The Washington Informer - May 11, 2023

Celebrating 58 Years -

Twenty-Three Years Later, Two Mothers Carry on Healing Journey

Easter Monday Shooting Survivor Harris “Pappy” Bates Credits Mother for Support

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

At the age of 34, Harris “Pappy” Bates continues to relish in the parts of his life that bring him joy, including his budding career as a security professional, moments spent with his fiancé and mother, and phone conversations with a teenage daughter in North Carolina who’s well on her way to adulthood. Even with life on the up and up, Bates admits that the events of April 24, 2000 often weigh heavily on his mind.

On that day, Bates counted among seven children who were shot at the main entrance of the National Zoo on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest at the culmination of Easter Monday festivities.

Just feet away from where Bates, his sister and cousins had been standing, two groups of youth were engaged in an altercation that turned violent when Antoine Jones, 16 years old at the time, let off several shots into a crowd. Bates, then 11 years old, suffered a

SHOOTING Page 44

CELEBRATING MOTHERS

Roberts Beats Odds to Raise Six Children Earns Degrees While Managing Family

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Many mothers will say that raising one child is a handful, but taking care of six that are close in age can be downright overwhelming.

But no one told that to Michelle Roberts, a District resident who has birthed a half-a-dozen children and did the best she could to raise them right.

“It wasn’t easy, but I did it,” Roberts, 42, said. “My oldest child is 23 years old and the youngest is six.”

In addition to raising her children on her

MOTHERS Page 45

Local Politician Provides Home and Hope for More Than 20 Children

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Bladensburg Councilmember Jocelyn Route, has more than 22 kids and six grandbabies– she carried three, ages 11, 9 and 17 months, of the about two dozen— but all of the children she FOSTER PARENT Page 44

“I started off when I was a student at How-

Celebrating 58 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

5 Mothers Union - Harris "Pappy" Bates (2nd left), son of Gillian Bates, (right) survived the 2020 Easter Monday Family Day shooting at the National Zoo. Tyrone Parker, (2nd right) united Bates and Linda Grimes-Jones, mother of Bate’s shooter, and supports their efforts to address gun violence in D.C. (Lafayette Barnes IV/Washington Informer)

5Michelle Roberts raised children, worked, and attended college and graduate schools simultaneously. (Shevry Lassiter/ The Washington Informer)

5 Bladensburg Councilmember Jocelyn Route (center) with her children, ages 17 months to 17 years old. (Courtesy Photo/ Jocelyn Route) proudly claims. For 14 years, Route has served as a foster parent to children in the DMV area– a role she stumbled into at the age of 22 and hasn’t looked back.

Join The Washington Informer Digital Subscriber List

Text INFORMER  to 22828 or scan QR Code

wi hot topics

National Nurses Week 2023

Happy National Nurses Week! What an exciting time of the year to highlight the tremendous risks, sacrifices and countless hours of intense care that nurses provide to patients and communities in need.

The celebratory week, started by the American Nurses Association Board of Directors in 1994, was created to honor nurses nationwide for their commitment to serving patients across the United States in their most vulnerable times, while encouraging organizations to highlight nurses, and the incredible impact they have throughout the week of May 6May 12.

Lately, the United States is seeing a significant decline among nurses across the country, who, particularly since the unprecedented health pandemic, have found themselves overworked, burnt out, and at times feeling extremely under appreciated.

According to a November 2022 U.S. News report,

since 2016 registered nurses 25 to 34 years old have accounted for the majority of the profession, but between May 2020 and May 2021, numbers in that group declined 5.2%. Accounting for the second-highest group, nurses 35 to 44 years old had an even larger decline of 7.4%.

Be sure to let those nurses in your life know that they are appreciated. Pick up a beautiful flower arrangement, or a kind gift to let the nurses know how much their service truly means to you!

WI

May Celebrates Older Americans

Since 1963 May has been designated as “Older Americans Month,” with this year’s theme, “Aging Unbound,” there is an opportunity for people and agencies that serve older people to explore a wide range of aging experiences. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the federal government agency also advocates the importance of everyone enjoying independence and fulfillment as they age. The White House also issued a proclamation for Older Americans Month.

The area is filled with special programs for older citizens.

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032

Phone: 202 561-4100

Fax: 202 574-3785

news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Jamila Bey, Digital Content Editor

Austin Cooper, Our House Editor

Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist

ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation

REPORTERS

Kayla Benjamin, (Environmental Justice Reporter) Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson

“At our agency, we celebrate older Americans like every day, and we remain committed to supporting older people in their pursuit to age the way they want and how they choose,” said Charon P.W. Hines, acting director for the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. Nationwide, ACL encourages people to change the narrative on aging. Loved ones can play an important role in projecting a different outlook for older people in

our lives.

For this 60th anniversary of the commemoration, older Americans are encouraged to consider finding a new passion, going on an adventure, and pushing boundaries by not letting age define limits. Other suggestions include remaining active by volunteering, finding “gig” work, mentoring, participating in social clubs, and taking part in activities at a local senior center or elsewhere in the community. In addition to seeking out programs at senior centers, see what is on the schedule at places of worship and hospital-based community programs. Follow Older Americans Months on social media using #OlderAmericansMonth. WI

Sheryl Lee Ralph Hosts Teacher Appreciation Week Town Hall

Teachers across the country who’ve watched ABC’s Abbott Elementary for two seasons have come to appreciate the timeless wisdom of veteran teacher Barbara Howard, played by Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Ralph recently took her solidarity to another level when she kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week with a town hall at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. The event on Sunday, May 7 allowed teachers to not only celebrate their work, but share the realities of the profession and speak about the support they need from community members, parents, students and policymakers.

Throughout the pandemic and since schools have reopened, teachers have been more vocal about conditions in the classroom. Such conversations have incited calls

for increasing teacher salary and providing teachers more flexibility and benefits.

On Sunday, National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President Anna King represented their organizations at the town hall, while Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, USA Today education reporter Alia Wong and Dr. Robert Dodd, principal of Walt Whitman High School also weighed in on the discussion.

Every year since 1984, PTA has designated the first full week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week. NEA also celebrates National Teacher Day on that Tuesday. While means of celebration vary this year, dialogue has increasingly pivoted to meaningful ways to support the teacher workforce, and in turn public education. WI

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

AROUND THE REGION

With Free Bus Program on Ice, District Residents Demand Other Budget Priorities Housing Insecurity and Substance Use Among Top Concerns

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Since the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) requested a one-year delay of the Free Bus program, elected officials and District residents alike have mulled over where more than $100 million in freed up funds would go, if not back to the K Street Transitway.

Some people, like the Rev. Graylan Hagler, continue to demand that the D.C. Council and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) focus on working-class District residents who are finding it harder to live comfortably in the city.

With the D.C. Department of Human Services’ point-in-time count showing a 12.1% increase in homelessness among families, Hagler said that discussions in the John A. Wilson Building must center on how to restore and increase funding for safety net programs.

Hagler went on to say that if residents don’t hold the council’s feet to the fire beyond attending hearings, policy decisions will continue to reflect an allegiance to developers. “The council and mayor are not in a place where they understand what’s being faced by working-class D.C. residents,” Hagler said.

“A streetcar line and Uber surcharge have nothing to do with working-class families," he added, referencing polarizing budget season discussions. " It’s time that people start thinking in terms of the working class and how you [send] resources for those families and individuals so they remain a valuable part of D.C.”

STALLED PLANS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IN OTHER WAYS

In a May 4 letter sent to Bowser and the D.C. Council, WMATA Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg cited a $500 million fiscal cliff, the disinvestment of the K Street Transitway and the board’s desire to engage Maryland and Virginia-based partners as reasons to delay the Free Bus program.

Smedberg however did mention the board’s interest in providing 24-hour bus service to 13 District-based bus routes.

Even so, D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), a champion

of the Free Bus program, described the WMATA Board’s actions as shortsighted and not in the best interest of public transit users.

In a statement, Allen expressed skepticism about Maryland and Virginia’s enthusiasm for the program. He also said that WMATA reneged on what they initially proposed to him as an addition to his Metro for DC proposal, through which Metro users have their Smartrip cards replenished every month.

On May 16, the D.C. Council will conduct its first vote on the fiscal year 2024 budget. After committee markups, the version the council will present looks different than what Bowser proposed earlier this year.

For one, D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At large) secured funding for his Baby Bonds program. The D.C. Council’s Committee on Housing, chaired by D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-At large), also fully funded legislation aimed at boosting the social worker and behavioral health specialist workforce.

Meanwhile, D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) collaborated to secure funding for a new library on 5th Street and Kennedy Street in Northwest.

With more funds on the table, D.C. residents want to see that the D.C. Council pays attention to quality-of-life issues.

In recent weeks, council members have hinted at other budget priorities. Lewis George and D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) recently attended a rally on the steps of the John A. Wilson Building hosted by the Fair Budget Coalition. Amid a contentious debate about matching Washington Teachers’ Union contract funds for the charter sector, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) has also been scheduled to speak at a rally hosted by advocates of equitable pay for charter school teachers.

Meanwhile, D.C. resident and housing advocate Lydia Curtis said that the District must dedicate more funds toward the reduction of public housing and Section 8 housing wait lists.

Curtis, who has organized for affordable housing with the Washington Interfaith Network for six years, said the funds freed up from the Free Bus pro-

gram could be used to increase staff at the D.C. Department of Human Services and D.C. Housing Authority to facilitate unhoused residents’ transition to permanent housing.

“With the numbers being as high as ever, there should be housing first, even for people who have other issues,” Curtis told the Informer. “The residents who use the various programs often find themselves facing homelessness again because the programs aren't long term enough."

INCREASING CALLS TO TACKLE OPIOID USE

Ward 7 resident and public health advocate Ambrose Lane, Jr. remains adamant about the need for an adult and youth opioid and substance use residential treatment center east of the Anacostia River. He lamented Bowser’s $9.5 million investment in the construction of a sobering center on Park

Road in Northwest.

While the D.C. Council’s Committee on Health expressed support for the sobering center, committee members stood in solidarity with residents in Wards 5, 7 and 8 who desire similar resources in their communities. They urged the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health to place the next sobering

center in one of those wards, and engage community stakeholders when choosing the ideal location.

Lane, chairperson of the Health Alliance Network, expressed views similar to the D.C. Council Committee on Health about the sobering center. WI Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

5 With the one-year delay of the Free Bus program, advocates and elected officials are considering where to allocate the freed up funds. (WI File Photo/ Anthony Tilghman)

AROUND THE REGION

facts

MAY 11 -17, 2023

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

tionists outside Anniston, Alabama. The occupants escaped the bus before it burst into flames, but was then attacked by a surrounding mob.

MAY 15

1820 – The U.S. Congress declares the foreign slave trade an act of piracy punishable by death.

MAY 16

1927 – William Harry Barnes becomes the first African American board-certified medical specialist.

1929 – Longtime Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) is born in Highland Park, Michigan.

1966 – Famed singer and actress Janet Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana.

1979 – A. Philip Randolph, a leader in the civil rights movement, the American labor movement, and socialist political parties, dies in New York City at 90. 1990 – Iconic entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. (below) dies in Beverly Hills, California, of throat cancer at 64.

STEVIE WONDER

MAY 17

MAY 11

1895 – William Still, "the Dean" of African American composers and the first to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, is born in Woodville, Mississippi.

1933 – Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, is born in New York City.

MAY 12

1955 – Chicago Cubs pitcher Sam "Toothpick" Jones nohits the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first African American in Major League Baseball history to pitch a no-hitter.

MAY 13

1888 – The South American nation of Brazil formally abolishes slavery.

1914 – Boxing great Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber," is born in La Fayette, Alabama.

1950 – Music legend Stevie Wonder is born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan.

1985 – A police helicopter drops a bomb on a Philadelphia row house occupied by MOVE, a Black liberation group founded by John Africa, during a standoff. The explosion killed 11 MOVE members and destroyed 65 neighborhood houses.

MAY 14

1961 – A bus containing the first group of Freedom Riders is bombed and burned by segrega-

1875 – African American jockey Oliver Lewis wins the first Kentucky Derby.

1954 – In the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that public school segregation is illegal.

1956 –Sugar Ray Leonard is born in Wilm ington, North Carolina. WI

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

TV personality Eboni K. Williams has sparked a robust social media debate about finances and relationships after commenting that she would only date a bus driver “if he owns the bus.” What are your thoughts?

BRYANNA GREENE / WASHINGTON, D.C.

I stand with Eboni. Stop tryna make women settle for struggle love. She’s a millionaire. The average salary of a bus driver is $55k. They wouldn’t be equally yoked. And most divorce lawyers are saying relationships where the woman is the breadwinner die faster. Yes, character matters, but money and wealth also matter when dealing with a wealthy woman.

ROHAN THOMPSON / NEW YORK, N.Y.

The problem isn’t so much what she said. It’s the meaning or the assumption behind it. She’s saying bus drivers and any hard-working job that doesn’t allow you to become “rich” doesn’t deserve her attention. Basically, she’s calling “middle-class” workers beneath her. She needs some humble pie if you ask me, but God has a way of always showing others the error of their ways.

ROLANDO SANCHEZ / LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

The owner of the bus company will likely be with someone he was with when he was moving up or will choose someone much younger, fit, and in the 8-10 category.

B. ANN / WASHINGTON, DC

Why are folks mad about her preferences? We all have them. Mine are different from hers, but I rather enjoy being single than lower my standards. I can do good all by myself!

ANITA PRESSLEY / WASHINGTON, DC

Because he owns the bus company doesn’t mean he is capable of loving you, sharing with you, foremost loves God and God fearing, trusting, compassionate, nonviolent, forming a commitment to you, bonding with you, and many other adjectives that describe his devotion to you. Without those things, you will never be happy and content. Money certainly can’t buy that because they are all priceless attributes.

“We Stand By Our Name”

Racine, Josey-Herring Honored by Black Legal Group

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

The chief of the District’s trial court and the former attorney general for the city were honored for their work in the legal profession by the predominantly Black legal organization Washington Bar Association (WBA).

D.C. Superior Court Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring and Karl A. Racine, who served as the District’s first elected attorney general from 2015-2023, jointly received the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit for contributions they have made throughout their legal careers. The pair received their honor—in the form of medallions—at the WBA and Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation, Inc., Annual Law Day Dinner that took place at the Watergate Hotel in Northwest on May 6.

The WBA was founded in 1925 because Black attorneys weren’t allowed to participate in the activities of the bar association. One of the co-founders was Charles Hamilton Houston, the first Black to serve on the Harvard Law Review and served as the dean of the Howard University Law School, where one of his pupils was future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American appointed to that position.

Each year, the WBA honors attorneys and judges for their accom-

plishments and awards scholarships to promising African American law students. The president of the WBA is Dionna Marie Lewis.

The awards were presented to the pair by D.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby. In receiving her award, Josey-Herring talked about her efforts to improve the court system for people who need to utilize it.

“I became chief judge at a difficult time, during the pandemic,” she said. “Before the pandemic, we had 10,000 people a day at the courthouse. We had to switch from people coming down to the courthouse to conduct business to doing it virtually.”

Josey-Herring said presently anyone who needs to come to court can do so virtually as an option or opt to come in person. She said substantive matters must be done in-person.

Josey-Herring said she has a picture of Houston in her chambers. Racine talked about the influ-

ence his mother had on his career and life. He said while as attorney general, he talked about Houston and his legal philosophy nearly everyday while serving in the office. He said the Houstonian principles are needed as African Americans continue to face challenges to full equality.

“Every time we make progress as a people, we should anticipate a backlash,” Racine said. “We should prepare for it. There are still dark forces still against Blacks today.”

The winners of the Charles Hamilton Houston Scholarships were Howard University second-year students Crystal Bush, who won $3,500 and first-year Nigel Johnson, who got $5,000.

Johnson thanked the WBA Foundation for his scholarship and noted that his great grandfather was Dr. Mordecai Johnson, the first Black president of Howard University.

WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Karl A. Racine served as the District’s attorney general from 2015-2023. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

CORNER

Check Out the "2023 Can I Kick It?" Movie Schedule

By WI Bridge Staff

Yo, D.C.! Get ready for the outdoor movie vibes this summer as DowntownDC BID and Shaolin Jazz team up to bring the fire to Franklin Park. With seven dope flicks lined up and DJ 2-Tone Jones bringing the heat with live hip-hop and jazz scores, this is the place to be every Thursday night from June 1 to July 13.

CHECK OUT THE 2023 CAN I KICK IT? MOVIE SCHEDULE:

June 1: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (PG-13)

June 8: Mission: Impossible (PG-13)

June 15: The Goonies (PG)* (bring the lil’ ones for extra fun!)

June 22: The Hunger Games (PG-13)

June 29: Everything Everywhere All at Once (R)

July 6: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (PG-13)* (another fam night!)

July 13: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG-13)

Slide into your spot at 7:30 p.m. and vibe with guest DJs before the movie starts at sunset. While you’re there, grab some free swag (while it lasts) and score discounts at Pow Pow nearby. WI

Read the full story on wibridgedc.com or scan QR code.

AROUND THE REGION

The Newsletter

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

– Stevie Wonder

Who’s Reading the Informer?

Art Cobb, Russell O'Neal Carter, and Trey Brewer read the Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love, and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”

The DC Chamber of Commerce Small Business and Economic Development Summit, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced on May 9 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center that four businesses have been selected to receive a total of $600,000 through the Locally Made Manufacturing Grant program. The four grant recipients include EatsPlace, ZJ Liquors LLC, Union Kitchen, and iConiq Style. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Litigation Stalls Replacement for Fresh Food Grocer, ANC Commissioner Says Months after Good Food Markets Closes, Bellevue Still without Grocery Store

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Over the last few months, the residents of Ward 8’s Bellevue neighborhood lost both Good Food Markets and Curbside Groceries food trucks as viable sources of fresh produce within walking distance of their homes.

However, they may soon again have a neighborhood grocery store at 4001 South Capitol Street SW.

According to those familiar with the situation, how soon depends on how quickly Michaels Development Company, the owner of 4001 South Capitol Street SW settles a legal matter with Good Food Markets.

During a recent ANC 8D meeting, ANC Commissioner Jacqueline Kinlow (8D01) recounted her conversation with Mario Molano, regional vice president of Michaels Development. She said that Michaels Development won’t consider any new bids for a fresh food grocer until Good Food Markets pays a utility bill of $21,000.

In her commissioner report, Kinlow also mentioned Michaels Development changing the locks to 4001 South Capitol Street SW upon finding someone producing a podcast in the empty space earlier this year.

In the weeks leading up to the April 27 ANC meeting, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) had been in the midst of finalizing a deal between Michaels Development and a new fresh food grocer, whose identity has yet to be revealed.

Last week, Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) confirmed to the Informer that, since March, the search had been narrowed down from three bidders to one.

Around that time, Michaels Development had been in discussions with Phil Sambol, the owner of Good Food Markets, about completing Good Food Markets’ transition out of 4001 South Capitol Street SW. Meanwhile, Market Fresh Gourmet, a Black-owned fresh food retailer with locations in Baltimore

and Prince George’s County, had also been vying for the space.

Kinlow said that conversations with Lenny Knight, co-owner of Market Fresh Gourmet, revealed that Knight and his colleagues had been making attempts to contact Michaels Development with little success.

In expressing her interest in bringing Market Fresh Gourmet to Bellevue, Kinlow said that the mystery around the transition of tenancy at 4001 South Capitol Street SW has perturbed her constituents and residents of other single-member districts in ANC 8D.

"People in my neighborhood have an interest in buying food and seeing a full-fledged grocery store,” Kinlow said. “We want an operating grocery store, however big or small. It's unclear about the food trucks so that doesn't leave the residents with a lot of confidence. There was a lot of fanfare with the opening and now you leave us hanging."

Neither Good Food Markets nor Christopher Earley, regional vice president of Michaels Development, responded to The Informer’s request for comment.

In the fall of 2021, Good Food Markets opened on South Capitol Street in Southwest, near Atlantic Street, during an event that attracted more than 100 people. An $880,000 grant to South Capitol Improvement, LLC from the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund supported the launch of

Good Food Markets. Those funds also brought forth a 225,000 square foot development that included Community of Hope primary care clinic, office space leased to D.C. Department of Human Services and 190 affordable and supportive housing units.

Good Food Markets counted among various efforts made by the Bowser administration to increase fresh food access east of the Anacostia River.

Through the Food Access Fund, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has dedicated nearly half of the $73 million invested to food businesses east of the Anacostia River. Other mechanisms to increase fresh food access in Wards 7 and 8 include grants, tax credits, low-cost loans, regulatory incentives, and a Grocery Store 25 Percent Class A License program through the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration.

Officials said they anticipate having 70,000 more residents in Wards 7 and 8 living within walking distance of a healthy food source through the launch and expansion of local food businesses. However, Bellevue residents said they haven’t experienced the fruits of such labor. A little over a year after Good Food Markets’ grandiose opening, the fresh food grocer stopped serving fresh produce.

WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

5 4001 South Capitol Street SW, the former site of Good Food Markets (Shedrick Pelt/ The Washington Informer)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Prince George’s Updates

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

BLEGAY ADVANCES LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS NURSEPATIENT RATIOS

Last Tuesday, Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay (D) hosted a press conference inside Largo’s Wayne K. Curry Administration Building to build support for her legislation to reduce nurse to patient ratios, which was advanced later that same day. Blegay, who has served as legal counsel to the DC Nurses Association, originally introduced this legislation in March.

Over a dozen advocates were present

to support Blegay at her press conference. Several were members of SEIU 1199, a union primarily composed of healthcare workers. Signs to “Support Safe Staffing” and “Save Lives” sat behind the podium as she discussed the legislation.

“We are talking about nurse-patient ratios in Prince George’s County. We have a healthcare crisis here. We are lacking the professional staff. We are standing next to a hospital that has been full since the day it opened due to a lack of staffing,” said Blegay to open her press conference. “This is about quality healthcare. If you give an ICU nurse more than one patient, that could cost someone their life. Our nurses are overworked, and we cannot have that

in Prince George’s County.”

Oriadha thanked Blegay for her advocacy on this issue, and noted her years of advocacy even before becoming elected. “Nurses are the frontline of service in healthcare. This is life or death, plain and simple.”

Lauren Reichard, a healthcare worker who attended the conference in her scrubs, noted the importance of full staffing to give all patients the best care they can receive. “People are going outside of Prince George’s and Maryland

to get medical care,” she said. She wants legislation to lower nurse to patient ratios across the board, and she fully believes that “Safe staffing saves lives.”

Blegay’s legislation would authorize the Board of Health, run by the Prince George’s County Council, to collect data on nurse-patient ratios, submit findings to the County Council and report said findings to state legislative leaders such as Governor Wes Moore (D) and Speaker Adrienne Jones (D) to use Prince George’s County as an example of how to reduce nurse-patient ratios. According to a hospital review, the average wait time in a Maryland emergency room (three hours and 48 minutes) are the longest wait times in the nation.

SEARCH COMMITTEE SEEKS INPUT FOR NEXT PGCPS CEO

In late April, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) held a town hall meeting at Charles H. Flowers High School to provide input on the next PGCPS CEO as the current CEO Monica Goldson, will be leaving the school

system at the end of this school year. She was joined by a Search Committee comprised of State Board of Education Member Brigadier General Warner Sumpter, retired educator Arethra Bridgewater-Simms and former Hyattsville Mayor Candice Hollingsworth, who has a child in the school system. “We are excited to have this outstanding team to pick the best leader for our public schools," said Alsobrooks.

The first attendee to speak was Jason Gordon, a 19-year employee of the school system and graduate of PGCPS who has two students in the school system himself.

“I want to thank Dr. Goldson for her leadership during unprecedented times. As we look forward to the future, the next leader needs to be a creative coalition builder who can gather the masses of staff and lead us into the next era– creative with a vision for academics and safety,” he said. Gordon cited East Baton Rouge Superintendent of Students Dr. Sito Narcisse and Millcreek Township Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts as outside examples of what to seek in the next CEO. He also recommended Dr. Charoscar Coleman, who currently works in PGCPS as the Associate Superintendent of Supporting Services.

Over a dozen area residents provided testimony on what they want in the next school CEO. Former School Board Member Belinda Queen, Glenarden Mayor Cashenna Cross and advocate Phyllis Wright were some of those present. Attendees estimated about 100 residents were present, significantly fewer than participated in a tele-town hall only a few days prior.

“This is an important position. I’m disappointed to see so few residents in attendance,” said Queen at the beginning of her two-minute testimony. “This is for our children.” WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

Alsobrooks Officially Announces, Joins Jawando and Trone In Senate

Primary, Raskin Mulling Bid

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) posted a video announcing her run for U.S. Senate and plans to hold a rally tomorrow with supporters on May 9. If elected, she would be the first Black woman

elected to the U.S. Senate from Maryland and join the three Black U.S. Senators currently serving: Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock (D), New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (D) and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R). The Senate seat will be vacant as

ALSOBROOKS Page 17

5 Council Vice President Blegay hosted a press conference prior to a vote last week on a bill to address nurse patient ratios. The bill was advanced. (Courtesy Photo: Richard Elliott/Washington Informer)

James Wright / WI Staff Writer

BUSINESS briefs

PR. GEORGE’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM BREAKFAST

Looking for an opportunity to be part of the conversation on economic growth in Prince George’s County? Look no further!

The Prince George’s Economic Development Breakfast will take place on May 18 at the Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland starting at 9 a.m. This is your chance to join the conversation on the local economy and the future of the county.

Whether you are a business owner, community leader or simply a concerned citizen, your input is valuable in creating a thriving and sustainable economic environment.

For more information, call 301731-5000. WI

DOEE GIVES GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES

The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, announced $346,597 in awards to small and local entities under the Small and Accessible Sustainability Grant Program.

In its second year, the program provides funding to small, new and historically excluded entities working to help meet the District’s environmental and sustainability goals in three categories: ditch the disposables, donation and reuse

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS –AUDITING SERVICES

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (Agency) is seeking contractors to provide auditing services for the Agency. The contractor shall have a minimum of 3 years’ experience with state, local government, or nonprofit housing finance agencies with assets of $500 million and/ or related experience with mortgage and commercial banks, with assets exceeding $500 million, that have substantial activity in the origination and servicing of single family and multifamily mortgage loans.

Preferences are given to the District’s Certified Business En-

and urban agriculture.

“The collaboration between DOEE’s Urban Sustainability Administration and Watershed Protection Division and the Chesapeake Bay Trust has created an innovative model to reach businesses and community organizations that have long faced barriers to assessing government funds,” said interim DOEE Director Richard Jackson. “Initiatives like these support our agency’s equity goals and work to empower smaller District entities to reach our Sustainable DC and Zero Waste DC goals.”

Eight projects for a total of $173,843 in grants including funds for Metropolitan AME Church in Northwest and The Fresh Food Factory located in the Anacostia Arts Center in Ward 8 in Southeast. Seven projects received a total of $59,674 including Common Good City Farm in Northwest. Building Bridges Across the River in Southeast in Ward 8 was a part of the projects receiving a total of $113,080 in grants. WI

BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Black Women are the fastest growing demographic of entrepre-

neurs in the U.S., but are the most underrepresented when it comes to wealth accumulation.

To accelerate collective efforts to remedy the gap, The Greater Washington Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Center is hosting a virtual listening session on May

companies. The detailed RFP can be found at www. DCHFA.org/business-opportunities or send email to procurement@dchfa.org. Deadline for submission of proposals is June 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets $50.00-One ticket) Three tickets $125.00) Five tickets $250.00). The more tickets purchased the greater the discount! Drawing held at National Harbor, June 30, 2023 @ 3:pm (est.) at McKey’s Piano Bar 172 Fleet Street Oxon Hill, Md. Not necessary to be present to win. Live Streaming of the drawing. For all information www.blackonblackunity.com

(PUBLIC RELATIONS Page).

Someone iS going to win thiS car!!!! it could be you!!!! Sponsor: PJ’s

18 at 6 p.m., specifically focused on aspiring or experienced Black women business owners in the Greater Washington area. We are reimagining our programs to ensure that your voice is at the center of our design. Allow this program to help you go further faster by removing barriers along the journey. This is a Black women-only event. Call 202-792-2435. WI

VERIZON 10K SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

Whether you are a new business or growing your existing firm, sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, to access educational resources, coaching, community networking, free online business courses, and a marketplace of specially curated tools, products, and services.

Grant applications are now open. Awards are in the amount of $10,000. To apply for the current round of grant funding, create an account for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online, complete any combination of two courses, coaching and community events and submit your application by May 12.

For more information visit: verizon.com.

WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Building Bridges Across the River was one of the recipients of a $14,320 grant from the DC Department of Energy and the Environment in partnership with the Chesapeak Bay Trust. The award was a portion of the $346,497 total grant awards under the Small and Accessible Sustainability (SAS) Grant Program, and will be used to expand the irrigation system at THARC Farm. (Courtesy photo/ DOEE Facebook)

Ward 8’s Kinlow Helps to Steer D.C. Chamber of Commerce

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

The chair of the board of the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce realizes that she must represent the interests of every business in the city, but makes it clear that her home, Ward 8, will receive special attention.

Earlier this year, Tonya Vidal Kinlow, a resident of Ward 8’s Bellevue neighborhood, was announced as the board chair of the District chamber. Kinlow, who works as a vice president of community engagement, advocacy, and government affairs for Children’s National, said serving as the chair is an honor.

“I have been an active member of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce for many, many years,” Kinlow, 61, said. “I have particularly worked on the government affairs committee. I look forward to taking on this leadership role representing the en tire D.C. business community.”

KINLOW’S GOALS FOR THE CHAMBER

As a resident of Bellevue, Kinlow said she wants to see the chamber expand its reach to her ward and the adjacent Ward 7.

“I would like to see the chamber support the business es that are there more, as well as those who operate east of the river,” she said. “I am going to make sure that it takes care of my backyard.”

In concert with supporting east of the Anacostia River business es, Kinlow will work to get them to join the chamber and seek to have

some of its activities take place in the area. She said as a part of her duties to represent business interests before the D.C. Council and the Executive Office of the Mayor, she will incorporate their concerns into the organization’s agenda.

“We are working on how to increase networking among our small businesses and listening to our business owners to see how we can better serve them,” Kinlow said.

Kinlow realizes the chamber has a reputation among some people as operating for the benefit of large corporations. Nothing could be further from the truth, she said.

“We have a diversity of membership,” she said. “Of our 1,100 members, 20% consists of large corporations, 20% are mid-size businesses and 60% are small and

local firms. Of the 60%, 40% are minority owned. Large corporations are important because they pay their dues due to their size. However, small businesses are the heart of the D.C. Chamber.”

Kinlow understands that many entrepreneurs are busy running their businesses and often do not have time to participate in the chamber’s activities. She said the

organization has made allowances for that.

“We have an email communications system that keeps our members updated,” Kinlow said. “Many of our events are planned far in advance so members can make plans to attend them. Members can participate in a wide range of committees, and they can call in if necessary to attend these meetings. Through

PUBLIC NOTICE

Jameel Care LLC dba Jameel Care is applying for a Certificate of Need for a Home Health Services Agency. A Letter of Intent will be filed with the DC State Health Planning and Development Agency. For additional information, contact the SHPDA at 202442-5875.

our ChamberWorks program, we are also working to keep our members engaged by introducing them to our programs.”

Kinlow said the chamber wants businesses of all sizes, wherever they are in the city, to use it as a resource and be a good corporate citizen.

“We want to create space for businesses to thrive,” she said. “We are all looking after one another.” WI

It’s May! Mother’s Day is coming!

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq.

I have been receiving calls regarding the best way to moms as they are aging lately. My mother passed away several years ago and I wrote an article in 2014 about the lessons I learned from her estate. That article received the greatest feedback as many people were living the same lessons. Having a mother and being a mother creates a reality for legacy planning from two perspectives.

For those of you with aging parents, we need to think about how to best support them as they age. We should be mindful of what are legal support systems that need to be in place to aid and support them. Some of our parents may have had the legal documents in place such as Powers of Attorney for years. We should encourage our parents to review those documents to confirm that the agents that have been nominated are still able and willing to serve. We should confirm the status of the relationship. Some people are in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. This is a good time to review that reality. As time passes, the relationships change as well as the health and wellbeing of the agent. In addition, while proximity may not be essential to be able to serve, it may be a preference. As people continue to move around the world, we should confirm whether proximity to serve is an issue.

In addition, we must look at the existing strategic estate plan from a variety of positions. We should review if the plan that is in place, assuming there is a plan in place, continues to meet the goals as established. In many cases, there is a change in circumstances that provides a need to make a change. If we are facing diminished physical or cognitive capacity, we should begin to plan for resources to manage the change. If there is a change in financial capacity, we should begin to address those concerns. An estate plan is a dynamic document that should be adjusted to meet the needs of the author.

As a mom we need to be mindful of caring for our children. If we have minor children, we should have in place the selection of the appropriate person to serve as the guardian, if both parents are unable to care for the children. The nomination of a guardian is always challenging as we want to be here as the children grow into adulthood. Yet, we should pray for the best and plan for the worse case scenario. A strategic plan to provide support for your children that is guided by your wisdom and values is vital.

The guidance should be coupled with the clarity of expectations and structure of available resources based upon your children’s capacity. We have an opportunity to build a support system for our children that will facilitate their achievement capacity while encouraging them to pursue their dreams and goals to be great community contributors.

As a mother and a daughter, the Life & Legacy Firm was created to support mothers (and fathers) to support their loved ones, parents as well as children. We are honored to work with you to build that dynamic plan.

5 Tonya Kinlow (Courtesy photo)

How Recent Banking Collapses Might Affect Black Financial Institutions

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Many are concerned about the future of banking for African Americans and where they keep their money considering the impending debt limit crisis that threatens America’s fiscal status globally and the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature, and First Republic banks.

In March, SVB was the first to fail

as rising interest rates lowered the value of the bank’s holdings.

After a tumultuous weekend after SVB’s demise, Signature Bank ultimately shut down due to an overwhelming demand for withdrawals.

With their demise, America avoided the largest bank failure since 2008, when Lehman Brothers’ collapse triggered the Great Recession.

After this month’s seizure of First

Republic by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), financial experts have officially declared a banking crisis.

And following the adage, “When America catches a cold, Black people get pneumonia,” Black-owned banks could be unintentional victims of the United States’ current banking crisis.

Dominic Mjarten, CEO of Optus Bank, a Black-owned bank formed by Black leaders in 1921, expressed great worry to Yahoo News about the impact on the community bank system.

While it might not necessarily be a crisis for Wall Street, it’s a major problem for Main Street, he said.

The FDIC reported that, of the more than 5,000 U.S. banks, just 25 are Black owned.

Based on experience, Mjarten explains, “When we have any hiccups, or any challenges in our financial system, underserved communities feel the impact first and recover last.”

Mjarten said Optus Bank is feeling the pressure since consumers are nervous about their money and are switching banks.

In effect, the funds have already left the areas Optus supports.

“It’s migrating over to larger institutions that are not as equipped to serve some of the smaller, underserved parts of our economy that we are,” Mjarten said.

Forbes adds that the failure of banks, especially Silicon Valley Bank, which dealt with roughly half of all U.S. technology firms funded by venture capitalists, will have immediate and long-term effects on the Black entrepreneurial environment.

“Even though Black entrepreneurs receive less than 0.5% of all venture dollars invested in the U.S., the fallout from SVB could have greater consequences for them,” Forbes wrote.

Experts agree that in order for Black business owners to be competitive in a wide range of industries, they need access to capital.

But, Teri Williams, president of the Black-owned OneUnited Bank, told the Washington Informer that African Americans shouldn’t lose any sleep.

“If you go to our website at OneUnited.com/FDIC, you’ll see a great article on this point,” Williams said.

“If you have $250,000 or less in the bank, you can sleep well because your money is safe,” Williams exclaimed. “If you have a joint account, it’s insured up to $500,000.”

She noted that the FDIC insures all deposits up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for joint accounts. Further, “if you have more than one bank account, you can look for ways to increase FDIC coverage,” she stated.

“In the case of the banks that

failed, they are very different institutions,” Williams explained.

“The average deposit at Silicon Valley Bank was $4 million. They had deposits of up to $500 million. There really was a lack of appreciation for the need to have multiple bank accounts or talking to your banker about whether you have FDIC insurance,” Williams said. “If you like your bank, there are ways to get additional coverage. The FDIC insurance protects 90% of our community, so we don’t have to worry about failures. You are protected.”

This week, President Joe Biden proclaimed that the nation’s banks are safe.

“Americans can have confidence that the banking system is safe. Your deposits are safe. The taxpayer will bear no losses,” the president declared. “Managers of these banks will be fired. Investors in these banks will not be protected.”

Williams offered further distinction from the 2008 collapse to the latest failures.

She said Black-owned banks wouldn’t be allowed to manage the way others have. “We are regulated, some would say over-regulated, so this is not our problem,” Williams posited.

“This also isn’t 2008, when we had a mortgage crisis. There isn’t a mortgage crisis today. If you own your home today, it’s probably worth more than when you bought it,” Williams added.

“In 2008, people paid more than their homes were worth, banks have tremendous capital today, and we are better regulated and managed than anything you saw in 2008.” WI @StacyBrownMedia

5 The FDIC reported that, of the more than 5,000 U.S. banks, just 25 are Black owned.( Courtesy Photo/ Bill Branson, Wikimedia Commons)

Jury Finds Donald Trump Sexually Assaulted Columnist

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

As the battery and defamation trThe long and humiliating path to ignominy for Donald Trump continued when a jury in New York found the twice-impeached and presently criminally indicted former president liable for sexually assaulting author E. Jean Carroll.

The jury, which awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, also deemed Trump liable for defaming the writer when he publicly discredited her claims.

In a minor victory for Trump, the jury did not determine that he had raped Carroll.

The trial lasted approximately one week in Manhattan, where a grand jury indicted Trump last month on more than thirty criminal counts related to alleged hush money payments he made to cover up a sexual relationship with porn star Stormy Daniels.

ALSOBROOKS from Page 12

incumbent Senator Ben Cardin (D) officially announced his retirement on May 1 after decades in state and national politics.

Alsobrooks was first elected as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney in 2010, replacing now-Congressman Glenn Ivey (D). Alsobrooks served two terms as State’s Attorney, and later became the first woman to serve as Prince George’s County Executive. Her tenure leading Prince George’s has focused on economic development, new school construction and managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alsobrooks has hired Dave Chase as her Campaign Manager, who recently served as Campaign Manager for Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan’s U.S. Senate run. Following the election of Governor Wes Moore, it will be seen if his blueprint to electoral success can be replicated.

Montgomery County Congressman David Trone (D) and Montgomery County Councilman At Large Will Jawando have also announced as candidates. After enduring chemotherapy for five months, Montgomery County Congressman Jamie Raskin (D) said in a recent TIME

Trump was the first former president to be criminally indicted.

Congress impeached him twice during his presidency, an unprecedented disgrace in American history.

Carroll, a well-known columnist, alleged that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at the Bergdorf Goodman department store.

Trump slandered Carroll by denying the allegation, indicating she fabricated it to boost book sales and claiming she was not his type.

Trump has denied all the allegations.

Under the New York Adult Survivors Act, enacted in May 2022, survivors of sexual offenses may file a civil complaint against a perpetrator for damages even if the statute of limitations has expired, so long as they can also demonstrate that the offense qualifies as a sex crime.

Carroll’s legal team presented 11 witnesses in seven trial days, including the author herself.

article that he will make a decision by the end of May. Both Alsobrooks and Jawando supported Moore early in his gubernatorial campaign, but it remains unclear if Moore will support any particular candidate.

After five months of chemo, I am taking the month of May to seriously investigate the 2024 election, the Senate, the House, and the role I can best play in Democratic victory and progress in the country,” Raskin said Maryland’s senior senator announced today that he will not be running again for the seat he has held for nearly two decades, leaving a rare vacancy for the Senate position.

Cardin first won his Senate seat in 2006 in a contested primary against Baltimore Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D). He played a large role in establishing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that kept many businesses afloat during the earliest stages of COVID-19.

“It’s been the honor of my life to represent the people of Maryland in the General Assembly, as Speaker of the House of Delegates, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and now in the United States Senate,” Cardin said in his statement. WI Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

Earlier in the trial, the jury viewed portions of Trump’s October 2017 videotaped deposition for this case.

Trump vehemently denied Carroll’s rape allegations, claiming they were baseless and that he did not know her.

In addition, he asserted that Carroll was not his type and had the right to disparage women who falsely accused him.

During the trial, former news anchor Carol Martin testified that Carroll confided in her immediately following the incident.

Martin informed the jury that the two friends had finished recording their respective programs and that Carroll had requested to visit Martin’s home close to the studio.

Martin stated that Carroll was “agitated” during their hour-long conversation in her kitchen.

Carroll’s “effect was anxious and agitated, but she can be that way on

occasion, so it wasn’t all that unusual, but what she was saying initially made no sense.”

Martin recalled that Carroll began her story by saying, “You won’t believe what happened to me the other night.”

Martin reported that Carroll told her she did not wish to report the incident and urged her to remain silent.

However, Martin stated that she

regretted advising her friend and colleague not to report the incident, although Carroll had disclosed the alleged rape to another associate.

Martin testified, “I am not proud; this is what I told her.”

“I’m here because I want to reiterate and remember what my friend E. Jean Carroll told me 27 years ago. I believed it then, and I believe it today.” WI @StacyBrownMedia

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0008-2023

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE DCHA JOB ORDER CONTRACTING (JOC) PROGRAM

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires Professional Consultant Services for DCHA’s Job Order Contracting (JOC) Program.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, May 8, 2023 on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”.

SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, June 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM.

Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

5 From left to right: Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll, Carroll's then-husband, John Johnson, and Trump's then-wife, Ivana Trump, at a celebrity event in 1987. (Courtesy Photo/ Wikimedia Commons)

A Help Button Should Go Where You Go!

5 U.S. officials have in recent months engaged in talks with officials in the Central African Republic, Chad, Rwanda, Burkina Faso (seen above) and the Democratic Republic of Congo to share U.S. intelligence related to Wagner. | (Courtesy Photo/ Sophie Garcia, AP Photo)

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

To Counter Russia in Africa, Biden Deploys a Favored Strategy

As Russia’s paramilitary organization, the Wagner Group, expands its presence in African countries, the Biden administration is pushing back with one of its prized tactics: sharing sensitive intelligence with allies in Africa in an attempt to dissuade countries from partnering with the group, Politico reported on Sunday, May 7.

The administration has used this tactic with increasing frequency, including in the months leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It serves the dual function of alerting allies to looming threats and placing adversaries on notice that the U.S. knows what they’re doing.

Now, those tactics are being deployed as part of a broader push to prevent Moscow from gaining an economic and military foothold in countries in Africa, including those that have previously worked with Washington, according to interviews with four U.S. officials with knowledge of the effort.

The U.S. has in recent months shared intelligence related to an alleged Wagner plan to assassinate the president of Chad as well as its attempts to access and control key natural resource extraction sites in countries such as Sudan and the Central African Republic, among other initiatives.

The aim is to highlight for African officials how working with Wagner is likely to sow chaos in the long term despite its promises to bring peace and security to countries facing political turmoil and violence, the officials said.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment on the administration’s strategy. The National Security Council also declined to comment.

Russian officials did not respond to POLITICO’s request for comment about Wagner’s connection to the state or its activities in Africa.

The escalation of the administration’s information sharing comes after more than a year of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow. The war in Ukraine has pitted the two countries against each other, with the U.S. providing billions in weapons to Kyiv and Russia continuing to launch attacks on Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

The recent sharing of intelligence on Wagner highlights how the standoff between the U.S. and Russia extends beyond the battlefield in Ukraine to Africa, where Biden officials say Russia is using Wagner as a proxy to strike deals and help make inroads on behalf of the Kremlin. And it underscores the degree to which the Biden administration believes Wagner — and the Kremlin— pose a long-term threat to U.S. interests on the continent. WI

Overwhelming Response to Barbados First Fully Digital Bank

The newest commercial bank in Barbados is on a mission to ensure that all Barbados residents have access to a bank account, escape high bank fees and earn higher interest rates on deposits, Barbados Today reported on Saturday, May 6.

5 Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Bank (Barbados) Limited George Thomas and Chief Client Officer Lee-Anne O’Selmo. (Courtesy Photo)

According to Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Bank (Barbados) Limited George Thomas and Chief Client Officer Lee-Anne O’Selmo, the fully digital bank has been receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from Barbadians since starting operations on March 9.

“We had a lot of people coming and asking to open accounts. So far, we have seen a steady flow of clients onboarding on a daily basis, a certain number of accounts being opened on a daily basis,” O’Selmo told Barbados Today in an interview on Friday.

She said in addition to making it easier for young people to have a bank account, Sagicor Bank was keen on helping to raise the level of financial literacy among Barbadians.

Thomas added that while Sagicor Bank was presenting itself as an additional option for Barbadians, some customers were going as far as moving their money from other financial institutions.

Sagicor Bank, which hired 45 team members, offers a range of products and services, including several savings accounts, a deposit account which is equivalent to a checking account, credit and debit card and loan services, bill payment and transfer options. WI

May 2023 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

to supporting you in your pursuit to age the way you want and how you choose. We offer a range of programs and services designed to help you live independently, stay active and engaged in your communities, and maintain your health and well-being. From our nutrition programs that provide healthy meals to homebound seniors to our senior wellness centers that offer social and recreational opportunities, we are dedicated to helping seniors live their best lives.

And living your best life includes celebrating it.

This Older Americans Month, we are hosting several events that we would love for you to join us in:

• Tuesday, May 2: Tune in to my live radio interview with Stoddard Live! on WYCB 1340 AM to kick off Older Americans Month!

er Americans Month Health Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lamond Recreation Center, at 20 Tuckerman Street, NE.

• Thursday, May 25: Join our Ward 7 and 8 lead agency, East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, for an Older Americans Month celebration, A Taste Around the World, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eritrean Cultural and Civic Center, 2154 24th Place NE.

• Friday, May 26: Join our Ward 5 and 6 lead agency, Seabury Resources for Aging for an Older Americans Month celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson Street NE.

• Wednesday, May 31: Join us

as we partner with the Department of Parks and Recreation to host Senior Fest, Believe the Hype. This annual event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gateway Pavilion, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.

This month and beyond, I encourage you to age unbound and live boldly. Please connect with us by calling 202-724-5626 or visit-

ing one of our senior wellness centers or community dining sites to engage with us and other older adults in your community. Whatever you choose, we are here to support and empower you. Thank you for all that you do for our city and enjoy Older Americans Month!

Sincerely,

Charon P.W. Hines

Dear Seniors,

As we enter the month of May, I am pleased to acknowledge and celebrate Older Americans Month. This annual observance is a time to honor the contributions of older adults to our society, and to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities that come with aging.

This year’s theme, “Aging Unbound,” highlights the freedom and independence that come with growing older. It is a reminder that aging is not a barrier to living a full and vibrant life, but rather an opportunity to embrace new experiences and pursue new goals.

At our agency, we celebrate Older Americans like you every day, and we remain committed

• Friday, May 5: Attend our Asian and Pacific Islander Senior Center’s Aging Unbound Fashion Show at 10 a.m. at the Cambria Hotel, 899 O Street NW.

• Tuesday, May 9 at noon: Join our Ward 3 lead agency, Iona Senior Services, for Bingocize, powered by Home Care Partners, at St. Alban’s, 3001 Wisconsin Avenue NW.

• Wednesday, May 10: Attend our first in-person Senior Ambassador Training since the pandemic began! The training will take place at our headquarters, 500 K Street NE. For more information, please visit https://2023ambassadortraining.splashthat.com.

• Thursday, May 18: Join our Ward 1, 2, and 4 lead agency, TERRIFIC, Inc. for their Old-

DIRECTOR

CHARON P.W. HINES

This year’s theme, “Aging Unbound,” highlights the freedom and independence that come with growing older. It is a reminder that aging is not a barrier to living a full and vibrant life, but rather an opportunity to embrace new experiences and pursue new goals.

HEALTH

Biden Administration Launches New Initiatives to Tackle Mental Health

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

As Mental Health Awareness

Month continues, the Biden-Harris administration has upped its push to help all who might struggle with various battles.

Becerra has put forth new initiatives from the Biden-Harris Administration to expand access to mental health resources and support.

FindSupport.gov and the HHS Children and Youth Resilience Challenge are two initiatives that will increase access to health resources and support for those ad-

dressing mental health issues, Becerra declared.

Earlier, the president and vice president created a mental health program to help people deal with

suicidal thoughts.

In addition, they set up a 998 hotline that individuals can call when they are in crisis.

The launch of FindSupport.gov will assist Americans in identifying available resources, researching various treatment options, and learning how to seek the assistance they require for mental health, substance abuse, or alcohol-related issues.

According to Becerra, FindSupport.gov is a user-friendly online resource that assists people in navigating common questions at the beginning of their journey to better behavioral health, such as how to ask for help, how to help others, and how to search for a healthcare professional or support program that meets their needs.

The site helps people find treatment and support based on their insurance situation, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans Affairs health care, TRICARE, private insurance, or no insurance.

Officials stated that it shows how to set up an appointment, helping people ensure they take the proper steps before seeing a

healthcare professional.

The HHS Children and Youth Resilience Challenge will provide $1 million in funding for innovative community-led solutions to promote resilience in children and youth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters and to promote positive strategies to help children and youth thrive.

The President’s Unity Agenda and Mental Health Strategy acknowledge the Resilience Challenge, a product of the HHS Behavioral Health Coordinating Council Subcommittee on Children and Youth, and advance the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration.

“Thanks to President Biden, we are finally and seriously saying to anyone struggling with their mental health, support is here,” Becerra stated.

“I am proud that we are changing how mental health is viewed in this country because mental health is health.”

“At HHS, we will continue tackling our nation’s mental health crisis by increasing understanding of the challenges people are facing, decreasing stigma associated with these challenges, and improving access to support by better integrating it inside and outside the health care system.”

HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm said the administration has created a “bold vision of integrated, equitable, and accessible behavioral health care.”

Further, Palm stated that these initiatives are part of HHS’ commitment to realizing that vision and ensuring that everyone receives the support needed.

“I started my career in behavioral health, and I know the real, tangible difference these initiatives can make.

“HHS will continue to advance the policies and resources necessary to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans.”

WI @StacyBrownMedia

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier

5 The Biden-Harris administration has introduced new tools to fight mental illness. (Alex Green/Wikimedia Commons)

D.C.’s Trees Prevent Over 270 Million Gallons of Stormwater Runoff, Report Shows

By Kayla Benjamin Climate and Environment Writer

When heavy rains hit the District, the stormwater often sweeps through the city. It can cause flooding in residential and commercial areas while also picking up grime from the pavement that ends up as pollution in our rivers.

One of the city’s most vital defenses against the flow of water might just be standing in your yard or along your street. Urban trees soak up 276 million gallons

of stormwater runoff annually in D.C., according to a Climate Central report released May 3.

Trees’ ability to absorb water will become even more important as climate change causes the D.C. region to experience increasingly common and severe heavy rainfall events.

“As we are seeing more and more historic storms happen more frequently, and we are looking for more ways to become resilient, trees have just continuously showed up as this natural solution,” said Beattra Wilson, assistant director of the Urban and Community Forestry

program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Climate Central report, titled “The Power of Urban Trees,” lays out the numbers showing just how effective that solution really is. In addition to analyzing the amount of stormwater runoff trees absorbed in 242 different U.S. metropolitan areas, the report looked at how much air pollution trees prevent and how many tons of carbon pollution—which causes climate change—they remove from the air.

TREES KEEP US HEALTHIER IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Over 2 million trees grow in the District. They absorb about a million tons of air pollution every year, according to the new report. That includes several pollutants that have proven harmful to peoples’ health, like fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone.

In addition to reducing air pollution, trees contribute to public health in cities by keeping neighborhoods cooler. They

help reduce the “urban heat island effect,” which causes places covered in pavement and other human-made materials to get significantly hotter than surrounding areas.

Even within a city’s boundaries, neighborhoods with less vegetation and green space experience higher temperatures than leafier neighborhoods. Because of the racist legacy of redlining, historically Black neighborhoods in the District and nationally tend to experience much hotter temperatures than wealthier, whiter areas.

Climate change will cause hotter summers with more frequent heat waves. The health impacts of those high temperatures—such as heat strokes, which can be deadly—disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.

Wilson said that rising global temperatures should make planting and maintaining urban trees in minority and low-income neighborhoods a high priority.

“When it comes to heat conditions, as we know with the climate changing, these communities are only getting hotter,” she said. “So there is a sense of urgency.”

The federal government dedicated $1.5 billion for urban and community forestry in the Inflation Reduction Act last year. That funding was part of the law’s wider efforts to invest in promoting environmental justice and reducing climate change.

Urban trees help cities cope with the impacts of climate change, such as high temperatures and increased rainfall, and they also help prevent climate change to begin with. The Climate Central analysis reported that D.C.’s trees take in about 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, preventing those emissions from entering the atmosphere, where they would contribute to climate change.

DATA ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS TREES IS PUBLIC AND EASY TO ACCESS

To inform its report, Climate Central used a public database created by the USDA Forest Service. Unlike a lot of environmental information collected by the federal government, data about trees and their benefits is available to the public and easily accessible. A suite of digital tools called i-Tree pulls tree inventories, local air pollution and meteorological data into searchable, easy to use format. WI Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

5 A graphic created by Climate Central using data from the U.S. Forest Service i-Tree County Tool.

For Black Folk, ‘Green Jobs’ Are the Key to a Prosperous Future

By Bria Overs Word in Black

Black Americans’ relationship with nature is rich and complex. It’s the foundation of Black folks’ history, stretching back over 400 years.

And Jerri Taylor, director of diversity in career pathways at Project Learning Tree, knows this well. She is the first Black American in a leadership role at the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, one of the largest organizations focused on environmental education, forest literacy, and green career pathways.

Being involved in environmental work might be in her DNA. It turns out Taylor’s own great-grandfather is known as a “hidden figure” in agriculture.

During the 1930s, Berea “Burrie” Corbett was considered one of the largest Black landowners in the South. Corbett owned a 1,300-acre tobacco farm — made possible by $40 worth of gold coins he received from his parents.

His land was an important underpinning for the Cedar Grove community in North Carolina.

“I just knew that farming was something we did to survive and live, but I didn’t even know I could have a job in this,” Taylor said.

With the generational wealth Corbett amassed, he went on to build the first school for Black children in his community. He also founded a community center for at-risk teens and established a church.

Through her work diversifying the forestry sector, Taylor found out that half of her family members had jobs in this field.

Exclusion from access to national and local parks and community pools evolved into a myth that Black people don’t belong amongst nature. Now, as more “green jobs” are created to support environmental injustice and the fight against climate change, Black folks are missing out on opportunities to be part of the solution for their own community.

They’re also missing the positive economic effects of potential good-paying careers that can help close the racial wealth gap and create generational wealth.

THE ‘GREEN JOBS’ DIVERSITY PROBLEM

One expectation of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the addition of nearly 1.5 million jobs each year for the next 10 years. Many of these jobs are focused on rebuilding vital infrastructure, advancing environmental justice, and tackling the ongoing climate crisis.

As it stands, Black people are largely missing from sectors that seek to work on the projects created by the bill.

Environmental Entrepreneurs, also known as E2, reported that “clean energy has a diversity problem.” In 2021, they found that only 10% of workers in the overall energy sector were Black. In the fossil fuel industry: 9%, and in clean energy: 8%.

Meanwhile, white people account for 74% of the overall energy sector, with Hispanics/Latinos at 16%, Asians at 7%, and both Native Hawaiians/ Pacific Islanders and Native Americans at 1% and 2%, respectively.

Energy is not the only sector where huge gaps in employment are found.

As of 2020, Black folks represent less than 4% of conservation scientists and foresters, according to Data USA.

Project Learning Tree reported “green jobs,” like a sustainability manager, have an average salary of $179,500, while an environmental educator has an average salary of $50,900. Both typically require a degree from a four-year college.

However, there are many jobs that don’t require higher education or only require vocational education.

‘BLACK FACES IN GREEN SPACES’

Fixing the diversity problem is one of a few goals for BlackOak Collective, an environmental community for Black advocates, professionals and students.

“It’s incredibly important for the organizations receiving and granting the money to think about how do we not only create jobs, but how do we do workforce development that ensures Black people are getting placed in those jobs,” Kiera Givens, executive director and co-founder of BlackOak Collective, told Word In Black.

Givens said it’s critical “that Black

communities are receiving investment that’s done in a really thoughtful and meaningful way.”

The organization recognizes that Black communities are often the first to feel the effects of climate change. To get more Black folks seats at the table, they’re focused on recruitment, retention, and innovation.

Sharing opportunities with one another is a perk to being a member of BlackOak Collective’s free membership group.

Givens said this industry has a low retention rate for Black people, partly because “they’re not finding that sense of community and belonging.” But they’ve seen success with retention through professional networking and mentorship.

To make it easier for Black people to enter the profession, earlier this year the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Project Learning Tree, and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences released a resource guide, “Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers.”

The guide features personal stories from 22 Black people who found their passions in forestry, and offers advice for those interested in exploring careers in forestry and conservation. It was largely produced by Black consultants, designers, photographers, and writers.

Taylor said one goal of the guide was to change the narrative so that Black youth have the opportunity to see themselves in these careers that are often not considered traditional for the community.

“When we worked on this project, we didn’t ask a question about mentorship,” Taylor said. “Every single person spoke about having a mentor because it opened their eyes to this path even being an opportunity.”

While making the guide, Taylor explained it was important to highlight for parents that these jobs exist and that their children could make self-sustaining money from them.

“Your [child] does not have to like the outdoors,” Taylor said. “But they can contribute to their community in positive ways.”

WI

ABOUT

Digital Intersections continues

The Phillips Collection’s long tradition of working closely with living artists, and engaging with communities locally, nationally, and internationally to make our collection, programming, and opportunities accessible to all.

TIMELINE

Submissions portal open: Through June 9, 2023

For questions, please contact digitalintersections@phillipscollection.org

Five selected works will be on view for a minimum of three months, published on the Phillips’s website and YouTube channel, and shared on the Phillips’s social media. Selected artists will also receive an honorarium of $1,000.

The Phillips Collection invites digital media artists living in or connected to neighborhoods in Wards 7 & 8 in Washington, DC, to submit multimedia work to be part of the Digital Intersections series.

5 Jerri Taylor, director of diversity in career pathways at Project Learning Tree. (Courtesy photo/Project Learning Tree - Derrick Turner)

EDUCATION

State Board Presses for Significant Changes in Education Governance

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

For years, students, parents, teachers and community members, oftentimes out of frustration, have testified before the D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) about a bevy of education-related issues, many of which fall outside of the state board's purview.

This phenomenon has, in part, inspired the formation of an SBOE Board Governance Committee.

For two years, this committee collected and shaped what has come to be known as the Education Governance Report. Nearly two months after the report’s release, SBOE members say they want the D.C. Council to act on recommendations

outlined in the document. If brought into fruition by the D.C. Council, the SBOE’s recommendations could change the dynamics of SBOE’s relationship with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), D.C. Public Schools

FITS YOUR life

With

(DCPS), D.C. Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) --- all agencies that control aspects of the District K-12 education experience.

“The one thing we were solving for was how to make our family experiences more positive and equitable. That was the grounding question," said Eboni-Rose Thompson, Ward 7 SBOE representative and SBOE president.

In the Education Governance Report, SBOE provided six recommendations.

Recommendations included giving SBOE the authority to initiate policy, amend policies brought on by OSSE, and request and acquire data from OSSE, DCPS, DCPCSB, and DME. SBOE also requested that it be authorized to approve school openings, closings and locations and elevate education-related issues.

In the report, the SBOE also requested that it receive notification of education policy changes along with explanations from education agencies about their compliance, or noncompliance, with SBOE requests.

Other recommendations championed by SBOE center on the creation of a central hub under the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education and the Office of the Student Advocate that tracks the progress of community members’ education-related concerns.

SBOE has also requested the creation of a citywide board that oversees DCPS operations and facilities.

“It’s long overdue [that]we revisit our governance structure given that we had changes like charter schools in the 1990s and mayoral control in 2007,” Thompson said. “We’ve taken some time to learn about experiences with the city and you need

people to share those experiences and draw conclusions."

LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES PUSH BACK

SBOE is scheduled to discuss the transmission of the Education Governance Report to the D.C. Council during a working meeting on May 10. The Education Governance Report represents a culmination of surveys and focus groups conducted with mostly underrepresented residents in the education realm about their experiences navigating the local education system.

Focus group participants designated quality of education, frequency of testing, bullying and mental and behavioral health support as the main education concerns. Participants also expressed a lack of awareness about the functions of agencies within what had been described as an overwhelming system education. According to the Education Governance Report, participants sought clarity on agencies to contact for specific issues and more of a streamlined approach to communication.

In a March letter, Deputy Mayor Paul Kihn, State Superintendent Christina Grant, DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee and DCPCSB Executive Director Michelle Walker Davis expressed concern about SBOE’s recommendations. They said the recommendations would “disrupt and destabilize” the work done under 15 years of mayoral control in the realms of high school completion, pre-school enrollment, and educational investment.

Other qualms addressed in the letter centered on what had been described as a lack of clarity around problems in the education system and the sample size of less than 1,200 to represent an education system that serves hundreds of thousands of young people.

The only recommendation where the education officials and SBOE aligned concerned the formation of a centralized website or education governance hub within the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education and the Office of the Student Advocate.

DCPS and DCPCSB didn’t respond to the Informer’s request for further comment while a DME spokesperson referred to the aforementioned letter. Though the Informer communicated with an OSSE representative, OSSE didn’t send comments before the filing of this story. WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Ward 7 Representative SBOE President Eboni-Rose Thompson (Courtesy photo)

Campaign for Public Library on Kennedy Street Enters New Stage

DCPL Officials Still Concerned about In-Person Library Usage, Financial Health of the System

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

As the D.C. Council moves closer to funding the construction of a new public library along the Kennedy Street corridor in Northwest, some people, like a Brightwood resident who asked to be identified as Ms. Smith, continue to express excitement about what’s to come for toddlers, students and other community members.

In years past, gun violence and drug-related activity along Kennedy Street have been topics of discussion among Brightwood residents and law enforcement officials.

That’s why Smith, a longtime Brightwood resident, said she welcomes such a project as a means of attracting more positive activity on Kennedy Street. She said a new library also helps people who’ve often had to travel more than a mile to check out books, print out documents, and use wifi to complete

homework and search for jobs.

“Some young people might not [want to] walk down South Dakota Avenue to Lamond-Riggs Library/ Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library or down Kansas Avenue to Petworth Library so [a library on Kennedy Street] is one way of engaging them,” Smith said while also mentioning Takoma Park Neighborhood Library as another option that's out of proximity for Brightwood residents.

“I think libraries also bring more positive adults to the neighborhood,” she continued. “It was a real surprise to hear about [the possibility of] the job training center [because] libraries are crowded with people looking for jobs. They have kept people up to speed on their tech skills.”

COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE SECURES A WIN

During the D.C. Council’s committee mark-up process for the bud-

get, The D.C. Council’s Committee on Facilities and Family Services, chaired by D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), transferred $5 million in capital funds to the Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, chaired by D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8).

Those funds were allocated toward the acquisition of a building on or near Kennedy Street through eminent domain for the construction of a new library. An amendment subtitle also prohibits the use of funds to close, relocate or replace Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Library.

Earlier this year, Brightwood residents pushed back against a proposal to relocate Juanita E. Thornton Shepherd Park Library to Walter Reed, saying they wanted to keep the library in its current location. Another concern centered on the relocation still not meeting the needs of Brightwood and Manor Park residents seeking a neighborhood library.

As Lewis George continued to lobby D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to include a new Ward 4 library in her fiscal year 2024 budget proposal, Brightwood residents testified before the D.C. Council Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs in support of the idea.

Bowser’s budget proposal ultimately didn’t include funding for a new library. In the end, it was the cooperation of Councilmember White, a fellow native Washingtonian, that sealed the deal for Brightwood residents in the end, Lewis George told the Informer.

“[Councilmember White and I] know what it’s like to be in a community that’s underresourced,” Lewis George said. “Kennedy Street has been identified as an Opportunity Zone. We want people on Kennedy Street to have the same resources [as other places].”

WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

5 D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) secured $5 million in capital funds for the purchase of a building on or near Kennedy Street in Northwest that will be turned into a new Ward 4 library. (Shedrick Pelt/The Washington Informer)

* Citi Mortgage Relationship Pricing A Citibank deposit account is required to receive the interest rate discount or closing cost credit. Automated monthly transfers of the mortgage payment from a Citibank Deposit Account using automated drafting will be required. Actual interest rate discount or closing cost credit will depend on the level of the Citi Eligible Balances, which will be verified after final loan approval.

Deposit Account Balances must be in the account five (5) Business Days following final loan approval and Investment Account balances must be in the account six (6) Business Days following final loan approval. Citi eligible accounts include a personal, consumer Citibank Deposit Account in which the borrower is a direct signer, Citibank IRAs, and Investments held in linked Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”) accounts. The borrower must be an account holder on investment accounts. IRA and annuity positions shown on linked CGMI Account statements are eligible (except tax qualified annuities under sections 401, 403, or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code). Balances from Citibank Business / Commercial accounts, ERISA accounts, Keogh accounts, Bank Collateral accounts, Foreign accounts, Fiduciary accounts, and Trust accounts where the borrower is only listed as the Beneficiary are excluded. All Custodial type accounts are excluded with the exception of Custodial IRA accounts through Citibank or Pershing LLC where the borrower(s) is the beneficiary, which are eligible unless otherwise noted. Citibank IRAs that are not linked to a Citibank Deposit Account are excluded.

The closing cost credit offer will be applied at closing and may not be used prior to closing. In Texas, the credit may not result in you receiving cash back.

$1 – $49,999.99 $500 off closing cost

$50,000 – $199,999.99 1/8% (0.125%) off interest rate

$200,000 – $499,999.99 1/4% (0.250%) off interest rate

$500,000 – $999,999.99 3/8% (0.375%) off interest rate

$1,000,000 – $1,999,999.99 1/2% (0.500%) off interest rate

$2,000,000 or more 5/8% (0.625%) off interest rate

If you are interested in Citi’s banking account relationship offers, please contact your Home Lending Officer or Mortgage Representative. Speak to your loan officer about whether the relationship offer is best for you.

Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing for Citibank account holders can only be applied prior to loan closing and is subject to account and balance validation. Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing is subject to change without notice.

Glossary of terms for this offer: Business Day means Monday through Friday and does not include federal holidays; Eligible Balances means total funds showing in the account at the time we verify the balances less any funds we determine you will need for a down payment or closing costs; Deposit Account means a Citibank personal checking and/or savings account as well as certificates of deposit and money market accounts; Investment Account means IRAs and investments held in Citigroup Global Markets Inc. accounts.

Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, offers, products and services are subject to change without notice at any time. Offer may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice. Offer cannot be combined with other offers, except when applied with specific Community Lending Programs. Offers are not applicable on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit. This is not a commitment to lend.

NEWSPAPER READING IS A HABIT

DON’T BREAK THE HABIT!

Mental Health, Nutrition, and Wellness SeekingPeaceandBalance AmongTheFray

READ THE WASHINGTON

INFORMER YOUR WAY:

n In Print – feel the ink between your fingers of our Award Winning Print Edition

n On the Web – www.washingtoninformer.com updated throughout the day, every day

n On your tablet

n On your smartphone

n Facebook

n Twitter

n Weekly Email Blast – sign up at www.washingtoninformer.com

202-561-4100

For advertising contact Ron Burke at rburke@washingtoninformer.com

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100

Fax: 202 574-3785

news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

The Spring season is a sublime and often fruitful time of the year. The warmer weather, extended daylight, blooming flowers, and seasonal recreation all bring a significant jolt to our mental, and physical health. It is a season whose natural elements inspire a deeper sense of clarity within self, a reset on our health resolutions, and putting forth action behind our smaller goals, and immense dreams.

Personally, there is so much about the change of season, and rebirth of nature, that brings me to life just a little more. My journey of working to strengthen my overall health, learning to maintain a better peace of mind, and carefully navigating the world around me played a major role in the vision for this month’s health supplement edition. May is nationally dedicated to the observance of Mental Health Awareness, and this month we would like to present our audience with a few gems of critical information, helpful advice, and support to encourage self-awareness, while empowering our readers to better master their overall health.

...Informing you everyday in every way

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Jamila Bey, Digital Content Editor

Austin Cooper, Our House Editor Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation

REPORTERS

Kayla Benjamin, (Environmental Justice Reporter) Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson

At times, we all find ourselves losing grip and lacking a stable sense of control, particularly when considering our mental health, nutritional balance, and physical wellness. Over the past year alone, we have seen this play out in numerous ways within our communities and beyond. Respiratory illnesses, cancer diagnoses, and food insecurity rates causing undernutrition, for example, have all become increasingly prevalent issues across the D.C. Metropolitan area alone. Likewise, metropolitan cities and even suburban communities across the United States are seeing an influx of chaos at the hands of exasperated, anguished, and at times, outright mentally unstable populations of people. Long-term effects of the unprecedented health crisis of COVID-19, the dangers of a growing opioid epidemic, and a city riddled with crimes are truly symptomatic of numerous mental health, dietary, and emotional imbalances that have long rested beneath the distress.

Published in this month’s health supplement, our writers have contributed thoughtful pieces of content highlighting various aspects of mental health, nutrition, and wellness. From multiple angles of how mental health challenges can afflict our communities, to nutritional tips for better eating and health, and literary suggestions to further empower your mind, and wellness choices, the Washington Informer presents to you our May Health Supplement with tons of love, light, and embrace. We wish that you all stay safe, healthy, and most importantly, stay inspired through the process.

Warm Wishes, Lindiwe

Vilakazi WI Health Writer

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

5 Lindiwe Vilakazi

Activities Planned to Help Protect America’s Mental Health

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

America’s mental health has reached a crisis, and with the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, efforts to raise the conscience of Americans are taking place nationwide.

The Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security partnered with the Office of the D.C. Auditor to evaluate the data available to quantify the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health across the District of Columbia.

In the study released on April 23, researchers identified more than 50 datasets related to behavioral healthcare service needs, supply, and demand at the local, regional, and national levels.

Experts also found a notable increase in mental health diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic in D.C.

The researchers concluded that investments in behavioral health data systems could lay the foundation for early solid warning systems to identify crises and target responses across all levels of the behavioral system.

“Given the wide range of patient needs, care providers, and services offered, layered analysis and interventions are needed to understand ongoing and emergent needs related to behavioral health in the District,” the researchers determined.

“Accordingly, stakeholders involved in response need access to timely, publicly available data to inform these efforts.”

Meanwhile, experts note that mental health challenges like eating disorders have also increased.

According to a recent JAMA report, “a common misconception is that eating disorders affect a specific type of person: the

Our strength comes from the experience and knowledge of our volunteers,” she said.

Activists noted that Mental Health Awareness Month has received recognition since 1949, with advocates and practitioners across the country working to spread awareness.

Mental health screenings and other activities that support healthy lifestyles are planned throughout the month.

Also, advocates have continued efforts to reach more people with suicide prevention information and interventions nationwide.

media’s portrayals are not always accurate.”

In the United States, the organization said eating disorders already affect 28.8 million people, and those aged 12 through 25 comprise 95% of cases.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) reported that eating disorders are severe mental and physical illnesses affecting “all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.”

These disorders have the second highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders, surpassed only by opioid use disorder, NEDA officials stated.

“Twenty million women and 10 million men in the United States will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives,” said Sarah Chase, VP of Communications for NEDA.

“Moreover, a recent report in JAMA found that 22% of children and adolescents worldwide, or onefourth of young people, showed disordered eating.”

According to Chase, NEDA’s website has seen an 89% increase in traffic this year, and millions of Americans use the organization’s resources each month.

She said 81% of those visiting their site are new information seekers.

“Our chatbot and helpline have seen significant uptake this year, and we continue to offer vital screening tools for people who think they may have an eating disorder and want more information,” Chase stated.

Further, Chase noted that, in 2023, NEDA officials would appear in more than 50 communities across the United States, bringing hope and building strength.

“We’re here to ensure everyone has access to the support they deserve.

This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will celebrate with its “More Than Enough” campaign.

Throughout the month, NAMI invites all to share with the organization on social media thoughts on why individuals are “more than enough” by tagging @NAMICommunicate and using the hashtag #MoreThanEnough.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold — no matter our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background,

or ability,” NAMI officials said in a release.

“We want every person out there to know that if all you did was wake up today, that’s more than enough. No matter what, you are inherently

We're in Your Corner

People

worthy of more than enough life, love, and healing. Showing up just as you are, for yourself and the people around you, is more than enough.”

WI @StacyBrownMedia

5 Researchers concluded that investments in behavioral health data systems could lay the foundation for early solid warnings systems to identify crises and target responses across all levels of the behavioral health system/ Damilareadeyemi via Wikimedia commons

The Recent Health Crisis Shed Light On The Social Drivers Of Health:  Now What?

By Jasmin Saville RN, MPH, MSSW

One of the many valuable lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic is that preparation for health-

care emergencies requires much more than most of us imagined. The scarcity of essential resources during the pandemic was a wake-up call. News media outlets reported the stories of front-line workers forced to put themselves at risk and vaccine shortages at clinics in economically challenged areas. In addition, as many suddenly discovered that their houses were too small to accommodate multiple family members simultaneously working and learning from home, the necessity of accessible public parks and green spaces became more apparent.

A strong Wi-Fi connection and an adequate data plan enabled many families to connect with doctors and stay current on their children’s academic progress. Food and transportation were also radically altered as increased demand and diminished supply catalyzed community organizations to develop clever solutions to help meet the needs of their communities.

Accessibility to treatment and care; job stability with livable wages; access to safe green spaces close to your home; food security and grocery stores with well-stocked shelves; reliable transportation are just some of the social factors that impact physical health and well-being.

At the height of the pandemic, many struggled to access vital resources due to shortages in supply—healthcare systems were stretched to the limit with increased demand. Now that President Biden has officially ended the public health emergency, healthcare providers are gradually increasing services to meet pent-up demand.  Organizations like Amerigroup DC are helping Medicaid enrollees address the needs they care about most when it comes to being well in a holistic way.

As the COVID-19 outbreak shifts from a pandemic to an endemic, many government emergency resources and relief funds have run dry, leaving some grappling with unequal social drivers. The results have nega-

tively affected the health and wellness outcomes for people on Medicaid and Medicare.

The disruptions of the pandemic meant that many people were not able to see their doctors for scheduled check-ups, treatments, and services. In the aftermath of the pandemic, it is crucial to re-establish that schedule of annual checkups, vaccinations, and dental and vision appointments.

The pandemic taught us many things. We know more than ever how critical it is for Amerigroup DC to continue to collaborate with community organizations to address the underlying social needs that prevent people from being healthy.

And we also learned how having reliable healthcare coverage is essential.

If you are a Medicaid recipient, don’t miss out on important information. If you haven’t already, take time today to update your address,

At the height of the pandemic, many struggled to access vital resources due to shortages in supply — healthcare  systems were stretched to the limit with increased demand.

phone number, and/or email address at districtdirect.dc.gov so that DHCF knows where to send your Medicaid renewal letter. If you need additional help, you can call the Public Benefits Call Center at 202-727-5355. n

Jasmin Saville is Whole Health Director for Amerigroup DC

AN UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINE HELPS SAVE LIVES

Vaccinated people* who received an updated COVID-19 vaccine were

14X less likely to die compared with those who received no vaccine

3X less likely to die compared with those who received only the original COVID-19 vaccine(s)

People ages 12+ who got their last COVID-19 vaccine dose before September 2022 should get an updated vaccine

To find your nearest vaccination site, visit vaccines.gov

“It’s Abusive”: How Noise Pollution Can Impact Your Health

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

Living in a city often means accepting the bustle of car horns, construction and sirens. But daily exposure to unwanted sound, especially from loud or constant sources like highways or industrial sites, can have serious mental and physical health impacts. As a result of decades of racist urban planning, low-income communities and people of color in the U.S. tend to live closer to those sources.

To understand more about what noise pollution is and how it can impact our health, the Informer spoke with Dr. Erica Walker, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown University. She heads up Brown’s Community Noise Lab, which works to holistically explore the relationship between community noise and public health.

Kayla Benjamin, Washington Informer: Okay, to start, what is noise pollution?

Dr. Erica Walker:

So I am going to take a small step back: Sound is basically anything in our environment that we process through our auditory system. But noise is that part of sound that we have deemed—as individuals or communities—something that’s unwanted. So noise is defined as unwanted sound.

KB: You’ve been studying noise pollution for years now. Why does this issue matter so much?

EW: [Noise] is all around us, it’s ubiquitous. But at the same time, we really have the power to control only a little aspect of it—we can put our headphones in, we can put some earplugs in. But people are so powerless to do anything about it, especially if it’s coming from someplace else. If you’re dealing with it, and you can’t get relief from it, it’s hopeless. And it’s also negatively impacting our health.

KB: Tell me more about that—how does noise impact health?

EW: If you’re exposed to some sort of sound that you deem to be noise, if it’s loud enough, it can knock out your hearing, it can disturb your sleep. And if it can disturb your sleep, that’s where you start to get into those kinds of really negative health impacts.

When we’re in an environment and we’re exposed to some sort of sound that we process as noise, it sets up a stress response, or that flight or fight response.

But if you’re constantly stimulating that stress response over a longer period of time, that can lead to the manifestation of some pretty serious cardiovascular diseases ranging from hypertension, cardiovascular-related mortality, stroke, all kinds of things.

There’s also a lot of literature that shows that there are a lot of mental health and anxiety implications for being in noisy environments.

KB: Can you elaborate on those mental health implications?

EW: When you think about noise being a proxy for powerlessness, that can lead to a bunch of different things. If I can’t control the peace and serenity of my environment, that can lead to all kinds of stressors and anxieties. Whether or not they’re diagnosed, your body is not

able to achieve homeostasis, or balance.

When I work with communities, they’re like, ‘I can’t get a night’s sleep, I can’t predict when I’m going to have peace. I can’t control this. I feel like I reported it but nothing’s going to be done.’

So it’s abuse. It’s abusive.

KB: I’ve read some literature looking at noise pollution as an environmental justice issue. Can you tell me what you’ve found in your research?

EW: Some of those sources of sound, the big bucket items will be industrial sources and transportation sources like air, rail, highway road traffic. So when you think about [it], where are those things in our communities? Where are the major highways and the busy roads, where are the industrial [sites]? It’s usually placed in low income communities. We’ve created this, this is an intentional artifact of poor urban planning.

KB: What can be done about this, especially when it comes to highways and road traffic?

EW: Number one, you can practice better urban planning. And two, if you are going to put communities near major highways, then you need to think about some mitigation strategies for the people who live near there. I work with a community up in Massachusetts, where they were arguing for a sound wall. You go through cities, there are sound walls. They’re very expensive, they’re expensive to maintain, I think they cost a really crazy amount of money. But it’s a way to not only mitigate air pollution, but also mitigate sound pollution.

KB: What about on an individual level? Can anything be done beyond headphones and earbuds?

EW: That’s the sad part, because unless you have lots of money to afford a place not by a highway, there’s not much. You can buy mitigation strategies to reduce the sound—you can buy triple pane glass windows. You can organize and get your Department of Transportation to put up a sound wall in your community. [But] I’ve been working with the community that’s been doing this for the past ten years, and it hasn’t moved an inch. So if there is something that you can do, as an individual, you’re going to have to pay for it. And I think that that’s really unfair. n

The Informer spoke with Dr. Erica Walker, who leads the Community Noise Lab at Brown University.

District Of Columbia Executives Named Top Black Health Care Leaders To Know

Becker’s Healthcare, the goto source for health care decision-makers, announced it 2023 slate of Black Health Care Leaders to Know. The media platform equips health care leaders with the information and forums they need to learn, exchange ideas and further conversations about the most critical issues in American health care.

The executives were selected for fostering positive patient experiences, paving the way for the next generation of leaders, and promoting health equity. The DC-area executives from the District of Columbia Hospital Association’s member hospitals on the prestigious list include:

programs of the association. She also takes ownership of the organization’s legislative advocacy, fiscal business, operations, patient quality and safety, communications, community engagement, grants and legislative relations.

Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Children’s National Hospital

Ms. McGuire offers strategic oversight and guarantees alignment of organizational goals. She manages external-facing operations that uphold strategy, new initiatives and market development in the marketing and communications, community

engagement, and advocacy and government arenas. Ms. McGuire has been with Children’s National since 2011.

MSN, RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center

Ms. Washington first joined

MedStar Washington Hospital Center more than 20 years ago as a clinical manager. She has since worked her way up to her current role as senior vice president and chief nursing officer. Her leadership has resulted in the hospital earning the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2017.

The District of Columbia Hospital Association is a unifying force working to advance hospitals and health systems in the District of Columbia by promoting policies and initiatives that strengthen our system of care, preserve access and promote better health outcomes for the patients and communities they serve.

1152 15th Street, NW | Suite 900 | Washington, DC 200051723 | 202/682-1581 | dcha.org

Jacqueline D. Bowens President and CEO of the District of Columbia Hospital Association

Ms. Bowens is responsible for overseeing the budget, staff and

Ms. Jenkins assumed the role of CEO at Howard University Hospital in February 2020. She brings more than 20 years of health care experience to the position. She serves as a member of the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 3 and volunteers for the American Heart Association and the March of Dimes.

Anita Jenkins CEO of Howard University Hospital

Michelle McGuire

Tonya Washington

Community Health Workers Are Making a Difference in the DMV: Prince George’s County Shines a Light on Community Program

If you are struggling to prioritize your health due to life’s demands, you are not alone. Managing a chronic illness like diabetes can be particularly challenging when basic needs like housing and food are uncertain. This is where Community Health Workers (CHW) come in. By providing free access to quality healthcare and social services programs, CHWs help bridge the gap between medical practices and communities in need.

CHWs provide free access to quality healthcare and social services programs.  They understand the cultural

contexts of the residents they serve and can identify their unique health and social service needs. In addition to identifying needs, CHWs offer a range of support services including helping residents enroll in health and social service programs, referring them to medical transportation and other types of assistance, providing social support, and guiding them in their personal health education.

Prince George’s County residents ages 18 years or older can apply for Community Health Worker services by visiting one of the locations pro-

5

are

vided below, calling 301-889-4707, or emailing CHWSupport@co.pg.md.us. Within two business days of applying, a CHW will contact the resident and conduct a needs assessment to determine their specific healthcare and social service needs. This may involve asking a series of questions to better understand the resident’s current health status, as well as their access to housing, food, transportation, and other basic needs. Based on this assessment, the CHW will work to identify the specific services and resources that will best meet their

County needs. After helping the resident enroll in these programs, the CHW will follow up to ensure that everything is going smoothly and to provide ongoing support as needed.

Residents can visit any of the locations listed below to meet with a Community Health Worker in person:

• Access Wholistic and Productive Living (AWPL)

3611 43rd Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 AM - 4 PM

• Community Outreach & Development CDC

4719 Marlboro Pike, Suite 104, Capitol Heights, MD 20743

Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM

• Greater Beulah Baptist Church

6056 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD 20743

Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 4 PM

• Family and Medical Counseling Service (FMCS)*

5936 Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway, Seat Pleasant, MD 20743

Wednesday and Thursday from 9 AM - 4 PM

• Truly Blessed Health & Wellness Center*

10764 Rhode Island Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705

Monday – Thursday from 9 AM5 PM and Friday from 9 AM -1 PM

• Langley Park Multi-Service Center

1401 East University Boulevard, Hyattsville, MD 20783

Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM - 4 PM

*You must be a current patient to receive CHW services at this location

Through a multipronged campaign, Prince George’s County is committed to serving the community and employing community members as CHWs to help close the gap in healthcare disparities and ensure happiness and health among local residents. n

Community Health Workers

Making a Difference in Prince George’s

5 Community Health Workers are Making a Difference in Prince George’s County

Recovery Is Possible

Submitted by DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)

Opioid-related overdose deaths in the District have risen steadily in recent years and the pandemic exacerbated the problem, with lockdowns initially making it harder to access addiction services. In addition, a large portion of drugs — including heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine — are now being laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Last year, there were 427 opioid-related overdose deaths in the District. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 95% of those deaths included the presence of fentanyl.

DC’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and its community partners have announced the continued expansion of its naloxone distribution program and the launch

of a new campaign to encourage treatment for those suffering from addiction. Both initiatives are part of LIVE.LONG.DC. 2.0, the District’s strategic plan to reduce opioid use, misuse, and related deaths.

DBH makes naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid-related overdose, widely available and easy to get for free, without a prescription or ID required in pharmacies and at community sites. The program has grown from a handful of initial distribution sites to nearly 40 pharmacy locations and over 120 community organizations in all eight Wards.

In addition, in 2020, DBH launched a unique naloxone distribution service. By texting the words LiveLongDC to 888-811, District residents get a message back with a link to a map of the locations where they can pick up naloxone. Recently, an option for free home delivery and mail delivery was added to the service.

“Naloxone should be near at hand like any lifesaving medication. Family, friends, and others in the community can use naloxone to save someone who is overdosing,” said Dr. Barbara J. Bazron, Director of the Department of Behavioral Health. “We want all District residents to be ready to save a life and carry naloxone.”

Recognizing that a substance use disorder is a disease and that users often must seek treatment multiple times as part of their recovery journey, DBH has launched a new public education campaign designed to encourage users to try again at treatment with the hope that “this time can be different.” The campaign highlights DBH’s comprehensive set of treatment supports, including:

• Free substance use disorder treatment, available seven days a week at sites across the District;

• Three medications (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone) proven effective at treating the disease of addiction;

• Enhanced care coordination so that individuals receive comprehensive care;

• Peer counselors who have been there, and can support an individual through treatment and recovery; and

• Transportation, recovery housing and other support services.

“We need DC residents with substance use disorders to know that DBH has the services and

supports to help them succeed,” said Bazron. “We know that treatment works, and recovery is possible.”

Information about the District’s recovery services is available online at MyRecoveryDC.org or by calling the 24-hour Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357 (7WE-HELP).

Produce HacksHacks to Help You Eat More Produce

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD Safeway Wellness Corporate Dietitian Author of 25 books @therecipedoctor

Enjoying more fruits and vegetables each day is one of the single best things we can do to improve our health. I’ve pulled together my favorite produce hacks that will hopefully help you do just that.

HACKS TO ELEVATE YOUR MEALS WITH PRODUCE

• Elevate those easy salad kits by adding one or two more plant ingredients! For example, add a sliced pear and some blue cheese

or roasted almonds to a Pear Gorgonzola Salad kit. Add diced avocado and black beans to your Southwest Chopped Salad Kit and add fresh berries and toasted walnuts to a Sweet Kale Salad Kit.

• Certain fruits and vegetables make great edible vessels for appetizers and entrees!

Mini sweet bell peppers cut in half work great as edible containers for appetizers, bell peppers can hold stews, casseroles, or other mixtures. Tuna or chicken salad can be served in an avocado half. Appetizers can be served on dried or fresh apricot halves, kiwi or apple slices, cooked mushroom caps or potato slices and more!

• Start your day the veggie way!

Be inspired by the foreign countries that serve vegetables at breakfast. For example, every time you enjoy an egg dish, automatically add some veggies to it, choose from tomatoes, onions, peppers, avocados, spinach or kale, broccoli, zucchini and mushrooms! Spinach works really well in smoothies because it has a mild flavor, but you might want to avoid adding it to deep blue/red colored smoothies because Green + Blue/Red = Brown. Berries are the #1 cause of brown smoothies.

• Fruit makes every breakfast better in taste, color and nutrition!

Choose from fresh, frozen or dried fruit for your oatmeal or overnight oats, yogurt and chia pudding, smoothies, toast and cereal.

• Discover the mushroom blend trend!

Elevate the moisture and umami in your ground meat dishes by blending ground meat with finely chopped mushrooms. Mushrooms complement the flavor of meat and extend the servings!

• Elevate grilled cheese sandwiches by adding fruits and vegetables like apple and pear slices, sauteed spinach, kale or mush-

rooms, tomato slices, avocado or blackberries or strawberries.

• Cheeseboard-friendly fruits and vegetables add crunch, color, flavor and nutrients and add a wonderful complement to cheese, deli meat and crackers.

• Use fruits and veggies as “dippers” for your favorite dips and fondue.

Consider carrot coins, sliced apples, zucchini and cucumbers, jicama and bell pepper pieces for the veggies.

• Add veggies and fruit to your meat or seafood kabobs to add flavor, color and nutrients and it will extend the amount of servings you get from a pound of Meat/Seafood too!

• Take your mac & cheese up a nutritional notch by stirring in some veggies. Homemade or from a box, mac & cheese pairs perfectly with sauteed spinach or kale, lightly cooked broccoli or cauliflower florets or roasted zucchini or butternut squash.

• Pump up your Pizza with produce!

Add pizza-friendly produce like mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, spinach or kale, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, egg-

plant, red onions, arugula, olives or pineapple to your pizza to compliment or replace any meat toppings. n

Sincerely, Berries

Strategies to Reduce Stress

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia

Summer is fast approaching, which means plenty of barbecues, pool days, and family vacations! However, amidst the summer fun, it’s easy to become busy and forget to prioritize our emotional wellness. Emotional wellness refers to how well people can handle life’s challenges and adapt to change.1 Limiting stress is critical to having emotional wellness, which is important for overall health.

Here are some key strategies to help reduce stress at any age:

• Stay active. Physical activity releases feel-good endorphins and other natural brain chemicals that can improve your well-being. Consider going to the gym, joining a workout class, or taking short walking breaks several times a day. Any form of physical

activity is a powerful tool for channeling stress.

• Get quality sleep.

Often, we sacrifice sleep to fit in everything we want to do in our day, but sleep is how our brain and body recharge. Take steps to make sure you regularly get a good night’s sleep. Adults should sleep at least seven hours each night, while teenagers should average between eight and 10 hours.2

• Connect with others.

Social connections powerfully impact our health, and it’s important to maintain healthy relationships with supportive friends and family. If you’re feeling stressed, don’t isolate yourself — friendship and laughter can instantly make you feel better.

• Nourish your body.

A healthy diet can help you think clearly and feel more alert. It’s im-

portant to eat well and nourish your body with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid unhealthy habits such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or using illegal substances.

• Take time for you. Allow time or space to rest or do something that makes you happy. Be mindful of yourself and accept that it’s OK to say no if you are feeling overwhelmed and have too much on your plate.

• Seek counseling. Sometimes, stress may be too much to handle on your own. Counseling or therapy can help you identify stress triggers and learn new coping methods.3 Once you know where your stress is coming from, it can be easier to deal with. It also can be helpful to reframe your thinking about stress itself.4

CONTINUED ON HS-15

Stress is the human body’s natural response to pressure, and stress responses, such as faster heart rate and breathing, evolved to improve performance in stressful situations. Remind yourself that stress is normal and everyone faces stress in their lives. However, the key is knowing how to manage stress so that it doesn’t take a toll on physical and mental health. These tips can help you restore calm, feel more in control, and help maintain your emotional wellness all summer.

The information in this article is to help you learn more about this topic. It is not to take the place of your health care provider. If you have questions, talk with your healthcare provider. If you think you need to see your healthcare provider because of something you have read in this information, please contact your healthcare provider. Never stop or wait to get medical attention because of something you have read in this material.

Sources:

1. “Emotional Wellness Toolkit,” National Institutes of Health, https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit

2. “How Much Sleep Do I Need?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_ sleep/how_much_sleep.html

3. “Stress Relievers: Tips to Tame Stress,” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/ in-depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257

4. “How to Relieve Stress: A SixStep Plan to Feeling Good,” John Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ health/wellness-and-prevention/howto-relieve-stress-a-6-step-plan-to-feeling-good

All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model n

Join our MOVEment! #BestMe Corner

There are many ways to improve your mental wellness, and AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) has programs that can help you achieve your goals.

Emotional support via text allows you to text with a coach any time you need it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can receive support for challenges big or small, such as anxiety, trouble sleeping, relationship problems, grief, pain, and life transitions.

• If you are 21 or older, use Ginger. Download the Ginger App from Google Play™ or the Apple App Store®. In the app, tap Get Started, then tap Verify with name, DOB, and ZIP code. Follow the instructions sent to your inbox.

• Enrollees ages 13 – 20 should text 886-886 and use referral code “AmeriHealth” during enrollment to start texting with a MindRight support coach now.

AmeriHealth Caritas DC also offers fitness classes through the Active&Fit® program. With Active&Fit, you can join live virtual classes, watch workout videos on your own time, and even get a gym membership. Like all of AmeriHealth Caritas DC’s benefits, there is no cost for enrollees to participate in the Active&Fit program. For more information and to join our MOVEment, visit the AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Living Classes webpage. n

Did You Know

Organic Food

Nutritional Facts to Help Empower Your Health

Spring is upon us, as with warmer weather comes everyone going outside the house and into restaurants, ripping and running from work to events, and fitting in just enough sleep along the way. Sure, life is a thrill, and it can be far less fun spending hours in our kitchen preparing and cooking our own balanced meals, while jumping in bed at appropriate times that will provide us the rest that we need. But without proper nutrition and wellness practices, are we

really living or just struggling to catch up with the experiences that a healthier, rejuvenated version of ourselves could have?

Let’s take a look at some common and uncommonly known nutrition and wellness tips with expert advice straight from the desk of nutritionist, Charmaine Jones, MS, RDN, LDN, and Founder and Owner of Food Jonezi.

Fruits, Vegetables, and omega 3’S

DID YOU KNOW that a diet full of nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, along with omega-3 fatty acid rich foods help stabilize your mood, creating fewer mood swings and an improved ability to focus? Likewise, natural, unprocessed foods largely help to prevent symptoms of depression.

DID YOU KNOW that not all organic food is nutritionally better than conventionally grown foods?

What Is Organic?: The USDA Organic label on various foods choices whether produce, meats, etc., indicates that the food item has grown or been handled without using genetically modified organisms, which the organic standards expressly prohibit. USDA standards vary based on the food type. When we see the USDA, or certified organic seal on a food item, that indicates that the product is at least seventy-percent natural.

Nutritionist Perspective (CJ) - “The Dirty Dozen”: Nutritionally, organic and conventionally grown foods are no different nutrient-wise. However, the process is different. There is a very helpful list created by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) which provides the twelve foods that should be purchased organic due to the amount of synthetic pesticides used to grow the fruits and vegetables.

The “Dirty Dozen” of fruits and vegetables that are best to purchase in it’s organic form based on the EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Pro duce, are; Strawberries, Spinach, Kale/Collard/Mustard Greens, Nectarines, Apples, Grapes, Bell Peppers/Hot Peppers, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Blueber ries, and fresh Green Beans.

Sugar Intake

DID YOU KNOW that sugary drinks are the most fattening products in our modern diet? A high intake of sugar, whether in our drinks, or food sources, often causes a slew of health issues within the body that become harder to reverse later.

Nutritionist’s Insight (CJ): tion. Not only that, but when your body is taking excess sugar, it causes a signif icant amount of weight gain. What people don’t realize is that weight gain is so critical in this [circumstance], because when someone gains weight, those fat cells release a toxin in the body. That toxin causes inflammation. That’s why weight gain becomes a huge factor in all of this. If you drink a lot of sugary drinks, it definitely causes weight gain, it definitely leads to these toxins being released in your body, it leads to inflammation, it decreases your immune system, it leads to cardiovascular disease, it causes insulin resistance which leads to diabetes, high blood pressure which they call the silent killer, it clogs the arteries, [and more].”

Quick Tip: With every meal or snack, add some proteins. Even if you are only eating grapes or a type of fruit, it can spike up your blood sugar, and quickly drop it whether it is from natural or added sugar, consequently leaving you unsatisfied. The American Heart Association recommends just nine teaspoons of added sugar a day, and just six spoons for women and children. However, the average American intakes 17 teaspoons of sugar or more. Stay alert to your sugar intake! n

Nutritionist Perspective (CJ): Fruits and vegetables and omega 3’s are powerhouses and good resources for overall health, and important to increasing your mood and brainpower, specifically omega 3’s.

Omega 3’s have a great ability to increase your overall blood flow to your brain which improves learning abilities, memory, and overall cognitive function. omega 3 coupled with fruits and especially green leafy vegetables, are great for improving brain function. Omega 3’s help prevent proteins called beta-amyloids, that as you age build up, and clump in our brains that often cause Alzheimer’s disease.

“Green leafy vitamins, for example, are rich in Vitamin K, lutein, and beta carotene for example, all help increase our mood, and blow flow throughout our bodies, especially Vitamin K. When you are first born you get a shot of Vitamin K which helps make the blood flow through your body consistently, and fluently. So when your blood flows properly throughout your body, especially to your brain, it definitely gives your body that boost.”

Best Foods For Omega 3 Intake: Omega 3 fatty acids are best retained within our diets, primarily through eating fatty fish including sardines and anchovies, but also higher quality fish including salmon, swordfish, or tuna. Additionally, green leafy vegetables, and fruits like berries are awesome for the bloodstream and brain functioning.

*Stay away from deep-fried, and fried foods, as it adds an extra layer of unnecessary fat which can be detrimental to your heart health. n

Intermittent Fasting

DID YOU KNOW Intermittent fasting is a great method to accomplish weight loss, improve heart health, improve brain health, lower the risk of type II diabetes, and reduce the risk of cancer?

What is Intermittent Fasting?: Intermittent fasting is a dietary schedule or routine largely dedicated around when you eat food, rather than what you eat. That means, you will eat during a specific period or time frame during the day, and neglect to eat during the remaining hours until your eating window returns.

What Are The Benefits?:

After hours without food, the body tends to exhaust a sugar reserve and consequently, begins burning off fat. During that period, some benefits of fasting are;

1. Improves the digestive functions: During the period where you are not eating, your digestive system is given a rest, taking time to repair and rebuild.

2. Improves memory and thinking, Like a form of detoxing - It allows the digestive system to rest, giving the body a moment to strengthen its cognitive functions.

3. Helps to improve blood pressure - Intermittent fasting helps get your body back on track, as it is great for reducing Type II diabetes. When you are fasting, it is similar to your body flushing a lot, typically allowing the body to use the bathroom more often during the fasting period, as you will tend to eat less calories during this time, and lose weight, which also helps reduce a person’s chance of getting diabetes or high blood pressure.

Breaking Fast: “When you intermittent fast for a certain period, once you break your fast, you have to still maintain eating every three to four hours in well-balanced, small meals. You cannot break your fast and go to Popeyes, or eat every, and anything. It is a very disciplined diet. Intermittent fasting does require a lot of preparation and discipline. You should always have someone who can guide you through [your] fast, because that first moment when you break your fast, is the most critical part of the [process]. You don’t want to break your fast, with some fast food. Break your fast with a broth, or some soup. Remember, your digestive system was at rest for a [certain number] of hours. You just can’t eat something that is high in fat, you have to slowly transition back into eating.” n

America’s beverage companies are offering more choices with less sugar.

From sparkling and flavored waters to zero sugar sports drinks, teas and more — nearly 60% of beverages sold now have zero sugar. It’s all part of our commitment to support Americans in their efforts to find balance. And we’re delivering. Learn more at BalanceUS.org.

“If It Sounds Like a Quack...”

By Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling

c.2023, PublicAffairs

$29.00 / 336 pages

Everything hurts. Your joints, your bones, your skin, even your hair hurts. You don’t want to move – which is fine, since you barely can. So what do you reach for? A phone to call the doctor or, as in the new book “If It Sounds Like a Quack...” by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, does that idea just make you wanna duck?

If you’ve ever fallen sick, broken a bone, or needed a doctor’s excuse for work, you know that “America’s health care ecosystem is... full of wealth and nonsense...”

Understanding it is impossible. Working your way through it, even more so, and “millions of Americans” don’t even want to try. Instead, they reach for an unproven, alternative “One True Cure” that very rarely works. Doing so, says Hongoltz-Hetling, is a personal prerogative, a freedom, somewhat like consuming sugary drinks, not getting vaccinated, avoiding a seatbelt, and using recreational drugs. Those are things one person does that can ultimately affect the population as a whole.

So is there a solution to a problem when “public health and individual freedom... collide?”

That’s hard to answer. Some alternative medicines have been proven, sort of. Others do nothing, or make an illness worse. Still, big bucks are spent each year on unproven cures, pills, herbs, lasers and caustic cocktails, and the government chafes.

Hongoltz-Hetling found Toby, for instance, a Montana man who sold “herbal concoctions” that he claimed could heal anything, until the FDA said he couldn’t make that claim anymore. Robert in Utah, an ambitious man of God, embraced a debunked 19th-century cure. Alicja, born and raised in Poland, immersed herself in hirudotherapy, or the use of leeches, which challenged the FDA for a label. Dale and Leilani of rural Wisconsin believed that prayer could cure all, until they lost their youngest daughter to ketoacidosis. Larry was certain that lasers stopped disease in its tracks, but the FBI disagreed. The “alien who lived in Jim Humble’s skin” claimed that only ancient, other-worldly medicine was right.

Meanwhile, says Hongoltz-Hetling, millions of Americans aren’t “opting out of health care.... just professional health care.”

Are you uncomfortable yet? Because you should be; author Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling should make you squirm here – but you’re also going to laugh.

For sure, “If It Sounds Like a Quack...” is wry, irreverent, and hilarious, poking equal fun at presidents, patients, and quack practitioners alike, while it makes a big point: faux medicine is relatively harmless, until it’s not and someone gets hurt. And people do, often, but as Hongoltz-Hetling shows, government oversight (or overreach, depending on your viewpoint) is ineffectual and can’t always save people from themselves.

“We can all make fun,” says Hongoltz-Hetling – and he does in these stories that read like a collection of novelettes – but he never loses sight of reality: One True Cures have “serious consequences.”

Before you click on that online ad, before you buy another bottle of herbs or an untested medical method, reach for “If It Sounds Like a Quack” first. Reading it might make you stay safe. It sure can’t hurt. n

“Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away”

By Annie Duke c.2022, Penguin Portfolio $27.00 /

336 pages

It’s over.

The last page is read, the credits are rolling, your plate is clean, you’ve said your good-byes for tonight, for this weekend, for this month, forever. It’s time to turn your back and walk away – or is it? In “Quit” by Annie Duke, learn when to say alright and when to say adieu.

Quitters never win, quit the process and you’re quitting the result, nobody said it would be easy, blah blah blah. Platitudes aside, you’re done messing with that thing and you’d like to throw in the towel but you’ve invested so much time and quitting is for sissies, blah blah.

We’ve all heard those sayings before but, says Duke, believe it or not, a premature ending can be the best thing that could happen sometimes... but not always. It truly depends.

Knowing when to quit, she says, is an important life skill but it’s not as glamorous as stick-to-it-iveness. People tend to remember those who persevere, no matter the outcome, but they don’t generally remember those who get off the merry-go-round before the music stops. Still, she says, if she was going to teach someone to make better decisions, “quitting is the primary skill” she’d pick.

“Trying something and having the ability to quit is vital to how we all live our lives.”

So how do you know when it’s time to stop the foolishness?

Learn to re-frame your decisions to determine whether it’s better to stay or go; if it’s a close call, the latter’s probably the better option. Remember that public opinion isn’t always right. Quit when you’re ahead if the future looks bleak, and be aware of a nasty phenomena called “loss aversion.” Also watch for “sunk cost,” which can cause you to continue because you think things just have to get better eventually. They won’t.

Set a list of “kill criteria” before embarking on a project. Don’t be too optimistic. And remember that there’ll always be times when the choice to quit is yours, and times when “the world makes the choice for you.”

In the last almost-three years, you’ve probably asked yourself a dozen times why. You don’t need a subject, sometimes “why” is the entire question and “Quit” is the answer.

It’s not an easy one, though. Author Annie Duke breaks the dilemma down in four sections that help readers learn how to make the right decision, and that empower them to take a possibly-unpopular action. These are hefty sections, too, with meaty words for you and for your too-loud, often-wrong inner naysayer.

The lessons imparted are ones we all need to understand fully, but they’re not the only things you’ll find in this book. Duke bolsters her advice with pertinent anecdotes that are entertaining, even if you’re not in need of a coin to flip any time soon.

Read this book for that amusement or, if you need to know how to do the right thing at what looks like the wrong time, read it for instruction. Either way, “Quit” is good, full stop. n

What if my cancer spreads? I can’t recover? I can’t make it to my son’s wedding?

What if you can?

World-leading treatment is closer than you think: right in your community. Where trailblazing teams of cancer specialists and scientists work together to ask “what if”— discovering how cancer grows and new ways to treat it; bringing 50 years of research and expertise at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center closer to your home. So your path forward has fewer questions…and the answers you need.

World-leading cancer care in your community. Sibley Memorial Hospital • Suburban Hospital hopkinscancerdc.org

The Washington Informer — We’re proud to support you

Bank of America has convened the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society and the University of Michigan School of Public Health for an innovative, signature initiative to improve health outcomes in communities of color. Since 2021, Bank of America has invested more than $66 million to address needs related to health in the communities it serves; addressing barriers to healthy eating and supporting mental health initiatives for people of color.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.

Why More Black Nurses are Important

As the nation commemorates the work and dedication of nurses throughout the country May 6- May 12, it is particularly important to acknowledge the contributions and need for more Black nurses. Particularly as nursing is a field that has shown lowering rates since the throws of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is integral to champion the work and need for Black nurses in order to improve diversity in nursing and the medical field overall.

Minority Nurse reported 9.9% of Registered Nurses (RNs) are Black. Statistics further reveal that there are about 279,600 Black RNs and 162,800 licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

According to the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) African Americans are less likely to receive the standards of care their white counterparts experience and thus its imperative for Black nurses and medical professions.

Black nurses have the ability to provide culturally sensitive and informed care, as well as provide representation to inspire and increase Black medical professional rates.

With a bit less than 10% of Black people accounting for the nurse’s pool, organizations such as the National Black Nurses Network Association (NBNA), are encouraging Black nurses.

“This year especially, I salute you for your: selfless giving, working that extra shift, and for encouraging that colleague that needed uplifting. Thank you for being so resilient during this time of ‘wokeness and awakening’ - internal and external to our profession,” said NBNA president Dr. Martha A. Dawson.

The NBNA president encouraged Black nurses to consider why they wanted to enter their field in the first place.

“I encourage you to continue to reflect on why you entered this profession and remember all the good you do every day to enhance the lives of others. We should never forget that human kindness is the core of our work,” she said before emphasizing the need for strong bedside manners. “It does not matter how much book learning you have or what your scientific endeavors discover, if a patient or client cannot feel love when you speak to or touch them, all our learning and knowledge is wasted time. So, thank you for being the best version of yourself that uplifts the human spirit. “

It is key to celebrate Black nurses this Nurses Appreciation Week and always in order to promote more Black students to seek nursing careers. It is vital to improve diversity disparities found among nurses and healthcare professionals.

Celebrating Black Male Teachers in DCPS, Emphasizing a Need for More

While nationwide there’s been a continued disparity in male teachers and D.C. statistics no different, reporting 75.3 % of women educators in District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and 24.7% men, the District can boast a promising statistic about male educators of color this Teachers Appreciation Week.

In the 2018-2019 school year, 14.1% of DCPS teachers identified as Black or brown, going beyond the national average of 4% for the same overall groups. However, with more than 50% percent more women educators in DCPS, the nation’s capital’s public school system still has work to do in male representation.

According to the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), having even two Black teachers by third grade increases Black students’ prospect of attending college by more than 30%. Further, educators of color have proven to have a positive impact on Black students’ school attendance, academic achievement, high school graduation rates and enrollment in advanced courses.

With such statistics, imagine the impact Black male teachers can have on improving African American students’ success.

Marian University Wisconsin reported that men in the classroom allow students to witness non-violent male figures, who interact positively with women.

Having men in the classroom is particularly important as it offers students an opportunity “to observe men who are non-violent and whose interactions with women are positive,” while also normalizing gender (and gender-non-conforming) equitable positions, providing the opportunities for male role models, diversifying the workforce, and promoting overall equity.

In February, the Washington Informer reported Black men represent less than 2% of the teacher workforce.

I send my support to the residents of Talbert Terrace, pushing back against gentrification. It’s hard seeing your beloved neighborhood change, and people act like you’re invisible. However, so many are fighting back and protecting their legacies. No, we will not be pushed out and cast aside because our communities are now “fashionable” to the elite. Keep on marching!

Rita Mayers

Washington, DC

TO THE EDITOR

Is it me, or does Howard University get a new president every U.S. presidential term? Whatever happened to being committed and steadfast to a job? These days it seems as if they enter with a day of exit already planned. With such high leadership turnover, where’s the continuity of policies and programs to even see if it is effective? Bigger than that, what’s the long-term impact on the university’s operating environment and culture for its students?

Willie R. Pearson

Washington, DC

“Black men currently account for less than 2% of the U.S. public school teacher workforce, according to the National Center for Education Statistics’ National Teacher and Principal Survey and Dr. Travis J. Bristol of the University of California, Berkeley. This trend has been attributed to the lack of mentorship or misalignment in certain educational environments,” reported Sam P.K. Collins, WI staff writer. With such nationwide statistics, it is key to improve Black men educator rates overall, while also celebrating the higher num-

bers of male teachers in the nation’s capital’s public schools.

“I try to bring something relevant to their lives every month,” DCPS teacher Langston Tingling-Clemmons told the Informer in February. “I create a classroom that questions how racism plays a part in U.S. history.

More Black men entering the public education field is necessary, not only for positive African American male representation, but to clarify truths and improve overall success rates for Black students. WI

CELEBRATING BLACK NURSES

Guest Columnist

David W. Marshall

Purging the Voice and Will of the People

Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, President Joe Biden needs to be reelected regardless of whether you like him. During the 2020 presidential election, many people voted for Biden simply because he was not Donald Trump. The upcoming election in 2024 looks to be a rematch between Biden and Trump,

with the risks and consequences being much greater than before. While we often encourage voters to be informed and objective concerning election issues and candidates, the United States has never had a presidential party nominee indicted in a criminal case or one who publicly suggested that all rules, regulations, and articles within the Constitution be terminated. Normally, those two issues alone would be enough negative baggage to prevent any candidate from being considered a viable party nominee.

Guest Columnist

The Republican Party of today is not what they claim to be, placing the nation at risk. In accepting Trump as the presumptive party nominee, the GOP is knowingly choosing a person who was twice impeached, disrespected veterans, POWs, women, minorities, mocked the disabled, dishonored a "Gold Star" family, discredited the CIA, cheated vendors, perpetuated the birther conspiracy, is tied to past tax evasion fraud, a Trump University scam, union busting, housing discrimination, multiple

bankruptcies, white supremacy, colluding with Russia, and nepotism, not to mention several pending investigations and a civil rape trial. With all of Trump's personal and political baggage, he remains a powerful force due to the many Republican enablers covering for him from their elected offices and the MAGA voters who see him as their cultural war champion.

Harris County, with its population of nearly 5 million people, is the largest county in Texas and the third-most populous county in the

Marian Wright Edelman

Remembering the Children's Crusade

"Daddy," the boy said, "I don't want to disobey you, but I have made my pledge. If you try to keep me home, I will sneak off. If you think I deserve to be punished for that, I'll just have to take the punishment. For, you see, I'm not doing this only because I want to be free. I'm doing it also because I want freedom for you and Mama, and I want it to come before you die."

This teenage boy overheard talking to his father by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of hundreds of children and youths in Birmingham, Alabama who decided sixty years ago this week that they were determined to do whatever it took to stand up for freedom for their parents, elders, and themselves. They were assaulted by fire hoses and police dogs, went to jail by the hundreds, and finally broke the back of Jim Crow in the city known as "Bombingham." On this 60th anniversary of the Birmingham Children's Crusade, it is again time to remember,

Guest Columnist

honor, and follow the example of the children who were frontline soldiers and transforming catalysts in the movement for civil rights and equal justice.

The Children's Crusade happened at a critical time in the civil rights struggle in Birmingham. In April 1963 the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), together with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and its fearless leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, had started a desegregation campaign in the city. There were mass meetings, lunch

A. Peter Bailey

counter sit-ins, nonviolent marches, and boycotts of Birmingham's segregated stores during the busy Easter shopping season. Dr. King was one of several hundred people arrested in the first weeks of the campaign when he was jailed for violating an anti-protest injunction on Good Friday, April 12, and four days later wrote his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail." But as the days went on with little response from city leaders, a new tactic was raised: including more children and youths.

Young people didn't face some of

nation. Its county seat is Houston, the largest city in the state and the fourth largest in the nation. Houston has become the most diverse city in the country. While the number of people in Harris County who identify as non-Hispanic white declined by nearly 3%, all other racial groups — including Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives — increased. The changing demographics, along

MARSHALL Page 49

the risks adults might, including losing breadwinning jobs, and college students had already proven to be extremely effective activists in cities across the South. But once it became clear that many of the children volunteering for meetings and training sessions in Birmingham were high school students or even younger, concerns were raised about whether allowing them to protest was too dangerous. Dr. King later described the decision this way: "Even though

Solutions-Oriented Guidelines from Brother Malcolm and Brother Martin

For over 50 years millions of Black people in this country have held commemoration events on the days Brother Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated and celebratory events on their birthdays. Doing so is very important. However, equally important is the need for us to learn from and act on the profound, productive and inspiring guidelines the Brothers

left us on how to promote and protect our health, economic, political, educational, technological and communications interests in a country where overt white supremacy has once again become openly hostile.

One 1967 guideline from Brother Martin stated, "A second important step that the negro must take is to work passionately for group identity. … group unity necessarily involves group trust and reconciliation. One of the most serious effects of the negro's damage ego has been his frequent loss of respect for himself and other negroes.

He ends up with ambivalence towards his own kind. … This plea for unity is not a call for uniformity. There must always be healthy debate. There will be inevitable differences of opinion. The dilemma that the negro confronts is so complex and monumental that its solution will of necessity involve a diversified approach. But negroes can differ and still unite around common goals. There are already structured forces in the negro community that can serve as the basis for building a powerful united front—the negro church, the negro press, the negro fraternities and

sororities and negro professional associations. We must admit that these forces have never given their full resources to the call of negro liberation. … But the failure of the past must not be an excuse for the inaction of the future. These groups must be mobilized and motivated. … This form of group unity can do infinitely more to liberate the negro than any action of individuals.

(Please note: Brother Martin italicized individuals.) We have been oppressed as a group and we must overcome that oppression as a group."

Brother Malcolm was just as direct

and solutions-oriented when he stated that U.S. politics "is ruled by special interest blocs and lobbyists. What group has more urgent special interests? What group needs a bloc, a lobby more than the Black man? Labor owns one of Washington's largest non-government buildings — situated where they can literally watch the White House — and no political move is made that doesn't include how Labor feels about it. A lobby gets Big Oil its depletion allowance. … Twenty million Black peo-

BAILEY Page 49

Guest Columnist

Issues of Health (Part 3)

I am blessed to have friends in every walk of life. With few exceptions, when I speak with friends who are combat veterans and ask about their emotions in a combat zone, they speak of a heightened sense of awareness and almost paranoid preparedness for averting threat or danger, 24/7/365. Many service members can survive a combat tour without lingering affect, but the constant intensity of emotions

or traumatic exposure to danger and/ or injury has caused many to suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I do not minimize the impact of PTSD, but I have and still wonder why so many are unwilling to compare and contrast the stress and trauma of a combat tour with a lifetime of stress and trauma in an underserved and over-policed/over-regulated community. Although I am not a mental health professional, I see the reality of PTSD in both experiences, with a greater likelihood of manifestation in the latter. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it is appropriate to discuss

Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

such issues.

In the past I have referenced Maslow's Theory of Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow asserts that self-actualization — higher order thinking/ reasoning — cannot occur until the most basic survival needs are met, but few talk about what happens whether or not, or while survival needs are being sought. I submit that the lack of any life sustaining/improving commodity is genuine cause for post-traumatic stress — what I equate to internal violence. Absent depth and detail, I would like for you to imagine the constant internal conflict and mental upheaval trying to

rear children or living in/under the described circumstances:

· Living in an unending cycle of insufficient income. "Juggling" money to pay essential bills, often losing a utility, or missing or watching your children miss meals. Common to my own DC Metro area are professionals working two jobs to bridge the gap of economic insufficiency between fulltime incomes and poverty.

· Living with the knowledge that an unexpected toothache, illness or injury offers a real threat to the life and welfare of the affected individual AND family financial security.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

The Debt Ceiling Struggle: Who Gets the Gold? Who Gets the Shaft?

Over the next few weeks, the manufactured crisis over the "debt ceiling" will reach its boiling point. But this is pure melodrama, badly overacted with the outcome already known. The real question is about our priorities — and about who gets the gold and who gets the shaft.

On the debt ceiling, President Biden says he won't negotiate over raising

it. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Republicans won't raise it without negotiations. This is like teenagers playing chicken in cars racing toward each other — only in this case a crash would blow up the world economy. That can't happen — and so it won't. The United States will pay the debts it owes. Our full faith and credit will not be trashed.

That will still leave the question about our priorities and the national budget. Who pays and who benefits? Here — beneath the posturing — is the real deal. Here's a handy guide to

Guest Columnist

what's in the deck.

First on our annual deficits. The best solution to the deficit is economic growth. When the economy grows, more people get jobs and raises. As wages and profits rise, the government collects more in taxes and pays out less in support — on everything from unemployment insurance to welfare to food stamps. Deficits come down.

How do we get growth? For years, Republicans have passed tax cuts — largely for the rich and corporations — saying that would lead to more investment and more jobs. Turns out it

Marc H. Morial

mostly led to more inequality, slower growth and thus more deficits.

Biden argues that we need to invest in areas vital to our economy — in modern infrastructure, in research and development, in subsidies that get companies to locate plants in the U.S. and not abroad. Although his program has just begun, it seems to be working — with unemployment down, wages up, and deficits getting reduced.

That said, politicians in both parties still want even faster deficit reduction. The big question is one of priorities. Here common sense should apply.

· Having to give your children "The Talk" indicates a monumental fear for their survival into adulthood. Wondering and fearing whether "you" will be the next parent informed that your child has met an untimely death at the hands of street violence — "legal" or otherwise.

· Substandard housing that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety and/or welfare of the occupants. Whether in a state of near-dilapidation, disrepair, with insect or vermin infestation, these structures, however familiar

WILLIAMS Page 50

Over the past years, the richest Americans have captured more and more of the nation's income and wealth. The middle class has struggled, and the poor haven't kept up. Common sense would suggest that the wealthy should pay more in taxes, rather than the middle class or the poor.

On the spending side, the military budget has been rising — and now is at levels not seen since the height of the Cold War. We spend as much on the military as the next 10 nations

JACKSON Page 50

Freedom to Learn Campaign Combats Attacks on Education, Other Racial Justice Initiatives

books.

"At last, there is a critical mass of people all over the country who are are prepared to draw the line against conservative efforts to erase Black history, against efforts to make anti-racism unnameable, against efforts to undermine the ability of the next generation to understand what the meaning of that history is for the here and now." — Kimberlé Crenshaw

In Florida, activists staged a sit-in outside the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed a law last week that bans teaching about systemic racism and gender and race discrimination.

In Washington, D.C., and New York City, protestors marched outside the College Board headquarters to protest the watering-down of its AP African-American History course.

Across the country, concerned citizens convened Teach-ins on college campuses and read-alouds of banned

And dozens of Urban League affiliate presidents, gathered in New Orleans for a Leadership Summit, stood together for the Freedom To Learn National Day of Action on Wednesday, expressing their solidarity with the thousands of Americans defending truthful, inclusive education and efforts to remedy systemic racial inequities.

Schools banned nearly 1,650 individual books in the last school year, most of them because they include themes about race or sexuality. Among

the titles deemed to be too dangerous for children to read are Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye, which explores "the devastating effects of racism and self-hatred on young black girls in America;" Ibram X. Kendi's "Antiracist Baby," a guide for discussing racism with young children; and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, for which earned author Mildred D. Taylor the Newberry Medal, presented for "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children."

Access to truthful history, diverse

books and critical ideas for students and educators are crucial to the nation's history as a multicultural democracy. The so-called "War on Wokeness" threatens to eradicate decades of progress toward racial justice, by warping our view of the nation's past, and thwart our future progress toward an equitable, multicultural society.

As highlighted in the National Urban League's 2023 State of Black America® report, "Democracy in Per-

MORIAL Page 50

LIFESTYLE

violist Dawn Johnson, and cellist Élise Sharp. On Friday, May 12, the ladies will have two shows at AMP, Strathmore’s small, intimate performance venue at Pike and Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland.

On Stage and In the Classroom with the String Queens

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Since 2017, three DMV-based

women have wowed audiences with an exciting blend of classical, R&B, pop, and faith music. The String Queens are violinist Kendall Isadore,

THE PATHÉTIQUE SYMPHONY

FRI, MAY 19 AT 8 PM MEYERHOFF

SAT, MAY 20 AT 8 PM STRATHMORE

SUN, MAY 21 AT 3 PM MEYERHOFF

Jonathon Heyward, conductor

Xavier Foley, double bass

GRACE-EVANGELINE MASON

The Imagined Forest

XAVIER FOLEY Soul Bass

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”

Make room for a new generation of powerhouse artists when the “ferociously committed and incisive” Jonathon Heyward (The Guardian) conducts scores by two rising stars in their twenties. The British composer Grace-Evangeline Mason takes us on an ethereal adventure, and the American virtuoso Xavier Foley uses every measure of his creativity and charisma to make the overlooked double bass a conduit for joy and justice. Tchaikovsky’s passionate Symphony No. 6 closes the program.

SUPPORTING SPONSOR:

In a recent interview with the Washington Informer, the ladies described how their paths kept crossing before formally becoming The String Queens. The one-year birthday party for Dawn’s daughter was a rehearsal for an upcoming gig at a wedding.

“There was a different energy, sound and camaraderie when we came together. It sounded really good,” Johnson said about the wedding where they played standard classical music. “We said, ‘Hey y’all, let’s keep this going. Let’s have a couple of rehearsals and put a name on it.’”

The values for each member were aligned. All three women are school teachers. As The String Queens, they wanted to bridge the worlds of being in the classroom with kids, professional development for teachers and performance. In fact, right before our interview, the ladies told me they had just completed their day in the classroom between two D.C. public charter schools and a private school in Prince George’s County.

But do their students know who they were outside the classroom?

“They know because we have pictures up in the room, and we play videos, but they do not know it in its entirety,” said Sharp, a D.C. native. “Their parents understand a little bit more. No one really gets all that we are doing and all that we have done except our families. They see our grind. They see us leaving town and coming back. They see our awards.”

THE JOY OF PERFORMING

Last month, The String Queens

performed with Regina Carter, a jazz violinist, in a tribute concert at the Kennedy Center honoring all the newly named NEA Jazz Masters (including Carter). It was a powerful performance of four women going “full out” in front of a packed audience at the Kennedy Center.

Whether it is a large venue like the Kennedy Center or a smaller setting in the AMP environment, audiences will receive the same high-level performance delivered with joy.

“It can be two people or 20,000 in the audience. Our end goal as The String Queens is to deliver the best musical experience that we possibly can to the audience that has come to fill this room to see us perform,” Johnson said. “That’s always the driving force.”

To experience the sounds of The String Queens at AMP, visit the Strathmore website at https://www. strathmore.org Learn more about TSQ on their website at https://thestringqueens.com.

WI @bcscomm

BUY TICKETS AT BSOMUSIC.ORG

will perform two shows at AMP in North Bethesda on May 12. TSQ includes (L-R) Violist Dawn Johnson, Cellist Élise Sharp, and Violinist Kendall Isadore. (Courtesy Photo/ Roy Cox)

Join the BSO to see Music Director Designate Jonathon Heyward take the podium.

JOSEPH MEYERHOFF SYMPHONY HALL | 410.783.8000 THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE | 877.276.1444

3 The String Queens (TSQ)

5 The String Queens (TSQ) are full-time schoolteachers. They will perform two shows at AMP in North Bethesda on May 12. TSQ includes (L-R) Violinist Kendall Isadore, Cellist Élise Sharp, and Violist Dawn Johnson. (Courtesy Photo/ Leroy Armstead)

Small Business Owners –Catalysts for Economic Growth

Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Almost half of all U.S. employees work for small businesses, defined as companies with fewer than 500 employees, and a staggering 99 percent of all U.S. companies fall under the “small business” designation, according to the Small Business Association. Entrepreneurship can be a steppingstone to wealth generation. In recent years, however, small business owners have faced many challenges, and that’s particularly true for those in majority Black, Hispanic and Latino communities. Fortunately, data is showing a strong trend toward improvement and normalization.

Many small businesses have more cash than they did before the pandemic, notably the smallest businesses with less than $100,000 in annual revenue. With more than two-thirds of small businesses expecting increased revenue and sales this year, they’re planning to put that money back into their workforce, to hire and retain employees by increasing wages and offering upskilling and training opportunities, according to JPMorgan Chase’s Business Leaders Outlook survey.

Black, Hispanic and Latino small business owners in particular say they’re optimistic about the year ahead, and the number of new businesses formed in cities like Washington, D.C. is at an alltime high – in D.C., new business formation is up 39% over the last three years.

“Minority-owned businesses are fueling the U.S. economy –driving growth, innovation and job creation,” said Mikal Quarles, head of Chase Business Banking Racial Equity Strategies. “It’s im-

portant that we provide them with tools, resources and network capital to help them take their business to the next level and create and sustain wealth long-term.”

Citing access to capital as one of the top barriers for small businesses, banks play a critical role as catalyst in small business success. Over the last few years, JPMorgan Chase has doubled-down on its commitment to help minority-owned business succeed, including through its $30 billion Racial Equity Commitment that seeks to help close the racial wealth gap, such as through new mentorship programs, events, and expanded access to credit for business owners.

Small business owners have a plethora of resources and information available to help them at any stage of their business. Whether it’s looking for guidance on how to start or grow a small business, or access financial tools, here are some important steps to consider:

• Starting a business: Prospective owners can consider a few important foundational pieces, including writing a business plan, establishing a business bank account and applying for and filing the right permits and licenses. Also, prospective business owners should think through their business structure – will they be a sole proprietor, operate an LLC or choose another structure? Gathering funds and deciding where to do business are two more key steps to take before finally launching a company.

• Growing a business: As business owners continue to generate revenue, they can shift their focus to growing and scaling their business. Future financing plans could include applying for additional loans, grants or investor funding. Business banking accounts can be leveraged to help meet the goals of a business owner.

• Forging ahead: If a business owner has a few years of success un-

der their belt, they can discover new ways to optimize their business and streamline operations. That includes keeping cash flow healthy, continuing to build their customer base, and looking for digital tools to help simplify processes like invoicing and payments.

Small business owners can also access new tools designed to help lower the barrier to entry to accessing capital and the tools needed to set them up for success. Last year, JPMorgan Chase introduced a Special Purpose Credit Program to help expand credit access in majority Black, Hispanic and Latino communities for business owners who otherwise might not be approved or receive it on less favorable terms.

JPMorgan Chase also expanded its free one-on-one coaching program to 45 trained senior business consultants in 21 U.S. cities, including in D.C. where they’re providing mentoring and advice to Hispanic, Latino and Black business owners within the community on everything from boosting creditworthiness to managing cash flow to effective marketing.

“We’re changing the lens of how we define business success by integrating new practices and products that drive more equitable outcomes,”

said Carolina Jannicelli, head of JPMorgan Chase’s Community Impact division, which facilitates the firm’s Racial Equity Commitment. “Our commitment is simply a starting point that is transforming our overall work as a company, driving business and more inclusive economic growth.”

For more tips to help you launch or grow your small business, check out chase.com/business/knowledge-center/start.

Combating the racial wealth divide

JPMorgan Chase is building on our investments in Washington, D.C. and around the country to help close the racial wealth gap and build a more equitable future.

As part of our commitment, we are taking actions to help improve financial health and access to banking in Black, Latino and Hispanic communities. Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

MUSIC COMPOSITION RECORDING PRODUCTION SINGING

This unique and fun-filled summer program is designed for students wanting to improve their musicianship, seek careers in music, or for those who have an interest in exploring music composition, recording, production and/or singing.

Passionate DMV Native Langston

Hughes on Path to Jazz

Success

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Langston Hughes II is a DMV native with a passion for music, with the abili ty to both produce his own composition and reimagine classic songs with his own twist. Not far from his child hood stomping grounds of Capitol Heights and Bowie, Hughes per formed a tribute to Duke Ellington late last month at the Kennedy Center. This tribute is available for viewing on YouTube.

He recently graduated from Howard University, where he stud ied under the tutelage of Charlie Young III. During one of his un dergraduate classes, National En dowment for the Arts (NEA) 2023

Jazz Masters Fellow Kenny Garrett even gave him feedback on one of his performances during class. His next plans are to study at the famed Juil liard University in New York and achieve a graduate degree in Jazz Studies.

“This concentrated period of time will give me a unique opportunity to truly dive deep into the tradition of this music so that I can be a breath for generations whose impacts continue to bring forth an abundance of hope and strength in times of adversity,” he said, adding that even as a Juilliard student, he will continue to perform in D.C.

While he originally wanted to study engineering as a child, his love for music led him to study the topic academically as well. The Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education (FAME) and the NAACP ACT-SO competition both helped him develop as a young musician, and he said he is grateful for their role in inspiring his pursuit of musical achievement. He continues to volunteer with FAME to help grow the next generation of musicians. He cites music’s ability to develop cognitive abilities and jazz’s improvisational and spontaneous thinking as just some of the benefits for a child’s education.

“I realized early on the profound impact that music held, observing the passion, joy, sadness and sheer power it elicited in people who had never even picked up an instrument. So, when my fourthgrade teacher handed me a saxophone, I

eagerly took the opportunity and became consumed by it,” the musician explained. “ Later, I discovered jazz and realized that it simply represented the creative expression of people's experiences and lives.”

In 2021, Hughes served as an Artist-In-Resident at the Strathmore’s North Bethesda Art Center.

To clarify– Hughes is not related to the famous poet, with whom he shares a name.

“Although I’m not related, I do believe there is some kind of connection with him being an artist communicating through poetry and through spoken word, and I think I do the same thing but through music,” he said in a WTOP interview.

For Hughes, jazz is more than about the tunes; it's the narratives behind them.

“Now, I not only love the music but also the stories that the music represents.”

To learn more about Hughes and his work, visit his website langstonhughesii. com. WI

5 Langtson Hughes, a Howard alum with a passion for jazz, is a star on the saxophone.

(Photo courtesy: Rob Roberts/Washington Informer)

Jamie Tyler’s 50th Birthday, Couple Shares Tips on Living a Full Life Tylers Dish on Second Half of Love & Marriage: DC Season 2

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

It’s not every year that one turns the big 5-0, but while it’s a major milestone, Jamie Tyler of OWN’s “Love & Marriage: DC,” at his 50th birthday celebration emphasized each day of life and every birthday is a reason to rejoice.

“I celebrate every birthday. If you’ve lived like I’ve lived, survived some of the things I survived, every year means the same to me,” Tyler told the Informer at Play Lounge in Northwest, D.C. on May 2. “Fifty is just a milestone that we all celebrate, but I cherish every last one of them.”

His wife of 27 years (together for 30 years) and show co-star Erana Tyler echoed her husband’s sentiments.

“We’ve been celebrating Jamie’s birthday– I think I threw his first

surprise party when he was in his twenties, so every year it’s been a huge celebration,” she said. “Jamie enjoys life, celebrates everything and this 50 is very important because it’s a milestone.”

In the second half of season two, which the Tylers said should begin airing this summer, audiences will be able to get a glimpse into what retirement looks like for the husband and father, and how his new life affects the family.

“Make sure y’all tune into the second half because we talk a lot about Jamie’s retirement,” Erana said.

Living everyday to the fullest is a motto and lifestyle for the Tylers.

“You’ve just got to live your life everyday, don’t leave anything on the table,” Jamie said. WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

Woolly Mammoth Celebrates the Power of Black Narratives

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company celebrated the power and importance of Black storytelling at the nation’s premier archive and site for Black narratives, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on May 6. In a celebratory fashion only arts appreciators could so boldly and beautifully execute– fully equipped with dancing, access into exhibits, an

open bar, and a scrumptious, carefully crafted meal— hundreds of guests donned their “creative cocktail and formal attire,” for a commemoration honoring award-winning musical “A Strange Loop,” legendary activist and artist Rayceen Pendarvis.

“The African American Museum is the perfect location for tonight’s gala,” said Lonnie Bunch, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the first Black man to hold his post.

“The nation is desperately in need of institutions like ours, to celebrate

and support the artists and creators, who paint the full picture of the American experience in every tint and every tone. Both Woolly Mammoth and the African American Museum, embody the truth that African American history, in many ways, is the quintessential American story,” Bunch added.

Woolly’s Artistic Director Maria Manuela Goyanes further emphasized the connection between the 43-yearold theatre and the NMAAHC.

“At Woolly we foster courageous, new work on our stages and in our broader community, all led by the belief and continued proof that theatre can be a powerful catalyst for an equitable, engaged and more creative society, and we do not walk this path alone. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is dedicated to the comprehensive, nuanced narrative of our country’s identity, a Black freedom journey connected directly to the ideals this country was founded on. Both this museum and Woolly know the crucial role in Black stories shaping America’s past, present and future,” Goyanes said.

WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

5 (Courtesy Photo)

Material Possibilities in the Collection

Greater Washington Community Foundation celebrated 50 years

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

For five decades Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF) has served as a liaison and nucleus for Washington metropolitan area philanthropic efforts, as well as a hub for raising awareness and addressing some of the DMV’s most critical challenges and economic disparities. In a celebratory event that focused on GWCF’s history and revealed plans for the future, the organization concluded a day of celebrating 50 years of serving the community, with a festive gala at

the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on May 3.

“We hosted three events on [May 3]. We had a legacy luncheon with donors who have decided to include the Community Foundation in their estate plans and the professional advisors that refer them to refer them to us. Then we had a VIP reception at about 5 p.m. to acknowledge our sponsors for the event. And then we had the big show that started at 6:30 with about 500 of our closest friends from

Celebrating Local Journalism at MDDC Awards Luncheon

Washington Informer Team Receives Recognition

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Hundreds of media professionals met, dined and celebrated at the MDDC Press Association Awards Luncheon at the Doubletree by Hilton in Annapolis, Maryland on May 5. Equipped with powerful speeches, awards presentations and a tacos buffet, in conjunction with Cinco de Mayo, the event honored the hard work that goes into relaying news, particularly on a local level.

Several news outlets, including the Baltimore Sun, AFRO American Newspapers, Catholic Review, Baltimore Fishbowl and Coastal Point were some of the many winners during the afternoon.

The Washington Informer also walked away with a couple accolades.

Dan Olds and WI Managing Editor Micha Green garnered first place in the category: “News-driven Special Section, Division E,” for their work on the “2022 Year in Review,” which Green called a true, “staff-wide effort.”

Olds also swept the “Division E News Page Design" category, winning first place for “A New World: Build for Mother Nature’s Wrath,” and second place for “Back to School 2022.”

WI Contributing Writer Brenda Siler placed second for her work, “Active Shooter Preparedness Training Offered by DC Government,” in the “Division E, Public Service,” category. WI

Dindga McCannon, Charlie Parker and Some of the Amazing Musicians He Influenced (detail), Painting from 1983, mixed media quilt from 2010

5 WI Publisher Denise Rolark-Barnes, WI Managing Editor Micha Green and WI Contributing Writer Brenda Siler pose for a photo at the MDDC luncheon on May 5 in Annapolis, Maryland. (WI Photo)

GWCF Page 40

porcupine is a peaceful and pokey animal. The word pokey has two meanings. It can mean slow. Or it can mean something sharp that can poke or jab.

Porcupines have sharp, pokey quills

These are how a porcupine protects itself from predators. They can also make a porcupine look larger and more scary.

Making a Point

Write down the numbers you nd along the correct path through the maze to learn how many quills there are on a porcupine.

Don’t Stick Around!

If a porcupine is attacked, its prickly quills come out and poke into the face or body of the attacker. Porcupines do not shoot their quills like arrows. But the quills come out easily when touched.

At the end of each quill is a tiny hook, like a fishhook, which makes the quill puncture and stick into skin of a predator.

That’s the Tooth

A porcupine’s teeth keep growing every day, so they need to gnaw and gnaw on things to keep their teeth from getting too big. Circle every other letter to reveal a surprising fact about porcupine teeth.

Porcupines by the Numbers

Replace the missing words!

Whoa, Baby!

Baby porcupines are called porcupettes. They are born covered in soft, bendable quills that harden a few days after they are born.

When attacked, a porcupine rolls up into a ball. Imagine a spiky ball!

The Tree Life

Porcupines eat leaves, twigs and fruit. No ____________ many live in trees!

They have long tails that they can ________ around branches to help them __________ up trees. But if they can’t find a good sleeping spot in a tree, they will sleep on the ground or in a ____________ log.

Porcupines are _________________. This means they like to sleep during the day and stay up at night.

6

They can grow to be ______ to ______ feet in length. 10 – 7 7 – 3

+ 6 41 – 6 Porcupines live to about _____ years old. 9 + 9

Standards Link: Math: Calculate sums and differences.

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns. S X B A K H E E R T S G I W T F B Q G X L N K R R N A O N I L H U U F P B A A L O F I L R T Y G W H R T A Q U I L L S R R T H T E E T H I X N R E K O P H O O K I L A N R U T C O N K E N I P U C R O P BABY FLAT FRUIT FUR GNAW HOOK NOCTURNAL POKE PORCUPINE QUILLS ROLLS SKIN TEETH TREE TWIGS

Standards Link: Language Arts: Write descriptive paragraphs

about a particular subject.

CLIMB HOLLOW WRAP

WONDER NOCTURNAL

Signs of Spring

Porcupines Draw 1. 2. 3. 4. KID SCOOP IS SPONSORED BY

review wi book

"White Burgers, Black Cash: Fast Food from Black Exclusion to Exploitation" by Naa Oyo

A. Kwate

c.2023, University of Minnesota Press / $29.95 / 451 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Hold the pickles, no mustard.

Double patty, add bacon, fried onions, that's how you like your burger. As for chicken, well, it has to have cheese, and there must be something salty-crunchy on the side or it's not a complete meal. Yeah, Mom could sure cook but not like this, and in the new book "White Burgers, Black Cash" by Naa Oya A. Kwate, you'll see why fast food was slow to come to Black communities.

Though restaurants certainly existed before the turn of the last century, fastfood joints "took root in the early 1900s, when the earliest … chains began." White Castle, with their oniony square burgers, is widely considered to be the first; later, KFC, Burger King and McDonald's became the juggernauts of the industry, and something set them apart.

The first fast-food restaurants, says Kwate, "did not include Black folks," whether explicitly or implicitly when restaurants weren't built in their areas. While high-end establishments and wealthier homes employed Black waiters, fast food was "almost exclusively White," from kitchen to booth.

In the 1920s, though, franchisees started noticing that they were leaving money on the table. Slowly, fast food restaurants were built in areas once ignored — possibly, says Kwate, for profit or perhaps because developers saw it as a way to keep Black diners from White neighborhoods. There was controversy about the new additions — citizens of both races thought the restaurants were "a nuisance." After a time, some already-established restaurants were accidentally found in Black neighborhoods because of "White flight."

By the latter half of the 1960s, Black investors were finally invited to buy in as franchisees; in addition, some White operators were ordered by their home franchise to sell a percentage of their sites to Black citizens. This led closer to the equality Black operators wanted, but with a price: by the turn of this century, "studies began to mount … showing that residential proximity to fast food mattered for health."

"Black youth," says Kwate, "were especially at risk."

Looking for something light to read while you enjoy your basket meal with onion rings? This book is interesting, but it isn't like that.

Like a triple-patty super-sized sandwich,"White Burgers, Black Cash" is much heavier than you might expect, at first glance. Author Naa Oyo A. Kwate dives deep into her subject, beginning years before the first White Castle opened — and that narrative includes neighborhood names, street names, and competitors' locations, which likely won't mean much to many readers. There are pictures in here but those, too, often have inadequate context. Still, it's worth biting into this book because of its wider focus on racism and what White America was doing at this time, and its inclusion of other, more social history that's relevant to this subject.

Readers who can consume this book slowly, and chew on its information with careful thought will get more out of it than those who want a fast book about fast food. "White Burgers, Black Cash" deserves more cogitation, and you won't even need fries with that. WI

horoscopes

ARIES Blast out of the starting gate as the week begins! You can use a superhuman burst of speed and spontaneity to get ahead on Monday, especially if "getting ahead" means meeting new people and trying new things. On Tuesday and Wednesday and into the first half of Thursday, you'll find obstacles blocking your progress. You can still persevere. Lucky Numbers: 10, 21, 34

TAURUS Feeling strangely rushed? You'll be unusually antsy as the week begins, but if you don't want to blow your budget (literally or metaphorically), you'll need to resist those impulses on Monday. Count on others to notice (and be impressed). Saturday, you'll feel that urge to rush return, but this time you'll have communication skills to talk your way through your impulsiveness. Lucky Numbers: 13, 29, 58

GEMINI On Monday, you'll have the clear, charismatic communication skills to chat up anybody, but conversations with friends and those close to you will give you the most insight. You'll need that guidance going into Tuesday and Wednesday (and even Thursday morning) as you're faced with unusual obstacles and unclear expectations. From Thursday afternoon everything blocking your way will vanish. Lucky Numbers: 6, 14, 57

CANCER You'll be tempted to fly off the handle on Monday, but a more measured approach is in order. On Tuesday and Wednesday (and on through Thursday morning), that mental and emotional haste will be a big benefit as your quick wit and crazy ideas win you applause and admiration. From Thursday you might feel overwhelmed by pesky details, but don't let them get you down. Lucky Numbers: 17, 22, 29

LEO Ready for a fun Monday? You can make a good time out of almost any situation as the week begins, so don't be bashful about getting others in on the game. Tuesday and Wednesday should take a decidedly more serious slant as your attention turns to your reputation (or career or ego). From Thursday through Saturday, friends will look to you to lead the way on some collective effort. Lucky Numbers: 3, 26, 59

VIRGO Expect your week to get off to a decisive start! You'll be filled with conviction and a sense of purpose on Monday, and you'll know exactly what to do. (Your only real danger is accidentally running over a friend or coworker in the process.) From Thursday afternoon through Saturday, expect a return to life's finer, more pragmatic details. Fortunately, you've got the organizational skills to whip them into shape. This Sunday, get energy from a group or gathering. Lucky Numbers: 4, 9, 40

LIBRA Whatever you bring to the table (positive or negative) will be multiplied and returned. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, your natural diplomacy will shine. Others will look to you to give advice and settle disputes. Saturday, expect to be filled with earnest and expansive intellectual energy. Lucky Numbers: 12, 17, 54

SCORPIO Others will look to you for assistance on Monday, and you'll feel a strong emotional pull to do the right thing. From Thursday afternoon through Saturday, you'll need to mind your p's and q's. The devil is, as ever, in the details. This Sunday, use your intuition to get what you want. Lucky Numbers: 5, 31, 36

SAGITTARIUS You're full of verve and vitality on Monday, and you can accomplish almost anything at work, at home, or in your love life. Starting on Tuesday and into Thursday morning, your communication skills are without equal. You can get your point across clearly and persuasively, and no argument is too subtle or complex. This Sunday, follow your mood and don't hold back. Lucky Numbers: 22, 37, 49

CAPRICORN Don't let your worries get the better of you as this week begins. You'll get through this rough patch soon enough, and you can handle any troubles you face on Monday. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning, everything will get much easier. You'll be free with your feelings and fast with ideas, and others won't hesitate to let you know how much you're appreciated. Lucky Numbers: 9, 10, 12

AQUARIUS Anything can happen as the week begins! You're positively electric on Monday, coursing with ideas and imagination. Splash out artistically, and don't be surprised if your experiments lead to big discoveries. Starting on Tuesday and on through Thursday morning, excitement won't come so easily. But don't fret. You're never at a loss for a crazy plan, and you can keep yourself (and your friends) entertained with just a little effort. Lucky Numbers: 5, 8, 13

PISCES Show some caution as the week begins. Things might not be what they seem on Monday, and you might need to solve a puzzle or two to get to the bottom of things. On Tuesday and Wednesday (and Thursday morning), you'll be speaking the language of love in poetry, love letters, or maybe even just romantic texts. Expect positive (if not equally amorous and articulate) replies. On Sunday, nobody can resist your fun, flirtatious attitude. Lucky Numbers: 6, 21, 55

SPORTS

Howard University Women's Track Program Makes Waves

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

Over the past two seasons, the Howard University track and field program has had moments of success at the prestigious Penn Relays and the NCAAs. But none could be more impactful than at this past weekend's games in Philadelphia. The Bison turned the heads and made a strong

Howard Women's Rugby Team Makes History

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

When the Howard University rugby club embarked on a quest to establish a competitive program in 2020, there were a lot of unknowns. The university had never had a women's team represent it in the sport. Moreover, the club became the first HBCU team to ever compete. But with motivation and determination, the club no longer was an unknown, establishing itself and advancing to the College Rugby Association of America D2 Women's national championship, held this past Sunday in Houston, Texas.

statement when Jessica Wright not only captured the 400-meter hurdles, but repeated the title from the previous year, a rarity.

In addition, Darci Khan won the 100-meter hurdles against a highly talented field that included the always talented Jamaicans. It marked the first time that Howard has won two individual championships at the Penn Relays.

To understand how this happened,

The outcome did not fare as well as the team would have hoped for, as it fell to perennial power Claremont College, 47-5.in a rugby national championship match.

The team played eight games during the season to advance to the finals.

Along the way and even up to the nationals, the team faced challenges. First it had to raise $24.000 to fund the trip to Houston. iThen on game day, the match was set for 12 pm CST, but was postponed until 1:30 pm CST due to lightning and thunderstorms in the area.

“Today was gritty. It was muddy and grimy,” stated Maya-Janelle Waller, a

all one must do is look to Director of Track and Field David Oliver. A former Olympic medalist and All-American hurdler, Oliver took over the reins in September 2017 and now has established the program nationally.

"Anyone who knows the Howard track program understands that we have had some outstanding hurdlers,” said Oliver.

Wright is no stranger to success, having been named a two-time NCAA

flank and one of several freshmen on the club. "We learned a lot from this experience. We look at it as a loss, never a failure.”

In playing Claremont, the youthful team fell behind early and never was able to recover.

“I hope for us to improve on today and grow on all that we have learned so far," noted Kristin Lewis, another freshman. "I hope we come right back to nationals and show everyone who we are as a team. I also hope we inspire a lot of the Black and brown girls who were watching today and put more people like us into the world of rugby." WI

All-American as a hurdler and a member of the 4X400 relay team last year.

"I was motivated to repeat," declared Wight, a health science major and a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Commissioner's All-Academic Team. "It is hard to repeat but it was a chance for me to display the hard work that I put in." WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

3 Howard University's Jessica Wright captured the 400-meter hurdles championship at the Penn Relays for the second straight year (Courtesy photo/ Yusuf Abdullah)

CAPTURE the moment

5 Go-Go legend, Shorty Corleon (left) and Melvin Hines holding up the ribbon cut during the grand opening of Anacostia’s latest restaurant, DCity Smokehouse. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Political, Spiritual Leaders Highlight

Importance of Prayer Leaders, Residents Emphasize The Power of Prayer

By Hamil R. Hartis WI Contributing Writer

Established in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, the first Thursday in May is designated as the National Day of Prayer, and last week, from the White House, to Maryland State House, to houses of worship nationwide, pastors and people took the day to pray.

“The right to pray is enshrined in our Constitution and stamped firmly in the American tradition, " President

Biden said in his proclamation. “The belief that prayer can move mountains is, at its core, a belief in making the impossible possible. There is nothing more American than believing in the endless possibilities of what we can do when we do it together.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore observed the National Prayer Day in Maryland with a proclamation that acknowledged the role of prayer as a valuable tool to “strengthen the bonds of understanding, tolerance, friendship, and unity among all people.”

“Marylanders cherish our heritage of religious freedom, and throughout our state and the nation, events will take place to celebrate and honor the National Day of Prayer,” said Gov. Moore. “Let us pause for a moment and reflect on the importance and healing nature of prayer in our lives.”

The Rev. Henry P. Davis, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Highland Park, compared developing a healthy prayer life to his training as a long-distance runner.

“As a runner, you have to develop strong muscles, and we are doing that

spiritually,” Davis said in an interview. “Our men are getting together today because developing a strong muscle for prayer is critical.”

First Baptist Church of Highland Park also held a church-wide prayer service the following Friday evening.

THE POWER OF PRAYER

across the region,” said Tonia Wellons, GWCF president and CEO, in an interview on the Informer’s WIN-TV.

WELLONS SAID NMAAHC WAS THE PERFECT

“It takes a lot to get to 50 years and we really wanted to make sure that we acknowledged all of the people who were instrumental in establishing the Community Foundation back in 1973,” Wellons explained. “We wanted to tell the story about our history at a museum of national history— African American history,”

“We recognized Terri Freeman, who was the longest serving first Black woman CEO of the Community Foundation, and then many of her former staff members and trustees were in the audience,” Wellons added. “We’ve disbursed over $1.7 billion in philanthropic capital to the region and beyond over the course of those 50 years.”

The foundation serves a few purpos-

es, answering to, advising, managing and housing donors’ assets and funds, maintaining a pulse on area-wide challenges and addressing issues affecting the DMV through designated support of individuals and organizations, as well as their discretionary fund.

“We have an amazing staff that does donor advisory services to our clients every single day. I have a program team, a community investment team that's responsible for developing our request for proposals and making grant decisions across a broad range of issue areas. And then we have a donor services team who's really helping funders to establish their funds to figure out what they care about and how it can best serve our immediate community,” Wellons said.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE GOALS

The GWCF president and CEO emphasized some of the foundation’s recent achievements and future goals.

Closing the racial economic gap in the Greater Washington area is GW-

CF’s “new North Star,” Wellons told the Informer.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We can't do it alone. We have to do it in partnership with almost every major institution in town, government, private sector and the nonprofit sector along with our peers in philanthropy.”

GWCF’s new major target is a $50 million, three-year campaign, called “Together, We Prosper,” in order to begin working towards their hope for economic justice and equity in the Washington metro area.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

In a celebration that had drinks flowing, appetizers circulating and a buffet of food options, and dynamic performances from the likes of After School Dance Fund/ Baila4Life, tunes from DJ Styles and the engaging multi-rhythmic sounds from Christylez Bacon, the GWCF’s gala celebration was a night filled with fun. WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

“Prayer has been such a force for people of faith, especially in the African American community,” Davis said. “We have had to drop on our knees and pray in the face of racism, oppression and basic societal challenges.”

Rev. Keith Battle, pastor of Zion Church, said prayer is vital to his ministry.

“Prayer connects me to God, it is my compass because it gives me direction, and it is my comforter, and it is, and it is concrete because It grounds me,” Battle explained.

“Prayer unites us in community, guides us when we are lost, and uplifts us when we need strength,” said Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “On this day, we recognize the tremendous power of prayer and the need to ensure Maryland remains a state where all people can freely and safely come together in prayer and practice their faith.”

The Rev. Lawrence Ellis Walker, Sr., executive director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives explained prayer as a means of “connecting thoughts and actions to a loving God’s will for each of our lives.”

“The power of prayer brings us comfort, hope, peace, and strength—a unifying force that brings people of all

faiths together,” Walker added.

PRAYER DESPITE HARD TIMES

The president said throughout American history “prayer has empowered moral movements.”

“It was deeply rooted in the fight to abolish slavery and the expansion of voting rights and voter access, “ said Biden and the Rev. Thomas Bowen, director of the District of Columbia Mayor's Office of Religious, agreed. Bowen said “these are difficult days but not impossible days.”

“I hope that our thoughts will cause us to pray, and those prayers lead us to action,” Bowen added. “Frederick Douglass said that he had prayed for freedom for a long time, and he got an answer to his prayer with his feet.”

PRAYER SAVED HER LIFE

Geraldine Capehart, 56, a former school teacher and resident of Temple Hills, said: “Prayer is the very breath,” of who she is, adding that though she is blind in one eye, she calls various prayer lines daily.

“It was prayer that brought me back into the world; it was prayer that brought me to life on August 19, 1966,” Capehart said. “A midwife that delivered 17 of my mother’s 18 children in Marianna, Florida, pronounced me dead, but my mother, father, and aunt Mabel joined in prayer, and I started to breathe. My dad said the Holy Spirit told him to sprinkle water on my face, and I started to breathe.”

WI

GWCF from Page 34

5 Rev. Keith Battle (Courtesy photo)

My people perish from a lack of knowledge. — Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

Principles I'm sharing have worked for me over the past 27 years. Sharing them with you feels as though it is my obligation. Someone reading this column will decide to take steps to reprogram your thinking.

This article is written to you. You who understand the necessity of pursuing knowledge, you who want to become more professionally competent, more confident, and you who want to be more likely to succeed at whatever it is you've set your hand to do now or after retirement, you want to become a specialist.

You can learn and specialize in your field of choice, or as you continue your professional education, training, or tutelage.

Some though, need to evaluate yourself by taking a close look at your exact stock of general knowledge before deciding to specialize in your field. How are you operating in your day-to-day activities, an element essential for the proper functions of life? We must pay attention, we've got to read directions, we must read instructions, and we must get complete details before purchasing tickets and other big-ticket items.

Let me give you an example; it may seem simple to you, but it is a true story. A man purchased a cruise ticket from England to America during the early 1900s. He paid for the cruise and boarded the ship, but would stay in his cab-

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

4: Specialized Knowledge

in at mealtime, thinking his ticket only entitled him to his travel on the ship. He thought the cost of all that exciting food was not included. So he brought his own food, enough to last the whole journey from England to America. On the last day before the ship reached America, the captain asked him why he had never seen him at mealtime. The man explained his reason to the captain. The captain replied, "Sir the ticket included every meal as well." The man was robbed because of a lack of general knowledge. This man would never have missed out on enjoying his meals, but he had a lack of knowledge.

Another story of someone unable to read and missed her blessing. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a preacher in the 1800s, once told a story of the time he visited the home of an old woman who was a servant for a very rich man before he passed away. Prior to the man's death, he had gifted the woman a piece of paper. Though she couldn’t read, she thought the design was pretty, so she framed it. When Spurgeon visited the woman, he looked at the framed piece of paper and realized it was a check. She never knew she had become a millionaire, that her grand-

children would never go hungry again. She was nearly robbed because of a lack of knowledge! These two stories may not sound like something you would do, but in changing the course of your life, your unpreparedness could be just as devastating. The word reminds us in the Scripture according to Hosea: "My people perish from the lack of knowledge."

True knowledge means not only learning details of the path God has put in your life, it also means you must always show love, one for another. Never act as if you know so much, that you feel you're better than others. Continue to learn for the rest of your life, and remain humble!

Paul himself had profound knowledge of the Scriptures, but he understood that intellectual knowledge on its own is meaningless. Worse, it can be a dangerous source of pride that prevents discovery of a much deeper form of knowledge: Love. "Knowledge puffs up, love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1). Puffed-up knowledge also shuts out vast realms of mystery.

As you continue to live your life, keep gaining knowledge, specialized knowledge, and stay humble — it's biblical and it works. WI

Shiloh Church of

7th Day

RELIGION

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor

9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743

Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM

Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon

Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM

Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com

Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com

Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word of Life Church

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011

(202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

Service and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Campbell AME Church

Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020

Adm. Office 202-678-2263

Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study

Wednesday: 12:00 Noon

Wednesday: 7:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 PM

“Reaching Up To Reach Out”

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

Turning Hearts Church

Virgil K. Thomas, Sr.

Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032

Phone: 202-746-0113

Fax: 301-843-2445

Service and Times

Sunday School: 10:15 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM

Children’s Church: 11:15 AM

Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment”

Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org

Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com

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

Services and Times

Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services

Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays

12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM)

Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power

“An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler

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

Fax: 202 265 4340

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM

Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr.

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

Service and Times

Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM

Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM

Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM

Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

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

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Street

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us...

Bishop

Sr. Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

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

Mt.

Zion

Baptist Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor

5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220

Fax: 202-726-9089

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion 10 a.m. 4th Sunday

Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.)

Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

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

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002

(202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM

Sunday Youth Worship Services:

1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE

5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church

Prayer Services

Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round

Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org

Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

headline and photo for LIF - MALCOLMXDAY

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

Service and Times

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

“Friendliest Church in the City”

Website: mountolivetdc.org

Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D.

Third

Church of God

Lanier C. Twyman,

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

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

Zion Baptist Church

Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

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

Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study

7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study

Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday

Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

Pastor

1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851

P: (202) 726-5940

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun.

Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM

Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

All Nations Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. Washington, DC 20002

Phone (202) 832-9591

Service and Times

Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM

Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM

Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM

Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM

Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge

Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com

All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Israel Baptist Church

Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM

Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM

Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM

Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM

Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Interim Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM

Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax

“Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . 100% Forgiven!

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM

Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM

www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836

Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM

Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday

Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Apostolic Worship Services

11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM

Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM

Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

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

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 11 AM

Sunday School: 10 AM

Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor 2001 Brooks Drive  District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am

Sunday School: 9:00am

Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning

Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm

Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm

Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"

Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com

Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Curtis l. Staley Pastor 621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032

P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Service and Times

Sunday Service: 10:00 AM

Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM

1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM

2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM

Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

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

“Real

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Priest

Foggy Bottom Founded in 1867

728 23rd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037

Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958

Service and Times

Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns

Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org

Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

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

Promised Land Baptist Church

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

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

Senior Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM

Sunday School: 8:15 AM

Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon

Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

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

Peace Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002

Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836

Service and Times

Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM

Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM

“The Loving Church of the living lord “

Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor 602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480

Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times

Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM

Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM

Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM

Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org

Website: www.firstrising.org

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday

“…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500

Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org

Website:www.mthoreb.org

For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

Rev.

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim

Elder Herman L. Simms

Rev. Richard B. Black

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Christ Embassy DC

Rev.

Mount

Rev.

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson

gunshot to the back of the head that left him paralyzed, without short-term memory and unable to perform the most basic of functions for a little over a year. Throughout most of his adolescence, Bates encountered developmental challenges that took him from Children’s National Medical Center in Northwest to Hospital for Sick Children on Bunker Hill Road in Northeast and eventually to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

By middle school, Bates started attending Kennedy Krieger Institute, a school in Baltimore for children who’ve experienced disorders and injuries similar to his.

While at that school, Bates, who described himself as a nerd, fell even more deeply in love with mathematics. He also recalled basking in the warmth that teachers and staff provided, especially during the times he lost focus and engaged in mischievous behavior, partially out of frustration with his situation.

Through it all, Bates acknowledged his family as a constant force in his teenage years. He said many of them traveled from other cities, and eventually set

roots in the D.C. area, in the aftermath of the Easter Monday shooting.

For Bates, no one, perhaps, provided emotional support like his mother throughout middle and high school.

As he gears up for another Mother’s Day, Bates said he’s looking forward to taking his mother to one of her favorite restaurants where they can spend time and engage in conversation as they’ve always done.

“My mom was there the whole way,” Bates said. “She didn’t say much [throughout the situation]. She had to stay strong for me. She was like that. She has been like that since I was born. I felt helpless not being able to do anything for myself. It made me feel less of a person.”

TWO MOTHERS MAKE A WAY

In the days and weeks after her son was shot, Gillian Bates spoke with D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), President Bill Clinton and a bevy of politicians, public officials and nonprofit organizations eager to lend a helping hand.

Over the next few years however,

Bates would mostly navigate Pappy’s recovery by herself. She said she dug deep into her soul to not only support Pappy throughout his teenage years, but forge a bond with Linda Grimes-Jones, the mother of the young man who shot Pappy.

Mother and Pappy Bates, Pappy’s fiance, and Grimes-Jones recently visited the Informer office in Southeast, D.C. For more than an hour, they reflected on the Easter Monday incident and what has happened in the decades since.

It was Pappy’s first time meeting Grimes-Jones.

Also joining the conversation was Tyrone Parker, a founding member and executive director of the Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM), a local nonprofit dedicated to combating juvenile crime and violence.

Jones, now 37 and out of prison, didn’t make the visit to the Informer.

In 2003, years after Jones had been tried and convicted of assault with attempt to commit murder, Parker passed along Grimes-Jones’ number to Bates. WI Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

Days later, the two mothers spoke on

DC ANNUAL CITYWIDE

Before then, Bates’ only interaction with Grimes-Jones had been in the courtroom during Jones’ trial. Bates had also known of Jones’ father, James Antonio Jones, an enforcer in Rayful Edmond III’s drug organization who, at that time, was also serving time in

Baby Shower

ADMISSION IS FREE!

Bates, initially hesitant to speak to ly hit it off on the phone, laughing and

Saturday, May 13

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Culture House DC 700 Delaware Ave. SW

Register at bit.ly/DCBabyShower2023 or SCAN HERE.

at the age of 22 and hasn’t looked back.

“I started off when I was a student at Howard University, I was a therapeutic mentor in the treatment foster program in D.C., and I had this one particular girl that never wanted to leave my home,” Route told the Informer in a WIN-TV interview.

A chat with the girl’s social worker changed Route’s life.

“I will never forget the conversation, I was dropping her back off,” Route said, after the child, with permission, spent Thursday evening to Monday at her home. “The social worker was like, ‘Ms. Route, you are really taking care of this young person, have you ever considered being a foster parent, because you’re so good at it?’ And I’m like, ‘Me? I’m only 22 years-old. I do not need to be a mother.’

The social worker explained there was financial aid and training to help support the child, and with a bit of convincing, Route took the appropriate courses and the girl was placed in her home.

“I was already court-involved as a mentor. The judge was so happy and wrote me this prestigious letter,” Route explained. “The judge was like, ‘Oh, Ms. Route, you are phenomenal.’”

However, Route wasn’t trying to be phenomenal, just loving and responsible.

“I just knew I had this girl, this baby, that was so attached to me, that never wanted to go back to her foster care placement.”

MAY: NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

May marks National Foster Care Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, and while this time commemorates those special topics, the matters and the individuals they affect are important year round.

“Children are coming into foster care with some type of mental health diagnosis, some type of behavioral health issue,” said Route. “Some may need more assistance than other children, based on the amount of abuse they have, unfortunately, experienced and lived with.”

Nationwide, there are currently more than 391,000 youth in foster care, according to the 2021 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System and many of them are facing undiagnosed or untreated mental and behavioral health needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that mental and behavioral health is the largest unmet health challenge for foster children and teens.

Statistics from the National Conference of State Legislatures, featured on ChildWelfare.gov (the Children’s Bureau), show that 80% of youth and young adults in foster care face mental health issues in comparison to 18% to 22% of the general population. Further, the Children’s Bureau reports that Black people are less likely to be offered “evidence-based medication therapy or psychotherapy,” thus preventing a further challenge for African American foster children and families.

President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed May as National Foster Care Month and the Children’s Bureau maintains the celebration, with this year's theme being "Strengthening Minds, Uplifting Families."

“I recently had an opportunity to meet with young adults who were at various stages in their transition from foster care and overwhelmingly heard that strong mental health support was key to their success. They said the approach should be trauma informed, individualized, and culturally responsive,” said Aysha E. Schomburg, associate commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in a statement about National Foster Care Month 2023.

WI

Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com.

FOSTER PARENT from Page 1

5 Bladensburg Councilmember Jocelyn Route (center) with her children, ages 17 months to 17 years old. (Courtesy Photo/ Jocelyn Route).

MOTHERS from Page 1 own, Roberts managed to complete a bachelor’s degree at the now defunct Southeastern University in 2004 and a Master of Business Administration at Trinity University in Northeast in 2007.

As the main parent in her children’s lives, Roberts would face long odds for success, according to an August 22, 2022, blog by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The blog, “Child Well-Being in Single Parent Families,” reported in the U.S., nearly 24 million children live in a single parent family. This is one in every three children. Within single parent-families, most children—15 million—live in mother-only households like Roberts’. The blog reported 64% of Black children live in single-parent families as opposed to white and Asian and Pacific Islander young people, who have rates of 24% and 14%, respectively.

In terms of family structure and socioeconomic status, the blog reported 30% of single parents live in poverty, while just 6% of married couples fit the same statistic. Plus, single parents are more likely to live in poverty when compared to cohabiting couples, and single mothers are much more likely to be poor when compared to single fathers.

THE ROBERTS FAMILY

Roberts’ oldest child is MaKayla Roberts-Grose, a 23-year-old entrepreneur, followed by Ronnell Grose, a 22-year-old blue collar worker. Ronald Grose, 21, the third child, is a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and the fourth is M’nayi Roberts-Grose, an 18-year-old first-year student at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

The young children are Roman Roberts, 9, and Miche’ Roberts-Kave, 6.

Roberts said she started early in her adult life going to school, working, and raising her kids simultaneously.

“I was 23 years old with four children already,” she said. “I started college with an infant in my hands.”

Roberts said she forged ahead with raising her children as a priority “skipping out on partying and going out to the clubs.”

“I did my homework while caring for my children,” she said. “Later, we would do our home-

CLASSIFIEDS

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

MEDIABIDS MISCELLANEOUS

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book!

Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-420-7280 or visit http:// dorranceinfo.com/informer

Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T's Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! CALL 1-877-370-2155

DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-855-402-3370

CLASSIFIEDS

- No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans.

Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

HughesNet Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle

TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-479-1516

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

Safe Step. North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available.

1-855-417-1306

Switch & save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based service. Call 1-855-903-3048

MobileHelp, America's premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you're home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-489-3936

SAVE 67% PLUS 4 FREE BURGERS - The Favorite Feast - ONLY $49.99.                                        ORDER Today 1-888-318-1190 Use Code 48643VFW or www. OmahaSteaks.com/ ffmb93

Do you know your Testosterone Levels? Call 888-692-5146 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural Testosterone Supplement

Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Bergamonte, a Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results. Call today and save 15 percent off your first bottle! 866-640-5982

work together. I did a lot of things with my children. A lot of people had doubts about me. When they would see me, they thought I was the stereotype. I would even get questions from people such as, ‘Do they have the same father?’”

Roberts has worked in the property management field for over 19 years with many of the properties she supervised in the city’s low-income neighborhoods. She has noticed how children have changed over the years, even among her own.

“My youngest children are exposed to so much negativity,” she said. “Society is much more different for them than it was for my oldest children with the type of music they listen to and the availability of drugs.”

Roberts credits men in the city for providing positive role models for her sons. She said the key to her success in holding the family together is prayer.

“Prayer, it really works,” Roberts said.

The resilient mom explained single mothers or women who are raising their families should hold their heads up high and do what needs to be done for their children to be successful.

“Don’t give up,” she said. “Keep striving. Keep going. Your children look up to you. Be the best Mom you can be.”

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874

READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books)

ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today!

1-866-680-1822

Any laptop repaired just $79. Macs too. REALLY! FREE Fedex shipping! $69 extra for screen or motherboard replacement. CALL

Authorized Laptop Repair Specialists 1-866-437-6184

Ever Consider a Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & Increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888-420-4716

READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books)

ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today!

1-866-680-1822

Personalized holiday gifts for Everyone on your list! Save 20 percent off qualifying products from Personal Creations! To redeem this offer, visit www.PersonalCreations.com/Beauty or Call 1-888-732-0679

Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with fast acting results within 30 days. Call to hear about our special offer 866-640-5982

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. You WIN or Pay Us Nothing. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Today! BBB Accredited. Call For Your FREE Book & Consultation. 888-649-5110

Attention Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-7605952 to try Hydraflexin RISK-FREE for 90 days.

HEAT YOUR HOME FOR 5¢ AN HOUR! Portable infrared iHeater heats 1000 sq. ft. Slashes your heating bills by 50%.  FREE Shipping too! Use claim code 6239 WAS $499 NOW $279 Call 1-866-784-5182

CADNET & NANI CLASSIFIED NETWORK

CLASSIFIEDS

Don ’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-844-317-5246

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-791-1626

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options Request a FREE Quote – Call now before the next power outage: 1-855-465-7624

Safe Step. North America ’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step

1-833-356-1954

The bathroom of your dreams for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-877-540-2780

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-866-783-0292

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ads

Diagnosed with lung cancer? You may qualify for a substantial cash award - even with smoking history. No obligation! We've recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-877-648-2503

MID ATLANTIC COMMUNITY PAPERS ASSOCIATION CLASSIFIED NETWORK (MACNET)

ANNOUNCEMENTS Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance

Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-866-482-1576 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ macnet

Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-877-327-0686 today!

Replace your roof with the best-looking and longest-lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors are available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - $500

Discount + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-338-4807

AUTO INSURANCE Looking for auto insurance? Find great deals on the right auto insurance to suit your needs. Call today for a free quote! 866-924-2397

GENERAL SERVICES Internet & WiFi Starts at $49 Call us Today to Get Started. Find High Speed Internet with Fiber Optic Technology No Credit Check, No SSN Required. Call us Today! 866-396-0515

Vivint. Smart security. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. FREE professional installation.Four FREE months of monitoring! Call now to customize your system. 1-855-870-2073

MISCELLANEOUS

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE

Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-629-6086

Are you receiving SSDI/SSI Benefits? You may be eligible for additional benefits. CALL US TODAY Citizen Disability

1-888-490-6616

Attention Viagra users: Generic 100 mg blue pills or generic 20 mg yellow pills. Get 45 plus 5 free $99 + S/H. Call Today 1-877707-5518

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-590-5561

Need IRS Relief $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness Call

1-877-705-1472 Monday through Friday 7AM-5PM PST

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 888-965-0363

WANTED

BUYING CLASSIC CARS, TRUCKS, SUVs **American and Foreign**

Any Condition. Buying entire car collections. $$PAYING CA$H$$

Please call 717-577-8206 Krmiller1965@yahoo.com

WANTED! MOTORCYCLES! ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Triumph, BSA, and other foreign models. $$PAYING CA$H$$ 717-577-8206 Krmiller1965@yahoo.com

MARYLAND STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK

FOR SALE

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage:

1-855-993-0969

HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 877-738-0991.

MISC. SERVICES

FREE high-speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-888-592-5957

1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258

HEALTH & FITNESS VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit!

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

MISCELLANEOUS Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices

GIFTS Switch and save up to $250/year on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time offer – get $50 off on any new account. Use code GIFT50. For more information, call 1-888-684-1169

HEALTH/MEDICAL

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www.dental50plus. com/macnet #6258

DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER? You may qualify for a substantial cash award - even with smoking history. NO obligation! We've recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-888-650-9135

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-866-518-8391

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-337-5228 www.dental50plus. com/MDDC#6258

PETS/PET SUPPLIES

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on Vet Bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-888-928-1656 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/mddc

VEHICLES WANTED

DONATE YOUR CAR/TRUCK/RV - Lutheran Mission Society of MD Compassion Place ministries help local families with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www.CompassionPlace.org

WI @JamesWrightJr10

“My youngest children are exposed to so much negativity,” she said. “Society is much more different for them than it was for my oldest children with the type of music they listen to and the availability of drugs.”

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that am: " Brezedek Peter Zander© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “BREZEDEK PETER ZANDER", corp.sole Dba.: " Brezedek Peter Zander, styled BREZEDEK P ZANDER© ", BREZEDEK PETER ZANDER©, BREZEDEK ZANDER©, having reached the age of majority, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Californian, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, and all natural laws governing American Citizens, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Californian. I am that I am: " Brezedek Peter Zander© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " brezedek peter zander©". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of yhwh's covenant, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, &

47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC.

203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: Office of Vital Records/California Department of Health : BIRTH

RECORD: 104-77-343738: " BREZEDEK PETER ZANDER© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " Khelt© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " brezedek peter zander© ", nom deguerre: " Brezedek Peter Zander© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " khelt© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate

Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000369

Richard Hailey, Jr.

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Sean Hailey and Deborah L. Stewart, whose addresses are 12010 Towanda Lane, Bowie, MD 20715 & 9910 Locust St., Glendale, MD 20769, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Richard Hailey, Jr. who died on 1/24/2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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: 4/27/2023

Sean Hailey

Deborah L. Stewart

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 000370

Lemuel Brown Decedent

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

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Erica I. Brown, whose address is 4618 Livingston Road, SE, Apartment 201, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lemuel Brown who died on July 10, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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:

4/27/2023

Erica I. Brown Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2021 ADM 001026

Dwight Ferguson, Sr. Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Myra Hart, whose address is 3000 Walters Lane, District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dwight Ferguson, Sr. who died on December 17, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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: 4/27/2023

Myra Hart 3000 Walters Lane District Heights, MD 20747

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000394

Eva Verdell O’Bryant Decedent

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

Novella Walker, whose address is 5008 B McCullin Cout JB Andrews MD 20762, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Eva Verdell O’Bryant who died on 9/16/2022 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 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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: 4/27/2023

Novella Walker Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000453

Estate of Lucille F. Doxie aka Lucille Ferebee Doxie

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Kendra Annette Ramdat for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Admit to probate the will dated May 9, 2022 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Date of first publication: 4/27/2023

Kendra Annette Ramdat 8820 Rustburg Cir, Gaithersburg, MD 20886

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000473

Carol Lynne Vance Decedent

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

Taylor Jeanne Vance, whose address is 1505 Largo Road #203, Henrico, Virginia 23238, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Carol Lynne Vance who died on September 12, 2022 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 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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:

4/27/2023

Taylor Jeanne Vance Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 460

Randolph Williams Decedent

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

Quanika Williams, whose address is 1323 5th St. NW #101 Washington DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Randolph Williams who died on 1/11/2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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: 4/27/2023

Quanika Williams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 000935

Robert D. Walker aka Robert Devaughne Walker

Decedent

Angela D. Minor, Esq. Bar No. 1006947

Minor & Willcox, LLC 9801 Apollo Drive, #7181 Upper Marlboro, MD 20792-7181

Attorney

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

Raheem Walker, whose address is 4709 Springmaid Lane Oxon Hill, MD 20745, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert D. Walker aka Robert Devaughne Walker who died on 11/17/2020 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 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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:

4/27/2023

Raheem Walker Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000318

Vincent Paul Basciano Decedent

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

Albert James Basciano, whose address is 494 Pilgrims Drive, Lititz, PA 17543, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Vincent Paul Basciano who died on December 7, 2022 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 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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:

4/27/2023

Albert James Basciano Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000480

Dannie Green Decedent

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

Veronica Lee-Green, whose address is 4804 Hayes St., NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dannie Green who died on October 8, 2022 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 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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:

4/27/2023

Veronica Lee-Green

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 462

Edward Franklin Johnson aka

E. Franklin Johnson aka Edward F. Johnson aka

E. F. Johnson Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Colette Johnson Mackell, whose address is 40 Channing Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Franklin Johnson aka E. Franklin Johnson aka Edward F. Johnson aka E. F. Johnson who died on 10/16/2022 with a Will, and will serve with Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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:

4/27/2023

Colette Johnson Mackell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 000270

Lorene Peterson Decedent

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

Laverne Evans, whose address is 5434 Macbeth Street, Hyattsville, MD 20784, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laverne Evans who died on February 4, 2021 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 10/27/2023. 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 10/27/2023, 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: 4/27/2023

Laverne Evans

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000468

Effie R. Woody Decedent

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

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Tia Barnes, whose address is 8446 South Marquette Avenue, Apartment 1, Chicago, IL 60617, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Effie R. Woody who died on November 24, 2022 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 11/04/2023. 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 11/04/2023, 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: 5/4/2023

Tia Barnes

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000475

Elizabeth Tart Finley aka Elizabeth T. Finley Decedent

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

Lori Myers, whose address is 13112 Falling Water Court, Bowie, MD 20720, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elizabeth Tart Finley aka Elizabeth T. Finley who died on May 12, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment 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 11/4/2023. 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 11/4/2023, 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:

5/4/2023

Lori Myers

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 FEP 38

8/4/2022

Date of Death

Lunita Slaughter-Stevens

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Sherri Stevens and Wilmatine Slaughter whose addresses are 1409 Peartree Lane Bowie MD, 20721 and 601 Hudson Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Lunita Slaughter-Stevens, deceased, by the Register of Wills Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 9/5/2022.

Service of process may be made upon Kenneth Slaughter 4012 Illinois Ave., NW Washington, DC 20011 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate.

721 Olgethrope Street NE, Washington, DC 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 5/4/2023

Sherri Stevens Wilmatine Slaughter

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001431

Elbert Whiting Decedent

Louvenia W. Williams, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive, #301 Largo, MD 20774

Attorney

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

Joseph E. Whiting, whose address is 12474 Hatton Creek Road, Newburg, MD 20664, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elbert Whiting who died on November 13, 2022 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 11/5/2023. 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 11/5/2023, 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: 5/4/2023

Joseph E. Whiting Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 414

Arlene Mary Martin Decedent

Colline Silvera Robinson Kirlew and Associates, PC 7731 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt. MD 20770

Attorney

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

Jack Bernard Martin, whose address is 2822 27th St., NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Arlene Mary Martin who died on 4/28/2004 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 11/5/2023. 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 11/5/2023, 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:

5/4/2023

Jack Bernard Martin

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000482

Veronica S. Longstreth

Decedent

Maria K. Day-Marshall

6329 Joslyn Place Cheverly, Maryland 20785

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Joy Bellamy Lofton, whose address is 3487 Hunters Hill Drive, Stonecrest, Dekalb County, GA 30038, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Veronica S. Longstreth who died on June 20, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/4/2023. 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 11/4/2023, 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: 5/4/2023

Joy Bellamy Lofton Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000272

Leo Randall Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

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

Johnnie D. Randall, whose address is 4546 Eads Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Leo Randall who died on July 23, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/4/2023. 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 11/4/2023, 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: 5/4/2023

Johnnie D. Randall

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000540

Virginia B. Zanner

Decedent

Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1150

Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Heather Moors Johnson, whose address is 29 Lang Road West, Stuyvesant, NY 12173, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Virginia B. Zanner who died on February 28, 2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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:

5/11/2023

Heather Moors Johnson

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000374

Jesse Thomas Skidmore

Decedent

Brian L. Kass, Esq. 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 434 Washington, DC 20008 Attorney

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

Natalie Jean Arena Skidmore, whose address is 323 Virginia Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jesse Thomas Skidmore who died on January 9, 2023 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Natalie Jean Arena Skidmore Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000500

Gerald E. Jacks, Jr. Decedent

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

Myra B. Waul, whose address is 163 Mason Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gerald E. Jacks, Jr. who died on June 20, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Myra B. Waul Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2023 ADM 000425

Benjamin J. Jackson Decedent

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

Nichelle D. Lighty, whose address is 607 Mace Drive, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Benjamin J. Jackson who died on August 6, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Nichelle D. Lighty Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 524

Lois Ann Jameson Decedent

Theodora H. Brown, Esq.

Law Office of Theodora H. Brown

3127 Cherry Road, NE Washington, DC 20018

Attorney

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

Robert Jameson, whose address is 21927 143rd Road, Springfield Gardens, New York 11413, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lois Ann Jameson who died on January 2, 2022 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 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Robert Jameson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001194

Estate of Haile Tesfamariam

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Tekie Sium for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 5/11/2023

Karen J. Malachi

1101 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite #300 Washington, DC 20004

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 398

Myrthel E. Hargrove Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Michael R. Hargrove, whose address is 10705 Bayview Court Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Myrthel E. Hargrove who died on November 26, 2018 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Michael R. Hargrove

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2023 ADM 476

William N. Cooper Decedent

Aaron E. Price Law Offices of Aaron E. Price 717 D Street, NW #300 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

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

Bobbie J. Cooper, whose address is 5051 Kimi Gray Court, SE Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William N. Cooper who died on 1/21/2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Bobbie J. Cooper Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 1181

Mary Elizabeth Martin Decedent

Colline Silvera Robinson Kirlew Associates 7731 Belle Point Dr., Greenbelt, MD 20770 Attorney

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

Jack Bernard Martin, whose address is 2822 27th St., NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Elizabeth Martin who died on 12/28/1985 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 11/11/2023. 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 11/11/2023, 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: 5/11/2023

Jack Bernard Martin Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

with the shifting electoral landscape of Harris County, is what scares the GOP. This once Republican stronghold, which now leans reliably Democratic, could turn Texas from red to blue in future presidential elections. Without Texas' 38 votes in the Electoral College, the Republicans would be hard-pressed to win any future presidential elections without winning Texas.

Like 2020, the next presidential election is not about free and fair elections. The Texas Republican-controlled Senate passed a bill allowing the secretary of state to redo elections in Harris County,

EDELMAN from Page 28

we realized that involving teenagers and high school students would bring down upon us a heavy fire of criticism, we felt that we needed this dramatic new dimension. Our people were demonstrating daily and going to jail in numbers, but we were still beating our heads against the brick wall of the city officials' stubborn resolve to maintain the status quo. Our fight, if won, would benefit people of all ages. But most of all we were inspired with a desire to give to our young a true sense of their own stake in freedom and justice. We believed they would have the courage to respond to our call." Their response, he said, "exceeded our fondest dreams."

For the children, May 2 was "D-Day." Black disc jockeys were key allies in encouraging and deploying their listeners, and class presidents, star athletes, and prom queens from local schools led the way as hundreds of children skipped class, gathered at the 16th Street Baptist Church, and marched into downtown Birmingham in groups of 50, organized into lines two by two and singing freedom songs. More than a thousand students marched the first day, and hundreds were arrested. Segregationist police commissioner Bull Connor's overwhelmed force started using school buses to take the children to jail. But that first wave of children was only the beginning.

When hundreds more returned the

where several Democratic candidates gained strong midterm results. The Democratic candidate edged out the closely contested race for Harris County judge, the highest position in the county. The bill applies to all counties with a population over 2.7 million, of which there is only one, Harris County. If the House passes the bill and Gov. Greg Abbott signs it, the party claiming to be about free and fair elections has provided a built-in contingency if the 2024 election results in Texas fail to go their way.

It is safe to say that had Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams won her race for governor of Georgia, the legislation

next day, Bull Connor directed the police and fire department to begin using force on the child marchers. The decision surprised even those used to his meanness and brutality, but it was not enough to stop the marchers. The searing heartbreaking pictures of children being battered by powerful fire hoses and attacked by police dogs appeared on front pages around the country and world and helped turned the tide of public opinion in support of the fight for justice.

Marches and protests continued in Birmingham with children leading the way. As more were arrested and attacked others kept coming to take their place, leaving jails so overflowing some child prisoners were held at the city's fairground and in an open-air stockade where they were pelted by rain. On May 8 a temporary truce was called, and on May 10 an agreement was reached that released the jailed children and others on bond and paved the way for desegregation of Birmingham's public facilities.

Hateful segregationists in the city did not give in quietly. Within hours, the Gaston Motel where Dr. King and other SCLC leaders stayed and Dr. King's brother Reverend A.D. King's home were firebombed. Four months later, a bomb was placed under the steps of the 16th Street Baptist Church with a timer deliberately set to go off Sunday morning. The bomb exploded as children were in the church's basement preparing

known as SB-92 would never have been signed. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the legislation that will create an oversight commission with the power to remove local prosecutors and district attorneys from their jobs. The measure comes as Fani Willis, a Democrat serving as the Fulton County district attorney, investigates Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. A special purpose grand jury has already recommended indictments in the matter, and Willis has said if there are charges, they would be announced this summer. Willis has opposed the legislation, warn-

MARSHALL Page 50

to lead Youth Sunday services, and 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley and 11-year-old Denise McNair were killed, with more than 20 others injured.

Months later, when an interviewer asked Dr. King how he felt after that bombing, he first described his despair at thinking if men could be that bestial maybe there really was no hope. But, he said, time eventually "buoyed me with the inspiration of another moment which I shall never forget: when I saw with my own eyes over three thousand young Negro boys and girls, totally unarmed, leave Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church to march to a prayer meeting — ready to pit nothing but the power of their bodies and souls against Bull Connor's police dogs, clubs, and fire hoses." He added: "I never will forget a moment in Birmingham when a white policeman accosted a little Negro girl, seven or eight years old, who was walking in a demonstration with her mother. 'What do you want?' the policeman asked her gruffly, and the little girl looked him straight in the eye and answered, 'Fee-dom.' She couldn't even pronounce it, but she knew. It was beautiful! Many times when I have been in sorely trying situations, the memory of that little one has come into my mind, and has buoyed me." The same example that buoyed Dr. King should still inspire us today. WI

BAILEY from Page 28 ple should tomorrow give $1 apiece to build a skyscraper in Washington, DC. Every morning every legislator should receive communications about what every Black man and woman in America expects and wants and needs. The

demanding voice of the Black lobby should be in the ear of every legislator who votes on any issues."

We Black people in this country would not be such easy targets in 2023 if we had utilized the solutions-oriented guidelines provided by Brother Martin, Brother Malcolm and other

serious leaders, including Brother Harold Cruse, Brother Lerone Bennett Jr., sister Frances Cress Welsing, Sister C. Delores Tucker and Brother Hoyt Fuller. Fortunately for us it is better to be late than never. We still have time to follow the guidelines presented by some of our great master teachers. WI

MARSHALL from Page 28

WILLIAMS from Page 29

to the residents, impose undue stress.

· Environmental racism of neighborhoods populated primarily by people of color and members of low socioeconomic backgrounds — burdened with disproportionate numbers of hazards including toxic waste facilitates, garbage dumps, and other sources of environmental pollution. The absence or lack of drinkable water in Flint, Mich., and Jackson, Miss., as well as,

JACKSON from Page 29

combined. Health care costs have been rising even as life expectancy has been declining. We spend nearly two times per capita than other advanced countries with far worse results.

We can reduce our military budget and still have the most powerful military in the world. And we can transform our medical system — moving as other advanced countries have done to the equivalent of Medicare for All, providing more service for less cost. Biden has taken a small step by controlling the price gouging on some prescription drugs, but much more can be done.

But common sense rarely surfaces in the Washington debate. Consider the Republican debt ceiling "proposal" that passed the House. Republicans oppose

MORIAL from Page 29

il: Confronting the Threat Within," 21 states already have enacted measures that censor the honest examination of racism and race in American society, and the College Board has excised crucial material from its AP African American Studies curriculum in response.

The Freedom to Learn campaign has demanded that the College Board: • restore the AP African American Studies curriculum.

MARSHALL from Page 49

ing that it would be "dangerous" to undo decisions made by voters. "This bill was never deemed necessary until a historic thing happened in 2020. And let's just talk about it and tell the truth," said Willis, who testified before the Judiciary Committee of the Georgia Senate and criticized the bill as "racist," noting earlier this year that Republicans were pushing the measure after the number of minority district attorneys grew from five to 14 in 2020. Now that Republicans can remove a district attorney, will they retaliate

environmentally volatile locations like New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, which after 18 years still suffers the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, are clear examples of environmental racism and a constant threat to the health and well-being of communities of color.

These issues only scratch the surface of the unending challenges facing those least likely to possess the resources to overcome them. For many, these daily challenges are intertwined into a mesh of priorities that only make room for

asking the rich and corporations to pay more. They oppose cutting the military budget (and in fact want to raise it substantially). They oppose controlling drug prices, or moving to Medicare for All or even having a public option in health care that would limit insurance company excesses. Trump and Biden have convinced them that they shouldn't touch Social Security or Medicare — at least before the election. That leaves all the cuts to come from domestic programs — and the pain to be borne primarily by the most vulnerable — and by the middle class. Low-income families will see cuts in food support, in affordable housing, in health care through Medicaid, in infant nutrition, in childcare. The poor and middle-income families will suffer cuts in public education, in clean water and

• commit to making the course available online to students who live in states in which politicians have enacted bans of books, knowledge, and ideas contained in the original curriculum that would prevent the course from being taught in those states.

• conduct an independent investigation into to how the course development process was corrupted by outside political forces.

• hold all implicated College Board officials accountable.

It is a betrayal of democratic values

if Trump is charged with a crime?

The Republicans are not the party of law and order when they constantly refuse to address the nation's gun violence by supporting a responsible assault weapon ban. The country experienced another mass shooting, with eight victims killed in an Allen, Texas, mall. The GOP was not the party of patriotism when the Republican National Committee censured the two House Republicans who participated on the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 attack.

Republicans are not the party of jobs creation when their proposed

survival. For too many, thoughts of addressing social issues like defending voting rights, reforming the criminal justice system, expanding access to affordable health care, closing the racial wealth gap, advancing affordable housing, and a myriad of other problems of social injustice become secondary. As with our history in this nation, seeking good health seems insufficient. We must fight vigorously to overcome the ravages of poor health.

air, in safe workplaces, in child care. The country will suffer with the slashing of investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric vehicles. All of us will pay more from extreme weather as climate change goes unaddressed.

All the fulminations about the debt ceiling come down to this. Will the wealthy pay a little more in taxes or the poor a lot more in pain and hunger? Will we invest in more smart missiles or more smart children? Will we support the obscene profits of the private health insurance companies or the essential health care Americans need? Will we fund wars abroad or curb the extreme weather that threatens our communities at home? Don't be misled by the sound and fury over the debt ceiling. The real question is who pays and who benefits. WI

for any responsible leader to actively participate in distorting or denying any part of our country's history.

As Loyola University professor of communication and African and African American Studies Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead noted, "It is not simply a debate about curriculum. We are standing up and saying that our classrooms — this nation's heart and soul — are not up for debate; they are not up for discussion. You are not going to whitewash us out of history." WI

legislation to address the debt ceiling crisis includes eliminating over 100,000 American manufacturing jobs in the clean energy industry. Many of the jobs are in red states. If there is one word that describes the mindset of GOP leadership, that word would be purge. They are positioning themselves to purge votes, purge elected officials they disagree with, purge jobs, and remove the written history of Black Americans. The only way to effectively respond is to do our purging at the ballot box in numbers that cannot be disputed. WI

of unlimited possibilities

Through Project UP, Comcast is committing one billion dollars to reach millions of people with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed in a digital world and build a future of unlimited possibilities.