VOL. 54, NO. 45 • AUGUST 22 - 28, 2019
Get the Kids Ready for School; It’s Eye Health, Safety Month
(Story on pg. 21)
Curry Backs Howard Golf Program / Page 23
Archbishop Gregory Continues Task of Restoring Trust
Industrial Bank Reaches Landmark 85th Year of Service Black-owned Institution Stays True to Family’s Values, Goals
Principled Reformer Leads Archdiocese of Washington with Grace
By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir
By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir Since his installation as the leader of the Archdiocese of Washington, May 21, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has provided needed leadership at a time when the Catholic Church has found itself inundated by troubling scandals and revelations. Throughout his many years of service, Archbishop Gregory has remained a man known for and respected because of his principles and dedication to seeking truth and doing the right thing. That said, his first few months have seen him visiting parishes throughout the Archdiocese – offering solace, guidance and laying out a plan of action. He spoke with The Washington Informer recently about his life, his new assignment and his plans to restore one of our most fragile human relationships: trust. Washington Informer: How do you speak to people in today’s current atmosphere of fear in the U.S. when many say their faith has been shaken? How do
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5 Raheem Devaughn keeps the Go-Go beat going strong during his set at the 5thannual Chuck Brown Day in Northeast on Saturday, Aug. 17. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
D.C. may no longer be “Chocolate City” following decades of changes in the city’s demographics attributed in part to the impact of gentrification not only in the District but in many of America’s urban settings. For one local business, Industrial Bank, it’s been 85 years since their founding by the family pa-
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Federally-Supervised Release Program Under Fire Local Coalition’s Campaign Aligns with ‘Black August’ Activities By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
5 Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory greets congregants after Mass at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church in Bethesda, Maryland on July 28. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
With the passage of legislation more than 30 years ago, supervised release replaced probation aimed at keeping tabs on individuals upon their exit from the federal prison system. However, in contrast to the past, supervised release mandates that returning citizens regularly report to a probation officer well after having completed their original sentence and follow a set of strict guidelines or face the risk of being sent back
to prison. Recently, a motion filed by a returning citizen during what’s known as Black August – an annual remembrance of Black resistance movements and political prisoners – poses the latest challenge to the federally-supervised release program, questioning its constitutionality. One woman, whose name has been withheld at her request, believes the terms of her release have made life on the outside much harder to navigate. “It doesn’t make sense to have
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Celebrating 54 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area