This Week's Edition : 5-14-26

Open Meetings, Youth Affairs, and One Last Round of Assistance for Displaced Condo Owners

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Writer

During its May 5 legislative meeting, the D.C. Council deliberated on several issues, including permanent youth curfew legislation, support for former Talbert Street SE condominium owners, and certified business enterprise compliance and enforcement.

The legislative body also approved, on its final reading, the Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026. This bill continues a practice in which the council and the mayor can conduct closed meetings

By Micha Green and Jada Ingleton WI Managing Editor and WI Content Editor

When President Bill Clinton issued a call for a vaccine against HIV on May 18, 1997 at Morgan State University, health advocates leapt into action, and a year later kicked off an annual commemoration working toward that goal.

However, with the Trump administration’s

2027 budget prioritizing defense spending on things such as border security and law enforcement, health advocates are speaking out against the decision to dramatically reduce or altogether cut funding for necessary research that could save lives.

For many health advocacy organizations, such as AIDS United, the move sends a clear message.

“The health and well-being of Americans

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Staff Writer

Despite D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (USPFF) increase, public charter school leaders are decrying the outside dollars that D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) receives for utilities and facilities maintenance.

Patricia Brantley counts among those who say that, without a similar type of assistance for public charter schools, students in that sector will suffer under the weight of steadily increasing expenses.

“One of the hopes that I have is that the city has thought about a way, where if D.C. Public Schools’ [DCPS] fixed costs are transferred to another agency, something like that could also be done for charters,”

FUNDING Page 11

Maryland Leaders Celebrate Installation of Final Piece of Rail for Purple Line

By Micha Green and Richard Elliott WI Managing Editor and WI Contributing Writer

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and other federal, state, and local officials gathered at the future 16th Street – Woodside Station in Silver Spring for the installation of the final piece of rail connecting Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties on May 7. Moore, who is running RAIL Page 13

3 State, federal and county leaders, including Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, gather to connect the last rail of the Purple Line at 16 Street-Woodside Station in Silver Spring on Thursday, May 7. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 Members of Black Swan Academy (BSA), who stood outside the John A. Wilson Building alongside clergy and other activists before the D.C. Council’s May 5 legislative meeting, are organizing for extended recreation hours, enrichment programming, and the creation of a youth governing council. (Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr./Washington Informer)

5 Participants walk and advocate for a fight to end HIV in the Whitman-Walker 5K in October 2022. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

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PUBLISHER

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STAFF

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REPORTERS

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wi hot topics

Historic Padres Deal Places Kwanza Jones on Brink of Breaking Major League Baseball Barrier

If approved by Major League Baseball (MLB) owners, Kwanza Jones could become the first Black woman in MLB history to hold controlling ownership in a franchise as part of the investor group purchasing the San Diego Padres alongside José E. Feliciano, her husband and business partner.

The distinction matters because MLB ownership structures are often divided among multiple investors, and reports indicate the Jones-Feliciano group would control the franchise even if no single individual owns more than 50% of the

team outright.

The Padres announced that the Seidler family agreed to transfer control of the franchise to the Jones-Feliciano investor group following the 2023 death of longtime owner Peter Seidler. The proposed sale, reportedly valued at approximately $3.9 billion, would become the most expensive sale in Major League Baseball history if approved by league owners.

Under MLB rules, one person is typically designated as the franchise’s “control person,” meaning the individual approved by league owners to oversee the club’s operations and represent ownership before Major League Baseball. Multiple reports state Feliciano is expected to serve in that role if owners approve the deal. Jones, however, would still become part of the controlling ownership group in what would mark a historic breakthrough for Black women in professional baseball ownership. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Pope Names Local Priests New Auxiliary Bishops of Washington

In a season of greetings and new beginnings, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is seeing a major shift in leadership with the appointment of two new Auxiliary Bishops: Father Gary Studniewski, who currently serves as pastor of Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and Father Robert Boxie III, Howard University’s Catholic Chaplain. Officially named by Pope Leo XIV, the D.C.-based faith leaders each bring decades of ministry work as they prepare to serve the Catholic Church in Maryland and Washington, joining Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito and Cardinal Robert McElroy, who led the May 1 introduc-

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that the Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Sunday, May 10.

This marks the fifth time in franchise history that Washington will select first overall and first since 2010, when the team selected John Wall. What made this moment even more special for the franchise was the fact that Wall represented the Wizards on stage at this year’s Draft Lottery in Chicago.

“Today is another encouraging day for Wizards fans and our entire organization," said Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger. "To choose first among this inspiring group of athletes is a welcomed opportunity, and challenge, for our group. We look forward to adding another high-performing young player to our ascending team.”

Washington earned the lottery with a 14.0% chance of landing the top selection and moved into the No. 1 spot once the draft order was revealed.

This selection gives the Wizards a franchise-chang-

tion of the two bishop-elects.

“It's a great day of joy for the Archdiocese of Washington, and it's a sign of the Holy Father's continuing provision and care for and love for pastoral care for this archdiocese,” McElroy said in his opening remarks of the press conference. “This provision of new bishops to serve as collaborators with me, and servants of the people of God, that care really came through. While we have Bishop [Evelio Menjivar] leaving us and Bishop [Roy E. Campbell, Jr.] retiring, the Pope has given us two wonderful, wonderful leaders for our local church.” WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

ing opportunity to add another elite young talent to their developing roster. Having a pick like this could accelerate the team’s rebuild alongside veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis, making the chances greater of a bright future for the franchise.

“You gotta give a lot of credit to the front office and what they’ve been doing,” said Wizards legend Wall. “They did a great job by getting Trae Young and [Anthony Davis] during the trade deadline. And the young guys are doing a great job of developing and getting better for themselves.”

The 2026 draft class is headlined by an elite group of prospects, including AJ Dybansta (BYU), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Caleb Wilson (UNC Chapel Hill), and Darryn Peterson (Kansas), who are believed to be the next generation of NBA stars.

Most draft analysts have already projected AJ Dybansta, the standout freshman wing from Brigham Young University (BYU), as the leading candidate to be selected by Washington as the No. 1 pick. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Kwanza Jones could become the first Black woman in MLB history to hold controlling ownership in a franchise. (Courtesy Photo)

AROUND THE REGION

black facts

May 14

MAY 14 - 20, 2026

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

May 15

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

May 16

1927 – William Harry Barnes becomes the first African American board-certified medical specialist. 1929 – Longtime Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) is born in Highland Park, Michigan.

1966 – Famed singer and actress Janet Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana.

1979 – A. Philip Randolph, a leader in the civil rights movement, the American labor movement, and socialist political parties, dies in New York City at 90.

1990 – Iconic entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. dies in Beverly Hills, California, of throat cancer at 64.

May 17

1875 – African American jockey Oliver Lewis wins the first Kentucky Derby.

1954 – In the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that public school segregation is illegal.

1956 – Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard is born in Wilmington, North Carolina.

May 18

May 19

1925 – Black revolutionary Malcolm X is born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska.

1930 – Lorraine Hansberry, famed African American playwright best known for "A Raisin in the Sun," is born in Chicago.

1952 – Eccentric model and singer Grace Jones is born in Spanish Town, Jamaica.

May 20

1743 – Touissant L'Ouverture, the father Haitian independence, is born. WI

1896 – The United States Supreme Court issues its infamous ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision declared the doctrine of "separate but equal" was constitutional. By doing so it, in effect, approved all Jim Crow or segregationist laws designed to degrade Blacks or keep them separate from whites. The ruling would stand until the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954.

Freedom Riders

Grace Jones (left)

Sammy Davis Jr (center) Lorraine Hansberry (right)

AROUND THE REGION

view P INT

BY KEITH GOLDEN JR.

How

have higher gas prices impacted your daily habits?

JAMAR DAY / BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

“As a Maryland driver, it’s become critical to pre-plan trips, such as my weekly work commute, leisure activities, and fill up’s to make sure I’m maximizing mileage and money.”

JAKE BURDETT / COLUMBIA, MD

“The price to fill up my tank has gone up from around $40 to $60. This is pretty significant for someone who does not have a particularly high income, especially if we have to travel for work. I’ve had to really cut down on car travel aside from trips that are absolutely necessary in order to try to stay within my budget.”

JAMAR AND MARCUS MACK/ MITCHELLVILLE, MARYLAND

“I have to stop to get gas more often, because gallons run out fast.”

KATHLEEN TAYLOR / NORTHWEST, D.C

“My monthly budget is the most impacted. I have to allocate more funds to my gas instead of spending time with friends and family. On top of high food prices, I think I need to start taking the bus to work.”

RALPH CYRUS / OXON HILL, MARYLAND

“Gas prices rising so quickly makes it hard to even plan around the cost. Sticking to a consistent budget from week to week feels impossible, when there is a $5 to $10 creep each time at the pump.”

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

AROUND THE REGION

Record Auto Debt Crushes Drivers Across D.C.,

Maryland and Virginia as Payments Soar

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Drivers across the District, Maryland, and Northern Virginia are taking on record levels of car debt as vehicle prices, interest rates, insurance costs, and gas prices continue squeezing household budgets, according to a new report released Wednesday by The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers.

The report found that Americans now owe $1.68 trillion in auto loan debt, the highest amount ever recorded, with 86 million people carrying vehicle loans nationwide. Researchers found the average new auto loan reached $33,519 in 2025, about $10,000 higher than in 2018, while average monthly payments climbed to $680, a 38 percent increase over the same period.

In the District, 93,445 residents now

carry auto loan debt, according to the report. The average new loan balance in Washington reached $28,225, while the average annual percentage rate on new loans climbed to 12%.

Maryland reported more than 1.59 million residents with auto debt and average new loan balances of $33,982. Virginia reported more than 2.2 million borrowers carrying auto debt, with average new loan balances reaching $31,907.

“For the overwhelming majority of working families, a car is a necessity— yet purchasing a car has become a financial trap, eating up more of people’s paychecks than ever before,” Angela Hanks, chief of policy programs at The Century Foundation and co-author of the report, stated in the release. “As auto prices and interest rates have soared, millions of families have been forced to turn to costly, extended-term loans in order to keep up with their monthly payments. And while families drown, the Trump administration is refunding big businesses for the tariffs that consumers paid, with interest.”

The report blamed rising vehicle costs and historically high interest rates for much of the financial pressure, noting that tariffs helped push the average cost of a new vehicle to nearly $50,000 nationwide. Researchers found that more consumers are turning to seven-year auto loans simply to reduce monthly payments, even though the longer loans leave borrowers paying thousands more over time.

According to the study, the share of seven-year or longer auto loans has doubled since 2018 and now accounts for nearly 13 million borrowers nationwide. Researchers found those

loans add an average of $5,868 in additional interest compared with a traditional four-year loan.

The study also found that borrowers with extended loan terms are falling deeper into other forms of debt. Middle-income borrowers carrying auto loans saw credit card balances grow 31%, compared with 17% among people without auto debt. Borrowers with seven-year loans were spending roughly 20% of their monthly income on car payments, often relying on credit cards to cover groceries and other necessities.

Researchers found that borrowers with the lowest credit scores paid average annual percentage rates of 18.7%, roughly three times higher than borrowers with top-tier credit scores paying 6.3%. The report also stated that Black, Hispanic, and American Indian borrowers were charged higher interest rates across all credit levels.

“The costs of purchasing and financing a car have been going up for years,” Tara Mikkilineni, senior fellow at Protect Borrowers and co-author of the report, stated in the release. “Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s reckless actions on the economy and the expensive fallout from the war in Iran has made it harder for working families to purchase a car and has left millions more feeling major pocket pain at the pump. For millions of working families, a car is not a luxury, it is an essential economic lifeline. Working families deserve relief and they deserve to have a government that is watching out for them, not allowing lenders and auto dealers to rake in record profits at their expense.”

WI

5 A new report from The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers reveals Americans now owe $1.68 million in auto loan debt, the highest amount ever recorded. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

D.C. Wins $279K Settlement Against Jan-Pro Over Misclassified Janitors, Illegal Fees

by Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has secured a $279,000 settlement with Jan-Pro Franchising International Inc. and its regional operator, Nabicorp Enterprises Inc., resolving a lawsuit that alleged janitorial workers were misclassified and denied workplace protections required under District law.

Schwalb’s office filed the case in 2022, arguing that Jan-Pro’s multilevel franchising system required janitors to buy into “franchises” while controlling how they performed their work. Investigators said many of those workers operated alone, carrying out cleaning jobs themselves while being labeled independent contractors instead of employees, a designation that left them without minimum wage protections, overtime, and paid sick leave.

“Jan-Pro of Washington promised workers the opportunity to start their own businesses, when in reality, it treated them as strictly-controlled employees without any of the benefits or protections of employment,” Schwalb said. “This settlement requires the company to change the way it does business in D.C. and empowers workers to control their work. It also sends a strong message that companies cannot exploit workers to boost profits and illegally undercut their competitors in any form, including through deceptive franchising schemes.”

Under the agreement, the companies will pay $54,800 in restitution to dozens of janitors who held cleaning contracts in the District from July 2019 through the present, along with more than $224,000 in penalties and administrative costs paid to the District. The settlement details how those funds will be distributed to eligible workers based on participation and length of service.

The lawsuit alleged that JanPro of Washington imposed fees that forced workers to cover costs such as workers’ compensation

5

Franchising International Inc. and its regional operator, Nabicorp Enterprises Inc.

responsible for paying $279,000 to the District, resolving a lawsuit that alleged janitorial workers were misclassified and denied required workplace protections. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)

insurance and made deductions from their earnings that violated District law. Officials also said the company maintained control over assignments, inspections, and customer relationships while continuing to classify workers as independent contractors.

As part of the settlement, the companies must change how they operate in the District. Janitors will now be allowed to negotiate key terms of their work directly with customers, including hours, start and end times, and pricing.

The agreement also limits when the company can inspect job sites, prevents most fees when workers decline contracts, and allows workers to choose where they purchase equipment and supplies.

The agreement also eliminates restrictions that kept workers from pursuing jobs outside the Jan-Pro system. Noncompete provisions that previously barred janitors from taking on independent cleaning work have been removed, allowing them to seek additional income and build their own client base.

“Stop messing with workers otherwise [Schwalb’s] gonna come for you,” Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2a Chairperson

Trupti Patel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Court filings show the defendants denied wrongdoing and maintained that franchise owners operated independent businesses but agreed to resolve the case to avoid continued litigation.

Schwalb’s office noted that the case adds to enforcement efforts by the Attorney General’s Workers’ Rights and Antifraud Section, which targets wage theft and misclassification across industries where workers often face exploitation. A Labor Day report from the office shows enforcement actions secured more than $5.8 million for workers and the District in the past year, with misclassification identified as a recurring issue.

Worker misclassification allows companies to shift costs onto workers, avoid payroll taxes, and sidestep obligations such as unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation contributions, while also putting law-abiding businesses at a disadvantage.

“This settlement requires the company to change the way it does business in D.C. and empowers workers to control their work,” Schwalb said.

WI

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb says Jan-Pro

is

AROUND THE REGION

CAPTURE THE MOMENt

Bowie State University students Simone Banks and Naveah Williams read The Washington Informer. (Demarco Rush/ The Washington Informer)

— Chadwick Boseman "In

Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes with team members Ra-Jah Kelly, Demarco Rush and Ja’Mon Jackson at the 2026 MDDC Press Association Annual Conference and Awards on May 8 in Annapolis, Maryland. The Washington Informer received about 20 awards, including Online Blog Commentary, Community Service Program, and Advertising Campaign. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

from Page 1

said Brantley, CEO of Friendship Public Charter Schools.

During the latter part of March, Brantley and other members of Friendship Public Charter School community recognized Nijah Brown, a teacher at Friendship’s Blow Pierce Campus, as its 2026 Teacher of the Year. The banquet at the National Building Museum took place months after the District’s public charter ecosystem commemorated three decades of existence.

Brantley, who sits at the helm of one of the District’s largest and longest-running charter networks, told The Informer that Brown’s record speaks to the caliber of education that Friendship Public Charter School has been able to curate.

“That really was a moment saying that for 29 years, we've been doing this, and I think we're doing something right,” Brantley said as she recounted the night of March 28. “There’s always more to do, without a doubt, but one thing I said is when we get to the 30th year next year, we're not just celebrating longevity or age, we will be celebrating outcomes driven by teachers.”

However, for Brantley and several others, there remains the question whether public charter schools will be able to fund investments in teacher compensation while keeping up with fixed costs— such as utilities and facilities maintenance— that the District covers for DCPS.

Last year, the D.C. Council ap-

5 For the better part of a

met with the D.C.

proved a budget that allowed public charter schools to tap into the funds managed by the District Workforce Investment Council only for one fiscal year, and not throughout the duration of D.C.’s four-year financial plan. In Bowser’s FY2027 proposal, only DCPS has a total of $96 million outside of its budget for: IMPACT-related teacher bonuses; the program known as Early Stages that evaluates children for developmental delays before their enrollment in the system; and utilities and facility maintenance covered by D.C. Department of General Services (DGS).

Despite the mayor’s budget proposal allocating $1.45 billion to public charter schools -- an increase of $52.6 million from the 2026 fiscal year -- leaders are pointing out a funding gap of $2,000 per student between the public and public charter sectors.

In the mayor's operating budget, public charter schools receive $187 million for facilities, while DCPS receives $484 million. If approved in its current form, the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act would eliminate a mechanism that triggers an annual 3.1% increase in charter facilities allotment throughout the four-year-financial plan.

That’s why Brantley counts among those in the public charter sector calling the mayor’s proposed per-pupil funding increase insufficient in providing an equitable educational experience.

FUNDING Page 21

of the

Mayor for Education and testified before the council in support of equitable funding for public charter schools. He continues that push as the council examines a budget proposal where each of his students receives $1,850 less than their public school peers.

(Courtesy Photo)

AROUND THE REGION

decade, Raymond Weeden has

Office

Deputy

5 Scott Goldstein of EmpowerED says that the debate about school funding is more nuanced than what public charter school leaders make it. He’s pushing for the establishment of a targeted teacher retention fund for smaller, less endowed public charter schools (Courtesy Photo)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Maryland’s New Law Targets ‘Surveillance Pricing’ in Grocery Stores

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

5 Maryland is drawing a line on surveillance pricing, a practice where companies use a shopper’s digital footprint to decide what that person will pay for items on shelves at grocery stores. (WI File Photo)

The measure, signed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), takes effect Oct. 1 and targets what lawmakers call “surveillance pricing,”

Maryland is drawing a hard line on how far companies can go when using artificial intelligence (AI) to set prices, approving a firstof-its-kind law that blocks grocers from charging customers different prices based on personal data.

a practice where companies use a shopper’s digital footprint to decide what that person will pay for items on shelves. The law bars large

Convening for Results: How Collaboration Drives Sustainable Growth

Sustainable growth is not accidental, it is coordinated. In today’s environment, where capital is tighter and markets are shifting, success depends on the ability to bring the right people together around clear opportunities.

For business owners, collaboration is a competitive advantage. Strategic partnerships open doors to new markets, strengthen supply chains, and unlock procurement opportunities that are difficult to access alone. For business associations, convening must go beyond events and should create pathways where relationships convert into deals and measurable outcomes.

Institutions and funding partners play a critical role by aligning capital with scalable businesses. When done effectively, this drives both economic return and community impact.

But convening without structure leads to missed opportunities. Real collaboration requires clarity, alignment, and accountability.

The future belongs to connected ecosystems, not silos. Convening for results means turning conversations into action and action into sustainable growth.

Sincerely,

Alexander K. Austin President & CEO

Prince

George's Chamber of Commerce

To Become a member or for information visit:   www.pgcoc.org

grocery stores and delivery services from setting a personalized price tied to a consumer’s data, while still allowing standard discounts, taxes, and shipping adjustments.

“At a time when technology can predict what we need, when we need it, and even when we’ll pay more for it,” Moore said at the bill signing, “Maryland is pushing forward because we are going to protect our people,”

To understand what Maryland is trying to stop, it starts with how pricing has quietly changed. Dynamic pricing means the cost of a product or service can shift based on conditions like demand, inventory, or competition. Airlines, hotels, and rideshare apps have used it for years. A plane ticket jumps before a holiday. A ride costs more during rush hour. That same model is now moving into everyday retail, powered by artificial intelligence and real-time data.

But the concern now goes deeper than supply and demand. Retailers can pair pricing systems with data collected from apps, browsing history, location tracking, and past purchases. That opens the door for something different. Two people could stand in the same store and see different prices for the same item.

That is not theoretical. In one test cited in the reporting, the price of a dozen eggs varied from $3.99 to $4.79 depending on who was looking at the app, raising concerns that shoppers could end

up paying hundreds more each year without realizing it.

Maryland’s law goes directly at that scenario. It bans using personal data to raise prices on individuals, while allowing traditional pricing changes tied to broader market conditions. Violations can lead to enforcement action, and consumers retain the right to sue.

The move stands alone for now. In 49 other states, dynamic pricing remains legal and is already common in industries ranging from travel to entertainment and food delivery. Still, pressure is building. Lawmakers across the country have introduced dozens of bills focused on price transparency and limits on algorithm-driven pricing, with many requiring companies to disclose when prices are set by automated systems.

For consumers, the issue is simple. Most expect to pay the same price as the person next to them. What Maryland is saying is that expectation should not depend on how much data a company has collected on you.

“I don’t have control over the price of bread or eggs or milk,” Oklahoma Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson, who introduced a bill that would regulate how food retailers use algorithmic pricing and ban surveillance pricing, wrote on Governing.com. “But we do have some say on how corporations are going to operate in our state.” WI

for re-election, said the completion of the Purple Line fulfills a longtime commitment on a massive undertaking.

RAIL from Page 1 role in connecting communities and growing our state’s economy,” said Van Hollen. “That’s why Federal Team Maryland worked to secure over $2 billion in federal funding and federal loans over the years to support the construction of the Purple Line. This has been a decades-long effort, and today’s milestone marks a significant step towards connecting Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, expanding regional transit options, and getting Marylanders where they need to go safely.

“In Maryland, our people have one very simple question for all of their elected officials: Are you going to do what you say you’re going to do? People in Montgomery County have been asking that question about the Purple Line for over a decade, and today, we are delivering,” the governor said. “By completing over 16 miles of track from New Carrollton to Bethesda and putting more than 2,000 people to work, we are keeping our promise, strengthening Maryland’s economic competitiveness, and creating communities that thrive.”

For Joel Peebles Jr., when considering the Purple Line, one word comes to mind: accessibility.

“It gives us better opportunities to get more foot traffic through those areas, maybe even bring in some individuals to live in those areas, and then afterwards, it helps us to grow and expand and bring the needed infrastructure and the needed development to the community,” Peebles, a Democratic candidate for the District 6 seat on the Prince George’s County Council, told The Informer. “I believe this is the first step to a major change of community based development that we're going to see in Prince Georgia County, but that all starts with accessibility.”

Peebles, who is hoping to represent a part of Prince George’s County that includes Woodmore, Forestville, District Heights, Largo, Mitchelville, Kettering and unincorporated parts of Upper Marlboro, said that this new addition will be critical for many residents, particularly as people around the area and nation navigate challenges due to federal changes and the War in Iran.

“It's going to help people get to their jobs quicker, it's going to alleviate traffic and give people alternatives and cheaper methods, especially as we see gas continuously climbing day to day because of this Iran situation,” he continued. “It now gives people an affordable way to make it to work and now gives people who may have needed a position, but didn't have the accessibility to get to their job.”

Van Hollen said state and federal leaders understood the challenges Maryland residents faced without the reliable public transportation between the two counties and fought for a solution.

“Public transportation plays a key

‘Building for the Future’

The 16-mile corridor will connect Metrorail, MARC, Amtrak, and bus routes from Bethesda to New Carrollton, not only transforming public transportation, but also expanding economic opportunity in the region.

“Today marks a significant moment for Maryland — connecting Montgomery County and Prince George’s County for the first time — with the Purple Line,” U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) said in a statement. “This is a moment worth celebrating: connecting more Marylanders to education, health care, jobs, recreation, and most importantly, to each other. Team Maryland will continue working to upgrade our infrastructure, so our communities can modernize and thrive.”

Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said the completion of the Purple Line goes beyond transportation, but is a further step toward equity for all Maryland residents.

“As an engineer, I know infrastructure shapes how people live, work, and connect — and this project reflects our administration’s commitment to delivering a more connected, equitable, and

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

economically competitive Maryland,” Miller explained She said the new rail is “proof that Maryland is building for the future.”

“The Purple Line,” Miller said, “will connect communities, expand access to jobs and opportunity, and strengthen our state’s transportation network for generations to come.”

While he sees the Purple Line as a moment to celebrate, Peebles said he also hopes for even more advancements toward accessibility throughout Prince George’s.

“I would love to see the feasibility of continuing to stretch many of our Metro lines deeper into Prince George's County… Then also see what the quality of the transportation is. How can we improve bus fare? How

can we improve bus routes?” he said. “It all goes back to accessibility for me. I want to make sure that the county is accessible at all times [and] that people can get anywhere in the county as easily and as affordable as possible to experience everything that Prince George's County holds.”

As he vies for a seat on the council to reach his goals, Peebles remains optimistic about how the Purple Line will boost Prince George’s overall.

“I think,” Peebles told The Informer, “[when] you invest in infrastructure and you invest in development and quality of life, you will see crime go down, you will see the quality of life continuously rise, and you will see a better Prince George's day by day.”

WI

5 Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

DC Chamber of Commerce Hosts Small Business Summit and Showcase

Photos by Robert R. Roberts

The DC Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Small Business Summit and Showcase at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on May 11, furthering its nearly nine-decade mission of uplifting and advancing opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

The daylong event brought together corporate sponsors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders for workshops, networking sessions, and panel discussions focused on the challenges facing small businesses in the District. NBC Washington anchor Jummy Olabanji served as the mistress of ceremonies, as attendees discussed several topics, such as: access to capital, digital transformation, government contracting, and economic inclusion.

In addition to offering resources and information, the free and annual summit also included an exhibitor showcase and a luncheon honoring local business leaders as part of the chamber’s Small Business Awards. WI

5 District Mayor Muriel Bowser chats with summit participants.

5 NBC Washington anchor Jummy Olabnaji.

5 Craig Dean, director of development and engagement for the DC Chamber of Commerce.

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning: A Strategy for Dignity, Not Just Crisis

By Aimee D. Griffin, Esq

May is Elder Law month. There is a quiet crisis happening in our community—one that does not always make headlines but impacts families every single day. It shows up when a loved one receives a diagnosis, when memory begins to fade, or when caregiving responsibilities shift overnight. It is the moment when families realize that long-term care is not only emotionally overwhelming—it is financially devastating.

This is where Elder Law and Medicaid Planning come into focus. And let me be clear: this is not just about legal documents. This is about dignity. This is about control. This is about ensuring that the people who built our families and our communities are protected—not just in theory, but in practice.

Too often, we associate estate planning with what happens after death. But Elder Law is about what happens during life—particularly during seasons of vulnerability. It is the legal and strategic framework that helps families navigate aging, long-term care, and decision-making when capacity changes.

And here is the reality: long-term care is expensive. Whether care is provided in the home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home, the cost can quickly erode everything a family has built. For many, Medicaid becomes the only viable option to cover these costs. But Medicaid is not simply “available”—it must be planned for.

Without planning, families often find themselves forced to spend down assets, liquidate property, or make decisions under pressure that have long-term consequences. I have seen families lose homes that were meant to be passed down. I have seen caregivers burn out because there was no structure in place to support them. I have seen wealth—hardearned, often against the odds—disappear in a matter of months.

But it does not have to happen this way.

Medicaid Planning, when done properly and proactively, creates options. It allows families to protect certain assets, structure ownership in a way that aligns with eligibility rules, and put legal authority in place before a crisis occurs. Tools such as irrevocable trusts, strategic gifting (within the rules), and properly drafted powers of attorney can make the difference between preservation and loss.

Timing matters. Medicaid has a five-year lookback period. That means the decisions you make today impact your eligibility tomorrow. Planning early is not about avoiding responsibility—it is about being responsible. It is about understanding the rules and using them to protect your family.

This is particularly important in the Black community, where the racial wealth gap is not an abstract concept—it is a lived reality. For many families, a home is the primary asset. It represents not just financial value, but history, stability, and opportunity for future generations. Without proper planning, that asset is at risk.

Elder Law planning allows us to reframe the conversation. Instead of reacting to crisis, we prepare with intention. Instead of losing assets, we position them. Instead of confusion, we create clarity.

And this is not just for the wealthy. In fact, it is most critical for those who cannot afford to lose what they have built.

We must also acknowledge the role of caregivers—often daughters, nieces, and spouses—who step into responsibility without a roadmap. Elder Law planning provides that roadmap. It establishes who can make decisions, how finances are managed, and what happens when care needs increase. It reduces conflict and creates a structure for support.

At its core, this work is about love in action. It is about making decisions today that will protect your family tomorrow.

So I challenge you to think differently about Elder Law and Medicaid Planning. Do not wait for a diagnosis. Do not wait for a crisis. Do not wait until the options are limited.

Planning is power.

Planning is protection.

Planning is legacy.

And if we are serious about building multigenerational wealth in our community, then we must also be serious about preserving it—especially in the seasons of life when it is most vulnerable. Because how we care for our elders says everything about who we are—and who we are becoming.

www. washingtoninformer .com

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. Life and Legacy Counselors

1401 Mercantile Lane, Ste 211, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 440 Washington, DC 20015 1100 N. Glebe Road, Ste 1010, Arlington, VA 22201 www.yourestateplanningattorney.us  (855) 574-8481 connects all locations

5 Members of the D.C. Department of Small and Local Businesses Development: Melissa Resil, Director Rosemary Suggs-Evans, Dewarna Tillman, Robert Dorsey, Charlene Couis, Courtney Barbour and Jamie Boyd.

5 Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, moderates a fireside chat with Neil Bradley, executive vice president, chief policy officer, and head of strategic advocacy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

5 The Rev. Thomas Bowen, general secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention and founder of Engage Faith, delivers the invocation.

5 Virginia Ali, co-founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl.

NATIONAL

Built in Segregation, Targeted Again: America’s Battle Over Black Education and Black Political Power

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A country that once made it illegal to teach enslaved Black people to read is now arguing over whether African American history belongs in classrooms.

A Supreme Court that already weakened the Voting Rights Act has

now delivered what civil rights groups describe as one of the most devastating blows to Black political representation in generations— triggering fresh battles over congressional maps, voting districts, and the future of Black political power across the South.

However, inside church archives, segregated classrooms, historically Black college and university (HBCU) lecture halls, and fading family memories, another America survives. One built by Black nuns, Black teachers, Black colleges, and Black parents who understood long ago that education was never simply about opportunity.

It was protection. It was resistance. And eventually, it became political power.

“They are trying to erase the infrastructure that produced Black advancement,” said historian Dr. Elaine Porter, 84, a retired scholar of Black Catholic education in Northeast, D.C.

She explained the domino effect that comes with education.

“People keep talking about voting rights without understanding the educational roots underneath political power,” Porter stated. “Educated Black communities became organized Black communities. Organized Black communities became voting blocs. That terrified segregationists then, and it terrifies people now.”

‘They Understood Education Differently… It Was Sacred’

The roots of that story stretch back nearly 200 years.

In 1829, Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange and several other women of African descent established the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first successful order of Black Catholic nuns in the United States. The sisters founded schools for Black children at a time when white institutions routinely excluded Black students and denied Black women entry into white reli-

3 The recent Supreme Court decision about gerrymandering in Louisiana, which threatens the Voting Rights Act, is igniting fresh battles over congressional maps, voting districts, and the future of Black political power across the South. (WI

File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

gious orders.

Historical records show the Oblate Sisters operated educational missions throughout Baltimore and Washington while helping establish pathways for Black Catholic education during segregation. Anne Marie Becraft, one of the earliest Black educators in Washington, operated a school for Black girls in Georgetown before joining the order in 1831.

“They were teaching Black children while America was still debating whether Black people were fully human,” Porter said. “That is not ancient history. That is the foundation of modern Black political consciousness.”

The conversation that sparked this reporting moved between segregated Catholic schools, HBCUs, affirmative action, voting rights, and the growing fear among many Black Americans that the country is systematically dismantling the gains won during the civil rights era.

“They think these schools are inferior,” one source, with strong political ties, said during the discussion. “My question is, how did they get to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and all those places in the old days?”

From Spelman College to Virginia Union University, from Black Catholic schools in Baltimore and Washington to rural segregated classrooms built during Reconstruction, African American educational institutions became engines of survival in a country built around Black exclusion.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture documents how formerly enslaved Black Americans pursued education immediately after emancipation, often building schools themselves despite violent opposition from white suprem-

acists. During Reconstruction, Black churches became educational centers throughout the South. The National Park Service has documented how African Americans built schools such as the Tolson’s Chapel schools in Maryland because education represented freedom itself.

“They understood education differently because they had experienced life without it,” Porter said. “Black education was never treated casually in our communities. It was sacred.”

‘You Cannot Separate Literacy From Voting’

The history of those who started educational institutions and worked toward justice, now collides with a political moment civil rights advocates describe as openly hostile toward Black voting strength and Black institutional power.

The NAACP called the Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana voting rights ruling “the death knell” for the nation’s most important federal civil rights law, warning the decision threatens to erase decades of progress protecting Black voters from racial discrimination.

“The Supreme Court betrayed Black voters, they betrayed America, and they betrayed our democracy,” the NAACP said in a statement following the ruling.

The ruling weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a key legal tool used for decades to challenge racially discriminatory district maps. Civil rights organizations say the decision has already emboldened lawmakers in several Southern states to aggressively

redraw congressional districts in ways that dilute Black voting power.

In Tennessee, Republicans moved quickly to dismantle the state’s only majority-Black congressional district centered in Memphis. The NAACP Tennessee State Conference filed an emergency lawsuit accusing the state of attempting to eliminate Black political representation.

“Gerrymandering and attacks on Black education come from the same place,” said voting rights advocate Marcus Ellison, 58, of Atlanta. “You cannot separate literacy from voting. You cannot separate educational access from political participation. The strategy has always been the same. Reduce Black organization. Reduce Black representation. Reduce Black influence.”

Civil rights leaders say the attacks now extend far beyond congressional maps.

Since the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions in higher education, universities across the country have rolled back diversity initiatives while Black enrollment at several elite predominantly white institutions has declined sharply.

At the same time, applications to HBCUs have surged. Howard University reportedly received more than 36,000 applications for fall 2024, while national HBCU enrollment climbed significantly after the affirmative action ruling.

“HBCUs became sanctuaries again,” said Virginia Union political science graduate Dr. Harold Greene, 63. “Students understood exactly what they were seeing. They saw the country retreating.”

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New Initiative in Development to Support Widows in Pakistan

By Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

Through an upcoming collaborative initiative, the Global Fund for Widows (GFW) and Pakistan-based Kaarvan Crafts Foundation (KCF) will continue making strides toward promoting women’s rights.

Khudi, the new program that emerged from the partnership, seeks to provide widows and disenfranchised women with economic opportunity and stability.

“We’re starting by supporting 175 widows in Pakistan… and we’re very excited,” Elena Saenz Feehan, executive director at GFW, told The Informer. “It’s just a pilot, and we’re going to work to then grow it and reach out to all the widows who need our help in Pakistan.”

While Khudi doesn’t have an exact launch date yet, it will align with both organizations’ missions to spread gender equality and end poverty through supporting entrepreneurship. The name itself perfectly embodies GWF and KCF’s collaborative efforts to improve vulnerable women’s circumstances, as in Urdu, Khudi is a philosophical concept meaning selfhood and inner strength.

It will focus on microloans through GFW’s Widows Savings and Loans

Associations (WISALAs), which consist of “micro-banks” that are each owned by 25 widows who don’t need collateral or a male guarantor to join.

Since 2019, the WISALAs have multiplied widows’ income and savings in African nations such as Kenya, Egypt and Tanzania by 14. These banks have helped women take legal action to reclaim lost assets and secure homes and land for themselves and their children.

“With Khudi, we are reimagining financial inclusion for widows,” said Danish Khan, CEO of KCF, in a statement sent to The Informer. “WISALA places economic agency directly in their hands—enabling women to

move from survival to growth, from uncertainty to ownership.”

Two Organizations, One Shared Goal

For the last 22 years, KCF has opened more than 250 training centers to help women in need develop the life skills necessary to improve their financial situations.

The non-profit business educates women, connects them to relevant urban markets and works toward bridging the gap between rural and urban communities. It does so through many initiatives, some of which include: WIDOWS Page 36

5 Women in one of the Kaarvan Crafts Foundation’s programs, which teaches skills needed to grow in the clothesmaking market. Through initiatives like these, many Pakistani women have been able to become economically independent. (Courtesy Photo/Kaarvan Crafts Foundation)

HEALTH

is not a governing priority,” AIDS United wrote in a statement sent to The Washington Informer. “Instead, this proposal continues a pattern of disinvestment in the public health and social safety net systems that allow people living with and affected by HIV to survive and thrive.”

In the United States, people of color are disproportionately affected by HIV.

“Black/African American people and Hispanic/Latino people are particularly affected by HIV, making up more than half (70%) of estimated new HIV infections in 2022,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As the 28th anniversary of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day approaches on May 18, health experts are offering a call to action around the urgent need to continue work toward research, particularly in the face of federal challenges and continued disparities.

“We must remain committed to ensuring such devastating cuts to funding are stopped and demand that Congress pass a budget that will ensure full funding for HIV programming and services,” AIDS United continued. “Ending the HIV epidemic is within reach but only if we choose to prioritize it.”

Although the budget could prove to be a setback if the proposal is approved by Congress, advocates note all hope is not lost in the battle against HIV/AIDs. People are working toward a better tomorrow— such as nationwide efforts to raise awareness about vaccine research and local organizations working daily to offer care and stop the disease from spreading across communities throughout the District and beyond.

“Today, no one has to die from HIV. We have the treatments, the technology, and the research to change outcomes, and yet people in our community still are dying from HIV/AIDS,” said Dr. Heather

Aaron, CEO of Whitman-Walker Health System, which offers people in D.C. a variety of treatments, including primary care, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, and more. “That is unacceptable, and it is exactly why our work continues.”

A Presidential Call to End HIV/AIDS, The Current Federal Threat

In May 1997, when President Clinton visited Morgan State University in Baltimore, people across the nation— including in Washington, D.C.— were extremely worried about the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

An August 1997 District report: “Epidemiologic Profile For HIV Prevention Community Planning” outlines the local concern at the time.

“Residents in the District of Columbia comprise 0.24% of the population nationwide, but they represent a disproportionate 1.6% of total AIDS cases. In 1996, the reported rate of AIDS cases number per 100,000 population) in the District of Columbia was 202, compared to the national average of 26,” according to the report. “The rate among Blacks (252) was more than twice the rate of Whites (106) and more than one and one-half the rate of Hispanics (156).”

Clinton, speaking at a historically Black institution, was addressing a crisis that was particularly affecting African Americans across the U.S. and issued a challenge for the researchers of 1997 and the future.

“Only a truly effective, preventive HIV vaccine can limit and eventually eliminate the threat of AIDS,” Clinton said on May 18, 1997, aiming for development of the treatment in 10 years.

Nearly three decades since Clinton’s call to action, advocates note that President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened momentum toward a vaccine and other research to help those living with HIV.

“Over the last 14 months, this administration has made repeated attempts to reduce or eliminate funding for initiatives that support HIV prevention, treatment, care, and services — programs critical to reaching some of our communities' most vulnerable populations,” AIDS United wrote in a statement.

According to the advocacy organization, the April 3 fiscal year 2027 budget proposal could cause further harm toward HIV care and prevention.

“Our communities deserve better,” AIDS United declared. “Our communities deserve to be at the top of the priority list of the president of the United States, along with everyone else in this nation who wants for health care, housing, or human rights.”

Efforts Toward HIV Research, Treatment and Prevention

While Black and Latino communities are still disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, organizations such as Whitman-Walker in Washington, D.C. offer reminders that there’s been a lot of progress around care, treatment, and prevention surrounding the disease over the past few decades.

“We have come a long way since the 1980s and 90s, a time when people living with HIV were stigmatized, conversations were silenced, and far too many people were left without care,” Aaron said in a statement submitted to The Washington

Informer.

Part of that progress, the CEO explained, comes from years of dedicated efforts from the people at her organization– originally founded as the Gay Men’s VD Clinic in 1973 and changed to the Whitman Walker Clinic in 1978.

“Whitman-Walker stepped in when others stepped away,” Aaron continued, “taking on the responsibility of serving a community that the broader health system had turned its back on.”

As Whitman-Walker Health System continues to help patients in D.C., AIDS United is raising awareness about the current administration’s proposed budget, emphasizing the threat beyond HIV research.

“We, the people, need to be prioritized, and investments in public health infrastructure are investments in people — in our communities, our neighbors, and our future,” the organization explained. WI

Academy of Hope

Adult Public Charter School Request for Proposals

Design-Build Services for 3-Year Master Plan

The Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School in Washington, DC is seeking proposals for master planning and design-build services.

View the full RFP and submission details at https://aohdc.org/get-involved/request-for-proposals/. Proposals are due June 2, 2026.

3 Whitman-Walker highlights the free HIV testing at the Whitman-Walker 5K Walk in October 2022. (WI File

Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

HIV from Page 1

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 23-2026

EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FIRM FOR DCHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Board of Commissioners (“Board”) requires a qualified professional firm to provide a thorough and detailed executive level search for a new Executive Director for the agency.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Tuesday, May 5, 2026 full solicitation documents will be posted to our e-procurement system Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506

To access files respondents are required to Register on the Housing Agency Market Place platform. Respondents must log in to view this RFP for all related documents. It is the respondent’s responsibility to check the Housing Agency Market Place site regularly to stay current on all available documents as this is the primary communication site solicitation.

PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, May 18, 2026, at 12:00 P.M.

Email Lolita Washington Contract Specialist (OAS) at lwashington@dchousing.org for additional information.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 22-2026

CAMERA SECURITY SYSTEMS ACCESS CONTROL AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires a licensed, qualified Contractor to provide Camera Security Systems Access Control and Preventive Maintenance in DCHA Housing locations.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Monday, May 7, 2026, full solicitation documents will be posted to our e-procurement system Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506

Respondents must log in to view this RFP for all related documents. It is the respondent’s responsibility to check the Housing Agency Market Place site regularly to stay current on all available documents as this is the primary communication site solicitation.

PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, June 5, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

Email Deborah Barnes Contract Specialist (OAS), at dybarnes@dchousing.org for additional information.

EARTH OUR

Spring at The Floral Library

The Floral Library, near the Tidal Basin along Independence Avenue SW, features 93 beds with various beautiful blooms planted over months for tourists and Washingtonians alike to enjoy.

The flower beds are prepared by the National Park Service gardeners in the fall and planted in the spring with tulip bulbs from Holland. In addition gardeners plant annuals– which change each summer— and chrysanthemums.

Often called the Tulip Library, the site was established in 1969 as part of Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson’s Capital Beautification Project as a way of placing “masses of flowers where masses pass,” according to the National Park Service.

More than five decades later, the library attracts millions of people touring the Tidal Basin annually.

Photos by Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer

EDUCATION

“The estimate on the 2.55% is $3 million,” Brantley told The Informer. “It makes up for what the [workforce investment] grants lost, but now I have to use the 2.55% over everything -- utilities, water, teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals.”

Three Decades Later, Charter Leaders Lead Call for Equitable Funding

In a statement, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) alluded to circumstances precluding it from including fixed costs for public charter schools in its budget.

“Fixed costs were removed from the formula last year as part of the approved FY2026-2031 financial plan,” DME’s statement read. “This would require over $100 million in additional UPSFF growth which we were unfortunately unable to add…in FY27 given the 4% contraction in the city’s budget.”

Amid pushback from District resi-

dents and advocates, DME reiterated a point made by Bowser in her budget presentation weeks prior.

“The mayor’s FY27 Grow DC budget reflects the hard realities that the District is facing, including a nearly 4% decrease in operating funds and the highest unemployment rate in the country,” DME said. “Our region has lost over 100,000 jobs in the last year. Despite the challenges, Mayor Bowser makes clear with her proposed budget that she continues to prioritize school funding.”

That school funding, DME said, accounts for collective bargaining-triggered teacher compensation increases across the public and public charter sectors.

“We are committed to supporting a strong cross-sector system through significant, strategic investments and policies so that every student has access to a high-quality school,” DME said. “To be clear, the premise that schools are losing out on teacher compensation or overall funding is incorrect.”

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the D.C. School Reform Act

5 Amy Helms, head of schools at DC Scholars, says she anticipates school officials relying on per-pupil funding for telecommunications, utilities, and garbage collection, the construction of a new playground, and HVAC and roof replacement over the next three years.

(Courtesy Photo)

(SRA), legislation passed by Congress to allow for the creation of public charter schools in the nation’s capital. In its December 2025 report, the D.C. Charter School Alliance, issued a call for, among other things, equitable funding that “maintains the spirit of SRA.”

That crusade continued on April 22, when Ariel Johnson, the D.C. Charter School Alliance’s executive director, spoke before the D.C. Council’s Committee of the Whole in opposition to Bowser’s budget proposal.

WSSC Water is looking to improve services for our customers. Please take our survey and/or apply to join a focus group to provide your opinions and comments. FUNDING from Page 11

5 Patricia Brantley, CEO of Friendship Public Charter School, counts among those who say that, without a similar type of assistance for public charter schools, students in that sector will suffer under the weight of steadily increasing expenses. (Courtesy Photo/ Friendship Public Charter School)

“Instead of working collaboratively across sectors to address shared priorities such as student safety, transportation, literacy, and attendance, we are forced into a recurring defensive posture around funding equity,” Johnson told Committee of the Whole members. “This moment calls for a reset. As the District prepares for future leadership, both in the mayor’s office and on the council, we have an opportunity to recommit to a public education system that partners with students, families, educators, and school leaders.”

BETTER SERVICE STARTS WITH YOU!

Since 1995, public schools and public charter schools, the latter of which are highly concentrated in Wards 5, 7 and 8, have taken nearly an equal share of District students. Both sectors currently count among the District agencies with the highest spending.

Bowser administration officials attribute a growing population of students with Individual Education Plans, also known as IEPs, as a key factor in expanding public charter school budgets.

At Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, where most of the student body hails from Wards 7 and 8, Raymond Weeden aspires to create an environment that adequately prepares young people for life after high school.

“No matter what skill set they come in, we're going to get them ready for college,” Weeden told The Informer. “We use law themes to help them understand how to navigate the world and make it a better place. Our goal is to make sure that our students have all the opportunities that they can to be successful in life.”

Weeden said teachers have been a critical part of that endeavor. A key part of his “secret sauce,” he said, involves attracting the best teachers and maintaining a small student-teacher ratio that provides each student with the attention needed for academic success.

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Refinancing Readiness and Navigating the Process in Today’s Market

Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase

Depending on where you are in your homeownership journey, refinancing your mortgage can be an effective strategy to help you meet your financial goals. Refinancing may help you save money over time or add money back to your monthly budget if you score a lower interest rate. And depending on the type of refinance you choose, you could also borrow against your home’s equity to pay down debt or make a major purchase. Understanding when and why a refinance might make sense is the first step toward getting the most from this financial tool. There are also different types of refinances to consider, and one might work better for your goals than another.

What is refinancing?

Refinancing replaces your current mortgage with a new one— usually with a new rate and/or terms. It can often also come with a new set of closing costs. It may also come with a new lender. So when does it make sense to refinance? You might want to consider a refinance if you want to:

• Change the loan length or lower your monthly payments

• Secure a better or lower interest rate to save on monthly payments

• Switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate one.

• Change the loan type to remove mortgage insurance costs

• Access your home equity to

fund home improvements, buying another property, or consolidate debt.

How does refinancing work?

Much like your original mortgage, the refinancing process involves a thorough review of your current financial status to determine if you qualify.

Here’s an example of what a lender may review:

• Credit score and history: Score requirements vary by lender and loan type; 620 is a general minimum for conventional mortgages. Lenders want to see responsible credit use, such as a positive payment history on your debt.

• Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: This metric shows how much debt you have in relation to your income. To calculate your DTI, add up your monthly debt payments and divide by your gross monthly income. Then multiply by 100 to get a percentage. A low DTI lets lenders know you'll likely be able to manage your monthly payments with minimal issues.

• Property value and equity: Many homeowners have built equity over time, and the real estate market can cause property values to appreciate as well. When refinancing, your current loan balance and market value of the property will help the lender calculate a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. Refinancing qualifications usually prefer lower LTVs.

What are my refinancing options and how do I

choose the right one?

Let’s break down a few commonly offered types of refinancing:

• Rate-and-term refinance: This option allows you to replace your current loan with a new one with a different interest rate, different term or both. The primary aim is to secure terms that better suit your current financial situation, while the principal balance remains the same.

• Cash-out refinance: A cash-out refinance allows you to replace your existing mortgage with a new loan for more than you currently owe, leveraging equity you’ve built up in your home. This type of mortgage refinance might be more suited for those who need funds for significant expenses, such as home renovations or debt consolidation.

• No closing cost refinance: A no closing cost refinance allows borrowers to refinance without paying the upfront fees usually required. The lender may charge a slightly higher interest rate or fold the closing costs into the total loan amount.

Understanding your current financial goals and needs can help you decide which option works best.

The bottom line

Refinancing can be a smart financial move for many people. You may be able to save money in the long

term, and you also have options to take cash out if that’s what would support your goals. A qualified mortgage professional or home lending advisor can help clarify whether a mortgage refinance makes sense for you and ensure you’re on the right path to achieving your financial goals.

For more information, visit

chase.com/afford.

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

© 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Freedom Riders at 65: The Fire They Faced Still Burns

More Than Six

Decades

On May 14, 1961, a Greyhound bus carrying interracial Freedom Riders pulled into Anniston, Alabama, where it was met by one of the ugliest displays of racist violence in modern American history.

The riders— Black and white activists challenging segregated interstate bus travel— were confronted by a white mob armed with clubs, chains, and firebombs. After slashing the bus's tires, the mob chased the bus out of town and set it on fire. As smoke filled the cabin and passengers struggled to escape, the mob tried to force them back into the burning bus.

The Freedom Riders knew they were risking their lives. They understood that the fight for civil rights demanded courage in the face of terror. Yet they boarded those buses anyway, believing that America could become better than its laws and customs permitted.

As a Freedom Rider and future congressman, the late Rep. John Lewis later recalled, “We were willing to die. The federal government had to see that we would not stop.”

That willingness to endure violence forced the nation to confront the gap between its democratic ide-

Later, the Fight for Black Freedom Continues

als and its lived reality.

Sixty-five years later, their sacrifice still speaks to us because the forces they confronted have never fully disappeared. The tactics may look different today, but the assault on Black freedom endures.

Across the country, voting rights are being eroded, diversity and inclusion programs are under attack, Black history is being censored in classrooms, and economic inequality continues to trap millions of African Americans on the margins of opportunity. Hard-won civil rights protections are increasingly treated not as sacred achievements but as inconveniences to be rolled back.

The Freedom Riders were not

merely fighting for a seat on a bus. They were fighting for dignity, citizenship, and equal protection under the law. Their struggle was part of a broader demand that America fulfill its democratic promise.

That demand remains urgent.

The anniversary of the Anniston attack should not be remembered solely as a painful chapter in history. It should serve as a warning and a call to action. Progress is never permanent. Rights can erode. Justice can be delayed. Democracy itself can retreat if citizens grow complacent.

The Freedom Riders kept moving forward despite the flames. Our generation must do the same. WI

As a Freedom Rider and future congressman, the late Rep. John Lewis later recalled, “We were willing to die. The federal government had to see that we would not stop.”

Beware the ‘Klan-cestors’ Black America: ‘Wake Up Everybody!’

When Americans became aware of a conservative blueprint now known as Project 2025, aimed at rolling back progressive and diversity programs, many African Americans ignored the implications. Some, given their individual economic status, education, and lifestyle, believed that our government could never, and would never, attempt to endorse supremacist ideologies that would support turning back the clock to the days of segregation and Jim Crow.

But in recent years, we’ve seen the intentional pursuit by America’s richest and most powerful citizens to erase all the achievements made by African Americans since the Civil Rights Movement. However, this should come as no surprise.

In his 1881 autobiography, Frederick Douglass reflected on

the transformation of his enslaver’s wife, once a tender-hearted woman, who, simply by acquiring absolute authority over another human being, became a cruel tyrant.

“I know of no class of my fellowman, however, just, enlightened, and humane, which can be wisely and safely trusted absolutely with the liberties of any other class,” said Douglass who added, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

A few years later, in 1903, W.E.B. DuBois defined the “color line” as the defining global and domestic challenge of the 20th century. He believed that race and skin color would continue to be used to deny basic rights, economic opportunity, and human dignity to over half of the world’s population. Dougass, DuBois,

and others were prophetic in their observations and conclusions.

Yet, some often glossed over their warnings as African Americans were allowed to purchase homes, attend white colleges, secure the right to vote, and be welcomed with presumably open arms in suburbia and as “studs” for white billionaires who owned teams like the Boston Celtics or the Washington Redskins.

Some falsely believe Black folks had arrived.

So, in 1975, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes released a song, “Wake Up Everybody,” that reminded the world how tenuous the future was for African Americans.

“Wake up everybody. No more sleepin’ in bed. No more backward thinkin.’ Time for thinkin’ ahead. The world has changed so very much. From what it used to

TO THE EDITOR

“I have just heard the sad news about the passing of Bobby Felder, whom I came to know and love when I was a student at UDC back in the 80s. I was one of the few white students in the music department– and the university at large— but Bobby just saw me for who I really was, which had nothing to do with the color of my skin: I was a professional journalist in my late 20s who was struggling with many issues in her life and just wanted to learn more about music.

“I studied guitar with Bobby, but far more important than the guitar-playing techniques Bobby taught me were the lessons he taught me about living. “Cream rises,” he’d always say to me with a smile, reminding me to be self-confident no matter what was happening in my life. He was a great music teacher and mentor, but more than that, he was for a time my guardian angel, always looking out for my best interests.

“Bless you, Bobby Felder, for all the beautiful music you gave the world, and for your kind, gentle, beautiful spirit. I’m sure you’re already playing your trombone for the angels!”

-Marilyn Millstone

be. There is so much hatred. War and poverty.”

Then, another prophet emerged: Spike Lee in his 1988 film, “School Daze.” Lee warned Black Americans to “Wake Up!”

His recurring demand urged the Black community to wake up from apathy, dismantle internalized racism, and recognize their political power and global solidarity.

Thirty-eight years later, delay

is no longer an option. Not if we care about our children and our children’s children.

When Malcolm X proclaimed, “the devil’s chickens have come home to roost,” he must have been speaking about this moment.

It’s truly time to remember the call to action from Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: “Wake up everybody!”

WI

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Early withdrawals from retirement accounts, also known as hardship withdrawals, are quietly becoming an important indicator of financial stress in the United States. While headlines suggest a strong economy, newly released data from Vanguard show a very different picture for workers under financial stress.

Guest Columnists

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and David Asiamah

Vanguard's Data Sound an Alarm on Financial Fragility in the U.S.

Hardship Withdrawals as a Stress Signal

In 2025, about 6% of workers with a Vanguard-administered 401(k) took a hardship withdrawal, roughly three times the pre-pandemic rate of about 2%. More telling is that people are tapping their accounts to cover essential expenses. Median withdrawals are about $1,900 and are used for a number of reasons including avoiding eviction, keeping the lights on, or paying medical bills.

Guest Columnist

Breakdowns of the data by race reveal stark disparities. According to the 2025 Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)/Greenwald Retirement Confidence Survey, 29% of Black adults with access to a workplace retirement plan reported taking a hardship withdrawal, compared with 15% of non-Black adults. Black respondents were also more likely to say they withdrew money simply to cover day-to-day expenses.

These patterns indicate that hardship withdrawals are not evenly distributed across the population and

are concentrated in communities that already face weaker access to retirement plans and higher exposure to debt.

Who Has Retirement Accounts and Who Does Not

The Black Wealth Data Center's (BWDC) analysis of Survey of Consumer Finances data reveals how uneven this access is at the household level.

In 2022, 61.7% of White households held a retirement account, com-

The WSJ Got It Wrong: It's This Administration Who Has a

"The consequences are likely to be far-reaching and grave. Today's decision renders Section 2 all but a dead letter. In the states where that law continues to matter — the states still marked by residential segregation and racially polarized voting — minority voters can now be cracked out of the electoral process."

— Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

As of this writing, 21 states and the District of Columbia have outlawed triple-digit interest rates on payday loans and similar credit products. These hard-won consumer victories largely stopped lenders from trapping people in triple-digit interest rate debt — key strides towards financial freedom.

But now, Enova and Opportunity

Instead of taking an objective look at the state of voting rights in this country that is rooted in its history to exploit rather than provide equality, the Wall Street Journal's editorial board came together to draft a piece titled "Democrats Have a Jim Crow Fantasy."

The piece suggests that the Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais likely will have no meaningful impact on voting rights, basing its argument on the fact that Black voter turnout in midterms increased after Shelby v. Holder in 2013.

After cherry-picking statistics about midterm turnout in 2018 and 2022, the board had the audacity to state that "many states in the South — including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia — have no-excuse absentee voting" while completely ignoring the fact that the administration is aggressively trying to limit absentee voting ahead of this year's midterms.

It also failed to mention that since 2020, an election with record voter turnout because of mail-in ballots, states responded by passing a record

pared with 34.7% of Black households and 27.5% of Hispanic households, both below their 2007 levels.

Among households that had these accounts, White households held a median of about $100,000 in retirement savings in 2022, compared with only $39,000 for Black households and $55,600 for Hispanic households.

While these figures describe households, not individual workers, together with the Vanguard and EBRI data they suggest that hardship withdrawals

Page 41

Jim Crow Fantasy

number of voter suppression laws with tactics that include enforcing strict voter ID laws, shown to disproportionately impact lower-income voters, purging voter rolls, and in many majority-Black communities, literally removing ballot boxes.

Regarding Shelby v. Holder, the piece also ignored how the decision reduced Black political participation.

Using nearly 1 billion individual voter-file records, researchers at the Brennan Center for Justice found that in the average county formerly subject to Section 5 preclearance,

Lenders Seek Bank Charters to Evade State Rate Caps

Financial (OppFi), a pair of predatory lenders listed on the New York Stock Exchange, have turned to a different approach for continued exploitation of the nation's working poor: becoming a bank.

By seeking federal approval to acquire national bank charters, once again working people would be snared into long-term debt traps and increased financial instability in the throes of a nation already grappling with an affordability crisis.

Federal banking regulators are fast-tracking these lenders' bank appli-

cations, without offering opponents an opportunity to discuss their concerns.

With a national bank charter, predatory lenders would gain an end-run advantage to once again impose triple-digit loan rates even in states with existing lending rate caps. This regressive regulatory move also comes at a time when the federal government is decreasing lender supervision and enforcement. State usury limits are the only source of these loan protections for borrowers not covered under the federal Military Lending Act.

National banks are supposed to pro-

vide a "public benefit." But in these instances, the private corporations — not the public — would benefit.

OppFi, a digital finance platform that makes short-term installment loans at up to 195% Annual Percentage Rate (APR), has announced plans to acquire Arizona-based BNC National Bank. At the start of this year, BNC had approximately $1.1 billion in total assets and approximately $1 billion in total deposits.

Enova, a lender fined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for repeated anti-consumer behavior, is

the relative participation of nonwhite voters worsened after federal oversight ended.

Critically, the study estimates that absent Shelby County, the whiteBlack turnout gap would have grown by only about 4-5 percentage points by 2022. Instead, it grew by roughly 9 points, nearly double what national trends alone would predict. That divergence reflects a causal effect of ending preclearance, not mere coincidence.

seeking to acquire Grasshopper Bank, based in New York City with assets of $1.59 billion. Enova is better known by the names of its consumer and small business loan brands — CashNetUSA, NetCredit and OnDeck.

A coalition of civil rights and consumer groups in an April letter urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to reject the applications of these predatory lenders, pointing to new analysis that shows that a disproportionate number of complaints against Enova

CROWELL Page 41

Marc H. Morial

ASANTE/ASIAMAH

Charlene Crowell

Guest Columnist

Living in the nation’s capital as a Washingtonian, while navigating life as a child and a woman of color later diagnosed in adulthood, brought clarity to a lifetime of feeling unsupported and misunderstood. I often felt out of place, distant, and disconnected from family and peers. Without accurate documentation or a formal diagnosis, I was left trying

Guest Columnist

Systemic Misdiagnosis, Neurodivergence, and Educational Equity

to make sense of these challenges without a diploma, support systems, or resources. When my difficulties surfaced, I was evaluated but labeled as a nonverbal communicator with a learning disability rather than recognized as a neurodivergent individual. Without a proper diagnosis, neurodivergent traits shaped my educational, emotional, and social development in ways that were difficult to express. These challenges continued without accommodation or recognition. Misdiagnosis led to missed opportunities and strained peer relationships because

The Color of Trust

In politics, fear has a color. For most of American history, that color has been Black. No ad has taught that lesson more brutally than the Willie Horton ad of 1988. It showed the face of a Black man convicted of murder. It blamed Michael Dukakis for a furlough program. It told voters mercy was dangerous.

After that, clemency withered. Democrats especially learned to treat grace as a trap. To this day, too many Democratic politicians fear using their clemency powers. Even when their cowardice means people receive punishment they do not deserve.

Republican governors and presidents have often been more sweeping. Our nation's current president has used the pardon power boldly and repeatedly. He has never seemed afraid of the power itself. Too many Democrats still are.

This spring marks 10 years since

my struggles were consistently misunderstood. Since childhood, I have become accustomed to being both misunderstood and underdiagnosed.

During my years in the D.C. Public Schools (DCPS K–12), I felt overlooked, bullied, and denied opportunities outlined in my Individualized Education Plan (IEP), such as being bullied and dismissed not only by peers but also by educators.

While attending " D.C. Schools, the teachers privately expressed their opinions and concerns many times. I am an abnormal individual with

nonverbal communication, as I look upon my intellectual characteristics with a basic IQ assessment and no recommendations. Their assumptions have instilled insecurities in their abilities in communication and writing. These words crash my soul. Then I sought only math, science, and, especially, art curriculum and activities that challenged ability without much need for accommodation. I was left to be seen, not heard. It was not until adulthood that I received an accurate diagnosis after an in-depth three-hour evaluation by

a behavioral health specialist, a moment that validated my experiences and provided the clarity and structure I needed.

While after the diagnosis, experience harmony of advocacy abilities. However, attending college felt like some discrimination and discouragement from educators regarding accommodation for ARC college students. A college instructor privately dismissed me, acknowledging that, given accommodation to a student,

PITTMAN Page 42

the Bernie Sanders campaign made a very different kind of ad. Nearly three decades after Willie Horton, I asked the campaign to do the opposite. Put a Black man convicted of murder in a presidential ad. Not to destroy the campaign. To strengthen it.

His name was Chris Wilson.

Chris grew up in Baltimore. He saw violence young. At 17, he took a man's life. He went to prison.

There is no hiding from that truth. There should not be.

But Chris did what we say we want people to do. He took responsi-

bility. He educated himself. He built a master plan for his life. He came home determined to work, mentor and help others escape the traps that nearly swallowed him.

At the time, Chris was painting my house. When the campaign came to film the ad, Chris helped find the location.

To me, his story was not a liability. It was the point. Real public safety requires redemption. Prevention. Education. Jobs. Second chances.

The idea carried risk. Given the

legacy of Willie Horton, some had concerns. That was understandable. This was not a safe testimonial. It was a direct challenge to a powerful racial taboo.

But in a nation with the highest incarceration rate on Earth, Willie Horton politics had trained campaigns to distrust voters. My experience told me voters were better than that.

Years earlier, I had been part of polling for a big-box retailer that

JEALOUS Page 42

Wars and Rumors of Wars: The Unspoken Fear Shadowing International Students at HBCUs

International students are a cornerstone of the American academic landscape, with more than 1.1 million enrolled in the 2025–2026 academic year. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a vital role in this ecosystem, hosting roughly 2.5% of these students as of 2022. For many from China, Sub-Saharan

Africa, and the Caribbean, HBCUs are not merely schools; they are sanctuaries of cultural affirmation. However, the fragility of this sanctuary is being tested by a world increasingly defined by wars and rumors of wars.

As an international student myself, I recognize that choosing to study thousands of miles from home is more than an academic pursuit; it is a leap of faith. When I sit in my classes at my HBCU in the DMV, the tension from what’s happening around the world feels

very real to me. It’s not just something I read about; it’s something I carry with me every day. Like many of my classmates, I deal with changing visa rules, learning a new culture, and worrying about the news from home all at the same time.

As international students, we are often expected to perform academic excellence while our hearts are anchored in regions where peace is currently a luxury.

The current geopolitical climate is particularly tense for students

from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). While the 1823 Monroe Doctrine established a long history of U.S.-LAC relations, historic and recent aggressive geopolitical actions have unsettled these ties. From the 2026 capture of former Venezuelan leadership to military operations resulting in the loss of Cuban lives, the Caribbean, the very region many HBCU students call home, is currently a region of heightened volatility.

It must be noted that the consequences for international students,

due to these geopolitical conflicts are not abstract. Quite recently, the world observed how the Russo-Ukrainian war disrupted 80,000 international medical students and how regional conflicts in the Middle East left scores of students stranded. For an international student at an HBCU, these headlines translate into a profound financial, emotional, and psychological burden. Beyond the classroom, students are faced with

BAILEY Page 42

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

Miracle Pittman

Irma Bailey Guest Columnist

Washington Informer Weekend Checklist

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

LIFESTYLE Things To Do, DMV!

By Kree Anderson WI Intern

Make well-being a priority this week with a series of events dedicated to the mind, body, and soul.

From introspective meditative sessions in D.C. to exploring the physical and emotional connections of your relationships in Gaithersburg, this weekend can be a time of healing and growth.

Experience the best of the DMV

with this weekend itinerary.

Plus, for more ways to engage with your neighbors and local culture, keep an eye on the Washington Informer Calendar.

Thursday, May 14

Young Professionals Happy Hour

5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | $20.00

National Landing Water Park, 1601 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202

This series for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce supports young professionals that work or live in Arlington. The program will engage the next generation of leaders and provide them all with opportunities to develop the skills to be successful leaders in the community.

Easing into Retirement

6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.| $23.18

The Women’s Center, 8230 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 500, Vienna, VA 22182

Considering retirement, but afraid about what happens next? This workshop explores the possibilities that comes with retirement to help attendees ease into the next phase of life without fear.

Friday, May 15

A Couple's Night Out That Will Actually Help Your Relationship

6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.| Free Not available, 803 Crown Park Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Osteopathic Center for Healing is featuring a guided evening to help attendees understand what's happening in their bodies, minds, and relationships, without blame or confusion.

Overcoming Grief: Finding Peace and Meaning After Loss

7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. | $12.00

Kadampa Meditation Center DC, 1200 Canal Street SW, Washington, D.C., 20024

The experience of loss is universal. Whether it’s the end of a relationship, the death of a loved one, or the passing of a chapter in an individual’s life, grief naturally arises. Join Kadampa Meditation Center DC for this special talk to explore practical methods for working with loss, letting go, and opening to a happier, more meaningful life.

3 In this reflective May 15 session, Kadampa Meditation Center DC will teach attendees how to manage and overcome grief through practical techniques that transform pain into a path of healing and strength. (Courtesy Photo)

Saturday, May 16

Painted Sneakers Workshop

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. | $39.19

Hammer & Stain Rockville, 107B Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD, 20850

Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite pair of sneakers and will learn the art of transforming ordinary footwear into unique, personalized masterpieces.

Growing Community: From Garden to Table 10 a.m. - Noon | Free Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Plaza SE, Washington, D.C., 20020

Join Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum for a practical exploration of how engaging in garden spaces can improve overall quality of life. The museum’s guest host for this event will guide participants in preparing easy, tasty, and healthy meals— bringing the garden to the table for individuals and families alike.

Sunday, May 17

Wine & Design Sundays

*Depends on Package Selection* | $52.20

District Winery, 385 Water Street SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Join District Winery on Sundays for an interactive wine tasting experience. Wine educators will lead participants through a guided tasting while they’ll also have the opportunity to get creative with rotating activities.

80's, 90's Adult Skate Jam 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | $23.18

Skate Zone Odenton, 1200 Odenton Road, Odenton, MD, 21113

In this fun evening, "OG’s” are encouraged to grab their skates and take a step back to the days of truly being “outside.” This is an opportunity to show the youngsters what fun and nostalgia is all about!

WI

5 Hammer & Stain Rockville welcomes guests to unleash their creativity and personal style on May 16 with a workshop focusing on sneakers, allowing visiting creatives to paint and customize their own wearable masterpieces. (Courtesy Photo)

PIEF Hosts 16th Annual Pink Hat Tea

Highlighting ‘Poise and Pallettes

Event Celebrates Educational Excellence

By WI Web Staff

Hundreds of guests donning bright, beautiful and sparkly ensembles flocked to the Westin DC Downtown for the Pearl and Ivy Educational Foundation’s (PIEF) 16th Annual Pink Hat Tea, held in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Omega Chapter.

The April 26 event, under the 2026 theme: “Poise and Paillettes: An Afternoon Where Style Meets Purpose on the Platform,” was a luncheon with a purpose, as PIEF— the educational foundation of Xi Omega Chapter—furthered its mission to raise scholarship funds for college-bound D.C. students. With a fun-filled hat fashion show featuring designs from American Hats, LLC, the event furthered the work of PIEF, which has raised more than $1 million in scholarship funds for local students since its founding in 1988.

In addition, anchor Molette Green of NBC 4 Washington, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Wes Hall of Monumental Sports Network served as the event’s engaging hosts. Further, special speakers included AKA North Atlantic Regional Director Elicia Pegues Spearman; Inaugural Honorary Chair and award-winning author Michelle Miller; WHUT-TV host and lifestyle expert George Worrell; and celebrity VIPs: radio personality Sunni and the City and Paris Courtney Titus, 2025 Ultimate International Pre-Teen. WI

(Courtesy Photos/Taurus Hill, @roc_visuals)

Joan Miró, Chiffres et contellations amoureux d’un femme from the Constellations Series, 1959, Fundació Joan Miró © Successió Miró / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris 2026

5 Hosts Molette Green and Wes Hall

5 Xi Omega Chapter President Deidra A. Davis North Atlantic Regional Director Elicia Pegues Spearman

5 Performers

review wi book

Books for College-Bound Students by Various Authors

c.2026, Various publishers

$21-$29

Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

The videos and news reports were inspiring.

In them, a hesitant prospective-college student turned into a happy new college-bound student with the click of a key. They were accepted into the college of their dreams — so how can you get the same feeling next spring, when you're the one with the highest of hopes?

You can start by reading these great books and sharing them with your family …

You probably already know that getting into the college of your choice is not something you do last-minute. In "The People's Guide to College Applications: A Week-by Week Approach to Writing, Connecting, and Getting In" by Jill Constantino (Prometheus Books, $21.95) takes you through each step, but not in a frantic way. There's no pressure here, just easy-to-grasp, makes-sense methods to apply for the college you want. There are reminders here, things you can't forget and things you can, hints on asking for referrals and writing essays, and plenty of reminders to take a deep breath. Bonus: it's also a book for parents, who may feel just as much pressure as does their child.

OK, but let's say that you're an adult, a parent who's sweating those college applications, classes, and the FAFSA for yourself, ugh! Then you'll want to read "Student Parent: The Fight for Families, the Cost of Poverty, and the Power of College" by Nicole Lynn Lewis (Beacon Press, $26.97). an urgent call meant for nontraditional students who are also Black, Latinx, gay, moms, or dads.

Inside this book, you'll find stats and stories that may already sound familiar, tales of not enough money, not enough support, not enough arms or sleep or resources. If you're looking for a book of advice, this isn't it, though. It's more of a resource that you'll want to take to your guidance counselor or any local politician.

All right, but what if you've decided that college can wait? Is that OK? Look for "The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future" by Arun Gupta and Thomas J. Fewer (Wiley, $29) because — guess what? — you have many options for your future.

The kind of workday your grandpa had is probably over, and you can't count on toiling at the same place for 40 years for a pension and a gold watch. You already know that, and this book will help you decide your next step. You'll learn what kind of worker you are, what's stopping you from finding a job or occupation you'll love, how to determine the purpose you envision for your future, and how to get where you need to be. This book isn't just for high-schoolers, but for anyone ages 16 and beyond who's feeling restless, ready for change, or who's thinking about some kind of purposeful retirement.

And if these aren't the college-based or not-college-bound books you need, then be sure to ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for help on ideas, howto's, test prep books, or study guides. They'll have books for you, and maybe a little inspiration, too.

WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

MAY 14 - 20, 2026

ARIES The plan you keep refining is finished — the next revision is procrastination wearing its best disguise. A conversation that went sideways last week is still repairable if you move before it calcifies. Someone in your circle is carrying something they haven't named; your job is to make the opening, not fill it. A careful financial decision now protects a larger one in June. Lucky Numbers: 11, 28, 54

TAURUS What looked like a setback has been doing quiet renovation — the space it cleared is exactly what you didn't know to ask for. A project that lost momentum hasn't lost value; one focused hour reopens it more than you'd expect. Someone who challenged you recently wasn't wrong about everything; sort through the useful parts before discarding the rest. Lucky Numbers: 6, 33, 61

GEMINI The noise level in your decision-making has been high — clarity arrives this week not from more input but from less. A professional door you assumed was closed has been left ajar; check before redirecting your energy elsewhere. Someone asks for your honest assessment and means it; give them the real version rather than the managed one. The answer you need is in the last conversation you haven't finished yet. Lucky Numbers: 14, 38, 62

CANCER Something you've been treating as permanent has more flexibility than you've allowed yourself to test. A creative idea that surfaced during an inconvenient moment is still worth retrieving — write it down before the window closes. Someone close has shifted their position quietly; you won't know unless you ask directly. The energy you've been spending managing appearances could be redirected toward the outcome itself. Rest this weekend without requiring that you've earned it. Lucky Numbers: 3, 41, 66

LEO The recognition you've been angling toward is closer when you stop tracking it. A relationship that's been running on old terms needs a current conversation — the map and the territory have diverged. Someone brings you an idea this week that benefits more from your visibility than your judgment; lend the platform. A physical routine abandoned in a busy stretch is asking to be reinstated. Start smaller than feels significant. Lucky Numbers: 18, 43, 67

VIRGO The standard you're holding others to is one you haven't fully articulated — say it out loud and see if it still holds. A task you've been avoiding because it's imprecise is exactly what this week demands; done is the right finish. Someone who's been inconsistent has been consistent about one thing — pay attention to which thing. Lucky Numbers: 22, 46, 71

LIBRA The position you've been softening to keep the peace is starting to disappear — this week asks you to locate it again. A collaboration that stalled over logistics is ready to move if one party takes a cleaner first step; that can be you. Something you've framed as a preference is actually a need; the distinction matters to how you communicate it. Lucky Numbers: 10, 39, 64

SCORPIO The composure you've been performing has become composure you've actually developed — trust it going forward. A plan operating quietly in the background is ready for a first test; keeping it private past this point is withholding, not protecting. Someone needs your full attention this week rather than your partial presence — the distraction they sense is real. An old piece of work is worth revisiting. What you've been guarding isn't as fragile as the protection level suggests. Lucky Numbers: 1, 48, 75

SAGITTARIUS The enthusiasm you lead with occasionally outruns your follow-through — this is the week to close what you've opened. A relationship you've kept at comfortable distance is asking for a closer look; the risk is smaller than the reward available. A recurring thought that surfaces at inconvenient moments is a priority wearing a distraction as cover. Lucky Numbers: 19, 52, 77

CAPRICORN The metrics you're using may not be capturing your most important movement — look sideways, not just forward. A boundary you've been slow to enforce is costing more in accumulated stress than a direct conversation would. Someone offers an unconventional path this week that your instincts will flag as risk; the discomfort is information, not a verdict. You're closer to the goal than the fatigue suggests. Don't revise the destination because the road is long. Lucky Numbers: 16, 44, 80

AQUARIUS The idea you've been treating as hypothetical is ready to become operational — the gap between thinking and doing is the only thing left to close. A relationship where you've been the more consistent party is approaching honest accounting; have the conversation before the imbalance becomes resentment. Lucky Numbers: 25, 50, 73

PISCES The emotional labor you've been extending without acknowledgment has begun to register as baseline rather than contribution — name its value, at least to yourself. A decision you've been making by not deciding has been making itself; look at what it's produced. Someone needs your clarity more than your comfort this week; a direct answer is the more generous one. Lucky Numbers: 9, 55, 83

Mystics Fall 98-95 to Liberty in Home Opener Thriller, A Glimpse Of Mystics Promise

By Skylar Nelson WI Contributing Writer

The Washington Mystics fell 98-95 to the New York Liberty in a thrilling overtime battle during their home opener at Carefirst Arena Sunday, May 10.

After building an early first quarter lead, Washington battled through

adversity and rallied late to force an overtime in a gritty fight to close out the game.

“I think with this team, we never think we’re out of the game,” said Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen. “Even if we’re down [fifteen points], we still believe that there’s a chance. When we went into overtime we were like: ‘We have a chance to win the game.’ So I think we just have a lot of confidence in our ability to come back. We’ve done it a little bit last season and we have even more pieces this season. So I just think that we never give up.”

Iriafen led the Mystics with 20 points and 12 rebounds, three assists, and one steal. This marked her second straight double-double (18th career) and fifth career 20-point -10-rebound game tied for the sixth-most in franchise history. She also made history becoming the 11th player in WNBA history to record at least five games of this stature before the age of 23.

Center Shakira Austin added to the Mystics scoring effect with 16 points and 10 rebounds. This marked her secSPORTS Page 36

3 Mystics’ forward Kiki Iriafen scores on Liberty Forward Breanna Stewart in Washington’s 98-95 home opener loss on May 10. (Jonae Guest/The Washington Informer)

3 Zachary Corbett of Greensboro College hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship at The Park on Tuesday, May 5, in West Palm Beach, Florida. After a week of competition, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is the 39th PGA Works Collegiate Championship winning team. (Courtesy Photo/Ryan Lochead, PGA of America) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Claims Women’s Title at 39th PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship

CAPTURE the moment

Howard University celebrated its 158th Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 9, on the university's historic Upper Quadrangle (The Yard). The ceremony honored over 3,100 graduates from 14 schools and colleges, marking one of the largest graduating classes in the university's history. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who received an honorary Doctor of Humanities, and served as the keynote speaker. Her appearance was marked by student activism as many graduates booed or chanted "Free D.C." during her speech to protest her political decisions, including cooperation with federal oversight of the local police. (Jacques Benovil and Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) held its 49th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9, honoring more than 840 graduates from across the institution’s various programs. District Mayor Muriel Bowser delivered the keynote address, reflecting on UDC's role as a workforce engine for the city. (Ja'Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

Pope Names Local Priests

New Auxiliary Bishops of Washington

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

In a season of greetings and new beginnings, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is seeing a major shift in leadership with the appointment of two new Auxiliary Bishops: Father Gary Studniewski, who currently serves as pastor of Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and Father Robert Boxie III, Howard University’s Catholic Chaplain.

Officially named by Pope Leo

XIV, the D.C.-based faith leaders each bring decades of ministry work as they prepare to serve the Catholic Church in Maryland and Washington, joining Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito and Cardinal Robert McElroy, who led the May 1 introduction of the two bishop-elects.

“It's a great day of joy for the Archdiocese of Washington, and it's a sign of the Holy Father's continuing provision and care for and love for pastoral care for this archdiocese,” McElroy said in his opening remarks of the press conference. “This provision of

new bishops to serve as collaborators with me, and servants of the people of God, that care really came through.

While we have Bishop [Evelio Menjivar] leaving us and Bishop [Roy E. Campbell, Jr.] retiring, the Pope has given us two wonderful, wonderful leaders for our local church.”

As Menjivar accepted his new position as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia, dozens of supporters gathered at the Pastoral Center of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington in Maryland, for a moment rooted in pride and celebration on May 1.

For Studniewski, ordained in 1995, stepping into the role feels like a full-circle return to the presbyterate he “fell in love with” in 1987, when the Bishop-elect first came to the District as a military officer through the evangelical movement with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

“There’s something special about this one,” he said. “I encountered Christ in a very beautiful and personal way through the Church of Washington, and once I did, there was an

5 Local priests Father Gary

and Father Robert Boxie III are stepping into their newly appointed roles as Auxiliary Bishops of Washington, where they will serve the Catholic Church in Maryland and D.C. (Courtesy Photos, collage by Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer)

“I pray every day…that I live up to the full responsibility of the sacred duty now entrusted to me –– with wisdom, with pastoral charity, with zeal, with sensitivity, and always relying on the help and the grace of God.”

inevitable call to serve this church that was giving so much to me.”

Beyond his military roots and knack for order, Studniewski says he plans to continue both McElroy’s and Pope Leo’s stances to drive “pastoral action,” which includes pouring into the vibrancy and diversity that precede the people of the Church of Washington.

Thus, he further defined his own episcopal motto in the lens of the Biblical telling of Paul's letter to the Corinthians: “My grace is enough for you.”

“Time and time again throughout my priesthood, the Lord has called me. Sometimes I don't understand…I always say yes, and then the grace follows,” he continued. “The grace follows for me to be an instrument of accomplishing God's purposes, not my own. And now I will rely on that grace once again as I exercise the office of bishop, and I consider myself extremely blessed to do so.”

Meanwhile, Boxie –– currently serving as the chaplain at the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Cen-

ter at Howard University –– emphasized the power in an appointment he considers bigger than himself.

“It's an acknowledgement of the community that I come from, the community that has formed me in the faith. It recognizes the community that I serve now,” he said, before nodding to retiring Bishop Campbell Jr.’s work ethic and example of faithful service, that he noted the outgoing leader “carried out with a pastor's heart.” “I pray every day…that I live up to the full responsibility of the sacred duty now entrusted to me ––with wisdom, with pastoral charity, with zeal, with sensitivity, and always relying on the help and the grace of God.”

With May 1 also symbolic of the First Fridays, a Catholic practice devoted to the Sacred Heart, the chaplain said his path forward looks like leaning on spiritual wisdom and collaboration to uplift all believers who serve Christ.

“I look forward to working with Cardinal Maroy, with my brother bishops, brother priests, archives and staff, religious men and women, all the lay faithful,” Boxie said, “that together we bring the good news of the gospel and the hope of the risen Christ to all throughout the Archdiocese of Washington and beyond.” WI

Studniewsk

- Father Robert Boxie III

This week, my heart is heavy as I think about the state of our nation.

We have all seen the news and felt the weight of racism that still runs rampant across America. From the heartbreaking stories of Black and brown families being dehumanized to the systemic barriers in our health and justice systems, it can feel like a "low-grade depression" is settling over us. But I want to remind you that even when it feels like "tragic midnight," God is still in control.

What Has Been Done

We must remember the path we've traveled. Since the Civil Rights Movement, we have seen unprecedented wealth and education in the Black community. We have more Black leaders in positions of power today than at any other time in our history. Yet, despite this progress, we are still facing the highest rates of poverty and deep-seated racial disparities in every major system, from policing to healthcare. The "sin of racism" is not just about individuals; it is woven into the very fabric of our culture, and removing it requires us to look deep within ourselves and our institutions.

A Heritage That Predates Slavery

Before we look to the future, we must acknowledge a truth that has been buried. Our story did not begin in chains on a plantation. There is evidence that millions of people of African descent were present in the Americas long before 1619, arriving as explorers, kings and masters of the sea. When I was project director of the African American Civil War Memorial during the period of construction, I heard about the millions of free Blacks here in the United States during the

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Standing Strong in the Face of Racism the religion corner

American Civil War. I would often ask D.C. Council members about these 4 million Blacks. I really didn't understand how those Black people were considered free Black people — how they remained free, never having been enslaved. Millions of today's Blacks in America are descendants of those who were always free, yet right now, we all get thrown into one group.

These "Aboriginal Americans" built wealthy cultures and vast empires, like the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa, whose influence reached across the Atlantic centuries before Columbus. Many historians are not even sure if the slave ship story is true. I am not here to argue that fact, but I did watch a documentary that said it was impossible to bring a ship across the oceans and travel that far and live. Something to think about!

Just because it is being taught in history books does not mean it is true! Find out our own, true history!

We are the descendants of kings and queens who possessed high intellect and deep spiritual wisdom long before the first white settlers arrived. This land is part of your birthright; you were here first, not just as laborers, but as architects of civilization.

What's Coming in the Future

As we look toward the next six to seven months of 2026, the landscape is shifting. While many Americans are building meaningful relationships across racial lines, we are also seeing a dismantling of federal diversity, equity

and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Economic challenges, including the rapid expansion of AI automation, are hitting Black and brown workers particularly hard. But we must not let fear be our guide. As 1 Corinthians 15:51 reminds us, "we shall all be changed." Change is coming, and while it may be painful, God sustains us through these circumstances.

Things You Can Do (Especially in the Black Community)

Faith without works is dead. We cannot just wish for a better world; we must move with "decision" and "persistence" to create it.

• Educate and Diversify: Read books by theologians from diverse backgrounds to better understand the systems at play.

• Invest in Our Future: Support Black-led church plants, bi-vocational pastors and help Black students with tuition.

• Be a "Repairer of the Breach": Take up the mantle from Isaiah 58:12 and work to restore the foundations of our community.

• Vocalize and Vote: Speak to candidates about their positions and vote for those with a track record of pursuing justice.

• Practice Love and Forgiveness: Do not fight racism with more racism. Follow the biblical principle of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.

WI

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547-8849

Service and Times

Person Worship:  Sunday @ 9:30 A.M.

Sunday @ 9:30 A.M.  www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

& Study:  Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M.

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

Mount Carmel Baptist

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

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

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

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “ The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax 202-338-4958

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

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

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

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

about potential terrorist and public health threats, as well as matters deemed sensitive while the District is under the thumb of President Donald J. Trump and Congress.

Despite some press corps members’ outcry about the law, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) calls it necessary in these times.

“[Council]members have seen how when we're talking about Hill's strategy dealing with Congress and its interference or the White House and its interference, these are conversations that can't be public,” Mendelson said. “It doesn't make sense that the council members would discuss how they're going to deal with President Trump and have it on the front page where Donald Trump can read it.”

At the beginning of the council’s legislative meeting, D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), who voted “present” on the first reading, withdrew an amendment that would’ve changed the expiration date to Oct. 31— a shorter timeline than the 225 days allowed for temporary legislation.

The council would later approve the temporary bill, with D.C. Council members Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) maintaining their longheld opposition to the open meetings changes.

Lewis George didn’t answer a text requesting comment, while Allen, in essence, called the bill a misnomer.

“It’s the opposite of open meetings,” Allen told The Informer. “We don’t have to give public notice. We can go into closed sessions for any reason. It’s too broad.”

Last year, the council approved the Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Act after striking down an amendment that Allen proposed to narrow the legislation so that it only covers meetings about federal government affairs and economic development negotiations. The council has since used its powers under the legislation to periodically conduct closed meetings, the most recent of which took place in February when Congress was advancing a decoupling disapproval resolution.

As a permanent bill makes its way through the council, Allen said he’s in the throes of efforts to ”strike a balance.”

“It’s important from time to time to talk about federal strategy and personnel matters but we have to tell the public that we’re going into a closed session for some level of ac-

5 During its May 5 legislative meeting, the D.C. Council deliberated on permanent youth curfew legislation and support for former Talbert Street SE condominium owners. It’s also gearing up to explore permanent legislation that changes open meetings rules.

countability,” he told The Informer. “I don’t think it’s a heavy lift to disclose a closed session. From a transparency perspective, the government should be accountable.”

The council’s Committee of the Whole conducted a hearing on April 22 about the permanent legislation. It has yet to conduct a mark-up of the bill.

In years past, before the Open Meetings Act modifications, the council had to issue a public notice about meeting— such a public housing tour conducted by the Committee on Housing— where there was a quorum of council members. As Mendelson explained, the council experienced similar hurdles to keep negotiations with Monumental Sports under wraps while adhering to the tenets of the law.

On May 5, Allen and Lewis George stood alone as opponents to the temporary legislation, just weeks after D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) voted “no” during the first reading of the bill, and Parker and D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At large) voted “present.”

Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember White’s office declined comment. A senior council staffer told The Informer that Henderson has concerns about the broad scope of the legislation and the ramifications of holding “no notice” meetings where a range of topics could be discussed without reporters present.

For Mendelson, it’s not quite clear why council members are opposed to the open meetings modifications.

“I don't understand it because every council member signed the introduction, including Councilmember Allen and Councilmember Lewis George,” he told The Informer. “I would say that it's very difficult for members to vote against the concept of an open

WIDOWS from Page 18

fostering entrepreneurial growth, especially through embroidery businesses; training women in efficient dairy and livestock farming practices to ensure the use and sale of products; and furthering digital equity by enhancing women’s digital literacy so they can connect to more markets.

Mashal Khan, head of strategic communications at KCF, has been with the organization for a decade.

Throughout her many years of service, she has admired the way KCF has played an active part in changing people’s mindsets and creating a strong sense of solidarity among the communities they’ve helped.

meeting because members perceive that as being politically unpopular. My experience is that it is not…but that doesn't change how some members perceive that it would be unpopular.”

On Second Reading, the Council Approves Permanent Youth Curfew Legislation with Nadeau’s Amendments

In the hours leading up to the council’s second reading of the Juvenile Curfew Act of 2026, D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) withdrew the emergency youth curfew bill that, if passed, would’ve immediately renewed the mayor and local police curfew and curfew zone implementation powers in time for summer break.

As concerns loom about an intrusive White House and Republican-dominated Congress, Pinto, who long struggled to drum up support for the emergency bill, said she wants to show that the District, and the District alone, can quell mass youth gatherings. WI

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“Over time, we’ve seen the trajectory of the women,” she said. “The transformation that comes from when they initially join,... [when] they’re more shy and muted [to] the end of three or four years when they’re fully confident.”

The strategic communications director has seen how the impacted women are eager to share their successes and skills learned with others who may not have been able to participate in KCF’s programs. She shared the story of a particular instance when a group gathered the money needed to gift two women, who were on the waitlist for one of KCF's initiatives, a high-tech sewing machine. Such an act showed that many women in need believe that no one should be left behind.

“This is just the generosity of the communities I’ve seen. They’re so wholehearted,” she told The Informer. “I think those are the moments [when] the community feels like family. There’s that moment of sisterhood [when] they… feel safe enough to and confide in each other.”

Women, especially widows, need substantial support from each other and organizations like both GFW and KCF, which tirelessly advocate for them

in a world full of gender-based violence and power imbalances. According to the United Nations, approximately 258 women are widowed, with 6 million of those located in Pakistan.

For Saenz Feehan and those at GFW, the definition of widowhood is quite broad, extending further than just a woman whose spouse has passed away. Widows include but are not limited to: women who previously relied on their spouses and were abandoned; those whose spouses have had to leave due to conflict; women whose husbands have been incarcerated; and women who have escaped abusive relationships.

Widowhood can affect the entire familial unit, as some women may have to pull their children out of school due to a lack of funds for education, or resort to arranging their children’s marriages after not being able to take care of them.

Saenz Feehan describes widowhood as the “root cause” for many developmental issues GFW focuses on around the world.

“So, if we don’t acknowledge the particular issues of widows, we’re neglecting part of the population, and therefore will not be able to achieve the development goals we’re all seeking to achieve,” Saenz Feehan said.

She hopes that through GFW’s work— which will be amplified once Khudi comes into complete fruition— the stigma that a woman’s life is over once her husband dies or leaves will cease to exist.

“Women have the right to continue with their lives once their husband is not there, and continue supporting their families and take ownership of their future,” Saenz Feehan told The Informer. “My biggest hope is to be able to support the women [who] are in need and come to us with their ideas and their hopes.” WI

SPORTS from Page 30

ond consecutive double-double, making her and Iriafen first Mystics teammates since 2003 to open a season with back-to-back double-doubles.

Guard Sonia Citron finished the day with 17 points, hitting 9-of-10 free throws, along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Guard Georgia Amoore recorded a game-high-tying seven assists, which tied for second-most assists in Mystics home debut history for rookies.

Despite the loss, the Washington Mystics showed tremendous promise and toughness, offering an early glimpse of this franchise’s growth with the youngest roster in the league.

“We might get beat and we got beat today, but we didn’t get bullied,” said Mystics Head Coach Sydney Johnson. “It’s togetherness. That’s got to be the way we roll here in [Washington]. That’s just who we are. But there’s some toughness too. That’s got to be in our DNA as well.”

The Washington Mystics will next open a four-game road trip facing the Indiana Fever on Friday May 15. Tip-Off is set for 7:30pm on Ion.

WI

(WI File Photo/Robert. R. Roberts)

5 Rookie guard Rori Harmon works to make a play in the Mystics’ May 10 home opener, where they lost by three points. (Jonae Guest/The Washington Informer)

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 272

Endalew Kebede Delegassa Decedent

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

Eleni Dinkalem, whose address is 7440 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Endalew Kebede Delegassa who died on 1/9/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/30/2026. 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 10/30/2026, 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: 4/30/2026

Eleni Dinkalem

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 000428

Elizabeth Jane Whitfield Braxton Decedent

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

Patricia A. Braxton, whose address is 4105 13th Street, NE, Washington, DC, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elizabeth Jane Whitfield Braxton who died on 2/20/2026 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 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Patricia A. Braxton 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 000402

Evie T. Ellis

Decedent

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

Stephen Ellis, whose address is 5112 Bass Pl., SE Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Evie T. Ellis who died on February 24, 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 10/30/2026. 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 10/30/2026, 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: 4/30/2026

Stephen Ellis

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 000444

Anthony M. Butler Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. Probate Law DC 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

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

Deborah D. Boddie, whose address is 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anthony M. Butler who died on 2/26/2026 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 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Deborah D. Boddie 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 000373

Thomas S. Fulford Jr. Decedent

Sharon Legall, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

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

Thomas Fulford III, whose address is 154 Eagleton Circle, Moyock NC 27958, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Thomas S. Fulford Jr. who died on July 8, 2016 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/30/2026. 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 10/30/2026, 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: 4/30/2026

Thomas Fulford 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 ADM 000460

Albert Alston Decedent

James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney

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

Alma L. Alston, whose address is 17 Underwood Place, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Albert Alston who died on January 20, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Alma L. Alston 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 000310

George A. Resper Decedent

Damon Adams 10770 Columbia Pike., Suite 300 Silver Spring, MD 20901 Attorney

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

Susie Ann McFadden-Resper, whose address is 2117 Young St., SE Washington DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of George A. Resper who died on February 4, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/30/2026. 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 10/30/2026, 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: 4/30/2026

Susie Ann McFadden-Resper 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 000445

Nathaniel M. Gant Sr. Decedent

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

Shanima M. Parker, whose address is 5661 3rd Street NE, #202, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nathaniel M. Gant Sr. who died on March 8, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Shanima M. Parker 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 000441

Teretha Victoria Jones Decedent

David A. Lucas, Esq. 200A Monroe St., Suite 110 Rockville, MD 20850 Attorney

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

Troy DeMarco Slay, whose address is 7100 Earl Dr., District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Teretha Victoria Jones who died on 1/31/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Troy DeMarco Slay 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 000458

Robert N. Felder aka Robert Nicholas Felder aka Robert Nicolas Felder Decedent

Bradley A. Thomas, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006-1631 Attorney

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

Ronald W. Felder, whose address is 15405 Wylie Road, Brandywine MD 20613, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert N. Felder aka Robert Nicholas Felder aka Robert Nicolas Felder who died on 3/1/2026 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 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Ronald W. Felder

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 000454

Harry Dash, Jr. Decedent

Scott L. Little, Esq.

PO Box 1057 Upper Marlboro, MD 20773

Attorney

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

Aaron Dash, whose address is 901 Karlson Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20783, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harry Das, Jr who died on 11/28/2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000390

Renee Yvette McKenzie

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 Renee Yvette McKenzie who died on January 31, 2022 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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:

5/7/2026

Kevin Judd 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 000585

Anthony M. Lawson aka Anthony McKay Lawson Decedent

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

Damon Anthony Lawson, whose address is 3706 Parkwood St., Brentwood MD 20722, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anthony M. Lawson aka Anthony McKay Lawson who died on March 3, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: May 7, 2026

Damon Anthony Lawson 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 000471

Patricia Antionette Butler Decedent

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

Larry A. Butler, whose address is 4209 19th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Patricia Antionette Butler who died on 3/9/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Larry A. Butler 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 000436

Irvin O. Kemp

Decedent

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

Gary Kemp, whose address is 1391 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Unit 243, Washington, DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Irvin O. Kemp who died on April 5, 2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Gary Kemp 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 000451

Theresa Young Decedent

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

Zanielle Davis, whose address is 1718 Shamrock Ave., Capitol Heights, MD 20743, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Theresa Young who died on 3/24/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Zanielle Davis 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 000438

Marie A. Jenkins Decedent

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

Debra J. Tyler, whose address is 1323 5th Street, NW, Apt. #201, Washington DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Marie A. Jenkins who died on 11/29/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

Debra J. Tyler 1323 5th St. NW, #201 Washington, DC 20001 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 000478

Lula Manning Tatum Decedent

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

Isaiah Walker, whose address is 8 Q Street, NE, Washington DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lula Manning Tatum who died on March 28, 2026 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Isaiah Walker 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 000426

Mary Delores Coates aka Mary D. Coates aka Mary Delores M. Coates Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 440 Washington DC 20015 Attorney

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

James A. Miller and Deneen M. Miller, whose addresses are 308 Madison Street, NW, Washington DC 20011 & 218 Hibiscus Way Downingtown PA 19335, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Mary Delores Coates aka Mary D. Coates aka Mary Delores M. Coates who died on 11/20/2017 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 11/7/2026. 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 11/7/2026, 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: 5/7/2026

James A. Miller Deneen M. Miller

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 000473

Gregory A. Ward Decedent

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

Daniel Huertas Rivera, whose address is 850 50th Place NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gregory A. Ward who died on January 15, 2026 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Daniel Huertas Rivera 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 000439

Charles Wesley Hall, Sr. Decedent

Melinda M. Bolling, Esq. 2108 31st Street, SE Washington, DC 20020

Attorney

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

Mildred W. Hall, whose address is 1333 Q Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles Wesley Hall, Sr. who died on 2/9/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Mildred W. Hall 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 000291

Harriet Scott Decedent

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

DeWana Comer King, whose address is 5705 Woodlawn Gable Dr., Apartment G, Alexandria VA 22309, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harriet Scott who died on September 4, 1991 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

DeWana Comer King Personal Representative TRUE

Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000419

Samuel P. Williams Decedent

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

Melinda D. Goode, whose address is 800 Southern Ave SE #1116, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Samuel P. Williams who died on January 26, 2026 without a Will and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Melinda D. Goode

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 000091

Gabriela Fitwe Asres-Yesuneh Decedent

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

Sophie Yesuneh, whose address is 4005 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #9904, Washington, DC 20016, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gabriela Fitwe Asres-Yesuneh who died on July 21, 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Sophie Yesuneh 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 000465

Rose A. Butler Decedent

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

Mario Rojas, whose address is 750 Burns Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rose A. Butler who died on 3/2/2025 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Mario Rojas

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 001379

Edward Earl Ivey, Sr. aka Edward E. Ivey, Sr. Decedent

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

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

Montina I. Wood-McAbee, whose address is 733 Saint Michaels Drive, Bowie, MD 20721, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Earl Ivey, Sr. aka Edward E. Ivey, Sr. who died on May 12, 1997 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Montina I. Wood-McAbee 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 000282

Magdalene Edwards

Decedent

Murray D. Scheel

DC Bar Pro Bono Center 901 4th Street NW Washington, DC 20001

Attorney

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

Blane Tillman, whose address is 311 East Sterner St., Philadelphia PA 19134, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Magdalene Edwards who died on 8/15/1986 without a Will. 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Blane Tillman 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 000058

May 8, 2003

Date of Death

Doris Vaughn Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Charles R. King whose address is 8701 Char Court, Laurel, MD 20708 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Doris Vaughn, deceased, by the Southern Maryland Hospital Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 11/6/2024.

Service of process may be made upon Katie Eaddy 97 Darrington Street, SW, Washington, DC 20032 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate: 2324 2nd Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. 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: 5/14/2026

Charles R. King

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 FEP 000055

May 18, 2022 Date of Death

John A. Waller, Sr. Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Benetta B. Waller whose address is 2217 Falling Creek Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20904 was appointed personal representative of the estate of John A. Waller, Sr., deceased, by the Orphans Court for Montgomery County, State of Maryland, on November 10, 2022.

Service of process may be made upon John A. Waller, Jr. 3130 Cherry Rd NE, Washington DC 20018 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate: 3130 Cherry Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018. 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: 5/14/2026

Benetta B. 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 000480

Constance Anita Crowe Decedent

Sharon Legall, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

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

Peggy Crowe, whose address is 4907 A Street, SE. Apt 7, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Constance Anita Crowe who died on April 7, 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Peggy Crowe Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 00470

Carmen Eliam Decedent

Sarah Bessell

700 14th St., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005

Attorney

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

Adrien Canel, whose address is Hildastrasse 5, 8004, Zurich, Switzerland, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Carmen Eliam who died on March 8, 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 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Adrien Canel

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 000434

Anwari Baiyina Aqeel

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

Monte Prillaman, whose address is 5205 Leesburg Pike, Apt. 1413, Falls Church, VA 22041, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anwari Baiyina Aqeel who died on August 1, 2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Monte Prillaman 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 000467

Betty G. Blythe Decedent

Ethel Mitchell

8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

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

Karen B. Whiteside, whose address is 36 Little River Road, Laurel, MD 20724, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Betty G. Blythe who died on 9/18/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/14/2026. 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 11/14/2026, 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: 5/14/2026

Karen B. Whiteside Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

CLASSIFIED

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ASANTE/ASIAMAH from Page 24

are more likely to come out of accounts held by people who already have lower balances and less widespread access to plans.

When hardship withdrawals show up in the national data, they are drawing on very different kinds of balance sheets. For many White households, a withdrawal may come from one of several retirement accounts and sits alongside other assets; for many Black and Hispanic households, it is often a raid on the only formal wealth-building account they have.

These trade-offs extend beyond workplace plans. Social Security, which constitutes a much larger share of retirement income for Black retirees than for White retirees, provides 72 percent of income on average and serves as the only source of income for two in five African American retiree households age 65 or older receiving benefits. This

from Page 24

It doesn't take a study to see how Louisiana v. Callais will impact Black voter representation in Congress; we can look at the arms race to redistrict the South that took place within days of the decision.

The editorial closed by saying, "The Court's Callais ruling may result in less racial polarization to the extent that both parties will have to compete more vigorously for minority voters rather than packing them into majority-minority districts for partisan gain."

CROWELL from Page 24

were generated in predominantly Black and Latino communities, raising questions of equity and disparate impact.

In part, the coalition letter states, "Black and Latino communities typically lack access to small business capital due to unaddressed systemic discrimination. The answer is not to lend at predatory rates as Enova does. Underserved communities should not be subject to such high, predatory costs. … Products that increase indebtedness, drive borrowers out of the banking system, and disproportionately harm communities of color are not a public benefit under any reasonable regulatory construction of that term. The Federal Reserve's review must account for the quality and cost of credit being offered, not merely its availability."

The letter was signed on behalf of the Legal Defense Fund, NAACP, and the

reliance also forces difficult trade-offs between immediate needs and longterm security. Black and Hispanic workers are more likely to claim benefits as soon as they are eligible, often because physically demanding jobs, health problems, unstable employment, or a lack of other savings make it hard to keep working. Claiming early permanently reduces monthly benefits, cuts that can reach roughly 25 to 30 percent of the full benefit amount, and those losses fall hardest on workers with lower lifetime earnings and shorter life expectancy, conditions that disproportionately describe Black workers.

How the Racial Wealth Divide Deepens

Retirement Insecurity

What this data ultimately reveal is not simply a pattern of financial stress, but the deep structural consequences

As we see with states immediately rushing to eliminate any competition in their newly drawn maps, it's clear that the real fantasy is both parties competing for minority voters.

Louisiana went as far as to cancel its primary elections to redraw a map that could potentially eliminate all of its Black districts and Tennessee created a map that establishes a one-party system that eliminates the only sitting Black member of Congress the state has.

No one claims that today resembles 1965 Selma in form. But the data show that federal oversight mat-

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).

And this January, CRL released a research report, Lost Opportunities: How OppFi Traps Borrowers in Unaffordable Debt. CRL's analysis of OppFi's transactional data uncovered examples of borrowers caught in an unaffordable cycle of loan repayment, including instances of refinancing two to three months after taking out an installment loan ranging from $500 to $5,000 with interest rates up to 195% APR.

"This national bank affiliation scheme would enrich a handful of rogue lenders looking to evade state interest rate limits so they can siphon millions of dollars in excess fees from consumers' wallets," said Ellen Harnick, executive vice president at CRL.

She said the findings show that OppFi's lending does not serve commu-

of the racial wealth divide. For Black households, retirement accounts are not one component of a diversified portfolio — they are often the primary, and sometimes only, source of longterm financial security. When those accounts are tapped early, the impact is not marginal; it is foundational.

The median Black household holds roughly one-third to one-half the retirement savings of White households, and is far less likely to have access to multiple wealth-building assets such as home equity, investments, or inheritances. This means that a hardship withdrawal is not just a temporary bridge — it is a permanent reduction in already limited retirement resources. Each withdrawal compounds over time, reducing not only current balances but also future growth through lost compound interest.

WI

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tered, and its removal disproportionately burdened minority voters.

Callais was yet another nail in the coffin of the Voting Rights Act. It co-signs the dilution of the votes of Black communities, which may result in the reduction of Black congressional representation in numbers worse than after Reconstruction.

Calling this reality a "fantasy" is not analysis; it is evasion, and it only underscores the urgency of restoring the protections that once enforced them.

WI

nity needs, and approval would allow the bank to export predatory consumer loans to many more states, putting tens of thousands of borrowers at risk of falling into extended debt traps.

More recently, the National Consumer Law Center also weighed in on the proposed bank charter.

"President Trump should not allow OppFi to become a national bank and spread high-interest rate pain across the country," said Lauren Saunders, a NCLC senior attorney. "At a time of an affordability crisis, the Trump administration is considering allowing new national banks that would charge triple-digit interest rates, well above state interest rate limits approved by voters and legislatures in 45 states."

Bank charters provide private companies with public benefit. They must only be granted when lending is fair, not predatory. WI

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MORIAL

PITTMAN from Page 25

I consider it a gift, even though it is a requirement for the instructor to honor ARC students' confidentiality and adopt an ideal approach to support. Afterward, I sought support from my village approach.

Diagnosis did not change me; it finally opened the door to resources that had previously been out of reach. I greatly improved my ability to advocate for myself and pursue personal growth.

Opportunities for those of us who are undiagnosed and misdiagnosed neurodivergent seemed nearly nonexistent, contributing to a cycle of insecurity and self-doubt that I determined to break. These experiences as a child and student taught me not to be seen, but to be heard.

During adulthood, I received an accurate diagnosis after a three-hour in-depth assessment by a behavioral

JEALOUS from Page 25

wanted to know what would happen if customers learned it provided second-chance employment for formerly incarcerated people. Customers said they would be more likely to shop there. The company stood to gain market share, not lose it.

People were ready to believe in second chances. Politics just had to catch up.

Everyone signed off on taking the risk. The campaign made the ad. The name said it all: "Be Bold, Change the System."

There was Chris, looking into the camera, telling the truth. No hiding. No sugarcoating. No mug shot. No monster. Just a man. A Black man. A Baltimore man. A man who had caused harm, paid a terrible price, and fought to become a force for good.

It was the anti-Willie Horton ad.

The Willie Horton ad said Black men are the reason to fear mercy. The Chris Wilson ad said Black men are

health specialist. It is a crucial moment that validated my experiences and provided the clarity and structure I needed. The neurodivergent diagnosis did not reposition who I am; eventually, it provided opportunities to resources that had long been inaccessible. I significantly enhanced my abilitW to advocate for myself and pursue personal growth. Before this revelation, opportunities for those of us who are undiagnosed and neurodivergent seemed nearly nonexistent, contributing to a cycle of insecurity and self-doubt that I was determined to break.

Systemic Misdiagnosis and Inequity

Furthermore, a late diagnosis of neurodivergence among women of color reflects systemic inequality rather than individual failure. Dagostin

among the reasons to believe in redemption.

And it worked. The ad drew roughly 1 million clicks in the first 24 hours. It sent Bernie's support up fast in Illinois. It was used powerfully in Michigan and Missouri. It moved people because it trusted them.

Chris later received a book contract. "The Master Plan" told how he refused to let prison be the end of his life. That work became the basis for an education program that has trained more than 100,000 incarcerated people.

Today, Chris is a celebrated artist whose paintings sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

That is what Willie Horton politics never wants America to see. It wants to freeze a Black man forever at the worst moment of his life.

Chris Wilson proves something else. Redemption does not erase accountability. It fulfills it.

Ten years later, the lesson is urgent. Willie Horton politics is still with us. It has changed targets. To-

models have historically been based on male-centered research, creating gaps in recognizing neurodivergent traits in women, especially women of color (Young et al., 2020). As a result, conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remain consistently underdiagnosed in girls and women.

Characteristics, such as frequent sensory sensitivity and social withdrawal, are often misinterpreted as behavioral or emotional problems rather than recognized as neurological differences. Culturally, expectations placed on women of color, such as emotional resilience and compliance, can further mask these traits, delaying recognition and diagnosis. WI

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day, the scary Black man in the old ad has too often become the scary brown immigrant in the new one. Campaigns still take one terrible crime, attach it to a whole people, and tell voters mercy, due process and fairness will get them killed. The faces change. The formula does not.

The Chris Wilson ad, and the life he has led since, prove the best way to combat racist, authoritarian propaganda is with the bold and transformative truth.

Bold enough to believe accountability and redemption can live in the same sentence. Bold enough to trust voters with the full humanity of a Black man who changed his life. Bold enough to bury the politics Willie Horton made famous — and build a politics worthy of the people of every color we too often leave behind.

In America, the color of trust is the color of the blood in all our hearts — red and blue, flowing together as one. WI

navigating fragile immigration statuses and the invisible burden of trauma, which acts as a catalyst for mental health crises and rising dropout rates.

The economic toll is equally devastating. Global disruptions, such as the maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, trigger inflation and trade instability that directly affect a student's ability to pay tuition. When home is forever altered by violence, the path to

reintegration disappears, leaving students in a state of permanent uncertainty.

HBCUs, born from a mission to uplift the marginalized, must now expand their vision as international students cannot rely solely on social adjustment programs. True institutional support requires leveraging the HBCU Partners Act to bolster international student affairs. At this critical time, what becomes a necessity are real-time policy updates, efficient trauma-informed wellness centers, and

academic continuity plans that allow for temporary leave during crises. Most importantly, international students require emergency financial assistance for those whose lives have been upended by global instability.

As the United States engages in military actions that have the potential to unsettle global communities, HBCUs must ensure that fear does not silence the voices, ambitions, and contributions international students bring to their campuses. WI

BAILEY from Page 25