science, technology, engineering
BEYA founder warns of crisis after military abandons STEM conference support
By Tyrone D. Taborn
Word in Black
Our military has always stood as a pillar of unity for our nation, built upon the sacrifices and courage of all Americans, regardless of race. But the recent decision to withdraw military recruiters from leading engineering conferences like the Black Engineer of the Year event sends a troubling message: the people who have fought to defend this nation and advanced its technological progress for centuries are being sidelined in the very fields that have helped secure our future. This is not just a setback for diversity—it is a direct threat to our nation’s security. From the time of the
Revolutionary War, when one of the first casualties was a Black man, African Americans have fought in every major conflict this country has seen. Yet, despite their sacrifices, Black men and women have often been relegated to the most dangerous, degrading, and underappreciated roles.
During the Civil War, new Colored troops helped turn the tide for the Union, yet their contributions were too often overlooked. Even in modern times, the struggle to be seen as equals in our armed forces continues, as Black soldiers remain underrepresented in leadership positions, despite their undeniable qualifications.
The military had made
significant strides in breaking down barriers — racial, institutional, and cultural — over the years. From the integration of Black soldiers into units during and after World War II to the rise of the Tuskegee Airmen, America has made progress in recognizing the value of all its citizens in the defense of this great nation. But the military’s recent withdrawal from key engineering and science conferences that have long been avenues for recruiting the nation’s most talented and diverse minds sends a message that we are regressing.
The Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) event, for example, has been a beacon for the brightest engineers, scientists and technologists in the coun-
military recruiters are no longer attending. It is not just the loss of interviews; it is the loss of access to some of the best and brightest minds that could strengthen our national defense and push technological innovation forward.
“We risk losing future leaders
Black engineering programs. Without continued engagement with these talented communities, we risk losing future leaders who could make a lasting impact on national security.
By NNPA Press Room
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, has announced the planning and implementation of a national public education and selective buying campaign across the nation in direct response to those corporate entities that have dismantled their respective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, programs and staffing. NNPA Chairman Emeritus Danny Bakewell Sr. explained, “Now is the time for the Black Press of America once again to emphatically
try, many of whom are people of color. Each year, Clear Communications Group, of which I am publisher, chairman and CEO, connects Black scientists, tech experts, engineers and mathematicians with job opportunities. There are also opportunities for young people to be matched up with mentors. These students — many from historically Black colleges and universities — are being denied the opportunity to serve their country in vital roles because
NNPA launches national public education and selective buying campaign
speak and publish truth to power.”
“We are the trusted voice of Black America, and we will not be silent or nonresponsive to the rapid rise of renewed Jim Crow racist policies in corporate America,” stated NNPA
Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. “The Black Press of America continues to remain on the frontline keeping our families and communities informed and engaged on all the issues that impact our quality of life.”
At a recent convening of NNPA member publishers and editors, a united resolve was reached that each member publication of the NNPA
This decision undermines decades of hard-won progress. We see it clearly in the history of military leadership.
who could make a lasting impact on national security.”
Many of our top generals, leaders who have shaped the military into what it is today, are graduates of historically
This is not just a disservice to the people who are being excluded — it is a disservice to every American who relies on the military to safeguard their freedom and security. This country has a long history of ignoring, overlooking and underestimating the contributions of marginalized communities. But history has
See more about the military’s decision to cut recruitment efforts at the 2025 BEYA conference on A5.
The road to recovery: Altadena families struggle to rebuild after devastating wildfires
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
On Jan. 7, the day the Eaton fire began to blaze in Southern California, 42-year-old Shai McCall did not think much of it at first. She’s lived in her family’s Altadena home all of her life, and it’s not unusual to see fires burning in the San Gabriel Mountains.
“We’ve had several wildfires, but they’ve never come down,” said McCall. “You pack a bag for one day and put some clothes in it. Then you come home. Nothing major.”
She wishes she took it more seriously this time.
The Eaton fire obliterated more than 9,000 structures and damaged nearly 1,100 others. One of those structures was McCall’s family home where she lived with her aging parents, younger sister and nieces. All that’s left are the remains of a front porch, entryway and chimney.
The neighbor to the right of her has a chimney and a mailbox. The neighbor to the left has nothing.
“Every day, it’s ‘don’t cry,’” said McCall. “That’s the goal, just don’t cry.” McCall discovered her home was lost after being sent a video from another neighbor who attempted to put the fire out with a hose. Unfortunately, no water came out.
Tyrone D. Taborn is publisher, chairman and CEO of Career Communications Group, which hosts the BEYA conference each year in efforts to connect and support Black people in the
and math industries. The event also honors great Black Americans who have made their mark via service to their country in the Armed Forces. This week, he speaks on the U.S. military’s decision to remove recruitment tables from the 2025 BEYA conference as a result of an executive order by the 47th president of the United States. The event has served as a heavy recruitment event and a space for young people to link with mentors in the military for years.
AFRO Photo / Edoghogho Ugiagbe
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Black Engineer Magazine
Top Justice Department official orders prosecutors to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams
By Jake Offenhartz, Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker
The Associated Press
The Justice Department on Feb. 10 ordered federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, arguing in a remarkable departure from longstanding norms that the case was interfering with the mayor’s ability to aid the president’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
In a two-page memo obtained by The Associated Press, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told prosecutors in New York that they were “directed to dismiss” the bribery charges against Adams immediately.
Bove said the order was not based on the strength of evidence in the case, but rather because it had been brought too close to Adams reelection campaign and was distracting from the mayor’s efforts to assist in the Trump administration’s law-and-order priorities.
“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.
The memo also ordered prosecutors in New York not to take “additional investigative steps” against the Democrat until after November’s mayoral election, though it left open the possibility that charges could be refiled after that following a review.
The intervention and reasoning — that a powerful defendant could be too occupied with official duties to face accountability for alleged crimes — marked an extraordinary deviation from long-standing Justice Department norms.
Public officials at the highest level of government are routinely investigated by the Justice Department, including President Donald Trump during his first term, without prosecutors
advancing a claim that they should be let off the hook to attend to government service.
An attorney for Adams, Alex Spiro, said the Justice Department’s order had vindicated the mayor’s claim of innocence. “Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them,” said Spiro, who has also represented Elon Musk.
A spokesperson for the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, declined to comment. The case against Adams was brought under the previous U.S. attorney for the district, Damien Williams, who stepped down before Trump became president.
The memo follows months of speculation that Trump would take steps to end the case against Adams, who was charged in September with accepting bribes of free or discounted travel and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals seeking to buy his influence.
Adams, a Democrat elected on a centrist
“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime.”
platform, has moved noticeably right following his indictment, rankling some within his own party.
Rather than restricting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as Adams once promised, he has expressed a
willingness to roll back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies and pledged not to publicly criticize a president whose policies he once described as “abusive.”
In recent weeks, he implied that Trump’s agenda would be better for New York than former President Joe Biden’s.
Several of the mayor’s opponents in the Democratic mayoral primary claimed Feb. 10 that Adams had agreed to do Trump’s bidding because he hoped for leniency.
“Instead of standing up for New Yorkers, Adams is standing up for precisely one person,” said Brad Lander, the city’s comptroller and a mayoral challenger.
Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblymember who is also running for mayor, called for an investigation into whether Adams “cut any
kind of deal with the Trump administration that involves breaking city law.”
Trump, who was convicted last year of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment, has previously expressed solidarity with Adams. He hinted at the possibility of a pardon in December, telling reporters that the mayor had been “treated pretty unfairly.”
He had also claimed, without offering evidence, that Adams was being persecuted for criticizing former President Joe Biden’s policies on immigration.
“I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ, for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said in October at a Manhattan event attended by Adams. “We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.”
The prosecutors in New York had noted that the investigation into Adams began before he began feuding with Biden over migrant funding. Still, Bove, in his memo, echoed some of Trump’s and Adams’ claims about politicization.
“It cannot be ignored that Mayor Adams criticized the prior Administration’s immigration policies before the charges were filed,” Bove wrote.
The criminal case against Adams involves allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks worth more than $100,000 — including expensive flight upgrades, luxury hotel stays and even a trip to a bathhouse — while serving in his previous job as Brooklyn Borough president.
The indictment said a Turkish official who helped facilitate the trips then leaned on Adams for favors, at one point asking him to lobby the Fire Department to allow a newly constructed, 36-story diplomatic building to open in time for a planned visit by Turkey’s president.
Read more on afro.com
Celebrating excellence in every community.
During Black History Month, we honor leaders who consistently dedicate themselves to uplifting and supporting their communities. Through their tireless efforts, they preserve the legacy of those who came before and pave the way for future generations to thrive.
Join us in celebrating fashion entrepreneur Ngozi Okaro, STEM leader Dr. Calvin Mackie, Jamie Aranda, a resilient Air Force veteran, and astronaut Ed Dwight as part of our Everyday Excellence campaign. Their drive and achievements inspire us all, serving as powerful reminders that success is within reach for those who strive for it.
Find career resources to support your own everyday excellence at aarp.org/work
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York.
Recovery
Continued from A1
“In the four-minute video, you hear at the end, ‘I’m so sorry we couldn’t save your home,” said McCall. “To this day, I haven’t had the courage to show my parents the video, which shows the home that they raised their kids in burning down from beginning to end.”
McCall can’t remember who first informed her parents that their home was decimated by the fires, but she does recall their reactions. They were staying at her brother’s house in West Covina.
“You could just hear the awkward silence until my mother screamed. My dad took her outside to talk with her,” said McCall. “I just sat there for a second. It felt like a bad dream that you can’t wake up from.”
When Shai McCall and her family evacuated on Jan. 7, her 64-year-old father left with two outfits and her 74-year-old mother left with three. Her mother also made sure to grab the deed to the house, birth certificates and social security cards. Fortunately, her younger sister and nieces were not at the home at the time of the wildfires.
Everything else was lost. McCall had started school the day before the fires started. The thousands of dollars she spent on textbooks and a new laptop was wasted.
“You have to smile and fight tears every day,” said McCall. “I tell people I have a father who happened to have insurance on the home and he’s handling the business aspects, but I also have a mother who has 44 years worth of memories and is questioning whether she has another 44 years left. Every day she wakes up in tears and cries on the bathroom floor for hours.”
McCall recounted the fateful night while standing in line for resources. Some days she spends upwards of six hours waiting for clothing, toiletries and gift cards to buy groceries. She’s started a GoFundMe to help them in their pursuit of starting over.
“It doesn’t matter the amount, just try to help as many people as you can,” said McCall. “Appreciate life every day. Don’t take for granted that you wake up in your own home because in the blink of an eye it can all be gone.”
Husband and wife Ibarionex and Cynthia Perello’s Altadena home also perished as a result of the wildfires.
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“Our home wasn’t just a structure. It was a place of peace, love, forgiveness, celebration and a testament to years of hard work, dedication and resilience,” said Cynthia Perello. “The heartbreak of seeing it reduced to ashes is a crisis no one should ever have to endure.”
“Our home wasn’t just a structure. It was a place of peace, love, forgiveness, celebration and a testament to years of hard work, dedication and resilience.”
Like McCall and so many others, Cynthia Perello said it was pretty standard to see fires burning nearby. But, when she and her husband noticed the high winds blowing embers and smoke in their direction, they knew they needed to evacuate.
In the face of a power outage, the Perellos used their phone flashlights to gather essential items, like medications, a hard drive and the ashes of a deceased family member. They fled their home in pajamas with their dog, Gracie, in tow.
Ibarionex Perello, an award-winning photographer and podcast host, lost all of the gear he uses to earn a living.
“We have lost everything, including his podcasting and photography equipment,” said Cynthia Perello. “We are starting from scratch. There is a long road ahead of us to recovery.”
The Perellos have also started a GoFundMe to help re-establish their lives.
“Your support will assist us to address the many aspects of recovery and support our family needs regarding this crisis,” said Cynthia Perello. “Any support you can provide to help Ibarionex and I rebuild our lives would be greatly appreciated.”
Aside from individual fundraisers, the California Black Freedom Fund, led by Marc Philpart, has launched the Black LA Relief and Recovery Fund to support African-American communities in Pasadena and Altadena on their path of restoring normalcy. The fund is being run in collaboration with the California Community Foundation.
Philpart explained that it’s critical to support Black families at this time, as communities of color tend to experience longer recovery times after disasters. Some studies have even suggested that Black disaster survivors receive less Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief than their counterparts.
“There’s inequity throughout the relief and recovery process both in terms of who gets FEMA dollars and who ends up better off after a crisis like this,” said Philpart. “We wanted to shine a spotlight on those inequities and resource Black community organizations to address those gaps.”
So far, the Black LA Relief and Recovery Fund has raised over $3.5 million, which will be distributed to service delivery organizations in Black communities, like churches, senior centers and case management entities.
Philpart recalled that in the 1980s Altadena was 45 percent African American. Just before the wildfires, the share of Black residents was about 20 percent.
“There’s very little economic opportunity for Black folks in California these days. Many people are moving away and are unable to make a living the same way their grandparents may have,” said Philpart. “We know that it will only be worse as a result of this crisis and we want to stave that off as much as we can. We want Black people to feel like they have a right to return, and we want them to be welcomed to return in a way that allows them to rebuild in bigger and better ways.”
NNPA
Continued from A1
begin a national public education campaign coupled with the release of research data on those American companies that are engaging in efforts to sanction racial injustice, inequitable policies, divisive leadership and economic apartheid in America.
“We note forthrightly that Black Americans spend $2 trillion dollars annually as consumers of products and services throughout the United States,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. emphasized. “We now must evaluate and realign to question why we
continue to spend our money with companies that do not respect us,” Chavis continued. “This now must come to an end. These contradictions will not go unchallenged by 50 million Black Americans who have struggled for centuries to ensure equality, fairness and inclusion in our nation’s democracy.”
A selective buying campaign involves exercising the right to select what we spend our money on and who we spend our money with. We are starting with targeting TARGET.
The following are some of the major
American companies that have publicly retreated from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
•Target
• Walmart
• Lowe’s
• Meta
• Amazon
• McDonald’s
• John Deere
• Tractor Supply
• Ford
Photo courtesy of Cynthia Perello
Shown here, the house of Ibarionex (left) and Cynthia Perello, in Altadena, Calif., after the structure was ravaged in the Eaton fire. The husband and wife fled their home together on Feb. 7 in their pajamas with their dog and a few essentials.
Photo courtesy of Shai McCall
Pieces of a burnt entryway, front porch and chimney are all that’s left of Shai McCall’s Altadena, Calif. home, which she’s lived in for 42 years, following the Eaton wildfire. McCall lived in the home with her parents, younger sister and nieces.
The plot to assassinate Black America
By Keith Boykin
Not since the 1960s have Black Americans been the target of a greater political assault than the one we’re witnessing right now.
Trump just installed a White supremacist at the State Department who openly acknowledged his belief that “White men must be in charge” of everything.
He put in another at the Treasury Department, who called to repeal the Civil Rights Act, “normalize Indian hate,” and eliminate Gaza, while bragging, “I was racist before it was cool.”
He put an unqualified Fox News host in charge of the entire Defense Department, even after the man was flagged by a service member as an “insider threat” and a possible White supremacist.
He’s installing a man to run the Department of Health and Human Services who believes that Black people should not be given the same vaccines as White people.
And he gave unprecedented government access to an unelected White South African billionaire who performs Nazi salutes, tells far-right Germans to let go of their Hitler guilt, and is coercing Black leaders in South Africa because he thinks White people are being persecuted.
Racism is not a bug in Trump’s vision of America, it is a feature, and the racists are not trying to hide it. Just since Inauguration Day, we’ve seen White supremacists on the subway in
Washington, D.C., Patriot Front members at the Jefferson Memorial, and “Proud Boys” marching through the streets of the capital. And now a right-wing group has published the names and photos of mostly Black federal workers in an alarming new “DEI watchlist” that effectively puts a target on their backs.
These are the people Donald Trump is empowering.
Trump’s mission is to dismantle decades, if not centuries, of civil rights progress in government, business, academia and culture.
In government, he’s rescinding executive orders that have protected Black people since the 1960s and trying to eliminate the constitutional protection of birthright citizenship from the 1860s.
In business, he’s pressuring companies to end their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and far too many are willingly responding with “anticipatory obedience.”
In academia, he’s threatening to investigate colleges and universities with DEI programs and withhold federal funding for schools that promote racial justice, and now Rutgers University has canceled an HBCU conference and Harvard has laid off the staff of its Slavery Remembrance Program.
And in the culture, even the NFL removed its “End Racism” sign at the Super Bowl, the first time since 2021 without the message in the end zone, although the league unconvincingly denied that it was connected to Trump’s attendance at the game.
Black history is
By Tracey L. Rogers
It’s a trend that’s been building for a few years now.
Books by predominantly Black authors are being banned around the country. School curricula have been amended to skip the history lesson on slavery and racism. Critical Race Theory (CRT) — and anything that vaguely looks like it — is under attack. And the concept of “wokeness” has been misconstrued and weaponized.
Fast-forward to February 2025 and there’s been a doubling down on these attempts to erase Black history. President Trump’s anti-DEI, anti-“woke” rhetoric has led major companies and even many federal agencies to avoid observing Black History Month.
every
One year ago, I wrote a book called “Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race?” that warned about 5 features of modern racism: (1) erasing Black history, (2) centering White victimhood, (3) denying Black oppression, (4) promoting myths of Black inferiority, and (5) rebranding racism. Trump is doing all five in his first month in office.
His Defense Department banned Black History Month events and removed a video about the Tuskegee Airmen, while the Veterans Affairs office told a Black official not to mention DEI during an MLK event, all of which erase Black history.
His sweeping pardons for hundreds of January 6 insurrectionists, lesser known pardons for two White police officers who murdered a Black man, and his campaign to bring back Confederate names on military bases all center a racist misperception of White victimhood.
His rescission of decades-old civil rights executive orders fuels right-wing denial of Black oppression.
His reckless attack on DEI immediately after the D.C. plane crash promotes discriminatory myths of Black inferiority.
And his coded language gaslighting us about “meritocracy,” from a man who was the first president elected with no experience in government or military and then became the first criminal to be elected, represents a stunning example of rebranding racism.
So why isn’t anybody stopping him? How is he getting
away with this?
Because Trump’s Republican Party now controls all three branches of government. The executive branch is run by Trump and his minions. Both houses of Congress, the legislative branch, are controlled by Republicans. And six of the nine members of the Supreme Court, the leaders of the judicial branch, were appointed by Republican presidents.
This is why many of us have been screaming for years that elections have consequences, and when we don’t vote in all federal, state and local elections, we lose.
But as a Black American, it’s hard not to reach the conclusion that White America would rather
enable a destructive fascist to ruin the country than relinquish its unearned White privilege. The majority of White voters supported Donald Trump in all three of his presidential campaigns. Black people did not.
We and the Indigenous have been the conscience of the country since the founding of the republic, but we are not the majority. We’ve done our job and will continue to fight for justice, but now it’s time — in fact, it’s well past time — for White people to put up or shut up about democracy.
This op-ed was originally published by OtherWords.org.
day— with or without the White House
As I consider the president’s campaign promise to “make America great again,” I wonder if he means to make America “White” again.
From failing to condemn White supremacists for their violent march in Charlottesville, Va. during his first term to blaming “diversity hires” for January’s plane crash in Washington, D.C. this year, Trump and his allies seem to have a difficult time acknowledging the diversity that actually makes this country great.
This has been especially true for Black people feeling the brunt of his Executive Orders. These haven’t just eliminated recent diversity and inclusion initiatives — one even rescinded an Executive Order signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to end discriminatory practices mostly aimed at Black Americans.
During a speech at Howard University in 1965, President Johnson said that Black Americans were “still buried under a blanket of history and circumstance.” Following widespread protests, it was Johnson who signed the landmark Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law. Now both historic milestones are under threat by the attempts of Trump and many others to erode the social and economic gains made by Black Americans.
It’s as if we are reliving a time akin to the nadir of race relations in America — the period after Reconstruction, when White supremacists regained power and tried to reverse the progress Black Americans made after the emancipation of enslaved people.
Today, from the U.S. Air Force removing coursework on the Tuskegee Airmen to orders
by many federal agencies, including the military, canceling Black History Month celebrations, these extreme rollbacks will set a new precedent impacting all minority groups.
I can’t help but to return to sentiments shared by “The 1619 Project” founder Nikole
Hannah-Jones: “The same instinct that led powerful people to prohibit Black people from being able to read,” she wrote, is also “leading powerful people to try to stop our children from learning histories that would lead them to question the unequal society that we have as well.”
There is nothing comfortable about the history of Black Americans — it’s a history that shatters the myth of American exceptionalism. Nevertheless, Black history is American history. Instead of banning it, we must teach it.
It would be impossible to erase the legacy of Black people in this country. Ours is a legacy that endures — one that will continue to endure no matter who’s in the White House.
One thing Black people are going to do is to be Black — and proud. We don’t need a month to know that we stand on the shoulders of giants.
Having overcome enslavement, Jim Crow, and more, our striving to thrive in a country with so-called leaders who would prefer to keep us living on the margins only exemplifies the America we aspire to. And it’s a fight that’s made this country better for struggling people of all races.
Like it or not, Black history is every day.
This op-ed was originally published by Other Words.org.
Black History Month: Celebrating progress while confronting inequality
By Dedrick Asante
Despite attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, Black political representation has never been greater. Progress is still possible.
I lead the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank.
When we opened our doors in 1970, there were only 1,469 Black elected officials in office across the United States. Today, there are over 10,000.
These milestones are historic, yet they also compel us to confront the sad reality that African Americans are still far behind their White counterparts in terms of overall economic well-being and political representation.
This duality — celebrating progress while recognizing the challenges in front of us — defines the spirit of Black History Month for 2025.
While the growth of Black political leadership is encourag-
ing, representation alone doesn’t guarantee systemic change. And today, even that progress in Black political representation is threatened.
Under the last administration, African Americans held 11 percent of the highest ranking, commissioned officer positions within the White House — nearly reaching our 14 percent share of the U.S. population.
The current administration, by contrast, has appointed only one Black cabinet nominee, returning our country to the poor Black representation of the 1980s. And following guidance from the White House, many federal agencies have now canceled their Black History Month celebrations.
But outside the White House, Black political representation has reached historic highs. Today, we have one Black governor, Wes Moore of Maryland — only the third Black governor elected in U.S. history.
We’ve set a new record with five Black U.S. Senators: Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tim Scott (R-SC).
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) now has 62 members — its largest membership yet.
At the local level, Black political leadership is flourishing with a record 143 Black mayors across the country. Black leaders are at the helm of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and Atlanta. These leaders are shaping not only their own cities, but urban policy across the nation.
Economic progress has accompanied these political milestones. Black Americans have achieved record levels of economic well-being in recent years, including historically low unemployment rates, a median income of $56,490, and median household wealth of $44,900.
But while these figures are
encouraging, they remain overshadowed by persistent racial disparities. White households, for instance, maintain a median wealth of $285,000, highlighting the country’s deep racial economic divide.
The African American tradition of struggle advances the entire nation. In that spirit, we must continue to build coalitions that address shared socio-economic challenges across racial and ethnic lines. Economic security, the need for a living wage, access to affordable housing, and moving communities out of asset poverty — these are the battles that our historic number of Black elected officials must continue to fight.
Recent attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) are another area demanding focus. We cannot allow the Trump administration’s witch hunt for those who’ve advocated opportunities for underrepresented communities to turn back the slow, gradual progress in Black
political power.
The Joint Center was born from the Black freedom tradition — not from a desire for surfacelevel diversity, but from the need for true systemic change. As we navigate these challenges, we draw strength from this tradition and our remarkable progress.
The next two to four years present unique opportunities for collaboration and advancement.
While congressional power remains fluid, with the Senate and especially the House narrowly divided, strategic coalition-building can help us address persistent disparities and create a more equitable future.
Let this Black History Month remind us that progress is possible, even in the face of persistent challenges. Together, we can honor the sacrifices of those who came before us and pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come.
This op-ed was originally published by Other Words.org.
Courtesy photo Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, television and film producer and political commentator. This week, he discusses attempts to kill the spirit of Black America.
Courtesy photo Tracey L. Rogers is an entrepreneur and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant in Philadelphia. This week, she discusses how the Black community and its allies must fight efforts to erase Black history.
Courtesy photo Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is the president of the Joint Center
Muhammad
Military backs out of recruiting at science and engineering conference as part of DEI
By Rose L. Thayer Stars and Stripes
Military organizations backed out of a Feb. 13-15 engineering, science and technology conference as part of a new Pentagon policy that bans diversity-focused events.
The Becoming Everything You Are Conference — formerly known as the Black Engineer of the Year Award Conference — has a record of supporting and celebrating military employment as a civilian or service member and has consistently helped the Defense Department recruit hundreds of young professionals, said Tyrone Taborn, publisher, chairman and CEO of Career Communications Group, which is behind the nearly 40-year-old event.
The conference — held on an annual basis— is focused on careers and mentorship in science, technology, engineering and math. Last year, the Army recruited about 300 people, he said.
But given the push from President Donald Trump’s administration to end all forms of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, the Defense Department ordered all its organizations to cancel official participation in this year’s event. The federal government committed to spend about $1.5 million on the event, Taborn said.
Pentagon officials responded to the cancellations by pointing to a policy released Jan. 31 by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called “Identity Months Dead at DoD” that bars use of any official resources for celebrations, events or cultural awareness months. Service members and civilians can attend these events in an unofficial capacity outside of duty hours, according to the policy.
Taborn said he was shocked by the move. He said the conference has moved beyond affinity group affiliation to be one of the largest conferences in the country with up to 14,000 attendees each year. He said he poured over the conference sessions this year to ensure each was compliant with new Pentagon directives and adjusted or removed any legacy sessions of concern.
It has not helped as cancellations continued Feb. 10, he said.
Military personnel could still attend the
BEYA founder
Continued from A1 also shown us that those same communities — whether it was the Tuskegee Airmen, Indigenous Cold War-era military personnel, or women who worked behind the scenes to keep our war efforts strong—have always found ways to make invaluable contributions.
This pattern must not be repeated again.
three-day event, but in an unofficial capacity, according to statements from the Air Force, Navy and National Guard Bureau. Army Futures Command, which is listed on the conference website, did not respond to questions on Feb. 10.
No military services that planned to participate in the event would provide the amount of money that they’ve lost by cancelling the conference. The BEYA website stated it does not provide refunds less than 30 days before the event.
“I’m just blown away. I don’t understand,” Taborn said.
Pentagon pressure on its contractors also led SpaceX, Booz Allen Hamilton and Naval Nuclear Laboratory to cancel, he said.
The Defense Department did not respond Feb. 10 on whether it has pressured contractors.
“BEYA is the major recruiting activity for everybody, and they put all their money behind this. It’s such an ecosystem,” Taborn said. “We’re not even DEI, unless you want to say there’s too many Black people or too many Hispanic people coming to the event. … We just can’t figure it out.”
The military has struggled in recent years to meet its recruiting goals for troops and keep its civilian employment ranks filled. The Army last year hosted three large hiring fairs in pro-
Our nation will one day understand the lessons of the past. We must hope that we do not have to learn this lesson through the mistakes of excluding talent from the most critical sectors of our society. The world is changing rapidly, and so are the threats to our security. To ensure that our military remains the most powerful, most innovative force on Earth, we must continue to invest in the best and brightest minds — regardless of their race, gender, or back-
ground.
When we turn our backs on inclusion, we not only hurt those who are excluded, we endanger the future of our nation. It is time for us to learn from the past and correct the course before it’s too late.
We have earned our stars. Now, let’s make sure they are shared by everyone.
This op-ed was originally published by Word in Black.
For women’s hearts, wear red to church in February
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black
Often in church, the color red represents the blood that Christ shed on the cross to absolve humankind of its sins. It’s most often seen in choir robes, or in the vestments of the minister at the pulpit.
This month, pulpits across the nation have awash in red dresses for a different reason, as the color’s symbolism temporarily shifted from earthly salvation to the health of Black women. The occasion was National Wear Red Day, an American Heart Association event designed to bring attention to heart disease in women. The designated day was Feb. 7, but churches have decided to participate all month long.
“Together, we are stronger than heart disease and stroke,” the Go Red for Women website declares. “Wear red to be seen, to be counted, to be heard, to make an impact.”
There’s not much good news about Black women and heart health.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the lifetime risk of developing cardiovascular disease is far higher for Black women (85 percent) compared to White women (69 percent). More than 50,000 Black women die from heart disease each year, the leading cause of death for that demographic.
“Together, we are stronger than heart disease and stroke. Wear red to be seen, to be counted, to be heard, to make an impact.”
Black parishioners nationwide have been encouraged to don the color at church on Sundays in February because Black women have a substantially higher risk of cardiovascular disease than White women. But it also honors a pioneering Baltimore doctor who was among the first to identify the BlackWhite health gap — and addressed it in part by working with churches.
While the American Heart Association is behind Wear Red Day, taking the heart health message to the Black church was effective back in the day because so many in the Black community didn’t have health insurance. As a result, they were more likely to go to church every Sunday than visit their doctors on a regular basis.
At least one of those Sundays, however, was designated for regular heart rate and blood pressure screening.
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fessional sports arenas to attract potential candidates to fill thousands of vacancies.
A federal hiring freeze signed into policy by Trump on Jan. 20 excludes defense personnel.
The Army received 5,500 resumes and conducted more than 540 interviews at BEYA in 2023, according to a news release about its participation that year.
Army National Guard, Missile Defense Agency, the Air Force and Navy were listed as exhibitors in this year’s conference. The Army’s Aviation and Missile Command extended 37 tentative job offers at the 2024 event, according to another release. Of those, 30 people accepted jobs. Army National Guard, Air Force and Navy were listed as Diamond Partners of this year’s event, which costs about $50,000, according to the BEYA website. Army Futures Command was a Platinum Partner, valued at about $40,000, and Missile Defense Agency was Bronze at about $15,000. Packages include exhibitor space, participant passes, branding and advertisements.
Outside of personnel recruitment, the
BEYA Conference hosts a mentorship program that pairs service members with high school students. The Stars and Stripes Dinner held during the conference highlights excellence in military service, but the guest list this year dropped from 1,100 to 600, Taborn said. Each dinner puts a spotlight on a different military service branch and the Coast Guard was selected this year, according to Taborn and a Coast Guard letter sent to its personnel in November.
Adm. Linda Fagan, the Coast Guard commandant who was fired by Trump the day after he took office, was prominently featured in the conference’s magazine, which is already printed and ready for distribution ahead of the conference weekend, Taborn said. It was too late to change it, he said. Instead, organizers scrambled to recover what they could, Taborn said. He’s called his network of military retirees to fill the gaps for mentors.
“They’re more than happy [to help],” he said.
The U.S. Naval Academy, which traditionally provides transportation to high school students to attend a mentoring program, cancelled the buses. That means many high school and college students missed their chance to participate, Taborn said.
He had expected about 8,000 students at this year’s conference.
Russell Frisby, an attorney who has participated and attended the conference in previous years, said the experience left him proud to be among general officers and CEOs speaking to young people “clearly on their way up.”
Seeing service members and military civilians at the conference showcased for their professional excellence allows students to see what is possible for them in a similar path, he said.
“We are competing with China and India, and I think technology-wise … we need to go for all our best people,” Frisby said, adding that “a lot of our best people” are “at BEYA.”
Photo courtesy of Lillian Putnam via Defense Visual Distribution Service
Dynetta Jones (left) and Javarius Foreman take part in the recruitment efforts at BEYA 2023.
WASHINGTON-AREA
Friends of Kingman Park’s RFK Task Force meets ahead of community session with D.C. mayor
By Gene Lambey Special to the AFRO
The Friends of Kingman Park’s (FOKP) RFK Task Force held a community meeting on Feb. 4 to gather resident input regarding the potential new Commanders stadium. The meeting was at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church Imperial Room, 320 21st NE, at 7 p.m., with over 123 attendees.
Ward 7 Councilman Wendell Felder attended and shared his thoughts afterward.
“As more conversations are had from the District in terms of the future of RFK, it is good we have active communities such as Kingman Park who are taking the initiative already [to] start the conversations with neighbors who will be directly impacted with the future of RFK,” said Councilman Felder. “I am excited about the future conversations and I look forward to working with my council colleagues, mayor and community members to figure out what is best for the site.”
ANC 7D-05 Commissioner Ebony Payne spoke after Felder, encouraging discussion about the demolition, construction process and its scenarios.
“We had the Washington Commanders, their representatives, very eagerly reach out wanting to collaborate with the community. We know that we want to bring the community in and hear directly from you, and collect your
Medicaid, with their health insurance needs. Shown here, Brendan Glover (right) chatting with Fabric Health worker Adrienne Jones.
Wash, dry, enroll: Finding medicaid help at the laundromat
By KFF Health News
At a SuperSuds Laundromat just south of Washington, D.C., a steady stream of customers loaded clothes into washers and dryers on a recent Sunday morning, passing the time on their phones or watching television.
Amid the low hum of spinning clothes, Adrienne Jones made the rounds in a bright yellow sweatshirt, asking customers about their health needs. “Do you have health coverage?” Jones, an outreach manager for Fabric Health, asked Brendan Glover, 25, who was doing laundry with his toddler in tow.
Glover works in law enforcement, but he lost his coverage in 2024 when a job ended. “I am young, so I don’t think about it, but I know I will need it,” he said.
“ They go to where people are sitting with time on their hands and develop grassroots relationships and get the word out about Pennie.”
Jones collected his contact information, gave him a gift card for a future laundromat visit, and promised to help him find affordable coverage.
State Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage programs have long
struggled to connect with lower-income Americans to help them access health care. They send letters and emails, place phone calls, and post on social media platforms such as Facebook and X.
Some of these state programs are trying an alternative approach: meeting people at the laundromat — where they regularly go and usually have time to chat.
Fabric Health, a Washington, D.C.based startup, sends outreach workers into laundromats in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and — as of January — the District of Columbia, to help people get and use health coverage, including by helping schedule checkups or maternity care. The workers, many of whom are bilingual, visit the laundromats also to establish relationships, build trust and connect people with gov-
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In a unanimous decision, D.C. Council votes to expel Councilmember Trayon White
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
Trayon White sat in the public gallery on Tuesday, Feb. 4 while his more familiar position – his seat situated among his fellow D.C. councilmembers – remained empty, save for his nametag.
In an unprecedented, albeit expected decision, the D.C. Councilmembers voted unanimously to expel White from his position as the Ward 8 councilmember.
White, who was arrested last August by the FBI on bribery charges, can still run in the coming months in a yet unscheduled special election to regain his seat. However, he must also face a federal trial which will tentatively begin in January 2026. Following the council’s vote, At-large Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie expressed his sentiments.
“Trayon White has been my friend and fellow councilmember for more than
a decade, so this vote is not
White, who attended the legislative meeting, did not speak while his colleagues deliberated, except to affirm that he was present. He also skipped the opportunity to speak with the press afterwards.
Salim Adofo, chairperson for the ANC 8C (Advisory Neighborhood Commission), who, along with his colleagues, represents the Barry Farm, Congress Heights and Douglass neighborhoods, commented on White’s expulsion.
“Some people have mixed feelings but with this being both the budget oversight hearing and performance oversight seasons, those of us on the ANC and the atlarge councilmembers are ready to step up and get the work done – to address the needs of residents of our community,” he said.
Adofo said he did not want to speculate if White would
Greater Washington Urban League prepares for annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Gala
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
The Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) is set to host its annual Whitney M. Young Jr.
ing Those with Courage Under Fire on March 28 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The evening is the organization’s flagship fundraiser and is a time to celebrate social justice champions and changemakers in the Greater Washington area.
“It’s an opportunity for us to gather folks together to meet and be exposed to transformative leaders who are making a difference in our community and who will share perspectives on where we are as a community and a country,” George H. Lambert Jr., president and CEO of GWUL, told the AFRO. “It’s an opportunity to come out that evening and meet friends, neighbors and rub our shoulders with those making an impact.”
Founded in 1938, Lambert said the GWUL arose out of a group of Black residents’ appeal for support in accessing “good government jobs.” The origin remains relevant today, as the 47th president moves to shrink the federal workforce and ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies.
Aside from workforce development initiatives, GWUL delivers financial literacy training, scholarships for higher education, rent and utility support, housing counseling, therapy and entrepreneurial accelerators.
choose to run again, saying he had other concerns that were of more importance.
“Ward 8 residents want to see an end to the violence that has plagued our community, they want more affordable housing, and they want fresh, quality food to be more available in their neighborhoods – that’s what we are focused on accomplishing,” he said.
Since his 2024 arrest, White has maintained his innocence. In November, he was reelected by a sizable margin and as the outcome
GWUL’s theme for the 2025 gala is “Building the Vision: The Power of We,” to celebrate the collective strength of Greater Washington’s Black community. The organization has selected Giant Food to be its presenting sponsor.
At a time when some corporate companies have backed down on DEI efforts, Lambert said Giant Food has been a steadfast partner of GWUL’s work for more than 30 years.
“They touch everything we do in Greater Washington. They touch what we do in the way of food security, a program that supports seniors, our back-to-school festival and other initiatives as well,” said Lambert. “While we have
Photos courtesy of Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News
The SuperSuds Laundromat in Suitland, Md, is one of several laundromats in the Washington, D.C., area where Fabric Health workers help people, particularly those enrolled in
Gala: Honor-
Courtesy photo Councilmember Trayon White is officially no longer on the D.C. Council after being voted out by his colleagues on Feb. 4.
easy,” he said.
Laundromat
Continued from B1
ernment assistance.
Medicaid health plans, including those run by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Maryland, UPMC in Pittsburgh, and Jefferson Health in Philadelphia pay Fabric Health to connect with their enrollees. The company was paid by the Maryland Managed Care Organization Association, the state’s Medicaid health plan trade group, to help people recertify their Medicaid eligibility after covid pandemic-era coverage protections expired.
Since 2023, the company has connected with more than 20,000 people in Maryland and Pennsylvania alone, collecting contact information and data on their health and social needs, said Allister Chang, a co-founder and the chief operating officer. Chang also serves on the D.C. State Board of Education as Ward 2’s elected representative.
Fabric Health would not disclose its fees to KFF Health News. The company is structured as a public benefit corporation, meaning it is a for-profit business created to provide a social benefit and is not required to prioritize seeking profits for shareholders.
Pennie, Pennsylvania’s ACA marketplace, which opened in 2020, pays Fabric Health to talk to people in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas about coverage options and enroll them.
A survey last year found that two-thirds of uninsured people in the state have never heard of Pennie, said Devon Trolley, Pennie’s executive director.
“Fabric’s approach is very novel and creative,” she said. “They go to where people are sitting with time on their hands and develop grassroots relationships and get the word out about Pennie.”
For enrollees, the laundromat chats can be easier and quicker than connecting with their
Kingman Park
health plans’ customer service. For the health plans, they can increase state performance payments, which are tied to enrollee satisfaction and effectiveness at getting them services such as cancer screenings.
“Our pitch is: People spend two hours a week waiting around in laundromats, and that idle time can be incredibly productive,” said Courtney Bragg, a co-founder and the CEO of Fabric Health.
CareFirst began working with the company last year to help people in Maryland renew coverage, schedule checkups and sign up for other benefits, including energy assistance and food stamps.
Sheila Yahyazadeh, chief external operations officer for the CareFirst plan, said the initiative shows the importance of human interaction. “There is a misconception that technology will solve all, but a human face is absolutely fundamental to make this program successful because, at the end of the day, people want to talk to someone and feel seen and cared for,” she said.
On a previous visit to SuperSuds, Jones, the Fabric Health outreach worker, met Patti Hayes, 59, of Hyattsville, Maryland, who is enrolled in the Medicaid health plan operated by CareFirst but had not seen a primary care physician in over a year. She said she pre-
ferred to see a Black physician.
After they met at the laundromat, Jones helped her find a new doctor and schedule an appointment. She also helped her find a therapist in her plan’s network.
“This is helpful because it’s more of a personal touch,” Hayes said.
Fabric Health also texts people to stay in touch and tell them when the outreach workers will be back at their laundromat so they can meet again in person.
Paola Flores, 38, of Clinton, Maryland, told a Fabric Health worker she needed help switching Medicaid plans so she could get better care for her autistic child.
Communicating with her in Spanish, the worker said she would help her, including by making an appointment with a pediatrician.
“Good help is hard to find,” Flores said. Ryan Moran, Maryland’s Medicaid director, said Fabric Health helped keep people enrolled during the Medicaid “unwinding,” when everyone on the program had to get renewed after the expiration of pandemic-era coverage protections that lasted three years.
Outreach workers there focused on laundromats in towns that had high rates of people being disenrolled for paperwork reasons.
“There is no question about the value of human-to-human interaction and the ability to be on the ground where people are, that removes barriers and gets people to engage with us,” Moran said.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling and journalism. This article was originally published by KFF Health News and Word in Black.
feedback so that we’re going to be heard,” said Payne. Payne confirmed the Feb. 20 public meeting, where Washington Commanders representatives, Mayor Bowser and Councilman Felder would be present.
“I am actually very curious about if what they gave me a few months ago is what they’ll bring on Feb. 20,” said Payne. “They were looking at a 65,000 seat stadium with about 10 to 12,000 parking spaces, including two garages, one that has service parking lots. That’s the information I have. That is not confirmed. Also, I want to make it clear that the Mayor’s office has not reached any deal with the team.”
Steve Lao shared brief remarks at the meeting.
“I’m the new president for FOKP,” said Lao. “I am really encouraged by the turnout... I know that this is a very passionate topic so I don’t want to take too much time…just ready to get the ball moving.”
Sarah Miller, from the Friends of Kingman Park Civic Association, presented results from a 2023 fall survey, detailing community preferences for the RFK site.
A large consensus from Kingman Park and River Terrace neighborhoods opposed the stadium, with a two-to-three vote against it. Alternative preferences included a park and nature complex, a sports and recreation center, another recreational space similar to The Fields, or more housing. The stadium was the least supported option.
Main concerns from residents included parking, housing, increased traffic, crime, littering, public drug use, public urination, drunk driving, eminent domain, and D.C. tax dollars funding the stadium’s construction.
Miller had residents form small discussion groups on environmental issues, transportation, crime, recreation, finance and housing.
At the environmental table, residents requested a new environmental impact survey, citing concerns about air contamina-
White
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Continued from B1 of the election confirmed, many Washingtonians remain staunch advocates for White. Some say their support for White, who represented Ward 8 from January 2017 to February 2025, rests on his being a protegee of former mayor Marion Barry who once held the Ward 8 seat as councilmember.
Stuart Anderson, a Ward 8 committeeman and longtime resident of D.C., said he has heard a variety of reactions from within the community.
“Some are elated, others are distraught and then there are those who are in utter disbelief,” Anderson said. “It’s the first time something like this has ever happened. Still,
those of us who have been around for a while remember when former Councilmember Jack Evans faced ethics violations charges and decided to resign ahead of an expected expulsion vote (in 2019).”
As for the future for Ward 8, Anderson said he’s nonplussed about those who he’s heard have plans to run for the now vacant position.
“Until the Board of Elections sets a date for the special election, I believe it would be premature to talk about who may be running or whether there’s even a socalled frontrunner,” he said.
“But if residents are going to see changes to the ward that are long overdue, we’re
tion from lead and mercury. They sought transparency from D.C. Council, the Mayor’s office, and Events DC regarding construction and demolition processes. Concerns also included the impact on the tree canopy and potential flooding from surface parking.
Crime and noise discussions at the meeting included complaints about loitering, noise after 10 p.m., illegal vending and dumping. Residents requested more policing and enforcement of zoning laws.
The recreation discussion featured input from local skaters using Maloof Skate Park, located near the old site. Participants advocated for keeping The Fields, adding a roller skating rink, maintaining spaces for seniors, and ensuring D.C. Vault polevaulting facilities remained accessible. Concerns were raised about possible delays in constructing a new sports complex.
Several residents shared their thoughts after the meeting.
Jeremy Stinen, a skateboarding instructor at Maloof Park, voiced concerns about the skate park’s future.
“I attended this meeting advocating for the skate park, to make sure that the people planning this know - [for] the skateboarders - it is very important to us. Skateboarding is supported and [should be] permitted to exist in Washington D.C. Our perspective is this: Maloof Skate Park is the only skate park that serves Ward 6 and 7.”
“It is the only skate park that serves northeast D.C. and southeast D.C. as well. It’s the only place where kids east of the river can come to skate. We have no guarantee that the skate park is included in the plans for redevelopment. The city has a track record of destroying skate parks,” said Stinen. ”We used to have one at Garfield Park but the city tore that down and never built anything there.”
“We are very concerned that there will not be a replacement skate park or that any replacement skate park will be built to the bare minimum specifications and will not be built
to high specifications,” said Stinen. “It is very important that skateboarders are a part of the design process on every step and a quality construction firm is chosen. We are not convinced the city is going to do that. We need some guarantee that our skate park will either [be] rehabilitated or another skate park that is constructed will be [of] equal or greater value.”
Long-time Kingman Park residents also weighed in.
“It was a very productive meeting and I look forward to coming back to participating and getting more young people so they can tell what they like to see,” said Barbara D. Morgan.
“It was really wonderful, very productive. It was good to hear all the different viewpoints; pro and con. I’m glad I came,” said Karen Ann-Carr.
Lisa White, a former ANC Commissioner and FOKP cofounder, emphasized the importance of community involvement.
“I am very concerned about the state of the stadium. I think we need to make sure we, Kingman Park, have a seat at the table and how it could possibly impact if the stadium comes. I think this meeting was good because we’ve heard from people that’s for and against this project or possible stadium. We just want to make sure that the community is considered in all aspects of the possibility.”
An anonymous resident expressed concerns about eminent domain.
“I’m concerned about eminent domain and we need to start hearing something from this city about whether homes are going to be taken for billionaires.”
The next public meeting, featuring Mayor Bowser and Washington Commanders representatives, will be held on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church’s Imperial Room, 320 21st NE.
going to need a candidate – a councilmember – who is in touch with the community.”
Washingtonians wonder if it’s time for a change in Ward 8
Brigette Squire, a former teacher at Anacostia High School, told the AFRO that the work of politicians is crucial due to the amount of students who face a barrage of challenges.
Squire, 36, said that when she worked in the classroom with students, she often “wondered why those who had been elected in Ward 8 weren’t doing more for them.”
“Often, in conversations with my students and with
adults, it almost seemed that they were resigned to the fact that things had always been ‘that way’ and that they would always remain the same. So, maybe it›s time for someone new to step up,” Squire said.
“I was totally unprepared for the high number of unmet needs that faced my students – many of those challenges related to excessive violence and abject poverty. A lot of my students either lived with their grandparents or with only one of their parents because the other was incarcerated,” she continued.
“They were simply trying to survive– which made learning that much more difficult. Still, I was surprised by most of my
students who, despite their circumstances, had a desire to use their creativity for positive ends.”
Anderson said he believes the ward needs someone who has been around and who has already established a positive relationship with the various organizations, churches and leaders who are mainstays in Ward 8 – someone who has excelled in other roles.
“What we don’t need is some obscure individual throwing their hat in the ring,” he said. “We need someone who has proven themselves as a leader in other capacities so that voters aren’t forced to pick the best from the bottom of the barrel.”
As for his views on White running again, Anderson said he thinks it’s best to leave the outcome of the upcoming special election to the voters and hopes White will make the best decision for his former constituents, not to appease his ego.
“Marion Barry once said that he encouraged anyone who had a desire to serve to run for elected office, no matter what personal or even professional setbacks and shortcomings they may have experienced in the past, so I say the same about Trayon White,” he said. “If there are a lot of candidates in the race, which I expect, I think White could easily be elected.”
Photo courtesy of Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News
Adrienne Jones (left), an outreach manager for Fabric Health, talks to Patti Hayes, a Medicaid enrollee.
Upcoming Black History Month events in the D.C. area
While Black History Month is under attack, countless organizations across the country are still celebrating the contributions of African Americans to the nation– regardless of the hate-filled rhetoric and executive orders issued from the White House. Take a look below at some of the events taking place in the nation’s capital and beyond this month.
Washington D.C.
“This Morning, This Evening, So Soon: James Baldwin and Voices of Queer Resistance”
This National Portrait Gallery exhibit, curated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hilton Als, pays homage to the great playwright and activist, James Baldwin. Honoring the queer voices of the Civil Rights Movement, this exhibition delves into the life of Baldwin, who was born in August 1924 and died in France in 1987.
Location National Portrait Gallery Art Studio 8th and G Streets NW Washington, D.C. 200001
Date July 12, 2024 - April 20, 2025
“American Vignettes: Symbols, Society and Satire”
This collection of art work includes paintings, photos, sculptures and more from a wide variety of artists– both famous and lesser known. The exhibit includes the work of visionaries such as Natalie Ball, David Hammons and Vaughn Spann.
Location Rubell Museum Rubellmuseum.org 65 I Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024
Date Sept. 27, 2024 -Fall 2025
the legacy of the aerospace engineer turned author, quilter and founder of the Women of Color Quilters Network. The exhibit includes work from others who worked with Mazloomi as part of her quilting organization, such as Myrah Brown Green.
Location Smithsonian American Art Museum 8th and G Streets, NW Washington, D.C. 20004 Americanart.si.edu
Date Feb. 21 - June 22, 2025
Gala
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many corporate partners, and they all support us in different ways, Giant Food has the distinction of being the one company that’s been engaged and supported everything that we do.”
In 2020, Giant Food deployed $50,000 to the GWUL as part of its commitment to racial equity. The funds have supported scholarships, mentorship and nutrition initiatives led by GWUL in Black communities. It has also donated thousands of turkeys to organizations, like the GWUL, annually to support families in need during the holiday season.
Since 2022, GWUL has received more than $290,000 from the supermarket chain’s Social Equity and Equality Roundup Campaign, which raises money for organizations that are bettering their communities. Giant Food is even a part of the GWUL’s board of directors.
“As a long-standing board member and secretary of the Greater Washington Urban League, I have had the privilege of witnessing the truly transformative power of our partnership with Giant Food since 2016,” said Brandi Petway, human resources facility lead at Giant Food, in a statement. “Together, we have not only funded life-changing scholarships but also galvanized our community through initiatives like the Trusted Voices COVID-19 vaccination campaign and provided essential
Black Art Today Foundation’s Kuumba IV Black History Month Art Exhibit Looking to purchase a new work of art from a Black artist? Be sure to visit this Black History Month exhibit in McLean, Va. The exhibit will feature not only artwork, but a time to meet and greet the artists and purchase a piece for the home or office.
Location Neiman Marcus Tysons Corner Level One 2255 International Drive McLean, VA 22102
Date Feb. 22 from 10
Feb. 23 from 12
This Joshua Johnson Council (JJC) Calendar of Arts and Culture was compiled by
Chair Send events to roseamcneill@gmail.com or 410-971-3326.
resources at GWUL’s annual back-to-school events.”
This year, GWUL will launch a new initiative, “Elevating Black Fatherhood: Creating Brighter Futures for Children, Families and Communities,” in collaboration with United Way of the National Capital Area.
The two-year pilot program will support 150 Black fathers, with a focus on D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8, through a three-pronged approach that addresses their emotional, structural and financial development. Fathers will receive up to $2,000 toward child support payments, individual and family therapy services, access to legal advice and a hotline for emergency emotional support. They will also participate in healing circles to foster relationships with other men experiencing similar situations.
As the tides turn in the White House, Lambert said GWUL is standing firm on its values, which include racial justice, equity and selfreliance.
“These are unprecedented times. It’s a high-stakes moment for us. But, just like our ancestors, we’re going to lean into this moment,” said Lambert. “It is not a time for us to despair. It is a time for us to stay in the trenches and continue to do the work.”
“We Gather at the Edge: Contemporary Quilts by Black Women Artist” Complete with offerings from the collection of Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, this exhibit highlights
Rose A. McNeill, JJC
Photo courtesy of National Portrait Museum
Instagram/ Black Art Today Photo courtesy of
American Art Museum
First cohort of students arrive at Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus
By J. Pamela Stills Special to the AFRO
“The Center of Next–” that was the slogan printed on the back of t-shirts that were worn during the first day of classes for Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Va. The campus opened the doors to what is being called “Academic Building One” on Jan. 21, 2025.
The Innovation Campus provides graduate programs in computer science and computer engineering with research areas in artificial intelligence and machine learning, wireless and next gen technology, intelligent interfaces and quantum architecture and software development.
The first cohort of students were welcomed into a stateof-the-art Academic Building One, an 11-story, 300,000 squarefoot structure sitting on a 3.5-acre campus in the Potomac Yard neighborhood. Highlights of the campus include 14 classrooms, three instructional studios to support virtual learning, 32 huddle rooms, a 1,340 square-foot cyber physical lab and a 465 square-foot two-story drone testing cage. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2025.
Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia welcomes its first students into a new state-of-the-art educational facility on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The facility, referred to as Academic Building One, is an 11-story, 300,000 sq.ft. structure sitting on a 3.5-acre campus in the Potomac Yard neighborhood.
Lance Collins is the inaugural vice president and executive director. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from Princeton University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Collins’ accomplishments that landed him the role include similar work done at Cornell University where he significantly grew the number of students and faculty of women and underrepresented minorities and the work done building an elite core of graduate students of engineering and applied sciences who would partner with industry while serving as Dean of Engineering at Cornell Tech.
During the press tour of the facility, Collins spoke about the vision of having a strong tech district by relying on the base of tech companies, such as Amazon HQ, and major defense contractors that are already in the area as well as having conversations with companies such as Microsoft and Amazon HQ2 that are moving into the area. Collins’ vision of the approach that, as he put it, “bootstraps the area’s ecosystem” is by having students z“...working on projects that are sourced from companies locally. So, in some ways, they’re already building relationships with the broader tech ecosystem in the area with the hope that will encourage them to then want to stay to potentially work for the company that sponsored their project or some other company that’s in the area.”
Lance Collins was recognized as one of the top 10 most influential people of 2024 in Northern Virginia by Northern Virginia Magazine. When asked to share his thoughts about being chosen as the first executive director to lead the Innovation Campus, Collins said the task is both “incredibly exhilarating and daunting.”
One of the first things he wanted to address was the culture of the Innovation Campus. His vision was to have a culture of diverse people and thought, who are highly integrated and collaborative.
Virginia Tech Innovation campus t-shirts available to staff and students to celebrate the first day of classes in the new state-ofthe-art educational facility.
Faculty and students pose for a group photo in specifically designed t-shirts to celebrate the first day of classes at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The innovation center is a new state-of-the-art educational facility encompassing 11-stories within 300,000 sq.ft. of space.
Shown here, Justin Dildy (left), a master of engineering student, with Kirk Cameron, a professor of computer science and faculty lead, and Lance Collins, vice president and executive director.
Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia welcomes its first students into a new state-of-the-art educational facility on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Professor Reza Jafari instructs students during a second-level course on Artificial Intelligence on the first day of class at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Kene Nwodo, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, is a Ph.D. student in computer engineering at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia.
Students and faculty gather to enjoy pizza from staff during Virginia Tech Innovation Campus’ first day of classes celebration. The auditorium can hold 200 people in a classroom setting and 300 people in an auditorium setting.
Sydney Johns, from Baltimore, is studying computer science and her research focus is cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.
AFRO photos/ J. Pamela Stills
New policies endanger immigrant students’ security
By Quintessa Williams Word In Black
Imagine sending your child to school, only to worry that they might not come home — not because of violence or illness, but because their classroom could become the next target of immigration enforcement.
The current presidential administration’s push to end birthright citizenship and expand immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in sensitive locations like schools has sparked a constitutional and moral crisis. A federal judge in Maryland has blocked the order, but the mere possibility has sown fear in communities and classrooms nationwide.
“The attempt to end birthright citizenship is a racist attack,” says Amena Elamin, National Youth Organizer for the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). “It’s rooted in the same anti-Blackness that has historically denied rights to Black people. This isn’t just about immigration — it’s about who is seen as belonging in this country.”
As the current president and members of his administration target the immigrant community, public schools are becoming increasingly unsafe for children of immigrants and immigrant students.
It’s not just an issue for immigrant students of Mexican, El Salvadoran or Venezuelan descent, either. Black students also come from immigrant families — or mixed-status families — and they’re caught in the crosshairs of policies that threaten to separate families and destabilize communities.
“Our communities are deeply intertwined,” Elamin says. “There are so many mixed-status families where one parent might be African American and other Sudanese, Jamaican, Haitian — you name it. These policies don’t just impact immigrants — they separate Black families, which then disrupts their children’s education. They cause harm that extends beyond immigration status because these communities are already marginalized.”
For Black students who are already over-policed and disproportionately pushed into the school-to-prison pipeline, these policies compound existing racial inequities, leading to Increased absenteeism, disengagement and long-term setbacks for an entire generation of students.
President Donald Trump, who pushed such efforts early in his second term, said the 14th Amendment, often cited in
immigration debates, was intended only for the “children of slaves” and should not have been interpreted as “extending citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States.”
This isn’t just about immigration — it’s about who is seen as belonging in this country.”
Schools no longer just a place of learning Schools, once considered safe havens, are now potential sites of immigration enforcement. In Chicago, federal agents mistakenly believed to be ICE officers recently appeared at Hamline Elementary School, sparking panic.
“Our attendance was pretty bad across the city.
There was like 50 to 80 percent attendance,” one Chicago Public Schools teacher told NPR.
Studies from Harvard’s Immigration Initiative show that students from diverse or mixed-status families experience higher levels of anxiety, depression and school disengagement. In addition, WCPO news recently reported that Tri-State teachers have witnessed a 50 percent drop in attendance due to the growing fears of immigration raids.
“In multiple classes, I am missing half of my students,” Kendra Adamson, a teacher in Ohio, told WCPO 9 News. “Our students are living in fear that they will be deported.”
For Black immigrant students, the stakes are especially high: they face multiple threats: racial bullying and harassment in schools, racial profiling by teachers and school security, and deportation, all while trying to get an education.
“School should be a place of learning, not fear,” Elamin says. “Our students are not only just facing incarceration, but deportation, too. How can students focus on their education when their families could be torn apart at any moment?”
How can we protect black immigrant students?
Elamin believes schools must take a stand. She offers several recommendations for educators and administrators:
• Refuse to share sensitive information or immigration status with federal authorities.
“Schools should not act as an extension of immigration enforcement,” she says.
• Provide “Know Your Rights” training for students, families and staff so that Black communities understand their legal protections.
• Offer or ensure culturally competent mental health support tailored specifically to Black immigrant students who experience compounded stress from both racial and immigration-related trauma.
Liberation is collective
Elamin also stresses that while schools have a role to play, parents, community members and allies must also take action.
“Liberation is collective,” she says. “We can’t fight for justice in silos, and our students deserve schools where they can learn and grow without constantly looking over their shoulders. Education should be a tool for freedom, not another battleground for exclusion.”
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
HillmanTok University: The digital HBCU revolutionizing online education
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
A snow day in Georgia and a viral TikTok video unexpectedly set the foundation for what is now HillmanTok University, a virtual learning space that has captured the attention of millions. It all started when Dr. Leah Barlow, a professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, decided to post a welcome video for her students in her African American Studies class. What she intended for just 36 students reached nearly 4 million viewers, sparking a movement that sixth-grade teacher Cierra Hinton helped shape into something much bigger.
“I was scrolling, and I saw ‘Ms. Shannon’s Screenwriting 101 class,’ then Dr. Christie’s video, and I thought, ‘Is this an HBCU? Or did we just happen to have all Black professors?’” Hinton said during an interview on Let It Be Known. “If I’m going to be in these fabulous courses with all these highly qualified professors, what school am I in? What are our colors? What’s our mascot? Because I want to represent my school.”
That curiosity led Hinton, who was joined on Let It Be Known News by Coach WestB, an official staff member and community leader at HillmanTok.
But Hinton coined the name HillmanTok University, inspired by Hillman College, the fictional historically Black college from “The Cosby Show” spinoff, “A Different World.” What began as a TikTok trend has since evolved into a structured educational platform that now includes a website with an extensive course catalog for Spring 2025.
HillmanTok offers over 400 courses spanning a wide range of topics. Traditional classes like Spanish 101 and law sit alongside culturally relevant subjects such as Black beauty culture, ethical issues in the criminal justice system and even Spades 101—where students break down the hierarchy of suits on a “molecular level.”
“We have courses that you would traditionally find in a university, but also courses that are unique to us,” Hinton explained. “We have parenting courses for those raising kids with autism, health care courses, and even ones on how to lock hair or cook. The goal is to make education accessible and relevant.”
Unlike traditional universities, HillmanTok does not charge tuition. Some instructors may ask for optional contributions to cover resources, especially when their classes unexpectedly attract hundreds or even thousands of students.
“No one expected their class to blow up the way it did,” Hinton said. “Some thought they’d have 10 or 15 students, and suddenly, they have 500. That’s when they might need tools like Google Classroom to manage everything, and sometimes that requires a little extra help.” HillmanTok has rapidly expanded, but not without obstacles. As the movement gained traction, multiple unauthorized accounts claiming to be HillmanTok surfaced across social media, leading to confusion among followers.
“If it doesn’t say The HillmanTok University, then it’s not us,” Coach West
stated. “People have been scammed into paying for things we don’t charge for, like IDs. Our services are free.”
Additionally, the original HillmanTok TikTok account was hacked when Hinton attempted to secure verification, forcing
“We
have courses that you would traditionally find in a university, but also courses that are unique to us. We have parenting courses for those raising kids with autism, health care courses, and even ones on how to lock hair or cook.”
the team to rebuild from scratch. Today, the official account has over 100,000 followers, but concerns remain about the platform’s future. With TikTok’s uncertain fate in the U.S.— where the app is currently available only to existing users under an extension granted by former President Donald Trump—HillmanTok is preparing for potential disruptions.
“We have contingencies upon contingencies,” Hinton said. “HillmanTok is so important to us that we are worried about all kinds of things.”
Hinton and her team are actively exploring partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities to expand opportunities and solidify HillmanTok’s place in the educational landscape.
“For everybody who ever wanted to be part of an HBCU but couldn’t, we’re fulfilling that dream,” Hinton said.
Photo courtesy of NNPA
HillmanTok is the intentional result of an accidental call to action by Dr. Leah Barlow, who began the virtual space for education in efforts to prepare her students looking to take her Black History class for the spring semester. A number of college level instructors have been offering their classes to the tiktok audience for free.
Unsplash/ Aaron Burdon
HIV infections could jump over six times if U.S. support is dropped and not replaced, UNAIDS chief says
By Maria Cheng
The Associated Press
The head of the U.N. AIDS agency said on Feb. 10, the number of new HIV infections could jump more than six times by 2029 if American support of the biggest AIDS program is dropped, warning that millions of people could die and more resistant strains of the disease could emerge.
In an interview with The Associated Press, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said HIV infections have been falling in recent years, with just 1.3 million new cases recorded in 2023, a 60 percent decline since the virus peaked in 1995.
But since President Donald Trump’s announcement the U.S. would freeze all foreign assistance for 90 days, Byanyima said officials estimate that by 2029, there could be 8.7 million people newly infected with HIV, a tenfold jump in AIDS-related deaths — to 6.3 million — and an additional 3.4 million children made orphans.
“We will see a surge in this disease,” Byanyima said, speaking from Uganda. “This will cost lives if the American government doesn’t change its mind and maintain its leadership,” she said, adding that it was not her place to criticize any government’s policy.
Byanyima pleaded with the Trump administration not to abruptly cut off funding, which she said has resulted in “panic, fear and confusion” in many of the African countries hardest hit by AIDS.
In one Kenyan county, she said 550 HIV workers were immediately laid off, while thousands of others in Ethiopia were terminated, leaving health officials unable to track the epidemic.
She noted that the loss of U.S. funding to HIV programs in some
pavir, a twice-yearly shot that was shown to offer complete protection against HIV in women, and which worked nearly as well as for men.
Widespread use of that shot, in addition to other interventions to stop HIV, could help end the disease as a public health problem in the next five years, Byanyima said.
She also noted that lenacapavir, sold as Sunlenca, was developed by the American company Gilead. International aid, Byanyima said, “helped an American company to innovate, to come up with something that will pay them millions and millions, but at the same time prevent new infections in the rest of the world.” The freeze in American funding, she said, didn’t make economic sense.
“We appeal to the U.S. government to review this, to understand that this is mutually beneficial,” she said, noting that foreign assistance makes up less than 1 percent of the overall U.S. budget. “Why would you need to be so disruptive for that 1 percent?”
Byanyima said that so far, no other countries or donors have stepped up to fill the void that will be left by the loss of American aid, but that she plans to visit numerous European capitals to speak with global leaders.
By Matthew Perrone
Associated Press
Patients who use smartphone apps to manage their diabetes could face serious health problems if they miss
countries was catastrophic, with external funding, mostly from the U.S., accounting for about 90 percent of their programs. Nearly $400 million goes to countries like Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania, she said.
cans) on how to decrease their contribution if they wish to decrease it,” she said. Byanyima described
the lifesaving antiretrovirals long available in rich countries.
Byanyima also said the loss
“This will cost lives if the American government doesn’t change its mind and maintain its leadership.”
“We can work with (the Ameri-
the American withdrawal from global HIV efforts as the second biggest crisis the field has ever faced — after the years-long delay it took for poor countries to get
of American support in efforts to combat HIV was coming at another critical time, with the arrival of what she called “a magical prevention tool” known as lenaca-
“People are going to die because lifesaving tools have been taken away from them,” she said. “I have not yet heard of any European country committing to step in, but I know they are listening and trying to see where they can come in because they care about rights, about humanity.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Patients using diabetes apps can miss critical alerts– here’s how to make sure you’re getting them
notifications needed to control their blood sugar, U.S. health officials warned. The Food and Drug Administration said Feb. 5 it has received multiple reports of users missing or not hear-
ing important medical alerts from their phones, leading to cases of dangerously low blood sugar and even death.
The agency’s warning applies to a growing field of wearable devices that track
patients’ sugar levels or automatically deliver insulin, the hormone that helps manage glucose in the blood and break it down into energy.
These days, many devices are programmed through
apps on patients’ phones.
But the FDA warns that certain phone settings, such as pausing notifications, may cause patients to miss critical updates. In other cases, connecting the phone to a new audio source, such as a car stereo, could change the volume of the alerts users
director in the FDA’s device center, in a release.
“Even if configured correctly, certain hardware or software changes can interrupt the expected operation of these critical devices, which can lead to patient harm if undetected.”
are accustomed to hearing.
“Even if configured correctly, certain hardware or software changes can interrupt the expected operation of these critical devices, which can lead to patient harm if undetected,” said Courtney Lias, a division
Roughly 37 million Americans have diabetes. People with the disease either don’t make enough insulin or they have become resistant to it. Continuous glucose monitors are small devices that use a sensor under the skin to measure blood sugar, sending regular readings to a smartphone or smartwatch. Automated insulin pumps deliver the hormone through a catheter attached to the abdomen and can be programmed to deliver extra insulin before meals.
AP Photo/ Diane Bondareff
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima warns that by 2029 there could be 8.7 million newly infected people with HIV, 6.3 million AIDS related deaths and an additional 3.4 million children made orphans if the United States does not support efforts to stamp out the virus worldwide.
The
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin, File
ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001575 GLADYS JEFFERSON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ALICIA JEFFERSON, whose address is , 5724 BLAIR ROAD NW WASH. DC
Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
BRENDA H TOBE, whose address is , 1235 DELAWARE AVE SW WASHINGTON, DC 20024 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN TOBE who died on JULY 25, 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 JULY 31, 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 31, 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: JANUARY 31, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
BRENDA H TOBE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01/31, 02/07, 02/14/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000040 GLORIA FRAZIER Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
HERMAN FRAZIER, whose address is 5328 2ND STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20011 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GLORIA FRAZIER who died on AUGUST 04, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before AUGUST 14, 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 AUGUST 14, 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: FEBRUARY 14, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
HERMAN FRAZIER Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02/14, 02/21, 02/28/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001013
HARRY RUBENSTEIN SACHSE AKA HARRY SACHSE AKA
HARRY R. SACHSE Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
MICHAEL JUDAH SACHSE whose address is 3126 ELLICOTT ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20008 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of HARRY RUBENSTEIN SACHSE AKA HARRY SACHSE AKA HARRY R. SACHSE who died on MAY 03, 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 AUGUST 14, 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 AUGUST 14, 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: FEBRUARY 14, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
MICHAEL JUDAH SACHSE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02/14, 02/21, 02/28/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000068
MARIE B. GRANT Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
DENNIS COLLINS, whose address is 1303 QUINCY ST NW, WASH DC 20011 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARIE B. GRANT who died on OCTOBER 22, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before AUGUST 14, 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 AUGUST 14, 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: FEBRUARY 14, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
DENNIS COLLINS Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02/14, 02/21, 02/28/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000028
SYLVESTER JOHNSON AKA
SYLVESTER JOHNSON SR. Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
LATASHA MOSLEY whose address is 2481 MC-
CURDY WAY, DECATUR, GA 30033 was appointed
Personal Representative of the estate of SYLVESTER
JOHNSON AKA SYLVESTER JOHNSON SR. who died on NOVEMBER 18, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment 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 AUGUST 14, 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 AUGUST 14, 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: FEBRUARY 14, 2025
Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
LATASHA MOSLEY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02/14, 02/21,
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM60 SHIRLEY SCOTT AKA
SHIRLEY OTELIA SCOTT Name of Decedent
VICKEY A. WRIGHT-SMITH 1629 K STREET, NW, SUITE #300 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
DENISE M. SCOTT, whose address is 6027 GLEN ROCK AVENUE, FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SHIRLEY SCOTT AKA SHIRLEY OTELIA SCOTT
who died on APRIL 03, 2016 with a Will and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before AUGUST 14, 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 AUGUST 14, 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: FEBRUARY 14, 2025
Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
DENISE M. SCOTT Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02/14, 02/21, 02/28/25
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 25-2025 Playground and Maintenance Repairs
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Property Management Office (PMO) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Playground and Maintenance Repairs for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.
https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Tuesday, March 10, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
Email Jasmin Travis, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at Jtravis@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: DCHA- 33-2025
General Construction for Judiciary House
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide General Construction for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers’ responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.
https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday March 03, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
Email Pernell Wingate, Sr. Contract Specialist (OAS) at pwingate@ dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 36-2025
Public Housing Program Consulting Services
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Executive Office (OED) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Public Housing Program Consulting Services for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below. https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_ id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, February 21, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
Email Jasmin Travis, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at Jtravis@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
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BOARD OF LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR BALTIMORE CITY
NOTICE—SPECIAL AD – JANUARY 30, 2025
Petitions have been filed by the following applicants for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages at the premises set opposite their respective names. The real property for these applications will be posted on or about January 20, 2025. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after January 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM in City Hall; 100 N. Holliday Street, Room 215, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Please visit llb.baltimorecity.gov under the link for "Hearing Schedules" for confirmation of the date, time, and place for all matters being heard by the Board. 1. CLASS “BD7” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Social Food and Spices, Inc. T/a Trade Name Pending - Malal Jaishi and Netra B Khatri KC
Petition: Transfer of ownership with continuation of outdoor table service, requesting delivery of alcoholic beverages Premises: 1309-17 N. Charles Street 21201
CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25001 RECONSTRUCTION OF FOOTWAYS CITYWIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025 at 11:00
A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non- refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02601 Portland Cement Concrete Paving. Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $1,000,000.00 to $1,300,000.00 A “Pre- Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on February 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are 5 in concrete sidewalk – 115,000 SF; 5 in Exposed Aggregate Sidewalk – 4,500 SF; 7 in Concrete Pavement– 4,500 SF. The MBE Goal is 30%; The WBE Goal is 15%.
APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25002 RECONSTRUCTION OF FOOTWAYS CITYWIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non- refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02601 Portland Cement Concrete Paving. Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $1,000,000.00 to $1,300,000.00. A “Pre- Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on February 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to includ your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are 5 in concrete sidewalk – 96,300 SF; 5 in Exposed Aggregate
APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates
CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25003 RECONSTRUCTION OF FOOTWAYS CITYWIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025, at 11:00
A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit
Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non-refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS
AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02601 Portland Cement Concrete Paving. Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $1,000,000.00 to $1,300,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on February 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are 5 in concrete sidewalk – 98,500 SF; 5 in Exposed Aggregate Sidewalk – 6,000 SF; 7 in Concrete Pavement– 5,000 SF The MBE Goal is 30%; The WBE Goal is 15%.
APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25004 RECONSTRUCTION OF ALLEYS CITYWIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non- refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02601 Portland Cement Concrete Paving. Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $1,000,000.00 to $1,300,000.00. A “Pre- Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on February 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are Class 1 Excavation – 4,750 CY; 6 Subbase Using Crusher Run – 13,775 SY; 7 in Concrete Pavement– 13,275 SF. The MBE Goal is 11%; The WBE Goal is 8% APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates
CITY OF BALTIMORE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25007, RESURFACING HIGHWAYS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NORTHEAST, SECTOR – I will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 8654423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non-refundable cost is SEVENTY -FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02602 (Bituminous Paving) and D02620(Curbs, Gutters & Sidewalk). Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $3,000,000.00 to $4,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on FEBRUARY 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to uttam.khadka@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are: Superpave
Paving) and D02620(Curbs, Gutters & Sidewalk). Cost Qualification Range for
will be from $3,000,000.00 to $4,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on FEBRUARY 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to uttam.khadka@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are: Superpave Asphalt 12.5MM and 19.0MM and Various Mix 11,600 Tons; Curbs, Curbs & Gutters 5,100 LF; Sidewalk 32,500 SF. The MBE Goal is 21%; The WBE Goal is 9% APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25009, RESURFACING HIGHWAYS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SOUTHWEST, SECTOR - III will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non-refundable cost is SEVENTY -FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02602 (Bituminous Paving) and D02620(Curbs, Gutters & Sidewalk). Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $3,000,000.00 to $4,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on FEBRUARY 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to includE your name, company name, phone number and email address to uttam.khadka@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are: Superpave Asphalt 12.5MM and 19.0MM and Various Mix 11,460 Tons; Curbs, Curbs & Gutters 4,350 LF; Sidewalk 41,700 SF. The MBE Goal is 21%; The WBE Goal is 9%
APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25010, RESURFACING HIGHWAYS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SOUTHEAST, SECTOR - IV will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until MARCH 5, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of FEBRUARY 7, 2025 the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 8654423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non-refundable cost is SEVENTY -FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are A02602 (Bituminous Paving) and D02620(Curbs, Gutters & Sidewalk). Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $3,000,000.00 to $4,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on FEBRUARY 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to uttam.khadka@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting). Principle Items of work for this project are: Superpave Asphalt 12.5MM and 19.0MM and Various Mix 11,190 Tons; Curbs, Curbs & Gutters 5,600 LF; Sidewalk 38,500
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SECURITY GUARD SERVICES
RFP NUMBER: B-2032-25
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) will issue a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for interested and qualified security companies to submit proposals to provide guard services at various HABC properties.
PROPOSALS WILL BE DUE no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, March 21, 2025.
A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., which will be scheduled as a virtual meeting.
The entire RFP can be viewed and downloaded by visiting https://habc. bonfirehub.com/projects on or after Monday, February 24, 2025.
Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated below and must include the reference: HABC RFP Number B-2032-25.
Housing Authority of Baltimore City Division of Fiscal Operations, Procurement Department 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 414 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Attention: Mary Kate Gagliardi, Senior Buyer Tel: 410-396-3105 mary.gagliardi@habc.org
Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated above and must include the reference: HABC RFP Number B-2032-25.
CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC NOTICE
In an effort to educate the community and receive public comment the upcoming project, a community meeting will be held. PUBLIC MEETING FOR Old Town Mall Improvements
Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Cafeteria 1400 Orleans Street. Baltimore, MD, 21231 Virtually: www.buff.ly/40TiBSR By Phone: 408-418-9388 Pass code: 2334 769 2313
If you have any questions, comments or need special accommodations, please contact via mail Jon Leishman, Project Manager Department of Transportation, Planning 417 E. Fayette St., 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202 Email: jon.leishman@baltimorecity.gov, Or by leaving a voicemail at: 443-651-0848
Accommodation requests should be received by Tuesday, February 25, 20 Comments on the general scope should be received by Thursday, March 20, 2025
Receive regular updates via Facebook, at Baltimore City Department of Transportation’s project website www.streetsofbaltimore.com/oldtownmall , or on “X” formerly known as Twitter at @BmoreCityDOT.
Veronica McBeth, INTERIM DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Baltimore Career Corner
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
SOLICITATION NO.: 38-2025
HCVP Consulting Services
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of the Executive Director (OED) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Housing Choice Voucher Program Consulting Services for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below. https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, February 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
Email Jasmin Travis, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at Jtravis@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 37-2025
HCVP Professional Consulting Services
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Executive Office (OED) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide HCVP Professional Consulting Services for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_ id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.
https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, February 21, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
Email Jasmin Travis, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at Jtravis@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 02-2025
Body Worn Cameras and Tasers
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of Public Safety (OPS) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Body Worn Cameras and Tasers fo this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.
https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, February 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
Email Jasmin Travis, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at Jtravis@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
SOLICITATION NO.: DCHA- 19-2025
Washer and Dryer Machine Installation and Maintenance
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Washer and Dryer Machine Installation and Maintenance for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.
https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, March 03, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
Email Pernell Wingate, Sr. Contract Specialist (OAS) at pwingate@ dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 32-2025 Hotel and Lodging Accommodations
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Property Management Office (PMO) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Hotel and Lodging Accommodations for this solicitation.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, February 10, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the
Proposers’ responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace 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 Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.
https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506
DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, March 06, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
Email Abdul Karim Farooqi, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at afarooqi@ dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
BALTIMORE-AREA
Rekindling Baltimore: How Black and Jewish leaders are building bridges, not barriers
By Chrissy M. Thornton
On Nov. 14, 2024, Baltimore took a significant step toward bridging historical divides with the launch of its inaugural cohort of the Rekindle Fellowship. This transformative initiative, a collaboration between The Associated, The Elijah Cummings Youth Program (ECYP), Associated Black Charities (ABC) and the Baltimore Jewish Council (BJC), seeks to foster deeper relationships among Black, Jewish and Black Jewish leaders.
Rekindle creates an intentional space for dialogue, understanding and mutual growth, providing a critical platform for connection in a city shaped by both shared struggles and historical tensions.
Rekindle is a national
Continued on D2
Chrissy
as president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. This week, she discusses the transformative work done by Rekindle Baltimore. The initiative is aimed at bridging historical divides between the Black and Jewish communities.
Maryland lawmakers hold rally in response to DOGE attacks on Social Security
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
Maryland lawmakers, including Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, stood outside of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) headquarters in Woodlawn, Md., on Feb. 10 to call for the protection of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
The rally stemmed from reports that the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, has accessed sensitive data systems at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the SSA.
The SSA operates the largest federal benefits program in the U.S., serving some of the country’s most vulnerable populations like retirees, people with disabilities, veterans and survivors of deceased workers. As a result of this, the agency is also a central repository for Americans’ personal financial and medical information.
“The way I see it, this is not a recipe for government efficiency,” said Van Hollen. “This is a recipe for corruption by the DOGE boys.”
DOGE has hit the ground running in its quest to dramatically downsize the federal workforce. In just a few weeks, the department moved to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), began its overhaul of the
Department of Education and accessed the payment system of the Treasury Department.
The Treasury Department’s payment system is managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which also distributes Social Security checks, tax refunds and federal salaries.
“This is all about destroying the size of the federal civil service and eliminating our ability to serve the American people who have already paid for the service and the access to their benefits.”
DOGE’s actions have sparked several lawsuits, including one from the American Federation of Teachers. New York Attorney General Letitia James has also spearheaded a coalition of 18 other attorneys general to sue the 47th president’s administration and stop DOGE’s access
to Americans’ private data.
Van Hollen pointed to Project 2025, a conservative agenda the 47th president previously disavowed, as the North Star for DOGE and the president’s latest moves.
“They are talking about very deep cuts to Medicaid, which is a program that is essential to working families, people with disabilities, kids and tens of millions of people throughout the country,” said Van Hollen. “They’re talking about cutting Social Security by increasing the retirement age for Americans. They’re talking about moving people from the traditional Medicare program and pushing them toward Medicare Advantage.”
Alsobrooks contended that the 47th presidential administration’s intention is to make civil servants feel demoralized, frightened and silenced, as they plan to terminate many members of the federal workforce.
She recalled the roots of the SSA, which was started by former President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 as the Great Depression shattered families’ economic security. She also deemed Social Security as one of the most important social programs in Americans’ lifetimes.
“This is a program that many work years to contribute to because it’s America’s promise to us. We pay into Social Security, and yet it’s under attack today,” said Alsobrooks. “We recognize as well that the Social Security program
Funeral arrangements announced for Rev. Dr. Tim Tooten, renowned journalist, professor and pastor
By Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO
When the announcement of Baltimore icon Tim Tooten’s death became public on Feb. 8, family, friends and fans immediately released a flood of condolences, prayers and expressions of fond memories of the reporter who had entered the homes of Marylanders for 35 years with education news.
Tim Tooten was just 66 years old at the time of his death. Born in 1958, he retired from WBAL-TV-11 in 2023. As a result of his hard work, Tooten will forever be honored and remembered by his colleagues and the community for outstanding service as Baltimore’s only full-time television education reporter.
“Tim was an admired journalist, distinguished pas-
“He was an incredible reporter and an even greater man. We are grateful to have had him. Peace and blessings to his family and may his legacy live on forever.”
Baltimore residents highlight accessibility issues at Penn North Branch of Enoch Pratt Free Library Library
says it provides other means for the disabled to access resources
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
Baltimore residents are alleging that the Pennsylvania Avenue Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL) is not fully accessible to members of the community with physical disabilities. The branch, referred to as PennNorth since it sits at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North Avenues, underwent renovations in 2023. Although these changes provided new equipment and spaces for members of the community to enjoy, the building’s elevator was removed, making the space inaccessible for some disabled and elderly patrons.
In March of 2012, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act was revised by the Department of Justice to issue a rule that created enforceable accessibility standards. Under this rule, public places such as restaurants, hotels, banks, movie theaters, hospitals and museums are legally required to have features such as ramps or elevators that make the building accessible to disabled members of the community.
Local attorney Dionna Lewis, founder and managing partner of District Legal Group, explained the legal process behind the ADA and why a lack of accommodations in public places is illegal.
“It is illegal by the Americans with Disabilities Act for entities to discriminate against individuals in all areas of public life, which includes the access to public facilities, transportation, employment and various services,” said Lewis. “Also, the state of Maryland has a state specific statute that protects civil rights, including disabilities.”
weather, area students and their families had become accustomed to crowding around their television sets to wait for his report as to whether they should be off-to-school or not.
Over the years, Tooten accumulated one of the largest collections of caps from schools around the state, which he wore on the air as he recognized them. Many of them appeared in the station’s
Libraries are public facilities, making them required to have ADA compliant accommodations for patrons. The AFRO reached out to EPFL to further discuss this issue and solutions to the problem.
“We have worked with our Facilities Department and the Baltimore Office of Equity and Civil Rights over the past two years to explore solutions for the lack of an elevator at
Courtesy photo
M. Thornton serves
Friends, family and fans of Baltimore’s longtime education broadcast journalist, Rev. Dr. Tim Tooten, are mourning his death at age
AFRO Photo/Megan Sayles
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) addresses the crowd at the Feb. 10 Social Security Administration rally. The junior senator condemned attacks on the agency, which distributes benefits to nearly 71.6 million Americans.
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program that began in Cleveland and has since expanded to 20 cities across the country. Its mission is to create lasting relationships through honest, often difficult conversations, tackling issues such as intergenerational trauma, race and identity, faith, and allyship. The program’s structure - five cohort sessions, small group cultural exchanges, and one-on-one coffee meetups - ensures that participants don’t just discuss the issues but build relationships that can lead to collaborative action. The success of Rekindle in other cities has demonstrated the power of these relationships, strengthening intercommunity bonds and fostering meaningful social change.
In Baltimore, the inaugural cohort – facilitated by Dr. Susanna Garfein, AVP of leadership engagement at The Associated, and Kathleen St. Villier Hill, executive director of The Elijah Cummings Youth Program – consisted of 15 leaders from diverse backgrounds, including Joseph Fink (Morgan Stanley), Adam Frank (Baltimore Center Stage), Reut Friedman (The Joint JDC), Sarah Grebow (nonprofit major gifts consultant), Tzvi Haber (Imadi), Elisha Johnson (Requity), Alaine Jolicoeur (E.L. Haynes Public Charter School), Helene Kahn (Thread), Mikkyo McDaniel (University of Baltimore), Nancy Poole (KIPP Baltimore), Erica Reaves (Health Management Associates), Monyai Stukes (Greenspring Advisors), Khalil Uqdah (Charm City Buyers), Stevie Walker-Webb (Baltimore Center Stage), and Leia Zeitlin (Exelon).
Two particularly compelling members of this cohort are Adam Frank and Stevie Walker-Webb, the managing director and artistic director of Baltimore Center Stage, respectively. Their leadership at Maryland’s state theater represents a powerful symbol of the Rekindle Fellowship’s mission. Frank, who is Jewish, and Walker-Webb, who is Black, both arrived at Baltimore Center Stage within a year of each other, charged with steering the institution into a new era of artistic excellence and social responsibility.
Frank, with a background in nonprofit theater management, has played a crucial role in shaping the business and operation-
Penn-North
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al strategies of arts organizations, ensuring their sustainability and relevance in today’s evolving cultural landscape. Before joining Baltimore Center Stage, he worked with several prominent theater organizations, developing strategies that balanced financial sustainability with artistic innovation. Walker-Webb, an acclaimed director and activist, brings a dynamic creative vision, with work that centers on social justice and inclusion. His directorial work, including a Tony-nominated production of “Ain’t No Mo’,” has cemented his reputation as a transformative artist. He has also worked extensively with community-driven storytelling initiatives, using theater as a tool for activism and change. Together, Frank and Walker-Webb are co-leading an institution that has long been a vital part of Maryland’s cultural ecosystem, demonstrating how cross-cultural collaboration can enrich and sustain the arts.
Their participation in Rekindle provides an opportunity to explore some of the deeper questions that shape Black and Jewish relations. What is the relationship between Judaism and Whiteness? Where has there been friction between these communities in the past, and where have they historically aligned? How does intergenerational trauma continue to shape the experiences of both groups? Through these conversations, Rekindle challenges participants to confront history while imagining a future of mutual support and advocacy. These discussions extend beyond the structured sessions, with cohort members engaging in immersive cultural exchanges - hosting Shabbat dinners, visiting each other’s places of worship, attending theater performances, and reflecting on shared experiences over coffee. This relational foundation sets the stage for collaborative action projects that will bring Black and Jewish communities together to tackle shared challenges in Baltimore.
The tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel created deep ripples across communities that extended to the Greater Baltimore region, with some retreating into silence while others sought to repair strained relationships. The organizations behind Rekindle chose the latter, leaning into their shared histories of resil-
the Penn North branch,” wrote CEO Chad Helton. “Unfortunately, the structure of the building does not allow for wheelchair lifts and the current freight elevator has been deemed unsafe for use. Repairing or replacing it to meet passenger safety standards would cause undue financial hardship, making it unfeasible at this time.”
Penn-North is the only Enoch Pratt location that doesn’t have ADA compliant accommodations such as an elevator, ramp or chair lift.
Marvin L. Cheatham, a local activist and long-time member of the Penn-North community, said he is highly upset to see the facility is now inaccessible to certain members of the community. He understands the financial toll of replacing or fixing the elevator, so he’s offered to spearhead a fundraiser for the cause.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law and they have broken the law. I’ve asked the Community Law Center to take on our case and they have agreed to do so,” said Cheatham. “We would like to come up with an idea for us to get the funding to put the elevator back or to get the library remodeled so that it meets with the ADA guidelines.”
“We have worked with our Facilities Department and the Baltimore Office of Equity and Civil Rights over the past two years to explore solutions for the lack of an elevator at the PennNorth branch.”
Sen. Antonio Hayes (DMd.- District 40) and Baltimore City Councilman James Torrence (D- District 7) were contacted for comment regarding the matter. Hayes shared that there are plans in place for a whole new version of the PennNorth branch to be constructed in the next two years.
ience and their commitment to combating hate together. ABC and The Associated have been working together to champion cross-cultural initiatives, including their now annual Dinner, Dialogue, and Diversity event, which encourages open, honest conversations over shared meals and fun – an ethos deeply aligned with Rekindle’s mission.
Baltimore has a long history of both unity and division between its Black and Jewish communities. While there were moments of solidarity, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement, there were also tensions – stemming from economic and social disparities, as well as misunderstandings that festered over time. Programs like Rekindle offer an opportunity to confront these challenges directly, ensuring that the next generation of Black and Jewish leaders engage with one another from a place of knowledge and partnership rather than assumption or historical grievance.
As we look toward the future, it is inspiring to consider what a united Baltimore might look like. The city is now led by Mayor Brandon Scott and newly elected City Council President Zeke Cohen - two leaders who could be a powerful pairing in the next Rekindle cohort. Their collaboration already demonstrates the power of difficult but necessary dialogue in fostering trust, understanding, and a shared vision for the city’s future. Their inclusion in a future Rekindle cohort could further underscore the program’s impact in shaping leadership that is not just inclusive but actively engaged in breaking down barriers. Wouldn’t that be a gift to the city?
The first Rekindle cohort in Baltimore has set the stage for deeper, more transformative relationships between Black and Jewish communities in the city. By prioritizing honest dialogue, cultural exchange and collaborative action, Baltimore is positioning itself as a leader in intercommunal bridge-building. As we anticipate the second cohort’s launch in late 2025, there is hope that these efforts will continue to ripple outward, strengthening the bonds that make Baltimore a more united, resilient city.
Residents in West Baltimore are expressing concerns about accessibility at
branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, which has been without an
underwent renovations that began in 2023.
“The Penn-North Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library is an invaluable asset to West Baltimore. Most recently cosmetic improvements were made to the branch in preparation for a larger plan to build a brand new stateof-the-art library at the location,” said Hayes. “Therefore, spending significant resources on the branch to install an elevator at this time would not be fiscally prudent.”
This statement was backed up by Torrence, who explained that plans to demolish the current Penn-North branch and completely rebuild the facility have been made. However, when asked about a groundbreaking date or estimated date of completion, Torrence was unable to provide the information requested.
Enoch Pratt media representative Amy Burke explained that a series of options are available to library guests that are unable to use the upstairs computers.
“According to Pratt Library, the branch has an ADA computer in the lobby for use by anyone, and the circulation desk has laptops they can hand out to anyone who needs a computer in the branch. There are multiple computer resources available,” she stated.
Enoch Pratt shared an additional statement explaining how the building’s lack of full physical accessibility has not stopped them from providing disabled patrons with access to all of the library’s amenities.
“When our ADA Coordinator, alongside staff from the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil
Ernestine B. Fitzhugh
April 11, 1933December 21, 2024
Ernestine was a devoted wife, mother, educator, community worker, and a professional cosmetologist who loved and served her community.
Rights, assessed the Penn North building, it was determined that due to its structural limitations, there was no way at the time to make the building fully ADA-accessible,” the statement read. “However, we want to emphasize that this conclusion was not the end of our efforts. We are still actively looking for ways to make Penn North more accessible while balancing the constraints of the building and available resources.”
The statement went on to explain how their accommodations are, in fact, legal and under compliance of Title II of the ADA.
“Our accessibility and leadership teams have had many conversations with our legal team and others knowledgeable on the topic and it’s important to note that due to the circumstances, the Pratt Library is not breaking any laws.”
EPFL leaders cited details from the ADA guidelines specific to the Penn-North branch and what they are doing to support the community. Read below for more information:
Compliance Under Title II of the ADA
1.) Program Accessibility for Existing Facilities (§ 35.150):
Title II of the ADA requires public entities to make their programs, services, and activities accessible to individuals with disabilities when viewed in their entirety. However, this does not mean that every facility must be fully accessible. While Penn North is not fully physically accessible, we have implemented alternative methods to ensure accessibility:
- Library staff assist patrons by retrieving materials from upper floors
- Patrons with mobility challenges can use the accessible computer on the main floor to browse the catalog and access resources
- Surrounding branches, such as Walbrook, are fully ADA-compliant and offer the same storytime programs and materials as Penn North. Walbrook is located less than 2 miles away and is easily accessible by bus
2.) lternative Methods (§ 35.150(b)):
The ADA allows public entities to use alternative methods to achieve accessibility when structural changes are not feasible. Our staff is dedicated to assisting patrons in every way possible to ensure equitable access to materials and services. We also ensure that signage at the Penn North branch and information on our website clearly inform patrons that the building is not fully physically accessible before they visit.
3.) Structural Modifications and Renovations:
The recent cosmetic improvements at Penn North were funded by a private donation specifically designated for items such as carpeting and furniture upgrades. These updates did not include structural changes, as the funding would not cover and could not be used for such modifications.
- The ADA requires structural modifications only for new construction or major alterations, and these renovations did not trigger an obligation to retrofit or make significant structural changes.
Photo Courtesy of Enoch Pratt Free Library
the Pennsylvania Avenue
elevator since the building
is not just a program. We are standing in front of a building that represents thousands of Marylanders who have been coming to work— civil servants for over 60 years now who have been coming to this building to do the essential work of processing Social Security checks for nearly 72 million Americans.”
She emphasized that an attack on the SSA is not a partisan issue.
“These are men and women who come to work every day, and these are not Democratic jobs or Republican jobs,” said Alsobrooks. “These are American jobs. Those who work in this building do so no matter who the
president is.”
Rich Couture, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 215, also addressed the crowd at the rally. He explained that the SSA has already been suffering from record attrition. The agency is operating under a 50-year staffing low. In spite of this, he said the SSA has made strides in improving productivity and cutting down on service delivery times.
If the 47th presidential administration does shutter SSA workers, Couture said services will be further delayed. He contended that DOGE should actually stand for the “destroyers of government
studios with him as he recognized their academic
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott called Tooten an icon and a legend.
“He was an incredible reporter and an even greater man,” said Scott. “We are grateful to have had him. Peace and blessings to his family and may his legacy live on forever.”
Tooten’s colleagues at both WBAL-TV and radio took to the airways to express their sadness following his death and the joy they had experience having known him.
Mindy Basar, a longtime reporter at WBAL, said in a social media post, “Everyday he would give me a hug. I could feel the love and it always made me happy. He called me ‘sister’ and I called him ‘Dr. Love-’ because that’s what he means to me…pure love. I know he’s watching over us and sending us all hugs from heaven.”
Tim Tooten began his career in journalism as a disc jockey in his hometown, Live Oak,
effectiveness.”
“This is all about destroying the size of the federal civil service and eliminating our ability to serve the American people who have already paid for the service and the access to their benefits,” said Couture. “If you think you have service delivery problems now, if you think you’re waiting a long time on our 800 number, if you think you’re waiting a long time in an office, imagine what that service is going to be like if you have no office to call or to visit or if there are no dedicated, apolitical civil servants there to serve you when you want help. We deserve better.”
A 50-year-old employee of
the SSA, who asked to speak under anonymity out of fear of losing her job, expressed her fear and frustration over attacks on the agency.
“We’re already shortstaffed to begin with, and now this is happening. We don’t have enough hands to process the claims for people who are actually retiring and those who are disabled. It’s a travesty,” she told the AFRO. “We have more work with less hands, and now they want to mess with what we’ve worked so hard for all of these years. It’s unbelievable.”
The Baltimore native emphasized that the people the SSA serve are oftentimes severely under-resourced.
Florida while in high school, He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, from Florida State University. He earned his doctorate degree in Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg. He founded Harvest Christian Ministries in Baltimore Country where he served as its pastor until his death.
Tooten leaves behind his wife of 40 years
Charlene Tooten, children, Fallon Cuthrell, Taren Tooten and Timothy Tooten Jr. and host of other family members including grandchildren.
Funeral services for Dr. Timothy Lamar
Tooten Sr. will be held Feb. 14 and 15 at Central Christian, located in the 7400 block of Rossville Blvd.
On Feb. 14, Central Christian will hold visitation from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., with funeral services beginning at 11a.m.
“We deal with them on a daily basis. They are the faces we see in person and the people we speak with over the phone,” she said. “It’s sad because they have no other resources except Social Security. If we can’t do our job or we don’t have the funding to do our job, it’s going to get bad.”
AFRO Photo/Megan Sayles
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) leads a rally to safeguard the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as the new Department of Government Efficiency moves to dismantle federal agencies and shrink the federal workforce. The rally was held on Feb. 10 at the SSA’s headquarters in Woodlawn, Md.
New exhibition, ‘TITAN: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis’ opens in Baltimore
By AFRO Staff
Loida Lewis enjoys the opening of an exhibit in honor of her late husband, Reginald F. Lewis.
which it takes its name.
Baltimore Peace Movement holds first quarterly celebration of life
By AFRO Staff
On Feb. 8, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum unveiled “TITAN: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis,” the most comprehensive exhibit of the man who was known to be a “titan of industry.” Known as the first Black man to lead a billion dollar company, Lewis is remembered for his salient question: “Why should White guys have all the fun?”
Lewis was a visionary, a devoted family man, and a legal pioneer. This exhibition masterfully chronicles his journey, showcasing the breadth of his impact far beyond corporate boardrooms.
Lewis’ daughter, Christina S. N. Lewis Halpern, and his widow, Loida Lewis, were in attendance at the opening ceremony along with other surviving members of the family. This exhibit is part of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum's efforts
to highlight Black life in the state of Maryland.
Visitors were immersed in Lewis’ world through an impressive collection of rare photographs, personal artifacts and deeply personal narratives that illuminated both his triumphs and challenges. The museum is named in Lewis’ honor and was made possible through a public-private partnership, including a $5 million lead donation from the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, along with contributions from other private donors.
The exhibition was both a celebration and a call to action— urging future generations to embrace ambition, challenge limitations and redefine what is possible.
Members of the Baltimore Peace Movement gathered for the first of several rallies planned for 2025 on the weekend of Feb 7. Standing on the corner of Mt. Holly St. and Edmondson Ave. advocates for peace, led by Michelle “Shellers” Herring, encouraged Baltimoreans to take part in the movement. At the end of the rally, Baltimore Peace Movement co-founder Erricka Bridgeford performed a sacred space ritual to cleanse the area where a 19-year-old young man was shot and killed in 2025. Burning sage, participants whispered prayers and blanketed the area with positive energy.
The Baltimore Peace Movement, formerly known as Baltimore Ceasefire, has held a ceasefire weekend every quarter of the year since 2017. During these times, peace advocates encourage all to help end the violence in their communities by holding life affirming events.
The next weekend will take place around Mother's Day, beginning May 9 and ending May 11. If you are interested in being part of the movement, please go to Baltimorepeacemovement.com to register as an ambassador.
Lena Singleton stands on Edmondson Avenue, encouraging the drivers who pass by to “honk for peace” on Feb. 7.
Michelle “Shellers” Herring calls for Baltimoreans to take part in the Baltimore Peace Movement weekend, a time to engage in life affirming events.
David Johnson, a former educator, volunteers his time to the Peace Movement each year. Johnson said he was moved to participate when he realized his young elementary school students were too comfortable wearing R.I.P. t-shirts for slain friends and family.
Donald Ervin, polemarch of the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. officially opens the “Titan” exhibit alongside Richard B. Mattox, Eastern Province Polemarch; Anthony Fugett; Loida Lewis; Christina Lewis Halpern; Calvin Halpern; Imani Haynes, curator of RFLM; Drew Hawkins, RFLM board chairman; Robert Parker, director of chief curator and director of interpretation, visitor experiences, and education, and Terri Lee Freeman, president of RFLM.
Christina S. N. Lewis Halpern stands next to a portrait of her late father, Reginald F. Lewis.
Year-round, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture carries books and special merchandise in celebration of the industry titan from
Baltimore Peace Movement co-founder Darnyle Wharton joins the crowd in spreading positive energy.
Lynn Forman, a graduate of Morgan State University and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., takes part in the first Peace Movement weekend of 2025.
Erricka Bridgeford leads a Sacred Space ritual, calling light and love to the area where Lamel Edwards lost his life on Jan. 26 to gun violence.
AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor
Jeff Johnson (left), CEO of Actum, and Tarrus Richardson, CEO and founder of IMB Partners, participate in a discussion about the life and legacy of Reginald F. Lewis.
Photo courtesy of Jae Sip Photography via the Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Photo courtesy of Instagram / TheChristina99
Photo courtesy of Facebook (Meta) / Loida Nicolas Lewis
Photo courtesy of Facebook (Meta) / Loida Nicolas Lewis
Photo courtesy of Jae Sip Photography via the Reginald F. Lewis Museum