This Week's Edition : 3-5-26 by The Washington Informer

With Beleaguered Ward 8

Hospital in the Backdrop, Community Members Organize for Solutions, Alternatives

As Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health struggles to regain patients’ trust, Pan-African Community Action (PACA) is coordinating a grassroots medical program aimed at circumventing a local health care infrastructure that members deem detrimental to Ward 8 residents.

The program, known as the People’s Pan-African Wellness Front (PPFW), launched during the latter part of February at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center in Southeast. Throughout much of that Sunday afternoon, two medical professionals provided services free of charge to

3 (L-R) Matthew Brown, David Gadis and Kirsten Williams of DC Water, alongside others, answer the community’s questions about the Potomac Interceptor collapse and overflow after an hour of presentations detailing the response and repair plan. (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)

DC Water Updates Community in Forum Regarding

Potomac Interceptor Collapse Residents, Advocates Demand Further Transparency and Accountability

By Mya Trujillo

WI Contributing Writer

Since the Jan. 19 Potomac Interceptor (PI) collapse and enormous wastewater overflow into the Potomac River, residents and advocates

have urged responsible agencies to provide more thorough and transparent communication.

More than a month after the collapse, DC Water and Maryland held community forums in the District and Bethesda on Feb. 25 and 26

WATER UPDATES Page 20

Federal Officer Transparency, the Decoupling Impasse, and a Foreign Policy Matter

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Local Politics and Education Writer

The D.C. Council started off the month of March on one accord, as it relates to mandating federal officer transparency. The 13-member body also took on a similar tone regarding keeping information— like their strategy around the decoupling quandary— out of the public eye.

This edition of The Collins D.C. Council Report focuses on both issues.

Further, this report delves into foreign policy matters, something that D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) doesn't deem relevant to the council, despite the intersection of local, national and international politics in the nation’s capital.

U.S. Casualties Mount as D.C. Tightens Security Following Iran Strikes

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Heightened patrols swept across the District with the expanding war with Iran— a conflict President Donald Trump launched without Congressional approval and that has already claimed the lives of reportedly six U.S. service members and scores of civilians across the Middle East.

“Our hearts are heavy with the news that U.S. servicemembers have been killed by the Iranian response to strikes, and more are wounded,” Max Rose, senior advisor to VoteVets, said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all of those in harm’s way and their families, who sacrifice so much for America.”

5 Wayne Turnage, D.C.’s deputy mayor for health and human services, says outpatient services at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health will be fully online by the spring. (WI FIle Photo/Roy Lewis)

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr.

WI Senior Local Politics and Education Writer

COLLINS REPORT Page 8

5 Heightened patrols are sweeping across the District as the first American casualties were confirmed in the expanding war with Iran (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

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Commanders to Pay $1 Million to D.C. Over Consumer Protection Violations

The corporation that owns the Washington Commanders has agreed to pay $1 million to the District of Columbia to settle allegations that, under former owner Daniel Snyder, the team misled District residents about an investigation into a toxic workplace culture that included allegations of sexual harassment and assault.

“The Commanders’ current owners have commendably opened a new chapter in the team’s history, committing to ensure all employees are protected from abuse and treated with dignity,” Attorney General Brian Schwalb said. “Every business operating in

5 DC Jazz Fest 2024 at

The Wharf. This year’s festival, held Labor Day weekend, highlights the rich culture and international reach of jazz in the nation’s capital. (Courtesy photo/DC Jazz Fest)

the District has an obligation to provide honest information to its customers, and the Commanders’ loyal fanbase deserves no less. I want to thank the victims for coming forward to tell their stories – without their bravery, none of this would have come to light.”

The settlement agreement resolves a lawsuit filed in Superior Court in November 2022. In that complaint, the District alleged that Pro-Football LLC, Daniel Snyder, the National Football League, and Commissioner Roger Goodell violated the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act by making misleading statements and failing

DC Jazz Fest Sets the Stage with

The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) announced the first wave of artists for the upcoming 2026 DC JazzFest.

Set for Sept. 2–6, the headliners gracing the stage are: NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater, saxophonist Joshua Redman, vocalist Kurt Elling, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, 2026 Grammy-winning drummer Nate Smith, guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Danilo Pérez, trumpeter-composer Etienne Charles’ Creole Soul and pianist Emmet Cohen.

The festival will also spotlight rising and homegrown talent, including trumpeter Brandon Woody, D.C. bassist-bandleader Ben Williams, Howard University Afro Blue alum Ekep Nkwelle, trumpeter Kenny Rit-

tenhouse and pianist José André.

“We are proud to present a lineup that bridges generations and continents,” said Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of DC Jazz Festival. “During DC250 and America250, jazz reminds us that America’s story is both local and global. Washington is a meeting place for the world, and through this music, we welcome that world home.”

Established as the “Duke Ellington Jazz Festival,” the five-day event was founded in 2004 by jazz producer Charles Fishman and his wife, attorney Stephanie Peters, with the first festival officially kicking off in 2005. One of several core programs of DCJF, it exempli-

Langston Hughes II Joins FAME as Artistic Director

Celebrated virtuoso and educator Langston Hughes II marks a full circle moment in his return to the FAME JAZZ Band, only this time assuming a role to anchor the future of music.

On Jan. 21, the Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education (FAME) lauded the former student-turned-teaching artist as the jazz program’s new artistic director, marking a new era of creative impact, education, and community development.

“Langston’s journey from student to mentor embodies everything FAME stands for and reflects our belief that artistry and meaningful community impact must go hand in hand,” said A. Toni Lewis, founder and CEO of FAME, in a press release.

Originally from Prince George’s County, Maryland, Hughes’ appointment tops a musical resumé that already has framed paths to greatness.

An accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler, and composer, the 23-year-old musical prodigy crafted an extensive background in DMV lineage — including serving as a former Strathmore Artist in Residence, and a participant in the Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency.

As a student of the Maryland-based FAME Jazz

Band, he blossomed under the leadership of music icon Nat Adderley Jr., and refined his craft as a mentee of saxophonist Charlie Young III and pianist Cyrus Chestnut at Howard University, later earning a master’s degree in jazz studies from The Juilliard School.

Shaped by the blues, Black gospel, and the roots of D.C. and New York’s jazz scenes, Hughes now hones a deep embodiment of character and cultural appreciation needed to nurture the next generation of musicians – both on and off the stage.

“The appointment of Langston Hughes II as artistic director represents a powerful alignment of excellence and empowerment,” said Lewis, “and reaffirms my vision to increase access to quality music and education for all youth.”

Hughes’ performance credentials include working with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as Cyrus Chestnut, Ulysses Owens Jr., and leading emerging jazz artists in New York City – placing him among a dynamic circle of cultivators in tradition, technical excellence, and leadership.

STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; KEITH GOLDEN JR., JADA INGLETON, WI STAFF WRITERS

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

Schwalb Targets Alleged Slumlord Network in First-of-Its-Kind Racketeering Lawsuit

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

The District of Columbia filed a sweeping civil racketeering lawsuit Thursday seeking to dismantle what Attorney General Brian Schwalb described as a decade-long real estate fraud enterprise that left hundreds of tenants living in hazardous conditions while siphoning tens of millions of dollars from lenders and city housing programs.

“Today, we’re dismantling the Razjooyan slumlord empire,” Schwalb said in announcing the lawsuit against Ali “Sam” Razjooyan, his brother Eimon “Ray” Razjooyan, and their mother Houri Razjooyan. “D.C. has a serious housing affordability problem, and slumlords like the Razjooyans make things worse by decreasing the available housing supply and forcing tenants to live in horrific conditions.”

The 112-page complaint filed in D.C. Superior Court accuses the family of operating a criminal enterprise in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act, and the District’s False Claims Act. It alleges the defendants built a network of more than 40 sin-

gle-asset limited liability companies controlling over 70 apartment buildings and more than 600 rental units across the city, primarily in Wards 7 and 8.

Neither Ali, Ray, nor Houri Razjooyan could immediately be reached for comment. Court filings didn’t list an attorney.

According to the complaint, the enterprise acquired distressed, rent-controlled properties and secured loans far exceeding the purchase prices by promising lenders that the buildings would undergo major renovations and be leased at higher rents to tenants receiving government housing subsidies. Instead, prosecutors allege, the promised capital improvements never materialized, and loan proceeds were diverted to purchase additional properties, pay off prior debts, and enrich the defendants.

The District alleges that from 2015 to the present the enterprise obtained more than $16 million in housing subsidy payments while falsely certifying that units complied with federal Housing Quality Standards and D.C. Housing Authority requirements. Inspectors documented more than 4,000 housing code violations across enterprise properties, including missing smoke alarms,

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Cultural research & dvlpment org. in Washington, DC seeks Cultural & Recreational Program Director to mnage & o’see dly u’kp & oprat’ns of rcreat’nal area, evnts, actvties & prgrms. Nfrce rules & regs. Host prtcipnts, assess needs, plan evnts & actvties w/ avble resrces. Prpare, prsnt & o’see prgrm bdgets & strtegies. Orgnze, lead & prmote intrst in rcreat’nl & cltral actvties eg arts, crfts, sprts, games, cmpng etc. Wrk w/ UH prsnnel, cmunity orgs etc to plan rcreat’nl prgrms. Drct spcial art, crft, hstry & ltrary wrkshps/smnars. Wrk w mngmnt to eval prgrms, fcility, & srvces for rlvnce & crrncy. Cnfr w/ mngmnt & ngage with prtcipnts to hndle/rslve cmplaints &/or sggst’ns for imprvmnt.. Full time. $62,088/yr. Min. Reqs: bachelors in Int’l Relations, Int’l Affairs or rltd fld. Will accept single or combo degrees, dipls or prof. credentials equivlnt to US Bachelors in this fld.

Send resumes to Marianna Falkova - Executive Director, Ukraine House DC Foundation Inc 2134 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC 20008

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unsafe electrical wiring, severe mold, rodent and insect infestations, flooding, trash accumulation, and gas leaks.

One property at 4559 Benning Road SE was evacuated in August 2025 after inspectors found severe electrical hazards and an active gas leak. The complaint states that tenants were displaced to emergency housing at significant cost to the District after the building was declared uninhabitable.

“Working with many residents from Razjooyan-affiliated properties around the District, Legal Aid has seen firsthand how this sprawling web of businesses has been built at the expense of tenants’ safety, health, and most basic rights,” said Megan Browder, legal director for systemic advocacy and law reform at Legal Aid DC. “Residents deserve better.”

The lawsuit contends the defendants repeatedly refinanced properties using falsified rent rolls and inflated occupancy figures. In one instance cited in the complaint, the enterprise allegedly represented a building as ful-

ly occupied and generating $90,000 per month in rent when bank records showed significantly lower housing subsidy payments. Prosecutors further allege the use of forged bank statements and straw purchasers to secure additional multimillion-dollar loans.

The complaint describes tenants living without heat during winter months, enduring chronic water leaks and elevated mold levels, and facing emergency evacuations because of structural instability or fire hazards. At some properties, inspectors deemed buildings unfit for human occupancy.

“For years, my neighbors and I have been living with issues no one should have to deal with in their homes,” said Earnest Wilkerson, president of the Minnesota Commons Tenant Association. “My neighbors and I are grateful that the Office of the Attorney General is filing this lawsuit to put a stop to all of this.”

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 With a sweeping civil racketeering lawsuit, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb says the District is seeking to dismantle a decade-long real estate fraud enterprise that left hundreds of D.C. tenants in hazardous conditions. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

AROUND THE REGION

black

March. 5

MAR. 5 - 11, 2026

SOURCE:

1770 – Crispus Attucks, widely considered to be the first American casualty in the American Revolutionary War, is killed in the Boston Massacre. 1939 – Acclaimed playwright Charles Fuller, best known for his Pulitzer-winning play "A Soldier's Play," is born in Philadelphia.

1985 – The U.S. Postal Service issues the eighth stamp in its Black Heritage series, honoring Mary McLeod Bethune.

March 6

1857 – The U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in the Dred Scott case, affirming the right of slave owners to take their slaves into the Western territories.

1957 – West African nation Ghana declares its independence from Great Britain.

March 7

1539 – Estevanico, one of the first native Africans to reach the present-day continental United States, sets out to explore what is now the southwestern part of the U.S.

1927 – In the U.S. Supreme Court case Nixon v. Herndon, the court strikes down a Texas law forbidding Blacks from voting in the state Democratic Party primary.

1942 – The first class of African American pilots at Tuskegee Army Air Field completes advanced pilot training.

1965 – The Selma to Montgomery marches, held to champion voting rights for African Americans and in protest of segregation, begin in Selma, Alabama.

March 8

1825 – Alexander Thomas Augusta, the first Black

professor of medicine in the United States and the Army's first African American physician, is born in Norfolk, Virginia.

1876 – PBS Pinchback, the nation's first Black governor, is denied by Congress a U.S. Senate seat he won four years earlier.

1993 – Famed jazz singer Billy Eckstine dies in Pittsburgh at 78 from complications following a heart attack.

March 9

1841 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the African slaves who seized control of the Amistad slave ship had been illegally forced into slavery, and thus are free under American law.

1961 – African American corporate executive, educator and philanthropist Clifton R. Wharton is sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Norway.

1966 – Andrew F. Brimmer is sworn in as the first Black governor of the Federal Reserve Board.

1997 – Famed rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is shot and killed in Los Angeles at age 24.

March 10

1849 – Hallie Quinn Brown, an African American educator, writer and activist, is born in Pittsburgh. 1913 – Iconic abolitionist and escaped Harriet Tubman dies of pneumonia in Auburn, New York. 1969 – James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and is sentenced to 99 years in prison.

March 11

1959 – African American playwright Lorraine Hansberry opens "A Raisin in the Sun" at Barrymore Theatre in New York. WI

The Notorious B.I.G. (left) Billy Eckstine (center) Lorraine Hansberryn (right)

AROUND THE REGION view P INT

BY KEITH GOLDEN JR.

Do you feel more connected or isolated since the pandemic – and why?

RONALD RATIFF / SOUTHEAST D.C.

“More connected because we are out here in the world. When the pandemic was happening, everybody was closed in and shut in. There are still some viruses lurking out here – after the pandemic, I caught this virus called the Rhino Virus and it has no medication to cure it. When I went to the hospital and they diagnosed me with it, I had never heard of it before.”

RASHAD PROCTOR / NORTHWEST, D.C.

MARIA RODRIGUEZ / SCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

“Neither. I feel normal because I don’t go out anyway, so whether I stay in the house all the time or not, I’m okay.”

“I don’t really feel anything. It hasn’t affected me that much because I don’t really interact with the public like that. I’m kind of an introvert.”

FRANCIS WILLIAMS / NORTHEAST, D.C.

“It’s no difference to me because I’m always by myself anyway.”

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.

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COLLINS REPORT from Page 1

While Federal Officers Continue to Shoot and Kill, the D.C. Council Approves Two Transparency Bills

As families fight for body-camera footage from federal officer-involved shootings, the D.C. Council advanced a couple of bills aimed at increasing transparency in situations when federal agents use force or kill someone.

For some local organizers, like Alex Dodds, the D.C. Council should’ve responded much sooner. She said its laxness lies at the feet of D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), chair of the council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.

“Community members have asked her for months, since the start of this occupation and even before, to take action in response to federal actors in the District, who are operating in the District, and for months, there has been no answer from her,” said Dodds, co-founder of Free DC. “I'm very glad that she is finally taking action today. It’s concerning that it has only happened because other council members have grown so frustrated that they have taken action in her place.”

On March 3, the council unanimously approved the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act and the Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting Emergency Amendment Act, introduced by Pinto and D.C Councilmember Robert White (D-At large), respectively.

By the time the council took action, D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) had already explored human rights violations during a Committee on Public Works roundtable.

D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) had also introduced the Safe Community Places and Policing Amendment Act, which, among other things, prohibits the District from transporting federal agency officers during civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant or court order.

Pinto’s bill requires the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) release of body-worn camera footage during instances when officers are at the scene of a deadly officer-involved shooting or serious use of force involving a federal agent. This legislation comes a couple of months after community members testified before Pinto about federal intrusion.

It also comes on the heels of a performance oversight hearing that didn’t yield much information from Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll about federal officer activity.

On Tuesday, Pinto advanced her legislation with an amendment ensuring retroactive application to Aug. 1, 2025. Earlier, she told reporters that she went to great lengths to ensure her bill wouldn’t receive any pushback.

“This is why I've been working on this for six weeks, working with all of the different stakeholders that we have to explain what we're trying to accomplish and why we think this transparency is important,” Pinto said.

White’s bill included a provision similar to what’s found in Pinto’s legislation, along with elements requiring that MPD include, in its arrest reports and probable cause affidavits, instances of use of force and names of all law enforcement officers present at the scene of an arrest.

In the hours leading to the Tuesday legislative meeting, White yielded to Pinto, one of his opponents in the D.C. delegate race, by removing the body-camera portion of his legislation. He also advanced an amendment aimed at ensuring that the legislation wouldn’t trample on the D.C. Office of the Attorney General’s prosecution efforts.

White called his concession to Pinto part of the greater good.

“The work I'm doing here on police transparency is consistent with the work that I've done over the years,” White said, “and what I've also done over the years is trying to work with colleagues. That's why there were nine of us that co-introduced my bill. But still, it is important to have a unified message.”

The passage of these bills comes amid three incidents involving federal agents, all of which happened in Ward 7. The latest incident, on Feb. 13, led to the death of Julian Bailey at the hands of a yet-to-be-identified U.S. marshal.

Months before that incident, a Homeland Security Investigation special agent shot at Philip Brown during a traffic stop near 44th Street and Benning Road NE. MPD didn’t include the shooting, during which bullets nearly struck Brown, in its arrest report.

That omission, which an MPD officer revealed during a court proceeding, led to a court dropping charges against Brown.

Weeks later, a federal agent shot at Justin Brian Nelson during a vehicular pursuit. Brown and Nelson’s family, with the support of grassroots activists, have since pressed the D.C. Council for a solution that provides the public with access to body camera footage and other data related to fed-

COLLINS REPORT Page 40

5 The District of Columbia is working toward federal officer transparency, particularly after the Feb. 13 murder of Julian Bailey at the hands of a U.S. marshal. During the March 3 meeting, the Council advanced a couple of bills aimed at increasing transparency in situations when federal agents use force or kill someone. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

IRAN from Page 1

The Pentagon confirmed that three U.S. troops were killed in action at a base in Kuwait and five were seriously wounded.

“As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury,” U.S. Central Command announced in a post on X. “Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.”

The announcement of American casualties comes as many U.S. citizens and politicians alike are processing the president’s decision to enter into war.

Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen asked if anyone remembered all the times that Trump and J.D. Vance looked the American people in the eye and said they would not drag America into a war, especially one in the Middle East.

“They lied,” Van Hollen remarked. “They lied directly to the American people.”

In the District, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Metro Transit Police increased patrols around federal buildings, embassies, and transit hubs following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

“The Metropolitan Police Department is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. We are actively coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to safeguard residents, visitors and businesses in the District of Columbia,” MPD wrote in a statement posted to social media. “At this time, there are no known threats to We are prepared to increase our presence as needed.”

Authorities said there are no immediate, credible threats to Washington but urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. Demonstrations unfolded near the White House, in Georgetown, and across downtown, with rallies both supporting and opposing the military action.

Overseas, Israeli forces said they were striking “the heart of Tehran,” targeting missile launchers, air defense systems, and command centers.

American stealth bombers struck hardened ballistic missile facilities and the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to U.S. military officials. Iranian

conflict. (WI File Photo)

state media reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli missile strike based on U.S. intelligence.

Iranian retaliatory strikes targeted Israel and several Persian Gulf countries. At least nine people were killed in Israel. Additional deaths were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Iranian state and state-affiliated media reported that at least 85 students were killed and 60 others injured at a girls’ elementary school in Minab. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted a photo on X that he said showed the aftermath of the strike.

“It’s surreal,” Azim, 39, who gave only his first name out of fear of reprisals, told The New York Times.

“Imagine your country is being attacked, but because of how disconnected people feel from the government, they react like that.”

Leaders Criticize Trump Launching War, Looming Danger for U.S. Soldiers

Overnight and without congressional approval, President Donald Trump initiated major combat operations against Iran.

“The self-proclaimed ‘President of peace’ is once again starting illegal wars without Congressional authorization,” Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett wrote on social media.

“This is not what the American people asked for.”

Christopher Anders, director of the ACLU’s Democracy and Technology Division, ripped Trump for

not going to Congress before bombing Iran.

“Our founding fathers and the Constitution give war authority power to Congress, and Congress alone. It is what makes us a democracy and ensures that our leaders fully consider the many costs of war, including the harm to human lives and rights, and any effects on global peace and stability, before sending American troops into danger,” Anders stated. “If President Trump wants to send American armed forces into conflict, he must make his case to the American people and their representatives in Congress.”

Rose, who said the president’s actions “resulted in the deaths of our troops,” noted the importance of Congressional approval due to the serious risks associated with war.

“This needs to be very blunt and very clear,” Rose said. “The risk that American service members’ lives in this war was clear from the start. This is precisely why the Constitution says the president must go to Congress before initiating a war.”

National Urban League President Marc Morial also criticized the president’s actions, expressing concern for what the war could mean overall.

“Launching acts of war without congressional authorization violates the Constitution and undermines the democratic checks and balances that exist to prevent exactly this kind of reckless escalation,” Morial said. “History has shown, again and again, that military action in the Middle East without a clear strategy leads to prolonged conflict, civilian suffering,

5 National Urban League President Marc Morial says that history has shown that military action in the Middle East without a clear strategy leads to prolonged

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CAPTURE THE MOMENt

Who’s Reading the Informer

Cast and crew of Washington National Opera (WNO)’s “Treemonisha” and “The Crucible”: Viviana Goodwin (Treemonisha in “Treemonisha”); pianist and head of WNO music staff, Michael Beitzer; Grammy Award-winner J’Nai Bridges (Elizabeth Proctor, “The Crucible”); and Justin Austin (Remus in “Treemonisha”), read The Washington Informer. (Jacques A. Benovil/ The Washington Informer)

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

– Alice Walker

Closing out Black History Month, Jermaine Johnson, B. Doyle Mitchell Jr., Stacie Lee Banks, Nizam Ali, Bernard Demczuk, Denise Rolark Barnes, Cheryl Lofton and Cam Poles gather at “Honoring Legacy: Conversations with Multi-Generational Black Business Owners,” hosted by PNC Bank on Feb. 25. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

IRAN from Page 9

and the loss of American lives.”

Democratic National Convention (DNC) chair Ken Martin was particularly worried for U.S. soldiers.

“Trump himself said that this operation is ‘massive and ongoing’ and he expects there may be American casualties,” Martin stated, adding that he’s praying for the safety of all men and women in uniform, of Americans and their families in the region, and of innocent civilians.

Urging Congressional Action

As a member of Congress' upper

COMMANDERS from Page 4

to disclose information related to an outside-counsel investigation into allegations of a hostile work environment at the team.

According to the agreement, the District alleged that defendants “violated the CPPA, D.C. Code §§ 28-3901, et seq., by making misleading statements and failing to disclose information related to an outside-counsel investigation initiated by the Team and overseen by the NFL into allegations of a hostile work environment at the Team, including allegations of sexual harassment against Snyder and others.”

The complaint further alleged that the Team and Snyder “violated CPPA… by misleading the public as to their knowledge of, and Snyder’s participation in creating, the alleged hostile work environment at the Team.”

The defendants denied the allegations, including that they violated any law. The settlement states that: “Nothing in this Agreement is or may be construed to be an admission by Defendants of any violation of law or regulation, any other matter of fact or law, or any liability or wrongdoing.”

Under the monetary terms, Pro-Football LLC must pay the District “a total of $1 million to resolve the District’s claims in this matter” within 15 business days of the agreement’s effective date and receipt of payment instructions. The agreement allows the District to use the funds “for any lawful purposes, including, but not limited to, restitution, attorneys’ fees, and other costs of investigation and

chamber, Sen. Raphael Warnock (DGa.) said the U.S. is a democracy and no president has the right to declare war or to drag the nation into war.

“Congress should return to session immediately to debate the use of force as is our solemn duty, Warnock asserted. “The American people deserve answers and a voice through their elected representatives.”

Rose stressed the importance of Congressional leaders examining next steps.

“It must end,” he urged. “Congress must initiate war powers consideration immediately, to include an in depth review of this president’s war plan. Not tomorrow, not next week.

litigation.”

The lawsuit centered on whether team leadership, under Snyder, misled fans in order to protect the franchise’s brand and revenue streams while the investigation into workplace misconduct was underway.

Snyder sold the team in 2023 after the District filed its lawsuit. The settlement notes that the current owners still have majority ownership of the Team.

As part of the agreement, the team must maintain specific workplace safeguards. The document states that under current ownership, the team has maintained a human resources department, anti-harassment policy, and investigation protocol for complaints of misconduct. For the next three years, the team agrees to maintain those structures.

The settlement also requires the parties to file a stipulation dismissing the case with prejudice once payment is made. Each side will bear its own legal fees and costs related to the action.

In resolving the case, the agreement states that the parties are entering into the settlement “without adjudication of any outstanding questions of law or fact” and as “a full and final settlement of all proceedings, claims, demands, charges, and causes of action that the District brought or could have brought arising from the facts alleged in the Complaint.”

“Every business operating in the District has an obligation to provide honest information to its customers, and the Commanders’ loyal fanbase deserves no less,” Schwalb insisted. WI

AROUND THE REGION

Today. Speaker Johnson and Sen. Thune should call everyone back to vote today, before more American troops die in Trump’s war.”

Forcing a vote on a war powers resolution would “force the administration, at a minimum, to have to explain itself in ways that then leave the American public to be able to better judge whether or not this is a good idea,” Sen. Tim Kaine said on a call with reporters.

4 As a member of Congress' upper chamber, Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia says American citizens deserve answers from their elected representatives. (WI File Photo)

and Open to the Public

SPELLING 2026 BEE

March 13 7 PM

Location: The Clarice / UMD 8270 Alumni Drive, Suite 3800 University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-1625

Prince George’s County 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th graders will compete for a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee!

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Maryland Political Updates

Hakeem Jeffries Talks

Redistricting, Moore’s Housing Agenda Moves Forward

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

House Minority Leader

Hakeem Jeffries Talks

Redistricting

The Maryland General Assembly hosted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who came to Annapolis to discuss redistricting with Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-District 46).

“I appreciated the opportunity to share my perspective,” Jeffries said. “He shared his perspective and we’ll see where it goes from here.”

Ferguson, who originally said “all options were on the table” to stand up to the Trump administration, has stood resolutely opposed to redistricting in past months.

the climate crisis, civil rights, voting rights, health care, education and our budget challenges,” Kagan told Maryland Matters. “There are so many public policy issues in front of us. At some point, this feels like a risky distraction.”

Ferguson has frequently invoked the potential for a redraw to be struck down by court action, garnering the support of some Senate Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R-District 36).

For more information email pgspellingbee@gmail.com

Governor’s Housing Agenda Moves Forward

Gov. Moore is prioritizing new housing construction and fast development to reduce housing costs for Marylanders, a package of bills that has begun moving through Annapolis.

Hugo Cantu, a lobbyist who works with the Apartment Owners and Building Association (AOBA), said that a 2022 study shown 40% of development costs are tied directly to governmental regulation.

“Here we are supporting a policy that increases the supply of housing. We thank the governor for his leadership on this bill,” said Cantu during bill testimony.

“The multifamily industry is very weak right now. Housing is being decimated in Prince George’s and Montgomery, operating costs are continuing to rise, and local regulations are scaring investors away.”

Amy Tomasso, the vice presi-

dent of policy and partnerships of Ivory Innovations, is also in support of the governor’s housing agenda.

"Regulations and red tape have an outsized impact on housing affordability, adding unnecessary cost and time to new developments or making them infeasible in the first place,” Tomasso told The Informer. “Cities have a lot of control over how quickly a project moves through development approvals, so policies that streamline the procedural side of permitting and approvals are a big win for predictability, efficiency, and ultimately cost reduction--and states like Maryland can help jumpstart this policy conversation or provide model regulations.”

She is excited to see the changes that these bills will have on new construction and lowering housing costs.

“While governments cannot directly control the price of land, they can reform land use laws that maintain the most expensive development patterns: large homes on large lots with ample parking,” she continued. “Supply-side policies that reduce minimum lot size, reduce parking requirements, encourage housing near transit, promote infill, and gently increase density in appropriate places can help shift markets to be more friendly to smaller, more affordable starter homes.” WI

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

5 Gov. Wes Moore is sponsoring several bills to spur new housing development and reduce housing costs. (Courtesy Photo/Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development)

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC Bid Opportunity COOLING TOWER REPLACEMENT SERVICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

BID # 25-S-030

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide Cooling Tower Replacement Services at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

This Request for Proposal (“RFP”) has a thirty-five percent (35%) set-aside for a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) as required under the provisions of “The Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Amendment Act of 2014” (the “Act”), effective June 10, 2014.

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

Key Dates

RFP Release Date:

RFP Pre-Proposal Conference:

RFP Questions Due Date:

Thursday, March 6, 2026

Monday, March 16, 2026, 11:00AM, EST

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 5:00PM, EST

RFP Response Due Date: Monday, April 6, 2026, 5:00PM, EST

Primary Contact

Name: Gerald Green

Deputy Director, Office of Contracts and Procurement Services

Email: ggreen@eventsdc.com

Phone: (202) 249-3028

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC Bid Opportunity UNIFORM PURCHASE SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) BID #25-S-031

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Uniform Purchase Services.

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

Key Dates

RFP Release Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

RFP Questions Due Date: 12:00 PM, EST, Monday, March 16, 2026

RFP Proposal Due Date: 3:00 PM, EST, Monday, April 6, 2026

Primary Contact

Name: Gerald Green

E-mail: ggreen@eventsdc.com Phone: (202) 249-3028

The $50,000 Barrier Facing D.C. Car Buyers

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

On a recent afternoon in Northeast D.C., Mark and Sakeena Young walked the length of a dealership lot, pausing at a modest SUV with a window sticker brushing $49,000.

They did the math. Even before insurance, before gas, before parking, the price alone would rival a year’s rent in some neighborhoods.

The recently married couple decided to leave the dealership without engaging a salesperson. Across the nation and in the District, buying a car is no longer just a major purchase.

For many residents like the Youngs, it has become a financial stretch that reshapes household budgets for years.

The average price of a new vehicle in the United States topped $50,000 for the first time last year and stood at $50,326 in December, according to Kelley Blue Book data cited by Bloomberg. By early 2025, Cox Automotive data showed average transaction prices near $49,000, up sharply from 2016 levels. In the D.C. region, those numbers are headscratchers.

“We have a different vehicle buyer today than we had just a few years ago,” said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist Cox Automotive, during a recent auto analyst event. “The key takeaway here is that we’re seeing the average buyer here is much more affluent.”

In the District, where roughly onethird of households do not own a car, according to U.S. Census data, that reality is felt differently than in many other parts of the country. Some residents can rely on Metro and buses. Others, especially those commuting across the region or working late hours, still depend on a vehicle. For them, the cost of ownership now begins at a far higher starting point.

The District also layers on additional expenses. D.C. imposes an excise tax on new vehicle titles based on weight and fuel efficiency, generally ranging from 6% to 8% of a vehicle’s fair market value, according to the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. That is separate from registration, inspection fees, insurance and, for many residents, parking costs that can add hundreds of dollars a month.

Just across the river, Virginia’s title and registration fees are often lower and more uniform. Delaware has no sales tax. For area buyers willing to travel, those differences can amount to thousands of dollars.

Meanwhile, the affordability gap is reshaping who buys new vehicles at all. The share of new-car buyers earning less than $100,000 a year has dropped from 50% in 2020 to 37%, while buyers earning more than $200,000 now account for 29% of purchases, according to Cox Automotive data. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 For many D.C. residents, car ownership is becoming a financial stretch that reshapes household budgets for years. (WI File Photo)

DIRECTOR

CHARON P.W. HINES

Dear Seniors,

Happy March! This month allows us to “spring forward” and embrace a new season of growth and renewal. It also marks the end of the first quarter of the year. Please know that the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) has been diligently at work on your behalf since the very beginning of this year.

Just last month, we had the opportunity to share that work with the entire District during our annual Performance Oversight Hearing before the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, chaired by Councilmember Anita Bonds. I was honored to testify about the progress we have made together and the meaningful ways DACL and District residents continue to work hand in hand.

Our focus remains clear: expanding access to vital services, combatting senior isolation, strengthening nutrition and wellness programs,

Live Boldly –March 2026 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

and continuing to show up for older adults in every Ward. District seniors, I want to extend my warmest gratitude to you for consistently showing up, staying engaged, and supporting our efforts. This work would not be possible without you.

It also would not be possible without the dedicated DACL team members who serve you each day. As we embrace this new season, March also brings meaningful opportunities to recognize the professionals and leaders who make our mission possible. This month, we observe National Nutrition Month, National Social Work Month, and Women’s History Month, each reflecting the heart of the work we do at DACL.

In honor of National Nutrition Month, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our incredible Nutrition Services team. Their dedication ensures that seniors across the District have consistent access to healthy, nourishing meals. Because of their hard work and commitment, Nearly 900,000 meals were provided to seniors throughout the District in Fiscal Year 2025 alone.

That impact represents far more than a number — it reflects care, dignity, and daily support for our older adults.

To further support healthy eating, in addition to our more than 40 community dining sites, we expanded our reach last year by adding two new locations in Ward 7: The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) and Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens (1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE). If you have questions about nutrition services or community dining sites, please call us at 202-724-5626.

March also marks National Social Work Month. DACL is fortunate to have a dedicated team of social workers within our Adult Protective Services (APS) division. APS works to protect vulnerable adults from physical, financial, or emotional abuse, as

well as neglect and self-neglect. These team members ensure that residents in need of protection are connected to critical services and support. To report allegations of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation, please call the APS Hotline at 202-5413950, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Finally, March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the women who continue to blaze trails and create lasting change in every community they serve. We see this leadership reflected in women such as Mayor Muriel Bowser, the only threeterm mayor in the District’s history, and pioneers like Virginia Ali, owner of the historic Ben’s Chili Bowl. I also have the privilege of working alongside an all-women senior leadership team at DACL that continues to leave a meaningful mark on the services we provide to seniors across the District. I could not be prouder of their leadership and dedication. As we step into this new month, I wish you a joyful and fulfilling March.

In Service,

Charon

P.W. Hines

Director, Department of Aging and Community Living

DACL Celebrates the 3rd Annual Red, White, and You

Love was in the air at our Red, White & You Valentine’s Day celebration! DC seniors gathered for an afternoon filled with music, laughter, sweet treats, and heartfelt moments. From dancing to reconnecting with friends, it was a beautiful reminder that love, community, and joy have no age limit.

Resources for Buying a Home in D.C.

Family Without Borders: Pew Survey Maps the Depth of Black America’s Kinship Ties

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Family, in Black America, has long stretched past the limits of law and lineage. It lives in the neighbor who kept watch from the porch, the church mother who corrected your grammar, the friend who became a cousin without a ceremony. A sweeping new Pew Research Center survey now quantifies what generations have practiced in real time.

“Half the people I call aunt or uncle aren’t related to me at all,” said Albert Youngblood, 37, a plumber who grew up in D.C.’s Ward 8. “They were there when my mom was working doubles. They were there when I got in trouble at school. Blood doesn’t make you show up. Showing up makes you family.”

The new report, “What family means to Black Americans,” is based on a survey of 4,271 Black adults and 2,555 other U.S. adults. The survey discovered that 77% of Black Americans say there is at least one person in their lives not related by birth, marriage or law whom they consider family. Among non-Black adults, 63% say the same. Fifty-eight percent of Black adults report having more than one non-relative they consider family.

These relationships are not casual. Among Black adults with a non-rela-

tive family member, 95% say they have known them for a long time and 95% describe them as close friends. Ninety-two percent say those individuals supported them through a difficult time. Eighty-eight percent say they have a lot in common, 85% say they share an aspect of identity such as race or gender, 83% call them longtime family friends, 72% say they share religious or spiritual beliefs and 55% say they grew up in the same neighborhood. The closeness extends across generations. Among Black adults who have them, 66% say they feel extremely or very close to a parent and 63% say the same about a sibling. Seventy-three percent say they feel extremely or very close to a non-relative they consider family, and 77% say that about a spouse or partner.

For many, extended relatives carry equal weight. Forty-eight percent of Black adults say they feel extremely or very close to a grandparent, compared with 33% of non-Black adults. Forty-two percent say they are extremely or very close to a cousin, compared with 20% of others. Thirty-six percent report that level of closeness with an aunt or uncle, compared with 19 percent of non-Black adults.

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Sakeena White, 33, who works for Verizon, said those ties became lifelines

“My play cousins sat with me every night that first week,” White said. “We aren’t related on paper, but they carried

Emotional support flows in multiple directions. Sixty-seven percent of Black adults who have a spouse or partner say they are extremely or very likely to turn to them for emotional support. Half

5 A new Pew Research Center survey reveals that 77% of Black Americans say there is at least one person in their lives not related by birth, marriage or law or who they consider family. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

HEALTH

community members— all with the promise of more to come.

“This is the first of an ongoing program that will be available to our community on the fourth Sunday of every month,” said Johannes Dzidzienyo, one of nearly two dozen PACA members helping facilitate PPWF.

“This is where people can come in and not just get free health supplies,” he continued, “but free preventative health education, blood pressure testing, glucose screenings, and international health alternatives and understandings of community-controlled health.”

PPFW’s inaugural event on Feb. 22 happened nearly half a mile from Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health. In January, just nine months after the hospital’s momentous opening, hospital CEO Anthony Coleman announced his resignation. As Coleman finalizes his transition later this month, patrons of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health continue to complain about long wait times, a nursing shortage, and the lack of outpatient services.

For Dzidzienyo, the writing was on the wall well before Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health opened in Congress Heights.

“On the east side of the river in Wards 7 and 8, where you see such a majority of African diasporic people, the reality is that we are an internalized colony,” Dzidzienyo told The Informer, “which means that the imposition of decisions, the imposition of where resources go, the imposition of the [police] presence in our neighborhood are symptoms of us not having power.”

A 2020 Georgetown University study revealed that the life expectancy of residents living east of the Anacostia River is 15 years shorter than those living in some of the District’s wealthiest enclaves. Dzidzienyo said residents of Wards 7 and 8 can tip the scales in their favor by creating their own healthcare infrastructure.

“There’s a $400 million-plus site that's failing the community, and right next door, you have a community that's trying to organize itself to be able to address its own needs,” Dzidzienyo said. “As this program continues, people are going to see that contradiction and start asking really pertinent questions about what we need to do to make changes so that we don't have to rely on public-private partnerships or rely on the interests of developers or council members or whoever else that isn't from our communities.”

Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage Attempts to Clear the Air

Early on in Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center’s existence, reports surfaced of at least 100 emergency rooms per day, 80% of which involved ailments that could’ve been addressed at urgent care clinics.

Outpatient services also hadn’t been fully implemented, as outlined in operating partner Universal Health Services’ (UHS) contract with the District.

Within two months, the hospital rejected ambulances at least five times. It had also still fallen short of its staff hiring goals, with hospital officials instead opting for travel nurses and spending much more money in doing so.

Staffing woes intensified by the end of 2025 when George Washington University’s Medical Faculty Associates (MFA), the entity entrusted with providing medical personnel, accumulated more than $400 million of debt. By January, the hospital had more than 60 vacancies. It has since hired Tonya Washington as chief nursing officer.

A Jan. 29 oversight hearing conducted by the D.C. Council Committee on Health focused on, among other issues, accountability measures for UHS. D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At large), with the support of D.C. Coun-

cilmember Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), questioned D.C. Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Wayne Turnage about the tools at his disposal.

“I've done letters, I've had meetings, I've tried to keep my fellow colleagues on the Committee on Health informed, but I'm also wondering too, what is the levers similar to [what] Councilmember Parker [asked]?” Henderson, health committee chair, asked Turnage. “I asked you last year, the mayor has three seats on the board of Cedar Hill. You were the only one named last year. So who are the other two people that the mayor has appointed to this board?”

Universal Health Services and Medical Faculty Associates didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about staffing updates, MFA’s future involvement in the hospital, and plans to fully actualize outpatient services.

In speaking with The Informer about what Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center faced, Turnage pointed out to what he called a prevalent issue: residents’ overreliance on emergency medical care.

“What we have in the city, that is not peculiar to D.C., is a culture of people wanting to use the emergency room because it's supposed to receive care,” Turnage told The Informer. “I think the city would have to take some blame if they had not invested in alternative places of service over the emergency room. The city spent millions to bring federally qualified health centers online. And they're in every ward. And primary care doctors exist in every ward.”

Turnage said that UHS is working on a plan to fully implement outpatient services. He said, according to the timeline presented to his office, that process should be wrapped up by spring. As of Feb. 27, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center has general surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, outpa-

tient imaging and outpatient physical therapy, Turnage told The Informer.

“Now, that's not all they're supposed to provide per the agreement. So we expect that, if this model does not already happen, the primary care and cardiac clinics will open,” Turnage said. “They were scheduled to open in the week of Feb. 2. I believe they have outpatient dialysis, mammography will open in April, and then they have…ongoing negotiations with community physicians, both part-time and full-time.”

Turnage, who also serves as director of D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, said he maintains regular contact with UHS officials, albeit in a

manner that respects their autonomy and experience as a hospital operator.

“My interest is [if] they are living up to the agreement that was signed in 2021,” Turnage told The Informer. “I do speak with [Jason Barrett] the CEO for GW Hospital…. If I have questions, he's always willing to take my call and answer my questions.”

In 2018, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the partnership with UHS and George Washington Hospital to create a new hospital in Ward 8. UHS won the contract with a plan that Turnage eclipsed that of the other candidates, Howard University Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine.

INTERNATIONAL

The Great American Departure Gains Speed

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

n Booklets

n Brochures

n Business Cards

n Banners

n Canvas Bags

n Color Copies

n Contracts & Vouchers

n Church Fans

n Fax & Scan

n Programs n Postcards

n Promotional Products

n Posters & Signs

n Tithe Envelopes

n Tickets & Flyers

n T-Shirts

n Mugs & Glassware

n Notary

Americans are leaving the United States in record numbers, and the surge is no longer anecdotal as the nation observes its 250th year. European government data show rising residency approvals for U.S. citizens in France, Portugal, and Ireland, while relocation firms report sustained demand driven by political instability, gun violence, health care costs, and economic anxiety.

“Five years ago, talking about leaving felt dramatic,” said Deidra Henderson, 39, a translator, told The Informer. “Now it feels like a practical conversation.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that more people moved out of the country last year than moved in, the first time that has happened since the Great Depression.

The Trump administration has pointed to negative net migration as proof that its deportation push and visa restrictions are working. But the Journal’s reporting identifies another development that has received far less attention. American citizens are leaving in record numbers.

The federal government has not tracked comprehensive exit data since the Eisenhower administration. Still, researchers at the Journal analyzed residence permits, foreign property purchases, university enrollments and related data from more than 50 countries and found that Americans are relocating abroad at unprecedented levels. Additionally, a growing U.S. diaspora is studying, telecommuting, investing and retiring overseas.

In Lisbon, Americans are buying so many apartments that new arrivals say they hear more English than Portuguese in some neighborhoods. In Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock district, real estate agents estimate that one of every 15 residents was born in the United States. That share exceeds the percentage of Americans born in Ireland during the 19th century influx following the Potato Famine.

In Bali, Colombia and Thailand, an influx of remote workers paid in U.S. dollars reportedly has driven up housing costs and triggered protests over gentrification.

More than 100,000 American students are now enrolled in foreign universities seeking more affordable

degrees. Along the Mexican border, nursing homes catering to U.S. retirees are expanding as seniors look for lower-cost long-term care.

Interest continues to surge. Nearly 400 Americans joined a recent conference call hosted by Expatsi, a relocation company, to learn how to move to Albania, according to the Journal. The country offers U.S. citizens a visa that allows them to live and work there for a year without paying taxes on foreign income.

“Previously, the Americans leaving were super-adventurous and well-credentialed,” Expatsi founder Jen Barnett, a 54-year-old Alabama native who moved to Mexico’s Yucatán region in 2024, noted in the report. “Now they’re ordinary people, like me.

Her company organized three scouting trips in 2024 and expects to run 57 this year.

“Our goal is to move one million Americans,” she remarked.

Some commentators have labeled the trend the “Donald Dash,” citing increased departures during President Trump’s second term. Many said the movement has been building for years, driven by remote work flexibility, rising living costs and the growing accessibility of life abroad.

For a nation built on arrivals, departures are now reshaping the story.

Residency approvals in Portugal have climbed significantly since the pandemic. France continues to process increasing applications from Americans. Ireland has recorded steady gains in U.S. citizens securing Irish passports through ancestry. The trend has been building and accelerating.

“More and more Americans are

leaving the United States right now. Leaving the U.S. wasn’t ‘running away.’ It was choosing our kids’ future,” social media user Gandalv wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, encouraging people to follow his family’s journey through his account @Microsinteracti1. “We moved [from] LA [to] the Netherlands because we wanted a calmer baseline — one that’s built to support families, not exhaust them.”

D.C. Residents Talk International Living as Immigrants Anchor Local Economy

In the nation’s capital, those numbers translate into real departures.

Kimora Swain, 28, a public relations specialist, told The Informer that she has watched colleagues quietly prepare exit plans.

“It’s not about making a political statement,” Swain said. “It’s about stability.”

Victor Ayres, 31, an auto mechanic in Northeast, D.C., said the conversations are no longer hypotetical.

“People are comparing health care systems and school systems,” Ayres said. “That’s new.”

Washingtonian magazine also recently documented the local exodus, with one longtime global-health professional who had lived in D.C. for 50 years — and who declined to give his name — said she left for Europe in early August.

“Everything about this administration reminds me of what my parents told me about what happened to them in the 1930s in Austria,” she said. WI Read more on washingtoniinformer.com.

(WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Seeing and Hearing for Success: Why Screenings Matter for Our Children

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC)

When a child is “acting out,” daydreaming, or falling behind in class, we often think about their attitude or motivation. But for many children, undiagnosed vision or hearing issues may be the real problem.

Vision problems that go uncorrected can affect school performance, behavior, class participation, and self-confidence.1 Undetected hearing problems can hinder speech, language, social development, and overall well-being, which can show up as “not listening” or “not following directions” in the classroom.

Using early preventive care

For children and teens covered by Medicaid, the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit is designed to catch health problems early, before they interfere with learning. EPSDT is a Medicaid service for all eligible children under 21 and specifically requires states to cover vision and hearing screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

In practice, that means EPSDT services must provide:

• Regular age-appropriate vision checks and services to correct or improve vision problems.

• Routine hearing screenings with follow-up testing and treatment.

• Health care delivered on a set schedule, laid out in the District’s periodicity guidelines, so screenings are not one-time visits, but an ongoing part of your child’s care.

When vision or hearing problems look like behavior issues

Vision and hearing issues rarely come with a child saying, “I can’t see” or “I can’t hear.” Instead, there are certain patterns or behaviors that adults may mistake for issues with conduct, such as:

• For possible vision problems:1

o Squinting, rubbing eyes, or tilting the head to see.

o Complaining about headaches after reading or doing homework.

o Trouble staying on task with close-up work or avoiding reading altogether.

• Possible hearing problems:2

o Speech that is delayed or unclear.

o Not following directions, which adults may see as not paying attention.

o Frequently saying “huh?” or turning the TV or tablet volume up very high.

o Learning or behavior problems in class that don’t improve with usual support.

These behaviors may be a child’s way of coping with what they can’t see or hear clearly, not a sign that they don’t care about school or that they’re not listening.

Advice for parents and caregivers

There are a few steps you can take during EPSDT visits to protect your child’s learning and health:

• Schedule regular well-child visits. Ask your child’s primary care provider when vision and hearing screenings are due based on your state’s EPSDT schedule.

• Mention school concerns early. Tell the provider if teachers report issues with your child focusing, behavior changes, or slipping grades.

• Follow through on treatment. If your child needs glasses, hearing aids, or specialist care, ask which services are covered under EPSDT and how to schedule them.

When families pay attention to children’s vision, hearing, and

When the Seasons Impact More Than the Weather

Seasonal Affective Disorder

(SAD) is a type of depression that typically occurs at the same time each year, most often in the fall and winter when daylight hours are shorter.3 People with SAD may experience low energy, feelings of sadness, loss of interest in usual activities, and difficulty concentrating.

For families, SAD can disrupt routines and relationships. A loved one’s mood changes might lead to withdrawn behavior, less participation in family activities, and

increased stress at home. Children and partners may feel confused or helpless when someone they care about seems “different” during certain seasons. Open communication and understanding are key to supporting each other through these changes. There are also resources that you can access yourself to combat SAD, such as:

• Increasing natural light exposure at home.

• Using light therapy or a SAD lightbox to help ease symptoms.

• Practicing regular physical activity and healthy sleep routines.

overall health, it becomes easier to understand what’s behind certain behaviors, so children can get the support they need to succeed.

Sources

1. “Keep an Eye on Your Child’s Vision,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 15, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/prevention/youth-vision-problems.html#:~:text=Key%20points,to%20keep%20 their%20eyes%20healthy, accessed January 8, 2026.

2. “About Hearing Loss in Children,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 15,

2024, https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/about/index. html?utm_source=chatgpt.com, accessed January 8, 2026.

3. “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Mayo Clinic, December 14, 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651, accessed January 8, 2026.

All images are submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia and are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

#BestMe

AmeriHealth Caritas DC also provides the following behavioral health resources for enrollees:

• Headspace app: Enrollees age 13 and older can access hundreds of guided meditation and mindfulness exercises, or chat with an emotional support coach anytime, anywhere.

• Call Enrollee Services at 202-408-4720 or 1-800-408-7511 to help find a behavioral health provider.

•Use the AmeriHealth Caritas DC provider directory to find behavioral health professionals in your area.

EARTH OUR

WATER UPDATES from Page 1

to address residents’ requests.

The Feb. 26 meeting was held at Walt Whitman High School, where concerned people flooded the cafeteria, eager to obtain answers to their questions and solace for their worries. Presenters provided attendees with an update on emergency mitigation efforts and long-term rehabilitation and restoration plans for the affected area.

DC Water CEO David Gadis reassured the crowd of his commitment to restoring the river to health and ensuring sustainable infrastructure for the region’s water system in the future.

“This river means a lot to me as well,” Gadis said during the Thursday forum. “I live on the Potomac, so I have a vested interest in this as well, and I want to see the Potomac come back. I want to make sure that we take care of [it]. It’s a river that all of us share and love.”

In the weeks following the sanitary sewer system’s failure, residents have raised concerns about the water system's structural integrity, asking what long-term mitigation efforts are needed to prevent a disaster of this scale from recurring.

Responding to public unease in his opening statement, Gadis informed attendees that DC Water is working toward rehabilitating the 60-year-old PI over 10 years with $625 million from the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), an initiative

intended to improve the entire water system’s infrastructure and efficiency.

“It is important to note that this incident does not reflect a systematic failure of our wastewater system,” Gadis said. “It does highlight a broader reality to our region and also to the Potomac River. [The Potomac Interceptor’s] failure underscores the need for sustainable investment into [it].”

Four Phases for Rehabilitation

DC Water outlined a four-phase recovery and repair plan, of which they are currently in phase two.

The first phase, completed on Jan. 24, included the bypass installation, which reroutes the flow away from upstream of the break through the C&O Canal and around the damaged pipe section.

The second phase comprises excavating the rock dam downstream of the pipe that is currently obstructing direct access, and identifying the scope of the blockage to analyze the damage and pinpoint the cause of the collapse. With this obstacle, even though the bypass system was able to divert approximately 60 million gallons of water, repair crews needed to find a way to cease flow into the damaged line. Without a dry pipe, excavation isn’t possible.

WI Read more on washingtoniinformer.com.

5 DC Water is in phase two of a four-phase recovery and repair plan after the Potomac Interceptor collapse on Jan. 19. (WI File Photo)

EDUCATION

Amid Fletcher-Johnson Redevelopment, Community Members Remember the Good Times

Alumnus Ebbon Allen Keeps Eye on Development Timeline

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Local Politics and Education Reporter

Nearly three decades after leaving what was then Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus, Dr. George H. Rutherford maintains contact with several of his former students.

“I saw a couple of them a couple weeks ago,” Rutherford told The Informer as he spoke about a late January party at Restaurant 55 in Hyattsville, Maryland that a group of Fletcher-Johnson alumni organized in his honor.

For Rutherford, such overtures from former students are the norm. And, as he notes, the feeling is mutual.

“They were the best. I don't care what anyone says,” Rutherford said. “I talk to them constantly. They come over to see me. They call me all the time. Staying in touch, making sure I’m straight.”

Rutherford became principal of Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus in 1978, just more than a year into its existence. By the time he assumed the helm, he had accumulated more than a decade of experience as a teacher and assistant principal. His 20-year tenure would be marked with numerous wins, including frequent visits and guest lectures by D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, and even a class trip to London, fully funded with the support of thenWard 7 D.C. Councilmember H.R. Crawford.

“They were our young ambassadors,” Rutherford said about the dozen young people he accompanied across the pond in the early 1990s. “It was their intent on trying to get the students to see Queen Elizabeth, because she had just been…in our neighborhood to look at some houses that were being built.”

The Informer. “I was bringing about a change, bringing about some structure to Fletcher-Johnson.”

Over time however, students at the school came to embrace Rutherford’s leadership style, which, according to alumni, included sending tardy students home and walking into open-air illegal drug markets in search of those who left school grounds.

“I didn't even have to lock my car,” he told The Informer. “Those students that I had…were some of the greatest students in Washington, D.C., but they need a good support system.”

In its heyday, Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus had a student population of more than 1,000. Located along Benning Road in the Marshall Heights community, it attracted young people from all corners of the Marshall Heights community, including those from Benning Terrace (Simple City) and the former public housing community of Eastgate Gardens.

Within five years of his tenure, Rutherford became a darling of the student body, but not without struggle. He said students cut his car tires, filled his gas tank with sugar, and even busted his car windows on numerous occasions.

“They didn't like to change,” he told

er-Johnson were in competition with that drug group out there,” Rutherford said. “That's the reason we kept Fletcher-Johnson open until 11 o'clock at night. We had a program on Saturdays for the parents. That was done on our own.”

Rutherford moved on from Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus in 1998, taking on a job in Baltimore, and again in the District at what was Ideal Academy Public Charter School.

In 2008, a decade after his departure, Fletcher-Johnson closed its doors in response to declining enrollment.

As murders continued to ravage the Marshall Heights community, Rutherford made sure that support came in the form of after-school activities and weekend enrichment for students and parents.

“As I always told folks, we at Fletch-

“It hurt me to my heart,” Rutherford recounted. “When they got rid of Eastgate, enrollment dropped down. When I left, it was still about 1,200 or 1,300. Then it dropped down to about 400. I don't know what happened after that.”

In the era of mayoral control, teacher accountability measures strengthened via IMPACT evaluations while public charter schools expanded across the District, and particularly east of the Anacostia River. As teachers and administrators continue to command some of the highest salaries in the region, public and public charter schools command an equal share of the District’s public school population.

In February, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a 2.55% increase— nearly $50 million— in per-pupil funding in her Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal. Other aspects of the upcoming budget include: a stability fund intended to maintain the class sizes mandated in the latest Washington Teachers’ Union contract;

5 During reunion events, like one that took place at Restaurant 55 in Hyattsville, Maryland, longtime educator Dr. George H. Rutherford maintains contact with his students from Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus. (Courtesy Photo)

Democracy is on the Ballot—Again

Voting in November is Not Optional, It’s a Civic Imperative

“American Democracy is on the line” has been dismissed as a campaign slogan for years. Unfortunately, today, it reads less like rhetoric and more like a warning label.

November’s election—at the federal, state, and local levels— will shape not only policy but the very norms that hold a democratic society together. Voting is no longer a passive civic tradition; it is an act of defense. And for communities that have historically borne the brunt of political neglect and abuse, including Black Americans, the cost of disengagement is simply too high.

The danger is not abstract. It is visible in tone, conduct, and priorities.

The recent State of the Union address offered a sobering reminder. Instead of unity or seriousness,

Americans witnessed behavior from President Donald J. Trump that many found disrespectful, unpresidential, and shameful— particularly toward political opponents. Mockery replaced empathy, even as millions of Americans struggle with rent, groceries, health care, and childcare.

Affordability is not a punchline. It is a daily crisis for working families, including many who support him.

Equally troubling is what was not addressed. Calls for transparency—such as the long-promised release of Epstein-related files—remain unanswered. In a democracy, accountability is not optional. Selective silence erodes trust, fuels cynicism, and signals that power can still shield itself from scrutiny. This is why participation mat-

ters at every level. Presidents shape the courts. Governors and legislators decide education funding, voting access, and public safety. Local officials determine housing policy, school boards, and whether communities thrive or wither. When people sit out elections, they surrender these decisions to others—often to those least affected by the consequences.

Voting is not about party loyalty. It is about standards. It is about dignity. It is about refusing to normalize contempt for democratic institutions or indifference to everyday struggle.

Register. Check your status. Make a plan. Bring someone with you. Because democracy does not fail all at once—it erodes when people stop showing up.

When Black People Vote, we Honor the Sacrifices, Struggles, Commitment of our Ancestors

Even if you missed the State of the Union address a few nights ago when the president tried to convince Americans that he’s done a remarkable job since returning to the White House, just consider that a lot of his rhetoric was meant to ramp up voter support for the Republican Party as the midterm elections approach. As voters prepare to study the candidates and later, to make their selections in the all-important midterms, control of both the House and Senate weigh in the balance. While the Republicans currently have the majority in Congress, the president knows that he could lose his rubber stamp of approval in November and his ability to do whatever comes to mind, if the Democrats regain control in either the House, which is more likely, or the Senate.

In other words, every vote counts – now more than ever.

Lest we forget, the original U.S. Constitution did not define voting rights for citizens, and until 1870, only white men were allowed to vote. In that critical year, the ratification of the 15th

Amendment extended voting rights to men of all races.

Still, African Americans were denied the right to vote by state constitutions and laws, poll taxes, literacy tests, the “grandfather clause,” and outright intimidation. And so, African Americans kept pressing on.

The 24th Amendment (ratified in 1964) partly addressed the problems we faced by prohibiting the use of poll taxes in federal elections. And with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the federal government secured voting rights for adult citizens of all races and genders in the form of federal laws that enforced the amendments.

But make no mistake, none of these advances came easily. Black Americans lost their homes, their jobs, and in some cases their lives, all in efforts to force America to live up to its lofty promises as detailed in the Constitution.

So, here we are. The midterms are fast approaching, and our ancestors are watching and waiting for us to follow their lead and to take control over our own destinies with one of the few weapons

that remain in our possession––the right to vote.

Staying at home because you don’t like the candidates or because you don’t know enough about the candidates is not an option. In fact, within the annals of Black history, it never was. We weighed the options and voted our conscience.

We must do so again and in record numbers.

We can be the change that we want to see in our communities, in our cities, and in our nation. Take care of your voting rights like they're precious jewels. Research the requirements for voting in the places in which you reside and do whatever it takes to register to vote.

Do your homework on the issues and candidates who will be on your local ballots. And then by all means vote. Vote like your future and the future of your children are at stake. And given the backlash against Black rights, Black-owned businesses, Black equality, Black voting rights, and Black history that has swept across America in recent years, our future is at stake. WI

TO THE EDITOR

“The story “Inside Out”, the photography program at Lorton, was really heart warming. That is truly amazing that it took place so long ago.”

-Angela Williams (In reference to the article: Inside Out: A View of Hope from Incarceration”)

“Awesome coverage! Rev. Hagler gave us the highest inspiration -and perspiration! I count on The Washington Informer as a beacon of the Black press and of community journalism at its best! Let us support this important institution in every way.

-Brigette Rouson (In reference to the article: “Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, D.C. Pastor, Activist and Prophetic Voice for Justice, Dies.”)

“Ward 1 long time resident, home owner, and now very engaged landlord living in Arlington here. We’d all like to change the world, dethrone Trump, end poverty and homelessness, and fight for marginalized populations but I’m looking for a candidate that will do the job they were elected to do, if they’d like to do the rest then Elanor Holmes Norton’s seat is open. Rat abatement, trash collection, public safety, graffiti removal, code enforcement, festivals, promoting volunteer events, and so on.”

-Shai Segall (In reference to the article: “In Ward 1 D.C. Council Race, the Fight Continues for Affordability and Responsive Government.”)

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Anthony Tilghman

Every Child’s Walk: Why Safe Passage Is Personal — and Why It’s About All of Our Children

Every morning, I hold my 3-yearold daughter’s hand and walk her into school.

She has autism. She sees the world differently — beautifully, honestly, and sometimes with heightened sensitivity to noise, confusion and unpredictability. What may feel routine to others can feel overwhelming to her.

So when we walk toward that school

entrance, I am not just thinking about the day’s lessons. I am thinking about her safety. I am thinking about calm transitions. I am thinking about whether the environment around her feels stable and protected.

But this story is not just about my daughter.

It is about every child in Prince George’s County who walks to school and every parent who waits for them to come home.

In 2024, after pedestrian tragedies and growing concerns about student safety during arrival and dismissal

times, I began conversations with Prince George’s County Board of Education Member Branndon Jackson about a simple but urgent truth: safety does not begin at the classroom door. It begins the moment a child steps onto a sidewalk.

From that belief, Safe Passage was born.

The mission was clear:

• Place trained, visible adults along student travel routes

• Focus on high-traffic and high-concern areas

• Prevent conflict through presence

What We Protect When We Vote

body in which we have no voting representation.

There are cities that govern themselves without question.

And then there is ours.

We live in the capital of the United States, and yet our local laws can be overturned by Congress. Our budget can be revised by people who do not live here. At any moment, decisions made by District residents can be paused, reviewed, or rewritten by a

There are two sports analogies we can use to exemplify the need for intergenerational unity within the Black community. The "next man up" mentality is a sports-driven philosophy emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and adaptability, where teammates are ready to step in and perform at a high level when a starter is injured or unavailable. It focuses on maintaining

This is the governing structure in which we operate. It may not be ideal. It may not be fair. But it is the reality we currently face. And that reality should shape how we vote.

In case we have allowed ourselves to forget, Home Rule was not granted as a right. It was a privilege that was fought for. Residents organized for years to secure the ability to elect their own mayor and council and to manage their own local affairs. The 1973 Home Rule Act expanded our authority, but it did not

make D.C. a state. Congress retained the power to review and overturn local laws. It retained control over the District's budget. The autonomy we gained came with conditions.

Those conditions still exist, and they have been exercised before, especially recently. Local policies have been blocked. Budget decisions have been altered. Congress has stepped into matters that residents believed were settled here.

That is why this election season carries real consequence. And understandably so, the desire for change is

• Build trust between schools and surrounding communities

• Ensure that students feel protected — not policed

In spring 2024, the Safe Passage pilot launched around six schools: Suitland High School, Largo High School, Charles Herbert Flowers High School, Central High School, Bladensburg High School and Andrew Jackson Middle School.

Volunteers stood at key intersections and dismissal corridors. They were trained to observe, de-escalate, and report concerns — not to physically in-

tervene. County leaders helped fund the initiative, and organizers sought hundreds of volunteers to ensure consistent coverage.

What changed was not just staffing. It was atmosphere.

Parents expressed relief. Students reported feeling safer walking home. School leaders observed calmer dismissal periods. When adults show up intentionally and visibly, behavior shifts.

For children with special needs, predictability and safety are even more crit-

Page 41

real. People want housing they can afford. Public safety that residents can trust. Schools that equip children with the tools to compete and lead. Most importantly, a government that feels present and responsive. These concerns reflect daily life across all eight wards, and they deserve serious attention.

But in D.C., even urgent reforms move through a structure that does not fully belong to us. When major changes draw national attention, Congress has the authority to respond. If reforms move forward without considering that possibility, federal intervention be-

comes a real risk.

When that happens, decisions that should be made here can end up being decided somewhere else. Residents have less say and local control becomes harder to exercise. And once authority begins shifting outward, getting it back is not simple.

None of this means we should avoid reform. It means we should approach it with a clear understanding of the limits around us. Because the preservation of D.C.'s self-government must outlast

team performance without excuses, ensuring no significant drop-off in production.

Every player — man or woman — regardless of their position on the depth chart, must prepare as if they are the starter. There is a redundancy in leadership that ensures the team continues to function by building personal responsibility and team loyalty across the roster. Coaches and players are required to quickly adjust strategies and player responsibilities on the fly without prior warning. The second sports phrase that is often used is "passing the

baton." Using the example of a relay race, handing over a particular duty or responsibility is denoted. It is necessary for the intergenerational transfer of leadership. Just as in a relay race, a fumbling or dropping of the baton may trigger the demise of the team. "Passing the baton" means there are periods of shared leadership between the one passing the baton and the one receiving it.

Before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became the changemaker and preeminent leader of the civil rights movement, there was Martin Luther King

Sr., commonly known as Daddy King. Martin Luther King Sr. was a respected Baptist minister, civil rights and NAACP leader, and a change-making advocate for justice in the South in his own right. Eventually, the father and son became co-pastors, signifying the shared vision and leadership that comes with the intergenerational passing of the baton.

Daddy King was a social gospel advocate who passed on to his children the teaching of Christ mixed with social advocacy and activism. At home, Daddy King taught his children to be

the model of integrity and Christian character. He prepared them for an increasingly discriminatory society by developing in them a strong sense of moral- and ethical-driven justice. As the next generation, he taught them resilience and to respond with dignity when faced with discrimination. He reinforced in them the principle that one should never feel inferior or accept second-class status. Martin Luther King Jr. took what he learned at home to the community and then inspired a

MARSHALL Page 41

Moises Del'Rosario

Guest Columnist

TILGHMAN

David W. Marshall

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

D.C.'s School Mental Health System Works — Don't Dismantle It

I am writing in response to the Jan. 7, 2026, article titled "Ward 8 Education Leaders and Community-Based Organizations Counter Proposed Changes to School-Based Mental Health Programming." The article described the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health's (DBH) plan to phase out contracts over the next two years for community-based organizations (CBOs)

to provide school-based mental health services. As the School-Based Mental Health Director and a former schoolbased mental health therapist at Mary's Center, I appreciate The Washington Informer reporting on this important issue. Community-based organizations like Mary's Center bring continuity, trust, and integrated care to schoolbased mental health services — assets that cannot be replicated through direct government provision alone.

Mary's Center has 22 clinicians, each working full time at one of our partner schools providing individual, group,

and family therapy, conducting quarterly workshops for parents and teachers, providing crisis intervention support, consulting with teachers about student progress, running skill-building groups, and facilitating weekly prevention activities. Since Mary's Center's inception as a small clinic in 1988 to now operating as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving 65,000 people per year, we have garnered deep community trust as we have grown to meet changing community needs and serve patients with dignity and in a culturally responsive manner. Our social change

model means that we are dedicated to connecting participants to an array of services based on their situation, including medical and dental care, public benefits and insurance enrollment assistance, domestic violence services, English-language classes, and so on.

We also connect our students to our child and adolescent psychiatry service providers with whom we work closely.

Because children and families can access all these services in the same place, their providers can collaborate to improve outcomes, reduce disparities, and increase efficiency of care. This level of

collaboration would be lost if services were taken away from CBOs.

One of our school-based therapists had a complex case that illustrated the benefit of interconnected, holistic services. She received a referral from the school's wellness team for a student who struggled with disruptive and antagonizing behaviors. Once therapy began, the student disclosed physical abuse and domestic violence occurring in the home, and a Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)

GREENSPAN Page 42

As We Prepare to Lay Rev. Jackson to Rest, I'm Thinking About Words That Build Coalitions

break coalitions.

Across the country — from South Carolina to the South Side of Chicago — we are celebrating the life of the Rev. Jesse Jackson. This weekend, he will finally be laid to rest.

As we funeralize Reverend Jackson and reflect on what he gave us, I find myself thinking not only about his courage, but about his strategy — and about the power of words to build or

On Saturday, I will stand with my son — who carries Reverend Jackson's last name as his first. We named him Jackson in no small part because of the Reverend's importance to our people and to my own life. There were family reasons too. But it was his insistence that we build something broader than grievance — that we unite across lines others tried to harden — that made that name feel like a blessing to pass on. It was his 1988 campaign that first pulled me into organizing. The Rainbow Coalition wasn't poetry. It was

More than one in four Black men voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Democrats can either spend the next four years wondering why, or they can look at what Mayor Randall Woodfin is doing in Birmingham and get to work.

Woodfin's new Black Male Initiative builds directly on the success of Birmingham Promise, his adminis-

strategy. It was a recognition that racism is the oldest political wedge in American history — used again and again to divide working people so none of us are strong enough to demand more for our children.

People sometimes call me a bridge. They mean that I am a Black civil rights leader with a white father. They mean I grew up rooted in both working-class and middle-class communities — Black and white — learning how to sit in rooms where folks didn't look alike or vote alike and still search for common ground.

Guest Columnists

The truth is, I was raised by bridges.

My father grew up in overwhelmingly white Maine. His father — my grandfather — was a white doctor in Portland who made house calls in the city's small Black community when few others would. Most of his patients were white, and he also served as the factory doctor in Biddeford. But there was a current in that family: serve your fellow human beings. Recognize common need. Be part of common solutions.

My father joined the civil rights movement in Maine more than a de-

The Democratic Mayor Who's Getting Black Men Right

tration's scholarship program that helps fund tuition for Birmingham graduates attending college or credential programs. Birmingham Promise was not built on slogans or symbolic gestures. It was built on a clear premise to remove concrete financial barriers, create structured pathways to opportunity, and trust that Black men can rise faster when the system stops pushing them down.

That philosophy is now being expanded through Woodfin's Black Male Initiative to engage one of the

most economically marginalized and politically overlooked groups in the country. The initiative centers on workforce training, paid pathways, mentorship, and wraparound supports, recognizing the real constraints that working-class Black men face, including unstable employment, limited access to credentials, and limited professional networks. This is not about DEI as some conservative critics will claim. Woodfin is simply doing what any good mayor should and investing in the necessary infrastructure to ensure the city is positioned for growth.

Critics don't fear this truth. What they fear is the political power that can be unlocked when Black men move from disengagement to engagement because concrete action is taken to improve their lives.

For decades, African Americans have supported Democratic presidential candidates by overwhelming margins. In 2024, Black voters overall backed Kamala Harris by roughly 4 to 1, with about 78% supporting her and 18% supporting Donald Trump. But national exit polls and post-election analyses show that this level of support

cade before he married my mother. He later supported Reverend Jackson's campaigns in '84 and '88. And for decades, he worked with thousands of men — mostly white — helping them confront trauma, break cycles of abuse and rediscover empathy and accountability.

Those men were not caricatures. Many were crushed when factories closed and industrial America hollowed out. Many struggled with addiction. Many carried untreated trauma from

JEALOUS Page 42

has softened among Black men. In 2024, Trump's share of the Black vote roughly doubled from 2020 levels, and more than one-quarter of Black men supported him at the polls, a significant shift from prior years.

These trends are striking — not because Black men have become a solidly Republican group, because they have not. The problem for Democrats is that even small shifts can affect outcomes in key states and congressional districts where every eligible Black vote

HARRIS/MCDANIEL Page 42

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

Carolyn Greenspan

Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

LIFESTYLE Things To Do, DMV!

By Kree Anderson WI Intern

Spring is in the air, Women’s History Month has arrived, and various events are happening in the DMV this weekend!

Enjoy this season of renewal, learn about the legacies of women of distinction, and don’t miss out on the excitement of this weekend’s event lineup!

To learn about more festivities, check out the Washington Informer Calendar!

Thursday, Mar. 5

Joseph: God Meant It For Good 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | $65.00+ World Stage Theater, 400 4th Street SW 6th Floor, D.C., 20024

In the first biblical epic to premiere in the Museum of the Bible’s World Stage Theater, witness the miracle of one Hebrew boy’s rise from slavery to become second in command of all of Egypt, and

experience the truth that transformed Joseph's life: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20 ESV).

Financial First Aid Workshop with AFC Urgent Care Rockville 6 p.m.-7 p.m. | Free Botanero Restaurant, Botanero 800 Pleasant Drive #160 Rockville, MD, 20850

Join Edward Jones financial advisor Randy Nittoli, in collaboration with AFC Urgent Care Rockville, for an interactive session designed to help individuals build their very own “Financial First Aid Kit.”

Friday, Mar. 6

90-Minute Weekday Recess at Funbox Bowie 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | *Depends on Package Selection*

5 Located in Bowie, Maryland, the FUNBOX Bounce & Party Center offers jump sessions, arcade games, and opportunities for caregivers to build connections, including this Friday, March 6. (Courtesy Photo)

Funbox Bounce & Party Center, 3861 Evergreen Parkway, Bowie, MD, 20716

Whether families are part of a homeschool community, have little ones not yet in school, or are simply looking for a weekday outing with friends—Weekday Recess at Funbox Bowie is the perfect experience for all.

Paint and Sip Old Town

Bowie Welcome Center

6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.| $39.19

Old Town Bowie Welcome Center, 8606 Chestnut Avenue, Bowie, MD, 20715

Looking for a fun night out?

Paint and Sip is the perfect way to unleash one’s inner artist while enjoying some good vibes and great company.

Saturday, Mar. 7

Observe the Sun

Noon - 3 p.m. | Free National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., 7th Street and Independence Avenue SW, near the silver Delta Solar sculpture

Become an astronomer and observe the sun safely with a filtered telescope and knowledgeable staff present to answer questions and guide participants.

Rooting DC 2026

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Free Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol Street NE, D.C., 20002

An all day event, Rooting DC, provides education and community building around urban agriculture and food systems, with the goal of cultivating personal, community, and environmental wellbeing.

Sunday, Mar. 8

St. Patrick's Day Parade

11 a.m. - Noon | Free Peace Monument, Intersection of Pennsylvania Ave NW and 1 St NW, D.C., 20004

Join the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee of the Irish American Club of Washington, D.C. for a gathering at the National Mall, march to F Street NW, and an afternoon of festivities. The committee, along with other groups, dance schools, bands, etc. will start assembling at 11 a.m. at the Peace Monument and at noon begin walking towards the Holodomor Memorial.

Authors, Activists, Artists Speak! Writing our Story, Righting our History

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Free Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

This event invites guests to gather on International Women’s Day for a vibrant afternoon celebrating Black women as authors, activists, and artists whose voices continue to shape culture, memory, and change. WI

LIFESTYLE

3 An all-day event, Rooting DC brings educational and community-centered urban agriculture practices to the nation’s capital on March 7. (Courtesy Photo)

5 Families observe the solar eclipse in April 2024 on the National Mall. With the National Air and Space Museum this Saturday, become an astronomer and observe the sun safely with a filtered telescope and knowledgeable staff present to answer questions and guide participants. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

DMV Native Myles Frost Stars in ‘Chez Joey’ at Arena Stage After Snagging a Tony Award for Portrayal of Michael Jackson, Frost Returns Home

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer

After becoming the youngest solo actor in history to win a Tony Award in 2022 for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in “MJ the Musical,” DMV native Myles Frost has returned home, starring in Arena Stage’s “Chez Joey,” running until

March 15.

Raised in Silver Spring, Maryland and a graduate of Thomas Wootton High School, Frost is currently fine tuning his skills and expanding his horizons as he tackles the lead role in a vibrant, reimagined musical, inspired by John O'Hara's “Pal Joey” (1940). Paying homage to the original music and lyrics by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, “Chez Joey,” co-directed by Savion Glover and Tony Goldwyn, features exciting new tunes and arrangements, amazing dance numbers and an outstanding cast.

“I love the fact that it pulses with a Black vibe and takes place in a jazz club in 1940’s Chicago, which allows me to spread my wings and to pay tribute to some of the singing-dancing superstars from the past,” Frost told The Informer.

The play allows Frost to do things which he said he never imagined while also giving him the freedom to create a new persona in his role as Joey Evans – a slick-talking, velvet-voiced singer and dancer.

While he has already assembled an impressive list of achievements, including earning the Tony for Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Frost said having the chance to perform this role was something he never imagined. However, he’s relishing the opportunity.

“I was doing a performance about seven months ago at a gala honoring unseen heroes in theater – folks like vocal coaches and wardrobe professionals – and one of the producers saw me. He approached me and said I was the Joey that he’d been looking for. I auditioned for him and the other producers, and they cast me in the show,” he said.

“But the best part is that Savion Glover is part of the team too, so I am learning a lot from him.”

sure audiences will savor, one scene at a time.

“To build ‘Chez Joey’ with this phenomenal creative team is to create a work that pulses with energy, innovation, and the heartbeat of possibility,” said Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif.

She also noted that Glover not only infuses the play with stunning choreography but also shares his talents in creating new arrangements of the timeless Rodgers and Hart score.

“Together, we’re breathing new life into a classic,” Sharif continued, “layering in the vibrancy of jazz to create a production that feels both timeless and electric.”

Creating a Character

For Frost, tackling the character of Joey was a welcome opportunity after playing a well-known historic figure and cultural icon.

“I’m best known for my portrayal of Michael Jackson, which was both amazing and limiting,” Frost said. “MJ came with a playbook which we had to follow but as Joey Evans in this new play, I get to build his character because he isn’t real – that’s exciting.”

Further, the multi-talented DMV native is getting a chance to push himself as a performer, all the while being inspired by his artistic ancestors in bringing the character to life.

“Even more, I’ve been given the freedom to express myself in dance and even employ some acrobatics. It’s like following in the footsteps of the Nicholas Brothers and Sammy Davis Jr. at the same time,” Frost told The Informer.

The freedom he finds allows for outstanding, showstopping moments. During the opening night show on Friday, Feb. 13, the audience offered Frost a standing ovation after he finished performing the number “Do it the Hard Way/ Joey’s Way,” in the early part of the second act— a response normally

A Tony Award-winning choreographer known for “Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk,” Glover combined forces with actor, director, and producer Goldwyn – of ABC’s “Scandal” – to make theshow something that Frost said he’s CHEZ JOEYPage 29

5 Myles Frost stars as Joey Evans in Arena Stage’s “Chez Joey.” (Courtesy Photo/Arena Stage, Ambe J. Williams)

from Page 28

reserved for the end of a show, but rightfully earned for his outstanding dancing and singing.

As he pushes toward excellence on stage each night, Frost is also prioritizing self-care.

“But I must admit, it’s hard on my legs,” he told The Informer. “So, when I have downtime, I am sitting down, resting and recovering.”

Frost is also enjoying the opportunity to discover new elements within his vocal range.

“MJ had a higher voice but in this production, I deliver my songs in a deeper register which is more new territory for me,” he said, before also complimenting his cast mates. “Yes, I like the songs that I perform but I really like the pieces which the women in the play sing. Make no mistake, these sisters can blow.”

Awa Sal Secka beautifully belts tunes, with a voice so powerful it echoes through the theatre in her portrayal of Linda English, and Sa-

mantha Massell, portraying the role of Vera, has a strong, crisp sound with voice control that highlights the nuanced nature of the character.

Working with the cast of “Chez Joey” has been a didactic experience, Frost said, coming under the tutelage of several talented and gracious professionals— especially Glover.

“Savion and the other producers have taught me how to lean into a character and make it my own,” he explained. “He has a strategy that blends improvisation with choreography that he has taught me. It allows me to dance beyond the borders and provides the freedom for me to be me. It’s amazing what you can do when you are encouraged to push yourself beyond your limits.”

Reflecting on the Journey, More to Come

As he continues to explore opportunities and grow in his career, Frost said it’s been an unbelievable journey since he first stepped on

stage as Michael Jackson in December 2021.

While he’s proud of what he’s accomplished, he knows his artistry and success comes with responsibilities.

“I am reminded that ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’” he said. “We must be careful what we ask God for because sometimes our prayers are answered. For me, that meant a new way of life and a whole lot of hard work. So, I can’t complain about the workload, nor can I be anxious or fearful because people are watching me so closely now. It comes with the territory.”

While Frost is enjoying playing Joey at Arena Stage until March 15, he is also looking forward to his next performance opportunity, and dreaming big in the meantime.

“I’ve always wanted to portray a superhero – Spiderman,” he told The Informer. “When they’re ready for a Black Spiderman, I’m ready for action.”

For more information on “Chez Joey,” visit arenastage.org. WI

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5 Myles Frost and Awa Sal Secka star as Joey Evans and Linda English in Arena Stage’s “Chez Joey,” a reimagining of John O’Hara’s “Pal Joey,” (Courtesy Photo/Arena Stage, Ambe J. Williams)

CHEZ JOEY

review wi book

Books for Women's History Month by Various Authors

c.2026, Various publishers

$27.99-$32

Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

The history books seem to be full of men.

Galileo, Frederick Douglass. Abraham Lincoln. Jesse Jackson, Franklin Roosevelt, the list goes on. So this month, put a few women on your radar by reading these great Women's History Month books … Soon, your mind may turn to gardening and greenery and "When Trees Testify" by Beronda L. Montgomery (Henry Holt, $27.99) is a great place to start.

Written by a renowned biologist, this book explains how African Americans have made their mark on the world of botany, and vice versa. Trees, especially, have been essential in Black history, and Montgomery writes specifically about seven of them, plus the cotton shrub. This is a great book for historians, of course, but also for gardeners, homeowners, and anyone who appreciates a tree.

Everything has to start somewhere, and in "Riding Into History" by Amy Nathan with Sarah Keys Evans (Duke University Press, $29.95, out March 24), you'll read the story of Women's Army Corps PFC Sarah Keys, who was trying to take a bus home from her post at Fort Dix, New Jersey when she was arrested for disorderly conduct for doing what Rosa Parks would do some three years later. Her actions, says Nathan, still resonate today. This is an important story to read, one that's not often told when talking about the civil rights movement.

Another little-told story in women's history that you'll like knowing is that of Sylvia Moy, so find "It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown's Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy" by Margena A. Christian (DaCapo, $30). You'll want to dust off your favorite vinyl when you read this book about the woman who wrote songs for Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, Martha and the Vandellas, and the Temptations. She was the first woman to become an in-house Motown producer-songwriter, and she had to fight to keep that place. You'll like this incredible, until-now-hidden story, especially if you're a fan of old-school tunes from back in the day.

And finally, if you've ever had a mother, then "Black. Single. Mother." by Jamilah Lemieux (Roc Lit, $32, out March 10) is a book that'll make you want to thank her.

This is a wide but intimate examination of being a single mom that happens to be Black — the ups and downs, the myths, the nasty comments and the absolute joys. It's about what it's like to raise kids without their father around, and why respect and love from the rest of society is long overdue. Written through interviews with more than 20 single Black moms, this is a strong look at a topic that's rarely examined in such a wide, open-hearted way. And if these books aren't enough, then head to your favorite bookstore or library and ask for more. The staff there can help you find whatever you need to read for Women's History Month, in almost any category and for almost any age group. All you gotta do it ask — because, isn't it time that women take their place in history, too? WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

MAR.

5 - 11, 2026

ARIES M A Monday conflict reveals more about the other person than about you — file that away. Energy you've been hoarding finds its outlet midweek; don't second-guess the direction. A financial move that seemed risky looks smarter once you run the numbers. Someone in your corner deserves acknowledgment you've delayed too long. Lucky Numbers: 6, 31, 58

TAURUS Slow and deliberate wins early in the week when everyone else is rushing. A creative idea you've been sitting on has an expiration date — this is the week. Wednesday's money conversation goes well if you lead with facts instead of feelings. Something you fixed months ago starts paying dividends now. Rest Sunday like you mean it. Lucky Numbers: 13, 40, 67

GEMINI Two competing priorities demand your attention Monday — pick one and commit. A Tuesday conversation unlocks a professional door you assumed was closed. Curiosity is your greatest asset this week; let it run without immediately monetizing it. Midweek focus produces results that scattered effort never will. Saturday is for genuine disconnecting, not the performative kind. Lucky Numbers: 4, 27, 54

CANCER Home tension eases once you name what's actually bothering you instead of circling it. A Tuesday opportunity at work is smaller than it appears but leads somewhere real. Your emotional read on a situation is correct even when logic argues otherwise. Someone needs your listening more than your problem-solving. Lucky Numbers: 17, 45, 69

LEO A project you championed finally gets the green light — don't celebrate so loudly that you forget to execute. Someone challenges your approach Monday in a way that's worth considering. Romantic energy peaks midweek; be present rather than impressive. Your generosity is genuine, but check that it's not being quietly taken for granted. Lucky Numbers: 15, 38, 64

VIRGO A system you built holds up under pressure — quiet proof of past discipline. Monday's feedback stings only because it's accurate; use it. A sustainable health adjustment beats an overhaul you'll abandon by Thursday. Someone asks for more than they're entitled to — it's fine to say so calmly. Weekend order gives your mind permission to relax.Lucky Numbers: 9, 37, 65

LIBRA A decision you've softened to the point of meaninglessness needs to be a real answer. A collaborative project requires you to hold your position, not find the middle. Financial clarity arrives when you stop treating a want like a need. Someone from a past chapter reaches out; respond with warmth and appropriate distance. Lucky Numbers: 2, 30, 56

SCORPIO Something you suspected gets confirmed early in the week — your instincts earned that moment. A work alliance strengthens when you extend trust before it's technically required. A financial boundary holds for the second week in a row, which means it's becoming permanent. Investigative energy is sharp — direct it at a puzzle, not a person. Lucky Numbers: 8, 26, 53

SAGITTARIUS A bold opening to the week lands better when it's specific, not just enthusiastic. A Tuesday conversation stretches your thinking in a direction you didn't anticipate. Midweek brings financial information you should act on before the weekend. Someone offers honest feedback that costs them something — receive it accordingly. Lucky Numbers: 21, 46, 72

CAPRICORN An early week ask that feels presumptuous is worth making — you've earned more credit than you're spending. Midweek recognition arrives quietly, which is the kind that lasts. A relationship needs less strategy and more warmth; you know this already. Financial patience that felt like stalling is about to look like wisdom. Lucky Numbers: 10, 43, 76

AQUARIUS An unconventional idea you raise Monday gains traction faster than expected. Emotional availability in a close relationship creates more progress than any strategy you've mapped. A financial move you've been too cautious about is ready; trust the research you've done. Don't let a perfectionism loop stall a project that's genuinely ready. Weekend solitude generates your best thinking of the month. That need for independence? Real partnership makes room for it. Lucky Numbers: 23, 48, 74

PISCES A recurring thought early in the week carries a message worth decoding. Tuesday delivers a practical breakthrough on something you've approached too gently. Creative work deepens when you protect the time instead of waiting for inspiration to arrive pre-scheduled. A boundary you've reinforced recently is holding — notice that. Financial simplicity cuts through noise that optimization never resolved. Weekend water restores your particular frequency. That beautiful escape? Start building it on solid ground. Lucky Numbers: 19, 51, 79

SPORTS

Titles, Blood and Breakthroughs at CareFirst Arena

Keith Golden Jr. WI Intern

Crowds packed CareFirst Arena in Southeast, D.C. in preparation for the Davis Boxing Promotions

“The Grind in the Glory” fight card on Feb. 21, nine matches featuring a mix of young rising boxers and experienced titleholders, some battling to gain — or keep — the belt that cements them in history as a champion.

The voice of the night was Hall of Fame ring announcer Henry Jones, one of the barrier-breaking Black voices in the ring.

“Tonight, promoter Eric Davis and Davis Promotions proudly presents ‘The Grind and the Glory’

spectacle,” Jones said, welcoming the crowd in his signature voice.

Started in 2022, Davis Boxing Promotions' goal is to develop and promote future champion boxers. With support from sponsors and the community, their events are affordable for families in the DMV.

“Spectacular show,” Davis said, referring to the main co-headliner fight. “Two guys put it on the line [and now] we have a new [National Boxing Association] champion. Hell of a fight, [they] gave the fans what they were looking for.”

Rosado v. Glenn

Throughout the night, all blue-corner fighters lost their

bouts by total knockout (TKO), knockout (KO), decision or corner stoppage — except Erick Rosado.

Fighting out of the Dominican Republic, Rosado defeated previously undefeated Christopher Glenn in the co-headliner, improving his record to 16-4 with 11 knockouts.

The win came after a hardfought eight rounds that ended in a unanimous decision — 76-75 twice and 77-74 — in favor of Rosado. The victory snapped his twofight losing streak and earned him the National Boxing Association super bantamweight title, previously held by Glenn.

During the match, both fighters had moments of control. However, an uppercut in the sixth round sent Glenn to the canvas, giving Rosado the edge for the remainder of the bout.

In the postfight press conference, Rosado told The Informer his motivation to secure the win came from his family, adding that he was grateful for the opportunity.

“I always [am motivated by] my family. I always keep my mind

3 Michael Lee (left) faces off against Greg Outlaw (right), ranked No. 11 globally within his welterweight division, during the fifth round of their match on Saturday, Feb. 21. (Keith Golden Jr./The Washington Informer)

focused on winning my fight. I always think about the future — about what’s coming for my family and all of that,” Rosado said.

“And with every round, I stand up from my seat with more strength, recognizing the great fighter. Chris Glenn is a good fighter, and I’m grateful for the opportunity he gave me to fight.”

(Keith Golden Jr./The Washington Informer) rounds. By the end, both fighters were bloodied in a matchup that went to a unanimous decision in favor of Outlaw — 96-94, 99-91 and 97-93— extending the boxer's streak to seven consecutive victories.

Although Glenn did not want to take credit away from his opponent, he said he believed he won the rounds in which he was not knocked down.

“When you fight in different places, they favor activity, they favor accuracy [and] stuff like that,” Glenn said, hoping for a rematch later on. “Love D.C. but D.C. is a place that favors hard punches and knock downs.”

Outlaw v. Lee

One of the most anticipated bouts of the night was the other co-headliner between Greg Outlaw, now 19-2 with 11 knockouts, and Michael Lee, now 11-4 withh seven knockouts. The hype surrounding the fight stemmed from Outlaw’s ranking at No. 11 in the world in the welterweight division.

“Michael Lee is a tough competitor,” said Outlaw during his post fight interview. “He came to fight and he pushed me. We knew it was going to be a tactical war, and that’s exactly what it was.”

The fight went the full 10

“I felt like I dictated the pace,” said Outlaw, who thanked his support system and promised to return to the ring soon. “I stayed behind my jab, worked the body when I could, and just tried to stay smart in there.”

Saunders v. Johnson

The quickest fight of the night came in a first-round knockout by Southeast, D.C. native Keith Saunders Jr., now 3-0 with three knockouts. The bout was scheduled for four rounds against Lucius Johnson, now 4-8 with three knockouts.

After Saunders’ series of left and right straights that knocked out his opponent’s mouthpiece, followed by hook shots, Johnson hit the canvas just 45 seconds into the round and did not rise before the 10-count.

Saunders leaped onto the corner ropes to celebrate before the referee’s count reached three.

“I feel like everybody was sleeping on me,” Saunders said during his postfight interview with ring announcer Jones. “Anybody who’s talking about me, I’m gonna give them something to talk about.” WI

5 Christopher Glenn gets knocked down with an upper cut in the sixth round of his bout with Erick Rosado on Feb. 21, during Davis Boxing Promotions’ “The Grind in the Glory” fight night at CareFirst Arena in Southeast, D.C.

CAPTURE the moment

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) hosted its annual Black History Month Luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Northwest, D.C. Celebrating the theme: “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” the event featured an author’s book signing, stamp unveiling and keynote address from ASALH President and CEO Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

From Lament to Action: Baltimore Church Backs Racial Repair

Keeping a Vow Made in 2015, a Majoritywhite Presbytery in a Racially-divided City will Spend $2.27M on Anti-Racism Training

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware 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).

Five years before the murder of George Floyd on a Minneapolis street corner inspired worldwide demands for justice, a young Black

man named Freddie Gray died in the back of a Baltimore police van. His death triggered days of civil unrest, revealing the Black community’s anger about systemic racism and chronic inequality that had been simmering just below the surface.

tive Justice Initiative, an ambitious plan to dismantle deep-seated bias and poverty that had hamstrung generations of Black Baltimoreans.

In the aftermath of the protests, as elected leaders debated the path forward for a fractured city, the local Presbyterian clergy decided to lead the way. It created the Reparaleadership.”

The effort would later help push the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) toward what the church’s 22nd General Assembly later called “radical atonement and reconciliation.” The proposal, originating in Baltimore, laid groundwork for a broader denominational reckoning with racism.

The Cross and the Lynching Tree Momentum grew after Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II was elected the church’s stated clerk and elevated the Matthew 25 movement, which calls churches to live out their faith by dismantling structural racism and addressing systemic poverty.

The following year, the denomination launched a study of “The Cross and the Lynching Tree,” a book by Black liberation theologian Dr. James Cone. That theological deep dive led to listening sessions and the formation of a Dismantling Racism Team — with Baltimore among the first presbyteries to sign on.

According to the presbytery’s website, “The Dismantling Racism Team offers at least two workshops per year and is open to people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.” majority-white presbytery, it notes that some sessions may be organized by affinity groups, while others are open to ruling elders and congregational leaders seeking to “strengthen their own antiracist

3 The Rev. Hal Bennett says that 2020 marked the creation of a Reparative Justice Working Group, continuing the mission set by Presbyterian clergy in Baltimore to dismantle deep-seated bias and poverty that had hamstrung generations of African Americans.

(Courtesy Photo)

work — not settled triumphs. Word In Black recently interviewed Bennett about the initiative. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Word in Black: Are you still pastoring full-time?

The Rev. Hal Bennett, who joined the effort in 2020 after “receiving a call from Grove Presbyterian Church,” says that year also marked the creation of a Reparative Justice Working Group.

Funding to Rebuild

The presbytery went further, “allocating 15% of year-end non-committed funds totaling $2,274,000 for reparative justice, payable in two tranches contingent on standing up a governing board; specified to be composed of African-American members only to serve Black churches and communities in Baltimore.”

But Bennett says the larger challenge is cultural and generational.

“The real job,” he says, “is to train all the ministers and elders.”

With Presbyterian membership in Baltimore hovering around 12,000 and “the average age being somewhere between 50 and 60,” the church is “losing, not gaining,” Bennett says.

“Our young people did not come back to the church,” he says. “They went off and found other non-denominations.”

To address ministry gaps in the city, the presbytery created the LOOP, a group focused on organizing and supporting inner-city churches within the Presbyterian structure.

“It hasn’t been an easy fight,” Bennett says, underscoring that repentance, reparations and racial reconciliation inside historic white denominations remain ongoing

Hal Bennett: Right now, I’m serving as a bridge pastor, a transition pastor. I have a couple more years that I can preach before I turn 82. I don’t think I can ever retire. I’ve retired twice and so I don’t think I’m going to retire from God’s job.

WIB: How were the particular churches selected?

Bennett: They did some case studies and Knox Presbyterian was one of those selected. You’re familiar with them? But probably not with their story. So when Knox was started, they were forced to take a dilapidated old building that belonged to a white congregation during the white flight. Not only were they forced to take it, to make repairs, the Presbyterian offered them a higher interest rate, okay? And the church that moved to the county got an interest-free loan.

WIB: So what are the great things that could be done with this money?

Bennett: There are all kinds of possibilities. One would be to invest the money and live on the interest. Invest the principal, use interest for programs and delay large distributions for up to five years to ensure sustainable impact.

WIB: Will you post for prospective board members and hope the right people come along?

Bennett: Once approved by the Dismantling Racism Team, the call for members will go to the Reparative Justice Team for approval. Then it will be put on the website of the Presbytery of Baltimore by May 2026, at which time BIPOC candidates will be invited to apply. WI

"Not one ounce of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me!"

These powerful words, famously echoed by legends like Quincy Jones and Ray Charles, are often treated as a mantra for modern confidence. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, this statement is more than just self-esteem. It is a profound theological truth that frees the soul from the tiring, endless pursuit of human approval.

In a world fueled by social media metrics, performance reviews, and fleeting trends, we are conditioned to believe that our value is a "group decision" — something that rises and falls based on who claps for us, who understands us, or who accepts us. When we anchor our worth in the opinions of others, we hand them the remote control to our emotions. They know when to change your channel and turn off your power with the click of a button — or shall I say, with negative words directed at you. Don't allow such behavior! True, lasting self-worth is not something you achieve; it is a gift from God that you receive.

The divine definition of value, as researched from a biblical perspective, shows how wisdom shifts the focus from "self-esteem" (thinking highly of oneself) to "God-esteem" (understanding how God views us). Your value was established long before anyone had an opinion about you. God knew you before you were born. He knew and intended for you to be the way you are. Don't allow someone to change who God intended you to be.

• You are an Image-Bearer: In Genesis 1:27, the Bible declares that God created humanity in his own image. Your worth is inherent because you bear the mark of the Creator.

• You are a Treasured Possession: The Bible calls believers "God's treasured possession" and "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14).

• You are Purchased at a High Price: The ultimate testament to your

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

The Freedom of Unshakeable Worth the religion corner

worth is the cross. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Your value is not based on your performance, but on the price Jesus paid for you.

We must begin to reject the "people-pleaser" trap. When we look into the wrong mirror — the distorted reflections of societal, professional, or social media standards — oftentimes we forget who we are. We become people-pleasers, trying to make ourselves "palatable" to others at the expense of our true selves. At my age, I don't think so!

Living for the applause of people is temporary; living for the approval of God is eternal. As the Apostle Paul writes: "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, please people, or am I pleasing God? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

When you truly believe that you are loved by God, chosen by God, and forgiven by God, you no longer need to "shrink" to fit into small rooms. You are free to be your authentic self because your identity is anchored in him.

When someone rejects you, it does not decrease your value. It simply means they have failed to recognize it. This week, allow yourself to let go of the need for validation. Stop letting others define your worth. You are not an accident; you are loved, seen, and valued far beyond what this world can measure.

"Don't treat me common when God calls me chosen." Has anyone

devalued you lately — by talking down to you, by speaking to you in a manner you know you did not earn or deserve? Here is when you embrace what Quincy Jones once said: "Not one ounce of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me."

As for me, I thank God for parents who believed in me, encouraged me, and pushed me to higher heights. Looking back, I realize that even the moments that felt uncomfortable were shaping me. My father, who served as both our pastor and the head of our home, didn't just give suggestions; he gave orders. When he told me and my siblings to lead worship, we obeyed. That disciplined upbringing became a lifelong gift. While many of my friends struggle with paralyzing stage fright, public speaking has become one of my greatest joys — all thanks to the foundation my father laid.

I've watched that same journey unfold in the life of my daughter. I remember a time in her Phi-Teens group from my sorority, when it was her turn to speak during a program at church; she stood frozen, unable to utter a single word. In that moment, my expectations didn't matter — only what was happening in her mind did. I could have pushed her the way my father pushed me, but I realized we each have our own timing. Now, 54 years later, I've watched her finally find her voice and her niche.

My advice to you is the same: Stay focused on your purpose. Figure out why you were sent to this earth, and don't stop until you get it done. WI

Person Worship: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M.

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 Carmel

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."

Email: 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 FEP 000016

2/17/2023

Date of Death

Tennie Waller

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Brian Waller whose address is 10103 Grandhaven Ave., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Tennie Waller, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on March 15, 2023.

Service of process may be made upon Keith Lomax 4635 Minnesota Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20019 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property:

4107 Massachusetts Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20019. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication:

2/19/2026

Brian Waller 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 000096

Ronald Nehemiah Douglas-Gooden Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

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

Barbra Douglas-Gooden, whose address is 1613 Upton Court, Marion, IN 46953, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ronald Nehemiah Douglas-Gooden who died on 10/18/2011 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 8/19/2026. 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 8/19/2026, 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: 2/19/2026

Barbra Douglas-Gooden

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 FEP 000013

November 25, 2024

Date of Death

Albert Jean Emile Mauger Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Beatrice Anne Solange Mauger and Jean-Albert Benoit Mauger whose addresses are 414 E. 88th Street, Apt. 1B, New York, NY & 4 Horizon Rd., Apt 618, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Albert Jean Emile Mauger, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, State of Florida, on July 16, 2025. Service of process may be made upon Graner S. Ghevarghese; 600 14th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

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

Date of first publication: 2/19/2026

Beatrice Anne Solange Mauger Jean-Albert Benoit Mauger Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2025 ADM 001096

Stephanie M. Saunders Decedent

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

Kevin Judd, Esq., whose address is 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 900-South Building, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Stephanie M. Saunders who died on 11/13/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/19/2026. 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 8/19/2026, 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: 2/19/2026

Kevin Judd, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2026 ADM 000069

Allen Gregory Brooks II Decedent

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

Allen Brooks III, whose address is 1821 Corcoran Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Allen Gregory Brooks II who died on 5/8/2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/19/2026. 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 8/19/2026, 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: 2/19/2026

Allen Brooks III 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 FEP 000017

June 26, 2025

Date of Death

Robert Alexander Schaefer Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Sheila M. Mattingly aka Sheila Maureen Mattingly whose address is PO Box 88, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Robert Alexander Schaefer, deceased, by the State of New Jersey Surrogate’s Court for Hudson County, State of New Jersey, on December 2, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. of 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 2106 12th Street, NW WDC; 2883 Connecticut Avenue, NW, P-170 WDC and 1210 R Street, NW, #P-83, WDC. 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: 2/26/2026

Sheila M. Mattingly

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 000075

Lorraine Wilson Archey Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716

Attorney

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

Eric N. Archey, whose address is 9501 Oak Leaf Place, Clinton, MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lorraine Wilson Archey who died on 2/4/2018 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/19/2026. 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 8/19/2026, 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: 2/19/2026

Eric N. Archey 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 000111

Annie J. Goodson Decedent

Attorney Ethel Mitchell 8403 Coleville Road, Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

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

Andre Adolph Goodson, whose address is 2112 Ellis Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Annie J. Goodson who died on 8/30/2024 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 8/26/2026. 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 8/26/2026, 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: 2/26/2026

Andre Adolph Goodson 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 000073

Rita Lorraine Cashwell

Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716

Attorney

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

Kellie Cashwell, whose address is 4594 Grebe Place, Waldorf, MD 20603, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rita Lorraine Cashwell who died on 10/14/2025 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 8/19/2026. 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 8/19/2026, 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: 2/19/2026

Kellie Cashwell

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 001170

Regina C. Newman aka Regina Cometa Newman Decedent

Shaoming Cheng, Esq. 6088 Franconia Road, Suite D Alexandria, VA 22310 Attorney

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

John D. Newman, whose address is 7851 Muirfield Court, Potomac, MD 20854, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Regina C. Newman aka Regina Cometa Newman who died on 8/6/2017 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment 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 8/26/2026. 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 8/26/2026, 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: 2/26/2026

John D. Newman

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 000132

Paul Lawrence Bascomb, Jr. Decedent

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

Darnetta M. Bascomb, whose address is 8109 Rydal Rd., District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Paul Lawrence Bascomb, Jr. who died on December 23, 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 9/5/2026. 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 9/5/2026, 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: 3/5/2026

Darnetta M. Bascomb

8109 Rydal Rd. District Heights, MD 20747 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 000129

Benjamin Darrell McKenzie Decedent

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

Autumn Jackson, whose address is 7832 Tilghman St., Fulton, MD 20759, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Benjamin Darrell McKenzie who died on 11/19/2025 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 9/5/2026. 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 9/5/2026, 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: 3/5/2026

Autumn Jackson

Representative

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000081

Jamar De’Andre Jackson

Decedent

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

Mesha Jackson, whose address is 4215 1st Street SE, Apt 303, Washington DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jamar De’Andre Jackson who died on May 23, 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 9/5/2026. 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 9/5/2026, 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: 3/5/2026

Mesha Jackson

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Washington Informer

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE COUNTY OF LEE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 25CV001792-520

WAN D. HILL, ) Plaintiff, ) ) NOTICE OF SERVICE BY vs. ) PUBLICATION )

TEAIRRA A. BARNES, ) Defendant. ) )

To: Teairra A. Barnes

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Disestablishment of Paternity in Lee County, North Carolina You are required to make defense to such pleading 40 days following the first date of this notice, no later than the 14th day of April, 2026. And upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for relief sought.

This the 26th day of February, 2026

WILSON, REIVES & DORAN, PLLC

Nathalie M. Doran

Attorney for Plaintiff 1502 Woodland Avenue Sanford, North Carolina 27330

Publish March 5, March 12 and March 19, 2026.

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COLLINS REPORT from Page 8 eral agents.

White credited those grassroots organizers as the key impetus in moving the needle forward.

“I wanna start by thanking Free DC, Movimiento Migrante, the Families Not Feds Coalition, Migrant Solidarity, Mutual Aid, and the many community members who have advocated tirelessly for District residents and have worked with me to get this legislation to this point,” White said Tuesday on the dais.

White also hinted at the council's full support, and what it signified at the moment.

“From federal officers shooting at Philip Brown's car to the murder of Julian Bailey by U.S. Marshals, our current laws aren't cutting it,” White said. “Right now, we hold MPD officers to a standard of conduct and transparency, but don't apply those same rules to feds that are now actively policing our city. This bill says loud and clear federal law enforcement can't harm District residents without transparency and appropriate consequences.”

Bowser, whose mayoral order solidified the post-surge relationship between MPD and federal law enforcement, has a different take on the council’s actions. In her March 3 letter to D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, she said that the council is tackling issues best left to Congress.

“Congress has oversight over federal law enforcement agencies and can require a mask prohibition (which they are debating now) as well as body-worn cameras and name identification,” Bowser’s letter said. “I urge members of the council to seek congressional action on these matters.”

At least one council member— Ward 5’s Zachary Parker (D)— doesn’t want to leave things to chance.

“I'm voting for this measure today because it is the right thing to do, and because I don't trust Congress to stand up to the president,” Parker said on the dais, “and because we must do everything in our power to protect fellow brown and other residents that we serve.

The Decoupling Situation That Has Yet to be Settled

On Tuesday, the council closed off a portion of its usually transparent breakfast meeting to discuss its response to the conundrum that’s the fallout from the congressional disapproval resolution.

Hours after that meeting, the council was no closer to a solution, according to Councilmember Lewis George of Ward 4.

“D.C. government has to move together, united,” Lewis George told The Informer. “In order to do that, we’ve got to have communication and conversation and agree on the best path forward and the best strategy forward. That's where the hang-up is.”

Weeks after Bowser administration members painted a grim picture of what’s ahead for the next four years, Lewis George said that the lack of a resolution further complicates financial matters.

“There's some real big budget considerations,” Lewis George said, “and I think whether to recouple or decouple has huge budget implications for everyone. The biggest holdup is how we move forward in a way that…when we go into the budget process, we do so with the amount of funds we actually have to budget those funds.”

Since Congress’ passage, and President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the disapproval resolution, which reverses the council’s decoupling of the D.C’s tax code from the GOP-endorsed “Big Beautiful Bill,” District Attorney General Brian Schwalb has written an opinion casting doubt on its legality.

Schwalb’s letter cited, among other reasons, the disapproval resolution’s passage after the end of the 30-day congressional approval timeline. The legal opinion, deemed a victory for District legislative autonomy, would soon fizzle when Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s February revenue estimate didn't include the $180 million to be allocated through the decoupling.

In her letter to Lee, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who’s currently working to close a $1.1 billion shortfall in her Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal, asked that Lee clarify his stance on Schwalb’s opinion by March 3.

“Your office has not changed the April 15 tax filing deadline, which strongly implies you agree with the attorney general’s legal opinion that the DC Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Law 26-89) is in effect,” Bowser’s letter said. “[Y]our February revenue estimate inexplicably does not include any of that revenue. If you concur with the attorney general’s opinion, then the resulting collections represent revenue that must be accounted for in the February revenue estimate.”

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

FLETCHER from Page 21

a $8.1 million allocation toward after-school program for elementary and middle-schoolers; $700,000 for dual enrollment courses; and $600,000 to improve literacy and promote responsible AI use in District schools.

Rutherford, who acknowledges the advancements made since his days in the school building, remains adamant that the adult-student relationship will remain the cornerstone of any successful academic program.

“Don’t just go to work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week and let it go,” Rutherford exclaimed. “Schools need to be open. Principals need to get out and see the community, know the community, be able to talk to the parents, not just at a parent-teacher conference, not just when the students are being suspended or something.”

Old Memories Forge an Ongoing Battle for Neighborhood Amenities

In 2011, three years after Fletcher-Johnson’s closure, and its subsequent use for public charter schools and swing space for H.D. Woodson High School, the District government permanently shuttered the site. A decade later, the Bowser administration awarded the site to Gragg Cardona Souadi, along with the Carding Group, Foundation Housing, H2 Design Build and the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization.

What followed soon after was the establishment of the Fletcher-Johnson Task Force, of which Ebbon Allen, a Fletcher-Johnson alumnus, was a member.

For years, Allen joined other task force members— including Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Keith Hasan-Towery and Malissa Freese— in articulating a vision where this development site, the fourth largest property owned by the District, would include housing, retail, an urgent care facility, and even an institution for adult education.

“We wanted to make sure that the community in Marshall Heights and the greater Ward 7 would be able to get those amenities, and not just have a freestanding health center,” said Allen, a 1993 graduate of Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus. “We felt like on this side of Marshall Heights, no one has really anywhere to go. We're talking about quality grocery stores.”

As Allen’s family continues their trek to Northern Virginia and Hyattsville, Maryland for groceries, Allen counts

among those who anticipate longterm economic benefits to developing the Fletcher-Johnnson site, located near KIPP DC Benning Campus and south of Benning Road Metro Station.

“We understood that if you have an oasis like this, property values will go up,” he told The Informer.

During the latter part of last year, Allen and more than a dozen Fletcher-Johnson alumni conducted a ceremony marking the demolition of Fletcher-Johnson Education Campus. Others who joined the small group on the morning of Sept. 4 were: Ward 7 D.C. Councilmember Wendell Felder (D) and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners Natasha Dupee (7E04) and Gail Perkins (7E03).

DC JAZZ FEST from Page 4

fies a year-round mission to introduce people of all ages and backgrounds to the nation’s original art form.

Additionally, the 2026 DC JazzFest unfolds during a milestone year as Washington commemorates DC250 amid the nation’s celebration of America250. Organizers say jazz provides a lens to reflect on the country’s legacy of resilience, innovation and global exchange, while reinforcing the District’s standing as an international jazz capital.

“DC JazzFest exemplifies the rich culture and international influence found in Washington, D.C.,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the District. “The festival helps extend our year-long celebration of DC250, showcasing the vibrancy of our neighborhoods and our creative community to visitors from around the world.”

The annual festival, which spans waterfront stages and historic performance spaces, will highlight other

For Allen, the event marked the end of an era. He’s since mulled plans for the installment of a plaque honoring Rutherford and the untold number of Fletcher-Johnson students who never made it to adulthood.

“Hundreds of us have so many memories of that building,” Allen told The Informer. “Somebody's going to have something different, and many of us are going to have the same thing about how Dr. Rutherford paved the way, protected us, educated us, empowered us. It's an unforgettable type of school building and environment that was created, especially on the side of Southeast Washington, D.C.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

major jazz centennials, including: African Rhythms Alumni Quintet’s celebration of NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston’s 100th birthday, and tributes to John Coltrane and Miles Davis, featuring tenor saxophonist Isaiah Collier and the DMV’s Nasar Abadey and SUPERNOVA.

With the full festival schedule to come later this spring, pianists Cohen and Janelle Gill, an alumna of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, will serve as this year’s artists-in-residence, set to lead performances and educational initiatives throughout 2026.

Across year-round jazz performances and immersive programming, additional DCJF core programs include: a free, year-round education initiative serving D.C. public and charter school students, particularly in underserved communities; the Charles Fishman Embassy Series, showcasing emerging and established global artists; and DCJazzPrix, an international jazz band competition.

Tickets are on sale now at dcjazzfest. org. WI

5 Fletcher-Johnson alumnus Ebbon Allen counts among those who anticipate long-term economic benefits to developing the Fletcher-Johnnson site, located near KIPP DC Benning Campus and south of Benning Road Metro Station. (WI File

Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

TILGHMAN from Page 24

ical. A chaotic or unsafe environment can be more than stressful — it can be destabilizing. But again, this is not only about children with autism. It is about all children.

Every student deserves to move through their community without fear.

Today, Prince George’s County Public Schools has formally incorporated Safe Passage Coordinators within its Safety and Security Services framework. According to the district, these coordinators monitor designated routes before and after school, build trusted relationships with students, identify safety concerns in surrounding neighborhoods, de-escalate conflicts, and serve as bridges

between schools and the community.

That progression matters.

It means Safe Passage evolved from a community-driven idea into part of the district’s structured safety approach.

It reinforces the understanding that student achievement cannot be separated from student security.

But institutional recognition must now be matched with sustained commitment.

Safe Passage should include:

• Dedicated funding

• Data-driven placement in highneed areas

• Strong coordination with traffic safety and infrastructure planning

• Ongoing partnership between families, volunteers, and district officials

When I let go of my daughter’s hand at the school entrance, I am trusting that the adults and systems around her are working together to protect her — and every other child walking through those doors.

This is not about politics. It is not about credit. It is about responsibility.

Safe Passage began with a mission: ensure that every child in Prince George’s County has a safe path to opportunity.

As a father — and as a member of this community — I believe that mission must remain permanent.

Because every child deserves a safe walk to school.

And every parent deserves peace of mind when they watch their child come home. WI

any single election cycle.

We know, better than most jurisdictions, that elections have consequences — not only in policy direction, but in how much authority this city is able to maintain over its own decisions.

As someone who grew up here, I do not want a city that avoids ambition. I want a city that pursues it responsibly. I want reforms that can stand up under scrutiny and endure beyond a single news cycle. I want a generation of Washingtonians who understand what makes D.C. different, who recognize both our vulnerabilities and our strengths, and who govern with that awareness.

from Page 24

DEL'ROSARIO from Page 24 nation.

With memorial events scheduled to honor the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson, several states have lowered or will lower their flags to half-staff in honor of the deceased civil rights icon. His death closes another chapter in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Stanley Levison, Clarence Jones, Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Bernard Lafayette, James Lawson and Jesse Jackson made up Dr. Martin Luther King's inner circle of close and trusted advisers. Dr. King's team was strategic, organized, and most were ordained ministers. As a result of Dr. King's sudden death, there was no passing of the baton; rather, it created a "next man up" scenario. Some would say Jackson positioned himself as King's successor, thereby becoming the "next man up." He went on to launch Operation PUSH (People United to Save/Serve Humanity) in 1971, which was directly rooted in and considered a continuation of Dr. King's econom-

We should want more for D.C., and that means expecting more from our elected officials. But that also means that we should be honest about the potential consequences of how we pursue it.

We must remember that we are custodians of a fragile inheritance — an inheritance secured by generations of Washingtonians who demanded the right to govern themselves in a place that denied them full standing. And that self-governance has always required vigilance.

The burden of higher office in this city is not simply to speak boldly, but to act wisely. The question is not whether one can be defiant. The question is whether one can move justice forward

ic work, and the National Rainbow Coalition years later. The two groups merged in 1996. There will never be another Martin Luther King or Jesse Jackson. As thousands gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Jackson, it's a perfect opportunity to remember the messages from King's inner circle as we face this new era of racism and authoritarianism.

As a member of King's inner circle, the Rev. James Lawson helped organize Black sanitation workers who went on strike in Memphis. During the marches in 1968, many workers wore signs that read "I AM A Man." This showed they were fighting for equity, human dignity, and respect. It was a slogan that directly addressed the systemic racism that denied Black men basic respect. This slogan applies to every Black person today, male or female. When President Trump recently shared a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, it was a stark reminder of Daddy King's teaching — that we should never allow anyone, or anything, make us feel inferior or accept

without surrendering dignity, without bending the knee, and without inviting retaliation that narrows the very autonomy we seek to protect.

When we vote, we are choosing what kind of D.C. we want.

A D.C. that governs itself.

Or a D.C. that waits to be governed by others.

We the people of Washington, D.C., hold this responsibility. The stewardship and protection of our self-government rests in our ballot boxes.

When we vote, we must do so with a clear understanding of everything there is to gain, and an equally clear understanding of what we stand to lose.

second-class status.

The slogan "I AM A Man" is a reminder to every generation that the fight for human dignity continues in 2026. Jesse Jackson, also a member of King's inner circle, often encouraged people by saying, "I am somebody." This short but powerful self-encouraging message built resilience and selfworth in those whom society deemed unworthy due to their background and station in life. Jesse also reminded us to "keep hope alive." This message needs to be embraced today as a means of intergenerational unity, as we witness firsthand the Black progress achieved through the struggles of those before us being systematically taken away. We are no longer in the 1950s and '60s, but in 2026, we find ourselves in the same basic fight for justice, human dignity, and respect. Younger generations must fight for their futures as men and women of color. They cannot afford to be distracted by the digital age they live in. Therefore, in this new era of authoritarianism, each one of us needs to be "next man up" and keep hope alive. WI

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GREENSPAN from Page 25

case was opened. The therapist quickly connected the student's older sibling to our school-based therapist in their school. The therapist worked closely with the student's mother to build trust and personally introduce her to our internal domestic violence advocate, case manager, and her own individual therapist. She also connected the mother to our home visiting program to support her youngest child, as well as perinatal, medical, and dental services, as the children were all overdue for their appointments. As this family was new to the United States and required considerable support accessing and navigating systems in the U.S., a group of seven Mary's Center providers often worked closely together to coordinate and liaise services. A year after starting services, mother and children were living in a

JEALOUS from Page 25 childhood. My father sat with their pain without denying the systems that shaped them.

My mother was a bridge of a different kind — Black, Southern and fearless. Born into a family with generations active in the NAACP, she joined a lawsuit at 12 to integrate her local all-white girls' high school. She spent summers helping desegregate churches in Petersburg, Virginia. Later, she co-authored "Combined Destinies," exploring how racism against Black people has also wounded white people in their own lived lives.

She taught me that racism distorts everyone it touches — though not equally.

from Page 25

is needed just to squeak out a victory. And this movement among Black men did not occur in a vacuum. Black men are part of the dissatisfied working class who feel their economic grievances go unaddressed by the Democratic Party. Woodfin's approach cuts through that dissatisfaction. Programs like Birmingham Promise and the Black Male Initiative send a clear message that the government can still work for people who punch clocks, raise families, and live paycheck to paycheck. Mayor Woodfin understands that when a young Black man sees tuition covered, job training paid for, or a direct pipeline into a career that supports a family, politics stops being abstract. It becomes personal, and with that comes more motivation to show up for the party that is showing up fighting for them. This is exactly where Democrats

safe home; all children had the services they needed in school and were making great strides academically and socially, and the mother had a more solid support network.

Transitioning the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health School-Based Behavioral Health program away from CBOs would be a massive undertaking that is bound to be incredibly disruptive as current clinicians are pulled out of schools. The proposed plan will reduce the number of CBO contracts from 12 to a maximum of four in school year 2026-27, before removing all CBO positions in school year 2027-28. This would reduce Mary's Center's capacity to a quarter of what it was in school year 2024-25, when we served 662 students. Instead, we will only be able to serve an estimated 171 students. It is unclear how services for the remaining three-quarters of students will be transi-

So when my white dad says we should use the phrase "white advantage" instead of "white privilege," I listen.

Because he has seen what words can do in a room.

Say "white privilege," and too often you trigger a litany: "My grandfather worked in a mill." "My mother cleaned houses." "We were poor." In a nation built literally by the underdogs of multiple nations — and by the underdogs within our own — people hear that word and feel their family's suffering erased.

That's not usually what people mean when they say it. But it is often what many hear.

"White advantage," by contrast, is

should be leaning nationally. Working-class Black men do not want another commission about our struggles or vague promises of future opportunity. Black men want apprenticeships tied to real jobs. Black men want tuition-free access to credentials that lead to wages, not debt. Black men want direct investment in the places they already live, learn, and work. Black men want the politicians we vote for to understand the distinct labor market penalties, higher unemployment volatility, and fewer second chances confronting Black men every day. Black men want elected officials with the courage to do what Mayor Woodfin has done and say plainly that ignoring the realities of Black men does not create fairness but instead entrenches inequality.

Mayor Woodfin's policies work because they are simple, transparent, outcome-driven, and address directly what Black men need to see from

tioned to other providers, if at all. Not only that, but this would also be a loss of years of work that we have done to build relationships, infrastructure, and resources alongside our school partners. We urge DBH to reconsider their plan. They do not need to end existing successful school-CBO partnerships that have proved to be working very well. The children and families served will feel the direct impact of that decision. Instead, we propose that all stakeholders, including administrators, students, parents, and school leaders, should come to the table together to make data-informed adjustments to our existing system. School-based mental health works best when it is rooted in trust, continuity, and collaboration. Community-based organizations are not a barrier to that vision — we are a cornerstone of it.

harder to argue with. It does not deny hardship. It does not pretend white communities have been spared deindustrialization, opioid addiction or rising suicide rates. It simply names a measurable tilt in the system.

Researchers have shown that identical résumés get different responses depending on the name at the top. That white applicants with criminal records can receive more callbacks than Black applicants with clean ones. That even when family income is similar, outcomes diverge.

That's not about whether your life was easy. It's about how the system sorts us.

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Democrats.

When Democrats invest in working-class Black men, they are not "taking a risk." The real risk is leaving behind the thousands of disengaged Black men in key battleground states who would vote Democrat — because we fear that speaking to Black men directly will alienate some white rural and suburban voters who left the party decades ago and aren't returning anytime soon. If a program like the Black Male Initiative bothers them, they aren't voting Democrat. End of story.

The Black male voters Democrats need in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan aren't asking for much. They're asking for what Woodfin already gave Birmingham. The party that figures that out first wins. The one that doesn't will spend another election night looking for answers that were never that hard to find.

HARRIS/MCDANIEL

This Week's Edition : 3-5-26

With Beleaguered Ward 8

Hospital in the Backdrop, Community Members Organize for Solutions, Alternatives

DC Water Updates Community in Forum Regarding

Potomac Interceptor Collapse Residents, Advocates Demand Further Transparency and Accountability

Federal Officer Transparency, the Decoupling Impasse, and a Foreign Policy Matter

U.S. Casualties Mount as D.C. Tightens Security Following Iran Strikes

wi hot topics

Commanders to Pay $1 Million to D.C. Over Consumer Protection Violations

DC Jazz Fest Sets the Stage with

Langston Hughes II Joins FAME as Artistic Director

Schwalb Targets Alleged Slumlord Network in First-of-Its-Kind Racketeering Lawsuit

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

AROUND THE REGION

AROUND THE REGION

black

AROUND THE REGION view P INT

AROUND THE REGION

While Federal Officers Continue to Shoot and Kill, the D.C. Council Approves Two Transparency Bills

Leaders Criticize Trump Launching War, Looming Danger for U.S. Soldiers

AROUND THE REGION

CAPTURE THE MOMENt

Who’s Reading the Informer

Urging Congressional Action

AROUND THE REGION

and Open to the Public

SPELLING 2026 BEE

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Maryland Political Updates

Hakeem Jeffries Talks

Sponsors

Governor’s Housing Agenda Moves Forward

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Key Dates

The $50,000 Barrier Facing D.C. Car Buyers

Live Boldly –March 2026 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

DACL Celebrates the 3rd Annual Red, White, and You

Resources for Buying a Home in D.C.

Family Without Borders: Pew Survey Maps the Depth of Black America’s Kinship Ties

HEALTH

Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage Attempts to Clear the Air

INTERNATIONAL

The Great American Departure Gains Speed

Seeing and Hearing for Success: Why Screenings Matter for Our Children

Using early preventive care

When vision or hearing problems look like behavior issues

Advice for parents and caregivers

When the Seasons Impact More Than the Weather

#BestMe

EARTH OUR

Four Phases for Rehabilitation

EDUCATION

Amid Fletcher-Johnson Redevelopment, Community Members Remember the Good Times

Alumnus Ebbon Allen Keeps Eye on Development Timeline

Democracy is on the Ballot—Again

When Black People Vote, we Honor the Sacrifices, Struggles, Commitment of our Ancestors

TO THE EDITOR

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Every Child’s Walk: Why Safe Passage Is Personal — and Why It’s About All of Our Children

What We Protect When We Vote

Guest Columnist

D.C.'s School Mental Health System Works — Don't Dismantle It

As We Prepare to Lay Rev. Jackson to Rest, I'm Thinking About Words That Build Coalitions

Guest Columnists

The Democratic Mayor Who's Getting Black Men Right

LIFESTYLE Things To Do, DMV!

LIFESTYLE

DMV Native Myles Frost Stars in ‘Chez Joey’ at Arena Stage After Snagging a Tony Award for Portrayal of Michael Jackson, Frost Returns Home

Creating a Character

Reflecting on the Journey, More to Come

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS. PERSONAL SERVICE.

Personal Banking

review wi book

Books for Women's History Month by Various Authors

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

MAR.

SPORTS

Titles, Blood and Breakthroughs at CareFirst Arena