The Washington Informer - September 7, 2023

National Service Held for the Honorable CM Bailey, Bishop

By Hamil Harris and Roy Lewis WI Contributing Writer, Photographer

In life Bishop Dr. C.M. Bailey was a career-long minister of one of the most unique African-American denominations in the country, and whenever he visited one of the 137 congregations of the United House of Prayer it was a big deal. Just as he was celebrated while alive, Bishop Bailey’s life was commemorated in a major way with final tributes that included a motorcade into five cities and concluded Friday during a national funeral at God’s White House of the United House of Prayer in Washington, D.C.

Amid Power Shift in Sahel Region, Protesters Express Solidarity with African Masses

At the French Embassy, Protestors Indict Black, African Leaders, Military and Police Forces

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

In recent weeks, many eyes have turned to the Sahel region of the African continent where U.S.-trained

military leaders have ousted African heads of state as a show of force against France, the U.S. and other Western powers who have continued to exert political and economic control of those African countries.

While “coup” has been commonly used in discussions about Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and most recently Gabon, several people, like Jacqueline Luqman, have vehemently dismissed

PROTESTS Page 60

In the tradition of the founder of United House of Prayer (UHOP) Bishop C.M. “Sweet Daddy” Grace, and previous Bishops Walter “Sweety Daddy” McCullough and S.C. “Sweet Daddy” Madison, Bailey was called “Sweet Daddy,” and, as many of the denominations’ auxiliaries, carried the name of their leaders. Bailey passed away at the age of 73.

He was in his 56th year as a minister in the UHOP organization and his 15th year as leader and sole trustee of the United House of Prayer for All People. Bailey was conducting the orga-

Bus Driver Shortages Affect Students and Parents

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

While the fresh school year for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) has commenced for students and staff, issues with bus service have unfortunately persisted. The school system revealed it is understaffed by 213 bus drivers and 217 bus routes don’t have assigned drivers.

A special needs student had to wait for hours at the bus stop, before her mother took her to school herself.

SCHOOL Page

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

5 Thousands gathered around the nation, leading up to a celebration of life in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 1, for the Honorable Bishop C.M. “Sweet Daddy” Bailey at God’s White House of the United House of Prayer. (Roy Lewis/ The Washington Informer).

5The Prince George’s County Public Schools system revealed it is understaffed by 213 bus drivers, and 217 bus routes don’t have assigned drivers. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)

BISHOP Page 52

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: NEW SCHOOL YEAR, SAME PROBLEM

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Maryland State Trooper Retired After Racially Offensive Photos

A state trooper who shared a racially offensive image in a group message with other officers following the murder of George Floyd has retired. After three years of investigation, Corporal Jason Oros, is ending his career with full benefits,but losing his retirement badge and police identification number.

The Caucus of African American Leaders held a rally outside of the Governor’s Mansion on Aug. 23 and called on Governor Wes Moore, the first African-American Governor in Maryland’s history, to denounce the photograph and ensure that future incidents end with firings, not retirements.

The image, too graphic to describe, was held up on poster boards while civil rights activist Carl Snowden and other speakers spoke up to demand action and accountability. “It’s just a racist act,” Snowden said. “Can you imagine demeaning someone? Someone who’s been murdered by police officers?”

"Under the leadership of Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., the Maryland Department of State Police is committed to working in partnership both to address any issues that do not meet the Department's professional standards and to ensure that every member of the Department under-

stands that bias and racism will not be tolerated," said the Maryland State Police in a statement.

“The issues with the Maryland State Police are simply a microcosm of the reality of law enforcement culture across America, whether it’s local state or federal law enforcement,” said retired U.S. Marshall Dave Grogan in an interview with the Informer.

Grogran has been working with the Caucus of African American Leaders to advocate for improvements in law enforcement procedures. He noted the disproportionate share of Black state police who are under internal affairs investigations.

“In order to facilitate this government-sponsored gang like operations, new and veteran white law enforcement officers and agents are mentored, while Blacks are managed by continuous terrorist style investigations.”

WI

Clarence Thomas Finally Discloses Harlan Crow Financed Trips

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has acknowledged previously undisclosed travel expenses paid for by billionaire associate Harlan Crow. Thomas’ most recent annual financial disclosure report on Thursday included this information.

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

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Denise Rolark Barnes

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

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In 2022, Crow facilitated several trips for Thomas, including a May visit to a conservative conference in Dallas. Thomas was a featured speaker at an event held at a venue owned by Crow’s real estate firm. Crow also arranged for Thomas’ return flight from Dallas in February after an unexpected ice storm disrupted travel.

The report also mentions a vacation to the Adirondacks in New York State in July 2022, which Crow again funded.

Thomas said he used a private jet for his trip because of security concerns caused by the leaked draft opinion on the Roe v. Wade case. Attorney Elliot Berke, who helped with the report, said that after carefully reviewing Thomas’ records, they found no intentional ethical violations. Any mistakes in previous reports were accidental.

Congress Returns with Looming Showdowns, Trump’s Legal Woes, and a Lame Duck Speaker

As Congress reconvenes this week, the nation watches in anticipation of what America's future holds, while bracing for an intense battle of political wills, all while former President Donald Trump’s legal entanglements loom over the legislative process.

The critical issue is the passage of a short-term spending bill to stave off a looming government shutdown scheduled for Oct. 1. The high-stakes standoff sets the stage for an unpredictable showdown between conservative hardliners and those who seek a more pragmatic path.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, caught in the crossfire of a political maelstrom, finds himself in a most precarious position. According to CNN, during a private conference call last week, McCarthy urged his colleagues to support a short-

term spending deal to avert an impending shutdown. He proposed postponing the larger funding fight until later in the fall, a strategy that some view as prudent to ensure the government continues to function.

The House and Senate face substantial differences in their funding proposals, with McCarthy’s prior deal with the White House crumbling under the pressure of demands from the conservative wing of his party. As a result, the two chambers are hundreds of billions of dollars apart, increasing the urgency to find a compromise.

To further complicate matters, Congress must tackle other pressing end-of-the-month deadlines, including extending federal aviation programs and potentially initiating an absurd, nasty, and vindictive impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden in the House. WI

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

5 After three years of investigation post sharing a racially offensive image, Corporal Jason Oros, is ending his career with full benefits,but losing his retirement badge and police identification number. (Courtesy Photo)

CORNER

A New Festival Hits the DMV Music Scene

By Mahadi Lawal WI Bridge

Zapateo is a Spanish word that commonly refers to the stomping of one’s feet to a beat. It is sometimes used as an exclamation shouted in celebration during a moment of euphoria on a crowded dance floor. That explains why music industry veterans Carlie Webbert and Jake Abel have decided to name their upcoming dance music festival “ZAPATEO.”

Welcome to the world of ZAPATEO, where the natural world melds with the sounds and ceremony of music in motion. Karizma, Spen, Black Rave Culture, Dreamcastmoe, & Beautiful Swimmers bring a taste of the DMV’s eclectic musical history to the inaugural electronic-forward festival at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the additional heavy hitters, Byron the Aquarius and Priori, the weekend should be quite conducive to movement. Performances by Tosser, Full Circle, Truth Cult, and out-of-state favorite Snooper, help ZAPATEO celebrate the never-ending power of punk.

From Sept. 1-3, you can come join them at camp. Set against the natural landscape of West Virginia’s Camp Tall Timbers—a lush two-hour drive from the heart of D.C— the campgrounds offer scenic setups for tent camping, with limited cabins and glamping options available.

The three-day festival is a vessel for the essence of motion—and at the heart of it all: an element of playfulness. Sets at the lofty mainstage are a celebration of community, ceremony, and sound. Pool parties and swims out at the lake are soundtracked by takeovers from local electronic DJs and collectives.

Read more on wibridge.com.

5 From Sept. 1-3 ZAPATEO music festival will feature acts from the DMV and nationwide for a celebration of the power of punk music. (Courtesy Photo)

black facts AROUND THE REGION

SEPT 7 - 13, 2023

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

1961 – Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, returns from exile to lead the country

1976 – Mordecai Johnson, the first Black president of Howard University, dies in Washington, D.C.

Singer and actress Lola Falana is born in CamActress and Howard University alumna Taraji , best known for the hit TV show "Empire," is born in Washington, D.C. the television miniseries based on Alex Haley's 1976 novel, wins nine awards at the 19th Reggae great Peter Tosh is murdered in Kingston, Jamaica, during a home invasion.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens is born in Oakville, Alabama.

1977 – Steve Biko, famed anti-apartheid activist, dies in police custody in Pretoria, South Africa.

1992 – Astronaut Mae Jemison becomes the first African American woman to travel in space.

SEPT. 7

1930 – Legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins is born in New York City.

1986 – Nobel Peace Prize winner and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu becomes the first Black Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa.

SEPT. 8

1957 – Tennis great Althea Gibson becomes the first African American to win the U.S. National Championships, now known as the U.S. Open.

1986 – "The Oprah Winfrey Show" debuts nationwide, making its namesake host the first Black woman with a na tionally syndicated talk show.

SEPT. 9

1925 – Ossian Sweet handful of armed family and friends defend his newly pur chased home in a white neighborhood against a mob try ing to force him out. He and his family and friends were ultimately acquitted of murder by an all-white jury in what came to be known as the Sweet Trials.

1934 – Renowned African American poet Sonia Sanchez is born in Birmingham, Alabama.

1941 – Soul music legend Redding is born in Dawson, Georgia.

1968 – Arthur Ashe first U.S. Open of the open era, becoming the first Black man to win the title.

SEPT. 13

1885 – Alain Locke, the first African American Rhodes Scholar and "Dean" of the Harlem Renaissance, is born in Philadelphia.

1996 – Rap great Tupac Shakur dies in Las Vegas after being shot six days earlier.

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

NCAA football returned this September. Hall of Famer and Head Coach of the University of Colorado Deion Sanders is making headlines. In his anticipated debut, the Buffaloes had a convincing win against ranked TCU. Critics and supporters alike were stunned by the team’s impressive win. What are your thoughts?

MITCHELL LANKFORD / WASHINGTON, DC

Way to go!! I love to see this. Father and son have shaken things up.

DAN WASHINGTON / SANFORD, FLA.

Congratulations, Coach Prime!

PHILIP C ALLEYNE / NEW YORK, N.Y..

Fix that defense. They scored 42 points on his defense.

CARLOS JACKSON / DETROIT, MICH.

I had a co-worker say, I don’t like him. He sounds too much like a preacher. I said Deion is a preacher, and Prime time is his pulpit! That man is using his voice to bring glory to God. Love it! And he’s bringing respect to HBCU sports!

ESSIE DOWDELL / HARRISBURG, PENN.

I was waiting for this game, and it didn’t disappoint! Great game! I must admit, it had me screaming at my TV at times, but I enjoyed it immensely.

“We Stand By Our Name”

Markus Batchelor to Announce Run for Ward 8 Council Seat

Millennial Politico Touts His Record of Coalition Building

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Markus Batchelor, one of Ward 8’s youngest political leaders, said he’ll throw his hat in the ring for the Ward 8 D.C. Council seat.

Batchelor told The Informer he’ll submit paperwork this week to D.C. Board of Elections to run in the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance’s Fair Elections Program. That means he can access matching public campaign funds upon collecting no more than $50 in individual campaign contributions.

Batchelor, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner who represented Ward 8 on the State Board of Education and in the Bowser administration, said that he wants to be on the D.C. Council at a time when Ward 8 is becoming more of a focal point in conversations about economic development.

In espousing his candidacy, Batchelor said he can bridge socioeconomic and racial divides in an increasingly changing ward while working on the D.C. Council to secure seven votes for legislation that boosts public safety, strengthens Safe Passage programs, directs resources, and increases housing affordability in Ward 8.

“In so many ways, this is one of the last opportunities on a grand

scale that D.C. has to get people-centered public policy right,” said Batchelor, who currently serves as the national political director for People For the American Way, a nonprofit and progressive advocacy group. “Economic development is here but [so are] the disparities. What can we get for the people who made the District vibrant and attractive and deserve that equity?” he added.

Batchelor’s campaign team includes social impact strategist Johnathan Hill who’s serving as campaign manager.

Campaign co-chairs include advisory neighborhood commissioners the Rev. Wendy Hamilton and Rick Murphree, civic leader Kemry Hughes, and educator Karen Lee. Batchelor told the Informer that each person, and others that he’ll bring into the fold within the coming weeks, represent a broad coalition that not only highlights the diversity of Ward 8 but the common will to improve the quality of life and services in its communities.

“The redistricting is going to be the level set for our politics -whether we can come together for the common vision or be divided by race and income,” Batchelor said. “We need leadership that can say they are committed and can work earnestly in office to build

that community.”

Batchelor now joins Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Salim Adofo and educator-thought leader-advocate Rahman Branch in the running for the Ward 8 D.C. Council seat.

Though Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D) alluded to an exploration of a thirdterm candidacy earlier this year while speaking with the Informer, he hasn’t filed the paperwork for his re-election campaign, according to the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance.

For decades, Ward 8 has included historic Anacostia, Congress Heights, Washington Highlands and Bellevue, along with federal institutions and miles of green space. This jurisdiction, cordoned off from the rest of the District, has developed a reputation as the most impoverished ward in D.C. It’s also a place experiencing disparities in the realms of health, public transportation, food security, and public safety.

Due to a redistricting process that brought the mostly white, affluent neighborhood of Navy Yard into Ward 8, Navy Yard residents will be able to vote for the Ward 8 council member in 2024.

Councilmember White, earlier

5 Markus Batchelor said he’ll run for the Ward 8 D.C. Council seat in the 2024 election. (Courtesy Photo/Flickr)

Back with 12th Annual Art All Night

This Year Kicks Off ‘ Dine All Night’ to Embrace Art, Culture, Food, Community

By Milaka Saddler WI Contributing Writer

The District’s annual event celebrating and promoting the local arts community and culture, “DC Art All Night,” is back Sept. 29-30. In addition to the two-night event featuring free activations, foodies can tap into the new “Dine All Night,” Sept. 21 through Oct. 1, allowing local restaurants to showcase their culinary talent and welcome new customers.

AN INCLUSIVE, IMMERSIVE LATE NIGHT EVENT. WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?

Kristi Whitfield, director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), said she tells people Art All Night is “the coolest party that you didn’t know the government is throwing.”

”People come every year and don’t realize that this is a government function,” Whitfield told the Informer. The director of DSLBD encourages all communities to take part in everything that the event has to offer.

The art activations will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 3 a.m., each night, and will be full of opportunities to celebrate and embrace the arts and entertainment community in all

eight wards of the District. Whether you’ve never attended the event, or have checked out the last 12, Whitfield explained that the event's consistent vibrance will never die.

She recommended that this year’s attendees step out and try something new. For instance, Whitfield said if you were in Dupont Circle for last year’s event,try out Columbia Heights this year.

With the addition of the newly added experience, DC Dine All Night, attendees will be allowed to taste items from limited-time menus.

Each restaurant owner has been encouraged to get creative and show off their culinary skills. All types of restaurants have been encouraged to participate, allowing each attendee to experience whatever food suits their unique palette.

The event was created to help struggling businesses, post-pandemic bounce back and attract new customers.

“OWLY” ARTIST COMPETITION, EMBRACING THE DISTRICTS URBAN LANDSCAPE

The winners of the newly added “Owly” Artist Competition” have also been announced and published on the DC Art All Night website. The competition invites

local artists to participate in creating artwork that embodies the event's Art All Night Owl theme and connects it to the city's urban landscape.

This year’s competition theme also ties into the District's effort to reinforce its commitment to supporting local businesses.

Winners of the competition received a ticket to the 2023 Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington RAMMYRammy Awards, where their submission was showcased, a $500 stipend, and recognition and exposure on the official Art All Night website.

WHAT LIES AT THE HEART OF ART ALL NIGHT

In order to organize activations and acts for the nights, Whitfield explained planners go to the community for ideas.

“Listening to the voices of every neighborhood, about the things that they think would be fun or interesting is,” Whitfield said, at the heart of Art All Night.

Whitfield told the Informer the event embraces the importance of engaging with the creative economy and defines the importance of “[bringing] that energy and vitality into commercial corridors,” to foster “[new] perspectives and conversations” between community members.

The bounds of Art All Night are limitless, with the lineup reported to include a wide range of activations, including painting, performing arts, photography, fashion, music, poetry and more.

While the list of events will drop a week before the event, future attendees are encouraged to take the time to explore last year’s lineup, which attracted over 180,000 participants.

Whitfield also shared that while the experiences this year will differ, some events will remain consistent with things like go-go and fire dancing that take place in Dupont Circle. The art event embraces

D.C. traditions, while also being sure to highlight the city’s constantly evolving culture and community.

Art All Night is a way of bringing about crucial conversation and connecting communities, Whitfield explained.

“Art in itself has a position and art draws conversations that have a lot of social underpinnings,” Whitfield told the Informer. “These events create a space to unwind, try new things, meet new community members, and embrace D.C. culture so whether you want to taste, explore, or both, it may be worth it to give this year's event a try.” WI

5 Terrance Barton of F&T Creative Art, holds one of his pieces of art where he was set up in Ward 2 for Art All Night 2022. (WI File Photo/Jacques Benovil)

AROUND THE REGION

The Newsletter

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Assane Konte

co-founder of the KanKouran West African Dance Company, in a concert performance celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Company. The concert was held at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium on September 2. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Who’s Reading the Informer?

(L-R) Susan Ross visiting from Atlanta, Claude Bailey Venable LLP and DC JazzFest board of directors, and Matthew Bailey, Silver Spring photographer read the Washington Informer. (Brenda C. Siler/The Washington Informer)

– Tupac Shakur

"Pay no mind to those who talk behind your back, it simply means that you are two steps ahead."

(center),

Ward 8 Reacts to Giant’s New Security Measures

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

The recent announcement by Giant Food Corporation that its Alabama Avenue., SE store in Ward 8 will no longer carry some national name brand products, there will be additional security guards patrolling the aisles, and customers will have to show a receipt to exit the store has made many ward residents uneasy.

“Great,” tweeted former Ward 8 D.C. State Board of Education member Markus Batchelor on Sept. 3. “They’re not closing the store. They're just not putting anything in it. In the nation’s capital, whole communities become deprived of basic essentials, while leaders underinvest and under-commit to lasting solutions.”

Giant has 165 locations in the District, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. It has sent out news releases indicating that it has not closed any stores. However, rumors that the Alabama Avenue location may be shuttering moved D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) and a group of community activists and leaders on Aug. 11 to urge Giant officials not to close the store and Ward 8 residents to respectfully patronize it without resorting to shoplifting and theft. The food corporation hasn’t announced such measures at its other stores.

The Alabama Avenue location is the only full-service grocery store in Ward 8.

WARD 8 EXPRESSES OUTRAGE

Betty Scippio is a former advisory neighborhood commissioner in Ward 8. She strongly dislikes Giant’s latest moves.

“This is a slap in the face to the African American community,” Scippio said. “I believe this has more to do with the socio-economic situation in the area around the store. Our leaders should do something about this. Don’t get me wrong, it is not right to steal. But this store shouldn’t be singled out because there is a lot of theft in other stores in other wards.”

Robin McKinney represents single-member district 8A06 as an advisory neighborhood commissioner. McKinney is well-aware of the Giant situation. She particularly singled out the company’s directive that national brands such as Tide detergent, Colgate toothpaste and Advil medicine will no longer be sold in the store. Giant brands of those products will be offered to customers.

“I just hope their brands, Giant’s brands, stand up to the other products,” McKinney said.

The Rev. Wendy Hamilton serves as an advisory neighborhood commissioner for single-member district 8D06. Hamilton, 55, said she knew something was brewing when she heard about the possible closure of the store in August.

“There were rumors that they were going to close the store last month and the council member and others stood up and said, ‘you better not’,” she said. “This is the

only full-service grocery store for 90,000 people.”

Hamilton said the talk of Giant’s departure comes in line with the recent closing of Good Food Market and the shuttering of Walgreens and Rite-Aid in the southern part of the ward. She noted that the CVS located near Eastover Shopping Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland no longer operates.

Hamilton speculates that an unspoken compromise is in effect, in that company officials won’t close the store, but will impose such restrictions to protect their bottom line rather than satisfying customers.

“I am not excusing the theft that is taking place, but I believe that is not the only issue,” she said. “I notice how the companies are taking their stores quietly out of the community. There is no other place in the city where this is taking place.” WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Giant’s Alabama Avenue store in Ward 8. (Courtesy photo/MapQuest)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Bowie Best Buy to Close, Largo Town Center Sold, Towson Plans to Reapply for Program

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

BOWIE BEST BUY TO CLOSE ON SEPT. 21

Best Buy at Bowie Town Center is closing on Sept. 21, leaving the nearest open location at Woodmore Town Center. This follows a series of Best Buy closings across the country, including 17 in March alone.

While Best Buy’s corporate stated over the phone on Aug. 31 that the business will be closing, Councilmember Dufour Woofley sent an email newsletter on Aug. 20 stating that a Best Buy outlet would open at this location in early 2024.

Best Buy representatives did not respond to an email asking for clarification on Aug. 30.

Justin Lue, a Lanham resident who purchased his Xbox at this Best Buy in 2014, is sad to see the reliable retailer go.

“Walking through its familiar aisles felt like embarking on a journey of possibilities. It was here that I discovered the latest gadgets that would soon become indispensable companions in my daily life,” Lue said. “From the excitement of unboxing a long-awaited purchase, to the thrill of exploring cutting-edge innovations, this Best Buy location was more than a store – it was a portal to a future shaped by human ingenuity.”

While he’s sorry to see it go, Lue said that he is happy that not all the Best Buy locations near him have closed.

“I am fortunate to have another Best Buy nearby, where I'll continue to seek out the latest electronics and immerse myself in the realm of innovation,” Lue told the Informer. “This journey may have hit a crossroads, but my thirst for technological discovery remains unquenchable, and I'm ready to embrace what lies ahead.”

A Sears has sat vacant in the Bowie Town Center since 2017 and the Regal 14 Theater, located across the highway from the Town Center, has also closed. A BJs Brewhouse occupies part of the former Sears and the City of Bowie is involved in the redevelopment of the lot. Three electric vehicle charging spaces were added near the Best Buy in 2019.

Bowie City Council Monica Roebuck shared what she’d like to see for the future of local shopping centers.

“I would like to see an upscale movie theater and entertainment center. Residents deserve to have a quality theater in their community,” Roebuck said. “I want to see a sit down restaurant that offers healthy options. We have way too many fast food places. The key is we are looking for quality establishments that bring added value to our community.” WI

LARGO TOWN CENTER SOLD, INVESTOR GROUP MAKES 60% PROFIT

The Largo Town Center sold for $70 million, a nearly 60% increase

5 The Largo Shopping Center is mere minutes away from the County Administration Building. There has been a sustained effort by the County government to further brand Largo as a growing city, including the renaming of a Metro station. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)

on the price it was sold for four years ago, by investor group Finmarc in early August.

The 28-acre lot is anchored primarily by a Shoppers, Burlington Coat Factory and a bank.

Burlington, Foot Locker and trampoline park Urban Air Adventure were added to the shopping center during the most recent lease.

The University of Maryland Regional Hospital also opened near this site in 2021, adding to the 70,000+ cars that drive by the shopping center daily. A $100 million mixed-use development called Carillon is planned nearby, and the first phase of construction is expected to finish in about a decade.

“The new owner has acquired a fully leased and durable infill shopping center located in the direct path of continuing residential and commercial development activities, which reflects the long-term economic health and viability of this section of Prince George’s County,” said Finmarc’s co-founder and principal David Fink in a prepared statement.

Some of the concerns that tenants in Largo Town Center would like to see addressed by the new owners are improved security, additional trash pickup and better maintenance of the shopping center’s facilities. WI

TOWSON PLANS TO RE-APPLY FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Following the decision to rescind a previous proposal for a controversial doctoral program that Morgan State University (MSU) officials have decried as duplicative and unnecessary, Towson University (TU) officials are planning to resubmit their proposal.

“TU fully intends to resubmit the program proposal at a later date, once there is greater clarity regarding the academic program review process, as we strongly believe that our program is not duplicative of MSU’s Business Administration Ph.D., and that offering the Business Analytics Ph.D. will benefit students and Maryland as a whole,” said Vice President of Towson University Marketing and Communications Sean Welsh in a prepared statement.

“The finding of this administrative error on MHEC’s (Maryland Higher Education Commission’s) part does not indicate that TU’s STEM-based Business Analytics Ph.D. program — capped at six students annually — is in any way duplicative of any other program, nor does it have any impact upon the merits for the program’s approval.”

Following a four to three vote during a closed session that

The

Town Center sold for $70 million, a nearly 60% increase on the price it was sold for four years ago, by investor group

would’ve approved the program, Attorney General Anthony Brown (D)’s office rendered the vote null as less than a majority of the 12 members voted to affirm the program.

A 2021 settlement signed by Governor Larry Hogan authorized $577,000,000 in funding for HBCUs, ending a lengthy federal lawsuit. A legislative workgroup was established earlier this year to address the longstanding issue of duplicate academic programs.

“It seems to me that the bill that legislatively settled the long-running HBCU lawsuit in 2021 explicitly required that a process be established to prohibit unnecessary program duplication going forward,” Wilson wrote to Committee Chairs Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D– District 13) and Senator Brian Feldman (D- District 15) on June 30. WI

Largo

Finmarc in early August.

Jones Endorses Alsobrooks, Ivey Awards UMD’s AMAV Tea

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

SPEAKER ADRIENNE JONES ENDORSES ALSOBROOKS FOR SENATE

House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D– District 11) is the latest major endorser for Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) in her race to replace Sen. Ben Cardin’s (D-Md.) U.S. Senate seat. Jones is predicted to be a strong boost for Alsobrooks in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

“I want to see a Black woman from Maryland in the United States Senate. But more importantly, I want someone in the office who can get it right.” Jones said Monday at Gwynn Oak Park in Baltimore alongside U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, who have also endorsed Alsobrooks.

“Big pieces of Washington, D.C. are broken. The status quo isn’t cutting it. We need a U.S. senator who can ask tough questions like a prosecutor, lead like a county executive, and evaluate judicial appointments, like a mom.”

Jones was an early supporter of Gov. Wes Moore (D) and her support helped gain traction for his campaign.

Congressman David Trone (D), who is likely to spend tens of millions of dollars on his campaign, primarily has endorsements from other members of Congress, while Alsobrooks has gained a strong lead in local endorsements.

The Latino Democrats of Prince George’s County are hosting a Senate debate on Sept. 30, with Alsobrooks, Trone and Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando all confirmed as attendees.

Businessman Juan Dominguez, likely the only Latino candidate in the Senate race, says he met the qualifying requirements, but has not been granted access to the forum.

The primary election will be held May 14, 2024. WI

CONGRESSMAN IVEY GIVES AWARD TO UMD’S AMAV TEAM

Congressman Glenn Ivey (D) took a detour from his duties on Capitol Hill to join Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green, University of Maryland President Darryll Pines and UMD’s Autonomous Micro Air Vehicle (AMAV) Team on Aug. 30 in a demonstration of their award-winning drone.

The drone, weighing about three pounds and designed for indoor flight, would allow for remote visuals without endangering first responders, something that Fire Chief Green immediately saw the use for.

“We’ll never know how many lives you save by the invention you’ve made, but I guarantee you today that you will save lives with what you’ve done,” said Congressman Ivey while giving a Congressional citation to the AMAV team.

“And the United States thanks you, on behalf of the Congress, people here in the region. And go Terps!”

“This technology is really meant to save lives,” said Derek Paley, the director of the Maryland Robotics Center. “We believe that one day, these drones will be commonplace. First responders will have these drones and have the ability to investigate the interior of buildings in advance of going into dangerous conditions.”

“Dangers like house fires or wildfires that are climate driven are ways in which technology can possibly offer solutions to help save lives,” said Pines. “This is an example of the use of technology, the use of drones as a means to help first responders find individuals in a building … that we don’t want to put them in harm’s way.”

The students have also won over $150,000 in prize money during their competitions. First responders have even offered to buy their product during previous competitions. WI

5 Congressman Glenn Ivey with UMD President Darryll Pines witness a flight demonstration by UMD’s award-winning drone team. (Anthony Tilghman/Washington Informer)

BUSINESS

By James Wright / WI Staff Writer

DESTINATION DC LAUNCHES NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the District, announced last month that visitation is trending toward a return to pre-pandemic level, and it will launch a new advertising campaign to keep visitors coming to the city.

In 2022, the District welcomed 21.9 million visitors, including 1.2 million international journeyers. Destination DC officials say those numbers mean that domestic visitation has rebounded to 91% of pre-pandemic figures, while international visits have rebounded to 60%. Elliott L. Ferguson III, president and CEO of Destination DC relayed the numbers at the organization’s annual Marketing Outlook Meeting that was held on Aug. 29 at the Warner Theatre in Northwest.

“We knew domestic travelers would return quicker than those from international markets, and when domestic travelers are considering where to spend their money, the data tells us D.C. is a top choice,” said Ferguson. “The data also tells us we must continue enticing international travelers

briefs

to return. With support from the tourism recovery district legislation, we will continue to win back global travelers with higher spending potential. That matters because visitors directly support local jobs and contribute to the quality of life for residents.”

Destination DC announced its new advertising campaign:

“There’s Only One DC.” The branding positions the destination as wholly unique. Destination DC officials note the city matches other world-class cities in dining, nightlife, arts, culture, sports, theater, outdoor activities, and green spaces.

In addition, officials said the city’s monuments, museums, memorials, and free things to do are unmatched by any other. The “There’s Only One DC” will officially launch Nov. 1.

“It is true: there is only one place in the world like Washington, D.C.,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

“Only one place where you can visit the White House during the day and then go to Ben’s Chili Bowl at night. Only one place where you can go to Cedar Hill and then to Sycamore & Oak in one trip. And only one place where you can take in the history of our nation while celebrating and en-

joying the culture of the 700,000 Washingtonians who call D.C. home.”

WI

NONPROFIT SHOWCASE

The People for Change Coalition is hosting a Nonprofit Showcase in partnership with Tanger Outlets National Harbor on Sept. 22.

The Showcase will take place from 1-5 p.m. at Tanger Outlets, located at 6800 Oxon Hill Road in National Harbor, Maryland. The event will allow nonprofits to present their programs and services. Information tables and stations will be set up near the food trucks and H&M Store.

All nonprofits must register to participate as space is limited. The cost is $20 for PFC Coalition members and $35 for non-members.

For more information call 301772-1552. WI

MARYLAND RESTAURANT WEEK

The Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation has signed on as a supporter of Maryland Restaurant Week.

The Restaurant Association of Maryland kicks off the fourth annual culinary exploration that will take place Sept. 15-24. The associ-

ation is working to bring all counties and all eateries together to support the state’s food industry. The dining public is invited to enjoy Maryland Restaurant Week— specific specials during that time.

Participating county restaurants are Burger Apollo and Via Roma Pizzeria in Camp Springs, B&G Tavern in Accokeek, Manila Mart in Beltsville, and Supreme BBQ in Lanham.

WI

CAAB CITED AS KEY NONPROFIT IN D.C. AREA

Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) recently announced that it has been selected by Spur Local as a Critical Nonprofit Organization in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.

Spur Local’s vision is to transform the Greater Washington community into a better place to live for everyone. As the only locally focused guide to giving, Spur Local’s goal is to create visibility for its selected charities, fuel their growth, and create a movement for social good in our region.

“We are very excited, honored and proud to receive the recognition as a Critical Nonprofit Organizations by Spur Local,” said Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, CAAB’s CEO and executive director. ‘

“We very much appreciate the recognition by Spur Local of our

work and impact which are driven by our vision of a Washington, D.C. metropolitan region where birthplace, race and the zip code we live in don’t limit economic opportunity and optimism.” WI

THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS

The Greater Washington Urban League Housing Center will sponsor a free virtual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified workshop to learn how to become an informed homeowner on Sept. 16.

The workshop is for prospective and current homeowners who are frustrated by the process. The workshop cannot be used for the Home Purchase Assistance Program and Inclusionary Zoning Orientation.

For more information, contact lindabrown@gwul.org. WI

@JamesWrightJr10

5 Elliott L. Ferguson III is the president and CEO of Destination DC. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

(Courtesy photo/Restaurant Association of Maryland)

“We knew domestic travelers would return quicker than those from international markets, and when domestic travelers are considering where to spend their money, the data tells us D.C. is a top choice,” said Ferguson.

Corner Water Flows in D.C.

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Two District residents are making a name for their business as well as money by offering the one substance which is vital to the survival of human beings: water.

“My partner and I found out that good, bottled water was not available in neighborhoods east of the [Anacostia] River as opposed to other areas of D.C.,” said Ronnie Webb, co-founder and co-owner of Corner Water, a Black-owned business that specializes in selling its own brand of bottled water in the District.

“We found this out while working with children at Stanton Elementary School teaching about food systems and urban gardening,” Webb continued. “We asked the children to go into their neighborhood to get a sense of what

healthy food options were like. The children told us that there was a lack of good options on bottled water, and we decided to do something about it.”

With Corner Water—founded in 2021-- Webb, 37, and his partner Jerome Nesbitt said they offer customers a product of 100% natural premium Artesian water that flows from local natural springs that doesn’t require and contain chemicals and purifying agents found in other bottled water brands. Corner Water bills itself as the District’s official bottled water. Among the establishments selling the product are Metrobar DC and Rhode Island Liquors in Northeast; eateries such as FishScale DC and DC Sweet Potato Bakery Cake in Northwest; and all Shop Made in DC locations through the Washington metropolitan area.

The product is sold at District

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU.

farmer’s markets. Delivery is available to customers but only in the city.

CORNER WATER’S PURPOSE

Webb said Corner Water has multiple purposes.

“We did this to make money,” he said. “We also want to show young people that you can make money honestly and earn a good living off of your work. Many of our distributors are youth and we are teaching them valuable business and life skills.”

Webb and Nesbitt recently completed the By Our Hands Cohort, a project of the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) for Black-owned food establishments. The pair received a $10,000 grant from the Urban League and sponsors.

Nesbitt said the program offered programs in business counseling, networking and how to succeed in

the food industry.

“The program was very beneficial,” Nesbitt, 36, said. “Our facilitator Furard Tate brought us information that is hard to get sometimes. We liked to engage with him and admired his commitment. Networking with our

classmates was important, too.”

Corner Water will hold an event with the Black Alley Band on Sept. 15 for the “Water is Culture Campaign.” The campaign promotes the brand and the healthy benefits of drinking water. WI

@JamesWrightJr10

The product, Corner Water, has been billed by its co-owners Jerome Nesbitt and Ronnie Webb, as the official bottled water of D.C. (Courtesy photo/Corner Water)

Georgia Republicans Seek Action Against DA Fani

Willis in Trump

Indictment Fallout

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Georgia’s political landscape remains ablaze as Republicans in the state explore avenues to address District Attorney Fani Willis’ recent indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants. The controversy has ignited a fierce debate over the intersection of politics and the judiciary.

State Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, a prominent Republican figure, revealed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Senate GOP leaders are considering legislative hearings to examine whether Willis is exercising her authority for political gains. This move comes after her expansive racketeering indictment, which has shaken the foundations of Georgia’s legal landscape and threatens to turn the 2024 presidential race on its head.

Gooch emphasized that Senate Bill 92, a recently enacted law allowing a state panel to investigate and remove prosecutors found to be acting improperly, could serve as a potent tool for Trump’s allies to scrutinize Willis’ utilization of public resources.

“We believe she is definitely tainted,” Gooch asserted. “She’s politicizing this, and we want to make sure these people get a fair trial and a fair shake.”

The Republican initiatives represent only a fraction of a broader effort by Trump’s allies within Georgia and Congress to retaliate against Willis and other high-profile prosecutors handling Trump’s ongoing criminal cases. The

twice-impeached and four-time indicted Trump faces 91 felony charges across four jurisdictions related to his 2020 loss to Joe Biden and his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Earlier this year, a civil jury found Trump responsible for sexually assaulting an author and journalist decades ago.

Well-known Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has urged the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Willis’ office’s funding from federal sources and any potential coordination with White House officials. Greene has even floated the idea of a state-level inquiry into Willis’s actions.

Meanwhile,Republican U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, also from Georgia, is planning to leverage an upcoming appropriations bill to cut federal funding for Willis, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and federal special counsel Jack Smith, who have spearheaded the pending legal actions against Trump.

However, Gooch quickly acknowledged that there were limitations to the Republican efforts to reprimand Willis. He, along with other party leaders, condemned a petition by first-term Republican Georgia state Senator Colton Moore that aimed to force a special legislative session for the impeachment of the district attorney. Such an action would necessitate support from three-fifths of the legislature, including Democratic members.

“We want to make sure we calm down, we look at this stuff deliberately, and we do it in a mature way,” Gooch explained, underscoring the need for a measured approach. He

added that he has repeatedly engaged in discussions with Moore, urging him to refrain from derogatory remarks about fellow Republicans. “There’s a lot of angry people in this state on both sides of this issue,” Gooch told the newspaper.

“But there’s still a majority of the Republican base who feel like there was fraud in the 2020 election, and they don’t feel like it was completely vetted properly and investigated. And that’s why a lot of these people are still upset today. They don’t feel like they were heard. And I think Colton Moore resonates with those people, and they support what he’s saying, but maybe not the way he’s saying it and the way he’s conducting himself in the chamber.”

In contrast, Moore remains unwavering and unapologetic. He insists that his GOP colleagues should be incensed about the indictment of fellow Senator Shawn Still, who was among those charged in the Georgia indictment. Still maintains his innocence, asserting that he did nothing wrong when he served as a fraudulent GOP elector.

“To hear that I need to tone it down when I’m encouraging my colleagues to do their legislative duty is absolutely ridiculous,” Moore countered. “And I hope the people of Georgia see what’s going on.”

In a recent appearance on Steve Bannon’s podcast, Moore issued a stark warning about the potential consequences if Willis prosecution is not defunded.

“I don’t want a civil war. I don’t want to have to draw my rifle. I want to make this problem go away with my legislative means of doing so,” Moore stressed.

Willis, a Democrat, made history as Fulton County’s first female District Attorney and assumed office following a landslide victory over six-term incumbent Paul Howard. She has pledged the restoration of integrity to the district attorney’s office while addressing a backlog of cases.

Willis' career has seen her transition from the private sector to the role of assistant district attorney for Fulton County in 2001. She gained widespread recognition as a lead prosecutor in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal, securing convictions in a case that dated back to 2001, resulting in elevated statewide test scores.

In 2018, Willis worked in private practice specializing in criminal defense and family law, focusing on representing fathers in child custody and support battles. Her election campaign against Howard came when he faced misconduct

allegations, including financial mismanagement and sexual harassment.

Despite initial reluctance, Willis’ friends said she embraced the challenge, “motivated by her conviction that it was a call from a higher power.”

WI @StacyBrownMedia

5 A Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. (Courtesy Photo/ WABE-TV Screenshot)

“To hear that I need to tone it down when I’m encouraging my colleagues to do their legislative duty is absolutely ridiculous,” Moore countered. “And I hope the people of Georgia see what’s going on.”

Dems Introduce Bill to Eradicate Solitary Confinement Punitive Measure Highlights Racial Disparities

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A group of House Democrats is spearheading legislative efforts to dismantle the practice of solitary confinement, a punitive measure that disproportionately affects Black and brown inmates within the American penal system. Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform, leads this critical initiative.

Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D) of Michigan, Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D) of California, and Jamaal Bowman (D) of New York are among Bush’s colleagues joining the effort. Together, they have introduced groundbreaking legislation to abolish solitary confinement within federal prisons and jails, effectively addressing a glaring issue within the na -

tion’s correctional system.

The proposed legislation does not merely seek to banish this punitive practice; it also aims to institute vital due process safeguards for individuals where solitary confinement is the sole recourse. Further, the bill offers incentives to states, encouraging them to adopt similar legislation at the local level, fostering a more equitable and humane justice system.

Bush minced no words in denouncing the practice of isolating incarcerated individuals, referring to it as a “moral catastrophe.” She underscored the gravity of the situation, citing United Nations experts who have characterized solitary confinement as psychological torture.

“This practice is traumatic for people subjected to it, harmful to communities, and alarmingly, it disproportionately impacts Black

and brown individuals, young people, LGBTQ+ members, and other marginalized communities,” Bush passionately asserted.

Rep. Bowman echoed Bush’s sentiments, declaring that such a method of imprisonment has no place in the United States. He emphasized the stark reality that harsh practices like solitary confinement directly target marginalized groups, particularly people of color.

“We must put an end to this cruel and traumatic form of punishment for the well-being of all,” Bowman insisted.

Rep. Kamlager-Dove expressed her profound disapproval of solitary confinement, likening it to a grave human rights violation that would be condemned in any other context or country. She also emphasized the necessity of treating incarcerated individuals as human

beings, mainly if the goal is rehabilitation and significantly reducing recidivism rates.

“If we aspire for those within the penal system to emerge rehabilitated

and less likely to reoffend, we must prioritize treating them as individuals deserving of dignity and respect,” Kamlager-Dove stated. WI @StacyBrownMedia

5 In July, Democrats Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), alongside Representatives Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the End Solitary Confinement Act. (Courtesy photo)

Annual

Trump’s Use of Scottsboro Boys Case Comparison Raises Eyebrows and Ire of Judge

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Former President Donald Trump, known for his gaslighting statements and actions to fuel the fire of racism, drew criticism from a federal judge for invoking the 1931 Scottsboro Boys case in a bid to delay his upcoming election interference trial. Trump’s legal team cited the landmark Supreme Court decision related to the Scottsboro case, arguing that special counsel Jack Smith wasn’t allowing sufficient time for trial preparation.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan swiftly rejected the comparison and scheduled Trump’s trial for March 2024, one day before Super Tuesday. The judge emphasized that the case’s timeline did not reflect undue haste and pointed out Trump’s access to a capable legal team and ample resources for a thorough defense.

Trump currently faces four charges in the election interference case, in-

cluding conspiring to defraud the United States and obstructing an official proceeding—charges previously filed against those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

He has pleaded not guilty.

The 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner currently faces 91 felony charges in four jurisdictions – New York, Washington, Florida, and Georgia – most related to his loss to Joe Biden in 2020. If convicted on all counts, Trump could receive a more than 800-year prison sentence. Due to the complexity of the election interference case in Washington, John Lauro, Trump’s attorney, expressed concern that the trial date would compromise the former president’s right to effective legal counsel.

But Chutkan scolded the lawyers, and the twice impeached, four-times indicted Trump, whom earlier this year a civil jury found liable for sexual assault. She cited the Supreme Court’s Scottsboro Boys ruling at the time, saying, “The court noted that a sizable crowd greeted the defendants at Scottsboro after their arrest and that the community’s attitude was one of great hostility. The defendants’ trials began six days after indictment. The Supreme Court found that there was a clear denial of due process because the trial court failed to give the defendants’ reasonable time and opportunity to secure counsel, and the defendants were incapable of adequately making their own defense.”

Chutkan continued: “Trump is represented by a team of zealous, experienced attorneys and has the resources necessary to efficiently review the discovery and investigate. I have seen many cases unduly delayed because a defendant lacks adequate representation or cannot properly review discovery because they are detained. That is not the case here.”

The Scottsboro Boys rape cases represent the dark racist part of American history where nine Black youths were falsely accused of raping two white women in 1931 while traveling on a train near Scottsboro, Alabama. The accusations led to trials with allwhite juries. Clarence Norris, Charlie Weems, Haywood Patterson, Olen Montgomery, Ozie Powell, Willie Roberson, Eugene Williams, and Andy Wright were all tried, convicted,

and sentenced to death. Another defendant, Roy Wright, saw his trial end in a mistrial when some jurors held out for a death sentence even though the prosecution asked for life imprisonment.

Over the years, appeals and retrials took place, eventually leading to the 1932 Supreme Court ruling in Powell v. Alabama, which stressed the importance of granting defendants sufficient time for legal counsel and trial preparation. This ruling and the 1935 Supreme Court case Norris v. Alabama played a crucial role in advancing the cause of racially diverse juries.

Alabama eventually dropped rape charges against five of the Scottsboro Boys, and Norris, one of the accused, received a posthumous pardon from Gov. George Wallace in 1976. In 2013, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles issued posthumous pardons to the three Scottsboro Boys who had not previously received or had their convictions overturned.

“It was stunningly stupid,” retired California Superior Court Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell told CNN of Trump invoking the Scottsboro Boys case. “Because one, the comparison is ridiculous. But second, if you want to alienate a judge in the case, this was exactly what to do. WI

@StacyBrownMedia

5(top) Scottsboro Boys, (bottom left) Jack Smith, (bottom right) Donal Trump. (Courtesy photos)

The 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner currently faces 91 felony charges in four jurisdictions –New York, Washington, Florida, and Georgia – most related to his loss to Joe Biden in 2020.

FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for October

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Prepare for simultaneous text messages and alerts as FEMA conducts a countrywide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall in collaboration with FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Authorities have planned to divide the national test into two parts, assessing WEA and EAS skills. Both tests are scheduled to begin at 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will go out to all consumer cell phones. According to a news release, this will be the third nationwide test but the second test for all cellular devices.

The test message will display in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset. Officials noted they would target radios

and televisions for the EAS portion, marking the seventh nationwide EAS test.

If the test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup testing date is Oct. 11.

All wireless phones should receive the message only once. FEMA says consumers nationwide can expect the following from the WEA test:

At approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for about 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message.

For consumers, the message on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish

will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. FEMA said a unique tone and vibration would accompany the warnings to ensure the alerts are accessible to all, including people with disabilities.

Officials expect the EAS por-

tion of the test to last approximately one minute. The test will get underway with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers. The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages familiar to the public.

It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

is your personal connection to real-time updates and instructions from DC Government to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighborhood. Sign up today!

5(Courtesy photo/National Weather Service)

africa now

Inquiry Rejects U.S. Claims That South Africa Supplied Arms to Russia

An investigation in South Africa has rejected a U.S, allegation that the country supplied weapons to a Russian ship under United States sanctions that was docked at a Cape Town naval base, after the accusation imperiled ties between the U.S. and Africa’s most industrial economy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday, Sept. 3, that an inquiry “found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the ship transported weapons from South Africa destined for Russia,” as had been alleged by the U.S. ambassador to Pretoria earlier this year.

“When all matters are considered, none of the allegations made about the supply of weapons to Russia have been proven to be true,” he said. “None of the persons who made these allegations could provide any evidence to support the claims.”

The Lady R, a vessel owned by Russia’s MG-FLOT, docked at the Simon’s Town base in mysterious circumstances in December, including appearing to switch off its transponder signal. South Africa’s defense ministry said at the time that the ship had carried a delivery for the country’s armed forces.

Ambassador Reuben Brigety claimed in May that the U.S. government was confident that the vessel also “uploaded weapons and ammunition” in Cape Town en route back to Russia, despite no official approval by South Africa’s government for arms exports to Russia or Ukraine since the war began.

The allegation unleashed a diplomatic storm for Ramaphosa’s government, which has said that it is non-aligned over the war in Ukraine, and shook South Africa’s financial markets as trade ties connecting key South African export industries to the US suddenly fell in doubt.

“The allegations leveled against our country had a damaging effect on our currency, economy and our standing in the world,” Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

Brigety and the U.S. government did not detail evidence for the accusation, but Ramaphosa’s government was also unable to deny it outright, leading to the appointment of an inquiry headed by a retired judge to investigate.

The claim came after rising frustration in Washington over South Africa’s ties to Russia, such as joint naval exercises on the anniversary of the war and what was seen as Pretoria’s equivocation in condemning the invasion.

But the Biden administration has since moved to smooth relations with the biggest U.S. trading partner in Africa, one of a number of non-aligned nations that it has sought to lobby over the war in order to challenge Russia’s narrative of the conflict.

Cynthia A. Pratt Sworn in as 12th Governor General of the Bahamas

Her Excellency Cynthia A. Pratt was sworn in as the 12th Governor General of The Bahamas during a ceremony at Government House in Nassau on Friday, Sept. 1.

She replaces Sir Cornelius A. Smith, who was the 11th Governor-General of The Bahamas from 2019 to 2023.

Prime Minister Philip E. Davis described Governor-General Pratt–someone who grew up in abject poverty, but had distinguished careers in both sports and politics– as an unparalleled nation builder with a heart for the people.

“While we often speak of her nurturing nature as the “mother” of a Nation, I also wish to emphasize her strength,” Prime Minister Davis said.

“You see, she isn’t just a comforter, she is also a defender of those who cannot defend themselves and there can be no mistaking her kindness for weakness. Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt is a force of nature with a passion for people.”

Indeed, the Prime Minister noted that the new Governor General’s life story is a testament to her resilience, but even as she relied on that strength to move forward and to overcome hardship, she also shared it to uplift the people around her.

The new Governor General represented the Coconut Grove constituency in the House of Assembly, and during her political career she was Deputy Prime Minister, and served for a while as Acting Prime Minister when former Prime Minister Perry Christie was seriously ill. WI

5 Her Excellency Cynthia A. Pratt during her swearing in as the 12th Governor General of The Bahamas. (Courtesy Photo)

5 South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday, Sept. 3 that when “all matters are considered, none of the allegations made about the supply of weapons to Russia have been proven to be true.” (Courtesy Photo)

Getting Active for Physical and Mental Wellness

Mental and physical wellness are important components of our overall health. What’s good for your body can also be good for your mind, as poor mental health can be a risk factor for physical conditions. Physical activity has several health benefits that have proven to eliminate certain mental and physical health issues before they even start.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

Getting active benefits people of all ages. Physical activity can help you feel better, improve your ability to do everyday activities, and even sleep better. While it’s no secret that increased exercise can lead to weight loss, physical activity can also strengthen your bones and muscles.

Weightlifting is a great way to build muscle strength and can help you increase or maintain muscle mass. It’s especially important for older adults who experience reduced muscle mass and strength as they age. If you don’t have access to weights or a gym, you can increase your muscle strength with bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, lunges, and squats.

Getting active also plays a role in reducing certain health conditions, such as:1

• Heart disease and stroke

• Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome

• Some cancers

(bladder, breast, colon, esophageal, lung, kidney, stomach)

MENTAL BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

Physical activity can improve thinking or cognition for children ages 6 to 13 and reduce short-term feelings of anxiety in adults.1 The recommended amount of exercise needed for adults is 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week.2 This may sound like a lot of time to carve out

#BestMe Get Moving with Active&Fit!

AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) offers fitness classes to enrollees through the Active&Fit program. With Active&Fit, you can join live virtual classes, watch workout videos on your own time, and even get a gym membership. Below is some additional information on what the Active&Fit program offers to AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees:

•Active&Fit offers daily classes you can join on Facebook or YouTube.

•New workouts are posted Monday through Friday.

•Classes include Upper Body Blast, Yoga Flow, Lower Body Blast, Yoga Core, and more!

fit.com and explore the FAQs section on the website.

AmeriHealth Caritas DC also offers in-person fitness options for you and your family. Enrollees can participate in Total Body Fitness classes at the Enrollee Wellness and Opportunity Center. You can enjoy burning calories at Zumba, yoga, and aerobics classes with trainers from Body by Buckner. Wellness classes are free for all enrollees. Call the Community Outreach Solutions team at 202216-2318 to learn more or sign up for wellness classes.

Visit the Enrollee Wellness and Opportunity Center at 1209 Good Hope Rd. SE, Washington, DC 20020.

for exercise, but studies have shown that some benefits of physical activity on brain health occur immediately after a session of moderate to vigorous exercise.2 It can also provide opportunities to make friends, join a group, and socialize with people in your community.

HOW TO ADD EXERCISE TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

There are many simple ways to include physical activity in your day-today routine:

• Go for a walk. Find a friend, take your child, or grab your pet. You can use any downtime or lunchtime at your job to add extra steps to your day.

• Take the stairs. Choosing the stairs over the elevator is a good way to add movement to your routine.

• Choose movement over convenience. Instead of finding the closest parking spot at the grocery store, park farther and walk. Walk to places you normally drive to if they’re within a reasonable walking distance. If you take public transportation, get off one or two stops early and get your body moving.

Sources

1. “Benefits of Physical Activity,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/

basics/pa-health/index.htm#prevent

2. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd ed., Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 2018, p. 8, https://health.gov/ sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf, Ibid., p. 39.

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

•Active&Fit members can visit www. activeandfit.com to access workout videos.

As an Active&Fit member, you can receive a fitness center membership at one of 11,000-plus participating fitness centers. Please talk with your doctor before starting or changing your exercise routine.

To learn more about the Active&Fit program, please visit www.activeand-

-VIRTUAL

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia

HEALTH

D.C. Greens Brings Fresh Produce to East of The River Local Programs Bolster Residents Amid Threats of Closing Grocery Stores

By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter

As Washingtonians residing East of the River suffer most from food and financial inequities, rumors that the Giant Food on Alabama Ave S.E– the only full-service grocery stores in Ward 8– could close, has set off alarming conversations across the city. DC Greens, a local non-profit organization advancing health equity through a “just and resilient” food system, partners with that very same Giant, which also piloted their Produce Prescription (Rx) program in efforts to combat rising food insecurity in underserved communities.

The D.C. Policy Center conducted a series of reports on food insecurity issues across the District, citing that over 75% of food deserts amassed in Wards 7 and 8 alone, making up roughly 11% of D.C.’s total area equating to 6.5 square miles.

Researchers have made attempts

at identifying food insecurity within the District, but, according to reports, most only consider proximity to grocery stores, an approach that excludes supermarkets (larger stores, like Walmart or Target, that sell non-grocery products).

Areas such as “historic Anacostia, Barry Farms, Mayfair, and Ivy City contain the majority of food deserts found in the city,” reports Randy Smith of the D.C. Policy Center.

Determined to foster change, DC Greens’ policy advocacy and coalition work across the city consistently advocates to bolster increased dollars around food access in the city budget, including greater SNAP benefits for residents in need. The organization also champions advocacy for school food initiatives, and even D.C. jail food reform.

“Something very unique is that we are the folks delivering. Our farmer Kenneth lives in Ward 8, we

are implementing these programs, we are working with our participants and patients from across the city. We are doing the on-theground grassroots work, and also building coalitions including the people whose voices matter into these decisions, which I think can be lost sometimes when we think about larger scale policy,” said Luisa Furstenberg-Beckman, Director of Produce Rx at DC Greens.

Furstenberg-Beckman spearheads the organization’s program assisting eligible residents in accessing educational tools and financial support to sustain healthier food choices. The Produce Rx program provides monthly stipends for participants to purchase fresh produce from partnered grocery stores, while additionally pairing residents with medical professionals helping to prescribe fresh fruit and vegetable choices to those battling diet-related chronic illnesses in what they call the “food-is-medicine” approach to health and wellness.

“I think there is a misconception that people don’t want to eat well. People want the food that makes them feel good, nutritious food. There just isn’t access, one, geographically. Two-ish full-service grocery stores East of the River is not a lot,” Furstenberg-Beckman said. “So, there is the accessibility component but there is also the affordability, as we know, fresh food is always more expensive.

So, people [often] have to decide between child care or fresh food. It’s a hard decision that isn't fair for anyone to make.”

The Produce Rx program is just one of two major programs offered to help alleviate the region’s food desert.

DC Greens hosts an intergenerational space for community members to learn and implement essential resources for a healthy lifestyle with The Well at Oxon Run, an innovative urban farm and wellness space East of the River, growing an abundance of produce that is distributed to the community while offering wellness courses including yoga, gardening courses, and other holistic wellness opportunities.

Festus Sodimu, a Northeast resident and recipient of the DC Greens program, found out about the organization through Bread for

The City. Currently having been a part of the program for the past five months, Sodimu’s children eat a lot of fruit, which has, in turn, helped his family’s health and weight issues due to healthier food options in better quality selections.

He explained that his family has benefited significantly from the monthly food stipends for fresh produce that his family can afford to keep in their refrigerator.

“We have more fruits in the house now. To be honest, it’s all expensive but most of us cannot afford to buy [all] organic, but now we have the option of getting organic because we have the assistance,” Sodimu said. “We can’t spend all of our money on buying organic because it is quite expensive, so we just have to mix the organic with normal groceries but we do buy more organic now.”

WI

“People experiencing homelessness are at risk of developing mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” according to the CDC.

5 DC Greens Farm Manager Kenny Briogers works with the many plants and vegetables. (WI File Photo/Robert Roberts)

Tap into National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter

Across the United States, more than 100,000 Americans live with sickle cell disease. The month of September honors the struggle and journey of sickle cell survivors, and this month, the national nonprofit membership organization Sickle Cell Disease Association of America is holding events and activities throughout the month to educate and support people and families facing the disease.

The inherited blood disease causes red blood cells to form a sickle shape, leading to blockages preventing blood from properly circulating through the body. The often painful illness can create significant complications, including gallstones, anemia, jaundice, stroke, organ damage, chronic pain, and even premature death.

“Now is the time to unite on behalf of the Americans who live with sickle cell disease, many of whom suffer in silence,” said Regina Harfield, president and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

District residents are encour-

aged to join the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and others working to fight the disease. The association also encourages people to learn more about the critical treatments to sustain sickle cell patients, and potentially donate blood to help those in need.

(Courtesy photo)

“Now is the time to unite on behalf of the Americans who live with sickle cell disease, many of whom suffer in silence,” said Regina Harfield, president and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

EARTH OUR

Thanks to Climate

and Louisiana, which deal with wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, and hurricanes.

In July, Farmers Insurance discontinued offering new policies in Florida for home, auto, and other types of insurance. State Farm did the same in May, stating they would “cease accepting new applications.”

Change,

it’s Pricier to Own a Home

By Bria Overs WordinBlack

Homeownership costs are rising on all fronts, from property taxes to down payments, to closing costs and mortgage insurance. However, those are not the only expenses involved. Homeowners insurance is another cost, and premiums are becoming unaffordable for some.

This coverage is usually required for personal property such as sin-

gle-family homes, condominiums, apartments, and mobile homes. It can help pay for repairs or replacement of the property and personal belongings in the event of damage.

From 2018 to 2020, premiums saw an overall increase of 5.4% — or from $1,251 to $1,319, on average, per year, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

For Black folks, the issue doesn’t stop there. Michael DeLong, re-

search and advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation of America, said Black homeowners face the same historical bias, discrimination, and racism of redlining, which can increase their premiums or, in the

worst case, lead to a complete denial of coverage.

“An insurance company could, can, and sometimes does say, ‘We’re going to not offer very good policies in this neighborhood’ — which happens to be mostly Black,” he said. “We can refuse to write policies for homes in those neighborhoods. We can require them to jump through certain hoops. We can discourage applicants in those neighborhoods.”

The list goes on, including refusing to underwrite buildings based on their age. Additionally, at least four prominent national insurance companies pulled out of some states earlier this year, pointing to climate change as a big reason.

This coverage is essential because, depending on the policy and amount of coverage, it can save homeowners from large bills in the case of damage from a natural disaster, for example.

INSURANCE COMPANIES OPT-OUT AS CLIMATE CHANGE WORSENS

Climate change is worsening in states particularly vulnerable to natural disasters like California, Florida,

State Farm said they decided to stop due to “historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market.”

It doesn’t stop there. Allstate stopped offering new policies for homes, condominiums, and commercial policies in California earlier this year.

In a statement to The San Francisco Chronicle, an Allstate spokesperson said the decision was due to the cost of insuring new customers in California is “far higher than the price they would pay for policies due to wildfires, higher costs for repairing homes, and higher reinsurance premiums.”

Also, in July, AAA said it would not renew homeowners and auto insurance policies for a “very small percentage” of Floridians.

Last year, United Property and Casualty said it wouldn’t renew policies in Louisiana, leaving 36,000 in search of new insurance companies, as reported by the Associated Press. One report from ABC13 states in the last two years, “at least 20 insurance companies” left the state.

People can turn to other avenues, like state-backed insurance or Florida-serving Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Citizens offers property insurance when Floridians can’t find private insurance, but it is considered a last resort because it can be expensive.

Consumer advocacy groups like the Consumer Federation of America say limited options leave communities and homeowners without resources in the face of unforeseen damage.

“Black and Latino neighborhoods tend to be disproportionately located

EARTH Page 25

The Informer's Our Earth page turns 1 year old this fall. We want to know what you think and what we can do better in year 2! Please let us know with this 3-minute survey.

Courtesy photo)

Record-Breaking Heat Wave Hits D.C.

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

The District saw its hottest recorded Labor Day this year as temperatures hit 99 degrees in parts of the region on Monday, WTOP reported. With humidity, the heat index soared up to triple digits, and Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a “Hot Weather Emergency” to open up additional air-conditioned cooling centers around the city.

The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation also announced that two of its public pools—Oxon Run in Ward 8 and Hearst in Ward 3—will remain open until summer’s end on Sept. 21. More than 15 spray parks will also stay open through the rest of the season, including Fort Davis, Hillcrest, Turkey Thicket, Edgewood and Petworth.

The unseasonable temperatures pose serious challenges for the start of the school year. WUSA9

EARTH from Page 24

in places that are more vulnerable to these kinds of disasters,” DeLong said.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THE ‘INSURANCE CRISIS’

Climate change is just one part of the story. Other discriminatory practices are at play with insurers using credit scores to determine eligibility and rates. This practice is common with auto insurance but also applies to homeowners insurance.

It is a disadvantage for Black folks who are typically in the fair range with scores of between 580 to 669, the Urban Institute found in 2022.

“In extreme cases, Black consumers have been denied coverage, resulting in not being able to secure a mortgage. For Black consumers, discrimination in the insurance market can potentially exacerbate the homeownership gap,” said D’Juan Hopewell, founder of BLK Insurance.

reported that some students and teachers face blistering classrooms without air conditioning as dozens of schools across the city wait on repairs for broken HVAC systems.

DMV officials are also keeping a close watch on water levels in the Potomac River, FOX5 reported, as the heat wave could potentially exacerbate drought conditions impacting parts of the watershed upstream from the District. The water supply has not reached anywhere close to emergency lows, but the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin recently launched drought operations for the first time since 2010.

The scorching start to September comes after a summer of heat waves that set records globally and nationally. Climate change, caused by adding heat-trapping gasses to the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels like oil and gas, increases the likelihood of extreme heat events, particularly during unusual times of year. WI

To stop racism in insurance and reduce vulnerability for Black homeowners, the Consumer Federation of America recommended states investigate discrimination claims from policyholders, ban using socioeconomic factors, and punish insurance companies found guilty of using harmful practices.

They believe states should step in and offer state-backed homeowners insurance policies.. These already exist in some states, including those facing an insurance crisis, but as climate change worsens, states should expand them.

Mitigation is another means of bringing down premium prices and reducing the amount of damage from natural disasters. However, DeLong explained these methods and measures must be more affordable or supported by states and localities.

“You don’t sell one size fits all hair products, and so it follows that we also need insurance products that are designed for the particular needs of Black homeowners today,” Hopewell said. WI

Anti-Idling Laws Aim to Reduce Pollution—But for Tour Bus Drivers, It Gets Complicated

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Writer

Outside the red double-decker tour bus he works on, Big Bus Tours employee Robgerlin Jackson stood with a small personal fan hanging around his neck. On the hot, humid day in early August, he and a coworker sat with their vehicle outside the Spy Museum, in a lane reserved for waiting commercial buses.

Like the other buses in the row, Jackson’s vehicle wasn’t running the A/C.

“You have to open up the doors and

let it get air in it, but you can’t just let it idle,” Jackson said. “It just can’t be done.”

After more than six years with the company, the D.C. native knows the rules inside and out. In the District, commercial vehicles that run on gas or diesel cannot idle their engines for more than three minutes. If it’s below freezing, the time limit goes up to five minutes. The base fine for a first offense is $500, and the cost doubles for repeat offenders.

“Diesel exhaust specifically, has high levels of particulate matter, which we know affects both heart and lungs,” said Hannah Ashenafi, the associate director of the Air Quality Division at D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), which enforces engine idling laws. “There's a lot of different health impacts.”

Vehicle exhaust is the single largest source of air pollution in the District. It causes ground-level ozone, also known as smog, which can cause respiratory issues and trigger asthma attacks. Plus, it’s expensive: idling a vehicle for two minutes burns about as much gas as a mile of driving, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG).

Throughout August, MWCOG ran its “Turn Your Engine Off” campaign, which aims to provide information about idling laws in D.C., Maryland and Virginia to commercial vehicle drivers through direct outreach. MWCOG developed the yearly program about a decade ago, said Jennifer Desimone, the agency’s air program chief.

“We typically have a lot of outreach to residents to businesses on kind of simple tips that they can do to help

reduce air pollution, but there wasn't any direct outreach to bus drivers, to truck drivers, to drivers of vehicles with diesel engines,” Desimone said. “That was a piece that was missing.”

DRIVERS SAY SCARCE PARKING MEANS STAYING OUT IN THE HEAT

Jackson’s route with Big Bus Tours tends to keep the vehicle moving fairly consistently, because it operates with a hop-on, hop-off principle. But for tour buses taking groups in from out of town, waiting around for passengers to return is part of the gig.

“I’m soaked with sweat,” said Richard Schoonard, a bus driver waiting with his vehicle on Jefferson Drive SW while his group checked out the Bible Museum. “It'd be a lot nicer if they wouldn't close off all the bus parking and then regulate the idling at the same time.”

The National Park Service recently closed a popular commercial bus parking spot in Hains Point in July as part of a major traffic safety project. An NPS spokesperson said that metered spots just north of the spot along Ohio Drive provide “ample available space for bus parking.”

According to maps on DDOT’s website, the city offers more than 400 paid parking spots for buses. The biggest lots—like the 100 spots each at RFK Stadium and Union Station— are far away from popular tour spots.

“It’s very counterintuitive,” said Schoonard. “The [other] option is for the bus driver to loop around the city with no parking for six hours until they can pick up, which is more polluting. But at least we're following the law.”

WI

5 Big Bus Tour employee Robgerlin Jackson stands outside the Spy Museum with his vehicle and a small fan around his neck on August 15. (Kayla Benjamin/The Washington Informer)

“Diesel exhaust specifically, has high levels of particulate matter, which we know affects both heart and lungs,” said Hannah Ashenafi, the associate director of the Air Quality Division at D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).

EDUCATION

DCPS Launches Sixth Grade Academies to Ease Middle School Transition

New Program Reaches 1400 Students in 11 Schools, Officials Say

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Thousands of sixth graders started their first week of middle school navigating a new environment and setting the stage for a chapter in their academic career that’s focused on skill building, socioemotional development, and the shaping of a career trajectory.

With the launch of D.C. Public School (DCPS)’s sixth grade academies, young people at nearly a dozen public middle schools can fulfill these goals with the support of an assistant principal, along with numerous teachers and staff members who are dedicated to giving them the ideal sixth grade experience.

Kwynn Turner, a sixth grader at Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Northeast, said she’s looking forward to thought-provoking classes and field trips that will help her tap into her creative side.

“I hope I can have a good year learning all that I need,” said Kwynn, an aspiring game designer. “Young people have a good imagination and [we want teachers to know] we are thinking about what’s on our mind when we’re daydreaming. We take the information [we learn] in class and project it.”

DCPS OFFICIALS INTRODUCE SIXTH GRADE ACADEMIES AT STUART-HOBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

On Aug. 29, Kwynn counted

among dozens of sixth graders who converged on Stuart-Hobson Middle School’s gymnasium for a pep rally that commemorated the launch of DCPS’ sixth grade academies. That afternoon, Stuart-Hobson Middle School Panther Band played a couple of electrifying numbers and cheerleaders executed a dance routine.

Both performances set the tone for commentary from school and District officials, along with a volleyball and tug-of-war competition.

Speakers included DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, Stuart-Hobson Middle School principal Eric Fraser, Andral Hills, the sixth grade academy vice principal at Stuart-Hobson Middle School, and Kennedy Starke, a seventh grader who gave sixth graders gems of advice and words of affirmation.

Students also heard from Greg Dohmann, DCPS’ director of sixth grade academies.

Dohmann, former principal of Jefferson Middle School Academy, is leading a team of sixth grade academy assistant principals who are working at Stuart-Hobson, Brookland Middle School, Eliot-Hine Middle School, Hart Middle School, Jefferson Middle School, Johnson Middle School, MacFarlane Middle School, Ida B. Wells Middle School, John Philip Sousa Middle School, Kramer Middle School and Kelly Miller Middle School.

Each month, Dohmann will meet with those assistant principals, all of whom have experience as administrators in the D.C. public school system, to discuss how

best to chart a path to, what he described as, increased attendance, significant growth in math and reading proficiency, and students’ sense of belonging.

A strategy that Dohmann pointed out involves working with families to ensure that sixth graders receive consistent messaging between school and home about assignments and expectations.

“Middle school is the most critical [time] when students are most vulnerable, opinions of peers mean more than anything, and when they take ownership of their education,” Dohmann said. “We have to make sure we have that transition. This is year one, a time to elevate best practices.”

A COUPLE OF SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS OUTLINE THEIR VISION

DCPS’ sixth grade academies build upon its sixth grade summer bridge program, during which rising sixth graders and staff members establish relationships through field trips, team building exercises, school scavenger hunts, and presentations about high school.

This year, 1,400 sixth graders at 11 DCPS TItle I schools are enrolled in a sixth grade academy.

The transition from elementary school to middle school has been described as the most significant shift for students in K-12 edu-

cation, due to expanded campus size and course load, changing interactions with teachers and new academic expectations. This stage has been designated by the American Psychological Association as a period when young people develop decision-making abilities and make more inferences about their world.

At Stuart-Hobson, Hills has set her sights on identifying students’ areas of strength and ensuring that they have mastered algebra by the eighth grade. She said that Ferebee, Dohmann, Fraser, DCPS instructional superintendent Harry Hughes, sixth grade teachers and parents are part of a team that will pour into students from every angle.

Hills, formerly a Rigorous Instruction Supports Equity (RISE) principal at Turner Elementary School in Southeast, told the Informer that fostering a relationship with students will lay the foundation for the results she hopes to achieve in her role.

“When students are loved, they will soar to higher heights,” Hills said. “This begins with connecting with students daily [with] a genuine check-in to learn about their night and plans. They have imaginations [so] we’re aligning their strengths to their goals so they can compete in a global marketplace to design innovative technology that will continue to support us.”

At Johnson Middle School in Southeast, Rashida Young has sim-

ilar goals for her sixth graders.

Young, the sixth grade academy assistant principal at Johnson Middle School, told the Informer that each sixth grader will be paired with a Panther adult champion. Additionally, each sixth grader will have an opportunity to join a Future Ready Academy that takes them through either an arts, sports management or STEM pathway. For Young, such support will better ensure that students are equipped with the tools needed for academic success while in middle school. Areas of focus include increasing in-seat attendance and student growth in math and reading, and seeing to it that more students have a sense of belonging, as expressed in what’s called the Panorama Survey.

“One common barrier sixth grade students often experience entering middle school is making new friends and lack of organizational skills. In knowing this, collectively my team intentionally planned Unit 0 to promote building and sustaining healthy relationships, self-efficacy, and we've incorporated morning hallway huddles to build community,” said Young, a former DCPS Connected Schools manager.

“These past four days have been amazing to watch as our eager sixth graders begin to thrive using strategies their teachers have embedded in their lessons using the Leader in Me curriculum.” WI @SamPKCollins

5 DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee referees a tug-of-war game between groups of sixth graders at Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Northeast. Stuart-Hobson Middle School counts among 11 District public schools hosting a sixth grade academy.

(Courtesy Photo/ DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee/@DCPSChancellor)

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Sankofa Homeschool Collective Enters 20th Year

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Within a matter of months, the Sankofa Homeschool Collective will commemorate its 20th year of existence.

Since its inception in 2004, the small group of Black stay-at-home mothers who decided to homeschool their children has grown into a community with roots not only in the D.C. metropolitan region, but across the United States and on the African continent.

Sankofa Homeschool Collective co-founder Monica Utsey called her homeschool journey, and that of other parents in the collective, a testament to the power of community and self-determination in a society where children are often kept away from their parents for hours at a time.

“What we did was a bold move in unchartered territory that was motivated by deep love,” Utsey said.

“We had already done something out of the norm, which was being home with our children,” she added. “Some of us realized we enjoyed being with our children, educating them,and taking them to theaters, nature centers, and storytimes at libraries. We just wanted to continue that so we decided to formalize it as a community.”

Sankofa

Ebbs and Flows through COVID, Other Developments

During the week of Sept. 18, homeschool families will participate in another year of African-centered, culturally relevant instruction, courtesy of the Sankofa Homeschool Collective, which Utsey

SANKOFA Page 31

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5 Since its inception in 2004, the Sankofa Homeschool Collective had worked to educate students through African-centered, culturally relevant instruction. (Courtesy Photo)

SANKOFA from Page 30

and others have described more as a community than an alternative school.

Early on in Sankofa Homeschool Collective’s existence, mothers and fathers of various political and religious backgrounds met at Deanwood Recreation Center in Northeast. That’s where dozens of children and parents, some of whom served as instructors, met weekly to immerse in studies about core academic subjects and more specialized areas of knowledge.

By 2015, the collective moved operations to Adinkra Cultural Arts Studio in Mt. Rainier, Maryland where African drumming became the newest part of a course selection that included Pan-African history, African-American literature, Swahili, narrative essay writing, cooking, art and quilting.

In 2019, many Sankofa students and their families traveled to Ghana to showcase their drumming skills during Year of Return activities that attracted legions of diasporic Africans to the West African country. Soon after, COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill and relegated the Sankofa Homeschool Collective to the virtual realm.

The shift to virtual instruction allowed Sankofa Homeschool Collective to expand program offerings and reach families outside of the D.C. metropolitan area who wouldn’t have been able to participate otherwise. This happened at a time when Black families across the U.S. were increasingly embracing alternatives to public and public charter schools.

As homeschooling moves beyond the margins of society, the Sankofa Homeschool Collective maintains its online presence

and continues to offer enriching in-person and virtual activities for children and families.

This fall, parents have organized field trips to a self-defense class, a CPR class, a radio station tour, the Apollo Theatre in New York City, and the Audubon Speedway near Baltimore, among other places. Meanwhile, students between the ages of six and 10 years old get to learn literary devices and storytelling while exploring African myths and culture.

In another virtual class, students decolonize the various fields of science to develop a better understanding of their relationship with self and the environment. Alumni of the homeschool program have even returned as teachers, as has been the case with Zaire Muhammad and Adoniyah Ben-Tsalmiel who are teaching about chess and comic books, respectively.

Trishay Young, a homeschool mother in her first semester at Sankofa Homeschool Collective, will teach young people how to focus on their goals and keep calm amid chaos in their lives. She said her work with mothers and children in Tallahassee inspired this course, which she has taught at other homeschools in the U.S.

Over the last four years, Young, who’s known in her homeschool community as Mama Yata, has embraced homeschooling as a means of protecting her two children from what she described as an infringement on their innocence.

Young said her class, titled “Principles of Problem Solving,” aims to prevent the perpetuation of intergenerational trauma that manifests itself in violent crime.

“I’m trying to do something different so we can have outstanding adults, and not children in adult bodies,” said Young, a resident of Tallahassee. WI

It makes me proud because we’re doing the right things for people.

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Texas Republicans Show The Party’s True Colors EDITORIAL

This summer, a quiet saga has been playing out in Texas that I think more people should know about. To my mind, it dismisses the exhausted line I hear so often whenever folks talk about national politics: “Democrats, Republicans, they’re all the same.”

The stage is set in Austin and Dallas—two urban blue spots in the sea of red voters who keep re-electing Senator Ted “Heads-to-Cancun-While-My-State-Freezes” Cruz. Both cities have laws requiring 10-minute breaks every four hours for construction workers to drink water and protect themselves from the sun.

In the middle of a June week of triple-digit temperatures, Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed a state law eliminating those rules. Actually, it would limit Texas cities’ ability to pass or enforce almost any progressive laws without state authorization—and, though it was set to take effect Sept. 1, it remains in legal limbo after a state judge ruled it unconstitutional.

Leaving aside the hypocrisy of Republicans fighting for “states’ rights” but against cities’ “home rule,” getting rid of water break requirements during the hottest summer ever recorded on Earth is sheer madness.

Out of all the states, Texas holds the #1 spot for the most workers who die from hot temperatures—at least 42 workers died in Texas between 2011 and 2021 from environmental heat exposure, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Republican proponents of this law say that patchwork local ordinances cause headaches for business owners. How can folks possibly be expected to make a profit without killing a few dozen workers here and there?!

In San Antonio, the city council had been preparing to adopt its own water break rules. After Texas passed this law, San Antonio scaled its efforts back: the local ordinance, which requires 15-minute breaks every four hours when the heat index reaches 95 degrees or hotter, now only applies to city contractors.

This fight in Texas illustrates with blazing clarity the difference between the Democratic and Republican parties. Texas Republicans are willing to turn a blind eye to working-class people, or common sense, if it means throwing a bone to businesses. And if you think that doesn’t matter— tell it to a construction worker in San Antonio after their fifth hour under the sun. WI

The Customer is Not Always Right How We Can All Learn to Keep it Pushing

I was enjoying an outdoor lunch in Virginia Beach on Labor Day Monday, when I heard the couple at a table close to me get in a squabble with a server, who then brought in the manager to help solve the misunderstanding.

To be honest I couldn’t hear the entire debate. There was some disagreement about taco shells, returning food to the kitchen, and how to proceed with payment. I couldn’t hear how everything was rectified, but after the server and manager walked away the couple still maintained their annoyed grumbles.

Eventually, I heard one of the diners say, clear as day, “the customer is always right.”

I admit, that’s a sentiment I’ve heard before, but having briefly worked in service and knowing many loved ones who still do, that statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Now, don’t get me wrong. I get the idea behind the very false statement— employees should work to please paying customers or clients. Moreover, anyone should want to do good work at their jobs and so those serving others should want to make their clients happy.

That said, some people are straight up wrong for a number of reasons. Often being wrong roots from a lack of clarity or confusion. Miscommunication is a thing we all deal with. And I can think of times where the business or an employee was straight up wrong or unreasonable. But, there are also times where customers can be loud and apologize and other times they’re the ones majorly wrong.

The diners who believed the customer is always right, were wrong by being rude to the staff and using profanity. Nor was their behavior adult like or right when storming out in anger.

After the incident, I heard the couple at one of the server’s other tables remark on how wonderful of an employee she was, and how the diners were “wrong.” She humbly accepted their words and said, “Hey, we just try to keep it pushing.”

That’s when it dawned on me, even when the couple challenged her, she kept her cool, helped the other guests, and kept it pushing.

For all I know, the server wanted to scream insid, but on the outside, she appeared professional, calm, and accommodating.

While I know we might not always agree with all employees when conducting business, watching that interaction offered two takeaways I’d like to give you.

1. The customer is not always right. Even if we feel like we’re right, let’s find reasonable ways to get to an agreement before resorting to an attitude or criticizing an employee or business.

2. When someone tests your professionalism, maintain your cool and keep it pushing. WI

I had never heard of the longtime LGBTQIA+ Activist Phillip Pannell until last week's issue. Thanks, Washington Informer, for sharing his story and documenting Black history!

Janine

Hunter

Washington, DC

TO THE EDITOR

The creativity and artisticness of the WI Bridge never fails to amaze me. Kudos to the talented staff, showcasing the best of the District and the DMV area.

Leticia Trapp Washington,

DC

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Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

When Will We Raise the Minimum Wage?

22 states are stuck on exploitation and refuse to raise their minimum wage.

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. Several states have a higher minimum, but a predictable few, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Alabama, are stuck at that low minimum. If the minimum wage kept up with inflation, it would be at least $10 an hour today. However,

Restaurant workers get even shorter shrift. The minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour, which means they are expected to earn up to the minimum wage or more with their tips. But tips are discretionary and arbitrary; sometimes people tip the expected 15 to 20 percent, and sometimes they don't. How can they eke out a living wage on other people's arbitrary judgment? Were they likable?

Guest Columnist

cery store in Buffalo.

Friendly? Kind? It doesn't matter. Did you get your food? Was it hot and delivered in a timely way? If I had my way, I'd charge enough for food to pay workers properly. Tipping is a practice that harkens back to enslavement. People should be paid for their work and not have to skin and grin to make a living wage. In the wake of Labor Day, though, it makes sense to consider how workers experience exploitation and what we must do about it. Workers around the country are resisting exploitation, whether it is

Hollywood writers or on university campuses. As of this writing, the United Auto Workers is on the cusp of a strike, which will have significant repercussions for our economy. A United Parcel Service Strike was narrowly averted, and it, too, would have weakened the economy. With labor productivity up, workers are unwilling to settle for paltry 2-3% annual increases when food and gas prices are rising by 5% and 6%. There seems to be no willingness to increase wages to keep workers "even," and Presi-

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

On Saturday, Aug. 26, three African Americans were murdered by a 21-year-old white gunman at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, who then shot himself. The murderer was motivated, Jacksonville Sheriff T K Waters reported, by an "ideology of hate." The shooting took place 15 months after 10 African Americans were murdered in another racially motivated shooting at a gro-

Racial violence against Blacks has scarred America since the first slaves were forcibly shipped to America. The Jacksonville murders, for example, took place one day after the 63d anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday, where 200 Ku Klux Klan members armed with ax handles attacked Blacks holding a peaceful sit-in to protest segregation in Jacksonville.

Sadly, the Jacksonville shooting occurred on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, when Martin Luther King summoned Americans to

Guest Columnist

unions shows.

his "dream" of a society of equal justice under the law, in which children would be judged "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

This history — of hate and hope — continues to this day. Each movement toward racial equality in this country has been met with a fierce and violent reaction. After the bloody Civil War, the 13th Amendment was passed abolishing slavery, and America began a brief period of reconstruction for the defeated Confederate states. Against great resistance, African Americans

Lee Saunders

gained not only their freedom, but the right to vote, to serve on juries, to own property and to retain their families. In some Southern states, multi-racial reform coalitions took power, redrafting state constitutions, providing for public education, and launching efforts to rebuild the economy.

That progress was met with a reign of racial terror, including literally thousands of lynchings. The Ku Klux Klan and other terrorist groups, often led by the plantation elite, murdered with impunity. White sheriffs helped cover up the crimes; white juries and judges

dent Biden, with his "Bidenomics" seems to see the big picture, but not the small one. People are hurting, and employers are pocketing profits and exploiting workers.

The Institute for Policy Studies released a report, Executive Excess 2023, in which they highlight the 100 companies that have the lowest pay and the greater ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay. Some of these companies have federal contracts, which means when they offer low pay to workers, they

MALVEAUX Page 61

ensured that any accused would go free.

When the federal government withdrew even the limited protection that had been offered the freed slaves, the holocaust spread. The Black vote was suppressed by violence, destroying the reform coalitions. Millions of Blacks fled north in a mass migration. The terror lynchings and violence enforced the imposition of segregation across the South. The reaction culminated in a reactionary Supreme Court

As we celebrated Labor Day, it was an exciting a time as any in recent memory to be a part of a union. Working people are seeing what the union difference is all about, and they want to be a part of it.

Unions are overwhelmingly popular as the newest Gallup poll on attitudes toward labor

Across the country, there is a bold surge of worker activism, as more people raise their voice on the job and claim their seat at the table. Workers are organizing with renewed vigor and winning some of our best contracts in decades. In the cultural sector, for example, 6,000 workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions have joined AFSCME since 2019. Municipal workers in New Orleans — a part of the country that hasn't histor-

ically been labor-friendly — won collective bargaining rights this summer.

In city after city, we are seeing that same energy and enthusiasm during local job fairs that AFSCME is sponsoring as part of “Staff the Front Lines” — our new initiative to recruit qualified people for vacancies in public service. Job seekers are flocking to these hiring events in droves — nearly 200 people showed up in Philadelphia on a recent Monday afternoon.

They have heard our message that public service jobs are good jobs that can support a family and provide a career path. These are very often union jobs that come with strong protections, plus a unique sense of solidarity and fellowship with your co-workers. You get excellent benefits, including a pension so you can one day retire with dignity. These are also jobs with a purpose that allow you to make a difference in the lives of your neighbors.

Our strategy is working. Af-

ter a huge drop in public sector employment during the pandemic, we are seeing a bounce-back, especially in places where we enjoy strong partnerships with employers. Those best-in-decades contracts we're negotiating are helping retain valued public service workers. And many employers are making steady progress bringing in new people who want to do work that strengthens their communities, while enjoy-

'History Cannot Be Unlived'

Guest Columnist

What Happened to Governor Kemp?

Before Brian Kemp became Georgia's governor, he served as secretary of state. At that time, Greg Palast told us the story of who Brian Kemp was. The article Palast wrote was "Voting Gangnam Style: The New Kim Crow in Georgia." We already knew about Jim Crow. The article did not show Mr. Kemp in a positive light. At that time, he noticed

that Asian Americans had begun to register in big numbers and apparently, they were not expected to vote for Kemp's Republicans. Palast's investigation was on how Georgia's Secretaries of State had increased the old Jim Crow tactics against Asian Americans. He called it the "New Jim Crow." At the time, Asians were the fastest-growing population in Georgia and had been voting for Republicans, but something caused them to change their minds.

Just a note of intrigue! Asians began doing a new thing. They

Guest Columnist

were registering Asian voters big-time. They turned in the registrations and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation raided their office. Their registrations were questioned. Leaders of the voters registered was a woman who made copies of the registrations as a backup to know who had registered. When she checked with the Office of the Secretary of State, the leaders were told there was no record of those registrations! When they were told they had copies of the registrations, they were told that

A. Peter Bailey

making such a copy was illegal!

What could be wrong? Well, along the way, Asians had fallen in love with a Democrat and they voted 73% for Barack Obama! The influx of Asians suddenly voting for Democrats became a problem for Republicans. Stacey Abrams was running a great race, and she appeared to be well on her way to possibly becoming governor. Now, guess who then was the secretary of state and gubernatorial hopeful — and would have had a problem with Stacey's candidacy. Yes, the secretary of

Brother MLK Jr., a Great Warrior and Master Teacher

commentary acknowledging the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.

In a 2020 column published in The Washington Informer and several other Black newspapers, my headline stated that Black folks should honor Brother Martin Luther King Jr., as a warrior and master teacher; not a dreamer. At the risk of being repetitious, I am making that request again after seeing, hearing and reading

It was extremely annoying to hear way too many speakers and news organizations in 2023 repeatedly describing Brother Martin as a dreamer. For instance, in its Aug. 27, 2023, issue, The Washington Post, one of the most influential newspapers in this country, included an article with the headline, "An oral history of the rally, 60 years after King's dream." Another article in the

Guest Columnist

Power of the Tongue

offer "thoughts and prayers."

same issue was titled, "Thousands signal a rededication to civil rights on Mall: At anniversary of 1963 march, speakers voice threats to King's dream." An article by President Joe Biden in the paper's Aug. 28, 2023, issue was titled, "We must keep on marching towards Dr. King's dream."

The kind of treatment of Brother Martin, a warrior against White supremacy, is probably shared by most Whites in the country and, unfortunately way too many Black folks. My suggestion is that

all of them pay more attention to the Brother Martin who said the following about the absolute necessity for Black unity in the battle to promote and protect our human rights: "A second important step that the Negro must take is to work passionately for group identity. … Group unity can do infinitely more to liberate the negro than any action of individuals. We have been oppressed as a group and we must overcome that oppression as a group." That's a call for Black unity as strong as those

state at the time was Brian Kemp! Let's move all the way up to Aug. 31, 2023. Gov. Brian Kemp suddenly became the sensible, logical politician (and we are glad he did), but his new position gave us pause when he sat at his desk, seemingly looking over a proposed bill from his legislature that would've attempted to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from overseeing the prosecution of Donald Trump! Shocking to many of us, it didn't

WILLIAMS Page 62

by Brother Marcus Garvey and Brother Malcolm X.

On the critical issue of economics, Brother Martin was also way more than a dreamer. "Black power is a call for pooling of Black financial resources to achieve economic security. … Although the Negro is still at the bottom of the economy, his collective annual income is upwards of $30 billion. This gives him a considerable buying power that can make

BAILEY Page 62

As we endure one mass shooting crisis to the next, it illustrates the nation's void in leadership. We look to our elected officials to fulfill their oaths of office to protect the public because a person is only as good as their word. Words also have consequences — good and bad. Following a mass shooting, politicians often

For those who believe in the power of prayer, "thoughts and prayers" is a sincere act of empathy, compassion, and condolence. Unfortunately, disingenuous words repeated by politicians have produced more pain, anger, and bitterness than support and comfort. In the aftermath of one mass shooting after the next, the nation has grown frustrated with lawmakers sending "thoughts and prayers." The words have become empty and hollow lip service

when not backed by sincere action through meaningful gun legislation.

2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more than 50 people in the U.S. are killed daily by a firearm. Statistics that support that America is one of the deadliest and most violent nations in the world have failed to move enough lawmakers to care to legislate change. Mass shootings and gun violence are compounded by the political power battles fought between gun

control advocates and those who are aggressive in protecting the right to bear arms.

The NRA finances many lawmakers who fiercely oppose banning assault weapons, and those politicians are more likely to be the same public officials who engage in dog-whistle messages concerning race, thereby creating and perpetuating an environment of racial and religious intolerance and hate. When you have an isolated person inspired by the use of semi-automatic rifles in previous

mass shootings, emboldened by a politician's anti-woke/anti-Black messaging, and finally, controlled by their mental illness, the lethal combination creates a person like Ryan Palmeter, who on Aug. 26, 2023, carried out a racially motivated shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, by opening fire in a Dollar General store, killing three people before killing himself. The gunman's father said his son had stopped taking psychiatric med-

MARSHALL Page 62

David W. Marshall

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.)

LIFESTYLE

Things To Do, DMV!

Welcome to The Washington Informer’s Things to Do, DMV! Here, we feature just a taste of the best events in and around the DMV, which you can always find on the Washington Informer Calendar to guarantee you always know what’s good and your weekends stay lit.

Thursday, Sept. 7

Joy Clark at The Kennedy Center / 6:00 p.m. Free with ticket

Singer-songwriter and musician Joy Clark has been compared favorably to musical legend Tracy Chapman. Coincidentally, as the DC JazzFest wraps up, she is coming off a star-making performance at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Don’t miss your chance to catch an ascending star for free.

District Improv Festival: 9th District Improv Festival

7:00 p.m. - 10:15 p.m. Multiple dates and showtimes $15

As television writers' strike continues, are you running out of Netflix shows? Live entertainment should provide a quick fix with long-form improv comedy acts from all over the country descending on D.C. for the 9th annual District Improv Festival.

Headliner Hines and Wood have spent time with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, famous for sending writers and performers to Saturday Night Live.

Friday, Sept. 8

Live! Concert Series on the Plaza / 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free

Summer is almost over although the heat this week makes it feel like it is reluctant to say goodbye. Nevertheless, bring a fan and enjoy summer's last gasp with a free summer lunchtime show featuring D.C.’s own go-go band RareEssence.

Presented by the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center the every weekday, free summer series has just a few dates left so enjoy!

Grease with a side of Mumbo Sauce / 7:00 p.m. $60-$125.00

“Grease with a Side of Mumbo Sauce” is a reimagining of the classic musical “Grease” with a “Go-Go twist” according the play’s author Dr. Lovail M. Long Sr. Long’s theater company DC Black Broadway includes several talents from across the region, including members of go-go bands and Duke Ellington School of the Art Alumni so this production is D.C. through and through!

Saturday, Sept. 9

1A Fest / 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Free with RSVP

While some political experts argue the First Amendment is on rocky ground, luckily, some enterprising folks have put together the 1A or First Amendment festival to remind us what’s at stake.

Presented by the Freedom Forum, this all day festival at The Wharf will feature live comedy, free food, live music and more.

Digable Planets: Reachin' 30th Anniversary Tour / 6:00 p.m. $45.00

Are you “cool like dat?” If you are, there is only one place to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Digable Planets’ 1993 debut album, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), featuring the hit song “Rebirth of Slick (Cool like Dat).

Thirty years later and many of the group’s fans and music lovers alike say, Digable Planets still sounds ahead of their time and ours.

Sunday, Sept. 10

2023 DC State Fair / 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Just because we’re not (yet) a state doesn’t mean we can’t have a state fair! That would be even more un-fair. (Ba-dum-bum!)

What is fair however, is enjoying yourself as you taste your way through the competitions at the DC State Fair to find the tastiest mumbo sauce, best honey, best pie, and best homebrew among the 30 or so contests.

Washington Commanders v Arizona Cardinals

1:00 p.m. Ticket prices range.

Daniel Snyder is gone and Washington fans feel like football has officially come back to D.C. With new players, new coaching staff, and new ownership, the Commanders seem prime to be a force in the DMV. The game has already been announced as a sell out, but there are still a few tickets on Ticketmaster and, for the first time in years, the resale market will be hot.

See you next week!

Remember you can submit your own events for free through the Washington Informer Calendar self-serve portal. See you in the streets! WI

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Sean “Diddy” Combs Gifts Back Publishing Rights to Bad Boy Artists

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Sean “Diddy” Combs has gifted his Bad Boy family with life-changing anniversary gifts. According to Billboard, the music mogul has decided to return the publishing rights of his label’s artists and songwriters to their rightful owners.

The move resulted in Bad Boy Entertainment’s host of creatives quickly signing agreements to regain control of their intellectual property. Ma$e, Faith Evans, The LOX, 112, and the Estate of the Notorious B.I.G. are among those who have already inked deals to reclaim their rights, as per Billboard. Combs started the process in May 2021 to sell the catalog, but the details of the arrangements are still unknown.

For years, the administration of publishing on behalf of Bad Boy was entrusted to EMI, a subsidiary of Sony Music Publishing/Sony Corporation of America. Notably, EMI still

handles Combs’ publishing.

Providing artists with publishing rights could mean tens of millions of dollars for their bottom line, as sales of publishing have steadily increased over the years. For example, Dr. Dre recently sold his catalog for more than $300 million, and Justin Bieber netted north of $200 million.

This generous move by Combs coincides with the 30th anniversary celebration of Bad Boy Entertainment this year. The decision follows a longstanding public feud between Combs and Ma$e, one of Bad Boy’s hitmakers. The rift arose when Combs criticized the Recording Academy during his 2020 Industry Icon Award acceptance speech for undervaluing Black artists in R&B and rap. Ma$e confronted his former label boss in an Instagram post. He revealed that he offered $2 million to buy back his publishing, but Combs said no.

Ma$e further alleged, “Your past business practices knowingly have continued to starve your artist purposely and have been

extremely unfair to the very same artist that helped [you] obtain that Icon Award on the iconic Bad Boy label.”

The post shed light on long-standing grievances, including Combs retaining Ma$e’s publishing rights from 24 years ago in exchange for a mere $20,000.

In a later interview with The Breakfast Club in 2022, Combs stated that Ma$e owed him $3 million for an album advance that was never received.

Bad Boy Entertainment, founded by Combs in 1993, has enjoyed a storied history in the music industry. The label quickly became successful, with many albums and singles that went gold, platinum, or multi-platinum. The artists included Craig Mack, the Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Ma$e, Total, 112, The LOX, and Diddy himself. Over the years, the label’s illustrious roster has also featured talents like Carl Thomas, Shyne, Dream, Danity

Kane, and French Montana. Additionally, it housed an inhouse writer and producer collective known as The Hitmen, which included notable figures like the late Chucky Thompson, Stevie J, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Mario Winans. Recent releases under the Bad Boy banner include Machine Gun Kelly’s 2022 album “Mainstream Sellout” and Janelle Monae’s latest offering, “The Age of Pleasure.” WI @StacyBrownMedia

5 Sean "Diddy" Combs (Reckless Dream Photography via Wikimedia Commons)

Music From Legends and New Talent at the 2023 DC Jazz Festival

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

With performances from five National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters, up-close-andpersonal “Meet the Artist” conversations, and the music of popular Grammy award-winning artists Gregory Porter and Samara Joy, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, D.C. was the place to be for jazz.

DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is an organization offering year-round appreciation and support of jazz, however there is the DC JazzFest, this year held Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, which is held annually at several venues around D.C., including the piers at the Southwest Wharf.

A GLOBAL AFFAIR

In keeping with an international view of jazz, this year's festival opening night concert and reception was at the House of Sweden, a venue at the Embassy of Sweden. Performers were the Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio from Iceland and D.C.'s own The String Queens.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, attendees were entertained by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble on the District Pier stage.

On Sunday, Etienne Charles took audiences to his native Trinidad with his group Creole Soul. NEA Jazz Master bassist Dave Holland from Great Britain played a hard-driving set on Sunday, Sept. 3, with drummer Eric Harland and guitarist Kevin Eubanks, former Tonight Show bandleader.

EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER

DCJF took a new approach to staging performances and showcasing artists that spanned multiple generations. The “Generations Series” was curated by pianist Orrin Evans, DCJF’s artist-in-residence.

On Aug. 31, five generations of pianists performed at Arena Stage and then participated in a talkback session led by Sonny Sumter, president and CEO of DCJF. Veteran pianists George Cables, Benny Green, and Evans were joined by emerging pianists Shamie Royston and Hope Udobi. Each pianist, who are also composers, played three songs accompanied by

the rhythm section with Kris Funn on bass and Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums.

The Generation Series will continue in the fall with another component of jazz.

“This evening was really special for me because I got to see all these young people,” said Cables. “I can see the future of this family is not in any danger. It’s great, and I am blessed to be a part of this family.”

COMPETITION FEATURES UP AND COMING ARTISTS

Three bands competed for a $15,000 prize in the DC JazzPrix Finals held at Union Stage on Saturday, Sept. 2. The bands were Birckhead from Baltimore, Ember from Brooklyn, New York, and New Jazz Underground from New York, New York. A panel of judges picked New Jazz Underground as this year’s winner.

Juilliard classmates, New Jazz Underground, includes saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, bassist Sebastian Rios, and drummer TJ Reddick.

Winning $15,000 was monumental for the trio.

“This enables us to do our first official record,” bassist Rios said. “We have a YouTube channel that has been finished by DIY (do it yourself). We will now take what we have to another level.

To add to the competition, Executive Director of the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities Aaron My-

ers hosted the DC JazzPrix. During set changes, Myers kept the audience engaged with his great humor, piano skills and singing.

MOVING TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL

Vibraphonist Warren Wolf took the audience to school with his Saturday, Sept. 2 evening session, “History of the Vibes.”

He began by stating his instrument is not a xylophone but a vibraphone. Wolf and his group ran through the list of vibraphonists by performing songs recorded by each artist on the list. That list featured Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, and Roy Ayers.

“I wanted to tell people a little more about my instrument. Many have only heard of Lionel or Roy Ayers,” said Wolf, who teaches at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and the San Francisco Conservatory. Award-winning pianist, composer and music director Mark G. Meadows, well-known in the D.C. area for his work with Signature Theatre and Strathmore, performed selections from his forthcoming album “Only Time.”

He also announced that he will be a part of the Broadway production of “The Outsiders” based on the 1983 movie of the same name. WI @bcscomm

5 The New York-based trio New Jazz Underground won the JazzPrix at DC JazzFest. Presenting the $15,000 check was (L-R) Aaron Myers, executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, a festival sponsor, with trio members saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, bassist Sebastian Rios, and drummer TJ Reddick. (Ja’Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

Celebrating Duke Ellington 125

Throughout the 2023-2024 season, the Kennedy Center commemorates Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday with institution-wide celebrations across Jazz, Dance, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Cyrus Chestnut: Duke Ellington Sacred Concert

APR. 29, 2024 | CONCERT HALL

Jason Moran – Solo Ellington

APR. 10, 2024 | EISENHOWER THEATER

Duke Ellington Orchestra

MAR. 15, 2024 | TERRACE THEATER

Tomeka Reid, Celebrating Ellington

APR. 24, 2024 | TERRACE THEATER

Three Keys to Ellington: Justin Kauflin, José André

Montaño, Matthew Whitaker

APR. 26, 2024 | TERRACE THEATER

Kennedy-Center.org

A Z J Z

Joshua Redman Group featuring Gabrielle Cavassa where are we Tour

OCT. 3, 2023 | TERRACE THEATER

Charles Tolliver presents Africa/ Brass featuring Camille Thurman & Howard University’s Afro Blue

OCT. 21, 2023 | TERRACE THEATER

NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas: Melvis Santana & more

DEC. 2, 2023 | TERRACE THEATER

A Jazz New Year’s Eve: Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force

DEC. 31, 2023 | TERRACE THEATER

2023–2024 Season

Jason Moran, Artistic Director

Linda May Han Oh, The Glass Hours

FEB. 17, 2024 | THE CLUB AT STUDIO K

Allison Miller and Myra Melford’s Lux Quartet

FEB. 22, 2024 | THE CLUB AT STUDIO K

Clarence Penn, Penn Station

MAR. 16, 2024 | THE CLUB AT STUDIO K

Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival 2024

MAY 10 & 11, 2024 | TERRACE THEATER

Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran: Family Ball

JUNE 7, 2024 | TERRACE THEATER

Thanks to our Sponsor: The Buffy and William Cafritz Family Foundation

Ernesto Galan

Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran

Jazzmeia Horn

Cyrus Chesnut

Documentary About Keeping Land within Black Families Gives Hope

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

“Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land” is an inspiring contemporary documentary about families who pulled together to keep their family land. The movie was an “Official Entry” for the 2023 DC Black Film Festival (DCBFF) held recently at the Miracle Theater in Southeast, D.C.

Early in this film, a startling revelation is exposed: stories reveal many Black people may want nothing to do with taking over and maintaining their family land. The history of Black people and working the land is not pleasant, expressed Danita Mason-Hogans, an award-winning civil rights historian, educator, speaker, writer, and activist.

FOR EVERY GENERATION. THIS IS WHY WE WALK.

“The land is not oppressive,” Mason-Hogans said in the film, trying to separate the history of slavery from the value of family land.

HOW BLACK PEOPLE LOST THEIR LAND

Award-winning executive producer and director Eternal Polk assembled multiple scenarios showing how Black families can recoup land that may have been lost for various reasons. Black farmers in the United States lost nearly 90 % of their farmland during the 20th century.

Violence, eminent domain, and government discrimination played a part, but a little-known issue called “heirs’ property” also devastated Black land ownership. Heirs' property refers to land passed to family members by inheritance without a clear title. That has led to shared ownership, vulnerabilities to outsiders taking over, and prevents families from building generational wealth.

“There’s been this incredible loss of generational wealth,” said Al Roker, co-executive producer of “Gaining Ground” and NBC Today Show anchor and meteorologist during a segment on NBC Washington.

“We decided to take a look at the historical nature of this, what the problem is and the people who are trying to correct it.”

MAKING “GAINING GROUND”

This is Polk’s first feature-length film. People featured in this documentary have been working to correct the land ownership problem, as seen through instructive mini-case studies in “Gaining Ground.”

“I hope at the end of this film that folks are inspired to help others gain land, creating a legacy for our families,” said Polk at DCBFF.

Through networking with other people in the film industry, he and co-executive producer Roker brought in John Deere– the farm

equipment company is a leading partner on this important film about generational wealth.

The company created a program to help Black farmers and landowners get clear titles to their land. John Deere makes a strong statement through their involvement with “Gaining Ground.”

The involvement of John Deere in this film is interesting since there has been friction between the company and Black farmers over the past few years.

“We’re not going to just give some money and just walk away,” Polk was told by John Deere. The company further said, “We’re going to create something that’s lasting, sustainable, and can have an impact in perpetuity.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR BLACK LAND OWNERSHIP?

“Gaining Ground” has received positive acclaim at several film festivals. The producers of the film are currently pursuing wider distribution for the documentary. As for John Deere, they will continue supporting methods for heirs’ property and other methods to help Black farmers. The Biden-Harris administration recently announced a $2.2 billion initiative providing aid to Black farmers.

Speaking on behalf of John Deere at DCBFF about “Gaining Ground” was Collis R. Jones, vice president of the U.S. Policy & Strategy for John Deere Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. To view short clips from

“Clearing title to heirs’ property land is the most important thing we can do,” said Jones. “How do you take that land to make money for you? It unlocks economic value. Those are the things that are important to us.” View short clips from “Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land” on the film’s website at https://gaininggroundthefilm.com

5 DC Black Film Festival (DCBFF) showed the documentary “Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land” at the Miracle Theater in southeast DC. A Q&A session followed with (L-R) Kevin Sampson, founder/director of DCBFF, Eternal Polk, co-executive producer/director of the film and Collis R. Jones, vice president of US Policy & Strategy for John Deere Public Affairs. (Brenda C. Siler/The Washington Informer)

Michelle Phipps Evans Cooks, Teaches Her Culture

Writer Praises Trinidad & Tobago Roots

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

In the District, Michelle Phipps Evans is known as a writer of news and culture for local publications and working at the D.C. Department of Transportation, but her side hustle as a chef is also gaining popularity for the tastiness of her native country’s dishes and the efforts to teach others how to cook them.

Evans, 52, is the proprietor of Vickey’s Trinidad & Tobago Kitchen. Her food company specializes in the cuisine of her native Trinidad & Tobago.

“The name of my company is in homage to my mother, Victoria Lanfong Gene Phipps,” she said. “My mother was an excellent cook and I used to watch her work. She knew how to cook good curry chicken as well as Chinese food. I am part Chinese.

“One day I was in the kitchen with my sister and my mother said, ‘Michelle knows how to clean well but she can’t cook,’ She then proceeded to teach me how to prepare meals and cook them right.”

Evans said Trinidad & Tobago’s popular cuisine consists of jerk chicken, stew chicken and Chinese food.

mix up the food,” she said. “Trinidad & Tobago has a majority Black African population, but we have a lot of what we call here in the United States, South Asians. There are [also] a number of Chinese in Trinidad & Tobago, my grandfather was Chinese.

Evans said Trinidad and Tobago food tends to be a mixture of all the foods from the country’s different cultures and races. She made it clear that food from her country is different from other Caribbean nations.

“Our curry chicken is different from Jamaican curry chicken,” Evans said, noting the Jamaicans season their food in another manner.

EVANS GOES INTO BUSINESS

A resident of the Hillcrest neighborhood in Ward 7, Evans decided to try out the cooking lessons she learned in Trinidad and Tobago outside of her family in 2011. One of her daughters attended Maury Elementary School in Northeast and Evans was active as a parent.

To fulfill her role in the school’s fundraising campaign, Maury at The Market, Evans cooked cuisine from Trinidad and Tobago and offered an ancillary cooking class for

“The food and the cooking class went well,” Evans said, noting that a growing and loyal following among some of the parents developed.

She participated in the Maury at The Market event until 2019, when her youngest daughter finished there. At that point, she decided to take her cooking and teaching to another level.

“I decided to participate in Dreaming Out Loud in 2020 that is led by Chef Chris Bradshaw,” Evans said. “I learned a lot there.

It was there that I learned how to develop a business idea. I also met Chef Furard Tate there, too.”

Tate presently serves as the senior director of business development at the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL). He leads the nonprofit’s By Our Hands Cohort. Evans said Tate brought her into the 2023 cohort and she completed it. For her efforts, Evans received a $10,000 grant from the GWUL and its sponsors.

“I am so grateful for the $10,000,” she said. “It will be used

to develop my business. I may consider opening a food truck. However, I will continue to cook and teach classes and I want to get the word out about that.”

Tate supports Evans’s aspirations in entrepreneurship and likes her approach to food.

“You can taste the love of her culture in every bite of her food,” he said. “By eating Michelle’s food, you recapture the essence of her ancestors.”

WI @JamesWrightJr10

Did you know that you can recycle paint in the District?

Residents can recycle paint at one of the following events:

RFK Stadium Lot 3 - 2400 E Capitol St NE

- Saturday, September 16, 2023 (7am-2pm)

- Thursday, September 21, 2023 (10am-2pm)

- Thursday, October 12, 2023 (10am-2pm)

- Saturday, October 21, 2023 (7am-2pm)

Paint drop-off locations & free pick-up for over 5 gallons are also available year-round.

For more information visit: paintcare.org/dc

doee.dc.gov

5 Michelle Phipps Evans (left) with her mother Victoria Lanfong Gene Phipps, who serves as the inspiration for Vickey's Trinidad & Tobago Kitchen. (Courtesy photo/Michelle Phipps Evans)

Herb Boyd: A Lifetime of Activism, Writing, and Legacy

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Herb Boyd, a stalwart of American journalism, education, and activism, has spent his life elevating the narratives of the African American community. Born on November 1, 1938, in Birmingham, Alabama, Boyd’s journey led him from the turbulent racial tensions of Detroit, Michigan, to becoming a celebrated figure in academia and writing.

His life is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a generation that stood up for civil rights and social change. Further, his connection to Malcolm X, a transformative leader, shaped his path early on. In a riveting interview inside the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. Boyd discussed his life and career, which include authoring 30 books but, perhaps most importantly, fighting for

freedom, justice, and equality.

“I call myself a Triple-A man. Not the automobile club, but activist, academic, and author,” Boyd said while inside the NNPA’s sprawling studios filming an episode of the PBS-TV and PBSWorld show, The Chavis Chronicles. “The activist came first, and that put me in the streets and in contact with many vibrant leaders,” he recalled.

While not precisely a “Johnny Come Lately,” Boyd was in lock-

Wondering How to Recycle Your Batteries?

step with other activists. But one has always touched him more deeply than any of the others.

“Malcolm is my centerpiece; my activism grew out of him,” Boyd asserted.

It was in the early 1960s that Boyd met Malcolm X and attended one of his lectures at the Detroit Temple No. 1. He said the experience left an indelible mark on him, igniting his passion for activism. Malcolm’s emphasis on education led Boyd to enroll at Wayne State University, aligning his academic pursuits with his activist ideals.

Boyd’s leadership during Detroit’s activism-rich period of the 1960s set the stage for his subsequent contributions to academia and journalism. He said the parallel rhythms of Detroit and Harlem, both significant hubs of African American culture and political engagement, deeply resonated.

“These cities became the crucibles in which my ideals took shape,” Boyd insisted. A columnist for the New York Amsterdam News, Boyd’s work includes a prolific collection of books that delve into African American history, culture, and civil rights struggles.

Titles like “Autobiography of a People,” “Jazz Space Detroit,” and “African History for Beginners,” stand as monuments to his dedi-

cation to preserving and amplifying the stories of the marginalized. Writing, for Boyd, is a form of activism – a way to give voice to those who lived through history and to expose the injustices that must be confronted.

Throughout his career, Boyd has garnered numerous awards and honors, including the American Book Award in collaboration with Robert Allen and several first-place awards from the New York Association of Black Journalists.

“Our history is a testament to our resilience,” Boyd stated. “From the horrors of slavery to the civil rights movement, African Americans have never wavered in their pursuit of progress.”

Boyd offered suggestions on how to proceed in the fight for justice.

‘Our challenges today require unity and a commitment to healing and progress. Just as the 1960s were a vital period, we’re still grappling with understanding that era’s impact and lessons,” Boyd explained. “The path forward involves learning from history, bridging divisions, and continuing the fight for justice with hope and determination.”

Watch Boyd and others this fall on The Chavis Chronicles on PBS. WI @StacyBrownMedia

5 Herb Boyd with Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (Courtesy Photo/ NNPA)

In a Minute Cafe Reopens with Grand Celebration

Chef Steven Wilson Offers Month-Long Spring Roll and Wings Sale

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Serving his signature chicken dishes to the crowd of dedicated fans, Chef Steven Wilson held a grand re-opening at In a Minute Cafe on Aug. 19, attracting members of the community and political leaders alike for the special celebration.

“We are very excited to welcome the In a Minute Cafe back to the community. we look forward to doing great things and serving all of you,” Wilson told the Informer. “It is our goal to not only provide delicious food but also be a place where the community can come together to do good for those who need it most.”

In addition to supporting the community through the cafe’s efforts, Wilson has also received incredible support from the com-

munity and leaders.

“Fundraising for the needy, backpack drives, and serving the homeless and less fortunate– especially our seniors” Wilson said are some of the ways In a Minute gives back.

Montre Dupree, the public engagement manager and deputy chief of Staff with Prince George’s County Councilmember Wala Blegay (D– District 6), served as the emcee. District 24 Delegate Andrea Harrison (D) attended, and her campaign information is available in the restaurant.

Chef Wilson has also received a surplus of spring rolls. He ordered three packs; he got three cases in the mail, totaling 600 spring rolls. To get rid of this surplus, Chef Wilson is offering a $15 special of six Hennessy wings, three spring rolls, rice and a soda.

Jennifer Jenkins, the County

Council’s Administrator, is a fan of Chef Wilson’s cooking.

“The In a Minute Cafe is only a few minutes away from the County building, so it's convenient to stop by,” said Jenkins. “My favorite menu item: the Hennessy wings! Though I love the Crab egg rolls a lot too, and I’m looking forward to trying the crab mac!”

The cafe is also hosting a backpack drive in partnership with Blegay, who represents this area on the County Council, and said her favorite dish at “In a Minute,” is the hushpuppies.

“We have received over 400 backpack donations—mostly clear- and individual school supplies,” Blegay explained, particularly noting the clear backpacks, which are required for Prince George’s high school students.

Supporting businesses that care about giving back to the commu-

nity, Blegay noted, is key in ensuring that they’re able to continue doing the important work in serving others.

“The local Black businesses in our community need our support.

Most Black businesses use limited resources to build their business and our support will create generational wealth for the future,” said Blegay WI

(WI File Photos/ Anthony Tilghman)

SCHOOL from Page 1

Darío López-Capera reported an incident to Telemundo where a Pre-k student mistakenly got off at the wrong bus stop. López-Capera had to call the boy’s mother to come pick up the child.

These incidents are leaving parents worried about whether their children will make it to or from school on time.

County Councilmember Edward Burroughs (D– District 8) wants to audit the PGCPS bus system and fix the issue for good. This issue dates back to at least 2021, when then-PGCPS CEO Monica Goldson sent out a letter to parents apologizing for the chronic bus issue.

“It is completely unacceptable to have the persistent issue we’ve had for over a decade,” said Burroughs, chair of the Council’s Education Committee. “Immediately we need to either bring someone in to audit the system, look at best practices, [and] learn from what neighboring jurisdictions are doing. What the community should expect is a concrete plan to bring us forward. We need better pay for

our bus drivers, better recruiting, better retention.”

Prince George’s County Public Schools said that despite the fact there is a “national bus driver shortage,” the system is “committed to safe, on-time arrivals and departures,” for students.

“We are currently at an 83% fill rate for bus drivers. Even with our very best efforts, delays should be expected. We are asking for patience during the first few weeks of school as drivers become acclimated to routes and increased traffic within the county,” PGCPS said in a statement, before sharing plans to address the problem.

“The school system will be making daily adjustments along with the doubling of runs to address and fill gaps. We will do our best to minimize wait times and communicate delays at the school level when possible,” continued the system’s statement. “Parents can use the StopFinder app to track the location of the child’s bus. We are also working on an email and text message notification system.”

The school system also said parents have a role to play.

"Parents are expected to accom-

pany preschool and kindergarten students to and from bus stops,” stated PGCPS. “When preschool or kindergarten students are not met at the bus stop by a parent, neighbor, sibling or other caretaker, or when a situation appears to be unsafe, policy is for the bus driver to return the student to school."

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said she chose House II to lead PGCPS based on his record of fixing issues like the bus driver shortage, and she is confident in his ability to fix the challenges. Bus driver fairs were held this past July and last year, each with strong turnouts. Over 100 people signed up for the July job fair, and the 2022 fair literally had a line out the door.

TEACHER SHORTAGE ADDS TO CHALLENGES

There is also a reported teacher shortage in the County. While Superintendent II reported roughly 1,000 vacancies across the school system in early August, WJLA News found over

2,000 vacancies at that time.

PGCEA President Dr. Donna Christy reported a large number of vacancies as well. A poll conducted by GBAO, a Democratic polling firm, showed that 44% of teachers were working a second job and that half of Black teachers work a second job.

“One, it creates an unsafe envi-

ronment because you don’t have enough adults supervising,” said Christy when asked about the negatives of the ongoing teacher shortage. “It also creates a massive amount of workload because all of the employees that are here have to cover the vacancies, and because they burn out faster, they leave, driving that number up.” WI

BATCHELOR from Page 8

this year, told the Informer that, since the boundary changes went into effect, he has engaged his new constituents on issues of significance to them, including public safety and libraries and recreation centers.

Hamilton, a Bellevue resident, said she wants the Ward 8 council representative in 2024 and beyond to take similar steps to engage residents on both sides of the Frederick Douglass Bridge. She told the Informer that, well before Navy Yard came into the mix, Bellevue residents struggled for recognition amid the shutdown of pharmacies, banks and grocery stores.

In speaking about Batchelor, Hamilton touted what she described as Bachelor’s clarity about

the issues affecting Ward 8 residents. She also expressed confidence in his ability to work with various people on the council and other realms to craft and pass legislation of direct benefit to constituents.

“It’s clear that Ward 8 is growing and the demographics suggest that it will continue to grow, so we need a council member who can deal with the dynamics that brings economically,” Hamilton said.

“We don’t want an upper Ward 8 and lower Ward 8, we want one Ward 8. We want to make sure we’re building relationships and spending time [to make sure] those investments that are being made in Ward 8 are being spread equitably.”

WI @SamPKCollins

5 Prince George's County Councilmember Edward P. Burroughs (D-MD - District 8 (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Everyone Cries Sometimes

Sometimes crying gets the sadness out, and after a good cry, we feel better. There is a good reason for this. Tears contain some special ingredients that make you feel better.

Happy Tears

When people have a lot of happy feelings inside, that can bring out the tears, too.

Why do tears come out of my eyes?

Your eyes always have tears. There are special glands near your eyes that make tears. Most of the time, they make just enough to keep our eyes clean and healthy. If something gets in your eye, more tears are made that rinse your eyes and remove what shouldn’t be there.

What’s in tears?

Use the code!

Brain to Glands!

A part of your brain turns the “tear faucet” off and on. This happens when you feel strong emotions— happy and sad.

Your eye glands can produce more than half a cup of tears in minutes. This is too much for the eye glands to hold, so the overflow tears fall out of your eyes. Sometimes, overflowing tears go down your nose. That’s why when you cry, your nose might run.

Circle every other letter to discover what the glands that make the tears that flow to your eyes are called.

Crocodile Tears

Long ago, a ___________ told a story about crocodiles crying to get people to come _____________. When they did, SNAP! _________ time!

People started saying certain kinds of crying are “crocodile tears.” It means a person is

just pretending to be ___________ to get something.

Strangely, ___________ have noticed that sometimes crocodiles DO indeed cry when they _______, but not for emotional reasons.

Laughing with your friends

Three Types of Tears

Follow

How big is the gland that produces tears? Hold this page up to a mirror to discover the answer!

Cause and E ect

Often, a newspaper headline reports on what has happened. This can be called an effect

Something caused the effect to happen. Read a newspaper article and underline the effect Circle

Madetoprotect

Alwaysinyour

Madewhenyou’re

sad.

Happy/Sad

Happy and sad mean opposite things. Look through the newspaper for words that mean the opposite. Glue the words onto cards and play a game of fish where a “match” is two words that mean the opposite.

Is it okay to cry?

What is your opinion?

Write about it!

While they di erent things. Tears keep out. They can better. Sweat comes to keep you Sweat also when you

With hundreds Kid Scoop features six-to-seven high-interest activities for school! Get sample today

feelingemotional, suchashappy or

review wi book

"I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here"

By Jonathan Conyers

c.2023, Legacy Lit

$30

320 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Something's all wrong about this scenario.

It doesn't even look right. It's a mess, which isn't how you expected it to be. No, you should've turned around the minute you saw it, walked out the door, and denied all responsibility but now you're involved. And in the new memoir "I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here" by Jonathan Conyers, making things good is going to take some work.

For most of his earliest life, Jon Conyers was never totally sure where he'd wake up the next weekend. His parents were both addicted to crack, and moving from apartment to shelter and back and from state to state happened all the time for him and his siblings.

"I just knew I never felt safe," he says.

Despite that his childhood was "tinged with trauma," Conyers' parents insisted on one good thing: that their five children get an education. That was the family beacon, an unwavering base that never changed. Conyers says his parents were often high but they still showed up to parent-teacher conferences, without fail, and his older brothers each attended college.

Conyers, however, struggled. He did well in school while the family lived in Virginia, but back in New York, the streets were often more appealing than a classroom.

He says that the old African proverb is correct, though: it does take a village to raise a child. He saw, early on, that if you don't have a village, you need to build one yourself — and that's what he did.

When he had trouble staying in school, a mentor held him accountable. Others saw past the righteous anger that surfaced from him sometimes, and they pushed him to study at a Harlem high school that helped him channel his energy and succeed. He was further encouraged to apply for a summer program that expanded his horizons.

Conyers says "I was going to learn all I could, be successful, and come back to help the people in my community."

And then his dream was almost derailed by one small thing … Does this story sound familiar? If you're a fan of "Humans of New York" on social media or in books, then you might have read bits of author Jonathan Conyers' story. In "I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here," you'll get the rest of it.

And you'll see the grace inside this story, so much grace that it almost makes you weep.

Starting before he was born, Conyers writes, it seemed as though the universe was conspiring against him: he was almost aborted, he was sometimes hungry, and sometimes homeless. His education was often in question, as was his life, but there's no real complaining in the telling of any of this. Readers just get the facts, in a voice that uplifts as it conveys awe at the presence of angels in a "village."

While this book seems aimed at adults, it could be a wonderful, meaningful gift for older teens, too. If anyone needs a feel-good, "I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here" is all kinds of right. WI

horoscopes

ARIES The week begins like a storybook, complete with babbling brooks and trees that talk and strangers meeting in the woods and falling in love. Exercise figures on Monday, but it's a fun exercise, the kind you barely notice. The middle of the week is less dreamy and fun, but don't stop exercising. It will keep you in good spirits even as the details and the drudgery threaten to drag you down. Lucky Numbers: 3, 9, 55

TAURUS Monday finds you having to mediate a dispute between two of your friends and then, horribly, becoming involved yourself. That's what happens when friends become arbiters! Find a way to back out of the situation gracefully, perhaps by fully admitting that it was never any of your business. Losing face is a lot better than losing a pal. The middle of the week is a corrective to all this early-week weirdness. Tuesday through Thursday is fun and flowers everywhere. Lucky Numbers: 9, 28, 29

GEMINI Words come easily to you on Monday, and everyone around you seems to be responding well. If only the same could be said for your communications with your family on Tuesday. And on Wednesday. And on Thursday. You and your family have just hit a rough patch, communications-wise. Meanwhile, you'll be preoccupied with way too much communication (correspondence, phone calls, emails, chatter) in the rest of your life. Lucky Numbers: 2, 14, 47

CANCER The bigger the better, as they say. You are right there with them on Monday, because nothing is too grandiose for your tastes, and you feel like showing off a bit. Tuesday brings a return to modesty somewhat, with you focusing on small details and quality friendships. Wednesday and Thursday you'd do well to spend with friends. Make some plans together, perhaps a quick getaway. Lucky Numbers: 13, 21, 24

LEO You are a supreme being at the beginning of the week. Top of your game. Better than ever. Whatever you do, let your heart be your guide and proceed with confidence. Unfortunately, on Tuesday, the outside world will give you a bit of a sinking feeling and you'll find yourself retreating into your own head. Wednesday and Thursday are quiet, introverted days as well, serious days, in fact. Lucky Numbers: 11, 37, 58

VIRGO There's too much happening at the outset of the week for you to get a handle on anything. Sometimes being busy is fun, but you're a little too busy for your own good. Sink a needle into all the madness and let the tension out. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are productive but pleasant, as fine a time as ever to chart plans and discuss ideas (and, if you have spare time, to tidy up). Lucky Numbers: 9, 11, 36

LIBRA You may not have all the answers, but someone else thinks you do, and that's a great place to be. You're admired. If the group is without a leader and you have what the group needs, step up to the task. You're a good listener (especially important on Tuesday and Wednesday), and grudges slide right through your fingertips these days (especially important on Thursday). Lucky Numbers: 10, 24, 50

SCORPIO Work is worrying you on Monday. Something's up with the boss. If you find yourself tiptoeing around, well, this is probably smart of you. Your instincts are to be trusted. Being flamboyant and forward is not the answer right now. On Tuesday or Wednesday, someone will let you in on a secret that changes your understanding of an issue you thought you had all figured out. Lucky Numbers: 7, 17, 30

SAGITTARIUS When the sun smiles on Monday, you, in this happy glow, can't help but smile too. You are the beneficiary of good luck and also some long-time-in-coming goodwill. On Wednesday and Thursday, an authority figure puts a crimp in your style, but by Friday, you're getting hugs from friends right and left for no reason at all. Lucky Numbers: 5, 15, 51

CAPRICORN You thought you had a certain person figured out. Boy, were you wrong! Whatever assumptions you have at the start of the week, drop them. Spend Tuesday and Wednesday doing research. There are so many things you don't know yet. You don't even know all the things you don't know! On Thursday, you're going to achieve a lot (and you'll finally start to feel grounded) and on Friday you'll have time to devote to a new project. Lucky Numbers: 4, 43, 57

AQUARIUS The car sputters to a stop on Monday. At first, you're annoyed to be by the side of the road, but this is only the beginning of the adventure. Sometimes the most amazing experiences begin with the most unpromising circumstances. This is a good lesson, and it's something you carry with you the rest of the week. Lucky Numbers: 3, 20, 49

PISCES Your way of doing things works great for you, but it might not work great for someone else. Ditto your way of looking at things. It's important not to be bossy, and it's especially important this week. As wise as your criticisms are on Tuesday and Wednesday, the people you're around may be entirely uninterested in hearing them. Lucky Numbers: 12, 13, 47

SPORTS

Bowie State Wins Opener, Howard

Comeback on Road Falls Short

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

Both Bowie State and Howard University opened their football seasons this past weekend, but the historically Black universities garnered mixed results. The Bowie State Bulldogs used their defense to stymie Delaware State, 22-11, in a non-conference affair in Dover, Delaware; while the Howard Bison staged a furious second half comeback that fell short in a 33-23 road loss at Eastern Michigan University (EMU).

Bowie State (1-0) jumped out to a 15-3 first half lead and dominated the Hornets, limiting them to 196 yards of total offense. For the Bulldogs, the victory was significant as it marked only the second time that they had defeated an opponent from the Division 1 FCS level.

"Today was a big win for the program," said Bowie State second year head coach Kyle Jackson. "We have been preparing for this moment since

last November when the season ended."

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Amir Jenkins (Baltimore, Maryland) led Bowie State's passing attack with 247 yards through the air. Redshirt junior running back Corey Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) totaled 38 yards to lead the BSU's ground attack in the game. Redshirt junior running back Kevon Campbell (Washington, D.C.) also tacked on 21 yards and one touchdown on the ground, while graduate senior wide receiver Keshane Hinckley (Laurel, Maryland) hauled in seven catches for 101 yards.

Defensively, graduate senior defensive Back Keith Williams (Baltimore, MD) made his presence felt in the passing game, recording three receptions for 93 yards. Graduate senior linebacker Uvel Paul (Severn, Maryland) led the Bowie State defensive effort, collecting five tackles, 4.0 TFL, and three sacks.

Jenkins added one recovered fumble as the Bulldogs combined for one

tackle for loss and one forced fumble in the win.

For the game, Bowie State recorded a whopping 11 tackles for loss and four sacks.

"The guys showed resilience and fought until the end. The coaching staff did a great job preparing the guys for this moment,” said Jackson.

The Bulldogs travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan to take on Davenport University on Saturday, Sept. 9 at noon.

THE BISON LOSE TO EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

In the Bison loss, special teams play put the team in a deep hole as they gave up a punt and kickoff return for

scores to go along with a bad snap that resulted in a safety. The Howard giffs helped EMU take what appeared to be a comfortable 30-9 lead to the locker room.

"Giving up a safety and those returns for touchdowns really hurt the overall chance for a victory," said Howard Head Coach Larry Scott, alluding to the 16 points off Bison miscues.

The Bison were playing an EMU team that was coming off a 9-4 season, a bowl appearance and a favorite as one of the Top teams in the Mid-American Conference. So the odds were slim for a comeback.

But Howard, coming off its best season in 30 years, showed its mettle and dominated the hosts, controlling both lines of scrimmage. Using its vaunted running game that produced 204 yards, the Bison closed the gap to 30-23 with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and had the Eagles sidelines and the 18,000 fans nervous.

"No real changes were made systematically," explained Scott. "The kids were able to communicate at the half and recognized the mistakes that were made within. They continued to believe in the game plan and went out in the second half and responded."

With momentum and possession of the ball, the Bison were in a position to drive for the tying score.

Then came a play that changed the outcome. Howard was called for a double penalty of intentional grounding and a personal foul. Instead of having possession in good field posi-

tion, Howard faced a first and 35 deep in their own territory.

It proved to be too much to overcome and EMU kicked a field goal as they escaped with the win.

The running game featured a fourprong attack of graduate Ian Wheeler (Houston, Texas), seniors Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Florida) and Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Virginia) and second-year Bison Eden James (Port St. Lucie, Florida).

Freshman Jamarr Ebron, who graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School in D.C., made his debut with a 69-yard touchdown pass from graduate quarterback Quinton Williams. It was his first reception as a collegian and earned him MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. WI

Then came a play that changed the outcome. Howard was called for a double penalty of intentional grounding and a personal foul. Instead of having possession in good field position, Howard faced a first and 35 deep in their own territory.

5 Howard freshman wide receiver Jamarr Ebron (81) scored his team's first touchdown of the season in a loss to Eastern Michigan (Courtesy Photo/ QbanCigar photography)

CAPTURE

the moment

5 Aaron Meyers, executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities entertaining the audience in between sets of the three finalists in the DC JazzPrix Finals at Union Stage.

(Ja'Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

4 Grammy award winning artist Samara Joy performing at the 2023 JazzFest. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5 The String Queens with the Swedish Embassy’s Counselor for Cultural Affairs Helene Larsson Pousette and DC Jazz Fest Chief Executive Officer Sunny Sumter at the Embassy. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

3 Renown multi-instrumentalist Warren Wolf takes the Union Stage audience on a journey through the history of jazz vibraphones with a reimagined collage of music from iconic trailblazers like Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, and Bobby Hutcherson. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

6 DC JazzFest (DCJF) and the Anacostia Business Improvement District hosted the Anacostia Jazz Hop in historic Anacostia. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5 Mark G. Meadows performing at the 2023 JazzFest. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

BISHOP

from Page 1

nization’s convocation in Philadelphia when he died.

Apostle R.C. Lattisaw, pastor of the United House of Prayer in Portsmouth, Virginia, presided over the three-hour memorial service in Washington, D.C. on Friday, which was filled with choirs, ensembles, and brass bands by UHOP groups from several cities and states.

In addition to the reading of the Old and New Testament, more than a dozen church leaders offered tributes with Apostle A.D. Cunningham, pastor of God’s White House preaching the eulogy.

“There are those who have never understood the House of Prayer. Bishop Bailey pastored me for more than two decades in Augusta,” said Edler Dr. L Murray, director of special projects for the UHOP. “It is not just about the playing of the bands, this is about

the preaching of a biblical gospel that is christ-focused. What matters is the lives that have been changed and people growing closer to Christ.”

In addition to the unique architecture of their building, UHOP leaders often point out how the church has constructed affordable housing for people across the U.S. and there is a sense of discipline and devotion across its membership.

The Washington, D.C. celebration of Bishop Bailey’s life was preceded by a week of services that began Saturday, Aug. 26 at the United House of Prayer in Augusta, Georgia. The following Sunday evening, the United House of Prayer in Charlotte, North Carolina honored Bailey, and then on Monday, the motorcade went to Newport News, Virginia and on Wednesday evening services were held at the UHOP in New York City.

Elder Murray said one of the

most moving tributes was seeing traffic stopped on the George Washington Memorial Bridge in New York as the New York City and state police escorted Bailey’s motorcade Wednesday night into New Jersey.

“The services were held at night… for members who wanted to say farewell to someone dear to them,” said Murray who was part of the motorcade for the entire journey. “The tributes were heartfelt and moving because Bishop Baikwy by his example and the preaching of the gospel was very much in the same footsteps as our founders Daddy Grace, Daddy McCullough, and Daddy Madison.”

On Thursday night Bailey was brought to the United House

Murray said one of Bishop Bailey’s quotes was “Give God everything. He had a focus on holiness and selfless giving.”

of Prayer at 601 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. for the final wake and the funeral service was held at noon with church leaders by six bands. The bands came from all over and included: The Sounds of Zion, Top Band, Clouds of Heaven, Charlotte Motherhouse, Bailey Hummingbirds, and the Reunion Uplifters. The choirs

present included the Bailey Adult Choir, from West Baltimore, Maryland, the Golden Angels, and the God's White House choir. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bower and many members of the D.C. Council attended and offered resolutions in recognition of Bailey.

Murray said one of Bishop Bailey’s quotes was “Give God everything. He had a focus on holiness and selfless giving.”

“He said give to God with all your heart, all of your mind, all of soul, and your strength.”

Dressed in their white robes, the members of the Bailey General Council stood at the steps of God’s White House as the Grace Royal Guard, dressed in their blue uniforms, carried Bishop Bailey’s cherry wood casket out of the sanctuary.

“The Bailey General Council is the highest ecclesiastical body of the United House of Prayer,” said Murray, adding that more will be said at the appropriate time in terms of the church’s plans.

“The church is moving forward.”

WI

5 The celebration of life service for The Honorable Bishop C.M. ‘Sweet Daddy’ Bailey, Leader of the United House of Prayer for All People of the Church on the Rock of the Apostolic Faith, were held on September 1 in Northwest. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

36 Church members celebrate the life of The Honorable Bishop C.M. ‘Sweet Daddy’ Bailey, Leader of the United House of Prayer for All People of the Church on the Rock of the Apostolic Faith. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

Isn't it wonderful the way the Lord made each of us? He created us with imaginations, and He uses our brains and our minds like a telephone. Some of us answer the call when we do what He has spoken into our spirits. When used properly, our mind is the starting place for everything — it begins with the thoughts we have.

Do you know that the Lord God releases knowledge directly to each one of us from His throne room in heaven — transmitted to us by way of our thoughts? Let's take a look at some Scriptures to prove this:

"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one

the religion corner

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Listening to the Holy Spirit

knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." (1 Corinthians 2:10)

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you." (John 14:26)

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..."(John 16:13)

No one knows the things of God except the Holy Spirit — and that the Holy Spirit has been given to each and every one of us in order to reveal the things that God wants to reveal to us. In other words, it is the job of the Holy Spirit to release the knowledge of God directly to each and every one of us! The problem is, far too many of us refuse to listen. These valuable thoughts pass right through our minds, in one ear and out the other as if nothing ever happened.

The verse even goes one step further when it says that the Holy Spirit can literally bring back up to your remembrance, when you may need it — the knowledge that He has already

given to you! If you are willing to spend some good quality time to get the Word worked into you, the Holy Spirit will bring back up to your remembrance the appropriate Scriptures. These Scriptures will just come to the front of your mind's eye right at the moment you need them. This is literally a supernatural transmission of knowledge directly to your mind by the Holy Spirit Himself!

And not only can the Holy Spirit do this with Scripture verses, but He can also do this with any other bits of knowledge that He may want to give to you. He can give you His words of knowledge and wisdom all day long on whatever else you may need His help on.

This is why the Holy Spirit is called "the Helper" in the second verse above. The Holy Spirit cannot help you unless He is able to transmit His words of knowledge and wisdom to you as you will need them.

If you can learn to be led by the Holy Spirit and pick up when He starts to try and communicate with you, you can literally start to receive the knowledge of God in every area of your life where you need God's knowledge and guidance to help get you safely through!

RELIGION

301-350-2200 Fax: 301-499-8724

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor 700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM

Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism

Blessed Word

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors 4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax Service and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Mount Carmel

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032

(202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Services and Times

Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services

Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM)

Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power

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

Baptist Church Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

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

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM

Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

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

Crusader Baptist Church Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

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

Service and Times

Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday

Sunday School: 9:45 AM

Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM

Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment

E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net

www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”

Third Street Church of God

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018

Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM

Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM

Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM

“A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org

Fax (202) 682-9423

Service and Times

Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM

All Nations Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM

Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM

Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM

Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM

Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge

Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com

All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness Senior Pastor

Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland

Assistant & Youth Pastor 12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164

Service and Times

Sunday Worship 10:15 am

Sunday Church School 11:00 am

Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday

Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047#

Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm

“A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020

Adm. Office 202-678-2263

Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon,

Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM

“Reaching Up To Reach Out”

Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax

“Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . 100% Forgiven!

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM

Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor

5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011

Phone: 202-726-2220

Fax: 202-726-9089

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday

Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.)

Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold”

www.mtzbcdc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day

Service and Times

Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom

Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom

Wednesday Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom

Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom

Web: shiloh7thday.org

Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com

"A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Florida Avenue Baptist Church Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent

Senior Pastor 623 Florida Ave.. NW WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836

Home Study (301) 464-8211 Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM

Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM

Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM

Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor 4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM

The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011

Phone (202) 722-4940 Fax (202) 291-3773

Service and Times

9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

10:15 a.m. – Worship Service

Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study

7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study

Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday

Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47)

Israel Baptist Church

Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM

Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM

Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM

Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM

Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

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

Service and Times

Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM

Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

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

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton

Senior Pastor 1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003

Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM

Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM

Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM

Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org

Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Damion M. Briggs Pastor 8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240 Service and Times

Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

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

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor 13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 11 AM

Sunday School: 10 AM

Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

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

“The

and People are Loved”

Rev. Dr. Michael T.

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM

School for all ages: 8:30 AM

Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM

Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Meeting: 7:45 PM

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

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500

Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM

Prayer Service Bible Study

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867

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

Service and Times

Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns

Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org

Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

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

Service and Times

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

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm

Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

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

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

Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM

Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM

Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM

Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org

Website: www.firstrising.org

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Rev.

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised Land Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor

Hosted by Denise Rolark Barnes

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000976

Estate of Fatima Hardcastle aka

Fatima EL Bal

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Zoubida Altayib and Aicha EL Bal 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: 8/24/2023

Zoubida Altayib

631 Peace Chance Drive

Havre de Grace, MD 21078

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000975

Estate of William A. Burnett aka William Aaron Burnett aka William Burnett

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Phyllis S. Burnett 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.

Order any interested person to show cause why the provisions of the lost or destroyed Will dated 3/22/2012 should not be admitted to probate as expressed in the petition

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

S. C. Hamilton 8601 Georgia Ave., Ste. 503 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 332

Audrey L. Francis aka Audrey Francis Decedent

Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 800 Maine Ave., SW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20024 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Dolores J. Nicholls, whose address is 5125 Duel Place, Capitol Heights, MD 20743, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Audrey L. Francis aka Audrey Francis who died on 5/16/2021 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Dolores J. Nicholls Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 933

Sherrell Arguene Bridges

Decedent

Rocquelle A. Jeri 1419 Perrell Lane Bowie MD 20716 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Eric Bridges, whose address is 106 Stonecreek Dr., #C, Spartanburg, SC 29203, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sherrell Arguene Bridges who died on 1/1/2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Eric Bridges

Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000939

Anthony Hammond Decedent

Brian L. Kass, Esq. 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 434 Washington, DC 20008

Attorney

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

Ava Hammond, whose address is 11322-G Snow owl Place, Waldorf, MD 20603, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anthony Hammond who died on 12/25/2018 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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:

8/24/2023

Ava Hammond 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 000959

Ronnie Bowman Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 440

Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Gregory T. Bowman, whose address is 531 Sloan Rd., Columbia, SC 29223, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ronnie Bowman who died on December 3, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Gregory T. Bowman Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 858

Raymond L. Branch Decedent

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

Michael J. Branch, whose address is 9941 Lake Landing Road, Montgomery Village, MD 20886, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Raymond L. Branch who died on October 16, 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 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Michael J. Branch

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000950

Diane Jefferies

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Micheal Daniels, whose address is 11230 Holly Spring Rd., Nanjemoy, MD 20660, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Diane Jefferies who died on June 24, 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 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Micheal Daniels Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 948

Billie J. Brooks

Decedent

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

John L. Brooks, whose address is 7601 Thomas Grant Drive, Alexandria, VA 22315, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Billie J. Brooks who died on April 27, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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:

8/24/2023

John L. Brooks

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

2023 NRT 000032

Anne Minahan Brown

Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Anne Minahan Brown whose address was 1642 Primrose Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012 created a revocable trust on April 7th 2022, which remained in existence on the date of her death on January 8th, 2023, and Matthew David Sacco, whose address is 1642 Primrose Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Matthew David Sacco at 1642 Primrose Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012, w/ a copy to Peter D. Antonoplos at 1725 DeSales St., NW, #600, Washington, DC 20036.

The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.

Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 2/24/2024 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 1/8/2024, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) or (2) 2/24/2024 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.

The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification.

This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d).

Date of First Publication: 8/24/2023

Matthew David Sacco

Signature of Trustee

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE

DIVISION

2023 NRT 000033

Beatrice Cynthia Wright

Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Beatrice Cynthia Wright whose address was 602 Brandywine Street, SE, Washington, DC 20032, created a revocable trust on 8/22/2013, as amended on 5/20/16, which remained in existence on the date of her death on 11/11/2022, and Peter D. Antonoplos, whose address is 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Peter D. Antonoplos at 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036.

The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.

Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 02/24/2024 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 11/11/2023, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) or (2) 02/24/2024, (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.

The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification.

This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d).

Date of First Publication: 8/24/2023

Peter D. Antonoplos Signature of Trustee

NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000894

Sheron A. Wade

Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 400

Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Denise Kirksey, whose address is 13209 Dangelo Drive, Bowie, MD 20720, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sheron A. Wade who died on April 8, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Denise Kirksey

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 969

Reginald Allen Groomes, Sr. Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Reginald Allen Groomes, Jr. whose address is 2900 Saint Clair Drive, Apt. 606, Temple Hills, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Reginald Allen Groomies, Sr. who died on May 24, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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:

8/24/2024

Reginald Allen Groomes, Jr. 2900 Saint Clair Drive, Apt. 606 Temple Hills, MD 20748

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2023 ADM 000928

Andre M. Smith Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

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

Angel D. Williams, whose address is 5112 Hayes Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Andre M. Smith who died on November 19, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. 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 2/24/2024, 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: 8/24/2023

Angel D. Williams

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001005

Mark Lamont Stevens

Decedent

Norris Stevens-Kornegay

Attorney

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

Norris Stevens-Kornegay, whose address is 609 N. Church Street, Mt. Olive, NC 28365, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mark Lamont Stevens who died on April 10, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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: 8/31/2023

Norris Stevens-Kornegay Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 966

Jane C. Coony aka Jane Comeau Coony Decedent

Torrey G. Wilkins, Esq. Furey, Doolan & Abell, LLP

7600 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 600 Bethesda, MD 20814

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Thomas E. Coony, whose address is 2801 North Glade Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016, was appointed Personal

Representative of the estate of Jane C. Coony aka Jane Comeau Coony who died on June 19, 2023 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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:

8/31/2023

Thomas E. Coony

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 980

Marion Shanita Burney

Decedent

Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Attorney

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

Sharon L. Burney, whose address is 5102 La Sombre Drive, Raleigh, NC 27616, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Marion Shanita Burney who died on March 18, 2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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:

8/31/2023

Sharon L. Burney

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 929

Ronald Ausbrooks Decedent

Ethel Mitchell

8403 Colesville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

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

Mark Ausbrooks, whose address is 11106 Saddle Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ronald Ausbrooks who died on October 13, 2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/2/2024. 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 3/2/2024, 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: 8/31/2023

Mark Ausbrooks Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 971

Mable Deas aka Mabel Deas Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Donna Pollard, whose address is 4415 Rena Road, Apartment 201, Suitland, MD 20746, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mable Deas aka Mabel Deas who died on July 10, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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: 8/31/2023

Donna Pollard Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 940

Kevin Maurice Young Decedent

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

Gerald A. Young and Destinee V. Young, whose addresses are 6315 28th Place, NW, Washington, DC 20015 and 310 Buchanan Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Kevin Maurice Young who died on March 22, 2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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: 8/31/2023

Gerald A. Young 6315 28th Place NW Washington, DC 20015

Destinee V. Young 310 Buchanan Street, NW Washington, DC 20011

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000961

Martanaze Earl Dew, Jr. Decedent

Suren G. Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC

4201 Northview Drive, Ste. 401 Bowie, MD 20716

Attorney

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

Sherika Jones, whose address is 1426 Clifton Street, NW, Apt. 10, Washington, DC 20009, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Martanaze Earl Dew, Jr. who died on May 20, 2016 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 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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:

8/31/2023

Sherika Jones

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 938

Ronald Beverly Grimes aka Ronald B. Grimes Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Lisa Monica Napper and Robin Diane Jones whose addresses are 503 Capitol Heights, Blvd, Capitol Heights, MD 20743 and 6906 Briarcliff Dr., Clinton, MD 20735, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Ronald Beverly Grimes aka Ronald B. Grimes who died on March 16, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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:

9/7/2023

Lisa Monica Napper

503 Capitol Heights Blvd. Capitol Heights, MD 20743

Robin Diane Jones 6906 Briarcliff Drive Clinton, MD 20735

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000935

Walter D. Johnson Decedent

Joan M. Wilbon 1629 K Street, NW Suite 300

Washington DC 20006

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Deborah A. Cowan, whose address is 1643 Primrose Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Walter D. Johnson who died on June 3, 2023 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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: 8/31/2024

Deborah A. Cowan Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 1010

Lucile Myers

Decedent

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

Evelyn Johnson, whose address is 13213 Davenport Drive, Brandywine MD 20613, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lucile Myers who died on March 14, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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: 9/7/2023

Evelyn Johnson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 FEP 000085

March 30, 2007

Date of Death

Miriam Celeste Jackson Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

John Jackson whose address is 811 Arbor Park Place, Mitchellville, MD 20721 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Miriam Celeste Jackson, deceased, by the Prince George’s County Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, State of Maryland, on April 10, 2007. Service of process may be made upon Eric Gilliam, 1611 A Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 4940 Blaine Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019. 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:

8/31/2023

John Jackson Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 927

Arthesia McGill Decedent

Ferguson Evans, Esq. 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 900 South Bldg. Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Angela McClurkin, whose address is 11051 Fawn Creek Lane, Orland Park, IL, 60467, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Arthesia McGill who died on 7/4/1997 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 3/2/2024. 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 3/2/2024, 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: 8/31/2023

Angela McClurkin Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000953

John Lemon Epps, Jr. aka John Lemon Epps Decedent

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

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Cheryl Y. Barnes and James A. Epps, whose addresses are 7703 Klovstad Dr. Fort Washington, MD 20744, 5905 Auth Rd., Suitland, MD 20746, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of John Lemon Epps, Jr. aka John Lemon Epps who died on 1/3/2022 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 3/1/2024. 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 3/1/2024, 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: 8/31/2023

Cheryl Y. Barnes

James A. Epps

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000990

James Daniel Moore

Decedent

Suren G. Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

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

Jermaine Moore, whose address is 2003 Ruby Turn, Bowie, MD 20721, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Daniel Moore who died on February 28, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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: 9/7/2023

Jermaine Moore Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000993

Edris L. Service

Decedent

Johnny M. Howard Houston & Howard 1001 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 402 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Jousett Service, whose address is 1230 Euclid Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edris L. Service who died on July 3, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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: 9/7/2023

Jousett Service

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 989

Mavis Outlaw Mueller aka Mavis O. Mueller

Decedent

Cecilia R. Jones, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite #440

Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

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

Albert L. Mueller, Jr. and Elizabeth F. Mueller Dionne, whose addresses are 208 Stepping Stone Rd., Somerset, PA 15501, 1096 River Bay Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409, were appointed

Personal Representatives of the estate of Mavis Outlaw Mueller aka Mavis O. Mueller who died on 7/17/2022 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 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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:

9/7/2023

Albert L. Mueller, Jr.

Elizabeth F. Mueller Dionne

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 982

Mary Young aka Mary Young Fuller

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Selina Fuller, whose address is 1025 44th Street NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Young aka Mary Young Fuller who died on June 2, 2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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: 9/7/2023

Selina Fuller

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001007

Bessye Ann Peterson aka Bessye Anne Peterson aka Bessye A. Peterson aka Bessye Peterson aka Ann Peterson aka B. Ann Peterson

Decedent

Law Office Of Robert P. Newman

Robert P. Newman, Esq. 8001 Wayne Ave., Suite 400 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

David Melvin Peterson, Sr., whose address is 13512 Gordon Drive, Manassas, VA 20112, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bessye Ann Peterson aka Bessye Anne Peterson aka Bessye A. Peterson aka Bessye Peterson aka Ann Peterson aka B. Ann Peterson who died on 6/9/2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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: 9/7/2023

David Melvin Peterson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001032

Tracy Rochelle Stubblefield

Decedent

Colline Silvera Robinson Kirlew & Associates, PC

7731 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt, MD 20770

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Claire Stubblefield, whose address is 830 Franklin Dr., Ardmore, OK 73401, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Tracy Rochelle Stubblefield who died on May 15, 2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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:

9/7/2023

Claire Stubblefield

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 001020

Charles Lee White

Decedent

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

Brenda C. White and Bertha Lacey White, whose addresses are 1622 Lyric St. Pritchard, AL 36610/ 403 S Wilson Ave. Prichard, AL 36610, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Charles Lee White who died on June 5, 2022 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 3/7/2024. 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 3/7/2024, 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: 9/7/2023

Brenda C. White

Bertha Lacey White Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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PROTESTS from Page 1

Luqman, the mid-Atlantic organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace, said that military leaders have acted in response to western-backed political leaders who've siphoned money and natural resources from their constituents while allowing France, the U.S., and other western nations to do the same under the guise of democracy.

Africans living in the inner cities of the United States experience similar conditions under the leadership of politicians who embrace the police and fail to equitably distribute resources, Luqman told the Informer.

“Not only are we connected to the struggle in Africa because we are African, but our tax dollars go to militarizing the continent and suppressing countries that reject foreign influence. France, Britain and Belgium act at the direction of the U.S. and they still have influence over their former colonies through neocolonialism,” Luqman said. “They are junior partners of U.S. imperialism today. The way that AFRICOM [U.S. Africa Command] trains soldiers to suppress people who rise against [puppet] leaders is similar to how police [in the U.S.] suppress us. ”

AN ONGOING MOVEMENT AGAINST NEOCOLONIALISM

On Saturday, Sept. 2, Luqman counted among dozens of organizers who converged on the French Embassy on Reservoir Road in Northwest for the “No War in Niger” rally. This rally followed a similar event at the Jamaican and Kenyan embassies in response to their deployment of police forces to quell violence in Haiti.

development, in part, has onlookers on the African continent and around the world characterizing the conflict as part of a proxy war between the U.S-western European bloc and Russia.

PROTESTERS DEMAND REMOVAL OF EUROPEAN MILITARY, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS FROM AFRICA

running away from poverty,” Laya said. “Our resources are going to France and all over Europe. We see the falling of an empire that doesn’t want to let go. We’re tired of military bases in our countries. The people of Niger have spoken. The U.S. has nothing to teach us about democracy. Neocolonialism must end today.”

The Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Weighs In

“The U.S. partnership with Africa is one that must continue to improve and expand,” Horsford said.

Three days before this protest, the Armed Forces of Gabon detained Gabonese President Ali Bongo and his family, not long after Bongo won an election that opponents described as fraudulent.

For nearly 60 years, a member of the Bongo family has sat at the helm of the West African nation. During that time, the majority of its crude oil exports have gone to the U.S. and France. Declining oil reserves, in part, have caused the country’s 33% poverty rate.

Gabon’s power shift follows that of Niger, which came into rule under a military junta weeks earlier. Between 2020 and 2022, military leaders in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali took over the government in a similar fashion and expelled French officials and journalists.

Since coming into power during the latter part of July, the military junta in Niger, at least five members of which have been trained by the U.S., has demanded that France withdraw its ambassador and military troops.

The junta has even gone as far as cutting off the power and water supply at the French Embassy in Niger’s capital of Niamey.

However, French President Emmannuel Macron, in his support of Niger's currently detained president Mohamed Bazoum, refuses to acquiesce to the demands of junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani. Meanwhile, ECOWAS leadership, which includes Bola Ahmed TInibu, president of neighboring Nigeria, has threatened military intervention if Tchiani doesn’t reinstate Bazoum.

If such a conflict were to occur, Burkina Faso and Mali have been authorized to intervene in support of Niger, as outlined in an order that Tchiani signed with the military leaders of both nations during the latter part of August.

Earlier that month, Tchiani reached out to the Wagner group, a Russian mercenary force, for assistance. This

On Saturday, protesters sporting army fatigue and waving the Pan-African flag, along with flags of African and Caribbean nations, spent much of the morning and early afternoon belting chants demanding the removal of European military, intelligence and political institutions from the African continent.

They also indicted leaders in the African Union and ECOWAS, calling them puppets of western nations.

The organizers, coming under the direction of the Africans United Movement, represented Black Alliance for Peace, Pan-African Community Action, African People’s Socialist Party, All African People’s Revolutionary Party, and Universal Negro Improvement Association-African Communities League Rehabiliating Committee 2020, among numerous other entities.

Speakers of various nationalities and religious backgrounds took to the mic and provided lessons in history and politics in English, German and French languages. They alluded to the Berlin Conference of 1884 and 1885 that led to partition and colonization on the African continent. Some also espoused support for Ousmane Sonko, the opposition leader in Senegal whose detainment sparked protests and clashes with police forces.

Some speakers, like Netfa Freeman of Pan-African Community Action and Sean Blackmon of Party for Socialism & Liberation mentioned what they described as the complicity of Black leaders in the U.S. in the militarization of Black communities at home and abroad.

In his assessment, Freeman cited Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White’s call for the National Guard in the aftermath of a shooting on Good Hope Road in Southeast.

Djonabaye Laya, an Chadian organizer who spoke on behalf of the Africa United Movement, said that U.S. democracy hasn’t meant Africans any good because western-backed leaders often create conditions that force people to leave their home nations.

“We are tired of living as hostages in our own countries and losing our children in the Mediterranean [while]

During the latter part of September, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation will host its annual legislative conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest and other parts of the District.

The conference, themed “Securing Our Democracy, Protecting Our Freedoms, Uplifting Our Culture,” will allow thousands of participants to discuss various topics, including the U.S.’ relationship with Africa and the Caribbean.

Earlier this year, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York-8th) , along with other members of a delegation, visited Ghana to identify partnerships that will spur entrepreneurship, economic development and workforce development on the African continent.

Horsford, CBC chair and a member of the House’s Armed Services Committee, declined to speak in depth about whether the CBC, in light of grassroots calls for western military withdrawal, has explored the possibility of supporting the dismantling of AFRICOM.

He however told the Informer that U.S. government officials are striving to make up for what had been lost during the Trump presidency, when U.S.’ engagement of Africa waned.

“It’s part of the reason why the president and vice president led the U.S.-Africa Summit and why members of Congress, through the CBC, are increasing our engagement with Africa,” he continued. “An abandonment of African policy and priorities created a vacuum to allow China and Russia to make inroads and that’s something we’re working to change.”

CREATING A NEW WORLD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Toikumo Sofiyea, a member of Convention for Pan Africanism and Progress, stood on the front lines of the protest waving the flag of Nigeria, a country he described as a colonial invention. Drawing on decades of political consciousness, Sofiyea criticized the western European powers who continue to control African nations through heads of state.

Sofiyea said that the time was right for a paradigm shift that put power back in the hands of the African masses. He cited the rally as an effective means of unifying Africans, adding that African leaders who stand up for sovereignty must not be assassinated.

“These are not coups, but revolutions. Democracy hasn’t served the interest of Africa because people who are in power for decades get support from the West,” Sofiyea said. “The independence we were given is only okay on paper. We want to be able to decide our lives and we don’t want our children to experience what we went through and what our parents went through.” WI @SamPKCollins

5 Jacqueline Luqman, the mid-Atlantic organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace, spoke at the “No War in Niger” rally across the street from the French Embassy in Northwest on Saturday, August 2. (Sam P.K. Collins/The Washington Informer) that word, mainly out of deference to the masses of Africans on the continent and around the world who’ve expressed support for these movements.

5 Rafiki Morris of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party stood atop the French and British flags while providing comments in front of the French Embassy during the “No War in Niger” rally on Saturday, Sept. 2. (Sam P.K. Collins/ The Washington Informer)

also get subsidies from the rest of us, the taxpayers who support food stamps, medical care, and other amenities that workers who earn little qualify for.

The report shows that the ratio of CEO pay and median worker pay is $603 to $1. The average CEO in the Low Wage 100 earned $15.3 million a year, while the average worker earned a scant $31,672 a year. The most significant offender was Live Nation Entertainment. CEO Michael Rufino earned $139 million, 5414 times more than the average worker who earned $25,673 a year. Amazon, a large federal contractor, is among the most exploitative. But they aren't alone. Too many companies rip their workers off and also

JACKSON from Page 36

ruling that segregation was constitutional, inventing the doctrine of "separate but equal."

It took almost a century before the nonviolent civil rights movement roused the conscience of the country. Nonviolent demonstrators kept going, even in the face of beatings, murders, and police riots. Under Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s, the federal government stepped in, passing the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, providing federal guarantees of equal rights. The Supreme Court ruled that American apartheid — segregation — was unconstitutional.

Once more progress was met by a fierce reaction. Republicans revived their party by appealing to the racial backlash and grounding their party in the white South. Ronald Reagan opened his presidential campaign

SAUNDERS from Page 36 ing the rights and freedoms of union membership. Nationwide, July was the 16th consecutive month of growth in state and local government jobs, with a total of 315,000 added since the beginning of this year.

But there are still many positions to fill, and so we are casting a wide net. In many places, we are doing grassroots outreach to young people, to communities of color and to populations that are underrepresented in these jobs. That means, for example, working with faith leaders, asking them to spread the word in their churches and mosques that public service

enjoy federal largesse.

Given these massive paychecks and massive profits, why can't we raise the federal minimum wage, and why can't we pay workers more? Predatory capitalism suggests that employers must extract surplus value from workers. That means that, despite rising worker productivity, employers should attempt to pay as little as they can. The outrageous CEO to worker pay ratios suggest that companies benefit from paying so little. Will workers revolt? Can they?

Too many workers are frightened to strike. They need their jobs and their unions may not have sufficient strike funds to allow them to be out for a long period of time. Do they need their jobs with exploitative terms and

in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the infamous site of the 1964 murders of three civil rights organizers — Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney. Racebait politics have been combined with systematic efforts to limit the right to vote, making voting harder in urban areas, purging voter lists, limiting early voting and banning same-day registration and more. A reactionary majority on the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, opened the floodgates to secret corporate money in politics, and gave political gerrymandering a green light.

Once more, the reaction has been accompanied by violence — racially motivated killings, often reinforced by racially biased policing. In Ron DeSantis' Florida, among other places, politicians feed the hatred, fanning fears of "critical race theory," censoring history courses, banning books, loos-

employers are looking for new talent — for nurses, corrections officers, sanitation workers, school bus drivers and more. We will do what it takes, because it's critical that the public service workforce look like our communities.

Diversity in the public service has a rich history. Jobs in state and local government have been an economic lifeline for generations of Black people, especially when other doors of opportunity were slammed shut. This is my family's story, so this is personal for me. My father drove a city bus in Cleveland, Ohio — a good union job that gave us some modest security and stability. We weren't living on Easy Street for sure, but

conditions of work? Must they work with unfair pay? Is it time for workers to unite? What would happen if you went to your morning coffee shop to find no one there? Waited for a bus to find no driver, no bus? Managed to get to work to find no coworkers? Wandered to lunch to find no one serving? Tried to stop at a supermarket heading home to find no one working and no food available? Managed home to sort out a mess? We depend on workers but we don't want to pay them. We agree with their labor actions but don't want to manage inconvenience. We thought about Labor Day, but we don't think about workers. When will we raise the federal minimum wage? WI

ening gun control laws even as mass murders spread.

Yet when reaction seems on the march, remember that it is always darkest before the dawn. In 1955, 68 years before the Jacksonville shootings, a 14-year-old boy — Emmett Till — was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi. Despite a national outcry, his murderers went free. Yet in December of that same year, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, launching the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the civil rights movement that transformed America. Today's reaction is brutal and ugly, but a new, more diverse generation promises a new time of organizing, movement and progress. History," Maya Angelou wrote, "with its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." WI

there was food on the table for dinner and a roof over my head at night.

We want to give more people of all races that chance — the chance to be one of the everyday heroes of public service, the chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself by joining a union.

This Labor Day, we honored the sacrifice of all working people. And we affirmed that life is better in a union. In the months and years to come, through “Staff the Front Lines” and other campaigns, we will keep fighting to help more people discover the union difference.

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WILLIAMS from Page 37

work. The same Brian Kemp who is now governor of Georgia went on television and called the attempt to silence District Attorney Fani Willis POLITICAL THEATER! He is correct, but the question is why? He was certainly firm in his statement and appeared to be sincere.

Just maybe, Gov. Kemp has other ambitions, and he will need not only the Black vote but also the Asian American vote. After all, they are the fastest-growing number of voters in Georgia. It's quite possible he will need all their votes for his next move whether it's for the United States Senate or even President of the

United States. We don't know what the governor's next move is, but we need to keep our eye on whatever it is. Meanwhile, let's thank him for doing the right thing this time to allow District Attorney Fani Willis to continue the people's case against Donald Trump and his unfortunate friends who followed him to break the law so many times to help Trump. Gov. Kemp has done his part by refusing to cooperate in allowing the Georgia legislature to unfairly and without cause to relieve Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis of heading up the work that would send what should soon be a convicted criminal back to the White House. WI

BAILEY from Page 37

the difference between profit and loss in many businesses. Through the pooling of such resources and the development of habits of thrift and techniques of wise investments, the Negro will be doing his share to grapple with his problems of economic deprivation. If Black Power means the development of this kind of strength within the Negro community, then it is a

MARSHALL from Page 37

ication and stayed in his room after dropping out of college and losing his job. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the writings left by the killer, a 21-year-old white man, made clear that he was motivated by racism. Each victim was Black. The words and policies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have consequences, which is why Black leaders throughout the state are angry.

The shooting has devastated Jacksonville's New Town community. While speaking at a community vigil held for the three victims, the governor was met with boos. Black leaders have denounced a pattern of "policy violence" against people of color imposed by the DeSantis administration. The governor's presence and seemingly disingenuous comments brought forth angry shouts, tears, and profanity from the crowd of 200. How can an elected official publicly offer support and comfort to a hurting community when their rhetoric and policies show they are the source of the

Meanwhile, let's thank him for doing the right thing this time to allow District Attorney Fani Willis to continue the people's case against Donald Trump and his unfortunate friends who followed him to break the law so many times to help Trump.

request for basic, necessary, legitimate power."

As far as I know, very few, if any, speaker at the 60th anniversary event or journalists covering it dealt with brother Martin's strong positions on the importance of Black unity and collective economics. If we had done so, we would be in a much stronger position to promote and protect our basic interests in 2023 and beyond. WI

problem?

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said DeSantis deserves real blame for the shooting: "What Gov. DeSantis has done is created an atmosphere for such tragedies to take place."

The leading civil rights group argued that the state's loose gun laws and the governor's "anti-woke" agenda have created a culture of open hostility toward people of color. In times of crisis, people expect elected officials to show some degree of genuine empathy and to do something. Giving support and comfort to constituents in the wake of tragic events is not political but comes from an empathic heart. While DeSantis wants Joe Biden's job, he doesn't share Joe Biden's empathy and concern for people.

The Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the oldest Black congregations in the South. Affectionately known as Mother Emanuel, in 2015, the congregation endured a targeted, racially motivated assault where the pastor and eight other worshippers were killed. As

vice president, Joe Biden made a surprise visit to a worship service at Mother Emanuel. "We came back because our family wanted to show solidarity with your family and church," Biden said at the service. Biden also said one of the reasons he went to the worship service was to "draw strength from the church" following the death of his son, Beau Biden, the previous month. He also wished he could say more to ease the pain of the families that lost loved ones during the church massacre, but the death of his son reminded him that there are "no words, only faith."

Biden read a verse from Psalms at the service. "I pray that the families will find refuge in the shadows of His wings," Biden said. "And I pray that the love that all of you have shown to them, and to people around the country and to me, will help mend the broken hearts of their families and mine." This exemplifies what true "thoughts and prayers" look and sound like. WI

As far as I know, very few, if any, speaker at the 60th anniversary event or journalists covering it dealt with brother Martin's strong positions on the importance of Black unity and collective economics.