The Washington Informer - May 20, 2021 by The Washington Informer

WINNER OF FIVE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS Show Your Appreciation to Our Elders during Older Americans Month Vol. 56, No. 31 • May 20 -26, 2021

Parents Want the Decision to Have Children Vaccinated Remain in their Own Hands Many Opposed to Health Departments Mandating COVID-19 Vaccine for Minors Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer

5 Jasmine Jennings, 17, a junior in high school was the first teenager to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at the vaccine-a-thon held at the William Curry Sports And Learning Center in Largo, Maryland. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

With the U.S. federal government’s approval and recommendation of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15 comes the opportunity for “tweens” and teens to join others already inoculated amidst a pandemic that has already claimed over half a million lives nationwide. And while it remains unclear if the DC Department of Health [DOH]

Reading Partners DC Joins Forces with Howard to Curb Student Learning Loss Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer Over the last decade, local nonprofit Reading Partners DC has connected youths at nearly two dozen elementary schools with volunteers who have helped children strengthen their reading skills. Undergraduates from American University and The George Washington University often counted among those who served in this capacity. In its latest attempt to battle learning loss and boost reading comprehension among D.C.’s

VACCINE Page 36

Kelly Diane Galloway: On a Walk to Derail Human Trafficking

Activist Traveling Route of Underground Railroad, Now through Juneteenth

youngest students, Reading Partners DC has established an alliance with Howard University [HU]. Through this partnership, HU students will be able to gain experience and work-study dollars as tutors for one or more of the nearly 1,000 children under the nonprofit’s purview. “To get children back on track and further along than they’ve ever been, it will take every resident in D.C. to join together and help young people,” said Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan, executive direc-

READING Page 40

will mandate the vaccine for students returning to school in the fall, some parents have been proactive and had their children vaccinated. Meanwhile, others like Gaby L. Fraser, said they don’t want the government impeding on parents’ rights to make the decision on their own. “I just don’t think it’s something that should be mandated. That’s a decision for parents and families to make – just like whether we want to send

D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor Kelly Diane Galloway says she’s on a mission to bring greater awareness to the problem, or perhaps the continuing crisis, of human trafficking. And while some may believe that human trafficking exists only in places far away from our hallowed shores here in America, evidence suggests otherwise. However, the nuanced and unique perspective which Galloway brings to the conversation points to her contention that just as children in Taiwan or women in South Africa 5 Kelly Diane Galloway with fellow walkers. (Courtesy photo)

TRAFFICKING Page 41

Celebrating 56 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area

DC COVID-19 COMMUNITY CORPS

DAY OF ACTION Every DC resident age 16 and older is eligible to receive the free COVID-19 vaccine. Join the Day of Action and go door-to-door to help neighbors make a plan to get vaccinated.

Saturday,

May 22, 2021

Canvass starting at:

9AM, 11AM

To RSVP and for more information: bit.ly/dayofactiondc

TAKE THE

SH T, DC

#DCHOPE 2 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Around the Region................4-11 Prince George's County.....12-13 Business................................14-15 National................................16-17 International............................ 18 Health..................................20-21 Education............................22-23 OpEd....................................25-27

5Vegan Products Hit!

Lifestyle............................. 28-35

National / Page 16

Religion.....................................37 FOLLOW US ON

3Staple Singers Co-Founder Dies

4Patti LaBell

Black Facts / Page 6

Lifestyle / Page 34

DON’T MISS OUR 2 LB. BAG

ALL SALE PRICES ARE WITH CLUB CARD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED SALE PRICES EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, MAY 21 THRU THURSDAY, MAY 27

Big Deals, Big Savings

one

equal or lesser value items free

one

4 ct., 14 fl. oz. pkg.

• Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream or Non Dairy Dessert or Talenti Gelato or Sorbetto 16 fl. oz. ctn.

EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE ITEM FREE

Signature SELECT® Fresh Baked Cookies 20 ct. pkg., chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, snickerdoodle, sugar or rainbow chip

26-30 ct., EZ peel, sold in a 4 lb. bag for $20; sold in a 2 lb. bag for $10; lesser quantities $6.99 lb.

21-25 ct., EZ peel, sold in a 2 lb. bag for $12; lesser quantities $7.99 lb.

Extra Jumbo Red Argentine Shrimp 16-20

16-20 ct., EZ peel, sold in a 2 lb. bag for $14; lesser quantities $8.99 lb.

ct., wild caught; sold in a 2 lb. bag for $16; lesser quantities $9.99 lb.

or Large Cooked Shrimp

or Extra Large Cooked Tail On Shrimp 26-30

41-50 ct., sold in a 2 lb. bag for $14; lesser quantities $8.99 lb.

ct., sold in a 2 lb. bag for $16; lesser quantities $9.99 lb.

Digital coupon only available on

one

DIGITAL COUPON

lb.

148 lb.

LIMIT 3 LBS.

DIGITAL COUPON

349 - 50¢

Hellmann’s Mayonnaise 30 fl. oz.

299

LIMIT 1 OFFER

lb.

Breyers Ice Cream

lb.

699 lb.

LIMIT 1 OFFER

48 fl. oz. ctn.

DIGITAL COUPON

10 - $1

3 $ for

DIGITAL COUPON

24-pk., 16.9 fl. oz. btls.

• Sparkling

8-pk., 12 fl. oz. cans or 16.9 fl. oz. btls.

3 $ for

LIMIT 1 OFFER

699 - $2 ea.

ea.

FINAL PRICE

after digital coupon

Deer Park Water • Spring

199

LIMIT 1 OFFER

SALE PRICE

WHEN YOU BUY 3

FINAL PRICE

farm raised

FINAL PRICE

SALE PRICE

799 - $1

299 - $1

after digital coupon

LIMIT 1 OFFER

after digital coupon

Fresh Atlantic Salmon Fillet

DIGITAL COUPON

399

Seedless Watermelon

DIGITAL COUPON

FINAL PRICE

SALE PRICE

after digital coupon

SALE PRICE

after digital coupon

599 - $2

FINAL PRICE

after digital coupon

SALE PRICE

• Dietz & Watson Meat Franks 14 oz. pkg. • Dietz & Watson Beef Franks 14-16 oz. pkg. • Berk’s Beef Franks 12-15 oz. pkg. • Berk’s Original Franks 15 oz. pkg. • Nathan’s Famous Beef Franks 10-14 oz. pkg.

SALE PRICE

399 - 251 lb.

DIGITAL COUPON

one EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE ITEM FREE

Extra Jumbo Raw Shrimp

Valid 5/21-5/27 LIMIT 1 - Digital Download per household.

Cherries

• Sabrett Beef Franks 12-14 oz. pkg. • Ball Park Beef Franks 14-15 oz. pkg. • Ball Park Meat Franks 15 oz. pkg. • Hebrew National Beef Franks 9.43-12 oz. pkg.

Jumbo Raw Shrimp

SALE PRICE

• Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars

Extra Large Raw Shrimp

6 ct., 36 fl. oz. pkg.

frozen or previously frozen; imported

• Luigi’s Italian Ice

Pork Backribs

shrimp sale!

Persil Laundry Detergent

50 fl. oz. liquid or 15 ct. discs

Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent 128-150 fl. oz.

All Laundry Detergent

88-100 fl. oz. liquid or 39 ct. Mightypacs

Snuggle Concentrated Blue Sparkle Fabric Softener 96 fl. oz. or 230 ct.

499 ea.

LIMIT 1 OFFER

Prices Effective Friday, May 21 thru Thursday, May 27,

Unless otherwise noted, offers in this ad are in effect at 6 a.m., Friday thru Thursday 11 p.m. at your local Safeway stores. LIMIT ONE COUPON PER ITEM PER DAY PER HOUSEHOLD. Prices and savings vary among store locations. Not all items or varieties available in all store locations. Quantities limited to inventory on hand and subject to availability. Sales in retail quantities only and we reserve the right to limit quantities sold to per customer. While supplies last. Unless otherwise noted, transactional limits may apply. On Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) offers, customer must purchase the first item to receive the second item free. BOGO offers are not 1/2 price sales. If only a single item is purchased, the regular price applies. Manufacturers’ coupons may only be used on purchased items, not on free items. All rebate offers are subject to applicable manufacturer’s additional terms. Customer pays for applicable taxes, bottle/can deposit and bag fees, if any, on purchased and free items. We reserve the right to modify or cancel offers and/or correct typographical, pictorial and other ad or pricing errors. Prices for products ordered online generally are higher than in our physical store locations and may vary by fulfillment method chosen. Online promotions, discounts and offers may differ from those in our physical store locations. All rainchecks must be redeemed within 30 days of issuance. Offers are void or restricted where prohibited or limited by law and have no cash value. No cash back will be given.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 3

Join The Washington Informer Digital Subscriber List Text INFORMER to 22828

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. 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 D. Kevin McNeir, Senior Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Ron Taylor, Copy Editor Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Hamil Harris, Curtis Knowles, Daniel Kucin, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman

4 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

wi hot topics GOP Nominates Black Woman, Winsome Sears, for Lieutenant Governor Candidate Winsome Sears, an “unapologetic” conservative who was the first Black Republican woman elected to the Virginia General Assembly, captured the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor on May 11, removing former Del. Tim Hugo of Fairfax County in a fifth round of ballot counting from the previous weekend’s state GOP convention. In the final tally, Sears received 54% of the weighted votes to Hugo’s 46%. Sears, who emigrated from Jamaica at age 6, joins Del. Jason Miyares, a Cuban American who is running for attorney general, on a GOP ticket headed by Glenn Youngkin, the party’s nominee for governor. Sears, 57, who served one term in the House of Delegates from 2002-2004, hopes to achieve something unprecedented in modern Virginia politics – returning to elective office after an 18-year absence. “From the time my family arrived in America from Jamaica, we have realized and appreciated the opportunity that the U.S. provided us: however, we never could have imagined that would include the possibility of being the second-in-command in our great Commonwealth,” Sears posted in a statement on Twitter. Sears added: “The Republican Party and the VAGOP are the Big Tent Party and it’s time our Party’s base reflected our collective Virginia values. We’ll be going to and directly making the case to folks who are conservative but haven’t realized they’re Republicans, yet.” WI

COMPILED BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR, WI EDITOR, SARAFINA WRIGHT, CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND WILLIAM J. FORD, STAFF WRITER

Bowser’s Comprehensive Plan Proposal Approved by DC Council e Council of the District of Columbia recently voted unanTh imously to approve the District’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) update. The Comp Plan serves as a high-level guiding document that sets a positive, long-term vision for the District of Columbia through the lens of its physical growth, equity and change. Submitted to Council by Mayor Muriel Bowser last year, this update to the Comp Plan will allow the District to meet challenges and opportunities in critical areas such as housing and economic recovery with a focus on equity and resilience. “This is a Comprehensive Plan that, through extensive community engagement, has been updated to reflect our shared DC values, including our collective belief that no matter where you live in DC, you should have access to safe and affordable housing, good schools and parks, high-quality transportation options, and opportunities to live a healthy, happy life,” Bowser said. “When we set a goal to build a more equitable and affordable DC by adding 36,000 new homes by 2025, we knew how critical this update would be to bringing that vision to life. Now, we move forward, ready to create new housing – and new opportunity – across all eight wards of DC.” The Comp Plan’s approach affirms the District’s COVID-19 recovery values: DC HOPE – health, opportunity, prosperity, and equity. The updated Comp Plan is a critical component of the Mayor’s goal to build 36,000 new homes by 2025, including 12,000 affordable homes, across all eight wards of the District. And it will advance racial and economic equity, especially through DC’s COVID-19 recovery. For more on the Comprehensive Plan update and the amendment process, visit plandc.dc.gov. WI

FCC Enacts Discounts on Broadband Service, Computers for Low-Income Families For Americans struggling financially and unable to afford internet service, the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] has kicked off the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program [EBB] which will allow eligible households discounts on broadband service and computers. This includes an internet service discount of up to $50 per month, or $75 on qualifying Tribal lands. Households will also be eligible for a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. “This program will have a tremendous, positive impact on so many American households. It’s an investment in American families and a vote of confidence in the economic power of getting us all online,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, acting chairwoman of the FCC. “High-speed internet service is vital for families to take advantage of today’s health, education, and workplace opportunities. And the discount for laptops and desktop computers will continue to have positive impact even after this temporary discount program wraps up.” Households can qualify through their use of existing

assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline or if a child relies on reduced-price school meals programs. The EBB is also available to households who are eligible for a broadband provider’s existing relief program, to those who have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year and to those low-income households who suffered a large loss in income during the pandemic due to job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020. The pandemic-related program will continue until the $3.2 billion in federal funding runs out or six months after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the pandemic, said the FCC. Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online at getemergencybroadband.org, or sign up via mail by calling (833) 511-0311. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

AROUND THE REGION Comedian Red Grant Launches Quest for D.C. Mayor in 2022 James Wright WI Staff Writer District native and comedian Rodney “Red” Grant declared his candidacy for the mayoral contest in 2022 on May 15 in the historic Anacostia neighborhood’s Old Market House Square in Ward 8. Grant told a crowd of 30 people the late abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass served as an inspiration to run for mayor. “I am making this announcement in the shadow of the Frederick Douglass house,” Grant said. “He was a person who fought for freedom and saw a vision that people could not see. He never wavered from that vision. My candidacy for mayor of Washington, D.C. is because this is the greatest city in the world. This is a great time for inclusion and not exclusion.” Grant made his announcement

while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser hasn’t publicly indicated whether she will run for re-election in 2022. However, 52 percent of respondents in a Washington Post poll said Bowser should seek a third term. In March, D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine said he won’t challenge Bowser but will seek a third term. Grant joins independent Barbara Summers, who has filed paperwork with the D.C. Office of

Campaign Finance, in running for mayor. Nick Jacobs, spokesperson for the D.C. Board of Elections, said the date of the 2022 mayoral primary hasn’t been set but the general election will occur on Nov. 8. During his speech, Grant spoke of his birth at Tyler House Associates in Northwest before moving with his family to Southeast. He talked about attending Sousa Middle School in Southeast before “going across the bridge” to Dunbar

High School in Northwest as a student-athlete. Later on, he became an entertainer with roles in such shows as “Shaq’s All Star Comedy Jam” and Comedy Central’s “Reality Bites Back” and played in movies such as “American Hustle” and “First Sunday,” according to his website Redgrant.com. Grant said his platform focuses on the need to build more affordable housing, closing inequality gaps in marginalized communities,

“I am making this announcement in the shadow of the Frederick Douglass house. He was a person who fought for freedom and saw a vision that people could not see. He never wavered from that vision. My candidacy for mayor of Washington, D.C. is because this is the greatest city in the world. This is a great time for inclusion and not exclusion.”

reevaluating the education system so children throughout the city can learn on an equitable basis and opening up recreation centers for young people. He stressed strengthening arts programs in the schools and training police officers to be more sensitive to the residents they protect. In the latter part of his speech, Grant expressed the seriousness of his run. Matt Gilliard believed him. “I am a friend of Red’s,” Gillard said. “I think he has a good message for the city. I will support him.” However, Renee Lewis said she will watch to see how the Grant campaign evolves. “I came here to hear what he wants to do for the community,” Lewis said. “I will make my decision on the candidate I will support later.” WI @JamesDCWrighter

YOU WORK HARD FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. NOW, LET US WORK WITH YOU. If you’re in between jobs, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance and additional benefits. DOES is continuously innovating to better serve our community.

Learn more and apply for benefits today at does.dc.gov. 5 Red Grant delivers his 2022 mayoral candidacy speech in Anacostia on May 15. (WI Photo by Anthony Tilghman)

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 5

AROUND THE REGION

black facts

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

MAY 20 - 27, 2021

MAY 20

1743 – Touissant L'Ouverture, the father Haitian independence, is born.

MAY 21

Need Help Getting Social Security Disability Benefits? We Can Help! $ Steady monthly income depending on your paid in amount

A lump sum payment of benefits owed from back-pay

• We simplify the process & strive for quick claim approval • Starting the process is easy and takes only minutes to complete

Annual cost of living increases

855-549-3119

Helping thousands get the benefits they deserve

Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County Florida. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states.

Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 N W St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County, FL. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states.

FULL-SERVICE SIGN & ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS

1862 – Mary Patterson becomes the first Black woman in U.S. history to be awarded a master's degree. She earned it from Oberlin College in Ohio. 1969 – Police and National Guardsmen open fire on student demonstrators at predominantly Black North Carolina A&T University, leaving one student dead. Five policemen were injured. 2009 – A Black man — James Young — is elected mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi — a town that, during the 1960s, had the nation's most racist reputation. Ku Klux Klan members dominated the town and it was known for the mistreatment and unpunished killings of Blacks. One of the most brutal events in the city was the 1964 murder of three civil rights workers. In his 2009 election victory, Young captured 30 percent of the white vote.

Professional VISUAL BRANDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS to help grow your business

MAY 23

Call Today! 301-273-3462 “Chief Image Builder”

stacey@signarama-silverspring.com

1863 – The War Department establishes the Bureau of Colored Troops and begins to aggressively recruit Blacks for the Civil War. The Black troops would play a major role in turning the tide of battle against the rebellious Southern slave states. 1966 – Entertainer Bill Cosby becomes the first African American to receive an Emmy for Best Actor in a dramatic series for his role in the 1960s television series "I Spy."

...because image matters Stacey Brown

MAY 22

1921 – "Shuffle Along," the first of a succession of widely popular Black musicals performed for white audiences, opens at the 63rd Street Theatre in New York City becoming the first African American Broadway musical. The musical comedy combined the talents of the legendary team of Euboea Blake and Noble Sizzle.

8930 Brookville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910 signarama-silverspring.com MBE/DBE Certified | Woman-Owned Business

MAY 24

1854 – Anthony Burns, one of the most celebrated fugitive slaves in American history, is captured by deputy U.S. marshals in Boston. 1944 – Legendary singer Patti LaBelle is born Patricia Louise Holte in Philadelphia.

MAY 25

1878 – World-renowned dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is born in Richmond, Virginia.

MAY 26 PATTI LA BELLE

6 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

1799 – Famous Black Russian writer Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, known as the "father of Russian Literature," is born in Moscow. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

AROUND THE REGION

view P INT

IF YOU WANT QUALITY WORK, JUST CALL!

Quality Assurance Home Improvement, Inc.

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

“We Stand By Our Name”

The CDC says fully vaccinated people can safely resume most activities, indoors or outdoors, without masks or distancing, except in crowded indoor settings such as public transit and hospitals. What are your thoughts?

FREE ESTIMATES! / Office: 301-248-3325

FINISHED BASEMENT

DECK

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Room additions • Retaining walls • • Carports Screen rooms Sun rooms • Carports • • Porches • Roofing • Siding Decks • Complete renovations • Enclosed porches • Basements Solid virgin virginfinal vinylreplacement replacement windows • Bay and bow windows Financing Available 90-day Deferment Payment

CHESTER HAWKINS /

MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA

Just because we can doesn't mean we should. ADDITION & 4 SEASON SUN ROOM SIONAL PROFES LERS INSTAL home g in A+ Ratinment from improve r Business the Bette r 175 years Bureau fo ight stra

DEBRA ROGERS / WASHINGTON, D.C.

I guess that's good, but the ones without vaccines are what scares me. I will continue to wear a mask because that's what is best for me!

KITCHEN

Visit our website today at: www.fortwashingtonhomecontractors.com

$2500 off

Homeowners are you in need of a new roof, kitchen, bathroom? Up to If so, take advantage of our 90 days or 6 months deferred payment plan now for as low as $199 a month. Sunrooms & Additions Purchase today and receive FREE cable outlet and FREE A/C & Heating Unit

SHARON HOLLIS /

ADDITION

Bonded / Insured / Licensed MHCI#86727 / D.C. License #53005449 Lead Paint Removal Certified

15% off Any Service For Senior Citizens Extra 5% Off

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Thanks, but no, thanks. With so much vaccine hesitancy, I will continue to wear my mask. To each his own. Better safe than sorry. #WearAMask

TONY JONES /

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

And what about bars? They are more congested than public transit and hospitals. This is a wrongheaded attempt at normalcy, as we're not at herd immunity stages yet.

YOHANNES GIGAR / WASHINGTON, D.C.

Let's not forget, fully vaccinated unmasked adults can still receive and transmit the virus to non-vaccinated people in their families. So no, I will still keep wearing my mask so that I will protect myself and those around me.

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 7

The World According to Dominic D. Kevin McNeir / WI Senior Editor

The Wheels on the Bus . . . Are Square

(301) 864-6070

EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA

www.jmlaw.net

(301) 864-6070

8 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

It’s been a long time since I was a little boy running around the halls of Louis Pasteur Elementary School on the Westside of Detroit. But one of my favorite times activities included our weekly music class with Mrs. Oneida Lewis – a small but mighty elderly woman known for having that Pied Piper personality that effortlessly attracted children to her side. We developed an impressive repertoire under her tutelage and often acted out the lyrics. One song recently came to mind: The Wheels on the Bus. For those who may be unfamiliar with this Top Ten tune, the first lyric goes as follows: the wheels on the bus go around and around . . . all through the town. I was going through the town on a Metro bus a few days ago as this song came on auto play and wondered what would happen if the wheels weren’t round at all but were instead square. Okay, I know it’s a strange thought but stay with me for one moment. The bus driver had a lot on her mind and she began to talk to me as soon as I boarded the bus. She’d obviously become exasperated by the traffic grid on Georgia Avenue which had occurred because of a

I was going through the town on a Metro bus a few days ago as this song came on auto play and wondered what would happen if the wheels weren’t round at all but were instead square. sudden rush to the gasoline pumps. Rumors were swirling that after a cyberattack on refineries thousands of miles away, that there would be a shortage of gas in our region. The traffic jam was the result. Somehow, after expressing her view of how ridiculous it all seemed, she switched topics to COVID-19. I really didn’t want to talk about it and would have preferred to go on watching people jockeying for position at the few gas pumps like drivers seeking to capture the flag at the Indianapolis 500. But the driver continued emphatically. She remained adamant that the entire COVID-19 scenario was something that had been manufactured by evil little men hidden away in government offices. She believed that they wanted to rid the world of Black people, old people, gay people, homeless people, poor people, Latino people . . . the list went on. She believed that anyone who chose to be vaccinated was simply inviting a foreign substance into their body that would either cause sickness or death. She believed that parents who had their children vaccinated were being misled by higher powers and should know better. She believed that we needed to wait for more proof, more empirical evidence, before willingly standing in line and getting the shot in our arms.

And for the icing on the cake, she said, God had her back and that He (or She) would take care of her and all of us. I was dumfounded but only for a moment. I tried to respond by deconstructing her conspiracy theory notion statement by statement. But she held firm. So, I dug in deeply and went for the jugular, or so I believed. But she was not having it. Even when I moved the context from America to India, where a reported 400,000 people are dying each day from COVID-19, she refused to accept the validity of the science. I had tried and failed to understand the rationale of zealots who attacked the U.S. Capitol earlier this year under the pretense that the election had been stolen from their leader and “savior” Donald Trump. Now, I once again found myself at a loss – unable to break through the bus driver’s fears. It a sense, it was a wakeup call for me. Why? Well, the bus driver didn’t fit the pattern – my biased image of those who cling to “irrational and absurd” conspiracy theories. She was a Black woman driving her bus like it belonged to her – grey-haired, glasses, hair in a bun and intent on letting me know what was on her mind. Yes, even Black folks believe in conspiracy theories. And, why shouldn’t they? Back to the scene. We were approaching my stop so I was forced to end the conversation. But as I exited the bus and that song from my childhood began to play once again, the lyrics had suddenly changed. The bus was having all kinds of trouble getting through the town. It was lurching backwards and forward and jostling its riders to and fro. The bus driver, hell-bent on spreading the word of this latest conspiracy theory had changed the tires on her vehicle. The wheels on the bus . . . were now square. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Pepco, D.C. Government Honor Latest Infrastructure Academy Graduates WI Staff Report

Pepco and the District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services, along with the D.C. Infrastructure Academy, recently celebrated the latest graduates of the Pepco Utility Training School program. The first class of 2021 included 19 graduates, with 90 percent of the participants being from Wards 7 and 8 and on track to receive job offers by June, according to Pepco. “I am honored to be a part of celebrating the first graduates of the DCIA Pepco Utility Training School Program,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement. “These graduates have received quality training that has prepared them for

high-paying jobs of the future. Shining stars like them will lead our economic recovery.” Pepco Utility Training School Program students participate in training at the D.C. Infrastructure Academy on April 14. Training is conducted in a non-energized work area. The program prepares District of Columbia residents for energy industry careers. (Courtesy of Pepco) Pepco Utility Training School Program students participate in training at the D.C. Infrastructure Academy on April 14. Training is conducted in a non-energized work area. The program prepares District of Columbia residents for energy industry careers. (Courtesy of Pepco)

AROUND THE REGION

With Pepco having expanded its support of the DCIA earlier this year with hopes of attracting 100 participants, its partnership with the Washington Interfaith Network enables the utility company to strive for fair and equitable wages and increased job opportunities for city residents. “Innovative partnerships with employers like Pepco allow the Department of Employment Services to help Washingtonians prepare for high-demand, good-paying careers,” said DOES Director Unique Morris-Hughes. “This is particularly important for traditionally underserved communities in Wards 7 and 8. We are proud to support these graduates as they begin their next steps.” WI

TRANSFORM YOUR BATH OR SHOWER

IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY

CALL NOW FOR

$500 OR

Off

NO PAYMENTS & NO INTEREST UNTIL 2022 Offer Expires 6.30.2021

*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires June 30, 2021. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party ﬁnancing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2021 BCI Acrylic Inc.

Military & Senior Discounts Available

844-791-1618

Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY!

855-993-0969

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

Offer valid March 16, 2020 - Sept 6, 2020

Special Financing Available

*Terms & Conditions Apply

Subject to Credit Approval

Satellite Internet That is Unlimited With No Hard Data Limits! 2

25 Mbps Download Speed 25mbps download and 3mbps upload1

No Hard Data Limits Wi-Fi Built-In Connect your wireless devices at home

Call For Special Offers In Your Area Pricing varies by region

CALL TODAY - LIMITED SPECIAL OFFERS IN YOUR AREA!

1-855-973-9254

HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. 2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or affect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads.

Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY

19.99

/mo.

where available

2-YEAR TV PRICE

Pepco Utility Training School Program students participate in training at the D.C. Infrastructure Academy on April 14. Training is conducted in a non-energized work area. The program prepares District of Columbia residents for energy industry careers. (Courtesy of Pepco)

Stay Informed!

www.washingtoninformer.com WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

GUARANTEE MO.

for 12 Mos.

America’s Top 120 Package

190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels!

CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100

1-855-407-6870

Offer ends 1/31/21.

All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 9

AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENT AARP AUTO INSURANCE FROM THE HARTFORD TO SPEAK WITH AN AGENT AND REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL THE HARTFORD TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE:

1-877-579-9788

Do you or a loved one struggle on the stairs?

BIKE GIVEAWAY ANC Commissioner Kendell Simmons gives bikes to youth in Ward 7 during a celebration of the end of Ramadan Eid-Al Fitr on May 14, in Southeast. (Roy Lewis/ The Washington Informer)

AN ACORN STAIRLIFT IS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR:

ü Arthritis and COPD sufferers ü Those with mobility issues ü Anyone who struggles on the stairs

THE PURCHASE OF A NEW STAIRLIFT!

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT AND DVD!

1-855-841-2971

Who’s Reading the Informer?

*Not valid on previous purchases. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on refurbished models. Only valid towards purchase of a NEW Acorn Stairlift directly from the manufacturer. $250 discount will be applied to new orders. Please mention this ad when calling. AZ ROC 278722, CA 942619, MN LC670698, OK 50110, OR CCB 198506, RI 88, WA ACORNSI894OB, WV WV049654, MA HIC169936, NJ 13VH07752300, PA PA101967, CT ELV 0425003-R5.

DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about

$1 a day*

Keep your own dentist! NO networks to worry about NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits

Jackie Davis reads the Washington Informer while shopping at Eastern Market. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow Coverage for over 350 procedures including cleanings, exams, fillings, crowns…even dentures

you can receive

FREE Information Kit

1-877-308-2834

www.dental50plus.com/cadnet *Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150(GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096C MB16-NM001Gc

WORDS TO LIVE BY “What does the Negro want? His answer is simple. He wants only what all other Americans want. He wants opportunity to make real what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights say, what the Four Freedoms establish. While he knows these ideals are open to no man completely, he wants only his equal chance to obtain them.”

– Mary McLeod Bethune

1944, founder of the National Council of Negro Women, died in Daytona Beach, Florida, May 18, 1955. 10 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Remembering Ron Clark — Sept. 19, 1935 – May 14, 2019

AROUND THE REGION

While He Died Two Years Ago, the Organization He Built, RAP, Inc., Continues to Serve Special to The Informer

Your local marketing experts with UNLIMITED REACH. Kevin Berrier 443-508-1936 KBerrier@MDDCPress.com

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Every year 150,000 people reach out to us for help getting rid of their timeshare. In 2019, we relieved over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and maintenance fees. We can help.

Get your free information kit and see if you qualify:

888-984-2917

BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND

CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE TT

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!

NATIO

15% & 10 %

client was supported in meeting his responsibility and was sent back to RAP to continue treatment. RAP’s relationship with the court was maintained and the trust with clients was strengthened. Ron was willing to go to jail, illustrating a core value of RAP – that integrity matters and is a major reason RAP continues its mission and service to the community 51 years after its founding. The RAP, Inc. Board named the

We Cancel TIMESHARES for You

’S

Ron was willing to go to jail, illustrating a core value of RAP – that integrity matters and is a major reason RAP continues its mission and service to the community 51 years after its founding.

newest building on the treatment campus The Ronald C. Clark Center to honor their founder. More than two decades ago, Ron honored activist and newspaper publisher Dr. Calvin Rolark in the same way for his wide-ranging support and many charitable contributions to the organization at critical moments. The current executive director of RAP, Inc. is Michael Pickering. Exercising that same commitment to integrity and bold service, he has guided the organization through the critical challenges of the pandemic, treading skillfully to keep every client and employee safe. The expense of providing a safe environment is huge with the need for funding ongoing. So, diligent and determined employees created a GoFundMe campaign to help: https://gofund.me/0583d1fb. On this second anniversary of Ron’s death, help make sure that his work continues to be funded and that RAP, Inc. continues to serve. Send donations through the GoFundMe site or mail them to 1949 4th Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002. Contributions in any amount will be welcome. The need continues. The struggle continues. WI

5 Ron Clark (Courtesy photo)

Ron Clark worked to build a lasting institution committed to providing substance abuse treatment for addicted individuals. He spent 60 years of his life, 49 here in the District, acting on this commitment. Ron’s strength and seriousness of purpose reminds those who knew him of an incident which clearly illustrates an important ingredient in the creation of a durable organization: integrity. At a time when jail punishment served as the standard handling of drug-addicted individuals, Ron fought for treatment instead. So, one of RAP’s early priority initiatives included working with D.C. courts to send people charged with minor drug offenses to RAP. Under this agreement, it was RAP’s duty to see that third–party custody clients — those still connected to the courts — made all their appointments and upheld their obligations. The confrontation occurred when U.S. Marshals came to RAP’s door looking for an individual who they said had failed to report to court on a matter and wanted to do a search of the facility. Ron denied their request for entry. His position was that they could not search the facility, invade the privacy of the residents and destroy the trust RAP had purposefully and assiduously built with clients over time. Ron stood in front of the door to block the Marshals’ entry, saying that if the person was a RAP resident, RAP would see to it that the person met his or her requirement to report to court. Ron was willing to go to jail rather than permit the search of the facility. So, the Marshals took him. As it turned out, the Marshals had the wrong date for the court matter. On the correct date, RAP had followed its established procedures and escorted the person to court. The

ER GUA

OFF

FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!

Promo Code: 285

Subject to credit approval. Call for details.

CALL US TODAY FOR

A FREE ESTIMATE

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *

5% OFF

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **

SENIORS & MILITARY!

OFF

WE INSTALL

YEAR-ROUND! LIFETIME WARRANTY

1-855-995-2490

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST

*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Oﬀer valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suﬀolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114

DENTAL Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

1-855-337-5228 dental50plus.com/MDDC

Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 11

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Prince George’s County Council Votes to Oppose Maglev Train Project William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Prince George’s County Council approved a resolution Tuesday, May 18 to oppose a proposed high-speed maglev train project slated to run through parts of the county between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Council made a formal vote before a Monday, May 24 deadline to submit its written opposition to the Federal Railroad Administra-

tion, which leads the environmental review for the project assisted by the Maryland Transit Administration. “I vote with great enthusiasm. Yes,” council chair Calvin Hawkins II said after his vote. The resolution recommends a “no build” option and would have a “significant negative impact on the health, safety and welfare” of residents and business owners. A draft environmental impact statement estimates a price tag of

at least $13.8 billion along a 40mile stretch below ground. However, a nearly nine-mile stretch above ground would mostly run along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Prince George’s. Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) proposes to build the superconducting magnetic levitation train system under a final environmental impact study and the goal would be to take away no homes. BWRR has secured about $5 billion from Japan, where a maglev train operates. The FRA could grant final approval on a selected route next year. Some communities and municipalities affected in Prince George’s would include Bladensburg, Colmar Manor and Laurel. About three stations would operate in D.C., Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City, according to the draft report. The “project will cause a lack of usage access to Prince Georgians bearing the burden of the incoming infrastructure without being able to utilize it for transportation allowing zero access points from

Governor Hogan, Legislative Leaders Sign Gambling Bill, Repeal State Song William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Sports betting. Carryout and delivery of alcohol. College athletes to earn money from endorsements. Those count as just three of the more than 200 bills Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law Tuesday, May 18 in Annapolis. “We’re also repealing the state song,” Hogan said. “It’s a relic of the confederacy that is clearly outdated and out of touch.” Lawmakers endured one of the hardest 90-day legislative sessions in recent history, especially amidst a coronavirus pandemic which state health and local officials continue to battle. The high-profile legislation to legalize sports gambling allows in-person betting at the state’s six casinos, permits up to 60 mobile and online betting licenses and a commission to annually assess the sports wagering industry so

12 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

minority and women-owned businesses remain part of the process. Financial projections estimate sports betting revenue in Maryland could generate between $15 million to $20 million annually. Lawmakers say they’re hopeful some gambling could begin when the NFL season begins in September. Some of the other bills signed by the Republican governor include: prohibiting a student on public school property if registered as a sex offender; expansion of mental health and behavioral training for veterans; and expand for up to two years for bars and restaurants to provide carryout and delivery of alcohol to help those businesses from closing when the pandemic first affected the state last year. Another bill signed into law called the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act allows college athletes to receive payment from endorsements and from the use of

their name, image and likeness. The legislation, named after the University of Maryland offensive lineman who died in 2018 after a heatstroke during a team workout, also requires athletic departments to establish guidelines to prevent and treat serious sports-related injuries and illnesses. Lawmakers did override vetoes made by Hogan such as police reform and accountability bills. The package approved includes a new statewide use-of-force standard, allows the public to review certain police records that deal with police misconduct and a new disciplinary process that includes civilian committees, versus trial boards with fellow officers, to assess and decide the discipline of officers. Hogan, alongside Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones, sat at a long table signing each piece of legislation. The most notable

GAMBLING Page 41

5 A look at the maglev’s path between the District and Baltimore. (Photo courtesy of NCPC)

within county boundaries as a rider,” according to the county resolution. County Council member Mel Franklin (D-At-Large) of Upper Marlboro voted to abstain. He submitted a letter dated May 13 to the state transit administration summarizing some commitments BWRR should provide the county. Some of Franklin’s recommendations include: • Commit half of 40% in construction spending and work on minority-owned and women-owned businesses based in Prince George’s. • Establish and fund a workforce training and hiring program for the maglev project with Bowie State University and Prince George’s Community College. • Create an annual $2 million community investment initiative each year such as scholarships for minority high school seniors in the public schools, food-assistance and for at least one county-based, minority-led nonprofit organizations to tutor and mentor low-income children. “While innovation and public transit are important priorities, Prince George’s County is a large, diverse majority-African American county on the cusp of becoming an economic destination for the world and should be more than just a pass through for the [maglev] project,” Franklin wrote. “In

light of this period of national reflection on equity for communities of color, I believe the aforementioned commitments recommended in this public comment would significantly increase the public benefits of the [maglev] project for Prince George’s County residents.” Lake Research Partners, a polling firm in Northwest, surveyed 600 Prince George’s residents between April 1-5 with more than 68% who supported the maglev project and 19% opposed. The poll from respondents, who are likely to vote in the 2022 general election, also assessed the results based on race and genders. About 72% support from Blacks and 15% in opposition; 62% support from whites and 20% who object. Women assessed at 68% in favor of the project and 20% against it; men polled at 69% support and 17% oppose. “The survey paints a clear picture of overwhelming public support for construction and operation of the [project],” according to the poll. “The results are directly counter to the perception created by some elected officials in their public statements.” The poll has a margin of error of plus-minus 4%. For those who want to submit written comments by Monday, go to https://bit.ly/3fp1zV1. WI @jabariwill

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Maryland Health Secretary Schrader: Reaching Herd Immunity Could Take Six Months William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Maryland Health Secretary Dennis Schrader said it could take at least six months to reach herd immunity in the state, which equates to about one million people. Health officials would need a half-year to achieve herd immunity so residents receive some protection from COVID-19 based on two factors as of Monday, May 17: about 125,000 residents 65 and older remain unvaccinated and those ages 20-29 lead the state with the most confirmed coronavirus cases at nearly 84,000. Schrader conducted a virtual presentation Monday before the Maryland Senate vaccine oversight work group which held its first meeting since the 90-day General Assembly session ended April 12. “This is going to be really hard work,” Schrader said about the vaccination process. “It’s going to be a lot harder and probably a little more expensive. We’re not going to give up. We’re going to keep moving.” So far, about 66% of the state’s

population have received at least one dose of the two-shot Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or the one-shot dose from Johnson & Johnson. Officials hope the overall percentage will soon increase statewide with teenagers ages 12 to 15 now permitted to receive the Pfizer vaccine. In the first four days of the vaccine rollout for those adolescents, about 27,000 received the Pfizer vaccine. A total of 307,000 are in that age group. A main push by state and local officials continues in efforts to reach the “wait and see” crowd and hardto-reach communities. Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) asked if each of the state’s 24 jurisdictions now have an available mobile unit. Schrader declined to say how many the state currently occupies but said, “we’re going to have a lot more mobile assets than we currently have. That I can assure you.” According to the state Department of Health, concerns remain that too few residents have been vaccinated in Baltimore City and municipalities and communities in-

side the Beltway in Prince George’s County. Schrader said the state will continue to work with groups such as CASA de Maryland to help find Latino residents in northern Prince George’s. Sen. Jim Rosapepe, a Democrat who lives in College Park but also represents portions of Anne Arundel County, asked if health officials have visited employers to see if they’re encouraging employees to get vaccinated. “What is our employer strategy to do vaccinations at employer sites across the state of Maryland?” Rosapepe said. Schrader said officials visited a Latino grocery store and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Prince George’s last week. Mask mandates remain slightly different between the state and local jurisdictions. Prince George’s County lifted restrictions Monday but people must wear face coverings at indoor venues and crowded places such as sporting events and concerts. Baltimore officials announced similar restrictions Monday but said mask restrictions would be lifted once at least 65% of residents have received one dose of a vaccine.

Prince George’s Vaccinates More Teens By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

5 Jasmine Jennings, 17, not only received a Pfizer vaccine May 14, but also rewarded with two free tickets to Six Flags America and a McDonald’s gift card as the first teenager to arrive at 6 p.m. during vaccine-a-thon. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Tara Moore wasn’t comfortable to allow her 12-year-old son, Christopher Martin, to play any sports ever since the coronavirus pandemic affected Prince George’s County in March 2020. After Christopher received the first shot of a Pfizer vaccine Friday, May 14, Moore will register her son in July to play football. “We all got our vaccines, so we’re excited he got his vaccine,” said Moore of Fort Washington. Christopher said he felt the shot “a little bit,” but can’t wait to also play basketball, baseball and track and field. He represented the first group of teenagers ages 12 to 15 to receive a vaccine Friday amongst a festive atmosphere at a vaccinea-thon at the Wayne K. Curry

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5 Jamara Bell, 17, receives a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine May 14 at a vaccine-athon at the Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Center in Landover. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

With 50% of its population fully vaccinated, Montgomery County will match the state’s status May 28. “This continues to be the most important thing that anyone is doing in state government,” said

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). “By the fall, let’s make sure kids are back in school full time, please. Whatever it takes.” WI @jabariwill

Sports and Learning Center in Landover. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks brought her 15-year-old daughter, Alex, to receive a vaccine Friday. The county administered more vaccines Saturday, May 15 at mobile units, two churches and Langley Park Community Center which drew more than 1,200 people to get a shot in the arm. Health officials have encouraged parents to have their children vaccinated and increase her immunity for American to become immune from COVID-19. As of Sunday, May 16, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show about 37% of Americans are fully vaccinated and 48% received at least one dose. In Prince George’s County, nearly 382,000 residents received at least a first dose. With teenagers 12 and older permitted for vaccination, the fig-

ures are expected to increase. But how much remains unknown. A May 6 poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation at https://bit. ly/3uWkgpx shows about 25% of Black parents will get their children 18 and under in their household “vaccinated right away.” In comparison, white parents accounted for 30% surveyed and Latino parents at 31%. Dozens of Black Prince George’s County parents such as Sharon Jennings of Glenn Dale allowed her 17-year-old daughter, Jasmine, to get vaccinated. “You always want to look after and protect your children and want them to be safe right along with you,” Jennings said. Being the first teenager in line at 6 p.m. Friday, Jasmine received two free tickets to Six Flags America and a McDonald’s gift card. Jasmine also took a picture with WPGC 95.5 FM radio per-

PG VACCINE Page 41 MAY 20 - 26, 2021 13

BUSINESS SBA Administrator: 'Billions of Dollars Still Available for Minority, Small Businesses' Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer The Biden-Harris administration has continued to work to ensure that the Small Business Administration [SBA] supports communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic, SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman said during a 30-minute interview. “I think, of course that starts with battling COVID and getting those shots in the arms and the great work we’ve done to try to vaccinate over half of the population,” Guzman said. The administrator proved candid and intentional with her remarks during the exclusive interview with the NNPA, the trade association

of the hundreds of newspapers and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America. Tax credits, forgivable loans, grants and other funding categories remain available through the American Rescue Plan, Guzman noted. “President Biden announced that his new goal is to have 70 percent of adults vaccinated by July 4. I think that for small businesses, it’s even as critical as some of the immediate relief because that will bring long-term revenues and marketplaces back,” Guzman stated. “That is really critical for our business owners but there is a role they have to play in that there are tax credits available when your employees need to take time off to get their vaccination or if they are sick. You can

5 SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman (Official photo)

do paid leave and not let it cost you a dime because you’re going to get the tax credit on those payroll taxes.” Guzman added that the SBA remains available to assist businesses in navigating the process and educating those unsure about how to receive aid. She said the American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant

The program provides restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss of as much as $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS SOLICITATION NO.: 0005-2021 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires qualified District of Columbia licensed Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Firms. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, May 17, 2021 on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Email LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at LMMCLEOD@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

14 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. The program provides restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss of as much as $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to re-

pay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023. “What was important to us was that we spoke with the industry first to understand what different communities were needing,” Guzman said. “We spoke with different ethnic chambers to see where their businesses were and we feel this is really one of the first programs we were able to put on as one of the priorities that I mentioned fully.” Guzman continued: “The grants are available to businesses with up to 20 locations but the Biden-Harris Administration recognized that equity is key as well as Congress. So, Congress put in a 21-day priority period for businesses owned by women, veterans, or the socially and economically disadvantaged Black-owned businesses. “We wanted to make sure the smallest businesses were able to receive relief, so Congress approved $5 billion for smaller entities to access the program. We added another $4.5 billion so we have $9.5 billion of the $28.6 billion set aside for small businesses. There’s even a set aside for businesses like caterers, food trucks and food carts.” Federal guidelines require that we provide the exact and equal information to each applicant, Guzman noted further. “Therefore, SBA staff are limited on responses we can provide to applicants, including specific questions regarding RRF eligibility, potential award amount and other detailed information.” For more information, visit www. sba.gov. WI @StacyBrownMedia

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT Environmental and Character Education Program

Two Rivers Public Charter School intends to enter into a sole source contract with NorthBay to provide a week-long sleep-away environmental and character education program to 6th and 7th graders. The cost of this contract will be approximately $75,000. The decision to sole source was made because NorthBay is uniquely qualified to provide a week-long sleep-away program that matches Two Rivers’ emphasis on experiential learning and social-emotional education. Please contact Liz Riddle with any questions at procurement@tworiverspcs.org.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Johnson & Johnson Launches QuickFire Challenge to Address Health Disparities in District

Partnership with D.C. Will Provide Grants, Other Resources to Local Innovators in Their Quest for Solutions WI Staff Report Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development [DMPED], working with the Washington D.C. Economic Partnership [WDCEP] and in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation recently launched the first health equity QuickFire Challenge focused on the District. The Washington, DC Health Innovation QuickFire Challenge, designed to address the chronic healthcare challenges faced in underserved communities within the District, has a goal of developing strategies to help achieve health equity for all. “It is no secret that socioeconomic status and income inequalities pose increased health risks within

communities of color around the world,” Bowser said. “We are committed to creating a society that provides equitable access to healthcare and prioritizes the continued health and wellness of all residents. I thank Johnson & Johnson Innovation for their collaboration and look forward to the outcome.” The Challenge invites innovators from across the globe to submit potential science and technology solutions aimed towards addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities that impact health in underserved communities of color. Submissions must include innovations that transform patient outcomes in maternal mortality, cardiovascular diseases and systemic autoimmunity, or kidney diseases. “Health innovation is critical to

building a more equitable Washington, D.C.,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “Underserved communities face an overwhelming amount of challenges not only regarding income and education but healthcare as well. This QuickFire Challenge will help develop solutions to inequalities in healthcare that too many residents face and I am excited to see what innovative developments these competing companies create.” Through an existing grant, WDCEP will award up to four innovators a total of $250,000, with grant increments starting at $50,000. Awardees will also receive an invitation to reside at JLABS @ Washington, DC, a 32,000-squarefoot incubator located at the new

BUSINESS

Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus in Northwest on a portion of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center Campus. Awardees will also receive access to mentorship, resources and programming. With Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS strategically located in the District, resident companies will benefit from this innovative ecosystem, which includes Children’s National Research Institute and Virginia Tech, with proximity to federal research institutions and agencies, university and academic research centers, and a robust bio-health community. Awardees will be evaluated by an expert panel of reviewers and judges based on their ability to address these scientific gaps. Selection criteria includes the uniqueness of the idea, potential impact on human health, the feasibility of the idea, thoroughness of approach and identification of key resources and

5 Mayor Muriel Bowser. (Courtesy photo/DC.gov)

a plan to further the idea. The deadline to apply for the Washington DC Health Innovation QuickFire Challenge is June 11. For more information and to apply visit http://jji.jnj/dc-inclusive. WI

OUR GREATEST RETURNS COME FROM INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY. Banking solutions for nonprofits As a nonprofit, you’re not driven by revenues, but by the prospect of doing good for the people in your community. At Sandy Spring Bank, that’s also what inspires us as we serve your particular needs. From lines of credit to commercial loans and insurance, our financial solutions and products are designed to help you spend less time managing your funds, and more time on your mission. That’s real banking for real business. To make an appointment or learn more, call Monica Tressler at 571.421.7808 or visit sandyspringbank.com/nonprofit

P E R S O N A L

B U S I N E S S

W E A L T H

I N S U R A N C E

M O R T G A G E

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Sandy Spring Bank NMLS # 406382. Wealth and Insurance products are not FDIC insured, not guaranteed, and may lose value. Sandy Spring Bank and the SSB logo are registered trademarks of Sandy Spring Bank. Real banking for real life.SM © 2021 Sandy Spring Bank. All rights reserved.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER SSB-94 Fall Nonprofit Print Woman_9.875x5.5_WashInformer.indd 1

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 15 5/11/2021 3:21:46 PM

NATIONAL Everything Legendary Vegan Products Hit Nationwide William J. Ford WI Staff Writer A Prince George’s County based company which received a $300,000 investment in February from billionaire entrepreneur Mark

Cuban on the reality TV show “Shark Tank” now has its product on a nationwide market. Everything Legendary’s plantbased vegan burgers and ground are available in 310 Targets locations in 13 states. That’s in addition to the

hundreds of other grocery stores such as Giant, Safeway, Acme and Stop & Shop. The Black-owned business’s

DCTAG,

Apply Now. Take Classes In-person or Online If you’re a DC resident, have a son or daughter 26 or younger with a high school diploma or GED and meet a few other requirements, the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) can help by providing up to $10,000 a year to participating colleges and universities, nationwide. Apply by September 17, 2021 to begin classes this fall. TEXT DCTAG @ 474747 to get started. dconeapp.dc.gov 16 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

5 Duane Cheers, president and CEO of Everything Legendary prepares the vegan hamburgers his company created. (Courtesy photo/Everything Legendary)

product ranks third among plantbased meats sold to consumers. “Mark Cuban believed in us. It’s been amazing ever since,” Duane Cheers, president and CEO of Everything Legendary, said during an interview Friday, May 14. “We did $250,000 in the first 24 hours [and] $1.5 million in three months since Shark Tank aired. It’s a blessing.” Before the process to appear on Shark Tank, Cheers crafted part of his entrepreneurial skills when disguised himself as a “delivery boy” to obtain a meeting and contract 17 months ago with representatives at Safeway to sell the company’s product. “I did my research for all the different meat managers. ‘I have all these burgers for everyone.’ I gave it to the receptionist. She was like, ‘I’m about to give them call.’ I said, “No, no. Don’t do that. [They’re] in a big meeting. If you call them, you’re going to get fired. That was the funny part.” He continued: “I came back two days later. [Receptionist] was like, ‘you’re that delivery guy.’ I said, ‘Let me introduce myself. I’m the founder and CEO of Everything Legendary and I would love to get a meeting. From there we got the meeting…” According to the company’s website site at www.golegendary.com, residents can purchase products at various stores in the D.C. and Baltimore areas. A few stores sell the plant-based items in Frederick County, Maryland,

“The Mark Cuban investment tells the nation that Prince George’s County is a welcoming home to entrepreneurs.” and Fredericksburg, Virginia. The business became established in 2019 centered on Cheers’ mom diagnosed with lupus 35 years ago, who converted into a “strict vegan” more than 30 years ago. Cheers said she recently celebrated her 71st birthday and “that’s because of a healthy diet.” “She’s been a big influence,” he said. “We make this product which is flavorful. It has the right text texture. It’s healthy. It’s the best plantbased burger in the world.” David Iannucci, president and CEO of the Prince George’s Economic Development Corp., said Cuban’s investment will boost an entrepreneurial spirit in the county. “The Mark Cuban investment tells the nation that Prince George’s County is a welcoming home to entrepreneurs,” he said. “It will help make the county known to more people as a business-friendly environment.” WI Twitter: @jabariwill

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

NATIONAL

(Photo courtesy of Pexels.)

Biden Tackles Cybersecurity After String of Ransomware Attacks in the United States

America’s Online Security is Vulnerable Says Officials Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer After a ransomware attack targeted the 5,500-mile long Colonial Pipeline in early May triggering panic buying among consumers and fuel shortages throughout the Southeast, President Biden issued an executive order May 10 aimed at improving cybersecurity. “The United States faces persistent and increasingly sophisticated malicious cyber campaigns that threaten the public sector, the private sector, and ultimately the American people’s security and privacy,” Biden said in a statement. “The Federal Government must improve its efforts to identify, deter, protect against and respond to these actions and actors.” The executive action order came too late to prevent a $5 million ransom paid --according to Bloomberg and NBC News--by Colonial Pipeline owners and underscored the vulnerability of U.S. public and private infrastructure to online criminals. While Colonial is a private firm, government entities have been targeted by hackers, too. Russian intelligence forces were linked to the penetration in early 2020 of SolarWinds, a firm whose compromised software led hackers into 100 top U.S. companies and

a dozen government agencies. The intruders roamed in unrestricted electronic access for months, officials acknowledged. The order “targets persistent and increasingly sophisticated malicious cyber campaigns that threaten the public sector, the private sector, and ultimately the American people’s security and privacy.” In addition, the order establishes a Cyber Incident Review Board that will convene following a significant cyber incident to analyze what happened and make concrete recommendations for improving cybersecurity going forward. The Cyber Incident Review Board will have a private sector co-chair, referencing the administration’s focus on bringing in and partnering with the private sector on cybersecurity. A Biden administration official said in response to the issuing of the executive order that these incidents share one thing in common: a laissez-faire attitude towards cybersecurity. “And we simply cannot let “waiting for the next incident to happen” to be the status quo under which we operate.” A second commonality among these incidents is poor software

SECURITY Page 41

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 17

INTERNATIONAL PETWORTH PRINTING Your Quality Printers

301 Kennedy Street, NW

Washington, DC

202-291-6565 PRINTING & DESIGN

Color / Black & White Printing n n n n n n n n n

Booklets Brochures Business Cards Banners Canvas Bags Color Copies Contracts & Vouchers Church Fans Fax & Scan

n n n n n n n n n

Programs Postcards Promotional Products Posters & Signs Tithe Envelopes Tickets & Flyers T-Shirts Mugs & Glassware Notary

10% OFF

BOOKLETS AND T-SHIRTS *NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY*

SEE OUR ONLINE STORE: www.QualityPrintersDC.com

Traditional Help Buttons

At Home In the Car On a Walk On Vacation At the Park Shopping

A Help Button Should Go Where You Go! To be truly independent your personal emergency device needs to work on the go.

Order Now & Receive a FREE Lockbox!

1-800-681-0667

Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation.

Seeing is believing. Get 2 security cameras installed FREE*. ADT’s 24/7 monitoring plus top of the line security cameras help ensure your loved ones are safe – whether you’re out and about or in the next room.

Call today to speak with a home security expert 1-877-325-1437 • Offer expires: 7/15/2021 *ADT Video Doorbell AND Outdoor Camera Professionally Installed Free: Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $56.99/mo. with QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $1,367.76), and enrollment in ADT EasyPay. Offer includes installation of one (1) video doorbell camera AND one (1) outdoor camera with minimum purchase price of $599 after promo is applied depending on geographic location. Applicable taxes extra. Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the monthly service charges due for the balance of the initial contract term. Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment, and services selected. Expires 7/15/2021. General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 09079, MS 15019511. DF-CD-NP-Q221

18 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

africa now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Threat to ANC Northern Cape Congress as Members Head to Court to Stop ‘Distortion of Party Processes’ Disgruntled ANC Northern Cape members have launched a court bid to halt the province’s much anticipated elective congress scheduled for next week, south-africa.ournaijanews.com reported on Sunday, May 16. This week ANC Northern Cape members Gloria Petersen, Glen Namies, Khadi Moloi and Mosimanegape Setlhogomi brought an urgent application before the Johannesburg High Court to stop next weekend’s elective congress. The group also wants the court to nullify regional conferences that had taken place so far and to declare it invalid. So far, the province’s Francis Baard and Pixley Ka Seme regions held their conferences to elect new leadership. In court papers, the group said the purpose of their application was to avoid the “continuing and distortion” of the democratic processes of the ANC’s branch, regional, provincial and national structures. The group argued the province’s regional leadership was installed in November 2017 and had no legal footing with their three-year term of office having lapsed. The group said the term of office of regional structures is directly connected to the terms of branch committees which precede the election of regional committees. As a result of the lapse of term of office of the regional structures, a special dispensation had to be established to deal with this conundrum. In December, recently suspended ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule issued directions to address the terms of office of structures. In his letter dated Dec. 14, Magashule told ANC Northern Cape Provincial Secretary Deshi Nxganga that regional executive committees had no legal standing. They, therefore, could elect or nominate delegates to attend a provincial conference as their representatives. “As you are aware, the three-year term of office of the regional executive committees in the Northern Cape has expired and that they currently operate as interim structures in accordance with a directive issued by the SGO [Secretary General’s Office]. At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the election of office bearers at branch, regional and provincial level should be postponed and the existing structures should continue to operate as an interim structure until conditions, in particular gatherings, are once again permitted to conduct elections,” Magashule’s letter read. The branch general meetings were held to elect and nominate members for the regional conference. These were presided over by the interim structures’ leadership, the group argued. Given Magashule’s directive, the group argued that all meetings and regional conferences be declared null and void given the “lack of legal standing of the interim regional structure”. According to the court papers, there were also instances of gatekeeping, manipulation of membership numbers and misrepresentation of branches at regional conferences. Recently, Francis Baard and another regional structure became the first to pilot conferences held using the party’s new membership system. However, some leaders were concerned that the system had a number of problems and was open to massive manipulation. The applicants intend to submit their application on May 20. WI

caribbean now Jamaica’s Prime Minister Committed to Combatting Learning Loss Acknowledging that there are significant challenges in the education system today due to the effects of Covid-19, Prime Minister Andrew Holness says many of our students are not learning at the level, pace and stage at which they would be were they in the usual face-to-face learning modality, according to a Jamica Information Services (JIS) press release. He says the government is concerned that this cohort of Grade 6 students would be behind as they transition to grade 7 but that the government is not going to allow that to affect the remainder of their education cycle. “Whatever we have to do,” he said “to catch up on what you (students) have lost and to ensure that you (students) have the foundation skills to advance to higher learning, the government is committed to ensuring that this is done.” The prime minister made the commitment as he addressed a gathering of students and parents at the Calabar Infant, Primary and Junior High School in Central Kingston on Friday, May 14, during a tablet distribution ceremony. He said, “I want to give you that assurance as children and I want to give that assurance to your parents. It is something that is near and dear to my heart and I am going to ensure that you are not adversely affected because of the measures that we have had to put in place to control the pandemic.” Holness also emphasized that the government is developing a new framework for broadband internet access across the length and breadth of Jamaica to ensure that every Jamaican household can access broadband internet whether through wired service or wireless service. He says the planning is far advanced and the program should be at an advanced stage of completion within two years. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Sandra, enjoying life after transplant.

23 years and more than 1,800 liver transplants. Our MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute team of experienced transplant surgeons perform more liver transplants, with better outcomes, than any other area program.

To schedule a liver transplant evaluation, visit MedStarHealth.org/LiverTransplant or call 855-943-3145. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER MDST_6948_Liver_Donor_Evaluations_Recipient_Print_FINAL.indd 1

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 19 3/9/21 3:34 PM

HEALTH Mental Health Advocate Kellene Diana Launches School to Spread ‘Green Love’

Founder of The Green Heart Community Use Every Opportunity to Raise Awareness Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Green serves as the nationally-recognized color for Mental Health Awareness -- a hue chosen to illustrate the strength and courage of millions who fight each day to overcome mental illnesses. Kellene Diana, the founder of

the mental health organization, The Green Heart Community, Inc., has continued to advocate going green. Diana, a longtime advocate in the mental health community, kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month with the second annual lighting of Baltimore City Hall. With assistance from Mayor Brandon Scott, the dome at City Hall

5 Kellene Diana founded The Green Heart University to train students in mental health coaching. (Photo courtesy Kellene Diana)

sparkled in shades of green for the first week of May. “It is now an annual event and it’s a topic that because of the pandemic we have no choice but to talk more about. Mental illness impacts celebrities, our children, people in leadership, our city council, our government, everyone,” Diana remarked. “Unfortunately, some people are still hesitant and scared because of being judged or they are scared that they

5 City Hall in Baltimore sported a background of color in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. (Photo courtesy Kellene Diana)

will no longer be respected.” To advance her advocacy work, Diana founded the Green Heart University, an online school designed to spread “green love” and to bring radical awareness to the importance of mental health. She describes it as a first of its kind -- an online school designed to provide instruction for mental health advocates and coaches with the nuances needed to help people in the

Extended Obamacare Enrollment Nets One Million New Sign-Ups Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Proclaiming that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, President Joe Biden said his administration is committed to ensuring that every American has access to the quality, affordable health care they need. The President noted that since his American Rescue Plan authorized the re-opening of the Affordable Care Act in February, more than 1 million Americans have gained coverage. The former administration, which tried to demolish the health care law, had closed enrollment last fall. In one of his first acts as President, Biden declared his intention of offering more coverage. “Since it became law more than a decade ago, the Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for millions of Americans. The pandemic has demonstrated how badly it is needed and how critical it is that we continue to improve upon it,” President Biden stated. On Feb. 15, the Biden-Harris Administration opened HealthCare. gov to provide all an opportunity to sign up for health insurance through a special enrollment period. Less than three months later, the president announced that one million had signed up. “That’s one million more Americans who now have the peace of mind that comes from having health insurance. One million more Americans who don’t have to lie awake at night worrying about what happens if they or one of their family members gets sick,” President Biden remarked. The extended open enrollment instituted by the Biden-Harris administration has netted another 1 million sign-ups for the Affordable Care Act (Photo AfahcHouston)

20 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

ENROLLMENT Page 40

aftermath of the pandemic. “We have students, instructors and partners who are on a mission to spread awareness,” she said. “We equip our students with the tools they need to become certified mental health coaches and advocates so that they can make an impact, an income and advocate for others.” “Green Heart University was created amidst the pandemic because of the need of so many who have never dealt with this. I want to give people the tools they need to recognize and direct people with anxiety and depression. We have partnered with mental health professionals, suicide prevention professionals and others to advocate for mental health.” To date, Diana said Green Heart University has assisted thousands of women worldwide in achieving their dreams despite battling anxiety and depression. She continues to uphold a personal commitment to erase the stigma associated with anxiety and depression, particularly among women. “The more you talk about mental health, the more responsible you are,” Diana declared. “Talking about mental illness and mental health is okay and necessary for the healing we need as a nation, not just in Baltimore. And it’s our responsibility to open the conversation and give others the green light to do the same.” “We have to normalize these discussions -- make them exciting. Mental health is just as important, if not more important, than physical health. If you are not right mentally, then physically you won’t feel right either.” WI @StacyBrownMedia

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

D.C. Area Parents Cautiously Support COVID-19 Vaccines for Children

James Wright WI Staff Writer

Washington, D.C. area parents appear to be excited by the prospect their younger teenaged children could be vaccinated for the coronavirus despite concerns by critics who say vaccines may not be as safe as public health experts say. On May 13, the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine became available to children aged 12 to 15-years-old. Jacque Patterson Sr., an at-large D.C. State Board of Education member and executive for KIPP charter schools, made sure his son, Jacque Patterson Jr., received his vaccination at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center the next day. “I want to make sure Jacque Jr., is safe,” Patterson Sr. said. “He is 12 and attends D.C. public schools. I wanted him to get his shots because he will be spending time with his grandmother this summer and everyone needs to be safe when they are together.” Jacque Patterson Jr. joins hundreds of students throughout the Washington region getting their coronavirus shots. Pfizer/BioNTech stands as the only vaccine approved for children 12 to 15 years old, although Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are working on their shots for youngsters under the age of 16. President Biden said on May 10 that childhood vaccinations “are a promising development in our fight against the virus,” Reuters reported. Additionally, public health experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, say vaccinating youngsters serves as an important step to getting children back into schools safely. However, youth vaccine advocates have some doubters. A Kaiser Family Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Data survey released earlier this month revealed nearly 29 percent of parents said they would get their children vaccinated “right away” as soon as their child become eligible and an additional 32% said they would wait to see how the vaccine performs before allowing their

HEALTH Answers to the Top 6 Questions About Liver Disease

Submitted by MedStar Health

More than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are living with chronic liver disease. If you or a loved one are one of those people, you probably have questions about liver disease and how it can be treated. If you’re not, learning how to protect the health of your liver can help lower your risk of getting liver disease.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON LIVER DISEASES?

5 Jacque Patterson Jr., received his Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center on May 14. (Courtesy Photo/Jacque Patterson Sr.)

child to be inoculated. The survey said 15 percent of parents would let their child become immunized if the school required it and 19 percent said their youngster would not be inoculated under any circumstances. Patterson Sr. said he discussed the matter with his wife and son. He said Jacque Jr. enthusiastically embraced being vaccinated. “My son suffers from an allergic condition but he still wanted to go through with it,” Patterson said, Maryland Del. Jay Walker (D-District 26) and his wife, Prince George’s County Council Member Monique Anderson-Walker (D-District 8), supported their 12-year-old son getting the Pfizer vaccine, also. “My son Jewel plays youth sports and had to engage in virtual learning all year,” Jay Walker said. “We want him not to get a positive result on a COVID test and the best way to fight that would be to get vaccinated. If he gets a positive test, he will not be able to practice.” Both Patterson Sr. and Jay Walker said parents have the right to decide whether their child should be inoculated. However, Walker said parents “should trust the science” and “do what’s in the best interest of their children.” WI

Your liver is the largest organ in your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove toxins. The most common type of liver disease is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease usually happens in people who are overweight or obese. Patients with diabetes are also at risk for developing this disorder. Alcohol-related liver disease is also common. If you drink a large amount of alcohol regularly, it damages your liver and makes it harder for the liver to repair itself. Over time, this can lead to cirrhosis, a build-up of scar tissue on the liver that can cause liver failure. Hepatitis B and C and autoimmune hepatitis are other diseases that can damage your liver. The first two are caused by viruses. In autoimmune hepatitis, your own immune system attacks and damages your liver. Liver cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. There are several causes of liver cancer, including cirrhosis caused by alcohol use, viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and other chronic liver diseases.

HOW CAN I KEEP MY LIVER HEALTHY?

These steps can help keep your liver healthy: • Reach and maintain a healthy weight. • Eat a healthy diet that includes fiber, lower-fat meats, low-fat dairy,

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

and healthy fats from nuts and seeds, fish, and vegetable oils. • Get regular exercise. • Don’t smoke. • Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all. • Don’t share needles or personal items like razors because they can have blood on them that carries hepatitis B and C. • Follow the instructions on medicines to make sure you don’t take too much. Taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a common cause of liver damage. And ask your doctor before taking any supplements or herbal medicines.

HOW ARE LIVER DISEASES TREATED?

The treatment depends on what type of liver disease you have. Medicines are used to treat some diseases like hepatitis or reduce inflammation in your liver. A low salt diet may be recommended. For liver cancer, you may need surgery or other treatments. If you have end-stage liver disease or your liver fails, your doctor may recommend a liver transplant.

WHAT KINDS OF LIVER TRANSPLANTS ARE THERE?

There are two kinds of liver transplants—deceased donor transplants and living donor transplants. The first type uses a liver donated after someone has died. In a living donor transplant, a small piece of a healthy person’s liver is removed and transplanted into you after your damaged liver is removed. The donor’s liver grows back to its normal size after a few months and the piece of liver transplanted into you will also grow.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LIVING DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANTS?

14,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for a liver transplant.

The wait time for a deceased donor transplant can be months or even years. With a living donor, your wait time can be much shorter. You can get your transplant before you become too sick, which lowers your risk for complications and helps you recover more quickly. Because a living donor’s health is checked before they donate, the quality of the liver you receive is likely to be better. And you can schedule your transplant when it’s convenient for you and your donor.

HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE A TRANSPLANT PROGRAM?

When choosing a transplant program, besides comparing at SRTR. org, ask: • How many liver transplants they do each year • What their outcomes are (how many people die within a year, have complications, or need a second transplant within a short time) • How much experience the transplant team has • What support services (financial counseling, transplant pharmacy, emotional and social support programs) the program offers • Whether they accept your health insurance

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 21

EDUCATION Former State Board Candidate Charles Boston Fights for Trades-Based Curriculum

Education Activist Promotes Ballot Measure that Would Allow Greater Flexibility in Courses

5 Charles Boston (Courtesy photo)

tional trades programs within the District’s public and public charter schools. A ballot measure Boston recently submitted would obligate the Office of the State Superintendent As District students make the for Education [OSSE] to make such transition to in-person learning, changes to the citywide curriculum. conversations about educational “The programs that exist have inequity continue to center on how too many barriers. Our parents and grandparents had 10 to 15 schools [with vocational training] in their neighborhoods,” said Boston, a one-time D.C. State Board of Education candidate, in reference to Phelps ACE High School, McKinley Technology High School and IDEA Public Charter School. If Boston’s ballot measure passes, titled the “Elizabeth Davis Education Equity Pathway Policy Act of 2022,” it would allow District stuAUTO BODY AUTO BODYdents to take fewer traditional credits in exchange for coursework in SHOP WASHINGTON DC AUTOIN BODY the allied health, agricultural, enviSHOP IN WASHINGTON DC ronmental and professional trades. Authorized Direct repair facility for Additionally, schools would have Authorized Direct repair facility for SHOP IN WASHINGTON DC Major Insurance Companies Authorized Direct repair facility for more flexibility in providing courses Major Insurance Companies Authorized Direct repair facility for and work-based learning opportu10% off Body Repair Labor with Insurance Claim nities for students between the 6th Major Insurance Companies 10% off Body Repair Labor with Insurance Claim Major Insurance Companies and 12th grades. Rental Car Available/Anacostia Rental Lease & Sales named the ballot Rental Car Available/Anacostia Rental Lease &who Sales 10% Body Labor with Insurance Claim Boston, 10% offoff Body RepairRepair Labor with Insurance Claim TOWING AVAILABLE measure after the late Washington Rental Car Available/Anacostia Rental Lease & SalesTOWING AVAILABLETeachers’ Union President Elizabeth Rental Car Available/Anacostia Rental Lease & Sales 1710 Good Hope Road SE Davis, submitted it to the DC Board 1710 Good Hope Road SE TOWING AVAILABLE of Elections shortly after her funeral Washington DC 20020 TOWING AVAILABLE last month. Boston said the ballot Washington DC 20020 1710 Good Hope Road SE Ph:202-678-0100 measure, formerly named the Voca1710 Good Hope Road SE Ph:202-678-0100 tional Technical Education GraduWashington DC 20020 www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com ation Pathway Policy Act of 2020, www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com Ph:202-678-0100 Washington DC 20020 developed from conversations with It’s YOUR CHOICE where you have your vehicle repaired. Davis vehicle about the lack of educational It’s YOUR CHOICE where you have your repaired. www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com opportunities for young people and Ph:202-678-0100 research about previous attempts to OUR CHOICE where you have your vehicle repaired. re-institutionalize trades-based eduwww.murphysautobodyshopdc.com cation. Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer

to most effectively close the achievement gap and redirect youth along the best path to academic and professional success. For Charles Boston, that discussion cannot happen without the inclusion and expansion of voca-

#1#1 AUTO BODY #1

#1 IN WASHINGTON DC SHOP

UR CHOICE where you have your vehicle repaired. 22 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

“High school is too late and middle school may be too late,” Boston said. “We need something by the fifth grade to plant the seed. We need to be real about what’s going on. Neither of the District’s vocational high schools are associated with the Frederick Douglass Bridge. You don’t see students going into the trades and they’re [leaving school] unprepared for college and careers.” OSSE did not return our inquiry about the degree to which the office, or Deputy Mayor Paul Kihn, would embrace a curriculum that prepares middle and high school students for careers as a tradesperson. However, vocational training has been credited with providing people with practical skills, exposing them to highly-specialized equipment and allowing them to explore career opportunities before moving on to acquire a certification or degree. Even so, the focus on college preparedness has precipitated the exodus of vocational courses out of U.S. high schools over the last 30 years. But as college costs increase and mounting debt continues to cripple millennial and baby boomer college graduates, youth who follow them have heeded calls to pivot towards trades-based education. For some, this shift reflects a desire to accumulate income earlier and circumvent years of postsecondary work for white-collar careers with stagnating wages. Over the last few years, the Career and Technical Education [CTE] Office for DC Public Schools [DCPS] has coordinated program-

ming at the middle and high school levels designed to prepare students for various careers. DCPS offers more than 50 CTE programs with career education pathways at 17 high schools. A dozen of these schools, including Ballou Senior High School, utilize the NAF College & Career Academy program model. Programs of study include: architecture, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, culinary arts, electrical technology and HVAC. But Boston, a tradesman with experience in returning citizens workforce development, believes that the status quo remains inadequate. He cites the Washington Metropolitan High School, an alternative educational institution which closed during the 2019-2020 academic year, as an example of how the system failed students. Advocates say prior to its closure, hundreds of youth achieved success after flunking out of traditional public and public charter schools. Davis counted among those who stood on the frontlines to save Washington Metropolitan. In reflecting on her work, Boston said others must take up the baton which Davis left behind, especially for those students who lose hope early in their educational journey. “I don’t want Elizabeth Davis’ legacy to disappear,” Boston said. “I found out a lot of [returning citizens I worked with] never got past middle school. A lot of them are reading on a fifth or sixth grade level. I’m trying to figure out where the breakdown occurred.” WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

DCPS

BRIEFS Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer

NO CLASSES

May 31 is Memorial Day ( No School for Students, Teachers, and Staff

ROAD TO RECOVERY FUNDS

DCPS will receive $191 million of the American Rescue Plan Act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds this fall to support the full reopening of schools for in-person learning. DCPS is asking families, teachers, staff and community members to help prioritize how the funds should be used as the District prepares for next school year. A public survey is open through Friday, May 28 and can be accessed at bit. ly/dcps-recovery-survey. D.C. Mayor Bowser recently announced the availability of fully flexible recovery funds to ensure that no school experiences a reduction in their FY22 budget.

“Community engagement is critical as we build a strong foundation for our schools and continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said in a statement. “We know the pandemic has impacted our school communities in different ways, and we value insights from schools on identifying urgent needs. Through collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, we will ensure our schools have the resources they need for a strong recovery.”

MEAL STUDENT SITES

In accordance with USDA guidelines, all D.C. youth ages 18 and younger may receive free grab-and go meals at DCPS and Department of Parks and Recreation meal site locations through Sept. 30. Youth and or parents/guardians on their behalf may receive up to three breakfast and three lunch meals daily. Meal site locations include: Ward 1 Bancroft Elementary School 1755 Newton Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Banneker High School 800 Euclid Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Bruce-Monroe Elementary School@ Park View 3560 Warder Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm

EDUCATION

Cardozo Education Campus 1200 Clifton Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Columbia Heights Education Campus 3101 16th Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Columbia Heights Recreation Center 1480 Girard St., NW 10 am – 2 pm Marie Reed Elementary School 2201 18th Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Adams 2020 19th Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Ward 2 Hardy Middle School 1819 35th Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm School Without Walls @ Francis Stevens 2425 N Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm Thomson Elementary School 1200 L Street, NW 10 am – 2 pm

STANDING OVATION

This year marks the 11th year of #StandingOvationDC. One of DCPS’ favorite moments over the years was the @SyncLadies show-stopping performance at the 2019 event.

PARENT ADVISORY BOARD

Hugh Beshers from Ward 1 said, “It’s been rewarding to serve on DCPS’ Parent Advisory Board. “My family has been part of DCPS for 80 years. I went to DCPS, I have a third grader in DCPS, and my younger child is entering PK-3 in the fall,” Besher said in a DCPS Facebook post. “Yet, there was a lot I didn't know about DCPS. I learned that throughout the city, parents are strongly advocating for their kids.” WI

5 This year marks the 11th year of #StandingOvationDC. (DCPS Photo)

Apartments Studios, 1-, 2-, and 3bedroom apartments available!*

Smoke-free building Controlled access building and bicycle storage On-site laundry facilities Outdoor terrace Two community rooms and multi-purpose room Two levels of underground parking Business center Energy and water efficient building rated EarthCraft Multifamily GOLD Handicapped accessible apartments and common spaces Adjacent to Arlington County Public Park

1 BEDROOMS STARTING AT $1321* *Income restrictions apply. Contact the leasing office to determine eligibility.

1615 18th Street North, Arlington, VA 22209

571-234-4002

TTY 711

queenscourt@slnusbaum.net www.queenscourtapartments.com

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

5 Hugh Beshers from Ward 1 serves on DCPS’ Parents Advisory Board. (DCPS Photo)

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 23

Break free from the Big Three. Unlimited for $30/mo. per line when you get 4 lines. Switch to Xfinity Mobile and get the best price for Unlimited. You’ll be connected to the fastest, most reliable network, with 5G included at no extra cost. Plus, you can save hundreds on your wireless bill. See how much you can save at xfinitymobile.com/mysavings or visit an Xfinity Store to learn how our Switch Squad makes it easy to switch and save hundreds.

1.800.xfinity

xfinitymobile.com

xfinity store

Savings compared to weighted average of top three carriers based on optimized pricing. Xfinity Internet required. Reduced speeds after 20 GB of usage per line. Prices may vary and are subject to change. “Most reliable” based on results from RootMetrics dot com US Report. Results vary. Not an endorsement. NPA235731-0006 NED AAQ2 4.0 No Offer V4

140298_NPA235731-0005 Break Free 9.875x10.935 V4.indd 1

24 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

4/23/21 5:33 PM

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL

The Value of the Arts at HBCUs

Last week there were two outstanding HBCU announcements impacting the arts. Howard University named Phylicia Rashad as dean of its reestablished College of Fine Arts. The multi-award winning actress brings her theatrical skills and accomplishments from television, stage and film to the Washington, D.C. institution. In addition, Spelman College in Atlanta revealed that their new arts center will be named the LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center. The naming honors a lifetime of artistic achievements and support by alumna Richardson Jackson and Jackson, a Morehouse College alumnus. Howard is known for producing many talented artists including classical music talents Jessye Norman and Richard Smallwood and actors Chadwick Boseman, Roxie Roker and Debbie Allen -- the equally-talented sister of Rashad. In Atlanta, between Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta University, students who established impressive careers include Spike Lee, Kenny Leon and Bill Nunn in addition to Richardson Jackson and Jackson. Over the past 30 years, we have seen a reduction in funding for arts programs in K-12 and higher education. Music, visual arts, theater and dance are a few of the disciplines under the fine arts collective. Some District residents may remember when D.C. Public Schools offered children’s plays during the 1960s in the Ira Aldridge Theatre on the Howard campus. That kind of early exposure to theater for K-12 students expands the imagination of young minds. Wherever the arts are on an HBCU campus students, faculty and surrounding communities reap the benefits. Let us not forget that during segregation, HBCU campuses and churches were the only places Blacks could attend performances. By growing their arts programs, Howard and Spelman are demonstrating how HBCU campuses remain committed to the development of the “whole” person. The arts serve as an integral component in that development.WI

‘Gimme My Stimmy’

It’s no joke. Yet, the checks the federal government provides to help Americans get through the economic crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic are turning stimulus payments into a laughing matter. A quick search on Google, and one can see the raps, memes and songs dedicated to the “stimmy” and quips by social media personalities demanding “Gimme my stimmy” while adding how they will use it. It’s officially called the Economic Impact Payment. So far, the Internal Revenue Service has deposited three payments into the bank accounts of nearly 70 million Americans who filed their 2018 or 2019 tax returns. The first payment of $600 sent to individuals – or $1200 for joint filers – was made available beginning in December of 2020 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Additionally, families received $600 for each dependent child. In March, under the CARES Act, Congress approved an additional $1,200 for those earning up to $75,000 -- $2,400 to couples earning up to $150,000 -- along with an additional $500 for each dependent child. Democrats in Congress want more. They are appealing to President Joe Biden to issue a fourth stimulus check on top of the Child Tax Credit Payments soon to be on their way to families that will receive $3,600 for children under six years of age and $3,000 to those with children between six and 17 years of age. The monthly installments of $300 will certainly help households with children impacted by the pandemic. In the meantime, with the reopening of cities and states around the country, employers are struggling to find people willing to come back to work. More Americans are vaccinated, but the employment lines don’t reflect the need for jobs and income lost due to the pandemic. Government leaders refuse to admit that their stimulus checks contribute to a negative employment rate. Meanwhile, too many Americans are not taking seriously the consequences of spending on things other than their mortgage, rent or other living necessities. Very soon, the moratoriums will expire. So, those who found other ways to spend their money will be clamoring for more support. We urge everyone to realize that it won’t be funny when your “Stimmy” is gone, and the bill collectors say “gimme” what you owe me, or else. WI

TO THE EDITOR All Isn't Lost

Running on Empty

I absolutely loved the photo of the Howard graduates on the cover by Roy Lewis. It was shocking to see "normalcy" yet refreshing that people are still finding joy in this pandemic. Kudos!

At this point I'm just waiting on the apocalypse and asking what's next? First toilet paper and now a gas shortage because people are panic buying and hoarding gas. It's ridiculous that so many adults don't have common sense nor the capacity to save some for the next person.

Margaret Chasten Washington, D.C.

Readers' Mailbox

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

LaWanda Freeman Landover, Md.

The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsaxton@washingtoninformer. com or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you. MAY 20 - 26, 2021 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

What's Going On?

Recently, I had the opportunity to again listen to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album. His scores are soul-stirring, and his lyrics touch the highs and lows of the human experience. What is more, there's no debate that Marvin was and, through his music, IS a modern prophet. Listening to "What's Going On," including "Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," one

wonders if Marvin had a crystal ball or whether humankind is so deeply entrenched in dysfunction that there's no end to it. Although his music reflects the '70s, his lyrics outline our current dysfunction. "What's going on?" is a question that needs to be asked often. It questions our own conduct and motivations, and those of others. We need it to ascertain whether the conduct we engage in or the conduct of others is consistent with rational behavior. The rise in official misconduct which can only be classified as

Guest Columnist

"rogue policing" causes one to wonder, "What's going on?" A series of "murders by police" and aggressive police-civilian confrontations seem to be the answer following the conviction of Derek Chauvin. One only wonders how these rogue cops rationalize their actions in the face of growing scrutiny to the propriety of their official conduct. Those with a historical perspective understand that the design of modern policing is the care and protection of whites, and control and management of persons of color. The we/they perception

by police of those they encounter determines whether they are treated with courtesy and receive a measured response or whether they are automatically determined to be adversarial and treated with overwhelming force. These are the determinations that saw Dylann Roof (white) receive a fast-food meal after murdering nine people while Andrew Brown (Black) received a bullet to the back of the head during a so-called warrant service. When police officers, military members, teachers, and politicians attempted to convince their

respective audiences that the Jan. 6 insurrection wasn't what they saw with their own eyes, we need to ask, "What's going on?" I was shocked when I heard a sitting congressman describe that insurrection as nothing more than an average day of tourism or another suggest that a law enforcement official tasked with the protection of the members of our highest legislature used inappropriate lethal force against an assailant attempting to breach the security of the Senate chamber. Maybe these

WILLIAMS Page 45

Julianne Malveaux

Why Does the U.S. Support the Murder of Palestinians?

As of this writing, more than 200 Palestinians and 10 Israelis have been killed in the conflict in Gaza. A few days before the conflict began, the Biden administration approved a $735 million weapons sale to Israel. With this power waning, Israel's scandal-plagued prime minister is likely to say that Israel needs

weapons to defend itself against Hamas. But the imbalance in the casualties suggests that Israel is more likely to have been the aggressor than the victim. Israeli people will say that Hamas started the conflict, but the conflict has its roots in the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. There will be no peace in the Middle East until the land question is settled, with Palestinians getting justice and

Guest Columnist

respect. But Israel has a lock on U.S. foreign policy, and too many Jewish people say that criticism of Israel makes you antisemitic. There is no antisemitism in wanting justice for Palestinian people, but some, fearful of being called antisemitic, are silent in the face of injustice. Of course, there should be a cease-fire, and of course, the United Nations, President Biden and our State Department should call for a cease-fire. That's just a short-

term solution, though. There has been conflict in the Middle East since Israel was established, and there will likely be conflict until Palestinians feel they have justice. There seems no interest in justice for Palestinians, no interest even in peaceful co-existence. The discrimination against Palestinian people in Israel is extreme, and even though Israeli Arabs are a significant portion of Israel's medical workers, saving Israeli lives, they still face discrimina-

tion. According to the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, "Israeli Arab medical workers were essential for enabling Israel's Jewish citizens to survive the coronavirus. According to official figures, 17% of Israel's physicians, 24% of its nurses, and 47% of its pharmacists are Arabs." But they can't get justice. Of course, the previous president didn't help matters at all,

MALVEAUX Page 45

Marc H. Morial

Meet Jimmy Crow, Insurrectionist and Suppressor, Heir to Jim and James Crow, Esquire

"The lie of massive, rampant voter fraud is serving the same function today as it did during the rise of Jim Crow. It stokes fear in a segment of the population that democracy is in peril, and thus provides cover for laws that target Black voters with race-neutral language in the 21st century." — Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel, NAACP

26 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

Legal Defense Fund Meet Jimmy Crow. You may remember Jimmy's grandfather, Jim Crow. Jim sometimes wore a hood and a robe, and sometimes a sheriff's badge. He administered incomprehensible "literacy tests" to Black citizens trying to register to vote. He clubbed John Lewis nearly to death on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The N-word flowed freely from Jim's lips. You may remember Jimmy's fa-

ther, James Crow, Esquire. James wore a suit and a tie instead of a robe and hood. He drew gerrymandered congressional and legislative districts to dilute the power of the Black vote. James would never utter the N-word — at least not in public. Instead, he would winkingly refer to "states' rights" and "welfare queens." Jimmy Crow wears a golf shirt and khaki pants. He carries a tiki torch in place of a burning cross. Jimmy's not content with sup-

pressing and diluting the Black vote; he wants the power to ignore election results altogether if he doesn't like the outcome. He fiercely guards the symbols of white supremacy his grandfather erected on town squares and courthouse grounds to intimidate Black Americans. He rants about "replacement theory" and "the purity of the ballot box." Like his grandfather, Jimmy Crow is not just willing but eager to use violence to enforce his

white supremacist ideology. After neo-Nazi sympathizer James Alex Fields Jr. killed counterprotester Heather Heyer by driving his car into a crowd at the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally, at least six states proposed laws to protect drivers who emulate Fields. In a single month last year, at least 72 drivers rammed their cars into protesters in 52 different cities. Insurrectionists who stormed

MORIAL Page 45

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Marian Wright Edelman

The Wonderful David Dinkins

"I tell people I'm in charge of children, children I haven't even met yet." — David Dinkins My wonderful friend, devoted child advocate and groundbreaking former New York City Mayor David Dinkins passed away last November. He made history as the first and still-only Black mayor of New York City. He had a sharp

mind, keen political shrewdness and deep commitment to making New York City a better place for children. He was a very dear friend and came whenever he was called to bolster the work of the Children's Defense Fund. I loved him! Born in Trenton, N.J., in 1927, David Dinkins grew up in an era when it was hard to imagine a Black child becoming mayor of our nation's largest city. After graduating from high school, he broke barriers as a member of the Montford Point Marines, the

Guest Columnist

first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. After the Marines, he attended Howard University on the G.I. Bill, graduating with honors in 1950. At Howard he met his future wife, Joyce Burrows, whose father was one of the first Black Democratic district leaders in Manhattan and Black members of the New York State Assembly. His father-in-law became a mentor and helped him navigate many racially driven political obstacles. When David Dinkins became mayor in 1990, he inherited a

city rife with racial tensions and immobilized by the worst local recession since the Great Depression and facing a deficit of $1.8 billion while federal aid to cities was slashed. He carefully examined every city agency, seeking ways to balance the budget, and placed a priority on trying to protect programs helping the most vulnerable. A signature Dinkins program was "Safe Streets, Safe City," after he convinced the state to provide funding for more police officers, resulting in a 54% increase of police on the streets. He

was a criminal justice pioneer who recognized that just increasing the police force was not enough to combat crime and combined that with civilian oversight of police, minority hiring, community policing, and safe spaces called Beacon Centers, which provided children and adults recreational and educational outlets. These community centers operated in school buildings during afternoons, evenings, weekends, school holidays and summer and became a model

EDELMAN Page 46

Ben Jealous

Ted Cruz's Wildly Dishonest Defense of Voter Suppression

Sen. Ted Cruz is a shameless liar. And he isn't even a very good one. Witness his latest dishonest defense of Georgia's new voter-suppression law. Cruz published a column in the Wall Street Journal attacking business leaders who have criticized the anti-voting law. He claimed that critics were hurting the reputations of "patriotic leaders pro-

tecting our elections and expanding the right to vote." Expanding the right to vote? As I said, he is shameless. First, let's remember where this new law came from. Georgia Republicans pushed it through after President Joe Biden and Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their elections. The law has one purpose: to prevent future victories by Democrats by making it harder for particular groups of people — Black people, working people, women, people with dis-

Askia-At-Large

abilities, and younger and older people — to vote. The first draft of the law made this racist intention clear by banning early voting on Sundays, when many Black churches encourage people to vote through Souls to the Polls events. The racism behind that piece of the law was so obvious that even Republicans had to water it down in the final bill. But we will not forget what motivated it, or that the rest of the law is designed to achieve the same purpose.

In his column, Cruz mentioned a few pieces of the law to try to make it sound reasonable. But it isn't. It includes new limits on early voting hours, big reductions in the amount of time people have to request an absentee ballot, and sharp decreases in the availability of drop boxes that make it easier for voters to turn in their ballots. My friend Stacey Abrams, the voting-rights activist who knows the system in Georgia better than anyone else, schooled Cruz and his Republican colleague, Sen. John

Kennedy, when they tried to challenge her criticism of the law. She identified such a long list of problems with the law that Kennedy finally asked her to stop. The problem goes way beyond Georgia. Similar laws have been passed in Florida and Arizona and other states controlled by Republicans are getting ready to pass laws that purge eligible voters off registration lists and put up other roadblocks to the ballot box.

non have made the slimy, lowlife, whore-mongering, twice-impeached former President Donald J. Trump the leader of the Republican Party — or this country's avowed White Tribe. They have morphed from being the Tea Party Caucus, to the Freedom Caucus, to the Proud Boys, to the Three Percenters, to violent insurrectionists who tried to overthrow the government of the United States on Jan. 6 in order to "stop the steal" — the legitimate

certification of the election of Joe Biden. In fact, a majority of the Repugnikkkans in Congress voted in favor of what Democrats call "The Big Lie." Indeed, a majority of GOP voters (white folks) believe that the grifter who was turned out of office really won the 2020 election. They are so loony that every one of those 100-some-odd Congress members who voted to

JEALOUS Page 46

Askia Muhammad

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Despite the doom surrounding the American empire, the people of this country are nothing if they aren't boastfully optimistic. Such exaggerated self-worth appears throughout U.S. history. The classic example is Custer's Last Stand. It's romanticized and glamorized so that we know all about the George Custer, the los-

er. He was an Army colonel who elevated his own rank to general, and who died in the encounter the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho Plains Indians called the Battle of the Greasy Grass. We know a lot about the braggadocious loser who died with all his men — even his horse was slaughtered — but we hardly know anything about the victors led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, who was the greatest of Native warriors.

Another example is what was referred to as "The Lost Cause," the antebellum campaign to maintain chattel slavery in this country which led to the miserable defeat of the Confederacy in the bloodiest of all of this country's wars — the Civil War. There's hardly a cowboy movie from the period which doesn't depict the lonely former Rebel soldier, wandering through the West, seeking a new life. And today, the alt-right QA-

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

ASKIA Page 46 MAY 20 - 26, 2021 27

LIFESTYLE D.C. Area Creatives Win Film Competition

Funds Will Help Them Complete Projects Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer PitchBLACK Awards recently distributed $410,000 to five film teams competing in a national pitch competition. The competition was the fourth edition of an intensive 360 Incubator+ fellowship initiative of Black Public Media (BPM), a leading national nonprofit that trains and supports Black

filmmakers to fund their projects. The competition was presented before public television and commercial distributors and funders. Two of the winning teams are connected to the Washington, DC area. Awarded $75,000 each was “Listen to Me” by Stephanie Etienne who lives in Baltimore and Kanika Harris who lives in the District. Their film follows four Black women to tell why Black

5 Due to the pandemic Stephanie Etienne and District resident Kanika Harris, Ph.D. found out they received $75,000 for their film “Listen to Me” from PitchBLACK 2021. The phone call was made by Black Public Media executive director Leslie Fields-Cruz. (Photo Black Public Media)

women are at high risk for complications from pregnancy and childbirth. Also awarded $75,000 was “What’s in a Name?” from the duo Malkia Lydia from the District and Khalil Munir from Philadelphia. The film follows Munir, a performance artist, as he ex-

amines his bittersweet South Philadelphia upbringing and the names and legacies he inherited from generations of Black men. During the competition teams were assigned a mentor who was an experienced, award-winning filmmaker. For three months film teams worked with their mentors to refine their pitch videos. PitchBLACK and BPM’s 360 Incubator+ also held workshops for competing creatives providing insights on a range of aspects in filmmaking. “We covered some of the mechanics like working in virtual space and developing engagement strategies,” said Denise Greene, BPM director of program initiatives. “We also talked about what it means to be a Black filmmaker at this time and the importance of Black stories and Black storytellers.”

FILMS ABOUT REAL LIFE

“Listen to Me” comes from personal experiences of co-producers/directors Etienne and Harris. The first-time filmmakers are mothers who have experienced the loss of babies during pregnancy. The duo was influenced by the news feature about Shalon Irving, a Georgia resident who died after giving birth to her daughter. Irving had complications from hypertension. A spotlight shined on health disparities among Black women during pregnancy and childbirth. “We realized that Shalon would have been any one of us,” said Harris about a conversation she had with Etienne. “After the national news coverage and from reading journal articles we realized why Black women are at high risk and why it is not our fault.” Avoiding the street life is how Munir and Lydia have approached their

28 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

film “What’s in a Name?” Munir, film co-producer, wants to understand how the legacy from his entrepreneur grandparents in Philadelphia went awry with his father going to prison for conviction of drug-related crime. Munir’s father is out of prison and follows Islam. “With the birth of his son, Munir has compassion about how life-changing experiences causes you to change direction,” said Lydia, co-producer and director. “As a performer, choreographer and actor Munir is creating his story through his art.”

PANDEMIC SAID “CUT”

The pandemic halted production on both films during most of 2020. Cast and crews are now beginning to return to work. Both films are scheduled to be released in 2022. “We have to ensure that our makers have the money and resources to tell those stories, and so, in some ways, it is on all of us to support and engage and bring them up and out into the world,” said BPM executive director Leslie Fields-Cruz. Sponsors and supporters of the current PitchBLACK and 360 Incubator and PitchBLACK were the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Netflix, PBS, the MacArthur Foundation, Acton Family Giving, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and SHIFT online collaboration platform for media creatives. The next PitchBLACK competition is in 2022. For more information visit blackpublicmedia.org WI Instagram and Facebook: @blackpublicmedia Twitter: @BLKPublicMedia

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

We’ve built a powerful network with a simple purpose: keeping customers connected – always. Because of COVID-19, internet traffic spiked, but Comcast was prepared. We’ve created a powerful network with one simple purpose – to keep customers connected. Since 2017, Comcast has invested $15 billion to grow and evolve a smart, reliable network. And now, with many working, learning, and entertaining at home, our coverage has helped millions of people stay connected when they need it most.

$15B invested in our network since 2017

39,153 route miles of fiber built since 2017

35% increase in internet traffic over the past year

Learn More at: Corporate.Comcast.com/Our-Network

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 29

LIFESTYLE

NBA Creates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award

New Award to Recognize NBA Players’ Efforts in Pursuit of Equality WI Staff Report

The NBA recently announced the creation of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award, a new annual honor that will recognize a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s decades-long values of equality, respect and inclusion. The award is named after sixtime NBA champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall 3 Kareem Abdul-Jabar (Courtesy photo)

of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The recipient will have advanced Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to drive change and inspired others to reflect on injustice and take collective action in their communities over the previous year. The winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion honor will select an organization to receive a $100,000 contribution on his behalf. The other four finalists will each select an organization to receive a $25,000 contribution. "I’m honored and grateful to be associated with this award that will recognize the dedicated and selfless people fighting to promote social justice for all marginalized people,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “To me, it’s another giant step in the right direction for the country and all people who value equality.” “In addition to being one of our greatest players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has devoted much of his life to advocating for equality and social justice,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “With this new award, we are proud to recognize and celebrate NBA players who are using their influence to make an impact on their communities and our broader society.” All 30 NBA teams will nominate one player from their roster to be the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion. The finalists and winner will be selected by a committee composed of NBA legends, league executives and so-

cial justice leaders. Abdul-Jabbar has been a champion of inclusivity dating to his youth. At 17, he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Abdul-Jabbar’s hometown of Harlem. Inspired by King’s message, Abdul-Jabbar committed to using his influence as a visible athlete to engage on critically important social issues during the Civil Rights Movement. He attended the 1967 Cleveland Summit where Bill Russell, Jim Brown and other prominent Black athletes gathered to discuss Muhammad Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War. Abdul-Jabbar has continued to promote equality and combat discrimination in the decades since his retirement from basketball. In 2016, former President Barack Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2009, Abdul-Jabbar created the Skyhook Foundation, aimed at providing educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities. One of the most accomplished players in NBA history, Abdul-Jabbar holds league records for regular-season MVP awards (six), All-Star Game selections (19) and career points (38,387) captured during his 20 NBA seasons playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. He joined the NBA in the 1969-70 season after leading UCLA to three consecutive national championships. WI

Abdul-Jabbar has been a champion of inclusivity dating to his youth. At 17, he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Abdul-Jabbar’s hometown of Harlem. 30 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Need help with rent or utilities? Mayor Bowser has your back.

Need help with rent or utilities?

Apply for #STAYDC today. Mayor Bowser has

your back. Apply for #STAYDC today. 833-4-STAYDC Call: (78-2932)

Online: stay.dc.gov

#STAYDC WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 31

LIFESTYLE

Knight Commission Calls for Equity for Black NCAA Athletes

Report Recommends Four Key Policy Changes for Progress Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer Black college athletes at NCAA Division I schools fare worse than their white counterparts when it comes to graduation rates and job prospects, according to an independent group of athletics administrators and former athletes. The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics said the NCAA should start revising and removing systemic policies and practices that “create barriers to the success of Black college athletes.” The group has addressed college sport inequities previously. Now they took aim at the 80,000 Blacks involved in college athletics in a report titled, “Achieving Racial Equity in College Sports,” outlines

policy changes in four core areas they believe the NCAA and its member institutions should make to achieve racial equity. The recommendation called for permanently eliminating standardized test scores as an athletics eligibility criterion and instead employing a more holistic review of student readiness. The NCAA currently is reviewing the use of standardized testing for determining eligibility and suspended the use of test scores for three years due to the pandemic. The report also calls for the NCAA to dramatically boost financial support for historically Black colleges and universities [HBCUs] in the Accelerating Academic Success Program. The second recommendation urges conferences and schools to

adopt the “Russell Rule” as standard practice. The Russell Rule, a measure named after college and pro basketball legend Bill Russell requiring each institution to include a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the pool of final candidates for athletics leadership positions, including athletic director and head coach. Each conference school and the conference office would file an annual report card on the demographics of athletic leadership searches and hiring. The third recommendation says to invest in programs that support and enhance Black college athletes' experience like summer bridge programs that promote inclusion and belonging. The final recommendation calls

Homeownership more affordable. M&T has options to help you achieve homeownership. You may be eligible for solutions to help: • • • •

Reduce the cash needed at closing Lower monthly payments Save thousands by paying less interest Qualify with a less-than-perfect credit history

Get started with one of our mortgage specialists by calling 1-888-253-0993 or visit us at mtb.com.

32 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

(Photo courtesy of Pexels.)

for establishing mentorship programs outside of the athletics department that enrich the development of Black athletes. The report also calls for a safe process for Black athletes to report any discrimination or treatment concerns, without fear of reprisal. The commission report “surfaced in the midst of a historic reckoning on race and a rise in Black student activism on college campuses. This moment demands transformational actions that specifically improve the college experience for Black athletes, coaches, and athletics personnel throughout all competitive divisions of college sports,” said Task Force Chair Len Elmore. “The Knight Commission's report lays out a road map for how the CFP, and the NCAA and its member institutions can turn pledges into policies that do just that.”

In addition to the new action steps, the commission urged for new rules that will allow all athletes to earn compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness [NIL]. While new NIL opportunities will benefit all athletes, they say the greatest financial benefit will be for athletes in Division I football and basketball, which have a higher percentage of Black athletes, many of whom face financial strains during college and beyond. The commission says to advance and build collaboration to achieve the equity goals they are offering $100,000 in multi-year challenge grants to fund research that demonstrates how specific interventions impact the Black athlete experience. More information is available at knightcommission.org/grants. WI

"This moment demands transformational actions that specifically improve the college experience for Black athletes, coaches, and athletics personnel throughout all competitive divisions of college sports.” – Len Elmore THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

ConocoPhillips Heads Diversity and Inclusion Efforts in the Oil and Gas Industry By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia With projections that half of its workforce will consist of minorities by 2040, the oil and gas industry has continued to recruit individuals of color, women, veterans, and groups that have been mainly underrepresented. At ConocoPhillips, Shawn Green and Maalika Moore-Thomas each take an optimistic approach to recruiting some of the best minority talent and minds. Green, the manager of global services and technology, and Moore-Thomas, the senior supplier diversity coordinator, also keep a steady eye on diversity and inclusion with ConocoPhillips’ contractors and suppliers. “My day-to-day is basically working with our diverse suppliers from various backgrounds – minorities, LGBTQ community, and veterans – to ensure that our supplier base is well-rounded and to make sure that we have those diverse suppliers that we contract within our oil and gas specific jobs, as well as our professional services jobs,” Moore-Thomas asserted. Green’s role is “to set the supply chain approach and strategy for automation, data analytics, and merchant technology,” he stated. “I’m ultimately accountable for the development approach for those programs that are under my purview.” Moore-Thomas added that ConocoPhillips and the industry continue to work toward a more inclusive environment that reflects different backgrounds, interests, and perspectives. Green concurred. “One of our major initiatives is ensuring we have suppliers for the variety of categories and sourcing opportunities we have,” Green remarked. “It’s really about making sure

that we have a line of sight to those opportunities and a pipeline to diverse suppliers.” Added Moore-Thomas, “The importance of diversity is not just talking points or conversation. We believe each person is accountable for creating and sustaining an inclusive work environment. It’s important to have diversity in backgrounds, but it’s important to have diversity in thought and perspective at each table where decision making takes place.” Raised in a single-family home in Tampa, Florida, Moore-Thomas later attended The Ohio State University and earned two degrees in psychology and criminology. While working as a buyer for a small company, Moore-Thomas received a message from a ConocoPhillips manager that intrigued her enough to relocate to Houston eventually. “I became very interested in oil and gas through learning about how much this industry truly influences the way we work and live,” Moore-Thomas said.

“I applied for the position and never looked back.” Green grew up in Houston, where he lived with his grandparents. He said his primary focus was acquiring an education. Green attended a magnet high school where engineers from Exxon often mentored him and other students. Green attended Tulane University, where he majored in chemical engineering, and he later received an MBA with finance and management concentrations. Both Green and Moore-Thomas have pitched the industry to students at historically Black colleges and universities, and they continue to encourage all minorities about oil and gas. “I have worked in this industry for 24 years, but my first exposure was in high school,” Green recalled. “Over the years, I think we’ve made steady strides in energizing folks to understand the industry more. I know we have more work

to do in having that awareness and outreach (regarding diversity and inclusion).” Moore-Thomas said “all hands are on deck” in creating a more diverse and inclusive industry. “[We are] figuring out how we can better task force, or diversify, the space,” she added.

Green concluded that the industry is keen on developing programs and strategies to increase diversity in the workforce. “It’s a great time to be in the industry,” he exclaimed. “It’s a great time to be at the forefront of change. There will be a lot of opportunities.”

COMMUNITY ENERGY CENTER

America’s Pandemic Recovery Relies on Energy Energy Workers And Company Leaders Are Supporting the COVID-19 Relief Support Effort: • Providing supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE); • Philanthropic community efforts to provide fuel gift cards, sanitizers, clothing, face coverings, and meals to hospitals, fire and police departments throughout the U.S.; • Supplying jet fuel at no cost to critical companies and airlines to transport PPE deliveries and restore air service to remote communities; • Providing fuel discounts to first responders and others who serve their communities; • Donating ultra-low temperature freezers to health organization to help keep vaccines at their required storage temperature.

To learn more about how energy helps your community, visit CommunityEnergyCenter.org

The Community Energy Center, a cooperative with the National Newspaper Publishers Association and National Association of Hispanic Publications Media, will provide information and perspectives on the integral role of the energy sector in daily life for American families in a wide range of communities.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 33

LIFESTYLE Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY

19.99

/mo.

where available

2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE

99 MO.

America’s Top 120 Package

190 CHANNELS

Including Local Channels! CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100 for 12 Mos.

1-855-402-3370

Offer ends 7/14/21.

MOLD, MOLD, MILDEW & WATER LEAKAGE IN YOUR BASEMENT CAUSES HEALTH AND FOUNDATION DAMAGE.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM? WE WILL GIVE YOU A FREE EVALUATION, ESTIMATE & A FAIR PRICE.

CALL (800) 420-7783 FOR 20% OFF!!!

CALL NOW AND RECEIVE 20% DISCOUNT WITH YOUR FREE ESTIMATE OVER THOUSANDS OF BASEMENTS REPAIRED IN THIS AREA.

Expert Software Development Higher Quality Than In-House Lower Cost Than In-House Faster Than In-House

Ask us how! TOLL FREE USA/CANADA

Experience the Difference

1-888-859-4853 itbgn.com/projects

LASER HAIR REMOVAL - IN A TUBE! NEW! Hairfree gets rid of unwanted hair and kills the root to stop new hair growth. Works like laser hair removal - in a tube - for a fraction of the cost! Puts an end to non-stop shaving, plucking and waxing. Be hair-free in 30 days! 100% money-back guarantee. Order by phone: 323-405-3331 (lines open 24/7) Buy online: www.hair-free-hair-remover.com www.hair-f PROMO: 10% & FREE shipping with code: CN9 BEST DEALS FOR EVERYONE

Ask how to get the

iPhone 12 mini ®

for as low as

with trade-in Find out how to get our most popular phones, call now! Iv Support Holdings LLC

(877) 370-2155 Call AT&T sales rep for details. For trade-in instructions visit tradein.att.com/offer-details

Limited time offer. All products and services are offered, supplied and performed by AT&T Services, Inc. (“AT&T”). AT&T is not an affiliate of or endorsed by Sam’s Club. AT&T is solely responsible for the products and services advertised. Sam’s Club has no obligation to perform any responsibilities of AT&T, and Sam’s Club does not guarantee the performance of AT&T’s obligations.

34 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

5 Pervis Staples (second from right) in the studio with The Staple Singers circa 1963. (Courtesy photo)

Pervis Staples, Co-Founder of The Staple Singers, Dies at 85

WI Staff Report

Pervis Staples, a co-founding member of the legendary gospel and R&B group The Staple Singers, died suddenly on May 6 at his home in Dolton, Illinois at the age of 85. Beginning in 1956 with “Uncloudy Day” on Chicago’s Vee Jay Record label and stretching into the early 1980s, the Staple Singers counted as one of the most influential acts in gospel, soul and social protest music. Their signature songs including “Why Am I Treated So Bad,” “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There” have long been hailed as soul music masterpieces. Staples, born Nov. 18, 1935, in Drew, Mississippi, moved with his family during his childhood to Chicago’s Southside for economic opportunities. His father, Roebuck “Pop” Staples, started teaching his children gospel songs to entertain them and occupy their time. Eventually, word spread throughout the Chicago church community about the singing family which led to their garnering national attention The early Staples sound featured Pop Staples’ light tenor and his understated, blues-influenced guitar playing, teenage daughter Mavis’ raspy contralto, daughter Cleotha’s soprano and son Pervis’ warm tenor. “Pervis’ childhood was filled with wonderful experiences,” Mavis Staples said. “He liked to think of this period of his life as setting the stage for all that he wanted to do in life. Some of his best friends as a youngster included Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls and Jerry Butler. Pervis and the guys would stand under the lampposts in the summertime singing doo-wop songs.” After graduating from the Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, he served in the U.S. Army where he became a member of the U.S. Army Choral Group. After he was honorably discharged, he returned to the group. His last album with The Staple Singers was their first for Stax Records, “Soul Folks in Action” (Stax Records), in 1968. The album featured new songs such as “The Ghetto” and their interpretations of tunes like Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and The Band’s “The Weight.” The Staple Singers were awarded the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s Pioneer Award in 1992. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. They were also inducted into the Nashville-based Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018. “Pervis was one of a kind- comical and downright fly,” Mavis Staples recalls. “He would want to be remembered as an upright man, always willing to help and encourage others. He was one of the good guys and will live on as a true Chicago legend.” Staples, preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, is survived by his sister, Mavis Staples. He also leaves six children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His funeral took place on Monday, May 17 in Chicago. 5 Pervis and Mavis Staples. (Courtesy photo) WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LIFESTYLE

wi book review "The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice" By Scott Ellsworth c.2021, Dutton $28.00 / $37.00 Canada 336 pages

By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Your legs felt as though they were made of rubber. It was like walking on a bed of marbles, like wearing roller skates on a waterbed. Your arms flailed for something steady but whether this was an inner event or something outside, you wonder if you'll ever feel stable again. As in the new book "The Ground Breaking" by Scott Ellsworth, you're rattled. In their last season without responsibility, 12-year-old Scott Ellsworth and his buddies spent the summer of 1966 exploring their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and visiting the library. There, Ellsworth discovered hints that the whispers he'd overheard his entire life were true: there really was a "race riot" in Tulsa decades before his birth. He tucked the information away in his head. Later, while researching the riot for a possible college thesis, he was confused by missing or destroyed documents and reluctant witnesses. It had started with a scream. On May 30, 1921, Dick Rowland, a shoeshiner at a white-owned business, was heading to a designated "colored" restroom at the Drexel Building; minutes after he left, Sarah Page, the 17-year-old white elevator operator there, screamed. The reason was never determined, Dick was blamed, Sarah declined to press charges, and the matter seemed to be settled. But it wasn't. The incident festered in the white community until, two mornings later, after Dick's attempted lynching and just before dawn, some of Tulsa's white citizens marched into Greenwood, a suburb, and began shooting. Thirty-six hours later, more than a thousand homes and businesses were destroyed and a still-unconfirmed number of people, mostly Black, lay dead. And then, the story all but disappeared. White Tulsans wanted to forget. Black Greenwoodians couldn't, but they didn't discuss it — until Ellsworth found a man who'd been waiting decades to talk … Reading "The Ground Breaking" is going to leave you wrung out. But first, what may be a surprise to readers is what this book is not. It's not a hugely detailed account of the Tulsa race massacre. It's part of the story here, of course, but it's not the focus. You'll learn bits and snips of those 36 hours from a century ago, but only in support of the rest of the tale. Instead, what'll keep your nose in this book is multipronged. It's partly a memoir, in which author Scott Ellsworth shares the difficulty of sleuthing out the truth, why he was so tenacious, why many people helped him, and why others tried hard to stop him. Together, this all reads like a true-life mystery-thriller, a feeling that's bolstered by Ellsworth's totally exhaustive pursuit of information and documentation (which is still unnervingly unavailable) and his relentlessly dogged search for the bodies of the dead. On this latter, readers may still feel a sense of the unfinished, and closure is elusive here. This is the kind of book that, once you start it, makes the hours disappear. It's an emotional one that'll make you skip dinner and lock the door so you can just read. For sure, "The Ground Breaking" will shake you up. WI

horoscopes

MAY 20 - 27, 2021

ARIES Think about what you're going to say, then pick up the phone and place the call. Taking the first few days of the week step-by-step is the best way to survive the frantic — albeit fun — times. Tuesday and Wednesday, if you find yourself flirting with someone, make yourself clear. Lucky Numbers: 28, 31, 37 TAURUS Monday through Wednesday are not great days to make major decisions your cash. In the present tense, cash will be uncharacteristically flying out of your pockets. More than anything, you're spending money on entertaining ways to waste time. Thursday and Friday strike a deeper note — your close friends are in the picture, and it's been a while since you've caught up. Lucky Numbers: 20, 36, 49 GEMINI It's not raining, it's pouring the first half of the week. You were in the mood to meet some new people, and a bus full of new people has just pulled up to your life. (If you're single and looking, this is an especially wonderful development.) Chatting, handshaking and even flirting take up your week until Thursday, when money concerns distract you from your social life. Lucky Numbers: 1, 14, 42 CANCER Your wild side is coming through and people are responding well to it. You are the kind of person who makes an impact. Let your creative brilliance solve whatever conundrums are puzzling the people around you. Toward the middle of the week is a time for new beginnings. The workweek ends with the spotlight on you, and it stays there throughout the weekend — a weekend that sees you rewarding yourself with an extravagant purchase. Lucky Numbers: 8, 21, 39 LEO You and your friends have a casual rapport that strikes fairly deeply, shorthand that lets you talk about weighty issues with lightness and humor. You are constantly impressed by these friends, especially on Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday your chest swells with contentment. Intuition, sensitivity and pride all figure strongly toward the end of the week. Lucky Numbers: 7, 25, 48 VIRGO What you need at the outset of the week is the skills of a mathematician. If you're not a mathematician, just work extra hard to be logical and reasonable when dealing with whatever comes your way. Emotional investment isn't paying off at this juncture. That said, be as warm as possible when communicating with others. Thursday and Friday, largely because you're giving off good vibes, a family event you've been dreading turns out to be a blast. Lucky Numbers: 15, 17, 51 LIBRA You're sick of what you already know. You'd rather wing it in a conversation over a subject you've hardly ever considered. This is related to a desire — that is strong Monday through Wednesday — to experience new things. To grow mentally. To expand. Thursday and Friday, you have little time to acquire information, what with all the things everyone else needs from you; but even in your most trying moments you have an eye on the beauty around you. Lucky Numbers: 11, 14, 50 SCORPIO As good as it can be to take risks in your life, risks aren't going to go your way. Being careful is key. Don't let any minor details escape your attention on Wednesday. Thursday, the tension finally breaks and you can rely more on your wits. Sometimes it's a lot more fun to go along for the ride than to be the person setting the course. You can open yourself up to worry-free bliss. Lucky Numbers: 3, 16, 25 SAGITTARIUS Some people like to sit on the porch and talk about their dreams. You'd rather march into the world and realize yours. But there are a lot of porch-sitters in your life, so for the first half of the week, keep your head down and ignore them. The second half of the week, you're more open to other people, but you'd still be wise to follow your mood, and if that means building a fort with couch cushions, crawling in with a book and shutting out the rest of the world, so be it. Lucky Numbers: 6, 8, 15 CAPRICORN People love chatting with you, but your chatting time Monday through Wednesday is crowded out by more pressing tasks. Be nice, of course, but don't let yourself get trapped in a conversation about, say, what was on TV last night. The best way to get through this week is narrowing your aim and strike quickly at everything. As you check things off your list, your momentum will build and you'll get more done than you ever thought possible. Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 29 AQUARIUS The fires of your romantic life are burning so brightly Monday through Wednesday that you can't see anything else. The connection isn't just about physical attraction; it's deeper and more cerebral than that. If you could spend every hour of the week with this person, you would, but Thursday has something else in store for you: a lot of responsibilities to see through. Lucky Numbers: 12, 25, 42 PISCES You are not charging out of the gate on Monday. Matter of fact, you might not even leave the house. The start of the week — through Wednesday — you are busy but not particularly ambitious socially. A sense of uncertainty weighs heavily on you, at least until Thursday, when an u unexpected romantic development puts a smile on your face. Lucky Numbers: 4, 10, 23

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 35

VACCINE from Page 1

FREE!

Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE! ($500 Value)

Walk-In Tubs

WALK-IN BATHTUB SALE! SAVE $1,500 ✔ Backed by American Standard’s 140 years of experience ✔ Ultra low entry for easy entering & exiting ✔ Patented Quick Drain® Technology ✔ Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard ✔ 44 Hydrotherapy jets for an invigorating massage Limited Time Offer! Call Today!

877-381-3271

Or visit: www.walkintubinfo.com/network

BE DEBT FREE in 24–48 months!

If you owe more than $10,000 in credit card or other debt, see how we can help. Call today:

1-888-318-8155 ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®

AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance

800-481-7894

them back to school,” said Fraser, a mother and grandmother who lives in Ward 7 and frequently provides insights as a member of Parents Amplifying Voices in Education DC. She said she took Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine soon after its release last year for her own health, joining others willing to waive their right to hold vaccine manufacturers liable for possible side effects. But for Fraser’s progeny, it has proven to be a different story. Fraser’s college-aged grandchildren, for now, have opted out of taking the vaccine. Years prior, she faced a similar situation with her daughter about getting her child vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. That dialogue, Fraser said, culminated in her daughter, at Fraser’s urging, to take preventive steps against cervical cancer. For the COVID-19 vaccine however, Fraser has taken more of a nuanced stance, telling The Informer that she doesn’t fault anyone skeptical about taking it. “It took scientists three years to develop the polio vaccine before it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration,” she said. “COVID-19 came up in early 2020 and they had the vaccine 10 months later. It’s not like scientists tested hundreds of thousands of people.”

TO MANDATE COVID-19 VACCINATION OR NOT – THAT’S THE QUESTION

A survey recently commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor found that less than one-third of parents would get their child vaccinated. Across the country, many school districts have stopped short of mandating the vaccine, choosing instead to encourage it and set up vaccination clinics. The Informer sent two media inquiries to DOH, the first of which preceded the Food and Drug Administration {FDA]’s approval and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]’s recommendation of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children between 12 and 15 years old. By April 22, when the Pfizer vaccine had only been approved for 16 and 17 year olds, DOH said it hadn’t made a decision about whether returning students in that age group

36 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

would be mandated to get the vaccine. As of press time, DOH had not answered our second inquiry about whether, given recent actions taken by the FDA and CDC, it would require the vaccine for returning students 12 and older. Last week, DOH opened eight walk-up vaccination sites serving children 12 years and older with many venues located in the eastern portion of the District. Parents also utilized local clinics and scheduled appointments for their children at Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University Hospital, Howard University Hospital and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. At RISE Demonstration Center, one of the eight walk-up sites, Jacque Patterson, at-large member for the D.C. State Board of Education, counted among those whose child received a COVID-19 vaccination. Patterson said his son wanted to be vaccinated out of a desire to safely congregate among peers and teachers in school next fall. Over the last few weeks, Patterson has engaged in conversations with parents who expressed varying perspectives about vaccinating their children against COVID-19. He said those interactions helped to shape his opposition against mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for the upcoming school year. “We should have our children vaccinated [but] I don’t think you can require it. I think every parent knows their child’s health needs,” said Patterson, a Southeast resident and parent of two District students. “Those things need to be taken into consideration as [officials] talk to parents,” Patterson continued. “There’s a lot of nuance. You have to take health concerns and religion into consideration and not just say every child has to get the vaccine or they can’t return to school. That’s culturally unfair to parents.”

ANTI-VAX PARENTS OFFER BOTH CRITICISM AND RESISTANCE

Toward the end of last year, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed into law a bill allowing children 11 years and older to consent to vaccinations on their own. In the months preceding and following the D.C. Council’s overwhelming approval of the legislation, parents’ rights groups circulated a petition and vehemently spoke out against what they described as an as-

5 Barak Jegede, 14, receives a COVID-19 vaccine. His mother, Shawn Jegede, encourages parents to have their kids vaccinated. (Courtesy photo/Shawn Jegede)

sault on their sovereignty. Proponents of the legislation pointed to the outbreaks of measles in cities and states with low vaccination rates in recent years. In 2018, the District's measles vaccination rate for kindergartners stood at 81 percent, according to data collected by the CDC. This rate was lower than that of all 50 states. D.C. law requires that students entering a District public or public charter school receive immunization against measles, mumps, polio, varicella, and other ailments unless their parents or guardians obtain a medical or religious exemption. Throughout the pandemic however, some parents have struggled to secure and update immunization records. In response, DOH launched an online portal earlier this month. Regardless of what happens, one parent who requested anonymity said she’s not vaccinating her children against COVID-19 or any other disease for that matter. “I’m not really a mom that does immunizations. I wasn't even in agreement with the vaccine law passed by the D.C. Council last year,” said the parent, a Northwest resident and mother of five D.C. Public Schools students. “Some conversations with parents have been fear based,” she continued. “They don’t want to be sick, or [they know] so many people have died from COVID-19. People tell me I’m crazy but I have a lot of friends who haven’t been immunized and they’ve reached 35 and 40 years old with no issues.” WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Coming Out of the Pandemic: Clearness or Confusion?

It seemed pretty clear last week when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a press release announcing that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks or physically distance — whether indoors or outdoors, in most circumstances. "We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy," the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said during her weekly media briefing on May 13. "Based on the continuing downward trajectory of cases, the scientific data on the performance of our vaccines and our understanding of how the virus spreads, that moment has come for those who are fully vaccinated." However, in the real world, from where I see it, half of Americans will have to slow-walk this news. It feels like we are in a state of confusion. I began to think about the day I walked into Panera Bread to order some breakfast, forgot to put my mask on because I was fully vaccinated, and the bakery clerk said, "Ma'am, you must wear

a mask for service!" I had let my guard down and was beginning to feel like my old self again — I was fully vaccinated, and my two-week waiting period was over. Here is where the "state of confusion" comes in. None of us have the mark of our vaccination written on our forehead; therefore, who knows for sure who has been vaccinated or who has not? After hearing the news last week, personally, I felt excited, ready to do just as the press release said — throw all of my masks in the trash and live life just as I did before the pandemic. That doesn't seem to work. It appears that we will have to slow-walk this mask business, just like we did when we were finally convinced to start to wear masks. First lady Jill Biden was speaking for millions of women when she said she went shopping to find a pink mask to match her outfit. I have black masks with orange bling to match my orange suede designer heels; I have black masks with my radio show logo! Just as we all finally began to settle into the idea of mask-wearing, now they tell us we can take them off. Eventually, our brain goes along with whatever we tell it over and over! Now, we must begin to tell ourselves, it's time to get back to normal. The confusion didn't stop there.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

During my Zoom sorority conference last weekend, a couple sorority sisters were wearing masks, after the big announcement. During several telephone conversations, friend after friend told me they are planning to continue to wear their masks, and one was a pastor. My chapter members said they are not ready for face-to-face meetings just yet. They're worried the person next to them may not be vaccinated. Waiting to see if there may possibly be another major outbreak of COVID-19, yet again, is real. They are afraid they may get caught up and suddenly find themselves sick unto death. We have been told that once we get the vaccine, we are considered safe, so why are there so many naysayers? This is all so new, I can understand the fear. I'm beginning to feel the same way, too. Here is where our faith must kick in, though. Scripture tells us to "walk by faith, not by sight." Matthew 8:26 says: "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." Regardless of what the Bible says, we are not perfect, and that doesn't mean we do not have faith — it is the human side of us, and I understand. WI

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

www.jmlaw.net

(301) 864-6070

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

headline and photo for LIF Mount Olivet MALCOLMXDAY Lutheran Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor

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.

(301) 864-6070

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

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 37

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724

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

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

Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Church of Living Waters

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464 Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., / Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

Third Street Church of God

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

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

38 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

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

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

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

Crusader Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703 Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”

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

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

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

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... 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

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

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

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

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

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

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

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

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

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

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

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

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

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

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"

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

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074

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

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"

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

Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

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

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

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

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958

Shiloh Baptist Church

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

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 “

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

Christ Embassy DC

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

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

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

9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288

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

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

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 AM Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 AM and 10:55 AM Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 AM Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 PM

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

Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org

Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

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

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

Rev. Dr. Jerryl V. Moody Pastor-Elect

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

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

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

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 39

READING from Page 1

ENROLLMENT from Page 20

tor of Reading Partners DC – a program that serves children from kindergarten through the fourth grade. “This is another opportunity for college students to expand their mind, learn about their career path and lend a hand so that [other youth] can follow in their footsteps.” This fall, Reading Partners DC will facilitate a hybrid tutoring model that builds on Reading Partners Connect, a virtual platform launched during the pandemic that pairs students with tutors for hour-long, twice-a-week sessions. Plans for the hybrid model and expansion of Reading Partners DC’s volunteer pool take place as the nonprofit seeks increased support of their post-pandemic enrichment initiatives from District schools. Such programs, many believe, can help in reversing the significant learning loss experienced last year, especially among younger students. Data collected last year by nonprofit organization EmpowerK12 showed that students of color could lose more than nine months of learning in the pandemic due to technological issues in the virtual learning space and in-house stressors exacerbated by the burden of the economic downturn. This data matched information collected by DC Public Schools earlier in the academic year showing a 12 percent drop in overall student reading proficiency. Similarly, college students, particularly those who depended on work-study funds, experienced interruptions in their learning and extracurricular activities during the pandemic. Work-study jobs have long served as a means of financial assistance through which students could work part-time, either on campus or elsewhere. And while

“Through this opportunity for special enrollment, we have made enormous progress in expanding access to health insurance.” The administration also has focused efforts on ensuring that African Americans enroll. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra earlier announced commitments from national organizations to support Black American outreach and enrollment efforts during the special enrollment period. Governmental estimates show that Black Americans represent roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population but 16 percent of the uninsured. Last month, HHS and its partnership organizations, combined social media efforts to inform African American consumers and spur enrollment in “affordable, quality health plans through HealthCare. gov.” An estimated 66 percent of Black uninsured adults now may have access to a zero-premium plan and 76 percent may be able to find a low-premium plan as a result of expanded coverage, Secretary Becerra noted in a news release. “Black Americans are clearly taking advantage of the current Special Enrollment Period to access quality health care coverage,” Becerra stated. “But we still have a lot of work to do. We are building on this encouraging momentum and earnestly teaming with key national partners serving Black communities.” He continued: “We are leveraging their expertise and networks to promote

PG VACINE from Page 13 sonality Joe Clair and Experience Unlimited’s lead singer and bassist Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot. “At first I was a little nervous and how I was going to react to the vaccine, but I was ready,” said Jasmine, who attends CMIT Academy North High School in Laurel. “It just makes me feel more safe going out in public with other people.”

40 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

(Courtesy photo)

some work-study recipients worked remotely during the pandemic, others had their funding source rescinded altogether. Service learning opportunities also suffered, either drying up or moving to the virtual realm. The American Rescue Plan, heralded by the Biden administration as a means of a full return to normalcy, includes an allocation of $36 billion to the U.S. Department of Education for emergency grants to colleges and universities. However, even with the return to campus this fall there remains some skepticism about the availability of post-pandemic workstudy opportunities. For HU administrators, collaborating with Reading Partners DC not only provides work-study eligible students with experience and much-needed funds but also helps

the local university fulfill a tenet of the Howard Forward 2024 strategic plan which focuses on service to the community. “This is in alignment with our mission and our Howard Forward strategy,” said Melissa Knight, associate director of HU’s Experiential Learning Program in the Center for Career and Professional Services through which students receive guidance on charting their career paths. “We would be able to give back and provide D.C. students with education literacy,” she said. “This would [also] allow Howard students to do something that they’re passionate about. This generation is values driven so they want to contribute to the greater good. It’s not just about transferable work experience and gaining workstudy funds.” WI

Some businesses are offering incentives to convince those unvaccinated to receive a shot in the arm. Ledo Pizza customers who register at www.ledo4vaccines. com will receive a free, eightinch cheese pizza at restaurants throughout Maryland through June 30. There are about 11 Ledo’s restaurants in Prince George’s County. The restaurant’s goal: give away up to 10,000 free pizzas.

“I love Ledo Pizza. This is like the greatest day of my life,” Gov. Larry Hogan said last week outside the restaurant in Oxon Hill. “Our efforts right now [are] to get those last group of folks vaccinated. Any kind of incentive we can do to get people to get out and get their shots is going to help reach that goal to get rid of the masks and help things get back to normal.” WI Twitter: @jabariwill

enrollment in quality, affordable health insurance coverage during this special enrollment period. Health care is more affordable now, and access easier than ever, for people in need of a health plan that best fits an individual’s or family’s health care needs.” President Biden reiterated that there remains plenty of time for anyone to sign up at www.HealthCare.gov. The enrollment period has an Aug. 15 deadline. “Getting more Americans covered is an important part of the equation — but we also need to lower health costs,” President Biden continued. “My American Rescue Plan lowered premiums for nine million Americans who buy their coverage through the Affordable Care Act, saving families an average of $50 per person per month. “Americans are also seeing lower out-of-pocket costs. Since April 1, the median deductible for Americans signing up for new coverage on HealthCare.gov has dropped by nearly 90 percent, to just $50.” President Biden concluded that his American Families Plan would build on the work to make healthcare more affordable, including making the American Rescue Plan’s premium reductions permanent. “This milestone demonstrates that there is a need and a demand for high quality, affordable health insurance across this country,” the President determined. “It is up to Congress to hear them and act quickly to pass the American Families Plan.” Click here for more information or to sign up for the Affordable Care Act. WI @StacyBrownMedia

An estimated 66 percent of Black uninsured adults now may have access to a zero-premium plan and 76 percent may be able to find a low-premium plan as a result of expanded coverage, Secretary Becerra noted in a news release.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

TRAFFICKING from Page 1 may be victims of human trafficking, African Americans during the period of legalized slavery in the U.S. and today, have been and continue to be victimized by these heinous crimes. But Galloway has chosen to do more than write a letter to her congressman. Under the banner of “the Free Them Walk,” she and over a dozen other volunteers continue to walk the 902 miles of the Underground Railroad’s path. Their journey so far has taken them from the starting point in Lynch, Virginia in early May and will culminate on Saturday, June 19, in Buffalo, New York. That’s the day known to many African Americans throughout the U.S. as “Juneteenth. (https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm). She spoke with The Washington Informer’s publisher, Denise Rolark Barnes, on May 14 during the publication’s weekly WIN-TV show. “Slavery still exists and we’re here to light the pathway to freedom,” Galloway said. “The idea of walking the path of the Underground Railroad came on Juneteenth 2018 after I had become frustrated because most anti-trafficking organizations in the U.S. had failed to acknowledge Juneteenth and its significance

GAMBLING from Page 12 sight: all three didn’t wear masks to present a form of normalcy as the state continues to combat the pandemic. “It’s funny to be here without masks on,” said Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). “We can feel the after-times of this pandemic.” Jones, a Democratic of Baltimore County, said this year’s work

SECURITY from Page 17 security, and the current market development of “build, sell, and maybe patch later” said the official. They said the nation routinely installs software with significant vulnerabilities into some of its most critical systems and infrastructure. These systems manage water, traffic on the road and in the air, power and other necessities for Americans. If they were to be attacked the outcome could be catastrophic.

for our country.” “As the descendants of those who were slaves, we are the children of those who were bought for the purpose of sex, free labor and entertainment. Their bodies were used as commodities. That hasn’t changed centuries later. The vast majority of African Americans fall into vulnerable populations, particularly those in foster care or who are runaways.” Galloway points to the disproportionate number of Black and brown children who face such obstacles in their lives as substance abuse in their homes, poverty, inadequate education, redlining and other systemic issues. “Our children are put in a more vulnerable space and place,” she said. “Even the judicial system sees them as criminals so they’re actually ‘double victims.’” “In each city to which our Free Them Walkers travel, we are submitting a list of demands or calls to action to legislators which includes ending terminology like ‘child prostitute’ and the current practice of charging children as such. How can a minor who has no control over the actions of an adult be charged with such a crime? They are the victims of rape,” she said.

“looked through the lens of inclusion” such as the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in sports betting. “Sometimes it takes a while to pass meaningful, effective legislation to get it right,” she said. “We’re expanding the rights of Marylanders [and] positioning us on the right side of history and making this state one of the best.” WI @jabariwill

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SIMPLE TERMS

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including here in the U.S. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime. Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings. Many myths and misconceptions exist. Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Not all indicators listed are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking. But remember, do not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to any suspicions. It is up to law enforcement to investigate suspected cases of human trafficking.

5 Kelly Diane Galloway (Courtesy RAMP Global Missions)

THE FINAL LEG OF THE WALK

Galloway believes that every day serves as a win for her and her fellow walkers. “We have mothers, fathers and spouses walking – most of them, like me, are business owners,” she said. “We’re talking 40-plus days off from making money and running our businesses because we believe this is important.” “Since human trafficking is modern-day slavery, this journey mimics the Underground Railroad with stops in nine cities to pay homage to the abolitionists who fought to end slavery generation ago.” “Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry and since the global

COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been an increase in the number of human trafficking cases in the U.S. So, we’re getting out the word and partnering with as many people and organizations as possible to put the spotlight on this problem.” “We’ve gotten support from folks like Whoopi Goldberg and when we end the walk on Juneteenth, we will have the descendants of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman with us. What’s even more important to me is the huge number of people who are sending us notes and acknowledging the importance of our mission.” “We are today’s freedom seekers,” she said. For more information, visit www. thefreeedomwalk.com. WI

Cyberattacks aren’t just a federal issue, it's happening to the private sector, healthcare and local government branches like D.C’s Metropolitan Police Department, which was a victim last week of a ransomware attack. The Babuk group, a foreign online gang reportedly responsible for the attack, asked for $4 million not to release the sensitive police information, like names of informants. No reports on where negotiations stand between the police, FBI and the group stand as of Monday, May 17. WI

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 41

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

LEGAL NOTICES

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

John Michael Garner Name of Deceased Settlor

2021 ADM 000262

2021 ADM 000235

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Jean L. Randolph Decedent

Andrew N. White, III Decedent

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

Peggy A. Miller, Esq. 5130 7th St., NE Washington, DC 20011-2625 Attorney

2021 NRT 000009

John Michael Garner whose address was 1818 Newton Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010 created a revocable trust on October 15, 2001, which remained in existence on the date of his death on January 5, 2021, and Patrick Garner, Trustee, whose address is 209 Williamsburg Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76107, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Patrick Garner at 209 Williamsburg Lane, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 11/6/2021 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 1/5/2022, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2) 11/6/2021, (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: 5/6/2021 Patrick Garner Signature of Trustee TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Bernard Terrance West, whose address is 413 Night Hawk Cibolo, TX 78108, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jean L. Randolph who died on November 5, 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 11/6/2021. 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 11/6/2021, 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: 5/6/2021 Bernard Terrance West Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS William B. Covington, whose address is 37081 Rivergate Ave., Geismar, LA 70734, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Andrew N. White, III who died on November 11, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/6/2021. 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 11/6/2021, 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: 5/6/2021 William B. Covington Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: " Cynthia Marie Smith El© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " SMITH EL, CYNTHIA MARIE© ", corp.sole Dba.: "CYNTHIA MARIE SMITH EL© ", &, " SMITH, CYNTHIA MARIE© ", corp. sole Dba.: " CYNTHIA MARIE SMITH© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Cynthia Marie Smith El© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "cynthia marie smith el© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 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: State File Number 14163-30493, "CYNTHIA MARIE SMITH © ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to " Harmonies Of Life Trust© ". 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: " cynthia marie smith el© ", nom deguerre: " Cynthia Marie Smith El© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: " Harmonies Of Life Trust© ", 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 Favente Notice of Reference : 0112358-13

LEGAL NOTICES In God We Trust. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: “beatriz bey©”, nom deguerre:“ vasquez, beatriz©”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: ‘‘VASQUEZ, BEATRIZ©’’, corp.sole Dba.: ‘‘ BEATRIZ VASQUEZ © ’’. I being Trustee of ‘‘ VASQUEZ, BREAILY© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘ BREAILY VASQUEZ© ’’ having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms the following: Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, and Lieber Code, as Taino moorish Americans, and ministers of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Persons. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 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: [1] THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REGISTRY OF VITAL RECORDS AND STATISTICS, REGISTERED NUMBER: 001986, ‘‘ BEATRIZ VASQUEZ© ’’, [2] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, REGISTERED NUMBER:1095 , STATE FILE NUMBER: 026542, ‘‘ BREAILY VASQUEZ© ’’ is as a special deposit order conveyed to “ Beatriz Bey Trust ”. Individual Trust being an Unincorporated Divine Grantor Inter Vivos Trust. Inter alia. 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. All Rights Reserved.

Washington Informer

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

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

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

2021 ADM 000388

2021 ADM 000123

2021 ADM 000416

2012 FEP 000115

2021 ADM 000047

Louis J. Brenner Decedent

Clifford Thomas Decedent

March 10, 2012 Date of Death

Valerie Edwards 1725 DeSales Street, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

Cheryl Chapman Henderson 4920 Niagara Road, Suite 200 College Park, MD 20740 Attorney

Mildred E. Turner Name of Decedent

James Louis Stover Decedent James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Geneva Jackson Byrd, whose address is 1041 West First Street, Newton, NC 28658, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Louis Stover who died on February 11, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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.

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

Date of first publication: 5/13/2021

Derelys Brenner, whose address is 4220 Jennings Ridge Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Louis J. Brenner who died on October 5, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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.

Geneva Jackson Byrd Personal Representative

Date of first publication: May 13, 2021

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Meauvell Tate and Nashid Saadiq, whose addresses are 7413 9th St., NW, Washington, DC 20012 & 1114 Trinidad Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Clifford Thomas who died on December 2, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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: 5/13/2021

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS William Elmer Turner and Joseph H. Turner whose addresses are 5320 Black Oak Drive, Fairfax, VA 22032 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Mildred E. Turner, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Arlington County, State of Virginia, on 4/30/12. Service of process may be made upon James Larry Frazier, Esq., 918 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002 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: Town Square Towers Condominium, 700 7th Street, SW, Unit No. 610 and P-210, Washington, DC 22204. 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.

Kenneth Scott Reynolds aka Scott Reynolds Decedent Michelle L Evans, Esq. Offit Kurman, PA 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1000W Bethesda, MD 20814 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

William Elmer Turner Joseph H. Turner Personal Representative

Elizabeth Reynolds Agather, whose address is 11909 Shavenrock Place, Raleigh, North Carolina 27613, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kenneth Scott Reynolds aka Scott Reynolds who died on 11/2/2020 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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.

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Date of first publication: 5/13/2021

Washington Informer

Elizabeth Reynolds Agather Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 5/13/2021

TRUE TEST COPY

Derelys Brenner Personal Representative

Meauvell Tate Nashid Saadiq Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

42 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2021 ADM 000429 Avery Arnell Harris Decedent Angela D. Minor, Esq. Minor & Willcox, LLC PO Box 7181 Largo, MD 20792-7181 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Warnica Sharmaine Green, whose address is 404 Delafield Place, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Avery Arnell Harris who died on 9/14/2020 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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: 5/13/2021 Warnica Sharmaine Green Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2021 ADM 000378

2021 ADM 000433

2021 ADM 000467

2021 ADM 000145

Altamese Gilmore Decedent

Lessie Bell Thomas Decedent

Johnny H. Butler, Jr. Decedent

Ruth Williams Decedent

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

Iris McCollum Green, Esq. 1730 M Street, NW, Ste., 609 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

Dovel Clarence Gilmore, whose address is 4503 Kentland Dr., Dale City, VA 22193, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Altamese Gilmore who died on July 7, 2019 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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.

Angela M. Thomas and Brenda T Wright, whose addresses are 1218 Randolph St., NE, Washington, DC 20017 and 15111 Plumtree Way, Bowie, MD 20721, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Lessie Bell Thomas who died on October 2, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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: 5/13/2021

Dovel Clarence Gilmore Personal Representative

Angela M. Thomas Brenda T. Wright Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Washington Informer

2021 ADM 000324 Franklin Ellsworth Scott Decedent Tina Smith Nelson, Esq. Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 Attorney

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

Date of first publication: 5/20/2021

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Jingo Jingo Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Johnny H. Butler, III Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 5/20/2021 Carlette Prince Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA File No. 21 SP 118

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

Date of first publication: 5/20/2021

Date of first publication: 5/13/2021

TRUE TEST COPY

2021 ADM 000442

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

Johnny H. Butler, III, whose address is 2701 Q Street, SE, Apt. 101, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Johnny H. Butler, Jr. who died on December 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/13/2021. 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 11/13/2021, 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.

Carlette Prince, whose address is 1926 4th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ruth Williams who died on August 1, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/20/2021. 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 11/20/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

TRUE TEST COPY

2021 ADM 000451 Terunesh Zeamanuel Decedent

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

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

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

Rosalie Elaine Scott, whose address is 1816 Kenyon Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Franklin Ellsworth Scott who died on October 8, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/20/2021. 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 11/20/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

TRUE TEST COPY

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

Jingo Jingo, whose address is 12122 Turnstone Ct., Silver Spring, MD 20904, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Terunesh Zeamanuel who died on May 29, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/20/2021. 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 11/20/2021, 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.

Rosalie Elaine Scott Personal Representative

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Washington Informer

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

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

ARLENE THOMPSON Petitioner, vs. SHARON COLLIER, et al. Respondents.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Pawvana Pansiri, whose address is 1330 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Apt. 1013, Washington, DC 20036, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of David William Rife who died on May 11, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/20/2021. 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 11/20/2021, 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: 5/20/2021

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: SHARON COLLIER the above named Respondent: TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above- entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Partition of Real Property. You are required to make defense no later than June 15, 2021, said date being 30 days from the first publication of this notice and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 16th day of May, 2021 Andrew D. Phillips Kraus & Phillips, PLLC 285 Church Street NE Concord, NC 28025 704-707-4224 Telephone 704-943-9166 Facsimile

Pawvana Pansiri Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 43

LEGAL NOTICES

CL ASSIFIEDS

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Harrison Le Mon III© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " LE MON III, HARRISON© ", corp.sole Dba.: " HARRISON LE MON III© “, &, " LEMON III, HARRISON© ", corp.sole Dba.: " HARRISON LEMON III© “, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Harrison Le Mon III© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " harrison le mon bey© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 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: State File Number 107-81-000384, " HARRISON LE MON III© ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to " House Of Le Mon Bey Trust© ". 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: " harrison le mon bey© ", nom deguerre: " Harrison Le Mon III© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " House Of Le Mon Bey Trust© ", 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 Favente. Notice of Reference: 0112358-13

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.

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

ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money on diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters & more! To learn more, call now! 877-810-0063

MEDIABIDS MISCELLANEOUS Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book!Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877420-7280 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 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 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

44 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

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. 888-6495110 Attention Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-760-5952 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 AUTOS Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 EDUCATION Train online to do medical billing! Become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! Get trained & certified to work in months! 888-572-6790. (M-F 8-6 ET) HEALTH & FITNESS Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www. dental50plus.com/58 #6258 Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-9299587 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español

MISCELLANEOUS 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. 1-855-270-3785 GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!) Schedule FREE inhome assessment. 1-844-334-8353 special financing if qualified. Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490

CL ASSIFIEDS Free consultation: 877-212-7578. Ask about our specials! WANTED TO BUY Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201 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 http:// dorranceinfo.com/macnet SELL YOUR ANTIQUE OR CLASSIC CAR. Advertise with us. You choose where you want to advertise. 800-450-6631 visit macnetonline. com for details.

Directv Now. No Satellite. $40/mo 65 Channels. Stream news, live events, sports & on demand titles. No contract/commitment. 1-866-825-6523

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

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 7/21/21.1833-872-2545

GENERAL SERVICES/MISCELLANEOUS Want faster & Affordable Internet? Get internet service today with Earthlink. Best Internet & WiFi Plans. Call us Today to Get Started. Ask about our specials! 866-396-0515

New authors wanted! Page Publishing will help self-publish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer! 866-951-7214

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

AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. 1 TB of data/mo. Ask how to bundle & SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. 1-888796-8850 !!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 Attention Active Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a new career & earn a Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 888449-1713 HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don't wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 866-409-0308 Never pay for covered home repairs again! Complete Care Home Warranty covers all major systems & appliances. 30-day risk free. $200.00 off + 2 free months! 1-866-3952490 Update your home with beautiful new blinds & shades. Free in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation. Top quality - Made in the USA.

VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-844-596-4376 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/MISCELLANEOUS Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-791-1626 GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-855-465-7624 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 WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

CL ASSIFIEDS MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE 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 7/21/21. 1-855-270-5098 NEED IRS RELIEF $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness. Call 1-844-431-4716 Monday through Friday 7 AM - 5 PM PST MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES 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 PEST CONTROL Find Pest Control Experts Near You! Don't let pests overtake your home. Protect your loved ones! Call today to find great deals on Pest Control Services - 833-872-0012 REAL ESTATE FOR SALE READY TO BUY, SELL, OR RENT YOUR VACATION HOME OR HUNTING CAMP? Advertise it here and in neighboring publications. We can help you. Contact MACnet MEDIA @ 800-4506631 or visit our site at MACnetOnline.com WANTED AMERICAN & FOREIGN CLASSIC CARS AND MOTORCYCLES WANTED $$PAYING CA$H$$ KRMiller1965@yahoo.com 717-577-8206 MARYLAND STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS DONATE YOUR CAR/TRUCK/RV Lutheran Mission Society of MD – Help local families through the pandemic with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www.CompassionPlace.org HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES NEED NEW WINDOW TREATMENTS? Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on blinds & shades. Call Today! 866479-2321. MISC. SERVICES SAVE UP TO 80% ON YOUR MEDICATION. Eliquis, Xarelto, Viagra, Cialis and more. Licensed and Certified. Lowest Price Guaranteed. Call 833-601-1541 and get free shipping on your first order. (Open M-F) (Open M-F) WANTED TO BUY OR TRADE FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com. (ACS) CLASSIFICATION: MISC. SERVICES OR OTHER APPLICABLE CLASSIFICATION LONG DISTANCE MOVING: White-Glove Service from America’s Top Movers. Fully insured and bonded. Let us take the stress out of your out of state move. FREE QUOTES! Call: 866-314-0734

WILLIAMS from Page 26 two congressmen, and others, reject maintaining the democracy we have been able to "squeeze out of the tube," but I and millions like me prefer what we have over the autocracy promoted by #45 and those who follow him blindly. I'm disappointed in my president, who blithely justified the killing of Palestinian women and children by saying that the Israelis had the right to defend themselves in the current Middle East conflict. I'm quite familiar with the generational conflict between Jews and Palestinians. For those who've not made the connection,

MALVEAUX from Page 26 sending his rookie son-in-law to "negotiate" peace and unilaterally deciding the disposition of Jerusalem. The two-state solution, which many embrace, has also been rejected. The previous and his administration were so blatantly pro-Israel that they were

Palestinians are the Philistines you may remember reading about in the Bible. Their conflict has been long-held, but the conventions of modern warfare are specific. The indiscriminate use of lethal force against non-combatants (women and children) is strictly forbidden. I ask of him, "What's going on?" Could it be that the current violence is being used as cover for Netanyahu's political problems? I hate war by or against anybody and I would never so callously choose the side that's killing women and children. The question "What's going on?" serves to bring balance to our judgment and gives pause to evaluate how closely to TRUTH our

motives are planted. We must demand REAL answers to that question and not reject the answers

adding fuel to any burning fire in the Middle East. The arms sale to Israel is the least of the matter. Israel gets more foreign aid than almost any other country in the world. What could be done with that money to address domestic ills? And are human rights violations in the Middle East egregious enough that

President Biden might be tempted to get us involved in some military action. Will we be trading our presence in Afghanistan for that in the Middle East? And what do voters think about this? The good news is that while the political establishment, including President Biden, has tended to embrace Israel, younger Democrats are questioning how our country is so indifferent to Palestinian rights. On May 13, for example, Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a member of "The Squad," said, "We can't stand idly by when the United States government sends $3.8 billion of military aid to Israel that is used to demolish Palestinian homes, imprison Palestinian children and displace Palestinian families."

Too bad more members of Congress don't share her views. Instead, while Congress can object to the proposed weapons sale, they won't. They'd rather sit idly by and implicitly approve the killing of Palestinian people and Israel's gradual annexation of Palestinian lands. The United States was founded by the annexation of Native American lands and built with the exploitation of enslaved people's labor. No wonder we have not objected forcefully to what is happening in the Middle East. In some ways, Israel has taken a page from the U.S. playbook in exploiting Palestinians. No wonder so many are silent in the face of these most recent indignities. There will be no peace in the Middle East until there is justice for Palestinians. WI

the Voting Rights Act. We dealt a blow to James Crow, Esq., in the 2008 presidential election, when the Black voting rate exceeded the white rate for the first time in U.S. history — and repeated the feat in 2012. To fight their descendant Jimmy Crow, Congress must pass, and President Biden must sign the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and The For the People Act. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, struck down in 2013 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shelby v. Holder, that required federal approval for any changes to voting laws in jurisdictions with a history of voter suppression. Among the For The People Act's sweeping provisions, it eliminates racially motivated

voter-suppression tactics like cumbersome voter registration requirements, strict ID requirements, limited voting hours and restrictions on voting by mail. It bans deceptive practices and voter intimidation. And it bans the partisan gerrymandering that dilutes the political influence of communities of color. As former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testified to a Senate Committee in support of the bill, "Now is the time for Congress to exercise its constitutional authority to protect the structure of our representative democracy. Otherwise, we will slip deeper into a system in which self-interested politicians use the tools of governance to keep themselves in power with no regard for the desires of the people they are supposed to represent." WI

There will be no peace in the Middle East until there is justice for Palestinians.

MORIAL from Page 26 the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 assaulted about 140 police officers, bashing their heads, shoving them down stairs, stabbing them with metal poles and blasting them with pepper spray. Jimmy Crow is unrepentant for this revolting brutality, or for the racist lies that provoked it. Just hours after their colleagues' lives were threatened and rioters openly called for Vice President Pence to be hanged, 147 members of Congress voted to overturn the results of a free and fair presidential election. Jimmy Crow doesn't hide his conviction that the votes of Black and brown Americans should not necessarily be counted. Dozens of lawsuits challenging the election

results sought to invalidate votes in communities of color, particularly African American communities. In Michigan, the challenges focused on in Detroit, where nearly 80% of the population is Black. In Wisconsin, it was Milwaukee County, home to the state's largest percentage of voters of color. Philadelphia, another target, is 58% Black and Latino. If Jimmy Crow doesn't succeed in cancelling the Black and brown votes, he thinks he should be able to disregard the results of an election entirely. An Arizona state lawmaker has proposed that the Legislature to decide who wins the state's electoral votes, regardless of the popular vote. In 1964 and 1965, the nation triumphed over Jim Crow by enacting the Civil Rights Act and

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

out of a sense of discomfort. The TRUTH will prevail! WI

I'm disappointed in my president, who blithely justified the killing of Palestinian women and children by saying that the Israelis had the right to defend themselves in the current Middle East conflict.

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 45

Alan Amrhine, Communications Director Lutheran Mission Society "MDDC has connected donors with the LMS Vehicle Donation Program for over six years! Great exposure, cost effective, and Wanda is so helpful!" Call Wanda Smith, 410-212-2616 wsmith@mddcpress.com

Attention: VIAGRA & CIALIS Users There’s a More Affordable & Effective Alternative to U.S. Pharmacy High Prices! For discreet home delivery, CALL NOW!

800-995-1351

50 Pill Special:

Only $99 Plus Free Shipping!

Operators Available 24/7!

Pick a state! , any state MDDC Press works with fellow press associations across the country to give you the best possible buys on advertising wherever you need it. We take care of scheduling and placement at no extra cost to you, and you save time and money. Call Wanda Smith at ext. 6 today.

Press Service 2000 Capital Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401

Subscribe!

1-855-721-6332 www.mddcpress.com

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

Each week you’ll get news from The District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia. You will discover Arts and Entertainment, Social Tidbits, Religion, Sports, People’s Viewpoints, Letters to the Editor, Classified Ads and more! And best of all… No crime, no dirty gossip, just positive news and information each week, which is why… The Washington Informer is all about you! Name....................................................................................................... Address................................................................................................... City, State, Zip......................................................................................... Phone number (daytime)......................................................................... Yes! I want to subscribe for: n1 year/$55.00 n 2years/$70.00 Method of payment: n Check Enclosed n Visa/MasterCard Credit card number.................................................................................. Signature........................................................................................

46 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

EDELMAN from Page 27 across our country. David Dinkins called his beloved city a "gorgeous mosaic" of diverse people. With the help of incomparable Deputy Mayor and much beloved Children's Defense Fund board member Bill Lynch, he reflected that mosaic in city leadership by including two women deputy mayors and women to lead his finance, housing, human resources, juvenile justice, and parks departments, a Black and LGBTQ commissioner of mental health, a Black police commissioner, and the first-ever Puerto Rican

JEALOUS from Page 27 In his op-ed, Cruz issued a threat to business leaders who have dared to speak out in defense of voting rights. He suggested that Republicans would stop helping them out on taxes or regulations. But that was just more distraction. In fact, the Center for Media and Democracy recently exposed the real truth. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group that helps big business and right-wing groups get their policies passed into laws at the state level, has been pushing legislators to pass voter suppression bills so they can keep corporation-friendly

ASKIA from Page 27 overturn the election, despite no evidence of election irregularities, were themselves elected on those same ballots. To call those jokers "delusional" is a kind description of them. They are once again wagering everything on the myth of whiteness. In every sphere, they are digging in deeper and deeper. They're trying to banish the truth. They ban books and lessons which teach that The White Man enslaved millions of souls stolen from the African continent to build this nation on land stolen from the indigenous people, and then committed genocide against them. They have the nerve of then boasting of their "American exceptionalism" as though a righteous and just Supreme Being has ordained their wicked conquest, and promised them rulership in the land in perpetuity.

fire commissioner. Community activists across all backgrounds united to promote an inclusive vision for a tolerant and diverse city. In his 1990 inaugural address he said "we are all foot soldiers on the march to freedom, here and everywhere." A highlight of his administration was his hosting great South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, recently released from prison four months earlier, for a three-day visit in New York City. More than one million New Yorkers — young, old, of every ethnic and racial background and borough — crowded the streets and Yankee Stadium for a

glimpse of this great man. Groundbreaking Mayor David Dinkins opened up children's horizons about who they could be and supported policies to help them reach their full potential. He took his responsibility to be in charge of children to heart and remained a champion for children and supporter of the Children's Defense Fund after he left office and always made himself available to us. His servant leadership and commitment to children is a great example for other political leaders to follow. I am so grateful for his exemplary life and friendship. WI

Republicans in power. These laws are attacks on voting rights and democracy, just like the Jim Crow laws that some states used to keep Black people from registering and voting. And they are designed to prevent passage of progressive policies like raising the minimum wage and expanding access to health care. We must respond as a nation to protect the right to vote. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the For the People Act, which includes voting rights protections that would overrule the states' new attacks on voting. And guess what? Ted Cruz is telling shameless lies about the For

the People Act. He claimed that Democrats "want illegal aliens and non-citizens to be automatically registered to vote." Not true. He even said this voting rights law would be "Jim Crow 2.0." Really, Ted? That's a stretch even for you. Ted Cruz is not the only Republican calling good evil and evil good when it comes to voter suppression. Other members of Congress, state Republican leaders and right-wing media are all trying to hang onto political power by denying other people the right to earn it at the ballot box. Democrats can't let them get away with it. We can't let them get away with it. WI

They flaunt the words of the Declaration of Independence, and will (if they can get away with it) trash their Constitution in order to hold on to their power, never dreaming they will be held to account for their wicked behavior. What's so frightening about all of this is that so many political observers are reckoning that these disagreeable politicians may just very well win back control of the Senate and take control of the House of Representatives in the 2022 elections. This after cannibalizing their own members like hawkish conservative Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). They believe that circumstances will continue to favor their wrongdoing and permit them to rule forever. Like Custer, and the leaders of The Lost Cause, they are, however, sadly mistaken. The worst thing that is likely

to grow out of this scenario is fascism, sooner or later. "Well perversely, ironically, and paradoxically, and unfortunately, one of the things in our favor is that the white tribe, as you put it, routinely overestimates their strength," said Dr. Gerald Horne, professor of history and Africana studies at the University of Houston. "I think that lesson needs to be repeated because (antebellum) history could repeat itself, they could lose everything," he said. "And sadly, and unfortunately, their loss, considering that they're at the helm of this ship, USA, this ship of fools, also could mean that we (Black people), the low paying passengers aboard the ship of fools, could also lose everything as well." This white supremacist "emperor" literally has no clothes today, but few are prepared to acknowledge that these are the end times. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 20 - 26, 2021 47

48 MAY 20 - 26, 2021

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM