended the Frieze Art Fair in Los Angeles in February.

Now, here in the District, art enthusiasts can see Lewis’s surreal works, alongside other Stable artists, prominently on display at the Kreeger.

Freddie Booker is a veteran in the arts space, having worked with Bohams and Sotheby’s while living abroad, in London. Her newest en-

The Sensational Opening Act Maysa

IN SUPPORT OF THE REOPENING OF THE CARTER BARRON AMPHITHEATRE

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023

HOWARD THEATER 620 T STREET NW - WDC FOR TICKET INFO:  www.thehowardtheatre.com

Contact: 202-681-2744

SPONSORS:

The Council of the District of Columbia Earmark, DC Office of Cable, TV, Film, Media and Entertainment, EventsDC, Veterans Services Corp. and DDC, F and L Construction, MCN Build, Hamel Builders and Woodbury Fund. Bozzuto, PEPCO Djannarone and COMCAST, along with Care DC, Stanley Jackson, Amy Jacques Garvey Institute and BZB International.

deavor led her to curating local artist Werlayne Nunes’ show with Mehari Square Gallery.

In short, there is no lack of artistic talent in the District.

With women at the forefront, this is an opportunity which residents shouldn’t miss. If the Districts art market becomes anything like New York, the day of reckoning, and pricing changes, shall be swift. Don’t miss out!

“D.C. is on the verge of a cultural breakthrough,” cautioned Director Helen Chason, of the Kreeger Museum. “The private market is showing signs of really picking up.” WI

5 Kristi Maiselman (Courtesy photo)

These Tax Tips Can Make Filing (1040) EZ

With tax day approaching, there’s no time like the present to get started on your 2022 returns and submit them well before the April 18 deadline.

This year, you have a few extra days to complete your taxes. With the typical deadline of April 15 falling on a weekend, followed by Emancipation Day on Monday, this year’s filing date is on Tuesday, April 18.

“Though there are a few extra days to file, make sure to still give yourself ample time to gather and organize your tax information to take advantage of any and all tax deductions, or other tax breaks that may apply to you and your family,” says Fred Walls, Managing Director for J.P. Morgan Private Bank. “Many key deductions that may reduce your tax bill or provide a refund are often left on the table due to lack of preparation. Whether you file on your own or work with a paid tax professional, the initial groundwork is the key to maximizing your benefits.”

Ready to submit or get started? Here are some tips to help simplify the process, maximize your potential refund or minimize your tax burden before

you finalize your return.

GET ORGANIZED.

Make sure you have important documents like last year’s return, current W-2s, 1099s and mortgage interest statements on hand. You’ll also want to gather receipts for tax-deductible purchases, travel, charitable contributions and other potential write-offs. You can look online to find checklists of documents you might need to help you file.

BE AWARE OF TAX LAW CHANGES.

While taxes are inevitable, what you may owe or get refunded might not be. As you finalize or start your 2022 tax return, be aware of changes to federal, state

and local tax laws that could affect your refund or how much you owe. For example, if you benefitted from the child tax credit, earned income tax credit or child and dependent care credit on your 2021 return, don’t be surprised if you get a smaller refund this year. Credits expanded as part of federal Covid relief packages have now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

ARE YOU WORKING FROM HOME PERMANENTLY?

If you have a home-based business, you might qualify for a home office tax deduction. You can potentially write off expenses for a part of your home you only use for business purposes.

TO ITEMIZE OR NOT TO ITEMIZE.

Determine whether you’ll itemize your expenses or take the standard deduction. If you think your qualified expenses will be more than the 2022 standard deduction ($12,950 for most singles and $25,900 for most married couples filing jointly), it might be worth it to itemize. Taking the standard deduction can make the filing process easier, but it could mean you pay more in taxes or receive a smaller refund.

CONTRIBUTE TO RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

You can fund a traditional or Roth IRA through the April 18, 2023, tax filing deadline and have it count for 2022. Traditional IRA contributions lower your tax bill right now, while your Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free in re-

tirement. You can contribute up to $6,000 to an IRA each year, or—if you were 50 years or older in 2022—up to $7,000 of your earned income.

SEEK HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT.

If you have a more comprehensive tax return, it can be a good idea to work with a certified public accountant (CPA). If you need assistance in general, check if you qualify for free in-person or remote programs offered by the IRS or local organizations depending on your income, age and disability status.

GO FASTER BY GOING DIGITAL.

Filing electronically will get your return to you more quickly than filing by mail. Selecting direct deposit to a bank account or

prepaid card will make the process even faster.

NEED MORE TIME?

If you can’t file by April 18, you can fill out a Form 4868 that will extend your filing deadline to October 16. An extension to file isn’t an extension to pay, so if you think you’ll owe, plan to submit an estimated payment amount when you file your extension.

THE BOTTOM LINE –

Filing your taxes doesn’t have to be difficult. Getting organized now will help make tax season easier this year and put you in better shape for years to come. For more tips to help you make the most of you and your family’s finances, visit J.P. Morgan’s U.S. Tax Center at privatebank. jpmorgan.com/gl/en/insights/ planning/us-tax-center.

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.

5 Fred Walls, Managing Director of J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Ford’s Theatre Presents the Magnificence of Rosetta Tharpe

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

The road to fame is never easy, but Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s trek had its foundation in faith, sincerity, and love. “Shout Sister Shout!” the musical about Tharpe, is at Ford’s Theatre until May 13. From opening scenes, Tharpe, beautifully played by Carrie Compere, enlightens a young reporter about the successful artists she influenced. Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis were rock and roll superstars who adopted Tharpe’s music style.

“Shout, Sister, Shout!” tells us that Tharpe’s rock and roll foundation stayed rooted in gospel music. She pioneered bringing sacred music into secular venues. The guitar became Tharpe’s companion, and she developed a unique playing style that grew her popularity. At first, Tharpe did not understand what was happening, but her career trajectory was set. Of course, that put Tharpe’s stage and personal life under scrutiny.

“She laid out a blueprint for her life when no one had come

before her,” Compere said about her character in an interview with the Washington Informer. “Living as a queer Black woman where her music was appreciated and stolen was a big challenge.”

A MUSICAL WITH ENERGY

This is a rigorous production. Except for Compare and Dennis, the cast played multiple roles.

Quick costume changes transition through the times in Tharpe’s life.

“Shout, Sister, Shout!” is performed with a full band. The singing was superb. Church service was held in Ford’s Theatre. Every voice was strong. The dancing is outstanding. Costumes, especially the men’s suits, were sharp. The creative team developed a smoothly-paced musical.

“Shout, Sister, Shout!” is at Ford’s until May 13. Ticket information is at https://fords.org. To view a sneak preview video check out https://youtu.be/mHlzZeSiCr0

Read the full story on www.washingtoninformer.com. WI @bcscomm

5 Carol Dennis as evangelist Katie Bell Nubin, mother of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. in the musical “Shout Sister Shout!” at Ford’s Theatre until March 13. (Courtesy photo/André Chung)

satisfied with the funding mechanism that only provides matching funds to public charter schools applying for a grant that requires them to post teacher salary and retention data online.

Other qualms involved back pay for public charter school teachers only going back two years -- and not four, as is the case for public school teachers -- along with the 12.5% pay bump not closing pay disparities between the two sectors.

Jendayi Wright, a first grade teacher at Friendship Public Charter School (PCS) Blow Pierce Campus in Northeast said she found the proposal disturbing.

Wright, a Friendship Collegiate Academy alumna, has been teaching at Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus for 11 years. During her tenure, The Washington Post recognized her as a teacher-of-the-year finalist. She said she owed her success to the systems put in place at Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus that help teachers develop their pedagogy.

Though she expressed great joy working in the charter network that educated her, Wright said that the uncertainty around pay might compel her to explore other options.

“District public schools can be given one amount but it’s like we’re stepchildren [in the charter system],” Wright said. “We’re really [a] high-performing [school]. We work hard, plan rigorous lessons, and have two professional development [sessions] a week. And we provide our data. It’s really unfair. A pay bump makes a big difference in what I can pour into my students.”

During the earlier part of February, leaders of the District’s 69 charter school networks signed a letter promising Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn that the matching funds would directly go to teachers.

Last week, Ariel Johnson, executive director of the D.C. Charter School Alliance, said Bowser’s budget proposal violated the School Reform Act by allocating teacher compensation and transportation outside of the Universal Student Per Pupil Funding Formula. In a statement that circulated after Bowser’s presentation to the D.C. Council, Johnson said that Bowser’s strategy

There is No Better Place to Celebrate Earth Day Than at The Anacostia Community Museum!

Submitted by Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum

In honor of the launch of our new Center for Environmental Justice, we are hosting a festival celebrating all things environment. Honor and Celebrate Earth Day will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10am-4pm at the Anacostia Community Museum and we want you to join us!

undermined Black and brown families seeking out-of-boundary education options.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said on Monday during an early morning WIN-TV live stream that the grant program outlined in Bowser’s budget proposal ensures that the matching funds go directly to teachers. He went on to suggest that Bowser, in years past, covertly funded District public school teachers more than public charter school teachers through IMPACT bonuses not accounted for in the budget.

Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus counts among 16 campuses under the Friendship PCS umbrella. It’s the District’s second-largest public charter school network with more than 4,800 Pre-K to 12th grade students, for the most part, attending in-person classes under the tutelage of 400 teachers. In total, 1,000 staff members work in the Friendship PCS network.

In 2021, Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus made headlines when Dominique Foster, a pre-K teacher, was named D.C. Teacher of the Year. That happened around the same time that the school’s Parent Advisory Council started providing virtual yoga sessions, game nights and healthy cooking demonstrations for parents readjusting to the return to in-person learning.

Friendship PCS CEO Patricia A. Brantley said that the charter network has fulfilled much of what SCHOOL Page 47

This family-friendly day will be packed with activities focused on taking a deeper dive into the Earth's offering and how to do your part in protecting it.  Enjoy plant health workshops with Grounded, a black women led brand that was created to decompress and disconnect through the appreciation of plants.   Bloom Soil, which is produced by DC Water will be on site educating on this local soil and how to grow at home (you can take some home!).  The community can also participate in our life-size Chalk Walk as you us your creativity to color in illustrations of the Anacostia Watershed outlined by Chalk Riot!  Learn about Mushrooms with the Mycological Association of Washington and enjoy a led Foraging Walk and Talk to explore all things the Earth provides right in your backyard.  The festival will also feature a panel discussion between black and brown farmers. Listen as they discuss the future of farming, the effects of COVID-19, and buying local.

Earth Day is also the inaugural weekend for our brand-new farm stand, in collaboration with our friends at FRESHFARM Market. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand, which is the only direct-to-consumer farm stand of its kind East of the River in Ward 8, will take place each Saturday from 10am -2pm at the Anacostia Community Museum until November 18, 2023. FRESHFARM will also bring a host of other activities to our Earth Day celebration which include the education of composting and a cooking demonstration on how to convert your famers market finds into delicious and health meals and snacks at home.

A shuttle service will be running round trip from the Anacostia Metro to the Museum every 30 minutes. Visit our website to learn more and let us know you are joining us at anacostia.si.edu/earthday.

6 The art for this graphic is by Amir Khadar, and has been commissioned as a mural by the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum for the upcoming exhibit “To Live and Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C.” opening May 19, 2023.

“We’re really [a] high-performing [school]. We work hard, plan rigorous lessons, and have two professional development [sessions] a week. And we provide our data. It’s really unfair. A pay bump makes a big difference in what I can pour into my students,” Wright said.

Hot. That was the best word to describe May 1842 in New York. Strange. Farmer Howe’s cows were standing out in the sun instead of the shade.

Farmer Howe walked over to his cows. When he got there, he felt cool air. Surprised, he looked around and found a hole in the ground. His cows were standing around the hole. Cool air was coming out of the hole in the ground!

Cool! Farmer Howe looked down the hole and discovered it was an opening to an underground cave.

Stalactites

Stalactites hang down from cavern ceilings like icicles made of mineral deposits. As water drips from the cave ceiling, some of it evaporates and the minerals dissolved in the water remain. It takes

Waves Make Caves!

Cavescannotgo downmorethan 9,800feet(3,000 meters).Deeper pressurethanthat,thefromthe rocksbecomestoo muchandthecave collapses.

Stalagmites

Stalagmites form on cavern oors and grow up toward the ceilings. Water drops from a stalactite land on the oor of the cave, evaporate and leave behind minerals. As more minerals are left behind, a stalagmite starts to grow upwards.

dissolve, or get eaten away, like limestone.

dissolve, or get eaten away, like limestone.

Caveor Cavern?

Acavernisatypeofcave.Theytendtobelarger.Cavernscan bemadeofsmallercaves connectedbytunnels.

Columns

Columns form when a stalactite and a stalagmite meet and grow together.

It takes about 100,000 years for a cave to grow large enough for people to t inside.

It takes about 100,000 years for a cave to grow large enough for people to t inside. Followthe mazetosee whatbecameof FarmerHowe’s cave.

A person who explores and studies caves is called a spelunker

Natural Air Conditioning

Farmer Howe built a hotel over the hole. Cool air from the cave air-conditioned the original hotel. Farmer Howe’s hotel and cave became very famous. Circle every other letter to discover its name.

WHLOBWKEJCNATVSEBR UNLSKAENQDZHIONTPEFL

Shape Search!

How many shapes can you find in the newspaper? Look for triangles, squares, rectangles, circles and more.

Dress for Spelunking

Find the forecasted high for the day in your newspaper. The temperature in the Howe Caverns are around 52 degrees year-round. Is your local high temperature warmer or cooler? What would you wear to visit Howe Caverns?

If I Lived Underground

Imagine that you lived in an underground cave. What would it be like? Write about it!

KID SCOOP IS SPONSORED BY

review wi book

Inclusive Books for Business By Various Authors

c.2023, various publishers

$28.99 — $30

Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Every year has its challenges.

A few years ago, it was Covid-19. The economy influences your business constantly. Customer acquisition is a big issue, but you're also laser-focusing on staffing. You're determined to make a change in the people you hire and the workplace you offer them so let these two books be your guides …

Unless you fall into the non-white, non-cis-male category, you may not realize the amount of extra labor that women and minorities do at work and do to be able to work. It's hidden, and few folks discuss it but those who experience it, know it. "Emotional Labor" by Rose Hackman (Flatiron Books, $28.99) helps you recognize those burdens and, if you're someone dealing with the issues, learn how to regain your sanity and your strength.

Women — even, maybe especially, professional women — are asked to "smile more" and are often talked-over. People of color feel that they need to "code switch" and talk differently in the presence of their white co-workers. Black hair is now a workplace issue. Assuming who brings the coffee to a meeting is an issue. Gender is a workplace issue. None of this — or any other, similar thorniness on the job — is new; in fact, emotional labor has a long, long history and Hackman unpacks it with firmness.

And yet, this is not an anti-white-men rant kind of book. The author has a lot to say and she's respectful, and though a good amount of it may be uncomfortable, leaders, supervisors, business owners, and C-suiters will be glad they read what she and her case-study subjects have to say. Business owners can no longer pretend not to know this information, making "Emotional Labor" an eye-opener, to be sure. Another surety: you know you need to make change and you want to do it. You've wanted to do it for years, actually, but you're not sure where to get started. In "Rising Together" by Sally Helgesen (Hachette Go, $30.00), you'll see why you're stymied and you'll learn how to move forward.

There are, says Helgesen, eight barriers to making change, including gender and age. Here, you'll learn how to spot the most common walls between you and an inclusive workplace, and how to knock them down with communication, equity and (yay!) humor. And just to be sure you can do this, the author offers tools to implement every workday until inclusivity feels natural and automatic. If you're looking to make a better team or a new, top-notch, first-rate workplace with different and dynamic outlooks, then this easy-to-grasp, calm and methodical book is what you need.

But let's say you're hungry for more on this subject. You want to be absolutely sure that forming an inclusive, welcoming, productive workplace is done right. Good for you, now head to your local book spot and ask your favorite librarian or bookseller for help. They'll know what books you need, what you're missing, and where you can find them. They'll help you make change by stepping up to the challenge. WI

horoscopes

ARIES Consider scheduling some physical activity for Monday, either a heavy workout or a long walk or run. You're going to be inundated by details, and an outlet for all that mental frustration could make the day pass more easily. On Tuesday and Wednesday, put the other guy first. You need to overcome your usual competitiveness (at least this once) if you want to get ahead. Starting on Thursday and on into the start of the weekend, expect some quiet time and deep thinking. Lucky Numbers: 5, 6, 41

TAURUS Monday should bring you nothing but fun and flirtation, because you're surrounded by friends and radiating charm. The excitement continues into Tuesday and Wednesday, although probably of a more mundane variety. Your usual work or home routine gets reshuffled by the introduction of something welcome and new. Indulge yourself, but don't overdo it. Lucky Numbers: 6, 20, 33

GEMINI This isn't like you! You're usually such a smooth-tongued communicator, but on Monday you'll have to work extra hard to make yourself clear (especially with family members and others close to you). On Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll get your your silver tongue back, and others will line up just to get in on all the fun you're having. Don't be afraid to start something even if you have no intention of following through. Somebody else will pick up the ball. Lucky Numbers: 8, 12, 51

CANCER You're stealing the spotlight on Monday. Don't think others don't notice and admire your better qualities, and don't be surprised to find them flocking to your side to remind you. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you might find friction on the home front. You can still forge ahead on new projects, but try to listen to others (and maybe even include them in your plans) to soothe ruffled feelings. Lucky Numbers: 1, 16, 20

LEO As you start the week you can expect some unusual introversion on your part. Use Monday to take time out and reassess the big picture. Now is a great time for mapping out long-term strategies and plans. On Tuesday and Wednesday, your confidence and charisma will have everyone falling all over themselves to agree with you and just be with you! Let others in on the fun you're planning. Lucky Numbers: 3, 15, 23

VIRGO You just couldn't ask for a better Monday. (How often can you say that?) The week begins with you at your super-organized, overachieving best. Whip all those schedules, budgets, and pesky little details into shape, and you'll be able to accomplish (or at least get a good start on) almost anything. Follow that energy into Tuesday and Wednesday with impulsiveness and unusually (for you) spontaneous decisions. Starting on Thursday and on into the weekend, expect your intellect and curiosity to get piqued. Lucky Numbers: 9, 10, 23

LIBRA Monday could present extraordinary opportunities for communication. You can learn a lot (and have a lot of fun) just talking to people, both friends and soon to be friends. Just make sure you listen as much as you speak. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you're absolutely on fire, metaphorically, of course. All eyes are on you, and people can't get enough of your confidence and charm. Lucky Numbers: 19, 57, 59

SCORPIO It's all about the details on Monday. Provided you can navigate the many events and plans, you'll have a great day (and you might even learn a juicy secret or two). You'll be less interested in hanging out with friends on Tuesday and Wednesday, but you can put that unusual introversion to good use. Lucky Numbers: 3, 6, 30

SAGITTARIUS Monday could be a struggle as you find yourself butting heads with authority figures and juggling way too many details. Take a deep breath and relax, though, because your week will get much better. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll be universally loved. Let your wishes be known. Lucky Numbers: 8, 21, 41

CAPRICORN Engage your ambition on Monday. Map out big plans and take on daring ideas. You can accomplish a lot with the proper preparation. Tuesday and Wednesday are perfect days for starting new projects and tackling new challenges. You might not be a masterful communicator right now, but you've got plenty of energy to get things done on your own. Lucky Numbers: 3, 14, 48

AQUARIUS Exercise extreme caution on Monday! You need to make sure you know what (and whom) you're dealing with, especially in anything involving money or business. Look under the surface to find the facts. On Tuesday and Wednesday, try something new. Experience is an excellent teacher, and you could learn a lot from some novel activity. Lucky Numbers: 4, 5, 21

PISCES You don't have to have all the facts first, do you? On Monday, don't be afraid to act even if you don't have all the answers. You don't want to miss this opportunity, and you can always sort out the details later. On Tuesday and Wednesday, look for problems in a partnership. You can cut down on conflicts by settling debts and past issues. Out with the old, in with the new! Lucky Numbers: 9, 19, 36

Submitted by Washington Gas

Spring is arriving, reminding many of us of various outstanding home improvements and gardening projects. April is National Garden Month and Keep America Beautiful Month, so it’s natural that this month also includes National Gardening Day (April 15), International Earth Day (April 22) and National Arbor Day (April 28).

Not coincidentally, April is also National Safe Digging Month to promote awareness that unplanned digging by homeowners or construction crews can lead to underground utility damage. Known as third-party strikes, these incidents create public safety hazards and cost an average of $61 billion each year in damaged utilities.* From small homeowner projects to full-scale construction, failure to contact 811 before digging is the largest single root cause of all third-party strikes.*

Remembering three simple numbers can help prevent most of these incidents: contact or call 811 at least two business days before digging at zero cost to you. It’s that easy.

WHAT IS 811?

811 is the national call-beforeyou-dig phone number. When you call 811, you are connected to the local One Call Center in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia.

You can also create an 811-notification ticket online. For Maryland and D.C., visit MissUtility. net, and in Virginia go to VA811. com. Click the Homeowner links to get started. Representatives of member utilities, such as Washington Gas, will make a free visit to your location to mark underground utility line locations with color-coded safety paint and/or flags.

Red: electric utilities, such as cables and power lines (most common flag)

Yellow: gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous materials

Orange: communications

Safe Digging by the Numbers

(TV cables, signal lines, alarm lines)

Blue: water, irrigation, slurry (potable drinking water)

Purple: non-potable water

Green: drains and sewers

White: planned excavation

Pink: temporary survey markings

From homeowners to construction crews, everyone is required by law to contact 811 before scheduling any type of digging. For more information, visit https://call811.com/Start-Here/ Contractors | https://call811.com/ Start-Here/Homeowners

This includes general digging, gardening, landscaping, home improvements and/or major construction, excavation or demolition.

THE DIRTY DETAILS ABOUT DIGGING

A frequent reason for not contacting 811 before digging is, “This is a small project, so I won’t hit anything.” However, underground utilities may not be buried as deeply as you think.

Some utilities. such as cable and telecom conduit lines, may be buried only about a foot deep depending on local guidelines. Over time, soil compacts at an average rate of about 25%, so an initial 12” of dirt can easily dwindle to less than 9”. Factors such as erosion, runoff and subsidence—the settling and sinking of the Earth's surface caused by subsurface movement—reduce the original soil margin even more.*

Many home gardening projects require depths that can easily strike buried utilities. For example, consider these common recommended planting depths: 5-6” for garlic, 6-8” for daffodils, 16” for a tree with a 1” diameter trunk.* While some wires and cables may be encased by protective conduits, this material can still be cracked or penetrated by a shovel blade or pick. Such a situation is ripe for trouble, especially if a damaged electrical line sparks near a buried gas line.

MORE TIPS FOR SAFE DIGGING

For individual projects, you’re required by law to use only manual hand tools to dig within two feet to each side of marked locations. For

larger-scale contractor excavations, extra caution is needed because markings highlight underground utility locations but not specific digging areas. Once you contact 811 and receive a confirmation email, you can also access the Washington Gas Enhanced Positive Response system. Our online safety tool provides detailed information about your proposed digging site, such as photos, mapping and also a copy of the 811 ticket. We are proud to offer this industry-leading technology to help improve your

safety as you complete your projects. Washington Gas also offers free damage prevention training. Contact the Washington Gas Damage Prevention Helpdesk at 703-750-4588 to schedule your session. Best of luck with your spring projects!

*Sources:

Common Ground Alliance: https:// bit.ly/3YXjl6q

AmericanHort: http://bit.ly/3Z7R7WV

University of Florida: http://bit.ly/ 3JnJ8ih

WASHINGTON GAS CONSTRUCTION NOTICE: PIPELINE REPLACEMENT WORK ON SEDGWICK STREET, NW

Washington Gas is committed to stay connected and keep you up-to-date about a scheduled construction project on/near Sedgwick Street, NW. In coordination with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Washington Gas crews have been on-site since February 2023 to perform service replacements to approximately 150 residential homes and businesses. The estimated end date for this project is January 2024.

YOU MAY SEE US WORKING IN YOUR AREA

Construction work will entail the replacement of services between 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, weather and construction conditions permitting. Our crews will be on-site to conduct construction work in the areas of Springdale Street NW, 44th Street NW, 45th Street NW, Sedgwick Street NW, and Nebraska Street NW.

Washington Gas also wants to reassure residents that we will continue to communicate daily with our experienced contractor, Infrasource, Inc., to help minimize disruption and impacts to customers in the area.

If you have questions regarding any of our construction processes, please call the PROJECTpipes Hotline at 202-624-6400, email Project_ Pipes@washgas.com or visit washingtongas.com/projectpipes.

life," Martin said. "It was all about Jordan. He has his baby four days out of the week and he was on it."

According to a U.S. Park Police spokesperson, U.S. Park Police officers arrived near 34th Street and Baker Street in Northeast at the behest of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who received a call about a stolen vehicle.

Soon after arriving at the scene, a U.S. Park Police officer entered the backseat of the car as Dalaneo was sleeping.

Dalaneo woke up and pulled off, allegedly dragging another officer several feet. The car Dalaneo was driving then crashed into a house on the 300 block of 36th Street. Dalaneo, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said they recovered a gun in the vehicle.

On Sunday, family members said they learned that the officer in the car with Dalaneo shot him six times, with five of those bullets entering Dalaneo's back. They also cited an anonymous witness who said they saw park police officers encroaching on Dalaneo as he was sleeping in the car, and one of them later choking him.

On March 22, four days after Dalaneo's death, MPD Chief Robert J. Contee III said that an internal affairs investigation was underway. The findings will go to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Park Police didn’t return

the Informer’s inquiry about the identity of the officers involved in the shooting.

Family, and a Former Instructor, Seek to Humanize their Loved One For family members and friends who spoke about their lost loved one on Sunday, Dalaneo's death incited fury about what’s been described as the emotionless and callous rhetoric used toward alleged perpetrators of crime who are gunned down by police.

In the days leading up to the march and vigil, other people, including Katrice Fuller-Whitaker, took to social media to speak about the Dalaneo they knew. Years earlier, Fuller-Whitaker and other adults at Monument Academy Public Charter School in Northeast worked with Dalaneo, a special-needs student with a bubbly personality and love for his siblings.

Fuller-Whitaker said Dalaneo showed persistence in the face of housing insecurity and government-mandated separation from his family.

After Dalaneo left Monument Academy PCS, Fuller-Whitaker maintained contact with him and his family. Nearly a year ago, she saw her former student, who expressed interest in applying to a trade program that would equip him with the skills needed to financially support his soon-tobe newborn child.

Fuller-Whitaker told the Informer that, upon learning about Dalaneo's death, she pondered why the U.S. Park Police officer who killed him on the morning of March 18 chose not

to wake Dalaneo up from his slumber. She said failing to do so triggered the trauma-induced paranoia that Dalaneo had been struggling with throughout his childhood.

As Fuller-Whitaker and her colleagues mull over how to memorialize their former student, she continues to think about the countless other special-needs students who, because of a misunderstanding of their condition, have been funneled into the juvenile justice system or killed by aggressive police officers.

“Because we’re in the population, we’re thinking of SPED (special education) first,” Fuller-Whitaker said.

“When a child matriculates [to school] with disabilities that manifest [in different actions,] nobody thinks about how that ends up in a situation when cops shoot first and ask questions later," she added. "We are quickly penalizing these children because we don’t want to do the work.”

HELPING PRO-POLICE DISTRICT RESIDENTS SEE A PATTERN

Dalaneo’s death counts among the latest in the string of police-involved killings that have taken place over the last few years.

Last year, MPD shot and killed Kevin Hargraves-Shird and Lazarus Wilson in two separate incidents. In 2021, An’Twan GIlmore, like Dalaneo, was killed by police after they

terns throughout the program—at least $20 an hour, 40 hours a week.

“We offer a living wage—not a minimum wage,” said Gleniss V. Brown Wade, who has led the program for more than seven years. “People cannot sustain themselves with a stipend. People have to eat, they have to live.”

found him sleeping in a car.

During the earlier part of March, MPD Sergeant Enis Jevric was charged with a federal civil rights violation and second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Gilmore.

Months earlier, in October, the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia had also dismissed 90 gun and drug cases involving seven members of a crime suppression unit who are currently under investigation.

Contee recently told the Informer that improper searchers, what he described as Fourth Amendment violations, only tell part of the story about why cases don’t lead to prosecution. He said that there are other situations where victims of crime are unable to properly identify their alleged perpetrator.

However, when officers don’t correctly execute searches, MPD confers with the D.C. Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia to identify opportunities for retraining.

Meanwhile, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Contee and leaders of other local agencies have collaborated to expand the presence of District police at Metro stations and nightlife corridors.

Much to the chagrin of local activists, some D.C. council members have followed suit with the introduction of legislation that reverses the reduction of school resource officers, increases the local police force and creates economic incentives for police officers.

Bowser's FY 2024 budget proposal also allocates funds for an additional 200 officers.

In this climate, some activists, like April Goggans, said that she and her comrades face an uphill battle in rallying support for victims of police-involved shootings.

Earlier this year, Alaunte Scott, a 22-year-old Black man, faced a fate similar to Dalaneo during a situation involving local and federal law enforcement officers. During an on-foot pursuit in February, officers of the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed Scott on the 4300 block of 3rd Street in Southeast.

In a statement, MPD said that Scott wielded a firearm during the chase, which compelled officers to shoot him.

In the aftermath of Scott’s deadly encounter with U.S. Marshals and MPD, Scott’s family members hosted a vigil and balloon release at Ft. Dupont Park in Southeast. They later protested in front of D.C. Superior Court on Indiana Avenue in Northwest in demand of accountability for the police officer who shot and killed Scott.

All the while, Goggans, a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC, has counted among those who’ve stood on the front lines in solidarity with Scott’s family.

Read the full story on www. washingtoninformer.com

WI

@SamPKCollins

But for the last few months, the two have shared a title: extern. They’re both part of the D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility’s (DCSEU) workforce development program, which places District residents in green energy jobs across the city for on-the-job training. Each cohort lasts about five months,

during which time participants work at one of DCSEU’s sustainability-focused partner organizations four days a week. On Wednesdays, externs come to the DCSEU building for training, which can include everything from a “Green Buildings 101” presentation to a course on resume writing and interview skills.

Importantly, the DCSEU pays ex-

The types of externship positions available vary widely and the partner organizations including large and small businesses, government agencies and universities. Washington works as an administrative assistant at Greenscape Energy, a D.C.-based company that provides solutions to improve energy efficiency. Sullivan, who had spent some time in the industry before joining the program, works at WDC Solar selling, designing and troubleshooting solar installations.

“It’s super exciting to be a part of a successful model that is outward-bound,” Sullivan said of WDC Solar. “We’re starting up in Savanna right now. ”

The green industry is growing rap-

idly, both locally and across the country. Jobs in the renewable energy and environment sectors grew by 237% across the U.S. between 2017 and 2022, according to LinkedIn’s 2022 Global Green Skills Report. More than 1,800 District residents had jobs in solar or wind energy generation in 2021, while 11,500 worked in energy efficiency, according to Department of Energy data.

But not everyone has had equal access to that job growth. Black people made up less than 10% of the District’s clean energy workforce in 2020, according to a study published by environmental business group E2. That’s despite D.C.’s population being more than 40% Black.

By providing fully paid training, the DCSEU workforce development program lowers the barriers to entry that prevent many people from getting started in the green sector. Brown Wade attends job fairs and connects with community-based organizations to identify qualified candidates from across all eight wards.

Since 2015, more than 150 District residents have graduated from the program. Over 85% of those externs go on to full-time positions after graduating, and Brown Wade said most stay in the sustainability sector.

“I knew nothing about the green space when I came into the workforce development program,” said 63-yearold Yolanda Hayden. She joined the program in 2019, and went on stay at her externship company, WDC Solar, for two years. She left that job early last year to take on a newly created Training Coordinator position—right back at DCSEU.

In that role, Hayden helps connect people inside and outside of the externship program with training opportunities in green energy. Among the externs, the DCSEU said that between 50 and 75% of each cohort end up taking and passing the national certification exams that officially qualify them for tasks like energy management and solar panel installation.

Read the full story on www. washingtoninformer.com WI

5 During the two-hour “Green Buildings 101” class, the 11 externs received packets to follow along with the 100+ slides. (Rob Roberts / The Washington Informer)

JOB SEEKER from Page 1

Ed Cooley Named New Head Coach at Georgetown

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

It did not take Georgetown University long to find a replacement for Patrick Ewing, who was relieved of his duties on March 9 after six years at the helm. Before a gathering of anxious students, fans, members of the media and his family, Ed Cooley was officially named the new Head Men's Basketball Coach of the Hoyas.on March 22 inside of Nolan Hall at the Thompson Athletics Center.

"I'm incredibly grateful for every opportunity that's ever been given; I'm far from perfect,," said Cooley, regarded as a successful builder of

programs. "All I'm asking this community to do is give us an opportunity to grow, develop and trust. We're gonna lose some games, it's okay, losing is part of growth. But over time, it's gonna pay off, and the dreams do come true. It was a dream of mine to be here. A dream. And it all started because somebody looked like me, spoke like me, and was big like me. That's what gave me the opportunity to be here today."

Cooley comes to the Hilltop from Providence College where he coached for 12 seasons, boasting an impressive 242-153 record, which includes seven trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2022, a

BIG EAST regular season title (2022) and a BIG EAST Tournament title (2014). In 2022, Cooley was the recipient of the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, named the Sporting News Coach of the Year, the BIG EAST Coach of the Year, the NABC

Sidwell Friends Girls, Boys Boast Honors

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

At the end of the recent DCSAA boys and girls championships at the George Washington University Smith Center, the student section from Sidwell Friends began to chant in unison, "We own D.C.! We own D.C.!"

To many longtime observers of local high school basketball, there was a reaction of surprise. But upon further review, the students had the right to make the bold proclamation.

Both the girls and boys teams at the Quaker School in Northwest Washington had just claimed the DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) championships, not just for the season, but for the last season as well. It is unprecedented as there has never been a season when both boys and girls programs have achieved that lofty accomplishment.

THE SIDWELL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

The girls teams, under the direction of Tamika Dudley, finished and ranked nationally after again playing one of the toughest national schedules in the country.

This comes after going undefeated at 30-0 in 2021-22 and finishing number one in the country for the first time in school history.

"We never shy away from competition," said Dudley, in her fourth year after a highly successful stint at Woodbridge High School. "When I came to Sidwell four years ago, I did not have any special expectations. My goal here was the same as at Woodbridge. That was building a platform and to put Sidwell on the map."

THE SIDWELL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

There is a different narrative for the boys program. Under Eric Singletary, the Quakers have been

one of the most consistent high school basketball programs, not only in the DMV, but more recently in the country. Under Singletary, Sidwell has won three of the last four DC SCAA state titles, finishing 26-4 this past season.

The program has long had good players, but as the reputation has grown nationally, more and more top-flight players have decided to pursue their educational and basketball futures there. Sidwell is one of the few programs in the country that can boast two NBA players: Sadiq Bey (Atlanta Hawks) and Josh Hart (NY Knicks).

"When I took on this position 14 years ago, I did not have any special formula," admits Singletary, a 1993 graduate of Sidwell "Having played the game, I wanted to give the players an experience that I was not able to have. There were a lot of great coaches before me who influenced my approach. I watched and learned from the likes of Joe Dean Davison (Dunbar), Morgan

District 5 Coach of the Year and the USBWA District 1 Coach of the Year.

"Ed brings 17 years of experience as a head coach and a deep commitment to excellence," said Georgetown President John J DeGioa in the introduction at the press conference.

"Ed's a builder. He builds teams. He builds community. He understands what it means for a team to be successful on the court, and most importantly, the role that athletics can play in the formation of the young men on his team."

Wooten (DeMatha), John Wood (Spingarn), Mike McLeese (Dunbar) and I learned so much. That is what I brought to Sidwell.”

Over the years, Singletary has carefully and quietly built a strong foundation. The Quakers, under his leadership, have won three of the last four state championships and are invited to national tournaments throughout the country. Singeltary has already received several coach of the year awards.

Currently, Sidwell has a possible future pro in 6-7 forward Caleb Williams, a rising senior, who has been a key to the team's success the past two years. And the cupboard is certainly not bare. Rising juniors Jalen Rougier-Roane and Acaden Lewis are already getting the attention of recruiters.

"For me, it is a very humbling experience," he revealed. “I sometimes feel a bit embarrassed over the success of the program and I have been so blessed to be a part of [it].” WI

Cooley's first day on campus was a busy one including meeting with university officials, media, donors and even making a stop to shake hands with fans on campus. Additionally, he held special meetings with the entire Georgetown coaching staff and members of the band, Hoya Blue and cheerleading squad as he introduced himself to the Georgetown community.

While the process was speedy, it was thorough.

"As we began this process, Coach Cooley quickly emerged as a leading candidate," remarked Reed. "We knew we needed a leader, someone who understood our identity and could reimagine Georgetown to fit into today's unique basketball landscape. Coach Cooley has a vision for his program on the court, and also possesses the ability to set the standard for these young men guided by our Jesuit values. I am certain he will quickly ingrain himself into the Georgetown community showing his passion, drive and determination to build a championship program."

Under Ewing, the Hoyas finished 7-25 and 2-18 in the BIG EAST this past season. WI

5 Ed Cooley was named Georgetown University’s new basketball coach. (Abdullah Konte/ The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE the moment

A demonstration organized by Third Act, an advocacy group focused on mobilizing seniors in the climate fight was held on March 21. Elders across the country rallied for a day of action that included more than 100 events in over 30 states. Activists called on big banks to stop investing in expanding fossil fuel projects. (Photos by Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 The Rocking Chair Rebellion Protesters in front of Chase Bank

3 Young performers of the Community ArtsReach

5 Cut up credit cards

3 Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous and Ebony Twilley Martin

4 Rev. Lennox Yearwood

5 Bernadette BJ Lark from the Community Arts-Reach

5 Sharon Robinson, director of DaHumble Bee2 and Linda English from the Community Arts-Reach

RELIGION

Ward 7 and 8 Women Faith Leaders Gather for Historic Prayer Breakfast

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

Women faith leaders on the front lines in the fight against gun violence in Wards 7 and 8, prayed and strategized on March 25 during a prayer breakfast at Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast, D.C. While pastors of all genders have waged war against gun violence for years. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is using the faith leaders on her team to work with women pastors in this effort to light a particular fire to an old issue.

“Women are essential when it comes to healing and spiritual direction,” said the Rev. Anika Wil-

son-Brown, pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church.

“[Women] have a relationship with pain that gives us the power to transform it into something beautiful,” Wilson-Brown, a social worker and wife of a D.C. Police officer, added.

“God gifts women to heal, and Wards 7 and 8 need the power of healing and love… now more than ever,” Wilson explained. “As women create safe spaces for ourselves, our communities can also become safer.”

Thomas Bowen, director of the Mayor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, said at this time in the City’s history, women are in a unique po-

sition to make a difference.

“We are a city that can proudly boast having the first African American woman to be appointed to three, four-year terms as mayor of an American city,” Bowen said.

Bowen singled out Linda Harllee Harper, director of the District’s

Gun Violence Prevention program which is reportedly already bearing fruit.

“We just graduated 25 young people from a nine-week program who have turned their lives around,” Harper said in an interview.

More than 150 people attended the prayer breakfast. Among the many speakers was former White House advisor Barbara Williams Skinner and the Rev. Karen Curry, associate pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church.

“I am so proud to see women of faith claim territory, this is faith in action,” said Skinner, who is also working with the anti gun initiative.

Rev. Dr. Wanda K. Thompson, the pastor of the Ambassador Baptist Church in Southeast, said “Women are recognizing the power that we have when we work together.”

In addressing core issues in Wards 7 and 8, Thompson said, “A lot of it has to do with poverty and a lack of resources in the community in terms of jobs, housing, and education.

“People are very concerned about the displacement of brown and Black people in the community and [building] housing they can't afford. It all contributes to problems.”

The Rev. Deborah Fears, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church and president of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, also attended the prayer breakfast.

Curry said the event was special because it was a wonderful fellowship among spiritual sisters.

“For the first time, we had a prayer breakfast for women of faith from Ward 7 and Ward 8,” Curry said.” This was just a time to come off the battlefield and be refreshed.” WI

5 Female Faith Leaders from Wards 7 and 8 gather at a prayer breakfast held at Union Temple on March 25. (Courtesy photo)

“We are a city that can proudly boast having the first African American woman to be appointed to three, four-year terms as mayor of an American city,” Bowen said.

5 The Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) held a meeting on March 25, with Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, challenging the D.C. City Council to act on a healthier, more livable D.C. by prioritizing affordable housing, moving away from gas stoves, Black homeownership, and public safety. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

Thankful to Illinois Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush for approval of the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act, which finally passed in the House on Feb. 28, 2022. The bill was reintroduced by Rush as H.R. 55 for the 117th Congress, this time revised to include a serious bodily injury standard. The vote was 422-3, with Republican Reps. Andrew Clyde, Thomas Massie and Chip Roy voting against.

After more than a century of efforts by civil rights leaders to make lynching a federal crime, President Joe Biden on March 29, 2022, signed into law historic anti-lynching legislation. The signing of this legislation finally defined lynching as a federal hate crime, punishable by law, published in Death Penalty Information Center.

the

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Never Again: The End of Lynching Black Women in America

for nearly two years.

"This act of American terrorism has to be repudiated," Rush, who sponsored the legislation nearly two years ago, told NPR. "Now it's being repudiated. It's never too late to repudiate evil and this lynching is an American evil."

Let's take a look at some of the history of lynching of African American women in America during Women's History Month. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, has information on its website about the museum, which overlooks the Montgomery, the state capital. It uses sculpture, art and design to give visitors a sense of the terror of lynching as they walk through a memorial square with 800 six-foot steel columns that symbolize the victims. The names of thousands of victims are engraved on columns — one for each county in the United States where a lynching took place. In Alabama alone, a reported total of 275 lynchings took place between 1871 and 1920.

America," researchers documented 4,075 lynchings of African Americans that were committed by Southern whites in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia between 1877 and 1950.

Lynching differed from ordinary murder or assault. It was celebrated by members of the Ku Klux Klan as a spectacular event and drew large crowds of people who tortured victims, burned them alive and dismembered them. Lynching was a form of domestic terrorism that inflicted harm onto individuals and upon an entire race of people, with the purpose of instilling fear.

The conventional approach to teaching the history of Jim Crow and lynching has focused almost exclusively on the Black male victim. However, such an approach often simplifies and distorts a much more complex history.

"Hundreds and hundreds of similar bills have failed to pass," Biden said during the signing ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House. "Over the years, several federal hate crime laws were enacted, with federal laws to get approval for expressly prohibiting lynching. None. Until March 29,

Evelyn M. Simienb sought to tell the stories of these women and why they have been left out. Between 1880 and 1930, close to 200 women were murdered by lynch mobs in the American South, according to historian Cyrstal Feimster. Who knew this troubling history?

In a recent report, "Lynching in

Not all victims were African American men, and although allegations of African American men raping white women were common, such allegations were not the leading motive for the lynching. We know from the pioneering work of anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells-Barnett that African American men, women and even children were lynched for a range of alleged crimes and social infractions. Never again! WI

2022, Women's History Month."

Rush said, "The enactment of my bill means that the full weight and power of the United States government can be brought to bear against those who commit this vicious crime. We will no longer face the question of if a perpetrator of lynching will be brought to justice — with the president's signature today, we have eliminated that possibility moving forward."

Advocates say there have been more than 200 attempts to pass the legislation in the past, and the latest effort had been in the works

RELIGION

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724

www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com

Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com

Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word of Life Church

Dr.

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011

(202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/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 E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Campbell AME Church

Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020

Adm. Office 202-678-2263

Email: Campbell@mycame.org

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

Turning Hearts Church

Virgil K. Thomas, Sr.

Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032

Phone: 202-746-0113

Fax: 301-843-2445

Service and Times

Sunday School: 10:15 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM

Children’s Church: 11:15 AM

Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment”

Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org

Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com

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

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

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494

Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times

Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM

School: 10:00 AM

Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM

Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

Service and Times

Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM

Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM

Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM

Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Sr. Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555

Services and Times

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net

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

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Crusader

Street

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

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

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

St

with us...

Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

headline and photo for LIF - MALCOLMXDAY

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

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

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D.

Third

Church of God

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman,

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

Marks Baptist Come Worship

Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.;

Dr. Dekontee L. &

Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

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

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

All Nations Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman 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

Israel Baptist Church

Imterim Pastor

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

King

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020

(202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax

“Moving Faith Forward”

0% Perfect . . 100% Forgiven!

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM

Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM

www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Interim Pastor

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"

Pastor

5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

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

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

New Commandment Baptist Church

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 11 AM

Sunday School: 10 AM

Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor 2001 Brooks Drive  District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am Sunday School: 9:00am

Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning

Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm

Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm

Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"

Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com

Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Curtis l. Staley Pastor 621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032

P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

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

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

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship 10:30 am

Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm

Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor 623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001

Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836

Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM

Pastor’s Bible

Christ Embassy DC

Senior Pastor

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

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

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

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

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor 602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480

Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times

Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM

Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM

Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM

Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org

Website: www.firstrising.org

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday

“…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

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

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

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

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org

Website:www.mthoreb.org

For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Lance Aubert

Elder Herman L. Simms

Rev. Richard B. Black

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Dr. Joseph D. Turner

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Rev.

Rev.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000240

Akira Khalijah Wilson

Decedent

Edward G. Varrone, Esq.

1825 K Street, NW

Suite 1150

Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO

UNKNOWN HEIRS

Toni R. Cole, whose address is 2537 18th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Akira Khalijah Wilson who died on 11/19/2022 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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:

3/23/2023

Toni R. Cole

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000261

Martella W. Pollard aka Martella Pollard

Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq.

5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 440

Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

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

Derek Pollard, whose address is 5308 Chestnut Manor Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Martella W. Pollard aka Martella Pollard who died on 10/11/2022 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 9/23/2023.

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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: 3/23/2023

Derek Pollard Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000239

Gary K. Wilson Decedent

Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Lakeisha Wilson, whose address is 1028 Mondrian Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20904, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gary K. Wilson who died on April 26, 2020 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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:

3/23/2023

Lakeisha Wilson

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001307

Leonder L. Lee, Sr. aka Leonder Leopold Lee, Sr. Decedent

Glenda M. Wheeler Allen, Esq. Law Office Glenda M. Wheeler 808 E. Street, NE Ste A Washington, DC 20002 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Lorna Washington, whose address is 403 Rexburg Ave., Fort Washington, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Leonder L. Lee, Sr. aka Leonder Leopold Lee, Sr. who died on 10/29/2016 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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: 3/23/2023

Lorna Washington Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000217

Angela D. Brailsford-Saunders Decedent

Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

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

Wayne O. Saunders, whose address is 1015 8th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Angela D. Brailsford-Saunders who died on September 27, 2022 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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: 3/23/2023

Wayne O. Saunders

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000228

Frank I. Benion Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ahsaki Benion, whose address is 1295 5th Avenue, Apt. 26D, New York, NY 10029, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Frank I. Benion who died on 8/5/2022 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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:

3/23/2023

Ahsaki Benion Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 0075

Parthia Brown Decedent

Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW Suite 1150

Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

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

Shonetta Brown, whose address is 3500 South Foster Edge Road, District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Parthia Brown who died on March 9, 2012 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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: 3/23/2023

Shonetta Brown Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 000235

Lolly G. Berry Decedent

James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002

Attorney

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

Richard Poindexter Berry, Jr. and Steven Douglas Berry, whose addresses are 7154 Presley Rd., Lanham, MD 20706 & 6100 Westchester Park Dr. #1619, College Park, MD 20740, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Lolly G. Berry who died on 1/6/2023 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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: 3/23/2023

Richard Poindexter Berry, Jr.

Steven Douglas Berry

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF DEFAULT & NON RESPONSE

Notice To Agent is Notice To Principle; Notice To Principle Is

Notice To Agent

This is a Notice of Default & Non Response to SSA OIG, SSA

Commissioner, HHS OIG, Secretary, OCSE Commissioner, Westchester/Yonkers County family clerk, who have failed to respond to my Public ads, Commercial Affidavits letters sent via certified mail, as well as a Notice of Default via certified mail in the event of your dishonor through non-performance and/ or non-response or due to reasonable neglect, by default you are deemed to be in bad faith in a contractual agreement with Charles Samuel and are in estoppel by your failure to respond.

I have extended all commercial grace period of 65 days to rebut any allegations by sworn testimony point by point you have tacitly agreed to my 3 three Commercial Affidavits.

TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN

A Common Law Commercial Lien has been LAWFULLY established between myself Charles Samuel and the individuals who accepts liability for the names (Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra OCSE Commissioner Tanguler Gray ), 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201. Social Security Administration Commissioner Kilolo kijakazi, 6401 Security boulevard Ste. 300 Baltimore, Maryland 21235. Westchester/Yonkers family court Chief clerk Stephen G. Byrnes, 131 Warburton Avenue third floor, Yonkers, New York 10701.

The reason for this Lien is that I have been the subject of a wrong (i.e a tort) at the hands of the “Tortfeasors” and my remedy IN LAW is to be able to place Lien on their property, until the wrong has been set aright. Thus I am LAWFULLY able to seize goods and assets that belong to the “Tortfeasers”, up to the amount of the Commercial Lien which is $100,000.00 each USD Dollars.

This notice is to inform whomsoever may be concerned that the creditworthiness of this “Tortfeasers” is henceforth, highly suspect, until the Lien lapses or is, buy some other means removed. 3/30/2023

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

2023 ADM 278

Chander K. Sehgal

Decedent

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

Rajiv K. Sehgal, Mona K. Sehgal and Renuka K. Aldrich, whose addresses are 2133 1st St., NW Washington DC 20001, 2132 Greenwich St. Falls Church VA 22043 and 7922 Denton Dr., Clinton MD 20735, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Chander K. Sehgal who died on 1/29/2023 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 9/30/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/30/2023, 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:

March 30, 2023

Rajiv K. Sehgal

Mona K. Sehgal

Renuka K. Aldrich

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000236

Valerie G. Wheeler

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Nathan A. G. Wheeler, whose address is 66 New York Avenue, NW #401 Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Valerie G. Wheeler who died on July 26, 2022 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 9/23/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/23/2023, 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: 3/23/2023

Nathan A. G. Wheeler

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

2023 NRT 12

Julia E. Frane

Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Julia E. Frane whose address was 3100 Connecticut Avenue, NW #401, Washington, DC 20008 created a revocable trust on October 24, 1997, which remained in existence on the date of her death on September 25, 2022, and Steven A. Mansbach, whose address is 159 Poverty Hollow Rd., Newtown, CT 06470, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. at Tobin O’Connor Concino, PC 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #400, Washington, DC 20015.

The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.

Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 9/23/2023 (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 9/25/2023, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2), 9/23/2023 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.

The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification.

This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d).

Date of First Publication: 3/23/2023

Steven A. Mansbach

Signature of Trustee

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 277

Renard Wheeler Harris Sr. Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

AND NOTICE

Sean J. Harris, whose address is 4014 Bunker Hill Rd., Brentwood, MD 20722, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rernard Wheeler Harris, Sr. who died on December 11, 2022 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 9/30/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/30/2023, 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: 3/30/2023

Sean J. Harris Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 267

Julia E. Frane Decedent

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #400 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Steven A. Mansbach, whose address is 159 Poverty Hollow Road, Newtown Connecticut 06470, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Julia E. Frane who died on September 25, 2022 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 9/30/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/30/2023, 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: 3/30/2023

Steven A. Mansbach Personal Representative

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000292

Ella Mae Joyner Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Zakia Joyner-Kennedy, whose address is 4307 Gorman Terr., SE, Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ella Mae Joyner who died on October 10, 2022 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 9/30/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/30/2023, 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: 3/30/2023

Zakia Joyner-Kennedy Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

the grant process outlined in the mayor’s budget requires. She told the Informer that much of what Friendship PCS is able to accomplish happens through per-pupil funding, adding that without guaranteed matching teacher compensation, it’s unable to guarantee reimbursement for the raises it provides teachers.

Brantley went on to express her concern that, without parity in matching funds, Friendship PCS will have to make tough decisions in meeting obligations to teachers, paraprofessionals, staff members and conductors of extracurricular programming.

“We’re going to make it work for our students and staff, but there’s only one pot of money. You can’t make blood out of stone,” Brantley said. “The D.C. Council and the mayor need to dig deep and make sure the funding is in place to make our educators whole. It’s critical and a priority. I believe it can be done. What we hear at the budget hearings is that this is important and the council is willing to do the work so that it happens.”

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

ADM 000149

2023

Winston R. Woods, Jr. aka Winston Raymond Woods, Jr. Decedent

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

Christopher Woods and Malik Woods, whose addresses are 643 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 and 643 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Winston R. Woods, Jr. aka Winston Raymond Woods, Jr. who died on 2/18/2022 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 9/30/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/30/2023, 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: 3/30/2023

Christopher Woods Malik Woods

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2023 ADM 000275

Helen S. Turner Decedent

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

Lisa Holden-Pitt, whose address is 513 Fairhill Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Helen S. Turner who died on 12/5/2022 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 9/30/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/30/2023, 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: 3/30/2023

Lisa Holden-Pitt Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

According to data compiled by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the public charter sector retained 62% of its teachers this year, compared to 78% in DCPS. At public charter schools, teachers rated as highly effective were retained at a “moderately higher rate” than their ineffective counterparts, according to OSSE.

As Gregory Spears takes stock of who among his teaching staff members will return to Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus next school year, he anticipates having to answer tough questions about compensation.

In the five years that Spears has served as principal of Friendship PCS Blow Pierce Campus, he led his campus through a pandemic and saw teacher’s mental wellbeing become more of a priority. He told the Informer that uncertainty about compensation can potentially exacerbate anxiety among his teachers and staff about the future.

“I can’t imagine what a teacher feels like when their city government tells them that they value them less than teachers who are doing the same work with the same children,” Spears said. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. It’s tough for me as a school leader when teachers ask me questions about things that are out of my hands.” WI

@SamPKCollins

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prosecuted?

Brittany Martin was harshly treated and given an unfairly lengthy sentence because she was a Black woman who chose to stand up for her rights, including her right to protest. Perhaps the judge in the case decided to make an example of her. But as the former president attempts to get the misguided morons who support him out to protest, I am reminded of the unequal ways "justice" (or should we call it just-us) is meted out. Rabid white men assaulted capitol police officers. Many escaped judgment. Others were given a slap on the wrist. A Black woman fighting for Black people gets an unreasonably long sentence, and her pregnancy is

EDELMAN from Page 28 suspicion and hatred for every critic of public health measures to address COVID-19 and every denier arguing that the pandemic was a political ploy and not a genuine threat at all.

Dr. Fauci remained determined to follow the research: "Attacks on me, quite frankly, are attacks on science." But defending research and science against opponents seemingly uninterested in either one meant those attacks quickly turned into vicious calls for his imprisonment and death threats against him and his family. Even as these violent threats on his own life continue, Dr. Fauci has kept his commitment to saving others.

How dangerous it is that many of the same elected officials who are loudly defending former President

imperiled. She gave birth in November 2022 while incarcerated, receiving neither justice nor mercy.

Brittany Martin has given birth to seven children, losing one to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and another to gun violence. Before her latest birth, there were four surviving children, and now five children are missing their mother, including an infant who has had no time to bond with her. South Carolina incarcerated a mother for four long years for yelling at a police officer. Federal courts are sentencing insurrectionists to much less time. In some ways, comparing federal courts to state ones is like comparing apples to oranges. Still, the contrast between Brittany's sentence and those who have done

far worse is instructive.

The prior president may or may not get indicted or convicted, and he may or may not be forced to don a jumpsuit the same color as his hair used to be. But those of us who watch the so-called justice system are almost certain that he'll get a break, just like his supporters, the January 6 insurrectionists, are getting.

Yelling is not the same as breaking into a federal building, assaulting Capitol police officers, breaking windows and busting into Speaker Pelosi's office. The insurrectionists excuse their lawlessness by leaning on "free speech" rights. Where are the rights of Brittany Martin and the other fearless freedom fighters treated shabbily by the courts? WI

Trump's alleged criminal behavior are amplifying calls today to criminalize and investigate Dr. Fauci for his role in the government during the pandemic. We are living in a moment when many of our leaders seem unable to

show they know right from wrong. What a horrifying example some politicians are setting for our children. What a contrast to the example of a serious and dedicated lifelong public servant like Dr. Anthony Fauci. WI

JEALOLUS from Page 28 race, that's one percentage point in the typical voter turnout in April. If more 500 people in each county go vote for that person, that's nearly four points. And even with that boost in turnout, a majority of voters would still have stayed home. So Wisconsin voters can do a lot to save the country and protect the planet if they cast their ballots. Judging by past races, most Wisconsinites plan to skip this election. The rest of us can do something by texting anyone we know in Wisconsin to let them know how important this election may be. Their state Supreme Court may end up deciding the next president. WI

So Wisconsin voters can do a lot to save the country and protect the planet if they cast their ballots. Judging by past races, most Wisconsinites plan to skip this election. The rest of us can do something by texting anyone we know in Wisconsin to let them know how important this election may be.

How dangerous it is that many of the same elected officials who are loudly defending former President Trump's alleged criminal behavior are amplifying calls today to criminalize and investigate Dr. Fauci for his role in the government during the pandemic.

WILLIAMS from Page 29

than that which is represented, I immediately delete it. Moving further, except for fine detail, some images look so authentic that the casual observer can be, and is often, fooled.

Scammers cast wide nets. I cannot count the number of times I have been asked to reconcile accounts with banks or businesses I have no connection with. You might be asked to verify an existing account number. You may be encouraged to renew an "expired"

MORIAL from Page 29

Altogether, Trump stands credibly suspected of at least nine state and federal crimes that carry a total maximum penalty of nearly 70 years in prison.

Bragg, whose case is receiving the most attention this week, is investigating whether Trump falsified business records with the intent to conceal a violation of election law when he bribed a porn star to keep silent about their alleged affair.

James has accused Trump in a civil case of defrauding lenders and insurers by overvaluing his assets by billions of dollars.

Willis is weighing criminal charges in connection with Trump's attempted coercion of Georgia's secretary of state to falsify election results, as well as false claims of election fraud to state lawmakers, a scheme to submit fake pro-Trump electors to Congress, efforts by unauthorized individuals to access voting machines

MYRICK from Page 29

kids, but for your kids. The rights of moms, and all parents, with a different view do not enter into the equation.

That's why it's so important to speak up if we are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guardians or others responsible for raising and nurturing young people. Far-right groups like Moms for Liberty are well-funded, well-connected and well-organized. They have a head start. There is an urgent need to push back against the wave of censorship and repression that they have set in motion. I feel especially strongly about this as a Black parent, because so much of the censorship is aimed at Black history and studies. The list of states that have ei-

subscription. Scammers depend upon extracting bits and pieces to help them complete a puzzle.

Key to THE SCAM is the emotional "hook." Common to the "questionable" correspondence I have received are appeals to fear, greed, and the loss of opportunity. I am sure there are more "hooks," but those stand out. The scammer relies on catching you off-guard and receiving an immediate emotional response. Commonalities exist among humans. Many are delinquent with debts or other obligations and fearful of the consequence. Some cannot resist

in one Georgia county and threats and harassment against election workers.

In an unprecedented moment in American history, the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 insurrection unanimously referred Trump to the U.S. Department of Justice for criminal prosecution on charges of insurrection, obstructing Congress, making false statements to the federal government, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump's efforts to overturn the election.

The special counsel also is conducting a criminal investigation of Trump's handling of sensitive documents after he left office.

These are crimes, not political differences. We, the people, are the victims. Impartial administration of justice is a universal principle of the rule of law.

In his reckless rant against the lawful pursuit of justice, Trump

ther banned the AP African American Studies course or put it on the back burner for "review" is up to six, and growing.

For those who want to be part of the fight for inclusive education and against censorship, the American Library Association's Unite Against Book Bans campaign website is a good place to start. It includes up-to-date information and a toolkit. Attending school board meetings and speaking out are also really important.

As I said, I can think of no better role model, moral guide and inspiration than my mom. But I will always respect your right to feel the same way about yours. Groups like Moms for Liberty just won't.

WI

the idea of getting something for nothing. Others cannot pass up "a deal" that is available for only a short period of time — deals too good to miss. You can experience these "hooks" separately or in tandem, and their messages will be so general as to fool many.

Key to our emotional and financial security is the understanding that real privacy is a thing of the past — we must acknowledge potential vulnerability. The scammer relies on their target's lack of awareness, overconfidence, and self-indulged arrogance to succeed. Be aware of schemes! WI

sycophant Rep. Biggs declared, "This type of stuff only occurs in third world authoritarian nations." Setting aside the outdated and disrespectful reference to economically developing countries, the impartial administration of justice is precisely what does not occur under authoritarian rule.

What Trump and his henchmen are advocating is textbook autocracy: the concentration of supreme political power in the hands one person who is exempt from legal restraints and the will of the people.

Trump isn't whipping up his MAGA army to take to the streets against his looming indictments because he believes he's innocent. He's not doing it because he believes the prosecutors are politically motivated. He's doing it because he believes he's above the law.

Until and unless we abandon the bedrock constitutional principles that define us as a nation, he is not.

WI

For those who want to be part of the fight for inclusive education and against censorship, the American Library Association's Unite Against Book Bans campaign website is a good place to start.

of unlimited possibilities

Through Project UP, Comcast is committing one billion dollars to reach millions of people with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed in a digital world and build a future of unlimited possibilities.