The Washington Informer - May 8, 2025 by The Washington Informer

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Bard HS Early College DC Parents Demand Response to Campus Safety Concerns

3Led to the beats of African drums, faith leaders and civil rights activists link arms during the #HandsOffOurHistory rally on May 3, a movement to protect the freedom to learn and uphold Black history amid the Trump administration’s attempts to take over the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Within a matter of weeks, Courtney Sutton’s son will graduate from Bard High School Early College DC with not only a D.C. high school diploma under his belt, but an associate’s degree from an accredited university and at least three college acceptances. However, as Sutton explained to The Informer, her 5Parents of students at Bard High School Early College DC are frustrated son will also carry the trauma with the violence they said students have experienced on and near school of physical and emotional vi- grounds. (Courtesy Photo) olence experienced at a D.C. year, he was robbed and shot at by another stupublic school that, despite its reputation as an academically rigorous program, has dent. They’ve been going to school for months [and] the boy was never suspended or penalits share of problems as it relates to student safety. “My son was robbed when school first started ized. It’s on camera but they don’t know why during his 10th grade year, and nothing was done BARD HS Page 34 about that,” said Sutton, a Ward 7 resident. “This

D.C. Mayor Bowser Targets I-82 in Yet-to-Be-Fully Revealed Budget Proposal Council members, Restaurateurs, and Restaurant Workers Respond

As D.C. residents await the passage of a congressional budget fix, and D.C. council members grow anxious about a six-week budget season delay, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) continues to drop hints about an economic plan that, in the face of federal

BUDGET Page 48

‘Hands Off Our History’ Rallies Hundreds in Defense of African American Institutions, Culture

From Marches to Marching Orders, Civil Rights Leaders and Activists Champion Truth, Freedom to Learn By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor In a culmination of the Freedom to Learn 2025 National Week of Action (April 27 May 3), hundreds of protestors marched to the beat of African drums and chants of resistance in a rallying cry for justice and fair education on May 3.

5D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announces a plan to diversify D.C.’s economy at a news conference, flanked by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Nina Albert to her left and city administrator Kevin Donahue to her right. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Following the Trump administration’s push back on African American history and institutions, the “#HandsOffOurHistory” demonstration scoured the three blocks from the John A. Wilson building to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to affirm

OUR HISTORY Page 23

Beyond Biology: Celebrating Mothers Who Rebuild Families from Loss and Tragedy By Dr. Patrise Holden Contributing Writer

By Sam P.K. Collins and James Wright, Jr. WI Staff Writers

Don’t Miss the Health Supplement Center Section

Motherhood does not always arrive wrapped in a birth certificate or within the walls of a maternity ward. Sometimes, it shows up with a phone call in the middle of the night, through a tragic loss, or a moment of decision when a child is in need. Stacey Brown, 57, remembers the exact moment her life changed. “I met her when she was two weeks old. This chunky, beautiful baby girl who smiled at me. I loved her from the start,” Brown recalled. She didn’t give birth to the infant, but from

Celebrating 60 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

the moment she held her— baby Mikelle— Brown felt a bond that she instinctively knew would change her life forever. As Mikelle’s birth mother struggled to care for six children, Brown, then a family friend, became the baby’s constant. When the young mother was tragically killed, a custody battle ignited. Though

MOTHERS Page 38

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STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; ASHLEIGH FIELDS, WI CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Another Near Miss at Reagan National Stirs Renewed Safety Concerns

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

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes

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

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STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager REPORTERS Stacy Brown, National Reporter Sam P.K. Collins, Political/Education Reporter Zerline Hughes, Housing Reporter Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter Lindiwe Vilakazi, Health Reporter Ed Hill, Sports Reporter Jada Ingleton, WI Content Editor Eden Harris, Reporter PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor Roy Lewis, Jr. Robert R. Roberts Anthony Tilghman Abdullah Konte Cleveland Nelson INTERNS Skylar Nelson, Howard University Tait Manning, Howard University

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A helicopter operated by the U.S. Park Police forced three commercial aircraft to abort landings at Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Sunday, again raising concerns about airspace safety in the Washington, D.C. region under the Trump administration. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Flight 3716, American Eagle 5219, and United 2166 were all instructed to perform go-around maneuvers when a Park Police helicopter entered restricted airspace. The FAA has limited helicopter access to DCA airspace following a Jan. 29 midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a regional passenger jet that killed 67 people—marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001. “The FAA does not allow helicopters and airplanes

to simultaneously operate in the airspace around Reagan Washington National Airport except in rare circumstances,” the agency posted Sunday on X. “Accordingly, air traffic control canceled landing clearances for three flights earlier today while a police helicopter was on an urgent mission in that airspace.” The United States Park Police said their helicopter was responding to a request to search for missing persons following a car crash on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. “The mission was flown in coordination with the air traffic control tower, and all proper procedures were followed,” USPP officials said. But the incident comes just one week after a May 1 close call when two commercial planes were also forced to abort landings due to an Army Black Hawk helicopter. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

REAL ID Deadline Takes Off May 7: No Compliant ID, No Flight Americans without a REAL ID or approved alternative could be grounded starting May 7. The Transportation Security Administration will fully enforce the long-delayed REAL ID law, meaning adults flying within the U.S. must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another accepted form of identification to pass through airport security. Those who don’t comply risk delays, additional screening, or being turned away at the checkpoint. The law stems from the 2005 REAL ID Act, which Congress passed to raise security standards for state-issued IDs following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Most REAL IDs feature a star at the top of the card, indicating they meet federal requirements. “Secretary Noem and the Trump administration are enforcing the 2005 REAL ID Act and regulations on May 7, as directed by Congress and the American people,” said Adam Stahl, the TSA’s senior official, performing the duties of the administrator.

Stahl said the new measures will strengthen airport security and “thwart criminals and terrorists” by making it harder to forge identification. While many travelers have already upgraded, TSA says about 81% currently show compliant IDs, and millions still haven’t. To fly, those passengers must now use one of several approved alternatives, such as a passport or Enhanced Driver’s License. Enhanced IDs are issued in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont, and Washington. Though they may lack the star marking, they’re still compliant and show an American flag and the word “Enhanced” at the top. They also serve as proof of citizenship at U.S. land borders. Other acceptable IDs include: U.S. passport or passport card, trusted traveler cards like Global Entry and NEXUS, U.S. military ID; green cards and border crossing cards, employment authorization cards; tribal-issued photo IDs, Canadian provincial licenses and foreign passports. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Malia Obama Directs Nike ad for A’ja Wilson’s New Shoe Malia Obama, the oldest daughter of the former president and first lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, made herdirectorial advertising industry debut on Saturday after releasing her first ad cam5Malia Obama is now a published di- paign for Nike, the largest rector after directing her first ad campaign supplier of athletic shoes for Nike, the largest supplier of athletic and apparel. shoes and apparel. (Courtesy Photo) The oldest Obama daughter released a one-minute reel for the Las Vegas Ace basketball star, A’ja Wilson’s newest shoe: the A’One. In the clip the 6-foot-4 power center could be seen playing Miss

Mary Mack with a young Black girl. “A’ja Wilson’s on top, top, top. Can’t take her spot, spot, spot. She’s the real one, too, too, too. Always does what she’ll do, do, do,” the two sang. The three time WNBA MVP’s career was touted in the sing song rhyme that transcended from a street hand game to Wilson entering a crowded arena full of cheers in the commercial. “From the beginning, we designed the shoe to both support my game and to provide young hoopers a tool to help them level up,” Wilson said in a statement ahead of the shoe’s release on Tuesday, May 6. “The A’One aces that assignment, delivering exactly what I need to push my performance and inspiring the next generation to give it their all on every play,” she added. WI

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Washington, D.C. Scores 2027 NFL Draft in Historic Win for the Nation’s Capital

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

The NFL Draft is officially coming to the nation’s capital. League officials announced Monday that Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft, transforming the city’s iconic landmarks, including the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue—into the center of pro football’s most anticipated offseason event. The announcement was made from the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser all in attendance. “The NFL Draft has become a marquee event, uniting fans across the country and around the world,” said Goodell. “We are excited to bring the 2027 Draft to Washington, D.C., a city rich in history and national pride.” The three-day celebration, presented by Bud Light, will feature a massive fan festival, concerts, the youth-focused Play 60 Zone, and the NFL Draft Experience—an interactive zone where fans can test their football skills, take photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and get autographs from current and former NFL players.

Harris, the Commanders’ managing partner, called the announcement a major milestone. “It will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors, millions of viewers around the world, and generate jobs, tax revenue, and meaningful economic impact across the city,” Harris said. “Since we started this journey less than two years ago, we’ve seen an NFC Championship Game, an agreement to return to RFK, and now the NFL Draft in Washington.” That agreement Harris referenced involves a separate deal—months in the making—between the Commanders and the Bowser administration to build a new stadium at the derelict RFK Stadium site, where the team last played in 1996. The franchise plans to invest $2.5 billion in a new facility and surrounding development, while the city has proposed contributing up to $850 million in public funds to support infrastructure and parking needs. The project still requires approval from the D.C. Council. Bowser, who has long advocated for the RFK site’s redevelopment, said hosting the draft solidifies Washington’s status as a world-class destination for sports and tourism.

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Angie M. Gates, president and CEO of Events DC, said the city is ready to deliver. “The NFL Draft will provide football fans with an unforgettable experience while showcasing all that makes Washington, D.C. a world-class destination and the Sports Capital,” Gates said. The draft continues to grow as one of the NFL’s most-watched events. More than 600,000 fans attended the 2025 event in Green Bay, while Detroit drew a record-breaking 775,000 in 2024. In 2027, the eyes of the football world will be on the capital. “We look forward to welcoming the football world to Washington,” Harris said. “Today is a great day for the DMV.” WI

3Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft, transforming the city’s iconic landmarks, including the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, into thecenter of pro football’s most anticipated offseason event. (Courtesy Photo)

Collins Council Report: All About the Money By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer The D.C. Council opened its May 6 legislative meeting with a moment of silence for John Ray, a veteran D.C. council member and four-time mayoral candidate who died on April 16. The council later, in a 7-5 vote and after some debate, postponed a vote on the Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 until the next legislative meeting. Much of the discussion before and during the legislative meeting involved vigorous discussion inside and outside council chambers about the District’s economic future, particularly how D.C. businesses, landlords, and residents would fare under policy changes that D.C. Mayor

Muriel Bowser (D) and the council approved. Council members also discussed emergency legislation centered on college athlete name, image or likeness, along with a tax abatement for 1333 H Street SE, along with other matters. This edition of The Collins Council Report centers on tug-of-war between the council and Bowser about her submission of her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal with the Fiscal Year 2025 budget still up in the air.

A BUDGET DELAY THAT THREATENS COUNCIL BUSINESS

By the morning of May 6, council members learned that D.C. Mayor

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American symphony orchestra, is born in Woodville, 1911 – Legendary blues guitarist and singer-song- Mississippi. 1933 – Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of writer Robert Johnson is born in Hazlehurst, MisIslam, is born in New York City. sissippi. 1915 – Henry McNeal Turner, the first Black chaplain in the United States Colored Troops, dies in MAY 12 Windsor, Ontario, at 81. 1955 – Chicago Cubs pitcher Sam “Toothpick” Jones no-hits the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first African American in Major MAY 9 1800 – Abolitionist John Brown, who led the League Baseball history to pitch a no-hitter. slave revolt at Harper’s Ferry in 1859, is born in Torrington, Connecticut. MAY 13 1899 – Inventor John Albert Burr patents one of 1888 – The South American nation of Brazil forthe first rotary-blade lawn mowers. mally abolishes slavery. 2010 – Famed singer, dancer, actress and civil 1914 – Boxing great Joe Louis, “The Brown Bombrights activist Lena Horne dies in New York City of er,” is born in La Fayette, Alabama. congestive heart failure at 92. 1950 – Music legend Stevie Wonder is born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan. 1985 – A police helicopter drops a bomb on a PhilMAY 10 1837 – P.B.S. Pinchback, the first African Amer- adelphia row house occupied by MOVE, a Black liberican to become governor of a U.S. state, is born in ation group founded by John Africa, during a standoff. The explosion killed 11 MOVE members and deMacon, Georgia. 1950 – Baseball great Jackie Robinson becomes stroyed 65 neighborhood houses. the first African American to be featured on the cover of Life magazine. MAY 14 1994 – Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South 1961 – A bus containing the first group of Freedom Africa’s first Black president. Riders is bombed and burned by segregationists outside Anniston, Alabama. The occupants escaped the bus before it burst into flames, but was then attacked MAY 11 1895 – William Still, “the Dean” of African by a surrounding mob. WI American composers and the first to conduct a major

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Muriel Bowser (D), despite revealing her education and economic development priorities, still hadn’t submitted her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, nor the supplemental budget that triggers $400 million in cuts for the current fiscal year. For council members, this raises the question of whether the executive and legislative can start budget deliberations on May 15– a date enshrined in a resolution the council approved during the latter part of April. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said that won’t be the case, and the budget proceedings could go well into the summer recess -- all to the detriment of D.C. residents. “I think it’s enormously unfair to the public,” Mendelson said, telling The Informer that the budget snafu on Capitol Hill has no bearing on the mayor’s ability to submit a Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. “We have to receive the budget and the mayor has known since March 10, March 11, that the Congress was making this mistake with regard to the current fiscal year. She could have started working on this alternative budget for the current year to be prepared, to meet her deadlines. She chose not to.” Several minutes before Mendelson made his comments, he and his council colleagues learned that the D.C. Local Budget Act – the bill that reverses a $1.1 billion cut to D.C.’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget that congressional Republicans fa-

cilitated in a continuing resolution– remains in limbo due to House Republicans’ insistence in addressing ongoing budget issues, as it relates to Medicaid, food security, among other aspects of American life. That means, for the time being, the District will not have access to funds needed to operate the D.C. government, as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, throughout the summer and up until Sept. 30, when the fiscal Year ends. In the interim, Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee has his hands on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, Bowser said. “We offer to give them what we’re calling the pre-certification FY26 documents, which is kind of unprecedented and we work with the CFO to make these documents available,” Bowser said on Monday during her economic growth presentation at The Atlas Performing Arts Center in Northeast. “We can give that to them right now. So far, the council has elected not to receive them.”

IN FACE RENTAL HOUSING CRISIS, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE STANDS UP FOR TENANTS

On the second reading, the council approved the Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2025, this time with amendments in the form of a substitute (ANS) that D.C. Councilmembers Matt Frumin (D-Ward 3) and Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) crafted to: • narrow the qualifications for rental emergency to situations that

8 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

would result in immediate homelessness • clarify the documents housing providers must provide to comply with the eviction process • leave the application of a rent waiver defense up to the discretion of a judge while allowing instances when a tenant raises the waiver to end with court rulings on motions, not only at trial • prevent tenants with pending emergency rental assistance applications from postponing their eviction. Frumin, chair of the council’s Committee on Human Services, reflected on what he called a huge undertaking that could bode well for landlords and tenants. “With this ANS, the bill before us today would return the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to its original limited purpose of providing emergency assistance, make our District dollars go farther, and make our District court as fairer,” Frumin said. “The courtroom efficiency made possible by this legislation will keep rental arrears down and limit the losses of providers while encouraging settlement and open communication between landlords and tenants. It is a win-win that will allow housing providers to limit their losses and make ERAP work more quickly for residents who desperately need it.” With the law now, for the most part, solidified, the District will maintain pre-pandemic eviction rules that the council reinstated last fall with the passage of emergency legislation. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Young Politicos Take in Current State of D.C., Trump Administration

Group Tours Ward 8’s Sycamore & Oak Take this first morning to determine any state, said it is critical that young By James Wright WI Staff Writer Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley likes to come to Washington regularly to attend People for the American Way’s Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network gatherings so he can mix, mingle and learn from his colleagues and policy experts. “I love this conference,” Crowley, 39, told The Informer. “I have been coming to this conference since 2017 when I was a state representative. In 2020, I was elected county executive.” But it’s more than a good time that keeps Crowley coming back for the convenings. “I like to know what is going on with what others are having to deal with in their cities, towns, counties and states,” he said, “and their mindset toward solving problems, and what best practices they are employing to address issues.” Crowley was among the scores of participants at the 20th anniversary of the network’s conference, themed, “2025 National Convening: Our Fight, Our Future,” at the Watergate Hotel in Northwest, D.C. May 1-4. While the majority of activities took place at the Watergate, participants also had the chance to explore other areas of the city, including Southeast’s Sycamore & Oak Retail complex on the campus of St. Elizabeths East in Ward 8. The gathering occurred as the Trump administration: continues to execute and propose severe cuts;

eliminate federal programs and agencies; attack the nation’s civil rights laws affecting people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals; enable voter suppression tactics by states; crack down on illegal immigration; and assess tariffs on foreign goods that may increase prices for American consumers. “I came here to find out the latest about educational outcomes, policy and the best way to help the community,” said Dr. Arneshia Fuller, the owner of the No Rest Until Success Foundation Inc., in New York City. While most participants were elected officials, people like Fuller and other community organizers attended the conference with a mission of furthering their work by stepping into politics. “I am also here to learn how one becomes an elected official,” Fuller told The Informer.

‘YOUR LEADERSHIP IS THE RESISTANCE’

Former D.C. State Board of Education Ward 8 Representative Markus Batchelor, who works as the National Political Director for People for the American Way, sounded the charge at the Opening Session of the YEO Network conference on May 2. “Somebody say, ‘Our Rights, Our Future,’” said Batchelor, 32, a resident of Ward 8, in front of a crowd of about 50 people. “Somebody say, ‘Our Rights, Our Future.’ We need to take time to frame our weekend.

why we are here.” Former St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones encouraged the young leaders to be bold in the age of Trump. “Every time we push for change, we are told to wait,” Jones, 53, said. “Own it. Embrace it. You are the now for the experiment known as democracy.” Noting the budget cuts, reductions and eliminations proposed by President Donald Trump, Jones said county and municipal leaders will have to make sure that government functions for the average American. “Local leaders have become the front line of justice,” the mayor said. “Your leadership is the resistance.” Anderson Clayton, the chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party and the youngest party chief of

people get and stay involved in the political process. “I have been working across North Carolina to build up Democratic clubs in high schools and among teens,” Clayton, 27, said. “We are looking at setting up clubs at trade schools because not everyone wants to go to college. North Carolina has the second most intense rural population in the nation, next to Texas, and we are working in small towns and villages, too.”

YEO NETWORK VISITS SYCAMORE & OAK: COMPLEX, ENTREPRENEURS INSPIRE LEADERS

A group of 20 of the YEO Net-

work participants visited the Sycamore & Oak complex on May 3 as part of conference activities. When they arrived, Dana Hall, program manager of Emerson Collective, who plays an active role in managing Sycamore & Oak, took them to meet Le’Greg Harrison, co-owner of The Museum, a Blackowned retailer that specializes in urban wear. “Don’t be afraid to be innovative,” Harrison told the group while at his brick-and-mortar location at the complex in Southeast’s Congress Heights neighborhood. “I have lived in states where projects like this don’t exist. You can make it happen, but the community must be engaged.” Harrison also counseled the leaders to “listen” and “do what you say you are going to do” when conducting their business.WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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5People for the American Way Young Elected Officials Network poses during the 20th anniversary conference, under the theme “2025 National Convening: Our Fight, Our Future,” at the Watergate Hotel in Northwest, D.C. from May 1-4. (Courtesy Photo/ People for the American Way Young Elected Officials Network, Instagram)

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 9

AROUND THE REGION

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A fireside chat at Oxon Hill High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, featuring Tracie Jade Jenkins, executive director of the Boris L. Henson Foundation (BLHF), Taraji P. Henson, actress and BLHF founder, actor Michael Rainey Jr., and Dr. Jay Barnett, an author and family therapist, addressed the importance of mental health support and building healthy families and communities, as part of the Can We Talk? Youth Symposium and Joy Salons hosted May 3. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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AROUND THE REGION

Celebrate Mom with the Inaugural Mother’s Day Weekend en Blanc

BZB Combines Art, Fashion, Fellowship to Highlight Power of Black Women

BLACK ARTISANS TO EXHIBIT CULTURE, CRAFT IN WEEKEND SHOWCASE

Marvin Sin, the artist behind The Art of Leather, will exhibit his artwork at the weekend-long marketplace, including some pieces from his summer collection, which he just spent a month producing in Ghana. Sin used to participate in a pre-Mother’s Day exhibition at Zawadi, an African art gallery and gift shop located on U Street Northwest from 1992, until January 2024, when owner Irene Whalen decided to retire and close the brick and mortar store. At a divisive time in the nation and trying economic time for entrepreneurs and small business owners,

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Britton told The Informer. “I wanted to recreate that for Mother’s Day and for folks who don’t have a chance to experience something different.”

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5 Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton is the founder of BZB International’s “Shop ‘Til ya Drop,” a bazaar around the winter holidays that features an array of Black artisans from various states and countries. Her Mother’s Day brunch will further her mission of encouraging the Black community to economically uplift each other. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

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As Mother’s Day approaches, people across the nation are gearing up to honor their maternal figures, and this weekend mothers in Washington, D.C. will have an opportunity to celebrate moms through art, food and music. The inaugural BZB International Mother’s Day Weekend en Blanc (May 10-11) is more than an opportunity to dress up in all white; it celebrates the strength, beauty, resilience and power of Black maternal figures to the community at large. “As Black families do, we get together, we celebrate and oftentimes we build a theme for community and camaraderie, and Mother’s Day is approaching,” said Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton, founder and president of BZB International Inc. “I wanted to push something a little bit creative– something that will bring a lot of people joy and a different kind of energy.” The two-day celebration features a marketplace with a plethora of Black artisans and their work throughout the entire weekend. During Sunday’s main event, attendees–who are expected to wear all white–will enjoy a live concert by Ayana Gregory, a best dressed contest, an upscale dining experience, including cocktails and champagne, and more fun things for guests to enjoy. The BZB founder hopes people will adhere to the dress code and think outside of the box, bringing creative flair and elegance to the celebration. To motivate attendees, $200 in cash, a $2,000 art piece and a free African Ancestry DNA test kit will be awarded to the person who is best dressed. Britton’s inspiration to enforce a dress code for this event came after she attended Le Dîner en Blanc, a global event across six continents where a crowd of diners elegantly dress in all white, convene at a secret location, and bring food, tools and wine to dine with others. “I was so moved [by] how good it felt for lots and lots of people that did not know each other to get together,”

the artist believes the BZB Mother’s Day en Blanc is necessary to unify the community, its businesses and its consumers. “It’s very important an event like this emerges because it’s going against the grain and starting something new, different and dynamic,” Sin said. “It is combining a number of elements– celebrating motherhood and…venerating Black women and the role they play in our community.” Aaron Johnson, CEO and co-owner of Unitees.com, a family-owned screen printing and embroidery company that has created staple fashion pieces in the city for more than 30 years, echoed a similar sentiment. With plans to showcase his work at the marketplace, Johnson believes the environment Britton aims to establish is vital to fully honor mothers, caretakers and all maternal figures in attendance. “The mother is the foundation of the entire community,” he said. “If we’re going to celebrate her, what better way to [do so] than make an event where we can all come together and fellowship, shop with each other and spread the good news.” The Unitees co-owner will be debuting some of the company’s newest items, guaranteeing “something special” for customers. Once a student activist at Howard University (HU), Johnson started his company to create HU-branded apparel that celebrates the students rather than just focusing on school pride. Today, the 1987 Howard University graduate sells to a largely Black audience, and has been featured in Britton’s marketplaces since her early showcases. He further notes his appreciation for the environment she curates for Black artisans and entrepreneurs. “Because of marketplaces like Juanita’s, we’ve been able to thrive since Reagan was the president, so that speaks volumes to what she’s put together and how the community supports it in various forms,” Johnson told The Informer. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

By Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

3Six Flags America in Bowie is closing at the end of the 2025 season, after citing financial concerns. The nearly 500acre site will be sold for redevelopment. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

COUNTY LEADERS MARK ‘THE END OF AN ERA,’ WORK TO SHAPE WHAT’S NEXT

End of An Era: Prince George’s Leaders, Residents Lament Loss of Six Flags America

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced they will be closing Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie, Maryland, due to financial concerns, effective at the end of the 2025 season. The park, which has an estimated 850,000 annual visitors, is

12 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

planned to be sold for redevelopment after Nov. 2, the end of the annual Fright Fest. “As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company’s long-term growth plan. This was a difficult decision, and we recognize the impact it will

have on our Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor park associates and guests,” said Six Flags Entertainment President and CEO Richard Zimmerman on May 2. “We are grateful to our park as-

sociates who work hard to create lifelong memories for our guests, and Six Flags is committed to supporting all impacted associates through the closure process at the end of this year.” Six Flags America in Bowie has been open for 25 years and has 70 full time employees along with hundreds of seasonal employees, many of whom are teenagers and young adults from Prince George’s County entering the career force. Many residents have stated their disappointment with this decision, as countless local families and visitors have spent their summers riding the Superman and visiting the wave pool. With the closure of Six Flags and several local movie theaters, and the plan to move the Washington Commanders back to RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., some residents note recreational outlets for Prince George’s youth are becoming more limited and difficult to access. “The stadium is leaving and Six Flags is leaving. What kind of opportunities are you going to have in [Prince George’s] County? What are you going to bring in place of it?” questioned County resident Cynthia Matthews. “Are you just going to leave empty lots like they did with Landover Mall? That left 20 or 30 years ago, and you didn’t put anything in its place, and now you’re going to have the stadium, another big empty space, and now Six Flags an empty space?”

The decision to close Six Flags comes as yet another economic disappointment for the county, following the cancellation of the proposed FBI’s Greenbelt headquarters and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Beltsville headquarters, plus the planned relocation of the Washington Commanders. Interim Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson noted the history of the park and the sense of loss around the impending closure. “For decades, Six Flags has been more than just a theme park—it is a cherished part of our county’s identity, a source of joy for families, and a hub of economic activity,” Jackson said in a statement. “We are committed to working closely with Six Flags and other stakeholders to guide a thoughtful and inclusive redevelopment process that supports jobs, growth and long-term community benefit.” County Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (D- District 8) noted the negative effects the closing of Six Flags would have, both economically and socially. “This decision does not just impact one business; it impacts the very fabric of our community,” Burroughs said in a statement. “It means fewer opportunities for families to come together, fewer spaces for children to play and explore, and a gap in accessible entertainment that many relied upon.” County Councilmember Wala Blegay (D- District 6), who represents the area where Six Flags is located, promises to work with community leaders and county residents to develop the best plan of action for the future of the 500acre site. “While this closure marks the end of an era it also presents a critical opportunity for us to shape what comes next.” WI

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Prince George’s County

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Political Updates

5With the football franchise’s expected departure in 2030, state legislative leaders are stepping up to ensure the best possible deal for taxpayers and the communities near Northwest Stadium. (Courtesy Photo)

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

STATE BOARD VOTES AGAINST PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

Maryland’s Board of Public Works, composed of the governor, comptroller, and treasurer, voted to maintain the state’s existing property and utility tax rates. The property tax will remain at 11.2 cents per $100 in assessed value, and the utility tax rate will remain at 28 cents per $100. “The past few weeks and months have been stressful and busy, but productive for the state,” said Treasurer Dereck E. Davis following an April 11 recommendation to raise taxes by the Commission on State Debt. Maryland Gov.Wes Moore (D) proudly noted that his administration has not raised property taxes during his two-year tenure as leader of the state. The governor’s 2026 budget proposal followed the notion of protecting Marylanders’ pockets as well, with most residents receiving a tax decrease or no tax increase. The tax increases he proposed were on cannabis, gambling, and income taxes above $500,000 annually. “Everything we were going to do was to make sure that working- and middle-class families were not just protected inside of this moment,” he said, “but also that we can give just a little bit of extra breathing room for families that were actually receiving a whole lot of additional pressure.”

L A IC S Y H P L A N IO T A N IS MAY H T N O M S T R O P S & S S FITNE

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX INCREASE

Per the recommendation of Interim County Executive Tara Jackson, the Prince George’s County Council voted 7-3 to raise the telecommunications tax by roughly $3.50 each month. A Prince George’s County budget expert expects this to raise the telecommunications tax by roughly $13 per line annually. Ninety percent of the tax revenue from this proposal would be allocated to Prince George’s County Public Schools, and the remaining 10% to school renovation and construction. While some argue the telecommunications tax is needed to help balance the budget amid uncertain fiscal times, others believe it is a disproportionate tax on the poor and senior residents. Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce President Alexander Austin and residents alike argue that businesses with multiple phone lines would be among the most impacted. “If the Prince George’s County Council votes to replace the current percentage-based cell phone tax with a flat $3.50 tax per line, every resident with a cell phone will pay higher taxes,” said Prince George’s resident Addison Pruitt. “Low and moderate-income families with multi-line, shared plans will be hit especially hard.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 13

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

BUSINESS GROUPS BACK NEW RFK STADIUM PROJECT DEAL

Two District business groups have announced their support for the RFK Stadium plan proposed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and supported by the owners of the Washington Commanders. “The DC Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand behind Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. government to support the future redevelopment of the RFK site,” the organization said in a statement supported by president and CEO Chinyere Hubbard. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring new life to a historic location, made possible by the largest private investment in D.C. history and a committed public-private partnership between the Washington Commanders and the D.C. government.” She said that the new stadium will promote more opportunities for growth for the District and residents.

and entrepreneurs.” Like the DC Chamber of Commerce, RAMW is looking forward to collaborating with other entities to create a new and improved RFK campus and beyond. “RAMW is committed to working closely with city officials and stakeholders to ensure that the restaurant and hospitality community is an integral part of this redevelopment,” the statement said.

“This development will be a catalyst for economic revitalization by creating thousands of jobs, attracting vital investment, and serving as an anchor for city-wide prosperity,” Hubbard continued. “These future plans also align strongly with the goals outlined in Mayor Bowser’s DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan, ensuring that our city takes critical actions to promote economic growth and sustainability.” As president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, Hubbard also noted the major benefits the stadium deal offers the District’s business community, saying it “will see real, tangible benefits as a result of this new development.” Hubbard emphasized the overall benefits of the stadium’s new and improved return to RFK. “A state-of-the-art stadium will serve as an anchor tenant for a transformational mixed-use infrastructure in Ward 7, featuring thousands of units of housing, a youth sports complex, parks, businesses, and new jobs,” she said. “This project is a smart

PARKER, ELAM JOIN U.S. BLACK CHAMBERS INC. BOARD

5 Nicole Elam is the president and CEO of the National Bankers Association and recently joined the U.S. Black Chambers Inc,. board of directors. (Courtesy Photo)

investment that will strengthen our small business ecosystem, increase tourism, generate tax revenue, and ensure that economic benefits are felt by residents across all eight wards.” Getting the RFK deal was not only a local fight or business deal, but a congressional effort as well. “We congratulate Mayor Bowser on a promise made and a promise fulfilled. Thank you to the District government, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congressman James Comer (R-Kentucky), and members of Congress who moved this forward, as well as the Washington Commanders for making this incredible opportunity a reality for Washington, D.C.,” Hubbard said. “We look forward to working with the D.C. City Council to ensure the business community is heard during this process.” The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), led by Shawn Townsend, also favors Bowser’s revitalization of the RFK Stadium site. “This transformative project rep-

resents a significant opportunity for the restaurant and hospitality industry in Washington, D.C.,” RAMW said in a statement. “The planned $3.7 billion redevelopment will not only bring a state-of-the-art, 65,000-seat stadium back to the heart of the city, but also includes the creation of vibrant mixeduse districts featuring housing, retail, entertainment venues, and green spaces along the Anacostia River. For our industry, this development is poised to be a catalyst for growth and revitalization.” In addition to the possibilities for the restaurants, retail and more, RAMW also celebrated the idea of welcoming visitors to check out gems around the District. “The influx of visitors for yearround events, including major concerts and sporting events, will drive increased demand for dining and hospitality services,” the statement said. “The inclusion of new restaurants, hotels, and recreational facilities within the development plan offers substantial opportunities for local businesses

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The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) recently announced that Necole Parker, founder and principal CEO of The ELOCEN Group, LLC, and Nicole Elam, president and CEO of the National Bankers Association (NBA), will join its esteemed board of directors. At The ELOCEN Group, Parker leads a premier program and project management firm that has overseen more than 200 million square feet of managed space and accumulated project budgets exceeding $1 billion. With over 30 years of experience, she has built synergistic relationships that drive value for commercial and government sector clients alike. Beyond her executive leadership, Parker is a board member for organizations such as Virginia Union University (board trustee), SHABACH! Ministries, Walker’s Legacy, and the DC Chamber of Commerce. Her impact extends into community service through The ELOCEN Group Foundation, which supports teen mothers and African American males raised in single-parent households by providing scholarships, training, and business support. Parker’s accolades include the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2022 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year (district, regional, and national) and completion of executive programs at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and the International Facilities Management Association. Meanwhile, Elam leads the nation’s premier trade association representing Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). She is the youngest CEO in National Bankers Association’s nearly 100-year history and serves as the executive director of the organization’s foundation. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Prince George’s County

Business Updates

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

CAREER FAIRS AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES FOR PRINCE GEORGIANS

Local efforts from the business, nonprofit, and civic community continue to provide hope and opportunity for Prince George’s County residents, particularly federal workers and contractors who have been fired by the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), directed by Elon Musk. Amid challenges, great uncertainty and economic fears, job fairs, career resource opportunities, and apprenticeship programs are working to offer solutions for Prince Georgians. More than 270 federal contractors at businesses and organizations in Prince George’s have been laid off, and over 3,000 in Maryland have been fired overall. Ongoing conservative efforts to shrink the federal government will only raise that number. Towson University’s chief economist Daraius Irani noted Maryland’s economic reliance on Washington D.C. “One of the key pillars of the state’s economy has been the federal government, both in terms of the employment by individuals of the many agencies, and also many of the federal contractors that support the mission of the federal government,” said Irani.

Employ Prince George’s opened an American Job Center Job and Resource Lab in Brentwood, the fourth such job center in the county. Walter Simmons, president and CEO of Employ Prince George’s, highlighted the importance of what this job center can do amid federal job cuts. “Now more than ever, communities have to come together. Our federal government is laying off tons of Federal Workers. Unfortunately, Maryland and Prince George’s County heavily depend on the federal government workforce,” said Simmons. Employ Prince George’s also held an Apprenticeship Fest at Lanham’s International Union of Painters and Allied Trades union hall, with representatives from more than five different unions present on National Apprenticeship Day: April 30. As Employ Prince George’s president and CEO, Simmons is emphasizing the need for tools to help furloughed federal workers. “With these impacted federal workers being laid off, sometimes with no resources, these job and resource labs in their communities provide mental and physical health and wellness to let them know they are supported, while giving resources to transition their careers,” he said. WI

OTHER LOCAL EFFORTS TO SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL

CHALLENGES: PEPCO SHOWCASE, BLEGAY TO HOST A RESOURCE FAIR

In addition to Employ Prince George’s, other local organizations and leaders are working to support employment opportunities for Prince George’s residents and people throughout the DMV. Pepco hosted a career research and energy education showcase at the

BUSINESS

University of the District of Columbia on May 1. “Our goal was to create more than a job fair — we wanted to offer real tools and support to D.C.-area residents facing a tough job market, as well as those who may need financial assistance,” said Pepco Region President Valencia McClure. Further, Councilmember Wala Blegay (D- District 6) is hosting a federal worker and career resources fair on May 9 at Upper Marlboro’s

Greater St. John Cathedral. “This event is for federal employees and federal contractors who have recently been laid off, but all are welcome. We want to support you during this challenging time with real resources and opportunities,” Blegay said. “At the fair, we will be providing food assistance and possible utility support: please bring a copy of your utility bill if you would like to apply for assistance.” WI

Entity Determines Destiny: Estate Planning for Small Business Owners Aimee D. Griffin, Esq May is Small Business Month—a time to celebrate the innovation, resilience, and economic power of small business owners, particularly in communities of color. But behind the storefronts, service contracts, and client lists lies a question far too many entrepreneurs leave unanswered: What happens to your business when you’re no longer here to run it? From an estate planning perspective, entity determines destiny. The way your business is legally structured not only influences taxes and liability, but it also controls what happens when you pass away or become incapacitated. For Black business owners especially, who face a disproportionate wealth gap and systemic barriers to generational transfer, the choice of entity is not just a legal formality—it is a legacy decision. Take, for example, the difference between a sole proprietorship and a limited liability company (LLC). A sole proprietorship dies with the owner. There is no legal distinction between the person and the business, which means no automatic succession plan. Even if the owner has a will, assets may go through probate costly and public process that can freeze business operations. An LLC, on the other hand, is a separate legal entity. It can own property, sign contracts, and—most importantly—survive the death of its founder. With the right operating agreement and a trust-based estate plan, ownership of the LLC can transfer seamlessly to the next generation or a designated successor without court involvement. Corporations offer even more sophisticated succession tools, such as shareholder agreements and buy-sell arrangements. These structures can provide for continuity of leadership and funding mechanisms for family members or key employees to take the reins. Yet far too often, small business owners do not update these documents or coordinate them with their personal estate plans. This is where a trust becomes a powerful tool. A revocable living trust can hold business interests during your lifetime and continue to manage them after your death without probate. It can also specify how income from the business supports your spouse, children, or charitable causes. For business owners worried about creditors, taxes, or disputes, more advanced trusts—like irrevocable trusts—can provide protection and control. Unfortunately, nearly 70% of Black Americans have no estate plan in place. For entrepreneurs, this gap threatens not just family wealth, but community stability. When a business dies with its owner, jobs disappear, services vanish, and the next generation loses a key building block of economic mobility. The good news is that it’s never too late—or too early—to align your business structure with your estate plan. This Small Business Month, take time to review your entity type, your operating documents, and your succession plan. Work with professionals who understand your vision and values. Remember: the decisions you make today about how your business is owned and managed will shape its destiny tomorrow. Your business is more than your income, it is your impact and legacy. Make sure it outlives you. We are able and willing to help at The Life & Legacy Counselors. Aimee D. Griffin, Esq.

5Employ Prince George’s hosted Apprenticeship Fest 2025 to highlight the role of apprenticeships in shaping the future workforce, with over 400 enthusiastic youth and job seekers converging at the Building Trades Career Center. Representatives from more than five different unions and several community organizations provide information on various career paths. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 15

NATIONAL

3 For Trump’s first 100 days, he has pushed boundaries, misused his authority, and taken advantage of loopholes to suppress opposing views, undermine marginalized communities, and weaken the legal system. (AI Generated Photo)

Organizations, Advocates Criticize President Trump’s First 100 Days By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

One hundred days into Donald Trump’s second presidential term, his administration faces mounting criticism over economic policy, civil rights rollbacks, and an increasingly authoritarian approach to governance. A new report from Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF) shows that Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda has already cost American households an additional $14 billion. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that taxes on foreign imports soared to $96.3 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 17% from last year. Americans for Tax Fairness

16 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

concluded that under Trump’s current plan, the effective tax rate on all imported goods will reach 18% by year’s end. Without changes in consumer purchasing patterns, the rate could rise to 28%, the highest since 1901. “These are just the first effects of Trump’s reckless and regressive tariffs—the beginning of higher costs that families will face due to the president’s incompetent trade policies and to fund his tax giveaway to billionaires,” said David Kass, executive director of ATF. “This is not about protecting American workers—it’s about shifting the burden to those least able to afford it.” An ATF analysis of income data

shows the burden is falling hardest on working-class Americans. The bottom 60% of earners, who collectively take home about one-fifth of national income, are absorbing nearly one-third of the new tariff costs. Meanwhile, the top 1% of income earners—those making over $940,000 annually— will account for just one-tenth of the tariff burden despite receiving more than 20% of national income. Trump has proposed replacing income taxes with tariff revenue. While corporate tax rates have continued to fall, the Yale Budget Lab now estimates that corporations are paying a lower effective tax rate than American consumers through tariffs for the first time in nearly a century. The approach mirrors the economic structure of the Gilded Age, an era Trump has praised publicly. During that time, poverty affected more than 70% of the population, and there were no federal income or corporate taxes to support public services. Outrage over Trump’s policies sparked protests in Washington on Tuesday. More than 200 people shut down morning rush hour traffic for over two hours. Demonstrators blocked intersections and demanded an end to what they called “100 days of disaster.” Eight people were arrested. “For 100 days, Trump, Musk, and their billionaire friends have stripped away our fundamental freedoms— abducting our neighbors, cracking down on political dissidents, and attempting to erase trans people from existence,” said organizer Ella Weber. “In this moment, our choice is clear: courage or compliance. We’ve made our decision—join us.”

‘100TH DAY OF DISASTER’

Olivia DiNucci of CODEPINK said the administration is funneling taxpayer money into militarism and foreign conflict while cutting essential services. “On Trump’s 100th day of disaster, we see 100 more days of death and destruction for the people of Gaza,” she asserted. “While social services are gutted, billions to Israel and a trillion-dollar Pentagon budget surge expose the hypocrisy.” Thomas Mande of Jews Against Fascism denounced the administration’s immigration crackdown. “For 100 days, Donald Trump, Tom Homan, and Stephen Miller have taken a wrecking ball to our freedoms to enact a xenophobic campaign of mass extrajudicial detentions and deportations,” Mande said. “Our tradition commands us: ‘You must not stand idly by as your neighbor bleeds.’” Sunrise Movement DC’s Alejandro Sobrera said working-class Americans suffer as the wealthy grow richer. “This administration continues to line the pockets of billionaires while selling out working-class people and our planet. CEOs responsible for climate destruction are profiting while our communities face the fallout,” Sobrera offered. Free DC’s Alex Dodds and Metro DC DSA’s Marli Kasdan issued a joint statement criticizing the administration’s disregard for District residents. “Speaker Johnson and the capitalist class are focused on a political agenda that’s harming workers, students,

immigrants, and older Americans,” Dodds remarked. “It’s about to cost DC communities $1.1 billion. We are choosing courage over compliance.” The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, said Trump’s first 100 days represent a sweeping attack on civil rights and equity. “Donald Trump has signed more than 140 executive orders, including actions to gut diversity in federal government, bully the private sector to do the same, erase Black history, erode police accountability, and attack our LGBTQ+ loved ones,” Sharpton said. “Simply put, Donald Trump’s first 100 days are Project 2025 in motion.” Sharpton warned that Trump’s policies are pushing Black businesses, college graduates, and workers to the margins. “Trump may have executive orders. He may have the House and the Senate. He may have a conservative Supreme Court that will stand idly by even when he defies their orders,” he demanded. “But he does not control our dollars. He cannot stop us from marching. So NAN will march on Wall Street this August 28 to send a message to Corporate America and financial institutions that our buying power cannot be ignored.” The Not Above the Law coalition, a network of more than 150 advocacy, legal, and policy organizations, has tracked what it calls Trump’s dismantling of constitutional governance. The coalition cited the administration’s refusal to follow a Supreme Court order to return a Maryland man unlawfully deported to El Salvador. It also noted Trump’s use of executive orders to instruct the Justice Department to investigate political opponents, sweeping pardons for January 6 rioters and political allies, the arrest of a Milwaukee judge as part of a campaign to intimidate the judiciary, and retaliatory actions against universities, law firms, and nonprofits. Sharpton and others say the resistance is far from over. “We have come too far, heard too many commitments, and proved our case for success to go back now,” Sharpton assured. WI

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NATIONAL

Harris Blasts Trump’s ‘Reckless’ Tariffs, Warns of Economic Crisis By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

In her first major speech since leaving the White House, former Vice President Kamala Harris called on Americans to resist what she described as President Donald Trump’s assault on truth, democracy, and the economy. Speaking at the annual Emerge gala — an organization focused on training Democratic women to run for office — the former vice president delivered a fiery critique of Trump’s leadership, warning that the country is heading into what she called a “man-made economic crisis.” “We all know, President Trump, his administration and their allies are counting on the notion that fear can be contagious,” Harris told the crowd. “But what they’ve overlooked is that fear isn’t the only thing that’s contagious. Courage is contagious.” Harris said the administration is abandoning the nation’s core values, operating not in chaos, but with deliberate speed. “A vessel is being used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been decades in the making,” she said. “An agenda to slash public education. An agenda to shrink government and then privatize its services. All while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest among us.” A day after Trump reached 100 days in office, Harris accused him of betraying his promise to cut costs. She said working families and small businesses are being punished instead. “Some people are describing what’s been happening in recent months as absolute chaos. And of course I understand why,” Harris said. “It’s certainly true of those tariffs. Tariffs that — as I predicted — are clearly inviting a recession.” She called Trump’s tariff policy the “greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history,” warning that the trade war is driving up costs, damaging retirement accounts, and crippling small businesses. “Instead of an administration working to advance America’s

5 Former Vice President Kamala Harris is calling on Americans to resist what she described as President Donald Trump’s assault on truth, democracy and the economy. (WI File Photo)

highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals,” she said. Many people have taken to social media to criticize the president and show support for Harris’ recent comments. “Harris is right! Trump has degraded U.S. democracy into a KLEPTOCRACY, where poor [and] middle class Americans labor… paying his tariffs [and] the donor class, led by Trump himself, deregulate government agencies to benefit the wealthy [and] deprive the rest of us,” the social media user wrote. “Hands Off!” While Harris said she wasn’t offering all the answers, she insisted that Americans must keep fighting. “The one check, the one balance, the one power that must not fail is the voice of the people,” she said. The former vice president ended with a blunt message. “Things are probably going to get worse before they get better,” Harris said. “But we are ready for it.” WI

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A Feast for the Senses: African Art and Flavors Celebrated During Passport D.C.

The African Union Opens its Doors to Showcase the Continent’s Diversity Through Food, Art and Diplomacy By Mya Trujillo and Austin R. Cooper, Jr. WI Contributing Writers Every May, the District celebrates International Cultural Awareness Month through Passport DC, an immersive and cultural experience presented by Events DC, allowing people to travel around the world without leaving the nation’s capital. As part of the month-long programming, on May 3, more than 60 non-European Union embassies participated in the annual Around the World Embassy Tour, and through artistic and culinary presentations, the African Union (AU) brought Africa to the District, deepening the public’s understanding of the continent’s beauty, intricacies, rich diversity and economic power. “[Passport DC] provides our African diplomatic community an opportunity to showcase the diverse cultures and food from across the continent,” said AU Ambassador to the U.S., Her Excellency Hilda Suka-Mafudze, as guests flocked to her embassy on Wisconsin Avenue NW. “Local residents, many of whom have never been to Africa, always leave with a better understanding and appreciation of the African continent.” Countries like Mali, South Sudan, Togo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and more were represented, furthering the AU’s advocacy for an integrated and economically prosperous Africa through strengthening the continent’s relationship with the United States. From being exposed to countries they may not have known existed to eating food they had never heard of, attendees were transported from Northwest, D.C. to the “Mother Continent” as they walked through the African Union’s doors. “It’s really nice that we have an opportunity to share the culture that’s within D.C. because [it’s] so diverse, but we don’t get a lot of chances to expose ourselves to all the different people that live here,” said Blessed Sheriff, who attended the event. “Our world is so big, and there are so many differ-

5 Performers offer a musical experience outside the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Northwest, D.C., during the Around the World Embassy Tour on May 3. An annual partnership between the African Union and Events DC, the walkthrough tour brings Africa to the District by showcasing embassies in the African diaspora. (Cleveland Nelson/ The Washington Informer)

ent ways to experience… the beauty of life, and I think that’s what this is going to help us see.”

SHOWCASING AFRICA’S DIVERSITY ON THE WORLD STAGE

Many people used jewelry, fashion and paintings to provide genuine depictions of the countries they were representing. Through doing so, these contributors aimed to advocate for harmonious global relationships and exhibit Africa in a positive light. “Art and culture are one of the highest forms of human expression, and I know for a fact that it is a very good medium to make peace with one another,” Louis Jr. Sangare-King, founder of Niani Gallery, told The Informer. “The art and culture of Africa will be a means of communication with the rest of the world.” Sangare-King, who represented Mali and Liberia, stood behind two tables full of contemporary African silversmith work from his online gallery. Despite depicting two West African nations, the artisan draws inspiration from all the continent’s regions for his work. From masks to show stopping pendants, he introduced onlookers to a lustrous fusion between traditional and contemporary styles. Sangare-King’s gallery is a tribute to his mother, Yahne King M. Sangare, who was a pan-African journalist, dip-

lomat and art connoisseur. Through curating a gallery of work inspired by Tuareg, Pende and other styles, Niani’s founder keeps his mother’s spirit alive and continues her mission of introducing the world to African art and culture. “She represented Africa in a very big capacity,” Sangare-King said about his mother. Before moving his gallery completely online, Sangare-King was once represented by Elizabeth Jaffee, owner and director of Gallery Article 15, which is one of the few galleries in the U.S. that primarily exhibits contemporary Congolese art. Jaffee was in attendance, showcasing various works of art from the wide range of Congolese artists featured in her gallery. In highlighting the diverse styles and techniques of emerging artists, Jaffee hopes to challenge any negative perceptions of the DRC and the African continent as a whole. “There tends to be a very negative image in the U.S. of the DRC in terms of war, poverty [or] corruption, and while those things are true, there’s this whole other side, which is this really incredible art and music scene,” Jaffee told The Informer. “An event like this really is an opportunity… not just for the DRC, but for all the countries here to really showcase that positive image.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Live Boldly – May 2025 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living DIRECTOR CHARON P.W. HINES

Dear Seniors, Happy Older Americans Month! May is such a special time at the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) because it gives us the chance to pause, celebrate, and honor you, the incredible older adults who make the District a vibrant, strong, and beautiful place to live. This year is even more meaningful because, as we celebrate Older Americans Month, we are also commemorating DACL’s 50th Anniversary! That is 50 years of supporting, serving, and championing DC’s older adults, and we could not have done it without you. This year’s celebration is “Flip the Script on Aging,” and here at DACL, that message speaks di-

rectly to our heart. For far too long, aging has been associated with decline, but you have shown us the opposite! Every day, we see you living boldly, breaking barriers, starting new chapters, and proving that aging is not something to fear but something to celebrate. Flipping the script on aging means challenging outdated stereotypes and embracing the truth that aging brings wisdom, purpose, new adventures, and lasting impact. Whether you are volunteering, staying active, learning something new, or making time for community and connection, you are showing the community around you what it really means to grow older with grace, strength, and joy. Your health and well-being are always a top priority for us. One of the best ways to flip the script on aging is to stay physically active, and many of you are already doing just that! Whether you are dancing, walking, or stretching at home or participating in classes at one of our Senior Wellness Centers, your commitment to your health is powerful. If you have not yet, we invite you to join one of our centers this month, there is no better time to get involved than during Older Americans Month! Here’s where you can find a Senior Wellness Center near you: • Ward 1: Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center – 3531 Georgia Ave, NW • Wards 2 & 3: Around Town Satellite Program – 4125 Albemarle St, NW • Ward 4: Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center – 324 Kennedy St, NW

• Ward 5: Model Cities Senior Wellness Center – 1901 Evarts St, NE • Ward 6: Hayes Senior Wellness Center – 500 K St, NE • Ward 7: Washington Seniors Wellness Center – 3001 Alabama Ave, SE • Ward 8: Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center – 3500 MLK Jr Ave, SE Throughout the month, we will be hosting events that celebrate your stories, your achievements, and your power. With that said,

we hope you will join us for our biggest celebration of all, Mayor Bowser’s Annual “Senior Fest.” In partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation, come out for a fun-filled day of entertainment, food, dancing, and more on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Gateway Pavilion (2700 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE). To RSVP, please visit: tinyurl.com/seniorfest2025. This month-long celebration is not just about DACL turning 50, it is about celebrating you,

the community that has made these 50 years so impactful. Thank you for your wisdom, your strength, and for showing us what it means to truly “Live Boldly.” Let us continue to flip the script on aging, together. See you soon (hopefully on the dance floor)! In Service, Charon P.W. Hines Director, Department of Aging and Community Living

Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. / Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amerihealthcaritasdc. / Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/amerihealthcaritasdc. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 8 - 14, 2025 19

HEALTH

Informer. “They’re told that they’re not doing good enough or that they need to do better when they’re doing their best, and it just messes with our heads.” In addition to Tristyn’s observances, Barnett noted that a challenge Black youth, and African Americans in general, face is finding a culturally competent therapist, like himself. Barnett, who has also been a critical voice with the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, is pushing toward more Black representation in mental health and culturally competent therapists. “We have to start training, building, and bringing other folks on.”

CAN WE TALK? YOUTH SYMPOSIUM

Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Addresses Youth Mental Health By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter While being a teen comes with its own shifts, changes and challenges, research shows that since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic there has been a notable increase in depression, anxiety and suicide among Black adolescents. “After the pandemic, I was going through a lot,” Tristyn Mickle, 14, told The Informer, at the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation 2025 Can We Talk? Youth Mental Health Symposium in Oxon Hill, Maryland on May 3. “There was a point where it was re-

ally, really bad, and I had no way to get help.” Toward the end of the pandemic, Tristyn, now a rising freshman, found herself facing a severe bout of anxiety, later diagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which she said developed amid a compilation of family woes and toxic friendships. Eager to find resolutions for her increasingly pressing concerns, Tristyn revealed that while she was able to access mental health resources, the journey to finding quality care became quite the challenge. “I had a therapist, but she was a little iffy, so I stopped going to her, and

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5Tristyn Mickle and her mother, Tracy Laster, visit The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s Youth Mental Health Symposium on Saturday, May 3. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

then I was going to my school counselor, [but] the school counselor was a little shady, [sharing student information with others],” she said. “So I just stopped going to therapy all together. It did get pretty bad, but I [eventually] got the help I needed.” Organizations like Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, founded by celebrated actress and DMV native Taraji P. Henson in honor of her late father, is working to help people like Tristyn by combatting the lack of access to reliable and trustworthy mental health resources. Tristyn was one of the many students who was able to unpack what was happening in their lives and the world around them during the Saturday symposium. “One of the main things that I want to focus on with the youth and talk to them about today is anxiety and the growing suicide rates that we’re seeing,” Dr. Jay Barnett, a family therapist who participated in the symposium, told The Informer. As a two-time suicide-attempt survivor, Barnett, understands the daunting reality of balancing anxiety and depression, along with the dilapidating affects it can have on one’s life. However, he says youth today are battling trials that are different from when he was an adolescent. “This generation of kids are dealing with things that we never had to deal with in school and often don’t have the support that they need to manage it,” he said. Recently, Barnett lost a patient— a 14-year-old, Black, male— to suicide. “I remember the parents calling me because I was on a road tour, and they said [their] son is waiting on me. [I

told them that] I go on tour, but in two weeks, I’ll be able to get back. Every other therapist I know was backed up,” Barnett said. “And when I came [back], the family reached out and said he’s gone. To this day, I can hear his father saying, ‘Dr. Jay, he waited on you.’”

RISING STATISTICS AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), suicide rates among Black youth ages 10-24 years increased from 8.2% to 11.2% from 2018 and 2021, and was the third leading cause of death. Similar to the rise of youth mental health challenges nationwide, Prince George’s County, a predominately African American locale, has also developed an uptick of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among local students. Reports from Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) between 2022 and 2023 reveal that roughly 17% of high school students seriously contemplated suicide, with 10% reported attempting it. While Prince George’s student Tristyn did not face moments of suicidal ideation, she said statistics and her own experiences emphasize the widespread prevalence of anxiety disorders, which studies show are associated with an increase in suicidal behavior. “I think that doubt plays a big part [of it]. A lot of self doubt, because everyone’s shooting for their best, and sometimes their best isn’t enough for people around them,” Tristyn told The

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL SUPPORT

Tristyn’s mother, Tracy Laster, shared the importance of parents acknowledging their children’s mental health concerns, even when they do not have the answers of exactly how to address it. “I think for her, me admitting I couldn’t fix it, and her being able to communicate that she needed and wanted help was important,” Laster said. “So we’re here figuring it out together.” In addition to various stretches of therapy, Tristyn found solace in creative arts, using journaling and poetry as a means to evaluate her own thoughts and emotions from an outward perspective. “I like to write, and so for me, I put my feelings in books, poems, songs, and journaling,” the 14-year-old said. “I write so I can understand how I’m feeling. Even now, I don’t [always] understand what I’m going through, but I’m going to figure it out and do my best to help myself.” The teen also noted her mother’s support has been critical to her progress. “I would say support from your family and loved ones plays a big role in struggling with mental health,” she continued. Barnett encourages parents and family members to avoid stigmatizing mental health challenges and learn how to provide the best level of support they can to support their children getting the proper help they need. “What I want for us in our community is to normalize these conversations and not clown, not judge, not critique, not say ‘it’s a white thing,’” he said. “It’s a people thing, because [all] people are struggling.” WI

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HEALTH

Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health Welcomes Newborn By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter

Family members and hospital staff alike are celebrating after the safe delivery of one of the first babies born at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health in Ward 8 since its opening on April 15. Parents Regina Crowder and Ronnell Fletcher welcomed baby Reign, born on Sunday, April 27 at 1:12 p.m., weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces at birth, and 18 inches long— the fourth at the new Southeast medical facility. As Cedar Hill CEO, Anthony B. Coleman emphasized, the hospital will continue to prioritize quality maternal and infant care, aligning with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s overall health care goals. “Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health is delighted to deliver healthy babies born to Washingtonians in the community where they live,” said Coleman. “Every baby born at Cedar Hill represents Mayor Bowser’s promise made - and promise kept - to provide Washingtonians east of the River quality healthcare. We wish Reign’s parents and siblings our very best as they settle in their newest family member.” Since the closing of United Medical Center’s maternity ward

in 2017, families east of the Anacostia River were left to travel a distance outside of their community to deliver babies. Opening on April 15, Cedar Hill is the first new hospital erected in the District in 25 years, located on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus at 1200 Pecan Street SE, and featuring 142 beds with the potential to progress to upward of 190 beds in the near future. Cedar Hill nursing staff said they were delighted to have served the Crowder family. “Our mission is to provide excellent healthcare to this community, wrapped in love, respect, and kindness,” said Lesia Douglas, director of Cedar Hill’s Women’s Health Center and Services, Labor & Delivery. “We’ve assembled a team of caring, experienced nurses at Cedar Hill, many of whom live in this community.” While the new facility is working to engage residents and build trust across Wards 7 and 8 and throughout the District, Crowder said she is pleased with the provided care and service. A Ward 8 resident, Crowder deemed her daughter’s birth at Cedar Hill as “the best labor and delivery experience” among her nine total deliveries. “We were treated with love, care, and respect,” she said. WI

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5Family members and hospital staff alike are celebrating after the safe delivery of Reign, the fourth baby born at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health in Ward 8 since its opening on April 15. (Courtesy Photo/Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health)

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 21

OUR

EARTH

Climate Change and Rising Heat: A Growing Threat to Older Americans Dr. Patrise Holden WI Contributing Writer

As climate change accelerates, extreme heat is emerging as a significant health threat in the United States, particularly for older adults. In recognition of Older Americans Month this May, organizations, climate advocates, and health experts alike are working to raise awareness of how rising temperatures disproportionately affect seniors, while exploring measures to safeguard them as Earth warms. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the frequency of extremely hot days has risen in recent decades, a trend expected to persist. Older adults are especially susceptible to heat stress due to age-related physiological changes, chronic health conditions, and certain medications that impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Many older adults may not recognize the signs of heat-related illness until it’s too late. Thus, health experts warn

that as the climate continues to warm and temperatures rise, education and preparedness for older Americans are essential. “Clearly, our global climate is changing, and sadly, vulnerable communities are disproportionately impacted,” said Christopher King, dean of Georgetown University’s School of Health.

WHY OLDER ADULTS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE: MENTAL AND PHYSICAL RISKS

As people age, their ability to regulate body temperature diminishes. Factors such as chronic health conditions, medications that affect thermoregulation, and reduced mobility all contribute to seniors being more vulnerable to heat stress. In addition, many older adults live on fixed incomes, which means they may lack access to air conditioning or possibly unable to afford to run it

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5 As climate change intensifies, simple protections such as sunglasses, lightweight clothing, and proper hydration may protect older Americans from both physical and mental decline. (Photo/CDC)

during heat waves. Further, health professionals note some seniors may also experience cognitive decline or live alone, making it harder for them to recognize the warning signs of heat-related illness or seek help when needed. Since 2018, Dr. Shabab Wahid and Dr. Wameq Raza, senior health specialists at the World Bank, have spearheaded the ACCLIMATE study—Assessing the Risk of Climate Change on Population Mental and Physical Health Outcomes. “If you look at the entire global pattern of what people have been finding,” Wahid, assistant professor at Georgetown University, explained, “[in] high-income and low-income settings, when there is heat, people’s mental health seems to deteriorate.” In addition to physical ailments, heat exposure notably affects mental health, especially in older adults who may already face isolation or chronic illnesses. Their research links extreme heat with increased anxiety, reduced productivity, and potentially even higher suicide risk. “These are subtle but extremely consequential effects,” said Dr. Raza. “They affect how people function in their daily lives, especially those already facing health or economic disadvantages.”

during extreme heat:

SAFEGUARDING SENIORS’ BODIES AND MINDS IN AN ERA OF EXTREME WEATHER

• Know the Warning Signs Early symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and confusion. If symptoms worsen or heat stroke is suspected—characterized by body temperatures above 103°F, unconsciousness, or dry, hot skin—immediate medical attention is critical.

In honor of Older Americans Month, below are five tips, based on guidance from the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to help protect older adults

• Stay Cool Indoors Encourage seniors to spend the hottest part of the day (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) in air-conditioned spaces. If they don’t have air conditioning at home, suggest alternatives like public libraries, shopping malls, or community cooling centers. • Hydrate Often Dehydration can sneak up fast in hot weather. Seniors should drink plenty of water, even if they don’t feel thirsty. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine is also important, as both can contribute to fluid loss. • Dress Appropriately Lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing can help the body stay cooler. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses provides protection from direct sun exposure when outdoors. • Check on Others Family members, neighbors, and caregivers should regularly check in on older adults, especially those living alone, those with mobility issues, or those lacking air conditioning. A simple call or visit can prevent a crisis.

COMMUNITY-LEVEL SOLUTIONS: A LIFELINE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

While individual action is important, broader systemic interventions are essential to protect both aging Americans and the planet against extreme heat. As we honor the achievements and contributions of our nation’s seniors, we must also commit to community-based solutions to protect their health and well-being in the face of a changing climate. “Heat action plans, including early warning systems, public cooling centers, and outreach programs, can save lives—especially among older populations,” according to the EPA. Community-level interventions to protect both older Americans and the planet may include: Expanding green spaces and tree cover to reduce urban heat island effects. Subsidizing utility costs for low-income seniors so they can afford to run air conditioning. Creating accessible, cooled places for congregating in neighborhoods with high concentrations of older adults. Conducting wellness checks during heat waves. “Our aging population deserves our attention and care, especially in the face of a changing climate,” the EPA emphasized. “By preparing now, we can reduce risks and help ensure that older Americans can thrive, even as the temperatures rise.” WI

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Energy Study Indicates Possible Pathways to Saving By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter Maryland legislators approved legislation to fast-track energy projects earlier this year. However, Maryland is only part of one of the world’s largest energy grids, thus limiting the state’s ability to directly lower utility prices even with additional energy sources. The state is part of the PJM Interconnection, a power grid that includes D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, and 11 other states, providing regional energy stability for more than 65 million Americans with 185 gigawatts of generating capacity. PJM Interconnection is also currently the largest energy provider for data centers in the world. The Maryland Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)’s most recent report alleges that Maryland ratepayers are subsidizing data centers in Virginia and Illinois. Northern Virginia currently has an estimated four gigawatts of data center energy needs, more than 25% of the nation’s total data center capacity. “Traditionally, transmission costs are

OUR HISTORY from Page 1 the value, strength and contributions of Black culture in the nation’s history. Organized by the Freedom to Learn Network, in collaboration with the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) and the Association for the Study of American Life and History (ASALH), the week-long series united several civil rights groups in a promise to uphold the stories and voices of African Americans. Other (civil rights) organizations heeding the call included: the National Urban League, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the National Action Network, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Legal Defense Fund, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “Our monuments, our historical sites, are dedicated to sharing the history of Black people in these United States of America. These museums hold the stories of our ancestors, of our collective journey,” said Melanie

paid for by the stakeholders who are responsible for the increased transmission needs,” read the report. “And yet, PJM is attempting to saddle Marylanders with $800 million in new transmission costs, despite protected load stability or decreases in the BGE and PEPCO region and a 45% increase in Virginia.” County Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (D- District 8) pointed to the tax revenue that northern Virginia receives from their data center investment, which provides vital government services and limits the need for property tax increases. “Most of us agree that we cannot continue to raise property taxes on our homeowners,” said Burroughs. “We know that our homeowners are struggling just like the county is struggling. It’s so important that we generate additional streams of revenue, and we’ve seen this be very effective in other places.” Burroughs also acknowledged the environmental risks and other drawbacks to the proposal when he introduced the bill in February. “We do understand there are some downsides. There are some environ-

mental risks, and it’s just important that the council brings together a group of experts along with the county government to study this issue to figure out if it’s in our best interest or not,” he said. A recent study by the Evergreen Collaborative argues that Maryland utility rates could go down by 7% across the next decade if PJM project approval times are expedited, and rates will increase 60% over the next 10 years if said changes are not adopted. “We wanted to look at what PJM has done to contribute to this problem, by not adding new energy projects efficiently to the electric grid, and to really look forward and look proactively at what reforms we could do now,” said

Charles Harper, senior policy lead for the power sector at Evergreen Collaborative. PJM, which is estimated to face power shortages as soon as next year, has begun work on 64 projects since 2020, aimed at producing a combined five gigawatts of production. This could power a mere 4-5 million homes, relative to the existing 34 million home power capacity needed. WI

OUR EARTH

5 Maryland and the District of Columbia are part of the PJM Interconnection, which provides electricity to 65 million Americans across 14 states. A recent study argues that slow pace of generation projects is allowing utility rates to rise rapidly across the region. (Courtesy Photo)

Campbell, NCBCP president and CEO. “We’re going to stand today and for as long as it takes to fight for our freedom to learn and to fight for our freedom to not just survive these attacks on our very existence, but to thrive.” The #HandsOffOurHistory/Freedom To Learn National Week of Action, which included faith-based activations, a night of artivism, and virtual gatherings such as an April 30 roundtable marking Trump’s first 100 days in office, follows a series of executive orders that have sparked controversy among civil rights advocates. The orders include: the elimination of federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs; a ban on African American literature and curriculum studies; and, as of March 27, a plan to “restore the Smithsonian” institution, which President Donald Trump criticizes promotes “inherently harmful and oppressive” narratives of American and Western values. Throughout the week-long series, and atop the steps of 1350 Penn-

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 23

EDUCATION HBCUs Propel the Next Generation of Black Leaders in AI, Digital Literacy

From Atlanta to the DMV, HBCUs Leverage Innovation, Education, and Collaboration to Forge Paths for Scholars By Jada Ingleton WI Digital Equity Fellow With executive orders to dismantle the Department of Education, and micromanage diversity and inclusion across federal programs and academic curriculums, the future of equity in academia is at a standstill. Thus, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) nationwide are adamant about upholding the future of diversity in digital advancement, particularly through leading in artificial intelligence (AI). “When HBCUs are at the forefront, when we are the breeding ground of innovation – out of necessity, too – we do it for everyone. It’s a humanity-first effort all the time within HBCUs,” said Dr. Muhsinah Morris, Metaversity di-

rector at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Morehouse College’s innovative Metaversity program aims to immerse students in academic learning and engagement through a virtual reality experience based on real or hypothetical occurrences. Morris emphasized the importance of HBCUs in advancing digital breakthroughs, noting the historical roots of African American culture in society. “Black people are the culture, we define the culture,” she said. “So why shouldn’t we design the future?” As historically Black colleges and universities have long served as incubators of innovation and excellence, institutions like Morehouse, Maryland’s Morgan State University, and North-

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5Educators at Morehouse College in Atlanta, are leveraging immersive virtual reality to enhance learning for students across multiple disciplines, officially launching “Metaverse at Morehouse” in spring 2021. (Courtesy Photo)

west, D.C.,’s Howard University are continuing the legacy with trailblazing efforts to increase AI literacy in communities of color. By leveraging educational training, hands-on exposure, and a continued commitment to develop forward thinkers, these respective institutions, and educators like Morgan State’s Gabriella Waters, aim to tackle digital inequity and redefine the future of Black scholarship in technology. “This technology is an opportunity. It presents challenges, just like any other opportunity, but it presents a lot of ways for us to make a large impact that we really need to, that’ll be meaningful and that will have so much potential for generations to come,” said Waters, director of operations at the Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS). “But we have to be involved, and we have to drive those changes.”

METAVERSITY AT MOREHOUSE: BUILDING TABLES FOR COLLEGIATE BLACK MEN

For Morehouse College, piloting artificial intelligence in academics began in the spring of 2021, when Dr. Morris and three other professors spearheaded immersive virtual reality as a teaching modality amid the anomalies of distant learning during COVID-19. What initially started as a pilot project to ensure matriculation soon became the blueprint for the nation’s first “metaversity” virtual reality experience,

now followed by more than 120 existing “Metaverses” in historically Black institutions across the nation. Now, through the collaborative efforts of VictoryXR and OpenAI, Morehouse is continuing to forge paths in technology education by implementing AI teaching assistants and textbook assistance in multiple disciplines. “Innovation is the only way that I can see that you overcome 20 generations of inequity,” Morris explained. “If we don’t continue to innovate and springboard off of the thing that is available to us right now, we will basically keep ourselves down as a community.” Virtual 3D spatial avatars have been made available 24/7 to bring professor-created content to life, offering personalized learning support that features two-way oral conversations– including in a student’s native language– and the use of three-dimensional models to ensure an all-inclusive learning experience. While the novel technique is still in the developing stages, and thus far only implemented in “several small courses,” Morris said the program has already shown promising feedback. Moreover, according to Axios, the educator hopes to have an AI assistant for every professor in the next three to five years. “We have gotten to a place where technology is moving faster in the last two years than it has in the last 24 years,” Morris told The Informer. “[It’s] necessary for Morehouse, for me, to lead that effort and not ask for a place at the table, but to build the table the way that they wanted to see it.”

AI LITERACY TO PROPEL INSTITUTIONS, FUTURE LEADERS ACROSS THE DMV

Howard University and Morgan State University are also working to shape digital equity by fostering the space for AI-based research projects and collaborations to thrive. Like Morris, Waters emphasized that the rapid increase of AI and how “it’s adopted us” as a society exemplifies the necessity to dive deeper into its various applications. The theoretical researcher told The Informer her studies are driven by a desire to explore the ways that human and digital interactions can meet in the middle to “bolster” one another – a curiosity she aims to similarly instill in her students. “I’d like to see our students be very curious about what they can do and how they can change systems that are broken, how they can model what might happen using the tools and the technology to be better stewards of this world,” said Waters, “so that they leave it in a much better condition than they found it.” CEAMLS is a Baltimore-based institution that drives Waters’ mission by exposing students to a learning management system (LMS) that challenges users to better understand the intricacies of building algorithms. Additionally, CEAMLS intends to shape AI literacy for younger demographics with a K-12 curriculum that

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EDUCATION from Page 24 teaches children the ethics, limitations, and tools of engaging in artificial intelligence. “This is the world that they’re going to live in, and it is fully infused with this technology,” Waters said. “Early and often is the best way to do this.” Meanwhile, at Howard University, the inaugural President’s Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council (AIAC) – established in June 2024 – aims to support a future where humanity and technological advancement coincide, starting with strengthening AI systems in institutions of learning. “We’re seeing [AI integration] across the university, and we’re seeing this is a student project, and we just want to foster that learning so that they can be leaders in these domains,” said Dr. Talitha Washington, co-chair of the AIAC. By expanding on current implementations of artificial intelligence, Washington says the hope is to institute campus-wide developments that’ll improve the school both academically and operationally, such as financial aid assistance, enrollment management and other student resources. In the meantime, the university champions AI literacy by offering ed-

ucational events and training sessions to individuals throughout the DMV region. Washington mentioned that she hosted two symposiums on envisioning interdisciplinary AI education last summer; while on March 17, the university held its Howard University Robotics & AI Community Outreach Program to provide 500 pre-college and collegiate students with a first-hand class in AI and robotic technologies. “We can think of artificial intelligence in two ways: the application of it, where we apply artificial intelligence tools to achieve some sort of goal, or, on the other hand…who’s developing the technology. I see Howard playing a role in both,” Washington said. Like Howard, Morgan State welcomes collaborations like the upcoming National Symposium on Equitable AI held April 5-6, and the 10-week interdisciplinary Summer AI Research Institute, where undergraduates can learn and practice the fundamentals of AI. Waters said this year’s symposium introduces a global outlook on the use of the technology, with participation from speakers at Oxford University and in Canada. “AI doesn’t have borders. These tools are permeating through the ecosystem

EDUCATION

in every way,” Waters told The Informer. “AI literacy is a part of everything that we’re doing, and going forward, that’s just going to grow as the technology continues to proliferate.”

LEVERAGING AI BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Further, Waters said enhancing AI literacy for marginalized groups could not only reshape systematic disenfranchisement but also be a call to leverage AI to combat other racial disparities, such as poverty, food scarcity, homelessness and environmental injustice. Hence, Morgan State’s strong stance in technology stands to fuel the next generation of problem solvers. “There are people who have more money than anybody can ever dream of, and the world’s problems still exist,” Waters pleaded. “I want to see our students actually start to solve those problems.” Similarly, Morris hopes that Morehouse will continue to inspire others to explore artificial intelligence deeper within the digital divide. She noted that, with increased communal engagement, all creators can use the Metaverse model to generate paths to economic

5Undergraduate students of Morgan State University present their research during the 2024 Summer AI Research Symposium, one of several annual initiatives that offers students hands-on exposure and application of artificial intelligence tools. (Courtesy Photo/Atèpá Media and Morgan State University)

mobility, financial stability, and potentially “build something bigger” for themselves and communities as a whole. “We’re hoping that we are able to provide a blueprint that allows people to understand how to use this in the right way and integrate in the right way, and that they are not afraid to do it,” Morris explained. The affectionately coined “Chief Science Lady” of Morgan State University

gave a nod to other Black institutions leading in AI education, while also acknowledging that not all HBCUs have the equitable resources to excel in tech development. With the uncertainties of what’s to come, Waters said she hopes to see HBCUs seize this opportunity to drive a collaborative mission toward digital equity. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 25

Rent vs. Own in Today’s Economy: Is Now the Best Time to Buy? Sponsored by JPMorganChase Homeownership has been long associated with the American Dream, yet the economic climate of recent years has left some potential homebuyers on edge. Many potential homeowners have put their dream of buying a home on pause – or even abandoned it altogether. If you’re thinking of buying a home but aren’t sure if it makes sense for you right now, consider these pros and cons of renting versus buying:

PROS OF RENTING

• Renting is a short-term commitment. You can sign a lease and have the flexibility to move somewhere else after the lease is over. • Maintenance and repairs are typically handled by the landlord, saving you time and money. Additionally, taxes and other local expenses are also often covered by the landlord. • If you live in a city with high property taxes, renting may be more affordable, helping to reduce the costs of your monthly payments. • Move in costs may be less, often including a security deposit and/or first and last month’s rent vs. saving for a down payment and closing costs.

CONS OF RENTING

• Your landlord or management company may increase the rent upon lease renewal. • Renting may offer less stability. Besides the possibility of higher prices, your landlord could sell the property or change other lease terms during renewal. • There’s an overall lack of control. For example, repairs are on someone else’s timeline, and you can’t make major alterations without permission. • Paying your monthly rent doesn’t contribute to building equity, which means it can’t be used as a long-term wealth building strategy or as a way to tap into your assets for a cash need.

PROS OF BUYING

• You can build equity by making consistent payments on your mortgage. Your equity may be a potentially valuable appreciating investment and can be used for a cash-out refinance or a HELOC, which lets you borrow against the equity you’ve built up. Homeowners often use this cash for home renovations or to pay off higher-interest debt. • Fixed mortgage rate options provide more predictability and stability for monthly payments, unlike rent which may be increased with renewal. • Qualifying homeowners might be eligible for mortgage tax benefits. • Homeowners are free to al-

ter, decorate and renovate without landlord approval. • Your home value may appreciate with time, offering a potential profit when you sell your home. You might also be able to rent out your property for extra cash flow. • If you live in a city with low property taxes but high rent, buying might be more affordable in the long term.

CONS OF BUYING

• Homebuying typically comes with significant upfront costs and fees, such as a down payment, closing costs, loan applications and more. • You have to pay for all maintenance and repairs. • Building equity takes time, requiring a longer commitment to see potential for significant returns. • Your home’s market value can fluctuate for reasons beyond your control, such as interest rates, economic factors, and other market • Homeowners have to pay for property taxes and home insurance, adding to the costs of homeownership. Your property may also have condo or homeowners’ association fees.

MAKING YOUR DECISION

There are many things to consider when deciding whether to rent or buy a home, including how much you can afford, the length of time you plan to live there and how much responsibility you’re ready to take on. You’ll want to look into the current real estate prices and interest rates in your area to see if you can afford to buy a home now. The bottom line is that the question of renting or owning is really a lifestyle choice. If you’re

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ready to stay in one location and have the financial stability to handle property ownership and home maintenance, consider setting a goal to buy a home. If you still crave flexibility or plan to move soon, renting may be your ideal solution. There are also a variety of local resources that can help you assess what makes the most sense for your personal circumstances, such as meeting with a local mortgage professional that can help you navigate the market as well as make suggestions based on your financial picture. Your unique financial situation, goals and aspirations can help you make the best decision – for you. Visit chase.com/afford to learn more about homeownership and what resources are available. DISCLAIMER For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described on this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for

everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

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EDITORIAL

DOGE Cuts Are Hurting Africa

An Opportunity for Africa to Rely on Its Natural Resources for Greatness Proponents of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) describe it as a project aimed at making the federal government smaller and more efficient through reduced spending and a downsized workforce. Yet DOGE cuts have undermined essential public services and weakened infrastructure, education, and health care systems in the U.S. These reductions also hinder international aid and cooperation efforts, diminishing global stability and America’s influence abroad. In his first term, on January 11, 2018, President Donald J. Trump, during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators, referred to African nations and Haiti as “sh--hole countries.” Moreover, in March, South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, was declared “persona non grata” by Trump and ordered to leave the country. His crime? Comments he made during a webinar, which included his statement that the Make America Great Again move-

ment was partially a response to a “supremacist instinct.” Therefore, given the disdain shown for a continent of approximately 1.515 billion Africans, it is no surprise that DOGE cuts are having a devastating impact across Africa, just as they are on American soil. The stoppage of Power Africa– part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which the Trump administration also dismantled–illustrates how the White House, by aggressively cutting foreign aid, might be undermining some of its priorities. The dismantling of Power Africa, which may be resurrected in another format, has already forced many African government and public sector officials to question the reliability of the United States and has hindered urgently needed energy projects across Africa. Additionally, cuts to USAID are having a dire impact on African nations, potentially leading to increased deaths from preventable diseases, rising poverty levels, and a decline in vital programs such

as HIV/AIDS treatment and food security. These programs funded by USAID are crucial for combating epidemics, improving health outcomes, and promoting economic development in the region. Despite these cuts, Africa’s future still depends on its abundant natural resources, a youthful and growing population, and a vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship. Moreover, this presents an opportunity for African nations to prioritize their development strategies, invest in their resources, and pursue economic and political solutions that are tailored to their specific needs. The dismantling of USAID and Power Africa should not stop Africa from growing and thriving. We all have it in our power to support efforts on the continent. Through partnerships, investments, and keeping up-to-date on business and economic improvement opportunities, we can promote overall prosperity in Africa and further showcase its value as a global power. WI

VA Opera Marks 50th Anniversary with the Loving’s True Story of How Love can ConquerAll – Even the Prohibition of Interracial Marriage

Opera, at its core, is a way to tell a story through music and singing, and since its invention in the late 16th century Italy, it has continued to evolve. In fact, there’s a growing trend of opera companies who have become more inclusive and actively begun looking for ways to increase their support within the Black community, both as subscription holders and in overall audience numbers. Some American opera companies have addressed historical biases in the art form by showcasing diverse stories and casting more Black artists both on and off stage–and the results have been impressive. One example is the

Virginia Opera which recently marked its 50th anniversary with the world premiere of “Loving v. Virginia” – an opera that features several gifted Black singers with music composed by an African American, Damien Geter, and is directed by the world-renowned mezzo-soprano and native Washingtonian, Denyce Graves. Yes, the music is amazing, the direction and staging are superb, and the singers are supremely talented. But it’s the true story on which this opera is based that we believe will one day result in “Loving v. Virginia” joining the ranks of some of the world’s most beloved operatic love stories – from

“La Bohème” and “Madama Butterfly,” to “Aida.” One June 12, 1967, in the Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, SCOTUS ruled that all state laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional, violating the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case involved Richard and Mildred Loving, who were convicted under Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act for their interracial marriage. To avoid being imprisoned, they agreed to leave their home, family and friends in Caroline County, Virginia, and moved to Washington, D.C. A further stipulation of the rul-

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TO THE EDITOR I absolutely loved the story about the collaboration between the Howard University College of Medicine and Tubman Elementary. The pictures of the small children receiving their white coats were priceless. This is how you make a difference in your community! Lauren Harper Washington, D.C. ing: they could not return to Virginia for 25 years. Facing financial hardship and despite being isolated from their family, the Lovings refused to abandon their dream of building a life together and raising children. In the end, love conquered all. What a testimony and what a slice of history to bring to the operatic stage. And given the pain they endured and the steps they took to remain together, one thing seems clear: For them, love was more than a thing (a noun) – it was a verb (action). WI

The news of the Commanders returning to Washington to play at RFK Stadium is major! I love it! I just hope all goes well and the relocation isn’t thwarted by political theater. My two cents. Uriel Cunningham Washington, D.C.

Some American opera companies have addressed historical biases in the art form by showcasing diverse stories and casting more Black artists both on and off stage–and the results have been impressive. MAY 8 - 14, 2025 27

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

Pope Francis was a Humble Man of the People and an Advocate for Black America

Are you better off than you were three months ago, when the current president was sworn into office on Jan. 20? That’s the question President Ronald Reagan posed to voters when he squared off against President Jimmy Carter in 1980. Voters concluded that they were worse off and chose Reagan over Carter. But the current president is lucky that no election is taking place

tomorrow. His approval ratings have tanked. He has the lowest 100-day approval rating of any president since pollsters started asking this question. Are you better off? Don’t ask the thousands of federal workers who have lost their jobs, including those who used to work at USAID, or the IRS, or the Social Security Administration, among others. Don’t ask the elders who are frightened about the future of Social Security. Don’t ask the university professors who wonder if their free speech rights will be protected. If you ask any of these folks, they

Guest Columnist Teacher Appreciation

“Teaching children may be the highest way to seek God. It is, however, also the most daunting way, in the sense of the greatest responsibility.” — Gabriela Mistral, Chilean Nobel Prize laureate in literature, school leader and teacher Every year, the first full week of May is a chance to show special gratitude and thanks to America’s teachers. This

year Teacher Appreciation Week comes at a moment when the nation’s Department of Education itself is under attack. Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) recently noted that if the Department of Education were to close: - Students attending roughly 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools in 18,200 school districts would face unnecessary negative consequences. - More than 12 million post-secondary students who depend on its grants, loans, and work-study assistance would be negatively affected.

Guest Columnist

are likely to tell you that they are worse off than they were 100 days ago since the president took office, though some will tell you they are patiently hoping for things to get better. When the current president was elected, he promised to lower prices and inflation. Prices have not come down, nor has inflation. Instead, this president has behaved like the proverbial bull in a china closet, wreaking havoc and creating chaos across the board. The president’s basic economic policy is tariffs. His rationale is that U.S.-based manufacturing will grow if imports are

more expensive than domestic goods. But the United States has neither the workforce nor the capacity to significantly increase manufacturing in the United States. No matter. The president is stuck on senseless and can’t seem to make up his mind about economic policy. First unreasonably high tariffs were imposed, then suspended for everyone except China. The chaos and confusion make it impossible for businesses and consumers to plan. Planning an automobile purchase? Would you buy the car now or hold off, given looming

tariffs? What about electronics? Initially caught up in the tariff wars, a call from one of the president’s tech bros has suspended, for now, tariffs on electronics. What will happen three months from now? Co-President Elon Musk, who was allowed to purchase a major role in government, is moving unchecked through the federal organization, clowning with a buzz saw, while workers are apprehensive about their futures. The federal government is experiencing

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Marian Wright Edelman

- Title I funds for schools serving children experiencing poverty by supporting 180,300 teaching positions for more than 2.8 million students would be threatened. - Historically marginalized students, including those who are Black and brown, living with disabilities, transgender, nonbinary, and immigrant students will lack necessary civil rights protections. Now more than ever is a time to thank the teachers who are supporting children and young people every day despite all headwinds, and who are

making a difference. Being the kind of educator who consistently nurtures, respects, and inspires the students in their care remains a special calling, and we all owe an immense debt of gratitude to every professional who answers this call. We know teachers are not sufficiently valued in our society if we measure their worth by money — yet, after parents, teachers are probably the greatest influencers and molders of children’s and young people’s futures. I have written before about my own teachers who joined parents and other community

members in weaving a seamless safety net of caring for children, and provided buffers of love and encouragement that helped combat the negative influences of segregated small-town southern life. They were role models who didn’t equate book smarts with common sense or goodness, but always stressed the importance of education as a means to help improve the lives of others and leave your community and world better than you found it. They were also dedicated to working with children and

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David W. Marshall

If There is a Movement, the Black Church Will Be Needed

As we see it unfold before our eyes, it is unlikely future history books will ever tell the true story of how the civil rights protection we fought hard to obtain is now being surgically removed. In his second term, President Donald Trump has successfully placed key people in positions throughout the Justice Department. As a result, hundreds of devoted and passionate civil

28 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

servants who believe in the true mission of justice for all have been removed. Appointees in President Trump’s administration have ordered the dismissal of all voting rights cases and removed managers of the division responsible for overseeing them. Sources told The Guardian that all active cases in the voting rights section were expected to be dropped. The move comes less than a month after Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump ally, was appointed to lead the Civil Rights Division. “In an unusual move, Dhillon sent out new mission statements to

the department’s sections that made it clear the civil rights division was shifting its focus from protecting the civil rights of marginalized people to supporting Trump’s priorities,” the paper said. This one move means we will no longer have the enforcement of laws against voter discrimination by the federal government. As states continue to pass restrictive voting measures, Trump’s Department of Injustice is giving them the green light. As the assault by the Trump administration continues, the world is watching. The United States has been

added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, which identifies countries that the global civil rights watchdog believes are currently experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms. Civicus, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil societies around the world, announced the addition of the United States on the nonprofit’s first watchlist of 2025 as it sees a “significant deterioration” in civic freedoms occurring. The group cited several of the administration’s actions: the mass termination of federal employees, the appointment

of Trump loyalists in key government positions, the withdrawal from international efforts such as the World Health Organization and the U.N. Human Rights Council, the freezing of federal and foreign aid, the administration’s unprecedented decision to control media access to presidential briefings, and the attempted dismantling of USAID. These are just a handful of examples of how the leader of the free world has fallen to a new low. While the authoritarian threat is

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Marc H. Morial

The Freedom to Learn is the Freedom to Live

“The freedom to learn is the freedom to live. We cannot survive our current political moment or unlock the promise of our future without the tools to understand and make sense of our past. And that’s precisely why those opposing democracy and equality are trying to take away our books, our concepts, and our knowledge. Ignorance about our

past is the Achilles heel of democracy. And we can’t save this democracy without confronting its weakest link. That’s why we have to fight for the freedom to learn.” — Kimberlé Crenshaw When the deadly COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping across the United States in 2020, President Donald Trump infamously made the mind-boggling assertion, “If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any.”

Guest Columnist

As the legacy of racism, segregation, and discrimination continues to drive gaps in opportunity, achievement, and justice under the law, the Trump administration remains committed to solving problems it doesn’t want to confront by pretending they don’t exist. The administration’s frenzied assault on American history, outlined in the Orwellian executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” is a key tactic in its broad agenda to erode democracy, entrench inequities, and rein-

force injustice. As part of the Freedom to Learn coalition, the National Urban League is sounding the alarm that the attempted mass erasure of Black history and culture is a key precondition for our ongoing anti-democratic slide. April 27 marked the beginning of the #HandsOffOurHistory / Freedom To Learn National Week of Action, a mass mobilization in opposition to the extremist campaign to suppress history and wipe out decades of anti-racist, pro-equality

progress. On April 30, which marked the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, I took part in a virtual event, “Beyond The First 100 Days: Centering Racial Justice and Black History in Our Fight for Democracy.” In partnership with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the conversation provided an assessment of what the first 100 days has meant for the fight for racial justice, the

that he could end the war of Russia against Ukraine immediately once he was back in office. He’s back, and he began praising his good friend Putin to give him some help. When he decided to run over to the Vatican to attend the pope’s funeral, where he was surrounded by a lot of other powerful world leaders, he changed his tune! While there, he actually said he didn’t think his friend Putin was serious about ending the war! You think some of that religious stuff got through to him?

Let’s move to another area. I pray that our white sisters are listening to what they voted for in 2024. Lately, the MAGA group’s leader has been urging women to have more babies — even talking about putting that in the budget! Even though we know the orange man didn’t mean that women with melanin should have more babies, it was a tragedy no matter who the woman was who suffered a miscarriage recently. And in the midst of

MORIAL Page 50

E. Faye Williams

What Else Could Possibly Go Wrong for Women?

For years, I have been saying, “It is through our struggles that we gain our victories,” but I am beginning to wonder where the struggles end for women. The same is true for Black women, but I am on women in general today! A short time back, people pretended to excuse everything the orange man said. Sen. John Thune

said when he was saying crazy things, “He’s having some fun with it. He was just joking.” His tongue must be tied lately — especially when he talked about being a dictator only on Day One. We are now in the second 100 days — long past day one, and he hasn’t stopped being a dictator. He’s not stopped praising the communist dictator of Russia. Well, he gets credit for pausing while at the pope’s funeral — but not for long! I think he was greatly outnumbered there. And at least

Guest Columnist

one person, jokingly or not, said, “The pope had survived a lot — 35 days in the hospital with pneumonia, to be exact — until the vice president went near him and shook his hand while leaning over to him. The pope died just hours thereafter! Don’t you have to just wonder what happened during that encounter? I am told it wasn’t positive!” Well, let’s get caught up with the orange man’s recent activities. You’ll remember how he told his friends during the 2024 campaign

WILLIAMS Page 50

Ben Jealous

When the Heat and Storms Come, Lies Will Not Save Us

When the storms come harder and the heat comes earlier, it does not matter who you voted for. You still have to rebuild your home. You still have to find a way to breathe clean air. You still have to keep your family safe. That is why what the Trump administration is doing right now to the National Climate Assessment

should make every American furious. This week, Trump dismissed the scientists writing the next National Climate Assessment and announced they will be “reevaluating” its scope. That is political talk for rewriting the truth. The National Climate Assessment is supposed to be our country’s report card, providing an “up-to-date and comprehensive assessment of climate change in the United States.” It is supposed to detail how Americans, in every

part of the country, are being impacted by climate change in their communities and everyday lives, and how we can prepare and be ready for what’s to come — for our health, for our financial well-being, and more. But the Trump administration wants to twist it. It was reported last month the administration might try to turn everything we know about climate science on its head and falsely spin the climate crisis into a good thing for humanity. That would be propaganda —

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not science. As deadly heat, floods, fires, and storms come faster and harder every year, this could not be happening at a worse time. Last year was the hottest year ever recorded. Not just here, but across the globe. And this year, western American cities like Phoenix and Palm Springs shattered their early spring heat records. The oceans are warming at an unprecedented and alarming rate; the Great Lakes are warming even faster. And from California to New

Jersey, wildfires rage. When it gets hotter, the air gets dirtier. Hospitals see more cases of asthma, heart problems, and heat stroke. Families see higher health care bills. Workers — especially those in construction, farming and delivery jobs — face real danger just doing their jobs. Meanwhile, the cost of living keeps rising. By pushing dirty fuels and trying to stop the shift to clean energy, the Trump admin-

JEALOUS Page 50 MAY 8 - 14, 2025 29

LIFESTYLE

3The Minty Fresh Circus performing at the University of Pennsylvania in February. Catch this all-Black circus show at the Kennedy Center on Thursday, May 8 in a performance featuring music, dance and circus arts.

spirit that strengthens and uplifts us all. In addition to entertainment, the event features a community toast, sand blending ceremony and a sound bath session.

WASHINGTON INFORMER WEEKEND CHECKLIST WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV! By Tait Manning WI Intern This weekend is Mother’s Day and there’s plenty of opportunities to celebrate with your loved ones. From a Mother’s Day marketplace and brunch, to pilates in the park, check out a handful of the many local events happening this weekend. Plus, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar to stay up-to-date and keep your spirit – and social life – lit.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Minty Fresh Circus 7 p.m. | $25.00+ Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20566 Conceived by Monique Martin, “Minty Fresh Circus” is performed by an all-Black cast, with a majority-Black creative team. This U.S.based circus show celebrates the

healing power of Black music and movement, infused with the joy and resilience of those who traversed the transatlantic slave trade. Grounded in the Ghanaian concept of Sankofa with an Afro-futuristic vibe, “Minty Fresh Circus” features movement, music and circus arts in a time-bending journey of redemption Pilates in the Park 5:30 p.m. | Free The Yards Park, 355 Water Street SE, Washington, D.C., 20003 Join The Washington Ballet and the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District for a relaxing and energizing outdoor pilates workout session at The Yards Park led by company dancer, Samara Rittinger. Get ready to stretch, strengthen and unwind in the fresh air surrounded by nature. Whether participants are seasoned

pilates pro, or trying it out for the first time, the experienced instructor will guide attendees through a fun and effective workout.

FRIDAY, MAY 9

Set In DC Film Festival 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Free Sitar Arts Center, 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Suite 101, Washington, D.C., 20009 Sitar Arts Center is excited to present its 2025 Set in D.C. Film Festival, themed “Love in All Its Forms.” Now in its second year, this event is planned and produced by high school students in Sitar’s Emerging Arts Leaders (S.E.A.L.) program—a creative leadership initiative for teens passionate about the arts and their community. The festival offers a

SATURDAY, MAY 17TH 2025 1:00 - 5:00 pm

FREE & FAMILY FRIENDLY! AT ANACOSTIA PARK BRIDGEPARK.ORG/ARF

platform for young storytellers from across the DMV, ages 10–24, to explore the many dimensions of love through film. Each piece reflects a unique perspective on what love means— whether it’s the bond between friends or family, a deep connection to community or nature or love as a form of self-discovery. Zawadi Elaine Carroll 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. | $20.00 Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD, 20722 Join Brentwood Arts Exchange in a performance by Zawadi Elaine Carroll, a singer, songwriter, and creative director from Washington, D.C. Carroll’s music is a reflection of her life’s vast experiences and her lyrics embrace the power of feminine energy, and her music possesses a calm and glamorous aura. Check out the multi-hyphenate artist, who built the House of Ethereal Realness, a femme-based arts collective committed to providing intentional and safe spaces that foster radical joy and love.

SATURDAY, MAY 10

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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Mother’s Day Celebration: A Tribute to Love and Nurture Noon - 4 p.m. | Free Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, D.C., 20020 Join Anacostia Community Museum for a celebration honoring the essence of motherly love in all its beautiful forms. This inclusive event welcomes community leaders, teachers, multi-generational families and anyone who embodies the nurturing

Healthy Homes Fair 2025 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Free Catholic University of America-Edward J. Pryzbyla Center, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, D.C., 20017 Join Electrify DC for the second edition of the The Healthy Homes Fair — a free expo and learning experience that is climate and financially conscious. The event targets people seeking to learn about products, services, technologies and incentives available to improve health, increase comfort, and reduce emissions from the homes of the D.C. region.

SUNDAY, MAY 11

BZB’s Mother’s Day Weekend Marketplace + Brunch en Blanc & Concert 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. | $40.00+ Anacostia Art Gallery, 119 Raleigh Street SE, Washington, D.C., 20032 Join BZB International for a Mother’s Day marketplace, brunch and concert. Attendees can celebrate the women who raised them, shaped them and walked beside them. Whether participants are showing love to their mom or celebrating their own journey, join for an exquisite space for joy, connection and community. From art and music to food, fashion, and family — it’s a weekend rooted in Black culture and creativity. Mother’s Day Card Making 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Free Planet Word, 925 13th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20005 This Mother’s Day, show love with a handmade card. Attendees can drop by Planet Word to craft a one-of-a-kind card for the mom or mother figure in their life. The museum will have supplies, inspiration and a Word Associate on hand to help find the right words to make her smile. WI

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Inaugural Preakness Festival Extends Beyond Horse-Racing, Promotes Economic Opportunity, Unity By Micha Green WI Managing Editor As Preakness 150 (May 17) marks a long legacy of celebrating equestrian culture and showcasing some of the state’s gems through traditions like the Black Eyed Susan (May 16), this year’s inaugural Preakness Festival May 10-17 bridges custom with innovation, showcasing the beauty, breadth, diversity and magic of Maryland. From the Fourth Annual George “Spider” Anderson Music and Arts Festival on May 10, to the Governor’s Golf Tournament on May 12, Club Quarantine 5 Live with DJ D-Nice on May 14, and the Baltimore Region Investment Summit on May 15, the Preakness Festival is a cultural extravaganza with both free and ticketed events for the whole family to explore and enjoy. This year’s festival intentionally reaches beyond equestrianism— often perceived as an elitist sport due to costs and access— and welcomes all people to participate in culturally enriching activities. “The Preakness Festival is not just about honoring a storied tradition, it’s about building an inclusive future,” said Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore. “Featuring a series of events taking place across our great state, this festival is an invitation for all Marylanders to take part in something truly special. Together, we will create a legacy of celebration, opportunity, and economic impact that extends far beyond race day.” For Moore, the festival was a passion project inspired by another gem in the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, which she had attended along with her husband, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. “The Derby, which is the first leg of the Triple Crown, is several days of events, and we’ve learned that there was a $400 million economic impact as a result,” she told The Informer on WIN-TV. “And so I said to Wes, ‘We can do this, and we can do it better in Maryland.’” Since then, Maryland’s first lady has been determined to bring her vision to life. She and the governor solicited

other Maryland leaders—including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; his wife Hana Pugh Scott, who also serves as co-chair with Maryland’s first lady; David Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles; and Terry Hassetline, president of Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland— to help in turning her idea into a reality. “For this to be Maryland’s decade, it must be Baltimore’s time – and the inaugural Preakness Festival is one of the ways we make it happen,” said Gov. Moore in a statement. “I want to thank the incredible partners who have come together across sectors, ideologies, and industries to create our biggest celebration yet.” There was one partner, in particular, whose work with the Preakness Festival this year was especially significant. A son of the Northwest Baltimore area, Rubenstein, according to the first lady, had never been to Preakness. “This is the story of many Marylanders; they haven’t necessarily been a part of this,” she explained. “And when [Rubenstein] heard our vision, he was like, ‘I’m in.’” That’s not the only person that was immediately moved by the first lady’s festival hopes. She said when she reached out to D-Nice– the celebrated DJ whose pandemic-days Club Quarantine kept people entertained and sane— he didn’t hesitate to join the week-long festival lineup. “He’s bringing his friends with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to Pier 6 on Wednesday, May 14 in the Inner Harbor—Jadakiss, Too Short, Deborah Cox, Chante Moore [and more]. I mean, this is going to be the most amazing concert that Baltimore has seen yet,” she said.

BOOSTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

For festival leaders the goal became about more than just expanding beyond two-day horse races, but finding ways to boost economic opportunities in Maryland, and showcase what the state has to offer.

“For generations, the Preakness has been a defining part of Baltimore’s identity, shining a spotlight on our city’s culture and resilience,” said Mayor Scott. “The Preakness Festival takes that legacy to the next level by focusing on equitable development, job creation, and longterm revitalization. This festival will uplift communities, especially in Northwest Baltimore, while embracing the spirit that makes our city truly special.” Hasseltine also celebrated the inaugural event as a way of bringing a new fervor to the 150-year equestrian tradition while promoting economic progress. “The Preakness Festival represents an exciting new chapter for Maryland,” said Hasseltine. “By blending tradition with innovation, we are creating an event that not only honors the legacy of the Preakness but also fuels long-term economic and cultural growth throughout the state.” Considering what she witnessed at the Derby, the first lady shared her goals for local business owners. “I hope that the entrepreneurs get an opportunity to partake in this $400 million potential that we have. I think we’re going to be able to get to that point. On WIN-TV, Moore noted it’s not too late for folks to get involved in all aspects of the festival, whether from sponsoring a co-branded event, to participating in one of the tents. “This is all the excitement that is leading up to the Preakness Stakes starting on Friday and Saturday (May 16-17),” she said. “But our events start on May 10 in the Park Heights community.” After a tough year for Baltimore, particularly post the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse in March 2024, promoting economic opportunity and equity is a key priority for Maryland. “Preakness is not just about a race – it’s about believing in Baltimore again,” Gov. Moore said. “And this year, we’re investing in winners on and off the racetrack.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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LIFESTYLE

4 The inaugural Preakness Festival (May 10-17), featuring DJ D-Nice on May 14, bridges custom with innovation, showcasing the beauty, breadth, diversity and magic of Maryland. (Courtesy Photo)

DIRECTED BY KENT GASH

STARTS MAY 16

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Nicholas L. Ashe and Kyle Beltran in We Are Gathered. Photo by Tony Powell.

MAY 8 - 14, 2025 31

LIFESTYLE

Fred Irby Retires from Howard University: 51 Years of Taking Jazz to New Heights

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

With April as Jazz Appreciation Month in the backdrop of the celebration, music professor Fred Irby, III, was celebrated for 51 years as the driving force behind the Howard University Jazz Ensemble (HUJE) Former students, colleagues, and jazz lovers gathered at the Howard Univer-

sity Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts on April 17 to wish Irby a happy retirement. Under Irby’s leadership, HUJE is one of the most successful and admired college jazz bands. In his role as professor of music at Howard University, Irby is the founder and director of HUJE, the coordinator of instrumental music, and trumpet instructor. He has also been Principal Trumpet since 1975 for the

OVER MY HEAD, I HEAR MUSIC IN THE AIR

A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Bernice Johnson Reagon

Kennedy Center Musical Theater Orchestra. When Irby arrived at the university in 1974, the Howard music program did not have a concert or jazz band. The first step he needed to tackle was obtaining accreditation for Howard University’s music program from the National Association of Schools of Music. “The kids have to play in a band. If you play, it’ll be the greatest thing,” said Irby from his memorabilia-filled office on the lower level of the Boseman building. Students taught by Irby are exposed to all aspects of being a musician. He brought in guest musicians to play with the HUJE, which helped build confidence as students worked toward the next level in their performance skills. Musicians who have performed with the students include trumpeters Derek Gardner and Sean Jones, saxophonists Paul Carr, Tia Fuller, and Jimmy Green, and pianists Allyn Johnson, Orrin Evans, Marc Cary, and Charles Covington. There have been nearly 50 HUJE albums and CDs produced with Irby during his tenure. He has exposed his jazz ensemble students to the rigors of touring concerts in China, Japan, Romania, Colombia, Senegal, Venezuela, Haiti, Trinidad, Jamaica, Martinique, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and numerous U.S. cities. Ensuring that jazz musicians and supporters are recognized for their work, Irby created the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award. Golson, a saxophonist and Howard University alumnus, was also a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. More than 90 individuals and organizations have received the Golson honor since its inception in 1996 and have relished in getting the award and engaging with Irby

5Taking inventory of music instruments in the band room is Fred Irby, III, a retiring professor of music at Howard University and founder and director of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Irby, who also served as coordinator of instrumental music and trumpet instructor, taught at the historically Black institution for 51 years. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

and his students all at once. “Benny Golson was a special person in our lives,” said Louis Hayes, after receiving the 2024 Golson Award. “For me, the whole thing was to be here in this environment to receive this award. To have this opportunity at Howard University to meet all of these young people on this level, is something I will never forget.”

MORE THAN FIVE DECADES OF TEACHING: FORMER STUDENT REFLECTS ON IRBY’S INFLUENCE

Paul Bailey, a Howard University master’s degree graduate and former member of HUJE, says he remembers the first time he met Irby. “I was in the 11th grade trying to figure out where I would go to for my undergraduate degree,” said Bailey, a sax player and announcer on WPFW-FM in D.C. “On the wall were pictures of Professor Irby with Cuban trumpeter

Arturo Sandoval and Quincy Jones. Then I saw a picture with drummer Art Blakey and another picture with Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison.” To say Bailey was impressed would be an understatement. He returned to Howard to pursue his master’s degree in music and learned that the legendary professor is clear on what he expects from his students. One crucial skill the students learn is sight-reading music, which is reading music without prior rehearsal. After 51 years of teaching, Bailey said Irby leaves a major legacy. “His students tell the story about Professor Fred Irby,” Bailey told The Informer. In a special edition of “Jazz Times” magazine honoring Irby, the professor emphasized the most significant part of his more than five decades in education. “It’s been a privilege to collaborate with so many talented young musicians, composers, arrangers, and scholars who were just as dedicated to the preservation of this art form, jazz.” WI @bcscomm

Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Records Design by Justine Swindell

Fri, May 16

STRATHMORE.ORG | 301.581.5100 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852

32 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

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Columbia Air Center, the Nation’s First Black-Owned Airport, Soon to Open Exhibit By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Prince Georgians and aviation aficionados alike will soon be able to experience a little known part of Black history, with an exhibit scheduled to open this fall at College Park Aviation Museum. Operating in various capacities from 1940 to 1962 in Croom, Maryland, Columbia Air Center, also known as Riverside Airfield, was the first licensed Black-owned and operated airport in the United States. John W. Greene Jr., also known for his work in District of Columbia Public Schools, co-owned and managed the Columbia Air Center. “Its history is little known, and we are set on changing that,” said John

McCaskill, who served as host of a May 3 fundraiser for the exhibit, hosted at the College Park Aviation Museum. While the airfield’s history is largely unsung, the Maryland National Capital Park Planning Commission (MNCPPC) began preserving this history in the 1980s, and soon, the College Park Aviation Museum will open an exhibition, celebrating the barrier-breaking founding and work at Columbia Air Center. Grassroots historian Dr. Patricia Sluby and the sons of Tuskegee Airman Herbert Jones Jr. donated much of the items for the upcoming exhibition, which is expected to open this fall amid national efforts by conservatives to obscure Black history and devalue diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

LIFESTYLE

“Thank you,” McCaskill said, “for refusing to allow this history to be forgotten.”

‘THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL’

Dozens of attendees, including several Tuskegee Airmen, sat at tables just below several historic aircraft. Kevin Cabrera, who works for MNCPPC’s Historic Resources Division, emphasized the significance of the moment. “This exhibit will be very special, not just for College Park, for Prince George’s, for our Black community, and our pilot community,” said Cabrera. “This exhibit will be transformational to understanding the de-

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5Maryland Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey, Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes and Prince George’s County Councilmember Jolene Ivey pose with a proud veteran during a fundraiser at College Park Aviation Museum, highlighting Columbia Air Center, America’s first Black-owned airfield, on May 5. Congressman Ivey and Rolark Barnes were the event’s honorary co-chairs. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

sire and curiosity of learning how to fly nationwide and worldwide. It will tell a story of people who just wanted to have fun, to teach, and to feel freedom— who saw themselves in the sky like the birds. To see that story play out

in Prince George’s County is very special for us.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

MAY 8 - 14, 2025 33

OUR HISTORY from Page 23 sylvania Avenue on Saturday, stood the united leaders and presidents of the NCNW (the Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley), the National Urban League (Marc Morial), ASALH (Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead), as well as Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of The Transformative Justice Coalition, AAPF co-founder and executive director Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Campbell, convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable – among others. During the march, the zest of African music led the coalition to the streets of the National Mall on Connective Avenue, where the NMAAHC sits, as attendees fueled demands and donned paraphernalia that read: “Take Black our History!” and “Hands Off Our Civil Rights!” Meanwhile, additional voices like D.C.’s former First Lady Cora Masters Barry, Youth Mayor Tatum Primus, and representatives of multiple Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) joined the fight to underscore a commitment to the legacies that built this country as it stands today. “Trump’s agenda may try to rewrite our truth, but we are the authors now,” Primus said. “We are the historians, the educators, the greeds of this generation. We will speak the names, we will tell the stories, and we will protect this history like our lives depend on it—because they do.”

SIGNIFICANCE OF NMAAHC, PRESERVING BLACK LEGACIES

Arnwine, who also serves as president emeritus for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law noted that without public museums, the truths of American history – and those that helped shape it – are susceptible to false narratives that minimize the role of Black ancestry. After reminding the crowd that Black people built the U.S. Capitol Building “and the White House, twice,” Arnwine told The Informer that these cultural institutions stand to represent the connective stories of African Americans. She notably highlighted Black economic wealth accumulation, captured through the evolution of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and how the histories of sundown towns – which once made up more than 2,5000 cities in the U.S. – explains “why Blacks don’t live in certain places right now.” “Today is a reflection of what was created and built,” Arnwine told The

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Informer, “but if we want to understand how we get beyond today, how we get to a better America, then you only get there by understanding your history, embracing it and moving forward.” Since its fruition in 2016, NMAAHC has blossomed as a staple of African American culture in D.C. and across the nation. Colloquially nicknamed the “Blacksonian,” the revered institution similarly embodies the resilient subjects inside it, as the landmark building overcame years of pushback before officially being built. Sylvia Cyrus, executive director of ASALH, emphasized that preserving cultural institutions means upholding legacies often overlooked. During Saturday’s rally, she gave a nod to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only Black, all-female WWII unit, who recently received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor for an extraordinary feat tackling a massive backlog of undelivered mail that helped boost morale for the war. “Just 10 short years ago, people didn’t even know that these Black women were responsible for us winning World War II,” Cyrus said. “There’s so much history that we have to know–it’s out there, we gotta share it, but we’ve got to teach our own.” Georgetown University junior Matthew Jones, 21, recognizes how learning the stories of ancestral giants can invoke a similar spirit of justice and activism in later generations. As the Beta Chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Jones took a personal responsibility to be present at the demonstration, noting the influence of former freedom fighters who were also part of the historically Black fraternity. “Part of our history having Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cornel West, Andrew Young, so many great leaders,” Jones said, “we just want to be a part of that as well.” By learning where the past meets the present, he added, Black youth can gauge a deeper understanding of Black history and create longevity in the fight. “I think the most important thing is just Black youth understanding how issues affect them. There’s only so much that our generation and the generation before us can do to solve these issues,” Jones told The Informer. “And when that history gets erased,” he continued, “you can’t recover from that.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

BARD HS from Page 1 he ran back [to the school].” In 2019, shortly before the pandemic relegated students and teachers to the virtual realm, Bard High School Early College DC opened as part of a collaboration between D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and Bard College in Annandale, New York, through which high school students would graduate with a high school diploma and associate’s degree, or college credits at the least. Two years later, Sutton started attending the high school, then located on the grounds of what was known as Davis Elementary School in Northeast. She said that he counted among students who commuted between home and school and completed hours of classwork while trying to those who preyed upon community members. During the earlier part of 2023, just months after Sutton’s son became the victim of a robbery near the former Bard High School Early College DC and a District youth was killed at Congress Heights Metro Station, District Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), DCPS, Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee and a bevy of education officials celebrated the high school’s move to Alabama Avenue with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Students, teachers, and staff, back from winter break, moved into a newly revitalized state-of-the-art school building with three dozen classrooms, rooftop solar panels, a theater and gymnasium, a soccer field, track field and basketball court, and several energy-saving amenities. By that time, school officials, as Sutton recounted, denied her request that her son receive virtual instruction. Years after the ribbon cutting, Sutton says that Bard High School Early College DC has yet to live up to her expectations as a parent seeking accountability, transparency, and organization. “Whenever there’s a situation at the school, no one ever calls you,” Sutton said. “You find out through the kids. There’s no one ever in class the times I go there. They got children entering and exiting the school at all times of the day.”

PARENTS PROTEST TO SAVE THE SCHOOL THEY WERE PROMISED

On Monday morning, Sutton counted among nearly a dozen parents, former staff members and community members who stood in front of Bard High School Early College

5 Worried parents organized an urgent press conference to urge school and city officials to address their safety concerns at Bard High School Early College DC in Southeast on May 5. (Courtesy Photo) DC out of frustration with the violence they said students have experienced on and near school grounds. The press conference that the group known as Concerned Parents of Bard High School Early College DC conducted took place days after footage of an on-campus melee made the rounds on social media. For the better part of an hour, parents told their stories, all as part of their demand that Bowser, Ferebee and other education officials attend a parent-led town hall about campus safety. Other demands on the morning of May 5 centered on the creation of policies that: protect students involved in violent incidents; restrict students’ cell phone use; ensure accountability for harmful social media activity; remove violent students; and pave the way for proactive and ongoing conflict mediation training for all students. The press conference attracted a group of community, including former D.C. Councilmember Trayon White, who expressed solidarity with parents in an Instagram post. With her son’s career at Bard High School Early College DC soon coming to an end, Sutton said that she wants to see the school environment improve for parents east of the Anacostia River seeking unique, quality high school options for their children. “I don’t want people having the wrong idea, thinking Bard is better than it is,” Sutton said. “Because it’s like every other school. I wanted to take him out plenty of times [but] the only thing that kept him at the school was his associate’s degree.”

DCPS OFFICIALS RESPOND

In a May 6 letter to Bard High School Early College DC students,

parents, and community members, Kim Jackson, D.C. Public Schools’ (DCPS) chief of schools, outlined security measures that the public school education agency is taking in the press conference’s aftermath. Some of the measures include: additional school resource officer partners during mealtimes, transition periods and events; moving contracted security officers to areas of high visibility; and increasing the number of non-instructional staff during meal times. In regards to behavioral and mental health services, Jackson touted Better Morning, Inc., Bard High School Early College DC’s community-based partner and acknowledged guidance officers who are trained in restorative practices. These resources, according to Jackson, will be implemented in response to an on-campus incident that Bard High School Early College DC principal Dr. Kym Sturdivant described in a May 2 letter as a “multiple physical altercations between students,” that triggered a lockdown, the dispatch of Metropolitan Police Department officers, cancellation of after-school activities, and the staggered dismissal of students. Jamice Butler, the parent of a 10th grader at Bard High School Early College DC, told The Informer that, long before she received the school’s communique about the May 2 fight, she learned about the melee from her daughter and her mentor. “The young man who initiated the fight is from Congress Park,” said Butler, a Ward 8 resident. “There were kids who jumped the school fence and started the fight in the schoolyard and it spilled into the school.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 35

Flytrap is a compound word, made by combining two smaller words: fly and trap. Look at the pictures below. Draw a line between two pictures to make a compound word. Then write the word.

Quick! Help this fly escape the Venus flytrap’s grip!

Cau E

When so there is u that caus The caus effect se some exa

When th of a Venu touched,

Standards Link: Follow simple written directions.

Beautiful but Hungry The Venus flytrap is a meat-eating, or carnivorous, plant. It is also quite lovely. That is why its name includes Venus. That is the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty. But don’t worry – a Venus flytrap won’t eat you. Mostly they eat bugs. They especially love mosquitoes and flies.

Jaws of Doom True or False Quiz

Make a guess about which of these statements are true and which are false. Then read the scientist’s notes about the Venus flytrap to check your answers.

1. Venus flytraps have teeth.

3. Venus flytraps eat anything that falls into their mouth-like leaves.

2. Venus flytraps only need bugs to survive.

4. Venus flytraps help keep bugs out of your house.

Venus flytraps have little spikes around the leaves. But they are not teeth. They don’t chew. The plant uses digestive juices, much like those in your stomach, to eat insects.

Venus flytraps get much of their nutrition fro m the bugs they eat, bu t they also need water sun and soil to surv , ive. How many flies can you find on this page?

Dangers?

5. Its “mouth” shuts in under one second.

Venus flytraps aren’t dangerous to people, but people are endangering them. Venus flytraps are only found growing wild in one small area of the planet – in the grassy wetlands, or bogs, around Cape Fear, North Carolina. This area has just the right climate, amount of water and soil conditions.

If something not d o edible falls into a fo l a re of Digestion days, after Venus flytrap, it will 2 1 to e takes fiv trap reopens. close up and try to which the exoskeleton digest it. But after 's The insect the wind or about 12 hours, it in y a blows aw away by rain. will open its leaves is washed and let the fake food fall out.

Today the plant is threatened in the wild. The draining of bogs for farming and the building of shopping centers and houses has reduced the plant’s habitat and numbers. Less than 5% of the plants are left.

Snapping Up a Meal Number the pictures in order.

Sweet nectar around the edges of the Venus flytrap’s open leaves attract insects. As a bug moves across the surface drinking up this treat, it touches small, sensitive bristles on the Venus flytrap. These trigger hairs tell the plant when a possible meal has arrived. Then the plant’s “jaws” close very quickly, trapping the insect inside. The long cilia, hairs along the leaf edges, act like prison bars, preventing the insect from escaping. Several days later, after the insect has been digested, the leaves open and what’s left of the insect body blows away. cilia

trigger hairs

nectar

FLYTRAP CLIMATE STOMACH SURVIVE BEAUTY SPIKES EDIBLE DIGEST JUICES VENUS LOVE BOGS FEAR WILD

A K A B D L I W T H

If a little r mouth-li flytrap, th shut. Afte the leave rock can somethin

U D F V R G J A Y S

Which pa “cause?”

Find the words by looking up, down, backwards, forwards, sideways and diagonally.

J E S T O M A C H E

I I E L E U S W T U

C B A S Y N H O U R

E L R F O T U O A V S E K I P S R S E I

C L I M A T E A B V

O T S E G I D M P E

Which pa

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Newsy Timeline

Select an article that interests you in the newspaper. Read the article and then make a timeline to show the events in the order they happened. Share your timeline with a parent or other family member.

Look thro for an art Can you what cau Cause:

Standards Link: Reading: Extract information from text.

Before & After

Look at a photograph in the newspaper. What do you think happened before the photo was taken? What do you think happened afterwards? Standards Link: Research: Students predict likely outcomes.

Effect:

One day I planted a magic seed… Finish this story.

KID SCOOP IS SPONSORED BY

36 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

Cause: to Effect: p closed

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wi book review Books for Adults for Mother’s Day by Various Authors c.2025, various publishers $26.99 Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Breakfast in bed, or a nicely-colored picture? If you’re a mother, you’d probably gladly take both. Or flowers, maybe? Or how about settling for two hours of uninterrupted peace and quiet and one of these great books about motherhood and being someone’s mom … Without a doubt, if you’re somebody’s mother, your experiences are not the same as any other Mom’s in the world – but did you ever wonder how other mothers do it? In “Four Mothers” by Abigail Leonard (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, $30), you’ll read about how mothers in Japan, Kenya, Finland and here in the U.S. care for their babies, survive and thrive. This is a fascinating first-year account of others’ support systems, parental leave, social issues, personal thoughts, and uplifting stories. Speaking of challenges, here’s a tale of motherhood you don’t often see: “Mainline Mama: A Memoir” by Keeonna Harris (Amistad, $26.99) is the story of motherhood and prison walls. It’s Harris’ own story, of teen pregnancy, an incarcerated partner, and raising a child with input that comes with a physical wall between parents. In here, Harris also advocates strongly for help and compassion for mothers who are in her shoes, which is a must-read, if you know how essential community support is to being a mom. For the mother who’s struggled to have a baby, “Held Together” by Rebecca N. Thompson, MD (HarperOne, $29.99) will be golden. After a series of medical issues caused the loss of her pregnancies, Thompson came to understand that being a doctor didn’t insulate her from feeling lost and alone in her grief. This book is a result of those emotions; here, more than a dozen of her patients, friends, and colleagues weigh in on their pregnancies, their troubles, hope, loss, happiness, wishes fulfilled, life with toddlers, and their feelings about the first years of parenthood. The result is a book that seems like a long series of comfort and camaraderie from friends who’ve been there, which may be a much-needed balm to a new mom. And finally, ask any mother about her kids and be prepared for a long conversation. Or a book like “Through Mom’s Eyes: Simple Wisdom from Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans” from “Today” host Sheinelle Jones (Putnam, $29). Here, Jones asked the mothers of more than a dozen celebrities how they reared their famous kids, but this isn’t just random, wide advice: she interviewed the mother of the Jonas Brothers on self-compassion. She talked to Padma Lakshmi’s mother on paying attention to your child. She talked to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mother about nurturing a child’s talents, and Tyra Banks’ mom discusses setting your child up for the future. This is a fun book to read, great for star-watchers, and informative, too. If these books aren’t quite what you want to read, if you need more instruction, or more topic-focused books, be sure to ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for help. They’ll have all kinds of suggestions that are perfect for now, for Mother’s Day, for table, sofa, or bedside. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE MAY 8 - 14, 2025

ARIES Intellectual partnerships flourish as Jupiter expands your collaboration sector, bringing innovative solutions through dialogue with those holding opposing viewpoints. Financial planning benefits from long-term perspective when emotional reactions to market fluctuations are replaced with strategic patience. Creative projects gain unexpected momentum midweek when technical constraints inspire elegant simplifications rather than limitations. Lucky Numbers: 4, 19, 25 TAURUS Professional recognition arrives through consistent quality as Saturn rewards your career sector, bringing opportunities that acknowledge depth of experience rather than flashy self-promotion. Digital decluttering creates mental clarity when virtual spaces receive the same organizational attention as physical environments. Lucky Numbers: 6, 18, 32 GEMINI Educational pursuits open unexpected doors as Mercury activates your learning sector, bringing connections between seemingly unrelated subjects that create unique intellectual advantages. Relationship communications benefit from playful framing when serious concerns are addressed through lighthearted but honest exchanges. Lucky Numbers: 8, 21, 30 CANCER Home transformations reflect internal evolution as the Moon illuminates your domestic sector, bringing physical changes that support emotional growth through intentional design. Financial documentation creates unexpected peace when complex systems are simplified through digital integration. Family traditions gain renewed meaning midweek when contemporary interpretations honor essential values while releasing outdated expressions. Lucky Numbers: 2, 17, 29 LEO Communication breakthroughs resolve lingering tensions as Venus graces your expression sector, bringing harmonious resolution through words that balance honesty with compassion. Investment strategies benefit from historical pattern recognition rather than reactive responses to current fluctuations. Lucky Numbers: 1, 15, 33 VIRGO Resource management creates unexpected abundance as Mars energizes your financial sector, bringing prosperity through elimination of unnecessary expenditures rather than income increases. Writing projects progress rapidly when analytical perfectionism yields to exploratory first drafts. Lucky Numbers: 5, 16, 27 LIBRA Personal reinvention accelerates as the Sun crosses your identity sector, bringing confidence to express aspects of yourself previously kept private. Collaborative projects thrive when appreciation for diverse approaches replaces preference for methodological uniformity. Lucky Numbers: 9, 22, 36 SCORPIO Intuitive insights solve practical problems as Neptune harmonizes your subconscious sector, bringing solutions through dreams and meditative states when analytical approaches have reached their limits. Professional presentations gain influential advocates when statistical evidence supports intuitive conclusions. Lucky Numbers: 7, 20, 38 SAGITTARIUS Social connections create professional opportunities as the waxing Moon illuminates your network sector, bringing career advancement through community engagement rather than competitive positioning. Language studies progress rapidly when immersive experiences immediately follow theoretical understanding. Lucky Numbers: 11, 24, 31 CAPRICORN Career evolutions align with authentic values as Pluto transforms your professional sector, bringing opportunities that honor your need for both structural integrity and meaningful impact. Parenting approaches yield positive behavioral shifts when consistent boundaries combine with genuine curiosity about underlying needs. Lucky Numbers: 3, 13, 28 AQUARIUS Philosophical explorations yield practical applications as Jupiter expands your wisdom sector, bringing concrete benefits from abstract contemplation when theoretical understanding meets real-world testing. Remote work arrangements yield productivity breakthroughs when environmental adjustments optimize focus during peak cognitive periods. Lucky Numbers: 10, 23, 37 PISCES Shared resources multiply through creative management as Venus enhances your investment sector, bringing growth through unconventional approaches that recognize value in overlooked opportunities. Artistic expressions gain commercial appeal when authentic emotional depth meets accessible presentation. Lucky Numbers: 12, 26, 34

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 37

SPORTS

3Evan Rosario of Jackson-Reed High School, which defeated School Without Walls for the baseball regular-season District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association title. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

Jackson-Reed Tops School Without Walls for Regular Season Title By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer The characters may change each year, but the script has remained the same— at the end of the season, Jackson-Reed High School and School Without Walls have been longtime rivals, battling it out for the baseball regular-season District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) title. The two District of Columbia Public Schools, which have dom-

MOTHERS from Page 1 Brown had been raising Mikelle, she had no biological connection and was denied custody. “It was devastating,” recounted Brown. “Mikelle was only 3 and didn’t know these people they wanted to send her to. She only knew me.” It wasn’t until Mikelle ran away at 13, desperate to escape mistreatment and emotional abuse, that Brown was able to gain ground in securing emergency custody. She credits the nonprofit DC Kincare Alliance with providing critical resources and legal help. “They didn’t just give me a list of lawyers or phone numbers. [Deputy Director] Stephanie [McClellan] said, ‘This might be rough, but we’re going to get through it.’ And we did.” The mother and daughter celebrated their official adoption the day after Mikelle’s 18th birthday. “After I lost her, she never used to smile. Now 19, she’s happy and thriving in college,” Brown said. “That’s the power of a mother’s love.” The Heart of Kinship: Defining Relative Caregivers Brown is one of many mothers who have loved their children unequivocally and sacrificed for them, though they did not carry or give birth to them. Like Brown, many non-biological moms start as relatives, godparents,

38 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

inated the league over the past decade, met again, and as has been the case over the past 10 years, the Jackson-Reed Tigers prevailed over the School Without Walls Penguins to claim yet another regular-season title. Early on, it was Jackson-Reed who dominated in the series, but this time it was much closer than it has been in recent meetings. “They gave us all we could handle,” said Jackson-Reed head coach Mateo Robinson, in his seventh year at the Northwest, D.C. school. School Without Walls (15-9 over-

all, 10-1 in the DCIAA) appeared to continue the trend of falling behind early when the Tigers (22-4 overall, 10-0 in the DCIAA) placed runners on second and third in the top of the first inning with no outs. But Walls senior Charles Daggett settled down and pitched his way out of the jam by retiring the next three batters, two by strikeouts. Daggett finished with one of his

best performances of the season, scattering five hits and fanning seven Tiger batters in five innings in a losing effort. The Penguins used it as a motivator, putting together a rally in the bottom of the second inning with a run-scoring single by senior Sean Aldridge. The Tigers, who have won an unprecedented 32 league titles and

family friends, or even neighbors who step in when birth parents are unable to care for their children due to hardship, incarceration, addiction, or death. These extraordinary women provide stability, love, and often legal custody to children in crisis, many times at the very moment the child’s life has been wrecked by tragedy. Though the title varies from state to state, legal and advocacy nonprofit DC Kincare Alliance notes that in Washington, D.C., those who step up to help a child in need are referred to as relative caregivers. The organization’s resource guide defines relative caregivers as “someone related to a child (by blood, marriage, or adoption) or a close family friend who is taking care of a child when the child’s parents cannot care for them.” “These are women who are called on after tragic occurrences to rescue and rehome children,” said Deputy Director of DC Kincare Alliance Stephanie McClellan. “And without hesitation, the response is always the same, ‘I’m on my way’.” Through years serving as a family law attorney and guardian ad litem for children, Marla Spindel, executive director of DC KinCare Alliance, saw firsthand how the system overlooked relative caregivers. “The people stepping up, grandparents, older siblings, aunts, neighbors,

were being treated like second-class citizens, and not the heroes who were saving these children,” she said. In order to fight for the rights of children and families, Spindel founded the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP). Then, alarmed that many caregivers with long-formed relationships faced tremendous barriers with no legal support, in 2017, she formed DC KinCare Alliance. “We are still fighting for children, simply from another vantage point,” Spindel said. Further, McClellan emphasized that it is often the most economically vulnerable women who answer the call to be mothers. “Many of our clients are Black women east of the river, getting a call at midnight about a fatal shooting or overdose and a bereaved child in need of a home,” said McClellan. “I have seen firsthand that it is often indeed those who have the least who step up to serve those in need.” Stepping In After Tragedy Queen Poole, 32, public speaker and caregiving advocate, had no children when her sister died from kidney disease in 2022, leaving behind three grieving siblings, ages 6, 11, and 13. “I was already caring for my aging father,” said Poole. “I truly had no clue of even where to start, bedding, child-friendly furniture, schools. But, I

never doubted that this was what I was supposed to do.” Poole credits her faith with making space for adoption in her heart. However, that faith would quickly be tested. Facing tremendous odds, a custody challenge immediately ensued. “The youngest was ripped away at my sister’s funeral and handed to a grandmother she didn’t know,” Poole recalled. “At my sister’s repast, a police officer told me there was a kidnapping report against me, and I had to surrender my niece. I looked that baby in her eyes and said, ‘I will be back for you.’” And she was. Within two months, Poole had fought to secure legal custody. A proud “MomTee” – a mix of the words auntie and mom– Poole, now raising children ages 9, 15, and 16, remembers the beginning of her motherhood journey with laughter. “I wasn’t ready,” she recalled. “I didn’t even have beds.” Despite obstacles, she held strong to her faith and her determination to keep the children together to get through the trying transition. “I remembered Isaiah 1:17: ‘Learn to do good; seek justice. Rescue the oppressed,” she said. “That verse was always in me, before I knew I’d have to live it.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

came into the game riding an eightgame win streak, showed why they have built a strong reputation as a power in local baseball. With the help of some timely hits and a couple of key errors by Walls, Jackson-Reed manufactured three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. From there, Simon Corbin silenced the bats of School Without Walls, allowing no hits over the next three innings and striking out eight batters. Designated hitter Owen Stone drove in two runs for the Tigers, who added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth. “When Walls took the early lead, they had us off balance,” Robinson explained. “Their pitcher did an outstanding job, pitching out jams and not allowing us to take advantage of some opportunities. I told the players to settle down and get the ball on the ground, and it helped during that important third inning. Give them credit, they made it difficult.” The Penguins put together a late rally in the bottom of the fifth, placing runners on first and second with one out, but the Tigers retired the next two batters to preserve their nine-game win streak. The two teams could meet again in the DCIAA Tournament, which begins on May 5, culminating in the championship game, which will be played on May 7 at Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Park in Southeast, D.C. Kip Smith, his ninth season as School Without Walls’ head coach, has turned the program into a yearly contender. Despite the success of his team, he admits that the Tigers are a tough matchup because of their strong winning tradition. “Over the years, we have had problems with them in falling behind early,” said Smith, who doubles as the school’s athletics director. “The gap is closing. The key for us is that we have to build on leads and not let up. They take advantage of mistakes, and we made a couple today that hurt us. We have to learn from this and prepare for the next time we play.” WI

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CAPTURE the moment

Amid executive orders that many say aim to erase Black history, hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the John A. Wilson Building in Northwest, D.C., for the #HandsOffOurHistory rally on May 3. As speakers, including faith leaders, civil rights activists and members of historically Black sororities and fraternities, urged the crowd to resist efforts against the freedom to learn, protestors marched to, and in defense of, the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5Co-founder of Don’t Mute DC and The Go-Go Museum Ronald Moten speaks at the rally before the march begins.

5Washingtonians Shireen Lewis and Montina Cole show their solidarity with the movement. 3President and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition Barbara Arnwine.

5Community leaders and civic activists Tanya Clay House, Marc Morial, Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead, D.C.’s former First Lady Cora Masters Barry, Melanie Campbell and Kimberlé Crenshaw particiapte in the singing of the Negro National Anthem post-rally.

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 39

RELIGION Standing on Legacy, Rising to New Beginnings: Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church Celebrates Historic Restoration

By Dr. Patrise Holden Contributing Writer

Community members, politicians, and members of the faith community gathered on April 30, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the rebuilding, restoration and resilience of Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church. A beacon of faith, strength, and cultural heritage in Potomac, Maryland, hundreds united to experience the triumphant moment that marks the beginning of a new chapter for the historic place of worship. Originally constructed as a church and school in 1905 by freed African American slaves, the restoration was of great cultural and emotional signif-

icance to the hundreds in attendance. A testimony of legacy, past, and future promise to new generations, the church has served the community for over a century. “This wasn’t just another project, from the church members to the greater community,” said the Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins, presiding elder. “Our hearts were in it.” Emphasizing the importance of the building’s heritage, Rabbi Evan J. Krame brought the crowd to cheers as he closed the dedication ceremony. “Ancestors claimed this land, and we, their children, followed in their footsteps with the vision that what was flooded and broken could be rebuilt.”

3Community and church members, including Michelle Dove, Al Heard, and presiding elder Dr. Evalina Huggins, cut the ribbon at the newly rebuilt Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac, Maryland, a culmination of community effort, faith, and rebirth. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

RISING AFTER THE STORM

The long journey to the celebration began in July 2019, when unprecedented rains overwhelmed the church’s infrastructure. “The church was essentially located in a bowl,” explained Al Heard, chair of the trustee board. “Water came flowing from above, on the hill, and directly off Seven Locks Road. With insufficient drainage, the basement flooded so badly that a wall was knocked out of the foundation.” Soon after, the building was deemed unsafe for occupancy. Yet the congregation never lost hope. “This was our home, so we con-

tinued to worship in the parking lot, borrowed spaces, even a dance studio,” Heard recounted. “Our church family, faith, and praise, we kept strong.” The story of the church’s restoration mirrors the biblical story of Noah’s Ark in the notion that when storms rise, resilience and faith can carry a people through. Much like the ark that sheltered people to ensure a future, the Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church has emerged ready to carry forward the dreams of generations past and yet to come. “This church was built by freed men and women, African Americans who saw the need for a schoolhouse and a church, a place of education and faith,” Huggins related. Overcome with emotion during the rededication ceremony, the presiding elder emphasized the significance of the moment. “We stand on their past gifts and sacrifices,” she said, “while honoring the future legacy we will build in this renewed space.”

FAITH NEVER WAVERED

Francine Scott, 75, a fifth-generation church member, reflected on the rollercoaster of emotions tied to the building’s rebirth. “Looking at this building today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said through great emotion. “When you hear millions of dollars are needed to repair a building that has been our worship home for decades, you feel displaced, somewhat hopeless.” But she insists that the congregation’s faith never faltered. “We knew we would prevail,” Scott said. “And then came the overwhelming response of the community.” Indeed, a broad coalition came to-

40 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

gether to make the restoration possible. Major contributions came from the Glenstone Foundation, the J.W. & Alice Marriott Foundation, the state of Maryland, Montgomery County, the Trust for Historic Preservation, and several others, including Bob Buchanan and the Brickman Family Foundation. Their generosity, paired with tireless work from volunteers, church members, and civic leaders, turned devastation into a miracle. “Not only were we touched by the generosity of hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors,” Huggins, the church’s pastor, said, “but our hearts overflowed at the fact that work hours donated by staff equaled and exceeded total monetary contributions.”

A HOME REBORN

More than 150 people filled the sanctuary for the unveiling. As the choir closed the program with a rousing rendition of “Total Praise,” emotions soared. Tears filled the eyes of some attendees. Hugs were exchanged, and a shared breath of gratitude and awe lingered in the room. Though the physical construction is complete, the church’s leadership acknowledges that its work has only just begun. “The restoration and construction are complete, but our mission to sustain the church for another century continues,” said Huggins. “This is the dawn of a new beginning.” For worshippers like Scott, who married at the church in 1968 and will soon witness her granddaughter Ciara become the first bride to be married in the newly restored church, the journey has come full circle. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

A Focus on History of Mother’s Day in Africa

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers around the world! It is my prayer that you enjoy your special day. Prayerfully your children will show you just how much you mean to each of them. This week, let’s take a historical look at the evolution of Mother’s Day. A couple weeks ago, I shared with you the history from various other countries. This week, I want to share with you some of the history that I found in my research of how early Christians in various countries, first starting here at home with our own history, beginning in Boston. Secondly, this week, I’m giving special emphasis to the history of Mother’s Day beginnings in African countries, where they celebrated a Mother’s Day of sorts during festivals that were held on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. This information has been shared in this column, but in case you missed it, here is a brief history of our own Mother’s Day here in the United States. The idea of an official celebration of Mother’s Day in the U.S. was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. Julia, who was an activist, writer and poet suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mother’s Day and that the day should be dedicated to peace. Her passionate appeal to women, the famous Mother’s Day Proclamation, urged women to rise against war. She also initiated a Mothers’ Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June in Boston, and the meeting was held for many years. Julia’s idea spread widely, but was later replaced by the Mother’s Day holiday now celebrated in May. Now, let’s talk about Mother’s Day in Africa, and how it started out from various traditions from a few different perspectives, with some countries celebrating it in May, and others celebrate it on Oct. 15, aligning with World

Rural Women’s Day. Ethiopia celebrates Mother’s Day during Antrosht, a three-day festival at the end of the rainy season, with lots of foods, visitors, dancing and festival-type activities. It’s a celebration of the return of the sunshine under the umbrella of Mother’s Day! Here’s a more detailed look at a few diverse celebrations that are also held during the month of May, similar to the United States. Let’s start with the African countries. Many African countries, ranging from Cameroon, Senegal, Uganda, to Rwanda, celebrate Mother’s Day in May, recognizing, as we do here in America, the vital role of mothers in society has risen to a level so well respected worldwide. • Malawi honors mothers on Oct. 15. They align their Mother’s Day celebration with World Rural Women’s Day, highlighting the challenges faced by rural women while still honoring their role as mothers. • Ethiopia’s three-day Antrosht festival is held during the end of the rainy season. It is in many ways, a beautiful and vibrant celebration of motherhood. It includes families gathering for feasting on every food they consider delicious. There is singing and dancing all over. • In Ethiopia, during Antrosht, families come together, and children contribute to a feast with ingredients brought by boys and girls. They bring meat and vegetables. • Let’s take a look at how Malawi celebrates mothers. Their celebration has as its primary focus, whatever is

done must raise awareness about the difficulties faced by rural women. Held annually during the month of October for Women’s History Month. • South Africa follows the same tradition as we do here in the United States. There are quite a few African countries who go alongside the United States that have adopted the May tradition. • Nigeria, the home of my ancestry - The tradition, dating back to the 16th century, was later associated with visiting one’s mother church or home parish. Over time, picking flowers for mothers and decorating churches became part of the celebration. Constance Smith’s book, “Revival of Mothering Sunday” (1920), further popularized the practice, and by 1938, every parish in the UK observed the day. Over time, Mothering Sunday and Mother’s Day became intertwined. Conversely, the Catholic Church in Nigeria designates the Sunday immediately after the Annunciation (March 25) as a feast commemorating the Virgin Mary’s divine motherhood. Occasionally, these two dates can overlap, as is the case this year, 2025. Meanwhile, many secular groups and individuals in Nigeria follow the American-influenced tradition of marking Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. As a result, Nigerian mothers are often celebrated on at least three different occasions each year. The specific ways in which Mother’s Day is celebrated can vary by region and culture, reflecting unique traditions and values. WI

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MAY 8 - 14, 2025 41

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

Blessed Word

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Rev. Joel R. Limerick Pastor

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

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

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

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

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

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

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

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

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

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

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

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

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

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

42 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

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

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

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Third Street Church of God

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

Campbell AME Church

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

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

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

www.livingwatersmd.org

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

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

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

Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Senior Pastor

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

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

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

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

All Nations Baptist Church

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

Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor

Crusader Baptist Church

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

Emmanuel Baptist Church Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor 2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven! Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:00am & 12noon Noon Day Worship – Wednesdays at Noon Prayer Call – Tuesdays 6pm & Thursdays 6am Dial: 1-872-240-3212 Passcode: 164695965 www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

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

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Israel Baptist Church Rev. Lance Aubert Senior Pastor

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

St. Luke Baptist Church

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

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

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

Rehoboth Baptist Church

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor 5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

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

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

New Commandment Baptist Church Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

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

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

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

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

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Promised Land Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner Senior Pastor

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

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

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

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

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

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

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

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

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

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

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

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

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

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

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

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

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ." Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

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

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

Join us for our live broadcast every Friday at Noon!

facebook.com/WashingtonInformer youtube.com/WashingtonInformerTV • X: @WashInformer Hosted by Denise Rolark Barnes - Publisher of The Washington Informer WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 8 - 14, 2025 43

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2025 ADM 000392

2025 ADM 000335

2023 ADM 000331

2022 ADM 0001423

2025 ADM 000342

Shane M. Westphalen aka Shane Marty Westphalen aka Shane Marty Mitchell Westphalen Decedent

Vanalstyne Bowe Decedent

Zella Moore Decedent

Alphonse Hill Decedent

Matthew F. Shannon, Esq. 1420 N Street, NW, Suite 203 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney

John Tisdale aka John L. Tisdale Decedent

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

Lisa M. Nentwig, Esquire Dilworth Paxson LLP 1650 Market Street, Suite 1200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Attorney

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

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Tara P. Young, whose address is 24315 Campbellton Rd, San Antonio, TX 78264, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shane M. Westphalen aka Shane Marty Westphalen aka Shane Marty Mitchell Westphalen who died on December 22, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/24/2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 10/24/2025, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/24/2025 Tara P. Young 24315 Campbellton Rd. San Antonio, TX 78264 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS William Willis and Adrienne Poteat, whose addresses are 484 Charter Oak Dr., Newport News, VA 23608 & 4622 Sergeant Rd, NE Washington, DC 20017, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Vanalstyne Bowe who died on 12/16/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/24/2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 10/24/2025, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/24/2025 William Willis Adrienne Poteat Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Khalil Dingle-Steward Decedent

Hope Davis Tankersley Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #400 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

44 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

Date of first publication: 4/24/2025

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Tamara Tisdale Gutrick Personal Representative

Washington Informer

TRUE TEST COPY

Washington Informer

2025 ADM 000406

Marietta Kristine Dingle Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Washington Informer

2025 ADM 000425

Date of first publication: 5/1/2025

J. Anthony Concino II, Esq. Personal Representative

Tamara Tisdale Gutrick, whose address is 7903 General Maxwell Drive, Brandywine MD 20613, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of John Tisdale aka John L. Tisdale who died on January 27, 2022 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/24/2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 10/24/2025, 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

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

Marietta Kristine Dingle, whose address is 7111 Hawthorne Street, Landover, MD 20785, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Khalil Dingle-Steward who died on April 22, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 4/24/2025

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

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

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Zella Moore who died on 11/5/2020 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/24/2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 10/24/2025, 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 Lizabeth Tankersley, whose address is 2841 29th Place NW, Washington DC. 20008, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Hope Davis Tankersley who died on March 19, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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

Date of first publication: 4/24/2025 Jeweline Hill 3266 Aberfoyle Place NW Washington, DC 20015 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000401

2025 ADM 000407

2025 ADM 000408

Margaret Barclift Decedent

Kinfe Kassa Decedent

Robert M. Williams, Jr. Decedent

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

Zena Weathers, whose address is 2236 Prince of Wales Court, Bowie MD, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Margaret Barclift who died on March 15, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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.

Shewaye T. Haile, whose address is 5401 1st Street NE, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kinfe Kassa who died on March 24, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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.

Robert M. Williams, Sr., whose address is 310 12th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert M. Williams, Jr. who died on 1/17/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/01/2025. 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 11/01/2025, 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: 5/1/2025 Zena Weathers Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 5/1/2025 Lizabeth Tankersley Personal Representative

Jeweline Hill, whose address is 3266 Aberfoyle Place NE, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Alphonse Hill who died on October 17, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/24/2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 10/24/2025, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Date of first publication: 5/1/2025 Shewaye T. Haile Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Date of first publication: 5/1/2025 Robert M. Williams, Sr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2025 ADM 000363

2025 ADM 381

2025 ADM 000358

2025 ADM 000357

2025 ADM 000419

Juana Huertas Decedent

Craig Andrew Roberts Decedent

Toy Ellen Banks Hicks aka Toy Banks Decedent

Edward Jackson Decedent

Beatrice Matthews Marshall Decedent

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

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

Arkile Jackson, whose address is 11698 South Laurel Drive, Apt 2B, Laurel Maryland 20708, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Jackson who died on March 17, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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.

Theresa M. Grant and Kenneth S. Marshall, whose addresses are 2110 Waterleaf Way, Mitchellville, MD 20721/ 4409 16th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Beatrice Matthews Marshall who died on September 23, 2024 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 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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 John Huertas, whose address is 6726 14 Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Juana Huertas who died on October 19, 2018 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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: 5/1/2025 John Huertas Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Sarah Benjamin Hamelburg Law, LLC 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1350 Bethesda, MD 20814 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Shannon Willhite, whose address is 18 Williamsburg Estates Drive, St. Louis, MO 63131, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Craig Andrew Roberts who died on February 15, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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: 5/1/2025

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Shannon Willhite Personal Representative

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alison L. Merricks, whose address is 153 Valley Street, #129, South Orange, NJ 07079, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Toy Ellen Banks Hicks aka Toy Banks who died on 11/19/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/1/2025. 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 11/1/2025, 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: 5/1/2025 Alison L. Merricks Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 5/1/2025 Arkile Jackson Personal Representative

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Date of first publication: 5/8/2025 Theresa M. Grant Kenneth S. Marshall Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

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

2025 FEP 000043

2025 ADM 000415

2025 ADM 000417

2025 ADM 310

2025 ADM 000354 Paul Travers Sturm Decedent Julie A. Simantiras, Esq. Attorney for Petitioner The Geller Law Group, LLC 4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100 Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Attorney

Washington Informer

June 26, 2024 Date of Death

David Clark Decedent

David Norman April Decedent

Denise Richardson Decedent

Cha-Kil Chung Name of Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

Gretchyn G. Meinken, Esq, 616 N Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Attorney

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Yeon-Ok Chung whose address is 5314 Rosemallow Cir., Centreville, VA 20120 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Cha-Kil Chung, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Fairfax County, State of Virginia, on 9/25/2024. Service of process may be made upon Sharon Legall 1325 G Street, NW Suite 500, Washington DC 20005 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 5/8/2025 Yeon-Ok Chung Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

Elizabeth Clark Harris, whose address is 3705 S Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of David Clark who died on January 27, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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.

Maria Carmen Trujillo Pinero, whose address is C/ Concepcion Arenal 9-4 Izsa, Gijon, Asturias 33202, Spain, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of David Norman April who died on December 10, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025

Elizabeth Clark Harris Personal Representative

Maria Carmen Trujillo Pinero Personal Representative

Denora Galtney Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Denora Galtney, whose address is 9506 Snaffle Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Denise Richardson who died on December 21, 2024 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 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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 Steven Ross Sturm, whose address is Avenue des Bouleaux 56 1950 Kraainem, International Order Belgium, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Paul Travers Sturm who died on October 9, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Steven Ross Sturm Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

MAY 8 - 14, 2025 45

LEGAL NOTICES

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

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

2025 FEP 000041

2025 ADM 000361

2025 ADM 000433

2025 ADM 000088

2023 ADM 000583

September 29, 2023 Date of Death

Edward Samuel Johnson Sr. Decedent

Florence Stoddard Decedent

Fred Astaire Holmes, Jr. Decedent

Ineal M. Shird Decedent

Edna M. Johnson Name of Decedent

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

Robert Clayton Cooper, Esq. Cooper & Crickman, PLLC 6856 Eastern Ave., NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20012 Attorney

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

Brian L. Kass, Personal Representative 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 434 Washington, DC 20008 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Evans T. Johnson whose address is 715 Crittenden Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Edna M. Johnson, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Montgomery County, State of Maryland, on January 22, 2024. Service of process may be made upon Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., Life and Legacy Counselors 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015 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 property: 715 Crittenden Street NW, Washington, DC 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: May 8, 2025 Evans T. Johnson Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Tracy Johnson, whose address is 4205 Offut Drive, Suitland MD 20746, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Samuel Johnson Sr. who died on June 14, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Tracy Johnson Personal Representative

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NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Anthony Stoddard & Demetria Ball, whose addresses are 6030 Sargent Rd. #3201, Hyattsville MD 20782 & 1341 1st St., SW, Washington DC 20024, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Florence Stoddard who died on December 26, 2024 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 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Anthony Stoddard Demetria Ball Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Carolyn L. Holmes, whose address is 4207 Eastern Avenue Apt. 2, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712-1405, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Fred Astaire Holmes, Jr. who died on October 11, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Carolyn L. Holmes Personal Representative

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2025 ADM 000413 Jewel Joyner Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Trina Joyner, whose address is 4123 4th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jewel Joyner who died on 2/13/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Trina Joyner Personal Representative

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Brian L. Kass, whose address is 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 434, Washington, DC 20008, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ineal M. Shird who died on January 26, 2008 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Brian L. Kass Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

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

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

2025 ADM 000367

2025 ADM 000426

2025 FEP 000042

2025 ADM 000378

Linda T. Davis aka Linda Taylor Davis Decedent

Lonnie D. Salmond Decedent

December 5, 2024 Date of Death

Russell Mamone aka Russell Bruce Mamone Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Mary Davis Farivari, whose address is 7000 Loch Lomond Dr., Bethesda, MD 20817, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Linda T. Davis aka Linda Taylor Davis who died on 2/14/2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Mary Davis Farivari Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Faye Salmond, whose address is 8004 Neville Place, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lonnie D. Salmond who died on 10/26/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Faye Salmond Personal Representative

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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Penelope Jean Thornton Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Tamara Andersen Hase whose address is 126 North 82nd Street, Seattle, Washington 98103 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Penelope Jean Thornton, deceased, by the Superior Court for King County, State of Washington, on 1/30/2025. Service of process may be made upon Sharon Legall 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 5/8/2025 Tamara Andersen Hase Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

William H. Henry, Esq. 216 North Adams Street Rockville, MD 20850 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Angelo Mamone, whose address is 11790 Thomas Spring Road, Monrovia, MD 21770, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Russell Mamone aka Russell Bruce Mamone who died on June 15, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Angelo Mamone Personal Representative

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46 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2025 ADM 000410

2025 ADM 000471

2022 ADM 000997

2025 ADM 000411

2025 ADM 000422

Payton Delk Decedent

Estate of Yusuf Muhajir aka Yusuf Zinduo Muhajir

Estate of Daisy M. Rhodes

Colleen Eva Guion Decedent

Khadijah J. Campbell Decedent

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

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Yvonne Davis Smooth, Esq. 2501 Northampton Street, NW Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

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

Pauline Delk, whose address is 405 N Street NW #201, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Payton Delk who died on March 10, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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 is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by June Melinda G. Hyman request for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. Admit to probate the will dated January 26, 2025 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise appoint an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 5/8/2025 June Melinda G. Hyman 10401 Motor City Drive #423 Bethesda, MD 20817 Petitioner/Attorney:

Date of first publication: 5/8/2025 Pauline Delk Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Melvin A. Rhodes for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. Admit to probate the will dated October 8, 1983 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint Melvin A. Rhodes an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 5/8/2025 Tina Smith Nelson, Esq. Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lindsay M. Guion, whose address is 1204 Longfellow Street, NW, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Colleen Eva Guion who died on October 26, 2024 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 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025

Trisha Campbell, whose address is 4945 Just Street NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Khadijah J. Campbell who died on December 8, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Trisha Campbell Personal Representative

Lindsay M. Guion Personal Representative

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Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000365

2025 ADM 000389

Veronica Roberts Decedent

Claudia Anyaso Decedent

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

Clive Roberts, whose address is 5041 12th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Veronica Roberts who died on March 16, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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.

Lawrence Anyaso, whose address is 5919 Lebanon Lane Elkridge, MD 21075, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Claudia Anyaso who died on 12/29/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025

Michael Alfirio Presentado and Crevante Antonio Holt, whose addresses are 6132 Brandyhall Ct., Fort Washington, MD 20744 and 403 Secluded Post Cir., Apt C, Glen Bernie, MD 21061, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Lutricia Ann Holt who died on 7/4/2008 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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.

Clive Roberts Personal Representative

Lawrence Anyaso Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 5/8/2025

TRUE TEST COPY

Michael Alfirio Presentado Crevante Antonio Holt Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 000362 Lutricia Ann Holt Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 000360 Debra McDowell Decedent Sharon Legall 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Donna McDowell, whose address is 2510 Bellefield Ct, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Debra McDowell who died on July 24, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/8/2025. 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 11/8/2025, 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: 5/8/2025 Donna McDowell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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DC BUDGET from Page 1 government job and tax revenue loss, positions sports, entertainment and hospitality as the District’s primary economic engine. And as a show of goodwill to local restaurateurs, Bowser has included in that plan a repeal of Initiative 82, a minimum tipped wage ballot measure that, despite its popularity among D.C. residents and unionists, has shouldered the blame for the increased overhead costs and dining fees that are crippling restaurant owners and consumers. While it remains to be seen whether the I-82 repeal will survive the budget process, Bowser said that her legislative counterparts and constituents will soon come to understand that she didn’t make her decision lightly. “They know the importance of restaurants to our economy and local hiring and keeping D.C. residents employed,” Bowser said on Monday at The Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street in Northeast, where she revealed what she described as her transformational growth agenda. That agenda includes a mixture of investments and incentives for visitors, small businesses, restaurants and developers, including: investments in Downtown, including Capital One Arena along with the renewal and support of Gallery Place-Chinatown; expansion of the Housing in Downtown program to Georgetown and Mt. Vernon Triangle; development of RFK campus; and renovations to National Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, and Howard Theatre. This agenda, part of Bowser’s yet-tobe-fully released Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, includes $820,000 for the 250th birthday celebration of the U.S. in July 2026. The Bowser administration also expressed plans to continue leveraging the D.C. Venture Capital Program, at the level of $52 million in combined District public and private funds, to make equity investments in burgeoning tech companies. Other provisions of the growth agenda build upon Bowser’s proposed repeal of I-82 by institutionalizing sales tax holidays in August, and two other times throughout 2026, and reforming zoning procedures to increase development. The mayor has also proposed a pause to energy efficient net zero standards and incentives to revitalize commercial corridors throughout the entire city. Her goal, as she explained on Monday, centered on creating an environment that encourages businesses to stay in the District and create an atmosphere that generates revenue growth. “They can see that we are out of line with the rest of the region and we are

losing investment [in] new restaurants, growing restaurants and employees to other parts of the region,” Bowser said about the D.C. Council. “So I think that we’re going to make [a] strong case to the members of the council about why this is important. We have to save this industry and there are things that are going to be out of our control with other increasing costs. But this one is in our control.”

THE TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN RESTAURANTS AND WORKERS

In 2022, nearly 75% of D.C. voters approved I-82, also known as the District of Columbia Tip Credit Elimination Act. This happened years after the D.C. Council repealed Initiative 77, a nearly identical ballot measure that voters approved by a 12-point margin. If I-82 law remains intact, then, by 2027, the tipped minimum wage in D.C. will reach $16.10, on par with the standard minimum wage. Before the passage of this law, the District’s tipped minimum wage stood at $5.35. While tipped workers supplemented that income through their service and customers’ good graces, I-82’s implementation placed the onus on restaurateurs— not customers– to increase tipped workers’ pay on the front end, a which advocates said would significantly reduce the unpredictability of pay that tipped workers accumulate during shifts. However, many D.C. residents— including those sitting on the D.C. Council— have complained about the service charges that establishments have passed on to consumers since I-82’s passage, and whether those fees go to restaurant workers. More than a year after the council passed legislation that omits service charges from the revenue calculation that determines how much restaurant owners pay in rent, local restaurants continue to struggle, to the point that more than two out of five local establishments are anticipated to shutter, according to a survey that the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington conducted earlier this year. On Monday, after Bowser completed her presentation, Nina Albert, deputy mayor for planning and economic development, conducted a panel that included Rahman “Rock” Harper, owner of Hill Prince on H Street in Northeast, and Yohannes Tafesse, founder and CEO of Gratitude Systems, a technology company specializing in AI, 5G, cloud and cybersecurity. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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MALVEAUX from Page 28 brain drains, with many of the longest-serving workers preferring to retire than deal with the whiplash of trying to figure out what’s next. Recession fears are now at the 1990 level, and consumer confidence is at its lowest level since 1952. Musk’s economic acumen is demonstrated by the precipitous drop — 71%— in his stock since he announced he will cut back on his work with the Department of Government Efficiency. In his 100-plus days, marked on April 30, this president has issued about 140 executive orders. Though he was elected to manage the economy, few of these executive orders have to do with the economy. Instead, he has leaped into the culture wars, including executive orders specifically targeting some

EDELMAN from Page 28 young adults to set high standards and made clear their own belief that every student could achieve at high levels. All young people need adults who believe in them and expect them to achieve–who love them, and whom they love so much that they live up to their expectations of success. The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools program is especially proud that so many of the college-aged Servant Leader Interns (SLIs) who are trained to teach at CDF Freedom Schools sites every summer go on to

MARSHALL from Page 29 real with long-term consequences, will there be an organized resistance in the form of a mass countermovement? We cannot depend on the constitutional checks and balances that were meant to prevent this type of takeover due to those who currently hold the power in the three branches of government. Republicans within the GOP-controlled House and Senate are not sounding the alarm nor are they showing the moral courage to oppose Trumpism. We cannot depend on a John Roberts-led Supreme Court. We cannot depend on the “soft spots” throughout the MAGA movement to wake up after experiencing the pain from Trump’s policies. We are seeing that while they may be hurting, as long as those who they hate are hurting more, Trump gets a pass. We are also seeing that some conservatives are seeing the light. It is interesting that as a neoconservative, David Brooks wrote about a coordinated mass movement in his New York Times opinion column.

of the Smithsonian Museums, especially the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The executive orders, which are not laws, have introduced an atmosphere of fear and obeisance. Law firms, universities and others are happily kowtowing to this president’s racist, anti-diversity agenda. Too many, including elected legislators, are operating out of fear, too intimidated to say that the emperor is wearing no clothes. Our economy is suffering, and so is our international reputation. Mexico and Canada –among our largest trading partners–are furious with us, so much so that Canadians elected a Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who was trailing in the polls until this president started attacking Canada. Who can trust us or plan to do business with us after our vacillating policies have

left them confused? Who will lend us money when they can’t trust our stability? Can the European Union use this uncertainty to strengthen the euro? Will the euro supplant the dollar as the world’s default currency? In addition to the chaos and confusion, there is also the delusion that this president continues to embrace — that he won the 2020 election. This delusion fuels much of his decision-making, as many who investigated him have now been threatened with investigation. This administration seems to revel in delusions, including delusions about history, delusions about prices (the president keeps saying grocery prices have dropped — they have not), and delusions about reality. WI Read more on washikngtoninformer.com

pursue careers in education and become these teachers and mentors for the next generation. Thirty years ago, the indomitable Dr. Maya Angelou spoke at the graduation of our first small class of CDF Freedom Schools servant leaders. She engulfed us with her passion and confidence in them: “Let me tell you who you are. You are the rainbow in the clouds for people whose faces you have not seen yet, whose names you don’t know yet, whose histories you haven’t been told yet. And you are, each one of you, individually, privately, each one of you is a rainbow chosen to be in the clouds for somebody.”

Every teacher has the unique opportunity to be that rainbow of hope for their students. Children and young people need adults who never give up on them, are constantly searching for their special gifts, and who refuse to let them fail. The best teachers do this every day. Teacher Appreciation Week is once again a special opportunity to thank all who are already doing their part to transform young people’s chances and our nation’s future by mentoring, challenging, nurturing, and inspiring the students in their care right now. WI

He writes, “It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising. It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement. Trump is about power. The only way he’s going to be stopped is if he’s confronted by some movement that possesses rival power.” In referencing nonviolent uprising confronting authoritarian assaults, Brooks continued, “These movements began small and built up. They developed clear messages that appealed to a variety of groups. They shifted the narrative so the authoritarians were no longer on permanent offense. Sometimes they used nonviolent means to provoke the regime into taking violent action which shocks the nation, undercuts the regime’s authority and further strengthens the movement. (Think of the civil rights movement at Selma). Right now, Trumpism is dividing civil society; if done right, the civic uprising can begin to divide the forces of Trumpism.” At some point, something major has

to be done if Trump and Trumpism are going to be stopped. Whatever it is, it has to be strategic and diverse. The question is: what, and then when? The last major movement in our nation was the Black Lives Matter movement. The long-term impact still remains to be seen. Older generations are still intimately familiar with the civil rights movement, but this is different. The federal government was not the main culprit then as it is now. It is different because America, at that time, was not faced with an authoritarian in the White House who believes he is above the law. It is different because the Black church is not the center of the Black community as it was in the past. Many people may disagree with the Black church’s role during the civil rights movement, but its effective organization through a national network of churches cannot be disputed. Any successful movement, as described by David Brooks, will need the moral courage of the Black church along with its local and national network. WI

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preservation of Black history and the defense of a multiracial democracy. I was joined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, co-founder and president of the African American Policy Forum; Kaye Wise Whitehead, founding director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice; Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the Nation Council of Negro Women; Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of Transformative Justice Coalition; and Melanie Campbell, president and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable. The week of action culminated Saturday, May 3 in Washington,

WILLIAMS from Page 29

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it all, she was arrested and taken to jail! That’s right. A 24-year-old woman in Georgia is currently being put through an unimaginable situation. After a tragic miscarriage 19 weeks into her pregnancy, she was arrested! Georgia authorities are claiming that the woman who lost her pregnancy naturally is a criminal because of how she dealt with the aftermath of the fetus. You see, the Georgia state lawmakers have a law that allows that to be done. Citizens are protesting it and calling for the law to be repealed. It’s a law that police are using to arrest women who are already grieving the loss of their

JEALOUS from Page 29 istration is setting families up for higher electricity bills too. Solar and wind are already cheaper than coal and gas in most places. But without honest climate science guiding policy, big utilities and fossil fuel companies will keep squeezing working people while raking in profits. None of this is an accident. It is part of a pattern. Back in January, many of us warned that Donald Trump’s inner circle had a plan to gut climate science across the government. To replace facts with polluters’ wishful thinking. To erase the hard truths we must face together. Now we are seeing it play out. And the cost will be measured in real lives, real homes, and real

D.C., with a demonstration in defense of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. All Americans can join this movement by visiting their local museums and libraries, seeking out exhibitions and collections that recognize the contributions of Black Americans and sharing photos of their experiences on social media with the hashtag #HandsOffOurHistory. Supporters also can sign the Black History Is American History Affirmation. Now is the time to show the public that we must stand up for civil rights, for the accurate accounting of history, for our books, our voices and our lives. WI

The administration’s frenzied assault on American history, outlined in the Orwellian executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” is a key tactic in its broad agenda to erode democracy, entrench inequities, and reinforce injustice.

child. Georgia has been using this law since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The law in effect bans abortions after six weeks, before most people even know they are pregnant. Part of that law includes language that could be interpreted as granting fetal personhood — and that is the part of the law that authorities are using to charge this woman. After she suffered the miscarriage, she disposed of the fetal tissue before she passed out. There is absolutely no law in Georgia that dictates how a person must handle a nonviable fetus after a natural miscarriage, and yet authorities are claiming that she broke the law by throwing the remains away. Georgia has no law for the disposal, but Georgia finds that she broke the law! Amazing!

The coroner confirmed that there was absolutely no injury or trauma to the fetus. At 19 weeks, the fetus would not have been able to survive outside the womb, defining it as nonviable. The arrest of this woman is downright evil and unjust. So, in addition to all the other crazy and insensitive behavior of people who aren’t even doctors, we must work to have the Georgia legislature (Georgia General Assembly) to overturn this brutal law for women in the state, or it’s just around the corner for women in others. What else could possibly go wrong for women who are continuously losing the right to control their own bodies? WI

threats to our future. Higher temperatures strain power grids, buckle roads, and endanger seniors who cannot afford air conditioning. Donald Trump’s team can spin fairy tales all they want. But you cannot lie your way out of a flood. You cannot spin your way out of a superstorm. You cannot wish away the next record-breaking heat wave. As a country, we must meet hard truths with hard work. But that starts with honesty. It starts with a commitment to science over spin. It starts with loving our children and grandchildren enough to fight for the future they deserve. Because the truth is simple: Climate change is hurting us now. And if we let propaganda replace science, it will only get worse. There is too much at stake to let that happen. WI

Back in January, many of us warned that Donald Trump’s inner circle had a plan to gut climate science across the government. To replace facts with polluters’ wishful thinking. To erase the hard truths we must face together.

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to new opportunities.

DMV businesses are the backbone of our community and our economy. Bank of America is on your corner and in your corner, with solutions and industry-leading insights to help our local businesses thrive. Lawrence Di Rita President, Bank of America Greater Washington D.C.

Lender #1 Business in America

to $5.3B inDMVloansbusinesses

specialists in the DMV 100+ Business

Learn more about our business solutions and contact one of our business specialists in the DMV at bankofamerica.com/localbusiness

What would you like the power to do?® “Bank of America” is the marketing name used by certain Global Banking and Global Markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, other commercial banking activities, and trading in certain financial instruments are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. ©2025 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

52 MAY 8 - 14, 2025

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