The Washington Informer - December 21, 2023 by The Washington Informer

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Residents, Reunited Families Celebrate the Holidays at HOPE Foundation Holiday Gathering

Vol 59 No 10... December 21 - 27, 2023

Happy Holidays from The Washington Informer Family

Season of Giving Initiative Connects Families with Incarcerated Parents By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer Iris Carpenter came home from D.C. Jail’s Central Treatment Facility (CTF) on Dec. 7, just in time for the holiday season. During her nearly four months of incarceration, Carpenter missed Halloween and Thanksgiving, which she said took a toll on her and her eight children. She said making it out of D.C. Jail with her mind intact meant

taking classes, including HOPE Foundation’s Family First Parenting Program. On Saturday, HOPE Foundation organized a holiday gathering at Busboys & Poets Anacostia where Carpenter and her children, along with several other families, enjoyed each other's company over a hot meal. Other families made holiday cards for their incarcerated loved ones, many

HOPE Page 31

5 The Hope Foundation hosted its Annual Season of Giving Initiative at Busboys and Poets in Southeast on Dec.16. Children enjoyed a special day filled with food, music, games, and gifts. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

In Special Election, Shameka Hayes Elected as D.C. Jail Advisory

Family Demands Answers from DPR as Lifeguard Lies in Hospital

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Questions around Staffing and Policy at Aquatic Centers By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Jefferson, a fifth-generation Washingtonian and alumna of School Without Walls in Northwest, was in her third year of employment as a D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) lifeguard. Since starting, she worked at Roosevelt Aquatic Center, connected to Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School. She also had stints at the Wilson Aquatic Center, Takoma 5After suffering a medical emergency and falling into Aquatic Center, Jelleff Pool, and Hearst Pool. Since the in- the pool at the Roosevelt Aquatic Center, Jazmin Jefcident, DPR leadership visited the Jefferson family at the ferson is hospitalized, in critical condition, with what family members describe as substantial brain damage.

LIFEGUARD Page 31 Her family seeks answers. (Courtesy Photo)

Since Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Leonard Bishop’s transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) in June, life has gone on for many of the residents at D.C. Jail who continue to lament what they describe as conditions unfit for any human being. As Shameka Hayes told The Informer, all the women in her unit share two functioning showers and often go on days without an extra set of clean jumpsuits while on their menstrual cycle. Hayes, a Georgetown University prison scholar, also told The Informer that she watched a classmate wait two months to receive cancer treatment while it reached the terminal stage. Such conditions compelled Hayes, a resident of D.C. Jail’s Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), to run for the vacant advisory neighborhood commission seat. On Thursday, she defeated 10 other candidates to become the new commissioner of single-mem-

ELECTION Page 38

Celebrating 59 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

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CONTENTS

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COMPILED BY STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; RA-JAH KELLY, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER; BRENDA C. SILER, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Secret Service Hold Black Man at Gunpoint after Colliding with Presidential Motorcade President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden emerged unscathed on Sunday night after a collision involving a car and a SUV in the presidential motorcade. According to the Reuters news service, which had eyewitnesses on the scene, the incident occurred shortly after the Bidens departed from the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign headquarters in downtown Wilmington at 8:07 p.m. The couple had just finished a meal with members of the re-election team when the collision occurred, as detailed in the White House press pool report. As President Biden responded to a reporter’s ques-

tion, a silver sedan with Delaware license plates collided with a motorcade SUV at an intersection near the campaign headquarters. Television footage captured the moment when Secret Service agents swiftly escorted the president to his vehicle after the impact. The silver sedan displayed visible damage to its bumper. Security officers quickly surrounded the car and drew their weapons on the unidentified African American male driver, who raised his hands in compliance. The Bidens returned safely to their home in Wilmington following the incident. WI

The Informer’s Sam P.K. Collins Celebrated in Washington City Paper

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $55 per year, two years $70. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Austin Cooper, Our House Editor Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation REPORTERS Kayla Benjamin, (Environmental Justice Reporter) Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson

4 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

Sam P.K. Collins, a longtime Washington Informer staff writer, was featured in The Washington City Paper’s (WCP) 11th annual “People Issue.” According to WCP this year’s list was “a celebration of the folks working to make D.C. a better place.” In addition to Collins, those featured included Keyonna Jones, executive director of the Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center; Lisa Burton, leader of the D.C. chapter of Moms of Black Boys United (MOBB United); Karen Ann Daniels, The Folger Theatre artistic director and director of programming; and Matt Green, co-founder and lead captain at District Running Collective. Over his 12 years with The Informer, Collins has served in various capacities including as editor of the Washington Informer Bridge and most notably as a staff writer covering education and politics in the nation’s capital. “I'm grateful and humbled by The Washington City Paper's acknowledgment of my work. It's a testament to The Washington Informer's power as a platform of

choice for Black Washingtonians,” said Collins. “It's a full circle moment for me, a D.C. native of Grebo and Bassa descent, who always wanted to carve out a niche in the journalism world and tell our people's unique stories. I wouldn't have been able to fulfill that 5 Sam P.K. Collins (Courtesy call without a few bumps Photo) along the way, my Pan-African consciousness, and a consistent working relationship with The Washington Informer,” he said. “That being said, I want to recognize Denise Rolark Barnes for her leadership and confidence in my abilities. I also want to thank the late [former Washington Informer Editor] Denise W. Barnes for helping me strengthen my mastery of news writing and reporting. I know she's smiling on me from above.” WI

Urban Jazz Harmonicists Frédéric Yonnet Blends With All Music With his unique musical approach, Frédéric Yonnet is getting recognition for his multigenre sounds on his harmonica. Recently, he was one of the musicians featured in D-Nice's Club Quarantine, which was recently held 5 Frédéric Yonnet (Courtesy at the Kennedy Center. Photo) Yonnet, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area, shows his versatility by working with producers like David Foster and Robert Glasper. He has also performed with A Tribe Called Quest, John Mayer, Erykah Badu, John Legend, and fellow harmonicist Stevie Wonder.

In an interview with Stacy Brown, national reporter for the National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Washington Informer, Yonnet said he originally did not fall in love with the harmonica, but the instrument fell in love with him. “I had asthma as a child. From carrying an inhaler to playing the harmonica, it was an easy choice,” said Yonnet to Brown. “The more I played with other musicians, with blues, country, R&B, gospel, and other music genres merging. I was able to create my own style.” Yonnet can be heard on two Martin Scorsese film scores, “The Irishman” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The score, composed for the latter, was recently nominated for a 2024 Golden Globe. The late Robbie Robertson was the composer/music director for the score. With his passing, Robertson left Yonnet another layer that is as an important contributor to film scores. WI

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Virginia Arena Announcement Shakes Up the D.C. Metropolitan Region

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Advocates, D.C. Residents Question Bowser, Council Budget Priorities By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer As the dust settles around Ted Leonsis’ explosive announcement about the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards’ likely move to Potomac Yard, local advocates ponder what, if anything, could’ve prevented this economic conundrum. Niciah Petrovic Mujahid, executive director of the Fair Budget Coalition, said the writing was on the wall this summer when elected officials and constituents warned D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) against focusing on developing the dormant RFK campus rather than Capital One Arena. Shortly before Leonsis and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) revealed their plans for a $2 billion state-of-the-art stadium in Alexandria, Virginia, Bowser and the D.C. Council unanimously introduced legislation that infuses half-a-billion dollars into the Capitals and Wizards’ current home. While Mujahid understands the logic behind that move, she told The Informer that the situation in its totality reveals an ongoing problem within the Bowser administration. “There’s a lack of political will to prioritize folks’ needs,” she said. “The council and mayor are struggling to allocate resources [to address] domestic violence and harm reduction. We don’t have groceries in Wards 7 and 8.”

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

If passed, the legislation, titled the Downtown Arena Modernization and Downtown Revitalization Act of 2023, will facilitate upgrades to Capital One Arena, based in Gallery Place-Chinatown. Upon receiving the authority to extend a lease agreement, the District would finance $500 million toward a three-year, $800

million renovation project slated to start in 2024. On Dec. 13, Bowser mentioned a refinancing deal that gives D.C. more latitude to utilize funds from its capital improvement budget. This happened amid attempts by D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At large) and others to stop Bowser’s use of nearly $40 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for other budgetary matters. As it relates to D.C.’s budget, public transportation patrons are also railing against a Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) proposal that reduces service, closes nearly a dozen stations, and triggers layoffs. Days before WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke released that proposal, the D.C. Tax Revision Commission drafted “revenue neutral” recommendations that didn’t include an increase of tax revenue, either on businesses, homeowners, or other entities. Civil rights attorney Ari Theresa tied the District’s current economic woes to what he described as the prioritization of corporations over the collective well-being of District families. He expressed his desire for a revitalized Capital One Arena that includes free, public spaces for all D.C. residents and visitors. In 2018, Theresa, a Southeast resident and attorney with Stoop Law DC, filed a class-action lawsuit against the D.C. government for its alleged enactment of policies he said decimated the affordable housing stock for District families. A District judge dismissed that case years later, citing no constitutional violations of property rights and renters rights. Theresa told The Informer that, since then, prominent areas of commerce, like the D.C. Wharf in Southwest, and City Center in Northwest, have further marginalized working-class Washingtonians, especially young people.

“The D.C. Council should really explore some new ways of doing things,” Theresa said. “Some of the places [across the city] are awash in government money. The parking costs too much and the businesses have left. A lot of the venues are expensive. The housing is expensive. Very high-end development that’s not inclusive.” Read more on washingtoninformer.com. WI @SamPKCollins

Local advocates are wondering how Ted Leonis’ decision about the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards’ likely move to Potomac Yard could have been avoided. (Courtesy Photo)

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black facts

DEC. 21 - 27, 2023 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

1919 – Inventor Alice H. Parker patents the gas heating furnace. 1935 – R&B singer Esther Phillips is born in Galveston, Texas.

DEC. 24

1832 – The Georgia Infirmary, the first hospital established for Blacks in America, is chartered in Savannah. 1898 – Irwin C. Molllison, the first Black to receive a federal judgeship in the U.S., is born in Vicksburg, Miss. 1951 – North African country Libya declares its independence as the United Kingdom of Libya.

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1911 – Negro league baseball legend Josh Gibson is born in Buena Vista, Georgia. 1948 – Acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson is born in Washington, D.C. 1959 – Track legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner, considered the fastest woman of all time, is born in Los Angeles. 1976 – Patricia Roberts Harris is announced by President Jimmy Carter as his appointment for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming the first Black woman to hold a Cabinet position.

DEC. 26

1883 – Arthur Wergs Mitchell, the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democrat, is born near Lafayette, Alabama. 1905 – African American art history pioneer and longtime Howard University educator James Amos Porter, whose "Modern Negro Art" in 1943 was the first comprehensive study in the United States of African American art, is born in Baltimore. 1960 – Famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is born in New York City.

1894 – Harlem Renaissance-era poet and novelist Jean Toomer, author of "Cane," is born in Washington, D.C. 1908 – Boxer Jack Johnson defeats Tommy Burns to become the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. 1915 – Una Mae Carlisle, a jazz singer, pianist and songwriter, is born in Zanesville, Ohio. 1924 – Harmonica player DeFord Bailey becomes the first Black musician to perform on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. 1966 – Black professor Maulana Karenga creates Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African heritage in African American culture. 1999 – Singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield dies from complications of Type 2 diabetes in Roswell, Georgia, at 57.

DEC. 23

DEC. 27

DEC. 22

1867 – African American entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist Madam C.J. Walker, considered the first Black woman millionaire in America, is born in Delta, Louisiana.

6 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

1760 – Poet Jupiter Hammon becomes the first published Black writer with his work, "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries." 1863 – Robert Blake, a Union sailor during the American Civil War, helps fend off an attack upon a naval gunboat by Confederate forces, actions which resulted in him being the first African American to be presented with the Medal of Honor. 1870 – Henry McKee Minton, an African American doctor who was one of the founders of Sigma Pi Phi and superintendent of the Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia for 24 years, is born in Columbia, South Carolina. 1907 – Famed entertainer Cab Calloway is born in Rochester, New York. 1951 – Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette Vyda Simms Moore, both educators, are killed in a bombing of their home in Mims, Florida, by suspected Ku Klux Klan members. The two are the first NAACP members to be murdered for civil rights activism.

1892 – The first Black intercollegiate football game is played between Livingstone College and Biddle College. WI

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By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Burlington Stores, a national discount retailer, opened its first store in the District on Dec. 15, replacing a shuttered Bed Bath & Beyond at the DCUSA Mall in the Columbia Heights neighborhood Northwest, D.C.. “Our goal is to continue to offer communities low prices on brand name merchandise for the entire family and home,” said Michael O’Sullivan, CEO, Burlington Stores. “We’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in Washington, D.C. We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products.” Burlington Stores is headquartered in Burlington Township, New Jersey. The company operates more than 900 stores in 46 states and Puerto Rico. Located in Ward 1, DC USA is an 890,000 square-foot multilevel enclosed urban shopping center anchored by big box stores such as Target, Best Buy, and Marshalls, and even has a Washington Sports Club.

OPENING DAY: ‘AN OPPORTUNITY IN D.C.’

After the ribbon-cutting that took place in the early morning of

5 Nina Albert, interim D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Danny Ramos, Burlington DCUSA store manager, Sobia Saghir, director of real estate for Burlington, Derek Ford, president of the Washington, D.C. Economic Partnership and Jim Tatum, chief development officer for GRID Properties, pose at the new Burlington store in the DCUSA Mall in Northwest. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Dec. 15, shoppers walked briskly into the store to shop. Andrew Mcculla, the district manager for the Columbia Heights store, beamed as he watched shoppers walk through the aisle, look at products and merchandise and waited their turn at the checkout stands. “We are so excited to be here in the District,” said Mcculla, 59. “The value and products we offer the customers will be good. We are offering philanthropic and employment opportunities for the residents in this area.” Mccula noted that about 65 people are employed at the Columbia Heights store. D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert came to the ribbon cutting and store opening on behalf of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. She said Burlington setting up a store in the District “is a great thing” and a boon to the neighborhood. “DC USA has been the retail center of this neighborhood,” said Albert. “I am so happy when Bed Bath & Beyond closed, Burlington stepped in. Burlington saw an op-

portunity in D.C.” Derek Ford serves as the president of the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, a nonprofit, public-private partnership that centers on developing the District as a commercial hub. Ford said the Burlington Columbia Heights store plays an important role in the center’s development. “It fills a hole in the community,” said Ford, 51. “It opens retail in the city. The opening of this store sends a message that retail is welcome in all neighborhoods in this city.” Ford said the Columbia Heights Burlington will add jobs, provide a tax base and offer residents another place to spend their money. “Our residents won’t have to go to Maryland or Virginia to get their clothes and other items,” he said. “They can work here and spend their money here.” Ford said he wants the Columbia Heights Burlington location to succeed so that the company may consider setting up other stores in the city, including in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River. WI @JamesWrightJr10

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Maudine Cooper Remembered as One of the District’s ‘Brightest Lights’

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By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer Generations of local leaders filled Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, D.C. on Friday, Dec. 15, to pay their final respects to a woman who came from the segregated South and made a powerful difference for her people in the wake of the Civil Rights movement. Maudine Cooper served as the president and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) for more than two decades. Before, during and after her journey with GWUL, Cooper was a lawyer, public servant, mentor, family woman and trusted friend to many. “Maudine was more than a leader, she was the embodiment of the Urban League values and principles, living the creed of ‘once an Urban Leauger,’ always an Urban Leaguer,’ in its truest form,” said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, in a statement after Cooper died Nov. 13. Morial led the chorus of tributes from Urban League officials during Cooper’s funeral, where people celebrated the life of a woman who left Benoit, Mississippi during segregation to become a freedom fighter. “Maudine Copper made sure that her time at the Greater Washington Urban League was well spent,” said Jerry Moore, former board chairman of the Greater Washington Urban League, who listed many of Cooper's accomplishments. He added that Cooper “worked tirelessly to elevate the standards for African Americans,” while at the same time working, “to keep the agency financially sound.” “Our time on this earth is glorious but brief, but our mark echoes into the ages,” said George Lambert, president of the Greater Washington Urban League, “When you lose someone like Maudine you become aware of how short the moment of life is. For us at the Greater Washington Urban League, our beloved colleague is now gone, but her legacy will thrive as she certainly will live through us.” Cooper created Thursday Network, a national group that has trained thousands of young adults in civil rights

5 The funeral program for former Greater Washington Urban League president Maudine Cooper. Her funeral was held Dec. 16 at Shiloh Baptist Church. (Hamil Harris/ The Washington Informer)

and civil engagement. Both B. Michael Young and Derin Oduye, the former and current presidents of Thursday Network, weighed in on Cooper’s legacy. “[Cooper] enriched our lives and made a lasting impact on us all,” said Young and Oduye said the civil rights leaders raised more than $2 million in scholarships. Cooper’s close friends and family members offered touching comments about their loved one, including: the Administrative Law Judge Honorable Mollie Wagner Neal; Stephen Horblit of the American Jewish Committee, Janice Smith, former chief operating officer of the Greater Washington Urban League, Ryan A. Myers and Willa Hall Smith. “She was a people person. She loved people. She wanted to help people,” said Smith, who added that Cooper also knew how to be diplomatic. “After meetings, she would thank people with grace and then she would say we will do that when Donkeys fly.” Neal concluded by saying, “The D.C. community has lost one of its brightest lights.” Speaking for the family were Cooper’s granddaughters Malissa and Leslie “Maggie,” Trent, noting they sometimes spoke at special meetings and enjoyed eating sushi and other meals on the floor with their grandmother. The Rev. Wallace Charles Smith said he only needed about three minutes for Copper’s eulogy because so much had been said. He summed up her life as a love story. “She loved the Lord, and everyone who came into her life.” WI

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Community Partners Host Christmas Tree Giveaway Allen Chapel AME Church in Ward Eight joined several community partners including United Planning Organization board members Dr. Christine Warnke and Lafayette Barnes, Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and Jeff Sutherland of Sutherland Christmas Trees to giveaway nearly one hundred fresh Christmas trees on Saturday, December 16. (Courtesy photo/Jose Maldonado)

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Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Xi Omega Chapter Celebrates a Century of Service to D.C.

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) is the first intercollegiate historically Black sorority. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University by a group of young women led by Ethel Hedgemon Lyle. Notable AKAs include Vice President Kamala Harris, former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, entertainers Phylicia Rashad,

Wanda Sykes and Roxie Roker, Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and tennis legend Althea Gibson. AKA officials report 300,000 members have been initiated and there are 1,024 chapters internationally. The Xi Omega chapter had 704 members as of Dec. 16, according to chapter President Raven L. Hill. It was founded on December 23, 1923, by 20 sorority members. Prominent members of Xi Omega are U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Illinois), D.C. Council members Christina Henderson (I-At Large) and Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and D.C. Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs. Washington Informer Managing Editor Micha Green is also a member of the chapter.

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THE HISTORY OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA AND XI OMEGA

5Raven L. Hill, president of Xi Omega, addresses the Centennial Gala crowd on Dec. 16 at the Westin Washington DC Downtown Hotel in Northwest. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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Cherly Hill put on one of her finest dresses—that had a touch of green, one of the colors representing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.—to join the centennial gala for Xi Omega, the sorority’s first alumni chapter in the District, which celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Westin Washington DC Downtown Hotel in Northwest on Dec. 16. “This is such a wonderful event, and I am so glad to be here,” said Hill, 69, and a former president of the chapter from 2006-2007. “Celebrating our 100 years of service in D.C., we had all types of activities. The highlight was the giving of $1 million in college scholarships to students. We made sure we delivered on that. Service to D.C. is what we are all about.” The gala was designed to celebrate the chapter’s year of special centennial activities that consisted of the dedication of Xi Omega Way, a renamed block of 14th Street NW; a 10-episode Centennial Podcast series highlighting the significant milestones in the chapter’s history from each decade; and key collaborations with Food & Friends, the chapter’s longest-standing community partner. Hill said the highlight of the night was the announcement of $1 million to college-bound students that was noted throughout the program.

For the gala, hundreds of sorority members were dressed in glamorous, celebratory, 1920’s-inspired attire, with many donning pink or green (the sorority’s colors. Many of the male guests sported black suits and ties. Current president Hill spoke about the years of service that the chapter has delivered to the community. “Standing on a century of commitment to the Washington, D.C. community, we take immense pride in commemorating 100 years of service,” she said. “After a year marked by continued community outreach and reflections on our rich history, we honor this milestone with a gala that transcends celebration into a commitment for the future. Our legacy is not just in the years behind us, but in the scholarships we fund and the community service we will continue for the next 100 years.” NBC4 Washington anchor Jummy Olabanji served as the mistress of ceremonies. The keynote address was delivered by Charletta Wilson Jacks, the AKA International First Vice President. Jacks complimented the Xi Omega chapter and its legacy. “You have been running the race with sisterhood and with service,” she said. Noting that sometimes the work of the chapter can be difficult, she said to endure tough times “because it’s okay I have been an AKA.” “Did I have to understand the assignment?” she asked rhetorically. “I created the assignment. The relay is still going on.” As the chapter’s current president, Hill said she looks forward to being a part of the Xi Omega’s next 100 years. “We are going to increase the giving of scholarships and continue our work in community service with organizations like Food & Friends,” she said. WI @JamesWrightJr10

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Prince George’s County General Updates By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

RAISING CANE’S COMING TO FORESTVILLE IN EARLY 2024

Raising Cane’s, a relatively new fast food chain with an emphasis on chicken tenders and quality customer service, is soon coming to Prince George’s. A Forestville location has been selected and already has the company branding, including the “One Love” slogan on site. No specific date was noted at the site or online regarding the opening, although hiring has already started. Google lists Feb. 6 as the opening date for the business. There are currently five Raising Cane’s in Maryland, with the

Gambrills location the closest currently in operation. Another will open in Union Station’s food court on Jan. 9. The first Raising Cane’s in Maryland opened in January 2023 and the brand has focused on rapid expansion without franchising. WI

LANHAM HOSPITAL ADDS OBGYN SERVICES

Luminis Health, a medical center in Lanham not far from DuVal High School, was approved for a $300 million medical pavilion on Dec. 14. This funding will expand their labor and delivery center, a critical need as Prince George’s has a maternal mortality rate 50% higher than the national average and eight out of ten expecting

5An early rendering of the approved Luminis Center’s expansion. (Courtesy Photo/ Luminis Health)

12 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

5Raising Cane’s is soon branching into Forestville, opening their sixth Maryland location in early 2024. (Anthony Tilghman/ Washington Informer)

mothers deliver their child outside of the county. The new medical pavilion will include two floors for labor, delivery and women’s health. Construction is expected to begin in 2024 with the hopes of being finished by 2028. Approximately 2,000 babies are expected to be delivered in this hospital annually once complete. “Currently, there are fewer than 50 obstetric beds in the entire County,” said Luminis’ media strategist Justin McLeod. “The data shows there is a clear need for these types of services in Prince George’s County. Luminis Health believes strongly that residents should have safe, high-quality care close to home. For example, a significant amount of mothers leave Prince George’s County to deliver their babies at other system hospital at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis.” Prince George’s County District 7 Councilmember Krystal Oriadha (D- District 7) was greatly appreciative of what this new hospital will mean for County residents. Oriadha recently gave birth to her first child, Ezra, after suffering unfortunate health complications during her pregnancy. “I was one to say I had a hard pregnancy like a lot of women of color, especially my age. I didn’t feel seen or heard. They didn’t register that I was really in pain and so I ended up being 10 hours of

active labor and they didn’t know it and so it was traumatic,” said Oriadha. “We’re building a facility right here in Prince George’s County, where it has a high number of women of color, especially Black women. We have to ensure that the quality of services here and the training matches that.” WI

STATE TROOPER KHAN ALLEGES DISCRIMINATION, RETALIATION IN REMOVAL

A former Trooper of the Year is alleging discrimination and retaliation that led to him being removed from his position. Kashef Khan led the Maryland State Police’s (MSP) Forestville barrack in DUI enforcement in 2019, arresting 132 impaired drivers and was awarded as Trooper of the Month for his barrack eleven times that year, receiving praise from leadership for his efforts. In an exclusive interview with The Informer, Khan alleged this began after he declined a volunteer assignment. He claims that the officers who investigated a DUI arrest lied under oath, which has been looked into by the Office of the Attorney General. He is requesting that state leaders assist him to be reinstated within the MSP and to overhaul the

Internal Affairs process. His allegations come while the U.S. Department of Justice investigates the state police and a federal lawsuit is underway relating to discrimination within the Maryland State Police. “I want state leaders to ask the MSP to reinstate me, issue a statewide apology for my wrongful termination and promise me no further retaliation once back on job,” said Khan. “I want state leaders to disband MSP’s Internal Affairs division and form another section who has checks and balances and MSP should place policies in place where IA won't be used as a weaponizing section against innocent troopers.” The Maryland State Police told The Informer that retaliation for reporting discrimination goes against department policy. “Per Department policy, any form of retaliation for reporting discrimination, harassment or gender bias will not be tolerated,” said the Maryland State Police’s Office of Media Communications in an email regarding the removal of Khan from his position. “Threats or acts of retaliation against witnesses reporting, testifying, or supporting a complaint of discrimination, harassment or gender bias are prohibited. Acts of retaliation will result in disciplinary action as appropriate and may include termination.” WI

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

The Future of FedEx Field By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Writer

5 Anthony Savia, the longtime head of Maryland’s 529 college savings program, officially retired on Nov. 30 following nearly 30 years of working in state government. (Courtesy Photo/ Bowie State University)

Prince George’s County Political Updates By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

district is among the most Democratic in the state. WI

DISTRICT 25 DELEGATE VACANCY NOW FIELDING APPLICANTS

MARYLAND’S 529 SAVINGS PLAN DIRECTOR ANTHONY SAVIA RETIRES

With the ascension of Nick Charles to the State Senate on Dec. 5, there is now a vacancy in District 25 for the Maryland General Assembly. The Democratic Central Committee will fill the post to ensure that the next appointee is ready for the first days of the upcoming legislative session. A virtual hearing will be held on Dec. 28 to fill the seat. Applicants must file by 5 p.m. on Dec. 26 by sending a letter of intent, resume and voter registration in PDF format via email to the Central Committee. Some of the announced applicants for the vacancy include former Delegate Angela Angel, Central Committee Member Nova Coston, State’s Attorney Communications Director Denise Roberts and former New York Senator Antoine Thompson. District 25’s boundaries extend from Largo and Mitchellville to Temple Hills and Clinton, and the

With a brand new owner and multiple local sports teams openly discussing relocation to Virginia, the future of the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field remains in question. The team’s lease on the stadium is set to expire in 2027 and the stadium has been consistently rated as one of the worst in the NFL for issues ranging from sewage leaks and high ticket prices, to the difficulties of traveling to the stadium. The Commanders relocated their business offices from Landover to College Park earlier this month to 5 The Washington Commanders’ lease on FedEx Field expires in 2027 and the team spread their footprint further into could potentially relocate to D.C. or Virginia. Recently, the team moved their business Maryland. operations to College Park. (Anthony Tilghman/Washington Informer) Governor Wes Moore (D) has expressed hope of keeping the team in Maryland. “We are not waiting, we are not delaying, we are not stalling,” said Moore in September. “We are making it clear that we are fully united behind the idea of keeping the Commanders in Prince George’s County.” Under the Blue Line Corridor project, $400 million will be spent to help redevelop areas near the stadium. Virginia is building Potomac Yard, a massive entertainment district in Alexandria, to become a hub for consumers and sports fans alike. Potomac Yard will receive an estimated $1.35 billion subsidy in state and local funds, the largest stadium subsidy ever. WI

Anthony Savia, the director of Maryland’s 529, the state’s college savings program, retired from his position on Nov. 30. The 529 program allows parents to begin college savings accounts for their children with considerable tax savings, with similar programs in operation in most states. Maryland’s 529 program received scrutiny from parents earlier this year for disappearing funds and frozen accounts. State legislators moved the 529 program under the purview of the Treasurer last year. “Mr. Savia resigned from Maryland 529 and officially retired from the state on November 30, 2023,” said Treasurer Office spokesperson Shareese Churchill in a statement explaining his departure. “The Treasurer does not have a comment, but as I said, as a longtime employee with the State of Maryland, he not only resigned from Maryland 529, he retired.” WI

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 13

BUSINESS s f e ri By James Wright / WI Staff Writer

PROTECTING AFFORDABLE LOANS BILL

D.C. At-Large Council member Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large) has introduced the Protecting Affordable Loans Amendment Act of 2023. The bill is the result of collaboration between the Office of the D.C. Attorney General (OAG), the city’s Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) and the council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development. McDuffie chairs the committee. The legislation strengthens the tools available for both DISB, the District’s banking regulator, and OAG, the law enforcement agency charged with protecting consumers. The proposed bill would exercise the District’s right to opt out of the federal requirement that the city apply the interest rates of state-chartered federally insured banks. It also closes the federal loophole that allows foreign

(non-District) state-chartered banks to import usurious interest rates and largely end the explosion of nontraditional, fintech-enabled efforts targeting District consumers with these types of predatory loans. “We must eliminate loopholes that permit non-District banks from taking advantage of our residents through the use of exorbitant interest rates,” said McDuffie. “Our local usury cap exists to guard against this abuse. This change will allow us to protect District consumers from predatory lenders that ruin their credit scores and jeopardize their financial security.” Since 2020, OAG has secured over $9.2 million in refunds and debt forgiveness from lenders who deceived city borrowers. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb praised the McDuffie legislation for “closing a loophole in our existing law and enhancing the protection of D.C. consumers.” WI

5 Kenyan McDuffie is an independent at-large member of the D.C. Council. (WI File Photo)

D.C. AUTO SHOW PUBLIC POLICY DAY

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show will present its Public Policy Day on Jan. 18 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. A highlight of the day will be the 2024 Best Cars for the Money awards sponsored by U.S. News and World Report magazine. The awards highlight the cars, SUVs, and minivans that give drivers the best combination of quality and value in their respective classes. Known as the “public policy show” on the global auto show circuit, the

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0001-2024 RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Property Management Operations (PMO) requires a qualified contractor to provide recycle hauling services. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, December 18, 2023, on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SITE VISITS ARE SCHEDULED for Wednesday, December 27, 2023 beginning at James Creek @ 10:00 a.m., 1265 Half Street, SW, Washington DC 20024, Management Office then Greenleaf @ 10:30 a.m., 203 N Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024 SEALED BID RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Email Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information. Email: ggreen@eventsdc.com Phone: (202) 249-3028

14 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

Washington, D.C. Auto Show advances its 10-day consumer event with an exclusive look at the people and policies shaping the U.S. auto industry. The day concludes with an evening sneak preview reception giving guests a close look at the range of new makes, models, and technologies displayed around the exhibit space at the center. The Public Policy Day runs from noon to 5 p.m. followed by the Sneak Peak event from 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit washingtonautoshow.com. WI

D.C. CHAMBER ON MONUMENTAL VIRGINIA PROPOSAL

Angela Franco, the president and CEO of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, has expressed reservations about the proposal that the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals will relocate from the District’s Gallery Place-Chinatown neighborhood to Potomac Yards in Alexandria, Virginia. “On behalf of all our members, we join Mayor Bowser in our disappointment at the apparent decision by Monumental Sports to move two of the District’s most prominent major league sports franchises out of the District,” Franco said. The CEO of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce emphasized that the relocation would greatly affect downtown businesses. “We remain committed to working with the mayor, the D.C. Council, and its newly created task force focused on the revitalization of the Gallery Place-Chinatown neighborhood in addition to supporting the

mayor in all her downtown revitalization efforts. I am hopeful for the future of D.C. Ours is a great city worthy of collaborative efforts by public officials, business representatives, community activists and others to reshape our future. Working together, we will continue to strengthen this incredible city we love.” Takeout Tuesday Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation announced the launch of the newest season of “Takeout Tuesday,” which will first air on Jan. 2. The show is entering its fourth season. The program explores the tastes and delicacies of Prince George’s County. The season also debuts new host Nicole Hall, the corporation’s Business Development manager for retail and restaurants, who is instrumental in managing the services and business resources available in the county, seeking to help support and grow local eateries. “The series will showcase the delicious delicacies and dishes curated by our local talented restaurant community,” Hall said. “These small businesses are staples in our neighborhoods, and we are so excited to tell their story to the masses. The series aims to drive consumer traffic to our local, independent restaurants to ensure their longevity and stability in the county.” WI

D.C. FACILITIES RECOGNIZED

The D.C. Department of General Services recently noted three District facilities received awards this year. The Arboretum Recreation Center in Ward 5 was feted by the Global Future Design Awards for its uniquely designed timber facility. The Brooks, a short-term housing facility in Ward 3, was honored with an Architectural Award at the 2023 American Institute of Architects—D.C. Chapter Design Awards. The St. Elizabeths East Campus in Ward 8 was awarded by the Construction Management Association of America as the best transportation construction project with a budget under $50 million. Agency Director Delano Hunter said, “every day DSG builds, maintains, and sustains world-class facilities for all District residents, and these recognitions reaffirm our commitment to excellence.” WI @JamesWrightJr10

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Kimberly Dowdell Sworn in as First Black Woman President of American Institute of Architects By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Kimberly Dowdell, a Chicago-based architect born and raised in Detroit, was sworn on Dec. 15 as the first Black woman and 100th president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). “I am the seventh female president of the American Institute of Architects, the third Black president and the first Black female president,” Dowdell, 40, said, after accepting the presidential medal from her predecessor, Emily Grandstand Rice. “I am also the first millennial president.” The AIA, headquartered in the District, was founded in 1857. It accepted its first Black member, Paul Revere Williams, in 1923. “I assume this position 100 years after the first Black member joined the AIA,” she said. Dowdell, a former first vice president and president-elect of

the AIA, received a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University in 2006 and a master’s in public administration from Harvard University in 2015. She served as president of the National Organization of Minority Architects in 2019-2020. Dowdell is employed as a principal with the HOK Chicago studio. Lakisha Ann Woods, also a Black woman, serves as CEO of the AIA. During her acceptance speech, Dowdell talked about her platform #Morein24. “We want more money for architects,” she said. “We want more money for the work that we do and ways to make our businesses more profitable. We want more members. We are presently at 98,000 and my goal is to reach 100,000 members by the end of 2024. The value of AIA membership should be stressed.” WI

BUSINESS Henry Hicks III Takes the Helm: Charting New Paths for the National Black MBA Association By DC Black MBA In a recent conversation with Henry Hicks III, the newly appointed CEO/President of the National Black MBA Association, he shared his journey, aspirations, and plans for the organization's future. Hicks, a Lifetime member since the early '90s, expressed his deep-rooted connection to the association, citing its significant impact on both his personal and professional growth. "For me, the National Black MBA Association has always been a vital part of my development, personally and professionally," Hicks shared. "Understanding its power and the potential it holds to advance African Americans economically with a social, economic, and civil rights perspective has been integral." Hicks brings a diverse background, having delved into corporate ventures and entrepreneurial pursuits, including his work in the arts as CEO of the National Museum of 5 Henry Hicks III, the African American Music in Tennessee. Drawing parallels between his experiences, Hicks newly appointed CEO/ highlighted the common threads of business acumen, entrepreneurship, and operational President of the National Black MBA Association intricacies prevalent in his varied roles. Reflecting on his new position, Hicks spoke passionately about the new frontiers the association aims to conquer. "We're looking at a new mountain to climb," he emphasized, acknowledging the groundwork laid by the association over its 53-year history while pointing toward a progressive direction for the future. “It’s important to leverage the history while looking at what’s on the horizon – what’s next.” The association's next steps under Hicks’ leadership revolve around key pillars: career advancement, wealth creation, and policy for impact. Hicks stressed “The importance of aligning programming to cater to the diverse membership base, from aspiring high school students to seasoned professionals considering retirement and corporate board participation.” Moreover, he mentioned the need for robust marketing strategies to spotlight the chapters' impactful work, reinforcing the association's narrative on a national scale. Strengthening the bond between the national organization and its chapters also stands as a core focus to maximize support and value for members. Addressing policy engagement, Hicks detailed plans to generate informed discussions through white papers and periodic op-eds, advocating for issues directly affecting underrepresented communities. His strategy includes a multipronged approach to articulate the association's stance while engaging in critical policy dialogues. Looking ahead to the upcoming conference in September 2024, Hicks envisions a dynamic event with diverse programming tailored to specific demographics within the membership. “Our aim is to create an inclusive platform that blends intellectual stimulation, career advancement opportunities, and lifestyle-related events.” While discussing his leadership approach, Hicks highlighted personal hobbies like writing, golf, travel, and music as avenues for relaxation and self-expression. “My go-to song is Chuck Brown’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing.” I’m also enjoying “God Did” by DJ Khaled along with some Chris Brown, Breland, and After7.” His eclectic taste in music mirrors his multifaceted approach to leadership, embodying diversity, and inclusivity. As Hicks embarks on this transformative journey, he remains committed to balancing his professional responsibilities with his personal life. With family support and a wealth of experiences to draw from, Henry aspires to lead the National Black MBA Association toward greater heights. With Henry Hicks III at the helm, the National Black MBA Association sets sail on a new chapter, steering towards inclusivity, empowerment, and unwavering advocacy for its members.

5 Kimberly Dowdell is the first Black woman to be president of the American Institute of Architects. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 15

NATIONAL Michigan’s Ashley Myatt Crowned Miss Black America in Historic 55th Anniversary Pageant By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer In a dazzling celebration of Black beauty, talent, and achievement, Michigan’s Ashley Myatt was crowned Miss Black America on Saturday night at the historic 55th-anniversary pageant. The glamorous event unfolded at the former House of Blues venue within the Showboat

Resort Atlantic City. Myatt emerged as the standout among the five final candidates, a group that included first runner-up Courtney Renford from New York as well as Donna Fairclough (also a New York resident), Azraya Davis from New Jersey, and Malani Brayboy from Georgia. The festivities began on Friday, Dec. 15, and culminated in the grand

crowning ceremony on Saturday night, where Myatt, a native of Detroit, expressed her joy and disbelief at winning the prestigious title. “I feel amazing. This is such a great opportunity, especially for little girls who may be looking up to me,” Myatt shared. “And it’s just a great opportunity to be able to stand here today. Thank you so much. I’m so happy.” The diverse contestants, aged 17 to 29, showcased their intelligence, talent, and charisma throughout the competition, making the final decision challenging for the judges. “The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is proud and pleased to have a national strategic media alliance with the Miss Black America Pageant under the founding leadership of J. Morris Anderson of Philadelphia,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., who served as a judge for the contest. “For the past 55 years, the Miss Black America Pageant has effectively uplifted the genius and beauty of emerging women leaders of Black America,” Chavis continued. “Across the United States and throughout the world, Miss Black

America is acknowledged as an empowering journey and as a global social change phenomenon.” The pageant’s return to the city where the “Historic Protest Pageant of 1968” occurred generated considerable anticipation. Anderson’s daughter, Aleta Anderson, emphasized distinguishing the Miss Black America Pageant from a Black Miss America pageant. “I’ve been working with this pageant since I was a little girl,” Anderson declared. “The thing that it originally was meant for is still there, and it means so much more in that it provides an opportunity for the young women to participate.” WI

5Miss Black America Pageant Winner Ashley Myatt. (Courtesy of Shootworks/free photos)

Congressional Black Caucus Calls on Corporations to Uphold Racial Equity Pledges By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has issued a Corporate Accountability Letter to corporations that pledged commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in 2020 following the police murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. The letter, addressed to Corporate America, presses for reaffirming the vast equity pledges made, updates on 2020 commitments, and collaborative efforts to close the persistent racial wealth gap legislatively. The CBC, Congress’s moral compass on equity issues, highlighted the enduring racial and economic

disparities faced by Black Americans. Underrepresentation in high-wage industries, limited advancement opportunities, and a dearth of Black executives are cited as injustices demanding immediate attention. CBC Chairman Steven Horsford (D-NV) condemned coordinated attacks on corporate DEI programs, emphasizing that tangible actions must follow promises made to Black Americans. “It is unacceptable to make promises to Black Americans with no action,” Horsford asserted. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) also stressed the urgency of creating more inclusive spaces. “Our ask is simple—reaffirm your commitment to DEI and give us a progress report on your follow-through on promises made,” Beatty declared. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) highlighted the need to stand with businesses facing legal challenges, particularly after the

EQUITY Page 17

16 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

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Supreme Court to Revisit Capitol Riot Charges By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

In a development with potentially far-reaching implications, the United States Supreme Court announced on Dec. 13 that it will hear an appeal that could unravel hundreds of convictions linked to the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The case, revolving around charges related to the Capitol riot, includes accusations against the twice-impeached

and four-times indicted former President Donald Trump. The focus of the Supreme Court’s attention is an appellate ruling that reinstated a charge against three defendants accused of obstructing an official proceeding. The charge explicitly concerns disrupting Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory over Trump, who currently faces more than 90 felony criminal charges and whom a civil jury ruled should pay $5 million

in damages for sexually assaulting a writer. The obstruction charge is just one of the four counts in the case that special counsel Jack Smith has made alleging that Trump conspired to tamper with election results and obstruct a legal process. The court’s decision to review the obstruction charge could disrupt the timeline of Trump’s impending trial, currently scheduled for March 4. The justices are also debating whether to quickly rule on Trump’s claim that he cannot face charges for actions taken while he was president, which a federal judge has already rejected. The Associated Press noted that the obstruction charge has been leveled against more than 300 de-

NATIONAL fendants as part of the extensive federal prosecution following the violent insurrection on January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Biden, a Democrat, from assuming the presidency. The case’s origins trace back to a lower court judge who dismissed the obstruction charge against Joseph Fischer, a former Boston police officer, and two other defendants, contending that it did not cover their actions. The Supreme Court’s involvement resulted from Fischer’s attorneys filing an appeal. The other defendants involved in the appeal are Edward Jacob Lang from New York’s Hudson Valley and Garret Miller, who has already pleaded guilty to additional charges and received a 38-month prison sentence. Notably, Miller, hail-

ing from the Dallas area, may still face prosecution on obstruction charges. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols played a pivotal role by ruling that prosecutors stretched the law beyond its intended scope in those January 6 cases. Nichols maintained that, under the law, a defendant must have taken specific actions concerning a document, record, or object to obstruct an official proceeding. The Justice Department contested the ruling, and in April, the appeals court in Washington sided with prosecutors, deeming Nichols’ interpretation too restrictive. More than 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes linked to the Capitol riot, and more than 650 defendants have pleaded guilty. WI

E B R ATIN

40 YEARS

(Courtesy Photo)

EQUITY from Page 16 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. Ivey emphasized that minority businesses should thrive in both the public and private sectors, and the CBC’s letter serves as a call to advocacy. The CBC’s letter further scrutinizes the slow progress of DEI efforts within corporations, with the CBC citing studies that reveal only 12% of Black employees are in the private sector and have minimal representation in senior management. CBC members also condemned performative actions by some corporations and called for a denouncement of such practices in favor of genuine change. Corporations are urged to reaffirm their DEI efforts and provide updates on pledges by Jan. 31, in response

to the CBC’s call to eradicate inequitable policies, support advocacy organizations, and abandon harmful practices. The CBC said members are also inviting corporations to collaborate legislatively to create policies ensuring perpetual accountability, closing the racial wealth gap, and supporting the Caucus’s values. Horsford and other members said they intend to engage in hearings presided over by the CBC and evaluate Corporate America using an equity scorecard as part of ongoing oversight. The letter called for a partnership focused on “progress, mutual understanding, trust, and commitment to achieve lasting change in closing the racial wealth gap and driving upward Black economic mobility.” WI

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africa now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

RPF, Communist Party of China Mull Deeper Ties in Fighting Climate Change and Terrorism Rwanda’s ruling RPF-Inkotanyi and their Chinese counterparts, the Communist Party of China (CPC), have agreed to broaden the framework of the existing ties, particularly dealing with climate change effects, terrorism among other areas, according to Rwanda’s The New Times. 5RPF Inkotanyi Secretary General The commitment was made during a meeting held on Friday, Dec. 15, between Wellars Gasamagera and Mu Hong, China’s Vice President of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political China’s Vice President of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Polit- Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Mu Hong and the Secretary General of RPF ical Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Inkotanyi Wellars Gasamagera, during the visit of the former at the RPF headquarduring a bilateral meeting at the RPF ters in Rusororo, Gasabo District. headquarters in Rusororo, Gasabo DisHong, who is leading China’s delegation for a three-day visit, also toured several trict on Friday, Dec. 15. (Courtesy Photo/ China-funded projects in Rwanda Olivier Mugwiza) During the meeting, both delegations stressed the importance of the mutually-beneficial relationship that both countries have enjoyed for decades. “The bilateral relations between two nations have been existing for quite a number of years and have been characterized by mutual respect, shared aspirations and have also been reflected with visible results,” Gasamagera said, in his remarks. He added: “Our relations have been effective in many areas, including health where you had the chance to visit some testaments. Others include infrastructure, education, agriculture and technology, but we also appreciate China’s contribution towards Rwanda’s development, including in development financing, among others.” Currently, Gasamagera pointed out, China is Rwanda’s leading contributor in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). “We are very happy to entertain party to party relations including high level and technical visits, capacity building [and] cadreship development, among others,” said Gasamagera. “Rwanda will definitely continue to cooperate with China on more areas including dealing with climate change, terrorism among others.” The high-level meeting brought together senior officials from both sides to discuss key bilateral affairs. On his part, the CPPCC leader shared a detailed account of bilateral relations between China and Rwanda, emphasizing the need to “further deepen the cordial relations.” WI

caribbean now Diplomatic Skills, Negotiation Expertise Can Avert Military Conflict, Former Jamaican Prime Minister Says Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson says the Western Hemisphere can now breathe “a welcome sigh of relief” on the outcome of the summit in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which was convened to dispel 5Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over the disputed Essequibo region. Patterson. (Courtesy Photo) On Thursday, Dec. 14, leaders of Guyana and Venezuela failed to reach an agreement on how to address a bitter dispute over the vast border region rich with oil and minerals that has concerned many in the area. However, according to the Jamaica Gleaner, they promised in the tense meeting that neither side would use threats or force against the other. The meeting between the two leaders took place in Argyle in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent, with various Caribbean leaders attending. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro agreed to meet again in Brazil within three months or at another agreed-upon time, according to an 11-point Argyle Declaration read at a press briefing late Thursday, at which no questions were allowed. They also agreed to “refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict”, the declaration said. The meeting “established several significant precedents which deserve due commendation and indicate a path for the future,” the Jamaican diplomat said. Patterson said no praise was too high for presidents Ali and Maduro for their preparedness and courage in accepting the terms of the Argyle Declaration. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Will Interest Rates Decrease for Homebuyers in 2024? By Jacqueline Fuller WI Contributing Writer House hunters are wondering about one thing: interest rates. Many prospective homebuyers are questioning: “Will interest rates go down in 2024?” Mortgage rates are still high and housing inventory is limited. The situation has caused some people to hit the pause button with their search. If you are concerned right now that you may not be able to buy a home due to the current state of the economy, things could change soon. The Mortgage Bankers Association's November 2023 Mortgage Finance Forecast predicts 30-year rates starting in 2024 at 7.1% and declining to 6.1% toward the end of the year. According to Fannie Mae’s Housing Forecast for November, the average 30year fixed rate during the first quarter of 2024 will be at 7.6%. "The economy is now slowing from the otherwise robust first estimate of third quarter growth," said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, in a statement on Nov. 1. “While many current owners with low mortgage rates will likely continue to be discouraged from listing their homes, we expect mortgage rates to trend modestly downward in 2024, which should help kickstart a gradual recovery in home sales into 2025." The National Association of Realtors also predicted that the 30-year mortgage rate will go under 7% in the second half of next year. In the meantime, here are some items for your to-do list to improve your chances to achieve the goal of homeownership in 2024. • • • • •

Increase your credit score. Check your credit reports for accuracy and fix errors. Maintain a financially healthy debt-to-income ratio by reducing debt. Apply for first time homebuyers programs to receive down payment assistance. Save at least 20% toward the down payment to avoid private mortgage insurance on conventional home loans.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends homebuyers to shop around and get quotes from mortgage lenders to compare rates, decide on the type of loan, and have a preferred lender to negotiate a lower rate. Do not let the current state of interest rates be a hindrance to buying a home. Forecasters are estimating that mortgage will peak near 7% or 8% then go down to 5% or 6% by the end of 2024.

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 19

HEALTH Healthy Eating During the Holiday Season

Protecting Your Health and Maintaining Weight During the Fun Festivities By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter Sweet eggnog mixed with spiced rum, holiday hams, and robust rice dishes are set to fill plates and mouths this holiday season, with families and friends preparing delicious meals to celebrate the joyous time of year. With seasonal treats comes artificial sugars, unhealthy fat intake, and, sometimes, unwanted weight gain to take with us into the new year. However, there are skillful ways to create holiday meals with healthier food options and ingredients that will deliver a tasty level of satisfaction. Here are a few helpful tips to to keep your holiday fun festive but health-conscious as you close 2023 and usher in a new year.

PAIR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH EVERY MEAL:

The American Heart Association recommends four servings of fruit, as well as five servings of vegetables per day. Fruits and vegetables are jam packed with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, adding very few calories to your daily intake. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber, helping to maintain a healthy weight, and protect against diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

PROCESSED VS. LEAN MEATS:

Meat and poultry are delectable, and prominent sources of protein in our diets. However, processed meats, such as

sausage, bacon, and hot dogs are high in nitrates, sodium and artificial additives that can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and other illnesses. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, “consuming just one hot dog a day can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 21 percent.” This holiday, try sticking to leaner meats, like white meat from chicken, turkey, duck, fish and other seafoods.

CHOOSING HEALTHIER COOKING METHODS:

You may have some healthy items on the menu, but the method in which you cook your foods will also determine the nutritional value of the final meal. Frying, for example, is one of the unhealthiest ways to prepare your foods, as fried foods are high in trans and saturated fats, which are widely known to increase cholesterol and blood levels, as well as damage to your arterial walls. Several studies in adults have shown a significant association between eating fried foods and a greater risk for developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Attempt to cook your holiday meals using low-fat cooking methods, like boiling or steaming, especially when cooking vegetables. If you are looking for a crispier finish to your meats, baking, broiling, or grilling are great alternatives instead of frying.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0009-2024 JANITORIAL SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires a qualified contractor to janitorial services for six (6) DCHA Service Locations. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Wednesday, December 20, 2023, on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SITE VISITS ARE SCHEDULED for Thursday, January 4, 2024 beginning at DCHA Police Headquarters located at 2011 Walt Lincoln Way, NE Washington, DC 20002. SEALED BID RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, January 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Email LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at LMMCLEOD@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing. org for additional information.

20 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

LANCE LONDON’S TASTY TORTILLAS (PLANT BASED) After bringing plant based options to his new Capital Heights location, Lance Londer, owner of Carolina Kitchen shared a healthy recipe for plant based bites to titillate guest’s appetites and tastebuds. Ingredients: • Sweet Potatoes 3 cups chopped sweet potatoes cooked peeled and cut into cubes 5 Lance London, owner of Carolina Kitchen, enjoys creating 2 tablespoons olive oil plant based meals of classic soul 1 teaspoon garlic powder food favorites. 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin sea salt to taste • Black Bean Mash 2.5 cups canned black beans drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons tahini (option to replace with 2 tablespoons of olive oil) 1 teaspoon cumin juice from a half lime (2 tablespoons) 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 cup olive oil splash of milk (any kind) 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 yellow onion finely diced salt and pepper to taste • Other 8 whole wheat tortillas 1/2 cup green chiles 1/2 cup harissa sauce (option to replace with salsa) 1/2 cup sweet corn canned or frozen 1/2 cup chopped onion Directions: • Combine sweet potato ingredients, making sure to thoroughly mix oil and seasoning • Prepare black bean marsh which serves as a hearty meat substitute • Lay out tortillas • Add portions of sweet potatoes and black bean marsh • Top with corn, onion, chiles, and harissa sauce • Roll tortillas (add toothpick or skewer if desired) • Can be heated or served at room temperature • Slice each tortilla in half and serve with favorite garnish WI WI Contributing Writer Dr. Patrise Holden contributed to this report.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Pioneering Progress: CareFirst’s Holistic Approach to Behavioral Healthcare and Substance Use Disorder Treatment By Ashley Johnson CSC-AD, MSW-C Staying healthy isn’t just about taking care of your physical health. Mental health also plays an important role in our overall well-being. Recent studies, including the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released earlier this year, underscore the mental health and substance use challenges confronting millions of Americans. Across the nation, alcohol and drug use stand as one of the leading causes of preventable illness and premature death nationwide. We must take steps to promote mental health, prevent substance misuse and provide treatment and support to foster recovery through a holistic, public health approach that ensures everyone can receive accessible, affordable and equitable behavioral healthcare.

WAIVING COSTS, PRIORITIZING CARE

Overcoming substance misuse involves personalized treatment in an appropriate care setting. From one-on-one counseling to intensive outpatient treatment and residential services, the cost of recovery often dissuades people from seeking the care they need. Breaking down this financial barrier is a crucial step in connecting people with to appropriate and timely support, and healthcare payers can take a leading role in dismantling this barrier. Healthcare company CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) has emerged as a trailblazer in this regard, implementing a cost-share waiver for members receiving services through Intensive Outpatient Treatment in the insurer’s Substance Use Disorder Program. Treatment is provided based on individual clinical circumstances in a community setting rather than a hospital or residential inpatient program. Patients can receive support without enrollment in a care plan to receive support and may qualify for

This strategic approach ensures referrals are directed to providers with established relationships, emphasizing the importance of a personalized and informed connection between doctors and those seeking treatment.

THE DOCTOUR WILL SEE YOU NOW

5 Ashley Johnson, CSC-AD, MSW-C, is the Behavioral Health Project Manager at CareFirst

a waiver of many in-network costs, including copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

On a much more fundamental level, primary care and behavioral health providers play a crucial role in helping their patients get and stay healthy. Recognizing the intrinsic link between primary care and substance use disorder treatment requires proactive steps on the part of everyone—providers, payers and patients. CareFirst's DocTour program aims

to integrate behavioral health into primary care providers' wellness checks. By educating these frontline providers on the significance of behavioral health and equipping them with the tools for proper assessments, CareFirst aims to bridge the gap in understanding and support. The program's emphasis on forging relationships between primary care providers, specialists, and behavioral health professionals is a crucial step toward a more integrated and interconnected healthcare system.

ADDICTION DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE

Addiction and substance misuse permeate every community and

neighborhood across the country. Washington, D.C. is no different, and my family is no exception. I have helped loved ones navigate the challenges of addiction and I’ve been with them through the ups and downs of treatment. The path is rarely straightforward, and recovery is hard. It shouldn’t be made harder because people can’t find or afford the support they need. Through a proactive, holistic approach, we have the power to alleviate, if not eliminate, these barriers, transforming the landscape of behavioral healthcare and making a profound difference in the lives of all around us.

NAVIGATING TOWARD THE RIGHT CARE

Beyond financial barriers, it is imperative that those seeking care can readily access it. Finding and establishing a relationship with a healthcare provider can be daunting. Are they in network? Are they accepting new patients? Do they specialize in the services I need? Is this provider someone I can trust, who will be empathetic and compassionate? In recent years, Washington, D.C. has struggled to keep pace with the national average for physicians available for clinical practice. Beyond physicians, the healthcare workforce shortage in the U.S. means there are also fewer nurses, healthcare educators, home health aides and more. While healthcare organizations strive to address access challenges, CareFirst is at the forefront, connecting members with behavioral healthcare and substance use disorder treatment. Within its network, CareFirst identifies trusted providers partnering with the healthcare company to expand access to behavioral healthcare services. To ensure members are not lost in the shuffle of waitlists, these providers offer regular updates on patient rosters, ensuring CareFirst Care Coordinators can schedule appointments on behalf of members seeking care.

Care for wherever you find yourself. Everyone’s needs are different. That’s why we bring you a full range of care options that work with your life—from anytime, anywhere.

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Learn more at carefirst.com/ourpromise.

DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 21

OUR

EARTH

Progress On Diversity in the Green Workforce May Be Stalling, Annual Report Shows By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter Speaking on a panel with other environmental activists, nature education advocate Pinar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd talked about the process of familiarizing oneself with a natural setting’s “baseline.” The environmental educator and activist offered an exercise: simply sit in a park or forest, and watch and listen to find out what it sounds like without disturbance. A similar lack of disruption,

Sinopoulos-Lloyd explained, is what has allowed the environmental sector to stall in its efforts to increase diversity in leadership and achieve truly inclusive outcomes. An annual report card from Green 2.0, released Thursday, found that green organizations’ progress on hiring people of color in senior roles has stagnated in the last year. “The baseline of white supremacy is coming back to the surface because of who is in executive leadership,” Sinopoulos-Lloyd said during the release event, held at the National Press Club in D.C.

5 A graph from the 2023 NGO & Foundation Transparency Report Card shows that diversity of senior staff at environmental organizations increased from 2017-2022, but saw no change between 2022 and 2023. (Dr. Chandler Puritty/Green 2.0)

The Informer's Our Earth page turns 1 year old this fall. We want to know what you think and what we can do better in year 2! Please let us know with this 3-minute survey.

22 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

5 A panel of experts speaks at an event following the release of Green 2.0’s annual report card examining diversity in the environmental sector. From left: Daphne Frias, climate and disability activist; Pinar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd, co-founder of Queer Nature; James Page, global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for The Nature Conservancy; Angelo Villagomez, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. (Kayla Benjamin/The Washington Informer)

“How can we shift baselines so that we can actually create spaces, not only where people of color feel welcome, but where we're actually empowered to thrive and create?” The 2023 NGO & Foundation Transparency Report Card showed that environmental organizations reported hiring an average of 22 new people of color between 2017 and 2023 — averaging more than three per year. But over the last 12 months, that pace had slowed to just one person of color hired on average. No people of color were added at the senior level in the 2022-2023 reporting period for the 73 nongovernmental organizations surveyed. “The 2023 Green 2.0 Transparency Report Card showed that historically marginalized communities across the board — including people of color, people with gender expansive identities, and people with disabilities — have hit the green ceiling,” said Green 2.0’s executive director, Andres Jimenez, in an interview. “Unfortunately, what we're seeing is that… the higher up you go in an organization, the less people of color are actually in those important roles.” Jimenez said that equity and inclusion in hiring became a central issue for many organizations in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, but that some groups have not maintained that focus. But climate and environmental justice leaders argue that fixing inequitable hiring and leadership

“The 2023 Green 2.0 Transparency Report Card showed that historically marginalized communities across the board — including people of color, people with gender expansive identities, and people with disabilities — have hit the green ceiling.” practices within the green sector is crucial to solving climate and pollution crises, which disproportionately impact marginalized communities. “You’re asking the world to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy,” the Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., who heads the climate justice group Hip Hop Caucus, said in closing remarks at the report’s release event. “But this movement still refuses to transition from a white, cis, patriarchal movement that will in the long run kill us all.” The report also examined dis-

ability workforce data in the green sector for the first time, finding that — as with many industries — people who self-identify as having a disability are far underrepresented. While almost 13% of the U.S. working-age population has a disability, only 3% of workers at nongovernmental organizations and 1.6% of those at foundations self-identified that way in Green 2.0’s study. However, most groups surveyed did not track disability data at all, which causes major gaps in understanding disability representation. The report card also illustrates continued challenges with workplace transparency among environmental organizations and foundations. More groups participated this year than in previous years, with 73 nongovernmental organizations and 25 foundations submitting data. However, out of the 50 foundations Green 2.0 initially requested to join the survey, more than half declined — including big names like the Ford Foundation and the Coca-Cola Foundation. “I’m not here to do a ‘gotcha’ moment — I'm here to show that it's possible to be transparent,” Jimenez said. “It’s better to stumble and try than not to try at all. What frustrates me the most is when an organization is like ‘well, hands in the air, we're not going to do this.’... Those organizations need to understand that this isn't an issue that's going away.” WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Renewables and Natural Gas Together Can Help Us Fight Climate Change. By Former Congressman Kendrick Meek and Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter We all know the responsibility we have as a nation to tackle one of the most important challenges before us: Addressing the impacts of climate change. And even though our communities are on the frontlines of this challenge, most solutions leave out the authentic needs and values of the most impacted. As policymakers look to cut emissions while ensuring Americans can heat their homes, turn their lights on, and charge their cell phones, Black and low-income Americans are already unfairly shouldering the burden of rising energy costs. We cannot stand by and watch conditions worsen, nor can we leave the actual, immediate needs of our communities 5 Former Congressman Kendrick Meek behind. All of us have an obligation to ensure that no people are marginalized as we build the clean energy economy of tomorrow. Investing in more renewables is one part of the answer. But pursuing renewable energy sources alone, without considering the price tag or timeline to expand America’s power grid by 60 percent, will come at the expense of millions of working-class Americans. We must be practical. That’s why natural gas partnered with renewables is the most immediate, affordable, and accessible way forward to protect energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. We also understand that to some, natural gas may not be the most popular answer. But the alternative would be to continue to haphazardly implement intermittent renewable energy only for those who can afford it, risk unreliable service, and fall back on higher emitting coal and heating oil to keep the lights on when sun or wind power is unavailable. The reality is that 25 percent of American households are energy-burdened. And like most things, energy insecurity impacts physical health as well as economic well-being, which in turn disproportionately hurts Black and Brown households. While many have argued that wholesale change to our energy infrastructure is the only solution to address climate change, the facts paint a different picture. Until renewables are built at scale and become more affordable and reliable, they will continue to be out of reach for our most vulnerable communities. Consider the impact of solar power, which supposedly provides significant long-term savings on energy bills. But the average cost of installing solar panels – decidedly more than the median household wealth for Black homeowners or renters – makes this option completely unattainable for low-income families. Even if communities were to increasingly make the switch to solar, they

5 Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

would still need to rely on coal and heating oil for energy in colder, rainier months when the sun doesn’t shine. Renewables alone are clearly not enough to reach any of our immediate climate and energy goals. We need realistic solutions that will continue to provide energy for all Americans at a reasonable price. Natural gas, championed by civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson and others, presents a low-cost, reliable solution that can partner with renewables as new technologies come online. For Black and Brown communities, it could be life changing. Policymakers must focus on improving energy infrastructure for communities of color instead of investing in “solutions” that will consistently leave them behind. It will take years, if not decades, to solve energy inequities. Embracing the use of natural gas could make a sustainable, affordable energy future closer

to becoming a reality. To take advantage of natural gas as an energy solution means to invest in communities of color, foster economic development, and get closer to meeting the energy needs of everyone. And, as we strive for economic and environmental justice, we must ensure that this transition is led by the voices of those who historically have not been heard – Black elected officials, community leaders, families, students, and clergy must all have a seat at the table. Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Congressman Kendrick Meek (DFL) are members of the Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future Leadership Council.

About Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future

Natural Allies is a 501c4 not for profit organization that seeks to better inform the public and policy makers about why natural gas is best partnered with renewable power sources to accelerate our clean energy goals. Among the industry leaders supporting Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future are: The Williams Companies, Kinder Morgan, TC Energy, EQT, National Fuel Gas, Enbridge Inc., Solar Turbines a Caterpillar Company, Quanta Services, Inc., the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers, Pipe Line Contractors Association, American Pipeline Contractors Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), INGAA Foundation, National Association of Manufacturers and American Public Gas Association (APGA). To learn more visit: naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org.

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 23

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM 9/15/23 3:31 PM

Seek Comfort and Joy and Avoid Stress This Holiday Season With the end of 2023 less than two weeks away, end-of-the-year burnout is real. It’s been a long, busy year, filled with national and international crises, and for many people marked with personal and financial challenges as well. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the holiday seasons can be even more stressful for Americans. In a study conducted by the APA, nearly 89% have concerns about not having enough money, and about missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict this time of year. Further, nearly 41% said that their stress level increases during the holiday season from November to January, and 43% said that the stress of the holidays interferes with their ability to enjoy them. The holiday season is all about “tidings of comfort and joy,” as the carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” says, not stress. If you’re feeling holiday stress because of the amount of cash in your account or the people you have to deal with, try to reframe. This holiday season, attempt to create memorable moments filled with people you love and joyous times. If you feel pressured to give a gift, but don’t have a lot of cash, try going places such as thrift stores or finding alternative gifting options, such as baking or crafting presents. The holiday season isn’t about lavish gifts or tension. It’s about finding peace and comfort in the people you love, and most importantly yourself– gifting yourself with grace and joy. If you’re sad about missing the people you love, either because they’re unable to be with you or their death, we understand and know loneliness and grief can be particularly trying during the holidays. However, cherishing memories, looking at pictures and keeping loved ones’ memories alive even if they can’t be present is key when you’re feeling lonely or missing loved ones. If the people you’re missing are alive and able to connect virtually, consider setting up a video chat with your distant family or friends and find creative ways to make them feel part of your holiday celebrations. Finally, enjoy every moment. When you’re finding joy in each moment, the likelihood of being stressed decreases because you’re focusing on the positive and blocking out the negative. So avoid stress this holiday season by being intentional about seeking comfort and joy. WI

George Santos is a Problem, Unfortunately, Ziwe’s Interview With Him Was Hilarious About 15 minutes into a 17-minute long interview between comedian Ziwe and disgraced former Congressman George Santos, the pair share the following exchange (lightly edited for conciseness):

EDITORIAL Merry Christmas from the Washington Informer. May all your wishes come true. (DR Barnes/ The Washington Informer)

TO THE EDITOR I really enjoyed this month’s health supplement. The articles were great, and I especially liked the picture of the Christmas tree with the weights and fruits as ornaments. That was very creative and even gave me a few ideas! Jake M. Young Washington, D.C.

Ziwe: In the words of Lady Gaga, ‘you live for the applause.’ Are you like Tinkerbell — if we stopped clapping, would you disappear?

Santos’ laundry list of crimes and lies harm the American people’s trust in our Santos: No. institutions, and he spouts right-wing bigotry wherever he goes. No doubt, the Ziwe: What could we do to get you to go away? nation needs to stop paying attention to him. But that is easier said than done, and Santos: Stop inviting me to your gigs. this media atmosphere is not going away anytime soon. Ziwe: The lesson is to stop inviting you places. So instead of moralizing against the content machine, it’s time to think about Santos: But you can’t. ‘Cause people want the content. electing people who can use it — without It’s a surreal moment, because he was right. It was difficult to look away as Santos, wear- actually committing fraud and propagating a blue suit jacket that can only be described as “Disney villain-core,” reveled in Ziwe’s ing lies, if you please. That’s already starting to happen: Alexundisguised disdain for him. Within eight hours, the video had nearly 400,000 views. The interview resulted in doz- andria Ocasio Cortez created a name for herself with social media savvy, and John ens of headlines repeating Santos’s most outlandish comments. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

There’s no simple solution for chronic absenteeism in District schools. One side thinks the penalty and punishment should be tougher on parents, while the other thinks more tax dollars will solve the problem. While it seems like a losing battle, I am glad that the City Council is at least attempting to tackle the issue. Milton Tilburn Washington, D.C. Fetterman’s team has kept up a steady stream of iconic meme moments. Is that how the country’s leaders should have to spend their time? No. But neither is making phone calls to rich donors several hours a day, and that has been going on for years. George Santos is showing the world just how powerful the attention economy is. It’s not a good thing. But ignoring reality is not a viable option. In order to fight for what actually matters — health care, say, or reducing housing costs — Democrats and progressives need to figure out how to play the game. WI

DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist Can You Buy a Senate Seat?

Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George's County Executive, is an energetic, knowledgeable public servant. An attorney, mom and activist, she led Maryland's largest county through the pandemic, providing much-needed assistance for needy citizens. Prince George's County is a heavily Black area next to Washington, D.C. It is also one of the wealthiest counties for Black people. Some of us jokingly call

it "Ward 9" because of its proximity to D.C. (which has eight wards) and because so many D.C. influentials live there. Angela is one of three Black women running for Democratic seats in the United States Senate in 2024 (Barbara Lee in California and Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware), and her main opponent in the Democratic primary is Democratic congressman and billionaire David Trone, who has three congressional terms and a liquor empire to his name. Trone (D) once said, "I'm willing to spend a lot more money than anybody

Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

else." He's done it before, spending more than $10 million on each of his congressional races. So far in the Senate race, Trone has spent $9.8 million of his own money. Alsobrooks, with a far more modest portfolio, has raised $3.3 million. She has 15 times more individual donors than Trone, who says he won't take PAC money and only wants small contributions. His willingness to spend more money than anyone else reflects the arrogance of wealth. It means he can buy anything, even a Senate seat. Trone says his self-financed cam-

paign means says it means he is not beholden to political action committees or other external financing organizations. It also means he is not accountable to anyone. While some of his work in Congress suggests that he might support good programs, like second chance legislation for ex-offenders, self-financing also means he is free to support the interests of the wealthy, especially around taxation and income distribution. Trone's decision to self-finance his campaign highlights his commitment to focusing solely on the needs of his

constituents without the influence of external financial organizations. By refusing PAC money, he aims to ensure that his policies and decisions are shaped solely by the interests of the people he represents. Trone has used his considerable wealth to support causes like his alma mater, Furman University, and cultural concerns like the Baltimore Symphony. But he has also supported Republican extremists who oppose a woman's right to choose. That ought to be a non-starter in blue

MALVEAUX Page 45

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III

You Are Entitled to Your Opinion, Not Your Own Facts

"Hamas and Putin … both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. … Hamas' stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them." — President Biden, Oct. 19, 2023

On Oct. 19, President Biden gave an Oval Office address. He was desperately trying to convince the nation to support his $105 billion military and humanitarian aid package for Israel, Ukraine and border efforts. His focus was on the wars between Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia. Biden's presentation was ahistorical, based upon supposition, personal bias and just wrong. One of Biden's constant underlying themes as he champions support for these failing efforts is that by supporting Israel and Ukraine, we're supporting "democracy." One of

Guest Columnist

the prevalent talking points about Israel is that it's the "only democracy in the Middle East." First off, there are many democracies in the Middle East, including Turkey and Algeria. As for the settler colonial state known as Israel, it is not a democracy. It is defined in its declaration of independence as a "Jewish state." Thus, all authorized political parties must acknowledge Israel as the state of the "Jewish People," meaning you cannot be elected to the Knesset (Parliament) if you call for a secular state for all its citizens. It seizes Palestinian land and destroys Palestinian homes, villages and

towns without judicial review. If you are Palestinian living in the "Occupied Territories," there is no democracy. In fact, democracy, freedom of self-determination and freedom from extra-judicial detainment and murder are a major part of what Hamas is fighting for. Ukraine is also not a democracy. The current conflict was not "unprovoked" as President Biden loves to claim. The U.S. overthrew the democratically elected government of Viktor Yanukovych in the Maidan Coup in 2014. The actions fomented by the U.S. put an end to democracy in Ukraine. As

author and columnist Branko Marcetic writes, "…understanding it is critical to understanding the ongoing standoff over Ukraine…" Dr. Jeffrey Sachs writes, "There were in fact two main U.S. provocations (to the conflict in Ukraine). The first was the U.S. intention to expand NATO to Ukraine and Georgia. … The second was the U.S. role in installing a Russophobic regime in Ukraine by the violent overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, in February 2014."

Reviving Fashion Fair Cosmetics under Rogers' leadership is not just a business venture, but a cultural resurgence — one that she is committed to preserving and evolving. Since its rebranding, Desiree and her partner Cheryl Mayberry McKissack have made it their mission to modernize the historic beauty brand to compete in today's beauty market. The company hired a black dermatologist to help create vegan, cruelty-free products and began testing their products on melanated skin. But even with these improvements, some won-

der if nostalgia and name recognition is enough for the brand to reclaim its former relevance. Unlike when Fashion Fair launched in the 1970s, it is reentering a market in what is arguably known as the golden era of Black beauty products. Over the last 10 years, popular Blackled brands including Beauty Bakerie, Fenty Beauty, Mented Cosmetics have emerged, offering as many as 40 foundation shades to its customers. And yet, even with a seemingly

LEON Page 45

Marc H. Morial

The Comeback of an Iconic Beauty Brand nities that I represent." — Desiree Rogers

"Having the confidence we need as Black women to get out there every day is not easy. Doors are opening, I'm happy about that, but once we get in that door, it's still not easy. Any little edge I can get, if it's my Nuditude lipstick, I'm happy to have that edge that makes me feel comfortable to be able to do a presentation that I have to do and to get people to support the two brands and the commu-

26 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

Trendsetting. Pioneering. Elegant. Iconic. The year was 1973 when Eunice W. Johnson, wife of Ebony magazine founder John H. Johnson and founder of Ebony's Fashion Fair show, introduced Fashion Fair Cosmetics to the world. The line was created in direct response to the difficulty Ebony Fashion Fair's runway models had in sourcing makeup for their different skin tones. Recognizing this gap, Eunice's makeup line

quickly became a symbol of empowerment and representation. However, in 2018, after years of challenges and a period of decline due to an emerging competitive market, Fashion Fair cosmetics filed for bankruptcy. Three years later, in 2021, Fashion Fair cosmetics was officially brought back to life, marking a return to its roots, and reclaiming its space in an industry it helped revolutionize over 30 years ago — all with New Orleans native Desiree Rogers at the helm as the company's new CEO and co-owner.

MORIAL Page 45

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.)

Year-End Daydreaming

Happy and blessed holidays to all. I'm indeed blessed to know that you read what I write. Despite all the horrors that have happened, many of you've been kind enough to let me know what you're thinking. Again, I'm going to let you know what I'm thinking! What if we talk a bit about year-end politics? What if we take away the titles of D's, R's and I's

from those parties because some of them have done some scary things the past year — some scarier than others? What if we require candidates for office to explain what they will do to resolve the problems the people they represent face daily? If they're running for the first time, just tell us what you're going to do for us. Tell us about the things you've already done to prove to us you can do what you're now promising us to do. If you've already served in the office for which you are now run-

Guest Columnist

ning, tell us what you promised to do to help us when you ran. Tell us if you did it. If not, why not, and why should we give you another chance? Tell us what you're planning to do to help us if you're reelected. Let opponents speak for themselves. You have to admit that positive accomplishments during the past year have been slim to none in many areas and by many who want another chance. We would then ask ourselves if we want to continue electing people if they continuously fail to honor their promises.

Before they're a part of sending our billions of dollars to other nations, do leaders even bother to approve what recipients did with the last funds and equipment we sent? When we receive grants from our government, we must show what we're going to do with the funds, and in the end, we must prove we did it or we won't get any more. Our current system for what our tax dollars are donating is not working for those of us who pay taxes. When those we elect don't do things to help us with what we hold dearly, they must stop clog-

ging up our mail and telephones and being granted the opportunity to tell more lies. All candidates should have a checklist of accomplishments and no opportunity to run on just bad-mouthing and blaming opponents for what they did or didn't do. In the coming year, can we stop blaming everything on young people? Let's ask ourselves what we've done to give them a fair chance in life — such as having adequate

summer. Similarly, the Teamsters were prepared to walk off the job at UPS but ultimately didn't have to, using the leverage of a 97% strike authorization vote to land a historic contract. Perhaps the year's highest-profile worker action came from the United Auto Workers. In an unprecedented gambit, the union went on strike against all of the Big Three automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis — at the same time. UAW now has contracts with all three companies

that include life-changing raises of up to 160%, as well as greater retirement security and union protections for those working on electric vehicles. When workers are able to organize, bargain collectively and go on strike when necessary, the benefits are felt especially in communities of color. Unionization has been an economic lifeline for generations of Black people, in the public as well as the private

WILLIAMS Page 46

Lee Saunders

Union Momentum is Strong Heading Into 2024

When working people stand together, raise their voice and show their power, they win. That's the lesson of 2023, a year in which workers boldly asserted their rights and refused to accept less than their fair share of the value they create. Through October, nearly 500,000 workers had taken

the courageous step of going on strike this year, three times the number that did during the first 10 months of 2022. And almost 900,000 union workers have won pay hikes of at least 10% over the past year. AFSCME affiliates across the country have been a part of this wave of strike activity. From workers in Yamhill County, Oregon, to employees in the Morgan County, Ohio, school district, AFSCME members withheld their labor until their employer afforded them

Guest Columnist

the respect they deserve. This is happening across the economy — from health care to hospitality. Writers, actors and other workers in the entertainment industry hung together for months until they finally got a better deal from their employers. Sometimes, just the threat of a strike forces management to soften and cede to workers' demands. That's what happened in the standoff between the city of San Jose, California and the Municipal Employees' Federation–AFSCME Local 101 this

SAUNDERS Page 46

Ben Jealous

'Common Ground' is a Testament to the Power of Film to Change Hearts and Minds

Soil. It's where our food comes from and the foundation of all life on land. The way human beings have traditionally farmed in the modern era devastates the soil. It impacts the quality of the food that people and farmed animals eat, and thus our collective health. It's not sustainable, vastly reduc-

ing the amount of farmable land available to us and our ability to continue to feed the planet. There's a solution. One that we need to consider carefully, that offers a path towards sustainability and environmental health. It's called regenerative farming. The recent documentary film "Common Ground" provides a groundbreaking look into this critically important crisis and how we can fix it with regenerative farming. Normally when I'm asked to watch the latest "envi-

ronmental documentary," I admit to being susceptible to that mild sense of dread we all get when we're about to be presented with the problems of the world further solidified before our eyes. But "Common Ground" is anything but bleak. To the contrary, it offers desperately needed hope at a time when environmental degradation, the climate crisis, the extinction crisis, and threats to our natural resources are driving cynicism among even the most optimistic.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

"Common Ground" explores how, as Gabe Brown, a Bismarck, North Dakota, regenerative rancher featured in film, puts it, the current dominant system industrial agriculture, "is working to kill things," while regenerative agriculture "works in harmony and synchrony with nature, with life." The status quo system of industrial agriculture abuses and degrades our soil with tillage, synthetic substances, monocultures — that is, the cultivation of

just one crop in a given area — and not sequestering carbon. Regenerative agriculture, in short, doesn't rely on these things. In contrast, it relies on methods that protect the soil and offers a sustainable, healthy alternative. Even before today's high-tech agribusiness, industrial farming methods used by small and large farmers alike were causing devastation to our topsoil. Brown points out that the Dust

JEALOUS Page 46 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 27

EDUCATION Fighting Educational Injustice, One Nap at a Time By Joseph Williams Word in Black

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). It seems counterintuitive: rest as a radical act, a vehicle for educational and social change and racial healing. Yet the connection became real to Shawn Ginwright, a Harvard professor, community organizer, and social activist, one sleepless night back in 2001. “I was teaching at Santa Clara

University,” in California and his wife, Nedra, had just given birth to their daughter, he said. At the same time, “I was the executive director of a nonprofit in Oakland and constantly raising money, and I was leading a series of youth organizing sessions with young people.” Ginwright thought he could power through the increasingly heavy workload. But he couldn’t outrun the run-and-gun pressure he’d piled on himself. “I woke up in a sweat, and I just couldn’t sleep,” Ginwright said in a recent interview with Ed., a journal of the Harvard University Gradu-

The only

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Don’t buy animals as presents.

28 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

(WI File Photo/Ja'Mon Jackson)

ate School of Education. “I was so stressed and worried about failing to raise money, not being good enough at teaching, and, most importantly, not being there for my daughter. I walked into the living room and broke down crying.” He tried to suppress it — “One voice, the strong baritone Black man, stood up and said, ‘Hey you a grown a– man. Suck it up and keep it moving’” — but tears erupted into full-on, “snotty-nosed” sobs. But then, said Ginwright, whose work focuses on poverty, underserved Black youth, and healing racial trauma, “another voice, one that I’d really never heard before, said, ‘It’s OK, man — you are so hard on yourself. Just let go of all this sh-t you’ve been carrying.’” His wife heard him, consoled him, and the couple talked. It became clear “that I needed to make a different choice about how I wanted to live,” he said. “I remember reading somewhere this quote: ‘I choose peace of mind, instead of this.’” With that, Ginwright decided to incorporate rest in a busy routine — not an easy task, given the many different hats he wears in his professional life. In addition to research and teaching at Harvard, Ginwright is founder of Flourish Agenda, a California-based nonprofit centered on teaching trauma-informed classroom strategies that can help Black youth cope with poverty, violence, and systemic racism. He also runs Camp Akili, designed to build connections among youth of color and

“One voice, the strong baritone Black man, stood up and said, ‘Hey you a grown a– man. Suck it up and keep it moving’” — but tears erupted into full-on, “snotty-nosed” sobs. help them better understand and deal with their own mental health challenges. For example, surveys show a disproportionate number of Black students say they’ve had at least three adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, growing up. Those experiences include witnessing or dealing with poverty, violence, or abuse at home. ACEs, meanwhile, can affect how teachers teach, how children learn, and whether classrooms are disciplined. Studies show children with three or more ACEs are far more likely to have attendance and behavior issues — and suffer academic failure — than their peers. Reversing those trends is an element of Ginwright’s grand vision: bringing mental health care to young people. His concept is to meet Black and brown youths

where they are so that conversations about emotional well-being can happen anywhere — on basketball courts, in beauty salons, or barber shop chairs. Too often, people involved in social justice movements, healing racial trauma, or teaching, often neglect their own well-being for the greater good, Ginwright says. “They are expected to grind and burn their way through the challenges. This is particularly the case for social educators, who assume that there is not much time for their own rest because there is so much suffering and injustice in our schools.”’ According to the RAND Corporation’s 2023 State of the American Teacher survey, some 63% of Black teachers reported experiencing burnout, compared to 55% of white teachers. Perhaps more disturbing: since the 2022 survey, the burnout rate has increased among Black teachers and decreased for white teachers. For Black teachers, rest may seem elusive, but Ginwright argues it should be a priority for anyone dedicated to advancing racial equity and inclusion — in or out of a classroom. Rest “allows us to take stock of what’s going on inside and shatters the myth that the only real social justice work happens outside of us,” Ginwright said. “Rest forces us to reconcile the close relationship between our inner journey and how we show up in the world on the outside.” WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LIFESTYLE WASHINGTON INFORMER WEEKEND CHECKLIST WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV! By Ra-Jah Kelly WI Contributing Writer Check out a handful of the many events happening in the DMV this weekend. To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar. It’s Christmas Eve so we’ve gathered some holiday happening in the DMV to keep your spirit--lit. Happy Holidays!

THURSDAY, DEC. 21

A Candlelight Christmas Time: 7 p.m. | $15+ Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20566 Celebrate the holiday season with The Washington Chorus' "A Candlelight Christmas," directed by Artistic Director Eugene Rogers. This concert, a cherished holiday tradition in the D.C. area, features vibrant brass, a dynamic chorus, and special guests. The evening includes performances by conductor Eugene Rogers, soloist Aaron Myers, National Capital Brass and Percussion, and Paul Byssainthe Jr. and Nathaniel Gumbs on organ and piano, along with Side-By-Side High School Choirs. The City of Mount Rainier Holiday Basket Distribution Time: Noon - 6 p.m. | Free, register to volunteer or receive a basket Mt Rainier Police Department, 3249 Rhode Island Ave. Mount Rainier, MD, 20712 The City of Mount Rainier invites community members to join its annual Holiday Food Basket Distribution Program this December. This program unites residents

in supporting those in need. Eligible Mount Rainier residents must pre-register online to receive one basket per household. Volunteers are needed for basket assembly on distribution day. Those interested can sign up online.

FRIDAY, DEC. 22

Ford's Theatre Presents "A Christmas Carol" Time: 7:30 p.m. | $77+ Ford's Theatre, 511 Tenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20004 Ford's Theatre presents "A Christmas Carol," a journey of transformation and redemption led by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. This music-infused production, originally conceived by Michael Baron, captures the magic of Dickens's classic. It features familiar characters, ghosts, and a children's ensemble, embodying the spirit of the holidays. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns as Ebenezer Scrooge. The production is celebrated as a "rich visual and vocal treat" (TheaterMania) and "infectiously jolly" (The Washington Post). Go-Go Symphony Presents: Twas the Night! Time: 7 p.m. | $25+ Union Stage, 740 Water Street SW, Washington, D.C., 20024 Check out a unique holiday experience with the "ClassicalJazzicalSpectacular" Christmas concert. This live event promises a memorable story, “Twas the Night,” blending classical symphony sounds with D.C.'s original go-go music. Founded by composer Liza

5 Candlelight Christmas at the Kennedy Center. (Courtesy Photo)

Figueroa Kravinsky, the GoGo Symphony, now in its 10th year, features classically trained musicians alongside D.C. go-go vocalists, dancers, and legends. Special guest drummer “JuJu” Julius House, the GoGo Symphony Honorary Master, will perform.

SATURDAY, DEC. 23

Samara Joy | A Joyful Holiday featuring The McLendon Family Time: 8 p.m. | $38.5+ The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Md., 20852 Join rising jazz star Samara Joy, for "A Joyful Holiday." At just 24, the artist has won 2023 GRAMMY Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist. Her debut album, "Samara Joy," released in 2021, led to her being named Best New Artist by JazzTimes. Samara Joy hails from a musical family. Her father, Antonio McLendon, is a singer and bassist who toured with gospel star Andraé Crouch. Her parents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, are singers in the Philadelphia gospel group The Savettes.

“A Very Maysa Christmas.” Known for her solo work and vocals with the British band Incognito, Leak has released 17 albums since the 1990s. Her accolades include a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Quiet Fire" in 2014 and a Soul Train Music Certified Award for "Love Me Good" in 2009.

SUNDAY, DEC. 24

Enchant | Reindeer Games Time: 4:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. | $27+ Nationals Park, 1500 S Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C., 20003 Enchant, the world's largest Christmas light maze and village, returns to Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. This year features a new maze adventure, "Reindeer Games," along with many holiday-themed attractions. Glide on real ice through a forest of dazzling Christmas lights on

the Ice Skating Trail. Meet Santa at Santa's Landing in the Enchant Village and see if you're on the naughty or nice list. Wander through the Village of Storefronts for a festive shopping experience and savor holiday treats and snacks from food vendors. Christmas Eve Premier Dinner Cruise Time: 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | $150.00 City Cruises, 580 Water St SW, Washington, DC, 20024 Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Premier Dinner Cruise on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Guests will enjoy a three-course, plated dinner, prepared on board by our chef, along with full bar service and City Cruises' distinctive hospitality. The cruise offers exceptional views of Washington, D.C.'s iconic landmarks, complemented by DJ entertainment and festive décor. Enjoy a memorable holiday celebration on the water. WI

4 GoGo Symphony Presents Twas the Night!

A Very MAYSA Christmas Time: 7:30 p.m. | $69.50 The Birchmere, 3701 Mount V ernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA Maysa Leak, the American jazz and R&B singer from Baltimore, Maryland, will perform her classics and hits from the 2014 album

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 29

LIFESTYLE

Oprah Winfrey Portrait Unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Oprah Winfrey called it an unimaginable dream, when considering her portrait was revealed Wednesday at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Painted by Chicago artist Shawn Michael Warren, a few hundred people gasped and applauded when the drape was pulled from the painting. Winfrey was shown standing in her prayer

garden at her home in Montecito, California wearing a purple taffeta dress designed by Christian Siriano. The framed portrait is nearly seven feet tall and was unveiled in the museum’s Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. The commissioned work of art is now hanging at the Portrait Gallery for public viewing. In her remarks, Winfrey reflected on her feelings leading up to the unveiling when gazing out her window from her home. Winfrey’s gratitude

was felt through an emotional message. “The view was so beautiful. The light was so perfect,” said Winfrey. “I stepped back and did a rewind to ensure that I was alive and breathing, and it wasn't just in a dream.” Warren noted the incredible honor to have painted a piece for the National Portrait Gallery. “It's been a pleasure to add your portrait to this institution into the canons of art history,” said Warren, who introduced Winfrey. “Understanding the tradition of the art of portraiture, you could have chosen anyone. But you saw fit that an artist from the place you called home during your rise to prominence should be given this honor.” Painting Winfrey is not new for Warren. One of his latest works is a life-size mural of Winfrey co-created with artists Jane Barthes, Anna Murphy, and Kalan Strauss in 2020. That mural is located in Chicago’s West Loop, where Winfrey’s Harpo Studios filmed The Oprah Winfrey Show. In introducing Winfrey, his words were directed not only to a

4 The newly commissioned portrait of Oprah Winfrey was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on Dec. 13. (L-R) Chicago-based artist Shawn Michael Warren, who painted the portrait, and media mogul Oprah Winfrey. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

media mogul, but his friend and muse. Winfrey has long supported the Smithsonian, especially the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her verbal and financial support has been acknowledged in many ways, including an auditorium in her name in that museum. Lonnie G. Bunch, III, Ph.D. 14th secretary of the Smithsonian spoke about Winfrey’s impact.

“Being part of the Smithsonian means that you are permanently remembered. It's an honor not everybody gets, but it's well deserved,” said Bunch. “I think what Oprah has helped us do is she helped America understand who we are today. More importantly, Oprah pointed America toward what it can become.” Gayle King, CBS Morning’s

OPRAH Page 32

“The Color Purple” Uplifts Women and Men Cheryl Mann

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER WITH GUEST MC KURTIS BLOW

Tue–Fri, Dec 19–22 (limited tickets available for Friday!)

Tchaikovsky’s classic score, reimagined with explosive hip-hop choreography, all-star dancers, an on-stage DJ, and an electric violinist.

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30 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

The long-awaited release of the musical “The Color Purple” will be in theaters on Christmas Day. Truly, this film is “all that” and more. Executive-produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, and Quincy Jones, this reimagined musical version should not be compared to the original movie or the Broadway musical of Alice Walker’s novel. Walker has said this current movie musical is closer to her book, which received a 1983 Pulitzer Prize. Director Blitz Bazawule and Winfrey were clear in their casting desires for this film. Bazawule admitted to being hesitant to direct “The Color Purple.” His goal was to expand the imagination of the character Celie, portrayed by Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, to show her dreams come forth.

“‘The Color Purple’ is sacred ground. You just don’t show up with nothing to offer, nothing to contribute,” said Bazawule in an interview on “The View.” Most of the focus for “The Color Purple” is on the women. They transform to reveal and face their truth. In addition to Barrino-Taylor, key actresses are Danielle Brooks and Taraji P. Henson, a D.C. area native and Howard University alumna. With Oscar and Golden Globe nominations among her accomplishments, Henson was considered the veteran among her sister actresses. She is another DC area native having grown up in Montgomery County, Maryland, graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. The key male characters were also transformed. Currently receiving great reviews as Bayard Rustin, in the movie “Rustin,” Colman Domin-

go plays Mister. As Mister’s son Harpo, Corey Hawkins desires to be a good mate to the strong-minded, self-respecting Sofia, played by Brooks. Coincidentally, Hawkins and Brooks were classmates at Julliard. Hawkins is also a D.C. native, who graduated from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts. “He is the one that gets to make a choice to change,” said Hawkins about his character Harpo during an interview on CBS Mornings. “If he can do it back then, it is a beacon for this generation in terms of Black love and the many different facets of it. Through all our abuse, through all the trauma, there is joy and possibility. Harpo’s and Sofia’s love represents that.” Much has been said about surprise actor appearances in the movie, which is another reason to see “The Color Purple.” “The Color Purple” is for all of us. WI @bcscomm

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LIFESTYLE

HOPE from Page 1

LIFEGUARD from Page 1

of whom participated in the Family First Parenting Program for 10 weeks alongside Carpenter. That afternoon, Carpenter’s children, along with dozens of other children and teenagers, received toys, bikes, athletic gear and a bevy of other holiday gifts, courtesy of the D.C. United Foundation and Malloy Law. Carpenter, a 40-year-old Northeast resident, expressed her excitement about being back with her family. She told The Informer that, after changing her mindrame through the HOPE Foundation, she plans to make up for lost time with her children and pursue entrepreneurial endeavors that stalled during her time away. “The best thing you can do is [participate in the] programming and read,” Carpenter said. “The programming keeps you sane. It helps you focus on the positive and not the negative. I’m getting back to the money. I ran into a lot of good people with smarts. A lot of people in jail don’t belong there.”

Northwest hospital twice, Julius Jefferson, Jazzmin’s father, told The Informer. Mr. Jefferson said his daughter, 21, showed a passion for improving work conditions while working as a DPR lifeguard. Those conditions, he said, include what he described as DPR’s penchant for opening indoor and outdoor pools without at least three on-duty lifeguards present. As his daughter lays in the hospital, Mr. Jefferson continues to question whether DPR had enough lifeguards in the pool area on the evening of Nov. 29 when she fell out of her lifeguard chair and into the pool. In his call for an investigation, Mr. Jefferson also cited questions about the whereabouts of other lifeguards in the nearly 10 minutes his daughter was in the pool by herself. “This shows that we're not being kept safe on the streets… and the employees who work for the District government can't be kept safe at their jobs,” Mr. Jefferson said. “Every employee should have an expectation that they will return home safely and this was not the case. It's systemic within our District government.”

THE HOPE FOUNDATION AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COLLABORATE AROUND REUNIFICATION

The HOPE Foundation’s Season of Giving Initiative is in its second year. In total, 120 children received holiday gifts. They also received holiday cards from 51 incarcerated parents. As of Dec. 4, nearly three out of four women and more than half of the men in the custody of D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) reported having children. Parents who are DOC residents have an average of two children, a DOC spokesperson said. They added that, given the average age of parents standing between 34 and 37 years, it’s likely that a significant number of these children are under the age of 18. For 14 years, the HOPE Foundation has provided programming for parents, and others in DOC custody, that’s centered on life skills, anger management, substance use recovery support, and job readiness. Through the Family First Parenting Program, CTF residents, who are either pre-trial defendants or serving time for misdemeanors, learn the skills deemed essential for family reunifica-

5 Washington Informer writer Sam P.K. Collins (l) interviewing Founder & Ceo of The HOPE Foundation Corey Knight (r). (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

tion and sustainable relationships. Under the auspices of HOPE Foundation founder and executive director Corey Knight and others, they receive information about child development and best parenting practices, including effective communication, discipline strategies, and conflict resolution. This program is in its ninth year at D.C. Jail. Two weeks before families met in the Marion Barry Room at Busboys & Poets Anacostia, Knights’ students gathered in the gymnasium of CTF for a holiday get-together of their own. For hours, they ate a hearty meal catered by Community Cafe Express while speaking among one another as the sounds of go-go and hip-hop emanated through the space. They also created their heartfelt and thought-provoking holiday cards for their children and loved ones. Before doing so, CTF residents heard words of encouragement from Knight, DOC Deputy Director Jacqueline Williams, Marky Mark of radio’s WKYS 93.9, and Charles King of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. They also participated in an icebreaker where they shared their name and what they learned in the Family First Parenting Program. Knight, a returning citizen and one of several who advocated for the passage of a 2020 law helping children of incarcerated parents, told The Informer that all the aforementioned elements made the holiday season a bit easier for families that have been broken apart. “I thought about the children not being able to get holiday gifts,” Knight said. “We wanted to respect all religions and we wanted to make sure we supported the children of incarcerated parents. We also wanted to bring peo-

ple together to talk about families and children.” Williams, DOC’s deputy director for education, case management and reentry services, said DOC’s partnership advances its goal of family reunification. “Everybody that walks through here has to return home and we have to create a space where they are transforming their lives so they can contribute to society and be healthy and whole,” Williams told The Informer. “This helps families see the difference in the residents so the doors aren’t closed in these relationships.”

DOC RESIDENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS REFLECT ON THEIR SITUATIONS

On the evening of Dec. 16, a CTF resident who asked to be identified as Cray wrote a holiday card for her five-year-old daughter while in CTF’s gymnasium. Even with her daughter’s weekly visits and their daily phone calls, Cray admits that life has been difficult for both of them. Being in HOPE Foundation’s parenting class, she said, helps her look toward the future. “Being a parent isn't easy when you’re alleged to [have] commit[ed] a crime,” Cray said. “I got to start thinking about my decisions and how they affect my daughter. Parents have to be the best version of themselves. I want to make sure my children don’t have any struggles. It’s not easy.” Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com WI @SamPKCollins

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LIFEGUARD SHORTAGES AND CONTINGENCY PLANS

This summer, as patrons frequented DPR aquatic centers and pools, DPR officials endeavored to keep them safe and the water clean. Amid staff shortages, that meant lifeguards sometimes filling in for their colleagues at other DPR sites. It also meant that some DPR sites operated pools with fewer than the number of lifeguards required. Depending on the size of the pool, DPR aquatic centers and pools need at least three or four lifeguards on site. As two lifeguards sit atop their chairs, watching patrons from opposite sides of the pool, at least one other lifeguard, known as a pool operator, is checking pH levels and walking between the pool and pump room when needed. The pool operator’s job, a DPR lifeguard told The Informer, happens in one hour intervals. The lifeguard, who requested anonymity, currently serves as a DPR pool manager. Their responsibilities include practicing responses to scenarios with lifeguards, ensuring that lifeguards properly sit in their seats,

and consulting upper management at their DPR site during staffing shortages. The lifeguard said running a pool effectively can be difficult with two lifeguards, neither of whom can take a break while watching the pool and maintaining the pool’s chemical balance. Only time they could take a break, the lifeguard added, was if upper management came down during their lunch hour to relieve them of their duties. They went on to add that, with only two lifeguards on duty, only one lifeguard can sit up on the chair at a time. During those occasions, lifeguards close off certain parts of the pool. If they are unable to do so, they run the risk of having blind spots caused by the glare of the sun and structural blockages, the lifeguard said. “We could do our job but we wouldn’t do it as well as we would when we have a full staff,” the lifeguard said. “You’re not able to watch the [whole] pool. You have to check the sides. You might be in the pump room when an incident happens. With a full staff, lifeguards would be on deck during an incident and you would be fine.” According to an MPD public incident report, a person by the name of Camila Rezende Salgado recovered Jazmin Jefferson from the pool at Roosevelt Aquatic Center on the evening of Nov. 29. Salgado, designated as “Reporting Party-1,” immediately began performing CPR before D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported Jazmin Jefferson to the hospital. The report didn’t specify whether Salgado was a DPR employee on duty that evening. The Informer couldn’t reach Salgado at her residence nor did she respond to a written request for comment. This incident counts among at least three taking place at DPR pools this year. In early March, a patron at Takoma Park Recreation Pool was pronounced dead after another patron reported her “floating on her back and bearing off to the left,”to DPR staff, according to an MPD public incident report. In July, a man and woman were hospitalized after being found unconscious at the bottom of the deep end of the pool at Theodore Hagans Cultural Center in Northeast. Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com WI @SamPKCollins

DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 31

LIFESTYLE

The Madison Hotel Marks 60th Anniversary with Celebration, Special Offers, Philanthropy By Ra-Jah Kelly WI Contributing Writer

5 The Madison’s Executive Chef David Nvodjo, has been very intentional about adding diversity and delicious fare to the menu for the luxury hotel, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. (Courtesy Photo/Jessica Rose Hood for the Madison)

The Madison Hotel, which opened its doors in 1963, recently marked 60 years with a celebratory event and is continuing to commemorate the milestone anniversary with special promotions. The hotel, named in honor of the fourth U.S. President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison, commemorated 60 years in the venue’s Potomac Room. There, guests were treated to a se-

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, t/a Events DC Bid Opportunity Property Management Operations (PMO) requires a The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, t/a Events DC, is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Promotional and Specialty Items. This Request for Proposal (RFP)) is only open to District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development certified local, small, or disadvantaged business enterprises. Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-procurement website at https://eventsdc. bonfirehub.com/projects. Key Dates RFP Release Date: RFP Questions Due Date: Proposal Due Date:

Friday, December 22, 2023 5:00 PM EST, Thursday, January 11, 2024 5:00 PM EST, Monday, January 22, 2024

Primary Contact Name: Jaylah Dawson / Email: Jdawson@eventsdc.com / Phone : 202-249-3072

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC Bid Opportunity The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Live Event Video Production Services to work with Events DC and clients to plan and produce original, engaging content that engages audiences through storytelling about an event’s history, featured talent, community impact, and overall experience. This Request for Proposal (RFP)) is only open to District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development certified local, small, or disadvantaged business enterprises. Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-procurement website at https://eventsdc.com/ about/procurement. Key Dates RFP Release Date: Friday, December 22, 2023 RFP Questions Due Date: 12:00 PM EST, Thursday, January 11, 2024 Proposal Due Date: 5:00 PM EST, Monday, January 22, 2024 Primary Contact Name: Jaylah Dawson / Email: Jdawson@eventsdc.com / Phone : 202-249-3072

32 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

lection of appetizers and specialty cocktails, curated by The Madison’s Executive Chef David Nvodjo. “What I do, and I do it very well, is make sure we produce very good food,” said Nvodjo, emphasizing the diversity and quality of his culinary creations, such as the by-request 'Taste of Africa' menu, which incorporates dishes from various African countries. Creating memorable, grand experiences is a part of The Madison’s six-decade history. Noted as Washington's pioneer in modern luxury accommodations, The Madison initially offered rooms at a then-premium rate of $27 a night. Since the beginning of The Madison, the hotel has played host to influential guests-- from President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy (Onassis), to Frank Sinatra, Muhammed Ali, and Nelson Mandela. In line with the celebration, The Madison is offering a special 60th anniversary package available until Dec. 31. This includes a stay

in a Classic King guest room for $196.30 per night-- honoring the hotel's opening year-- and additional perks like complimentary cocktails, Astor chocolates, valet parking, and late checkout. Guests can redeem this offer by using the promo code ‘ES2’ on the hotel’s website. While celebrating 60 years, The Madison is also giving back, with a particular focus on community and education. The hotel announced that 50% of the proceeds from their 60th-anniversary cocktail, ‘The James’, will be donated to the Washington School for Girls, supporting the institution's scholarship-based education for young girls. Azza Bell, The Madison’s director of Sales and Marketing, expressed her team’s enthusiasm about the 60th anniversary, while also sharing their vision for the future. “Today we are exhilarated to be part of this legendary hotel and look forward to another 60 years of history-making.” WI

OPRAH from Page 30

tural hub in which Miss Winfrey and I deposited our contribution to art history in world history,” said Warren. “We are leaving with one request. That the Portrait Gallery continues to guide, protect, and foster meaningful relationships with artists. That includes the social part of chronicling, the game changers, and happenings of our society.” The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and G Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. The Oprah Winfrey portrait is a part of the permanent collection at the gallery. WI @bcscomm

co-anchor and Winfrey’s best friend, was in the audience for the occasion. “She didn’t know what she was going to say,” said King. “But of course, she spoke from her heart. She was Oprah.” Warren emphasized the importance of Winfrey’s likeness in a place like the National Portrait Gallery, which attracts people from around the nation and world. He offered a call for the arts institution. “Thank you for being the cul-

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 33

How many candy canes can you find in this box?

Seeing Double

Gingerbread houses come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Can you find the two gingerbread houses that look exactly alike?

Ask a friend nouns (pers three verbs and walk). U blanks in th to share som

STUFF YOU’LL NEED:

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powdered sugar Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.

graham crackers

shredded coconut bread knife

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pretzel sticks

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make icing by mixing 2 cups powdered sugar with 3 to 4 tablespoons milk. Whip until it is the consistency of toothpaste.

Using a gentle sawing motion, carefully cut the corners of two graham crackers with a bread knife.

Next, carefully cut a full size graham cracker in half.

Squeeze a line of icing from bag along edge of graham cracker wall.

Put icing in zipper plastic bag. Snip a tiny hole in a bottom corner of the bag.

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assorted candies

More decorating ideas! Frost ice cream cones to make trees. Add candy ornaments.

Attach graham cracker wall as shown.

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________ Licorice ropes form pathways. Keep attaching walls and Frost roof and sprinkle roof panels with icing. with coconut flakes.

How many candy canes are on this page?

Use marshmallows, pretzel sticks and candies to make snowmen.

Use icing and pretzel sticks to make a fence for your house.

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Make your own holiday cards or gift tags by clipping out words and pictures from your newspaper or printing them from the online edition. Paste these onto paper to make into a card or gift tag. Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

Winter Clues

Look through the newspaper for ten or more clues that it is winter in your town. Write a paragraph describing the winter holidays in your town. Incorporate words that you found in the newspaper. Standards Link: Writing Applications: Use descriptive language that clarifies and enhances ideas.

Finish this sentence and then write five details about your home.

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34 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

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With hund Kid Scoop features six high-intere activities fo school! Ge sample tod

wi book review "Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement" by Tanisha C. Ford c.2023, Amistad $32.99 / 353 pages By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer The One Percent has everything you do not. A fancy house in a posh place. Designer clothing, fast cars. Friends in high places that know how to get things done. And money, they have lots of that. The One Percent has it all, and more — and as you'll see in "Our Secret Society" by Tanisha C. Ford, they once wanted you to have it, too. Mollie Moon knew what it was like to struggle. Born in 1907 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, she and her mother lived in a boardinghouse meant for migrants when Mollie was a baby. Later, Mollie's new stepfather moved the family to Gary, Indiana, where Mollie witnessed "economic instability" caused by mill shutdowns. When she was ready to attend college, her mother hoped Mollie would become a pharmacist, which was "one of the most prestigious careers a Negro … could have in the 1920s" but that wasn't what Mollie wanted. As a young woman, she left Gary and moved to New York City, to Harlem, hoping to "make a deep social impact." There, she met some of Harlem's elite performers and thinkers, whom she joined in Moscow, then on to Berlin. Rising Nazi influence forced Mollie home to New York where she met Henry Lee Moon, who would one day be her third husband. With the contacts she'd made in her travels, the strategic friendships she enjoyed with both Black and white elites, and the feeling that "Negroes deserved a taste of the good life too," Mollie honed her skills as a fundraiser for the Harlem Community Arts Center, and then for National Urban League. She and Henry were "a racial-justice power couple" and they used that power to help large organizations to better the lives of Black people all over the country. As time passed and viewpoints changed, however, some "found it difficult to define the role Mollie played." She still had influence, Ford says, yet "she did not fit the mold of a civil rights leader." But someone waiting in the wings did … Reading "Our Secret Society" is a little like taking a trip through time. Author Tanisha C. Ford first transports readers back to a more genteel era when Jazz-Age folks dressed for dinner, upper-crust youth enjoyed a new permissiveness, and higher-class citizens held salons in their homes to discuss world affairs. Ford makes this seem like a movie script from a period film, and it's oddly soothing. But as the world changed, so does Ford's story and it's quite fascinating to see how Mollie Moon seized the social power she needed with determination, moving easily across racial boundaries at a time when such boundaries seemed like solid walls. Given this, it's with dread that you'll approach the latter third of this book, as Ford takes readers to the 1960s and a little slippage of Mollie Moon's influence. Still, you'll wish you knew Miss Mollie and for sure, you shouldn't miss "Our Secret Society." You need to know about this almost-hidden slice of history. You'll like this book one hundred percent. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE DEC. 21 - 27, 2023

ARIES On Monday, you express yourself clearly without having to think about it, a necessary skill when pies and rubber chickens are flying through the air. On Tuesday, those pies start smacking into things and splattering everywhere. Cleaning and emotional clearing are the order of the day on Wednesday. Thursday grants you enough free time for adventure, and Friday will tease your heart in other ways. This weekend returns you to planet Earth. Lucky Numbers: 15, 22, 23 TAURUS Even if you win this race, you aren't guaranteed to win the tournament. A cautious pace is the smarter way to proceed at the beginning of the week. Air your strategy among friends on Tuesday and Wednesday and be open to their input. You will be surprised by how inspiring their ideas are. Thursday will lack inspiration almost entirely, and Friday will test your tolerance further. But Saturday and Sunday? Fun followed by more fun. Lucky Numbers: 8, 27, 31 GEMINI You may not feel like you're getting a lot done at the start of the week, but you're laying the foundation for a fantastic future. You're meeting people who are going to become crucial to your advancement, and you're generating ideas that will only achieve full dimension. Toward the middle of the week, money is all you can think about, but someone snaps you out of it with a great debate on Thursday. On Friday put some newly generated ideas into action. Lucky Numbers: 7, 35, 50 CANCER Your irritability on Monday may cause you to break out of your rut, do things differently, and shrug off your usual routine as too usual, too routine. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you see your place in the world differently and you find yourself facing more possibility than ever before. Thursday finds you feeling huge, and by Friday you've become such a personality that someone may accuse you of showing off. Try to project a bit of modesty over the weekend. Lucky Numbers: 8, 18, 33 LEO A brainstorming session with your friends is in order. There are some brilliant ideas floating on the horizon. A social gathering on Monday could be a productive place to get things sorted out. On Tuesday and Wednesday, warmth and pride are major themes in your life and an ideal inspiration for some deep thinking. On Thursday, someone will pay you a compliment that makes your heart soar. Your creativity comes in handy on Friday, as does a certain amount of confidence and willpower. But Saturday and Sunday are all business:. Lucky Numbers: 3, 12, 30 VIRGO The most complicated problems are a snap for you on Monday. Your friend hasn't even finished explaining the nuances of a situation before you have a solution. Midweek, your energy comes from other people, which may lead you to want to be around as many people as possible. By Thursday, the social quotient may get a bit out of hand. If you're feeling overwhelmed, retreat. On Friday, flexibility is crucial, but Saturday and Sunday are going to go well. Lucky Numbers: 20, 25, 40 LIBRA What you need on Monday is someone you can spill your guts to. A trusty friend. Someone unshockable. You are entering new mental territory and need to talk things through with someone who can inspire you to share. Expect emotional flooding this week. Midweek, the water level is so high you may not want to come outside. But on Thursday you wake up buoyant and ready to take on anything. By Friday, you're regarded as an inspired leader. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9, 17 SCORPIO A funny little detail may turn into a big problem on Monday. So watch for banana peels in unlikely places. And if you have to sign anything, make sure you read all that microscopic writing toward the bottom of the form. Tuesday and Wednesday are, happily, the kind of days when everything goes your way without much effort on your part. In fact, the more you let go the better. But a clash with the boss on Thursday requires your full attention. Even after it's settled, you'd do well to be low-key on Friday. Low-key pleasures are on hand this weekend too. Lucky Numbers: 10, 29, 58 SAGITTARIUS On Monday, the more cakes you have in the oven the better. You never can tell how a cake is going to turn out. Maybe they'll all rise beautifully!. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll have little patience for flour and eggs, what with all the deep thinking you're doing. But after a long day's contemplation, knowing there's a cake in the fridge for dessert if you want it, is a true pleasure. Thursday and Friday are "have your cake and eat it too" days. Lucky Numbers: 3, 13, 50 CAPRICORN The best thing you can do for yourself on Monday is call a moratorium on small talk. People go on and on when they talk to you but you have too much else to do. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you're similarly in charge of the social dynamic. When an issue arises, you shoot it out of the air. But Thursday and Friday are less than brilliant days. Illusions and instances of greediness abound. Sunday is a research day. Lucky Numbers: 7, 46, 53 AQUARIUS This happens to you every once in a while and it never gets old: a sudden, beautiful, undeniable upsurge in your romantic life. Sadly, as you have experienced before, cloud nine is a place you visit, not a place you live. Midweek sees you readjusting to real life. No wonder you're cranky! But the opportunity to flex your creative muscles brings you some satisfaction on Friday. You'll feel grounded by Saturday and Sunday. Lucky Numbers: 2, 7, 47 PISCES It's understandable that you'd want all the facts at your disposal before you move forward, but that's not how the cards fall on Monday. You have to look into the future. You have to project. And then you have to step forward with as much confidence as you can muster. On Tuesday and Wednesday, that future begins to unfold, beginning with a problem in a partnership. This graduates to full-fledged emotional upheaval on Thursday, but by Friday you've turned the tables on the situation. This is the beginning of an incredible lucky streak. Everything goes your way this weekend. Lucky Numbers: 4, 14, 32

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 35

SPORTS The Cricket Celebration Bowl: More Than Just a Football Game Florida A&M University Defeats Howard 30-26 By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer The Cricket Celebration Bowl was more than appropriate for Saturday's Black National championship game between Howard University (HU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU). The game, played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia started in 2015 and pits the champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the other from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). In the end, after an entertaining

game that saw the lead go back and forth, it was number-five FAMU that came away with a hard-fought 30-26 victory to claim the title of Black National champion. The crowd of 41,108 (third largest in the history of the game) was treated to what was a veritable smorgasbord for HBCUs, featuring band competition, parties, honoring of alumni, a variety of vendors and a general opportunity for African Americans to celebrate the rich legacy and history of HBCUs and the role they have played in history. "This year's Bowl brought to-

5 Howard University football team (pictured) and Florida A&M University (FAMU) played against one another during the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on Dec. 16. FAMU was victorious. (Courtesy Photo)

gether two outstanding institutions with a history of success in academics and athletics," noted John T. Grant, Jr., executive director of the Cricket Celebration Bowl as well as the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, which is played every August to kick off the HBCU football season. "Because of [the schools’ histories], the fans brought an energy that was electric. You could not have had a more high-level game

5 Florida A&M University football team defeated Howard University in the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on Dec. 16. (Courtesy Photo)

36 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

than was played on Saturday. It was played like a championship should be played.” The goal for the Celebration Bowl is threefold: to bring a world class experience for student athletes; bring a world class experience for the fans; and a world class experience for the viewers who watch this event on national TV. The event always draws various celebrities, including current and former NFL players who attend HBCUs, but this year, there was a very special guest: Vice President Kamala Harris, a Howard University alumna. "We had a bonus for this year's bowl," said Grant, who could not hide his excitement. "The Vice President of the United States came out and engaged and participated. We are very, very grateful for that." "Tweety" Sweets, a 2007 Howard graduate, traveled by Greyhound from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta support her alma mater in the bowl. "During the season, I followed the Howard team and became attached to them," explained Sweets, an admitted avid fan of all HBCU sports. "They always showed character, played hard and they never quit. I became close to some of the parents and I decided to go to Atlanta to support them." Sweets continued, "It was my first time and I have to say that it

was a great experience. Not only were there fans and alums from Howard and FAMU, but I met people from North Carolina Central, North Carolina A&T, Norfolk State and other HBCUs. The fellowship and networking were tremendous. It was more like a large Black family reunion in December or a homecoming for HBCUs than a bowl game." Vaughn Wilson played football at FAMU during the late 80's before graduating in 1991. Since that time, he has been a major part of University's athletics. He offered his perspective on the Celebration Bowl experience. "The Celebration Bowl has become the pinnacle of HBCU sports," said Wilson, who serves as a photojournalist and writer among other duties. “I have been to the FCS playoffs for years and it cannot compare to the Celebration Bowl. The camaraderie between HBCUs at the event, including schools whose teams were not playing in the championship, is unmatched.” Wilson emphasized the feelings of togetherness that comes from the annual sporting event. “So many people refer to the Celebration Bowl as a family reunion. It is that and more,” he said. “ It's a celebration of [Black people] and our culture. I am honored and proud that FAMU played a role in it this year." WI

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CAPTURE the moment

The Hope Foundation hosted its Annual Season of Giving Initiative at Busboys and Poets in Southeast on Dec.16. Children enjoyed a special day filled with food, music, games, and gifts. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

More support for our community.

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 37

RELIGION Shiloh Baptist Church Presents Handel’s ‘Messiah’ for the 84th Year By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer For the last 84 years, the pastor and members of Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, D.C. have celebrated the Christmas season with a performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Dressed in black suits and dresses and accompanied by an orchestra, the senior choir put on an outstanding show under the leadership of Thomas Dixon Tyler,

ELECTION from Page 1 ber district ANC 7F08. Hayes,35, said that the ANC seat serves as the latest saga in her life of service and activism that started when she was a student at Jefferson Middle School in Southwest. Hours before winning the election, she relished what she called an opportunity to get back on track after the pandemic triggered the events landing her behind bars. “Our voices are not heard and our medical and food needs aren’t met,” Hayes said. “We also need education and programming so we don’t go back to what got us in here. There’s a big gap in treatment for men and women. We don’t get a chance to speak up and have our rights as Americans. We need to get this for everybody, all of us a whole. The [conditions] need to be better, all across the board.”

D.C. JAIL RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT CONDITIONS

In July, just months after being elected as an advisory neighborhood

38 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

minister of Worship, Evangelism and Discipleship. The concert is a signature event in the life of a historic church built in the mid 1800s. “Welcome to Christmas at Shiloh. We are just as excited to have you join us because this is an experience of worship as we lift the name of Jesus,” said Tyler. “We magnify, and we glorify even with sacred music.” Accompanied by an orchestra and Evelyn Simpson Currencommissioner, Bishop, serving a life sentence for a murder he said he didn’t commit, received a transfer to FBOP that ended his tenure. At the time of the transfer, he was petitioning for his early release via the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA). Hayes, a former D.C. Public Schools cook, will now serve as D.C. Jail’s third advisory neighborhood commissioner, walking in the footsteps of Bishop and Joel Caston, the latter of whom was elected as D.C. Jail’s first commissioner in 2021. In her role, Hayes will be able to attend ANC 7F’s monthly meetings virtually, and, as was the case for her predecessors, she will have an office where she can perform her duties. DOC Director Thomas Faust saluted Hayes for her history-making moment. "I want to congratulate Shameka Hayes on her election as the 7F08 advisory neighborhood commissioner,” Faust said. “Ms. Hayes is also making history as the first female DCDOC resident to assume this position. We look forward to collaborating with Commissioner Hayes in her new role

5 As part of the church’s Christmas tradition, Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, D.C. presented Handel’s “Messiah,” for the 84th year. (Screen grab/Hamil Harris)

ton on the pipe organ, the choir members sang the Christmas classic with inspiring voices who represented the majesty of the great choirs at Shiloh down through the years. “His name shall be called a wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father Prince of peace,”

said the Rev. Kevin Lamar Peterman, associate minister of Shiloh. “Written by George Fredrick Handel himself, this oratory has been sung on all seven continents… For 84 years we here at Shiloh have been giving color to that Messiah.” The Rev. Wallace Charles Smith, senior pastor at Shiloh, said: “We

5 Incarcerated citizen Shameka Hayes casting her vote during the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) Election. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

and working together to serve and support those in our custody.” The constituents of ANC 7F, which includes Benning, Dupont Hill, and parts of Hill East, learned about Hayes’ electoral victory on Thursday evening. Hayes ran against Seth Andrews, Paul Camby, Harold Cunningham, Demanne Cutchin, Keith Andrews, Travon Eliy, John Henri, Randy Shaw, Arik Simms, and Victor Simms. For four hours on Thursday, male and female residents of CTF who reg-

istered to vote in that single-member district, exercised their right to vote in CTF’s D.C. Public Library branch. Each of them filed into the library, one by one, filled out a pink ballot before slipping it in a box saying “ANC 7F08 Special Election Ballot Box.” To get on the special election ballot, candidates collected signatures on their unit. They then answered a questionnaire compiled by D.C.

ELECTION Page 43

“His name shall be called a wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father Prince of peace,” said the Rev. Kevin Lamar Peterman, associate minister of Shiloh. lift up a phrase that the Christmas season doesn't start until the ‘Messiah’ has been presented.” Part I of Messiah is sometimes called the "Christmas" portion. It is frequently performed during Advent concerts, sing-alongs, or as a Scratch Messiah. When performed in this way, it usually concludes with the song "Hallelujah.” There were several visiting artists who joined the Shiloh Senior Choir to sing several parts. “From an Afrocentric perspective the ‘Messiah’ represents the liberation of a people through music,” Tyler said in an interview. “Handel said when he was writing the ‘Messiah’ it felt like God was standing right beside him.” WI

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Pressure Makes Diamonds

In 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, when the Apostle Paul uses the words "We were under great pressure," it gets our attention, because he was stoned by a bunch of people and left for dead. Paul was beaten with rods three times, whipped with the lash, attacked by angry mobs, shipwrecked three times and spent a day and night dodging sharks in the open sea. He had a snakebite, he was criticized by unbelievers and believers, he had been arrested and he spent two years in jail without a trial. After all of that, Paul called these things "light and momentary afflictions." My government teacher in high school always said this to her students: "Pressure makes diamonds." I think she said it to make us feel better about all of the homework we had and all that was expected of us for her class. But it is true. Pressure and heat are the main ingredients to turn coal into diamonds, the hardest stone there is. The Lord makes us into jewels far beyond price and comparison in similar ways. He gives us tests and trials specifically designed for our personal circumstances to help us become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. Usually during these tests and trials, we are not very happy with the circumstances we are placed

in. Some of us may even complain from time to time. But ultimately, the Lord is blessing us. I think back through my life at the various trials and hard times I have gone through, and I would not go back and change them. An excellent example is when I had to learn how to speak with potential corporate sponsors for Georgia Avenue Day festival and parade. The first couple years were disastrous. But I had no choice but to keep trying. Eventually, sponsors got excited and became my friends, and I became a dynamic salesperson when reaching to potential sponsors. My sparkle was beginning to come through, turning me into an illustrious diamond! You can do it too. The key is simple: Don't quit. If you discontinue the pressure at

any time along the way, that lump of coal will never become a lovely diamond. Each of those experiences and trials have made me into the person that I am today. A diamond is one of the most expensive and precious of gems. Do you know how a diamond is made? It starts with a piece of coal. How could a piece of coal ever become a diamond? Deep in the earth, extreme pressure and time compresses and makes a diamond. A diamond is the toughest of gems and is just as useful to industry as it is useful and beautiful as jewelry. If we want to become a diamond kind of person, then we must willingly put up with the trials and tribulations that shape and form our character. WI

(301) 864-6070

The Lord makes us into jewels far beyond price and comparison in similar ways. He gives us tests and trials specifically designed for our personal circumstances to help us become more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

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DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 39

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724 Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849 Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

“Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness - Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland Assistant & Youth Pastor

40 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Third Street Church of God

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. / Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301.899.8885 – Fax 301.899.2555 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship 8:00 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Tuesday: 7:00 PM – Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: 12:30 PM – Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00 PM – Evening Bible Study Baptism - 3rd Sunday – Communion 4th Sunday Free Food Giveaway – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm “We are One in the Spirit” www.ssbcmd.org | secretary@ssbcmd.org

Campbell AME Church

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703

www.livingwatersmd.org

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday

Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Senior Pastor

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

All Nations Baptist Church

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor

Crusader Baptist Church

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!

623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661 Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day Elder Jonathan M. Carson Senior Pastor

5701 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Phone: 301 559-5262 Service and Times Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Wednesday - Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Web: shiloh7thday.org Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com "A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor 4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

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RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim Pastor 1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

“Where God is Praised, Christ is Obeyed, and People are Loved”

New Commandment Baptist Church

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

Promised Land Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Foggy 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

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."

All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Dr. Joseph D. Turner Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM Sunday School: 8:15 AM Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Israel Baptist Church

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor

602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon

Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study

Join us for our live broadcast every Friday at Noon!

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Denise Rolark Barnes - Publisher of The Washington Informer DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 41

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001348

2023 ADM 001340

2023 ADM 001350

2023 ADM 1370

2021 ADM 1689

Gregory O Haley Decedent

Rickisha Waller-Henderson Decedent

Lorna Smith Marshall Decedent

Elizabeth Spencer Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Sharon Legall 1325 G Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney

Bruce A. Marshall 4301 21st Street, NE Washington, DC 20018 Attorney

Michie Summers aka Michie K. Summers Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Date of first publication: 12/7/2023

Niya Vonkia Waller, whose address is 454 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rickisha Waller-Henderson who died on 10/23/2021 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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.

Herbert H Haley, Jr. Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 12/7/2023

Bruce A. Marshall, whose address is 4301 21st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lorna Smith Marshall who died on September 19, 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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.

Herbert H Haley, Jr., whose address is 5730 E Boniwood Turn, Clinton MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gregory O Haley who died on August 4, 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 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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.

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Niya Vonikia Waller Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Date of first publication: 12/7/2023 Bruce A. Marshall Personal Representative

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 Mika C. Summers-Gomillion, whose address is 9716 Calpor Ln., Ft. Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Michie K. Summers who died on June 17, 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Mika C. Summers-Gomillion Personal Representative

Jacobie Whitley 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Daun Spencer, D’Vaughn Spencer, and Leslie Spencer, whose addresses are 1130 46th Place, SE, Washington, DC 20019, 728 Hobonny Loop Longs, SC 29568 & 329 Leonard Rd., Salisbury, NC 28146, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Elizabeth Spencer who died on May 16, 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Daun Spencer D’Vaughn Spencer Leslie Spencer Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 186

2023 ADM 001385

2023 FEP 000120

2023 ADM 1378

2023 ADM 001086

Christopher Eugene Johnson Decedent

Marianela Quiroz Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

Erline Whitaker Decedent Sonya N. Armfield 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE Suite #1173 Washington DC 20008 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Linda Diane Murray, whose address is 2219 Roslyn Avenue District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Erline Whitaker who died on 11/29/2019 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Linda Diane Murray Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

42 DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023

Sylvia Bennett aka Sylvia Bennett-Gordon Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Sheena Renee Gordon-Roberts, whose address is 4928 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sylvia Bennett aka Sylvia Bennett-Gordon who died on June 2, 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 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Sheena Renee Gordon-Roberts 4928 7th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Personal Representative

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10/5/2023 Date of Death Edith V. Crutcher Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Sandra N. Barrett whose address is 610 East Landing Ridge Circle, Jefferson, NC 28640 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Edith V. Crutcher, deceased, by the Superior Court for Ashe County, State of North Carolina, on 11/17/2023. Service of process may be made upon Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20006 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. Apartment 916 and Garage No. 7B3, Watergate South, 700 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. 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: 12/7/2023

Patricia Johnson, whose address is 3692 Hayes Street NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Christopher Eugene Johnson who died on October 6, 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 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Patricia Johnson 3692 Hayes Street NE Washington, DC 20019 Personal Representative

Sandra N. Barrett Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Beatriz Suarez, whose address is 24 Mapleton Road, Toms River, NJ 08757, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Beatriz Suarez who died on February 5, 2022 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Beatriz Suarez Personal Representative

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2023 ADM 001306 Stanton D. Riley Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Linda F. Riley, whose address is 9711 Quiet Brook Ln, Clinton MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Stanton D. Riley who died on August 3, 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 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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: 12/7/2023 Linda F. Riley Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001366

2023 ADM 619

Marilyn Brown Edwards Decedent

James Edward Jacobson aka James Jacobson Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

Stacy R. Pace, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW Ste. 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Audrena Edwards, whose address is 4451 Telfair Blvd., Apt. 5111, Camp Springs, MD 20746, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Marilyn Brown Edwards who died on October 4, 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 6/7/2024. 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 6/7/2024, 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.

Sandra Marian Irish-Oien, whose address is 12281 41st Street, Saint Michael, MN 55376, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Edward Jacobson aka James Jacobson who died on 12/30/2022 with a Will and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 6/14/2024. 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 6/14/2024, 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: 12/7/2023

Date of first publication: 12/14/2023

Audrena Edwards Personal Representative

Sandra Marian Irish-Oien 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

2023 ADM 1142

2023 ADM 1391

2023 ADM 000975

Irene H. Joyner Decedent

McDonald Bullock Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

William A. Burnett aka William Aaron Burnett aka William Burnett Decedent

Lambert Samuel Joyner III, whose address is 305 Meadow Way, Landover, Maryland 20785, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Irene H. Joyner who died on 5/9/2023 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 6/21/2024. 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 6/21/2024, 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: 12/21/2023 Lambert Samuel Joyner III Personal Representative

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Samuel C. Hamilton, Esq. 8601 Georgia Ave. #503 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Edna B. Bostic, whose address is 3408 23rd Parkway, Temple Hills, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of McDonald Bullock who died on August 17, 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 6/21/2024. 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 6/21/2024, 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.

Phyllis S. Burnett, whose address is 5514 8th St. NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William A. Burnett aka William Aaron Burnett aka William Burnett who died on 11/10/2015 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 6/21/2024. 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 6/21/2024, 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: 12/21/2023 Edna B. Bostic Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 12/21/2023 Phyllis S. Burnett Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5 Incarcerated citizen Timothy Farrow places his vote during the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) Election. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

ELECTION from Page 38 Department of Corrections (DOC), the responses to which were given to voters living in CTF as part of a collaboration between DOC and the Office of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. While he didn’t reveal his choice for 7F08 advisory neighborhood commissioner, CTF resident Pedro Barber, 47, said he chose the person he felt represented the interests of his unit. In his fifth month inside the D.C. Jail, Barber told The Informer that he’s seeking more recreation time and resources to help him get on the right foot. “We have to [unite] as one,” Barber said. “There are certain things, like recreation time. We only get one hour a week. We’re on the unit all of the time. We’re also looking for something to help us get housing when we get back into society.” The passage of emergency public safety legislation this summer, once again, placed a spotlight on conditions at D.C. Jail. With more adult defendants receiving pre-trial detention, the numbers at the facility are gradually swelling, a source speaking on background said. D.C. Jail officials meanwhile continue to focus on rehabilitation and family reunification in their efforts to help residents weather the storm of incarceration. The Young Men Emerging Unit provides D.C. Jail residents, ages of 18 and 25, with the resources needed to change their behavior in preparation for their return to society. Caston founded the program in 2018 with Michael Woody. They served as mentors alongside Charles Fantroy, Halim Flowers, Momolou Stewart and Tyrone Walker. As it relates to repairing family ties, more than 100 CTF residents

have been taking classes as part of the HOPE Foundation’s Family First Parenting Program at D.C. Jail. Earlier this month, they created holiday cards for their children and other family members. Clifton Penny, a CTF resident, counted among those who crafted holiday cards for his children. However, in the midst of what was supposed to be a joyful moment, he continued to think about his experience at D.C. Jail. Penny, in D.C. Jail since the beginning of the year, told The Informer that jail officials started taking pillows and mattresses from residents in recent weeks. This dilemma, he said, comes months after an officer at D.C. Jail’s Correctional Detention Facility (CDF), where he stayed earlier this year, threw him in solitary confinement and, upon his return to his cell, left him handcuffed for hours. As Penny recounted, he sprained his wrist while struggling to break out of the handcuffs. He said three days passed before a jail official facilitated a transfer to Howard University Hospital. He has since attempted, unsuccessfully, to get the name of the officer who allegedly handcuffed him inside of his cell and threatened retaliation for speaking about the incident. “I got in the hole because I refused to go back to my unit,” Penny said. “They kept locking us down. We didn’t get our proper recreation. It seemed like they were shaking us down for no reason.” Jerome Carter, a Gen-Xer and diabetic who’s been inside D.C. Jail for a few months, said he struggles to secure fresh, healthy meals. He also told The Informer that he’s reeling from another D.C. Read more on www.washingtoninformercom WI @SamPKCollins

DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2023 43

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MALVEAUX from Page 26 Maryland, but Trone has enlisted some popular Democrats to support him. Chicago Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D) has a cable commercial running ad nauseam. While Jackson should not support Alsobrooks only because she is a Black woman who would add to Senate diversity and expertise, if he is true to the mission of his dad's Rainbow Coalition, Alsobrooks should be an easy choice. Similarly, House Minority Leader New York's Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Trone on Dec. 18, a lump in Alsobrooks' holiday stocking. While most Maryland congressional Democrats and Gov. Wes Moore support Alsobrooks, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House chose to oppose the

LEON from Page 26 If there is democracy and sovereignty in Ukraine, why did the U.S. dispatch former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Ukraine to end peace negotiations? The Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda reported in May 2022, "Johnson brought two simple messages to Kyiv. The first is that Putin is a war criminal; he should be pressured, not negotiated with. And the second is that even if Ukraine is ready to sign some agreements on guarantees with Putin, they (the West) are not." Finally, if there is democracy in Ukraine, why did Zelenskyy ban 11 "pro-Russian" political parties, limit the media's access to war coverage and cancel elections? This is the "democracy" that President Biden wants to waste U.S. taxpayer dollars to defend? On Nov. 29, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer gave an impassioned 45-minute speech on the floor of the Senate during which he decried the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. and Europe and pushed for support for the Biden administration's Israel support package. Schumer said, "No matter where we stand on the war in Gaza, all of us must condemn antisemitism with full-throated clarity wherever we

MORIAL from Page 26 oversaturated market, Black women still experience hurdles when finding products that meet their unique needs. In 2021, 73% of Black women reported that Black beauty products were often out of stock, according to Mckinsey & Company. And when they were in stock, 44% reported they were hard to find. This explains why Black brands make up only 2.5% of

endorsement of most of his Maryland members to curry to a liquor magnate. Many Alsobrooks supporters are, at best, disappointed by Jackson and Jeffries. One has to wonder what kinds of incentives Trone offered to secure their endorsements. But the outcome of the Los Angeles mayoral race, where Mayor Karen Bass was outspent by a factor of ten by her billionaire opponent Rick Caruso, suggests that Trone's money may not buy him a Senate seat. Alsobrooks has already visited each of Maryland's 22 counties and Baltimore City (part of Baltimore County but with a separate governmental structure) and has support in every county. Trone has the cash and can rack up some endorsements, but votes tell the story at the end of the day.

This might be a local story, but for the disrespect that Trone has shown to Angela Alsobrooks and the growing trend of black women being forced to manage disrespect. Trone had the temerity to criticize Alsobrooks' "experience," touting his thin Congressional record. It reminds me of Malcolm X saying, "The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected, the most neglected person in America is the Black woman." Alsobrooks is juggling challenging news and financial challenges. However, she is buoyed by Black women and men who support her expertise, intelligence, and accomplishments. Can you buy a Senate seat? Not when millions of voters say "no." WI

see it." He also said, "From October 7, 2023 in Southern Israel to 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh to 1999 at the Los Angeles JCC…to 1492 in Spain, 1394 in France, 1290 in England … the Jewish people have been humiliated, ostracized, expelled, enslaved, and massacred for millennia." The first problem with his rhetoric as well as Biden's is the conflict in Occupied Palestine did not begin on Oct. 7, 2023. Schumer is correct. All of us must condemn antisemitism. However, that's not what this 75-year struggle is about. Schumer, Biden, Blinken, et al., are trying to conflate or equate the Palestinian struggle against Zionism (a racist political ideology) with the historic struggles of Jews and Judaism (one of the three Abrahamic religions). Blinken said recently in Israel, "If you'll permit me a personal aside, I come before you not only as the United States secretary of sate, but also as a Jew." Biden is on record as saying, "I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist." The Palestinian struggle is anti-Zionist, anti-oppression and anti-genocide. It's not antisemitic. Contrary to the dominant rhetoric, the two are not the same.

Just as we must condemn antisemitism in all of its forms, we must also condemn genocide, apartheid, the dehumanization of Palestinians and collective punishment. This is what the settler-colonial government of Israel has been inflicting upon the Palestinians for seventy-five years with the help of the U.S. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is on record as saying, "We are fighting against animals, not people…" Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is on record saying there was "no such thing as a Palestinian" because "there is no such thing as the Palestinian people." Palestinian people are "an invention" of the past century. This in in direct contradiction to the Balfour Declaration of 1917, "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine…" Take note — the "homeland" is in Palestine, not Israel. WI Read more on wwwlwashingtoninformer.com

revenue in the overall beauty market, despite accounting for 11.1% of total beauty spending products and 12.4% of the U.S. population. Fashion Fair's relaunch can also be seen as a representation of economic empowerment. Black-owned business face systemic challenges including limited access to capital, distribution networks and lack of data and research, making it less likely for these businesses to sustain themselves. The return of Fashion Fair signifies the

triumph over these obstacles, showcasing the resilience and viability of Black entrepreneurship. Eunice Johnson sought to redefine beauty standards by creating a cosmetics line that celebrated the unique beauty of Black women. As the industry continues to evolve, Fashion Fair stands as a testament to the transformative power of recognizing and celebrating the beauty in diversity and reshaping societal perceptions of Black beauty. WI

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There are many reasons to read The Washington Informer...

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good quality food, a safe neighborhood, a school where they can get a good education, a chance they'll be treated fairly by our system of justice. Wouldn't we have a better nation if all adults had a good job and everybody spoke respectfully to each other so young people didn't learn from them to be dishonest,

SAUNDERS from Page 27 sector. My father was a bus driver in the city of Cleveland, and while we sure weren't rich when I was growing up, his union wages and benefits meant that we could have a decent life. Unions are a force for racial equity. While there are still major pay and wealth gaps between Black and white workers, they would be much larger if not for unions. And in 2022, median earnings for Black union members were more than 20% higher than for Black workers who don't be-

disrespectful and worrisome? I know what I'm hoping for in 2024 may be just a dream, but success usually begins with a dream. In a few days, most of us will find something good to do to celebrate the holidays — then go back to forgetting to be kind to each other. In 2024, can we just try a bit harder to care about each other, to be part of the solution, and not the

problem? It's my greatest wish that those who run for office and seek our vote in 2024 will offer all of us something better than we've seen in 2023. Let's be a positive example not only for our nation but for the world. Let us invest more in America so that we can truly say to the world, "We are who we say we are." WI

long to a union. No wonder African Americans are more likely to be union members and more likely to support unions than the population at large. So as we look at strategies for growing the labor movement, organizing Black workers must be a top priority. Workers of all races are feeling empowered and emboldened, claiming their seat at the table and inspired to take collective action. And strong public support is the wind at our back. Recent polling demonstrates that unions enjoy sky-high approval ratings, par-

ticularly among young people. Growing numbers of people want unions to be stronger and believe they are good for the economy. As we close out 2023 and look ahead to a new year, the challenge for those of us in the labor movement is to build on this momentum. We must continue standing up to the boss and organizing new workers. We must continue bargaining good contracts and electing pro-worker allies. We must continue, every day, to talk about and demonstrate the power of the union difference. WI

JEALOUS from Page 27 Bowl of the 1930s wasn't caused by drought alone but by "copious amounts of tillage." "Common Ground" uses historical examples in its storytelling that, as a lifelong student of history, I love. One highlight is a newly told account of the revolutionary agricultural genius, George Washington Carver (told by Leah Penniman, herself a farmer and author of the book, Farming While Black). While Carver is known in history books as "the peanut guy," he was far more. Carver understood that to take farmers out of poverty, you had to build healthy soil. Peanuts, it turns out, put nitrogen into the soil. Using peanuts and various techniques he developed by studying nature, Carver taught an entire generation of Black farmers how to farm in harmony with nature, like the indigenous peoples of America. "Common Ground" also strikes an important chord in addressing climate. Healthy soil has the potential to sequester tremendous quantities of CO2. From large farms to urban gardens, the caretaking of soil can produce more profitable and more nutritious food and help mitigate the climate crisis.

The entertainment industry, through film and television, can be a powerful catalyst for change. It can motivate, enlighten, and inspire us to tackle daunting challenges.

The entertainment industry, through film and television, can be a powerful catalyst for change. It can motivate, enlighten, and inspire us to tackle daunting challenges. "The slap heard around the world" by Sidney Poitier's character in 1967's "In the Heat of the Night" was an important symbol of the right and need to stand up for Black dignity. And, of course, how can we forget the societal impact of the TV shows like "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times," created by Norman Lear — my dear friend who recently passed away at the age of 101. "Common Ground's" celebrity narrators open the film by passing on reflections in the form of a letter to current and future generations. One of them, Woody Harrelson,

mentions that what viewers are about to receive are "hard truths." I couldn't help but think of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," which was instrumental in sounding the alarm and raising global awareness about climate change. The impact and influence of "An Inconvenient Truth" got an important cultural boost when the film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature of 2006. It would benefit all of us for "Common Ground" to gain similar recognition (for the Academy's and America's consideration). To borrow a phrase from Woody Harrelson, "the one thing that's keeping us all alive is that soil you're standing on." Let's get hopeful again about environmental solutions (including soil). Let's work to find our common ground. WI

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