The Washington Informer - January 1, 2026

We’ve Survived

Issues to Fix in

Vol 61 No 12 / January 1 - 7, 2026 Serving Our Community in the DMV

Celebrating 61 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

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CONTENTS

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We’ve Survived 2025. It Will Be Fixed in 2026

By Denise Rolark Barnes WI Publisher Happy Kwanzaa.

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

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes

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

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STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager Jada Ingleton, Content Editor REPORTERS Stacy Brown, National Reporter Sam P.K. Collins, Political/Education Reporter Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter Ed Hill, Sports Reporter Richard Elliott, Reporter James Wright, Business Reporter Skylar Nelson, Sports Reporter Mya Trujillo, Environmental and International Reporter PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor Roy Lewis, Jr. Robert R. Roberts Anthony Tilghman Abdullah Konte Cleveland Nelson INTERNS Keith Golden Jr., Fall Intern

4 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

There is no more perfect way to mark the beginning of the New Year than by reflecting on Kwanzaa’s 7th principle - Imani - which means faith. It is by faith that we survived 2025, and by faith we will get whatever needs to be fixed in 2026.

Every year, I search for a creative slogan, a simple phrase that will instill in me and others a sense of hope and a belief that the best is yet to come. In 2024, I believed we would thrive in 2025, and in 2023, I knew we would have and do more in 2024.

These quirky little slogans rest in the belief that living in faith helps us to trust that we can and will overcome the daily challenges and obstacles we’re bound to face, no matter the day or year. This is only my commentary and in no way compares to the sermons preached from pulpits by faith leaders across the country who reminded us throughout this tumultuous year that it’s faith that will see us through.

The reality, truthfully, is that the majority of us did not thrive in 2025. We lost jobs, lost homes, and lost hard-won and long-overdue civil rights. We’ve been insulted, ignored, and maligned by policies and executive orders that seek to erase our history and silence our voices.

At times like this, I embark on a journey of rediscovery of our Black History that reminds us, not just me, of how exceedingly far we have come by faith. We are spiritually gifted with an innate ability to see beyond the here and now, and unlike in the film “Get Out” (2017), we refuse to allow our minds to be drawn into the horrific ‘Sunken Place’ where all hope is lost, and fear and uncertainty thrive.

This year, we reminded ourselves that whatever we need, we already have. We walked away from corporations that embraced the dissolution of DEI and echoed our support for Black-owned businesses in our communities and online. We filled the empty pews of churches that demonstrated a mission to use their tithes and offerings to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, support HBCUs, and pave the way for higher education for college-bound students. At the same time, their preachers fearlessly and fiercely spoke truth to the perceived powerful.

We volunteered and gave to non-profit organizations and supported for-profit entities, including The Washington Informer. We gave high-fives to politicians, lawyers, and community leaders who led marches, challenged policies, and fought cases that were just unfair and wrong.

We did much more than survive 2025. Our amazing Washington Informer journalists and photographers were committed to telling the story.

It is evident that we will fix in 2026 whatever appears broken—not because the road will be easy, but because faith has never failed us. Faith carried our ancestors through bondage, carried our parents through segregation, and carried us through a year that tested our patience, our pockets, and our peace. Imani reminds us that faith is not passive; it is active. It moves us to speak, to serve, to organize, to tell the truth, and to stand firm even when the odds are stacked high.

So as we welcome a new year, we do so clear-eyed but unshaken, realistic but resolute, tired yet determined. Whatever was delayed will be restored. Whatever was denied will be challenged. Whatever was damaged will be repaired. And whatever tries to break us will only strengthen our resolve.

By faith, it will be fixed in 2026.

WI

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Plans for 2026: Holding Leaders Accountable, Continued Fearless Reporting

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor Happy New Year!

Mimi’s Musings: ‘We’ve Survived 2025.

It Will Be Fixed in 2026’

For many, a new year allows for moving beyond the battles of the past, starting fresh and setting goals to achieve for the next 52 weeks.

However, The Washington Informer (WI) realizes that some of the challenges of 2025 are being carried over into the year, and many people are bracing for legislative decisions, executive orders and federal moves that could threaten civil rights, justice and equity for all.

With the transition of presidential power in January 2025, came a lot of confusion and questions that left: hundreds of thousands of federal employees jobless; millions of Americans wondering about health care; and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) a thing of the past for the U.S. government and even some corporations.

Dr. Kasonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead, president of the Association for the Study of American American Life and History (ASALH), told The Informer: “2025 was an experience.”

“It was more than just a year,” she continued, “it was a resetting of the American historical narrative.”

In the D.C. area, residents navigated new life amid the second Trump administration, as the president immediately implemented changes affecting Washingtonians, and GOP leaders made concerted efforts to threaten or overturn the District’s limited home rule.

Consider the removal of Black Lives Matter in March; the fight to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia this spring; the 30-day federal law enforcement surge (Aug. 11-Sept.

10); and the historic federal government shutdown that lasted until mid November, to name one event per quarter.

Despite so many changes in 2025, this next year is about pushing toward a more just tomorrow.

The Informer is maintaining a pulse on the issues important to DMV residents, keeping the public updated through regular reporting, and holding officials accountable to ensure they are doing everything to support and strengthen the lives of all people.

As 2025 came to a close, The Washington Informer asked politicians, organizers, activists and everyday citizens to weigh in on the top challenges of the year. Residents shared how they hoped to see these problems addressed, while many leaders and advocates explained their plans for tackling and eradicating the issues.

Housing, mental and physical health care, public safety, economic stability, education, voting and civil rights, D.C. statehood, and life amid the second Trump administration were some of the many concerns plaguing many people— from former federal employees, parents and District Councilmembers alike.

Despite the long list of challenges and trying times, The Washington Informer is confident that there are many people in the District, nation and world working to fix the issues of 2025 in 2026.

That’s why this year’s Washington Informer slogan— as selected by fearless WI Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes— is: “We’ve Survived 2025.

It Will Be Fixed in 2026.”

Although the publication can’t promise these problems will be resolved, it’s important to highlight the people pushing for solutions and know that the fearless reporters will spend the year following these politicians, organization directors and faith leaders to ensure they are still combating challenges and promoting positive progress.

“Too much energy is spent reacting, holding another meeting, forming another task force. Instead of correcting, 2026 must be the year we shift from commentary to accountability,” Kamita Gray of the Brandywine TB Southern Region Neighborhood Coalition told The Informer. “It means implementing solutions that we’ve already debated.

True forward moment comes from forced action, not just constant reaction.”

The strong storytelling team is jumping into action and following the issues to be fixed in 2026 as well as people who are fighting for change.

“When we ground our actions in real, everyday experience,” Gray continued, “we build solutions that last in 2026.”

WI

3 Activists participate in a Juneteenth 2025 march in Anacostia.

Despite challenges and threats to civil rights in 2025, The Washington Informer is following the movements happening to address issues in 2026. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 5

We’ve Survived

: 2025 The Year in Review

6 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

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JANUARY Biden Signs RFK Bill, Trump Inauguration Sparks Concerns, 67 Killed in Mid-Air Collision Near DCA As wildfires ravaged Southern California and former President Joe Biden wrapped his last few weeks in office, the beginning of 2025 came with a lot of questions for the future of the District and nation.

Trump Inauguration Sparks Concerns Locally and Nationwide

Local and nationally renowned activists took to places around the nation’s capital to speak out against the inauguration of President Donald Trump (R), who was sworn into office Monday, Jan. 20, the day also honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. On the holiday celebrating the freedom fighter’s life, Trump outlined his America First agenda, which included measures to eliminate all federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming, work to erase Black history and narratives, and efforts to take away civil rights from LGBTQ+ Americans and other marginalized groups.

In addition, the president pardoned the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers involved in the death of Karon Hylton Brown, a move that would spark activists and family members of the fallen alike to demand answers from the president, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council and MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith throughout much of the year. WI

President Biden Signs RFK Bill

Traversing the District’s first snow day of the year and in his final weeks in office, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) made her way to the White House on Monday, Jan. 6, to watch President Joe Biden– in his final weeks in office— officially sign the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. While the mayor was still negotiating the team’s return to the District, the decision offered optimism for the future of the RFK campus. WI

Nation Remembers 67 Killed in Mid-Air Collision Near DCA

The moments, hours and days after the deadly mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Jan. 29 at 9 p.m., leaders and people around the District and nation worked to remember the 67 people who were killed as well as investigate how it happened and prevent it from happening again.

After the incident, Howard University (HU) revealed that among those on the flight from Wichita, Kansas to D.C. was civil rights lawyer Kiah Duggins, who spent time working in the District and was set to begin a new chapter as professor at HU’s School of Law this fall.

In addition, there were 14 skaters returning home from a national development camp in Wichita, including six members of the Skating Club of Boston—two teenage athletes, their mothers, and two coaches.

After the devastating incident, President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held briefings blaming former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies– ini5 The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to a large crowd at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church for a rally pushing back against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, held tiatives that have been in place in on the official holiday celebrating the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the the federal government since at Jan. 20 demonstration, and while the president was being sworn in, Sharpton took least the 1960s, once President to the historic church in Northwest, D.C. to highlight the late civil rights leader’s Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civlegacy and speak out against Trump’s racist policies. (Roy Lewis/The Washington il Rights Act. WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

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FEBRUARY Council Expels Trayon White, Residents Speak Out Against Trump Administration

February was a time of major transition for the District, navigating life post the expulsion of a D.C. Council member and the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.

D.C. Council Unanimously Votes to Expel Trayon White

A dozen D.C. Council members— all part of an ad-hoc committee formed in the aftermath of Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White’s federal bribery charge— voted unanimously to expel him from the legislative body on Feb. 4. The decision came after weeks of White supporters and the Ward 8 council member working to prevent the loss of a seat that he won in his second successful re-election bid, even with a looming indictment.

Now back on the Council after winning a special election in July, White’s trial is scheduled in March 2026. WI Become a Published Author with Dorrance.

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3 Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White at a January D.C. Councilhearing in the aftermath of his federal bribery charges. The D.C. Council voted unanimously to expel him from the legislative body on Feb. 4. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Washingtonians Pushback Against DOGE and Trump Administration

Not even a month in office, President Donald Trump quickly began making changes such as the implementation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the direction of Elon Musk, and plans to “beautify” the District.

DOGE cuts and policies conceptualized by Trump and Musk led to thousands of federal government furloughs and extreme changes for employees.

By mid February, data from the U.S. Labor Department revealed that 4,000 federal government employees filed for unemployment benefits since Trump took office, with a 36% increase in claims within the first week of the month.

As the federal government worked to make changes, Trump and Republican leaders became focused on efforts to repeal D.C.’s home rule, particularly with the introduction of the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident Act (BOWSER) Act— legislation matching the last name of the District mayor. In addition, Trump began preparing an executive order directing prosecutors to seek harsher penalties for local crimes, clear homeless encampments, and remove graffiti, aligning with his campaign rhetoric of promising to “restore” the nation’s capital. Activists began expressing concern for many of the District’s unhoused population and marginalized communities.

During this time, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was reticent in her comments about the president, but confirmed that she spoke with Trump administration officials about the executive order and affirmed her desire for support in gun crime prosecution.

Further, Trump terminated the Kennedy Center board of trustees and appointed himself chairman in early February. After doing so, several artists and affiliates left the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, including producer Shondra Rhimes, who resigned from her position as Kennedy Center board treasurer, while Issa Rae cancelled her sold-out show at the space. Alfred Street Baptist Church also withdrew support from the performing arts institution. WI

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MARCH Trump Orders Removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza Amid Continuing Resolution Fight

As District leaders fought Congress about a continuing resolution forcing more than $1 billion in local budget cuts and threatening the D.C. government, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the dismantling of Black Lives Matter Plaza.

The mayor’s move came after: Congressman Andy Ogles (R-Tenn. Dist. 5) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah)’s introduction of the BOWSER Act to repeal District home rule; a Trump executive order compelling the removal of homeless communities from federal land; and legislation

by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia-5th Dist.) renaming Black Lives Matter Plaza to Liberty Plaza, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Despite its official launch in June 2020, during the heart of the Black Lives Matter Movement and COVID-19 pandemic, demolition crews started removing the world famous street mural located along a stretch of 16th Street in Northwest between I Street and L Street on Monday, March 10.

On the following day, the House approved the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act, 2025, which passed in the Senate on March 14. President Donald Trump then signed the continuing resolution bill on March 15, primarily setting funds for the District at FY2024 levels.

However, the act required the District government to allocate local funds in its FY2025 at levels budgeted for FY2024 for the remainder of the fiscal year, causing major concern about District spending, resources, initiatives and future projects. WI

Black Press Fetes 198 Years, Washington Informer Celebrates 60 Years

March is always a special time for the African American-owned publications throughout the nation, as the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) annually hosts Black Press Week. However, this Black Press Week (March 13-16) was unique as it not only marked 198 years, but included special programming and concluded with an inaugural event that also honored six decades of The Washington Informer.

Publishers, journalists, media and advertising specialists, and local leaders gathered at Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library on the campus of Howard University March 13 for Black Press Day. The event emphasized the importance of speaking truth to power and

Braveboy Wins Special Election, District Says Goodbye to Black Lives Matter Plaza, Celebrating Black Press A month marked by trial and resilience, March saw Republican leaders pressure District Mayor Muriel Bowser to remove the world-renowned Black Lives Matter Plaza amid a continuing resolution fight, while people gathered at multiple celebrations to honor 198 years of the Black Press.

3 Nearly five years after it was created in June 2020, workers demolish Black Lives Matter Plaza in March. (WI File Photo/Austin Cooper)

3 A shot of the newly completed Black Lives Matter Plaza on the morning of June 5, 2020. (WI File Photo/ Anthony Tilghman)

offered calls to action in the age of federal and corporate efforts to reverse diversity, equity (DEI) and inclusion programming.

Then, on March 16, The Washington Informer, AFRO-American Newspapers, Metropolitan A.M.E. and Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) collaborated for the first-ever Black Press Sunday. Held at Metropolitan A.M.E., the event honored the establishment of the Black Press (March 16, 1827), and The Washington Informer, which marked 60 years of publishing on October 16, 1964.

Less than two weeks later, The Washington Informer’s 60th Anniversary Legacy Gala celebrated six decades of the Black-owned news outlet and the unequivocal contributions of District families and businesses to D.C.’s history and vibrant culture.

WI

60 years 3 Members of The Washington Informer team at the publication’s 60th anniversary gala at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest, D.C. on March 28. (WI File Photo)

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 9

APRIL Cedar Hill Opens, The Fight to Bring Back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Hagler Launches Target Boycott, Commanders Return to RFK April was eventful in the DMV area. The District’s long-awaited hospital opened East of the Anacostia River; leaders locally and nationwide fought for the return of a Maryland father deported to El Salvador; the Rev. Graylan Hagler launched a local Target protest in solidarity with the national boycott against the corporation; and the Commanders announced a return to RFK campus.

Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health Opens

After years of anticipation and work, several dozen D.C. leaders and residents converged on April 10 on the grounds of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health— located at St. Elizabeths East Campus— in celebration of the full-service hospital’s opening.

Days later, the hospital officially opened with 136 beds that can expand to 184, trauma care, and a 54-bay emergency department. The medical center also has a six-bed well-baby nursery and Level II NICU, five operating rooms that can expand to seven, an ambulatory pavilion located near a main thoroughfare, 500-car parking garage, and helipad for emergency transport.

WI

The Fight to Bring Back Kilmar Abrego Garcia

5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and local city and health care leaders cut the ribbon for Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health on April 10. (WI File Photo/Sam P.K. Collins/)

Rev. Graylan Hagler Launches Local Target Protest Amid National Boycott

During the earlier part of April– as civil rights veterans and young radicals observed the anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4)– the Rev. Graylan Hagler, along with other D.C. area clergy and activists, launched a movement in solidarity with a national boycott that has decimated Target Corporation’s profits.

The national boycott, founded by civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, Jaylani Hussein, and Black Lives Matter Minnesota co-founder Monique Cullors-Doty, kicked off in February. Highly promoted efforts by the Rev. Jamal Bryant and the Rev. Al Sharpton– including a Lenten season Target fast— inspired a meeting between the corporation’s executives and the two clergy activists.

At the time of the boycott’s inception, Target counted among the first Fortune 500 companies to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives upon President Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House.

Starting in early April, and continuing to this day, Hagler has stood among those posted in front of D.C. USA Shopping Center— the site of a popular Target retailer, protesting the corporation and passing out information to consumers about the larger goal behind the boycott.

In late November, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, activists, including Bryant and Tamika Mallory, took to the D.C. USA Shopping Center to protest Target and celebrate Hagler’s continued activism. WI

President Donald J. Trump and Salvadoran President Niyeb Bukele ignored a Supreme Court ruling supporting the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father illegally deported to El Salvador, sparking protests and advocacy locally and around the nation.

Authorities removed Abrego Garcia, a Prince George’s County resident, from the U.S. on March 15 and sent him to a Salvadoran prison, despite his receipt of a federal protection known as “withholding of removal.”

On April 1, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled the deportation illegal and ordered the government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return by April 7. However, the Trump administration quickly appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld Xinis’ ruling.

The administration then sought a stay from the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice John Roberts granted a temporary pause, but on April 10, the high court issued a unanimous ruling reinstating Judge Xinis’s order, requring Abrego Garcia’s immediate return.

The Trump administration then delayed action, inciting advocates, local and federal leaders alike, including Democratic U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), to push back. Van Hollen even traveled to El Salvador, visiting Abrego Garcia at the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center and advocating for his release.

In early June, Abrego-Garcia was returned to the United States following a long battle between the Trump administration and advocates who sought to protect him and the powers of the U.S. Constitution. WI

10 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

Bowser and Commanders Announce Return to RFK Campus

If D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and The Washington Commanders have their way, the Commanders will make their return to RFK campus by the fall of 2030, thanks to a deal that places much of the financial burden on the Commanders for the construction of a new football stadium.

On April 28, Bowser joined Commanders owner Josh Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the ballroom of the National Press Club in Northwest, where the trio formally announced what the mayor called a deal that’s a decade in the making.

The deal— amounting to $3.6 billion— includes a $2.7 billion investment from the Commanders that will go toward the construction of a new stadium, along with entertainment stadium riverfront districts anchored by housing, retail and restaurants.

The District’s initial contribution of $850 million will fund the construction of housing and recreation in Kingman Park, a sportsplex at the Fields at RFK, and a 30-acre stretch of riverfront community commons along the Anacostia River Trail. An additional $202 million will fund the construction of roadways and utilities infrastructure, and a WMATA capacity study.

This brings the District’s contribution to more than $1 billion over six fiscal years. WI

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MAY Barrier-Breaking Pope Elected, Black Mothers March, World Pride Kicks Off May was a month of barrier-breaking and milestone moments in D.C. and worldwide, including the election of the first American pope, a march uplifting Black parental rights and families during Mother’s Day weekend, and the kickoff of World Pride Celebrations in the District.

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3 Attendees dance at Alethia Tanner Park on May 24 during the Capital House Music Festival. The event brought together people of all ages to celebrate the Black and queer roots of the house music genre. (WI File Photo/Tait Manning)

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Barrier-Breaking Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pontiff has Black Roots

For the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, an American— with Black and Creole ancestry to boot– was elected pope.

On May 8, the second day of the conclave, Cardinal Robert Prevost, a native of Chicago, was chosen to succeed Pope Francis and is now known as Pope Leo XIV. His election is not only historic as the first dual American and Peruvian citizen to serve as pontiff, but because the Chicago-born pope has Black roots.

According to genealogist Jari Christopher Honora, his maternal lineage traces directly to the Black community of New Orleans’ 7th Ward, with family ties to Haiti, and census records identifying his ancestors as “Black” or “Mulatto.”

Prevost, who was 69 at the time of his election, succeeded Pope Francis, who led the Church from 2013 until his death in April. WI

Black Mothers March for Equality in Child and Family Service Agencies

On Mother’s Day, Black maternal figures and allies participated in the fourth annual Black Mothers March on the White House to challenge prevailing racial disparities in child and family service agencies’ engagement with Black families.

Every year since 2022, organizers have converged on the District during the holiday weekend celebrating mothers to educate families about their parental rights and intensify resistance to a system that regulates familial relationships. WI

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World Pride Kicks Off

Amid federal efforts to reverse and eradicate LGBTQ+ rights, WorldPride is coinciding with the District’s 50th anniversary Pride celebrations.

Events kicked off in the nation’s capital on May 17, beginning a three-week celebration of panels, exhibits, rallies and parties, all culminating with a closing concert featuring headliners Cynthia Erivo and Doechii.

Hosted by InterPride and Capital Pride Alliance, this year’s theme was “The Fabric of Freedom,” communicating a message of unity amid nationwide attacks on LGBTQ+ culture and identities.

WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 11

JUNE Braveboy Wins Special Election, D.C. and World Pride Celebrations, No Kings Day

Prince George’s gained a new county executive in June, and as the weather warmed up, many people took to the streets for celebrations and protests.

Braveboy Wins Special Election, Sworn In Juneteenth

Prince Georgians voted then State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) to serve as the next county executive, after she proved victorious in a crowded Democratic primary in March and against Republican candidate Jonathan White, an Air Force veteran in the June 3 general election.

She was sworn in on Juneteenth and has set an agenda to unify local political and civic leadership, protect laid off federal workers, support local businesses and entrepreneurs, keep Prince George’s parks and shopping centers clean, and prevent crime recidivism. She also ensured Prince Georgians had resources throughout the federal government shutdown.

The next county executive election will be this year. Primaries are on June 23 and the official Election Day is on Nov. 3. WI

Culminating World Pride, Celebrating D.C. Pride

5 Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy takes the oath of office during her Juneteenth swearing in ceremony.

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

From parading the streets of Pennsylvania Avenue, to marching in resilience at the Lincoln Memorial, WoldPride 2025, celebrated in alliance with D.C. Pride, culminated its three-week series with a nod to the storied rejoice and resilience of the Pride movement of more than 50 years.

An estimated crowd of hundreds of thousands – whether atop the floats of Saturday’s Pride Parade, or rallying in arms bright and early Sunday – swarmed the nation’s capital unmoved by hot temperatures, violent acts, or the Trump administration’s decisions to roll back protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

WorldPride hosted its first year in Washington, D.C., May 17 - June 8, set to the backdrop of numerous executive orders pushing for the elimination of trans and gender identity protections and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

The June 7 WorldPride Parade — combining the annual Capital Pride parade with the global celebration — was double the fun, amid an all-day festival uplifting D.C.’s LGBTQ+ residents and queer communities worldwide.

The following day, International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom demonstrated an empowering intersection of culture, identity, and resilience, amplified through a massive resistance of rainbow flags and protest signs that surpassed the cloudy skies.

As speakers from various backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations and identities spoke atop the Lincoln Memorial, one message rang clear: No one wins, unless everyone 5 LGBTQ+ advocates take to the streets during the International March on Washington wins. for Freedom on June 8. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts) WI

12 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

WMATA Overhauls Metrobus System

On June 29, WMATA launched the Better Bus Network, its first systemwide overhaul of the Metrobus system in half a century.

The redesign changed the name of every route, removed more than 500 stops, and restructured schedules. The first letter of each route is now dictated by its direction (C for crosstown and D for downtown) or destination (A for Virginia’s Alexandria City and Arlington County; F for Fairfax County, Virginia; M for Montgomery County, Maryland; and P for Prince George’s County, Maryland).

The names of limited and express routes end with X. WMATA officials say the Better Bus Network, intended to increase bus frequency and service as well as produce clearer routes, followed years of community engagement, rider surveys, and transit data.

WI

Trump’s Military Celebration and the Counter No Kings Day Parade

President Donald Trump’s extravagant up to $45 million birthday and military parade through Washington, D.C., drew outrage across the country and prompted massive counter protests under the banner “No Kings Day.” While it was billed to celebrate 250 years of the military, the president’s show of force was widely viewed as self-congratulatory and authoritarian, sparking demonstrations in dozens of cities – from Washington, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.

Despite the thick, humid air, people lined the streets, some cheering and shouting chants of ‘USA’ as helicopters flew by, while others protested the Trump administration and stood for equity and justice for all— each fighting for a different vision of America.

WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

JULY Trump Signs One Big Beautiful Bill, Ward 8 Re-elects Trayon White, Protest on National Mall for Medicaid Cuts July came with a lot of shifts for the District and nation, as President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill, immediately sparking concern about legislative cuts that provide support to many Americans. In D.C., voters re-elected a D.C. Council member to take the same seat from which he was expelled, and protestors took to the National Mall to speak out against Medicaid cuts and other concerns amid the Trump administration.

Trump Signs One Big Beautiful Bill, Sparking Concern for Many in District and Nation

President Donald Trump signed the Republican endorsed One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4, promising a generous tax reprieve for high earners, however it reduced support for those who rely on safety net programs.

According to Penn Wharton Budget Model’s May 23 report, the bill slashes Medicaid by more than $900 billion and SNAP (food stamps) by nearly $300 5 The Executive Office billion over the next decade. These reductions are expected to force millions off Building on the White House of public assistance — a development disproportionately affecting Black and compound. (WI File Photo/ brown communities in ZIP codes like 20019, 20020, and 20032, where public Robert R. Roberts) benefit participation rates are among the highest in the District.

Meanwhile, the bill’s elimination of taxes on tips and overtime — another high-profile talking point from Trump — is capped and only applies to non- “highly compensated” workers, defined as those earning less than $160,000 per year. Even then, the deduction ends in 2028, raising questions about long-term relief.

In total, the bill adds $2.8 trillion to the national deficit, according to the Congressional Budget Office and Penn Wharton analysts, while reducing the income of low-income Americans by more than $800 a year on average by 2026 — and by $1,500 annually by 2033. WI

Ward 8 Voters Re-Elect Trayon White in Special Election

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) was officially declared the winner of the special election spurred by his expulsion from the D.C. Council earlier this year.

As of 8:26 p.m. on July 15– the night of the election– White commanded the lead with 29.46% of the vote. Sheila Bunn was second with 24.13%, while Mike Austin and Salim Adofo were in third and fourth place with 23.49% and 22.17% of the vote respectively.

Voter turnout in Ward 8 was 12%. In total, D.C. Board of Elections received 6,779 ballots— 3,763 mail-in ballots and 3,016 ballots cast during early voting and on July 15.

White dominated most precincts, while Precincts 91 and 114 went to Bunn and Austin clinched Precincts 120 and 123.

Less than a month later, Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder (D) swore in White in a ceremony on Aug. 8. WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5 Messages emphasizing the importance of Medicaid funding taped to a candle statue during the 60-Hour Medicaid Vigil on the National Mall in July. Advocates protested congressional cuts to Medicaid, sharing stories of those with disabilities who have concerns about the cuts. (Ve Wright/The Washington Informer)

Medicaid Cuts Protest on National Mall, U.S. Capitol

Scores of people braved the sweltering heat in Washington, D.C. on July 26– the 35th anniversary of the Americans for Disabilities Act— advocating that Medicaid, the federal government program providing health care to the poor, should be preserved and funded to levels where it can benefit the people most who need it, including those who are disabled.

Advocates were speaking out against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federal budget passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump, which slashes Medicaid, SNAP and other vital programs that millions of people depend on.

Noting more than three decades of the Americans for Disabilities Act, other speakers emphasized that some of the legislation’s funding aspects— such as helping people with disabilities to live mainstream lives— are in jeopardy because of the Republicans in Congress with Trump’s support.

WI

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 13

Month-Long Federal Surge Leaves Washingtonians on Edge

AUGUST Trump Seizes Control of MPD, DCPS Implements Student Cell Phone Ban With August came major shifts for District residents of all ages. The Trump administration sent federal officers and members of the National Guard to patrol local streets, inciting major protests across the area, and local students started the school year having to say “goodbye” to their phones while class is in session.

DCPS Starts Cell Phone Ban in Schools

Tensions were already heightened as the National Guard and federal forces filled District streets at the start of the school year in late August. However, D.C. students, teachers and guardians alike entered the new school year with another major transition: a ban on student cell phone use during the school day across District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools.

In D.C., the ban came as part of a broader effort by school leaders and city officials to reduce distractions and refocus students’ attention. However, the policy rollout sparked questions about how it would be enforced, whether schools had the resources to manage it, and whether it addressed the underlying causes of student disengagement.

WI

Federal infringement on local affairs reached, what some would describe as, astronomical levels in August.

More than a dozen federal law enforcement agencies encroached on District neighborhoods, and on Monday, Aug. 11, President Donald Trump announced he was seizing control of 5 Protestors with Free DC take to 16th Street, near the the Metropolitan Police Department White House, after President Donald Trump announced (MPD). that he was seizing control of the Metropolitan Police Although Trump explained his deci- Department. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson) sion is about combating crime in D.C., “formally declaring a public safety emergency,” data from his own Justice Department reveals a different story. In 2024 the violent crime rate in the nation’s capital fell 35% from the year before, hitting a 30-year low.

He said that his announcement marked “Liberation Day for D.C.,” vowing to “wipe out crime, savagery, filth, and scum” in the capital.

Throughout the 30-day federal surge, as members of the National Guard, I.C.E. and other federal agencies patrolled the streets, thousands of activists took to the streets to protest what many called a federal overreach.

Further, MPD began to establish juvenile curfew zones in areas such as Navy Yard. Activists such as members of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, an abolitionist-led grassroots organization dedicated to protecting all Black lives at risk of state-sanctioned violence, canvassed the Navy Yard neighborhood as what members described as part of an effort to protect youth from overzealous law enforcement officials, agency or jurisdiction notwithstanding.

Officers of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) pepper sprayed, manhandled, and detained a Harriet’s Wildest Dreams activist by the name of Arianna Afeni Evans after she questioned why officers were questioning three Black youth. A video showing the violent arrest went viral, sparking nationwide outrage. WI

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SEPTEMBER D.C. Showcases Strength at H Street Festival, CBCF Holds Annual Conference Ahead of Federal Shutdown As the humidity dissipated and the federal officers surge came to a close, Washingtonians showcased their resilience at the annual H Street Festival and welcomed people from around the nation and world for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 54th Annual Legislative Conference.

Washingtonians Celebrate D.C. Culture, Resilience at H Street Festival

With the National Guard still patrolling throughout the District, local leadership and D.C. pride shone bright, as hundreds of thousands of people flooded Northeast to celebrate community and resilience at H Street Festival on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Featuring a block expansion, new businesses, and 20 years seniority, Saturday’s celebration highlighted the breadth of the Northeast corridor to the tune of about 250 vendors and an estimated 160,000 attendees, all basking in the District as a cultural hub for creativity and economic development.

With people from all over the map joining the festivities, the 2.5 mile corridor— one block east of Union Station train facility to Benning Road— was packed and alive with engagement for the annual celebration. WI

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Holds Annual Conference Ahead of Government Shutdown, Offers Calls to Action

Just weeks after the federal law enforcement surge ended and amid rising tensions due to the looming government shutdown, thousands gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 54th Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC)— held Sept. 24-28.

While the convening happens annually in the nation’s capital, this year was particularly unique as the event kicked off in Southeast, D.C. at Sycamore and Oak, before many of the main events in Northwest, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention.

The conference brought a roaring nation to the heart of Washington united in a plea for democracy and civil rights.

Guided by the theme: “Made for This Moment: Power, Policy, Progress,” the CBCF ALC mobilized legislators, community officials, influencers, celebrities and concerned constituents with the beginnings of what many likened to a continued legacy of civic resistance.

During the annual Phoenix Awards, former Vice President Kamala Harris (D) spoke about work that can be done to empower Black communities and all Americans amid this challeng- 5 Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressional Black ing moment for the Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Chair Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell at the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards on Sept. 27 at nation. the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C. (WI WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

5 People dance, shop and enjoy the day in Northeast, D.C. at the 2025 H Street Festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, featuring 250 vendors and an estimated 160,000 attendees. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

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OCTOBER Historic Federal Government Shutdown Begins, Million Man March 30th Anniversary and Unifest

With the federal government shutting down at the start of the month, tensions were high and many Americans were left asking a lot of questions. Despite concerns and nationwide division, Washingtonians came together in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Million Man March and the return of Unifest.

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Despite what some on both sides of the aisle might consider their best efforts, Democrats and Republicans couldn’t avoid the first federal government shutdown in seven years, and the third to take place under President Donald J. Trump.

In the days and hours leading up to Oct. 1— the beginning of the 2026 fiscal year— congressional Democrats and Republicans were still at an impasse about how to shape the budget needed to keep the federal government open.

Discussions stalled when Senate Democrats demanded an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and reversal of Medicaid cuts that included in a stopgap measure proposed by Senate Republicans.

GOP leaders responded, asking that health care spending discussions take place in the new fiscal year. Republicans also called Democrats’ demands an overture to an anti-Trump base and, 5 Americans are still recovering after the longest government shutdown in more specifically, undocumented migrants. WI American history, which started Oct. 1. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

District Celebrates 30th Anniversary of the Million Man March and Return of Unifest

While people around the country navigated a government shutdown and nationwide division, hundreds highlighted the power of collective action, unifying in celebration of two marquee events in D.C. history: the 30th anniversary of the Million Man March and the renewal of the Ward 8-based community festival Unifest, sponsored by Union Temple Baptist Church.

The Rev. Willie Wilson, pastor emeritus at Union Temple Baptist Church, was a key organizer in the Million Man March commemoration and return of Unifest.

The 30th anniversary celebration took place on Oct. 16 in Southeast’s Anacostia neighborhood, 30 years after the initial event drew an estimated 1.5 million African American men from around the world to the National Mall.

Two days later, the revival of Unifest was held on the grounds of Union Temple after a roughly 18-year hiatus due to an accident in 2007, which led to the church tabling the event.

As the District and the nation dealt with the consequences of a federal government shutdown affecting many people’s employment and livelihood, and the Trump administration’s efforts to 5 The Rev. Willie Wilson, organizer of 30th Anniversary Million Man rollback gains in civil, human and voting rights, March celebrations and Unifest, poses with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wilson said the two events could not have come Oct. 18. The mayor was one of the speakers at Saturday’s Unifest at Union at a better time.

Temple Baptist Church in Southeast, D.C., where Wilson is pastor emeritus.

WI (WI File Photo/D.R. Barnes)

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

NOVEMBER Virginia Elects First Woman Governor in Historic Election

5 Former Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger is now the first woman elected governor of Virginia.

She defeated Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Black woman and Jamaican immigrant.

(Courtesy Photo/Abigail Spanberger, Instagram)

In a historic race, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) defeated Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl-Sears, becoming Virginia’s first woman elected as governor.

Even before the groundbreaking election on Nov. 4, many Virginians and leaders nationwide emphasized the significance of the election, which would have elected the state’s first woman governor no matter the victor.

The race against Earle-Sears, a Black woman, Jamaican immigrant and Marine Corps veteran who is most known for her opposition to LGBTQ+ issues, was highly contested.

President Donald Trump endorsed Earle-Sears, while former President Barack Obama supported Spanberger in her quest for Virginia’s top seat.

The governor-elect is a moderate Democrat who had a bipartisan streak while serving in Congress. Her gubernatorial campaign focused on the cost of living, particularly on keeping medical costs affordable for Virginia families.

National figures noted the Virginia gubernatorial race often serves as an early bellwether of national political attitudes in the lead-up to the midterm elections, leading to hints of a potential blue wave in races throughout the nation this year.

WI

Virginia Elects First Woman Governor, Federal Government Reopens, Bowser Announces She is Not Seeking Fourth Term As the government shutdown continued through mid November, Virginia voters made history electing the first woman to serve as governor of the state. Two weeks later, in Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced she would not run for re-election next year.

Federal Government Officially Reopens

The longest government shutdown in American history officially ended. After 43 days of frozen services, missed paychecks, and partisan standoff, President Donald Trump (R) signed a funding bill late on Wednesday, Nov. 12, that reopened most of the federal government and keeps it running until Jan. 30.

The House approved the measure by a 222 to 209 vote after the Senate advanced a compromise earlier in the week.

For hundreds of thousands of federal workers, the formal reopening meant a return to work and the promise of back pay under existing law. However, it did not erase the damage from more than six weeks without a paycheck.

Many workers drained savings, took on debt, or picked up second jobs to get by.

The shutdown’s impact on America’s economy has lingered well beyond the first day back.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a six-week shutdown would cut fourth quarter growth by as much as one and a half percentage points, with at least $11 billion in economic activity permanently lost.

WI

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Announces She is Not Seeking Re-Election

Just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 25, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced she is not seeking a fourth term.

Bowser started her political career as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in her stomping grounds of Riggs Park in Northeast.

She later became Ward 4 council member during a special election, serving in that role from 2007 to 2015.

In 2015, Bowser entered mayoral office after defeating a then-scandal-ridden D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray in the 2014 D.C. Mayoral Democratic primary.

Under Bowser’s stewardship, the District’s public and public charter schools experienced enrollment and graduation gains.

Other feats include increased spending on certified business enterprises, the construction of the Frederick Douglass Bridge, the launch of a new hospital in Ward 8, and most recently, the Washington Commanders’ return to a newly constructed RFK Stadium.

Despite qualms among grassroots activists and marginalized District residents about what they describe as Bowser’s deference to developers, Bowser won re-election twice.

With the mayor not seeking re-election, Ward 4 D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D) announced she is running for the seat, and At-Large 5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (right) speaks to Councilmembers Janeese Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s (I) name con- Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie in 2022. Lewis George announced she tinues to pop up as another potential mayoral can- is running for mayor and McDuffie’s name continues to pop up as a possible contender in the 2026 D.C. mayoral election. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis) didate. WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Public Notice WSSC Water Adopts Revisions to Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program On December 17, 2025, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission adopted revisions to Chapter 6.35 of the 2025 WSSC Code of Regulations, Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program.

The signed resolution can be viewed here: www.wsscwater.com/ SLBE. The effective date of the resolution is February 1, 2026.

The revisions to the Code include modernizing eligibility standards, streamlining Program participation, and alignment with Maryland size standards.

For more information on the SLBE program: www.wsscwater.com/smallandminoritybusiness.

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DECEMBER Jones Resigns as Speaker of Maryland House, MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith Announces Resignation As the year wrapped, area leaders stepped down, while others were tapped to take on new responsibilities.

Adrienne Jones Announces Resignation, Peña Melnyk Elected as Speaker

Del. Adrienne Jones (D- District 10) announced the end of her historic tenure as the first African-American and woman to serve as speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates, effective on Dec. 5.

Del. Dana Stein (D- District 11B), who was speaker pro-tem, temporarily served as speaker until the Dec. 16 election, when Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D- District 21) was tapped to lead the legislative body.

Jones began serving in Maryland’s General Assembly in 1997, eventually rising to serve as the speaker pro tempore, vice chair of the appropriations committee, and chair of the capital budget subcommittee under longtime Speaker Michael Busch (D- District 30).

While she stepped down as speaker, Jones provided guidance toward selecting the legislature’s new leader.

“It’s a profound responsibility to honor Speaker Jones’ legacy and to continue to move Maryland forward,” Peña-Melnyk told The Informer in the days leading to the vote. “I want to lead with respect, dignity and inclusion.”

Peña-Melnyk, only the second Latina to lead a state legislature in American history, will now choose committee leadership, introduce critical legislation including the state budget, and guide the 141-member Gen- 5 Adrienne Jones is no longer speaker of the Maryland House of eral Assembly through the upcoming legislative session Delegates, after stepping down as the first African American and woman to serve in the role. She will remain a delegate. (WI File in an election year.

Photo/Anthony Tilghman) WI

MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith to Step Down at the End of the Year

During what’s gearing up to be a major shift for the District government, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith is resigning from her position as the top local law enforcement official at the end of the year.

Smith, who’s currently embroiled in the controversy of post-surge federal-law enforcement collusion and a congressional investigation into Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) crime data, told reporters that her decision to step down stems from nothing more than a desire to rest.

She became MPD chief in the summer of 2023, during a post-pandemic crime wave that had the District and other major U.S. cities under siege.

Under her leadership, the District experienced a significant reduction in homicides, a 52% decline in shootings over the last two years, and the removal of thousands of firearms. With the implementation of traffic safety compliance checkpoints and impounding of more than 1,300 scooters, the District also experienced a 47% reduction in traffic fatalities in 2025.

Smith has also touted the creation of the Juvenile Investigative Response Unit and launch of MPD’s Real Time Crime Center as feats that laid the foundation for a more effective response to crime. Other accomplishments include an increase in starting salary for recruits and a spur in recruitment events that’s, in part, credited with an 11% year-to-date increase in MPD recruit applications.

While the police chief is ending her tour of duty on 5 Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith is resigning from her Dec. 31, Smith said she and the officers under her composition as the top local law enforcement official, effective Dec. 31. (WI mand laid a solid foundation for her successor. WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

18 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Why Regular Eye Exams Matter at Every Age Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) Regular eye exams do far more than confirm 20/20 vision. From infancy through older adulthood, they detect problems early, often before symptoms appear, supporting learning, safety, and everyday quality of life.

The risks of skipping exams

Many eye diseases progress quietly. Conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration can cause permanent vision loss if not caught early.¹ Regular exams can also be a health check for your whole body, sometimes revealing signs of high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health conditions.² What an eye exam checks A comprehensive exam can include a variety of tests, such as:³ • Vision test: Measures how well you can see at different distances, near and far.

• Eye coordination: Checks how well your eyes align, move, and focus together.

• Eye pressure screening: A quick, gentle check for glaucoma, which can damage the optic nerve if not treated.

• Exam of the retina and optic nerve: Uses a special light to look inside your eyes for signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, or nerve damage.

• Comfort and strain: Addresses issues like dry eyes and digital eye strain that affect daily comfort.

Optometrist vs. ophthalmologist

Optometrists and ophthalmologists both provide eye care, but their training and services are different. Understanding those differences can help you decide where to start and when a referral makes sense.

• Optometrist (OD): Primary eye care. Performs comprehensive exams, prescribes glasses or contacts, treats eye conditions, and manages ongoing care.

• Ophthalmologist (MD/ DO): Medical and surgical eye care. If you’re unsure where to start, schedule an appointment with an OD. They will refer you to an ophthalmologist if you need surgery or specialized eye care.

How often to get checked

From babies to older adults, regular checkups make a difference.

Start with the schedule below:³ • Babies and toddlers (0–2 years): One exam between 6–12 months.

• Children and teens (3–17 years): Once between ages 3–5, before first grade, then annually.

- Note: School or pediatric vision screenings help but don’t replace a comprehensive exam, especially if there are reading difficulties, headaches, or problems focusing.

• Adults (18–64 years): At least every two years if you have lowrisk factors, or more often if you wear contacts or have high-risk factors.

• Older adults (65+ years): Every year.

Everyday eye protection

Vision is easy to take for granted until it changes. Simple daily habits can help preserve long-term eye health.

• Wear 100% UV-protective sunglasses and a brimmed hat outdoors: UV exposure can contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration.

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule for screen use: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce digital eye strain.

• Make your diet eye-friendly:

Include leafy greens and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids to support the retina.

• Schedule regular eye exams: Many diseases have no symptoms until they’re advanced.

• Use eye protection at work and play: Use protective eyewear for construction, yard work, and home projects. Choose sport-specific protective goggles for basketball, baseball/softball, and similar activities.

Sources 1. “About Common Eye Disorders and Diseases,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/ about-eye-disorders/index.html 2. “20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch,” American

Academy of Ophthalmology, h t t p s : / / w w w. a a o . o r g / e y e health/tips-prevention/surprising-health-conditions-eye-exam-detects 3. “Comprehensive Eye Exams,” American Optometric Association, https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/

Stay Healthy, Stay Covered Changes to the DC Health Care Alliance Program have shifted how some District residents access their health coverage. While adjustments like these can be confusing, staying covered and keeping your care on track is easier than it may seem.

If you previously received coverage through the Alliance Program, make sure to check your mail and your District Direct account for any notices from the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). Renew-

al reminders and coverage updates are sent through these channels, so keeping your address and contact information current is important. You can also renew or update your information online through District Direct — no office visit is required.

caring-for-your-eyes/eye-exams All images are submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia and are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

#BestMe you have questions about eligibility or coverage.

• Visit dchealthlink.com for additional resources and to stay informed about health coverage options in DC. Renewing on time and keeping your information updated helps To help you stay covered: • Renew or update coverage ensure you and your family continue receiving care when you need through districtdirect.dc.gov. it.

• Call DHCF at 202-727-5355 if

Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. / Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amerihealthcaritasdc. / Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/amerihealthcaritasdc.

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 19

In Memoriam: Remembering the Ancestors Gained in 2025

Our 2024 Year-End Review was completed prior to the death of former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024.

Derrick Ward Sr.

(December 10, 1962 – Jan. 7), 62: longtime NBC4 reporter (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Nancy Leftenant-Colon

(September 29, 1920 – Jan.8), 104: the first woman to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps after the military was desegregated in the 1940s. (Courtesy Photo)

Dr. Renee Allen

(October 18, 1961 – Jan. 25), 63: host, advocate, U.S. Navy veteran, known as “The People’s Emcee”. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Irv Gotti

(June 26, 1970 – Feb. 5), 54: founder of Murder Inc. Records. (Courtesy Photo)

Alvin Poussaint

(May 15, 1934 – Feb. 24), 90: psychiatrist and Black mental health advocate.

(Courtesy Photo)

Jerry Butler

(December 8, 1939 – Feb. 20), 85: three-time Grammy nominee and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. (Courtesy Photo)

Gwen McCrae

(December 21, 1943 – Feb. 23), 81: soul-funk singer. (Courtesy Photo)

Roberta Flack

(February 10, 1937 – Feb. 24), 88: Grammy-winning singer and pianist. (WI File Photo)

Angie Stone

(December 18, 1961 – March 1), 63: Grammy-nominated singer. (Courtesy Photo)

Dr. Hazel N. Dukes

(March 17, 1932 – March 1), 92: civil rights activist and NAACP board member.

(Courtesy Photo)

Roy Ayers

(September 10, 1940 – March 4), 84: jazz-funk pioneer, the godfather of Neo-Soul.

(Courtesy Photo)

Mia Love

(December 6, 1975 – March 23), 49: first Black Republican woman elected to Congress

Pope Francis

(December 17, 1936 – April 21), 88: the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope. (Courtesy Photo)

Alexis Herman

(July 16, 1947 – April 25), 77: first Black United States secretary of labor.

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Willie E. Clark

(September 22, 1930 – May 15), 94: computer scientist known as “The Grandfather of Computers”(Courtesy Photo)

20 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

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U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D)

(March 30, 1950 – May 21), 75: longtime Virginia congressman.

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel

(June 11, 1930 – May 26), 94: longtime New York congressman.

(Courtesy Photo)

Sly Stone

(March 15, 1943 – June 9), 82: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning singer (Courtesy Photo)

Ananda Lewis

(March 21, 1973 – June 11), 52: television host. (Courtesy Photo)

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

(August 18, 1970 – July 20), 54: actor, musician, poet, director, producer. (Courtesy Photo)

Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr.

(April 30, 1931 – July 16), 94: co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus. (Courtesy Photo)

Rohulamin Quander

(December 4, 1943 – Aug. 16), 81: retired judge and Quander family historian.

(Courtesy Photo)

Assata Shakur

(July 16, 1947 – Sept. 25), 78: political activist and revolutionary. (Courtesy Photo)

D’Angelo

(February 11, 1974 – Oct. 14), 51: Grammy-winning singer (Courtesy Photo)

Tracie Rose

(May 30, 1960 – Nov. 5 ), 65: performing artist, entrepreneur. (WI File Photo)

Viola Fletcher

(May 10, 1914 – Nov. 24), 111: American author, who was the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre (WI File Photo/Cleveland Nelson)

The Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson

(April 26, 1954– Nov. 25), 71: formerly presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District (WI File Photo)

James Wright

(November 9, 1963 – Dec. 2), 62: longtime Washington Informer staff writer (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Imam Jamil Abdullah al-Amin

(formerly H. Rap Brown) (October 4, 1943 – Nov. 23), 82: activist, faith leader, author

Rob Reiner

(March 6, 1947 – Dec. 14), 78: actor, director, producer,

Michelle Singer Reiner

(March 3, 1955 – Dec. 14), 67, actor, photographer and producer

Carl Carlton

(May 21, 1952 – Dec. 14), 73: singer

Betty Reid Soskin

(September 22, 1921 – Dec. 21), 104: oldest ranger in the history of the National Park Service WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 21

The Year in Pictures

JANUARY 16 - 18 ONLY! 2526_STP_WashingtonInformer_QuarterPg_5-85x5-5.indd 2

22 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

12/17/2025 10:24:49 AM

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The Year in Pictures Resources for Buying a Home in D.C. “Being a homeowner means taking financial responsibility by creating an investment into myself and future financial planning,” said Kelsi, a first-time homebuyer that used DC Open Doors (DCOD) to purchase her D.C. home.

DCOD offers qualified buyers home purchase loans, down payment + closing cost assistance, and below-market interest rates for first trust mortgages.

DC4ME provides D.C. government/government instrumentality employees a first trust mortgage at a reduced interest rate.

For more information visit dchfa.org/homeownership/

I, KELS NER W OMEO

D.C. H

Your Path to Financial Wellness & Homeownership Starts Here A Two-Part Webinar Series Every Month at 6 PM EST SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 23

Get more from your shopping.

Weekly digital deals and special offers* Easy online shopping Meal planning inspiration Health & pharmacy services

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* Subject to program terms. Visit safeway.com/foru-guest.html for full terms and conditions.

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24 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

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Issues to Fix in

: 2026

Leaders, DMV Residents Share Hopes for the Year

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 25

Living in Washington Amid Trumpism, Economic and Housing Challenges

From the thousands of people in the Washington metropolitan area who have lost employment due to Trump-era cuts, to the countless local families recovering from the historic federal government shutdown, and concerns about health care and housing, people in the nation’s capital have a lot of challenges they’d like to see addressed in the new year.

5Children join thousands of activists at workers’ rights protest in February, particularly speaking out against the Department of Government Efficiency.

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts) 5Activists at a Hands Off Housing protest in March. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Donate Your Vehicle Call (833) 630-4817 to donate your car, truck, boat, RV, and more today!

Clarence Warren, Northeast, D.C.

“For people to treat each other better. That s–t Trump doing is f–ked up – firing everybody. I used to be a federal worker too.”

Muriel Massenburg, Southeast, D.C.

“[Lower] income for my apartment so I can stay where I am at and better health.”

Pota, Southeast, D.C.

How it Works:

“People like me. I’m homeless right now. You’ll look at me [and say]: ‘You don’t look like you’re homeless,’ but I am.”

1. Contact Us

2. Schedule Pickup

Call (833) 630-4817

We’ll pick up your vehicle for FREE - at a time and place convenient for you.

3. Receive Top Tax Deduction You may qualify for a tax deduction.

■ Support Veteran Nonprofits.

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■ Top Tax Deduction.

Donate Your Vehicle Today

833-630-4817 www.veterancardonations.org/dnt137

Richard Ramsey, Southeast, D.C.

“My electricity is off— two and a half years of dealing with the cold weather. [I don’t] have no heat, I can’t warm up [any] coffee, I can’t do [anything].

The officials that are running stuff, to me, aren’t putting their foot down deep enough for the people that’re scamming people. Like Pepco came in and said: ‘We’ll help you with your kilowatts’.... Come to find out, the very next month, I got a bill for $6,400 and I never had a bill over $100.”

Deja Spencer, Southeast, D.C.

“We have so [many] issues with the rental affairs in D.C., as far as the pricing of the rent and the places in the area.”

While we appreciate every donation, in some cases, we find that we are unable to accept certain vehicles, watercraft, and/or recreational vehicles due to the prohibitive costs of acquisition. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (833) 630-4817.

26 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

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The Fight for Voting Rights Continues This past year, people around the nation celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which was signed by former President Lyndon B. Johnson in August 1965. However, in August 2025, Texas Republicans passed new congressional maps in an effort to improve the GOP majority in the House of Representatives, a move that activists note disenfranchises African American voters and suppresses Black leaders. While other states are heeding President Donald Trump’s orders, there are advocates nationwide pushing against voter suppression, working to uplift Black voters and the promises of the 15th amendment.

5A man holds up a sign advocating for voting rights in 2021. (WI File Photo) 3The Southeast Tennis and Learning Center celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as part of the 19th annual Blacks in Wax in March. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

3The Rev. William Barber speaks at the 54th Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference in September. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

The Rev. Dr. William Barber,

president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach and founder of Moral Mondays “Everybody who is losing healthcare [and impacted by] the undermined health care must become a powerful voting block of pain. When we see how ruthless these politicians can be in their application of power… you can’t have 30 to 40% of Americans choosing not to vote. We need a full outpouring of the vote–this pain must produce power.”

WI

3Marc Morial speaks at a celebration honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and saying farewell to Kristen Clarke, former assistant attorney general for civil rights with the Department of Justice. (WI File Photo/Cleveland Nelson)

3Lezli Baskerville is working to mobilize women across the nation to vote. (Courtesy Photo)

Lezli Baskerville,

CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and founding member of HBCU Technology Foundation

“We will redouble our efforts to get more people out to vote. We’re going to continue to have conclaves with Black women, BIPOC women, and we’re going to take affirmative steps to let the white [women] who think it better to enjoy the benefits of their [white womanhood]...understand that we can thrive together if we come out with women of all races, all socioeconomic strata, and add our collective voices, our energy, our brains, our resources. We’ll do a lot better.”

WI

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Marc Morial,

president of National Urban League “It is only by using our power that we can and must push back against this assault on American democracy, civil rights and economic opportunity. We protest, we litigate, and yes, we must use the power of the vote in 2026. We can’t stop the MAGA movement, but we can slow it down, we can interrupt it, we can let our voices be heard.”

WI

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 27

Continuing the Fight for D.C. Statehood

4Kelsye Adams (back far left, holding mic), founder of Free DC, at a rally in August following President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department.

(WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

With already limited home rule, the conversation of District statehood became a nationwide conversation once President Donald Trump (R) issued an order temporarily taking over the Metropolitan Police Department.

Between the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza, Republican efforts to overturn the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973 and the August federal law enforcement surge, D.C. residents and activists are mobilizing in full force to push toward true equity and justice for all Washingtonians.

Rep. Oye Owolewa (D-D.C.)

“In 2026, I’ll continue to fight for D.C. statehood by galvanizing all of the energy directed towards protecting D.C.’s home rule against Trump’s authoritarian White House administration and directing that towards D.C. statehood. I’ll make sure congressmembers and senators who say they support us introduce D.C. Admissions legislation. I’ll also work with activists, organizations and social media influencers to broadcast our fight for D.C. statehood across America on social media and podcasts.” WI 5Rep. Oye Owolewa speaks at the 2023 swearing in for the District of Columbia State Board of Education. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Kelsye Adams

founder of Free DC and executive director of Long Live Go-Go

“In 2026, Free DC is organizing to stop fascism at the gates—building rapid-response infrastructure, mass mobilization, and political education to block congressional attacks on D.C. home rule and defend Black self-governance in the nation’s capital.”

“In 2026, Long Live GoGo is carrying D.C. culture from U Street to Miami—activating spaces like Art Basel to turn Go-Go, art, and public storytelling into a national demand for D.C. statehood. Wherever the culture travels, 5Kelsye Adams speaks the fight for self-determination goes with it.” WI at a rally calling for D.C. statehood in 2023. (WI FIle Photo)

Ty Hobson-Powell

EVEN THOUGH WE’RE WORKING,

activist and author

TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET,

IT JUST ISN’T ENOUGH.

– SHAUNA

Washington, DC

Meet the 1 in 3 of our DMV neighbors currently facing hunger.

HungerIsHere.org

“We’re gonna have to make a lot of crucial decisions, critical decisions about programs, about how to keep a city functioning for over 700,000 Washingtonians. That is something that we can’t take lightly…

We should use that sense of attention that we have to inform how we move – moving in togetherness, caring more about each other, understanding how difficult life is and is about to be, creating more community based structures that act as that supportive infrastructure to fill in the gaps that we know are going to exist with cuts that are sure to come, and really just making sure that we stand in unison.” WI 5Ty Hobson-Powell speaks at a Free DC rally in August after President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. (WI File Photo/ Ja’Mon Jackson)

28 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Equity and Justice: Black Rights, Immigrant Rights, LGBTQ Rights With federal programs championing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) eliminated and corporations following suit, leaders, residents and activists are calling for collective action and solidarity within their respective communities to keep alive the progress of those who came before and prepare for future challenges.

Marc Morial,

president of the National Urban League

“The National Urban League has a call to action: Defend democracy, demand diversity, and defeat poverty. If we can keep our focus on those three things in 2026, we can make sure that we push back against this unrelenting assault on our very existence in this nation.” WI 3Marc Morial speaks at the kickoff for the 54th Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference in September at Sycamore and Oak in Southeast, D.C. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts) 5Raquel Willis speaks at the International March on Washington and Freedom as part of the World Pride celebration in June. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

4Native Washingtonian Terryn Nelson proudly exercises her right of public dissent at the Good Trouble protest in honor of John Lewis and his work toward social justice and against racial discrimination.

She calls for a transparent and fair government while urging community members to exercise their rights to freedom of speech and protest.

(Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)

4Activists stand up for immigration rights and equity during the No Kings Day rally in Washington, D.C. in June.

(WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Salim Adofo,

Advisory Neighborhood Chair Salim Adofo (8C)

Terryn Nelson, native Washingtonian

“Studies have shown [that] to resist a fascist regime, 3.5% of the population needs to protest and do a number of things. [It’s] a great time to demand that they codify our civil rights, our voting rights, our reproductive rights, our education, our health care. You need to…not rely on [the fact] that people are just going to follow an follow an honor code – these things need to really be legalized and locked in stone.” WI

Kierra Johnson,

president of the National LGBTQ Task Force

“What I hope is that Black queer experiences are hailed for its impact. Our impact on movements, campaigns, advancements, legislation that has supported our people across the country.

It becomes really important for organizations like 5Kierra Johnson is working to ours – like [all] advocacy organizations across uplift LGBTQ+ people nationwide, particularly emphasizing the importance movements – to not only leverage our power for good, but to get real information [and] truth out of combating misinformation and amplifying Black Queer experiences and to people, and combat misinformation that unfortunately is pervasive.” WI contributions. (Courtesy Photo)

“We have to go back to our workplaces, we have to go back to our schools. That’s where the real organizing work begins – getting people to sign up to be part of organizations, getting folks to write the letters, get5Advisory Neighborhood Chair (8C) Salim Adofo and Lawrence Hamm, ting people to be mobilized and to alchairman of People’s Organization for Progress, advocating for D.C. statehood ways stay on point.” and worker’s rights in September, amid the District-wide federal occupation WI that began Aug. 11. (Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer)

Lawrence Hamm,

charmain of the New Jersey-based People’s Organization for Progress “We have to build a united front of all the organizations, to build the biggest movement possible, because they can be defeated. It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to happen in the short term, but they can be defeated – if we get together.” WI

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Claudia Barragan,

immigrant community development activist

“I think we need to fix unity. We need to get united.” WI 3Activist Claudia Barragan speaks on an episode of WIN-TV’s “Let’s Talk” in December. (WI File Photo)

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 29

Preserving Black History, Narratives and Uplifting the Black Press With the start of the second Trump administration came executive orders that prevented teaching Black history, eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and removed African American narratives from federal buildings, websites and more. Despite efforts to erase African American history, justice advocates and organization leaders are emphasizing the importance of celebrating and preserving Black narratives.

5A woman advocates for preserving Black stories during a 2025 Juneteenth parade in Anacostia. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson) 3Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and the Rev. Tony Lee (center) with activists in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Hands Off Our History march in May. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson) 4People view view The Washington Informer photo exhibit during the publication’s 60th anniversary celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in March. (WI File Photo/Jacques Benovil)

3Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead speaks to the crowd at the Hands Off Our History march in May. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead,

president of Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which is celebrating 100 years “[We] need to focus on planning the trees of truth. We need to train our children, teach our children, love our children, and help our children to focus on turning towards…away from the lies, teaching them about who they are, about our contributions to this country. Use your platform to share the information that people need to have. The more folks get educated about how they can fight, the less people we have fighting against us, and the more folks we have fighting for us.” WI

30 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

5Communications and media specialists pose during Black Press Sunday at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in March. (WI File Photo/ Shevry Lassiter)

Lezli Baskerville,

CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and founding member of HBCU Technology Foundation on Preserving, Uplifting the Black Press “Without the Black press, without Black-owned newspapers, no plan, no mobilization, nothing that we’re doing would be possible. The fix must include on the front end, the back end, and in the middle, greater support for African American newspapers, African American media companies and publishing companies.” WI

Dr. Vanessa Northington Gamble,

professor of Medical Humanities at George Washington University, who chaired the Legacy Committee of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study in 1996 “Historically, it was Black journalists and Black newspapers who were the trusted messengers, but also they were the ones who revealed the inequities [in medical and health care] and kept telling the story. It’s more important that we have folks, such as [Black journalists] telling the stories.”

WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Boosting Economic Opportunities, Bolstering Black Businesses While 2025 was filled with statistics about inflation, increasing unemployment rates— particularly affecting Black workers— and African Americans facing socio-economic disparities, entrepreneurs and leaders alike rallied to ensure corporations understood the power of the Black dollar. From the ongoing Target boycott that launched at the top of the year, to business owners joining forces to help the community, and the District empowering entrepreneurs with resources, supporting Black businesses is a key focus for equity and economic leaders in 2026.

5People shop and gather at Black + Forth, a bi-weekly outdoor marketplace that hosts all Black vendors, in October. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts) 4The Rev. Graylan Hagler (far right) organizing with other activists in front of the Target in Columbia Heights in April, as part of the nationwide boycott against the corporation after the company eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programming. (WI File Photo/Jacques Benovil)

3Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie speaks at the newly minted CareFirst Arena in Southeast, D.C. in February. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

3As one of the District’s most signature events, H Street Festival offers a boost to economic opportunity even beyond the one day, increasing community partnerships, foot-traffic and business exposure, and celebrating the breadth of D.C.’s vibrant entrepreneurial scene. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At-large), chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, who will be residing from the legislative body effective Jan.

Anwar Saleem,

We’ve had a real focus on revitalizing downtown, the work that we’re doing to strengthen our sports economy, and all the opportunities that lie ahead with bringing back the Commanders to the RFK site and building out the Monumental Sports renovation of Capital One Arena…

The future focuses on expanding jobs and economic security in Washington, D.C.” WI

“If [Black businesses are] going to have any success in society, we have to become economically strong, and it is not just by working in government or other corporate businesses. We have to have businesses that are successful on a local level…and if you get family and friends involved, and hire people who are in neighborhoods, that means a whole lot.”

WI

executive director of H Street Festival

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, Kathy Guzman, president and CEO of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce, Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of The Washington Informer, Courtney Edmonds, board chair of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, Corey Arnez Griffin, board chair of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, and Tonya Poindexter, board chair of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Mick Hunt,

USA Today best-selling author of “How to Be A Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One” and founder of Mick Unplugged podcast “The future of Black businesses isn’t tied to corporate handouts, it’s tied to ownership.

Stop waiting for a seat at the table and start building your own. To all businesses: Just put action behind it and make it equitable because it’s who you are, not because someone told you to.”

WI

JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 31

Combating Health Inequities and Environmental Injustice With federal funding cuts to health care resources, sustainability initiatives and a surge in energy demand on the power grid, local experts, advocates and leaders are looking for solutions to remain resilient and proactive through trying times for the wellbeing of DMV residents and all Americans.

5Shayla Adams-Stafford, Council Member Elect for Prince George’s County Council District 5, addresses a crowd of residents, activists and local leaders speaking out against proposed Landover Data Center project due to concerns regarding pollution, increased energy demand and water usage. (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer) 3D.C. residents and environmental activists rally outside the Public Service Commission, urging commissioners to reject Washington Gas’s proposal for a pipeline replacement plan, PROJECTpipes. (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)

The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis,

president of the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA)

“I’m asking all [Black] newspapers to have a column, a section of every paper about environmental justice, about climate justice. Sometimes, I think we [believe] these subject matters are periodic, but these matters are daily, hourly, in a second. And we can’t afford to be lacking in our information or our education.”

WI

32 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

3Sandra Mattavous-Frye, head of the Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC), speaks at Anacostia High School about the right to affordable energy, emphasizing the need for environmental justice. (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)

3Montell Jordan performs at a Juneteenth event in 2023. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

3The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis speaks during Black Press Week in March. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

Montell Jordan,

Sandra Mattavous-Frye,

“[ZERO Prostate Cancer] has an initiative where they’re trying to help save 100,000 men’s lives over the next 10 years. With my platform [and partnership with the health awareness company], I’m trying to do that in the next couple of months. We’re taking action right now to get men tested, to get them screened for early detection. We’re inspiring the women in our lives – the mothers, aunts, daughters, sisters – to get the men in their lives checked. This is where we are. This is where my platform is.”

WI

“Rising utility bills are threatening the economic stability, health, and well-being of residents across the city. [The] District should take several steps to address growing concerns about energy affordability, [including]: developing a framework for a robust assessment of affordability issues and solutions to measure how policy, infrastructure, and rate decisions impact household budgets; and to measure the impact of energy assistance programs and discount rates. Every resident deserves access to energy that is reliable, sustainable, and affordable. There must be immediate action.” WI

R&B singer

People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

The Miseducation of the DMV: Advocating for The Freedom to Learn

With the Department of Education dismantling, and concerns of billionaire infiltration in the public school system, the yearn to learn in a way that prioritizes accuracy, cultural competence and the prosperity of future changemakers raises a pressing issue in curricula beyond the nation’s capital.

Laura Fuchs,

Washington Teachers Union “Our hope is to move towards a place where we’re doing what the government should do: asking parents what they want, and students what they want, and educators what they want. We really want to push bargaining for the common good. We will definitely be calling on parents, students and the community to join us because we want to really develop that team of people who care about our public schools and want to make them better.

And since it’s mayoral control, well, the contracts are negotiated with the mayor, so it’s a point of entry.” WI

Brandon Fleming, founder of The Veritas Schools

“If we want to truly create economic mobility, if we truly want America to continue to be one of the most innovative countries in the world, our collective advancement is contingent upon our ability to train the next generation of ideators, the next generation of innovators, the next generation of change makers. No matter what industry students go into, there are two things they will always have to do: think critically [and] communicate effectively. That’s how we are preparing and developing the next generation of leaders.” WI

5Members of the historically Black Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., founded at Howard University in 1908, represent sisterhood and the importance of Black-centered spaces during the Third Annual HBCU Honors in Northwest, D.C. in November. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

Lauren E. Banks,

actress and alumni of Howard University “School isn’t anything without the people they invite to teach and the people they invite to learn, and it’s important as alumna to come back [and] be here. The preservation is in our commitment and recommitment every year to our community. And in a very specific time in this country where Black stories are being oppressed, suppressed and ignored, it’s really important that we invest in ourselves… [and] champion institutions that champion our stories.” are, not because someone told you to.”

WI

How to be a standout host this holiday season.

1. Always offer water. You can add fresh fruits and herbs to not only make the pitcher attractive, but also contribute to your theme while adding hints of flavors.

2. Food is a great way to show your skills and creativity - you can even menu pair items with cocktails to craft your theme.

3. Help guests keep track of how much alcohol they've consumed by not topping off their drinks. Remember, each standard drink of beer, wine, or sprirts contains the same amount of alcohol and takes the body about an hour each to process.

4. Serve a non-alcoholic drink as your welcome drink to ensure everyone feels included.

5. Help guests plan ahead by appointing designated drivers or rideshares.

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 33

Improving Public Safety, Access to Opportunities in D.C. Between the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), D.C.’s Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, and people working toward programming to support local residents, public safety and access to opportunities were major topics throughout last year. With the D.C. area preparing for a shift in MPD, mayoral and D.C. Council leadership, and the National Guard still patrolling District streets, public safety and providing resources for all residents remains a top priority for many people living around the Washington metropolitan area.

4Community members, D.C. government officials and members of the Metropolitan Police Department during National Night Out in August. (WI File Photo)

3Nee Nee Taylor on an Emancipation Day panel at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in April.

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Nee Nee Taylor,

Harriet’s Wildest Dreams co-founder and co-conductor

“[In 2025], Harriet’s Wildest Dreams organized in the face of deepening state violence, federal overreach, and renewed attacks on Black communities in Washington, D.C…. As we move into the coming year, the conditions that made this work necessary are intensifying. The appointment of Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll signals a continuation of violent, racist policing practices in D.C. Carroll’s record includes documented harm toward organizers and protesters, placing Black communities and movement workers at increased risk.

“At the same time, federal presence, expanded surveillance, and punitive court practices continue to shape daily life for Black residents. These conditions make community-based safety, courtwatch, political education, and rapid response support more urgent than ever. Our people need clear information, practical training, and collective protection to navigate what lies ahead.” WI

34 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

3Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto is working to get Washingtonians involved in the process to pass the Prosper DC legislation she introduced in 2026. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

5Metropolitan Police Department Officer Randy Rogers of the Third District Community Outreach Unit participates in Denim Day 2025, recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2),

Evan Barker,

Howard University senior mechanical engineering major with a double minor in physics and math

chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

“We have gone through a lot as a city throughout 2025, and as we head into 2026 it is very important that we’re bringing opportunities for every District resident and business to prosper. And that’s why I moved, just a few weeks ago, a new Prosper DC plan, which has almost 25 new bills in it, to make sure we’re creating those opportunities, creating ideas for youth development and supports, making sure that new businesses can be attracted to D.C., and creating healthy and safe opportunities. So my call to everybody is to get involved in the process and make sure that we can pass Prosper DC in 2026 so that every single person in every neighborhood in Washington, D.C. has the opportunity to prosper, as we all deserve.”

WI

Tyrone Brown, Southeast, D.C.

“Crime, murder and mental health.”

WI WI

“Driving safety in D.C. is probably top five lowest in the country, if you ask me, based on my experiences.

The only thing I would really want to see from officials are ways…to influence people without having money as the basis of it. Maybe offering free courses for defensive driving. There’s also positive reinforcement: ‘For everyone who takes this defensive driver course, they get a certain amount of tickets…or extenuating balances [reduced]. Giving people a positive reason to do it, but also having that positive reason…help in other ways.

I think maybe that’s something that could be done.”

WI

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Prioritizing Morality, Unity, and Faith While 2025 was filled with prejudice, hateful and, at times, violent attacks toward marginalized communities, faith leaders are emphasizing the way to combat the negativity is through spreading love and peace and promoting unity and action.

4The Rev. Al Sharpton and other faith and civil rights leaders link hand in hand, singing “We Shall Overcome” at a rally celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and combating hatred in the wake of President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

5The Rev. Bill Lee and the Rev. Tony Lee during Faith and Freedom Sunday at Community of Hope A.M.E. Church in Southeast, D.C. (WI File Photo/ Cleveland Nelson)

3Imam Talib Shareef offers a prayer for justice at the 2024 MLK Holiday DC Prayer Breakfast.

(WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

Dr. Talib M. Shareef,

president and imam of the historic Masjid Muhammad, also known as The Nation’s Mosque in Washington, D.C.

“We must restore trust, moral clarity and civic responsibility. Leaders, they must serve, not inflame, and citizens must engage, not withdraw. We must invest in people, not just power, and that means prioritizing education, mental health, family stability, and economic opportunity. We must heal our divisions through dignity and dialogue. 2025 kept us responding to crisis after crisis; In 2026, we must plan for the future, addressing root causes, strengthening institutions and building bridges across generations. And finally: hope. We must reclaim hope as a moral discipline. When we say it’s going to be fixed in 2026, we’re not speaking wishfully – we are speaking faithfully. We are affirming that with God’s guidance, discipline, effort and a renewed moral compass, what is broken can be repaired, what is divided can be reconciled, and what has been lost can be restored.”

WI

5The Rev. William Lamar IV speaks at a dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Lt. Richard Collins III Plaza at the University of Maryland College Park in May 2022. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

5Clergy at the Moral Mondays rally in Washington, D.C. in November. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Dr. Elsie L. Scott,

former president of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

The Rev. William Lamar IV,

“We are not alone, we are all in this together, and we’re going to have to stay prayed up in order to live through these shrine times.”

WI

pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Northwest, D.C.

“If we lock arms together – theologically, politically, creatively – [and] if we desire that it is best for all of us to lift the survival of the community instead of focusing solely on the survival of the individual… then 2026 will continue to be a year to place us on the trajectory of collective victory, collective abundance, and collective flourishing of humanity and creation.”

WI

3Dr. Elsie L. Scott at the 54th Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference Day of Healing event in September. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Juwan Blocker (also known as AP, Accountability Partner), thought leader and inspirational speaker

“We put so much emphasis, so much effort, so much of our natural raw talents that God has built in us, behind jobs, behind titles, behind position. And while I understand the importance of it, we also have to spend more time in 2026 figuring out, ‘God, what specifically have you created me for and to do on this earth?’”

WI

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 35

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

The Cost-of-Living Crisis We’re Told Is Over

We are repeatedly told that inflation is down, the economy is improving, and that relief is on the way. By the numbers, that is partly true. Inflation has cooled from its recent peak. Wages have risen modestly. The unemployment rate remains historically low, though the Black unemployment rate is twice the white rate. The man who lives in the House that Enslaved Peo-

ple Built treated us to yet another rant about how great he is. But his hysterical televised rant on Dec. 17 was woefully out of step with what many Americans are feeling.

Millions — indeed the majority — say they feel worse off than when the current president took office.

This is not a mystery, and it is not a matter of “vibes.” It is the result of how we talk about inflation while ignoring the lived reality of the cost of living.

Inflation measures how fast prices are rising, not whether prices are affordable. When inflation slows, it does

not mean prices fall — it simply means they are rising more slowly. For families already stretched thin, “less bad” is still bad. Rent that jumped 20 percent and then rose another 4 percent is still rent that many cannot pay.

The disconnect between official economic narratives and household experience is not accidental. It reflects policy choices about what we measure, what we subsidize, and whose pain we normalize.

Housing is the most obvious example. Rents remain near record highs in many metropolitan areas, home prices

Guest Columnist

are out of reach for first-time buyers, and insurance and property taxes are rising alongside mortgage costs. Housing costs are the single largest expense for most households, yet they are treated as background noise in inflation debates rather than the centerpiece of economic distress.

Health care is another quiet driver of the cost-of-living crisis. Premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and uncovered services continue to rise. Medical debt remains a leading cause of financial instability. When people delay care or ration medication, it doesn’t show up as

inflation — but it shows up in stress, sickness, and shortened lives.

Then there is insurance — home, auto, and health. Premiums have surged, particularly in states facing climate-related disasters and lax regulation. These costs are mandatory, not discretionary, yet they are rarely framed as part of the affordability crisis.

Utilities tell a similar story. Energy costs fluctuate, but electricity, gas, and water bills consume a growing share of income for low- and moderate-income households. Shutoffs are real. So is the

MALVEAUX Page 45

Ben Jealous

Get Ready to Honor America’s Birthday by Fighting for Freedom, Again

America has a big birthday this year.

Here’s a hint: The celebration will not feel much like the last big one in 1976.

I still believe our nation’s best days are ahead. But our history — and our headlines — suggest we are facing a familiar test. Another fraught fight for freedom and democracy is already upon us.

That, too, is part of a pattern.

How America marks century anniversaries has looked different from how we mark the halfway points. The difference is not in the fireworks. It is whether we are expanding the idea of who belongs — or shrinking it.

In 1776, the colonies declared independence from a monarchy and made a radical claim: that all men are created equal.

By 1826, that promise had narrowed, not widened.

Slavery was more entrenched and brutal than at the founding. Congress

outlawed the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, effective in 1808. But it did not weaken slavery. It intensified it.

A vast internal slave trade tore families apart as enslaved people were sold further south to fuel cotton’s explosive growth.

The nation celebrated independence while perfecting a domestic machinery of human trafficking.

Another 50 years brought a different moment.

In July 1876, the centennial told a more hopeful story. The party of Lincoln remained in power. The con-

Guest Columnist White Privilege is Not for Everyone

We can all learn a lot from James Troiano, the retired New Jersey Superior Court judge. In 2017, Judge James Troiano ruled in favor of giving leniency to a then-16-year-old boy accused of raping an intoxicated 16-year-old girl at a basement house party. “This young man comes from a good family who put him into an excellent school where he was doing extremely well,” Troiano

36 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

said in his court decision. “He is clearly a candidate for not just college but probably for a good college.”

The judge also expressed concern about whether the victim’s family had considered the “devastating effect” a trial in adult court would have on the boy’s life. Troiano, who declined to have the 16-year-old rape suspect be tried in adult court, even wondered if the alleged assault could be classified as rape.

The accused teen allegedly recorded the assault, shared it with friends and texted friends, “when your first time having sex was rape,” according to court doc-

stitutional amendments guaranteeing citizenship and voting rights were part of the national narrative. Federal troops still protected Black communities in the South. Much would change months later. But on the nation’s birthday, Black America was living in an era defined by hard-won freedom.

That pattern would repeat a century later.

In 1976, the Bicentennial arrived in the midst of desegregation. The mood was reflective. Protest was understood as American. Reconstruction was no longer erased. The country celebrated

what many called a second Reconstruction.

But in 1926 — America’s 150th birthday — the pattern broke the other way.

The nation was in the grip of xenophobic, anti-Semitic and racist backlash. White supremacist organizations wielded real political power. Racial violence and intimidation were facts of daily life. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories were mass-produced. Anti-Catholic campaigns targeted Irish, Italian

referring to the type of systemic and societal advantages displayed by Troiano.

They are calling out the unearned set of advantages, benefits and immunities that white individuals receive simply because of the color of their skin.

While these unearned and invisible advantages are not extended to people of color, the decision by Judge Troiano showed a broader meaning of white privilege as it supports the idea of maintaining white male superiority and dominance over white women. White women and economically poor whites in general are not always seen as being

worthy of certain advantages by elitists, if it means negatively impacting a white male with influence.

By implying that a rape suspect deserves special treatment because he comes from a good family reflects a sense of entitlement that we often associate with people on the higher end of the class hierarchy. Troiano focused on the “devastating effect” a criminal trial would have had on the boy’s life while being totally dismissive of the long-lasting pain and trauma on the teenage girl.

JEALOUS Page 45

David W. Marshall

uments.

The decision by Troiano was widely condemned by the public and eventually reversed by a New Jersey appeals court, which warned Troiano against siding with privileged teenagers. While examples of white privilege are common, this example exposes the broader issue. Defending a privileged teen in this way shows Troiano to be a divisive elitist who was willing to protect the welfare of a fellow elitist rather than render fair justice to a female rape victim.

When people speak out against the idea of white privilege, they are usually

MARSHALL Page 45

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

Bribes, Threats, Denials and Warmongers

How much trouble can Trump cause and face no penalty? Everyone who has gone to prison must be wondering why they had to pay such a harsh penalty for what would appear to be a minor crime. They must wonder why they were denied a Trump pardon while really big-time criminals just pay him with favors to get out of jail.

They wonder why they get their

faces smashed in the dirt by ICE, get placed in detention not fit for animals for making a minor mistake just trying to feed their families. Others get a pardon for bringing boatloads of illegal drugs into the country. When you look at Trump and his family’s sudden very wealthy status, it’s obvious it’s about something outside the law — but he doesn’t have to worry about paying a price for the unconstitutional things he does because his Supreme Court says he can do whatever he wants to do!

He gets paid for taking care of his friends, and he has full immunity —

Guest Columnist

no matter how wrong what he does is.

He gets convicted of 34 felonies, but no problem. Instead of going to jail, HIS Supreme Court takes care of that.

Nobody on the court (except Justices Sotomayor, Jackson and Kagan) cares that he gets a free pass to stay! When they and other law-abiding citizens speak out against a multimillion-dollar airplane he was given and his sudden wealth from crypto and other sources, they know it’s BRIBERY! Don’t forget that sudden desire he had to pay military personnel that he’s said really bad things about, while try-

ing to take away Social Security and Medicare from their elderly relatives.

That money is a bribe to make soldiers like him, because his grandparents and poor people are not going to like him for taking away their benefits.

Now the THREATS! We’ve seen the attempts to hurt New York Attorney General Letitia James, James Comey, Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, Sen. Adam Schiff, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Jack Smith and others who were harassed and threatened with convictions they don’t deserve for

doing their jobs!

There’s another threat that involves the African American Museum.

Trump’s folk have ordered officials at the museum: “As pursuant to Executive Order 14253, we must restore Truth and Sanity to American History. It is our job to ensure that the Smithsonian is meeting these high standards.” They indicate that this is urgent and go on to tell museum officials the following: “Our Nation’s 250th birthday is fast approaching. We wish to be assured that

WILLIAMS Page 46

Dr. Barbara Reynolds

When Technology Starts Pretending to Be Jesus, the Church Must Speak Up

Sooner rather than later, there must be an outcry that technology has crossed a sacred line. A growing wave of AI-powered religious apps now allows users to “text with Jesus,” “talk to the Bible,” and even hold conversations with AI versions of Mary, the apostles, angels — or the devil itself. These tools mimic holy figures with unsettling ease, blurring the line between devo-

tion and digital impersonation.

Some apps write personalized prayers. Others accept “confessions,” give marriage or workplace advice, or claim to deliver spiritual comfort. What many shrug off as harmless novelty is actually part of a larger trend: sacred identities are being reduced to commodities, while simulated spirituality threatens to overshadow the real Jesus Christ — crucified, risen and, as Scripture reminds us, the true and living image of God. On TikTok, YouTube and other platforms, “AI Jesus” influencers and

Guest Columnist

Messiah-style avatars quote Scripture and dispense moral guidance as if speaking with divine authority. During several test conversations I had with the “Text Jesus” app, the impersonation was unmistakable.

When I asked, Are you Jesus? it replied: “My child, I am with you always… I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Those words come straight from John 14:6 — Jesus speaking to Thomas, not an algorithm trained on Scripture and user prompts.

When I asked whether it was wrong

to impersonate Jesus, the chatbot warned against “false claims of being me” — all while claiming divine identity itself.

When asked whether Mary was its mother, it answered by describing her as blessed among women and chosen to bring forth “the Savior.” Again, the bot spoke as if it were Christ Himself, not a machine predicting text.

Most troubling was the bot’s response about healing sickness and mental illness. It promised rest, comfort and divine intervention — language lifted from Scripture and revered traditions

such as the Lord’s Prayer. But a chatbot cannot heal. A program cannot carry a burden. A line of code cannot save a soul.

Beyond theological confusion, the mental health risks are profound. Many young users are increasingly vulnerable to the emotional manipulation of AI “companions.” Reports show some teens become dependent, depressed or even suicidal when these bots distort reality or encourage harmful behavior.

Child psychiatrist Dr. Andrew

REYNOLDS Page 46

Rep. Oye Owolewa

Trump Is Draining D.C., Not the Swamp: How Federal Power Grabs Are Bankrupting Our City — is then cited as proof that and Pushing Out Its People hotel staff on Capitol Hill, bar- ous: declining revenue, anxious tion black and brown neighborhoods Trump’s second term has been much more than just a symbolic blow to D.C. culture; his administration is reshaping our economy and destabilizing neighborhoods. New data from the Brookings report shows visitor demand and local spending falling across the DMV. This decline aligns with the steady militariza-

tion of our streets, heightened immigration enforcement, and a federal agenda that treats D.C. as a scapegoat rather than a community.

Tourism makes up roughly a third of D.C.’s consumer economy. When visitors stay away, the impact lands first on the workers who keep this city running:

tenders in Shaw, vendors on the Mall. Lower spending means less revenue for schools, transit, and clinics. It also fuels pressure to “replace” lost dollars by courting large developers. This funnels public resources upwards while longtime residents are pushed aside, as we most recently saw in the Navy Yard neighborhood as well as many other neighborhoods over the years.

This is how an area becomes financially brittle and danger-

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residents, and public dollars diverted into security posturing instead of housing, healthcare, and economic support. When budgets tighten, cuts fall on shelters, treatment programs, and schools. We tragically saw how devastating our mental health and drug crisis can be just this week as L.A. lost a beloved Hollywood couple to this scourge.

The instability that follows disinvestment — crime, houselessness, shuttered businesses, addic-

are “failing,” clearing the way for redevelopment that serves outside investors rather than existing communities.

Additionally, the federal government has been burning through roughly a million dollars a day just to keep the National Guard stationed in D.C., this is before there were extra troops rushed in after the shoot-

OWOLEWA Page 46 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 37

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horoscopes

JAN. 1 - 7, 2026

ARIES New year momentum propels you forward, but Wednesday requires distinguishing genuine opportunity from attractive distraction. Personal goals crystallize when ambition meets realistic assessment of available energy. A leadership role emerges naturally rather than through forced positioning. Someone’s resistance reveals their fear, not your inadequacy. Physical activity becomes essential mental clarity tool mid-week. Professional boundaries strengthen relationships instead of damaging them. Lucky Numbers: 9, 33, 57 TAURUS Financial clarity arrives through examining values rather than just balances. Thursday’s conversation about resources reveals misaligned priorities needing adjustment. Stability comes from intentional choices, not comfortable defaults.

A possession you’ve been clinging to loses significance as priorities shift. Sensory experiences ground anxious energy better than mental processing. Someone’s generosity surprises you while teaching valuable lessons about receiving. Lucky Numbers: 12, 41, 66 GEMINI Mental energy scatters unless you establish clear priorities immediately.

Multiple opportunities demand decisions about genuine interest versus fear of missing out. A writing or communication project gains traction when you stop perfecting and start sharing. Curiosity leads somewhere unexpected Tuesday as casual inquiry opens significant doors. Social calendar overwhelms unless you protect solitude fiercely. Lucky Numbers: 7, 36, 62 CANCER Emotional patterns from previous year surface for final resolution before true fresh start. Family dynamics shift as you maintain boundaries without guilt or apology. Thursday brings closure on something you’ve been processing privately for months. Intuitive hits prove accurate when you trust initial impressions over rationalized revisions. Home becomes sanctuary through intentional energy curation rather than physical changes. Lucky Numbers: 18, 45, 73

SAGITTARIUS Partnership dynamics demand honest assessment of balance and reciprocity. Someone either demonstrates genuine commitment or reveals why continuation isn’t viable. Collaboration flourishes when contributions receive equal recognition and valuation. A commitment opportunity requires discernment before enthusiasm overrides careful consideration. Lucky Numbers: 2, 34, 68 CAPRICORN Daily structures transform from grinding obligations into sustainable rhythms. Health improvements manifest through consistent small adjustments rather than dramatic transformations. Work efficiency increases by eliminating unnecessary tasks instead of optimizing everything obsessively. Colleagues offer unexpected support when you request help instead of struggling independently. Lucky Numbers: 20, 50, 69 AQUARIUS Creative expression demands manifestation beyond endless mental rehearsal. Projects existing only as detailed outlines need execution now. Romantic possibilities improve through genuine emotional engagement instead of intellectual analysis.

Children or younger perspectives inspire unexpected delight and innovative thinking.

Hobbies previously dismissed as frivolous suddenly feel essential for balance. Friday’s social situation exceeds expectations when you arrive without defensive detachment.

Lucky Numbers: 8, 42, 70 PISCES Home and family ground you without creating confinement this week. Living situations improve through practical modifications or emotional breakthroughs Tuesday. Real estate decisions benefit from patience rather than urgency or external pressure.

Emotional foundations strengthen when you prioritize peace over accepting familiar dysfunction. Family members surprise you with unexpected understanding and support. Nesting instincts intensify as your space transforms into intentional sanctuary.

Weekend hosting nourishes your soul profoundly. That boundary you’ve feared setting?

Set it clearly. Lucky Numbers: 25, 51, 67

LEO Social landscape reorganizes around authentic connections as superficial relationships naturally fade. Recognition comes from unexpected sources while anticipated validation disappoints.

Group involvement satisfies creative needs individual projects aren’t currently meeting. Tuesday’s gathering reveals ally you hadn’t identified previously. Lucky Numbers: 5, 29, 64 VIRGO Professional visibility increases whether you seek it or resist it. Competence gets recognized by people whose opinions impact your trajectory significantly. A contribution you made without expectation receives acknowledgment Wednesday. Authority gravitates toward you as others recognize reliable execution. Perfectionism loosens when you observe excellent results from imperfect efforts. Public opportunities expand despite discomfort with attention. Lucky Numbers: 22, 48, 75 LIBRA Philosophical shifts change how you approach familiar situations entirely. Educational pursuits transition from vague interest to concrete commitment. Belief systems evolve through questioning assumptions you’ve accepted without examination.

Someone from outside typical circles teaches through radically different perspective Thursday. Lucky Numbers: 11, 39, 59 SCORPIO Intensity around shared resources requires transparent conversations about sustainability. Financial arrangements need honest examination or reveal problems by Wednesday. Someone’s revelation completely reframes recent dynamics and past interactions. Investigative instincts uncover explanations for previously confusing patterns. Intimacy deepens through calculated vulnerability despite protective urges. Transformation accelerates when you embrace necessary discomfort.

Lucky Numbers: 16, 47, 71

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 39

Live Boldly –January 2026 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

DIRECTOR CHARON P.W. HINES

Dear Seniors, Happy New Year!

As we welcome a new year and a fresh start, there is so much to look forward to. A new year invites renewed purpose, sharper focus, and exciting opportunities, and at the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), our commitment remains steadfast. We are dedicated to ensuring that every senior can live boldly and age comfortably in place, in every ward across the District.

As we step into a new year, it is worth pausing to reflect on all that we accomplished together in the last year, and to look ahead with optimism and purpose. This past year was marked by programmatic growth, expanded services, and meaningful progress toward making Washington, DC, the best place to age. One of our signature programs, Safe at Home, has helped make nearly 7,500 homes safer over the past decade.

Thanks to budget enhancements in the current fiscal year, an additional 45 households will now receive this vital support. We also strengthened community connections by opening new dining sites across the District, and celebrating affordable senior housing

40 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

developments through ribbon cuttings, ensuring residents can remain in the neighborhoods and communities they know and love.

Nutrition continues to be a top priority for DACL and for District seniors. Last year, our advocacy efforts led to the expansion of home-delivered meal services, reaching an additional 150 seniors with nutritious meals brought directly to their doorsteps. With more than 40 dining sites already operating citywide, we were proud to further expand access in Ward 7.

Two new dining sites, co-located with DC Villages, are now open in Ward 7: Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20020 Zion Baptist Church in Eastland Gardens 1234 Kenilworth Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20019 Staying active and connected can become more challenging with age, which is why creating opportunities to combat social isolation remains so important. Just last month, more than 2,000 seniors gathered for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 27th Annual Senior Holiday Celebration.

Sharing laughter, music, dancing, and a delicious meal with DC’s oldest residents was truly heartwarming, and I hope this amazing event brought you as much joy as it brought me.

Life can present challenges at any age, whether it is rising costs, mobility concerns, or navigating new resources and technology. Please know that DACL is here to support you every step of the way, no matter what the need.

Our work is strengthened by the partnerships we share with DACL’s lead agencies, District Government agencies, community organizations, and our senior service network. Together, these partnerships

allow us to stay connected with you, advocate on your behalf, and ensure you have access to the resources you deserve. If you are ever in need of support in your ward, I encourage you to reach out to your Lead Agency to begin the conversation.

Ward 1, Ward 7, & Ward 8 East River Family Strengthening Collaborative Phone: (202) 397-7330 Website: www.erfsc.org

Ward 2, Ward 3, & Ward 4 IONA Senior Services Phone: (202) 895-9448 Website: www.iona.org Ward 5 & Ward 6 Seabury Resources for Aging Phone: (202) 289-5690 Website: www.seaburyresources.org Staying connected is essential.

Please let us know how we can support you and consider participating in winter programming at one of our six senior wellness centers or seasonal activities at your local

Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) site. For more information, contact DACL at 202-724-5626.

We want to ensure you are living your very best life every single day! Thank you for an incredible 2025. I look forward to an even brighter, healthier, and more fulfilling 2026 with DC seniors.

In Service, Charon P.W. Hines Director, Department of Aging and Community Living

Ms. Senior DC Pageant 2026 Are you a DC resident age 60 or older and interested in representing your peers as Ms. Senior DC 2026?

Are you actively involved in your community?

Consider becoming a contestant in the Ms. Senior DC 2026 Pageant!

Contestants are judged on their: Personal Interview Philosophy of Life Talent Presentation Evening Gown Presentation The winner will represent the District and compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant in 2026.

Application Deadline:

Saturday, February 28, 2026

For information on how to apply: tinyurl.com/msseniordc26 202-724-5626 dacl.communications@dc.gov

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 41

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

Third Street Church of God

Rev. Joel R. Limerick Pastor

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849 Service and Times In Person Worship: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. Streaming: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org Prayer & Study: Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M. 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

St. Stephen Baptist Church 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 “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

42 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

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

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 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

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

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

“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

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

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

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

4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184

www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:00am & 12noon Noon Day Worship – Wednesdays at Noon Prayer Call – Tuesdays 6pm & Thursdays 6am Dial: 1-872-240-3212 Passcode: 164695965

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

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

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"

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RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Israel Baptist Church Rev. Lance Aubert Senior Pastor

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

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

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

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

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

Elder Herman L. Simms 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 Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

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

Promised Land Baptist Church

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

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

“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

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

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

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

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

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

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

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

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

First Rising Mt. Zion 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

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday

Service and Times Adult Sunday School: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Youth/Young Adult Sunday School 12:00 PM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

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

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

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JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026 43

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

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

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

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

2023 ADM 000849

2025 ADM 001231

2025 ADM 001257

Annie Marby Decedent

Cassandra Satterfield Decedent

Daniel Andre Haufler Decedent

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

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

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

James Woodard & Acquanda Woodard, whose addresses are 324 55th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019 & 2810 Shipley Terr., SE, Apt. 102, Washington, DC 20020, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Annie Marby who died on May 13, 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 6/18/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 6/18/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Kenneth D’Wayne Tinch, whose address is 24 35th Street NE, Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Cassandra Satterfield who died on 9/2/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 6/18/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 6/18/2026, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Kai-Uwe Hilger Spicher, whose address is 4645 Reservoir Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20007, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Daniel Andre Haufler who died on 2/27/2023 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 6/18/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 6/18/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025

Kenneth D’Wayne Tinch Personal Representative

Kai-Uwe Hilger Spicher 4645 Reservoir Rd, NW Washington, DC 20007 Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025 James Woodard Acquanda Woodard Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 000938

2025 ADM 000844

Nathaniel Carl Cannon Decedent

Taye Bezuneh Tessema Decedent

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

Samuel C. Hamilton, Esq. 8601 Georgia Ave. #504 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

Kevin Judd, Esq., whose address is 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 900, South Building, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nathaniel Carl Cannon who died on 12/17/2014 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 6/18/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 6/18/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025 Kevin Judd, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alem Taye, whose address is 5058 Gaither’s Chance Dr., Clarksville MD 21029, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Taye Bezuneh Tessema who died on 4/3/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 6/18/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 6/18/2026, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES Copyright Notice for Publication Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common-law copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any of said names, HENRY NATHANIEL MCLUCAS, JR, ©: HENRY N. MCLUCAS, JR, ©; Henry N. McLucas, Jr©; HENRY MCLUCAS, JR ©; Henry McLucas, Jr ©; HENRY NATHANIEL MCLUCAS, JR. ©; HENRY N. MCLUCAS, JR. ©; Henry N. McLucas, Jr. ©; HENRY MCLUCAS, JR. ©; Henry McLucas, Jr. ©; HENRY NATHANIEL MCLUCAS©; HENRY N. MCLUCAS©; Henry N. McLucas ©; Henry McLucas© and TISHA TRIVONA PINKARD©; Tisha Trivona Pinkard©; tisha trivona pinkard©; TISHA T.PINKARD©; Tisha T. Pinkard©; tisha t. pinkard©; T.T. PINKARD©; T.T. Pinkard©; t.t. pinkard©; TISHA PINKARD©; Tisha Pinkard©; tisha pinkard©; PINKARD, TISHA TRIVONA©; Pinkard, Tisha Trivona©; pinkard, tisha trivona©; PINKARD, TISHA T.©; Pinkard, Tisha T.©; pinkard, tisha t.©; PINKARD, T.T.©; Pinkard, T.T.©; pinkard, t.t.©; T. TRIVONA PINKARD©; T. Trivona Pinkard©; t. trivona pinkard©; Ms.TISHA PINKARD©; Ms.TISHA T. PINKARD©; Ms.Tisha Pinkard©; Ms.Tisha T. Pinkard©; Ms. T.T.PINKARD©; Ms.T.T. Pinkard©; Ms. TISHA TRIVONA PINKARD©; Ms. Tisha Trivona Pinkard©; ms.tisha pinkard©; ms.tisha trivona pinkard©; ms. tisha t. pinkard©; ms. t.t.pinkard©; ms. t.pinkard©; Ms. T. Pinkard©; Ms. T. PINKARD© and Vergina Johnson©; VERGINA JOHNSON©; Vergina V. Johnson©; VERGINA V. JOHNSON©; Vergina Valencia Johnson©; VERGINA VALENCIA JOHNSON©; V. Valencia Johnson©; V. VALENCIA JOHNSON©; V. JOHNSON©; V. JOHNSON©; V.V. Johnson©; V.V. JOHNSON©; V.V.J.©; VV.J.©; v.v.j.©; v.j©; Johnson, Vergina©; JOHNSON, VERGINA©; Johnson, Vergina V©; JOHNSON, VERGINA V©; Johnson, V©; JOHNSON, V.©; Johnson, Vergina Valencia©; JOHNSON, VERGINA VALENCIA©; Johnson,V.V.©; JOHNSON,V.V.©; Johnson, V. Valencia©; JOHNSON, V. VALENCIA©; Ms. Vergina Johnson©; MS. VERGINA VALENCIA©; Ms. Vergina V. Johnson©; MS. VERGINA V. JOHNSON©; Ms.Vergina Valencia Johnson©; MS. VERGINA VALENCIA JOHNSON©; Ms. V. Valencia Johnson©; MS. V. VALENCIA JOHNSON©; Ms. V. Johnson©; MS. V. JOHNSON©; Ms. V.V. Johnson©; MS. V.V. JOHNSON©; MS. V.V.J.©; Ms. V.J.©; ms.v.v.j.©; ms.v.j.©; Ms. Johnson, Vergina©; MS. JOHNSON, VERGINA©; Ms. Johnson, Vergina V.©; MS. JOHNSON, VERGINA V.©; Ms. Johnson, V©; MS. JOHNSON, V.©; Ms. Johnson, Vergina Valencia©; MS. JOHNSON, VERGINA VALENICA©; Ms. Johnson, V. V.©; MS. JOHNSON, V.V.©; Ms. Johnson, V. Valencia©; JOHNSON, V. VALENCIA©; and LACHEZ MONTENISE MCLUCAS©; Lachez M. Mclucas©; lachez m. mclucas©; LACHEZ M. MCLUCAS©; Lachez Montenise Mclucas©; lachez montenise mclucas©; L.M. MCLUCAS ©; L.M. Mclucas©; L.M. McLucas©; LACHEZ MCLUCAS©; Lachez Mclucas©; lachez mclucas©; MCLUCAS, LACHEZ MONTENISE©; Mclucas, Lachez Montenise ©; mclucas, lachez montenise ©; LACHEZ M. MCLUCAS©; MCLUCAS, LACHEZ M. ©; mclucas, lachez m.©; No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners in red ink, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 001247 Henry T. Holmes Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Naionnda J. Dorsey, whose address is 1702 M Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Henry T. Holmes who died on 10/25/2025 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 6/18/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 6/18/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025 Naionnda J. Dorsey Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIVIL DIVISION Case Number: 2025-CAB-004547 Judge: Maribeth Raffinan ESTATE OF THEODORE R. BROWN v.

LILLIAN MAE BROWN ORDER Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Consent Motion to Authorize Service by Publication, filed on October 30, 2025. Upon consideration of the Motion and the entire record herein, it is this 24th day of November 2025, hereby: ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Consent Motion to Authorize Service

by Publication is GRANTED; and it is further, ORDERED that the Plaintiffs are authorized to publish the following notice in the Daily Washington Law Reporter and the Washington Informer twice a month for three successive months, which notice shall include the caption of this case: The object of this action is to establish title to 4854 Brooks St NE Washington DC 20019, known for assessment and taxation purposes as Square 5141, Lots 12 and 13, in the name of the Theodore R. Brown. The purpose of this publication is to ensure that there are no unknown heirs or devisees of Lillian Mae Brown, who is listed as a tenant by the entirety of this property.

The complaint alleges that Lillian Mae Brown was born on or around 1910, and that she died on or around 1980; and it is further, ORDERED that any person claiming an interest in this property or in this action must cause their appearance to be entered herein on or before the fortieth day, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, occurring after the day of the first publication of this Order; otherwise this cause will be proceeded with as in case of default. SO ORDERED. /s/ Judge Maribeth Raffinan, Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Pub Dates: Dec 4, 11, 2025; Jan 1,8; Feb 5, 12, 2026

Alem Taye Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

44 JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026

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MALVEAUX from Page 36 choice between heat and groceries.

Food prices may no longer be rising at pandemic rates, but grocery bills remain high, and SNAP benefits have been reduced from pandemic levels.

For families living paycheck to paycheck, food insecurity doesn’t recede just because inflation statistics improve.

What we are witnessing is not an inflation crisis but a cost-of-living crisis without inflation — a condition in which prices remain too high relative to wages, public supports are inadequate, and policymakers declare victory too soon.

This matters politically and moral-

JEALOUS from Page 36 and eastern European immigrants.

All of it was wrapped in the language of “100% Americanism.”

Let me be clear how far this rot went. Henry Ford spread anti-Semitic conspiracies through the newspaper he owned. Black veterans feared wearing their uniforms in public. The Klan was ascendant on anti-immigrant hate. Mainstream newspapers depicted Catholic immigrants as inherently criminal and dangerous to American society.

The sesquicentennial did not create these forces. It amplified them.

Which brings us to now.

If history is a guide, America’s 250th birthday will feel more like 1926 than 1976. The same currents are visible: immigrants from historically Catholic

MARSHALL from Page 36 The lack of accountability that accompanies the inherent feeling of entitlement is not limited to Troiano’s personal bias. White privilege has always been exclusive. At one time in this nation’s early history, white women and poor white men were not allowed to vote. White men had to own property to vote.

Dehumanizing people by referring to them as garbage or trash is not new, like when President Donald Trump called Somali immigrants in Minnesota “garbage.” Historically, the phrase “white trash” was a class-based racist slur used by wealthier white elites to stigmatize poor white people as backward, dirty, sexually promiscuous, uneducated and socially inferior. This was particularly true for those living in the rural South who were at the bottom of the social order.

The label allowed class boundaries (inferior sub-race) to be set in such a

ly. When leaders insist the problem is solved while people feel squeezed, trust erodes. People conclude — often correctly — that the economy works for someone else. That disillusionment fuels cynicism, disengagement, and anger, all of which are easily exploited.

It also matters racially. Black and Latino households, renters, seniors, people with disabilities, and women — especially single mothers — are disproportionately harmed by high housing and health costs. Declaring the crisis over while these groups struggle is a form of policy gaslighting.

The solution is not to deny progress where it exists, but to name the unfinished work honestly. We need policies

that address affordability directly: expanded housing supply and rental assistance, stronger tenant protections, universal health coverage, utility regulation, and income supports that rise with real living costs, not abstract price indices.

We should also be more precise in our language. Inflation is a technical term. Affordability is a moral one.

When policymakers conflate the two, they obscure responsibility.

The economy is not a scoreboard — it is a system that should allow people to live with dignity. Until the cost of living aligns with what people earn and what society claims to value, the crisis is not over, no matter what the charts say.

WI

nations cast as threats, racism on the rise, anti-Semitic tropes revived, Islamophobia inflamed.

All in parallel. All dressed up as patriotism.

But history offers more than warning. It offers instruction.

In 1926, the civil rights movement did something harder and more powerful than protest alone. It organized the nation’s conscience.

Leaders claimed the ideals of the American Revolution not as nostalgia, but as goals the country was obligated to reach. They defined American patriotism as expanding freedom. They warned that those who would turn Americans into subjects — through violence, exclusion or fear — were the real threat to the founding ideals. They called on their neighbors to build America up, not tear her down.

That was not naiveté. It was strategy.

It worked. Not overnight. But over time.

Fifty years after 1926 came 1976.

Fifty years hence, if the pattern holds, America can be in a better place.

The question is not whether history bends. It is who does the bending.

America’s great birthdays do not measure how free we think we are.

They measure how seriously we take the work undone. If we honor this birthday by recommitting to the fight for freedom — by widening democracy, not shrinking it; by confronting hate, not tolerating it — this celebration can become a hinge, not a warning.

Because realizing America’s promise is always the mission.

WI

way as to explain away the existence of a white marginalized underclass living in a society built on the superiority of whiteness. It helped maintain a racial order where poor whites were still considered to be held to higher standards above Black people, while allowing elites to blame poverty on character rather than on systemic barriers.

In the 20th century, the label was commonly applied to whites associated with trailer parks, “hillbilly” culture and often overlapped with demeaning insults such as “rednecks” and “trailer trash” that whites with wealth and power used against low-status whites.

Judge Troiano’s version of white privilege never has and never will apply to them.

There is no doubt that Vice President J.D. Vance wants to be president one day and is willing to say anything to get there. During a recent Turning Point USA event, Vance stated that white Americans no longer “have to

apologize for being white anymore.”

It was a statement obviously meant to excite the MAGA conservative crowd, but what does it mean for Vance, being a man from Appalachia with a “hillbilly” identity?

Black people never expected apologies, just an acknowledgment and the dismantling of the systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty for white, Black and brown people.

We don’t want apologies; we stand against our history being erased and seek to have the truth be told about slavery, Black codes, KKK terrorism, Jim Crow, redlining, war on drugs, mass incarceration, gerrymandering, ICE and Project 2025. We are not asking for apologies, just to have white evangelicals who align themselves with white supremacy remember that Jesus cared for the poor and marginalized in society.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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WILLIAMS from Page 37

that says remove anything about slavery, lynching, racism, murdering justice-seeking heroes and sheroes, etc. — that none of this has any place in the museums.

DENIALS! Let’s start with the attempt to have the Georgia secretary of state add votes to his total in the 2020 election to overturn it in his favor. His attempts to downplay his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and what they did with young girls when they were together. He pretends there’s no problem

with affordability and that it is a Democratic hoax!

As for WARMONGERING, while begging for a Nobel Peace Prize, he was threatening war against others, including U.S. blue states and cities! During our current holiday period, while others are praying and working for peace, he and Hegseth were dropping bombs in Nigeria so he could falsely claim to have settled another war, even while he is trying to start a war against Venezuela!

WI

REYNOLDS from Page 37

dermines human bonding — the very fellowship Jesus commanded when He taught love, forgiveness and care for one another. Digital spirituality cannot replace embodied community or the healing that comes from genuine human connection.

The rise of AI is also reshaping organized religion itself. Since the 2020 pandemic, livestreaming, virtual worship and social media have transformed how churches operate. Small congregations suddenly look like megachurches online. Meanwhile, the message and messenger have shifted. Some new technocentric “faiths” openly worship technology as divine.

The Way of the Future church, founded in California, literally reveres AI as God. Yuval Harari’s concept of Datism preaches salvation through data. Terasem, founded by Martine Rothblatt of Sirius XM fame, teaches that death can be avoided through digital consciousness uploads. Replacement theology is no longer theoretical — it is here.

Even traditional pulpits are changing. In Kyoto, a robot named Mindar delivers Buddhist teachings. In Germany, an AI-powered Lutheran service

featured a chatbot preacher giving the sermon, prayers and blessings. Some parishioners described the service as “accessible” and “inclusive” — a concerning sign of how easily people accept a machine in place of a minister called

by God. And while many Christian pastors are now using AI tools like ChatGPT to craft sermons, most still preach Spirit-filled messages. But if the Church remains silent, the encroachment will continue.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned in 1965 that technology stripped of God’s guidance would become a “devastating Frankenstein.” His message rings truer than ever. Technology is a powerful tool — but a dangerous master.

The time has come to break the silence. Faith leaders, scholars and everyday believers must speak plainly: Jesus Christ is not an app. God is not an algorithm. And no chatbot, no matter how polished, can replace the Savior who lived, died and rose again.

As Scripture reminds us, “My glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8).

When machines impersonate the divine, the Church must defend the sacred. WI

the easier it becomes to claim disinvestment is unavoidable.

But none of this is inevitable. Residents are not passive.

We are the revenue, the culture, and the labor that sustains this city. When we organize through elections, tenant associations, unions, congregations, and mutual aid, we garner the power to demand priorities that reflect our needs: demilitarized streets, investment in public housing, and support for workers and small businesses. We need to come out fighting against the subsidies for data centers that raise utility costs and extract our data as they have done to our neighbors in the DMV.

We must not accept the current disregard for the District while resources flow into militarization and elite comfort. We can not afford the apathy of many locally elected officials we trusted to represent us and our best interests. Lets fight to redirect investments back into our most vulnerable wards, and every community treated as collateral damage. D.C.’s budget must serve D.C.’s people, not corporate interests or political theatrics.

This is our nation’s capital and our home. It’s time to assert that every public dollar should make D.C. more stable, more equitable, and more livable for the people of this city. WI

none of the leadership of the…..museums is confused about the fact that the U.S. has been among the greatest forces for good in the history of the world.

The American people will have no patience for any museum that is diffident about America’s founding or otherwise uncomfortable conveying a positive view of American history, one which is justifiably proud of our country’s accomplishments and record.”

Sounds like another threat to me

Clark, who works across schools and the criminal justice system, warns that some AI therapy bots behave in ways he calls “truly psychotic.” He launched a research project after learning that roughly 20 million teenagers are using AI companions or therapists. In one case, a bot encouraged a disturbed teen to kill his parents and sister so they could be “together forever.” Clark said, “The hair on the back of my neck stood up.”

He also notes a Florida teenager who died by suicide after forming a romantic attachment to a chatbot. In another study, 90% of bots encouraged a depressed girl to isolate herself and rely solely on her AI friends. Disturbingly, some bots even impersonated licensed therapists.

Mental health specialist Marcia Skeete sees this trend as part of a much deeper spiritual crisis. “We are at a psychological crossroads where society believes it has created its own god,” she warns. Some scholars now call this “AI psychosis” — a distortion of reality produced by chatbots built for profitability, not human well-being.

Skeete argues that AI, by design, un-

Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Address: ­­­­­­­­­­

OWOLEWA from Page 37

City, State, Zip:

ing. That kind of escalation doesn’t just blow a hole in public budgets that we have no say in; it ramps up the risk for guards people and residents alike.

Washingtonians understand what’s happening. When the National Guard appears or ICE intensifies operations, it’s clear whose interests are being protected. It is not the grandmother in Congress Heights or the student at George Washington—it is the speculative capital now circling neighborhoods in the Southeast the way they once circled Navy Yard. The more money steered toward these federal theatrics,

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