This Week's Edition : 3-26-26

Young People, Trades, Entrepreneurship: Lewis George and McDuffie Reveal Their Mayoral Vision for Workforce Development

Youth, Advocates Weigh in on Emergency Curfew Controversy

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Writer

As the clock winds down to the primary that will determine D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s successor, local and federal law enforcement are still clashing with young people in commercial districts designated as emergency curfew zones. For the adults who spend time with these youth, the

4 Students, journalists, and other professionals gather in Blackburn Center to celebrate Black Press Week on March 18. (Keith Golden Jr./HUNewsService and The Washington Informer)

Black Press Week:

Tradition, Technology, Rising Talent Celebrating Excellence, Legacy, Resilience and Power

By Kree Anderson

WI Intern

As the nation navigates racial disparities, war in the Middle East and federal attacks on African American media makers, journalists, students, educators and justice leaders gathered on March 18 at Howard University’s Blackburn Center for

Black Press Day 2026, an event that highlighted excellence, honored legacy and offered a charge to preserve the power of truth-telling.

Hosted in collaboration with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Fund and Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, the convening in Northwest, D.C. commem-

Local Teens Speak Out at Inaugural D.C. Teen Summit

By Arcynta Childs WI Contributing Writer

The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) held its inaugural D.C. Teen Summit on March 13, providing a forum for residents ages 13 – 18 to openly discuss issues that affect them and ask questions in a safe and supportive environment.

“It's for youth to have the space for us to be able to speak up and tell the adults what we need,” said Jordan Williams, 18, a teen panelist at the event. “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”

The youth-led summit, held at the Columbia Heights Community Center in Northwest, gave teens a productive way to spend a designated “wellness day” off from D.C. Public Schools and earn community service hours. The Friday gathering was inspired by BET’s “Teen Summit,” filmed in D.C. from 1989 to 2002, which of-

Heirs to History: Women of the Black Press Advance Truth, Inspire Change

March

By Jada Ingleton and Mya Trujillo WI Content Editor and WI Contributing Writer

With this month marking recognition for women around the world, it also uplifts the heroines building the future of media they see fit.

Across generational successors, “publishers-in-waiting,” and communications professionals, women are carrying forth the 199-year traditions of the Black Press with a dual purpose: advancing the pen as a sword while building a path for generations to come.

Media and the

5 Democratic mayoral front runners Kenyan McDuffie and Janeese Lewis George. (Graphic created by WI Photo Team)

SUMMIT Page 21

BLACK PRESS Page 40

5 Held during Black Press Week, Micha Green, managing editor of The Washington Informer, and Mancala Collective founder Misha Cornelius Green underscore the power of African American-led media during “A Celebration of Black Voices” at Guest House DC on March 19. (Courtesy Photo/Latrell Caton)

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STAFF

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STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; BRENDA C. SILER,WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER; MICHA GREEN, WI MANAGING EDITOR

ICE Detentions Surge, Leaving 11,000 U.S. Citizen Children Without Parents

Maryland Leaders Combat Federal Plans for Local ICE Facility

A new investigation has found that federal immigration authorities detained the parents of more than 11,000 U.S. citizen children in the first seven months of President Donald Trump’s second term, a pace that has left families scrambling and raised urgent questions about enforcement practices and their impact on American-born children.

The data, obtained through a public records lawsuit and analyzed by ProPublica, shows that authorities arrested

and detained parents of U.S.-born children at more than double the rate seen under the previous administration, with an average of more than 50 children each day left with a parent taken into custody.

The findings come as immigration enforcement ramps up nationwide, with federal officials increasing detention capacity and expanding operations across the country. According to government data analyzed by NPR, the number of people held in immigration detention rose from about 37,000 to more than 72,000 within a year, with plans to expand capacity even further.

The ProPublica report details how the policy shift is playing out. In one case in Florida, a mother handed her 4-month-old baby to a pastor and his wife as law enforcement officers prepared to take her into

ICE Page 13

Megan Thee Stallion and John Legend Headed to New York Stages

Grammy-winning artists Megan Thee Stallion and John Legend are taking their talents to New York City stages, ready to showcase their skills in musical theatre.

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion made her Broadway debut in the musical “Moulin Rouge” for an eight-week run that began on March 24.

“Theater is definitely a new opportunity that I am excited to embrace,” said the performer in a Burlington County Times article. “Stepping onto the Broadway stage and joining the ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical!’ team is an absolute honor.”

The three-time Grammy recipient, with two Billboard Music Awards, six BET Awards, and many other honors, will take on the role of Zidler, the host of the show, until May 17.

Appearing at the Al Hirschfield Theatre, the rapper, composer, and actress will make history as the first female-identifying actor to play Zidler, following in the footsteps of other notable performers who have tackled the role, including: Boy

George, Titus Burgess, and Wayne Brady.

As a first-time composer and lyricist for a theater production, Legend takes on “Imitation of Life,” set to debut this fall.

Based on the 1933 book by Fannie Hurst and the movies made in 1934 and 1959, “Imitation of Life” profiles two single mothers—one Black, one White—who are raising their daughters. The Black woman's daughter has a very fair complexion and manages her life by passing for White.

“This is a classic title and we decided to do an updated version,” said Legend during a recent interview on NBC’s “3rd Hour of TODAY.”

Legend is a multi-award recipient having earned the status of EGOT by winning two Emmys, 13 Grammy Awards, an Oscar for co-writing the song “Glory” for the movie “Selma,” and a Tony Award as a co-producer of the play “Jitney.”

“Imitation of Life” is a co-produced with National Black Theatre. The musical will premiere this fall at The Shed, an off-Broadway venue in New York City. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

City Cruises and OCTFME Celebrate District Culture with Capital Sound Series

Sailing along the Potomac, District residents celebrated the spring equinox and budding cherry blossom season aboard the Odyssey in a special event, as the D.C. Office of Cable, Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) and City Cruises announced new programming that highlights the beauty and breadth of the District’s landscape and culture.

“Today, we officially launch the Capital Sound Series, a new partnership between the Office of Cable, Television, Film, Music and Entertainment, City Cruises DC, along with Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID). Together, we are bringing D.C. culture to the river,” said LaToya Foster, director of OCTFME, during the afternoon event on March 20. “We are celebrating the 250th

anniversary of our country and the 50th anniversary of go-go, our homegrown, self-earned, cultural signature.”

The line to board the Odyssey served as a moment to enjoy live entertainment, with The Experience Band and Show kicking off the Capital Sound Series, playing exciting and dance-provoking renditions of diverse songs like Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” (1973), The Gap Band’s “Yearning for Your Love (1980), and Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning” (2002).

“We are ensuring that our artists are not only creating, but being seen, celebrated and supported,” Foster

CITY CRUISES Page 8

5 Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is pushing back against the Trump administration’s plans for an ICE facility in Washington County. (WI File

Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

D.C. Rejects Live Nation Settlement, AG Vows to Continue Antitrust Fight Over Ticketmaster

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

District of Columbia Attorney

General Brian Schwalb said the city will continue pursuing its antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment despite a settlement reached between the company and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Schwalb argues the agreement fails to address what he describes as a deeply entrenched monopoly over the live entertainment industry.

The case targets Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, and alleges the company used its market dominance to control ticketing services, concert promotions, and venue access across the country. The District joined a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general and federal officials who filed the lawsuit in May 2024 accusing Live Nation of illegally monopolizing the market for concert tickets and live entertainment.

“D.C.’s live entertainment scene is vital to our local economy and culture, and the recently announced settlement is simply not adequate,” Schwalb said. “Live Nation has raked in billions from an illegal monopoly that stifles artists, harms venues, and makes it harder for fans to see the performers they love. We will continue fighting to hold Live Nation accountable and restore competition to the live entertainment industry.”

The Justice Department’s agreement with Live Nation includes $200 million in damages and a series of changes to the company’s ticketing practices. Under the settlement, Ticketmaster will no longer be able to require venues to use its platform exclusively, venues will be allowed to sell tickets through competing vendors, and ticketing fees will be capped at 15% of the ticket price.

The settlement also requires Live Nation to divest more than 10% of its share of amphitheaters nationwide. The lawsuit alleged that Live Nation controlled roughly 78% of major amphitheaters, giving the company enormous influence over concert promotions and ticket sales.

Despite those changes, attorneys general representing multiple states, including the District of Columbia, say the agreement does not fully address what they describe as anti com-

petitive practices tied to Live Nation’s control of both concert promotion and ticketing services.

Court filings submitted in federal court in New York show that the coalition of states asked the court to declare a mistrial and pause proceedings after the federal government reached its agreement with Live Nation in the middle of the trial. The states argued that the sudden settlement altered the structure of the case and could affect their ability to present witnesses, experts, and other evidence before the jury.

The motion states that the mid-trial settlement “materially and irreparably prejudiced the Plaintiff States before the currently empaneled jury” and changed the nature of the proceedings, prompting the states to request a new trial and additional time to prepare their case.

“The settlement recently announced does not adequately remedy the harms to the marketplace for live music and to concertgoers caused by Live Nation,” the officials wrote in a multistate statement.

Schwalb Vows to ‘to Hold Live Nation Accountable’

Ticketmaster data reportedly shows the District records far more ticket sales per resident than any state, making the city a major hub for concerts and touring events. Local venues range from Capital One Arena, which can host more than 20,000 fans, to smaller clubs and theaters that anchor the city’s music scene.

According to the lawsuit, Live Nation controls two central elements of that market. The company serves as the exclusive ticketing provider for the largest venues in the District while also operating as the dominant concert promoter responsible for booking artists.

Attorneys general say that dual role leaves artists and venues with limited alternatives when planning shows, giving Live Nation significant control over ticket pricing and contractual terms. The lawsuit contends that the company’s control of promotions and ticketing forces fans to pay higher prices while limiting competition from rival ticketing platforms.

The original complaint sought several remedies, including financial

compensation for consumers who allegedly paid inflated ticket prices and structural changes to restore competition in the industry. The states also asked the court to prohibit future anti competitive practices and order the company to divest Ticketmaster.

A large coalition of attorneys general joined the case alongside the District, including officials from: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,

TICKETMASTER Page 8

3 Attorney General Brian Schwalb of D.C. says the District will continue pursuing its antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, despite a recent settlement between the company and the U.S. Department of Justice. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

AROUND THE REGION

March 26

1831 – Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the first independent Black denomination in the United States, dies in Philadelphia at age 71.

1937 – William Hastie is appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the U.S. District Court for the Virgin Islands, making him the first African American federal judge. 1944 – Famed singer and actress Diana Ross is born in Detroit.

1962 – Augusta Savage, a famed Black sculptor from the Harlem Renaissance era, dies of cancer in New York City at age 70.

March 27

1924 – Renowned jazz singer Sarah Vaughan is born in Newark, New Jersey.

1934 – Acclaimed dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell, founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, is born in New York City.

March 28

1866 – George Alexander McGuire, founder and first Bishop of the African Orthodox Church, is born in Swetes, Antigua.

1939 – The New York Renaissance Big Five, one of the most successful all-Black professional basketball teams in the 1920s and 1930s, becomes the first all-Black pro team to win a world championship.

March 29

1904 – Granville T. Woods patents the first of two improvements on railroad brakes.

1918 – Award-winning actress and singer Pearl Bailey is born in Southampton County, Virginia.

March 30

1870 – The 15th Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote, is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution.

March 31

1797 – Gustavus Vassa, a freed slave whose autobiography, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," is regarded as one of history's most influential literary works, dies in southeast England.

1870 – Thomas Mundy Peterson of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, becomes the first African American to vote in an election, a day after the 15th Amendment is ratified.

1878 – Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, is born in Galveston, Texas.

1891 – George "Little Chocolate" Dixon knocks out Cal McCarthy to win the featherweight title, becoming the first Black world boxing champion in any weight class.

1980 – Track and field star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens dies in Tucson, Arizona, of lung cancer at 66.

1988 – Toni Morrison's "Beloved," a novel about the remembrances of a former slave in post-Civil War Ohio, wins the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

April 1

1868 – Hampton University, one of the nation's 107 historically Black colleges and universities, is founded in Hampton, Virginia.

1899 – North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Black-owned business founded in downtown Durham, opens for business.

1917 – Famed African American composer and pianist Scott Joplin, known as "the King of Ragtime," dies in New York City at 49.

1950 – Prominent Black physician, surgeon and medical researcher Charles Richard Drew dies in Burlington, North Carolina, at 50 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

1984 – One day before his 45th birthday, iconic soul singer Marvin Gaye is fatally shot by his father during a dispute at the Los Angeles house they shared. WI

Dianna Ross (left)

Marvin Gaye (center) Jesse Owens (right)

AROUND THE REGION view P INT

BY KEITH GOLDEN JR.

Do you think mental health is taken seriously in the Black community? If not, what needs to change?

WALLACE STEWART / SOUTHWEST, D.C.

“No, because of our parents. Not to fully put the blame on them, [but it’s] always been not really talked about. I do Uber part time; most white people [that] get in my car talk about going to a therapist like it’s normal. For us, it’s like, ‘Something wrong with you? Why are you going there?’ I think the best thing to do…[is] giving people more help. People need help with their mental health. As long as we keep shrugging it off, these people with mental health issues will be in prison. That’s where they are trying to put most of us anyway.”

VINCENT LUCAS / SOUTHEAST D.C.

DIANNE THORPE / SOUTHEAST D.C.

“If it [has] changed, it’s very little. I think they need more people working in mental health.”

“It would probably be taken more seriously if we were not judging one another. We judge each other too much so we don’t talk about the problem.”

PAUL AMEDU / NORTHERN NIGERIA

“I feel as though mental health is taken seriously. We’re on a journey to take it more seriously because it definitely needs to [be], but it’s better than it was 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. I feel like the things that need to change are more resources in Black communities, more outspokenness, and more knowledge about these topics. People can have [someone] in their family [with] mental health conditions, but because they are not aware of it, they think, ‘That’s just Uncle Louie. He’s just a little crazy.’”

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

AROUND THE REGION

continued. “So the Capitol Sound Series is a powerful example of that commitment— bringing culture to the water, to The Wharf, and to the thousands of residents and visitors, who will experience our city… in a whole new way, throughout cherry blossom season and beyond.”

Chad Barth, vice president of City Cruises, said the partnership with OCTFME furthers the company’s mission of highlighting District culture, while aboard vessels like the Odyssey.

“As City Cruises celebrates the start of our busiest time of the year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, we wanted to further shine a spotlight on the people who make our city so special,” Barth said. “Our cruises during cherry blossom season are particularly special for all of us here, as it offers us all sweeping views of the blooms along the Potomac without the crowds.”

A Chance to Network, Celebrate District Artists, Look To the Future

As District business leaders, artists, cultural curators, legal experts, and media makers took in the sites while sailing on March 20, they also had the chance to engage with one another and make connections.

For Sharah Connor of Mahogany Yacht Charters, which was founded in 2022, building community in a familiar place– but different vessel— was a welcome opportunity.

“Being out here on the water–this is Mahogany's home– being

5 LaToya Foster, director of the D.C. Office of Cable, Television, Film, Music and Entertainment and Chad Barth, vice president of City Cruises DC, at the kickoff of Capital Sound Series aboard the Odyssey on March 20. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer)

able to celebrate the start of [cherry blossom] and boat seasons with everyone that's here today, that's why I'm here,” Connor, Mahogany Yacht Charter’s chief operating officer and managing partner, told The Informer. “With this being our fifth season [on the Potomac], we're so excited to bring on more partners. We're hiring more first mates, and hopefully we're looking at expansion of another vessel.”

While guests networked, enjoyed a three-course meal that included a refreshing spring salad, savory salmon entree and a variety of desserts, and sipped on drinks from the bar, they also got to witness a muralist in action as he provided cool souvenirs for those aboard the vessel.

“It’s great to give back and be a part of [the launch of Capital Sail Series],” said Kaliq Crosby, who designed and spray painted person-

TICKETMASTER

from Page 5

Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“The case against Live Nation is strong, and the state coalition is committed to holding the company accountable for its illegal behavior, protecting consumers, and restor-

alized hats for attendees during the two-hour cruise. “I wouldn't be who I am today without support from people like [OCTFME and City Cruises].”

A D.C. native, Crosby understands the importance of providing opportunities for artists firsthand.

“It's great for the groups that are involved and are willing to contribute to the artist scene and provide equity to the artists,” he continued.

Foster said that the Capital Sound Series was further proof of the District’s investment in creative economy and tourism, particularly touting D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s work to support and highlight local artists.

“In Washington, D.C., we know that the creative economy is a $15 billion engine, driving jobs, opportunity, and growth across the city,” she said. WI

ing competition to this market,” the D.C. and state leaders wrote in their statement. “We are willing and able to stand with other partner states to continue litigating this case without the federal government so that we can hold Live Nation accountable in court and secure appropriate relief in this case. “

Schwalb said the District intends to keep pressing the case in court.

“We will continue fighting to hold Live Nation accountable and restore competition to the live entertainment industry,” he demanded.. WI

CITY CRUISES from Page 4

MAYORAL RACE from Page 1

emergency curfew zones aren’t showing District lawmakers in the most positive light. Recent events have even caused one local organizer to question whether city officials are truly prioritizing public safety.

“As far as the curfews go, I always felt as though they were a bit predatory,” said D. Floyd, a local youth advocate. “They primarily target business districts where the candidates who voted for the actual curfew have favor and have relationships. It seems the curfews are targeting areas connected to big business as opposed to actually addressing any threats of crime.”

Floyd, a member of the D.C. Youth Violence Prevention Coalition, has spent the last seven months hosting weekly events at Barry Farm Recreation Center in Southeast for young people. Oftentimes, other coalition members accompany youth to the Wharf in Southwest, and other commercial areas with heavy police activity on Friday nights and during the weekend.

As Floyd recounted to The Informer, local and federal law enforcement agents change their demeanor when they see young people with adults.

“They’re on their best behavior,” Floyd said about the officers. “They high-fiving the kids and all this other [stuff].”

However, as Floyd explained, when the youth are by themselves, the interactions become a bit more contentious.

“They're forcing the kids around,” Floyd told The Informer. “If the kids jump back, they're arresting them. Just look at all the arrests that took place at Metro stations last year when they started that curfew. It’s just an astronomical number for kids that shouldn't even be having to pay to get on the Metro.”

In recent years, Floyd has counted among those who’ve advocated for District youth to have more economic opportunity, whether that’s through exposure to entrepreneurship or increasing compensation for D.C. summer youth employment participants. He said that he wants the next mayor to have the best interests of young people at heart, more so than corporations.

“The businesses come and go,” Floyd told The Informer. “Amazon is going to come set up, then they're going to leave…but we have people that have been here in this area for their whole lives and for generations… so

5 D.C. Democratic mayoral candidate, and current D.C. council member, Janeese Lewis George received endorsements from more than a dozen unions. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

we have to honor that. The next mayor has to be okay with that, as opposed to serving any political agenda.”

Lewis George Clinches Union Endorsements, Promises Career Pathways for Youth

In recent months, D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and former At large D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie have emerged as frontrunners in the Democratic mayoral primary. A March 10 filing by Lewis George’s camp shows contributions totaling more than $1.6 million, while McDuffie’s March 10 filing shows the former at-large council member having raised more than $1.5 million.

The campaign season got underway on March 14 with a mayoral and D.C. delegate candidate forum that Free DC hosted at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church in Southeast. Though the mayoral portion had moments where Lewis George and McDuffie clashed, both candidates agreed on not extending what's known as the emergency juvenile curfew.

Days later, Lewis George joined representatives of ATU Local 689, SEIU 32BJ, UFCW Local 400, Unite Here! Local 23 and Local 25, the Baltimore-DC Metro Building Trades Council, LiUNA, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on the grounds of RFK Campus where they announced their endorsement of Ward 4 council member, citing her union advocacy during RFK football

stadium negotiations.

“Her lead opponent, Kenyan McDuffie, took the first deal, and the first deal was not the best deal,” said Josh Armstead, vice president of Unite Here! Local 23. “The first deal left out D.C. residents. I was there, down to the wire with Janeese and [Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember] Zach[ary] Parker as they stood up for D.C. workers to get the best deal.”

Armstead went on to say that, if elected, Lewis George would prioritize District residents, including the more than 2,000 who call themselves Unite Here! Local 23 food service and hospitality workers.

“What we need to make sure of as we move into the future, as we've seen the city change in unimaginable ways, is to make sure there's a city that works for everyone,” Armstead said. “Not just the millionaires and the billionaires, not just the well-connected and the bourgeois, but actual working people, whether you live in Ward 7, Ward 6, Ward 5, Ward 4, Ward 1, or have any type of job you should be able to…thrive in this city. That's why we need Janeese as our next mayor.”

Lewis George would later articulate her vision for the stadium, which is slated for 2030 completion.

“It's a new development and a new neighborhood, but it must meet and support the needs of people already here,” Lewis George said. “Neighboring areas east of the river, H Street Corridor, Penn Corridor, Minnesota Avenue, all these places. That means ensuring development expands be-

MAYORAL RACE Page 11

5 D.C. Democratic mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie touts his record of supporting small businesses while on the D.C. Council. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

CAPTURE THE MOMENt

Dunn, senior branch banker at PNC Bank, picks up a

The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrated the District’s long-standing residents and seniors at the 3rd Annual Blossom Tea Party on March 17, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C. (L-R): Solana Vander Nat, senior manager of Events DC cultural affairs; Charon P.W. Hines, director of the Department of Aging and Community Living; Honorary Guest Speaker and “Mama Commander” Sylvia Harris; Dania Jolley, Events DC deputy chief of staff and cultural affairs; National Cherry Blossom Festival President and CEO Diana Mayhew; and Nicole Greene, senior director of corporate marketing and creative production at Events DC. (Courtesy Photo/National Cherry Blossom Festival)

RACE from Page 9

yond RFK but also robust steps to prevent displacement.”

By the time of that March 19 press conference, Lewis George had already clinched the support of: the Washington Teachers’ Union, Free DC, Working Families Party, Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America, and Safe & Affordable DC. She also had supporters in: D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-At large), D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), and former Ward 7 D.C. Councilmember Yvette Alexander.

That afternoon, Lewis George, flanked by union members, revealed her economic development plan. Elements include: the establishment of a “rapid response federal workforce transition center” to help laid-off federal workers and contractors transition into teaching and other in-demand jobs; partnerships with local universities and hospitals in the development of innovation districts; and attracting major universities to establish satellite campuses.

Lewis George also expressed a desire to open temporary spaces in D.C.-owned buildings and vacant commercial storefronts for popups and incubators that support local entrepreneurs and artists. In her remarks, Lewis George had a message for the youth, a constituency that she wants to engage via intense job support, expansion of vocational and career and technical education, and collaboration with unions to strengthen pathways to electrical work, plumbing, engineering, carpentry and other jobs.

“Every child should know there is more than one path to success, and that path should be easy for our kids to see and reach,” Lewis George said. “By the time our students get to high school, they should be able to earn real credentials, real experience, and a real head start on a career. Because young people don't just need promises, and they don't need to just be criticized. They need opportunities that support their growth. And we also have to meet this moment with urgency.”

Lewis George said she’d be able to take a balanced approach.

“Let me say this plainly, my vi-

sion isn't business versus labor,” Lewis George said. “The RFK development here underscores the importance of partnership.”

McDuffie Reveals His ‘Affordability, Opportunity, Accountability’ Platform, Touts Past Support of Small Businesses

McDuffie told The Informer that personal experience puts him in the best position to help the District’s young and disillusioned.

“The thing that changed my entire life after dropping out twice from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) was an opportunity, and it came in the form of a job carrying mail for the United States Postal Service,” he said. “In many ways, it saved my life because it took me from out of just hanging out and making bad decisions with my friends to actually having a job that I could work with overtime, good-paying wages, union benefits, and economic security for a 19/20-year-old kid, something I've never had and many of the people in my community didn't have.”

McDuffie said much of his past work on the council— including that involving the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act— has been inspired by a yearning to help those most at risk of engaging in gun violence or becoming victims of it.

“To put them in a classroom setting in the Pathways Program, give them subsidized employment while they're learning the skills that they need to be able to compete for jobs in today's economy so that they can take care of themselves and their families,” McDuffie told The Informer. “That's what opportunity looks like, and residents across the District of Columbia want somebody who's going to continue to fight for those types of residents who don't see themselves reflected in the policies happening in government.”

Since jumping into the race, McDuffie has secured endorsements from: former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt, former Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), former U.S. Justice Department pardon attorney Liz Oyer, Associated Builders and Contractors of Met-

AROUND THE REGION

ro Washington, and Opportunity DC.

His mayoral campaign platform centers on: affordability, opportunity and accountability.

As it relates to opportunity, McDuffie’s vision includes investments in vocational programs and career and technical education. He also expressed a desire to: align UDC and adult workforce programs with in-demand industries; create pipeline support in tech, climate, health care, hospitality and trades; and facilitate a federal workforce transition pipeline into cyber and advanced technology industries. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Jevonte McCollum, pictured here in an internship at George Washington University, is currently taking courses at the Advanced Technical Center toward an EMT certification. He says he wants the next mayor to expand trade and vocational offerings, and take a genuine interest in young people. (Courtesy Photo)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Prince George’s Political Updates

Looking Ahead at the 2026 Primary Election, Challengers State Their Case

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

The candidate filing deadline passed on Feb. 24, establishing the official list of incumbents and challengers during the upcoming primary and general elections.

Sean Michael Wilson, a political consultant who is working with several campaigns, is excited to see so many names on the ballot.

“This election year is going to be pivotal for the future of our county especially when it comes to development,” he told The Informer. “We must carefully study the candidates and not vote based off of name alone or endorsements, but we should cast our vote based on a proven track record and experience.”

One of the marquee races in Prince George’s is the State’s Attorney race, with incumbent Tara Jackson (D) facing Councilmember Wanika Fisher (D) and Charles County prosecutor Karen Piper Mitchell (D).

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Councilmember Jolene Ivey (D) have both endorsed Jackson. Fisher held a January fundraiser in partnership with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) and has been endorsed by several legislators including House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk.

More than 20 candidates filed for the 5th congressional seat to replace outgoing Rep. Steny Hoyer (D), who announced he is not running after nearly 50 years on Capitol Hill. Anthony Lee Wright, a regional labor leader, was impressed by former County Executive Rushern Baker’s first-place showing in a recent poll.

“Based on the new information from a GQR poll, Rushern is about to make a return. I truly believe that Rushern Baker will replace Steny Hoyer in Congress," he proudly told The Informer.

The register of wills race features a dozen candidates, including: former Central Committee Chair Dr. Antwan Brown; former Board of Education member Belinda Queen Cunningham (D); 2024 Democratic National Convention Delegate Januari McKay (D); former Bladensburg Councilmember Jocelyn Route (D); and Prince George’s NAACP President Linda Thornton-Thomas.

Del. Tiffany Alston (D-District 24) praised Cereta Lee, the current register of wills, and said she wants to see her successor continue to run the office effectively.

“The register of wills serves as the clerk of the orphans. This person also provides education about estate planning,” she told The Informer.

“We need a person who is compassionate, people oriented and committed to this position.”

Alston is facing entrepreneur Kevin Ford Jr. for State Senate, as Sen. Joanne Benson (D) is retiring following the legislative session after decades in public office.

Wright believes the candidates should prioritize local issues, especially affordability.

"Public safety is obviously an important issue. Public safety, housing, and employment are the top three issues, in my opinion. I would like to see the county attract more businesses and improve housing affordability."

5 Register of Wills Cereta Lee is not running for re-election, as a dozen candidates file to run for the seat she has held since 2006. (Courtesy Photo/Maryland State Archives)

Challenger Candidates State Their Case

Councilmembers Eric Olson (D-District 2), Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7), and Edward Burroughs III (D-District 8) are unchallenged, but most local incumbents are facing challenger candidates who seek to highlight constituent services, economic development, and other local issues in their campaigns.

Greg Holmes is seeking the county executive position and is focusing his campaign on strong leadership to better serve residents.

“This is a defining moment for Prince George’s County, and we can’t afford to waste it on the old Prince George’s politics, incompetence, or petty distractions,” he told The Informer. “We need new, transformational leadership that restores accountability and delivers results.”

Holmes, who hosted a summit last March for entrepreneurs to discuss the future of the region with other key stakeholders, has a background in business development and hopes to share his expertise with the county.

“My focus is to create a competitive environment to: grow our economy with a forward-looking innovation strategy that attracts new employers and expands the tax base; strengthen security by improving our schools and making neighborhoods safer through prevention and accountability; and improve affordability by lowering costs so families and seniors can thrive,” Holmes said.

5 Prince George’s County Councilmember Sydney Harrison is term-limited in his current role representing District 9 and is one of nine candidates running for two at-large seats. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

The county executive candidate said he hopes to work with Prince Georgians to strengthen the area for residents, business and visitors alike.

“We must harness the talents and potential of each resident to lead the future,” he continued. “Prince George’s deserves a government that delivers, spends taxpayer dollars responsibly, and executes a clear economic strategy that turns opportunity into prosperity.”

Sherman Hardy, who ran for county executive in the previous cycle, is one of nine candidates vying to represent District 9, a majority-rural district that links Upper Marlboro, Eagle Harbor, Clinton, and Accokeek.

“I’m running for Prince George’s County Council District 9 because our county deserves leadership that understands both mission and management,” he said. “As a veteran, emergency manager, realtor, and federal procurement professional — I’ve spent my career solving complex problems, protecting taxpayer dollars, and leading under pressure.”

Hardy has prioritized transparency during his campaign, even showing up to a hearing dressed up in a Batman outfit and calling himself “the Dark Knight of accountability.”

“Prince George’s has enormous potential, but we have to tighten up accountability, strengthen land use decisions, and make sure every dollar delivers results,” continued Hardy. “This campaign is about restoring trust in government and building a county that works as hard as its people do.”

5 Greg Holmes hopes to further his work in expanding business opportunities in Prince George’s if elected as county executive. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

County Councilmember Sydney Harrison is term-limited in his current role representing District 9 and is one of nine candidates running for two atlarge seats. Harrison was temporarily stuck in Uganda while doing humanitarian work as conflict between the United States and Iran escalated.

“It’s not everyday that you hop on a plane and hear about a war breaking out in the same airspace you’re flying through,” he said in an interview with NBC9. “We were four hours into the flight and the pilot said we have to turn around and fly back to Africa. People started figuring out what was happening and became very unsettled on the plane.”

Bishop Joel Peebles Sr. is one of the four candidates challenging Councilmember Danielle Hunter (D-District 6), who was appointed in January to fill a vacancy following Councilmember Wala Blegay’s appointment to one of the two at-large seats.

“Prince George’s County faces many challenges as we venture into this new year,” Peebles, of City of Praise Family Ministries, told The Informer. A longtime local faith leader, Peebles also worked as a legislative officer in the county government during past years.

“From repeating budget deficits, to losing some of our most cherished community assets, it is imperative to have experienced and community based leadership,” he explained in an email. “Join our team, and help put people over politics.” WI

from Page 4

custody. The child, born in the United States, could not accompany her parents into detention, leaving the family to rely on others for care.

“What else could we do?” the Florida pastor, who has taken in two children after their parents were detained, said.

Federal officials have defended the enforcement strategy. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told ProPublica the agency “cannot verify the veracity of the data” and stated that “ICE does not separate families,” noting that parents may choose to take children with them when leaving the country or designate caregivers.

But former officials and advocates describe a marked shift in priorities. A directive that once instructed agents to treat detained parents in a humane manner has been revised, removing that language and focusing on enforcement goals, including targets of thousands of arrests per day.

The consequences have been especially severe for mothers. The detailed analysis found that mothers of U.S. citizen children are being deported at roughly four times the rate seen previously and are far less likely to be released once detained.

In many cases, the report found that parents had little or no criminal history beyond immigration or traffic-related offenses.

“They removed the word ‘humane’ from the directive that’s supposed to govern how agents treat detained parents. What does that tell you?” one social media user wrote in response to the ProPublica report.

Pushback Against Federal Plans for Maryland ICE Facility

The expansion of detention enforcement has triggered resistance across the country, including in the DMV region and surrounding areas.

In Maryland, a federal judge recently extended an order halting construction of a proposed ICE detention facility in Washington County, where officials say the center could hold up to 1,500 detainees.

“No administration is above the law. Our people must be heard when the federal government makes decisions that affect their health, their safety, and their communities,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in a Feb. 23 statement, announcing a lawsuit challenging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE for purchasing

“They removed the word ‘humane’ from the directive that’s supposed to govern how agents treat detained parents. What does that tell you?” one social media user wrote in response to the ProPublica report.

a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland without input from the public, state leaders and requisite environmental review. “The State of Maryland is filing this lawsuit because DHS must be held to the same legal standard as every other federal agency.”

The U.S. District Court for Maryland issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRD) on March 11, pausing construction of the warehouse for a immigration detention facility until, and has since extended it to April 16.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown also challenged the project.

“The Trump administration will stop at nothing to pursue its extreme immigration agenda – including breaking the law,” said Brown in a March 19 statement. “DHS purchased this facility while keeping the state and the public in the dark, spending more than $100 million in federal taxpayer dollars without performing the required environmental review and without giving Maryland or Marylanders any voice in the process.”

The Maryland dispute reflects a wider national pattern. Communities across the political spectrum have pushed back against new detention sites, citing concerns about cost, infrastructure, and the scale of proposed facilities.

Federal data shows more than 220 detention sites are already in operation, with additional locations under consideration.

“We will not allow this administration to treat laws like suggestions and threaten our people or their communities,” Brown declared. WI

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Prince George’s County Advances Environmental Justice Through Urban Tree Planting Program, Installing More Than 2000 Additional Native Trees

Submitted by Prince George’s County Department of the Environment

Prince George’s County is planting an additional 2,147 native trees and more than 3,000 native perennials, shrubs, and smaller trees through the end of May as part of its Urban Tree Planting Program, a major investment in environmental justice, climate resilience, and community beautification.

Plantings are underway within public rights-of-way and community spaces in the City of District Heights, the Town of Capitol Heights, the Town of Bladensburg, and additional homeowners association and church properties that will be announced in the coming weeks. Trees have been delivered, ground preparation is in progress, and understory plantings will follow installation, weather permitting.

The initiative is supported by the Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Tree Grant Program, a state-funded grant administered through the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Maryland Department of Natural Resources along with matching funds included in the Department of the Environment’s budget appropriation.

“This investment reflects our commitment to environmental justice and climate resilience,” said County Executive Aisha Braveboy. “For decades, some of our communities have experienced the impacts of historic inequities — including lower tree canopy coverage, higher heat exposure, and greater flood risk. Planting more than 2,100 street-sized native trees is about restoring balance, improving public health, and ensuring every neighborhood benefits from a greener future.”

The Prince George’s County Urban Tree Planting Program supports Maryland’s Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021, which calls for the planting of five million native trees statewide by 2031 as part of Maryland’s broader strategy to address the ongoing impacts of climate change. In Prince George’s County, planting locations are determined using the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s equity-based mapping requirements, alignment with MDEnviroScreen data, and the Department of the Environment’s Tree Equity Mapping Tool. These tools help identify communities with low existing tree canopy, high concentrations of impervious surfaces, and increased vulnerability to urban heat island impacts and stormwater runoff.

“This program is a powerful example of climate action in practice,” said Dr. Sam Moki, Director of the Department of the Environment. “By prioritizing historically underserved communities, we are addressing long-standing inequities while building long-term resilience. Trees function as natural infrastructure — reducing heat, absorbing stormwater, improving air quality, and strengthening neighborhood well-being.”

In addition to expanding canopy coverage, the inclusion of more than 3,000 native understory plantings will enhance biodiversity, support soil health, and improve the long-term sustainability of these sites. County staff and project consultants are documenting the installation process, including before-and-after photography, and will coordinate with participating municipalities and community leaders to highlight local perspectives as plantings are completed.

The Prince George’s County Urban Tree Planting Program as supported by DoE, reflects our County’s continued commitment to advancing environmental equity, strengthening climate resilience, and investing in healthier, more vibrant communities.

For more information about Prince George’s County’s environmental programs, visit [environment. mypgc.us].

D.C. Drivers Feel the Pinch as Car Insurance Gas and Loan Payments Surge

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

For many Americans, the cost of simply getting to work, school or the grocery store is becoming financially overwhelming. Rising car payments, soaring insurance premiums, higher gas prices and expensive repairs are combining to push household budgets to the breaking point.

The pressure is felt nationwide, including in the District of Columbia, where transportation costs are climbing alongside housing and food prices. According to insurance data analyzed by Bankrate, drivers in Washington pay an average of $888 per year for minimum auto coverage and about $2,873 annually for full coverage car insurance, or roughly $239 per month for comprehensive protection.

Those figures represent only part of a growing financial burden facing drivers.

Across the country, consumers are confronting rising loan payments, higher fuel prices and mounting repair bills. The combination is forcing many households to reconsider whether they can afford to own a vehicle at all.

Davine Greene, a 24-year-old nursing student in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said the financial strain of car ownership ultimately pushed her into bankruptcy.

Greene purchased a Kia K5 GT in November 2023. Her monthly car payment alone is $830, while insurance costs another $280 per month. Tires, maintenance and other expenses have added thousands more.

“This car is the bane of my existence,” Greene told The New York Times. “Probably the worst decision I’ve ever made, like, financially speaking.”

Greene said she never missed a payment. But the mounting ex-

penses drove her debt to more than $80,000, not including student loans. She filed bankruptcy last week.

Nationally, vehicle prices surged during the pandemic when supply chain disruptions limited production and manufacturers focused on higher priced models. At the same time, rising interest rates made auto loans significantly more expensive.

According to the Federal Reserve, the average interest rate on a 60-month new car loan from banks reached 7.22 in November.

Higher borrowing costs have translated into sharply rising monthly payments. Edmunds, an automotive research firm, reported that the average monthly payment for a new vehicle reached $774 in January, compared with $588 in January 2021.

An increasing share of buyers are taking on even larger loans. More than 20% of new car borrowers agreed to payments exceeding $1,000 a month by the end of last year, a record level according to Edmunds.

Loan payments are only one part of the financial strain.

When fuel, insurance, maintenance and repairs are included, the total cost of owning a vehicle has risen more than 40% since January 2020, according to an affordability index compiled by Navy Federal Credit Union.

Heather Long, chief economist at the credit union, told The New York Times that the pattern has left many consumers struggling to keep up.

“Americans are frustrated by Whac a Mole inflation,” Long said. “It’s difficult to plan and leaves middle class and moderate-income consumers constantly on edge about what will shoot up in price next.” WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

3 Gas prices across the U.S. are increasing as tensions in the Middle East push oil prices higher, leaving many drivers and ride share workers unable to afford to properly fuel their vehicles. (WI File Photo/ Anthony Tilghman)

NATIONAL

When $250 Keeps You in Jail: The Personal Story Behind a National Bail Showdown

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A former correctional officer had just finished work when police pulled over the car she was riding in.

“It was just a thoughtless night,” Dasia said. “I was under the influence and heavily triggered.”

Officers ran her name. A warrant surfaced for driving under suspension and a missed court date she says she never knew about because the notice went to the wrong address.

“Sometimes the first impression is all you get with somebody, and they get stuck with that,” she continued.

The bail was $250.

She spent 12 days in jail.

“I kind of felt violated,” she recalled, describing how two male correctional officers searched her and unzipped her hoodie despite her objections.

Angry and intoxicated, she flooded a toilet in her pod after being denied a phone call.

“It was like an out of body situation,” she explained. “I was so mad they wouldn’t let me make a phone call. I could’ve bonded out that night.”

She could not.

The jail was the same one where she had once worn a uniform.

“When you’re a CO, you’re hon-

ored,” she said. “You’re important. But being an inmate – you go from feeling righteous to feeling like a peasant.”

Inside, she tried to steady herself by steadying others.

“I spoke life into the other inmates,” Dasia said. “We’d talk, and I’d try to broaden people’s perspective about what we were going through. It wasn’t just for them – it was for me, too.”

She has lived with mental health challenges for years.

“What people don’t know,” she continued, “is that without being under a substance, sometimes it feels like you are anyway.”

She accepts responsibility.

“Even with mental health, you’ve got to present yourself in a way people can honor.”

“Broken crayons still color.”

She also said she challenged a correctional officer who was cursing at detainees.

“I got into it with one of the COs,” she recalled. “She was calling inmates out their name, cussing at them. I had to remind her; that’s not part of your job description. You don’t get paid for that.”

When the officer later told her she had “won,” Dasia responded, “no, I’m behind this cage. I didn’t win anything. I just need you to stop treating people like that.”

Her release came after a counselor connected her with The Bail Project, which provides free bail assistance to those in need and advocates for better policies in the pretrial justice system.

“When I got to talk to them, it was a breath of fresh air,” she ex-

plained. “She told me she was working to get me out. And sure enough, I got released that day.”

Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of legally innocent people sit in jail awaiting trial.

In Oklahoma alone, more than 9,000 people sit in local jails on any given day, nearly 70 percent legally innocent and awaiting court.

In Fulton County, Georgia, 32 people have died in jail since 2021.

Nearly 90% of those incarcerated are Black in a county where Black residents make up 43% of the population. More than one-third of detainees faced bonds under $5,000, amounts that still kept them jailed because they could not afford upfront payments.

In Texas, nearly 70% of people in jail on any given day are awaiting trial at a cost of more than $1.1 billion annually.

The Bail Project’s report “Behind the Bill” details how lawmakers pushed constitutional changes that would have expanded pretrial detention before advocates secured protections requiring clear and convincing evidence before someone could be jailed pretrial.

In Florida, the Senate Rules Committee amended SB 600 to preserve nonprofit bail funds after language that would have blocked nonprofits from reusing refunded bail money threatened to shut them down.

“Charitable bail funds and faithbased groups reuse refunded bail money to help people a judge has already cleared for release,” said Josh Mitman, senior policy counsel at The Bail Project. “Shutting them down doesn’t make communities

safer – it just keeps more people in jail unnecessarily and sticks taxpayers with the bill.”

In Washington, Congress passed H.R. 5214, legislation mandating expanded cash bail in the District. The Bail Project warned it would dismantle a system where 88% of people released pretrial remained arrest-free and 98% remained free from violent arrest.

“H.R. 5214 is a dangerous federal intrusion that overrides Washington, D.C.’s proven pretrial system and the democratic will of District residents,” said Erin George, National Director of Policy at The Bail Project. “Despite its claims, H.R. 5214 is not about public safety – it’s about control – and will have devastating ripple effects on families, communities, and safety.”

‘A

quiet constitutional crisis is unfolding in America’

The organization’s national report “Detention by Design” documents that more than a quarter of states with constitutional rights to bail have proposed or enacted amendments expanding detention eligibility between 2021 and 2025.

“A quiet constitutional crisis is unfolding in America. State by state, the right to bail is being rewritten –expanding preventative detention, deepening reliance on money bail, and eroding the presumption of innocence,” said David Gaspar, chief executive officer of The Bail Project.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Through new reports, The Bail Project reveals challenges in the pretrial justice system and is working to combat the issues nationwide. (Courtesy File Photo)

INTERNATIONAL

Top 10 Happiest Countries: World Happiness Report Points to

Social Media, Isolation, and Trust Gaps

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n Contracts & Vouchers

n Church Fans

n Fax & Scan

n Posters & Signs n Tithe Envelopes n Tickets & Flyers

T-Shirts

Mugs & Glassware n Notary

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A comprehensive 272-page global study released March 19 is offering one of the most detailed looks yet at how people across the world evaluate their lives. The findings carry serious implications for the United States, where younger generations are reporting declining wellbeing while much of the rest of the world moves in the opposite direction.

“Heavy social media use appears to be contributing to the drop in wellbeing among young people in English-speaking countries and Western Europe, especially among girls,” according to the World Happiness Report 2026.

The report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, combines global survey data, academic research, and policy analysis to examine how people rate their lives and what factors are shaping those views.

While social media is a major focus, the report makes clear it is only one part of a much larger set of concerns that include declining trust, weakening social connections, economic pressures, and shifting emotional patterns among younger populations.

Across 136 countries, nearly twice as many nations recorded gains in happiness as those that saw declines. But in the United States and similar countries, younger people are moving in the opposite direction, reporting lower life satisfaction than they did 15 years ago.

Researchers point to changes in social connection as a major driver. Declines in trust, fewer in-person interactions, and reduced feelings of belonging are strongly tied to falling wellbeing, especially among younger people.

The report finds that life satisfaction is highest among those who use social media sparingly,

typically less than one hour per day, while heavy use is associated with lower wellbeing.

Still, the type of use matters. Platforms centered on communication and connection show more positive outcomes, while passive scrolling and influencer-driven content are tied to negative outcomes at higher levels of use.

The United States ranks 23rd overall in happiness, while Nordic countries again lead the world, with Finland at the top.

“When it comes to happiness, building what is good in life is more important than finding and

fixing what is bad,” said John F. Helliwell, a founding editor of the World Happiness Report. “Both need doing, now more than ever.” Below is the list of the top 10 happiest countries in the world:

Finland

HEALTH

Fibroid Foundation Hosts Fifth Annual Summit

Experts, Patients Talk Disparities in Health Care, Research, Cultural Competency

By Arcynta Childs WI Contributing Writer

The Fibroid Foundation gathered for the fifth year on March 7 to share new research, provide resources, offer warnings and risks, encourage advocacy and foster hope for the future.

Fibroids are the most common gynecological tumors affecting millions of people around the world. However, advocates note that few funds are given for researchers to focus on fibroids.

“We know that the dollars that are given for research are very different than dollars that are given for male health,” said Dr. Gloria

Bowles-Johnson during her keynote, adding that women are the number one consumers of health care. “Society has to look at the purpose of women and [decide] that women's health is just as important as male health.”

While treatment of the benign tumors has evolved, Bowles-Johnson, of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, argued more research and advocacy are needed to improve women’s health outcomes.

“When we look at fibroids, we need more money for research,” she said. “We need more voices of women going up on the Hill and speaking, as you know, advocates.”

Aging in Motion, Inc. is applying for a Certificate of Need for an Establishment of Home Health Services

A Letter of Intent will be filed with the  District of Columbia State Health Planning and  Development Agency (SHPDA).

The facility will be located at 3417 18th Street NE DC, 20018 Ward 5

For additional information contact Jerrell Saddler 202 329 4661

Growing Pains: Fibroid Research that Resonates

The biology of fibroids is still a mystery. Up to 70-80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50, but researchers still don’t know why they grow.

New research using lab-grown fibroids seeks to answer those questions.

Dr. Erika Moore, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland, and her team built a model of healthy uterine tissue to replicate how fibroid cells grow and test ways to block their growth and development.

The innovative research was inspired by her personal experience, as Moore, a biomedical engineer, and her three sisters all have fibroids, each with different symptoms.

“We have not been doing this [fibroid research] work for that long,” she said, “but I've been suffering for a long time.”

Moore is not alone. Fibroid symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding; pelvic pressure or discomfort; reproductive dysfunction, including infertility and miscarriages; urinary and bowel symptoms; pregnancy complications; and anemia.

Reoccurring fibroids can complicate treatment.

“In 2017, I had 40 fibroids removed, and then this past July, I

had 110 fibroids removed,” said one Fibroid Summit attendee, who spoke to The Informer on the condition of anonymity. “I had an ultrasound last month, and I have fibroids again.”

Shocked and devastated by the news, the 44-year-old came to the summit looking for information.

“I wanted to see if there were any preventative measures that I could take,” said the Syracuse native, who has experienced painful periods since she was 11.

For Dr. Bhuchitra Singh, director of Clinical Research at the Howard W. and Georgeanna Seegars Jones Laboratory, said raising awareness about what fibroid patients face is critical.

“The quality-of-life scores of individuals with fibroids is actually similar, or worse, to patients with heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer,” Singh said. “That's why we need earlier care for these individuals.”

The Cultural Conundrum: Black Women and Fibroids

Black women are diagnosed with fibroids at three times the rate of white women and often experience more severe symptoms at a younger age.

Research on the effect of hair dyes and relaxers reveals additional risks.

Singh and his team shared results from a review of multiple studies on the effect of hair relaxers and dyes on a range of gynecological conditions (from cancers to fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, early start of menstrual cycles) and the impact to Black women, specifically.

“There seems to be a higher use of no lye relaxers in the last decades, amongst Black and African American women,” Singh said. “Most of the time we use [hair products] on our scalp, and the scalp offers actually a wonderful way to get something to your bloodstream.”

As health equity advocates work toward raising more awareness about the disease, the prevalence of symptomatic fibroids among Black women contributes to over normalizing symptoms and pain.

“They'll be told, ‘that's just part of being a woman, particularly in your own family— very common in African Americans,” Bowles-Johnson said. “That's not abnormal, that's just the way it actually is,” leading to a delay in women seeking care.

Despite disparities, the obstetrician-gynecologist said there’s hope.

“We know that when we can recognize fibroids earlier, an intervention can dramatically improve a woman's quality of life and reproductive outcomes,” she said. WI

5Panelists Dr. Julia DiTosto, Dr. Gloria Bowles-Johnson, Fibroid Foundation founder Sateria Venable, Dr. Erika Moore, and Dr. Bhuchitra Singh during the 2026 Fibroid Summit. (Courtesy Photo/Imagine Photography DC)

Voters 50+: Our Voices Decide

Ranked Choice Voting is Coming to the District and Voters Must Be Ready

AARP DC Reports

During this June’s Primary Election, District voters will see a major change on the ballot. For the first time, Washington, D.C. will use ranked choice voting (RCV) in primary elections when there are three or more candidates running for an office. It’s a new system and it’s especially important that older voters understand how it works.

AARP DC is working to help older voters, who have decades of experience voting one way, learn about and be comfortable with the new process. Any change to the ballot deserves clear and trusted explanations. Education will help ensure District residents can confidently navigate the new ballot.

What’s Ranked Choice Voting?

Under RCV, instead of selecting just one candidate, voters can rank candidates in order of preference—first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. Ranking is optional. You can still vote for just one candidate if you prefer. And importantly, ranking additional candidates does not hurt your first choice.

So why does this matter? Ranked choice voting ensures that winners have broad support. If your first-choice candidate does not win, your vote is not automatically discarded. Instead, it can count toward your next preferred candidate. That means more voices are heard and fewer voters feel left out of the final outcome.

In the District, ranked choice voting will be used in races for Mayor, Attorney General, Council Chair, Council Members, Delegate to Congress, among other District seats.

How the counting works

First, all first-choice votes are tallied. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Votes cast for that candidate are then redistributed to the voter’s next choice. This process continues until one candidate reaches a majority and wins.

While the system is straightforward, unfamiliarity can be one of the biggest challenges for firsttime users, causing concern. Some older voters may worry about whether they have to rank every candidate or whether a mistake could affect their vote. That’s why education is so critical, because Voters 50 plus decide elections. They deserve clear instructions and confidence that their voices will be heard and their votes counted accurately.

That’s where AARP DC is stepping up. As a trusted, nonpartisan organization, with a presence in all eight wards, AARP DC is working to meet voters where they are. AARP DC will employ a mix of tools, including a candidate guide, virtual and in-person educational sessions, social media outreach, and partnerships with community organizations, to help voters understand the new system. The goal is simple: provide clear information on RCV and inform District voters where the candidates stand on the issues important to residents. Then let them decide who they wish to support.

For those who want to learn more right now, the DC Board of Elections website, dcboe.org, offers an interactive sample ballot where voters can practice ranked choice voting.

Change can feel daunting, but with the right information and preparation, District voters 50 and older can continue to make their voices heard, loud and clear.

EARTH OUR

‘In Our Nature’ Emphasizes Need for Increased Environmental Education

Documentary Hopes to Inspire a More Unified Effort Toward

By Mya Trujillo Contributing Writer

Exploring the endless opportunities of environmental education (EE) in a time when the world’s ecosystems are becoming progressively vulnerable to the effects of climate change, the documentary “In Our Nature,” directed by James Parker, serves as a tool that reminds viewers of their place on the planet and how crucial it is that they understand and preserve the nature around them.

The film, which premiered in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 19, explores how organizations nationwide are giving people, especially younger generations, access to green spaces and experiences. By highlighting Chicago-based business Southside Blooms,

a Greener Future

Kentucky’s Red Oak Forest School, and the nonprofit Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) in San Antonio, “In Our Nature” helps to broaden the horizons of what environmental education can be.

“Those three stories put together make the case for why nature and environmental education are foundational to what it means to be educated, and… can be really powerful solutions in bridging divides and in building community,” Parker told The Informer.

The amount of environmental education grants that offer exposure to nature and provide people with handson experience to deepen their relationship with the Earth has significantly declined over the last three decades. According to the Environmental ProBlue Ford 1999 8 passenger van VIN: 1FBSS31S9XHA02916

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tection Agency (EPA), the number has decreased from 217 grants awarded in 1992 to 38 in 2023.

Parker hopes that “In Our Nature” inspires people and groups who care about the planet’s ecological health to work with the resources they have to spread that concern and passion to their communities and future generations. He hopes similar pieces of media and the featured programs push others to break away from preexisting molds that may limit the bounds of environmental education.

“I think this is a moment to reframe some of the funding models, maybe moving away from dependence on government… or bigger institutional funding, and instead finding ways to unlock new funding sources in your community,” Parker told The Informer.

Education as a Foundation for Environmental Advancement

Access to environmental education programs is needed now more than ever, as the world becomes more digitized and people spend more time behind screens. Advocates note the instant connection to the world abroad that technology offers can sometimes jeopardize people’s relationship with Mother Nature, the environment and each other as they opt to spend more time indoors.

Although increased screentime has the potential to be detrimental to collective environmental consciousness and advocacy, evolving technology

3 Featuring three environmental education programs, including the Chicago-based flower shop Southside Blooms, “In Our Nature” aims to strengthen the youth’s connection with the natural world, while creating jobs and more urban green spaces. (Courtesy Photo/Synchronous Pictures, Instagram)

“In many cases, they don't even call themselves an environmental education program, and that's really intentional,” Parker told The Informer. “If they were to get caught up in the definitions and really label themselves as formal environmental education, perhaps they wouldn’t be as effective.”

Nontraditional Environmental Education Make Strides

can serve as a tool to further EE efforts and help educators and changemakers effectively adapt to a changing world.

“Technology is not bad at all,”

Judy Braus, executive director of the Northern American Alliance for Environmental Education (NAAEE), told The Informer. “We need to use it, and we need to think about how it can help advance our lives… and how to use it responsibly.”

The NAAEE aims to foster environmental literacy through advancing access to education to work toward a more sustainable future. To reach these goals, the nonprofit builds community, champions the significance of environmental education policy and fosters civic engagement through environmentalism.

Since the NAAEE prioritizes its commitment to advancing environmental consciousness and narrowing the access gap to educational resources, it was only natural that the organization provide fiscal sponsorship for “In Our Nature.”

“To me, educators are the saints of our societies,” Braus told The Informer. “They work so hard with so much pressure, and we can't do enough to support [them], and that's why I love that… this film tries to do that.”

Parker is keen on strategies that may be considered somewhat informal, noting that straying away from a strict definition of what this form of education means can offer more opportunity to reach more people and address a community’s needs. He praises the Chicago-based farm-to-vase florist Southside Blooms for breaking the barriers of environmental education.

Southside Blooms started as a love story between Quilen Blackwell and his wife, Hannah, in 2019, as a project of the nonprofit Chicago Eco House. The couple’s love for each other transpired into a love for their community and a passion to meet their needs and inspire the next generation.

Eighty percent of the cut flowers in the U.S. are imported, so the Englewood-based flower shop tried to bring the city more economic independence, not only by creating job opportunities, but by solidifying the flower market as a staple produced within, by and for the community. The company also benefits Chicago’s environment as it utilizes vacant plots of land to grow the flowers and uses rainwater irrigation and solar panels to power its farming operations.

Blackwell considers this act of service to the community as a labor of love within itself.

“Southside Blooms is an extension of our community, [and] being able to help our customers convey their emotions through flowers, whether it be a wedding day, a funeral, a birthday [or] an anniversary,” he told The Informer. “So what started as a love story has definitely been crystallized in a very big and colorful way, not just in our community, but throughout the marketplace.”

He hopes that the company’s presence in “In Our Nature” shows viewers that they don’t need to be a professional to start something that benefits their environment and inspires people to get involved in improving their communities.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

EDUCATION

5

fered Black youth and young adults the mic to lead and discuss current issues in front of an audience of their peers.

Safiyyah Aleem-Woods, youth development program coordinator for the teens division, and program analyst Kiara Stevenson implemented ideas from DPR’s Supreme Teens Club, Youth Advisory Committee, and other local teen focus groups to develop the summit’s content and inform speakers and performers.

“This is not a one-stop shop,” Aleem-Woods said. “Show up, and we’ll show up for you.”

DPR, which served more than 100,000 young people last year through different events, takes youth engagement seriously, according to Director Thennie Freeman.

“In our budget, we ensure that we prioritize youth events,” Freeman told The Informer. “We make sure that there are events that are of no cost to our young people. We advocate for that.”

panelists and two adults addressed a range of topics – from starting careers, self-acceptance, teen curfews, and dealing with law enforcement.

Teen panelists, including Jordan Williams, Yasameen Kakar, Laila Thomas, Hailey Wood, and Samierah Woods, led the discussion. Tia Bell, founder of the Trigger Project, and community advocate David “Big Zo” Wilkerson served as the seasoned adults giving advice and reminding teens of their power.

“I don’t know about you all, but I’m sick of hearing people say teenagers don’t care about the real world,” Yasameen said in her opening statement. “Every day, misconceptions spread as more and more adults underestimate the dedication of youth and the realities they face.”

Kaitlyn Arbit, who aspires to be in the JAG Corps, described difficulty fitting in after moving to D.C. two years ago.

“It’s hard for me to find a place at my school because I went from a majority to a minority,” Kaitlyn, 16, said. “How do you find your place? Or, even if you don’t find a place, how do you make it your place?”

A Cardozo Senior High School alumnus, who grew up nearby on 11th and Girard Streets, Wilkerson offered advice considering his own experiences in adolescence.

Bell and Wilkerson, both from uptown D.C. — which includes the area where the summit was held— discussed how violent incidents when they were younger led them to the work they do now.

“My mother was shot 14 blocks from here, twice, by two different women in broad daylight,” Bell revealed. “All were under the age of 25.”

The H.D. Woodson HS alumna now works to stop the spread of youth gun violence.

“Y’all are not the problem,” Bell said. “Y’all are the solution.”

When a teen named Nile stood at the mic, he wondered if he could ask an officer a question. Wilkerson left the stage briefly and returned wearing a police uniform.

“Do you fear waking up every day?”

Coming up at

Nile asked him.

A 44-year-old father of three, Wilkerson responded: “Yes and no.”

“I don’t fear waking up. I believe I’m protected by God and walking in my purpose,” Wilkerson said. “My purpose is actually out here trying to help save the lives of some of the kids that I see myself as ‘I was you, I was him.’” Wilkerson said he entered law enforcement despite his interactions with police, sharing that he was beaten up by an officer when he was in college.

“That was one of the reasons that made me say, ‘You know what? I’ve got to make a difference,’” he said, “because this wasn't right.”

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

For WPGC-FM’s Poet Taylor, a community advocate who moderated the summit, participating in the Friday event was particularly important, as she is able to resonate with the teens’ struggles, having overcome obstacles as a young person.

“By the time I was 14, I had been arrested twice in D.C. for assault charges with weapons,” Taylor said. “I grew up in foster care between D.C., PG County and Baltimore, Maryland. My parents were addicts. I was a crack baby.”

With the recreation center gym transforming into a day of wellness and fun, featuring a DJ, vendors, snacks, photo backdrops, and understanding adults, the summit offered a space for local youth to feel free and at peace.

“Today is a very safe space,” Taylor told the students.

Asking and Answering the Tough Questions

On the main stage, five teenage

“The best thing you can do right now is create your own safe space and live in your own world…Don't allow nobody else to dictate your life,” Wilkerson said in response. “Everybody around me was outside in the streets, sliding, doing all this; I played basketball, that was my thing. It took a lot for me to actually be an athlete in that environment. I [had] to be able to say, ‘that's not my place.’”

Wood, 18, also emphasized to Kaitlyn— who was invited to join DPR’s Teen Youth Advisory Committee– and her fellow teens, the importance of not acquiescing to the societal pressures of today.

“I feel like people from D.C. think there’s only two paths to life here: either, ‘I’m going to be a gangster and have guns’ or ‘I’m going to be an [Instagram] baddie’ – that’s not life. That’s not real. Social media is not real,” she said. “You can make your own way of life.”

Relatability and Reaching Back

The adult panelists were relatable, speaking the teens’ language and sharing experiences all too familiar to youth in the city.

Emmet Cohen Presents: Miles and Coltrane at 100 Sat, March 21— Limited availability!

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Thu, March 26

Meshell Ndegeocello Fri, March 27

Angélique Kidjo Thu, April 9

W. Kamau Bell Who’s With Me? Fri, April 17

Cécile McLorin Salvant Book of Ayres with the Brandee Younger Trio Thu, June 11

WPGC-FM’s Poet Taylor, moderator of the inaugural D.C. Teen Summit, and teen panelists (L-R) Laila Thomas, Yasameen Kakar, Hailey Wood, Jordan Williams, and Samierah Woods ahead of the March 13 event. (Courtesy Photo/D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation)

SUMMIT from Page 1

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A Manufactured Crisis, Genuine Threat to Voting

The SAVE America Act Risks Disenfranchising Minority Voters Over a Nonexistent Problem

At a time when the nation should be expanding democratic participation, the SAVE America Act moves the country in the opposite direction— toward exclusion, restriction, and regression.

Framed as an election security measure, the legislation would require documentary proof of citizenship to register and impose stricter voter ID requirements to cast a ballot.

In practice, however, it risks disenfranchising millions of eligible Americans, and disproportionately minorities, low-income citizens, and women.

The facts are clear: illegal voting is very rare in the United States. Multiple studies and audits have shown that non-citizen voting is almost nonexistent and is already illegal under federal law. However, this issue only became a political flashpoint after Republican President Donald J. Trump falsely claimed widespread fraud following his 2020 loss to his Democratic opponent, former President Joe Biden.

The SAVE America Act is not a response to an actual crisis— it’s a reaction to a political narrative.

Critics, including Rep. James Clyburn (D) have been clear. He warned that the bill is “about suppressing the vote” and compared it to post-Reconstruction efforts that blocked Black political participation, adding it could “reduce dramatically” Black representation in Congress.

Clyburn’s concerns are genuine. Tens of millions of Americans lack easy access to passports or birth certificates, the very documents the bill would require.

The political timing isn't accidental. With the November midterms nearing, Republicans and the White House are pushing this legislation amid rising fears of losing control of one or both chambers of Congress. The effort reflects a broader plan to energize a political base and sow doubts about election integrity—despite little evidence of widespread fraud.

This is the core truth: the SAVE America Act tackles a problem that

doesn't exist while creating barriers that definitely do. It threatens to undo decades of progress since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and silence voices that have historically struggled the hardest to be heard.

Now is never the time to disenfranchise Americans— especially minorities. Democracy is strongest when it includes more voices, not fewer.

WI

At a time when the nation should be expanding democratic participation, the SAVE America Act moves the country in the opposite direction— toward exclusion, restriction, and regression.

Let’s Regroup, Refocus and Hold Target Accountable!

When the Rev. Jamal Bryant stepped up to the podium at the National Press Club in D.C. on March 11, proudly proclaiming that the nationwide boycott on Target was over, his victory speech was met with a mixture of confused colleagues and supporters as well as several recalcitrant leaders based in Minneapolis.

As confusion led to heated con-

cerns resulting in chaos and calamity, what became abundantly clear is that Bryant had been the leader for only one part of the boycott –the Target Fast, originally planned to take place for the 40-day Lenten period in 2025. By declaring an end to the more than 400-day boycott, Bryant sent a mixed message, which some say did more harm than good.

Whether you call it a boycott or an economic withdrawal, what really matters is the impact the boycott has had on Target overall.

Target has experienced a financial downturn, including a reported revenue loss exceeding $12.4 billion, reduced foot traffic and public scrutiny that has affected the company’s standing on Wall Street.

And while he, along with his colleagues, Tamika Mallory and former Sen. Nina Turner, have since clarified where they each stand, emphasizing that the nationwide boycott remains in effect, the damage has been done.

For the record, Target has not lived up to all its promises. Target has not issued a public apology to its legion of African American customers or suppliers of Black-produced goods. Target has not rejected, at least in public, the Trump administration’s decree that DEI programs are bad for America and should therefore be dismantled.

Thus, Turner offered an important note about continued activism: “You have to make your own decision but as for me and my house, we will not be shopping at Target.”

Whether you call it a boycott or an economic withdrawal, what really matters is the impact the boycott has had on Target overall. Target has experienced a financial downturn, including a report-

TO THE EDITOR

“As a mom of two boys living in the DMV, I love seeing lists like this because there are always so many family-friendly things happening nearby. Weekends can fill up quickly with sports, school, and work, so having ideas for local events makes it much easier to get out of the house and spend quality time together as a family. Thank you!”

– Gillian Economo (In reference to Things to Do).

“Tamika Mallory's passion and clarity in ‘State of Emergency’ are truly inspiring. Her call to action is both urgent and necessary, highlighting the systemic injustices that persist today. It's crucial for all of us to listen, engage, and work towards meaningful change. Thank you for shedding light on her powerful message!”

– B9Game (In reference to the article: “Justice Activist Tamika Mallory Delivers a Manifesto in ‘State of Emergency’”)

ed revenue loss exceeding $12.4 billion, reduced foot traffic and public scrutiny that has affected the company’s standing on Wall Street.

When planned and executed properly, boycotts are still effective. Corporations who continue to take their Black customers for granted, should be put on notice: You’re next.

While there has been a lot of conversation about who started the boycott, what has been most important is its impact.

As justice works continues, it is important that Target boycott and similar efforts end with Black folks having gained something substantial for struggles, sacrifice and strength in the face of adversity.

WI

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Appeals

On March 10, a federal appellate court order effectively ended the popular Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program. The likely effect will be increased financial strain on 7 million borrowers who used the program to keep their monthly student loan repayments affordable and manageable. SAVE also prevented bal-

Charlene Crowell

Court Ends Affordable SAVE Program for 7 Million Student Loan Borrowers

ances from growing due to unpaid interest.

Other recent developments at the Education Department will make it more difficult for the current 42.8 million federal student loan borrowers to repay their collective $1.69 trillion in outstanding loans, and increase the likelihood that repayments will not be applied accurately.

The SAVE program provided the bulk of its benefits to students with the greatest financial need — those eligible for federal Pell

Guest Columnist

You Deserve

"The continued slide into authoritarianism is made possible by the twin assaults on our democracy and the pursuit of racial justice. In this time of crisis, we need elected officials who stand up against efforts to render us without meaningful participation in the democratic process, have our histories censored from our cultural institutions, and be shorn

Jason Dozier represents District 4 on the Atlanta City Council. After graduating from Denison University, he joined the U.S. Army, serving as a reconnaissance officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. His service earned him the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star. After leaving the Army, Dozier returned to Georgia

grants — including Black, Latino, Native American and Alaska Native borrowers. A recent study by The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers anticipates that Black and Native American borrowers will be hit hardest by the end of SAVE. The study expects the Southeast will see the largest number of loan delinquencies as a result.

"This outcome is unacceptable at a time when working families already face skyrocketing energy prices and a rising cost of living

that is deepening the national affordability crisis," said Mitria Spotser, vice president and federal policy director at the Center for Responsible Lending.

"Student loan policy should expand opportunity, not pull the rug out from Americans who relied on strong borrower protections and relief. Moreover, ending affordable repayment options through a backroom settlement not only places millions of families under unnecessary financial strain, but it also raises serious concerns about

to Know Who You're Sending to Washington

transparency and fairness," Spotser said.

A similar reaction came from the National Consumer Law Center.

"Families relied on the SAVE plan to afford student loan payments while managing the rising costs of rent, groceries, childcare and health care," said Abby Shafroth, managing director of advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center. "By eliminating

Page 41

of the protection of our hard-earned civil rights." —

Kimberlé Crenshaw

Knowing who to vote for in today's political climate feels like navigating a minefield. You hear one thing about a candidate in a campaign ad, another at the barbershop or beauty salon, and something different from clips from influencers and podcasters on social media. And rarely is any of it aligned — or true.

This has led to Americans turning out to vote but not trusting the

process. Since 2024, confidence that state or local government will run fair and accurate elections has fallen from 76% to 66%. Only 63% of Black Americans and 57% of Latinos are confident. More than eight in 10 Americans say it is either very likely or likely that political content created by artificial intelligence will spread misleading information about elections.

We know that misinformation targets Black voters disproportionately — as do laws like the SAVE Act, which is currently holding

Congress hostage in another attempt at a power grab by the farright.

The Urban League movement is prepared to inform our communities and voters no matter what comes our way this November. We've reactivated our get-out-thevote campaign, Reclaim Your Vote, and this week launched "America 250: A Guide for Defending Democracy."

This guide does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for public office. What it

does is help voters research where candidates stand on issues that impact us, including:

• Protecting civil rights and voting rights

• Rejecting racism, discrimination and dehumanization

• Expanding equal opportunity and fair access

It also gives advocates guidance on the questions to ask candidates to determine their commitment to defending our democracy — ques-

to help address challenges facing transitioning military veterans and their spouses. As a combat veteran, Dozier is speaking out against the current war in Iran. "The lack of a clear strategy or end state only undermines U.S. credibility globally," Dozier told The Daily Beast. "As an Iraq War veteran, I've seen firsthand the costs of conflicts like this, and I had hoped those lessons would guide future decisions. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case."

Dozier is correct that our lead-

ers have learned little from past mistakes. According to Defense Department statistics, the Iraq War killed 4,492 U.S. soldiers and injured 32,292 more. An estimated 200,000 Iraqi civilians died in the conflict. The Iraq War began in spring 2003 with a U.S.-led coalition invasion to remove Saddam Hussein. Bush administration officials justified the invasion by alleging Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction while actively pursuing nuclear capability. No such weapons were ever found.

In a joint effort, the United States and Israel launched an attack against Iran, echoing the flawed reasoning that led to war in Iraq. Since the initial assault, thousands of people have died, including 13 U.S. service members. Iran has moved to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for roughly 20% of global oil. Trump has justified the war by saying Iran was close to producing nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles. Experts and members of his own administration have con-

tradicted him on that point. In an assessment from last year, the Defense Intelligence Agency said it would take nearly a decade for Iran to produce such weaponry. From Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction to claims of an imminent Iranian nuclear threat, past lessons are being widely ignored. Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, is one notable exception. In announcing his resignation, Kent

Marc H. Morial

CROWELL

David W. Marshall

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

Black America's 2026 Urban Challenges: Mayor Mamdani Case Study

of America," concerns are raised about unfulfilled commitments intended to ensure racial equality in municipal politics, economics and urban revitalization.

Today, across the United States of America, in some of the largest urban cities, Black Americans are having renewed nightmares about being taken for granted, ignored and erased — in history and in the public square.

Ethnic cleansing is an insidious form of systematic racism. In response to the increasing "browning

New York City is the nation's largest city. The presence and contributions of African Americans to the city's centuries-long development and evolution are rarely highlighted or saluted. The election of Zohran Mamdani would not have been possible without the huge turnout of African American and Latino voters. Yet the interests

of Black America in the nation's largest metropolis appear to be routinely triaged by the Mamdani administration.

We are the Black Press of America. For the past 199 years, since the first publication of Freedom's Journal in New York City in 1827, we have had to call out those who pretended to be our political allies. Accountability from those we help elect is a fair and just demand.

Voters of color — both Black and Latino New Yorkers — backed Andrew Cuomo heavily in the pri-

Most Americans Now Live at the Same Address

used to be a factory. And when it shut down, what shot up was joblessness, hopelessness, meth, opioids, homicide and suicide."

Recently, I drove from my father's birthplace in Biddeford, Maine, to my mother's birthplace in Petersburg, Virginia. Two different towns. Two different states. Two different regions. And yet, oddly, just different ends of the same sad street.

Most Americans now live at the same address: "We live where there

That is not just the story of one town. It is the story of a wounded nation.

Factories were never just factories. They gave whole towns their rhythm. They filled lunch pails and church pews. They paid the mortgage. They kept the corner store open. They let a mother or father look a child in the eye and say, "You can make it here."

Then the factory closed. The people did not disappear. They stayed. They stayed by the same schools, the same porches, the same churches, the same graves of the people who raised them. They stayed and watched storefronts empty, tax bases shrink and hope grow thin. Families are burying their too-young dead again and again. Meanwhile, the pundits who get rich dividing the nation keep working overtime.

The suffering caused by deindustrialization does not stop at racial

Finally Giving Black Women Their Due

There are many days in which we honor men, but precious few to honor women's contributions. This Women's History Month, I'm sharing a bit of Mayor Johnny Ford's work honoring the history of Black women through his organization, the World Conference of Mayors. I was so pleased with this effort that I decided to share

the resolution with our readers. I pray that you will share it with your families — especially your children. I ask this since it seems to be popular to harm my sisters through government layoffs, firings and disrespect in many ways. I share this because of what some of our sisters have gone through, and some are still going through. Black women go through more hardship than anybody in our nation. Some have been used and abused precisely because we are leaders. We are the highest ed-

ucated and hardest working, most active in public service in our communities — often neglecting ourselves so that we have more time and resources to help others. We all know about Black women who do without food so there is food for their children. It's not right, but it's real. So in case you didn't know, let's look at a bit of the history of what Black women are doing and have done for the world. We thank Mayor Ford and his members for honoring us. Please share this article with as many people as you can

mary, but ultimately decided to give Zohran Mamdani a chance, overcoming their skepticism on housing, transit and public safety, reportedly moved by his affordability agenda.

This trust, on the part of Black voters in particular, may have been misplaced. Why? Several troubling early signs suggest the new mayor is disregarding New Yorkers of color and treating them like Ralph Ellison's iconic Invisible Man.

Thus far, Mayor Mamdani has appointed no Black deputy may-

ors — a glaring signal to Black voters who supported him on the promise of racial equity in the city's administration. Does Mamdani value our insights, lived experiences or our voices in crafting critical policies at City Hall?

Mamdani was forced to apologize to Black New Yorkers for overlooking the historical contributions of enslaved and indigenous people to building the city when he spoke of a city "built by

lines, state lines or the old border between North and South. It reaches across most of the lines that people on television and social media work so hard to inflame. This one stokes racial resentment. That one blames immigrants. Another turns rural against urban, white against Black, native-born against newcomer. And most Americans suffer for it.

Divide and conquer has always been the surest way to blunt the ability of working families to rise together. It keeps our votes divided

and canceling one another out.

Sice NAFTA took effect in 1994, the United States has lost well over 65,000 manufacturing plants and factories. NAFTA was not the only reason. Automation mattered. China mattered. Corporate consolidation mattered. But NAFTA still stands as a warning bell in our history. It reminds us what happens when we confuse what is good for corporate profits

Page 42

— show Black women you notice their accomplishments and appreciate their sacrifices.

RESOLUTION HONORING WOMEN DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

By Tuskegee Council member Johnny Ford, founder of the World Conference of Mayors: WHEREAS, March is set aside as Women's History Month to honor the numerous contributions of women to our nation and the world;

WHEREAS, our nation honors and celebrates the contributions of women to our history, culture and society; WHEREAS, women's history is honored throughout the world, we hold special celebrations to acknowledge women here at home; WHEREAS, women's history is a special and well-deserved opportunity to say thank you, since Black women have so often not been given credit for all they do

Page 42

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

E. Faye Williams

Guest Columnist

Washington Informer Weekend Checklist

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

LIFESTYLE Things To Do, DMV!

By Kree Anderson WI Intern

With March winding down, the weekend ahead brings a range of events, offering arts, wellness, culture, and skill-building within the DMV.

From dance classes, to workshops and lively shows, get creative, while connecting with the community, and discover new experiences.

Plus, in addition to taking advantage of this weekend’s lineup, remember to keep up with all the

fun, check out the Washington Informer Calendar.

Thursday, March 26

Konpa Happy Hour Dance Class & Social

6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Free Commas Food Hall, 8661 Colesville Road Level 3, Silver Spring, MD, 20910

Enjoy an exciting blend of fun dance routines, a lively social atmosphere, and exclusive happy hour specials in this dance class, perfect

The Tony Award-winner in an intimate setting

for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Mission IS Possible (Bridges to Independence Gala)

6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | *Price information not provided*

Top of the Town, 1400 14th Street N, Arlington, VA, 22209

Join an exclusive evening where intrigue meets impact, as participants’ mission awaits with captivating entertainment, delectable bites, craft spirits, and meaningful connections.

Friday, March 27

Washington, D.C. Water Lantern Festival

4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | $41.73+

National Harbor SouthPointe, 802 National Harbor Boulevard, Oxon Hill, MD, 20745

BY BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS DIRECTED BY JASON LOEWITH

As the sun sets, gather with loved ones, reflect, and connect with new friends, while releasing personalized lanterns onto the water and watching them illuminate the night.

Cinderella

10:30 a.m. | $18.00

The Puppet Co., 7300 Macarthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD, 20812

The Puppet Co.’s adaptation of the classic tale “Cinderella,” recommended for ages 5 and up, features 15 handmade rod puppets and highlights the power of hope in this rags-to-riches story with many magical transformations.

Saturday, March 28

Bloomaroo Festival

2 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Free

The Wharf, 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, D.C., 20024

Celebrate spring at this waterfront gathering, featuring live music, cherry blossom-inspired food and drinks, family-friendly activities, and a fireworks finale over the water.

Backflips for Beginners Workshop (Adults)

6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. | $30.00+

MindShift Gym, 11501 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA, 20190, Suite #100

Join this beginner-friendly parkour workshop to learn how to perform a backflip and build the skills step-by-step. No prior experience required—ideal for first-time participants.

Sunday, March 29

Budget Policy Briefing with DC Community Wealth Builders 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Free Edgewood Community Farm, 2304 2nd Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

DC Community Wealth Builders will conduct a presentation and interactive discussion on cooperatives, the work of the coalition, and their budget asks for advocating to the D.C. Council this year.

Creative Writing Group

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. | Free Tysons-Pimmit Conference Room, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 22043

This event is a welcoming space for writers of all experience levels to come together, share work, receive constructive feedback, and grow their skills. WI

3 On March 28, MindShift Gym–specializing in adult acrobatics, parkour, aerial skills, and gymnastics–will break down the basics in a Backflip for Beginners Workshop. (Courtesy Photo)

5 The Puppet Co’s special retelling of the beloved Cinderella story will captivate young audiences with its expressive puppetry and imaginative staging on March 27. (Courtesy Photo)

Washington Performing Arts

Celebrates 60 Years, Highlights

Transformational Power of Supporting Artists

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

At a time of division, war, and fights for cultural preservation, Washington Performing Arts (WPA) highlighted the unifying and transformational power of showcasing, training and supporting artists during its 60th anniversary gala at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest, D.C. on March 21.

“Tonight, we’ll meet… people whose lives have been shaped by our community and by our programs,” said Jenny Bilfield, WPA president and CEO, welcoming the crowd to a gala that offered inspiration, hope and outstanding entertainment. “I wouldn't be surprised if this conjures up your own origin story— the moments that you took that first step or discovered what was incredibly meaningful to you, what your life purpose was, or the joy and the opportunity that you had to make an impact. And that's really the journey that we’re on tonight.”

Throughout the evening, hosted at the downtown D.C. library named in honor of a late civil rights leader, speakers and performers touted the power of the

arts in not only entertaining audiences but working toward change.

Journalist, performer and gala host Ari Shapiro sang Bette Middler’s 1998 “Laughing Matters,” a song full of lyrics that resonated deeply with the audience nearly three decades since it was first released.

“I did not change a single word of the lyrics, which just goes to show you whatever challenges we might face in the moment that we happen to be living in, we have the tools to confront those challenges with tools like laughter,” he told the crowd.

Further, in a powerful moment that brought the room of more than 400 people to their feet, WPA’s Children of the Gospel Choir (COTG) performed songs from classic Broadway musicals such as “Brand New Day” from The Wiz (1974), “Seasons of Love” from Rent (1996), and “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)” from “Man of La Mancha” (1965).

Tamia Johnson, a 2023 alumna of Children of the Gospel Choir, shared how participating in the WPA program fostered her continued passion for pursuing the

Good Friday Evening Service

5 Children of the Gospel Choir performs during the Washington Performing Arts 60th anniversary gala on March 21 at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest, D.C. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer)

LIFESTYLE

WPA from Page 27

arts.

“COTG is more than just an organization. It's a family, foundation, and a place that truly shapes young artists.

It gave me a space not only to grow in my craft, but to discover my voice, build my confidence, and believe in the dreams that once felt out of reach,” said Johnson, a junior studying voice at Towson University. “COTG instilled in me the importance of hard work, discipline, and dedication. Because of COTG, I was able to nurture the gift the Creator has given me and deepen my love for the arts. It pushed me to dream bigger and showed me that those dreams are possible.”

Before performing a ravishing rendition of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” Johnson lauded COTG leadership, including longtime artistic director Michele Fowlin, and the entire choir, who she called her “forever family.”

“Thank you for pouring into me and walking alongside me on this journey,” she said.

"And thank you Washington Performing Arts for giving me the

5 Jenny Bilfield, president and CEO of Washington Performing Arts (WPA), encourages audiences to support the WPA’s work to uplift, train and highlight local artists during the organization’s 60th anniversary gala on March 21. (Courtesy Photo/Kalorama Photography)

5 Tamia

Chil-

Photography)

opportunity today to share my gift with you all. I am truly grateful for your continued support.”

A party with a purpose, the gala did far more than celebrate six decades of Washington Performing Arts. Through a silent and live auction, WPA raised $158,850 to further its mission of uplifting artists through performances, training and programming.

In a video message, Elisabeth Hayes, daughter of Washington Performing Arts Society founder Patrick Hayes, underscored the value of WPA’s work and platform and emphasized the importance of continuing to bolster the organization even after leaving Martin Luther King Jr. Library on March 21.

“WPA is clearly a community. And that's how we can get things done,” said Hayes. “Look at 60 years of history, with leaders who have been with the organization on a long term basis. That is a sign of stability, a proof of usefulness… and a community that continues to serve its members and friends.”

WI

Johnson, an alumna of

dren of the Gospel Choir, performs a rendition of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” during the Washington Performing Arts gala on March 21 at D.C.’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Courtesy Photo/Kalorama

Washington Gas Celebrates Women’s History Month

LaTina Lewis Director of Customer Experience

I’m the Director of Customer Experience at Washington Gas and this May will mark my four-year anniversary with the company.

At a high level, my role is centered on ensuring that we truly understand our customers and that their perspectives are reflected in how we operate, communicate, and deliver services.

My team analyzes customer feedback, data, and real-world interactions to identify where customers experience the most friction. We then use those insights to inform improvements across the organization and to shape our marketing efforts, helping customers more easily navigate our services and programs.

Ultimately, that work reinforces my focus on keeping the customer at the heart of every decision we make.

For me, celebrating Women’s History Month is a time to reflect on the women who pushed boundaries and expanded what leadership and opportunity could look like.

I frequently think about the women before me who challenged expectations and created opportunities for others to learn, lead, and contribute in ways that weren’t previously possible.

As a Black woman in leadership, there is an added layer of complexity. Sometimes people see race and gender before they see the role itself. I have learned to view that not just as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to lead with intention and represent what leadership can look like. At the end of the day, I hope my efforts will make the path a little clearer for those coming after me.

Leadership comes in many styles, and I think it’s important to recognize that not every leader fits the traditional image of being the loudest voice in the room. Thoughtful, reflective leadership – listening carefully, analyzing deeply, and bringing people together around solutions – is just as powerful. That perspective has always resonated with me.

Women’s History Month is a reminder that leadership doesn’t have one look or one voice. I’m proud to lead in a way that reflects who I am, honors those who came before me, and helps create space for others to lead

"As

a Black woman in leadership, there is an added layer of complexity. Sometimes people see race and gender before they see the role itself. I have learned to view that not just as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to lead with intention and represent what leadership can look like."

WASHINGTON GAS CONSTRUCTION NOTICE:

BUNKER HILL AREA, NE WASHINGTON, DC

At Washington Gas, the safety and wellbeing of the communities we serve guide everything we do. As part of our ongoing commitment to working in partnership with residents, we are proactively enhancing the reliability and safety of our natural gas system through a coordinated infrastructure improvement effort.

Beginning in spring 2026, work is scheduled along Bunker Hill Road, NE as part of the pipeline improvement project (BCA #312029). This project is part of a broader, multi-agency effort to modernize critical infrastructure and strengthen essential services in the area. The work is being coordinated with DC Water, Pepco, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), with oversight from the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT). By collaborating across agencies, we aim to complete

improvements efficiency while minimizing impacts to the surrounding community.

Washington Gas and our project partners will share additional details with impacted residents, customers, and businesses during an upcoming in-person community meeting scheduled for early April. Information about the meeting, including date, time, and location, will be shared soon. More specific project updates will also be distributed in the community approximately two weeks before construction begins, so residents and businesses know what to expect as work gets underway. The project includes about about 3 miles of pipeline installation and the replacement of approximately 450 services laterals throughout the Bunker Hill neighborhood. Construction activities are expected to take place Monday through Friday, and Saturdays where permitted, generally between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. Our priority is to complete this work safely and efficiently while keeping the community informed throughout the process. As project partners, this coordinated effort supports a “dig once, restore once” approach — helping to reduce repeated construction, limit community disruptions, and improve efficiency through close coordination with all stakeholders. Questions? Call the pipeline infrastructure hotline: 202-624-6400

review wi book

"The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family"

By Dorothy Roberts

c.2026, Atria

$30 / 320 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

The first thing you noticed was that smile.

It was so genuine, so appealing that you couldn't help but smile back. You were drawn to that grin, that face, the whole package. When you fell in love, did you notice your beloved's skin color? Maybe — but as in the new book, "The Mixed Marriage Project" by Dorothy Roberts, the heart doesn't always care what the eyes see.

The pile of boxes had been kicked down the road for years.

Newly landed in Philadelphia, Dorothy Roberts knew it was past time to deal with them. Her father, the creator of the boxes' contents, was long gone, as was his wife. And so, steeling herself one afternoon, Roberts opened the first cardboard container.

She found paper — piles of fragile, yellowing, crisp-edged paper filled with words from an old-school typewriter. Each scrap represented her father's life's work.

In 1937, when he was a young man, Robert "Bob" Roberts began studying interracial marriage in the Chicago area, hoping to write a book. He knocked on doors, conducted interviews, and asked for referrals of similarly-paired friends. He met families and learned their stories in a project that his daughter believed was an "obsession" that sprang from his love of his wife, a Black Jamaican woman. The truth was, though, that his study had started long before Bob met Iris, long before they had three biracial daughters.

"Awestruck" by the volume of the work and the implications, Roberts kept reading.

She wasn't surprised by the segregation most of the couples endured, but by the unique barriers they experienced. There were couples of all ages and "all walks of life," each having crossed considerable "social boundaries." Still, most had a community of support and many had memberships to clubs of like-minded people.

Roberts was astounded by the backgrounds of the people in her father's work, she says. She was pleased to see the friendships he cultivated through it.

She was shocked and delighted to learn that her mother had also worked on the project …

Word to the wise: there are times when a books' perceived subject can be a little misleading, even confusing. That goes doubly here.

Though "The Mixed Marriage Project" contains a detailed overview of a lifetime of work, it's just as much a memoir, which can be too much in two possible ways. Author Dorothy Roberts offers many personal stories and family history going back generations, mixed with thoughts on her father's "project," and the switching comes fast. So fast and frequent, in fact, that it can feel jarring in its unexpectedness. Yes, you can subject-switch easy enough, but the overview seems repetitive and it sometimes bogs before you need to switch your mind back. Maintaining your attention can be challenging.

Still, as the child of a mixed-race marriage, Roberts has a lot to say and her thoughts are particularly meaningful in today's world. Because of its bumps, this might be a hard book for you to read. In spite of them, "The Mixed Marriage Project" may make you smile. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

MARCH 26 - APRIL1, 2026

ARIES The momentum you built in your birthday season doesn't belong to the calendar — carry it forward. A situation at work that felt stuck shifts because you finally stopped waiting for permission to move it. The version of yourself you've been performing for someone's comfort is costing more than you've accounted for; the bill is coming due. Lucky Numbers: 3, 28, 56

TAURUS The slow season is ending, and what looks like an ordinary week is setting something larger in motion. A financial decision you've been overthinking has a simpler answer — strip it back and trust what you find. Someone in your inner circle needs more of your time than they've asked for; you already know who. Lucky Numbers: 11, 33, 62

GEMINI The story you've been telling yourself about a stalled relationship has some important omissions; this week gives you a quiet moment to fill them in honestly. Multitasking has its limits and you are past yours — one thing, done fully. A professional opportunity that looked like a distraction may be the actual point; examine it. Lucky Numbers: 5, 37, 63

CANCER A boundary you've set and quietly walked back needs to be redrawn with more conviction this time — and held without apology. This week favors one honest exchange over three surface-level ones. Someone who benefits from your caretaking has not considered what it costs you; a natural opening to make that visible arrives this week. Lucky Numbers: 14, 43, 69

LEO The applause you've grown comfortable with is not the same as being understood, and something in you is ready for the latter. A collaboration loses its edge when you stop treating it as a contest — try that. The generosity you extend without announcement this week creates a loyalty you'll feel for years. Someone tests your patience with a question that deserves a real answer; resist the performance and give them one. Lucky Numbers: 17, 41, 66

VIRGO The standard you hold everyone else to has been applied to yourself at twice the pressure, and the fatigue is showing in ways others are starting to notice. Ease the grip without calling it failure. A project goes better when you resist the urge to correct in real time — let it breathe. Something practical you've been postponing needs an imperfect start more than a perfect plan. Lucky Numbers: 19, 46, 71

LIBRA The charm that comes naturally to you has been doing heavy lifting in a situation that also requires your spine — bring both. A decision involving someone you love asks you to prioritize clarity over harmony; the harmony returns, but only if the clarity comes first. Someone is reading your agreeableness as uncertainty; one direct statement corrects that impression permanently. Lucky Numbers: 10, 35, 64

SCORPIO What you've been reconstructing quietly is nearly ready to be seen — on your terms, at your pace. Don't let impatience from others set your timeline. A conversation you've been engineering finally happens; the outcome depends on whether you stay curious instead of strategic. Someone reveals more than they intended — absorb it as understanding, not leverage. Lucky Numbers: 7, 39, 58

SAGITTARIUS A truth you've been delivering with too much cushion needs to be said plainly; the person receiving it is ready even if your hesitation suggests otherwise. Restlessness is information — what it's pointing you toward has been in your peripheral vision for a while now. A financial loose end worth tying before it becomes something else. Lucky Numbers: 23, 48, 75

CAPRICORN The discipline that defines you has kept something alive long enough to matter; this week it pays a visible dividend. A workplace dynamic you've been navigating with extreme precision finally relaxes — ease the calculation. Someone younger is showing you something about risk worth studying; resist the reflex to advise before you've listened. A personal goal deferred for practical reasons has been waiting. Conditions are shifting in your favor. Lucky Numbers: 12, 44, 77

AQUARIUS The distance you keep between yourself and the room serves you well until it doesn't — and this week it doesn't. Close the gap. A project that felt right in theory now needs your full commitment; bring it. Someone challenges an assumption you've held for years and the challenge is valid; updating your position is precision, not concession. A friendship coasting on history alone needs a new deposit. Make it this week. Lucky Numbers: 22, 50, 74

PISCES The softness that defines you is not a liability this week — it's exactly what the situation requires, so lead with it. A matter you've been hoping would resolve on its own needs a direct hand. Someone close is grieving something small and quietly; you'll notice if you slow down enough to look. The creative work you've been circling finally wants to be made — start before conditions are ideal, because ideal isn't coming. Lucky Numbers: 16, 52, 80

SPORTS

Women’s History Month Highlights

Howard Softball Makes History, Lady Terps in the NCAA Tournament, WNBA Reaches New CBA Agreement

By Skylar Nelson WI Contributing Writer

As March comes to a close, the world of women’s sports is surging with momentum, marked by historic achievements and long-anticipated breakthroughs. In the nation’s capital, the energy this Women’s History Month has been undeniable.

There’s much to recap: from Howard Softball making program history, to the University of Maryland Women’s Basketball powering their way back to the NCAA tournament, and the WNBA reaching a landmark new collective bargaining agreement.

With these moments emphasizing that women’s sports are not just growing but thriving, many fans across the D.C. area feel the future never looked brighter.

“The DC Sports scene has always

been somewhat popular but now it’s blowing up on a wider scale,” said DMV sports fan Kyle Alexander.

Howard Softball Makes Program History, Earns Series Wins

On the first day of Women’s History Month, the Howard University softball team added a tremendous milestone to the program’s legacy.

The Lady Bison made program history with a 5-4 upset victory over the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Hillebrand Invitational in Tucson, Arizona. This marked the program’s first win over a Power Four opponent.

“I wanted to puke the entire game,” said head coach Tori Tyson. “Since I [started in] 2018, that has been on my vision board and in 2018 it literally

sounded impossible. I think that the last two weeks have been heartbreaking because we have been banging on the door, so I’m so happy that the girls just finally knocked the door down. And they didn’t just do it for themselves, but for so many alumni that have spoken this vision into existence.”

The Lady Bison kept that momentum rolling through a commemorative home-opening weekend, highlighted by an alumni celebration and a 2-1 series win over the UMES Hawks. Howard won Saturday’s doubleheader with back-to-back 4-1 victories before dropping the finale to Hawks on Sunday 8-3.

They rode that momentum all the way into their matchup with Delaware State, a familiar MEAC rival, where Howard delivered a dominant threegame sweep, outsourcing the Hornets 26-5. The performance marked their second conference series win of the season and extended their strike streak to nine consecutive MEAC series victories dating back to 2024.

“We’re not here to play, we’re here to win, and we’re here to compete,” said senior pitcher Julia Holt, “and build ourselves greater than what we’ve already proven to ourselves.”

Lady Terps Power to NCAA Tournament with Women-Led Coaching Staff

The University of Maryland Terrapins Women’s Basketball team made their way back to the NCAA, led by an all-female coaching staff this March.

With head coach Brenda Frese, the Terps (24-9) earned a No. 5 seed and advanced past No. 12-seeded Murray State 99-67 in the First Round. The win was powered by a historic freshman showing with 45 combined points from Kyndal Walker, Addi Mack, and Rainey Welson. Senior Mir McLean added a season-high double-double, highlighting the blend of experience with emerging talent.

“The mindset was just to have fun,” said McLean. “[I’m trying] not to put too much pressure on the game, knowing I am a senior and my season could end or my career could end at any night. [I’m] just trying my best and trying to be the best version of myself. Coach [Frese] talked about that at the beginning of the talk. That really resonated with me, trying to be my best and be an example for the freshmen and the people whose tournament this is their first.”

As the Lady Terps advanced, some fans and experts note that Maryland’s season— built on leadership from Frese and assistants Kaitlynn Fratz, Carley Kuhns, Lindsey Spann, Jessica Imhof, and Noelle Cobb— underscores the impact of women-led programs.

With 16 straight NCAA bids and 22 under Frese in 24 seasons, the Terps continue to set benchmarks in wins, player development and mentorship. Although their tournament run ended with a 74-66 loss to North Carolina, the program’s growth, historic milestones and leadership signal a bright future for the Terps and women’s basketball at large.

“I was really excited,” said Frese. “For me, coaching here, it's a place that I know. I'm very familiar. You've been here numerous times. We've been able to get a lot of wins here. For me, it was really comfortable for our team.”

Washington Spirit Loses in Home Opener, Makes Comeback on the Road

A historic night at Audi Field saw the Washington Spirit draw a sellout crowd of 19,215, marking their seventh sellout in the past two years and a major milestone in the club’s growing support.

“The sellout was pretty awesome,” said star forward Trinity Rodman. “That was the craziest I ever felt the energy from the start. I think the walkout even was insane, to look up and see that. Year to year, game to game the passion in the stands creates a lot of fun.”

Despite the electric atmosphere, the Spirit fell 1-0 to the Portland Thorns FC, with a scoreless first half before Portland broke through in the 52nd minute. Washington creat-

ed late chances, including a shot off the crossbar, but they couldn’t find an equalizer.

The Spirit then carried that loss on the road, bouncing back against the Racing Louisville FC. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw.

Goals from Sofia Cantore and Leicy Santos fueled the second-half comeback, securing a point and extending the Spirit’s unbeaten streak against Louisville to 12 matches.

“I think a part of our identity is always the same,” said head coach Adrián González. “Obviously we can learn from the past and be ambitious about the future but the reality is that we have today and this what we are doing— trying to be humble, learning from our mistakes, and trying to prove that we can be better than the season and last week.”

The WNBA Reaches A New Collective Bargaining Agreement

In a historic step, the WNBA and its players union have reached a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is set to run through 2032, reshaping the future of the league and women’s sports overall.

“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 The Washington Spirit’s starting 11 players before kicking off their match against the Portland Thorns FC on March 13. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

5 Coach Tori Tyson talks with her team before the Lady Bison were up to bat in a home MEAC doubleheader against Morgan State University in April 2025. (WI File Photo/Skylar Nelson)

CAPTURE the moment

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall on March 21 kicked off the season of blooms and celebrated cross-cultural connections. The event featured world-renowned artists from the U.S. and Japan, and a special Moment of Friendship between D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

The Black Moms Fair 2026 Tour Kicks Off April 18th in the DMV, Featuring Actress and Maternal Health Advocate Tatyana Ali

Former Black nanny turned CEO Stephanie Bauchum brings a national movement for Black maternal health to five cities across the country.

Submitted by Black Moms Fair

What began as a personal calling of service, community, and care is now a national movement. Stephanie Bauchum, a former Black nanny and Founder of The Mtoto Agency, a nanny and household staffing agency based in Dallas, TX, is bringing The Black Moms Fair to cities across the country in 2026, beginning with a landmark event in the DMV on April 18th.

Joining the DMV kickoff as a special celebrity guest is actress and maternal health advocate Tatyana Ali, best known for her role as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and her recurring role on Abbott Elementary. Ali has become one of the most prominent voices in the Black maternal health movement, drawing from her own experience with obstetric violence during the birth of her first son to advocate for systemic change, Black midwifery, and reproductive justice. She is also the founder of Baby Yams, a maternal wellness brand whose proceeds fund scholarships for Black and Indigenous midwives. Ali previously appeared at The Black Moms Fair's Dallas event and returns for the 2026 tour.

The Black Moms Fair is a full day experience designed to meet Black mothers where they are. Attendees can expect real conversations on Black maternal health and wellness of all ages and stages, covering birth and postpartum care, advocacy, and the fight for equitable care. Sessions on motherhood and mental health will open dialogue around wellness, burnout, and emotional support, while a dedicated track for moms in business will offer resources and inspiration for Black mompreneurs building businesses while raising families. Education and homeschooling insights from Black educators and homeschool families will also be featured throughout the day.

Beyond the sessions, attendees will have access to a vendor village marketplace featuring Black owned business vendors, health professionals, birth workers, and local resources.

Professional on site childcare, provided by The Mtoto Agency, will also be available throughout the event, giving mothers the peace of mind to be fully present.

The 2026 tour will visit five cities; DMV, Chicago, Atlanta, Martha's Vineyard, and Dallas/ Fort Worth, BMF’s homebase. This event is bringing this a one of a kind experience to Black mothers and families across the country. For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more information, visit www.blackmomsfair.com, or email info@blackmomsfair.com.

RELIGION

Diamond Quigley Helps Families Plan Funerals

—Ahead of Time

Her Workbook Helps Families Record Funeral Wishes Now, so That Loved Ones Can Focus on Grieving and Healing Later

By Joseph Williams Word in Black

This article was originally published online with Word In Black, a collaboration of the nation's leading Black news publishers (of which the Informer is a member).

Even as a child, Diamond Quigley always knew she wanted to be a mortician. Her curiosity in strange places was a dead giveaway.

When a relative or loved one passed, and the Quigley family arrived at a funeral home, little Diamond would wander away, unafraid. While many children (and some adults) find mortuaries creepy or overwhelming, she wanted to explore, especially the rooms closed off to the public.

During one period, “we lost about

five family members, so I spent a lot of time at the funeral home and I was just always curious,” says Quigley, now a woman whose profession is working with the dead. “I said, ‘Mom, can I go to the other room? I want to go look. I want to see.’”

She would slip into nooks and crannies not set up for public display, but “I wasn’t afraid,” says Quigley. “I’d be at the casket, looking, peeking. I wanted to see what was going on. I was just curious about everything in those places.”

‘A Funeral They’ll Never Forget’

That curiosity and determination led her to become a mortician and to write a book, “My Funeral: Everything

You Need to Know.” It’s a workbook designed to make the process of managing death and funerals much easier by helping people prepare in advance.

“By having all this information compiled in one place, I felt a sense of relief knowing my loved ones would not have to make difficult decisions on my behalf,” she says. Rather than making tough, on-the-spot decisions when emotions are running high, the workbook would free her family “to focus on grieving and healing during a challenging time.”

Quigley currently works at Infinite Legacy, an organ and tissue procurement organization, but also moonlights as a funeral director for Precious Memories, the mortuary that arranged the services for gospel titan Richard Smallwood in January. Her career objective, however, is to own

RIP MARY SCOTT HARDISON

MARY SCOTT HARDISON, 91, retired librarian for Federal Dept. of Commerce Native of Tampa, Fl., died on March 15. Services 10 am, Tuesday, March 31 at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation. Survivors include her nieces, Karen Moore and Kimberley of Miami, Fl. Also left to mourn her loss: nieces and nephews of Tampa, Fl., Maryland, and the Cayman Islands.

Services entrusted to: Range Funeral Homes, In Miami, Fl. (305) 691-4343

her own establishment offering a suite of services, from custom funerals to direct cremation.

“My goal is to give them a funeral they’ll never forget,” Quigley says. “No matter how crazy it sounds, I’m going to try my best. So my number one thing is to find out who my family is before we get into the details.”

Word in Black caught up with Quigley for an interview, which has been edited for length and clarity.

Word in Black: So, how did you actually get started as a mortician?

Diamond Quigley: Well, first, I went to school to be a cosmetologist because I figured I was going to do hair, nails, and makeup. I already had my own set of clients, but I wanted to do this for the funeral home. So I left my clients, left the salon, and started [studying mortuary science] at Catonsville Community College.

WIB: The funeral industry is typically run by established families. Tell me about the barriers you encountered at the industry door.

Quigley: When I finished school, I set out to find an apprenticeship, but it was harder than I’d imagined. You really have to know someone to get started. I didn’t know they have a non-compete clause, which means if I left their establishment after completing an apprenticeship, I couldn’t work at any other establishment in the region. And I needed to stay in this area. So I found someone who’d train me without insisting on the clause. It was also hard because many people start out [in the industry], sort of out of curiosity, and then find they really don’t want to do it. That’s disappointing af-

ter the funeral home has invested time and money into training.

WIB: And once you had your mortuary license?

Quigley: I worked hands-on with arrangements and embalming at Service Corporation International (SCI), corporate funeral homes, where I met Miss Pam, who had been in the funeral service for over 30 years. She taught me everything she knew. And no matter how prepared I was, things never went as expected.

Then I completed an apprenticeship at a crematory. She guided me through my first times. I was terrified. Next I moved on to Wiley Funeral Services to gain culturally specific experience in the African-American community.

WIB: One of my mortician friends told me about unorthodox setups for funerals, both in-house and in other places.

Quigley: For sure. We’ve set up chapels to look like clubs, basketball venues. We even had one as a first date restaurant area. We’ve set up a gym scenario. We’ve had DJs. And used horsedrawn carriages. We will move all the chairs out of the chapel if necessary. We’ve put decals on the floor. We’ve had basketball hoops inside the chapel. We personalize everything. We’ve had full-service funerals in schools, on the stage, and in the arts department. We’re open to anything.

WIB: What if the family is not happy with your end product?

Quigley: Then I’ll fix whatever needs fixing right in front of them. Whether it’s makeup or hair. If they don’t like the way the body is situated in the casket, I’ll move it around, right in front of them, until they’re satisfied.

WIB: Tell me about your book. Quigley: It’s sort of a consumer guide for handling funerals. It’s a workbook that you can fill in and give to your family so they have no question as to your wishes. All your important business information goes into the book. Your desires for your services.

WIB: I always say weddings and funerals bring out the best and worst of families. Do you agree?

Quigley: Absolutely. Sometimes I just have to move out of the way and let them fight. And then resume the conversation. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

WIB: Do some families also make

5 Diamond Quigley is a funeral director for Precious Memories, the mortuary that arranged the services for gospel titan Richard Smallwood in January. (Courtesy Photo/Facebook)

Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. — 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

In this installment of our series, we continue the sacred battle to halt the diabetes epidemic. My mission through this column is to share a divine truth: Type 2 diabetes is not a death sentence, but a call to stewardship. Our bodies are not our own; they are borrowed vessels, and how we care for them is a form of worship. When we leave this disease unchecked, we allow the "temple" to fall into ruin. When blood cannot flow through the small vessels of the heart or limbs, the body begins to perish. Scripture tells us that where there is no vision, the people perish, and physically, diabetes can lead to literal blindness, kidney failure, and the loss of limbs. When gangrene sets in or dialysis becomes a necessity, it is often because we have lost the battle of management.

But there is a path to redemption. You can prevent these disastrous ends by choosing a lifestyle of renewal. This isn't about a temporary "diet" — it's about a permanent shift in how we honor our Creator. It begins with knowing your A1C numbers and ends with the discipline of healthy eating and regular movement.

The statistics are a sobering "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" — the handwriting is on the wall. According to the biblical account in Daniel 5, the words themselves refer to units of currency and weight, but the prophet Daniel interpreted them as verbs of judgment. This story is the origin of the common idiom "the handwriting

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Type 2 Diabetes Out of Control in Black America the religion corner

is on the wall," which refers to a clear sign that something is about to fail or come to an end. Let us think of Type 2 diabetes and all of its devastations as something guaranteed to happen when you do not know how to handle it. It is also even more important to know that the handwriting is on the wall when you follow the positive steps you can take to control Type 2 diabetes and avoid all of the devastations.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, under the leadership of Griffin P. Rogers, M.D., M.A.C.P. (an African American), reports that more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and 84 million are walking the path of prediabetes. Many are suffering in the dark, unaware of the silent enemy within. Yet the power to turn this around is a gift God has placed in your own hands.

Take inspiration from those who have faced this giant. Years ago, Oprah Winfrey faced a prediabetic diagnosis. She didn't just wish for a miracle; she did the work. By eliminating highcarb foods, curbing sweets, and embracing exercise, she lost 42 pounds and reclaimed her health. She understood that her life was worth the discipline.

Even with modern tools like Ozempic, which I am happy to say I have been taking for the past two years, the main cause of Type 2 diabetes is obesity. Though the foundation of how we must live — whether taking Ozempic or following your doc-

tor's orders as we previously have over the years — things remain the same: a commitment to life. I look back at my own mother, who lived only 12 years after her diagnosis. Of course, she obviously had Type 2 diabetes for years without any knowledge of it. Unfortunately, millions are still not diagnosed.

Twenty-five years ago, we didn't have the knowledge or the medical advancements we have today. She suffered through amputations, dialysis, and strokes — all because of a lack of movement and an improper diet. Her struggle is my motivation to ensure your story ends differently.

History offers us a powerful lesson. A century and a half ago, our ancestors survived on "soul food" while performing grueling labor from sunup to sundown. As Dr. Sherita Hill Golden of Johns Hopkins points out, the masters often fell ill from "diseases of excess" while the enslaved remained physically resilient because they "worked off" everything they ate. Their survival was tied to their movement.

Today, we have the freedom to choose our path — but for many of us, that path leads to a sedentary job where we sit all day. We can stop fanning the flames of this epidemic by treating our bodies with the reverence they deserve. Let's choose life, movement, and health.

Let us use that freedom to honor the Holy Spirit within us. Eat for strength, move for longevity, and treat your health as the blessing it truly is. WI

20002 (202) 547-8849

Service

Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM

10:00 AM

1st Sunday

School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM

Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com

Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com

Service and Times In Person Worship:  Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. Streaming: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M.  www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

& Study:  Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00

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

Mount

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “ The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson

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

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

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised Land Baptist Church

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000198

Katherine Alice Koffman Decedent

Graner S. Ghevarghese 600 14th Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005

Attorney

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

Ann Elizabeth Koffman, whose address is 5849 Walnut Springs Blvd, Sylvania, OH 43560, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Katherine Alice Koffman who died on 3/9/2023 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 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Ann Elizabeth Koffman

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 FEP 000028

2/10/2025

Date of Death

Daphne Dulce Minott Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Franklin E. White, Jr., whose address is 14433 Jaystone Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20905 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Daphne Dulce Minott, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland on November 17, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon Registered Agents, Inc. 1717 N Street NW, Suite 1, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

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

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Franklin E. White, Jr. Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2026 ADM 000203

Isaac C. Payne Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. PROBATELAWDC

1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington DC, 20001 Attorney

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

Carla V. Payne-Raindrop, whose address is 115 Cavenrock Court, Frederick, Maryland 21702-5118, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Isaac C. Payne who died on May 17, 1999 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 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Carla V. Payne-Raindrop Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000216

Daryl Franchot Bell Decedent

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

Carolyn Virginia Jackson-Bell, whose address is 1735 33rd Place SE, Apt 204, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Daryl Franchot Bell who died on 12/13/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Carolyn Virginia Jackson-Bell 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

2026 ADM 000193

Shanti Cole Decedent

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

Beverley Bailey, whose address is 132 Jefferson Street, NW, Washington DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shanti Cole who died on 1/12/2026 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 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Beverley Bailey Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 000713

Fletcher Joseph Cambell Decedent

Alecia R. Watson 3682 King Street, #3233 Alexandria VA, 22302 Attorney

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

Alecia R. Watson, whose address is 3682 King Street, #3233, Alexandria, VA 22302, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Fletcher Joseph Cambell who died on March 17, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Alecia R. Watson 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

2026 ADM 000185

Robert Henry Kubal Decedent

Valerie B. Geiger, Esq. 4084 University Drive, Suite 202A Fairfax, VA 22030

Attorney

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

Edwin Robert Kubal, whose address is 1433 Decatur Street, NW, Washington DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert Henry Kubal who died on 2/2/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Edwin Robert Kubal Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

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

2025 ADM 000683

Raleigh Lipford Decedent

Andrew T. Richardson, III 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

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

Yvonne Hayes-Lipford, whose address is 5539 5th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Raleigh Lipford who died on May 3, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Yvonne Hayes-Lipford Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

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

2026 ADM 000155

Yola DePenaloza aka Yolanda Ortiz Mattos Decedent

Murray D. Scheel DC Bar Pro Bono Center 901 4th Street NW Washington, DC 20001

Attorney

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

Maria Vania Fenner, whose address is 11850 NE Chateau Dr. Woodburn, OR 97071, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Yola DePenaloza aka Yolanda Ortiz Mattos who died on 7/19/2020 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 9/19/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/19/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/19/2026

Maria Vania Fenner 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

2026 ADM 000247

Jaemohn Cloyd

Decedent

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

Kadija T. Ash, whose address is 5809 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jaemohn Cloyd who died on November 5, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 9/26/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/26/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/26/2026

Kadija T. Ash 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

2026 ADM 000239

Edward Berko Decedent

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

Richmond Berko, whose address is 10006 Branch View Ct, Silver Spring, MD 20903, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Berko who died on April 18, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/26/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/26/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/26/2026

Richmond Berko Personal Representative

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 FEP 000029

10/01/2024

Date of Death

Quoc Loc Truong

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Chi Huynh Vanlang whose address is 2 Wahackme Ln., New Canaan, CT 06840 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Quoc Loc Truong, deceased, by the Superior Court for Orange County, State of California, on June 16, 2025. Service of process may be made upon Northwest registered Agent Service Inc., 1717 N Street NW, Ste. 1, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

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

Date of first publication: 3/26/2026

Chi Huynh Vanlang

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2026 ADM 000246

Evelyn B. Kemp Decedent

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

Gary Kemp, whose address is 1391 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Unit 243, Washington DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Evelyn B. Kemp who died on 1/26/2026 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 9/26/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 9/26/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 3/26/2026

Gary Kemp Personal Representative

TRUE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

2026 NRT 000009

Ruth von Fleckenstein Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Ruth von Fleckenstein whose address was 3109 14th Street, NE, Washington DC created a revocable trust on 12/13/2022, which remained in existence on the date of her death on 12/6/2025, and William Wilson, whose address is c/o 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to William Wilson at 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001

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 9/26/2026 (6 month 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) 12/6/2026, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2) 9/26/2026, (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: 3/26/2026

William Wilson Signature of Trustee

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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BLACK PRESS from Page 1 orated 199 years of the Black Press, examined current challenges, encouraged action, and provided hope for the future.

“We gather in celebration and reflection, honoring the enduring legacy of the Black Press, which for nearly two centuries has served as the voice of our communities, the champion of our stories and a steadfast contender of truth and justice,” said Karen Carter Richards, chair of the NNPA Fund and publisher of Houston Forward Times. “Today, we pay tribute to those whose contributions have shaped and strengthened the Black Press across our nation. Their leadership, courage, and commitment inspire us and remind us of the critical role we all play in carrying this mission forward.”

The March 18 event was one of many Black Press Week celebrations, including a Sunday service at Metropolitan A.M.E. on March 15, a reception at Kitchen + Kocktails in Northwest, D.C. on March 17, and virtual programming through March 20.

An intergenerational gathering— featuring panel discussions, presentations from Howard University students, an enshrinement in the Gallery of Distinguished Black Publishers, and speeches from various leaders, including NNPA President and CEO the Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis— fostered community, focused on growing NNPA publications across the nation, and encouraged working toward strengthening society through storytelling.

“The Black Press of America has never been just about news. It has always also been about freedom, justice, dignity, and self-determination,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNNPA) during the “State of the Black Press” address as part of the Wednesday gathering. “In our era of misinformation, political division, and technological disruption, the role of the Black Press is more vital today than ever before.”

For students like Stephanie Collins-Stewart, a third-year journalism major and history minor, being in a room celebrating 199 years of strength, bravery and resilience provided inspiration as she continues her studies at Howard University.

“It’s very vital to show up to these spaces” she told The Informer. “I feel like sometimes, the press can try to look marketable for the white corporate side, but at the end of the day, this is who we are. We are creating stories for each other, so we need to make sure

that Black people are up front and the receivers of all the fruits of our labor.”

Honoring Heritage, Preserving Black Media

While African American-owned media companies face challenges in the wake of federal threats to civil rights and attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the March 18 program highlighted the historic bravery associated with the Black Press, which started with John B. Russworm and Samuel Cornish publishing Freedom’s Journal on March 16, 1827.

“From its birth in the early 19th century to its present-day digital evolution,” Chavis told the crowd, “the Black Press has stood as a prophetic voice in the wilderness of American democracy–challenging injustice while affirming the humanity and aspirations of African people in the United States and throughout the world.”

Dr. Benjamin Talton, executive director of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, which houses the Black Press Archives, discussed the history, power and preservation of African-American owned media.

A Howard University history professor, Talton described the Black Press as a “connected tissue” unifying African Americans to the greater African diaspora through sharing stories, community engagement and truth-telling.

He said the Black Press led to the rise of Pan African solidarity and the popularity of publications produced by freedom fighters such as Frederick Douglass’ North Star and Marcus Garvey’s The Negro World.

“This transnational breach was not incidental. It was the point,” Talton said. “The Black Press gave voice to a diaspora of people who had been severed from a continent. Instead, week after week, that severance was never final, nor defining.”

Further, the Moorland-Springarn executive director highlighted how student journalism also played a role in furthering the Black Press.

“At the center of this tradition, literally and institutionally, stood Howard University. And at the center of Howard’s contributions to the Black Press tradition, stood The Hilltop,” highlighting the 102-year-old publication founded by Howard alumni Zora Neale Hurston and Louis Eugene King. “The Hilltop reflected and reinforced that identity. It covered campus life, yes, but it also tracked the wider world, colonialism and independence, Pan-African thought, the struggles of Black people and brown people everywhere in the world, particularly on the continent. It was a student paper that understood its readers as citizens of the broader African world.” WI

Read more on washingtonionformer.com.

HISTORY from Page 1

Just ask Misha Cornelius Green, who saw a similar “why” in her mission to kickstart her own strategic communications firm, Mancala Collective.

“Communications is something that is really needed and yet, deeply underresourced,” said Cornelius Green. “There’s not a lot of Black representation… and I really wanted a different model.”

Saluting the power and nuances of Black storytelling, Cornelius Green curated a packed room at The Guest House in Northwest, D.C., for Mancala Collective’s “Celebrating Black Voices” launch event.

The March 19 special, which featured a fireside chat with Cornelius Green and Washington Informer (WI) Managing Editor Micha Green, was just as much a celebration of Black Press Week 2026 (March 16-20) as an emphasis on the value of generational building, especially in the realms of journalism.

“I wanted something that felt more aligned with what would honor getting the privilege of being able to work alongside a Black organization, a Black institution,” Cornelius Green said. “I really wanted to provide an experience for my clients that was….more sensitive, more culturally resonant.”

Nearly 200 years since the founding of “Freedom’s Journal,” the first African American-owned newspaper, the mission to shape Black narratives still holds in its beneficiaries – from the Mancala Collective to the more than 200 publications that exist within the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) today.

For Chelsea “Lenora” Small, associate publisher and editor-in-chief of the Houston-based Forward Times, it becomes more than a sense of purpose, but about being the first generation to have a choice, and continue choosing the “good fight.”

“My grandfather started this publication in 1960 in his garage from an idea, a dream and a vision. I didn't have the opportunity to ask him questions…I had to create my own [vision] in a sense,” she told The Informer. “I had the opportunity to…figure out what things I can impart into this huge institution of cultural richness…[and] bring something fresh to it. So that the next generations… that come way after me still understand just how important and integral it is to our existence.”

Inclusive Media, Partnerships, and Progressing Black Communities

In a setting like The Guest House, which fosters collaboration and ca-

maraderie between creatives, Mancala’s kickoff event made strides toward the goal Cornelius Green originally set for the collective: to build a community of compassion, acceptance and pride.

Aside from the fact that the first Black-owned PR firm was founded by a reporter of the Philadelphia Tribune – a member of the NNPA – in 1934, the Green women leveraged the Mancala Collective launch as an opportunity to underscore the invaluable relationship between news and public relations.

“My vision… for what my life, what my business would look like… this is exactly it,” Cornelius Green said to the room full of Black media professionals. “This is a manifestation of one of my dreams come true. The people in this room are absolutely brilliant, connected [and] wonderful.”

Trust across all forms of Black media is crucial to continuing the legacy “Freedom’s Journal” left behind of portraying fair and accurate narratives that serve the Black community. As the nation’s political climate becomes increasingly polarized and tensions rise, Black-owned organizations, communications firms, media outlets, and more are essential for the preservation of Black histories.

“I look at how many people document their life and life's works on social media…and there's nothing wrong with that, but we don't own any of those platforms. So if those [who do] decide to pull the plug one day, what happens to your life's work? What happens to your family's memories?” Small said.

The African diaspora has a tradition of utilizing oral storytelling as a tool for ancestors to pass on their customs, identities and life lessons, shaping and safeguarding the culture for generations to come. Such a tradition is present and necessary in every corner of the Black press–from recounting the narratives to pouring into future generations.

Another crucial part of the Black press is the ability to move throughout diverse spaces and build community, paving the way for grassroots journalism and organizing, which are cornerstones to nurturing the global Black identity and amplifying the voices many try to silence. The more a Black outlet can move through and be involved in its community, the more trust it can gain from the public and the more impact it can have. WI

Read more on washingtonionformer.com.

CROWELL from Page 24

SAVE, the Department is pulling the rug out from under these families and raising their bills while people struggle to afford the basics."

One day after the SAVE court order, a newly released report added yet another dimension of worry for borrowers.

Between January and December 2025, Education Department staff reductions eliminated 656 personnel, leaving only 777 to carry out all departmental functions. As a result, the agency lost its ability to effectively monitor loan servicers and further added to a still-growing backlog of borrower requests.

The report stemmed from a request to review the Education Department's capacity to carry out its statutory responsibilities.

The Government Accountability Office, the independent audit, evaluation and investigative arm of Congress, audited Office of Federal Student Aid documentation, servicers' performance and billing reports, and applicable laws. GAO also interviewed FSA officials as well as representatives of borrower advocacy organizations.

MORIAL from Page 24

tions like: "What specific steps, if any, will you take to protect every eligible American's right to vote and to have that vote fully counted?" and "Can you give an example of a time when you were willing to follow the Constitution even when it was politically difficult?"

from Page 24

said he was stepping down because Iran "posed no imminent threat to our nation." Kent, nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate last year, posted his resignation letter on X. "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," he wrote. "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."

President Trump has criticized and threatened America's NATO allies — and now wants those same allies to help unblock the Strait of

Specifically, in February 2025, the Education Department's Office of Federal Student Aid stopped assessing student loan servicers on accuracy and call quality due to lack of staff capacity, according to agency officials. Prior to discontinuing these quarterly assessments, FSA evaluated servicers on two important metrics:

• Accuracy — FSA would review data for borrowers in servicer systems and compare it to data in FSA systems to determine if servicers were keeping accurate records for borrowers.

• Call quality — FSA would review phone calls between borrowers and servicers to determine if servicers provided good and accurate customer service.

Due to these staff reductions, borrowers who made payments in good faith now have no guarantee that their money will be properly applied. As the report concludes:

"Education reduced its workforce by half and stopped key oversight of its loan servicers, which help manage a portfolio of more than $1.6 trillion in federal student loans. By discontinuing assessments of servicer accuracy and call quality, the agency risks

This is not an election we can afford to sit out. It's not an election we can afford to have our priorities buried under misinformation. And we cannot afford to be distracted by lazy attacks on identity, diversity initiatives and people who align themselves with broken promises and attacks on our democracy. We stand alongside our partners

Hormuz. "This is not our war, we have not started it," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters. As Dozier notes, given the nation's credibility problems, allies should be deeply concerned — both about the abuse of power by the president and Congress's failure to rein him in.

overpaying servicers for poor service. In turn, borrowers may face financial consequences related to overbilling or being placed in the wrong loan repayment status."

In a Feb. 11 letter, Richard Lucas, acting chief operating officer, rejected the report's recommendations for improving servicer oversight, saying in part, "The Department of Education does not concur with the recommendation that FSA needs to reinstitute certain metrics introduced under the previous administration."

Consumer advocates vehemently disagree.

"Student loan servicers — the private companies profiteering off pushing working families further into debt — are allowed to get off scot-free for failing to do their jobs," said Protect Borrowers Policy Director Aissa Canchola Bañez. "This could not come at a worse time, as millions of SAVE borrowers will be forced out of their repayment plan and have no other choice but to rely on their servicer to maintain access to an affordable repayment option. Congress must hold this administration accountable and demand that ED engage in critical oversight of its contractors." WI

in saying enough is enough. And we're standing beside you as you register to vote and cast your ballots this fall.

Fighting for our rights and our interests takes all of us — and arming ourselves with the right information is the best place to start.

AIRLINE CAREERS

Our global partners, like many Americans since the election, are growing weary of an unpredictable president. Our allies are starting to say no. Voters should do the same — by opposing every Republican who voted to kill the war powers resolution, starting with the upcoming Texas Senate race. The sacrifice of every combat veteran from the Iraq War should not be rendered meaningless by lawmakers who knowingly repeat the same irresponsible decisions at the cost of American lives. WI

The Republican-led House and Senate voted against a war powers resolution — a significant development Americans and allies alike should not ignore. Each member who defeated the resolution placed no limits on the war efforts of a president who has proven to be, in the view of critics, unpredictable. Each ignored the misinformation that surrounded the Iraq War and the claim of weapons of mass destruction.

MARSHALL

CHAVIS from Page 25

immigrants" in his inauguration speech.

The Mamdani administration is holding a series of "Rental Ripoff" hearings, spearheaded by Cea Weaver, director of his Office to Protect Tenants, who has called homeownership a form of white supremacy. The mayor is reaching out to help private landlords rather than prioritizing repairs to public housing — NYCHA — which

JEALOUS from Page 25

with what is good for the country. Communities lose. The nation suffers.

Most Americans now live at the same address. They live in the places the economy left behind. They live where the factory closed, the jobs vanished and the pain stayed. But there is a road to a better day.

We became a great nation because we planned. We looked ahead. We decided what we needed to build, what we needed to make, what kind of work would support families and what kind of country we wanted to become. Then we trained our people, built our strength and did the work. We need that spirit again. We need an industrial plan county by county, state by state and for the nation as a whole. We need to know what jobs will be needed 10 and 20 years from now, where they should be and how we will prepare our people to do them. Our schools are still too often preparing young people for

WILLIAMS from Page 25

— historically and today — to strengthen our nation;

WHEREAS, Fannie Lou Hamer suffered greatly to gain voting rights for Black Americans;

WHEREAS, Rosa Parks risked her life when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the legal fight to desegregate public transit;

WHEREAS, Diane Nash, co-founder of SNCC, organized students to travel to the dangerous South on buses during the Freedom Rides;

WHEREAS, Dr. Patricia Bath, a pioneering ophthalmologist, invented a laser device for cataract

has a dismal track record of poor conditions: no heat, yearlong waits for repairs, and rampant pests and mold.

Ninety percent of the more than 511,000 NYCHA residents are Black and Latino, part of a larger trend in which 95% of Black households in New York state live in highly segregated buildings and/or neighborhoods. NYCHA is the largest landlord in New York City, so the Mamdani administration telling residents to wait

an economy that is already gone. They need to do a better job preparing them for the jobs of the future. And as artificial intelligence starts doing more of the work people once thought would always need a person, we need to be ready to rethink the future for every worker and every community.

A nation is not a stock chart. A nation is not a quarterly report.

A nation is built on belief — belief in each other and belief in our future. And in America, we believe

even longer for solutions to their long-standing substandard living conditions must be challenged.

The unfolding case study of Mayor Mamdani in New York City reveals that we must keep voting — with record turnout. But after elections, we must hold mayors and other elected officials accountable. Mamdani still has time to ensure greater equity in New York City. But will he do the right thing at the right time?

WI

that if life has knocked you down, you deserve a chance to rise again.

Most Americans now live at the same address: "We live where there used to be a factory. And when it shut down, what shot up was joblessness, hopelessness, meth, opioids, homicide and suicide."

The question is whether we will keep accepting that as normal. Or whether we will choose to love this country, our children and each other enough to make sure we all rise again. WI

We became a great nation because we planned. We looked ahead. We decided what we needed to build, what we needed to make, what kind of work would support families and what kind of country we wanted to become. Then we trained our people, built our strength and did the work.

treatment;

WHEREAS, Dr. Gladys West, a mathematician, did work in satellite geodesy that was fundamental to the development of GPS technology;

WHEREAS, Mae Jemison, an engineer, physician and former astronaut, was the first African American woman to travel to space;

WHEREAS, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson served as human computers at NASA during some of the greatest strides in space exploration;

WHEREAS, Sojourner Truth was the first Black person to sue a white man who had taken her son into slavery — and she won;

WHEREAS, Harriet Tubman

was a renowned abolitionist and armed scout for the Union Army, known as the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad;

WHEREAS, Callie House was a leader of the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association, one of the first organizations to campaign for reparations;

WHEREAS, Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT we honor all women who continue to work to make America great for all.

We thank Mayor Ford and want him to know: We are together, and we are up to the challenge. WI