WINNER OF THREE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS
Back To School Supplement Center Section Vol. 56, No. 44 • August 19 - 25, 2021
District Teachers Make Safe Reopening their First Priority Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
5 Howard University students returned to school over the past two weekends and with the help of loved ones, unload their belongings in preparation for the 2021-22 school year. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
As D.C. public and public charter school teachers prepare to conduct in-person learning later this month, there still remains the question of whether it’s safe enough to do so amid a rise in COVID-19 cases among children. Throughout the summer, Mische Walden, a counselor at John Hayden Johnson Middle School, has helped facilitate her school’s summer acceleration program to reacclimate herself to the in-person learning experience. However, after seeing her colleagues share air filtration systems between classrooms and struggle to remind students to mask up, Walden said her anxiety about being back in the school building hasn’t waned. “I’ve been stocking up on Lysol and Clorox
Rocked by Deadly Earthquake, Haiti Battered Further by Tropical Storm Grace
SECOND OF A THREE-PART SERIES
Small Landlords Face Tenuous Future as Pandemic Rages On
Extended Eviction Moratorium Leaves Many Unable to Pay Their Bills
Saturday’s Tremor Predicted to Result in Greater Tragedies Than Recorded in 2010
Barrington M. Salmon Special to The Informer Sometimes it’s forgotten that landlords remain knee-deep in efforts to avoid what many fear will be an eviction nightmare for millions of renters once federal moratoriums expire. And while larger, corporate-funded landlords have fared considerably better during the pandemic, mom-and-pop landlords have been devastated as many of their tenants have been living rent-free for anywhere from six months to a year. Kamal Nawash, a D.C. attorney who specializes in
EVICTION Page 37
TEACHERS Page 38
5 Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons is currently president of the Washington Teachers' Union. (WI File Photo/Shevry Lassiter)
Stacy M. Brown, WI Senior Writer D. Kevin McNeir, WI Senior Editor
5 Rescue workers continue to provide assistance for Haitians following deadly earthquake and storm. (Courtesy photo)
Problems of unprecedented proportion, both those manmade and disasters caused by nature, continue to assault the Caribbean country of Haiti. On Monday, Aug. 16, The National Hurricane Center issued a deadly forecast for the country, already reeling from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which struck with deadly force on Saturday, Aug. 14.
HAITI Page 37
Celebrating 56 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area
2 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Around the Region................4-11 Prince George's County.....12-13 Business................................14-15
6Book Review
National................................16-17
Lifestyle / Page 35
International............................ 18 Health..................................20-21 Education............................22-23 Back to School................ Center
5Budget Bill - Business/ Page 14
OpEd....................................25-27 Lifestyle............................. 28-35 Capture the Moment............. 36
3Maryland Sports Wagering Commission
Religion.................................... 39
5Althea Gibson
FOLLOW US ON
Prince George's County / Page 13
Black Facts / Page 6
— DIGITAL ONLY —
Get more from your store.
Valid 8/20-8/26/21 Coupon must be downloaded to your Safeway for U account prior to purchase and is one time use only. Limit 1 offer per household.
Sign up for FreshPass and get*: TM
SALE PRICES EFFECTIVE FRI., AUGUST 20 THRU THURS., AUGUST 26 ALL SALE PRICES ARE MEMBER PRICE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
• • • •
Free 2-hour grocery delivery** Exclusive monthly deals Rewards don’t expire*** VIP customer service phone line
1299
SALE PRICE
PRIVACY.FLOWCODE.COM
Start your FreshPass™ 30-day free trial today.***
lb.
- $4
DIGITAL COUPON SAVINGS
lb.
MEMBER PRICE
MEMBER PRICE
after digital coupon savings**
after digital coupon savings**
is now Easier. Than. Ever. just for U® is now Safeway for U ! Everything you have always loved with all new deals rewards & perks. ™
Welcome to perk paradise. Become a free member today.
Redeem Rewards** on Gas & Groceries Personalized Deals Birthday Treat* Free In-Store WiFi* Free Item Every Month*
Boneless Beef Rib Eye Steak
Easy shops it.
grass fed, imported
899 lb.
LIMIT 4 OFFERS
DIGITAL COUPON SAVINGS
35
pack Signature SELECT® Refreshe Spring Water
Enjoy $20 Off + Free Delivery on your first online order of $75 or more.**
35-pk., 16.9 fl. oz. btls. Plus deposit where required
LIMIT 1 OFFER
Keebler Club or Townhouse Crackers 7.1-13.7 oz. pkg.
Signature Farms® Mini Cucumbers 16 oz. pkg.
1
LIMIT 1 OFFER
188
ea.
LIMIT 4 OFFERS
DIGITAL COUPON SAVINGS
- 199
$
-1
199
SALE PRICE
ea.
- 1 $
ea.
WHEN YOU BUY 2 MEMBER PRICE after digital coupon savings**
after digital coupon savings**
*Up to $10 value. Visit safeway.com/foru for free Wifi Terms **Visit safeway.com/foru for program details. ALL ORDERS: Service available in select areas. In some areas, service may be provided by another Albertsons Companies store banner (that banner’s product availability, pricing and promotions will apply) or a third-party service provider; or independently by Instacart (Instacart’s terms and conditions, account registration, fees, product availability, pricing and promotions apply). Online orders require a minimum purchase. Online promotions, discounts and offers may differ from those in our physical stores. Clearance, single-store, and in-store only specials or promotions may not be available for an online order. Prices for products you order online are based on the price catalog in use at the store that prepares your order. The time of day that price updates occur may differ between the store preparing your order and online. You will pay the prices, fees, and other charges, and receive the promotions, offers, discounts, and savings applicable to your order on the day and time that your order is prepared and processed for final payment, which may be different from those shown in the Estimated Total when you place your order online. Any negative balance/credit amount shown resulting from Promo Codes, coupons, or other discounts and offers will be adjusted to $0. Full terms available at albertsonscompanies.com/about-us/our-policies/terms-of-use.html and delivery.albertsons.com/terms.
ea.
11
after digital coupon savings**
MEMBER PRICE PRIVACY.FLOWCODE.COM
299
MEMBER PRICE
299
DIGITAL COUPON SAVINGS
ea.
LIMIT 1 OF EACH
DIGITAL COUPON SAVINGS
after digital coupon savings**
299
199
SALE PRICE
MEMBER PRICE
SALE PRICE
Scan to download the Safeway app.
16-48 fl. oz.
399 - $1
SALE PRICE
One app to shop any way you want: in-store, delivery * or
Turkey Hill or Signature SELECT® Ice Cream, Talenti Gelato, Sorbetto or Layers
Classico Pasta Sauce 24 oz. jar
99¢
ea.
LIMIT 1 OFFER
Prices Effective Friday, August 20 thru Thursday August 26, 2021 Unless otherwise noted, offers in this ad are in effect at 6 a.m., Friday thru Thursday 11 p.m. at your local Safeway stores. LIMIT ONE COUPON PER ITEM PER DAY PER HOUSEHOLD. Prices and savings vary among store locations. Not all items or varieties available in all store locations. Quantities limited to inventory on hand and subject to availability. Sales in retail quantities only and we reserve the right to limit quantities sold to per customer. While supplies last. Unless otherwise noted, transactional limits may apply. On Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) offers, customer must purchase the first item to receive the second item free. BOGO offers are not 1/2 price sales. If only a single item is
purchased, the regular price applies. Manufacturers’ coupons may only be used on purchased items, not on free items. All rebate offers are subject to applicable manufacturer’s additional terms. Customer pays for applicable taxes, bottle/can deposit and bag fees, if any, on purchased and free items. We reserve the right to modify or cancel offers and/or correct typographical, pictorial and other ad or pricing errors. Prices for products ordered online generally are higher than in our physical store locations and may vary by fulfillment method chosen. Online promotions, discounts and offers may differ from those in our physical store locations. Offers are void or restricted where prohibited or limited by law and have no cash value. No cash back will be given.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 3
Join The Washington Informer Digital Subscriber List Text INFORMER to 22828
wi hot topics
COMPILED BY WI SENIOR EDITOR D. KEVIN MCNEIR AND WI STAFF WRITERS SAM P.K. COLLINS AND WILLIAM J. FORD
Bus Terminal Could Add to Industrial Pollution Woes for Brentwood Brentwood residents remain opposed to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) plan for a school-bus terminal in the area. And they allege the city has denied community requests for an environmental impact assessment. Despite objections from leaders of the historically Black community of Brentwood, District government officials have approved the construction of a huge school-bus terminal. Residents object because they have lived for many years within close proximity to industrial sites that discharge pollution into their community. Further, they say that Bowser, in concert with the office of the District’s superintendent of education, pushed the project through – a $20 million hub for 230 buses – without first conducting a study of the air-quality and health impact of industrial sites already in the area. Northeast Brentwood currently serves as the site of a garbage-truck fleet, a street and bridge paving business, a huge recycling center, several auto repair shops and a construction company. And Ward 5 serves as the venue for almost 50% of the District’s land that has been zoned for indus-
trial use. The project will be completed in about two years, if things do not change. “The cumulative effect of those things is piling on in a community comprised largely of people of color at a time when we should be fighting these things as a government,” said Kenyan R. McDuffie, D.C. councilmember who represents Ward 5. He recently introduced an amendment to hold the final $4.5 million for the contractor building the terminal – one which the council quickly defeated. Like McDuffie, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission which represents Brentwood also opposes additional industrial development. Christina Grant, D.C.’s acting state superintendent of education, said in a statement that she takes the concerns of residents in Brentwood seriously. “We are committed to being good neighbors through the construction of this new terminal and beyond,” said Grant, adding that the terminal will replace an already existing one in Ward 5. The explanation included a report showing the support of the city council’s Committee of the Whole. “Delaying the W Street renovations is not an option,” the committee’s report said. WI
Pending Ballot Initiative Calls for Black Autonomous Communities In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com
PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Senior Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Ron Taylor, Copy Editor Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Hamil Harris, Curtis Knowles, Daniel Kucin, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman
4 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
A one-time council candidate continues to champion a ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would designate three majority-Black communities in the District as autonomous regions that can collectively become a separate city. The D.C. Board of Election [DCBOE] received an application for The African American Autonomy Act in February. However, a DCBOE representative said Addison Sarter, a Northeast resident and author of the ballot initiative, still has not filed documents required to jumpstart the approval process. Since urban revitalization that began in the 2000s, a cost-of-living increase has pushed Black Washingtonians to the eastern parts of the city and the D.C. suburbs. Today, Blacks account for less than 50 percent of the District’s population. Communities of the former “Chocolate City” that have maintained a majority-Black population include Langdon Park/Brentwood in Northeast, Shepherd Park in Upper Northwest and various neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River. Though they would become part of a separate city with the passage of Act, people living in those communities would still maintain D.C. residency. The key difference between them and people living in other District communities would lie in their ability to form their own type of government. To make a case for Black autonomous regions, Sarter cites the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People which states that indigenous people, defined as those who have inhabited a country when different ethnic groups arrived, have the right to form communities in the regions to which they've been exiled. He says the appeal of the Act lies in a tangible means of self-determination, what he said naysayers often confuse with segregation and discrimination. “The big misunderstanding is that it would be one big separate Black D.C,” Sarter said. “This is about preserving Black neighborhoods. It would make more sense because of how our communities are controlled from the outside.” WI
Longtime Prince George’s Planning Chair Betty Hewlett to Retire Elizabeth “Betty” Hewlett, known as the face of Prince George’s County planning, will retire at the end of this year, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced Monday, Aug. 16. Hewlett served as chair to the county’s Planning Commission and counts as both first woman and first African American to chair the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She served both positions for more than 21 years. She also led the county’s 2020 Census campaign, “Proud to be Counted.” Alsobrooks plans to conduct a national search to replace Hewlett. “Betty Hewlett is a trailblazer, the first woman and first African American to hold her position and she has served us all with great passion, determination and grace,” Alsobrooks said in a statement. “I am truly grateful for her commitment, for her contributions too numerous to recount and for what is certainly a lasting impact on the fabric of Prince George’s County.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
AROUND THE REGION
Bridging the Gap in a Developing Anacostia Community Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer As Anacostia’s evolution continues, what greets the eye when emerging from the 11th Street Bridge suggests nothing short of an urban renaissance. Along Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, between Good Hope Road and the Anacostia Metro Station in Southeast, stands a Starbucks franchise, two banks and a string of Black-owned businesses. Nearby, the Anacostia Arts Center has emerged as an epicenter of Black entrepreneurship and creativity. At the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, construction crews hustle daily to complete MLK Gateway, a two-phased project that will soon bring mixed-use space and several hundred square feet of retail business to Anacostia. However, a much different world exists just a few, short blocks away. Along 16th Street, in the shadow of Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill home, drug sales remain commonplace while disputes between opposing parties often result in death within an unforgiving atmosphere of violence. For years, “Presto,” a lifelong Anacostia resident and record producer, has seen firsthand the scourge of drugs and violence in his community. “Young people don’t know which way to go,” Presto said. “They’re at a crossroads.” Presto, 33, became a Building Blocks DC neighborhood engagement specialist earlier this year. For more than a decade, he and others have coordinated events to bring together community members of all ages. Now, he spends much of his time attempting to establish an understanding between the new Anacostia paradigm which includes scores of business owners and public officials as well as other lifelong Anacostia residents who say they feel left out of opportunities. “I try to reach [and encourage them] to go the work route [ because] this neighborhood won’t be here forever,” Presto said. “[The
developers] are trying to chop this community down and divide it even more. I don’t want my people to get left out hanging dry.”
CHALLENGES PERSIST AMID EFFORTS TO CONNECT THE PIECES
On Sunday, Aug. 15, MPD reported a homicide on the 2200 block of 14th Street in Southeast -- one of three murders which compelled D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) to demand an end to the violence via social media. In Anacostia, the unemployment rate stands at 12 percent, compared to 7 percent recorded for the entire District in June. Some public schools east of the Anacostia River have received low STAR ratings, while charter schools in the area have shuttered in recent years. These unflattering occurrences have, in part, been blamed for the constant reshuffling of students across the city. Meanwhile, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently set in motion a large-scale development project on the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road. Earlier this year, the second phase of construction for the MLK Gateway started. Once completed, the large-scale building will not only serve as a retail space and tech hub but facilitate technologically-focused entrepreneurship and workforce development programming for Anacostia residents and those living in surrounding communities. Antwanye Ford, whose IT firm Enlightened, Inc. will set up operations within MLK Gateway, described the project as part of a vision to move people beyond entry-level jobs and into wealth-building opportunities. Throughout much of the year, Ford, a two-time George Washington University alumnus hailing from Condon Terrace in Northeast, has attempted to build a relationship with the Anacostia community. As chair of the District’s Workforce Investment Council, Ford
leverages his connections with the D.C. government, the private sector and community groups to coordinate holistic workforce development opportunities for the most marginalized of Washingtonians. Ford said these partnerships not only create training programs but provide situations where aspiring professionals can receive wraparound services and connect with businesses and hiring agencies. He said work will continue once MLK Gateway opens across the street from the DC Department of Housing and Community Development.
ANACOSTIA Page 45
5 (L-R) Nazcia Ransford and 'Presto' in front of King Convenience Store on 16th and U Streets in Southeast. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
DCTAG, Apply Now.
Take Classes In-person or Online If you’re 26 or younger, a DC resident with a high school diploma or GED, and meet a few other requirements, the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) can help by providing up to $10,000 a year to participating colleges and universities, nationwide. Apply by September 17, 2021, to begin classes this fall. TEXT DCTAG @ 474747 to get started. dconeapp.dc.gov
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 5
AROUND THE REGION
black facts
SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
AUG. 19
1954 – Ralph J. Bunche, the first Black winner of Nobel Peace Prize, named Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
AUG. 20 Need Help Getting Social Security Disability Benefits? We Can Help! $ Steady monthly income depending on your paid in amount
A lump sum payment of benefits owed from back-pay
• We simplify the process & strive for quick claim approval • Starting the process is easy and takes only minutes to complete
Annual cost of living increases
855-549-3119
Helping thousands get the benefits they deserve
Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County Florida. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states.
Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 N W St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County, FL. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states.
FULL-SERVICE SIGN & ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS Professional VISUAL BRANDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS to help grow your business
1942 – Soul music legend Isaac Hayes, best known for his Oscar-winning "Theme from Shaft," is born in Memphis, Tennessee.
AUG. 21
1831 – Nat Turner leads a rebellion of slaves and free Blacks in Southampton County, Virginia, that resulted in the deaths more than 50 white people. 1904 – Count Basie, famed jazz pianist and bandleader, is born in Red Bank, New Jersey. 1932 – Melvin Van Peebles (top), actor, director and composer, is born in Chicago. 1936 – Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain, the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game, is born in Philadelphia.
AUG. 22
1917 – Famed blues singer and guitarist John Lee
...because image matters Call Today! 301-273-3462
Stacey Brown “Chief Image Builder”
stacey@signarama-silverspring.com
Hooker, known as the "King of the Boogie," is born in Mississippi. 1950 – Althea Gibson becomes the first African American on the U.S. tennis tour. 1978 – Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first prime minister, dies at 86. 1989 – Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, is shot and killed by a reputed drug dealer in Oakland, California.
AUG. 23
1900 – The National Negro Business League, which was founded by Booker T. Washington, holds its first meeting in Boston.
8930 Brookville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910 signarama-silverspring.com MBE/DBE Certified | Woman-Owned Business
AUG. 24
1950 – Edith Sampson, a lawyer and judge, becomes the first Black U.S. delegate appointed to the United Nations. 1987 – Civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, dies in Manhattan.
AUG. 25
ALTHEA GIBSON
6 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
1925 – A. Philip Randolph becomes head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, the first predominantly African American labor union. 1927 – Althea Gibson, the first African American on the U.S. tennis tour and first to win a Grand Slam title, is born in Silver, South Carolina. 2001 – Music star and actress Aaliyah (above) and eight others are killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas after filming a music video. She was 22. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
AROUND THE REGION
view P INT
IF YOU WANT QUALITY WORK, JUST CALL!
Quality Assurance Home Improvement, Inc.
BY SARAFINA WRIGHT
“We Stand By Our Name”
More than 20 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have used federal pandemic relief funds to pay their students' outstanding tuition balances. What are your thoughts?
FREE ESTIMATES! / Office: 301-248-3325
FINISHED BASEMENT
DECK
CLARA BEACH /
Financing Available 90-day Deferment Payment
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Meanwhile, the college my college student attends intercepted Pell Grants and docked them. They did not refund dorm fees when they went online and students had to move back home. They raised GPA requirements for merit scholarships, raised student fees, limited CARES Act relief assistance to students who could prove directly related COVID hardship cases only, and took away as many of the university-sponsored scholarships as they could find excuses to rescind.
DONITA SNOWDEN / CLINTON, MARYLAND
It gives African American graduates a better chance of building wealth similar to our white counterparts. This is an awesome and good start at leveling the playing field! The U.S. really needs to address the cost of higher ed in general, especially when it’s still really hard to find good-paying jobs.
Kitchens • Bathrooms • Room additions • Retaining walls • • Carports Screen rooms Sun rooms • Carports • • Porches • Roofing • Siding Decks • Complete renovations • Enclosed porches • Basements Solid virgin virginfinal vinylreplacement replacement windows • Bay and bow windows
ADDITION & 4 SEASON SUN ROOM SIONAL PROFES LERS INSTAL home g in A+ Ratinment from improve r Business the Bette r 175 years Bureau fo ight stra
ADDITION
KITCHEN
Bonded / Insured / Licensed MHCI#86727 / D.C. License #53005449 Lead Paint Removal Certified
KITCHEN
Visit our website today at: www.fortwashingtonhomecontractors.com
$2500 off
Homeowners are you in need of a new roof, kitchen, bathroom? Up to If so, take advantage of our 90 days or 6 months deferred payment plan now for as low as $199 a month. Sunrooms & Additions Purchase today and receive FREE cable outlet and FREE A/C & Heating Unit
15% off Any Service For Senior Citizens Extra 5% Off
With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.
With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.
NEZZIE DEFRANK / NEW YORK, NEW YORK
All education should be free!
NIKKI CHARLES /
MARLTON, NEW JERSEY
Tuition balances are not student loans. It means that you had a balance on your account with the university that remained after loans/grants/payments. The universities themselves are saying students who owed us money no longer owe it to the university. It's not free education, or avoiding paying student loan debt. Every single university
VICTORIA JEAN / ADELPHI, MARYLAND
Love, love, love this! Give people a chance to actually use their education and better this world instead of crippling them with debt and exhausting them by requiring multiple jobs to live a sustainable life.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 7
The World According to Dominic D. Kevin McNeir / WI Senior Editor
Just When Little Girls in Afghanistan Began to Believe That Dreams Can Come True, ‘Greater Minds’ Have Muddied the Waters
(301) 864-6070
EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA
www.jmlaw.net
(301) 864-6070
8 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
jmccollum@jmlaw.net
When I was a young boy growing up in Detroit, I clearly remember a conversation I had with my father – a man born in rural Alabama whose formative years of education occurred in a oneroom schoolhouse with splintered, wooden desks, a potbelly stove, a makeshift blackboard and just a handful of books. I pleaded with him to allow me to begin working as a paper boy, following the example of other boys in my neighborhood, so I could make extra money and be able to buy more snacks, comic books – even a pair of the more popular gym shoes which cost a lot more than those my parents were willing to purchase given how quickly my feet continued to grow. I strategically asked my father because despite his gruff exterior, I had learned that between the two of them, convincing my dad to “say yes” was much easier than securing my mother’s approval. So, when he refused my request, I was more than a bit surprised. In fact, I was downright angry. Then, he said something that I would never forget. While he certainly didn’t have to, he took ad-
[My dad] said to me, “my job is to provide for you in every way possible and to make sure you have the chance to become the man that God intends." vantage of a “teachable moment,” providing his rationale for denying my request. As he shared memories from his youth and early adulthood that were often defined by hardship, poverty, prejudice, Jim Crow laws and traditions and both physical and mental abuse doled out by his father, I began to see Daddy in ways that I had never imagined. I began to understand the challenges he had faced and was proud of his accomplishments which I once viewed with little regard. He said to me, “my job is to provide for you in every way possible and to make sure you have the chance to become the man that God intends. My job is to make sure you can go after your dreams and develop your gifts. You don’t have time to work afterschool. You have one job to do right now – to study as hard as you can and to get the best grades possible. My job is to make sure you can do just that.” His encouragement and belief in me would be instrumental in my progress in more ways than I would ever know. It also led me to make sacrifices for my children so that their lives could be better than mine. So, as I listen to the fears recently expressed by young girls and women in Afghanistan who wonder if with the changing of the guard, that is with the Taliban taking over as the rulers of their
country, they will lose the right for education and working, I understand their concern. Just one generation ago, girls in that county could not receive education like little boys, unless they were willing to attend secret, underground schools – a decision that could prove fatal. Many women were denied the right to go after high-profile jobs like city leaders, attorneys, judges or engineers. In fact, many parents – perhaps one should really say “fathers” – in keeping with or hiding behind sharia law, accepted generations-old traditions of making girls and women work in jobs chosen by men while denying them the opportunity to learn how to read or write. I can’t imagine the pain and frustration these little girls experienced day after day – knowing in their hearts the kinds of things they would like to do but forced to accept something far less for no other reason than because they had born as girls and not boys. What if I had been denied the opportunity to climb mountains that I knew I could somehow scale? What if I had lived in a time when the color of my skin would be the sole reason that doors remained locked, blocking my path despite my abilities to successful move forward and reach my goals? For now, the new leaders of Afghanistan promise that nothing will change. They say hard-fought rights secured by women and celebrated over the last two decades will continue. We can only hope that the Taliban and its leaders are telling the truth and not just making a good show for the world to see. The truth will become apparent – and it won’t take long. Meanwhile, I’m keeping my fingers crossed and praying for the girls and women of Afghanistan. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
AROUND THE REGION
Ward 6 to be Redistricting Focus in D.C.
Are you behind in your rent and facing eviction?
James Wright WI Staff Writer The District’s Ward 6 – which encompasses established neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill and Eastern Market as well as bustling areas such as the Southwest Waterfront, Navy Yard and NoMa – has emerged as the epicenter for the city’s redistricting process that will begin next month. U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data released on Aug. 12 showed the District with a population of 689,545 in 2020, an increase of about 88,000 people from the 2020 number of 601,723. Half of the District’s population growth occurred among whites moving into the city. However, Blacks left the city at the level of 9.1 percent. The data show the District as the only state-level jurisdiction in the nation in which the white population increased in the past decade. Overall, the census reported the District as 50 percent Black, 38 percent white and 11.3 percent Latino. Ward 6, located largely in the eastern part of the District, accounted for nearly a third of the city’s growth or 31,604 residents, during the previous decade, the census reported. In contrast, the slowest growth occurred in Wards 2 and 7. The sluggish growth in Wards 2 and 7 could account for the former’s heavy university presence that tends to be seasonal and the latter having Black neighborhoods that could have been undercounted, city observers said. Wards 1,2,3,4 and 5 had population growth but nowhere near the level of Ward 6’s during the past decade, according to the data. The census data comes as the District, like other state-level jurisdictions throughout the nation, prepares for redistricting. In the District, ward and advisory neighborhood commission boundaries will be drawn based on the data. District law requires relatively equal size for all ward populations, within a range of five percent above or below the average ward population. According to 2020 census data, a ward’s population would be 86,193 residents. As a result, Ward 6 would have to give up 17,699 residents to other wards for there to be a population balance. Meanwhile, Wards 7 and 8 will need to expand with the former needing
HELP IS AVAILABLE!
5 The Eastern Market is located in Ward 6. (Courtesy photo/Eastern Market Facebook page grab)
5,600 residents and the latter, 3,370.
SILVERMAN TALKS REDISTRICTING
D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) chairs the subcommittee that will lead the redistricting process. Serving with her are D.C. Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D-At Large) and Christine Henderson (I-At Large). Silverman said the Ward 6 population numbers don’t surprise her. “Ward 6 has had a tremendous number of residents over the past decade,” she said. “Ward 7 and 8 have had the least number of people in terms of growth. There must be balance in population among the wards. We’re going to make sure the redistricting process is fair; it will be conducted with integrity and everyone will be heard.” Silverman said the formal process will begin when the final census numbers come to city officials in September. She said hearings will be held for public input on how the ward boundaries should be drawn. The ward shaping process should be completed in December so the June 2022 party primaries will be able to take place, she said. Silverman said the drawing of the boundaries for the advisory neighborhood commissioners single-member districts will start around January.
AN EAST OF THE RIVER VIEW
Advisory Neighborhood Commis-
sioner Kelvin Brown, who represents single-member district 7B06 in Ward 7, welcomes Ward 6 residents into his ward but said the redistricting census data should be looked at comprehensively with the aim to help residents and not just be an exercise in counting numbers. “Our elected officials should use this opportunity to understand the data to determine why Ward 7 isn’t growing at the same rate and/or what changes are required to ensure Ward 7 residents are counted and have the necessary resources to thrive,” Brown said. “We must ensure residents have access to resources that keep them here and not displace generations or erode community culture.” WI @JamesDCWrighter
DC’s STAY DC program can help you pay your rent and/or utilities debt. Information is available at stay.dc.gov. Or, if you need help with the application, Legal Counsel for the Elderly can assist.
Just call our hotline at 202-434-2120. REMEMBER – your landlord cannot evict you, nor require you to move out at any time, without a court order. DON’T DELAY. CALL TODAY! Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an affiliate of AARP.
MEDICAL OFFICE CLOSED Joel H. Wilkerson, MD, has retired and the office at 1130 Maryland Ave, NE, Washington, DC, has permanently closed. However, former patients may contact us at the same office number to obtain their medical records and assistance with finding another physician. Our contact information is as follows: Mailing Address:
Joel H Wilkerson, MD 12460 California Avenue P.O. Box 47 Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
Office# 202-547-1225 Fax# 202-544-3805
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 9
AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENT AARP AUTO INSURANCE FROM THE HARTFORD TO SPEAK WITH AN AGENT AND REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL THE HARTFORD TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE:
1-877-579-9788
Do you or a loved one struggle on the stairs? AN ACORN STAIRLIFT IS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR:
ü Arthritis and COPD sufferers ü Those with mobility issues ü Anyone who struggles on the stairs
THE PURCHASE OF A NEW STAIRLIFT!
Prince George’s County Council Chair Calvin Hawkins, an alumnus of Bowie State University, speaks during the opening of the school’s Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community on August 11. The $42 million building will house 450 students and features modern amenities with residential luxury and academic resources. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)
CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT AND DVD!
1-855-841-2971
Who’s Reading the Informer?
*Not valid on previous purchases. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on refurbished models. Only valid towards purchase of a NEW Acorn Stairlift directly from the manufacturer. $250 discount will be applied to new orders. Please mention this ad when calling. AZ ROC 278722, CA 942619, MN LC670698, OK 50110, OR CCB 198506, RI 88, WA ACORNSI894OB, WV WV049654, MA HIC169936, NJ 13VH07752300, PA PA101967, CT ELV 0425003-R5.
DENTAL Insurance
Dwight, of Capitol Heights, Md., reads the Washington Informer. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about
$1 a day*
Keep your own dentist! NO networks to worry about NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits
No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow Coverage for over 350 procedures including cleanings, exams, fillings, crowns…even dentures
you can receive
FREE Information Kit
1-877-308-2834
www.dental50plus.com/cadnet *Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150(GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096C MB16-NM001Gc
OWN YOUR BITCOIN HOME BASED BUSINESS
FREE ON-LINE TRAINING / AUTOMATED SYSTEM
- GLOBAL DIGITAL WALLET - INTERNATIONAL CRYPTO - DAILY CASH DEPOSITS - NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED
EARN OVER $15,000 a mth!
240-643-6737 10 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
WORDS TO LIVE BY “We are the descendants of a suffering people We are the descendants of a people determined to suffer no longer . . . We do not desire what has belonged to others, though others have always sought to deprive us of that which belonged to us.”
– Marcus Garvey
Speech at the First International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World, [Aug. 2,1920]. Garvey, born Aug. 17, 1887, successfully organized the largest group of Blacks in U.S. history. THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Despite Emerging Lambda Variant, Delta Remains Primary Concern in Pandemic Battle
Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer
Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, one of the foremost experts on COVID-19 and the president and CEO of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., provides vital information for those unclear about the still-emerging variants of the virus. ‘Lambda is a [World Health Organization] ‘Variant of Interest’ vs. Delta which is a ‘Variant of Concern,’” Dr. Hildreth explained. “The difference being that the latter has been proven to have enhanced transmissibility or increased pathogenicity – a more severe disease,” he said. “Lambda has mutations that may cause such changes but [we do not have] enough data at this time. Lambda remains relatively rare in the U.S. versus Delta, which has become the dominant strain within the last several weeks. Dr. Hildreth and other medical experts mince few words in alerting the public that current vaccines offer strong protection against all strains while for vaccinated persons impacted by breakthrough infections, symptoms remain mild for most with few requiring hospitalization. “Vaccinated persons who experience breakthrough infections with Delta variant can transmit virus to others. This is the basis for recommendation that all, unvaccinated and vaccinated, wear masks inside,” added Dr. Hildreth, who sat on the Food and Drug Administration board that approved the vaccinations. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation Vaccine Monitor report, COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Black/African American populations continues to lag in at least 40 states. Officials said the need to address this trend remains crucial because of the recent rapid rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths, a sharp decline in vaccinations, the emergence of the more contagious Delta variant and the misinformation and myths that persist about the virus. During a call with members of the African-American media, health officials held a briefing to discuss vaccinations and the “We Can Do This” campaign. “The Delta variant has become a major factor in what we’re dealing
5 Dr. James Hildreth, president and CEO, Meharry Medical College. (Photo courtesy Meharry Medical College)
with. It’s almost a new pandemic,” said Dr. Cameron Webb, senior policy advisor for Equity on the White House COVID-19 Response Team. “People are getting sicker and it’s become the dominant variant in the U.S. It’s well above 93 percent of the cases, so it is the reason we see these upticks in cases. The vaccinations seem to be effective against this variant and that’s the good news,” Dr. Webb added, noting that the effica-
AROUND THE REGION
cy rate in the Pfizer vaccine dropped from 95 percent to 88 percent when put against the Delta variant. “It’s such a critical moment in the Black community and all over this country when it comes to the vaccine,” he concluded. The discussion counted as part of the Department of Health and Human Services “We Can Do This” campaign, a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures like mask-wearing and social distancing. The latest figures from the Department of Health reveal that African Americans comprise 11.6 percent of all COVID-19 cases, despite making up just 12.5 percent of the U.S. population. Latinos make up about 28 percent of all cases, Dr. Webb noted. For Blacks, it represents an improvement to some extent. “It’s an improvement but any life lost from COVID-19 is preventable at this time because we have these effective vaccines,” Dr. Webb said, noting that about 13.8 percent of deaths from COVID-19 occur in the Black community. Complacency, confidence and convenience are the “three C’s” that have
LAMBDA Page 23
TRANSFORM YOUR BATH OR SHOWER
IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY
CALL NOW FOR
$500 OR
NO PAYMENTS & NO INTEREST UNTIL 2022 Offer Expires 6.30.2021
*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires June 30, 2021. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2021 BCI Acrylic Inc.
Military & Senior Discounts Available
844-791-1618
Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY!
855-993-0969
FREE
7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!
Offer valid March 16, 2020 - Sept 6, 2020
Special Financing Available
*Terms & Conditions Apply
Subject to Credit Approval
Satellite Internet That is Unlimited With No Hard Data Limits! 2
25 Mbps Download Speed 25mbps download and 3mbps upload1
No Hard Data Limits Wi-Fi Built-In Connect your wireless devices at home Pricing varies by region
CALL TODAY - LIMITED SPECIAL OFFERS IN YOUR AREA!
1-855-973-9254
HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. 2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or affect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads.
Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19.99
$
A third shot in the arm will soon be part of the arsenal of tools in the fight against COVID-19. The Biden-Harris administration plans to announce that all who received vaccinations should get another shot eight months later. For those administered the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, it means a third dose. As for those injected with the Johnson & Johnson
SIDEBAR Page 23
/mo.
where available
Officials Say Rollout for Additional Vaccination Expected to Begin in September
dose, they will need a second vaccination. Administration officials said the boosters could begin in September. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration must first authorize the additional vaccine dose but Biden-Harris officials believe authorization will soon occur. Officials anticipate that nursing home residents, health care and emergency workers will likely be first in
2
Call For Special Offers In Your Area
Biden Administration Moves Forward with COVID-19 ‘Booster Shot’ for All Americans Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer
Off
2-YEAR TV PRICE
GUARANTEE MO.
for 12 Mos.
America’s Top 120 Package
190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels!
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
1-855-407-6870
Offer ends 1/31/21.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 5 Dr. James Hildreth, president and CEO, Meharry Medical College. (Photo courtesy Meharry Medical College)
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 11
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COVID-19 Vaccine Required for Prince George’s School Employees William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Ann Smith drove to Ritchie Station in Capitol Heights on Saturday, Aug. 14 so her grandson can receive a free backpack, school supplies and books before the Sept. 8 first day of school. But a COVID-19 vaccine topped Smith’s school checklist this summer for her grandson, Jerry Newsome, who turns 14 later this month and will attend Suitland High School. As for the nearly 22,000 Prince George’s County public school employees now required to receive a shot in the arm or face weekly testing, Smith called the decision “unfortunate, but necessary.” “I hate to see people forced to get vaccinated, but if we’re going to get back to where we belong, then everybody needs to get vaccinated,” she said.
“People are saying they don’t know what’s in the vaccine, but sometimes we have to take a chance. People are dying.” Although the state of Maryland displays one of the highest vaccination rates in the country at 79 percent with adults receiving at least one dose, the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant has caused confirmed cases to rise at their highest levels in two months. State health officials said nearly all coronavirus patients hospitalized are those who are unvaccinated. Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7 in Prince George’s, the capacity of intensive care unit beds available stood at 52 percent. However, county COVID-19 data shows during that same timeframe the percentage of positive tests increased from 4.5 percent to 5.8 percent. The majority Black jurisdiction con-
5 Ann Smith, right, in a vehicle with her grandson, Jerry Newsome, 13, after the rising ninth-grader received a free backpack, school supplies and books Aug. 14 at a backpack giveaway hosted by Del. Darryl Barnes in Capitol Heights. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
tinues to lead the state with the most confirmed cases at nearly 90,000. Public schools CEO Monica Goldson said in a video message released Friday, Aug. 13 about 12,000 public school employees have been vaccinated. Goldson said in the more than two-minute video all staff must either show proof of vaccination by Aug. 27. The vaccine information must include a person’s name, date of birth, phone number and date and location of the vaccination. If proof hasn’t been shown by that date, then that person must “submit to weekly, onsite testing.” “Thank you for your understanding and for adhering to this mandate. Your health and safety [are] my
Sweat Partners with Church to Distribute J. Ford Food, Offer Counseling William WI Staff Writer
5 Prince George’s County Executive candidate Tonya Sweat chats with a driver Aug. 17 during a food distribution giveaway at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
12 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
Although the Maryland Democratic primary doesn’t take place for another 10 months, Prince George’s County Executive candidate Tonya Sweat helped distribute food Aug. 17 for 1,000 people at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills. In addition to partnering with the church’s weekly grocery giveaway, Sweat’s campaign offered residents information on counseling services and free backpacks and school supplies for students. Targeting the immigrant community, a Sweat Spanish interpreter was available. A representative from Law Group International of Alexandria, Va., was on hand to offer legal services. “When I saw the long line of cars around St. Stephen’s Baptist Church, this shows the need in the community is great,” said Sweat, a managing part-
SWEAT Page 45
priority,” Goldson said in the video. Prince George’s joins several other school districts in Maryland that will require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which remains unavailable for children younger than 12. Howard County became the state’s first public school system last week to announce a similar vaccination procedure for its workers. Montgomery County public schools announced Friday it would require employees to be vaccinated. According to school documents, the district will conduct “pool testing for random samples of students in prekindergarten through sixth grade” because the vaccine remains unavailable for children younger than 12. The district plans to implement a policy for all 24,000 employees in the state’s biggest school district, but doesn’t outline when proof of vaccination would be required or testing procedures. “More details will be shared with employees prior to the start of the school year,” according to school documents at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening2021/#guide.
SCHOOL, GOVERNMENT MANDATES
Officials in the county’s neighboring jurisdiction in D.C. will require city employees, contractors and interns to similar COVID-19 procedures and show proof by Sept. 19. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week all state employees must be vaccinated by Sept. 1 or submit to testing weekly.
A similar requirement and same deadline date are required for Maryland state employees who work in congregate settings such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and veteran centers. Arlington County Aug. 12 became the first jurisdiction in Northern Virginia to announce all government and school employees must receive a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 30. If not, then those who remain unvaccinated face a requirement of weekly testing. In terms of students and staff wearing masks inside school buildings, the majority of D.C. area public schools are making them a requirement. Masks and face coverings are optional in Fauquier County in Northern Virginia, where students returned to school Aug. 11. Back in Prince George’s, Phyllis Wright of District Heights and other parents support a vaccine requirement for school employees. Wright’s 12-yearold daughter received her first vaccine shot this month, but her younger daughter isn’t able to receive a shot in the arm. “If my kids have to show their shot records are up to date, then we need to have the people who take care of our kids show they are vaccinated, too,” she said. “Dr. Goldson made the right decision.” School board member Belinda Queen had a message for adults, especially PGCPS parents who remain unvaccinated. “We need to lead by example. We can’t request for our children to do things we haven’t even done first,” she said. “Make sure your child is protected.” WI Twitter: @jabariwill
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Maryland Sports Wagering Commission Holds First Session William J. Ford WI Staff Writer For those anxious to start placing sports bets in Maryland before the NFL regular season begins next month, they’ll have to wait a little while longer. That’s because the state-mandated Sports Wagering Applications Review Commission, which held its first meeting Monday, Aug. 16 in Annapolis, will need to conclude its evaluations of applicants. And the next scheduled meeting for the seven-member commission may not take place until at least Sept. 20, which marks the second week of the NFL season. Some of the duties for the commission include awarding sports wagering licenses, ensuring minority- and women-owned businesses are included in the process and that awarded licensees remain located a specific distance from casinos or other potential sports-betting facilities. “These are all going to be discussion points for future meetings to lay the groundwork that this commission will have to establish,” said Matthew Bennett, who works for the state’s Department of Legislative Services and is part of the review commission’s staff. The Maryland Lottery and Gam-
ing Control Commission oversees the sports waging industry, the issuance of renewal of licenses and conducts criminal and financial background checks. Voters approved sports betting last year and lawmakers passed various measures during this year’s 90-day legislative session to administer the rules and regulations. Financial projections assessed sports betting revenue could generate between $15 million to $20 million annually in Maryland. A major part of the voter referendum ensures millions of dollars go toward the Blueprint for Maryland’s future education plan. According to the lottery commission, the state’s six casinos generated a single-month record in July of $180.1 million in revenue. MGM Casino and Resort at National Harbor received $72.9 million, or about 40 percent of the state’s total. The number of businesses that will apply for betting licenses remains unknown but application fees range between $50,000 to $2 million based on the class and number of employees. A business that seeks a Class B-2 license, which requires a fee of $50,000, must have 25 or fewer employees or $3 million in gross receipts. Those seeking a Class A-1 license, which requires a fee of $2 million,
5 MGM National Harbor. (Photo courtesy of Experience Prince George’s)
must have more than 1,000 video lottery terminals or slot machines. Venues meeting this requirement include MGM in Prince George’s County, Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County and Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore City. Another 14 locations that have been slated to offer house sports wagering include FedEXField in Landover, M&T Bank Stadium in Balti-
more and the Jockey Bar and Grille in Washington County. Up to 60 mobile and online betting licenses may be granted for companies willing to pay the $500,000 application fee. Near the end of the almost 40-minute sports wagering commission meeting, Thomas Brandt, Jr., board chairman, summarized one duty for which the group doesn’t need to worry.
“I got chills thinking, my god, we’ve got to audit and regulate bookies. I have no idea how to do that,” said Brandt, former chief financial officer for TeleCommunication Systems in Annapolis. “I’ve learned that the lottery commission of Maryland is very mature and equipped to do that and is not our job. I find that very gratifying.” WI @jabariwill
Prince George’s Commission Close to Completing Redistricting Map William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
5 A District Heights police officer plays basketball June 25 at a ‘Stop the Violence’ event hosted by State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)
With some updated 2020 Census data showing Prince George’s County’s population increasing by 12 percent in a decade, a proposed redistricting map shows an equitable populace. To ensure that parity, a consultant for the county’s three-member Redistricting Commission presented three proposals for the nine council districts that include: Realign the 6,040 residents in city of District Heights from District 6 to District 7. Shift 4,075 people from Adelphi area from District 1 to District 2. Move 2,205 from Glenn Dale from District 3 to District 4, which would combine all of Glenn Dale. “It’s sort of remarkable that we can achieve population equality without little change,” said Nathan Perisly, a consultant with the commission and a law professor at Stanford University in California. Based on Perisly’s analysis, the three-member commission voted to support the recommendations Monday, Aug. 16. Among their goals: An over-under population percentage that doesn’t exceed 4.5 percent. The current population of District 7 with nearly 94,000 accounts for the smallest in the county, but underpopulated by 9.4 percent. The district near the D.C. border includes Hillcrest Heights, Seat Pleasant and Temple Hill.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Realigning District Heights proposes to boost the district’s population to 103,471 to decrease the population deviation by 3.8 percent , according to commission data. The county’s District 6 could decrease from 115,779 to 109,739, but still remain the highest population that houses the municipalities and communities such as Largo and portions of Upper Marlboro and Bowie. Population shifts in the area residents call “South County” in Districts 8 and 9 wouldn’t change. Charlene Dukes, one of the commission members, said one aspect must be taken into account when the redistricting process happens every 10 years. “It’s also about people,” she said. “There is some change, even if its miniscule.” The commission will meet again Monday, Aug. 23 and has until Sept. 1 to submit a plan to County Council. County and Baltimore City officials throughout the state of Maryland are working on redistricting proposals. In neighboring Montgomery County, officials are proposing to add two more districts to increase County Council from nine to 11 members – seven to represent districts and four at-large.
CENSUS DATA
Prince George’s County’s population increased the fourth high-
MD CENSUS Page 16 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 13
BUSINESS White Politicians Fear Outcomes of Democrat's $3.5 Trillion Budget Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer The $3.5 trillion budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate has game-changing potential for the middle class, poor, and the underserved. It’s so enticing for African Americans and the historically underserved that some white politicians call it racist and anti-white.
“[The bill] discriminates against white people at every turn,” lamented former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey in an opinion piece for a New York newspaper. If you’re white, you’re low-priority,” McCaughey wrote in the piece rich with irony. African Americans have faced white supremacy since the first Black person landed against his will on this
5 HBCUs will get a boost from the Democrats' proposed budget. (Courtesy photo)
nation’s soil hundreds of years ago. But, McCaughey continued to lament. “Americans should be outraged — but not surprised. After all, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March,
Homeownership more affordable. M&T has options to help you achieve homeownership. You may be eligible for solutions to help: • • • •
Reduce the cash needed at closing Lower monthly payments Save thousands by paying less interest Qualify with a less-than-perfect credit history
Get started with one of our mortgage specialists by calling 1-888-253-0993 or visit us at mtb.com.
Equal Housing Lender. Certain restrictions apply. Subject to credit and property approval. ©2021 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. NMLS# 381076. 57100 210510 Washington Informer: 5.85” x 5.5”
14 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
also put into place an ugly system of discrimination against whites,” she posited. “It offered debt relief to Black farmers but not white farmers. Another provision offered billions in aid to minority-owned and women-owned restaurants but told struggling restaurants owners who happened to be white men that they had to go to the back of the line.” While there’s optimism for ultimate passage in both chambers of Congress because Democrats are using the reconciliation process for the budget, Sen. Schumer and others in his party know a battle remains ahead. Moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia already has raised the possibility that he might ultimately vote against his party on the budget bill. “I’m concerned about the grave consequences [for the nation’s debt] as well as the ability to respond to other crises,” Manchin said. “Given the current state of the economic recovery, it is simply irresponsible to continue spending at levels more suited to respond to a Great Depression or Great Recession – not an economy that is on the verge of overheating.” A summary of the budget blueprint passed by the Senate shows that if passed, the bill would establish universal Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds and a new child care benefit for working families. In addition, it makes community college tuition-free for two years and increases the Pell grant award.
The bill also makes investments in historically black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions and Hispanic serving institutions. It creates the first federal paid family and medical leave benefit and adds a new Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit to the Medicare program. “When you look at this budget in its totality, it is the strongest hint yet that we have a president, an administration, that believes reparations to African Americans should happen,” said Adam Clevinger, a CPA in Landover, Maryland. “The bill is like a downpayment for reparations even though it’s not only about Black people. It’s about helping all underserved people -people that whites and the wealthy have repressed for so long,” he said. “But, overall, it’s good for America.” The proposed budget also attacks much of the climate and infrastructure provisions that the environmental scientists believe are needed to prevent ultimate human destruction. It includes new clean energy tax incentives, electrifying the federal vehicle fleet and making the “largest-ever one-time investment” in Native American infrastructure projects. “At its core, this legislation is about restoring the middle class in the 21st century and giving more Americans the opportunity to get there,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted. WI @StacyBrownMedia
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
The District Pit Caters to D.C.’s Raw Barbecue Market James Wright WI Staff Writer When the subject of barbecue comes up, North Carolina, Memphis, Tenn., Kansas City, Mo. and Texas dinner bells ring, but if Southeast chef Roger Sherman has anything to say, the District will elbow into those ranks soon. “D.C. has no barbecue culture here,” Sherman said. “I want to make sure my hometown and my business becomes known as a place to get some good barbecue.” Sherman got into the barbecue business, informally, early in his life. He talks about growing up and eating his mother’s Kentucky-style southern cooking. He speaks about being born on Christmas Day and how, because she was in labor, she was unable to finish the holiday turkey, his father and older sister went without Christmas dinner that year. He said in his family, he’s the butt of a long-running joke that has him owing them a Christmas dinner when he gets old enough. Years later, he bought his first smoker and made good on that promise. He then started smoking turkeys and hams for Thanksgiving and Christmas events. Word got around about his culinary skills, resulting in the launch of The District Pit in 2016. “People in this city eat a hodgepodge of barbecue types from around the nation. The District Pit caters to
all of the popular types around the nation. I have the molasses-based sauce that is popular in Kansas City and the vinegar-based sauce that is well known in North Carolina. For example, I offer my customers both pork and beef ribs,” he said.
THE PIT’S OFFERINGS
In addition to ribs, The District Pit offers brisket, smoked chicken, pulled pork and, if requested, venison and beef shoulder, for his customers. Sherman plans to add sausage to the menu someday. During the holiday season, he offers smoked turkey and smoked ham. The District Pit offers macaroni and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw and corn bread as side dishes. The food in platters and if requested, individual dishes with a single serving of meat. The platters are a mixture of meat and side dishes. The individual platters are for one person. Five congressional platters range in price from $150 to $250 and can feed a small event. Five senatorial platters vary in price from $300 to $475 and feed medium and large gatherings. “I specifically named those platters because Washington, D.C. is the seat of national power and that is something people can identify with,” Sherman said.
business relationship with the Mansion on O Street in Northwest that will have the entities cooperating with barbecue catering and urban wineries. “My wife Dawn and I are really caught up in the wine culture here in D.C., which is quite extensive,” he said. On Aug. 7, Black Men Ventures-an organization with the mission of supporting businesses owned by Af-
BUSINESS
rican-American males--named The District Pit the winner of its second annual pitch competition. Sherman expressed elation at winning the $5,000 first-place prize. “I decided to compete, thinking ‘What do I have to lose?’ ” he said. “I am used to making presentations so I went for it. I made the presentation and apparently the judges liked it. I am ecstatic
Recovery
about winning the $5,000.” Sherman said he plans to own a food truck within the next two years. In a few years, he would like to open a brick-and-mortar establishment. For now, he wants to keep his eye on the immediate future. “At this point, we are focusing on building our catering business,” he said. WI @JamesDCWrighter
is possible.
THE FUTURE
Sherman said The District Pit best days are ahead. He has developed a
READY?
“I was in such a dark place, I lost me. Today, I have a business where I sell baked goods.”
TREATMENT WORKS. Connect with someone who’s been there and understands. No judgment, just help. See local stories of recovery and find a certified peer at MyRecoveryDC.org.
LIVE
LONG
DC
Saving lives from the opioid epidemic
This Initiative is Supported By 5 Southeast D.C. resident Roger Sherman is the owner of The District Pit. (Courtesy photo/Roger Sherman)
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 15
NATIONAL President Biden Addresses Nation Amid Criticism on Afghanistan
Stacy Brown WI Senior Writer
Even as President Joe Biden announced earlier this year that the U.S. would completely withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Taliban fighters made their presence known. Reports and videos appeared to show the Taliban coercing the surrender of Afghan government forces while summarily executing unarmed military members in full view of crowds of civilians. After Biden’s April announcement, the Taliban reminded the world that it had never recognized the country’s democratic government. And on Monday, Aug. 16, images which captured dozens of fearful Afghan citizens desperately clinging to a U.S. Airforce plane as it took off, will undoubtedly remain etched in our minds for months, if not years, to come. At least three people fell hundreds of feet from the aircraft and died as they attempted the death-defying exit out of the country. “Our military commanders advised me that once I made the de-
MD CENSUS from Page 13 est in the state by 12 percent from 863,420 to 967,201 between 2010 to 2020. The state’s other majority Black jurisdiction of Baltimore City experienced a population decrease of nearly 6 percent , or slightly more than 35,000 residents. Census demographic data released last week shows less than half of Maryland’s residents are white, but the percentage of its Black population remain unchanged from a decade ago.
16 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
cision to end the war, we needed to move swiftly to conduct the main elements of the drawdown,” President Biden remarked last month. He added that “speed is safety.” The President now faces criticism from within his party as his own words have come back to haunt him. “We provided our Afghan partners with all the tools – let me emphasize: all the tools, training and equipment of any modern military,” the President declared in July. “We provided advanced weaponry. And we’re going to continue to provide funding and equipment. And we’ll ensure they have the capacity to maintain their air force,” he said. Now, as the nation awaits the President’s address on Afghanistan slated for Monday night, the White House has essentially accused the middle eastern government of cowardice. According to Russian officials, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the county with several automobiles and a helicopter so filled with cash that money, unable to fit in the craft, had to be left behind. Ghani claimed he left the country to encourage peace and avoid death
and destruction in a statement issued over the weekend. But a disgruntled Biden refuted Ghani’s claim. “Afghan leaders have to come together. We lost thousands – lost to death and injury – thousands of American personnel,” Biden lamented. “They’ve got to fight for themselves – fight for their nation.” The President also laid the blame at the feet of former President Donald Trump. “When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor in which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019 – that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces,” Biden asserted. “Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became president, I faced a choice:
follow through on the deal with a brief extension to get our forces and our allies’ forces out safely or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict.” “I was the fourth president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan – two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth,” he said. Twenty years ago, in response to Sept. 11, 2021 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the failed attempt in a remote area of western Pennsylvania, then-President George W. Bush, ordered the attack on the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The war extended to Iraq where American troops were instrumental in capturing and eventually securing the death of the relentless dictator Saddam Hussein. Nearly 10 years
later, upon receiving concrete intelligence, then-President Barack Obama sent a Navy seal team into Pakistan where they located and killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. Early Monday, the U.S. military took control of the main airport in Kabul, Afghanistan while the Taliban seized the presidential palace. Efforts continue to remove all American personnel and those Afghani citizens who either served as translators for the U.S. or were friendly to the American agenda. “The Taliban is back in Kabul,” analyst Stephen Collinson wrote for CNN. “Afghans are once again sliding into a new dark age of repression and persecution of women. And the United States is beating a humiliating retreat, becoming the latest superpower humbled in Central Asia’s graveyard of empires.” WI @StacyBrownMedia
The once-a-decade count by the U.S. Census Bureau showed the state population increased last year by 7 percent from the previous census count to 6.1 million, up from 5.7 million in 2010. The population of white residents decreased from 55 percent more than a decade ago to 47 percent . During that same timeframe, the Asian population increased from 5 percent to 7 percent and Latino residents from 8 percent to 12 percent . The Black population in Maryland remained unchanged at 29 percent ,
which ranks fifth in the nation behind Georgia (31 percent ), Louisiana (31.4 percent ), Mississippi (36.6) and the District of Columbia (41.4 percent ). Maryland also ranked fourth in being the most diverse state in the nation, which has Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery County) beyond excited. Wilkins served on a statewide committee that oversaw census efforts last year. “We were trending in this direction and it’s amazing through the work of every single jurisdiction and leaders all across the state to get out the count,” she said. “That’s something we should
be very proud of and as a legislator, for us to ensure that we’re implementing strategies that really reflect that and uplift our diverse populations.” Although the data show a diverse view of the country, National Urban League president and CEO Marc Morial said in a statement the process done historically has made attempts to split communities of color and pack them into a single voting district. One example, he said, stems from those in jail and prison where some state officials count where an individual remains incarcerated versus a per-
son’s last known address. “The news that the nation’s white population is shrinking while the Black and Brown populations continue to grow is likely to provoke the anti-democratic, racially-anxious contingent among state legislatures charged with drawing the new district lines,” Morial said. “The National Urban League has long embraced the vision of a multicultural, pluralistic democracy and we call on every state legislator to approach redistricting with that same vision.” WI Twitter: @jabariwill
5 President Biden. (Courtesy photo)
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
CBCF Unveils New Website that Honors the Past, Looks to the Future WI Staff Report The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation [CBCF] recently unveiled a powerful new visual branding and organizational website that takes its inspiration from the eye of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda while invoking a spirit of upliftment and achievement. While other logos that incorporate images of the Capitol focus display the dome from the outside, the new CBCF logo positions the viewer inside the building, looking upward. It serves as a powerful visual representation of the foundation’s work in developing the next generation of Black leaders and advancing the global Black community to its highest point, according to a CBCF press release. “We are very excited to launch our new brand and website and
advance the CBCF into its next era of service,” said CBCF President and CEO Tonya Veasey in a release. “These assets help to tell the story of where we’ve been, where we are and where we want to go in a bold and visually appealing way. We are proud to present this brand that reflects the visionary impact of our program participants, alumni and supporters,” she said. The new site, which also uses photographic imagery with its color scheme and a variety of modern graphical elements, incorporates the traditional red and black for which the foundation is known, according to the release. In addition, the website, cbcfinc. org, with its increased accessibility, highlights the new brand elements and provides improved site architecture for a better user experience. WI
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation [CBCF] recently unveiled a powerful new visual branding and organizational website that takes its
NATIONAL Get Covered. Stay Covered.
Now DC Residents Can Get Lower Health Insurance Premiums! To find out if you qualify, go to DCHealthLink.com and click on “PLAN MATCH”
inspiration from the eye of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda while invoking a spirit of upliftment and achievement.
(855) 532-5465 / TTY: 711
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 17
INTERNATIONAL PETWORTH PRINTING Your Quality Printers
301 Kennedy Street, NW
n
Washington, DC
202-291-6565 PRINTING & DESIGN
Color / Black & White Printing n n n n n n n n n
Booklets Brochures Business Cards Banners Canvas Bags Color Copies Contracts & Vouchers Church Fans Fax & Scan
n n n n n n n n n
Programs Postcards Promotional Products Posters & Signs Tithe Envelopes Tickets & Flyers T-Shirts Mugs & Glassware Notary
10% OFF
BOOKLETS AND T-SHIRTS *NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY*
SEE OUR ONLINE STORE: www.QualityPrintersDC.com
Traditional Help Buttons
At Home In the Car On a Walk On Vacation At the Park Shopping
A Help Button Should Go Where You Go! To be truly independent your personal emergency device needs to work on the go.
Order Now & Receive a FREE Lockbox!
1-800-681-0667
Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation.
Call now for ADT home security + get a $100 ADT Visa Reward Card* ®
*With 36-month monitoring contract. Early termination and installation fees apply. Reward card issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC. Card terms and expiration apply. For full terms, see below.
1-877-325-1437 *$100 ADT Visa Reward Card: Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $28.99/mo. (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $695.76), and enrollment in ADT EasyPay. Requires minimum purchase price of $449. One (1) Visa Reward Card valued at $100 is redeemable seven (7) days after system is installed, wherein an email is sent to the customer’s email address associated with their account with a promo code. The customer must validate the promo code on the website provided in the email and a physical card will be sent in the mail. Installation must occur within 60 days of offer expiration date to receive card. Applicable to new and resale sale types only. Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. Reply by 10/15/2021. General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 09079, MS 15019511. DF-CD-NP-Q321
18 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
africa now
COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
UN Human Rights Council Opposes Ghana’s Anti-Gay Bill In Ghana, a highly religious country that claims to be exemplary in Africa in its respect for human rights, a handful of opposition MPs are putting the president in a difficult position by promoting a law restricting the rights of sexual minorities. Same-sex relationships are banned in the West African nation, but no one has ever been prosecuted under this colonial-era law. However, LGBT+ people are widely discriminated against in Ghana. In early August, a bill was introduced in parliament to further restrict the rights of LGBT+ people. It includes criminalizing the defense of LGBT+ rights, a duty to report “suspects”, the promotion of conversion therapy and the imposition of harsher prison sentences for homosexuality. If the bill is passed by parliament, President Nana Akufo-Addo could either sign it
into law or veto it. The international community and rights activists have widely condemned the bill, which was submitted to parliament by seven opposition MPs and one member of the presidential party. “Passing this law in its current or even partial form would violate a significant number of human rights, including the absolute prohibition of torture,” a UN panel of experts said in a statement. “This will not only criminalize LGBTI (I for intersex) people but also all those who support or show sympathy for human rights,” they added. But analysts and diplomats say it will be difficult for the president to oppose the bill, given its popularity in Ghana. About 90 percent of Ghanaians say they support a law criminalizing same-sex relationships, according to a 2014 poll by research group Afrobarometer. “The opposition party is using this proposed law as a political tactic to force the current government to take a stand,” the Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher Wendy Isaack said. President Akufo-Addo, who was re-elected for a second term in December, has said he would not legalize same-sex marriages. But with this law, the former human rights lawyer, who studied in Britain, finds himself at odds. “It’s obvious that the president is not thrilled with this reform, but it’s a delicate issue, because of the general opinion,” a western diplomat who wishes to remain anonymous told AFP. WI
caribbean now CARICOM Has New Secretary-General
Dr. Carla Barnett, was installed as the new Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), during a ceremony held on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 The Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, welcomed the new secretary-general and brought greetings from the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government. Speaking during the ceremony, Barnett outlined her vision for CARICOM and indicated some matters that will occupy her immediate attention. A native of Belize, Barnett, first woman and the youngest person appointed as Deputy-Secretary of CARICOM (1997 -2002), is an economist who has also broken other barriers as a professional in the English-speaking Caribbean, including becoming the first woman appointed as deputy governor of the Central Bank, and as financial secretary in Belize. She also worked at the Caribbean Development Bank as country economist
and vice president, operations. She is a long-time advocate for gender-equality, “not only because it is the right thing to do to create a more stable and equitable society, but also because gender equality is good economic policy.” Barnett takes over from Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Dominican economist who served from 2011-2021. She is the eighth Secretary-General of CARICOM and its predecessor the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 19
HEALTH Why the United Nations ‘Climate Code Red’ is Vital for People of Color Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer A United Nations [UN] special panel of scientists has recently confirmed what many already knew: climate change is real. It’s also among the most imminent threats to human society. In neighborhoods of color, environmental hazards can be found everywhere. “Climate change has long disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities and so too has the work of recovery from climate-driven disasters,” said LaTanja
Silvester of the national nonprofit Resilience Force. “At the center of the rapidly growing resilience industry is an expanding recovery and reconstruction workforce disproportionately made up of Black, Brown, poor and working-class people who are often victims of disasters themselves,” Silvester said. “Among other things, we’re calling on future climate-driven recovery efforts to close the widening American resilience divide between high- and low-income communities and to reduce the risk for Black, Brown, Native, poor, rural and small-city
5 Climate change has disproportionately impacted people of color across the globe. (Photo courtesy UpRose)
communities,” she said. “Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred,” concluded the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN’s body for assessing the science related to climate change. “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land,” wrote the authors of the report titled “AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change.” The report included a “Code Red” alert from scientists who warned that human existence now faces its
They also found that neighborhoods with higher Black, Hispanic, and Asian population shares are hotter than the more White, non-Hispanic areas in each county. “Although individual locations have different histories that have contributed to race- and class-based geographies, we find that the physical features of the urban environments driving these surface heat exposure gradients are fairly uniform across the country,” study authors wrote. “Systematically, the disproportionate heat surface exposures faced by minority communities are due to more built-up neighborhoods, less vegetation, and—to a lesser extent— higher population density.” Experts agree that particularly in summer, warming in cities due to
natural gas facilities, over one million African Americans face a ‘cancer risk above EPA’s level of concern’ due to unclean air and more than 6.7 million African Americans live in the 91 U.S. counties with oil refineries. “In total, African Americans are 75 percent more likely than white people to live in ‘fence-line communities’ (areas near commercial facilities that produce noise, odor, traffic, or emissions that directly affect the population). Additionally, exposure to poor air quality can cause numerous health problems such as asthma.” Approximately 13.4 percent of African American children have asthma as compared to only 7.3 percent of white children. “Redlining didn’t just deprive people of color of wealth-building opportunities from homeownership in prime locations. Instead, it consigned them to the most polluted areas, near industrial facilities, chemical plants and the like,” asserted Bruce Mirken, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Greenlining Institute. “Freeways were deliberately placed in locations that disrupted and segregated nonwhite neighborhoods while forcing them to choke on increased exhaust fumes,” Mirken added. Efforts to fight climate change must follow the example of California’s Transformative Climate Communities program, or TCC, Mirken insisted. “TCC directly involves impacted communities in designing and implementing plans to reduce carbon emissions and build healthier neigh-
HEAT Page 44
CLIMATE Page 44
Neighborhoods of Color Are Hotter Than White Ones Regardless of Income White Urban, Small Town Residents Benefit From More Infrastructure Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer As a heat wave pummeled the east coast, researchers find that non-white neighborhoods are hotter than those of color, as noted in the study “Widespread Race and Class Disparities in Surface Urban Heat Extremes Across the United States” first published by Earth’s Future, AGU’s journal on July 13. Using land surface temperatures during summer heat waves collected by a NASA satellite, researchers looked at 1,056 U.S. counties with more than 10 developed census tracts. They found the poorest tracts — those with lowest average education levels — within a county are significantly hotter than the richest, and more educated.
20 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
most imminent threat. Historically, communities of color have lived in hazard zones. A 2020 Princeton University report put it bluntly: “Annually, the United States Oil and Gas Industry releases about 9 million tons of methane gas and other toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. “African American and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution in the United States. For example, more than one million African Americans live within a half-mile of
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
CDC Announces Disease Forecasting Center WI Staff Report The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] on Wednesday, Aug. 18, announced a new center designed to advance the use of forecasting and outbreak analytics in public health decision making. In a news release, officials said the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics will bring together next-generation public health data, expert disease modelers, public health emergency responders and high-quality communications to meet the needs of decision makers. The center launches with a goal of predicting disease threats and providing early warning and real-time data on outbreaks. Health officials said it would accelerate access to and use of data for public health decision-makers who need information to mitigate the effects of disease threats such as social and economic disruption. The center will prioritize equity and accessibility, while serving as a hub for innovation and research on disease modeling. “This is an amazing opportunity for CDC and public health as we stand up the country’s first government-wide public health forecasting center,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. “We are excited to have the expertise and ability to model and forecast public health concerns and share information in real-time to activate governmental, private sector
HEALTH
and public actions in anticipation of threats both domestically and abroad.” The center, with initial funding from the American Rescue Plan, will focus on three key functions: • Predict: Undertake modeling and forecasting; enhance the ability to determine the foundational data sources needed; support research and innovation in outbreak analytics and science for real-time action; and establish appropriate forecasting horizons. • Connect: Expand broad capability for data sharing and integration; maximize interoperability with data standards and utilize opensource software and application programming interface capabilities, with existing and new data streams from the public health ecosystem and beyond. • Inform: Translate and communicate forecasts; connect with key decision-makers across sectors including government, businesses, and non-profits, along with individuals with strong intergovernmental affairs and communication capacity for action. “I am thrilled to be joining an exceptional team at CDC to build new capabilities for the fight against pandemics,” said Dr. Dylan George, who will serve as director for operations, in a statement. “Pandemics threaten our families and communities at speed and scale – our response needs to move at speed and scale, too.” WI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] on Wednesday, Aug.18, announced a new center designed to advance the use of forecasting and outbreak analytics in public health decision making. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 21
EDUCATION DCPS
BRIEFS Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer
VACCINE PROMOTIONS
With the first day back to school less than two weeks away, all DCPS students, personnel as well as public charter schools are students and staff are encouraged to get vaccinated.
The promotion of vaccines will help to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in school buildings. While others have been hesitant and less comfortable in an in-person setting, according to the State Board Student Advisory Committee, many students’ anxieties about returning to their schools have been eased by widespread teen access to vaccines.
FREE ‘SMARTRIPCARDS’
New “Kids Ride Free SmarTrip” cards for the 2021-22 academic term will be available for student pickups by the first week of school. While new students will be given first priority at their schools to pick up new cards, the free SmarTrip blue cards will remain valid through Sept. 30. Students who have lost or misplaced their 2020-21 card can request
a replacement card from their School ID Administrator. “With the 2021-22 school year right around the corner, we are incredibly excited to welcome back our students full time to the classroom,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press statement. “It is more important than ever that we support our students with free and safe transportation options to and from school.”
REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser encourages all families with children ages 3-18 to get back on track with required immunizations in time for the start of the 2021-22 school year on Aug. 30. The city is making it easier for families to get children their required pediatric immunizations before the start of the school year at 37 sites across the District with an added option to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “We want our children to be equipped with all that they need for a healthy, safe and successful 20212022 academic school year,” Bowser said in a press statement. “And that includes receiving their required immu-
Show your school spirit! Support our local schools
nizations and making sure that their health and wellness remain a priority for all families.” Appointments will be available at participating DCPS, public, charter school locations, hospitals, primary care facilities, community health centers and school-based health centers in all eight wards.
LIMITED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
After hearing from families opting for virtual learning, the DC Public Charter School Board will allow KIPP DC Public Charter School and Maya Angelou PCS to offer permanent virtual programming to a limited number of students. The allowance for the 2021-22 school year and beyond will enable Maya Angelou to continue the credit recovery courses it has offered for the past five years. Meanwhile, with the Board’s decline of Howard University PCS’ request, AppleTree PCS has withdrawn a similar request previously submitted to the Board.
LOADS OF INNOVATION
Despite tough times, there has been a lot of innovation this past school year among public charter schools, according to DC PCSB Executive Director Michelle Walker Davis. Charter school leaders, teachers and staff received computers, Internet, food, school supplies and more for their students while remaining focused on student learning. “That helped us all adjust quickly
and serve the educational needs of our students,” Walker Davis said in a statement.
‘FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL’
While some public charter schools will open their doors earlier for the upcoming academic year, other buildings have opted to wait until the end of August to welcome students back. Here’s a partial list of 2021-22 AppleTree Early Learning Center “First Day Back to School” confirmations: Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS - Wahler Place Elementary School: 8/23/2021 AppleTree Early Learning Center PCS - Columbia Heights: 8/30/2021 AppleTree Early Learning Center PCS - Douglas Knoll: 8/30/2021 AppleTree Early Learning Center PCS - Lincoln Park: 8/30/2021 AppleTree Early Learning Center PCS - Oklahoma Avenue: 8/30/2021 AppleTree Early Learning Center PCS - Parklands at THEARC: 8/30/2021 AppleTree Early Learning Center PCS - Southwest: 8/30/2021
Donate at your local Safeway store today.
This campaign is managed by Albertsons Companies Foundation, doing business as Safeway Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization.
22 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
5 There has been a lot of innovation going on this past school year among public charter schools. (Photo courtesy DCPCS)
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LAMBDA from Page 11 prevented more African Americans from getting vaccinated, Dr. Webb shared. “We hear a lot of people say, ‘I’m young, I’m healthy, I take care of myself and I haven’t seen a lot of people get sick,’” Dr. Webb recounted. “Then you have the confidence factor, where people distrust the health system. Finally, there is the convenience factor. While vaccines are everywhere at this point, across communities, there are a lot of barriers to access and that’s what has to change,” he said. Georgeta Dragoiu, a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow on the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, Dr. Rachel Villanueva, Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics/ Gynecology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and President of the National Medical Association and Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson,
SIDEBAR from Page 11 line for the third shot. Reportedly, the third shot is the same as the initial dose. The decision for a third shot arrives as COVID-19 cases have surged to pandemic highs. With the Delta variant raging, Florida, Mississippi, Hawaii, Oregon and Louisiana recorded all-time highs for the average number of new COVID-19 cases this week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency reported sending five mortuary trailers to San Antonio, Texas, as health officials expect the death toll to rise dramatically. And while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott continues his executive order which bans vaccine and mask mandates, citizens of the Lone Star State continue to suffer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas recorded 144 deaths on Saturday, Aug. 14. The state continues to average 80 deaths each day and hospital beds remain scarce. More than 28% of hospital beds remain occupied by coronavirus patients in Florida, while Louisiana’s rate stands at 20.4%. Mississippi (18.7%), Hawaii (12.1%) and Oregon (11.4%) have rates above the 11 percent national average. The New York Times reported that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has also risen in the Washington, D.C. area. D.C.
WakeMed Health, Raleigh, North Carolina, also took part in the media briefing. “I had to convince my own mother to get the vaccine,” Dr. Villanueva revealed. “The National Medical Association is proudly joining the ‘We Can Do This’ campaign to increase public confidence in the uptake of the vaccine while reinforcing mitigation strategies in vulnerable populations,” she said. “We are using facts and sciences and support informed decision-making about the vaccines. We want to protect our family and friends and protect those who can’t take the vaccine, such as children under 12. We want all eligible Black Americans to have their questions answered and to get vaccinated. Together, we can, we absolutely must, and we will do this,” she noted. ” WI @StacyBrownMedia
EDUCATION
With over $307,000 in Total Cash Prizes!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas recorded 144 deaths on Saturday, Aug. 14. currently has an average of 170 cases per day, a 114 percent increase from the average two weeks ago. Currently, D.C. stands at “very high risk for unvaccinated people,” the Times concluded. On Monday, the U.S. reported 191,385 new COVID-19 cases, 84,739 coronavirus-related hospitalizations and 653 deaths. “If you have plans for 2021 that involve a COVID-free celebration, cancel them,” tweeted Dr. Ebony Hilton, co-founder and medical director at GoodStock Consulting and a critical care anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia. “This goes for weddings, birthday parties and holidays,” she said. “We could have learned from the error of our ways in 2020 but instead carried them right on into 2021.” WI @StacyBrownMedia
dclottery.com
DC Scratcher games may continue to be sold even when all the top prizes have been claimed.
Stay Informed!
Washington Informer | 1/2 pg V | 5.85” x 9.5” | 4c | New | 202
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
www.washingtoninformer.com
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 23
Need help with rent or utilities? Mayor Bowser has your back. Apply for #STAYDC today. 833-4-STAYDC (78-2932)
stay.dc.gov
#STAYDC 24 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
EXCELLENCE
IN EVERY
ENDEAVOR: Supplemental Education Tools
SPONSORED BY:
DON’T BREAK THE HABIT!
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
NEWSPAPER READING IS A HABIT
READ THE WASHINGTON INFORMER YOUR WAY: n In Print – feel the ink between your fingers of
our Award Winning Print Edition
n On the Web – www.washingtoninformer.com
updated throughout the day, every day
n On your tablet n On your smartphone n Facebook n Twitter n Weekly Email Blast – sign up at
www.washingtoninformer.com
202-561-4100 For advertising contact Ron Burke at rburke@washingtoninformer.com
...Informing you everyday in every way
In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com
PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Kui Mwai, Lee Ross, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright, PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Ja’Mon Jackson, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman
5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea)
Surmounting Educational Obstacles The passport to increased social mobility in Black communities has rested almost entirely on accessing and availing educational opportunities. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the American Missionary Association, along with private Black philanthropists and churches, established thousands of Normal schools, colleges, and universities. Irrespective of age, entire families attended classes to first, learn rudimentary grammar and mathematics skills, and subsequent liberal arts, trade, and science-based instruction. Surmounting educational obstacles meant working collectively to ensure everyone who
wanted to learn, could. Still, with America’s apartheid regime, known as Jim Crow, firmly entrenched, rural, and sharecropping families were prohibited from sending their children to schools. At the same time, middle-class and elite Black families opted for segregated public or parochial schools. As a result, only a minority of Black students received the quality educations they sought. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall predicted an end to all school segregation within five years of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. And while government-sanctioned laws and ordinances continued to undermine the move to integrate schools, thousands of school systems did attempt to provide equal access. Why? Because being able to rise to the challenges – and overcome them – in order to learn came without an option for failure. So, as the nation moves to return this year to in-person learning after more than a year of virtual learning, it is important to remember that now, as then – failure is not an option. There is uncertainty, there are unknown variables, there are new practices and procedures, and there is even a bit of anxiety moving about between parents, administrators, students, and teachers. Still, we must push forward. That said, it is important that we return to a effort of community-supported academic success. Students: Do your part – work hard and take care of yourselves. This may mean going to bed early, increasing your water intake (dehydration plays havoc with concentration), and make a habit of going over your notes daily so that when test times come, the information has become as familiar as your favorite song. Also, when you need help, speak up. There is no shame in not knowing or even falling behind; we’ve all faced these issues. Parents: Know your child’s strengths, weaknesses, work ethics, and needs. You are their greatest ally, advocate, and cheerleader, but you must be all of these from a position of honesty. When or if you believe your child is struggling, utilize the resources designed by your school system to get help. Work with your child’s teachers, counselors, and your councilmembers to find best-practices and healthy solutions. Teachers: Take a bow! You are doing an amazing job against incredible odds, and I commend your every effort. Though many are going above and beyond their duties, few are squarely applauded. Please, keep up the good work and know that it is appreciated. Find time for mental and emotional health breaks during the week to avoid burnout. Churches: Consider Urban Alternative pastor Tony Evans’ Adopt-a-School Initiative or other platforms that allow you to partner with area schools to assist with guidance, conflict resolution, after school activities, rites of passage, and community service projects. Finally, as the school year #ReopensStrong do your best to be supportive and kind to one another. We are all trying to figure out the next moves, the safest solutions, and the most effective methods to ensure success. Young people are watching the adults and learning by example how best to handle disagreements about policies, and how to manage frustration and anxiety. Afterall, we sit on a precipice now that will determine how the nation’s youth will value education. Let us teach them our most valuable asset is them.
Read, Learn, Grow. Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
BS-2
Education Disparities … By the Numbers United Negro College Fund (UNCF) data shows that African American students are less likely than white students to have access to college-ready courses. In fact, in 2011-12, only 57 percent of black students have access to a full range of math and science courses necessary for college readiness, compared with 81 percent of Asian American students and 71 percent of white students.
By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer
Even when black students do have access to honors or advanced placement courses, they are vastly underrepresented in these courses. Black and Latino students represent 38 percent of students in schools that offer AP courses, but only 29 percent of students enrolled in at least one AP course. Black and Latino students also have less access to gifted
African American students
and talented education programs
are less likely to be “college
than white students.
ready”. In fact, 61 percent of ACT-tested black students in the 2015 high school graduating class met none of the four ACT college readiness benchmarks, nearly twice the 31 percent rate for all students.
According to Brookings: The U.S. educational system is one of the most unequal in the industrialized world, and students routinely receive dramatically different learning opportunities based on their social status. In contrast to European and Asian nations that fund schools centrally and equally, the wealthiest 10 percent of U.S. school districts spend nearly 10 times more than the poorest 10 percent, and spending ratios of 3 to 1 are common within states.
H-3 BS-3
Black children represent 19 percent of the nation’s pre-school population, yet 47 percent of those receiving more than one out-of-school suspension. In comparison, white students represent 41 percent of pre-school enrollment but only 28 percent of those receiving more than one out-of-school suspension. Even more troubling, black students are 2.3 times as likely to receive a referral to law enforcement or be subject to a school-related arrest as white students. Black students spend less time in the classroom due to discipline, which further hinders their access to a quality education. Black students are nearly two times as likely to be suspended without educational services as white students. Black students are also 3.8 times as likely to receive one or more out-of-school suspensions as white students.
Will you be the next D.C. Spelling Bee Winner?
40th Annual Spelling Bee Open to 3rd - 8th grade students enrolled in D.C. public, charter, private, parochial or home schools. Registration opens August 20, 2021 Contact your school coordinator or call The Washington Informer at (202) 561-4100 Sponsorship opportunities are available, email rburke@washingtoninformer.com
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
Accessing Strengthened Educational Resources
By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer
Since 2020, distance learning has required students and parents make their homes an extension of the classroom. This has meant turning households into de facto classrooms – often set up in living rooms, bedrooms, or even backyards. While many households made the transition with only minor disruptions, others have found home schooling more challenging. For instance, in some communities in Mississippi, grammar school students had to walk to local fast-food restaurants to access Wi-Fi and enter the classroom sessions sitting on the parking lot curbs. In others, like D.C., nearly 8,000 children made up a population of shelter-housed students, who had to navigate virtual classrooms with limited privacy, equipment, or focus. Now more than a year into weathering the pandemic, the return to the classroom nears, but many lessons grew from virtual learning. Here are some of the tips necessary to continue successful learning in the 2021 schoolyear.
less children and youth. The local educational agency liaison coordinates services to ensure that homeless children and youths enroll in school and have the opportunity to succeed academically. This means that those resources – whether in-person or virtual are readily available. In total, the $800 million through the ARP Homeless Children and Youth program is the single largest federal investment dedicated specifically to children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) Homeless Education Program has invited subject matter experts to present on a variety of top-
ics that impact students and families experiencing homelessness. These onehour monthly webinars are available to LEA/school-based employees, homeless liaisons and community partners. Presentations typically take place on the second Wednesday of each month from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. beginning October 13, 2021. For more information, visit the OSSE website at www. osse.dc.gov/service/homeless Special Needs (Learning Assessments) The National Association of School Psychologists published “The Pandemic’s Impact on Special Education
Evaluation and SLD Identification,” a resource that describes practical steps that school psychologists and school districts can consider. Fears exist that based on the lack of in-person instruction and a halt to evaluations, some students are likely to return to school with even larger deficits between skill and their new grade-level expectations. This makes class-wide intervention so important. However, there will still be a number of students whose academic deficit persists after class-wide interventions occur. Because student skills may be lower, interventions that seemed effective last year may not be effective this year. The District’s Di-
Homeless Students Under the McKinney-Vento Act, every local educational agency is required to designate a liaison for home-
vision of Specialized Instruction Resource Guide offers parents, families, and community members resources to assisting children who may have disabilities or special education needs. Division of Specialized Instruction Resource Guide – www.dcps.dc.gov Social Emotional Learning and COVID Recovery This school year, through the Trauma Responsive Schools model (TRS), DCPS will begin using social emotional learning with academic instruction. In establishing five non-negotiable healing-centered practices, DCPS believes it can reset the foundation for safe and inclusive spaces for students to process their feelings. Every teacher will spend dedicated time with their classroom or homeroom students to build relational trust, according to DCPS’s Reopen Strong initiative. “Social emotional learning doesn’t stop at school. Through our Family Cornerstones, we have activities for families and students to do together to support emotional wellbeing,” said DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee. For more information, visit www.dcpsreopenstrong.com BTS
WELCOME BACK, DCPS FAMILIES and EDUCATORS! DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS START AUG. 30. WE WILL BE 100 PERCENT OPEN. After a difficult year, we can’t wait to see you. We are excited to welcome EVERYONE back this year. WTU teachers are prepared and ready to get back into their classrooms after such a challenging year. We know that students learn best from their trusted, highly qualified teachers, who will use every tool at their disposal to enhance teaching and learning.
And we want to make sure each student gets all of the social and emotional support they need after being out of school buildings for more than one year.
The Washington Teachers’ Union is working with DCPS to help enroll students, sign up children for required school immunizations and put residents in touch with health professionals to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage all students 12 years and older to get the vaccine. www.wtulocal6.net
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
BS-4
READY 2 RECONNECT: What You Need to Know
for Back-to-School in PGCPS Submitted by Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS)
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is ready to reconnect with students for the 2021-22 school year! On September 8, after more than a year of distance and hybrid learning, we look forward to the return of most students to classrooms for full-time, in-person learning. This year, PGCPS is also launching a new Online Campus for students in grades 7-12 who thrived in a virtual environment and want to continue to make online learning their approach to school in the future. The Online Campus is a new full-time, innovative speciality instructional program where students will take all of their classes online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. This is not a short-term program in response to the pandemic. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we also have a temporary Virtual Learning Program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade who are under the age of 12 and currently ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
10 Tips to Prepare for the School Year! Back-to-school is as easy as A-B-C with these top tips to get students and families #Ready2Reconnect. 1. Mask Up! Masks are required for all students, staff and visitors in schools and office buildings. 2. Be Wise: Immunize! Don’t forget to add routine immunizations to your prep list. The Prince George’s County Health Department is hosting community and school-based clinics through September 25. For dates and to make an appointment, visit www.pgcps.org/ immunizations. 3. PGCPS Proud to be Protected! For the health and safety of our community, COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for all students 12 years of age or older. 4. Get on the Bus! Families with children who ride the bus to school can expect to receive bus route information the week of August 23. All students will be required to wear a mask when riding the school bus. Also be sure to download the StopFinder school bus app from the App Store or Google Play to view student routes and bus location once school begins. Families must have an up-to-date email address in SchoolMax to activate the subscription. 5. Attend a Drive & Dash! Join us at one of three locations (Charles H. Flowers, High Point or Oxon Hill high schools) on Saturday, August 21 to prepare for the upcoming school year. We’ll have our annual backpack giveaway, en-
H-5 BS-5
tertainment and will host a student vaccination clinic at Flowers High School. 6. School Supplies & Uniforms Although uniforms were optional last year during hybrid learning, students who attend a school with a uniform policy will be required this fall. A school supplies list is on the PGCPS website (www.pgcps.org). Check your school’s website or correspondence for more specific guidance. 7. No Child Hungry Meals will be offered at no cost to all students this school year! Menus can be viewed on the PGCPS website. 8. Complete the Meal Benefit Application Although meals are free this school year, families are still encouraged to complete the meal benefit application, which determines eligibility for the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program (P-EBT) and more. Households can apply for meal benefits online at myschoolapps.com. 9. Stay Connected! Don’t miss important news and updates. Make sure your contact information is updated in SchoolMax. Sign up to receive newsletters, text and email alerts on the PGCPS website and follow PGCPS on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn). 10. Show and Tell! Let us know how your family is preparing for the school year by tagging PGCPS on social media with #Ready2Reconnect for a chance to be featured! BTS
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
DC Schools Prepared to Welcome Students Back DC Launches New Website: backtoschool.dc.gov Submitted by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
5Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn
The District is excited to welcome students, families, and staff back to school this fall for in-person learning, five days a week. We know that many students have spent more than a full school year physically apart from their teachers, classmates, coaches, mentors, and friends. And it is critical for the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of our young people that we work together to open our schools and keep them open. To ensure a successful school year, public health officials and school leaders are preparing for a variety of scenarios
WELCOME BACK TO RECESS!
WELCOME BACK TO THE BEAT!
and layering protecStudents thrive in the classroom. That’s why DC schools have prepared tions for students, for safe, in-person learning. We are back-to-school ready. families, educators, and staff. Visit backtoschool.dc.gov to learn more about “We know that how DC has prepared for safe in-person learning. in-person learning is best for students – not only academically, but also for their social and emotion- staff will be required to be fully vac- for families to access all they need to al well-being,” said Deputy Mayor for cinated, or be tested weekly and pro- get ready for school. From informaEducation Paul Kihn. “The District vide a negative test result. Additional- tion on making appointments for has been working closely with schools ly, all DC schools have robust plans required immunizations, to the latest across the District to make in-person in place for cleaning and disinfecting health and safety guidance, this onelearning as safe as possible.” and have updated building oper- stop shop will help families feel confiAll students and staff will be re- ations and protocols with current dent about going back to school. quired to wear masks while inside health and safety guidance. No matter what grade your child is school facilities, and Mayor Bowser This summer, the District also be- in or where they go to school, the Disrecently announced that all DCPS gan offering incentives for students trict is committed to ensuring a safe re12 and up who get vaccinated against opening, providing equitable supports COVID-19. Newly vaccinated stu- and resources for student and staff dents can get $51 gift cards or Air- well-being, and maximizing learning Pods at select sites. And all students during the return to in-person classes. who are vaccinated will be eligible to If you do not have children in win a $25,000 college scholarship or school, you can still do your part to an iPad and headphones in drawings support our young people by getting that will begin later this month. vaccinated against COVID-19. The Bowser Administration has Together, we can support our young also launched a new website – back- people, crush the virus, and make this toschool.dc.gov – to make it easier a successful school year. BTS
“We know that in-person learning is best for students – not only academically, but also for their social and emotional well-being,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “The District has
DC is making it easy for everyone ages 12 and up to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Get vaccinated and be even more confident heading back to school.
been working closely with schools across the District to make in-person learning as safe as possible.”
Go to backtoschool.dc.gov to learn more about childhood immunizations and the COVID-19 vaccine.
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
BS-6
WELCOME BACK TO HALLWAY HANGOUTS! School is more than just a building. It’s where friends, memories and a love for learning are made. DC is ready to go back to school. Visit backtoschool.dc.gov to learn more about how DC has prepared for safe, in-person learning.
H-7 BS-7
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
T Mobile Working To Bridge The Digital Divide As the son of two educators and a father of four, education has always been a subject near to my heart. It’s also been an ever-present priority in my professional life, both when I was the Policy Chief for the National Urban League and when I served as the Legislative Director for now-Vice President Kamala Harris when she served in the United States Senate. The welfare of Black children has always been a driving force in my work and a central concern of the different policy positions I helped champion and support over the years. Ours is an increasingly digital society, and the ways we live, work, and play continue to rely on technology and internet connectivity. As we continue to navigate the very real challenges associated with the ever-evolving coronavirus pandemic, our reliance on technology is sure to increase. What was once
viewed as a luxury to some has now become the primary – if not exclusive – means of maintaining some semblance of normalcy during this time. And yet, while internet connectivity has become an essential part of our lives, more than 21.3 million Americans are still stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide. In few places is this divide felt more severely than among America’s
school children. As Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee of The Brookings Institution noted, “With a disproportionate number of school-age children lacking home broadband access, the breadth of the U.S. digital divide has been revealed as schools struggle to substitute in-school resources with online instruction, electronic libraries, streaming videos, and other online tutorials.” It goes without saying that our nation’s problem achieving universal home broadband adoption has been one of our greatest shortcomings as a society. Now, more than ever, it’s easy to see just how dire the consequences of that lack of access can be. Faced with the ongoing spread of COVID-19, and its attendant effects, we’re coming to realize that America may be faced with a new normal, at least in the months, and potentially years, ahead in which more and more of our daily life is
migrated online. Even as we come back together in person for school and work, connectivity is the price of admission to modern society, and we must make sure that our kids are not left behind. At T-Mobile, we’re making an effort to bridge the homework gap by increasing wireless connectivity through Project 10 Million, a five year, $700 million commitment to get 10 million families connected to the internet nationwide. For the duration of this program, we are providing free wireless hotspots and 100GB of data to households with children enrolled in the National School Lunch program, at no cost to students or their families. We also offer discounted laptops and tablets as part of this effort, and families and school districts interested in learning more about the program can visit www.t-mobile. com/p10m for more information.
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
As kids head back to school, we’re committed to supporting their progress with new technology resources and we’re laser-focused on helping to bridge the digital divide. The future we face is uncertain in many ways, but one thing is for sure, the internet will continue to be a critical part of the ways we connect and engage, perhaps more now than ever before. Being able to get and stay online is no longer a luxury for those who can afford it. All people, regardless of geography or economic status, must be given a chance to be active participants in our increasingly digital society. Clint Odom VP, Strategic Alliances and External Affairs, T-Mobile
BS-8
THE FIRST NATIONWIDE 5G NETWORK
H-9 BS-9
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
DYK: Did You
know?
African Americans Made Educational Gains 1940-2019 By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer 88 percent of Blacks Have a High School Diploma, 26 percent a bachelor’s degree
Put Vaccines On Your Back-to-School List Vaccines are the best protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. All DC students must have their immunizations up-to-date before the next school year begins. The COVID-19 vaccine is also available for eligible age groups.
dchealth.dc.gov/immunizations
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
About 90 percent of the U.S. population has graduated high school, a dramatic improvement in educational attainment that began when compulsory education was adopted by every state a century ago. But the most striking social shift is the shrinking of the high school attainment gap between Blacks and the national average. In 1940, when the U.S. Census Bureau started asking about educational attainment, only 7 percent of Blacks had a high school education, compared with 24 percent for the nation as a whole. In 1940, less than 5 percent of all adults and only 1 percent of Blacks had completed four years of college. The persistent gap in rates between Blacks and the national average was 4 percentage points at that time, while Black college completion was one-fourth the national rate. In 2019, both groups had much higher college attainment rates overall, with the national average at 36 percent, while 26 percent of Blacks ages 25 and older had attained a bachelor’s degree. Despite the percentage point gap, Black college completion has grown closer to about three-quarters of the national average. Public school student demographics show, White students make up 47.0 percent, Hispanic students, roughly 27.2 percent; and Black students: 15.1 percent. Conversely, public school teacher demographics note White teachers make up 79.3 percent of the teaching body, Hispanics, 9.3 percent; and Black teachers, only 6.7 percent. BTS
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
BS-10
DCTAG FAQ What is DCTAG and what does it cover? The D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) program helps eligible students attend an approved public college or university by providing up to $10,000 annually to make up the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Eligible students attending an approved Washington, D.C.-area private college or an approved Historically Black College or University anywhere in the U.S. can receive up to $2,500 per year. Where can families get the application and what is the deadline? The DC OneApp can be found at https://dconeapp.dc.gov. The 2021-22 DCTAG application is now open and will close on Friday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. Are there any family income guidelines? Yes, the student’s family taxable annual income must be below the income thresholds as outlined at https://osse.dc.gov/dctag. If you have questions, please contact your DCTAG Counselor.
Who is eligible for this program? This award is for U.S. students who reside in the District of Columbia and are in good academic standing in their first bachelor’s degree program. A checklist of required supporting documents can be found at https://osse. dc.gov/dctag. Are the children of undocumented parents eligible if they are U.S. citizens or legal residents? Yes, if the student meets the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) eligibility standards and their parents are domiciled in Washington, D.C. Students will need to meet all additional program requirements. Eligibility standards can be found at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility. Do students have to reapply every year? Yes, students need to apply each year to be considered for funding. Because of COVID-19, some schools may only have remote classes again this fall. Will DCTAG still cover the tuition? If a student attends an approved DCTAG college or university, online classes will be covered by DCTAG if the out of state public tuition charges are in place and all other requirements are in place for the public or private college or university. What if a student decides to sit out this semester, can they use their funds for spring 2022? A student planning not to attend college in fall 2021, but enroll for spring 2022 needs to complete 20212022 application by the Sept. 17 deadline. If awarded funds,
H-11 BS-11
they will be able to use one semester’s award not the annual amount. Sometimes applying for financial aid can be complicated. Can you share a few tips to help make the process easier? Please read and review all application materials thoroughly. Staff email addresses and phone numbers can be found at https:// dconeapp.dc.gov/contact-information . DCTAG counselors can also provide language assistance and help students complete the forms. BTS
DCTAG, Apply Now.
Take Classes In-person or Online If you’re 26 or younger, a DC resident with a high school diploma or GED, and meet a few other requirements, the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) can help by providing up to $10,000 a year to participating colleges and universities, nationwide. Apply by September 17, 2021, to begin classes this fall. TEXT DCTAG @ 474747 to get started. dconeapp.dc.gov
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
Dr. John A. McMillan WI Contributing Writer
The R.A.P. for the New School Year
In the past, the first days of school sparked anxiety around these types of questions, “Who is my child’s teacher?” or “How will my child transition from middle to high school?” With former-President Donald Trump out of office, a government where bipartisanship is a curse word, and where COVID-19 eclipses everything, today’s first days of school conjure new forms of anxieties that are paralyzing parents with fear. Parents are sending their kids to school with the mind-frame that it is a life-or-death move, and to think about it; it really is. Nonetheless, many parents and students will reluctantly confront these elements and go to school in various forms. Whether the schools be virtual, parochial, charter, magnet or
private in nature, there are a lot of universal things that parents and students can do to prepare themselves for today’s brave new education world, but all they really need to do is R.A.P. The R in this acronym stands for REFLECT. Before families begin to get into the flow of school, the first thing they must believe
about all challenges is “this too shall pass.” Not only do they need to become philosophical, they need to tap into their spirituality to spark the positive attitude necessary to engage the school year. As stated previously, fears about COVID-19 double the anxiety that many families currently have, so mental health needs consideration in this reflection process. Parents should take an accurate account of their children’s mental health. First, let your children know they are loved and supported, let them lead open and honest communication about their lives, watch for and address behavior changes, and model healthy coping skills to deal with problems. Parents should also monitor their own mental health. Understand, that it is important to seek counseling where there are deficits in
life. For example, if people are suffering financially, they should seek help from a financial advisor. Reflection can give families the courage to face the educational climate without fear. Next, families need to ADJUST. There is a saying that, “No man steps in the same river twice…the water is constantly moving, and he is not the same man.” Education is based on knowledge which changes every day, and families must keep up. Also, rules, policies, and practices that were relevant last year may be deemed ineffective today. There are too many times when educators hear, “it wasn’t like that last year.” Families have to adjust to this pace. The best way for them to do this is to learn their district and what it has to offer. They should research who to contact to handle certain issues. Once they find out this information, they should not only hold these officials accountable, but they should also remember to be an ally of the school and hold their children responsible when necessary. It is important to remember that school officials are the professionals, but they are also human. They are under the same pressures as everyone else. They have to know that the families trust and are working with them. Once the reflection and adjustments are made, PREPARATIONS have to take place. Understand that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. The best way a family can prepare is to set educational goals for their students to achieve. For instance, several
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
states offer the Hope Scholarship which is granted to all high school students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average. It is extended through four years of college as long as the GPA is maintained. Parents should prepare and focus their students on getting this scholarship as a goal. Preparation comes about when families understand what a district has to offer as far as benefits and resources and in turn mold their students in that direction. Another way for families to prepare is to get all contact information from teachers and work as a team with the teacher. This sets the tone for both the student and the teacher and it helps foster a better relationship. Education is a precious resource that helps young people succeed. Parents have to model and lead young people through the process, so that they are ready for life. R.A.P is one way to help. Dr. John McMillan is an Assistant Principal and administrator who has worked in public education for more than 20 years. Ten of those years he served as an English teacher, and five as the Smaller Learning Community Coordinator. Dr. McMillan is dedicated to serving all students in an effort to increase their self-awareness, self-efficacy, and self-reliance while assisting them in reaching their goals of graduating from high school and becoming global citizens of society. BTS
BS-12
Recent & Recommended Books to Promote Academic Excellence By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice By Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian Since 2016, the Black Lives Matter at School movement has carved a new path for racial justice in education. A growing coalition of educators, students, parents and others have established an annual week of action during the first week of February. This anthology shares vital lessons that have been learned through this important work. In this volume, Bettina Love makes a powerful case for abolitionist teaching, Brian Jones looks at the historical context of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in education, and prominent teacher union leaders discuss the importance of anti-racism in their unions. Black Lives Matter at School includes essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from participants across the country who have been building the movement on the ground. Closing the School Discipline Gap: Equitable Remedies for Excessive Exclusion By Daniel J. Losen Educators remove over 3.45 million students from school annually for disciplinary reasons, despite strong evidence that school suspension policies are harmful to students. The research presented in this volume demonstrates that disciplinary policies and practices that schools control directly exacerbate today’s profound inequities in educational opportunity and outcomes. Part I explores how suspensions flow along the lines of race, gender, and disability status. Part II examines potential remedies that show great promise, including a district-wide approach in Cleveland, Ohio, aimed at social and emotional learning strategies. Closing the School Discipline Gap is a call for action that focuses on an area in which public schools can and should make powerful improvements, in a relatively short period of time. Teaching Reading in Today’s Elementary Schools By Betty Roe, Sandra H. Smith, Nancy J. Kolodziej This book sets the standard for reading instruction to ensure that aspiring teachers are able to help students learn the mechanics of word recognition, how to comprehend what they read -- and enjoy the process. The book advocates a balanced approach to reading, presenting newer approaches with more traditional approaches that have proven value, such as phonics, vocabulary instruction, and strategies for literal and higher-order comprehension. Practices are featured, such as use of recent technologies for literacy learning, varying approaches with attention to dealing with the many types of diverse learners in today’s classrooms and use of close reading techniques with appropriate materials to enhance the learning experience. Nurturing Your Child’s Math and Literacy in Pre-K–Fifth Grade: The Family Connection By Mary Mueller, Alisa Hindin
H-13 BS-13
FALL 2021
DISB HIGHER EDUCATION SERIES
Oct. 14 FAFSA Completion Oct. 21 Scholarship Strategies Oct. 28 College Selection
Are You a College Bound High School Senior? Join the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Student Loan Ombudsman for a series of workshops designed to help high school seniors prepare for college. Learn how to complete the FAFSA successfully; create a targeted strategic plan when applying for financial aid; research, apply and compete for scholarships and grants; and evaluate colleges and the cost of attending school.
DATES
Thursday, October 14, 2021 Thursday, October 21, 2021 Thursday, October 28, 2021
TIME
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
i
FOR MORE INFORMATION Ricardo Jefferson Student Loan Ombudsman dcloanhelp@dc.gov disb.dc.gov/studentloanhelp
TO REGISTER
bit.ly/3yzTDZr
With recent changes in the curriculum and standards in language arts and mathematics, parents often are challenged to find ways to help their children be successful in their learning endeavors. While parents want to be involved in their children’s education, they are often unsure of their role in their children’s learning and the best ways to help their children to succeed academically. Moreover, with the changes in how math and literacy are being taught, parents often struggle with helping even first grade children with their homework. In this book we set out to alleviate this struggle, by offering parents a resource they can use to navigate their child’s education, communicate with teachers, and support their children in learning mathematics and literacy. BTS
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
Black Minds Rising
Black-owned Tutoring Companies Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer Sankofa Homeschool Collective. Journalist and grassroots activist Sam P.K. Collins specializes in strengthening and enhancing the natural abilities of African American students to ensure they are centered mentally and spiritually. Collins’ tutoring encourages mastery of math, English, and other core subjects, as well as proper identity formation. www.sankofahomeschool.org
RISE (RESOURCES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.) RISE-DC helps low-income youth in Washington, DC, achieve academic and career success. This is accomplished by providing educational resources such as high-quality tutoring and college and career mentoring – free of charge. www.risedc.org Ms. Murray’s Corner, LLC. Atlanta-based tutoring company but is currently providing robust, virtual, one-on-one lessons. Ms. Murray’s Corner serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade. We are focused on Literacy and Math with concepts ranging from Reading Comprehension, Fluency, Phonics, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. www.msmurrayscorner.com Black Girl Tutors. Black Girl Tutors believes that educating our youth is at the foundation of building our community. They take a unique and innovative approach to teaching that helps students connect with the subject matter they need to master. www.blackgirltutors.com
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
Differentiating Minds, Inc.™️®️ focuses on and enriches the individual academic needs of students through the use of differentiation, research-based instructional strategies and unconventional approaches that build confidence and encourage intrinsic motivation. www.differentiatingminds.com It’s Not Complicated Education. This is a private, prescriptive, tutoring company focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and standardized test preparation. Our Holistic approach uses the clients learning style, instructor input, and customer expectations to develop a learning plan that promotes success. www.inceducationllc.com Kevin’s Mentor and Tutor Services. In addition to providing practical, customized one-on-one lessons with his students, Kevin is also very intentional about connecting with them on their level and providing mentorship to help aide them through the challenges they are bound to encounter. www.kevintutoring.com BTS
BS-14
VIRTUAL
IN-PERSON
HYBRID
Strive FOR EXCELLENCE
Virtual, In Person or Hybrid... your child’s success depends on you. As a parent, you have to be involved in your child’s education to make sure he or she has everything they need to succeed.
LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION
© 2021 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
H-15 BS-15
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
BS-16
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL
Battle for Afghan Women’s Rights Tied to Women’s Rights in America
Americans are up in arms over President Joe Biden’s recent and final decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and end the 20-year old “Forever War.” Immediately, the Taliban staged a takeover of the country, including the capital city of Kabul, while U.S. troops began an evacuation of Americans that turned into pure chaos. It’s a mess, we agree, but time will tell if Biden made the right decision that his predecessors refused to make. However, before eyes quickly turn back to the domestic issues facing the U.S., some are asking what will become of women’s rights in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban? Will they be allowed to return to work, drive and assume leadership roles in the Taliban-led government? Will girls, 10 and older, be allowed to return to school? Will all women be required to wear headscarves and what will happen to those who refuse? The media continues to report on atrocities waged against women and girls in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s recent promise to recognize women’s rights. The U.S. State Department reports “a catalog of horrors that knows no national boundaries” of women around the world who are “in trouble,” according to a recent article in USA Today. Women’s rights are frequently ignored and they suffer violent sexual abuse and torture to keep them subservient and in their place. When women in the U.S. celebrated last year’s election of Kamala Harris to the second highest seat in the land, others broke glass ceilings. Still, too many women are victimized by sexual predators and sex traffickers and they often face discrimination and other forms of verbal and physical abuse. The statistics are astounding, particularly for Black women and girls who are disproportionately represented among the victims. We wish we could do more than offer hope and a safe transition for the women remaining in Afghanistan. However, we can encourage them to continue fighting to serve and protect their country and prepare themselves to lead when the doors open. The battle for women’s rights is far from over. It continues all over, including here in the U.S. WI
TO THE EDITOR
As His Federal Trial Begins, Will R. Kelly’s Wings Be Clipped?
Evictions Will Hit Blacks Hardest
The federal trial for R&B superstar R. Kelly began Wednesday, Aug. 18 in New York City with his accusers hoping for a second chance at justice. Kelly faces multiple counts – from racketeering with underlying charges that include the sexual exploitation of children to kidnapping and sex trafficking women and girls. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Kelly previously faced a judge and jury in Illinois during his 2008 trial for state child pornography charges and was acquitted. This time, the circus-like events that accompanied his earlier appearance will not be possible as U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly has ruled that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 12-person jury will be the only members of the public with an in-person view of the trial. We anticipate prosecutors going for the jugular with claims that Kelly manipulated women and girls anxious to meet the superstar who worked with his associates in a criminal enterprise that lured victims to the singer. In his inner sanctum, some were sexually abused, they allege – at times, even filmed being abused. Kelly, 54, has had a lot to think about having spent the last two years in federal facilities in Illinois and New York awaiting trial since his arrest in July 2019. And he has cause to be concerned. If convicted of the most serious charges, he will spend many years behind bars. It’s a sad example of how fame and fortune can cause an individual to believe that they’re above the law. For Kelly, dealing with the pandemic, allegedly now bankrupt according to his legal team and being illiterate, it’s undoubtedly been a harrowing experience. But it has been just as painful, if not more, for the girls and women who say he abused them. Kelly’s defense team says the public, up to this point, has only heard one side of the story. To that end, we await Kelly’s explanation and response to the charges he faces. And
I really enjoyed the story, “An Eviction Tsunami is Approaching D.C. and Few Seem Prepared,” by Barrington Salmon. It’s important that we understand that there will be Black families and children on the streets when this “tsunami” does indeed hit and the eviction moratorium officially runs out. What are local and national Black orgs doing to address this?
Praises Due Congrats to The Washington Informer’s Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes for her Covenant House Chairman’s Champion Award. Continue to be a light, role model and hero for our community. Love to see it! Cheryl Brim Washington, D.C.
Clinton Heed Washington, D.C. certainly, we hope that after the dust clears, justice will be served. Still, we can’t help but wonder if Kelly has put himself in a position where he will be forced to fall upon his own sword while hundreds of others go about their merry way. If he really committed the numerous atrocities for which he has been accused, why didn’t anyone on his team speak up? Or did they, only to be silenced? As for the girls he allegedly abused, where
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
were their parents as their daughters were whisked away to his home, to hotels or other private venues? What were they doing? How could they be so unaware? R. Kelly may be found guilty but it’s difficult to believe that he could have done so much harm to so many girls and women, without others “participating,” or at the least looking the other way while the pied piper lived out his fantasies to the detriment of innocent girls and women. WI
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 25
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
Julianne Malveaux
Climate Change Alert: Tuvalu is Sinking
Tuvalu is a tiny Polynesian island nation located midway between Hawaii and Australia. Home to just 11,000 people, it is just 10 square miles. It is smaller today than it was a decade ago. Thanks to world climate change, Tuvalu is sinking, and the evidence is everywhere. I'd never heard of Tuvalu until I attended COP15, the Copenhagen climate change conference, in 2010. It was an intense experience, partly because white climate change progres-
sives were prepared to disrespect President Obama for not taking an extreme enough position on climate change. It was also intense because many small countries, like Tuvalu, did not have the opportunity to address the assembled delegates. Instead, they had to clamor for attention through booths and flyers in an area outside the main assembly. Tuvalu is sinking, a man said, grabbing my elbow to get my attention. He is angry, anxious for attention. He describes how beautiful his island once was and how he has seen the destruction from the rising ocean, partly a function of climate change. We talk for more than a few minutes, and we meet
Guest Columnist
for tea before the conference is over. He asks, repeatedly, why the United States won't do more to stop the destruction of the planet. I have no answers. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in a report released Aug. 9 offers both answers and condemnation. They describe climate change as "widespread, rapid and intensifying." U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres says the report is a "code red for humanity." "The alarm bells are deafening," he said in a statement. "This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels before they destroy our planet," he went on to say. Code red means
emergency, but few are treating this climate crisis as an emergency. Indifference or the tepid responses to the evidence we are experiencing has led us into a situation that will worsen before it gets better, a condition requiring world cooperation when such cooperation is rare. Frank, a 32-year-old Tuvalu native who is quoted in a 2019 piece that appeared in the Guardian, says, "Before, the sand used to stretch out far, and when we swam, we could see the seafloor, and the coral. Now, it is cloudy all the time, and the coral is dead. Tuvalu is sinking." Tuvalu is sinking, California is burning, the Pacific North-
west, known for its mild weather, is experiencing temperatures sometimes exceed 100 degrees. Folks, this climate madness is all our fault. The IPCC says that emissions are "unequivocally caused by human activities." They have pushed the global temperature up and will move it further if we don't do something. But climate change deniers seem to think this is all-natural. The 44th president was rabidly vocal on this matter, and his acolytes deride climate change mitigation as a part of a "woke" Democratic plan. The leader of the pack is a
MALVEAUX Page 45
Marc H. Morial
Dick Gregory Documentary Sets Record Straight on Activist Comedian's Legacy
"I chose to be an agitator. The next time you put your underwear in the washing machine, take the agitator out, and all you're going to end up with are some dirty, wet drawers." — Dick Gregory In the four years since we lost comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, his powerful voice has been missed
amid the recent broadening and intensifying movement for racial justice and equity. As the nation marked the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act this week, few remembered Gregory as someone who put not only his career but his very life on the line in support of voting rights. He was among the thousands arrested during the iconic Birmingham Campaign of 1963 that flooded America's newspapers and televisions with violent images of protestors being attacked with firehoses and police dogs. That fall, he spoke for
Guest Columnist
hours in Selma, rallying hundreds of Black residents to line up at the voter registration office on "Freedom Day." The following summer, when voting activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Mickey Schwerner went missing, a $25,000 reward for information, raised by Gregory, led to the discovery of their bodies. A new documentary, "The One and Only Dick Gregory," sets the record straight on Gregory's legacy. I was honored to be involved in several events surrounding the film's screening at the Martha's
Vineyard African-American Film Festival last week: On Wednesday, I took part in a panel discussion on critical race theory, "The Intersection of Race, Culture & Creativity," along with the Rev. Dante R. Quick, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, and Adrianne C. Smith, senior partner and chief diversity and inclusion officer at FleishmanHillard. Thursday morning was a special Martha's Vineyard edition of ReMARCs Live, when I was joined by
the festival's co-founders Stephanie Taveras-Rance and Floyd A.B. Rance III. Then, following the film's screening, I led a conversation with the director, Andre Gaines. The release of the documentary and the discussions around it are especially meaningful to me. Dick Gregory was both a personal friend and a strong supporter of the Urban League movement. He was a guest at my wedding,
MORIAL Page 45
Marian Wright Edelman
Remembering the Rosenwald Schools
As students start a new school year, this is a chance to honor the legacy of a group of schools that educated hundreds of thousands of Black children. From 1913 to 1932, nearly 5,000 "Rosenwald schools" were built in 15 states, mostly in rural Southern communities. These schools were built specifically to educate Black children, and by 1928 one in three rural Black
26 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
schoolchildren in the South attended a Rosenwald school. Their history, and the remaining school buildings themselves, are now being reclaimed and preserved. The schools were named for their primary donor, Chicago businessman Julius Rosenwald. The son of German Jewish immigrants, Rosenwald was a clothier who became the president of Sears, Roebuck and Company. As a progressive philanthropist, Rosenwald believed one of the country's
most pressing social problems was the "Negro question," and he supported the ideas and self-help doctrine of Tuskegee Institute president Booker T. Washington. In 1912, Rosenwald was a member of Tuskegee's Board of Trustees when Washington came to him to suggest donating funds specifically for building Black schools. Most Southern states provided little public funding to adequately educate Black children, and many rural communities had no schools for Black children at all.
Washington believed building schools that could provide traditional and vocational education for Black children would be a key method of "race uplift." After a successful test group of six Alabama schools, in 1917 Rosenwald established the Julius Rosenwald Foundation, and the School Building Program remained one of the foundation's primary missions until Rosenwald's death in 1932. The Rosenwald Foundation provided seed grants for school construction
and required communities to supplement the grants with public funds and support from local citizens. Black residents were usually the driving force behind bringing a Rosenwald school to a community and fundraising often became a community-wide undertaking. Black families gathered for fried chicken dinners, picnics, and penny drives or put aside portions of their wages or cotton crops to sup-
EDELMAN Page 45
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
Ben Jealous
Making Good Trouble
Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights icon who died last year, liked to tell activists that building a better world depended on people being willing to make "good trouble." Rep. Cori Bush has just given us an example of effective troublemaking that should inspire us to action. Rep. Bush is in her first term as a member of Congress representing St. Louis. She didn't come with a typical
resume of prestigious college and law school degrees and previous political jobs. Bush got into politics protesting police killings of unarmed Black men. Because her work was seen and respected in her community, she beat the odds and beat a long-time member of Congress. Bush has experienced eviction herself. She knows how disruptive and dangerous it can be. So she wasn't going to stay quiet when Biden administration officials and congressional leaders were ready to let a COVID-19 moratorium on evictions expire and put millions of
Guest Columnist
families at risk. The temporary eviction ban was put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last September as a public health measure. Millions of families fell behind on rent because of the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. The CDC knew that forcing those families out of their homes and into shelters or onto the streets in the middle of a pandemic would cost lives. That original moratorium expired on July 31. It made no sense to kick people out of their homes just when the Delta variant of the COVID-19
virus was pushing the pandemic into another deadly phase. But the Supreme Court's rightwing justices had signaled their disapproval for the moratorium. So the White House and congressional leaders played a bit of last-minute hot potato before Congress left town for its August recess without taking action to protect the families at risk of homelessness. Rep. Bush grabbed a sleeping bag and camped out on the steps of the U.S. Capitol for several days to shame people into action. You can be sure that many of her colleagues
didn't like being put on the spot as they went on vacation. Some of them anonymously criticized her tactics. Her hometown paper said she was ignoring "political reality." Her right-wing critics ranged from dismissive to abusive. But it worked. Bush's troublemaking meant that public officials could not just deflect attention from the crisis that was about to engulf thousands of families. And the White House worked with the CDC to extend protection against eviction
their labor and their deprivation. Truthfully, if circumstances were reversed, would you really sit back, grin and be happy about people of color prospering while your people were lynched, brutally beaten/killed by the police without consequences, relegated to the back of the bus or to jobs below minimum wage? Would you really be happy forgetting the cruelty that has existed for years and continues under the veil of social order? Seriously, if your white people had been denied education, denied
decent housing, denied decent jobs — denied just about everything you would ever have hoped for, would you be shouting from rooftops how great America is, and that you don't want to hear anything about critical race theory or the truth thereof? You mean you really wouldn't care that, with few exceptions, your community didn't have decent healthcare or grocery stores or good schools? Knowing your current elevated lifestyle, I find it difficult to believe
mo, locked-and-loaded-at-all-times, Rambo-mentality in the U.S. white population which requires that every question in world affairs must be resolved in favor of White American interests first. That way of thinking maintains the value of The Dollar as the world's lingua franca, as it drives this country into needless, immoral wars, only to be shamed when U.S. puppets (in whose names this country "officially" fights) fall in disgrace, one by one. Even this troop withdrawal is a dis-
grace. Afghanistan's U.S.-approved, indigenous leaders have already fled the country, even as a reinforced battalion of U.S. fighters were sent BACK INTO the country from which they had already withdrawn, in order to ensure that enemy Taliban forces not attack the rapidly retreating Americans. Time after time, from Korea to Vietnam, to dozens of atolls and principalities in between, the U.S. contin-
JEALOUS Page 46
E. Faye Williams
Message to Michael
Mike Pompeo, I read your thoughts about America being "the greatest nation and greatest force for good on the planet, and it is up to us to keep it that way." Obviously, you’ve never lived as a Black person, so with a few adjustments in your thinking, I could agree with you. If only you'd said America is the greatest nation and the greatest force for good on the planet for white people,
I could agree with you. Understand that other people who're not white haven't had it as good as you have. Imagine you were Black, brown, red or yellow. Do you think you'd have enjoyed the historic brutality of white people? Suppose this was the native land of your ancestors and suddenly your land was stolen, your people were killed, treaties were dishonored, and your people were forced to live on undesirable land with few resources and fewer prospects for a prosperous future. Would you have enjoyed that?
Askia-At-Large
Suppose you'd been placed in concentration camps, or your family worked the fields raising fruits and vegetables for the masses while being paid less than minimum wage? Imagine your infant children being rounded up in their young adulthood and deported to a country where they'd never lived and where they had no social or minimal cultural connection. Think about it. All of these things were done to non-white people by white people like you. White people like you became the beneficiaries of
WILLIAMS Page 46
Askia Muhammad
Happy Afghanistan Withdrawal Day
As U.S. military forces slink out of Afghanistan, their retreat is a cause of repudiation, not of the bravery of the U.S. soldiers, but of the sheer stupidity of their commanders who ordered them to undertake such a fool's errand — the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan — in the first place. The U.S. commanders and decision-makers are supposed to be smart
people. Why, Gen. David Petraeus, former U.S. Afghan commander, earned a doctorate from Princeton, of all places. His dissertation topic was U.S. lessons learned from the Vietnam defeat. Didn't any of the books he read at Princeton or at the Pentagon have the parts in them about how the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great, the Rashidun Caliphate, the Mongol Empire led by Genghis Khan, various Persian empires, the Sikh Empire, the British Empire, the Soviet Union all
failed to conquer Afghanistan after invading? The books they read at the Pentagon left out that part? They ignored the part about U.S. President Jimmy Carter boycotting the Moscow Olympics as recently as 1980 to protest Moscow's invasion of Afghanistan? The Russkies eventually withdrew, defeated. No, it's not the lack of valor of U.S. fighting forces that's responsible for the humiliating withdrawal. It's the George Custer, Remember-the-Ala-
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
ASKIA Page 46 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 27
LIFESTYLE Fans Welcome Back the Incomparable Phyllis Hyman Nine-CD Compilation Honors an Unforgettable Talent Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer Phyllis Hyman may be gone but thankfully, she’s far from forgotten. And fans can reminisce once again with the recently released nine-CD compilation of 113 tracks titled, “Phyllis Hyman – Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection 1976-1998.”
28 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
The box set includes all of Hyman’s albums along with previously unreleased recordings and a bonus: a 37page booklet with production details and history about the singer who passed away in 1995. “Old Friend,” co-produced by music biographer David Nathan and Glenda Gracia, the executor of Hyman’s estate, has been in the works
over the past year and has been released on Nathan's SoulMusic.com label. “With the reverence and love for her music that has been evident through the years, Phyllis Hyman was an obvious choice for an all-encompassing box set of her recordings,” said Nathan, a former neighbor of Hyman. “I approached Glenda Garcia, a longtime friend and colleague, to work with me on ensuring this would be the best possible collection for Phyllis’ many fans worldwide.” Without a doubt, Hyman had a vocal range that adapted to many musical genres as the collection confirms – from jazz and the American songbook standards to R&B, pop and disco. Many who lived in the D.C. area during the mid-70s may have first been introduced to Hyman through the Quiet Storm on Howard University’s WHUR Radio. The popular evening broadcast featured songs by Hyman that would become classics: “You Are My Starship,” produced and composed by Norman Connors who chose her to sing the
5 “Phyllis Hyman – Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection 1976-1998” is a nine-CD compilation of 113 tracks from Hyman’s albums along with previously unreleased tracks. (Photo courtesy SoulMusic.com)
title song on his 1976 album; and “Betcha By Golly Wow,” the Thom Bell and Linda Creed composition that created a love affair between the vocalist and fans worldwide. Other producers who worked magic with Hyman included: Dexter Wansel, Narada Michael Walden, James Mtume, Reggie Lucas and Barry Manilow, who co-produced one of Hyman’s earliest hits, “Somewhere in My Lifetime.” Hyman developed into a reliable vocalist on the Buddha and Arista record labels before making her way to Philadelphia International Records where she would collaborate with co-founders and producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Critics say her first album for the label, “Living All Alone,” captured Hyman’s true essence. “The magic that I experienced with her was that the tone of her voice was so unique,” Gamble said. “She could sing anything and she would put her heart and soul into it. Whatever the song was that she was performing, she was very sensitive to the lyrics. She knew how to make [them] work. The tone of her voice was always the same. You knew it was Phyllis; she had her own identity.” Broadway came calling for Hyman in 1981 as a cast member in the critically acclaimed musical “Sophisticated Ladies,” based on the music of Duke Ellington. Hyman garnered a Tony Award nomination for her feature role in which she would be
cast alongside actor, dancer and singer Gregory Hines and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer, choreographer and artistic director emerita, Judith Ann Jamison. dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison and Hinton Battle. “Phyllis was magnificent in ‘Sophisticated Ladies’ as audiences and reviewers agreed,” Nathan said. “Nabbing a Tony nomination for her performance was a real triumph. I think that if she were offered roles that she could really ‘own’ as a multi-faceted performer, she could well have continued doing selected Broadway shows.” The District deeply adored Hyman. Her sets at Blues Alley always sold out. As people waited to enter the Georgetown club, Hyman would come out to chat with guests. Having a special dish named after her, “Phyllis Hyman’s Stuffed Shrimp Crabmeat Stuffing served w/Red Beans Rice & Homemade Cocktail Sauce,” confirmed the artist’s popularity. Hyman, who struggled with mental health challenges, committed suicide on June 30, 1995. Hyman’s fans often wonder what she would be doing today, had she not taken her own life. “I think she would just be Phyllis,” Gamble said. “I think she’d be working in the community and helping our communities grow. Maybe in her spare time, she would do a duet with Bruno Mars.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
TO SAVE A LIFE
Text LiveLongDC to 888-811 to find naloxone near you.
Naloxone (aka NARCAN®) is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose and can save the life of your friend, your loved one, even yourself. NO COST. NO PRESCRIPTION. NO IDENTIFICATION.
LIVE
LONG
DC
Saving lives from the opioid epidemic
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 29
LIFESTYLE
COVID-19 Policies at District Universities James Wright WI Staff Writer District universities and colleges are set to begin in-person instruction during the week of Aug. 23 and while the institutions mandate that students, faculty and staff wear masks indoors and practice social distancing, there are a few variances. All of the institutions allow eligious and medical exemptions. Below is a listing of the District’s accredited higher education institutions and their policies regarding the coronavirus according to their websites.
5 Founder’s Library at Howard University. (Courtesy photo/Howard University)
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Classes start on Aug. 30. Students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated before the start of classes. While masks must be worn indoors, they don’t have to be outdoors.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Classes begin on Aug. 30. On campus, everyone must wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status. If alone in their office, classroom or lab, individuals can be mask less. All personnel should report their vaccination status as soon as possible.
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY
Classes begin on Aug. 30. All members of the Gallaudet University community are required to be vaccinated. Wearing masks outdoors—optional.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Classes begin on Aug. 25. All individuals must be vaccinated upon arrival on campus. Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors while on campus grounds. Individuals who aren’t vaccinated will be tested regularly until they can produce a proof of vaccination form. If a university employee tests positive
30 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
for the coronavirus, they will be provided an alternative work site or they must take unpaid leave or use paid leave to get vaccinated. Telework and online students don’t need to be vaccinated.
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Classes begin on Aug. 30. Students, faculty and staff are to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Masks don’t have to be worn outdoors. Community testing for the virus can be obtained on campus.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Classes are set to begin on Aug.23. Students, faculty and staff must be vaccinated for the fall semester. If students aren’t vaccinated when classes began, the first does must have been taken by Sept. 3 by the two-shot Pfizer/ BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson. The last dose for the two-shot vaccines must have been administered by Oct. 1. New university hires must have been vaccinated prior to the first day of work.
TRINITY WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Day and Weekly classes start on Aug. 30. Everyone in the university community must be vaccinated.
UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Classes start on Aug. 23. Students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the Fall 2021 semester. Masks don’t have to be worn outdoors on campus. Six feet social distancing has been mandated throughout the campus. WI @JamesDCWrighter
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Saving starts with Xfinity. Save up to $400 a year on your wireless bill when you get Xfinity Internet and Mobile together. With Xfinity, it’s easy to get a great low price on fast, reliable Internet. And when you add Xfinity Mobile, you can save even more—up to $400 a year on your wireless bill. Plus, get nationwide 5G included at no extra cost. That means you can do more of what you love, from streaming on all your devices at home to video chats with family on the go. Don’t wait! Switch today! Savings compared to weighted average of top 3 carriers based on optimized pricing. Xfinity Internet required. Reduced speeds after 20 GB of usage/line. Actual savings may vary.
Plus...
Get started with Xfinity Internet
29
$
Get an eligible
99
/mo. for 12 mos.
when you add Xfinity Mobile.
300
5G phone
$
Ends 9/16/21. Requires purchase of new qualifying 5G phone with 24-month Device Payment Plan.
Ends 9/7/21. For new Xfinity Mobile customers porting number to new line within 30 days of Internet installation.
on us.
No term contract; requires auto pay and paperless billing.
For a limited time, back.
Equipment, taxes, and other charges extra, and subj. to change. See details below.
1-800-xfinity
xfinity.com/startsaving
Visit a store today
Offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10. The automatic payment and paperless billing discount is for a period of 24 months and will appear on the bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently cancelled during the 24-month term, or services are reduced to Xfinity TV Limited Basic service only, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. $10 Mobile Discount: Limited to 24 months. Must be an Internet only customer with Performance or higher Internet service and activate and maintain a new Xfinity Mobile line within 180 days of Internet service activation date. Discount applied to Internet bill and will appear on statement within 30 days of Xfinity Mobile line activation. After 24 months, or if any service required for offer is cancelled or downgraded, $10 discount will be removed. Limited to one discount per account regardless of number of lines activated. Internet offer: Ends 9/7/2021. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Performance Pro Internet. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. After promo, regular charges apply. Comcast's service charge for Performance Pro Internet is $95.95/mo. (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. All devices must be returned when service ends. Mobile: Requires residential post-pay Xfinity Internet. Line limitations may apply. For Xfinity Mobile Broadband Disclosures visit: www.xfinity.com/mobile/policies/broadband-disclosures. Smartphone offer: Requires purchase of new qualifying Moto One 5G Ace phone between 8/5/21 to 8/30/21 or Samsung A42 phone between 8/31/21 to 9/16/21 while supplies last, new Xfinity Mobile line activation, transfer of phone number from another carrier within 30 days of purchase date and Device Payment Plan (“Device Agreement”). Device credits applied monthly to your account over 24 months so long as Device Agreement is in effect. If line is canceled, voluntarily or involuntarily, or device payments are accelerated, balance of credits associated with device payment are forfeited. Not valid with prior purchases, returns or exchanges. May not be combined with other offers. $300 Prepaid Card: Limited to new Xfinity customers who have purchased Xfinity Internet from 8/9/21 thru 9/7/2021. Requires activation of new Xfinity Mobile line and transfer of phone number from another carrier within 30 days of Internet installation. Must maintain the new line with an account in good standing for 90 days following line activation. Visa Prepaid Cards are issued by MetaBank®, National Association, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa® U.S.A. Inc. This card can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Prepaid card mailed to Xfinity account holder within 16-18 weeks of activation of all required services and expires in 180 days. © 2021 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA237041-0001 NED AAQ3 Converged V4
140989_NPA237041-0001 Fall Sale N Perf Pro ad 9.875x10.935 V4.indd 1
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
7/27/21 12:57 PM AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 31
LIFESTYLE
District Remembers a Phenomenal Woman: Gloria Murry Ford WI Staff Report
Your local marketing experts with UNLIMITED REACH. Kevin Berrier 443-508-1936 KBerrier@MDDCPress.com
We Cancel TIMESHARES for You Every year 150,000 people reach out to us for help getting rid of their timeshare. In 2019, we relieved over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and maintenance fees. We can help.
Get your free information kit and see if you qualify:
888-984-2917
BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND
2
D
1
’S
GU
TT
EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!
NATIO
R
E
N
TH
CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE ER GUA
OFF
FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 Promo Code: 285
Subject to credit approval. Call for details.
1
CALL US TODAY FOR
A FREE ESTIMATE
15% & 10 % YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *
+
5% OFF
TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **
SENIORS & MILITARY!
OFF
WE INSTALL
YEAR-ROUND! LIFETIME WARRANTY
1-855-995-2490
Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST
*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114
DENTAL Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.
Call to get your FREE Information Kit
1-855-337-5228 dental50plus.com/MDDC
Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255
32 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
The Greater Washington Area continues to mourn the loss of Gloria Murry Ford, 68, who died Aug. 12, following complications from surgery at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Gloria served as a member of the communications industry her entire adult life, from a roving news reporter with radio and TV stations in her native Wichita (KFH Radio, KFDI Radio and KARDTV) to WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island. From Providence, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1980 to work for CNN as their correspondent covering the South. She was one of the most prolific reporters covering the Missing and Murdered Children story, breaking news, for example, that microscopic evidence determined that the killer was Black. While at CNN, she met CBS News reporter Sam Ford while both were on an airplane traveling to a story in Tampa, Florida. Since that day in 1980, they would be together – 41 years – until her death. Gloria and Sam dated in Atlanta, married in Wichita in 1981 and shortly after a honeymoon in Zimbabwe, Africa, moved to Washington D.C. Sam continued to work for CBS and he and Gloria added two children to the Ford and Murry clans, Murry Ford in 1983 and Gina Ford in 1985. Gloria later returned to news reporting for the newly-created Black Entertainment Television news division, covering a range of stories from the Democratic and Republican Conventions to hurricanes in the Caribbean. Whenever she needed childcare, she had very willing parents: Major and Norma Murry, who along with equally-willing siblings, Yvonne Murry, Ray Murry and Rosalind Murry, cared for the young Murry-Ford children nearly every summer from infancy until they were teenagers who chose to stay in D.C. Gloria moved beyond news reporting, serving for a year as news director of Turks and Caicos Tele-
5 Gloria Murry Ford (Courtesy photo)
Gloria moved beyond news reporting, serving for a year as news director of Turks and Caicos Television in the Caribbean. vision in the Caribbean. She and Sam frequently attended conventions of the National Association of Black Journalists of which he is a co-founder. In recent years, Gloria focused more on public relations, including the rollout and maintenance in D.C. of the Affordable Care Act and other government programs. As a child, Gloria was part of
a family gospel group, the Murry Trio, that included her sister Yvonne and brother Ray with their mother Norma on the keyboards. They were the opening act for bigname gospel stars like Mahalia Jackson and the Rev. James Cleveland when they performed in Wichita. Gloria attended Wichita Public Schools and obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Kansas Newman University. She and Sam liked to travel the world and take their children with them to places like Canada, France, Germany, Brazil and Hong Kong. She always said she wanted her children to be citizens of the world. She touched many lives in her 68 years. So, we celebrate her life. She was preceded in death by her father Major Murry in 2019 and her sister Yvonne Murry in 2015. In lieu of flowers, please make a “journalism scholarship” donation to the National Association of Black Journalists in honor of Gloria Murry Ford. Visit NABJ. org and click donate. The funeral service will be at St James Missionary Baptist Church, 1350 N Ash St. in Wichita, Kansas at 1 p.m. CDT on Aug. 21, 2021. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE The 17th Annual SEPTEMBER 1-5, 2021 Details at dcjazzfest.org I Follow us @dcjazzfest
Capital Sounds, Global Reach
Regina Carter John Scofield Joshua Redman Maria Schneider Orchestra
D-Nice Spanish Harlem Orchestra Orrin Evans’ Terreno Comum 5 Items on display showcase elements of D.C.'s food industry. (Hamil Harris/The Washington Informer)
Local Food Industry Chronicled at Anacostia Neighborhood Museum Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer After being shuttered for nearly 18 months by the pandemic, “Food for the People: Eating and Activism in Greater Washington” marks the reopening of the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum. Last week exhibit curator Samir Megheli and curatorial assistant Dominique Hazzard lead guests on a guided tour of the exhibit that will September 2022. “Along the Eastern shore of Maryland, Virginia and the Delaware so many chickens are raised it is called the broiler belt,” Meghell said. “More than 500 million along the DelMarva Peninsula.” The exhibit was both comprehensive and disturbing because it showed the plight of farmers and immigrants, activist groups like the Community for Creative Non-Violence that fought the government to release free cheese during the economic strife of the 1980s. “Given the dynamics of COVID-19 and racial unrest throughout the country, we are more dedicated than ever to uncovering and sharing the voices of the underrepresented,” said Melanie Adams, Director of the Anacostia Community Museum. While the inside galleries have been
closed, and outdoor exhibit on food equity has been open for the last year. As guests enter the museum exhibit there are large images of people harvesting potatoes, chickens, and vegetables. “Food Matters,” says a large sign followed by other signs: “Do you know where your food comes from? Who produces, processes, and prepares it? And in What conditions ?” On one side of the exhibition, people can follow the chicken production process from the plants on the Eastern shore to frozen cases of major grocers like Giant. Other exhibits show the challenges families have walking two miles to find decent groceries. In addition to helping people with needs, the exhibit showed the migration of ethnic families and foods from the District to the suburbs. But in terms of African Americans, Hazzard said, “many have struggled to get proper recognition.” “When the federal tip minimum wage was established, farmworkers and restaurant workers were excluded,” Hazzard said, “and this is why today we have two wage systems, one for those who receive tips and for those who don’t.” According to Adams, the exhibit is vital because “at the Anacostia Community Museum we have such a rich history but not only telling that history but using it as a way to move forward.” WI
Sirintip Phasuk
Laurin Talese
Kevin Toney
CarrKeys
Marco Pignataro Jazzet The EJB Quartet Ernest Turner Trio
Shaun Martin
Pedrito Martinez Group Lakecia Benjamin and Pursuance Immanuel Wilkins Quartet
Chuck Redd Quartet
Janelle Gill Trio
Langston Hughes II Herb Scott
A Grand Night for Strings: Starring Regina Carter feat. Jenny Scheinman, The String Queens, and the Michael Bowie Trio Celebrating Billy Taylor’s Centennial: Feat. Cyrus Chestnut, Allyn Johnson, Afro Blue, Winard Harper, and Chip Jackson Tribute to the Legendary Saxophonist Andrew White: Feat. Kevin Toney, Steve Novosel, Keith Killgo, Antonio Parker, and special guest Marcus Strickland DCJazzPrix Finals: Camilla George, Giveton Gelin Quintet, Dayramir Gonzalez, and Habana enTRANCé Free General Admission-Standing, Seated, and VIP Club Tickets Available Lineup subject to change
FOR ARTISTS AND COMPLETE SCHEDULE, VISIT DCJAZZFEST.ORG MAJOR SUPPORTERS
The DC Jazz Festival®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization, and its 2021 programs are made possible, in part, with major grants from the Government of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, Mayor; the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; and with awards from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Galena-Yorktown Foundation, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Compass of Greater Washington, Gillon Family Charitable Fund, The Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, The Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, and The Venable Foundation. ©2021 DC Jazz Festival. All rights reserved.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 33
LIFESTYLE
Experts: Solution to D.C.'s Problems Rests with Alternative Healing James Wright WI Staff Writer Many District residents are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress due to the coronavirus pandemic, a rising homicide rate and economic uncertainty but some experts say alternative healing could calm people down and help them to focus on their life’s purpose. “We are very much in need of healing,” Dr. Ivy Hilton, a wellness expert, said at the Ward 8 Community Awareness Healing Retreat that occurred on Aug. 14 at the Douglas Knoll Apartments in Southeast. “People need alternatives to manage stress without using drugs. We shouldn’t have a drug way of life but a wellness and holistic way of being.” Stressful living has apparently
become a way of life in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. A May 2014 article in Businessinsider.com reported the District as the most stressed-out city in the country. The website Zippia reported in January 2020 the stress level of every state in the country (D.C. wasn’t included) and District area states Maryland emerged as the fifth most stressed and Virginia as the eighth.
MEDITATION
The website verywellmind. com defines meditation as a set of techniques that are intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Meditation has been practiced by cultures all over the world for thousands of years. At the start of a session, Hilton encourages people to go to a per-
sonal space, sit quietly, free your mind and breathe deeply to start meditating. As the meditative process continues, she said the body will tend to droop. As the deep breathing continues, Hilton tells people to get a mental picture of themselves. “Picture yourself smiling, being happy and loving,” she said. Hilton said positive affirmations such as “I am a powerful soul all by myself ” and “I am at peace with myself ” serve to fuel the mind and the body. Closing the session, Hilton urges people to wiggle their fingers and toes and roll their heads around a few times while their eyes are closed.
YOGA
Charnal Chaney works as a yoga instructor and owns Bold Yoga, a firm that promotes the technique.
5 A woman meditates for relaxation and reflection. (Courtesy photo)
Yoga serves as a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline which includes breath control, simple meditation and the adoption of specific bodily postures for health and relaxation. Chaney said “people need yoga because these aren’t normal times.” “In this society, we are taught to keep moving no matter what happens,” she said. “The trauma we are experiencing stays with us physically and mentally. Yoga helps to release the stress.” Chaney instructs people to start with simple exercises such as stretching. After stretching, she said people can move into bodily positions that both relaxes and exercises them.
At the start of a session, Hilton
encourages people to go to a personal space, sit quietly,
free your mind and breathe deeply to start meditating.
CHIROPRACTIC
Chiropractic serves as a system of integrative medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints. Dr. Alison Parker has been a chiropractor in the District for 25 years. Parker said after many years of prescription drugs to alleviate physical and mental pain, physicians and other medical professionals should try alternative treatments. “I encourage people to try naturals first,” she said. “For example, magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer. Witch hazel and CBD [cannabidiol] are good in dealing with pain. Oftentimes, pain comes
34 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
from emotional issues that linger.” Parker said people should try to avoid surgery to heal, Instead, she said massage and physical therapy in many cases can be just as effective as surgery. She also said a good mental health state will keep people from being depressed and in physical pain. “Find time to exercise,” she said. “Find a body of water and just sit by it for a while. Drink pure water and stay away from fast food and processed food.” WI @JamesDCWrighter
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE
wi book review "The Reckoning: Our Nation's Trauma and Finding a Way to Heal" By Mary L. Trump, Ph.D. c.2021, St. Martin's Press $28.99 195 pages
Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer You can barely stand to look. You open your eyes quick, though, and scan because you need to be informed but the news is sometimes hard to take lately. Consuming in small bites may be best, or devour it if you can, but take care. In "The Reckoning," Mary L. Trump, Ph.D. says you may've been the victim of trauma, and she offers a way to work beyond it. "This country was born on trauma," says Trump, through war, hardship, theft of land, slavery, and betrayals of all sorts — not to mention disease. As a psychologist, she wondered what things "might be like" for America after months of divisive politics and pandemic. Trump, who was diagnosed with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, blames much of her PTSD on her uncle but for America as a whole, she says we've been through something deeper and wider-ranging: the trauma of slavery, injustice, and ongoing inequality — mostly for Blacks but also for Native Americans, and LGBTQ people — that continues to permeate every corner of American life. White people inherently enjoy white privilege, Trump says plainly, and they might try to deny it but the fact is that the world whites walk in so blithely is not the same one Black citizens live. That causes trauma to extend both ways because "trauma shapes us in ways we may not be aware of, and will always do so unless we face what has happened to us … [and] what we've done to each other." And that's where politics enter, especially since the end of the Civil War: politicians have become adept at convincing white America, subtly or overtly, that Black people are lesser; that "moving on" without reckoning is possible; and that we should put transgressions aside by whitewashing them, minimizing them, and by refusing to demand accountability. "But as seductive as it is, wiping out chapters in our history," says Trump, "… leaves future generations vulnerable. We know this. Only remembering will heal us. Maybe it will even set us free." Let's start here: readers who come to "The Reckoning" for another dose of author Mary L. Trump's family story will not be disappointed. She has plenty of acid left to spray on the last presidential administration's years, but that's not this book's primary focus. White privilege and the dismantling of racism is, and that comes as some surprise, in both the history Trump uses to make her points and in the obvious passion in her arguments. What she writes, however, and the lofty ideals she espouses are nothing new, yet here they feel like small terriers at your feet, nipping for unwavering attention, demanding focus and deep consideration. You may not like what you read but it's going to force you to think, hard, about the future, individually and nationally. Unfortunately, "The Reckoning" is going to be politicized, when it's not, not entirely. Though it shouldn't, that may chase away politics-weary readers who would otherwise get a lot out of a book like this, one that may be an absolute eye-opener. WI
horoscopes
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
ARIES It's fantastic that you have a new health routine, but it's important to make your mental health a priority as well — and shouldering more anxiety than you can handle is not a good way to go. The way out of your own head on Wednesday is to focus on someone else's needs. To calm down on Thursday and Friday, try to concentrate on the speed at which grass grows. Lucky Numbers: 2, 24, 36 TAURUS The texture of your day on Monday feels very 19th century: Endearment, courtships, gardens, art and charm may all figure in some way. The scene thusly set, it becomes clear that you are the hero in this narrative. The emotional climax comes on Thursday and Friday — if your life were a movie, there would be a moment of intensity, an argument or a cataclysm, followed by rapturous passion. Lucky Numbers: 6, 14, 28 GEMINI Every time you add up the numbers, you get a different sum. What you need is someone good at math. Delegating is essential at the beginning of the week. Letting others handle things while you stroll through parks arm-in-arm with a certain someone is a deft maneuver. You find yourself making calculations again, although not of the mathematical kind: emotional calculations. Lucky Numbers: 9, 20, 51 CANCER Your mind is racing at the beginning of the week, and you still feel like you're falling behind: Your world is moving full speed ahead. Nevertheless, you enjoy the frantic pace. If you get a spare moment, you might try to have a nice one-on-one with a coworker, but you might have to wait until Wednesday for a second even to catch your breath. Lucky Numbers: 3, 5, 10 LEO You can afford an expensive lunch on Monday, but an inexpensive lunch will leave you feeling happier. You're more conservative than usual but you're also more social than usual — not a bad combination. You bring beautiful energy into a room. Romance figures strongly on Wednesday, but by Thursday and Friday, it's at the farthest reaches of your mind. Your family is much more present. Lucky Numbers: 26, 28, 29 VIRGO Now that your desk is tidy and a new award for outstanding performance is hanging on your office wall, what's next? That's the question on your mind on Monday. To what future projects shall you now apply your brilliance? Tuesday and Wednesday, you are bubbling over with ideas, but you're set on making the next thing as deep and meaningful as you can. This would be a good week to solicit input from your friends — a wide variety of them. Lucky Numbers: 2, 14, 45 LIBRA You never know where the next great idea is going to come from. Be in listening mode on Monday, in every situation: when you're sitting across the table from a friend, when you're in a meeting for work, when a radio is playing somewhere in the background. Tuesday and Wednesday, your attention to the outside world inverts itself, and you find yourself the subject of everyone else's interest (and, likely, their affection). Lucky Numbers: 22, 26, 33 SCORPIO A small favor for a friend on Monday — something you barely even think about — will come back your way tenfold later in the week. In the meantime, Tuesday and Wednesday require patience. Decisions will be difficult, authority figures will be difficult, socializing will be difficult. The tide turns and suddenly you're the luckiest person you know. Lucky Numbers: 8, 10, 29 SAGITTARIUS Just because your boss is being a pain doesn't mean you can take off after lunch and not come back. You have obligations to certain people. Your interactions with others are hugely rewarding. People are lavishing you with gifts. You are delirious with gratitude, which may explain why you're mostly lost in your own thoughts. Your imagination is active and you're perfectly happy to be alone. Lucky Numbers: 2, 24, 31 CAPRICORN The most useful information may come from far, far away via phone or email. Your spirits are lifted (the added benefit of being in touch with an old friend). Anything is possible — that's the animating principle. On Thursday and Friday, you're so focused on your new projects that you're able to separate out the white noise; some of your best thinking may happen in a crowded restaurant. Lucky Numbers: 9, 32, 39 AQUARIUS The sidewalk may be smooth and clean — smooth enough to roller skate on, clean enough to eat off — but what's going on below ground? Is this path you're on as stable as you think? Skepticism is useful at the beginning of the week. But don't be so skeptical that others (wrongly) sense you judging them (this may happen on Wednesday). Thursday and Friday make for a slow end to the workweek. You feel funny about something, but it's hard to put your finger on what. Lucky Numbers: 4, 7, 11 PISCES You are learning more about you-know-who every day. The only problem with not seeing each other, though, is that it encourages you to overanalyze everything. You may have constructed an elaborate history of emotional deposits and withdrawals that frankly has little to do with the reality of your interactions with this person. So watch it. Calm down. Your late-in-the-week conviction that they are walking all over you may bear some truth, but broach the subject while granting the benefit of the doubt. Lucky Numbers: 19, 25, 33
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 35
CAPTURE the moment
For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com
Local Efforts Support Students' Return to Classrooms
5 Kids had a chance to show off their QB skills at The Back to School Fair at FedExField in Landover, Md., on Aug. 13. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)
5 Ella Strothers, owner of Ella’s Kids, distributed over 250 backpacks filled with school supplies for elementary to high school students at Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church on Sunday, Aug. 15. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer) 4 William Parkes receives a new pair of glasses at the Washington Football Charities Back to School Fair at FedExField in Landover, Md. on Aug. 13. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)
5 The Washington Football Charitable Foundation held its seventh annual Back to School Fair on Aug. 13 at FedExField. Families pick out uniforms. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer) 3 Children attending the backpack drive hosted by Del. Daryl Barnes in Capitol Heights, Md., select backpacks. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
36 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
EVICTIONS from Page 1 tenant-landlord issues, warned there’s a reckoning coming when the moratorium, slated to end in June before being extended to August and most recently October by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], comes to an end. “I’m expecting a flood of cases after people have lived for the last 12 months or more without paying rent,” he said. “Smaller landlords have been harder hit than tenants and face high mortgages, real estate taxes and the cost of utilities.” “They could get relief from the courts. Still, I know some who, if not for the moratorium on foreclosures, would face foreclosure by their banks.” “We’re flooded with calls from both landlords and tenants -- tenants who know the clock is ticking, the hour is coming -- who didn’t pay rent because of the uncertainty of the times. Some wanted to hold onto money,” Nawash said. He pointed to the most recent decision issued by the District’s officials which orders landlords to provide a 12-month payment plan for tenants in arrears once the moratorium ends. Prior to the pandemic, tenants had 30 days to comply with unpaid balances once landlords filed a notice to quit or face eviction. “Many of the buildings in D.C. are owned by large corporations so the rent revenue is just extra to subsidize their expenses,” he said. “They aren’t in danger of foreclosure [like smaller landlords].” The CDC-ordered eviction moratorium has fueled anxiety and fear from tenant advocates and landlords alike
HAITI from Page 1 Rescue team continued their efforts on Tuesday, Aug. 17, facing further damage and more deaths and injuries after Tropical Storm Grace walloped the Caribbean nation with heavy rain. While some areas reported one to two inches of rain, isolated areas across the southern terrain reported rain in excess of 15 inches. Many fear the result will be flash and urban flooding and mudslides. Earthquake damage to several major hospitals has hampered humanitarian efforts. Meanwhile, healthcare workers maintain their efforts to save the lives of scores of injured, including hundreds of young children and the elderly. Still, upon landing by plane in the capital city of Port-a-Prince, rescue teams must board a smaller plane to reach the hardest hit cities like Les Cayes, as many roads leading away
with both sides presenting their cases and voicing their concerns. “Without this action by President Joe Biden, millions of renters could have lost their homes this winter,” said Diane Yentel, president and chief executive officer of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “But extending the eviction moratorium is, on its own, insufficient to protect renters during the pandemic.” She described the existing moratorium as flawed as some landlords have exploited loopholes to evict tenants despite the protections. “No federal agency is enforcing the order’s penalties for unlawful evictions,” said Yentel, who signed a letter to President Biden along with about 2,000 national, state and local organizations calling for additional relief and enforcement. Meanwhile landlords struggling to pay the mortgages on their properties say they’re concerned that an extension of the eviction moratorium through the fall will result in more harm than good. “Allocated rental assistance funds do not fully address the $70 billion in outstanding debt nor accruing debt moving forward and the industry cannot continue operation under these policies without disastrous harm to housing affordability,” said the National Multifamily Housing Council in a release. Stephanie Bastek, a volunteer, organizer and board member with the D.C. Tenants Union said she and fellow organizers have been applying pressure to city government officials out of necessity. “I’ve been organizing since 2017 with 32,000 formal judgments record-
ed in 2018 -- the cost of housing and the unavailability of quality and affordable housing was a problem before [the pandemic],” she said. “Fortunately, there have been zero legal evictions this past year.” “Landlords are not void of compassion. But people aren’t paying their rent because they’re not working. Someone I know took out a $10,000 loan to pay their rent. And while higher income jobs are coming back, low-income jobs aren’t,” she said. The CDC estimates that as many as 40 million renters in the U.S. remain at risk of eviction with the numbers possibly as high as 60 million. Meanwhile, experts familiar with evictions like Emily Benfer and Emily Coffey of the Shriver Center for Law and Justice believe evictions could lead to homelessness, job loss, health disparities, disruption in children’s education and greater poverty. They note that “having an eviction record makes it nearly impossible to rent safe and decent housing in the future.” One Woodner Tenant Union organizer who spoke on condition of anonymity said he and his colleagues recently conducted a door-to-door survey to gauge the scope of the problem. “About 30 percent, that’s close to 300, of the tenants we surveyed are behind on rent,” the organizer said. “Meanwhile nearly 300 units are vacant while 800 units are occupied. Money owed ranges in scope from $0$19,000. That’s scary for a lot of people. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program score in our zip code is $5,000. We need more help from the city,” the organizer said. WI @bsalmondc
from the capital and toward the south and west have been destroyed. Survivors of the earthquake in Haiti clamored for food, shelter and medical care on Tuesday, many being forced to either sleep in open fields with the driving rain or huddle in damaged buildings that could come crashing down at any moment. Forecasters believe Grace could reach hurricane strength by the time it approaches the Yucatan coast of Mexico later this week. Grace, which threatened Jamaica and Grand Cayman late Tuesday night, has held maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with higher gusts, according to The National Hurricane Center. Ironically, the path of devastation continues to follow a similar route taken by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake which devastated Haiti in 2010 leaving more than 250,000 dead from which the na-
tion has yet to fully recover. The Haitian government has declared a state of emergency for the Western Department, Southern Department, Nippes and Grand'Anse while the country’s civil protection agency reported on Tuesday, that nearly 2,000 people have died with more than 9,915 injured. The quake reportedly destroyed 13,694 homes, damaged another 13,785 and pushed hospitals to the brink, officials from the agency said on Sunday. The earthquake struck near the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, located close to the capital city of Port-auPrince. The cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie bore the brunt of the quake’s fury. Scientists reportedly noted that the quake possessed a seven-mile depth and residents 200 miles away in Jamaica felt the trembles.
Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19.99
$
/mo.
where available
2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE
64
$
99 MO.
America’s Top 120 Package
190 CHANNELS
Including Local Channels! CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100 for 12 Mos.
1-855-402-3370
Offer ends 11/15/21.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
BE DEBT FREE in 24–48 months!
If you owe more than $10,000 in credit card or other debt, see how we can help. Call today:
1-888-318-8155 ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®
AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance
800-481-7894
HAITI Page 38
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 37
HAITI from Page 37
TRANSFORM YOUR BATH OR SHOWER
IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY
CALL NOW FOR
$500 OR
Off
NO PAYMENTS & NO INTEREST UNTIL 2022 Offer Expires 6.30.2021
*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires June 30, 2021. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2021 BCI Acrylic Inc.
Military & Senior Discounts Available
844-791-1618
Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!
844-334-8353
FREE
7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!
Limited Time Offer - Call for Details
Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval
TEACHERS from Page 1
*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.
Satellite Internet That is Unlimited With No Hard Data Limits! 2
25 Mbps Download Speed 25mbps download and 3mbps upload1
No Hard Data Limits Wi-Fi Built-In Connect your wireless devices at home
2
Call For Special Offers In Your Area Pricing varies by region
CALL TODAY - LIMITED SPECIAL OFFERS IN YOUR AREA!
1-855-973-9254
HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. 2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or affect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads.
Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19.99
$
/mo.
where available
2-YEAR TV PRICE
GUARANTEE MO.
for 12 Mos.
America’s Top 120 Package
190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels!
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
1-855-407-6870
Offer ends 1/31/21.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
38 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
Haitian Officials: Medical Care Remains Country’s Greatest Need “When it comes to needs, medical needs are our biggest urgency,” Prime Minister Ariel Henry said Sunday. “We have started to send medications and medical personnel to the facilities that are affected. For the people who need urgent special care, we have evacuated a certain number of them and we will evacuate some more today and tomorrow.” President Joe Biden voiced his concerns for the people of Haiti over the weekend. “In what is already a challenging time for the people of Haiti, I am saddened by the devastating earthquake that occurred in Saint-Louis du Sud, Haiti,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.
wipes,” said Walden, who told The Informer she has no plans to congregate in populous spaces during the school year for her safety and that of others. “It’s unfortunate that I’m not going to be able to interact with students the way I’m used to [but] I have to protect myself and my family,” Walden added. “I’ve been one of the lucky ones who haven’t caught COVID and I want to keep it that way.”
ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS’ UNION AND CHANCELLOR
Walden and hundreds of other DC Public Schools [DCPS] staff members are scheduled to report to work on August 20 and prepare for the first day of school on August 30. No vaccine exists for children under the age of 12 and vaccinations among District residents between the ages of 12 and 15 stand among the lowest. Since June, the Washington Teachers’ Union [WTU] and DCPS Chancellor Ferebee have been in discussions about a health and safety memorandum of agreement [MOA] that would dictate the conditions under which teachers and staff members will carry out their duties. Tenets of that MOA would most likely touch on masking, ventilation, social distancing, contact tracing and accommodations for those who can’t teach in-person. Pending plans also include a health and safety checklist that would draw on the most recent
“We send our deepest condolences to all those who lost a loved one or saw their homes and businesses destroyed. I have authorized an immediate U.S. response and named USAID Administrator Samantha Power as the senior U.S. official to coordinate this effort.” Through USAID, President Biden said America supports efforts to assess the damage and assist efforts to recover those injured and those who must now rebuild. However, efforts to provide essential aid to Haiti’s beleaguered rural environs, remain encumbered due to inaccessible roads either blocked by debris and mud and gangs reportedly robbing envoys as they attempt to deliver medicine, food and other needed items. Adding to the turmoil, just four weeks ago, Haitian President Jovenel
Moïse died at the hands of a team of assassins. The president’s murder touched off a manhunt for his killers and threw the country into even further political chaos. “We're concerned that this earthquake is just one more crisis on top of what the country is already facing – including the worsening political stalement that has occurred after the president’s assassination, COVID-19 and food insecurity,” Jean-Wickens Merone, a spokesman with World Vision Haiti, said in a statement. Biden promised that America will not abandon Haiti. “The United States remains a close and enduring friend to the people of Haiti and we will be there in the aftermath of this tragedy,” President Biden declared. WI @StacyBrownMedia @mcneirdk
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. WTU President Jackie Pogue-Lyons said the union has worked at least four days a week in hopes of finalizing a MOA as quickly as possible. They have also attempted to encourage vaccination among community members and collect figures about the percentage of teachers already vaccinated. “That’s what keeps me up at night -making sure all staff and children can come back to schools that follow safety protocols,” Pogue-Lyons said. “We’re pushing and hoping that everyone will get vaccinated. We know that herd immunity would get everyone safe, especially among our youngest.”
Throughout the pandemic, charter leaders, via the Charter School Alliance, have also conferred with local leaders about nurses, COVID testing materials and other resources to support the safe reopening of schools. On Aug. 23, Rocketship Infinity Public Charter School will conduct in-person learning for the first time since launching virtually last school year. This past spring, in preparation for hybrid learning, leaders at the STEAM-oriented school discussed installing air purifiers while staff members and students underwent regular temperature checks upon entering the building. With the first day of classes looming, some teachers like Sabrina Hernandez remain steadfast in prioritizing teacher and student safety. When she’s not setting desks in her classroom three feet apart, Hernandez contacts families to ensure they’re confident about what’s to come. Meanwhile, she and her colleagues continue to attend meetings during which school officials discuss weekly COVID-19 tests for vaccinated and unvaccinated teachers. But Hernandez hasn’t stopped there. “I have a cart with wipes, disinfectant sprays, face masks and hand sanitizer,” said Hernandez, a first grade teacher. “Kids will practice getting their hands sanitized and wiping down their desks so they can take ownership of their classroom,” she said. “I let families know we have everything we need [and] we will go over systems and routines.” WI
CHARTER SCHOOLS ESPOUSE COMMITMENT TO SAFETY
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bower (D) recently announced that D.C. government employees, including teachers, must get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 19. Those who choose not to vaccinate for religious or medical reasons must produce weekly negative COVID-19 test results. The mandate doesn’t apply to charter schools, Bowser told reporters on Aug. 10. Two days later, nearly 70 public charter school leaders signed a letter sent to Bowser affirming their commitment to ensuring full teacher vaccination and fidelity to health and safety standards. Last fall, at least a dozen charter schools hosted in-person learning in alignment with DC Department of Health recommendations.
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
Phyllis Temple Lewis Ponders: A Life Filled With Abundance
One thing to consider is that we enter this world alone and we leave this world alone. Yes, family is usually around for births and deaths, but at birth we begin to breathe on our own, and upon our deaths, we stop breathing on our own. What we do with our lives in between those two dates is what matters most. We recently lost yet another gem, Dr. Phyllis Temple Lewis Ponders. She made the most of her 97 years of life; she experienced as much of the world as she could, beginning at an early age when her mother, the legendary Dr. Violet Temple Lewis, traveled the world, she took her girls, and Phyllis was her firstborn, always ready to go. Since her mother founded Lewis Business College, the only historically Black college in Michigan, Phyllis assumed duties, beginning when she was a young girl living in Indianapolis, at the first school, advancing to become the academic dean during her tenure at Lewis. Success is knowing your life is filled with abundance. When you have love, health, friends and especially family, life is indeed filled with abundance. Phyllis Ponders had it all, and her three lovely daughters — Stefeyne, Violet and Shirley — meant the world to her. She was truly grateful for all life had given her. My first memory of Dr. Phyllis Ponders was when I began my frequent trips to Detroit to serve as event planner for Lewis College of Business, and practically every trip included a visit to the home of Dr. Ponders. She and her sister, Dr.
Marjorie Harris, teamed up to show me Detroit. Spending nights at her home many times proved to be a memory I will always cherish. One key point is Dr. Ponders had Type 2 diabetes, but learned to live with it without many of the devastations that come from having this disease. My Religion Corner column has included a series on Type 2 diabetes often, and has featured highlights from the life of Dr. Phyllis Ponders. Let me share a bit of her story. Born in Indianapolis, her mother moved the family to Detroit in 1939, which means Phyllis Ponders lived in Detroit for more than 80 years. She graduated from Crispus Attucks High School, earned her B.S. degree in business administration from Wilberforce University and her master's degree in College Administration from the University of Michigan. Phyllis was involved in many community activities. She was an active member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority up to her death, the 24th and 25th chairperson of the March of Dimes Fashion Extravaganza and chair of the Steering Committee for over 20 years, to name a few. Phyllis loved to travel and visited several European countries as well as
Japan, Hong Kong, many Caribbean islands, Canada, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana. She took time to tell me about several wonderful pieces of beautiful wooden art pieces from Africa — there were stories for each piece. Watching her helped me tremendously, as she cared for herself in a meticulous manner. She made lifestyle changes by following all of the rules, including eating healthy and having small portions, such as having a few prunes and a small serving of oatmeal daily for breakfast. Next on her morning agenda was daily morning walks, usually with a group. They walked at the nearby mall in Southfield, except Sundays. They walked through the mall for at least one hour, regardless of the weather. For me, she was an example of how to live a full life without allowing your ailment to rule. She took charge of what happened in her life; therefore, getting complications from diabetes early in life was out of the question for her. Her sorority memorial services will be held Thursday, Aug. 26 at Plymouth United Church of Christ (600 E. Warren Ave., Detroit, Mich., 48201). The Omega service will begin at 10 a.m. with the funeral to follow at 11 a.m. WI
(301) 864-6070
EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA
www.jmlaw.net
(301) 864-6070
jmccollum@jmlaw.net
Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness / Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland / Assistant & Youth Pastor 12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 39
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
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
Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Blessed Word of Life Church
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
Reverend William Young IV 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
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
www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
Campbell AME Church
Twelfth Street Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White
Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor
2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org
(Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340
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
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
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
40 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
Mount Carmel Baptist Church
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org
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
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
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org
headline and photo for Mount Olivet LIF - MALCOLMXLutheran Church DAY John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.
901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423
1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005
themcbc.org
“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital”
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor
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
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM
Crusader Baptist Church
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
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.
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 41
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
2021 FEP 000070
2021 ADM 000773
7/18/2020 Date of Death
Darrell Cook aka Darrell Donnel Cook Estate of
Emmanuel Chizobam Obasiolu Name of Decedent
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Yu Wang, whose address is 9032 Moving Water Ln., Columbia, MD 21046 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Emmanuel Chizobam Obasiolu, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Howard County, State of Maryland, on September 2, 2020. Service of process may be made upon Branden Nettles, 1202 Euclid Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 1202 Euclid Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 8/5/2021 Yu Wang Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Lula Blackwell-Burrus for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. Order any interested person to show cause why the provisions of the lost or destroyed will dated November 13, 2019 should not be admitted to probate as expressed in the petition
Date of first publication: 8/5/2021 Lula Blackwell-Burrus 213 Carver Street Waco, Texas 76704 Petitioner/Attorney:
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
2021 ADM 000701
2021 ADM 000767
Annie Mae Davis Barnett Decedent
Serena Louise Burke Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Peggy A. Miller, Esq. 5130 7th St., NE Washington, DC 20011-2625 Attorney
Franklin Roosevelt Davis, Sr., whose address is 212 Madison Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Annie Mae Davis Barnett who died on December 14, 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., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: August 12, 2021 Franklin Roosevelt Davis, Sr. Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Washington Informer
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
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2020 ADM 000324
2021 ADM 000728
2021 ADM 000723
Jewell J. Saunders Decedent
Barbara Anne Brisby Petty aka Barbara A. Petty Decedent
Ronald Amechee Matthews Decedent
Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Mary Hewlett, whose address is 808 Brandywine Road, Downingtown, PA 19335, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jewell J. Saunders who died on 10/22/19 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 (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 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: August 12, 2021 Mary Hewlett Personal Representative
Joan M. Wilbon 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 1020 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Patricia Petty Morse aka Patricia L. Petty, whose address is 1354 Leegate Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Anne Brisby Petty aka Barbara A. Petty who died on 2/22/2021 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: 8/12/2021 Patricia Petty Morse Personal Representative
Iris McCollum Green, Esq. 1730 M Street, NW Suite 609 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Novella Elizabeth Matthews, whose address is 1376 Underwood Street, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ronald Amechee Matthews who died on January 6, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: 8/12/2021 Novella Elizabeth Matthews Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
42 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Wanda Renee Burke, whose address is 4428 20th St., NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Serena Louise Burke who died on June 7, 2021 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: 8/12/2021 Wanda Renee Burke 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 2021 FEP 000074 3/13/2014 Date of Death Saxfield Chatmon Jr. Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Monica L. McEaddy whose address is 10009 Huxley Drive, Lanham, MD 20706 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Saxfield Chatmon Jr., deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 8/1/2014. Service of process may be made upon Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., The Griffin Firm, PLLC, 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 440, Washington, District of Columbia 20015 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 718 Kentucky Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 8/12/2021 Monica L. McEaddy Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2021 ADM 000765 Patricia E. Kearney Decedent Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Calvin Kearney, whose address is 124 Michigan Ave., NE, Apt. M22, Washington, DC, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Patricia E. Kearney who died on 3/6/2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: 8/12/2021 Calvin Kearney 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 2021 ADM 000706 Lillie Bell Minick Decedent Suren G. Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Linda Washington, whose address is 3939 R. Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lillie Bell Minick who died on March 13, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/12/2022. 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 2/12/2022, 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: August 12, 2021 Linda Washington Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LEGAL NOTICES Public Notice Declaration of Nationality Notice of Reference: 0112358-13
Public Notice Declaration of Nationality Notice of Reference: 0112358-13
In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.
In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.
Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: " Frederick Nicholas Crespo© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " CRESPO, FREDERICK NICHOLAS© ", corp. sole Dba.: " FREDERICK NICHOLAS CRESPO© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Frederick Nicholas Crespo© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " zakai bey© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: CITY OF PASSAIC VITAL STATISTICS: 1834, " FREDERICK NICHOLAS CRESPO© ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to " House Of Crespo Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " zakai bey©", nom deguerre: " Frederick Nicholas Crespo© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: " House Of Crespo Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente
Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: " Keith Alfonso Frey© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " FREY, KEITH ALFONSO© ", corp. sole Dba.: " KEITH ALFONSO FREY© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Keith Alfonso Frey© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " yusef bey© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: New Jersey Vital Statistics, State File Number: 19750057695, " KEITH ALFONSO FREY© ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to " International Frey Tribal Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " yusef bey© ", nom deguerre: " Keith Alfonso Frey© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " International Frey Tribal Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.
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 2021 FEP 000082
2021 FEP 000078
January 23, 2021 Date of Death
January 15, 2018 Date of Death Dewey Dewitt Hamilton, Jr. Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Debora Ann Pitts whose address is 7606 Vicar Street, New Carrollton, Maryland 20784 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Dewey Dewitt Hamilton, Jr., deceased, by the General Court of Justice Court for Wake County, State of North Carolina, on 2/16/2018. Service of process may be made upon Deborah D. Boddie, Esq., 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 2844 30th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 8/19/2021 Debora Ann Pitts Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
Randolph Becton, Jr. Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Cornelia Hamlin Moore whose address is 1002 Temples Point Road, Havelock, NC 28532 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Randolph Becton, Jr., deceased, by the Clerk of Superior Court for Craven County, State of North Carolina, on 3/5/21. Service of process may be made upon Sarita Cheaves, 1016 48th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 645 Faraday Place, NE, 20017 (House) & 5614 First Place, NW, Washington, DC 20011(Apartments) The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 8/19/2021 Cornelia Hamlin Moore Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
Public Notice Declaration of Nationality Notice of Reference: 0112358-13 In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.
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
2021 ADM 000766
2021 ADM 000769
Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: " Wanda Adriane Brooks© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " BROOKS, WANDA ADRIANE© ", &, “PARKER, WANDA ADRIANE©”, corp.sole Dba.: "WANDA ADRIANE BROOKS© ", &, “ WANDA ADRIANE PARKER© ", corp. sole Dba.: " WANDA ADRIANE BROOKS© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Wanda Adriane Brooks© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "wanda adriane brooks el© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: ALABAMA Center For Health Statistics: 101-57-058899, "WANDAA ADRIANE BROOKS© ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to " LaJaacj Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " wanda adriane brooks el© ", nom deguerre: " Wanda Adriane Brooks© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: " LaJaacj Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary /trustee /agent/ bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.Notice of Reference: 0112358-13
Elsie P. Price Decedent
Jean L. Barton aka Jean Bishop Decedent
James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney
Johnnie I. Barton, Esq. 1848 Bryant Street, NE Washington, DC 20018 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Patricia A. Renfro, whose address is 9705 Meadow Lark Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elsie P. Price who died on April 27, 2021 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/19/2022. 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 2/19/2022, 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.
Marian Peele, whose address is 2110 Kearney Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jean L. Barton aka Jean Bishop who died on April 25, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/19/2022. 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 2/19/2022, 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: 8/19/2021
Date of first publication: 8/19/2021
Marian Peele Personal Representative
Patricia A. Renfro Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 NRT 23
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 ADM 000458
Ruby Louise Jones Name of Deceased Settlor
Probate Division
John Michael Garner Estate of
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Patrick Garner for standard probate, including
the appointment of one or more personal representatives.
Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division
Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.
Admit to probate the Will dated October 15, 2001 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise
Date of first publication: 8/19/2021
Patrick Garner
209 Williamsburg Lane Fort Worth, TX 76107 Petitioner/Attorney:
TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens
Register of Wills Washington Informer
Washington Informer
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST Ruby Louise Jones whose address was 239 Quackenbos Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011, created a revocable trust on February 20, 2014, which remained in existence on the date of her death on June 2, 2021, and Peter D. Antonoplos, whose address is 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, is the currently acting trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to the following:
PROBATE DIVISION
2021 FEP 000076 April 18, 2020 Date of Death
Vivian E. Quarles
Name of Decedent
The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESEN-
Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 2/19/2022 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice). An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1), June 2, 2022 (one year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2), 2/19/2022 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.
tive of the estate of Vivian E. Quarles, deceased, by the Orphans
The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: 8/19/2021 Peter D. Antonoplos Signature of Trustee TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
TATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Ronald West, Sr. whose address is 802 Painter Place,
Capital Heights, MD 20743 was appointed personal representaCourt for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on August 18, 2020.
Service of process may be made upon Lawrence B. Manley,
Esq., 2026 32nd Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020 whose
designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.
The decedent owned the following District of Columbia
190 54th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019. Claims
real estate.
against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned
and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia,
515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 8/19/2021
Ronald West, Sr.
Personal Representative Nicole Stevens
Register of Wills Washington Informer
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 43
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2021 ADM 000294 Warren Price Decedent James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Patricia Ann Renfro, whose address is 9705 Meadow Lark Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Warren Price who died on January 11, 2021 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before February 19, 2022. 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 February 19, 2022, 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: August 19, 2021 Patricia Ann Renfro 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 2021 ADM 698 Barbara Louise Bullock aka Barbara L. Bullock Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Allison Yolonda Bullock, whose address is 461 Valley Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Louise Bullock aka Barbara L. Bullock who died on August 2, 2017 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/19/2022. 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 2/19/2022, 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: 8/19/2021 Allison Yolonda Bullock Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
44 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
CL ASSIFIEDS
CL ASSIFIEDS
CL ASSIFIEDS
Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.
15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855995-2490
Protect your loved ones! Call today to find great deals on Pest Control Services - 833-872-0012
Directv Now. No Satellite. $40/mo 65 Channels. Stream news, live events, sports & on demand titles. No contract/commitment. 1-866825-6523
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE READY TO BUY, SELL, OR RENT YOUR VACATION HOME OR HUNTING CAMP? Advertise it here and in neighboring publications. We can help you. Contact MACnet MEDIA @ 800-450-6631 or visit our site at MACnetOnline.com
MEDIABIDS MISCELLANEOUS Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-420-7280 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/informer Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T's Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! CALL 1-877-370-2155 DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/ mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-855-402-3370
DISH TV $64.99 for 190 channels + $14.95 high speed internet. Free installation, smart HD DVR included, free voice remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo expires 1/21/22. 1-833-872-2545 New authors wanted! Page Publishing will help self-publish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer! 866-951-7214 AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. 1 TB of data/mo. Ask how to bundle & SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. 1-888-7968850 !!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don't wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 866409-0308
Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 SAVE 67% PLUS 4 FREE BURGERS - The Favorite Feast - ONLY $49.99. Update your home with beautiful new blinds & shades. Free in-home ORDER Today 1-888-318-1190 Use Code 48643VFW or www.Omaestimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installahaSteaks.com/ ffmb93 tion. Top quality - Made in the USA. Free consultation: 877-212-7578. Ask about our specials! Do you know your Testosterone Levels? Call 888-692-5146 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural TestosterLong distance moving: Call for a free quote from America’s Most Trusted one Supplement Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a relocation specialist 888-721-2194 Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Bergamonte, a Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results. Call today and save 15 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle percent off your first bottle! 866-640-5982 TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141 ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and WANTED TO BUY diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874 to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201 READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books) ONLY MID ATLANTIC COMMUNITY PAPERS ASSOCIATION $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 ClassiCLASSIFIED NETWORK (MACNET) cal Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today! 1-866-680-1822 Any laptop repaired just $79. Macs too. REALLY! FREE Fedex shipping! $69 extra for screen or motherboard replacement. CALL Authorized Laptop Repair Specialists 1-866-437-6184 Ever Consider a Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & Increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888-420-4716 READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books) ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today! 1-866-680-1822 Personalized holiday gifts for Everyone on your list! Save 20 percent off qualifying products from Personal Creations! To redeem this offer, visit www.PersonalCreations.com/Beauty or Call 1-888-732-0679 Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with fast acting results within 30 days. Call to hear about our special offer 866-640-5982 ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. You WIN or Pay Us Nothing. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Today! BBB Accredited. Call For Your FREE Book & Consultation. 888-649-5110 Attention Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-760-5952 to try Hydraflexin RISK-FREE for 90 days. HEAT YOUR HOME FOR 5¢ AN HOUR! Portable infrared iHeater heats 1000 sq. ft. Slashes your heating bills by 50%. FREE Shipping too! Use claim code 6239 WAS $499 NOW $279 Call 1-866-784-5182 CADNET & NANI CLASSIFIED NETWORK EDUCATION Train online to do medical billing! Become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! Get trained & certified to work in months! 888-572-6790. (M-F 8-6 ET) HEALTH & FITNESS VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258 Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587 Stroke & Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death according to the AHA. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Call Life Line Screening to schedule a screening. Special offer 5 screenings for $149. 1-833-549-4540 MISCELLANEOUS The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-855-270-3785
ANNOUNCEMENTS Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-866-482-1576 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/macnet Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - $500 Discount + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-338-4807 SELL YOUR ANTIQUE OR CLASSIC CAR. Advertise with us. You choose where you want to advertise. 800-450-6631 visit macnetonline.com for details. AUTO INSURANCE Looking for auto insurance? Find great deals on the right auto insurance to suit your needs. Call today for a free quote! 866-924-2397 GENERAL SERVICES Internet & WiFi Starts at $49 Call us Today to Get Started. Find High Speed Internet with Fiber Optic Technology No Credit Check, No SSN Required. Call us Today! 866-396-0515 HEALTH/MEDICAL DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www.dental50plus.com/ macnet #6258 VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-844-596-4376 Don ’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-844317-5246 HOME IMPROVEMENT Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-791-1626 GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-855-465-7624 The bathroom of your dreams for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-877-540-2780 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. 1-855-270-5098 NEED IRS RELIEF $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness. Call 1-844-431-4716 Monday through Friday 7 AM - 5 PM PST
GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during power outages, so your home & family stay safe & comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-yr extended warranty $695 value! Request a free quote today! Call for terms & conditions. 1-844-334-8353
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get a free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 888-965-0363
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today.
PEST CONTROL Find Pest Control Experts Near You! Don't let pests overtake your home.
WANTED AMERICAN & FOREIGN CLASSIC CARS AND MOTORCYCLES WANTED $$PAYING CA$H$$ Corvettes, Mustangs, Jaguars, Austin Healeys, Broncos, Blazers, Ram Chargers, AMX, and Triumphs KRMiller1965@yahoo. com 717-577-8206 MARYLAND STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS DONATE YOUR CAR/TRUCK/RV - Lutheran Mission Society of MD Compassion Place ministries help local families with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www. CompassionPlace.org HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES NEED NEW WINDOW TREATMENTS? Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on blinds & shades. Call Today! 866-479-2321. MISC. SERVICES LONG DISTANCE MOVING: White-Glove Service from America’s Top Movers. Fully insured and bonded. Let us take the stress out of your out of state move. FREE QUOTES! Call: 866-314-0734 SAVE UP TO 80% ON YOUR MEDICATION. Eliquis, Xarelto, Viagra, Cialis and more. Licensed and Certified. Lowest Price Guaranteed. Call 833601-1541 and get free shipping on your first order. (Open M-F) (Open M-F) MEDICAL OR OTHER APPLICABLE CLASSIFICATION ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 855-835-1804.
CLIMATE from Page 20 borhoods that are more resilient to the effects of climate change – plans based on the needs the community itself identified,” he said. “And these efforts must speed up drastically, as we have no time to waste.” Colin Barker, founder and legal correspondent at filtersmart.com agreed that people of color are at greater risk of health hazards. “They have been forced to live close to toxic waste dumps, sewage systems, mines and landfills,” he said. Barker noted that they also haven’t been given representation in ecological movements, environmental policy formation, or laws and regulations. “Everyone needs to work collectively to ward off the worst effects of climate change,” he said. Authors of the Princeton University report concluded that power imbalances have constrained communities of color to respond to climate change and contribute local knowledge to solutions for decades. “Building political and economic power, as well as speaking up about the challenges, are critical components of climate resilience,” the Princeton authors said. “It’s time to expand the conversation around climate justice to ensure that all people, regardless of race and ethnicity, are guaranteed protections from the worst effects of climate change.” WI @StacyBrownMedia
HEAT from Page 20 alterations of the surface energy balance jeopardizes human health and productivity. The distribution of excess urban heat varies within cities, and as a result communities do not share a city's extreme heat burden equally. Summer heat waves cause more than 700 deaths each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control [CDC]. When heat and humidity are so high that a body can no longer cool itself through sweating, heat stroke can set in, rapidly causing brain and organ damage. People who are older, have certain chronic health conditions or are physically exerting themselves are most at risk. One of the researchers, Susanne Benz, had the idea for the study after reading a New York Times article finding that neighborhoods the U.S. government redlined in the 1930s—meaning they classified them as poor investments because people of color lived there—are now hotter than white neighborhoods in the same cities. Race-related heat differences were also an issue in rural areas, Benz found. “It turns out that even your tiny towns have the same disparities,” Benz said, “and this was something that really shocked me.” The trend held up even when they took wealth out of the picture, says the study. When residents had a similar income, non-white neighborhoods still faced significantly higher temperatures than white ones in 71 percent of the counties. “Inside the city, temperatures are affected by the buildings surrounding you and by the surface of the streets,” said Benz. “Dark pavement absorbs sunlight and releases the heat at night, while trees and other vegetation cool an area through transpiration, when they release water vapor through pores in the leaves.” Jeremy Hoffman, a climate scientist and chief scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia, who was not involved in the research said the findings are “quite staggering.” “These disparities exist across virtually every built environment in the country,” Hoffman said. “Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it is certainly concentrated underneath them across the U.S.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
SWEAT from Page 12
ANACOSTIA from Page 5
MALVEAUX from Page 26
ner of Sweatism Consulting who resides in Accokeek. “I’m out here on my feet beating the streets. Fist-bumping people. Listening to their needs and concerns. Seeing all these people here shows the food distribution and other services are necessary.” Sweat admits her one challenge centers around how to take on current County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who plans to seek re-election for a second, four-year term. According to a campaign finance report filed in January and amended June 18, the Alsobrooks campaign has slightly more than $1 million cash on hand. A third county executive candidate, Sherman Hardy, an Air Force veteran from Clinton, filed documents for his candidacy Aug. 3. He plans to host a kick-off and fundraiser cookout Saturday, Aug. 21, but attendees must register at www.Hardy4PG.com. According to Hardy’s website, he supports investments in minority-owned businesses, a full-service veteran’s hospital in the county and a fully elected school board. The Democrat chosen in the June 28 primary would be the presumptive winner with Democrats in Prince George’s outnumbering Republicans by 10-to-1 ratio. The majority Black jurisdiction with a population of 967,200 has the highest number of registered Democrats in Maryland. Education remains one of the biggest topics in the county. with public disputes between elected and appointed board members centering around ethics allegations. Alsobrooks called for the state board of education to review a local ethics panel report before the school year begins Sept. 8. As for Sweat, a practicing attorney, education remains one of her top priorities. She is former PTA president at Oxon Hill High School and vice president for advocacy on the Maryland PTA. She plans to host a youth summit Sept. 18 at National Bible College and Seminary in Fort Washington. Two of the event’s goals: assists high school students preparing for college by offering to waive fees to pay for the SAT and Act tests; and for those who may not attend college to learn about a trade from a representative
“We have to be consistent [because] that has not been people’s story [when people are helping them],” Ford said. “You have to build a pathway and consistency with people who are going to be here. You also have to get folks in Anacostia who are willing to support people and give them a break.”
non-Missouri-living Missouri senator, Josh Hawley (his residence issues could be the subject of an entire column). This man has raged against the infrastructure bill, which, though insufficient, represents necessary bipartisanship as we look to the future. The commitment to spend $39 billion on transit is significant, especially in the context of climate change. We need to get cars off the road, and we can only do it if people have easy ways to get around. Safe, reliable public transportation could help, but, as always, there is tension. Many would
IDLE TIME AND DECAYING CONDITIONS
On the corner of 16th and U streets in Southeast stands King Convenience Store, located several feet away from where a police officer repeatedly punched Kiman Johnson in the face on August 8. At King Convenience, Nazcia Ransford, an employee and longtime Anacostia resident with experience in the dry cleaning business, spends much of the day stocking shelves, cleaning the store and talking to customers. He also witnesses what he described to The Informer as the ongoing decay of local youth. To combat an ongoing trend, Ransford, 55, speaks to the young people about his life and warns them against wasting their wonder years. Since the 2000s, when he became a father, Ransford has embraced several mentoring opportunities including coaching football at the FBR Recreation Center. He said elements of that kind of life have been missing in Anacostia and throughout the Southeast area of the District for several years. “I never see the mayor in Anacostia,” Ransford said. “I hear she appears [but] I think she only cares about her community. Since the pandemic, there’s nothing for the kids to do. A lot of them were going into baseball and basketball.” WI from the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Advisory Council. After chatting with Sweat outside St. Stephen Baptist Church, Joyce Treece of Capitol Heights said, “I would vote for her. “I take sincerity from her,” Treece said about Sweat. “There comes a time where there has to be a changing of the guard.” WI Twitter: @jabariwill
use the $39 billion for public transportation; some would use it for roads and carbon emissions. If our country and others are committed to combatting climate change, we must consider reducing or eliminating carbon emissions. And we must consider the ways climate change will change the world. Thousands of people are leaving Tuvalu because their lives and livelihoods have been threatened by climate change. Many are moving to Fiji, which has offered the Tuvalu government incentives to relocate to that island. The people of Tuvalu would become the first documented climate change refugees in the world.
Thousands left New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Should they, too, be considered climate change migrants? There will be others as resources become scarce in one community and people are pushed into other communities, straining those resources and creating conflict. We will pay for ignoring climate change one way or another. We will pay now, we will pay later, but we will pay. Thus the infrastructure bill, while not enough, is to be applauded. The provision of some climate change mitigation in the budget is also commendable. But there is so much more to do, and Tuvalu is sinking. WI
MORIAL from Page 26 and spent two weeks campaigning for me in New Orleans neighborhoods during my 1994 runoff campaign for mayor. He was a frequent speaker at Urban League events. The film recounts how Gregory's stand-up comedy career took off after a bravura performance before an audience of white southerners at the Chicago Playboy Club … and how he sacrificed it all to dedicate himself to the civil rights movement. My predecessor at the National Urban League, Whitney M. Young Jr., felt that Gregory, with his biting satire mocking racism and segregation, could accomplish more for the cause of racial justice onstage than in the streets. Gregory's
EDELMAN from Page 26 port school building efforts. Counties then had to commit to maintaining the completed schools as part of the public school system. Though most communities continued the practice of supplying Black schools with worn-out books and second-hand materials, the schools themselves set a new standard in the rural South. Rosenwald schools were built to uniform design plans that mandated simple, clean-lined buildings with large windows and plenty of natural light. Many counties copied some elements of their designs for new white schools. Once built, the schools often became central hubs and gathering places for the Black community. In the second half of the 20th century, as schools consolidated into larger districts or students began integrating into previously white schools after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, many Rosenwald schools were abandoned or demolished. In some communities the buildings were kept up and found new life as Head Start classrooms, senior citizen centers, or in other com-
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Dick Gregory was both a personal friend and a strong supporter of the Urban League movement. response: "When America goes to war, she don't send her comedians." He was arrested dozens of times, often beaten, and shot at least once. His body became an instrument for protest, as he endured hunger strikes over the Vietnam War, the Equal Rights Amendment, police brutality, apartheid, nuclear power, prison reform,
drug abuse and Native American rights. "The One and Only Dick Gregory" comes at a moment when the rights for which Gregory fought and bled face a threat more serious than any in more than half a century. Gregory sacrificed fame, fortune and physical safety to secure these rights. We honor his legacy by defending them. WI
munity uses. As recognition of their historic importance began to grow, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the schools to its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2002. Activists are still working to preserve the remaining Rosenwald buildings across the South, and earlier this year the Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act was signed into law authorizing a special resources study of sites associated with Rosenwald and the schools, another step towards the ultimate goal of establishing a National Historical Park. One of that Act's original co-sponsors in the House was the beloved late Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.), who graduated from a Rosenwald school in Alabama. Today the School Building Program is sometimes criticized along with many of Booker T. Washington's other ideas for accommodating the segregated status quo. But in providing school buildings and an opportunity for education for Black children in places where little or none had existed at all before them, Rosenwald schools played a key role. In that sense, their
legacy of opportunity is echoed in contemporary education initiatives like the Children's Defense Fund's Freedom Schools® Program, which provides summer and after-school enrichment for children in communities where the need for these quality programs is often greatest. Rosenwald schools brought adults together to nurture and support children's education and positive development and provided sites that served as safe community havens, and for the community members who worked together to fund and build them, the Black teachers who found employment in them, and the children they served, their promise and impact was unmistakable. A former slave who donated his life savings, $38, towards building his community's Rosenwald school said he did so because he wanted "to see the children of my grandchildren have a chance." Adults today need to have the same kind of faithful vision and the same commitment to doing whatever they can to give today's children the resources they need right now to build a stronger foundation for generations yet to come. WI
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 45
Alan Amrhine, Communications Director Lutheran Mission Society "MDDC has connected donors with the LMS Vehicle Donation Program for over six years! Great exposure, cost effective, and Wanda is so helpful!" Call Wanda Smith, 410-212-2616 wsmith@mddcpress.com
Attention: VIAGRA & CIALIS Users There’s a More Affordable & Effective Alternative to U.S. Pharmacy High Prices! For discreet home delivery, CALL NOW!
800-995-1351
50 Pill Special:
Only $99 Plus Free Shipping!
Pick a state! , any state MDDC Press works with fellow press associations across the country to give you the best possible buys on advertising wherever you need it. We take care of scheduling and placement at no extra cost to you, and you save time and money. Call Wanda Smith at ext. 6 today.
Subscribe!
1-855-721-6332 www.mddcpress.com
There are many reasons to read The Washington Informer...
Each week you’ll get news from The District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia. You will discover Arts and Entertainment, Social Tidbits, Religion, Sports, People’s Viewpoints, Letters to the Editor, Classified Ads and more! And best of all… No crime, no dirty gossip, just positive news and information each week, which is why… The Washington Informer is all about you! Name....................................................................................................... Address................................................................................................... City, State, Zip......................................................................................... Phone number (daytime)......................................................................... Yes! I want to subscribe for: n1 year/$55.00 n 2years/$70.00 Method of payment: n Check Enclosed n Visa/MasterCard Credit card number.................................................................................. Signature........................................................................................
46 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
for the vast majority of people at risk. The new moratorium is being challenged in court, and it will expire in October. But it is buying time for families at risk. It is giving local officials a chance to get money into the hands of people who need it. Bush's good troublemaking also brought needed attention to the fact that Congress had approved $46.5 billion to help renters and their landlords, but some states and counties hadn't distributed a penny of it even months after they got the money.
When I saw people criticizing Rep. Bush for her tactics, I thought of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham jail. He wrote that he had almost concluded that a greater stumbling block to the freedom movement than the KKK was the white moderate more devoted to "order" than justice, who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action." Rep. Bush saw that families behind on rent were facing a crisis point. Our democracy is also facing a crisis point. In state after state, where
Republicans are in control, they are imposing new barriers to voting as they try to prolong and expand their hold on power. They want the power to resist progress on racial equity, access to health care, and all the other issues that motivated people to turn out and vote for Joe Biden. We can't let them win. Voting rights activists across the country are organizing. They're looking for people to help them make good trouble. When that opportunity comes your way, think of John Lewis and Cori Bush. And answer the call. WI
WILLIAMS from Page 27
Operators Available 24/7!
Press Service 2000 Capital Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
JEALOUS from Page 27
that, under the oppressive circumstances previously described, you wouldn't have wanted equal rights, safe streets, fair police protection, fair voting rights, and the opportunity to succeed on the basis of your personal merit. Truth is sometimes hard to take, but if things had been reversed, I believe you would be found in the street yelling "White Lives Matter," "White Voters Matter," "I'm white and I'm proud!" In reality, you ARE white and were born with all the associated privileges. My observations inform me that even poor whites understand the privilege their color offers them. Too often, the inability to understand leads one to falsely believe their privilege derives from being
ASKIA from Page 27 ues to meddle around the globe. U.S. military forces are currently stationed in 150 of the world's 200 or so countries. Their presence rarely means goodwill for the majority populations in the countries they occupy. They are present to provide the jackboot that is the "real" U.S. foreign policy. Yet year after year, this country's military budget continues to swell. It's now well beyond $715 billion, with add-ons and overruns constantly expanding that figure. That's a nearly $2 billion blank check, every single day to the warmongers at the Pentagon. Once the god-awful weapons are built (in quantities which could exterminate the Earth's entire population multiple times) they're only good for one thing — killing people — so conflicts are instigated around the world, often over the pettiest of differences. The weapon-stockpiles are then depleted, so the Pentagon just builds more.
In reality, you ARE white and were born with all the associated privileges. My observations inform me that even poor whites understand the privilege their color offers them. smarter or more deserving. That wrong-thinking will lead, as it has seemingly led you, to become an undeserving, self-serving, uncaring, ignorant white man who knows the truth, but who can't contend with the discomfort of acknowledging the truth. Your greatest fear is losing undeserved white privilege and having
the rest of us treated like the beings God made us. If you could just imagine what equality would be like, I am sure you would not have written that muddled article you wrote for CAVPAC. Critical race theory is about truth-telling and it's obvious that people like you know little about TRUTH! WI
It's an oft-recurring cycle, with no end in sight, only humiliating defeats when the white, macho U.S. bullies are whipped by the primitive, local fighters, with shoes made from abandoned tires. It's the Almighty Tarzan Myth and it means there can be no graceful exit for this country from any international engagement because the wrongheaded American interests will side with the evil kings and despots, rather than with universal human values, time after time after time. Even as the demographics change inside this country and more and more white population majorities decline in more and more communities, rather than share power, the stiff-necked white folks insist on using every trick in the book from gerrymandering to open voter suppression, to make it appear that their war-like stance which robs from the poor to give to the rich, is the way most people want to be governed — as long as it never appears that Black folks are doing better than them.
As we go forward, in each and every succeeding Afghanistan, the U.S. will never choose the wise course, but rather will serve its addiction to domination, storming into conflicts such as with Cuba, such as with Iran, in which the U.S. is undoubtedly the villain, heedless of reason, until like in Afghanistan, after 19 years and 10 months since the October, 2001 invasion, the mighty superpower is forced to retreat with its tail between its legs once again. Ironically, the white Americans treat everyone else in this society like dirt, and like the day will never come when those off-course and wicked white Americans will ever need to appeal for an all-hands-on-deck moment to defend their homeland. We'll see. Happy Afghanistan Withdrawal Day, America. Russia, Britain, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan — it couldn't have happened to a more deserving decaying empire. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021 47
CHEVROLET
DISCOVER THE UNEXPECTED IS FIVE YEARS STRONG!
DRIVING HBCU TALENT INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.
AISHA “JUNE” JUNE
EMMANUEL DORVIL
Howard University
North Carolina A&T State University
CHRISTOPHER PETTY
MADISON WILLIAMS Hampton University
Central State University
Southern University and A&M College
NNPA FELLOW 2021
NNPA FELLOW 2021
NNPA FELLOW 2021
CORPORATE TRACK FELLOW 2021
CORPORATE TRACK FELLOW 2021
EMMANUEL AZUM
Jackson State University
CORPORATE TRACK FELLOW 2021
DESIREÉ WILLIAMS
RAZA EL
JASMINE FRANKLIN
BRITNEY SANDERS
MILES JOHNSON
Howard University
Tuskegee University
Grambling State University
Morehouse College
NNPA FELLOW 2021
CORPORATE TRACK FELLOW 2021
NNPA FELLOW 2021
NNPA FELLOW 2021
Follow the DTU Fellowship students on their journey: nnpa.org/chevydtu. Search #ChevroletDTU @ChevroletDTU
48 AUGUST 19 - 25, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM