VOL. 54, NO. 46 • AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
Be Safe, Celebrate Family during Labor Day Weekend
Don’t Miss the WI Bridge Center Section
Goldson Excited for First Day of School
Virginia Marks the History of Slavery’s Beginning and its End
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
By Denise Rolark Barnes WI Staff Writer The stories about the history of the TransAtlantic slave trade are often too painful for descendants of enslaved Africans to bear, but for the hundreds of African Americans that traveled to Ft. Monroe in Hampton, Va. last weekend, the stories instilled strength, pride, faith hope, and perseverance. The 1619-2019 Commemoration of the First African Landing signaled many additions and corrections to the history of the first Africans brought to America, marking the beginning of two centuries of slavery started in the British colony, in what later became Virginia. It also established a commitment from researchers and politicians, alike, to ensure the inclusion of a more complete story of slavery and the efforts to abolish it in the American story. “Slavery started here in Virginia,” Governor Ralph Northam said to an audience of more than 200 gathered under a large tent on the grounds of Ft. Monroe. “And it is here where the end of slavery began. It is here where slaves sought refuge and were granted a decision that led to emancipation.” “How do we tell the full and true story of our past 400 years?” Northam asked. “How do we do so with honor and dignity for people whose honor and dignity were taken away from them? Who should tell the story, and how do we learn from those lessons as we move forward?” Despite the controversy the em-
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5 Mayor Muriel Bowser (left) and DC Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee and Maury Elementary School Principal Helena Payne Chauvenet (right) join in welcoming students on the first day of school at the newly-renovated facility in Northeast on Monday, August 29. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
Monica Goldson has experienced the first day of school in Prince George’s County for nearly 30 years as a teacher, math instructional specialist, principal and deputy superintendent. She will now experience her first day Tuesday, Sept. 3 as permanent CEO of Maryland’s second-largest school system. Before Goldson smiles, hugs and shake hands with some of the
GOLDSON Page 48
Student Safety: A Top Priority This School Year By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
Several D.C. public and public charter schools, many of which had undergone significant renovations during the summer, opened their doors on Monday in anticipation of what administrators, teachers, and students hope will be a successful academic year without incident. For a contingent of school personnel and small businesses in Southeast, realizing that goal involves tending to matters beyond those pristine buildings. With the continuation of Safe Passage and launch of the Safe Spots pro-
gram comes the opportunity to keep students out of harm’s way along various points of their daily commutes to and from school. “We’ve been training people that presence is important; [students] seeing the same people there to build up that level of trust and respect,” said Niya White, now in her ninth year as principal of Center City Public Charter School - Congress Heights. Aug. 26 marked the first day of Center City PCS - Congress Heights’ 2019-2020 academic year, and the start of its fifth year quelling after-school violence.
SAFE Page 16
5 Business along the Martin Luther King corridor in Southast were recognized as Safe Spots at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education’s Safe Passage Program kick-off on Friday, August 23. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
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