The Washington Informer - October 9, 2025

Early Childhood Educators, Organizers and Youth Respond to Federal Government Shutdown

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

As the 2025 government shutdown enters its second week, some early childhood education providers are bracing for a situation similar to the pandemic, when they saw quarantined and newly unemployed parents pull their children out of daycare.

While Kiara Fernandez said that has yet to be the case at Blandi’s Child Learning Center on SHUTDOWN Page 22

Local Work Continues in the Shadow of a Shuttered Federal Government

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

The D.C. Council conducted a legislative meeting on Oct. 7 that, at a couple of points, hinted at the pressure that District residents face amid a federal government shutdown.

For one, the council unanimously approved temporary legislation allowing DC Health to conduct marriage ceremonies and issue marriage licenses while D.C. Superior Court is unable to do so. D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At large), who shepherded a similar bill during the 2018 shutdown, told council members that time was of the essence.

“I’ve already even just today had two couples who emailed wondering when this was going to be finalized as they have weddings planned in the next week or so,” Henderson said. “While we

COUNCIL REPORT Page 19

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

When Mary Hawkins (who has asked to use a pseudonym for protection) graduated from college in 1999, she landed a job with a Cabinet-level federal agency and settled into what her mother always told her: find a good government job and keep it. However, Hawkins was one of thousands of federal employees who the Trump administration, through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), laid off earlier this year. With the federal government formally shut down on Oct. 1, many agencies suspended operations and thousands of workers are left in peril of not receiving pay and benefits, if not losing their jobs.

LAYOFF Page 14

Laughter, Logic, Listening: 3 Innovators Uplift Mental Health

By Dr. Patrise Holden WI Contributing Writer

As people in the District and worldwide navigate increased political unrest, economic shifts, and the constant noise of social media, three innovators are seeking to increase accessibility to mental health care through building creative pathways for people to connect, reflect, and heal.

This World Mental Health Day, MENTAL HEALTH Page 20

5 Ward 8-based

and

Tommy Taylor Jr. uses a creative mix of comedy and connection to foster reflection, laughter, and community. (Courtesy

5 Council Chair Phil Mendelson is navigating ways to best respond to the movement of bills through the Senate that are aimed at the local public safety ecosystem. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

5With the government shutdown in its second week, some early childhood education providers are bracing for a situation similar to the pandemic, when parents pulled their children out of daycare. (WI File Photo)

World Mental Health Day

actor

comedian

Photo/ Taylor Creative)

The Collins Council Report

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 $96 per year, two years $168. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to:

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wi hot topics

5

back and

confidence and a team ready to take control of their season outlook. (WI File Photo/ Abdullah Konte)

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

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Micha Green, Managing Editor

Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer

Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor

Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist

ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager

Jada Ingleton, Content Editor

REPORTERS

Stacy Brown, National Reporter

Sam P.K. Collins, Political/Education Reporter

Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter

Ed Hill, Sports Reporter

Richard Elliott, Reporter

James Wright, Business Reporter

Skylar Nelson, Sports Reporter

Mya Trujillo, Environmental and International Reporter

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor

Roy Lewis, Jr.

Robert R. Roberts

Anthony Tilghman

Abdullah Konte

Cleveland Nelson

INTERNS

Keith Golden Jr., Fall Intern

BRENDA C. SILER,WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER; SKYLAR NELSON,

3 Offensive Standouts from Commanders 27-10 Win Over Chargers in Week 5

After losing the week before to the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commanders traveled to the West Coast with something to prove, and in the end they delivered.

With a statement victory at SoFi Stadium, Washington rolled past the Los Angeles Chargers 27-10, in week five. Despite critical players such as wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown and

guard Sam Cosmi still injured, the road win boosts the Commanders to a 3-2 record and gives them a lot to look forward to as well.

“We’ll make sure we take all the right steps, just like we do with all the guys,” said Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn ahead of the team’s next home game: a Monday Night Football matchup against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland on Oct. 13— set to kickoff at 8:15 p.m. “But with having an extra day, that never hurts going into it.”

Check out three standouts from Washington’s impressive bounce back performance in Los Angeles.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels Returns

Sean “Diddy” Combs to Serve 50 Months in Prison

After spending nearly 13 months as an inmate in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center and undergoing an eight-week trial from May to July, once celebrated music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs received a sentencing from federal judge Arun Subramanian on Oct. 3.

The Bad Boy Records founder is to face 50 months in prison on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution based on accounts from his employees, escorts and two ex-girlfriends: Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman who used the pseudonym “Jane.” The exes described physical and emotional abuse from Combs and his orchestrated “freak-offs” between the 1990s and 2020s.

“You will have a chance to show your children and the world what real accountability, change and healing can look like,” Subramanian said to Combs after the sentencing. “And I’m counting on you to make the most of your second chance.”

In July, Combs was acquitted of charges of sex traffick-

ing by force and racketeering conspiracy, which could have called for a life sentence.

With credit for the time he’s already served, Combs will remain imprisoned for 36 more months. He was also fined $50,000 and must remain under supervision for five years following his release.

While some have taken to social media to express their disapproval of the sentence’s length, whether in support of or against Combs, singer Aubrey O’Day, a former member of Danity Kane who appeared on Combs’ “Making the Band,” released a statement offering advice to young aspiring artists to beware of mistreatment from people in positions of power.

“Too often, those who misuse their power, even when exposed, face far fewer consequences than the harm inflicted on their victims,” O’Day wrote on X. “Protect yourself at the first sign of coercion or impropriety.”

WI

Bassist Christian McBride and Pianist Brad Mehldau Jazz Up The Clarice’s 25th Anniversary Season

Friends for more than 35 years, bassist Christian McBride and pianist Brad Mehldau kicked off their month-long concert tour in College Park at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland on Oct. 2.

With just the two of them on stage, the gentlemen’s performance not only highlighted their immense talent and underscored their years of friendship, but was part of a 25th anniversary celebration for the University of Maryland arts venue, often called “The Clarice.”

The McBride/Mehldau set also included a ballad called “Love is Fragile,” which blended into an interpretation of “America the Beautiful,” offering a subtle commentary. The encore was Stevie Wonder’s “Golden Lady,” with audience members moving their heads to the rhythm.

Before they were Grammy-winning friends’ early years, McBride and Mehldau met as freshmen in college in New York. Much of their set was inspired by their early years as friends as rising artists.

“I was at Juilliard, and Brad was at the New School. Of course, we met at a club called ‘Augies,’ now called ‘Smoke,’” said nine-time Grammy winner McBride. “A lot of what is heard tonight is what we did in the late 80s and early 90s.

Mehldau emphasized the beauty of collaborating with his longtime friend on this tour.

“It is a dream come true to play with Christian in this duo setting,” he said according to a press release from The Clarice. “I’m so honored to be on stage with him.”

WI

With Jayden Daniels

already making history, the Commanders head into week six with renewed

Unique On The Go to Pay $166,000 Over Worker Misclassification Violations in D.C.

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Unique On The Go Corp., a car detailing and rental fleet management company, will pay $166,011 to resolve allegations that it misclassified 84 workers in the District of Columbia as independent contractors instead of employees.

Attorney General Brian Schwalb said the agreement follows an investigation that found workers were paid less than the minimum wage, denied overtime pay, and deprived of sick and safe leave protections.

“We will not allow companies to illegally boost their profits, strip their workers of labor protections, and undercut their competitors by misclassifying their workforce,” Schwalb stated. “This settlement holds Unique On The Go accountable for violating D.C. labor laws, puts wages back in the pockets of workers who were harmed, and helps ensure that when businesses play by the rules, they are competing on a level playing field.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Unique will pay $111,008 in restitution to affected workers, covering unpaid wages, overtime, and liquidated damages. The company will also pay $55,003 in civil penalties to the District.

Unique, which contracts with rental car companies, dealerships, and other facilities for auto maintenance and staffing services, denied wrongdoing but agreed to reclassify its District workers as employees.

The company must now maintain policies to prevent future misclassification, review any contractors still working in the District to ensure proper classification, and submit quarterly compliance reports for one year.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) noted that the settlement is part of a larger effort to address wage theft and misclassification across industries with high concentrations of vulnerable workers. In its 2025 Labor Day Report, OAG said it secured over $20 million for workers and the District since Schwalb took office in January 2023, with more than $35 million recovered since the office gained wage

theft enforcement authority in 2015.

Officials contend that worker misclassification remains a persistent problem in the District.

Employers who improperly treat employees as independent contractors avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, paid sick leave, and contributions to unemployment and paid family leave programs. According to OAG’s report, misclassification accounted for more than 11% of the office’s labor enforcement cases between Labor Day 2024 and Labor Day 2025.

“[D.C. Attorney General] Brian Schwalb and his workers’ rights teams are doing amazing work,” social media user Terri Gerstein wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in August, after the OAG went after an illegal worker misclassification scheme.

The settlement with Unique follows other recent enforcement actions targeting construction, hospitality, and gig economy employers. In March, OAG reached a $191,750 settlement with Diverse Masonry Corporation for misclassifying construction workers, and earlier this year, it sued delivery company Gopuff for misclassification schemes that deprived workers of wages and benefits.

District law requires that employees be paid a minimum wage of $17.95 per hour, receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, and accrue paid sick leave. Independent contractors are not entitled to these protections and must pay their own taxes and insurance, making misclassification a way for companies to cut costs while denying workers their rights.

“Since I took office in 2023, we have secured over $20 million for workers and D.C. in worker restitution and civil penalties,” Schwalb stated in the Labor Day Report. “These victories show that when employers cheat their workers, our office will hold them accountable and fight to level the playing field for law-abiding businesses.”

Workers who believe their rights have been violated or who suspect wage theft can contact OAG at (202) 724-7730 or by emailing workers@dc.gov or trabajadores@dc.gov. WI

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5 District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb says Unique On The Go Corp will pay $166,011 to resolve allegations that it misclassified 84 workers in D.C. as independent contractors instead of employees. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

AROUND THE REGION

Oct. 9

facts

Oct.

13

1806 – Benjamin Banneker, famed African American astronomer, scientist, almanac author and surveyor, dies in Baltimore County, Maryland, at age 74.

1962 – African nation Uganda gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

Oct. 10

1899 – Black inventor Isaac R. Johnson receives patent for bicycle frame.

1901 – Frederick Douglass Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund, is born in Washington, D.C.

1917 – Groundbreaking jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk is born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

1929 – Black inventor and engineer Elijah McCoy, who held patents for the folding ironing board and lawn sprinkler and made numerous revolutionary contributions to train travel, dies in Detroit at age 81.

Oct. 11

1887 – Black inventor Alexander Miles receives patent for automatic opening and closing elevator door.

1991 – Iconic comedian Redd Foxx, best known for his starring role in the ‘70s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” dies in Los Angeles at 68 of a heart attack.

Oct. 12

1932 – Social activist and comedian Dick Gregory is born in St. Louis.

1968 – West African nation Equatorial Guinea gains its independence from Spain.

1999 – Basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain dies in his Bel Air, California, home of a heart attack at age 63.

1898 – Lawyer and judge Edith S. Sampson, the first Black U.S. delegate appointed to the United Nations, is born in Pittsburgh.

1902 – Harlem Renaissance-era writer and librarian Arna Bontemps is born in Alexandria, Louisiana.

1914 – Inventor Garrett A. Morgan receives patent for the gas mask.

1926 – Jesse L. Brown, the first African American aviator in the U.S. Navy, is born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

1970 – Famed political activist Angela Davis is arrested in New York City and charged with unlawful flight to avoid persecution for her alleged role in a California courthouse shootout.

Oct.

14

1834 – Maryland-born Henry Blair patents the corn planter, becoming the second-ever African American inventor to receive a patent.

1919 – Famed Black activist Marcus Garvey is shot inside his Harlem office, wounded in his leg and scalp. He recovers, but his assailant, who claimed he was sent to shoot Garvey by the district attorney, died a day later after jumping 30 feet from a jailhouse window.

1964 – Martin Luther King Jr. is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial inequality in America.

Oct. 15

1883 – The Civil Rights Act of 1875 — which guaranteed African Americans equal treatment in public accommodations, public transportation and jury service — is ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

1968 – Track star Wyomia Tyus becomes the first person to win a gold medal in the 100-meter race in consecutive Olympic Games. WI

Angela Davis (left) Redd Foxx (center) Wilt Chamberlain (right)

P INT

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Disgraced music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was sentenced to four years in prison by a federal judge for prostitution-related charges. What are your thoughts?

NELSON NELLE / WASHINGTON, D.C.

I think he got off easy.

KAREN LOWRY / ROCK HILL, S.C.

He got way more than those who are in control of the USA!

BROOKE S. WASHINGTON, D.C.

It actually should have been 50 years, but justice doesn’t come to everyone.

DEBRA DAVIS / NEW ORLEANS, LA.

Welp, he wasn’t the only dummy. Every single person who allowed his behavior was dumb, too, because the very first time should have been the last time. Free that man. They allowed it.

JOSH WHITE / LOS ANGELES, CALIF

Trump is coming through with a pardon, no sweat

Shallal Talks Getting ‘A Seat at the Table’ Book Event Also Celebrates 75th Birthday of Ward 8 Activist

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Fifty people crowded into the Marion S. Barry Room at Busboys and Poets in Anacostia on Sept. 30 to listen to a panel discussing the new book that tells the story behind the very place they were gathered: Andy Shallal’s “A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets.”

With eight locations throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia, the event honored the Busboys and Poets journey, while using the gathering at the Anacostia location to highlight one of Ward 8’s longtime activists: Philip Pannell, who moderated the panel and turned 75 that same day.

Shallal said the creation of Busboys and Poets came about with his desire to mix politics, food and art together.

Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true. Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.

“I said to myself about 22 years ago, what would you have if you had all three of those things in one place,” he said, during the panel discussion, featuring journalists Kojo Nnamdi, Sam Ford along with Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of The Washington Informer. “That’s when I formulated the idea of Busboys and Poets.”

Attendees such as D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and Ward 8C Advisory Neighborhood Commission Chair Salim Adofo

listened to Shallal talk about how his life journey and commitment to progressive causes influenced the book, which has a foreword written by civil and human rights scholar and leader Angela Davis.

Davis said the book’s release could not be more timely, as progressive ideas are under attack and civil rights efforts are being reversed and eliminated on the federal and local levels.

“‘A Seat at The Table’ reveals the depth of this commitment and allows us to understand how Andy’s continued support of artists, poets and writers, and his and Busboys facilitation of community-based movement building, exemplifies what we can all do to continue to safeguard radical democratic possibilities for our worlds,” said Davis.

“In this particular moment, that commitment will be more important than ever.”

Shallal Tells it Like it is in ‘A Seat at The Table’

To start off the discussion, Pannell asked the journalists for one word to describe the book. In response, Nnamdi said “belonging”, Ford said “struggle” and Barnes said “legacy.”

Shallal then launched into his

journey as an Iraqi American and young man in the 1960s.

“My father worked with the Arab League,” he said, referring to a group of Arab countries in the middle of the 20th century. “He was appointed by the league as their representative in the U.S.”

Shallal said that while in high school, his classmates, most of them white, could not figure out what racial group he belonged to. He noted that when he arrived in the U.S. for the first time, an uncle said he looked “like a Negro” and “he badgered me about it.”

He also offered stories of his struggle fitting in soliciting both and empathy and laughter from the panelists and crowd. The Busboys and Poets owner said when he attended Stratford Junior High School in Arlington, Virginia, he was referred to as “high yellow,” and added that while in school, he tried to get people to call him by his real name, Anas, but one schoolmate who befriended him kept referring to him as “Anus.”

The entrepreneur, artist and activist also talked about the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in 1968, and how

SHALLAL Page 9

5 Andy Shallal, owner of Busboys and Poets and author of “A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets,” signs copies after a panel discussion at the restaurant’s Anacostia location on Sept. 30. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

that changed his overall outlook.

“I saw race in a different view,” he said, “and what America is all about.”

Race seemed to continue to play a factor as he tried to open his now successful restaurant chain. The restaurateur told the crowd many banks initially did not like the idea of Busboys and Poets and rejected him. However, the Black-owned Industrial Bank did not.

Twenty years after Busboys and Poets was founded on 14th Street NW in September 2005, Shallal is often seen at his multiple locations throughout the DMV and advocating for various justice causes.

While he acknowledges he is a hard worker, his passion behind the work keeps him going.

“I hate the word ‘workaholic,’” Shallal said. “In order to be successful, you have to love what you do.”

Pannell

Gets His Flowers

As the moderator, Pannell closed the conversation urging the audience to thank the panelists and buy Shallal’s book. However, Shallal used the moment to show appreciation for Pannell’s years of dedicated service to justice and equity in the District, nation and beyond.

“Phil, you have been a drum major in my life,” Shallal said.

He also revealed that Pannell accepted an academic stint at the Harvard Executive Program, celebrating all that he can contribute in this new role.

“It’s not what Harvard can do for you,” Shallal said, “but what you can do for Harvard.”

As the entrepreneur and crowd celebrated the moderator’s 75th birthday, Pannell uplifted the work of Shallal and Busboys and Poets.

“It has been 20 years since you opened Busboys and Poets,” Pannell said. “If there were more businessmen and businesswomen like Andy Shallal, a lot of problems in this city would evaporate.”

WI

Banned Wagon Comes to Washington, D.C., Promotes ‘Save Our Stories’

By WI Web Staff

During Banned Book Week– Oct. 5-Oct. 11– the Banned Wagon will hit the road with stops around Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia to combat censorship, uplift stories, and preserve First Amendment rights.

At each stop, the Banned Wagon, presented by Penguin Random House in partnership with EveryLibrary and First Book, will showcase a selection of 30 books— from picture books to novels— that are currently being banned or challenged across the na-

STORIES Page 19

AROUND THE REGION

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

1. PUBLICATION TITLE: The Washington Informer; 2. PUBLICATION NUMBER: 008882;

3. FILING DATE: 10/01/2025; 4. ISSUE FREQUENCY: Weekly;

5. NUMBER OF ISSUES ANNUALLY: 52;

6. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $96.00;

7. COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS: 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., SE Washington, DC 20032, Denise Rolark Barnes; Telephone: (202) 561-4100.

8. COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS OF HEADQUARTERS: 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., SE Washington, DC 20032.

9. COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS OF PUBLISHER, EDITOR AND MANGING EDITOR; Denise Rolark-Barnes, Publisher, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., SE Washington, DC 20032: Micha Green, Editor, 48 Underwood Place, NW, Washington, DC 20002

10. The Washington Informer Newspaper Co., Inc., 3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20032; OWNER: Denise Rolark Barnes, 3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE, Washington, DC, 20032

11. N/A

12. TAX STATUS: N/A;

13. PUBLICATION TITLE: The Washington Informer; 14. ISSUE DATE FOR CIRCULATION BELOW: October 08, 2025, 15. EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION:

(a). Total Number of Copies: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 15,600; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 15,400. 15,600/15,400

(b). Paid and/or Requested Circulation

(1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 88; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 88.

(2) Paid In-County Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies); Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 164; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 164.

(3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months 7604; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 7638;

(4) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 94; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 94/94;

c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation [Sum of 15b. (1), (2), (3), and (4)] Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 7950; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 7984.

d. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, complimentary, and other free):

(1) Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 3; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 3; 3/3

(2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 249; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 249. 249/249

(3) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 6250; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 6225. 6250/6225

(4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail; 556/556

e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15D (1), (2), (3), and (4): 7058/7033

f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15d. And 15e.): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 15,008; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 15,017: 15,008/15,017

g. Copies not Distributed: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 592; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 383.

h. Total (Sum of 15g. And 15h.): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 15600; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 15,400. 15,600/15,400

I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 53%/53% tify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are legitimate requests or paid copies.

17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required will be printed in the October 08, 2025 edition

Denise Rolark-Barnes October 1, 2025

5 As part of Banned Book Week (Oct. 5-Oct. 11), the Banned Wagon stops in front of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest, D.C., advocating for uplifting stories and preserving First Amendment rights. (Denise Rolark Barnes/The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

The O Museum in the Mansion in Northwest, D.C. hosted its monthly First Sunday Gospel event on Oct. 5, featuring live music, a self-guided tour of the historic institution, and recognition for Virginia Ali (center), co-founder of the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl. Attendees included (L-R): Vida Ali, H.H. Leonards (O Museum in the Mansion founder), Virginia Ali, vocalist Susan Carter, and event emcee Texas Fred. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

Inaugural BE. Gala Dawns ‘A New Renaissance’ of Black, LGBTQ Activism

Allies, Activists Demonstrate Power of Joyful Resistance, Black Excellence

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

A collective celebration of queer pride and joyful resistance took over the historic National Press Club in Northwest, D.C., on Saturday, Oct. 4, as BE. A Gala for Black Equity, hosted by the Center for Black Equity (CBE), recognized the leadership and resilience shaping Black LGBTQ+ communities.

A double entendre event – with “BE.” standing for authenticity and Black equity – the inaugural gala served as a moment of invigoration for the sold-out room of allies and advocates representing faith, social justice, politics, entertainment, and more.

With guests donning high fashion in a theme of “The New Renaissance,” the vision reflected a room adamant on living boldly, fully and free of oppression.

“This gala is more than a fundraiser–it’s a celebration of our collective power…to shape culture, to demand justice and to uplift one another,” said Carmen Neely, chair of the CBE board of directors, in her opening remarks. “It is proof that when we come together, we create something unstoppable.”

Amid an ongoing federal government shutdown, and an onslaught of regressive legislation, the BE. Gala was an affirmation of power and nod to the storied strength of Black and queer culture.

The Center for Black Equity, organizers of DC Black Pride, partnered with Gilead Sciences and Gaye Magazine to deliver cuisine and live music with a taste of truth and joyful defiance, including powerful remarks from nationwide trailblazers honored in the name of driving equitable change.

Among the 200-plus attendees were: actors George Middlebrook and Eva Marcille, the latter a recipient of CBE’s Curtis L. Ether Ally Award, and advocacy or-

5 Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett beams as she greets a standing crowd at the Center for Black Equity’s Inaugural BE. Gala, held at the historic National Press Club in Northwest, D.C. on Oct. 4. During the ceremony, Crockett was honored with the Eleanor Holmes Norton Civil Rights & Justice Award. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

ganization leaders such as CBE

President Kenya Hutton, Kierra Johnson, president of the National LGBTQ Task Force, and award namesake Alan Sharpe, founding artistic director of the D.C.-based African-American Collective Theater (ACT).

Additional honorees tapped for championing civil and LGBTQ rights included: performer and culture icon Big Freedia, who received the National Black Pride Image Award; MOBI (Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative), recipient of the Small Business Award; transgender activist and author Hope Giselle-Godsey, who received the Center for Black Equity Leadership Award; U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who accepted the Eleanor Holmes Norton Civil Rights & Justice Award and and delivered a candid read on “a morally bankrupt White House” and political climate.

“The government is shut down not because Congress lacks funds, but because the leadership lacks courage, they lack compassion, and they just don’t care,” said Crockett, later drawing on the Hezekiah Walker gospel song “I Need You to Survive” (2002). “That needs to be

our theme so long as we are stuck with this regime…to survive our commonality and our humanity in one another. That is what it is going to take for us to actually win.”

With proceeds going towards building programs, strengthening advocacy and expanding opportunities for marginalized communities globally, the evening set the stage for a new chapter in the CBE mission – one that Hutton notes starts with universal acceptance of all that is due to Black and queer culture(s.)

“It really is our time to step up and really take ownership of our culture, of our influence, and remember that we have always been here,” the CEO told The Informer. “We’ve been influential to pop culture, community, social activism and everything. This is an opportunity for us to…recreate that and solidify our space.”

Gala Honorees, Leaders Talk A ‘Responsibility’ to Move the Needle Forward

Despite her transparency on

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

County Executive Celebrates 100 Days, Supports Federal Workers with Boots on the Ground Cookout

Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy hosted the 100 Days Boots on the Ground Cookout and Federal Workers Resource Fair at Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Oct. 4. While the cookout was initially scheduled to celebrate the county executive’s first 100 days in office, the theme shifted after the federal government shutdown officially started on Oct. 1, including a resource fair to provide information from county agencies and partners to Prince Georgians seeking services and assistance. WHUR’s Joe Clair hosted the Saturday event, which featured food, fun, informational booths, music, dancing, and live entertainment. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

Public Notice

On August 21, 2025, SEED/EXCEL Charter Schools, LLC informed Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) that EXCEL Academy Public Charter School will not open for the 2025 - 26 school year due to financial instability. PGCPS is recommending immediate revocation of the school’s charter.

A virtual public hearing will be held:

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89047883865

Webinar ID: 890 4788 3865

Phone: +1 301 715 8592 (Washington, D.C.)

Community members may register to provide oral or written testimony at: https://pgcps.community.highbond.com/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

4WHUR’s Joe Clair energizes the crowd.

5Tiffani Harris-Davis, Tiffany W. Jennings, Perri Davis and Jocelyn Davis pose in front of the 100 Days display.

5Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy.

5Raquel, a representative from the Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations, speaks with a resident about resources.

5Residents engage with the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s booth.

5Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy poses with members of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

4Prince George’s residents play a game of UNO.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Prince George’s Chamber Honors Noted Entrepreneurs and Businesses

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Days after the federal government shutdown, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy arrived at Oxon Hill, Maryland’s MGM Harbor Hotel & Casino Grand Ballroom foyer on Oct. 3 with a mission to uplift entrepreneurship at the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards Gala.

“My administration is focusing on the business cluster,” Braveboy said. “We are focusing on zoning and permitting practices that will make it easier for businesses to function.”

Having served in many capacities in Prince George’s and Maryland, Braveboy was pleased to now be attending the annual event as county executive, celebrating the work of local business owners.

“This is unbelievable,” Braveboy, donning a light-gray satin overlay dress, told The Informer. “This is so

exciting. I have been here before as a staffer, delegate, the state’s attorney and now this is my first one as the county executive. This means a lot.”

The county executive joined more than five hundred guests at the gala, which serves as a fundraiser for the organization and a chance for it to highlight the work of Prince George’s entrepreneurs.

With the federal government shutdown affecting thousands of Prince Georgians, the county also continues to navigate other financial blows, blows, including the loss of: the FBI headquarters, the Washington Commanders stadium and adjunct offices, and the shuttering of the USDA’s Beltsville Agriculture Research Center and Six Flags America.

Despite economic challenges, Braveboy emphasized the importance of the chamber during these trying times.

“We want it to be known,” the county executive said, “that doors are

open to business in Prince George’s County.”

The Gala: Partying with a Purpose

In an event that included photo and 360 booths, salad, dinner and dessert bar, and exciting entertainment, the gala highlighted the strength of Prince George’s County.

On the stage, famed entertainer Anthony Anderson played with the age-old expression of how county residents once referred to themselves.

“Is this PG County?” Anderson asked the audience, to which they responded with a resounding “no.”

“Well, then it’s Prince George’s County,” he said to cheers. “I want to welcome you to Prince George’s County.”

Gala attendees included elected officials such as Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Maryland State Sen. Nick Charles (D-District 25), Maryland Dels. Nicole Williams (D-District 22), Ken Harris (D-District 27A), and Prince George’s County Councilmembers Calvin Hawkins (D-At Large), Wala Blegay (D-District 6) and Wanika Fisher (D-District 2).

Alexander Austin, the president and CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce welcomed the many guests to the gala and proceeded to mention that Brown, Charles, Williams and Harris were in the audience.

Other local chamber leaders also attended the event, including: Corey Arnez Griffin, the chairman of the Greater Washington D.C. Black Chamber of Commerce board, Ron Busby, the president and CEO of the US Black Chambers Inc., and Angela Franco, president and CEO of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Chamber of Commerce.

“I wish to acknowledge all of the leaders of the chambers who are here today,” said Austin.

Attendee Ryan Middleton, who served as an aide to former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and was a candidate for the Prince George’s County Council District 5 seat, emphasized the importance of such celebrations as the Excellence in Business Awards.

“So many local businesses fuel the engine of our economy,” said Middleton, who works as a government

relations professional with PepsiCo, representing the company’s interests in Annapolis. “These businesses sustain our community and make it possible for Prince George’s County to be a great place to live, work and play.”

Honoring Local Business Leaders

With food, fun and entertainment from the likes of Frank Marshall, Joshua Adewami and Beau Talley–who played at various times to lead a night of dancing–the event also highlighted local business leaders who have forged paths, created opportunities and are working for a strong county overall.

Courtney Edmonds, board chair of the Prince George’s Chamber, said: “Prince George’s is a place where ideas become active as a result of the work of the organization and the energy in the region.”

“Tonight’s honorees are shining examples of that spirit,” she continued. “They remind us that business is about more than profits—it is about building communities, creating jobs and leaving a legacy of impact.”

The Small Business of the Year was Alpha & Omega Martial Arts of Laurel, Maryland and the Emerging Business of the Year recipient was Salon 809, a Dominican hair establishment based in Landover, Maryland. Quantum Startup Foundry at the University of Maryland, College Park received the Economic Transformation Team of the Year Award and Dr. Madeline Ann Lewis, president and CEO of the Executive Women’s Success Institute, was honored as Business Leader of the Year.

The audience gave a standing ovation to Suzanne Hillman, David C. Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, for her years as CEO of Southern Management Companies.

The Corporate Citizenship Award went to Pepco, for its many years of supporting the chamber.

“We are a long-standing member of the chamber,” said Amber Perry, CEO of Pepco. “We are serious about doing business with Washington area businesses. In the past years, we have done $775 million in business with minority and diverse suppliers.”

The Community Impact Business of the Year was awarded to Prince George’s Cultural Arts Foundation, noted for their successful leadership of the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival.

“It feels great to know that the hard work we put in is recognized,” said Kevin Alexander, CEO of the foundation. “It is important for our mission and how we function.”

The Mirinda Jackson “Minority Business of the Year” award went to Darvincia Warren of CORE DMV, a financial strategy firm, who emphasized the magnitude of the citation.

“It is amazing to receive an honor named after Mirinda Jackson, who did so much to help minority businesses in this county,” Warren told The Informer. “This award will help us continue to educate people about the wealth gap and how to become financially empowered.”

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5 Alexander Austin, the president and CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, chats with entertainer Anthony Anderson, host of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards Gala at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Oct. 3. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy arrives at the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Business Awards Gala at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Oct. 3. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

BUSINESS

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Instead of trying to find a government job in Maryland, Hawkins, who resides in Prince George’s County, decided to take another route: entrepreneurship.

“My life’s plan was to retire as a federal government employee and then travel the world,” she said. “[President] Donald Trump changed all of that. I am now focused on starting my business, so I won’t have to work for someone else and not worry about being laid off.”

Before the Oct. 1 shut down, which has the prospect of thousands of people losing their jobs permanently, a June 6 broadcast on National Public Radio reported that 59,000 federal jobs like Hawkins’s disappeared since the start of Trump’s second term in January, with the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services terminating 10,000 employees and USAID shuttering its office and firing thousands.

Entrepreneurship is a popular option for former federal employees and others who have experienced job loss. A study by Clarity Capital, quoted in the March 8, 2024 edition of Fast Company, noted that 63% of tech workers who were laid off started their own companies, and 48% of entrepreneurs who launched their businesses cited job loss as the primary motivation.

Like Hawkins, the study revealed that many entrepreneurs who start their businesses after a layoff do so within six months, specifically 26% within three months and 30% beginning between three and six months after being laid off.

The federal job cuts are a part of a trend in which over 300,000 Black women like Hawkins have lost jobs or left the labor force since February 2025, according to a report by MSNBC on Sept. 7.

The MSNBC report credits the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) in addition to the federal job cuts as the primary reason Black women are losing employment. The report also relays that the negative em-

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ployment phenomenon is contrary to other racial and ethnic groups.

“This trend, a significant indicator of broader economic health, contrasts with employment trends for other demographic groups and is negatively impacting the U.S. economy,” the MSNBC report said.

Black Women are Becoming Entrepreneurs

African American women make up less than 10% of the U.S. population but have emerged as the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, according to a November 2023 piece from GoDaddy.

The number of Black women-owned businesses in the U.S. was trending upward even before the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in March 2020 and that accelerated entrepreneurship overall, the report said.

Between 2017 and 2020, the number of Black women-owned businesses increased by nearly 20%, far exceeding the growth of women-owned businesses and Black-owned businesses overall, the Brookings Institution reports.

“To me, the rise of Black women entrepreneurs means we’re starting to believe in ourselves more, that we’re finally recognizing how limitless we are,” said Joy Ofodu, who quit her job at Instagram to become a full-time content creator and voice actor in 2022, according to the report.

Hawkins is on the path to entrepreneurship and is looking to open a bakery.

“Baking is a hobby for me and a way for me to relax,” she said. “Now that I have more time on my hands, I will do it to make more money.”

Resources and Advice for Those Pursuing Entrepreneurship

Hawkins has researched resources for her to build the bakery.

“I have already talked with my bank and I have a friend who is an accountant,” she told The Informer. “I am not ready for a brick-andmortar store but I am planning on consulting with someone in real estate. Prince George’s Community College has some courses on entrepreneurship and how to run a business and I will look into that.”

Higher education institutions are good resources for new entrepreneurs, whether it be classes or special programs such as the Howard University School of Business Small Business Development Center.

Dr. Maurice D. Edington, president of the University of the District of Columbia, encourages anyone thinking of pursuing entrepreneurship— whether they are a former federal employee or not— to consider his institution as a resource.

“Our accredited business schools offer classes for people who want to go into business,” he said. “We offer majors in business and for those who are in the process of starting their business, we offer coaching.”

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Several Black entrepreneurs participate in the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 54th Annual Legislative Conference (Sept. 2428). Amid the government shutdown and federal furloughs, some people encourage entrepreneurship as a viable option for employees and others who have experienced job loss. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

LAYOFF

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

October is Estate Planning Awareness Month: Building Legacies, Protecting Futures Business

Northern Va. Black Chamber Taps New Executive Director

Michael Morgan has been appointed the new executive director of Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (NVBCC), effective Oct. 13.

“As NVBCC enters its next chapter, we are focused on innovation, growth, and positioning our chamber as a model for advancing Black-owned businesses in Virginia,” said Tonya Poindexter, chair of the NVBCC board. “Michael Morgan brings the vision, operational expertise, and deep commitment to inclusive economic growth that align with our mission.”

With more than 36 years of leadership experience in federal service, nonprofit management, and community engagement, Morgan brings a proven record of advancing mission-driven initiatives and building strong partnerships. He is the founder and president of A Few Good MENtors, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved communities through mentorship, leadership development, and education.

Morgan’s career also includes senior roles at the FBI and Defense Intelligence Agency, where he oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, led national training programs, and developed strategies to improve organizational performance.

Poindexter emphasized that Morgan will lead the 17-year organization in the right direction.

“His leadership will help us expand our reach, strengthen partnerships, and ensure our 550+ businesses are not only supported but truly empowered to flourish,” she continued. “NVBCC is setting a standard, and Michael’s appointment reinforces our momentum.”

Morgan said he is ready to get to work to make the NVBCC the best it can be.

“For me, this role is about advancing opportunities for Blackowned and underserved businesses, expanding access to resources, and driving sustainable economic growth across Northern Virginia,”

Morgan said. “I am eager to build on NVBCC’s strong foundation, listen to the needs of our members, and work alongside the board and partners to deliver measurable results.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10

By Aimee D. Griffin, Esq.

Every October, we observe Estate Planning Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on the importance of protecting families, preserving wealth, and planning for the future. Estate planning is not just about preparing documents. It is about aligning your values with your valuables and ensuring that what you build in your lifetime continues to strengthen your family and community for generations to come.

At Life & Legacy Counselors, our vision is to serve as a premier global network of professionals committed to supporting the creation, protection, and transfer of wealth. We recognize that true legacy building goes beyond the accumulation of assets; it is about passing forward stability, values, and opportunity. Guided by this vision, our mission is to educate, collaborate, and strategically plan with individuals, families, businesses, and communities so they can build multigenerational wealth. This mission fuels our daily work, reminding us that every plan we design carries the potential to change the trajectory of a family’s future.

Why Estate Planning Matters in Our Community

For far too many families, planning for the future is delayed until it is too late. Studies show that more than 60% of Americans do not have a will or trust. Among African Americans, the percentage is even higher. Without intentional planning, families lose homes, businesses, and hard-earned wealth that could have been preserved for generations.

In the Black community especially, the absence of estate planning has contributed to the devastating loss of property, businesses, and financial security. Estate planning interrupts this cycle by ensuring that what has been built is not only preserved but expanded. It transforms personal achievement into a collective legacy.

What We’re Doing This Month

During Estate Planning Awareness Month, Life & Legacy Counselors is working to bring knowledge and tools directly to the community through educational webinars and workshops that simplify complex concepts, private Legacy Strategy Sessions for families ready to take action, and collaborations with churches, civic groups, and professional organizations that extend our reach. These efforts reflect our commitment to making estate planning accessible, understandable, and achievable for everyone—not just the wealthy.

A Call to Action

This October, I encourage every family to take three critical steps:

1. Start the Conversation – Talk openly about your wishes and your family’s future.

2. Work with Trusted Professionals – Online forms cannot replace the wisdom of advisors who know your values and your goals.

3. Review Regularly – As life changes, so should your estate plan.

Estate planning is not about death—it is about life, love, and the future we choose to create. It is about leaving more than memories; it is about leaving direction, protection, and peace of mind.

of keeping our community informed!

At Life & Legacy Counselors, our vision and mission remind us daily that estate planning is not an event but a journey—a journey that allows families to pass forward not only wealth but also wisdom, strength, and hope. This Estate Planning Awareness Month, let us commit to turning our values into action and our hard work into legacies that endure.

www. washingtoninformer .com

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq.

Life and Legacy Counselors

1401 Mercantile Lane, Ste 271, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 440 Washington, DC 20015 1100 N. Glebe Road, Ste 1010, Arlington, VA 22201

www.yourestateplanningattorney.com (855) 574-8481 connects all locations

5 Michael Morgan is the new executive director of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy Photo/ Linkedin)

NATIONAL

Supreme Court’s New Term Sparks Fears Over Democracy and Rights

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

When the Supreme Court began its 2025–26 term on Monday, legal observers, scholars, and advocates warned that the justices are again positioned to shape the country’s direction on equality, freedom, and democracy itself.

The new docket is filled with cases involving race, gender, campaign finance, and presidential authority.

At the D.C. Bar’s annual Supreme Court Review and Preview, more than one hundred attendees gathered in person and virtually to hear predictions about the cases that could define the nation’s future. Moderator Daniel Woofter said the “polarization of the Court is undeniable.”

According to figures discussed at the event, Chief Justice John Roberts joined the majority 95% of the time during the previous term, while Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito aligned 97% of the time.

Elaine Goldenberg of Munger, Tolles and Olson said what was once a rarely used emergency docket has now become “a huge part of the Supreme Court’s work.”

She added the docket has al-

lowed the justices to act on politically charged cases without the full process of hearings.

That process could again be used to decide cases on transgender rights, conversion therapy, and the limits of presidential authority.

In Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., transgender students are asking the Court to overturn laws that prevent them from competing on teams that match their gender identity. The United States filed briefs opposing those challenges.

“It doesn’t seem likely to me that the challengers of both laws are likely to prevail,” Goldenberg stated, noting that the government’s arguments were “sharp in tone” and clearly presented.

Docket Reveals Cultural Clashes, Political Division

The PBS NewsHour described this year’s docket as “a reflection of the cultural and partisan clashes of American politics.”

One of the most significant cases, Louisiana v. Callais, will determine whether the state must create another majority-Black congressional district under the Voting Rights Act. The case follows Allen

v. Milligan, which required Alabama to add a second Black-majority district.

The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once warned that removing protections from the Voting Rights Act was “like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

Another case, Chiles v. Salazar, challenges Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy for minors. The lawsuit claims the ban violates free speech and religious liberty. Medical and mental health organizations have long described conversion therapy as dangerous and harmful to young people.

In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, former Senator JD Vance is asking the Court to strike down restrictions on how political parties and candidates can coordinate campaign spending.

William Jay of Goodwin Procter said the lawsuit “blurs the line between giving and spending.” He

said the longstanding rule that giving money to candidates can create corruption risks while spending personal funds counts as free speech is now in question.

The Court will also consider Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, a case challenging tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

“There was no relationship between the products and the drug trafficking” cited to justify the tariffs,” said Morgan Ratner of Sullivan and Cromwell.

She explained that the case tests how far presidents can extend their authority during so-called national emergencies.

SCOTUSblog reported that the Court has added several other cases touching on guns, property rights, and government power, including a challenge to Hawaii’s law that prevents people from carrying handguns on private property without the owner’s consent.

The Court will also review disputes over compensation for property confiscated in Cuba and how the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause applies in those cases.

Legal analyst Elie Mystal wrote in The Nation that the Court “has been corrupted and weaponized” and now functions as “an antidemocratic enforcement mechanism of the Republican political agenda.”

He said Democrats missed an opportunity to push for real reform after the Dobbs ruling that

overturned Roe v. Wade.

“The Supreme Court does not have the final say over how we have to live as a society,” Mystal said. “We do.”

Originalism and Low Public Confidence

The PBS NewsHour reported that the Court’s current majority now favors what is known as originalism, the belief that the Constitution should be interpreted as it was understood when first ratified, rather than as a living document that evolves with society.

Scholars said this view has already changed national law on abortion, guns, affirmative action, and federal regulation.

“I don’t know why originalism is even mentioned when discussing certain Supreme Court rulings. Like above all, our Constitution is meant to uplift equality and balance for not just our government but everyone,” a social media user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, Oct. 4. “That should be the main focus of every jurist [in my opinion].”

The Court’s rulings this term are expected to affect elections, education, civil rights, and the limits of government power.

Public confidence in the judiciary has reached record lows.

“Every ruling this term,” one panelist at the D.C. Bar discussion said, “will tell us something about what kind of country we still are.” WI

5 Legal observers, scholars, and advocates warn that with the start of the Supreme Court’s 2025-2026 term, justices are positioned to shape the country’s direction on equality, freedom, and democracy itself. (WI FIle Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Black Journalists Vanishing as Newsrooms Stay Overwhelmingly White

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Karen Attiah said she was terminated after more than a decade at the Washington Post for social media posts addressing violence and the dangers of white extremism.

“Being pushed out of the Washington Post for expressing myself, for not even expressing myself, for doing my job as a journalist, is really a deep, sort of cruel 180,” she told the Associated Press.

Her removal comes at a time when Black journalists already stand on fragile ground in an industry that continues to exclude them. According to the Pew Research Center’s most recent survey of American newsrooms, only 6% of reporting journalists in 2022 were Black, though Black people make up 12% of the population.

White journalists accounted for 76% of reporters, even though the white population stands at 61%.

The National Association of Black Journalists said Attiah’s firing had “raised an alarm about the erosion of Black voices across the media.”

“The absence of Black journalists doesn’t just harm us, it impoverishes the entire profession,” NABJ President Errin Haines declared. “When our voices are missing, stories go untold, perspectives go unchallenged, and the truth remains incomplete.”

For diversity advocates, the danger is not confined to one journalist. It sets a precedent that ripples across the profession.

Media 2070, a group dedicated to racial equity in journalism, called the firing “a dangerous and deliberate act of erasure by media owners.”

Philip Lewis, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ), called it a chilling moment.

“This firing sends a message to other Black journalists and writers that our perspectives aren’t valued unless we align with the status quo,” Lewis said.

Attiah has refused to go silent.

At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 54th Annual Legislative Conference, she spoke during a panel on Black women in media and warned that the campaign against truth would not stop with her.

“I hate to be Debbie Dark Cloud,” she said, “but if you think things are really bad, they can and they will, and they’re trying to make it worse.”

Experts caution that the absence of diverse voices has real consequences.

“When you disappear people from spaces, you lose those valuable discussions that help our nation really process who we are and what kind of country we want to be,” said Khadijah Costley White, a professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University.

Eric Deggans, the Knight chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University, questioned the Post’s judgment.

“I don’t understand why the most extreme punishment is the first punishment,” Deggans said. “I don’t understand why there’s not an attempt to sort of talk with the employee and let them know what they did wrong.”

The Pew study found that Black journalists are most visible in coverage of social issues and policy, where they make up 15% of those reporters, but remain scarce across politics, the econo-

my, science, and technology. This clustering leaves most national conversations filtered through a white lens, even as the country grows more diverse.

Despite her firing, Attiah has hope for this moment.

“I think this is also a time for profound creativity,” Attiah said, “being like water rising and like water moving around the cracks and actually, over time, eroding and undoing.” WI

3 Karen Attiah says she was terminated from the Washington Post after she wrote on social media addressing violence and the dangers of white extremism.

(Courtesy Photo/X)

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Two Years Post Hamas Attacks, Leaders Meet to Negotiate Ceasefire

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

As delegations from Hamas, Israel and the United States come together to negotiate terms under President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, local religious leaders like Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad are also working toward peace in Palestine.

“Today we join leaders around the world in welcoming President Trump’s call and plan for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ‘If they incline towards peace, then incline towards it [also] and rely upon Allah,’” Shareef wrote in a statement, quoting Quran 8:61. “In a region long battered by cycles of violence and retaliation, any cessation of hostilities is a precious opening— a doorway to dialogue, healing and the possibility of durable peace.”

The leader of Masjid Muhammad, also known as The Nation’s Mosque, has been a longtime advocate for peace in Gaza, where more than 66,000 people have been killed since October 7, 2023, post coordinated Hamas attacks and Israel’s continued retaliatory efforts.

“On average, 100 people are reported killed every day in Gaza due to the Israeli military operation or shootings at the ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ food points,” Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Near East, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Oct. 1. “Meanwhile, others die of hunger or lack of medical care. The growing death toll is fueling a growing indifference.”

Lazzarini emphasized the need to document ongoing crimes and attend to suffering, and also called for a “ceasefire now.”

Days after the UNRWA leader’s declaration, delegates from the U.S., Hamas and Israel began working toward Trump’s now 20-point (previously 21 points) Gaza ceasefire plan. However, for Shareef and many other humanitarian activists, peace for Palestine does not end with a ceasefire, as the country has long experienced challenges with Israel.

“Palestinians have a tragic story to tell of dispossession, displacement, and horrific oppression that began a century ago,” wrote Dr. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute on October 7, 2024, a year after the 2023 Hamas attacks in a piece called “History Didn’t Begin or End on October 7th.” “But here in the U.S., their story is not the dominant narrative. The nightmare they’ve lived isn’t understood or is outright rejected.”

After years of suffering and subjugation, Shareef said the ceasefire should be the first step in prolonged peace for the people of Palestine.

“A ceasefire must not be seen as the end; it should be the beginning of sincere and inclusive negotiations toward sustainable peace, security, and human dignity for all,” Shareef said.

Shareef’s Five Point Plan Toward Peace

While the delegates from Israel, Hamas and the United States meet in Egypt to discuss Trump’s 20-point plan toward a ceasefire in Gaza, Shareef offered five principles to promote peace in Palestine.

The imam’s five-point plan includes: protecting civilians and opening humanitarian corridors; addressing root causes; inclusive mediation; trust-building steps; and moral and legal accountability.

The ultimate goal is to provide support and uplift the estimated 1.9 million and counting Palestinians who have been displaced since October 2023. The hope is to also bolster the 7 million Palestinian refugees around the world who have been displaced due to the historic, ongoing Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, which many note started with the Arab-Israeli War of 1948.

“A ceasefire is a sign of life. Let it not be a pause for reloading, but a space for reflection, repentance, and renewal. True believers are those who make peace among people.” Shareef said, after outlining his “moral, humanitarian, and diplomatic principles.” “Our hope is that this call for ceasefire will be embraced by all parties and open the door to a just and lasting peace– one that honors the dignity of Palestinians and Israelis alike, and restores the sacredness of life in the Holy Land.”

As the delegates meet in Egypt two years post the Hamas attacks in Israel, the D.C.-based religious leader called on people around the world to promote peace in Palestine.

“We urge the international community, especially faith leaders, to encourage the moment toward sustained negotiations that uphold human rights, justice and coexistence,” Shareef emphasized. “May this be a turning point toward lasting peace and regional stability.”

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5Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad suggests five “moral, humanitarian, and diplomatic principles” to achieve sustainable peace in Palestine. (WI File Photo)

COUNCIL REPORT from Page 1 don’t have the authority to help them continue on to have their weddings at Smithsonian institutions or federal places, I think this is the least we can do on the court side of things.”

A couple minutes later, Henderson brought to light the debate that brought budget discussions on the Hill to a standstill.

“It’s about health care, ladies and gentlemen,” Henderson said. “These health care tax credits. We’ve got 4,300 individuals and small businesses that rely on the premium health care tax credits here in the District of Columbia. That’s kind of whack.”

As explained in this edition of The Collins Council Report, the council also approved legislation mandating Events DC’s creation of a strategic plan to promote the District as the sports capital, all while council members also coalesced around an overture to medical cannabis providers operating in a local market unlike any other.

During the nearly three-hour legislative meeting, council members couldn’t help but to also weigh the impact of approving— or not approving– emergency legislation deemed as a preventative measure against presidential and congressional intrusion. In the days leading up to that public conversation, members of the council mulled how to approach the senators who will soon vote on bills intended

to adjudicate youth as adults and consolidate presidential control of the District’s judicial system.

All that and more in The Collins Council Report.

Mendelson Comments on RepublicanDemocratic Collusion against the District

Earlier in the week, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) revealed that he’s been assessing how best to respond to the movement of bills through the Senate that are aimed at the local public safety ecosystem.

“We’re working, figuring out what the best way is to communicate to senators our opposition, and the reasons for our opposition to those bills,” Mendelson said about he and his council colleagues on Monday.

If passed and signed by President Donald J. Trump, the bills currently before the Senate would: classify 14 year olds as adults when charged for violent crimes; mandate mandatory minimums for youth offenders; repeal provisions forbidding police vehicular pursuits; and abolish the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission.

Meanwhile, the House still has a few bills concerning the District that members will vote on upon their return from recess. Mendelson said that

council members had planned to send a letter to the House in objection to those bills— much like what D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser sent to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform weeks ago.

Last month, during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 54th Annual Legislative Conference, Bowser challenged those who watched her fireside chat with Angela Rye to educate their Democratic congressional representatives about the perils of interfering with locally approved legislation. Her remarks came just days after Democrats in the House overwhelmingly supported Republicans in the passage of bills aimed at D.C.’s judicial infrastructure.

In speaking about Democratic collusion with Republicans on the Hill, Mendelson, like Bowser, said that Democrats who stray away from the party line often don’t have any choice.

“We’re talking about roughly 20 to 30 Democrats that are in what we call front-line districts, meaning that just a couple of percentage points separate them from staying in office and being defeated,” Mendelson said. “Those are the ones who want to vote with the Democratic caucus but they don’t want to have these ads run against them [in their district] and that’s their challenge. Unfortunately, this is not about public safety, and it’s not

COUNCIL REPORT Page 44

SOCIAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Bid #25-S-020

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Social and Digital Media Services for Events DC projects and/or initiatives.

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Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-Procurement website at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/eventsdc.

Key Dates

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Primary Contact

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STORIES from Page 9

tion.

“This week is not just for celebration— it’s about action,” said Skip Dye, chair of Penguin Random House’s Intellectual Freedom Taskforce. “By standing together as publishers, authors, educators, librarians, students, and readers, we can ensure that shelves remain filled with diverse ideas and perspectives, and that the next generation grows up with the freedom to explore them.”

Further, the Banned Wagon will include the Save Our Stories initiative,

which, through the First Book partnership, donates a book to a community in need each time someone scans the QR code on the bus and other associated materials.

“Books and stories are essential to our identities, our histories, and our future,” said Alyssa Taylor, director of brand marketing with Penguin Random House. “We’re proud to take the Banned Wagon to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia– two iconic cities in our country’s history– to help protect every American’s access to books that make it possible to read, think, and learn freely.” WI

5At each stop, the Banned Wagon, presented by Penguin Random House in partnership with EveryLibrary and First Book, showcases a selection of 30 books— from picture books to novels— that are currently being banned or challenged across the nation. (Denise Rolark Barnes/The Washington Informer)

HEALTH

Oct. 10, comedian Tommy Taylor Jr., therapist Tasja Gray, and software developer David Gusick represent a growing movement to make mental wellness accessible, relatable, and deeply human, wherever people are.

“Mental health is your overall well-being,” said Taylor. “It’s your ability to process your life, your moments, in a healthy way. Comedians are innately skilled in analyzing and communicating thoughts and emotions in a way that instantly opens up pathways of reflection.”

The award-winning Washington, D.C., actor and comedian related that even artistic experiences may help to bolster mental wellness.

“Ultimately, it’s about connectivity,” he said, “and learning better ways to relate to ourselves and each other.”

Connection providing mental health support is also what drives Gray, a 31-year-old licensed professional counselor.

“I’ve always liked talking to people about their feelings, understanding why they make the decisions that they make,” Gray recounted, “but taking into consideration dynamics like genetics, past trauma, age, and race.”

While Taylor uses comedy and Gray uses counseling, Gusick is

tackling mental health from a different front: technology.

A software developer for more than 30 years, Gusick is using his experience to build accessible forums for emotional healing through his online platform SomebodyToTalkTo.com, giving people an option for care beyond a clinical facility or office.

“I stay away from the term ‘mental health,’ because for many it means crisis or diagnosis,” he said. “Instead, our platform teaches emotional well-being and critical skills that assist in processing emotions.”

Healing Through Connection

At first glance, Taylor’s stage might not look like a space for healing. It’s a comedy show, lights, laughter, and quick wit.

But beneath the humor lies something more intentional.

“Comedy and mental health intrinsically intersect,” he said. “An aspect of mental health is the ability to manage your emotions effectively.”

That connection, Taylor explained, isn’t superficial.

“As comedians, we are very in tune with the happenings around us in the world,” Taylor continued.

“We can see the stresses, the conflict going on, we become highly skilled at taking conflict and stress and

“I stay away from the term ‘mental health,’ because for many it means crisis or diagnosis,” he said.

turning it into a medium for laughter, community, and healing.”

With a degree in engineering and the performing arts from Carnegie Mellon University, Taylor utilizes his knowledge of both sides of the brain to create moments that extend beyond mere laughter, transforming performance into a healing experience.

“Many people who come to my shows are going through the worst moments of their lives: battling cancer, fighting addiction, going through divorce,” he said. “I see the impact, people walking in heavy and weighed down, the gradual transformation as they lighten and leave smiling. That’s the power of connection and where the true art of healing often lies.”

3 Licensed professional counselor, Tasja Gray, advocates for pivotal changes in access to mental health, including an increase in the rate at which insurance companies cover services. (Courtesy Photo/Tasja Gray)

A New Blueprint for Wellbeing

Gray works with clients across the District to help them find stability in times of crisis.

From housing insecurity to political uncertainty, she sees firsthand the toll that prolonged stress takes on the human psyche.

“When economic conditions change or the cost of living rises, people experience severe spikes in stress,” she explained. “Prolonged stress can turn into trauma if not addressed.”

Despite outside stressors, she said that everyone can take small, intentional steps toward mental clarity, even outside of formal therapy.

“If you can’t access therapy, talk it out,” she advised. “Find ways to calm your nervous system: take a nature walk, try a new hobby. Even something as simple as taking a shower or cooking a meal can be therapeutic.”

Gray encourages people to “do something different,” especially on World Mental Health Day.

“Try a new culture of food, take a dance class, paint something,” Gray advised. “It serves as a tremendous stress reliever and switches your neurological pathways, causing a refresh of your emotions.”

Empathy by Design: Using Coding to Close the Mental Health Gap

Hoping to make accessing care more accessible without mental health labels, Gusick’s online platform, SomebodyToTalkTo.com, offers free, accessible emotional support through Zoom sessions available from any phone.

“We all face emotional worries about family, finances, health,” he said. “We teach people how to develop skills that prove essential in managing life’s ups and downs.”

Gusick indicated that his work is built on a proactive philosophy.

“If you went to the doctor and only asked about your heart when you were having a heart attack, you’d be too late,” the technology expert related. “That’s how most people treat mental health. We want to in-

tervene early, before someone hits a breaking point.”

Breaking Stigma, Making Mental Health Accessible

For Gusick, Gray, and Taylor, ensuring access to care is key.

Somebody To Talk To was intentionally designed to remove barriers to consistent mental health care: cost, transportation, accessibility, and stigma.

“Sessions are free. You can log in from any phone or just dial in,” Gusick said. “Not everyone is tech-savvy, so we made it simple. The goal is that no one should face emotional challenges alone.”

Gray also acknowledged the financial and systemic barriers that continue to prevent people from prioritizing emotional wellness.

“Mental health care has always been important, but it hasn’t always been valued by insurance companies,” she explained. “Clinicians are often forced to figure out how to bill so clients can keep getting the help they need.”

Despite challenges, Gray encourages people to strive to include mental health as part of their regular health care routine.

“There are more sliding-scale clinics, a higher number of community groups, and more openness about mental health than ever before,” she added. “We just have to keep making spaces for people to heal, and give them grace while they do.”

Having also witnessed challenges to getting mental health care, Taylor, striving to make healing spaces accessible, has hosted comedy shows, complete with music and massages, in the garden of his Ward 8 home.

Whether taught through comedy, counseling, or online connection, the objective for these innovators is to ensure people avail themselves of mental health support through conventional or creative forums.

“Emotional well-being is about stepping back and noticing small changes in your mood before things spiral,” Gusick said. “Sometimes we tell ourselves things that aren’t true, like ‘I am never going to be able to find another job,’ when in reality, we’re projecting stress. Learning to pause and observe those thoughts before reacting can change everything.” WI

EARTH OUR

CBCF ALC Highlights Climate, Infrastructure Equity Panelists Call for Effective Disaster Response and Inclusive Planning

By Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

In the midst of various funding cuts to climate programs and agencies, and the passage of legislation that prioritizes economic opportunities over equity, environmental and infrastructure programming at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) 54th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) (Sept. 24-28) focused on empowering and protecting Black communities.

From reflecting on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the trauma and tragedy those affected still carry, to discussing the intersection of transportation equity and social infrastructure, speakers at ALC were determined to continue the fight for progress toward a just future.

“The determination inspires us to build safer, stronger and more equitable communities,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “That means some policies, smart investments, science– not politics– must guide us forward.”

Aside from recognizing past shortcomings and applying them to current circumstances to spark change, other speakers at the conference also focused on acknowledging who is in decision-making spaces and ensuring that members of marginalized communities know they have agency and authority over the infrastructure and planning in their neighborhoods.

“The more we participate in the decision-making process, the better it will be,” said Delbert Foster, associate director of 1890 Research and Extension at South Carolina State University. “And when you have… engineers that look like you, architects that look like you, planners that look like us, we don’t need to put them on the chopping block, but we need information.”

Learning from Katrina’s Unheeded Warnings

Carter was joined by journalist Norman Robinosn, Gen. Russel Honoré and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) to discuss how and why Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and its surrounding areas with such severity.

They used their personal accounts to highlight what President Donald Trump and his administration are doing that will further harm communities prone to harsh weather.

After entering office for a second term, Trump signed an executive order in which he wrote that state and local governments need to “play a more active and significant role” in national disaster preparedness, and has since spoken about eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“When they tell you that the response to disasters should be a local response, you need to get away from them. That’s someone who’s feeding you up to the elements,” Clyburn said. “There must be a national coordinated response to events like this. It must be centralized.”

The disaster assistance agency has recently paused giving states preparedness grant money, ordering them to recalculate their populations to receive the funding necessary for helping communities prepare for natural disasters and train emergency management staff.

Honoré, who has gained widespread praise for his leadership of the Joint Task Force Katrina in the storm’s aftermath, criticizes Trump’s interpretation of what happens after such devastating weather.

“One of the things… you don’t understand, is when you have a disaster,” Honoré said, “it overwhelms that local response because [responders] are survivors too.”

He described the elected officials,

officers and media personnel who were all required to complete their jobs while Katrina ravaged their neighborhoods, many unsure of their families’ whereabouts or the condition of their homes.

“On any given day, Mother Nature can build or break anything made by man,” Honoré continued. “So whoever you are, you are subject to disaster.”

Reclaiming Space in Black Neighborhoods

Environmental advocates note that the current level of unpredictability requires states and local communities to be equipped with the funding and re-

sources necessary to accurately prepare for and manage the effects of inclement weather.

It also calls for a reliable infrastructure and transportation that can protect vulnerable communities not only in the wake of unprecedented disasters, but in their day to day lives.

In a conversation about reclaiming a sense of belonging in Black spaces through advocating for infrastructure planning that doesn’t harm communities’ homes and recreational spaces, speakers emphasized the importance of people having the ability to independently live in and move through

3 South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, Gen. Russel Honoré and Norman Robsinson speak about their experiences with Hurricane Katrina during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual conference in September. During the discussion, the panelists applied their narratives to the current state of storm preparedness in the nation. (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)

their neighborhoods and surrounding areas.

“I will say, the engineering profession has really done a lot of damage to our communities that is very well documented,” said Veronica Davis, the discussion’s moderator and National Practice director of planning and environment at Atkins Realis.

Davis told the story of her mother, whose childhood home was one of more than 400 that were torn down in the 1950s and 1960s to make way for Louisiana’s Interstate 10. Because of this shared experience across Black communities of residential or transportational developments uprooting their homes, Davis hopes future planning will be mindful of these occurrences.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

EDUCATION

Kennedy Street in Northwest, she told The Informer that she and her colleagues foresee a future where they may have to cut employees’ hours and jeopardize the quality of their services.

“If you send people home early, the children are not going home early,” Fernandez told The Informer. “They’re still here for the whole day, so it affects the day-to-day operation in terms of staff-to-child ratio, and then also it affects the staff finances. The goal is to not fire anyone, that’s for sure. These are just plans in conversation.”

Blandi’s Early Child Learning Center, a second-generation family-owned business, strives to provide a safe, nurturing and culturally affirming environment for youth making the transition from home to school. Indoor and outdoor programming focuses on the development of physical, socioemotional and intellectual growth, while staff members set out to support parents representing a spectrum of income levels.

Fernandez, who started working at Blandi’s as a teenager, wears many hats, including that of an instructor, custodian and cafeteria staff member. She said her experience has also exposed her to the science of early childhood development. That’s why, though she empathizes with families pressured to stop their children’s pre-school instruction, she warned about what she called the long-term drawbacks of that decision.

“For younger children, the most important thing is routine,” Fernandez told The Informer, “and if parents are…pulling them out, it disrupts their learning because the routine is there. Their interaction with their peers is interrupted as well. That’s the most important thing for their age group at this time.”

Despite those who may believe otherwise, Fernandez said spending lengths of unstructured time under the same roof with siblings may not suffice.

“They need social interaction with their peers,” Fernandez said. “It’s not the same as playing with their big sister or big brother.”

Social Justice PCS intends to award a sole source contract to Elevate Consulting for Project Management Services and has posted full details of the notice via D.C. Register Website.

Contract details are available via Notice#N142409 via DCRegs.dc.gov

Local Officials and Organizers Respond to Effects of Federal Government Shutdown

Since the start of the government shutdown on Oct. 1, Republicans and Democrats haven’t gotten any closer to resolving an impasse centered on the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Earlier this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) cancelled plans for the lower chamber to return, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reportedly acknowledged that a solution would likely come from a meeting between congressional leaders and President Donald J. Trump.

In recent days, federal government agencies have adjusted— or ceased— operations in response to the shutdown. For instance, the National Park Service furloughed more than half of its staff. Though more than 400 national parks remain open, there’s uncertainty about the maintenance of the land during the shutdown period.

As concerns about air traffic safety linger, the Federal Aviation Agency has also furloughed a quarter of its staff, while essential workers like air traffic controllers and TSA bag screeners are working without pay. In the District, the Smithsonian Institute announced that it would stay open through Oct. 11.

Meanwhile, other federally fund-

ed institutions— D.C. Superior Court for example— have ceased certain processes, including the performance of marriage ceremonies and dissemination of marriage licenses.

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council approved emergency legislation that, in the midst of a federal government shutdown, places that responsibility in the hands of DC Health.

Earlier in the week, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) confirmed that the D.C. government would stay open throughout the duration of the shutdown. He however pointed out that some people, including District employees whose positions were funded by the federal government, would be affected by events currently unfolding on the hill.

“Whether they continue to get paid, as of a week ago when I talked to the chief financial officer, it wasn’t clear,” Mendelson told reporters on Monday. “It’s a very small number, but then, of course, there are going to be District residents who are federal government workers who are affected. So that will affect us, and contractors who are not getting paid, and so that will affect us.”

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer told The Informer that nearly 3,400 federally funded D.C. government employees affected by the shutdown will have their positions funded with local funds that agency heads expect to be reimbursed

with once the federal government reopens.

Many District residents count the shutdown among the latest of slights committed by the federal government since Trump’s return to the Oval Office. The cessation of federally funded services comes just weeks after the end of a federal surge that, according to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other local officials, soured police-community relations.

Local organizer LaDon Love said that she and her comrades who organize out of Emory Fellowship on Georgia Avenue in Northwest are still seeing the remnants of Trump’s summertime executive order that mandated coordination between the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement agencies.

“Some people are afraid to come out because of the overpolicing that’s happening in D.C.,” said Love, executive director of SPACEs in Action, a local membership-based advocacy organization focused on health care, childcare and economic dignity. “One of the things that we’ve been talking about with the church is coordinating with those families and trying to figure out how to do some food and supply drop offs.”

Since the shutdown, Love has heard, not only from furloughed residents who are buckling under tight budgets, but community institutions— such as daycares and small

SHUTDOWN Page 23

5 Some early childhood education experts warn about the long-term drawbacks of the federal government shutdown, including daycare youth missing weeks of socioemotional instruction. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)

SHUTDOWN from Page 1

SHUTDOWN from Page 22

businesses— that are anxious about what their customer base’s loss of income means for them.

“These are businesses that…have relied on the local people to come in,” Love told The Informer. “Mom-andpop shops are likely going to have to close their doors, which means that the communities will have less resources.”

Love’s work at the helm of SPACEs in Action takes her through Wards 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8, which hav the highest concentration of marginalized Black and Brown D.C. residents.

During the most recent local budget deliberation cycle, Love and other members of SPACEs in Action organized around the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund and the child tax credit.

Though both have been approved, the D.C. Council didn’t fund the child tax credit for this year, nor did it secure future funding for the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.

Amid concerns about Medicaid reductions compelled by congressional machinations, Love also continues to educate families about how they can get the most of their health care. Federally-induced economic and political pressure notwithstanding, Love contends that the onus still falls on Bowser and the D.C. Council to aggressively rebuff the White House and congressional Republicans.

“On the one hand the D.C. government is being threatened by so many different bills that are being proposed by Congress to strip away Home Rule,” Love told The Informer. “At the same time, if you’re being attacked and you’re pushed into a corner, do you just keep getting beat down or do you want to stand up and stand for something?”

Also of concern to Love is, as she

described it, elected officials’ penchant for bolstering corporations, and not people, during economically strenuous times.

“They should stand up and stand for…D.C. and the people,” she said about District leaders. “The council and the mayor should make sure they’re investing in [the] community and not in big business.”

Unity Day, A Youth’s Call to Action

On Saturday, messages of hope and solidarity reverberated throughout a portion of North Capitol Street and Riggs Road in Northeast as congregants and community members gathered at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.

They spent the better part of the afternoon at an annual Unity Day hosted in collaboration with New Hope Baptist United Church of Christ. For hours, a bevy of speakers—including this reporter— gave the clarion call to support those in the U.S. and around the world who’ve been affected by: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) funding cuts, federal law enforcement intrusion and government furloughs, changes to the local budget, and most recently the shutdown.

“With the rise of tensions in D.C. and…the political state of the world, Black and brown youth are being targeted more often,” D.C. high school student Nahema Konate told The Informer. “They have been detained or denied the needs that they should receive. It’s important that they get those resources…to live peacefully and not be in fear of anything because they’re only children.”

Nahema, a member of D.C. Girls Coalition and one of Unity Day’s youngest speakers, took to

the mic on Saturday in demand of gender justice, social and emotional support, economic stability, and basic needs. She pledged to continue issuing that call, especially since, as she told The Informer, the federal government shutdown further inhibits Black and brown youth’s ability to secure vital resources.

“We didn’t have funding for things before and the government not being funded now will make it even harder,” said Nahema, a student at Jackson-Reed High School in Northwest. “Other things will take precedence over what we’re trying to do to help the youth. It definitely will be a bit of a setback, but hopefully we’ll get on the right track.” WI

4 LaDon Love, executive director of SPACEs in Action, told The Informer that she’s heard from furloughed government workers who are buckling under tight budgets, as well as daycares and small businesses that are anxious about what their customer base’s loss of income means for them. (Courtesy Photo/ LaDon Love, LinkedIn)

EDUCATION

Nigeria’s Crisis Deserves the World’s Attention

Thousands Killed in Religious Cleansing Campaign, Time for Action

While the world’s cameras remain focused on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, another humanitarian tragedy quietly happens. In Nigeria, thousands of Christians are being killed, displaced, or forced to flee their homes in what many call a campaign of religious cleansing.

The attacks— often carried out by extremist groups and armed militias— target entire villages, burn churches to the ground, and leave countless families without shelter or hope.

During a congressional hearing last March, Rep. Chris Smith (RNJ) stated, “Genocide Watch has called Nigeria ‘a killing field of defenseless Christians.’”

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, and its democracy remains vital for regional stability. However, in the country’s Middle Belt and northern areas, violence fueled by religious intolerance, ethnic conflicts, and land disputes has become severe.

More than 50,000 Christians have reportedly been killed over

the past decade, with millions displaced. Entire communities now live in fear, uncertain whether their government or the international community even notices their suffering.

The silence of the international community is both deafening and risky. When atrocities occur without consequences, impunity grows. The United States, the African Union, and global faith leaders must recognize that indifference is not neutrality— it is complicity.

Aid, diplomacy, and pressure on human rights should be used to protect vulnerable populations and foster peacebuilding at the grassroots level.

Global compassion must be universal. Valuing every life equally requires looking beyond headlines about Europe and the Middle East.

The persecution of Nigerian Christians isn’t a local problem, but rather a test of our shared humanity. If the world can unite to defend freedom elsewhere, it must also stand up for those whose only

“crime” is faith. Not only does Nigeria’s overlooked war need our attention, the thousands of lives affected deserve our action. WI

The silence of the international community is both deafening and risky. When atrocities occur without consequences, impunity grows.

Honoring the First Stewards of Our Land: The Importance of Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

As our nation observes Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we are reminded that history is not fixed—it evolves as we confront uncomfortable truths and elevate the voices that have long been excluded from our collective story.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day invites us to honor the first stewards of this land, whose wisdom, culture, and resilience predate the founding of our nation. It replaces myths of “discovery” with acknowledgment of survival, sovereignty, and

enduring contributions.

Here in the Washington, D.C. region, where the land once belonged to the Piscataway and Anacostan peoples, we carry a special responsibility to recognize the legacy and living presence of Native communities who continue to enrich our city’s civic and cultural life.

This year, Indigenous Peoples’ Day coincides with Banned Books Week, a reminder that the suppression of truth continues in new

This year, Indigenous Peoples’ Day coincides with Banned Books Week, a reminder that the suppression of truth continues in new forms.

forms. Across the country, books by Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized authors are being targeted for removal from schools and libraries. These efforts silence stories that challenge stereotypes, inspire empathy, and reflect the full diversity of the American experience.

Both observances share a common purpose: to reclaim truth, preserve identity, and defend the right to be seen and heard. Just as Indigenous peoples fight to protect their languages and traditions, communities of color and queer communities fight to keep their stories on the shelves and in the curriculum.

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day— and defending the freedom to read— are acts of resistance and hope. Together, they affirm that history belongs to everyone, and that by lifting every voice, we build a more honest, inclusive, and united America. WI

TO THE EDITOR

Well, another week of the so-called government shutdown and D.C. residents are being impacted the hardest. This is truly a disgrace, and none of these politicians care about the real-world impact of their decisions or indecisions, for that matter, and who pays the cost while their checks keep flowing. I’m over it.

Amanda Campbell, Washington, D.C.

This may not be a big deal to some, but for me, an HU alum, to hear about the campus Starbucks closing is saddening. I’ve spent many years in and out of that location, from studying to taking a coffee break to meeting with professors, and it was an important place during my time at Howard. For it to abruptly close with no immediate plans for a replacement is a slap in the face to the students who pay good money to attend the university and to have quality amenities.

Kiely Thorn, Hyattsville, Md.

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

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

Who Gains When the Economy Implodes?

The United States economy is cruising for a bruising. Inflation is rising. The job market is not performing as expected, and unemployment rates are ticking up. Private sector employment shed 22,000 jobs last month, while forecasters thought that private sector employment would increase. The government shutdown will cost

jobs, and that man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built (HEPB) says he will lay off or fire more people each day that the government is shut down. And health care costs are rising, which is one of the reasons Democrats held firm on dealing with health care as a condition to keeping government open. Bottom line, our economy is precarious.

Implosion may be a strong term. Economic indicators suggest we might experience stagflation, which means economic stagna-

tion, combined with inflation. We might experience a mild recession, which means two quarters of negative economic growth. We might experience a deep recession or even a depression. But we know that the economy will not generate growth, stable inflation and rising employment unless something changes. That means that the majority of us will suffer. People will lose jobs and perhaps also their homes, businesses will close, and wealth will disappear. Uncertainty will make it challenging for both individuals

and businesses to make decisions. Even in recession, though, there are winners, people who find opportunity in economic distress and maximize it. During the 2008 recession, I remember meeting some young men in an Atlanta suburb who made thousands by packing and storing the belongings of evicted people. During COVID I met women who started catering businesses after they lost their restaurants. There is opportunity everywhere, though many have neither the resources nor the re-

Freedom and Equality: Two Unfinished Revolutions

In my house, two legacies face each other.

On one wall hangs a reproduction of “The Spirit of ‘76,” painted by my cousin Archibald M. Willard for the nation’s hundredth birthday. The central drummer in that painting — the older man leading the trio — was modeled after Archibald’s father, my cousin

“What is at the center of this fight? … 20 million Americans are going to see their health care costs skyrocket. Fifteen million people are going to be jettisoned from Medicaid. They’re going to decimate Medicaid. This is historic. This has not happened in U.S. history. In addition, your hospitals were shut down. Nursing homes shut down, clinics.”

“The Spirit of ‘76” is America’s most famous Revolutionary painting — the definitive image of independence, instantly recognizable wherever it appears. First displayed at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, it captured the mood of a nation celebrating its hundredth year and looking back on its birth in revolution.

For my family, it is not just symbolic. My father descends from six officers in the Massachusetts

Line of the Continental Army — and from a seventh, a 13-year-old fifer who fought at Lexington and Concord. He was the youngest combatant on that battlefield, carrying both a fife and a musket into the first fight of the Revolution. He lived into his 90s, long enough to be photographed — the only person from that battlefield whose face we can still see.

That painting is the definitive picture of 1776: a battered but unbroken march for freedom and

equality. My family is literally in the frame — and in the fight.

Across the room sits another inheritance: the desk of my mother’s great-great-grandfather, Peter G. Morgan, born enslaved in Nottoway County, Virginia, in 1817.

Beside it rests the courting set he bought so his three daughters, once freed, could welcome suitors in dignity.

My family isn’t just in the picture of 1776. We live the unfinished fight of 1876.

silience to take advantage of those opportunities. Structurally, there are always “high rollers” who are gainers. This is important because we should look at these structural gainers as possibilities for taxation, not exploitation. In other words, if you are going to benefit from other people’s pain, you should have to pay for it.

If the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire, premium payments for the more than 20 million Marketplace enrollees will more than double in 2026. At least 4 million Americans could lose health care coverage altogether.

If the health care cuts in the “Big Ugly Bill” are allowed to stand, 700 rural hospitals — one in three — could shut down, and another 15 million Americans

could become uninsured.

Legislation pending in Congress could prevent this catastrophe and end the government shutdown that is devastating families and communities across the country.

It’s no wonder the Trump administration and its allies in Congress would rather fear-monger with lies about undocumented immigrants than confront the facts.

The fact is, as long as the shutdown continues, local communities are losing access to over $60 billion in federal funding, jeopar-

dizing essential services and infrastructure.

The fact is, veterans are being denied transition assistance, career counseling, and outreach. Families aren’t even able to place headstones at their loved ones’ graves in veterans cemeteries. Active-duty military families, many of whom already struggle to make ends meet, are working without pay, making it harder to cover basic living expenses.

The extremists in the White House and Congress are willing to

A wager for freedom and equality

MALVEAUX Page 45

In 1864, while Petersburg was under Confederate siege, Morgan walked into a Confederate court and freed his wife and daughters. Virginia law was brutal: any Black person gaining freedom — and their family — had 12 months to leave the state. Fail to leave, and you could be seized and enslaved

deny nutrition assistance to mothers and children who rely on the WIC program … to withhold surgeries and treatment from patients at military treatment facilities … to delay progress on life-saving research and public health initiatives at the NIH and CDC … to disrupt Social Security and Medicare services for seniors and vulnerable populations … to jeopardize the health and safety of our workforce while Occupational Safety and

Who are some of the winners when the economy implodes? The greatest gainers are those who are MORIAL Page 45

Marc H. Morial

— U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

The Horrifying ‘War Within’

Who could have imagined hundreds of our top military personnel being ordered to the United States to hear Donald Trump (multiple-time draft dodger) and Pete Hegseth rap about their personal grievances, and how they’re working toward putting even more people who proudly serve in the military in jeopardy because of their weight, personal grooming,

We certainly live in challenging times.

Shortly before RFK Jr.’s handpicked CDC panel met last week to abandon its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, Senator Adam Schiff publicly asked insurers to cover routine vaccines for illnesses, no matter what the group recommended. I applaud Sen. Schiff for continually fighting the

denying women and gay people the right to serve in combat — except Trump and his sons who served nowhere! It seems the secretary of war and the president think their kind are the only ones truly capable of serving. They’ve decided cities they don’t like (meaning those with a lot of Black people, Democrats and progressives) can expect to be military training grounds! Looks like they’ve already started doing that. Look at Los Angeles; Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, Portland and others threatened. One assumes they’ll use

Guest

the same tactics as those used outside the country on the real enemy. Those leading our nation now are embarrassing, and all of us should apologize to friends in other nations. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to work or travel abroad and meet people, I know you hung your head in shame as you listened to the absolutely horrible nonsense our high-ranking officials had to endure while sitting in that disgusting meeting Hegseth and Trump put on at millions of dollars in costs to our taxpayers. The real tragedy is their performance has lead-

ers in other nations laughing at what happened.

We’re not perfect here in this nation, and it has never lived up to its promise for people of color (especially African Americans), Hispanics, Native Americans — and now immigrants. Trump’s family came here as immigrants. He’s married at least two women from other nations, and all of them were given every benefit other Americans who came here from somewhere else received. Those of us who were born here, work hard every day to perfect our union, but have

Don’t Let Pharmacy Deserts Swallow Our Communities

good fight.

Throughout my time in Congress, I was also a lifelong advocate for health equity. I spent decades fighting to make health care more accessible in underserved communities like the one I represented in Brooklyn. It was both an opportunity and a challenge to fight these inequalities.

But lately, some of our health equity challenges are quietly morphing into crises right before our eyes. I’m talking about pharmacy deserts, which continue to expand as pharmacies close in our cities and surrounding neighborhoods.

Take Sen. Schiff’s efforts, for instance. If pharmacists aren’t around to administer vaccinations, insurance coverage of these COVID-19 shots won’t matter for the millions of Americans stuck in pharmacy deserts.

Pharmacies are closing at an alarming pace. Across America: CVS closed 900 stores between 2022 and 2024, and they will close 270 more stores in 2025; Walgreens is shuttering 1,200 stores; and Rite Aid, which recently filed for bankruptcy, closed more than 310.

I cannot sit on the sidelines and

African Immigrants: Here By Choice, Not Chains

U.S. policy that preferred Northern European immigrants but rejected Southern and Eastern Europeans, plus other peoples from Asia and Africa.

For 200 years — the 17th and 18th centuries — Africans came to America involuntarily and enslaved. Then fast forward to the 21st century. The news is Sub-Saharan Africans are coming to America willingly, in search of opportunity and freedom.

The trend was driven by the 1965 Hart-Celler immigration law that ended 40 years of racially discriminatory

By 1980, 15 years after Hart-Celler, reported the Migration Policy Institute, 130,000 African immigrants had arrived in the United States. In subsequent decades the numbers climbed to:

• 265,000 in 1990,

• 691,000 in 2000,

• 1,327,000 in 2010, and

• 2,094,000 in 2019.

Furthermore, the new Americans were distinct in where they choose to

live. In 1993, when the NBC “Today” morning show spent a week telling stories on the African continent, the National Association of Black Journalists held its annual convention in Houston. A local journalist announced with pride that greater Houston housed the third-largest Nigerian community outside of that originating nation (London was No. 2).

Why those people came to Texas? Because of Houston’s oil industry that related to Nigeria’s and because the hot, humid climate was familiar. NBA and collegiate champion Hakeem Olaju-

never fully enjoyed the benefits. Yet, we persist in hope, and work to build this nation to what it professes to be. While we obey the Constitution, we’re not benefiting from doing so while Trump and his crowd ignore the rules and still prosper. Trump and his friends continue to discriminate against us and try to erase our history. They’re trying to keep others in the dark about all we have given to the prosperity of this nation while they continue to drain our coffers with

watch as pharmacies, the lifelines of community health care, vanish before our eyes. These pharmacies are essential institutions that serve as trusted, accessible points of care for millions of families with nowhere else to turn. Nationwide, local drugstores are shutting their doors. These aren’t just a loss for businesses big and small; they are a loss for entire communities. For many, especially in under-resourced areas, these pharmacies are where people fill prescriptions, get vaccinated, manage chronic conditions, and ask health questions they can’t afford to take to a

doctor. They’re a pillar of public health. So why is this happening?

One major reason is a coordinated attack by the pharmaceutical industry on the very companies, the so-called middlemen that help keep drug costs down. These are the organizations that negotiate discounts, enable mail delivery, and manage the logistics that make medicine more affordable and accessible. Despite their role in lowering prices, they’re being blamed in ads, in the press, and in legislation.

won came to Houston for school and athletic glory (and years later, another 7-footer Dikembe Mutombo of the Congo was a student-athlete at Georgetown who blossomed as probably the NBA’s most feared shot blocker).

Another geographical USA hotspot was the state of Maryland, especially affluent Prince George’s and Harford counties in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., megalopolis.

During my seven-year span as a professor at Morgan State University-Baltimore I relished teaching the grandchildren of African exchange students who

had been coming to the USA since the 1950s. The grandkids enriched my African Diaspora and Communication class as we collaborated on four cultural mileposts: fashion, food, music, and religion/spirituality.

For example, enslaved Africans brought rice to the New World and mass produced it in the Carolinas. A student informed me that African women sewed rice grains into their braided hair to smuggle and then plant something familiar in the New World.

Wayne Dawkins

Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

Ed Towns

Columnists

LIFESTYLE

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV!

By Keith Golden Jr. WI Intern

From a conversation with a barrier-breaking former vice president, to a performance from a multi award winning gospel choir, below are some

of the many events happening in the DMV area this week.

As the holiday season starts ramping up, let these October festivities inspire connection with the community– whether friends, family, loved ones or strangers.

Thursday, Oct. 9

A Conversation with Kamala Harris

7 p.m. | $155+

Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20004

For the first time, former Vice President Kamala Harris tells the story of her 2024 presidential campaign, including surprising aand revealing insights in her new book, “107 Days.”

During this special event, Harris will share what she saw, what she learned, and what it will take to move forward.

With nuance, candor, and a unique perspective, Harris will lead a conversation about how Americans can collectively chart a blueprint that sets an alternative vision for the nation.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.

Race the District: Go-Karting Experience

11 a.m. - 9 p.m. | $41.46 Union Market, 1309 5th Street NE Washington, D.C. 20002

In partnership with Events DC, Union Market is bringing a unique go-kart racing experience, powered by K1 Speed, the world’s premier go-kart racing operator.

Race the District returns Oct. 9–12, transforming Union Market’s parking lot into a high-energy outdoor racetrack. The thrill goes beyond the track this year with a major headline moment: electronic duo Louis The Child will bring a live block party performance to 5th Street (adjacent to Union Market) on Saturday, Oct. 11, presented by Nü Androids.

The weekend will be packed with go-karting excitement for all ages (minimum height of 58” is required), from seasoned racers to complete beginners.

Each 15-minute race will accommodate six drivers, perfect for creating fun memories with family and friends.

3 Kamala Harris has been touring her new book “107 Days,” which details her time as vice president and her presidential campaign, with a stop at Warner Theatre in Northwest, D.C. on Thursday, Oct. 9. (WI File Photo/Earl Gibson)

Go for the races and stay for live music, awesome entertainment and a variety of delicious eats from Union Market District’s favorite restaurants and bars.

Friday, Oct. 10

Soweto Gospel Choir—Peace 8 p.m. | $34+

The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, MD 20852

The multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to North America with “Peace”—a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals, and beloved classics.

This inspirational concert features a cappella renditions of music by Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen, and more.

Formed in 2002 to celebrate the unique power of African gospel music, San Francisco Classical Voice said Soweto Gospel Choir has quickly established itself as a group that is “undeniably synchronized, appears unshakable, and simultaneously expresses universality and individuality.”

Fantasia

8 p.m. | $128+

The Theatre at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Avenue National Harbor, MD 20745

Instead of concerts, Fantasia, star of the Tony award winning “The Color Purple” and the current musical “After Midnight,” prefers to think of her performances as “shows,” because they have the emotional arc of a Broadway show.

Coming to National Harbor, this isa show with plenty of hits, from her

inspirational smash debut “I Believe,” (2004) to the hard-won straight-fromthe-streets feminism of 2013’s “Without Me.” Fantasia has set herself apart by allowing her life experiences to inform her music in unique and surprising ways.

Saturday, Oct. 11

I, Too, Am America

4 p.m. - 6 p.m.| Free Busboys and Poets - Brookland, 625 Monroe Street NE Washington, D.C. 20017

Story Tapestries presents an afternoon of spoken word poetry honoring Langston Hughes and celebrating D.C.’s cultural diversity.

The reading is followed by a generative writing workshop led by Regie Cabico, followed by an open mic where attendees will write together and share poetry in a nurturing environment.

This event is for all ages and poets of all levels and is free for participants thanks to funding from DC Public Library, Humanities DC and Busboys and Poets.

DC WitchFest

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Free The Coupe, 3415 11th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20010

Grab a broomstick and come get witchy with more than two dozen local artists and makers.

Come check out crystals, oddities, botanical art, Halloween jewelry, candles, and more at the D.C WitchFest.

Enjoy fun activities like tarot readings, henna, live portraits, astrology readings, witchy crafts, spell jars, and more!

Costumes encouraged, especially for kids and pets!

Sunday, Oct. 12

Electrical Basics: All Day Workshop

1 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Free AbodesJoy, 707 Ritchie Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910

Hoping to empower women, nonbinary and trans people, this free, hands-on five-hour workshop will cover basic electrical safety guidelines and skills.

Participants will learn about the best and most commonly used electrical tools, how to strip wires, how to remove and install outlets and switches, and how to install ceiling fans.

This workshop is free to attend, with donations encouraged to help support AbodesJoy’s mission. Contributions are tax-deductible and directly fund the organization’s Home Repair Training Program, which is offered at no cost to women, nonbinary folks and transgender people from underrepresented and under-resourced communities.

NBA Preseason: Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors

3 p.m. | $45+

Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20004

Serving as the Washington’s first preseason game— and only home preseason contest of the year— fans can expect to see the Wizards’ new roster, which will include 2024 draft picks Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, alongside returning players like Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole, as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season. WI

5 The multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to North America with “Peace,” a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals, and beloved classics. (Courtesy Photo/The Music Center at Strathmore)

Photo: Erik Kvalsvik

340B hospitals charge big medicine markups.

You pay the price.

BE. GALA from Page 11

the state of oppression in America, Crockett promised for victory that depends on truth, collective justice, and an ancestral tradition of responsibility.

The Texas politician called out the military-style ICE raids that stripped dozens of children and families from an apartment building in the South Shore of Chicago around 1 a.m. on Sept. 30, further pleading a reminder that “there are times where our fates are tied,” but DNA-built resistance offers a road map to put to use.

“Black excellence is not a hashtag–it’s policy, budgets, buses that run on time, clinics that stay open, classrooms with certified teachers and current textbooks with real history,” she continued.

“It’s the everyday excellence of… the folks who don’t get a press conference but keep this country upright, who stare dead in the face of an inexplicable hatred every single day and choose to keep moving forward, to rise above and to choose joy over despair.”

As an Ally awardee, Marcille told The Informer where her responsibility lies as a self-proclaimed by-

product of the queer community.

“Allyship means…lending an opportunity for those that don’t have the voice, the space, the courage, [or] whatever it is to move the needle forward,” said the actress and entrepreneur. “It’s my job because I have the space, I have the voice, I have the platform, so I will.”

Beyond celebration, Hutton noted the inaugural event as a much needed charge for a fight that requires “a lot of good trouble,” referencing the coined phrase of the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis. In addition, the CEO urged communities to understand that “winning rights” for one group is a push to liberate them all.

In accepting her award named in honor of D.C.’s longtime delegate in Congress, Crockett moved the room with a vow upheld through generations of freedom fighting.

“We are going to make sure that the America [they] talk about is the America that we actually become,” the Texas congresswoman declared. “I want y’all to feel me when I say this: I am confident that we are going to win– we just have to stay in this fight.”

WI

5Actors George Middlebrook and Eva Marcille, recipient of the Center for Black Equity’s Curtis L. Ether Ally Award, on the red carpet ahead of the Inaugural BE. Gala on Oct. 4. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

‘The

American Five’ Reveals the Story Behind Planning the March on Washington

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributor Writer

Many people know about the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and that famous photo of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. waving to more than 250,000 people gathered around the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. However, “The American Five,” now at Ford’s Theatre until Oct. 12, shares the larger story behind that historic day—going back more than 70 years.

Beginning in 1952, the play chronicles how King developed into a global leader for equality. The inner circle featured in this production reveals how the group organized the historic march, with King placed at the forefront of the movement when he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Through playwright Chess Jakobs’ words and Aaron Posner’s directing, the audience witnesses how King’s inner circle grows through their pursuit of equal justice for all.

The play features: King, played by Ro Boddie; Renea S. Brown as his wife Coretta Scott King; equal rights organizer Bayard Rustin, portrayed by Stephen Conrad Moore; Aaron Bliden in the role of business owner and attorney Stanley David Levison; and Yao Dogbe as Clarence B. Jones, an attorney and writer residing in Palo Alto, California

“It imagines the relationships between five civil rights leaders as they work together to meet a defining moment in our country’s history,” wrote José Carrasquillo, director of artistic programming at Ford’s, in the play’s program guide. “It explores the arguments that shaped King’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech.’”

The Play’s Action: ‘Before King Became King’

There’s been a lot of work to get this work from the page to the stage.

In 2023, Jakobs began the workshop process for “American Five,” through Ford’s Legacy Commissions established in 2021. The initiative is led by Senior Artistic Advisor Sheldon

Epps, director of artistic programming Carrasquillo, and SydnéMahone, Ford’s Theatre Legacy commissions advisor.

After the opening dialog, Jakobs jumps into this story about King’s ingroup through flashback scenes showing a young King and Scott in 1952, dating in Boston.

“Optimism was a scene of an early meeting between Coretta and Martin,” said Brown. “It was important to know a moment of their love life before King became King.”

There is brilliant casting with the five actors in “American Five,” who are veterans to D.C. area stages, but are all making their Ford’s Theatre debut.

While this is his first time performing on Ford’s stage, Boddie is familiar with portraying the celebrated civil rights leaders. He was also King in the Round House Theatre production of “The Mountaintop” (2009) by Katori Hall in fall 2023.

In addition, Brown played opposite Boddie in “The Mountaintop,” and is now doing so in this production.

Further, Dogbe is Jones in this Ford’s production, but he was also in “Topdog/Underdog.”

While he, Brown and Dogbe have explored these characters before, Boddie said there’s always more work to be done when portraying these civil rights icons.

“I do an ample amount of research every time I play Dr. King,” said Boddie. “It always comes back to this quiet stillness that he exhibited when he was in rooms and how he was always good at listening.”

After seeing the production, South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn (D), shared his thoughts on the importance of “The American Five.”

“The play showed so much of the human side. People will read about those days, and even people who lived through those days, they saw what was on television and in the newspapers,” Clyburn told The Informer. “But the writer humanized this in a way that made me respect the work.”

For tickets and more information, visit fords.org. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com. @bcscomm

MEAL PREP FOR SPECIAL DIETERS

Pinch of Soul in Every Bite

3 Stephen Conrad Moore is Bayard Rustin, Renea S. Brown is Coretta Scott King, Aaron Bliden is Stanley Levinson, Ro Boddie is Martin Luther King, Jr., and Yao Dogbe is Clarence B. Jones in “The American Five” at Ford’s Theatre until Oct. 12. The play was written by Chess Jakob and directed by Aaron Posner. (Courtesy

Photo/Scott Suchman)

review wi book

“A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence On Black Life in America”

By Trymaine Lee

c.2025, St. Martin’s Press

$29

257 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Face it: some scores can never truly be settled. You can try tit-for-tat, you can scheme and plan, but making things even? Not a chance; the other guy is probably scheming, too, so full payback ain’t happenin’. And besides, why let revenge live in your head? Life’s too short, you just can’t do it — and especially, as in the new book “A Thousand Ways to Die” by Trymaine Lee, you can’t do it with a gun.

Eight years ago, Trymaine Lee almost died. Fortunately, the blood clot in his body, the “widow-maker,” was caught in time but the whole episode affected his then-young daughter, who continued for some time to beg for stories about it, and to ask about life and death.

Lee didn’t always know what to say.

“I struggle,” he says, “to answer why things are the way that they are, especially when it comes to Black folks like us.”

Death by violence happened in his own family: in 1923, a young great-uncle left on horseback to run an errand and was never seen alive again, which “ripped a hole in the family” that resonated for generations. Lynchings were common then, as was Jim Crow and so “Black folks … began leaving the South en masse …”

Guns, he says, were “central to the violence” then, on both sides.

Violence followed Black soldiers to Vietnam, and home again. It went to prison with some people, most often, men. Lee himself almost got in trouble once for a “twelve-dollar toy gun from Walmart” that looked realistic.

Black funeral directors learned how to hold open-casket funerals, as death stalked Black Americans for not learning to swim because Jim Crow kept them from it. Cancer caught others in unequal numbers. Some were wrapped up in “the deadly grind of the drug trade,” while “innocent victims [are] caught in the cross fire.”

“We still bleed,” he says. “… yet salvation from America’s violence has remained out of our grasp, like trying to put shape to the wind.”

On the surface, you may think there’s not much new to say about violence, when talking about Black life in general. In many ways, it’s been a part of American life for so long, it’s almost some sort of wrong-headed new normal. And yet, read “A Thousand Ways to Die” and your thinking is going to twist, and twist again in a whole new direction.

While author Trymaine Lee’s main focus is on gun violence in the past century or so, he diverts readers’ attention sometimes. Don’t forget this. Remember that. Here’s a story for you, here’s something else and as Lee totes them up, one by one, each point shows hidden costs attached to violent acts.

Readers will be hit hard by the fact that it’s a long list.

This is the kind of book that your mind will carry with you for days, and it begs to be shared and discussed. You owe it to your community, in fact, to talk about “A Thousand Ways to Die” because this powerful book scores.

WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

0CT. 9 - 15, 2025

ARIES Financial opportunities multiply as Mars energizes your resource sector, bringing prosperity through assertive negotiation, securing favorable terms that reflect genuine market value while establishing sustainable income streams. Investment timing proves crucial when competitive analysis identifies emerging sectors positioned for rapid expansion. Lucky Numbers: 7, 34, 51

TAURUS Communication mastery amplifies influence as Venus enhances your expression sector, bringing recognition through persuasive presentations, articulating complex concepts with accessible clarity that resonates across diverse audiences. Professional networking expands when authentic relationship-building creates valuable alliance opportunities. Lucky Numbers: 16, 39, 53

GEMINI Subconscious patterns reveal professional insights as Mercury activates your intuition sector, bringing breakthroughs through reflective practice, identifying limiting beliefs preventing advancement while uncovering hidden talents applicable to career development. Research deepens when analytical curiosity explores specialized knowledge domains, creating distinctive competitive advantages. Lucky Numbers: 3, 25, 42

CANCER Social networks create advancement pathways as lunar energy illuminates your community sector, bringing success through collaborative projects mobilizing collective expertise toward ambitious shared objectives while honoring diverse contribution styles. Technology platforms expand when innovative digital strategies build engaged audiences. Lucky Numbers: 18, 31, 46

LEO Career momentum peaks as solar power dominates your achievement sector, bringing promotion opportunities through exceptional leadership demonstrating visionary strategic thinking combined with reliable execution excellence. Public recognition increases when authoritative expertise commands industry respect establishing premium professional positioning. Lucky Numbers: 10, 37, 55

VIRGO Intellectual exploration enriches perspective as earth energy refines your wisdom sector, bringing growth through educational pursuits revealing universal principles applicable across specialized practice areas while maintaining analytical rigor. Publishing ventures materialize when precise communication presents research findings with compelling clarity. Lucky Numbers: 20, 35, 49

LIBRA Psychological transformation deepens relationships as Venus balances your intimacy sector, bringing breakthroughs through vulnerable authenticity strengthening partnership bonds while establishing healthy boundaries protecting individual autonomy. Financial partnerships solidify when transparent communication clarifies investment strategies aligning mutual prosperity objectives. Lucky Numbers: 2, 28, 57

SCORPIO Partnership opportunities flourish as Pluto intensifies your alliance sector, bringing success through strategic collaborations combining complementary strengths generating innovative solutions exceeding independent capabilities. Lucky Numbers: 11, 24, 44

SAGITTARIUS Workplace excellence generates recognition as Jupiter expands your service sector, bringing advancement through systematic improvements demonstrating quantifiable productivity gains while maintaining quality standards. Health optimization succeeds when holistic wellness practices build sustainable vitality supporting ambitious professional objectives. Lucky Numbers: 9, 32, 48

CAPRICORN Creative ventures unlock professional potential as Saturn structures your expression sector, bringing opportunity through disciplined artistic development producing commercially viable products meeting market demands. Romantic relationships deepen when authentic vulnerability attracts compatible partnerships honoring shared values. Lucky Numbers: 14, 27, 52

AQUARIUS Domestic stability supports ambitious goals as Uranus revolutionizes your foundation sector, bringing security through unconventional living arrangements creating optimal work-life integration enabling focused professional dedication. Real estate innovations emerge when technological solutions enhance property functionality. Lucky Numbers: 6, 29, 58

PISCES Communication gifts enhance influence as Neptune refines your expression sector, bringing recognition through compassionate messaging that resonates emotionally while maintaining substantive intellectual content. Educational opportunities expand when intuitive learning methods accelerate knowledge acquisition. Sibling relationships strengthen midweek when empathetic listening resolves misunderstandings restoring supportive connections. Lucky Numbers: 12, 23, 40

SPORTS

COMMANDERS from Page 4

His first game back from a knee injury, quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered a historic performance just miles away from his hometown.

In his first game since week two, Daniels recorded 231 yards and a touchdown, while also becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in just 20 career games.

The game held a deeper meaning for the second-year quarterback. Playing in his home state of California for the first time as a pro, Daniels took the field in front of family, friends, and fans from San Bernardino, where he starred at Cajon High School to become now a local legend of the game.

“It means a lot, first game back after a couple of weeks off and to be in my hometown, I mean you can’t write up a better story,” said Daniels. His return sparked a struggling Commanders offense, which capitalized on a key defensive turnover to shift the momentum in the second quarter.

In the end, Daniels solidified the win with a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Deebo Samuel, sealing Washington’s first road victory of the season.

With Daniels back and already making history, the Commanders head into Week 6 with renewed confidence and a team ready to take control of their season outlook.

“Just build on it. I mean there’s nothing really more. You just gotta hone in on the little things, week in and week out because every week is a new week,” said Daniels. “We can use the momentum but at the end of the day we still gotta focus on the little things.”

Jacory ‘Bill’ CroskeyMerritt Named LFG Player of the Game

Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt may have entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick, but he’s quickly proving he’s no ordinary rookie.

The Washington Commanders running back turned heads in Sunday’s 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, delivering an impressive performance in return to the region where he played some of his best college football.

Croskey-Merritt led Washington’s ground game with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries, averaging an impressive 7.9 yards per attempt, making him the team’s first rookie to rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns since running back Antonio Gibson in the 2020 season

His dynamic day didn’t go unnoticed. In addition to his impressive performance and early declarations for Rookie Of The Week, Croskey-Merritt earned Tom Brady’s “LFG Player Of The Game” award for week five.

The rookies’ impact exceeded stat sheet expectations. He also recorded two catches for 39 yards, including a 28 yard gain, and accounted for six explosive plays on the day.

“He’s got very good vision inside, but he can really put his foot in the ground and break tackles,” said Quinn.

Wide Receiver Luke McCaffrey Steps Up

Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey delivered a dynamic performance in Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers, recording a 50 yard reception over in the middle of the field, which set up the Commanders game-tying field goal at the end of the second quarter.

In addition to his thrilling reception, McCaffrey returned three kicks for 92 yards and has now recorded 377 kick return yards across Washington’s first five games this season.

With McLaurin and Brown sidelined in week five, McCaffrey has stepped up in a huge way as the No.

3 wide receiver option, playing 22 offensive snaps.

McCaffrey’s performance on Sunday not only showed his ability to be a depth player in Washington’s wide receiver arsenal, but it displayed his promotion for what could be a breakout season.

“I think that he has, and he can feel it like it, this competitive spirit,” said Quinn. “In a game, two weeks ago, I saw him catch a touchdown pass and then go down and cover a kick and be in on a tackle. And I think that speaks to just the competitor he is.” WI

5 Washington Commanders’ offense celebrate after running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt’s touchdown in their 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Oct. 5. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE the moment

On Saturday, Oct. 4, Urban One media company celebrated its 45th anniversary, chronicling the journey from a single radio station to the largest distributor of diversified content in the country, primarily targeting Black Americans. Marking the founding as Radio One on October 3, 1980, the celebration included a brunch event in Washington, D.C., honoring founder and media mogul Cathy Hughes and CEO Alfred Liggins. (Ja’Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

Faith Leaders Offer Encouragement, Call to Action Amid Government Shutdown RELIGION

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

As hundreds of thousands of Americans in the D.C. area and nationwide navigate new realities with the federal government shutdown, faith-based leaders are using their platforms to offer encouragement, unite communities, and urge politicians to put an end to this uncertain time.

“In times like this, we are reminded that we— the faith community— must not only pray, but also act,” said the Rev. Thomas L. Bowen, Earl L. Harrison minister of social justice and congregational care at Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, D.C. “The impact of the shutdown is felt even more deeply here in D.C., where so many families depend on federal work and services— members of our own congregation among them.”

Imam Talib Shareef of Northwest, D.C.’s Masjid Muhammad, also

known as “The Nation’s Mosque,” considered teachings from the Quran in encouraging next steps post the shutdown.

“Our tradition reminds us that government is a trust– an Amanah,” wrote Shareef in a statement submitted to The Informer. “When trust is broken, faith communities must remind society of its moral center.”

Bowen and Shareef are among religious leaders across the DMV and country using their faith as a guide to help uplift and unite communities despite the government shutdown, while also urging federal leaders to understand how people nationwide suffer in this moment.

“We are witnessing and experiencing the government shutdown and it’s not just about numbers in Washington,” Shareef continued. “It’s about the single mother whose paycheck is delayed. The federal worker who cannot afford groceries. The community programs that halt. The

soldiers, teachers, and first responders who feel abandoned.”

Year round, religious leaders like Bowen and Shareef, and faith-based organizations such as Catholic Charities USA, get an up close look at the obstacles community members are facing daily.

“We are always here for members of our church as well as members of our community,” Bowen told The Informer.

Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, gets a nuanced look at the challenges people face every day, and through the organization, works to support those who are unhoused, unemployed, hungry, elderly or isolated, migrants and refugees, and more by offering comfort and hope. In a statement published Oct. 1, the first day of the shutdown, she said “the reverberations” from the shutdown “will be felt far beyond the halls of Washington.”

“Government shutdowns take a particular toll on the most vulnerable among us, from hungry children and parents living paycheck to paycheck to seniors struggling to afford medications and groceries,” Robinson explained. “Vital government programs that rely on administrative processing could experience cascading delays during the shutdown, disrupting critical services such as food assistance and housing for people in need.”

With federal employees uncertain about when they will be paid, or if and when they will be returning to work, Robinson warned what could be in store for families if the shutdown continues.

“If leaders from both parties do not put an end to this unnecessary shutdown as soon as possible, even more Americans will fall into poverty, and the recovery from this setback could take months or even years,” she wrote. “In the meantime, Catholic Charities agencies around the country, inspired by the Gospel, will continue to do their best to fill in the gaps and provide life-giving, compassionate aid to those suffering most in their communities.”

‘Faith Calls Us to Stand in the Gap’

While organizations like Catholic Charities continue their mission of working to serve those in need, Shareef and Bowen are also being led by their spiritual teachings to emphasize the importance of coming together to support residents affected by the

shutdown and advocate for community action.

“As people of faith, we are taught to see the human face behind policy, and to protect dignity above politics,”

Shareef declared. “Civic engagement means more than voting — it means holding leaders accountable, building coalitions, feeding the hungry, checking on our neighbors, and demanding integrity in governance. It means using our voices, our presence, and our faith to call leaders back to their responsibility.”

The Masjid Muhammad imam offered a call to action.

“The shutdown is temporary, but the consequences are lasting. What will remain is the memory of how we responded,” Shareef said. “Did we retreat in frustration, or did we come together with faith, resolve, and service?”

He offered four ways for community members to step up during this trying moment for the District and nation.

“Now is the time to: 1) Encourage dialogue over division, 2) Demand responsibility over partisanship, 3) Serve communities left in uncertainty, and 4) Show that faith is not

passive, but active,” wrote the leader of Nation’s Mosque in an Oct. 3 newsletter, which also highlighted the District’s celebration of Islamic Heritage Month. “In this moment, let us lift our prayers that Allah guides our leaders to wisdom, compassion, and courage. But let us also rise from prayer with action, showing that true faith is a light for the nation in times of darkness.”

Bowen told The Informer Shiloh is working with other churches through the Downtown Cluster of Congregations to “ensure that those affected have access to food, resources, and community support.”

As federal leaders navigate a divided House, Senate and nation, the Shiloh minister applauded “efforts to protect health care and preserve the well-being of those most in need,” but underscored the importance of community members providing support where politicians and government funded programs cannot.

“Faith calls us to stand in the gap,” he said, “to remind our neighbors that they are not forgotten, and to advocate for systems that reflect equity, justice, and compassion.” WI

5 The Rev. Thomas Bowen, Earl L. Harrison minister of social justice and congregational care at Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, D.C., says it is important that religious leaders and people of faith “stand in the gap,” as people in the District and nationwide navigate challenges due to the government shutdown. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

5 Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad, also known as The Nation’s Mosque, encourages the community holding federal leaders accountable and stepping up to help those affected by the government shutdown. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

How many of you have heard this quote by Dr. Maya Angelou? She once said, “If you are going down a road and don’t like what’s in front of you, and you look behind you and don’t like what you see, get off the road. Create a new path!” What’s the meaning of this quote?

It is a quote that encourages action and self-determination, instead of being stuck between an undesirable future and a regret-filled past. Angelou urges us to reinvent ourselves, to find the courage to forge an entirely new direction for ourselves.

Allow me to clarify a bit more and make my message even more clear. When you look back on the road to where you just traveled and yet, you dislike what you see ahead of you, it is time to make a serious change. Let us examine this thinking more clearly. History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again. We learn from our mistakes. Henry Ford discovered 10,000 things that would not allow him to invent a motor car, quite a list of things to avoid. Ford’s way of thinking was, at least I now know a book of things to avoid. Eventually, he did indeed invent the automobile. If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude and remember to avoid those things that were obviously not good for you.

Next, examine your present situation with these three things in mind: Forgivingly, prayerfully, and gratefully. If you must look back, and you do

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Changing Directions the religion corner

not like what you see, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. But the wisest course would be to be present in the present gratefully.

Wayne Dyer often shared Portia Nelson’s autobiography in five short paragraph-size chapters. It’s a wonderful lesson for all of us to learn. Over my 20 years writing this column, I too have shared this metaphor. It goes like this:

Chapter 1: I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost … I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2: I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in the same place. But it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3: I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in … it’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4: I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter 5: I walk down another street.

Portia Nelson and Dr. Maya Angelou’s quotes are both saying the same thing. In short, they are saying, take some time and analyze your life. And if you don’t feel you are on the right road, because it is not resonating with

your spirit, you feel like a fish out of water, there is something you can do. You can create a new path by going in a totally new direction. It may mean you must cut down some trees to clear a path, because no one in your family has gone in this new direction you have chosen. Here is when your mastermind group of mentors will help you move along. Each teaching you new steps to take, and be sure to do these things you learn from your guides, until those new things to do become second nature to you.

Sound familiar? Angelou said when you do not like what you see in your future, and when you look back, you really do not like what your life once was, this is the time to create that new, different path that fits you.

In closing, let this be a time of reflection, where you fast and pray, and you listen to the Holy Spirit, that heavenly voice that speaks things to do into your spirit. Did you think you thought of those great ideas? No! That is exactly how the Holy Spirit works, it leads and guides us. If we would only listen and do those things, no matter how many mistakes you make along the way, keep going!

When should you do what God is telling you to do via the Holy Spirit! Immediately! Scripture reminds us, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17), implying a need to act promptly when you know what to do. Amen!

WI

RELIGION

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

Mount Carmel

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

Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Purpose

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised

Baptist Church

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000925

Wallace Andrew Cash, Sr. Decedent

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

Lynnette K. M. Jeffers, whose address is 3012 M Place SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wallace Andrew Cash, Sr. who died on 2/27/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/25/2026. 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 3/25/2026, 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: 9/25/2025

Lynnette K. M. Jeffers

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 000947

Davetrina Gadson Decedent

Julie A. Simantiras, Esq. The Geller Law Group 4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100, PMB 6084 Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Attorney

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

Jovonna R. McNeal, whose address is 3920 Old Trail Road, Martinez GA 30907, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Davetrina Gadson who died on January 11, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/25/2026. 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 3/25/2026, 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: 9/25/2025

Jovonna R. McNeal

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 846

Derrick Thompson Decedent

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

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed

Personal Representative of the estate of Derrick Thompson who died on July 7, 2023 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/25/2026. 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 3/25/2026, 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: 9/25/2025

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq.

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 001026

Estate of Beatrice Brown

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Ciji Simmons and Kelvin Christian for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Admit to probate the will dated March 9, 2021 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 9/25/2025

Ciji Simmons Kelvin Christian 413 Prairie Court

Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 000945

Xavier Douglas Decedent

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

Angel Douglas, whose address is 1676 Maryland Ave NE, #360, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Xavier Douglas who died on 11/12/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/25/2026. 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 3/25/2026, 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: 9/25/2025

Angel Douglas Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 863

Gladys R. Garrett Decedent

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

Gregory Garrett, whose address is 2005 Fairlawn Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gladys R. Garrett who died on 4/8/2008 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/2/2026. 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 4/2/2026, 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: 10/2/2025

Gregory Garrett Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000929

Otis Price Decedent

Mahsa Alaeian

Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049

Attorney

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

Dorothy V. Price, whose address is 70 I Street, SE, Unit 429, Washington, DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Otis Price who died on 2/20/2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/25/2026. 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 3/25/2026, 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: 9/25/2025

Dorothy V. Price Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000875

Bernadette White Decedent

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

Chantay White-Taylor and Patricia Plummer, whose addresses are 6604 Fannin Farm Way, Arlington, TX 76001 & 615 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20002, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Bernadette White who died on 4/10/2022 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/2/2026. 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 4/2/2026, 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: 10/2/2025

Chantay White-Taylor

Patricia Plummer Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000943

Ariene Hammond

Decedent

Tamara Jones, Esq. The Legal Courthouse, PLLC 6218 Georgia Ave., Suite 1-682 NW Washington, DC 20011

Attorney

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

Bernard Ward, whose address is 7727 Chatfield Lane, Ellicott, MD 21043, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ariene Hammond who died on March 5, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/25/2026. 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 3/25/2026, 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: 9/25/2025

Bernard Ward Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000915

Ronnie Francis aka Ronnie Lee Francis Decedent

Stephanie L. Royal, Esq. The Royal Legal Group, LLC 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440 Washington DC 20015

Attorney

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

Rosemary Francis, whose address is 10294 Commons Crossing, Jonesboro, GA 30238, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ronnie Francis aka Ronnie Lee Francis who died on 7/15/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/2/2026. 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 4/2/2026, 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: 10/2/2025

Rosemary Francis

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 FEP 000115

March 17, 2025

Date of Death

Willie Aubrey Jackson Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Raymond L. Slaughter whose address is 2818 Sherman Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20018 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Willie Aubrey Jackson, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Caroline County, State of Virginia, on April 11, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon Joseph Goins at 4101 Illinois Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20011 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property.

2810 Sherman Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 10/2/2025

Raymond L. Slaughter Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 1466

Beverly Jackson Decedent

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

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Beverly Jackson who died on December 10, 2022 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/9/2025

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 0001048

Estate of Tornora Michelle Carroll

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Beverly Henderson for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives.

Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 10/2/2025

Beverly Henderson 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20008 Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000909

Eugene Kelly Jr. Decedent

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

Pamela K. Harrison, whose address is 11383 Wildmeadows St., Waldorf, MD 20601, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Eugene Kelly, Jr. who died on March 13, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/9/2025

Pamela K. Harrison Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common-law copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any of said names, Jaron N. Dandridge ©; JARON N. DANDRIDGE ©; Jaron Dandridge ©; JARON DANDRIDGE ©; Jaron Neal Dandridge ©; JARON NEAL DANDRIDGE ©; Jaron N. Dandridge Sr. ©; JARON N. DANDRIDGE SR. ©; Jaron Dandridge Sr. ©; JARON DANDRIDGE SR. ©, Jaron Neal Dandridge Sr. ©; JARON NEAL DANDRIDGE SR. ©; Mr. Jaron N. Dandridge ©; MR. JARON N. DANDRIDGE ©; Mr. Jaron Dandridge ©; MR. JARON DANDRIDGE ©; Mr. Jaron Neal Dandridge ©; MR. JARON NEAL DANDRIDGE ©; Mr. Jaron N. Dandridge Sr. ©; MR. JARON N. DANDRIDGE SR. ©; Mr. Jaron Dandridge Sr. ©; MR. JARON DANDRIDGE SR. ©, Mr. Jaron Neal Dandridge Sr. ©; MR. JARON NEAL DANDRIDGE SR. © and Kennecia Dandridge ©; KENNECIA DANDRIDGE ©; Kennecia M. Dandridge ©; KENNECIA M. DANDRIDGE ©; Kennecia Mekeba Dandridge ©; KENNECIA MEKEBA DANDRIDGE ©; Kennecia M Dandridge ©; KENNECIA M DANDRIDGE ©; Kennecia M. Easley ©; KENNECIA M. EASLEY ©; Kennecia Mekeba Easley ©; KENNECIA MEKEBA EASLEY ©; Kennecia Easley ©; KENNECIA EASLEY ©; Kennecia M Easley ©; KENNECIA M EASLEY ©; Mrs. Kennecia Dandridge ©; MRS. KENNECIA DANDRIDGE ©; Mrs. Kennecia M. Dandridge ©; MRS.KENNECIA M. DANDRIDGE ©; Mrs. Kennecia Mekeba Dandridge ©; MRS. KENNECIA MEKEBA DANDRIDGE ©; Mrs. Kennecia M Dandridge ©; MRS. KENNECIA M DANDRIDGE ©; Mrs. Kennecia M. Easley ©; MRS. KENNECIA M. EASLEY ©; Mrs. Kennecia Mekeba Easley ©; MRS. KENNECIA MEKEBA EASLEY ©; Mrs. Kennecia Easley ©; MRS. KENNECIA EASLEY ©; Mrs. Kennecia M Easley ©; MRS. KENNECIA M EASLEY ©; Ms. Kennecia Dandridge ©; MS. KENNECIA DANDRIDGE ©; Ms. Kennecia M. Dandridge ©; MS. KENNECIA M. DANDRIDGE ©; Ms. Kennecia Mekeba Dandridge ©; MS. KENNECIA MEKEBA DANDRIDGE ©; Ms. Kennecia M Dandridge ©; MS. KENNECIA M DANDRIDGE ©; Ms. Kennecia M. Easley ©; MS. KENNECIA M. EASLEY ©; Ms. Kennecia Mekeba Easley ©; MS. KENNECIA MEKEBA EASLEY ©; Ms. Kennecia Easley ©; MS. KENNECIA EASLEY ©; Ms. Kennecia M Easley ©; MS. KENNECIA M EASLEY ©; and Christy Curry ©; CHRISTY CURRY ©; Christy Ann Curry ©; Christy A. Curry ©;  Ms. Christy Curry ©; Ms. CHRISTY CURRY ©; Miss. CHRISTY CURRY ©; Miss. Christy Curry ©; Christy A. Curry ©; CHRISTY A. CURRY ©; MS. CHRISTY A. CURRY ©; Ms. Christy A. Curry ©; Miss. Christy A. Curry ©; Miss. CHRISTY A. CURRY ©; Christy Ann Curry ©; Ms. Christy Ann Curry ©; Miss Christy Ann Curry ©; CHRISTY ANN CURRY ©; Ms. CHRISTY ANN CURRY ©; Miss. CHRISTY ANN CURRY ©; MS. CHRISTY ANN CURRY ©; Christie Curry ©; Christie Currie ©; Christy Currie ©; Christy A. Currie ©; Christy Ann Currie ©; Christie A. Curry ©; Christie Ann Curry ©; Ms. Christy Currie ©; Miss. Christy Currie ©; CHRISTIE CURRY ©; CHRISTIE CURRIE ©; MS. CHRISTIE CURRY ©; MS. CHRISTIE CURRIE ©; Miss. CHRISTIE A. CURRIE ©; MISS. CHRISTIE Ann CURRIE ©; MS. CHRISTIE ANN CURRIE ©; MISS Christie A. Currie ©; Miss. Christie Ann Currie ©; Chrissy Curry ©; CHRISSY CURRY©; Chrissy A. Currie ©; Chrissy Ann Curry ©; Chrissy Ann Currie ©; CHRISSY CURRIE ©; CHRISSY ANN CURRIE ©; CHISTIE ANN CURRIE ©; Christie Ann Curry ©; CHRISTY Ann CURRY ©; MS. Chrissy Ann Curry © ; Miss. CHRISSIE A. CURRY ©; christy curry ©; christy A. curry ©; Christy curry ©; Christy Ann curry ©; chrissy curry ©; chrissie currie ©; Khristy Curry ©; Kristy Curry ©; Kristie Curry ©; Kristy A. Curry ©; Khristie Currie ©; Kristie Ann Currie ©; KRISTY CURRY ©; KHRISTY CURRY ©; KRISTIE A. CURRY ©; KHRISTIE A. CURRIE ©; KRISTY Ann CURRIE ©; C. Curry ©; C. A. Curry ©; c. curry ©; c.a. curry ©; curry,christy ©; curry, a. c.  ©; Curry, Christy ©; Ms. Curry, A. Christy ©; Ms. Curry, Christy ©; Ms. Curry A. Christy ©; Ms. Curry©, respectively-Common Law Copyright © 1973, 1985, and 1990, respectively, by Jaron N. Dandridge ©, Kennecia M. Dandridge © and Christy Ann Curry©.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners in red ink, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Copyright Notice for Publication

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

2025 ADM 894

Ezell Ervin Hill Decedent

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

Katrina McCormick-Hill, whose address is 1129 7th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ezell Ervin Hill who died on 2/4/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/9/2025

Katrina McCormick-Hill Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common-law copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any of said names Krystal Tibbs ©; KRYSTAL TIBBS ©; Krystal V. Tibbs ©; KRYSTAL V. TIBBS ©; Krystal Veronica Tibbs ©; KRYSTAL VERONICA TIBBS ©; K. Veronica Tibbs ©; K. VERONICA TIBBS ©; K. Tibbs ©; K. TIBBS ©; K.V. Tibbs ©; K.V. TIBBS ©; K.V.T. ©; K.T. ©; k.v.t ©; k.t. ©; Tibbs, Krystal ©; TIBBS, KRYSTAL ©; Tibbs, Krystal V. TIBBS, KRYSTAL V. ©; Tibbs, Krystal Veronica ©; TIBBS, KRYSTAL VERONICA ©; Tibbs, K.T ©; TIBBS, K.T. ©; Tibbs, K. Veronica ©; TIBBS, K. VERONICA ©; Ms. Krystal Tibbs ©; MS. KRYSTAL TIBBS ©; Ms. Krystal V. Tibbs ©; KRYSTAL V. TIBBS ©; Ms. Krystal Veronica Tibbs ©; MS. KRYSTAL VERONICA TIBBS ©; Ms. K. Tibbs ©; MS. K. TIBBS ©; Ms. K. Veronica Tibbs ©; MS. K. VERONICA TIBBS ©; Ms. K.V. Tibbs ©; MS. K.V. TIBBS ©; Ms. K.T. ©; MS. K.V.T. ©; ms. k.v.t. ©; ms. k.t. ©; Ms. Tibbs, Krystal ©; MS. TIBBS, KRYSTAL ©; Ms. Tibbs, Krystal V. ©; MS. TIBBS, KRYSTAL V. ©; Ms. Tibbs, K. ©; MS. TIBBS, K. ©; Ms. Tibbs, Krystal Veronica ©; MS. TIBBS, KRYSTAL VERONICA ©; Ms. Tibbs, K.V. ©; MS. TIBBS, K.V. ©; Ms. Tibbs, K. Veronica ©; MS. TIBBS, K. VERONICA ©; and Anthony M. OBrien Jr. ©; Anthony Mathew OBrien Jr. ©; Anthony Matthew OBrien Jr ©; Anthony M. O’Brien Jr. ©; Anthony Mathew O’Brien Jr. ©; Anthony Matthew O’Brien Jr. ©; Anthony M. Obrien Jr. ©; Anthony Mathew Obrien Jr. ©; Anthony Matthew Obrien Jr. ©; Anthony M. O’Brien Jr. ©; Anthony Mathew O’Brien Jr. ©; Anthony Matthew O’Brien Jr. ©; ANTHONY M. OBRIEN JR. ©; ANTHONY MATHEW OBRIEN JR. ©; ANTHONY MATTHEW OBRIEN JR ©; ANTHONY M. O’BRIEN JR. ©; ANTHONY MATHEW O’BRIEN JR. ©;ANTHONY MATTHEW O’BRIEN JR. ©;ANTHONY M. OBRIEN JR. ©; ANTHONY MATHEW OBRIEN JR. ©; ANTHONY MATTHEW OBRIEN JR. ©;ANTHONY M. O’BRIEN JR. ©;ANTHONY MATHEW O’BRIEN JR. ©; Anthony O Brien ©; anthony o brien ©; O BRIEN, ANTHONY ©; o brien, Anthony ©; O Brien, Anthony ©; ANTHONY M. OBRIEN ©; anthony m. obrien ©; Anthony M. Obrien ©; and MR. FRANK FOSTER SMITH JR© FRANK FOSTER SMITH JR© MR. FRANK FOSTER SMITH© FRANK FOSTER SMITH© MR. FRANK F SMITH© FRANK F SMITH© MR. FRANK SMITH© FRANK SMITH© Mr. Frank Foster Smith Jr© Frank Foster Smith Jr© Mr. Frank Foster Smith© Frank Foster Smith© Mr. Frank F Smith© Frank F Smith© Mr. Frank Smith© Frank Smith© SMITH, FRANK FOSTER© SMITH, SMITH, FRANK FOSTER MR.© Smith, Frank Foster Mr.© Smith, Frank F ©. Respectively- Common Law Copyright © 1973, 1985, and 1990, respectively, by Krystal V. Tibbs ©, Anthony M. O’Brien ©, Frank Foster Smith Jr.©.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners in red ink, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Copyright Notice for Publication

Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common-law copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any  of said names, Michelle Bland ©; MICHELLE BLAND ©; Michelle R. Bland ©; MICHELLE R. BLAND©; Michelle Renee’ Bland ©; MICHELLE RENEE’ BLAND ©; M. Renee’ Bland ©; M. RENEE’ BLAND ©; M. Bland©; M. BLAND©; M. R. Bland©; M. R. BLAND ©; M. R. B. ©; M. B. ©; and Devren D. Carrington ©;names Devren Derrell Carrington ©; Devren D. Carrington ©; Devren D Carrington ©; Devren Carrington ©; Derrell Carrington ©; Derrell Devren Carrington ©; Derrell D. Carrington ©; Derrell D Carrington ©; D. Derrell Carrington ©; D Derrell Carrington ©; D. Devren Carrington ©; D Devren Carrington ©; D. D. Carrington ©; D D Carrington ©; D. Carrington ©; D Carrington ©; D. D. C. ©; D.D.C. ©; D D C ©; D.C. ©; DC; Carrington, D. Devren ©; Carrington, D Devren ©; Carrington, D. D. ©; Carrington, D D. ©; Carrington, D ©; DEVREN DERRELL CARRINGTON ©; DEVREN D. CARRINGTON ©; DEVREN D CARRINGTON ©; DEVREN CARRINGTON ©; DERRELL DEVREN CARRINGTON

RINGTON ©; D DEVREN CARRINGTON ©; D. D. CARRINGTON ©; D D CARRINGTON ©; D. CARRINGTON ©; D CARRINGTON ©; D.D.C. ©; D D C ©; D.C. ©; DC ©; CARRINGTON, DEVREN DERRELL ©; CARRINGTON, DEVREN D. ©; CARRINGTON, DEVREN D ©; CARRINGTON, DEVREN ©; CARRINGTON, DERRELL DEVREN ©; CARRINGTON, DERRELL D. ©; CARRINGTON, DERRELL D ©; CARRINGTON, DERRELL ©; CARRINGTON, D. DERRELL ©; CARRINGTON, D DERRELL ©; CARRINGTON, D. DEVREN ©; CARRINGTON, D DEVREN ©; CARRINGTON, D. D. ©; and Charles Foster©; CHARLES FOSTER©; Charles E. Foster©; CHARLES E. FOSTER©; Charles Eddy Foster©; CHARLES EDDY FOSTER©; Charles Eddy Foster, Jr.©; CHARLES EDDY FOSTER JR.©; C. Foster©; C. FOSTER©; C. E. Foster©; C. E. FOSTER©; C. E. Foster, Jr.©; C. E. FOSTER, JR.©; C.E.F.©; C.F.©; c.e.f.©; c.f.©; C.E.F.JR.©; c.e.f.jr.©; C.F.JR.©; c.f.jr.©; Foster, Charles©; FOSTER, CHARLES©; Foster, Charles E.©; FOSTER, CHARLES E.©; Foster, C.©; FOSTER, C.©; Foster, Charles Eddy©; FOSTER, CHARLES EDDY©; Foster, C. E.©; FOSTER, C. E.©; Foster, C. Eddy©; FOSTER, C. Eddy©; Foster, Jr., C .Eddy©; FOSTER, JR., C. EDDY©; Mr. Charles Foster©; MR. CHARLES FOSTER©; Mr. Charles E. Foster©; MR. CHARLES E. FOSTER©; ©; Mr. Charles Eddy Foster©; MR. CHARLES EDDY FOSTER©; Mr. Charles Eddy Foster, Jr.©; MR. CHARLES EDDY FOSTER JR.©; Mr. C. Foster; MR. C. FOSTER©; Mr. C. E. Foster©; MR. C. E. FOSTER©; Mr. C. E. Foster, Jr.©; MR. C. E. FOSTER, JR.©; MR.C.E.F.©; MR. C.F.©; Mr. c.e.f.©; MR. c.f.©; MR. C.E.F.JR.©; Mr. c.e.f.jr.©; MR. C.F.JR.©; Mr. c.f.jr.©; Mr. Foster, Charles©; MR. FOSTER, CHARLES©; Mr. Foster, Charles E.©; MR. FOSTER, CHARLES E.©; Mr. Foster, C.©; MR. FOSTER, C.©; Mr. Foster, Charles Eddy©; MR. FOSTER, CHARLES EDDY©; Mr. Foster, C. E.©; MR. FOSTER, C. E.©; Mr. Foster, C. Eddy©; MR. FOSTER, C. EDDY©; Mr. Foster, Jr., C. Eddy©; MR. FOSTER, JR., C. EDDY©;respectively Common Law Copyright © 1973, 1985, and 1990, respectively, by Michelle R. Bland ©, Devren D. Carrington ©, and Charles E. Foster ©.

No part of this

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000967

Frieda W Bostick-Bruton aka Frieda Bruton aka Frieda Whitley Bruton Decedent

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

Pamela B. Owens, whose address is 525 Orindo Drive, Durham NC 27713, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Frieda W Bostick-Bruton aka Frieda Bruton aka Frieda Whitley Bruton who died on 8/29/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/09/2025

Pamela B. Owens 525 Orindo Drive Durham, NC 27713 Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000896

Theriska Jeter Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC

4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

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

TaShawn Denay Brown, whose address is 6827 Jade Court, Capitol Heights, MD 20743, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Theriska Jeter who died on 10/1/2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/9/2025

TaShawn Denay Brown Personal Representative

TRUE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000385

Harry L. Dishman Decedent

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

Pamela Dishman Owens, whose address is 10300 Fox Dale Ct., Mitchellville MD 20721, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harry L. Dishman who died on 2/7/2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/9/2025

Pamela Dishman Owens Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Copyright Notice for Publication

Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common law

copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any of said names, Belinda Renee Weems ©; Belinda R. Weems ©; Belinda R Weems ©; Belinda Weems ©; Belinda Renee Marrow ©; Belinda R. Marrow ©; Belinda R Marrow ©; Belinda Marrow ©; Mrs. Belinda Renee Weems ©; Mrs. Belinda R. Weems ©; Mrs Belinda R Weems ©; Ms. Belinda Renee Weems ©; Mrs. Belinda Weems ©; Mrs. B. Weems ©; Ms. Belinda Weems ©; Ms. Belinda Renee Marrow ©; Ms. Belinda R. Marrow ©; Ms Belinda R Marrow ©; Ms. B. Marrow ©; Weems, Belinda Renee ©; Weems, Belinda R. ©; Weems, Belinda R ©; Weems, B. R. ©; Marrow, Belinda Renee ©; Marrow, Belinda R. ©; Marrow, Belinda R ©; Marrow, B. R. ©; Marrow, B R ©; belinda renee weems ©; belinda r. weems ©; belinda r weems©; belinda weems ©; marrow, belinda renee ©; marrow, belinda r. ©; marrow, belinda r ©; marrow, b. r. ©; b. r. m. ©; Julie Tarrance ©; J Tarrance ©; J. Tarrance ©; JULIE TARRANCE ©; J TARRANCE ©; Tarrance, Julie ©; Tarrance, J ©; TARRANCE, JULIE ©; TARRANCE, J. ©; J T ©; JT ©; J.T ©; julie tarrance ©; j tarrance ©; j. tarrance ©; Tarrance, Julie ©; tarrance, julie©; tarrance ©; tarrance, j ©; jt ©; j t ©; j.t ©; Ms. Julie Tarrance ©; MS. JULIE TARRANCE ©; Ms. J Tarrance ©; MS. J TARRANCE ©; Stephanie Elizabeth Morgan©; STEPHANIE ELIZABETH MORGAN©; Stephanie Elizabeth Barnes Morgan©; STEPHANIE ELIZABETH BARNES MORGAN©; Stephanie E. Morgan©; STEPHANIE E. MORGAN©; Stephanie E. Barnes Morgan©; STEPHANIE E. BARNES MORGAN©; S. Elizabeth Morgan©; S ELIZABETH MORGAN©; S. Elizabeth Barnes Morgan©; S. ELIZABETH BARNES MORGAN©; Morgan, Stephanie©; MORGAN, STEPHANIE©; Morgan, Stephanie E.©: MORGAN,STEPHANIE E.©; Morgan, Stephanie Elizabeth©;MORGAN, STEPHANIE ELIZABETH©; Barnes Morgan, Stephanie Elizabeth©; BARNES MORGAN, STEPHANIE ELIZABETH©; Morgan, S.E.©; MORGAN, S.E.©; Barnes Morgan, S.E.©; BARNES MORGAN, S.E.©; Ms.Stephanie Morgan©; MS. STEPHANIE MORGAN©; Ms. Stephanie E. Morgan©; Ms. Stephanie ElizabethMorgan©; MS. STEPHANIE ELIZABETH MORGAN©; Ms.S. Elizabeth Morgan©; MS. S. MORGAN; Ms. Stephanie E.Barnes Morgan©; MS. STEPHANIE E. BARNES MORGAN©; Ms. S.E. Morgan©; MS. S.E. MORGAN©; Ms. S.E. Barnes Morgan©; MS. S.E. BARNES MORGAN©; Ms. Morgan, Stephanie©; MS. MORGAN, STEPHANIE©; Ms. Barnes Morgan, Stephanie©; MS. BARNES MORGAN, STEPHANIE©; Ms. Morgan, S.E.©; MS. MORGAN, S.E.©; Ms. Barnes Morgan, S.E.©; MS. BARNES MORGAN, S.E.©; s.m.; S.M.©; sem©; SEM©; sbm©; SBM©; sebm©, BYRON NASH ©; BYRON MARVIN NASH ©; MR. BYRON NASH©; NASH BYRON©; BNASH©; Byron Nash©; Byron m. Nash©; B Nash©; Mr. Byron Nash©; B.M.N.©; b.m.n.©; Nash B.© Copyright © 1973, 1985, and 1990, respectively, by Belinda R

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000778

Patricia Ann Paige Decedent

Maria K. Day-Marshall 6329 Joslyn Place Cheverly, Maryland 20785

Attorney

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

David R. Paige, whose address is 6331 Joslyn Place, Cheverly, Maryland 20785, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Patricia Ann Paige who died on 2/3/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/9/2026. 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 4/9/2026, 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: 10/9/2025

David R. Paige Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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about the District of Columbia, but the District is a victim in international politics, and this has been true for hundreds of years.”

The congressional assault on local laws comes weeks after U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeannine Pirro encouraged the council to repeal the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) and the Second Chance Amendment Act.

For weeks, The Informer has been unsuccessful in its attempt to gather the Bowser administration’s position on the local legislation in question.

On Monday, Mendelson spoke about those bills and others, all while attempting to lay to rest concerns about any disunity among the three branches of District government.

“We’ve all been on the same page with regard to those bills,” Mendelson said. “We have seen these bills in different ways, if anything, work against improving public safety in the District, prosecuting juveniles, 14-year-olds as adults. Statistically, there’s a greater likelihood that those juveniles, when they get out of the system, will just

go right back into the system, as opposed to statistically, a greater chance that they will not reoffend if they go through the juvenile justice system.”

The Council Delays Vote on Emergency Juvenile Curfew Legislation

D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) withdrew legislation that would’ve extended the juvenile emergency curfew for another three months. The council is now scheduled to deliberate on that bill, titled the Juvenile Curfew Congressional Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, on Oct. 21.

This development unfolded after the majority of the council voted to strike down a declaration related to the juvenile curfew extension, and D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) advanced a motion to reconsider the legislation. Of primary concern to some of the council: whether Pinto would ever introduce a permanent bill, or at the least allow for public discussion on the matter.

Pinto admittedly didn’t have a

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definite answer for her colleagues on Tuesday.

“I am confident that it was an effective tool throughout the summer, which is why I want to extend it for the fall,” Pinto said. “But I don’t know what that means. We need to extend it on a permanent basis. I currently don’t have a plan for a permanent bill. I wanted to make sure that there wasn’t a gap in the law, because it has been effective.”

Earlier this year, the council approved an emergency juvenile curfew in response to late-night youth gatherings and melees that have broken out in the District’s commercial jurisdictions. The emergency legislation, as introduced by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), applied to youth under the age of 18 and allowed for: the mayoral extension of juvenile curfew hours and the Metropolitan Police Department’s designation of curfew hour zones.

Last month, as Pinto delayed a vote on the emergency legislation, questions surfaced about how youth would fare under a curfew extension, especially since the grassroots organizers who’ve supported youth in the streets have since experienced funding gaps. However, at least one council member— D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5)— expressed support for the extension.

Parker, who’s currently shepherding a legislative package geared toward youth wellbeing, stopped short of proposing a permanent version of the bill, only telling his colleagues that he saw a curfew extension as a preventative measure.

“I see it as…another unique time period for the District, where we cannot afford for large groups of young people to gather and potentially encounter federal officers that might lead to more harm,” Parker said. “It seemed

like a very specific tool for a specific period of time that’s proven effective, and I just think it’s important for us to remember how we got to this point as we move forward.”

Other council members, including D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) and Kenyan McDuffie (I-At large), sought clarity about the curfew’s effectiveness. McDuffie, who recently met with high school coaches out of concern about fights at sporting events, questioned if, instead of curbing violence, the emergency curfew compelled youth to take delinquent activities elsewhere.

“Some of the things that coaches have raised is whether you are meeting up at football games to vent… frustrations in places that otherwise would have been in areas that are now prohibited because of the curfew,” McDuffie said. “And I know that the times aren’t always aligned because football games aren’t at night or late at night, but I do raise it as an issue to understand whether that was simply displacing some of these incidents that had occurred in curfew areas and are now occurring in other places.”

During the federal surge, Bowser acknowledged the decline in violent crime, albeit with soured community-policing relations. In the surge’s aftermath, the council has been focused on boosting police recruitment. As the conversation about public safety continued on Tuesday, D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8), as he’s done in years past, called for the creation of a long-term, holistic plan that tackles the root causes of violence.

“That has gotten ignored, because if we had a real plan, a comprehensive plan on how to increase public safety, we’d have to keep sticking with this more than we did,” Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember White said. “Every

3 Amid the current government shutdown and considering the Trump administration’s announcement of the month-long federal officer surge in August, the D.C. Council is working on emergency legislation to protect Washingtonians against federal and congressional intrusion. (WI FIle Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

once in a while, there’s something new, as this particular thing is, and I just don’t know the intended goal of this legislation in the long run.”

Business of the Day Continues, as the Council Focuses on Current and Future Economic Development

The D.C. Council approved the Official Sports Capital of the United States Designation Act and the Medical Cannabis Conditional Licensure Extension Emergency Amendment Act, both of which tackle different aspects of economic development.

The former, which directs Events DC toward the development of a strategic plan that “promotes, supports, and enhances” the District’s role as the nation’s sports capital, passed unanimously on its second reading. The council approved this bill as the Bowser administration continues to push its “Growth Agenda,” as a pivot toward sports, entertainment and technology as drivers of economic growth.

Though McDuffie didn’t speak to federal government furloughs, and the more recent shutdown, that inspired Bowser’s vision, he told The Informer that the District has the ingredients necessary to become a sports capital.

“I really think what this bill does is give the District of Columbia the ability to really do an assessment that evaluates where the opportunities are,” McDuffie said, “and perhaps where the opportunity costs are, so that we don’t avoid not capturing some of the revenues that we could that are complementary to our existing hospitality, tourism, restaurant industries in the District of Columbia.”

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

MALVEAUX from Page 26

cash rich. People or corporations who used advantageous tax policies to stack cash in the past. It’s now cash they can invest in hard times. They can buy up foreclosed homes, distressed businesses, abandoned assets and more. They can even steal assets as those who leave property or resources on the table are not always legally equipped to protect their stuff. While this Congress is not likely to protect these people, especially given the near shuttering of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the current hostility to government regulation.

Economic instability benefits the wealthy. It also benefits speculators, who short stocks, bonds or currencies and profit when markets lose value. Further, there are the hedge fund investors called “vulture investors” who buy the debt of a failing business and then benefit

JEALOUS from Page 26

again.

So Morgan wagered exile — or even re-enslavement — if Confederate authorities got to them before the Union did. Still, he took the risk. He bet everything on freedom and equality.

He was right on the first count. And for a time, right on the second.

Reconstruction’s promise

After the war, Morgan served in Virginia’s House of Delegates from 1869 to 1871. He sat on Petersburg’s city council and school board.

He helped build schools, relief associations, and even a bank. He believed that Reconstruction — America’s “second founding” — could finally make freedom and equality real.

MORIAL from Page 26

Health Administration inspections are ceased.

And all of this is happening in defense of a crusade to strip health insurance from millions of working-class Americans and leave vast swaths of the country without access to critical care.

To be clear: unauthorized immigrants are ineligible to purchase health insurance on government

when the business recovers. They are called vultures for obvious reasons – they thrive on the death, or failure, of some businesses.

The others who benefit are those who are politically well-positioned. Banks lobbied for their bailouts during the 2008 recession, and they got them because they were perceived as “too big to fail.” This administration, the man who lives in HEPB is notorious for self-serving double-dealing economic policy. Count on him, and his grifting family, to figure out ways for them to gain when the rest of the country loses. Consider their dealings in bitcoin and cryptocurrency as an example of their perfidy.

When America has a cold, Black America has a fever, so while many will be affected by an economic implosion it will hit Black America most severely. The wealthy, the powerful, and the well-positioned gain, while those already on the margins, particularly Black com-

But he also lived to see those hopes collapse.

The collapse came just after the hopeful celebration of 1876, with the Compromise of 1877 — a backroom deal to resolve the contested race between Democrat Samuel Tilden and Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. Republicans kept the White House by giving in to Democratic demands to pull federal troops from the South. With the old Union soldiers gone, white supremacists unleashed murderous violence to retake power. Reconstruction ended not with a bang but a betrayal — and lynch mobs burning human flesh.

Twin revolutions, both unfinished

That is America in a nutshell: twin spirits, twin moments, both unfinished. 1776 was for freedom.

exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. They are ineligible for Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The legislation that could prevent the health care catastrophe and end the government shutdown does not make them eligible for these programs. Anyone who claims that it does is not telling the truth.

The government shutdown is not simply a conflict between

munities, pay the steepest price. Indeed, recession-induced instability is partly responsible for the rapid gentrification of some Black communities after the 2008 recession. In addition to job losses, then, there are also housing losses that reshaped communities.

Black women, backbones of the Black community, are especially hard-hit. The much-reported fact that Black women lost more than 300,000 jobs in the past several months trickles down to students whose tuition may be unpaid, families who spiral down to instability, and communities in crisis.

Economic crisis benefits some people. We must do whatever we can to help those who have been further marginalized, but from a policy perspective, we must also target the winners and demand that they do their part to ameliorate the pains that economic implosion causes.

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1876 was for equality.

Yet neither dream dies.

The fire passes from Harriet Tubman to Ella Baker. From Frederick Douglass to Martin Luther King Jr. From Chicago’s Jacqueline Jackson to Chicago’s Michelle Obama. And it burns on in young organizers today.

The warning is clear: freedom and equality are fragile, and gains can be rolled back. Today, both are under attack again — with democracy itself on the line, racial equality undermined, and immigrants targeted with open hostility.

The charge is clearer still: if my great-great-great-grandfather could bet on freedom and equality in 1864 while Petersburg burned — and my father’s young ancestor could join his father and brothers in arms at Lexington — surely we can fight for freedom and equality in our own time.

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conflicting political ideologies. It’s a conflict between fact and falsehood. It’s a conflict between responsible stewardship of public resources and a reckless seizure of those resources for billionaires. We can continue to fuel bitter partisan division while working Americans continue to lose ground to the wealthiest among us, or we can work together toward an equitable, stable, and healthy future.

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AIRLINE CAREERS

WILLIAMS from Page 27

foolishness, fire hard-working people and deny the evil they continue to protect such as what Trump’s buddy, Epstein, did to ruin the lives of so many young white women.

I’m a peace activist and appreciate the loyalty of protectors of this nation. I don’t like their being summoned here to sit stone-faced to listen to the disrespect they faced in that meeting. Along with the generals and admirals, we were served up complaints about women not

TOWNS from Page 27

But without them, drug prices will rise and the pharmacies serving vulnerable neighborhoods will keep disappearing. When lawmakers pass bills that strip away these providers’ ability to negotiate or operate pharmacies, the effects are swift and severe. Just look at Arkansas, where a new law is shutting down pharmacies and cutting off health care access in communities already struggling to meet basic needs. Other states are considering similar legislation, and minority communities will be hit first and worst.

This expanding patchwork of pharmacy deserts is not just inconvenient. It is a looming public health emergency that puts our communities at risk.

DAWKINS from Page 27

The kalimba, a thumb piano had a distinct sound in the hands of Maurice White of Kennedy Center-honored, multi-Grammy winning band Earth, Wind and Fire.

The banjo too is a distinctively African instrument, memorialized in late 19th century painter Henry Ossawa Tanner’s “The Banjo Lesson.”

As for religion and spirituality, Africans in America include Christians, Muslims, and Hebrews. Egyptians and East Africans were people who were Christians before many Europeans.

A third regional concentration of 21st-century Africans is in Twin Cities Minneapolis-St. Paul. Many were former refugees who escaped drought, famine, and regional wars and were hosted by humanitarian organizations.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was one of them. She now navigates the halls of Congress, distinct in her head wraps. Famously feisty, Omar was in the news this month because U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina tried to smear Omar and possibly have her stripped of key committee assignments. Mace’s stunt failed because Omar’s Democratic caucus plus some Republicans by a

being worthy of combat roles, about men (meaning Black men) who, for medical reasons, can’t be clean-shaven, and about their expressions that women and minorities are incapable of rising to the top without “special treatment.”

The meeting of those men and women ordered here was evidence of disrespect for them, implying they don’t know how to do their jobs without the garbage spewed to them by a draft dodger and a man who didn’t know how to control his drinking and other bad behavior.

Already, one-third of neighborhoods in major U.S. cities lack a local pharmacy, and those hardest hit are Black and Hispanic communities. If this trend continues, millions more will lose access to medications they need to stay healthy, manage diabetes or heart disease, or treat depression and anxiety. The list goes on.

We can’t afford to let that happen. Yes, our medicines must be cheaper. I am a lifelong Democrat. And when Republicans and President Trump are wrong, I hold them accountable.

As such, the president deserves some acknowledgment with his recent executive order that aims to stop big drug companies from charging Americans the highest prices in the world. As did President Biden, who fought to allow

one-vote margin spared Omar from sanctions.

There are martyred African immigrants. In 1999, Amadou Diallo, 23, of Guinea was a New York merchant who police mistakenly thought had brandished a handgun. The object was the wallet he pulled from his pocket. Multiple cops fired their guns, and their ricocheting bullets may have made some of them believe Diallo was shooting at them.

He wasn’t, but 41 shots hit him 19 times, the name of a Bruce Springsteen song that angered many cops, but memorialized a tragedy.

Diallo was a victim, but Dr. Bennet Omalu was a sports hero. Based in NFL-loving Pittsburgh Steeler country, Omalu researched the connection between helmet-to-helmet collisions and traumatic brain injuries that shortened players’ lives and made some suicidal.

Initially, Omalu was ridiculed and dismissed by the NFL establishment but in time the science compelled the leaders of America’s most popular sport to embrace a concussion protocol to protect players’ health. Omalu may have saved NFL, collegiate, and high school football before enough parents

Now they’re ordering highly experienced men and women who’ve learned from training and experience to do the real work of keeping America safe.

Trump says we’re under invasion from within as citizens peacefully protest the wrongdoing of our socalled leaders, and therefore he has to send men who slam men and women roughly to the ground, take frightened children from parents and more. We can’t be too afraid to at least speak out!

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Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices. But the real problem is that big drug companies are responsible for high drug prices, not the companies working to deliver medications affordably and efficiently. Tearing down the system that negotiates lower drug costs is like smashing a fire alarm because it’s too loud. It doesn’t stop the fire. It creates chaos and puts more people in danger.

Let’s stop attacking the parts of the system that are helping people. Parts that our everyday communities rely on. Let’s protect the pharmacies, services, and tools that keep our most vulnerable neighbors connected to care. Because once a pharmacy leaves a neighborhood, it rarely comes back, and the consequences can last a lifetime. WI

reconsidered having their sons play the game.

The 21st-century African immigrants in America have enriched this nation just as immigrants from every continent improved America, whether through savory jollof rice, or Afro Beat music (recently made a Grammy Award category), or NFL and power five college stars with distinctive African surnames on the back of their jerseys.

(Never mind Donald J. Trump’s vulgar tirade about “s---hole” African countries, nor his recent executive order to ban immigrants from a dozen Sub-Saharan and Western Hemisphere nations.)

On TV, consider “Bob Loves Abishola,” the CBS romantic sitcom (2019-2024) where Bob, a white sock salesman from Detroit falls in love with Abishola, a nurse from Nigeria, who also works in the Motor City.

Abishola’s African co-star is also a standup comic. Gina Yashere has a bit in which she says striving Nigerian families in America expect their children to become one of three things: “Doctor, lawyer, or embarrassment to the family.”

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