The Washington Informer - June 25, 2015 by The Washington Informer

This Month’s Edition of “The Bridge” Inside

I N S I D E

VOL. 1, NO. 5

JUNE 2015

I N S I D E

MOVING TO THE BEAT OF OUR OWN DRUM

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Update on South Carolina Tragedy, Pg. 5

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Black Theatre Festival Back in D.C. , Pg. 28

Vol. 50, No. 37 June 25 - July 1, 2015

Informer’s Senior Editor Succumbs to Illness, Pg 4

Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes greeted by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), at the 75th Annual Meeting of the National Newspaper Publishers Association where she was elected to serve as chairman on Friday, June 19. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

NNPA Celebrates 75th Year Informer’s Rolark Barnes Elected as Chairman By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor The black press boasts a long and colorful history and has weathered a host of storms since 1827 when “Freedom’s Journal” became the country’s first black-owned newspaper. And last week in Motown, the 205 owners of America’s black newspapers, members of an elite group now known as the National Newspaper Publishers Association [NNPA], celebrated the organization’s 75th anniversary. This year’s theme: Empowering a New Generation of Leadership. During the five-day annual event (June 16-20), the NNPA, under the direction of Chairman Cloves C. Campbell, Jr. and their president and CEO, the Rev. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., hosted training sessions, honored two black members of Congress, presented awards in various categories to member newspapers and chose a new slate of officers who will lead the organization for the next two years.

Second-generation publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, who took over the Washington Informer following the death of its founder, also her father, Dr. Calvin Rolark, got the nod from her colleagues to lead the NNPA as its newest chairman. The D.C.-based publication recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at a gala event in Northwest. Rolark Barnes, accomplishing something that her father was unable to do, has the unique position of leading a mostly-female executive committee. The other elected officers include: Karen Carter Richards, Houston Forward Times, first vice chair; Francis Page, Jr., Houston Style Magazine, second vice chair; Janis Ware, Atlanta Voice, treasurer; and Shannon Williams, Indianapolis Recorder, secretary. Other officers elected at the close of the convention included: Thomas H. Watkins, Jr., New York Daily Challenge, region 1 president; Ernie Pitt, Winston Salem Chronicle, region 2

NNPA Page 9

Attorney General Lynch is sworn in by Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as President Barack Obama looks on. (Freddie Allen/NNPA News Wire

Lynch’s AG Installation Overshadowed by Charleston Tragedy By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON – On same day that Loretta Lynch was sworn-= in as the 83rd attorney general of the United States with a Bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass, nine church members were shot to death as they studied the Bible at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest A.M.E. church in the South. The next day, Lynch announced that the Justice De-

partment would investigate the mass murder as a hate crime. She vowed that the person who was responsible for the “unspeakable acts” would be found and would face justice. “As we move forward, my thoughts and prayers – and those of our entire law enforcement community, here at the Department of Justice and around the country – are with the families and loved ones of the victims in Charleston,” said Lynch. “Even as we struggle to comprehend this heartbreaking event, I want everyone in Charleston – and everyone who has been affected by

this tragedy – to know that we will do everything in our power to help heal this community and make it whole again.” The confessed perpetrator, Dylan Roof, 21, was apprehended in Shelby, North Carolina, shortly after Lynch made her statement. Multiple news outlets reported that he admitted to planning the attack and that he almost didn’t go through with it because the church members were so nice to him. During Lynch’s investiture ceremony, President Barak

Celebrating 50 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area

LYNCH Page 8

The CoLumn

“Is Everywhere!” By Dr. Charles Vincent & “Mickey” Thompson Vincent

The 2015 Rammys Awards Gala

Winner Chef of the Year Victor Albisu Del Campo and Taco Bamba

The 2015 RAMMY Awards (Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington), with Kathy Hollinger (President and CEO) and sponsored by Events DC, with Greg O’Dell (President and CEO) were held at the Walter Washington Convention Center. The Awards honor the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hardworking individuals and organizations of the Washington, DC region’s restaurant and foodservice community. The Award for Chef of the Year went to Victor Albisu (Del Campo and Taco Bamba). The Award for Restauranteurs of the year went to Jose Andres and Rob Wilder (Thinkfoodgroup). Fiola Mare was named as the Best New Restaurant of the Year. The winner of Best Pastry Chef of the Year was Agnes Chin (The Grill Room). Gus DiMillo is the Chairman of the Board of the Restaurant Association. For a complete list of gala winners - go to: www.ramw.org Greg O’Dell (Pres.& CEO Events DC) with Kathy Hollinger (Pres. & CEO RAMW)

THE RAMMYS

Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza Favorite Fast Bite Winners

Gus DiMillo (Chairman of the Board of Directors RAMW)

Pastry Chef winner Agnes Chin (The Grill Room)

Leon Harris (Anchor ABC News 7) with his wife Dawn

(L-R) Elliott Ferguson II (Pres. & CEO Destination DC) with wife Telesa Via with Mr. & Mrs. Erik Moses (Sr. VP Sports & Entertainment of Events DC)

DC Councilmember Ward 1 Brianne Nadeau & Friend

Chinyere Hubbard (VP Communications Events DC) & Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd (L-R) Virginia Ali (Ben’s Chili Bowl) & her long time friend of 60 years Mrs. Beverly Mohammed

Derek McGinty News Anchor (WUSA News 9) & Cheryl Cooper

(Holding the award) Robert Pincus (Vice Chairman Eagle Bank) winner of the Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the year Award

Carl & Nicole Blake with Sonya & Kamal Ali (Ben’s Chili Bowl)

Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander, Dr. Charles Vincent & “Mickey” Thompson Vincent (Social SightingsThe CoLumn & The MagaZine)

Vida & Nizam Ali (Ben’s Chili Bowl) Jennifer Donelan, Mayor Bowser, Debbie Jarvis (VP PEPCO Holdings) & Son Alex & Khalilah McCants

Lillian Iversen (Dir. of Programming National Cherry Blossom Festival)

Want to see your event in Social Sightings email Social Sightings@aol.com

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Kurt Pommonths, Sr, Photographer • Photo Enhancer • Graphic Designer Social Sightings - The CoLumn is published in the Hill Rag, DC Mid-City, East of the River & The Washington Informer 2003 © SOCIAL SIGHTINGS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED — DUPLICATION IN ANY FORM REQUIRES WRITTEN PERMISSION | E-mail SocialSightings@aol.com

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6/25/2015 – 7/1//2015 Around the Region Pages 4 – 10 Prince George’s County Pages 12 – 13 Business Pages 14 – 15 Lifestyle Pages 25 – 29 Sports Page 30 Sasha Bruce Youthwork Prevention Outreach, Wellness, Education and Risk Reduction (P.O.W.E.R.) Program hosted a day party at Liv Nightclub in Northwest on Saturday, June 19 to kick-off a social media campaign, #Never2Early for HIV testing specifically targeted to sexually active youth between the ages of 13 and 24. /Photo by Robert Roberts

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Women the Cycle of Friends Bid Break Adieu to Denise W. Barnes Domestic Violence Informer’s Editor Dies after Lengthy Illness

By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer

By D. Kevin McNeir, WI Managing When L.Y.Editor Marlow's 23-yearVisit our updated Web site Barrington Staff old daughterSalmon, told her WI the father and give us your comments Writer of her daughter threatened her for a chance to win a gift from life, and the life of their child, editor of The WashingThe Washington Informer sheLongtime knew something had to be ton Informer, Barnes, done. Out ofDenise her Wall frustration with lawFriday, enforcement's handlinga died on July 19, following Email comments to: of the illness. situation, she decided to lengthy rburke@ start the 58, Saving Promise Barnes, previously served camas edpaign. itor of the Washington Informer for a washingtoninformer.com “It seems six-year stint. to be a vicious cycle that turnArizona my family Bornwon't in Tucson, on Deloose,” said. Sadie Marlow cember 14,Marlow 1956 to parents and shared story audiHarold, her Barnes grewwith up inthe Washingence at and thewas District ton, D.C. raised byHeights her aunt Domestic Violence Symposium and uncle, Fannie and Frank Spencer. on District Heights SheMay lived 7inatthetheDistrict most of her Municipal Center. The sympolife. sium wasBarnes sponsored byboardthe A young went off to Family and Youth ing school at Mount St. John Services Academy Center of the of onDistrict in New Jersey andcity moved to maHeights and the National triculate at Howard UniversityHookin the Up of Black Women. mid-1970s where she earned a bachMarlow written Although a book, elor’s degree has in journalism. “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a she harbored ambitions of a modeling story about four generations of and fashion career, Barnes embraced domestic violence. The book is journalism and embarked on a more inspired by her own experiences, than 20-year career. She worked as an and those of her grandmother, editorial assistant the Washington her mother andat her daughter. Star, which closed in 1981, also She said every time sheandreads handled writing and other duties at excerpts from her book, she still In Memoriam National Radio the District. Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not Public believe theinwords came At the Times, Barnes Wilhelmina J. Rolark from her.Washington “Color Me Butterfly” The Washington Informer Newspaper began as an editorial assistant won the 2007 National before “Best THE WASHINGTON INFORMER being promoted InPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. to a reporter slot. NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414)Dr.isCalvin She“I served as a16-years-old general assignment Denise Rolark Sr. Barnes W. Rolark, was just when published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark reporter on the Metro desk and and later my eye first blackened my Periodicals postage paid at Washingwrotebled,” featureMarlow stories said. for the paper’s STAFF WASHINGTON INFORMER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published lips ton,THE D.C. and additional mailing of- NEWSPAPER weekly Thursday. Periodicals paid at Washington, D.C. and additional LifeElaine Times. Davis-Nickens, Barnes covered communipresifices. Newsonand advertising deadlinepostage D. Kevin Managing mailing offices. News and advertising deadlineMcNeir, is Monday prior Editor to publication. ty events, Washington society, arts and is Monday prior to publication. Andent of the National Hook-Up Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director nouncements must be received two entertainment. She also of Black Women, saidprofiled there islocal no Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressweeks event. Copyright 2015 personalities and was a beat reporter consistency in the way domestic es toprior The to Washington Informer, 3117Lafayette Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor by D.C. The 20032. Washington Informer. All No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permisfor the Weekend section, violence issues are dealtinforming with by rights POSTMASTER: sionreserved. from the publisher. TheSend Informer Newspaper cannot Sports guarantee return of John E. De Freitas, Photothe Editor readership of family activities held change of addresses to The rates Washphotographs. Subscription are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received locally with an educational or historic Dorothy Rowley, Online not more than 3117 a weekMartin after publication. Make checks payable to: Editor ington Informer, Luther flair. King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. Brian Young, Design & Layout THE WASHINGTON INFORMER Prior to joining the Informer, 20032. No part of this publication may 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr.Mable Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 be reproduced without written permisNeville, Bookkeeper Barnes held the position of public afPhone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 sion from the publisher. The Informer fairs specialist at the D.C. Department E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of Human Services. Barnes had no www.washingtoninformer.com of photographs. Subscription rates are Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist children but left behind a host of fam$45 per year, two years $60. Papers will ily, friends and colleagues. PUBLISHER Angie Johnson, Circulation be received not more than a week after Denise Rolark Barnes Those who knew her best, includpublication. Make checks payable to: ing her co-workers, shared their comSTAFF REPORTERS REPORTERS THE WASHINGTON Brooke N. Garner INFORMER Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, ments. Stacy Sam P.K. Collins, Eve Ferguson, Carla PeayLuther King, Assistant Managing Editor Brown, Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Jr. Ave., S.E “This has been a very difficult Elton Hayes, D.Wells, Kevin McNeir, Ron BurkeD.C. 20032 Advertising and Marketing Mary Joseph YoungDorothy Washington, month for me as publisher of The Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper Rowley, Barrington Salmon Phone: 202 561-4100 LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS Washington Informer,” said PubFax:John 202 574-3785 E. De Freitas Sports Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, lisher Denise Rolark Barnes. “Earlier news@washingtoninformer.com Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, this month, I received the news that www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert PHOTOGRAPHERS Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt former Washington Informer Editor John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, Alvin Peabody passed away followRoy Lewis,CIRCULATION Travis Riddick , Nancy Shia ing complications related to diabetes. Paul Trantham Last week, I received the sad news INTERNS that our editor Denise W. Barnes also Glynn Hill, Marc Rivers, Sarafina Wright passed away. I have had the pleasure of knowing Denise for more than 30 4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com years. We often joked about the calls and cards of congratulations she received in 1985 when I married and

4 June 25 - July 1, 2015

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took on the last name Barnes. My father, the late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, called me one day in a rage after readlaw enforcement. She said they ing a Washington Times to feature storya had come together bring about former Mayor Marion Barry sense of uniformity in the way written by Denise Barnes. He could domestic violence victims and not believe that his managing editor survivors are treated. would write a story a competitor “She's using herfor own personal newspaper but quickly calmed down story, her own personal pain to once he realized it wasn’t me.” push forward,” Davis-Nickens “The meek walked away but those said about Marlow. who survived her muster admired Davis-Nickens said anyone her for her tenacity. She will be who reads Marlow's booksorely will missed. entire was“puts dedicated “get it.”Her She saidlifeshe the to telling untoldastories case in such way, and theincreasing average literacy of those readsaid them,” Roperson can get who it.” She at the lark Barnes said.day, the book will end of the “I people met Denise Washinghelp beginattothe have a diaton Times in domestic 1996 and violence. we became logue about fastAlso friends,” said atsenior present the staff eventwriter was Mildred the exBarrington Muhammad, Salmon. “I enjoyed her wife of Johnknowledge, Allen Muhammad, wide-ranging her intellecwho was sentenced six consectual curiosity and her to deep, unerring utive lifeto terms without precision detail. She could beparole tough by a Maryland juryhad forour hisdisagreerole in as an editor and we the attacks in mentsBeltway but it was Sniper only because we both 2002. Mildred Muhammad is wanted the best, cleanest copy to get the of After her thefriendship. Trauma, in thefounder paper. I treasured an organization that helps the We shared a lot of laughter and tears survivors of domestic violence and were inseparable to the end. I will and children. miss their her,” Salmon said. “I lived in fear for years.about Six “Denise taught mesixmore years fear is a longI time. is writinginthan anyone have Itever not an easy thing to come out known,” said D. Kevin McNeir, manof,” said. agingshe editor. “She was my friend and Mildred mentor. It was Muhammad God who broughtsaid me people who want to help a to the Washington Informer where domestic violence victim must I freely sat at her feet. I have always be careful of how they go into loved being a journalist but with her the victim's life, and understand guidance discovered sense that sheI may be ina new “survival of joy and pride in my craft. We were mode”. kindred spirits andget shared manygoing good “Before you to 'I'm times. While our time together was to kill you,' it started as a verbal shorter than I would have liked, I will cherish each and every moment. My beloved friend is gone too soon,” McNeir said. “The world has lost one of its greatest journalists and I lost the mentor of a lifetime,” said Sam Collins, staff writer and editor of The WI Bridge. “She took a recent college graduate eager to get a byline and turned me into an idea generating, article writing, data and quote collecting machine. Her attention to detail, vast knowledge of current events, history and culture and tenacity in the heat of the moment were second to none. Anyone who worked with her knew that she expected nothing but the best from her soldiers. Even with the immense love I had for her, I would lament when seeing her name appear on my phone and later having to listen as she blasted me for one of several errors. She saw my potential even when I was unsure about my progress. There’ll never be another like her and that’s a fact,” Collins said. “Denise W. brought a no nonsense style of being editor and raised the editorial standards of The Washington Informer. I learned a lot from her about journalism. She will be missed,”

“

threat,” she said. Among the programs Marlow wants to see implemented are stricter restraining order policies, more rights for victim's families to intervene on behalf of a victim, a domestic violence assessment unit coupled with further training for law enforcement agencies, a Child's Life Protection Act and mandatory counseling for batterers. “If we are ever going to eradicate domestic violence, we must said Ron advertising andcoin. marlook at Burke, both sides of the keting director. We need to address both the vicfirstbatterer,” began working with tim“When and Ithe Marlow Denise at the Informer, I realized that said. sheMarlow was old school,” would said alsoStacy like Brown, to see contributing writer. “She wanted to go programs designed to raise through a story word by word awareness among children and in graph byand graph regardless of how public private schools. She long itchildren took. Work knew feels needwas to all beshe educatandabout gettingdomestic it right wasviolence. of utmost imed “We have being pasportance to hertoas stop was informing the sive-aggressive poor behind chilblack community.with She leaves dren about violence,” a legacy, whichdomestic she never realized beMarlow cause shesaid. never took time to soak it has worked break in,Marlow of outstanding editing, antointuition the cycle of abuse that all editors should in haveher andfamily, the reand is confident the policies she alization that she played a major role is pushing for will start that in how District residents view the Inprocess. former which is very positive,” Brown “I plan to take these policies to said. Congress andactivist implore them to Community Chuck Hicks, change our laws,” Marlow said. director of Bread for the Soul, had “I not“Denise stop until polithiswill to say: was athese good friend cies are passed.” and as a loyal supporter of the WashTia Informer, Carol Jones can be ington I found herreached to be a at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net greater supporter of many of the efforts I have done in the city. She was WI sensitive and powerful as her writing always was. I will miss her,” Hicks said. WI Columnist William Reed added his sentiments. “My friend Denise W. Barnes was a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the newspaper industry,” Reed said. “A stalwart in the trade, she had the ability to translate technical language into easily understandable text. A consummate professional, she will be missed in the industry. I value the friendship I shared with her. She did everything to make each writer an exceptional journalist with a distinct voice. I learned a lot from her professionalism,” Reed said. A former writer with the Informer saluted Barnes. “I loved that Denise was disciplined and passionate for the written word. Her commitment to the job never being done until the paper went to press was amazing. Her lifeL.Y. was devoted to Marlow journalism and the Washington Informer was the proof in the pudding. She came from the old school of daily reporting. Her editing proved that she could turn a story around like the flip of a page. I will miss that big smile of hers and her tenacity for keeping it real,” Misty Brown said. WI

We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.

“

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Church Massacre Sparks Debate on Race

South Carolina Joins Those Impacted by Violence By Clem Richardson Urban News Service

You Can Say It Like A Pro!

mayoral candidate William Dudley Let us help you develop Gregory (D - District 6) traces his family’s membership in Emanuel althe communication skills most to the church’s founding in 1816. to compete and win! He now sits on Emanuel’s Board of ■ Executive Presentation Coaching Trustees. ■ Media Training “This church has produced so ■ Image Branding many great leaders, starting with Richard Allen and Denmark Vesey,” Greg■ On-Camera Coaching ory said. Vesey was a former slave Doris McMillon and Emanuel minister who launched President a failed slave revolt from the church in 1822. “It’s a church that has always been a part of the leadership of this city. That’s why it’s called Mother Emanuel.” AME bishops assigned Pinckney to Emanuel in 2010, and “he brought to C O M M U N I C AT I O N S the church this young energy and vi301.292.9141/FAX 301.292.9142/Mobile 703.819.0920 sion, and put this vision with action,” doris@mcmilloncommunications.com/www.mcmilloncommunications.com Gregory said. “It was quite refreshing.” Under Pinckney, Emanuel renovated three rundown church-owned properties and was in installing the sanctuary’s first elevator. “So you’re talking about someone who was a visionary,” Gregory said. “Within five years we were able to complete all those projects, and from there we will start restoring the sanctuary. “He was clearly an intellectual, well studied, well versed,” Gregory said. “I liked to call him ‘quiet fire.’ He had this knack of taking on a lot of sometimes controversial things in the church with Denise Rolark Barnes this even keel, but still being very efIndependent Beauty Consultant fective. That is a real trick when you’re www.marykay/drolark-barnes.com trying to run a church, and you’re 202-236-8831 younger and coming up with totally new ideas and new approaches. “He had the ability to move among opposition and still get what he wanted,” Gregory said. “He was a very hopeful person who clearly understood that without hope there was never-ending darkness. He knew you had to peer through that darkness to see the light.” It was unclear at week’s end when the County Coroner’s office would release the victims’ bodies, or if the families would hold one massive funeral (301) 864-6070 service. Police told several Emanuel members that they would not be able to hold Sunday services in the sanctuary. Detectives still are handling it as a MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC crime scene. NAACP President Cornel Brooks, ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, a fourth generation AME minister, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, said many other issues surround the Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, killings. Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, “I am here to lend support and to make clear that we support the vigorNational Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, ‡ Please set all copy in upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes: Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bo ous prosecution of this crime and the Helvetica Neue Beauty Consultant in 9-point Light;Discrimination, Web site or e-mail address in 9-point HelveticaAct, Neue Retaliation, Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica Race Rehabilitation To the Independent Beauty ongoing investigation of this crime to Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay® Personal Web Site program may Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, determine whether or not there are Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge any others complicit in it.”WI SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA See more at www.washingtoninformer. www.jmlaw.net (301) 864-6070 jmccollum@jmlaw.net com The Washington Informer June 25 - July 1, 2015 5 De : Sade Photo

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CHARLESTON, SC – President Barack Obama joined the chorus of prominent African-Americans and others who have agonized over the senseless murders of nine innocent bible students and their pastor at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooting, which reportedly was motivated by racial hatred, has also sparked cries for South Carolina officials to finally remove the Confederate flag, long a symbol of hatred and a reminder of some of the darkest times in American history. “There is something particularly heartbreaking about a death happening in a place in which we seek solace and we seek peace in a place of worship,” Obama said. “Mother Emanuel is, in fact, more than a church. This is a place of worship that was founded by African-Americans seeking liberty. This is a church that was burned to the ground because its worshippers worked to end slavery. This is a sacred place in the history of Charleston and in the history of America.” The president lamented that he has had to make statements like this too many times and, despite lacking all of the facts behind the massacre, Obama said once again innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun. And, the flag, that’s also a part of at least six other states, should also be removed from the South Carolina capital and elsewhere because it represents what the shooter and the old boys network of the American south once stood for: the oppression, if not the outright genocide of blacks. By a 102-10 vote in the South Carolina House of Representatives and a voice vote in the Senate, lawmakers agreed to allow debate on the flag later this summer. State Sen. Paul Thurmond, a Republican and a son of the late segregationist U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, said he supported moving the rebel flag to a museum, NBC News reported. “I can respond with love, unity and kindness, and maybe show others that the motivations for a future attack of hate will not be tolerated, will not result in a race war, will not divide us, but rather strengthen our resolve to come together,” Thurmond said. Kenneth Washington was watching his TV in Cleveland on Wednesday, June 17 when he learned that a gunman shot up his family’s church in Charleston, South Carolina. Hours later, he discovered that the loss struck even closer to home. “I saw a picture of the church on TV,” Washington said. “I was born and raised here in Charleston, on Al-

AROUND THE REGION

exander Street, where my aunt, Suzie Jackson lived. Tywanza Sanders was my cousin. Ethel Lance was my cousin. So we had three in the family who were killed.” Washington joined the throngs of onlookers Friday who braved the sweltering 97-degree heat to stand in the street outside Emanuel AME Church. They honored the fallen: Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel L. Simmons, and Myra Thompson. Traffic was tied up most of the day as a steady stream of cars and pedestrians traveled to the church on Calhoun Street. Many added bouquets to the makeshift floral memorial that spanned the length of the church front. Others clasped their hands, and bowed their heads in silent prayer. Keith Biggs, a staffer at nearby Citadel Square Baptist Church, and his wife Janice pulled bottles of cold water from two ice-filled coolers and offered them for free to the sweaty crowds. “We’re brothers and sisters in Christ,” Biggs said. “It was not two weeks ago that we helped Rev. Pinckney with a funeral they had. He sent me a thank you note with a $50 certificate I could use to take my wife to dinner. “They extended love to us, and we wanted to do the same for Brother Pinckney. We know they’re with the Lord now, but we want to help those who are suffering through this. We want an extension of Brother Pinckney’s love.” Biggs was not the only person impressed by the 41-year-old Pinckney, who, police say, Dylann Storm Roof killed along with eight of his parishioners in a bloody rampage as their evening Bible study class ended. Several people hailed Pinckney as a virtual Renaissance man; a caring, intellectual pastor first elected to the state legislature at age 23; a community leader and quiet man who, outside the pulpit, only spoke when he had something important to say. Charleston City Councilman and

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EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS

AROUND THE REGION WEEK OF JUNE 25 TO JULY 1

Black Facts June 26 1899 – Black inventor William H. Richardson redesigns the baby carriage. While the idea for the baby carriage is nearly 300 years old, Richardson’s patent, filed at the Boston patent office, included several new features including a special joint which allowed the bassinet to be turned to face the mother or whoever was pushing the carriage. 1942 – Harvard medical student, Bernard W. Robinson, becomes the first African American to win a commission to the United States Navy.

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June 27 1872 – Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the most popular poets in black American history, is born in Dayton, Ohio. Dunbar first gained national recognition with a collection of works published in 1896 entitled “Lyrics of a Lowly Life” which included “Ode to Ethiopia.” Despite the power of his poetry, Dunbar angered some blacks who were concerned about “what will white people think” because he generally used black dialect and not Standard English in much of his poetry. June 28 1971 – Muhammad Ali is allowed to box again after winning a victory in the United States Supreme Court. The court overturned his conviction for refusing to be drafted and serve in the United States war in Vietnam. Asked how he could claim to be a pacifist opposed to war while being a professional boxer, Ali’s most frequent response was “I am not going 10,000 miles from here to help murder and kill and burn poor people to help continue the domination of white slave masters over the darker people.”

the administration of President Richard Nixon was “anti-Negro” and was pursuing policies “inimical to the needs and aspirations” of African Americans. June 30 1917 – Glamorous singer-actress Lena Horne is born in Brooklyn, New York. She would perform with jazz greats such as Artie Shaw, Teddy Wilson, Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington. She also became the first African-American woman to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio. Horne died on May 9, 2010 at the age of 92. 1967– Major Robert H. Lawrence is named the first black U.S. astronaut in the NASA space program. The Chicago-born Lawrence would later die under somewhat mysterious circumstances during a training exercise in December 1967. 1995 – Songstress Phyllis Hyman commits suicide in New York City shortly before she was scheduled to perform at a concert. Hyman was one of the premier female vocalists of her day.

July 1 1899 – Thomas Andrew Dorsey is born in Villa Rica, Georgia. Dorsey is widely credited with being the “Father of Gospel Music.” During the early 1930s, after leaving Atlanta for Chicago, Dorsey combined Gospel and the Blues while performing under the name “Georgia Tom.” July 2 1822 – Denmark Vesey and five of his co-conspirators are hanged in Charleston, South Carolina. Vesey’s “crime” had been the organization of the largest slave rebellion in American history. But the insurrection was betrayed by a “house slave” before it could be implemented. Vesey was actually a former slave who had purchased his freedom. 1908 – Thurgood Marshall is born in Baltimore, Maryland. Marshall would go on to become chief counsel for the NAACP and the lead attorney in the Brown vs. Board of Education case that led to the desegregation of the nation’s schools.

Thurgood Marshall

June 29 1970 – NAACP Chairman Stephen Gill Spottswood creates a national controversy by telling the annual convention of the civil rights organization that

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AROUND THE REGION INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY ELTON HAYES

VIEWP INT Alvin Burgess Hyattsville, Maryland They are called the Washington Redskins for a reason, so they should play in Washington. The best location for them would be RFK. It’s Metro and highway accessible. In my opinion, I don’t think it will happen, but I am praying that it will.

Cleveland Beveney Washington, D.C. I think it would be great if it were to happen. I used to attend games at RFK before they moved to Landover [Maryland]. I always thought that they would have renovated RFK and brought them back to their old stadium. The Metro drops you off right near the stadium and I think it would be wonderful to have them come back to the District.

THE D.C. UNITED’S UPCOMING DEPARTURE FROM ROBERT F. KENNEDY (RFK) MEMORIAL STADIUM HAS OPENED UP DIALOGUE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS TO RETURN TO THEIR FORMER HOME. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE TEAM RETURN TO RFK?

Ryan Jefferson Washington, D.C. Honestly, I don’t care for the Redskins anymore. I stopped caring about them when I was seven year old. They don’t produce and prove themselves on the football field. I’ve become a Cowboys fan. At least I know they’ll play and prove themselves. I can’t say that about the Redskins.

Gerald Smith Washington, D.C. I think it would be great for the team to come back to D.C. I think the fans would love it and I think it would give the team a fresh start. It would also make it easier for fans to travel to football games since RFK is Metro accessible. I would probably even try to go to a game if the team came back to the city.

Bill Lewis Washington, D.C. I’d love to see the team return to RFK, but the stadium would have to undergo a lot of renovations. It might even need to be torn down and have a new stadium built in its place. Washington’s football team has a large following and you’d need to expand or build a new stadium that could seat all of the fans. RFK opened when I was 16 years old and it was called D.C. Stadium. I’d love to see them come back, but to a place that’s suitable for everyone’s needs.

Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2015

Seven District women 60 years of age and older will compete for the title during the 2015 Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant. Each contestant will be judged on an interview, their philosophy of life, their talent and evening gown presentations. The event will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2015, at 2:30 pm, University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Building 46. For tickets or more information, contact Daisy J. Savage, 829-0423 or Margaret Winston 202- 562-1291. The Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant is presented by the DC Office on Aging and its Senior Service Network and the DC Seniors Cameo Club. Pictured from left to right: Janet Purnell, Olimpia Lopez, Frances Johnson, Wendy D. Bridges, Virginia Davis, Sylvia Inez Gaither and Janice C. Rice. www.washingtoninformer.com

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June 25 - July 1, 2015

AROUND THE REGION

REQUESTING SUB-BIDS ALL TRADES CBE Certified Contractors for the following project: WHARF PARCEL 3B - INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL WASHINGTON, DC Project Bid Date: JULY 14, 2015 @ 2:00 pm For additional bid information please call:

Clark Construction Group, LLC 7500 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: 301-272-8100 Fax: 301-272-1922

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for the following project: SECURE ADMINISTRATION/OPERATIONS FACILITY FT. BELVOIR, VA Project Bid Date: JULY 2, 2015 @ 2:00 PM For additional bid information please call:

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AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 8 June 25 - July 1, 2015

LYNCH from Page 1 Obama said that in a country built on the rule of law, there are few offices more important than that of attorney general. “The person in this position is the American people’s lawyer, tasked with enforcing our federal laws and making sure they’re applied evenly and equally,” said Obama. He noted that Lynch “spent years in the trenches battling terrorism and financial fraud and cyber-crime,” rising from the Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York to chief of the Long Island Office, chief assistant U.S. attorney. Lynch worked to bring several New York City police officers to justice for their roles in the brutal assault of Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant in 1997, following a wrongful arrest. “She chased public corruption. She helped secure billions in settlements from some of the world’s biggest banks accused of fraud,” said Obama. “She jailed some of New York’s most notorious and violent mobsters and gang members. She pursued some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists and cyber criminals.” The president joked that the timing of her installation was odd because she hit the ground running more than a month ago, working for justice at home and abroad, after she was sworn in at The Washington Informer

“[Loretta Lynch] has already made her mark here at home and abroad because of her laser focus on the core mission of the Justice Department – the protection of the American people,” said President Barack Obama. the Justice Department by Vice President Joseph Biden. Lynch launched an investigation into the patterns and practices of the Baltimore Police Department following the death of Freddie Gray in their custody. In late May, Lynch said that nine officials with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization responsible for the regulation and promotion of soccer worldwide, would be charged with a number of crimes including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. “She’s already made her mark here at home and abroad because of her laser focus on the core mission of the Justice Department – the protection of the American people,” said Obama. In her remarks, Lynch promised to make the world of cyberspace safe, to end the scourge of modern-day slavery and to confront the fractured relationship between American citizens’ and

law enforcement. “These are, indeed, challenging issues and challenging times. Even as our world has expanded in wonderful ways, the threats that we face have evolved in measures commensurate, and every day we seem to see an increasing disconnect between the communities we serve and the government we represent,” said Lynch. “We see all these things.” Lynch said that even though we decided what kind of country we wanted to be hundreds of years ago, sometimes we forget that our greatest advances in equal rights and human rights have come after periods of heartbreaking loss and that overcoming those challenges has never been easy. “And we have not always lived up to the promises made, but we have pushed ever on,” said Lynch. “And, with every challenge, we get a little bit closer.”WI

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AROUND THE REGION what constitutes a crime and what elements of the population will be held and punished and how long. “Part of my feeling about this is that policing is under- and over-inclusive,” said Crooms-Robinson. “We have over-policing and constant surveillance. (Issues) of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, are erroneously dubbed criminal. Wall Street is a high-crime

Several D.C. and Baltimore lawyers discussed race and police brutality at a recent panel discussion at the DC Superior Court. Against the backdrop of the Baltimore uprising, they traced America’s racist history, the effects of race on people of color and several solutions. /Courtesy photo

Lawyers Discuss Police Brutality and Ways to Change Paradigm By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer @bsalmondc In the last three years, Baltimore residents have filed 317 lawsuits alleging police brutality, and the city has paid out $5.7 million to settle these cases. It was only after the city exploded into violence after 25-year-old Freddie Gray died in police custody that the scab covering up how some in the Baltimore Police Department have been treating the black and poor became exposed for the world to see. On June 11, some of D.C. and Baltimore’s most distinguished legal minds participated in a panel discussion at the D.C. Superior Court to talk about police brutality and harassment and their effects on black and minority communities. Criminal defense lawyer and Howard University adjunct professor Brandi Harden moderated the animated, feisty 90-minute discussion, which touched on a range of issues that sit at the intersection of race and criminal justice. Participants argued forcefully that the status quo is unsustainable. “These lawsuits involved police brutality that occurred in the last four years, and this is what we know about,” said Gray’s lawyer, Jason Downs. “If people’s injuries weren’t serious, a law firm might not take the case. This is just in Baltimore City – there are cases all over the country.” A critical issue, said Downs, is that the police are dealing harshly with a population that is essentially voiceless. “If someone (who’s white) gets grabbed up, it would be a big deal. Their voice would be heard,” said Downs, an attorney with Baltimore’s Murphy, Malcolm, Murphy,

Koch, Xinis. “You won’t be heard in Southeast.” The issue of blue-brown interaction exploded into the public consciousness when Officer Darryl Wilson fatally shot unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in August. Riots broke out following the shooting, and protests and vigils continued in Ferguson, Missouri, with marchers demanding justice for Brown. A grand jury ultimately declined to indict Wilson. Protests broke out in more than 100 cities and 37 states, and since then police behavior has been under intense scrutiny. Across the country, including in Washington, D.C., concern about the extra-judicial killings of black men and women prompted marches and demonstrations in solidarity with Brown and others. The names of Mike Brown, Freddie Gray, Renisha McBride, Eric Garner, Tarika Wilson, Oscar Grant, 7-year-old Aiyana Jones, Ezell Ford, Miriam Carey, Jordan Baker, Shereese Francis, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Tyisha Miller and Jordan Davis are just some of the black men, women and children killed by police and vigilantes. Most of the speakers said America’s sordid and tragic racial history has fed into the tremendous latitude police officers have when they use deadly force – that police officers have gotten the approval of the U.S. Supreme Court time after time to maim and kill America’s citizens with impunity and implicit racial bias, racial bias and indifference toward black people, which exacerbates an already difficult problem. Lisa Crooms-Robinson, associate dean of academic affairs and a professor of law at Howard University Law School, said that every day the larger society makes choices consciously and otherwise about

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NNPA from Page 1 president; Richard Muhammad, Final Call, region 3 president; Pluria Marshall, Wave Newspaper Group, region 5 president; and Bernal E. Smith, II, Tri State Defender, at-large member. The president for region 4 has yet to be determined. Rolark Barnes, after introducing members of the Washington Informer staff, expressed her excitement about the job ahead following the announcement of her victory on Friday, June 19 at the NNPA Legacy Awards Black Tie Dinner. At the same event, Campbell paid homage to past chairmen of the organization. “Thanks be to God for this honor,” she said. “I consider myself to be a worker bee but I’m ready for the challenge. I’ve had the pleasure during my life to watch and work with some amazing people including my dad who showed me so much. So many of us share the same story as second-generation publishers and I’m excited to be in the position to be able to speak truth to power. I know my father is in heaven now doing the happy dance,” said Rolark Barnes, who first began working at the Informer in 1964. Ware, who similarly took over her

area. There are different choices in what we think of rewards and being locked up.” “How many cocaine addicts would you sweep up in Wall Street? People who had jobs there talked about people in bathroom stalls trying to get their heads right. It’s about opportunity and the choices we make about where police are needed. Poor white people are

catching hell, as are meth addicts versus the banker downtown who’s stealing peoples’ pensions.” Crooms-Robinson and several of her colleagues said the crux of this issue is society’s disregard for black people’s human rights because of what they look like and where they live.WI See more at www.washingtoninformer.com

publication following in the footsteps of her father upon his death in 1991, noted that women have always been “powerful leaders.” “Like Denise said, we [women] tend to be worker bees but we’re always capable of taking charge,” she said. “This is historical and I know Denise will do a great job. I’m also excited about the synergy that exists between our new chairman and our president which promises enhanced coordination in Washington, D.C.” Carter Richards, another second generation publisher whose 55-yearold publication received a plethora of honors during the coveted Merit Awards, gleamed with joy. “It appears that the large number of women elected all think alike and I’m looking forward to getting things done – new things,” she said. “I’m proud to continue the legacy of my parents. It’s been an overwhelming yet remarkable week.” Two members of the Congressional Black Caucus received Legacy of Excellence Awards recognizing their lifelong contributions to the black community: Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd Congressional District, California) and John Conyers, Jr. (13th Congressional District, Michigan). Conyers, first elected in 1964, has

worked for social and economic justice for his constituents and the entire nation throughout his almost four decades of service. “When I first joined the House of Representatives there were only 7 black members – today there are 44,” he said. “Times have changed for the better but we need judicial and political justice more today than ever before. We’re raising up a new generation of freedom fighters. As for the NNPA, they continue to tell our story in our own voices, sharing that truth with the world.” Top honors went to the St. Louis American which snagged the General Excellence Award and the Tri State Defender which received the Publisher of the Year Award. The Washington Informer brought home two awards: Best Layout & Design (tabloid) and Best Use of Photographs (tabloid), second and third place, respectively. Bobby R. Henry, Sr., publisher, Westside Gazette in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said during the induction ceremony of the new officers, led by the Honorable Craig Strong, “The hand of God is on us and what we’ve witnessed this week and with Denise taking over as chairman is nothing short of divine intervention.” WI

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June 25 - July 1, 2015

AROUND THE REGION

Quality printErs 202-291-6565

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MEnus, postErs BannErs & signs Adeyemi Bandele (l) pours libations while Kristina Jacobs, secretary of the National Black United Front, shows each person murdered at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina last week. /Photo by Nancy Shia

Candlelight Vigil Honors the Charleston Nine prograMs/BooKlEts rush service & dEsign EnvElopEs, BrochurEs & nEwslEttErs

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10 June 25 - July 1, 2015

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Jamaal Lemon vividly recalled the moment he learned of the massacre that unfolded in his home church. That evening, his girlfriend abruptly entered the bathroom as he showered to relay what she saw on the news seconds earlier. Moments later, a phone call from Lemon’s uncle confirmed the worst – a crazed gunman had just killed members of Emanuel A.M.E. Church, a prominent black church in Charleston, South Carolina, during a Bible study. Subsequent reports confirmed that the suspect, Dylann Roof, did so out of a deep-seeded hatred for African Americans as he outlined in his white supremacist manifesto that authorities later found. Two days after the church shooting, Lemon stood among hundreds of residents, students, community and spiritual leaders and activists with candles in hand as they honored the lives of the group now known as the “Charleston Nine” and called for justice during a vigil at the African American Civil War Memorial in Northwest. “I’m not home but I have to do what I have to do here,” said Lemon, 36, a Silver Spring, Maryland resident of eight years. “People are out here supporting us. It’s good seeing people get along in the community so when we have issues that affect one group, we can have open conversations,” Lemon, an artist, said. The beating of African drums, spoken word, fiery remarks and The Washington Informer

the pouring of libations made for a solemn and emotional gathering, The crowd swept the grounds of the African American Civil War Memorial, taking up space near the grassy platform to the right of the U Street Metro entrance on 11th Street and several feet away from the doors of a nearby CVS Pharmacy. Some mourners waved Pan-African flags of different sizes and the smell of incense filled the air. Speakers that evening included: National Black United Front (NBUF) Secretary Kristina Jacobs; talk show host Jamal “DjOneluv” Muhammad; local educator Shayla Adams; Nkechi Taifa of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America; activist Eugene Puryear; and Kadir Muhammad who sits at the helm of the Nation of Islam’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Headquarters located in Southeast. Representatives of NBUF, which hosted last Friday’s vigil, stood in black shirts with the organization’s logo emblazoned across it while holding photos of the victims. During his remarks, Puryear, a leader of the DC Ferguson movement, roused the audience by drawing connections between the events that have unfolded across the U.S. to those abroad. He later implored his fellow activists to not give up and to understand that advancing the movement may mean sacrificing freedom or life. “Our struggle can’t succeed until we have an international perspective. People all around the world have risen up to say

that what we’re doing is right,” Puryear said. “The changes that happened on paper were to stop your struggle and trick you into thinking the war is over when it’s been going on for 500 years. “We’re worse off now than when we didn’t have the right to vote. We need a revolutionary mindset and must continue to push until we stop racist oppression in this country,” he added. Symone Sanders, national youth chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, had a similar message, saying that prayer alone wouldn’t suffice in making a lasting change. “As we pray for the Charleston Nine, we have to remember that we have to work,” she said. “We have to build up young people and give them skills. These are young people who are scared to go to church. Where can we go be black? If you’re not a member of an organization, get involved.” The messages of that evening resonated with some onlookers. For Janan Graham-Russell, it reaffirmed the power of the black church and community in combatting white supremacy. She said that message must continue – even in tragedy. “The black church has always existed as a place of rebellion,” said Graham-Russell, 26, a graduate student at Howard University in Northwest. “We have to come here and speak our truths. We also have to do the work on the ground and remember that those who died will always be with us,” said the Northeast resident. WI

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RECLAIMING

OUR RIVERS

PUBLIC MEETING

Every District resident is affected by the quality of our rivers. The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) has several projects dedicated to improving the water quality and overall health of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.

OPEN HOUSE: 6:30pm to 8:30pm PRESENTATION: 7:00pm

JUNE THURGOOD MARSHALL

From innovative and rigorous programs to reduce stormwater runoff, to creative approaches for eliminating trash and litter, to responding to the legacy of industrial contamination in the Anacostia River, the District is putting in place the tools we need to ensure our waters are healthy, safe, and clean for future generations.

ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL 2427 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE Metro: Anacostia How does this help my community? What are the current programs to restore the river?

Attend this community meeting on June 30 and learn more about what DDOE is doing to reclaim our riversâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and how you can help.

Are you River Smart?

How can I help clean up the river?

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

1200 FIRST ST NE, 5TH FLR WASHINGTON, DC 20002

Jonathan Champion Stormwater Management Division District Department of the Environment 202.535.1722 | jonathan.champion@dc.gov

DDOE.DC.GOV DDOE.DC DDOE_DC

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The Washington Informer

June 25 - July 1, 2015

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDUCATION BRIEFS Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer

Scholar of the Week Glory Ekhator, who recently graduated from Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine,

Maryland, has also been named a Scholar of the Week. Glory, who has a 4.03 grade point average, excelled in Advanced Placement courses that included statistics, biology, chemistry and English. Her ex-

tracurricular activities included involvement in the Student Government Association and the National Honor Society, she was a student intern in the William Schmidt Camp. Although Glory has also been Glory Ekhator will attend the University of Maryland College Park, where she’ll major in biology./ Photo courtesy PGCPS

Baltimore Ravens guard John Urschel, who’s also a mathematician, spoke to students on June 15 at Glenridge Elementary School./ Courtesy Photo

accepted to Temple University, Howard University, St. John’s University, and Towson University, she will attend the University of Maryland College Park, where she plans to major in biology in her efforts to become a doctor.

Ravens Guard Enlightens Students

John Urschel, mathematician and offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, participated in the “Discovery Education” interactive STEM assembly, which was held June 15 at Glenridge Elementary School in Landover Hills, Maryland. The event, which celebrated the school’s first-place win at the annual Title I iCommunity Technology Showcase, featured Urschel in a discussion about his academic career as a mathematician and his career in the National Football League. Urschel, who received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Penn State University, has co-authored papers in mathematical journals.

Board Supports Students’ Rights

The county’s Board of Education unanimously voted on June 11 to support Oxon Hill High School students’ free speech rights after school administrators removed an art display. The vote resulted from an uproar that occurred on June 9 surrounding removal of the display created by honors art students from the school’s rotunda. The display featured a black man with his hands up and a gunshot

12 June 25 - July 1, 2015

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wound on his abdomen. The man stood next to an officer reading the obituaries of victims of police brutality. Prior to its removal, the artwork had been on display for two weeks. While schools spokeswoman Sherrie Johnson said the display had already been planned for removal, schools CEO Kevin Maxwell said during the board meeting that he had the display taken down earlier than scheduled.

Summer Meals Program The school system provides free meals this summer to help students and toddlers receive the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow during their break from classes. The program, which offers meals for ages 18 and under, comes under support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Five school sites will serve a nutritious lunch for children Monday through Thursday. Staff will serve breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There are no income requirements or registration required, and the program will run from July 6 through Aug. 5 at Gladys Noon Spellman, Judge Sylvania Woods, Cooper Lane, Ridgecrest and Rogers Heights elementary Schools. For more information, visit www1.pgcps.org/foodandnutrition or call 301-952-6580.WI

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Rushern Baker Backs Off Legal Threat County Executive Vetoes Budget, But Concedes By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer There will be no protracted legal battle over the Prince George’s County Council’s $2.95 billion budget. County Executive Rushern Baker has backed off his earlier statements about taking the council to court, choosing instead to work with the nine-member body on improving the fortunes of the county and its struggling school system. “In keeping with my goal of putting Prince Georgians first, I will continue to move the county forward based on the newly enacted budget bill and the County Council’s apparent legislative intent,” Baker said on Friday, June 19. On the previous Monday, Baker announced he would veto the County Council’s budget because it failed to include anything resembling the more than 15 percent property tax he wanted and did not identify where proceeds would then go to help the struggling school district. Then, on Tuesday, the council hit back, overriding Baker’s budget veto and preventing the double-digit property tax hike. Baker then threatened to sue the council. “The County Council, as the legislative branch of government, has the legislative authority to override the county executive’s veto of this lawfully enacted budget,” Council Chairman Mel Franklin said. “We have exercised our authority to do so, preserving the balance of new investment in education, affordability for working families and small businesses, and fiscal accountability for existing spending,” he said. Although Franklin called Baker’s threat of litigation embarrassing and self-defeating, the county executive said the override could have been subjected to a lawsuit because county law prohibits council from adjusting the budget up or down by more than 1 percent. In the council’s newly adopted budget, the lawmakers chose a 4 cent increase instead of Baker’s proposed 11 cent hike. Baker’s proposal would have meant the school system would

reap $727 million. With the council’s budget, the system receives $669 million. “We (are in) a precarious position,” County Attorney Andree Green said. “So, more than likely, there would have to be some type of judicial action.” Baker said he decided to put the interests of the 900,000 county residents ahead of a lengthy and divisive legal process. He said there remains controversy over one section of the County Charter, Section 809, which was amended in 2006 to limit the authority of the former county executive. “Amendments to our County Charter should not be created to address concerns related to a specific individual,” Baker said. “We ventured into unchartered territory during this budget process ,and I have determined that pursuing legal action regarding this matter would lead to litigation that would be detrimental to the long-term interests of Prince George’s County government, our employees and the citizens we serve,” he said. Residents, most of whom strongly objected to the increase Baker sought, were angered over the prospect of a potential legal battle. “This is all political, and we are the pawns that nobody cares about,” said Viola Hodges, a Glenarden resident. “If Baker wins in court, we have to pay a big tax hike, and we have to pay whatever the court appearances might cost. We lose all the way around,” Hodges said. Franklin said the threat of legal action was simply an effort to force council to impose a double-digit tax increase on working families. The prospect of Baker’s suing the council would be self-destructive, self-defeating and irresponsible, especially given the major economic opportunities this county is pursuing, he said. “The instability at the top of our government demonstrated by such litigation could seriously imperil key opportunities for this county and its residents, including securing the FBI headquarters and building a new Regional Medical Center,” Franklin said. “The county executive and

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Prince George’s County Council Chair Mel Franklin has scolded County Executive Rushern Baker for threatening legal action over the council’s newly adopted budget. /File photo

county attorney’s interpretation of the law is wrong, would unconstitutionally erode our system of checks and balances and give the county executive the near-unlimited power to raise taxes.”

Franklin vowed not to let that happen, and he’s confident that the adopted budget represents the best plan for measured investment with fiscal accountability to move Prince George’s County forward.

“The members of this body take our responsibility as stewards of the taxpayers’ money seriously,” Franklin said. “We always seek to work prudently in the best interests of the county and its residents.” WI

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Cross safely

use crosswalks

Want to know the right way to cross the street? Wait until traffic has stopped before crossing at designated crosswalks—and never dart out in front of an approaching streetcar or between two stopped vehicles. Crosswalks and pedestrian signals are there for you and your safety. Using them is the right way and the safe way.

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BUSINESS BUSINESS EXCHANGE

Can You Find Someone Black to Do the Job?

An alarming scenario of late is the growing number of claims being made by government bureaucrats and midlevel managers, black, white or otherwise, that they cannot find “qualified applicants” for contracts or jobs they have. An economic “race problem” is occurring in D.C. It’s a multi-million dollar problem that blacks need to recognize as detrimental and move to make small business success their business. There needs to be a change in the public’s and government officials’ attitudes about set aside programs. In particular, blacks should take special note of the threats and discouragement of D.C. set asides. Mainstream-minded-and-oriented public officials and staffers are deflating laws and regulations designed and targeted to improve the economic conditions of blacks. In mainstream eyes, such targeted programs have always been viewed negatively and commonly labeled “controversial” and “corrupt.” The “mainstream” and media regularly decry affirmative actions toward blacks. It’s time concerned citizens call out District government agency directors who with regularity violate minority set aside laws and regulations. Over past years and administrations, government bureaucrats have diluted the City’s set aside laws, yet no one gets fined or fired. Isn’t it time that more of the public becomes aware of the awarding of contracts? It’s time the public becomes aware of the awarding of contracts by OCP (Office of Contracting & Procurement and the operations of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). The DSLBD is supposed to certify local, small, disadvantaged and minority business enterprises. D.C., government contracts exceeding $250,000 require a 35 percent subcontracting set-aside with small businesses certified under the CBE Program. But blacks keep coming out on the losing end as these “set aside” requirements have provisions that may be waived if an agency submits an waiver request justifying why the requirement cannot be met. With flagrant use of “waivers,” D.C. officials and DSLBD are mak-

By William Reed ing a mockery of set aside regulations and intent. The DSLB has been a major offender, dismantling minority set asides and gone astray of its goal to stimulate and foster the economic growth and development of D.C.-based businesses; increasing the number of viable employment opportunities for District residents; and extending economic prosperity to local business owners, their employees and communities they serve. These are agency mid-level managers too indifferent to find and develop “qualified” applicants and contractors. They could do better if they wanted to. Through advocacy, business development programs and technical assistance, the DSLBD could be maximizing opportunities for certified business enterprises’ participation in areas like contracting, procurement processes and economic development. Programs from the days of Mayor Marion Barry and early City Councils that lifted millions of blacks into middle-class incomes and gave impetus to many businesses are still worth saving. Civic and concerned groups should be aligning with local business owners and groups to produce programs, procedures and policies to achieve contracting and procurement goals. The DSLBD is charged with monitoring goals for District agencies with respect to contracting and procuring goods and services with small business enterprises, but they are parties to a flurry of waiver petitions to get around contracting with CBEs. In fiscal 2014, 82 D.C government agencies were to spend a total of $775 million with SBEs. But, the DSLB permitted agencies to reduce that amount to about $495 million. “Those are major issues,” said Merrick Malone, former D.C. deputy mayor for planning and economic development who added, “Too many have been allowed to violate the law.”

REED Page 15

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Clergy Lead Way in Financial Education for All Economic Empowerment Goal for Weekend Seminar

REED from Page 14 An agency and director committed to connecting small and local businesses to DC government contracting opportunities is needed. Currently, Ana Harvey is acting director of the Department Small and Local Business Development.

CA$H FOR

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor Creating a healthy financial future – a solid nest egg if you will – has long been the dream of Americans no matter what their race, creed or religion. And in a unique partnering of about 125 churches located throughout the Greater Washington Area, a weekend focusing on financial and spiritual wellness recently took place at several venues including Evangel Assembly in Temple Hills, Maryland. The 2015 “dfree Financial Freedom Movement,” held June 4-6, illustrated the influence that ministers have on their congregations and the impact that they can have toward promoting more positive attitudes and behavior related to financial matters. The developer of the strategy, the Rev. Dr. DeForest Soaries, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, served as one of the key speakers during the weekend. He teamed up with the Collective Empowerment Group [CEG] – a community economic empowerment assemblage whose 125 member churches are located in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Prudential Financial Inc. also served as a co-sponsor. Soaries, 63 and a minister for 40 years, said he never intended the project to go nationwide; he originally developed it in response to actions occurring within his own congregation. “My entire adult life has been dedicated to community organizing in church and government and dfree is what I’d call my last project,” he said. “It addresses the way I lived my life from 18 to 33 – convinced that I needed to drive a Cadillac, wear impressive clothes and have a certain image. But I didn’t have any savings, investments or a retirement strategy. It was all flash – no cash.” Soaries said his epiphany came when his grandmother died in 1981. Despite only having a sixth grade education and “no civil rights,” she left her family with three houses, all paid for. “I got one of the houses – the first I had ever owned. I was embarrassed. I was working with the Rev. Jesse Jackson protesting against racism but my

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The Reverend Anthony G. Maclin, pastor of The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square, is president of the Collective Empowerment Group in Prince George’s County, Maryland and Vicinity. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

personal life was a shambles. I was too broke to get married and if I had died then, the only thing that I would have left would have been credit card bills.” Soaries describes dfree as a process that one must first welcome mentally and then financially. “I had a lot of my church members that were middle income but living check to check. Lower income people had no strategy to improve their financial condition and the well-to-do didn’t give back to their community. I persuaded 1,000 families to make a commitment to refocus their lives with an emphasis on freedom from lenders – to overcome debt, delinquency and deficits. And I made it central to my ministry,” said Soaries, a Brooklyn, New York native who just marked his 30th year of marriage. “Black preachers have a moral obligation to help their congregations financially. At times we must even say to them that they cannot afford to tithe,” he added. He noted that CNN included his church in a 90-minute documentary in 2010 which brought national attention to their ministries, including dfree. He was urged to develop a comprehensive strategy, philosophy, curriculum, leaders guide and training seminars. He brought his arsenal of financial tools to the weekend’s events. The Rev. Anthony Maclin, president of CEG, said bringing Soaries was something he knew would benefit all of his member churches. “Those in black and city churches

are often held hostage by debt. Low credit scores force our people to go to secondary markets where they must pay higher rates. They’re never able to build wealth. Our folks need to realize that if you want to get out of debt, you may not be able to have 100 cable channels or buy a brand new car every year. You may have to tear up your credit cards too,” said Maclin, 54, the pastor of The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square in Capitol Heights, Maryland. “We hold events geared toward financial services and emphasize that what we’re talking about is a lifestyle change,” he said. Events for the weekend, led by financial coaches, included a financial revival, home buying workshops and a whole lot more. Dustin Corrente, managing director, Mid-Atlantic Financial Group, Prudential Advisors (brand name of The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries) said his company has made a commitment to help blacks feel more confident about their financial future. “The process we employ when working with clients centers on building relationships, seeking to understand individual financial goals and objectives, educating and developing a roadmap to achieve those goals and address potential risks or pitfalls,” he said. “This gives us the ability to serve the community.” WI

Harvey was appointed by President Obama as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s assistant administrator. But until she gets up to speed in the DSLBD job, Mayor Bowser should move to appoint a task force to ensure that D.C.s black and minority businesses are getting equal contracting opportunities and help to identify, create

and pursue potential business opportunities in order to guarantee that 35 percent of city contracting goes to CBEs. WI

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Firm Provides ‘Second Chance’ To Residents By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Mark Foster was there 12 years ago when his Second Chance started with about four people. Today, the founder, president and CEO of the nonprofit couldn’t be more proud as about 150 individuals are working to take apart buildings that would otherwise be demolished and dumped in a landfill. Second Chance specializes in salvaging windows, appliances and, above all, the lives of individuals who have faced barriers, from incarceration to not having enough of an education, to land employment with family-sustaining wages. “Really, it’s a second chance for people as well as a second chance for materials,” Foster said. “To be able to work those two together is to do great things for a community.” Second Chance offers reclaimed materials to the public at a discount, helping fund job training and workforce development programs. Salvaged items available for sale range from rolls of chainlink fence to marble fireplace mantels. The community-driven model turns profits, attracts investors and solves social problems, officials said. Clarence White, one of the men hired and trained to do this delicate work, learned how to safely and skillfully remove lumber and stone and take apart kitchens and bathrooms. White told Voice of America News that working with Second Chance has been a life-changing experience. “Beforehand I was selling drugs, doing all the wrong things,” he said. “I went to prison, I came home and was looking for a job, and a lot of jobs weren’t hiring me. Second Chance provided that opportunity. They believed in me, and I went from not feeling confident, feeling like I can’t get a job, I cannot do this, I cannot do that, feeling limited, to feeling limitless.” In addition to job training, the company also provides life skills workshops. White has opened a bank ac-

NATIONAL count and moved into his own place. “I’m able to provide for my daughter and give her a better life.” Foster’s organization hasn’t gone unnoticed. Maryland Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin recently joined the leaders, partners and staff of Second Chance to discuss how unique ventures in social enterprise like those underway at the nonprofit organization

housed inside a sprawling former factory could help answer some of the myriad challenges faced in today’s inner cities. In a roundtable conversation earlier this month that centered on the organization’s efforts to hire and train people from adverse backgrounds in the fields of deconstruction, architectural salvage, retail, operations and customer service, Cardin heard firsthand accounts from

four employees with criminal backgrounds who had turned around their lives following the opportunities afforded them by Second Chance. “It never ceases to amaze me what people can do when they are given even the smallest glimmer of hope, and I saw that transformative power on display at Second Chance,” he said. “If you want to see people

from some incredibly challenging backgrounds turning their lives around, visit them in south Baltimore. Second Chance isn’t only equipping people with the skills needed for ‘green-collar’ jobs; it’s helping communities renew themselves.” Foster said the recognition from the senator is appreciat-

SECONDCHANCE Page 18

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June 25 - July 1, 2015

HEALTH

Farmers Market Offers Fresh Food and More By Kelly-Ann Brown Howard University News Service WASHINGTON – A new farmers market has arrived in the 16th Street Heights neighborhood of Northwest Washington, bringing fresh meat and produce, music and a new social center for local residents. Located at 5500 Colorado Ave. NW, the 14th Street and Kennedy Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Nov. 21. Along with fresh produce, residents can expect pasture-raised grass-fed meats, artisan-style baked goods and weekly musical performances. The market is the brainchild of the Kennedy Street Develop-

ment Association and the Community Alliance for Upper 14th Street, which worked for over a year to bring this project into fruition. “The idea came from a survey the Kennedy Street Development Association did last year,” said Emily Cohen, a community organizer with the KSDA. “Having more access to fresh food was one of the items people expressed they wanted in the community.” The community organizations enlisted the help of Jim Coleman, owner of Fresh Vista Farmers Markets. “I provide market management services to the community,” Coleman said. “That means bringing farmers and vendors in,

Food like these pictured came be purchased at a new farmers market. /Photo courtesy HU News Service

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Farmers Market is also meant to aid in community development. Emily Cohen of the KSDA said the data collected by her organization also showed that community members desired a greater connection to their neighbors. “People really wanted not just fresh food, but a community gathering place,” Cohen said. “It’s really a way to bring vibrancy to the street.” The market also aims to support local businesses. Only vendors who produce the products they sell are selected. This means customers will know exactly where their product is coming from, because it is harvested, produced or raised by the individual selling it, Coleman said. “We are trying to bring the best of the community to the

farmers market, so those great businesses get more exposure.” he said. Currently, the farmers market has seven vendors. Coleman said he hopes that it will grow to at least 12 vendors in the future. The market has seen approximately 400 customers by the end of closing last week. Cohen said she is proud of the strong and steady attendance and expects to see participation grow. She said she wants the resident’s excitement for the market to continue to be a positive weekly activity. “We hope that it will become part of people weekly Saturday routines,” she said.WI

SECONDCHANCE from Page 17

applications in the future,” he said. “For us, we’re helping people to get on the ramp to employment and helping them to remain employed.” Once employed, workers usually land wages well above the minimum at companies such as BG&E and the Amazon warehouse. “The one thing we think is that people are motivated by hope that there could be a better future,” Foster said. “The people are really the thing that should drive us the most, giving those people opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have.”WI

ed. “Our focus from beginning as to who the organization would ultimately serve was the hardest -impacted members of the community, those most difficult to employ,” he said. “There’s unemployment, there’s structural challenges for people living in certain neighborhoods to access work and know how to access work.” Between 60 and 65 percent of members were previously incarcerated, Foster said. “They’re getting some skills in a program that lasts 12 to 18 months, and in that period of time they’re able to get a lot of skills and learn to conduct themselves in terms of job

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CON ARTISTS DEVISING NEW AND DEVIOUS WAYS TO SCAM WASHINGTON, DC RESIDENTS Over a period of five years “Jeremy,” a con artist now doing time, worked a number of gold coin scams. “We would tell people that gold would absolutely double in value in the next one-to-two years and that the prospect would be able to rely on it making them far more money than any other investment vehicle,” he said from his jailhouse cell. What he failed to disclose was that he was selling the gold at up to a 500 percent markup. Identity theft, investment fraud and scams rob millions of Americans of their hard-earned money every year. Research shows that more than $20 billion was stolen from about 13 million victims in 2012, according to the latest Javelin Strategy and Research reports on identity fraud. Older adults tend to be bilked out of about $3 billion every year. In 2014 the number of identity theft, fraud, and other consumer complaints totaled 7,500 in the District of Columbia. Con artists use a myriad of scams to steal your hard-earned money, including phishing scams, tech-support scams, gold coin scams, oil and gas scams, sweepstakes and lottery scams, grandparent scams and many more. Although their methods are different, research shows that the tactics scammers use are the same. The following are the top 10 fraud and other complaint categories reported by District of Columbia consumers: #1: Debt Collection; #2: Banks and Lenders; #3: Impostor Scams; #4: Telephone and Mobile Services; #5: AutoRelated Complaints; #6: Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries; #7: Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales; #8: Credit Cards; #9: Television and Electronic Media; #10: Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users and Internet Services (Tied) When authorities ask convicted con artists to describe the trick to scamming people out of money, they all say the same thing: “Get them under the ether.” The ether is a heightened emotional state that makes it hard to think clearly and make rational decisions. Con artists ask questions that trigger an emotional response. Once they find something you care about that triggers emotions, they will “throttle up” on that trigger and get you to focus on it until you are in a heightened emotional state and ready to open your wallet. “Rocky,” a con man who worked as a consultant to a number of fraudulent boiler rooms, where telephones are set up to steal millions from people and then the shop is quickly closed and the money gone, said the ether is a

condition that a master closer puts a prospect in by hitting their fear, greed and urgency buttons. “I wanted to keep the victim up in the altitude of the ether because once they drop into the valley of logic, I’ve lost them,” he said. Another tactic con artists use is making a personal connection with a potential victim. Scammers will develop a victim profile by asking a series of personal questions so they can find your emotional trigger. Once they wrap you in emotion that blurs your logic, they’ve endeared you to them and you begin to trust them. Con artists also use a tactic they call “phantom riches” meaning something you want, but can’t have. The con artist will dangle that phantom in front of you in order to get your emotion up so you will make an impulsive decision. Researchers say this is the number one tactic found in undercover audiotapes of con pitches. Scarcity is yet another tactic. It is the idea that if something is rare or scarce, it must be more valuable. The con artist will paint a picture that the offer is rare or available only for a limited time. A common tactic to reel you in typically goes something like this: “Now John, back in 1860 from the Philadelphia mint, there were 22,625 of these coins minted. Of those 22,000, only four have survived. Only four for God’s sakes, just four remain and are available only from me.” This information and more can all be found in the “Con Artists Playbook.” The Con Artist’s Playbook is part of the Fraud Watch Network, which contains this interview and others, along with access to information to help protect people from theft and fraud. The Fraud Watch Network gives you free access to information about how to protect yourself and your family. Membership is not required. It’s free and open to everyone – members, non-members and people of all ages – and it allows access to talk to a real, live person, learn about active scams, and find resources about what to do to spot and avoid them. In keeping true to its mission of protecting the financial security of older adults, AARP DC is committed to fight identity theft and fraud in the District. Attend a free Fraud Watch Forum on June 26, 2015 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church located at 6001 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011. You will be given tips to avoid being the victim of a scam. To register for this program, call 1-877-926-8300.

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Con artists don’t care how hard you worked. aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork Join us for a Free Fraud Watch Forum and Shred Event: Friday, June 26, 2015 Fraud Awareness Forum: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Shred Event: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Church of the Nativity | 6001 13th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 FREE parking in the Nativity Parking Lot RSVP at 1-877-926-8300

The Washington Informer

June 25 - July 1, 2015

“Is Everywhere!”

The CoLumn

By Dr. Charles Vincent & “Mickey” Thompson Vincent

The 2015 DC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards

The DC Chamber of Commerce presented the 2015” Champions Small Business Awards & Expo” at the Walter Washington Convention Center; Harry Wingo, (President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce) Krystal Brumfield is the Chamber’s VP & COO. Carl Hairston is the Chairman of the Board. Greg O’Dell (President and CEO of Events DC) was a major sponsor. The winners were: Small Businessperson of the Year was Dr. Clayton Lawrence (LEAP Founation) . Young Entrepreneur of the Year was Michael Akin (Reingold LINK). The Non-Profit Organization of the Year was awarded to CulturalDC. Small Business Champion of the Year went to Industrial Bank. The Women in Business Champion of the Year was awarded to Connie Gorum (C.L. Russell Group). Presenters included Juan Jara (Eagle Bank), Donna Cooper (Pepco), Ana Harvey (Director DSLBD), Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC Delegate), George Schutter (DC OFC Contracting & Procurement) and Reid Wiedower (CTO, New Signature). DC Mayor Muriel Bowser presented a City Proclamation to Harry Wingo (President & CEO). For further information go to: www.dcchamber.org.

(L-R) Greg O’Dell (Pres. & CEO Events DC), Atty. Denise Rolark Barnes (Publisher Washington Informer) & Harry Wingo with Proclamation)

“Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award” Michael Akin (Reingold LINK) with his mother and supporters & guest

“Non- Profit Organization of the Year” Juanita Hardy (Bd. of Dir. Cultural DC) accepted award for CulturalDC

(L-R) Judge Mary Terrell (High Tea Society) with Gina Toppin

Vincent Orange (Councilmember At-Large) presents Doyle Mitchell “Small Business Champion of the Year Award”

Harry Wingo (Pres. & CEO) with Nizam Ali “Women In Business Champion of the Year” (Ben Chili Bowl) Carl Hairston (Bd. Chair), Carolyn Howell (Bd. Memb) presents to Connie Gorum (Awardee), Harry Wingo (Pres. & CEO)

A few DC Chamber Bd. of Dir. Members (L-R) Donna Cooper (PEPCO), Carolyn Howell (Fun Company Events) & Necole Parker (The ELOCEN Group)

The Rev. Dr. George Holmes (Chaplain & Religious Chair. of the DC Democratic State Comm.) with Krystal Brumfield (VP & COO DC Chamber of Commerce)

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents Proclamation to Harry Wingo (Pres. & CEO DC Chamber of Commerce)

“Small Business Person of the Year Award” Dr. Clayton Lawrence (Pres. & CEO LEAP Foundation) (Surrounded by Family & Friends)

Harry Wingo (Pres. & CEO), Reed Wiedower (Chief Technology Officer, New Signature) & Carl Hairston (Chairman of the Bd)

Juan Jara (Bd. of Dir. & Area George Schutter (Act. Dir. of Contracting & Procurement) & Mgr. Eagle Bank) with Eleanor Ana Harvey (Dir. of Dept. of Small Holmes Norton (Congress& Local Business Develop.) woman DC)

Want to see your event in Social Sightings email Social Sightings@aol.com

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Rashema Melson will attend will attend Georgetown University this fall on a full scholarship./ Photo courtesy DCPS

Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer Rashema Prevails Rashema Melton, who spent the past two years living in a homeless shelter, has graduated from Anacostia Senior High School in Southeast, where as class valedictorian she delivered a speech during the ceremony. Her message to her classmates was never to give up. “Never be afraid to go after your dreams,” said Melton. “Regardless of the negative forecast that has been predicted upon us, beat the odds and let the sun shine.” This fall, Rashema will head off to Georgetown University on a full scholarship with eventual plans to attend medical school. More Super Students More than 100 top graduating students recently joined Chancellor Kaya Henderson at the Verizon Center’s Acela Club to formally announce their future plans and celebrate their achievements. Margaret Kellogg, valedictorian of Wilson High School, was named the 2015 District of Columbia Public Schools Top Scholar. Margaret has a 4.5 GPA, the highest of any graduating senior in DCPS, and is fluent in both Chinese and Spanish. Margaret, who mastered 13 Advanced Placement courses while at Wilson, will be attending Yale University in the fall. Triony Valdivia-Cazzol, valedictorian at Ballou Senior High School in Southeast, and Alexiana Whittington, a senior at Columbia Heights Education Campus in Northwest, were recipients of the 2015 Chancellor’s Award, which recognizes

students who have gone above and beyond to remain focused academically and excel despite personal challenges. Both students will be the first in their families to attend college. “I am incredibly proud of each and every student we have honored today. They have worked hard to reach this milestone in their lives,” said Henderson. “We expect that they will continue to represent our schools with integrity and passion, proving to the world that the public school system in the nation’s capital turns out some of the most amazing people in this world.” Summer Reading Kickoff School officials, in partnership with the D.C. Public Library and Reading is Fundamental initiative, kicked off their summer of learning and exploration on June 10 with a “Summer Book Jam” and Lego “Build Your Lego Dream” contest. The event at Nalle Elementary School in Southeast provided 110 elementary school students with books and creative activities this summer while also serving as an effort to stem the effects of “summer learning loss.” During participation in the program, each student will choose eight books to take home, own and read throughout the summer. In addition, all first-grade students in 40 schools in Wards 7 and 8 will receive Lego sets with more than 400 pieces and will be eligible to enter a summer-long “Build Your Lego Dream” contest. The “Build Your Lego Dream” contest will last through the summer with an Instagram and Facebook contest page where families can submit photos that showcase students’ creativity. WI

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The Washington Informer

June 25 - July 1, 2015

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL Denise W. Barnes, Rest in Peace

The Washington Informer lost one of its own on Friday July 19, when Senior Editor Denise Wall Barnes died following a long illness. Barnes, 58, spent much of her adult life in the news business, including the Washington Star, NPR and the Washington Times. She is remembered as a meticulous, dogged, old school editor who demanded that her reporters go the extra mile, ask one more question and check, double-check and check facts one more time – right up until the time that the paper went to press. In the six years she served as the Informer editor, she helped fashion the paper in new and different ways, pushed reporters toward excellence and worked long hours – sometimes seven days a week – editing copy, selecting pictures and working with graphic artists to produce editions worthy of her exacting standards. Denise loved good food, fine wine and all things French, especially Paris. As a young woman she flirted with becoming a model and had a life-long love of fashion and style, while being a stickler for good looks and presentation. She was a woman of pride, strength and tenacity. In the days since her death, writers, young and old, have expressed their gratitude to a woman who never hesitated to share her accumulated wisdom and who used praise and tough love to draw out their very best. Denise was a devoted journalist and with her craft, she took special pleasure in helping fledging journalists discover their distinctive voices. The pride in her voice and the sense of accomplishment she exuded when her charges finally had their “ah-ha” moments was always a joy to watch. Denise died too young but she leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a veritable village of family, friends, colleagues and admirers who mourn her passing. There is an African proverb that says when you call the name of those who’ve passed, when you recall stories about them, they’ll never die. There is much more we could say about Denise but we’ll end with a quote from Hamlet that Denise knew quite well: “Goodbye [Denise], May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Considering the South Carolina Massacre

What will it take to label Dylann Roof ’s actions terrorist? The 21-year-old white supremacist gunned down 9 innocent black men and women at Emanuel AME Church on June 18 in Charleston, South Carolina. He told investigators he wanted to start a race war. And despite authorities finding white supremacist literature, pictures and other evidence of Roof ’s rabid racism, the FBI refuses to label the crime a terrorist act, calling it, instead, a hate crime. This man is just the latest in a long line of white Americans who’ve terrorized black people in an effort to keep all blacks cowed and submissive. Murder and lynchings have given way to extra-judicial killings by cops, the incarceration of black and brown people in staggering numbers and the perpetuation of racial bias, perks, power and privilege for white people. Yet when police stopped Roof in North Carolina, he wasn’t put in a headlock, tossed or kicked around. He was very politely frisked and handcuffed and on the way to jail, the officers were kind enough to stop at a fast food joint and buy the murderer something to eat. The FBI and others want us to believe that Roof acted alone. Nonsense. Who guided and nurtured his racial hatred? How would a boy who repeated ninth grade and dropped out of high school have known about the flags of racist countries like Rhodesia and South Africa unless someone taught him? Who helped him plan the murders? There is deepening speculation that The Rev. Clementa Pinkney was the likely target for being an outspoken critic of the officer who shot Walter Scott eight times in the back in North Charleston earlier this year. It looks blacks aren’t safe anywhere in this country. We may be forced to consider self-defense measures in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities if something isn’t done by our leaders soon.

22 June 25 - July 1, 2015

Dear Editor, After reading your article by Stacy M. Brown, “Why President Obama Shuns Black Press” in the June 18, 2015 edition I became very angry. Angry, not because President Obama will not give the black press a one-on-one interview but because of what the former black journalist, Crystal Brown Tatum said. She was quoted as saying, in reference to the president not giving interviews to the black press, that “President Obama delivers messages for the masses, which is probably why he prefers mainstream media interviews.” When she was made aware of the NNPA, which is an organization of over 200 black-owned newspapers, Brown Tatum was quoted as saying, “Black readers, too, should look elsewhere, and the President should be encouraging black readers to access the media through other channels than urban publications.” Let me give an example of what mainstream media outlets are saying about the tragic events that took place in Charleston. The Washington Post described the racist coward who shot nine people while at a church prayer service as “a young life that had quietly drifted off track.” Really? Is that what Ms. Brown Tatum wants

us to read? How the mainstream media sugarcoats a monster? Robert Howe Washington, DC

Dear Editor, I called the Informer office to tell you how much I enjoy reading your paper. However, the person who answered your phone suggested I write a letter to the editor to express my feelings and to let everyone else know just how I felt. I do read the letters to the editor every week in the paper but I never believed I could really express in writing an opinion on the things I read. After talking to your office person I decided to give it a try, and like they said, maybe the way I feel about The Informer will let others know just how important it is to read your paper. I look forward to reading The Informer each and every week. The kind of information I get from reading The Informer I can’t get from any other newspaper. It lets me know the positive things taking place in Ward 8 and around the city. The stories and photographs are of and about people that I can relate to and with-

out fail the papers are at my favorite place to pick one up every Thursday morning. I hope my words express the kind of treasure The Washington Informer is to more people than you can imagine. I wish you and the whole staff at The Informer nothing but continued success. Connie Williams Washington, DC

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Nicol Turner-Lee

Lifeline: The Pathway to First Class, Digital Citizenship Millions of low-income Americans will soon be able to access the Internet as part of the Lifeline program. That’s because the Federal Communications Commission, the agency responsible for its oversight, wants to add broadband to its suite of services. Established in 1985, Lifeline provides a discount on traditional phone services for eligible consumers, giving them the ability to connect to jobs, family members

and emergency services. The program was updated to include wireless phone services in 2005, and the move to now include broadband for people to access the Internet reflects our changing communications ecosystem. Yet this month’s efforts by the FCC to modernize the Lifeline program by extending the $9.25-permonth telephone service to include Internet access has already been met political opposition from both FCC commissioners and members of Congress. More than 18 million eligible

low-income consumers, including people of color, the elderly and the disabled, have been Lifeline beneficiaries. Part of the Universal Service Fund, Lifeline is funded through contributions made by telecommunications companies and the fees that apply to customers’ monthly bill. Individuals can apply for Lifeline assistance if their income is at or below 135 percent of the poverty line or they are eligible for one of many qualifying public benefit programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, supplemental income,

Guest Columnist

federal public housing assistance, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program. The program is state-subsidized; eligible consumers pay their portion, and the remainder of the amount owed to the provider is covered through the USF. An estimated $2.2 billion was spent on the program in 2012. Given that the Internet affects how citizens search for employment, find medical care or even apply for

public benefits, why all the uproar? Gaining access to the benefits of first-class digital citizenship now requires that one must be online versus in line to avoid social, economic and political exclusion. But several legislators, including presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz, are taking issue with Lifeline reform, labeling the service as the “Obama phone.” Lifeline is the legacy of the late former President Ronald Reagan, prioritizing telephone access for all Americans regardless of their

TURNER-LEE Page 37

By Julianne Malveaux

Focus on Real Black Women, not Imposters By the time you read this, perhaps the disturbing story of Rachel Dolezal, the prevaricating white woman who passed for black, led the Spokane, Washington, NAACP, and wove a web of elaborate lies, will have receded from media headlines. Probably not. I expect additional disclosures, a book, and a reality show. While most African-Americans have concluded that Dolezal is a mentally impaired liar, too many Caucasians, obsessed with race, are likely to give this story legs.

Meanwhile, there are millions of African-American women who are rendered invisible by the media. If Matt Lauer wants to focus on the women in the NAACP, he ought to interview Roslyn Brock, the chair of the NAACP board. If he wants to look at the women who lead organizations, he should focus on Melanie Campbell (National Coalition for Black Civic Participation) or Sherilyn Ifill (NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund). These women can add substance, not sensationalist fluff, to a conversation about women and race.

Where is the 15-minute interview of Dajerria Becton, the teenager who, bikini-clad, was brutally dragged by her hair at a Texas pool party? Where is the follow-up on Renisha McBride, the teen who was killed by a crazed white man from behind his locked screen door? When have any of the African-American women in Congress been featured in the lengthy interviews that others in Congress routinely get? Admittedly, lengthy profiles don’t happen often, but when they do happen, African-American women certainly aren’t the focus of them.

Guest Columnist

The presence of African-American women in media is much improved in some respects from just a decade ago. MSNBC anchor Melissa Harris-Perry brings a welcome approach to issues, Gayle King and Tamron Hall diversify a morning news lineup that was once far more homogeneous, Gwen Ifill bring a necessary gravitas to evening news, and Donna Brazile is an important part of the commentariat. While those who bring the news are more diverse, the content of news is much less so, and frivolous sensationalism is often given more visibility

than substance. African-American women are also ignored by our natural allies, the white women who lead women’s organizations. To be sure, we can count on the National Organization for Women’s Terry O’Neill to be an advocate for social and economic justice issues. She has been a reliable ally to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a regular presence on the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s radio program (disclosure – I’ve been on the program with her on occasion), and

MALVEAUX Page 37

By George E. Curry

Whites Still Live in ‘State of Denial’ on Race Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley is fond of saying, “Slavery was America’s original sin, and racism remains its unresolved dilemma.” But the unwillingness to face up to the raw racism that led to the murder of nine African-Americans attending Bible study at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, proves that the problem is more than just an unresolved dilemma. Judging by

public opinion polls, I have to conclude that most Whites live year-round in the 51st state – the state of denial. First, let’s deal with the facts. Around 9 p.m. on June 17, Dylann Roof, a 21-year-old avowed white supremacist, entered Emanuel AME Church in Charleston and murdered nine, unarmed African-Americans ranging from 26 to 87 years old. Each victim was shot multiple times. We have the murderer’s own words that his goal was to “start

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a race war,” according to law enforcement officials who took Roof into custody. Rather than address obvious racism, our non-friends on “Fox & Friends” and other Fox network programs attempted to make the massacre about religion, gun control and anything other than the actual culprit – racism. “Fox & Friends” host Steve Doocy referenced “hostility toward Christians.” That theme was echoed by Bishop E.W. Jackson when he noted that “We The Washington Informer

don’t know why he went into a church, but he didn’t choose a bar” or “basketball court.” Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani also postulated that “maybe he hates Christian churches.” But we aren’t talking about any Christian church. We are talking about a historic black church that had been carefully targeted by the shooter. Within minutes after his name was made public, Roof ’s White supremacy views became widely known. A photo on his Face

book page showed him wearing patches with the flags of white minority-ruled South Africa during the apartheid era and Rhodesia, which is now Zimbabwe. Both flags are popular symbols associated with white supremacists in the U.S. Another photo posted on Facebook by one of Roof ’s friends showed him leaning against an automobile sporting the license plate “Confederate States of America.”

CURRY Page 37 June 25 - July 1, 2015

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Criminal Justice Reform Movement Emerging in America While social change for some may appear to be inevitable, it does not happen by osmosis, and it does not occur without a focused effort led by those who are not restrained by the fears of social transformation. An effective reform of the system of laws, courts, policies and institutions defined as the criminal justice system in the United States of America requires more than a principled public debate. What is needed today with a renewed sense of urgency, beyond the

all-too-frequent expressions of justifiable outrage and protest in response to videotaped incidents of police brutality, is a committed, bipartisan, well-resourced nationwide criminal justice reform movement. Black lives do matter. In fact, all lives matter. I am president and CEO of the nation’s oldest and largest trade association of African-American-owned newspapers, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which reaches over 20 million readers per week in aggregate circulation of 205 affiliated local and regional print and digital media companies. We hear the escalating cries of families and communities that

have been devastated by the criminal justice system. The issues of mass incarceration, overcriminalization, prosecutorial and police misconduct, equal justice, alternative sentencing, recidivism and judicial dysfunction are all serious problems that are having a severe negative impact, in particular, on the quality of life of African-Americans. What is required today, however, is a multiracial coalition to ensure that a successful reform movement is representative of the interests of all Americans. I know something about the movement-building process from my early days back in the 1960s as a youth co-

Guest Columnist

ordinator in my home state of North Carolina for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King said it best when he affirmed, “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” King was a master movement builder. I learned firsthand from the experience of witnessing how King fused together a diverse coalition of intergenerational leaders to effect change at the local, state and federal levels toward equal justice for all. Fifty years later we need to rebuild and expand the movement for change with respect to criminal justice.

I also know profoundly what it is like to be unjustly sentenced and incarcerated in a prison system that dehumanizes both the imprisoned and those who attempt to be in charge of vastly deteriorating overcrowded penal institutions. As a member of the Wilmington Ten civil rights activists who were unjustly imprisoned for a combined sentenced of 282 years for standing up for the rights of equal education for African-American students in Wilmington, North Carolina, in the 1970s, I have experienced the systematic degradation and awful

CHAVIS Page 38

By Ben Jealous and Jotaka Eaddy

Why You Can’t Kill the Spirit of Mother Emanuel You can kill a man, but you can’t kill an idea. Similarly, you can massacre members of a congregation and assassinate the state senator who served as their pastor, but you cannot kill the mission and spirit of the church to which they belong. And the spirit of Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston, South Carolina is one worth preserving and celebrating in the wake of last Wednesday’s tragic

act of domestic terrorism that occurred there. Emanuel AME Church is the oldest African Methodist Church in the South and it has long served as a bulwark for organized defiance to white supremacy and discrimination. Founded by freed black slaves, it was affectionately known as “Mother Emanuel” and the institution’s history of challenge and resistance mirrors the movement toward racial progress that it fostered in the South. In 1816, Mother Emanuel

Church was investigated for its role in a planned slave rebellion organized by Denmark Vesey, one of its founders. Vesey was executed. Then, for 30 years beginning in 1834, its parishioners had to worship secretly because of a ban on black churches. Mother Emanuel was burned down only to be rebuilt, and shut down by the state only to continue operating as a symbol of resilience and devotion. Through it all, the congregation endured, and the church hosted dignitaries from Booker T. Washington

Askia-At-Large

to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the decades that followed the Civil War. Mother Emanuel’s pastor, who was slain in the violence last week was a man that we have both had the honor of knowing. The Reverend Clementa Pinckney truly represented the mission and movement of Mother Emanuel. Rev. Pinckney became a pastor at age 18, an elected official at age 23 and a South Carolina state senator at age 27. He was known for his kindness, his commitment to community and

his strong and passionate voice. He fought for police accountability and gun control in a state where both fights were uphill battles but in the spirit of his church he did not let that defeat him. There were eight other victims that day: Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Tywanza Sanders, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lance, Rev. Daniel L. Simmons, Susie Jackson and DePayne Doctor. Three men and six women in

JEALOUS AND EADDY Page 38

By Askia Muhammad

The ‘Cause’ is Lost – Torch the Confederate Battle Flag It’s no secret that I abhor the Confederate battle flag, the treasonous traitors who fought under it, and all that it represents. I am quick to point out that Army of Virginia and Confederate Army Cmdr. Robert E. Lee — the brilliant general who ironically was asked (and refused) by President Abraham Lincoln to command the Union Army leading up to the Civil War — died stateless. His U.S. citizenship was

24 June 25 - July 1, 2015

not restored by an Act of Congress until 110 years after his death. Similarly, all the rest of his cohorts were also traitors for having risen up in arms against the United States of America. So, except in the Jim Crow South, where on Earth are vanquished traitors permitted to honor their fallen and disgraced ancestors? I’ll tell you. Nowhere else but the American Apartheid South do traitors get to erect statues, name boulevards and buildings after their so-called “heroes,” and get to fly their

treasonous flags above government buildings. That’s the mantra, of course, for all this Confederate nostalgia. White Southerners invoke the “valor” of their ancestors who fought for the Confederate side, not race hatred, not the preservation of America’s “peculiar institution,” as slavery was known, as the reason they remain so attached to those abominable symbols. Personally, I patently reject as bogus those untruths from race-haters masquerading as The Washington Informer

traditionalists, masquerading as patriots who are simply defending the hallowed principle of “states’ rights.” Have I made myself clear? Of course, race-haters who dominate Congress with the tea party slogans like “Don’t Tread on Me” flags and what-not and state, city and county legislatures and executive positions all over America don’t much care what I think about them. They think their opinions of me are more important than anything I could possibly think about them. Cool.

I get that. So I can fume on, and it doesn’t much matter how ugly I make this chat. Let me reinforce my outrage with the words of two white Southerners. According to information from the Southern Poverty Law Center, William T. Thompson is the creator of the Confederate Battle Flag — the infamous “Stars and Bars,” as we know it. In 1863 Thompson was unambiguous in discussing what his cause was all about.

MUHAMMAD Page 38

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Tawanda Brown, mother of LaVonda “Nikki” King, a victim of the June 22, 2009 Red Line disaster at Fort Totten, with King’s children and relatives on Tuesday, June 23, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the opening of the Legacy Memorial Park in Northeast dedicated to the nine victims of the deadly crash. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

Victims of Deadly 2009 Metro Crash Remembered

Legacy Memorial Park Erected In Memoriam By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer Friends, family and government officials gathered to remember the nine lives lost in the deadliest crash in Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority history. The Legacy Memorial Park ribbon-cutting ceremony in Northeast on Wednesday morning served as an apology from the city to the victims’ loved ones. “Today we dedicate this park to them. It is the very least we can do. In the full knowledge that there is nothing we can do to replace those that have been lost,” Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton said. “We are hopeful the park will bring some peace and solace,” Norton said. Six years ago, on June 22, 2009, two southbound Red Line trains collided during the afternoon rush between Takoma and Fort Totten stations due to a faulty track circuit. The train operator Jeanice E. McMillan, 42, along with Cameron Taihi Williams, Dennis R. Hawkins, Ana Fernandez, Veronica DuBose, LaVonda King, Mandy Doolittle, Ann Wherley and Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley died on the scene. Carolyn Jenkins, the mother of Veronica DuBose, said the words mother and hard worker best represent her daughter. “She loved her kids and wanted to make something of herself. She was on her way to her first

Legacy Memorial Park features nine granite pillars representing each life lost in the Red Line disaster at Fort Totten. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

day of school to be a phlebotomist the day of the accident. Of course, she never made it there,” Jenkins said. “My whole life has changed. I went from being a single woman to raising two grandkids, but I accept and appreciate this role,” Jenkins said. Evelyn Hernandez, 24, the daughter of Ana Hernandez, has stepped in as the mother figure to her three younger siblings. “Six long years ago, we lost our mother. I have had the opportunity to raise my siblings. I don’t know how I did it, but I did,” Hernandez said. “I use to think ‘Why my mom?’ but now I know God’s purpose for me was to take on this battle,” Hernandez said. Legacy Memorial Park features an inscribed memorial wall and nine granite sculptures. Each victim’s name is etched into a sculpture representing the lives that were lost. The assembling of the park

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did not come easy. It took years of lobbying and pushing by Tawanda D. Brown, the mother of LaVonda King, for the plan to go into action. “This almost did not happen. There was many obstacles, but God gave me a vision,” Brown said. King, an energetic and bright young woman as described by her mother, opened a hair salon two days before the fatal accident. During the remarks by the victims’ families, they all thanked Brown for her support and labor. “They have supported and trusted me through this process. We have become family,” Brown said. “When God gives you a purpose, you go for it. We turned the tragedy into something positive. The park helps the families and the community,” Brown said. WI The Washington Informer

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UniverSoul Circus: Family Friendly Encounter By Kelly-Ann Brown Howard University News Service WASHINGTON – If the UniverSoul Circus, the black-owned extravaganza that will be performing in the National Harbor from June 24 to July 19, is anything, it is dazzling, funny and unique. The circus, which has been touring the nation for 21 years, features the acrobatics, gymnastics, animal acts and clowns and comedy that audiences have come to know and love from such festivals. But only at UniverSoul will they find themselves singing and dancing in a carnival atmosphere infused with hip-hop, classic R&B, jazz and gospel jazz, or, as audiences in Baltimore experienced recently, have the local state attorney and a city council member perform as the ringmasters. It was just last month that Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, the woman who indicted six police officers in the controversial death of Freddie Gray, joined her city

councilman husband to lead the UniverSoul audience in dancing and singing during the four-week engagement there. All of those turns are what make this culture-infused event the show Cedric Walker said he was striving for when he created the circus in 1994. “As the most interactive circus in the world, we want you to be a part of the show.” Walker said. “It’s all about getting up dancing, singing along and watching incredible performances that will blow you away.” This year’s theme is “Your Life Matters,” an unapologetic blend of entertainment, morality and social commentary that infuses African-American culture into a traditional circus setting, Walker said. It is truly a show for all ages, he added. One person who carries the responsibility of maintaining the audience’s enthusiasm is ringmaster Lucky Malatsi. “It’s very challenging to be the ringmaster,” Malatsi said. “It’s my job to keep the crowd entertained between acts, to interact with call and response.

It’s fun times for all at the UniverSoul Circus. /Photo courtesy HU News Service

But I love a challenge.” Malatsi was only 11 when he joined the circus. He has been with UniverSoul for 14 years, first performing in a duo contortionist act, and also has experience as an acrobatic hip-hop dancer and trapeze artist. Walker, a former concert and theater promoter who worked with the Jackson 5 and the Commodores, said he had a particular goal in mind when he formed the circus. “The vision was to explore the various talents other than singing and dancing that black performers had to offer,” he said. “The UniverSoul Circus introduced a different culture to circus artistic expression. In doing this, it accelerated the opportunities for people of African descent in the

circus industry on a global basis.” Since those early years, UniverSoul has grown multicultural. It not only includes African-American performers, but also performers from Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Ethiopia, China and South America. Walker said the key to the success of UniverSoul is staying connected to the audience. “The passion and commitment we have for our audience drives every creative decision we make,” he said. “Seeing smiling faces, watching our fans dance, sing and laugh makes it all worthwhile.” Among the many performers at the UniverSoul Circus, the audience will see: African Dreams Circus Pole Act:

The seven-member acrobatic team from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that maneuvers skillfully along 30-foot vertical poles. Trinity: Trio Hand Balancing Act: Strength, flexibility, fluidity and grace are what audiences can expect from the young women of this balancing act trio that hails from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Navas Brothers: Wheel of Death: Also in their first year with the UniverSoul Circus, Ecuadorian brother duo Ray and Ronnie Navas’s performance will have audiences on the edge of their seats as they run and jump along a giant steel wheel circulating high in the air. The Wuhan Flying Trapeze: The 13-member aerial group from Wuhan, China, will dazzle audiences as they fly, flip and catch one another from an oscillating trapeze. Color Me Caribbean: Caribbean Dance, Limbo and Stilts: This dance troupe from Trinidad and Tobago combines high-energy Caribbean dancing with stilt performances as well as a limbo act taken a step further with the addition of flames. The Willy Family: Motorcycle Globe of Death: Hailing from Colombia, this family combines excitement and danger with four motorcycles riding at high speeds within a single spherical steel cage. WI

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Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call By Michael Sainte-Andress WI Contributing Writer In a take on a popular commercial ad slogan of yore, “What becomes an icon most?” This is in reference to Joseph Beam (1954-2008), a groundbreaking, black gay writer and activist who rose to prominence in the mid1980s as the editor of “In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology.” A current anthology, “Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call,” features critical essays, poetry, personal narratives and other writing from diverse contributors evoking Beam’s legacy. It was conceived and co-edited by Stephen G. Fullwood and Charles Stephens, both of whom are accomplished writers and historians who “wanted to elevate the legacy of Joseph Beam, Marlon Riggs, Essex Hemphill and others to counter the myth that black gay activism was a recent thing.” The event, co-sponsored by Us Helping Us and DC CARE, presented several contributors to the anthology who shared their perspectives on Beam and how they were inspired by him

and his vision. It was a simple, straightforward setup wherein they read excerpts from their contributions and later fielded questions and comments from the avid, standing-room-only crowd. Fullwood expounded on how the book materialized after he was inspired by a series of conversations he had with co-editor Stephens over several years. He said that that they wanted to replace the marginalization of the voices and contributions of black gay men of Beam’s generation with a more accurate depiction. His sense of purpose in this venture was readily evident and heartfelt. Kevin McGruder, an assistant professor of history at Antioch College, recounted being influenced by how Beam specifically conveyed the importance of focusing on developing and enhancing thriving communities. Guy Weston, executive director of DC CARE Consortium, shared personal reflections of meeting and being aware of Beam’s work and presence in Philadelphia and was motivated by him to push the envelope of

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Back row:Ron Simmons, PhD, president and CEO, Us Helping Us Rashod Ollison, Norfolk-based music and culture critic Guy Weston, executive director, DC CARE Kevin McGruder, PhD, historian and professor, Antioch College Front Row: Steven G. Fullwood, BGG co-editor and publisher, Vintage Entity Press A Billy. S. Jones-Hennin, widely regarded as an elder statesman of LGBTQ movements who is active in Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) and other organizations Carol Lautier, researcher in race, sexuality and religion and graduate student and George Washington University

his own connection and commitment to the African-American LGBT community. Rashod Ollison is currently the staff pop culture writer at the Virginian-Pilot and vividly recalls how, at age 16, he discovered “In the Life.” It began a

course of change in his life that continues to this day. He subscribed to the adage “Black men loving black men is the revolutionary act of the ’80s.” Ron Simmons, president/ CEO of Us Helping Us, said he knew Beam, Marlon Riggs and

Essex Hemphill as friends and that his experiences with them propelled his emergence as a major player in this present phase of our diaspora. It was an enchanting evening, exhilarating, informative and inspirational. WI

Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia 202-626-5100 www.dcpsc.org

Notice of Office Move

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is pleased to announce the opening of our new office location at:

1325 G Street, N.W. Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20005

The Commission will be closed for walk‐in service on June 18th and June 19th to accommodate our move. We will reopen at the new location on June 22nd. For emergency requests, please call the main number at 202‐626‐5100. For information about filings, please visit the Commission website at www.dcpsc.org The PSC is committed to serving District electric, natural gas, and telecommunications service customers with information and assistance. The new location is centrally located and close to public transportation making it accessible to the public. The new office will have a walk‐in customer information room where the public can learn about the Commission and its services to District customers. The new office is designed with LEED principles to ensure an environmentally responsible and efficient use of space and resources. The PSC looks forward to continuing to provide excellent customer service from our new location. Getting There The Commission’s new office (1325 G Street N.W.) can be reached: By Metro Rail‐ Blue, Orange, Red or Silver Lines  Exit Metro Center using the 13th Street N.W. and G Street N.W. Exit  Head west on G Street N.W. towards 14th Street N.W. By Metro Bus‐ 42, 43, 52,54, 63, 64, 80, D1, D3, D6, G8, P6, P17, P19, S2, S4, W13, X2, X9

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Black actors shine at the DC Black Theatre Festival. /Photo by Travis Riddick

DC Black Theatre Festival Returns Stellar Event in Southeast Marks 6th Year By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer Residents east of the Anacostia River will experience an invasion of black theatre arts as amateur and professional thespians convene for one of the nation’s preeminent festivals. The DC Black Theatre Festival kicked off a series of top

notch events on Friday, June 19 and continues through Sunday, June 28. Over 30,000 people, including fans and professionals are expected to participate in the 10-day event that includes plays, battles and celebrity workshops. Numerous performances with topics such as homophobia, sex, religion and black history will be held in theatres across the city

including: THEARC Theater, Andrew Foster, St. Elizabeth’s Gateway Center, the African American Civil War Museum and the Anacostia Art Center. “We wanted to have our events concentrated east of the river. It is the forgotten side of town with the highest incidenc-

DCFESTIVAL Page 29

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ARIES You’ll want to spend some time with a special friend this week just being together. If you’ve been neglecting a relationship because of work demands, this week is a wonderful week to set things to rights. Soul Affirmation: I open myself up to the vibrations of love. Lucky Numbers: 14, 22, 31

“I’ll Miss You Too” By Margo Ewing Woodacre, MSW &

TAURUS Lots of spirituality discussions are going on around you this week. This energy will probably last throughout the week, so expect to enjoy yourself, or pass on all social company and spend the week enjoying yourself. Soul Affirmation: I slow down so love can catch up with me. Lucky Numbers: 15, 49, 54

Steffany Bane Carey c.2015, Sourcebooks $14.99 / $19.99 Canada 202 pages

GEMINI You will get so much done this week that your friends and co-workers will be amazed! Accomplish this small happy miracle by focusing on serenity instead of perfection. You’ll be very surprised at the results! Soul Affirmation: I listen to the sweet music of the life all around me. Lucky Numbers: 26, 31, 42

hirteen long, interesting years. Imagine: more than 115 months of your life spent with your hiney under a school desk. That’s a lot, but now you’ve graduated (or will soon be graduating) from high school and (you can barely believe you’re saying this) you can’t wait to get to college. Leaving home won’t be easy, but you’ll be ready once you’ve read “I’ll Miss You Too” by Margo Ewing Woodacre & Steffany Bane Carey. And your parents? Ah, that may be a different matter…. On one hand, you’re very excited about the idea of college: the independence, new friends, new experiences, being an adult. It’s what you’ve been working towards for at least a year, maybe more. On the other hand, you hate to think of leaving behind your room, your possessions, your siblings and everything familiar. College is going to be different, especially if you plan on moving more than a few hours from home. Will you fit in? What if there’s an emergency? Will your friends still be your friends? You’ll have fears, and you might have tears. That’s all normal, say the authors. Remember that “all of the freshmen [are] in the same boat.” The first and perhaps most useful thing to do is to attend freshman orientation, which plunges you into campus life and helps diminish self-consciousness. It sounds silly, the authors admit, but it helps. Try to meet up with your roommate, or at least talk on the phone or online before you have to live together. Remember that nobody’s going to remind you to study when

DCFESTIVAL from Page 28 es of violence. We want to give the residents an escape from reality through theatre,” said DeJuan Mason, community engagement director for the Festival. “We want the people who may have not been exposed to theatre to know that it is accessible and relevant. It is not all Shakespeare – it can be in their language and experiences to which they can relate,” Mason said. “Who is Eartha Mae?”,

you’re at college. Get to know your professors. Use extra caution when posting on social media while you’re at college; party posts can haunt you for a good long time. Finally, stay in touch with your parents. They’ll miss you, possibly more than you’ll miss them (and your Mom will probably cry). Call, Skype, or text them often – not just when there’s an emergency. Talk to them when you’re in a bad spot, if you think you made a big mistake, or you just need a shoulder and you’re homesick. Remember that you’re an adult now but you’ll always be their kid. If you’re a parent and you’ve read this far, fear not: “I’ll Miss You Too” has plenty for you as well. Half the book, in fact, is for parents of future college freshmen. Starting with the fall semester of high school, mother-daughter authors Margo Ewing Woodacre & Steffany Bane Carey walk readers through everything from choosing a college, studying for SATs, and packing for the big move, all the way through secondary education and for a year or two beyond. They helpfully touch upon issues both happy and thorny, and their words are soothing for parents, teens, RAs, and advisors. Previously published more than a decade ago, this book is fresh and updated and can surely help parents and future freshman with this transition. If the fat envelope has landed on your doorstep recently, “I’ll Miss You Too” is one book to get.WI

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel Let Down Your Locks,” and “Four Broke Guys” are some of the many plays and workshops featured in Southeast. The festival kicked off with actress Vanessa Bell Calloway in her award-winning performance of Zora Neale Hurston in “Letters From Zora: In Her Own Words,” at THEARC Theater. The lineup for this year’s event include a star-studded gala, a one-act battle, Juneteenth Book Festival, inter-

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JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

active celebrity workshops and nightly after party’s. Alan Sharpe, Monte Wolf and Sonya Hemphill are local writers and directors whose work will be featured in this year’s festival. “How awesome is it that writers from the District and surrounding areas can have their work showcased for their entire community?” Mason commented. “We provide a platform for that local unknown artist to get their work seen and heard. We provide opportunity.” WI

CANCER It’s best to keep your opinions to yourself this week, as many will be experiencing minor irritations and general grumpiness. Let others be who they are. You are a beacon of serenity. Others will notice. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy working with others this week. Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 11 LEO It’s a great week to tell somebody you are close to that you love them. Saying it aloud gives you energy, and of course your designated adoree will be delighted! Keep the big picture in mind this week and you’ll feel completely buoyant! Soul Affirmation: When I reach out in love someone is always there. Lucky Numbers: 21, 40, 50 VIRGO Hello, home life. After a busy week, all you want to do is savor the feelings of domesticity at home. Or perhaps go shopping to spruce up your living space. Whatever you decide, do it with a close friend. You’ll both enjoy the week more if you are together. Soul Affirmation: Trust gives me a deep sense of peace and joy. Lucky Numbers: 18, 21, 37 LIBRA Hardly anyone alive learns new skills in an instant, so cut yourself some slack if you feel you’ve made a beginner’s mistake somewhere. Mistakes are part of the learning process that is called Life, so self-correct and proceed with happiness. Soul Affirmation: My emotions provide me a pathway into the sunshine of my being. Lucky Numbers: 17, 29, 45 SCORPIO A happy week is in store for sociable you. Lots of friends and a party or two or three will keep your energy bright. Use caution while driving and watch for a pleasant surprise or two this week. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy the spirits of people whose spirits are akin to mine this week. Lucky Numbers: 9, 14, 24 SAGITTARIUS You’ll have a busy week, as the energy around you seems super-charged. With everyone rushing about, you’ll wonder how you’ll get anything done, much less the things you feel you must get done. Not to worry. Stay calm and flexible and a way will be found. Soul Affirmation: Anticipation of a beautiful night will light up my week. Lucky Numbers: 31, 46, 55 CAPRICORN You may feel a bit crabby about your health this early this week. If you feel you need a physical checkup, make the appointment this week. If you want to feel and look better this week, skip lunch and take a walk instead. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy learning new things about myself this week. Lucky Numbers: 22, 38, 42 AQUARIUS All vibes are positive this week, and your vibration may be the most positive of all. Many friends and family members may call, and all will want to see you. You’ve got a way with words this week, so use them to spread the sunshine around. Soul Affirmation: I master fear by knowing that all is well. Lucky Numbers: 1, 33, 35 PISCES Get out and enjoy the sunshine this week. Remember that the sun is always shining somewhere in our big island home, so use your imagination if the weather isn’t perfect where you are. You can still enjoy your week and the sun that is shining whether you see it or not! Soul Affirmation: What I need to be is fully present inside of me. Lucky Numbers: 6, 15, 40

The Washington Informer

June 25 - July 1, 2015

SPORTS

Tampa Bay Rays 5, Washington Nationals 3

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe collects the ball before Nationals center fielder Denard Span could make it safely onto base on Thursday, June 18 at Nationals Park in Southeast. The Rays beat the Nationals 5-3. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

Tulsa Shock Defeat Washington Mystics 86-82

Tampa Bay Rays Kevin Kiemaier tries to steal a run, then gets back to base safely before Nationals first base Danny Espinosa could collect the ball on Thursday, June 18 at Nationals Park in Southeast. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3. /Photo by John E. De Freitas Mystics forward Armintie Herrington drives past Tulsa Shock forward Karima Christmas in the first quarter of Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) action on Friday, June 19 at Verizon Center in Northwest. Tulsa defeated the Mystics 86-82. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

Mystics guard Ivory Latta is defended by Tulsa guard Skylar Diggins in the first quarter of WNBA action on Friday, June, 19 at Verizon Center in Northwest. Tulsa defeated the Mystics 86-82. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

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RELIGION

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Racism in America This week, it was as though we were reliving Sept. 15, 1963, all over again, when a bomb blast at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killed four African-American girls during church services. At least 14 others were injured. Three former Ku Klux Klan members were convicted of murder for the bombing. This time, 52 years later at Mother Emanuel, the oldest church south of Baltimore, nine people were killed by a lone young white man. The Rev. Clementa Pinckney, a pastor at Emanuel AME Church and an esteemed state senator, a man of great honor, was the primary victim. Tywanza Sanders, only 26, was a graduate of Allen University. He earned a degree in business administration last year. Cynthia Hurd, 54, was an employee of the Charleston County Public Library for three decades, most recently working as the manager at St. Andrews Regional Library. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 49, was a speech therapist and girls track and field coach at Goose Creek High School in suburban Charlotte, loved by her son. The Rev. Depayne Middleton Doctor, 49, was a church singer and former Charleston County community development block grant employee, having retired in 2005. Susie Jackson, 87, the oldest, was a longtime church member. Ethel Lance, 70, was a sexton at the church. The Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74, a member of the church’s min-

isterial staff, died in the operating room at the hospital. Myra Thompson, 59, was the wife of the vicar of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church. These folks could have been any one of us! Can you imagine in our lifetime, with a sitting African American President that we would see such hatred. Though America is celebrating 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and we have our first African-American president, America is shocked to awaken to such sad and hateful news. There are scriptures to help us better understand. The young killer judged those he killed only by the color of their skin. Matthew 7:1-5 NIV reads, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Then let’s look at 1 John 3:15-16, which reads, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Better yet, let’s talk about the 14th Amendment of the Constitu-

with Lyndia Grant

tion. Ratified by the states on Dec. 6, 1865, it says “in Section 1 … nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” These victims were deprived of their lives; we pray for due process of the law. Lyndia Grant is an author, inspirational and motivational speaker, radio talk show host and columnist. Visit her new website at www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrant@ gmail.com, or call 202-263-4621. Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m. to the radio talk show, 1340 AM, WYCB, a Radio One Station.

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June 25 - July 1, 2015

RELIGION BAPTIST

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

The Reverend Lyndon Shakespeare Interim Priest

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

Foggy Bottom • Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW • Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 • Fax : 202-338-4958 Worship Services Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

Schedule of Services: 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 e-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Worship Sundays @ 7:30 & 11:00 A.M. 5th Sundays @ 9:30 A.M. 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 P.M.

Schedule of Service Sunday Service: 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ Drs. Dennis W. and Christine Y. Wiley, Pastors 3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax) SERVICES AND TIMES: SUNDAYS: 10:00 am AM 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.covenantbaptistdc.org

Dr. Henry Y. White

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Sunday Early Morning Worship - 7:45 a.m. Church School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship – 10:45 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday - Kingdom Building Bible Institute – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Prayer/Praise/Bible Study – 7:30 p.m. Baptism & Communion Service- 4th Sunday – 10:30am Radio Broadcast WYCB -1340 AM-Sunday -6:00pm T.V. Broadcast - Channel 190 – Sunday -4:00pm/Tuesday 7:00am

“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org e-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net

2498 Alabama Ave., SE • Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 • www.acamec.org 2008: The Year of New Beginnings “Expect the Extraordinary”

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

Sunday Worship Services: 8:00a.m. and 11:00a.m. Sunday Church School - 9:15a.m. & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30a.m. 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study - 10:00a.m. Tuesday Topical Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Children’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Thursday Men’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service - 6:30p.m. Saturday Adult Bible Study - 10:00a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00am Holy Communion – 1st Sunday Sunday School-9:45am Men’s Monday Bible Study – 7:00pm Wednesday Night Bible Study – 7:00pm Women’s Ministry Bible Study 3rd Friday -7:00pm Computer Classes- Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org

“The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

“God is Love”

Third Street Church of God Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202.347.5889 office 202.638.1803 fax Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: Wed. 7:30 p.m. “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

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 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 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

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

ST Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Dr. Raymond T. Matthews, Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews Sunday School 9:am Worship Service 10:am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service 6:45 pm Thur. Bible Study 7:15 pm

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor Service and Times Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Communion every Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Bible Study Tuesday 12Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Motto; “Discover Something Wonderful.” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE Washington, DC 20020

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

Rev. John W. Davis, Pastor 5101 14th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20011 202-726-2220/ 202-726-9089

TV Ministry –Channel 6 Wednesday 10:00pm gsccm.administration@verizon.net

Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Bishop

Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., • Pastor

Crusader Baptist Church

(Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., S E Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email:Campbell@mycame.org Sunday Worship Service 10: am Sunday Church School 8: 45 am Bible Study Wednesday 12:00 Noon Wednesday 7:00 pm Thursday 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out”

Holy Communion 4th Sunday 10:00am Prayer and Bible Study Wednesday 7;00pm

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Campbell AME Church

Sunday Worship Service 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday School 9:15am

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

Blessed Word of Life Church

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

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew, Assistant Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

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

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

Church of Living Waters

Sunday Church School : 9: 30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10: 45am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10: 45am themcbc.org

32 June 25 - July 1, 2015

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RELIGION BAPTIST

Shabbath Commandment Church 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com

Zion Baptist Church

All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. • Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

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

“Where Jesus is the King”

Israel Baptist Church

4850 Blagdon Ave, NW • Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 • Fax (202) 291-3773

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor Worshiping Location Knights of Columbus - 1633 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074 Order of Services Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am Sunday School: 9:00 am Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer / Bible Study: 6:15 pm - 7:20 pm (Tuesday)

2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Sunday School – 9:30 am Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 am Baptismal Service – 1st Sunday – 9:30 am Holy Communion – 1st Sunday – 11:00 am Prayer Meeting & Bible Study – Wednesday -7:30 pm

Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor

St. Luke Baptist Church

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

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

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

Sunday Worship Service 10:15AM- Praise and Worship Services Sunday School 9:00am Monday: Noon Bible School Wednesday: Noon & 7PM: Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission Zion Baptist Church Shall; Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, and Exalt Our Savior. (Acts 2:41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Sunday School: 8:30 A.M. Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Diane Dixon Proctor, Pastor 1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 lpumconthegrow@gmail.com www.lpumcdc.org Sunday worship 10: am Holy Communion first Sunday 10: am Sunday school 9: am Bible Study each Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30pm Motto: “A CHURCH ON THE GROW”.

Eastern Community Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Clinton W. Austin Pastor 2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Come Grow With Us and Establish a Blessed Family” Sunday Worship 7:30am & 10:45am Baptism/Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30pm Prayer Service Tuesdays – 8:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

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

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

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 p.m. Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 p.m. Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

9:30AM. Sunday Church School 11:00 Am. Sunday Worship Service The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Wednesday 7:00pm Prayer & Praise Services 7:30pm. Bible Study Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries 10:30am A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Christ Embassy DC

Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms, Pastor

2616 MLK Ave., SE • Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 • Fax 202-678-3304

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator

Early Worship Service 7:30a.m Worship Service 10:45a.m. New Members Class 9:30a.m. Holy Communion : 1st Sunday -10:45a.m Church School 9:30a.m. Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: Wednesday 7p.m Bible Study : Saturday: 11a.m. Baptism: 4th Sunday – 10:45a.m “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Sunday Worship Service 10:00 A.M.

Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 P.M Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 P.M Prayer/Seeking Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

New Commandment Baptist Church

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

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am and 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon and 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm

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

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

Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

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

Salem Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert SR. Pastor

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

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

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton, Senior Pastor

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Peace Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell

Sunday Morning Worship Service 7:15 am & 10:50 am Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:50am Wednesday Prayer & Testimonies Service 7:30pm Wednesday School of the Bible 8:00pm Wednesday - Midweek Prayer Service 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address pbcexec@verizon.net

Shiloh Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

1864-2014

Rev. Alonzo Hart Pastor

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Reginald M. Green, Sr., Interim Pastor

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

917 N St. NW • Washington, DC 20001 (202) 232-4294

9th & P Street, N.W. • W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4200

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

The Church Where GOD Is Working.... And We Are Working With GOD

Sunrise Prayer Services - Sunday 7:00 a.m.

Sunday Morning Prayer Service: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship: 10:40 a.m. Third Sunday Baptismal & Holy Communion:10:30 a.m. Tuesday Church At Study Prayer & Praise: 6:30 p.m.

Morning Worship: 8:00 a.m Church School : 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship: 10:55 a.m. Bible Study, Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting,Thursday : 7:30 p.m.

150 Years of Service

Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church” Matthew 6:33 and Mathew 28:18-20, KJV

Sunday Service: 10 am Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 am 1st Sunday Baptism: 10: am 2nd Sunday Holy Communion: 10 am Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 pm Prayer Meeting: 7:45 pm

Email: stmatthewsbaptist@msn.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

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

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45am & 11:00am Sunday school For All Ages 9:30am Prayer Services Wednesday 11:30am & 6:45pm Bible Institute Wednesday at Noon & 7:45pm “Changing Lives On Purpose “ Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org

www.washingtoninformer.com

The Washington Informer

Friday Evening Service 7:00 P.M. ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor

712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836

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

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 P.M.

3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Sunday Church School: 9:30 A.M. Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 A.M. Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 P.M. Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 P.M. Prayer Service Bible Study

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor 2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 Fax: (202) 529-7738 Order of Services Worship Service: 7:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30 a.m. & 10:30a.m. Prayer Services: Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 12 Noon Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

June 25 - July 1, 2015

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

Administration No. 2015 ADM 635

Administration No. 2015 ADM 631

Administration No. 2015 ADM 641

Administration No. 2015 ADM 616

Herbert Harrington, JR. Decedent

Francis Carroll Middleton Decedent

Ostein Wilder Hankins Decedent

Tilman L. Gerald, Esquire 1220 L Street, NW, Ste. 700 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney

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

Joseph Anthony Middleton & Maria Lisa Middleton, whose addresses are 5323 Tanner Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213 & 8150 Lakecrest Drive #108, Greenbelt, MD 20770, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Francis Carroll Middleton, who died on March 19, 2015 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 December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, 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.

Joseph M. Hankins and Eppie O. Hankins, whose addresses are 5401 20th Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20782 & 311 University Blvd. E., Silver Spring, MD 20901, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Ostein Wilder Hankins, who died on April 9, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, 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: June 11, 2015

Carol W. Jackson Personal Representative

Joseph Anthony Middleton Maria Lisa Middleton Personal Representative

Joseph M. Hankins Eppie O. Hankins Personal Representative

Lonice Janifer Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Carol W. Jackson, whose address is 7214 Norwood Pond Court, 25C, Midlothian, VA 23112, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Herbert Harrington, Jr., who died on April 18, 2015 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 December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2105, 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: June 11, 2015

Administration No. 2015 ADM 611 Jesse Lewin M. Shelton Decedent

Alma J. Miller Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lonice Janifer, whose address is 1301 Patriot Lane, Bowie, MD 20716, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Alma J. Miller, who died on October 23, 2013 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 December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, 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.

Larry C. Williams, Esq. 7600 Georgia Ave., NW #405 Washington, DC 20012 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Veronica M. Morris, whose address is 912 Varney St., SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jesse Lewin M. Shelton, who died on April 17, 2015 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 December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, 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: June 11, 2015 Veronica M. Morris Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

Administration No. 2015 ADM 000340

Administration No. 2015 ADM 648

Administration No. 2015 ADM 666

Administration No. 2015 ADM 655

Barbara Young Decedent

Wallace W. Wills Decedent

Mary F. Gordon Decedent

Evangeline S. Benson Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

Lawrence E. Rubin, Esquire 8404 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

H.A. Cramer, Esq. 1220 East West Highway #1011A Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

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

Ali P. Gordon, whose address is 14821 Lymington Circle, Orlando, FL 32826, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary F. Gordon, who died on April 17, 2015 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 December 18, 2015. 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 December 18, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Sandra Mitchell Ogunfolu, whose address is 2915 Mills Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Evangeline S. Benson, who died on October 6, 2005 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment 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 December 25, 2015. 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 December 25, 2015, 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: June 18, 2015

Date of first publication: June 25, 2015

Ali P. Gordon Personal Representative

Sandra Mitchell Ogunfolu Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Deborah D. Boddie, Esq., whose address is 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Young, who died on September 1, 2013 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, 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: June 11, 2015 Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

34 June 25 - July 1, 2015

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Angela W. Stembel, Patrice W. Reavis, and Estella A. Wills, whose addresses are Finale Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20901, 3703 Riviera St., Temple Hills, MD 20748 and 4114 Meade St., NE, Washington, DC 20019, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Wallace W. Wills, who died on April 8, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before December 11, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, 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: June 11, 2015 Angela W. Stembel Patrice W. Reavis Estella A. Wills Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Administration No. 2015 ADM 687 Obi Benedict Egbuna Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Bridget G. Egbuna, whose address is 3636 16th St. NW #8705, Washington, DC 20010, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Obi Benedict Egbuna, who died on January 20, 2014 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before December 25, 2015. 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 December 25, 2015, 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: June 25, 2015 Bridget G. Egbuna Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills

Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

The Washington Informer

Washington Informer

www.washingtoninformer.com

LEGAL NOTICES

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TURNER-LEE from Page 23 income. The federal government has nothing to do with the program’s administration. Companies like TracFone, one of the largest Lifeline-eligible telecommunications carriers, are responsible for consumer verification and implementation. Other critics point to waste, fraud and abuse as the pitfalls of the program, citing duplicate lines in one household or what one member of Congress recently described as “Lifeline cheats.” When a mainstream publication recently posted an article about the program’s re-

MALVEAUX from Page 23 a supportive force at national conventions. Still, Roland Martin was right to take her on regarding her silence around the way Dajerria Becton was brutalized. Truth be told, NOW should also be chastised for the many ways African-American women and our issues are ignored by the nation’s premier women’s organization. In the words of Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a woman?” Now the Treasury Department has agreed that a woman will be on the U.S. currency by 2020, and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is seeking input on which woman to use through a Treasury Department website. A self-described grassroots organization called Women on 20s delivered a petition to President Barack Obama in May, calling for a woman to appear on the $20 bill. Of the 600,000 people who signed the petition, the most people selected Harriet Tubman to appear

CURRY from Page 23 Several days after the rampage, Roof’s racist manifesto was discovered. In it, he said: “Anyone who thinks that White and black people look as different as we do on the outside, but are somehow magically the same on the inside, is delusional. How could our faces, skin, hair, and body structure all be different, but our brains be exactly the same? This is the nonsense we are led to believe. “Negroes have lower Iqs, lower impulse control, and higher testosterone levels in generals. These three things alone are a recipe for violent behavior …” Toward the end, he wrote: “I chose Charleston because it is most historic city in my state, and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to Whites in the country. We have no skinheads, no real KKK, no one doing anything but talking on the internet. Well someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world, and I guess that has to be me.” Some conservatives tried to make the shootings a gun issue. After sev-

form, the feature included a photo of a Lifeline beneficiary who happened to be a young, African-American single mother who uses her Lifeline phone to connect with her kids’ doctors. Her tattoos on her arm in the photo received more scathing attention that the actual focus of the story – some commenters even deemed her ineligible for the benefit since she could obviously pay for her body art. Unfortunately, these negative assessments and stereotypes of the program do more to fuel partisanship than a productive conversation on how the nation will reach the 80

million citizens who are not online. Pointing fingers is beyond the general intent and rationale for modernizing the Lifeline program. The millions of Americans who struggle with the daily choices between eating and starving or working and caring for an elderly parent should also not have to weigh the cost of broadband service against these critical needs. And, most importantly, these Americans require 21st century tools to participate in our robust and information-rich economy. In her remarks at a recent FCC meeting, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, one of the only Afri-

on the bill, with Eleanor Roosevelt being the second choice. Wouldn’t it be great if majority women’s organizations pushed for an African-American woman to grace our currency? It would certainly go a long way toward recognizing instead of ignoring black women. The United Nations has designated 2015-2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent. The theme of the decade is recognition, justice and development. The U.N. General Assembly has released a resolution that includes objectives and a program of activities for the decade. What if the media spent as much time on this as they have spent on a troubled imposter? To the extent that women of African descent around the globe experience similar histories and oppressions, such coverage could be informative and educational. Because African-American women are too often invisible (or underrepresented) in the media and elsewhere,

it is especially galling to watch the endless Dolezal coverage. Are African-American women only interesting when we are being portrayed by a confused wannabe black woman? What about the real black women? And what about asking African-American women what they think about this nonsense to get interesting perspectives on this sideshow? What about looking at the “passing” phenomenon from an African-American perspective (nobody knows how many African-Americans passed for Caucasian to gain access to opportunities, educational and financial, during the Jim Crow days)? If Dolezal’s chicanery is to be covered by the media, it ought at least be placed in context. Sojourner Truth said, “I have plowed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And aren’t I a woman?” Dolezal has neither plowed nor planted. Her hijinks should be ignored, not glorifiedWI

eral Fox personalities suggested that ministers arm themselves, Steve Doocy chimed in, “If somebody was there, they would have had the opportunity to pull out their weapon and take [the shooter] out.” But it’s not that simple. “Fox & Friends used a mass shooting at a South Carolina church to baselessly promote the carrying of guns as a solution to prevent such attacks – even though research indicates that civilians are more likely to harm themselves or someone else than stop a criminal when they have a gun, and there is ‘no evidence that arming civilians stops mass shootings,” observed mediamatters.org After conducting a five-month investigation, “Mother Jones” magazine concluded: “In the wake of the massacres this year at a Colorado movie theater, a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, we set out to track mass shootings in the United States over the last 30 years. “We identified and analyzed 62 of them, and one striking pattern in the data is this: In not a single case was the killing stopped by a civilian using a gun. And in other recent (but less

lethal) rampages in which armed civilians attempted to intervene, those civilians not only failed to stop the shooter but also were gravely wounded or killed. Moreover, we found that the rate of mass shootings has increased in recent years—at a time when America has been flooded with millions of additional firearms and a barrage of new laws has made it easier than ever to carry them in public places, including bars, parks, and schools.” Clearly, the rampage in Charleston was not about attacking Christianity or the need for more guns. It was about racism – an issue this country has always been reluctant to address.WI George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service and BlackPressUSA.com. He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his website, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/ currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook. See previous columns at http://www.georgecurry.com/columns.

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can-American leaders there, who began program reform just a year ago, stated that lifeline can “build a bridge for struggling Americans … a path that could aid in transporting consumers out of poverty and isolation, to connectivity and independence.” I think she’s right. It’s time to follow the lead of the agency and the heart of Clyburn and adapt the program to include

broadband as a choice for low-income consumers where traditional voice services no longer serve their original purpose – not because the people have changed but the world in which we live has. Such actions will make Lifeline just what it was and is supposed to be – “a lifeline,” a bridge to opportunities.WI

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downward spiral of counterproductive institutional inhumanity. Today there are literally millions of people who not only want to see changes in the criminal justice system but also are willing to join and support the emergence of a national “Criminal Justice Reform Movement.” Why am I encouraged now more than ever before about the potential to build and sustain an effective CJRM? The answer will probably surprise some of my colleagues in the civil rights movement. My columns for the NNPA have always been about speaking truth to power in the vein of Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Dubois, two historic publishers and leaders who knew the power of the print word and of the spoken word. Yet today we must also dare to speak the truth to ourselves. We must participate in helping to build this important reform move-

JEALOUS AND EADDY from Page 24 total, together they represented mothers, grandmothers, clergy, community leaders, coaches and college graduates. In short, they represented a devoted and beloved community in the best black church tradition. Their moment of reflection – each praying alone and in unison at once – was tragically cut short. Last Wednesday’s attack,

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which was motivated by racial hatred, was not the first time that the congregation of Mother Emanuel Church faced an outside force that simply could not abide the thought of its continued existence. Yet, the church still stands, and just one day after the tragedy, on Thursday afternoon, its congregation and the community joined hands for a powerful rendition of “We Shall Overcome.” In Hebrew, Emanuel means “God is with us” and

there is no doubt that God will remain with the congregation that has seen so much pain, yet so much triumph. Mother Emanuel AME Church will overcome and her spirit will be stronger still. Ben Jealous is Partner at Kapor Capital and former president and CEO of the NAACP. Jotaka Eaddy, a native South Carolinian and member of the AME church, is a political strategist and advocate and former senior advisor at the NAACP.WI

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tice reform for years. Yet many of my colleagues in the civil rights movement were relatively unaware of this fact. Reforming the criminal justice system is not a concern to be constrained to the left or to the right on the political spectrum. The respect for the moral dignity and wellbeing of every person, without the filter of race, class, religion or any other discriminating factor, is a paramount principle that has to be maintained in a society that strives to strengthen the inclusiveness of its democracy. The current social and political polarization concerning criminal justice reform is not healthy for our nation. What is healthy is the budding bipartisan reform movement that is now emerging. Now is the right time. Now is the right moment to raise our voices and join forces together to build and sustain the Criminal Justice Reform Movement.WI

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ment. We cannot afford to be silent or stand idle on the sidelines while others in earnest strive to make changes to a system that will ultimately determine the quality of life in our communities for generations to come. Thus, it is why without any hesitation that I am publicly stating my endorsement of the coalition building efforts of the American Civil Liberties Union, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Charles Koch Institute and Koch Industries, Coalition for Public Safety, Center for American Progress, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and other national and regional organizations that have committed to support various criminal justice reform efforts. I believe it is now a propitious time to work together to establish a national bipartisan reform movement. I was very interested and encouraged to learn that Koch Industries has been involved in the issues of overcriminalization and criminal jus-

“As a people, we are fighting to maintain the heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior colored race,” he said simply. The Civil War was not a Southern defense against “Northern aggression.” It was an attempt to secede from the United States in order to protect the slavery system. Period. “My family fought for the South in that war too,” writer Tim Wise posted in a social media forum. “And they were wrong for it. Every one of them. They deserved to be crushed, to have their way of life utterly and completely destroyed. And one can be a Southerner – a proud Southerner in fact – while saying that.” Strong words, right? “If your sense of Southern identity is so fragile, and your understanding of the South itself so limited as to require love for the Confederacy The Washington Informer

and some trans-generational connection to your great-great-greatgrandpappy Beauregard (whom you need to honor as if he were a hero, as opposed to the wretched racist patriarch he actually happened to be), you are truly the textbook definition of pathetic,” Wise said, pointing out that there are and were some Southern whites who showed true valor by refusing to salute the wretched Confederacy. “I am proud of those Southern whites in East Tennessee who so badly despised the Confederacy that they had to be forced to comply with secession at gunpoint, and those 30,000-plus white Southerners who deserted the CSA Army and its ignoble cause, and those Southern whites who joined the freedom rides and those Southern black folks who led the freedom struggle in Mississippi. “Those who believe the Confederate flag represents Southern heritage

have such a paucity of imagination as to boggle the mind,” Wise continued. “That government lasted for roughly five years. My people have been in the South for nearly 400, and black folks have been here longer than that. Confederates are not going to tell us who we are, nor what we’re about.” So, you see, it is possible to be white and to not succumb to the racist jibber-jabber that remains cloaked in anything but what it really is, and that’s a fundamental rejection of black people as even being considered people, let alone as people equal to whites. For me, the point is non-negotiable. If you embrace the Confederate battle flag, don’t let me know about it, because I have a nickname for you like the nicknames you sing about me in you fraternity-sorority songs: that name for you is “blue-eyed devil,” no matter what color your eyes may actually be.WI

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