Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks: 2024 AFRO Person of the Year
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com
In honor of her unwavering dedication to public service and transformative leadership, Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks has been named the 2024 AFRO Person of the Year. Alsobrooks, a visionary with a commitment to equity, officially became the first Black person to represent the state of Maryland in the U.S. Senate on Jan. 3.
“I’m honored to be named AFRO Person of the Year. As the daughter of two working class parents, I was
taught to care for others and to fight for the American Dream. I have dedicated my life’s work to Maryland families, and I’m proud to continue serving on their behalf,” said Alsobrooks.
The swearing in is the latest milestone in a career defined by firsts.
In 2010, Alsobrooks became the first woman to serve as state’s attorney for Prince George’s County, where she prioritized victim advocacy and community-based crime prevention. Her election as county executive in 2018 further cemented her status as a pioneering figure in Maryland politics. She’s ready to
make change via her seat in the U.S. Senate and colleagues, community members and fellow elected officials are overjoyed to see what she has in store for the state of Maryland and the nation at large.
Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Md.- 41) believes Alsobrooks’ election into the U.S. Senate is a reflection of the work she’s been doing for nearly three decades.
“I’m incredibly proud of Senator Angela Alsobrooks for making history as the first Black U.S. Senator from Maryland. This accomplishment is not just a personal victory for Senator Alsobrooks, but a monu-
mental moment for our entire state and country,” said Ruff. “Her rise to this office is a testament to her hard work, integrity and unwavering commitment to serving the people of Maryland.”
There is much to be anticipated from Alsobrooks. Her ability to connect with diverse audiences and her problem-solving skills have made her a sought-after leader. Earlier this year, Alsobrooks spoke with the AFRO while on the campaign trail and noted that education, affordable housing and reproductive rights are at the top of her agenda.
“The first piece of legislation
that I will co-sponsor is the Women’s Health Protection Act, because I believe that we should codify in federal law the right to access abortion care and the right to offer it,” Alsobrooks told the AFRO. “This is a fight that I think we have to take on, because it is not just abortion care, reproductive rights and freedoms– we’re talking about contraception that is now under attack by this Republican Party.”
The journey ahead of Alsobrooks is one that both she and her supporters are certain she can handle. Her results-oriented record speaks for it-
Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. president and Nobel winner, dies at 100
By Bill Barrow
The Associated Press
Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old.
The Carter Center said the 39th president died late Dec. 29, more than a year after entering hospice care at his home in Plains, Ga., where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.
A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia.
“If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald
Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978.
But his coalition splintered under doubledigit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election.
Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn cofounded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
The AFRO is proud to announce Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks as the 2024 AFRO Person of the Year. This honor comes as she begins serving the country as the first Black person ever to represent the state of Maryland in the U.S. Senate.
AP Photo/John McConnico Former President and Nobel Peace laureate Jimmy Carter, shown here Dec. 13, 2002, is remembered as a president with a heart for the people. Carter died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100 years old.
Alabama profits from prisoners who work at McDonald’s but deems them too dangerous for parole
By Robin Mcdowell and Margie Mason The Associated Press
A storm was looming when the inmate serving 20 years for armed robbery was assigned to transport fellow prisoners to their jobs at private manufacturers supplying goods to companies like Home Depot and Wayfair. It didn’t matter that Jake Jones once had escaped or that he had failed two drug and alcohol tests while in lockup — he was unsupervised and technically in charge.
By the time Jones was driving back to the work release center with six other incarcerated workers, it was pelting rain. Jones had a reputation for driving fast and some of his passengers said he was racing along the country road, jamming to music in his earbuds. Suddenly, the transport van hit a dip and swerved on the wet pavement, slamming into a tree.
Two men died after being thrown out of the van. And Jones, who was critically hurt and slumped over the blaring horn, had to be cut out of the vehicle. As the other men staggered into the storm to flag down help, they wondered: Why would the Alabama Department of Corrections place their lives in Jones’ hands?
“They knew he had a propensity to drink,” said Shawn Wasden, who survived the crash. “And they put him behind the wheel of a van
anyway.”
No state has a longer, more profit-driven history of contracting prisoners out to private companies than Alabama. With a sprawling labor system that dates back more than 150 years — including the brutal convict leasing era that replaced slavery — it has constructed a template for the commercialization of mass incarceration.
Best Western, Bama Budweiser and Burger King are among the more than 500 businesses to lease incarcerated workers from one of the most violent, overcrowded and unruly prison systems in the U.S. in the past five years alone, The Associated Press found as part of a two-year investigation into prison labor. The cheap, reliable labor force has generated more than $250 million for the state since 2000 through money garnished from prisoners’ paychecks.
Most jobs are inside facilities, where the state’s inmates — who are disproportionately Black — can be sentenced to hard labor and forced to work for free doing everything from mopping floors to laundry. But more than 10,000 inmates have logged a combined 17 million work hours outside Alabama’s prison walls since 2018, for entities like city and county governments and businesses that range from major car-part manufacturers and meat-processing plants to
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distribution centers for major retailers like Walmart, the AP determined.
While those working at private companies can at least earn a little money, they face possible punishment if they refuse, from being denied family visits to being sent to higher-security prisons, which are so dangerous that the federal government filed a lawsuit four years ago that remains pending, calling the treatment of prisoners unconstitutional.
Though they make at least $7.25 an hour, the state siphons 40 percent off the top of all wages and also levies fees, including $5 a day for rides to their jobs and $15 a month for laundry.
Turning down work can jeopardize chances of early release in a state that last year granted parole to only 8 percent of eligible prisoners — an all-time low, and among the worst rates nationwide — though that number more than doubled this year after public outcry.
“It is a symptom of a completely, utterly broken system,” said Chris England, an Alabama lawmaker pushing for criminal justice reform.
Many prisoners work 40 hours a week outside their facilities and then get weekend passes, allowing them to go home without any supervision or electronic monitoring. So when prisoners are then told they’re too dangerous to be permanently released, England said, it looks like “another way to create a cheap labor force that is easily exploited and abused.”
Arthur Ptomey, who has worked at various private companies over the past six years, said he was denied parole in 2022 after losing his job at KFC, where he had complained about his low wages. A full-time cook, he was upset that even teenagers working the register were outearning him despite the fact that he had worked there for over a year.
Ptomey is one of 10 current and former prisoners who filed a class-action
federal lawsuit last year against state officials, local governments and businesses like McDonald’s and Wendy’s franchises, contending they perpetuate a system of forced labor akin to a “modern-day form of slavery” that keeps the best workers from being released.
He currently works at Progressive Finishes, one of the state’s biggest contractors of prison labor, which says on its website that it has served as a third-party supplier to automotive companies
15 years or longer.
“Many choose work to being confined to a facility all day,” Betts said. “In many cases, it is a matter of quality of life. But ultimately, the inmate chooses and is not penalized for nonparticipation.”
Alabama’s lockups are chronically understaffed, and it’s not unusual for prisoners to work outside their facilities without any correctional oversight. And in some cases, there is no supervision of any kind, which has led to
“It is a symptom of a completely, utterly broken system ... another way to create a cheap labor force that is easily exploited and abused.”
including Honda, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Volvo, Chrysler and Hyundai.
“For a lot of these jobs, the attitude is the same … if you don’t meet our expectations, we’ll just call for somebody else,” Ptomey said while on a 48-hour home pass at his mother’s house. “I’m grateful to come out and work, but I ain’t come in here to be a slave.”
Kelly Betts of the corrections department defended the work programs, calling them crucial to the success of inmates preparing to leave prison. But she acknowledged that even those sentenced to life without the possibility of parole are eligible for so-called work release jobs.
That’s because in Alabama the department determines which prisoners are employed off site largely based on how well they’ve behaved behind bars, instead of what put them there. Those working among the civilian population include men and women with records for violent crimes like murder and assault. Many are serving
develop similar policies. Best Western also said it does not participate in personnel matters at its independently owned and operated hotels. Hyundai said it knew some of its suppliers hired inmates for jobs but was not involved in the decision to do so. Honda said it was not aware of any business relationship with Progressive Finishes, which is common with companies and thirdparty suppliers.
As part of its investigation, the AP analyzed 24 years of Alabama corrections department monthly statistical reports to calculate the amount of money generated via contracts with private companies and deductions taken out of prisoners’ paychecks.
Reporters also parsed information from more than 83,000 pages of data obtained through a public records request, including the names of inmates involved in Alabama’s work programs. In addition to working for public entities — everywhere from landfills to the governor’s mansion — they were leased out to at least 500 private businesses between 2018 and mid-March 2024. That information was crossreferenced with an online state database, detailing the crimes that landed people in prison, their sentences, time served, race and goodtime credits earned and revoked. The AP analysis faced limitations because some workplace entries were insufficiently defined. Few prisoner advocates believe outside jobs should be abolished. In Alabama, for instance, those shifts can offer a reprieve from the excessive violence inside the state’s institutions. Last year, and in the first six months of 2024, an Alabama inmate died behind bars nearly every day, a rate five times the national average.
escapes, often referred to as “walkaways.”
Asked how prisoners are chosen to work without monitoring, Betts said, “Each inmate’s situation is unique, and each inmate is evaluated on his or her own record.”
Most companies did not respond to requests for comment, but the handful that did said they had no direct involvement with work release programs.
Home Depot said it would investigate its connection to outdoor furniture maker Wadley Holdings, where some men in the van crash were working. It said it prohibits suppliers from using prison labor and would take action if policy violations are found.
McDonald’s said in a statement it does not permit the use of prison labor within its supply chain or at its corporate-owned restaurants and is “committed to promoting ethical employment practices.” The fast food giant added that while franchisees operate independently, they are expected to respect human rights and are encouraged to
But advocates say incarcerated workers should be paid fair wages, given the choice to work without threat of punishment, and granted the same workplace rights and protections guaranteed to other Americans.
Prisoners nationwide cannot organize, protest or strike for better conditions. They also aren’t typically classified as employees, whether they’re working inside correctional facilities or for outside businesses through prison contracts or work release programs. And unless they are able to prove “willful negligence,” it is almost impossible to successfully sue when incarcerated workers are hurt or killed.
Though the Alabama corrections department said it could not provide information about the number of prisoners who died while on outside jobs, the AP tracked down family members of prisoners who lost their lives. One man was killed after being sucked into a machine at a plant operated by massive poultry processor Koch Foods and others died after being struck by vehicles while picking up trash or doing road maintenance on the side of busy highways.
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AP Photo
Arthur Ptomey stands for a photo at his mother’s home in Birmingham, Ala. Ptomey was on work release for several private companies over six years, then denied parole after refusing to take on shifts over a wage dispute.
Brutal body cam footage shows beating of Robert L. Brooks in handcuffs one day before death
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
Video evidence of the brutal beating of Robert L. Brooks has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.
On Dec. 27 New York Attorney General Letitia James released body camera footage recorded during the grisly beating of Brooks, an inmate who was housed at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, N.Y. before his death.
The footage shows officers punching and kicking Robert L. Brooks on Dec. 9 in a medical examination room at the prison just hours before he was pronounced dead.
During the encounter, the 43-year-old’s hands are seen handcuffed behind his back the entire time. As he takes blow after blow, blood runs from injuries to his face. Brooks can be seen taking forceful punches, provoked by nothing more than him sitting on the edge of a medical gurney, trying to catch his breath and calmly speaking. He was later taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of Dec. 10.
“Law enforcement professionals must be held to the highest standards of accountability, and I am committed to providing New Yorkers with the transparency they deserve,” said James in a statement on Dec. 21. “On behalf of the Office of the Attorney General, I offer my sincere condolences to Mr. Brooks’ family and loved ones.”
The body camera footage comes from four officers, Sergeant Glenn Trombly, Correction Officer Michael Along, Correction Officer Michael Fisher and Correction Officer Matthew Galliher, who were involved in the incident. The videos were released in line with James’ directive that footage obtained by her office during special investigations be released to the public to increase transparency and trust. Though the attack was recorded, audio is not available, as the officers failed to activate their cameras during the assault. As a result, evidence of the beating is only available be-
According to the Office of the New York State Attorney General, Brooks was being transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility on the day of the beating. He was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault, which started in 2017.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement expressing her indignation for the fatal attack.
“Nobody deserves to get killed, especially by correctional officers…
cause the officer’s devices were recording in “standby mode.”
Brooks’ son, Robert Lee Brooks Jr., took to social media to denounce the killing of his father.
“Nobody deserves to get killed, especially by correctional officers…they are supposed to protect,” wrote Brooks Jr. in a Facebook post on Dec. 17. “They are trying to hide and clean up evidence. They didn’t think my dad was loved by many. We are not going to let you all rock. We are coming for justice.”
and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity.
The common observation that he was better as an expresident rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time.
Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills
“Like all New Yorkers, I was outraged and horrified after seeing footage of the senseless killing of Robert Brooks,” said Hochul in a Dec. 27 statement. “I have been clear that it is the responsibility of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to provide appropriate care and protection for those in its custody, and I will not tolerate anyone who violates that responsibility.”
Following Brooks’ death, Hochul said she ordered an immediate and full investigation. She then instructed DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III to fire the 14 corrections officers who were involved in the incident.
“The state of New York has zero tolerance for individuals who break the law, and I am committed to holding everyone involved fully
campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an electionyear Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing.
The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief” and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats.
But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America’s
dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and non-Whites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders.
Emphasizing human rights, he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing.
But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll.
When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11 percent, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.”
Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, even though he never used that word.
accountable. Once again, I want to offer my deepest condolences to Mr. Brooks’ family and loved ones as they grieve his tragic death,” Hochul continued. “I am grateful to the attorney general and her team, our state police and everyone working with us to ensure justice is served in this case.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, also issued a statement on the videos of Brooks’ beating, likening it to other African Americans who have died at the hands of officers.
“The footage of Robert Brooks’ death is as horrifying as what we saw when George Floyd, Tyre Nichols and countless other Black men and women have been killed by law enforcement. These officers clearly thought they were within their right to hit Brooks in the stomach with the heel of a boot, level punches
at his face or torso and throw him around like a ragdoll—all with his hands behind his back,” said Sharpton, in a Dec. 27 press release. “They were wrong. It is disturbing that some of them had the sense to smile and smirk while a human being was forced against a wall by three officers just a few feet away. Their actions in this tape not only justify their firing but should merit appropriate criminal charges.”
Sharpton also praised Hochul’s and James’ “swift” action in addressing the incident.
“This is a signal to the rest of the nation that leaders have a sworn duty to respond to unspeakable acts such as these for the sake of those murdered and their families,” said Sharpton. “My hope is that the criminal justice system will see this case through and ensure justice for Robert Brooks and his loved ones.”
Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics. Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural White and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.”
Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.
After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a topsecret military rescue attempt failed.
Carter also had to reverse
course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Though historians would later credit Carter’s diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states.
After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.”
“I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”
Contributors include former AP staffer Alex Sanz in Atlanta.
Officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, N.Y. beat inmate Robert Brooks on Dec. 9 hours before his death at a hospital on Dec. 10. Officials released body camera footage of the incident on Dec. 27. Shown here, footage from Sergeant Glenn Trombly’s body cam, which recorded in “standby mode” as the attack took place.
Photo courtesy of Meta (Facebook) / Robert Lee JR Brooks
Robert Brooks’ loved ones are expressing outrage over his Dec. 9 in-custody beating while handcuffed, just hours before his Dec. 10 death. The 43-year-old was nearly seven years into a 12-year sentence when he was killed.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Former President Jimmy Carter (right) and former first lady Rosalynn Carter help build a Habitat for Humanity house in Violet, La., May 21, 2007. The pair were working on the 1,000th Habitat for Humanity house in the Gulf Coast region since hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
COMMENTARY
Allies or foes? A look at race relations between women voters
By Carmen P. Thompson
Let’s be real — many White women are not friends or allies to Black women. They never have been. That’s the truth, plain and simple. And as Maya Angelou once said: “When someone tells you who they are, believe them.”
Black women, we must believe what White women keep showing us.
On Nov. 5, 53 percent of White women did what they’ve always done: voted for Whiteness.
I thought, foolishly, that the majority of White women might support Kamala Harris’s bid for the presidency. But no — they once again reminded us who they truly are.
Now, Black women are being asked to show up on Jan. 18, 2025 for another Women’s March to protest another Donald Trump presidency. We’re supposed to stand shoulder to shoulder with White women and chant that we won’t go back.
Here’s a suggestion: Just say no.
Tell any White woman who asks you if you’re going that she should protest with her White sisters and mothers and cousins and aunties. She should convince them not to “go back” because 53 percent of them seem just fine with doing so.
And Black women already did the work. We did what the majority of White women refused to do: 92 percent of us said no to putting a convicted felon — who accused Haitians of eating cats and dogs and called for the Central Park 5 to get the death penalty — back in office.
Black women voted for reproductive rights, health and justice. What did White women do?
As Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, recently said, “There was a
children so they wouldn’t have to “suffer” such an indignity. They made Black women and girls sleep at the foot of their beds, catering to their whims — all while they feigned helplessness and basked in the power of their positions as slaveholding mistresses. They treated Black women as mammies, caretakers, and playthings for their children, never considering that we had children of our own — children we could barely mother because of them. Despite all this, during the Suffrage movement, White women had the audacity to expect Black women to advocate for their right to vote.
Getting the right to vote in 1920 didn’t cleanse racism from the hearts of White women. In 1923, as Brent Staples pointed out in the New York Times, “When the black suffragist and civil rights leader Mary Church Terrell petitioned her White sisters for help, they responded that the disenfranchisement of black women was a race problem — not a gender problem — and beyond the movement’s writ.”
majority of White women who voted against democracy, against women’s interests, for a racist, for somebody who is proud to have taken away our right to choose.”
White women weren’t a friend or ally when their husbands were raping our ancestors. Instead, they cruelly and spitefully took out their frustrations with their White husbands on Black women. They demanded the inhumane beatings of Black women and insisted on the sale of mixed-race children — their husband’s children — because they looked more like him than their own. Those children, enslaved by White women, were often given to their daughters and sons as “gifts,” forcing them to serve their halfsiblings and perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.
It was White women who made Black women breastfeed their
Just a few years later, in 1923, Women of the Ku Klux Klan was formed, and more than 250,000 White women became members in the hate group’s first four months. And I wish White women would spare us their performative tears — those crocodile tears that have historically led to Black men being lynched by White private citizens or killed by police. White women won’t admit it, but they’ve benefited more from affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring than Black women ever have. In every sector, from the womb to the workplace, it’s the labor and suffering of Black women that has brought White women closer to the glass ceiling. But they won’t own up to that.
Meanwhile, Black women have learned the hard way not to trust White women they work with. “Our data tells us that Black women are having their worst experiences when they report to White women,” Cierra Gross, the founder of Caged Bird HR, recently told Notable Careers magazine. Don’t fall for solidarity marches. Don’t fall for blue bracelets and White women’s “check-ins” to see how we are doing. We don’t need fake allyship when White women, who once
Let’s leave Healthy Holly in 2024, shall we?
I have three Google Alerts set up to notify me whenever new content appears online with the keywords “Associated Black Charities,” “Chrissy Thornton,” or “structural racism.” Over the past week, all three have been unusually active.
Structural racism continues to be a critical and newsworthy issue deserving of the constant attention it is getting amidst the current political landscape. My name has surfaced pretty frequently as well, in large part thanks to the commentary I’ve been writing for AFRO American Newspapers. And Associated Black Charities has recently been in the spotlight too - not for the incredible work I think most people would agree that we are doing– but due to a targeted effort by some media outlets to frame a recent grant approval from the Baltimore City Council in a negative light.
Today, one of those alerts pointed me to what might be the most disappointing attempt at journalism I’ve seen related to the organization I am blessed to lead.
By Chisom Okorafor
Rather than focusing on the grant or its potential positive impact on Black communities, the article derailed into tired, outdated narratives dragging Associated Black Charities back to its most chaotic historical moments.
Anyone who has cared enough to observe it has witnessed ABC’s full-scale transformation over the past two years. We’ve restructured operationally, introduced new programming, strengthened existing initiatives, reconnected as advocates for Black community members and stepped into our rightful place as an anchor organization in the Baltimore region. The transformation of ABC as an organization has been intentional and extremely inspiring to many, and we’ve had open visibility into our transition and progress. Yet, some in the media prefer to cling to the past rather than acknowledge the progress and transformation happening today.
Allow me to issue my own “alert” and call this what it is: a willful perpetuation of “structural racism” (there’s that keyword!).
Since some insist on staying stuck in yesteryear, let me set the
As a cost-of-living crisis looms over Americans, one rapidly growing business model explains where some of our disposable income is disappearing: subscriptions. These days, everything from movies to food to dating apps are offering — or in some cases, demanding — a monthly subscription. There are even subscription services to manage and cancel other subscription services, like Rocket Money Premium. According to Forbes, the subscription economy is set to reach $1.5 trillion in 2025. In the digital era, companies use subscription models to lock consumers into perpetually renting content they previously could own — and now they’re raising the rent. Many people underestimate how much of their paycheck gets eaten by subscriptions. According to one 2022 study, consumers
record straight about ABC, its leadership and why the media’s fixation on historical scandal does more harm than good.
Under my leadership, Associated Black Charities has hosted over 100 events and engagement opportunities—both online and in person—in 2024 alone. From community dialogues and capacitybuilding initiatives to workforce development programs and transformative learning experiences, our organization’s presence and impact have been both substantial and deeply felt.
Earlier this year, we conducted a tour with editorial boards at local print and television news outlets to reintroduce them to our work, highlight the relevance of our organization and explore opportunities for collaboration. We issue press releases for every major initiative and actively share the outcomes of our work through social media and email updates. Yet, instead of reporting on the tangible outcomes of our work or the urgency of our fight against structural racism, some media outlets would rather dredge up the Healthy Holly scandal.
I can’t do a deep dive into the
assumed they paid around $86 a month. The actual average was $219. Perhaps that’s because companies count on people forgetting to cancel their subscriptions once they’re finished with the service, unaware it continues to chip away at their paychecks. The problem is only getting worse. Many streaming services, such as Spotify, Paramount+ and Disney+, are hiking prices after cornering the market, leaving users with little recourse but to pay the higher price. As with groceries, housing, and other artificially inflated prices, this sort of corporate profiteering is a major reason why corporate profits have soared while the average consumer is being squeezed tighter and tighter. Companies are also significantly encroaching on users’ freedoms and privacy to protect their subscription profits.
Healthy Holly scenario because it pre-dates me, and honestly, I’ve been too busy toiling daily to raise the profile of an organization that deserves far more than the onedimensional portrayal it gets when aligned in conversation with that debacle. What I do know is that while the organization found itself in the periphery of that investigation, it resulted in no wrongdoing by ABC. That said, I’m not sure which segment of viewers and readers are tantalized by the modern-day mentioning of Healthy Holly in relation to Associated Black Charities. Or, maybe I am. It’s probably the same audience who takes issue with a reputable Black-led, Black-governed and Black-integrated organization receiving grant support from a city that believes in its ability to make an impact on the largest percentage of its population. It’s likely an audience that thrives on the invalidation of Black leadership in our region. It may even be the same audience that took pleasure in the recent caricatures and derogatory portrayals of Black leaders, perpetuating the age-old tradition of weaponizing dehumanizing imagery and
For example, to crack down on password sharing, companies are tracking your IP address to restrict access to the platform outside certain locations. So if you wanted to loan your Netflix account to a friend outside of your household, or even just a child going off to college — practices that were free for years — you’ll have to pony up now. Finally, what happens if these platforms — where people build entire personalized digital libraries — disappear entirely?
My largest Spotify playlist has almost 450 songs on it, constructed carefully from the time I was in middle school. If something happened to Spotify, the loss would be incalculable — the equivalent of the burning of the Library of Alexandria for me and 44 million other Americans that subscribe to Spotify Premium. We’ve heard a lot about young
again, smiled in our faces while clinging to the protection of White male patriarchy and White supremacy — institutions they mothered into existence. This doesn’t mean Black women don’t have work to do to get ready for Trump. In a recent speech, Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition, said, “We gotta talk about how we fight, how we become a fighting formation, how we are able to know that these battles are going to come, that these kind of things are going to be
language to strip Black people of their humanity and reinforce power dynamics.
In today’s article, I was described as a “former real estate investor and motivational speaker” in reference to my role as the leader of Associated Black Charities. While both of these descriptions are technically true—and yes, as a little girl, I dreamed of one day being recognized as a motivational speaker (Mama, I made it!) - the casual dismissal of my broader credentials feels all too familiar.
said, that these kind of attacks are going to be launched. So, let’s focus on keeping ourselves and our community safe, healthy, and united. Let’s figure out what steps we need to take that will benefit Black folks first and foremost because we are firmly in the crosshairs, and 53 percent of White women voted for a man who would all too willingly pull the trigger. This op-ed was originally published by Word in Black.
The article neglected to mention my master’s degree in organizational management or the fact that I sat successfully at the top of two other organizations before joining ABC. It omitted any reference to the boards and commissions on which I serve or the numerous leadership awards and recognitions I’ve earned throughout my career. This context is not hidden - it is readily available alongside any mention of my being a former real estate investor or motivational speaker. Yet, this more comprehensive and relevant part of my story was ignored, perpetuating a pattern of reducing my leadership to a narrow, incomplete narrative. I reject this characterization and see it for what it is: a deliberate attempt to diminish my expertise and authority. This pervasive pattern of dismissiveness toward Black leaders, especially Black women, is no accident—it is intentional.
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people’s anxieties over whether or not they’ll ever be able to own a home. But we don’t hear as much about the attack on other forms of ownership as well. The switch from physical media to digital can be characterized as a massive push by corporations to switch consumers from owning content to renting it. Now that we’re realizing just how much we signed away in the switch to streaming, can we claw back some of those privileges?
The government is taking some steps to protect us. The Biden Administration’s Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule in October that will make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to start one. Under “click to cancel,” if you sign up for something online, you should also be able to cancel easily online — not have to call an 800 number and wait on hold. Meanwhile, you still have other
but
Courtesy photo
Carmen P. Thompson is a historian, author and highly sought expert on race and Whiteness in America. This week, she discusses race relations between Black
By Chrissy Thorton
Chrissy M. Thornton serves as president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. This week, she discusses the transformative work of her organizations –despite the efforts of detractors, hellbent on dredging up past controversies.
Chisom Okorafor is a Henry Wallace Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and a student journalist at the San Francisco Foghorn. This week, she discusses the rising cost of subscriptions.
Courtesy photo
Alsobrooks
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self and shows that she is capable of collaborating with and combatting Republican representatives and their right wing agendas. Alsobrook noted that she’s no stranger to working with opposing sides to assure the people of Maryland and now America, are prioritized at the end of the day.
“I’ve had to work with people I didn’t agree with to get things done. That’s the way that we work,” she said. “In the Senate, I will be prepared to work across the aisle. It’s important that we not demonize people who see an issue differently, but that we are able to find things that we both care about. Look for common ground and issues that we are able to succeed in together. I’ll be looking to work with people who don’t agree with me.”
“From the bottom of my heart I thank each and every Marylander; to serve this state–my hometown is the honor of a lifetime.”
She solidified her stance during her acceptance speech on the evening of Nov. 5, noting that she plans to serve all Marylanders.
“To those Marylanders whose support I’ve yet to earn, I may not have won your vote but I want you to know that I hear your voice and I will be your senator too,” she said.
Alsobrooks told the AFRO she is on a mission to “improve access to health care and education, to build an economy where Marylanders have the opportunity to support their families with dignity, and to fight on Capitol Hill to preserve the liberties this nation promises us.”
Ruff commented on her strong collaborative skills, sharing that Alsobrooks is definitely someone who can bridge the gaps amongst parties to assure the job gets done.
of
“As we face a challenging political landscape with the incoming Republican trifecta, I have every confidence that Senator Alsobrooks will continue to fight tenaciously for the priorities that matter most to our communities,” said Ruff. “From expanding economic opportunity for our most vulnerable populations to protecting our civil rights and securing a sustainable future. Her ability to build bipartisan coalitions, coupled with her deep understanding of the issues that affect working
families, will serve her well as she navigates the complexities of Washington.”
Alsobrooks has been a prominent voice on the national stage, advocating for policies that address systemic inequities and climate resilience. Her selection as AFRO Person of the Year underscores her status as a trailblazer and a source of inspiration for many. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that bold, inclusive leadership can drive change and build a brighter future for all.
“Her strong leadership skills, deep understanding of policy and commitment to her constituents will be key to navigating and achieving her goals. I hope she will continue advocating for equity, economic opportunity and social justice, all while finding ways to build bipartisan support for meaningful legislation,” said Maryland Del. Mike Rogers (D-Md.-32) “Given her track record as Prince George’s County Executive, where she demonstrated an ability to get initiatives completed, I have confidence in her ability to effectively drive change and represent the interests of all Marylanders.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also spoke to Alsobrooks’ work ethic and dedication to serving the people. The first Black governor of the state was one of the Alsobrooks’ first supporters, and he endorsed her in October of 2023 for her new role.
“Angela Alsobrooks has been a dedicated public servant to the people of Prince George’s County for the past six years as county executive and the eight before that as state’s attorney,” said Moore. “We look forward to continuing our work together to uplift Maryland families, protect fundamental freedoms and build a brighter future for our state in her new role as U.S. Senator.”
Alsobrooks pledges to break down barriers, implement change and redefine the future.
“In [2026] America will celebrate its 250th birthday and in all those years over 2,000 people have served in the United States Senate and only three have looked like me,” she said. “I want to salute all of those who came before me, whose sacrifices and stories I will continue to carry with me. From the bottom of my heart I thank each and every Marylander; to serve this state– my hometown, is the honor of a lifetime.”
Richard Parsons, esteemed corporate leader and jazz enthusiast, dies at 76
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
Richard Dean Parsons, a distinguished leader in corporate America renowned for his roles at Time Warner and Citigroup, died Dec. 26 at his Manhattan home. He was 76. Parsons, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015, had scaled back his professional commitments in recent years due to complications from the disease. Lazard, the financial services firm where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. Ronald Lauder, chairman emeritus of Estée Lauder, called Parsons “a colossus in the worlds of business, media, culture and philanthropy.” Parsons resigned from the boards of Lazard and Estée Lauder earlier this month for health reasons, ending a 25-year tenure with the latter company.
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, described Parsons as a “great mentor and friend” and credited him as “one of the greatest problem solvers this industry has ever seen.”
Born on April 4, 1948, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Parsons exhibited academic excellence from a young age, beginning college at just 16. He earned his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. His career began as a lawyer and counselor to then-New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and later included a role in the White House during the Ford administration.
Parsons transitioned to the private sector as managing partner at Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler and later served as chief op-
erating officer of Dime Bancorp. In 1995, he became president of Time Warner, overseeing its entertainment and corporate operations. He
ascended to CEO in 2002, where he worked to strengthen the company’s financial position and reshape its portfolio. Most recognized Parsons as one of America’s top executives.
Parsons played a critical role during challenging periods at both Time Warner and Citigroup. He became Citigroup chairman in 2009 amid significant losses and public scrutiny of its practices. Under his leadership, the company returned to profitability and restored stability, retiring from the role in 2012.
In 2014, Parsons stepped in as interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers during a contentious moment for the team until its sale to Steve Ballmer. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described him as a “brilliant and transformational leader.”
Beyond his corporate contributions, Parsons’ passion for jazz led him to co-own a Harlem jazz club and take on leadership roles at the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. He also served on the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture boards, the Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History.
Many will remember Parsons’ commitment to education and philanthropy was evident through his support of Howard University, where he was a trustee emeritus and co-chairmanship of New York City’s Commission on Economic Opportunity.
Parsons is survived by his wife, Laura and their family.
AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson Family and friends mourning the Dec. 26 the death of long-time corporate leader Richard Parsons at age 76.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Alsobrooks is known in the community as a changemaker, persistent in her efforts to improve life for the people she represents. In this photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, Alsobrooks (right), then State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, speaks with Joyce Beck, community outreach specialist with the Bureau of Patrol for Prince George’s County Police Department, during a National Night Out event in Beltsville, Md., as part of increased outreach efforts.
AP Photo / Brian Witte
For nearly 30 years, Angela D. Alsobooks has served the state of Maryland in multiple roles. She was executive director
Prince George’s County revenue authority in 2003, state’s attorney for Prince George’s County from 2011 to 2018 and Prince George’s County executive from December 2018 until her Dec. 2, 2024 resignation, done in preparation for her move to the U.S. Senate.
New legislation favors D.C. in RFK stadium saga
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
Members of the U.S. Senate have passed new legislation that puts the nation’s capital on the winning end of a long debate with the state of Maryland and the federal government over the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK Stadium).
On Dec. 21, the senators signed the RFK Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which transfers ownership of the RFK Stadium and its nearly two mile long campus from the federal government to the District of Columbia.
“As a city, we have worked for years toward the opportunity to transform a vacant, blighted sea of asphalt in the heart of D.C., and to put the RFK campus back to productive use. Today, we are pleased and grateful to congressional leaders for advancing this critical bipartisan legislation that recognizes the potential of the land,” Bowser wrote in a statement shared on social media. “The future of the RFK campus will benefit residents and visitors alike, and our vision for the renaissance and development of more than 170 acres of waterfront space will benefit the entire region.”
Giving D.C. control of the property will allow for the stadium to be demolished and reconstructed with a variety of purposes, including use as a new football stadium and entertainment venue. The revival of the space will come with new job opportunities and events for the community at large to enjoy.
The bill had not been signed at the time of print on-
The new Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center is officially open. The 37,000-square foot
dedicated to improving the emotional, cognitive and physical well-being
by other elected officials,
and
for people with intellectual and developmental
Joy Evans Therapeutic Center opens in Ward 7
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center, a $40.4 million project, opened Dec. 23 in Ward 7. The 37,000-square-foot facility was developed to provide Washingtonians of all ages and abilities with critical services that strengthen physical, cognitive and emotional wellness.
It is named for a former resident of Forest Haven, a District-operated institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that closed in 1991 after accounts of neglect and abuse came to light. Evans was eight when she entered Forest Haven and later died there at age 17 in 1976. She was the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed against the city in 1976 for the facility’s inhumane treatment of residents.
that’s here and anyone who’s worked with the building,” said Cunningham. “This means so much to my family. My parents and the other parents from Forest Haven worked very hard to close Forest Haven and to have group homes for the kids. I really appreciate all of your support.”
“We must never forget Joy Evans or the struggles she and many other people had and continue to endure.”
Her sister, Carol Cunningham, gave remarks at the ribboncutting ceremony, held on Evans’ birthday, for the new therapeutic recreation center.
“It takes a village to raise a child, and I thank everyone
Evans’ landmark civil action went on for 40 years, long after her death. In 2017, a federal judge vacated the lawsuit and ended court supervision of D.C.’s care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The opening of the Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center marks an important milestone in the District making wellness services more inclusive and accessible to all District residents. It features therapy, sensory and active rooms; a therapeutic pool and spa; kitchen; a senior and caregiver lounge; fitness center; arts and crafts room; multipurpose spaces and a full-size gym.
The campus also boasts two playgrounds, shade canopies, fitness equipment, a splash pad, open park space and a sensory
An ex-Washington police officer is convicted of lying about leaks to the Proud Boys leader
By Michael Kunzelman
AP News
A retired police officer in the nation’s capital was convicted Dec. 23 of lying to authorities about leaking confidential information to the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson convicted former Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Shane Lamond of obstructing justice and making false statements after a trial without a jury.
Sentencing was scheduled for April 3 after Lamond’s conviction on all four counts.
Lamond was charged with leaking information to then-Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was under investigation in the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner.
Lamond testified at his bench trial that he never provided Tarrio with sensitive police information. Tarrio, who testified as a witness for Lamond’s defense, said he did not confess to Lamond about burning the banner and did not receive any
But the judge did not find either man’s testimony to be credible. Jackson said the evidence indicated that Lamond was not using Tarrio as a source after the banner burning.
“It was the other way around,” she said.
The judge said the string of messages that Lamond and Tarrio exchanged over the course of months showed a pattern: “Lamond and Tarrio talk, and Tarrio immediately disseminates what he learns,” she added.
The judge described Tarrio as an “awful witness” who was “flippant, grandiose and obnoxious” on the stand.
“He was one of the worst I’ve had the opportunity to sit next to during my tenure on the bench,” Jackson said.
After the verdict, defense attorney Mark Schamel said it was premature to say if there will be an appeal.
“It’s unbelievably disappointing to see every single thing that Lt. Lamond did viewed through a lens to make it appear to be something other than it was,” Schamel said outside the courtroom. “There is nothing
Boys, young adults in
Southeast
D.C. embrace safety of the gym over violence of the streets
By D. Kevin
On Dec. 21, basketball teams composed of boys and young adult men who live in Ward 8 in Southeast Washington, D.C., squared off on the court to determine who would have bragging rights as their respective division champions. But for many of the participants, it was far more than just an opportunity to snag a trophy and play fiveon-five at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Southeast – home of the Washington Mystics (WNBA). For some of the youth, the title games represented a season that enabled the boys and men to find safety in local gymnasiums while avoiding the violence and other
“...it’s a great way for the youth to play organized games of basketball during weekend evenings when they previously only had the streets as an option.”
disloyal about him at all, and it’s a sad day for him.”
Tarrio eventually pleaded guilty to burning the banner stolen from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. He was later sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, part of what prosecutors called a plot to use force to keep Donald Trump in the White House after the 2020
dangers that lurked on their neighborhood streets. The program, now in its second season, Midnight Basketball, was created by the Ward 8 nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River to reduce violence east of the river and to provide a safe place for youth on weekend evenings. This season, the Washington Wizards partnered with the nonprofit and hosted the finals and closing ceremony. Midnight Basketball changed my life by giving me a place to belong. It’s more than basketball; it’s about becoming a better person,» said Kenneth, a participant in
Photo courtesy of D.C. Department of General Services on X
facility in Ward 7 is
of D.C. residents. Mayor Muriel Bowser (center) was joined
community members
relatives of Joy Evans, a former resident of a District-operated institution
disabilities.
McNeir Special to the AFRO
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Former Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Shane Lamond is now a convicted criminal after being found guilty of obstructing justice and making false statements after a trial without a jury.
Court orders mediation in D.C. suit against cosmetic surgery group
By Jordyn Britton Howard University News Service
D.C. Superior Court Judge
Maurice Ross has ordered mediation for the District of Columbia’s civil lawsuit against Vita Surgical Group LLC during a recent hearing about unlicensed cosmetic procedures.
The lawsuit, which was sparked by complaints from four patients who had undergone liposuction, will go to trial if the two parties are unable to reach a settlement. The mediation session is scheduled for July 8, 2025.
The district filed a civil lawsuit in August 2024 accusing the defendant of operating without the required legal approvals in violation of
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local regulations governing health-care facilities and surgical services.
The main clinic for Vita Surgical Group is at 908 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Suite 400, in Washington. It offers several cosmetic medical procedures on its website such as liposuction, Botox, lip injections and breast implants. It also has locations in McLean, Virginia, and in Columbia and Bethesda, Md. Dr. Henok Araya leads the medical practice and is the only physician mentioned on the company’s website.
Since 2019, the district has repeatedly notified Vida Surgical Group of its failure to comply with rules regarding proper accreditation to perform the procedures it has been advertising and
Dec. 30. With no presidential signature, the bill is in limbo, along with the future of the local NFL team, the Commanders.
Since 1997, the Commanders, formerly the Washington Redskins, have played in Landover, Md. at Northwest Stadium, formerly known as Fedex Field, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore would like to keep it that way.
“Our position on the stadium hasn’t changed. We are not afraid of competition, and we believe that we can continue to build on decades of partnership with the team here in Maryland,” said Moore in a statement. “We are confident that Landover is still the best path to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.”
On the evening of Dec.17 Moore, Prince George’s County officials and the Commanders signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding what would happen if the bill is put into law and the team decides to move from Landover. Should the NFL franchise
offering to patients, according to court documents.
An investigation by the Department of Health Board of Medicine confirmed that the medical practice had been operating without a license since its opening in 2005.
Vita Surgical Group has been accused of Unlawful Offering of Ambulatory Surgical Procedures Without a Certificate of Need (D.C. Code § 44-401(a)), Unlawful Provision of Ambulatory Surgical Procedures Without a Certificate of Need (D.C. Code § 44-401(a)) and Unlawful Operation of An Ambulatory Surgical Facility Without a License (D.C. Code § 44-502(a)).
Jordyn Britton is a reporter for HUNewsService. com
make the move back to RFK Stadium, the NFL team will tear down FedEx Field in a timely manner and replace the site with a project that provides equal economic stimulation to the local economy.
“We have said from the start of this process that regardless of what happened with the RFK legislation, we are focused on making sure that Landover receives the investment it deserve,” the statement read. “While the stadium location is still an open question, the Commanders and the state of Maryland both agree on the importance of the team’s commitment to the Prince George’s community if the team decides to move.”
Even with Biden’s signature and the law put in place, there’s no guarantee the Commanders will return to the District for their new stadium. Their lease at Norwest Stadium runs through 2027 and they’re looking throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area for a new location to call home.
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the Youth Division Championship.
When the gym lights are on, the streets are quiet. This program has become the heartbeat of our community,» said Coach Calvin, a member of the coaching staff.
And as one spectator who chose to remain anonymous said, “The Midnight Basketball League is not just a sports program — it’s a transformative initiative that empowers teens and adults. It fosters safer communities and creates opportunities for a successful future.”
Partnerships like the one forged between Building Bridges Across the River and the Washington Wizards illustrate what happens when organizations combine their collective resources to improve the quality of life for beleaguered communities. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for all children and youth in the U.S. And in Washington, D.C., children were twice as likely to be victims or witnesses of violence compared to the national average, a study by the DC Policy Center found. Further, gunfire impacts youth at nearly all of D.C.’s 566 public and charter schools.
But instead of throwing their hands up in the air or leaving their fears and concerns on the steps of the police for them to handle, nonprofits like Building Bridges Across the River and formidable organizations like the Washington Wizards are teaming up to combat youth-involved violence.
John Thompson III, senior vice president of Monumental Basketball, attended the two title games and said he’s pleased with the growing number of youths who have become involved with the program.
“We weren’t part of Midnight Basketball during its first season but we’re really glad that we were allowed to partner with them this time around,” Thompson said. “We have men from the community coaching these players –men who know the youth and the streets – and the players respond to them. And it’s a great way for the youth to play organized games of basketball during weekend evenings when they previously only had the streets as an option.”
The Building Bridges Across the River (BBATR) Midnight Basketball program came from a series of community meetings to address the rising incidents of violence in Ward 8. Held at THEARC›s main campus in
the summer of 2023, over 150 residents shared their own solutions to address this urgent need. One idea was to restart a Midnight Basketball program at THEARC›s Boys & Girls Club providing a safe place to play for Ward 8 youth. The league kicked off in March 2024 with seven teams playing every Friday and Saturday evening from 8 pm to midnight. The second season started in mid-October and ran through the recent finals and added a youth league. Thirteen teams compete this season nearly doubling the number from earlier in the year.
Rahsaan Bernard, BBATR president and CEO, said Midnight Basketball exemplifies the goal of the organization since its founding in 1997 – building bridges for residents of the Anacostia community.
“The basketball program has proven to be a great way to attract youth and young adults, and we’ve achieved even greater success since the Wizards came aboard,” Bernard said. “We offer a variety of programs and activities that provide positive ways for youth to have fun and to do so safely. That’s what people from Ward 8 said was needed and that’s what we’re determined to provide for them.”
Scott Kratz, BBATR Executive Vice President, said the coaches continue to comment on the enthusiasm that Midnight Basketball has sparked within the community.
“If you want to know how we evaluate success, just talk to our coaches,” Kratz said. “One of the coaches said he no longer sees kids from his neighborhood out on the corners during weekend evenings. Now, a lot of them are on the teams that we sponsor. That’s huge.”
However, Lynnita Jones-Morton, BBATR Vice President of Programming & Operations, said there are still challenges that cannot be overlooked and must be resolved.
“We have some kids who want to join a team, but they can’t because there’s beefing going on within several groups in their neighborhoods that could lead to violent encounters,” she said. “But we’re not giving up. Our coaches continue to hit the pavement and knock on doors and that’s making a difference because the youth and families in Ward 8 know the coaches, trust the coaches and have a relationship with them. We’re building bridges – one step and one person at a time,” Jones-Morton said.
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election.
Lamond, who met Tarrio in 2019, had supervised the intelligence branch of the police department’s Homeland Security Bureau. He was responsible for monitoring groups like the Proud Boys when they came to Washington.
Tarrio was arrested in Washington two days before the Jan. 6 siege. The Miami resident wasn’t at the Capitol when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building and interrupted the congressional certification of Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
Prosecutors said the trial evidence proved Lamond tipped off Tarrio that a warrant for his arrest had been signed.
“Similarly, the defendant affirmatively advised Mr. Tarrio in a written message
that he was being asked to identify him for a warrant, a warning obviously in contemplation of the subsequent prosecution and with obvious ramifications for it,” prosecutors wrote.
Lamond’s indictment says he and Tarrio exchanged messages about the Jan. 6 riot and discussed whether Proud Boys members were in danger of being charged in the attack.
“Of course I can’t say it officially, but personally I support you all and don’t want to see your group’s name and reputation dragged through the mud,” Lamond wrote.
Lamond said he was upset that a prosecutor labeled him as a Proud Boys “sympathizer” who acted as a “double agent” for the group after Tarrio burned a stolen Black Lives Matter banner in
December 2020.
“I don’t support the Proud Boys, and I’m not a Proud Boys sympathizer,” Lamond testified.
Lamond said he considered Tarrio to be a source, not a friend. But he said he tried to build a friendly rapport with the group leader to gain his trust.
Justice Department prosecutor Joshua Rothstein pointed to messages that suggest Lamond provided Tarrio with “real-time updates” on the police investigation of the Dec. 12, 2020, banner burning.
Lamond, 48, of Colonial Beach, Virginia, was charged with one count of obstruction of justice and three counts of making false statements. He retired in May 2023 after 23 years of service to the police department.
Unsplash / Philippe Spitalier
A D.C. Superior Court judge has ordered a mediation session, scheduled for July 8, 2025, to see if an agreement can be made between Vita Surgical Group LLC and the District of Columbia, which is suing the plastic surgery organization in a civil suit for violation of local regulations governing health-care facilities and surgical services.
Photo courtesy Washington Wizards
Former men’s head basketball coach for Georgetown University, John Thompson III, currently serves as senior vice president of Monumental Basketball. He recently spoke to players, coaches and fans to kick off the Youth and Adult Division Championship games for the Ward 8-based program, Building Bridges Across the River.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
The nation’s capital has a chance at being home of NFL team, The Washington Commanders once again. This exciting opportunity comes following the Senate passingnThe D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium ( RFK Stadium) Campus Revitalization Act.
Director of the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) Charon P.W. Hines said the facility is an example of the District’s commitment to creating spaces where every resident, regardless of physical or cognitive ability, can thrive.
“The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center is a critical resource for older adults in Ward 7, where access to spaces that promote wellness, connection, and community is essential,” DACL Director Charon P.W. Hines told the AFRO. “This center was built to address the unique challenges many seniors and adults with disabilities face, from social isolation to limited access to recreational activities. By providing a welcoming space with features like a seniors’ lounge and multipurpose rooms, we are ensuring that older adults in this community have the support they need to live healthier, more connected lives.”
Ward 7 Councilman Vincent C. Gray, who served as mayor of D.C. from 2011 to 2015, led the charge in naming the center after Evans and helped to secure funding for the renovation. He also helped to cover transportation for seniors and people with disabilities to access critical services while the center was being developed.
Gray, who announced he was diagnosed with dementia in October, was not in attendance for the ribbon-cutting, but he shared a statement with the AFRO.
“We must never forget Joy Evans or the struggles she and many other people had to endure,” wrote Gray. “In 2019, I successfully passed legislation to name our new therapeutic recreation center to honor the strength and memory of Joy Evans. It is a great pleasure to see this come to fruition. People will use the center to heal, grow, recreate and build community.”
Photos courtesy of D.C. Department of General Services on X
The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center offers therapy, sensory and active rooms; a therapeutic pool and spa; kitchen; a senior and caregiver lounge; fitness center; arts and crafts room; multipurpose spaces and a full-size gym.
Legendary Motown artists hit the stage at D.C.’s Constitution Hall
By Patricia McDougall
Several Motown Artists recently appeared at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the holiday season. The artist included the Temptations Revue, featuring Paul Williams Jr., The Delfonics, Blue Magic, The Intruders, Skip Mahoney and The Casuals, The Manhattans and The Blue Notes. Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics joined in on the celebration as well.
The legendary artists sang their beloved Motown hit songs, including Blue Magic’s “Must Have Put a Spell On My Mind,” The Blue Notes’ “Tell The World How I feel About ‘Cha Baby,” The Intruders’ “I Wanna Know Your Name,” The Delfonics’ “For The Love I Gave To You” Skip Mahoney and the Casuals “Bless My Soul,” The Manhattans “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and The Temptations’ “Silent Night.”
Raymond Johnson (left) of The Stylistics, Glenn Leonard Jr. with his father, Glenn Leonard Sr., of The Temptations, Russell Thompkins Jr. of The Stylistics and Johnathan Buckson, also of The Stylistics, make an appearance at Constitution Hall.
The Temptations Revue, featuring Glenn Leonard Jr. (left) , W.T. Williams, Mike Salter III, Terry Horn and Paul Williams Jr. perform live at Constitution Hall.
Michael Muse (left), Johnnie Johnson, Roger Chapman and Dean Cavanaugh, of The Intruders, share a moment before performing.
The Intruders, featuring Dean Cavanaugh (left), Lorenzo Samuels, Curtis Warren and Robert Frye aka Captain Fly hit the stage at Constitution Hall in D.C.
Blue Magic featuring Vernon Sawyer (left), Renardo Haynes, Freddy Ingleton and Bennie BJ Dixson entertain the crowd.
The Delfonics, featuring Johnnie JJ Johnson (left), Michael Muse, Garfield Fleming and Roger Chapman bring the Motown sound to life once again.
The Manhattans return to D.C, featuring Harsey Hemphill Jr., (left), Kirk Hill Jr., Charles Hardy and Keni Jackson.
The Blue Notes featuring John Morris (left), Tyrone Burwell, Donnell Gillespie, Keith Mathews and David Echols perform live at Constitution Hall D.C.
Warren Fountaine (left), George Norris (last original member of Skip Mahoaney’s and The Casuals) and Richard Floyd.
AFRO Photos/Patricia Mc Dougall
LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives for the NBA’s all-time scoring leader
By Tim Reynolds
The Associated Press
When LeBron James broke another NBA record in December 2024, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion.
They made fun of him.
“They told me I’m old as hell,” James quipped.
By NBA standards, they’re not wrong. He was dubbed “The Kid from Akron” when the Ohio native entered the league with a limitless future nearly 22 years ago. He’s now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard. He turned 40 on Dec. 30 and, on Dec. 31, became the first player in NBA history to appear in a game in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s.
Such a feat has happened a couple of dozen times in baseball before. It has happened in hockey — Gordie Howe was a five-decade player, appearing in the NHL from his teens to his 50s — but never in the NFL or the NBA. Until now. James is making more basketball history and creating a club all of his own.
“In some ways he’s a freak of nature,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “I’ve been around a lot of great players and he’s one of the hardestworking players I’ve been around. I mean, he doesn’t take a day off. He seems to not take an afternoon off. He’s always working on some part of his body. You meet with him and he’s always soaking something or eating something or has some contraption attached to him.”
A 40th birthday, in NBA terms, means the on-court end is near. James will become the 30th player to appear in a regular-season game with a “4” as the first digit of his age; only nine logged more than 51 games after that birthday. He’ll be the 32nd player to play after turning 40 overall; Tim Duncan and Danny Schayes both turned 40 during playoff runs in what became their final seasons.
“I’ve been around a lot of great players and he’s one of the hardest-working players I’ve been around.”
And for the most part, big numbers are largely nonexistent at that age.
Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who did it three times), John Stockton (twice), Michael Jordan, Robert Parish and Karl Malone have averaged more than 10 points in a season after turning 40. Jordan averaged 22.4 points in 30 games after turning 40 in his final season with Washington; Malone is the most recent to do it, averaging 13.2 points in 42 games after turning 40 while with the Lakers in 2003-04. James, meanwhile, is still putting up All-Star level numbers: 23.5 points, 9 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game. Forget how doing that at 40 is unheard of. Doing that at 30 is practically unheard of. The only players to have those numbers in all three categories in a season after turning 30 are James (who did it at 33 and 35) and James Harden (who did it at 31).
“The size, the strength and the IQ … with his frame and the way he takes care of himself, he doesn’t have to be the best athlete on the planet. At one time he was,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’re not talking about the best athlete in the association. He was the best athlete on the planet arguably, just size, strength, agility, explosiveness combined. But at this size and if he just wants to slow the game down and just play off his brain and IQ, he could do that for another decade. I doubt he’ll find interest in that. But he could.” Nobody knows when James will
stop playing. And it surely isn’t going to get any easier: James wanted to play all 82 games this season and couldn’t, was widely criticized when the Lakers went through a slump earlier this season and took tons of backlash when his team drafted his son Bronny in the second round last summer in what many thought was simple nepotism.
He has always been a lightning rod.
If his play declines at 40, his naysayers will be lined up to revel in that.
“It’s a lot harder, physically and emotionally, to face what those guys face night after night after night,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said of top NBA stars getting up in years, like James and the Warriors’ Stephen Curry — who’ll turn 37 in March. “There’s a reason players have to retire. You know, they can’t do it forever.”
James won’t either.
But even while playing alongside elite 30-year-olds like Giannis Antetokounmpo, James — who reportedly spends more than $1.5 million annually on his fitness and has an on-site mechanic of sorts at all times for anything his body needs in personal athletic training guru in Mike Mancias — has shown how to play long past what used to be considered an NBA player’s peak years.
“What he’s done is incredible, never been done, especially at the level he’s playing,” Antetokounmpo said. “For me, I always look at the other players that kind of set the blueprint for us, and this is something that’s never been done before. I definitely want to play late into my career, like 37, 38, 39, as much as my body can allow me to play. But I have to do a good job of taking care of my body, which I believe I do, but he kind of set the path for us, set the blueprint for us. We’ve just got to follow.”
The accolades are countless: James is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, has a place in the GOAT conversation, most minutes played, four NBA championships, three Olympic gold medals, 20 and likely soon to be 21 All-Star selections, oldest to do this, oldest to do that, generational wealth with a net worth exceeding $1 billion, and on and on and on.
It begs the question: What does one get a 40-year-old who has everything?
“I don’t even know,” lamented Bronny James — another example of how James is one of one, becoming the first dad in NBA history to have his son as a teammate.
James has hinted that the end is near.
“Don’t make me feel old right now,” he said, only half-kiddingly, when asked earlier this month about the looming 40th birthday. He is under contract for next season but hasn’t offered any guarantees about how long he will play, saying he isn’t “going to play that much longer, to be completely honest” and insisting that he won’t be “playing till the wheels fall off” because he doesn’t
AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
Cleveland Cavaliers rookie LeBron James walks across the court at Arco Arena after arriving with the team in Sacramento, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2003.
AP Photo/Steve Yeater
Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James passes the ball off as he drives the lane against the Sacramento Kings during the second half at Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2003.
AP Photo/Matt Sayles
Lebron James accepts the award for best breakthrough during the 12th annual Espy Awards in Los Angeles, in this July 14, 2004 file photo.
AP Photo/Mark Duncan Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James covers his face as trainer Max Benton attends to him after catching an elbow from Houston Rockets’ Dikembe Mutombo in the second quarter of Houston’s 98-87 win Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004, in Cleveland. James fractured his left cheek bone and will have to wear a protective mask when he is able to return to action.
AP Photo/J Pat Carter
Miami Heat’s LeBron James reacts to the crowd during a public celebration for the NBA Champions in Miami, on June 25, 2012.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
United States’ Lebron James looks up the court during the first half of a preliminary men’s basketball game against France at the 2012 Summer Olympics, on July 29, 2012, in London.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward and NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, center, stands with his family, girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, left, in white, son, LeBron Jr., foreground left, James mother Gloria, right, holding James’ son Bryce, after the NBA MVP award ceremony for James on the University of Akron campus in Akron, Ohio, Sunday, May 2, 2010. The pair married in 2013.
AP Photo/Phil Long
AP Photo/Sara Nevis
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James smiles after a teammate makes a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, in Sacramento, Calif.
Here are the medical appointments you need to make in 2025
By Anissa Durham Word in Black
As we celebrate the arrival of the new year, we need to continue to be proactive about our health care.
As members of a second Donald Trump Administration prepare to step into their offices, some in the Black community are fearful of what that can mean for health care access. Though the concerns are valid, there are some practical steps we can all take to continue to care for our health as experts of our bodies.
Preventive care screenings can reduce the risk of disease, disability and death, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The Healthy People 2030 action plan, a government-backed initiative, has a goal of increasing the percentage of Americans nationwide who get the recommended preventative healthcare screenings.
In 2015, just 8.5 percent of adults 35 years and older received all the recommended clinical preventive services. That number dropped to 5.3 percent in 2020, which shows the most recent data available.
In the last year, we at Word In Black have vigorously reported on health care inequities, mental health, and what systems must change for Black folks to improve their health. Here is a short guide to five different health care appointments you can schedule for the new year, based on expert recommendations.
As the New Year arrives, so do more opportunities to engage in self-care. This month, start the year
to schedule a few of the medical appointments that should be at the top of the 2025 to-do list.
Primary care visit
Whether you have health insurance or not, it’s generally recommended to see a primary care physician at least once a year, and a new year is a good time to start. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, medical director at Urgent Care Clinics at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, says a doctor can be a trusted caregiver who sets the tone for a healthy year.
“A primary care clinician’s role in the overall health landscape is to be your advocate and help coordinate all other care with referrals, screenings and prescriptions,” she says. “They can help you plan or order any screenings that will be needed in the next year, including mammograms and colonoscopies, and help you keep an eye on important health information like your cholesterol and blood pressure.”
During this visit, it’s a good idea to request blood work, blood pressure screenings and have metabolic lab work done. These tests help detect changes in cholesterol, blood sugar, Hemoglobin A1c, or other emerging or chronic health conditions. They also are good indicators of organ functions and provide a general assessment of your health.
If you are living with a chronic illness or disease, however, you may need to see a primary care physician more often. Depending on your state and your insurance, your annual primary care visit might be free or may include a modest copay.
So, both you and your doctor can keep an eye on your health.
Reproductive care screenings
Due in part to dismissal of care, Black women are disproportionately affected by late diagnoses of breast cancer diagnosis, fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome.
In a post-Roe v. Wade world – and with far-right Republicans in power – it’s likely to be even harder for Black women to get reproductive healthcare.
But there are ways to maintain that part of your health. Dr. Faith Ohuboa, OBGYN and Department Chair at Memorial Hermann Northeast, recommends scheduling routine pap smears and mammograms in advance to check and manage conditions common among Black women. She also advises speaking up for yourself in the exam room.
“As an advocate for women’s wellbeing, I emphasize the importance of women advocating for their reproductive health, particularly in light of recent policy changes and shifts in administration,” she says.
Dental visit
Often overlooked, oral health is a key indicator of overall health. Gum disease and tooth decay are directly linked to higher risks of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, dementia, hypertension, asthma, and more. That’s why it’s important to schedule a dental visit for a professional cleaning and an oral checkup.
Melissa Burroughs, public policy director at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, says poor oral health can increase the chances of depression and mental health issues. Moreover, Black adults are 68 percent more likely than White adults to have an unmet dental need, according to CareQuest Institute research. And nearly 6 in 10 Black adults have lost one or more permanent teeth due to decay or gum disease, compared to 46 percent of all adults.
“Inequities within oral health, like those in other areas of health, have a racial dimension and have been driven by years of systemic racism,” Burroughs says. “A visit to the dentist is one of the top appointments that Black Americans should make for the new year.”
Update your immunizations
The new year falls right in the middle of cold and flu season, so now is the time to update immunizations for the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. If you are older than 50, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the two-dose shingles vaccine.
In a recent Pew Research Center survey, a mere 18 percent of Black Americans say they have already received their updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, which is available in pharmacies and doctors’ offices right now.
Mental health screenings
Suicide rates among young Black people continue to rise faster than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. In a 10-year national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors increased, and in 2021, Black students were more likely than Asian, Hispanic, and White students to attempt suicide.
Moreover, an American Psychological Association survey found that only 26.4 percent of Black and Hispanic men between the ages of 18 to 44 who experienced daily feelings of depression or anxiety accessed mental health services.
“Mental health check-ups are important but often overlooked,” says Shebna Osanmoh, psychiatric nurse practitioner. “Schedule annual mental health screenings, especially since Black communities are facing more stressors.”
Unsplash/ Boliviainteligente
off right by taking time
Unsplash/ Kelly Sikkema
Unsplash/ Kamal Hoseinianzsade Unsplash/ Elen Sher
Unsplash/ CDC
Unsplash/ Abby Anaday
Research study: Children of global majority benefit from having in person mental health programs
By Ariyana Griffin AFRO Staff Writer agriffin@afro.com
A new study has found that Black and Hispanic children benefit from having in school programs directed towards mental health.
Erika’s Lighthouse, a national organization committed to reducing stigmas tied to mental health, conducted a study to explore the topic.
The organization offers a mental health education curriculum for families, students and education staff to help prevent adolescent students from feeling alone due to conditions such as depression.å
A 2023 research study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that “four in 10 students (40 percent) had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, two in 10 (20 percent) students seriously considered attempting suicide and nearly one in 10 (9 percent) attempted suicide.”
“...student
mental health and wellbeing can improve classroom behavior, school engagement, and peer relationships. These factors are all connected to academic success.”
“All of our programming that Erika’s Lighthouse offers is completely free of charge,” said Brandon Combs, executive director of Erika’s Lighthouse. “We are a national program, so we are in over 25,100 schools around the country so far - we continue to grow, and are welcoming that expansion as we move forward.”
Erika’s Lighthouse conducted surveys from students before and after engaging in
the resources provided by the organization to see how students reacted to in school mental health programs.
The organization collected data from students in fifth to 12th grade students across the United States, garnering a “total of 18,077 pre-program surveys were completed and 15,271 post-program surveys across 515 schools. This group was broadly representative of the U.S. schools, including private, public and charter schools, as well as urban, suburban and rural.”
The data was collected from the 20212022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years and found that “93 percent of students identified a teacher as a trusted adult, but only 50 percent of them were comfortable talking with a trusted adult, about their mental health, at school.”
The study also found that students who participated in the program who went to “predominantly-Black and Hispanic schools, by nine percent and 11 percent, respectively, compared to seven percent for students in predominantly-White schools.”
Valencia Davis, a Licensed Psychotherapist and Mental Health Specialist said that the in school program is “a huge benefit.”
She expressed that Black and Brown students feel they have someone to trust, which can be vital to the mental health of a student.
“Students of color, going back to when our parents and grandparents were coming up, didn’t have access to anything,” said Davis.
“Trauma was passed on, generation after generation.”
According to the CDC, schools can play a major role in helping scholars with their mental health.
Schools can “connect students to caring adults and encourage positive peer relationships,” and “give students mental health support and link them and their families to community behavioral and mental health services.”
In turn, classrooms are able to function better.
The CDC reports that taking a vested interest in “student mental health and wellbeing can improve classroom behavior, school engagement, and peer relationships. These factors are all connected to academic success.”
How to make report cards less stressful for students
By Quintessa Williams Word In Black
Report cards aren’t just grades—they’re emotional minefields. Research shows that for many students, the anxiety of those letters and numbers runs deep, fueled by fear of failure, letting people down and being punished. For Black students especially, this anxiety can be compounded by additional stressors such as racist bullying in their classroom or school, overly harsh, unfair discipline, a lack of academic support and a lack of culturally competent teachers and curricula.
So, as the season arrives for children to bring their grades home, teachers have an opportunity to flip the script and make report card time a moment full of resilience, growth and support. Here are four ways teachers can use report card time to ensure Black students thrive, both academically and culturally.
1. Encourage open and affirming conversations
When discussing a student’s report card, always begin by highlighting their strengths and then address areas of improvement with constructive feedback. This approach acknowledges the students’ wins early while also providing a supportive plan for growth.
For decades report card day has either been a source of pride or worry for students and their families. Now, experts say there are multiple ways to make report cards less stressful for Black students.
Example: “I noticed your strong enthusiasm while in class, especially during the lab experiments. Your curiosity and research have been a significant asset in why you earned a C. Let’s work together to implement the same strategies on homework assignments and tests moving forward. Is there anything you would like to share about your grade with me in the meantime?”
2. Set realistic and personalized goals
Collaborate with the student and parents to set specific but achievable goals. This approach will help the student
understand the value of taking their academic achievement one step at a time while also encouraging them to seek help when needed.
Example: “Let’s aim to improve your C – to a B by the next report card. We’ll do this by setting aside 30 minutes after school each day to practice math questions based on the assignments provided in class. Let me or your parents know if you would like for us to walk you through the assignments.”
3. Provide access to resources and support networks Consider whether students may need the support of guidance counselors, tutors or other academic interventions and
wraparound services. Connect students — and their parents or caregivers — with these resources to help them achieve their academic goals.
Example: “I connected you with this specific tutor for any help you may need outside the classroom because he has navigated similar reading challenges, and I think he would be most effective in sharing effective study techniques and can also serve as a role model, too.”
4. Foster a positive growth mindset Ultimately, it’s essential to celebrate a student’s effort and progress when receiving report cards — not just the outcome. Encourage the student by sharing that even experts were once beginners, too. Celebrating their attempts and offering effective room for improvement will reinforce the idea that success can be developed with dedication and hard work.
Example: “Everyone started as a beginner — no one began as a master of their craft. Your efforts in improving your skills are steps toward that mastery. I’ve seen your dedication and extra time you’ve put in, and it’s paying off.” Ultimately, report card time is also an opportunity for teachers to reflect on their practice. Teachers can always spend some time assessing whether students are invested in the academic goals of the classroom and whether they’ve established an effective, culturally competent teacherstudent relationship and teaching practice.
Is the problem the student’s lack of effort, poor classroom management, and boring lessons? Teachers can also ensure the classroom is a safe and affirming space for Black students, where they are given leadership opportunities and held to high expectations with kindness and care. Those things can go a long way to ensuring students achieve their academic goals.
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
AFRO Photo/ Ama Brown
Unsplash/ Sam Bayle
In the school setting, mental health programs are game changers for Black and Hispanic children who don’t routinely have access to such services.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001439 INGA ARNETTE SPURLOCK AKA
INGA ARNETTE TATE AKA
INGA ARNETTE FOWLER Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
RASHALON IYEIRA HAYES, whose address is 206 SPRINGER LANE, LOTHIAN, MD 20711 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of INGA AR-
NETTE SPURLOCK AKA INGA ARNETTE TATE AKA INGA ARNETTE FOWLER who died on OCTOBER 26, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 27, 2025. 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 JUNE 27, 2025, 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 publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Date of first publication: DECEMBER 27, 2024
Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
RASHALON IYEIRA HAYES
Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/27, 01/03, 01/10/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM1437
PHYLLIS DOROTHEA KNIGHT AKA
PHYLLIS KNIGHT AKA
PHYLLIS DORTHEA KNIGHT Name of Decedent
WILLIAM A. BLAND, ESQUIRE 80 M STREET SE #330 WASHINGTON, DC 20003 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 20, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register
Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 20, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
JAMIQUA JOHNSON TAMIARA JOHNSON Personal Representative TRUE TEST
URSULA R. KNIGHT- HARRIS- TURNER, whose address is 3 EAST STREET, PEPPERELL, MA 01463 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PHYLLIS DOROTHEA KNIGHT AKA PHYLLIS KNIGHT AKA PHYLLIS DORTHEA KNIGHT who died on JULY 24, 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., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 27, 2025. 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 JUNE 27, 2025, 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 publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 27, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
URSULA R. KNIGHT- HARRIS- TURNER Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/27, 01/03, 01/10/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION 2024ADM0096 Estate of ROBERT WOODROW MURPHY Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE (For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995)
Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by JANET SHEEN for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.
*in the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determing that the decendent died intestate *appoint an supervised personal representitive
Date of first publication: DECEMBER 27, 2024
Names of newspapers: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
JANET SHEEN 4713 WISCONSIN AVE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20016 Signature of Petitioner/Attorney Register of Wills Clerk of the Probate Division 12/27, 01/03/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001419
MARY D. PRATT Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
TONNETTE L. PRATT, whose address is 643 FRANKLIN ST. NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARY D. PRATT who died on SEPTEMBER 07, 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 shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JULY 03, 2025. 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 JULY 03, 2025, or be forever barred. Persons believed to
FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) DCHE SOLICITATION NO.: 01-2025 NMTC Financial Audit Compliance Services
The District of Columbia Housing Enterprises (DCHE) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide NMTC Financial Audit Compliance Services to this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Thursday, December 26, 2024, can be found on Bonfire at: https://dchousing.bonfirehub.com/portal
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Bonfire site regularly to stay current on the documents that are available as this is the primary communication site for this RFP.
To access files Vendors are required to Register on the Bonfire platform. See registration link below.
https://vendor.bonfirehub.com/
DCHE will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar to the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, January 10, 2025 at 12:00 NOON.
Email Abdul Karim Farooqi, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at afarooqi@ dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 17-2025 RECYCLE COLLECTION SERVICES
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of Capitol Programs (OCP) requires licensed qualified Contractors to provide Recycle Collection Services for DCHA.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, December 16, 2024, and can be found on Bonfire at: https://dchousing.bonfirehub.com/portal
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the respondent’s responsibility to check the Bonfire site regularly to stay current on the documents that are available as this is the primary communication sit for this RFP.
To access files respondents are required to Register on the Bonfire platform. See registration link below: https://vendor.bonfirehub.com/
DCHA will host a Site Visit scheduled for Friday, December 27, 2024, 10:00 a.m. so that respondents can become familiar with the conditions that may affect the performance of the work. Site Visits are scheduled as follows:
Friday, December 27, 2024 beginning at James Creek @ 10:00 a.m. 1265 Half Street, SW Washington, DC 20024 Management Office Then Greenleaf @ 10:30 a.m. 203 N Street, SW Washington, DC 20024
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
Email Pernell Wingate, Contract Specialist pwingate@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
Tyler Perry’s ‘Six Triple Eight’ debuts on Netflix
By Ariyana Griffin AFRO Staff Writer agriffin@afro.com
“The Six Triple Eight,” a film directed by Tyler Perry debuted on Netflix Dec. 20 after weeks of private screenings and talk back sessions. The film highlights the heroism and groundbreaking work done by the U.S. Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II.
The true story is based on the country’s first and predominantly allBlack female unit deployed overseas during World War II from 1945 to 1946.
Under the command of Major Charity Adams, the Battalion was stationed in Europe and made responsible for sorting and routing 17 million pieces of undelivered pieces of mail that had piled up prior to the unit’s arrival. Tasked with only six months to complete the job, the women completed it in only 90 days under their motto “no mail, low morale.”
The story was told by AFRO news reporters, who were on the ground at the time in Europe during World War II. One 6888th member, Vashi Murphy Matthews, was the middle daughter of long-time AFRO
Publisher Carl J. Murphy and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. cofounder, Vashti Turley Murphy.
Matthews put her experiences on record while overseas, where she served as a soldier and as an AFRO reporter. Despite the challenging conditions they faced, the 6888th Battalion persevered in their mission. The National Park Service notes, “the buildings lacked sufficient lighting and they were inadequately heated. The windows were covered to prevent them from becoming a target during nighttime raids.”
Dante R. Brizill, an author and educator based in Delaware, wrote a series titled “Greatness Under Fire” where he highlights the history that Black Americans have contributed to World War II. “Black Women In WWII,” the final book, highlights Black women –including the ladies of the 6888th.
to the women and Major Charity Adams, placed at the Buffalo Soldier Monument Park at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. The monument stands as a testament to their bravery, resilience and dedication.
She expressed that a highlight of working and meeting women who served with the Six Triple Eight was surprising Corporal Lena Derriecott Bell with meeting Ebony Obsidian, who plays her in the film, for her 100th birthday in 2023. Bell died in January of this year.
“Ebony has embodied King’s spirit,” said Fraizer.
Frazier expressed that with the screening she held at the Next Act Cinema in Pikesville, Md., she wanted to uplift the story and encourage people to learn about their story.
He said it’s important for platforms like Netflix to highlight the 6888th’s contributions to a wide audience so more people can learn about the untold story of brave women, such as the leader of the 6888th, Lt. Col. Charity E. AdamsEarley.
“The role of African Americans in World War II has kind of been limited just to talking about the Tuskegee Airmen,” said Brizill. “We haven’t really scratched the surface of the contributions that AfricanAmerican men and women made in that war, and particularly the women who faced racial and gender discrimination, but they still did all they could to serve their country at home and abroad.”
“The 688th story is kind of like an underdog story, these women who were underestimated, who had a very important job to do in a limited amount of time to do it,” said Brizill
“They were led by a fearless leader, who had impeccable credentials academically - the highest ranking Black female officer in the war. Her story just by itself is inspirational - they had such a monumental task to do in such a short amount of time, and did it in record time,” Brizill told the AFRO “I just think that’s something that people needed to know, due to the inspirational nature of it and the significance of the work that they did.”
The film went to select theatres on Dec. 6, prompting screenings, including one held by retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Elizabeth Helms Frazier.
During her service, Frazier remembered being interested in the Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion after seeing a black and white photo of Major Adams inspecting the troops. Instantly drawn to the story and history, she began to be more involved, eventually becoming a part of the East Coast 6888th monument team.
In 2018, a monument dedicated
“I wanted to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion,” said Fraizer. “There are two living members; Major Fannie Griffin McLendon - she’s a 104. The youngest of the group is Ms. Anna Mae Robertson - she’s 100. I wanted to do it for them.”
She expressed the importance of their work and mail even during her service, as it was a top way to hear and connect to family when soldiers were away from home.
“Having been in the service way before social media started happening, I can tell you how important it was to get the letters, the cards and the boxes,” said Fraizer. “Mail could make a bad day a good day at least a little while. I often say that mail was the third most important thing to a service member. The first was getting paid, the second was food and shelter and the third was mail.”
Frazier encourages everyone to watch the film and even host watch parties with family and friends, either in theaters or at home, now that the film is available on Netflix on Dec. 20.
“This movie has truly told this amazing story of these women whose mission was mail because, in the end, it lets the generations know that the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion also guaranteed their freedom,” said Frazier. “I hope that everyone will enjoy the movie.”
Pharrell Williams joins UNESCO as goodwill ambassador, pledges to support education and culture
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
Pharrell Williams, the multi-talented artist and humanist known for his global hits and philanthropic work, has officially joined the ranks of UNESCO goodwill ambassadors. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced the appointment and cited Williams’ commitment to education, culture and peace.
“A complete artist, Pharrell Williams is also a humanist who works to put culture at the service of peace and bringing people together,” Azoulay said. “He believes in the power of creativity and education to build a better future. His commitments resonate with UNESCO’s mandate.”
Williams said the new role aligns with his mission to support marginalized communities.
“Words cannot describe how I feel about being chosen
by UNESCO as a goodwill ambassador,” he said. “Thank you to Director-General Audrey Azoulay for this opportunity. I’m honored to continue our work in evening the odds for children and adults through education with YELLOW and Black Ambition (initiatives founded by Williams).”
The appointment ceremony took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, where Williams addressed an audience of 800 secondary school students and emerging creatives in fashion, music and film. The event featured a screening of “Piece by Piece,” an animated LEGO biopic directed by Morgan Neville that chronicles Williams’ artistic journey.
Williams’ influence spans music, fashion and philanthropy. An Academy Award-nominated musician and filmmaker, he has earned 13 GRAMMY Awards and is celebrated for chart-topping hits like “Happy” and “Get
fourth Louis Vuitton fashion show at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, titled “The World is Yours,” celebrating diversity against 194 Member State flags.
“Words cannot describe how I feel about being chosen by UNESCO as a goodwill ambassador.”
Williams’ dedication to education is evident in his charitable initiatives, including “From One Hand to AnOTHER,” “YELLOW,” and “Black Ambition.” All of Williams’ charitable programs have a mission to uplift marginalized communities through entrepreneurship and
education.
As part of his new role, Williams will represent UNESCO at major international cultural events and support the organization’s educational and cultural programs worldwide. His mentorship will mainly focus on empowering young creators in Africa, where UNESCO supports the development of cultural industries.
UNESCO, which promotes global cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication, sees Williams as a fitting advocate for its mission. With 194 member states and a presence in 54 countries, the organization works to foster peace and security through collaboration.
“I’m honored to continue our work in evening the odds for children and adults through education,” Williams said. “Together, we can build a future where creativity and culture unite us all.”
Photo Courtesy of National Park Service
The U.S. Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is recognized as the first predominantly all-Black female unit. During World War II the unit sorted and distributed over 17 million pieces of backlogged mail in just three months.
Photo courtesy of Instagram/ Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry proudly stands with members of the cast and crew of his latest film, “The Six Triple Eight,” starring Oprah Winfrey, Kerry Washington and others. Perry wrote and directed the film. The true story is based on the U.S. military’s first and predominantly all-Black female unit deployed overseas during World War II from 1945 to 1946.
Lucky.” His leadership as men’s creative director at
AP Photo/Michel Euler
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced the appointment of Pharrell Williams as a goodwill ambassador and cited Williams’ commitment to education, culture, and peace.
Commentary
BALTIMORE-AREA
Building a strong foundation for 2025
By Sen. Cory V. McCray
As we close the chapter on 2024, I find myself reflecting on the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve faced. This past year has been about laying foundations—brick by brick—for a stronger, more inclusive Baltimore. Good governance, to me, means being deeply intentional about serving as a bridge between residents and the institutions that shape their lives. It’s about walking the issue to the door of the agency involved and ensuring it finds resolution.
In my role as your state senator, I strive to be more than a legislator. I aim to be a conduit of support for those navigating the complexities of government. This year alone, my team and I resolved 762 constituent service issues, acting as advocates for families facing hurdles, whether it was securing housing assistance or addressing bureaucratic delays. These stories of service remind me why we do this work.
One story that stood out this year involved supporting a family facing barriers to housing due to an inaccessible
By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor
Baltimore’s Alicia Wilson returns home this spring as the inaugural Johns Hopkins University (JHU) vice president of civic engagement and opportunity. Wilson, an East Baltimore native, is at JHU once again to continue building the community partnerships she helped create during her prior experience as the university’s vice president for economic development and community partnerships from 2019-2022.
“As I take this next step, I look forward to building on those experiences and contributing to a community and institution that means so much to me. I am grateful to God for this opportunity,” Wilson said in a statement.
Johns Hopkins has served as a primary investor in reshaping East Baltimore dating back more than 20 years in an ambitious $1.8 billion mixed-use revitalization project supplemented by other philanthropies, business owners and investors, and city, state and federal agencies.
The initial JHU-led initiative has had a mixed reception from East Baltimore residents who were promised benefits from the medical complex’s expansion into the community. The redevelopment was first conceptualized during the administration of Baltimore Mayor Martin O’ Malley during his tenure 2000-2007.
State Sen. Cory McCray (D-45), who represents the East Baltimore community
East Baltimore communities hopeful as Alicia Wilson returns to Johns Hopkins University
where much of JHU expansion has taken place, welcomes Wilson’s return.
“Alicia Wilson’s return to Hopkins as vice president for civic engagement is a significant win for Baltimore and our
“Her leadership at Hopkins is an opportunity to turn potential into progress, ensuring that economic development reaches every corner of our district, especially the neighborhoods that need it most.”
communities. As a proud daughter of Baltimore and a graduate of Baltimore City Public Schools, Alicia brings a lived understanding of the challenges we face and the potential we hold. She embodies what it means to be deeply connected to the city’s heartbeat, carrying with her the wisdom of our neighborhoods and the
resilience of our people,” McCary said.
Wilson will report directly to JHU President Ron Daniels, and serve alongside Vice President of Government, Community and Economic Partnerships Maria Harris Tildon and Vice President of Public Impact Initiatives Beth Blauer. Her return comes after spending the last two years as managing director of JPMorgan Chase’s North American regional philanthropy team, overseeing the bank’s local philanthropic strategies across more than 40 markets.
Wilson’s role at JHU isn’t the first time she has stood to build trust between guarded Baltimoreans and large corporate interests. From 2016 through 2019, Wilson led Port Covington’s economic and community development team, a major redevelopment project initiated by former Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. Wilson was able to persuade community leaders to come to the table on a $150 million public tax increment (TIF) financing of the project.
McCray is hopeful that with Wilson at the table, real partnership and opportunity with JHU becomes a reality.
“Her leadership at Hopkins is an opportunity to turn potential into progress, ensuring that economic development reaches every corner of our district, especially the neighborhoods that need it most. Alicia doesn’t just step into her role—she embraces it with purpose, passion and an understanding of what’s possible when equity and opportunity lead the way.”
Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic ‘forever chemicals’
By Lea Skene The Associated Press
Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex often used for raincoats and other outdoor gear, alleging its leaders kept using “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks associated with them.
The complaint, which was filed on Dec. 18 in federal court, focuses on a cluster of 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland operated by Delaware-based W.L. Gore and Associates. It alleges the company polluted the air and water around its facilities with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, jeopardizing the health of surrounding communities while raking in profits.
on behalf of Cecil County residents in 2023 demanding Gore foot the bill for water filtration systems, medical bills and other damages asso-
ciated with decades of harmful pollution in the largely rural community.
“PFAS are linked to cancer, weakened immune
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
The Y in Central Maryland is now officially a recipient of funds made available through Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) Act. The stateled, place-based strategy focuses on community-driven efforts to break the cycle of generational childhood poverty.
“The Y in Central Maryland is excited to be a recipient of the Governor’s Office of Children’s ENOUGH grant, particularly given that it supports what is central to our mission and work - building healthy, connected and inclusive communities” said John Hoey, president and CEO of The Y in Central Maryland. “It’s in the Y’s DNA to actively partner with a myriad of people and organizations across the communities we serve and we’re looking forward to the impact we can make in the Greater Waverly community with the support of this grant.”
The Y in Central Maryland plans to utilize a $300,000 planning grant to address the root causes of poverty in the Greater Waverly area. As a plan development grant recipient, the organization will focus on community asset mapping and needs assessments, actively engaging residents in developing a neighborhood action plan aimed at increasing economic mobility and ending childhood poverty.
systems and can even harm the ability to bear children,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement. “It is unacceptable for any company to knowingly contaminate our drinking water with these toxins, putting Marylanders at risk of severe health conditions.”
contains nearly two years of groundwater testing results.
But attorney Philip Federico, who represents plaintiffs in the class action and other lawsuits against Gore, called the company’s efforts “too little, much too late.” In the meantime, he said, residents are continuing to suffer — one of his clients was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer.
“It’s typical corporate environmental contamination,”
Continued on D2 Continued on D2
Gore spokesperson Donna Leinwand Leger said the company is “surprised by the Maryland Attorney General’s decision to initiate legal action, particularly in light of our proactive and intensive engagement with state regulators over the past two years.”
Scarbrough
The lawsuit adds to other claims filed in recent
“We have been working with Maryland, employing the most current, reliable science and technology to assess the potential impact of our operations and guide our ongoing, collaborative efforts to protect the environment,” the company said in a statement, noting a Dec. 18 report that
“The coalition that we are convening in the Greater Waverly area will focus on the cradle to career spectrum and reducing childhood poverty in this community,” said Derryck Fletcher, COO of the Y in Central Maryland. “We’re focusing on that continuum because we ultimately believe that poverty largely exists in our communities and in our nation due to historic and intentional disinvestment in communities with a high concentration of poverty.”
“These are communities largely made up of folks who have identities that are oppressed and intentionally marginalized,” continued
Continued on D2
Photo courtesy of Alicia Wilson
Alicia Wilson is returning to Johns Hopkins University to serve as its vice president of civic engagement and opportunity.
Courtesy photo
Maryland State Senator Cory McCray represents District 45 in Baltimore City. This week, he reflects on progress made in his district.
AP Photo/Stephanie
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office field suit against Delaware-based W.L. Gore and Associates for using “forever chemicals” in their weather proofing gear long after knowledge of the links to cancer were known.
Gore-Tex
Continued from D1
he said. “They’re in no hurry to fix the problem.”
The synthetic chemicals are especially harmful because they’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including the human body. In addition to cancers and immune system problems, exposure to certain levels of PFAS has been linked to increased cholesterol levels, reproductive health issues and developmental delays in children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Gore leaders failed to warn people living near its Maryland facilities about the potential impacts, hoping to protect their corporate image and avoid liability, according to the state’s lawsuit. The result has been “a toxic legacy for generations to come,” the lawsuit alleges. Since the chemicals are already in the local environment, protecting residents now often means installing complex and expensive water filtration systems. People with private wells have found highly elevated levels of dangerous chemicals in their water, according to the class action lawsuit.
The Maryland facilities are located in a rural area just across the border from Delaware, where Gore has become a longtime fixture
Grant
Continued from D1
in the community. The company, which today employs more than 13,000 people, was founded in 1958 after Wilbert Gore left the chemical giant DuPont to start his own business. Its profile rose with the development of Gore-Tex, a lightweight waterproof material created by stretching polytetrafluoroethylene, which is better known by the brand name Teflon that’s used to coat nonstick pans. The membrane within Gore-Tex fabric has billions of pores that are smaller than water droplets, making it especially effective for outdoor gear.
The state’s complaint traces Gore’s longstanding relationship with DuPont, arguing that information about the chemicals’ dangers was long known within both companies as they sought to keep things quiet and boost profits. It alleges that as early as 1961, DuPont scientists knew the chemical caused adverse liver reactions in rats and dogs.
DuPont has faced widespread litigation in recent years. Along with two spinoff companies, it announced a $1.18 billion deal in 2023 to resolve complaints of polluting many U.S. drinking water systems with ‘forever chemicals’.
The Maryland lawsuit
seeks to hold Gore responsible for costs associated with the state’s ongoing investigations and cleanup efforts, among other damages. State oversight has ramped up following litigation from residents alleging their drinking water was contaminated.
Until then, the company operated in Cecil County with little scrutiny.
Gore announced in 2014 that it had eliminated perfluorooctanoic acid from the raw materials used to create GoreTex. But it’s still causing long-term impacts because it persists for so long in the environment, attorneys say.
Over the past two years, Gore has hired an environmental consulting firm to conduct testing in the area and provided bottled water and water filtration systems to residents near certain Maryland facilities, according to a webpage describing its efforts.
Recent testing of drinking water at residences near certain Gore sites revealed perfluorooctanoic acid levels well above what the EPA considers safe, according to state officials.
Attorneys for the state acknowledged Gore’s ongoing efforts to investigate and address the problem but said the company needs to step up and be a better neighbor.
“While we appreciate Gore’s limited investigation to ascertain the extent of PFAS contamination around its
Fletcher. “In doing our work as an organization that’s committed to approaching everything we do through an equity lens, we realize that if we’re going to disrupt those oppressive systems we have to do that through a lens of liberation.”
On Dec.12 Gov. Moore announced the inaugural class of grant awardees for the ENOUGH Act. The Y in Central Maryland will receive a portion of $13.1 million in grants, made available to a total of 27 organizations. The multi-tiered grants were awarded to entities stamping out childhood poverty in 12 eligible counties and is a part of the historic $20 million investment to support vulnerable communities as they work to combat deeply rooted challenges.
“We know that there are many root causes of child poverty – and the solutions are unique to the challenges on the ground,” Gov. Moore said in a statement. “We are directly partnering in the work to create safe and thriving communities; support healthy and economically secure families; and ensure access to high-quality education. Because partnership produces progress –and nothing else does.”
ENOUGH grantees were chosen through a rigorous and competitive selection process. Each application was independently evaluated based on objective rubric criteria, which included the quality of community engagement, experience in coordination and partnerships, the robustness of governance structures, capacity for progress monitoring, feasibility and quality of proposed activities, use of evidence-based strategies, and plans for sustainability.
With the support of this grant, The Y and its partners have an invaluable opportunity to drive lasting impact by strengthening cross-sector collaboration in areas such as education, health, workforce development, housing and community safety.
According to information released from the Maryland Office of the Governor, select communities and ENOUGH grant awardees include: Implementation Award Recipients (approximately $3 million each):
1. Cherry Hill Strong (Cherry Hill, Baltimore City)
2. Park Heights Renaissance Inc. (Park Heights, Baltimore City)
3. San Mar Family and Community Services (South End, Hagerstown, Washington County) Planning Award Recipients ($300,000 each)
1. Anne Arundel Partnership for Children, Youth and Families (Pumphrey / Brooklyn Park, Anne Arundel County)
2. Child First Authority (Druid Heights, Upton and Westside, Baltimore City)
3. Elev8 Baltimore, Inc. (Sandtown Winchester and Harlem Park, Baltimore City)
4. South Baltimore Community Land Trust (Brooklyn and Curtis Bay, Baltimore City)
5. The Central Baltimore Partnership, Inc. (Greater Greenmount, Baltimore City)
6. The Y in Central Maryland (Waverly, Baltimore City)
7. Moving Dorchester Forward Inc (Cambridge / South Dorchester, Dorchester County)
8. Frederick County Local Management Board (Route 40 “The Golden Mile”, Frederick County)
9. CHEER - Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (Long Branch, Montgomery County)
Obituary
Gloria Erwin-Jones
Norfolk — She passed away after debilitating complications from a stroke.
To watch a recording of the funeral and read the full obituary, please visit www. altmeyerfh.com and enter her name. She will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. 2130 Woodlawn Drive, Baltimore, MD 21207.
facilities, much more needs to be done to protect the community and the health of residents,” Maryland Department
of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement. “We must remove these forever chemicals from
Strong foundation
Continued from D1
grant process. After weeks of coordination and communication, we helped them secure the resources needed to stabilize their home—a reminder that even small victories can have lasting impacts.
On a larger scale, 2024 was a year of laying the groundwork for transformative projects. For the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, this meant addressing immediate needs like façade and bathroom renovations while supporting the museum’s long-term vision under the leadership of Dr. Joanne Martin. Similarly, we brought nearly $10 million into the 45th District for projects that balance short-term impact with long-term community growth.
We celebrated ribbon-cuttings at the pre-K play yard at Tench Tilghman Elementary and affordable housing for educators in Johnston Square– projects that embody our commitment to education and equity.
As we walk into 2025, I’m particularly excited about upcoming milestones: the ribboncutting for Furley Elementary School, the groundbreaking for Northeast Middle School, and progress on the Robert L. Dalton Football Stadium—the only public school football stadium in Baltimore. Additionally, we will break ground on the Nathaniel McFadden Learn and Play Park, a project that will serve as both a tribute and a resource for our community.
I believe good governance should feel like a concierge service—not in a transactional sense but as a commitment to walking alongside our neighbors. Whether it’s advocating for seniors navigating healthcare benefits or helping a small business owner with grant applica-
our natural resources urgently, and we expect responsible parties to pay for this remediation.”
tions, my office operates on the principle that every resident deserves efficient, empathetic and effective service.
One example of this principle in action is the annual apprenticeship tours we’ve hosted for high school students in Baltimore. These tours provide young scholars with access to career pathways that they might not have considered otherwise. This past year, we partnered with CollegeBound and YouthWorks to introduce over 100 students to trade programs, showing them that success takes many forms.
As we look ahead, the work doesn’t stop. Supporting projects like the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum isn’t just about preserving history—it’s about honoring our community’s contributions and ensuring future generations know where they come from. Similarly, initiatives like the Robert L. Dalton Football Stadium and the Nathaniel McFadden Learn & Play Park represent more than bricks and mortar—they symbolize opportunities for our youth to dream big and succeed.
Baltimore faces its share of challenges, but I remain hopeful because of the resilience and determination I see in our community every day. Together, we’ve built a foundation, and 2025 is our opportunity to strengthen it further.
This journey is about all of us. It’s about ensuring that every resident, every family and every community has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. Thank you for trusting me to serve, and I look forward to continuing this work with you in the new year. Let’s make 2025 the year we lay even stronger foundations for a brighter future.
Identity, Inc. (Central Gaithersburg, Montgomery County)
American Youth Center (East Riverdale / Adelphi, Prince
United Communities Against Poverty (District Heights and Suitland,
County) Partnership Award Recipients ($65,000 each)
City of Cumberland (South Penn and John Humbird, Allegany County)
Ridge
Anne Arundel County)
Council
10.
11. Latin
George’s County) 12.
Prince George’s
One Annapolis, Inc. (Bay
Gardens,
Greater Mondawmin Coordinating
(Greater Mondawmin, Baltimore City)
Tendea Family Inc. (McElderry Park, Baltimore City)
Urban Strategies Inc. (Perkins Somerset Oldtown, Baltimore City) 6. We Our Us (Upton and Druid Heights, Baltimore City) 7. Community Assistance Network (Essex, Baltimore County) 8. Caroline Human Services Council, Inc. (Federalsburg, Caroline County)
LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation, Inc. (Waldorf, Charles County)
10. Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford and Cecil Counties (Edgewood, Harford County)
11. CASA, Inc. (Langley Park, Prince George’s County)
Prince George's Department of Social Services (Hillcrest Heights and Marlow Heights, Prince George’s County)
Photo Courtesy of Meta (Facebook) / Y in Central Maryland
The Y in Central Maryland plans to use their ENOUGH grant to address the root causes of poverty in the Greater Waverly area.
In the dojo: How one martial arts program is building confidence and discipline
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
On a rainy winter night, Paul McFarland’s martial arts students gather in his dojo, a space for learning and practicing self-defense and meditation, in the Belair-Parkside neighborhood for class.
The children start at 5 p.m. with strength and flexibility training. By 6 p.m., the teens and adults suit up in black uniforms, traditionally called “gi.” They are ready for conditioning, pad work and sparring.
McFarland’s team is small but mighty. He opened the dojo, Ring Dragon, at its current location five years ago not to run a business, but to make an impact.
“There are a lot of places that are just in business. I don’t want 500 students. I don’t want hundreds of students. I want 50 people
“You don’t
judge a master by how many students he has.
You judge a master by how many masters he creates.”
who really want to do this,” said McFarland. “You don’t judge a master by how many students he has. You judge a master by how many masters he creates. That’s the goal.”
The 49-year-old grew up in Montgomery County and said his early heroes were Bruce Lee, Sugar Ray Leonard and Spiderman. He started martial arts himself at nine years old, working his way up to a brown belt, just one level away from black. However, at 16 his parents took him out of the sport because he wouldn’t commit to his homework.
McFarland said he was distracted by crushes at the time. Though he eventually achieved his black belt, he disagrees with his parents’ decision.
As an instructor, McFarland continues to believe this to be true. He explained that martial arts can be used to teach people about the power of discipline, self-confidence and problem solving. He tries to push his students to foster their talents and to apply lessons from martial arts in their daily lives.
“Confidence comes from cultivating a skill and then having proven, factual instances where you have risen to an occasion or at least made it through,” said McFarland. “You don’t always win, but you’ve persevered. You’ve developed fortitude. You prove to yourself that you can deal with things whether it’s relationships, jobs or school.”
At Ring Dragon, he teaches a non-traditional Tang Soo Do program that incorporates aspects of boxing and muay Thai. He added that sparring, a main aspect of martial arts, is particularly good for teaching people how to think critically.
“It’s about your decision-making,” said McFarland. “There’s always going to be somebody who is faster, taller, longer, younger or more flexible. It’s about finding a way to get what you need out of a situation.”
One of McFarland’s students is his son, Shir. The 11-year-old attained his green belt last March and is aiming to get his purple belt in the new year. At age one, his father introduced him to martial arts. Shir said his favorite part about it has always been that it makes him feel stronger and, in turn, boosts his confidence.
Having his father as a teacher has been good. He admires his ability to think on his feet and his leadership skills—something Shir said he is trying to emulate.
“Everywhere on Earth has a leader. We have presidents, prime ministers, and if you know how to be a good leader and lead a team, you can basically do anything,” said Shir. “You can evolve someone into a better person so they can become a leader.”
When he grows up, Shir would like to be an animator. Knowing that college comes with a steep price tag, he said he’s hoping his commitment to his studies and to martial arts as an extracurricular can prepare him for scholarships.
He also plans to have his black belt by that time so he can earn money by teaching martial arts.
“I really can’t fault them because there’s no handbook, but I thought that was a mistake,” said McFarland. “Kids like that need to be in something constructive. If for nothing else, you’re putting all that angst and teen spirit into something constructive.”
“Being a child is a small amount of time. You can either have fun later or have fun now and not have fun later. I already know I do not want to be working two or three jobs that I can’t stand and then have to wake up early for them just to get paid enough to get an apartment,” said Shir. “You have to put authority into your work. Martial arts doesn’t really affect your personal life, it makes it better.”
Shir’s current wish for his father’s martial arts program is that more girls will join. He explained that this intention is not because he’s looking for a girlfriend but because he wants girls his age to know how to defend themselves.
“Men are kind of weird, so knowing how to protect yourself in that situation would be pretty good,” said Shir. “If you learn how to do that, you’re not going to be as vulnerable in the world, and you can assert yourself.”
Morgan State University (MSU) student Christian Turcios was part of the motivation for the current iteration of Ring Dragon. He found the website for the dojo on Google and ended up giving McFarland a call. At the time, McFarland was unsure if he wanted to continue teaching martial arts, but Turcios’ interest
encouraged him to keep going. Turcios has used martial arts as a means of keeping his emotions in check.
“For me, martial arts is a good outlet. Every time I leave class, I feel calm, so I go into life very calm,” said Turcios. “That helps me because I used to walk around kind of irritable, angry or aggressive. It creates a new me, and that new me is better suited for everyday life.”
He noted that he has never left a class feeling as if it was a waste of time. He, like Shir, plans to become a mentor or teacher one day.
“This has been the second coach in my lifetime that has significantly made an impact in my life. I do believe that sports save lives,” said Turcios. “I know of many incidents where people feel lost without sports…they just give people a path.”
To learn more about Paul McFarland and Ring Dragon, please visit www.ringdragon. com.
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal.
AFRO Photo / Megan Sayles
At Ring Dragon, Paul McFarland (back, right) teaches students how to build strength, flexibility and stamina and how to spar. He holds adult classes for those 13 and older and children’s classes for those aged five to 12.
AFRO Photo / Megan Sayles
Montgomery County native Paul McFarland is owner of Ring Dragon, a martial arts dojo in Baltimore. Shown here, Christian Turcios (front, left), Shir McFarland , Yugen McFarland and Michael Bowser (front, right) with Paul McFarland (back, left), Mario D’Souza, Liam Woodward.
What’s on the horizon: AFRO team resolutions from the AFRO
By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant
The New Year brings a chance for new beginnings, new habits and new goals. As 2025 kicks off, members of the AFRO team weighed in on their top priorities and resolutions they want to stick with throughout the new year. This week, take time to write down and plan out your New Year’s resolutions. Whether it be setting aside time for self-care, improving relationships or cultivating a positive attitude, deciding to change and having a plan are the first steps to success!
Stephen Hopkins
AFRO Freelance Photographer
“For the New Year I resolve to live in expectation and anticipation of God’s promises and walk in it with confidence knowing it must come to pass.”
Craig Talley AFRO Media Sales Consultant
“My New Year’s resolution is to continue to be intentional about my walk with the Lord, staying physically and financially fit. ‘Your health is your wealth.’”
Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant
“This coming year I plan to live a bit more. I’m looking forward to adventures in 2025.”
Wanda Pearson AFRO Receptionist
“My New Year’s revolution is to stay positive and grateful…hoping we have a better year to come.”
AFRO Freelance Photographer
“Viola Davis said in an acceptance speech her makeup artist told her everything she wanted was on the other side of fear. For 2025, I want to be brave.”
Dana Peck
AFRO Director of Digital Solutions
“In 2025, I resolve to balance with purpose: to deepen my studies with focus and determination, support my family with love and presence and continue driving digital innovation at the AFRO. I want to amplify voices and stories that matter. This year, I aim to embrace growth, prioritize well-being and leave a meaningful impact in every role I hold.”
Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing
Editor
“I seek to make commitments rather than resolutions. It’s never too late to become your best self. I am committed to a deeper honor of my health and wellness, walking in faith rather than sight and seeking those doors open to me.”
Patricia McDougall
AFRO Freelance Photographer
“My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to take time for myself. Schedule time to work out, cook healthier food and stay focused on the things that make me happy.”
Kevin MPECKABLE Peck
AFRO VP of Marketing and Technology
“Here’s to a New Year with no resolutions— just relentless focus on God, family and business. In 2025, it’s ‘No Days Off’— because excellence demands consistency! #MPECKABLE”
Gene Lambey
AFRO Freelance Writer
“For my New Year’s resolution, I would like to improve my connections and relationships, personally and professionally. I would like to focus on improving my craft in writing as well.”
J. Pamela Stills