Issuu

VOL. 54, NO. 30 • MAY 9 - 15, 2019

We Salute Mothers and Teachers Throughout the DMV

Urban League Report: Blacks Relegated to ‘America’s Caboose’

VA Nonprofit Reduces Gaps Plaguing Youth in Wards 1 and 8

Education and Nutrition Among the Needs for Elementary School Children

President/CEO Marc Morial Points to the Vote as Key to Realizing Equality

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Three schools in Southeast – Lucy Ellen Moten Elementary, John Hayden Johnson Middle, and Charles Hart Middle – and one in Northwest – Cardozo Elementary Education Campus – have caught the charitable eye of a Richmond-based nonprofit that provides clothing, school supplies and hygiene and grooming items

CHILDREN Page 21

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir

#DONTMUTEDC MOVEMENT TAKES OVER U STREET -

Over a thousand DMV residents and supporters gathered at #Moechella to peacefully celebrate and preserve DC culture and say #DontMuteDC. Go-go bands ABM and Backyard Band performed along with the #LongLiveGogo movement in front of the Reeves Center on Tuesday, May 7. (Brigette White/The Washington Informer)

Bowser Admin Chides Council’s Budget Cuts By James Wright WI Staff Writer The senior leadership of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration are not happy about cuts that the city council are contemplating as the 2019-2020 budget season winds down. On May 6, D.C. City Administrator Rashad Young, Jenny Reed, the D.C. director of the Office of Budget and Performance, Tomas Talamante, Bowser’s deputy chief of staff, and Brian Kenner, the deputy

WI Health Supplement Center Section

mayor for planning and economic development, talked to the reporters about their gripes about changes that the council has made to Bowser’s proposal she submitted nearly two months ago. The council will vote on the first reading of the budget on May 14 and the second and final reading will take place on May 28. “We respect the council’s role in the budget process,” Young

BUDGET Page 31

5 National Urban League President/CEO Marc H. Morial issues the annual “State of Black America” report at the National Press Club in Northwest on Monday, May 6. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

Since the abolition of slavery, African Americans have painstakingly found the means to break long-rusted chains, secure essential rights long-denied under a system dedicated to maintaining white privilege and overcome daunting hurdles in the centuries-old battle for true equality as promised to all citizens under the U.S. Constitution. But as the countdown continues until the 2020 General Election when the next president of the U.S. will be determined, many Blacks remain thwarted from exercising the right to vote – unwillingly passengers in America’s “caboose” – its seats reserved for those of black or brown skin who disproportionately represent a marginalized, second-class citizenry. At least that’s the conclusion offered by leaders of the National Urban League [NUL] at the National Press Club on May 6 in Northwest as they pointed to highlights found within the organization’s highly-anticipated yearly review of the condition of Black Americans in the 2019

Celebrating 54 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area

NUL Page 38

Now Published by Dr. Charles Vincent

Her Legacy Continues.

In memory of Mickey Thompson Vincent, Founder and Publisher.

Jacob Jarvis with his Mother - Debbi Jarvis (Pepco) & his brother Ernest Drew Jarvis II

Mayor Muriel Bowser with her Mother

Ward 4 Council Member Brandon Todd with his Mother Karen Todd

Yolanda Muckle with her Mother with her daughter Michele and son Christopher

Dr. Charles & “Mickey” Vincent

Judge Yvonne Williams with her son

Natalie Fant (The New Eastern Area Dir. of the Links, Inc. with her Mother Isabel (Seated L-R) Seated Mrs. Ada Johnson & Gwen Partridge, (Standing L-R) Mrs. Lavern Chatman Brown, Diana Gravettes, Wanda Gillis & Shari Partridge (Grand-daughter)

(L-R) Lafayette Barnes IV. Atty. Denise Rolark Barnes, Vera Abbott (Denise’s Mom) & Desmond Barnes

Edna Lee Moffitt (VP Capital City Links) with her Mother Mrs. Edna Lee Photo by Robert Brown Happy Mother’s Day

Photo by Lafayette Barnes

Gina Adams (VP FedEx) with her son Spenser

Patricia Hobson Wilson and Daughter Lynn Hobson (author)

Mrs. Martha Mitchell with her Mother Mrs. Gloria Holbert

Atty. Angela Foster with her Mother Olive M. Jackson-Foster

Natalia Batova (former Director of the Russian Cultural Centre) and her grandchildren

Chinyere Hubbard (Events DC VP) with her youngest son

Makia Smith with her Mother Mrs. Verna Smith & her son Thomas

Dr. Lisa Slade and son Joseph Towns

Social Sightings - THE MAGAZINE Subscribe www.SocialSightings.com Kendra Handy/Editor Dr. Charles Vincent/Photographer Brian Young/Graphic Designer l

Social Sightings-The Column is published in the Hill Rag, DC Mid-City, East of the River Journals, The Washington Informer Newspaper and in the Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlingnton, Loudoun Woman Magazines

2 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

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Around the Region............ 4-11 PG County....................... 12-13 Business............................ 14-15 National............................ 16-17 International.........................18 Health ............................. 20-21 Education ....................... 22-23

Md. House Speaker Chosen / Page 13

OpEd................................ 25-27 WI Health Supplement........... ........................Center Section Lifestyle..........................28-35 Capture the Moment.......... 36 Sports .................................. 37 Religion.................................38 FOLLOW US ON

On May 9, 2010 famed singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist Lena Horne dies in New York City of congestive heart failure at 92.

Benâ€™s Chili Bowl Co-Founder Honored Lifestyle / Page 32

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Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Bowser Showcases Music Teacher Named

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

tosaid.Combat law enforcement. SheInvestments said they threat,” she Prince George’s Teacher had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow Gentrification of the Year sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are

By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer

When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a viclife, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assessshe knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life ProtecEmail comments to: of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselrburke@ start the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. paign. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradiwashingtoninformer.com “It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must that won't turn my family end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. loose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the vicAngelica Brooks, at Bowie shared her story with athechorale audi- director logue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow High School, received the Prince George’s County ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. Public Schools 2019Symposium Teacher of the Year award at a Domestic Violence Mildred Muhammad, Mayor the ex-MurielMarlow alsohighlighted like to see her Bowser would recently gala Saturday, 5 atHeights The Hotel at University of on May 7 at theMay District wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed investments to raise to Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal’s Maryland Center. in College She received a nominaMunicipal ThePark. sympowho was sentenced tocombat six consecawarenessat among children in gentrification her “Find Your Future: tion from peers andbyserves leadership roles without parole public and private schools. She sium was her sponsored the in utive life terms Citywide Resource and Empowerment Expo,” such as “vocal/general curriculum writer and Family and Youth music Services by a Maryland jury forwhere his role in feels to be educatresidents can children enroll inneed government programs professional presenter the school Center of thedevelopment city of District theforBeltway Sniper and attacks in and ed about domestictoviolence. services get connected career and netsystem.”and As the partNational of the honor, receive a pre- Muhammad is Heights Hook-she will 2002. Mildred “We have to stop being pasworking opportunities on site. The Expo is coorpaid, three-year lease for a 2019 vehicle fromofPoUp of Black Women. the founder After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor childinated by the Department of Human Services hanka Honda compete as a Maryland Teacher that helps the dren about domestic violence,” Marlow has and written a book, an organization (DHS), the District Department of Employment of the Me Year.Butterfly,” which is a survivors of domestic “Color violence Marlow said.Public Schools. Services (DOES) and DC “Mrs. Brooks pride inofcreating learning exstory about four takes generations and their children. Marlow has worked to new break The Mayor’s budget proposal provides fundperiencesviolence. that haveThe a dynamic on her stu- for six years. domestic book is impact “I lived in fear Six the cycle of abuse in her family, ing to Families First DC to establish family success inspired her own experiences, dents,” by Bowie principal Robynne years Princeinsaid fear in is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she centers in 10 neighborhoods East of the River to and those of“Her her choral grandmother, statement. program isnot among the top an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that empower families, integrate services, and focus on her mother and her as daughter. in the district as well the state, and of,” she she has said.built process. upstream ensure families safe, healthy She said everyfortime Muhammad saidservices“Itoplan a reputation beingshe onereads of the bestMildred in her field.” to take theseare policies to and able to thrive. Joining Bowser: Laura Zeilinger, In Memoriam excerpts from her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Director, Department of Human Service;said. Unique can not believe the words came domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow Wilhelmina J. Rolark Morris-Hughes, District from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I Director, will not stop untilDepartment these poli- of The Washington Informer Newspaper Employment Services; and Brenda Donald, Direcwon the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” THE WASHINGTON INFORMER DC Child and InPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. that she may be intor,“survival TiaFamily Carol Services Jones canAgency. be reached NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. Denise Rolark Barnes at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark my eye first blackened and my Periodicals postage paid at Washing“Before you get to 'I'm going ton, THE D.C.WASHINGTON and additional mailing ofINFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published lips bled,” Marlow said. to kill you,' it started as a verbal WI STAFF fices.weekly News on andThursday. advertising deadline postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional Periodicals Elaine Davis-Nickens, presiis Monday to News publication. AnD. Kevin Editor mailing prior offices. and advertising deadlineMcNeir, is Monday prior to publication. dent of the National Hook-Up nouncements must be received two two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Announcements must be received Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director of Black Women, said there is no weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressHoward University [HU] College of NursWashington Informer. All rights Lassiter, Photo Editor by es The Washington Informer. consistency in the way domestic to The Washington Informer,All3117Shevry Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, ing and Allied Health Sciences’ upcoming gradrightsD.C. reserved. 20032.POSTMASTER: No part of thisSend publication may be Barnes, reproduced without written Lafayette IV, Assistant PhotopermisEditor violence issues are dealt with by uation will feature the pinning ceremony of 43 change addresses to TheThe Washsionoffrom the publisher. Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor students receiving a bachelor of science in nursing ington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther photographs. Subscription rates are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received King,notJr.more Ave.,than S.E.a Washington, D.C. Dorothy Rowley, Online degree. The keynote speaker will be Marie Ranweek after publication. Make checks payable to: Editor 20032. No part of this publication may dolph Wright, an alumna of the former FreedZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout be reproduced without written permisTHE WASHINGTON INFORMER man’s Nursing program at HU, taking place on sion from the3117 publisher. The Informer Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 Newspaper cannot guarantee the return May 10 at 4 p.m. during the end of National Phone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist 5 GW Mammovan. /Photo courtesy of George of photographs. Subscription rates are Nurses Week. Their mission is to serve the underE-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Washington University Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will www.washingtoninformer.com served, increasing the better health of minorities be received not more than a week after Angie Johnson, Circulation As part of Camp Springs Community Day on while increasing the diversity in the field. publication. Make checks payable to: Saturday, May 11 at Crossland High School, womPUBLISHER Several of the May 2019 graduates have alTHE WASHINGTON INFORMER Denise Rolark Barnes REPORTERS en can sit comfortably inside a pink RV and receive ready interviewed and accepted nursing posi3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E a free mammogram. Some of the eligibility reSTAFF REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, tions, continuing a trend from 2017 and 2018, Washington, D.C. 20032 Brooke N. Garner Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, quirements include women ages 40 and over, who Phone: 202 561-4100 Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s including: Johns Hopkins Medical Center, MD; Carla Peay Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, Fax: 202 574-3785 haven’t received a screening in the past 12 months Duke Regional Hospital, NC; Emory Hospital, Ron Burke Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil news@washingtoninformer.com Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper are eligible, uninsured, low-income resident and GA; Froedtert Lutheran Hospital, MI; Cedar Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, www.washingtoninformer.com LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS haven’t been treated for breast cancer. However, Sinai Medical Center, CA; Bon Secours Health John E. De Freitas Sports Brenda Editor Siler, Sarafina Wright, James Wright Lafayette Barnes, IV, you must pre-register in order to receive the free Victor Holt Photo Editor System, Richmond VA; Northwestern Memorial John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic PHOTOGRAPHERS Design screening sponsored by the George Washington Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert Hospital, IL; Parkland Hospital, TX; Walter Reed Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt Lassiter, University Cancer Center. The event slated from John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Medical Center, MD; Kessler Institute for RehaMarlowNH; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. also features activities for chilbilitation, NJ; New HampshireL.Y. Hospital, Roy Lewis,CIRCULATION Jr., Mark Mahonny dren, public safety demonstrations and raffles. For Paul Trantham US Healthcare, FL; and Methodist Hospital, TX; more information, email the Camp Springs Civic to name a few. Association at csca.jb@gmail.com. In regards to Currently, the nursing program has an enrollthe mammograms, call the cancer center at 202ment of 237 students, of which 17 are male stu741-3252. dents. 4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com

Mammograms, Community Day in Camp Springs

“

Howard to Pin 43 Students with Nursing Degrees

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

“

4 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

AROUND THE REGION Mayor Muriel Bowser and the

Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

5 Youth learns skills of negotiation.(Courtesy photo/Duane Cunningham)

Teens Learn Mediation Skills at ONSE

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins

At the beginning of the year, violence interrupters embarked on a mission to settle longtime disputes between young men from opposing neighborhoods. The first gathering in February reunited a group of reformed 20-somethings who discussed methods of helping their younger peers. The second meeting, which recently took place at the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) in Northeast, brought together more than a dozen teenagers and young men from Robinson Place, Choppa City, Condon Terrace and the MLK communities of Southeast who had been long been on the verge of clashing. “This event made me feel safe,” said Kevin Pinkett, a Ballou STAY student who expressed plans of attending Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina next fall. “We talked about respect and how the people around you aren’t really your friends.” Since meeting violence interrupters from Cure the Streets DC last year, Pinkett, hailing from Barry Farm and Robinson Place, said he’s taken advantage of employment opportunities and other resources. He also recounted attending public events outside of Cure the Street’s office on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue below The Washington Informer office. On May 1, Pinkett’s journey continued as he and other young men discussed the conditions in their communities and brainstormed strategies to help them stay focused amid negative peer pressure. During the 90-minute session, participants answered questions about conflicts and safe problem-solving tactics before breaking in groups, each one focused on topics discussed earlier in the evening. Pinkett said the experience reaffirmed his decision to walk alone as

he pursues academic success. “I don’t hang with a group of people,” said Pinkett, 18. “I just want to get my high school diploma and study technology. When I look all around, someone is dying. We are beefing over shoes and girls, so I just stay to myself and out of the way.” As of Monday, nearly 60 people, a significant number of whom were teenagers and young adults, were homicide victims in the District. The Metropolitan Police Department recently announced the arrest of a 29-year-old man in connection with a murder of a 57-year-old road worker on Southern Avenue in April. During that month, D.C. police recovered more than 180 handguns and arrested 11 youth in illegal weapon possession cases. In response to violence engulfing pockets of the District, ONSE opened its doors in 2017 under which part and full-time violence interrupters enter neighborhoods and establish relationships with community members as part of an effort to settle, and in many cases prevent, squabbles between warring groups. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently allocated $2.5 million for the expansion of the ONSE’s program. Another event scheduled for the late summer will bring together male middle school students on their way to Ballou Senior High School next fall. Duane Cunningham, an intervention specialist at ONSE, said more preventative measures must be taken to allow young men the opportunity to know each other in safe spaces. “The youth at the first event had beef, but [here] we’re preventing a beef,” Cunningham said. “For this event, they bring at least two of their buddies. When they go to Ballou, they all usually come this way on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to fight. “This [plan] comes from experience,” he said. “We saw how we fixed a big problem [last time], and duplicated it so we can change things before he problem came up [again].” WI

You are invited to the District of Columbia’s first Retail Summit, a gathering of local retailers, entrepreneurs, and members of the small business community to discover ways we can build and grow DC’s retail economy.

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 5

AROUND THE REGION

black facts

MAY 9 - 15, 2019 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

MAY 9

1800 – Abolitionist John Brown, who led the slave revolt at Harper’s Ferry in 1859, is born in Torrington, Connecticut. 1899 – Inventor John Albert Burr patents one of the first rotary-blade lawn mowers. 2010 – Famed singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist Lena Horne dies in New York City of congestive heart failure at 92.

MAY 10

1837 – P.B.S. Pinchback, the first African American to become governor of a U.S. state, is born in Macon, Georgia. 1950 – Baseball great Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to be featured on the cover of Life magazine. 1994 – Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa’s first Black president.

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MAY 11

1895 – William Still, “the Dean” of African-American composers and the first to to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, is born in Woodville, Mississippi. 1933 – Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, is born in New York City.

MAY 12

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

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

MAY 14

MAY 13

1888 – The South American nation of Brazil formally abolishes slavery. 1914 – Boxing great Joe Louis, “The Brown Bomber,” is born in La Fayette, Alabama. 1950 – Music legend Stevie Wonder (left) is born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan.

1961 – A bus containing the first group of Freedom Riders (above) is bombed and burned by segregationists outside Anniston, Alabama. The occupants escaped the bus before it burst into flames, but was then attacked by a surrounding mob.

MAY 15

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

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AROUND THE REGION

view P INT

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Minister Louis Farrakhan, along with others identified as extremists, has been banned from Facebook and its other services, including Instagram, for promoting “violence and hate.” What are your thoughts? VICTOR HOYLE /

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But Trump’s hatred stands, so [Facebook CEO Mark] Zuckerberg is telling us they have gotten to him. He knows the difference between the conspiracy hate of an Alex Jones vs. Farrakhan, but they had to add at least one Black man to appease Trump supporters. Farrakhan’s speeches have never sent violence into our streets, promoted harm or murder to anyone, nor has it ever been dangerous. Farrakhan had a million men who marched and it was peaceful. Everyone knows they have been trying to find a way to take Farrakhan down forever, so this comes as no shocker to any Black person!

JOYCE JONES / SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Farrakhan does not promote violence. He promotes independence. He is one of the first leaders to show us how America really feels about us. We are a capitalistic society. Money is what matters. They have it and want to keep it. We can do the same for ourselves if we learn to support each other.

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He doesn’t speak hate. He speaks the truth. He is too strong, so they have to find a way to silence him. I see posts that speak hate against Black people, and did those posts get banned? No they didn’t.

MARKEITHE L JACKSON / MT. OLIVE, NORTH CAROLINA

OK, so if they are going to do that, then they need to make sure that they are being fair and banning anyone, regardless of color, for hate speeches.

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 7

AROUND THE REGION The World According to Dominic BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR / @DKEVINMCNEIR

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It’s almost that time of the year when Americans pause to salute, serenade and showcase their love and appreciation for the women in their lives who have made the road easier to travel, provided encouragement in the eye of the storm and remained that constant force of security whenever needed. I’ve always had a profound and special relationship with my mother – an ordinary woman with extraordinary gifts who I have long-described as my “best friend.” Since my days in college when I first left the nest, she’s always sent me cards, just when I needed it most, which she signed “OAOM” – an acronym for “One And Only Mom,” along with a few dollars to help me along the way. I, in turn, have routinely ended my notes to her with the letters, “OAOS” – short for her label affirming my status as her “One and Only Son.” I can say, with all honesty, that my mother has had my back, front and sides for every moment, every day and in the midst of any and all circumstances during my life – even when she was “fit to be tied” because of my crazy antics, unabashed assertions or absurd choices I’ve made

and their results. Thus, we have forged a connection that can only be deemed to be a God-given, unmerited blessing – one which I have come to realize does not prevail in the lives of far too many mothers and their sons. Now at the age of 91, she’s no longer the woman I remember, the best friend whose love I relished or the voice of sanity and solutions to which I harkened as storms, setbacks and stupidity held me captive. My OAOM has become someone I barely recognize – ravaged by the disintegration of once formidable intellectual, mental, emotional and physical abilities – the results of a five-year, losing battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Sometimes, I feel like screaming at God, seeking to cast blame for the unfortunate hand that Mom and I have been dealt. There are moments when I’m totally overwhelmed by it all – feeding, cleaning, bathing and directing her – assuming tasks normally undertaken by parents as they guide and instruct their offspring until they reach the point that they can fend for themselves. However, I cannot pretend that things will get better for me or my mother. Short of a miracle, they will only get worse. Looking back at the many Mother’s Days we’ve shared together, I am reminded of a song from my childhood sung by and which became a hit for The Hollies, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” It became a sort of theme song of hope and ded-

ication during the 60s and 70s because of the tune’s connection to the selfless ministry of Father Edward J. Flanagan – an Irish priest who took in troubled, neglected children in Omaha in the early 20th century and the special home he eventually established for abandoned, forgotten youth – “Boys Town.” The song, sung by the older brother, talks about the weight he willingly endures, the pain he tackles, the fears he must overcome and the uncertainties, both of today or tomorrow, to which he can ill-afford to succumb if he is to indeed carryout his mission. For me, this song serves as a prophetic message. Moreover, it reminds me that while the road may be long, with many a winding turn – leading me toward a future that only the Creator can conceive and comprehend – my OAOM is never too heavy for me to carry. In fact, neither her needs, her inability to understand or the things I do each day for her because she can no longer carry out routine tasks on her own are such that I cannot endure the load. As the song asserts, she “ain’t heavy” – not in the least – “she’s my mother.” Some may take their mothers out for dinner this year. Others may spend a fortune in flowers, gifts and other special trinkets. As for me, I simply want to hold Mom tightly in my arms, shower her with kisses and try to help us recall the good old days. WI

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AROUND THE REGION

Bellevue: Ward 8’s Emerging Neighborhood By James Wright WI Staff Writer

When people in the District of Columbia think of Ward 8 neighborhoods, Anacostia usually comes to mind first because of its close location to the river that bears the same name and its growing arts community, business corridors and economic development projects. There are some who will think south into the ward to Congress Heights, nicknamed the “Soul of the City” with its St. Elizabeths East campus that includes the Entertainment & Sports Arena, market price housing developments that are being planned and the small and franchise businesses occupying both Alabama and Martin Luther King Jr. avenues. However, farther south from Congress Heights along South Capitol Street SW, not far from the Prince George’s County line, lies Bellevue, a neighborhood that has for many years been residential but considered unsafe by some. “I remember when my mother moved our family to Bellevue in 1994,” said Joseph Goings, who lives in Montgomery County. “My mother had the chance to buy a house in D.C. and she selected Bellevue. When we got there, Bellevue was a little dangerous but, fortunately, I lived on one of the quieter streets.” Bellevue lies in the District’s southeast and southwest quadrants, the only Ward 8 neighborhood with that distinction, and encompasses a block of Atlantic Street SE and First Street SE and Southwest to the north and east; Joliet Street SW and Oxon Run Parkway to the south; Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Shepherd Parkway, Second Street SW and Xenia Street SW to the west. African Americans make up over 90 percent of Bellevue’s population. The median income of Bellevue, $31,725 and while 87 percent of its residents possesses a high school diploma, only 12 percent have graduated from a college or university. While Anacostia and Congress Heights have received a lot of attention in Ward 8 for its economic development projects, Bellevue’s commercial portfolio has also emerged. A 3,800-square-foot Good Food Markets grocer will open this year in the redevelopment of the former South Capitol Street Shopping Center site and this happened partly because of $880,000 from the city’s Neighborhood Prosperity Fund. Plus, the newly redone Trinity Plaza has 49 apartments and 6,000

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5 The William O. Lockridge/Bellevue branch of the D.C. Public Library sits in the Bellevue neighborhood. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

square feet of retail space that includes the Bellevue Pharmacy. The William O. Lockridge/Bellevue branch of the D.C. Public Library has added to the aesthetic look and value of the neighborhood along with the BridgePoint Hospital National Harbor that sits on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Southwest. At the May 4 meeting of the Bellevue Neighborhood Citizens Association, residents expressed their concerns about illegal dumping to city and police officials at there. “Something must be done about that,” said Jacqueline Kinlow, treasurer of the group. The association members noted with interest that Bellevue’s homicide rate stood at four slain as of May 4 in the D.C. police’s Public Safety Area 706, from Nov. 4, 2018. Residents credit good police relations and neighborhood awareness to keeping the homicide number low, compared to other areas in the ward. Similar to Anacostia and Congress Heights, whites have been moving to Bellevue although in smaller numbers and percentages. Eugene DeWitt Kinlow, brother of Jacqueline and longtime resident of Bellevue, noted that some whites are really “coming back home.” “In 1960, 90 percent of Bellev-

ue was white,” he said. “But by the 1970s, massive change came to the community. Remember there were the riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King and people started leaving neighborhoods in the city like Bellevue. This ‘white flight’ also occurred because of the changing school system and people had access to other areas in Maryland because of a thing called the Beltway.” Kinlow said he noticed whites starting moving back 15 years ago but some reclaimed their parents or grandparents property instead of buying outright. “Some people in Bellevue were renting their houses instead of owning them,” Kinlow said. “Some of the whites who are moving in are living in their families’ houses.” According to real estate website Trulia, the median price for a Bellevue home is $288,000 compared to the overall median price in the District of $570,000. Goings, who said his mother has been in Bellevue for 25 years, noted that property values “have gone up.” Kinlow said Bellevue has “great potential for development.” “There is a beautiful view of the city high on the hill,” Kinlow said. “I can see the river, the Potomac River, from my backyard.” WI

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AROUND THE REGION #FreeBlackMamas Movement Takes Off in District of Columbia prisons or have had mothers with similar experiences. On Saturday, other speakers, including ShaQuitta Sutton, said mothers play a significant part in quelling the violence that has engulfed communities in Wards 7 and 8. Through her “No Peace, No Play” movement, Sutton has been able to meet and unite mothers in the Ward 7 community against perpetrators and community members who don’t

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Throughout much of this week, a coalition of grassroots organizations posted bail for more than a dozen Black mothers confined to a Prince George’s County correctional facility. Recipients of this financial assistance, many of whom have been charged with minor crimes, will get to spend Mother’s Day with their children. For Qiana Johnson, a Prince George’s County resident and coordinator of these efforts, the struggles that incarcerated mothers experience hit home. Since returning from a two-and-a-half-year prison stint in 2017, she has organized on behalf of a population she says has been stigmatized by a system that ostracizes Black mothers on various fronts. “Right now, this is just for Mother’s Day, but we would like to make it ongoing,” Johnson, mother of two young men and founder of Life after Release, said on May 4 during the inaugural Black Mothers Bailout event. “We have [at least] 15 intakes who have called in — that’s double than last year.” For several minutes, Johnson told her story before an audience of more than 50 Black women, men and children who gathered at the Bundy Secret Garden, located behind Check-It Enterprises and We Act Radio in Southeast, and later reflected on the struggles that incarcerated Black women across the country endure. Before her release, Johnson drew up a business plan with which she built coalitions in the reentry arena. She has since used her platform to highlight the trauma that plagues female returning citizens struggling to meet familial obligations. “The percentage of women inmates is rising, but it’s more socially acceptable for men to go to prison,” she said. “The stigma hits differently when you have to combat that shame. This is part of my healing.” Of the more than 220,000 women who’ve been locked up in jails across the country, 60 percent have been confined in pretrial limbo. A majority of this population is classified as Black. Additionally, four out of five of these women have children. Mother’s Day bailout programs, part of the #FreeBlackMamas movement, have been in existence for several years to combat long stints of pre-trial detention, often perpetuated by mothers’ inability to pay exorbitant bail amounts. The Women

hold them accountable. “We need protection, and this movement involves peace walk and rallies that bring our issues up front,” Sutton said. “We’re suffering from depression and don’t know what to do.” Sutton started the “No Peace, No Play” movement upon her release from prison in February. Since then, she has attended a Ward 7 peace walk and expressed plans for future events.

“We’re bringing awareness to the situation and bringing our sisters to the table,” she said. “We’re going into communities to see, feel, and touch what’s happening. We need the men to realize the direct impact of violence. Two families lose because one person dies and the other goes to prison. I’ve been in situations where I couldn’t concentrate in school because of traumatic situations.” WI

5 Qiana Johnson, founder of Life after Release during the inaugural Black Mothers Bailout event held in Southeast on Saturday, May 4. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

Involved in Reentry Efforts (WIRE), the District chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement and other women-focused community groups coordinated the three-hour event that featured formerly incarcerated mothers, a modeling team, and a DJ. The larger issue for WIRE co-founder Lashonia Thompson-El involves the lack of a cash bail system in the District, a circumstance that inspired her collaboration with her Prince George’s County partners. While some proponents say the local abolishment of cash bail, in effect since the early 1990s, removes income level as a factor in someone’s release, others say that judges insert their biases in determining whether someone, a mother dealing with substance abuse, for instance, poses a safety threat while free. “The District plays a lot of games,” Thompson-El said. “Holding women in jail for bail, or unfair assessments, is inhumane and harms families in ways [that] affect the entire community. You have minor children suffering from adverse experiences, and challenges in school. “It also makes it more difficult for mothers to recover from substance abuse when they’re isolated,” she said. “Jail is not the place to handle these issues. Many of these women are not there for violent crimes, just mental health issues, drug violations and property crimes.” Since its inception, WIRE has helped incarcerated mothers and their children reconcile differences and rise above situations exacerbated by the criminal justice system. WIRE’s executive board consists of women who have served stints in juvenile detention centers, jails and

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 9 - 15, 2019 11

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Jones Chosen as Maryland House Speaker: ‘Historic’ By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Talmadge Branch couldn’t contain his excitement for longtime colleague and friend Del. Adrienne Jones of Baltimore County chosen unanimously as Maryland Speaker of the House.

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Even while on the House of Delegates floor, the Baltimore City delegate wanted to smoke a cigar. “This is historic,” said Branch, also the House majority whip. “I have nothing but joy for this. I was blinking back tears. It’s a beautiful thing.” Jones, 64, was elected as the

5 Del. Adrienne Jones handles her first order of business as the new speaker of the House of Delegates in Annapolis on May 1. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

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tive years until his death on April 7. Jones, who had served as speaker pro tem since 2003, said she understands the historic moment, but it will take some time to sink in. “This is all new because I thought one way when I left [home] and came to Annapolis [last week],” she said. “I’m probably going to take a deep breath.” According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Jones’ selection made her the third Black woman in the nation chosen as a statewide presiding officer. Daniel De Simone, a spokesman for the center, said Jones is currently the only Black woman nationwide to sit as a state House speaker. Crisanta Duran, 38, was the first Latina elected in 2017 for the same position in Colorado. “In Maryland, this is incredibly historic,” said Todd Eberly, political science professor at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s, Maryland. “Giving everything that is happening in Baltimore, this is great news for the state, especially the Baltimore region.” Jones actually stepped out the race for House speaker and put her support behind Del. Dereck E. Davis (D-District 25) of Mitchellville. But when the House Democratic Caucus couldn’t corral the 71 votes needed to select either Davis or Del. Maggie McIntosh of Baltimore City, lawmakers decided to ensure all members chose a Democrat in Jones. The caucus meet for more than four hours to finally reach a consensus on Jones. “[Davis and McIntosh] could’ve went on longer and seen if the other one would’ve given in, but

they didn’t,” Eberly said. “You absolutely have to give credit to the two of them for recognizing that this wouldn’t be resolved in their favor.” Because of a divide among the Democrat Party to select a new speaker, Eberly said one of Jones’s first jobs will be to “soothe those hurt feelings.” Jones, a mother of two sons, graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She maintains her Baltimore City roots as a member of the United Bethel African American Episcopal Church. Jones became the first person from the Baltimore region to lead the House since Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) served as a delegate in 1986. “Adrienne is a friend and has worked her way up through the years, building alliances statewide and showing her skills in getting things done to better our state and local communities,” Cardin said in a statement posted on social media. “Her historic election as the first female and first African-American speaker makes this moment even more meaningful.” Jones said she will help provide a focus on regional concerns affecting the Baltimore region, but plans to visit other areas. Jones will make one of her first public appearances Thursday, May 9 at an “after-session” fundraiser at Lake Presidential in Mitchellville with Del. Darryl Barnes (D-District 25) of Upper Marlboro. “I know Baltimore region best. I grew up there,” she said. “Other areas are not going to be neglected. I’m a visual person. I like to go out to areas … and [hear] persons tell me about it.” WI

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

County Executive Alsobrooks Organizes Public Hearing on Schools CEO

By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill

Since Monica Goldson’s appointment as interim CEO of the Prince George’s County public schools, she attended dozens of community and school meetings, helped tie boots for District Heights elementary students and continues to ensure the county receives equitable funding from the ongoing recommendations from the Kirwan Commission. With her contract as the temporary leader expiring at the end of June, residents wonder will she remain, or will a new person be chosen. That’s why County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will lead a public hearing Monday, May 13 at Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale for residents to offer comments on what they seek in a permanent leader. “It is something we decided to

PGCPS BRIEFS Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer The PGCPS graduation season began with College Signing Day on May 1, a celebration of students’ commitment to higher education. PGCPS College Signing Day aims to inspire more students to pursue higher education as part of the national College Signing Day/Reach Higher initiative by former first lady Michelle Obama. Graduating seniors are encouraged to share their plans on social media with the hashtags #PGCPSCollegeSigningDay, #CTECareerSigningDay and #AchievingExcellence.

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Eleanor Roosevelt High School seniors Carla Rose and Mitchell Smith will compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair May 13-17 in Phoenix.

do because we have gotten calls and emails from citizens who want an update on the process and would like to have a chance to weigh in,” spokesman John Erzen said in an email Tuesday, May 7. “The county executive is big on collaboration and ensuring that citizens have a seat at the table and a voice in decisions that impact their lives.” Erzen said it’s unclear how long a search would take, but briefly summarized the process: Gov. Larry Hogan appoints a three-person selection committee who will receive candidates from a selected firm to conduct a nationwide search. Once the committee interviews them, three names will be sent to Alsobrooks for consideration and then choose that person. Because Goldson’s contract expires in less than two months, her interim status could be extended. “I think we are going to have to extend her contract and allow her

to continue working,” said school board member Belinda Queen. “I don’t think we just can’t find another CEO that quickly.” Queen, elected to the board in November, said Goldson allows board members to call her with any problems they hear from parents and guardians. She praised Goldson’s assertiveness to lead public-private partnerships in school construction projects slated to cost $1 billion in state funding over a seven-year period. Other happenings during Goldson’s tenure so far include: Glenarden Woods Elementary received a Blue Ribbon honor for education excellence; credit from Maryland State Board of Education on improvements to certifying grades increased compliance on administrative procedures. But Queen also heard concerns from her District 6 constituents that Goldson worked under a previous administration that held disputes with board members,

Intel ISEF is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, and Phoenix is expected to welcome more than 1,800 students from 80 different countries including China, India, South Africa and Brazil. Carla will compete in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines competition and Mitchell in mathematics. They were grand-prize winners in the Prince George’s Area Science Fair.

Students from Bowie, DuVal and Suitland high schools, Kettering Middle School and Benjamin Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy participated in the second annual “Best of Maryland Arts Education Festival,” a statewide student exhibition for music, dance, theatre, visual arts, media arts, creative writing and poetry. The opening ceremony took place April 26 at the centerpiece of Mount Vernon, the Washington Monument in Baltimore. In addition to rotation student performances, there were master classes and portfolio reviews in all arts disciplines that allowed performers and the public to create their own pathway through the day.

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Sanai Hyman, a graduating senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, has received a full ride to North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University, thanks to a Cheatham-White Scholarship. The merit-based scholarship was established in fall 2018 at North Carolina A&T to provide an outstanding educational experience for students who are exceptional scholars, versatile and well-rounded individuals.

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PGCPS will accept student transfer requests for the 2019-20 school year through May 13. For instructions on submitting a transfer request and a list of available schools, go to www.pgcps.org/student-transfers

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PGCPS families may apply for

5 Monica Goldson, interim CEO for Prince George’s County public schools, speaks at podium during press conference at Beacon Heights Elementary School on April 12. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

allowed for some employees to receive raises and lack of student attendance. “The people should be allowed to participate in a decision such

as this,” Queen said. “There have been a lot of things put in place that have been good, but it is going to take time and residents must have a say in the process.” WI 3 PGPCS graduating seniors are encouraged to share their plans on social media. (Courtesy of PGCPS)

preschool and prekindergarten programs starting at their child’s boundary school. Registration for kindergarten have also begun at children’s boundary schools where applications for early entrance to prekindergarten and kindergarten will be accepted through June 1. Children admitted to the prekindergarten program must be at least 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the school year in which they apply for

entrance, and at least 5 years old for the kindergarten program. If a child does not meet criteria, parents may apply for early entrance. To be eligible for early entrance, a child must meet the following criteria: Prekindergarten – Must turn 4 years old between Sept. 2 - Oct. 15. Kindergarten - Must turn 5 years old between Sept. 2 - Oct. 15. For specific program and registration information, call 301-925-1985. WI

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 13

BUSINESS Norton Bill Would Require Feds to Report on Advertising with Minority, Women-owned Media WI Staff Report During National Small Business Week, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has introduced a bill that requires federal agencies to include in their annual budget justifications the amount they spent on advertising contracts with small disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities in the previous fiscal year, as well as projections of their spending for the upcoming fiscal

year. Norton and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) also sent letters to all 12 House appropriations subcommittees requesting that they direct each agency under their jurisdiction to include this information in their fiscal year 2021 budget justifications. The report accompanying the House’s fiscal year 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, the first fiscal year 2020 report released thus far, directs the agencies to include this informa-

5 Eleanor Holmes Norton (Courtesy photo)

tion in their fiscal year 2021 budget justifications. The Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill is the second largest appropriations bill. “As the largest advertiser in the United States, the federal governB:9.5” ment has an obligation to ensure fair access for T:9.5” minority and womS:9.5” en-owned media companies,” Nor-

ton said. “My bill would ensure that federal agencies are striving to reach minorities and women, who often get their news from outlets that serve more specific communities.” In 2016, Norton led members of Congress in requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on their advertising

contracts. The GAO report, released in July 2018, showed that in fiscal year 2017, only 16 percent of the federal government’s advertising contract obligations went to businesses owned by minorities and women. The bill is cosponsored by Lee (D-CA) and Gwen Moore (DWI). WI

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Offers available in AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, SC, TX and VA. Portfolio by Wells Fargo® customers are eligible to receive an additional bonus interest rate on these accounts.3 1. To qualify for this offer, you must have a new or existing Platinum Savings account and enroll the account in this offer between 03/25/2019 and 05/31/2019. This offer is subject to change at any time, without notice. This offer is available only to Platinum Savings customers in the following states: AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, SC, TX and VA. In order to earn the Special Interest Rate of 2.08% (Special Rate), you must deposit $25,000 in new money (from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or its affiliates) to the enrolled savings account and maintain a minimum daily account balance of $25,000 throughout the term of this offer. The corresponding Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for this offer is 2.10%. The Special Rate will be applied to the enrolled savings account for a period of 12 months, starting on the date the account is enrolled in the offer. However, for any day during that 12 month period that the daily account balance is less than the $25,000 minimum, the Special Rate will not apply, and the interest rate will revert to the standard interest rate applicable to your Platinum Savings account. As of 02/15/2019, the standard interest rate and APY for a Platinum Savings account in AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, SC, TX and VA with an account balance of $0.01 and above is 0.05% (0.05% APY). Each tier shown reflects the current minimum daily collected balance required to obtain the applicable APY. Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly. The amount of interest earned is based on the daily collected balances in the account. Upon the expiration of the 12 month promotional period, standard interest rates apply. Minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $25. A monthly service fee of $12 applies in any month the account falls below a $3,500 minimum daily balance. Fees may reduce earnings. Interest rates are variable and subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo may limit the amount you deposit to a Platinum Savings account to an aggregate of $1 million. Offer not available to Private Banking or Wealth customers. 2. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective for accounts opened between 03/25/2019 to 05/31/2019. The 11-month New Dollar CD special requires a minimum of $25,000 brought to Wells Fargo from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank N.A., or its affiliates to earn the advertised APY. Public Funds and Wholesale accounts are not eligible for this offer. APY assumes interest remains on deposit until maturity. Interest is compounded daily. Payment of interest on CDs is based on term: For terms less than 12 months (365 days), interest may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or at maturity (the end of the term). For terms of 12 months or more, interest may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. A fee for early withdrawal will be imposed and could reduce earnings on this account. Special Rates are applicable to the initial term of the CD only. At maturity, the Special Rate CD will automatically renew for a term of 6 months, at the interest rate and APY in effect for CDs on renewal date not subject to a Special Rate, unless the Bank has notified you otherwise. 1,2. Due to the new money requirement, accounts may only be opened at your local branch. Wells Fargo reserves the right to modify or discontinue the offer at any time without notice. Minimum new money deposit requirement of at least $25,000 is for this offer only and cannot be transferred to another account to qualify for any other consumer deposit offer. 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If the Portfolio by Wells Fargo relationship is terminated, the bonus interest rate on all eligible savings accounts, and discounts or fee waivers on other products and services, will discontinue and revert to the Bank’s then-current applicable rate or fee. For bonus interest rates on time accounts, this change will occur upon renewal. If the Portfolio by Wells Fargo relationship is terminated, the remaining unlinked Wells Fargo Portfolio Checking or Wells Fargo Prime Checking account will be converted to another checking product or closed. © 2019 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Deposit products offered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLSR ID 399801

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Formerly Incarcerated Baltimore Woman Brings Opportunity to Others By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia To prove that ex-offenders can be rehabilitated, Koch Industries is supporting the production of the “Success Beyond Bars” video series, which profiles ex-offenders who have become successful after release. One of those profiled is Teresa Hodge, co-founder of the Baltimore-based nonprofit organization Mission: Launch and CEO of the for-profit service R3 Score. Hodge, who herself was once incarcerated, has now gone on to become a successful entrepreneur. She founded Mission: Launch with her daughter Laurin Leonard after serving an 87-month prison sentence. “Transitioning from prison to freedom was challenging for me,” Hodge said. “Even though I mentally fought to maintain dignity while behind the gates, when I was released from prison, I initially found it difficult to process and receive random acts of kindness, human decency and courtesies from strangers. Yet I was filled with so much gratitude when I was treated as normal.” Hodge has become a passionate advocate for people with criminal connections, and she said she’s committed to reducing the lasting harm caused by prison. Her nonprofit assists as many as 15 returning citizens each year and focuses on introducing technology and entrepreneurship to previously incarcerated individuals as a way of ensuring self-sufficiency. Additionally, the organization manages the Rebuilding Re-Entry Coalition, a citizen-led movement committed to creating a more just and inclusive society for returning citizens.

Hodge also plays a critical role in building strategic partnerships and establishing social enterprise models for greater reach and sustainability. “I left prison 100 percent committed to building solutions that would help me and help other people,” said Hodge, who’s also a certified life coach. “Not one person I encountered in prison said they can’t wait to be released so that they can come back. Obviously, there’s a disconnect — people would say they can’t get a job and they can’t reconnect back in the community and I’d hear all the ways they feel challenged and I think somewhere in those moments of being hopeless, bad decisions were made or individuals just went back to doing what was familiar.” A big part of her mission is offering hope and an opportunity. “That’s what people need, an opportunity which gives them hope, and for many that means showing them how to become entrepreneurs,” she said. Hodge was profiled in Black Enterprise magazine in which it was noted that her organization received a $50,00 Small Business Administration grant in 2014, to help respond to the needs of the roughly 70 percent who have served time in prison and are unable to find employment. While Mission: Launch is just one of the two businesses started by Hodge and her daughter, Black Enterprise reported that it appears that their most powerful financial game changer will be R3 Score — which can be thought of as a FICO score for the formerly incarcerated. It allows for a chance to level the playing field for ex-inmates who seek financial security by means of entrepreneurship. “Often when bankers do a credit check or a background check, they

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Vended Meals Two Rivers Public Charter School is advertising the opportunity to bid on the management of breakfast, lunch, snack and/or CACFP supper program to children enrolled at the school for the 2019-2020 school year with a possible extension of (4) one year renewals. All meals must meet at a minimum, but are not restricted to, the USDA National School Breakfast, Lunch, Afterschool Snack and At Risk Supper meal pattern requirements. Additional specifications outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP) such as student data, days of service, meal quality, etc., may be obtained beginning on May 13, 2019 from Alysha Brown at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals will be accepted at procurement@tworiverspcs.org on June 3, 2019, not later than 3:00 pm.

find out that you have an arrest or conviction record,” Hodge said. “In finding out that information, they are uncomfortable with giving you money. “I am not a techie. I don’t know how to code a line but I brought a software engineer in and asked, ‘Could this rubric be turned into technology?’” she said. “He said yes, and we’ve been developing it for two years. We’re now ready to launch R3 Score.” As it’s spelled put on the Mission: Launch website, here’s how it works: R3 Score is an online platform en-

WOMEN Page 44

5 Mother-daughter team of Teresa Hodge (right) and Lauren Leonard. (Courtesy photo)

Grandparent Power By Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., May is a very special month to me as both of my now adult babies were born in May. My baby boy is definitely not a baby any more. He is 30 years old with a wife and two children of his own. I remember being told that being a grandparent is the best job ever. As a grandparent we have the possibility of spoiling the children without the repercussion of teaching and disciplining the children. As grandparents we have the opportunity to pay back our children for that which they put us through. I am a grandparent whose grandchildren are not geographically close to be able to spend regular consistent time with my little ones. Therefore it is easy to want to be indulgent when I am near them. I had fallen into the trap of always coming with my trunk full of gifts such as books, clothes, games etc. Then I remembered that there is a greater way to support my grandchildren and create a legacy that will support the values that I have. As a Christian I remember the scripture that states, a good person leaves an inheritance for his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22 NIV). I know that my grandchildren will be recipients of an inheritance from my Trust when I pass away. However, there is more to inheritance than just leaving money. We have a responsibility to sow into the lives of our grandchildren’s values and culture. While distance is real for extended families in our ever shrinking global communities, we can be thoughtful about sowing into the lives of our heirs. I am mindful that I have no idea what the age I will be when I pass away let alone the station of my grandchildren when that time comes. I am thankful that I have the capacity to provide my grandchildren with benefits from my passing. Let’s be clear that I did not leave them a direct gift that they receive just because I will pass away. I am incentivizing them to exhibit the values and pursuing goals that I support that will impact their growth and development. I believe that a person should be committed to building and each of us should build toward the future if indeed capable of doing so. I hold a Revocable Trust that will provide benefits upon my passing that can support the grandchildren to attend college or other skill training for wealth creation and could also provide support for purchasing real property if they are committed to building assets. My Revocable Trust is clear about distributing to them in my death. Yet if I am incapacitated there will be no distribution until I pass away as I may need the assets. Yet, in my capacity to support my grandchildren to have access to support and resources, I have realized that there is additional options to provide for them during both of our lifetimes that will not be impacted if I become incapacitated. I can choose to invest in vehicles to economically empower them while we are both alive. One vehicle that I had chosen to employ is an Irrevocable Trust where they are the sole beneficiaries and owns life insurance policies that have life time benefits. The Irrevocable Trust will hold the policy so when it comes for them to identify assets they hold for college, this asset will not be claimed against them. If there is any issue such as a car accident or divorce, the assets are protected. I will have the opportunity to sow into my grandchildren in a protected way that is not dependent upon my death. As grandparents we can provide an inheritance during our lifetime that will be an investment that has an invaluable return. We can build the legacy if we plan.

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 15

NATIONAL Young Takes Mayoral Seat in Baltimore Amid Scandal By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer Decades after working in the cafeteria and mailroom at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Bernard C. Young has become the 51st mayor of Baltimore, and for nearly a month he has been shaking up the status quo in a city rocked by crime, drug overdoses and political corruption. Young, 64, has been lead-

ing the city since April 2 when former Mayor Catherine Pugh abruptly went on sick leave amid a scandal regarding the sale of her “Healthy Holy” children’s book that led to her resignation last week, a move that was grudgingly welcomed by federal and state lawmakers. “For the past month, I have traveled the city and worked hard to keep government’s focus on providing essential services

5 Mayor Catherine Pugh speaks to students at Morgan State before she stepped down. (Hamil Harris/The Washington Informer)

to our citizens,” Young said in a statement. “I have spent time in classrooms working with some of the brightest minds our public school system has to offer. I have unveiled a number of de-

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velopment projects that stand as symbols to the commitment that many people have to our city.” Young is one of several recent Baltimore mayors who were once city council president. Sheila Dixon followed former Mayor Martin O’Malley after he was elected governor in 2006 and Stephanie Rawlings-Blake became mayor upon Dixon’s resignation after pleading guilty in a corruption case. At a time when so many have lost confidence in city officials and the police department since the 2015 death of Freddie Gray and a police corruption probe, Young is determined to right the ship. “I pledge that my focus will not change,” he said. “I have listened to the concerns of our citizens and I will continue to work diligently to address those concerns.” After Pugh went on medical leave, Young said he was “utterly heartbroken” by the circumstances but cited Article IV, Section 2 of the Baltimore City Charter that states “[i]n case of, and during, sickness temporary disqualification or necessary absence of the Mayor, the President of the City Council shall be ex officio Mayor of the City.” Pugh, who has kept a low profile amid the scandal, apologized to city residents. “I am sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of Baltimore and the credibility of the office of the mayor,” Pugh said in a statement read aloud by her lawyer, Steve Silverman, at a brief news conference that she did not attend. “Baltimore deserves a mayor who can move our great city forward.” Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who pushed for Pugh to step down,

released the following statement after her resignation: “This was the right decision, as it was clear the mayor could no longer lead effectively. The federal and state investigations must and will continue to uncover the facts.” Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (DMd.) issued the following statement: “I wish Mayor Pugh the best as she continues to restore her health. No one ever questioned her passion for Baltimore City and its citizens, and I commend her for making this decision to put our City first. I have every confidence in the leadership of Mayor Young, and I ask that you join me in giving him our full support. Over the past month he has demonstrated his strong commitment to Baltimore and his ability to direct the City along the right path.” Baltimore also got a new police commissioner in Michael Harrison from New Orleans. The U.S. Department of Justice closed a probe prompted by the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray, concluding Baltimore police officers regularly violate the constitutional rights of Black residents through the use of excessive force, unlawful searches and arrests, and racial discrimination. In 2016 federal prosecutors also charged seven Baltimore police officers for racketeering crimes including stealing money from civilians. Several admitted drug dealers have testified at trials against them and one police officer. In November 2017, homicide detective Sean Sutter was found fatally shot with his own weapon the day before he was scheduled to testify before a

MAYOR Page 33

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NATIONAL African American Civil War Museum to Host ‘More Than a Fraction’ WI Staff Report

The African American Civil War Museum in Washington, D.C., will host the “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” presentation of Baltimore researcher and author Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs. Started in 2017 after Imagination Lunchbox, LLC published her creative nonfiction book, “More Than a Fraction,” the presentation about the research into her ancestors morphed into a presentation on African American heritage and culture. Held in partnership with The Baltimore Times Foundation Times Community Services, Moseley-Hobbs will speak at the African American Civil War Museum (1925 Vermont Ave. NW) on Sunday, May 26 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. During the event, Moseley-Hobbs will talk about the research on her heritage that resulted in a documented story of her ancestors, the Fractions, and, indirectly, African Americans from Virginia and the original colonies. That research told a story of a family transported on a ship called the True Blue to American for a life of enslavement at the Smithfield and Solitude plantations in Blacksburg, Virginia. By the third generation, the Civil War began giving the Fractions and other enslaved a chance for freedom. The “More Than a Fraction” presentation has told this incredible story at Red Emma’s Book Store in Baltimore, at Virginia Tech University for their Civil War Studies Department, at the Solitude estate in Virginia for the renaming of the Fraction cabin, and at the Central, Edmondson Avenue and Waverly Enoch Pratt libraries in Baltimore. Moseley-Hobbs’ research doc-

umentation tells how brothers Thomas and Othello Fraction ran away from slavery to join the Union Army to serve in the Civil War for a chance to win their freedom. Moseley-Hobbs also discovered documentation, which is not included in the timeline of her book, that also tells the story of their struggles to be free after the Civil War was won, how they became landowners, how one brother became a respected train operator and how their names came to be engraved on the War Memorial Plaza in Washington. Moseley-Hobbs is a member of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation’s board of trustees that oversees the historic estate where the Smithfield plantation was located, and continues to work with Virginia Tech University, which now holds the Solitude and the overall major land of the Preston family plantations. The Preston family was the original owners of the plantations and was considered the wealthiest family in Virginia at the time. The last heir to the Smithfield estate was William Ballard Preston, a former Virginia state senator and as U.S. secretary of the Navy and the last heir to the Solitude estate was Williams’ brother Robert Preston. Moseley-Hobbs is a direct descendant of Thomas Fraction, who was noted upon his death by a local newspaper as being a “well-known colored man.” “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” includes a very powerful Power Point presentation where Moseley-Hobbs connects the African cultures of her ancestors to the cultural norms of African Americans in the U.S. today. The “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” presentation is sponsored by The Baltimore Times’ Times Community Services

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foundation, Imagination Lunchbox Publications and www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. For more information, go to www. ImaginationLunchbox.com or email ImaginationLunchbox@ gamil.com. To learn more about the African American Civil War Museum, go to www.AfroAmCivilWar.org. “More Than a Fraction” can be purchased at Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites. WI

5 Kerri Moseley-Hobbs (Courtesy photo/Roanoke Times)

Honoring and Protecting Our Seniors By Stephen C. Taylor Commissioner for the District of Columbia Department of Insurance Securities and Banking May is designated as Older Americans Month, which was originally established in 1963 by President Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens as Senior Citizens Month. At the time of designation, only 17 million American had reached their 65th birthday, one-third of older Americans lived in poverty and few programs were available to meet the needs of elders. The theme for this year’s honorary month is Connect, Create, Contribute. Seniors represent more than 11 percent of Washington’s 713,000 residents. And while they are a vibrant part of the rich, diverse fabric that is the District of Columbia, many fall prey to financial scams. As the Commissioner for the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, I would like to encourage elder District residents to increase their financial knowledge and avoid being taken advantage of by fraudulent companies and individuals. Did you know that 5.4 percent of older adults experience some form of fraud or scam each year? Our mission is to protect consumers by providing regulatory supervision of the financial services, individuals and companies operating in the District, and to develop market conditions that will attract new financial services firms. Our programs and services support Mayor Bowser’s vision to put more District residents on pathways to the middle class by empowering them to make sound financial decisions. Since taking office, Mayor Bowser launched a range of innovative initiatives that support District seniors. The Protection of Seniors and Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act of 2019 will establish a mandatory reporting requirement of suspected financial exploitation for insurance companies, securities firms and banks. The Vulnerable Population and Employer Protection Amendment Act of 2017 helps the District move more quickly and effectively to eliminate financial predators. For the month of May, my agency, the District Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, will host a variety of education programs for seniors to help them learn more about how to save, avoid financial scams and live comfortably in retirement. The Department also is promoting consumer guides and alerts on topics that include advance fee scams, payday loans, reverse mortgages and identity theft. For more information, visit our website at www.disb.dc.gov. Together, let us all pledge to honor and protect our seniors.

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 17

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Foreign Powers Sponsoring Terrorism, Nigerian Army Says The Nigerian Army has alleged that some unnamed foreign powers, working in concert with their local collaborators, were complicating the country’s security challenges by sponsoring terrorism and banditry. According to the army, not only are these elements working assiduously to derail the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, as well as the West African sub-region, they were also hard at work to scuttle the country’s democracy as well as the May 29 handover date, The Guardian reported. In a statement issued Saturday, Col. Sagir Musa, (left) director of Army Public Relations, said “mischief-makers were determined to undermine the peace and integrity of Nigeria.” Musa cited “great concern” over “efforts by some unpatriotic individuals, groups and foreign interests determined to cause mischief and exacerbate the security situation in this country in particular, and West African Sub-region.” The statement added that these persons and groups were making concerted efforts to further induce the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP)/Boko Haram terrorists and bandits with funds and other logistic supports. “Their body language and unguarded utterances seem to be in tandem with the above and imply tacit support for the criminals,” the statement said. “For example, credible sources have shown that some individuals are hobnobbing with Boko Haram terrorists, while others are deliberately churning out falsehood against security agencies with a view to setting the military against the people and the government. “They are also demoralizing troops and security agencies through false accusations and fake news,” the director said. “Therefore, it has become necessary to inform the public and warn such persons and groups to desist as the consequences of their actions would be calamitous to themselves and our great country. “Nigeria is a sovereign country with clearly established judicial system; therefore, all aggrieved persons and groups should take advantage of that and resolve their differences amicably,” the statement stressed. WI Traditional Help Buttons

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caribbean now Princeton Hopeful Flooded with Offers of Help For much of Friday, Jafar Howe’s (left) phone would not stop ringing, as scores of people reached out to pledge monetary support to get him to Princeton University. “The calls haven’t stopped coming,” he said, The Trinidad Guardian reported. “I’ve gotten calls from some very distinguished individuals in the nation. I don’t want to call any names. It’s been overwhelming. I’ve actually been having trouble keeping track of all the numbers coming in.” The 19-year-old student from Laventille narrowly missed out on a national scholarship but applied to the Ivy League University after scoring 1540 in the SAT exam. At the start of April, when Princeton responded, he was offered a $400,000 partial scholarship but still needed $20,000 to secure accommodation when he begins classes at the prestigious New Jersey school. On Thursday, Guardian Media reported that he still needed to raise that money and had returned to his alma mater St. Mary’s College to sell popcorn and tutor students to raise funds. Once his story was made public, calls kept coming to Howe,

with many offering to cover the expense. A crowdfunding page that he started to go along with his own efforts had raised more than $7,000 by May 2, The Guardian reported. WI

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 19

HEALTH Creatives Push Mayor, City Agencies on Cultural Plan By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins In one of its numerous overtures to the District’s creative class, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s cultural plan tasks the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) with increasing affordable housing opportunities for artists and business owners. Some artists have since followed up on that priority, contacting DHCD and their elected officials about what’s estimated

to be more than 60 vacant lots in Wards 7 and 8, some of which will be up for grabs in an upcoming online auction. In their endeavor lies the hope for discussion about how that space could best meet the needs of musicians, actors and dancers. “I’m significantly operating on the music side of the business and know there are few practice and performance spaces east of the Anacostia River,” said Vernard Gray, jazz programmer and organizer of the East River Jazz Festival. Gray recounted several failed attempts in past years to secure

practice space from local churches. For the longest time, he said, Francis Gregory Library in Southeast counted as one of his few options east of the Anacostia River. Gray, a jazz programmer and Black Artists DC member, reminisced on his stewardship of the MIYA Gallery, based downtown between 1976 and 2001, and leadership in the Lansburgh Cultural Center. He expressed a desire for similar, affordable and accessible accommodations in Wards 7 and 8 for upcoming creatives, beyond what THEARC, Anacostia Playhouse and the state-of-the-art recording studio in the Deanwood Recreation Center provide. Since 2017, more than 30 vacant spaces, including some located in the Bellevue and Deanwood neighborhoods, have been sold as part of the Vacant to Vibrant DC initiative. An online auction, scheduled to take place between May 10-15, will feature 10 properties. Gray’s email to local officials and agencies in advance of the event includes suggestions to help the creative community. This week, he suggested to Bowser the creation of a community

5 Vernard Gray (Photo courtesy/Twitter grab)

land trust to be managed by the Ward 7 & 8 Creative Spaces Working Group. During the latter part of last month, Gray sent an email through DHCD’s web portal asking for, in lieu of auctions, the assembly of a working group comprised of cultural artists from Wards 7 and 8, their council members, the mayor and representatives from DCHD and HFA. DHCD’s media relations department didn’t immediately return requests for comment about

the more than 60 vacant lots up for auction or Gray’s outreach. Bowser released her 224-page cultural plan last month amid what the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development once described as the precipice of a development boom in Wards 7 and 8. In recent years, as new coffee shops, sit-down restaurants and other venues appeared in parts of the region, longtime residents,

CULTURAL PLAN Page 44

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HEALTH

CHILDREN from Page 1 to vulnerable children. Children Incorporated also provides emergency assistance and they’ve arranged a food truck once a month to arrive at each school so that parents can purchase fresh fruit and vegetables that aren’t available at area stores and that allow students to enjoy healthy meals. “One of the things in particular that we’ve noticed in Ward 8 and in Ward 1 is that there aren’t many grocery stores and there’s a real void for kids to be able to get fresh fruit and fresh vegetables,” said Children Incorporated CEO Ron Carter. “Many of the families tend to live off of what they can buy from Family Dollar or Dollar General and they’re not getting balanced meals, so we’ve worked to have a food truck come once a month so that the parents can shop for the fresh produce they can’t get from those stores,” Carter said. Children Incorporated not only seeks to assist with students’ educational needs but nutritional needs too, he said. In Ward 8, most children either walk, or receive free tokens to ride the regular city buses while basic shopping, cultural and recreational facilities are minimal and scanty, said Carter, who said the children tend to “be invisible.” Ward 8 has been called “a socio-economic basket case,” with about three quarters of the total acreage owned by federal or city entities, so businesses and residences cannot locate on those lots and pay taxes. In Ward 1, Carter said there’s a high percentage of students who are homeless, living in shelters, or on a short-term living arrangement with various relatives or friends. “About 10 years ago, we started working in Richmond and in those schools we found that a lot of times the kids are invisible. People incorrectly believe because they live in a big city that they have everything that they need,” Carter said. “But, so many kids go without. We got a call from a [contact] in Detroit and then about eight years ago, there was a group in DC that wanted us to work with them and we’ve been there ever since,” he said. At a time when people often feel helpless in a world where they want to make a difference, Children Incorporated decided to team with an “an old friend to launch a new effort intended to bring thousands of new donors

ARE YOU FACING EVICTION OR FORECLOSURE? 5 Youth learn lessons in life. (Courtesy photo)

into the fold – to empower people to do something that actually changes the world for the better.” Twenty years ago, Dr. Richard Carlson’s best-selling book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” forged a legacy that is carried on by Carlson’s widow, Kristine, selling 25 million copies and magnifying the global movement towards mindfulness and self-care. It was the book’s mention of Children Incorporated as the Carlson’s preferred charity that was, in the words of current Director of Development Shelley Callahan, “one of the most meaningful things to happen to our organization.” Since sponsorships are the lifeblood of Children Incorporated’s work, the infusion of so many child benefactors had a profound and lasting impact, organization officials said. Children Incorporated’s global mission is to confront childhood poverty through direct intervention: getting the donated money,

goods, and services directly to the children and families who need them most. Reaching over 250,000 children in 23 countries over the last few decades, Children Incorporated currently supports over 300 programs and projects, from building schools in Bolivia, to clean water initiatives in India, to inner-city projects in Detroit and Washington DC, to “backpack feeding” Appalachian kids who might not otherwise have anything to eat on the weekends. Carter said anyone can contribute to the cause, either through volunteer efforts or donations. “The coordinators working in the schools are going to make sure that if a child needs food, he’ll get food; if a child needs books, he’ll get books,” Carter said. “I think if we’ve failed in any way it’s that we haven’t been able to expand as much as we’d like to,” he said. For more information, visit www. childrenincorporated.org. WI

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EDUCATION Ousted DCPS Teacher Rails Against Evaluation System By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Since an independent arbiter determined the illegality of his termination from D.C. Public Schools, teacher Jeff Canady has been in a battle with DCPS’ central office for what’s estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars of backpay. In Canady’s reinstatement as a DCPS employee, however, lies a bigger question of whether he’ll receive fair treatment on the job, even with union protections. He recently recounted the stigma of his 2009 firing following him, even as he flourished in other educator roles. “Prince George’s County couldn’t hire me because the case wasn’t resolved,” Canady told reporters

during an April 29 press conference at the Washington Teachers’ Union headquarters in Southeast. A teacher evaluation deemed Canady ineffective in the classroom, ultimately leading to his termination. At the time, he taught third grade at the now-shuttered Emery Elementary. In the aftermath of his ouster, Canady cited the high marks his students received on their tests and his professional trajectory before Michelle Rhee’s installment as chancellor. The subsequent court proceedings spread over the next decade, during which Canady exhausted his savings and pension, battled homelessness and unsuccessfully attempted to teach elsewhere. During the press conference, Canady reflected on what he de-

scribed as more pleasant relationships with superintendents prior to Rhee. Four months before his ouster, Canady had been nominated for DCPS Teacher of the Year. Several years earlier, he counted among several aspirants of a seat on the D.C. State Board of Education. With DCPS’ support, Canady also entered a graduate teaching program at Harvard University. Canady lamented the inability to explain to Prince George’s officials why the case hadn’t been resolved so many years out. “The county executive wanted to hire me but he couldn’t do that with a firing over my head,” he said. “Why does arbitration take 10 years? They’re waiting for teachers to die or lose hope. They never intended for someone to navigate this process.” In recent years, Canady has organized on behalf of teachers on Capitol Hill, led a weekly Bible study at the U.S. Senate and shaped legislation to address lead water exposure while working in D.C. Council member Mary Cheh’s office. Within that same time, the institutional and racial composition of DCPS teachers, staff and personnel has changed significantly — which some say is because of the IMPACT teacher evaluation system implemented after Canady’s termination. IMPACT has also been considered a key factor in the teacher turnover rate of 20 percent. While

5 Jeff Canady participates in a conversation with WPFW 89.3 FM during a protest with teachers at Freedom Plaza earlier this month. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

it incentivizes effective teacher performance with cash bonuses, critics say that IMPACT assesses teachers exclusively on student performance and administrators’ subjective views. During the Standing Ovation Awards In February, a group of teachers gathered at the District Wharf in protest of IMPACT, created by Jason Kamras, who has since left DCPS to lead Richmond Public Schools. Months later, WTU officials say they’re in the midst of conversations that could lead to a revamp of the teacher evaluation system. “The teacher evaluation system is

controlled by legislation in the D.C. Council that says the school district must have control,” said WTU President Elizabeth Davis. “We’re hoping to change the legislation and do bargaining on the new evaluation that teachers will work to develop with DCPS. “IMPACT isn’t trusted by teachers and in 10 years, it has morphed into a weapon,” Davis said. “We want IMPACT to be gone because even if Jeff returns, it will be used to retaliate against him, and evaluate him subjectively.” WI

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EDUCATION

Muslims of Color Issue Unity Call within Greater Washington Area By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer As he stood in the theater of the Dyanet Center of America in Lanham, Imam Yahya Muhammad looked across a room filled Muslims of color from many backgrounds and paused to wipe a tear from his eye. Muhammad was looking the realization of a dream: To have brothers and sisters from the Nation of Islam, Morish Science, Suni and several other groups seated as one to talk about “closing the gap” and healing differences that has divided them for decades. “I have been in all of these schools of thoughts and what I have learned is that there is no difference, but if you don’t know, you would think that it is different,” Muhammad said. “Allah has for us, one name, one purpose and one destiny. We have to come out of that religious gang banging. That time is up.” Muhammad’s comments came at the beginning of a program on the eve of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, where speakers representing seven groups offered their solutions on what it would take to reach the African-American believers of an often misunderstood faith. According to new research by the Library of Congress that aired on PBS recently, the discovery of Arabic manuscripts written by a former slave shows that about 20 percent of the Africans who were captured and sold into slavery were practicing Muslims at the time they were captured. According to PBS, this information comes from the writing of Omar Ibn Said, a 37-year-old man who was taken from his home in West Africa and brought to Charleston, South Carolina, as a slave in the 1800s. According to PBS reporter Amna Nawaz, “his one-of-a-kind autobiographical manuscript has been translated from its original Arabic and housed at the Library of Congress, where it ‘annihilates’ the conventional narrative of African slaves as uneducated and uncultured.” The Muslim gathering took place at the Dyanet Center of America, which was built by the nation of Turkey in Lanham after years of efforts by the Turkish-American community. For many in attendance, it was their first time inside the multimil-

lion-dollar compound. “If we are hoping and expecting divine and greater unity in our communities then what better way then to start off with such unification than what you see right before you,” said Brother Tyrone Davis-Bey, who moderated the event. “The very individuals that we are trying to unite, if they can see it first here … then it can trickle into the community and build up a nation.” Noble Drew Ali was the Moorish American leader who founded the Moorish Science Temple of America. Considered a prophet by his followers, Ali founded the Canaanite Temple in Newark, New Jersey, in 1913 before relocating to Chicago, where he gained a following of thousands of converts before his death in 1929. “We organized as the Moorish Temple of Science in the year of 1925, and were legally incorporated as a civic organization under the laws of the State of Illinois, November 29, 1926,” Ali once said in a statement. “The name Moorish Temple of Science was changed to the Moorish Science Temple of America, May 1928 in accordance with the legal requirements of the Secretary of the State of Illinois. The object of our Organization is to help in the great program of uplifting fallen humanity and teach those things to make our members better citizens.” Brother R. Jones Bey, Grand Sheik of the Moorish Science Temple of America Inc., told

5 Muslims from The Nation of Islam, the Moorish Science of America joined Sunni Muslims and four other groups on the eve of Ramadan for a historic summit to “close the gap,” in terms of their beliefs. Imam Yahya Muhammad convened the meeting at the Dyanet Center of America in Lanham. (Hamil Harris/The Washington Informer)

the gathering, “You must be the message that you bring. … I can’t lead anybody being a hypocrite, and if you are going to be real it has to begin with you.” Some of the toughest words were challenged issued by the Moorish Science brothers who have been instrumental in working with inmates across the country. “We separate ourselves because we don’t practice Islam the same way,” said Brother Lomax Bey. “This ain’t about me, this ain’t about brother Yahya, it is about doing Allah’s work because he ain’t pleased in what we are doing. What we have to do is find

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our way back home.” The Nation of Islam was founded in Detroit by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad on July 4, 1930. After Fard disappeared in June 1934. His successor was the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who established temples and mosque, a school named Muhammad University of Islam, farms and real estate holdings in the United States and abroad. But there were a number of splits during Muhammad’s leadership, including Malcolm X, who left the group to practice Islam as a Sunni Muslim. After Muhammad’s death in 1975, his son, Warith Deen

Mohammed, changed the name of the organization to “World Community of Islam in the West.” He embraced Sunni Muslim ideology, which some call mainstream. In 1977, Minister Louis Farrakhan rejected Warith Deen Mohammed’s leadership and re-established the Nation of Islam. He took over the Nation of Islam’s headquarters, Mosque Maryam (Mosque #2) in Chicago, and other mosques across the U.S., including Muhammad Mosque #4 in D.C. During the event, Yayah Mu-

MUSLIMS Page 29

MAY 9 - 15, 2019 23

May Greetings from DC Department of Aging and Community Living Laura Newland Director Laura Newland Department of Aging and Community Living Happy Older Americans Month! Here at the Department of Aging and Community Living, we celebrate you every day of the year, but during the month of May, we’ll be spending even more time celebrating all of your contributions to community and to this city. I always say that D.C. is the best city in the world to age—and you make it so. It’s fitting that we recognize and honor Ms. E. Veronica Pace during Older Americans Month. I was saddened to hear that Ms. Pace, former Executive Director of the D.C. Office on Aging (1983 – 1991 and 1997 – 2006), passed away recently. Ms. Pace led the way for this city to be a place where our older Washingtonians are active, engaged, and contributing to our community every day. I saw Ms. Pace in February at Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center. She made a surprise visit to witness Mayor Muriel Bowser signing legislation officially designating the DC Office on Aging, as the Department of Aging and Community Living—a cause she championed since her days working under former Mayor Marion Barry. Her presence filled the room, just like her presence filled the city during her 35+ year career serving District residents. Ms. Pace was a lifelong Washingtonian who left an indelible mark on the city. A graduate of Dunbar High School, who earned Howard University undergraduate and School of Social Work degrees, her first job was working for District government. As a social worker, she oversaw some of the toughest cases around mental health, maternal and infant care, and public health. As a leader, she transformed the small DC Office on Aging to a premier government agency and a role model for other states across the nation. She brought senior wellness to DC, established the nation’s first free standing Senior Wellness Center—Washington Senior Wellness Center in Ward 7—and was instrumental in opening five other wellness centers across the city which continue to operate today. Ms. Pace was a tireless advocate for reducing health disparities across the city for the District’s older residents, and launched numerous programs and services for seniors and caregivers who are often overlooked but critical in making sure seniors can live in the communities they know and love. The majority of programs started by Ms. Pace continue to serve residents today. Ms. Pace was a public servant at her core, and a relentless champion for District seniors. We will all miss her energy, her spirit of advocacy, and her drive for doing what’s right for the city and for our older residents. She would occasionally visit us at the Hayes Senior Wellness Center and comment, “I know every brick in this building”. Similarly, she knew every corner of the city, the history of the Department of Aging and Community Living, and how critical our work is in supporting our seniors. She was fiercely loyal to Washington, DC, and that meant that she was fiercely loyal to seniors. She went from place to place in this city exhorting everyone she saw, whether politicians, business leaders, or journalists, to “take care of our seniors.” Thank you, Ms. Pace—for everything. During Older Americans Month, I encourage you to join in one, or several of the activities planned throughout the city. Take a look at the event calendar and give us a call if you need help deciding. Connect with your community, create something new, and celebrate the contributions you’ve made and continue to make—in doing so, you’ll be celebrating the life and legacy of E. Veronica Pace.

E. Veronica Pace was a former Executive Director of the D.C. Office on Aging (1983 – 1991 and 1997 – 2006)

FY 2020 Senior LGBTQ Program Competitive Grant The Request for Application (RFA) seeks to identify qualified applicants to provide seniors (60 years and older) who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) with quality programs, services, and activities in a safe, affirming, caring, welcoming, and healthy environment with professional and culturally-competent staff. Successful applicants will establish and/or enhance services that support LGBTQ seniors in citywide programs to help them remain independent, healthy, and connected to the community. Successful applicant(s) will be expected to plan and implement supportive programs in the following service areas: • responsive and adaptable citywide programs based on community assessed needs • outreach to LGBTQ community that raises awareness and access to DC-based programs, activities and services; and • reduce senior social isolation among the LGBTQ community through impactful activities and services, including but not limited to intergenerational, educational, cultural competency, and volunteer opportunities. Each project is expected to include a strong sustainability plan. The deadline for application submission is May 17, 2019, at 4:00 pm. Applications can be obtained from the Department of Aging and Community Living, 500 K Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. For additional information regarding this application package, please contact: Eric Manuel, Program Manager at eric.manuel@dc.gov, (202) 730-1745, or Jennifer Adu, Program Analyst at jennifer.adu@dc.gov, (202) 727-6601.

See you out in the community!

24 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

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In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

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PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Demetrious Kinney, Mark Mahonny, Lateef Mangum, Travis Riddick

Black Nurses: Leading the Charge with Love Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman WI Special Editions Editor In 1953, filmmaker George Stoney, working with the Georgia Department of Public Health, documented the life’s work of Mary Frances Hill Coley, a revered mid-wife in rural, segregated Albany, Georgia. I first encountered the documentary as part of a Women & Gender course that sought to establish the role of elder Black women as informal healthcare professionals, community soothers, and extended family. And while the documentary was meant to serve as a teaching tool for young Black women interested in entering the medical profession as midwives, it became a strengthening tool among the informally-educated apprentice-class. It held that providing Dr. Shantella Sherman needed care and healing others was as much a function of bedside manner as licensing among official bodies. Coley’s story, All My Babies, follows the midwife as she walks down dirt roads, sometimes in the stark of night to shotgun houses and anxious families awaiting the arrival of a new life. In each case, Coley checks on her patients, but also tends to the needs of the entire family during the course and immediately following the birth of their babies. In addition to cooking meals, sweeping, “minding” other children already within the household, and calming the fears of nervous fathers-tobe, Coley demonstrates a stern, but loving bedside manner that ensures the health of mothers and babies. After both easy and challenging births, Coley assisted the new mother and household for days sometimes, allowing a smooth transition for the household. More than sixty years following the documentary, Coley’s amazing efforts – having “birthed” more than 3,000 babies in four counThe Georgia midwife, Mary Frances Hill ties – immediately sprang to mind when considering the Coley, epitomized home healthcare, work of today’s home healthcare nurses. Many, having having delivered more than 3,000 been fitted with the same expanse of duties, like Coley, babies and cared for their families through labor, delivery, and postsee their efforts as divine acts of human kindness, rather delivery. / Courtesy photo than just a profession. This spirit of acting on human kindness to improve the health outcomes of African Americans has been shared by Black women’s clubs, churches, social leaders and early Black insurance companies since Emancipation. In 1914, Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute, said at the annual Tuskegee Negro Conference: “At the last session of the Tuskegee Negro Conference, some startling facts were brought out concerning the health of the colored people of the United States… 45 percent of all deaths among Negroes were preventable; there are 450,000 Negroes seriously ill all the time; the annual cost of this illness is $75 million; that sickness and death costs Negroes annually $100 million.” The resulting clarion call established National Negro Health Week, an annual effort spearheaded by Black women who provided door-to-door canvassing, home healthcare, and instruction on preventative and convalescing care to the infirmed and elderly. More than 100 years later, many of Washington’s concerns remain, and still, it is the core of Black nurses and other health providers who lead the charge. As the Informer celebrates the Herculean-efforts of the nation’s nurses, both within established medical facilities and in private homes, we’ve worked to acknowledge that much of the work is underpaid, under-recognized, and stressful, but also the lifeblood of our progress. Please celebrate with us. Read. Learn. Grow. Dr. S www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

HS-2

Lee Ross Special to the Informer In 1914, Booker T. Washington stated, â€œWithout health, and until we reduce the high death rate, it will be impossible for us to have permanent success in business, in property getting, in acquiring education, or to show other evidences of progress.â€? He launched the National Health Improvement Week in 1915, later known as National Negro Health Week (NNHW). According to Sandra Crouse Quinn and Stephen B. Thomas, in their work, The National Negro Health Week, 1915 to 1951, the NNHW was managed by an oversight committee at Tuskegee Institute. There were two primary objectives: "1) to provide practical suggestions for local Health Week committees that conduct the observance; and 2) to stimulate the people as a whole to cooperative endeavor in clean-up, educational, and specific hygienic and clinical services for general sanitary improvement of the community and for health betterment of the individual, family, and home." National Negro Health Week was

A Closer Look at Negro Health Week planned as an eight-day week with a different focus for each day of the week. An 8-day week beginning and ending on Sunday was deliberately established to take advantage of the church as a major convener of community groups.

Concentrated on the specific health problem identified in the community needs assessment conducted by the Health Week Central Committee.

SUNDAY MOBILIZATION DAY

Focused on health sermons during church services and popular mass meetings.

Emphasized annual health examinations for adults through health education programs with men's and women's organizations and clinics operated by the local medical society.

MONDAY HOME HYGIENE DAY

FRIDAY SCHOOL HEALTH DAY

Distributed pamphlets and presented lectures and demonstrations for adults and children on the importance of personal and household cleanliness.

TUESDAY COMMUNITY SANITATION DAY

Presented educational activities promoting safe water, food and milk supplies, waste disposal, clean streets, safe wells, and destruction of swamp breeding grounds of insects.

WEDNESDAY SPECIAL CAMPAIGN DAY

THURSDAY ADULT HEALTH DAY

SUNDAY REPORTS AND FOLLOW-UP DAY

Focused on community gatherings through church and large civic

meetings. The week concluded with a review of all activities and achievements, intermingled with food, music, and inspirational speeches. HS National Negro Health Week poster published by the U.S. Public Health Service in cooperation with the National Negro Health Week Committee, Tuskegee Institute, 1929. (Courtesy of Tuskegee University Archives)

Promoted health education programs and school-based health services. The education programs utilized essays, songs, games, and plays focused on good health habits and parental improvements were heavily emphasized. School cleanup activities were organized.

SATURDAY GENERAL CLEANUP DAY

Focused on cooperative large-scale cleanup activities and inspection of community health campaign results. Collecting data and taking pictures for reports and newspapers was a key activity.

Mrs. Mabel J. Kimbrough, (right) Public Health Nurse, District of Columbia Health Department from the National Negro Health Week Bulletin, 1937. (Courtesy photo)

Nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare. Happy

#NationalNurseWeek from HSC Home Care

hschealthcare.org/nurseweek H-3 HS-3

MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Break the Cycle: Overcoming Opioid and Substance Use

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia

The United States is in the middle of an opioid crisis. Although some opioids can help people, they are highly addictive and can be misused. Misuse of opioids can be unsafe for both people and communities. For instance, opioid overdoses caused about 33,000 deaths in 2015. That’s about 91 people each day. People all over the country are taking a stand and working to end opioid misuse.

OPIOID BASICS

Opioids, also known as painkillers, can be used to relieve pain when prescribed by a doctor. But some people misuse opioids by using them for non-medical reasons. Opioids can be prescription drugs or street drugs. Prescription opioids can include oxycodone (ox-eekoh-dohn) or morphine. Heroin, a street drug, is also an opioid. Using heroin or taking opioids differently than prescribed can be fatal. Substance and opioid use problems can be felt in the District of Columbia today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 11.3 percent of people in the District over age 11 use or are dependent upon drugs or alcohol. This is higher than the U.S. average of 8.9 percent and is the highest rate in the country.

Opioid side effects can include: • Drowsiness • Constipation • Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat • Nausea and vomiting • Itchiness • Sweating • Addiction • Overdose • Death Someone with a substance use disorder may want to quit their drug use, but it can be hard to ask for help. A person using opioids may not know where to go or might be afraid of judgment. The good news is that you can recover from opioid and substance misuse. The first step is to learn about the signs of misuse and the help options available.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES

• Meperidine (Demerol®)

Many opioids are used as medicine. A doctor or hospital may give a person a painkiller to manage pain or a long-term illness. These drugs often come in a pill or liquid form. Some common prescription opioids include: • Morphine • Oxycodone (OxyContin® and Percoset®) • Hydrocodone (Vicodin®) • Fentanyl • Codeine

When used as directed, these drugs can help people with serious health issues. But when they are misused, they can lead to problems like addiction. Opioid misuse happens when a person takes drugs in the wrong way. This includes using street drugs or taking medicines not prescribed for you or differently than prescribed. If a family member gives you one of his or her pills, or if you take more pills than directed, then

you are misusing the medicine. Misuse is a concern with opioids because of their strength. Up to 1 in 4 people taking prescription opioids for a long-term illness will struggle with addiction. And the chance of addiction is greater when a person misuses the medicine. More than 4 million Americans were using medicines for non-medical reasons in 2014. Almost 2 million of those users were dependent on pain relievers. There are several risk factors that can lead to opioid misuse, such as: • Having a mental illness

• Having a history of other substance use, including drugs and alcohol • Taking high daily doses of pain relievers Not everyone with the above risk factors will misuse opioids. Many people use prescription opioids to manage long-term pain and health conditions. If you receive a prescription opioid for a health condition, you should not stop taking it unless directed by your doctor. Since opioids are so strong, it can OPIOD Page HS5

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www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com

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

AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. English: ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, at no cost, are available to you. Call 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 or 1-800-570-1190). Spanish: ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 o 1-800-570-1190). Amharic: ማሳሰቢያ፡ አማርኛ መናገር የሚችሉ ከሆነ፣ ከከፍያ ነጻ የሆነ የቋንቋ ድጋፍ አገልግሎት ይቀርብልዎታል፡፡ በስልክ ቁጥር 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 ወይም 1-800-570-1190) ይደውሉ. 1-800-408-7511 ‫ اﺗﺼﻞ ﺑﺮﻗﻢ‬.‫ﺎن‬‫ ﻓﺈن ﺧﺪﻣﺎت اﳌﺴﺎﻋﺪة اﻟﻠﻐﻮﻳﺔ ﺗﺘﻮاﻓﺮ ﻟﻚ ﺑﺎ‬،‫ إذا ﻛﻨﺖ ﺗﺘﺤﺪث اﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬:‫ ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ‬: Arabic .(1-800-570-1190 ‫ أو‬TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 ‫)رﻗﻢ ﻫﺎﺗﻒ اﻟﺼﻢ واﻟﺒﻜﻢ‬

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be difficult to stop taking them. Stopping suddenly can be dangerous. People quitting opioids can suffer from withdrawal symptoms, like sweating, bone and joint pain, tremors, and vomiting or diarrhea. Your doctor can help you to stop taking opioids safely.

HEROIN

Heroin is an illegal opioid that appears as a white or brown powder. It can also appear as a black, sticky substance, known as “black tar heroin.” Nicknames for heroin are horse, H, and smack. Heroin is usually injected with a needle, smoked, or sniffed up the nose. Heroin is a fast-acting drug, which makes it highly addictive. Almost 23 percent of heroin users are dependent on the drug. There were more than 430,000 regular heroin users in the United States in 2014 — about 10 percent of all opioid users. Most heroin users also use other substances. About 3 out of 4 new heroin users first used prescription opioids before trying heroin. Many of those users take both heroin and prescription opioids at the same time. People addicted to prescription opioids are nearly 40 times more likely to also be addicted to heroin. Unlike prescription drugs, hero-

in is not made in a laboratory. Because of this, the strength of heroin can vary. The drug is often mixed with other materials like sugar and starch. Sometimes it is mixed with other drugs, or with toxic or harmful chemicals. Someone using heroin never knows what is in the drug, which can be dangerous and even fatal. In 2015, nearly 13,000 people died because of the drug. Heroin may have more side effects than other opioids. For example, people who inject the drug are at risk for diseases like HIV or hepatitis C. These diseases spread through the blood or other bodily fluids. People sharing needles could get the diseases from another user. Overdoses are also a greater threat for heroin users. Although heroin users make up only 10 percent of all opioid users, they account for nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths. If you or someone you know is using heroin, or is at risk for using heroin, help is available. Speak with your doctor or call one of our Care Coaches to learn more about your health options.

OTHER SUBSTANCES

There are many substances besides opioids that can be dangerous. Some of these are illegal drugs, while others are legal but may be unsafe when used in excess. • Cigarettes and tobacco products: Tobacco can be found in cig-

arettes, cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco. It contains nicotine, an addictive substance. The use of tobacco causes many serious health problems, including lung cancer, oral cancer, bronchitis (bron-ki-tis), and emphysema (em-fa-ze-ma). It also increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. • Marijuana: Marijuana is a drug that can be inhaled or eaten. It is illegal in much of the United States, and its use is governed by law where it is allowed. In the District, marijuana use is legal on private property. It is not legal to sell the drug or to use it in a public place. Health effects of marijuana use include changes in mood, slow thinking and movement, breathing problems, and paranoia. • Cocaine: Cocaine is an illegal drug that looks like a fine, white powder. It can also appear as rock crystals known as crack. Cocaine is snorted through the nose, rubbed into the gums, injected, or smoked as crack. Side effects of cocaine use include changes in blood pressure, faster heartbeat, the loss of the sense of smell, and addiction. People who inject cocaine are also at risk for HIV and hepatitis C. It is possible to overdose on the drug, which can lead to death. Many opioid users first start by using drugs like marijuana and cocaine. Some of those users will continue using multiple drugs at the

same time. This can cause harmful drug interactions. The chance of dangerous side effects including death increases when taking several drugs at once.

FINDING HELP

Although prescription opioids can help some people, there are many risks if opioids are misused. If you or someone you know is using drugs, there is treatment available that can help. There are resources in the District of Columbia to help Medicaid members with their substance use problems. The DC Department of Health Addiction, Prevention, and Recovery Administration (APRA) can aid you to recover and improve your health. You can contact APRA at 202-727-8473. The DC Department of Behavioral Health may also be able to help and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-793-4357. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do more than

suicide prevention and can help with issues like drug and alcohol use. They can also connect you to a nearby professional to assist you. Call them anytime at 1-800-273TALK (8255). For people who want to quit taking drugs, there may be medicines that can help cope with withdrawal. Ask your primary care provider (PCP) about what treatments would be best for your condition. AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia members can call us to be connected with a Care Coach. Our Care Coaches can help you make sense of your health care options. Call us at 1-800-408-7511 to learn more about how you can break the cycle of opioid misuse. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

Find us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmeriHealthDC • Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmeriHealthCaritasDC • Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/AmeriHealthCaritasDC

I got a gift card for getting my prenatal checkup. You can too. You can get a $25 gift card if you: • Are pregnant and within your first trimester • Are an AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia member

Rewards Program

• See a midwife or OB/GYN for your first prenatal office visit

Visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/giftcard to learn more. Note: A member cannot get more than $50 in incentives each year.

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www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. English: ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, at no cost, are available to you. Call 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 or 1-800-570-1190). Spanish: ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 o 1-800-570-1190). Amharic: ማሳሰቢያ፡ አማርኛ መናገር የሚችሉ ከሆነ፣ ከከፍያ ነጻ የሆነ የቋንቋ ድጋፍ አገልግሎት ይቀርብልዎታል፡፡ በስልክ ቁጥር 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 ወይም 1-800-570-1190) ይደውሉ. 1-800-408-7511 ‫ اﺗﺼﻞ ﺑﺮﻗﻢ‬.‫ﺎن‬‫ ﻓﺈن ﺧﺪﻣﺎت اﳌﺴﺎﻋﺪة اﻟﻠﻐﻮﻳﺔ ﺗﺘﻮاﻓﺮ ﻟﻚ ﺑﺎ‬،‫ إذا ﻛﻨﺖ ﺗﺘﺤﺪث اﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬:‫ ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ‬: Arabic .(1-800-570-1190 ‫ أو‬TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 ‫)رﻗﻢ ﻫﺎﺗﻒ اﻟﺼﻢ واﻟﺒﻜﻢ‬

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MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

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

By the Numbers: Nursing Shortage Predicted, Warnings Unheeded By Lee Ross Special to the Informer The Health Resources and Services Administration projects that more than 1 million registered nurses will reach retirement age within the next 10 to 15

According to the “United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast” published in the January 2012 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality, a shortage of registered nurses is projected to spread across the country between 2009 and 2030. In this state-by-state analysis, the authors forecast the RN shortage to be most intense in the South and the West.

80%

In October 2010, the Institute of Medicine released its landmark report on The Future of Nursing, initiated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which called for increasing the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce to 80% and doubling the population of nurses with doctoral degrees. The current nursing workforce falls far short of these recommendations with only 56 percent of RNs prepared at the baccalaureate or graduate degree level.

SUPPORT ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONATION IT’S A DECISION EVERYONE CAN LIVE WITH

The need for registered nurses increases as young adults opt for more “glamorous” academic interests, and the number of nurses eligible to retire in the next decade grows. (Courtesy photo)

According to AACN’s report on 2018-2019 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away more than 75,000 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2018 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, and clinical preceptors, as well as budget constraints. Almost two-thirds of the nursing schools responding to the survey pointed to a shortage of faculty and/or clinical preceptors as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs.

In the September 21, 2015 issue of Science Daily, healthcare economist David Auerbach released findings from a new study, which found that almost 40 percent of RNs are over the age of 50. “The number of nurses leaving the workforce each year has been growing steadily from around 40,000 in 2010 to nearly 80,000 by 2020. Meanwhile, the dramatic growth in nursing school enrollment over the last 15 years has begun to level off.”

According to The American Nurses Association (ANA) (2018), there will be more registered nurse jobs available through 2022 than any other profession in the United States. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018) projects 1.1 million additional nurses are needed to avoid a further shortage. Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate (15 percent) than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026.

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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Prince George’s County Board of Health Partners with RAND Corporation, County Residents and Stakeholders to Improve the Quality of Life in Prince George’s County Communities Terrence M. Fullum, MD, MBA Access to quality health care, health promotion and disease prevention are priority concerns for the Prince George’s County Council, in its role as the Board of Health, and for County residents. The Board of Health recognizes the importance of effectively addressing the health and human services needs of residents in every aspect of life in the County. But first, there needs to be an updated, clear picture of just how healthy County residents are; what challenges impact our ability to become healthier; and how we can build a more supportive social safety net. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. RAND completed an outstanding health needs assessment for Prince George’s County in 2009, focusing mostly on health and healthcare-related issues. The Board of Health is again partnering with RAND to conduct a new and expanded assessment to capture the full extent of human services that influence health outcomes. This new assessment reflects the Health-in-All-Policies approach embraced by the Board of Health, examining more closely what effect such factors as education, the economy, transportation, environment, social service delivery and even chronic stress have on the health and wellbeing of County residents and communities. As the Council considers future policies, plans, funding, and resources to improve health outcomes and strengthen communities with improved social service delivery, it will need a fuller understanding of the current and future health and human service needs among residents, the level of unmet need, the effectiveness of current services provided, and the roles of government agencies, non-profit organizations and other service providers in making necessary improvements. A major focus of the new study includes reaching out to County residents to participate in the June 11th countywide Town Hall Meeting, as well as to encourage your participation in focus groups planned for communities in the northern, central and southern portions of the County. This is important work that we must all do together. The Board of Health’s Health-in-All-Policies approach is a comprehensive strategy that requires significant input from County residents and stakeholders. Your voice is critical to efforts to Building a Healthier Prince George’s County Together. Your input and participation will help the Board of Health to identify our community’s health needs, discuss the best way to meet those needs, and enhance our Quality of Life. Please attend the Town Hall Meeting on June 11th, to take part in shaping policies that help Prince Georgians to live better and longer. Terrence M. Fullum, MD, MBA, of Glenn Dale, is a Howard University College of Medicine Professor of Surgery; Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery; and Chief of the General Surgery, and Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery divisions at Howard University Hospital. A physician, surgeon and hospital executive, Dr. Fullum serves as the Prince George’s County Board of Health Consultant and Liaison. HS

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• What is your vision for a healthier community? • How can the County help improve the physical health of our communities?

Presentations by The Rand Corporation

• How can we promote exercise? Where can we buy healthy foods? • How can the County improve mental health in our communities?

• How does transportation, housing and the environment affect the health of our communities?

The Board of Health and the RAND Corporation are working together with YOU to learn how to make Prince George’s County communities healthier. As a County resident, we want you to share your thoughts and ideas about priority health and human service issues. Take part in the June 11th Town Hall Meeting and tell us what the County can do to improve healthcare and human services, and better serve the needs of County residents.

MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

County Administration Building First Floor Council Hearing Room 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

The New Nutritional Twist on Peanut Butter By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD Wellness Corporate Dietitian Albertsons Companies Calling all peanut butter lovers! We have a lot to celebrate starting with a revolution happening in the peanut butter aisle. Natural style peanut butter, made with only peanuts and salt, is taking center stage and organic peanut butter options are even available. You won’t believe how pure and amazing natural-style peanut butter tastes without the added sugar or saturated fat. Sure, you have to stir it with a long knife or mini spatula (to incorporate the natural oils) when you first open the jar, but then you store it in the refrigerator and you’re good to go until the jar is empty.

FROM PROTEIN TO SMART FATS

While an honorary member of the nut family, peanuts are technically a legume and they have their own nutritional story to tell. These amazing plant protein packages are balanced with monounsaturated “smart” fats, fiber vitamins, minerals, and powerful plant compounds. With 7 grams of protein

PEANUT BUTTER ENERGY BITES Makes 18 bites (9 servings if 2 bites each)

per 1-ounce serving, peanuts have the highest amount of protein compared to other nuts. They also have the highest amount of two B-vitamins compared to other nuts, with one ounce of peanuts contributing 20% of the Daily value for niacin and 10% for folate. Peanuts also give several key minerals a boost including calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

TOP NUT IN PHYTOSTEROLS

An ounce of peanuts or natural style peanut butter also adds a nice dose of several antioxidant-acting phytochemicals (plant compounds) starting with the highest amount of phytosterols compared to other nuts. Phytosterols might help inhibit the growth of some cancers and help reduce the risk of heart disease, in part through its effect on LDL “bad” cholesterol. Recent studies suggest that regular peanut con-

sumption may help decrease blood pressure, a condition that affects the majority of American adults. When you switch to natural-style peanut butter, it’s like eating peanuts because only salt is added!

STIR IT UP WITH NATURAL-STYLE PEANUT BUTTER

With all of this going for peanuts, the time has come to promote natural-style peanut butter beyond the predictable PB & J. Natural style peanut butter is a powerful addition to smoothies, oatmeal or overnight oats and works well as a base for energy bites and balls. The whole family will love this easy recipe for Peanut Butter Energy Bites. You can design your own version of these bites by putting dried cherries or strawberries in the center of the bite and rolling the bites in everything from unsweetened coconut to unsweetened cocoa powder. HS

Ingredients: 1/2 cup O Organics creamy peanut butter (stir well to blend) 3 tablespoons O Organics maple syrup 1/4 teaspoon maple extract 1/3 cup Signature Select nonfat dry milk powder 1/3 cup ground old fashioned oats (add oats to a mini food processor or similar and pulse to grind) 1/3 cup Signature Select Nutty Nuggets Cereal (similar to Grape Nuts) Optional: Date pieces, Dried cherries or berries (to put in the center of the energy bites) Granola, Unsweetened shredded coconut or Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (to roll the energy bites in) Directions: 1. In a medium sized bowl, blend peanut butter, maple syrup, and maple extract together with a spatula or spoon. Stir in nonfat dry milk powder, ground oats and nuggets cereal until blended. 2. Use a mini cookie scoop (or tablespoon measure) to grab about a tablespoon of the mixture. Add a dried fruit piece to the center if desired and roll into a ball. Roll the ball in shredded unsweetened coconut, mini semisweet chocolate chips, granola or nugget cereal if desired. 3. Store in the refrigerator in a sealable bag or container until ready to serve or pack in your backpack/briefcase for the day.

Nutritional Information: Per 2 bites Calories 157, Total Fat 7.6 g, Saturated Fat 1.2 g, Monounsaturated Fat 4.1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2.2 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol .4 mg, Sodium 81 mg, Potassium 99 mg, Total Carbohydrate 15 g, Dietary Fiber 1.5 g, Sugars 6 g, Protein 5.5 g, Calcium 42 mg, Iron 1.6 mg

NATURALLY DELICIOUS CHOICES MADE WITH REAL INGREDIENTS.

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Open Nature Lamb Loin Chops

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Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) Wellness Circles John Singleton, acclaimed movie producer, director and screenwriter, made his transition at the age of 51 – apparently from a stroke caused by uncontrolled blood pressure. All untimely departures give us reason to pause, reflect and often grieve. But a preventable untimely death sounds an alarm that we must heed. African Americans cannot afford to lose anyone unnecessarily – famous or not – especially when we can stem the tide. Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) made a commitment in 1997 to help African Americans of all ages “stem the tide”. Since 2006 we have worked tirelessly to help DC residents to “take charge of our health.” Our initial focus was on preventing childhood

obesity, but it soon became clear that embracing health and wellness had to be a family affair. In 2014 we began a partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (ACDC) to conduct Wellness Circles for their members with diabetes and hypertension. Our collaboration has been hugely successful as confirmed by ACDC data. Members have lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They have supported each other, family members and neighbors in making lifestyle choices that help them manage their conditions and improve their health

status. ACDC has reported fewer visits to emergency departments as another benefit. SHIRE and ACDC have worked together for five years and have helped launch Wellness Circles conducted by

THANK YOU

Together we’re leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies.

other community leaders that serve residents in five DC wards. We know that Wellness Circles work. Participants receive the latest information about diabetes and hypertension which helps them understand causes and how to manage their conditions. Experts share tips about label reading, portion size, foods for health and foods to avoid. We promote movement at every session – Tai Chi, yoga, and especially exercises you can do at home. Breathologists and meditation practitioners guide members through stress-reducing techniques. We provide a healthful meal at each session and incentives, such as grocery gift cards and prizes for improved health numbers. A key success factor is creating an environment that encourages participants to take that first step on the path to wellness, and to set and achieve health improvement goals. Also essential is the engagement of community residents as peer educators and site assistants who recruit participants and follow-up to encourage their continued participation. These individuals have become wellness champions in the community as they serve as role models for self-care and life-

style changes. SHIRE is planning a new Wellness Circle series this fall. We encourage eligible AmeriHealth members to say “yes” when invited by SHIRE and other outreach teams. SHIRE also invites health providers and agencies to contact us that seek to really involve those they serve as partners in their own healing process. We are also looking for partners who share our desire to involve young people in Wellness Circles that are designed with and for them. Interested parties are welcome to reach us at 202-371-0277, extension 1317. Please also visit our website at www.shireinc.org for more information about SHIRE. It is time not only to “stem” but to turn the tide. To quote civil rights heroine, Fannie Lou Hamer, we don’t have to continue to be “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” In 400 years, we have set the high mark and led the way time and time again. It is time, way past time, for African Americans to take charge of our health and our lives so that we can fulfill our God-given potential. HS Ruth T. Perot - Executive Director/CEO Canary Girardeau - Senior Program Associate Dawn Covin - Program Manager

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www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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Recommended Texts about the Historical Power of Black Nurses By Lee Ross Special to the Informer The history of Black women in the nursing profession is storied and layered – and includes those practitioners who utilized traditional African healing remedies and those who spearheaded new and innovative Western therapies, as well as many who merged the two. Among the most in-depth and intriguing examinations of Black women in nursing are those by Darlene Clark Hine, Board of Trustees Emeritus Professor of African American Studies and Professor of History at Northwestern University. Hine once wrote, “If I can impress upon the historical profession how important it is to talk to and illuminate the lives of people who did not leave written records, but who also influenced generations of women all over the globe, then I will feel that my career is worthwhile.” The Informer acknowledges Hine’s scholarship and offers a few additional titles as recommended reading material on the power of Black nurses.

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: Black Women's Health Activism in America, 1890-1950 Susan Smith Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired moves beyond the depiction of African Americans as mere recipients of aid or as victims of neglect and highlights the ways black health activists created public health programs and influenced public policy at every opportunity. Smith also sheds new light on the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment by situating it within the context of black public health activity, reminding us that public health work had oppressive as well as progressive consequences.

Black Women in White: Racial onflict and Cooperation in the ursing Profession, 1890-1950 Darlene Clark Hine Analyzes the impact of racism on the development of the nursing profession in both the northern and southern US. Traces the growth of a parallel networks of hospitals, training schools, and nurses' associations in reaction to white hospitals excluding black patients, nurses, and doctors. Examines the exploitation of racism in white nurses' struggles for autonomy, status, and freedom within the white male medical establishment.

Health in the City: Race, Poverty, and the Negotiation of Women’s Health in New York City, 1915–1930 Tanya Hart Shortly after the dawn of the twentieth century, the New York City Department of Health decided to address what it perceived as the racial nature of health. It delivered heavily racialized care in different neighborhoods throughout the city: syphilis treatment among African Americans, tuberculosis for Italian Americans, and so on. It was a challenging and ambitious program, dangerous for the providers, and troublingly reductive for the patients. Nevertheless, poor and working-class African American, British West Indian, and Southern Italian women all received some of the nation’s best health care during this period. Health in the City challenges traditional ideas of early twentieth-century urban black health care by showing a program that was simultaneously racialized and cutting-edge. It reveals that even the most well-meaning public health programs may inadvertently reinforce perceptions of inferiority that they were created to fix.

Nursing Civil Rights: Gender and Race in the Army Nurse Corps Charissa J. Threat In Nursing Civil Rights, Charissa J. Threat investigates the parallel battles against occupational segregation by African American women and white men in the U.S. Army. As Threat reveals, both groups viewed their circumstances with the Army Nurse Corps as a civil rights matter. Each conducted separate integration campaigns to end the discrimination they suffered. Yet their stories defy the narrative that Civil Rights struggles inevitably arced toward social justice. Threat tells how progressive elements in the campaigns did indeed break down barriers in both military and civilian nursing. At the same time, she follows conservative threads to portray how some of the women who succeeded as agents of change became defenders of exclusionary practices when men sought military nursing careers.

GET MORE OUT OF A MEDICARE HEALTH PLAN THAN YOU THOUGHT POSSIBLE. You want to live life to the fullest, and Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plans offer benefits and services to help you stay healthy, active, and independent. Call us at 1-301-204-0320 (TTY 711) for more information. Calling this number will direct you to a licensed sales specialist.

In DC, Kaiser Permanente is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. In MD, Kaiser Permanente is an HMO plan and a Cost plan with a Medicare contract. In VA, Kaiser Permanente is a Cost plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Kaiser Permanente depends on contract renewal.You must reside in the Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan service area in which you enroll. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 2101 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852

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60652108 MAS 10/1/17–9/30/18 H2150_H2172_17_08 accepted

Black Nurses Filling Key Voids at Nursing Schools, ER By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Experienced nurses in the United States are retiring at a rapid clip, and there aren’t enough new nursing graduates to replenish the workforce, according to a recent CNN Money investigation. At the same time, the nation’s population is aging and requires more care. “It’s really a catch 22 situation,” Robert Rosseter, spokesman for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, said at the time. For many years, nursing has been a great career for African American women – from the bedside, to advanced practice, and even in health systems administration and dean’s offices at prominent nursing schools, African American women are leaders in nursing and healthcare here in the U.S. and abroad, said Randolph F.R. Rasch, the dean at the Michigan State University College of Nursing. As healthcare in the U.S. – and around the world – evolves, this is nursing’s time, Rasch said. “Nursing is also a great career for men and, increasingly, for African American men, as evidenced by the current president of the American Nurses Association, Dr. Ernest Grant, who is the first African American man to hold the position,” he said. “And then there is also myself, who was the first African American man to graduate with a bachelor’s of science in nursing from my university, first African American male public health nurse in Michigan, and the first African American nurse practitioner and first African American male to hold a Ph.D. in nursing in the world,” Rasch said. When it comes to the state of nursing schools, there are many strong programs in the country; however, the challenge for nursing education is to increase capacity to address the need for more nurses and the increasing demand for nursing education, and especially bachelor’s-prepared nurses, he said. “There is also a need for nursing programs to find ways to expand capacity without compromising quality. We must ensure that we are preparing nurses to practice in a rapidly changing health care en-

vironment and to use rapid – and radical – changes in technology in our work with patients,” Rasch said. When comparing the ethnic diversity of nurses to the general public in the U.S., the 2010 Census found that 12.6 percent identify as Black or African American. A 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistic’s population survey reported that, of the 2.875 million nurses in America, 11.5 percent were black. “Nursing schools in America are only getting better, but also harder to get into, which is a good thing [because] the nursing profession is not for the faint of hearts,” said Shantay Carter, Founder, Women Of Integrity Inc. “You just can’t go into nursing for the money … Nursing schools now have high tech state of the art simulation facilities, which have seem to enhance the clinical skills of nursing students and they have evolved to the point that students have access to get their degree online,” Carter said. “I think the reason that many Black women are getting into triage and nursing care services, is because of the fact that the profession is held in such a high regard – remember, nursing is the number one most trusted profession and as a black woman myself, I remember growing up seeing my grandmother and others as nurses and they showed so much pride for their job that it made me aspire to be like them because as a nurse, you’re a teacher, caregiver and an advocate,” Carter said. Nursing schools in America are typically a direct reflection of the economy, so currently they are thriving, said Catherine Burger, a RN and media specialist and contributor for RegisteredNursing.org. “The real challenge has been in new grads getting their first job as a nurse since most employers require experience. In a slow economy, experienced nurses are working two or three jobs which absorbs the entry-level positions,” Burger said. “However, with a healthy economy, experienced nurses are working only one job which leads to the need for more ‘New Grad’ or Nurse Residency programs that provide inexperienced nurses with the additional required clinical experience. With these programs, nurses can choose specialty areas such a triage earlier in their careers,” she said. HS

Randolph F.R. Rasch, the dean at the Michigan State University College of Nursing (Courtesy MSU)

“Nursing is also a great career for men and, increasingly, for African American men, as evidenced by the current president of the American Nurses Association, Dr. Ernest Grant, who is the first African American man to hold the position.” – Randolph F.R. Rasch

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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135 Years of Caring for Children and Youth, and The HSC Pediatric Center has just Gotten Started.

Celebrating its 135th Anniversary, The HSC Pediatric Center is one component of The HSC Health Care System, a nonprofit, Washington, DC-based health care organization committed to serving individuals with complex health needs and eliminating barriers to health services. The HSC Pediatric Center, located in a historic building in the Michigan Park neighborhood of Northeast DC, is a pediatric specialty hospital that serves children and young adults with complex health needs and/or disabilities from infancy through age 21. We provide a range of family-centered medical, behavioral health, and therapy services to meet the individual needs of our patients who are leaving a traditional, acute care hospital, and aren’t quite ready to be cared for at home. From your child's first day at The HSC Pediatric Center, our staff works with you and your family to determine health and life goals beyond the hospital stay. Our team of skilled professionals includes pediatricians, nurses, an array of therapists, psychologists, social workers, dieticians, and assistive technology and equipment specialists, all dedicated to helping your child gain the skills and confidence they need to reach their full potential. We are focused on providing expert medical care that only a pediatric specialty hospital can provide, but also work to create an environment where a kid can be a kid. We treat the whole child, taking into account interests and goals, and involving the entire family in your child’s care. Our team of child life specialists, social workers and psychologists focus on the emotional and developmental needs of your child and family. Through the use of play and other forms of communication and interaction, they seek to reduce the stress that can come with health care experiences and enable children to cope in a positive manner. We strive and encourage patients to engage in activities of life, play and learning, even while in a hospital setting. We understand a hospital stay can be daunting for both the child and family, and our team works to make the experience the best it can be. Our staff partners with families to help prepare your child to return to the community by providing activities and outings that increase confidence and connect you to external resources that make the process as smooth as possible. At The HSC Pediatric Center, we believe in caring, serving, and empowering our patients and families. HS

Happy National Hospital Week!

Thank you for making us more than a hospital.

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The HSC Pediatric Center would like to recognize all hospital employees for the outstanding care they provide to the community. For more information, please visit hschealth.org/hospitalsweek NHW_PrintAd_050119.indd 1

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MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

5/2/19 8:38 AM

Knowing your Numbers can Help Save Your Life.

Contributed by Kaiser Permanente

This month, across the country health professionals are raising awareness about the risks of hypertension, also called high blood pressure, and encouraging communities to keep blood pressure at healthy levels.

WHAT IS HYPERTENSION AND WHY IS IT HARMFUL?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and many cardiovascular health problems are linked to hypertension. One out of every three adults has hypertension and if it is not controlled, it can lead to stroke, heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure, or other serious health problems. This condition occurs when a person’s blood pressure rises and stays high over time. As a person’s blood pressure goes up, the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels also increases. This can increase the stress on your blood vessels, resulting in damage, and can make

your heart work harder, resulting in risks to your heart. To be in a healthy range, aim for a blood pressure reading of 140 over 80 or less. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your blood pressure target is 139 over 89 or less. Your blood pressure consists of two numbers—systolic and diastolic. The systolic number is the first number and shows how hard the blood pushes with each pump of the heart. The diastolic number is the second number and tells us the blood pressure when the heart is relaxed and filling in preparation for the next squeeze. So, a systolic pressure of 119 and a diastolic pressure of 79 is usually read as “119 over 79” and written as 119/79.

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR HYPERTENSION?

Many factors can contribute to having high blood pressure, like family history. When your immediate family members have high blood pressure, you have an increased likelihood of developing it. Your lifestyle (diet, exercise, smoking habits, alcohol intake) may increase your risk too.

Certain communities have higher rates of blood pressure than others as well. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is highest within the African American community and develops at an earlier age than other ethnic groups. In many cases, high blood pressure has no symptoms. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked. Most people don't know they have it until they go to the doctor for some other reason.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT HYPERTENSION?

There are five lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent high blood pressure. Try to eat less salt and learn about the DASH eating plan (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). This diet is low in fat, and includes fruits, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. There are many low sodium or reduced salt recipes to add more flavor to these healthy options. Plan to get enough physical ac-

tivity or exercise for about 30 minutes each day, on most days of the week. Limit your alcohol intake also to two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.

IF YOU HAVE HYPERTENSION, HOW CAN YOU TAKE CONTROL?

Make it a priority to get your blood pressure checked once a year. You may need to check your blood pressure more often at first or until your blood pressure comes into the normal range. Follow the advice of your doctor including taking medicine exactly as prescribed. Some patients learn how to check blood pressure at home. By doing so, you can monitor your blood pressure and reach out for care if your numbers are consistently elevated. More resources can be found at kp.org. HS Ameya Kulkarni, MD FSCAI, was interviewed for this article, and is proud to be a practicing Interventional Cardiologist and Chief of Cardiology for the Northern Virginia Service Area for the Mid-Atlantic

Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Kulkarni cares for patients at the Kaiser Permanente Tysons Corner Medical Center. This article was contributed by Kaiser Permanente, a regional not-for-profit health system which provides top-rated care and coverage for its nearly 800,000 members in the Mid-Atlantic States region. The region achieved a rate of 92% for controlling high blood pressure, according to the 2018 National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Quality Compass® data. The annual Quality Compass data assesses the performance of nearly 400 Private/Commercial health plans nationwide spanning all lines of business on critical clinical quality and service standards. This controlling high blood pressure rate of 92% was the highest result among commercial health plans participating. The annual Quality Compass database includes scores from the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, or HEDIS, a tool that is used by more than 90 percent of America’s health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service, including cancer screenings, immunizations, maternal care and cardiovascular conditions.

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Bedside Manners: Home Health Nurses Become First Line of Care

Lee Ross Special to the Informer

Perhaps not since the ushering in of U.S. public health policies, have visiting or home health nurses played such a vital role in the well-being of Americans. In fact, statistics provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine, note more than 12 million people in the United States currently require some form of home health care. And within the ranks of professional home care givers, 87 percent are women, 60 percent are people of color, and 29 percent are immigrants. The nation’s strained health-care system is trying to keep sick seniors out of hospitals, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes and instead have them cared for in their homes. When a person already feels vulnerable by illness – they heal at better rates and with more positive outcomes in familiar and comfortable surroundings, home health nurse, Tarita Bumbray told the Informer. She said that in addition to patients feeling intimidated by clinical surroundings, many develop conditions like “white coat hypertension” -- wherein a person’s blood pressure is elevated by being in a hospital. “When a person loses mobility or cannot manage basic tasks like going to the restroom without assistance, they often feel anxious, fearful – even angry that someone has to help them. My job is to show them the highest level of respect, while administering the care they need,” Bumbray said. “Because I am also a guest in their homes, I have to be certain that the boundaries of professionalism are never blurred, but that they also feel comfortable having me there for extended periods of time.” With the closure of a record number of D.C.-metropolitan area hospitals, healthcare services have extended into private homes for everything from acute and chronic health conditions to the managed care of a drastically increasing Baby Boom generation, who are now elders. A startling 75 percent of Americans over 65 live with multiple chronic health conditions, ranging from diabetes to dementia. “The duties of home health workers can include medical care, condition monitoring, and dispensing medication, but may also comprise cooking and cleaning for the patient, accompanying them to physicians’ appointments, and doing grocery shopping,” Bumbray said. “In some instances, we serve as extended family and missionaries to people who may feel isolated by their conditions.” Gladys Pulliam, co-signed Bumbray’s assertion. As a vibrant and active senior, Pulliam said she quickly became depressed and obstinate when a skiing accident caused her a rip in her knee’s lateral collateral ligament. “I hate hospitals but saw rehabilitation centers as a depressing last-stop to the cemetery, so I fought tooth and nail for home health care services,” Pulliam told the Informer. “It took a few weeks to get comfortable with my nurse, Fatima, but she often went above and beyond her duties, and I had her as company when my kids and grandkids didn’t bother to come by. Fatima was a godsend and she even played whist with me.” Pulliam said her emotional health helped speed the recovery of her physical health. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported the U.S. spent an estimated $103 billion on home health care last year, with a projected increase that will see an overall increase in home health care employment by 41 percent from 2016 to 2026. This translates into 7.8 million job openings. “Home health care nurses do a lot of the work that used to be handled by midwives and the ladies’ circles at churches, when family members were unable to tend to the needs of the elderly or infirmed,” Pulliam said. “While hospital closures may be responsible for this move back to home care, I think it is a good thing – especially since so many caregivers are Black women. It signals a return to community care, and I think that has always served Black bodies best.” HS

“I hate hospitals but saw rehabilitation centers

as a depressing last-stop to the cemetery, so I fought tooth and nail

for home health care services.” – Gladys Pulliam

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MAY 2019 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

(Top) Home health care nurse Tarita Bumbray checks the blood pressure of one of her clients, Mrs. Aliya Snyder at her Northeast home. (Shantella Y. Sherman/The Washington Informer) Tarita Bumbray, a D.C.-based home health care nurse says that caring for others in their homes is a matter of trust as well as skill. (Shantella Y. Sherman/The Washington Informer)

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EDITORIAL

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Former Ballou Standout Allows Bad Choices to Destroy Dreams Life’s lessons can be learned in at least two distinct manners, either vicariously – that is by observing others, the choices they make and the results thereof – or through our own experiences and the roads on which we find ourselves due to the decisions we make and the actions we take. Regretfully, one former Ballou High School gridiron great, Jamal Speaks, 19, now faces years behind bars after recently being charged with the killing of his girlfriend, 18-year-old Saniyah Floyd. Speaks, just last year, had achieved the seemingly-impossible, overcoming tremendous odds, including once being homeless and denied the opportunity to represent his school due to a policy which prohibited youth without a permanent address to participate in sports. But Speaks refused to give up and many within the community came forward on his behalf – knocking down barriers and opening new pathways to victory while berating the insensitive school policy and those who sought to enforce it. We celebrated with Jamal after the young man received an invitation to join the Temple University football team where he could continue to pursue his dream of professional sports stardom while also earning a college degree. But now the walls have come crashing down on him and the prognosis does not look good. Police first believed that Floyd had accidentally shot herself on April 7 – a conclusion that would be determined impossible after a medical examiner found the gunshot wound could not have been self-inflicted. Subsequent investigations showed that Speaks had illegally purchased a gun and, it’s believed, had been “playing” with the weapon when it went off, after which he put the gun in his girlfriend’s hand. Another potentially bright future has been destroyed as Speaks now faces first- and second-degree murder and assault and weapons charges. But at least he is still alive. For Floyd, she will never have the chance to pursue her own goals, hopes or dreams. Our sources tell us that Speaks did not intend to harm and certainly not kill his girlfriend. But the callous decision he made in his attempts to cover up his actions do not bode well for the young man, particularly when his case comes to trial and he must face a judge and jury. It’s easy to point fingers and lay blame on environment, economics, educational-shortcomings and so many other factors in efforts to justify or explain the deeds we commit or the beliefs we espouse. But in the end, it’s the choices we make that have the greatest impact on our lives – both today and tomorrow. And unlike in children’s fairy tales, some choices can only result in “unhappy endings.” WI

Celebrate the Class of 2019 As supporters gathered recently in Southeast to rally and show their respect for the mother of a Black teen shot by another Black teen in Southeast, many said they were grateful that the young man survived but asked the looming question, “When will the violence stop?” Many among the crowd were mothers themselves who said they felt lucky that neither they, nor their children, had been personally impacted by the violence that permeates their neighborhood. And in the midst of it all, a mother who said she decided to move her family away from D.C. attended the rally not only to support the mom who was her friend, but to also visit Howard University where her son will enter as a freshman in the fall. She was bursting with pride to know that her child, who escaped the violence, worked hard in order to attend the college of his dreams where he’ll pursue a degree in computer science and electrical engineering with a desire to secure a career in gaming. This is just one of thousands of stories proud mothers, fathers and extended family members will share this Saturday, May 11 on the campuses of Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia, as well as other non-HBCUs in the area. Bowie State and Morgan State universities will hold their commencement exercises the following weekend, adding to the several thousand graduates who will receive their hard-earned degrees. It is a moment of high celebration, as well as a time-honored Mother’s Day gift for many. The specific words may be unspoken but the day’s excitement is found in the collective expression, “We did it.” Despite the statistics showing the high drop-out rates among Black students, the decreasing number of students enrolling in HBCU’s and the question of why more Black women are entering college over their male counterparts, the fact remains that education once denied to Black people is still valued and appreciated as a proven road to success. We realize, however, that for many parents and students, the road is not easy which is why their success is all the more significant. For this, we celebrate the class of 2019 and wish them continued success. WI

TO THE EDITOR Jobs are D.C.’s Top Priority As District residents have continuously expressed their eagerness to work, Mayor Muriel Bowser has answered the call by investing in our workforce and extending that investment into other areas that affect District workers. A key priority of the Bowser administration has been fulfilling the commitment to helping residents become competitive in the workforce and connecting them to opportunities for full employment, lifelong learning, economic stability and the highest quality of life. As the director of the Department of Employment, I have the honor of advancing Mayor Bowser’s vision of ensuring Washingtonians across all eight wards receive a fair shot at achieving economic prosperity through education, employment opportunities and quality workforce training services. This is why I stand by Mayor Bowser’s investments that included $20 million for Workforce Housing for our working class that finds market-rate housing a few steps out of reach and $250,000 toward the expansion of ASPIRE, an initiative that gives returning the citizens an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship. I am also excited about continued investment towards key economic development

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

projects that includes the St. Elizabeths infrastructure development and investment towards projects for Hill East. For every new development project, jobs are created. Potential cuts to the budget could derail or stall the robust progress the Bowser administration has put in place. Under the Bowser administration, Wards 7 and 8 have experienced the lowest unemployment recorded. Cuts to the budget could ultimately cause a ripple effect throughout our local workforce. Cuts towards development initiatives, education and workforce training services can potentially cause a rise in unemployment as residents may have limited access to the tools and resources needed to obtain job stability. The Department of Employment Services has placed an increased emphasis on providing individualized support that is tailored to the needs of our diverse population. Without continued full investment, we will not be able to expand programs and services that prepare residents for careers in in-demand industries. There is more work to do as we ensure all Washingtonians benefit from the rapid progress of our beloved city. Mayor Bowser’s budget keeps us on track for delivering on promises made. Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes Director, D.C. Department of Employment Services

MAY 9 - 15, 2019 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

By Julianne Malveaux

How Strong is Our Economy?

The April unemployment rate, at 3.6 percent, is at its lowest rate since December 1969. Payroll employment increased by more than 250,000, outperforming expectations and reversing the disappointing job creation numbers of last month. First quarter growth was reported at 3.2 percent, a robust figure that exceeds estimates, earlier this year, that growth would be somewhat slower. This perhaps gives the man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built something to crow about since

he so enjoys crowing. But many economists are waiting for the other shoe to drop, having workshops and forums about the coming recession. And as positive as the numbers seem, there are always gaps and inequities reflected in the fine print. Take the unemployment rate. It declined overall, and for adult men and women, Whites, Asians and Hispanics. At the same time, the unemployment rates for African Americans and teenagers were unchanged. The Black unemployment rate, at 6.7 percent, is more than twice the white rate of 3.1 percent. This ratio of 2.16 percent is higher than the usual 2:1 unemployment rate, widening inequality.

Should African Americans really celebrate a strong labor market when so many are sidelined from it? Despite claims of economic improvement and an improvement in some of the indicators, the fact that others remain stagnant is telling. For example, 1.2 million people have been out of work for more than half a year. They represent one in five of the unemployed. The number may seem small, but the persistence of unemployment for some individuals should be troubling for those who make public policy. The number of people who are considered “marginally attached” to the labor force — meaning that they’d work if they could find work, but

Guest Columnist

have ceased looking — is the same as it was this time last year. These marginally attached workers include discouraged workers, and there are nearly half a million of them, again the same as last year. With these numbers being at the same level as they were a year ago, there is an indication that the 3.6 percent unemployment rate that is being hailed as so historic is a false indicator of progress. While employers are clearly hiring, they aren’t hiring enough people to make those at the bottom confident enough to look for work! The labor force participation rate is also falling, again suggesting that our “strong economy” is not pulling

enough more people into the labor market. Instead, some are leaving! Why? Even though wages grew at 3.2 percent last month, which is more than they increased last year, they have not yet reached the 3.5 percent level that the Federal Reserve Bank would consider healthy. Thus, the Fed indicated that they change the interest rate, although 45 has pushed for a full percentage point drop in the interest. I’m not sure what part of the Fed’s independence he fails to understand! The Fed’s decision to hold interest rates constant is partly a result

MALVEAUX Page 45

By Marc H. Morial

Nation Mourns Damon Keith, Peerless Champion of Justice

“By denying the most vulnerable the right to vote, the Majority shuts minorities out of our political process. Rather than honor the men and women whose murdered lives opened the doors of our democracy and secured our right to vote, the Majority has abandoned this court’s standard of review in order to conceal the votes of the most defenseless behind the dangerous veneers of factual findings

lacking support and legal standards lacking precedent. I am deeply saddened and distraught by the court’s deliberate decision to reverse the progress of history. I dissent.” — Judge Damon J. Keith, dissenting in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Northeast Ohio Coalition, et al. v. Husted, et al. As the National Urban League prepares to release the 2019 State of Black America — focused for the first time on the state of the Black vote — we mourn one of the greatest champions of voting rights in American history: Judge

Damon J. Keith. Keith, the grandson of former slaves, was judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a former judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He died last week at the age of 96. His extraordinary career included the desegregation of a public schools in Pontiac, Michigan, establishing affirmative action in police departments and halting President Richard Nixon’s illegal wiretap program. Following his desegregation order, Judge Keith received death

Guest Columnist

threats and 10 Pontiac school buses were firebombed by Ku Klux Klansmen. His dissent in NEOCH v. Husted, which upheld Ohio’s draconian voting restrictions on early in-person and absentee voting, included a photo gallery of voting rights martyrs. “I wanted to dramatize the racist attitude of the majority,” he told a reporter shortly after the decision. “Look at those pictures. These are men and women who died for the right to vote. I was really so hurt by the decision of the majority of the court. My grand-

parents lived in Georgia, and they were not allowed to vote because of racism. I thought about them.” Judge Keith was born in Detroit, the son parents who were part of the Great Migration from Georgia. His father worked for $5 a day in a Ford Motor plant. He served in the segregated U.S. Army during World War II, working mainly at kitchen duties, and was discharged as a sergeant. While studying the law, he worked as a janitor at a newspaper, where a white reporter told

MORIAL Page 45

By A. Peter Bailey

A Farewell to Earl Grant, a Pan-African Warrior Earl Grant, 89, a courageous and committed Pan-African warrior, died of what his doctors labeled heart failure on April 7 in Los Angeles. Those of us who knew Earl know that his heart didn’t fail; it just closed down after enabling him, for many years, to make a productive and valuable contribution to the ongoing battle against white supremacy/racism. Earl, a brilliant mathematician,

26 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

jokingly described himself as a “descendant of a long line of distinguished cotton pickers. His family had been one of those who fled the overt terrorism of East Texas to the more covert of the same in California. He moved on to become one of the most important aides and supporters of Brother Malcolm X, another great Pan-African warrior. Their close friendship and collaboration in the battle against white supremacy/racism in North America (or, more aptly, the USA) and

race-driven colonialism in Africa is clearly reflected in the following excerpts from a letter Brother Malcolm wrote to Earl in October 1964 while in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “My Dear Brother,” wrote Brother Malcolm, “Your letter was awaiting me upon my return to Addis two days ago. And I was very pleased to hear from you, especially to learn that you are expecting an addition to your family. This is a blessing and proves that what we oft-times are told by others is impossible is actually made very easy as long as we don’t

become discouraged and give up. No one knows what can or cannot be accomplished until all efforts towards that end has been expended. … I pray Allah will bless you and your wife with a very healthy child that may bring you much deserved happiness. It hurt me to think that you feel you have outlived your usefulness to me. Usefulness is not the yardstick I use to measure what I feel has always been a warm personal friendship between us. Ours has never been a minister to Muslim relationship. It has always been broth-

er-to-brother and on that basis you have confided many of your personal feelings and problems to me and, in turn, I have done likewise to you. As for my part that warm brotherly relationship has never faded.” Later in the letter Brother Malcolm wrote that Earl “should be the happiness of those whom I left behind because you have the most mature outlook over things, especially in the international context. Everything that I came here to do has been

BAILEY Page 45

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

By Charlene Crowell

War on the Hill: The Future of Payday Loans

At an April 30 Capitol Hill hearing, the multi-dimensional problems wrought by small-dollar, high-cost loans were brought to the attention of lawmakers serving on the powerful House Financial Services Committee. A witness panel representing bankers, consumers, clergy and public policy organizations taught, recounted, reasoned and preached to lawmakers on

the rippling and disastrous effects of debt-trap loans. Each addressed the industry that reaps billion-dollar profits from the poor: payday, car-title, and other triple-digit interest small-dollar products. The average annual interest rate for payday loans in the United States is 391%, although in more than 17 states, many of them home to consumers of color, the APR is even higher. As consumers suffer financially, it’s a different story for payday lenders: $4.1 billion in fees every year in the 33 states

that allow these debt traps, according to the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Similarly the annual fees generated on car-title loans was found to be $3.8 billion. The session occurred as the current administration seeks to permanently reverse a payday rule that was developed over five years of public hearings, research and comments that sought the input of consumers, financial institutions and other stakeholders. Announced by the first Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) director, the rule would require lend-

Guest Columnist

ers to determine if a consumer could repay the loan, also known as the ability-to-repay standard. With a new CFPB director, the rule’s suspension was accompanied by an announcement of an intent to begin rulemaking anew. For the industry, the suspension provides yet another opportunity to take the teeth out of financial regulation. For consumers, long-awaited consumer protection that would have taken effect this summer is now indefinite. With the average borrower earning $25,000 to $30,000 a year, whatever

difficulty led them to a payday loan store or website, made their lives even worse. For Detroit resident Ken Whittaker, the hearing was a high-profile opportunity to share his personal experience with a $700 payday loan that wound up costing him $7,000, in addition to debt collections, a court judgment, and his tax refund garnished. “I found I could not afford to pay off the first loan without taking out another one. Then I began a cycle of

CROWELL Page 46

By Marian Wright Edelman

Ending Child Poverty Now

“I would come home and there would be no electricity, I would have no water to bathe in. Sometimes there wouldn’t be food, there would just be water in the refrigerator.” — Taylor, honored by the Children’s Defense Fund-Texas with a Beat the Odds scholarship No child should have to worry where her next meal will come from or whether she will have a place to sleep each night in the wealthiest nation on earth. Yet more than 12.8 million poor children in America face these harsh realities every day. It

is a moral disgrace, a costly injustice and a profound economic threat that nearly 1 in 5 children are poor in our boastfully wealthy nation. Nearly 4 in 10 of our children spend at least a year in poverty before their 18th birthday and more than 1 in 10 struggle through at least half their childhoods in poverty. More than two out of three poor children are children of color. Most shamefully, our youngest children are our poorest during their years of greatest brain development. Permitting millions of children to live in poverty — many denied basic human needs of housing, enough food and a chance to get ready for school and attend schools with equal funding and quality — is unjust. We are

failing our children and our nation. When we let millions of children grow up poor without basic necessities like food, housing and health care, we deny them equal opportunities to succeed in life and rob our nation of their future contributions. Poverty decreases a child’s chances of graduating from high school and increases her chances of becoming a poor adult. It makes her more likely to suffer illnesses and get sucked into the criminal justice system. Beyond human costs, child poverty has huge economic costs for all of us. Our nation loses about $700 billion a year from lost productivity and increased health and crime costs stemming from child poverty. Child poverty is an urgent and

Askia-At-Large

preventable crisis for which solutions already exist if we have the moral and economic sense to expand and invest in them. In 2017 benefits like nutrition assistance, housing vouchers and tax credits helped lift nearly 7 million children out of poverty. However, inadequate funding, eligibility restrictions and low parental wages left millions of children behind. We can and must do more to help all children escape poverty now. In 2015, the Children’s Defense Fund published the first of our groundbreaking Ending Child Poverty Now reports that showed, for the first time, how America could immediately lift millions more children out of poverty by simply improving

and investing in existing policies and programs that work. Four years later it is unconscionable that our leaders are still debating and millions of our poor children are still waiting to have their basic survival needs met. Millions of children needlessly suffer in poverty because of our nation’s inaction. How many more years, child lives and taxpayer dollars will we waste before we end child poverty? This week CDF released a new edition of Ending Child Poverty Now, updating our earlier study with help from the Urban Institute, and issued another call for an immediate reduction in child poverty for 5.5 million

EDELMAN Page 46

By Askia Muhammad

I Stand With Farrakhan! Let me be perfectly clear. I stand with Louis Farrakhan! The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is a good man! He is not a hate teacher. He does not hate white people. He does not hate Jewish people. He is not a misogynistic, homophobe. He does not teach hatred — not hatred of whites, or of Jews, or of non-binary, LGBTQIA persons. He’s a good man, a decent man, an honest upstanding man. I’ve known Louis Farrakhan for 48 years, from far and near. I was one of millions who heeded his call at the

steps of the U.S. Capitol on Monday, Oct. 16, 1995, for the Million Man March. I was there before dawn that day, hours before the tens and tens and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of men poured onto the National Mall for the biggest demonstration for freedom in this country’s history! That day was long before anyone had dreamed of Facebook, Instagram or any social media. I traveled literally around the globe with Farrakhan in a delegation of fewer than 40 on a chartered airplane as he visited capitals and kings, presidents and revolutionary leaders, from Nelson Mandela, to Fidel Castro, to

Yasser Arafat, to Muammar Qaddafi, to Robert Mugabe and more. I can say that neither from afar nor in close intimate contact have I ever seen or heard anything that man has said or done which would disqualify him from being welcome among the most select company — presidents from Reagan to Obama, governors, mayors, imams, priests. Farrakhan is a good man! His reputation, his behavior, cannot be impeached by the slanderers who fear that his message of righteous behavior and unity and peace will break the stranglehold which the enemies of the rise of the downtrodden have enjoyed

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lo these many centuries. Now, I get it that not everybody — not even some who have directly and personally benefited from his kindness and his courage — is a friend of Farrakhan. I get that. That’s too bad. In the end, they will need him more than he needs them. In fact, I’ve got many friends and people I trust and respect who are heavily invested in the world of this wicked white man and may be struggling for the rise of our people in this system, so I understand some of their trepidation. I believe these friends to be mistaken. I have seen too much evidence to

believe that the reward they may hope to get from these evil former slave masters will be forthcoming, or that they can reform this wicked world for the better. So I’m praying for the swift destruction of this system as has been prophesied throughout the Scriptures. They can give us Miss America, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, the GOET (Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and Tony), the Mark Twain Prize or the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It’s too late for them unless they change themselves for the better. Those tokens are just tricks to deceive us. They

ASKIA Page 46 MAY 9 - 15, 2019 27

LIFESTYLE ‘Pride & Joy’ Delivers the Motown Sound and Swag in Spectacular Form Jarran Muse, Chae Stephen, Tony Grant Steal the Show as Marvin Gaye, Harvey Fuqua By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir From the very first downbeat and accompanying dance routine, performed to the 1959 tune made famous by Chubby Checker when he added his special touch to the tune, “The Twist,” just a year later, it seemed evident that “Pride & Joy: The Marvin Gaye Musical” had all the makings of an old-school, blue lights in the basement party, fueled by the phenomenal, new wave of rock and soul that would take the world by storm throughout the turbulent 60s. And while some members of the audience found it impossible to remain seated, they would be even more captivated by a repertoire of subsequent tunes now firmly entrenched in America’s Songbook – part and parcel of songs shared by

28 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

Berry Gordy, Jr., and his Hitsville USA vocalists, musicians and dancers – all members of the Motown Records family. The musical, which marked its world premiere at the National Theater in the District on May 8, invites its audience to tag along to witness the previously-untold fairytale romance of the legendary Marvin Gaye and Anna Gordy, one of the boss’s sisters and a highly-competent businesswoman who not only bedazzles Gaye as his career takes shape, but also snags his heart – becoming his wife, mother of his firstborn son and co-writer for several of Motown’s most endearing ballads – songs inspired by the twosome’s love, creativity and, at times, volatile clashes. The play, based on the diaries of Anna Gordy Gaye, comes to the

stage with the blessing of Gordy himself who not only reviewed the script but handpicked one of the lead performers, Jarran Muse, for the role of Marvin Gaye in his younger days. Playwrights for the production come from the collaborative efforts of Marvin and Anna’s son, Marvin Gaye III, Angela Barrow-Dunlap and D’Extra Wiley – business partner and longtime friend of Marvin III who also dons the roles of both Jackie Wilson and Frankie Gaye (Marvin’s brother). The music, of course, comes from the vast Motown catalogue under the guidance of Music Director Cordell Walton, along with energetic, fresh choreography conceived by Tristan Andrews and Angela Blocker-Loyd – each of whom hails from Detroit – the city in which it all began. No one who really appreciates songs with heartfelt lyrics, beautiful harmonies and intricately-delivered musical accompaniments can honestly dispute the magical touch and impact that Motown, armed with a bevy of unforgettable songs, soloists and singing ensembles, has had on the nation and the world – even 60 years since its founding. And it’s the sound, the soul and the swagger of the Motown sound that reverberates throughout “Pride & Joy” – with an emphasis on the music written and/or performed by the D.C.’s own Marvin Gaye. And what an amazing portfolio he left for the world. Two actors share the responsibility of bringing Gaye to the stage and both are superb in their performances – delivering the extraordinary artist during his earlier years, Muse, and in his later years, Chae Stephen. Both gentlemen easily hit the mark, comfortably unleashing the resonating, conversational tim-

5 Chae Stephen resurrects spirit of Marvin Gaye. (Photo Tyrone Holmes)

ber of speech, the svelte, pitch-perfect vocals and the alluring walk and aura that would become second nature to Gaye, making him a household name. As for confirmation regarding the delivery of the two “Marvins,” this writer only needed to look to the left or right and witness members of the audience, both women and men, young or old, who seemed enthralled by both actors, particularly Muse – singing along, snapping their fingers, rocking their heads, clapping their hands or nodding

while the actors’ delivered their lines to signal their approval and pleasure. In fact, the entire cast does a bang-up job in this production, most notably Tony Grant in his impressive performance and superb vocal delivery in the role of Harvey Fuqua – one of Gaye’s closest friends during his formative years in the business and a talented singer in his own right. Krystal Drake also shines as Anna Gordy Gaye as do both Justin Reynolds who easily caresses the falsetto riffs made famous by Smokey Robinson and Kourtney Lenton in her sultry, “song-sational” performance as Gaye’s beloved singing partner, Tammi Terrell. If you can overlook some of the moments of inertness caused by portions of the script that could have easily been eliminated, or perhaps more effectively delivered by an omniscient narrator, then “Pride & Joy” is a show you don’t want to miss. Even a week later, the songs made famous by the unforgettable duo of Tammi and Marvin, soulfully rendered by actors Lenton and Muse, continue to resound in this writer’s mind, heart and soul. Okay, I’ll admit, this production isn’t as polished – at least not yet – as the similarly-themed, Broadway hit, “Motown the Musical.” But it’s still a whole lot of fun and certainly worth the price of admission. Check it out and get your groove on. I sure did. WI

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LIFESTYLE MUSLIMS from Page 23 hammad honored Minister Kadir Muhammad, leader of Mosque #4, Sean Muhammad, former leader of the Prince George’s County Study Group, and Jamil Muhammad, former leader of the NOI in Atlanta. Together they have worked to restore peace and order in drug-infested communities in D.C. and . Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, head of the Abundant Life Clinic in D.C., was one of Farrakhan’s key organizers during the 1996 Million Man March, looked over the audience and said, “I am blessed to be with the ones on this stage. I’m blessed to be with the ones in the audience.” Muhammad talked about the importance of understand oneself as a precursor to unity. He said in the same way a circle is sum of equal parts calculated by the pi formula in every man represents qualities that include: “Perfectionist, helper, performer, artist, thinker, questioner, leader and peacemaker.” Edward X, a Nation of Islam member who works with young people in Southeast, was the keynote speaker for the event but

after three hours of listening to others, he condensed his message to a few powerful points that included, “We don’t know how to be friends with one another.” “Can we be honest with one another? I did 18 years in prison and we have a mission,” Edward X said. “Minister Louis Farrakhan inspired me to become self inspired. We have initiated a process but how do we forge unity. … I like what the brother said: We have to be the message.” In terms of going forward, Yayah Muhammad said they plan to have joint meetings with a variety of Muslim leaders to continue the dialogue. “This has never been done in the history of time,” he said. “We are going to go into the community to let the community see our unity and change our condition.” Al-Hajj Iman Sultan M. Abdullah, 73, was one of last people to leave the Dyanet Center. He opened the event with prayer and was honored by his daughter, who is married to Yayah Muhammad. Abdullah, who worked with W.D. Muhammad, summarized the event in three words: “It was good.” WI

DREAM YOUTH PREPARE FOR ANNUAL CITYDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA

CityDance Dream gala returns for its annual performance on Saturday, May 11, once again on the stage of the Lincoln Theatre in Northwest. Joining the young dancers will be choreographer Earl Mosley (center) who has prepared an excerpt from his signature work, “Our Better Angels,” which students will perform during the evening’s show. Mosley has set works for acclaimed companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater Studio Company, Dallas Black Dance Theater and Ailey II. Mosley served as DREAM’s very first professional artist in residency during the summer of 2017 and has continued to be part of the CityDance DREAM community ever since. Other performances will be provided by Brooklyn Mack, PHILADANCO, The Syncopated Ladies and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Since its founding, CityDance DREAM’s goal has been to level the playing field for students living in high-poverty DC neighborhoods by providing access to the highest-quality dance training with support and services to ensure achievement in school, also providing resources needed for successful transitions to adulthood. Look for our story with photos and interviews in next week’s edition.

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LIFESTYLE Va. Educator Named 2019 National Teacher of the Year By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia

Rodney Robinson, a 19-year teaching veteran who became a teacher to honor his mother

and who struggled to receive an education after being denied one as a child due to segregation and poverty in rural Virginia, was named the 2019 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State

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School Officers (CCSSO). Kelly Harper of Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in southwest D.C. was among the runners-up for the honor. Robinson, who teaches at Virgie Binford Education Center which is a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Justice Center, was commended by CCSSO for creating “a positive school culture by empowering his students – many of whom have experienced trauma – to become civically-minded social advocates who use their skills and voices to affect physical and policy changes at their school and in their communities.” Robinson told the National Education Association that he looks forward to helping lead a conversation about the students whom he calls “the most vulnerable in society” and how the nation can address the school-to-prison pipeline that has pushed too many kids out of school. “This year, I hope to be the voice for my students and all students who feel unseen, unheard, unappreciated and undervalued in America,” Robinson said. In 2015, Robinson started teaching at Virgie Binford Education Center in an effort to better understand the school-to-prison pipeline. His classroom is a collaborative partnership between himself and his students and is anchored in him providing a civic

5 Rodney Robinson (Courtesy of NEA)

centered education that promotes social-emotional growth, Robinson said. He uses the knowledge he has gained from his students to develop alternative programs to prevent students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline. Published three times by Yale University, Robinson has received numerous awards for his accomplishments in and out of the classroom, most notably the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. He is a member of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s Ed-

ucation Compact Team, which includes politicians, educators, business leaders, and community leaders, and is working with city leaders and local colleges to recruit underrepresented male teachers into the field of education. Robinson has also worked with Pulitzer Award-winning author James Foreman on developing curriculum units on race, class, and punishment as a part of the Yale Teacher’s Institute. Robinson, who earned a Bachelor of arts in history from Virginia State University and a master’s in educational administration and supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University, has focused much of his efforts on the need for mental health services in schools and singles out the stigma surrounding treatment. As teacher of the year, CCSO officials said Robinson will have a heightened platform to advocate for the students who are being left behind by budget cuts and a system that emphasizes punitive discipline over preventative and rehabilitative measures. “I want school counselors, I want conflict mediators, I want restorative justice, I want people to come in and actually work with the kids and not just put a kid in handcuffs whenever there is a minor disagreement,” Robinson said. WI

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BUDGET from Page 1 said. “However, we are worried about changes that affect our most vulnerable residents.” Young did most of the talking and he expressed concern about an $8.5 million cut to the Housing Production Trust Fund in the form of a diversion to D.C. Housing Authority housing voucher programs. Fifteen percent of the District’s collection of the deed recordation and deed transfer tax revenue generally goes to the trust fund, but that will not be the case this year if the council has its way. Young said the funding of housing vouchers isn’t wise because “the source needs to be stable and consistent” and he argues that the deed taxes are not. “These vouchers take a while to be used,” he said. Young noted that the Committee on Health, chaired by Council member Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) reduces the United Medical Center’s (UMC) operating subsidy from $40 million to $15 million and eliminates $7.5 million in capital funds. “The committee has no way of having a full understanding of what the reductions in the subsidy will mean for UMC, but it will certainly lead to immediate service reductions and layoffs,” he said. The UMC is the only full-service hospital east of the Anacostia River and receives public funds. Plans are in the works for a new, state-of-the-art hospital on the St. Elizabeths East campus but it has been stonewalled by its controversial manager, Universal Health Services, which operates the George Washington University Hospital, for reasons such as labor

disputes, schemes to pay for the new facility and Howard University’s Medical School’s desire to have doctor and student practicing rights there. Young said the UMC should be fully funded to let his team “complete our work securing a new operator and submit a plan to the council for public review about the new facility.” One of the most popular moves Bowser made this year had to do with the Circulator, the city’s free bus service. The mayor wants to the bus service to remain free of charge for everyone but Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), chair of the council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, has publicly rejected that idea and questioned whether the $3.1 million needed to keep the service free is cost-effective. “Since the free Circulator program begin in February, we have seen a significant uptick in usage, with 20,000 more riders in February and 77,000 more in March compared to the same months last year,” Young said. “More riders on the Circulator means fewer cars on the road, which has numerous benefits.” Young also bemoaned the council’s proposal to eliminate the child care affordable tax credit, increase residential parking permit fees and raise the sales tax on sweetened beverages. He also said actions such as cutting $2.1 million in funding for the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund will hinder the city’s efforts to attract full-service grocery stores to Wards 7 and 8. Young said he and his staff will continue to engage council members and the general public about its budget proposal. WI

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 31

LIFESTYLE Ben’s Chili Bowl Co-Founder Honored for Decades of Service By Eve M. Ferguson WI Contributing Writer

Everyone calls her “Mom” or

“Mrs. Ben,” but as the octogenarian co-founder of the landmark Ben’s Chili Bowl, Virginia Ali is rarely called by her first name, she recounted recently. But all of that

is all right with her, because she knows that she is also the “Queen” of U Street. It seems that this is her time, with Mother’s Day approaching,

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but not for that reason. Virginia Ali received the 2019 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award in recognition of her 60-year career as co-founder of the original Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street, where she and her late husband Ben Ali, opened their doors in the same location as they are at now in August 1958. In fact, Ben’s is the longest-running family-owned restaurant in the city. It has hosted so many celebrities, politicians and civil rights activists, it has warranted having its very own historian, Dr. Bernard Demczuk, who heads up the Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation, established after the death of Ben Ali in 2009. “We like the community, and the community likes us,” Virginia Ali said at a recent film screening, held in a back room at the original Ben’s during Filmfest DC. The new documentary, “Traveling While Black,” by filmmaker and local arts maven Bonnie Nelson Schwarz, was set in Ben’s Chili Bowl circa 1958, in what looked like the old restaurant complete with jukeboxes and unimaginably low prices, but all in the VR (Virtual Reality) world. “We wanted to open a business where our people were,” she remembered and shared with a rapt crowd who came for a panel discussion on the film. “We had three theaters and our own Howard [University] which helped us be an intellectual community. We had our own African-American bank, our own hotels and more. [ Ben and I] wanted to be married, and we wanted to be self-employed.” And yes, Virginia has a starring role in the film, but also in a run

of upcoming accolades. The intimate reception celebrating her award from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) was held in downtown Washington last week with no shortage of input from a few of her ardent and powerful supporters: former Councilwoman Charlene Drew Jarvis, former Mayor Anthony Williams, and former WJLA-TV anchor Del Walters, among others. “Virginia is a great feature, and so emblematic of the heart and soul of Washington, D.C.,” Anthony Williams said during his salute to Ali. “Really, so much of the story of Washington D.C, so much of our city’s story could be told at Ben’s Chili Bowl,” Ali is the matriarch of the original business and its offshoots in Northern Virginia, the H Street corridor, Nationals Park and the more formal yet still down-home style Ben’s Next Door, though her children now primarily run all the businesses. “This history of civil rights, the fight for self-representation and determination, the fight to make this a great city in economic development, it all begins and it all ends at Ben’s Chili Bowl,” Williams said. “We can’t do any better and can’t have any better awardee than the great Virginia Ali.” Ward 5 Council member Kenyan McDuffie echoed the former mayor’s sentiments. “You’ve been able to change the landscape,” McDuffie, chair of the council’s Business and Economic Development Committee, told Ali. “And you have the staying

BEN’S Page 44

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32 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

5 (L-R) Kathy Hollinger, Kamal Ali, Sonya Ali, and David Moran celebrate Virginia Ali’s (center) receipt of the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award for decades of service. (Courtesy photo/Ana Isabel Photography)

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LIFESTYLE MAYOR from Page 33 federal grand jury on corruption within the city’s Gun Trace Task Force. The same week Pugh left office, morticians were pushing a white casket out of a Baltimore church that carried Kevon Dix, 21, a member of the Morgan State University choir who was fatally shot as he headed home from a night of schoolwork. According to student sources, he was mistakenly targeted. But despite it all, Young and leaders such as Cummings are ready to move the city forward. “I am pleased that we can now collectively move forward and be the architects and builders of the kind of city we dream of for ourselves and those yet unborn,” Cummings said. “Baltimore’s strength has been tested before, and we have proven that our city is full of hardworking people who strive every single day to make Baltimore a better place in which to live and work.” But a poll released Wednesday by Arnold, Maryland-based Gonzales Research & Media Research shows voters’ dissatisfaction toward the city. According to the poll conducted April 26-May 1, about

63 percent of Democrats likely to vote in next year’s mayoral primary believe Pugh should’ve resigned. That same percentage believe things in the city are “on the wrong track.” In terms of race, 61 percent of Blacks are dismayed with the city, as are 70 percent of whites. The most staggering figure is that 83 percent of voters overall are dissatisfied with attempts to reduce crime, mirroring the sentiments of both Black and white residents at 84 percent and 82 percent, respectively. “Dissatisfaction and disillusionment is from a broad perspective,” said Patrick Gonzales, who owns the polling firm. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Black or white, voters are not satisfied.” Gonzales said one glimmer of hope could be Monday’s election of Brandon Scott, 35, as city council president. “He’s young, he’s attractive, he’s got experience and ran as a lieutenant governor candidate,” Gonzales said. “He could bring some fresh perspective in the city. I think there is a hunger for that.” The poll, which surveyed 329 voters, has a margin of error of plus/minus 5.5 percent. Staff writer William J. Ford contributed to this story. WI

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34 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

Students inside Charles Herbert Flowers High School’s gymnasium clapped, yelled and screamed. The school’s jazz ensemble forced students and others in attendance to tap their feet on the bleachers. The pep rally-like atmosphere, complete with the school’s step team, honored the nearly 500 seniors Friday, May 3 at the school’s sixth annual Senior Signing Day. The Prince George’s County public school system and other schools nationwide celebrated high school senior academic achievements earlier in the week for students who will attend college or enroll in military academies and Career and Technological Education (CTE) programs. However, Flowers holds its ceremony on the first Friday in May. In addition, the school in Springdale became the first school in Prince George’s to not only hold pay homage for its seniors, but organizes it into a full program where family and friends are invited. Approximately 370 seniors will attend two-year or fouryear colleges and universities who participated in community service projects, internship programs and consecutive honor roll recipients. Vondell Waldron, a health teacher and student advisor for Peer Forward program at Charles Flowers, credits the feeder elementary and middle schools for preparing the students for high school. “Once they come to high school, they come ready and are excited in what we have to offer,” he said. “The goal is to make students college- and career-ready.” Emmanuel James, 17, serves as a Peer Forward mentor who assists students during lunch to apply for SAT tests and other activities. “I really appreciate my school in doing something like this for us,” said James, who will study economics and communications at his parents’ alma mater of Bowie State University. “This is about Black culture and I’m grateful in going to college.”

During the more than 90-minute program where seniors received words of encouragement from Prince George’s school interim CEO Monica Goldson, James and other seniors stood at a microphone and proudly announced their future plans. Some sported the college’s colors. Victoria Lanier and 10 other seniors bound for North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro showcased the school’s blue and gold colors and chanted “Aggie Pride.” Tremayne Orlando Jr., 17, will head in the opposite direction to the Northeast with a full scholarship to play baseball at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. “I know there’s a lot of stuff done in recognize sports, but this shows our school is really about academic excellence,” said Tremayne, who will play shortstop and major in computer science. “I don’t know of any schools that do something this big for seniors.” Every 11th-grade student attends so they can see parents take pictures, teachers and other staff wear their college paraphernalia and build up the excitement level on what to expect the following year. To better prepare themselves for higher education in 2020, Nusirat Fahm and Oluwakemi Ibrahim will take dual-enrollment classes in the summer and the fall. “Being a freshman, we didn’t really think the time was going to fly this quick,” said Nusirat, 16, who wants to stay on the East Coast to study biomedical engineering. “Now looking at [current seniors], that’s going to be us next year. We are going to be making the same decisions.” Oluwakemi, who turned 17 on May 1, either wants to study biology and pre-med at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, or Rice University in Houston. Her goal is to become a neurosurgeon. “This is definitely inspirational,” she said. “This one year will fly past and I’ll be graduating. It’s kind of scary, but I’m also excited.” WI

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LIFESTYLE

wi book review “Girl in Black and White”

by Jessie Morgan-Owens c.2019, W.W. Norton $27.95 ($36.95 Canada) 324 pages

By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Water stains and tattered edges. It was a shame that that happened to the picture you found, though those wounds give it dignity. You have no idea who’s in the snapshot; you just know that someone wanted to remember a moment in time — or, as in the new book “Girl in Black and White” by Jessie Morgan-Owens, someone wanted to spark change. If you didn’t know the whole story behind the daguerreotype, you would think it was just an image of a charming, anonymous little girl, circa 1855. And you’d be half-right. Its story starts in 1808 when Virginia widow Conney Cornwell dealt with a thorny issue: her 15-year-old daughter, Kitty, became pregnant by one of Conney’s slaves and, ignoring possible ruination of the family’s reputation, Conney kept the baby they named John. Though he was technically free due to matrilineal laws, John was raised in the slave quarters by Conney’s slave, “Prue,” until he was 16. In 1825, when Conney fell ill, she did something that she hoped would ultimately protect Prue from enduring the heartbreak of separation from family: Conney left Prue to John in her will. Also included were Prue’s children and future grandchildren — and there would be many, most fathered by white men of power. The problem was that John’s whereabouts were unknown when Conney died, and there was a battle for her estate; in the meantime, Prue gave birth to more children, as did her children. Through complicated circumstances, one of them, Prue’s very light-skinned granddaughter, eventually caught the eye of anti-slavery Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, who knew that white audiences would be interested in her story and the horrors that might befall her as a Black child who looked white. He wanted to show her to his abolitionist supporters and to opponents. And so Sumner arranged a portrait session with a little girl called Mary… Much as you’ll be interested in Mary’s story, too, “Girl in Black and White” may be a challenging way to get it. While it’s good that a major chunk of the first part of this book is a Genesis-like account of begetting and ancestry, that soon devolves into court cases and courtroom wrangling that may be hard to follow for all but the most legal-minded readers. Author Jessie Morgan-Owens valiantly offers some help with this and she includes plenty of fascinating side stories on mid-1800s culture, photography, abolition and attitudes, but there’s still a lot to take in, especially if you’re not prepared for it. Take that as fair warning because, despite its depth, you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away from the small stories Morgan-Owens offers inside the larger account: tales of everyday life, helpful celebrities and Mary’s final days in what may have been a “Boston Marriage.” Perhaps the best advice is to give yourself plenty of time to digest and plenty of room to back-page while reading “Girl in Black and White.” Do that, and you’ll be fine; without space to contemplate, though, it may leave your brain a little tattered. WI

horoscopes

MAY 9 - 15, 2019

ARIES Your thinking could become more practical and down to earth as expressive Mercury moves into Taurus on Monday. Because it will be in your personal financial sector, it brings an opportunity to come up with innovative ideas to increase your income and get your accounts organized. Lucky Numbers: 4, 10, 18 TAURUS You might be ready to implement changes now that innovative Uranus is moving farther into your sign. And with lively Mercury entering Taurus on Monday and later linking with innovative Uranus, you might go a stage further and begin to make those plans a reality one step at a time. Lucky Numbers: 7, 9, 22 GEMINI With empowering Mars continuing to oppose jovial Jupiter for much of this week, it might be difficult to agree with someone on a course of action. This isn’t the time to make a spontaneous move. Instead, watch and wait because events over the coming days could change your outlook. Lucky Numbers: 16, 24, 46 CANCER With sobering Saturn opposing your point of destiny, you might become aware of how a certain relationship is draining you. Taskmaster Saturn can bring many tests in whatever area it’s moving through. In your case, it’s journeying through your sector of relationships and is currently retrograde. You might have an epiphany this week and gain some insight into why you feel edgy around a certain person and what you can do about it. Lucky Numbers: 19, 30, 39 LEO Over the course of this week, you might begin to question activities you’ve taken for granted. Are they really worth continuing? If something you’re doing is bringing you no joy and taking up too much of your time, you might want to jettison it. Conversely, putting your attention on those things that feed your energy and make you feel upbeat could pay big dividends. Lucky Numbers: 7, 18, 33 VIRGO As feisty Mars continues its journey through the topmost sector of your chart, your energy might be focused on getting ahead with your goals and plans. This is the time to make the most of some golden opportunities. Lucky Numbers: 8, 13, 52 LIBRA If a family situation has been rumbling on for some time, you might begin to find it a bit of a drain on your energy and resources. With both prudent Saturn and potent Pluto rewinding in your domestic sector and opposing your point of destiny, it could pay you to get such matters sorted out sooner rather than later. Lucky Numbers: 6, 44, 56 SCORPIO Relationships are emphasized as logical Mercury moves into Taurus on Monday. The coming days could coincide with an electric encounter that you’ll want to pursue further. You might be attracted by this person’s unusual life story and brilliant insights. If you nurture this, the friendship could turn into something you cherish. Lucky Numbers: 21, 25, 36 SAGITTARIUS Lifestyle and wellness matters can benefit as thoughtful Mercury moves into this zone on Monday. You might be drawn to read about ideas that can help you make the most of your time or that encourage you to streamline your life in ways that make everything much easier for you. Lucky Numbers: 1, 2, 15 CAPRICORN As fiery Mars continues its journey through your lifestyle sector, you might find your vitality increases the more you focus on your priorities. If you let yourself get distracted, you might not be so upbeat or effective. However, as thoughtful Mercury moves into your leisure sector on Monday, you might find that channeling your energy into walks in beautiful places, sports, cooking, or arts and crafts proves therapeutic and soothing to your nervous system. Lucky Numbers: 19, 29, 35 AQUARIUS The sun in your home zone could encourage you to indulge in more self-care when appropriate and make sure to eat the right foods and get enough sleep. Even so, with expressive Mercury moving into your domestic sector on Monday and linking with restless Uranus midweek, be prepared for a few surprises. People could call in unexpectedly, and while you might enjoy the company, you might not be as prepared as you’d like. Lucky Numbers: 4, 6, 17 PISCES While you might already be busy decluttering your space and making room in your life for new opportunities, Mercury’s move into your sector of talk and thought could encourage you to tackle those piles of paper. If you haven’t yet gotten around to clearing out drawers and recycling those magazines, doing so can free you up mentally as well as physically. Lucky Numbers: 18, 32, 34

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

MAY 9 - 15, 2019 35

CAPTURE th e mo me n t

4 On May 4th at the Links Inc. 40th Anniversary Weekend Celebration at the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor. They had a Kentucky Derby Party. The party was complete with ladies in fabulous hats and gentleman in bow ties and hats, mint juleps were served with food also. The Kentucky Derby Party was all about celebrating the Metropolitan DC Links 40th years as a chapter raising funds for scholarships and other community focused programs impacting young people, especially young girls. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer) 6 Families and friends walk around the National Stadium in support of the March of Dimes March for Babies on Saturday, May 4. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

5 South America Native Lesego Seema poses with friend Esther Wanjiku Waithira in front of Nelson Mandela statue at Embassy of South America for PassportDC on Embassy row on Saturday, May 4. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer) 3 The DC Department of Parks and Recreation celebrated National Fitness Day with Pilates in the Park held at Banneker Field in Northwest in partnership with Vida Fitness and #FITDC. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington informer)

36 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

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SPORTS For more photos go to washingtoninformer.com

Mystics Amped for 2019 After Finals Loss By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill The Washington Mystics have some unfinished business in 2019. After coming up short in its first-ever WNBA Finals appearance last summer against the Seattle Storm, Washington has adopted a pickup ball mantra for the upcoming season: “Run it back.” “We’re in a situation we wanted to be in last year, but unfortunately got swept,” guard Natasha Cloud, entering her fifth season with the Mystics, said Monday during the team’s media day at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in southeast D.C. “I think we’re ready to take that next step. … We’re ready to run it back and get this championship back here to D.C. The Mystics should be in good shape to make that happen, with last year’s starting five of Cloud, Elena Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver,

Ariel Atkins and LaToya Sanders all returning. Emma Messeeman, who averaged 14 points and nearly six rebounds per game in 2017, returns after a year away from her native Belgium. The 6-foot-4 forward should help clog the paint along with Delle Donne, who stands 6-foot-5. The Mystics will be without two D.C.-area natives, however. Monique Currie announced in February her retirement after 13 seasons to work at Nike’s headquarters in Portland, and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt left the same month in free agency to sign with the Los Angeles Sparks. Washington’s top draft pick, Kiara Leslie from North Carolina State, is expected to sit with an injury when the season begins May 25 at the Phoenix Mercury. The home opener on June 1 against the Atlanta Dream will be the Mystics’ first game inside the new Entertainment and Sports Are-

5 Mystics forward/center LaToya Sanders speaks to members of the press. (WI photo)

na in southeast D.C. after sharing Capital One Arena with the Washington Wizards since the team’s inaugural year in 1998. “The atmosphere in here is going to be great,” said head coach and general manager Mike Thibault. “We haven’t really had at Capital One a homecourt advantage that some teams in our league have. Now, we can have the fans on top of us and try to intimidate the opponents a little bit. “That newness coming off like a run we had feels like there’s an added boost to everything we do this year,” he said. As for what the players did in the offseason, most played overseas, worked out, or in Toliver’s case, helped with player development as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards. “Being on the sidelines is a com-

pletely different vantage point and, for me, it was just an opportunity to learn,” said Toliver, 32, one of three former University of Maryland players on the Mystics roster. “I’m excited to share all the things that I’ve learned. T h e r e ’s no point in having those experiences if you’re not willing to share them with your teammates.” Delle Donne said she didn’t think Toliver’s basketball IQ could get any higher, “but it did” from her offseason experience. WI

Nats Nip Cardinals at Home

5 St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader gets back to first base ahead a pickoff attempt as Washington Nationals first baseman Matt Adams awaits the throw during the Nationals’ 2-1 win at Nationals Park in D.C. on Thursday, May 2. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 3 Washington Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton slides safely into second base as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong awaits a throw during the Nationals’ 2-1 win at Nationals Park in D.C. on Thursday, May 2. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 37

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State of Black America. “The right of African Americans to vote – our right to participate in the civic processes of this nation – quite simply is under attack,” said Marc H. Morial, president/CEO, NUL. “There’s been a terrible trio of voter suppression including the opening of the floodgates by the Supreme Court with several poor decisions that subsequently made it easier for states to pass legislation that have made voting more difficult,” he said. “According to the Brennan Center, our partners in this report, state lawmakers began introducing voter suppression measures in 2010, from strict photo ID requirements to slashing early voting and throwing up roadblocks to registration.” Morial emphasized that one of the impacts of Russian interference in the 2016 elections that continues to be ignored remains a significant reduction in Blacks who voted because of being fooled by Russian propaganda. “Racism was a powerful tool used by Russian and other hostile foreign hackers and troll farms to manipulate the 2016 presidential and 2018 midterm elections,” he added. “A Russian-linked social media campaign, ‘Blacktivist,’ used Facebook and Twitter to ramp up racial tensions during the U.S. presidential election, using the integrity of the Black Lives Matter hashtag to carry out an insidious campaign of voter suppression.” “And their efforts apparently worked. Posing as activists, they instructed African Americans

5 Jonathan Capehart, Editorial Board, Washington Post, moderates a panel discussion with Deborah Barfield Berry-Washington (left), Correspondent USA Today and Kira Lerner, The Appeal, on how the press can help bring greater light on changes in voting laws during the State of Black America press conference, Monday, May 6 in Northwest. (Roy Lewis/Washington Informer photo).

not to vote – suppressing, discouraging and dissuading Blacks to stay home on Election Day because politicians had allegedly sold them out.” “Meanwhile, an estimated 40 states passed tougher voting laws, also employing greater restrictions on groups like the Women’s League of Voters and the National Urban League, both known for leading successful voter registration drives in year’s past.” “Some of our leaders want to close the books on the Mueller Report. But the light must be cast on how Russia contributed to the suppression of the African-American vote.” Morial says we should not celebrate the low unemployment in the U.S. without also paying attention to the disparity between Black and white households. “The arc of African-American unemployment has been de-

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clining since 2010, reaching its lowest percentage under President Obama, and continuing to decline under the current president,” he said. “Of course that’s good news.” “But Black homeownership is at its lowest rate in 40 years – something that few leaders want to talk about. Why? Because of a recession that ushered in predatory lending policies aimed at Blacks, many of whom lost their jobs and then their homes. At the same time, we’ve seen even greater restrictions placed on loan eligibility policies.” “What’s more, the significant difference in income inequality between Blacks and whites and an unemployment rate for Blacks that’s twice that of whites point to the fact that African Americans remain in the caboose on the train – disparities exist across the board in healthcare, income levels, housing ownership and education.” “The report shows that we’ve still got a lot of work to do.” Morial then weighed in on changes in the U.S. in this new age of Trump. “Civil rights are under attack, voting rights are under attack and with Donald Trump and the rhetoric he shares and encourages, we’ve seen a resurgence in white nationalism that, if it remains unchecked, could very well erode the fabric of our American democracy,” Morial said. “The question remains whether we are going to stand idly by or if we’re willing to do what’s necessary to put an end to the recent, various means of inciting greater racial and religious division in America,” he said. WI

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Did Your Mouth Cause That? Once you begin to How many of you know family, friends and co-workers who speak death much more often than life? You hear them saying things like, “You all have got to get these tickets sold — it would be a shame to have our guests show up next month to an empty room!” When they said “empty room,” that’s when they spoke death into the equation. In fact, it is the law of attraction. Scripture says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” How could the aforementioned comment been said by speaking life? Here’s how: “You all, thank each of you for taking so many tickets! Looks like we will have a full house, our guest speaker will be delighted! You all have outdone yourselves!” Never, ever speak to the negative! Give God a chance! Trust Him! Listen to your guidance from the Holy Spirit. When you try to sell the tickets without God’s help, you are doing things your own way. As Proverbs 3 says, when you ask God to order your steps, or to lean not on your own understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge him, He will direct your path.

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”

speak life, then allow the Holy Spirit to show you the best route to take. We must speak life, then trust and believe by doing all those things the Holy Spirit is pouring into your mind. Some of us may take the long way around, but if we continue to obey God, even if it takes 40 years the way it did Moses, we will get to the promised land! Scripture tells us how he could have gotten there in a much shorter time. In fact, it was as if he was almost there, but he took the wrong road. An example is when one drives back to Maryland, like Gaithersburg or Frederick, Maryland, it’s fastest to get off 95 North at Tysons Corner in Virginia. You

can keep driving on 95, but you will now have to come up the 495 Beltway from the bottom, beginning near the drawbridge. You will now have to drive all the way up the highway to eventually reach Silver Spring, then Rockville and on to Gaithersburg and Frederick. You have now added almost an extra hour to your trip. Whereas if you had taken that Tysons Corner exit, you would’ve rolled right into signs that take you to Rockville, Gaithersburg and Frederick, and in much better time. My point: you will reach your destination either way, but why act like Moses and take 40 years when it could have been done in two to five years? Why this example? Once you begin to speak life, then allow the Holy Spirit to show you the best route to take. We must speak life, then trust and believe by doing all those things the Holy Spirit is pouring into your mind. Listen, take heed to His voice as he provides guidance, and continue to speak life! Then reaching your destination will take a much shorter period of time. Don’t allow those negative words you’ve been speaking hinder your progress! Life and death is indeed in the power of the tongue! WI

(301) 864-6070

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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

www.mtzbcdc.org

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MAY 9 - 15, 2019 39

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 Fax: 301-499-8724

Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word of Life Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor 700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849 Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Church of Living Waters

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

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

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor

2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org

800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

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

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

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

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Third Street Church of God

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

Rev. Dr. Alice Greene Interim Pastor

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

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

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

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

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555

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

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

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

www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Campbell AME Church Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020

Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School: 10:15 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM Children’s Church: 11:15 AM Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com

40 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

“An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM “We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Crusader Baptist Church

E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org “God is Love”

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

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

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM

Twelfth Street Christian Church Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church

All Nations Baptist Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471

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

2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730

Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Israel Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

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

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

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

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

“Where Jesus is the King”

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

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

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

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

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

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

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

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

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

New Commandment Baptist Church

Eastern Community Baptist Church

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Damion M. Briggs Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

2001 Brooks Drive District Heights, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:15 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting / Bible Study: Tuesday at 7 PM Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church with an Emphasis on “Evangelism and Discipleship”

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

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

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

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

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

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

Shiloh Baptist Church

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

Christ Embassy DC

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

“Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM

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

“The Loving Church of the living lord “

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

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

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

Rev. Reginald M. Green Interim Pastor

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM

Emmanuel Baptist Church

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

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

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

MAY 9 - 15, 2019 41

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2018 ADM 001246 Ruby L. Downs Decedent Michelle Lockard 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 510 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney NOTICE OF AFTER DISCOVERED WILL AND NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT Marck C. Downs & Jennifer D Creque, whose addresses are 3921 Ingomar St., NW, Washington, DC 20015 & 4949 Collingtons Bnty Dr. Bowie, MD 20720, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Ruby L. Downs, who died on 10/2/2018 with a Will. 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 10/25/2019. Date of first publication: 4/25/2019 Marck C. Downs Jennifer D. Creque Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Administration No. 2019 ADM 000375

Administration No. 2019 ADM 000383

Administration No. 2018 ADM 1287

2019 ADM 402

Gerard Thomas Dews Decedent

Jeanette Y. Smith aka Jeanette Yvonne Smith Decedent

Marlene L. Johnson Decedent

Sheila Devon Marshall Decedent

Gemma Antoine-Belton, Esquire 1101 L Street, NW #806 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney

Paul Mensah 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

Tyler Jay King 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Rodney Lamont Dews, whose address is 5231 Bass Pl., SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gerard Thomas Dews who died on August 8, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/25/2019. 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 10/25/2019, 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 Robbin Y. Hernandez, whose address is 10052 Edgewater Terrace, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jeanette Y. Smith aka Jeanette Yvonne Smith who died on January 27, 2016 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/25/2019. 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 10/25/2019, 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: 4/25/2019

Gerard Thomas Dews Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Gemma Antione-Belton, Esquire, whose address is 1101 L Street, NW, suite 806, Washington, DC 20005, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Marlene L. Johnson who died on September 24, 2017 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/25/2019. 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 10/25/2019, 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 Brenda Helena Johnson, whose address is 4592 Triumph Dr. SW, Concord NC, 28027, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sheila Devon Marshall who died on January 19, 2019 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/2/2019. 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 11/2/2019, 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: 4/25/2019

Date of first publication: 5/2/2019

Robbin Y. Hernandez Personal Representative

Gemma Antoine-Belton, Esquire Personal Representative

Brenda Helena Johnson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

Administration No. 2019 ADM 411

Administration No. 2019 ADM 000357

Administration No. 1982 ADM 1050

Administration No. 2019 ADM 394

Administration No. 2019 ADM 413

Virgil Edward Dunn aka Virgil E. Dunn Decedent

Stewart Kinard Jones Decedent

Irvin Spears, Sr. Decedent

Gladys L. McNair Decedent

Deetsy Mae Cooks Decedent

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

Dominique S. Moore, Esq. 3225 Powhatan Avenue Baltimore, MD 21216 Attorney

Joan M. Wilbon, Esq. 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 1020 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

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

Johnnie I. Barton, Esq. 1848 Bryant Street, NE Washington, DC 20018 Attorney

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

Irvin Spears, Jr., whose address is 2814 Erie St. SE, Apt # C46, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Irvin Spears, Sr. who died on May 12, 1982 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/2/2019. 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 11/2/2019, 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.

Doreen T. Wright, whose address is 1276 Patriot Lane, Bowie, MD 20716, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gladys L. McNair who died on February 25, 1986 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/2/2019. 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 11/2/2019, 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.

Johnnie I. Barton, whose address is 1848 Bryant Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Deetsy Mae Cooks who died on March 16, 2019 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/2/2019. 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 11/2/2019, 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: 5/2/2019

Irvin Spears, Jr. Personal Representative

Doreen T. Wright Personal Representative

Johnnie I. Barton Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Jacquelyne D. Diggs, whose address is 5916 Second Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Virgil Edward Dunn aka Virgil E. Dunn who died on September 24, 2010 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/2/2019. 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 11/2/2019, 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: 5/2/2019 Jacquelyne D. Diggs Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

42 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Terry Jones Stanback, whose address is 5520 Kansas Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Stewart Kinard Jones who died on May 2, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/2/2019. 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 11/2/2019, 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: 5/2/2019 Terry Jones Stanback Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Administration No. 2018 ADM 791

Administration No. 2018 ADM 001097

Denise Marie Jackson Decedent

Samuel James Decedent

Kisha L. Woolen, Esquire Tobin O’Connor & Ewing 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

Kisha L. Woolen, Esq. Tobin, O’Connor & Ewing 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Jennifer C. Concino, whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW, #700, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Denise Marie Jackson who died on May 11, 2015 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/25/2019. 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 10/25/2019, 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: 4/25/2019 Jennifer C. Concino 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Jennifer Concino, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #700, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Samuel James who died on November 24, 2017 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/9/2019. 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 11/9/2019, 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.

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

Administration No. 2018 ADM 001171

Administration No. 2019 ADM 000416

William G. Bradley, Jr. aka William M. Bradley, Jr. Decedent

Anne Lee Malone Decedent

Colline Silvera Robinson Kirlew And Associates, PC 7731 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt, MD 20770 Attorney

Kisha L. Woolen, Esq. Tobin, O’Connor & Ewing 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF AFTER DISCOVERED WILL AND NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

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

William George Bradley, III, whose address is 1824 Varnum St. NE, Washington, DC 20018 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William G. Bradley, Jr. aka William M. Bradley, Jr., who died on July 30, 2018 with a Will. 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 11/2/2019.

Kim B. Panchana, whose address is 517 Denham Arch Chesapeake, VA 23322, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anna Lee Malone who died on January 31, 2019 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/5/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/5/2019, 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.

William George Bradley, III Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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Date of first publication: May 9, 2019

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Date of first publication: 5/9/2019 Kim B. Panchana Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

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BEN’S from Page 32

power, even when the landscape has changed.” Born in rural Virginia, Ali came to Washington after college and worked at Industrial Bank on the corner of 11th and U streets, just two blocks from the Chili Bowl. She still banks at the African-American-owned and -ran bank which was founded by the Mitchell family. You can see her there or greeting people at the door of Ben’s, or even sitting down to a plate of salmon cakes and eggs for Sunday brunch at Ben’s Next Door. She always has a story to tell and love to share with all. “I grew up in segregated schools and lived in segregated D.C.,” Ali said. “With my color, I could walk in anywhere in D.C. but I didn’t want to.” That was the mindset that made Ben’s Chili Bowl a fixture on the U Street corridor, which in those pre-civil rights days was the downtown hub for African Americans. Ben’s has remained through the

years, despite the changing neighborhood, for better or worse. “I think we made progress, but I think it has stopped,” she added. “The same things are happening now that I saw before. To have seen Martin Luther King in Ben’s Chili Bowl and [knowing] the work that he did, then to witness his assassination, it was hard to see that. And now to see us going backward is hard.” The Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award is one of the 21 awards presented during the RAMMY Awards season and is named in honor of legendary Washington restaurateur Duke Zeibert. The honoree is selected by RAMW’s Executive Committee and recognizes an individual whose hard work and outstanding initiative has increased the profile and success of the metropolitan Washington food service community and dining landscape. The full RAMMY Award ceremony will be held on June 30. For tickets, go to therammys@ramw. org or call 202-331-5990. WI

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in Hollywood. Standing with her Black man, they stood up for Black female comedians and more. In her own words, what she actually said about Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Amy Schumer. Also, concerning the issue they shared details about Whoopie Goldberg, Tyler Perry Lee Daniels and Steve Harvey. Go to blackonblackunity.com THEN CLICK Radio Information Show date February 2, 2019.

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WOMEN from Page 15

ables individuals with records to respond to a few questions and, in turn, receive an equitable numerical score and use it during the application process for occupational licensing, bank financing, commercial contracting or other such opportunities. By creating a risk analysis tool that “uses an algorithm for background screening that is fair,” it promises to improve the lives of those with criminal records by increasing access to jobs, entrepreneurship and financial products. “Our focus is on, ‘You’ve been to prison, now what?’” Hodge said. “We get people from other organizations that have our same mindset and … for those of us who’ve gone to prison, we can’t undo that, it’s a matter of what we will do with the rest of our lives.” For more information, go to www.mission-launch.org. WI

CULTURAL PLAN from Page 20 through their advisory neighborhood commissions, nonprofits and community groups, attempted to maintain their foothold in their communities. For instance, Amanda Stephenson, an entrepreneur, artist and community health advocate, has vied for available land space east of the Anacostia River. Since 2017, she has been in pursuit of a lot to convert into a space that serves the artistic, health and affordable-housing needs of community members. The endeavor she describes builds food hubs, retail and affordable housing made out of shipping containers on property, either privately or District-owned, and sold to Ward 7 and 8 artists, residents and business owners in a special deal. This project, she said, would build on previous ventures at Poplar Point four years ago. “It’s still a process and something to overcome,” said Stephenson, owner of the Fresh Food Factory Market on Good Hope Road in Southeast. “Are there set-asides for small businesses and affordable housing? We should be thinking about owning. “The increase in residential and commercial rent and taxes has focus some residents out,” Stephenson said. “There is plenty of available lots to activate. Why not have a store, a market, art studio and houses made of used shipping containers? There are areas with so much to be desired and so much land underdeveloped in Wards 7 and 8. We have to use the underutilized spaces.” WI

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MALVEAUX from Page 26

of white supremacy/racism. Besides conceiving and formatting the book “Malcolm X: The Man and His Times” in 2006, Earl and I, along with former OAAU secretary Sara Mitchell, pulled together a reunion of former OAAU members. Eighteen brothers and sisters and their families experienced a powerful and memorable reunion. In 2009, I Amtraked to Los Angeles and spent five days with Earl discussing ways to sustain and advance Brother Malcolm’s critically important legacy. Tehuti Hughes, who basically looked after Earl during the last years of his life, interviewed us for nearly three hours. The last time I spoke with Earl was a few days before his death. I told him about a book I was doing that will focus on Brother Malcolm’s international agenda. Earl couldn’t speak but Tehuti said he was responding with body movement as I spoke. Earl and I will be listed as co-authors of the book since he has provided me with critical information and insight. Earl ended his “Last Days” essay with the following quote describing how he felt after the burial of Brother Malcolm. “I returned home and fell into a deep sleep. It was the first real rest I had been able to get in months. There was no longer any reason to jump when the phone rang or to sleep with a loaded gun. The best year of my life was at an end. But, I along with all of the brothers and sisters, would live it again, Allah willing.” Rest in peace, our warrior Brother WI

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done with maximum success … we are now more firmly fitted into and supported by world forces more than we could imagine previously. And I had to remain here this long to rightly lay the foundation. It has been a great personal sacrifice for my family because I left them at a time when they actually needed me the most. But the potential gain has been worth the risks. You and many others have also made great sacrifices but I believe no one will regret it in the long run.” Earl’s equally deep feelings about their friendship is reflected by excerpts from his essay, “The Last Days of Malcolm X,” in the book Malcolm X: The Man and His Times. That’s a book conceived and formatted by Earl and myself as a response to what we considered efforts by other forces to gain control of Brother Malcolm’s legacy. When we were totally rejected by several publishers we met with Dr. John Henrik Clarke who liked the project. With him onboard we finally got a publisher. In his contribution, which is required reading for anyone dealing with Brother Malcolm’s life and legacy, Earl included the following about a visit to his home by Brother Malcolm. “…coming to my home was the one black man in the United States who was able to understand, define and identify with the problems of black Americans in the twentieth century…” He also wrote that “Brother Mal-

colm called a business meeting for Saturday night, February 20, 1965 at a sister’s house. There were about a dozen of us present. Malcolm was very tired and restless but he said it was important that the meeting be held. He said he wanted a complete reorganization of the OAAU to be made. It had not been operating to his satisfaction. Also he wanted women to be given a more clearly defined role in the OAAU.” I was not at that meeting but I do remember Brother Malcolm saying to those of us backstage on Feb. 21, 1965, that right after a trip to Mississippi that week at the invitation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), he was going to spend six months building up the Organization of African American Unity (OAAU). Earl’s reaction to the assassination of Brother Malcolm on Feb. 21, 1965 is clearly revealed in the following quotes from his essay: “As I stood by his coffin, I looked upon the face that I had loved so much. The tears were streaming down my face as I said ‘As Asalaam Alaikum’ to him for the last time. I thanked him for allowing one, so unworthy as I, to share his life with him. I asked for forgiveness for my being unable to have done more for him.” Through the past 54 years, Earl attended and or participated in celebrations on May 19, Brother Malcolm’s birthdate and commemorations on Feb. 21, the day he was assassinated by Negroes who willingly collaborated with proponents

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BAILEY from Page 26

League join his family and friends in mourning his passing. His landmark decisions reflect the highest ideals of the equitable, honorable nation we strive to be. His life and work stand as an example of dignity, integrity and determination. As a civil rights organization, we strive to uphold his legacy. WI

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him “keep mopping” rather than strive for a legal career. He earned his law degree at Howard University, where future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was a mentor. “He used to tell us to remember those four words engraved on the Supreme Court: Equal

justice under law,” Judge Keith said of Justice Marshall. “He’d say, ‘The white man wrote those letters on the Supreme Court. Now use those words to make to make equal justice under law a reality.’ Thurgood also used to tell us: ‘Use the law as a means of social change.’ I tried to do that throughout my judicial career.” We in the National Urban

You Can Say It Like A Pro!

D : Sade

MORIAL from Page 26

Policy Institute, the legislation would give African American workers a 38 percent pay increase (compared to 23 percent for white workers). And when workers earn more, they can spend more, strengthening economic growth. Whenever you hear the words “strong economy,” think of the folks at the bottom. While the top one percent are certainly benefitting from growth and expansion, those at the bottom haven’t yet benefitted. Indeed, some have yet to recover from the Great Recession. Why aren’t the needs of those on the bottom, those who are poor (the data says 40 million people, but Rev. William Barber says it’s more like 140 million) significant enough to address? W

Photo

of weaknesses in the first quarter growth report. It’s always good news when the growth rate is more than 3 percent, but consumer spending is down for the third straight quarter. While the words “government shutdown” have not been uttered recently, the 2018-2019 35-day shutdown clearly had some impact on consumer spending. Many expected that purchases deferred in January and February might be realized in March, but too many consumers who are still recovering from the shutdown and many, who are not government employees but contractors, who lost roughly 12 percent of their annual income. They won’t be doing much discretionary

spending this year! How strong is our economy? It is undoubtedly stronger than it was a year ago, but it’s not as strong as some claim that it is. Labor market weaknesses and inequality are of particular concern to African Americans. Companies are hiring, but they aren’t hiring enough African Americans to close the unemployment rate gap. There is legislation that might improve the economic status of African Americans. HR 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, would provide remedies to close the gender pay gap. Congressional Black Caucus member Bobby Scott (D-Va.) introduced the Raise the Wage Act, HR 582. It would provide increases in the federal minimum wage to $15.00 by 2024. According to the Economic

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46 MAY 9 - 15, 2019

CROWELL from Page 27 debt which lasted over a year,” Whittaker testified. “Soon, I was paying $600 per month in fees and interest. I eventually closed my bank account to stop payments from being drawn out and leaving me without cash for my family’s rent, groceries and other essential bills.” In the hearing’s most poignant moment, Whittaker appealed to the lawmakers, saying, “Please support strong reform of predatory payday and car-title lending for people like me. We work hard to support our families and make our finances stable, and this kind of lending only makes it harder.” For one lawmaker, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Whittaker’s plea was heard loud and clear. “Any universe with payday lending is answering the question of how to make poverty a sustainable profitable enterprise,” Pressley noted. “Well, a lot of people are getting rich off of keeping people poor. And so how do we reform anything that’s based on that premise? The short answer is, we don’t.” Todd McDonald, senior vice president and board director of the New Orleans-based Liberty Bank and Trust, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) spoke at the hearing from the perspective of community banks. His own firm operates in eight states through 15 branches. He is also a board member

EDELMAN from Page 27 children. It confirms once again that we can act now to end child poverty for a majority of children and raise family incomes for millions more. By investing a small percentage of our federal budget into existing programs and policies rather than tax breaks for wealthy corporations, billionaires and millionaires, we can reduce child poverty at least 57 percent and help 95 percent of all poor children. These child investments would cost $52.3 billion — 1.4 percent of

WILLIAMS from Page 27 mean us no good, and Farrakhan has exposed them. Meanwhile, they threaten us, try to intimidate us, ban us. No matter. Their aim is to deceive us, to continue to be able to rule us. Why don’t they ban us to a separate state or territory of our own? In all my years among them I have not (nor have any of our people really) prospered after loyal service to them. Now that their destruction (as preached by Farrakhan, as he was taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad) is at hand, I want no part of the “reward” that is at their door. They teach us, “Whatsoever a man soweth, so shall he reap.” Well, the “harvest” that’s

of the National Bankers Association, the leading trade association for the nation’s Minority Depository Institutions. “As a CDFI that serves a largely low and moderate-income consumer base that often utilizes these highcost, small-dollar loans,” McDonald testified. “Liberty often works to help our customers get out of these predatory loans and into more manageable products.” Since 2008, Liberty Bank has offered a payday and car-title loan alternative known as Freedom Fast loans that averages just over $6,000 and comes with an average interest rate of 12.6%. Liberty provides these loans to customers with credit scores ranging from a low of 500 to higher than 700. It also reports payments to the credit bureaus so that customers can also build their credit ratings. For the Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, senior pastor of Dallas’ Friendship West Baptist Church and a leading partner in the Faith and Credit Roundtable facilitated by the Center for Responsible Lending, predatory lending is a matter of economic justice that deserves actions and not just hearings. “Payday predators are a part of a hostile takeover of the economy of the unbanked and underserved,” Haynes told the lawmakers. “This exploitative industry targets and saturates communities that are already suffering from economic apartheid. When the vul-

nerable are drowning in desperation the payday industry throws a ‘life preserver’ weighted with the iron of usurious interest rates. “We are calling for strong protections so that those who experience an emergency don’t end up drowning in debt they cannot repay,” Haynes added. The pastor forcefully called for the CFPB to implement its “common-sense rule” and for enacting legislation, like a bill introduced by Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, that would establish a national 36% interest rate cap while allowing states to have lower rate ceilings. Diane Standaert, a CRL executive vice president, concurred. “Borrowers have described the debt trap, in their own words, as ‘a hole that you can’t get out of,’ ‘soul-crushing’ and a ‘living hell,’” Standaert testified. “And research has shown time and time again, that these high-cost lending storefronts are disproportionately situated in Black and Latino communities, even when they have the same or higher incomes than white communities.” Haynes agreed, adding, “The Bible teaches that nations will be judged by how they treat ‘the least of these.’ It must not be said of this nation, ‘I was hungry, and you gave me a payday loan. … I was given a bad hand and you gave me a bad plan.’” Amen, Reverend! WI

federal spending and 0.3 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). This is a moral necessity and economic bargain our nation — which approved nearly $2 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations in 2017 — can easily afford. Every dollar invested in reducing child poverty will return at least seven dollars to our economy and help save our nation’s future and soul. The bottom line is simple: we can save hundreds of billions by investing in healthy, educated children or spend hundreds of billions more in

prison and illiteracy costs. Children only have one childhood and it is right now. We cannot afford to wait another three, five or 10 years to end child poverty and this report shows we do not have to. The question is not whether we have the knowledge or resources to end child poverty, but whether we have the moral decency, common sense and political will to help every child reach healthy, productive adulthood. Let all of us make our voices heard and demand action for our children to live free from poverty. WI

coming to White America will be bitter. I want no parts of it. I will not help defend this wicked society in word or in deed. Period. But don’t just take it from me; look at your own Facebook feed. You can see every day, every day, every day, more and more and more evidence of how terrible these devils truly are and that they don’t have any intentions of doing right by us, or by any freedom-loving people, or even by the planet itself! The evidence is incontrovertible. White America wants to see Black people — who Farrakhan preaches have an elevated future as promised by God — suffer in hell with them … beneath them of course. That’s not for me! Never mind that I’m conflicted like Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in “Souls

of Black Folks,” having “two warring ideas in one dark body.” Am I Black? Am I American? Never mind that I’m still trapped with the rest of us in Amerikkka’s hellhole jail system. I say like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright said: “God, damn America!” I’ll take my chances on the side with Farrakhan. I say banish me with the Minister to our own land, where we can have justice from the courts for a change, where we can have decent police who truly serve and protect us, schools which want us to prosper and succeed, and businesses which want to serve us and not rob and exploit us. So ban me, too, Facebook, Instagram. Give me some of what Farrakhan has coming. #IstandWithFarrakhan. WI

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