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Cash-Strapped Tenants Face Possibility of Eviction
Temporary Safeguards Vary in District, VA and MD By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins September will mark the fourth month of a rent strike taking place among more than 150 tenants at the Woodner Apartments, considered one of the largest apartment complexes in the District. Instead of paying their rent, many participants, like Modesto King, have decided to save what little money they have, or purchase food, toiletries and other items deemed a greater priority. And while their campaign to get rent canceled during the coronavirus pandemic has gained some traction, subsequent negotiations haven’t brought about the change intended by those organizing the strike.
Though management proposed a payment plan where tenants could pay a portion of their overdue rent balance later without penalty, King said such an overture wouldn’t suffice at a time when he sees food lines getting longer and families becoming increasingly anxious. “Some people don’t know how they’re going to pay the rent. Others are moving out of the building which makes me feel strange because I don’t know how it will be next year,” said King, a Woodner tenant of more than 15 years. King said, since last month when he lost his job as an auto technician, he’s depleted his savings account in order to stay afloat while attempts to secure unemployment benefits have proven fruitless. 5 Tenants at the Woodner Apartments in Northwest protest evictions during the COVID-19
EVICTIONS Page 40 pandemic. (Courtesy photo/Facebook grab)
Michelle Obama Rallies Behind Biden, Condemns Trump’s Behavior
One Hundred Years Ago, 19th Amendment Passed Thanks to the Efforts of Black Women
Reactions Surge on Social Media as Democratic National Convention Continues
By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir
One hundred years after the passage of the 19th Amendment and the gallant, self-sacrificing work of Black women from all walks of life, an African-American woman stands in Delaware to formally accept the nomination to become the first female vice president in American history.
In a masterfully written and delivered keynote speech Monday night that marked opening of the 2020 Democratic National Convention [DNC],
REACTIONS Page 29 5 Michelle Obama (Courtesy photo)
SUFFRAGE Page 34
5 Mary Church Terrell (Forten/NPS Archives)
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Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, Mary Wells, Joseph Young PHOTOGRAPHERS Lafayette Barnes, IV, John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert Ridley, Victor Holt CIRCULATION Paul Trantham
Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Promising MD Democratic Bowser Supports Vote for
Leader, Joseph Kitchen, Jr.,She saidHoward Hospital Replacelaw enforcement. they threat,” she said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow Meets Tragic End sense of uniformity in thement Despite Investigation way wants to see implemented are
By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer
When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, The Rev.toldJoseph Despitemore an ethics investigation a deal involvold daughter her the father survivors are treated. rights for victim'sinto families Kitchen threatened Jr., an ing the office of former City Administrator ofLynn her daughter her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vic- Rashad outspoken leader as child, story, her own personal pain Young Howard University, D.C.assessMayor Murilife, and the life of their to andtim, a domestic violence president of the Young el Bowser ment wantsunit the coupled city council move forward she knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens withtofurther done. Out ofof her frustration said about Marlow. Democrats Marynext month with a second to approve funding training for lawvote enforcement with lawwas enforcement's land, found deadhandling for a replacement hospital on the Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life school’s Protec- campus ofinthe sheSundecided to who reads Marlow's book thesituation, District on in northwest Onmandatory Friday, Young abruptly vawill tionD.C. Act and counselstart Saving Promise thethe ing day,the Aug. 16 in the cam- “get it.” She said she “puts cated postfor he’d held since 2015 running daily batterers. paign. case in such a way, the average are ever going to eradiDistrict, police said. operations of“If theweBowser administration after it was “It seems be a vicious at the he cate domestic we the mustuniversity He was 34to years old. cycle person can get it.” She saidrevealed had been inviolence, talks with that won't turnCounmy family end of the day, the book will look bothnegotiating sides of the coin.for nearly Prince George’s to secure a job atafter a deal loose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a diaWe need to address both the victy Police announced $300 million in tax breaks and public funding for 5 Joseph Kitchen, president of shared herprior storyKitchen with theYoung audi-Democrats logueofabout domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow one day a new hospital. Maryland. ence at the Also present at the event Bowser was said. was last seen District Aug. 8 atHeights said Monday during a news conference (Courtesy: Maryland Democratic Domestic Violence Mildred Muhammad, the Marlow would alsothe likeBoard to seeof Ethics Sandy Point ParkSymposium in Party) thatexwill share findings from onAnnapolis. May 7 at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to It remains and Accountability’s investigation. raise Municipal Center. The sympowho was sentenced to six consecawareness among children in unclear how he died. Kitchen led the young Demosium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She crats for the past eight years and spoke out on legisFamily and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatlation such as the “End-of-Dying Act.” He posted a Center of the city of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. video July 8 on the Young Democrats of Maryland’s Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasFacebook page after Gov. Larry Hogan’s order for the Up of Black Women. the founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilNov. 3 general election atobook, send applications to request Marlow has written an organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” for absentee ballots instead the ballots, “Color Me Butterfly,” which of is ajust mailing survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. a process done during the June primary. Kitchen also story about four generations of and their children. Marlow has worked to break posted comments when Hogan some voting domestic violence. The book is called “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, rights advocates “political activists.”years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she inspired by her own experiences, “That really alarmed me,” “A lot of to come out is pushing for will start that and those of her grandmother,Kitchen not said. an easy thing those advocates are nonpartisan…who really focus on her mother and her daughter. of,” she said. process. howsaid to run a better They doMildred this with DemShe every time election. she reads Muhammad said “I plan to take these policies to ocratic from administrations. They do this with Republican excerpts her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to administrations. is not a partisan thing. violence It is our victim must change our laws,” Marlow said. can not believe theThis words came domestic job…to him Me out Butterfly” on this. We deserve better.” from her. call “Color be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these poliwon the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” Books” Award. that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net my eye first blackened and my “Before you get to 'I'm going lips bled,” Marlow said. to kill you,' it started as a verbal WI Elaine Davis-Nickens, president of the National Hook-Up Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has named chief legislative officer Keiffer Mitchell, of Black Women, said there is no Jr. (left) as acting chief of staff, following the recent resignation of Roy McGrath. consistency in the way domestic Mitchell, appointed on Monday, will lead the governor’s search for a permanent violence issues are dealt with by chief of staff. “It is with regret that I have accepted Roy McGrath’s resignation as chief of staff. Roy has been a deeply valued member of our administration and our state is better for his dedicated service,” Hogan said in a statement. Mitchell said he was humbled by his selection as well as the trust the governor has put in him. “We have a first-rate team that is working around the clock at such a critical moment in our history. Together, we will continue to change Maryland for the better,” Mitchell said. McGrath added that while there is no higher calling than public service, he was also humbled to have served as Hogan’s chief of staff. “Having been in a similar role before, I recognized I would be taking on a big job at one of the most difficult times in our history. We have had months of grueling but successful efforts managing the coronavirus pandemic,” McGrath said in the statement. Mitchell, part of a storied Baltimore family, served in the House of Delegates from 2011-2015, representing District 44 in Baltimore City and on the Baltimore City Council from 1995-2007. He was also a member of the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee as well as the Maryland Democratic State Central Committee.
MD Governor Hogan Appoints Keiffer Mitchell, Jr. Acting Chief of Staff
“
We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
“
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COMPILED BY WILLIAM J. FORD AND DOROTHY ROWLEY, WI STAFF WRITERS
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L.Y. Marlow
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Food Giveaway Hints at Increasing Community Need By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins As the D.C. metropolitan area approaches the sixth month of a public health emergency that has significantly slowed economic activity and decimated many bank accounts, food affordability and accessibility has become more of the elephant in the room, especially as masses of people continuously converge on food giveaways. During one such event this week, hundreds of women, men, and children in search of fresh produce waited hours in a long line meandering through the parking lot of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Southeast, while several others occupied cars that formed a line stretching more than a mile along 30th Street. “Since COVID-19, they’ve doubled and tripled the food price. Just because people are getting stimulus checks and other stuff, they want to cash in,” Michelle Porter, a Southeast resident, told The Informer as she stood in line along Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday afternoon during the food giveaway, the latest of 10 organized by the DC Dream Center. “I saw this event twice, but decided to see what they got going on out here,” continued Porter, a grandmother. “Since I’m eating more veggies and fruits, this can make it easier. Right now it’s looking good, We make sure we get plenty of food for us [but] this thing is far from over.” A report by the Capital Area Food Bank last month predicted that within the next calendar year, the D.C. metropolitan region’s food-insecure population, currently at more than 400,000, could grow at a rate between 48 and 60 percent. The producers of the report attributed the jump to rising food prices and increasing consumer demand. At a time when the U.S. Department of Agriculture stands likely to tighten eligibility for SNAP benefits, those without a steady income stand to lose the most in a pandemic with no end in sight. Ernest Clover, executive director of the DC Dream Center, said such conditions inspired members of the organization to pivot from mentor-
ing and tutoring to supplying fresh food and stocking a community pantry. “Blessings of Hope and Operation Blessing made it possible for us to get this fresh produce from Pennsylvania and Virginia to over 500 families today,” Clover said. “Unfortunately we’ve seen the need increase. We hoped that people could get back to work and have steady income, but that’s not the case.” As of Sunday, more than 13,270 people in the District have contracted the coronavirus. Professionals in the public health space have spoken of a silent epidemic where communities of color, in the absence of affordable produce, are left to patronize fastfood restaurants and other sources of unhealthy food. Since mid-March, when the District’s public health state of emergency ushered in waves of job losses, community groups and nonprofits have stepped up to meet residents’ pressing needs. Through the development of partnerships and a citywide distribution system, DC Mutual Aid brought food to populations experiencing food insecurity. Martha’s Table, along with several area churches, has also hosted events of benefit to struggling residents. Though she remains grateful for the extra help, a local elder by the name of L. Brown suggested that services could be better targeted to District seniors, a population she said has been overlooked since the pandemic started. On Monday, she took the bus from Kenilworth and arrived at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church 30 minutes before the event started, with no idea of how she would get her goods back home. “It’s difficult for seniors to get food. People don’t bring stuff to our building [and] when I found out about giveaways, it’s after the fact,” Brown said. “I don’t think the seniors are getting fair play in this,” she added. “Able-bodied people seem to be getting all the testing and resources, while people like me have to come out and stand a mile in line for groceries. The extra food stamps help, but that’s been my experience.” WI
5 DC residents stood in lines for hours, waiting for food being distributed by the DC Dream Center at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Southeast. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
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black facts AUG 20 -26, 2020
SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
AUG. 20
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, 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
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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 fatally shot by a reputed drug dealer in Oakland, California.
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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.
AUG. 26
ISAAC HAYES 6 - AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
1946 – Singer/songwriter Valerie Simpson, half of legendary husband-wife duo Ashford & Simpson, is born in the Bronx, New York. 1947 – Brooklyn Dodgers’ Dan Bankhead becomes the first Black pitcher in Major League Baseball history in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, also hitting a home run in his first at-bat. 1960 – Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis (top) is born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. WI
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With parents who both had successful careers in education, as did an impressive number of their closest friends, it should come as no surprise that the pursuit of academic excellence has been a driving force in my life. From my elementary years to Jesuit instruction during high school and from college to graduate studies and degrees, I’ve never been able to fully quench my thirst for knowledge. As a little boy, whenever I would complain about being bored – a ruse often employed by children like me who had no siblings – my mother would invariably suggest that I find a “friend” from among the several bookshelves in our home. Even after I outgrew that distinctively awkward stage of life, leaving behind my nerdlike persona like the ugly duckling, eventually spreading my wings as a beautiful swan, my hunger for knowledge never wavered. While I can remember some of my best friends having the propensity for working with and mastering numbers, formulas and calculations – all with ease -- I have always had an uncanny ability to easily comprehend and manipulate language via both the spoken and written word. At one point during junior high school, I decided to temporarily engage mental cruise control so that
I could focus on dribbling, layups, free throws and jump shots – tools of the trade for those with short-lived dreams to become the next Dave Bing, Curtis Rowe or Bob Lanier. They were the all-stars who played for my hometown’s basketball team, the Detroit Pistons, during my youth. I never reached the heights for which I once hoped, but a day of reckoning would come in quick fashion. When my report card came, my slew of normal straight A’s had disappeared, replaced with grades to which I was unfamiliar – mostly C’s. My father could not contain his anger and as punishment, deducted several dollars from my weekly allowance, informing me that given my academic abilities, earning a “C” was equivalent to cheating. I understood his conclusion and realized that I had not done my best. As for my mother, she tackled me while employing the philosophy of W.E.B. DuBois who posited the vital role that the Talented Tenth were called upon to play within the Black community. My destiny, she surmised, was to one day join that small cadre of intellectuals who would use their gifts and talents for the benefit of our race. Then she added an additional caveat: while membership would allow privileges, it also bore great responsibility. My parents’ admonishments guided me as I moved from grade school to graduate school, fueling my commitment to burn the midnight oils, toil amidst the library stacks on Fridays nights and Saturday
BOOT STRAPS & BRA STRAPS
mornings – focusing on the finish line while delaying dreams of gratification for more opportune moments. I share these reflections in efforts to refute the recent allegation lodged by the U.S. Justice Department against Yale University for its alleged illegal bias in the school’s admissions process. No, I did not attend Yale. But I could have as I was admitted for undergraduate studies. I chose the University of Michigan [UM] as it was both closer to home and far more economically prudent. Did race play a role in the admissions process – one which benefited students of color in 1978 when I was admitted to the freshman class? Undoubtedly. Nonetheless, those of us who matriculated at and graduated from UM were students with exemplary high school records prior to our admission. We were, as our counselors in the Minority Affairs Office who provided all kinds of support for students of colors often emphasized, “the best of the best.” To that end, our diplomas were not handed to us – we earned them. And lest we forget, just a generation ago, Blacks, simply because of the color of our skin, were denied access to colleges like UM, Yale or any other university from among America’s upper echelon of academies of higher learning. So, while U.S. colleges and universities have attempted to make up for decades, even centuries, of racial discrimination, our numbers still
COMMENTARY Page 39
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Pandemic Challenges D.C. Nonprofits By James Wright WI Staff Writer @Jamesdcwrighter The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t spared the District’s nonprofit sector, but many charity leaders have taken measures to help their organizations stay afloat amid the economic strain. A June survey by the Charities Aid Foundation of America found that nearly one-third of nonprofits nationwide could shutter during the pandemic for financial reasons. Glen O’Gilvie, CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, said he wants to make sure that doesn’t happen in the District. “We want an end to the pandemic for all, but if that end is realized without a third of our nonprofits, poor people are going to be challenged at even greater risks and numbers than they’ve been in the past and for a longer period of time,” O’Gilvie said, the Washington Business Journal reported July 31.
The District’s nonprofit sector constitutes 12,367 operations employing 118,100 people, or 26 percent of the city’s workforce, according to a survey, “Nonprofit Sector in the District of Columbia,” published by Independent Sector in October 2016. The sector generates almost $48 billion in revenue, donates $417 billion in funds and services and District residents give $894 million, the survey said. However, O’Gilvie told The Informer that since the start of the pandemic in mid-March, his organization has received queries from numerous nonprofits about a variety of challenges they now face, with some having to dig deep to finance items as personal protective equipment and technology for staff such as laptops or computers. Being away from the office has forced some nonprofits to change the way they operate, he said. “Not being in an office tends to breakdown morale and camaraderie
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in an office,” O’Gilvie said. “Nonprofits have to find a way to keep morale going and have their staff work in teams even when they aren’t together in person.” Such concerns are also on the mind of Kim R. Ford, president and CEO of Martha’s Table in Ward 8, but she told The Informer her organization has been proactive in executing her mission. “Martha’s Table stepped up,” Ford said. “Before the pandemic we distributed 500 bags of food a day and now we are giving out 2,000 bags. We served 100 hot meals a day before the pandemic and we now serve 200 daily. We recently started a program where we give cash assistance to qualified families. Plus, we are giving away grocery gift cards to people. “The need has really grown since the pandemic started with people’s hours being cut at work and some losing their jobs outright,” she said. “People are struggling to keep their
5 Kim R. Ford, the executive director of Martha’s Table, works with staff and volunteers handing out bags of food in front of their office in Southeast. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
homes and feed their families. I must admit we didn’t budget for this and nothing about COVID-19 has been easy.” While Martha’s Table gives out food daily, Project Giveback, a food distribution program founded by Ransom Miller III, occurs during the Thanksgiving holiday season for one day. Hundreds of volunteers from schools, fraternal organizations and youth groups gather at a designated site that day to put together hundreds of food bags and to deliv-
er them to families throughout the D.C. metropolitan area. Miller said his food assembly and delivery will have to make some major adjustments due to COVID-19. “Last year we were in the D.C. Armory but this year we plan to be outside in the Armory’s parking lot,” he said. “We will have huge tents to protect our volunteers from bad weather if it occurs. Our leaders will be tested for the coronavirus one
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You might not be able to see it, but COVID-19 is still here. We’re making progress, but we can’t leave behind all the safety measures we’ve been taking. They’re working! That’s why, when you visit your local stores, restaurants, and places of worship, be sure to follow posted signage and Covid safety guidelines. We all need to do our part to stay safe. Please continue to:
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Get tested if you’re sick!
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AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020 9
AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENT FREDERICK DOUGLASS MEMORIAL BRIDGE
The iconic arches on the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge are now complete. This bridge is considered the largest public infrastructure project in the DC Department of Transportation’s history. Construction on the bridge deck for pedestrians, cars and bikes will be completed in late 2021. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
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AROUND THE REGION
D.C. Democrats Laud Biden-Harris Ticket During Virtual Convention
By Hamil Harris and James Wright WI Staff Writers
Delegates and leaders of the D.C. Democratic Party could not travel to Milwaukee for the Democratic National Convention due to the coronavirus pandemic, but events in the District took place to educate residents about the party’s platform and its plans to help elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president of the United States. D.C. Democrat State Committee Chair Charles Wilson said he learned from national party leaders the convention would be mostly virtual in July. “I learned the top party leaders wanted people to be safe and healthy and decided not to have a mass gathering in Milwaukee as a result of COVID-19,” Wilson said. “When people here found out the news, they were disappointed. The Democratic convention is like the Super Bowl of politics. However, everyone under-
stands why it could not take place in Milwaukee so we came up with plans here in D.C.” Brandon Frye, an educator who serves as a delegate for Biden, said he looked forward to attending the convention. “It is the first time I have been elected as a delegate and I really looked forward to going to represent D.C. and to do my part to help Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Frye said while sitting on a panel for an Aug. 16 Ward 8 Democrats virtual forum on the convention. “This is a bittersweet experience for me. I thought it would have been a great convention if not for COVID-19.” Dr. Christine Warnke, who also participated in the Ward 8 Democrats forum and has served as a delegate and a superdelegate over the years at several conventions, said she missed being able to go to the convention and mingle with Democrats from other places. “I think it is a wonderful experience to get to know people from oth-
er places and we can educate them about what D.C. statehood is about,” she said. Wilson said the 2020 party platform includes supporting D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s bill for the District to become the 51st state, which ironically ended up on page 51 of the document. Wilson said D.C. Democrats planned virtual events during the week of the convention with guests such as former Sens. Carol Moseley Braun and Bill Nelson and a fundraiser for the D.C. and Vermont Democratic parties featuring former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Bowser served as the lone primetime speaker from the District during the convention. The mayor spoke about her confrontation with the Trump administration after National Guardsmen forcefully cleared peaceful demonstrators on June 1 at LaFayette Park so the president could go to St. John’s Episcopal Church for
5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17. (Courtesy photo/2020DNC)
a photo-op. The incident led her to approve the painting “Black Lives Matter” on the southern end of 16th Street NW, which she said was to call out Trump’s racist rhetoric and his mistreatment of the District. “I said, ‘Enough,’” Bowser said in a videotaped message. “If he did this to D.C., he will do this to your city and town.” Norton, who has attended and spoken at many past conventions, said in the three decades she has served in the Congress, the Democratic convention has always been the opportunity for the country to see and learn about the plight of the res-
idents of the District and their quest for full citizenship. But on Monday, Aug. 17, as she waited for the start of the convention which has been reduced to two hours on network television and YouTube, Norton reflected on the moment for the country and the District’s political history. “We are about to elect the first African American woman as vice president,” she said. Norton said in addition to Harris’ nomination, the platform embracing District statehood means a lot. “We are going to use this conven-
DC Page 34
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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Lawmakers Recommend Improvement for Md. Courts and Criminal Justice System By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill A Maryland work group created to assess the state’s court and criminal justice systems offered recommendations to improve policies and procedures affecting Blacks and Latinos during the coronavirus pandemic. Some of those recommendations for the executive and judicial branches include expediating parole of all nonviolent inmates, allow free phone calls and video communication for inmates with their attorneys and family members, and all state prison and local jails provide adequate masks, soap and other sanitary re-
sources for staff and inmates. “A lot of these things they’re already giving lip service to doing,” state Sen. Jill Carter (D-Baltimore City), leader of the five-member work group, said in an interview Friday, Aug. 14. “What we want to do is encourage [court and prison officials] them to ramp up the efforts and also encourage more transparency.” Carter and four other members of the group — Sens. Jeff Waldstreicher, Michael Hough, Susan Lee and Justine Ready — held four meetings since May 7 on recidivism and improvement in the court system during the pandemic. The senators are members of the Senate’s Judicial Proceedings and received verbal and
5 An incarcerated individual cleans a sink. (Courtesy of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correction Services)
written comments from advocacy groups, state and local attorneys, among others. Although the report only outlines various proposals, the agreement went along party lines. The report states Democratic lawmakers Carter, Lee and Waldstreicher supported the document, but the two Republicans, Ready and Hough, dissented on all 19 recommendations. Ready said in an interview Monday, Aug. 17 that one recommendation he was fine with was the courts giving priority to scheduled hearings for plea agreements. However, he didn’t support rec-
ommendation number four: “Courts should not issue bench warrants or body attachments or impose any other sanction for failure to appear in a court proceeding during the pandemic or while the governor’s emergency declaration is in effect.” “I don’t agree with that. Why does COVID-19 mean you don’t have to show up in court?” said Ready, who represents Carroll County. “The assumption was we are not doing enough. My thing is, ‘Hey, we should look at common sense ways to keep people safe.’ Some of the recommendations went a little too far.” Another proposal insists that the
Last-Minute Touches Made for PGCPS Virtual Learning
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
Nichelle Jahmani of Upper Marl-
boro resembles other Prince George’s County parents trying to prepare their children for a new experience with virtual learning on the first day of school approaching Aug. 31.
5 From left: Ryleigh Jahmani, entering sixth grade; Nichelle Jahmani; Darren Jahmani, Jr., entering 12th grade, top; Jordan Jahmani, entering eighth grade, bottom; and Darren Jahmani, Sr. (Courtesy of Jahmani family)
12 - AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
Although Jahmani’s able to work from home, she said communication between her children’s teachers and administrators and maintain structure are two key factors for a successful online learning environment for the first semester running through Jan. 29. Although the married mother of three expresses concern for her two daughter’s education, her oldest child, a son, will experience limited activities to begin his senior year at Chesapeake Math & IT South Academy Public Charter School, also known as CMIT South, in Upper Marlboro. “That is kind of a bummer,” Jahmani said Saturday, Aug. 15. “I’m also very nervous about the SAT and him not being able to take that. Because we are virtual, there has to be continuity without being in-person. We’re just going to have to figure out
how we go as the school year [moves] along.” School officials released a final reopening plan Friday, Aug. 14 which highlights elementary, middle and high school instruction. Teachers may collect student work through a variety of ways, including Google Classroom, snapshots taken of work uploaded or emailed, oral presentations during live sessions and hard copies. The school system also provided a list of student resources at https:// www.pgcps.org/school-supplies. There’s also some dates parents and guardians are asked to place on their calendars: - View student’s schedules by Friday, Aug. 21. - Distribution of iPads and Chromebooks during the week of Monday, Aug. 24.
LEARNING Page 39
state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services post testing data twice a week instead of just once. The latest figures from Friday, Aug. 14 show that out of 19,285 inmates tested, roughly 680 received confirmed positive results, eight of whom died. The report also recommends the department highlight protocols for treating and housing people who test positive, methods used to reinforce procedures and a person’s age, gender, race, ethnicity and scheduled parole eligibility date. A few recommendations to decrease the state prison population call for the governor to modify an April 18 executive order that includes the expedited parole or furloughs of all nonviolent inmates, assessment of all “medically vulnerable” inmates and possible early release of those with fewer than six months remaining in their sentences. Another proposal advocacy groups such as the ACLU of Maryland have requested would allow adult inmates and youth in juvenile detention centers to spend more than one hour per day outside. “The workgroup is concerned that social distancing policies — specifically those that result in prolonged periods of isolation — may result in physical and psychological harm to inmates,” according to the report. “For this reason, the workgroup recommends that DPSCS, each local correctional facility and DJS work to maximize the amount of time that individuals in custody are able to spend outside of a cell or confined indoor area.” WI
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Prince George’s Voters Urged to Cast Ballots by Mail By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Diana Bullock always voted in person, but this year’s coronavirus pandemic and challenges with her health forced the Landover resident to mail an absentee ballot during the June presidential primary election. Bullock, president of the Columbia Park Civic Association, plans to do the same routine for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. This time she must request an application to receive a ballot vote by mail. “I already applied for my ballot. You have to be ahead of the game,” she said. “I vote every time, especially for this year because I have to get [President Donald] Trump out that White House.” State and local election officials continue to urge voters to cast ballots by mail due to the ongoing health pandemic. Voting pleas are a bit louder in Prince George’s because the majority-Black jurisdiction continues to lead the state of Maryland with more than 25,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Gov. Larry Hogan originally wanted a traditional election with more than four million voters to cast ballots at 1,800 precincts in various neighborhoods statewide. However, he issued a proclamation Aug. 10 based on the state Board of Elections recommendation to incorporate about 360 voting centers that will allow voters to cast ballots at any voting location within their re-
NONPROFITS from Page 9 week before the event takes place and anyone who tests positive will not be able to participate. On the day of the distribution, we will have volunteers at different entry points checking people’s temperatures. If your temperature is too high, you will not be allowed to participate. “Also, we’ll implement social distancing protocols with volunteers working six feet apart,” Miller said. “We want to make sure that everyone is safe that day and no one gets sick.”
spective jurisdictions. This will be the first time Maryland conducts an election in this format. Hogan also requested election officials to immediately send absentee ballot applications for voters. Some Democratic lawmakers and advocates want the Republican governor to eliminate the application process and just mail the ballots, a procedure done for the primary election. “That’s straight-up voter suppression,” said Amity Pope, a local activist and president of Our Prince George’s. Pope and other members of the PG Change Makers Coalition are pushing a letter-writing campaign asking residents to send emails and letters to Hogan, Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford and other state officials to just mail the ballots. “Sending applications is a twostep process which requires more time and more money,” said Monica Roebuck, a member of the county’s Board of Elections and representative of a statewide voter protection and engagement committee. “I highly recommend everybody vote by mail. That is going to be your safest and easiest way to cast your ballot.” In the meantime, Prince George’s voters can also request a mail-in ballot by texting “VBM” to 77788. Voters can also go online at https://bit.ly/3ae5iBD. Voters can still cast ballots in person at 11 sites in the county during the early voting period from Oct. 26-Nov. 2. Because high schools will open
as polling places Nov. 3 on Election Day, Prince George’s voters can choose from 29 high schools to cast a ballot. It’s estimated about 30 election judges are needed at each high school, but the county could experience a 15% decrease in judges because most are senior citizens who aren’t planning to work at the polls. Elections Administrator Alisha Alexander summarized a proposal during an election board meeting last week to provide an additional $100 in “hazard pay” for training and work as an election judge and chief judge. Besides the presidential race between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, several high-profile local races are also on the ballot, including for county school board and Circuit Court judge. To encourage voter turnout, education and overall election excitement, the county’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference is organizing a “Soles to the Polls” campaign. Josephine Mourning, president of the Prince George’s SCLC chapter, said a caravan will drive through various neighborhoods on Aug. 28, the same day civil rights leaders will participate in the “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” march and rally in Washington. “We’re going to concentrate on going through our areas that had low voter turnout,” she said. “We’re going to be talking as we go through the community on our bullhorns telling people to get out to vote.” WI
Both Ford and Miller said fundraising hasn’t been an issue at this point, though Ford added that could change if a vaccine doesn’t emerge by the end of the year. “Donors are in the mindset right now to give but if this pandemic drags on, especially if there is no end in sight, we may experience some donors reluctant to donate more money and that will hurt our neediest people,” she said. Miller said he expects Walmart and Amazon to continue their support for Project Giveback, but get-
ting personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and face shields for volunteers will be an additional expense for his organization. O’Gilvie said he is aware of the economic stress the pandemic has put on charities and has advice for its leaders. “I encourage leaders to listen to their constituents, team members and board members during this time,” he said. “Leaders need to be transparent in a decisive way and we at the Nonprofit Center are here to help if we are needed.” WI
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5 A drop-off ballot box in May outside Prince George’s County Board of Elections office in Largo. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer, file)
The Capital Accelerator Program Since the onset of COVID-19, small businesses - especially minority and women owned businesses have been hardest hit by this Pandemic. Nationwide, it is estimated that 44% of minority and women owned businesses will shut their doors; while, according to the County’s Economic Development Corporation, 1/3 of these businesses may be forced to close. While the pandemic is wreaking havoc, these potential closures highlight the historic struggle that small businesses have had to remain competitive. Many of these businesses have long been locked out of public and private procurement, equity participation in land use development & investment/ capital access. The inability to access capital, makes it difficult to remain afloat even when obtaining small contracts. In keeping with its purpose to be the Voice of Wealth Creation, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Small Business Development Council (SBDC), and generous support from the United Way of the National Capital Area, City First Bank, Bank of America, the Prince George’s Community Federal Credit Union & Truist- is pleased to announce the Capital Accelerator Program. This program will provide coaching, counseling & access to capital; and during COVID-19, assistance in applying for the Payroll Protection Program, other SBA stimulus programs as well as state and local grant programs that will level the playing field for small businesses in Prince George’s County. As new stimulus packages are being negotiated, and with Payroll Protection dollars still available, stay tuned for Chamber Webinars that will help businesses access these dollars. Not a member? Please visit our website, www.pgcoc.org to get started! Membership is good for a full calendar year, so it’s always a good time to join* David C. Harrington President & CEO
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020 13
BUSINESS Stimulus Negotiations Remain Stalled in Congress By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
Stimulus legislation negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have collapsed, leaving many in limbo as a growing number of Americans face economic hardship and evictions. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said the White House remains unwilling to reach a compromise that would help tens of millions of Americans suf-
fering from the fallout over the pandemic. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) countered by alleging that Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues have “sabotaged backroom talks with absurd demands that would not help working people.” More than two months ago, House Democrats passed the $3.4 trillion Heroes Act. After failing to consider the Heroes Act, Senate Republicans waited until the end of July to introduce the $1 trillion
HEALS Act. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows led the negotiations for the White House, and both steadfastly refused to budge from their $1 trillion proposal, while Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) held firm to the price tag of the Heroes Act. The standoff has resulted in the clock running out on enhanced unemployment benefits, where recipients receive an additional $600 weekly above state funds. The GOP wants to cap those weekly benefits at $200 despite more than 50 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits since the beginning of the pandemic. Democrats have also asked for state and local aid to the tune of $915 billion, but President Donald Trump claims that he doesn’t want to bail out “failing Democratic-run states.” During negotiations, Republicans offered to provide $150 billion to state and local governments.
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5 (Photo courtesy of arichidea.com)
The stalled talks have also put to the sidelines hopes struggling Americans may have for a second direct stimulus payment. Both sides have agreed on providing direct payments like the earlier Cares Act, in which most Americans received a $1,200 stimulus check. In saying that Democrats are willing to meet Republicans in the middle and agree to a $2 trillion package, Pelosi has said her party won’t compromise on either unemployment benefits or state and local government aid. “When [Republicans] are ready to do that, we’ll sit down,” Pelosi stated when asked if talks would
resume if the GOP accepted the Democrats’ $2 trillion offer. “We said, ‘$2 trillion and then we can sit down at the table.’ Then [Mnuchin] said, ‘That’s not what she said. She said $2 trillion or we can’t sit down at the table,’” Pelosi said. “Didn’t you think that that was strange?” She continued when asked when she might speak with Mnuchin again. “I don’t know. When they come in with $2 trillion,” Pelosi said. “But we’re not sitting down at the table to validate what [they] have proposed, because it does not meet the needs of the American people. WI
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BUSINESS
5 Jam Master Jay (Courtesy photo/Blacksportsonline.com)
Two Men Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Murder in Death of Legendary Hip-Hop Star Jam Master Jay By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia A federal grand jury indicted in the 2002 slaying of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, law-enforcement officials in New York confirmed on Aug. 17. Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr.—longtime suspects in the hip-hop pioneer’s execution-style murder in his Queens studio—are accused of killing Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, while trafficking drugs. Washington, 56, is already behind bars for robbery, while Jordan, 36, was nabbed on Aug. 16. Mizell’s murder took place 18 years ago at his studio off Jamaica Avenue near the Queens Public Library. His funeral took place only blocks away from the studio on Merrick Boulevard and was attended by his Run-DMC band mates Joseph “Run” Simmons and Daryl “DMC” McDaniels. Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Simmons’ brother and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, Queen Latifah and many other hip-hop legends also attended the funeral. In a 10-count indictment, federal prosecutors leveled murder and drug trafficking charges against Washington and Jordan. Prosecutors said Mizell some-
how became involved in transporting large quantities of cocaine over a six-year period ending with his murder in 2002. The indictment claims that Jordan and Washington, whom Mizell had let sleep on his couch for some time, intended to distribute one package of nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine in a scheme that resulted in a dispute between the men and Mizell. That is when they decided to kill the famed disc jockey, authorities said. According to investigators, Washington and Jordan entered Mizell’s recording studios in the evening of Oct. 30, 2002, ordering those in the room to lie on the floor. They shot one man in the leg then shot Mizell in the head, killing him. “This is a case that has been around for a long time,” acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said at a news conference announcing the charges. “They walked in and murdered him in cold blood,” DuCharme said. If convicted, the men could receive sentences ranging from 20-years to life, or the death penalty. DuCharme said it would be up to Attorney General William Barr as to whether prosecutors would seek the death penalty. It is unclear when Washington
would face extradition, he is currently serving time on unrelated charges in Kentucky. Jordan was arraigned on Aug. 17. Prosecutors have asked both
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men be held without bail. Mizell rose to fame in the 1980s as part of Run-DMC. The group’s genre-smashing included “Sucker MCs,” “It’s Like That,” “My Adi-
das,” and “Walk This Way.” In 2009, Run-DMC became just the second rap group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. WI
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020 15
NATIONAL NAACP Launches Ambitious Voter Turnout Campaign By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia With an ambitious goal to increase turnout among African American voters by more than 5 percent over 2016, the NAACP has launched the first phase of its “Black Voices Change Lives” campaign. The initiative marks an unprecedented effort by the nation’s oldest civil rights organization to engage Black voters across the country by deploying what NAACP President Derrick Johnson called a blend of traditional and innovative turnout tactics in a select number of battleground states.
“We’ve seen the outcome of when we have a drop in voter activity in the Black community,” Johnson declared. “We have racism germinating from the White House.” Johnson added that there’s an added sense of urgency in getting African Americans to vote this year. As a part of this effort, the NAACP said it would release radio and digital ads in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The NAACP turnout strategy is anchored in indirect relational voter turnout (IRVT), an initiative pioneered by the data science firm GSSA, where high-propensity Black voters are recruited as volun-
5 NAACP President Derrick Johnson (file photo)
teers to encourage low-frequency Black voters to hit the polls. Johnson said the goal is to enlist the services of about 200,000 “high-propensity” Black voters or people who turned out to vote in a high number of recent local, state and presidential elections. In turn, those voters would look to mobilize “low-frequency” Black voters — individuals who were registered to vote, but who had not voted in the most recent election cycle or several election cycles — in Florida, Georgia, Michigan,
Request for Proposal Solicitation GAGA-2020-R-0086 Private Transportation DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL OPERATIONS DIVISION (SOD) The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Contracts and Acquisitions Division, on behalf of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO), School Operations Division (SOD), and the Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL), Division of Specialized Instruction (DSI) “The District” is seeking contractor(s) to provide timely transportation services to students with disabilities between the age of 3 to 22 years old enrolled in a general or special education program(s) either in DC/Maryland or Virginia, to be transported between home, school, and/or other DCPS-authorized activities. Solicitations will be available Tuesday, August 18, 2020. This solicitation can be downloaded from the OCA website delineating all the details of the solicitation at http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Doing+Business+with+DCPS/Procurement. Proposals will be accepted at DCPS/OCA on Tuesday, September 08, 2020, no later than 1:00 p.m. at. dcpsoca.inquiries@k12.dc.gov.
16 - AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The announcement coincided with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden selecting Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate. Harris is the first Black woman to appear on the presidential ticket for a major party. “Throughout the history of this nation, Black women have been at the forefront of moving us toward a more representative and unified society,” Johnson said. “From the voting booth to grassroots movements, Black women have fought
for and uplifted this country with their vote and voice. But their representation in the highest levels of government has never matched their unwavering participation in our democracy.” The NAACP president called the selection of Harris a choice that breaks down barriers in historic proportions. “This announcement is even more powerful as it comes at a time when Black Americans face dueling threats — a global health crisis and ingrained racism,” Johnson said. “This moment is long overdue.” wi
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NATIONAL Black Press Publisher and Others Applaud Choice of Kamala Harris By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Amelia Ashley Ward, the Sun Reporter newspaper publisher in San Francisco, could hardly contain her emotions when Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was announced as the running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. “I cried,” said Ward, who has remained close friends with Harris for more than two decades. “I know that she is qualified, and she is for the people. I’ve always felt that God had a little something special for her.” Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Reproductive Justice Agenda, said Harris is highly qualified with a proven record of fighting for human and civil rights. “As a Black woman born to immigrant parents, Sen. Harris understands, personally, how devastatingly
unjust the Trump-Pence administration’s attacks on our most basic rights have been. She knows how it feels and what it means to be targeted because of race, gender, and national origin,” Howell said. NAACP President Derrick Johnson called Biden’s selection of Harris a “defining moment.” “Sen. Kamala Harris, as the first vice presidential candidate of a major political party, breaks down one of these barriers in historic proportions,” Johnson said. “This announcement is even more powerful as it comes at a time when Black Americans face dueling threats — a global health crisis and ingrained racism. This moment is long overdue.” Back in the Bay area, Ward said most people are thrilled and proud that their native daughter can lead America’s future. “I believe many of us will work overtime to help elect President Biden and Vice President Harris,” Ward said.
“I believe once elected November 3; Vice President Harris will work alongside President Biden to immediately put this country back on track. She is no stranger to controversy, and she certainly is not afraid of working to make the country better.” In recent weeks, supporters of the president and many in the GOP have ramped up attacks against Harris and the other Black women considered by Biden. In an open letter by nearly 700 Black women leaders, the attacks were roundly denounced. “Black women are many things. We are business executives, political strategists, and elected officials, philanthropists, and activists,” read the letter, which was circulated throughout the media and posted to various social media accounts. “We are health and wellness practitioners. We are entertainers and faith leaders. We are wives, mothers, daughters, educators, and students. We set and shift culture. We build power, and we are powerful.”
Among the many Black women who signed the open letter are Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Maya Cummings, Dr. Hazel Dukes, Suzanne de Passe, Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Cora Masters Barry, Melanie Campbell and Karen Boykin-Towns. “We are the highest propensity voters in this nation. We are a coalition of Black women leaders, who, in this inflection point of the Black liberation movement, where people around the world are galvanized to action, know that the time for Black women in the United States is now,” the women wrote in the letter. Ward said she believes Harris is up to facing down those who might spew racist or sexist hate toward her. “Sen. Harris is no stranger to rude and negative folks,” she said. “She has dealt with racism and sexism since the beginning of her 18-year political career. She is driven, fearless, tried, tested and qualified. She will give Trump and Pence all that they can handle.” WI
5 Sen. Kamala Harris (Courtesy of BlackPressUSA)
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Ghana Maps Out Road to December General Elections
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has outlined a roadmap towards the December general elections, after a successful voter registration exercise, according to a release posted on its website Friday, Aug. 14. The commission has set Oct. 5 as the date for the presidential and parliamentary candidates to file their nominations. Before this, the EC will undertake an exhibition of the electoral roll to offer prospective voters the opportunity to cross-check the accuracy of their details captured on the voter register and identity cards. The EC added that the distribution of the final voters roll to all participating political parties shall take place on Nov. 6. The 2020 general elections will start on Dec. 1 with special voting for security personnel, media, and officials of other organizations with official duties away from their polling centers on Election Day. The general public will cast their ballots on Dec. 7, with results declared the latest by Dec. 10. If none of the presidential candidates receives more than 50% votes required for winning the election, a round-off will take place on Dec. 28. The EC is undertaking the cleaning of the electoral register after completing its mass Biometric Voter Registration across Ghana earlier this month, with 16,963,306 citizens registered ahead of the general elections. At its weekly press briefing, the commission explained that the register was provisional because there were ongoing processes to take the register through to ensure that it is credible for the December 7, 2020 general elections. WI
caribbean now Rowley Announces Significant Restrictions Amid Pandemic
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced Friday new restrictions that will last for at least 28 days as the country continues to face an increase in coronavirus cases. It came on a day in which the Ministry of Health announced 48 new cases from batch testing, taking the number of positive cases in T&T since the start of the virus to 474. Ten people have died. Beginning Monday morning, all in-house dining in restaurants and bars ceased, including at food courts and malls. This also includes the precincts of those establishments. Takeaway services, however, will be allowed to continue. Among other restrictions: Beaches and rivers will close; all places of worship will close; all gyms will close; all contact sports will cease; waterparks will close; casinos and members clubs will remain closed; cinemas will be closed; authorised gatherings of people outside of homes will not be more than five people; weddings, funerals, christenings and so on will be allowed with no more than 10 people; maxis and taxis will operate at 50% capacity; air and sea-bridge transportation to and from Tobago will be restricted to essential people; and all teaching institutions will remain closed until this phase is over. The prime minister said it appears at this stage that the government will likely have to shut down schools for the rest of the year. WI
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HEALTH NAMI, Designer Kenneth Cole Team to Fight Mental Illness By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Even before COVID-19, mental illness was one of the most prevalent public health crises, affecting hundreds of millions of people globally. As the pandemic has claimed more than 170,000 American lives with over 5 million confirmed cases, mental illness remains a public health emergency. The World Health Organization notes that 1 in 4 people globally will be affected by a mental disor-
der at some point in their lives. But fashion mogul Kenneth Cole said everyone is significantly affected, if not directly themselves, then by it happening to someone they know. “We say if you consider people you love and people in the family, in the community, in the workplace, everybody is living with mental health issues,” Cole said. “And everybody’s contextualizing it daily, and it’s overwhelming. Two-thirds of those people doing it are living in the shadows because they don’t know how to confront it. They don’t know how to deal with it.”
Early this year, Cole started the Mental Health Coalition and joined forces with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help shift the narrative and preconceived perspectives. Together, the organizations want people to know that they’re not alone in their struggle with mental illness. They are encouraging everyone to vocalize their battles and seek assistance. “Silence is worsening this global crisis. People are afraid to speak up, fearing they will be judged and persecuted,” Cole said. “That’s why there is a pressing need to de-stigmatize this public health threat, which starts with changing our cultural narrative and creating a safe and supportive community.” Daniel Gillison, CEO of NAMI, told BlackPressUSA that lifting the stigma surrounding mental illness — particularly in the African American community — is as relevant now than ever. “Especially during this time of isolation, uncertainty, and tragedy, it is vital that no one feels alone in their mental health journey,” Gil-
MENTAL ILLNESS Page 33
A CONTINUING SERIES
COVID 19 UPDATE Strategies to Survive, Sustain and Succeed
5 Daniel Gillison, CEO of NAMI (Courtesy of NAMI)
5 Kenneth Cole (Courtesy of The TASC Group)
COVID-19 NOTICE Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) is operating remotely during the pandemic, but we remain committed to the needs of DC elders 60 and older. For legal assistance call LCE Legal Hotline: 202-434-2120 For long-term care issues call LCE’s Office of the DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 202-434-2190 For the latest on the pandemic, visit www.cdc.gov and www.coronavirus.dc.gov
www.aarp.org/LCE
Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an affiliate of AARP.
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EDUCATION Marijuana Harmful to the Heart: Report By James Wright WI Staff Writer @Jamesdcwrighter
The legalization of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use has become commonplace throughout the U.S., but the American Heart Association recently issued a report saying the herb may be unhealthy for the heart. An Aug. 5 post on the association’s website, titled “Marijuana May Hurt Heart, More Research Needed Report Finds,” said marijuana use could harm the heart and blood vessels. The report found no cardiovascular benefits to cannabis use and called for more research into the drug. “We urgently need some carefully designed, prospective shortand long-term studies regarding cannabis use and cardiovascular safety as it becomes increasingly available and more widely used,” said Robert L. Page, chair of the writing group that produced the report. “The public needs factbased, valid scientific information cannabis’s effect on the heart and blood vessels. Research funding at federal and state levels must be increased to match the expansion of cannabis use—to clarify the potential therapeutic properties and to help us better understand the cardiovascular and public health implications of frequent cannabis use.” The report cites observational studies linking the chemicals in marijuana to an increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure and a heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation. The report also alluded to a recent study stating six percent of heart attack victims younger than 50 used marijuana and cited research that found us-
ers ages 18-44 had a significantly higher risk of having a stroke compared to non-users. Marijuana is now legal for either medicinal or recreational use in 47 states and the District, plus in four out of the five U.S. territories. In the District, cannabis is legal for recreational and medicinal purposes but cannot be commercially sold. The U.S. Congress, which has oversight over the city, has prohibited the District government from regulating cannabis sales like other jurisdictions that are states. Ambrose Lane Jr., chairman of the Health Alliance Network, who opposes the legalization of marijuana in the District, said the report doesn’t surprise him. “The fact that marijuana could be harmful to your heart is more the reason why it should have never been legalized,” Lane said. “I think the District jumped the gun too quickly and there should have been more studies on marijuana. The District didn’t take the time to go through the science. “Plus, young people who use marijuana are being hurt by it and there is evidence to prove that,” he said. “It is mostly through synthetic marijuana and an increasing number of D.C. youth are using that. Also, there is no financial advantage to selling marijuana legally, from what I see.” Linda Mercado Greene, president and CEO of Anacostia Organics, Inc., a marijuana dispensary based in Ward 8, expressed surprise at the report’s conclusions. “This is the first time I have ever heard that marijuana use can damage your heart,” she said. “I think that has more to do with smoking it. There are many ways you can intake marijuana. It can be taken
in through topicals, edibles, bath soaps, teas and pain relief sprays. It doesn’t have to be smoked and I think that is where the problem is.” Greene said cannabis regulated by the government and sold by a licensed dispensary will more likely be safer than the marijuana sold on the street. “There is a good possibility the cannabis sold out in the street may be laced with PCP and that could provoke heart trouble,” she said. Page agreed. “If people choose to use cannabis for its medicinal or recreational effects, the oral and topical forms, for which doses can be measured, may reduce some of the potential harms,” he said. “It is also vitally important that people only use legal cannabis products because there are no controls on the quality of contents of cannabis products sold on the street. WI
5 An ounce of marijuana. (Courtesy photo/Harvard University)
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2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
Reading, (W)riting and Resources: Distance and Digital Learning Under COVID-19
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Charting the Course of a New Adventure
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
One of the things that I’ve loved since girlhood was the close of summer and the return to school. Even then, I believe there was something about stimulating my mind – learning new things, creat5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) ing ideas, and experimenting through problems for workable solutions – that made education an adventure. Well, this year, unlike any in recent history, educational systems are being challenged to find new and innovative ways to strengthen young minds. And like any other school year, I believe parents, educators and students will rise to the occasion of this new adventure. While it is true that the pandemic and social unrest that have come to define 2020 also impact quite strongly how the academic year begins, it does not have to become an educational albatross weighted about the shoulders of the nation. This is, after all, America – a nation founded upon the principle of relying less on resources than on resourcefulness. And in the same manner that once-poorly funded (or defunded) school districts across the nation created streams of educational capital to fill in the gaps, our obligation to young minds is to pitch in where needed. Be clear, I am not speaking of money, necessarily, but of assisting households that need a bit of extra help to ensure children and young adults matriculate successfully. For instance, a 2019-2020 Point-in-Time count of homelessness in the District found 2,433 homeless families with 1,420 children documented as homeless. During a virtual board meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on June 10, the issue of homelessness was addressed in relation to the city’s recovery from COVID-19. “Homelessness was a serious challenge in our region pre-pandemic, but the COVID-19 impact brings new urgency to addressing the crisis,” Tony Turnage, assistant director of the Prince William Homeless Services Division and co-chair of the COG Homeless Services Committee noted. “It’s clear, housing must be central to the conversations about the region’s recovery plans.” Likewise, education must be equally central. Students are still required to perform, learn, and master information irrespective of their domiciles or lack thereof. Consider sponsoring a homeless or financially strapped family this school year so that basic supplies – including hygiene kits of masks, hand sanitizers, deodorant, and feminine products – are readily available and do not hinder young minds from focusing on their coursework. Many households in the DMV are also led by senior citizens caring for their grandchildren which means technology may be somewhat confusing to navigate. Mask up and volunteer to help demonstrate modems, laptops, the Blackboard system, and emails for your elderly neighbors. Additionally, DCPS accepts donations of school supplies, schoolbooks for students’ coursework and home libraries, interactive white boards, computers, and hygiene kits. Check their website for additional information, https://dcps.dc.gov/service/make-donation-dcps As Gladys Knight once sang, “as bad as these days may be for you, they will be the ‘good old days’ for your children and grandchildren.” We owe it to young people to make these uncertain times as enriching and bountiful as possible. Let them grow into adults that remember how the communities around them pulled together to make the 2020-2021 school year a great, (though challenging) adventure. In this Informer supplement, Reading, (W) riting and Resources: Distance and Digital Learning Under COVID-19, we invite you to examine the tools necessary for a winning school year.
Many households in the DMV are also led by senior citizens caring for their grandchildren which means technology may be somewhat confusing to navigate. Mask up and volunteer to help demonstrate modems, laptops, the Blackboard system, and emails for your elderly neighbors.
Read, Learn, Grow.
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
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Power Tools: Necessary Equipment for New Learning Environments
By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer
This year’s Back-to-School shopping season has taken a major hit with retailers scrambling to offer sales on items that may be of no particular use – or of limited value under remote learning. In a season defined by the COVID-19 global pandemic, many parents have found that while they may not be shopping for school uniforms or book bags, they do have investments to make in their kids’ academic success and much of it is technologically driven. According to an online study of 600 college students and 1,200 K-12 parents in July 2020, commissioned by PayPal and conducted by Netfluential, parents will actually spend more this year on school necessities than in previous years. Forty percent of parents and 35 percent of college students plan to spend more this year than last. Of note, first-year college students will spend $732 on average, compared to $444 among K-12 parents. Additionally, 70 percent are doing more online shopping than before because of the pandemic and nearly three-quarters will be doing their back-to-school shopping online. “We are ordering almost everything our children need online this year and there are a few things that are ‘big ticket items’ that we are having to purchase like different modems, desks, and chairs,” Northeast resident Wayman Dow told the Informer. “We want to recreate the classroom setting as much as possible and that costs a pretty penny.” Dow can be counted among the 63 percent of Americans surveyed that said they plan to spend more on remote learning furniture and home goods and 59 percent indicating spending increase on remote learning and tech. Other investments include tech tools for enhanced virtual learning, including headphones, laptops and tablets, monitors, bookcases, desks, and arts and crafts materials. “We don’t know how long this quarantine will continue and so we have to outfit our homes to meet the needs of our children. It’s kind of exciting, actually,” Patricia Kelly-Patterson told the Informer. “It was one thing to have my three at different spots at the dining room table when the quarantine first began, but this is becoming a ‘new norm’ and so this
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environment needs to be as comfortable and conducive to learning as the classroom.” For those parents whose children will return to the classroom, shopping lists include items like masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers. Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Candice W. Jones told CNN that the goal is to reduce sharing in the classroom as much as possible and to ward off any bacteria with proper disinfectants. “Kids should have a 60 percent or higher alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which kills most types of bacteria, viruses and fungi. I recommend everyone having their own, not just to avoid handwashing in communal bathrooms, but also for other situations like on the bus,” Jones said. “And it’s important to practice using these items with your child before sending them off to school.” And since many parents have kept their children from enclosed spaces like grocery stores and restaurants since the pandemic began, the children have not had to wear face masks at all – and certainly not for long periods of time. Experts believe it is crucial that parents not only purchase regulation masks that are proper fitting, but also that they practice having their children wear them about the house in order to get used to them. “Parents should gradually build up face covering ‘endurance’ in their children by having them wear a face covering for longer and longer periods of time,” Michael LaSusa, superintendent of schools in Chatham, New Jersey advised. “If a child spends zero time during the day right now in a face covering, then that child will have a tough time spending four hours wearing one when September rolls around. We need to build up this endurance gradually.” Retailers like Old Navy and Target offer children’s masks in stylish colors and patterns that may keep them from feeling anxious about wearing them. Parents are advised to also use permanent marker to label all masks with their child’s name, as well as to indicate the mask’s top, bottom, front and back, provide their child with a resealable bag or container for masks so that it remains clean when they are required to remove them for meals, and pack one or two spare masks with their child in a separate resealable bag or container, in case the initial mask breaks or gets dirty. BTS
5The right back-to-school equipment is a must whether students learn in the classroom or by remote. (Courtesy photo)
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By the Numbers: Virtual Learning By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer SurveyMonkey Audience survey was conducted March 24 - April 1, 2020 among 849 teenagers ages 13-17 in the United States. Respondents for this survey were selected from more than two million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. The modeled error estimate for the full sample is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. Data have been weighted for age and sex using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States age 13-17.
95%
The spread of the coronavirus has upended school for teens, with 95 percent of 13-to 17-year-olds in the U.S. reporting the cancellation of in-person classes at their schools.
Slightly more than half of teens who no longer attend school in person say they are worried about not being able to keep up with their schoolwork (56 percent) and their extracurricular activities (55 percent) while in-person school activities are canceled.
Black and Hispanic/Latino teens are significantly more likely than White teens to be worried about keeping up with schoolwork.
The DC Charter School Alliance is dedicated to supporting and representing the robust charter school sector in our nation’s capital.
Many teens aren’t connecting with their teachers. Almost one in four teens (24 percent) say they’re connecting with their teachers less than once a week.
www.dccharters.org | info@dccharters.org | (202) 387-0405
Girls are more likely than boys to say they’re worried about keeping up with both schoolwork and extracurriculars. Forty-one percent haven’t attended an online or virtual class since in-person school was cancelled.
Finding space to do schoolwork is a challenge for many teens. More than a quarter of teens (28 percent) say they lack a dedicated space where they can do schoolwork at home.
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
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2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
PGCPS Supporting Strong Home and School Connections During Distance Learning Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is gearing up to begin the 2020-21 academic year on Monday, Aug. 31 with distance learning for all grades. Distance learning will continue through the first and second quarters with a goal to return to school buildings in February to begin the third quarter. Although this back-to-school season undoubtedly looks and feels different amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, one thing remains the
PGCPS PrekinderGarten SeatS available!
same: the PGCPS commitment to maintaining a strong connection between home and school. Here are key ways the school system will support families throughout distance learning.
week of Aug. 24 to those in need. The Connect PGCPS initiative through the Excellence in Education Foundation will continue to cover the cost of Internet access to families.
NEW PARENT SUPPORT CENTERS
SUPPORT FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELLS) AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, parents who need assistance navigating aspects of distance learning, such as technology support, accessing instructional packets or other needs, can visit Parent Support Centers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at nine schools across the county: Benjamin Tasker Middle School 4901 Collington Road, Bowie Charles Carroll Middle School 6130 Lamont Drive, New Carrollton
FUll-day PrOGram SiteS (limited to families living
Drew-Freeman Middle School 2600 Brooks Drive, Suitland
ACADEMIES Andrew Jackson William W. Hall
G. James Gholson Middle School 900 Nalley Road, Landover Gwynn Park High School 13800 Brandywine Road, Brandywine
within the school boundary area)
reGiStratiON • ALL families can apply for prekindergarten at your boundary school. • Open to children who turn four years old on or before September 1, 2020. • Listed full-day program sites are open to those living within the school boundary area ONLY. • Listed half-day program sites are open to all families – you do not have to live in the school boundary area. • Parents/Guardians may apply for Prekindergarten at their boundary school (for in-boundary students) or selected program school (for half-day programs) using the following link: pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com • Parents/Guardians must upload your child’s birth certificate and immunization records, proof of residency (current lease or deed and two important pieces of mail) and two latest paystubs (for parents/guardians in the household). • Over-income families will be placed on a wait list and considered for a seat after September 8th based on space availability.
ClaSS SiZe & StrUCtUre Class size is limited to 20 students. Prekindergarten will participate in distance learning from August 31 through January 29.
CONtaCt iNFO
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS Chapel Forge H. Winship Wheatley Frances Fuchs Kenmoor ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Allenwood Apple Grove Ardmore Arrowhead Avalon Baden Barack Obama Barnaby Manor Beacon Heights Bladensburg Bradbury Heights Capitol Heights Dual Language Carmody Hills Carole Highlands Catherine T. Reed Chillum Clinton Grove Columbia Park Concord Cool Spring Cooper Lane Cora Rice District Heights Dodge Park Doswell E. Brooks Edward M. Felegy Flintstone Forest Heights Fort Foote Fort Washington Forest
Francis Scott Key Francis T. Evans Gladys Noon Spellman Highland Park Hillcrest Heights Hyattsville Indian Queen J. Frank Dent James H. Harrison James R. Randall John H. Bayne Judge S. Woods Kettering Kingsford Lake Arbor Langley Park - McCormick Longfields Marlton Montpelier Mount Rainer North Forestville Northview Overlook Dual Language Oxon Hill Paint Branch Panorama Patuxent Port Towns Potomac Landing Princeton
Early Childhood Office 240-724-1924
OTHER SITES Greenbelt Children’s Center Largo Park Early Learning Center
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org
Adelphi Beltsville Calverton Carrollton Deerfield Run Gaywood
High Point High School - 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville
Ridgecrest Riverdale Robert R. Gray Rockledge Rogers Heights Rosa L. Parks Rosaryville Rose Valley Samuel Chase Samuel P. Massie Scotchtown Hills Seabrook Seat Pleasant Suitland Tayac Templeton Thomas S. Stone Valley View Vansville Waldon Woods William Beanes William Paca Woodmore Woodridge
HalF-day PrOGram elemeNtary SCHOOl SiteS (open to all families) Glenridge Greenbelt Hollywood James McHenry Lamont Laurel
Lewisdale Magnolia Mary Harris “Mother” Jones Oaklands University Park
Mount Rainier Elementary School 4011 32nd St., Mount Rainier Port Towns Elementary School 4351 58th Avenue, Bladensburg Thurgood Marshall Middle School 4909 Brinkley Road, Temple Hills
STUDENT MEAL SERVICE
All schools will offer multi-day, pre-packaged breakfast and lunch on Mondays and Thursdays. Students who are not eligible for free and reduced-priced meals will have to pay for breakfast and lunch, preferably through their student account. Families can apply online for free and reduced-price meals at www.pgcps.org.
TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS
All students will be equipped with their own digital devices for learning at home. Students who received devices in the spring should continue to use them. Chromebooks, iPads and wifi hotspots will be distributed during the
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
Teachers and certified specialists will support English Language Learners (ELLs) and students with disabilities on a regular schedule. Additionally, small group instruction for enrichment or intervention will be provided as needed or outlined in student learning and support plans. All Individualized Education Plan and 504 meetings will be held virtually with parents. Parents, guardians and caregivers of special education students can also take advantage of an interactive virtual workshop series designed to equip families with ideas, tips and strategies in preparation for online learning. Workshops will cover strategies for creating an effective learning environment at home; planning, organization, and self-advocacy; distance learning information for non-public school students and more. For more information, visit www.pgcps.org.
KEY DATES
Aug. 31– First Day of School Distance learning will begin for all grade levels through the end of second quarter in January. Dec. 1-18 If conditions are safe, PGCPS will offer families the option to continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year or to begin hybrid instruction in the spring. February to June 2021 – Second Semester Depending on conditions, PGCPS will implement a hybrid staggered schedule with two days of in-person learning and three days of distance learning. Full-time distance learning will continue students who opt in. Please visit the PGCPS website for the full Reopen PGCPS plan, more information and distance learning updates. BTS
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Comcast Launches New “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” for Cities, Schools, and Students as Nation Gears Up for the Academic Year
Adds Free xFi Platform for Parents to Protect Children’s Devices and Monitor Online Activities Continues to Offer 60 Days of Free Internet Service for New Internet Essentials Customers With distance learning plans rolling out across the country due to the coronavirus, Comcast has announced a new program for cities, schools, and nonprofits to connect large numbers of low-income K-12 students to the Internet at home. The “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” is designed to help accelerate Internet adoption at a critical time. In nearly ten years, Internet Essentials has become the nation’s largest and most successful low-income Internet adoption program and has connected millions of people to the Internet. It offers households low-cost, broadband Internet service for $9.95/ month, the option to purchase a heavily subsidized computer, and multiple options for digital literacy training. Comcast also announced it is giving all Internet Essentials customers its innovative xFi platform, which enables parents to control and manage their
children’s WiFi connected devices. Accelerating Internet Adoption: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” has already collaborated with more than 70 schools across the country. The program relies on public-private partnerships and enables entire communities to work together to coordinate funding to help connect K-12 students. The program also includes two months of free Internet service for new Internet Essentials customers. Recent partnerships with schools in Chicago, Atlanta, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Arlington, VA mean more than 200,000 qualified students now have a greater opportunity to get connected. Visit: www.comcastcorporation.com/IEPP for more information. “We’ve seen firsthand that low-cost Internet access is an important part of
improving digital equity and creating positive opportunities for low-income students and families,” said Dana Strong, President of Xfinity Consumer Services. “Through this new partnership program, we are accelerating the efforts of cities, schools, philanthropies, nonprofits, and private citizens to collaborate and open the doors of Internet access for more families in need.” The initiative builds on Comcast’s recent announcement that it will continue to offer, through the end of 2020, all new Internet Essentials customers two months of free Internet service and it will forgive back debt due so more families can apply. Putting Home WiFi Controls into Parents’ Hands and Keeping Families Safe Online: With so many families at home, parents and caregivers need controls to manage their home WiFi connection
and their children’s devices. So, Comcast is providing all Internet Essentials customers free access to xFi, which is a simple, digital dashboard that enables customers to set up and manage their home WiFi. With it, they can see what devices are connected, set safe-browsing modes so children can only access age-appropriate content, get notifications about activity on their home WiFi, and have the ability to pause devices for dinner or bedtime. Partnering to Accelerate Internet Adoption and Address Digital and Media Literacy: As research shows, barriers to broadband adoption are more complex than having access to an Internet connection, even when it’s heavily discounted or free. It’s also clear that no single entity can solve the digital divide alone. As a result, the success of Internet Essentials is due to partnerships
2 Months of Free High-Speed Internet from Comcast Internet Essentials from Comcast brings you affordable, high-speed home Internet. You may be eligible for 2 months of free Internet Essentials service. Available for new Internet Essentials customers only. Apply by December 31, 2020.
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Are eligible for public assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. Live in an area where Comcast Internet Service is available.
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with more than 10,000 government and elected officials, school districts, libraries, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and others. Collectively, they help to address the full range of barriers to broadband adoption. Comcast also announced plans that it will convene a series of virtual national and regional summits this fall. Each one will focus on several issues including: education, broadband adoption, digital and media literacy and training, and Internet safety. In addition, this fall Comcast will publish its annual Internet Essentials progress report and relaunch its Internet Essentials Partner Portal, located at www.internetessentials.com/partner, to include case studies, research, and links to creative broadband adoption solutions. Resources there will be made free for anyone to access, including other Internet Service Providers and nonprofits. BTS
3
Have not subscribed to Comcast Internet within the last 90 days.
4
Have no outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than one year old.*
InternetEssentials.com 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376)
*Households with outstanding debt may still be eligible if approved by 12/31/20.
Offer ends December 31, 2020. Restrictions apply. Limited to Internet Essentials (“IE”) service from Comcast for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Offer limited to 2 months of complimentary Internet Essentials service. Taxes, home drop-off, and professional install extra. After promotion, regular rates apply. Comcast’s current rate is $9.95/mo. (subject to change). Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. If a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for the IE program, regular rates will apply to the selected Internet service. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. May not be combined with other offers. Call 1-855-846-8376 for restrictions and complete details or visit InternetEssentials.com. © 2020 Comcast. All rights reserved.
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8/5/20 6:23 PM
STAY ON TRACK! Now more than ever, it’s important that your child receives their immunizations on time.
SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL PHYSICAL TODAY! All DC students must have up-to-date immunizations and submit a completed immunization record to attend school.
dchealth.dc.gov/immunizations
Entry Revoked? International College Students Face Visa Uncertainties By Lee Ross and Shantella Sherman WI Staff Writer The Trump administration agreed to rescind a directive that would have barred international college students from the U.S. if their colleges offered classes entirely online in the fall semester. Still, those students remain reticent about how their future college and career plans may be impacted by a seemingly hostile position over their visas. According to the nonprofit Institute of International Education, more than 1 million higher education students in the U.S. — about 5 percent of the total student body — come from overseas. Emerging market countries showed some of the strongest growth year over year, especially Bangladesh (an increase of 10.0 percent), Brazil (an increase of 9.8 percent), Nigeria ( an increase of 5.8 percent), and Pakistan ( an increase of 5.6 percent). The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a notice July 6, prohibiting foreign students from entering or remaining in the country to take fully online course loads. Many colleges and universities began implementing plans weeks earlier to offer online-only classes because of the coronavirus pandemic. This measure left international students scrambling to determine not only if they would be in violation of their visas, but also if their home countries would allow them to return since many nations have closed their borders to those traveling from the U.S. Fortunately, there was immediate backlash to the announcement. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sued the U.S. government in federal court two days later, calling the directive “arbitrary and capricious” and petitioning the court to have the decision reversed and declared unlawful. In an agreement with ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the government rescinded the policy. Olamide Abubakar, a junior engineering student from Nigeria said
www.washingtoninformer.com / 2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
5International students faced visa revocation and deportation recently, but are now able to learn by remote from the States or in their home countries. (Courtesy photo)
the notice has left her relieved for the moment, but extremely anxious about her ongoing status under COVID-19. “There has been a lot of confusion for me as to whether it was time to go home or transfer to another school holding courses in-person rather than by remote. I had to think about my fears of becoming ill in a classroom setting because I could not work virtually and if it was worth the risk,” Abubakar told the Informer. “The decision seemed particularly heavy-handed, as if the government was saying ‘get out, you’ve lost your value to us’ when international students often make up the bulk of their science and technology departments.” Abubakar, a University of Texas-Austin student, said the administrators of the university have been extremely helpful in assisting her with necessary documentation, and ensuring she is able to manage online classes. Still others like HBCU Jackson State University reportedly advised all international students to stay home until January 2021 and continue their studies online. “Some of my friends who lived on campus have been advised that the dorms will be closed because there is no way of combatting the coronavirus with us living on top of each other in communal spaces,” Abubakar said. International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $41 billion during the 20182019 academic year and supported more than 458,200 jobs. BTS
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Students Thrive Through DCTAG
WI Staff Report Since it was enacted in 1999, D.C. Tuition Assistance Program (DCTAG) funding has assisted more than twenty thousand students in achieving their educational goals. DCTAG is a program that provides college-bound residents living in D.C. up to $10,000 to help offset the cost of attending public colleges and universities. “Approximately 5,000 D.C. students are attending college today with DCTAG, two-thirds of whom are from low-income families. To demonstrate the importance of the funding, the number of students applying for DCTAG has increased every year, yet no eligible student has ever been denied funding to attend a DCTAG-eligible institution,” Kenneth McGhee, DCTAG Director, told the Informer. Under the pandemic, this work continues. McGhee said that despite the move to hybrid or remote learning environments under the current pandemic, DCTAG funding remains accessible.
“If a student is attending an approved DCTAG college or university, taking online classes is permitted. Also, because we recognize that some students will opt to sit out the fall 2019 semester due to COVID-19 concerns, any student planning to not attend college for fall 2019 but enroll for spring 2020, simply needs to complete the 2020-2021 application by the deadline.” DCTAG, managed by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, affords high school graduates from the District of Columbia the benefits of in-State tuition at State colleges and universities outside the District of Columbia. “Although most use DCTAG to attend college outside of the District, in 49 states, almost all return home to enrich the local workforce and the economy of this city in today’s increasingly competitive job market,” D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said in a 2014 roundtable featuring parents and students utilizing DCTAG. “DCTAG continues to draw stu-
dents in large numbers from across the city at a time when some at the national level have raised questions about the value of a college education. Most of these views have been based on the cost of higher education, but we are fortunate in D.C. to have the only federal program that picks up the largest cost of college – tuition – at no cost to local taxpayers.” Students need to apply each year to be considered for funding and assistance is provided for those who require it in completing applications. If a student meets the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) eligibility standards, the parent is domiciled as a Washington, D.C. resident, and the student meets all additional program requirements, they can apply. “Sometimes applying for financial aid can be complicated. If families need help filling out the forms, and for those who need language assistance, OSSE counselors are available,” McGhee said. “We can schedule appointments to provide one-on-one services
Additional Things You Should Know: Eligibility: Please see the below web link. https://osse.dc.gov/page/dctag-prepare#supportingdocs Income Guidelines: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/ page_content/attachments/Information%20on%20 DCTAG%20Maximum%20Income%201.30.20.pdf Applications / Apply online at: https://dconeapp.dc.gov/
with application completion. Our staff can be reached at the following web link: https://osse.dc.gov/ dctag” The deadline to complete the
online application and submit all needed documents has been extended again to Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. BTS
DCTAG
Apply Now. Go Fall or Spring. If you’re a DC resident, have a son or daughter 26 or younger 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. Students can take online classes this fall at one of DCTAG’s eligible institutions or wait and start classes in spring 2021. For more information and to apply, visit dconeapp.dc.gov
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Teachers and Students Discuss the Benefits and Challenges of Virtual Instruction By Jordan Colquitt WI Contributing Writer With the start of the next school year just around the corner, many school districts are releasing their plans for reopening. Some will be in person, some will be virtual, some hybrid, and some will have tiered phases. There is certainly a great divide on the implementation of distance learning. School districts had a test run with this, after the last quarter of the school year was abruptly cut off due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Teachers quickly rose to the challenge, turning to unconventional methods to deliver instruction to students, communicate with parents, and strengthen their classroom community. Despite this period for growth and research, many students, teachers, and parents are unsure if this model will work in the new year. Distance learning has been plagued with a negative outlook, with a widespread feeling of uncertainty and distrust in the model. On the contrary, there are some advantages to online learning, with students describing this time as one for “personal growth and motivation,” University of Maryland College Park student, Naomi Bilesanmi said. The Informer spoke with Prince George’s County Student Member of the Board of Education, Ninah Jackson, and educator, Kristin Camper to better understand what students and teachers may experience with the transition. WI: What can you do as an educator to ensure that the new school year runs smoothly for parents, students, and yourself? Camper: I will definitely be utilizing the exercises I learned during my Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) training this school year, which includes check-ins, one-on-one conferences for student wellbeing, and meditative and breathing exercises (which students can also use with the rest of their family members). One thing that will really help is the combination of asynchronous learning (meaning students can complete this work at any time) and small group sessions to meet the needs of all my students. There are also tools like Remind that will help me keep parents up to date on assignments. Finally, I will stick to the schedule I’ve created to maintain a better work-life balance
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5Jordan Colquitt (Courtesy photo)
(again, asynchronous learning will help with this a lot). WI: As a student, what tools, resources, or habits helped you in making the transition into online learning? Jackson: As a student, I tried to focus on maintaining a consistent schedule to work on my time management. With virtual learning, there’s so much more freedom - and for some students, that is great, but for others, that can be used as a means for procrastination. I set a schedule for myself and set aside specific times for studying, reviewing material, organizing my space, and getting work done. My greatest tools and resources were my agenda planner, my wall calendar and whiteboard, and my digital calendars. WI: Did you have any barriers to learning online? If so, how did you overcome them? Jackson: My biggest barrier with online learning was getting used to not having in-person assistance with topics that I’m struggling to understand. One of the ways I worked to overcome this is by forming study groups with my peers. We would occasionally host a group Zoom to assist each other with work we were having trouble with, or even just to check in with each other academically.” So, distance learning may not be perfect, and as with many things has flaws, but if your school district will hold classes remotely it is important to be prepared for a successful year. BTS
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Recent & Recommended Books About Remote / Distance Learning By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer Across the globe educational institutions are faced with a new or increased challenge of teaching by remote or through distance learning. The new challenges are shared by students, parents, and educators – who must adjust to a new (temporary) normal. Virtual learning, while not new, requires all involved to engage differently, which means they also need tools to successful matriculation. These texts on virtual learning may be of benefit.
The Most Important Factor in Your Family’s Education is
YOU
Paper to Screen-The Future of Education: Tips for Teacher, Students & Parents During Coronavirus Times
By Vikas Singh This book is written in Plain English help find answer to these questions and more. This Global pandemic has forced people to stay indoors and social distancing is the new norm. All the schools, colleges, and universities are seeing suspension of all academic activities on the campuses. However, the teaching-learning process must continue and there is a need that the learning process gets shifted to the online platform. Only a few teachers were involved in online teaching in both K12 and higher education before this pandemic. Teachers who have only taught in the classrooms using chalk and talk method are now finding this transition to online teaching to be a daunting task. Academic administrators and university leaders are finding it difficult to assure quality of teaching and use online assessment tools to measure learning attainment. Parents are also on the same boat of discomfort and anxiety as they have never experienced their kids to study at home for hours using screen and not papers. This book has tips and actionable points for smooth transition to online teaching from regular brick and mortar classrooms.
Taking Colleges Online: How Smart Institutions and Their Leaders Can Approach Online Education Now and in a Post Coronavirus World
By Lindsay McKenzie, Doug Lederman From showcasing how some institutions were preparing to grow online before the pandemic hit to how schools will now continue to expand online learning in light of the pandemic and potentially for the long term, this report lays out the pros and cons of different approaches to online instruction. Learn how to design the virtual programs that will fit your institution’s budget, mission and enrollment goals. Inside Higher Ed is the leading digital media company serving the higher education space. Since their founding in 2004, they have become the go-to online source for higher education news, thought leadership, careers and resources.
The COVID-19 Solutions Guide
By Ronald Baecker, Gary Feldman COVID-19 upended life as we knew it. To navigate the “new normal”, our guide examines the adoption and adaptation of technology in response to the global pandemic. The COVID-19 Solutions Guide provides an easy-to-follow overview of what’s going on in the world and relevant resources and tools to respond to the changing global circumstances.
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Give your family the best chance for success by supporting their education at home and school. Sticking to a schedule, partnering with teachers and administrators, and tapping into local resources are just a few of the ways that you can support distance learning at home and keep your family on track for educational success.
LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION © 2020 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
After COVID-19: Moving Forward in the Secondary Classroom
By William Morris After COVID-19: Moving Forward in the Secondary Classroom is about addressing the challenges you and your students are facing now in a virtual learning environment and will be facing once you return to the brick and mortar classroom. Some of the material herein is familiar ground, reinforced by suggestions on how you and your classroom can adapt to a post-dystopian world. Included are suggestions on how to modify the physical classroom environment and teaching itself in order to maximize learning in your students. Having taught in the aftermaths of several natural disasters, I know that returning to the classroom and to the normal flow of teaching and learning requires structure, creativity, and patience. With determination, careful preparation, and the belief that all kids can learn, your return to the classroom will be a catharsis, a moment to celebrate. BTS
2020 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
2 Months of Free High-Speed Internet from Comcast
$9.95 Per Month + Tax
after promotional pricing Internet Essentials from Comcast brings you affordable, high-speed home Internet. You may be eligible for 2 months of free Internet Essentials service. Available for new Internet Essentials customers only. Apply by December 31, 2020.
You may qualify if you: 1
2
Are eligible for public assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. Live in an area where Comcast Internet Service is available.
No Term Contract No Credit Check Free Self-Install Kit Up To 25/3 Mbps
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Have not subscribed to Comcast Internet within the last 90 days.
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*Households with outstanding debt may still be eligible if approved by 12/31/20.
Offer ends December 31, 2020. Restrictions apply. Limited to Internet Essentials (“IE”) service from Comcast for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Offer limited to 2 months of complimentary Internet Essentials service. Taxes, home drop-off, and professional install extra. After promotion, regular rates apply. Comcast’s current rate is $9.95/mo. (subject to change). Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. If a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for the IE program, regular rates will apply to the selected Internet service. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. May not be combined with other offers. Call 1-855-846-8376 for restrictions and complete details or visit InternetEssentials.com. © 2020 Comcast. All rights reserved.
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL Neither Snow, Rain or Heat Have Stopped the Mail but Will Donald Trump? On Tuesday, the U.S. Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, yielded to concerns raised by more than 15 Attorneys General [AG] including Maryland’s AG Brian Frosh, relating to DeJoy’s service cuts imposed on Jan. 1, 2020 at the U.S. Postal Service [USPS], reversing the newly-imposed policies that have already caused significant delays in service. Many of the AGs had already joined forces in a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration whom they assert bears the responsibility for policy changes which have included reductions in overtime, restrictions on extra mail transportation trips and new mail sorting and delivery procedures – all of which they assert will impede mail delivery of ballots and other critical mail such as medicines. The suspension which has been met with complaints from citizens throughout the country, will remain in effect until after the election according to DeJoy so as “to avoid appearance of any impact on election mail.” DeJoy, a top GOP fundraiser and an ally of Donald Trump, had followed the lead of the president, citing the need for the changes in order to increase efficiency and improve profitability. But Trump’s true agenda has not gone unnoticed. Without any evidence, Trump has said that voter fraud has become so prevalent that election results in November could be greatly skewed, given the anticipated increase of absentee ballots, paving the way for his opponent, Joe Biden, to prevail. In its over 100 years of service, the USPS and its thousands of postal carriers, have been credited with delivering the mail with swift completion, despite the impact of snow, rain, heat or gloom of night. And for the most part, they’ve been able to succeed with a relay-like system that moves the mail across the U.S. and assists postal carriers on their beats. We salute the astute men and women who have seen through the president’s ineffective smoke screen and forced the postmaster general to make absentee voting a viable means of our making our voice known at the polls this fall when Americans choose the next president. As New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement on Monday, prior to DeJoy’s decision to stand down, she had decided to join in the federal lawsuit over the cutbacks, calling Trump’s attempt to “interfere” with postal operations an “authoritarian power grab.” We can only assume that the Democratic-led House of Representatives will no longer need to hold their meeting originally scheduled for Saturday to consider legislation barring changes to Postal Service. Additionally, it seems unlike that DeJoy will be called upon to testify with Congress on Monday, as had been scheduled earlier this weeks, to address the cuts in service and their negative impact on Americans. WI
Computers Help to Level the Education Playing Field School has either started or will start soon for thousands of students across the region. For most students, classes will be held at home in front of a computer screen with teachers who will continue to teach from their classrooms. The kitchen or dining room tables will replace desks, breakfast and lunch will be served from the same place as dinner, and recess, hopefully, will be limited to after school hours and not while class is in session. It sounds all so simple here, but parents, students and teachers are stressing out about this new normal for teaching and learning, required for safety reasons, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, school supplies lists are circulating; guidelines for virtual school attire have been sent, while demands for laptop computers are getting harder to fulfill. COVID-19 is pulling the covers from the inequities in America that have existed for too long, especially in education. Access to technology is a prime example, with research and the Census, revealing that African Americans are less likely to say they own a computer in their home than whites. According to a year-old Pew Research Center survey, “Roughly eight-in-ten whites (82 percent) report owning a desktop or laptop computer,
TO THE EDITOR Kudos to Kamala
Message in the Music
Congrats to Howard alum, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. and history-maker Kamala Harris. No matter how some may feel about her and her record regarding truancy, this is a moment in history that should be celebrated. She is our next vice president if we get out and vote!
I think it’s great that Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has started a school at Long Island University in his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y. I know a lot of young people who want to be in the entertainment industry, but they don’t have a road map. This is a great start and an even better idea.
Roger Meadows Washington, D.C.
compared with 58 percent of Blacks and 57 percent of Hispanics. There are also substantial racial and ethnic differences in broadband adoption, with whites being more likely than either Blacks or Hispanics to report having a broadband connection at home.” So, it drives one to ask, to what degree have Black children been disadvantaged by not having access to a computer in their home? And if a computer will be necessary to fulfill this semester’s academic requirements and resources are provided to ensure every student has access to a computer, what impact will that access have on leveling the educational playing field for Black children? If students
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Tina Burnes Washington, D.C.
use their computers for classroom instruction and are taught its value as a tool to learn so much more, the sky is the limit for what all children, especially Black children, can learn. Couple with parental engagement in subjects they are most familiar with, including history – family and neighborhood history – civics, English, math, or science taught while cooking, planting, listening to good music, or reading the local newspaper. There’s a lot to learn in that little piece of technology. If used correctly, it may help to level the educational playing field for Black children. WI
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Julianne Malveaux
Get Your Ballot Now
What would you do if somebody walked by your house and promised to rob it the next day? Most of us would take every precaution, checking the locks, the door and the windows. Some of us might weapon up, making sure we could defend our homestead. Some might also reach out to law enforcement, sharing the threat with them. Almost all of us would take the threat seriously and
make the appropriate precautions to prevent our violation. The 45th president of the United States has warned us that he plans to rob us. First, he placed one of his crooked cronies in charge of the Postal Service. Then he said that he would not fund the Postal Service to facilitate the timely processing of mail ballots. He has continuously associated mail voting with fraud, although nine states have had universal mail voting for years. And finally, he just put it out there, plain and simple. He thinks mail voting favors Democrats,
and he doesn’t want to do Democrats any favors. So instead, his postal chief is removing mailboxes and shutting down sorting machines. And now the USPS has warned election officials in most states that ballots mailed before election day might not arrive in time to be counted. The 45th president is setting up a situation where the November election can be contested. He’s doing it because he has already stacked the Supreme Court in his favor. He has no interest in maximizing the number of people voting but minimizing that
Guest Columnists
number. He’s not interested in democracy, but in dictatorship. If someone told you they were planning to rob you, you’d take precautions. Trump has declared that he intends to steal this election. We can’t let him do it. Not only must the Biden-Harris ticket beat him, but they must beat him like a drum, so decisively that there is no doubt that he has got to go. Here’s what you must do: 1. Voting procedures vary by city and state. Make sure you know the rules. Some places send all registered
voters mail-in ballots, while others require you to request an absentee ballot. Find your local bureau online, or call your favorite local elected official to get the information. 2. Return your ballot in the shortly after you get it. If you put your ballot in the mail on Election Day (Nov. 3), it may not be counted. Some places will have drop boxes for ballots, and others will allow you to drop off your ballot. Just get your ballot back by
MALVEAUX Page 41
By Marc H. Morial
Harris Selection Represents Unprecedented Moment of Racial Reckoning
“I just sat with that for a minute. I just sat there. And then I found, out of nowhere, just tears coming down — like they are now. I thought about Betty Shabazz. I thought about Coretta Scott King. I thought about Maya Angelou. I thought about Dorothy Height. And I thought about everything that they have poured into us. … It took Joe Biden to say, ‘It’s time
to come out from the shadows.’ To say, ‘I see you.’ He saw her. He saw her qualifications despite all the negative stuff that was being thrown at her. He made history, but I think he will never know how much history he has made.” — Political strategist The selection of Sen. Kamala Harris to be the Democratic vice presidential nominee represents many “firsts”: The first Black woman to be nominated on a major party ticket. The first person of South Asian descent. The first HBCU grad.
More importantly, though, her candidacy is emblematic of this unprecedented moment of racial reckoning in America, and the outsized role that Black women are playing in leading the nation through this period of crisis. It’s no surprise that Black women have emerged among the nation’s strongest and most competent leaders. The formidable challenges that women, particularly women of color, must overcome to achieve positions of prominence, are like the fire that tem-
Guest Columnist
pers steel. The National Urban League has had a strong relationship with Senator Harris for many years. We honored her as one of the first recipients of our “Woman of Power” awards in 2004, just after she was elected district attorney of San Francisco. In 2017, when she assumed office as California’s third female U.S. senator, and the first of Jamaican or Indian ancestry, we honored her with the Hiram Revels Award for Achievement, named for the first African American to serve in the U.S.
Congress. While we’ve worked closely with her since her election to the Senate, her fierce advocacy for underserved communities since the onset of the pandemic has been invaluable. She, along with Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, was a prime sponsor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the Senate. We recently joined her and other members of Congress to
set aside funds outside of their existing operations to deal with the diversity awareness initiative. This act was seen by many white managers as a “no need act” which caused many conflicts in the both the private and public workplace. Many claim this was widespread misuse of government money, especially by white males. Many organizations, particularly those with more than 25 employees had to comply with these human rights rules and regulations and many, like Trump folks, were very angry that it was mandated that they
not only had to comply, but also they had to hire staff to facilitate this training--annually. It was obvious to me that, as a former White House staffer for over 16 years under four administrations, two of them Republican and two Democrat, I have been shown in-depth proof of why Trump is President today. Consider that 40 years ago we human rights folks were providing diversity training, representing employees that had filed discrimination
MORIAL Page 41
By Pierpont Mobley
How Did We Get to Trump?
Enough is enough. Can you believe this President? We are here and what do we do about it? Back in 1978, the Civil Service Reform Act was passed. The act gave rise to federal agencies being required to adopt Affirmative Action Plans (AAP) to ensure they had equal employment opportunity programs designed to discourage workplace discrimination for most government agencies, which was also
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slated for the private sectors. I believe it also placed a lot of pressure on large businesses, especially for those companies with more than, let’s say 50 employees. Can each of us accept the way he respects minorities and women? The fact that AAP’s meant that these organizations were required to provide annual reports on their retaining and recruiting minorities and females as the overall mandates. Therefore, many EEO or Diversity offices and organizations were established, annually for reporting purpos-
es, nationwide to EEOC. From my point of view, since I was responsible for writing the first EEO Plans for the White House and the Executive Offices of the President (11 independent agencies), I think he has disrespected this office. His actions created a major blow to the white male power structure in both the private and public sectors. During this period, more and more organizations began to provided diversity related training to all their employees throughout the U.S. and abroad. These organizations had to
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Sam P.K. Collins
Six Years Later: Mike Brown, EAT and Respectability Politics
On the morning of Aug. 9, what many recognized as the six-year anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.’s police-involved shooting death, 21 Washingtonians who joined a crowd of several hundred at a block party on the corner of 33rd Street and Dubois Place in Southeast had their lives forever changed. During the mass shooting that took place several hours into the annual EAT
(Elevate All the Time) Block Party, 17-year-old Christopher Brown lost his life and 22-year-old off-duty police officer Charlee Brown suffered life-threatening injuries that have since kept her confined to a hospital bed. As community members mourned Christopher’s death and crowdfunded for Brown’s medical expenses, 20-something social entrepreneur and EAT CEO Malik Jarrett continued to suffer in the cyber court of public opinion where supporters, neighborhood officials, elders, and everyone else reduced his years of service to D.C. youth
Street and Dubois Place. Yes, the disregard for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s COVID-19 mandates, in part, resulted in the loss of a life and severe injury to others. While it goes without saying that Jarrett will probably face some legal and economic consequences for the events that transpired during EAT’s annual block party, there’s perhaps nothing greater than the local Black community’s uncanny ability to quickly, publicly, and nastily chastise young people in the heat of the moment, rather than extending them the grace needed for
to a well-intended, yet hasty decision, that had an unfortunate ending. In the hours and days after the smoke cleared, people continued calling for legal action and an end to EAT’s community partnerships, as if Jarrett, whose organization espoused nonviolence for years, sprayed the bullets into that crowd himself. Yes, several of Jarrett’s Instagram followers, to no avail, advised him against hosting a mass gathering with copious amounts of alcohol. Yes, EAT was alleged to have not had a permit to host a block party on the corner of 33rd
Guest Columnist
them to learn from their mistakes. In a matter of hours, Jarrett, one of the District’s young promising leaders, has been cast aside, like so many before him, into what the writer of this piece would like to describe as the abyss of respectability politics. Respectability politics is the paradigm where Black people, particularly those in positions of political and economic power, weaponize white supremacist ideals of Black inferiority and criminality to separate themselves
COLLINS Page 42
By A. Peter Bailey
Donald J. Trump, the Luckiest Politician in America
Those Black folks, including myself, who strongly believe that the most important goal of 2020 is to oust No. 45 as president of the United States are not shouting “hallelujah” and feeling good about former Vice President Joe Biden’s selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. We believe that once again the Democratic Party has given No. 45 an enor-
mous, undeserved gift. Some of us will not be surprised if one of the world’s premier, me-myself-and-I conmen will now drop Mike Pence from his vice president position and replace him with a White woman. No. 45 and his crew are well aware, contrary to popular belief, that Black folks in general and Black women in particular are not the pivotal voting bloc in the upcoming election. They know that No. 45 will get less than 10 percent of the Black vote. It’s also certain that he will get a sizable
majority of the White male vote. That leaves white women, according to most political commentators, as the most unpredictable voting bloc in the 2020 presidential election. Many Black folks, including myself, don’t believe for a second that the white women vote is unpredictable. We are convinced that the overwhelming majority of white women in this country have absolutely no desire to see a “woman of color” being elected vice president before one of them has achieved the historic first. We are aware that white women
Askia-At-Large
leaders in the early 20th century’s suffragette movement were outraged that Black men, at least legally, had the right to vote before they did. Modern-day white women were not shouting with joy that a “man of color” got into the White House before one of them made it. That’s why Biden’s selection of Harris is so uncool. If the focus was on defeating No. 45, rather than to provide Black people with another feel-good moment, Biden would have selected Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota,
Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan as his running mate. At the same time, he would have committed to putting a Black woman on the Supreme Court. By failing to recognize that, the Democratic Party has reinforced the view of many serious Black folks that No. 45 is one of the luckiest politicians in America, if not the luckiest. By the way, I seriously doubt that if Sen. Kamala Harris was the complexion of Michelle Obama, she would have been selected as Biden’s running mate. WI
By Askia Muhammad
White Power Doomed to Fall
The coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the self-serving, corrupt and inept governance of Donald J. Trump and his greedy lackeys make it clear to me that the White Man’s domination over world affairs is coming quickly to an end. It’s like the United States and its self-image of “American exceptionalism” are heading to hell on a rocket. And with the demise of U.S. hege-
mony, only tiny Israel will remain as the only white colonial power. For decades Israel has been like the tail wagging the American dog, so without the superpower support, the apartheid Zionist state will not be able to continue bullying her Middle East neighbors, running roughshod over the indigenous Palestinians. England, the United Kingdom, which once fashioned itself as “Great Britain,” was the face of white supremacy. “The Sun never sets on the British flag” was the boast, because the empire
reigned in every time zone on the planet, so there was never a time when the Union Jack was not flying over some land, in the daylight. But those days came to an end a century ago. Folks once proclaimed: “10,000 Frenchmen can’t be wrong,” or maybe it was 1,000 Frenchmen, or millions of them. Torch singer Sophie Tucker even recorded a song, “50 million Frenchmen can’t be wrong,” alluding to the myth of the superiority of French culture, cuisine, and fashion. Beirut, Lebanon, a former French colony was
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even known as the “Paris of the Middle East,” thought to be a compliment concerning the city’s sophistication. But as cruel as they were in some of their colonies in Africa and Asia, the French really didn’t have much of a stomach for world domination. The Italians and the Portuguese were also petty world powers for a time, but they too were soon pushed to the side. The Germans tried, but overstepped the boundaries, and were crushed by Russia and the Allies in World War II and were subsequently defanged. After
the War, no longer having to pursue military conquest or even self-defense because of allied occupation of their territory, the Krauts, with their Axis ally Japan — which was crushed by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years ago — took to civilian, economic competition and ruled the world financially, manufacturing the world’s best consumer products — cars and electronics. The United States took the World
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LIFESTYLE Attorneys for Bill Cosby Argue for Supreme Court to Dismiss Conviction WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Lawyers for Bill Cosby formerly filed a motion to the state Supreme Court in Pennsylvania, seeking to overturn the three guilty verdicts
handed down in 2018. The filing on Aug. 11 states that the trial court stripped Cosby of the presumption of innocence and relieved the prosecution of its burden of proof when it allowed the jury to hear decades-old, excessive uncharged bad
act evidence that was absent a legitimate propensity purpose. Specifically, allowing testimony from five women who offered varying accounts of Cosby’s alleged sexual misconduct stemming from the 1980s, and Cosby’s highly prejudicial, deposition testimony about his sexual behaviors in the 1970s that involved offering Quaaludes to women for whom he had shown sexual interest. Cosby’s lawyers remain convinced that because Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele invited the testimony of five women who allegedly had encounters with Cosby in the 1980s, there was no reason to bring up the comedian’s alleged behavior from the 1970s. In June, the state Supreme Court announced it would hear Cosby’s appeal. Among other issues, Cosby’s attorneys argue that former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor previously agreed that Cosby would not be prosecuted in the mat-
ter of Andrea Constand if Cosby sat for a civil deposition arising from complaints made by Constand. Castor has gone on record acknowledging the deal and has said he would testify to that fact. Incredibly, Montgomery County Trial Judge Steven O’Neill declared Castor not credible. O’Neill did not offer justification for that decision even though Castor has enjoyed a stellar legal career. “The [District Attorney’s] office issued a formal public statement reflecting that agreement, and Cosby reasonably relied upon those oral and written statements by providing deposition testimony in the civil action, thus forfeiting his constitutional right against self-incrimination,” the lawyers wrote in support of their argument for a new trial. “The [Appeals] panel erred in affirming the trial court’s decision to allow not only the prosecution of Cosby but also the admission of Cosby’s civil deposition testimony,” the lawyers stated. In 2006, Cosby agreed to a $3.4 million settlement of a civil suit that arose from the relationship the two had between 2003 and 2004. Before the settlement, Cosby sat for civil depositions over several months. Parts of the depositions were disseminated in the media and fail the show the full context in which Cosby responded to questions from Constand’s civil attorneys, his attorneys said. The entire transcript of Cosby’s testimony, and statements provided to authorities over the years by Con-
5 Bill Coisby (Courtesy photo/CNN.com)
stand, revealed that the two engaged in a romantic relationship. It also revealed that Constand repeatedly called and interacted with Cosby after the alleged night in which she claims he drugged and fondled her. Constand appeared angry when several telephone calls she made to Cosby on Valentine’s Day were not returned. The couple also exchanged gifts, and months after the alleged incident, Constand phoned Cosby to ask that he provide tickets to his comedy concerts to her and her parents. Cosby has served about two years of a three-to-10-year sentence. He is represented by attorneys Jennifer Bonjean of New York, and Barbara Zemlock and Brian Perry of Harrisburg, Pa. WI
Tops in the Jazz World Poised to Receive Virtual Jazz Masters Honors By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer A stellar group of jazz luminaries will receive the prestigious Jazz Masters designation during a live virtual concert Thursday, Aug. 20. This year’s honorees are Dorthaan Kirk (A.B. Spellman Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy), Bobby McFerrin, Roscoe Mitchell and Reggie Workman. The annual National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) event, which was originally scheduled for
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April, will be presented in collaboration with SFJAZZ during a special online-only concert at 8 p.m. EST. NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater, who was honored in 2017, will emcee the event, which will include performances led by acclaimed music director Terri Lyne Carrington and noted jazz musicians including honorees McFerrin, Mitchell and Workman. The virtual event will feature prerecorded performances from locations around the country. The
JAZZ WORLD Page 27
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5 From left: Bobby McFerrin, Roscoe Mitchell, Reggie Workman and Dorthaan Kirk will be honored as the National Endowment for the Arts’ 2020 Jazz Masters during a virtual concert on Aug. 20. (Courtesy of National Endowment for the Arts)
JAZZ WORLD from Page 26 2020 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert is free to watch and will replace the previously scheduled concert at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. SFJAZZ is a new venue for this annual celebration of jazz that has been held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “While we were disappointed to have to postpone last April’s events, this virtual concert will be an opportunity to bring together jazz fans around the world in celebration of the 2020 NEA Jazz Masters,” said Mary Anne Carter, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We appreciate the creativity and dedication of all involved, from the staff at SFJAZZ to the many musicians who are performing in honor of the recipients so that we can continue our agency’s long tradition of honoring great individuals in jazz.” Kirk has been a major force at WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM, Newark Public Radio for four decades. The station is the only full-time jazz format station in New York and New Jersey. She is an avid supporter of musicians and jazz education for children. Kirk was married to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, a jazz great known for playing multiple horn instruments, until his death in 1977. Upon learning about her Jazz Masters honor, Kirk said in a statement, “I was absolutely stunned and speechless (I’m never speechless) when I learned I was receiving the award. I will continue my work to the best of my ability as
long as I’m allowed to.” McFerrin, a 10-time Grammy Award winner, is a master of vocal improvisation. He uses his four-octave range in various techniques, from scat singing to polyphonic overtone singing to vocal percussion. He works both unaccompanied and with instruments. He has won awards in both jazz and classical. “My pursuit of music has always been about freedom and joy, finding inspiration in the folk traditions of every continent, composed music like Bach or Ives or James Brown or Bernstein, plus every sound I’ve ever heard or imagined,” McFerrin said when explaining his philosophy on music. Mitchell, a saxophone and clarinet player, is considered one of the key figures in avant-garde jazz, integrating influences from everywhere including world music, funk, rock, classical. Mitchell is a founding member of Art Ensemble of Chicago. In addition to being a musician and composer, he is also a jazz educator. “I’m humbled to be named NEA Jazz Master alongside those who have inspired me and mentored me and am excited to see what music has in store for us in ages to come,” said Mitchell taking a low-key view that is the opposite of his avant-garde style of jazz. Workman is one of the premier bassists in jazz, performing in mainstream jazz as well as in the avant-garde scene, and a member of two of jazz’s most important groups: the John Coltrane Quartet and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He also is a professor at the New School’s College of Performing
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COVID-19 Washington AD half-page Arts in New York Informer City, IVL where he v2.indd many 1more. has been teaching since 1987. “I am glad to join the illustriWorkman has worked with a ous NEA alums as we collectively who’s who list of jazz greats in- work toward the world’s harmocluding Yusef Lateef, Andrew nious existence through music,” Hill, Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach, Workman said. “The NEA, one of Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, our nation’s most prestigious inWayne Shorter, Mal Waldron and stitutions, which has been known
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8/10/20 3:19 for years to be supportive of PM this nation’s artists.” In the D.C. area, the Jazz Masters concert can be heard on WPFW 89.3 FM. The webcast can be accessed at arts.gov, sfjazz.org, and SiriusXM Channel 67. WI
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‘All Power to All People’ Historic Statue Makes Stop in the District
Local Artist Shares How Public Art Can Be Used for Social Good
By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer
5 ‘All Power to All People’ installation at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in Northwest. (Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and the Human Rights Campaign)
A 28-foot touring sculpture combining the Afro pick and the Black Power salute as two potent symbols of Black identity and social justice has landed in the District to coincide with the 57th anniversary of the March on
COVID-19
IMPACT ON AFRICAN AMERICANS Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) seek healthy African American volunteers 18 years of age or older who have tested positive for COVID-19. The study will look at the body’s response to the seasonal influenza vaccine in participants with a history of symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Consider Joining if you: • • •
Are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant Have no known allergy to vaccines of any kind Have not had the seasonal flu vaccine for the current season and are willing to be vaccinated The study takes place at the NIH Clinical Center, America’s Research Hospital, located in Bethesda, Maryland
CONTACT: NIH- Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment 800-411-1222 (Refer to NIH study #19-I-0126) ■ Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov ■ Online: https://go.usa.gov/xpPgw ■ 800-877-8339 TTY / ASCII
NIH… Tu r n i n g D i s c o v e r y I n t o H e a l t h ®
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Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Hank Willis Thomas, a New York-based visual artist behind the project in partnership with nonprofit Kindred Arts, said the all-steel art installation is a celebration of culture, especially in today’s political climate. “We were looking to celebrate Black beauty and Black power,” Thomas said. “This sculpture symbolizes D.C., once known as Chocolate City — and a way to show the monumental contributions of African Americans to this country with its growth and political evolution.” Perched in front of the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in northwest D.C., the “All Power to All People” statue has been on tour since 2018, stopping most recently in Atlanta. Thomas said the installation is a symbol of community, strength, perseverance and justice that aims to inspire action and demand social change. He adds it’s also a way to continue the momentum of the ongoing protests around the country while offering a platform for civic leaders and activists to engage the public. “We just need reminders in every way. We should celebrate each and every culture in every way because in doing that we all rise,” Thomas said. Nekisha Durrett is a local mixed-media artist who has col-
laborated with Thomas on other installations such as “I See Myself in You” in Miami. The piece, also made of steel is described as a large wall-mounted sculpture of a Black woman with mirror reflective sunglasses looking out across the city at beachgoers in the 1950s. Durrett said a part of an artist’s work is to inject into narratives what is vital, what is missing and also what has been erased, something she relates to personally. “As a Black queer woman, there are moments in my life where I feel invisible or unseen and I found that making large scale works is a way for me to take up space in the world,” she said. Durrett added that public art can also galvanize and inspire people for social change. “I think that everyone wants to feel seen and represented,” she said. “Another thing that’s so spectacular about this work coming to D.C. is that D.C. is probably the city with the largest amounts of monuments in this country. “Many of which were actually built by Black people in some cases enslaved or indentured people,” Durrett said. “So to see this sculpture that celebrates Black people on such a large prominent scale and elevating Black people and Black culture is particularly exciting and compelling.” The “All Power to All People” sculpture will be on display until Aug. 28. WI
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REACTIONS from Page 1 former first lady Michelle Obama touted the abilities of Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate and now official nominee, as the man who could return competency and decency to the White House. She denounced President Donald Trump as “the wrong person” to lead the country. Obama, in her pre-taped message, accused Trump of tearing the country apart the past four years in a scorching indictment that focused on his lack of empathy and character, as well as other situations that have brought out her frustrations, exasperation and concerns about the Trump administration. Overall, she implored people to go to the polls on Nov. 3 to vote for Biden, therefore ousting the current president. “We have got to vote like our lives depend on it,” she said, adding that Trump “simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. We have to vote in numbers that cannot be ignored. This is not the time to withhold our vote. Vote early, in person if you can and request an absentee ballot tonight.” “Be willing to stand in line all night if you have to; pack your dinner and your breakfast,” she said. Obama added that Biden, who is an “honest, decent man,” has the capacity to learn from his mistakes and will govern as someone “who’s lived a life that the rest of us can recognize.” “It’s well-past time for our leaders to reflect our truths,” she said. Obama, known for her memorable statement first voiced during the 2016 DNC, “when they go low, we go high,” may have wanted to “go high,” but many say she did not mince words. Reactions to her speech, as well as the comments shared by a litany of Democrats, several Republicans and those from the new Progressive movement, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have been posted on social media platforms by the thousands. Here’s what some Americans are saying. Eugene Robinson, MSNBC reporter: “For someone who says she hates politics, Michelle Obama is a political powerhouse.” Dr. Sharon L. Burton, a college professor and consultant from Wilmington, watched the convention while she graded a dissertation proposal. She said, “this is history in the making,” she said. “Even though [Michelle Obama] is [the consummate professional], she, like her husband, is a down to earth
person who knows how to connect to the least of these.” Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DDC) reflected on the convention and the task ahead for all Americans. “We are about to elect the first African-American woman as vice president,” she said adding that in addition to the nomination of Senator Kamala Harris, for the first time in the District’s history, language was added to the Democratic National Platform recognizing that a bill passed in the House of Representatives to make the District of Columbia the 51ststate. “We are going to use the convention to make people understand what [we already know but what] they do not know – that the residents of the nation’s capital don’t have the same rights as they have. The convention is an important way to move [forward] but this moment is bittersweet. I am longing for a real convention. We need more national forums to acquaint the American people with the plight of the people in their own hometowns,” Norton said. Donna Brazille, veteran political strategist and two-time acting chair of the Democratic National Committee: “This is an historic moment in American history because for only the third time, we will nominate a woman to be on the ticket of one of the two major parties. While we will not gather physically, we will gather together in spirit for a new moment in American politics.” Dr. Alvin Thornton, historian and president of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, shared these remarks. “Even though it’s not live, the convention fits very well with the experience that America has had since March,” he said. “We have been in the virtual mode. The good part of this is that seeing the convention virtually you can see people close up and you can hear directly and personally what they are saying.” “I was very excited and proud to see our mayor [Muriel Bowser], Delegate to Congress and Council Chair representing the district and casting our vote for the next president,” said 2012 convention delegate Denise Reed, a resident of Ward 7. Van Jones, former Obama Administration official, posted the following on Twitter: “Michelle Obama works a microphone like no other. She has the presence of a talk show host, the timing of a comedian, the cadence of a preacher . . . and it all flows into this very intimate way of talking. Powerful, powerful stuff.”
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Also on Twitter were three more lighthearted views about the “celebrities” featured during the first two nights. Shamar English: “Tracee Ellis Ross is freaking incredible.” Jasmine Michelle: “Now they got Tracee Ellis Ross and John Legend at
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the #DemConvention. Oooo, I see what y’all doing for the culture.” Queen Thicktoria, Esq.: “I would love the Carters to read me bedtime stories. I’m 44.” Davenia: “Yo, we heard from Jimmy Carter!” WI Editorial Team Hamil Harris,
Anthony Tilghman, Dorothy Rowley and William J. Ford contributed to this article. Look for our complete wrap up of the four-day Convention on our website, www.washingtoninformer. com. WI
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NUL’s Annual Report Shows Blacks Trapped in Pandemic’s Grip ‘America Caught the Coronavirus and Black America Caught Hell’ By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer The National Urban League’s 2020 State of Black America report, “Unmasked,” which matches the nationwide mood for serious introspection and exposing the human toll and economic devastation of the global pandemic, focuses on delving into data behind the coronavirus’s impact on the African American community. Because of the need for immediate and long-term action to mend the effects of COVID-19 on the African American community, the first step is recognizing that the health system in American is “broken. This is the conclusion of NUL’s annual report released Thursday, Aug. 13 by National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, who used current events to paint
.
a disturbing image of what’s going on today in this country regarding African Americans. “An America in 2020 is an America unmasked,” Morial told The Washington Informer. “We have lost ground in many areas, especially when you have 150,000 dead in this country because of the coronavirus — and 40 percent of the people are Black.” NUL, founded in 1910, has released a “State of Black America” report since 1976, including essays and data by authors such as civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and Alexis McGill Johnson, who was recently named president of Planned Parenthood. This year’s report, which is available at stateofblackamerica.org, contains George Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” and the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” The NUL also released its annu-
Count Down to the Commitment March “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” Friday, August 28, 2020
al Equality Index, which compares the plight of African Americans and Hispanics to whites. “This report defines structural racism. If people want to know what structural racism is, it is the fact that these disparities in the 15 years that we’ve been releasing these statistics, in this fashion, have changed very little,” Morial said. The report includes a section titled “Lessons Learned,” in which Morial lays out numerous points for people to think about, including: - Racism is the pandemic within the pandemic. The massive demonstrations against police racism and brutality that erupted after George Floyd’s death did not lead to spikes in coronavirus infection as many had feared. But those who went on to protest were willing to accept the risk. - Bias in health care is both explicit and implicit. Black people with COVID-19 symptoms in February and March were less likely to get tested or treated than white patients. Studies showed that doctors downplayed Black patients’ complaints of pain, prescribed
weaker pain medication, and withheld cardiac treatments from Black patients who needed them. - Leadership matters. States where governors ignored scientific advice and lifted stay-at-home orders and other safety measures saw dramatic spikes in coronavirus infections. - Americans have enormous capacity for compassion. College students volunteered to replace sidelined “Meals on Wheels” drivers. Owners of empty RVs offered them to health care workers who needed to isolate. - Black communities never fully recovered from the Great Recession. Even at record lows, in recent years the Black unemployment rate consistently remained twice as high as the rate for whites.
- Racism threatens our national security. “If Americans refuse to meaningfully address race relations, the United States will grow weaker and less effective, both at home and as an international actor,” Los Angeles Urban League President Michael Lawson and international policy expert Jerrold D. Green wrote in May. Meanwhile, the League’s State of the Union 2020 Census report in June warned that Black communities stand to lose billions of dollars and their rightful political representation if something is not done quickly to overcome delays caused by the pandemic. To that end, the League has urged an audit of census operations to ensure a safe and accurate count. WI
The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) Bid Opportunities 1. The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting bids from qualified contractors to provide General Contractor Services for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Interested parties can view a copy of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) by accessing the Event DC’s E-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com and opening APEX BID #20-S-011-655 Momentum for the Commitment March Friday, August 28, 2020 is gaining steam. Meet National Action Network in Washington, D.C. to call for police accountability reform on the heels of the 2020 presidential election. Announced by Rev. Al Sharpton and co-convened by the eldest son of Dr. King, Martin Luther King, III.
Register you and your family today. www.nationalactionnetwork.net For any concerns call (202) 819-7143
No Justice No Peace 30 - AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
Key Dates IFB Questions Due Date: 05:00 PM EST, Tuesday, September 1, 2020 IFB Response Due Date: 12:00 PM, NOON, EST, September 15, 2020 2. The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting bids from qualified contractors to provide Security Equipment Installation, Maintenance & Repair Services for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Interested parties can view a copy of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) by accessing the Event DC’s E-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com and opening APEX BID #20-S-011654 Key Dates IFB Questions Due Date: 05:00 PM EST, Tuesday, September 4, 2020 IFB Response Due Date: 12:00 PM, NOON, EST, September 14, 2020 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE Greg O’Dell: District’s Unconventional Convention Man By Dan Holly Zenger News Greg O’Dell was a successful businessman and consultant who never thought he would work for the government. He didn’t want to deal with red tape and bureaucracy. But about a dozen years ago, District officials talked him into going to work for the city. O’Dell still isn’t sure how then-Mayor Adrian Fenty got him to agree. “I tell people jokingly that I don’t know that I ever said yes,” said O’Dell. But apparently, the officials were not trying to hear no. He sold his consulting company and went to work for him. “I found myself going over to the other side – the dark side,” he said. “I thought I would do it for a couple of years and go back to the private sector.” Not only does O’Dell still work for the District but he has moved up several rungs. From his first job as the city’s chief development officer, he moved to CEO of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, then CEO of the Washington Convention and Center Authority. The two agencies were combined into Events DC. And in 2009, O’Dell became CEO of that agency, a position he still holds. His duties include managing the city’s massive convention center, and overseeing operation of Nationals Park, the home of the city’s major league baseball team, and RFK Stadium, where its professional soccer team plays. He also oversees major events such as the Marine Corps Marathon. There was no clue in O’Dell’s upbringing or his education that he would end up as a high government official in Washington, D.C. His father worked for AT&T and moved around a lot; he grew up in Connecticut, North Carolina and Georgia. He went to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. While he majored in finance and government in college, he never went beyond a bachelor’s degree. “I contemplated many times going back and getting my MBA,” O’Dell said. He even applied for a few programs but never followed through. “Without fail, whenever that happened another opportunity came about that I decided to pursue,” he said, adding: “I don’t regret it.”
He credits much of his success to his parents, who instilled a lot of values in him and his brother and sister. “My mother was a nurse for more than 30 years so it was ingrained in her to look out for other people. My father epitomized hard work. He worked for AT&T for many years and had multiple jobs over the years. He was hard-working and disciplined,” O’Dell said. He says experience and “hard knocks” have made up for his lack of an advanced degree. Experience has given him a new outlook. “It gave me a better appreciation for the work that public officials do every day,” said O’Dell, 50. “I think there’s a tremendous amount of – discredit is too strong, but they get a bad rap. Public servants work tirelessly. It kind of opened my eyes.” One thing that he finds rewarding is his ability to affect public policy. As a private businessman, O’Dell has managed large development projects – first as a senior manager at KPMG, and also principal in Clemons Consulting Group. But he has more control over the impact of projects he manages now. The city recently built a $69 million sports and entertainment arena in Ward 8, an area that is 92 percent Black and has a poverty rate almost twice as high as the city’s overall rate. “Right now, for the operations team more than 50 percent of the team comes from the community,” O’Dell said. “I’m more proud of that than any bricks-and-mortar project we could talk about.” He continues to work closely with the District of Columbia government. In early May, O’Dell worked with Mayor Muriel Bowser to convert the convention center into an alternate care site to support the District’s COVID-19 medical surge response. O’Dell and his team won high praise from Bowser as well as from federal officials for their cooperation. “We are very grateful for all of our local and federal partners who worked quickly to get this site ready to go in just a few weeks,” the mayor said. Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which led the conversion of a convention center hall into a facility that could accommodate 437 beds, called the convention center staff a “great partner.” O’Dell does not know what his
future holds but he knows what it doesn’t hold – running for office. A former college basketball player, he is 6’5” with an outgoing personality – the kind of person who jokes around with security guards as he makes his rounds in the convention center. When asked if he will run for office, O’Dell has a ready answer: “Not for all the tea in China.” He has grown comfortable in the public arena but not so comfortable that he wants to get in any deeper. “I know my strengths and weaknesses and I know what I’m comfortable doing,” he said. “Know your strengths but also know what you enjoy doing. I just felt [a political office] was not right for me, was not something I enjoy doing, so that’s why I resisted.” He says he may get that MBA someday but for now he’s good. “I feel like I’ve been fortunate,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been able to work on many large-scale initiatives. There’s no better education than that.” WI
5 Greg O’Dell (Jacob Slaton/PCMA)
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LIFESTYLE
wi book review “Bunker: Building for the End Times” By Bradley Garrett c.2020, Simon and Schuster $28 316 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Like a good Boy Scout, you’re prepared. No matter what today’s world throws at you, you’re ready. You’ve laid in a mountain of toilet paper, you’ve got hand-sanitizer, plenty of pasta, bottled water, and you’re good to go for at least two weeks. So now it’s time to read “Bunker” by Bradley Garrett. Is there something you might be missing? Growing up in the southwest part of the country, Bradley Garrett was always aware of and fascinated by underground shelters. He recalls, as a teen, exploring “a thousand-year-old kiva” and, later, making his knowledge of subterranean spaces into a career. Most people think of World War II when they hear the word “bunker,” but Garrett says that underground shelters have been in use throughout history. Germany, of course, employed bunkers, as has the U.S.: during the Cold War, Americans were encouraged to build bunkers as personal safeguards; our government was doing exactly that for “the elites” then, and it still maintains several state-of-the-art bunkers, in case there’s a national crisis. While it’s likely that those old 1960s backyard bomb-shelters are junk today, it’s estimated that there are nearly 4 million otherwise active preppers here, and many more abroad. Some hope to survive catastrophe by literally going underground to “ride out” the worst for days, or months if their bodies can handle the lack of daylight. Others want to ensure perpetuation of our species, after the rest of us are wiped out in a cataclysmic event. Still others, those who Garrett calls “Dread Merchants,” want to make money. As he suggests, their thought-processing does make sense. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, something that gets mentioned several times as reason to shelter. If things get really bad, there may be horrific panic and violence, or radiation, or war. Sheltering can mean self-preservation, or it can mean selfless sharing. The bottom line, though, is always this: you can prepare all you want, but “’you can’t prepare for everything.’” Admit it: this year, escape sounds awfully appealing on many levels. They say you can run, but you can’t hide, although “Bunker” proves that you can attempt both. But would you? Author Bradley Garrett met folks who practice different kinds of prepping, from the near-mandatory in Australia to the $1 million-plus-luxurious here in the U.S., thus satisfying his own curiosity as well as that of his readers. Much of that satisfaction comes from a skeptical POV, but there’s room left for argument: Garrett isn’t anti-prepping at all; in fact, he helps readers to be charmed by a trio of self-sufficient Appalachians. Is bunkering the answer, then? As Garrett shows, throughout history, we’ve been convinced that it was and he allows debate for it again — although readers shouldn’t be surprised at what happens here as they get to this books’ final pages. This isn’t a tome filled with advice; if nothing, it’ll make you question both eagerness and reticence to go underground or bug out. Either way, if you want an interesting, open-eyed read, grab “Bunker” and be prepared. WI
32 - AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
horoscopes
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
ARIES Today, you may discover that you and your partner have different levels of risk tolerance. One of you might be a saver and the other a spender. You may feel good about the stock market, but your partner only feels comfortable with money in a savings account. It’s good to talk about these differences today and come to some sort of agreement. Lucky Numbers: 14, 20, 31 TAURUS You may feel quite inspired today to put together a space just for meditation, study, or yoga. You may go so far as to consider painting the room in a healing color, such as turquoise blue or sage green. Set up an altar of sorts; a table with crystals, religious icons, or candles and flowers. You may choose a special chair for meditation or mats for doing yoga poses. It’s OK to be enthusiastic today. Lucky Numbers: 3, 7, 8 GEMINI Today, you connect with your favorites friends to share laughs and discuss what’s happening in the world. You may trade barbecue recipes for great ribs or roasted vegetables, and reminisce about trips to the beach or lake. Fun times. Lucky Numbers: 8, 9, 24 CANCER Today, you may have to make some compromises to have what you want for yourself and for your family. You may have to work and miss one of the kid’s events or interfere with time for relatives. Fortunately, this energy quickly dissipates and difficult emotions go with it. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9, 13 LEO Today, you can get divine intervention, a prayer can be answered, a wish granted. And while this may not be earthshaking and huge, it’s still a reminder that the Universe has its loving hands guiding and protecting you. Lucky Numbers: 2, 5, 30 VIRGO Today, your talents shine. You could be actively working on a hobby, such as restoring a boat in your garage, practicing sides for an audition, or pecking out the last chapter of your novel on the keyboard. This is an enjoyable effort. Lucky Numbers: 12, 19, 37 LIBRA It’s possible a friendship could become much more. For those Libras who are looking for love, it may be time to suggest an actual “date” with a friend you admire. You could also consider expanding your circle of friends by joining interesting groups and reaching out to individual members. Lucky Numbers: 7, 13, 36 SCORPIO If you’re looking for a job, this is a great day to post your resume. Scorpios can compose thoughtful emails to supervisors to talk about your future with the company. Also, take a few minutes today sitting by a window and ask the Universe for guidance in your career path and to help you discover your true calling. Lucky Numbers: 2, 5, 10 SAGITTARIUS Your magnetism is strong and, if you are looking for love, this is a great day to be connecting to new people, whether that be online or in the produce aisle at the local grocery store. Send out a wink or two to online connections you find attractive. The adventure begins. Lucky Numbers: 8, 12, 15 CAPRICORN Spend a little time today looking at your long-term plans for creating passive income sources. This is a good day to look at issues around inheritance, life insurance, or annuities. This is a more conservative aspect — so skip your plans to do bitcoin mining and credit default swaps at least for today. Lucky Numbers: 17, 20, 37 AQUARIUS Unexpected guests can drop in and suddenly it’s a party on your patio. You could be digging through the freezer to find suitable foods to serve. Turn off your computer and reschedule that overseas conference. Enjoying time with your friends is far more important. Lucky Numbers: 10, 28, 29 PISCES Most of the time you’re good about getting your chores done before playtime happens, but today you’re just not in the mood. Put tasks aside especially mundane things like bathing the dog or sweeping the porch. Do something creative instead where you use some of the many supplies you have stored away and dive into something that brings you joy. Lucky Numbers: 15, 38, 39
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SPORTS Washington Football Team Won’t Allow Fans at 2020 Home Games By Daniel Kucin Jr. WI Contributing Writer @danielkucin88 The Washington Football Team announced on Aug. 12 that its games at FedExField will be played without fans in attendance during the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns and for the well-being of its supporters. The team worked closely with Maryland and Prince George’s County officials, all of whom backed the decision.
MENTAL ILLNESS from Page 20 lison said. “The COVID-19 crisis shines a spotlight on our need for social connectedness and our need for real mental health resources. we need to raise awareness to change our fragmented mental health system into one that serves everyone, so people can get the care they need.” Gillison said COVID-19, social unrest, job loss and business closures are all forces that have come together to create more trauma in the African American community. “The African American community is going through an extremely painful experience,” he said. “It’s pain that’s been inflicted upon the community throughout and magnified by what we see in the mass media. What it brings to bear is repeatedly seeing the events. We are already underemployed, under-resourced in terms of access to mental health care before the pandemic, and when you think about what was under-resourced then, and now look at COVID and Black lives lost. At the same time, we are a
All parties will reevaluate the decision should the situation surrounding the pandemic improve throughout the season. “We are fortunate to host the best fans in the NFL year after year, but the wellbeing of those supporters, along with that of our players, coaches and each and every member of our gameday staff is simply too important, and the current knowledge of COVID-19 too unpredictable, to welcome our fan base to FedExField to start the season,” said team owner
Dan Snyder. “We were the first team in the league to recall our scouts and other personnel from the field back in mid-March and have been monitoring this evolving situation ever since,” Snyder said. “This decision was not an easy one, but after several discussions with federal, state and local officials — along with input from some of the nation’s foremost
medical experts, based right here in the nation’s capital — we are confident that it is the right one. “We are working to find ways to make our fans’ presence felt in new and innovative ways for 2020 and can’t wait to welcome the community through the gates as soon as it’s safe,” he said. Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who enjoyed success as a rookie last season, said that
much lower percentage of the population, and we are a much higher percentage of those losing their lives to COVID.” Gillison added that African Americans are affected mostly partly because many tend to work in the service industry, are essential employees and live in households that include grandparents. “We bring COVID into the house, and our parents and grandparents are there, and they’re in the vulnerable group that has pre-existing conditions and their age,” he said. Suicide is also on the rise, according to statistics provided by NAMI. In Black youth ages 10 to 19, suicide was the second-leading cause of death, and in 2017: over 3,000 youth died by suicide in this age group. The Black youth suicide rate rose from 2.55 per 100,000 in 2007 to 4.82 per 100,000 in 2017. Black youth under 13 years are two times more likely to die by suicide, and when comparing by sex, Black males ages 5 to 11 are more likely to die by suicide compared to their
White peers. The suicide death rate among Black youth is increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic group. For Gillison and Cole, the primary message both want to send to all who are suffering from a mental illness is, “you are not alone.” “Fifty-percent [of African Americans] are less likely to seek help,” Cole said. “There’s an inherited unconscious bias in the community. There are socioeconomic disparities and culturally inappropriate care. “There needs to be a bottom-up and top-down approach to this problem,” he continued. “What’s going to happen right now after quarantine is what happened after the SARS pandemic. Of those in quarantine, one-third came through it with PTSD, and one-third came through with depression. I think it’ll be significantly higher this time because we are focusing on the virus that we don’t understand, and we are not addressing mental health, which is absolutely concerning. We are now about to see this take on a whole other dimension that we are
not prepared for. It will affect people in ways that they have a hard time understanding.” Through the Mental Health Coalition, Cole is championing a cultural shift. He wants people to hold hands and circle the wagons. Cole authored the #howareyoureallychallenge, where friends and loved ones ask, “How are you, really?” Cole noted that many habitually respond to the simple question of “how are you?” with a short answer such as “I’m fine.” He said that sort of response could indicate a defense mechanism and that the individual may not have responded honestly — thus, the more probing question, “how are you, really?” “There’s no physical health without mental health,” Gillison said. For more information about The Mental Health Coalition, go to www. thementalhealthcoalition.org or www. kennethcole.com. For the NAMI COVID-19 information and resource guide, go to NAMI.org/covid-19. For “You Are Not Alone” resources, go to NAMI.org/MentalHealthMonth. WI
5 The Washington Football Team will not allow fans to attend its home games during the upcoming season due to COVID-19 concerns. (Daniel Kucin Jr./The Washington Informer)
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playing in a virtually empty stadium will be different. “That’s tough. I’ve never necessarily played a game in front of no fans,” McLaurin said. “But like I said, at the end of the day, it’s what’s in the best interest of all of us. I feel like that keeps our fans safe, that keeps us safe and our staff. “It’s just a bummer that it has to be that way, but we appreciate the support that we get through social media, the support that we get through fan mail,” he said. “I hope our fans still feel like they can be engaged and a part of our season this year because we do need them and appreciate them. Hopefully, when the safety protocols are at the appropriate time that we can get fans back into our stadium.” Washington has reached out to season ticket-holders to provide them with alternatives. The team said its customer service team will be prepared to answer questions from those who have purchased single-game tickets for the 2020 season and that information will be available on the tickets section of WashingtonFootball.com. In the meantime, fans can learn more about ways to support the Washington Football Team virtually before its Week 1 matchup at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 13 via the team’s website and social media platforms. WI
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020 33
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tion to make people understand what we know and they don’t,” she said. “The residents of the nation’s capital don’t have the same rights we have. We need more national forums to acquaint the American people with the plight of the people in our hometown.” Norton’s former chief of staff, Donna Brazile, who led Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign and served two stints as the acting chair of the Democratic National Committee, said even though people didn’t
SUFFRAGE from Page 1 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) plans to accept the nomination during the Democratic National Convention. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the convention takes place virtually with Harris and Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden joining the convention from Biden’s home state of Delaware. The significance of the event – and the timing that coincides with the anniversary of women gaining the right to vote – has not been lost on Harris or millions of others. Nor has it been lost on historians or African Americans who have followed the plight of Black women as it unfolded in the nation’s suffrage movement. Some have followed the story over the past year through the pages of the Washington Informer where since July 2019 and at the direction of Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, the newspaper has chronicled the struggles and triumphs of Black women in the movement. Over the past 52-plus weeks, our readers learned about Sojourner Truth, a slave in upstate New York and the first known African-American suffragist. Other African-American sheroes have included: Charlotte Vandine Forten, Harriet Forten Purvis, Margaretta Forten, Angelina Weld Grimke, Charlotte Forten Grimke, Sarah Remond, Charlotta Rollin, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Gertrude Bustill Mossell, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Carrie Langston, Mary Church Terrell, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Talbert, Mary E. Jackson, Adella Hunt Logan, Mary McCurdy, Fannie Barrier Williams, Coralie Franklin Cook and Nannie Helen Burroughs. “Black suffragists played a key role in the suffrage movement all over America, especially through clubs and local churches,” said Tina Cassidy, author of gather in Milwaukee for the convention, the online version could be considered special. “This is a historic moment in American history because for only the third time a woman will be nominated for vice president on a major party ticket and while we will not be there physically, we will get together in spirit for a new moment in American politics,” Brazile said. On Sunday, Aug. 16, the Rev. Derrick Harkins, former senior pastor of the District’s Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and the Democratic National Committee’s director of
4 Sojourner Truth (Courtesy photo)
“Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait? Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the Right to Vote.” “The relentless hand of the Black suffragette has hauled the rocks of freedom on her beaten backs moving each boulder for the white female vote before her own was even a part of the conversation,” stated Alison M. Parker, chair and Richards Professor of American History at the University of Delaware and the author of “Unceasing Militant: The Life of Mary Church Terrell.” “She had a vision and volition. She moves like a satin blouse covering the breast of lady liberty’s quintessential right to vote and smoothly shaping the unflattering edges of an American narrative which (try as it may) could not exclude her,” Parker wrote in an email to the Washington Informer. Veronique Ehamo, a human rights activist and Ph.D. Candidate in Politics and International Relations with a focus on African Studies, said Black women wield much power because they are the driving force of any institution both in the public and private spheres. Black women of the suffrage women are responsible for much of that power, Ehamo said. “When given the opportunity, Interfaith Outreach moderated a virtual interfaith service titled “Uniting America,” Harkins said the Democrats plan to reach out to Black churches during the campaign’s home stretch. However, he stressed that people of color will not be taken for granted this year. “We respect the importance of the Black church as an anchor in the Black community, and we know that educating, organizing and mobilizing around the critical issues of our day has always been part of the fixture of the Black church,” he said. WI
Black women not only thrive but excel immeasurably – take college education statistics as an example. It is important to acknowledge the crucial role Black women played in getting the Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments passed,” she continued. “Now decades past suffrage movements, with firm allegiance Black women continue to vocally support agendas that cater to the betterment of lives of people of color. Not only do we show up but we influence others to take part in the voting process, canvas for politicians and campaign on the front lines for mutual objectives.” “To maintain an upstanding partnership with Black female voters, both Democrats and Republicans should be cognizant of all mentioned key factors. Assuring the interest of Black women is being met by their political platforms is paramount,” she said. As Sen. Harris accepts the vice-presidential nomination this week – and should fortune shine on her – be sworn-in in January – many are more educated than in year’s past on the vital role that Black women played before, during and after the suffrage movement. “Today’s Black women activists have similar priorities to their foremothers,” Parker, the University of Delaware professor, stated. “They want an unhindered right to vote, a real place at the table in politics and an end to police violence against Black women like Sandra Bland and Tanisha Anderson,” she said. Part of an ongoing Washington Informer series about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and an initiative that includes Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes that will use the lens of history, the fabric of art and culture and the venue of the public square to shine a light into dark places, equipping all with a compass to chart the way forward. The initiative lives in the institutional home of the Washington Informer Charities. WI
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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
We MUST VOTE for Change! Have you ever experienced someone who seems to look one way, but in reality, they are somebody totally different? It seems to me, our president, Donald Trump, fooled the people, even me. None of us would have dreamed that we would have a president of the United States who would actually change our U.S. post offices, across the nation! On its website, the U.S. Postal Service notes, “In the more than two centuries since Benjamin Franklin was appointed our first Postmaster General in 1775, the Postal Service has grown and changed with America, boldly embracing new technologies to better serve a growing population. We hope you enjoy exploring our rich history.” Then in an article that goes all the way back to slavery, entitled “A Brief History of the U.S. Mail,” which appeared Frances Romero writes in the March 15 edition of TIME Magazine, “When the Constitution established the postmaster-general position, the Founding Fathers were worried about how to get the new nation’s increasing volume of mail delivered. A system had been developed in the colonies, in which merchants, slaves and Native Americans
would pass letters and parcels from person to person until they reached their destinations. That soon gave way to designated mail carriers who traveled via horse and stagecoach. One short-lived offshoot of the horseback system, the Pony Express, had riders on about 400 horses who could get letters from St. Joseph, Mo., to Sacramento, Calif., in 10 days. After 18 months, however, the Pony Express ceased to exist when the complicated operation became too expensive. Mail was later distributed via locomotive and eventually airplane.” After all this history, our president decides to dismantle the postal service by using them as if they are a part of his presidential campaign. He decided that he would rather just about shut the postal system down, than allow folks to vote absentee, like he and his wife are doing. He’s fighting awfully hard to try and get re-elected, by any means necessary! He has lost it, folks, but it will be up to us, to put a stop to this nightmare that has taken over the White House. He got elected, not fairly, but he did get sworn in. He is truly upset to see polls showing him behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris. Therefore, his true colors are beginning to show. This president is afraid to leave office, in my opinion, when he will no
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
longer be protected from his illegal actions and behaviors by his office of Presidency. Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, has written a tell-all book which is about to be published, and rather than allow Cohen to write and publish his book, he got the man locked back up again. In closing, I remind everyone what I heard Congressman Jim Clyburn say several times on MSNBC last week. “We must not wait until Nov. 3,” he said, “We can begin to vote Oct. 3.” However, he continued, Oct. 3 is on a Saturday, “therefore, we must begin on that Monday, which will be Oct. 5.” If everyone reading this column will begin to vote on Oct. 5, we won’t need to worry about what may happen on Election Day. Let’s get this done, we can beat him at his own game. He will have to face the legal system. No man is above the law, and he cannot turn our country into a dictatorship which is run by one person who holds all the country’s power. Dictators often surround themselves with a team of officials who do not have much of a say in the final outcome of anything, and the citizens don’t have much of a voice, either. A dictatorship means there is one person calling all the shots for an entire country, reflecting an obvious imbalance of power. God bless the United States of America! WI
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www.jmlaw.net
(301) 864-6070
jmccollum@jmlaw.net
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
(301) 864-6070
Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020 35
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 Interim Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM
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
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 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
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
(Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Mount Carmel Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor
Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher
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
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
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
Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor
Turning Hearts Church
421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445
“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital”
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church
Twelfth Street Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM
Crusader Baptist Church
901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM
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themcbc.org
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
Israel Baptist Church
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"
Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
Service and Times Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am Sunday School: 9:00am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"
Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM
Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958
Shiloh Baptist Church
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
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
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
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
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. 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 “
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
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 20 - 26, 2020 37
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
2019 ADM 000793
2019 ADM 001374
Estate of Willie Robinson aka Willie G. Robinson NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Ronald E. Robinson 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 11/02/2018 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise appoint an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 8/13/2020 Steve Larson-Jackson, Esq. 414847 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Leslie Reynolds Garner Decedent Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 100 Largo, Maryland 20774 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS John M. Garner, II, whose address is 1208 D Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Leslie Reynolds Garner who died on July 15, 2002 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/6/2021. 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 2/6/2021, 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: 8/6/2020 John M. Garner, II Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Donnell H. McNeal, Esq. Law Office of Donnell H. McNeal, LLC Suite 136-F Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS To all persons Interested in the estate of Thelma Baucum Estate No. 117189 Notice is given that: Donna Johnson Carter was on 7/15/2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of: Thelma Baucum who died on 3/14/2020 with a Will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney. All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 15th day of January, 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: 1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or 2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills. Donna J. Carter Personal Representative The Washington Informer Cerita Lee Register of Wills For Prince George’s County
38 - AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
In God We Trust Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: walker, dejon dwight© in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: WALKER, DEJON DWIGHT©, corp. sole Dba.: “ DEJON DWIGHT WALKER© “, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly sworn, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as an: ani yun wiya Moorish American National, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and inalienable, allegiance to the Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados / United States Republic, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Barbary Treaties, International Law, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all Natural laws governing moors and hereby Declare and Proclaim my nationality as an: ani yun wiya Moorish American National. Any and all facts contained in this publication, are fully applicable to any and all private tribal issue offspring of: walker, dejon dwight©, & my wife by common-law marriage, castillo, alexis julianna©, Nunc pro tunc, not limited to but including : 1. walker, aleia skye©, the beneficiary and heir of: WALKER, ALEIA SKYE©, corp sole, Dba: ALEIA SKYE WALKER©. I am that I am: walker, dejon dwight© from this day forward, Nunc pro tunc, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “walker-bey, dejon dwight©”. I am that I am: walker-bey, aleia skye© from this day forward, Nunc pro tunc, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “walker-bey, aleia skye©”. Notice of 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: “ WALKER, DEJON DWIGHT© ”, corp.sole Dba.: DEJON DWIGHT WALKER©, Re: “CASTILLO, ALEXIS JULIANNA© ”, corp.sole Dba.: ALEXIS JULIANNA JULIANNA©, & Re: WALKER, ALEIA SKYE©, corp sole, Dba: ALEIA SKYE WALKER©, etc., to the depositor, and or in the capacity as Guardian/Chairman of the Board of Trustees: walker-bey, dejon dwight©, nom deguerre: walker, dejon dwight©. 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: walker-bey, dejon dwight©, nom deguerre: walker, dejon dwight©, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : DEJON DWIGHT WALKER BEY TRUST©, a private foreign islamism ecclesiastical trust. CASTILLO, ALEXIS JULIANNA©, corp.sole Dba.: ALEXIS JULIANNA JULIANNA© is hereby conveyed to ALEXIS JULIANNA CASTILLO TRUST© when the beneficiary reaches the age of majority. WALKER, ALEIA SKYE©, corp sole, Dba: ALEIA SKYE WALKER© is hereby conveyed to ALEIA SKYE WALKER TRUST© when the beneficiary reaches the age of majority. 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. All Rights Reserved.
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COMMENTARY from Page 8
LEARNING from Page 12
pale in comparison to those of our white counterparts. Once, while walking across the center of UM’s campus, a place referred to as The Diag,” I remember seeing another Black student and literally running toward them as if I was greeting a family member who had been gone for years. We shared similar pain and prejudice in our matriculation. My experiences at Emory University and later at Princeton Theological Seminary [PTS] would be replete with similar kinds of memories tantamount to the angst one suffers when existing as the proverbial fly in the buttermilk. However, I excelled at Emory, in part, due to the prudent decision to establish a study group with two other students – a relationship to which we remained committed throughout our three years as students in pursuit of a Master of Divinity in the Candler School of Theology. I forged a significantly lonelier path during my doctoral studies at PTS despite having the privilege and right to attend classes across the yard at Princeton University. In many of my classes, I felt like I was speaking for the entire Black race as the sole African American in the room – holding up the banner as a one-man study group. But I survived and thrived. Whites, and more recently Asians, have long been afforded access to people who hold membership in and places that represent the ivory towers of American society. The same cannot be said for Blacks, albeit within the last several decades. When opportunity arose for Blacks, however, it inevitably occurred because of our willingness to go beyond the mediocre – to overachieve – while often feeling like we had to prove that our admission into the hallowed halls was merited. I wonder if whites and Asians will ever admit how much they have benefited from the unmerited privilege to which they’ve long been granted in American society at all levels – doorways to and connections with the elite that only a handful of Blacks have ever attained. And still, they cry foul while alleging bias. As recently as 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of race-consciousness admissions, within limits, to help colleges realize the educational benefits of campus diversity – a goal that has yet to be achieved. Black and brown Americans deserve seats at the table, a few designated admission passes, not because of the color of our skin but because through blood, sweat and tears, we’ve earned it. WI
- Department of Special Education virtual workshops Aug. 20, 27 and 28. - Students can assess their schedules on Aug. 28. Also on that day, orientations will take place for students entering prekindergarten and kindergarten and those transitioning to middle and high school. The plan highlights online instruction shouldn’t accommodate 50 to 60 students, but try and replicate an in-person experience. However, a big group could come together for a “special presentation” such as a concert, grade-level assembly, or other school performance. Students will receive a lunch period, but instruction isn’t scheduled for Monday and Thursday to allow parents to pick up meals from distribution sites, according to the reopening plan. A hybrid model will be examined from Dec. 1-18 to determine whether to provide in-person instruction at least two days a week starting Feb. 1. However, parents and guardians will have the option to allow their children to attend school or continue distance learning for the entire school year. Prince George’s joins other school systems in the D.C. and Baltimore areas that will begin the school year
through virtual learning. Prince George’s continues to lead Maryland in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, currently reporting more than 25,000. “While there is no ideal approach to reopening schools during this crisis, I assure you that we have done — and will continue to do — our best to create a space for distance learning that is robust, engaging and effective without compromising equity and excellence,” PGCPS CEO Monica Goldson said in a statement. “We look forward to the day that our buildings are once again abuzz with discovery, the exchange of ideas, laughter and interaction.” Although Jahmani didn’t watch some scheduled PGCPS virtual workshops, she received other education resources from the Northern Prince George’s Mocha Moms, a nonprofit community service organization that serves as “the premier voice for mothers of color.” However, Jahmani supports Goldson’s decision to not hold in-person classes. “There is more that we can achieve, but I am very pleased that she continued with the online learning,” she said. “I don’t think it is a good idea to meet in person right now. We have to educate our teachers on distance learning, and we have to educate ourselves to stay up with it.” WI
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4 From left: Ryleigh Jahmani, entering sixth grade; Darren Jahmani, Sr.; Nichelle Jahmani; Jordan Jahmani, entering eighth grade; and Darren Jahmani, Jr., entering 12th grade. (Courtesy of Jahmani family)
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Even so, the high-profile tenant board member continued to organize with other tenant representatives across the District, even appearing on a #CancelRent panel discussion at We Act Radio in Southeast, where he used his on-theground experiences to make a case for this type of relief. “People are saying things are going to get worse – even those with jobs and I don’t know how they’re taking it,” King told The Informer. “People without jobs will be piling up [in apartments with one another] and we’re just talking about those like us who are here legally. The illegal population isn’t counted in the statistics and seem to have been left behind,” he said.
INCREASED ANXIETY CROSSES CITY, STATE LINES
The Woodner-based rent strike campaign, and several others across the District, continue during an unprecedented health pandemic, impacting life for tenants, landlords and lawmakers alike. Last month, the expiration of a federal moratorium on evictions incited fears about what the future held for tenants throughout the Greater Washington Area and the nation, many of whom have been unable to pay their rent with business closures that have resulted due to COVID-19. In the District, an eviction moratorium has been extended. But upon receiving numerous reports by citizens of threats from local landlords, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White has urged his constituents to bring similar incidents of coercion to his office for investigation. In Virginia, with more than 6,000 eviction hearings originally scheduled throughout late July and the first week in August, the state’s Supreme Court approved the delay of eviction proceedings until September 7. Marylanders face a more tenuous future with the expiration last month of a state-level rent moratorium. Some tenants there say they’re increasingly feeling the heat of eviction notices and landlords’ legal threats. One group of MD lawmakers have since discussed the matter in virtual sessions, releasing a report earlier this month recommending the extension of the moratorium, expanding a legal services pilot program that mediates landlord-tenant disputes and providing for the infusion of millions into rental assistance programs.
5 Eviction moratoriums in Maryland and Virginia ended July 24 and 25, respectively, while it has been renewed in Virginia until September 7. (Courtesy photo/WUSA)
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh has asked state courts to extend the moratorium which, if approved, would delay hearings until January 31. Under Maryland’s state of emergency, which Governor Larry Hogan (R) extended earlier this month, tenants are allowed to use COVID-related loss of income as a defense against eviction. But for some, it’s seemingly too little too late. For Javada Murphy, when the water heater malfunctioned in the single-family home which Murphy rented, not even her voucher and assurances that she and her children could stay for the rest of the year were enough to prevent her landlord from selling the Clinton, Maryland property and evicting the mother of three less than a week after the statewide eviction ban expired. Though Murphy, a social entrepreneur and outreach career agent, said she could’ve challenged her landlord’s decision with Hogan’s tenant income loss executive order, she decided that any tension would have only exacerbated the situation, already marred by a reduction in her work hours and the repossession of her car. On July 31, her last day in her home, Murphy placed some of her intimate belongings in storage, relinquished her security deposit for the disposal of her furniture and placed her children with out-of-town relatives while she attempted to find a new place before the start of the new school year. Nearly two weeks later, her efforts remain unsuccessful. As the rejections accumulate, she continues to collect income from various jobs but has entered a shelter in a last-ditch effort to get some assistance. “Due to my credit score, it’s not easy finding a place. I knew I would be able to get help in a shelter,” Murphy told The Informer just hours before her meeting with a case worker. “Now I’m working eight hours a week. I started driving Uber fulltime but in between that and having a shel-
ter curfew, there’s a lot of interference. My caseworker is helping me with rapid rehousing. It’s a positive move.”
IN CONSIDERATION OF THE BIGGER PICTURE
As county governments struggle to meet the overwhelming need for rental assistance, more than 356,000 Maryland residents are expected to be evicted by September, per the Aspen Institute, due to income lost during the coronavirus pandemic. Long before COVID-19 however, the incremental increase in Maryland’s cost of living has forced residents – particularly those living in parts of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties bordering the District -- to seek accommodation elsewhere in the state. Oftentimes, these new locations have only been found in areas beyond the Beltway. One woman who requested anonymity recounted making such a move from Takoma Park to her cousin’s apartment near Baltimore late last year in hopes of eventually settling somewhere else in the state. However, COVID-19 delayed those plans. In mid-March, shortly after Hogan announced his stay-at-home orders, the woman’s employer reduced her hours at a facility serving adults with disabilities. She has since had to rely on the income from another part-time gig with an inconsistent schedule. Though the woman and her cousin, both of whom hail from West Africa, have been able to pay rent every month, it hasn’t been without anxiety. “We’re struggling. That’s the bottom line. With family back home, I have to hustle and send them money too,” the woman told The Informer. “It’s really tight and [the pandemic] has affected us all. I had a call with my supervisor who had previously cut my hours, so with that I’m hopeful. As far as jobs, I put in applications in several places and have an upcoming virtual interview.” WI
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MALVEAUX from Page 24 whatever means necessary. 3. If you prefer to vote in person, or if you’ve neglected to mail your absentee ballot, make sure you know where your polling place is. Because of the coronavirus, some cities are reducing the number of available polling places, and the site where you usually vote may be closed. 4. It is also possible to vote early in person. Check with your Board of Elections about when and where you might vote early. 5. Be patient. Conducting an election amid a pandemic is new for us, and some election procedures have
MORIAL from Page 24 announce legislation that would allow those at risk of eviction to access legal representation, and help protect their credit. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she famously held Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and attorney general nominee William Barr to account during their confirmation hearings. Her groundbreaking selection to the position of vice presidential nominee has drawn comparison to the legendary Shirley Chisholm, whom she often cites as a source of inspiration. In 1968, Chisholm became the first Black woman to serve as a member of Congress, and in
MOBLEY from Page 24 charges and suits against senior management officials at both the private and public sectors again throughout the USA. Many were forced to file charges due to being treated unfairly based on sex, race, age and other qualities. Just think: Trump faced many allegations of sexual misconduct, but he still was elected over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The same paradox surfaced during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, in which I testified, and was certain that he used the “Long Dong Silver” references on many occasions in front of several of us while he was the chairman of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The problem was that many failed to testify out of fear of being subjected to retaliation by the Republican Party and others. So here I am thinking that knowing that many of the Trump followers have never been a victim nor been treated disparately because of their
been unnecessarily politicized. You may encounter obstacles if you choose to vote in person. Document any hurdles you have to clear, get names of anyone who denied you the right to vote, and complain if the matter is not resolved. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law runs a hotline on Election Day. Their number is 866-OURVOTE, or 866-687-8683. 6. Spread the word. Reach out to your circle to share information about voting and encourage your friends and colleagues to vote. 7. Because of the coronavirus, which is not likely to be gone by November, there will be fewer gatherings to discuss the vote. Be on the lookout
for Zoom town halls and other meetings that civic organizations are holding. Encourage your church, your sorority or your local NCNW section to consider virtual town halls. It is in some people’s interest to suppress the vote, and we’ve seen enough of it these past few years. It is your absolute right to exercise the right to vote, even if some make it difficult. We don’t have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar or translate a passage of the Constitution into Latin, as our foremothers did. It is in their honor and the memory of Congressman John Lewis that we vote. WI
1972 became the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major party for president. When she launched her presidential campaign, Harris chose a red and yellow design for her logo that resembles Chisholm’s campaign buttons. Chisholm faced abhorrent racial harassment on her campaign, and nearly half a century later, the racist attacks not only have not subsided, they’re amplified through social media. But it’s not just crude slurs hurled on Twitter by anonymous trolls. Within hours of the announcement that she had been selected as Joe Biden’s running mate, a major magazine amplified a racist “birther” conspiracy theory about her.
Chisholm was realistic about the obstacles her candidacy faced. “I just want to show it can be done,” she often said. Harris was a child when Chisholm ran for president, just to show it could be done, and now she stands a realistic chance of being the first woman to hold the second-highest office in the land. As Joe Biden said the day after announcing his choice, “This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up, especially little black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today, today just maybe, they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way, as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents.” WI
race and or other factors relating to anti-discrimination laws. In fact, I have trained many (thousands) folks in this area about inclusion, equal employment opportunity and workplace harassment. During these episodes I have experienced many negative responses from white males regarding the overall message regarding all employees. Moreover, the facts tell us that these are the folks (mostly from about nine states) who said they were tired of hearing anything about race relations and /or sexual harassment. So, since the mid 1970’s, just after the post-MLK assassination riots and the Nixon Watergate scandal where, as a senior personnel specialist at the White House (the only black during this period), I was responsible for handling many of the interrogatories and questions leading up to Nixon’s resignation. William Hopkins, Esq., the chief administrator, and Ms. Jean Robb, the personnel office director, decided that I would be responsible for retrieving all of the data for the many inquiries we received from
Congress and the news media regarding the break-in On reflection, I realized that, having access to that information, I was aware how politics worked throughout our nation. This has not changed much because Trump has rekindled racial fears about both minorities and females in the workplace. As a result of many blacks and women being place in these extremely sensitive positions, I believe Trump and his followers to began to realize that their power weakened because diversity had become part of the decision-making process. I believe most white males have lost their presumed power from over minorities and women. They now must deal directly with the Obama folks without having power over them. This means from my point of view, there are no longer “masters over the plantations” in theory nor in practice. Hence, Trump and those other white males who have lost their voice. At last, equality has raised its ugly head to the white man! WI
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COLLINS from Page 25 from the pack. For several generations, respectability politics has left marginalized Black people, like those from Jarrett’s Northeast community of Edgewood, voiceless, defenseless, and without the space to express the full spectrum of human emotions. Black people who comfortably live within the margins of respectability politics often refuse to identify with the so-called undesirable elements of their community, even if doing so would foster racial unity. As a millennial who has paved his own way, Jarrett’s apologies would fall on deaf ears, not because of the severity of the mass shooting, but Black people’s collective yearning to appear pristine in a society hellbent on destroying all of us. Six years ago, respectability politics threatened to tarnish Michael Brown Jr.’s legacy. For the socially conservative elements of the Black community, convenience store footage showing a young man bearing Brown’s resemblance stealing a box of cigarillo provided Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson some leverage to approach Brown. It also fanned the flames of doubt around whether Brown had his hands up in the air moments before Wilson fired six shots into the 18-year-old’s chest. In the months and years following Brown’s death, Wilson, the only one alive to tell the story, told a grand jury that Brown, a recent high school graduate about to start vocational training, violently charged at him. During his testimony, Wilson used language much like what had been propagated since enslavement to incite fear of Black men and legitimize laws limiting their movement. Once on the record, such testimony
ASKIA from Page 25 Superpower Championship when this country beat the Russkies to the Moon, wore down the Communist economy, and forced the breakup of the Soviet Union. But even as the U.S. was emerging in the late 20th century as the only superpower, China, with a huge, well-educated population and huge land mass began to rise, but not yet able to take on the Americans in a fight. What caused the undoing of this country was its seething, restless Black and brown population, demanding Freedom, Justice, and Equality; demanding their share of The American Dream. Undecided about how to deal with the demands from the Blacks and the browns — that is knowing that to live up to the true meaning of the American Creed, justice had to be served, but
guaranteed that Wilson wouldn’t receive charges. It also paved the way for President Barack Obama’s Justice Department and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell’s failure to charge Wilson years later. All the while in Ferguson, Missouri, some of the young people who bucked the Black elite’s unspoken rules of conduct in the form of mass protest in 2014 had since died under questionable circumstances — including a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, suicide by hanging, and being burnt inside of a car. The decedents’ family members and friends, cognizant of the immense pushback that protesters received, even from President Obama, saw nothing ordinary about these occurrences. As a matter of fact, they described it as a conspiracy to control Black people and maintain the very institutions that do so. In the District, several people have suffered a fate similar to Brown’s — Marqueese Alston, Terrence Sterling, D’Quan Young and Ralphael Briscoe, just to name a few. In their deaths, they too had to face the court of public opinion, often without the support of a community that has grown increasingly disdainful of young people and concurrently supportive of the police. Time and time again, perceptions about Black youth and criminality ensured that police officers weren’t held accountable for their failure to think clearly and exercise restraint while on the job. That’s part of the reason why, instead of receiving justice, these Black people lost their agency and humanity. Though Jarrett still has his life, what he experienced in the last week is more inconspicuous and just as dangerous. Those who pointed the finger at EAT and Jarrett didn’t question the
actions, or lack of action, from Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officials posted up at 33rd Street and DuBois Place on the night of the annual block party. Given the resources at MPD’s disposal, more officers could’ve been dispatched to disperse the large crowd. Surely there’s some level of enforcement required of MPD during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially since Bowser made her July 22 announcement about social distancing and wearing masks. However, as many District residents would have it, Aug. 9’s mass shooting is entirely on Malik Jarrett and EAT, not the public officials and police officers who, even with their utilization of social media intelligence, have been unable to prevent violent crime and enforce social distancing orders. Not even the highly esteemed elders who have Jarrett’s ear have been found culpable for failing to curtail his enthusiasm. Instead, all the responsibility lies with Jarrett, a young man who didn’t act alone in building his clothing empire and maintaining the fervor of the annual block party. With this type of thinking, it’s no wonder that generational schisms continue to exist within D.C.’s Black community, much to the point that the police department can escape blame for issues under their purview — like gun violence, and enforcement of stayat-home orders —- while Black Washingtonians, young and old, continue to die in their communities from violence and other societal conditions. With all this being said, I guess it’s safe to ask: When will ALL Black lives, including that of a young entrepreneur who made a mistake, matter to Black people? WI
at the same time not wanting to surrender the white privilege which kept their tribe on top — the White Man gave a little, but not enough to the teeming underclass. As the expectations of nonwhites grew after the civil rights movement — the Second Reconstruction — and as whites saw their underlings rising, demanding equality, the backlash began. At first it was polite and guarded in political language — opposition to school integration, opposition to fair housing, opposition to fair employment practices — and then, with the advent of Trumpism, the full-blown, race-hatred came out of the closet. With Trump’s “Make America Great Again” appeals to roll back the clock to 1950s America, when Dad was the Boss, and when Negroes and women knew their places and stayed in them, swept through a large swath of
U.S. society. Now, neither side can be mollified. Non-whites will no longer accept second-class status, and a plurality of whites feel like they’ve already given up too much. The problem for Mighty Whitey in this country is they did not learn the lessons of history. White supremacy’s army surrendered at the Appomattox, Virginia Court House on April 9, 1865. The white supremacists surrendered again, unconditionally, on May 7, 1945, at Reims, in northeastern France ending World War II. Sadly, the Trumpistas didn’t learn. They seem to think they know something their forebearers didn’t know. They’re wrong. Whether it’s at the ballot box in November, or at some other place later on, white supremacy, white world power will be defeated yet again — permanently this time. WI
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