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DECEMBER 9, 2023 - DECEMBER 15, 2023

Teen and parents indicted weeks after three wounded in shootout near Baltimore high school AP Photo / Brian Witte

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates questions how the city is supposed to reduce youth violence if parents are active participants in the alleged acts of crime.

By The Associated Press

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A grand jury has indicted a Baltimore teen and his parents on allegations they brought a gun to a high school campus in October and beat up a student shortly before classes were to start, prompting a shootout that left three young people wounded, city prosecutors said on Dec. 5.

The shooting added to an uptick in youth violence plaguing the city this year, including several instances of Baltimore public school students being shot on or near high school campuses.

That trend has persisted even as Baltimore gun violence overall has declined during the past several months.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced the charges at a news conference the morning of Dec. 5. He questioned how the city is supposed to reduce

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youth violence if parents are active participants.

“As a parent, it is absolutely mindblowing to read the allegations in this indictment, where a child’s guardians facilitate in settling a schoolyard dispute with violence,” he said. “Hear me clear, parents, if you have a child, you must also be responsible for your

“Hear me clear, parents, if you have a child, you must also be responsible for your children’s actions.” children’s actions.”

William Dredden, 40, and Tiffany Harrison, 37, are both charged with over

a dozen counts, including first-degree assault, illegally transporting a handgun and conspiracy to commit

attempted first-degree murder.

Their 15-year-old son, whom officials said was indicted in adult court, hasn’t been identified because he’s a minor.

A spokesperson for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender said she was unsure whether the office had been appointed to represent

the defendants and declined to comment so early in the case.

The indictment accuses Dredden and Harrison of driving their son to Carver Vocational Technical High School the morning of Oct. 27 and helping him attack a student outside the school by “striking him repeatedly with

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Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, dies at age 93

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, died Dec. 1. She was 93.

O’Connor died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the Supreme Court said in a news release.

Chief Justice John Roberts mourned her death. “A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice,” Roberts said in a statement issued by the court. “She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor.”

In 2018, she announced that she had been diagnosed with “the beginning stages

AP Photo / Harry Cabluck

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is shown before administering the oath of office to members of the Texas Supreme Court, Jan. 6, 2003, in Austin, Texas. O’Connor, who joined the Supreme Court in 1981 as the nation’s first female justice, has died at age 93.

of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.”

Her husband, John O’Connor, died of complications of Alzheimer’s in 2009.

O’Connor’s nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court.

A native of Arizona who grew up on her family’s sprawling ranch, O’Connor wasted little time building a reputation as a hard worker who wielded considerable political clout on the nine-member court.

The granddaughter of a pioneer who traveled west from Vermont and founded the family ranch some three decades before Arizona became a state, O’Connor had a tenacious, independent spirit that came naturally. As a child growing up in the remote outback, she learned early to ride horses, round up cattle and drive trucks and tractors.

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Baltimore activists urge Maryland congressional members to call for ceasefire in Israel and Palestine

By Helen Bezuneh Special to the AFRO hbezuneh@afro.com More than 50 organizations and businesses in the Baltimore area sent a letter asking Maryland congressional members to join the call for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine on Dec. 5. Representing more than 200,000 individuals, the group of civil rights, student, Jewish, veteran,

faith and street violence prevention organizations are urging Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-02) and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.-03) to help stop violence in the region by standing alongside the likes of other pro-ceasefire congressional members, such as Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07).

“In a time when Torah and Jewish values are being weaponized by many

to call for greater violence, my Jewish community and so many Jewish Marylanders uplift that our tradition honors ‘pikuach nefesh’—saving a life, as a value that supersedes all else,” said Rabbi Ariana Katz, the founding rabbi of Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl, in a statement shared exclusively with the AFRO. “Immediate ceasefire is the only way to

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A2 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

Texas Democrats urge DOJ intervention as ‘Operation Lonestar’ faces increased scrutiny

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Congress members Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) and Greg Casar (D-TX35), alongside fellow Texas Democratic Reps. Colin Allred (D- TX-32), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Congressman Lloyd Doggett (R-TX) , Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) , Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-7), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Al Green (D-TX-9), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18) and Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), have penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice (DOJ) demanding heightened federal oversight of Texas’ controversial “Operation Lonestar” (OLS) program.

Initially conceived by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, OLS has stirred significant controversy, with reported incidents resulting in at least

74 deaths and numerous instances of violence and mistreatment of migrants over the past year. Investigations have uncovered the use of razor wire and buoys in the Rio Grande, deadly vehicle pursuits and prolonged detention without due process.

Concerns are escalating with Abbott set to sign Texas S.B. 4 into law soon, potentially granting law enforcement more extraordinary powers to detain individuals suspected of being foreign nationals and raising fears of increased violence against migrants and the targeting of Latino Texans.

Expressing their apprehensions in the letter, the Democratic representatives highlighted the lack of remedial and preventive actions at the federal level despite ongoing abuses spanning nearly two years.

The letter emphasized the necessity for the DOJ to assert field preemption and address the recurring violations under OLS, urging clarity on the administration’s stance regarding the legal interference of federal immigration law

by Texas officials and law

AP Photo / Vasha Hunt

AP Photo / Eric Gay

Initially conceived by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, “Operation Lonestar” has stirred significant controversy, with reported incidents resulting in at least 74 deaths and numerous instances of violence and mistreatment of migrants over the past year.

enforcement.

The lawmakers stressed their acknowledgment of the challenges at the southern border and the need for bipartisan solutions to address the broken immigration system. However, they underscored the imperative to ensure that actions taken at the border are legal and that the rights of all individuals, regardless of nationality, are protected.

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a Texas National Guard soldier accosting a migrant stuck in barbed wire,” the representatives wrote.

The letter concluded with a call for the DOJ to brief Congress on the recent findings of the Operation Lonestar investigation and a request to deploy federal civil rights observers to the affected areas.

Crockett further called for a DOJ briefing to update

Congress on the ongoing investigation into “Operation Lonestar” and requested a commitment from the DOJ to deploy federal civil rights observers to the impacted regions. “It is critical that DOJ assert its rightful field preemption and send a strong message regarding OLS abuses,” she insisted.

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

Supreme Court wrestles with OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal, with billions of dollars at stake But later, she also said that in bankruptcies, protection against lawsuits has a price.

The Supreme Court on Dec. 4 wrestled “You get a discharge when you put all with a nationwide settlement with OxyContin your assets on the table,” she said. “The maker Purdue Pharma that would shield Sacklers didn’t come anywhere close to doing members of the Sackler family who own the that.” company from civil lawsuits over the toll of Arguments lasted nearly two hours in a opioids. packed courtroom, its doors draped in black The justices seemed by turns reluctant in memoriam to retired Justice Sandra Day to break up an exhaustively negotiated O’Connor, who died Dec. 1. Chief Justice agreement, but also leery of somehow John Roberts offered a remembrance of rewarding the Sacklers. the first woman to serve on the court. “She The agreement hammered out with changed the world,” Roberts said. state and local governments and victims Outside the court, a small but vocal group AP Photo/Seth Wenig would provide billions of dollars to combat of protesters opposed the Purdue Pharma Tiffinee Scott poses for a the opioid epidemic. The Sacklers would agreement. “Shame on Sackler,” one banner picture with a photo of contribute up to $6 billion and give up read. “No Sackler immunity at any $$,” read her daughter, Tiarra Renee ownership of the company, but retain billions another.

Brown-Lewis, after making a more. The company would emerge from The issue for the justices is whether the statement during a hearing in bankruptcy as a different entity, with its legal shield that bankruptcy provides can New York. profits used for treatment and prevention. be extended to people such as the Sacklers, The high court put the settlement on hold during the summer, who have not declared bankruptcy themselves. Lower courts in response to objections from the Biden administration. have issued conflicting decisions over that issue, which also has Justice Elena Kagan seemed to sum up the questions that implications for other major product liability lawsuits settled were nagging at some of the justices. through the bankruptcy system.

“It seems as though the federal government is standing in See more on afro.com the way of that as against the huge, huge, huge majority of This article was originally published by the Associated claimants,” Kagan said.

Press.

By Mark Sherman Associated Press

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“While Governor Abbott ramps up his escalated actions under OLS, we continue to see civil rights violations and illegal actions, whether it is the continuing ‘trespassing’ arrests of immigrants, razorwire installations, or physical interposition by DPS and Texas Guard personnel preventing migrants from accessing safety and medical care, as illustrated from a video last month showing

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December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023 The Afro-American A3

Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives face a sharp decline three years after death of George Floyd

By Helen Bezuneh Special to the AFRO hbezuneh@afro.com In the aftermath of the widely publicized police killing of George Floyd in 2020, the U.S. faced what was commonly referred to as a “racial reckoning.” During this period, corporations and universities rushed to issue public statements expressing not only their dedication to advancing racial justice, but also pledging to implement explicit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI), such as the diversification of the workforce. However, three years later, several corporations have proceeded to lay off numbers of DEI workers amid farright backlash to diversity programs.

Wells Fargo, American Airlines and Glassdoor lead the list of companies with the largest declines in their share of diverse new hires from July 2022 to February 2023, according to Revelio Labs, a workforce analytics company. Wells Fargo’s share declined by 4.65 percent, American Airlines’ share shrunk by 3.35 percent and Glassdoor’s share waned by 5.81 percent. Attrition rates for DEI roles have exceeded those of non-DEI roles at more than 600 U.S. companies that implemented workforce reductions since late 2020.

While American Airlines declined the AFRO’s request for comment, Wells Fargo provided the AFRO with a statement in which they reemphasized their aspirations for diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is unwavering,” a Wells Fargo spokesperson wrote. “We are focused on our three strategic priorities tied to DEI: Increasing diverse representation within Wells Fargo, better serving and growing diverse customer segments and increasing spend with diverse suppliers. We have made progress in our efforts to build more sustainable communities, including introducing initiatives in homeownership, banking inclusion and other areas. While there is more work to do, we are committed to achieving enduring results for our colleagues, customers and communities.”

Following the recent Supreme Court decision to eliminate affirmative action in colleges, DEI efforts across varied sectors have

Photo courtesy of Unsplash / Amy Elting Three years after the surge in DEI initiatives prompted by the murder of George Floyd, there has been a substantial reduction in the hiring of DEI workers within corporations. encountered harsh criticism. Many argue that this has led to the downsizing of DEI teams within corporations, influenced in part by diminishing pressure on companies to meet demands for equity.

Amazon, Applebees, and Twitter have had the largest outflows of DEI talent with seniority cutoff since July 2022. According to a LinkedIn

“A lot happened in the aftermath. There were promises made, there were commitments made, there were half-hearted initiatives put in place for a time, for a period.

And now we’re here.” report, the recruitment of chief diversity officers (CDOs) witnessed a notable decline by 4.51 percent in 2022. This marks a significant shift from the substantial hiring growth observed in 2020 and 2021.

Due to budget cuts and mass layoffs resulting from dwindling sales, many technology companies in particular have entirely dismantled their DEI departments.

O’Connor

Indicted

Continued from A1

“I didn’t do all the things the boys did,” she said in a 1981 Time magazine interview, “but I fixed windmills and repaired fences.”

On the bench, her influence could best be seen, and her legal thinking most closely scrutinized, in the court’s rulings on abortion, perhaps the most contentious and divisive issue the justices faced. O’Connor balked at letting states outlaw most abortions, refusing in 1989 to join four other justices who were ready to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

Then, in 1992, she helped forge and lead a five-justice majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 ruling. “Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that can’t control our decision,” O’Connor said in court, reading a summary of the decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. “Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.”

Thirty years after that

The years 2020 and 2021 saw a surge in DEI initiatives, signaling a hopeful shift in racial justice in the U.S. A number of companies initiated the formation of DEI departments, the hiring of CDOs and the expansion of their DEI teams. In the three months following George Floyd’s murder, DEI job listings increased 123 percent, according to Indeed. The rate of new CDO hires in 2021 was nearly triple the rate of hires in the previous 16 months.

Following nationwide protests for racial justice in 2020, companies and organizations released statements that proclaimed dedication to promoting racial equity. That year, JP Morgan said that they would provide $30 billion in loans to Black and Latino homebuyers and small business efforts over a five year period to fulfill their fight against systemic racism within economic sectors. According to a recent summary of progress by JP Morgan, the bank has “deployed or committed” more than $13 billion of their goal so far. JP Morgan’s percentage of workers of color has shown minimal change from 2019 to 2022, according to research conducted

by Statista. As of December 2022, white employees made up about 83 percent of JP

decision, a more conservative court did overturn Roe and Casey, and the opinion was written by the man who took her high court seat, Justice Samuel Alito. He joined the court upon O’Connor’s retirement in 2006, chosen by President George W. Bush.

In 2000, O’Connor was part of the 5-4 majority that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of Bush, over Democrat Al Gore.

Bush was among many prominent Americans offering condolences Dec. 1. “It was fitting that Sandra became the first female appointed to our highest court, because she was a pioneer who lived by the code of the west,” Bush said in a statement. “She was determined and honest, modest and considerate, dependable and self-reliant.

She was also fun and funny, with a wonderful sense of humor.”

Former President Barack Obama, who awarded O’Connor the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, praised her for “forging a new path and building a bridge behind her for all young women to follow.”

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a handgun and their fists as he waited for his classes to begin.”

As the three were leaving the area after the attack, the son started shooting, leaving two other students injured in gunfire, prosecutors alleged.

One of the gunshot victims

allegedly fired back at the 15-year-old, who was also injured, Bates said. He said most of the encounter was captured on surveillance cameras.

At least two other people involved in the dispute are also facing charges, but Bates said he couldn’t release specifics because some cases are proceeding in juvenile court. He also declined to say

Morgan’s U.S.-based leadership positions.

“For decades, we’ve sustained relationships and collaborated with community and civil rights organizations to help inform, innovate and calibrate efforts to overlay a broader, more inclusive and equitable lens into our business – so that all of our employees, customers and communities, including those from diverse backgrounds, can grow and thrive,” JP Morgan wrote in a statement shared with the AFRO. “Our efforts precede the murder of Mr. George Floyd.”

“For example, in 2019 we established Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) to build upon our efforts to support economic development within the Black community globally,” they added. “ABP focuses on four key areas where there are racial and economic disparities that create barriers to long-term financial success: careers and skill building, business growth and entrepreneurship, financial health and wealth creation, and community development. As we celebrate our fifth year, ABP is focused on building upon our legacy redefining wealth and prosperity for Black people everywhere.”

In a memo to employees in 2020, then-chief executive of Wells Fargo vowed to consider a broad range of candidates for positions at the bank. However, he also mentioned that Wells Fargo struggles to find qualified Black candidates, a statement for which he later issued an apology.

With the recent decline in CDO hires, some view such statements as having been made solely for optics rather than genuine commitment.

Hailey Bowley, director of equity, diversity and belonging at KABOOM!, spoke on the diminishment of DEI initiatives in November at the Equity in Action Conference, hosted by the Associated Black Charities.

“Employees have been indicating that they have no longer been setting DEI-specific goals,” said Bowley. “We’re now seeing that Black workers are among the most unhappy with 49 percent of those surveyed saying they want to quit their jobs, according to an Indeed report.

A lot happened in the aftermath. There were promises made, there were commitments made, there were half-hearted initiatives put in place for a time, for a period. And now we’re here.”

what the fight was about.

Bates said he wanted the focus to be on Dredden and Harrison’s participation in the violence.

He said surveillance video shows them and their son returning to their SUV after the shooting and driving the short distance back to Harrison’s house, where she went inside and changed clothes while Dredden

called 911. Harrison then accompanied her son in the ambulance and Dredden removed a red sweatshirt he had been wearing, according to the indictment.

“We need parents to be part of the solution, not the problem,” Bates said.

This article was originally published by the Associated Press.

Ceasefire Continued from A1

pikuach nefesh in the face of the heinous bombardment and invasion of Gaza.”

Signatories of the letter include NAACP Baltimore, Anti-Imperialist Action UMBC, Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore, the Baltimore Abortion Fund, Baltimore Palestine Solidarity, IfNotNow Baltimore, Women Leading Baltimore, the United Maryland Muslim Council, Black Collagists, the Black Theology Project and more.

“We grieve for the 1,200 killed during Hamas’ October 7th attack and the more than 15,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli military – almost half of whom have been children – since then,” the letter reads. “These deaths include the relatives and loved ones of Maryland residents.”

“As our representatives, we urge you to publicly and unequivocally call for an immediate ceasefire, to sign onto or introduce a Ceasefire resolution and to do everything in your power to pressure the Biden administration to do the same.”

The letter highlights that Israel has severed access to essential resources such as water, electricity, fuel and supplies in Gaza. As a result, they note, residents are on the brink of starvation, and the dire situation has led to the displacement of over a million Gazans.

“Thousands of Baltimoreans have made phone calls and participated in protests against Israel’s genocide in Palestine, and still our elected officials ignore us” said Anna Evans-Goldstein,

AFRO Photo / Alexis Taylor A coalition of organizations and businesses in Baltimore have sent a letter to Maryland’s senators and representatives, asking them to join the call for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine.

a project officer with Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy, in a statement shared exclusively with the AFRO. Goldstein played a role in organizing the letter after a sit-in led by members of the Jewish community took place at the office of Rep. Mfume.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in the U.S., also signed the letter.

“The catastrophic carnage, death and devastation in Gaza, funded by billions of U.S. tax dollars, is reminiscent of some of the darkest periods in human history,” said Zainab Chaudry, Maryland director for the Council, in a statement shared exclusively with the AFRO. “We are urging members of congress to demonstrate moral courage in this critical moment and take immediate

action to help save innocent lives by supporting an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid.”

The letter also bears the signature of the Baltimore Peace Movement, formerly known as Baltimore Ceasefire, a group dedicated to addressing violence in Baltimore.

“As a citizen of the world, I understand that oppression, trauma and misunderstandings that lead to violence painfully impact the whole of us— while peaceful, equitable and humane problem-solving helps to heal the whole of us,” said Erricka Bridgeford, founder of the Baltimore Peace Movement, in a statement shared exclusively with the AFRO. “Please honor our humanity by calling for a ceasefire between Israel and occupied Palestine.”

A4 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

COMMENTARY

Climate change, climate justice and the Horn of Africa

By Dr. Richard F. Gillum Thanksgiving and Christmas 2022 brought appeals led by UNICEF-USA for victims of famine and drought related to climate change in the Horn of Africa. This crisis and the attending appeals were barely noticed by western media or the American public, which were focused on politics, Ukraine, celebrities and holiday shopping. I convinced my small church in a Maryland suburb to take a special collection to aid the victims. The crisis resulted from years of drought which forced many tens of thousands to abandon their withered fields and dead livestock to walk dusty roads to displaced persons camps in places like Baidoa, Somalia. Many, especially infants and the elderly died along the way. Because of the inadequate donor nation response, children continued to die in the camps of malnutrition and disease or outright starvation.

During the spring of 2023, the need for aid continued but rainfall in the area brought to many of us hope that local agriculture could restart and the nations begin recovery. But the effects of climate change due to burning of fossil fuels in industrial nations, foremost the US, China, and states of the European Union, it should come as no surprise that these hopes were dashed. Spring rains

turned into summer downpours continuing through fall and into winter. The latest report from the BBC indicates that a million people in Somalia alone have been displaced due to record flooding. The cyclic pattern of El Nino combined with climate change to continue the extreme weather in the Horn of Africa, with a resulting growing death toll. The nations in that region (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Eritrea) contributed negligible amounts of greenhouse gasses during this century and the last to drive climate change. Yet they, like coastal regions and islands in the poor nations around the world, suffer devastating losses to life and property. How unfair, how unjust, we may think.

Even as I write, nations of the world have gathered in Dubai for the two-week COP28 climate negotiations. Leaders of the world like António Guterres, secretary general of the UN, Pope Francis, and the National Council of Churches, lead by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, are calling for drastic action to cut fossil fuel use, while leaders of poor countries appeal for more aid to mitigate current effects of climate change such as flooding in the Horn of Africa, Pakistan and other areas. The hosting of the conference by a major oil producing country has cast a cloud over the proceedings.

President Biden will not attend in person. Pope Francis has

Courtesy photo

Dr. Richard F. Gillum is professor emeritus of medicine at Howard University. canceled his plans to attend due to illness. A number of U.S. denominations and other advocates of climate justice will be present but what are they among all the hordes of petrochemical industry lobbyists?

Climate scientists tell us that the climate situation is not hopeless, nor is it an all or none phenomenon. It is too late to prevent all the bad effects of climate change, but there is still time to prevent the effects of coastal flooding, extreme hurricanes and other storms, drought and wildfires even worse than what we have seen so far. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions peaked around 2006 and have been declining

slightly due to efforts made so far. Emissions in China are still rising, but China is adding record amounts of solar and wind capacity and is expected to reach peak emissions soon. So we advocates of climate justice need to follow the advice of the old spiritual: “children don’t get

weary ‘til your work is done.”

We must inform ourselves and others using courses and materials such as those of the NAACP. We must advocate for clean energy policies at local, state and national levels of government. In our churches, HBCU’s and other institutions

we must transition from fossil fuels to roof-top solar panels or choose solar and wind companies to be our electric power supplies though our local utilities.

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Overcoming the oil and gas industry’s influence at COP28

By Ben Jealous Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

Those of us with history in the civil rights movement know that taking on entrenched power and changing the status quo requires dogged tenacity and seizing key moments to break down barriers.

The United Nations COP28 summit going on right now in Dubai could be one of those key moments for tackling the climate crisis. To ensure we truly create a better world for us all, we must include the participation of every country.

The biggest obstacle we face is the entrenched power and stubborn influence of the fossil fuel industry – the very cause of the greenhouse gas emissions which are driving global warming. The industry has had a stranglehold on international climate talks and, this year, is

showing up to the conference in greater force than perhaps ever before.

Hundreds of oil and gas industry lobbyists usually descend on the COP conferences.

This year, by some unofficial estimates from reporters and watchdog groups, it looks like the number of lobbyists and industry representatives could be more than double what it was at last year’s COP27 in Egypt.

The purpose of the UN climate summit is to assess and improve global efforts to curb global warming. The only way to do that is by drastically reducing emissions – far more than we’re already doing – and that means completely phasing out all fossil fuels.

Two reports released late last month, one by the UN and one by the Rhodium Group consulting firm, reached the same conclusion: the most likely projected temperature increase by the end of this century will be about 3 degrees Celsius based

on current trends. Scientists say that any increase over 2 degrees would be catastrophic.

And the current trajectory puts us well above the 1.5-degree Celsius target established by the landmark Paris Agreement from COP21 in 2015.

Added to the backdrop of these international negotiations is that this is the hottest year on record, with resulting floods, fires, superstorms, and other extreme weather events impacting humanity in increasingly undeniable ways.

With the urgency so crystal clear, there’s no way that the industry driving the climate crisis should be empowered to the degree it is to protect its own profits at the expense of our planet. By allowing oil and gas companies to have so much power and influence in climate talks, we’re pulling our punches against the greatest existential threat faced by humanity, all to spare those companies a threat to their bottom line.

Of course, plenty of controversy has swirled around the leadup to this year’s COP summit. There’s been no shortage of newspaper ink, and website pixels, dedicated to commentary about the host country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), being a nation built on oil. UAE is part of OPEC – which has played a significant role in obstructing progress in past climate negotiations – and has an oil and gas company which is one of the largest in the world, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC. And the CEO of ADNOC, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, is serving as president of this year’s summit.

Having an oil baron at the helm of the world’s most important event focused on curtailing greenhouse gas emissions is an irony that’s been hard to swallow for many. At the organization I lead, Sierra Club, we decided to send a delegation to COP28 anyway, in the spirit of hope and determination, as

this is a cause too great and too important to be deterred from our efforts – no matter how many foxes are let into the henhouse.

A larger concern of mine has been the voting rules. UN climate talks require all parties involved (in this case, 197 countries plus the European Union) to be unanimous on the adoption of any agreement. On its face, the requirement for consensus agreement is a way to add greater legitimacy to the conference’s outcomes and ensure that Global South countries, and those most drastically impacted by the climate crisis, have an equal say.

However, it also means that a single oil- and gas-rich country, or a small group of them, has veto power over any agreement.

It’s a structural weakness of these summits that has been exploited for decades by oil- and gas-rich nations (including the United States) to impede progress.

Just think about how much power that gives an industry that spends hundreds of millions of

dollars a year in lobbying? Even if every government on the planet was in basic agreement on some new framework or commitment, fossil fuel companies would only need to convince – or co-opt – the leaders of a single nation to have a game-ending proxy vote.

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Courtesy photo

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free.

Paving the path to justice: Harnessing data for community empowerment

By Tonya Calhoun Milwaukee is witnessing a transformation — a journey fueled by data, collaboration and a fervent commitment to justice.

Playing a crucial role in this endeavor is Data You Can Use, a diverse coalition of local professionals committed to providing accessible data for addressing community concerns. For instance, Walnut Way, a local communitybased organization, serves as an exemplary community organization harnessing data for empowerment and showcasing the tangible impact of leveraging information for positive change.

Milwaukee’s recent 9th Annual Data Day, themed ‘Journey to Justice,’ resonated with the collective desire to dismantle silos, democratize data and catalyze systemic change. This convergence of minds, comprising residents,

professionals, government officials and academics, marked a pivotal moment in the pursuit of equitable solutions.

As the director of the Office of Community Collaboration and Engagement at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), I was delighted to be at the core of this journey, igniting discussions on climate injustice. My goal for the event was to illuminate the power of a people-first approach in driving authentic community engagement while citing statistical data as a key pillar in addressing climate inequity.

Walnut Way’s community work is a testament to the marriage of data-driven strategies and grassroots climate action. Their work aims to reduce disparities among African Americans, increase community wealth, enhance residents’ well-being, and create a resilient, selfsustaining neighborhood. Their

collaboration with institutions like the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute underscores the potency of data in shaping environmental justice initiatives.

Their approach to community-led, comprehensive development allows residents to lead important initiatives that support the unique needs of their community, fostering economic mobility, supporting small businesses and advocating for issues like energy burden, the portion of your total household income that goes specifically toward paying for energyrelated expenses like electricity, heating, and other similar costs, broadband access, and water rights.

Broad-based collaboration is core to Walnut Way’s efforts to create healthier community environments. To help residents, policymakers, and businesses make informed decisions related to protecting the health and

well-being of communities, Walnut Way collaborates with MKE FreshAir Collection, a local non-profit air quality monitoring and advocacy organization.

With support from Walnut Way, MKE FreshAir Collective relies on the Air Visual App by IQAir as a primary platform for helping residents receive real-time, neighborhoodlevel air quality notifications, empowering them to make informed decisions about their well-being. Their meticulous deployment of air quality sensors, guided by health data, not only educates nearly 10,000 Milwaukeeans, but also serves as a blaring call for policy reforms.

The tapestry of these initiatives spotlights the critical role of the historic Inflation Reduction Act in fostering sustainable infrastructure and incentivizing climate projects, like Walnut Way’s community

bioswales and healthy home projects, which leverage tax incentives on construction and sustainable supplies for affordable homeownership projects. It’s a testament to how informed funding propels impactful community-driven solutions.

The real marvel lies in the potential—a potential propelled by tools like EDF’s Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI). This instrument isn’t just a map; it’s a compass guiding investments and empowering Black communities to confront climate risks head-on.

The CVI presents the opportunity for local governments to leverage the tool as a resource to not only show where the risks lie, but to help steer new investment in solutions. Supporting groups like Walnut Way — and ensuring the right investments flow to the right places for the biggest impact — is critical to

the advancement of climate progress.

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

See more on afro.com

Courtesy of Word In Black

Dr. Tonya Howard Calhoun is the director of community engagement at the Environmental Defense Fund. She previously worked as the national field manager for Moms Clean Air Force.

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

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December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023 The Afro-American

BALTIMORE-AREA

B1

Meet Endia Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, BUILD A memorial DeCordova, park for the and Greater Baltimore Committee Morgan State Black Sox, one University’s partner to end vacant housing crisis vice president of Baltimore’s The Moore Report

Negro League Baseball teams… imagine that

of institutional advancement

By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com

President David K. Wilson, Ed.D., named alumnae Endia DeCordova vice president of institutional advancement for Morgan State University (MSU) and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation

By Ralph E. Moore Jr.

South Baltimore City is getting a great deal of attention these days. The Black communities on the other side of the water– opposite the Inner Harbor area– are Cherry Hill, Westport and Port Covington (recently renamed Baltimore Peninsula) and they’ve been overlooked for too long.

Now things are happening through the efforts of a couple of non-profit organizations, the Parks and People Foundation and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership. Specifically, the hope and plan are to build Baltimore Black Sox Memorial Park in Westport.

That is where the Negro League team once played in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

AFRO Photo / Tashi McQueen

AFRO Photo / James Fields

Baltimoreans United in the Leadership Development, the Greater Baltimore Committee and Mayor Brandon M. Scott are partnering together to address Baltimore’s vacant housing crisis. The effort is projected to cost $7.5 billion. In July, more than 400 people gathered at Memorial Baptist Church (right), located at 1311 N Caroline St, to discuss a new partnership and mobilize members.

By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com

And By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com

This past July, Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD), the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a combined effort to tackle the city’s decades-long vacant housing crisis.

As of February 2022, the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development reported that Baltimore had nearly 15,000 abandoned properties—1,245 of which are owned by the city. The crisis is a $7.5 billion problem.

On Dec. 11, Scott and the organizations’ leaders are set to host a public action meeting at Greater Harvest Baptist Church in Southwest Baltimore to update residents on their strategy to finance the rehabilitation of these homes.

The Mayor’s Office declined to comment on the initiative ahead of the public action meeting.

“We announced that we were hiring two entities to vet our process for the finances but also for the legal process of acquiring the properties,” said George Hopkins, co-chair of BUILD. “GBC, BUILD and the mayor’s team came with these analyses, and that’s where we are right now—we’re making sure our plan is viable and has been tested and scrutinized, so that our

vision is actually able to be implemented to bring real outcomes. Our hope is to have that report finalized by Dec. 11 and then we can communicate the outcomes of that analysis.”

Vacant houses can be a danger to the vitality of communities, attracting crime, decreasing the property value of homes nearby and having an increased risk of fires. A 2022 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins 21st Century Institute discovered that abandoned housing is directly and indirectly costing Baltimore nearly $210 million each year.

Of the $7.5 billion needed to end this crisis, $2.5 billion is required in public funding at the state, city and federal levels.

“There are four focus areas that we agreed to look at.

First, how do you actually finance a much larger investment to tackle the problem? The second is about the best way to acquire and dispose of properties, whether it’s public or privately owned,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, president and CEO of GBC. “Third, a lot of community development groups are actually bestpositioned to develop their neighborhoods so how do we ensure they have the resources and support they need?

Last is if we amp up development and construction, we need an entire workforce ecosystem to be supportive of that.”

last March after leading a national search. The former vice chancellor for advancement at Rutgers University returned to her alma mater in July to officially start the position.

In her role, DeCordova’s focus is attracting funding, volunteerism and other resources that will help move MSU’s vision, mission and core values forward. As head of the university’s foundation, she also monitors all of the philanthropic gifts that come through the historically, Black university.

“I take great pride in knowing what this institution has done for

Continued on B2

Continued on B2

“...we’re making sure our plan is viable and has been tested and scrutinized, so that our vision is actually able to be implemented...”

AFRO File Photo

This week Ralph E. Moore Jr. discusses the call for public input on the Black Sox Park coming to South Baltimore.

Continued on B2

“HBCUs are critical today- more now than ever. This is a space where diversity has always been at the cornerstone of who we are.”

Baltimore residents call on elected officials to address food desert concerns, months after PriceRite Marketplace closure in Rosedale Plaza

By Shaela Foster Special to the AFRO

The Rosedale Plaza Shopping Center recently lost its anchor market, PriceRite Marketplace, in October 2023. Baltimore City and County representatives held a community input meeting on Nov. 30 at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries to seek ideas and hear concerns of residents. Attendees weighed in on what type

of store should replace the grocery store that previously occupied the large space.

Among city and county representatives were Baltimore County Councilman Mike Ertel (D), Del. Carl Jackson (D-Md.-8), State Sen. Cory McCray (DMd.-45), Del. Jackie Addison (D-Md.-45), Del. Nick Allen (D-Md.-8), senior sector strategist for the Department of Economic and Workforce

“It can’t just be a discount grocery store. It needs to be a full functioning grocery store with pharmaceutical services that people are proud to come to.”

Development, John Vontran, and Del. Harry Bhandari (DMd.-8).

“As a community we have to be empowered to not just accept anything where we live,” said Jackson, as he gave his opening message.

“We have to be proactive.

We have to raise our voice.

We have to stick together because we have to live here at the end of the day.”

As the floor opened for community feedback, residents expressed concern on why that area couldn’t sustain a supermarket bringing up previous markets like Superfresh.

Lots of residents referenced the word “food desert” as a way to describe the current climate now that

Price Rite has vacated the shopping center.

“We can say that the Price Rite wasn’t the best, but we’re kidding ourselves and coming from a place of privilege if we believe there aren’t people in this neighborhood that were dependent on that Price Rite,” said Caitlin KlimmKellner, small business owner and president of Linover Improvement Association.

“It can’t just be a discount grocery store. It needs to be a full functioning grocery store with pharmaceutical services that people are proud to come to.”

Residents noted how they travel miles away from their homes to gather groceries stating how much

of an inconvenience it is, especially for residents of older age.

Despite options on what supermarkets could be brought to the area, residents threw out various ideas surrounding the liveliness and accessibility of the area suggesting an indoor gym,

9

Past 7 Days

shuttle service and other activities for kids.

Some residents also expressed worry for businesses that already exist in the shopping center like Subway, a local barbershop, Snipes and a laundromat.

Jackson notified residents Continued on B3

250

2023 Total Data as of December 6

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The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

The Moore Report

BUILD

Black Sox Memorial Park is just one stop on a planned historical trail offered in the Middle Branch redevelopment. Additionally, a statue garden is being developed that will feature larger than life sculptures of Black Sox players, as well as star figures from other Baltimore sports.

South Baltimore will come to life as sports figures and history come to the area in a demonstrative way.

Sounds exciting, right?

Satchel Page (19061982), was an incredible Negro League pitcher who played for the Baltimore Black Sox starting in the spring of 1930. He played in Westport. The Black Sox had just won the 1929 American Negro League championship.

The Parks and People Foundation will communicate, coordinate and cooperate with Major League Baseball, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. and the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City as it plans and develops the Baltimore Black Sox Memorial Park. The aforementioned are all excellent tourist sites and I believe their advice should be well received.

The park will be built on an 11 mile stretch of land near the harbor. Most of the residents of the area are African American and many have been low income historically.

The last time GBC, BUILD and a Baltimore mayor teamed up was 35 years ago, for the creation of the CollegeBound Foundation, of which Scott is an alumnus.

Hopkins said the work of BUILD’s construction organization, ReBUILD Metro, in East Baltimore provided a model for how the city could confront the crisis without displacing local residents.

“The mayor saw the

Continued from B1

The Inner Harbor area has been a darling locale of previous city administrations. The Hyatt Hotel and Harborplace are its most notable development projects.

Harborplace, first opened on July 2, 1980, is now undergoing a controversial redevelopment after a steady decline and disinvestment over the last several years.

With the redevelopment of the Middle Branch area, finally, the whole waterfront is receiving attention.

Rogers stated in a press release, “We see the Middle Branch being to Baltimore in the 21st century what the inner harbor was in the 20th century, but with a lot of very important lessons learned along the way; including lessons about justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, about environmental justice, about public space.” The statement made by Mr. Rogers creates that much more excitement for the opening of the Baltimore Black Sox Memorial Park.

This columnist predicts the park will be a huge hit and a great attraction for baseball fans from all over America. Public input is currently being sought for the Black Sox Memorial Park that is coming to Middle Branch.

To have your say on the development of the space, please visit https://www. parksandpeople.org/parks/ black-sox-memorial-park/ .

Continued from B1

approach of it, how it engaged with the local community, how it didn’t displace local residents and how it brought beneficial gains to the neighborhood, from eliminating vacants to bringing wealth to the local homeowners to a sustained decrease in violence,” said Hopkins.

“He saw all of those successes and wanted to see that be replicated.”

GBC, BUILD and the

mayor are attempting to scale investment to address vacancies citywide.

The strategy involves a block-by-block approach.

“It’s not just fixing a house in one area and then going to another neighborhood and fixing a house there because when you do that, you are rebuilding a house within a depressed housing market,” said Hopkins.

The block-by-block method ensures that as vacant houses are rebuilt they will gain value.

For Thomas, the most challenging aspects of this approach will be acquiring the properties and securing the funding.

“Once the public investment is determined, you literally have to leverage private capital that for decades has neglected Baltimore,” said Thomas. “That becomes the focus when we get past the public investment needs.”

Megan Sayles and Tashi McQueen are Report For America corps members.

Endia DeCordova Continued from B1

me,” said DeCordova.

“Coming back and leading in this space to help usher our university into the next phase of our momentum is exciting and fulfilling.”

The AFRO recently connected with DeCordova to learn more about how she’s driving philanthropy at MSU. The responses below have been edited for length and clarity.

AFRO: What goals were top of mind for you when you became MSU’s vice president of institutional advancement and head of the Morgan State University Foundation in July?

Endia DeCordova: The first thing was for us to continue to strengthen the culture of philanthropy at

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the institution.

Morgan is the largest HBCU in Maryland, and we have been very successful in raising transformational gifts over the years. We’ve also received a lot of support from the state and federal government. We’re determining how we can sustain this level of support overtime, which means creating a culture where everyone sees themselves in the action of being philanthropic.

The other thing I wanted to do right away was to provide more resources for my team. Over the years we’ve seen the tremendous growth of Morgan, but in our particular division, there’s an opportunity for us to grow in staff and professional development.

I’m looking at where we need to add more capacity on our team so we can continue to raise the kind of funds that are required to meet the needs of our university.

The third goal is identifying opportunities to invest in more resources for Morgan’s growth areas.

We have the new Health and Human Services Building opening in 2024, and there’s new exciting opportunities for endowed chairs. There’s also great programming already happening in our schools of engineering and business.

We have to continue to tell the story of Morgan to get more investors and individuals to support the work we’re doing in these spaces.

Photo courtesy of Morgan State University

Endia DeCordova serves as the vice president of institutional advancement for Morgan State University and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation. She was named to the position in March by David K. Wilson, Ed.D., president of the institution.

his $50,000 award from the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. He gave it right back to the university for the Leading the World Endowment Fund, demonstrating in real time how he’s not only talking the talk but walking the walk.

One of the things I really want to stress though is that all gifts matter. A lot of times when we think about philanthropy, many individuals think they have to have a certain amount of money or status to give back. I argue that anyone can give back and that all giving counts. Oftentimes, we highlight the very big gifts, but the small gifts matter too because at the end of the day, they all add up to allow us to do great things at Morgan.

AFRO: What are some of the recent philanthropic gifts MSU has received?

AFRO: MSU’s 39th Annual Homecoming Gala is approaching, why is this event so important to support?

ED: Recently, BGE committed more than $1 million over the next four years to support scholarships and grants that address educational expenses and research in the area of engineering.

At Morgan, the school of engineering is a big initiative for us and having that level of investment is critical.

The Wells Fargo Foundation recently gifted us $1 million to help with a student housing project.

As we see our enrollment numbers increasing so is the need for student housing. Having a funder like Wells Fargo come in to help fill that gap has been instrumental. Then, our very own president, Dr. Wilson, gifted the college

ED: We have our 39th annual homecoming gala that was postponed coming up on Dec. 8.

It’s one of the largest fundraisers for Morgan where we raise critical dollars for scholarships for our students. This event is not only a party with a purpose— it allows individuals to meet with alumni, our president, members of our board of regents and some of our stellar students who are the recipients of the funds we raise.

Because we had to change the date, we unfortunately lost some of the initial guests who would have attended. With this new date, we’re hoping that others who may not have had the opportunity to

attend the gala in the past will consider showing up to support. It’s really an opportunity to give back.

We’re marketing it as “Home for the Holidays.”

People can come home to Morgan for the holidays and celebrate all of the successes and accomplishments we’ve made over the years. Being a part of the celebration is something I’m inviting all to attend.

AFRO: More broadly, why is it critical for people to support HBCUs? ED: HBCUs have played an important role in American history. There’s no doubt about it. Even today if you think about our leaders of color, many have graduated from an HBCU. The work that we’re doing in these spaces is connecting in real time with societal issues. HBCUs are critical today- more now than ever.

This is a space where diversity has always been at the cornerstone of who we are. Educating the top of class and providing the next wave of leaders for our world has been the mission of the HBCU education, and I think that’s something we should always remember.

With the Supreme Court decision that recently came down on affirmative action, we see more and more institutions holding onto these distinctions, like minority-serving institutions, hispanicserving institutions and HBCUs. We are spaces that train the best of the best and spaces where access is available to all.

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.

The Afro-American Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023 The

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Commentary

Liberty Road is dying– now is the time to act

By Ryan Coleman

Has anyone noticed?

Liberty Road, a main corridor of Baltimore County, is dying. The main problem: a lack of investment and vision– and dollar stores.

Since W.E.B. Du Bois published “The Philadelphia Negro” in 1899, scholars have explored the role of organizations in shaping the social and economic landscape of historically Black neighborhoods.

Local governments prompt and manage community development in their own jurisdictions all the time; it’s a part of their responsibilities to ensure a level of quality for residents. For those in the Baltimore county area, the fact that now is the time to act on those responsibilities couldn’t be more clear.

Liberty Road is at a breaking point and what will follow is the Black middle class flight.

Recently, the Walgreens on Milford Mill and Liberty Road shuttered its location, making it harder for residents to get prescriptions and other items. At our meeting, residents asked Baltimore County Councilman Julian E. Jones (D-4) why this flight of stores has continued.

“We don’t need trash cans and lights– we need grocery stores, book stores and sit down restaurants,” said one attendee.

The frustration is mounting as we watch development in Towson,

Courtesy photo

Ryan Coleman is the president of the Randallstown branch of the NAACP. This week, he calls for leaders to take action and invest into the Black areas of the Liberty Road Corridor before it’s too late.

Middle River and White Marsh, with no development on Liberty Road. In fact, there has been no major development on Liberty Road since the building of

“Liberty Road is at a breaking point and what will follow is the Black middle class flight.” the Walmart, Sonic, Home Depot and Ruby Tuesday under the former County

Executive Ruppersberger and Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver in the 2000s.

Baltimore County is effectively ‘improving’ itself by destroying Liberty Road and creating in other White areas– establishing patterns of uneven development.

It is appropriate to request Councilman Jones and the Baltimore County County Council make economic development on Liberty Road the top priority in 2024.

County government plays a pivotal role in helping community developers to revitalize Liberty Road.

County government sets local development priorities and allocates public funds to community development initiatives. They oversee the disbursement of land, housing and other countyowned resources. Rare is the developer that can move forward in neighborhood development without active county government participation.

Liberty Road has become a food desert and this must be addressed.

Uneven food systems across neighborhoods of varying racial compositions reveal ways that American society signals the value it places on the people in those communities. The decisions food retailers make have obvious direct impacts on residents, such as the length of a trip to their preferred store. But their indirect impacts can be even more important.

The presence of premium retail in a community can drive the decisions of other retailers to locate in or avoid the community, thus strengthening or weakening the tax base. Furthermore, the presence of premium amenities in a community makes it more appealing to wealthier residents, which raises home values and potentially contributes to firms’ decisions on where to locate offices.

Research has shown an over saturation of dollar stores weakens the community by driving out taxpayers and wealthier residents. Vanessa HallHarper, District 1 City Councilor for Tulsa, Oklahoma, paved the way for other cities when she passed the first ordinance curbing dollar stores in 2018. The Baltimore County Council must be proactive and put forth legislation to curb dollar stores, gas stations, storage facilities and other over-saturated stores.

The Baltimore County Council and policymakers must prioritize Liberty Road before there is nothing left.

The following must be done: •

•

Randallstown, Woodmoor, Lochearn and the entire Liberty Road Corridor must be included in the 2030 Master Plan.

This Masterplan is the first step towards setting up a long-term vision for realizing the true social, economic and environmental potential of Liberty Road.

Baltimore County government must put out a Request for Proposal for a consulting firm to create a development plan, advisory study or redevelopment framework for Liberty Road. This vision will be a clear and concise outline for how

•

development can and should happen on Liberty Road.

This development plan will guide future growth and revitalization impacting the Liberty Road Corridor.

Legislation and policies to curb dollar stores and promote legislation must be developed to propel government and private investment.

Disparities in access were always just a symptom of a deeper and more fundamental problem of devaluation and divestment that needs to be directly addressed. Residents must ask their elected officials and policy makers how they are addressing and implementing solutions to drive investment in the Liberty Road area.

Their answers and actions should lead you to vote for individuals that are addressing your concerns.

Baltimore residents Continued from B1

the decision on what happens with the existing businesses will be in the hands of the shopping center’s owner.

Although residents provided feedback, their top priority was when would they hear something back regarding the input they gave.

Ertel stated there were many things going on behind

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the scenes that could impact the timeliness of this matter, but told residents they should expect communication within six months to one year about the addition of a new food market.

“I think the Price Rite filled a need, but we really need somebody to come in there who’s willing

to enhance that whole experience so that we can really start pulling people in,” said Councilman Ertel. “A place you’re really going to be proud to come to, feel safe and it looks good.”

Shaela Foster is an AFRO Intern from the University of Maryland, College Park.

B4 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

Afro Charities celebrates 60 years with gala and fundraising campaign

By AFRO Staff fro Charities celebrated six decades of success on Nov. 30 at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. The organization was founded on Nov. 15, 1963 and serves as the non-profit sister company to the AFRO American Newspapers. The organization cares for the AFRO Archives and curates educational materials and cultural experiences based on the historic collection, which includes more than three million photographs, audio recordings and letters.

A

Board members and stakeholders of both the AFRO American Newspapers and Afro Charities come together on Nov. 30 at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Shown here, from left to right:

AFRO Board Member Dr. James Wood Jr., with Robin Wood, Esq, president Board of Directors for Afro Charities; AFRO Director of Operations Andre Draper; AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper; Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood; (back) AFRO Vice President of Marketing and Technology Kevin Peck; Angela Wheeler; AFRO Director of Digital Solutions Dana Peck; AFRO Board Member Laura Murphy and Bill Psillas.

Currently, Afro Charities is in the process of building a new home for the AFRO Archives. Afro Charities has launched a campaign to raise funds for the renovation of the Upton Mansion, located at 811 W. Lanvale in West Baltimore. The building will serve as a permanent home for the AFRO Archives and include office space for the AFRO News staff and other interested organizations AFRO News and Afro Charities and companies. The Afro Charities team has been offered the Board Member Beverly Carter opportunity to have funds raised matched by donors. They are celebrates the work done by currently on a mission to raise $350,000 in pledged donations Afro Charities over the past

by Dec. 31 of this year, with donors having five years to make six decades with John Carter. good on their promise. Once the pledge goal is reached, it will unlock another $3.2 million in funds. To make a pledge to the AFRO Photos/James Fields Afro Charities campaign to renovate Upton Mansion, please visit afrocharities.org.

Members of the Afro Charities staff are recognized at their 60th anniversary gala. Shown here, from left to right: Megan McShea, Jasmine Clarke (back), Bacarri Byrd, Bilphena Yahwon, Oyinda Omoloja, Deyane Moses and Nicoletta de la Brown.

Baltimore Museum of Art Director Asma Naeem enjoys the evening with Jeannie Howe, executive director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.

Chanel Johnson (left) and Dr. Oluwa Tosin Adegbola Richard, of the Afro Charities Board of Directors, speak about the mission of the organization.

DJ Tanz turns out the tunes for attendees on the dance floor.

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (DMd.-07) speaks to the audience about the important work of Afro Charities. Mfume, along with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), worked to secure a $2.25 million federal investment to renovate the Upton Mansion.

Faith P. Leach, chief administrative officer of Baltimore, joins Shamiah Kerney, chief recovery officer of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, at the Baltimore Museum of Industry to celebrate the success of Afro Charities.

Black Mental Health Alliance marks 40 years with Dr. Maxie T. Collier Awards Ceremony and Anniversary Gala

Jason Newton, of WBAL-TV, serves as host for the award ceremony and gala.

Keynote speaker Dr. Jay Barnett, a former pro football player turned author, shares powerful words with those gathered for BMHA’s 40th anniversary gala.

From left to Right: Dr. Maxie Collier Awardee T-Keyia Blackman Maxwell, BMHA Executive Director Andrea Brown and Awardee Linda Diaz.

By AFRO Staff

T

he Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) celebrated 40 years of existence with the Dr. Maxie T. Collier Awards Ceremony and 40th Anniversary Gala on Dec. 1. The event took place at the World Trade Center in Downtown Baltimore. Leaders from around the country were honored for their work in the community, and Dr. Jay Barnett served as keynote speaker, offering an encouraging word to those who struggle with their mental health. Founded by psychiatrist Dr. Maxie Collier, Fikre Workneh, a social worker from Ethiopia, and former Sen. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, a respected registered nurse, the BMHA still today seeks to address mental health disparities in the Black community.

The Dr. Maxie T. Collier Awards shine shortly before being handed out to deserving recipients.

Susan Smallwood, founder of Grandiosity Events, makes an appearance at the BMHA gala and awards ceremony.

JoJo Simmons, recipient of the Phoenix Arising Award, serves as CEO and co-founder of Whos House Entertainment. Simmons uses his talent to address mental health in the community.

Together, the three built an organization to serve the community with culturally responsive care from mental health clinicians looking to serve the Black population. Currently led

by Executive Director Andrea Brown, today the organization stands as a resource hub for those in need of mental health support. BMHA connects Black mental health professionals in states across the country with each other and Black people looking to improve their mental health. The organization also hosts a variety of community programs to help Black people improve the state of their mental health and their day-to-day lives.

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

AFRO Photos/A.J. Johnson

December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023 The Afro-American

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World hits climate tipping point - what does it mean for Black folks?

By Willy Blackmore Word In Black With cooler temps arriving, America’s long, hottest summer of 2023 is now one for the record books. It was a season of baffling heat, particularly across the South and Southwest: For nearly all of July and August, for example, the daily high temperatures were above 96 degrees in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — and New Orleans hit a record high of 105 degrees.

Although most of the nation roasted in extremely hot temps, Louisiana was the only state to officially have its hottest summer ever. The extreme heat was particularly bad across the rest of the Gulf Coast, too, from Texas to Florida. The summer not only smashed heat records but left many people dead.

While things are milder now, they are by no means back to normal globally: with spring heatwaves scorching the Southern

“ Our best estimate is that this was the first day when global temperature was more than 2°C above 1850-1900 (or preindustrial) levels, at 2.06°C.” Hemisphere and temperatures still above average in much of the U.S., we’re still breaking heat records. On Nov. 17 and 18, the world, on the whole, set a very ominous benchmark: on those two days, the global average temperature was 2 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average.

That is to say, we briefly surpassed the threshold beyond which lies catastrophic climate change, the barrier that we need to not cross if we want to maintain anything resembling the global ecosystem as it has existed during our lifetimes, and the

Unsplash/Jon Tyson

As we reach a long-feared climate threshold, dangerously high temps have catastrophic consequences on Black communities. many, many comforts that come with it.

“Our best estimate is that this was the first day when global temperature was more than 2°C above 1850-1900 (or preindustrial) levels, at 2.06°C,” Samantha Burgess, the deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, tweeted on Nov. 19.

There are a number of caveats to this record, one being that it’s an early estimate that could be revised (calculating the average of temperatures from all around the globe is

complicated), and another being that the 2 degrees Celsius threshold discussed in international climate talks and environment-related policy is a global average over the course of decades, not one weekend. It doesn’t mean that we’ve failed, but it’s a big, bad first nonetheless.

Richard Allan, a climate scientist at the University of Reading, told CNN that it amounted to a “canary in the coal mine,” adding that it “underscores the urgency of tackling greenhouse gas emissions.”

Crossing 2 degrees Celsius in a sustained manner would add an additional month (compared to mid-century averages) of dangerous summer temperatures for more than a quarter of the world’s population, according to a NASA study.

And as this summer’s seemingly endless heatwaves foreshadowed, those dangerously high highs often affect places that are and have historically been Black communities, like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Even in cities that aren’t predominantly Black, the effects of redlining Black neighborhoods nearly a century ago have resulted in those areas being markedly hotter today than Whiter parts of the same cities.

With yet another major El Niño weather pattern established in the Pacific (which helped dive this past summer’s high temperatures), don’t expect the record highs to go away anytime soon, even if the global averages drop back below the 2 degrees Celsius threshold.

In Rio de Janeiro, the temperature hit 108 degrees, with the heat index hitting nearly 140. The death of a fan at a Taylor Swift concert due to heat-related issues has received the most international media attention, but the country has its own climate justice issues when it comes to extreme heat: the favelas in Rio tend to be hotter than the rest of the city, due partly to their ad-hoc construction and their locations too. And the people who live in the favelas are not only very poor, but some 67 percent are Black, too.

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

In some neighborhoods in drought-prone Kenya, clean water is scarce - filters are one solution

By Emmanuel Igunza The Associated Press

As the sun rises in the Bondeni-Jua Kali neighborhood on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, dozens of women and men step out of their corrugated iron homes with yellow jerricans, skip over pools of sewage and make their way to a nearby water vending station.

There is no piped water or sewage system in the area, and drought has made clean water supplies more scarce and expensive for locals. Twice a week, trucks with 5,000 to 10,000 liters (1,300 to 2,600 gallons) of water will fill up vending stations across Athi River where residents can buy 20 liters (five gallons) for 20 Kenyan Shillings ($0.16).

A household of four needs about five gallons a day, and weekly incomes are about $13, according to data from Kenya’s Finance Ministry.

But for those whose homes are kitted out with water filters distributed by a local nonprofit, the nearby river — polluted, prone to drought and usually unsafe for drinking — is becoming a cheaper and sometimes more reliable source of clean water. And while advocates say underlying issues like climate change -fueled drought and poor water management need to be urgently addressed, solutions like filters make a short-term difference because deliveries are often not enough for the neighborhoods’ needs.

Many rely on unsafe alternatives if they miss out on the trucked-in stocks.

“Sometimes, we get to the water vending stations and

find that the queue is long and then the water finishes and you have to wait,” said 46-year-old resident Joyce Ngui. “Most of the times you don’t have money to buy even the salty water sold around. So we have no choice but to use the swamp water,” she said.

When The Associated Press met Ngui, she was heading to a swamp to draw water to clean her family’s

filters, made by the water filtering company Sawyer, to households in the four neighborhoods in Athi River since August and plans to up that number to 6,000.

The devices are the size of a small water bottle and are fitted with a hose pipe onto a bucket. They can filter water from the river and nearby swamps into potable water that can be used by residents.

“Sometimes, we get to the water vending stations and find that the queue is long and then the water finishes and you have to wait. Most of the times you don’t have money to buy even the salty water sold around. So we have no choice but to use the swamp water.” clothes and for cooking.

Part of the slimy swamp is clogged with overgrown water lilies. Ngui doesn’t have a water filter, so she can’t turn the swamp water into something suitable for drinking.

Ngui would like a filter, “so that we can be able to filtrate the dirty water and be able to drink it,” she said.

Otherwise, “it just has germs and diseases.”

Bucket Ministry, a Christian nonprofit organization, has been providing communities around Nairobi and other parts of Kenya with the easy-to-use water filters.

It provided over 600

“It filters every germ or pathogen that causes waterborne diseases,” said Derrick Mesulamu, the country director for the group. “It is designed in such a way that it has micro holes that don’t allow those particles that cause water-borne diseases to pass through.”

Josephine Mutile, a resident with a water filter, is already seeing the benefits.

“I have been sick often and visiting the hospital where I am tested and told that I have typhoid, or an amoeba infection or diarrhea.

Boiling water (to kill viruses and bacteria) is expensive because cooking gas is expensive,” Mutile said.

AP Photo/Brian Inganga

Joyce Ngui heads to fetch groundwater in Athi River, Machakos county, Kenya.

“Now I have this filter, it will help me a lot.”

Machakos’ local government has been desilting and cleaning up the river, but most of the pollution, including plastic bags and bottles, happens upstream, where residents in poorer areas of Nairobi dump waste into the Nairobi River that then flows into the Athi River.

“Because of water scarcity, residents in Machakos have turned to rivers, shallow wells or other sources which are contaminated with pollutants — including human and animal waste,” said Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti.

She told The AP that the county government is cracking down on industries that have been disposing of chemical waste and other pollutants into the Athi River.

Authorities “have put in

place regulations to monitor and limit industrial pollution, but the effectiveness all depends on compliance and strict enforcement, which we will do,” she said.

Historically, Athi River is a water-scarce region, grasslands turned brown from the scorching sun and huge tracts of land were left untilled as residents couldn’t farm the drylands.

Consecutive seasons of failed rains and drought, driven by human-caused climate change and consecutive naturally occurring La Nina weather phenomena, have worsened shortages.

“Climate change has had a very long term and short term devastating impact on water resources in Kenya, and especially the drylands,” said Namenya Naburi, an environmentalist and climate change expert from the African Nazarene University.

“We’ve seen most of resources, especially surface

water, has been declining due to the effects of climate change.”

The loss of reliable water sources “have become a recurrent threat to our communities,” said Wavinya.

Experts say that while water filters are worthwhile, for a project like this to work it will need to be scaled up to reach millions of people in a similar situation to Athi River dwellers.

“These measures are just stop gap, a small dribble,” said Tobias Omufwoko from the WASH Alliance Kenya. “The main solution is for the government and all stakeholders to play their part in making sure that first and foremost that we conserve our sources of water.”

“There’s no shortcut,” he said.

The article was originally published by the Associated Press.

C2 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

Sports Illustrated names Deion Sanders 2023 Sportsman of the Year

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire New Colorado Buffaloes Coach Deion Sanders has been named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year.”

After all the controversy with his decision to leave an HBCU, Jackson State University, Sanders remains a winner even after a losing season. The Colorado Buffaloes record is 4-8.

But the excitement around the Buffaloes, despite the record, led to excitement for all of college football.

Even though the Colorado Buffaloes did not make it to the Pac-12 championship and have lost their last six games, Sanders’ short time as head coach has brought attention and money to a failing sports program in Colorado. Sanders’ son, star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, did not finish the season for the Buffaloes after a leg injury.

But the excitement around Deion Sanders, 56, despite the team’s record, has been undeniable. Sanders’ had already been a legend because of his exceptional skills on the field and his impact on the sports world as a multi-sport athlete and a charismatic personality. Sanders was the first time two-time Super Bowl champion after winning with the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX and the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX. Sanders was known for his exceptional speed and coverage skills, which earned him the nickname “Prime Time.”

Deion Sanders attended Florida State University, where he played both football and baseball. In football, he played as a cornerback and a punt returner. He won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in college football. Sanders was also an outstanding baseball player, playing as an outfielder. The New York Yankees drafted him in the 30th round of the 1988 MLB Draft.

Even after a season with an unimpressive record, Sanders remains optimistic.

“Coach Prime” is causing excitement in the same way he did at Jackson State, even though the population at Colorado is only 1.3 percent Black. Sanders is promising improvement next year.

Courtesy of AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Deion Sanders is the Sports Illustrated “Sportsperson of the Year” for his work in reinvigorating a fanbase and putting a downtrodden football program back on the map in his first season at the University of Colorado.

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December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023 The Afro-American C3

Black stars shine on 2024 Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list

By AFRO Staff

Every year, the much-anticipated Forbes 30 Under 30 list features rising stars in several industries. The magazine receives more than 20,000 nominations, collectively, for the North America, Europe and Asia lists. Then, that list is refined – researched, analyzed and vetted – until 600 candidates emerge for the U.S. list.

Among those luminaries, Black innovators and artists usually shine bright. Alumni include Zendaya, John Boyega, Kendrick Lamar and Stephen Curry. This year’s 86 honorees are no less impressive, featuring Broadway’s youngest Black playwright, Jordan E. Cooper, U.S. sprinter Sha’carri Richardson, and social media’s favorite food critic, Keith Lee. Here is the 2024 list of Forbes’ (Black) 30 Under 30: Music • Ice Spice, rapper • Steve Lacy, musician • Bktherula, rapper • Trippie Redd, rapper • Armani White, musician Art & Style • Paul Hill, founder, Strada • Adefolakunmi Adenugba, founder, Ise-Da • Tia Adeola, founder, Tia Adeola • Akea Brionne, artist • Josh Holm, founder, Castles & Queens • Kreshonna Keane, founder, Visuals By K Studios • Ludovic Nkoth, artist • Ambrose Rhapsody Murray, artist • Larissa Rogers, artist • Courtney Spears, dancer • Justice Faith Betty and Nia Faith Betty, co-founders, Révolutionnaire • Kendra Walker, founder, Atlanta Art Week • Jacob Webster, photographer • Sophia Wilson, photographer Hollywood and entertainment • Jordan E. Cooper, playwright • Jasmin Savoy Brown, actor • Eric Jordan Darnell, agent, William Morris Endeavor • Gabe Kunda, voice actor • Lexi Underwood, actor • Alyah Chanelle Scott, actor Consumer Technology • Tony Morino, co-founder, Wiseday • Fai Nur, Blossom Okonkwo and Great Okonkwo, co-founders, Wishroll

Social Media • Drew “Druski” Desbordes, creator • Taylor Cassidy, creator • Drea Okeke, creator • Monet McMichael, creator

Education • Savannah Smith and Ebony Welborn, co-founders, Sea Potential • Justin Shaifer, founder, Fascinate Media • Myles Gage, co-founder of Rapunzl • Alliyah Logan, co-founder, Cultivate Global Education Energy • Kiana Kazemi, co-founder, Intersectional Environmentalist

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Baltimore Ravens

Playwright Jordan E. Cooper, quarterback Lamar Jackson seen arriving at 76th annual is among Forbes’ 30 Under Tony Awards on June 11, 30.

2023, is honored among Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list 2024.

Food • Camari Mick, executive pastry chef, The Musket Room • Keith Lee, creator/social media food critic Games • Xalavier Nelson Jr., founder, Strange Scaffold Manufacturing and industry • Oluseun Taiwo, co-founder, Solideon

AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

Sha’Carri Richardson, a U.S. track and field standout, poses after winning the bronze medal in the Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Women’s 200-meters final Rapper Ice Spice, winner of during the World Athletics the award for best new artist Championships in Budapest, at the 2023 MTV Video Music Hungary, Aug. 25, 2023.

Awards, was named to 30 Richardson has been named Under 30 by Forbes list. as a Forbes 30 Under 30.

Marketing and advertising • Chinonye Vanessa Mbonu, vice president of Digital Marketing & Communications, NAACP • Brandon Smithwrick, head of content, Kickstarter • Shauna James, senior manager, Digital Marketing of Black Music, Atlantic Records • Bridget Kyeremateng, senior manager, Inclusive Marketing, Twitch • Simone Jackson, global brand manager, Spotify • Amala Okpala, strategic partner manager, Instagram Media • Dillon St. Bernard, founder, Team DSB • Devon Blackwell, associate producer, The New Yorker • Dominic-Madori Davis, reporter, Techcrunch • Hunter Harris, writer • Aiyana Ishmael, associate editor, Teen Vogue

• Mya-Breyana Morton, co-founder, Unconscious Media • Paula Ngon, senior global communications manager, Condé Nast Science • Clare Luckey, aerospace engineer, NASA • Nialah Wilson-Small, industry assistant professor, New York University • Matthew Clarke, assistant professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign • Saadia Gabriel, incoming assistant professor, University of California, Los Angeles Social Impact • Wawa Gatheru, founder, Black Girl Environmentalist • Sydney Montgomery, founder, Barrier Breakers

Sports • Ronald Acuña Jr., outfielder, Atlanta Braves • Nepheesa Collier, forward, Minnesota Lynx • Anthony Edwards, shooting guard, Minnesota Timberwolves • Austin Ekeler, running back, Los Angeles Chargers • Matt Howard, senior associate, KB Partners, a venture capital firm fostering teams focused on intersection of sports and technology • Stasia Foster, brand consulting executive sports marketer, Creative Artists Agency • Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Baltimore Ravens • Tyshawn Jones, professional skateboarder • Kyle Kuzma, forward, Washington Wizards • Angel Reese, forward, Louisiana State University • Sha’carri Richardson, sprinter, Team USA • Isiah Turner, agent, WME Sports Retail & e-commerce • Amira Rasool, founder, The Folklore Group • Philomina Kane, founder, Kin Apparel • Kadidja Dosso, founder, Dosso Beauty • Jordan Bentley, founder, Hypland Finance • Temilayo Butler, vice president, Harbourview Equity Partners • Saheedat Onifade, investment strategist, Churchill Asset Management • Nina Meyers, growth equity investor, Goldman Sachs • Kennedy Ekezie, founder, Kippa Venture Capital • Sesana Allen, associate Investor, Smash Capital • Brandon Greer, director of corporate development, Hubspot

JPMorgan Chase invests $5.3M to support students in D.C., Maryland and Virginia

By Megan Sayles AFRO Business reporter msayles@afro.com JPMorgan Chase announced a $5.3 million investment to expand career opportunities for high school students in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia on Nov. 30.

The funds will be used to support TalentReady, an initiative of the Greater Washington Partnership (GWP) and Education Strategy Group (ESG) that prepares young people for in-demand careers and postsecondary opportunities.

This investment marks the second phase of the initiative, which was created in 2018. The first focused on information technology careers. Now, the program will expand to include additional pathways, like healthcare, determined by local labor market data.

“We have to act as a region to ensure that we’ve created the right pathways for young people to take advantage of the opportunities in not only the jobs of the future but the jobs that exist today,” said Nadine Duplessy Kearns, JPMorgan Chase’s vice president and program officer for global philanthropy in Greater Washington. “We have a responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders, whether they be school systems, employers, the corporate sector or the nonprofit community, are singularly-minded and focused on creating opportunities for young people to step into the jobs that will

Photo courtesy of JPMorgan Chase

Photo courtesy of Education Strategy Group

Nadine Duplessy Kearns is the vice president program officer for global philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase in Greater Washington.

The firm invested $5.3 million in the TalentReady initiative, which prepares young people for in-demand careers and postsecondary opportunities.

Matt Gandal is the president and CEO of Education Strategy Group. The organization, in collaboration with Greater Washington Partnership, created the TalentReady initiative in 2019.

help our communities thrive.”

JPMorgan Chase’s investment will support students in Baltimore; Fairfax County, Va.; Montgomery County, Md.; Prince George’s County, Md.; and Washington, D.C. Through TalentReady, ESG and GWP will collaborate with the secondary and higher education school systems in those districts, as well as regional employers, to provide greater access to postsecondary opportunities, high-

value credentials and professional experiences.

“A high school diploma will not be enough in Baltimore City and in the D.C. region to obtain jobs that pay well enough to support a family. We’re aiming toward a continued pathway where you obtain a credential beyond a high school diploma,” said Matt Gandal, president and CEO of ESG. “In many cases in this initiative, we’ll be helping support more advanced and college-level courses in industryrecognized credentials that can be

earned while the students are still in high school.”

GWP is using the funds to support the Employer Signaling System (ESS), which bridges the gap between the classroom and the workplace. Employers are able to report on the latest knowledge, skills, abilities and credentials needed for in-demand careers, while educators leverage the insights to inform their curriculum.

“Through our TalentReady work, we’re continuing to strengthen the ESS, our innovative process and tool that combines labor market data with feedback from employers and educators to paint a comprehensive picture of the region’s workforce landscape,” said Kathy Hollinger, CEO at GWP. “We know conversations about talent pipelines can occur in silos, with various stakeholder groups in discussions amongst themselves, but not always to one another. The ESS serves as the connector between these groups — educators, employers, and more — allowing them all to speak in common language about talent needs and skills gaps.”

During the first phase of TalentReady, Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) worked to increase the number of students entering computer science and cyber networking career technical education (CTE) pathways. According to Gandal, ESG discovered that students from certain ZIP codes did not have access to these programs.

“It turned out that in certain geographies in Baltimore City, there were only some students who were getting access to programs that led to credentials that opened the door to well-paying jobs,” said Gandal.

“If you moved to a different part of the city, you found those schools did not have any of those programs. All the students were being ushered into pathways that I would argue led to dead ends.”

Robin Perry, CTE instructor for CISCO Cybersecurity at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School, said TalentReady has enabled her school to partner with organizations that specialize in exposing underserved students to careers in cybersecurity.

She thinks this investment is particularly important because it focuses on jobs that are readily available in the region.

“Skilled workers are needed in every industry but especially in cybersecurity. This generation was raised on technology,” Perry. “The ability for students to enhance a skill they already have, teaching them theory and practical applications within and outside of the classroom using real and virtual environments to review, expose and solve real-world problems, prepares them for greater things—things that can change their entire family. That’s the kind of program our school should support.”

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.

C4 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 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

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

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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LEGAL NOTICES

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LEGAL NOTICES

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

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December 9, 2023 - December 15, 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 GENERAL SERVICES

CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES

NOTICE OF LETTING

NOTICE OF LETTING

Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate, addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for GS21825 – 88 State Circle Renovations, will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024.

Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids.

Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. Bid opening proceedings can be also viewed live at https://www.charmtvbaltimore.com/live-stream at 12:00 noon. Bid tabulation sheets detailing the bids received will be publicly posted to the Comptroller’s website by COB on the date of bid opening.

Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate, addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for GS21833 – Samuel Morse Community Center Roof Replacement, will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. Bid opening proceedings can be also viewed live atn https://www.charmtvbaltimore. com/live-stream at 12:00 noon. Bid tabulation sheets detailing the bids received will be publicly posted to the Comptroller’s website

by COB on the date of bid opening.

The Contract Documents may be purchased for a non-refundable The Contract Documents may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of $50.00 by contacting Azza Rizkallah at azza.rizkallah@ cost of $50.00 by contacting Azza Rizkallah at azza.rizkallah@ baltimorecity.gov as of FRIDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2023. baltimorecity.gov as of FRIDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2023.

Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be pre-qualified by the City of Baltimore Boards and Commissions.

Interested contractors should call 410 396-6883 or contact the Office of Boards and Commissions at 4 South Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. If a bid is submitted by a Joint Venture (“JV”), then in that event, the documents that establish the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is E13004 – REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES The Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $1,000,000.01 to $2,000,000.00

Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be pre-qualified by the City of Baltimore Boards and Commissions.

Interested contractors should call 410 396-6883 or contact the Office of Boards and Commissions at 4 South Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. If a bid is submitted by a Joint Venture (“JV”), then in that event, the documents that establish the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is F07500 – ROOFING INDUSTRIAL

A” Pre-Bidding information” session will be conducted at the site: The Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $1,000,000.01 88 Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401 on THURSDAY, December 21, to $2,000,000.00 A” Pre-Bidding information” session will be conducted at the site: 424 S. Pulaski Street, Baltimore, MD 21223 2023 at 10:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, December 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Principal Items of work for this project are: Principal Items of work for this project are: 1. General Requirement 1. Roofing 2. Finishes The MBE goal is 17% 3. HVAC The WBE goal is 5% The MBE goal is 27% CONTRACT NO. GS 21833 The WBE goal is 10% CONTRACT NO. GS 21825 APPROVED: Erika McClammy Clerk, Board of Estimates APPROVED: Berke Attila Director, Department of General Services BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ON BILL NO. 23-0413 The Economic and Community Development Committee of the Baltimore City Council will meet on October 31, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 4 th Floor, City Hall, 100 Holliday Street to conduct a public hearing on City Council Bill No. 23-0413.

CC 23-0413 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL – The Solid Waste Management Plan for Baltimore – Repeal and Replace – FOR the purpose of repealing the Solid Waste Management Plan for 2013-2023 that was adopted by Resolution 14-019, as amended by Resolution 15-025; adopting the Solid Waste Management Plan for 2024-2033; providing for a special effective date; and generally relating to the Solid Waste Management Plan for Baltimore City.

State law (Environment Article § 9-503 and COMAR 26.03.03) requires each county and Baltimore City to adopt and maintain a comprehensive solid waste plan that covers at least the succeeding 10-year period and to periodically review, amend and revise the plan as needed. The plan to be considered for adoption would be for the period covering 2024 to 2033. Interested persons may attend the hearing. Written statements may be sent to Ms. Natawna Austin, Executive Secretary, Office of the City Council President, 100 Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

Summary of Plan: The Baltimore City 10 Year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is a regulatory plan submitted to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) to map operational needs, constraints, and improvements for waste management within the City for the next 10 years (2024-2033). The plan consolidates goals for managing the City’s solid waste stream, assesses the existing solid waste collection systems and current and future disposal capacity needs. Many actions described in the SWMP reflect a transition towards zero waste principles, prioritizing the conservation of materials, circular economies, and greenhouse gas reduction.

The SWMP’s Plan of Action includes: * A roadmap for the City to achieve a recycling rate of at least 35% by implementing strategies to improve source reduction, donation, reuse, and diversion; * Cleaning and greening strategies focused on reducing littering and illegal dumping through community engagement and enforcement; * Improvements to mixed reuse and recycling curbside collection, bulk waste pick-up and the small hauler program; * Expansion of Baltimore City’s waste processing capacity including recycling processing infrastructure (MRFs) and composting facilities; * Plans to improve and expand Quarantine Road Landfill and increase the City’s waste transfer capacity; AND * Strategies to decrease the City’s dependence on incineration.

NOTE: This bill is subject to amendment by the Baltimore City Council.

HONORABLE SHARON GREENE MIDDLETON Chair

APPROVED: Erika McClammy Clerk, Board of Estimates APPROVED: Berke Attila Director, Department of General Services CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for BALTIMORE CITY NO. RP23889 GARDENVILLE RECREATION CENTER will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M. January 24, 2024. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. The proposed Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, at the Dept. of Rec & Parks at 2600 Madison Ave, Baltimore, Md. 21217 by appointment only on Mondays - Fridays, 8:30am – 4:00pm by emailing benitaj.randolph@baltimorecity.gov as of December 8, 2023 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of $200.00. 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 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is E13001 Three Story and Under.

Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $12,000,000.00 to $17,000,000.00. A “MANDATORY Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams at 10:30 A.M. on December 14, 2023. Email your contact information to sharvari. subramaniam@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team(video conference mee ing) no later than December 13, 2023 at 9:00am. Principal Items of work for this project are Removal of site improvements, Earthwork, Underground utilities, Storm water facilities, New One-Story Building, New Site Amenities including a Loop walk, Playground, Landscaping, & Hardscaping. The MBE goal is 13.85% and WBE goal is 4.23%.

APPROVED: M. Celeste Amato, Clerk, Board of Estimates City of Baltimore Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement Sealed proposals addressed to the Board of Estimates of Baltimore will be Received until, but not later than 11:00 am local time on the following dates for the stated requirements.

December 20, 2023 *DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION of CONDUIT and FIBER OPTIC CABLE at MULTIPLE LOCATIONS RFQ-000478 ENTIRE SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/supplier/baltimorecity/SupplierSite

BALTIMORE CAREER CORNER ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Addictions Specialist Assistant Chief, Surveys 911 Call Taker/Dispatcher Building & Construction Engineer II Classification/Compensation Analyst (Part-time) Classification & Compensation Analyst (Personnel Analyst III) Combination Code Inspector Community Engagement Officer Construction Code Inspector Detention Officer Emergency Services Manager Engineer I, II, III Environmental Technician Equipment Operator I Equipment Operator II Financial Clerk I Fog Inspector (Utility System Technician II) Landfill Manager Legal Secretary Maintenance Worker II Park Ranger I Permit Specialist (Planning Technician II) Planning Technician II Police Officer Entry Level Roads Maintenance Supervisor Senior Center Associate Senior Equipment Operator Survey Field Technician Systems Programmer I Utilities Maintenance Crew Leader Utilities Repair Crew Leader Utilities Support Worker I Utilities Support Worker II Utility Construction Inspector Utility Operations Administrator (Infrastructure) Water System Technician I/II Visit our website at www.aacounty.org for additional information and to apply on-line. You may access the Internet at any Anne Arundel County library, or visit our office at 2660 Riva Road in Annapolis, MD. Deadlines to apply posted on the website.

C6 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

WASHINGTON-AREA

Decembe 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023 The Afro-American

Washington Association of Black Journalists hosts 2023 gala at Howard University

Celebrating excellence: AFRO Editor Rev. Dorothy Boulware honored at ‘Unsung She-roes’ Awards

By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor afields@afro.com

By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO ealstonbuck@afro.com The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. was graced with the presence of extraordinary women whose dedication to ministerial excellence has left an indelible mark on their communities on Dec. 1.

Aptly named “The Unsung She-roes Black Tie Gala,” the event was aimed at honoring 24 “dynamic” and “trailblazing” women with “an evening of elegance,” according to information released by organizers.

Rev. Dorothy Boulware, an award-winning AFRO journalist and editor, has joyfully served at the AFRO American Newspapers for more than 20 years, evolving from a reporter to the managing editor of the 131-year-old publication.

Continued on D3

Courtesy photo

Rev. Dorothy Boulware is an author and steward of faith for the local community.

D1

AFRO Staff / Ashleigh Fields

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) hosts the World AIDS Day Conference on Dec. 1 to create awareness around the epidemic impacting the Black community.

World AIDS Day Conference convenes in the nation’s capital

By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor afields@afro.com Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) observed the impact of her 25-year-old Minority AIDS Initiative at 25 through the lens of benefactors at the World AIDS Day Conference on Dec. 1. The initiative was established by Congress in 1998 with the objective to provide evidence-based treatment to HIV patients with primary care and prevention services for people of color.

Waters partnered with organizations aiming to eradicate health disparities for the day-long symposium at the John Hopkins Bloomberg Center. The conference

“Black women account for more than half 55 percent of new HIV diagnoses among women. We’ve got to get more money.

We’ve got to get more resources. We need more capital and it’s not going to come– we have to fight for it.”

included two panel discussions surrounding the correlation between race and access to quality healthcare.

“It is often true that one of the biggest barriers to equity is a lack of resources— especially when it comes to funding for programs that are designed to serve Black and Brown communities,” said panel participant Alphonso David, president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum. “When it comes to funding, it’s important to look for ways that both the public and private sectors can work together to provide sustainable support for programs…”

This sentiment was echoed by Waters, who served as the keynote speaker.

“Black women account for more

Veteran communication professionals imparted wisdom on reporters young and old at the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) Scholarship Gala on Dec. 2. A deserving group of seven individuals were honored for their strides toward inclusivity and equality in news gathering for members of the media across the nation. “ Each of you has been granted both the privilege and the opportunity to make a difference, to help forge new paths, to be more open at and around the table; to make your own footprints and to leave a few for someone

“ Each of you has been granted both the privilege and the opportunity to make a difference, to help forge new paths, to be more open at and around Continued on D3 the table; to make your own footprints and to leave a few for someone be installed in different locations across the else to follow.”

District Department of Transportation installs new traffic enforcement cameras

By Re’Jon Jones Special to the AFRO The District Department of Transportation (DDOT)

has announced the upcoming installation of speed limit cameras across Washington D.C. This move is part

of a broader effort to enhance road safety by reducing accidents and encouraging safe driving.

The proliferation of these

Photo courtesy of unsplash.com

Throughout the District, over 40 new traffic cameras have been installed in an effort to combat accidents in locations identified as “High Injury Network” areas.

cameras is a response to the rise of traffic fatalities seen in the past year.

Over 40 cameras have been installed in the last month on roads with heavy traffic including Benning Road in Southeast, Rhode Island Ave. in Northeast in addition to U Street, Florida Ave. and Georgia Ave. in Northwest.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Santiago Lakatos of ANC 1B said he is “pleased about the new speeding cameras and hope they will work to stop the speeding.”

Lakatos also recognized that, “while the cameras may not get rid of all excessive speeding, it does reduce speeding by 85 percent.”

These cameras will

Northwest, Northeast and Southeast quadrants, being placed in areas with a history of high accident and prevalent speeding violations. DDOT noted that once signage is posted informing drivers that speed is photo enforced, those in violation of the guidelines will be given

else to follow,” said lifetime achievement awardee Pat Lawson of NBC4 Washington.

Lawson, a graduate of Howard University wisely quoted the words of Booker T. Washington, saying that “Success

Continued on D3

Continued on D2

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253

Past Seven Days 2023 Total Data as Dec. 6

D2 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

D.C. officials introduce HBCU Public Service Program

By Gene Lambey Special to the AFRO Mayor Muriel Bowser officially launched the HBCU Public Service Program on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia earlier this month on Nov. 13.

The program invites graduating undergrad seniors from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Howard University to apply for public service positions with the D.C. government.

It is set to begin in summer of 2024 with applications opening on Feb. 1 and closing onFeb. 28, 2024. Those who are interested in applying can do so at does.dc.gov/ HBCU. “Building talent is our number one calling because we want all of our residents to be able to participate in a prosperous D.C.,” Bowser said. “Wherever I go in the city, I see talented people.”

To celebrate the launch of the event, the respective presidents of Howard University Ben Vinson and the University of the District of Columbia Maurice D. Edington were present.

This program provides a yearlong paid apprenticeship for the participating students. The participating students will be provided a competitive salary, a full-benefits package, paid holiday, sick and annual leave. Students must be willing to work at an agency during their apprenticeship. There is no GPA requirement for the students applying.

Bowser spoke at the opening event, promoting the HBCU Public Service Leadership Apprenticeship Program and noting the city has “no shortage of talent” that the program looks to cultivate.

Bowser envisions the HBCU Public Service Leadership Apprenticeship Program as a great learning opportunity for students that are interested in D.C. government services and departments, giving them the momentum they need to pursue their careers.

“We’re a local government and in local government in D.C., you can go to the feds, you can go to think tanks, you can go to a lot of places that do public policy, but you won’t have the immediate impact you can have in local government,” Bowser said. “I tell folks if you like politics, if you like people, you like to mix it up a little bit, you like public policy, but more than that you want to change communities one block at a time, the place you go to local government.”

Overall, Mayor Bowser’s main goal through this

program is to have Howard and UDC graduating seniors to apply into the D.C. government to increase the workforce in the several departments around the city.

The AFRO spoke with Unique Morris Hughes Ph.D., director of the Department of Employment Services, who spoke more on the program and how public services agencies would be accessible for the UDC and Howard University students.

“There’s 25 positions that we’re going to offer for this inaugural year and the positions are going to span over multiple agencies from the Department of Employment Services (DOES), D.C. Healthcare, Finance, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Child and Family Service Agency (CFSA), D.C. Water, D.C. Parks and Rec,” said Hughes. “Those are just some of the agencies that we have enlisted to partner with and our list is growing day by day.”

Hughes believed that graduating seniors from UDC and Howard, entering into this program would not only benefit the students in gaining work experience but also bring young people into D.C. government agencies.

Hughes spoke with the AFRO on the importance of the program, highlighting the benefits of college graduates entering the public service workforce as she mentioned “fulfilling opportunities” that would have workers living in the same communities that they are helping. Hughes also mentioned the possibility that the HBCU Public Service Leadership Apprenticeship Program would be expanded outside of Howard University and UDC. “We intend on offering mentorship and other professional development opportunities, you name it,” Hughes said. “From understanding economics and the D.C. budget, to specific skills related to that person’s occupation and industry that they are working in, these are really unique components of the program as well.”

Photo courtesy of D.C. Department of Employment Services

On Nov. 13, University of the District of Columbia President Maurice Edington (left), Unique Morris Hughes, director of the Department of Employment Services, Charles Hall Jr., director of DC Department of Human Resources and Howard University President Ben Vinson, announced the HBCU Public Service Program which will house graduating high school seniors to train them through the district’s HBCUs Howard University and University of District of Columbia in public service apprenticeships.

Black Journalists Gala Continued from D1

always leaves footprints.”

The trailblazing honorees each rose to the podium, sharing similar sentiments and their own testimonies as it relates to opening more doors for the Black press. Erica Loewe, Special Advisor to President Joe Biden and Excellence in Communications award recipient spoke to her consequential journey from Jan. 6 in the nation’s capital to serving as the former Director of African American Media under the 46th president of the United States.

Loewe shared what it was like to work for U.S. Rep. Jim E. Clyburn (DSC-6) during peak pandemonium as emboldened citizens tried to overturn the government.

“I often think to myself how incredible it was to be working for the highest ranking Black man in Congress at the time, a man who has dedicated his life to civil rights, as I pushed a table against the office door to keep out hate fueled insurrectionists,” said Loewe.

“Insurrectionists who were trying to prevent Joe Biden’s legitimate presidency

and failed, only for me to later work for Biden and go from pushing the table against the door to providing a seat at the table for communities of color.”

Loewe persisted that her work is not done and welcomed Gerren Gaynor of the Grio as her guest to show that more collaboration is needed to promote the accountability and unique perspective provided in an unparalleled manner by Black media.

“I’m trying to do that by seeking out conversations with a more diverse array of people, who viewers won’t see or hear from anywhere else,” said Kristen Welker who served as a shining example of what can occur when Black journalists are given the opportunity to moderate and mold thought provoking discussions on a nationally syndicated show.

Welker, the first Black host of NBC’s Meet the Press and second female anchor was named Journalist of the Year for her groundbreaking work.

A role that was recognized and applauded by National Association of Black Journalists co-founders Sam Ford,

Photo courtesy of Washington Association of Black Journalists

Dorothy Gilliam presents an award in her namesake to Washington Post Managing Editor of Diversity and Inclusion, Krissah Thompson.

Photo courtesy of Washington Association of Black Journalists

Awardees Denise Rolark Barnes (left), Pat Lawson, Erica Loewe and Krissah Thompson congratulate each other on earning Washington Association of Black Journalists honors.

Allison Davis and Joe Davidson who were in attendance.

Over 300 journalism patrons gathered inside of the Blackburn Ballroom on the campus of Howard University for the event, looking to celebrate Black journalists and raise funds to encourage diverse talent in newsrooms across the country with hosts DC News Now’s Anna-Lysa Gayle and WUSA9’s Lorenzo Hall served as emcees.

Ticket purchases benefitted the Urban Journalism Workshop, where numerous attendees got their start in the media industry. Hall is an alumnus of WABJ’s annual Urban Journalism Workshop for D.C. area high school students, which is now in its 37th year.

The community fueled program has been steadily poured into by Washington Informer Publisher, Denise Rolark Barnes for which she was bestowed the prestigious President’s Award.

“The WABJ Executive Board

appreciates Ms. Rolark Barnes’ contributions and her unwavering dedication to journalistic excellence and advocacy for the D.C. Black community,” said WABJ president Khorri Atkinson.

The night ended with two students being presented the inaugural Paul Brock Journalism Scholarship and the WABJ Investigative Journalism Scholarship, in addition to a large pledge to help continue the organization’s efforts. W. Imara Canady, national director of community engagement and communications at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, committed $7,000 to support WABJ scholarships and the UJW program.

Additional honorees include Legacy Award winner, Sonya Ross, Phil Lewis earned the “Young Journalist of Excellence Award,” while the Dorothy Butler Gilliam Trailblazer Award was ascertained by Krissah Thompson and Street Sense Media won the Dr. Sheila Brooks Community Impact Award.

Deccember 9,2023 2023--December December15, 15,2023 2023 The TheAfro-American Afro American Decembe 9,

D3 D1

‘Unsung She-roes’ Awards Continued from D1

Boulware currently serves the publication as special projects editor, and her work has been recognized by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the Baltimore Association Black Journalists (BABJ) and the Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia (MDDC) Press Association. She has also received the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference Spirit Award for Outstanding Journalism.

“Dr. Sujay has been a champion of the Black Press for all the years I’ve known her, and to have her call my name is a supreme honor,” Rev. Boulware said in awe of the Unsung Sheroes honor. “Her belief in excellence and her specific focus on women makes all of us feel special and even more determined to be light wherever we’re planted.”

Boulware’s passion for authoring faith-based texts led her to publish “Keep Walking in Prayer…Until You Can’t Come Back,” in

Photo courtesy of Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook

Local pastors and women who lead in the faith community were honored by Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom for their work. Shown here: (top left to right) Jenelle Riddick, Minnie Washington, Paulette Sheffield, Anita Gould, Eileen Frank, Elder Joyce Rideway, Cynthia Terry Alberta Ware, Angel White, (bottom row left to right) Adelle Banks, Majorie Duncan Reed, Annie Darden, Lettie Carr, Sheryl Smith, Suzan Johnson Cook, Autumn Wilson, Barbara E. Austin Lucas, Rev. Dorothy Boulware, Elizabeth Rios and Althelia Pond. significant impacts in the realm of ministry.

The highlight of the gala was the recognition and celebration of outstand-

Dr. Anita Gould; Delle Banks; Reverend Annie Darden; Reverend Sheryl Smith; Reverend Althea Pond; Ref Marjorie Duncan

“Dr. Susan ‘Sujay’ Johnson Cook has been a champion of the Black Press for all the years I’ve known her, and to have her call my name is a supreme honor. “ 2016. Since then, she has authored seven more books, coached budding writers and made significant contributions to the worlds of ministry and journalism.

Notable in the crowd were the Soul Sisters, Selah Sisters, BWIM Sisters, clergy colleagues, women in ministry, trailblazers, history makers, community partners, lay and ordained individuals, all gathered to honor those who have made

ing individuals who have excelled in various aspects of ministry. The list of honorees included Reverend Dr. Seretta Washington; Reverend Dr. Angela Johnson; Dr. Angel White; Dr. Elizabeth Rios; E. Paulette Sheffield; Reverend Alberta Ware; Reverend Salena Perry; Reverend Minnie Washington; Elizabeth Murray; Reverend Dr. Jennell Riddick; Reverend Cynthia J. Terry; Reverend

Reed; Elder Joyce Ridgeway; Dr. Autumn Wilson; Dr. Barbara E. Austin Lucas; Dr. Jacquelyn Hadnot; Reverend Lettie Carr; Eileen Frank and the esteemed Boulware.

Adelle M. Banks, projects editor and national reporter at Religion News Service, shared her gratitude for the recognition of her media coverage. In her words, “It is women in those roles, along with

World AIDS Day Continued from D1

than half 55 percent of new HIV diagnoses among women,” said Waters in relation to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “We’ve got to get more money. We’ve got to get more resources. We need more capital and it’s not going to come–we have to fight for it.”

She cited the attacks seen in budget recommendations from the Republicanled House Appropriations Subcommittee that threaten the survival of entities serving people of color diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. If passed, the proposed recommendation could result in a 53 percent spending cut to the Minority AIDS Initiative in the Office of the Secretary.

Funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative within SAMHSA and the Ryan White HIV AIDS Program would also be reduced affecting national education training centers.

“The cuts to the Minority AIDS Initiative will exacerbate racial disparities and the elimination of the ending of the HIV epidemic,” said Waters. “Minority led community based organizations to help them [serviceholders] deliver in their capacity culturally. When we write and we talk, nobody understands us but us.”

She continued by highlighting Black leaders such as Archbishop Carl Bean of the Minority AIDS Project and Dr. Wilbert C. Jordan of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital who educated her early on about the AIDS epidemic. Those inspired by their work and her words traveled to be in the audience.

“Maxine Waters just re-energized everybody in the room. I’m here in the room representing Black transgender men, because data shows that we are impacted

by HIV as well, but we don’t receive much funding at all–we’re not at the table. I was happy to hear her say that we’re going to continue to fight for ‘money, money, money,’” said Elijah Nicholas, founder of 100 Black-Trans Men. “Our objective is to continue showing up in spaces like this, having a voice for Black transgender men and then building relationships within the community so that we can learn the process–learning the political process is a big part of the strategy of learning.”

Nicholas said the Black maternal mortality rate is one area that lacks statistical input from the Black-trans community.

“Black-trans men who are birthing parents also, fall into the Black maternal mortality rate, but we’re not at the table and we’re not a part of the discussion,” said Nicholas. “It’s my objective to get a seat at the table first and then begin to help organizations collect the data because there’s no real data on Black-trans men who are birthing parents and the mortality rate.”

Waters agreed and ended her speech by urging President Biden to provide more federal funding to organizations led by minorities.

“We’ve got to fight and we’ve got to fight dirty. That’s not a bad word, it’s a good word when you’re fighting dirty people,” said Waters. “We in the Black caucus, in the combined caucuses that’s in the House of Representatives, we’re going to be there on the front lines with you doing what I’m advocating in order to make sure we get America to do the right thing.”

others, who have helped me in my decades of journalism…often focused on religion and race in general and Black women faith leaders in particular.”

Rev. Alberta Ware, a seasoned minister with over 20 years of professional experience in the field, was another “She-roe” honored for making her mark with notable achievements, leadership qualities and a profound impact on her community. Ware’s dedica-

tion to her calling is evident in her diverse roles, including serving as the director of church and community mobilization at The Balm in Gilead in New York. She has also contributed significantly to the South Side Unity Center of Christianity in Chicago, first as an assistant pastor and later as the pastor since 1997.

Currently a prominent figure at Christ Universal Temple in Chicago, Ware plays a vital role in teach-

ing people how to live better lives through the renewing of their minds, guided by the church’s mission found in Romans 12:2.

“The experience was amazing,” said Ware, of the 15 individuals who joined her at the ceremony–some who flew in from Chicago and New York, showcasing the impact Rev. Ware has had on the lives of others.

“It was so fulfilling to also have 15 people there to celebrate with me.”

Enforcement cameras Continued from D1

a warning for 30 days. After this period, drivers will be fined anywhere from $100 to $500 for infractions.

Even the Metrobuses have been included in this push for road safety.

Recently, 140 cameras were installed on buses throughout the city to fine unauthorized vehicles that may stop or park in bus lanes.

While safety is one of the main reasons for the installations, critics question if the increasing number of cameras is more about revenue generation than promoting safety. Some view these cameras as a form of taxation through fines.

“Fines are not a total solution and can be inequitable. Some want to change this toward points which I support,” Lakatos admits. “But also, as always, not speeding costs $0 extra dollars.”

Achieving a delicate balance between enforcing traffic laws and addressing public concerns is the ongoing challenge for D.C. officials.

Balancing safety goals with public sentiment is crucial for the success and acceptance of these measures. Over the years, officials have seen success with traffic enforcement cameras and have deemed them as extremely effective in controlling traffic centered incidents.

“I appreciate the city being concerned about the safety of its people,” said local driver Tyrell Williams. “I just feel like I would like to see the money made from these cameras be used in a positive way which continues to push safety for the city.”

According to DDOT, the surge in speed limit cameras across D.C. is a deliberate effort to bolster road safety. By addressing the issue of speeding, authorities aim to reduce accidents and ultimately save lives.

The overarching objective is to instill a more responsible driving culture within the city.

The following roads will now feature speed cameras according to a DDOT press release: • 4500 block of Benning Road SE, southeast bound • 2500 block of Benning Road NE,

southeast bound • 2400 block of Benning Road NE, northwest bound • 4900 block of Georgia Avenue NW, southbound • 5700 block of Georgia Avenue NW, southbound • 1500 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE, southwest-bound • 2400 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW, northbound • 2400 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW, southbound • 300 block of New York Avenue NW, eastbound • 300 block of New York Avenue NW, westbound • 400 block of Florida Avenue NW, northwest-bound • 600 block of Florida Avenue NW, southeast-bound • 2500 block of Southern Avenue SE, northeast-bound • 4600 block of Texas Avenue SE, northbound • 3900 block of Southern Avenue SE, northeast-bound • 5000 block of Southern Avenue SE, southwest-bound • 5100 block of Southern Avenue SE, northeast-bound • 1400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, northwest-bound • 1100 block of North Capitol Street NE, northbound • 2500 block of North Capitol Street NE, northbound • 5500 block of North Capitol Street NW, southbound • 600 block of New York Avenue NW, eastbound • 600 block of New York Avenue NW, westbound • 2200 block of Georgia Avenue NW, southbound • 2500 block of Georgia Avenue NW, southbound • 2600 block of Georgia Avenue NW, northbound • 1000 block of U Street NW, eastbound • 1400 block of U Street NW, eastbound • 1500 block of U Street NW, eastbound

D4 The Afro-American December 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023

Black women in ministry recognized as ‘Unsung She-roes’

By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor afields@afro.com

D

r. Suzan Johnson Cook, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, recently celebrated 24 women of excellence in the religious field with the UnSung She-Roes Awards. Among the list of awardees was AFRO Special Projects Editor Rev. Dorothy Boulware, beloved former managing editor of the publication.

Journalist Adelle Banks, of the Religion News Service, was also honored, along with researcher Elizabeth Rios. Awards were distributed to pastors and stewards of faith who are well revered in their communities. Honorees were recognized at the Rev. Marjorie Duncan Mayflower Hotel in Reed enjoys the Washington, D.C. on evening’s festivities as Dec. 1. an honoree.

Performers ignite the audience with the spirit of the Lord through praise dancing ministry.

Emcee, Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook (left), stands alongside the AFRO’s Rev. Dorothy Boulware, a 2023 honoree, and fellow event host, Marissa Mitchell, of Fox 5 DC.

Elizabeth Rios, Ed.D., author of Latinas of Legacy and Justice Oriented Churches, accepts an UnSung She-Roes Award.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook

A group of dynamic women, known for their servant leadership, receive honors as UnSung She-Roes.

Shown here, (back left) Angel White, Ph.D.; Rev. Seretta McKnight; Rev. Lettie Carr; Rev. Sheryl Smith; Rev. Cynthia Terry; Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook; Paulette Sheffield; Adelle Banks; Elizabeth Rios, Ed.D.; Rev. Jenelle Riddick, Ph.D. and Jacquelyn Hadnot, Ph.D. Also honored were Eileen Frank (front left); Rev. Annie Darden; Rev. Angela Johnson, Ph.D.; Rev. Marjorie Duncan Reed; Bishop Barbara E. Austin Lucas, Ph.D.; Rev. Anita Gould, D.Min.; Rev. Alberta Ware; Elder Joyce Rideway and Rev. Althelia Pond.

Dionne Warwick hosts private Cafe Milano reception for Kennedy Center Honors

By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor afields@afro.com

O

Deborah Harrington (left) and PR Agent Raymone Bain enjoy the night’s festivities.

n the evening of Dec. 1, legendary singer and performer extraordinaire Dionne Warwick hosted family and friends at Cafe Milano to celebrate her selection as a Kennedy Center inductee for lifetime Dionne Warwick poses on artistic achievement. the red carpet.

The East Orange, NJ native was honored alongside Queen Latifah,

Barry Gibb, Renée Fleming and Billy Crystal.

Warwick was nominated by Reggie Van Lee who helped plan and execute the local party with celebrities ranging from Dave Chappelle, Jamie Foster Brown and Karen Huger to Maryland’s First Lady, Dawn Moore in attendance.

Jamie Foster Brown, of “Sister 2 Sister” magazine, socializes with guests.

Photos courtesy of Darrell Stoney Jr.

Beverly Perry, senior advisor to Mayor Muriel Bowser, presents Dionne Warwick with an official citation.

Reggie Van Lee, Ward 2 chairperson for the D.C. Commision on Arts and Humanities, congratulates Dionne Warwick on the honor of a lifetime.

Reggie Gillumo showcases a powerful art piece in honor of Dionne Warwick’s legacy and long lasting career in the entertainment industry.

First Lady Dawn Moore presents Dionne Warwick (left) with an official citation from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

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