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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. PeriodiPUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF cals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and adTheWashington Informer Newspaper D. Kevin McNeir, Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director vertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Shevry Lassiter,by The Washington Informer. All rights Wilhelmina J. Rolark Photo Editor reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Ron Taylor, Copy Editor Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER:Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. THE WASHINGTON INFORMERnot more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince Washington, D.C. 20032 George’s County Writer), Hamil Harris, THE WASHINGTON INFORMER Curtis Knowles, Daniel Kucin, D. Kevin Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-37853117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, news@washingtoninformer.comPhone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James www.washingtoninformer.com E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Wright www.washingtoninformer.com

PHOTOGRAPHERSPUBLISHER Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF Roberts, Anthony Tilghman REPORTERS Brooke N. Garner Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Carla Peay Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, Ron Burke Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper LaNita Wrenn Administration John E. DeFreitas Sports Editor Victor Holt Photo Editor Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Design 4 APRIL 1 - 7, 2021Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster PHOTOGRAPHERS Lafayette Barnes, IV, John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert Ridley, Victor Holt Women Break the Cycle of wi hot topics COMPILED BY WILLIAM J. FORD, WI STAFF WRITER AND Bowie Mayor Tim Adams Domestic Violence D. KEVIN MCNEIR, WI EDITOR Juneteenth Closer to Announces Candidacy for By Tia Carol Jones law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. State Holiday in Maryland Maryland ComptrollerWI Staff Writer had come together to bring a sense of uniformity in the way Among the programs Marlow wants to see implemented are

When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, old daughter told her the father of her daughter threatened her life, and the life of their child, she knew something had to be done. Out of her frustration with law enforcement's handling of the situation, she decided to start the Saving Promise campaign. “It seems to be a vicious cycle that won't turn my family loose,” Marlow said. Marlow shared her story with the audiBowie Mayor Tim Adams announced his candidacy Tuesday to enter the 2022 race to become Maryland’s first Black comptroller. Adams became the city’s first Black mayor when elected in 2019. Adams also released a video at https://bit. ly/3sDzChs entitled survivors are treated. “She's using her own personal story, her own personal pain to push forward,” Davis-Nickens said about Marlow. Davis-Nickens said anyone who reads Marlow's book will “get it.” She said she “puts the case in such a way, the average person can get it.” She said at the end of the day, the book will help people begin to have a dialogue about domestic violence. more rights for victim's families to intervene on behalf of a victim, a domestic violence assessment unit coupled with further training for law enforcement agencies, a Child's Life Protection Act and mandatory counseling for batterers. “If we are ever going to eradicate domestic violence, we must look at both sides of the coin. We need to address both the victim and the batterer,” Marlow Maryland lawmakers continue to debate whether to make Juneteenth an official state holiday. An estimated 71,000 state employees ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. would receive paid leave on the bill labeled “Let’s Roll” in which 5 Bowie Mayor Tim Adams. Domestic Violence Symposium Mildred Muhammad, the ex- Marlow would also like to see Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The bill he talks about growing (Photo courtesy of Tim Adams for on May 7 at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise passed 112-24 in the House of Delegates on up in New Orleans, his Comptroller) Municipal Center. The sympocompany, multi-mil- who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in March 22. That day marked crossover – the sium was sponsored by the lion-dollar Systems utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She deadline to approve legislation so it can be reFamily and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatviewed by members in the opposite chamber. Applications & Technologies Inc. (SA-TECH) of UpCenter of the city of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. The bill is currently under review by the Senate’s per Marlboro and his accident that caused him to beHeights and the National Hookcome physically disabled. 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasEducation, Health and Environmental Affairs Up of Black Women. the founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chil-Committee. “I may be in a wheelchair but nobody pushes me

Marlow has written a book, an organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” Del. Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D-District around,” he said. “I might not be able to walk but that’s “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. 24) of Springdale, who sponsored the bill, said never stopped me from running.” story about four generations of and their children. Adams received his bachelor’s in science from Xavi- Marlow has worked to break four states have made Juneteenth a paid holiday. domestic violence. The book is “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, “While there have been celebrations around the er University of Louisiana and master’s in business adinspired by her own experiences, years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she country, they’ve not always been welcomed,” ministration from the University of New Orleans. The and those of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that she said during a Senate committee hearing comptroller serves as the state’s tax collector and also her mother and her daughter. of,” she said. serves alongside the governor and state treasurer on the process. Thursday, March 25. “It’s time for us to celeShe said every time she reads excerpts from her book, she still can not believe the words came from her. “Color Me Butterfly” won the 2007 National “Best Books” Award. “I was just 16-years-old when Mildred Muhammad said people who want to help a domestic violence victim must be careful of how they go into the victim's life, and understand that she may be in “survival mode”. “I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws,” Marlow said. “I will not stop until these policies are passed.” Tia Carol Jones can be reached at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net brate this as a paid holiday whether or not you identify as Black.” If approved and signed by the governor, the bill would go into effect June 1. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. and is celebrated on June 19. Maryland Board of Public Works which approves government contracts and other spending. Current Comptroller Peter Franchot, who’s held the position since 2007, plans to run for governor. Del. Brooke Lierman (D-Baltimore City) became the first person to announce her candidacy for comptroller in December. my eye first blackened and my “Before you get to 'I'm going

“lips bled,” Marlow said. Elaine Davis-Nickens, presito kill you,' it started as a verbal WI Day of COVID-19 Vaccinations Coming to Ward 8, April 3 dent of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, said there is noOn Saturday, April 3, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Southeast Tennis We have to stop being consistency in the way domestic violence issues are dealt with by and Learning Center [SETLC], 701 Mississippi Avenue SE, will be the site of a ground-breaking community and medical partnership passive-aggressive with poorconceived by Cora Masters Barry, founder/CEO, SETLC, “Don’t Miss Your Shot,” a COVID-19 vaccination event. Participants must pre-register by calling the SETLC, (202) 645-6242. children about domestic “We hope that the model we have created will become one which will be used in other urban and underserved communities” she violence. I plan to take thesesaid. “We have targeted only one ward, Ward 8 and residents are being registered by Community Based Organizations located in the policies to Congress andward and not the traditional way, through the D.C. Department of Health’s online portal.” Educational sessions, onsite childcare, food, music, free Uber rides and security will be provided and a total of

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed. “ L.Y. Marlow 1,000 doses of the J&J vaccine will be administered. Partners include: Jehan El-Bayoumi MD FACP, Professor of Medicine and founding director, the Rodham Institute, George Washington University; Dionne Bussey Reeder, community activist; Howard University, MedSTAR/Georgetown; United Medical Center; Bridgepointe Health; CareFirst; AmeriHealth; MedSTAR Medicaid; Temple of Praise; Martha's Table; Congress Heights Community Training Development Corporation; and Children’s Hospital.

Benning Road Streetcar Project Embraced by Ward 7 Residents

James Wright WI Staff Writer

The next phase of the D.C. streetcar—known as the Benning Road Reconstruction and Streetcar Project—is supported by Ward 7 residents as long as they’re involved in the planning.

“Ward 7 residents cannot be afraid of economic development,” Kelvin Brown, an advisory neighborhood commissioner who represents district 7B06, said recently. “The streetcar project is part of that investment in the community. What has to happen is the neighborhood affected by the streetcar is part of the process in its planning and implementation.”

The Benning Road streetcar project, at an estimated cost of $178.1 million, starts in Ward 5 at Oklahoma Avenue, N.E. and is to proceed about 2.6 miles east until it provides walking access to the Benning Road Metro Station. The project, which started its planning stages in 2010, will start construction in the winter of 2022, D.C. Department of Transportation officials (DDOT) say.

DDOT officials told a March 23 virtual meeting of community leaders the project should be completed by either 2025 or 2026.

For many years, residents and businesses along Benning Road have complained about traffic along the streetcar route. However, those who live along the streetcar route said the District government has paid little attention to what they want in the project.

DDOT officials have said the Benning streetcar project will aid the service area by getting people out of their cars and into public transportation conserving the environment and helping to alleviate traffic concerns.

Everett Lott, the interim director of DDOT, said in an email to the Informer that throughout the history of the Benning Road streetcar project, community engagement has taken place.

“Since the project planning began in 2010, DDOT has engaged with the public extensively through major project-specific community meetings and studies, as well as outreach through broader initiatives such as MoveDC, the District’s long-range multimodal transportation plan,” Lott said. “DDOT will continue to engage with the community throughout the planning and construction process.”

Tyrell Holcomb, the chairman of the 7F advisory neighborhood commission, supports the project, saying it will “link the East End of the city to downtown” but has long wanted to know why it ends at the Benning Road station instead of the intersection of Benning Road and Minnesota Avenue.

In response, Lott said a feasibility study published by DDOT in 2013 determined the Benning Road Metro Station served as a better terminus point than the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station.

Both Holcomb and Brown have expressed concerns about the traffic snarls and delays the project could produce.

“It would seem that when DDOT was working on the renovations of the Whitney Young

5 A map of the Benning Road streetcar route. (Courtesy Photo/Google) Bridge, the surrounding neighborhoods were given alternative routes to use but we have not had the same response,” Holcomb said.

While Brown shares Holcomb’s immediate concerns about traffic, he said the big picture for the area should be viewed. “I think about transportation from an approach of safety and equity,” he said. “The streetcar could definitely improve the economic prospects of the area and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods even though its construction and traffic will be inconvenient for a few years.” WI @JamesDCWrighter

5 A D.C. streetcar. (Courtesy Photo/Google)

EDUCARE OF WASHINGTON DC REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS School Food Service

Educare of Washington DC (Educare DC) is seeking a food service management company to furnish and deliver 728 meals/day (in bulk – unless otherwise requested) to Two (2) location participating in the Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), established by the United States Department of Agriculture Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 226), which set forth the terms and conditions applicable to the proposed procurement.

The complete RFP packet can be obtained by visiting our school website – www.educaredc.org.

Proposals are due no later than 5:00PM, Thursday April 15, 2021.

Questions and proposals may be emailed to: Barbara Ledyard Vice President-Finance and Administration bledyard@educaredc.org

Requested Services

Educare DC is seeking competitive proposals to provide meals (breakfast, lunch, PM snack and dinner) in support of our school food service program. The successful proposing company shall deliver in accordance with the menu requirements for the Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Educare DC is based in a state-of-the-art facility in the Parkside-Kenilworth neighborhood of Ward 7. The school serves 160 low-income children (ages 6 weeks to 5 years) and their families with a high quality, research-based early childhood program. Educare Idea is based in a state-of-the-art facility in the Deanwood area of Ward 7. The school serves 80 low-income children (ages 6 weeks to 3 years) and their families with a high quality, research-based early childhood program.

Assumptions and Agreements

Proposals will not be returned. Educare DC reserves the right to dismiss a proposal without providing a reason. Educare DC reserves the right to terminate a contract with written notice.

Submission Information

Proposals must include all requested information indicated in the official RFP. Please send final proposals to bledyard@ educaredc.org.

Basis for Award of Contract

Educare DC reserves the right to award a contract as it determines to be in the best interest of the school. Locally Owned, Minority-Owned, Female-Owned and Small Businesses are encouraged to apply.

PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00pm Thursday April 15, 2021 EST. Late proposals will not be accepted.

black facts APRIL 1 - 7, 2021 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

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.

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APRIL 2

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. 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. 1951 – The Municipal Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., outlaws segregated restaurants in the city.

APRIL 6

1712 – The New York Slave Revolt of 1712, an uprising in which 23 enslaved Africans killed nine whites and injured another six, begins. 1909 – Black explorer Matthew Henson is among a party of six recognized as the first to reach the North

Pole.

MARVIN GAYE APRIL 7

1872 – William Monroe Trotter, civil rights leader and editor of The Boston Guardian, is born near Chillicothe, Ohio. He died on his birthday in 1934 after a fall from the roof of his Boston home. 1915 – Legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday is born in Philadelphia. 1940 – The Post Office Department issues a stamp honoring Booker T. Washington, the nation's first stamp to commemorate an African American. 1949 – Actress Juanita Hall begins a run on Broadway as Bloody Mary in the musical "South Pacific," a role in which she became the first African American to win a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress. WI THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

view P INT

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

After Georgia turned blue in the November election, state lawmakers passed what critics are calling one of the most restrictive voting laws in the nation. Voting-rights advocates are vowing to sue over the new law, which targets early voting and mail-in voting. What are your thoughts?

GLENROY GREEN /

NEW YORK Privileged, power-grabbing racist folks can't stand the idea that other people are living in this society. When people show you who and what they are, believe them. You can't help but to call it what it is. Black folks need to get out and vote constantly and in record numbers. This is blatant racism, right before your very eyes.

GWEN BRIGGS /

WASHINGTON, DC One-sided laws. They forgot the part about 'by the people, for the people.' Do these folks really think they can put laws in place that represent the watered-down version of who they think should have a voice? They should think again. No one will sit by and just let this fly. Call it out for what it is. It's voter suppression at its most desperate attempt.

IRIS RICHARDSON /

WASHINGTON, D.C. This is so sad. When we do play by the rules and pull our resources together to make change, they change the rules. [It] is so obvious that we will never have a place in this America.

RONNIE FOLK /

ATLANTA, GEORGIA Jim Crow is in power. Stacey Abrams is going to teach you a lesson in 2022.

WILLIE WHITE /

WASHINGTON, D.C. This is so stupid! Clearly the only way those reps can win is by cheating. Not only do they make people wait long hours to vote, now you can't give them food or water. Power-hungry slugs!

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KEANE from Page 1

music remained foundational to her daily life – both then and now.

On Saturday, March 27, her only daughter, Karen Keane McCrory, along with dozens of friends, former co-workers, extended family members and even Ward 4 City Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, congratulated Keane on her 101st birthday during a “drive-by, honk and wave” celebration.

The onset of COVID-19 prohibited McCrory, who lives with her mother in Northwest, from marking her mother’s achievement as a centenarian last year. But this year, pandemic or not, she remained determined to acknowledge Keane’s achievements and longevity in grand fashion.

“The best way to describe my mother is she’s a gentle giant,” McCrory said. “She’s a woman with the velvet touch who gets her point across without yelling and screaming and who’s always found a way to get whatever she desires done gracefully.”

Keane’s mother, Amy Louise Hawkins, highly active in civic organizations, worked as a homemaker. Her father, Ralph R. Hawkins, wore many hats to provide for his family: an attaché in the U. S. Circuit Court under several federal judges, a jockey and a leader in a cousin’s thriving catering business. Keane’s maternal grandfather, the Honorable George W. Hays, a former slave, became the first Black court crier in Cincinnati and later served three terms in the Ohio Assembly.

In an example of how history often repeats itself, while Keane’s parents had four children, two of them died during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Keane prepared herself for a 35year career as a psychiatric social worker, earning a bachelor of science at Wilberforce University and a master’s degree in 1951 at Howard University. She also joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. during the 1940s. She retired as the Director of Social Services at Howard University Hospital in 1986.

“Many of her former staff members and co-workers showed up on Saturday to wish my mother a happy birthday,” McCrory said. “They still contact her, send her cards and call her – even 35 years after her retirement. Who does that for a former boss? She mentored her workers and encouraged them to further their education.”

“Religion has always been important in our family and my mother’s favorite song has long been ‘If I Can Help Somebody.’ The lyrics to the song exemplify who she is and how she was raised.”

“Because she’s confined to a wheelchair now and has significant memory loss, some days are more difficult than others. But I receive a lot of support from others who are facing similar challenges with their parents as well as assistance from healthcare professionals – members of our extended family from Howard University Hospital – who work with patients dealing with dementia.”

“She’s been a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. And as a professional woman who divorced her husband when I was only three, she never complained about the difficulties that came with raising me alone. In those days, most women weren’t doing that. But she didn’t do it alone – not really. It takes a village.”

“And during her birthday celebration on Saturday, the village showed up. In fact, they show up for me and for my mother almost every day. And I am thankful for that village,” McCrory added. WI @mcneirdk

5 Photographs and a city resolution mark the life of Virginia H. Keane. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

‘The World According to Dominic’ will return next week.

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www.washingtoninformer.com

Sharon Wright Pens Book about Life’s Traumas and God’s Eternal Love

Southeast Resident Details How She Overcame Horrific Childhood

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Sharon Wright started writing poetry as a teenager and dreamed of being a best-selling author.

A Southeast resident and graduate of Anacostia High School and the University of the District of Columbia, she taught for a decade in city schools and has maintained a love for photography, animals, pizza and music.

But Wright’s story has been far more complex than a sentimental poem, the beauty of nature or the tantalizing aroma and taste of a pepperoni pie. More accurately, her tale encompasses unspeakable trauma which followed her from her childhood until her teens. Ugly words and invasive phrases splatter across her life like a painter’s brush over a canvas.

A victim of child molestation, kidnapping and attempted murder, Wright faced the unfair challenge of surviving, coping and thriving. Her victimization – never acknowledged, never attended to and mostly overlooked – led to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Then she realized she had at least one champion – one fan.

“God is my biggest fan,” Wright determined – a revelation that would become the title of a book which she recently published that details her experiences.

“God is My Biggest Fan: How Grace and Mercy Blessed My Life” is available at most outlets, including amazon.com.

“I just wanted to share my testimonies in this book,” Wright stated. “It is never easy for people to talk about their true feelings. Expressing emotions was not one of those things that we’re encouraged to do as a child. I believe that all too often, children grow up to be adults who have not dealt with traumas from their childhood. I am one of those people.”

Wright grew up in a family of seven – her mother took in a cousin in addition to her six biological children.

“I was the fifth child and things were kind of rocky from the beginning,” Wright recalled. “I believe my parents were in the middle of break-

5 Sharon Wright (Courtesy photo/Sharon Wright)

ing up when they found out that my mom was pregnant with me.”

Even early in her childhood, Wright found herself forced to deal with rumors that the man she thought was her father was not.

“I took that quite personally,” she remarked. “I did not like it when people would say he wasn’t my father because it made me feel like I did not belong.”

Because the issue remained unresolved, she said there were times when she thought she was adopted.

“I didn’t fit in with [my] family, although I was definitely my mother’s child,” she said, noting that she still hears from others about how much she looks like her mother.

She was eight when she was molested but said nothing, believing that she had to keep quiet.

“I didn’t speak up for myself. I was quite shy,” Wright said. “I just remember it was happening, not lasting that long because, although I didn’t use my voice, I used my body to kind of shield myself away from that person and not allow them to continue.”

“That person” is someone she doesn’t speak about often except in conversations with her therapist and in her book. She also discusses how an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her one evening and tried to murder her.

“We weren’t together at the time and he had just come back into town and asked me to go to the movies with him,” said Wright – 19-years-old at the time.

She now recalls seeing red flags including his car having her name inscribed on the doors.

“Being naïve and letting him tell me he loved me and all of that, I was like ‘okay,’” Wright insisted. But in short order, the movie plans took an awful turn.

“He stopped at his grandmother’s house and said he had to go inside and get something,” Wright said. “We got inside the house and he started kissing and hugging me. I kept saying, ‘let’s go.’ Ice and snow were on the ground and I tried to run away.”

The man held her against her will, brandished a weapon and threatened her life she recalled.

Teaching, indulging in her hobbies and therapy have aided Wright with her recovery.

“Writing this book was cathartic,” she said. “It helped me face the demons of my past that have interfered in every aspect of my life. If you are ready to release your emotional baggage, then this is the book for you. Let this be your guide to freedom and a path to helping others.”

The District of Columbia has a hotline for individuals contemplating suicide or harming themselves. For assistance, call 800-784-2433, or 800273-8255. For additional help or information, visit www.namidc.org. WI @StacyBrownMedia Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator

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CAPTURE THE MOMENT

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL A young parent visits the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Northwest on the first day of reopening under Phase 2 of the District of Columbia plans. Books can be checked out from a Grab-n-Go selection or put on hold for pick-up. Library users cannot browse, sit and read, use meeting or study rooms or attend in-person programs. (Roy Lewis/ The Washington Informer)

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Washington Informer reader Larry Smith treks to the Washington Informer office from Virginia each week to pick up his copies of the newspaper. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“We will join hands with you as women of this country . . . We will kneel-in, we will sit-in until we can eat at any counter in the United States. We will walk until we are free, until we can walk to any school and take our children to any school in the U.S. And we will sit-in and we will kneel-in and we will lie-in if necessary until every Negro in America can vote.”

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D.C. Residents Want Contee to be Proactive in Policing

James Wright WI Staff Writer

District residents seem encouraged by the nomination of Robert J. Contee III as the next chief of police by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser but they also want him to work hard to fight crime in their neighborhoods and to become a positive face of the D.C. police department.

“I definitely support his confirmation as our city’s next police chief,” Yvette Alexander, former Ward 7 D.C. councilmember who served from 2007-2017, said. “Contee is a son of the city and he knows the city and its culture. He started in the police department as a cadet and he has risen through the ranks. He is respected by his fellow officers and in the community.”

If confirmed as the next police chief, Contee faces a rise in the District’s homicide rate, car jackings and armed robbery. Many residents and city leaders echo Alexander’s thoughts. Many feel Contee can do the job; no council member or major organization has announced opposition to his confirmation. However, as advisory neighborhood commission 8C chairman Salim Adofo said, Contee must produce results.

“There are three things I want Contee to do,” Adofo said. “I want him to change the culture of policing. Punishing people isn’t always the answer. I believe the police should help people make better decision regarding their lives. The police can educate the community on how they perform their duties and not just show up when there is a problem. Second, Contee should have his officers get out of their squad cars and walk the community. The officers will get the chance to know people in the community and the people will get to know them. Third, I would like for him to be more visible in the city not just at news conference or homicide scenes. He should consider raising his social media presence, also. Contee should be someone that members of the community can relate to.”

Gordon-Andrew Fletcher serves as the advisory neighborhood commissioner for district 5A08, near the Fort Totten Metro Station in Northeast. Fletcher said in his neighborhood, there has been an uptick in crime and

5 Acting D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III talks with residents out in the District. (WI File Photo)

5 Former D.C. Councilmember Yvette Alexander. (WI File Photo)

noted a drive-by shooting took place there recently.

“Crime has become more rampant in my area with car jackings and guns being recovered,” he said. “I don’t put this all on the Metropolitan Police Department. We need other agencies to get involved too, such as the DDOT (D.C. Department of Transportation). Perhaps they could install more speed bumps on our streets.”

Fletcher agreed with Adofo that Contee should make his officers more proactive in the District’s neighborhoods.

“In my area, we need more police officers,” he said,” and they should interact more with the community. Not just with councilmembers but with community leaders such as advisory neighborhood commissioners and community association presidents. The police officers should listen to what the residents are telling them. I realize that every area is different. However, there are some places that have similar problems. There are parts of Ward 5 that look like parts of Ward 8. Basically, we need officers to patrol the neighborhoods and meet the residents.”

Former D.C. Council Chairman

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Kwame Brown said Contee becoming the chief “is long overdue.”

“I believed he was poised to be the chief for a number of years,” Brown, a Democrat who served as an at-large councilmember from 2005-2011 and as the council’s chair from 20112012, said. “He has integrity, the ability to understand the community and is a native Washingtonian. However, in order to be effective, you will have to be tough. He will have balance his toughness with fairness. People in this city are tired of crime and they will want him to clamp down on it.”

WI @JamesDCWrighter