Maryland Receives 500K Coronavirus Testing Kits
Vol. 55, No. 28 • April 23 - 29, 2020
Hot Topics Page 4
Biko Sheridan Wins 38th Annual For Some of the Smaller HBCUs, Coronavirus Could Be Fatal Blow Washington Informer Spelling Bee Revenues Dwindle as Pandemic Takes Hold District Fifth Grader Becomes Prestigious Competition’s Youngest Champion
By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer The coronavirus pandemic is not only causing a financial strain for everyday Americans and small businesses but also for higher education institutions who were already facing financial woes. Many of those schools, in particular, are historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which are often underfunded, have smaller endowments than their white counterparts and an overall finite amount of resources. In the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, stands Benedict College, a small Black liberal arts school founded in 1870 by Northern Baptists as a teacher’s college. Officials there say the school expects to lose $2 million in housing refunds out of a $52 million budget since the pandemic has forced students to prematurely evacuate dormitories.
5 Biko Sheridan, 12, a fifth-grade student at Mundo Verde Public Charter School in Northwest, with his dad Chris, celebrate winning Washington Informer Charities’ 38th annual Spelling Bee held at the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) in Northwest on February 29. The Spelling Bee was televised on April 19. (Ulrich Funoa/The Washington Informer)
By James Wright WI Staff Writer @jamesdcwrighter Biko Sheridan, 12, a fifth-grade student at Mundo Verde Public Charter School in Northwest, won the 38th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee – besting 30 competitors from other District schools to emerge as the youngest person in the history of the spelling bee to win the citywide contest. NBC4 and the District Knowledge Network, an affiliate of OCTFME, aired the competition on April 19 which took place
HBCU Page 32
While Struggling Americans Await $1,200 Stimulus, Wealthiest Reap Windfall By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
earlier at the studios of the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment [OCTFME] in Northeast on Feb. 29. Normally, Biko would go on to represent the District at the Scripps National Spelling Bee originally scheduled to take place in National Harbor at the Gaylord Hotel during the week of May 24. But the event – that is, the nation finals – has been canceled due to the coronavirus and ongoing stay-at-home orders. Biko, following his victory, talked about his pride in winning.
SPELLING BEE Page 31
Benedict College President Roslyn Clark Artis said the school is under financial stress and is looking for ways to cut costs, which inevitably may result in layoffs. “We have to think clearly about the future of the institution,” Artis said. “The notion of refunding an amount this significant would cripple the institution, there’s no doubt.” In Daytona Beach, Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, another small, historically Black institution, has been hit hard by the pandemic. Like Benedict, dormitories are a significant source of revenue for the college. Gregory Price, professor of economics at the University of New Orleans, said the absence of students in residential on-campus housing could result in a severe revenue shock. “Bethune-Cookman is obligated to spend about $306 million to pay off debt it took on to build a new dorm,” Price said. “If
While struggling individuals and families look forward to a $1,200 federal stimulus check, America’s wealthy have again made off with most of the cash. The $2.3 trillion coronavirus stimulus package includes a temporary tax change for individuals who make at least $1 million a year, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. The committee’s analysis shows 43,000 taxpayers in the highest income bracket who make more than $1 million a year could save a combined $70 billion in taxes. Almost all benefits from the tax break go to people making 5 (Courtesy of pymnts.com)
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Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Marshall Heights Prepares Maryland Receives 500K Coronavirus Kits for Virtual Ward 7lawCandienforcement. She said they threat,” she Testing said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow from S. Korean Firm dates’ Debate (May 16)
By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer
sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are When L.Y. Marlow's 23-yearThe Marshall Heights Civic Association domestic[MHCA] violenceis victims and stricter restraining order policies, oldsetdaughter toldinaugural her the virtual father Economic survivorsVision are treated. to hold its Demore rights for victim's families ofbate. her The daughter her by all “She's her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicevent threatened will be attended Wardusing 7 Counlife, and the Democratic life of their candidates child, story, her own pain to tim, a domestic violence assesscilmember qualified to bepersonal on shetheknew something had to Board be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further District of Columbia’s of Elections’ [DCdone. of ballot her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement BOE]Out sample and if they accepted MHCA’s inviwith law enforcement's handling tation to participate. Ward 7 residents Davis-Nickens and others will besaid anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protecofable the to situation, shelive decided who reads stream the debatetovia-YouTube liveMarlow's stream book will tion Act and mandatory counselstart the Saving Promise cam“get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. on Saturday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m. paign. case in such a “If we are ever going to eradiThe Economic Vision Debate will be moderatedway, by the average “It seems to be a vicious cycle person can getDevelit.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must Saymah Nah, MHCA’s Vice-Chair of Economic that won't turn my family end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. opment, and Fenit Nirappil, a respected local journalist loose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the vicfor The Washington Post. Each candidate will individshared her story with the audi- logue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow ually sit with the moderators for 15 minutes to answer 5 Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (right) and his wife, Yumi. ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. three coreViolence questionsSymposium that they received in advance. Ward courtesy ofMarlow Governor’s Office) Domestic Mildred Muhammad, (Photo the exwould also like to see residents are District encouraged to submit questions for the on7May 7 at the Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise candidatesCenter. using aThe Google Form link posted on MHMarylandawareness Gov. Larryamong Hogan children announced Municipal sympowho was sentenced to six consecin Monday, CA’s social media accounts. Questions from Ward 7 April 20 the state received a major gift from sium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She South residentsand will be accepted from now Friday, May Korea: of 500,000 Family Youth Services byto a Maryland jury1.for his role inthe delivery feels children need to coronavirus be educat- testing The link to watch the debate will be posted on all of attacks kits. Hogan credited his wife, Yumi, a Korean AmerCenter of the city of District the Beltway Sniper in ed about domestic violence. MHCA’s social media platforms by Thursday, May 12. ican, and called her a “champion” in the negotiations Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasInformation about how to registerthetofounder vote, requesting of the plan called “Operation Enduring Friendship” Up of Black Women. of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilaMarlow mail-in-ballot from DCBOE, community anscheduled go about into effect immediately. has written a book, general an organization that helps the to dren domestic violence,” The kits nouncements and a reflection/moment of silenceoffordomestic those came from LabGenomics, “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a survivors violence Marlow said. a South Korean company, impacted by story about four generations of and their children. which delivered the supplies Aprilto18break at Baltimore Marlow has worked COVID domestic violence. The book is Washington International Thurgood Marshall Air“I lived in fearwill for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, inspired by her own experiences, years be port.ItYumi Hogan became involved in negotiations in feardelivered is a long time. is and is confident the policies she by easy the thing Rever-to come and those of her grandmother, not an on theout $9 million deal making to the South Kois pushing for willcalls start that her mother and her daughter. of,” she endsaid. Andre D. process. rean ambassador, which Larry Hogan said took sevShe said every time she reads Ivy, FirstMuhammad BapMildred said to work “I plan eral weeks on.to take these policies to excerpts from her book, she still people tist whoChurch want to help and implore to “The astateCongress of Maryland owes anthem incredible debt can not believe the words came domestic must change of violence Marshall victim laws,” Marlow said. he said. of gratitude to the our people of South Korea,” from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of before how they“This go into notThere’s stop until poliHeights, is the “I firstwill step. still athese whole lot of work won the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, beand understand cies are passed.” the debate to be done but it puts us in a tremendous position. Books” Award. that gins. she may be in It “survival Carolthese Jonesout canacross be reached sets us up toTia spread the state …” “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net my eye first blackened and my “Before you get to 'I'm going lips bled,” Marlow said. to kill you,' it started as a verbal WI Elaine Davis-Nickens, president of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, said there is no D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recently announced that the District Department of Transportation [DDOT] will temconsistency in the way domestic porarily extend near violence issues are sidewalks dealt with bygrocery stores and other essential retailers to allow pedestrians enough space to practice social distancing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Sidewalk extensions will be located in all eight wards of the District based upon DDOT’s evaluation and suggestions from the public. “While staying at home is a crucial part of flattening the curve during the COVID-19 pandemic, we do recognize residents need to make trips to essential businesses like grocery stores and sometimes existing sidewalk space makes social distancing a challenge,” Bowser said. “This tactic will allow for better social distancing as we all work together to flatten the curve.” DC Health and federal guidelines define social distancing as individuals keeping at least six feet apart from each other as much as possible. “These temporary sidewalk extensions will create more space for residents to practice effective social distancing,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “Under Mayor Bowser’s leadership, we are working to identify locations that will help keep residents safe.” DDOT is currently evaluating sites and will also consider locations submitted by Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANC) and Business Improvement District (BID) representatives. Residents should submit their requests to their respective ANC or BID. In turn, the ANC or BID will send suggestions to vision.zero@dc.gov. For more about the sidewalk extensions, visitddot.dc.gov or call the DDOT Customer Service Division at (202) 673-6813. For more information about the District’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.dc.gov.
“
Bowser’s Plan: Sidewalk Extensions to Support Social Distancing Near Essential Businesses
We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
“
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L.Y. Marlow
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5 A business owner serves a customer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
Small-Business Assistance Programs Get Mixed Results
By James Wright WI Staff Writer @jamesdcwrighter The small business assistance programs by the District and the federal government have gotten mixed reviews from some business owners, who say the programs are well-meaning but too complicated in their application processes. The D.C. Council, along with the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser, supported the creation of the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program in March to help small businesses, nonprofits, the self-employed and independent contractors remain operational while the District grapples with the COVID-19 crisis. The microgrants program awards up to $25,000 per business. The funds from the microgrants program don’t have to be repaid, according to the District’s coronavirus website. D.C. Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning John Falcicchio told The Informer that the recipients will be notified later this month. Derek Davis, co-owner of Davis Barber and Beauty Service in Ward 8, said he tried to apply for the microgrants programs through its website but had no success. “I tried three times to fill out an application for the microgrants and I had real problems,” Davis said. “I tried to create passwords to get into the system and that didn’t work and ultimately the system kicked me out. The website had technical glitches that I couldn’t deal with. “After the third time, I just
stopped dealing with it. I found the process to be cumbersome and confusing.” Davis, who has served as president of the National Barber Boards of America and chairman of the D.C. Barber & Cosmetology Board, said the process puzzles him. “They want information from me such as past year’s tax returns and business papers,” he said. “But the District government already has that in their system so I don’t understand why they want me to resubmit it. All I should have to do is to give basic information that has been updated and the application should proceed from there.” Angela Thompson, a manager for The Players’ Lounge, also in Ward 8, agreed with Davis that the application process had problems. “To me, it was tedious but when they made revisions, I was able to complete the application,” said Thompson, whose parents co-founded the restaurant and lounge decades ago and it has served nearly every District mayor, many council members and national personalities such as the Rev. Al Sharpton. Thompson talked of waiting anxiously to find out whether The Players’ Lounge got the grant. “We definitely need the money,” she said. “Sales have slowed down since the mayor’s stay at home orders but we have our regular customers who are supported us. We are hanging in there so far.” Davis has shuttered his business by order of Bowser ordering
nonessentials businesses such as barbershops and beauty salons to cease operations indefinitely. The D.C. Department of Local and Small Business Development works with the microgrants program. When asked to comment on the program’s glitches, its director,
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Kristi Whitfield, released a statement to The Informer. “The Department of Small and Local Business Development alongside Mayor Bowser continue to work with and support the District’s small and local business community during this challeng-
ing time,” the statement in part said. “We will continue to identify and implement programs and initiatives that further support the recovery of our business community.” For the full version of this story, go to washingtoninformer.com. WI
APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 5
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black facts
APRIL 23-29, 2020 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
APRIL 23
1856 – Inventor Granville T. Woods, the first American of African ancestry to be a mechanical and electrical engineer after the Civil War and holder of more than 50 patents, is born in Columbus, Ohio. 1872 – Lawyer Charlotte Ray is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, becoming the first Black woman admitted to practice before the District Supreme Court. 2007 – Barbara Hillary becomes the first African American woman to reach the North Pole.
APRIL 24
1884 – The Medico-Chirurgical Society of Washington D.C., the first African American medical society, is founded.
APRIL 25
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1917 – Iconic jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (top) is born in Newport News, Virginia. 1944 – The United Negro College Fund is founded. 1950 – Chuck Cooper is selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA draft, becoming the first African American drafted by an NBA team.
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1892 – Inventor Sarah Boone patents an improved version of the ironing board. 1984 – Renowned jazz bandleader and pianist Count Basie dies of pancreatic cancer at 79 in Hollywood, Florida.
APRIL 27
1903 – Maggie L. Walker is named president of Richmond’s St. Luke Bank and Trust Company, becoming the first Black woman to head a bank. 1927 – Coretta Scott King, civil rights leader and wife of Martin Luther King Jr., is born in Heiberger, Alabama. 1945 – Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson is born in Pittsburgh. 1971 – Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. becomes the first Black American to be selected as an admiral in the U.S. Navy.
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APRIL 28
1967 – Boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the U.S. Army and is immediately stripped of his heavyweight title. Ali, a Muslim, cited religious reasons for his decision.
APRIL 29
MUHAMMAD ALI 6 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
1899 – Famed jazz pianist and composer Duke Ellington (above, inset) is born in Washington, D.C. 1983 – Harold Washington is sworn in as the first Black mayor of Chicago. 1992 – Four white Los Angeles Police Department officers are acquitted of excessive force in the videotaped beating of Black motorist Rodney King, touching off six days of violent rioting throughout South Central Los Angeles that caused more than $1 billion in damages. WI
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APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 7
The World According to Dominic BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR / @DKEVINMCNEIR
Protests to Reopen Cities too soon Reflect a Denial and Ignorance of History
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Americans are notoriously impatient, particularly those in power as well as those who feel that they’re members of the “privileged” class or race. For some, “wait” is tantamount to a four-letter-word. In addition, Americans have become quite adept at twisting the truth – that is, lying – in order to protect their own, selfish interests. That’s right, I said it, we have become proficient at lying. African Americans know this and history confirms it – from the Tuskegee Experiment to insidiously-crafted notions that Blacks had tails, had larger heads and much smaller brains than whites, were prone to lust after pedestal-a-fixed white women and were incapable of intellectual prowess. The ease with which the African continent was decimated, its libraries, natural resources and technologies destroyed or stolen and its former great civilizations eradicated while its people were sold into slavery, illustrate how easy humans can promote the absurd for the benefit of their own self-aggrandizement. Said simply, Americans (and they are not alone) often bend or ignore the truth in order to promote their own desires. But now
Many of the precautions that we’re following based on the recommendations of health experts today are similar to those taken by American cities during the influenza (the Spanish flu) pandemic more than a hundred years ago, in 1918. And they make sense. is not the time to allow those who would stoke the flames of fear to keep us from learning from the past and allowing ourselves to fall prey to the same horrific ends that have been documented in the annals of history – not with the coronavirus pandemic still leading to thousands of deaths each day and a second wave of infections predicted later this winter. That’s why we should applaud the fortitude of leaders like Mayor Muriel Bowser and Governors Larry Hogan and Ralph Northam here in the District, Maryland and Virginia, respectively. Unfortunately, and possibly to the detriment of hundreds of citizens, they remain among a distinct minority of state leaders who continue to stand fast on maintaining stay-at-home orders in order to prevent the deadly and inevitable spread of the coronavirus. I urge you to read the history for the complete story – the real facts. But suffice to say, that after a powerful contingency of U.S. citizens became fed up with their businesses being shuttered and unable to take their cross-country jaunts as they’d
recently begun to enjoy, they forced officials to reopen their cities and cancel orders to wear masks and to practice social distancing. As a tale of two cities from 1918, in Philadelphia, city officials ignored warnings from infectious disease experts that the flu was already circulating in their community. Instead, they moved forward with a massive parade in support of World War I bonds that brought hundreds of thousands of people together. Within three days, thousands of people around the Philadelphia region began to die; within six months, about 16,000 people had died. When a flu outbreak at a local barracks first spread into St. Louis, the city immediately closed schools, movie theaters and pool halls and banned all public gatherings. Within two days of the first reported cases, the city quickly moved to social isolation strategies. The result: St. Louis suffered just one-eighth of the flu fatalities that Philadelphia experienced. This is the truth and it’s not “fake news.” I realize it’s painful, in so many ways, to continue social distancing. I know that the coffers of many citizens have long been depleted – mine have dwindled as well. I realize that we’re all wrestling with anxiety and uncertainty and that such mental states can make following the “Pied Piper” seem like the only possible option. But Black folks are a resilient people. We have weathered far greater storms. And somehow, we’ve survived. As my Momma used to say and sing so often, “we’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord . . . He’s never failed me yet.” So, stand firm. And, don’t believe “the hype.” It could cost you something that you cannot purchase, no matter how much money you may have: your life or the lives of those you love. WI
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Hundreds take to Annapolis to Plead their Case: ‘Reopen Maryland’
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Group’s co-organizer Shares Rationale Behind Initiative By John Muller WI Contributing Writer
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In defiance of local, statewide and regional stay-at-home orders and suggestions by public health officials to “social distance,” hundreds of motorists and citizens filled the streets of the colonial capital this weekend in response to an impromptu call on social media to “Reopen Maryland.” Over the course of more than three hours protestors honked their car horns as they wove around Annapolis’ Church Circle waving homemade signs, American flags, Maryland’s coat of arms and flags for “Trump 2020.” Unlike scenes from similar protests in Michigan and other states, no Confederate flags or the flashing of firearms were observed by this reporter. In canvassing protest participants The Washington Informer caught up with Evie Harris, one of the co-organizers of “Reopen Maryland,” which according to its Facebook page is “a group of individuals concerned about the impact of Maryland’s mass shutdowns and school closures in response to COVID-19.” The online group, which has gained more than 20,000 members in a week, describes itself as being “committed to peaceful, law-abiding advocacy for public health measures that respect Marylanders’ civil rights, economic well-being and educational access. We support immediate, responsible reopening of our state’s business, educational and religious institutions.” Harris, a healthcare provider and military veteran living in the Baltimore area, responded to questions via email.
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DESIGNER EYEWEAR
5 “Reopen Maryland” rally in Annapolis on Saturday, April 18. (Courtesy photo/ John H. Muller)
Why did you and other folks with “Re-Open Maryland” organize Saturday’s rally? This is important to me because I am an American, a Veteran and as this crisis continued and I kept hearing the unemployment numbers significantly increase, I became angry, frustrated and even sad. Upwards of 25 million of my fellow Americans have been FORCED into poverty by government fiat-through no fault of their own. These are real people, real families behind these numbers and their livelihoods are gone. How do you think the rally went? Did it meet or exceed your expectations? Do you think your message was conveyed? I think the event was phenomenal and it greatly exceeded our expectations. Supporters and participants were respectful, non-violent and most stayed within the guidelines. But, they were active, excited and
they wanted their voices (or horns) heard. What are the next steps for “ReOpen Maryland”? Are they any upcoming planned demonstrations / protests? Re-Open Maryland is a baby group, literally just starting one week ago and now we’re up to over 20,000 group members on our Facebook group. We are talking about our next steps, so stay tuned. I want to stress that Reopen Maryland is focused on growing and sustaining Maryland’s economy and supporting the businesses that support many Marylanders and their families. We advocate for our First Amendment Rights and economic stability. We always advocate for non-violent, civil, protests and we do not condone, support, or endorse violence or threats of violence as anyone exercises his or her rights. WI
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Tenants Should Assert Rights During COVID-19 Crisis, Advocates Say By James Wright WI Staff Writer @jamesdcwrighter
While the D.C. Council and the mayor have instituted measures to protect renters in the District during the COVID-19 crisis, tenants should be vigilant in protecting their rights, a housing advocate and legal practitioner says. The council passed legislation on March 17 that prohibits evictions and late fees for renters while the state of emergency and the public health state of emergency exists. In supplemental legislation, rent increases for all residential properties during the emergency and 30 days afterward are also prohibited. However, James McCormick, a board member of the DC Tenants Union, a pro-renter organization seeking to form a union to protect the rights of non-homeowners in the District, said abuses by landlords may take place even though they are outlawed. “For example, there may be a landlord who wants to take advantage of a tenant who isn’t aware of the conditions
that the law has laid out in an emergency,” McCormick. “That landlord may try to evict the tenant knowing that is wrong. Evictions during the emergency are illegal. “If that takes place, tenants should immediately contact the Office of the Attorney General and their council member,” he said. Tenants comprise a large portion of the District’s population according to government statistics. The American Community Survey, commissioned by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2017, said 57.79 percent of all District residents are tenants. Ward 8 in Southeast, according to the survey, had the highest rate of renters in the District with 78 percent of its population while Ward 4, located largely in Northwest, had the smallest percentage of tenants with 41 percent. Studies reveal that District renters pay more than many Americans for their housing. For example, the survey reports that renters in the District pay the median $1,622 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment while nationally the figure comes out to $1,012.
Personal finance experts consistently say that only 30 percent of a person’s income should be allocated for a rent or mortgage payment but in the District, according to Curbed DC, a website that covers housing matters, more than one in five tenant households are spending 50 percent of their income on their dwelling. Jennifer Berger, the chief of the District’s attorney general social justice section of the public advocacy division, said there are programs to help tenants deal with circumstances surrounding the pandemic. On an April 3 tele-town hall meeting for senior citizens, Berger talked about programs that tenants should be aware of. “There is rental assistance for tenants that have to pay $1,250 a month and those who have children and the elderly living with them,” she said. “This rental assistance is available once a year for renters and includes security deposits.” The District’s Department of Housing and Community Development also has a rental assistance program where a tenant will be eligible for up to $600 a month based on income for
a minimum of six months and up to two years based on financial need and available funds, according to the coronavirus.dc.gov website. Berger agreed with McCormick in that evictions are illegal during the emergency and said her office will investigate and pursue legal action against landlords that violate the law. She noted that the Landlord-Tenant Division of the D.C. Superior Court has been shuttered due to the emergency, with a tentative reopening date of May 20. McCormick said the issue of the payment of back rent should loom in the mind of tenants. “When the state of emergency is lifted and the legally mandates days after are done, rent will be due,” he said. “While my organization advocates that back rent should not be collected during the time of the emergency, it is best for tenants to interact with their landlords to set up payment plan so they can remain in their homes. If that tenant cannot work out an agreement with their landlord, they need to seek the advice of an attorney.” McCormick said tenants in the Dis-
trict need to organize in order to stop mass evictions from taking place after the emergency and the grace period that follows it terminates. “We should be working collectively not individually on this,” he said. “There is no one set solution for everyone on this. Tenants need help and being organized will help them exercise their full legal rights in D.C.” WI
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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Maryland Public Schools to Remain Closed Through May 15 By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill ANNAPOLIS — Maryland schools Superintendent Karen Salmon announced state schools will remain closed through May 15 amid the coronavirus pandemic, as state officials continue to balk at ending the school year like neighboring jurisdictions D.C. and Virginia. The previous date for schools to remain closed until was April 24. “I feel that this is one of those decisions we need to make incrementally to see where we are,” Salmon said during
an April 17 press conference in Annapolis. “We don’t know what’s going to happen and I certainly don’t want to dash the hopes of many children and parents that there might be some other ways to recover school going forward.” Salmon said high school graduation ceremonies are overseen by local superintendents but must adhere to executive orders set by Gov. Larry Hogan. During weekly meetings with superintendents, Salmon said “creative” ideas offered for ceremonies included virtual celebration for high school seniors. “I don’t think that we’re going to be seeing the types of ceremonies at this point that we have in the past,” she said.
Cheryl Bost, president of the Maryland State Education Association, said in a statement that Salmon’s decision ensures students and educators remain safe while students continue distance learning. “We know that this type of learning is no substitute for in-person learning, and we will need to be thoughtful and serious about how we help students recover from this crisis,” said Bost, an elementary teacher in Baltimore County. “Everyone’s safety is paramount, but we remain hopeful that educators and students will be able to spend time together again at their schools before this school year is over.” In the meantime, distance learning will continue for nearly 900,000 students statewide. Salmon reiterated that school system leaders must present a “continuity of learning” plan with a description on how to address equity for special education students, English language learners and homeless students. It must also address technology and other resources available. In Prince George’s County, which has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, Wi-Fi hot spots are available at more than three dozen schools. Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students can receive virtual lesson on PGCPS-TV. Instructional packets can also be
5 Maryland schools Superintendent Karen Salmon speaks during an April 17 press conference in Annapolis to announce that state schools will remain closed through May 15 amid the global coronavirus pandemic, as Gov. Larry Hogan (second from right) looks on. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
picked up in limited quantities at school meals sites on Mondays and Wednesdays. The distance learning scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. attempts to not only overwhelm students for a full day of instruction without in-person interaction, but public schools CEO Monica Goldson said some students are either at home by themselves or watching siblings while their parents work at essential jobs. In addition, she said the time frame allows educators to spend time with their children.
Hospitals Expand Service for Coronavirus Patients in Prince George’s By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill As Prince George’s County continues to lead Maryland in confirmed coronavirus cases, local hospitals prepare to expand service and treat patients. Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center, which has 37
beds, now houses three modular tents to accommodate 10 patients each at the site. Two the three tents comprised corrugated metal and equipped with electricity, mini air conditioning units and nurses’ stations opened Saturday, April 18. According to county data based on zip code, Fort Washington ranks among the top five areas in Prince George’s with confirmed cases.
5 Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center began to house coronavirus patients April 18 inside one of three tents on its site. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
12 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
“We’re finding future needs … to increase the beds at Fort Washington Medical Center to 120 beds to [become] a true hospital,” said Council member Monique Anderson-Walker (D-District 8) of Fort Washington. “We also want to get more medical physicians into the region so that we can have a great, strong front line.” Other hospitals in the county plan on adding more beds and staff in the majority Black jurisdiction that contributes to at least 25 percent of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The virus remains personal for County Council member Deni Taveras (D-District 2) of Adelphi. At least four family members in New York City have died and another 14 who reside there are being tested. According to a John Hopkins University dashboard, New York City has recorded the highest COVID-19 death rates in the country and fifth-highest in the world. “I haven’t been able to sleep properly. My nerves are a little on edge.
Come up on me the wrong way, I may tell you what I think,” Taveras said Saturday. She uses humor and watches comedy programs like “The Daily Show” to relax. “I need to laugh. It’s rough out here,” she said. On a serious note, Taveras and others highlight the pandemic has created unemployment among thousands of residents who continue to struggle financially and cannot afford necessities such as food. That’s why civic associations and churches in her district helped provide a list of those in need not of not only food, but also face masks. Some of the residents, Taveras said, are front-line workers. She praised Gerson Lopez, who runs Megamart Supermarket with four stores in Prince George’s, for distributing almost 5,000 bags of food. The local Latino chain provided customers with $30 store vouchers when no more bags became available.
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One of the main aspects she, educators and some parents had to learn is the use of technology. “I’ve done more video conferencing and meetings than I can count,” Goldson said. “It has changed how we all look at technology and how we do business moving forward. Our kids are always using technology, so it was very quick for them to adapt. It’s adults who had to change.” For students, parents and other county residents with questions or concerns, Goldson hosted the first of three telephone town halls that began Tuesday, April 21 with student board member Joshua Omolola. The call, which had roughly 1,000 listeners, designated the first 30 minutes for high school seniors. Goldson said the last day for seniors will be May 15, the final day Maryland schools are scheduled to remain closed. After speaking with the most of the senior class presidents, she said the one event they want is commencement ceremonies. Goldson said the school system remains willing to host a formal graduation “no matter when it takes place.” “We have to adhere to the guidelines established by our governor and our county executive in terms of making sure that everyone remains safe,” she said. “When we do get out of the pandemic, we believe that our role will be phased back in. It will probably be a minute before we get everyone in a location where we can make sure your parents can watch you walk across the stage.” The next tele-town hall will be Thursday, April 23 for employees. The final session on Wednesday, April 29 for parents and the school community. WI
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BUSINESS Financial Literacy will soon be Required in Prince George’s Schools By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Prince George’s County Public Schools will join a handful of other educational systems in Maryland to make financial literacy a graduation requirement for high school students. Each county high school will offer it as a course in two years, but full implementation as a graduation requirement won’t begin until the 2023-24 school year. Besides updating the curriculum, about 40 extra full-time teachers and staffers would be needed. “What we don’t realize is that our students begin to receive applications to get credit cards while they are still in high school and not fully understanding what debt can do early on to their livelihood and future as they’re growing up,” public schools CEO Monica Goldson said Friday, April 17. “They need to understand about loans when going to college. It helps them to truly understand what they’re making a commitment to.” Prince George’s is now one of
eight state school systems, including neighboring Charles County, to implement such a program, offering it as either a half- or full-credit stand-alone course. According to a resolution approved by the school board April 15, it would cost about $4 million to incorporate the program. The instruction students would receive includes: • Revenues and expenditures in a household. • Analyzing the meaning of sales, income and property taxes. • Managing debt and credit. • Strategies on saving and investment. “Everyone understands the importance of money, but not everyone knows how to use it to set themselves up for future success and financial stability,” school member Raaheela Ahmed said Friday, April 17. “That knowledge gap is part of what causes inequity in our communities.” Although financial literacy will remain an elective course in high school for the next two years, middle school students receive some fiscal education thanks to the Ju-
nior Achievement Finance Park in Landover. Students must complete coursework before taking a field trip to the park to receive hands-on experience to balance a budget at makeshift store fronts to purchase groceries, a home and even health insurance. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, financial literacy became a topic earlier this year nationwide to push for additional student achievement. The Council for Economic Education of New York City recently released a “Survey of the States” report in February. Although all school systems include some form of financial education in kindergarten through 12th grade, the report
said D.C., Maryland and 25 other states don’t require high school students to take an economics course. Some lawmakers and parents in Maryland haven’t supported it on a statewide level. Last year, the state Parent Teacher Organization wrote a letter in opposition to the course, calling it another unnecessary graduation requirement forced upon high school students. “Without education being fully funded there is uncertainty that each high school can hire a teacher to offer a half semester exclusive instruction in financial literacy,” Latisha Corey, PTA president, wrote in February 2019. “At this time, Maryland needs time to refocus the needs and priority of students
without adding measures to possibly defray their graduation.” Because the Maryland General Assembly ended nearly three weeks early in March because of the coronavirus outbreak, financial literacy legislation from Del. Jay Walker (D-District 26) of Fort Washington didn’t get reviewed out of the Ways and Means Committee. “You kind of question why it took so long, but at the end of the day, I’m glad we are doing the right thing,” said Walker, who presented state legislation on the topic for the past several years. “Hopefully, this will build momentum and take it across the state.” WI
5 Prince George’s County Public School high school students will be required to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate. (Courtesy photo/Junior Achievement)
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APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 13
NATIONAL Democrats on Capitol Hill Push for Ethnic and Racial Data on Coronavirus By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia As the death toll from the novel coronavirus mounts, it’s clear that
African Americans are dying at alarmingly higher rates than anyone else. Data related to ethnicity has remained elusive, but a group of U.S. senators led by Democrats
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Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California have introduced the Equitable Data Collection Disclosure on COVID-19 Act. The senators said they want transparency. The bill is identical to what was introduced in the U.S. House and co-sponsored by a group of 80 members of Congress, including Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee and Karen Bass of California and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. “The coronavirus crisis is further exposing the disparity in basic human rights faced by black and brown communities across the country,” Brown said in a news release. “We are not doing enough to protect everyone in our country from this crisis, and without comprehensive data on who is affected, and why, we will not be able to beat this virus.” The senators cited data from a recent Columbus Dispatch report that revealed that 20 percent of the 5,512 confirmed cases in Ohio were Black patients, despite African Americans making up only 12 percent of Ohio’s population. The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect and report racial and other demographic data on COVID-19 testing, treatment, and fatality rates, and provide a summary of the final statistics and a report to Congress within 60 days after the end of the public health emergency.
It would require HHS to use all available surveillance systems to post daily updates on the CDC website showing data on testing, treatment, and fatalities, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, socioeconomic status, disability status, county, and other demographic information. The legislation comes as reports across the United States point to stark racial disparities in COVID-19 cases and fatalities. In Michigan, Black residents account for 33 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases and 40 percent of fatalities, despite making up only 14 percent of the state’s population. In Louisiana, 70 percent of those who have died from COVID-19 so far are Black, compared with 32 percent of the state’s population. Initial data from Boston shows that among people whose race was reported, more than 40 percent of people infected were Black, compared with only 25 percent of the population. Recently, Chelsea, Mass., a predominately Latino community, was cited as a hot spot in the COVID-19 outbreak, with initial reporting confirming 400 new cases, according to a news release from the senators. Specifically, the Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act would require the reporting of the following data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, socioeconomic status, disability status, county, and other demographic information:
• Data related to COVID-19 testing, including the number of individuals tested and the number of tests that were positive. • Data related to treatment for COVID-19, including hospi talizations and intensive care unit admissions and duration. • Data related to COVID-19 outcomes, including fatalities.
The bill would also authorize $50 million in funding for the CDC, state public health agencies, the Indian Health Service, and other agencies to improve their data collection infrastructure and create an inter-agency commission to make recommendations on improving data collection and transparency and equitably responding to this crisis. Earlier this month, Brown cosigned a letter to the administration regarding COVID-19-related disparities. The letter highlights racial disparities in infection and mortality rate and urges the administration to work with states to provide disaggregated racial data to the CDC in their COVID-19 case reporting. “The letter also requests an update on the administration’s outreach efforts to minority communities, as well as non-English-speaking communities,” Brown said. “Lastly the letter encourages the administration to ensure diverse participation in any COVID-19 vaccine or drug trials.” WI
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5 A patient struggles with coronavirus. (Courtesy photo/YouTube screen grab)
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EDUCATION With Loss of Head Start Funds, Takoma EC Parents Fear Less Accountability By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Long before the D.C. Public Schools’ (DCPS) central office relinquished $14 million in Head Start grant funds, some parents said they saw the proof in the pudding during what they described as the central office’s attempts to keep them unaware of key changes and neglect incidents that took place at some of the District’s more than 50 Title 1 elementary schools. For years, through a Head Start-mandated parent policy council, parents such as Chioma Oruh had been able to express concerns and secure behavioral health support for students, along with resources for families homeless and non-English speaking families. Oruh said the central office’s recent decision not only jeopardizes the District’s path to universal Pre-K, but threatens to dismantle what had become the most powerful parent-led watchdog of DCPS. “You’re exposing families with less federal protection. It’s not just about the money. It’s the accountability,” said Oruh, an active Takoma Education Campus parent whose son attended Head Start between 2016 and 2018. During that time, Oruh chaired the Subcommittee for Behavioral Health and Special Education, and briefly served as head of the Early Childhood Education Council. She said that experience revealed the difficulty of advancing the interests of nonwhite and economically disadvantaged families over that of white parents who had more political power and flexible schedules. “There was a level of serious power at the preschool level,” Oruh told
The Informer as she stressed the need for a parent council, much like what Head Start required for its grantees, in the new preschool model that DCPS chooses to adopt. “When you get a bunch of parents in the room, you give us power and you’ll see some results,” she said. “A lot of the issues came from [DCPS officials] not bringing in the parent body. They would’ve had to work with us.” Head Start, a federal program that has been in existence since 1965, originally started as a summer school for young people entering elementary school. It has since expanded in scope, providing millions of children across the United States with health screenings, dental checkups, and social-emotional development. Whether DCPS had been able to do that adequately became a point of contention in the 11 years since the District expanded pre-kindergarten. So much so that, rather than risk an audit of funds, the central office decided to forego its grant, sources familiar with the process told The Informer on the condition they remain anonymous. The fallout from the Head Start funding loss comes amid a global pandemic that has brought economic and social activity to a standstill, and D.C. public and public charter school students to their homes where they’ve engaged in distance learning programs. During the latter part of last month, parents who participated in the school lottery process, through which pre-kindergarten seats get filled, received their youngsters’ assigned schools. In DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee’s April 15 letter to families, he said that, after conversations with Head Start earlier in the year, officials expected a 50 percent reduction in
funds, due to shifting demographics within some of the Head Start programs. He later told reporters on a phone call about safety concerns stemming from instances where preschoolers wandered beyond the playground or their designated area. Regarding to enrollment, Ferebee said that the central office’s decision wouldn’t reduce pre-kindergarten seating of 7,000 for the 2020-2021 school year. However, schools that experienced a drop in Title 1-eligible students lost some family services and instructional coaching — what amounted to more than 80 jobs. DCPS officials said they would recoup those losses with elementary-level wraparound services and collaborations with community partners. Ferebee also revealed his intentions to align DCPS’ early child care model with the instructional model that immerses three and four-year-olds in a classroom setting rather than what’s been likened to a daycare. Since the District first committed to expanding its pre-kindergarten offerings, education experts had heralded the city as a beacon in the national battle for universal pre-kindergarten — even as officials in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services raised doubts about the school system’s ability to manage Head Start funds. A 2018 report by the Center for American Progress asserted that more mothers from low-income communities had been able to incur significant cost savings and enter the workforce since the District expanded pre-kindergarten enrollment. With the loss of Head Start funds comes the question of how, and even if, parents can provide the money for school supplies and field trips. Even parents at Takoma EC, an upper Northwest campus with ethnic and economic diversity, admit their struggle to combat their newfound dilemma. “You can’t take $100,000 and things [continue to] be normal,” said Marc Cevasco, a parent of a Takoma EC first grader and preschool student whose wife serves as treasurer of the school’s parent-teacher organization. “It’s going to have a tangible effect on the resources. “We have raised a lot of money over the years to supplement things that should be provided by the school,” he said “The idea that we’re going to lose $6,000 for school supplies is a big hit and not something the [parent-teacher organization] can resolve. This is not a community where everyone can spend a couple hundred extra for addons to their child’s education.” WI
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5 With COVID-19 will holding hands be a thing of the past? (Courtesy photo)
TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT Apple MacBook Airs, iPads and iMacs Two Rivers Public Charter School intends to enter into a sole source contract with Apple, Inc. to provide technology equipment consisting of MacBook Air laptops, iMac desktops, and iPad tablets. The cost of this contract will be approximately $94,208. The decision to sole source was made because Apple, Inc, is uniquely qualified to provide technology equipment due to proprietary design of their equipment. Two Rivers’ existing technology is Apple-product based and the organization wants to continue with the current infrastructure. Please contact Two Rivers with any questions at procurement@tworiverspcs.org.
TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT Environmental and Character Education Program Two Rivers Public Charter School intends to enter into a sole source contract with NorthBay to provide a week-long sleep-away environmental and character education program to 6th graders. The cost of this contract will be approximately $30,600. The decision to sole source was made because NorthBay is uniquely qualified to provide a week-long sleep-away program that matches Two Rivers’ emphasis on experiential learning and social-emotional education. Please contact Two Rivers with any questions at procurement@tworiverspcs.org.
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APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 15
HEALTH Calming Community Amid COVID-19, Cannabis Entrepreneur Sees Spike in Sales
Linda Greene Continues Her Mission to Serve District’s Lowest-income Area By Curtis Bunn Zenger News Linda Greene’s cannabis business rests two blocks from her house in the District and across the street from the home of abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. That was intentional. Anacostia Organics [AO] serves
the southeast quadrant of the nation’s capital, a long-underdeveloped area now undergoing gentrification like much of the city. Still, most of that section of the city remains Black and low-income, demographics that find Greene’s business a respite, especially from the stress of the coronavirus outbreak.
5 The ribbon-cutting for Linda Greene’s D.C. marijuana dispensary, Anacostia Organics brought our city officials including Mayor Muriel Bowser and Ward 8 D.C Councilmember Trayon White. (Courtesy photo)
Prior to AO opening its doors – amidst much fanfare that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other local officials – residents from the area had to use public transportation to cross the Anacostia River for their cannabis needs.
The district decriminalized marijuana in 2014 and it became legal in 2015 for residents 21 and older to possess up to two ounces for personal use. D.C. residents can only use marijuana on private property and cannot sell the drug, which remains illegal under federal law.
At AO, clients’ needs are met in minutes, in their community. For Greene, who has owned a public relations firm for 30 years that has represented MC Hammer, Dionne Warwick, singer Jonathan Butler,
DC 420 Page 17
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HEALTH
DC 420 from Page 16 the Republic of Gabon in West Africa and who was the chief of staff to former Mayor Marion Barry, the symmetry is intoxicating. “It’s exciting for me because that’s what Anacostia Organics was intended to do: serve the community,” she said. “It’s a tough business. And it’s a very expensive proposition. But, in the end, it’s been such a blessing because of the support.” The city’s April 1 stay-at-home order and the deadly nature of COVID-19 have led to AO tripling its normal business, Greene said. “There’s so much anxiety that comes with coronavirus,” she said. “People want and need to be calm, so they stock up on their medication. And we are what we are supposed to be: Here for them.” Greene’s business occupies a building that had been abandoned for 20 years. She found the owner, took him to lunch and formed a partnership. Greene also made sure that all of her employees lived in the community. All clients must have a medical cannabis card to enter. Once inside, they find an array of products aimed to aid, soothe and heal. And the business offers discounts to low-income customers, seniors, veterans and residents of Wards 7 and 8, which comprise the neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, long some of the district’s poorest. “It’s been rewarding to see some customers go from wheelchair to walking with a cane in a matter of months,” Greene said. “I’m a fighter and a warrior for our people. And it’s special to get their support.”
LOCAL PATRONS LAUD THE BENEFITS
John Johnson, a poet who lives nearby, was diagnosed two years ago with Stage 3 colon and rectal cancer. He went through chemotherapy, radiation and two surgeries. The medical marijuana he purchases from Greene’s business has been “a blessing,” said Johnson, 39, who added his post-surgery pain and anxiety were significant. “There’s no way in the world I would have been able to make it without Linda’s business,” he said. “The drugs the hospital wanted me to take would have turned me into a zombie. To have a quality business right in my neighborhood has al-
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5 Linda Greene, owner of DC marijuana dispensary Anacostia Organics, speaks at the “Women Gro Leadership Summit” in June, 2019. (Photo courtesy Anacostia Organics)
lowed me to manage pain and any uneasiness is a comfort. “For her to pull off that business in this neighborhood, well, only she could do it.” Greene garnered support partly because she has been a staple in the community. She hosted “Convos at Linda’s” for months before the store opened to meet her new neighbors as the community transitioned. Politicians and movers-and-shakers attended and shared invaluable information about government. She built trust. The idea for the business was born over wine with friends and partners Yolanda Carraway and Sherri Blount. A month later, they formed BCG Holdings, Inc., and Greene took on the challenge. “I threw myself into it,” she said. “But it was a tough journey.”
DOING HER HOMEWORK RESULTS IN DIVIDENDS
Greene attended cannabis conferences across the country, using her effusive, engaging personality to meet everyone she could, including the top figures in the game. Often, she was the only Black woman around. Using her political background, she challenged legislation and helped craft new laws regarding the evolving industry. It was a seven-year journey from inception to opening reception. “I was overwhelmed by her warmth and willingness to devour
information, to help and the advance the cause, which was (and is) creating more meaningful opportunities in the cannabis industry for people of color,” Jesce Horton, co-founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. “It took a lot of work for her to open up her store. I heard about it out here in Oregon. But she made it happen.” When she went to her first MJBiz Conference – the largest annual cannabis convention, held in Las Vegas – there were no more than 15 African Americans, she said, of 2,000 attendees. That was six years ago. Last year, there were 45,000 at the conference, and Greene, 68, was one of the featured speakers. Indeed, she is entrenched in the cannabis world. She sits on the executive team of the Cannabis Trade Federation, working closely with the Board of Directors and chief executive officer. Additionally, she is the chairwoman of the federation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, which includes civil rights leaders and minority industry executives. She used her knowledge of politics to change the industry in D.C and she held the city’s first Cannabis Job Fair. It’s the latest in a record of service that includes service on boards that advocate for human rights, cancer cures, music, among countless others. “She’s a special woman doing special things,” Johnson said. “If nobody else, our community respects and appreciates her.” WI
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL
U.S. Nurses Are on the Front Line – Why Aren’t They Being Better Protected?
America’s nurses took to Capitol Hill earlier this week, led by the leaders of the unions representing 230,000 of their colleagues nationwide to send a message to Donald Trump, Congress and the healthcare system. What did they say and why were they protesting? “Our members are dying. We demand protections now!” they said. As COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket in the U.S., the nurses’ unions across the U.S. have ramped up efforts and joined forces, demanding hospitals and the government to immediately provide them with optimal personal protective equipment, including N95 respirators or higher. Their demands come at a time made even more dire given the fact that nurses are now dying from the coronavirus. The numbers reported continue to rise with an estimated 60 across the U.S. having already losing their lives but more are expected to succumb to the disease without changes. They now wonder, “how many more nurses have to die before the richest country in the world will act to protect us, so we can protect our patients?” They further maintain that while they’re among those who stand on the frontline, that they are now “bear[ing] the full brunt of a healthcare system rendered dysfunctional after relentless funding cuts for public health, while generating obscene profits for corporate interests.” We stand behind our nurses who remain the nation’s largest healthcare professionals with 3.8 million registered nurses. In a few days, on May 6, America will celebrate National Nurses Day – an annual observance that will mark the beginning of National Nurses Week. Their leaders say they want – rather need – several things: safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios; protections from an epidemic of violence; the power of their collective voice; and Medicare for all. But more than that, they deserve to have their months-long demands to their employers and elected officials answered and fulfilled – to ensure safe workplaces that will protect nurses, their patients and the public, instead of sending nurses into battle – “to the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic with bandanas, scarves and trash bags as protection.” WI
Educating Children Post-COVID-19?
Most Americans have accepted the fact that once the COVID-19 pandemic curve flattens, they will have to adjust to a new normal. The way they live, work and relate to colleagues, friends, and loved ones will not be the same as it was pre-COVID-19, at least not for some time. For adults, it will be an adjustment, unlike no other, but memories of how things used to be may provide a degree of solace for them. But for children, it’s going to be an altogether different story. Just as the nation’s school-aged children were preparing for spring break, the rug was pulled from under them, and schools all across the country closed down, leaving many of them feeling lost, confused, and abandoned by their teachers, classmates, and a daily routine. The disruption is still not fixed, as students returned to a stay-at-home classroom after spending a stay-at-home spring break with limited activities or contact with individuals outside of their home. The adjustment for most adults has not been an easy one, but for some children, the pandemic lifestyle has been traumatic. More important, educators across the country are looking to other nations, and school districts, to see who has the answer to what education will look like once schools reopen. Will students spend whole days or half days in the classroom? Will school hours or the school year be extended? How will classrooms accommodate students who may still be required to practice social distancing? And, what resources will be available to students who have fallen behind, keeping in mind that nearly every child will fit that description? Educators are concerned that there are more questions than answers as they begin to map out scenarios and academic plans to match them. There’s no playbook for them to follow because they’ve never had to respond to a situation like this before. And, an added concern is how to address the social and emotional needs of children when they return. As one educator suggests, “children’s social and emotional health is more important than actual classroom instruction.” While President Trump and lawmakers seek ways to put adults back to work, it is critically important not to lose sight of bringing back quality education for all children who represent the workforce of the future. WI
TO THE EDITOR God Help Us
Facebook Friends
Anything else going on besides the coronavirus and how it’s upending our lives? Maybe you all can extend the religion section? I’d love a good reading of the Word in these trying times. Yolanda Felder Laurel, Md.
Readers' Mailbox
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Just wanted to say I’ve really been enjoying the new Washington Informer News broadcast you all have been doing with your lovely publisher Denise Rolark Barnes. I’m hoping one day you guys will make it to the big screen! For now, I’ll just listen in on Facebook. Gerald Hines Washington, D.C.
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.
APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 19
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Alexis M. Herman
Remembering Dr. Dorothy Irene Height
April 20, 2020, marked the 10th anniversary of the death of our gentle but fearless leader and mentor, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. This significant anniversary offers us an opportunity for reflection during these unprecedented times we are living in today. Dr. Height undoubtedly was a creative, compassionate and visionary leader. Her scholarship, travels and experiences shaped her understanding
of power and how to navigate it with competence and kindness. Through the programs and initiatives she developed, she used her power to empower poor women and girls around the world. During the early civil rights movement when women worked behind the scenes, her quiet power brought wisdom and a social worker’s perspective to deliberations and strategies of the “Big Six” civil rights leaders. With an understanding of the importance of power of location, she purchased a building in Washington, D.C., be-
tween the White House and the Capitol, the only African American-owned building along that corridor of power. For decades, her political power was put to use serving as an adviser to five U.S. presidents. She led some of the largest and most influential women’s organizations in American history, including her beloved National Council of Negro Women. And she achieved these accomplishments always wearing fabulous hats and an engaging smile. While those achievements were immense, they pale in light of her greatest and most enduring accomplishments.
Guest Columnist
During the turbulent times and critical issues that prevailed throughout her lifetime, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height was “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” Her activism started as a teenager by bringing her peers together to nonviolently protest policies that prohibited African American children from swimming, debating or going to school with Caucasian youth. She bravely confronted and navigated the injustices and engaged adults who had the power to make changes. Over the years, issues such as racism, the struggle for economic and social
justice, women’s rights, voter’s rights, equal access to education, healthcare and jobs, fair wages and dignity for all, brought purpose and passion to her life. When she walked into a room, wisdom, humanity and hope arrived with her. She was the bridge to alignment and unity to many civil rights organizations and leaders. To African American, Caucasian, Latina, Asian and Native American women organizations, she served as a bridge of vision
HERMAN Page 33
By George Askew
No Surprise – People of Color Taking Brunt of COVID-19 Punishment I am not surprised to learn that Black and brown people are being hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and neither should anyone else be. We have an overwhelming collection of evidence from epidemics,
pandemics and natural disasters to show us that people who were facing the most significant social, economic and health challenges BEFORE the catastrophic events are those who will suffer disproportionately more as a result of the event. Our country’s continuing history of structural and institutional racism, that in many places has gutted
the Health and Human Services infrastructure of communities of color, the poor, and the socially disenfranchised, has contributed greatly to the disproportionate incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and other morbidities that in time of catastrophic events like this are magnified. Let’s not fool ourselves. Yes, COVID-19 is an equal opportu-
Guest Columnist
nity killer — it doesn’t care if you are black or white, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat — but it is also an “opportunistic” killer. It will and has preyed more on those who were least equipped prior to its appearance to survive its wrath. As we look to target communities who need our help today during this outbreak, let’s not forget those communities when we
emerge from this pandemic. They will need our attention and investment even more. This will not be the last catastrophic event many of us will see. I hope in future events we are prepared to address them without the specter of disparity and inequality peering over our shoulders. That’s a surprise I would welcome with open arms. WI
By Sandra Edmonds Crewe
African Americans Disproportionately Affected by COVID-19: Let’s Not Let It Become Yesterday’s News As a social worker, I watched with dismay and sadness the myriad of news reports announcing to the nation and the world that African Americans were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that is taking lives and changing the way we live. My dismay was not the breaking news, but the reaction to the breaking news. African Americans receiving disparate health care is certainly no new news to most. For many decades data have documented that African Americans suffer more from chronic
20 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
conditions. The death rate for African Americans is generally higher than whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. And while life expectancy is increasing for Blacks, there is still a gap of four years. And when zip codes are considered, this gap is even larger. As far back as the late 1990s, I recall teaching students in social gerontology and research about the difference in life expectancy by zip code in the District of Columbia metropolitan area. Today, in the District of Columbia, life expectancy for residents of the District of Columbia can vary up
to 27 years based upon their zip code that is correlated with race and poverty. These are not new facts. In fact, a widely distributed 2002 report, “Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care,” by the Institute of Medicine Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care clearly addressed the social determinants and made recommendations to address the disparities. The underlying factors to these inequalities are also known and well-documented. Any search on the internet will yield numerous ar-
ticles that document the contributors to the disparities including poverty and its correlates access and quality of care. African Americans working in essential frontline and highly interactive positions also contribute to this harsh imbalance. Added to this are health beliefs that are culturally based and passed on from generation to generation. And finally, behaviors can be added to the list of social determinants. What is too often left out of the discussion about behaviors are the structural inequalities that may push individuals to rely upon substances and other harmful practices. Yet, how we handle the coping be-
haviors as a society is very different. I recall that the public policy associated with crack addiction in the 1980s was to criminalize the behavior. I was then a director of a housing authority and watched individuals become quickly addicted with families torn apart because of the incarceration of users and sellers. Yet, with the current opioid addiction epidemic, a public health crisis has been declared with primacy being given to treatment. The difference between a crime and a public health crisis is also a factor of zip code that is a proxy for race and
CREWE Page 33
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Roger Caldwell
Political, Health Care Systems in America are Broken and Corrupt
This week, we have a chance to make a difference in a second federal stimulus package now under discussion in Washington — if we act now. In the last package, the multitrillion-dollar CARES Act intended to help struggling small businesses, many Black-owned businesses were
left out. That’s because the CARES Act requires business owners to have existing relationships with banks. Most Black-owned businesses don’t have those relationships. What they have are triple the denials for loans that banks give to non-minority businesses. Last year, 2.6 million Black-owned businesses generated $150 billion in revenue and supported 3.56 million jobs. Yet the Republican Senate stub-
Guest Columnist
bornly pushes back on Democrats’ insistence to target economic relief to those who need it most, including Black-owned businesses, in the second aid package now being negotiated. There is fierce urgency to take a stand. Despite the horrible plague of coronavirus, and the plagues of loneliness and separation, we need not be hopeless. Within our collective vulnerability is a collective
strength. We need to apply pressure on our senators to see us, hear us, listen to us when we say don’t overlook us again. Businesses are the beating heart of any community. The 2018 U.S. Mayors report noted that small Black-owned businesses have twelve times the growth and wealth of many non-minority small businesses and that Black women-led firms grew by 74 percent in the
past decade. Until they were shuttered, most of these businesses were thriving. They deserve to be recognized in the second federal aid package, and to benefit from it. Congressional Democrats would not rubber-stamp the Senate’s second aid package as it stands because once again Black-owned businesses were orphaned. We need to help
cil, I specifically asked to chair the Committee on Health. In this role, I have been fighting for a state-of-the-art community hospital that anchors a true health care system for Wards 7 and 8, equitable access to full-service grocery stores and universal birth-to-three education. We have made enormous progress in these areas. We have been able to reassemble $325 million to build a state-of-the-art community hospital on St. Elizabeth’s campus. This new hospital will serve as the catalyst for a true interconnected health care system of emergency care, urgent care, specialty care, ambulatory
care, primary care, medical offices, independent physicians and dentists. Already we are seeing pieces of this health system come together: a new urgent care system will be operated by MBI Health Services; Howard University Hospital and Unity Health Care are partnering for a new health center at 4430 Benning Road, NE; a medical office building will be coming to Skyland; and Unity Health Care and Sibley Memorial Hospital jointly established a cancer care clinic within Unity’s Parkside Health Center. In addition to building a health
CALDWELL Page 34
By Vincent C. Gray
COVID-19 Highlights Racial Inequality
African Americans are dying from COVID-19 at rates well above non-Hispanic white residents. In the District, despite being less than 47 percent of the city’s population, over 75 percent of the residents who have died due to complications related to COVID-19 were African American. While the virus does not discriminate on the basis of race, our history of being slow or unwilling to ensure African Americans have
equal health, food, and housing outcomes are the reasons coronavirus has had a devasting impact in every major city with a significant size African-American population. I am horrified by these grim statistics but even more perplexed as to why many people outside of Wards 7 and 8 are only now waking up to the fact that these disparities exist. COVID-19 has an insidious way of attacking people with pre-existing health conditions. A 2016 report from the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies on the Health of the African-Amer-
Askia-At-Large
ican Community in the District of Columbia showed that the residents of Wards 7 and 8 have health outcome disparities in every statistical category including: obesity, heart disease, diabetes, smoking-related respiratory illnesses, cancer, etc. So, while we must do everything possible to communicate with vulnerable communities of color on how best to protect themselves from COVID-19, even our best efforts will not be able to eliminate the disproportionate, adverse impact COVID-19 will have on African-American communities. When I returned to the Coun-
GRAY Page 34
By Askia Muhammad
Back to ‘Normal’ Not Good Enough
This COVID-19 pandemic has us all so anxious and frightened, most of us long for the time when life around the world “gets back to normal.” But I have to say — and I hope most will agree — back “to normal” is not OK with me. These Trumpistas and gun fanatics are mistaken in their be-
lief that victory over the internal enemy alone is sufficient in troubled times. They can pack the Supreme Court 9-0. They can stack the Senate 99-0. Their rulings will be meaningless against a noncompliant people. The Trumpistas are mistaken when they presume that their internal enemies whom they ruthlessly crush at every opportunity, will rally round their flag when an existential external threat arrives.
When the slave master’s house caught on fire, Brother Malcolm X reminded us, the house slaves would help put the fire out, but the field slave would pray for a strong wind. Lots of folks are praying for a strong wind, after this novel coronavirus blows over. The spring outside my window looks normal. But it’s not. Like millions of others around the globe, I’m trapped inside a prison of my own making. Dread that I
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might not get to see my dreams come true. We cannot, we will not return to the “normal” life of 2019, ever again. Aside from the social distancing changes that will never be the same again, who wants to go back to “normal” if that means: If you’re Black, get back. If you’re white, you’re right. If you’re brown, stick around. If you’re yellow, you’re mellow? Who wants to go back to those days? The idea that the quick and
vigorous revival of the economy is, in fact, more important than protecting the lives of citizens, especially the elderly in this COVID-19 deal, is patriotic Republican talk. But let me say, right off the bat, that is absurd and ludicrous. But a “Remember the Alamo” GOP diehard, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, suggested last month that American seniors
ASKIA Page 34 APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 21
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Ethiopia Plans to Close Eritrean Refugee Camp Despite Concerns Ethiopia is stepping up preparations to go ahead with a planned closure of a camp for Eritrean refugees, despite concerns among residents and calls by aid agencies to halt their relocation over coronavirus fears. Home to some 26,000 people, including some 1,600 minors, Hitsats is one of four camps in the northern Tigray region hosting nearly 100,000 Eritrean refugees, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). Earlier this month, Ethiopia’s Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) announced to residents in Hitsats camp that the federal government had decided to relocate them to Mai Aini and Adi Harush camps, or offer them the possibility to live in towns. The plan has yet to be executed amid the coronavirus pandemic, but officials say preparations continue, Al Jazeera reported. “We are ready to start the relocation at any time,” Eyob Awoke, deputy director general of ARRA, told Al Jazeera, noting that the declaration of a state of emergency last week due to the pandemic had forced authorities “to timely adapt the initial plan.” “External factors are hampering us but we can start with small numbers,” Eyob said, Al Jazeera reported. “Hitsats refugees are suffering a lot from shortage of water, shelter and access to electricity. Merging of these camps is mainly required to ensure efficient and effective use of available resources.” WI
caribbean now CARICOM Chairman Praised for ‘Outstanding Leadership’ in COVID-19 Battle Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), on Friday praised the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), for outstanding leadership during the ongoing coronavirus threat. On Wednesday, April 15, Mottley conducted a Special Emergency Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government via a video conference, during which they agree agreed on a way forward in the community’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release following the meeting, the CARICOM Heads of Government noted that they “were of the view that it was regrettable that resources for [WHO] were being threatened at a time when all must join in leading the fight
against the pandemic.” This was clearly in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend funding to WHO while his administration reviews what he described as WHO’s “disastrous” role in “covering up” the outbreak of the coronavirus in China. The CARICOM press release noted that the leaders received “presentations from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and Archbishop Jason Gordon.” WI
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22 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE A CONTINUING SERIES
COVID 19UPDATE Strategies to Survive, Sustain and Succeed
HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS HEALTH CRISIS
Howard University Professor Tyish S. Hall Brown, Ph.D., MHS, is a child and adolescent psychologist and director of the SchoolBased Behavioral Health Program in the Howard University College of Medicine. In conjunction with #BisonIntheKnow, Dr. Hall Brown recently completed a short video offering tips on how to talk to young people during the COVID-19 health crisis. Watch the video here. She notes that children are vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result of exposure to the COVID-19 health crisis. Her tips include a recommendation to, “talk to them often, ask them what they know about social distancing and hygiene protocols, encourage them to take their remote learning
seriously and spend quality time indoors having fun.” In the #BisonIntheKnow video, she says, “While we know that exercise, nutrition and sleep are important to child development, building skills to prevent or deal with symptoms of anxiety and depression that they may face can be invaluable.” One activity that she recommends is called “Five Senses” – an activity often used to combat anxiety, particularly at night. Her instructions are as follows: We start by taking a deep breath. Inhale for a count of three and then exhale for a count of three. Now look around you and say aloud five things that you see. Next say out loud four things you can feel right now. Then, pause for a moment and listen to what is happening around you. Say three of the sounds that you hear out loud. Next, say out loud two things you can smell right now. If you can, move around
5 Teaching children washing hands can be fun and healthy. (Courtesy photo)
to find things to smell. If you can’t move around, say out loud your two favorite smells. Finally, say out loud one thing you can taste right now. Now, take another deep breath. Inhale for a count of three and then exhale for a count of three. Thanks Doc!
TOUCHING YOUR FACE MAY BE GOOD FOR GLAMOUR BUT NOT YOUR HEALTH
In an informative feature published recently in The Hill and penned by Greg Hudson, the local news reporter poses the following: How often do you touch your face and does that increase your risk for the coronavirus? As Hudson seeks answers to his question, he says that several studies indicate that while we touch our faces far more often that we may realize or should, that health officials continue to recommend that we put a halt to this habit – particularly in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. So, while we may be following the advice of health experts so way wash your hands, wash your hands and wash your hands again to avoid the coronavirus, such diligence may be for naught if you’re still touching your face a lot. What’s more, because the virus can live nine hours or more on hard surfaces, it’s fairly easy to make contact with COVID-19 simply by touching just about anything in the public space. And because we touch or face with much greater frequency than we wash our hands, we are putting ourselves at significant risk of infection, probably without even realizing it. Here’s what our insightful fellow journalist shared. One study published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene recorded 10 subjects as they did office-style work for three hours in a room by themselves. On average, they touched their faces 15.7 times per hour. A similar study of 26 students in South Wales showed they averaged 23 touches per hour, with almost half of those involving contact between the hand and mucous from the nose, eyes and mouth. A slightly larger study of 250 individuals in public places in the U.S. and Brazil came with a lower average of 3.6 times per hour, perhaps because people are less likely to touch their faces in public. But
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the same study showed they touched common objects or surfaces 3.3 times per hour — the type of public surfaces that could be touched by coronavirus sufferers as well. In the eerily prescient movie “Contagion,” a doctor laments, “The average person touches their face 2,000 to 3,000 times a day, 3-5 times a minute.” There’s no footnote as to where the screenwriter got that particular statistic, but it certainly resonates with many people who admit they touch their faces pretty much all of the time. alone 23 times an hour). So, what does this mean for our health and safety against a possible epidemic? So, what’s a person to do? We
touch our faces almost by instinct – sometimes to rub our eyes that may have gotten a bit dry or to scratch a spot that’s started to itch. Other times, we touch our faces to get hair out of our eyes, to smooth in a bit of lotion or to ponder while resting our chin on our outstretched palm. Maybe the best thing to do, since we probably won’t be successful in totaling ending a habit that’s part of our incessant routine for most of our lives, is to keep our hands “busy and occupied.” Pick up a book, work on your tablet, begin to crochet that blanket or shawl that you’ve been promising yourself you’d get to “one of these days.” Good Luck! WI
TOO MUCH MONEY IS LOST TO HEALTH CARE FRAUD. Treat your health care dollars like real money! Because it is real money!
REPORT HEALTH CARE FRAUD! If you have or someone you know has... • Been double billed (billed twice) • Been billed for products or services not received • Been offered free services • Had personal information misused Call 202-434-2099 (All calls are confidential.) or email LCESMP@aarp.org
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0042 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.
Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an affiliate of AARP.
APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 23
LIFESTYLE
Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum: It’s Our River: A Decade of Urban Waterways By Katrina D. Lashley, Program Coordinator, Urban Waterways Project, Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum April 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. It’s an annual event first conceived as a moment to honor the earth and promote peace that eventually transformed into a teach-in aimed at addressing environmental challenges through participatory community action. This significant anniversary takes place in a remarkable moment in which the global community finds itself in the midst of the uncertainties, disruptions, and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 50th anniversary of Earth Day also takes place in an era of growing tensions and calls for action in the face of the undeniable impacts of climate change, particularly on communities who bear the least responsibility and the most burden. In 2010, against the backdrop of ongoing discussions around the restoration and redevelopment of the Anacostia River, the Anacostia Community Museum’s late senior historian Dr. Gail S. Lowe decided to more thoroughly explore this body of water. The Anacostia River not only lends its name to the surrounding area but has shaped life along its banks for thousands of years and has been, for many, a psychological and physical barrier.
In the narratives of East of the River’s isolation, the Anacostia River is often mentioned as the cause, but few have explored the history and the life of the river itself. How had the Anacostia become “The Forgotten River?” What had this invisibility meant for the communities, the people living along its banks? What were the human, psychological, social, economic, and political costs of such invisibility? The resulting exhibition, Reclaiming the Edge: Urban Waterways & Civic Engagement, opened in 2012. Since then, the Anacostia Community Museum has continued with community-based research, programming, and community-building efforts, including workshops, community forums, a national symposium, summer programming and a project newsletter. The Urban Gardening program (now in its 8th year) connects participants to the existence and accessibility of the natural world in their community. In its third year, the Women’s Environmental Leadership initiative (WEL) builds the capacity for future environmental leadership by convening a national and international network of established women environmental leaders with emerging and aspiring leaders for in-person discussions focused on the exchange of best practices, wisdom, and experience. Through annual summits, associated programming, and
oral histories, WEL addresses mentorship, educational and career opportunities, as well as leadership models. The launch of the Urban Waterways website occurring later this spring and the summer publication of the first volume of Women, Environmentalism & Justice (an illustrated publication highlighting the impacts of women in the environmental movement) serve as the next steps in the project’s ongoing effort to provide a platform for community leadership and expertise, in its many forms. A decade of Urban Waterways documentation and programming dispels the commonplace narratives that urban communities are separate from and uninterested in the natural world. By evidence of their personal and professional experiences, our community partners help to push back against narrow definitions of environment and environmentalism. By framing their understanding of the environment through the lenses of justice, equity, civil rights, sense of place, culture and identity, collaborators provide pathways to action. These actions serve as reminders that, in times of uncertainty, communities can turn to a history of active citizen participation providing blueprints for possible ways forward. In the face of seemingly insurmountable pressures on a global scale, communities continue to do the work. WI
5 The Anacostia Community Museum’s Museum Academy Program explores the Washington Channel and the Anacostia River aboard the Chesapeake Bay Foundation boat, The Susquehanna, 2014. (Photograph by Susana Raab, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution)
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Remarkable Story of Final Transatlantic Slave Survivor Reveals She Died in 1940 By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia This is part of an ongoing Washington Informer series about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and an initiative that includes Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes that will use the lens of history, the fabric of art and culture and the venue of the public square to shine a light into dark places, equipping all with a compass to chart the way forward. The initiative lives in the institutional home of the Washington Informer Charities. At 2 years old, Matilda McCrear was kidnapped in 1860 by slave traders in West Africa. Along with her parents and three siblings, Matilda was forced to make the long and dangerous trip across the Atlantic Ocean on the bottom of a slave ship. Matilda and her family were transported on the Clotilda, the last ship to carry enslaved Africans to America. The boat docked in Mobile, Alabama, in July 1860, and Matilda was purchased by Memorable Walker Creagh, an Alabama slave owner. Hannah Durkin, a researcher at Newcastle University in England, has discovered that Matilda, who died in 1940 at the age of 81 or 82, was the last African-born slave to die. Post-slavery, Matilda became a staunch women’s and human rights advocate including pushing for women’s suffrage, historians noted. Remarkably, Matilda’s grandson only recently learned about his family’s history based on Durkin’s research and the online journal Slavery and Abolition. “I had no idea she’d been on the Clotilda,” Johnny Crear, Matilda’s 83-year-old grandson, said in a news release. “It came as a real surprise. Her story gives me mixed emotions because if she hadn’t been brought here, I wouldn’t be here. But it’s hard to read about what she experienced.” Matilda’s family was split up immediately when two of her brothers were left in West Africa. She would never know what happened to them, according to Durkin. On arrival in America, Matilda was bought by Creagh along with her ten-year-old sister
5 Matilda McCrear, last survivor of the transatlantic slave trade via BBC. (Courtesy photo)
Sallie and her mother, Gracie. Gracie was forcibly paired with Guy, another Clotilda survivor, while her two oldest daughters were bought by another slave owner and never seen again. “In some ways, Matilda was more fortunate than the vast majority of Middle Passage survivors,” Durkin said. “She got to stay with her mother and one of her sisters, and because she was only two when she was taken from Africa, Matilda was still very young when emancipated. “But make no mistake, her life was incredibly hard,” she said. “The story of Matilda and her family highlights the horrors of slavery, the abuses of the U.S. South’s sharecropping system, the injustices of segregation, and the suffering of black farmers during the Great Depression.” Matilda’s story came to light when Durkin, a lecturer in literature and film in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, found an interview with her in the Selma Times-Journal. “Matilda’s story is particularly remarkable because she resisted what was expected of a black woman in the U.S. South in the years after emancipation,” Durkin noted in the news release. For the full version of this story, go to washingtoninformer.com. WI
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LIFESTYLE
wi book review “Who Got Game? Baseball: Amazing But True Stories!” By Derrick Barnes, illustrated by JohnJohn Bajet c.2020, Workman $12.95 172 pages By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Everybody’s supposed to stay home now. It’s probably not the “home” you’re thinking about though. The home you want to see involves running around a diamond, cheers in your ears. Ahhh, you wanna hear that again. For now, though, you may have to make do with a home run like “Who Got Game? Baseball: Amazing But True Stories!” by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by JohnJohn Bajet. Every day’s a great day for baseball, right? But this year, you may have to wait to watch your favorite players, so why not learn about the game in the meantime? For starters, there was once a time when baseball was “for White men only,” and so Black players and women made their own leagues. Even so, baseball wouldn’t be baseball without guys like Andrew “Rube” Foster, who’s known as “the father of the Negro Leagues,” or “Hammerin’” Hank Greenberg, who became the first Jewish Hall of Famer, or immigrants like Ozzie Virgil from the Dominican Republic or Sadaharo Oh from Japan. Through the years, there’ve been lots of changes to the game. For one, the spitball was outlawed in 1934, but not before a player was killed by one. Women have been invited into the game, first by women’s leagues at various times in history, and later, by the first female baseball executive. African American players were denied a chance to play so they made their own leagues, too, and eventually broke the color barrier in the majors. In this book, you’ll read about forgiveness for a fan. You’ll read about an influential doctor who saved careers, and players who never let a little disability stop them from the game. You’ll read about “a stinking mule” who was a mascot, a guy who was hit by 287 pitches during his baseball career, and a player who had to make good on something he said. And if you think age matters in the major leagues, read about a 42-yearold rookie, a 17-year-old strikeout pitcher, and baseball’s youngest major leaguer … For a kid who lives and breathes baseball, this lock-down must be hard. But dreaming about getting on the ball field isn’t all they can do at this time. They can also read “Who Got Game? Baseball: Amazing But True Stories.” The thing your child will love most is that this book isn’t filled with things he or she already knows. Author Derrick Barnes and illustrator JohnJohn Bajet dug out tales from the dugout, sure, but they also include stories of support staff and non-players who influenced the game. Young readers will learn about the game from its very inception, as well as modern stories of baseball, and there’s some science hidden in sidebars. Even just browsing the illustrations inside this book will invite young players in, and keep them in their (bleacher) seats. Absolutely, a true baseball fan will love this book, especially if they’re Little Leaguers or kids ages 8 to 15. For them — and you — “Who Got Game? Baseball: Amazing but True Stories!” will be a big hit. WI
horoscopes
APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
ARIES You may be working very diligently learning new software or perhaps you have been assigned the task for an organization you belong to. You could be doing a membership drive or putting together charitable packages to be handed out soon. This is a good day to do things requiring handwork and dexterity. Share what you’re doing on social media. This will inspire others. Lucky Numbers: 4, 20, 31 TAURUS You may be looking at your current job with some dissatisfaction. Reach out to hiring managers and supervisors through professional websites like LinkedIn. Submit your resume for your dream job. As Saturn is in Aquarius, consider unconventional means of connecting with people you admire, such as sending a DM through a social media sites like Instagram. Avoid the well-worn path to find your new job. Lucky Numbers: 19, 28, 53 GEMINI You can shift the energy at your job through a little magic. Consider doing a meditation, visualizing what you would like to have happen at your next meeting. After the meeting, write down the things that correlated with what you saw in your vision. Consider the daily practice of looking ahead and picturing how you would like things to go. Lucky Numbers: 22, 46, 50 CANCER This week you could make a decision about your career, which might involve you going back to school or writing for a publication. Once the decision is made, set up a schedule where you break the tasks down into manageable parts. If you’ve decided to go back to school, today’s a good day to begin your search for grants and scholarships. For any other quests regarding your career, reach out to those who are in the profession and ask their advice. Lucky Numbers: 17, 27, 49 LEO If you’re in a long-term relationship, you may be considering making announcements to friends and family about your intentions. An engagement could be announced or perhaps there will be in addition to the family soon. If you’re looking for love, this is a good time to start chatting online and see how the conversation unfolds. Lucky Numbers: 7, 16, 25 VIRGO This is a good time to look at business-related finances and to see what perks your company offers in the way of retirement plans and stock purchase opportunities. You have the energy to get through the paperwork necessary to sign up for programs that are beneficial for you. Take one document a time and you’ll be finished before you know it. Lucky Numbers: 10, 21, 24 LIBRA While you may be very busy and not able to socialize it’s still good to reach out and connect with people you want to know better. Mercury is the planet of communication. It can help you open up, and be the first one to make contact. Lucky Numbers: 25, 31, 54 SCORPIO You may be quite busy running between family members or fielding phone calls from siblings, cousins, and other relatives. There may be things at home to do such as small repairs or just tidying up. You may stop to play with the children as they show you their latest video game, all the while your list of things to do piles up. Instead of feeling irritated enjoy making some memories and having fun together. Lucky Numbers: 5, 11, 42 SAGITTARIUS This is a good time to reach out to someone you’re interested in and start a conversation. If you live far away from your sweetheart, a little FaceTime or video conferencing is in order. For Sagittarius who live with your romantic partner, it would be good to give them your undivided attention for a few minutes today. Set your own stories aside, look your partner in the eye and recognize how much love is there. Lucky Numbers: 4, 15, 18 CAPRICORN This is a good time for real estate decisions, construction at home or doing moneymaking projects related to home and family. You have many ideas and you have a lot of energy for putting these into practice. Your dexterity is high if you want to build something, and your mental abilities are also strong if you need to calculate prices or measurements. Lucky Numbers: 2, 6, 47 AQUARIUS You may be asked to do something outside your comfort zone. It’s time to do something that makes you nervous or downright terrified, like speaking in public or publishing your work. This could lead to many new opportunities. Look for the biggest thing you can do and take massive action toward doing it. Lucky Numbers: 18, 19, 38 PISCES Keep an open mind as a close friend seems completely obsessed with convincing you of their point of view. You may feel provoked into an argument, but it would be better to mirror what they’re saying back to them so you both have time to think about the merits of the argument. A friend that feels this strongly about something has reasons for it. And this is a good time for you to investigate what those reasons are. Lucky Numbers: 3, 9, 33
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APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 25
SPORTS For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com
NFL Exec Troy Vincent Talks Draft, HBCU Initiatives
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor
Troy Vincent’s career and life have come a long way since the Miami Dolphins selected him with the seventh pick of the NFL draft in 1992. The former five-time Pro Bowl cornerback has risen to become the second-in-command for America’s most popular sports league, ranking behind only Commissioner Roger Goodell, which makes it possible that he’ll one day ascend to the top job. No former player, not even the most popular, has ever risen higher than Vincent in the league’s top office. No African American has ever served as commissioner. On April 23, Vincent will help Goodell kick off the NFL Draft, which will be conducted virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. “This is a moment where we need some semblance of hope in some of our communities, and we are hoping that’s what occurs next week,” said Vincent, who starred for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Redskins over a stellar 15-year career. This year’s draft, which begins with Round 1 at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 23, and concludes with Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday, April 25, marks the first time the process is held exclusively online. Draft night begins with a DraftA-Thon fundraiser to benefit those affected by the novel coronavirus epidemic. The fundraiser will receive heavy promotion throughout the draft and through a multi-person video chat hosted on the NFL’s digital properties and will feature celebrities, football legends, other influencers and health care workers. Rich Eisen and Deion Sand-
26 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
ers will host the event, and Kevin Hart, Quavo, Toni Harris and Kane Brown will be among the guests, according to the NFL. Draft-A-Thon will allocate funds to six national charities and their local chapters: the American Red Cross, the CDC Foundation, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army and United Way. Half of the total money raised will go to the national organizations to be distributed across the country wherever the funds are needed most. The other half will be directed to local chapters of those organizations as decided by each NFL team. Before the pandemic, the draft was scheduled to take place in Las Vegas. “We did a Zoom call with all of the top 30 prospects, something we usually do in person, but these are unprecedented times,” Vincent said. “The commissioner and all of us remain completely aware of the reality of what’s going on, and we hope that maybe for one hour or during two or three hours we can provide an alternative, give you a little joy on your television sets.” He added that the young draftees are understandably excited, but much of that has been tempered. “They are used to traveling, and we are used to doing this in person, so when they ask questions like when will they be able to meet their teams, we have to tell them that we must stay in compliance with [stayat-home and social distancing] orders and guidelines,” Vincent said. Watching the news can be a bit of a downer, too. Vincent said in between calls; he is reminded by news reports of the reality of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 36,000 lives in the U.S. alone. “For us holding the draft, we’ve
had to be responsible,” Vincent said. Responsibility was something Vincent learned at a young age, and he recalled a stern reminder given to him by his grandmother after the Dolphins drafted him. “When I did my contract, I was taking care of my grandparents, and I remember being in the car, and the Dolphins offered me more than $1 million,” Vincent recalled. “My grandmother was sitting in the car next to me, and I told them that the money wasn’t what I was looking for per year. When I hung up the phone, my grandmother told me to pull the car over. “She said, ‘I just heard you say no to a couple of million dollars,’” he said. “She told me how she and my grandfather worked for $1.45 per hour for 30 or 40 years raising my mother and aunts and uncles and how they never wanted for anything. She said she never wanted to hear me turn down that kind of money again. She said, ‘You need to call that man back.’ I did call them back.” It’s also because of that upbringing that Vincent has been integral in the NFL’s outreach to African Americans. He’s spearheaded work between the NFL and HBCUs and the league’s social justice platform, which emphasizes education, economic development, and community and police relations. The platform includes the funding of grassroots community organizations and establishes a digital learning curriculum for African American history in 175 underserved high schools. Working with the Players Coalition, an independent 501(c) (3) entity, the NFL formed a joint player-owner committee focused on social justice, which focuses on reducing barriers to opportunity, and
5 Troy Vincent (Courtesy photo)
prioritizes making improvements in three key areas: • Education and economic advancement • Community-police relations • Criminal justice reform Additional programs focus on reducing poverty, promoting racial equality and supporting workforce development. “Every community knows the grassroots organizations in their respective neighborhoods that do the work, the daily hands-on work,” Vincent said. It’s also been about four years since the NFL started the “Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Prof Football.” Since 1948, which celebrates and honors the historical impact of HBCUs and their players on the game, and to provide career opportunities in the game of football.
“The NFL’s partnership with HBCUs has deep roots in football’s history,” Vincent noted. “We’re working together to honor the rich history and provide opportunities to students and administrators from these great institutions.” The NFL’s HBCU program celebrates the history, increases opportunities for HBCU students and athletic administrators, and provides access through career forums, workshops, internships, and other programs. “It’s really important for us to identify men and women of color, particularly those who are Black, for these efforts,” Vincent said. “This allows us to deal with Black and brown people at these historic institutions where there are multiple programs to take advantage of.” WI
“The commissioner and all of us remain
completely aware of the reality of what’s going on, and we hope that maybe for one hour or during
two or three hours we can provide an alternative, give you a little joy on your television sets.”
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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
My People Perish for the Lack of Knowledge, Pt. 2 “For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” — African proverb On Saturday, Don Lemon and Van Jones hosted CNN’s “The Color of COVID,” an hourlong special on the unique challenges Black and brown communities are facing during the coronavirus crisis, putting a spotlight on their struggles and providing viewers with ways they can help. CNN and other news outlets have reported that African American communities in places such as Detroit, Chicago, Louisiana, New Jersey and across the country have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. This five-part series is a result of my thesis on type 2 diabetes where I predicted my campaign to become national, never realizing that there would be such a need for this health training during this historic COVID-19 pandemic. Type 2 diabetes results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both; and too much inflammation in your body. Notice the description says there is too much inflammation in the body. COVID-19, the respi-
ratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is a monster at creating inflammation! COVID-19 creates so much inflammation that it blocks the lungs completely until the patient drowns in mucus. Anyone suffering from high levels of hemoglobin A1C will automatically have an overabundance of inflammation; therefore, the COVID-19 virus just keeps duplicating itself until finally your lungs are filled with inflammation. Type 2 diabetes can be associated with serious complications such as losing toes, feet, legs and more, and it brings on premature death, as in the case of my mom. Today, thousands in the African American community are having this experience as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, people with type 2 diabetes can turn this thing around by taking measures to reduce the likelihood of so much inflammation. My sisters and I lived together with our mother, father and our children. We lived together in a seven-bedroom home with a diving board swimming pool. We worked together in business, and now we were going through this battle for life with our mother. During her younger years, she taught us well! Throughout our lives,
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
we had been blessed, becoming successful businesswomen, doing exactly what mother encouraged us to do. After learning how to publicize an issue on a massive scale, there was no way I could see the devastation caused in the life of my mother by type 2 diabetes, to fully understand this disease, and knowing the power of the media, I could not sit back and do nothing to share this with others, thus my master’s thesis. Today, we eat very much the same as we did back during slavery times in America, but without strenuous exercise, which now causes type 2 diabetes. The problem dates back to the beginning of the slave trade. We truly did not understand! Could we have done something differently? During this period of her life, we didn’t know how an improved diet with extremely limited amounts of sugar with major reductions in eating carbohydrates and getting regular physical exercise could have made a difference in her life. I’ve since learned by asking her doctor and doing research, and I’ve taken training to become an ambassador and speaker for the American Diabetes Association to help others. I must now share this hope with diabetics, teaching this good news for the rest of my life! Your body is a temple. (Part 3 next week) WI
John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.
5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089
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“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org
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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor
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.
(301) 864-6070
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
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 27
RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849
Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
Blessed Word of Life Church
Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Church of Living Waters
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464 Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., / Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
Third Street Church of God
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Rev. Dr. Alice Greene Interim Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
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
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 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
28 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
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
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
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
Crusader Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703 Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax
Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661 Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
St Marks Baptist Come Worship 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
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 Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible 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
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
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
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
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: 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
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
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"
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
Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
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"
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
Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958
Shiloh Baptist Church
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
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 “
4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net
Christ Embassy DC
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
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor
Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor
9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288
602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
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
www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org
Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 AM Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 AM and 10:55 AM Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 AM Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 PM
All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org
Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
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 Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor
Email Address: admin@pbc712.org
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor
Rev. Dr. Jerryl V. Moody Pastor-Elect
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Emmanuel Baptist Church
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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 “
Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
APRIL 23 - 29, 2020 29
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2015 WIL 953 2020 ADM 000155
2020 ADM 000307
2020 ADM 000247
Anntoinette I. Jones aka Anntoinette Ivery Jones aka Anntoinette Jones Decedent
Helen P. McCormick Decedent
Angelene C. Showell Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Mary O. Hutton, whose address is 15642 Ensleigh Lane, Bowie, Md 20716, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Angelene C. Showell who died on October 18, 2014 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/16/2020. 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 10/16/2020, 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.
Deborah J. Akwel, whose address is 1920 18th Street, SE Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anntoinette I. Jones aka Anntoinette Ivery Jones aka Anntoinette Jones who died on April 24, 2019 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/23/2020. 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 10/23/2020, 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: 4/16/2020 Mary O. Hutton Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Date of first publication: 4/23/2020 Deborah J. Akwel 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
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2020 ADM 000200
2019 ADM 000166
Bradley A. Thomas, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006-1631 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Joseph P. McCormick, II, whose address is 6011 3rd Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Helen P. McCormick who died on April 23, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/23/2020. 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 10/23/2020, 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: 4/23/2020
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
30 - APRIL 23 - 29, 2020
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NOTICE OF AFTER DISCOVERED WILL AND NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Rosetta W. Rhine and Ronnica A. Snowden, whose addresses are 11644 Port Royal Ave., Waldorf, MD 20602 and 248 Artifact Ave., Winchester, VA 22603, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Joshalyn Lawrence, who died on July 21, 2018 with a Will. Objections to such appointment or to the probate of decedent’s Will shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/23/2020.
Rosetta W. Rhine Ronnica A. Snowden Personal Representative
Samuel D. Warren, Jr., whose address is 18374 Democracy Avenue, Ruther Glen, Virginia 22546, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shirley S. Troubetaris aka Shirley Sturghill Troubetaris who died on December 10, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/23/2020. 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 10/23/2020, 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.
TRUE TEST COPY
Date of first publication: 4/23/2020
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Samuel D. Warren, Jr. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Washington Informer
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NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
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Gilda Sherrod-Ali 1775 I Street, NW Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
Patricia A. Partee Personal Representative
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Valentine Partee Decedent
Date of first publication: 4/9/2020
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Joshalyn Lawrence Decedent
Date of first publication: 4/23/2020
CL ASSIFIEDS
Joseph P. McCormick, II Personal Representative
Shirley S. Troubetaris aka Shirley Sturghill Troubetaris Decedent
Patricia A. Partee, whose address is 716 Church Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Valentine Partee who died on February 17, 2020 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/9/2020. 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 10/9/2020, 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.
CL ASSIFIEDS
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
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5 Biko Sheridan, a fifth grader at the Mundo Verde Public Charter School and the winner of the 38th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee, poses with second-place winner Amni Amin, a sixth-grade student at the School Without Walls @ Francis Stevens following the competition on Feb. 29 at the studios of the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment in Northeast. (Photo by Bridget White /The Washington Informer)
SPELLING BEE from Page 1 “I do feel great especially because I didn’t think I could do it,” he said. Chris Sheridan, Biko’s father, grinning ear-to-ear while his son accepted congratulations and posed for pictures, expressed elation at his son’s accomplishment. “I am still in shock,” Sheridan said. “I knew he was going to do it when he was in the top 10. Biko studied very hard for this. Honestly, I am proud of all of the kids. They represented themselves, their schools and their families very well. There needs to be more competitions that feature academic stars like Biko.” Amni Amin, a sixth grader at the School Without Walls @ Francis Stevens in Northwest, took second place. Biko becomes the latest winner in a competition which started during the school year of 19811982 as a result of the collaborative efforts of Dr. Mary White, a DCPS senior administrator, and Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr., the founder and former publisher of The Washington Informer. Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes has continued to lead the effort which has since totaled more than 2,000 students representing 200 schools as participants in the spelling bee. The event, long hosted at the studios of NBC4 in Northwest, found a new venue for this year’s competition at OCTFME’s studios. “We had production scheduling conflicts within the mandatory spelling bee taping period,”
Donna Weston, vice president of community affairs at NBC4, said. “We asked OCTFME if they would co-produce it with us. They very graciously and enthusiastically agreed.” Michael Mitchell, chief communications officer for OCTFME, said his agency relished the opportunity to lend a helping hand. “We were very happy to do this,” Mitchell said. “I was happy to work with Donna Weston and Denise Rolark Barnes to make this happen and we look forward to doing this in the future.” This year’s spelling bee had the services of citywide coordinator Jason Moore, [word]. pronouncer David Zahren and Dr. Elizabeth E. Primas, program manager of the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s “Every Student Succeeds Act” – an educational program geared toward improving academic performance for K-12 students. Author Jonathan Lewis and Simone Coyle, a local attorney, served as judges for the event, along with Primas and Moore. Sponsors included: Safeway Foundation, Washington Gas, Pepco, Toyota, Giant Food, Comcast/Xfinity and the Washington Nationals. Tracey Funn, manager of corporate contributions & supplier diversity for Washington Gas, attended the event and stressed the company’s strong support for the event. “We value education as one of our key focus groups,” Funn said. “We support The Washington Informer and encourage everyone to focus on reading and spelling.” WI
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“The reason why we have to keep feeding people is that this population has not received a dime in stimulus [or] a dime from unemployment,” said Taveras, whose district represents the largest Latino population in the county. “They have children to feed. They don’t have the luxury of being able to telecommute or telework like many of us do. The need in our community is clearly evident.” As of Saturday, the county’s dashboard showed nearly 3,300 cases and 121 deaths. However, the state Department of Health noted 3,160 and 85 deaths. Despite the slight difference in data, hospital officials told County Council, sitting as the Board of Health, during a briefing last week the county will continue to see a surge in patients. Min Goodwin, chief operating officer for University of Maryland Capital Region Health, said the Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly would need 287 more beds by Satur-
day, April 25. It currently has 385. By Thursday, April 23, she said, about 90 more beds will be needed when the Laurel Medical Center reopens. Paul Grenaldo, president of Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, said 50 percent of the patients at the more than 200-bed hospital are coronavirus related. The hospital has 24 critical-care beds, but 36 are still needed. Although another 51 became added last weee at the closed Magnolia Nursing Home next door, Grenaldo said tents have been set up outside the hospital because of the patient surge in Prince George’s. “We’re the eye of the storm … based on what the models are showing us,” he said. “We’re going to continue to need access to PPE. We’re going to continue to need access to staff. Right now I’m only staffed for my 200 beds, but if I go to 500 beds, then I don’t have all those nurses here. That’s where the real crisis will come. I don’t have a place for everybody.” WI
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HBCU from Page 1 the outbreak continues, many of Bethune-Cookman’s dorm rooms could wind up empty, as enrollment was already declining before this pandemic began.” The financial pressures Bethune-Cookman face aren’t going unnoticed. This month the school received more than $600,000 in gifts from prominent donors including baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, whose Chasing the Dream Foundation kicked in $104,000, and Joyce and Thomas Moorehead, who each contributed $250,000. Thomas Moorehead, whose Sterling, Va., Rolls Royce dealership is the only one in the U.S. owned by an African American, and wife Joyce, a Bethune-Cookman alumnus and former member of the board of trustees who has prominent ties to the university, are also the namesake for Bethune-Cookman’s Student Life Center. Her parents were friends with Mary McLeod Bethune, the school’s founder and namesake. “As a proud graduate of [Bethune-Cookman], I owe much of my personal and professional success to the training and nurturing I received as a student at Bethune-Cookman,” Joyce Moorehead told the News Journal Online in Daytona Beach. “We hope that this gift will likewise inspire other alumni and philanthropists to support all HBCUs but particularly Bethune-Cookman.”
CHECKS from Page 1 more than $100,000 a year. The change in tax law reportedly suspends limits on how much money individuals can deduct against how much they owe based on lost income or business revenue, according to the committee. Still, millionaires and billionaires are set to reap more than 80 percent of the benefits because of the Trump tax law change, which alters what certain business owners are allowed to deduct from their taxes. It allows many of the country’s wealthiest to avoid nearly $82 billion of tax liability in 2020. Nearly 82 percent of the benefits from the tax law change will go to people making $1 million or more annually in 2020, according to the committee. Approximately 95 percent of those who benefit from the change make $200,000 or more. The government began sending out $1,200 stimulus payments to individ-
5 A happier time for Howard University graduates. (Courtesy photo)
The university has also received a response from the state of Florida as well. They’re getting $17 million in new annual funding. Then there’s the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 28, which provides almost $14 billion for higher education institutions to support the costs of shifting classes online and for grants to students. Roughly $1 billion of those funds will go to HBCUs. For many schools, the cash from the federal government will go quickly. At Benedict, Artis said half of its $4 million relief package will go to helping students transition to online classes. Marybeth Gasman, professor of
education at Rutgers University, believes the challenge for many HBCUs isn’t just its operating budget, but also how to navigate virtual learning with little time to prepare. “I am worried about the technology demands on HBCUs, given how few IT specialists many smaller HBCUs have as well as the costs of managing online classes,” Gasman said. “I’m also worried about students not having access to Wi-Fi at home or laptops — 75 percent of HBCU students are eligible for Pell Grants for students from low- to middle-income families.” For the full version of this story, go to washingtoninformer.com. WI
uals making less than $75,000, and $2,400 for couples earning no more than $150,000. An additional $500 per child younger than 18 was provided to families while those high school and college students over the age of 18 were left entirely out. In all, taxpayers will lose nearly $90 billion from the change to the law, which suspends a restriction introduced in President Trump’s 2017 tax bill. The change allows owners of businesses known as pass-through entities to lower their taxes by deducting as much as they want against income unrelated to the company. “It’s a scandal for Republicans to loot American taxpayers amid an economic and human tragedy,” Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse noted in a statement. “This analysis shows that while Democrats fought for unemployment insurance and small business relief, a top priority of President Trump and his allies in Congress was another
massive tax cut for the wealthy.” Whitehouse and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) sent a letter expressing their concerns to Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget. “We are specifically seeking information about whether any people in the Trump administration who were involved with developing the changes would also benefit from the provisions,” the lawmakers wrote. Several published reports said both Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner stand to reap millions as a result of the stimulus package and the change in tax law. So that Congress and the American public can better understand the provenance of these tax law changes, and assess whether any individuals within the Administration who stand to gain from these provisions were involved in their
CHECKS Page 33
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HERMAN from Page 20
“Congress should repeal this rotten, un-American giveaway and use the revenue to help workers battling through this crisis.” Doggett added that the cost of the tax break is more than total new funding for all hospitals in America and more than the total provided to all state and local governments. “Someone wrongly seized on this health emergency to reward ultrarich beneficiaries, likely including the Trump family, with a tax loophole not available to middle-class families,” Doggett said. “This net operating loss loophole is a loser that should be repealed.” WI
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development, Whitehouse and Doggett have requested that Pence and Vought provide the following information: • All communications from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present between the White House, Department of Treasury, or the Office of Management and Budget and any nongovernment person or entity related to sections 2303 or 2304, or the policies modified by those sections. • All communications between the Department of Treasury and the White House, and between the Department of Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget, related to sections
2303 or 2304, or the policies modified by those sections, in the development of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. • All studies, analyses, proposals, cost estimates, or other information considered by the White House, the Department of Treasury, or the Office of Management and Budget related to sections 2303 or 2304, or the policies modified by those sections, in the development of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. “It’s a scandal for Republicans to loot American taxpayers in the midst of an economic and human tragedy,” Whitehouse noted in his statement.
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poverty in geographic areas. Watching families that I know lose loved ones has been difficult. It is made more distressing by the recognition that we, African Americans, are being disproportionately affected. This is more than an opportunity for journalistic discovery and pontification, rather, this is a matter of life and death for individuals made more vulnerable because we have not moved quickly enough to recognize that health disparities kill, and lives are lost that can never be replaced. Public policy needs to take a seat at the table and acknowledge its responsibility. Health care reform should be reframed to discuss saving lives and not
saving money. I fervently believe that when we save lives, we save money because families are kept whole and feel they are valued. As we navigate through this pandemic, let us not lose sight of our responsibility to use the “new” news about how African Americans are affected to insist that treatment be available to all who need it when they need it. This includes treatment for mental health and substance abuse problems that are both long-standing and newly emerging as families cope with “making ends meet” while social distancing. The bottom line is that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed not the problem of disparities and social determinant, but rather the problem of not addressing
it before the pandemic hit my community so harshly. We cannot save the lives that were lost, but we can push harder for change that continues to address the persistent inequalities that are across socio-economic groups in African American communities. We can push harder to assist with behavioral changes to lessen vulnerability to chronic conditions. We can use our vote to remember those who lost their lives. With time, for most, the grief and loss associated with the pandemic will lessen. However, premature loss of life and spirit will continue if “we the people” consider the disparities yesterday’s news when COVID-19 deaths and illnesses decline and the attention shifts to rebuilding the economy. WI
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and small, to courageously speak up, stand up and reach out to bring truth and mercy to “the least of these.” In the days and weeks ahead, we would do well to remember her words spoken at the dedication of the Headquarters Building of the National Council of Negro Women, “Through this last century we learned that it is in the neighborhoods and communities where the world begins. That is where children grow and families are developed, where people exercise their power to change their lives. … Building on my religious faith deeply rooted in my childhood and youth, I found my life’s work. I am the product of many whose lives have touched mine, from the famous, distinguished and powerful to the little known and the poor. The past has taught me many lessons — most especially, that I have a responsibility to future generations.” In memory of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, contributions may be made to the National Council of Negro Women at www.ncnw.org under “Donate.” WI
Photo
and consensus in their pursuits seeking equality, equal pay and jobs. Through programs she implemented, she was at the forefront of the Y.W.C.A. realizing its most significant lifelong mission, eradicating racism. None of these were simple or easy undertakings, yet she courageously pursued what she knew to be right and good. Wherever the waters were troubled, she created a bridge, effective coalitions and solutions. Many of the critical issues of Dr. Height’s era persist today. Over fifty years ago, she called attention to the health disparities related to social detriments, especially for Black women and the elderly. Chronic health conditions such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes were always at the forefront for education and outreach to our communities. Today with thousands impacted by COVID-19 and millions who are unemployed, the consequences of these same health disparities are more apparent than ever. The troubled waters we now face have washed waves of reminders
of the work our country still has to do. Leaders are searching for answers, managing fears and anxiety and competing for vital resources in their communities. In these turbulent, frightening and uncertain times, we are called to embrace Dr. Height’s spirit of direct action, by courageously bridging the waters with viable solutions, to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters, to hold leaders accountable for environmental and social justice policies, to provide food for the many who are in need today, to protect and defend the right to vote, to be the voice of the voiceless and to lead with purpose and passion toward a just and safe society. Ten years after her passing, we must embrace her spirit to right the wrongs and keep navigating troubled waters until we reach calm seas and still waters that were always her goals for women and children, for the country, for all of us. Today we must not only remember Dr. Height, but also renew her fighting spirit and be that “bridge over troubled waters” that we need and seek. Girded by our faith and in the spirit of Dr. Height, I pray that each of us will find ways, large
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Congress in its fight to channel some of the $125 billion to minority-owned small businesses and nonprofits. This may be our last chance to resurrect the businesses that propel growth and stability in our neighborhoods. How to do it? Letters. Emails. Visit ProsperityNow.org/Take-Action to find and write your representatives. Republican senators especially need to hear our message. What to say: Channel stimulus money to black-owned businesses through community-based financial institutions. Why? They have stepped in where banks have stepped aside. Many Black business owners have relied on locally based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These organizations dispense capital and financial coun-
GRAY from Page 21
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care system, I have been working hard to bring food justice to the East End of the District. Combined, Wards 7 and 8 only have three grocery stores between them, which is less than any of the western six wards have individually. Bringing more full-service grocery stores and retail amenities to Ward 7 was the number one priority over 400 residents identified at an all-day work session at a December 2016 Ward 7 summit. A lack of convenient access to affordable, healthy food contributes mightily
ASKIA from Page 21 should be willing to risk their lives to the virus to preserve the economy. “No one reached out to me and said, ‘As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for its children and grandchildren?” Patrick said March 23 on Fox News. “And if that is the exchange, I’m all in.” Good. While you’re at it, there ought to be a couple of senators who profited handsomely when they sold health industry stocks before the Wall Street crash, and they should be grateful enough to want to go to heaven with the Texas lt. gov. These jingoists have had it so good, living high on the backs
sel in neighborhoods they know well. They have previously helped our communities revive from other national disasters including the 2008 recession and Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Federal funds targeted to Black-owned businesses and delivered via CDFIs would be fast, efficient vehicle to revive our economic engine now one virus away from financial ruin. America’s economic free fall finds African Americans plummeting without a parachute. We live in communities already suffering from a viral Angel of Death that claims 40% of its grim toll on Black lives, though we are but 13 percent of the population. Pew Research says our young people comprise half of all 16-to-24-year-olds who work in service industries, now shuttered. We have endured food deserts, cyber deserts. We cannot endure having federal help orphan Blackowned businesses again. Congres-
sional Democrats fighting for us need our help to stand with them. Write that email or postcard today. The organization I lead is partnering with two other organizations focused on directing more capital to black businesses and communities. The Expanding Black Business Credit Initiative and the African-American Alliance of 35 Black CDFI CEOs stand ready to funnel funds and advice to Black-owned businesses unable to get bank loans. These partners, along with Prosperity Now, are calling on legislators to recognize their responsibility to address our underserved communities. Join us. Each of us needs to lean in and demand that the Senate accede to Congressional Democrats in their call for an aid package that embraces our needs. In these desperate times if we are not for ourselves, who will be? WI
to the fact that residents in Wards 7 and 8 are more than twice as likely to be obese. A Lidl full-service grocery store is coming to Skyland but it has been a challenge to get persons who don’t live East of the Anacostia River to internalize the frustration and urgency we feel about ending food access disparities. I’m angry that it takes a pandemic like COVID-19 to highlight racial inequality. As we emerge from the grip of the coronavirus, one of two things will happen. What I fear is that everyone will quickly forget their outrage and go back to
business-as-usual. If people are genuine in their sentiment about how this virus is disproportionately killing African Americans, then as we emerge from this pandemic, I ask everyone to rally behind initiatives that will uplift communities of color, which have had unequal outcomes in health, education and income ever since our ancestors were brought to the United States in the most grossly inequitable way imaginable. Now is the time to make a lasting difference. It is up to us. WI
of the poor, that they may firmly believe in the good life over a longer life. These guys believe that the looming economic losses are far too severe to continue sheltering-in-place orders designed to limit the person-to-person spread of coronavirus. Back during the Cold War, when Red Communism was the threat white Americans feared like the plague, the progenitors of today’s liberate-my-state extremists were fond of saying: “I’d rather be dead than red.” Today, in their state-liberation movements, they insist that they’re fighting for their freedom — their freedom to act like a fool, potentially endangering the lives of thousands of people who otherwise would not have to die. That’s madness. That’s the kind of lunatic lead-
ership that has gripped the United States, like Captain Bligh, the overthrown, and put out to sea, madman in the Mutiny on the Bounty. On the other hand, things have gotten so bad that even George W. Bush — who was unfit to send troops to die in an immoral and illegal war in Iraq — looks good by comparison to Donald J. Trump. How can tortured bottom-dwellers look forward to a return to “normal?” Nope. Not me. Count me out. I suspect that even with his name on the checks, folks are not going to hasten back to the dystopian normal of a white supremacist world. Sorry, the time of the wicked rule of white people over all world affairs has expired. We’re headed for an all-new “normal.” WI
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