Afro e-Edition 12-23-2023 by AFRO News

Senior Guide A5

A6 The Afro-American October14, 2023 - October 20, 2023 Volume 132 No. 21

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DECEMBER 23, 2023 - DECEMBER 29, 2023

NNPA Newswire

President Joe Biden discusses new initiatives related to the Black business community with a host of elected officials, to include Vice President Kamala Harris, Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC-6), Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18).

President Biden celebrates Black small business boom, announces new investments By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

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During President Biden’s recent visit to the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, he showcased the unprecedented growth of Black small business ownership under his administration. In a press call, top White House officials attributed the surge in Black entrepreneurship, the fastest

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in 30 years, to Bidenomics, which the president pledged would receive further support through new investments targeting underserved communities. Hero Plumbing, a Black-owned business in Milwaukee dedicated to removing lead pipes, is at the forefront of this success story. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic $15 billion funding allocation will help the company

fulfill President Biden’s promise to do away with all lead service lines by the end of the decade. While highlighting his administration’s significant investments in small businesses, particularly those owned by Black entrepreneurs, President Biden still faces opposition from some Republicans in Congress. However, administration officials said, despite GOP resistance, the American

Rescue Plan played a vital role in sustaining small businesses during the pandemic. Biden’s commitment to fostering opportunities for working families and small business owners is contrasted with Republicans in Congress advocating a return to failed trickle-down economics. Officials said Biden remains steadfast in his belief that diversity is crucial for economic security,

making unprecedented investments in Black communities to safeguard the American dream. Investing in Black entrepreneurship and opportunity Administration officials noted that Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda has catalyzed historic gains in small business creation and entrepreneurship. They reported that Continued on A3

AFRO ranks No. 81 at 2023 Inner City 100 Awards By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com The AFRO ranked 81 in the 2023 Inner City 100 (IC100) Awards, a recognition given by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). The organization celebrates the 100 fastest-growing businesses in underserved communities across the country. The ceremony took place during ICIC’s Annual Conference, which was held in Miami on Dec. 11 through Dec. 12. The AFRO, for 131 years, has centered the Black community in its award-winning coverage. The organization joined several other Baltimorebased businesses, including MD Energy Advisors, SCB

Management and Watkins Security Agency, as IC100 Award winners. “Sometimes when people hear ‘legacy’ and ‘Black newspaper,’ they’re thinking old, dated and not relevant.

But, that’s not who we are, and that’s not who we’ve been over 131 years. The company has had to innovate at every stage,” said Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the AFRO. “What’s not old is the

fact that people need accurate information. We still need to highlight our successes and our community, and no one does it better than the Black press.” The AFRO was founded

in 1892 by Draper’s greatgrandfather John Henry Murphy, a former enslaved man, with a $200 investment from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. The family-owned, legacy newspaper has transformed itself into a media company over the years. Recently the media company rolled out its Digital Billboard Network, a program

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AFRO Photo / Kevin Peck

(L-R) Diane Hocker, public relations director for the AFRO; Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the AFRO; Lenora Howze, executive director of the AFRO, and Kevin Peck, vice president of marketing and technology for the AFRO, attend the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s Annual Conference. The AFRO ranked 81 during the organization’s Inner City 100 Awards.

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A2 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

Justice Department creates database to track records of misconduct by federal law enforcement By Claudia Lauer and Alanna Durkin Richer The Associated Press The U.S. Justice Department has created a database to track records of misconduct by federal law enforcement officers that is aimed at preventing agencies from unknowingly hiring problem officers, officials said on Dec. 18. The federal move is a step toward accountability amid growing calls to close loopholes that allow law enforcement officers to be rehired by other agencies after losing their jobs or resigning after misconduct allegations.

only former and current Justice Department officers who have records of serious misconduct over the last seven years. It will be expanded to capture other federal law enforcement agencies such as the Secret Service and United States Park Police, a Justice Department official said. Attorney General Merrick Garland said it will give federal agencies “an important new tool for vetting and hiring officers and agents that will help strengthen our efforts” to build and retain the public’s trust. “No law enforcement agency — including the

“No law enforcement agency — including the Justice Department — can effectively do its work without the trust of the public.” But the database, which will only contain records for federal officers and not be open to the public, falls short of the national misconduct database called for by some police reform advocates. The National Law Enforcement Accountability Database currently includes

Justice Department — can effectively do its work without the trust of the public,” Garland said in an emailed statement. Federal agencies will be responsible for reporting and updating records for six types of misconduct including criminal convictions, civil

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judgments, terminations, suspensions, resigning or retiring while under investigation and sustained complaints or disciplinary actions for serious misconduct, officials said. It is currently only accessible by Justice Department employees and will eventually be expanded to allow access by users in other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies, a Justice Department official said. Several state legislatures have created statewide databases in recent years to track disciplinary misconduct and officer decertification, which happens when a state licensing body revokes the certification or license required to be a law enforcement officer in that state. But few of those state databases are open to the public, and few are shared between states. AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Attorney General Merrick Garland has championed the creation of a new database that tracks officer behavior in an effort to weed out bad officers and build public trust.

This article was originally published by the Associated Press.

Health crisis looms: CDC issues stark warning amidst rising tide of COVID and flu cases By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire A looming healthcare crisis is on the horizon as hospitals and emergency rooms face the potential need to ration care by the end of December, according to a chilling advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC’s latest briefing underscores the swift escalation in COVID-19 hospitalizations, with a particular focus on the surge in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Simultaneously, influenza is gaining momentum nationwide, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continues to pose a significant threat in multiple regions. Several reports noted that pediatric hospitals are grappling with a near-maximum patient load, mirroring the levels witnessed this time last year. Emergency room visits for schoolage children have undergone an alarming, nearly twofold increase, driven chiefly by a surge in flu cases. The CDC said the spike follows a period of stabilized emergency room figures leading up to Thanksgiving. Strikingly, influenza-related emergency room visits have now eclipsed those for COVID-19 across most age groups, with seniors being the sole exception where COVID-19 rates remain markedly higher. Nursing homes also are reportedly witnessing a sharp uptick in reported COVID-19 cases, particularly in the Midwestern region, where infections among residents have already surpassed last year’s peak. The emergence of the JN.1 COVID variant contributes significantly to the current wave of infections, estimated to comprise up to 29 percent of cases

nationwide—a stark increase from 8.8 percent at the close of November. According to the CDC’s projections, JN.1, a direct descendant of the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant, has become the swiftest-growing variant in the United States. While a World Health Organization panel asserts that JN.1’s alterations do not warrant a revision to this season’s vaccines, initial data raises concerns about reduced vaccine efficacy against this variant. Despite the situation’s urgency, the CDC said vaccination rates are experiencing an unprecedented decline. Adult flu vaccinations are trailing by approximately 8 million doses compared to last year, and children’s flu shots have dipped by around five percentage points. Bridging this gap is anticipated to be a formidable challenge, according to discussions between vaccine manufacturers and the CDC. With only a third of nursing home residents and less than 10 percent of staff receiving the COVID-19 vaccine this season, Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the CDC, expressed deep concern about the sluggish vaccine uptake. Urging healthcare providers to intensify efforts, especially among high-risk groups, she emphasizes the crucial role of vaccinations as the peak of the respiratory virus season looms. The CDC emphasized the importance of staying updated on vaccinations against respiratory viruses. Beyond COVID-19 and influenza, a global uptick in pneumonia cases in children is also under scrutiny, officials asserted. This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

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The CDC is emphasizing the importance of staying updated on vaccinations against respiratory viruses. Beyond COVID-19 and influenza, officials say a global uptick in pneumonia cases in children is also under scrutiny.

December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American A3

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire As the curtain draws on 2023, the 118th Congress stands as a testament to political paralysis, one of the least productive in modern history. Information from Quorum, a data analytics firm, revealed a historic low tally of just 20 bills signed into law, with an additional four awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature. The stark reality is not only a result of the familiar partisan divisions in Washington but also an outcome of internal strife within the House Republican majority, causing routine disruptions to legislative proceedings. A particularly turbulent period during the fall encapsulated the dysfunction gripping Congress, with Republicans unable to find a replacement for ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy

(R-Calif.-6). The deadlock halted legislative momentum for three weeks, contributing to the abysmally low number of bills passed this year. Comparing the productivity of the 118th Congress to historical benchmarks exposes a troubling trend. The 20 bills passed this year are far from the 70 to 73 laws enacted during the historically unproductive first years of the 104th, 112th, and 113th Congresses, when Republicans shared control with Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The current gridlock marks the nadir of a trend toward increasing legislative inertia, with five of the six most unproductive first years occurring since 2011. An unsettling pattern emerges from a closer examination of the legislation that the 118th Congress passed. The overwhelming

Happy Holidays!

As the holiday season kicks into high gear, the staff of the AFRO American Newspapers and the Afro Charities team would like to send warm wishes to all who celebrate in a special way during this time of year. Regardless of faith, creed or color, now is the time to come together in peace and love, with hopes of a better future. We pray that as the year comes to a close, each and every reader can look back on the year 2023 with gratitude, while also looking forward to the opportunities and blessings to come in 2024.

Photo by James Fields

118th Congress marks new low in productivity amidst partisan strife and leadership vacancies

Shown here: Bacarri Byrd (back, left), Afro Charities communications manager; AFRO Managing Editor Alexis Taylor; Afro Charities Processing Fellow Jasmine Clarke; Deyane Moses, Afro Charities curator of archives; Bilphena Yahwon, Afro Charities processing fellow; Afro Charities Archives Assistant Oyinda Omoloja; AFRO Production Manager Denise Dorsey; AFRO Community Relations Director Diane Hocker; Taryn Atkinson, AFRO executive assistant; AFRO Advertising Account Receivables Specialist Latasha Owens; AFRO Production Assistant Mishana Matthews; AFRO Circulation/ Receptionist Wanda Pearson; AFRO Sales Representative Denise Hocker; AFRO Executive Director Lenora Howze and AFRO Billing Specialist Chakya Brown; (Front, left) Craig Talley; AFRO Finance Manager Bonnie Deanes; AFRO Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper; AFRO Assistant Editor Ashleigh Fields and AFRO Special Projects Editor Rev. Boulware. majority of bills were uncontroversial, sailing through either by unanimous consent or with minimal opposition. Examples include multiple measures to rename Veterans Affairs clinics and

AFRO File Photo / Edoghogho Ugiagbe

Routine disruptions to legislative proceedings are a result of the familiar partisan divisions in Washington, but also an outcome of internal strife within the House Republican majority.

a bill commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps. These modest accomplishments underscore the inability of Congress to address more pressing and contentious issues. The composition of the 118th Congress did reflect a diverse range of backgrounds. The House of Representatives comprises 221 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and one vacant seat, while the Senate consists of 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and three Independents who caucus with the Democrats. The average age of House members at the beginning of this Congress was 57.9 years, and Senators averaged 64.0 years. An impressive 96% of Congress members boast a college education, with public service/politics, business, and law being the predominant professions. Religious diversity is also evident, with most

members identifying as Christians. Roman Catholics form the largest single religious denomination, but numerous other affiliations are represented, including Jewish, Mormon, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Pentecostal Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and Adventist. The average length of service for Representatives was 8.5 years, equivalent to 4.3 House terms; for Senators, it was 11.2 years, corresponding to 1.9 Senate terms. The 118th Congress has seen an increase in diversity, with 155 women, 61 African Americans, 61 Hispanic or Latino members and 21 Asian or Pacific Islander Americans serving. Additionally, five Native Americans hold seats, contributing to a total of 11.5 percent Black representation in Congress, closely mirroring the U.S. Census Bureau’s demographic data.

Critics have argued that the rise of MAGA Republicans in Congress has played a pivotal role in the legislative standstill. According to Navin Nayak, president of the Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund, “They will not make any attempt to actually find common ground or find common-sense solutions to problems.” Further, the 118th Congress is projected to be in session for just 117 days this year, well below the average of 151 days per Congress from 2001 to 2022, in sharp contrast with the remarkably productive 117th Congress, during which Democrats controlled both chambers and the White House, successfully passing key legislation such as the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act. This article was originally published by the NNPA

Black small business Continued from A1

a record 15 million applications to start new businesses had been filed since he took office, with Black business ownership growing faster than in three decades. The administration’s investment in Black entrepreneurs has yielded positive results, including: • A new record of nearly $70 billion in federal contracts awarded to small, disadvantaged businesses in FY 2022. • $12 billion allocated to community lenders to expand access to capital, resulting in an estimated $50 billion increase in lending to Latino communities and a nearly $80 billion increase in lending to Black communities over the next decade. • $10 billion in support for states, tribes, and territories, with $79 million dedicated to Wisconsin for capital access programs benefiting around 100,000 small businesses.

Historic progress and investments in Black-owned businesses Further, the White House said Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) has been pivotal in supporting small businesses, including Black-owned enterprises, in Wisconsin and nationwide. Key investments include: • A $10 billion fund, including $79 million for Wisconsin, to help small businesses access capital. • The Small Business Community Navigators Pilot Program provides $100 million to organizations supporting small businesses, significantly impacting Black-owned businesses. • The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Capital Readiness Program is awarding $125 million to 43 non-profit organizations, including $3

New investments and local community growth Officials also said Biden continues to prioritize local, community-led economic development and small businesses. In Milwaukee, a city experiencing economic revitalization under his administration, the Grow Milwaukee Coalition is a finalist for the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Recompete Program. The CHIPS and Science Act funds this program to foster small business development, high-quality job creation, and economic opportunity in underdeveloped areas. The Grow Milwaukee Coalition’s proposal aims to revitalize the historic 30th Street Industrial Corridor and connect the historically segregated Black community to economic opportunities across the city. This initiative aligns with President Biden’s commitment to building the economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

Awards

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THE AFRO AMERICAN – (USPS 040-800) is published weekly by The Afro American Company, 233 E. Redwood Street, 6th Fl., Ste. 600G, Baltimore, MD 21202.

Subscription Rate: 1 Year - $100.00 Print & Digital ($40 Digital Only) (Price includes tax). Checks for subscriptions should be made payable to: The Afro American Company, 233 E. Redwood Street, 6th Fl., Ste. 600G, Baltimore, MD 21202. Periodicals postage paid at Baltimore, MD and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: THE AFRO AMERICAN, 233 E. Redwood Street, 6th Fl., Ste. 600G, Baltimore, MD 21202.

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where businesses across the Greater Baltimore area feature original content from the AFRO on on-site screens. Its philanthropic sister organization, Afro Charities, is also currently in the process of digitizing nearly 3 million photos, letters, business records, audio recordings and reporter’s notebooks from the AFRO’s 131-year-old archival collection. Both companies are looking forward to the upcoming renovation of the Upton Mansion in West Baltimore, where all offices and the AFRO Archives will be housed together. This was the first time the AFRO was named a winner in the IC100. “We were thrilled to be among the IC100,” said Draper. “They measured your success over a four-year period. These are the best small businesses in the country based on the criteria they used to judge, which was mostly revenue growth and community impact.” MD Energy Advisors, started in 2010, was given the honor for the fourth time.

million for Wisconsin. Continued support and future prospects Biden’s Small Business Administration delivered $50 billion to small businesses in Fiscal Year 2023, with a focus on supporting underserved businesses, officials stated on the call. Federal contract spending on small, disadvantaged businesses reached a record-breaking $163 billion in 2022, exceeding the Administration’s goals. “The president’s commitment to supporting small and minority-owned businesses extends to the clean energy sector, with investments in initiatives to grow disadvantaged clean energy businesses in underserved communities,” a senior official stated. This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

The Baltimore-based firm, founded by Jason Schwartzberg, Paul Clary and Phil Croskey, provides energy solutions for commercial clients, utility and government entities. “MD Energy Advisors is honored to be named to the IC100 list for the fourth consecutive year as one of the 100 fastestgrowing businesses in under-resourced communities in the U.S. We could not have done it without the hardwork and dedication of our team,” said Schwartzberg. “We are currently hiring to support our growth. If you are in the market, please consider joining the team.” ICIC’s mission is to propel inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced communities across the country. Its other initiatives include the Inner City Capital Connections, Building for Growth and Succession Ready. ICIC started the IC100 in 1999. The 2023 IC100 winners represented 23 distinct industries, hailing from 54 cities and 26 states, and had an average revenue

growth of 454 percent from 2018 to 2022. Fifty-seven percent of them were BIPOC-led or -owned and 50 percent were woman-led or -owned. Together, the firms created more than 2,700 jobs from 2018 to 2022. “They’re proven catalysts and they’re engines for job growth,” said Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC. “Over the years, they’ve contributed to the enhancement of their community because they always know that–no matter how successful their business is– unless they’re reinvesting back into the life of their community, lifting people up to create better wellness outcomes and sustainable small business ecosystems, the work is not really getting done.” “I salute them for their investment in the communities in which they live, charitable causes, organizations and the lives of their employees,” said Grossman. Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.

A4 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

COMMENTARY

Civilians are dying in the Israel-Hamas conflict-what should Biden do? By Farrah Hassen “If I must die, you must live to tell my story,” wrote Dr. Refaat Alareer, a 44-yearold Gazan poet and literature professor. A few weeks later, Alareer was killed while sheltering in his sister’s apartment, along with six family members. In the densely populated Gaza Strip, the loss of life is staggering. Israel’s two-month bombardment has killed at least 18,000 Palestinian civilians there, including nearly 9,000 children. Another 25,000 children have lost one or both of their parents. President Biden has repeatedly assured the public that Israel is following international law. Yet Israeli forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian civilians and civilian infrastructure, in direct violation of international humanitarian law. With 90 percent of those killed in Gaza being civilians, only now is Biden finally admitting that Israel is bombing “indiscriminately.” Homes, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, refugee camps and government buildings have all been reduced to rubble. Israeli troops have forced Palestinian men to strip and parade through the streets. There are disturbing eyewitness allegations of torture and summary executions of civilians. Palestinian human rights groups and many international

experts, including Israeli scholars of the Holocaust, have warned that Israel’s actions meet the legal standard of genocide. Article 2 of the 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as specific acts taken “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.” Some of these acts include “killing members of the group,” “causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group” and “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” The mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza’s schools, medical facilities, shelters and residential areas are all evidence of likely genocidal acts. Israel has intensified its complete siege of Gaza, depriving Palestinians of food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies. Starvation and infectious disease are rampant. Gaza’s health care system has “completely collapsed” from ongoing Israeli strikes, according to Doctors Without Borders. Proving genocidal intent can often be difficult. However, experts have pointed to dehumanizing statements by Israeli leaders that hint at it — including calling Palestinians “human animals” and “children of darkness.” Others are more explicit. An Israeli lawmaker called

Courtesy photo

Farrah Hassen, J.D., is a writer, policy analyst and adjunct professor in the department of political science at Cal Poly Pomona. for a “Nakba” — an Arabic reference to the violent mass displacement of Palestinians — “that will overshadow the Nakba of 1948.” The defense minister declared “we will eliminate everything” in Gaza. And a recent investigation by the Israeli +972 Magazine found that Israel’s bombing of nonmilitary targets is “calculated.” Many experts believe these actions and statements of intent are evidence of an unfolding genocide. Due to the crime’s gravity, all parties to the Genocide Convention — including the U.S. — have a legal duty to prevent it from the moment they learn of a serious risk that a genocide will be committed. Instead, the U.S has vetoed

UN Security Council ceasefire resolutions and expedited lethal arms to Israel on top of the annual aid we already provide. Far from preventing a genocide, a lawsuit by the Center for Constitutional Rights argues, the U.S. is complicit in one. The Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas fighters on Israeli civilians were reprehensible crimes, but they

don’t provide legal or moral justification for the collective punishment of Gazan civilians. Nor can genocide ever be justified. No government is above the law and free to commit mass slaughter. The U.S. government often claims to stand for justice and the rule of law. But is it willing to stand by those

principles for the Palestinian people? At this dire moment, with the world watching, the U.S. not only has the ability but the obligation to secure a permanent ceasefire and save innocent lives. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

Remembering our past, redefining our present, reaffirming our future: Teaching our own history Florida, we organized a task force labeled, “Teaching Our Own History.” Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week, encouraged us to not sit idly by and allow this system to “mis”educate Black people. Our Task Force will present to the government a comprehensive curriculum that correctly and effectively teaches Africa and African-American history to students in Florida’s public schools. Moreover, we will develop 40-plus “Freedom Schools” by 2025. We will not sit idly by and allow any governor, to erase the accurate teaching of Black history. The Objectives of “The Teaching Our Own History”

By Reverend Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” - Malcolm X A statewide task force has been launched in conjunction with the Florida General Baptist Convention to demand that the governor of Florida and the State Department of Education, teach Black history accurately, factually and forthrightly. The Reverend Dr. Carl Johnson serves as president. In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the state of

Task Force are as follows: 1. To encourage the accurate and unbiased teaching of African-American history, culture, experiences and invaluable contributions in the state of Florida and this nation 2. To develop strategies and solutions to support and strengthen public education in marginalized communities 3. To develop and adequately support 40 Freedom Academies across the state of Florida 4. To create significant after school programs for students in Title One schools in marginalized communities across the state of Florida, using an age appropriate African American History Curriculum to strengthen reading, writing

and mathematics skills 5. To create summer “Freedom Schools” to teach youth the importance of African Americans contributions, selfrespect, personal responsibility, and African American contributions 6. To empower and encourage the three private HBCUs in Florida to develop laboratory schools on their respective campuses by 2025 7. To cultivate and create partnerships with foundations, businesses and philanthropists to support programs and events that consistently celebrate the contributions of African American history, culture, literature, faith and heritage We all must redouble our

efforts to fight for social justice, voting rights, civil rights, diversity, equity and inclusion. The dismantling of programs of diversity, equity and inclusion are shameful and insulting. Over the next several weeks, selected members of “The Teaching Our Own History” Task Force will publish articles for dissemination through The National Black Press, addressing the critical components for teaching our own history. I encourage our readers to enthusiastically engage in meaningful discussions in their various constituent groups and organizations as we speak “truth to power.”

Courtesy photo

Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr. is chairman of “The Teaching of Our Own History” Task Force.

NFL players embrace community violence intervention organizations to end gun violence By Michael-Sean Spence, Esq The history of sports and social justice has long been intertwined. From the protests of Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the Olympic podium to the courageous stands of Muhammad Ali outside the ring, athletes are leaning into the historic precedent of using their platform to raise awareness around a cause that means something to them. Affirming that tradition, each year in December, the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign is a league-wide opportunity for players across the league to uplift a cause and organization meaningful to them. This year, five players for the Washington Commanders, Brian Robinson Jr, Daron Payne, Darrick Forrest, Khaleke Hudson and Percy Butler, amplified the Everytown

Community Safety Fund because they’re committed to ending gun violence nationwide. Five more NFL players selected other programs at Everytown for Gun Safety as their organization of choice. The Everytown Community Safety Fund supports community-based violence intervention organizations nationwide by providing unrestricted grants to meet the needs of these organizations that offer evidence-based and community-embraced strategies for ending gun violence. Communitybased violence intervention organizations combat gun violence by utilizing a public health approach to combat gun violence. The strategies are diverse and innovative, ranging from initiatives that directly de-escalate and mediate conflict to prevent cycles of violence to

programs that offer healthcare like counseling services or direct financial aid to support everyday needs like food and housing. In the United States, 120 people are killed, and more than 200 are shot and wounded by guns each day. Gun violence is an epidemic across the nation, and these numbers do not account for the countless number of individuals and communities indirectly traumatized or impacted by gun violence. For many players, it’s personal. Brian Robinson Jr is a survivor of gun violence after being wounded in an attempted robbery last year. For Khaleke Hudson, he experienced devastating, life-changing impacts of gun violence when his father and cousin were taken at a young age. And now, we’re seeing more and more NFL players use their platforms

to embrace communitybased violence intervention organizations as a solution to end our nation’s gun violence epidemic. The “My Cause My Cleats” campaign allows players to center causes that align with their lived experiences and offers an opportunity to build momentum for supporting local organizations striving to end gun violence. We’re proud to have the support of all the players who chose Everytown and a special thanks to Commanders players Brian, Daron, Darrick, Khaleke, and Percy! We’re honored to work alongside them in our movement to end gun violence. To learn more about ways to support the Everytown Community Safety Fund, visit our website at https:// everytownsupportfund.org.

Courtesy photo Michael-Sean Spence is the managing director of community safety initiatives at Everytown for Gun Safety, where he brings 16 years of experience in public safety to lead Everytown’s efforts to reduce gun violence and improve community safety through community violence intervention programs. Michael-Sean is an alum of the University of Maryland-College Park, the Howard University School of Law, and the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American ∙ 233 E. Redwood Street, Suite 600G Baltimore, MD 21202 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American

Ask Rusty: Simple guidance about Social Security benefits getting benefits for a number of months if you exceed the earnings limit (the number of months you will go without benefits depends on how much you exceed the limit by).

By Russell Gloor AMAC and AMAC Foundation Dear Rusty: I turned 65 earlier this year, and I still work full time. I was divorced four years ago after 38 years of marriage, but my exhusband has been collecting Social Security for at least 10 years now. Can I start collecting Social Security and still work full time? And can I collect my ex-husband’s amount if it is more than mine (and what is the best way to achieve this)? When I went to my local SSA office, they said they had no way of knowing that.

Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old and having difficulty working due to my arthritis, but I can continue part time as a podiatrist. I do not know the best way to determine when to retire. What is the formula or a way to determine which is a better choice? –Signed, Undecided

-Signed, Working Divorcee Dear Working Divorcee: Although you are eligible to claim Social Security at age 65, because you are working full time you may wish to wait a bit longer to do so. That’s because Social Security has an “earnings test” which applies to anyone who collects benefits before full retirement age, and you have not yet reached yours. The earnings test imposes a limit on how much you can earn before SS takes away some of your benefits. If you exceed the annual earnings limit ($22,320 for 2024), Social Security will want back $1 in benefits for every $2 you are over the limit and you will need to repay that, usually by having future benefits withheld. If you significantly

“If Social Security will be a major part of your retirement income, then waiting to get a higher monthly benefit may be a prudent strategy for you.” exceed the limit, you may even be temporarily ineligible to receive SS benefits until you either earn less or reach your full retirement age (FRA) of 66 years and 8 months. So, if your earnings from working will significantly exceed the annual earnings limit (which changes yearly), it’s likely that your wisest move would be to wait longer to claim your Social Security. As a bonus for doing so, your monthly payment will have grown and will be higher when you claim later. The earnings test no longer applies after you reach FRA. Regarding benefits from your ex-husband, you cannot collect his instead of yours. What you may be able to do, when you claim your own benefit, is to get an additional amount which brings your monthly payment up to 50 percent of his. In order for that to happen, you would need to satisfy the following criteria: • You are not currently married. • The personal benefit you are entitled to at your FRA must be less than 50 percent of your ex-husband’s FRA entitlement.

Unsplash/Neel Russell Gloor, national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, responses to the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens. If the above are true, when you claim your own SS retirement benefit you will also get a “spousal boost” to bring your payment up to what you’re entitled to as an ex-spouse. The amount of the spousal boost, if you claim Social Security at your FRA, will be the difference between half of his FRA entitlement and your FRA entitlement. If you claim your benefit before your FRA, not only will your own benefit be reduced for claiming early, but the amount of your spousal boost will also be reduced (benefits claimed before FRA are always reduced). Whenever you decide to claim Social Security, you will be automatically deemed to be filing for benefits from your ex-husband as well (you shouldn’t need to apply separately). You’ve already satisfied the basic criteria of at least 10 years married to get benefits from an ex-spouse and, if you satisfy the above criteria as well, you will be entitled to a spousal boost when you claim. But your current earnings from working full time will likely affect your eligibility to collect Social Security benefits at this time, so waiting until your full retirement age to claim may be your best choice. If you will only slightly exceed the annual earnings limit you can consider claiming earlier, as long as you are comfortable with receiving a permanently reduced amount, and the prospect of not

Dear Undecided: There is a difference between deciding when to retire from working and deciding when to claim your Social Security benefits. For the former, you should consult with a certified financial advisor, but I’ll provide you with how Social Security fits into your personal circumstances. In deciding when to claim Social Security, you should look at your financial needs, your life expectancy, your work status, and your marital status. There is no one formula right for everyone because everyone’s circumstances are different, but here are some things to help decide what is right for you: • Social Security has an “earnings test” which applies to anyone who collects Social Security before reaching their full retirement age (FRA). Your FRA is 66 years and 8 months, and that is the point at which you get 100 percent of the SS benefit earned from a lifetime of working. If you collect SS before your FRA and continue to work, there is a limit to how much you can earn without jeopardizing your benefits. For example, the earnings limit for 2023 is $21,240 and, if that is exceeded, SS will take away benefits equal to $1 for every $2 you are over the limit. They “take away” benefits by withholding future payments until they recover the penalty for exceeding the limit. If your earnings are substantially over the limit, you will be ineligible to collect Social Security until either your earnings are less, or you reach your FRA. • If you claim SS before your FRA your benefit amount will be permanently reduced. If, for example, you claim SS to start at age 65 your monthly benefit will be about 89 percent of what it would be at your FRA. That reduced benefit would not change thereafter except for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) usually granted annually. This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, email ssadvisor@ amacfoundation.org. See more on afro.com

Fit after 50: Aging gracefully with exercise and a healthy diet Reginald Williams Special to the AFRO Aging is often a maligned occurrence. As men age, many begin to experience a host of physical ailments that can interrupt day to day life. Aching knees, shoulders, back and hips or a slower metabolism are just a few of the common complaints. It isn’t unusual to hear men claim they hurt in places they never knew existed. Moving gingerly becomes a way of life. According to the National Institute of Health, muscle mass begins to deteriorate by as much as three to eight percent per decade after age 30 and even more aggressively after 60. A lack of exercise heightens a

body’s physical decay. It affirms the adage: “If you don’t use it, you will lose it.” Health experts maintain that muscle and strength loss plays a significant factor in why older adults live with chronic disabilities. The problems that more senior men experience is not due to their aging, but their abandonment of physical activity. It isn’t unusual for former well-fit athletes to embrace—in their later years— a sedentary lifestyle complemented by a poor diet. The axiom, “You are what you eat,” has been proven truthful. Black men, who have the lowest life expectancy, live with and die from preventable chronic illnesses largely due to poor diet and minimal physical activities. Chronic illnesses and death have little to do with aging, and more about abstaining from healthy actions. Eating nutrientdense diets, complemented with daily movement, is instrumental in living with less pain and fewer

“You have to treat your body right so that it can treat you right.”

Photo courtesy of Lon Walls

Lon Walls is a 73-year-old that studies bando, one of multiple Burmese martial arts still in practice today. As a former college athlete, he discovered a passion for practicing bando during the off season looking to stay in shape. It is maintaining this regime that has allowed his current quality of life.

compromising chronic illnesses. “We’re not getting any younger and we only have one body,” explained Frank Sheffield, a 60-year-old rollerskating enthusiast. “You have to treat your body right so that it can treat you right.” Upon waking each morning, Sheffield performs his pushups before carrying out any other task. Lon Walls, 13 years Sheffield’s senior, remains fit from his youth. At 73, the former Ohio University football player and bando instructor continues

Photo courtesy of Frank Sheffield

Frank Sheffield rollerskates at least three times a week to keep his physical health in balance in his golden years. to excel in his fitness with the practice of the Burmese martial arts. “I got into bando when I was playing spring football. It was 1970. Me and this other brother named Terry decided we were going to take a class. Spring football was over, and we were still geeked up and wanting to hit something. We went to a class, and it was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen,” explained the seven-time national kickboxing and freefighting champion. Because Walls instructs students a third of his age, the Toledo, Ohio native wants to be active and available to demonstrate what he’s training his students to achieve. “You see a lot of people who are coaches and trainers sometimes don’t look the part. They have the knowledge, but when you look at them, you wonder—can they execute or demonstrate? I guess after a certain age, you can’t, but for me—part of what’s been my

mission is to not only have the knowledge, but still be able to execute to some degree,” explained Walls. “That’s why I train. That’s why I keep myself in good shape.” Walls said younger generations keep him sharp. “I’m teaching guys who are 24, 25 years old who are geeked up and have all kinds of testosterone. I want to be able to show them and physically demonstrate what I want them to do. They see me in the gym training, even when I’m not teaching. They know that I’m for real—I’m a serious martial artist. I’m about keeping myself in shape and perfecting my craft. That’s been my driving force in terms of my whole physical being.” At 74, Dwight Williams begins his health regimen before getting out of bed, spending no less than five minutes practicing deep sleep meditation, a discipline learned when he visited Africa almost 50 years ago. In 1959, at 10 years

Courtesy of Dwight Williams

Dwight Williams begins his daily health regime before getting out of bed. He plans to live to 100 and makes every moment count. of age, Williams was told he needed to have his left kidney removed. His health issue would eventually lead him to travel the world to find a solution.

Today, he practices an exercise routine that is performed at various times of the day. The West Baltimore resident plans to live to be at least 100 years of age, healthy and fit. “I work hard. My job right now is staying alive and healthy for as long as I can,” shared Williams. Remaining physically fit in those senior years does not eliminate all aches and pains. Dedicating time daily to massage his joints is a part of Williams’ daily health regimen. Aging means body parts will experience some deterioration that produces throbbing body irritations. Reginald Williams, the author of “A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised & Demonized” writes on Black men and holistic health concerns. Please email bookreggie@reginaldwilliams. org or visit amvonlinestore.com for more information. See more on afro.com

BELONGING IS EVERYTHING.

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A6 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American

BALTIMORE-AREA

The Moore Report

Sports player contracts are a bigger deal, thanks to Curt Flood

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott launches free public Wi-Fi

AFRO File Photo

This week Ralph Moore discusses the pioneers who first fought for sports athletes to own their contracts.

Continued on B2

Moore supports military families with 2024 legislative agenda By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com

By Ralph E. Moore Jr.

The latest sports news is that baseball pitcher and hitter, Shohei Ohtani, recently signed a $700,000,000 contract for ten years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wow, that’s a big one! Ohtani became a free agent on Nov. 2 of this year. Just for the record, a free agent in professional sports is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises, i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term also refers to a player who is under contract at present but who is allowed to solicit offers from other teams. Without Black baseball players who came along and paved the way for professional athletes in the future, Ohtani could not have secured the big paydays he’ll be getting for the next decade. He and all the other well paid ball players should be grateful to Curt Flood (1/18/38-1/20/97), a centerfielder who played for the Cincinnati Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Senators. Flood was an activist by nature, who had the courage

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) recently declared 2024 the year for military families, stating the importance of supporting families of the armed forces just as much as the person serving. “Before I deployed to Afghanistan, I thought it was us who had it most difficult. I was wrong. While we were deployed, we had good days and some really bad days, but we

Photo courtesy of Office of the Mayor, Baltimore City/J.J. McQueen Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the launch of free public Wi-Fi throughout the city. Recreational and senior centers will be the first to offer the new Wi-Fi. Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center and Solo Gibbs Recreation Center’s free Wi-Fi is live. By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com

Mayor Brandon M. Scott, alongside other city officials, announced the launch of free public Wi-Fi for Baltimoreans and visitors. “In this digital age, digital equity is one of the defining civil rights issues of our time,” said Scott. “We must work to close the digital divide to help shape the future of our communities and of Baltimore.” According to Baltimore’s Digital Inclusion Strategy, 73 percent of White households have broadband access compared to 50 percent of Black households. About 38 percent of low-income households lack a computer device or only have access to a smartphone. “‘FreeBmoreWiFi’ is about more than internet access. It’s about inclusivity and helps residents leverage the power of technology for their benefit,” said Todd Carter, chief information officer of the City of Baltimore. Baltimore’s Digital Inclusion Strategy will span 2024 to 2029, tackling four main areas to address the digital divide. Through this initiative, the city will ensure all Baltimore residents can access reliable high-speed internet, modern technology, digital skills training and multilingual technical support.

The Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE), a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology (BCIT), is in charge of implementing the new network. Scott said ‘FreeBaltimoreWiFi’ will initially be launched at recreation centers. “One of the key components of our digital inclusive strategy is establishing access to a free network of public Wi-Fi across the city,” said Scott. “Today, I’m proud to announce the launch of that free public Wi-Fi network which we named ‘FreeBmoreWifi.’ The network is currently live right here at Middle Branch and at Solo Gibbs recreation center as well.” Scott said the network will go live at the city’s remaining recreation centers and several senior centers throughout 2024. “The public health emergency is no longer with us, but the digital divide is,” said Elizabeth Tatum, deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic’s ability to reveal the digital divide. “Public Wi-Fi hopes to fill the gap, and I know I am very excited to think about the thousands of children and families that will enjoy public Wi-Fi here at this beautiful recreational center and other places in the city.”

“In this digital age, digital equity is one of the defining civil rights issues of our time. We must work to close the digital divide to help shape the future of our communities and of Baltimore.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

“Our military families are sacrificing just as much as our people in uniform, and they’re sacrificing so their loved ones can serve.” always had each other,” said Moore. “The people who I’d never realized oftentimes did not have that same level of support were the ones who were left behind. It was the family members. Our military families are sacrificing just as much as our people in uniform, and they’re sacrificing so their loved ones can serve.” Moore served as a captain in the 82nd Airborne. In the new year, the governor said there are two bills he’s planning to sponsor in 2024 to aid military families. “The first is called the ‘Families Serve Act.’ This Continued on B2

Parents of Baltimore County call for more educational options By Ryan Coleman Special to the AFRO

While I’m a big supporter of public education and the current superintendent, it is too hard to educate Black children properly in Baltimore County Public Schools and other school systems. The 2023 Randallstown NAACP poll found a child in a failing school should have the following options: 86 percent of respondents believe these students should have access to high achieving magnet schools, 52 percent of respondents are in favor of using per pupil funds/ monies to be used for private schools. Fifty-one percent of respondents are

in favor of charter schools 30 percent of respondents are in favor of vouchers. The over 700 respondents sent a clear message that they don’t want their children trapped in failing schools and want solutions now. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would oppose letting parents decide the school of their choice. It seems to become an issue when Black children are the concern. Imagine if the school system ran grocery stores in our neighborhood. You don’t pay for your groceries; your county taxes pay for your groceries, and send it to the store closest to your home. You don’t get to decide which store or what

Courtesy photo Parents with children in Baltimore County Public Schools say they want better choices when it comes to education in the area. This week, Baltimore County NAACP President Ryan Coleman discusses school choice.

you want. You show up, and they give you a bag of groceries – doesn’t matter what you need or want. There would be a grocery board to decide what they stocked, and a grocery superintendent would hire and fire everyone there, regardless of what the customers thought. What do you think the quality of your food and store would be? Seems pretty obvious to most people, yet that is how we run elementary and secondary education in this country. It’s produced some pretty bad results, but what it’s also producing now is an unworkable situation for too many people. W.E.B Dubois warned us in 1935 that turning Black children over to failing

schools for their daily education risked making them, “doormats to be spit and trampled upon and lied to by ignorant social climbers whose sole claim to superiority is the ability to kick ‘ni**ers’ when they are down.” Even though publicschool funding continues to increase, not all of this money ends up

Past 7 Days

supporting the stated priorities of public education’s bureaucrats. In virtually every public school throughout the country, teachers are paid primarily according to their credentials, seniority and “additional” work assignments and not at all according to subject Continued on B2

255

2023 Total Data as of December 20

The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

The Moore Report Continued from B1

Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Wes Moore

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) introduces the first portion of his 2024 legislative agenda, as Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) (left) looks on with First Lady Dawn Moore, Yolanda T. Rayford, Blue Star Families chapter director for the Baltimore and Chesapeake Region, State Sen. Dawn Gile (D-Md.-33) and Anthony Woods, secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.

Moore supports Continued from B1

bill would create stronger pathways to employment for military spouses working in both the public and the private sectors in the State of Maryland,” said Moore. “That matters because we know that employment is one of the biggest challenges facing military families. They have to move around all the time. They don’t always have the flexibility — to build their careers in one place.”

This bill will allow employers to put a preference on hiring military spouses of active duty service members. Preferential hiring is currently in place for veterans but not their spouses, according to Moore. “Our second bill is the ‘Time to Serve Act.’ This legislation doubles military leave to state employees who serve in the National Guard or our military

reserves,” said Moore. “This is absolutely critical — folks who are juggling military duties and state jobs often use Paid Time Off (PTO) to meet their obligations in the armed forces. Our legislation helps to ensure that service members have the flexibility to use leave for family time.” Moore said he would also support legislation proposed by Sen. Dawn Gile (D-Md.-33), Del. Andrew Pruski (D-Md.33), Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Md.-45) and Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Md.-23).

Their legislation includes a bill that would rename the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs to the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, legislation to designate military status a protected class for hiring and a bill to reduce nonessential burdens related to cosmetology licensure for families of the armed forces. “As a proud military spouse, I have witnessed the resilience of fellow military spouses as they navigate persistent obstacles in their professional journeys,” said Gile. “By working with the MooreMiller Administration to draft legislation aimed at renaming the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs and establishing military status as a protected class, we affirm our shared dedication to recognizing the unique challenges faced by military families.” Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

to speak up for himself and others. He challenged the team ownership and league systems. Here is Curt Flood’s story: He was born in Houston but raised in Oakland, Calif.. Flood played outfield on the same high school baseball field that Frank Robinson of the Orioles once did. And both men played professionally for Cincinnati. After high school, Flood signed with the Reds in 1956, made a few appearances in the 1956-57 season. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. He played center field for that baseball club for 12 seasons. While his hitting skill suffered in his first two seasons, his fielding never did. Flood came out of the hitting slump with a whopping .322 batting average in 1961. He kept growing in his ballplaying accomplishments including in 1963, hitting .302 and scoring 112 runs. It was a banner year for Flood: career highs in doubles, triples, stolen bases and a Gold Glove award, his first of a consecutive seven. Obviously, Flood was a high impact ball player and team member. He made it into All Star games, helped his team (the Cardinals) into the World Series and had some errorless seasons in the outfield. His highest season batting average was .335 in 1967. When the 1968 World Series between the Boston Red Sox vs. The St. Louis Cardinals ended, Flood expected a raise to a much higher salary considering his outstanding performance in the season and the series. Instead, the team president, Gussie Busch, gave him a mere $5,000 raise, short of the $90,000 salary he had hoped. Anheuser-Busch, the beer company, owned the team and certainly could have afforded more. The outstanding ballplayer became a giant labor activist. Flood took on Major League Baseball’s longstanding reserve clause. It kept players stuck for life with the team they originally signed even when they upheld every

Parents of Baltimore County Continued from B1 taught, number of students served, or the difficulty or importance of their assignments. The net effect of this arrangement is that labor costs, the bulk of per-pupil spending, are distributed by formulas that are completely unaligned with stated priorities. The argument that any educational alternative to

public schools will hurt our nation’s students carries an underlying assumption: education is largely a commodity, a “public good” that can be provided equally to everyone, just like our roads and other public utilities. But that’s not true. Education is far more complex than a commodity

aspect of their contract. Floyd was traded by the Cardinals to the Phillies on Oct. 7, 1969, along with three of his teammates. He refused to go pointing to the Phillies’ poor record and poorly maintained stadium, not to mention hostile–if not racist– fans. Clearly, he was not ready to pick up and move to another city and adding insult to injury, some say he heard about the trade from a reporter. Floyd wrote in his autobiography that he heard it from middle management. He met with the team manager and was offered a $100,000 salary. Then he met with the players’ union which agreed to fund a lawsuit on his behalf. Flood accepted the union’s offer. He wrote to the Baseball Commissioner, Bowie Kuhn, and demanded he be declared a free agent. Floyd proclaimed, “I think the change in Black consciousness in recent years has made me more sensitive to injustice in every area of my life.” The Commissioner denied Floyd’s asking for free agency, so he filed a $1,000,000 anti-trust lawsuit against MLB and Kuhn. Jackie Robinson (yeah, #42) testified on his behalf. Sandy Koufax, a star pitcher for the Dodgers, cheered Flood on publicly. The case Flood vs. Kuhn went before the Supreme Court on Mar. 20, 1972. On June 19, 1972 the court ruled 5-3 in favor of Major League Baseball. The Baseball player’s union persisted in court with another case and prevailed in getting the reserve clause eliminated in December of 1975. Free agency was allowed as an option in MLB by the start of the ’76 season. In 1998 Congress passed the Curt Flood Act of 1998 and President Bill Clinton signed it into law. It ended baseball as a monopoly and eliminated the owners’ control over players’ contracts. So, Ohtani, and all other athletes with professional contracts, should thank Flood for his success…

that can be bought, sold, or even constructed like a highway. It is more like a route to a destination that differs for every individual, and families should be free to choose the pathway that best meets their needs. Black children are treated as the new cotton. They are a body count that generates earnings for the so-called defenders of public education who fight to keep our kids per pupil revenue locked up in failing schools. They are the perfect hostages because you raise funds for their bodies without ever being accountable for improving their minds. We should be devoting our efforts to giving parents more resources and opportunities to select the educational option they believe will best fit their children – magnet schools, charter schools, transfers to high achieving schools, vouchers, the boost program and using per pupil funding for private schools. Ryan Coleman can be reached at randallstownnaacp@gmail. com.

December23, 23,2023 2023--December December29, 29,2023 2023 The The Afro-American Afro-American December

B3 B1

Rita Claudette Soden Johnson dies at age 88 By Roslyn Johnson

Rita Claudette Soden Johnson was born in Baltimore on July 26, 1935, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Ernest and Margaret Soden Sr. She departed this earthly life on Dec. 1, 2023, in Rockville, Md., after a courageous 11 year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She had four siblings, Ernest Soden Jr. (deceased), Marilyn Soden Roche (deceased), Shirley Soden Briscoe and Dr. Cylburn Soden. Rita married Frederick Alvin Johnson on Dec. 8, 1958. Rita and Fred had two daughters, Kay Claudette Johnson Graham, and Roslyn Joy Johnson. Her loving husband of 46 years preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 2004. During Rita’s early life, she attended Baltimore City Public Schools, including Frederick Douglas High School, which was segregated for Black people at the time. Rita’s higher education included Cortez Peters’ Business School and the University of Baltimore. Rita often talked about her experiences with Jim Crow laws and was one of the first to integrate the municipal building as a Baltimore City employee. Despite the many daily challenges, she was steadfast in helping to provide for her family. She was proud to have attended the March on Washington and one of her most memorable events was casting her vote for Barack Obama, the first AfricanAmerican president of the United States. Rita was a long-time and faithful member of Union Baptist Church and served in several roles including as a

member of the senior choir, the Women’s Month Committee and the Gertude Neal Circle. She received awards from the church for her commitment, including the Outstanding and Continuous Service Award and the Faithful Service Award. Rita was a member of the Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Baltimore for over 25 years. She held the position of philacter, keeper of attendance for the chapter meetings and was well liked by members.She was also a member of numerous social clubs that spanned for many decades of her life, including: The Career Girls, a collaboration with the YWCA that taught young Black women etiquette skills; The Douglas High School class of February 1953,” her high school alma mater; The Penny Pals, a Pokeno card group that included Morgan Park neighborhood women and The Golden Girls, a life-long friendship with ladies who traveled and vacationed together. Rita’s month was October and every October she laid out a spread to include her brother Junior’s whiskey sours. She looked forward to decorating the entire house for Halloween to welcome the Penny Pals. In later years she enjoyed having Roslyn ‘cater’ for her Penny Pals events as they played for pennies and nickels into the wee hours of the morning, laughing and joking. That was one of Rita’s favorite past times: laughing and joking with friends and family at get-togethers. Rita loved her family immensely and her family always came first. Her

daughters, husband, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews were her number one priority throughout her life. She understood the importance of community and Rita, along with the Morgan Park neighborhood mothers, even arranged for the group moms to rotate child-care duties on Saturdays to help support one another. Rita was a gifted and talented writer, especially short stories and poems about real-life experiences of family and friends, including graduations, birthdays, weddings and others. This was truly one of her many gifts. Rita affectionately became known as the “family poet” and a book was even published with her poems. One of the published poems was titled, “Christmas Is Not the Same for Your Dad and Me, You See.” The poem was written after the two daughters graduated and left the homestead. Rita’s sister Shirley recalls one of her favorite poems about their sisterhood, “Never a Distance That We Couldn’t Call.” Rita loved music, and she would sing all genres of music (classical, opera, rhythm and blues, soul and others). She was proud to serve on the Union Baptist Church Choir, as other family members before her had done for years. Rita traveled to South America with her husband, Frederick Johnson, in 1972. They visited countries such as: Brazil, Argentina, Peru (Machu Picchu) and Colombia. Both enjoyed the people and the culture they experienced. Survivors include her loving two daughters; Roslyn Joy Johnson and Kay Claudette Johnson

Courtesy photo

Family and friends of Rita Claudette Soden Johnson are mourning her Dec. 1 death at age 88. Johnson’s funeral service took place on Dec. 16 at Union Baptist Church.

Graham; son-in-law, David Earl Graham. She is also survived by her two siblings: Shirley Briscoe and Dr. Cylburn Soden Sr., in Virginia. In addition, she is survived by her nieces and nephews; Albert Bushrod, Ernest

Soden III, Taqua Soden, Rodney Soden (Tracy), Gwendolyn Bethea (Dana), David Soden, Cindy Harcum (Raymond); Robin Briscoe; Troy Briscoe (Katrina), Dr. Cylburn Soden Jr. (Kinosha), Marina Spenner (David);

Evelyn Michelle Darden Lee (Tony), Kelly Darden Jr. (Jennifer). Additionally, she is survived by one goddaughter, Tammy Rodgers, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

B4 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

Afro Charities continues tradition of Mrs. Santa Toy Giveaway By AFRO Staff

n Dec. 16 Afro Charities, the sister company of the AFRO O American Newspapers, hosted their annual toy giveaway on North Howard street at Nomu Nomu. Leading up to the event,

organizations like the Baltimore Silhouettes and the Steppin’ Out Bunch held toy drives to make sure the giveaway continued with another successful year. From bikes and board games to dolls, legos and Playdoh, children across the Baltimore area will have presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas Day, thanks to the dedication of all who donated.

Mrs. Santa’s elf helpers make the event a success: Lexie Boone (front, left); Amelia Campbell; AFRO Director of Community Relations Diane Hocker and Afro Charities Curator Deyane Moses. Back row: Jasmine Clarke (left); Oyinda Omoloja; Freddi Vaughn; Bacarri Byrd and Savannah Wood.

Diane Hocker, AFRO’s director of community and public relations, serves as the current Mrs. Santa.

Deyane Moses, curator of the AFRO Archives, takes a break from her duties as one of Mrs. Santa’s helpers.

Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood helps the Mrs. Santa Toy Giveaway continue in 2023.

Zyair Byrd (left), Jahreese Byrd and Jamal Byrd Jr., one of the many happy families from the 2023 toy giveaway.

Queen HD the DJ sets the mood with classic Christmas tunes. Elf helper Freddi Vaughn assists children in selecting toys.

Jamila Monroe (left), with daughters Zaire Monroe and Kassidy Miller, show off brand new bikes and toys at the annual Mrs. Santa Toy Giveaway.

Cortney (left) and Cortlynn Jones make their toy selection at the annual Mrs. Santa Toy Giveaway.

Raegan Witt, Journey Byers, Kaiden Byers and Wynisha Witt, one of many happy families who attended the annual Mrs. Santa Toy Giveaway.

AFRO Photos/A.J. Johnson

Chase Cartmen (left), Lashae Cartmen, Mariah Cartmen and Eli Cartmen show off bicycles and toy selections from the giveaway, held Dec. 16 inside of Nomu Nomu, located at 709 N. Howard St.

Jaela Morris (left), Charity Fisher, Kia Randolph, Harmon and Logan Thompson enjoy the festivities ahead of Christmas Day.

Brand new bikes await a worthy owner at the 2023 Mrs. Santa Toy Giveaway.

To purchase this digital photo page or photos contact editor@afro.com

December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American

his week, the AFRO salutes the pioneers of hip-hop and those who have sustained the genre for 50 years and those who carry it into the future. Started on Aug. 11, 1973 by DJ Kool Herc at a birthday party in the Bronx, New York, the story of hip-hop is the story of a people who have risen from the grittiest of environments to reclaim their self respect, dignity and culture. As we close out the 50th year of hip-hop, we reflect on how it has changed over the years and where it is headed in the future.

Honoring 50 years of hip-hop: A cultural evolution and the influence of the DJ By Erika Alston-Buck Special to the AFRO In the vibrant world of music and cultural expression, few genres have had as profound an impact as hip-hop. Originating in the Bronx, N.Y. around 1973, this revolutionary movement marked its 50th anniversary in 2023, reflecting not just the evolution of a musical genre but an entire culture and way of life. The AFRO had the privilege of interviewing iconic DJs who have played pivotal roles in shaping the local scene, including DJ Tanz, DJ Mike Crosby, DJ Sean Marshall and the legendary DJ Kool. Initially dismissed as a fleeting trend, hip-hop has proven its longevity and

Courtesy of DJ Kool

John W. “DJ Kool” Bowman Jr. (left) and Redman actively study hip-hop, as the genre molds to modern culture and a younger generation. transformative power. Beyond a mere musical genre, it is a culture, a movement and a lifestyle. From its humble beginnings with pioneers like Grandmaster Flash and The Sugar Hill Gang to the presentday dominance of artists like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, hip-hop has consistently evolved while maintaining its authenticity. Transcending boundaries: More than just music

Courtesy of DJ Mike Crosby

DJ Mike Crosby (left) and Kwame reminisce on when hip-hop first came out with popular artists, like Run DMC.

What sets hip-hop apart is its ability to transcend boundaries of race, gender and socioeconomic status. It serves as a powerful platform for marginalized voices to be heard, addressing issues ranging from social justice to economic

inequality. As it expanded, hip-hop became a global force, influencing cultures far beyond its birthplace and connecting people through a shared love for its artistry. When asked about the influence of hip-hop on their careers, each DJ provided a unique perspective. DJ Tanz, reflecting on his journey, said, “Hip-hop is life for me. It’s a part of everything that I do. I have taken the entire trip. From Rapper’s Delight to Lil Yachty. The stories I could tell! Thank you, hip-hop! DJ Mike Crosby expressed his connection to hip-hop, saying, “I was influenced by hiphop because it was something I could relate to. The beats, the lyrics were incredible to me. My favorite rap group was Run

DMC. I would go to the concert and just stare and wish that would be me one day.” DJ Sean Marshall shared his inspirations, citing DJ Cut Creator as a key influence: “I wanted to be recognized and known for my talents like DJ Cut Creator. I’ve had an amazing DJ career thus far. Music and being a DJ can save your life like it has for so many inner-city young adults if you stick with it. Never give up.” As for DJ Kool, a true pioneer in the industry, he spoke about witnessing the changes in hip-hop over his 47-year career. While acknowledging the positive impact of early risers like Public Enemy and KRSOne, he expressed concern about the current trend of glorifying the drug culture and violence.

“Responsible storytelling is crucial, with artists having a duty to guide the youth away from destructive paths,” said DJ Kool. As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, it’s essential to consider its future. The genre has demonstrated remarkable resilience, adapting to societal changes and remaining a powerful force for self-expression and cultural commentary. However, challenges lie ahead, particularly in navigating the balance between artistic freedom and social responsibility. The next 50 years of hiphop will likely see continued evolution, with new voices emerging to shape the narrative. DJs will play a crucial role in

Courtesy of DJ Tanz

DJ Tanz (left) and Doug E. Fresh shout out artists, such as Lil Yachty, for their unique sound and influence on the music industry.

Courtesy of DJ Sean Marshall

DJ Sean Marshall (left) and DJ Cut Creator curating the sounds that define the culture. As the torchbearers of this dynamic movement, they hold the responsibility of preserving its essence while guiding it toward positive and impactful expressions. Hip-hop’s 50-year journey is a testament to its enduring influence. From the streets of the Bronx to stages worldwide, it has become a global phenomenon that transcends generations. As long as it continues to adapt and address the pressing issues of our time, hip-hop is poised to remain a cultural powerhouse for decades to come as it continues to influence our future DJs, who’ll have their records to spin and stories to tell.

From shunned to celebrated: Hip-hop’s journey into the mainstream By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com In 2017, a Nielsen report confirmed that hip-hop had become the most popular genre of music in the U.S., unseating rock for the first time. Today, it’s still reigning supreme across the world, with Spotify announcing that, globally, a quarter of all streams in 2023 were hip-hop music. The genre garnered more than 400 million listeners this year. Its abundance of admirers has translated into an $8 billionbusiness as estimated by Forbes. Many believe hip-hop’s success has been due to the fact that it’s not just a genre but a culture that’s pervaded all aspects of society. “It’s outflanked rock and roll and all the other musical genres for the last six or seven years. Within that, hip-hop extends to everything,” said C. Keith Harrison, founding director of University of Central Florida’s Business of Hip-Hop Innovation and Creative Industries Certificate. “It’s become the cultural air we breathe from fashion, to sports, to higher

education curriculum.” Hip-hop was born in the South Bronx in New York City during the 1970s. It wasn’t just rap, it included deejaying, b-boying and graffiti painting. Jamaican-American Clive Campbell, better known as DJ Kool Herc became hiphop’s founding father when he introduced the breakbeat dj technique at a house party in 1973.

Photo courtesy of University of Central Florida

C. Keith Harrison is the founding director of University of Central Florida’s Business of HipHop Innovation and Creative Industries Certificate.

However, it was not always celebrated as it is today. In its early years, mainstream (i.e., White) society denounced the genre, criticizing it for themes they viewed as violent, inappropriate and offensive. “I remember a time in hiphop where it was just taboo. Hip-hop artists were fighting to get into doors, and they were only allowed in certain venues,” said Jasmine Young, director for the Howard University School of Business Warner Music/ Blavatnik Center for Music and Entertainment Business. “Watching the journey of hiphop into the mainstream has been tremendous to be a part of, but it’s bittersweet. As it gets into the mainstream even more, we have to protect the culture.” While there are various answers to who brought hiphop into the mainstream, Young thinks it was Run DMC, as she, like the prolific hip-hop group, grew up in Queens, New York. Others may attribute the achievement to the Sugarhill Gang, L.L. Cool J or Public Enemy. Before coming to teach at Howard University, Young spent much of her career in hip-

hop marketing. She started her journey at Def Jam Records, founded by music moguls

“Hip-hop is finally getting its just due, and hip-hop artists are able to sell anything globally and worldwide.” Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, and worked alongside artists, like Jay-Z, Slick Rick and Foxy Brown. “America right now is a prime time for hip-hop artists,” said Young. “Hip-hop is finally getting its just due, and hip-hop artists are able to sell anything globally and worldwide.” Hip-hop’s selling superpower is not just reserved for new hits. More and more companies are harnessing its global reach to promote their products. It started with the drop

of Run DMC’s “My Adidas” in 1986, which promoted the brand’s Superstar sneakers. Now hip-hop’s influence is seen from high fashion, with Dior and Travis Scott, to fast-food menus, with Saweetie and McDonald’s. Harrison said you can’t watch 10 commercials consecutively without seeing a brand leverage hip-hop to market itself.

Photo courtesy of Howard University

Jasmine Young is the director for the Howard University School of Business Warner Music/ Blavatnik Center for Music and Entertainment Business.

“There’s no major corporation, outside of a few exceptions, that doesn’t utilize hip-hop language, hip-hop images or hip-hop artists in its marketing,” said Harrison. “You really do not have a cuttingedge marketing plan if hip-hop is not being acknowledged in some aspect. People utilize hiphoppers as influencers.” Hip-hop has also been recognized for its intersection with innovation and entrepreneurship. Early on, many of the genre’s artists, like the late Nipsey Hussle, sold mixtapes and CDs out of the trunk of their cars. Today’s hip-hop businesses come in the form of Drake’s OVO fashion brand, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, and Snoop Dogg’s venture fund, Casa Verde Capital. “Hip-hop artists are in Silicon Valley, the food and beverage space and clothing, they’re leveraging their [influence] for whatever they want,” said Harrison. “‘Can’t stop, won’t stop’ has been the mantra of our era with hip-hop.” Megan Sayles is a Report For America Corps Member.

C2 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

Nine hip-hop Christmas songs for the holiday season By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant

rom the fun to the sentimental, this week, the AFRO has compiled a list of classic hiphop songs to fill the air with holiday cheer. While we love Mariah Carey, in the 50th year of hip-hop, the time is now to highlight the work of the beat riders and rhyme writers who have carried the genre on their backs for decades, solidifying a movement. This Christmas, make sure you get into the holiday spirit and share your favorite hip-hop songs with the AFRO via social media, using the hashtag the #AFROhiphopholiday

Happy holidays and happy 50th anniversary to hip-hop! Courtesy of Discogs

TLC’s 1992 song, “Sleigh Ride,” is a Christmas tune for the old heads looking to jam to the world’s most iconic trio.

Thank You! Courtesy of Spotify

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Courtesy of Discogs

Kurtis Blow’s 1979 hit, “Christmas Rappin,” is a classic that features a modernized rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

James Massey

Frederica Vaughn

$20

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Rita A. Cooper

Rod Armstrong

Courtesy of Amazon

In 1996 Snoop Dogg turned “Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto” into a posse cut, featuring Daz, Nate Dogg, Tray Deee and other artists. Take on the holiday with the smooth tones of Nate Dogg’s vocals and Snoop Dogg’s festive lyrics.

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Courtesy of SoundCloud

Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” was a breakout hit from the Def Jam Records charity album in 1987.

As of 12/20/23

Courtesy of Spotify

Ying Yang Twins’ 2014 song, “Ho Ho Ho,” is the perfect selection for the Christmas party where no kids are allowed.

DONATION FORM There are many in our communities struggling to obtain just their basic needs. The AFRO is happy to provide an opportunity for you to give as much as your heart will bear to bring joy to these more vulnerable families.

Please join the AFRO and Afro Charities Mrs. Santa Program by sending your checks payable to Afro Charities Inc. to the address listed below, scan the qr code or feel free to donate at https://www.afrocharities.org/donate

Courtesy of SoundCloud

Dej Loaf and Kodak Black teamed up in 2016 for their song “All I Want for Christmas,” a holiday tune with a sentimental vibe.

Courtesy of SoundCloud

The party is still going more than two decades after Quad City DJs released their 1995 hit, “What You Want for Christmas.”

I want to join the AFRO’s spirit of giving. Please accept my contribution of $_________ to benefit a family in our community. Name_______________________________________ Organization_________________________________ Address______________________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________ Phone_______________________________________ Email________________________________________ Please send all donations to: Afro Charities 12 W. Madison Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Or visit afrocharities.org/donate or scan the QR code

Courtesy of Discogs

In 2012, rap artist DMX was asked for an impromptu Christmas song. What he delivered was a gritty twist on the classic hit “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Courtesy of Spotify

Tyler the Creator debuted “Big Bag” in 2018, giving the Dr. Seuss Christmas story ‘The Grinch who stole Christmas. ‘ “

December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American C3

Hip-hop at 50: Maryland legislators share their favorite rap albums McCray said his top picks reflect the need for national and local community building and caring for one another, which he most resonates with at this point in his life. McCray’s favorite hip-hop albums:

By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com Hip-hop is a staple of Black American culture, bringing powerful lyrics, iconic beats and community together. “It’s the social fabric to the culture of our community,” said Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45). “It speaks to a lot of the environments we’ve grown up in.” In recognition of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the AFRO asked local legislators about their favorite rap albums and what they mean to them. State Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Md.-41) said his favorite hip-hop albums resonated with him during his college days, which was only amplified by getting to meet a few of those artists. Ruff’s favorite hip-hop albums: ●

Jay-Z - “The Blueprint”

●

Kanye West – “The College Dropout”

●

Talib Kweli - “Quality”

“‘Quality’ was a staple for me in college. I had ‘Get By’ and ‘Shock Body’ on constant repeat. Kweli dropped consciously dope rhymes, and I couldn’t get enough,” said Ruff. “He was solidified as one of my favorite hiphop artists when he came to Duke and conducted a lecture on campus.” “Kanye dropped ‘College Dropout’ while I was in college, and he also came to Duke University for what would be my first hip-hop concert ever in 2003,” said Ruff. “The Blueprint is a masterpiece of banger after banger; I could literally play the whole album on repeat every day and never get tired of it. It was the album that convinced me of Jay-Z’s superiority and made me a devoted fan for life.”

Photo courtesy of Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Md.-41

American rapper Talib Kweli (left) takes a picture with Maryland Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Md.-41) during Kweli’s visit to Duke University in the early 2000s. Ruff’s favorite rap albums include Kweli’s “Quality,” Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” and Kanye West’s “The College Dropout.”

●

Jeezy - “Church In These Streets”

●

T.I. - “No Mercy”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member. Photo courtesy of Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10)

Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10) says her top hip-hop albums are Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” Kanye West’s “The College Dropout” and Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. city.”

Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10) said she chose these rap albums because they feature music that helps her feel good when she’s at work or exercising. Porter’s favorite hip-hop albums: ●

Lauryn Hill – “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”

●

Kanye West – “The College Dropout”

●

Kendrick Lamar – “good kid, m.A.A.d. city”

“They are great artists with dynamic sounds that create a good vibe for anything from the office to running in the park,” said Porter.

Courtesy of Spotify Lauryn Hill – “The Mise ducation of Lauryn Hill”

ge Dropout” Kanye West – “The Colle

Photo courtesy of Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45)

Maryland Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45) says his favorite rap albums are Jay Z’s “Reasonable Doubt,” Jeezy’s “Church in These Streets” and T.I.’s “No Mercy.”

Jay Z - “Reasonable Doubt”

Courtesy of Amazon

ogs Courtesy of Disc

h In These Jeezy - “Churc

Streets”

Courtesy of Discogs

Courtesy of Spotify

Kendrick Lamar – “good kid, m.A.A.d. city”

Talib Kweli - “Quality”

Jay Z - “Reasonable Doubt”

“Jeezy and T.I.—these are two great lyrical artists that I grew up with and those two albums reflect a shift of where I feel like I’m at in my life at this moment,” said McCray.

Courtesy of Discogs

Jay-Z - “The Blueprint”

●

Courtesy of Amazon

T.I. - “No Mercy”

Courtesy of Amazon

“‘The Blueprint’ is a masterpiece— banger after banger; I could literally play the whole album on repeat every day and never get tired of it. It was the album that convinced me of Jay-Z’s superiority and made me a devoted fan for life.”

C4 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001303 ADRIENNE CAMILLE RICH Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs TYRONE ORION ALLAN RICH, whose address is 8412 CREDOS CT ALEXANDRIA VA 22309 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ADRIENNE CAMILLE RICH, who died on JULY 29, 2023 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 JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM1368 ROBERT S. FANTROY JR. Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs CHANTELL JOHNSON, whose address is 11318 GOLDEN EAGLE PL G WALDORF MD. 20603 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBERT S. FANTROY JR., who died on MAY 30, 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 JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001327 LEOLA A. HOLMES Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs BARBARA TATUM, whose address is 1324 HOLLYBRIAR COURT, VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 23464, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LEOLA A. HOLMES, who died on MAY 3, 2023 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 JUNE 8, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 8, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 8, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

TYRONE ORION ALLAN RICH Personal Representative

CHANTELL JOHNSON Personal Representative

BARBARA TATUM Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001298 GERALDINE MIDDLETON AMIR Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs IRIS J. PARKS, whose address is 7545 ALASKA AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON DC 20012 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GERALDINE MIDDLETON AMIR, who died on AUGUST 14, 2023 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 JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers IRIS J. PARKS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001375 BAYO AYABA CALLENDER FALL FALL Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MURIEL TILLINGHAST AND AISHA HINTON, whose addresses are 550 CARLTON AVE, BKLYN,NY 11238; 414 ALBEMARLE ROAD BRKLYN NY 11218 , was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BAYO AYABA CALLENDER FALL FALL, who died on OCTOBER 9, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 8, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 8, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 8, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers MURIEL TILLINGHAST AISHA HINTON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/8, 12/15, 12/22/23

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001351 MARCUS ANTHONY HEARN Name of Decedent CAROL S BLUMENTHAL, ESQ BLUMENTHAL, CORDONE & ERKLAUER, PLLC 7325 GEORGIA AVE. NW WASHINGTON DC 20012 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs FREDERICK HEARN, whose address is 104 KELLY DRIVE, GREENWOOD, MS 38930 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARCUS ANTHONY HEARN, who died on AUGUST 21, 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 JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers FREDERICK HEARN Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/8, 12/15, 12/22/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001300 MARYLIN THERESA HILL AKA MARILYN HILL Name of Decedent DEE GREER 1350 LEEGATE ROAD, NW WASHINGTON DC 20012 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs STANLEY ELLIS, whose address is 1406 PICKETT COURT FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA 22630 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARYLIN THERESA HILL AKA MARYLIN HILL, who died on JUNE 20, 2023 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 JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers STANLEY ELLIS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM1354 JAMES H. WILLIAMS Name of Decedent WENDELL C. ROBINSON ESQ 7600 GEORGIA AVENUE N.W. SUITE 203 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20012 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs JANIE R. WILLIAMS, whose address is 1606 25TH STREET, SE, WASHINGTON, D.C 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JAMES H. WILLIAMS, who died on SEPTEMBER 2, 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 JUNE 8, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 8, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 8, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001292 MARY L. NEAL Name of Decedent IZU I. AHAGHOTU ESQ. 3724 12TH STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 20017 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs KATRINA WIGGINS, whose address is 6011 ARMOR DRIVE CLINTON MD 20735 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARY L. NEAL, who died on JUNE 1, 2023 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 JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

JANIE R. WILLIAMS Personal Representative

KATRINA WIGGINS Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/8, 12/15, 12/22/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001322 REJINA C. GREEN Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs DAMON A. GREEN, SR., whose address is 5098 VIBURNUM COURT INDIAN HEAD, MD 20640 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of REJINA C. GREEN, who died on OCTOBER 9, 2016 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 1, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 1, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers DAMON A. GREEN SR. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM1336 LINDA DENISE RAMSEUR Name of Decedent ELTON F. NORMAN ESQ. THE NORMAN LAW FIRM PLLC 8720 GEORGIA AVENUE STE. 203 SILVER SPRING, MD 20910 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs SHIRLEEN CHAMPAGNE, whose address is 1120 OWEN PLACE, NE WASHINGTON DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LINDA DENISE RAMSEUR, who died on MARCH 17, 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 JUNE 8, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 8, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 8, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

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SHIRLEEN CHAMPAGNE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/8, 12/15, 12/22/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2023FEP000121 AUGUST 16, 2023 Date of Death CARRIE LOU REESE Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS MICHAEL WALLER, whose address is 15303 JENNING LANE, BOWIE MD 20721 was appointecd representative of the estate of CARRIE LOU REESE deceased, by the ORPHAN’S Court for PRINCE GEORGE’S County, State of MARYLAND, on OCTOBER 12, 2023. Service of process may be made upon PATTERSON LAW OFFICE, 100 M STREET, SUITE 600 WASHINGTON DC 20001 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 4421 5TH STREET, NW WASHINGTON D.C 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 1, 2023 Name of newspaper, and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO-American MICHAEL WALLER Personal Reperesenative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/1, 12/8, 12/15/23

Washington Classified Continued on C5

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December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American C5

Payment Policy for legal notice advertisements. Effective immediately, The Afro American Newspapers will require prepayment for publication of all legal notices Payment will be accepted in the form of checks, credit card or money order. Any returned checks will be subject to a $25.00 processing fee and may result in the suspension of any future advertising at our discretion. LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING

Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-24008, ADA CURB RAMP AND SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION URGENT NEED EAST (JOC) will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until JANUARY 24, 2024, 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.nevery 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 DECEMBER 22,2023, 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 D02620 CURBS, GUTTERS, SIDEWALKS). Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $5,000,000.00 to $6,000,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on JANUARY 10, 2024, 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 receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are: 5” Concrete Sidewalk – 50,000 SF; SURVEY, EVALUATION, SKETCHES, AND STAKEOUT FOR CURB RAMPS – 300 EA; CONCRETE CURB, VARIABLE WIDTH AND WEIGHT - 4,500 LF; CONCRETE COMBINATION CURB AND GUTTER, VARIABLE WIDTH AND HEIGHT - 3,000 LF; and PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT FOR SLOT BACKFILL, MODIFIED MIX NO. 6 - 7,500 LF. TheMBE Goal is 26%; The WBE Goal is 10%. APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND Annapolis, Maryland ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FOR BIDS On or after December 26, 2023, Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Anne Arundel County Web Page at the following address: https:// www.aacounty.org/departments/central-services/purchasing/P.O.R.T./ bids/index.html . Bids will be received until time/date shown below, please submit your bid electronically via the PORT. Bids received after the date and time set will be rejected. Due by 1:30 p.m. Local Time, Tuesday, February 6, 2024 Project: P582001 – Deale Community Park Sonication No.: CAP24000190 Contact: Emma Pfefferkorn – 443-805-1737

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND Annapolis, Maryland ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FOR BIDS On or after December 18, 2023, Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Anne Arundel County Web Page at the following address: https://www.aacounty.org/departments/central-services/purchasing/P.O.R.T./bids/index.html . Bids will be received until time/date shown below, please submit your bid electronically via the PORT. Bids received after the date and time set will be rejected. Due by 1:30 p.m. Local Time, Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Project: P584501 – Jug Bay Environmental Education Center Sonication No.: CAP24000180 Contact: Emma Pfefferkorn – 443-805-1737

NOTICE—SPECIAL AD – DECEMBER 14, 2022 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 December 18, 2023. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after December 28, 2023 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 &quot;Hearing Schedules&quot; for confirmation of the date, time, and place for all matters being heard by the Board. 1. CLASS “D” BEER &amp; LIGHT WINE LICENSE Applicant: EDP Seafood, Inc. T/a Faidley’s - William F. Define, Nancy Lee Devine, and Laura B. Mozina Petition: Amended – Transfer of ownership and location of a Class “D” BW license presently located within Lexington Market to 112 N. Eutaw Street, Stall 21, requesting outdoor table service and off-premises catering Premises: 112 N. Eutaw Street, Stall 21 21201

For More Information Please call the number above

BALTIMORE CAREER CORNER

Sealed Bids or Proposal for the F.A.P. NO. AC-TAP000B (742) E, S.H.A. NO. AX352B54, CITY OF BALTIMORE CONTRACT NO. TR-18302, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, will be received at the Office of the ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland CAREER OPPORTUNITIES until MARCH 6, 2024, 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 afAddiction Specialist ter 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Building and Construction Engineer II (Engineer II) Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. Combination Code Inspector (Building, Electrical, Plumbing and MechanAs of DECEMBER 22, 2023, the Contract Documents ical) may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or Construction Site Inspections Manager (Code Enforcement Administra(443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book tor) labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be Deputy Sheriff I (Entry-Level) emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid Deputy Sheriff I (Lateral-Entry) book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in Detention Officer person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email Engineer III (ENG) address or phone number above. The non- refundable Equipment Operator I (HWY) cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Equipment Operator II (HWY) Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payEquipment Operator II (WMS) able to the Director of Finance. Conditions and reEmergency Services Manager quirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. Environmental Technician (WMS) All contractors Landfill Manager (WMS) bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the Legislative Audit Manager City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Legislative Senior Auditor Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, BaltiMaintenance Worker II (HWY) more, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint Mechanical Technician I/II venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document Permit Specialist (Planning Technician II) that established the JV shall be submitted with Photographic Laboratory Technician the bid for verification purposes. The PrequalificaPlanning Technician II tion Categories required for bidding on this project are Police Officer Entry Level A02601 PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE, D02620911 Call Taker/Dispatcher (Police Communications Operator I/II) CURBS, GUTTERS, and SIDEWALKS). Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $500,000.00_ Roads Maintenance Supervisor (HWY) to $1,500,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session Survey Field Technician - (ENG) will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on JANUARY Tree Crew Worker (HWY) 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Office Support Assistant II SUPERIOR COURT OF THE Transportation. By no later than JANUARY 17, 2024, DISTRICT Senior Equipment Operator all Bidders must email your contact information to in-OF COLUMBIA PROBATE Utilities Maintenance Crew Leader clude your name, company name, phone number and DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. Repair Crew Leader Utilities email address to john. malinowski@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video2023ADM1369 conUtilities Support Worker I ELEANOR ference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project J. EDGETT Utilities Support Worker II Name of Decedent are: 24 INCH WHITE PERMANENT PREFORMED Systems Technician II C. KING,Utility POWERS, PAVEMENT MARKINGS – 5,810 LF; 5WILLIAM INCH CONLEWIS & KING PLLC CRETE SIDEWALK - 17,183 SF; and SPECIAL TYPE CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW BUILDING ONE A COMBINATION CURB AND5039 GUTTER 6 IN. HEIGHT WASHINGTON DC 20008 X 12 IN GUTTER – 1,959 LF. The DBE Goal is 15%. Notice of Appointment, APPROVED: Notice to Creditors Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates and Notice to Unknown Heirs CORBY S. ROSEWAG, whose address is 12765 TRIADELPHIA ROAD ELLICOTT CITY MD 21042, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELEANOR J. EDGETT , who died on SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 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 JUNE 8, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to LEGAL NOTICES NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES the Register of LEGAL Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 8, SUPERIOR COURT OF THE 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, ADMINISTRATION NO. 2022ADM001481 address and relationship. 2023ADM001389 RAMSEY N. BUTLER Date of first publication: NANCY ELIZABETH BASKERVILLE Name of Decedent DECEMBER 08, 2023 Name of Decedent E. NICKEY PATTERSON, ESQ. Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Notice of Appointment, 100 M STREET SE, SUITE 600 Washington Law Reporter Notice to Creditors WASHINGTON, DC 20003 AFRO American Newspapers and Notice to Unknown Heirs Notice of Appointment, SAMANTHA HERRON, whose address is 714 HAMNotice to Creditors CORBY S. ROSEWAG ILTON STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 20011, was and Notice to Unknown Heirs Personal Representative appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DOROTHY LEE BUTLER AND VANESSA CANNADY, NANCY ELIZABETH BASKERVILLE, who died on whose addresses are 13111 TAMARACK ROAD SILTRUE TEST COPY JANUARY 3, 2022 with a Will and will serve without VER SPRING MD 20904, was appointed Personal REGISTER OF WILLS Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose Representative of the estate of RAMSEY N. BUTLER 12/8, 12/15, 12/22/23 whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance , who died on FEBRUARY 7, 1998 without a Will and In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, ap20001, on or before JUNE 15, 2024. Claims against the SUPERIOR COURT OF THE pointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washingcopy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register PROBATE DIVISION ton, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 15, 2024. Claims of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before ADMINISTRATION NO. against the decedent shall be presented to the underJUNE 15, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed 2021ADM680 signed with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not reGAIL MARIE WILSON the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on ceive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its Name of Decedent or before JUNE 15, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, includMARILYN CAIN GORDON ESQ. believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do ing name, address and relationship. 7603 GEORGIA AVENUE, NW STE 304 not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days Date of first publication: WASHINGTON, DC 20012 of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, DECEMBER 15, 2023 Notice of Appointment, including name, address and relationship. Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Notice to Creditors Date of first publication: Washington Law Reporter and Notice to Unknown Heirs AFRO American Newspapers MARILYN CAIN GORDON, whose address is 7603 DECEMBER 15, 2023 GEORGIA AVENUE, NW STE 304 WASHINGTON DC Name of newspaper and/or periodical: SAMANTHA HERRON 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the Washington Law Reporter Personal Representative estate of GAIL MARIE WILSON , who died on SEP- AFRO American Newspapers

Washington Classified Continued from C4

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/23 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM1369 ELEANOR J. EDGETT Name of Decedent WILLIAM C. KING, POWERS, LEWIS & KING PLLC 5039 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW BUILDING ONE WASHINGTON DC 20008 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs CORBY S. ROSEWAG, whose address is 12765 TRIADELPHIA ROAD ELLICOTT CITY MD 21042, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELEANOR J. EDGETT , who died on SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 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 JUNE 8, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 8, 2024 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,

TEMBER 26, 2020 without a Will and will serve withoutCourt supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 15, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 15, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 15, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers MARILYN CAIN GORDON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/23

DOROTHY LEE BUTLER VANESSA CANNADY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/23

Washington Classified

Continued on C6

C6 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

Women battle misogyny to send hip-hop spinning in a new direction By Sharon Johnson and Nardos Haile The Associated Press Rasheeda Frost’s decades-long relationship with hip-hop started in 1981. She was a curious, energetic kindergartener — eager to touch and explore anything put in front of her. Frost remembered her mother presenting her with a huge, white box — it was a record player that she would continuously spin, not knowing what its purpose was. Then, she said, her mom gave her a record with a colorful cornucopia printed in the middle: The Sugarhill Gang. “She must’ve just known hiphop was embedded in me at such a young age,” the MTV “Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta” reality star said. The then five-year-old would dance until she couldn’t anymore. “I played that record until I tore it up and scratched up the record.” Frost fell in love with hip-hop. Lyrics, music videos, and magazine covers display a genre that is malecentered and male-dominated. Despite this challenge, Frost took her passion a step further and joined the ranks of female rappers and emcees who battled misogynoir, sexism, and patriarchy to send hiphop spinning in a different direction, making way for women to take the main stage in the genre. “I had to go out there and work triple as hard, make sure I’m respected, not get taken advantage of as a female, and really go hard for what I know and stand for something,” Frost said. From The Sequence releasing the first rap record by an all-female group, called “Funk You Up” in 1979, to MC Sha-Rock’s iconic performance on “SNL” as a part of Funky 4+1, female rappers have been a part of hip-hop since its debut. Women have fought to shape their identification in hip-hop and demand recognition. In the 50 years since DJ Kool

Herc extended breaking at a backto-school party, women have gone from donning a male-imitated aesthetic, to owning their sexuality in lyrics, to selling out stadiums for their own concerts. At hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, female rappers are taking their moment to shine — while still demanding respect and facing decades-old challenges. Msia Kibona Clark, an African culture and feminist studies professor at Howard University, said women were “largely invisible” in hip-hop during the ‘80s and early ’90s. “Early on the idea was to imitate men in terms of the aesthetics, and the idea was the hip-hop uniform — baggy clothes and sneakers and t-shirts,” said Clark. Clark said early female rappers had the challenge of navigating a culture tinged with sexism and sexual harassment, as well as

“I love it. I think that we have our own table. We just don’t have to get in to fit in. I think women are making powerful moves.”

Courtesy Photo

Rasheeda shares harsh truth and beloved stories about rap with Matt Licari/ AP Photo the Associated Press during their Roxanne Shante, one of hip-hop’s interview for the 50th anniversary first female rappers, poses at a of hip-hop in Atlanta. studio in New York.

Mark J. Terrill/ AP File photo

Salt ‘N’ Pepa at the 37th Grammy Awards tote their award for the Best Rap Duo or group performance category.

the earliest and fiercest emcees at the during the ‘80s and early ’90s. age of 14. Entertainer and philanthropist SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OFthat COLUMBIA “I came in as little sis; even Yo-Yo was known for rapping carving out a perspective often PROBATE DIVISION to the point of where sometimes about female empowerment and wasn’t heard in ADMINISTRATION the mainstream.NO. they didn’t even want to let me demanding respect, but she still dealt “To me those were the dark 2023ADM001431 JEAN MARION TRUHEART participate, because sometimes with having to “stay in a woman’s ages of hip-hop because [there] AKA the men felt that I was that good,” place.” just wasn’t enough women voices,” JEAN MARION BURKE Name of Decedent Shante, told the AP, detailing how it “Those were some of the Queen Latifah said during an Notice of Appointment, was a problem for men to battle rap challenges when the record labels interview with The Associated Press. Notice to Creditors Notice to Unknown Heirs a teen girl. only respected men,” Yo-Yo said. SiriusXMand host Roxanne Shante DESTINIE TRUNA BUDD, whose address is 2012 Shante, along with artists such During the early days, hipstarted entering rap battles and SUPERIOR COURT OF THE MARYLAND AVENUE NE APT 102, WASHINGTON as Salt-N-Pepa, Yo-Yo, and Queen DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAhop itself was being questioned, making records a young teen in DC 20002, was as appointed Personal Representative of PROBATE DIVISION and later, the genre was being the estateThe of JEAN MARION TRUEHEART AKA JEAN were voices that Latifah amplified the 1980s. hip-hop legend’s ADMINISTRATION NO. MARION BURKE, who died on NOVEMBER 10, 2023 feminist storytelling and issues condemned as “gangsta rap.” DJ battle solidified as one 2023ADM001395 withtracks a Will and will serveher without Courtof supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JUNE 15, 2024. 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 LEGAL NOTICES to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 15, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 15, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

NORMAJEAN FREELAND-HOLLADAY AKA NORMAJEAN ELAINE THOMASINE FREELAND-HOLLADAY Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs LEGAL NOTICES DARRIA L. BOYD WISE, whose address is 9322 BREAMORE COURT, LAUREL MARYLAND 20723, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of NORMAJEAN FREELAND-HOLLADAY AKA NORMAJEAN ELAINE THOMASINE FREELAND-HOLLADAY , who died on AUGUST 8, 2023 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 JUNE 22, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 22, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 22, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

Spinderella recalled consistently being asked how long she thought hip-hop would last. Female emcees found themselves having to defend the genre as well as prove themselves worthy of holding the mic. “When there was negativity or any kind of misogyny, it only pushed us even more,” said DJ Spinderella, a member of the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa. “Our first goal was to shake our thing, but then the fact that we were inspiring women to become their better selves despite the negative was important.” By the late ‘90s and early 2000s, women were becoming more visible in hip-hop. Female artists offered a variety of sounds and trends — from Lauryn Hill’s melodic rap to Missy Elliott’s experimental music videos. Challenges for female rappers persisted. As more women entered the genre, some were uniting on hit records such as “Ladies Night,” while others were pit against each other. At the same time, the hypersexualization of women was ramping up. “With the historical treatment of women and how women have been sexualized, I think women artists have been able to reclaim it,” said Christin Smith, an independent consulting researcher. Although female rappers have pushed sex positive lyrics since the ‘80s, the mid-to-late ’90s saw the advent of artists such as Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown more overtly displaying and owning their sexuality. This drew controversy — and hypocrisy. “When I came out with songs like ‘Make It Vibrate’ and songs like ‘Georgia Peach’, I got a lot of resistance from radio because they said it was too sexy,” said Frost, who released her first album “Dirty South” in 2001. “It was a battle every single day just to be heard, to be respected.” See more on afro.com

Washington Classified Continued from C5 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001392 DELORES REDDING AKA DELORES MAY REDDING Name of Decedent ROBERT L. PILLOTE, JR TYRRELL, MASON & PILLOTE, P.C. 6116 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD, SUITE 500 N. BETHESDA MD 20852 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs FAYLENE DANE, whose address is 3123 51 ST PLACE, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20016, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DELORES REDDING AKA DELORES MAY REDDING, who died on SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 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 JUNE 15, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 15, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 15, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers FAYLENE DANE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/23 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001431 JEAN MARION TRUHEART AKA JEAN MARION BURKE Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs DESTINIE TRUNA BUDD, whose address is 2012 MARYLAND AVENUE NE APT 102, WASHINGTON DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JEAN MARION TRUEHEART AKA JEAN MARION BURKE, who died on NOVEMBER 10, 2023 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 JUNE 15, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 15, 2024 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.

DESTINIE TRUNA BUDD Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/23 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2023FEP000125 JANUARY 2, 2023 Date of Death EVA MAE INGRAM JONES Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS MARC ELIOT INGRAM, whose address is 11201 DAPPLED GREY WAY UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772 was appointecd representative of the estate of EVA MAE INGRAM JONES deceased, by the ORPHAN’S Court for PRINCE GEORGES County, State of MARYLAND, on AUGUST 22, 2023. Service of process may be made upon ERICA F. GLOGER 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE, NW APT 310 WASHINGTON DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 1601 HOLBROOK STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 20002. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 22, 2023 Name of newspaper, and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO-American MARC ELIOT INGRAM Personal Reperesenative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/22, 12/29, 1/5/24 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001395 NORMAJEAN FREELAND-HOLLADAY AKA NORMAJEAN ELAINE THOMASINE FREELAND-HOLLADAY Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs DARRIA L. BOYD WISE, whose address is 9322 BREAMORE COURT, LAUREL MARYLAND 20723, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of NORMAJEAN FREELAND-HOLLADAY AKA NORMAJEAN ELAINE THOMASINE FREELAND-HOLLADAY , who died on AUGUST 8, 2023 with a Will and will

DARRIA L. BOYD WISE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/22, 12/29, 1/5/24

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2023FEP000123 DECEMBER 27, 2022 Date of Death JASON CHRISTOPHER MONTGOMERY Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS PAMELA D. MONTGOMERY, whose address is 181 SELDOVIA DRIVE, INDIAN HEAD MD 20640 was appointecd representative of the estate of JASON CHRISTOPHER MONTGOMERY deceased, by the REGISTER OF WILLS Court for ST. MARY’S County, State of MARYLAND, on JANUARY 25, 2023. Service of process may be made upon JEFFREY D. KATZ 1776 K STREET NW SUITE 200, WASHINGTON DC 20006 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 356 BURBANK ST. SE WASHINGTON DC 20019. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 22, 2023 Name of newspaper, and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO-American PAMELA D. MONTGOMERY Personal Reperesenative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/22, 12/29, 1/5/24

LEGAL NOTICES

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LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2023ADM001401 PHILLIP A. GREGORY Name of Decedent THOMAS H. QUEEN, ESQ. 7961 EASTERN AVENUE, SUITE 304 SILVER SPRING, MD 20910 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs TERITA R. GREGORY whose address is 1212 HILLBRIDGE DRIVE, HAINES CITY, FL 33844, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PHILLIP A. GREGORY , who died on JUNE 30, 2008 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 JUNE 22, 2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JUNE 22, 2024 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: DECEMBER 22, 2023 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

TERITA R. GREGORY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/22, 12/29, 1/5/24

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0009-2024 JANITORIAL SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires a qualified contractor to janitorial services for six (6) DCHA Service Locations. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Wednesday, December 20, 2023, on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SITE VISITS ARE SCHEDULED for Thursday, January 4, 2024, beginning at DCHA Police Headquarters located at 2011 Walt Lincoln Way, NE Washington, DC 20002. SEALED BID RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Email LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at LMMCLEOD@ dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

WASHINGTON-AREA

December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023 The Afro-American

Rideshare company, Empower, flagged for illegal operation By Gene Lambey Special to the AFRO

Rideshare companies such as Uber, Lyft and Alto have been reliable sources of transportation for many D.C. residents. These rideshares have been growing well throughout the city since the pandemic. However, Empower, one of the newer rideshare companies based in Mclean, Va. has been operating in D.C. illegally since 2020. The D.C.’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) is warning residents about

“The overwhelming majority of the drivers who are using the platform are current or former drivers for Uber or Lyft. Empower and their refusal to register under the department’s laws for rideshare companies. A cease and desist letter was sent to Empower from the DFHV on Nov. 16, 2020. CEO of Empower, Joshua Sear, responded to the cease and desist from DFHV but refused to follow through. Sear claims that his refusal to register under DFHV is, “The same reason that Expedia doesn’t register with the FAA, or the OpenTable doesn’t register with the local health

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D.C. carjackings surge, residents express fear

Exclusive:

Councilmember Robert White discusses racial barriers to social work in the District

By Chrisleen Herard Special to the AFRO

Photo courtesy of the Council of the District of Columbia

Council member Robert White is advocating for more people of color to have access to social work certifications through the Social Work Modernization Amendment Act and Pathways to Behavioral Health Degree Act. By Gene Lambey Special to the AFRO The District of Columbia has seen a decrease in social workers throughout the city. At a time when crime is at an all-time high, prices are increasing due to inflation and a lack of affordable housing, D.C. residents are stuck in a position where they lack resources and desperately need support. The D.C. Council passed a bill called the Pathways to Behavioral Degrees Act in early November, which provides free master’s in Social Work programs to graduate students from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). These programs will give graduates with a degree in social work the opportunity to start working with social work services held within the D.C. Government. This bill was first proposed by D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-D.C.At-Large). He was backed by support from other Council Members such as

Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-D.C.-At-Large), Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-D.C.-Ward 2) and Councilmember Vincent Gray (D-D.C.Ward 7). White said the program is aimed at “helping reduce homelessness, helping public safety” and ensuring that “more mental health professionals [are]

mental health professionals serving the District of Columbia.” The goal of this bill was to not only create opportunities for graduate students to gain experience in their respective field, but to increase the number of social workers, counselors and mental health professionals within the District of Columbia. “We will require them to serve three years working for one of our government agencies like homeless services, or in our schools, working for the local non-profit that does work critical to the District like violence interrupters and homeless service organizations. They will have to give three years of service to those fields in the District of Columbia.” The program is also open to eligible D.C. residents and people that are currently working in D.C. Further requirements for this program include graduate students already having at least

“My hope is that once this program is established, it can expand outward to other universities.” available to the general public who need them.” “My hope is that once this program is established, it can expand outward to other universities. Then [we] expand it down, making undergraduate studies free as well for people who go on to become

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Lisa Gore, D.C. Council Ward 4 candidate, shares plans to change the community By Zsana Hoskins Special to the AFRO In the 2022 election, Lisa Gore ran at large. But now her focus is on Ward 4, where her family resides, the place she calls home. “We cannot afford four years of representation that prioritizes broader agendas over our immediate needs,” Gore stated in an open letter to Ward 4. Gore, a Virginia native with a 27-year-long law enforcement career is campaigning for the Ward 4 seat on the D.C. Council. Running on the platform “Forward 4,” Gore hopes to reduce crime, as the statistics in D.C. have increased by 27 percent in the past year, according to data from the Metropolitan Police Department. “Let me be blunt—public safety and crime tops my list of priorities. The escalating crime rates in our Ward and throughout D.C. are a cause for deep concern,” Gore

Photo courtesy of Lisa Gore

As campaign season picks up ahead of the Democratic primary, Lisa Gore plans to bring her expertise in law enforcement to the Ward 4 council race.

mentioned in herletter, which can be found on her campaign website, www.goreforD.C.. com. Gore’s other key goals are to invest in education, better support for senior citizens and fuel economic development in Ward 4. “Ward 4 is in a situation where like most wards and communities in D.C., they’re looking at their council members for extra satisfactory leadership. And part of that includes communicating and navigating the complexities of the primary issue that we’re having today, which is public safety,” Gore told the AFRO. “In talking to many people throughout Ward 4 as a commissioner and just as a resident, I know that people are seeking change. I’m very eager to take Ward 4 forward and provide the type of constituent services and leadership that we deserve.” Ward 4, which is located in the northernmost part of the District, is made up

of 87,000 residents in 20 neighborhoods. According to data from D.C. Health Matters, there are over 32,000 households in the area and about 6 percent of families are below the poverty line. Gore is concerned about housing security and is working towards solutions through improving the Housing Choice Voucher program, which is already effective in Ward 4. “I still remain concerned about the D.C. Housing Authority and particularly

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Residents in D.C. have been filled with anxiety when walking outside of their homes on their way to work or getting off an eight-hour shift at night, only to find glass shattered on an empty parking space where their cars used to be. This has become the reality for many as the trend of car theft, forced entry and carjackings surged throughout the city with no signs of a slowdown. “It’s almost a relief- not having to worry about my car for a while- now that it’s been broken into and undrivable, here in D.C. Each night when I go to bed, I know when I wake up my car won’t be there because it’s safe and sound in an auto repair shop.” On the first day of 2023, two juveniles were arrested for carjacking in Northwest D.C. Nearly a week later, there was another carjacking incident in Southwest and, two days after that, another in Southeast. Carjackings and auto thefts have plagued the District to the extent that more than 6,400 vehicles have been reported stolen since Jan. 1, a 91 percent increase from last year, with the potential for more to follow according to the Metropolitan Police Department. “As far as I know, there’s not enough police presence,” Casey told the AFRO. “And when [the suspects] are caught, they are released.” “What needs to be done is major jail time once these criminals are caught,” Brandi Brown, whose car was broken into and almost stolen earlier this year, told the AFRO. “The police may catch them but then they release them a couple days later and (the suspects) go right back and do it again.” A great portion of those arrested for carjackings, however, have been juveniles. The 167 official carjacking arrests made this year included 62 percent involving minors, the latest being a 17-year-old who was recently arrested for carjacking an FBI agent at gunpoint in Northeast. Social media may be partly to blame following a trend named the “Kia” or “Hyundai” challenge, where individuals, mostly teenagers, record themselves stealing cars that were manufactured by Kia or Hyundai with nothing but a USB cord. “On the night of Valentine’s Day, a group of guys attempted to steal my Hyundai,” Brown said. Continued on D2

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Past Seven Days 2023 Total Data as of Dec. 20

D2 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

White

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three years of experience at any D.C. school, health provider, or a non-profit organization within D.C. Government guidelines. The program is set to be active in 2025 at UDC and will be accessible to 20 students for the first year of the Master’s in Social Work program and will increase to 40 the next year and beyond. “District residents want to help their communities on issues from housing to gun violence protection. Funding the new [Master’s in Social Work] program and these scholarships will enable community members to step into these roles, ” Councilman White shared in a statement on May 3. This bill would address issues such as the case worker shortage for housing, covering the increase on violence, trauma and crime and would fill the gap of vacant behavioral health specialists within D.C. public schools and programs. The bill will provide UDC graduate

students with free tuition, books and a monthly stipend for transportation and living space. This consists of a six million dollar budget over four years. “When I spoke with unhoused residents who were getting cleared out of the McPherson Square encampment, many told me they’d been approved for a housing voucher but have waited for months, even years, to get moved through the final steps in D.C.’s voucher process.” Councilman White has put forth another bill called the Social Work Modernization Amendment Act, which removes the limitation for social workers to continue their practice without taking the examination for their social work license. Connecting with the Pathways to Behavioral Health Degree Act, UDC graduate students practicing social work will not need to take the license exam if the bill is passed. However, across the United States, licensure

is a requirement in a large majority of states. The level of the exam is based solely on which degree the social worker completed in their study through their respective college or university. White says the Social Work Modernization Amendment Act connects back to the Pathways to Behavioral Health Degree Act. “We have such an incredible backlog or number of vacancies for social workers and mental health professionals and what I’m trying to do is get at the root of that issue,” White told the AFRO. White believes that one of the main issues he covered in the Pathways to Behavioral Health Degree bill is making the program accessible and free to UDC graduate students pursuing their Master’s degree. The bill clears another issue which solves the “staggering number of people of color who are not passing the social work licensure exam.”

In Councilman White’s statement to the AFRO, he shared his desire to use the Social Work License Modernization bill to remove the examination “which is one of many requirements to get a license” to practice social work. “This exam comes after many years of formal training, after 700 to 900 hours of supervised clinical work.” He mentioned that the licensure examination carries a racial and age bias. This, in particular, hurts people of color, old and young who are striving to work in the social work field. White stated that there is no connection between passing the examination and becoming a competent practitioner. White believes that individuals that are interested in social work and have gone through years of experience already are more than qualified to work in D.C. departments where there is a great need for social workers throughout the city.

Rideshare Continued from D1

inspectors.” Sear compares Empower with Expedia and OpenTable since it is a service app that recommends and offers several options in their respective platforms; however, the app features an in-person transportation service. “Nobody can guarantee safety period. The overwhelming majority of the drivers who are using the platform are current or former drivers for Uber or Lyft. The drivers, for the most part, are the same drivers that are driving for Uber or Lyft in the same vehicles,” said Sear. “Drivers agree to subject themselves to a background check conducted [through] one of the largest providers of background checks in the country.” Empower is then provided with a background check from that provider about the driver according to the CEO. “Rideshare companies must register with the Department of For-Hire Vehicles to keep the riding public safe. Registration ensures that drivers are properly insured in case of a crash,” DFHV shared in a statement to the AFRO. DFHV has warned Empower drivers that their vehicles will be

impounded if the vehicle has not been registered. The DFHV has also warned customers not to accept rides from Empower customers and stated that there “could be seriously negative consequences for the passengers.” This is predominantly a safety issue since riders have no knowledge of whether or not their driver is registered, insured or if the driver will take the commuter to their destination. The draw for Empower drivers is that they can set the price of fares and receive 100 percent of the fare. Empower riders spend 15 to 20 percent less on their fares in comparison to Uber and Lyft which has been an attractive feature for local customers. “I’m pretty comfortable with it. It’s a good transportation app,” said DaMarco Walker, a customer that uses Empower as a rider. Walker mentions that when he uses the app, he feels safe with the driver. The drivers took him to his destination on time, but he said his experience depends on the age of the driver. LaTonya Baltimore, a customer

Photo courtesy of Empower

D.C.’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles is warning local citizens about Empower, an app that refuses to comply with the District’s requirements for rideshare services.

that used Empower in the past as a rider shared that she does not feel safe using Empower and questions the presence of the drivers. “It’s pretty good, but the only thing I don’t like is they take your money and it takes forever for them to put your money back on [your account]. If you cancel a ride, it takes them five days to put the money back on,” said Baltimore. Most rideshares like Uber and Lyft give a percentage of their earnings to the D.C. Government in order to assist in public transportation funds. “I haven’t used Empower all too much but the couple times that I have used it, it didn’t sit right with me. I think I started using it when it first came out in D.C., so there weren’t as many drivers back then,” said customer Juan Avila. Avila mentioned that he did not feel comfortable when he found that Empower does not conduct the background checks on their drivers and hasn’t since the start of their service back in 2020. Empower claimed that their software app is not for transportation like Uber and Lyft, but is mainly an

entrepreneurial endeavor. Empower’s mission statement states it hopes, “to transform the ‘Gig Economy’ so that hard-working Americans can earn a sustainable living.” “Empower does not currently provide insurance to drivers; however, we are working on establishing relationships with insurance carriers to help provide drivers with the most affordable options,” the company released in a statement. Empower seems to focus more on the success of the drivers than the consumers’ safety. Despite these challenges, the app is popular. In Empower’s statistics reports, the app has provided more than 4 million rides to more than 200,000 riders. The app has made an earning of over $65 million in the course of 2023 alone. “With respect to driver’s safety in particular, drivers are our customers. Riders are not our customer[s]. Riders are their [the driver]’s customers,” said Sear. “We want to make sure we protect our customers so we are very responsive to drivers who reach out and let us know if they have an issue with a rider.”

Carjackings Continued from D1

“My neighbor heard the commotion and made noise to scare them off. Luckily, they didn’t get it but they broke my back passenger window.” But Ugonna Ezeanya, who moved to D.C. a few weeks ago, was unfortunate enough to have neighbors who didn’t notice and scare her car thieves off like Brown did. “On Nov. 19, I planned to go to Target, so I walked out of my apartment to the spot I parked at,” Ezeanya told the AFRO. “I live in Cathedral Heights, one block away from the D2 police station. There was no car downstairs, only broken glass and an empty parking spot. Police came about 20 minutes later and I gave a statement and car description. I drove a black 2014 Hyundai Elantra.” The vehicles that were produced by Kia and Hyundai from 2016 to 2021 could be started with immobilizers, an electronic security device, instead of a physical key. This allowed for a USB cord, charg Nonetheless, even those who don’t own a Kia or Hyundai have fallen victim to returning to an empty parking spot as well. “When I came back at the end of my 12-hour practical at the Howard University Hospital, my car was nowhere to be found,” A former Howard University nursing student, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told the AFRO. “To be honest, I was really shocked and nursing school at the time was

also really stressful, so my initial thought was maybe I parked somewhere else, but I only ever parked at the lot and there weren’t many cars in there. It then finally hit me that my 2017 Infiniti had been stolen.” On Nov. 13, Mayor Bowser issued a public emergency regarding youth violence and revealed that during the first nine months of 2023, there have been 458 arrests of juveniles for crimes including homicide, assault, robbery and carjacking. “While we understand that we’re not going to arrest our way out of this violence, we also know that young people need to have consequences and boundaries,” Mayor Bowser said during a press conference. “It’s too dangerous for our kids in our cities to go unchecked, or unsupervised or unparented.” In efforts to reduce the number of carjackings,

which have reached 928 offenses, and the number of stolen cars, Mayor Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced and launched a ‘Tracking Tag Distribution Program.’ “This year, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of stolen vehicles and carjackings in the District,” said Police Chief Pamela Smith at a public news conference. “While our goal is to prevent carjackings and motor vehicle thefts from occurring in the first place, that’s not always possible.” “AirTags and tile tag tracking devices allow MPD officers and detectives the ability to quickly locate a stolen vehicle,” Smith continued. “While the individual who stole the car may not always be present, it will still help with the recovery of stolen property and allow officers to

Kenan Reed / Unsplash.com

More than 6,000 vehicles have been reported stolen throughout D.C. in the last year.

potentially recover key pieces of evidence.” “We always want our residents to be able to be empowered to help themselves as well,” Mayor

“In my situation, the AirTag didn’t work. It was clearly tossed out of the car the day it was stolen,” Ezeanya said. “It is not enough. Handing out wheel

“It’s almost a relief- not having to worry about my car for a while- now that it’s been broken into and undrivable, here in D.C. “ Bowser said. “The word will also get out that this is not a community to come in and steal cars because it will not be worth your wild.” Ezeanya, who had an AirTag in her Hyundai, tracked her car to Maryland, and was notified by her insurance claim that her car was located and impounded by the Prince George County Police. “I went over to the impound lot in Upper Marlboro to find a car with a smashed window, destroyed ignition, dents in the body and a soiled interior,” Ezeanya said. “An insurance adjuster examined the car some days later and notified me that it was a total loss.” Though the tracking devices were distributed by the MPD to select wards that have experienced the higher end of carjackings, residents are still feeling uneasy and are calling for more to be done.

locks, AirTags, etc. is like putting a band-aid on a wound. It doesn’t solve anything. I think that the root cause of the thefts and general uptick in crime should be examined and addressed.” “I will eventually need a replacement because I commute into Maryland for work,” Ezeanya added. “But I am quite concerned about owning another car in this city.” Others have taken their own steps to prevent their cars from being stolen or broken into a second time after the rise in car thefts has buried authorities in hundreds of cases. “I called the police and they said they were too busy to come,” Casey said. “The police are over the top, too busy with so much theft, break-ins, etc. of not only cars but apartments. AirTags and tracking devices won’t help at all if they just break the

window and destroy the car. I just plan on staying away from big crime cities and if I have to go back, it will be by train.” “The D.C. police ran my tags but that was as much as they did to help,” the former student said. “When I reached out for footage to forward to an investigator, (Howard University Police) stated they didn’t have any. Moving forward, I made sure to get a car with a tracker. Now, I have an electric vehicle that’s economically friendly and easy to track on my phone.” Brown, on the other hand, who still drives the same vehicle that was broken into, double-clubs her car with one on the steering wheel and another on the brake. Brown has done this after being told by police that it would be “awhile” before they could get to her case due to the number of damaged and stolen car offenses and that there was a chance the suspects could come back again. “It’s frustrating when you work hard for what you have and someone else decides it’s okay to take what you worked hard for,” Brown said, “Not to mention the expenses the victim is left with.” The MPD has since released a list of safety tips for the public to help avoid carjackings, which includes removing the keys from the ignition, locking the car doors, reporting the crime and “above all,” giving up your property.

December23, 23,2023 2023--December December29, 29,2023 2023 The TheAfro-American Afro American December

D3 D1

Gore

Continued from D1 public housing. We do have a program called Housing Choice Voucher. Oversight of the Housing Choice Voucher Program will make sure that we work with people in our community, landlords in our community, to actually accept those vouchers,” Gore shared as it relates to housing discrimination. Gore plans to create a “collective unification” in her community. One of the ways she plans to help to bring the community together is through implementing office hours for members to express their grievances. “One of the first things I would immediately establish is office hours. I would immediately have my team out there working with communities. Just basic old fashioned, getting out there, door knocking, coming to know each community to know as many individuals as we can and to reestablish a connection within the ward,” Gore added. Gore’s understanding of community started at a young age while growing up in Roanoke, Va. with a grandmother who lent her nursing skills to the neighborhood, a mother and stepfather who were educators, and a father who was a contractor. “In high school going up to college, I’ve always volunteered. I volunteered for things here in D.C. And some of my jobs were social service-oriented, so I’ve always kind of had that mix,” Gore said. Gore attended the University of Virginia and began working in federal law enforcement after moving to D.C. She served as a Bilingual Juvenile Probation Officer with D.C. Superior Court and then as a federal special agent with the United States Customs Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She eventually climbed the ranks and became a Special Agent, in the Operations Division. After nearly 30 years in the industry, Gore retired and decided to make the transition to community service. Soon after her retirement in 2020, Gore ran for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). “The ANC was really my transition out of federal retirement and back into community service. It was something that I already had kind of started. The transition really came from being involved with the ANC in terms of being just a resident and community member that would attend ANC meetings,” Gore said. During her time as ANC Commissioner, Gore worked to improve public transportation, racial and social equity, oversight of policy technology and several other issues. She was the chair of the ANC Racism Task Force formed in 2020 which eventually became the Racial and Social Equity committee. Karrenthya Simmons, who served on the 3/4G ANC’s Racial and Social Equity committee with Gore and volunteered for her at-large campaign, believes Gore’s background in government makes her stand out and highlights Gore’s ability to listen to all constituents of the ANC. “What makes Lisa [Gore] stand out is her leadership. Lisa is a great leader as the chair of 3/4G’s ANC. She also has

about how you best tackle some of those issues. There is no perspective on the council that we’ve ever had that reflected that degree of experience,” Gore said. Elizabeth Martin, another friend of Gore who initially joined the Racism Task Force in 2020 and volunteered for her at-large campaign, called Lisa an “amazing leader.” “She became the chair of the ANC 3/4G, so she’s had a very prominent role in the neighborhood because we’ve had some incredibly intense topics that the neighborhood has been focusing on. I’ve seen her in some very difficult situations where she’s had to remain calm and diplomatic.” Martin said. “She’s extremely fair and patient. She’s smart and she’s also got an amazing heart. She really loves people.” Gore promises to see her goals through and reassures voters that her track record speaks for itself.

“Public safety and crime tops my list of priorities. The escalating crime rates in our ward and throughout D.C. are a cause for deep concern.”

Photo courtesy of Lisa Gore

Lisa Gore, a native of Roanoke, Va., grew up with her grandparents and parents, whom she says developed her passion for education and community service.

an extensive background in law enforcement, housing, and working with juveniles,” Simmons said. “She has a government background and business acumen that would assist her with moving our city forward.” Although she has retired, Gore doesn’t shy away from her previous career experiences and believes they make her a unique candidate. “Coming from a law enforcement background, which includes juvenile probation supervision, working with kids and the justice system and their family, all the way up to working on some of the most pressing crime issues there’s a lot of experience there in terms of management and advisors strategy,

“If you ask my constituents, the one thing they’re going to tell you is I’m there when they call me. No one in my district is going to tell you that I’m not accessible. I know how to run operations. I know how to deliver services. And I’ve also done that in my role as ANC Commissioner.” Both Simmons and Martin emphasized Gore’s efforts in making the Chevy Chase area more inclusive and the development of the Chevy Chase corridor on Connecticut Avenue as an example of some of Gore’s standout work. “Lisa [Gore] has given the community many opportunities to voice their opinion on the development despite the attacks she faces from some community members; through it all, she’s been graceful and shown that she’s a leader and has the best interest of the citizens,” Simmons added. Why Gore believes people should vote for her is simple: “I don’t just have a platform on paper. I look exceptional on paper, but these are things that I’ve done. As I said, a battletested candidate has a life experience in terms of what they’re trying to bring to the ward. I come with a considerable amount of knowledge and background,” said Gore. The Democratic primary election will take place on June 4, 2024, and the general election will take place on November 5, 2024. To learn more about Gore’s campaign, visit www. goreforD.C..com.

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D4 The Afro-American December 23, 2023 - December 29, 2023

Virginia Ali, co- founder

of Ben’s Chili Bowl, turns 90 years old By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor Afields@afro.com

Virginia Ali, co-founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl, celebrated 90 years of life next to family and friends at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 14. The historic venue is just a few doors down from the famous restaurant Ali founded with her husband, Ben, in 1958. The establishment provided much more than just food– it became a place of comfort for civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and more recently, former President Barack Obama. Sheila Johnson, Donnie Simpson and Mayor Muriel Bowser were in attendance at the event, giving Ali her flowers and congratulating her on over 65 years of service to the D.C. community.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks on the impact of Ben’s Chili Bowl over the course of six decades.

Former radio DJ Donnie Simpson, of WPGC-FM, thanks Virginia Ali for her dedication to uplifting the local community.

Attendees enjoy a three tier cake for Virginia Ali’s 90th birthday.

Virginia Ali currently manages five Ben’s Chili Bowl locations with the help of her children.

Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET, honors Virginia Ali for her entrepreneurial spirit. Photos courtesy of Darrell Stoney Jr. Virginia Ali reflects on the love shared for the community staple she opened at a mere 24 years old.

Virginia Ali stands with family, friends and patrons of Ben’s Chili Bowl.

To purchase this digital photo page or photos contact editor@afro.com