The Washington Informer - August 8, 2025

Landmark

Civil Rights Law Under Attack, Washingtonians Seek Full Representation in Congress

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

As the Voting Rights Act of 1965 turned 60 on Aug. 6, many activists are examining what the landmark legislation means for voters today. While the bill faces attacks from the Trump administration, a conservative U.S. Supreme Court, and state legislators, and as Washingtonians still fight for statehood and full representation in Congress, modern freedom fighters are determined to prevent the clock from turning back on the right for all Americans to to fully participate in the political system.

“Sixty years ago, a courageous U.S. Congress took steps to enfranchise Black voters in the passage of the Voting Rights Act,” Donna Brazile, former chair of the Democratic National Committee and a political commentator, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Aug. 4. “Today, this historic law has allowed millions of citizens to vote as well as run for public office. Remember, we fought for this right to exist. Speak up!”

Brazile and other political experts and justice advocates are fighting against voter suppression happening throughout the U.S.

Mixed Reactions to Emergency Juvenile Curfew

Some Residents Embrace Curfew Law, Skeptical it Will Deter Troubled Youth

night

(Courtesy Photo)

By Sam P.K. Collins and Will Armstead WI Staff Writer and WI Intern

As the summer winds down, and youth in D.C. prepare for their return to the classroom, some young people are gelling plans together for events intended to foster unity among the District’s youngest, and what some people consider the most misunderstood, residents.

Such is a case for Corey R. McSwain, a Ward 8 student and organizer who’s in the throes of a crowd-

CURFEW Page 39

3Graduates of Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail during the commencement ceremony at the D.C.’s Jail’s Central Treatment Facility on July 30. (Courtesy Photo/D.C. Department of Corrections, Instagram)

Another Crop of D.C. Jail Residents Receive Their High School Diploma

After Charles H. Settlement, Maya Angelou Academy Celebrates Successes

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Returning citizen Tomar McWilliams recently re-entered D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC),

not as a resident, but one of several young men gearing up to celebrate a milestone which, for him, was more than a decade in the making.

Earlier this year, McWilliams

DIPLOMA Page 26

Attorneys Allege DYRS Didn’t Respond to Repeated Sexual Abuse of Children

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

In the aftermath of a former juvenile corrections officer’s conviction for sexual abuse of a minor, a couple of attorneys have filed a lawsuit with the demand that the District not only pays damages, but implements policies in alignment with national standards, and increases transparency at D.C.’s Youth Services Center (YSC).

On Tuesday morning, while surrounded by a group that included local organizers, children advocates, and at least one former YSC resident, Bernadette Armand and Elizabeth Paige White announced their civil rights action against Kelvin Powell, the former juvenile corrections officer, as well as Sam Abed, director of the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and the D.C. Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

Each party, Armand said, plays a role in perpetuating the danger that young people face, particularly when they’re under the supervision of the D.C. government.

“This situation is a perfect example of how the city treats young

5Sharon Carr advocates for voting rights at a May 2024 “Souls to the Polls,” a partnership with Community of Hope AME Church and the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation. (WI File Photo/Cleveland Nelson)

5Corey R. McSwain, a high school senior and organizer known to many as ‘The Kid President,” said that the emergency juvenile curfew policy doesn’t align with late

events, like what D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation has hosted this summer.

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STACY M. BROWN WI SENIOR WRITER

IMAX Brings Back Prince’s Genius in ‘Sign O’ The Times’

Prince is back—this time in a format as epic as the artist himself.

For one night only, fans can relive “Sign O’ The Times” in stunning IMAX.

On Aug. 28, AMC theaters across the country will host opening night screenings of the iconic 1987 concert film, and attendees will receive a collectible, concert-style ticket.

The film’s official IMAX release begins globally on Aug. 29, but early access

After Malcolm-Jamal

showings are reserved for those ready to celebrate the Purple One in his full glory.

Directed by Prince and originally released in 1987, “Sign O’ The Times” captures the artist at the height of his creative power—blending jaw-dropping live performances with cinematic storytelling. Thanks to IMAX’s proprietary remastering process, the film has been transformed with precision surround sound, crystal-clear visuals, and immersive theater geometry that puts fans in the middle of the magic.

The re-release features some of Prince’s most unforgettable tracks: the sultry “If I Was Your Girlfriend,” the fiery duet “U Got The Look” with Sheena Easton, and the anthemic title track “Sign O’ The Times,” which speaks to the social and political chaos of its era—lyrics that still resonate today.

Prince’s stagecraft, musicianship, and style shine through in

Page 5

Warner’s Death, a Look Back at TV’s Top Black Sitcoms

Black sitcoms have long been the heartbeat of American television—blending humor, heart, and social insight to uplift communities and shift cultural narratives.

From 1970s trailblazers to 1990s icons, these shows provided representation, shaped identities, and cracked ceilings in an industry that once sidelined Black stories. They bridged the gap between comedy and cultural commentary, offering laughter, lessons, and a mirror in which Black audiences could finally see themselves authentically.

At the center of this legacy stands Theo Huxtable— the charming, intelligent middle son on “The Cosby Show.” Portrayed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Theo wasn’t just a kid on TV: he was America’s son.

Tragically, Warner died on July 20 in an accidental drowning while vacationing in Costa Rica. He was 54.

Bill Cosby, many co-stars, and fans around the globe reflected on the warmth, depth, and quiet power Warner brought to living rooms across America.

“#RestinPower to NAACP Image Award winning actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” the NAACP wrote

on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire. Thank you for the memories and the impact you made in the world of entertainment.”

In honor of that legacy and the timeless impact of Black sitcoms, NewsToter compiled a ranking of the greatest Black sitcoms of all time.

Here are the top 10, along with several that received honorable mention:

Top 10 Greatest Black Sitcoms of All Time

“The Cosby Show”

“The Jeffersons”

“A Different World”

“Good Times”

“Martin”

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”

“The Steve Harvey Show”

“Family Matters”

“Living Single”

“Sanford & Son” WI

Portrait Artist Amy Sherald Cancels Her Art Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery

Artist Amy Sherald recently announced she canceled her groundbreaking solo exhibition scheduled to open in September at the National Portrait Gallery, after alleged censorship concerns.

While “Amy Sherald: American Sublime,” was originally set to open on Sept. 19, the artist said that the museum feared her painting of a trans woman posed like the Statue of Liberty could offend President Donald Trump, according to Politico.

The National Portrait Gallery maintains that it never suggested removing the painting, but rather pitched an accompanying video to “contextualize the piece.”

“These concerns led to discussions about removing the work from the exhibition,” Sherald said in

a statement published in ARTnews. “When I understood a video would replace the painting, I decided to cancel.”

Organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), “American Sublime” features 50 works by Sherald, which is the largest and most comprehensive viewing of the artist’s work.

The National Portrait Gallery exhibition would have marked the first solo presentation by a Black contemporary artist at the institution.

“While we understand Amy’s decision to withdraw her show from the National Portrait Gallery, we are disappointed that Smithsonian audiences will not have an opportunity to experience ‘American Sub-

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

5On Aug. 28, fans can relive Prince’s “Sign O’ The Times” in stunning IMAX. (Courtesy Photo/ Prince, X)

PRINCE

RAMMYS 2025 Celebrates Resilience Amid Restaurant Industry Challenges, Offers Call to Action

RAMW President Shawn Townsend Emphasizes ‘Our Work is Far From Over’

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

For many in D.C.’s hospitality industry, it’s been an uphill battle to sustain businesses since 2020, and Shawn Townsend, president of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s (RAMW), has had an up-close look at the complex nuances in the District’s food and beverage scene.

“Let’s be honest—no industry has been tested more than ours since the pandemic. Closures, staffing shortages, rising costs, and yes—the fight over Initiative 82 (a voter-approved measure phasing out sub-minimum wage for tipped workers). It’s been one challenge after another,” said Townsend during RAMW’s 43rd Annual RAMMYS Awards and Gala on Aug. 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C.

Just days before the event, D.C.’s restaurant industry became a major topic of conversation in business and politics. In addition to the D.C. Council voting on District Mayor Muriel Bowser’s efforts to repeal Initiative 82, the National Restaurant Association released a report revealing 900 jobs were lost in the hospitality indus-

PRINCE from Page 4

every frame. With longtime collaborator Sheila E. and a full band of elite talent, the concert film isn’t just a time capsule—it’s a masterclass in performance and artistry.

Fans who have already seen the film are anxious to get another chance to relive the moment.

“I have seen that concert film so many times but will definitely consider doing it again for an IMAX screening,” Sarah Saeed wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Prince’s legacy is about more than hits and headlines. He fought publicly for artists’ rights, famously protesting Warner Bros. by changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol. He

try since March.

Despite the pressure of the week, Townsend emphasized there was much to celebrate.

Entering to rapper Drake’s “What Did I Miss” (2025), as a source of inspiration, the RAMW president was on a mission: to remind RAMMYS attendees of the strength, resilience and value of D.C.’s hospitality industry and workers.

“We’ve built community. We’ve trained generations of talent. We’ve created jobs for thousands of Washingtonians. This industry has helped make D.C. not just a government town—but a food town,” Townsend said. “So when I hear about policies that hurt restaurants, measures that close doors instead of opening them, I have to ask: ‘What did I miss?’”

He noted that restaurants and bars are places to mark milestones, have first dates, birth ideas and more, before highlighting the industry’s power, particularly when coming together.

“This week reminded me: when we speak up and fight for this industry, people listen,” the RAMW president said, referring to the D.C. Council’s decision surrounding Initiative 82.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and other

demanded ownership of his masters— and ultimately won.

Now, with the re-release of ”Sign O’ The Times” in IMAX, a new generation can witness the brilliance, the boldness, and the beauty of Prince in full scope.

For fans who lived it the first time, and for those who never got the chance—this is not just a movie. It’s a reminder of the awe-inspiring greatness of Prince.

“This concert will forever hold a special place in my heart,” one person wrote on X, in response to the announcement of the film. “Got the rare chance to see it in Rotterdam when I was stationed in Europe. All I can say is wow!!!”

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restaurant workers advocated for the D.C. Council to repeal Initiative 82, despite voters supporting the ballot measure in 2022. On July 28, six days before the annual gala, the council reached a compromise that did not fully repeal the initiative, but rolled back its implementation, particularly as the restaurant industry faces serious economic challenges.

5 Bringing his son along, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) President Shawn Townsend welcomes attendees to the 43rd Annual RAMMYS on Aug. 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C. (Courtesy Photo)

RAMMYS Page 38

AROUND THE REGION

AUG. 7

1904 – Ralph Bunche, the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize, is born in Detroit.

1930 – James Cameron, civil rights activist and founder of America’s Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, survives a mob’s lynching attempt after he is arrested for a fatal robbery in Indiana — a crime for which he is eventually pardoned.

1894 – Black inventor Joseph Lee patents dough-kneading machine.

1948 – High jumper Alice Coachman became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1948 Games.

2007 – Barry Bonds hits his 756th career home run, breaking Hank Aaron’s major-league record.

AUG. 8

1866 – Explorer Matthew Henson, widely credited with being the first to reach the North Pole, is born in Nanjemoy, Maryland.

1907 – Famed jazz musician Benny Carter is born in Harlem.

1975 – Jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley dies in Gary, Indiana, at 46.

AUG. 9

1936 – Track and field athlete Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Games also known for Adolf Hitler’s claims of “Aryan racial superiority.”

1961 – James B. Parsons is nominated by President John F. Kennedy as the first Black federal judge.

1963 – Pop icon and actress Whitney Houston is born in East Orange, New Jersey.

AUG. 10

1858 – Anna J. Cooper, distinguished author and

scholar who was a prominent figure in D.C.’s African American community, is born in Raleigh, North Carolina.

1989 – President George H.W. Bush nominates Colin Powell as the first African American chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

AUG. 11

1868 – Thaddeus Stevens, one of the leaders of the Radical Republicans who opposed slavery, dies in Washington, D.C.

1873 – J. Rosamond Johnson, African American composer and brother of James Weldon Johnson, is born. He is best known for composing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” written by his brother and regarded as the “Negro National Anthem.”

1921 – Famed writer Alex Haley, who authored “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” and “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” is born in Ithaca, New York.

1960 – African nation Chad gains independence from France.

1965 – The Watts riots begin in Los Angeles after the traffic stop and arrest of an African American man. The riots lasted seven days and resulted in 34 deaths and $40 million in property damage.

AUG. 12

1890 – Lillian Evanti, an internationally renowned African American opera singer, is born in Washington, D.C.

AUG. 13

1911 – James B. Parsons, the nation’s first Black federal judge, is born in Kansas City, Missouri.

1933 – Joycelyn Elders, the first Black U.S. surgeon general, is born in Schaal, Arkansas. WI

WHITNEY HOUSTON (LEFT) ALEX HALEY (CENTER) ALICE COACHMAN (TOP) COLIN POWEL (RIGHT)

P INT

BY ARIANNA-MARIE SOOKRAM

What are your thoughts on the Washington Commanders returning to RFK stadium?

MARKELL / SOUTHEAST, D.C.

“They should because they’re not a Maryland team—why should D.C. people have to go all the way out there? I think it will bring more fans to the games.”

SONNY / SOUTHEAST, D.C.

VANESSA CRAWFORD / SOUTHEAST, D.C.

“I love it, they’re coming back home! A lot of people in the community complained about parking, but they’re gonna have a big parking lot like they always did!”

“AirBnb’s are gonna go up, the real estate close to RFK is gonna go up because people, or even football players, would wanna live close to the stadium. It’s an overall good look for the city.”

BRUCE CHARLES BANKS / NORTHWEST, D.C.

“Trump can’t stop that! They should have never left. I haven’t seen a game in a minute but when they come back, I’m going!”

AROUND THE REGION

D.C. Watchdog Report Exposes Alarming Delays and Deficiencies

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

An 83-page report released by the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has revealed persistent and dangerous gaps in how the city’s public schools address gun violence, spotlighting delayed infrastructure repairs, reduced law enforcement presence, and inconsistent safety protocols across the school system.

The report, titled “Measures to Combat Gun Violence in DC Public Schools,” covers the 2021 through 2023 school years and was issued this week. It identifies five formal recommendations for the Department of General Services (DGS) and six areas of improvement for the Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).

in School Gun Violence Prevention

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“Gun violence is a major public safety challenge nationwide,” the authors wrote, warning that “critical gaps in strategy, coordination, and infrastructure leave our schools vulnerable to gun violence.”

Among the most troubling findings, the OIG, directed by Inspector General Dr. Daniel W. Lucas, determined that DGS failed to complete half of all safety- and security-related repairs within its required 45-day timeframe. The backlog includes broken doors and locks, inoperable communication systems, and malfunctioning

surveillance cameras—elements deemed critical for school security. Specifically, of the 2,590 safety-related repairs reviewed, 1,305 remained unresolved beyond the deadline.

“Delays in the timely completion of safety-and security-related repairs create immediate security risks that jeopardize student and staff safety,” the report states.

The evaluation also cited a lack of a standard, citywide definition of “school gun violence,” leading to inconsistent data collection and policy responses across agencies. A DCPS official defined gun violence as “a violent act committed by an individual (juvenile or adult) with a firearm, in an attempt to cause mental anguish, intimidation, bodily harm by way of an assault, attempt to kill, suicide, accidental shooting, or mass shooting.”

However, this definition has not been formally adopted.

The report revealed that 71% of DCPS schools currently lack regular school resource officer (SRO) coverage following a reduction in MPD staffing. Despite their ab-

sence, school administrators interviewed said SROs had previously helped deter violence and build relationships with students.

In addition, the OIG found troubling inconsistencies in the implementation of safety protocols— such as visitor policies, classroom window coverings, and cell phone regulations—across campuses. The report notes that “variations in implementation directly affect the District’s ability to provide consistent protection against gun violence.”

Moreover, the report criticized the District for omitting DCPS in key citywide gun violence prevention initiatives, including the Emergency Operations Center established under Mayor’s Order 2021-22.

“Strategies for DCPS that are developed without the agency’s involvement may prove difficult to implement effectively in school settings,” the OIG cautioned.

The report concluded that while the District has “shown a clear commitment to protecting its youth,” systemic vulnerabilities remain.

“When doors cannot be locked, communication systems fail, and security cameras are non-functional, students and staff face potential risks,” the report asserts.

DGS and DCPS have agreed to all recommendations. In a written response, DGS Director Delano Hunter acknowledged the need for a new Safety & Security Classification Matrix and a more structured approach to prioritizing repair requests.

DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee committed to developing a formal definition of gun violence by March 2026, revising outdated policies, and collaborating more closely with MPD and city agencies.

“We are committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe spaces where students can learn and thrive,” a DCPS spokesperson said in a statement, according to WTOP. “We will continue working with our law enforcement, facilities, and education partners across the city to strengthen our school security and keep students and staff safe.”

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5A new Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report, led by Inspector General Dr. Daniel W. Lucas, reveals persistent and dangerous gaps in how District of Columbia Public Schools address gun violence. (Courtesy Photo/OIG)

AROUND THE REGION

D.C. Attorney General Issues Warning to Employers: Follow Wage Transparency Law

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has issued a formal advisory reminding employers with workers in the District of Columbia that they are required by law to comply with the District’s Wage Transparency Act, which took effect one year ago.

The law requires employers to include specific wage and benefit information in all job postings and protects workers from retaliation or discrimination based on conversations about their compensation. In his statement, Schwalb said the law is designed to protect employees and ensure fair competition among businesses.

“The District’s Wage Transparency Act protects DC’s workers and ensures that all businesses compete on a level playing field,” Schwalb said. “Today’s alert reflects our continuing commitment to ensuring that workers and the District’s business community fully understand their rights and obligations under the law.”

The advisory, issued through the Office of the Attorney General’s Workers’ Rights and Antifraud Section, highlights how businesses must now disclose the minimum and maximum salary or hourly wage for all positions advertised in the District. Additionally, job candidates should be informed about health care benefits before their first interview. These requirements apply regardless of how or where a

from Page 4

lime,’” the Smithsonian said in a statement after the show was cancelled. “By presenting and contextualizing art, the Smithsonian aims to inspire, challenge and impact audiences in meaningful and thoughtful ways. Unfortunately, we could not come to an agreement with the artist. We remain appreciative and inspired by Ms. Sherald, her artwork and commitment to portraiture.”

Sherald’s announcement comes

job posting is distributed.

Employers are also prohibited from restricting or retaliating against employees who discuss their wages with colleagues. The law prohibits employers from discharging or disciplining workers who inquire about, disclose, compare, or discuss their compensation. It also bans the use of a prospective employee’s wage history in hiring decisions and prohibits employers from seeking or relying on that history. Employers cannot attempt to prevent employees from filing a complaint under the Act, and they must post a visible notice in the workplace informing workers of their rights.

Since gaining the authority to enforce wage theft laws, the OAG has secured over $35 million through investigations and lawsuits targeting employers who break the law. Under Schwalb’s leadership alone, more than $20 million has been recovered for workers and the District. The office’s enforcement efforts have concentrated on industries known for high concentrations of vulnerable workers, including construction, restaurants and hospitality, healthcare, and the gig economy.

Workers who suspect violations or believe they have experienced wage theft can contact OAG by calling (202) 724-7730 or by emailing workers@dc.gov or trabajadores@dc.gov.

For businesses in the District seeking legal guidance about their obligations under the Wage Trans-

less than two months after former museum director Kim Sajet resigned on her accord in June, two weeks after Trump claimed to have fired her in a Truth Social post due to her support of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The artist argued the president’s actions and beliefs of his supporters influenced their video suggestion.

“It’s clear that institutional fear,” Sherald told ARTnews, “shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives, played a role.”

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parency Act, assistance is available through the DC Bar Pro Bono Center’s Nonprofit and Small Business Legal Assistance Programs. Business owners can email npsb@dcbar.org or visit lawhelp. org.

Schwalb said the Wage Transparency Act is part of a larger effort to level the economic playing field and protect the rights of DC’s workforce.

“We’re sending a clear message that worker protections aren’t optional,” he said. “Employers must follow the law.”

People around the D.C. area celebrated the attorney general’s reminder via social media.

“This should be national law [to be honest],” one social media user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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5Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb is reminding employers with workers in the District of Columbia that they are required by law to comply with the District’s Wage Transparency Act, which took effect one year ago. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

SHERALD

AROUND THE REGION

Longtime Washington Informer photographer Roy Lewis captures a photo as Misty Brown catches up on news in The Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”

Angela Davis

WellPoint Community Relations Representative John Wiley, DPR Youth Development Program Manager Marcus Allen, Betty Hendersyon of Medical Accession, DPR Youth Development Program Coordinator Safiyyah Aleem-Woods, WellPoint Marketing and Community Relations Manager Nolan Carr, and Community Relations Representative Sheila Nunez during the D.C. Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program close-out celebration at Dunbar Sr. High School in Northwest on July 31. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

From Campfires to Community: A Day of Healing Strives to Transform Generational Trauma Among D.C. Youth

Second Annual Festivity Welcomes Resources, Testaments to End Cycles of Violence, Hardship

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

As Deidre Gantt sat behind Contee AME Zion Church on Saturday, the Northeast native carried a feeling of pride, nostalgia, and renewed commitment to paving the way for generations of transformation, beginning with her 8-year-old son’s participation in the Crowned In Resilience Collective (CIRC)’s Roots & Resilience Summer Camp.

“Growing up in this community, I went through…different types of traumatic experiences…and it really, to be very frank with you, separated me from the church in some ways,” said Gantt, 49, who grew up in the Ward 7 church. “But [I realized]....throughout all of the things that were happening, this was a place where I knew I had friends, I had adults that cared about me, and that’s what I want for him.”

Roots & Resilience was one of several youth-centered initiatives touted during CIRC’s 2nd Annual Community Healing Day, hosted on Aug. 2 at the very church grounds where the month-long program prospered free of charge in July, thanks to support from the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE).

Featuring kid-friendly activities and cookout style energy, the event brought camp counselors, community leaders, and several families and campers to a sacred space striving to break generational cycles of violence, trauma, and economic hardship, particularly within D.C.’s most underserved wards.

“Data shows that young people of color in our city are nearly twice as likely to be exposed to violence compared to the national average. Exposure to this kind of trauma doesn’t just hurt in the moment–it affects mental health, their academic achievement and their future opportunities,” said CIRC co-founder Jeanine Henderson Arnett in welcoming remarks. “Our mission is to create a world where youth of color have all of the tools, support and opportunities to rewrite their stories and lead their communities towards [sustainability], healing and growth.”

The day of resurgence lit up Division Avenue NE to the tune of camaraderie, resilience and empowering youth leadership — from dance performances and poetry readings, to the young entrepreneurs selling self-made bracelets and artwork while handing out backpacks of free school supplies.

Organizations like Blueprint Development and Catholic Charities’ SHARE Food Network shed pivotal insight on eliminating food scarcity and achieving self-sufficiency; while local leaders including Contee AME’s lead pastor Mark Thomas and ONSE grants management officer Bridgette Sledge embraced the city’s next changemakers with messages of hope and rejuvenation.

Meanwhile, student leaders such as Amaya Foster, who will be joining Alabama A&M University in the fall, 16-year-old Kevin Johnson, and electrical engineer hopeful Kaleil Munford shared their CIRC experiences, adding a clear mission to continue strengthening communities with paths centered around growth and healing.

“I saw firsthand [during the summer camp] that [with] consistency, love and understanding, growth always comes. That same lesson applies to this foundation,” said Kevin in his Aug. 2 presentation. “We’re starting small, but with enough support and belief for everybody here,

we can grow into something powerful.”

Walking Hand-in-hand to End Violence, Economic Hardship

Founded by Arnett and Robin Lawson Atcherson in 2023, Crowned In Resilience aims to heal communities by focusing on prevention while addressing root causes of trauma, from unaddressed grief to limited economic opportunity and lack of safe spaces.

In addition to the Roots & Resilience camp, initiatives like the Youth Leadership Academy, newly launched Janitorial Maintenance Training Program, and Community Healing Garden – unveiled with an updated youth mural – help develop lifelong skills and hands-on experiences, all the while building self esteem, leadership and career pathways, and community connections.

“Everything that we do is rooted in the belief that when you equip young people with the opportunity, mentorship and purpose, you don’t just prevent violence,” said Arnett, “you plant seeds for transformation that ripple through families, neighborhoods and generations.”

Further noting how unaddressed

D.C. YOUTH Page 18

5Blueprint Development partner Travis Ellis (left) poses with Crowned In Resilience (CIRC) team Tiffany Lawson and co-founders Robin Lawson Atcherson and Jeanine Henderson Arnett (far right), amid family-friendly festivities and cookout vibes at CIRC’s 2nd Annual Community Healing Day. (Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Samantha Biddle to Serve as Acting Transportation Secretary, Trump Administration Announces Plans to Close Beltsville Agriculture Site

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Samantha Biddle is now Maryland’s acting secretary of transportation after Paul Wiedefeld, who formerly served in the role, announced he was leaving in July, effective Aug. 1.

“Secretary Wiedefeld brought decades of expertise to our team, and he used that wisdom to cultivate a new generation of talent,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in a statement. “Samantha Biddle has the experience, instincts, and knowledge to carry forward the baton of service at the Maryland Department of Transportation. I look forward to continuing our work together as she

takes on this new acting role.”

The governor also thanked Weidfeld for his “distinguished service over the last two and a half years.”

“Under Paul’s leadership, we’ve made it easier for Marylanders to get from where they live to where opportunity lies, and laid the foundation for a more competitive, affordable state for all,” Moore continued.

There will be a national search for Wiedefeld’s official replacement.

“We thank him for his tireless work,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “As we launch a nationwide search for his successor, we are committed to finding a leader ready to meet the urgent needs of

our transportation systems.”

Wiedefeld, currently the vice president of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO), will become president of NASTO next month.

Prior to this role, he served as the general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) from 2015 to 2022, and as CEO of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport for 10 years.

Wiedefeld is the latest Cabinet secretary to depart their role, following shortly after the resignation of Vincent Schiraldi, former department of juvenile services secretary.

With a long career in transportation, Wiedefeld said he is thankful for the opportunity to have served in such an important role for Marylanders. However, he also noted that he desires a job with more flexibility.

“It’s definitely retirement from a 24/7 job. There’s a number of things people talk to me about–universities, nonprofits, boards and consulting, to be frank, you know? So I’m very fortunate. I have different avenues there, if I want to pursue them, all or none,” said Wiedefeld in a recent interview with Maryland Matters.

Trump Administration Announced Plans to Close Beltsville Agriculture Site, Relocate Workers

The Trump administration announced plans to relocate over half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s staff in the D.C. metropolitan area to cities around the country, yet another blow to Prince George’s economy and job outlook.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is also planning to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and several other local sites in coming years. These jobs will be relocated to North Carolina, Utah, Missouri, and Indiana.

Maryland’s congressional delegation, excluding Eastern Shore Congressman Andy Harris (R), called on Congress and the judicial system to block the proposed reorganization of the Department of Agriculture.

“The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) is the foundation of our country’s excellence in agricultural research, with its scientists working for more than 100 years on the front lines of protecting public health and supporting farmers and farming across the country,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint letter. “Shuttering BARC

and uprooting its workforce will undercut its critical mission, endanger public safety, and unnecessarily waste taxpayer dollars. Clearly, the Trump administration has not thought through the costs or consequences of this misguided decision.”

Maryland Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey— who represents District 4, a congressional district with the highest proportion of federal workers in the nation— praised BARC employees for their decades of research and questioned the benefits of closing the research site.

“They are shutting down projects that the American public needs to have moved forward, they are taking services away from the public that they all desperately need. It’s a horrible way to do it. It’s been very damaging to people, and I think we desperately need a change of course,” said Ivey.

County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (D-At-large) also strongly criticized the decision to close BARC and other federal plans that affect Prince Georgians.

“The impending closure of BARC, a signature longtime national research facility in Prince George’s County, in conjunction with the decision to cancel the FBI Headquarters relocation to Greenbelt, Maryland, shows that President Donald Trump is using the federal government to punish Marylanders for voting for Democrats,” said Hawkins in a July 24 statement. “It is an unethical abuse of power for political retribution, and it also exhibits a callous disregard for the lives of thousands of USDA employees and families who will now have to either uproot their lives or leave their jobs.”

He accused President Trump of “blatant partisan politics” by shuttering the BARC site.

“President Trump is the first president in my lifetime not to understand this simple concept of our democracy and we are all the poorer for it,” Hawkins continued. “I urge and have full confidence that our outstanding federal delegation will fight this unjustified political decision to harm the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County.” WI

5The Trump administration is planning to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and relocate over half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s staff in the D.C. metropolitan area to cities around the country, a move local lawmakers are calling yet another blow to Prince George’s economy and job outlook. (Courtesy Photo/USDA)

PRINCE GEORGE’S POLITICAL UPDATES

3Samantha Biddle is the acting transportation secretary following Paul Wiedefeld’s departure from the role on Aug. 1. (Courtesy Photos/Maryland Department of Transportation)

Prince George’s Local Updates

Maglev Train Halted: Secretary of Transportation Announces End to Funding for Proposed

High-Speed Rail Line

Prince George’s County leaders are celebrating after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) officially announced that it will not take further action with the Maglev train project, a proposed high-speed rail system that aimed to move commuters between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore within 30 minutes at speeds over 300 miles per hour.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy cited the costs for the project as reason for the cancellation in a press release and a notice was filed to the Federal Register on July 31 to rescind the Notice of Intent (NOI) for the project.

“This outcome is a tremendous victory for our communities,” Prince George’s County Councilmember Tom Dernoga (D-District 1), who long opposed the project, said in a statement. “For years, residents across District 1 [and] beyond voiced serious concerns about the environment, social, [and] economic consequences of this ill-conceived proposal.”

This project has been under study since 2016, although those studies have been paused multiple times.

The FRA found that nine federal agencies and several government facilities, including Anne Arundel’s Fort George G. Meade, would be in the proposed pathway of the maglev train.

“Following extensive consultation with these agencies, the railroad administration determined the direct effects would have substantial negative effects to agency operations or to important resources managed by federal agencies,” read the notice posted by the FRA. “In addition, indirect effects would also significantly impair critical infrastructure and operations and ongoing agency missions.”

Paul Wiedefeld, who resigned from his post as Maryland’s secretary of transportation effective Aug. 1, announced that the Maryland Department of Transportation will comply with the FRA’s decision.

Citizens Against SCMaglev, a com-

munity group that opposed the project, had previously distributed flyers and knocked doors to inform neighbors in past years about the potential negatives of the proposed maglev, including environmental and eminent domain concerns.

Councilmember Jolene Ivey (D-At-large) and the 22nd District Delegation also posted statements applauding the decision to cancel the project.

“I have never supported the Maglev project because of the harm it would cause to the communities in our county. From the beginning, it was clear that the costs to our neighborhoods and environment would be substantial,” Ivey noted. “I fully support advancements in transportation technology, but not when they come at the expense of the very people they are meant to serve.”

However, some legislators and residents supported the project, with certain studies estimating the job would bring billions in investment and create over 70,000 construction jobs in Maryland.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) embarked to Japan earlier this year for a trade mission, during which he rode on a Maglev train, calling the transportation system “an impressive and innovative technology.”

“It’s not new,” Moore told WTOP shortly after his international trade mission. “It’s been going on there for 50 years, and it’s not risky. They’ve had 50 years and really have not had a single injury or casualty with a train that is moving north of 300 miles an hour, where you can get from Baltimore, for example, to D.C. in just 16 minutes.” WI

Rep. Ivey, Del. Martinez

Sound Alarm: Medicaid Cuts Will Negatively Impact Prince George’s

Maryland Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey and Del. Ashanti Martinez (DDistrict 22) hosted a joint townhall in Greenbelt on July 30 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Medicaid and ensure constituents are aware of impending cuts to health care and services that will deeply impact the region and Americans nationwide.

“We reflected on how [Medic-

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

aid] has protected families in Prince George’s County and committed to expanding access and defending our neighbors despite harmful federal cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill,” Martinez wrote in a Facebook post.

As a result of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” heavily backed by Republican lawmakers, roughly 10 million Americans are expected to lose healthcare coverage by 2034, and these cuts are expected to strain services and necessitate facility closures, while also raising health care costs for states including Maryland and California.

Medicaid, as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” agenda, passed through the House of Representatives’ Health and Education Committee in 1965, chaired by the late legendary New York congressman and civil rights icon Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Intended for low-income families and children, Medicaid has helped expand access to health services for the past six decades across America.

“Medicare and Medicaid led not only to desegregating, but elevating life expectancy across the states and reducing disparities among racial and ethnic minorities, women, children, older adults, and people with disabilities,” global health expert Daniel Dawes told The Guardian, about the long-term impacts of Medicaid.

During the informative and celebratory event, the congressman acknowledged the confusion and

who attended the

He also warned of slashes to services and potential facility shutdowns as the health care cuts are gradually phased in.

“The bottom line is that millions of Americans will lose access to health care based on these changes. There are nearly one trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare across the country, and we will see the impact of that,” Rep. Ivey said in an interview with MSNBC.

The congressman noted that Republicans wrote the bill to ensure that it will be implemented following the 2026 midterm elections.

“It’s critical for Democrats,” Ivey continued, “to make sure we keep telling people about what’s coming, to give us a chance to prevent the cuts that are being made.” WI

Comptroller Lierman, State Officials Raises Awareness of Marylanders Missing Out on Low-Income Tax Credits

In an effort for more Maryland families to utilize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) will be partnering with the Urban Institute and Tax Policy Center to spread the word among state tax filers.

The comptroller held a special announcement, alongside Gov. Wes Moore (D), House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D- District 10), Special

Secretary for the Governor’s Office for Children Carmel Martin, and researchers to encourage more Marylanders to claim these tax credits.

This announcement was a continuation of the “Earn It” campaign, started in January to raise awareness, as at least 99,000 eligible tax filers in Maryland did not claim the state EITC during the 2023 tax season, according to the comptroller’s office.

“As the state’s chief revenue administrator, otherwise known as the tax collector, I believe that our responsibility extends far beyond simply collecting revenue.We must ensure that eligible families understand and can access programs like the EITC and the child tax credit,” said Lierman.

The state leaders’ efforts to spread word this year have led to a roughly 8% increase in EITC filers.

Moore highlighted these tax credits as a way for working families to keep cash in their pockets.

“At a time when we see the federal government abandoning working families and children in poverty, Maryland is stepping up. The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit are two of the most effective poverty-fighting programs we have,” said Moore. “In partnership with Comptroller Lierman, we are studying the data to ensure that every Marylander who is eligible for these critical financial supports can access them, easily and effectively.”

WI

5Congressman Glenn Ivey and Delegate Ashanti Martinez during a town hall discussing the impending impacts of Medicaid cuts, part of the recently-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer) concern among constituents

town hall.

BUSINESS

U.S. Job Growth Slows in July; D.C. Metro Unemployment Rises to 5.0%

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

The U.S. economy added just 73,000 jobs in July, marking the third consecutive month of sluggish growth, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“May-June-July is the weakest 3-month period of job growth since COVID. If you throw out 2020, it’s the weakest 3-month period since 2010 and the aftermath of the Great Recession,” Women Forward wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Call it the #Trump effect. #TrumpTariffs”

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%, while the District of Columbia and the surrounding metropolitan region saw job gains in the private sector but a noticeable uptick in unemployment.

In the Washington, D.C.-Maryland Metropolitan Division, the

unemployment rate climbed to 5% in June, a half-point increase from May and higher than the 4.4% recorded a year earlier, according to the D.C. Department of Employment Services.

The region’s labor force stood at 1,027,400, with 976,200 employed and 51,200 unemployed.

The rise in the local jobless rate comes despite the addition of 4,300 jobs in the D.C. metro area, driven entirely by a 5,300-job increase in the private sector. The public sector shed 1,000 jobs over the month, with federal employment declining by 400. Over the past year, the region gained 3,700 jobs overall, though the federal government lost 7,300 jobs during the same period.

Nationally, unemployment rates across demographic groups remained largely unchanged. Black workers continued to face an elevated unemployment rate at 7.2%—nearly double the rate for

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (the “Agency” or “DCHFA”) requests bids from qualified companies to remove and dispose of the current Agency sign on the outer wall and install a new sign in the agency courtyard located at 815 Florida Ave NW, Washington DC 20001. A mandatory site visit will be held on August 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at 815 Florida Avenue, N.W.

Preferences are given to the District’s Certified Business Enterprise companies. The detailed IFB can be found at www.DCHFA.org/business-opportunities or send email to procurement@dchfa.org. The deadline for submission of bids is August 29, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

white workers (3.7%). Hispanic workers registered a 5% percent unemployment rate, while Asian workers came in at 3.9%.

The labor force participation rate nationwide stood at 62.2 % in July, reflecting a 0.5 percentage point decline over the past year. The employment-population ratio held at 59.6%, also down slightly from a year earlier.

Long-term unemployment rose significantly, with 1.8 million people unemployed for 27 weeks or more, an increase of 179,000 over the month. Additionally, new entrants to the job market surged by

275,000 to 985,000.

Health care led national job growth in July, adding 55,000 positions, including 34,000 in ambulatory services and 16,000 in hospitals. Social assistance added 18,000 jobs, primarily in individual and family services. The federal government, in contrast, lost 12,000 jobs nationwide in July and is down 84,000 since its peak in January.

Average hourly earnings for private non-farm employees rose by 12 cents to $36.44 in July, a 3.9% year-over-year increase. Production and nonsupervisory workers

3 People participate in a job fair in April in Southeast, D.C. July marks the third consecutive month of sluggish job growth, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

saw wages increase by 8 cents to $31.34. The average workweek edged up to 34.3 hours.

However, revisions to previous job reports painted a weaker picture of job growth than initially believed. 125,000 jobs revised May’s employment gain to just 19,000, and June’s gain was lowered by 133,000 to 14,000—reducing the combined two-month total by 258,000 jobs.

In the broader Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes parts of Virginia and Maryland, the unemployment rate rose to 4% percent. The surrounding suburban ring had an unemployment rate of 3.7%.

The next national employment report, covering August 2025, will be released on Friday, Sept. 5. Some social media users warn that the way numbers look, the economy could be in a lot of trouble.

“In 2017, Trump inherited a growing, and fully recovered economy from Obama. He tanked it in four years,” social media user We The People wrote on X. “Biden gave him an economy that was still recovering from the damage Trump caused. Now, with an abysmal May and June (and July) job growth, it looks like he’s at it again.”

WI

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Businessbriefs

VABCC’s

Hall Tapped for GO Virginia Region 6 Council

The Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (VABCC) announced recently the appointment of its President and CEO Ernisha M. Hall, to the GO Virginia Region 6 Council (Mary Ball Washington Regional Council), which serves the Fredericksburg area, the Northern Neck, and the Middle Peninsula.

The Region 6 Council is part of the state’s GO Virginia initiative; a bipartisan economic development program focused on fostering private-sector growth and regional collaboration.

The council administers roughly $1 million annually in project funds to support high-growth industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, logistics, and professional services.

As co-founder of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Black Chamber Foundation (es-

5 Ernisha M. Hall is the president and CEO of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy Photo/Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce)

tablished in 2020), Hall leads strategic programs that have supported more than 5,000 business owners statewide. These include the Empowering Business Ecosystems (EBE) accelerator, the

GovCon Conference, and the annual Business Expo—all aimed at increasing access to capital, strategic growth, and sustainability for Black-owned and disadvantaged businesses across Virginia.

“Ernisha’s voice is essential to advancing equitable economic development across Virginia,” said a spokesperson for the chamber. “Her work demonstrates what’s possible when bold leadership meets intentional strategy.”

Hall said she is looking forward to working with Region 6 colleagues to further African American businesses in the state.

“This appointment allows me to further our mission of creating access, opportunity, and investment in the communities that need it most,” said Hall. “I’m honored to join the Region 6 Council and contribute to advancing Virginia’s economic future through collaborative, inclusive growth.”

Mitchell Ascends to Presidency of National Medical Association

The National Medical Association

(NMA) inducted Howard University Hospital President Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., as its 126th president during the organization’s 2025 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in Chicago.

Mitchell, who is also a Howard College of Medicine scholar-practitioner, succeeds Dr. Virginia A. Caine in leading NMA, the largest and oldest organization representing the interests of Black physicians and their patients in the United States,. The theme for Mitchell’s year-long presidency is “The New Reconstruction: Mobilizing Healthcare Justice for A New America— Our Patients, Providers and Policy.”

The board certified anatomic and forensic pathologist is a tenured professor of pathology at Howard University. He also serves as the director of the Howard University Center of Excellence for Trauma and Violence Prevention, leading outreach efforts to decrease gun violence in the District.

When he was tapped to lead Howard University hospital in August 2024, John Sackett, president and CEO of Adventist HealthCare described him as someone who brings “decades of strong leadership experience and in-

HAVE A MAJOR PURCHASE ON YOUR MIND?

sight from regional, national and international health care roles.”

Prior to his service at Howard University, Mitchell worked in the District government for seven years, including as the chief medical examiner, interim director of the Department of Forensic Sciences and interim deputy mayor for Public Safety and Justice. He worked closely with emergency health care services during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and led a multidisciplinary group of departments, including Fire, Police and 911/311 during his tenure as deputy mayor.

“I humbly and graciously step into my new role as president of the National Medical Association, where a legacy of excellence meets a commitment to equity and justice in health care,” Mitchell said. “I am grateful for the foundation that was laid by Dr. Virginia A. Caine and am prepared and excited to take the NMA to new heights. With the current national changes to public health, medical education and vaccine recommendations, the NMA stands ready, willing, and able to advocate for truth and fairness.”

WI

@JamesWrightJr10

NATIONAL

Local Jails Key to Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan, New Report Finds

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A new report by the Prison Policy Initiative reveals the critical and largely hidden role that local jails are playing in advancing President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda during his second term.

“Hiding in Plain Sight: How Local Jails Obscure and Facilitate Mass Deportation Under Trump” concludes that local jails have become “an essential part of implementing President Trump’s mass arrest and deportation agenda,” despite longstanding “sanctuary” policies intended to curb such collaboration.

“The Trump administration is transforming what are normally civil immigration matters into more serious federal crimes,” according to the report. “This shift hides the true scale of immigrant detention from public view, which is often reported as only those in ICE custody and does not include those facing criminal prosecution.”

According to ICE’s own June 2025 data, approximately 57,200 individuals were detained on an average day. But the report finds that when accounting for detainees held under

U.S. Marshals Service custody and in local jails for immigration-related offenses, the actual number climbs to around 83,400—a 45% increase over official ICE figures.

The report shows that nearly half of all ICE arrests in 2025 came from transfers out of local jails, many of which are under contracts with the U.S. Marshals. In fact, between January and May 2025 alone, federal agents booked 20,000 people into federal pretrial detention on immigration charges.

“Minor traffic violations or driving without a license are all that ICE needs to make an arrest,” researchers noted. “Most people in jails have not been convicted of a crime...most are held for low-level offenses like loitering and public intoxication, not violent crimes.”

The Trump administration, the report argues, has managed to bypass sanctuary protections by prosecuting immigration violations as federal crimes, thus shifting people into jails with federal detention contracts— even in states and counties with socalled sanctuary policies.

This strategy has allowed ICE to exploit a loophole in which U.S. Marshals contracts with local jails

override sanctuary laws. That means jurisdictions that claim to shield immigrants are, in practice, enabling mass detention when they contract with federal agencies for jail space.

“Every county with a U.S. Marshals contract is effectively signed up for [Trump’s] mass detention and deportation agenda regardless of whether they have sanctuary policies on their books,” the report said.

States Aligning with or Pushing Back Against Trump’s Strategy

Florida stands out as the most aggressive state in aligning with Trump’s strategy.

Governor Ron DeSantis called a special session earlier this year to enact laws that force local jurisdictions to cooperate with ICE. Sheriffs now face removal if they refuse to comply, and officers receive $1,000 bonuses for participating in immigration raids.

ICE records show immigration detention in Florida jails quadrupled this year between January 20 and June 26, jumping from 236 to 974 people. In response to a raid, the Pinellas County Sheriff emptied an entire jail unit to make space for ICE detainees, forcing other incarcerated individuals to sleep on the floor.

Florida’s State Immigration Enforcement Council also pushed for waiving federal detention standards

and proposed opening a 10,000-bed facility. The federal government has already agreed to fund what has been dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades, where ICE is reportedly testing new legal strategies to expand its authority.

The report warns that these developments have not only expanded detention but also exacerbated due process violations.

“Minor traffic violations or driving without a license are all that ICE needs to make an arrest,” researchers noted. “Most people in jails have not been convicted of a crime... most are held for low-level offenses like loitering and public intoxication, not violent crimes.”

“Federal prosecutors can threaten people arrested by ICE with federal charges carrying years in prison and large fines, discouraging immigrants from making asylum claims or asserting their rights,” the report notes.

“The threat of federal criminal prosecution effectively coerces people into compliance and speeds up the racist deportation machine.”

In contrast, places like California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and New York have reduced ICE arrests at local jails by limiting cooperation, but they remain vulnerable to field operations and courthouse arrests. The report notes that in May, large-scale raids still occurred in Massachusetts and California.

Jacob Kang-Brown, the report’s author, urges local governments to recognize their power in this system.

“The federal detention network in the United States is big — bigger

than many realize—but if they want to arrest and detain so many people, they will have to use local jails, and in most places, those jails can refuse,” Kang-Brown wrote.

The report also raises alarms about ICE’s new $45 billion detention budget, which will last through September 2029—nearly triple what the agency previously spent. Much of it is expected to flow to local jails through contracts with sheriffs.

Kang-Brown concluded, “If counties decide to build larger jails to accommodate federal demand, even using federal dollars, they will be stuck maintaining them, and there are far better uses of public money to improve public safety locally than large jails.” WI

5 A recent Prison Policy Initiative report reveals the critical role local jails play in advancing President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda in his second term. (Courtesy Photo)

Trump Escalates Attack on Charlamagne tha God While Doubling

Down on Long History of Racist Rhetoric

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

President Donald Trump lashed out at popular radio host Charlamagne tha God, calling him a “racist sleazebag” and “low-IQ individual” after the Black media personality criticized the former president during an interview with Lara Trump on Fox News.

The president’s outburst, posted on his Truth Social platform, came just hours after Charlamagne—whose real name is Lenard McKelvey—told Lara Trump, “I don’t want to say that I think he did a terrible job, but if he’s doing a terrible job, I gotta call it like it is.”

Trump, an avid Fox News viewer, took offense not just at the criticism, but at the radio host and author’s stage name.

“Why is he allowed to use the word ‘GOD’ when describing himself?”

Trump wrote. “He’s a Low IQ individual, has no idea what words are

coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done.”

While Trump claimed he deserved praise for his supposed peace deals and economic achievements, recent data shows core consumer prices continue to rise and Black unemployment has surged to its highest point since the pandemic.

“President Trump, do you realize the best way to get the headlines you want is to simply do a good job. Is to simply do right by all Americans,” said Charlamagne tha God, responding to Trump on the show “The Breakfast Club,” a syndicated radio show based in New York that he co-hosts with DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious and Loren Lorosa. “He called me a racist. I didn’t mention race not one time while on Lara Trump.”

Some argue Trump’s insults toward the radio host are consistent with a decades-long pattern of racially charged language, discrimination, and attacks

on Black individuals and institutions.

“I’m not real familiar with Charlamagne tha God because I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts or media personalities, but I know he’s an opinionated brother,” writer John Valentine wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It’s good to see him responding to Trump’s unhinged rant about him. More Black men should have the courage to challenge him.”

Pattern of Racial Attacks

Trump’s current behavior mirrors a well-documented history of racially inflammatory remarks and actions. According to PBS News, Trump has repeatedly used racially coded language to describe Black prosecutors like Letitia James and Alvin Bragg, referring to them as “animals,” “degenerate psychopaths,” and “racist.” He also ran a campaign ad falsely alleging a romantic relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and a gang member she was prosecut-

5 Charlamagne tha God addresses President Donald Trump’s post accusing the media personality of being racist on an episode of “The Breakfast Club,” a popular morning show he co-hosts. (Courtesy Photo/The Breakfast Club, Instagram)

ing, a move critics say was intended to delegitimize her and incite racist sentiment.

“He’s taking that historical racialized language that was offensive and insulting, and the subordinating of Black persons, applying it in a contemporary space and really bubbling

up that history,” Dr. Bev-Freda Jackson, a professor at American University, told PBS.

Scientific Evidence of Harm

NATIONAL

from Page 17

A 2023 peer-reviewed study titled “Trickle-down Racism: Trump’s Effect on Whites’ Racist Dehumanizing Attitudes” found that Trump’s election emboldened racist views among his white supporters.

Researchers Ashley Jardina and Spencer Piston discovered that white Trump supporters expressed more dehumanizing beliefs about Black people after the 2016 election, while his opponents moved in the opposite direction.

Reported hate crimes against Black people spiked after Trump’s victory, with the surge largest in counties where he held rallies.

Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney warned of the very outcome, calling Trump’s effect “trickle-down racism.”

Attempts to Erase Black History

In addition to rhetoric, Trump has acted to dismantle the institutional recognition of Black contributions to American history.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Trump administration pushed to erase content about Harriet Tubman

and the Underground Railroad from National Park Service exhibits. Trump also issued an executive order targeting the National Museum of African American History and Culture as “divisive,” prompting the resignation of museum director Kevin Young.

The president’s efforts included gutting the Institute for Museum and Library Studies and creating the so-called 1776 Commission, which aimed to replace curricula like the 1619 Project with “patriotic education” that downplayed the role of racism in U.S. history.

Historians described Trump’s attack on the museum as part of his strategy to “sanitize racism.”

As noted in POLITICO, Trump’s executive order ignored slavery’s constitutional roots and failed to mention that America’s founders enshrined the institution of slavery in the Constitution by counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for the Census.

“It seems like we’re headed in the direction where there’s even an attempt to deny that the institution of slavery even existed, or that Jim Crow laws and segregation and racial violence against Black communities, Black families, Black individuals even occurred,” historian Clarissa

Celebrating Black History 24/7-PERMANENTLY with Joe Madison (The Black Eagle) who shared unknown facts about himself and tells profound advice for the Black community. Put his name, Joe Madison in the search box @ www.blackonblackunity.com.

Black History is 24/7 PERMANENTLY!! @ www.blackonblackunity.com

Myrick-Harris, a professor at Morehouse College, told Politico.

A Legacy of Racism: ‘This is Who Donald Trump Is’ Trump’s racial views didn’t begin with politics.

As early as 1973, the Department of Justice sued Trump and his father for housing discrimination against Black tenants. During the investigation, Trump reportedly told a federal attorney, “You know, you don’t want to live with them either.”

He later led the “birther” movement to delegitimize former President Barack Obama and notoriously called for the death penalty against the wrongly accused Central Park Five— young Black and Latino men later exonerated. Even after they were cleared, Trump refused to apologize, claiming, “These young men do not exactly have the pasts of angels.”

Trump’s pattern also includes praising white supremacists in Charlottesville as “very fine people,” suggesting

D.C. YOUTH from Page 11

trauma can be “the driver of cycles of violence,” Arnett reminded attendees that Saturday was about far more than highlighting the work of CIRC, but amplifying a collective charge to shape a better community and society at large.

Robin Alston, a partnering therapist of Blueprint Development, told The Informer part of the shift is debunking stigmas about trauma and how it shows up. She emphasized the experience isn’t tailored to certain demographics, despite “suppressed economic situations” that often impact awareness, treatment and resource access.

“Trauma is everywhere. It’s the middle class Caucasian in the store that’s

immigrants from African nations come from “sh–thole countries,” and telling four Congresswomen of color to “go back” to the places they came from—even though three were born in the U.S.

For many Black Americans,

sad, [and] it’s the child that’s under the table because their dad got shot,” Alston told The Informer. “But the biggest thing is for people to recognize that… if you have the support you need, and you have the ability to process it, you can work at optimum performance.”

Other features of Blueprint’s information booth included resources for job acquisitions for adults and mental health tools for children, with partner representative Travis Ellis leveraging the opportunity to propel the values of relationship building, behavior modification, as well as academic and vocational exposure.

“[Troubled youth] know, ‘In order for [me] to stop stealing cars, put the guns down, or get off the block, take

3 President Donald

For

Trump’s attack on Charlamagne isn’t just personal—it’s historical.

“This is who Donald Trump is,” Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, plainly noted. “He’s been this way all his time in public life.” WI

me to the boardroom with you,’” Ellis said, highlighting a philosophy of the multifaceted resource organization. “We present the boardroom…they can see themselves as business owners, young CEOs, [and] they have a blueprint laid out. It’s not just somebody talking – we could grab their hand and we can walk with them.”

Seconding this notion, Kevin touted the ability to foster a deeper sense of self and the value of sacred spaces through church renovations in the summer.

The student leader further lauded CIRC for helping him “become a better man” as he navigated perspective, patience and “becoming more outspoken” amid teaching younger campers “to feel their emotions, not embrace it as who they are.”

“There are so many opportunities to build on a low foundation,” Kevin said, “all we had to do is just start.”

Watching her 8-year-old benefit from CIRC programming, Gantt shared hopes to see more intergenerational collaboration thrive across Washington, applauding Community Healing Day as a platform for the future. “I’m just really proud of Miss Robin, Miss Janine, of [Pastor Thomas] for letting this take root, for us to continue to be that friendly church on the Hill in far Northeast,” Gantt said. “We keep on reaching back in whatever little or big ways we can…to continue that legacy for another set of grown-ups.” WI

Joe Madison (The Black Eagle)

Trump’s racial views didn’t begin with politics.

many Black Americans, Trump’s attack on Charlamagne tha God isn’t just personal—it’s historical. ( Courtesy Photo)

RACIST

5 Amplifying the celebration of youth leadership on Aug. 2, campers from the Roots & Resilience Summer Camp, held in Northeast, D.C., dance to “Rise Up” by Andra Day.

(Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer)

Looking to Buy in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) Region? These Down Payment Assistance Programs May Be Available to You.

By Stephen Morris SVP Director Community Lending

Navigating the path to homeownership can be challenging, especially in the DMV region, where rising home prices and mortgage rates often pose significant barriers. Fortunately, our team at United Bank has answered the call to help and has provided over $10 million in downpayment assistance over the last three years. Below is a list of some programs available in the DMV aimed at assisting first-time homebuyers, and some general information about each of the programs. The information is high-level; may change; based on income, need, employment, property location, occupancy, or fund availability; and additional terms and conditions may apply.

Washington, D.C.

• The Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) is administered by the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) and is available to first-time homebuyers purchasing a home located in the District to provide gap financing to assist with the necessary funds to purchase. The assistance provides down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a deferred interest-free loan to first-time District homebuyers falling within specified income levels, and the home being purchased must be for the borrower’s primary residence and must be located within the District of Columbia. Currently, for HPAP loans closed after August 23, 2024, closing cost assistance for all eligible households will be up to $4,000, and the per-client gap financing assistance is capped at $202,000.

• The Employer-Assisted Hous ing Program (EAHP) offers down payment assistance to eligible Dis trict government employees who are first-time homebuyers. Eligible employees can receive matching down-payment funds up to $5,000

and a deferral loan of up to $20,000. First responders and educators may be eligible for matching down payment funds of $15,000 and a deferred recoverable grant of $20,000.

• The DC Open Doors initiative offers qualifying homebuyers (firsttime and repeat) home purchase loans, and down payment and closing cost assistance. The program offers deferred repayable loans for a buyer’s minimum down payment requirement plus below-market interest rates for first trust mortgages for the purchase of a home in D.C.

Maryland

• The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) offers a range of loan products that can provide up to 4% of the property sales price. Programs are available to either first-time buyers or to repeat homeowners.

• Baltimore Homeownership Incentive Program (B-HiP) offers various incentive programs to homebuyers purchasing in Baltimore City. All incentives require homeownership counseling from an approved counseling agency and a minimum investment from the homebuyer’s own funds towards the purchase of the

from an approved counseling agency, and a minimum investment from the homebuyer’s own funds towards the purchase of the property

Virginia

• Virginia Housing Down Payment Assistance Grants are true grants that do not require repayment and may only be used with eligible Virginia Housing loans. Eligible homebuyers can be first-time or repeat purchasers in Areas of Economic Opportunity, have a qualifying loan from Virginia Housing, and meet income and sales price/loan limits.

• Virginia Housing Flex Programs provide various levels of down payment and closing cost assistance. For example, Flex 5000 offers $5,000 in assistance, while Flex 3% Loan provides 3% of the first mortgage amount in assistance. These programs are available to first-time and repeat homebuyers.

• The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Homeownership Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program provides flexible gap financing for first-time homebuyers at or below 80% of the area median income. Eligible buyers can receive up to 10% or 15% of the sales price, plus up to $2,500 for closing costs. Assistance is provided as a grant with a mandatory affordability period.

In addition to the state-provided assistance, United Bank also offers the United Bank Welcome Home Grant across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. This program provides up to $10,000 in a grant for qualified buyers purchasing in eligible census tracts.

Conclusion

There are a variety of down payment assistance programs in the DMV designed to help first-time (and

sometimes repeat) homebuyers overcome financial barriers. Prospective buyers are encouraged to consult with local housing agencies and approved lenders to explore options and determine the best fit for their circumstances.

At United Bank, we understand every facet of purchasing a home. Our lending specialists have the experience, technology, and solutions to help you make the dream of homeownership become a reality. Connect with us at BankWithUnited.com.

Stephen Morris

NMLS #: 459546

SVP, Director Community Lending 202.494.3284 www.bankwithunited.com/ stephen-morris

JOURNEY HOME GRANT

Do you dream of owning a home, but have limited funds for a down payment and closing costs? United Bank’s Journey Home Grant* may be the answer to your home buying dreams.

UP TO $10,000 FOR DOWN PAYMENT & CLOSING COSTS

Begin Your Journey. Start an Online Application Today.

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African Youth to Take Center Stage in D.C. for Inaugural KidzAFest Cultural Exchange

By Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

Used as a way to preserve the past, document the present and influence the future, storytelling in art has historically been a cornerstone of African culture, and Sankofa Foundation Incorporated is working to keep thattradition alive.

Based in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Sankofa Foundation Inc., is a nonprofit organization encouraging storytelling through music with its inaugural KidzAFest Cultural Exchange Aug. 17-31. The two weeks will feature performances by South Africa’s Mzansi Youth Choir and Ugandan dance team Ghetto Kids, hoping to foster meaningful human connection and inspire young audiences to utilize the arts.

“We use the art of storytelling to share morals, customs and laws... so what we are hoping to achieve is to bring this storytelling in an entertainment form that will attract the kids,” Lois Aba Kwakyewaa Yankah, founder of Sankofa Foundation Inc., told The Informer.

In addition to performances throughout the D.C. area, the cultural exchange program will debut its Kidz Theater Production, a collaboration between Ghetto Kids and Mzansi Youth Choir, hosted by renowned Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang, at the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall on Aug. 30. The show, a display of African folktales, histories and contemporary accounts, is meant to share values of humility, love and empathy while showcasing the evolution of African dance and music.

“We want our youth to start thinking about where music is headed,” Yankah continued.

In an age when access to social media increases the opportunity to have the entire world at one’s fingertips, Anang hopes the play will inspire the young performers and their audience to remain proud of their roots while appreciating other cultures and rejecting Westernization.

After almost three decades of experience in the entertainment industry, the actor has witnessed many prioritize money over producing authentic art, which fuels his desire to influence younger generations to avoid this mindset. He believes highlighting and celebrating Africa on an international stage, and acknowledging the continent’s significance in entertainment, is a necessary step in changing the field.

“What happens most of the time is that identity is lost,” Anang told The Informer. “We add color to everything we do [through] the values of love, values of oneness… and the value of prioritizing the development and growth of one another.”

More than Music: A Lesson in Humanity and Humility

Founded in 2003, the Mzansi Youth Choir has been deemed the best show choir in South Africa, using music as a way to give underprivileged youth a chance to perform on local and global stages.

In 2023, the choir appeared on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” (2006-Present) and received the first Audience Golden Buzzer, which served as a way for audience members to send an act directly to the live show and bypass possible elimination from the judges.

The choir was formed after founders Jannie and Marina Zaaiman were involved in a hijacking incident by six adolescents. Combining their love for music and desire to keep the youth off the streets by

introducing them to a new passion, the Zaaimans created the choir and refrained from requiring any entry or participation fees.

Inspired by the choir’s humble beginnings, Yankah hopes the founders’ mission will carry over to the international stage, demonstrating to the community that it is possible to make an impact with limited resources.

“People are so focused on what they don’t have or what they need that they forget what they do have,” Yankah told The Informer. “These kids, they focused on what they had– their art [and] their craft– and that took them places where now they are able to negotiate to get what they need.”

Sidumo Nyamezele, the choir’s music director, and choreographer Alfred Phakati are adamant about upholding the philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes the importance of prioritizing collectivism over individualism, and acknowledging the responsibility human beings have to each other and the world around them.

Through emphasizing the need for community service and remembering one’s roots, Nyamezele and Phakati keep the young performers grounded and aware of the humanity within themselves and others. They hope the sense of humility garnered from following this philosophy will benefit future generations.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Kampala, Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dance team, pictured above during their Britain’s Got Talent audition, will join the stage with South Africa’s Mzansi Youth Choir during the Kidz Theater Production to showcase African music and histories. (Courtesy Photo)

Supporting Children’s Behavioral Health Through Early Interventions

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC)

Behavioral health is just as important as physical health in a child’s growth and development. From infancy through adolescence, children may face emotional, social, or behavioral challenges that may impact how they learn, interact, or express themselves. When these concerns are recognized early, parents and caregivers can access services and support that help children thrive.

WHAT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH?

Behavioral health refers to a person’s mental, emotional, and social well-being.1 For children, this includes social skills and how they handle challenges at home, school, or in relationships. This can include certain mental health conditions in children, such as:2

• Anxiety

• Mood swings

• Depression

• Difficulty focusing or hyperactivity (ADHD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States has a diagnosed mental or behavioral health disorder.3

THE ROLE OF EARLY INTERVENTIONS

Early interventions are services designed to treat babies and young children with developmental delays or disabilities.4 These services, such as behavioral therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, help children build critical skills for everyday life. Early interventions can prevent long-term behavioral challenges and support a child’s social, emotional, and academic success.

HOW EPSDT SUPPORTS

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

One important way children can access behavioral health services early is through Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT). EPSDT is a Medicaid benefit that ensures children receive comprehensive and preventive health services. These services often include regular checkups, screenings, and access to treatment, in-

cluding behavioral health services. EPSDT services include:5

• Health screenings

• Vision and hearing services

• Dental services

• Lead screenings

• Vaccines

Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting their child’s behavioral health. Monitor your child’s behaviors and moods and share any concerns with their doctor. Be sure to attend all well-child visits and ask specifically about your child’s behavioral health. If you notice any emotional or behavioral challenges, consider requesting EPSDT services.

Early interventions supported by EPSDT can make a difference in a child’s future. With timely care, every child can grow up healthy — emotionally and mentally.

Sources

1. “About Behavioral Health,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 8, 2024, https://web.archive.org/ web/20250119172140/https://www.cdc. gov/mental-health/about/about-behavioral-health.html, accessed June 10, 2025.

2. “Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage?” National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 2024 https://web.archive.org/ web/20250120090616/https://www.nimh. nih.gov/health/publications/children-andmental-health, accessed June 10, 2025.

3. “Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 19, 2024, https://web. archive.org/web/20250118050559/https:// www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/data-research/index.html, accessed June 10, 2025.

4. “What is Early Intervention?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://web.archive.org/ web/20250127184616/https://www.cdc.gov/ ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html, accessed June 10, 2025.

5. “Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment,” Medicaid.gov, https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/ benefits/early-and-periodic-screening-diagnostic-and-treatment#:~:text=All%20 children%20under%20age%2021%20 eligible%20for,Medicaid%2C%20uninsured%2C%20underinsured%2C%20 or%20American%20Indian/Alaska%20 Native, accessed June 10, 2025. All images are submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia and are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. /

Your Bright Start® to Motherhood

Pregnancy and the period after you have your baby can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate these moments alone. AmeriHealth Caritas DC offers enrollees support through the Bright Start maternity care program. The Bright Start program is designed to help you stay healthy before and after your baby is born. Bright Start can connect you with a care manager who can guide you

through every step of your journey.

Bright Start can help you:

• Find an OB/GYN, midwife, or doula.

• Schedule Lyft rides to your appointments at no cost.

• Get diapers, a car seat, breast pump, and other supplies.

• Create a birth plan.

• Sign up for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

• Sign up for home-delivered meals.

Taking care of yourself is the best way to care for your baby. Bright Start makes it easier to manage your health, get your questions answered, and connect with the support you need. To enroll in Bright Start or learn more, call 1-877-759-6883, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Beat the Heat

During extreme heat, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke. Symptoms may include:

• Dry red skin

• Convulsions

• Throbbing headaches

• Disorientation

• Chills

• Delirium

• Coma

If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing a heat-related illness, call 911.

HEALTH

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

When Devon Lesene wanted to get dental work done, he considered visiting dentists with offices throughout the District, but a friend made a recommendation that piqued his interest.

The friend recommended that he visit Whitman-Walker’s Max Robinson Center located on the campus of St. Elizabeths East in the Congress

Heights neighborhood of Ward 8. Lesene, a former advisory neighborhood commission (ANC) chair of 8D and a resident of Congress Heights, knew about the Robinson Center, but was not aware that it offered dental services to the public.

He quickly learned otherwise and was elated once visiting the health care center.

“I am a Ward 8 resident, and I have passed this building many times,”

Lesene, 34, said. “When I heard that they offered dental services, I had to come check the building out, see what was on the inside. I am impressed. I like it because it is clean, and the decorum is nice. The workers are friendly, and the technology is top notch.”

Lesene and dozens of other residents were able to take in much of the organization’s comprehensive services at Meet Max Robinson, a community open house held July 31.

“The Max Robinson Center is available to anyone who needs medical attention,” said Lisa Amore, senior communications director for Whitman-Walker. “This is not just for people who are gay or have HIV. We want people to understand who we are and what we do.”

The History of the Robinson Center: ‘We Can Take Care of You Here’

Whitman-Walker is a nonprofit community health center located in the District with three locations, and the Max Robinson Center is the only hub located east of the Anacostia River.

Founded in 1978 and co-named after poet Walt Whitman and Civil War era surgeon and women’s suffrage advocate Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the center served the health needs of gay men in its initial stages. In its 47 years, the center has evolved into an organization offering comprehensive health care services for all.

Having been long associated with the LGBTQ+ community in the District, Whitman-Walker has played a key role in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic since the 1980s, providing education, serving as advocates, and of-

fering services such as an AIDS hotline and housing for those afflicted with the disease. Further, the organization has been nationally recognized for its research of HIV/AIDS and the causes and implications of the epidemic.

The Robinson Center opened in 1993 and was named in honor of Max Robinson, the first African American to anchor a news broadcast in the District and nationally, who died of complications of AIDS in 1988.

“We opened an office in Anacostia,” said Amore, speaking of the shuttered facility located on Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue SE. “We wanted to make sure that the residents of Ward 7 and Ward 8 have access to health care and to serve as a health care provider.”

The Robinson Center moved to its present location in 2023 and is close to the Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, also located on the St. Elizabeths East campus.

In addition to offering dental services that people like Lesene seek, the Robinson Center provides a broad range of assistance and activities such as yoga and acupuncture, behavioral health care, nurse-based management, colposcopy, health insurance navigation, legal services, pharmacy, primary care physician and psychiatry.

“There is no need to go to the ER (emergency room) if you have a headache or a fever or a cough,” said Naseema Shafi, CEO of Whitman-Walker. “We can take care of you here. We also take insurance and if you don’t have insurance, we can work with you so that you can pay on a sliding scale.”

Amore said while District residents who reside east of the Anacostia River are the target audience of the Robinson Center, people from other states also use their services.

“Seventy percent of our patients are from D.C.,” said Amore. “Thirty percent are from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.”

Open House Visitors

Praise Robinson Center

Shannon Webster works for Community College Preparatory Academy in Southeast, D.C. Located in Ward 8, the academy is an adult charter school that offers free vocational and academic training for its students.

Webster learned about the Meet Max Robinson event from Monica T. Ray, the chair of the board of the academy and Community College Preparatory CEO Gerald Konohia. She was impressed by the facility after taking a tour of the dental and medical wings during the open house.

“I came here to make connections, network and learn more about the Robinson Center,” Webster, 55, told The Informer. “I found out that anyone over the age of 10 can come here for health care services. They accept insurance, and if you don’t have insurance, they can treat on a sliding scale. The people in Ward 8 need this.”

Daryl Ross, the longtime treasurer of the Ward 8 Democrats, also took a tour.

Pleased with what he saw, Ross said the Robinson Center was needed now more than ever.

“I live right in the neighborhood, and I got a flyer talking about the open house, so I decided to come over,” Ross, 65, said. “I think this is great, and it is needed, especially with the Trump administration attacking the funding of programs like this.”

WI @JamesWrightJr10

5The dental wing of the Max Robinson Center located in Ward 8 on the campus of St. Elizabeths East. (Courtesy Photo/Anice Hoachlander, Whitman Walker)

HEALTH

Rising Obesity in D.C., Worldwide Tied to Food Intake

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

An extensive study by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PNAS), spanning 34 populations worldwide, has found that increased calorie intake—not decreased energy expenditure—is the primary factor fueling rising obesity rates in economically developed societies.

Researchers analyzed data from 4,213 adults in communities ranging from hunter-gatherers and pastoralists, to industrialized nations. The study reported that while body mass, body fat percentage, and BMI were higher in more developed populations, total daily energy expenditures were also higher, reflecting larger body size.

Among African American adults, nearly 48% are clinically obese, including 37.1% of men and 56.6 % of women, according to the American Psychological Association. The association noted that disparities in stable housing, income, education, and access to healthy food and safe places for physical activity all contribute to these disproportionate rates of obesity and related health risks.

Recently, while speaking on CNN’s “News Night with Abby Phillip”, former New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman emphasized African Americans are disproportionately affected by issues such as obesity due to longtime discrimination.

“The reason why heart disease, and cancer, and obesity, and diabetes are bigger in the Black community,” Bowman said, “is because of the stress we carry from having to deal with being called the n-word, directly and indirectly every day.”

Obesity is a national and local epidemic. According to health officials in Washington, D.C., more than half of all adults are overweight or obese, with rates rising to over 72% in Wards 7 and 8.

District data show that less than one in every 10 White residents is obese, while one in every three African Americans in the District is obese. The Bureau of Cancer

and Chronic Disease has stated that strategies to improve access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity are essential to prevention and management.

The 2019 Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reported that only 52% of adults engage in the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Data from 2020 shows that 66.5% of Marylanders over age 18 are considered overweight or obese. Health officials have described obesity as a precursor to chronic diseases such as prediabetes, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.

In Virginia, nearly two-thirds of adults were overweight or obese in 2021, according to a report by the Joint Commission on Health Care. The report found that about 47% of Black individuals and 30% of Hispanic individuals were obese. It also noted that obesity diagnoses among Virginia Medicaid members rose 222% between 2014 and 2021, compared to a 4% increase in the general population.

“Obesity is a leading cause of global mortality and morbidity, accounting for more than 4 million deaths and 140 million disability-adjusted life years worldwide each year,” the authors wrote. “Fundamentally, weight gain results from consuming and absorbing more calories than are expended.”

The latest research, published in PNAS, measured total energy expenditure using the doubly labeled water method and examined the relationship between expenditure and measures of body composition.

After adjusting for body size, total and basal energy expenditures were approximately 6% to 11% lower in more developed economies; however, the differences were highly variable and did not consistently correspond with lifestyle.

“Comparisons of energy expenditure across populations strongly suggest that increased energy intake (i.e., caloric consumption and absorption) is the primary

factor promoting overweight and obesity with economic development,” according the report.

Among the 25 populations for which dietary data were available, the proportion of ultra processed foods in the diet was positively associated with body fat percentage.

“We found some support for an obesogenic role of ultra processed foods in the current dataset,” the study stated.

Researchers at PNAS reported that the estimated effect of decreased energy expenditure accounted for only about one-tenth of the increase in BMI and body fat percentage associated with economic development.

“Increased energy intake has been roughly 10 times more important than declining total energy expenditure in driving the modern obesity crisis,” the authors concluded.

The study also noted that while diet plays a central role, physical activity should not be overlooked.

“Daily physical activity has a broad range of well-documented health benefits, from reducing allcause and cardiovascular mortality to improving mental health, and is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle,” the paper noted.

The study emphasizes managing food is key to health.

“Regulating food environments to maximize the benefits of increased calorie availability without promoting a nutrient-poor, obesogenic diet remains a crucial

challenge in public health that will only become more acute as economic development continues globally,” PNAS researchers wrote. WI

5A study spanning 34 populations worldwide has found that increased calorie intake is the primary factor fueling rising obesity rates in economically developed societies. (WI File Photo)

EARTH OUR

The Endangerment Is Us

As the EPA Guts the Legal Basis For Addressing Climate Change, Dr. Mustafa Ali Warns Black, Brown, and Poor Communities Will Pay the Price

By Mustafa Ali

This article was originally published online with Word In Black, a collaboration of the nation’s leading Black news publishers (of which the Informer is a member).

There are moments in history when silence is not neutral. When pretending not to know is the most violent thing a nation can do. We are standing at such a moment now.

I was there in 2009, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a formal declaration grounded in science, shaped by decades of research, and echoed by communities who’d been breathing injustice for generations. It’s called the Endangerment Finding.

It simply states that greenhouse gases — like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide — threaten the health and welfare of current and future generations. With that one declaration, the government admitted something our ancestors already knew deep in their lungs: pollution kills, and climate change is no accident — it’s policy, profit, and power playing god with our survival.

That declaration gave the EPA the legal authority — and moral obligation — to act. To regulate emissions. To stand between Big Oil and the bodies of children with asthma. To recognize that melting glaciers and flooded streets are not random weather, but human consequences. It gave us hope that science would be more than a foot-

5 Washingtonians protest toxic chemicals from National Engineering Products, Inc. and environmental racism in 2023.The Endangerment Finding, which states that greenhouse gases — like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide — threaten the health and welfare of current and future generations, is now under attack by the

note in a political debate. Now, that hope is under assault.

In 2025, America continues to see a scorched-earth approach to science and truth by the Trump administration. They are now placing a crosshair on the Endangerment Finding itself. This administration’s current set of actions isn’t just about dismantling environmental regulations. It’s about denying reality, un-writing the future, and silencing the warning bells of our time. In its place, they offer lies dressed as liberty,

deregulation disguised as freedom, and fossil fuel profits parading as patriotism.

Make no mistake: reversing the Endangerment Finding would be the equivalent of yanking out the foundation of the house while claiming you’re remodeling. It would erase the federal government’s obligation to regulate the very emissions causing this crisis. And in that vacuum, corporate pollution would flourish, while human life wither — especially in the communities already

pushed to the margins.

‘Those Without Generational Wealth Cannot Move To Higher Ground Or Buy Filters For The Air’ Let’s talk about who gets hurt. It’s not the CEOs sitting in air-conditioned boardrooms. It’s not the politicians whose families will evacuate by private jet when

Trump administration. (WI File

Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

OUR EARTH from Page 24

the next superstorm hits. It’s the mother in South Phoenix whose son can’t sleep through the night without wheezing. It’s the elder in Appalachia whose well water tastes like diesel. It’s the Black child in Louisiana who thinks smoke in the sky is just part of what it means to grow up.

These are the communities that have always borne the brunt of environmental injustice. Poor communities. Black and Brown communities. Tribal nations. Immigrants. Those without generational wealth cannot move to higher ground or buy filters for the air. If the Endangerment Finding is rescinded, these communities will suffer first and suffer worst. And who benefits?

Follow the money. Oil companies. Coal barons. Gas conglomerates. They win by weakening science and strengthening silence. They win when no one is watching. They win when the people’s voices are buried beneath lobbying dollars and propaganda.

‘The

Economic Cost of Inaction Will Bankrupt Us’

But there’s another cost, beyond the moral one. The economic cost of inaction will bankrupt us. Climate-related disasters in the U.S. alone cost more than $165 billion in 2022, and the numbers are only rising. Fires, floods, hurricanes, droughts — each one

a result of neglect. Each one is a tax on our denial. The more we ignore, the more we pay. And it’s not just money — it’s public health. It’s premature births, cardiovascular disease, mental trauma, food insecurity, displaced families, and poisoned air.

And then there’s the cost we cannot measure yet — the debt we are writing into the lungs of our children and their children. A future where summers become death sentences. Where crops fail more than they feed. Where water is more scarce than clean. Reversing the Endangerment Finding isn’t just a policy shift — it’s a betrayal. A betrayal of the next generation, and the ones after that. We’re not handing them a planet — we’re giving them a problem so monstrous we didn’t have the courage to face it ourselves.

But here’s the thing about tipping points: they go both ways.

We are still — barely — on the edge where we can choose a different path. The science is more precise than ever. The technology exists. The solutions are ready. What we need is the political will and the moral clarity to say enough. Enough denial. Enough delay. Enough pretending this house isn’t on fire. If we hold the Endangerment Finding as sacred — not just as a legal document but as a promise — then we can still build a future from its foundation.

But if we let it fall, the silence that follows will be deafening.

And it will not be the politicians or polluters who pay the price. It will be the rest of us, coughing in the rubble, wondering why we let them turn off the alarm. WI

Resources for Buying a Home in D.C.

3 Mustafa Ali is a poet, thought leader, strategist, policymaker, and activist committed to justice and equity, who formerly served as senior vice president for Hip Hop Caucus. (Courtesy Photo/Word in Black)

EDUCATION

completed high school at DOC via Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail— an opportunity he said was too beneficial to ignore. So much so that McWilliams, then at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, opted for more time behind bars, the remainder of which he would serve at D.C. Jail.

“This was my last chance to get my high school diploma and obtain what I really needed to obtain,” McWilliams told The Informer. “I felt as though I had to make a sacrifice for my freedom. At the end of the day, I was already incarcerated, so there’s nothing more that could have hurt me, and I know what I needed for when I get out in the community, and I had to do that.”

On July 30, McWilliams counted among more than a dozen young men who graduated from Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C Jail during a ceremony at the D.C. Jail’s Central Treatment Facility (CTF).

That facility, one of two at 1901 D Street SE, served as an epicenter of instruction and redemption for McWilliams and other members of his cohort, all of whom are either awaiting trial or serving a sentence of under a year. For four months, he spent more than six hours a day in the classroom at CTF, engaging in coursework that secured him a D.C.-certified high school diploma.

For McWilliams, a high school diploma from Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail ended a journey that started before the pandemic, when he stopped going to school. That gap in education extended well into the public health emergency, when DOC became the subject of a class-action lawsuit centered on its failure to provide an adequate education to incarcerated residents.

Now, at the age of 24, McWilliams is older than the maximum age of 22 allowed in D.C. Jail’s K-12 education programming. However, he, and others who aged out of the system during the pandemic, received an extension as part of a settlement the District reached in

the class action lawsuit known as Charles H. v. District of Columbia.

McWilliams called his experience with Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail, the entity that had been appointed as a host alternative school, a blessing in disguise.

“I knew I wasn’t going to finish if I went home because I wasn’t going to be focused enough, and I wasn’t going to have anything, as far as this diploma, to help me out once I got in the community,” said McWilliams, who’s since explored a career in construction. “So this was just a big step that I had to take.”

For Some, Not Just a Graduation, But a Turning Point

Dozens of teachers, family members and attorneys sat in anticipation of the graduation ceremony that took place at CTF on Wednesday morning. In total, 15 residents recently graduated, with three of them since being released.

The ceremony started with 13 young men (12 current residents and McWilliams), sporting black graduation gowns and caps, as they walked down the aisle to “Pomp and Circumstance” and raucous applause from community members. For the next several minutes, each of the graduates took the podium, speaking in deep reflection about their educational journey— including lessons learned, next steps, and the power of friends and encouraging teachers.

Sprinkled in between each remark was commentary from Shanon Redman, assistant principal at Maya Angelou @ D.C. Jail and Jacqueline Williams, DOC’s deputy director of education, case management and reentry prorams.

Before the conferring and presentation of diplomas, Williams expressed her amazement at the personal work each young man did to secure a high school diploma that’s recognized by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

“Despite all your odds, your cir-

cumstances, despite your past experiences, this day, this hour, utilizes it as a platform to launch you to your new future and your new opportunities,” Williams, a proponent of family reunification, said on July 30 as she recognized friends and family present. “I know that your parents and friends are extremely proud of the young men and women who are here with you.”

In her remarks, Williams also acknowledged the work ahead for the young men as they build upon their recent successes.

“Don’t let your doubts, circumstances, [or] fear get in the way of achieving your goals and being the best person that you can be.”

Such words resonated for Nathan Washington, a recent graduate of Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail who, in the aftermath of Charles H. vs. District of Columbia, took advantage of the second chance afforded to him.

He told The Informer that he more than made up for time lost at the height of the pandemic.

“It was hard because everybody was going through things, everybody was getting sick,” Washington told The Informer “Nobody could really focus or really could go to school, couldn’t really do nothing. We basically was always on lockdown. It was like a hole.”

According to the class-action lawsuit filed by three D.C. Jail residents

in 2021, the Inspiring Youth Program, the D.C. Public Schools entity that operated on the premises at the time, didn’t resume classes after the city-issued quarantine brought all activity to a standstill.

Residents alleged that, for months, they didn’t receive proper instruction, only worksheets dropped off at the jail periodically that students were expected to complete independently, despite their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) specifying otherwise. That’s why, as part of the District’s settlement Maya Angelou @ D.C. Jail is required to provide: continuous, verbal instruction that corresponds with students’ IEPs; access to educational materials and technology essential to completing coursework; and support for students going to and from lessons, appointments and counseling sessions.

On Wednesday, after graduates took off their cap and gown, and returned to their jail-issued jumpsuits, Washington pleaded for the chance to dap up his teachers as a show of gratitude. He later told The Informer that, throughout his academic experience and the death of a classmate, they kept him focused on the bigger picture.

“They were there with me through my ups and downs, through my whole journey,” Washington said. “They were super supportive, genuine, and authentic, and they really

cared for me. I wanted to give up, so they motivated me and kept me going.”

With his diploma in hand, Washington spoke gleefully about the next step in his journe— a stint in the Young Men Emerging program, through which he will learn life skills that will aid in his transition to the real world.

“My master plan is just reentering the community and just being very successful,” he said. “[I want] to give back to the youth, let the youth know [this is] not the road to go and whatever you’re going through, you’re going to get over it.”

A Conversation with the People Behind Maya Angelou Academy’s Fourth D.C. Jail Graduation

During the 2025 fiscal year, 121 D.C. Jail residents enrolled in Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail with 21 graduating. Per a D.C. Jail spokesperson, some students don’t get the chance to complete their studies, due to the completion of their sentence or their transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Since its 2021 appointment as a provider of education at D.C. Jail, Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools - See Forever Foundation, the entity that operates Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail has en-

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5Graduates of Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail during a ceremony at the D.C.’s Jail’s Central Treatment Facility on July 30. (Sam P.K. Collins/The Washington Informer)

from Page 26

rolled 282 residents in its program, with a total of 82 graduating with a high school diploma.

Eligibility for enrollment in Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail requires that residents are a D.C. public school or public charter school student between the ages of 18 and 22 who didn’t complete their studies.

Those who make it into the program have an IEP.

Russell Waller, principal of Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail, told The Informer that, despite their tenuous relationship with school, the young men who graduated on Wednesday embraced the resources at their avail during their incarceration.

“They have the desire and the drive to do it when they’re here,” Waller said. “I think being in under the circumstances that they’re under, being able to have a small team like ours be able to come in and just kind of wrap around them, give them the care, the support, the guidance that they need to just kind of stick it out and get it done.”

Waller shouted out his colleagues for their part in the students’ success.

“I’m very proud of what they’ve done,” he said. “I’m proud of what our team has done as a school team. And we’re going to continue to do great things.”

For science instructor Eustace Alexander, reaching the young people who sit before him at D.C. Jail requires treating them like people with real life experiences and emotions.

“We’re teaching adults,” Alexander told The Informer. “The focus here is what can be done to make the students more successful. What we do here is to ensure success in the students. Not in our success as educators.”

Alexander, in his seventh year as a science teacher at D.C. Jail, teaches biology, chemistry, environmental science and physical science. He said his magic sauce as an instructor consists of presenting material in a manner that relates to students.

In making his point, Alexander recounted class discussions about fungal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and the long-term effects of smoking. He said that, in those moments, he saw students who took an interest in the world around them— and in each other’s wellbeing.

“Some of them have never been to school for the past seven years,” Alexander told The Informer. “Some of them would have never liked school. Some of them would have been doing well in school and made a mistake. So there were mixed experiences prior to coming here as we went to school. But what is noticeable is the common goal among them.” WI

EDUCATION

5Principal Russell Waller says despite their tenuous relationship with school, the young men who graduate from Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail embrace the resources at their avail during their incarceration. (Courtesy Photo/Maya Angelou Academy @ D.C. Jail)

DIPLOMA

The Dangerous Erosion of Independent Institutions Under Trump

America is on a Path to Becoming a Nation Under Oligarchy Rule

The foundation of a healthy democracy is the independence of its key institutions—agencies designed to operate without political interference to ensure integrity, accountability, and trust in government. Under President Donald Trump, this core principle is being challenged.

His relentless attacks on the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Reserve, and even the Bureau of Labor Statistics reflect a troubling trend: prioritizing personal and political interests over truth and competence.

Trump’s demand for loyalty over law has turned DOJ into a political tool for the presidency rather than an unbiased guardian of justice. Decisions that should be based on law and precedent have been altered to help the president’s allies and punish his enemies. This change has significantly reduced public trust in one of the most im-

portant institutions of American democracy.

Now, the same pattern is happening with the Federal Reserve and the Labor Department.

Trump’s recent criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell—because the Fed refused to artificially lower interest rates to boost the economy before the election—is not only inappropriate; it’s dangerous. The Federal Reserve’s credibility relies on its ability to make monetary decisions without political interference. Undermining this independence could destabilize markets and make controlling inflation more difficult for years to come.

Most troubling is Trump’s reported firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Erika McEntarfer, after an unfavorable jobs report. The August update revealed that only 73,000 jobs were added in July, prompt-

ing McEntarfer to face Trump’s anger.

The BLS also revised the May jobs numbers from 144,000 to 19,000 and June from 147,000 to 14,000. It is common for job numbers to be revised as the agency receives more information from businesses.

Actions like firing McEntarfer reek of authoritarianism. Instead of using economic data as a policymaking tool, Trump treats it as a loyalty test. If the numbers don’t support his narrative, he targets the messenger.

The long-term effects of such actions are significant. When citizens lose faith in data, justice, or governance, democracy is weakened. These independent agencies are not obstacles—they are defenders. Undermining them for short-term political gain could lead to consequences that go far beyond any one administration. WI

August is Black Business Month: More Than a Celebration—It’s a Call to Action

August marks Black Business Month, a time not just for recognition, but for action, investment, and reflection. In communities across the country—from Ward 8 in Washington, D.C., to neighborhoods in Atlanta, Detroit, and Houston— Black-owned businesses serve as anchors of economic development, sources of community pride, and engines of generational wealth. Their success is not only good for Black communities—it’s essential for a healthy, inclusive economy.

In 1900, Booker T. Washington founded the National Negro Business League (now the National Business League), proclaiming that “economic independence is the foundation of political independence.”

Washington understood that Black entrepreneurship was a powerful path to self-determination and respect.

More than a century later, Ron Busby Sr., founder of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., builds on that legacy—serving as the voice of over 150 local Black Chambers of Commerce across the country. These organiza-

tions are more than networks; they are lifelines, connecting business owners to capital, contracts, training, and advocacy.

Black-owned businesses are more than storefronts. They are barbershops, wellness centers, bookstores, tech startups, construction companies, and media outlets that provide essential services, create jobs, and keep dollars circulating within neighborhoods often overlooked by major investment. These businesses thrive where they are needed most— right in the heart of Black communities—because they are built on trust, cultural understanding, and commitment. They understand the challenges of the people they serve and offer solutions rooted in lived experience.

Yet, they also face disproportionate barriers: limited access to capital, fewer networking opportunities, and the persistent effects of systemic racism. That’s why Black Business Month is significant. It shines a spotlight not only on the successes but also on the disparities that still require attention.

In recent years, diversity, equity,

and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have come under attack. Some question their relevance or fairness. But when we actively support Black-owned businesses—with our dollars, partnerships, and platforms—we’re putting DEI principles into practice without needing a policy to tell us it’s the right thing to do. Supporting Black businesses helps close racial wealth gaps, promotes leadership in underserved areas, and affirms that opportunity should not depend on zip code or skin color.

So while the critics debate DEI in boardrooms and courtrooms, we can render the conversation immaterial by doing what’s always worked: supporting one another. Every purchase, every contract awarded, every loan approved for a Black entrepreneur is an investment in equity that doesn’t need a headline.

This month—and every month— let us not just celebrate Black businesses. Let us build with them, buy from them, believe in them. Because when Black businesses thrive, Black communities thrive—and so does the nation as a whole.

WI

TO THE EDITOR

“What an amazing article (From Trauma to Transformation: Local Mental Health Advocates Lead New Era in Community Wellness). Thoughtfully written. And what a timely topic… one that we should not feel ashamed to be in conversation about. Mental health is everything and impacts physical health. Thanks for shedding light on this beautiful resource that exists within our own D.C. communities.”

- Cynthia J. Norman

Readers’ Mailbox The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to news@washingtoninformer.com. or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you.

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

The Best of What Education Can Be

Marian Wright Edelman

I recently wrote about the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools program’s annual National Day of Social Action, which this year engaged thousands of students enrolled in CDF Freedom Schools summer programs across the country around the message “Public Education is a Public Good.”

Scholars from the CDF Freedom Schools site at The Mark in Montclair, a program of Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair, New Jersey, put it this way in a letter to the editor at the Montclair Local: “Public schools are more than just buildings. They are the places where we learn, grow, and build our futures. Public education helps ‘level the playing field.’ It brings together people from different backgrounds and teaches us how to respect oth-

The expected cost for the projected Commanders stadium is over $3.6 billion, but how much of this money is going into the creation of a sustainable and environmentally friendly establishment?

I’ll give you a hint. It’s the same amount of money that our leaders demanded Wizards and Capitals sports teams owner Ted Leonsis

Republican lawmakers cannot have it both ways. They cannot continue to push for tax cuts for the wealthy and not have it catch up with them and the country. They cannot push for tax cuts for the wealthy, and when the time comes for the federal government to fulfill its rightful role, it is unable or unwilling to do so. The

ers and work together. That makes our community stronger ... We all agree: access to a high-quality education should be a right, not a privilege. Everyone deserves the chance to learn, no matter where they live or how much money they have. One of our peers said, ‘Without education, you’ll die on the streets, not being able to get a job.’ It may sound harsh — but that’s the reality too many kids face. To the adults making decisions: See us. Hear us. Invest in us. If public education is a public

Guest Columnists

good, then we, the public, deserve the best of what it can be.”

In the same letter, they also shared a few ideas they think public schools can take from the CDF Freedom Schools movement, explaining that in their own summer program “we don’t just read books and play games — we build community, ask big questions, and learn how to stand up for what’s right.” They wrote: “At Freedom School, we do things differently. We start with Harambee, a joyful

Oye Owolewa and Yeselyn Iraheta Let’s Stop Ruining Our Planet for Sports Stadiums

invest in green standards. That answer is zero!

Washington, D.C., is placed between two rivers: the Potomac and the Anacostia. The new Commanders stadium is slated to be located near Anacostia, with no clear plan in place for how its construction will impact its surroundings. Although stadiums are often touted as significant economic boosts, their negative environmental impacts are almost always ignored. The accumulation of trash, smoke pollution and tox-

ins rolling into nearby waterways often cripple the surrounding ecosystem. Stadiums use up to 20,000 kilowatts of electricity in a single day. They take up stacks of waste and use thousands of gallons of water, even though water scarcity is a growing problem. Concerning the construction of the stadium, there are many potential negative impacts, as the demolition of the old stadium will generate a significant number of carbon emissions and create more traffic in the city. Carbon emissions are an issue, and

if they were to stop, we would still feel the temperature rising, and it would take decades for the warming to reverse itself. It’s time to make our stadiums green.

Let’s be real. Our quest for quick sports development has forced D.C. leaders to abandon the necessity of preserving our planet. We’re greenlighting professional sports teams to become community polluters. Even worse, we’re ignoring existing climate-saving legislation to fast-track stadium development. For example, we’re

W. Marshall

governmental structure in our nation is simple. We have separate governments on three levels: local, state and federal. There are times when the local government must rely on the state, and there are times when both the local and state governments must rely on the federal government as a last resort.

The federal government is key because it has the resources and expertise to provide oversight in areas where it is uniquely positioned to do so. When the federal government fails to provide support in

certain areas, states and localities will bear the burden. In some cases, the burden will have a human toll, placing lives at risk. We currently have an executive branch within our federal government that promotes a domestic policy aimed at shifting the role of the federal government in specific areas, thereby transferring much of its responsibility to local and state levels. We currently have a Republican-led legislative branch at the federal level that has rubber-stamped that policy, knowing that their constit-

uents back home will bear burdens they are unequipped to handle. In other words, our Republican-led federal government is failing our states and localities, including those within “Trump Country.”

Whenever the day comes when there are no longer droughts, heat waves, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires, it will be the day the Federal Emergency Management Agency will no longer be needed and it can forever close its doors. FEMA’s main function is to coordinate the federal gov-

time where we sing, cheer, and get inspired. We read books with characters who look like us, talk like us, and face real-life challenges. We’re encouraged to ask questions, work in groups, and express our ideas through writing, art, and performance. Public schools could borrow from these practices — adding more joy, culture, and creativity to everyday learning.”

The CDF Freedom Schools model is indeed designed to light

not pushing the Commanders to build restroom hand dryers instead of paper towels to save hundreds of thousands of trees. We’re not mandating bike stop installations to reduce car congestion and air pollution. We’re not encouraging low-e coated, multiple-pane windows to minimize heat transfer. We’ve made no climate-saving demands whatsoever. We can do so much better.

History will judge us for our in-

ernment’s response to disasters that overwhelm state and local resources. FEMA helps people before, during and after disasters by providing support to individuals, communities and first responders. Based on the 2024 billion-dollar disaster analysis data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, a total of 27 weather and climate disasters resulted in at least $1 billion in damages. This follows the record number

David

Rep.

Trump Country at Risk

Guest Columnist

Fraud, Waste and Abuse

chooses to be a thorn in the side of the man who appointed him, he can stay on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors until January 2028.

The dystopian man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built campaigned that he would reduce inflation (not), eliminate “fraud, waste and abuse” and address immigration issues through mass deportations. He can’t fix inflation by attempting to bully Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who is justifiably standing his ground until his term ends as chairman of the Fed in May 2026. If he

The president’s promise to end “fraud, waste and abuse” meant that he had his chainsaw-carrying toady, Elon Musk, slash his way through government agencies, laying off or firing thousands, eliminating critical programs and generally creating havoc until the bromance ended badly. Hell has no fury like a billionaire scorned.

Children are starving all over the world, but especially in Gaza where the

Guest Columnist

evil annihilator, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is limiting food aid to Gaza and denying that children are starving there. The media visuals of little children with ribs protruding, young boys scrambling to collect flour and mothers crying with anguish as their children languish in their arms would touch even the hardest of hearts, except for Mr. Netanyahu, who declares that there is no starvation in Gaza. Even our president, not well known for his tender heart, has challenged his crony on this matter. If our president is so concerned, though, why has he autho-

rized the destruction of life-saving food because, thanks to cuts in USAID, there was no way to distribute the food before its expiration date in late July.

About 500 tons of food, valued at $793,000, would have fed at least 30,000 children. Instead, U.S. taxpayer-funded food was either used as landfill or incinerated, costing another $100,000 in disposal costs. Fraud, waste and abuse, anyone?

A month or so ago, the State Department destroyed $10 million worth of birth control supplies purchased by USAID for women in developing

Palestinians Are Not Starving in Gaza. They Are Being Starved!

“The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” — Nelson Mandela, 1997

Recently I was listening to an NPR program talking about Palestine and

the genocide in Gaza and the point was made that Palestinians in Gaza are starving. People need to be very clear on this point: Palestinians in Gaza are not just starving! I repeat, that’s just not true. The fact is that Palestinians in Gaza are being starved to death. This is not a distinction without a difference. It would be appropriate to say that Palestinians are starving if they were the victims of a natural catastrophe or an act of God, such as a drought. One could say that Palestinians are starving if crops could not be grown and grass were burned so the animals could not graze,

such as in Sudan. When natural disasters damage the food supply, people go hungry and starve to death. That brand of horror is called famine. If a massive swarm of locusts descends upon an area, consuming all vegetation in their path and causing widespread damage to crops, this would be another cause of famine. As with drought, people would go hungry and starve to death.

That’s not what’s happening in Gaza. In Gaza, there is food relief available. There is medical aid available. Both are rotting in trucks on the border because Israel will not allow them into the coun-

try. People are not starving. They are being starved. Israel’s final solution to its “Palestinian problem” is to weaponize food and medical aid to starve the Palestinians into submission and ethnically cleanse them from their homeland.

Leaders in the Israeli government such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and their American guardians such as President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. Congress are complicit in these heinous crimes. They have chosen to deny water, food and aid to Palestinians as Is-

Bring the Commanders Home — But Not At the Cost of Our Community

I recently stood in a sea of burgundy and gold pom-poms outside the Wilson Building, cheering with Mayor Muriel Bowser at a rally to “bring our team home.” As a lifelong fan, I share the excitement. The Washington Commanders belong in D.C. — it’s their historical home, and ours. Just a day earlier, I watched NFL legend Darrell Green lead a

youth camp at our community center in Southwest. Seeing our kids run drills with a Hall of Famer — a man whose career on and off the field embodied the grit and pride of this city — reminded me what this team means to us. I grew up watching Skins games with my dad, and those afternoons are some of the last memories I have with him. Football in D.C. isn’t just a game; it’s part of our cultural fabric.

But as much as my heart says “welcome home,” my head is clear: We cannot afford to repeat the

same mistakes that have defined D.C. redevelopment for the last three decades. We’ve seen stadiums, luxury apartments and entertainment districts rise in this city, often on the backs of promises that never reach the people who live next door. I know this personally. I see it every day. GOODProjects, the nonprofit I lead, works in the Southwest public housing community — a tight-knit body of neighbors that live between Nationals Park, Audi Field, The Wharf, Navy Yard and the soonto-be redeveloped Buzzard Point.

Billions of dollars have poured into these developments, yet there is still no clear, enforceable plan to reinvest in these families who’ve kept this community vibrant for 200 years. Where are the resources for the people who’ve been here through it all? Where are the jobs, the ownership opportunities, the affordable housing guarantees?

The RFK Stadium redevelopment cannot become another chapter in the story of our city — the story of big business cashing out while D.C. residents furthest from opportunity

countries. The supplies included birth control pills, injectable contraceptives, IUDs and other forms of birth control. Stored in warehouses in Belgium, the January 2025 foreign aid freeze included this birth control, valued at nearly $10 million. Several global agencies, including Planned Parenthood International, offered to pay for the distribution of these products, but our government refused, choosing to incinerate the items instead, at a cost of $167,000. Some had a shelf life of several years, possibly good

rael continues its inhumane assault on children, women, medical professionals, press correspondents covering the genocide and international aid workers. According to Haaretz, Israeli soldiers in Gaza have been ordered to deliberately fire upon desperate Palestinians near aid distribution sites over the past month. Doctors say aid distribution sites have become “a slaughterhouse” as Palestinians have been lured to their deaths under the pretense of receiving aid. Over 550 Palestinians were killed

are pushed closer to the margins. This is bigger than a Super Bowl. Earlier this year, we nearly lost critical funding at the congressional level, a fight that consumed our city leadership and grassroots advocates alike. We won that battle, while simultaneously turning around and handing Monumental Sports more than $500 million to renovate the arena for the Wizards — a team that hasn’t shown much effort on the court or in our neighborhoods

Darius Baxter

Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

Wilmer Leon

LIFESTYLE

WASHINGTON INFORMER WEEKEND CHECKLIST

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV!

By Trevor Johnson WI Intern

From live music and cultural celebrations to community fundraisers and food festivals, the D.C. area is packed with events this weekend.

Whether it’s dancing to reggae at Freedom Plaza, debating the best jollof in the region, or unwinding at a 30+ throwback party, there’s something for every mood and interest.

Check out a handful of the events happening across the region this weekend to keep you entertained all weekend.

Plus, always remember to use the Washington Informer Calendar, to keep up-to-date and learn about other events and programming in the DMV region.

THURSDAY, AUG. 7

Elizabeth Catlett: Art for the People

6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. | $20 Virtual Event

Celebrate the legacy of Elizabeth Catlett, a pioneering sculptor, painter, and printmaker who centered Black identity– especially Black women– in her work.

Former African American studies professor Michele L. Simms-Burton explores how Catlett’s bold, people-focused art, created in both the U.S. and Mexico, helped shape the Black Arts Movement. From iconic prints like “Gossip” to rarely seen paintings, this talk offers a fresh look at one of the 20th century’s most powerful artistic voices.

Happy Hour Concert Series at Carlyle Crossing: Hand Painted Swinger

6 p.m. | Free Carlyle Crossing Plaza, 2455 Mandeville Lane Alexandria, VA 22314

Catch local band Hand Painted Swinger live at Carlyle Crossing Plaza on Aug. 7 as part of the Happy Hour Concert Series.

This free event features live music, a cash bar, food vendors, and lawn games.

Whether stopping by after work or making it a night out with friends, the concert series is a laidback way to enjoy live music outdoors.

FRIDAY, AUG. 8

Justice Jam

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. | $20 Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue SE Washington, DC 20003

Head to Mr. Henry’s for the first-ever Justice Jam, featuring a performance by the 17-piece DC Starlight Orchestra and rising talent from the Junior Jazz Lab by 11th Hour Music. The evening supports Jazz4Justice, a nonprofit that turns live jazz into funding for Legal Aid and music education programs.

Enjoy a night of big band sound, good company, and great service, knowing tickets support access to legal services and scholarships for young musicians.

All proceeds go directly to community impact across Virginia.

Learn more at jazz4justice.com.

Beginner Pickleball Friendly Fundraiser

9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | $15

5SET IT OFF: A Throwback Day Party is bringing classic R&B, hip-hop and unforgettable energy to Northwest, D.C. on Aug. 10. (Courtesy Photo/Afrocode Nation, Instagram)

Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201

In honor of Pickleball Day, join fellow newcomers of the sport in a relaxed, social event at Walter Reed 55+ Center.

During the event, participants will be matched randomly for casual doubles games, each limited to 15 minutes. There’s no scoring, just an opportunity to connect with others and enjoy some friendly play.

The event serves as a fundraiser for the Walter Reed 55+ Center Advisory Committee and is supported by the Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs.

Light refreshments will be provided.

SATURDAY, AUG. 9

Jollof Festival DC ‘25

3 p.m. - 8 p.m. | $20 - $65 Dock5, 1309 5th Street NE Washington, D.C. 20002

The Jollof Festival, a day-long event, returns with even more flavor, competition, and cultural energy, highlighting the rich culinary traditions of West Africa through a showcase of regional takes on the

iconic rice dish.

Expect a lively atmosphere filled with music, local vendors, and a friendly cook-off as chefs compete for jollof supremacy.

A celebration of food and heritage, the festival brings together community, creativity, and serious spice.

MOCCA Third Annual

Caribbean Cultural Concert

2 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Free Freedom Plaza, 1325 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004

The third annual Caribbean Cultural Concert returns to D.C. with seven hours of free, family-friendly festivities presented by the Mayor’s Office of Caribbean Cultural Affairs (MOCCA) and D.C. Caribbean Carnival, Inc.

The event will feature a vibrant mix of Caribbean culture, including a Kiddies Carnival, traditional and costumed dancers, live performances by steelbands, rumba, soca, and reggae groups, plus a colorful parade of costumes.

Caribbean DJs will keep the energy high, making this a celebration for all ages and backgrounds in the heart of the nation’s capital.

SUNDAY, AUG. 10

2025 Hey Cousin Culture Fest

1 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Free Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place Silver Spring, MD 20910

The Hey Cousin Culture Fest: Celebrating Black Joy @ The Plaza is back for its third year, bringing together community, creativity, and culture in a free outdoor event. Attendees can browse a wide variety of local vendors offering art, apparel, crafts, food, and nonprofit resources, while enjoying live performances from local artists, dance teams, and a DJ spinning throughout the day.

SET IT OFF |

A Throwback Day Party

4 p.m. - 10 p.m. | $47.19 Lucha Rosa, 1011 K Street Northwest #13th Floor Washington, DC 20001

SET IT OFF – A Throwback Day Party is a strictly 30+ social party that brings the energy of classic R&B and hip-hop back to the forefront for one event. This event is all about nostalgia, bold style, and reconnecting with good people. Guests can expect throwback hits, fashionable fits, and a dance floor ready for serious vibes. WI

Winning the DC Jazz Festival “JazzPrix” Takes the Hiruy Trife Quartet to Another Level

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

The “JazzPrix International Band Competition,” one of the most competitive jazz events that takes place annually at DC JazzFest, scheduled for Aug. 27-31, brings together five jazz groups for an opportunity to win a monetary prize, mentoring, studio time and a guaranteed performance at D.C. JazzFest the year after winning.

The 2024 “JazzPrix” winner, the Huruy Tirfe (pronounced HUHROY TURF) Quartet, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been busy building visibility with the help of their prize, and the group is ready to take the festival stage this August.

“I found out about the JazzPrix by searching for grants and sponsorship opportunities for my next album,” said Tirfe. “I submitted

the materials, including the master for my album ‘10,000 Hours,’ then responded to a questionnaire. When I saw the email that I was one of the finalists, I was going through a soundcheck with [hiphop group] “The Roots” for their annual picnic last year.”

Learning the Ropes

The “JazzPrix” brings together artists at various early stages of their careers. Many have an established following but are seeking a boost to advance to the next phase in jazz.

Because Tirfe had learned about the business end of being a professional musician from the contacts he had built in the Philadelphia area, his mentoring experience with the team at DC JazzFest solidified his knowledge.

Willard Jenkins— artistic director of DC Jazz Festival, the non-

profit behind the annual event and programming year round, and a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master— offered coaching on conducting interviews and provided feedback on Tirfe’s marketing strategies.

Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of the festival, provided guidance to Tirfe about jazz networking events, as well as how to establish himself as an LLC, which he had already done. Tirfe also credits his professional development opportunity to what he received from Philadelphia-based Gerald Veasley, a bassist and president of Jazz Philadelphia.

“I’m impressed not only by Hiruy’s playing, but his willingness to put himself out there to create opportunities for other musicians,” Veasley said.

5As winners of the 2024 DC Jazz Festival JazzPrix International Band Competition, the Hiruy Tirfe Quartet is performing on one of the DC Wharf as part of the 2025 festival. The group will perform from their album “10,000 Hours” released last year. (Courtesy Photo/Hiruy Trife)

LIFESTYLE

FESTIVAL from Page 33

Becoming a Bandleader

Most of the early music in Tirfe’s household originated from Africa through the Eritrean roots of his parents, as well as Ethiopian culture, where his father was born.

Tirfe started playing music in elementary school. After trying different instruments, it was the saxophone that drew him in during his childhood in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Philadelphia has always been a musical city with a history of noted musical innovators. Through a music program for youth at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Tirfe was coached by many well-known jazz artists, including: the late drummer and member of Miles Davis’ first great quintet, Jimmy Cobb; saxophonist Javon Jackson; and vocalist/songwriter Kurt Elling.

“The community in Philly kept

me on my toes by practicing as much as I could. I started putting bands together in my teens,” said Tirfe, who is also a woodwindist, composer, arranger, educator, and film scorer. “When I got to the University of the Arts in Philly, I would get some cats together, write some music, and see how it would work out.”

Continuing to Create and Perform, More to Come

With the album under their belt and a busy performance schedule, the Hiruy Tirfe Quartet is well on its way.

Their album “10,000 Hours” is available on all platforms and can be heard regularly on SiriusXM Real Jazz 67. The band also performed at D.C.’s Blues Alley in June, as the iconic venue embarks on launching its 60th anniversary celebration.

As last year’s “JazzPrix” winning band, the Hiruy Tirfe Quartet will perform at this year’s 21st An-

nual DC Jazz Festival. While the performance date has not been announced, the core band will include bandleader and saxophonist Hiruy Tirfe, Luke Carlos O’Reilly on piano/keyboards, Sandy Eldred on upright bass, and Khary Abdul Shaheed on drums.

“You are guaranteed to be engaged in a high level of artistry, musicianship and professionalism when you listen to saxophonist Hiruy Tirfe and his quartet,” according to the DC Jazz Festival website.

Listen to an interview with Hiruy Tirfe on the YouTube channel WashingtonInformerTV: https://bit.ly/HiruyTirfeWashingtonInformerTV.

To get tickets for this year’s DC Jazz Festival, visit dcjazzfest.org.

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4 Hiruy Tirfe performs at Blues Alley in Georgetown with pianist and keyboard player Luke Carlos O’Reilly. (Courtesy Photo/Torri Green, Instagram)

EDDIE PALMIERI TRIBUTE • BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET • MARCUS MILLER • LALAH HATHAWAY • RON CARTER QUARTET • THE STRING QUEENS THE JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO • THE BAYLOR PROJECT • CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT • EMMET COHEN TRIO • GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP SUN RA ARKESTRA • KEYON HARROLD • CORCORAN HOLT SUPERGROUP FEAT. GEORGE CABLES, STEVE TURRE, SEAN JONES, BILLY HARPER, & JEFF "TAIN" WATTS • THE JAZZDC ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA DIRECTED BY ALLYN JOHNSON • DADO MORONI • MAKOTO OZONE & GREGOIRE MARET JONGKUK KIM • THE JAZZMEIA HORN QUARTET • STEVE WILSON • MATTHEW WHITAKER • BIRCKHEAD • CORCORAN HOLT QUINTET

PAUL CARR & VANESSA RUBIN • CHRISTIE DASHIELL • BRANDEE YOUNGER • ERIC BYRD TRIO • TONY MARTUCCI EARTH TONES • HIRUY TIRFE QUARTET AKUA ALLRICH & THE TRIBE! • BRASS-A-HOLICS • NEXT JAZZ LEGACY • BENJIE PORECKI • TODD MARCUS QUARTET • LYLE LINK ALLAN HARRIS • HERB SCOTT • LEIGH PILZER STARTET • JOSHUA BAYER • ORGAN SUMMIT FEAT. CHARLES COVINGTON & ALLYN JOHNSON • HEIDI MARTIN • REGGIE BOWENS • LANGSTON HUGHES II • BEʼLA DONA • ELIJAH EASTON IMANI-GRACE COOPER • JAHARI STAMPLEY FAMILY TRIO • DC JAZZPRIX FINALS: FRIENDSHIP, THE SMOOGIES, JOSÉ LUIZ MARTINS, DAVE MEDER 'NEW AMERICAN HYMNAL' QUARTET • AND MORE

JAZZ

Majic Wednesdays Puts Southeast Under a Musical Spell Every Week at Sycamore and Oak

By Maven McGann WI Summer Intern

With warm, sunny weather and the soul stirring sounds of Experience Band and Show keeping peo-

ple on their feet all evening, July 23 was truly a magical Wednesday evening at Sycamore & Oak in Southeast, D.C.

Every week, people flock to the Ward 8 space for Majic Wednes-

George Clinton Keeps it Funky in Downtown Silver Spring

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Connecting with Black businesses and sharing his creative side, George Clinton, often called the “King of Funk,” talked about his life and career at the opening of a new branch of Harbor Bank of Maryland (HBM) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The event, themed “On the Move: An Evening with George Clinton and HBM, provided the Baltimore-based business with an opportunity to discuss its commitment to the local community, and featured a special exhibition of the “Thangularity Mothership,” an original art piece by the multihyphenate artist and his longtime collaborator Overton Loyd.

In front of an intimate crowd, Clinton, in conversation with HBM president and CEO John Lewis, explained the importance

of collaboration with the Blackowned bank.

“We’re working together from all aspects of Blackness,” said the 84-year-old singer, songwriter, producer, bandleader, artist, and costume designer. “It helps us a lot to come together, to do it with each other and to patronize. It can be as simple as discussing what we don’t do or what we could do.”

The “Mothership” concept has been associated with Parliament-Funkadelic for decades.

In bringing the “Mothership” to Silver Spring, Lewis emphasized why working with Clinton was a perfect fit.

“It’s only fitting,” Lewis said, “that we celebrate with a visionary like George Clinton, whose work has always pushed boundaries, uplifted voices, and looked forward to a brighter future.”

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days, a free summer series that welcomes people of all ages to unite in the name of great music and good vibes, hosted by Urban One’s Majic 102.3/92.7, District Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Office of Cable, Television, Film, Media and Entertainment (OCTFME).

“It’s peaceful, it’s loving, it’s unity-- quite the opposite of what a lot of people think it means to be in Southeast and listen to go-go,” said media mogul Cathy Hughes, founder of Urban One.

Attendees never know who might be among the crowd jamming, as Hughes, the District’s “First Lady for Life” Cora Masters Barry, gospel great Kirk Franklin and D.C.’s own Johnny Gill have been spotted rocking to the tunes during the weekly musical celebration.

Hughes said hosting Majic Wednesdays at Sycamore & Oak was very intentional.

“Forty-five years this year I’ve been in business. I’ve built my first base in Southeast, D.C.,” said Hughes. “[Now], we’re the largest Black home media company in America.”

An Iconic Place for Our Community to Come Together

One of the truly magical parts of the weekly Wednesday music event is that it allows attendees to jam with family and strangers alike, see old friends and make new ones, network and raise awareness about local businesses and happenings, and celebrate District-based artists.

As a Southeast, D.C. native, Urban One’s Vic Jagger, the event host, appreciates being able to connect with listeners and supporters in person.

“It just feels like a big family reunion,” she told The Informer. “It’s good to have the hometown behind you and ride for you.”

Having previously attended radio station-sponsored events in Silver Spring, Maryland in the past, Michael E. Johnson said he

was happy to be able to check out Majic Wednesdays at Sycamore & Oak, a location closer to home and where he could reconnect with former Turner Elementary classmates.

“I like it because you can bring the whole family,” Johnson told The Informer. “It’s laid back, it’s good people.”

With people coming together in the name of music, Jerome Jones, founder of the clothing line Related by Love, attended Majic Wednesdays to spread his message of connectivity.

“My brand is preaching to everyone, we are all related somehow, right? Whether it’s friendship, marriage or by blood,” Jones said. “We have nothing else but love. I want them to keep that in mind before acting in violence because they could be somebody’s love without even knowing.”

Masters Barry, founder of Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC), emphasized the power of Majic Wednesdays in unifying the community and highlighting local artists.

“This is my neighborhood,” said Masters Barry, who is also a member of the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “Sycamore has become an iconic place for our community to come together. We’ve had some of our best bands, our go-go bands, and some of our best talent come every Wednesday, rain, sunshine, and sometimes thunderstorms. It’s wonderful.”

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5Harbor Bank of Maryland President and CEO John Lewis with George Clinton, creator of Parliament-Funkadelic, posing under the artist’s “Thangularity Mothership,” at the opening of the establishment’s new Silver Spring, Maryland branch. (Brenda C. Siler/The Washington Informer)

5Cora Masters Barry (center) dances the night away at Majic Wednesdays on July 23. (Maven McGann/The Washington Informer)

5Vic Jagger (center) greets a supporter at Majic Wednesdays on July 23. (Maven McGann/The Washington Informer)

IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE

RAMMYS from Page 5

“The D.C. Council voted to take a step toward real balance for operators and workers. I want to thank them and the mayor for recognizing that this industry needs support right now–and for acting on it,” Townsend said.

RAMMYS Provide Space for Businesses to Come Together

Amid the restaurant industry’s real challenges, the 2025 RAMMYS was a true moment for celebration, collaboration, unification and healthy competition.

“We came to see everybody that we’re gonna beat next year,” said Jeff Williams, executive chef at Willowsong, a farm-to-table concept at the InterContinental Washington, D.C.– The Wharf. “We build our menus to scale around anything that’s available seasonally. So as every season changes, our menu changes.”

Although not eligible for a RAMMYS nomination this year, as the restaurant opened in February, Williams said Willowsong is special because it allows consumers to support small businesses and local agriculture.

“There are all those people that put their heart, time, tears, sweat, and all that stuff into making these products we bring here to give to you,” he said. “So it’s the best thing that you can get available, and it’s the best thing locally.”

While Williams and his colleague, Hakan Alagoz, general manager at Willowsong, were there to scope out some of their competitors, they emphasized they

were looking forward to the camaraderie created at the annual event and through RAMW.

“I think there’re a lot of small businesses who are having a really hard time at the moment,” said Alagoz, adding that Willowsong benefits from not only being the InterContinental’s flagship restaurant, but the booming business from the hotel. “Organizations like this, I think will help communities and especially small businesses, to survive in the long term. So we are here to support RAMW.”

While Williams is grateful for the support of the InterContinental, particularly as many local restaurants navigate financial roadblocks, he also emphasized the power of the people working in the food and beverage industry.

“I think that the negative impact is going to be felt, but restaurant people are good at a lot of things outside of being creative and creating hospitality. We’re also great at pivoting, and I think the community will change and adjust,” Williams told The Informer. “It might not look the same as it does right now, but we always come back harder.”

Joffrey Chapman, bar manager at Metrobar, a RAMMYS 2025 finalist for Best Bar, also noted the importance of creativity and collaboration to support the local hospitality industry.

“I think it’s important to be creative and use all your resources, especially with community, and outsourcing to each other in order to be sustainable in this new climate,” Chapman told The Informer. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5Attendees take a group photo during at the 43rd Annual RAMMYS on Aug. 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C. (Courtesy Photo)

VOTING RIGHTS from Page 1

Democratic state legislators in Texas have left the state to prevent the Republican-led legislature from passing a congressional map in the middle of the decade, which would redraw five seats occupied by Black or Brown representatives and would effectively become GOP districts.

Plus, the Supreme Court agreed recently to look at a case in Louisiana in which the state’s legislature created a second minority-majority congressional district, questioning whether it was constitutional to do so using race as the sole criteria for creating the new seat.

The redistricting situations are complemented by the work of proponents of Project 2025, the 900page “Mandate for Leadership” proffered by the conservative, ProTrump Heritage Foundation, calling for making simple mistakes in the voting process criminal offenses, giving the federal government access to state voter rolls and marginalizing the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, which enforces voting laws.

Michael K. Fauntroy, an associate professor of policy and government and the founding director of Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, told The Informer that with Project 2025, the political progress African Americans have made under the Voting Rights Act is in jeopardy.

“A major part of my research is voting rights,” said Fauntroy. “It saddens me how far we have fallen.”

However, for Americans living in the nation’s capital, the long fight for voters to have full representation still continues. Locally, many activists note the voting rights conversation starts with D.C. statehood.

“D.C. statehood should be the first issue,” D.C. Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa (D) told The Informer. “National issues that take place impact D.C. residents and we should have a vote on those matters.”

History of the Voting Rights Act

Although the first U.S. election was held in 1788, racism has historically prevented African Americans from being able to vote for local and federal leaders.

The U.S. Congress passed the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the right to

vote will not be denied based on race on February 26, 1869, and it was ratified (by the states) on February 3, 1870. Functionally, the amendment gave Black men— the overwhelming majority of whom were former slaves— the right to vote.

The years following the 15th Amendment’s ratification produced Black men voting in large numbers and holding political offices in southern states on the local, county, state and federal levels. However, when the federal troops left the South in 1877 because of the election of Rutherford B. Hayes as president, thereby ending Reconstruction, white Southerners took power systematically for the next seven decades and enacted measures to discourage Black political participation.

Black elected officials— or even leaders concerned about the welfare of communities of color— were a rarity in the South because African Americans were denied access to voting through poll taxes, literacy tests and outright intimidation and violence.

In the 1950s, the civil rights movement started pressuring Congress to protect the voting rights of racial minorities. But it was the violence that took place in Selma, Alabama in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge that spurred a federal response to voting rights.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law on Aug. 6. In his remarks, Johnson expressed his hope that Blacks will use the law to get politically active and improve their status.

“So, let me now say to every Negro in this country: you must register,” the former president said. “You must vote. You must learn, so your choice advances your interest and the

curfewfunding campaign for his upcoming back-to-school event.

CURFEW from Page 1 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. From that point on, curfew hours are 11 p.m to 6 a.m on Sunday to Thursday. On Saturday and Sunday, curfew hours are between midnight and 6 a.m.

Corey said this function, scheduled to take place on Aug. 16 at Anacostia Park and Skate Pavilion Field 6, will set the stage for youth town halls he hopes to host throughout the 20252026 school year.

“My goal is to bring all the youth together…bringing us together in one environment,” said Corey, who will soon start his senior year at Friendship Technology Preparatory High School in Congress Heights.

interest of our beloved nation. Your future, and your children’s future, depend upon it, and I don’t believe that you are going to let them down.”

The Fruits of the Voting Rights Act

After Johnson signed the legislation, millions of African Americans in the South registered to vote. Due to the exponential increase in the Black vote, Black elected officials ballooned from three state legislators in the former Confederate states in 1965 to 176 in 1985.

Nationally, Black elected officials increased from 1,469 in 1970 to 4,912 in 1980. By 2011, there were about 10,500 African Americans in elected office throughout the nation.

The Voting Rights Act was renewed in 1970 with the signature of Republican President Richard M. Nixon. Republican Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush signed renewals of the legislation in 1975, 1982, 1992 and 2006, respectively.

“Today, we renew a bill that helped bring a community on the margins into the life of American democracy,” said George W. Bush on July 26, 2006. “This legislation is named in honor of three heroes of American history who devoted their lives to the struggle of civil rights: Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King. And in honor of their memory and their contributions to the cause of freedom, I am proud to sign the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006.”

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

“That way, nobody think[s] we’re divided because as of right now, it looks like us Black people are divided, and the people in Ward 8 are divided. But we’re not.”

Corey, known to many in his community as “The Kid President,” spent much of his summer as a mentor at D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) facilities in Wards 7 and 8.

While speaking as a Ward 8 resident, Corey said this summer was one of the safest and quietest summers he’s experienced in recent history. He however criticized what he called a juvenile curfew policy that’s more of a panacea— rather than a deep-seated solution— for problems involving a subsection of District youth.

“You put a curfew on U Street, and they’re not able to go down there, they go down Navy Yard,” Corey said. “Certain youth are gonna do what they wanna do, and putting a curfew in place is gonna make them go to different places and tear up different areas.”

Corey went on to tell The Informer that, with DPR hosting its Late Night Hype events at various recreation centers, the curfew is further penalizing young people who want to enjoy their summer without incident.

“The curfew isn’t needed especially when it’s events that DPR doing,” Corey said. “Kids are used to going to [the events], so they feel like it’s no curfew.”

Looking Back: The Emergency Juvenile Curfew

The Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act— approved by the D.C. Council and in effect since July 7— states that youth 17 years and younger aren’t allowed in public places or District establishments during curfew hours.

Until Aug. 31, curfew hours are

This emergency legislation, introduced by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and unanimously approved by the D.C. Council amid what’s been described as “teen takeovers” of the District’s commercial areas, also allows Bowser to authorize an emergency juvenile curfew. It authorizes Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith to establish extended juvenile curfew zones— areas where no more than eight young people are allowed to gather in public places between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless involved in exempted activities.

“Most of our young people are doing the right thing, but unfortunately, we continue to see troubling trends in how groups of young people are gathering in the community – in ways that too often lead to violence and other unlawful behaviors,” Bowser said in a statement in June. “And when we see patterns of unsafe or unlawful behavior that put young people and the community at risk, we have to act. This emergency legislation gives us stronger, more flexible tools to prevent violence and disorder before it starts and to keep our communi

Since the legislation went into effect, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has designated Navy Yard and the U Street corridor as juvenile curfew zones. Last weekend’s juvenile curfew zone, known as the Southwest Juvenile Zone, had a perimeter that included: I-395/ Southwest Freeway; South Capitol Street SW; a portion of the Anacostia River; and a portion that includes the Anacostia River and the Washington Channel.

The curfew however hasn’t been without critics— including youth who aren’t directly affected.

“If you take a look [at] how typically the D.C. Council moves in certain legislations, you notice that there’s a lot of…catering to those more gentrified areas compared to low-income areas like Wards 7 and 8,” said Aniya Coffey, a Ward 8 resident and D.C. Public Schools alumna who’s been on the frontlines of a movement to amplify youth voices in local policy discussions.

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., behind him. (Courtesy Photo/Digital Public Library of America)

review wi book

“Talk

to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace”

By Minda Harts

c.2025, Flatiron Books

$27.99

240 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Raise? What raise?

Your employees have been hinting for a few weeks now that they’d like a little more in their paycheck and you can surely understand their wishes. You also wish they’d understand that now’s not the time for it. And so, you avoid all conversations about money and hope there’s no turnover because you can’t afford that, either but read “Talk to Me Nice” by Minda Harts, and you’ll know what to say and how to say it.

Five years ago, Minda Harts had what was, to her, a dream job. She was basically autonomous, the only East Coast employee of a West Coast firm, taking care of her job and any clients who might visit the Big Apple. Harts knew she was trusted; her employers wholeheartedly indicated it, but they didn’t tell her much else and when she asked to take her career to the next level with better wages or a promotion, they gave her a big fat sort-of-maybe.

She was only looking for what she felt she was due. They glossed over her concerns.

And she turned in her resignation.

So if you can’t pony up more moola or a corner office, what can you offer? Trust, says Harts. Pure and simple, employees want trust. And the way to gain their trust is to use “the seven workplace trust languages.”

Especially if you’ve got Black or LGBTQ employees, they want your sensitivity to the unique issues they face at work. In good times and bad, speaking to them with as much transparency as possible goes a long way. Security helps your employees feel safe on the job, both physically and mentally. Act, don’t just talk, to demonstrate your words. Be willing to give positive and kindly negative feedback on a regular basis. Offer acknowledgment for a job well-done, a work-iversary, or for a hard task completed. Finally, follow through to make sure your employees can feel confident that you’re on this. And then, says Harts, “watch trust grow!”

This should feel pretty commonsensical, shouldn’t it? Yes, but author Minda Harts suggests in a huge way that it’s not, and that businesses from the top down need to relearn how to put trust back into the workplace. In “Talk to Me Nice,” she explains how.

Never mind the kerfuffle about DEI, the fact is that today’s workplaces can still be quite diverse and that plays big in this book as Harts shows why trust is key for happy employees and for healthy retention, and how it matters in every kind of workplace. Though her stories are a bit scattershot, they’re all-encompassing and she uses real-life examples to show trust-making in action and what happens if it’s lacking. That can be helpful and cautionary, both, and the relevance built into those tales is something readers will greatly appreciate.

This is an excellent book for C-suiters, managers, and supervisors all, but it’s also a good book for an up-and-coming company star. Read “Talk to Me Nice” and get ready to raise the roof.

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horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

AUG. 7 - 13, 2025

ARIES Dynamic momentum propels ambitious undertakings as Mars charges through your career sector, bringing breakthrough moments when decisive action transforms visions into tangible results requiring bold commitment over cautious hesitation. Professional recognition arrives when authentic leadership demonstrates capability while maintaining collaborative respect. Lucky Numbers: 7, 23, 39

TAURUS Material foundations strengthen through patient cultivation as Venus enriches your stability sector, bringing prosperity when methodical development honors quality standards while building sustainable value. Romantic partnerships mature when steady devotion creates secure environments enabling vulnerable intimacy. Lucky Numbers: 14, 29, 45

GEMINI Intellectual versatility creates multiple opportunities as Mercury activates your communication sector, bringing connections through adaptive conversation skills that translate complex concepts across diverse audiences. Learning ventures expand when curiosity explores interdisciplinary connections revealing innovative applications. Lucky Numbers: 2, 18, 33

CANCER Emotional intelligence guides practical decisions as lunar cycles strengthen your intuition sector, bringing clarity through protective instincts that balance individual needs with family obligations while creating harmonious environments. Real estate opportunities emerge when aesthetic sensitivity identifies properties with minimal investment for maximum appreciation. Lucky Numbers: 11, 26, 42

LEO Creative magnificence attracts deserved recognition as solar power illuminates your performance sector, bringing acclaim through generous expression entertaining audiences while conveying profound truths. Business ventures succeed when charismatic presentation transforms abstract proposals into compelling visions inspiring investor confidence. Lucky Numbers: 4, 19, 35

VIRGO Systematic excellence yields measurable improvements as earth energy perfects your efficiency sector, bringing advancement through meticulous analysis identifying practical solutions while maintaining operational integrity. Professional credibility solidifies when consistent performance demonstrates reliability without requiring external validation. Lucky Numbers: 9, 24, 41

LIBRA Harmonious collaboration generates mutual benefit as Venus balances your partnership sector, bringing success through elegant negotiation transforming competitive dynamics into complementary strengths while maintaining individual integrity. Aesthetic choices influence practical outcomes when beautiful design enhances functional efficiency creating pleasant working atmospheres inspiring creative productivity. Lucky Numbers: 6, 21, 37

SCORPIO Profound transformation accelerates through intensive investigation as Pluto deepens your research sector, bringing revelation when persistent exploration uncovers hidden opportunities within complex systems requiring patient analysis over hasty conclusions. Psychological understanding advances when intuitive perception guides methodical investigation exposing unconscious motivations affecting decision-making processes. Lucky Numbers: 13, 28, 44

SAGITTARIUS Global perspectives expand practical applications as Jupiter broadens your wisdom sector, bringing understanding through cultural exchange applying diverse methodologies while identifying universal principles transcending geographical boundaries. Educational opportunities accelerate when theoretical knowledge combines with experiential learning creating comprehensive expertise valuable across multiple industries. Lucky Numbers: 8, 22, 38

CAPRICORN Executive mastery constructs enduring achievements as Saturn consolidates your authority sector, bringing recognition through disciplined construction creating permanent infrastructure rather than temporary expedients requiring constant maintenance. Lucky Numbers: 1, 16, 32

AQUARIUS Revolutionary innovation serves collective advancement as Uranus transforms your humanitarian sector, bringing progress through unconventional solutions addressing community needs while honoring individual creative contributions within collaborative frameworks. Group dynamics thrive when diverse perspectives receive equal consideration through democratic processes fostering inclusive participation. Lucky Numbers: 15, 30, 46

PISCES Spiritual wisdom enhances worldly effectiveness as Neptune clarifies your service sector, bringing fulfillment through compassionate practices strengthening practical engagement rather than encouraging escapist withdrawal. Artistic creation achieves emotional resonance when technical proficiency supports authentic vision without constraining spontaneous inspiration. Lucky Numbers: 12, 27, 43

SPORTS

6 Standouts Turning Heads at Commanders Training Camp

By Skylar Nelson WI Contributing Writer

After an action-packed second week of training camp, the Washington Commanders are gearing up for their first test of the season, a preseason opener showdown against the New England Patriots on Aug. 8.

As the team enters week three, widely regarded as game week, pads are on, the unofficial depth chart has been released, and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s contract still remains unextended, after reports he requested a trade late last week.

While much of the roster remains fluid, several players have already begun to stand out, flashing promise in practice and making their cases for expanded roles this season.

Below are six players turning heads so far at Commanders training camp.

1. Cornerback

Mike Sainristil

Mike Sainristil has been one of the biggest standouts of Commanders training camp so far. Heading to his second year, the 2024 second-round pick is already playing with confidence and command leading to veteran stature.

“During the offseason I was watching film on just doing a self-study tape,” said Sainristil.

Whether he is lining up inside or outside, he consistently stays on the ball, breaking up passes, grabbing interceptions, and making plays in the backfield.

His best showings came in week one where he caught an interception off quarterback Jayden Daniels and ran it back for a touchdown later adding a tackle on wide receiver KJ Osborn in the backfield on a play in team drills.

After having a strong rookie season with 93 tackles and leading the team with two interceptions, he’s quickly becoming a foundational piece for Washington with much of a career to go.

“To see an interception a few days ago where he was running towards the middle of the field to go and the ability to go track it and get it,” said Coach Dan Quinn. “The leader is developing and emerging. And that to me is, that’s the next step for him.”

2. Running Back Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a player that quickly made a strong impression at training camp.

“Bill,” a name he earned as a child from Bill Cosby’s cartoon “Little Bill” (1999-2004), has been buzzing at training camp. The seventh-round rookie has made a strong early impression, showing off a physical, and downhill running style despite limited contact in practices.

“Bill, for a young guy who loves football, competes, very explosive,” said Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

That was an exciting kind of pick for us and what he’s shown so far.”

His violent cuts, sharp speed, and elite vision have stood out.

“He’s really good with his one cut and getting north and south and his vision, he’s coming along, so I’m excited to see what he does coming forward ,” said Daniels.

3. Wide Receiver Jaylin Lane

Although Jaylin Lane is expected to contribute mainly as a punt returner listed second on the Commanders’ unofficial depth chart for special teams, he is quickly making a case for a larger role in Washington’s offense.

Despite being slotted third for oneof-three wide receiver spots, Lane is definitely turning heads at training camp.

“He’s been very impressive,” said Kingsbury. “He’s a coach’s kid, been around the game his entire life and if you tell him how to do it one time, he usually nails it and then if he makes a

mistake, he’ll come back and get it corrected, but super, super talented, very fast. I’ve been really impressed.”

He flashed big-play potential in Friday’s practice in week two, breaking free behind the defense for what would’ve been a touchdown. Later on, he made the highlight of training camp so far, notching a contested touchdown in the back of the end zone from Daniels during a red drill, despite tight double coverage.

“He’s willing to learn and that’s what you just want from people,” said Daniels. “People that are willing to continue to grow and want to develop and learn. That’s the biggest thing for sure.”

4. Cornerback Trey Amos

The Commanders entered training camp seeking a cornerback that can line up opposite Marshon Lattimore, and rookie Trey Amos is quickly emerging as a player that could fulfill the role.

As a second-round pick coming out of Ole Miss, Amos has spent the majority of camp working with the starting defense, making the most of every rep.

“The way he’s come in has definitely helped [me] because I know that’s another guy that is going to go out there and put it all on the line for the defense, for this team,” Sainristil said. “So, just from what I’ve seen from him, he has the ability to do some great things.”

What has stood out most about Amos so far has been the fact that he is sticky in man coverage, physical at the line without drawing fouls, and already has a strong understanding of what is needed in the cornerback role.

“I’ve been showing my man coverage, my techniques,” said Amos. “Just

going out there and just competing, being physical at the breaking point. Just being a person that can just show up anywhere and just do their job and be accountable.”

At 6-foot-1 with elite speed and length, he brings the caliber traits that defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and Quinn value in a cornerback.

“The thing I like about Trey’s game, and I’ve seen it with some of the other corners, patience at the line of scrimmage when you’re down on the receiver so many times you can get antsy and try to guess what their release is or a particular route,” said Quinn.

With continued progress, it’s becoming clear that Amos will have the opportunity to contribute early on this season.

“Trey’s had a good day every day,” said Whitt.

5. Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel wasted no time making his presence felt in Washington, delivering the first big play of training camp with a deep touchdown catch from Daniels over safety Tyler Owens.

“I feel that with him, the finishing of the play, and that’s a real trait, whether it’s a run play, a pass play, there’s a finishing element to his game that I really, really admire,” said Quinn.

Samuel has been focused on developing chemistry with Daniels and establishing a sense of leadership on Washington’s offense.

“I mean the guy’s played a lot of football and he’s very understanding the different coverages and routes, and the guy is a pro, and he works hard,” said Daniels

Determined to prove he can still be

a dynamic weapon, Samuel is off to a promising start. As he grows more comfortable, his role in Washington’s offense is only expected to expand.

“I just go out here and get better every day,” said Samuel. “Whatever position they put me at to go out here and make plays, I’m going to do the best of my ability.”

6. Tight End Zach Ertz

The Commanders acquired Zach Ertz last season to come in and be a reliable target for Daniels and so far, he is delivering. The veteran tight end continues to be a favorite option during training camp, especially in red-zone situations where his chemistry with the star quarterback thrives.

One standout play where their chemistry was shining on full display was when Daniels was faced with a blitz and found Ertz across the middle for a touchdown.

“For me it’s always about just trying to find little ways to get better,” said Ertz.

Coming off a bounce-back season and re-signed on a one-year deal, and now first on the team’s unofficial depth chart in one-of-two tight end positions, he is once again set to be a key piece in Washington’s offense.

“We all have to be better,” Ertz continued. “If we’re the same team we were last year, we’ve let ourselves down enormously. And so for me, for the guys, it’s just about how can we improve each and every day?”

The Washington Commanders are set to face off against the New England Patriots, in their first game of the season on Friday, Aug. 8 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. WI

5Wide receiver Deebo Samuel catching a pass in route running drills at the Washington Commanders’ Training Camp. (Abdullah Konte /The Washington Informer)

5Rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane attempting to catch the ball in offensive route running drills. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE the moment

The Prince George’s County Police Department, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, local leaders and law enforcement across the area collaborated to host the 42nd annual National Night Out, with events and programming throughout the Washington metropolitan region. This annual community-building campaign promotes police–community partnerships and neighborhood spirit across the DMV. (Photos by Ja’Mon Jackson, Shevry Lassiter, and Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

Celebrating a Musical Pioneer: After 46 Years, Joyce Garrett Retires

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

As longtime music educator and choral director Joyce Garrett walked in the cavernous sanctuary at National Church of God in Fort Washington, Maryland on Aug. 2, she saw hundreds of people in the pews, as well as singers and an orchestra filling the stage-– and they were all present to honor her work and legacy.

During her retirement celebration last Saturday, Garrett passed endless people representing more than 50 years of her career at the now closed Langley Junior High School and Eastern High School in Northeast, D.C., the United States Naval Acad-

emy in Annapolis, Maryland, and Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

“Some people are larger than life,” the Rev. Howard John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred Street, told The Informer during the celebration. “For 46 years Joyce Garrett has led musical excellence and anything that Alfred Street is today has Joyce Garrett’s fingerprint on it. We are because of her.”

Having known the local music legend before serving as another choir director at Alfred Street, Ferrin Johnson touted Garrett’s approach to her work and leadership.

“I worked with her at Eastern,” Johnson said. “She is so open, so loving and brilliant in what she does.”

40th Pastoral Anniversary

Berean Baptist Church of Washington, DC will celebrate the 40th Pastoral Anniversary of Rev. Robert G. Childs throughout the month of September 2025.

An anniversary dinner will be held Sunday, September 21st from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Kellogg Conference Center on the campus of Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave, NE, Washington, DC 20002.

This momentous occasion will also honor Rev. Childs’ 50 years of preaching the Gospel; 40 years as an esteemed educator; and his 70th birthday.

Call the church office, 202) 829-8454 or email, bereanbc1877@aol.com, to reserve your seat at $125.00 per patron and to request an ad in the souvenir journal. You may also visit Eventbrite.com and Givelify.com.

5

educator and choral

holds a plaque honoring her years of contributions to music during her retirement ceremony at the National Church of God on Aug. 2. (Courtesy Photo/Alfred Street Baptist Church, Instagram)

Garrett’s Legacy of ‘Excellence Without Excuses’

A native of Kinston, North Carolina, Garrett attended college in her home state, at Bennett College in Greensboro.

During her retirement ceremony, program administrators from Bennett honored Garrett’s work, having represented her alma mater with pride throughout her career.

She later earned a master’s in music

from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

The longtime educator began her teaching career in 1966 at Langley Jr. High School.

From her first teaching assignment after moving to the District, to today Garrett has followed her famous saying: “Excellence without excuses.”

After five years at Langley, Garrett was assigned to Eastern High School. During her years at Eastern, her groups traveled abroad and won many awards, including earning second place at the International Youth and Music Festival in 1988 in Vienna, Austria, and performing in Normandy, France for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day in 1994.

Garrett began directing the United States Naval Academy Gospel Choir in 1990, a role she held in addition to her work with Eastern until 2006.

She also founded the Washington Youth Choir in 2005.

Beyond her passion for music education, Garrett has been dedicated to Alfred Street since 1980, serving as director of music and worship arts.

The longtime music minister is also a recipient of the Roland Carter “Living Legend Church Music Award,” which is presented at the Hampton University Centennial Ministers’ Conference.

Further, Garrett’s musical groups have appeared on numerous media platforms including “CBS News Sunday Morning” and NBC’s “The Today Show.”

In 2023 Garrett was inducted into the Eastern High School Hall of Fame as part of the school’s Centennial Celebration.

“It is quite an honor,” said Garrett, who was one out of 12 inductees, during the 100th anniversary event.

While Garrett has had a lot of success over the past five decades, it has not come without a great deal of hard work.

“Instead of talking about my life, the drama ministry acted out several skits about my life and what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Garrett told The Informer after the celebration.

CLIENT NEEDS A PROOF

Berean Baptist Church

ing a towel when someone might be showing too much cleavage, Garrett’s rehearsals were legendary for being tough.

“Joyce Garrett and I have worked together for more than 40 years,” said Thomas Dixon Tyler, minister of music at Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, D.C. “Music excellence goes beyond teaching songs and notes. Every detail is part of the total presentation and she set the standard.”

Garrett: A Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Musical Icon

While Garrett has spent decades inspiring others through music and education, her best friend and husband of more than 50 years, James Garrett, has been right by her side.

The couple, who lives in Fort Washington and raised two sons and a daughter, walked into the retirement celebration together, beaming at the many people there to celebrate Garrett’s considerable contributions to the Washington metropolitan area’s music scene and beyond.

During the program, her son Rodney Garrett talked about how he remembers growing up and his mother receiving phone calls from famous celebrities, such as Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross.

While the event was to celebrate her stepping back from her busy life as a musical director, the large celebration, featuring dancers, special tributes and hundreds of singers dressed in gray served as a source of inspiration.

“I couldn’t believe the site before my eyes. There were 250 before my eyes dressed in purple and gray,” Garrett told The Informer. “In all my 46 years I had never asked singers to wear gray outfits.”

As part of the ceremony, Garrett’s daughter Melanie Messer interviewed her mother about her hopes for the future. The newly minted retiree said she looked forward to spending time with her grandchildren.

People laughed as members of Alfred Street’s drama ministry reenacted some of Garrett’s rehearsals, highlighting her dedication to the craft and underscoring her motto of excellence in all her instructions and expectations.

“I was ready to retire and now I am going to enjoy not having a schedule,” Garrett said, “but I will still continue to do music when called upon.”

Roderick Giles, director of Gospel Inspirers at Alfred Street said he would not be where he is today without Garrett’s guidance and mentorship.

924 Madison St NW Washington, DC 20011

Berean Baptist Church 924 Madison St NW Washington, DC 20011

“At the program I didn’t know if I was being roasted or toasted,” she continued.

From stopping a rehearsal because someone was fixing their hair, to toss-

40TH PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY

“Mrs. Garrett means everything to me,” Giles told The Informer. “She is the reason that I am as successful as I am today.”

WI

Musical

director Joyce Garrett

Isn’t it wonderful the way the Lord made each of us? He created us with imaginations, and he uses our brains and our minds like a telephone, if we would only answer the call and do exactly what he has spoken into our spirits. When used properly, our mind is where everything exists first. It all begins with the thoughts we have. Christians, just know that your “good and perfect” thoughts are ideas placed in your spirit by the Heavenly Father! When your thoughts are not good, they didn’t come from God!

Do you know that the Lord God releases knowledge directly to us from his throne room in heaven — how is this knowledge actually transmitted to us? Let’s take a look at some Scriptures. Here is where your own dreams must become your only boundary. Don’t allow your family, friends or co-workers to reprogram your thinking, or cause you to forget about the dream you have had for so many years.

“But God has revealed them to us, not to someone else. And he did this through his Spirit that he puts into us. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Are Your Dreams Your Only Boundary? the religion corner

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

“However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth ...” (John 16:13).

No one knows the things of God except the Holy Spirit — and the Holy Spirit has been given to each and every one of us in order to reveal the things that God wants to reveal to us. In other words, it is the job of the Holy Spirit to release the knowledge of God directly to us. It’s like our very own GPS system, giving us a step-by-step guide!

Think about what is being said in this verse. This statement being made by God — that the Holy Spirit can teach us all things — is an intense type of statement being made by God. God is telling us that he is willing to go more than overboard in order to teach us things and to transmit his knowledge to us.

Then the verse even goes one step further when it says that the Holy Spirit can literally bring back up to your remembrance, when you may need it, the knowledge that he has already given to you!

A perfect example of this is for those who really study the Bible in order to get it really worked and assimilated into their minds and spirits. What you will find start to happen if you are willing to spend some

good quality time to get the Word worked into you — is that the Holy Spirit will bring back up to your memory the appropriate Scripture verses when you may need them on the spot when preaching or talking to others about God and Jesus.

You will literally see these verses float right up out of your spirit in front of your mind’s eye right at the moment that you will need them. This is literally a supernatural transmission of knowledge directly to your mind by the Holy Spirit himself!

And not only can the Holy Spirit do this with Scripture verses — but he can also do this with any other bits of knowledge that he may want to give to you. He can give you his words of knowledge and wisdom all day long on whatever else you may need his help on.

This is why the Holy Spirit is called “the Helper.” The Holy Spirit cannot help you unless he is able to transmit his words of knowledge and wisdom to you as you will need them.

If you can learn to be led by the Holy Spirit and pick up when he starts to try and communicate with you, you can literally start to receive the knowledge of God in every area of your life where you need knowledge and guidance to help get you safely through. Then you will begin to reach those goals and dreams that you have been given.

WI

RELIGION

Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 Fax : 202-338-4958

Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Purpose

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised

Baptist Church

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INJUNCTION - Alvis P. Adair, Jr., Executor On Behalf of The Alvis Van-Ressealeas, Sr. Estate FOR VIOLATION OF FAMILY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS & IRREPARABLE INJURY

BY AUTHORITY OF FAMILY HEIRS OF ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR, SR. ESTATE

Date of Issuance: August 1, 2025

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known and publicly declared that the undersigned family and The Estate of Alvis Van-Ressealeas Adair, Sr. issue this formal and lawful INJUNCTION against the following individuals and their agents:

- Judge Maurice A. Ross, Presiding in Probate

-Zabrina W Dempson, Esq, Clerk of Superior Court

-Attorney Jonathan D. Leo, Esq, Counsel for the Estate of Alvis V. Adair, Sr.

-Brian Schwalb, Attorney General Washington, DC

-Robert A. Dixon, U.S Marshall for Superior Court

These parties are named for causing irreparable harm, injury, and trespass upon the private rights and property of lawful heirs and/or beneficiaries of the estate currently under probate in the jurisdiction of Washington, DC. in the matter of:

• ESTATE OF: Alvis Van-Ressealeas Adair, Sr.

• PROBATE CASE NO.: 2018 ADM 000645, 2018 WIL 000573

• COURT OF RECORD: Superior Court of The District of Columbia Probate Division ALLEGATIONS & BASIS FOR INJUNCTION:

1. Denial of Due Process: Rightful heirs and/or Trust claimants were not given proper notice, opportunity to be heard, or access to the proceedings.

2. Unlawful Administration: The estate is being executed without full disclosure or joinder of required parties with legal or equitable interests.

3. Constitutional Violations: The actions of Judge Maurice A. Ross and Attorney Jonathan D. Leo, Esq violate rights secured under the United States Constitution, including:

- The 14th Amendment (Due Process & Equal Protection), - Article I, Section 10 (Impairment of Contracts), - and protections under common law private trusts.

4. Injury to Family Estate & Trust: These acts constitute constructive fraud, fiduciary breach, and interference with inherited and trust-held property.

DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF:

• Immediate cessation of all probate actions until lawful intervention or joinder is granted.

• Public acknowledgment of the family and/or trust’s interest in the estate.

• Judicial review of the probate proceedings for fraud, concealment, and breach of constitutional rights.

• Legal redress for all injuries sustained under color of law.

NOTICE TO COURT, BAR, AND PUBLIC:

Let it be known that failure to rebut this public notice within thirty (30) days shall result in tacit agreement and estoppel by acquiescence. No State or Court shall pass any law impairing the obligations of private contracts, including Express Trusts and familial inheritance.

This serves as constructive notice to all court officers, government agents, legal counsel, and public observers.

ISSUED THIS DAY: Aug 1, 2025

BY: Alvis P. Adair, Jr., Executor On Behalf of The Alvis Van-Ressealeas, Sr. Estate

Mailing Address: 700 Quackenbos St. N.W Washington, DC. 20011 Contact Email or Phone: adairloves@gmail.com

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000695

Daniel Jeffers aka Daniel Curtis Jeffers Decedent

Lizamarie Mohammed, Esq. 300 New Jersey Ave., NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Lynda Kettel aka Lynda Catherine Kettel, whose address is 290 E. Melissa Lane, Shelton, WA 98584, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Daniel Jeffers aka Daniel Curtis Jeffers who died on November 25, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Lynda Catherine Kettel Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000218

Edmond Woods Decedent

Heather L. Sunderman, Esq. 7811 Montrose Road, Suite 400 Potomac, Maryland 20854 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Robert Woods, Maurice Woods and Kristin Woods, whose addresses are 3311 Chauncey Pl., #102, Mount Rainer, MD 20712; 5709 Lanier Ave, Suitland MD 20746 & 1223 46th St., SE, Washington DC 20019, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Edmond Woods who died on 2/17/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Robert Woods

Maurice Woods

Kristin Woods

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR. ESTATE An Irrevocable Foreign Estate Organization

Jurisdiction: Washington DC | Schedule B: Trust Records & Vital Estate Transition

DECLARATION OF TRANSITION OF ESTATE INTEREST

For: ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR.

Born: Nineteenth July 1940 | Transitioned: Third September 2017

Let it be known this day, the undersigned Trustee(s) of ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR. TRUST hereby acknowledge and solemnly declare the transition of estate interest of ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR., a Virginian National, born under the sign of Cancer on Nineteenth July 1940, in VIRGINIA, to the ancestral and eternal realm. Said transition took place on or about Third September 2017, within or near the Washington District of Columbia, and is recorded accordingly in the Trust’s Book of Records and Vital Records.

It is affirmed that ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR. has completed their appointed journey in the physical world. All rights, titles, claims, interests, and immunities — corporeal and incorporeal — held by the living estate now vest fully and perpetually in the ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR. ESTATE, pursuant to the terms of its irrevocable declaration. This announcement stands as public notice and lawful evidence of the transfer and is not subject to intervention or assumption by any Crown, corporate, or governmental jurisdiction, including the probate courts of Washington, DC, without express written consent of the Trust’s Executors or Trustees.

Public Notice:

This Estate retains exclusive jurisdiction over the decedent’s estate and interests. No external party or agency may administer, attach, convert, or probate any part thereof without express leave and license from the Trust.

Signed by: ALVIS PORO ADAIR, JR., EXECUTOR

Executed this day: First August 2025

Location: Washington DC

Signed by: LISA MARIE LEWIS, TRUSTEE

Executed this day: First August 2025

Filed and sealed under authority of the Declaration of THE ALVIS VAN-RESSEALEAS ADAIR SR. ESTATE

Established this 3rd of September, 2025

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000637

Betty Jane Thornton Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Jody Thornton Smith, whose address is 1835 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Betty Jane Thornton who died on 3/8/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Jody Thornton Smith Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001502

Brenda Lofton Haynie Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Anthony Haynie Jr., whose address is 3902 C Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Brenda Lofton Haynie who died on March 18, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Anthony Haynie Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000724

Lucy Nora Taylor Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Jonathan Gray, whose address is 1010 Canterbury Lane Laplata MD 20646, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lucy Nora Taylor who died on January 9, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Jonathan Gray Personal Representative

TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000753

Estate of Bruce Barth

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by DCA Capitol Hill SNF, LLC d/b/a Bridgepoint Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Capitol Hill c/o Danielle Sampson Parker 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.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 7/24/2025

Jonathan M. Harnois, Esq. 297 Willbrook Blvd. Pawleys Island, SC 29585 Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 FEP 000080

December 27, 2024

Date of Death

Michael B. Malone, Sr. Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Christine L. Malone whose address is PO Box 1170 Huntingtown, MD 20369 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Michael B. Malone, Sr., deceased, by the Register of Wills for the Orphan’s Court for Calvert County, State of Maryland, on February 4, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon John J. Behun 505 Tenth Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: July 24, 2025

Christine L. Malone Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000371

Christopher Fairfield Mathew Muller aka Christopher Muller Decedent

Julie A. Simantiras, Esq. The Geller Law Group 4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100, PMB 6084 Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Glee Nanette Murray, whose address is 137 12th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Christopher Fairfield Mathew Muller aka Christopher Muller who died on 12/6/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Glee Nanette Murray Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000532

Mildred J. Lockridge Decedent

Stephanie L. Royal, Esq. The Royal Legal Group, PLLC 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Cheryl M. Whisonant, whose address is 8615 Monmouth Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mildred J. Lockridge who died on July 22, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Cheryl M. Whisonant Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 371

Doris Handy Fleming aka Doris Handy Decedent

Shari Kleiner, Esq. 5614 Connecticut Avenue NW, 107 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Taylor Fleming, whose address is 4601 SW Althena Dr. Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Doris Handy Fleming aka Doris Handy who died on October 18, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Taylor Fleming Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000707

Novella Bourn Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Evelyn Patricia Bourn, whose address is 5304 Clay Terrace NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Novella Bourn who died on March 14, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Novella Bourn Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 FEP 75

12/15/2003

Date of Death

Janyce Cecelia Prince Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Janet L. Collins whose address is 2802 John A. Thompson Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Janyce Cecelia Prince, deceased, by the State of Maryland Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 1/22/2004.

Service of process may be made upon Nicole A. Banks 1451 Morris Road, SE, Washington, DC 20020 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property:

512 Ridge Road, SE Unit #208 Washington, DC 20019. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 7/24/2025

Janet L. Collins Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000692

Pauline E. Green Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Seritta Bathanazas, whose address is 1912 ½ Naylor Road, SE Washington DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Pauline E. Green who died on November 26, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/24/2026. 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 1/24/2026, 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: 7/24/2025

Seritta Bathanazas Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 FEP 000079

Date of Death

2/22/2025

Rufus Carter Seabron

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Sadie Ashby whose address is 5707 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Rufus Carter Seabron, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Anne Arundel County, State of Maryland on, March 11, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 440, Washington DC 20015 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication:

7/24/2025

Sadie Ashby Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000036

Lee Bridges aka Lee N. Bridges, Jr. Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq.

1455 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Julius P. Terrell, whose address is 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed

Personal Representative of the estate of Lee Bridges aka Lee N. Bridges, Jr. who died on 8/14/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/31/2026. 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 1/31/2026, 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: 7/31/2025

Julius P. Terrell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000747

Balfour Jones

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

John Jones, whose address is 908 Hamilton Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Balfour Jones who died on April 11, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/31/2026. 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 1/31/2026, 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: 7/31/2025

John Jones

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 773

Abdulah Muhammad Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Hadiyah Muhammad, whose address is 1876 Bryant Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Abdulah Muhammad who died on April 10, 2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/7/2026. 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 2/7/2026, 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: 8/7/2025

Hadiyah Muhammad Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000736

Alice Evelin Gregory Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Felicia Ann Gregory, whose address is 1439 Spring Rd., NW, #304, Washington, DC 20010, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Alice Evelin Gregory who died on 3/2/2014 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/31/2026. 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 1/31/2026, 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: 7/31/2025

Felicia Ann Gregory Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 000446

Anthony C. Stone, Sr. Decedent

Darrel S. Parker, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #440 Washington, DC 20015-2052 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Darrel S. Parker, whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW # 440, Washington, DC 20015-2052, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anthony C. Stone, Sr. who died on May 27, 2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/7/2026. 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 2/7/2026, 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: 8/7/2025

Darrel S. Parker Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000646

Frances F. Wharton aka Frances Felten Wharton Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Shiree Slade, whose address is 8200 Arundel Drive, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Frances F. Wharton aka Frances Felten Wharton who died on September 8, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/31/2026. 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 1/31/2026, 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: 7/31/2025

Shiree Slade

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2019 ADM 693

Arthur William Stanley Jr. Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Arthur William Stanley Jr. who died on June 5, 2019 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/7/2026. 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 2/7/2026, 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: 8/7/2025

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 0000208

Glenn E. Crenshaw

Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Julius P. Terrell, whose address is 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Glenn E. Crenshaw who died on 5/12/2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/31/2026. 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 1/31/2026, 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: 7/31/2025

Julius P. Terrell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 FEP 000090

October 28, 2024

Date of Death

Henry Christopher Lamb Hermans Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Jennifer Lamb Egner whose address is Plot 17578 Mogodiri Drive, Gaborone, Botswana was appointed personal representative of the estate of Henry Christopher Lamb Hermans, deceased, by the High Court for State of Republic of Botswana, on May 26, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon Zora Hermans 2701 Connecticut Ave., Apt. 408, Washington, DC 20008 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: August 7, 2025

Jennifer Lamb Egner

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2019 ADM 001158

LaNelle L. Daughtry aka LaNelle Leevette Daughtry Decedent

Anna Nathanson Norris Law Group 600 14th Street NW, Fifth Floor Washington, DC 20005

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Kaamalah Lucas, whose address is 1637 Hauiki Street, Honolulu, HI 96819, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LaNelle L. Daughtry aka LaNelle Leevette Daughtry who died on 9/15/2018 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/7/2026. 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 2/7/2026, 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: 8/7/2025

Kaamalah Lucas Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000829

Estate of Pearlena Rogers

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Alberta Lindsay 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 July 23, 1997 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Date of first publication: 8/7/2025

Alberta Lindsay 1331 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000780

Margaret LaVerne Paige Decedent

Maria K. Day-Marshall 6329 Joslyn Place Cheverly, Maryland 20785 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

David R. Paige, whose address is 6331 Joslyn Place, Cheverly, Maryland 20785, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Margaret LaVerne Paige who died on February 3, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/7/2026. 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 2/7/2026, 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: 8/7/2025

David R. Paige Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000766

Barbara Harris Decedent

Vernon M. Williams whose address is 125 Oglethorpe Street NE, Washington DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Harris who died on June 16, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/7/2026. 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 2/7/2026, 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: 8/7/2025

Vernon M. Williams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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people, especially those on the margins,” Armand, of Armand Law PLLC in Northwest, told The Informer. “Kids on the margins are the ones most likely to be victimized because perpetrators know that no one is going to believe these kids or worse, no one is going to care about these kids.”

In early July, a jury found Powell, 63, guilty on 16 counts of firstand second-degree sexual assault of a minor, and first- and second-degree sexual assault of a ward. He faces up to 15 years of imprisonment.

According to court documents, Powell repeatedly sexually assaulted the former YSC pre-trial resident, identified as K.A., between December 2021 and February 2022. Within that time period, he kissed, groped and raped her on several occasions, while the D.C. government and DYRS ignored warning signs, the document said.

The civil rights action also identifies another DYRS employee by the name of YDR Young, who repeatedly came to YSC intoxicated, and remained employed at the facility, even as she showed K.A. and other residents photos of her breasts and spoke to them about her sex life.

Armand said such situations establish a pattern of abuse toward justice-involved youth. At the time of the public gathering in front of OAG headquarters, the number of former YSC residents that came forward with stories of abuse was approaching a dozen.

“They are most easily targeted by people who want to take advantage of children and that’s why they need our support the most,” Armand said. “That’s why they need our attention today and they need litigation and they need community support to demand changes and attention to what they’re going through in this community.”

In a statement, Abed didn’t speak to the civil rights action, only Powell’s recent conviction.

“DYRS takes the safety of every youth in our care seriously and holds all employees accountable to the highest standards of conduct,” Abed’s statement read. “We maintain full confidence in the judicial process and express our appreciation for the diligent and professional efforts of our law enforcement partners. We support the jury’s decision and remain com-

mitted to accountability, transparency, and the well-being of young people entrusted to our care.”

A Deep Dive Into a Longstanding Issue

Based on Mt. Olivet Street in Northeast, YSC is a DYRS-operated facility that’s charged with the care and supervision of young people ordered by the D.C. Superior Court Family Court Division to be detained. Youth who occupy the 88-bed facility include: Title 16 youth who are adjudicated as adult offenders; those awaiting court proceedings; those who’ve been adjudicated and pending court action, and those who’ve already been committed to DYRS.

During the fall of 2023, reports surfaced of fights, staffing shortages, overcrowding and substandard living conditions at the facility. These reports, which took place amid Bowser’s search for a new DYRS director, prompted visits from D.C. council members and subsequent discussions about how to increase oversight.

Earlier this year, after preventing the closure of the Office of Independent Juvenile Justice Facilities Oversight months prior, the council, with D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) at the forefront, advanced legislation moving that office to the Office of the D.C. Auditor. However, the council failed to approve a version of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act funding a portion of the ROAD Act that enables an audit of DYRS. White, of EPW Law PLLC, ex-

clined to comment.

As mentioned in the civil suit, YSC surveillance footage from December 2021 to February 2022 shows Powell as the only DYRS staff member on the girl’s unit on numerous occasions. Per the lawsuit, no one at DYRS watched the video footage documenting Powell’s inappropriate contact with K.A., which started with him bringing her outside food and beverages.

From that point, according to the lawsuit, Powell later grabbed K.A.’s buttocks as she’s decorating a door for Christmas. He also entered her cell, groped her, and forced her to touch his private parts. Camera footage recorded instances when Powell, after extended periods of time inside K.A.’s cell, left the cell while adjusting his mask.

plained that this inaction speaks to a lack of urgency on the part of the council— and even Bowser.

“They’ve sent the community a message, that… DYRS doesn’t need oversight,” White told The Informer.

White and Armand argue K.A.’s sexual assault, and that of other youth, fall at the feet of D.C. officials.

“I think Councilmember Brooke Pinto mentioned that DYRS has ample oversight. Mayor Bowser has said that DYRS is a fantastic agency,” White said. “And so I think that our government is gaslighting us at this point into believing that the things that are not happening in this facility, or the things that are happening in this facility are not real, and that the agency that is tasked with protecting our children are doing so, and they are not.”

Parker, who has committee oversight of DYRS, told The Informer that he’s preparing to introduce a “policy package” this fall to address the situation at the agency.

“This matter is deeply concerning, and my team and I have been following up in our ongoing oversight of DYRS,” Parker said in a statement. “In the several months since gaining oversight of the agency, I’ve been working to understand the challenges DYRS is facing and what we can do to ensure young people are safe and on the path to success.”

The Informer unsuccessfully attempted to gather comment from Pinto’s office, while OAG and the Executive Office of the Mayor de-

ple, giving them resources, paying them what they should be paid, having adequate staff, training, supervising.”

‘Who’s Going to Protect the Youth from the State?’

The National Prison Rape Elimination Act Juvenile Standards require that U.S.-based juvenile facilities develop, implement and document a staffing plan that paves the way for adequate staffing and video monitoring that protects residents against sexual abuse.

He also stood outside of K.A.’s cell, gesturing to her to take off her clothes and touch her private parts.

Attorneys say that Powell has assaulted other YSC youth— including in 2018, when he had sex with a 17-year-old resident by the name of A.B. in exchange for money. According to the lawsuit, Powell showed two YSC staff members footage of his sexual abuse of A.B.

YSC never investigated that incident, the lawsuit says, despite A.B. identifying her abuser as a “black shirt” which Powell served as at the time. Other instances, according to the lawsuit, include a sexual assault of another youth, and sexual intercourse with a child that resulted in his paying for an abortion.

“Kelvin Powell was left alone with our client on multiple different occasions and he frequently came onto the girls’ unit and was the only guard there,” White said. “We lay out in the lawsuit that it’s our understanding that Mr. Powell was known for having inappropriate contact with the children, that there were staff members that knew and had seen footage of him interacting with other children both inside and outside of the facility.”

Given the evidence that’s been gathered, White said that the solution lies in a total revamp of DYRS.

“I don’t think that this is switching out one or two guards,” White said. “I think that this is cleaning house, starting with new leadership. I think that’s starting with new leadership, hiring new peo-

Another stipulation mandates that juvenile facilities maintain staffing ratios of, at minimum, one guard to eight residents during resident waking hours and one guard to 16 residents during resident sleeping hours, except under extreme circumstances that are documented. Those who are charged with investigating sexual incidents are also required to receive training, while staff are required to immediately report any “knowledge, suspicion or information” about sexual abuse or sexual harassment that occurs.

At a time when District officials have the emergency juvenile curfew law as a tool in curbing youth delinquency, some people, like Frankie Seabron, said it’s incumbent upon leaders to ensure that young people under their supervision are safe.

“When a youth gets picked up via curfew, they’re going to the Youth Services Center, the same center where these abuses are happening,” said Seabron. “Where children are having their jaws broken, where people are being sexually abused.”

Seabron, program manager at Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, a Black-led abolitionist community defense hub, counted among those who stood in solidarity with Armand, White, and the growing number of youth joining the civil rights action.

They said that District youth deserve understanding, mentorship, and safety— and not what they described as carceral responses to structural issues.

“The general sentiment or what I’ve seen in the city is…who is going to protect the city from the youth?” Seabron told The Informer. “My question is: who is going to protect the youth from the state, because they are actually not being kept safe.”

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5Holding the white sign, attorney Elizabeth Paige White is joining attorney Bernadette Armand in filing a lawsuit against District officials, agencies and former juvenile correction officer Kelvin Powell for his sexual abuse of youth under District custody. They say the D.C. government was complicit and should be held accountable. (Sam P.K. Collins/The Washington Informer)

EDELMAN from Page 30

a spark and be an example of the best of what education can be. CDF Freedom Schools sites provide summer and after-school enrichment through a research-based and multicultural program model that supports students, or “scholars,” in grades K-12 and their families.

They focus on high-quality academic and character-building enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational servant leadership development, and nutrition, health, and mental health. They incorporate the totality of CDF’s mission by fostering en -

OWOLEWA/IRAHETA from Page 30

action in handling our climate crisis. We owe our children, wildlife and the next generation’s leaders a healthy planet to live in. We owe

vironments that support young people to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves and in their families, schools, communities, country, and world with hope, education, and action.

Scholars enrolled at CDF Freedom Schools sites receive culturally relevant pedagogy and are immersed in reading excellent books to deepen their understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial, multicultural democratic society — the books the scholars above mentioned in their letter that feature characters who look and talk like them and who face some of the same real-life challenges.

East of the River communities an opportunity to live by clean water and unlittered grounds. Our future deserves better current decisions. It’s time to make sure we no longer rob our planet to build

MARSHALL from Page 30 federal budget. Their argument suggests that these additional expenditures, which are intended to address unpredictable emergencies, should not contribute to the national debt. While Democrats and some Republicans have previously pushed for so-called “emergency” expenditures that are not subject to budgetary trade-offs, key Republicans such as former Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma have made it a priority to require “offsets” for disaster relief funding.

of 28 disasters in 2023. These disasters caused at least 568 direct or indirect fatalities. This current trend indicates that disasters are not only intensifying, but it also means there will be a greater reliance on FEMA in the future to save lives, protect property and assist communities with recovery efforts. As the leading agency for disaster response, an underfunded FEMA will only compound the human suffering toll resulting from unpredictable weather and climate disasters.

It is the magnitude of the human toll in emergency situations that should never be forgotten. The human toll must be acknowledged by true public servants with sensitivity, rather than being downplayed or ignored by self-serving, cold-hearted lawmakers. It means caring about the significant impact these disasters have on people’s lives, both in terms of loss of life and suffering. This acknowledgment should always be consistent and transcend politics by choosing the welfare of everyday citizens over the greed of billionaires.

In past years, while FEMA’s disaster fund has been depleted by major hurricanes and wildfires, some congressional Republicans have advocated that any increase in FEMA funding be paired with spending cuts elsewhere in the

The program helps foster a love for reading that counters summer learning loss, and for many scholars, this full experience becomes a transformational foundation with impacts that last far beyond the summer — as CDF puts it, nurturing lifelong learners and advocates for progress.

More than 12,000 scholars enrolled in CDF Freedom Schools programs this summer have learned, and learned to share with confidence, a lesson every child and young person should know: they all deserve the best of what education can be.

Adults must step up who share their conviction and their determination not to settle for less.

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polluting stadiums. Our children’s world can no longer be for sale. We can both preserve our planet and economy by investing in today and tomorrow.

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frustrated that the Trump administration denied the state’s $15.8 million FEMA request to aid communities hit by devastating floodwaters seeping through the small town of about 1,800 residents. Federal funds from FEMA would have helped to pay for repairs to critical infrastructure.

This insistence on offsets has at times resulted in delays or failures of disaster aid bills when offsets were not found or agreed upon.

The Republicans are correct that fiscal responsibility requires us not to increase the national debt. Therefore, the “offsets” should not be achieved by cutting programs in the budget, but rather by denying tax cuts to billionaires.

We are already seeing the frustration on the state and local levels as the shift in governmental responsibility becomes more evident. Since the early part of this year, the Trump administration has increased denials of FEMA aid requests, affecting both Democratic and Republican regions. Arkansas, Kentucky and rural Maryland experienced denials despite severe disasters. The residents of Westernport, Maryland, who overwhelmingly voted for Trump, are

The decision came as a shock to local leaders in Western Maryland, considering the county and state still met the threshold to qualify for assistance. “We met the criteria,” Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said. “So, we’re confused, and we don’t understand why we were not given the FEMA assistance.”

Many people feel that the FEMA denial was politically motivated because Maryland is a Democratic-run state. Maryland’s application was denied while neighboring West Virginia, which encountered the same degree of damage, had its application approved. “Even though Maryland is a Democratic state, up here they’re not. They voted red. And I think that’s where the frustration for the residents is,” Hamilton said. “Now they feel like the president has turned his back on them.” Republican leaders on the local level must not be confused. This is exactly what they voted for: a domestic policy that places local communities in “Trump Country” at risk. WI

MALVEAUX from Page 31 until 2027 or later. This administration would rather light a match to useful birth control supplies, incinerating the hopes and dreams of women internationally. This administration embraces and, instead, celebrates fraud, waste and abuse when it fits their ideological purposes. A bipartisan group of legislators, including Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski (R) and New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen (D), opposed the wasteful destruction, but it happened anyway! More fraud, waste and abuse from an administration that promised to eliminate it.

The attacks on science and research are also examples of fraud, waste and abuse. One of the most egregious cas-

LEON from Page 31

trying to get aid in the month of June alone.

After years of using precise calculations to limit Palestinians’ daily caloric intake, denying access to potable water, polluting accessible water with sewage and within the last week preventing Palestinian fishermen access to the Mediterranean Sea, the Zionist Israeli government claims it will allow a limited amount of food aid into limited areas.

As convoys of trucks sit at the border with Egypt awaiting Israeli government clearance to deliver lifesaving aid, Netanyahu decides to recklessly “airdrop” small amounts of supplies into limited spaces in the suffering region. This is analogous to trying to extinguish the recent California wildfires with an eyedropper and calling it “action.”

The rationalization of “justification” for this ethnic cleansing is codified in Basic Law: Israel — The Nation-State of the Jewish People (the Nation-State Law). According to Honaida Ghanim in “Israel’s Nation-State Law: Hierarchized Citizenship and Jewish Supremacy,” “The exclusivity of rights in the ‘Land/State of Israel’ is the central organizing principle of the Nation-State Law. Jews are deemed the sole people deserving national and collective rights.

“Furthermore, the law applies not only to the Jewish citizens of Israel but also to Jews from all parts of the world — regardless of the extent of their relationship, affiliation, or even desire

BAXTER from Page 31

#GoCaps. Now we are poised to do something similar for the Commanders. As much as I want the Burgundy and Gold back where they belong, we cannot continue giving away public dollars without enforceable, long-term returns for the people of D.C.

es is that of Dr. Uri Manor, who won a grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. His research looked at ways the hearing impaired — about 3% of the population — could be better included in the workplace.

Dr. Manor, himself hearing-impaired, was also conducting experiments on ways to restore hearing. He had a five-year grant and spent about $1.5 million, but his grant was abruptly canceled because of the anti-DEI stance this administration has taken. A judge has ruled that the cancellation of the grant is illegal, and the matter is now bogged down with legalities. Some of Manor’s team have been laid off, and his research

to become part of this entity.” This is at the expense of all other non-Jewish indigenous inhabitants (Palestinians) in the area. This is also why I quoted the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. The parallels of apartheid between South Africa and the occupied territories are undeniable.

The Washington Post is now reporting, “It was not immediately clear how much more aid would enter Gaza, but U.N. officials said recently that Israel appeared willing to loosen some policies at a critical juncture when the territory is nearing a humanitarian tipping point.” By allowing “relief” into the region, Israel is not trying to solve the hunger problem, it is trying to address a political problem. The optics of starvation have become politically inconvenient for Netanyahu and his henchmen.

While Palestinians are being starved to death, American politicians are engaged in hypocrisy and equivocation.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted against fellow Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and supported the bill to send more military aid to Israel. According to Al Jazeera, another Democrat, “Rep. Grace Meng said in a statement that ‘as a mother,’ her heart breaks to see children in Gaza starve, but … it’s important to recognize that Israel has facilitated the entry of over 1.8 million tons and over 96,000 trucks into Gaza, while Hamas continues to hold hostages, extort the aid system, and refuse cease-fire deals to stay in power and prolong the war …”

The deal on the table is better than what was originally proposed, thanks to the mayor and D.C. Council pushing for changes. The city will now retain some stadium-generated revenue, the Commanders will cover any overages, and there’s a $50 million community benefits agreement

has been detailed. Millions of dollars into important research, Manor’s work and his years of effort are now up in the air. Fraud, waste and abuse, anyone?

There are hundreds of other cases of research suspended in the name of “efficiency.” For the researchers impacted, and for the millions of us whose quality of life could be enhanced, this is nothing more than fraud, waste and abuse.

Food and birth control products incinerated. Valuable research halted. The very administration that says they want to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse is causing it, lighting a fire to taxpayer dollars, golfing through crises, as myopic as Nero, fiddling while Rome burned.

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What Ocasio-Cortez and Meng, as well as other Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Gregory Meeks, fail to recognize is that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip have been under illegal Israeli occupation since 1967. This is according to international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. International law recognizes the right of occupied peoples to resist foreign occupation and to pursue self-determination. Even though some U.S. Democrats are calling for aid to urgently be provided to Palestinians in Gaza, very few of them can find the backbone to condemn Israel for its deadly blockade and war crimes.

As we examine the difference between starving and being starved, it’s about causation, decisions and solutions. If starvation is caused by “acts of God,” other nations can assist in ameliorating the circumstance; they won’t solve the problem, but their support will minimize the number of people who are starving. In occupied Palestine, people being starved to death is the result of a decision to weaponize food, withholding food and causing people to die.

You can’t negotiate with drought, you can’t change or control the weather, you can’t negotiate with locusts. You can change a conscious decision; you can stop starvation by allowing people to be fed. Failing to do so is collective punishment. This is a war crime. This is ethnic cleansing! This is genocide! WI

being proposed. But a CBA is only as good as its enforcement — and history of development of all types in this city shows us that vague commitments rarely translate into meaningful impact.

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