I N S I D E
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Howard Students Get a Lesson in Reality, Pg. 4
VOL. 1, NO. 4
MAY 2015
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D.C. Jazz Festival Returns, Pg. 10
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Vol. 50, No. 33 May 28 - June 3, 2015
Wealth Factory Makes its Mark, Pg. 15
Youth Represents D.C. in Spelling Bee, Pg. 16
Graduate students at the University of Maryland, (L-R) Kendra Browne, Rashid Conteh, Sheraughnne Hutchinson and Karlmichael Bailey attend the commencement ceremony at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland on Thursday, May 21. /Photo by Roy Lewis
Decision Day Approaches for Prince George’s Council
Vote Expected on Rushern Baker’s Proposed Tax Hike By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Under water, overtaxed and overextended were just some of the adjectives used by residents who continue to voice concern over Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker’s proposed 15 percent property tax
increase. “Adamantly opposed,” said Diane Russell, the founder of PG-Politics, the political news and commentary blog about Prince George’s County politics. “We pay the highest taxes in the region and the second highest in the state,” Russell said. At a meeting last month,
76-year-old Eddie Mackey was also adamantly against the proposal. “I’m under water with my property,” Mackey said in a television interview. “In 2006, I was appraised at $500,000. In 2015, I’m at, I guess about $250,000. It doesn’t make sense.”
Baker wants the county council to approve his plan to raise property taxes by 15.6 percent over the next three years, despite county residents having voted three decades ago to freeze taxes. Baker said the tax hike would bring in more cash for the county’s struggling school system. “The only way we’re going to
make a giant leap to catch up with the surrounding jurisdictions is to put the type of resources into our education that our competitors around the region have,” Baker said in a previous interview. While as a teacher, Nina
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Arlington Links Chapter Inducts New Members The Arlington Links Chapter installed new officers and five new members in their chapter of the Links, Inc. Evie Brown is the new president, Carla Johnson - Vice President, Lauren Parker - Recording Secretary, Rose Boyd is the Financial Secretary, and F. Denise-Bailey is the Treasurer. The five new members are Atty. Lisa Gregory, Dr. Yolanda Holmes, Kendren Dillard, Atty. Lori Stith and Suzanne Walker. Congratulations Ladies!
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A benefit concert for The Duke Ellington School of the Arts was held at the Warner Theatre on Wed., May 20, featuring Ellington students and Alumni along with special guest performer Bobby McFerrin. /Photo by Travis Riddick
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SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY
Women Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence
AROUND THE REGION
By Tia Carol Jones
law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, Visit our updated Web site old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families and give us your comments of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicfor a chance to win a gift from life, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assessThe Washington Informer she knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life ProtecEmail comments to: of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselrburke@ start the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. paign. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradiwashingtoninformer.com “It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must that won't turn my family end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. loose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the vicshared her story with the audi- logue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. Domestic Violence Symposium Students of Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad outside the Alderson Federalthe Prison West Virginia/Photo Courtesy Mildred Muhammad, ex-Camp in Marlow would also like to see onHoward May 7 University at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise of Municipal Center. The sympo- who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in sium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She Family and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatCenter of the city of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasUp of Black Women. the founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilMarlow has written a book, an organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” By Stacy Brownwhich is a survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. “Color MeM. Butterfly,” WI Contributing Writer of and their children. story about four generations Marlow has worked to break domestic violence. The book is “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, inspired her own experiences, While by most college students years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she andthe those of or hersome grandmother, hit beach other va- not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that her mother and her Break, daughter. process. cation spot for Spring 15 of,” she said. She said every time she reads Mildred Muhammad said “I plan to take these policies to Howard University criminology excerpts from her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to In Memoriam majors spent the week in prison. Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not believe the words came domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow said. “It was a life changing experiWilhelmina J. Rolark from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these polience,” said2007 Kwane Barthlette, The Washington Informer Newspaper won the National “Besta the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” THE WASHINGTON INFORMER student of Dr. Bahiyyah M. Mu- that she may be in “survival InPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. Tia Carol Jones can be reached NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414)Dr.isCalvin Denise Rolark Sr. Barnes hammad, the assistant professor W. Rolark, “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark of at Howard my criminology eye first blackened andUnimy “Before you get to 'I'm going Periodicals postage paid at WashingSTAFF versity, who has developed what to kill you,' it started as a verbal THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published lips bled,” Marlow said. WI ton, D.C. and additional mailing ofweekly Thursday. Periodicals paidW. at Barnes, Washington, D.C. and additional Denise Editor hasElaine become a popular criminoloDavis-Nickens, presifices. Newsonand advertising deadlinepostage mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. is Monday prior to publication. Andent of the National gy course in which she Hook-Up takes stuKevin McNeir, Managing Editor Announcements must be received twoD.weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The nouncements must be received two of Black Women, said there is no dents inside a federal prison in Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressRon Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director weeks event. Copyright 2015 consistency in where the way domestic es toprior The to Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, West Virginia they spend by D.C. The 20032. Washington Informer. All No part of this publication may be Barnes, reproduced written are mothers dealt withand by Lafayette IV,without Assistant PhotopermisEditor aviolence week issues tutoring rights POSTMASTER: Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad. /Photo Courtesy Howard University sionreserved. from the publisher. TheSend Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of helping them to interact with change of addresses to The rates WashJohn E. De Sports Photo photographs. Subscription are $30 per year, twoFreitas, years $45. Papers willEditor be received not more than 3117 a weekMartin after publication. Make checks payable to: ington Informer, Luther their children. Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. “I’ve been doing research for where they eat, sleep, bathe and correctional facility, Muhammad THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 20032. No part of this publication may Brian Young, Design & Layout said. 15 years and I was awakened by otherwise live during that span. 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 be reproduced without written permisPhone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 Bookkeeper 574-3785 The professor’s model, which “It’s the first of its kind where Mable Neville, the research and I really wanted sion from the publisher. The Informer E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com is run in conjunction with the they live there,” Muhammad to show the world that we need Newspaper cannot guarantee the return Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist www.washingtoninformer.com of photographs. Subscription rates are Alderson to think more creatively about said, noting that the students minimum-security Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will Federal Prison Camp, brings are, in effect, on the same level those individuals who are inPUBLISHER be received not more than a week after Angie together Howard University as the prisoners in that they are carcerated, especially with chilDenise RolarkJohnson, Barnes Circulation publication. Make checks payable to: dren who are tied to them,” said told when to eat, sleep, wake students and incarcerated indiSTAFF REPORTERS THE WASHINGTON Brooke N. Garner INFORMER Managing REPORTERS Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Muhammad, who modeled her up, shower and there are no late viduals and they study criminal Carla PeayLuther King, Assistant Managing Editor Brown, Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Jr. Ave., S.E Stacy Sam P.K. Collins, Eve Ferguson, course after the “Inside-Out” night television or snacks to be justice in an academic setting. Ron BurkeD.C. 20032 Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young Washington, Elton Hayes, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Prior to going to the prison, program that began in 1997 at had. Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper Phone: 202 561-4100 Rowley, Barrington Salmon LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS students in Muhammad’s class Muhammad said she’s gathTemple University in PhiladelFax:John 202 574-3785 E. De Freitas Sports Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, communicate with the inmates, ered more than a decade of ethphia. news@washingtoninformer.com Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert who are considered their classnographic research about the That program, where students PHOTOGRAPHERS Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt mates for the semester, by televisit prisons as part of their curexperiences of parental imprisJohn E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, L.Y. Marlow riculum, has become a major onment from the personal per- phone. They complete and reRoy Lewis,CIRCULATION Travis Riddick , Nancy Shia Paul Trantham tool in criminal justice education spective of the children them- view assignments provided by at numerous universities around selves. Muhammad while also sharing INTERNS the country. Her course, “Inside-Out: some background information. Glynn Hill, Marc Rivers, Sarafina Wright However, Muhammad has Crime and Justice Beyond the Then, during the visit in which placed her own touch to the those incarcerated are allowed Wall,” represents a unique op4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com course, requiring students to go portunity to explore issues of into the prison for seven days crime and justice from inside a PRISON Page 16
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WI Staff Writer
Howard Students Take Course inside Prison ‘Muhammad Experience’ Encourages Stronger Relationships
“
We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
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Senate Renews AGOA for 10 More Years
Creative Arts Seen as Way to Tap into Act’s Potential
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By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer@bsalmondc Supporters of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) are elated that the U.S. Senate has reauthorized AGOA for 10 more years. The long-term extension means that the U.S. and member countries can take advantage of the stability a longer period of time provides; expand the trade and investment ties between America and countries in sub-Saharan Africa; and lay the groundwork for greater regional cooperation on the continent. Some of AGOA’s strongest supporters met at the Corporate Council for Africa offices in Northwest on May 22 to discuss AGOA’s future prospects and ways to overcome shortcomings. Introduced by President Bill Clinton in 2000, AGOA allows 6,000 products from sub-Saharan Africa to enter the United States duty-free. Participants on two panels and other speakers at the Africa Trade Forum at the Corporate Council for Africa offices in downtown Washington, D.C., detailed how Africa – through its artists and designers – can leverage the continent’s fashion, textiles and the creative arts to advance trade and economic development. The embodiment of that is noted fashion designer Alphadi who was honored by the forum hosts. Alphadi, a Malian, has for the past 30 years produced a fashion show in Niger where he’s invited the best and the brightest African models and designers to showcase their apparel. “We’ve had Africans from every walk of life here, but we’ve never had a fashion designer,” said Bernadette Paolo, president and CEO of the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa. Alphadi said business collaborations between Africa and the U.S. are key to helping grow Africa’s creative arts communities. “We try to make African fashion true,” said Alphadi, president of the Federation of African Fashion Designers. “Alone we can’t do it. We need to come together and make partnerships. AGOA gives African designers a chance to show and sell fashions here.” “There are big people from the White House here. We should have a salon between buyers and sellers and have 100 designers from Senegal, Mali and Ethiopia show their work. Jewelry, fabric and textiles for us is very important. In the fashion industry, we can employ as many as two million people. Africa is the new continent. We do everything here. We’re a very rich continent with different cultures, nice food and fabrics but we need help – partners, education and good schools.”
AROUND THE REGION
Nigerian fashion designer Alphadi calls for development of textile industry and fashion in Africa. /Photo Courtesy of Afrikan Spot
Ambassadors from Niger, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, the African Union, members of the diplomatic corps, business people and representatives of civil society organizations packed the 10th floor auditorium where they enjoyed the music of Cheick Hamal Diabate on the ngoni and a video presentation on the Alphadi Project, the brainchild of Alphadi, also founder and president of the International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA). Africa, a number of speakers said, is a diamond in the rough with limitless potential. “Africa accounts for only three percent of world trade and a small amount of US trade. Yet Africa is a place where everyone wants to establish trade and economic relationships,” said Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Florie Liser. “Africa is growing faster than anybody. It has youth, the fastest-rising middle class and a huge market.” “AGOA has led to the tripling of non-oil exports to the U.S. It has created a lot of jobs and has led to increased investment to Africa. But with $4.9 billion from all of Africa, clearly, we have not gotten to the point yet where Africa has reached its full potential.” Liser said AGOA will extend third-party fabric provisions for 10 years – something that has not been done before. These provisions allow for the creation and development of the textile and apparel industries in sub-Saharan Africa. “The apparel and textiles trade including that from Africa is 9 percent. It may be small, but it’s growing,” she said. “We’re looking forward to many more countries exporting apparel to the U.S.” Walker Williams, president and CEO of Leadership Africa USA and a key member of the AGOA Action Committee, called on African governments, diplomats and business people to become more proactive and resourceful. “This is a preference bill which may
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lead to bilateral and free-trade agreements,” Williams said. “We’ll continue to push for AGOA that will make investments in trade. AGOA was originally supposed to be for investment but that hasn’t happened.” Some in the audience, including panelists, despaired at the imbalance that causes Africa to lose billions of dollars each year as multinational companies extract ores and harvest a range of other raw materials and then process them and create finished products overseas. Malam Gerba, publisher of Africa Trade Magazine highlighted the problem. “By exporting raw materials withDenise Rolark Barnes out adding value, Africa is losing coIndependent Beauty Consultant lossal revenues,” he said in the First www.marykay/drolark-barnes.com Quarter 2015 issue of the magazine. 202-236-8831 Gerba quoted Jean-Marc Ange, executive director of the International Coffee Organization, to illustrate the disparities. Although Africa produces 73 percent of the world’s cocoa production, it collected just $7 billion of the estimated $13 billion generated in the sale of cocoa beans in 201314, Ange noted. However, when the beans are processed, Africa’s share of profits falls precipitously. Cocoa producers receive about 20 percent of profits from primary pro(301) 864-6070 cesses and by the time chocolate is produced – Africa’s profit share falls to 1 percent of the $110 billion generated by the sale of chocolate products. MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC Prince George’s County residents ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, Barbara Green and her friend and travel companion Adelaide ThompCOBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, son said focusing on fashion and the Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, creative arts may prove to be Africa’s Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, salvation. National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, “I used to model African attire and ‡ Please set all copy in upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes: Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bo Beauty Consultant in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; Web site or e-mail address in 9-point HelveticaAct, Neue Retaliation, Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation I’m a creative spirit,” Thompson said. To the Independent Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay® Personal Web Site program may “People don’t understand or appreciSeverance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, ate the creative process. I thoroughly Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge appreciate the struggle that the contiSERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA nent has had in this country. Africans themselves will have to get more sowww.jmlaw.net (301) 864-6070 jmccollum@jmlaw.net phisticated.” WI The Washington Informer May 28 - June 3, 2015 5
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AROUND THE REGION WEEK OF MAY 28 TO JUNE 3
Black Facts May 28 2010 – The book “The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa” is released, revealing that Israel aided the racist regime of South Africa and supported providing chemical and nuclear weapons to them for possible use against the country’s majority black population. The documents were discovered by American scholar Sasha Polakow-Suransky. May 29 1851 - Sojourner Truth delivers her infamous “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech to the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention. 1865 - President Andrew Johnson announces his program of Reconstruction. It required ratification of the 13th Amendment, but did not guarantee black suffrage.
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1980 - Vernon E. Jordan Jr., president of the National Urban League, is critically injured in attempted assassination in Fort Wayne, Indiana. May 30 1854 – Congress passes the Kansas-Nebraska Act that repealed the Missouri Compromise and opened the Northern territories to slavery. More specifically, it allowed whites in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not slavery would be allowed in the territories. 1903 – One of the most outstanding poets in the history of black America, Countee Cullen, is born in Louisville, Kentucky, or Baltimore.
nesses were burned to the ground. The area bearing the brunt of the destruction was known as the “Black Wall Street” because of its large number of African-American-owned businesses. June 1 1864 – Solomon George Washington Dill is murdered by angry whites. Dill was one of those rarities in Southern society – a poor white man who supported an end to slavery and black demands for social justice. Dill’s “crime” was giving what some whites considered “an incendiary speech” to a group of South Carolina blacks. 1973 – Detroit’s WGPR becomes the nation’s first blackowned television station. It was granted a license to operate on this day in 1973 but did not actually go on air until September 1975. June 2 1863 – Abolitionist and “Underground Railroad Conductor” Harriet Tubman leads a force of Union Army guerrilla soldiers into Maryland and frees over 700 slaves. Tubman was one of the
most noteworthy women in the anti-slavery struggle prior to the Civil War and became a leading voice in the call for the federal government to allow blacks to fight in the war. 1899 – African-Americans observe a “National Day of Fasting” to protest lynching and other racial attacks against blacks. The day of protest was called by the National Afro-American Council. June 3 1906 – Entertainer Josephine Baker is born in St. Louis. At 16, she starred in the hit and controversial musical “Shuffle Along.” However, she did not achieve fame until she left the United States and moved to Paris, France where her exotic dancing and singing made her an international sensation. 1942 – Singer Curtis Mayfield is born in Chicago. His musical style combined the blues, gospel and soul music popular in the area at the time.
Josephine Baker
May 31 1921 – The infamous and bloody Tulsa (Oklahoma) Riots begin. Whites go on a violent rampage lasting several days. When the rioting was over, an estimated 21 whites and 60 Blacks were dead. In addition, as many as 15,000 blacks were left homeless as hundreds of homes and busi-
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AROUND THE REGION INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY ELTON HAYES
VIEWP INT Demetrius Rasberry Forestville, Maryland I’m looking forward to taking my kids to the Smithsonian museums for some of the events this summer. We usually like to go to the Smithsonian Air and Space and Natural History Museums and see the different things they have to offer. I also like to take them to the different monuments around the city. I’m definitely going to take them to the new [Smithsonian National Museum of] African American History and Culture when that opens later this year. I also take my three-year-old son to the National Mall, and although he can barely walk, I throw the football around with him.
Sydney Smith Washington, D.C. I definitely like all of the monuments and museums; they’re really fun and informative. But I’m looking forward to exploring the natural side of the area. Great Falls Park has a lot of hiking trails that are gorgeous and it’s right by the Potomac River. There are a lot of natural attractions around the area. Sligo Creek Trail is always nice, too. I know it’s really small, but it’s nice to bike or walk down it and they close it off on the weekends.
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THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE NATION’S MOST POPULAR LANDMARKS AND ATTRACTIONS. WITH SUMMER AROUND THE CORNER, WHICH LOCAL ATTRACTIONS DO YOU PLAN TO VISIT?
Benjamin Finley Rockville, Maryland I moved to the area about a year ago from Los Angeles and I’m looking forward to discovering everything D.C. has to offer. I’ve seen many of the monuments and museums already, but there are hundreds of other attractions and secrets and surprises that I learned do exist, and I’m looking forward to checking them out this summer as a resident.
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Shardae Gantt Wheaton, Maryland I’m really an outdoors person so this summer I’m really excited to go to Great Falls Park and take in the Billy Goat Trail Hike – it’s the best one out there. I bike around D.C. a lot, so I’m looking forward to biking around the monuments and National Mall this summer and take in all it has to offer.
Amir Mustafa Fort Washington, Maryland I’m looking forward to visiting the National Harbor this summer. I really like what they’ve done with the hotel, shops, waterfront and fireworks in the summer time, so I’ll definitely check it out this summer. I grew up in the area and for the longest time there was nothing there. So to be able to see it all unfold and come together is just really nice to be able to experience.
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Rushern Baker’s proposal to raise property taxes is expected to be voted on by Prince George’s County Council on Thursday, May 28. /Courtesy photo
TAX from Page 1 Johnson, said she likes the idea of putting more money into schools but she told WUSA-TV that she’s also a homeowner who doesn’t want her taxes raised. “I think the 15 percent increase is too much,” she said. “I think [there should be] smaller increases or maybe spread it over time. I do feel that money is needed for our schools [but] my issue with it is that they are not asking us where we think the money needs to go.” Baker’s proposal to increase taxes is scheduled to be taken up by the council on Thursday, May 28. “I’ve had citizens – two citizens – recently attack me about it,” said Prince George’s County Council Vice Chairman Obie Patterson. “I’m having difficulty seeing the rationale and I’m still concerned about [foreclosures],” he said.
Patterson noted that county voters successfully supported a resolution 35 years ago to put a cap – or freeze – on property tax hikes. He said a referendum should be used again if Baker or anyone else wants to remove the freeze. “It’s back door politics. The citizens through a referendum decided to put the cap on and this is almost a slap in the face,” Patterson added. Kevin Moore, a paralegal, said he still hasn’t recovered from the economic downturn that gripped the nation following the bursting of the housing bubble in 2007. “I’m already overextended and I can’t afford any more bills,” Moore said. “I think Rushern Baker should stop running for office and do a better job in the office he currently holds. That’s what all of this is about, he’s running for higher office I think and he wants to impress rich people, probably Republicans.”
Baker hasn’t publicly disclosed any future political plans or aspirations. Russell and others said they can’t fathom supporting Baker’s measure. “I have no confidence that Baker will spend additional money as promised. He has broken many of his promises, for example to never allow gambling in Prince George’s County, and I no longer trust anything he says,” said Russell, as many who follow her blog have also voiced opposition to Baker. “I suspect that higher taxes will have the opposite effect of what Baker claims and will discourage private investment in the county. And, looking at Maryland and the D.C area with the highest taxes and worst schools, there seems to be an inverse relationship between taxes and educational results with the people paying the most having the worst schools,” Russell said. WI
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THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY (“DCHA”) is seeking to solicit sealed bids from qualified telephone service companies to replace the DCHA’s current private Branch Exchange (PBX) telephone system. The exact nature and extent of the services will be conducted as detailed within the above mentioned solicitation. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS will be available at the District of Columbia Housing Authority Procurement Office, 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services, Washington, D.C. 20002-7599 (Issuing Office); between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2015.
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8 May 28 - June 3, 2015
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AROUND THE REGION
Baba Chuck Davis /Photo Courtesy of Dance Africa
District Prepares for DanceAfrica Festival Five-day Event Promises to be Real Family Affair By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor It’s that time of the year once again when the music and dance of the African Diaspora are celebrated in the District. DanceAfrica DC 2015 Festival kicked off on Tuesday, May 26 and continues through Sunday, May 31 with all events held at Dance Place in Northeast. Based on the New York festival created in 1977 by Brooklyn Academy of Music [BAM], DanceAfrica heightens awareness of African culture and attempts to bring the community together. Dance Place founder Carla Perlo was inspired by BAM’s festival and Baba Chuck Davis was interested in spreading the festival to different cities. Perlo said this year’s festival includes something for everyone. “This year will be quite interesting and different too. We decided to experiment with some new ideas and I think people will really enjoy the changes. During our evening performances, the community will be invited to join the dancers in what we call the ‘bantaba.’ It’s going to be great fun for everyone,” Perlo said. Perlo founded Dance Place 35 years ago and has helped develop young artists to realize their dreams. Since 1980, Dance Place has built a community dance artists, audiences and students through high quality performances, commissions, training and educational programs. “I’m 63 now and started in this business when I was 21,” she said. “I tell young people
they can sustain themselves and become an artist but they have to be willing to work hard, study and have a collaborative spirit. With those things, anyone can excel.” She added that public schools need to do more to support the arts. “I understand the emphasis on science and math, but you must have the arts in our schools too. They help children develop their creative side and also help them develop greater self-confidence,” she said. Some of the best dance companies in the DC metropolitan area will be featured at DanceAfrica along with master classes, an African marketplace and free outdoor and ticketed indoor performances. Indoor performers include: Coyaba Dance Theatre & Sons of Freedom, Dance Place Step Team, KanKouran West African Dance Company, Sankofa Dance Theatre, Baba Chuck Davis, POETICS, Ezibu Muntu African Dance Theatre and Soul in Motion. Outdoor performers include: African Heritage Dancers & Drummers, Dance Place Junior Staff Drummers, Duende Quartet, East of the River Boys & Girls Club Steel Band, Hip-Hop Kulture, Malcolm X Dancers & Drummers and DC Casineros. Celebrate the music and dance of the African Diaspora. Take your family to DanceAfrica. For more information go to danceplace.org or call 202-2691600 WI
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EVENTS DC BID AND PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITIES Carpet Installation The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to install approximately fourteen thousand (14,000) square yards of Axminster carpet, including carpet removal and storage services. This Request for Proposal (RFP) has a thirty-five percent (35%) set-aside for DC DSLBD certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Offerors. Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing the Event DC’s E-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com. Contact: Charlene Minatee, Contracts & Procurement Analyst, Cminatee@EventsDC.com. Proposal Due Date: 3:00 PM Friday, June 12, 2015 Solar Window Film Installation The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Solar Window Film Installation Services. Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com. Contact: Charlene Minatee, Contracts & Procurement Analyst, Cminatee@EventsDC.com. Site Visit (MANDATORY): 10:30 AM EST Monday, June 08, 2015 Proposal Due Date: 3:00 PM EST Monday, June 29, 2015 Waste Removal and Hauling Services The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide waste removal and hauling services. This Request for Quotation (RFQ) is only open to DC DSLBD certified local, small, or disadvantaged business enterprises. Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing the Event DC’s e-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com. Contact: Charlene Minatee, Contracts & Procurement Analyst, Cminatee@EventsDC.com. Site Visit: 1:30 PM EST Tuesday, June 09, 2015 Proposal Due Date: 3:00 PM EST Tuesday, June 30, 2015 The Washington Informer
May 28 - June 3, 2015
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By Steve Monroe WI Contributing Writer East River Jazz’s Vernard Gray has a desire to grow jazz in areas east of the Anacostia River. The DC Jazz Festival was serious about making sure festival events reached all corners of the city. That’s how one partnership originated to ensure the annual DC Jazz Festival’s Jazz in the ’Hoods series of events would reach as many audiences as possible while presenting an increasingly diverse range of artists. “Jazz in the ’Hoods is a classic manifestation of the DC Jazz Festival’s diverse, ‘big tent’ offerings, partnering with vibrant spaces and adventurous presenters around town to bring exciting artistry to our community,” said Willard Jenkins, the DCJF’s artistic director. The festival, including preview events, runs June 5-16 (see www.dcjazzfest.org for complete information). “As a supporter of the DC Jazz Festival for the last seven years,” Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC’s Sports and Entertainment Division, said in a statement, “we are proud to be associated with the overall growth of the festival and in particular, Jazz in the ’Hoods … [it] brings people together to enjoy great jazz in a variety of D.C.’s coolest neighborhood venues.” Gray, the mastermind of East River Jazz events east of the river and elsewhere in the city over the years, said, “Our relationship with the DC Jazz Festival has worked out well, for which I am grateful. They have assisted with marketing our events, and they do provide some funding as well! What’s most important is that our artists get paid!” The East River JazzFest, back for its fourth year, is, according to DCJF, a collaboration presenting a “festival within a festival,” providing “free jazz performances and programs to thousands of residents, at theaters, museums, places of worship, libraries and senior centers east of the Anacostia River.” The Washington Informer
This year, the East River JazzFest performances, including artists Janelle Gill, Reginald Cyntje, Christylez Bacon and Pepe Gonzalez, “will celebrate American composer Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington’s chief collaborator.” “If we could get enough resources, we’d have some major artists perform east of the river,” said Gray. “We’ve got great venues, THEARC, East Campus at St. Elizabeths, and others, including the churches, to present major talents. The major objective is to grow jazz all over, especially beyond the time of the DC Jazz Festival, in neighborhoods throughout the city during the whole year. Right now a lot of the jazz is happening on U Street, and I’m all for that – that is great. But it would be great if it were happening in other communities as well.” Other DCJF partners include CapitalBop, which is back for the fifth straight year with its DC Jazz Loft Series (at the Hecht Warehouse in Northeast), presenting “young, boundary breaking musicians as well as DC-based artists all grounded in the tradition of jazz and its extensions, often performing in unusual or pop-up venues. This is a ‘pay-what-you-can’ series designed to attract the broadest spectrum of attendees, including young, first-time audiences,” according to DCJF. Luke Stewart of CapitalBop said, “The partnership with DCJF has helped to raise the profile of CapitalBop’s activities and given us the opportunity to present artists at a higher profile. It has been fulfilling to be able to introduce artists in the festival who previously would not be considered, expanding the artistic scope of the festival. DCJF is a great help in terms of advertising and profile. Their reach as a major entity helps with the audiences at our shows.” With a variety of free and ticketed performances in neighborhoods around the city, DCJF said, Jazz in the ’Hoods annually attracts “a vibrant audience of thousands of music enthusiasts.” A new partner this year is the University of the District of Columbia.
Judith Korey of the UDC Jazz Studies program said, “We are producing three free events: JAZZforum: Muneer Nasser - UpWrite Bass: The Musical Life and Legacy of Jamil Nasser, JAZZAlive in the ‘Hood: Bruce Williams with Allyn Johnson and the UDC JAZZtet, and the Exhibition: Bringing Bossa Nova to the United States. We wanted our programming for the festival to reflect JAZZAlive’s year-round programming of performance, research, education and outreach activities. … Also, our location will bring another neighborhood into the mix.” Another new partner is Transparent Productions, whose “cutting-edge performances will bring their unique flavor” to the festival this year, DCJF said. Bobby Hill of Transparent Productions added, “Sunny Sumter and I spoke about [us] collaborating with the DCJF. Willard and I then spoke about it further, and we were able to make it happen with the June 14 presentation of AfroHORN, founded by drummer Francisco Mora Catlett at Bohemian Caverns.” Hill said benefits of the partnership include “the prestige of being a part of each other’s presentation, marketing support, and artist housing,” with all performance proceeds, per Transparent Productions’ usual policy, “going to the artists.” Other DCJF partners include Twins Jazz, the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Gallery on H, and the National Gallery of Arts Sculpture Garden. Jenkins said, “Another new relationship - and one which will definitely expand over time - is our affiliation with New York University’s D.C. facility. We’re presenting part of our Meet The Artist humanities component at NYU/DC this year, and we’re very excited about the overall expansion of our humanities programming, which includes new additions to our advance weekend [June 6-7] Jazz ’n’ Families Fun Days at the Phillips Collection.” WI
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May 28 - June 3, 2015
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDUCATION BRIEFS program, all 92 students have been accepted to a four-year college or university.
Students Graduate from PGCC ‘Middle College’
Prince George’s Community College recently reached a major milestone, having announced Graduation Season its first ever, “Middle College” in Full Swing This year, PGCPS students graduation involving the Acadwill graduate from 23 high emy of Health Sciences. The schools, two vocational schools, ceremonies took place May 21 at with special graduation ceremothe Showplace Arena in Upper nies also being held for students Marlboro, Maryland. In 2011, the PGCC launched attending evening high school, the extraordinary program that summer school, special cenwould test the boundaries of ters and the Community-Based traditional education, after en- Classroom program. Featured among members of rolling a select number of high school students who embarked the Class of 2015 are students on an academic course that has who earned millions in college not only secured their place in scholarships to colleges and unithe college’s history but in the versities across the country. Most notably, Katherine Merecord books as well. Ninth graders at the time, 92 dina of Oxon Hill High School, students in the AHS Middle Col- was offered more than $1.3 millege program began their jour- lion in scholarships and earned ney of challenging high school acceptance to 25 colleges. Katherine joins Rashad Glascourses that were followed up by coe of Central High School who a rigorous college curricula. Four years later, the class par- received more than $2 million ticipated in PGCC’s 56th com- of scholarship offers. This fall, mencement alongside the col- Rashad will attend Hampton lege’s traditional students who University in Virginia on a full received their associate’s degrees. scholarship. The unprecedented graduaSchool officials are also 280945_6_x_6.5 5/21/15as9:24 AM Page 1 to announce that Rachetion has been hailed signifproud icant because as a result of the al Spruill of Dr. Henry A. Wise
One-Hundred percent of the students enrolled at the “Middle College” at Prince George’s County Community College have been accepted at four-year colleges and universities. /Photo courtesy PGCPS
High School is a recipient of the “2015 Gates Millennium Scholarship.” The program is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and provides outstanding low income African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific
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Engineering Scholarship Program
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission offers the annual “Commissioners’ Engineering Scholarships” to college students majoring in engineering fields that are vital to the work of WSSC. Named in honor of current Commissioner Gene Counihan and former Commissioner Joyce Starks, the goal of the scholarship program is to provide assistance to students from Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in furtherance of their engineering studies and to encourage them to consider careers in the water and wastewater/sewer industry – particularly at WSSC.
Two new scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each may be awarded; a Prince George’s County and Montgomery County resident. To qualify, students must provide proof of permanent residency in WSSC’s service district (i.e., driver’s license or other documentation that shows student resides permanently in Prince George’s or Montgomery County, Maryland) and be enrolled full-time in a degree program at an accredited college or university that leads to a degree in areas that include electrical and chemical engineering. In addition to an application, students must submit a 1,500word essay on the meaning of climate change by Monday, June 1 to the WSSC corporate secretary. WI
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Islander American, and Hispanic-American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.
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This year, PGCPS students will graduate from 23 high schools and two vocational schools. / Photo by Travis Riddick
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Kiara Davis raises praises during the Coppin State graduation ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland on May 16. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
600 students received degrees at the Bowie State University commencement held at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Md., on May 23. /Photo by Robert Roberts
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Transform The 2004 NBA Player’s Association COO Domonique Foxworth was the commencement speaker for the University of Maryland graduation held at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland on Thurs., May 21. /Photo by Roy Lewis
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Prince George’s Community College and Middle College High School graduation ceremony at the Show Place Arena on Thurs., May 21 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. /Photo by Travis Riddick
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May 28 - June 3, 2015
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BUSINESS EXCHANGE
Are Blacks Really Moving Up? If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.
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the road
Let’s admit it. It’s hard not to notice a 9 feet wide, 12 feet tall, red and yellow streetcar that weighs 33 tons. These modern, large and ultra-cool vehicles are the latest addition to the District’s roads. Whether you’re a motorist, pedestrian or cyclist, welcome them by paying attention and sharing the road.
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BUSINESS
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Too often black Americans will claim to “understand capitalism” while their very actions show the exact opposite. If blacks understood “capitalism” and elementary economics, they’d know that if just under 1 percent of blacks’ annual $1 trillion purchasing power is spent with other blacks, that behavior is dysfunctional in the capitalistic system. A major reason for black America’s economic failure is its inability to recycle its money within its communities. Though we comprise 13 percent of the American population, blacks own less than 7 percent of the nation’s businesses. Blacks’ behavior in the in the marketplace suggests a negative view toward African-American-owned businesses. The central problem for blacks’ economic development and growth is that we have little orientation to own or make investments where we live. This may be a function of not having a broad and strong understanding of financial issues as Asian or white communities. The average White household has 16 times more money than the average Black household. Too many blacks refuse to admit that much of the black/white wealth gap has to do with our own actions. More blacks must evolve better views and utilization of the social system in which we live. Capitalism is a social system under which the means for producing and distributing goods (the land, factories, technology, transport system, etc.) are owned by capitalists that often pool resources. The place where blacks’ power has grown over the years has been in “politics.” But blacks haven’t grown beyond their political impact because political power is very empty without economic power. African-Americans’ out-of-step behavior is glaring. Blacks’ annual buying power is $1.1 trillion; yet we spend only 2 cents of every dollar with another African-American. Nearly all of blacks’ income is spent directly outside of black hands because Blacks do not practice group economics—pooling of money
By William Reed and purchasing within the group. While many blacks lurch along, Asians have embraced and practice American capitalism and are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States. When will blacks move up? Median household wealth for Asian-Americans was $75,027 in 2010. The median white household wealth was $62,545 compared with $38,409 for blacks. Instead of making excuses for blacks’ dysfunctional capitalistic behaviors, more blacks should step to the fore to help the race pull itself up through hard work and pooling of resources. Too many blacks dispute that our race’s economic performance and practices are dysfunctional, and frequently are complacent with our economic performance. Asians keep a dollar in their community 120 days longer than blacks do. A dollar circulates in Asian communities for a month, in Jewish communities 20 days and for 17 days in white communities. A dollar circulates six times among Hispanics, but less than 6 hours among African-Americans. When will the mass of blacks realize that “Nothing changes unless you make it change”? Let’s start to “Buy Black Weekly,” which means spending money with at least one black-owned business each week. It may be unrealistic to expect the African-American consumer to exclusively patronize black-owned businesses for various reasons including budgetary constraints, accessibility or product availability. But in those instances where you do have options (e.g., restaurants, clothing, printing services, natural hair products, etc.), answer the call to be a conscious consumer. Black wealth builders such as Dr. Claude Anderson say that circulating more money with-
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The Wealth Factory Makes Its Mark in D.C.
Black Business Wins Top Spot in Industrial Bank Competition By Dahna M. Chandler WI Contributing Writer In honor of its 80th anniversary, Industrial Bank, the oldest African-American bank in Washington, D.C., held a competition to award $80,000 in grants to five local African-American-owned businesses. In an award ceremony at Radio One headquarters in Silver Spring, it awarded The Wealth Factory, an education technology firm that was launched in 2013 by Angel Rich, 28, first prize, $20,000. The primary purpose of The Wealth Factory is to teach financial literacy to people in underrepresented communities, especially those of color. The educational technology firm is a member of the prestigious 1776, a global incubator and seed fund that helps startups transform industries like education. It is also a member of Microsoft BizSpark, which supports startups, and IBM Partner World, which aims to help grow businesses. The Wealth Factory develops games to teach elementary and high school students financial literacy and workforce development. “In partnership with the Charter School Development Corporation and Building Hope, the WealthyLife program was implemented and tested at three D.C. Charter High Schools from October 1 to December 30, 2014,” Rich explained. “Our mission is to provide equal access to quality financial education across the world, targeting underserved communities. “Credit Stacker is our first game module. It teaches students how to manage various credit types, interpret credit reports, achieve good credit and avoid risks associated with debt,” she said. “We want to alter students’ financial behaviors and perspectives and are doing so successfully through the experiences provided through the program.”
REED from Page 14 in the black community “is key to our economic success.” Anderson deserves attention when he says that other ethnic groups have increased their disposable income and out-produced blacks in wealth because they practice group eco-
BUSINESS To support her mission to continue achieving systemic, permanent change in the entire financial services industry, Rich is also working strategically align with a major bank to build a financial resources ecosystem. “It’s really important for me to take all of the knowledge and passion I have to make minority financial literacy a permanent part of the banking ecosystem,“ Rich said. WI
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Industrial Bank President B. Doyle Mitchell with $20K grant winner Angel Rich. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
Rich, who grew up in an insurance sales family with parents and other family members who were agents, is not new to winning competitions. She won her first as a teen. “In my family, we were required, at 18, to get an insurance license and at least try to sell insurance before we pursued anything else,” Rich recalled. It was in that experience she won her first competition as an 18-year-old agent for Globe Life Insurance, where she was made “rookie of the year.” But her dream was to work for a major insurance company and create a global program in financial literacy. So, she left Globe Life to attend Hampton University to pursue that dream. It was during her senior at Hampton that the marketing major won her second major prize, the Prudential Financial National Case Competition. She did that by selling a Generation Y marketing plan, which was groundbreaking at the time. She was recognized in Forbes magazine for the win and given the opportunity to choose whatever position at Prudential she wanted. Having had the goal of being a global market researcher for a major insurance company, she chose that prestigious position, one that is difficult to obtain for anyone at any age. Yet the wun-
derkind marketer and financial services whiz was the first person to ever join the 14-member department right from college. While in the role, she achieved yet another dream she’d had since childhood — the creation of the industry-altering platform targeted toward marketing to minorities. Rich researched and developed the “African American Financial Experience,” a marketing platform that is now a permanent part of the Prudential marketing strategy. Updated every two years, it is now used as the benchmark across the entire financial services industry for marketing to blacks and has been adopted by Morgan Stanley. So, by age 24, Rich had changed the financial services industry permanently. “I thought I wouldn’t reach that goal until I was at least 50,” she said laughingly as she recounted the experience. Today, after having won multiple other awards, Rich wants to use the $20,000 winnings to expand WealthyLife, which is the only financial literacy and workforce development education technology game that targets urban youth in or outside of a classroom. “My goal is to expand the program to schools in D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark and Boston and then nationally,” she said.
nomics, which resulted in the creation of more businesses. If blacks focus our own empowerment, we’ll utilize research that suggests that communities’ generational economic empowerment is linked to entrepreneurial success. Therefore, if we are serious about improving our communities, our schools, providing jobs (black
businesses are the second-biggest employer of African-Americans, after the government), we must advance and strengthen blacks’ businesses WI
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William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and is available for projects via busxchng@his.com. The Washington Informer
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D.C. Youth Goes for the Gold
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Fifth-Grader to Represent District in National Spelling Bee By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer Julia Weinrod, a fifth-grader at Horace Mann Elementary School in Northwest hopes to be the first Washingtonian to win the National Spelling Bee on May 28 in National Harbor, Maryland. Weinrod won the local Washington Informer-sponsored Spelling Bee in March, spelling the winning word “kinara.” With less than two months to prepare for the national bee, she has kept her same strategy of equal parts studying and relaxing. “I study for about an hour and a half for a couple days of week, but I also do other stuff that I normally do,” Weinrod said. Julia’s father, Bruce Weinrod, echoes the sentiment that Julia studies hard, but preparing for the bee does not affect her normal 11-year-old life. “She has balance in what she is doing. We work on words together as a family, and then we’re done for the day. She will be better off in the competition and in life by balancing work and play,” the father said. The 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee will be a two-day event, hosting 285 spellers representing all 50 U.S. states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, China, Jamaica, Ghana, Japan and South Korea. There are three rounds, the preliminaries, the semifinals and the finals. Julia Weinrod will face spellers
PRISON from Page 4 visits from their children, a host of activities are permitted including hair and nail and salon time, a talent show and a scavenger hunt. There are also fire safety lessons and mother-child sleepovers. “I hope to use what I’ve learned to give a voice to the children and families impacted by mass incarceration in communities of color,” said Ja’Mesha Morgan, one of Muhammad’s students at Howard who hopes to become a journalist. “In the dialogue on mass in-
16 May 28 - June 3, 2015
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as young as 9 and as old as 15; however, that will not affect her game plan. Her straightforward strategy consisting of lists, word origin and definitions. “I make a list and cross off the words I know and focus on the ones I don’t. You have a better chance spelling a word right if you know the origin and what it means,” Julia Weinrod said. Family, teachers and classmates play a major role in Weinrod’s support system on her journey to the bee. “Were incredibly proud of her and what she has accomplished. She has always been very smart,” Bruce Weinrod said. It was no surprise to Julia’s father that she advanced to the pre-eminent spelling competition. “When she was 6, she read all of the six or seven volumes of Harry Potter books, she was always reading and she understood what she was reading even at that age,” he said. Competing in the national bee will be great for Julia academically and also for her self-esteem. “Being a part of this will definitely make her more confident and show her what she is capable of, but she has always been a confident girl with the support of her mother and teachers,” Bruce Weinrod said. “It’s the National Spelling Bee, so I am definitely nervous but excited – I want to win,” Julia said. The 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee will be televised on May 28 at 8 p.m. on ESPN. WI
carceration, we often talk about its impact on the incarcerated and the formerly so, but not often enough about its impact on the families and communities from which they are torn,” Morgan said. “This experience has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage with everyone impacted by it. And I can now bring these voices to bear in dialogue on this issue.” Barthlette said he’s grateful for the experience. “We all spoke about Spring Break when we were on the bus to the prison but what we all
PRISON Page 17
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came back with was the fact that we knew we were making a difference in that week,” he said. Muhammad acknowledged that the students are initially terrified at the thought of spending a week in a prison but all of them ultimately appreciate the experience. “When I throw the wrench in there that they will be staying in the prison they are shocked,” she said. “One student almost stopped breathing. They are blown away because there’s the idea of not knowing what to expect so I walk them through the process and we prepare the entire school year by looking at commentary in terms of what will be available and statistics on demographics and other things.” Muhammad said the fear the students have is easily discernible but there’s also lots of hope and faith. “Knowing that they’ll be working with children and bringing children there to be with their parents makes them feel good about being of service to that population,” Muhammad said. “On the way back, they are completely different students. They have grown so much in that week that you could hardly recognize them.” Still, Barthlette, Morgan and others said they’d do it again. “I knew it was going to be the climax of my school year,” he said. “I think if you don’t participate, there would be a feeling of emptiness. I was excited because no where in America has anyone ever done this and it also allows you to get a glimpse of Dr. Muhammad’s brilliance.” Barthlette said in addition to serving the children and the incarcerated women at the prison, the week-long stay also provided another kind of satisfaction. “The fact that students of a historically black college and university can adapt so well is amazing,” he said. “I’ve never seen a group of intellectuals in a circle next to incarcerated moms and daughters and we were, despite being in a prison, able to shut out all negative thoughts, doubts and fears and just focus on the circle.” WI www.washingtoninformer.com
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HEALTH
First Black Nursing Grad Receives Honorary Degree Esther McCready Feted at Maryland Graduation By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Small in stature and soft in voice, Esther McCready proved to be a giant in the fight for civil rights. And, on Friday, May 15, the 84-year-old pioneer’s life came full circle as she received an honorary doctor of public service degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore, the same institution that in 1949 denied her entry into the School of Nursing because she was black. “There is a famous piece by African-American writer Langston Hughes that asked the question of what happens to a dream deferred,” said Dr. Jane Kirschling, the dean of the University of Maryland’s School of
Nursing. “To Esther McCready, the answer is that it isn’t [deferred]. She applied to the school in hopes of earning her diploma in nursing, and her application was denied,” Kirschling said before introducing McCready to a large gathering at the school’s commencement. “Never one to back down from a challenge, she agreed to let the NAACP argue her case in the Maryland courts,” Kirschling said. “Two years later, her attorney, Thurgood Marshall, was successful in the fight to get her enrolled as the first African-American student admitted to the University of Maryland’s School of Nursing.” McCready took the stage to
thunderous applause. She offered a bright smile, suggesting that she was ever grateful and proud of the honor bestowed by school officials. McCready, 84, who still lives in Baltimore, became the first African-American student to graduate from the program in 1953. “I was really elated when the dean called me and told me that the board of trustees was going to give me this award,” said McCready, who has since been hospitalized at Johns Hopkins Hospital. “It was a true surprise, and when I told the doctors here that I went to the commencement, they asked whether a family member had graduated. And, when I told them about my honor ,they were so happy for me,
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Civil rights pioneer Esther McCready receives an honorary degree from the University of Maryland. /Photo Courtesy University of Maryland.
Esther McCready was honored as one of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s 25 inaugural Visionary Pioneers at a gala at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel on April 18. Awardees were alumni who have made a significant impact on and contribution to the field of nursing, including (left to right) Dean Jane M. Kirschling, Esther McCready, and University of Maryland, Baltimore President Jay A. Perman./ Photo Courtesy University of Maryland
and word traveled fast around the hospital. And the nurses here started calling me DR. McCready.” McCready recalled her initial experience at the school, where she had no friends and would eat alone during lunch. “But I was used to being alone as a child,” she said. She also clearly remembers the difficult time she experienced as the first black student at the School of Nursing. McCready said she still keeps in touch with two other women who attended the school when she did. “One of them lives in Pennsylvania and the other in Maryland, and one of them was telling me recently that she used to speak to me. And I told her that she didn’t because she didn’t want to be ostracized,” McCready said. “I told her not to worry because I didn’t fault her because I felt it was my mission that God sent me on.” “The first day there,” McCready said, “I remember standing at an elevator going back to orientation, and a nurse came up to me and told me that if I didn’t pray to God that I’d never get out of here,” she said. “But I told her that if I do pray to god, nobody here can stop me.” At the graduation, which was held at Royal Farms Arena, McCready eagerly took in the sights
and sounds where roughly 2,000 members of University of Maryland’s Class of 2015, graduating from its schools of dentistry, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work and its graduate school, began their journey to the future. “As I sat there at the graduation and I looked at the African-American faculty, I thought about when I went there that the only jobs for blacks were nursing aides, dietary aides and housekeeping,” McCready said. “Now the deans of the school of medicine and law are African-American. None of that was there in 1950, so to sit there was amazing.” Kirschling said the School of Nursing now has 37 percent minority representation, 53 percent of which is African-American. She said students have gained a great deal because of the strength, perseverance and determination of McCready. “Not only were Esther’s dreams not deferred, but thanks to her courage and bravery, the dreams of so many others did not have to be either,” Kirschling said before turning to McCready. “Esther, we honor you as a civil rights icon, a transformational figure in education. You are a treasure.” WI
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May 28 - June 3, 2015
19
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You won. We all dream of winning it big through a sweepstakes. But, if someone contacts you claiming you won a prize but you didn’t enter a contest, don’t respond! It’s probably a scam. Recently, a District senior reported to the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking [DISB] that she was contacted by mail with an official-looking certified award letter stating she had won $1,140,000 in winnings with a “Premium Offer Fee Due For Delivery of only $12.99.” The scam artist undoubtedly mailed millions of these letters. Let’s say the scam artist had a return rate of one to three percent – that means one million bogus award letters could result in ten to thirty thousand victims sending illegal fees in excess of $380,000. The scam is then repeated in different zip codes across the country. Scammers often target the elderly, because they are more trusting, financially stable and own their homes. Scammers contact victims by mail, phone, email or text message and eventually request upfront fees to cover government costs, taxes and fees. They may also request your social security number, bank account, credit card and other personal information supposedly to verify who you are and secure a “safe” account to deposit your alleged winnings. Do not send them anything. Providing personal information to unverified sources may result in identify theft, credit card fraud and having your bank account wiped out. If you receive an authentic looking certificate or check informing you that you’ve won a sweepstakes – trash it. Legitimate sweepstakes will not ask you to pay any kind of fee to collect a prize. If you are ever contacted about being a winner in a contest, remember the following red flags: • You have to pay. Legitimate sweepstakes do not require you to pay a fee or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning — that includes paying “taxes,” “shipping and handling charges” or “processing fees” to get your prize. •
You need to verify who you
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are. There is no reason to give someone your social security number, bank account or credit card numbers in response to a sweepstakes promotion. •
•
•
Request to wire money. You may be told to wire money to “insure” delivery of the prize. Don’t do it. Wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, it’s gone. Request to deposit a check sent to you. Once their check is deposited in your account you are directed to wire a portion of the money back. Beware, their check is fake and you will owe the bank any money you withdrew. You’re told they’re from the government. They might say they’re from a non-existent agency like the National Consumer Protection Agency or National Sweepstakes Bureau. No federal government agency or legitimate sweepstakes company will contact you to ask for money so you can claim a prize.
•
Contact from a well-known company. Scammers pretend to represent a company like Publishers Clearing House or Reader’s Digest, which run legitimate sweepstakes. If you’re unsure, contact the real companies to find out the truth.
•
Bulk mail notices. It’s not likely you’ve won a big prize if your notification was mailed by bulk rate. Check the postmark on the envelope or postcard. Do you even remember entering? If not, odds are you didn’t.
•
Mandatory sales meetings.
If you agree to attend, you’re likely to endure a high-pressure sales pitch. In fact, any pressure to “act now” before you miss out on a prize is a sign of a scam. •
Unsolicited phone calls. You can register your phone number for free at the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov. Unwanted telemarketing calls should stop within 30 days.
•
Text Message Prize Offers. Ignore text messages that you’ve won a free prize with directions to go to a website, enter personal information and sign up for “trial offers.” These offers could leave you with recurring monthly charges and possible identity theft.
D.C. residents: Contact the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking at disb. dc.gov or by phone at 202-7278000 if you suspect you have have been a victim of a sweepstake scam or any other financial scam. You can read more about sweepstakes schemes on the Federal Trade Commission’s website. The mission of the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking is two-fold: (1) protect consumers by providing equitable, thorough, efficient, and prompt regulatory supervision of the financial services companies, firms, and individuals operating in the District of Columbia; and (2) develop and improve market conditions to attract and retain financial services firms to the District of Columbia. Visit us online at disb. dc.gov. WI
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VOL. 1, NO. 4
MAY 2015
COMMENCEMENT
Web : http://washingtoninformer.com/news/wi-bridge/
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Email : wibridge@washingtoninformer.com
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CONTENTS
EDITOR’S LETTER
PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes
Baltimoreans Create Movement Built to Last 2-3 Dreams Deferred For Degree-Holding Millenials 3 Commencement Speakers Should Share Authenticity and Vulnerability 4-5 J.Beale’s Career is Still #Nothinbad 5 Thursday Network: Bringing Professionalism and Service Together 6 WI Viewpoints 7
ON THE COVER
Hi WI Bridge Readers, Every spring, people from all walks of life and in different junctures of their academic careers walk across the stage and receive accolades for their completion of their studies during a ceremony known as graduation. The journey didn’t come without challenges, and even as one celebrates with friends and family, questions linger about what comes next. In this issue of WI Bridge, appropriately named Commencement, we break down the concept of graduation with articles and think pieces that address many facets of the graduate and post-graduate experience. In this issue, our reporters ask academics about the job climate for millennials of color, deconstruct the anatomy of an ideal commencement speech, and chronicle a local artist’s graduation to mainstream stardom. We also ask people about the value of
a college degree and look back at how Baltimoreans turned their frustrations into community action. As always, we try to give our readers a little bit of everything for their enjoyment. It’s our hope that this material sparks discussion about the education system and what some may consider the best means of preparing the youth for the future. As journalists, we’re always thinking about the future. If you’re a reporter thinking about your future in the industry, feel free to drop us a line at wibridge@washingtoninformer. com.
STAFF Sam P.K. Collins Editor-in-Chief
Chelsea Fuller Editor
REPORTERS
Sam P.K. Collins Editor-in-Chief WI Bridge
Melvin Graham
Loren B. Coleman, Ph.D
MISSION STATEMENT The WI Bridge sets out to highlight contemporary issues through the experiences of youth and capture the progressive, entrepreneurial spirit of the Millennial generation other publications gloss over. Writers will take to streets and feature people, programs, initiatives, and movements that uniquely address prominent youth issues. This hard-hitting coverage will lay to rest misconceptions of Generation Y and bring all to an understanding of diverse youth experiences.
Travis Brownlee, 21, recently graduated from Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Brownlee said that during his years at the local historically black college, he has enjoyed the unique campus culture and gained a tightknit college family that has enabled him to succeed academically. He feels exceptionally proud to walk across the stage, a feat that so many black men don’t have the chance to achieve because of systemic hardships. With this chapter behind him, Brownlee has expressed plans to help grow his family business and attain a private pilot’s license./ Photo by Dejah Greene 1 | WI BRIDGE
YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE ADVERTISED ON THIS PAGE. For more information, send inquiries to WIBridge@washingtoninformer.com
Ambre Tomlinson
PHOTOGRAPHER Dejah Greene
LAYOUT Kelcey Abney
BALTIMOREANS CREATE MOVEMENT BUILT TO LAST
Hip-hop Freeway joined Baltimore youth during a community event./ Photo courtesy of Craig Jernigan
By Sam P.K. Collins WI Bridge Editor-in-Chief @SamPKCollins In the days after civil unrest in Baltimore overtook the news coverage on the mysterious death of Freddie Gray, Baltimoreans redoubled their effort to show what Charm City is really about. Community members came out in droves towing brooms, trash bags, and trash cans — maneuvering around the flurry of protestors, fully armored police officers, and a bevy of news cameras — to clean up and restore order to their community after Monday night’s melee. Church and community groups served food to kids who wouldn’t get free lunch with schools closed. But it turns out these efforts may be more than a stopgap to address the immediate needs of residents adversely affected by around-the-clock police presence. Slowly but surely, a movement has been coalescing in Baltimore through the collaborative efforts of clergy people, educators, youth advocates, and members of street gangs – key players who have the clout to unite their groups around the pressing needs of the community and start the long-term planning to address the city’s long-
ignored plight.
funneled in pounds of food, clothing, toiletries, and medical supplies to United Methodist Church. During his interview, King discussed plans to distribute meals and create care packages for community members who have been without medication since the nearby pharmacy went up in flames.
“This is ongoing because we in Baltimore are in this for the long haul. People under their own initiative and creativity have brought supplies that have transformed Baltimore beyond what the city has seen,” said Reverend Eric King of Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Baltimore. This week, United Methodist’s fellowship hall morphed into a cafeteria and gathering space for children who King said most likely wouldn’t have been able to eat in lieu of school closures on Tuesday. That day, more than 100 youngsters converged on the grounds of the church where they feasted on pizza, sandwiches, granola bars, and fruit snacks while gulping down cold water and juice. An interdenominational group of volunteers that included teachers and parents watched as children frolicked around the space.
It doesn’t stop there. With the help of local activist groups and Pastor Willie Johnson, a Ferguson protester, King and other church leaders said they want to spark conversation with the disillusioned youth about their frustration and help them channel their energy to create substantial, longterm solutions to combat decades of harsh policing, high unemployment, neighborhood decay, and other social ills that affected residents long before the cameras showed up.
A mural dedicated to those who fell victim to police violence./ Photo courtesy of Craig Jernigan
In the days since outside police forces entered Baltimore and city officials
imposed a curfew, local volunteers and allies from surrounding cities have
“Ministers across the country have walked through a community that has been looted and talked to the people. We met with gang members from different sets and learned that there were many who tried to get looters to stop robbing the store. This has opened up conversation about what we could do to better our community,” King said. 2 | WI BRIDGE
For Baltimore teacher Chelseay Parks, that conversation with her second graders has to take place amid the chaos, especially since many of them have most likely heard accounts of the protests from their older siblings. Parks, a native of Atlanta, spent much of the morning assisting other volunteers with food distribution and conversing with parents about how she should best address the events that have unfolded in the last couple of weeks. “Part of our job is giving them a little more info without sacrificing their childhood. Kids in this environment always have teaching moments about the injustices they face,” Parks said. Parks recounted an instance when she taught a group of fourth graders about implicit bias with what she described as the “blue eyes, brown eyes exercise,” a teaching tool that has been used since the 1960s to explain racial discrimination in
a tangible manner by dividing students by eye color and giving the blue-eyed students special privileges. “It’s difficult to communicate with the younger students because they won’t understand structural racism and how things are stacked against them,” Parks said. “It’s difficult to navigate but we want to have a conversation about it. In education, it’s important to understand what you’re going through and how external influences put you in your current position.” Niya Rucker, a 21-year-old Park Heights resident, was counted among the volunteers Tuesday morning. Despite reaching the height of her frustration with the outsiders who came into Baltimore after the riots broke out, Rucker remained determined to beautify her neighborhood and talk to her contemporaries who have neglected the words of cautious adults.
“If you’re not from Baltimore, you wouldn’t understand,” Rucker said. While she condemned the actions of those who looted stores, Rucker, who recounted a dismal childhood, said their anger resonated with her. That’s why she has recently taken more of an interest in advising younger residents. “The children here don’t have proper guidance. This stuff kicked off because a post was made for them. They don’t know what they’re fighting for.” However, Baltimore-area youth advocate Craig Jernigan said the young looters are the exception rather than the majority. After watching the high point of the conflict around the corner from his house on Monday, Jernigan met with other youth advocates. He said that plans are in motion to pass out supplies to families affected by the fires and give fire fighters moral support. This project, set to jump off with the help of allies
from Harrisburg, PA, will be led by at least 20 young people currently under state supervision. “These young people weren’t out there looting and rioting and I’m really impressed with that,” said Jernigan, program director at the Baltimore Youth Advocate Project. “Many of the advocates told me that their youth were safe at home and accounted for. The ones I’m talking to are frustrated. They are all saying the same message about being treated wrongly by police and getting racially profiled. They see it all of the time. It’s not just about Freddie Gray. It’s bigger than that. It’s about all of their peers. They’ve calmed down and their focus has increased.” This article originally appeared on ThinkProgress.org.
DREAMS DEFERRED FOR DEGREE-HOLDING MILLENNIALS of time, effort, and By Loren B. Coleman, Ph.D. WI Bridge Contributing Writer substantial amounts of money. @Ms_LorenS Graduation. The receiving or conferring of an academic degree or diploma. Each year, undergraduate students check their academic degree progress to ensure that they have fulfilled all required credits for graduation. After completing their studies, students hope to matriculate in their respective and chosen careers, earning higher salaries and more prestige. Yet, in 2015, 9.1 percent of millennials are jobless, a rate that’s higher than that for average unemployment, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation reports. “I watch a lot of first generation and students of color get a piece of paper that means so much, and as an educator, I am happy,” said Nicola Corbin, an assistant professor of communication at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. “However, two months later I still see them looking for jobs. I still see them hustling and that dream has not materialized,”Corbin said. The perpetuation of a capitalist society depends on the sustainment of the American Dream rhetoric, which fetishizes the graduation from high school, access to to college, and securement of a middle class life. However, for millennials, earning an undergraduate degree does not necessarily guarantee a stable, conventional job or one in which graduates invest an average of six years 3 | WI BRIDGE
“In college there is a lack of skills acquisition,” said Coleman, 32, from Jackson, Miss. “We live in an economy that provides space for anyone to be an entrepreneur and producer of goods.”
“Graduation assumes an individual graduates from a dependent to an independent individual, i.e. an engaged citizen,” With new demands from the said Marcus Coleman, market and digital native an assistant professor in generation, educational Communication Studies institutions are being forced to and Interdisciplinary reconceptualize the learning Studies at the University environment. Students should of Southern Mississippi develop skills on how to Marcus Coleman gave a presentation during the Center for Black in Hattiesburg, Miss. Dr. learn, but students don’t have the Studies’ commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act “College graduation is a of 1965 at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. Afexpectation. There is a disinterest site of privilege that less ter the panel, the Center organized a voter registration drive with student in critical thinking and a greater student volunteers./ Photo courtesy of Dr. Sherita Johnson, Center for and less are able to attain Black Studies interest in learning about social because it is increasingly media, said Corbin, who in her expensive. The American Dream is not “I think everyone should pursue scholarship explores color, gender and inextricably linked to graduation. Many college, and it is even more incumbent representation politics among women of reach the dream of financial stability for students of color,” said Corbin, 37, color in popular culture. without ever graduating from college.” originally from Guyana. “A college While CNBC reports that the economy degree is the minority tax that we have The lack of stability in the job market created 295,000 new jobs in 2014, to pay to prove ourselves over and has encouraged, and forced others to lowering the unemployment rate to over again. Often times, it’s less about start their own businesses. In 2011, 5.5 percent, millennials still struggle knowledge and skills, and more about millennials launched 160,000 startups to find jobs in this rebounding market. social status.” per month. However, there were some Generation Opportunity, a youth challenges, including loan and credit advocacy nonprofit in Washington Millennials are graduating from high approval from banks, and a lack of D.C., reports that the millennial school at 72 percent, the highest in education. unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in two decades, and 68 percent of those March 2015. And for black millennials, high school graduates are enrolled in “Our students have to be taught how to the unemployment rate was 20.4 college. Fifty-eight percent of those learn, and that is why interdisciplinary percent. Generation Opportunity entering a four-year institution will studies is so important,” said Coleman, emphasized that economic opportunity earn an undergraduate degree in six His research investigates black and job availability are necessary for years, reported in the U.S. Chamber of patriotism and civic engagement. “We social mobility and progress, yet black Commerce Foundation’s comprehensive don’t teach students theory; we teach millennials lag behind in the acquisition report on millennials. students how to research, so they can of these key ingredients. leave here and go teach themselves.”
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS SHOULD SHARE AUTHENTICITY AND VULNERABILITY By Chelsea Fuller WI Bridge Editor @fulloffaith22 I remember what I wore to a T. The feelings of joy, anticipation, bittersweet completion and pride that overwhelmed me each time I received a diploma are still palpable years later. I remember the details, big and small, about each graduation I’ve had -- including what I ate, the family and friends who came, the pictures I took, the cards I received and the hands I shook. But for some reason, the words spoken and charges given during the commencement addresses escape me. In high school, our principal said something along the lines of “Congratulations, you did it! Good luck in the future.”When I graduated from West Virginia University, the School of Journalism’s commencement speaker was some NPR editor whose name and message are as obscure and irrelevant to me now as they were then. I remember feeling that I was not the target audience for the message she crafted which is probably why I don’t remember anything she said.
Denzel Washington at Dillard University in New Orleans/Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Katie Couric was the speaker when I received my master’s degree from American University. I love Katie so I was actually excited about her address. I remember her excitement when sharing stories about her journalism career and memories of her supportive father, but nothing tangible. She urged us to take risks using a generic analogy, comparing our life journeys to a GPS that would always re-route and get us back on course. Cute right? Yeah. But it didn’t stir anything inside me. I still felt she was talking at me, not to me.
I haven’t had this experience personally, but some speakers manage to deliver speeches that actually make an impact. Some of the greatest commencement speeches in history were not only given by presidents, scholars and billionaires, but also by people who openly and honestly shared parts of their story in a way that was encouraging, but not isolating or boastful. So what separates the forgettable from the powerful? A combination of authenticity and vulnerability, sprinkled with a little humanity. During the 2015 graduation season, a few commencement addresses made national headlines. Award-winning actor and philanthropist Denzel Washington, for example, told graduates of Dillard University in New Orleans to keep God in their lives against the urging of the administration. He also advised them to be consistent in the pursuit of their goals and to “fail big.”
Commencement addresses are supposed to be a vital and memorable part of a graduation ceremony. In theory, having a notable person share words of wisdom and encouragement to graduates on the day they’ve worked so hard to reach is a wonderful thing. But it seems that far too often these messages don’t resonate with graduates. Maybe it’s the coursing adrenaline and excitement that make it hard to concentrate and retain these speeches. Maybe it’s that these messages aren’t really written to inspire, but to impress. But I believe an excited mind and pounding heart can decipher between what’s genuine and what’s affected, what’s written to engage everyone and what’s created for those with whom the speaker identifies. First lady Michelle Obama at Tuskegee University/ Photo courtesy of Getty Images
First lady Michelle Obama also gave a resounding address at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala. She encouraged graduates of the historically black institution to continue walking in the proud legacy of those who came before them. What made her speech so different and impactful was the level of vulnerability she shared; a vulnerability that extended past the typical “We all have struggles, but you can overcome” type of prose, to one that exposes real 4 | WI BRIDGE
pain, fears and societal realities. First lady Obama opened up about the fear, self-doubt and worry she had before and during her time as this nation’s first African-American first lady. She candidly explained how people’s limited and often racist views of her and her family affected her. Although the way she identified with the struggles shared by people of color at certain points in the speech opened her up to serious criticism, that kind of audacious sharing of the truth touches people. “I realized that if I wanted to keep my sanity and not let others define me, there was only one thing I could do and that was to have faith in God’s plan for me,” Obama told graduates at Tuskegee University. “I had to ignore all the noise and be true to myself and the rest would work itself out. I have learned to block everything out and focus on my truth.” This kind of commencement speech is refreshing. The level of authenticity and boldness expressed transcends race, gender, economic class and religion because it tugs at the humanity in all people. During his 1962 commencement speech at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., President John Fitzgerald Kennedy said “For the great enemy of truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest — but the myth — persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.” This quote, to me, sums up why certain commencement speeches don’t create a lasting or even temporary meaning on graduates. Once one reaches the point in life or career where they’re given the honor and privilege of delivering a commencement speech, they may believe the best addresses to be lofty and filled with quotes to boldly go where no one else has gone before, fear nothing, and dare greatly. But living up until that point means there has been great accomplishment, pain, failure, disappointment and wisdom gained. Speeches that genuinely delve into those things expose a person’s vulnerability by unearthing their weaknesses, hopes, fears and self-perceptions. The ability to connect is found in the honest sharing of what lies in one’s heart. With my doctoral degree, I have one more graduation looming. I hope the speech I hear on that day is full of bold and courageous truths that empower me to one day have a platform to share my own.
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J. BEALE’S CAREER IS STILL #NOTHINBAD By Ambre ‘MzGreenEyez’ Tomlinson WI Bridge Contributing Writer @Missgreeneyez J.Beale, the Virginia Hip-Hop sensation with the vocals that seem to dim the lights, has stepped on the scene heavily as the new “It” artist. In the last few years his voice has served as the perfect complement to many D.C. metropolitan area rapper’s songs. Now, as he graduates from being the sexy voice on the hook of the song to a celebrated artist and a businessman in his own right, J.Beale leaves an audience of followers asking what’s next for his #NothinBad brand. Still spinning off the success and notoriety of his last album “This is Forever” and several performances at popular venues around the city, J.Beale has created a solid buzz. His style, music and sex appeal have all matured, and now he is ready to show the world the man he has become. After rocking the stage at the Howard Theatre for the Kama Sutra Experience event, Beale displayed a powerful voice, a strong stage presence and a full band of talented musicians and back-up singers. “The music I’m working on now is a salute to all my fans who told me what they like most about my sound,” J.Beale said. Currently, J. Beale is diligently working on a mixtape that features club songs sure to rock the dance floors of D.C., as well as ballads that tame the ladies’ restless hearts. Beale said “I try to cater to the range of different types of people that make up my fan base. Each listener deserves to hear the aspects of the music I make that they favor the most.” The new music keeps the feel-good quality Beale’s #NothinBad movement emanates, proving this phrase will be an underlying theme in this artist’s catalog. Beale has also been adding a plethora of new material to his archives by way of collaboration. He has several songs set to release soon with Maybach Music Group artists Fat Trel, Young Breed and Quise. On Mother’s Day, Beale released “Dear Mama,” a single that’s featured on Fat Trel’s new mixtape “Georgetown.”. To date, it has virally received positive feedback. Aside from the music, J.Beale is a true lover of fashion and design. He and business partner LT developed a clothing
J.beale clad in his clothing line, Hard Grind apparel. / Photo by Ambre Tomlinson
brand he said caters to today’s trendy youth. “I am currently expanding my portfolio and including a fashion line called “Hard Grind. “The clothing style is sleek and comfortable, yet stylish. The company utilizes lightweight, breathable fabrics and high-quality materials. The summer collection will be online soon. DJ Drama, a supporter of the brand, first recognized the quality and appeal of the clothing during a studio session J.Beale had in Atlanta. LT had on a pair of jogger sweats created by “Hard Grind.” Drama was impressed and ordered several pieces on the spot, saying that “Hard Grind” is an brand that he would wear. J.Beale has an action-packed summer ahead of him, including several performances and appearances all leading up to an exciting fall event. He and his camp plan on throwing a back-to-school celebration called “The 7th Street Block Party” located right across from Howard University. This celebration will serve as a thank you to all the supporters that keep his brand flourishing as well as a meet and greet
J.Beale onstage at the Howard Theatre during the Kama Sutra Experience showcase in March./ Photo by Ambre Tomlinson
with Howard university students and members of the community. “We just wanna invite the people out for a fun barbeque, music and good times. We’re organizing some exciting things coming up soon but absolutely #NothinBad,” Beale said.
THURSDAY NETWORK: BRINGING PROFESSIONALISM AND SERVICE TOGETHER By Charis A. Goff President, Thursday Network @charisgoff There are moments in life when one can find themselves overwhelmed with possibility. For many, college graduation epitomizes that feeling. “What is next?” “Can I compete?” “Where can I contribute?” In looking for a place to find answers to those questions, many end up in an unexpected place – the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL). This nonprofit, which is known for its venerable civil rights history and dedication to serving the needs of the residents of the D.C. metropolitan region, is also home to the Thursday Network, a unique organization focused on the development and support of young civic leaders. Thursday Network is the young professionals’ auxiliary of GWUL, comprised of men and women between the ages of 21 and 40. First and foremost, a service organization, Thursday Network creates programming and partnerships around the National Urban League’s four empowerment goal areas of health, housing, jobs and education. Events also delve into topics of concern for those in our service area -Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland. This organization serves as the optimal place for recent college graduates to find a base, whether they’re new to the area or transitioning out of their student status. Our membership includes those who are focused on building opportunity. Through annual signature programming, as well as events designed to meet the community’s most immediate needs, Thursday Network has become a dedicated force that’s committed to volunteerism and philanthropy. Weaved through all of this work is economic empowerment, civic engagement and cultural awareness. We place a high priority on membership’s personal and professional development to ensure GWUL has a strong team to perform the necessary work of our organization, as well as increase representation of members as community and industry leaders. The auxiliary hosts monthly meetings on various topics including financial literacy, social entrepreneurship, and personal fitness. Members have found not just new employment through the networking opportunities provided;
Members of the Thursday Network lead a discussion about bullying with students at John Philip Sousa Middle School in Southeast./ Photo courtesy of the Thursday Network
Charis A. Goff, president of the Thursday Network/ Courtesy Photo
they have also discovered different career paths. Because of the training and project management experience offered, they find themselves better prepared for success in their own work – whether it be in traditional jobs or entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to direct chapter service, members have the resources of the GWUL, from relationships with the Board of Directors to the League’s new Entrepreneurship Center.
With all of that said, the priority of the organization is community service. In the past year alone, Thursday Network has held some of its largest events since the chapter’s inception in 1992. Service to the League and the community is robust and innovative. In January 2015, the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Blanket & Toiletries Drive was a huge success -- more than 600 blankets and toiletry packages were assembled and distributed by almost 300 volunteers at this event focused on reaching the homeless population not currently in shelters. The League was honored to be joined by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro for this special event. Year round, Thursday Network provides quality service through the Empowerment Academy mentoring program at local schools, service at area non-profits including resume and finance workshops at Prince George’s House men’s shelter, meal prep at DC Central Kitchen and book drives for area schools. Annually, the “I EMPOWER” Scholarship Fund continues to recognize local students who exemplify service and leadership with support for higher education, adding to the more than $150,000 that has been awarded since its inception. Young Blacks Give Back Month is a service blitz held each May since 1994, aiming to raise the profile of young black professionals dedicated to their communities and encourage more to get involved.
The heart of Thursday Network’s mission and one of its greatest strengths lies in its ability to support the League’s mission of empowerment. A large piece of the chapter’s work over the last year has been increased advocacy. In partnership with GWUL, Thursday Network created the “Combating Police Brutality Action Plan”, which includes a series of town hall events to connect law enforcement, community advocates, and legislators in discussion on community policing and proactively addressing violence against community members. The series continues in D.C. on June 11th at Anacostia Neighborhood Library. It would be difficult to appreciate the breadth of offerings provided by the chapter without experiencing it in person – and most events are open to the public. Thanks to the blend of early career professionals and more seasoned leaders, there is a chance to give in service, while you develop yourself. This is an organization that truly is only as strong as its membership, creating an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity. For the new graduates looking for a community organization that is also interested in their unique talents and resources, Thursday Network is a place for them to feed their skills and their passion. For more information about Thursday Network, visit thursdaynetwork.org. You can also follow Thursday Network on Twitter at @thursdayntwk
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WI BRIDGE VIEWPOINTS
Each month, a WI Bridge reporter hits the streets, asks the questions that matter, and compiles the best responses for readers to see. Do you have a suggestion for a Viewpoint question? Email wibridge@ washingtoninformer.com and you might see your inquiry in a future issue.
WITH THE RISING COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION, IS THERE STILL VALUE IN GETTING A DEGREE? “I’m in school right now, and I don’t think it’s actually worth it. I attend Technical Learning Center in Northwest. I think it’s better for a black man to have a trade like mechanics or engineering. That’s what I like to do. All my life that’s the type of work I did. I just started going to technical school so I can go to school for veterinary technician. I like dogs, so after college I plan on opening my own dog daycare and grooming shop.”
Barry Davis, 22, Southeast
“Why wouldn’t it be? A college education is not necessarily about obtaining knowledge. I think it’s more about setting out a series of goals and finishing them, and learning how to acquire knowledge. The benefit is in the learning ‘How To’, and spending four years to devote to really figuring that out. I studied journalism, and I graduated from Wayne State university in Detroit, Michigan.”
Grace Adunola, Northwest
“It depends on what field you are going into. For myself, I’m graduating with a masters degree in social work. Going into social work requires a master’s degree. Not so much for a field like cultural studies, unless you’re going for a Ph.D. In all honesty, I believe that you have to do something to better yourself. Why not take the chance of investing in yourself, regardless of the price?”
“[It’s not worth it after] undergrad. I have a master’s degree in social work and I don’t have a master’s level job. When I graduated from my graduate program, I realized that in the field of in social work, you get paid so little anyway. There’s also a lack of high-paying jobs that that require a higher degree. To get those jobs you need lots of experience. I don’t think [the master’s degree] is worth it.”
Maurice Mayo, 27, Baltimore
“I believe college is way too expensive for what we are paying now. A lot of these kids go to college and get these masters degrees and they don’t have any experience when they come out, and so they don’t have a great job. They have all this knowledge and all this debt. So, I really don’t think that college is all that necessary anymore. Better alternatives are networking or the military.”
By Teniola Ayoola, WI Bridge Contributing Writer, @ayoolateniola
Jamila Stevenson, 24, Northeast
“The worth of a degree depends on your career field. In the information technology field, you need a bachelor’s degree, but you may not need to go further in your education. For an MBA, usually you can also get that experience on the field, depending on what you are doing. I’m thinking about getting my MBA right now, but I have an opportunity at my job to get into project management.”
Ashlee Bullock, 20, Norfolk, Virginia
Damola Songuro, 36, Northeast
YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE ADVERTISED ON THIS PAGE. For more information, send inquiries to WIBridge@washingtoninformer.com
7 | WI BRIDGE
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL Justice Denied. Again. The Cleveland Police Department represents everything that is foul and dirty about some in law enforcement. A two-year Department of Justice civil rights review recently cited that officers from the department engaged in a pattern of “unreasonable and unnecessary use of force” evidenced by dangerous and reckless behavior by the officers. In case-after-case, the mayor, prosecutors, city attorneys and on last Saturday, a judge, have explained away, excused and offered unqualified support rogue cops who beat and Tasered suspects in handcuffs or who were otherwise defenseless, shooting at people without justifiable cause, lying on their reports and covering up their illicit and thuggish behavior. This is the department whose officers shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice while he played with a toy gun. Six months later, charges are still to be filed against the two officers who rode up on Tamir and shot him without identifying themselves. On Saturday, May 23, the tacit and overt approval of egregious police misconduct continued when Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O’Donnell took more than an hour to explain his reasoning for his verdict. At the end of his lengthy rationalizations, O’Donnell found Officer Michael Brelo not guilty of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of felonious assault in the deaths of black and unarmed motorists Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. The police mistook the victims’ car backfiring for gunfire and soon 62 cars embarked on a 20-mile high-speed chase after which cops fired 137 rounds at close range into the car. Brelo was found not guilty despite jumping on the hood of the victims’ vehicle and firing 15 bullets through the windshield. O’Donnell said he was unable to reliably say whether any of the bullets Brelo fired killed Williams and Russell, who were each hit more than 20 times. Despite the victims being unarmed, O’Donnell said Brelo was justified in reacting to what he thought was the motorists’ perceived threat. Just in case there was any doubt, O›Donnell said he refused to sacrifice Brelo to an angry and restive public if the evidence on hand didn’t merit a conviction. “In many American places people are angry with, mistrusting and fearful of the police,” he said. “Citizens think the men and women sworn to protect and serve have violated that oath or never meant it in the first place … I will not sacrifice him to a public frustrated by historical mistreatment at the hands of other officers.” Hundreds of people demonstrated after Brelo’s verdict and a number were arrested but the unrest will continue until police officers stop killing and harming unarmed men, women and children of color.
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish There seems to be no shortage of discord among D.C. Council members and between them and the Bowser administration over police body cameras. Council member Kenyan McDuffie cut the allocated $5.1 million funding for the program over concerns about the department not collecting data for the eight months the program was in operation. Some on the council want to smooth out problems in the program’s operation before injecting more money into the program; there are squabbles over which ward gets what amount of money; and Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Muriel Bowser would prefer that the public not see data captured by the cameras. With people of color being killed by police in cities all over the country and departments under intense scrutiny, all involved need to settle their differences and implement a program that covers all bases. We are seeing too many cases of police misconduct to delay the program. While not perfect, the bodycam program’s benefits far outweigh the negatives. Not only will the cameras protect officers and the public, they will help strengthen the public’s trust in law enforcement.
No More Taxes In PGC I am in complete agreement with Prince George’s Council Vice Chair Obie Patterson in his stance against County Executive Rushern Baker’s proposed property tax increase, [“Patterson: Baker’s Tax Increase Slap in Face,” May 21, 2015 by Stacy M. Brown]. We, the citizens of Prince George’s County, have to be very careful when we hear politicians say, “we have to raise taxes to ensure our children can get a good education.” Now don’t get me wrong; I do believe we need to support our education system, but raising taxes is not the solution. Remember the state lottery and gambling was suppose to pour millions into the education fund; where is that money going? I think what needs to be done to help our schools become better performing is to take a look at those schools within our county that are performing well and duplicate those throughout the county. And I would bet the reason why those schools are performing at a high rate is because of parental involvement. It’s not a secret; just look around the region and at every top performing school there is a lot of parental involvement. Money cannot get students to do their homework, or give teachers the confidence to know that they are supported in their classrooms. Money can’t let students know that they need to behave because at any given moment their parent might visit their school, no, money can’t do it. We have to be careful when politicians start saying we have to raise taxes for this
or that because that’s what politicians do; they want to raise taxes. Pretty soon no one but the wealthy will be able to afford to live and own a home in Prince George’s County. Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking it couldn’t happen in Prince George’s County. Just look at what’s happening in Washington, DC. Forrest Johnson Prince George’s County
Words Speak Louder than Photos Your article by D. Kevin McNeir, “Chadian Cuisine Comes to the District,” May 21, 2015 is very interesting. We as African-Americans have had little, if any, exposure to the different cuisines of our Mother Africa, and food from the country of Chad sounds like something great. The ingredients, rice, cabbage, fried okra, yams and chicken that are found in the dishes from Chad are very similar to some of the traditional southern African-American dishes we sometimes eat. I hope Ms. Williams can get the kind of support from the African-American community that will allow her catering business to grow. In addition to sounding like the dishes are very healthy, they sound very delicious. If I were to have one negative comment it would be that your photographs of the dishes were not very complimentary. I feel that presentation is very important especially when introducing something new. I would have preferred
to see maybe a serving plate with different dishes that constitute a meal. Your written descriptions of the dishes gave a better presentation than the photographs. I look forward to giving “A Taste of Chad” a try in the near future. Monica Presley Washington, DC
Hogan Against Ex-Felons The Washington Informer should take an editorial stance against Maryland Governor Larry Hogan who vetoed a bill on Friday that would have allowed returning citizens to vote immediately after leaving prison rather than waiting until they have completed their probation or parole. Boy, does the governor have it backwards. I agree with those who believe this Republican governor learned nothing from the violence that occurred in Baltimore where the state’s largest numbers of disenfranchised felons reside. What difference it makes for citizens who know they can influence what’s at stake in their communities by exercising their right to vote at the polls. I am urging your editors to exercise this publication’s voice to call the governor to task and to urge members of the Maryland House and Senate vote to override the governor’s ridiculous position. Thousands of Maryland residents who have paid their debt to society don’t need to wait any longer to vote on Election Day. Mark Jennings Suitland, Maryland
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May 28 - June 3, 2015
21
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
Guest Columnist
By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
Jay Z and Beyoncé are Following a Rich Tradition Hip-hop culture is about transformation. It is more than a global genre of music. Hiphop is a transcendent cultural phenomenon that speaks to the soul, mind, body and spirit of what it means to dare to change the world into a better place. Hip-hop is not just about acquiring funds or “stacking paper.” It is also about giving back. I have personally been a long-term advocate for the unbridled intellec-
tual genius and social consciousness of hip-hop. So, when I heard that recently Jay Z and Beyoncé traveled together to Baltimore in the wake of the massive Black Lives Matter protests, I was not surprised. In fact, I give them both a big thumbs-up salute in gratitude for their leadership example. The impact of the injustice of the horrific police killing of Freddie Gray was profound not only in Baltimore, but also across the nation. They did not wait for a “cool-
ing off ” period before going to the scene of the protests. Jay and Bey also spent some quality time consoling Freddie Gray’s family. Giving back sometimes involves more than financial contributions. Taking sincere acts of solidarity and empathy with those who cry out for equal justice is also a meaningful expression of caring and lending one’s public brand to support the demand for justice. One of the reasons why I believe that the combined creative talent of this gifted couple will
Guest Columnist
continue to soar with career success is that they both believing in giving back. They give back substantively to their communities in New York, in Texas and throughout the world. From assisting global Red Cross efforts to helping the United Nations to provide safe clean drinking water to millions of people in Africa, Jay Z and Beyonce continue their transformative philanthropic campaigns. Of course, whenever public icons such as Jay and Bey attempt to help make a difference for be-
sieged and underserved communities, there will always be a cynical group of “player haters.” But all of the negative responses to the goodwill actions of Jay and Bey will in no way be successful in tarnishing their righteous acts of helping others. I well remember when the godfather of hip-hop, Russell Simmons, was joined in New York City in 2001 by Diddy, Sister Souljah, Queen Latifah, Jay Z, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith,
CHAVIS Page 37
By Julianne Malveaux
‘Stupid’ Infrastructure Neglect When Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 derailed on May 12, federal budget observers wondered if the underfunding of our nation’s fraying infrastructure was at least partly responsible for the deaths of eight people and the injuries to more than 200. Despite these questions, House Republicans voted to reduce President Barack Obama’s request for Amtrak funding from $2.45 billion to
$1.14 billion. The Republican proposal not only reduces the current level of funding for Amtrak, which is $1.4 billion), but it also delays or eliminates needed capital for improvements. Legislators who represent areas served by the Northeast Corridor trains running from Washington, D.C., to Boston, including New York’s Charles Schumer (D) and Philadelphia’s Chaka Fattah (D), have voiced objection to the parsimonious plan to underfund Amtrak. Still,
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), as characteristically myopic as the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand, lost his cool when a reporter asked about funding for Amtrak. When Ginger Gibson, a political reporter for the International Business Times, queried Boehner about Democratic criticisms of Amtrak funding, he called her question “stupid.” He then embarked on a partisan rant that ignored the fact that eight people died because of the de-
Guest Columnist
railment. What does money have to do with it? Everything. If budgets allowed for more than one engineer on a train, then Brandon Bostian, the engineer who claims not to remember why the train sped up, might have had some backup. Further, with more funding, would the positive train control safety system (which slows speeding trains) have been functioning properly? Investigations have not yet revealed why Train 188 derailed.
It was going 106 miles per hour when it should have been going 50, but how did it speed up so rapidly and why? Why are there not enough precautions to prevent this kind of accident? What will be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future? Trains aren’t the only parts of our infrastructure that need attention. The American Society of Civil Engineers issues a report card on our nation’s infra-
MALVEAUX Page 37
By George E. Curry
Politicizing Donations to Clinton Foundation Like the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropy that primarily funds education, world health and population projects, the Clinton Foundation was established to address such issues as climate change, global health, economic development, health and wellness and problems involving women and girls. In a crass effort to derail Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential
22 May 28 - June 3, 2015
campaign bid, major Republican figures and Fox News, their partner in crime, are peddling the idea that there is something inherently wrong with supporting private efforts to improve the world. As Media Matters observes, they are “falsely equating donations to the Clinton Foundation with contributions to a Democratic political campaign.” The media watchdog group observes, “The foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-forprofit organization, which
means it is ‘absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.’” Media Matters wrote, “Paul Waldman, an American Prospect senior writer and former Media Matters senior fellow, criticized Politico reporter Dylan Byers for drawing a misleading ‘parallel between donating to a candidate’s campaign and donating to a charitable foundation The Washington Informer
run by an ex-president.’” “Other media figures have similarly made the false political campaign comparison. Fox News host Gretchen Carlson, Breitbart.com, National Review Online, and HotAir. com, all suggested a donation to the foundation was equivalent to financing Democratic candidates. “As Waldman explained at The Washington Post, ‘it’s notable that everyone is now treating the Clinton Foundation as if it has long been cen-
tral to sort of scheme to personally benefit the Clintons, and not a charitable foundation.’ He added that ‘judging by the way the foundation is now talked about – as if anyone who has had any association with it is tainted – you’d think it was running a network of international assassins instead of distributing malaria medication.’” Partisan critics conveniently neglect to note that prominent Republicans are also generous
CURRY Page 37
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
Guest Columnist
By Harry C. Alford
How the Army Addressed Racial Tensions I remember sitting through a lecture in a sociology class during my senior year at the University of Wisconsin. The professor was boring, and I had a newspaper. I looked at the front page and noticed a list of dates. They were birthdates for the new Army draft lottery. Most exemptions from the draft were gone, and President Richard Nixon implemented the draft lottery based on birthdates. There it was, my
birth date – Feb. 14 – listed as the fourth number to go. Those with the first 100 birthdates were going to get drafted into the Army, and I was near the top of the list. My first thoughts: “My future is toast. ” I am going to go to Vietnam and catch a bullet or grenade. If I survive, I am not going to live on a college salary but a drafted private in poverty.” Procter & Gamble had already made me a job offer. My fear was that my draft status was going to kill the employment opportunity, if not me. However, my cor-
porate recruiter told me not to worry. In fact, he said that what I presented to them was an opportunity. I could go into the Army and come out an officer. That would give me a “triple.” I would have a college degree plus be a competitive athlete via football as well as a military officer. He showed me how to apply for Officer Candidate School, and I was soon accepted. Thus, I worked a few months before it was time to get inducted, and then off to Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia.
Guest Columnist
The racial tension that soared immediately after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 was starting to carry over into the Army. That would make sense as they were drafting young men at a rapid pace, and blacks would be over-represented in the demographics, especially among junior ranking soldiers. Blacks and Hispanics had no slick attorneys to help them avoid service like so many white young men. Fights, threats and even murder were starting to appear in the ranks, especially in
Vietnam. You can’t have an efficiently fighting military when the soldiers are fighting among themselves. The Army was a snap for me. My football conditioning came in handy, and compared with many of the draftees, my charisma was glowing. If it weren’t for wars, I would have stayed forever. A few months after I finished OCS and finance school, I was assigned to Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, which is 70 miles southwest
ALFORD Page 38
By Lee A. Daniels
The Waco Biker Riot and the Lexicon of Racism Question: When men (and a few women) belonging to gangs known to law enforcement agencies for criminal behavior explode in a rampage – using guns, knives, clubs, and chains in trying to kill each other and police officers, too – that leaves nine dead, nearly 200 injured and hundreds arrested, is that a “riot”? Answer: Apparently not if the overwhelming majority of the gang members are White? America’s present-day “racial
divide,” has never been more strikingly displayed than in the refusal of much of the mainstream and conservative media to describe the May 17 biker riot in Waco, Texas as a riot. The riot, which occurred at a popular restaurant amid dozens of innocent bystanders and, according to police, involved members of five different gangs, was one of the most extraordinary outbursts of mass criminal violence in recent memory. Further, almost immediately after Waco police arrested the bikers, rumors swirled that other members of the gangs were heading toward
the city to both continue the battle against their rivals and carry out death threats made against Waco police officials. Yet, in scanning the newspapers, the universe of online publications, and the network and cable television news programs, you’d have scarcely come across any description of what occurred in Waco as a “riot.” Nor would you have likely found any reference to the bikers, who were clad in their distinctively grungy biker garb, as “thugs” – or, as one newspaper reader put it: “murdering thuggish rioters.”
Askia-At-Large
MediaMatters, the watchdog group, pointed out the contrast in how Fox News, for example, covered Waco versus Baltimore and Ferguson. It noted, “After African-American communities in Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo. came together to demonstrate against the deadly and racially disparate policies of law enforcement, Fox News branded the protests a ‘war on cops.’ But when the story became a mostly white Texas biker gang plotting to kill police with grenades and car bombs, the network took a decided-
ly less sensationalist approach in its reporting.” CNN political commentator Sally Kohn wrote, “In fact, in much of the coverage of the Waco shootings, the race of the gang members isn’t even mentioned. By comparison, the day after Freddie Gray died in the custody of police officers in Baltimore, not only did most coverage mention that Gray was black, but also included a quote from the deputy police commissioner noting Gray was arrested in ‘a high-crime area known
DANIELS Page 38
By Askia Muhammad
President Obama: Trying to be Moses, sitting in Pharaoh’s seat I’ve got a confession to make that may lead to my expulsion from the Fraternity of Black Militant Thinkers. As his presidency gets closer to its last day, I find myself actually liking President Barack Obama more and more. There. I said it. I also believe that first lady Michelle Obama is a gem, whose potential greatness we have not even begun to contemplate. In fact, Professor Charles Ogletree,
who taught them both at Harvard Law School, told me in an interview back when the president first took office, he believed that she was the superior student of the two. And, of course, I am convinced that Marian Robinson — the “first mother-in-law” —is an angel in human flesh. Just look at her daughter. Robinson’s contribution to the well-being and successful life adjustment by first daughters Malia and Sasha is yet to be seen, but it was certainly substantial.
Back to the president. Mine is not a blanket approval for all the mischief the commander in chief has done, nor is it a pass for the trouble he may still commit. After all, he still sits in the seat of the modern-day pharaoh. But I believe that — like President Jimmy Carter — Obama may turn into a far better former president than a sitting one. I first really realized how fond of Obama I had become when I saw him dead-pan —with perfect comedic timing — his jokes at the White House Correspon-
dents’ Dinner this year. Having comedian Keegan-Michael Key of the brilliant duo Key & Peele, who portrayed Luther the presidential anger translator was brilliant; “I hear Dick Cheney thinks I’m the worst president ever,” Obama said. “Well, I think Cheney was the worst president ever,” ba-da-boom. “I’m not surprised that Jeb Bush registered in Florida as Hispanic in 2006,” he continued. “In 1961 I registered in Hawaii as American,” ouch. And later, when asked by reporters if he had a “bucket
list,” Obama said he does have a list for them, and it rhymes with “bucket.” He’s a funny guy. That makes him rank even higher in my pantheon; after all, my motto is “Dare to Giggle. Dare to Grin.” But, seriously, this year Obama vetoed a bill that would have forced approval of the environmentally dangerous Keystone-XL pipeline, which would have transferred oil-embedded tar sands from Canada to the
MUHAMMAD Page 38
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May 28 - June 3, 2015
23
LIFESTYLE
Accolades Continue for D.C.’s
‘DJ Young Music’ DJ Young Music has created quite the brand for himself at age 18. /Courtesy photo
Next Up? Tour with Chris Brown
By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer While most students are looking forward to a summer break that may include barbecues, a trip to the beach or a family vacation, one local high school standout is preparing to go on tour with music superstar Chris Brown. Bernard Brooks III – better known as DJ Young Music – has created quite the brand for himself and a loyal following of fans who listen to him spin the latest tunes every Wednesday at 10 p.m. for District radio station WPGC 95.5 FM. Others know him as the official DJ for singer Ginuwine. The 18-year-old wunderkind, who graduated from high school on May 22, recently became the youngest artist to sign a distribution deal with eOne Entertainment, an international company with offices across the globe. DJ Young Music has also been called upon to spin music for rap mogul Diddy and superstar Nicki Minaj’s Super Bowl after party. What’s more, with all of the immediate success, he’s maintained a spot on his high school’s honor roll. If the accomplishments sound surprising for someone as young
24 May 28 - June 3, 2015
The teen DJ from the District will tour with Chris Brown this summer. /Courtesy photo
as him, it’s certainly not to DJ Young Music. “Some things you know are going to come and some things you don’t know are going to come,” he said. “Since I was 9 and 10 years old, I’ve been telling people what I was going to do and what I would accomplish. This isn’t a surprise to me because if you put in enough hard work and have the heart, things will start coming,” the young DJ said.
A good portion of his success can be attributed to a focus that’s rare for most teens. In what may have been an unintentional nod to a Snoop Dogg song, DJ Young Music said he keeps his mind on his music and on earning money. “The way I’m working, right now music is my friend. Music and money and, at the end of the day, if you’re not helping me then I don’t need you around,” he said. “The majority of my The Washington Informer
time is spent doing radio mixes and the radio stuff is really serious.” In addition to his WPGC gig, DJ Young Music also spins for other stations in other markets. He also noted that he has a project in the works featuring members of his own independent label. “We have a compilation mix tape with me, my artists Frank Benz, Da-Rai and other musicians,” DJ Young Music said. In December, he became the youngest artist to sign a full development deal that allows him to release music, films and soundtracks of new artists through his own label. His “Something for the Streets, Vol. 2,” mix tape has garnered more than 250,000 downloads. He says it’s just the beginning. “I’m in phase two of my life and right now I’m the youngest in history to touch the airwaves in Washington, D.C., with music and film deals and I have the number three independent song in the country,” he said. Despite the bravado, DJ Young Music said he realizes the importance of an education and not getting involved with the wrong crowd. Simply put, he doesn’t have
the time or the inclination for that, he said. His handlers also aren’t surprised by his focus and dedication to his craft. They said when most six-yearolds were mastering the art of ramp jumping on their BMX’s, DJ Young Music was taking notes from Grammy-nominated producers such as Kevin “Khao” Cates who shared with him the importance of learning beat counts. By 11, DJ Young Music had become seasoned enough to earn a tour invite from Ginuwine. He was promoted from roadie to official national tour DJ at age 16. Recently, DJ Young Music earned the crown of being Live Nation/Scream Nation Mad DJ of the DMV. And, the recent high school graduate who will perform with Chris Brown this summer isn’t bashful when giving career advice to other young aspiring musicians. “Just look at me,” he said. “Pick your path and become the best you can be because that’s what I did. I’m trying to be myself, so you too be yourself.” WI
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LIFESTYLE
Spoken word performers and judges (L-R) ButtaflySoul, Rienne Scott, Kenneth Something, Nappy Roots, Angela Harvey, Keith Pugh, and Racine Pendarvis /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
Poets Follow Path of Rich, Black Tradition ButtaflySoul Hosts Poetry Slam during Black Pride By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor On a warm, Saturday evening in Northwest, poets from the District, Baltimore and as far away as South Carolina, offered their best pieces in a friendly competition – with bragging rights and a $500 cash prize at stake. The poetry slam, hosted by one of the nation’s top poets, ButtaflySoul, celebrated the annual D.C. Black Pride weekend through words while accenting the creativity and talent of the black LGBTQ community. About 75 people attended the lively event. The three-round competition, judged by a diverse set of four men and women, all leaders in their respective cities, allowed the poets to illustrate their prowess in content, presentation and originality. The host reflected on how far the U.S. has changed for his community since the first Black Pride weekend occurred 25 years ago. “The struggle still continues but we’re finding our way. Remember that 30 years ago, we couldn’t hold hands in public, we could express love for one another, we couldn’t marry. Progress has happened because of the sacrifices of activists and advocates, like Rayceen Pendarvis, one of our judges,” he said. “We’re here because of men and women who refused to be anything less than they were – years before it was considered cool to be gay,” ButtaflySoul said on Saturday, May 23 with the Memorial Day weekend in full swing. After sharing one of his poems, the competition began, with several of the contestants eager but clearly nervous. Q.D., a brother from Tulsa, Oklahoma, served as the sacrificial poet to illustrate how the judging would take place. Next up came Nappy Roots, (Brandon Stroud), 24, whose first poem talked about the things that make his home state of South Carolina so spe-
ButtaflySoul delivers a poem during a performance at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Northwest during D.C. Black Pride on Sat. May 23. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
cial to him. “I just started competing in slams last January and won the Black Student Union Poetry Slam at the University of Rochester where I’m a graduate student,” Stroud said. “I talk about black love and the importance of education – something that I believe helps a person to become their authentic self.” Stroud would take third place in the slam. One woman who has been performing for about five years said being part of the competition was a wonderful experience. “My themes vary but they’re mostly politically-focused or deal with topical issues,” said Danielle Reed, 38, who lives in Arlington, Virginia and goes by the stage name of Girl Genius. Reed, who recently made it to the finals of the Baltimore National Slam, said that she was satisfied with her performance, despite not winning Saturday’s competition. The poetry slam community tends to be a fairly small, close knit group. One of Reed’s friends and fellow competitors, Kenneth Morrison, known on the circuit as Kenneth Something, took first place in the Baltimore National Slam and will be join-
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ing his team later this summer during a national slam in California. “I’ve been slamming since high school but just started back again this year,” said Morrison, 29, a Baltimore, Maryland resident. “I deal with the heavy issues that beg for conversations – things we need to know, pain we need to face, our vulnerabilities,” said Morrison, who tied for first place in the Saturday event and said his inspirations include local poets like Gail Danley and the iconic Langston Hughes. Rienne Scott, 28, another Baltimore, Maryland resident, said she addresses social issues, education and the complexities associated with relationships. “It’s a different feeling when you get to share your words with other members of the black LGBTQ family,” she said. “Many of the poets are friends of mine and we often get together off stage. But when we do our thing, we represent wordsmiths from the past: Sonia Sanchez, Maya Angelou and Audre Lorde – even contemporary poets like Naz or Kendrick Lamar,” said Scott, a teacher who has been spitting out lines for 10 years. Scott tied Morrison for first place. WI The Washington Informer
May 28 - June 3, 2015
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LIFESTYLE
New Play Addresses Obstacles Facing Gay Community Playwright Contributes to D.C. Black Pride Weekend By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor In 1991, a group of determined men and women teamed up to found the first Black Pridethemed event in the U.S., drawing some 800 people to the District during the Memorial Day weekend. Since then, tens of thousands of people have headed to D.C. every year to enjoy social and cultural events geared toward the black LGBTQ community. One longtime D.C. resident has been part of those festivities almost from the beginning. This year he presented a reading of his newest play, “Good Hope Road,” at the DC Arts Center in Northwest. “The play is about a group of black gay men who live in Anacostia in a four-family flat dealing with the typical, daily issues that we all face: getting older, health challenges, relationships, job security and simply trying to
make one’s way in this world,” said Alan Sharpe, 62, a St. Louis, Missouri native who moved to the District in 1976. Sharpe wrote and directed the play – something he’s done since 1991 when he presented a play called “Heartbeats,” sponsored by the Whitman Walker Health in an effort to educate the community about HIV/AIDS. And to assist him on stage, he teamed up with an ad hoc group of artists, the African-American Collective Theater [ACT]. They continue to work together 25 years later, although some of the members have changed. “We started out with the traditional black theater canon but we evolved over time,” Sharpe said. “The first Black Pride in 1991 was so inspiring that I decided to write my own play for the next year’s events. Since then, our goal has been to provide empowering, enlightening images of the black gay community.” The all-male cast of 10 char-
Michael Sainte-Andress playing Oscar Octavious Brown, Juan Raheem playing Mario Cortez and Donald Burch III playing Earl Anthony in a play by Alan Sharpe during the 2015 Black Pride Weekend Theater Showcase at the DC Arts Center on Sunday, May 24. /Photo by Travis Riddick
acters and a narrator performed credibly during the just under two hour reading of the play. Outstanding performances came from two seasoned members of the troupe, Michael Sainte-Andress (Oscar) and Donald Burch III (Earl). Their tongue-in-cheek exchanges kept the audience laughing. However, at times the
conversation turned to very serious issues including ageism, infidelity and the need to depend on others as one becomes older. Both actors are veteran performers with a long list of credits and it showed in their able carrying of the play. They were the “Oscar and Felix” (The Odd Couple) of the performance,
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CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE WAYNE K. CURRY Saturday, June 27, 2015 • 6PM
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center • Kay Theater • University of Maryland College Park
26 May 28 - June 3, 2015
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Host: Tony Richards
Presented by: Prince George's County Council Chairman, Mel Franklin, District 9 Prince George's County Council Vice-Chairman, Derrick Leon Davis, District 6 Prince George's County Council Members: Deni Taveras, District 2 Todd M. Turner, District 4 Andrea Harrison, District 5 Karen R. Toles, District 7
Tickets & Info: http://theclarice.umd.edu/ www.fameorg.org 301.805.5358 • Donation $50 All proceeds to benefit The Wayne K. Curry Lung Cancer Disparity Awareness Fund and FAME- Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education, Inc. (FAME), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
serving as perfect foils for one another. One young actor and D.C. native, Juan Raheem (Mario), who first performed with ACT in 2012, brought his swag to the stage in a role that fit him like a glove. With his eye-catching blue-green hair and smooth delivery, the actor illustrated that he has the ability to do bigger and better things – given the right opportunities and training. It was also refreshing to see Monte J. Wolfe (Darryl) return to the stage. Wolfe, a Howard University graduate, has been featured in other works by Sharpe and serves the community in his stead as the founder of the Brave Soul Collective – an arts/education and outreach organization that focuses on HIV/ AIDS outreach and prevention. Sharpe said he wrote the play to address some of the misconceptions about the black LGBT community. “This group of artists returns every year because they believe in our mission of promoting positive images of gay life,” he said. “We’re also working on several short films this summer. We want to provide an alternative to the stereotypes and negative images that are portrayed by the media. So much of it involves visibility. We pay taxes and our story is just as valid as anyone else’s. We’re just trying to live our lives and realize our dreams like everyone else.” WI
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Horoscopes
Griot
ARIES Move slowly concerning relationships this week. People are a lit‑ tle edgy, and they don’t know exactly where you are coming from. Make full explanations. Don’t assume that they know what’s on your mind. Most of all, stay positive no matter what. Soul Affirmation: Clinging to the old will inhibit my growth this week. Lucky Numbers: 6, 8, 20
‘Infinite Words: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Publishing’
TAURUS Exercise will work off some of your excess energy this week. Take a walk, and remember that your world is made up of many beauti‑ ful parts. The part you are focusing on so intently this week is not your entire world. Proceed accordingly! Soul Affirmation: I celebrate with those around me. Lucky Numbers: 13, 29, 34 GEMINI This week is a good week to dump any extra baggage that has been pulling you down. You have too much potential to throw away and waste your time on issues that will amount to nothing. Stay focused on your goals. Meet and spend time with people who will be able to help you reach them. Soul Affirmation: The word is in me. I bring it forth. Lucky Numbers: 7, 29, 44
by Zane c. 2015, Atria $16.00 / $18.99 Canada 198 pages
Sometimes, you feel like a boiling pot. That’s because you’ve been cooking up a story that simmers and bubbles up just below the surface of your mind, waiting to burst forth into a bestseller for an expectant audience. It’s always been your dream to be a famous author – and that could happen, but there’s work to do first. “Infinite Words” by Zane can get you started. You’re witty. You’re hip. You’ve had an interesting life and friends have said that you should write a book, although “Not everyone who thinks they want to will be able to write a book or become a published author,” says Zane. Even so, if you decide to walk the walk, there are lots of steps to consider. First of all, she says, you’ll need discipline to set your writing habits, to find the right people to help you create a good product, and to finish your manuscript. Determine your writing style, and “make a PIE” (Persuasion, Information, Entertainment) to hold your readers’ interest. Mixing the “six basic human needs” into your story is also important; and while you’re writing, read, read, read; you will learn from other writers. As for characters in a novel, know what to do and what not to do. Zane warns against adding too much “fluff ” in your story; it only serves as padding and might turn readers away. For a nonfiction book, remember that a reputable company won’t publish anything libelous or slanderous. “Publishers,” says Zane, “are not going to risk a lawsuit, no matter how amazing the book may be.” Understand that the editing process requires patience (and yes, even if you’re self-publishing, you’ll need proofreaders and an editor). Don’t ever send a sloppy manuscript out. Know the realities of being an author, keep in mind that. “The literary industry is a very small, close-knit community,” and maintain professionalism at all times. Zane reminds prospective authors that, “A successful writing career is not going to fall into your lap.” Oh, how I wish I could wave a magic wand and put “Infinite Words” into the hands of every new and budding writer! With blunt truthfulness that’s like a breath of fresh air, author-publisher Zane tells it like it is as she coaches perspective writers with tough-love and advice that, rewww.washingtoninformer.com
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2015
CANCER This is a good week for exercising that clever mind of yours. Luck will be with you in all endeavors you start. Luck is with you always because a positive outlook attracts positive vibrations. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy looking at the road of life sweeping just in front of me. Lucky Numbers: 30, 41, 54 LEO Your careless ways with money are going to be apparent this week. Financial mistakes you’ve made in the past will be especially painful. Don’t conceal the pain from yourself. It is a warning that you should take steps to prevent future financial crisis. Soul Affirmation: I let my friendships guide my way. Lucky Numbers: 5, 22, 35 VIRGO Take advantage of the great weather and spend time outdoors enjoying and relaxing with Mother Nature. Learn a new sport, and spend time with family and friends. Don’t take travel matters into your own hands. Seek a professional, who will be able to plan a wonderful vacation for you without breaking your bank. Cook up some goodies for your loved ones. Soul Affirmation: I change who I am by changing where I am going. Lucky Numbers: 3, 20, 23 LIBRA Everything seems to be moving along in a very pleasant way this week. Friends are helpful, family is supportive, and even the sun seems to be shining just for you! Enjoy this harmony and count your blessings. Finish a task at work. Soul Affirmation: The slowness of my week gives me time to refresh my energy. Lucky Numbers:12, 26, 36 SCORPIO The bond that you established with your spiritual side works well in your relationship with a special person. Speak of the reality of the intangible qualities of life. Your lover will understand. Keep attention on the financial matters you’ve been dealing with. Soul Affirmation: I obey the rules this week and avoid hassles. Lucky Numbers: 3, 8, 24 SAGITTARIUS If you need some time to yourself this week, take it. You’ll be doing yourself an act of kindness. Since you do so much for others, why not treat yourself as well as you treat them? Your world is the way you are living. Live with love. Soul Affirmation: I get joy from giving good things. Lucky Numbers: 19, 39, 42 Zane
gretfully, might not bring success (which she explains). Be aware that your dreams may be quashed; in fact, there are many pages where her words may be hard to accept. In the end, readers will be rewarded with words that instruct, becalm and enlighten. If you’ve been told that you “should write a book,” this is the place to start. This book will keep you on track and safe from mistakes; and it can help you determine if you’ve got it in you to continue. If you’ve always dreamed of being an author, “Infinite Words” is perfect, whether your subject is history, a memoir, erotica, romance, or… a potboiler. WI
CAPRICORN Remember that exercise is a wonderful tension reliever if things get too intense this week. A walk over your lunch hour could make all the difference in how you feel this afternoon. Love yourself, and re‑ ward yourself with perfect health and happiness. Soul Affirmation: Faith keeps me calm in the storms of life. Lucky Numbers: 44, 49, 51 AQUARIUS You’ve done some of your own love homework. Hopefully, you’ve had an opportunity to learn a new way of seeing the world and, in that way, you’ve found a way of loving that is more natural for you. The combination of sexiness and joyful focus can create you a wonderful love experience. Soul Affirmation: I get joy from giving good things. Lucky Numbers: 14, 23, 37 PISCES If you want to keep your positive outlook intact, avoid gossip and those who might want to just cry the blues for no good reason. You’ll be happiest this week if you keep busy and keep your opinions to your‑ self. However, good advice is available from an older female relative. Soul Affirmation: Love is easier than breathing. Lucky Numbers: 12, 30, 50
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May 28 - June 3, 2015
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SPORTS
The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation hosted the D.C. pools opening at Banneker Recreation Center in Northwest on Friday, May 22 with area children, Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director of the D.C. Dept. of Health, Keith Anderson, Interim Director of the D.C. Dept. of Parks and Recreation, and Mayor Muriel Bowser. /Photos by Shevry Lassiter
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CTM The 4th Annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day held Wed., May 20 on Capitol Hill, offered a behind-the-scenes look at the House of Representatives to more than 60 foster youth and alumni from across the country with actress Victoria Rowell presenting keynote remarks. /Photo by Roy Lewis
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OPEN THE FLOOD GATES OF HEAVEN! Open the Flood Gates of Heaven by Bishop Paul S. Morton is a song with one line of lyrics. It’s about times when you find yourself suffering through a drought. It is a metaphor that reminds us that His Word says He will open the windows of Heaven and pour us out blessings we won’t have room to receive. It causes us to reflect on the tragedies in life that brought us to our knees. To make it, though, the first thing we must do is to get our spirits in a good place. Anger, frustration, tension and taking out our problems on others won’t do it. This song talks about those times when we feel the Lord has forsaken us, when everything that could go wrong, did! You feel like throwing in the towel. Giving up. You have no hope. Find a way to be the person you were at birth - carefree and you knew no problems. You were glad to be alive. As I listened to Morton minister this song, I also watched people cry, pray and thank God while speaking in tongues. They were reflecting on days when they hardly had food on the table, no gas for the car and no money for school trips. I understood because it happened in me. In high school, my Daddy didn’t have $6.00 for my gym uniform at McKinley. I got a used one. When it appears everything has dried up, faith is needed and we must learn to lean not to our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all our ways; and He surely will direct our paths. He will, if we allow Him to do so. Franchesca Ramsey shares
on her website ‘Upworthy,’ ten things you can do to make yourself feel better during these droughts. First, exercise, even if it is for a short time. Next, give yourself permission to focus on someone outside yourself, when you do, you will forget about your own problems and feel thankful and blessed. Next, a hug can do wonders. If you don’t have a husband or wife, then hug a child or a pillow. It will help both of you. Give yourself permission to feel bad: Schedule it in your day, and remind yourself your reactions are normal. Then let that go and give it to God. Give yourself permission to feel good; develop a routine. In other words, you’ve got to have a purpose driven life. For example, when you awaken each day, have something important to do. Make things happen in your life. Engage in practices that are meaningful to you, such as prayer, walking in the woods, sitting quietly, meditating, reading inspirational material, taking a bath with Epsom salt, or writing in a journal; you will always feel better. Connect with nature, take your shoes off, allow your bare feet to touch the ground; it’s called earthing, and it’s scientifically proven as therapeutic. Google it! My daughter and I make a special effort to walk bare foot 20 minutes every day. It’s tested, and causes you to lose weight and free your body from pain. Next, take breaks from periods of isolation. The bible reminds us “It is not good for man to be alone.” Finally, get plenty of rest so you feel refreshed and
with Lyndia Grant relaxed; read the 23rd Psalm if you don’t believe it. Verses 2-3 say, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.” When you finally let go and let God, He will pour out more blessings from the windows of heaven than you have room to receive. Then you can sing this song, thanking the Lord for Opening the Flood Gates of Heaven for you, too! WI
Lyndia Grant is an author, inspirational and motivational speaker, radio talk show host and columnist; visit her new website at www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrant@gmail.com and, call 202-263-4621. Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m., to the radio talk show, 1340 AM, WYCB, a Radio One Station.
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RELIGION BAPTIST
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church
The Reverend Lyndon Shakespeare Interim Priest Foggy Bottom • Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW • Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 • Fax : 202-338-4958 Worship Services Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org
Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
Schedule of Services: Sunday School – 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service – 11:00 AM Communion Service – First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study – Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org e-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
Worship Sundays @ 7:30 & 11:00 A.M. 5th Sundays @ 9:30 A.M. 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 P.M.
Schedule of Service Sunday Service: 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
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Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ Drs. Dennis W. and Christine Y. Wiley, Pastors 3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax) SERVICES AND TIMES: SUNDAYS: 10:00 am AM Worship Services BIBLE STUDY: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantbaptistdc.org
Dr. Henry Y. White
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Sunday Early Morning Worship - 7:45 a.m. Church School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship – 10:45 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday - Kingdom Building Bible Institute – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Prayer/Praise/Bible Study – 7:30 p.m. Baptism & Communion Service- 4th Sunday – 10:30am Radio Broadcast WYCB -1340 AM-Sunday -6:00pm T.V. Broadcast - Channel 190 – Sunday -4:00pm/Tuesday 7:00am
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org e-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
2498 Alabama Ave., SE • Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 • www.acamec.org 2008: The Year of New Beginnings “Expect the Extraordinary”
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan, Pastor 800 I Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 Fax No. 202-548-0703
Sunday Worship Services: 8:00a.m. and 11:00a.m. Sunday Church School - 9:15a.m. & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30a.m. 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study - 10:00a.m. Tuesday Topical Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Children’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Thursday Men’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service - 6:30p.m. Saturday Adult Bible Study - 10:00a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00am Holy Communion – 1st Sunday Sunday School-9:45am Men’s Monday Bible Study – 7:00pm Wednesday Night Bible Study – 7:00pm Women’s Ministry Bible Study 3rd Friday -7:00pm Computer Classes- Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org
“The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
“God is Love”
Third Street Church of God Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202.347.5889 office 202.638.1803 fax Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: Wed. 7:30 p.m. “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax Sunday Worship Service: 8 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews • Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 Fax: (202) 526-1661 Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:20 a.m. Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
ST Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Dr. Raymond T. Matthews, Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews Sunday School 9:am Worship Service 10:am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service 6:45 pm Thur. Bible Study 7:15 pm
Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor Service and Times Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Communion every Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Bible Study Tuesday 12Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Motto; “Discover Something Wonderful.” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE Washington, DC 20020
Mount Carmel Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423
Rev. John W. Davis, Pastor 5101 14th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20011 202-726-2220/ 202-726-9089
TV Ministry –Channel 6 Wednesday 10:00pm gsccm.administration@verizon.net
Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Bishop
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., • Pastor
Crusader Baptist Church
(Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340
2562 MLK Jr. Ave., S E Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email:Campbell@mycame.org Sunday Worship Service 10: am Sunday Church School 8: 45 am Bible Study Wednesday 12:00 Noon Wednesday 7:00 pm Thursday 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out”
Holy Communion 4th Sunday 10:00am Prayer and Bible Study Wednesday 7;00pm
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Twelfth Street Christian Church
Campbell AME Church
Sunday Worship Service 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday School 9:15am
4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464
Blessed Word of Life Church
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew, Assistant Pastor
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849
All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Church of Living Waters
Sunday Church School : 9: 30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10: 45am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10: 45am themcbc.org
32 May 28 - June 3, 2015
The Washington Informer
www.washingtoninformer.com
RELIGION BAPTIST
Shabbath Commandment Church 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church
All Nations Baptist Church
Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration
Sunday School – 9:30 am Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 am Baptismal Service – 1st Sunday – 9:30 am Holy Communion – 1st Sunday – 11:00 am Prayer Meeting & Bible Study – Wednesday -7:30 pm
Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
“Where Jesus is the King”
Israel Baptist Church
4850 Blagdon Ave, NW • Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 • Fax (202) 291-3773
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute Wednesday - 1:30 pm Prayer Meeting Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor Worshiping Location Knights of Columbus - 1633 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074 Order of Services Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am Sunday School: 9:00 am Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer / Bible Study: 6:15 pm - 7:20 pm (Tuesday)
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Diane Dixon Proctor, Pastor 1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 lpumconthegrow@gmail.com
Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Sunday School: 8:30 A.M. Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Mount Moriah Baptist Church
www.lpumcdc.org Sunday worship 10: am Holy Communion first Sunday 10: am Sunday school 9: am Bible Study each Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30pm Motto: “A CHURCH ON THE GROW”.
ChurCh Printing
20% Off PrOgrams & BOOklets
Dr. Lucius M. Dalton, Senior Pastor 1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 Fax: 202-544-2964
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Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am and 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon and 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730
2001 North Capitol St, N.E. • Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591
Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor
St. Luke Baptist Church
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor
Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor
Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor
Sunday Worship Service 10:15AM- Praise and Worship Services Sunday School 9:00am Monday: Noon Bible School Wednesday: Noon & 7PM: Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission Zion Baptist Church Shall; Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, and Exalt Our Savior. (Acts 2:41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
Rehoboth Baptist Church
l l l l
Copies Color Copies fax services tee shirts scan & email service lamination
Quality Printers 301 kennedy street, nW Washington, DC 20011
tel: 202-291-6565 Salem Baptist Church
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Clinton W. Austin Pastor 2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Come Grow With Us and Establish a Blessed Family” Sunday Worship 7:30am & 10:45am Baptism/Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30pm Prayer Service Tuesdays – 8:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert SR. Pastor
623 Florida Ave.. NW • WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 • Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 • Fax (202) 483-4009
4504 Gault Place, N.E. Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184
Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 p.m. Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 p.m. Noonday Prayer Every Thursday
9:30AM. Sunday Church School 11:00 Am. Sunday Worship Service The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Wednesday 7:00pm Prayer & Praise Services 7:30pm. Bible Study Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries 10:30am A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Christ Embassy DC
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor
6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065
Elder Herman L. Simms, Pastor
2616 MLK Ave., SE • Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 • Fax 202-678-3304
Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator
Early Worship Service 7:30a.m Worship Service 10:45a.m. New Members Class 9:30a.m. Holy Communion : 1st Sunday -10:45a.m Church School 9:30a.m. Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: Wednesday 7p.m Bible Study : Saturday: 11a.m. Baptism: 4th Sunday – 10:45a.m “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Sunday Worship Service 10:00 A.M.
Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 P.M Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 P.M Prayer/Seeking Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Peace Baptist Church
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Sunday Morning Worship Service 7:15 am & 10:50 am Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:50am Wednesday Prayer & Testimonies Service 7:30pm Wednesday School of the Bible 8:00pm Wednesday - Midweek Prayer Service 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Services: Sunday Worship 11 AM Sunday School 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study - Wed. 7 PM “A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address pbcexec@verizon.net
Shiloh Baptist Church
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
1864-2014
Rev. Alonzo Hart Pastor
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Reginald M. Green, Sr., Interim Pastor
621 Alabama Avenue, S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 F: (202) 561-1112
917 N St. NW • Washington, DC 20001 (202) 232-4294
9th & P Street, N.W. • W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4200
602 N Street NW • Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
The Church Where GOD Is Working.... And We Are Working With GOD
Sunrise Prayer Services - Sunday 7:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Prayer Service: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship: 10:40 a.m. Third Sunday Baptismal & Holy Communion:10:30 a.m. Tuesday Church At Study Prayer & Praise: 6:30 p.m.
Morning Worship: 8:00 a.m Church School : 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship: 10:55 a.m. Bible Study, Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting,Thursday : 7:30 p.m.
150 Years of Service
Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church” Matthew 6:33 and Mathew 28:18-20, KJV
Sunday Service: 10 am Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 am 1st Sunday Baptism: 10: am 2nd Sunday Holy Communion: 10 am Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 pm Prayer Meeting: 7:45 pm
Email: stmatthewsbaptist@msn.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
Motto: : “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
Sunday Worship Services: 7:45am & 11:00am Sunday school For All Ages 9:30am Prayer Services Wednesday 11:30am & 6:45pm Bible Institute Wednesday at Noon & 7:45pm “Changing Lives On Purpose “ Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org
www.washingtoninformer.com
The Washington Informer
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 P.M. Friday Evening Service 7:00 P.M. ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Sunday Church School: 9:30 A.M. Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 A.M. Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 P.M. Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 P.M. Prayer Service Bible Study
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor 2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 Fax: (202) 529-7738 Order of Services Worship Service: 7:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30 a.m. & 10:30a.m. Prayer Services: Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 12 Noon Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
May 28 - June 3, 2015
33
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Probate Division
Probate Division
Probate Division
Probate Division
Probate Division
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015 ADM 483 Sandra Harrington Decedent
Administration No. 2015 ADM 155 Ammie Koontz
Administration No. 2015 ADM 334 Elliod Dent Decedent
Decedent Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 1353 Sheridan St., NW Washington, DC 20011 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Peter Antonoplos NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Gloria D. Snowden, whose address is 11624 Tuscany Drive, Laurel, MD 20708-2865, was appointed Personal
Washington, DC 20036
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Washington, DC 20005
is 7101 Goblet Way, Clinton, MD 20735, was appointed
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Personal Representative of the estate of Mable F. Gaskins
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Parkway, Apt. 302, Greenbelt, MD 20770, was
appointed Personal Representative of the estate of
their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such
appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elliod
N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001,
1420 N Street, NW #102
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Carolyn Portia Dent, whose address is 7830 Hanover
unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.
Matthew F. Shannon, Esquire
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter
All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are
Decedent
Regina Ward Offer aka Regina W. Offer, whose address
on November 25, 2014 with a Will. All unknown heirs
be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street,
Bernice E. Powell
Attorney
Attorney
Road, SE, Apt. 306, Washington, DC 20020, was
without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.
Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Phillip Harrington, whose address is 2661 Stanton
appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall
Mable F. Gaskins aka Mable Forte Gaskins
1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600
Representative of the estate of Ammie Koontz, who died
Sandra Harrington, who died on December 14, 2012
Administration No. 2015 ADM 516
Administration No. 2015 ADM 484
Dent, who died on December 14, 2014 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter
aka Mable Forte Gaskins, who died on February 2, 2013 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills,
Jacqueline D. DeSouza, whose address is 67 Bennington Street, Springfield, MA 01108, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bernice E. Powell, who died on April 11, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in
their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such
D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor
appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall
Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 14,
probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register
this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the
Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the
on or before June 13, 2015. Claims against the decedent
Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building
shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the
be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street,
2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented
of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third
A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before
Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a
N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001,
to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills
Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November
November 14, 2015. Claims against the decedent
copy to the undersigned, on or before June 13, 2015,
on or before November 14, 2015. Claims against the
or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the
14, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented
decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a
undersigned, on or before November 14, 2015, or be
to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills
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 November 14, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs
or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall
or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of
so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address
this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication
and relationship.
shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: May 14, 2015 Phillip Harrington
copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before November 14, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills,
Date of first publication: May 14, 2015 Gloria D. Snowden Personal Representative
Personal Representative
including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication:
Washington Informer
Carolyn Portia Dent
TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Administration No. 2015 ADM 574
Phyllis S. Wells aka Phyllis Wells
Sheila Parker Myers
Ecolia Ingram Avent
Decedent
Decedent
Decedent
Aimee Griffin
Paule G. Leveadas, Esq.
Lawrence B. Manley, Esq.
1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300
700 12th Street, NW, #700
Washington, DC 20006
Washington, DC 20005
Attorney
Attorney
Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Aaron Myers and Cynthia Shabazz-Spur, whose
Ruth A. Dockery and Lizzie I. Moody, whose address
addresses are, 21717 Seneca Ayr Dr., Boyds, MD 20841
is 3127 Park Drive, SE, Washington, DC 20020, were
and 12107 Grandview Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20902
appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of
were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of
Ecolia Ingram Avent, who died on February 4, 2015
Sheila Parker Myers, who died on November 23, 2014
without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.
without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.
All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are
All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are
unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.
unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.
Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the
Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the
Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building
Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building
A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before
A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before
November 28, 2015. Claims against the decedent
November 21, 2015. Claims against the decedent
shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the
shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the
Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with
Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with
a copy to the undersigned, on or before November 28,
a copy to the undersigned, on or before November 21,
2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs
2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs
or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of
or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of
this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication
this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication
shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name,
shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name,
address and relationship.
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Eric Duwayne Brown, whose address is 1921 Ridge
Gwendolyn Bonita Franklin, whose address is 1732
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
30th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020, was
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
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 November 21, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication:
unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building
1353 Sheridan St., NW Washington, DC 20011
Toni Wells, whose address is 312 Madison St., NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Phyllis S. Wells aka Phyllis Wells, who died on October 14, 2013 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
A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before
appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall
November 14, 2015. Claims against the decedent
be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street,
shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the
N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001,
Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with
on or before November 14, 2015. Claims against the
a copy to the undersigned, on or before November 14, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
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 November 14, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Date of first publication:
May 21, 2015
May 14, 2015
Eric Duwayne Brown
Gwendolyn Bonita Franklin
Register of Wills
Administration No. 2015 ADM 547
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are
Anne Meister
Register of Wills
Administration No. 2015 ADM 482
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
21, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented
Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Probate Division
Decedent
Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November
Jacqueline D. DeSouza
Personal Representative
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Decedent
of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third
May 14, 2015
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Nelson Washington, Jr.
probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register
Date of first publication:
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Irma Walker Brown aka Irma W. Brown
this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the
May 14, 2015
Probate Division
Administration No. 2015 ADM 493
whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in
relationship.
Date of first publication:
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Administration No. 2015 ADM 544
supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose
inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and
Probate Division
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Nelson Washington, Jr., who died on March 14, 2015
by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
26, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court
of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice
Washington Informer
Probate Division
appointed Personal Representative of the estate of
forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees
Washington Informer
Probate Division
Brown aka Irma W. Brown, who died on January
relationship.
undersigned, on or before November 14, 2015, or be
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Personal Representative of the estate of Irma Walker
inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and
or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the
Regina W. Offer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Place, SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed
by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so
Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
Register of Wills
of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice
May 14, 2015
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister
forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees
Date of first publication: May 14, 2015 Toni Wells
Personal Representative
Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister
Anne Meister
Anne Meister
Register of Wills
Register of Wills
Register of Wills
Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
address and relationship. Date of first publication: Date of first publication:
May 28, 2015
May 21, 2015 Ruth A. Dockery Aaron Myers
Lizzie I. Moody
Cynthia Shabazz-Spur
Personal Representative
Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Anne Meister
Register of Wills
Register of Wills
Washington Informer
34 May 28 - June 3, 2015
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
The Washington Informer
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
www.washingtoninformer.com
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Probate Division
Probate Division
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2015 ADM 588
Administration No. 2015 ADM 562
Charli Luvenia Battle aka Lavinia Battle
Rosa Virginia Rivers
Decedent
Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Sabrina Smart, whose address is 148 35th St., NE
Cynthia M. Scott, whose address is 45257 Coledorall
Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charli Luvenia Battle aka Lavinia Battle, who died on October 13, 2002 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 28, 2015. 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 November 28, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Court, California, MD 20619, was appointed Personal died on May 16, 2008 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before November 28, 2015. 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 November 28, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Sabrina Smart
Cynthia M. Scott
Personal Representative
Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister
Anne Meister
Register of Wills
Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Probate Division
Probate Division
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2014 ADM 1165
Administration No. 2015 ADM 550
Faye O. Kendall Campbell
Grace I. Simon aka Grace Ingram Simon
Decedent
Decedent
Deborah D. Boddie, Esq.
Robert L. Bell, Esquire
1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300
245 Farragut Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Washington, DC 20011
Attorney
Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Vivian A. Miller, whose address is 1735 Red Oak
Rhonda C. Simon, whose address is 6913 18th Avenue,
Lane, Waldorf, MD 20601, was appointed Personal
Hyattsville, MD 20783, was appointed Personal
Representative of the estate of Faye O. Kendall Campbell,
Representative of the estate of Grace I. Simon aka Grace
who died on April 30, 2012 with a Will, and will
Ingram Simon, who died on April 3, 2015 with a Will,
serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and
and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown
heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their
heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall
appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such
enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections
appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall
to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s
be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street,
Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515
N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001,
5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington,
on or before November 28, 2015. Claims against the
D.C. 20001, on or before November 28, 2015.
decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a
Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the
copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register
undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed
of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before
with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned,
November 28, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons
on or before November 28, 2015, or be forever barred.
believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do
Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent
not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days
who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25
of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills,
days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of
including name, address and relationship.
Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Date of first publication:
Date of first publication:
May 28, 2015
May 28, 2015
Vivian A. Miller
Rhonda C. Simon
Personal Representative
Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister
Anne Meister
Register of Wills
Register of Wills
Washington Informer
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May 28, 2015
May 28, 2015
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Date of first publication:
Date of first publication:
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CHAVIS from Page 22
of young people to vote and to encourage get-out-the-vote programs in many cities and states. Again, it was not surprising to hear Jay Z’s latest rap featuring lyrics about the unjust deaths of Freddie Gray, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. In classic Jay Z style, he poetically said, “You know when I work, I ain’t your slave, right? You know I ain’t shucking and jiving and high-fiving, and you know this ain’t back in the days, right? Well I can’t tell how the way they
killed Freddie Gray, right? Shot down Mike Brown how they did Tray, right?” Beyoncé also has a very long list of charities that she supports financially, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Oxfam, UNICEF, Global Poverty Project, and Keep a Child Alive. Yet probably one of the most private and telling acts that Jay-Z and Beyonce have done over the past year anonymously was the paying of thousands of dollars for the release from jail bails for
MALVEAUX from Page 22
eight of our nation’s bridges is structurally deficient, and more than 200 million trips are made across these deficient bridges in our 102 largest metropolitan areas each year. Many of these bridges have been poorly maintained and still handle heavy traffic. They are, on average, 42 years old. While repairs or new construction has begun on some, such as New York’s Tappan Zee Bridge, other neglected bridges are tragedies waiting to happen. A strong infrastructure is an essential part of a sound economy. It makes it easier and more efficient to move both people and products. It provides jobs and other economic opportunities. On the other hand, allowing infrastructure to erode costs money. For example, ASCE reports that 42 percent of our nation’s highways are congested, costing $101 billion in wasted time and fuel each year. In the name of reducing our carbon footprint, some will eschew roads for urban rapid transit, but mass transit is unevenly provided in many cities, often providing less service in poor neighborhoods. Public transportation is also woefully lacking outside
urban areas, with 45 percent of the U.S. population having no access to public transportation. Business Insider’s Madeline Stone wrote that New York had the best public transportation system, followed by San Francisco and Boston. The Metro system in the nation’s capital doesn’t even make the Top 10 list. On a recent weekend, it operated at half capacity. What does that say about our infrastructure? Whether we examine roads, planes, trains, waterways, bridges, dams or energy, ASCE finds our infrastructure pathetically inadequate. These deficiencies are costly drains on our economy, while investments in infrastructure generate sizable returns. Moody’s economist Mark Zandi says that every dollar spent on infrastructure yields as much as $1.57 in gross domestic product. The Amtrak derailment should be a warning about the status of our infrastructure. It ought to force us to think about ways we can avoid accidents and to operate more efficiently. It ought to motivate the kinds of investments that ASCE and others say are necessary. To ignore this reality is, to quote John Boehner, “stupid.”WI
ton Foundation, knowing it could call into question his ability to be fair. He compounded the mistake by failing to disclose it to the public. Like it or not, if journalists want to maintain their credibility, they must refrain from participating in overt political acts or behavior that can be perceived that way. Britt Hume of Fox said, “…if there’s one thing he [Stephanopoulos] needed to do in doing that was to sever any real or apparent ties with the Clintons. Contributing to their foundation is one thing. And now it also turns out that he participated in panels and other events connected to the Clinton Global Initiative. It is a mistake to do that. You want to be seen as independent.” Evidently, you get a pass if you’re at Fox News. “Fox News has attacked ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos for participating in Clinton Foundation-affiliated events, calling it a ‘mistake’ that compromises ‘good coverage,’” Media Matters found. “But Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo moderated or participated in at least eight [Clinton Global Initia-
tive] events between 2008 and 2013 while at CNBC.” Yet Fox is not calling that a “mistake” that compromises “good coverage.” Judy Woodruff, the co-anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour, was criticized for making a paltry $250 donation in 2010 to the Clinton Haiti Relief Fund. She issued a statement, saying: “I made the gift in response to an urgent joint appeal from former President Clinton and then-President George W. Bush for aid to the victims of the Haiti earthquake,” Woodruff explained in an email to the Wall Street Journal. “Seeing the massive loss of human life and the terrible conditions for survivors, I wanted to make a contribution and saw this as a way to do that.” Yes, “journalists” must walk a fine line, not crossing over into political partisanship. And, yes, they must avoid even the appearance of such activity. But let’s be equally clear: The Clinton Foundation is a highly respected charity, not a political offshoot of Bill and Hillary Clinton. WI
and many other hip-hop icons to establish the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network as a nonprofit advocacy organization. The artists decided that the theme of HSAN would be “Taking back responsibility” for the empowerment of families and communities in America and internationally. Jay-Z and Beyonce have helped HSAN immeasurably over years to register millions
structure every four years. The most recent report, released in 2013, gives the U.S. a grade of D+ when 16 areas (including rail, bridges, aviation, roads and waste disposal) are considered. We get the highest grade, B-, in solid waste disposal because we are both producing less trash per capita and recycling more of it. We earn Dgrades for the status of our levees and waterways. We earn D grades for most other categories, so the C+ grade for rail, when compared with D grades for aviation and roads, may not seem like such a bad thing. Still, while U.S. trains should be excellent, they are just a tad better than mediocre. ASCE says that $3.6 trillion dollars is needed to bring our infrastructure up to the level of good, or B, by 2020. They say the gap between what is funded and what is needed is about $1.6 trillion, or $201 billion a year. Our Congress is so focused on cutting spending that it refuses to invest in infrastructure. Other parts of our infrastructure are even more substandard. One in
CURRY from Page 22 contributors to the Clinton Foundation. For example, Rupert Murdoch, founder of the News Corporation Foundation, and his son, James, have given more than a million dollars to the Clinton Foundation. In fact, more than a dozen news organizations have donated to the foundation. Aside from the overt political attack on the Clinton Foundation, the case of George Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton administration press secretary, illustrates the problems associated with a political operative’s switching careers in hopes of being viewed as a credible journalist. Too often TV talking heads are labeled “journalists” when they are anything but. As the American Press Institute notes, “Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information.” In other words, it’s not merely the ability to share one’s opinions. Stephanopoulos erred by making a $75,000 contribution to the Clin-
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the hundreds of persons arrested in Ferguson and in Baltimore who were protesting police brutality. In the 1960s, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, James Baldwin, Dick Gregory and many other performing artists and authors would pay the bail money to get hundreds civil rights workers out of jails during the many struggles for equality and justice. Thus, Jay Z and Beyonce today
are continuing that proud tradition of giving to support the causes of freedom, justice and equality.WI Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and can be reached at dr.bchavis@ nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc.
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of Salt Lake City. Three months into my new assignment, I was appointed the race relations officer. The Pentagon decided to aggressively address the racial problems it was having in the field. Each brigade would have an active race relations officer who would report to the commanding officer on a regular basis and would also directly report to the Pentagon any serious and negative activity. I spent three weeks at the new race relations training school in Fort Benning. More than 90 percent of the race relations officers were black. We would get together three times a year and compare our experiences – what worked well and what didn’t. A formal summary would be crafted for review by the Pentagon. I would now counsel personnel who had complaints or suspicions. I would write
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to have high narcotic incidents,’ implicitly smearing Gray and the entire community.” The disparity in coverage did not go unremarked upon on black social media, in a host of progressive publications, and in numerous online reader responses to mainstream publication stories. (Many also noted the Waco police responded to the deadly shootout with none of the heavily militarized equipment and body armor that immediately marked police responses to peaceful protests in Ferguson and Baltimore.) Indeed, the differences in the language used underscore that the way words and phrases are used to talk about race and racial events have their own meaning. In this instance, it’s that such words as “riot” and “thug” are part of the lexicon of America’s continuing racial divide that, among other things, individualizes white crime and white flaws while it indicts all black Americans for the flaws and crimes of individual blacks. Some years ago
MUHAMMAD from Page 23 Each week you’ll get news from The District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia. You will discover Arts and Entertainment, Social Tidbits, Religion, Sports, People’s Viewpoints, Letters to the Editor, Classified Ads and more! And best of all… No crime, no dirty gossip, just positive news and information each week, which is why… The Washington Informer is all about you! Name............................................................................................. Address.......................................................................................... City, State, Zip................................................................................. Phone number (daytime)................................................................... Yes! I want to subscribe for: 1 year/$45.00 Method of payment:
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Gulf of Mexico so that the oil could be sold on the open market, making profits for the oil barons but doing nothing for U.S. oil consumers. He issued an executive order halting the deportations of millions of undocumented workers until Congress could work out a sustainable immigration policy that will provide a permanent solution for those who came to this country in order to fuel the need by capitalist robbers for cheap, exploitable stoop laborers, especially in agriculture. Then, last week, the president put police-storm-troopers on notice that their local police departments would no longer automatically receive surplus military hardware —hardware that transformed Ferguson, Missouri; Baltimore; and other hot spots where communities have protested the abusive murders of unarmed black folks into warzones where the cops were on The Washington Informer
columns on black history and self-esteem in the local newspaper. Many white soldiers would come to me and say things like “I didn’t know coloreds did that.” Just the fact that it was wellknown that we had a race relations officer who was accessible 24/7 made things a lot better. Whites, especially southern whites, started to enjoy a new comfort level. At my post, we had a majority of Mormons, who were trying to change their image. The denomination barred blacks from joining their church until the mid-1970s. The change was sincere, and our military was better because of this program. There was one personal “hiccup.” I received a call from our contact at the Pentagon. The colonel asked me to explain why a cross burning was considered a minor act on my watch. I replied that it wasn’t. He said, “I am sending this report to you and want an
explanation.” The commanding officer had executed his own report and sent it in as if it were from me. I asked him for an explanation since the eyes of the Pentagon were upon us. He broke clean. Someone put a cross in a black sergeant’s yard. The military police caught the culprit. He was the child of the post’s executive officer, the second-highest-ranking officer in command. The commanding officer was embarrassed, so they kept the identity of the perpetrator secret and asked the black sergeant to be quiet about it for the sake of peace – and he did. The Pentagon accepted the final version. This Army-wide program succeeded, and the main reason is that we owned up to the problem and sat down with one another to just “get along,” as Rodney King would later admonish the public to do.WI
a journalist friend of mine described this dynamic as “the chains of collective guilt.” The phenomenon isn’t new, of course. Once, the lexicon of anti-black collective guilt helped justify the actual chains of Negro slavery and the legalized racism that followed. Now, it’s usually employed in more subtle ways. Except when it’s not: As in the revealing discoveries over the past two months of racist, sexist and homophobic tweets and emails by cops in the police departments of San Francisco, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In each case – all are still in early stages of investigation – police officers, some with long years on their force, were found to have exchanged from dozens to hundreds of social media messages disparaging with vile slurs blacks, Hispanics, women, gays and lesbians, Muslims – and, of course, President Obama. Law enforcement co-workers and innocent civilians alike were denigrated along
with black criminal suspects. The bulk of the messages in all these instances, which cover from 2010 to the present, focused on black Americans. The discoveries have led to the resignations of some of the officers and disciplinary actions, including firing, against the others. Even more importantly, prosecutors and police officials in the three cities are reviewing cases of defendants in which the officers were involved either as arresting officers or witnesses at trial. In San Francisco, prosecutors have already dropped eight cases connected to some of the officers there. One Miami Beach cop tried to excuse his behavior by describing it as just part of the police department’s long-standing “culture.” Unfortunately, the same could be said for the mainstream and conservative media’s refusal to use the most accurate descriptions for the Waco biker riot. It’s those similarities that are worrisome. WI
one side while aggrieved citizens were on the other being treated like foreign “enemy combatants” in their own hometowns. “Today we’re also releasing new policies on the military-style equipment that the federal government has in the past provided to state and local law enforcement agencies,” Obama said in troubled Camden, New Jersey. “We’ve seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling like there’s an occupying force, as opposed to a force that’s part of the community that’s protecting them and serving them. “It can alienate and intimidate local residents and send the wrong message. So we’re going to prohibit some equipment made for the battlefield that is not appropriate for local police departments.” That’s a good measure. But I’m not alone in my appreciation of Obama. “Personally and professionally, I want to congratulate the president on his move to cease the federal government’s
selling military equipment to police departments, because it has created a serious problem in developing and building relationships with mostly communities of color — the Hispanic and the black community,” Ron Hampton, president of the National Black Police Association, told me. Don’t get it twisted. I am not trying to canonize Obama. The United States is still the United States and is a major cause of wicked policies all around the world, even on his watch. Nor have I been deluded into forgetting the evil this country is capable of, on which the president must sign off. No, I’m just going to appreciate that we haven’t had any scandals, and though the avowed neo-conservative tea party evildoers — who hate the president as much as they hate me — may be averse, right now we seem to have a president of the United States whose heart seems to be in the right place.WI
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