The Washington Informer - August 24, 2023

The 60th Anniversary March on Washington: What to Know and Where to Go

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

Sixty years after the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and Andrea Waters King are bringing together thousands from across racial, cultural, and generational lines to finish the work that began at the Lincoln Memorial decades ago.

Ben’s Chili Bowl Turns 65 Co-Founder Virginia Ali Credited as Guiding Force

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

On the stage at the 65th Anniversary of the founding of Ben’s Chili Bowl on Aug. 22, Virginia Ali, the co-founder of the restaurant chain and brand, sat between Black women entrepreneurial icons Sheila Johnson, the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts and the first Black American woman billionaire; and

Cathy Hughes, the founder of media company Radio One and became the first Black woman to lead a publicly-lead company.

Ali, 89, in the company of business standouts, didn’t go unnoticed at the celebration that took place in front of the restaurant chain’s storied U Street, N.W. location in front of dozens of people.

“We three women started out with a mate in these businesses and either by divorce or death, we were able to carry on,” Hughes, 76, said. “Each and every one of us had our trials but it was you, D.C., that stood by us. D.C. is the reason three Black women succeeded in business.”

Ali co-founded Ben’s Chili

Bowl with her husband, Ben, in 1958.

Throughout the decades, the company has served noted figures such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Jesse Jackson, President Barack Obama, many members of the Congressional Black Caucus including each District delegate to the U.S. Congress, every District mayor and many Council members as well as everyday people.

The U Street location has seen the 1968 uprising after the assassination of King, economic downturns, the construction of the Green Line in the 1980s,

BEN'S Page 51

Six decades ago a group of Civil Rights leaders called “the Big 8,” organized an event that brought 250,000 people to Washington. On Saturday, a diverse coalition that spans generations and races is

planned to reignite the “Dream,” that Dr. King articulated on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963.

“We’ve partnered with 60 national organizations representing everyone from Latino, Jewish, Asian, and LGBTQ+ communities to labor and civic groups,” the Rev. Sharpton said in a statement Saturday. “[National Action Network] NAN has carefully curated speakers, planned a safe march route, and ensured that Aug. 26 will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to the fight for equality and justice.”

D.C. Churches the Bedrock for MLK, the Civil Rights Movement

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

In August of 2013, for weeks, the Rev. Perry Smith, urged his congregation to join the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, emphasizing the historicity and significance of the occasion.

“We felt it was something that needed to occur because of the absence of the rights of African Americans in this country,” said Smith, in an interview 10 years ago.

A decade later, many veterans of the movement have passed away, such as Smith, who died in April 2021.

As people gather for the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, current freedom fighters stress the im-

Celebrating 58 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

5 Ben’s Chili Bowl celebrated their 65th Anniversary at the original U Street location. Residents, Go-Go bands, DC officials, and celebrities were all present to celebrate the milestone on August 22 with the Ali Family. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5Rev. Perry Smith (Coourtesy photo)

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Tyler Perry Reportedly Makes History as First African American to Acquire Two Major TV Networks

In a major development for the entertainment industry, BET has become Black-owned once again after 21 years, while VH1, for the first time, now boasts an African American owner.

According to his longtime friend and television personality Rolanda Watts, Tyler Perry has cemented his place in history by acquiring the two major television networks, making him the first African American to do so.

The acquisition follows the news that Paramount Global has sought to sell a majority stake in BET.

Earlier this year, the renowned actor, filmmaker, director, producer and entrepreneur expressed optimism about purchasing BET, stating his keen interest if it were a possibility.

Perry, who had already enjoyed tremendous success in collaboration with BET, partnering with his Tyler Perry Studios banner to create the popular streaming service BET+, was no stranger to the network.

He acknowledged the unexpected nature of the acquisition, stating, “I’ve been there for four years now and had tremendous success... If that is possible, I'm very, very interested in taking as much of it as I can.”

The exact financial details of the deal have not been disclosed, but experts on this sort of transaction have placed a significant value on the acquisition of the two networks.

With the purchase, Perry assumes control over BET Media Group, which includes other networks such as VH1.

Since its launch, the BET+ streaming service has experienced remarkable success.

In 2021 alone, BET+ was responsible for half of the subscribers and nearly all revenue growth for the channel.

The platform features a wide range of original films and series from the extensive BET program library, captivating audiences with diverse and engaging content.

Multiple Cases Dropped linked to Former Officers Charged

in Tyre Nichols’ Death

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $55 per year, two years $70. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to:

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The district attorney’s office in Tennessee has dismissed between 30% and 40% cases linked to the five former officers facing second-degree murder charges in the death of Tyre Nichols.

Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy said his team had examined approximately 100 cases involving the accused officers.

He noted that the team discovered numerous decisions that could face reversal.

Mulroy’s spokesperson, Erica Williams, said charges have already been reduced in approximately 12 other cases involving the ex-Memphis Police officers, in addition to the dismissed cases.

The district attorney forwarded four cases to the U.S. attorney’s office for alleged excessive force.

According to Mulroy, the five officers’ blatant lack of credibility throughout the charges also were considered in making these decisions.

The brutal beating of Nichols, 29, captured national attention with civil rights advocates and others quickly denouncing the officers’ actions.

After the release of video of the beating taken from officers’ body cameras, national outcry grew louder.

The episode added to an ongoing series of incidents between the police and the Black community, sparking protests and renewing discussions about police brutality and the need for police reform in the United States.

Tadarrius Bean, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin, Jus-

tin Smith and Demetrius Haley, are the five officers, who were almost immediately arrested.

They have pleaded not guilty to an array of criminal charges, including second-degree murder.

Authorities said the officers fatally assaulted Nichols after a routine traffic stop.

The officers were part of the Scorpion crime suppression team, a unit now disbanded since Nichols’ death.

While Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis dissolved the unit, some members joined other divisions within the department.

The Department of Justice recently launched an investigation into the use of force and arrest practices within the Memphis Police Department. WI

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

5 Tyler Perry (Courtesy photo)

5 Tyre Nichols (Courtesy photo)

D.C.-Area COVID Cases are Back on the Rise

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

COVID cases and hospitalizations have seen a significant uptick in the District and nationally since mid-June, according to wastewater data from Biobot Analytics and the CDC’s hospitalizations tracker.

In D.C., hospitalizations have risen by 29% between June and July, according to analysis by Axios’ Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj. They reported a 39% jump in hospitalizations during the same time period in Maryland, and a 15% increase in Virginia. Nationally, hospitalizations have gone up 17%.

Still, across the country and locally, COVID cases and hospitalizations remain nowhere near as high as they were during the pandemic’s peak. During January 2022, D.C. saw some days where over 90 people went to the hospital for COVID; in recent weeks, despite the uptick, daily hospital admissions in the District have remained in the single digits, according to CDC data. Another variant, EG.5, has made up most of the new COVID cases nationally, though experts say it’s not necessarily driving the surge in cases and hospitalizations.

The Washington Post reported last week that a new booster should become available by the end of September. While it’s not specifically designed to target EG.5, it will provide important protection against the virus’ spread going into the fall, when more people will gather inside and other respiratory illnesses, like the flu, will start to hit hard as well.

Wearing masks, especially in crowded indoor settings, and staying home if you feel sick remain smart ways to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID. WI

5 A screenshot from a Biobot Analytics’ graph showing COVID identified in wastewater in D.C. and nationally over the last six months.

The Washington Post reported last week that a new booster should become available by the end of September.

AROUND THE REGION

AUG 24 - 30, 2023

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

a dozen people being seriously injured..

1975 – Haile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia, dies in Addis Ababa at 83.

2008 – Barack Obama officially receives the Democratic presidential nomination at the DNC convention, becoming the party's first African American

AUG. 24

1950 – Edith Sampson, a lawyer and judge, becomes the first Black U.S. delegate appointed to the United Nations.

1987 – Civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, dies in Manhattan.

AUG. 25

1925 – A. Philip Randolph becomes head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, the first predominantly African American labor union.

1927 – Althea Gibson, the first African American on the U.S. tennis tour and first to win a Grand Slam title, is born in Silver, South Carolina.

2001 – Music star and actress Aaliyah and eight others are killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas after filming a music video. She was 22.

AUG. 26

1946 – Singer/songwriter Valerie Simpson, half of legendary husband-wife duo Ashford & Simpson, is born in the Bronx, New York.

1960 – Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis is born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

AUG. 27

1949 – A concert by famed singer and civil rights activist Paul Robeson in Peekskill, New York, is called off when concertgoers are attacked by locals screaming racist and antisemitic slurs. Robeson is lynched in effigy and a cross is set ablaze during the riot, which resulted in more than

, a 14-year-old African American boy, is lynched in Mississippi at the age of 14 after he was accused of flirting with a white woman.

1963 – Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Wash-

1968 – Rev. Channing E. Philips of Washington, D.C., becomes the first African American to be nominated for president by a major national party.

Jazz saxophone virtuoso Charlie "Bird" is born in Kansas City, Kansas.

1958 – Michael Jackson, the legendary "King of Pop," is born in Gary, Indiana.

1962 – Malvin Goode becomes the first African American television news commentator when he begins broadcasting on ABC as a United Nations correspondent.

AUG. 30

1967 – Thurgood Marshall is confirmed by the Senate as the first-ever Black Supreme Court justice. 1980 – Guion Bluford, a former NASA astronaut, becomes the first African American in space. WI

MICHAEL JACKSON

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business Innovative Signage Solutions to help you grow your business

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Former NFL football player Michael Oher, whose story inspired the Oscarnominated 2009 film ‘Blind Side’ has filed a lawsuit against the family the film highlighted as taking Oher in. Oher claims the couple tricked him into signing papers for a conservatorship versus adoption two decades ago.

He is petitioning for the conservatorship to be terminated and paid money earned in his name. Oher’s lawsuit has brought renewed discussion to the white savior trope in Hollywood films. What are your thoughts?

ERIN CAMERON / WASHINGTON, DC

I’m glad his version of this story is getting some press this go around. He mentioned when the movie came out that it was not 100% true. He knew how to read and was already a star football player when they met him. I always thought it was a white savior movie, but I didn’t know they set up a conservatorship and controlled/owned him. Folks saying “he wouldn’t have made it” or “they were already rich” ignore the fact that he was a known athlete that folks knew had the talent to get to the NFL. I hope he can now set the record straight.

MIMI HAFFORD / WASHINGTON, DC

This is why we need to start reading everything! He just read the contract they had him sign in 2004 this year! It took him 19 years to find out it was a conservatorship, not an adoption. They played on his ignorance and got richer.

GARY WILLIAMS / GARY, IND.

I never liked that movie, and I never trusted them!

BELINDA BEY / PITTSBURGH, PENN.

It’s not as black and white as he claims, and he is being caught up in his own admissions from his previous book that he knew he wasn’t adopted and it was a conservatorship and was just grateful that he had them as family.

KIA MYERS / MEMPHIS, TENN.

Oher is worth $15 million, while the fake family is worth $75. It looks suspect to me.

Acting MPD Chief Pamela Smith Announces Juvenile Curfew

Announcement Follows Violent Incidents, Including on HU’s Campus

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

As part of an ongoing effort to curb crime, the District will soon enforce a pilot juvenile curfew program with a focus on seven high-priority areas.

Acting Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith made the announcement on Aug. 17, just days after MPD responded to calls about an early morning attack against Howard University (HU) students.

Young people 16 years and younger who are caught outside between the hours of 11p.m. and 6a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 12a.m. and 6a.m. during the weekend, will be taken to a Department of Youth and Rehabilitative Services facility where personnel will connect them and their family with services and support.

"Parents, we want you to know where your kids are at night,” Smith said. "We want our city's youth to be safe and at home during overnight hours. Our goal isn't to detain young people but ensure their safety in the District of Columbia."

During the early morning hours of Aug. 14, a group of youths were alleged to have robbed and assaulted HU students in front of Howard Towers Plaza on Sherman Avenue in Northwest. This incident happened days after the Metropolitan Police Department

(MPD)'s removal of a large group of young people from Banneker field and a fight that broke out in a restaurant on Georgia Avenue in Northwest.

According to MPD, two suspects stabbed an HU student and stole a set of keys, a pair of Jordans and an iPhone during the incident.

Starting Sept. 1, MPD's seven juvenile curfew enforcement areas will be HU and Banneker Recre ation Center, along with the 4000 block of Georgia Avenue, U Street, Chinatown and Navy Yard, 14th Street between Otis Street and Spring Road in Northwest, the 4400-4600 block of Benning Road in Southeast, and the 1300 block of Congress Street in Southeast.

On the day Smith announced the curfew, HU hosted a public safety fair where students gathered information about self-defense, rideshare safety, athletic injuries, fire safety, and sexual health. Days earlier, during a public safety town hall, university officials announced the installation of 1,000 on-campus cameras, the dispatch of university police officers to vulnerable areas on campus, implementation of a secure access system and the designation of a safe path.

In a statement, HU President Wayne A.I. Frederick encouraged students to download a campus emergency response app and remain vigilant while on campus.

"Our layered approach to public safety involves not just our ongoing partnership with MPD, but a commitment from our students to support our efforts to keep our campus free from dangerous behavior," Frederick said.

"We will be requiring students to show their university-issued photo ID to enter residence halls and other buildings open only for students, faculty, and staff. We also are reminding students that they should refrain from granting access to residence halls or other buildings to people who are not Howard University students."

Since the public safety incident, HU students have continued to engage the D.C. community, including during a

HU’s tenth annual Day of Service on Friday when 1,500 youth participated in seven service-learning projects across the city, including at Sasha Bruce Youthwork.

Meanwhile, the Bowser administration has connected recent crime trends to the passage of emergency public safety legislation that instituted pre-trial detention for violent offenders and expanded MPD’s vehicular pursuit capabilities.

A robbery depression initiative reportedly triggered a 21& reduction in robberies. MPD also closed 13 homicide cases last month, while some arrests aided in the recovery of firearms, Bowser administration officials said. In total, 122 illegal firearms have been recovered since the beginning of August. While overall violent crime hasn’t been reduced, Bowser acknowledged what she described as a start to a reversal.

“We know that many common-sense solutions are necessary to fill the gaps in our public safety ecosystem,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said. “We also know that we continue to need a policy environment that supports effective enforcement and reduces crime. We’ll continue to work with the council to make sure we have the right policies, tools, laws and investments to drive down crime.” WI

@SamPKCollins

5 Acting DC Police Chief Pamela A. Smith speaking during a community lunch conversation. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Eckington Community Gathers in Mourning Following District Dogs Tragedy

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

Just before the planned start of a vigil at Alethia Tanner Park Thursday night, a crowd of mourners, community members and their dogs stood underneath a building’s awning as a sudden burst of rain soaked the area. The heavy rain only lasted a few short minutes, but it served as a somber reminder of the devastating downpour that caused the deaths of 10 dogs in a flash flood just three days earlier.

Water had crashed into the District Dogs canine daycare on Rhode Island Avenue Northeast, after about two inches of rainfall fell over just 45 minutes late in the afternoon on Aug. 14, according to DC Water officials. Community members in and around Eckington quickly organized

a vigil in support of the 10 families that lost pets and the District Dogs staff members who rescued dozens of dogs while in danger themselves.

Elaine Sierra-Rivera hugged her small pug, Captain Han Solo, tight to her chest as she stood in the crowd at the evening vigil.

“He was one of the ones rescued by the staff, and I'm ever so grateful to them,” she said. “My heart goes out to the ones that lost their pets because I just cannot imagine how it would’ve been without him… Again, I’m just so grateful—six feet of water, and he’s not a swimmer. And he’s not a big guy.”

More than 50 people, and dozens of dogs, showed out for the memorial event. One District Dogs staff member brought a cardboard poster with photos of all the dogs who had died in the flood. Organizers brought candles for everyone to hold

and white roses for the 10 families grieving.

After the formal ceremony ended, Teffiney Worthy embraced one District Dogs employee—who hadn’t been on shift that day—for a long time, both women crying. Worthy had lost her almost 1-year-old dog Memphis in the flood.

“He was very, very lovable,” she said in an interview the next day. “He was very in tune to people and their feelings—you know, he knew when to give me a cuddle, when I was sad.”

Memphis had become a regular face at Whittier Elementary, where Worthy works as a special education teacher. She brought him in for “Memphis Mondays,” and said the young dog was calm and loving with both kids and staff. Worthy had gotten Memphis for company in her new condo when she moved to D.C. from Mississippi about a year ago.

“He loved to jump, loved snuggles… he gave the sweetest kisses,” Worthy said. “It’s very different not having him around.”

Worthy said she hadn’t heard anything, before this week, about flooding issues on that stretch of Rhode Island Avenue. Knowing what she knows now, she said the city should not have allowed a business to set up shop there if the flooding problem couldn’t be handled.

Jocelyn Lobos-Segura, another pet parent who lost a dog, said she plans to take legal action against the business, with the hope of preventing a similar disaster in the future. Her “rambunctious,” “silly and goofy” 1-year-old dog Mona had only been

going to the Northeast daycare for about two months before the flood happened.

“All of this could have been avoided,” Lobos-Segura said. “I don't want any other pet parents to have to hear or even think about those last moments that their dogs may have gone through.”

She said it’s not just the business that could have prevented the tragedy: the city could have revoked District Dogs’ certificate of occupancy after the location flooded multiple times last year. Reporting from NBC4 and other outlets on Thursday revealed that 20 minutes passed between the first 911 call and the dispatch of an emergency team.

DC Water says the Northeast Boundary Tunnel, which will run about 1.5 miles underneath Rhode Island Avenue from 6th St NW to almost 10th St NE, will help alleviate the issue at this location and others by creating 90 million gallons of storage space underground where excess water can flow. Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of September.

The agency said that the new infrastructure “will not prevent all flooding from intense storms but will lessen their impact.”

Climate change, which is caused

by burning fossil fuels, impacts the intensity of severe rainfall events. The District will likely see increased flooding as the planet continues to heat up over the coming years.

The people who brought their dogs to the vigil, many of whom often used the Rhode Island District Dogs, all expressed the same sentiments: this could have been my pet.

“Our dog Ulysses, we've boarded him at District Dogs quite a lot, and it's actually really only an accident of scheduling that he ended up not being there that day,” said Joe Bishop-Henchman, ANC Commissioner for Eckington. “That weighs on me.” WI

5 Teffiney Worthy came to the vigil grieving the loss of her almost 1-year-old dog Memphis, who was among the pets lost. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 At a vigil held Aug. 17, one District Dogs employee brought a poster picturing the 10 pets lost when the canine daycare on Rhode Island Avenue Northeast flooded earlier in the week. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

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Tempie Satcher reads the Washington Informer. Satcher attended the groundbreaking of the new Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham Elementary School where her son was killed. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., March on Washington, August 28, 1963

“The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser along with DC Government and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White break ground on Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham Elementary School. The new $15 million facility will join the existing Anacostia Recreation Center in providing residents with Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) programming and access to state-of-the-art resources including. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

Local Leaders Break Ground on New Recreation Center

Mother of Bernard “BJ” Hodges Mulls Campaign for Rec Center Name Change

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

District officials recently broke ground on what will not only become a new recreation center in Anacostia, but Ward 8’s first newly constructed recreation facility in 20 years.

Once finalized, Anacostia Recreation Center will be located near Ketcham Elementary School in Southeast.

Amenities will include a gymnasium and fitness center, basketball court, playgrounds for children between 2 and 12 years old, demonstration kitchen, classrooms and multipurpose rooms, a promenade connecting 14th and 15th streets in Southeast, multi-use outdoor field, free internet access and a generator with 72 hours of energy storage in the event of a power outage.

On Monday, D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) heralded Anacostia Recreation Center as a step in the right direction for a community he described as in dire need of resources.

"Ten recreation centers closed down and we set out on a mission to right this wrong, White said.

"A recreation center is not just a building; it's a site for fun and… for learning and instructional opportunities,” White continued. “We knew this was the right spot. This is another step forward to quality health and equitable services. We owe it to our children to give them what we had."

Anacostia Recreation Center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2024.

The groundbreaking comes more than two weeks after Tynea Cook, Bernard “BJ” Hodges, and Reginald Gilbert lost their lives in a hail of gunfire on the 1600 block of Good Hope Road in Southeast.

Hodges, a longtime Southeast resident and father of four, had been heavily involved in connecting residents with resources for professional advancement and mediating conflict between warring groups. As White and others mentioned during a press conference earlier in August, Hodges had also been a key advocate for the development of Anacostia Recreation Center.

On Monday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) didn’t hint at whether she would rename Anacostia Recreation Center in honor of Hodges. She instead

alluded to a process through which residents can petition for a name change.

Those who joined White and Bowser near 14th and U streets in Southeast on Monday morning included Ketcham Elementary School principal LaCondria Beckwith, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Thennie Freeman, Department of General Services (DGS) Director Delano Hunter and a hodge-podge of advisory neighborhood commissioners.

Also in attendance were members of Hodges’ family, all of whom posed with White around a framed photograph of Hodges.

Tempie Satcher, Hodges’ mother, told the Informer that she plans to launch a campaign to rename Anacostia Recreation Center in her late son’s honor. She said that Hodges’ legacy will be about helping others and using what he learned as a youngster to positively impact his community.

“All of his life, BJ has seen the parks and recreation programs,” said Satcher, a former DPR recreation specialist. “Even while outside and dedicated to friends and families, he was listening to me and seeing what I was doing. This [recreation center] showed me that he listened to my feedback. So now, my spirit is so happy.”

Years before breaking ground on Anacostia Recreation Center, DPR and DGS collaborated on the construction of Ferebee-Hope Recreation Center in Southeast. Upcoming projects include Congress Heights Recreation Center and Fort Greble Recreation Center,

the latter of which has been an ongoing topic of concern among Bellevue residents.

All the while, DPR rolled out a plethora of programming across the city for mid-winter break and summertime, including outdoor movie nights, Late-Night Drip, a Barbie-themed tennis bash, Jazz in the Park, and most recently, Chuck Brown Day celebration at Fort DuPont Park in Southeast.

Earlier this month, registration opened for fall recreation programming. In the coming weeks, young people can participate in aquatics, team sports, fitness classes, cooperative play for toddlers, and introduction to piano.

In her remarks, Freeman assured generations of Anacostia residents that District officials had them in mind during the planning process for Anacostia Recreation Center. With the start of another school year, she relished the thought of all of them, and young people in particular, would be able to find something of value in the new facility.

“This will be the first recreation center in historic Anacostia and that by itself is something we should all be proud of,” Freeman said.

“The demonstration kitchen is a place where colleagues and business owners can teach residents how to cook and get their food handler certifications,” she added. “Playground equipment was built with intentionality. People of all ages can come out for a well-lit safe stroll. From the cradle to the grave, we are here to serve.” WI

@SamPKCollins

5 Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White speaks about the long road it took to break ground on the new Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham Elementary, and the effects it will have on curtailing the violence in Ward 8. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Fairwood Jazz Fest Comes Back, Braveboy to Host Forestville Rally

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

FAIRWOOD HOSTS JAZZ FESTIVAL

Those who appreciate smooth jazz and quiet melodies should keep their eye out for the Fairwood Summer Concert Series, held in Fairwood Park. DuPont Brass and go-gojazz blend artists Suttle performed on Aug. 6 on a hot summer day while neighbors gathered in their folding chairs and sat under umbrellas to stay shaded.

The next concert will be held this Sunday, Aug. 27, from 1 to 6 p.m.. The Bowie State University Chorale, the Prince George’s Choral Society, the band Black History, the 8 Ohms and Marcus

Johnson will be performing. This Sunday is expected to be the coolest day of the week.

The Summer Concert series began in 2013 and has become a regular occurrence ever since.

For more information about the Summer Concert Series, please 301-446-3243. Read more about the Summer Concert Series and other community events pgparks. com.

BRAVEBOY HOSTS FORESTVILLE COMMUNITY RALLY ON AUG. 24

State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy is hosting an “Our Streets, Our Future,” rally at the Penn Mar Shopping Center in Forestville on

Thursday, Aug. 24.

“In addition to our crime fighting efforts we have to also wrap our arms around our community. So, during the week, every single day my prosecutors are holding people accountable for crimes that they’re committing. We work very closely with our police department to investigate and solve cases, but in addition to that, we can and will show our community that we love them,” Braveboy said in an interview last year about the program.

Braveboy’s office has hosted these rallies with the goal of reduc-

ing gun violence for the past two years. The strategy is somewhat akin to the Safe Streets program in Baltimore.

Community engagement, community walks, and hosting gatherings where concerned citizens can receive information from organizations such as Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County and Employ Prince George’s are important parts of her strategy.

Our Streets, Our Future is one of several initiatives implemented by State’s Attorney Braveboy. Some of her other initiatives fo-

cus on ballot access, reducing impaired driving and preventing youth recidivism. WI

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY WEEKLY UPDATES

5 State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy has hosted community rallies across Prince George’s to spread information and reduce gun violence. Her next rally is planned for Penn Mar Shopping Center on Aug. 24. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

Our Streets, Our Future is one of several initiatives implemented by State’s Attorney Braveboy.

PRINCE GEORGE’S POLITICAL UPDATES

New Service Year Program Accepting Applicants, Congressman Ivey Visits Tech Summit

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Writer

NEWLY-CREATED SERVICE YEAR PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICANTS

Fulfilling a priority he’s had since his gubernatorial campaign, Gov. Wes Moore (D) is implementing a service year option for high school graduates, which is now accepting applications for their first cohort.

“Whether they're preparing our state for climate change, tutoring our students, or caring for the sick, young people should have the option to perform important service today and build a foundation for our shared future,” said Moore, who also posted a YouTube video explaining the program. “This is the first effort of its kind in the nation, and Maryland will lead the way.”

The service year option will pay students at least $15 an hour and receive mentorship and job training.

The program was created following the passage of the SERVE Act of 2023. The bill was signed in late April by Gov. Moore. While this first cohort is expected to have 250 participants, each subsequent class will roughly double in size until the program has 2,000 participants.

Paul Monteiro, who served as the national director of AmeriCoprs Volunteers under President Obama, was appointed to lead the new department by Governor Moore in May.

"As you look at high schoolers coming out, about to walk across that stage, but don’t yet know what they’re going to do with their career, a year of service at a nonprofit, a public agency, or a for-profit would allow them to get soft and hard skills that make them more marketable at the end of their term of service," said Monteiro.

You can apply for the Department of Service and Civic Innovation’s service year at serving.md.gov/ auth/signup. Organizations that are interested in partnering with

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

ing CTE (career and technical education) programs were praised.

Cardona met with students who recently built and sold a home in Brandywine for $600,000, a record price for a student-constructed home.

the Department can apply serving. md.gov/employer/registration.

CONGRESSMAN IVEY VISITS TECH SUMMIT, HOSTS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D- Maryland) was the keynote speaker during the Council for Innovation Promotion roundtable at the University of Maryland.

Hosted at the IDEA Factory, the conference was to promote intellectual property (IP) rights, such as copyrights and patents. President and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation David Iannucci and David Kappos, former director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Co-Chair of the C4IP, were also speakers at the conference.

“A strong intellectual property framework encourages continuous innovation by rewarding companies for their efforts, which promotes technological advancements and economic growth. IP rights, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights, safeguard a corporation’s innovative ideas, inventions, and products from being copied or exploited by competitors,” said Rep. Ivey.

“This protection encourages companies to invest in research and development, knowing their efforts will be safeguarded. Bringing together world-class research universities like the University of Maryland and forward-looking companies ensures intellectual property rights play a critical role in encouraging technological innovation, protecting corporate investments, and fostering a competitive and thriving technology sector right here in Prince George’s County, Maryland.”

Ivey was joined by some special guests at Crossland High School to discuss career pathways and apprenticeship programs. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu joined the Congressman, where the county’s exist-

"I see people who are struggling with college debt and not making what they thought they were going to be making," said Cardona. "And I see a lot of folks who follow their passion and CTE to continue with their skills and maybe get a two-year degree, or a fouryear degree and do really, really well. We're shortchanging our kids in America if we don't give them options."

SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN OFFICIALLY ENDORSES ALSOBROOKS FOR SENATE

In the upcoming Democratic primary to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D- Maryland), Prince George’s County Executive Angela

Alsobrooks (D) has added a strong endorsement to her list: U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D- Maryland). He officially endorsed Alsobrooks on August 15, citing their experience

working together and her response to COVID.

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com WI

5 Congressman Glenn Ivey (left) was joined by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (center) and Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu (right) at Crossland High School to talk about trade programs and what they can do for students. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer

ration, played a key role in the conception and the building of the Village.

“The development corporation, through me, serves as the operator of Sycamore & Oak,” Ray, 51, said. “We serve as the program manager as well as rent out the spaces, maintain the grounds and select the activities that will take place.”

Ray said the Village serves as a training ground for entrepreneurs with the goal of having them successfully transition in three to five years to the planned more permanent facility that will consist of over 600,000 square feet. Abandoned buildings located east of the facility will be redeveloped into a permanent town square-like structure.

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Even though it has been open for less than four months, the Sycamore & Oak Retail Village located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Ward 8 in Southeast Washington has generated a great deal of activity and buzz.

“It’s been great,” said Yarne Glascoe, the 39-year-old owner of VAYA Beauty, a cosmetics supply shop located in the the Village.

“I have had the chance to meet a lot of people who live in Congress Heights. I am so glad to be here. This place educates and inspires the younger generation to become entrepreneurs.”

The Village is located on the St. Elizabeths East Campus next to the Entertainment & Sports Arena and is close to the Congress Heights Metro Station on the Green Line.

The two-level facility consists of 13 small, minority-owned businesses such as a fitness gym, urban-oriented

BUSINESS

Ward 8’s Sycamore & Oak Village Makes a Name for Itself briefs

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

GWUL BLACK RESTAURANT AWARDS PROGRAM

The Greater Washington Urban League honored eight food and service industry entrepreneurs participating in its program “By Our Hands Cohort,”at its headquarters in Northwest, D.C. on Aug. 14.

By Our Hands Cohort’s mission is to provide participants with training, coaching and resources to launch, sustain, and scale their food service business by incubating, educating, counseling and connecting resources and networking. Program participants also received $10,000 for their participation.

The program—By Our Hands & Black Restaurant Accelerator Program Awards Ceremony

2023-- was facilitated by Furard Tate, a food entrepreneur and the League’s senior director of business development.

“Everything we do, we do with you in mind,” Tate said to the audience of 30.

Kimberly Corbin, the League’s chief financial and administrative officer, assisted Tate in handing out the awards to the recipients. Representatives from Pepsico and the National Urban League attended the event in their role as sponsors and supporters of the program.

The honorees were Ronnie Webb of Corner Water, Maurice Dixon of Chef Reese Catering, Chekesha Tashad of Chef Girl R Chi, Matthew Featherstone of Hiatus Cheesecake, Sherimane Johnson of Night Owl Vegan, Earmoni Tate-Collier of Urban Garden Brewing, Michelle Phipps-Evans of Vickey’s Trindad and Tobago Kitchen and Melvin Hines of the Southeast Restaurant Group.

clothing stores, eateries and a store offering fresh food on the lower part. The lower level has a stage for several types of entertainment and has hosted such speakers as Vice President Kamala Harris. The upper level consists of tables and chairs for meetings and dining.

The Village consists of over 20,000 square feet and has been built with an eye toward green construction and use the timber.

facility.

MONICA RAY LEADS THE WAY

Monica Ray, the president of the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corpo-

“We want all of our businesses that are presently with us to move into that building as brick-and-mortars,” she said.

Ray said the development corporation coaches the businesses on their operations, making suggestions to improve their bottom line. She envisions other businesses joining The Village in the future.

ENTREPRENEURS RAVE ABOUT THE VILLAGE

Joe Houston is the founder and president of WeFitDC, a fitness business. Houston, 29, said working at Sycamore & Oak has been hectic at times, but worth it.

“The pace here is fast and there are a lot of challenges,” he said. “I am learning. It is just about being organized. I have had a lot of love and a lot of support here.”

Mohammad Hill is the co-founder and co-owner of The Museum, an urban apparel retailer. Hill agrees with Houston on the fast pace of operating a business at the Village.

“The foot traffic here is amazing, especially after Mystics games and graduations at the Entertainment and Sports Arena,” Hill, 38, said. “We also get a lot of business when concerts are here and especially when there is karaoke night on Wednesday.”

Hines, 51, who owns the DC City Smokehouse locations on Florida Avenue in Northwest and on Good Hope Road in Southeast, said the $10,000 award will be put to good use.

“I am planning to use the money for reinvestment in my business and look into buying a food truck,” he said. “We face challenges everyday and this program helps

us get the resources we need. It is difficult to get a loan from a bank.

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Meryem Yusef is the co-owner of the eatery, Buna Talk Café. Located in the food service section of The Village, it offers coffee, pastries, and sandwiches with an Ethiopian touch.

“This was once a deserted area,” said Yusef, speaking of the pre-Village days. “Now it is bustling. We offer a breakfast fare which is quite popular. Our coffee is always brewing and ready for our customers.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10

5 The leaders and participants of the By Our Hands Cohort of the Greater Washington Urban League.

Redbrick LMD, the Em-

5 Monica Ray serves as the president of the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation. (WI File Photo/Cleveland Nelson)

erson Collective and the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation worked in concert to build and maintain the

BRIEFS from Page 14

Have you heard of large cap, small cap, crypto currency, emerging markets, bonds, mutual funds and other investing terms but want to better understand how those investment options actually work? Join the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 for our free two-part introduction to Investing mini-series.

Investing 101 on Aug. 30 will discuss the variety of different investment options available. This course is designed to teach the different types of investments we will cover and provide a basic understanding of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Investing 102 on Aug. 31 is designed to educate participants in the knowledge of behavior finance, diversification, concepts of risk and return and other strategies. This course explores how to invest to generate wealth.

Lastly, it discusses a variety of alternative investments, and a

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STATE OF BLACK WOMEN IN THE LAW REPORT

Kanarys, Inc., a diversity, equity, and inclusion and belonging (DEIB) technology company focused on creating long-term systemic change around those principles and the Women’s Lawyers Division (WLD) of the National Bar Association, announced the result of the State of Black Women in the Law DEIB Assessment Report.

The report was sponsored by the National Bar Institute. The goal of the report is to illuminate and pinpoint specific challenges of Black women attorneys on a broader scale and identify solutions for addressing those challenges.

The assessment, which polled members of the National Bar Association, WLD and other affiliat-

ed groups, revealed that although strides have been made, more work remains for Black women to reach equity and parity in the legal profession. Key takeaways from the survey are:

• Nearly 1 in 2 participants have been tasked with educating others about DEIB (47%) even though they do not formally have a DEIB role.

• Seven in 10 participants reported experiencing or witnessing discrimination or boas (70%), adding to the emotional burden they often carry.

• While the majority agreed their workplaces are committed to improving diversity, nearly 70% would not remain at their current organization for two more years with a lower-than-average sense of belonging.

• Nearly 7 in 10 Black women lawyers and professionals have a positive outlook when it comes to expressing their opinions on the job.

• There is still a fear of reporting DEIB issues to an immediate manager and Human Resources,

in addition to being silenced and dismissed, with 14% of participants saying they fear relaying DEIB issues.

“Before I co-founded Kanarys, I practiced law as a private equity attorney for over 12 years, and it was the inequities I faced as a Black woman in the law that motivated me to dedicate my life to creating systemic change within DEIB,”

said Mandy Prince, co-founder and CEO of Kanarys.

“While this report revealed great progress, the results also show that there is still much work to be done,” Prince added. “We hope the findings will accelerate progress within the legal industry and beyond and foster an inclusive and equitable culture for Black women.” WI

(Courtesy photo/Kanarys Inc.)

NATIONAL

Former Kanye West Associate Among those Indicted with Trump in Georgia

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Two prominent African Americans have found themselves in the middle of the unfolding legal drama surrounding former President Donald

alleged co-conspirators in his attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has hit both, along with Trump and others, with serious racketeering charges.

key player in Trump’s 2020 campaign. According to Newsweek, Floyd’s role extended to the Trump campaign staff.

The charges against Floyd include violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to solicit the dissemination of false statements and writings and attempts to influence witnesses.

Floyd’s LinkedIn profile reflects a career spanning over 15 years, encompassing operations, crisis management, government affairs, and political campaigns.

His experience stems from engagements on Capitol Hill, presidential campaigns, and collaboration with the Marines.

Do

Kutti, a seasoned publicist with Chicago roots, faces allegations of traveling to Atlanta to influence the testimony of Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman before the Georgia grand jury regarding allegations of election fraud.

The indictment asserts that Floyd engaged pastor Stephen Lee to orchestrate a meeting with Freeman and Kutti, ultimately pressuring Freeman’s testimony.

The charges against Floyd, Kutti, and Lee span "conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings" and "influencing witnesses."

Trump now faces 91 felony charges that could result in the demagogue and GOPpresidential front-runner serving more than 800 years in prison after being four timesindicted, twice impeached, and already found guilty of sexual assault by a civil jury.

Like Trump, Floyd, and Kutti have until noon on Aug. 25 to turn themselves into FultonCounty Jail for processing. WI

@StacyBrownMedia

Harrison Floyd and Trevian Kutti are publicists who have turned suspects and stand among Trump’s 18 alleged co-conspirators in his attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

5 Harrison Floyd is one of two African Americans indicted alongside former President Donald Trump for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. (LinkedIn)

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One Year After Inflation Reduction Act Funds Come Through IRS Commissioner Breathes Sigh of Relief

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel commemorated the oneyear anniversary of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act by breathing a sigh of relief.

Werfel called the legislation a game changer that injected a substantial financial boost into the IRS, earmarking tens of millions of dollars above and beyond its operational budget to catalyze enhancements and bolster enforcement.

“For well over a decade,” Werfel told Forbes, “The agency has grappled with challenges.”

The reduction in funding has resulted in decreased services and limited staff availability.

In 2022, the IRS had 79,070 full-time equivalent positions, which was a 9.1% decrease from 2013.

Werfel explained that when the Inflation Reduction Act injected funding into the IRS, it led to a significant and immediate change in the IRS’s approach to taxpayers. This change also contributed to new recruitment.

Werfel estimated that the number of full-time employees (FTE) was close to 90,000, considering the complexities of hiring in a changing environment that required balancing attrition and recruitment.

While this figure might appear reminiscent of 2022, it stands in parity with figures from roughly a decade ago.

Werfel emphasized the significant impact of IRA funding on improving taxpayer service quality during the 2023 filing season.

However, recent actions in the House of Representatives have injected a note of contention.

House Republicans voted to cut the funding of the IRS to undermine President Biden’s $80 billion overhaul.

The motion was unable to move forward because it didn’t receive enough votes in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

The measure ultimately stalled after passing the House with a partisan vote of 221 to 210. Democrats unanimously opposed it while Republicans showed strong support.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) criticized Republican budget cuts, stating that they created an unfair tax enforcement system that negatively impacts working families while granting leniency to wealthy tax evaders.

Democrats responded by providing more money to the IRS, eliminating unfair treatment, targeting wealthy tax evaders, and improving service for all taxpayers.

“Republican budget cuts created a double standard for tax enforcement that put too much of the audit burden on working families and ushered in a golden age for wealthy tax cheats,” Wyden stated.

“Democrats passed additional funding for the IRS to fix the double standard, crack down on wealthy tax cheats and improve customer service for everybody else.”

Wyden added that Republicans have now spent months distorting the facts because they want to frighten workers and small businesses, repeal the funding, and

help wealthy tax cheats continue getting away with breaking the law.

“The bulk of this funding, however, will go toward building up the IRS’s capacity to root out cheating by sophisticated, wealthy individuals and companies with highly complex structures,” Wyden noted.

For example, he said only a fraction of a fraction of large partnerships get audited today, even among those that are highly profitable, and that’s because the IRS doesn’t have the manpower or the resources to properly examine whether complex business structures are following the law.

Similarly, Wyden said, wealthy individuals who can afford to hire armies of accountants and lawyers are able to stay ahead of the IRS and skip out on paying a fair share.

“That’s who Republicans are

protecting by spreading their falsehoods about 87,000 armed IRS agents busting down people’s doors,” he said.

“The reality is, hard working Americans who pay taxes out of every paycheck understand

that they’re getting ripped off by wealthy tax cheats who are getting away with breaking the law. They want it to stop, and that’s what Democrats are working to accomplish.” WI

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5 In 2022, the IRS had 79,070 full-time equivalent positions, which was a 9.1% decrease from 2013. (Courtesy Photo/ Wikimedia Commons)

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ECOWAS Envoys Seeking Peaceful Solution to Niger’s Conflicts

ECOWAS envoys arrived in Niger on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 19, in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful solution to the leadership crisis. Niger’s prime minister welcomed the delegation, which was headed by a Nigerian former military head of state. Abdulsalami Abubakar

“This approach will be crowned with success, and I will report on the discussions to the current President of ECOWAS,” he said. Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu is serving as the ECOWAS president.

5 ECOWAS envoys arriving in Niger on Saturday, Aug. 19. (Courtesy Photo/ Africanews, Iyabo

Abdulsalami Abubakar met separately with General Abdourahmane Tiani, the junta leader.

During the talks, Tchiani pushed for the lifting of economic and travel sanctions imposed by ECOWAS after the coup, saying Niger’s population was suffering because of them, but he was unwilling to give much in return, said the official.

The junta said they were under pressure, at times striking a conciliatory tone and apologizing for past disrespect towards the bloc, while also defiantly standing by its decision to overthrow Bazoum and unequivocal about him not returning to power, the official added.

Tiani also repeatedly expressed concerns that its former colonial ruler France, which has some 1,500 troops in the country and had been providing training and conducting joint operations with Niger’s military, was actively planning an attack, according to an official.

Sahel experts say it’s not surprising that little seems to have come from Saturday’s meeting as each party is trying to show they’re open to discussions, yet the chances of an agreement are slim because their positions are starkly different.

ECOWAS envoy Abubakar also met toppled President Mohamed Bazoum during the visit. Speculations about Bazoum’s health had been rife. Since the July 26 coup, Bazoum has been under house arrest with his family.

Saturday’s meetings joined mediation efforts by Leonardo Santos Simao, the U.N. special representative for West Africa and the Sahel, who arrived on Friday. WI

Heirs of Plantation Owner John Gladstone to Apologize for Slavery Links in Guyana

With the matter of reparations for European slavery very much in the spotlight in the Caribbean community, the family of one of Britain’s most famous prime ministers is set to travel to Guyana this week to apologize for their ancestor’s historical role in slavery, Stabroek News reported on Sunday, Aug. 20.

5 John Gladstone held more than 2,500 enslaved people on his plantations.(Courtesy photo/Wikimedia Commons)

In a press release on Saturday, Aug. 19, the University of Guyana (UG) announced that the family of plantation owner John Gladstone will be visiting the university to take part in the launching of its International Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies in collaboration with the National Reparations Committee and Heirs of Slavery.

This event is due to take place on Friday morning, Aug. 25, in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre of its Turkeyen Campus, in Georgetown. Gladstone’s son, William Gladstone, was a Prime Minister of England.

“The Gladstone family, which includes several historians, have today confirmed that they will in fact offer an apology, given the role their ancestors had played here,” the UG statement said.

A report in The Jamaica on Sunday noted that John Gladstone, the father of four-time British Prime Minister William Gladstone, “owned 2,500 slaves and according to the UK Guardian, was the fifth-largest beneficiary of the £20 million fund (about £16 billion today) set aside by the British government to compensate planters when the Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833.” WI

From Rubbish to Renewable

CHP. RNG. H2. CH4. CO2. The landscape of the energy industry changes at a dizzying pace. Our Washington Gas three-part series, “Emerging Energies Explained,” looks at evolving technologies already shaping the future. Our second installment explores renewable natural gas and how it can provide a lower-carbon fuel option.

None of us would consider tossing almost 1,000 apples into a landfill yearly without taking a single bite. Yet, that is about the individual equivalent of the 63 million tons of food waste that ends up in landfills each year. Combined with landscape and pruning waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, paper products, printing and writing paper, manure, biosolids, digestate and sludges, almost 200 million tons of organic waste swell U.S. landfills each year.

Also known as biostock, these organic wastes generate substantial levels of methane gas during decomposition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that municipal solid waste landfills generate roughly the same greenhouse gas emissions as 23.1 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year or annual CO2 emissions from the energy use of 13.1 million residential homes.

Renewable natural gas, or RNG, is an exciting and powerful strategy for managing municipal landfill methane emissions. Specialized facilities collect and process biostock to remove moisture, carbon dioxide and trace-level contaminants while reducing nitrogen and oxygen. The result is a concentrated methane gas that can be injected into natural gas pipe-

lines as a readily available renewable energy source.

RNG offers a lower-carbon fuel source that supports the same applications as conventional natural gas, including electricity generation, heating, industrial applications and transportation. It can also be stored and transported using the existing natural gas infrastructure instead of the cost and delays of new delivery systems.

THE NEXT ERA OF ENERGY

Washington Gas partnered with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Piscataway (WSSC) Waste Water Treatment Facility in Maryland to construct an RNG interconnection project. It captures and processes biogas from the WSSC plant’s anaerobic digesters, creating a concentrated, pipeline-quality methane that is returned to the WSSC facility for use. The RNG interconnect is part of the larger bioenergy project at the Piscataway facility.

Washington Gas is working with various companies to develop RNG and allow the safe integration of this RNG into our natural gas distribution infrastructure. Strategically located across the DMV service territory, these RNG resources will help ensure a reliable energy supply and support our commitment to providing customers with safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas options.

An essential part of the road to RNG begins…well, on the road. Natural gas and RNG are readily available fuels currently used in heavy transportation, with fewer emissions than diesel-powered trucking. Washington Gas already uses natural gas vehicles and will add renewable natural gas to our fleet in the future.

WHY RNG MATTERS TO YOU

When you hear about local sourcing, you may think of farm-fresh produce or campaigns to support area businesses. However, organic biostock is a basic “local product” that every community accumulates daily. Converting this waste into renewable natural gas can provide various emission reduction benefits. Reducing levels of organic waste can also improve adverse effects such as odors, pests and leachate (liquid residue from organic waste).

RNG's unique production and distribution can also buffer domestic energy stability. Local fuel sourcing is less affected by geopolitical instabilities and disruptions than other energy sources, creating a more steady, predictable energy supply. And unlike the unpredictability of weather-impacted solar and wind options, RNG offers a more stable production source for storage and future use.

Renewable natural gas also offers economic potential. Studies from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute suggest that more than 500 untapped landfills across the United States could support approximately 40 RNG projects annually for the next decade. This surge in production could generate up to $6.5 billion in investment and 70,000 jobs in urban and rural areas. View the EPA Project and Landfill Data by State website at https://bit.ly/ epa-lmop to learn more. Finally, RNG can also be the basis for creating clean hydrogen, an emerging energy source. Like RNG, hydrogen gas is a storable fuel that delivers readily usable energy. Hydrogen fuel cells can generate electricity and heat and power vehicles with only water and warm air as byproducts. Learn more about re-

newable natural gas and emerging fuels by scanning the QR code on this page or visiting washingtongas.com/RNG.

Are you intrigued about the RNGclean hydrogen connection? Stay tuned for the September edition of the Washington Informer for a glimpse of a hydrogen-powered future.

HEALTH

Alliance for Black NICU Families

Johns Hopkins Health Plans Grants Local Organization Helping Black NICU Families

By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter

Striving to support health organizations bolstering resources to families in need, Johns Hopkins Health Plans has awarded the Alliance for Black NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Families, with a $20,000 grant to further support their breast pump program.

Alliance for Black NICU Families is a non-profit organization working to support and elevate the voices of underserved Black families caring for NICU and

post-NICU children.

Determined to alleviate the severe discrepancy of inequitable resources within many African American communities, maternal health advocates and mothers to post-NICU children, Deb Discenza and Ashley Randolph, sought to address the critical issue that Black mothers of NICU babies face in struggling to maintain resources that will sustain their children’s health, particularly when breastfeeding their vulnerable newborns.

“We came up with the breast pump program because we wanted to equalize access, and that was

a big piece of it. What do white mothers get better access to? A breast pump. And when I found out that there was a wearable breast pump I thought, this is a genius, because many of us, Black or white, have to go back to work after having a baby,” said Discenza. “A lot of moms don’t expect to have a preterm infant or baby in the NICU, so for them, it creates such upheaval. So, the idea was to give them access to a wearable breast pump.”

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The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Leasing of Commercial Trash Compactors and Maintenance and Repair Services. Interested parties can view a copy of the IFB by accessing Events DC’s e-procurement website at https://www.eventsdc.com/about/procurement.

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According to March of Dimes’ PeriStats, Black infants rate highest in preterm births across the United States at 14.4%, followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (11.8 %), Hispanics (10 %), Whites (9.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (9 %).

Finding the perfect solution to an often dire situation for Black mothers, The Alliance for Black NICU Families decided to actively supply working mothers with portable breastfeeding pumps at no cost to the family, to simplify the process of breastfeeding their NICU babies.

Physicians often stress the importance of mothers providing their milk if possible, as it serves the best nutritional value of feeding for their baby, especially a NICU infant whose vitals are not stabilized.

Discenza, also the CEO of a company called “PreemieWorld,” found herself merging with the ideals and principles of Randolph, founder of Glo Preemies, while actively advocating in maternal health spaces and collective boards. The duo began spearheading the organization’s efforts to give Black mothers a community of support to better manage the lonely spaces that mothers to NICU babies often find themselves in.

“I was that mom who stood in WIC three times, all of every month to make sure I could keep that breast pump. I don’t want any other Black mom to have to do

that, with kids on their hip and trying to figure out how [they] are going to work,” Randolph shared. Randolph is not alone, as mothers across the country bear the burden of scrambling to secure financial and medical resources to support their children with vulnerable conditions while simultaneously holding down their jobs and home responsibilities with little to no assistance.

The organization looks forward to utilizing the generous donation from Johns Hopkins Health Plans to maximize their inventory of portable breast pumps to reach more mothers who are working and on the go.

“Initially we had to raise the funds to get the first round of breast pumps. They are now our biggest sponsor for the breast pump program. We are so grateful they are putting this initiative forward because it is letting our families and everyone else know that this is something that can drastically change a mother’s life,” Randolph said.

“We’ve had NICU moms who were able to start going back out or getting dressed while still pumping so that they still had milk for their babies while at the same time being able to take care of their own needs and get back to their old selves,” Randolph added. “I don’t know how big this may trickle out to be, but I do know this is making changes at a rapid pace.”

WI

5 Johns Hopkins Health Plans awarded the Alliance for Black NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Families, with a $20,000 grant to further support their breast pump program. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

EARTH OUR

Celebrating National Senior Day By Partying in the Park

By Kayla Benjamin & Robert R. Roberts WI Climate & Environment Reporter & WI Photographer

On a sunny Friday in Anacostia Park, the National Park Service and MAD Konnect Foundation, Inc. hosted a party complete with free giveaways, live tunes and mad dance moves. The blasting music was a favorite for the partiers—almost all of whom were above the age of 60.

“I’m out here to have a good time… to meet other people and get freebies,” said Joan Payton Turner, grinning. She came to the event with a group from the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center.

Turner didn’t have time to say much more before the band,

Shang & Co., started up with another spirited R&B or soul tune. The ‘freebies’ she was talking about, though, included a toothbrush and tooth-shaped notebook from Mary’s Center, which advertised a new program that would cover the cost of basic dental care for seniors.

The event, on Aug. 18, was held to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day (on Aug. 21), and also included yoga and line dancing.

Madeline Long, founder of the nonprofit MAD Konnect Foundation, created the event as part of a bigger push by her organization to focus on seniors’ physical and mental health.

“I want to create really good programming for seniors—I want to help end the isolation. That's my goal,” Long said. WI

5 Seniors dance to R&B and soul tunes played live by DMV-based band Shang & Co. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 Shang & Co. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 Yoga lessons. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 Seniors line dance to “Bustin’ Loose.” (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 Not everyone wanted to be out on the dance floor the whole afternoon—but there was still plenty to do while enjoying the music and the sunshine. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 The seniors knew all the moves already, but Dani Tucker of Go-Go Fitness danced in front just in case anyone needed to follow along. “Don’t sleep on our seniors! Y’all look so cool,” she said into the mic. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

Black Business Month Spotlight: Compost Education Company SiStained8

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter

When Najwa Womack visited Frederick Elementary School in west Baltimore on Earth Day last year, she brought some unconventional teaching tools: bags of compost, straw and food scraps. The school had booked her company, SiStained8, for five back-to-back lessons about composting, one for each grade.

But at the end of the day, the company founder was surprised to find that the young students were not the only ones walking away with a newfound appreciation for the Earth-friendly activity.

“The teachers were blown away,” Womack, 35, said. “It was handshaking, hugging like, ‘Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.’ And I think it was at that moment, I was like, ‘Okay, now this—this is good.”

SiStained8 exists, in part, to create those kinds of interactions—the ‘aha’ moments that help people to understand how they can use their old banana peels and eggshells to connect with and care for the planet. The company also sells compost equipment, such as the “SiStainer Container,” a five-gallon compost bucket that comes complete with instructions printed on the side and starter materials included to help food scraps break down faster.

But SiStained8 is first and foremost a “creative compost education” company focused on engaging D.C.-area communities online and in-person.

“We want to equip people, your everyday people… with the simplicity of the art of renewal,” Womack said. “A lot of folks have

told me, ‘well, you know, [composting] is too complex. I know it's great for the planet, but it's just too complicated.’ But if you book a lecture with SiStained8, and I come out and break it down for you, you'll want to do it.”

SiStained8 is based in Ward 7, where Womack is from; the number in its name takes inspiration from the infinity sign. The company hosted more than a year of regular food-waste drop-offs for community members, collecting over 3000 pounds of food waste at Lederer Gardens in Northeast. The events are currently on hold as Womack searches for a new space, but she plans to start the drop-offs up again in the fall. Participants, she said, have told her that the drop-offs became a place of “genuine and safe” community for them.

“The vibe was very inviting, comforting,” Womack said of the events. “We were all connecting and gluing and just structuring around each other for the benefit of this massive behemoth of a planet. And it can be felt, just doing it on a small scale. So the vibe was very inviting, comforting.”

Womack got interested in composting almost a decade ago. It began with a love of traveling and food from around the world— she initially went to school for international studies, though in 2018 she earned a Master Urban Compost Certificate from DC’s Department of Parks & Recreation.

“Anywhere you travel, and I've traveled a few places, I'm always connecting to a person who grows their own food,” Womack said. “Seeing what people do with their food scraps was fascinating—how you can take it back and resuscitate and renew and then make it stronger.”

The Informer's Our Earth page turns 1 year old this fall. We want to know what you think and what we can do better in year 2! Please let us know with this 3-minute survey.

The company’s unique name honors Womack’s close relation ship with her three sisters while highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability. Composting reduces waste and helps fight climate change by preventing the powerful green house gasses that organic matter produces when left in landfills. Running a business in the ‘green’ space can be challenging, but Womack said she sees oppor tunities growing as the impact of climate change becomes more apparent in people’s lives. She encourages other BIPOC entrepreneurs to find creative ways to incorporate sustainability into their operations, regardless of their business model.

“I have had people telling me like, ‘Wow, you could have chose anything else; I don't know if that's going to be profitable,’”

Womack said. “It is a risk. But then I just feel like we need this. Humanity needs this, and our planet needs this.”

Learn more and find SiStained8

merchandise and composting equipment at sistained8.com or by following the company on Instagram @SIStained8. WI

5 Najwa Womack, founder of Ward 7-based creative compost education company SiStained8. (Photo courtesy of Najwa Womack)

Six Decades after King’s Historic Speech, Report Shows Black Economic Equality is ‘Still a Dream’

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Sixty years after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a groundbreaking new report has laid bare the stark truth of ongoing Black economic inequality in the United States.

Titled “STILL A DREAM: Over 500 Years to Black Economic Equality,” the report, co-authored by prominent experts Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chuck Collins, Omar Ocampo, and Sally Sim, and published by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and National Community Reinvestment

Coalition (NCRC), underscores the enduring disparities faced by Black Americans and highlights the pressing need for concerted action to address these disparities.

“Sixty years ago, Dr. King observed that America has defaulted on this promissory note to Black citizens,” stated Chuck Collins, an IPS senior scholar who directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good in Washington, D.C.

“Six decades later, despite incremental progress on some fronts, the check of opportunity has still come back with insufficient funds.”

Asante-Muhammad, chief of Race, Wealth, and Community for NCRC, lamented, “It is deeply troubling that, sixty years after the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Black economic equality remains nothing more than a dream for most Black Americans.”

“The revelation that it would take more than 500 additional years to close the economic gap for Black Americans is a stark reminder of the systemic inequities that persist,” Asante-Muhammad asserted.

Sally Sim, a senior organizer, and project specialist at NCRC, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “The sobering projection and findings of our report sixty years after the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom reinforce that the dream for economic equality for Black Americans remains unfulfilled,” Sim stated.

“On this historic anniversary, let us turn this report into a catalyst for meaningful action towards comprehensive solutions and public support for policies and initiatives that promote black economic equality.”

Some key findings from the comprehensive report were that, despite modest advancements made by African Americans since the 1960s, including reduced poverty rates, increased high school attainment, and lower unemployment rates, income disparities between Black and white Americans have only slightly improved.

The report exposes that in 2021, African Americans earn 62 cents to every dollar earned by white families.

The report’s authors said, at this rate, achieving income parity would take an astonishing 513 years.

Further, the wealth gap between Black and non-Black Americans has ex-

perienced only marginal growth, with African Americans possessing 18 cents for every dollar of non- Black wealth in 2019.

If this pace continues, it will take approximately 780 years for Black wealth to match non-Black wealth.

Median household income for African Americans has shown minimal growth, growing just 0.36% since the turn of the century.

Strikingly, it remained lower than white median family income in 1963.

Even after over six decades, the Blackwhite homeownership divide persists.

Black homeownership has grown from 38% in 1960 to 44% in 2021, while white homeownership surged from 64% in 1960 to 74% in 2021.

The report outlined a series of recommendations to combat Black economic inequality:

1. Advocate for full employment and guaranteed jobs to ensure equal economic opportunities for all.

2. Enact a substantial land and homeownership program to address the enduring homeownership gap between Black and white Americans.

3. Commit to individual asset building, including financial education, asset matching programs, and supportive policies, to facilitate access to wealth-building opportunities for Black Americans.

4. Implement policies to reduce dynastic concentrations of wealth and power, tackling the structural barriers that impede economic progress for Black Americans.

5. Explore targeted reparations to address historical injustices and provide meaningful redress for the economic disparities Black Americans face.

The authors noted that, as the nation reflects on King’s enduring vision for equality and justice, the report serves as a sobering reminder that pursuing Black economic equality remains an unmet challenge in America.

“The findings of this report are sobering and demand immediate and comprehensive action to address the economic disparities faced by African Americans,” remarked Omar Ocampo, a researcher for the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at IPS.

“We must invest in transformative policies that address systemic racism and create an equitable society.” WI

In The Market For A New Car? Prepare With 5 Tips Before You Walk Into A Dealership

Submitted by JPMorgan Chase

For decades, most people followed a simple formula when they were ready to purchase a new vehicle. Visit a dealership in person, negotiate a price, complete the purchase and drive the car off the lot.

Today, there’s a myriad of car buying options available, and whether you’re a firsttime or a veteran car buyer, the ever-evolving landscape of the auto industry can leave consumers with a lot of questions. Renée Horne, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at Chase Auto, offers five tips to help consumers prepare for their next car shopping experience.

1. SET YOUR BUDGET, AND STICK TO IT

There are a variety of different expenses that come with getting a car – the purchase cost, insurance, maintenance and fuel being a few of them. Knowing how much you can afford, especially if you plan to pay for it over time, is key to avoiding a car bill that stretches your finances. Chase has a variety of different budgeting tools and tips to help you save for your purchase.

2. LOOK FOR THE BEST DEALS.

Like many other items, vehicles have a price cycle; the end of the month and end of the model or calendar years tend to be when you can find a better deal, as dealers may need to meet quotas or clear out inventory. New models generally hit lots in the fall, so instead of buying a 2024 model in September, consider the 2023 model. This Labor Day, there might even be holiday sales where you can find additional savings. Generally, make sure you are considering multiple vehicles and shopping around at several dealerships to get the best price.

3. TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE IT FITS YOUR NEEDS.

This is your time to see how the vehicle looks and feels, try out the interior systems and figure out if the vehicle fits your needs. Sched-

ule test drive appointments to ensure the car you want is still available, ideally a few in the same day or week to keep your impressions fresh in your mind. It’s also helpful to simulate your daily driving conditions as much as possible, such as bringing any car seats or equipment you may have in your car daily. After your test drive, you can ask about the car’s warranty and fuel and maintenance requirements, as well as the possibility of getting an extended test drive or bringing the car to your own mechanic for a second opinion.

4. DETERMINE WHETHER YOU ARE FINANCING OR LEASING.

purchase or trade the vehicle in. But keep in mind that most leases have a mileage limit, so it might not be the best option if you travel often.

5. HOW TO KNOW IF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

to be covered by 8-10 year warranties (outlasting the amount of time most people own their cars) but EV tires degrade faster due to the weight of the battery.

S gn up to receive the JPMorgan Chase & Co Money Talk Newsletter and stay up to speed with the latest financia wellness information

There are benefits of both a lease and a loan. With a loan, there is no mileage limit, and you are free to customize and change the car as you see fit. After completing your finance payments, you own it. Leases typically have lower upfront costs than loan payments, and at the end of the term you can return,

With so many major manufacturers building EVs, there are more options than ever before. However, cost, maintenance, range and charging logistics are all key factors to consider. On average, it costs about half as much to fuel a vehicle with electricity compared to a similar vehicle that runs on gasoline. But just as gas prices vary, so do electricity costs – based on your location, your driving style and the size of your battery. And the cost of an EV itself may be higher than a traditional gas vehicle, although there are options to help offset the cost like federal and local tax incentives. When it comes to maintenance, EVs typically require less maintenance than traditional cars. EV batteries tend

The median range of an EV with a fully charged battery is roughly 250 miles, but that number depends on the make and model as well as other factors like weather, traffic conditions and driving style. And when it comes to charging infrastructure, some cities and states may have more charging stations than others. Make sure to plan your trip ahead of time and map your route.

My advice to customers? Be open to the different options in the market. Do your research and discover all the resources available to help you understand what kind of car and financing will be best for you and your family.

For more information about the online car shopping, financing and education that Chase offers, visit autofinance.chase.com.

1. Marketwatch

2. U.S. Department of Energy

5 Chase Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Renée Horne.

EDUCATION

Local Workshop Empowers Girls Programming Tackles Adultification of Black Girls

By Sam P.K. Collins and Milaka Saddler WI Staff Writer and WI Intern

Earlier this week, London Beckwith stumbled upon an event at Busboys & Poets Anacostia that she said compelled her to think deeply about the last few years of her life and what other District youth encounter while coming of age.

For a few hours on Monday, Lon-

don listened to speakers of various generations explore positive self-image, healthy living and sound decision making, among other topics. As the oldest among more than a dozen participants, London said she fully embraced the program, titled the “Southeast D.C. Girls Empowerment Workshop.”

More importantly, London told the Informer that she empathized with her younger peers who’ve yet to understand the gravity of the socio-

emotional issues they’re experiencing and how their environment has triggered them.

“It’s hard for some people to practice self-love and self-care because their families don’t uplift them,” said London, a 17-year-old high school senior with aspirations of becoming a cosmetologist and esthetician.

the Power of Advocacy

“There are a lot of girls who don’t have self-respect [so] this [event] helps some young ladies to want to have it. They might have seen how [badly] their moms and grandmas have been treated and think it’s okay.”

London counted among 15 young women between the ages of 13 and 18 who attended the Southeast D.C. Girls Empowerment Workshop Aug. 14-18 in the Marion Barry Room of Busboys & Poets in Anacostia.

Faenita Dilworth, a coach and trainer who lives in Anacostia, coordinated the program with the assistance of Ezekiel Kenebrew, a digital marketing and business management consultant. For several facets of the program, Dilworth used a book and curriculum developed by Janice Ferebee, a D.C. resident and women and girls’ empowerment expert.

With the globally recognized Sankofa bird overlooking them, the participants of the Southeast D.C. Girls Empowerment Workshop spent their first day reciting positive affirmations and developing a girl code that dictated how they would engage each other.

They also completed a DISC personality assessment and learned about what Dilworth described as standards of excellence, including mental and physical fitness, media literacy, healthy relationships and communication, and personal styling and grooming.

Toward the end of the week, the participants visited Howard University, Georgetown University and George Washington University.

Presenters included community

elder Sarah Holley, wellness coach Jackie Brown, fashion designer Saba Tshibaka of Rendered, Inc. and Kenebrew. Busboys & Poets and Anacostia Business Improvement District allowed the use of the space for the project. Participants also received a philodendron plant from Grounded, a plant shop and cafe that will soon open on Good Hope Road in Southeast.

Since May, Dilworth and Kenebrew conducted a guerilla marketing campaign, canvassing neighborhoods in Southeast and engaging schools, churches, recreation centers and community organizations to establish contact with students and their families.

With a virtual element of the Southeast D.C. Girls Empowerment Workshop to soon follow, Dilworth said that she remains adamant that the 15 participants, and others who are interested in the workshop, explore their girlhood much longer than what society has allowed Black female youths.

“I deliberately called it a girls empowerment workshop,” Dilworth said. “We found that there were needs beyond what we could offer in a week-long workshop. It’s about self-awareness so these girls can make good decisions. We want to give them the tools needed.”

Studies in recent years have found that Black girls face adultification bias, in which they are perceived as more adult-like and less innocent than their white counterparts. According to a 2019 Georgetown Law study, this phenomenon often leads adults to treat Black girls in developmentally appropriate ways and coerce them into being more passive. Racism, sexism and poverty have also been found to be contributing factors.

That’s why Kennebrew said much of his work with the Southeast D.C. Girls Empowerment Workshop involves pushing participants to imagine a life beyond their current conditions. He has recounted doing that on several occasions, often with positive results.

“Tragedies are so close in proximity, that young people lose hope,” Kennebrew told the Informer. “My workshop encourages them to plant the seed of being the change they want to see so they can understand the process of being a diamond going through refinement. They should allow that pressure to transmute them to their fullest potential.” WI @SamPKCollins

5 Faenita Dilworth (2nd right), founder of Girls Empowerment Camp at Busboys and Poets in Anacostia with camp organizer Ezekiel Kenebrew (2nd left), and volunteers. (Marckell Williams/The Washington Informer)

HU’s Day of Service Attracts 1,500 Students In the Aftermath of Campus Violence, Students Remain Eager to Engage D.C. Community

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Howard University (HU) student

Stephani Clark said she entered her senior year with a deeper commitment to serving the D.C. community she has grown to love since moving onto campus from southern California four years ago.

Clark recently channeled her love for the District into a service project she conducted at SEED Public Charter School during HU's tenth annual Day of Service.

On the morning of Aug. 18, Clark, along with dozens of HU students, helped administrators at SEED PCS prepare for the upcoming school year by folding school uniforms, filling backpacks donated by Target with school supplies, labeling boxes, and hanging up posters and yearbook photos.

"Usually when I volunteer at schools, I'm working with children but it was with the administrators this time," said Clark, a student committee member for HU's Alternative Spring Break. "They were excited to get students back. It was nice to see their passion [and] help them relieve stress so they can teach the students and make for a good school year."

Nearly 1,500 students of various faiths participated in HU's Day of Service, an event that HU's Office of the Dean of the Chapel modeled after its Alternative Spring Break program to welcome incoming students

and get them acclimated to the greater D.C. community.

HU faculty, staff and administrators also joined in the Day of Service.

This year, HU students conducted service projects at seven sites, including SEED PCS and Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a provider of services for youth facing housing insecurity. The projects, centered on HU's motto of "Truth and Service," allowed students to tackle voter suppression, health and educational disparities, climate change, food insecurity, and violence.

"It's important for HU students to fellowship with the D.C. community because they welcome us with open arms to their community and it's important that we give back," said Michelle Taffe, HU Day of Service 's executive student coordinator.

In the weeks leading up to Aug. 18, Taffe, a senior nursing major, guided her fellow coordinators in the search for potential service sites in the District. During the Day of Service, Taffe visited Sasha Bruce Youthwork and participated in a service project with Hustlaz 2 Harvesters, an organization that allows returning citizens to explore urban agriculture and social entrepreneurship.

As the university continues to reel from incidents of violence that have affected HU students, Taffe said that HU’s Day of Service further highlights the importance of she and her fellow Bison leaving the confines of their campus to meet D.C. residents and

learn more about the nation’s capital.

Students are still excited to engage and serve with the community, especially with youth in education," Taffe said. "The best part about being in D.C. is being able to see different people and learn more about the history of our people."

On Tuesday, HU administrators hosted its second public safety town

hall in response to an incident during which a group of District youth allegedly beat and robbed HU students in front of Howard Plaza Towers, a student residence hall located near the corner of Sherman Avenue and Barry Place in Northwest.

During the early morning hours of Aug. 14, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received a call about

an assault and robbery involving dozens of young people. The incident happened days after a large group of youths had been removed from Banneker field. A fight had also broken out in a restaurant on Georgia Avenue in Northwest that weekend.

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com wi

@SamPKCollins

5 (L-R) First year student Payton Wilson, sophomores, Kayden Edwards and Dominique Blounc, and junior Morgan Brown clean trays for a potting mix during Howard University’s Day of Service, the annual service initiative for incoming students. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Celebrate Students’ First Day, But Let’s Keep them Safe

Social media feeds throughout August to early September are often filled with students’ firsts: from the first day of pre-Kindergarten, to doctors’ first day of residency.

These posts normally feature students smiling, donning a new wardrobe and fresh hairstyles, and holding creative signs that feature information sections, such as: name, age, date, school, teacher, grade, and career goal.

If you’re like me, you smile and like the posts because, well, they’re super adorable and you’re incredibly proud of students embarking on another year of study.

However, there are folks out there who can use such information to endanger you, your student(s) and family, the school or more.

That’s why certain police departments took to social media to remind folks the proper way to make such posts.

Law officials argue to forget the last name, school, grade, age, or teacher, but feel free to include students’ first names, the date and fun career goals.

Your true friends on social media will completely understand why you’re protecting your children and family.

Further, nobody needs to know that other information.

So, Washington Informer readers, protect your students and have a great school year. WI

A Black August Demand for Literacy

With another school year on the horizon, community members, regardless of whether they have young people enrolled in a K-12 school, should work to ensure that young people become strong readers.

Those asking why such a focus on childhood literacy need to look no further than 1901 D Street SE (DC Jail) and federal correctional facilities across the country in which District residents are currently serving time.

At one point, these inmates were school children who, in the midst of abject poverty and violence, struggled to recognize multisyllabic words, comprehend texts and write paragraphs.

Research conducted by the Prison Policy Initiative shows that young people's frustration with reading manifests into disengagement and delinquency by the fourth grade.

By high school, they may have already made the jump to criminal behavior. Thus marks the start of what George Jackson, in his early 1970s book "Blood in My Eye," called a natural response to an unjust, inequitable system.

Decades after Jackson's death in a California state penitentiary, the U.S. continues to account for a large portion of the global prison population, if not the majority.

Many of those who are in the system are victims of illiteracy.

Even so, many prison inmates are reading, fasting and training during Black August. They do so in honor of Jackson and all those who, by virtue of living as marginalized people in the U.S., are considered political prisoners.

Many of these inmates fell in love with reading, as adults, during their stint. Though commendable, it shouldn't take decades for a person to learn to read. That's a systemic failure.

That's why we should each do our part this school year to boost literacy among young people. It has become a matter of saving young people, and saving our city. WI

EDITORIAL TO THE EDITOR

I wish all the students near and far a blessed and prosperous school year. Our children are the future, and the business of one is the business of all.

Joy Mebane Washington, DC

Even so, many prison inmates are reading, fasting and training during Black August. They do so in honor of Jackson and all those who, by virtue of living as marginalized people in the U.S., are considered political prisoners.

Readers' Mailbox

I really enjoyed the feature on the new superintendent of Prince George’s County Schools, Millard House II. I wasn’t aware of his installment, and it was nice to put a face with a name. Thanks, Informer, for your hard work!

Kimberly Hopper Hyattsville, Md.

The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to news@washingtoninformer.com. or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you.

Guest Columnist

The Clear Vision of Charles

many colleagues, admirers and friends.

Marian Wright Edelman

Ogletree

So said Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard and professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School, and one of Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree's

Charles Ogletree, who died Aug. 4, was one of our nation's preeminent legal scholars and a lifelong champion for racial and social justice. Many of his friends have noted "Tree" was an appropriate nickname for a man who felt like a giant, standing tall and steadfast and protecting and nurturing others around him. This always included his students, especially the Black students who attended the beloved "Saturday School" enrichment sessions he led at Harvard Law School. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle

Guest Columnist

Obama were both among his brilliant mentees.

As President Obama remembered, "Eventually, Saturday School became so popular that students of every background began showing up to hear Charles explain things in a way they could understand. It was an example of the kind of person Charles has always been: unfailingly helpful, and driven by a genuine concern for others." This concern extended far beyond his own circles. I am especially grateful for his legacy as a steadfast champion of nurturing all children's potential and

embracing proven child development strategies before children, especially poor children of color, ended up in the criminal justice system.

He grew up poor himself as the child and grandchild of farm workers in Merced, California, the oldest of seven siblings, and the first in his family to graduate from high school. His parents separated when he was young and he moved between family members' households often. But he loved to read, finding freedom and escape in piles of library books read by flashlight, and as a self-identified "Brown

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

The Sensible, the Mad and the Missing

big challenges that America can't avoid and can't seem to face.

The 2024 presidential race is taking shape. It looks like a choice between the sensible, the mad and the missing. Joe Biden seems intent on running on his record, a sensible route for the incumbent. His major challenger, the inescapable Donald Trump, is replaying his madcap candidacy — his program a mixture of resentment, racism, bluster and victimization. What's missing are the

In this first term, Joe Biden has surely exceeded expectations. He has broken with the conservative era's trickle-down economics, and passed major initiatives to rebuild America's decrepit infrastructure, to revive manufacturing and move away from our disastrous trade policies, and to launch an industrial policy focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

He's enjoyed record low unemployment even as inflation has

Guest Columnist

More than 25 years ago, I collapsed onstage while performing. I had no idea what was happening, but that night in the hospital, when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, my life was forever changed.

At first, I was angry, and I was terrified. I watched my aunt and uncle lose their sight, and my mother lost both her legs before she died in her

60s due to diabetes. I know firsthand the toll that this disease can take. It took me a while to do something about my diabetes. I was in denial. I kept my old unhealthy eating habits. If it was battered or fried, I ate it!

Eventually, I realized my glucose levels weren't getting any better, and I knew it was time to do something. I made a conscious choice to prioritize my health and change my way of living. I turned to my love of cooking to overhaul my diet. It meant I had to put down the butter and pick up the vegetable steamer. I would even take

plummeted, and real wages have started to go up. He's voiced his support for unions and equal justice under the law, even if his initiatives in those areas have been blocked by Republicans and a couple renegade Democrats in the Senate. He will run as a competent leader who got things done.

Trump, who dominates the Republican field even as indictments rain down upon him, doesn't really have an agenda — or rather his agenda is himself — "I alone can fix it." He promises, for example,

Patti LaBelle

my pots and pans with me on tour and cook in my suite with ingredients from the local farmer's market, just so I could better control my food intake. Has it been easy? No. But has it paid off? Absolutely.

BLACK PEOPLE AND DIABETES

The more attention I pay to my health, the better I feel. Exercise and I are not friends, but I started becoming more active — whether walking my dog and exercising in my pool or

baby" who benefited from the doors opened by Brown v. Board of Education, he understood the impact access to education made in his own life: "To me, it is the key that turns things in the right direction. Educating every child makes an enormous amount of difference."

When a high school guidance counselor first suggested he apply to Stanford University, two hours from home, he had not yet heard of it. But he took the counselor's advice and was accepted with a scholarship.

EDELMAN Page 53

to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours, because he says he can. What he offers is grievance and theater. He rails against an America that is a wasteland, three short years after he made it great again. For substance, he offers postures — send troops to the border, get tougher on the Chinese, double down on oil and coal and rollback climate and environmental legislation.

What's missing in this face-off is the necessary, the set of challenges that we can't avoid, but refuse to face. For example, America's health

care system fails us. It costs nearly twice as much per capita as the health systems of other advanced countries while providing worse care and far worse medical outcomes. Our life expectancy is declining, a stunning measure of its failure. Millions remain without health insurance. Many millions more struggle to afford the care that they need. Private equity barons are merging hospitals, purging nurses, and slashing services. Medicare is rapidly be-

Men and Women

hopping on the elliptical machine. I use my Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (or CGM) to stay on top of my glucose levels throughout the day, without the need for painful finger pricks. It lets me know where my glucose levels are and where they're headed, all with a glance at my iPhone. I can even share my levels with members of my family and my physician so they can keep a close eye on them, too.

I am proud of how far I have come on my health journey, and I am blessed and privileged to have an incred-

ible support system in my doctors, family and friends. But millions of Americans in this country are not as fortunate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes (34 million), and approximately 90% of them have Type 2 diabetes.

Black people are 60% more likely to develop diabetes than white people, and in 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

"Tree had everyone's backs; he saw the potential in everyone and sought to nurture it."

Guest Columnist

Is It Really True?

For so long now, many of us have been asking ourselves if Donald Trump is going to escape accountability again for his gross behavior. We are afraid he will enjoy the benefit of being white. For what like seems forever, we have heard Trump's insults, his bragging about being able to walk down Fifth Avenue, shoot somebody and get away with it!

Just imagine somebody who has had his hand on the trigger to start World War III talking that way! For those who knew the background of this man — how did he ever get elected to become an embarrassment and a danger to American democracy? As well, I ask of those who would still vote for him after nearly 100 serious indictments, why? So many still stand proud to be supporting him for another term as president! These are people who claim to love America more than anybody, but they are still willing to vote for him next time around!

Guest Columnist

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.)

I remember when Colin Kaepernick took a knee to help America become great for all of us, and he got punished severely. Roger Stone, after being convicted three years ago and being sentenced to over three years in prison, but his old buddy Donald Trump pardoned him and he was able to remain on the outside to organize an effort to return the favor. Unfortunately, he was caught organizing and pushing a fake election plot for his old buddy Trump! He was so at ease dictating the plan as though he was a master professor!

Marc H. Morial

Thank God, a brilliant Black woman has put together a who's who in trying to wreck our democratic election in 2020. The stars of that show appear to be Rudy Giuliani, once a superstar as mayor of New York City — the Chief of the RICO Act — starring in "Who's Who in the Georgia Indictments!" Now Trump won't even pay his legal bills!

The superstars joining Rudy are Mark Meadows, Donald Trump's sidekick in the White House, and John Eastman, one of Trump's lawyers who now wants to sever his

case from Trump's. He was once an attorney for Trump, founder and director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence. Now he's learning what a constitutional right is as a co-conspirator with Trump. After their lead co-conspirator, they're finding there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. They ran into a sister named District Attorney Fani Willis in Georgia. When she announced their indictments, she was so cool, so professional and so thorough in her work that peo-

WILLIAMS Page 54

Racist Attacks Can't Hide Lawlessness Laid Out in Georgia Case Against Trump

"With Trump, you don't need to look for a dog whistle. It's a bull horn when it comes to race. And I do think that's deliberate. We've seen the — I mean, slanderous attacks that he has put out against Fani Willis, you know, alleged things I won't even repeat. So, he's not really hiding that he's going to lean into that element, and this is, you know,

taking place just outside of Atlanta. When you saw the courtroom, it was a lot of Black men and women who are serving in that courtroom. … It's textbook Donald Trump but it comes as no surprise." — Alyssa Farah, former White House director of strategic communications

If anything illustrates the depths to which Donald Trump and his supporters have sunk in responding to his racketeering indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, it's his reference to those he falsely accus-

Guest Columnist

es of voter fraud as "riggers."

MAGA extremists, who have been using the word as a substitute for the N-word on far-right social media sites, responded with racist delight.

Trump has put a dishonest, racist and misogynistic spin on the old legal adage: If the law is against you, pound the facts. If the facts are against you, pound the law. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.

But amount of pounding and

Ben Jealous

yelling can obscure the breathtaking lawlessness outlined in the sweeping indictment Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed this week against Trump and his 18 alleged co-conspirators. By charging them under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act Willis has at last cast their brazenly corrupt conduct in the proper legal light.

While the narrowly-focused federal indictment that special counsel Jack Smith filed against Trump

One Year Later, Wins for the Environment and the Economy

push that federal government has made since 2021 along with earlier boosts for infrastructure and technology.

President Biden couldn't have said it any more plainly when he said last week in Milwaukee, "When I think climate, I think jobs."

He was speaking the day before the one-year anniversary of the historic clean energy and jobs package that he and Congress agreed on; that was the third major economic

So it's a good moment to check the scorecard for what officially is called the Inflation Reduction Act.

To date, Americans are winning.

More than 190 clean energy projects across 41 states have been announced in the last year, according to the group Climate Power. Those projects are adding more than 140,000 jobs in those states.

While no Republicans in Con-

gress voted for the $350 billion clean energy package, those jobs are being spread across both red and blue states. In the 2020 election, the President lost five of the top 10 states in terms of new jobs created and five of the 10 states with the most projects announced since last year.

Just as importantly, it appears we're growing those jobs in communities where they are needed most. The Treasury Department found that two-thirds the projects announced involving clean energy,

electric vehicles or batteries are in counties with above-average poverty rates. The projects are going to places with low college graduation rates, low weekly wages, and high unemployment, federal officials reported.

Those are the same places that far too often must bear far more than their share of the impact from pollution and climate change.

Throughout our nation's history, the least powerful people have had to make unfair choices because they needed jobs, whether it's strip-mining mountains they love or living in

earlier this month acknowledges six alleged co-conspirators, they are neither identified nor charged. Fulton County's indictment of 18 co-conspirators — and reference to 30 more unnamed, un-indicted co-conspirators — illustrates the far-reaching scope of the massive scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Trump's alleged criminal enterprise operated not only in Fulton County, but "elsewhere in the

MORIAL Page 54

cancer alleys that the plants where they work create with their toxic discharge.

For the rest of us, the benefit isn't just environmental, it's economic as well. As the Treasury Department noted, the best way to grow U.S. productivity overall is to increase it in these places that have the most growth potential.

But these wins haven't convinced the opponents on Capitol Hill who didn't support the plan in the first

JEALOUS Page 54

LIFESTYLE

Food & Friends Fetes

30th Anniversary of Chef’s Best Highlighting the Strength, Diversity in Local Food and Beverage Industry

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

After a pandemic that shuttered restaurants, Food & Friends, is celebrating the resilience of the District’s food and beverage industry, and simultaneously raising funds to continue serving Washingtonians with life-changing illnesses. Featuring more than 35 local culinary artists and mixologists, the “30th Anniversary Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction” showcases the strength of the District’s culinary landscape, honors corporate citizenship, and helps continue Food & Friends’ work in home-delivering medically tailored meals throughout the Washington area.

“This event celebrates the amazing work of Food & Friends and honors our connection to the restaurant community, who were among our first supporters,” said Carrie Stoltzfus, Food & Friends executive director, in a statement. “We want this event to spotlight the restaurant industry’s generosity and resilient spirit.”

Over the years, Chef’s Best has helped Food & Friends raise more than $18 million to fund its work of home-delivering more than 1.65 million free meals and groceries annually, for D.C. residents with serious health challenges.

While the organization has been successfully serving D.C.’s sick and shut-in since its inception in 1988, like much of the world, Food & Friends was forced to make some changes when COVID-19 began plaguing the District’s people and businesses.

“The pandemic changed a lot of things--- people's mindset towards their own individual health. A lot of places shut down,” said Rasheed Abdurrahman, Food & Friends’ executive chef. “Fortunately, here at Food & Friends, we have a really good staff. We like to say we're a small organization, but we do big work. And so we were able to pivot, change some things internally-how we approach food and how we distribute our food.”

“We just keep going and we do it through the support of the com-

munity,” Abdurrahman explained of Food & Friends' modus operandi. “We do it through support…. and that's why the Chef’s Best is going to be a great event, because that's how we are able to continue to do the work that we do.”

Three-time James Beard finalist Chef Erik Bruner Yang of Maketto will serve as the event’s “Chef Chair,” and featured chefs include Abdurrahman, Amy Brandwein of Centrolina, Shane Mayson of Crazy Aunt Helen’s, Terri Cutrino of Hank’s Oyster Bar, Patrice Cleary of Purple Patch, and Jimmy Butler, also known as Chef JB, of Glizzys Vegan Food Company.

“Our famous uptown sauce, we're going to have on display,” Chef JB told the Informer. “And we are giving out our vegan sausage as well with toppings. We’re just giving a different flavor-- something new for the people.”

With a location open five days a week at Sycamore & Oak in Southeast, D.C., like other restaurants, participating in Chef’s Best allows Glizzys to further expand their reach and interact with customers

from around the city.

While Glizzys was founded in 2021, in the heart of the pandemic, co-founders Dontrell Britton and Nathan Headspeth said even COVID-19 couldn’t stop their idea from taking off and thriving.

“We’ve, in our personal lives, overcome so much,” Britton said. “In business, I’ve always learned that if you can thrive in the worst economy, you can thrive anywhere. And so we got through it. And, now, to see where we are in less than two years, it’s still mind blowing for me. I'm just so grateful. I'm grateful for my chef, my team, for everything.”

In addition to the food and drink offerings from places like Glizzys, Food and Friends is also honoring Eli Lilly and Company for the decisions to reduce prices by 70% for their most prescribed insulins and cap patient out-of-pocket costs at $35 or less per month.

“Their corporate citizenship is removing systemic barriers to health and creating affordable access to life-saving insulin for people living with diabetes,” Food & Friends wrote in a statement.

Finally, Food & Friends promises a glamorous evening at the 30th Anniversary Chef’s Best hosted at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC.

“When you come, you won't be disappointed, let's put it that way,” said Abdurrahman. “And Food and Friends Chef Best is a glamor fest. People get dressed up. It's like you have to come correct.”

It’s a chic party with a purpose, Abdurrahman explained.

“We honor ourselves, we honor the volunteers, and you know, this way that we can bring all things to the clients and take care of them throughout the year.”

For tickets and more information, visit: foodandfriends.org. WI

3 The Food & Friends 30th Anniversary Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction is on Monday, Aug. 21, celebrating service to the community, D.C.’s food and beverage industry and corporate citizenship. (Marckell Williams/The Washington Informer)

““The pandemic changed a lot of things – people's mindset towards their own individual health. A lot of places shut down,” said Rasheed Abdurrahman, Food & Friends’ executive chef.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND | AUGUST 30 SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

Washington, DC | dcjazzfest.org | Capital Sounds, Global Reach #dcjazzfest

Buy Tickets Now!

CHECK OUT THIS YEAR’S ALL-STAR LINEUP!

GREGORY PORTER • KENNY GARRETT AND SOUNDS FROM THE ANCESTORS • CHARLES LLOYD KINDRED

SPIRITS FEAT. GERALD CLAYTON, MARVIN SEWELL, REUBEN ROGERS, & KENDRICK SCOTT • SAMARA JOY

TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON NEW STANDARDS • DAVE HOLLAND TRIO FEAT. KEVIN EUBANKS AND ERIC

HARLAND• BIG CHIEF DONALD HARRISON • ARTURO O'FARRILL AND THE AFRO LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE

GENERATIONS FEAT. GEORGE CABLES, BENNY GREEN, ORRIN EVANS, SHAMIE ROYSTON, HOPE UDOBI, JAZZMEIA HORN, JEFF "TAIN" WATTS, & KRIS FUNN • OMAR SOSA QUARTETO AMERICANOS • ORRIN EVANS

QUINTET WITH SPECIAL GUEST SY SMITH • CHASE ELODIA'S PERENNIALS • ETIENNE CHARLES & CREOLE SOUL

WARREN WOLF & HISTORY OF THE VIBES • SUNNA GUNNLAUGS • THE STRING QUEENS • LUDOVICA BURTONE

ISABELLA OLIVIER FEAT. REZ ABBASI • VINNY VALENTINO GROUP FEAT. MARSHALL KEYS, FREDERICO PENA, DENNIS CHAMBERS

BRASSAHOLICS • JULIETA EUGENIO TRIO • LEIGH PILZER STARTET • MARK G. MEADOWS • BIRCKHEAD • JOGO PROJECT

VERONNEAU• GEORGE V. JOHNSON JR. • LANDON PADDOCK GROUP • AYO • CORCORAN HOLT GROUP FEAT. MARQUIS HILL

LISA SOKOLOV • JOSÉ LUIZ MARTINS • ALEX HAMBURGER • LANGSTON HUGHES II • FLAVIO SILVA QUARTET FEAT. PAT BIANCHI

NEXT JAZZ LEGACY • AARON MYERS • DCJAZZPRIX FINALISTS: BIRCKHEAD, EMBER, NEW JAZZ UNDERGROUND

The DC Jazz Festival®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization, and its programs are made possible, in part, with major grants from the Government of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, Mayor; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; and with awards from National Endowment for the Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Gillon Family Charitable Fund, Galena-Yorktown Foundation, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Mid Atlantic Arts, The Venable Foundation, Arts Forward Fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Les Paul Foundation, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, and HumanitiesDC. ©2023 DC Jazz Festival. All rights reserved.

Mow green, less carbon.

5 Artists performing in the “Generations Series” on August 31 are (Top Row, L-R) pianist George Cables, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, pianist Benny Green, pianist and DCJF artist-in-residence Orrin Evans; (Bottom Row, L-R) pianists Shamie Royston and Hope Udobi with rhythm section drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts and bassist Kris Funn. (Courtesy photo/DC JazzFest)

19th Annual D.C. JazzFest Has Something for Everyone

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Live performances from up-and-coming talent, international artists, and legends are what the 2023 DC JazzFest (DCJF) brings to the Washington, D.C., area Aug. 30- Sept. 3. In its 19th year, the festival continues to bring a range of versatile talents spread out over several venues for maximum enjoyment. A full schedule of performances is on the DCJF website atdcjazzfest. org.

President and CEO of DCJF Sunny Sumter talked about the event on a recent episode of WIN-TV, a weekly live digital program airing on the YouTube WashingtonInformerTV channel.

“We’re calling it a jazz takeover,” said Sumter, “We’re in more than 12 neighborhoods. It’s cross-generational with so much diversity and inclusion. Everybody is welcome to the party.”

THE CONCERTS

On Aug. 31 at Arena Stage-The Kogod Cradle is DCJF’s “Generations Series.” For his exciting collaboration, DCJF has assembled a cast of veteran jazz musicians, including pianists George Cables, Benny Green and Orrin Evans, with emerging pianists Shamie Royston and Hope Udobi and a cross-generational rhythm section of drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, bassist Kris Funn and vocalist Jazzmeia Horn.

“This first concert of the series will bring together some of today’s and tomorrow’s most outstanding jazz pianists to celebrate, share musical stories and exchange ideas through performance and conversation,” said Evans, one of the pianists performing for this concert and, he is DCJF artist-in-residence.

THE VENUES

You can save up to $600 on new electric lawn equipment via cash back rebates from the DCSEU until September 30th. Today’s electric mowers are reliable and easy to use. Just insert the charged battery, flip the switch, and get to work with all the power you need. No more running out of gas, replacing old spark plugs, or storing dangerous fuel. And that cleaner, healthier air? Can’t put a price on that!

For more information on how you can go green for less, check out dcseu.com/ElectricLawnCare or call (202) 479-2222

On Sept. 2 on Union Stage at the Waterfront, DCJazzPrix, an international competition created to recognize and support top jazz band talent, was launched in 2016. This DCJF event has grown rapidly, now receiving applicant responses from more than 20 countries. A juried review process considered a highly competitive pool of applicants, evaluating bands on their artistic quality and merit when selecting this year’s DCJazzPrix finalists.

Bands competing this year during DCJF are Birckhead from Baltimore, Ember from Brooklyn, and New Jazz Underground from New York City. The winning band receives a $15,000 grand prize, customized business development and career impact services, extensive publicity, and a highly visible 2024 DC JazzFest engagement with commensurate compensation.

The Wharf in Southwest, D.C. may be considered the core location for DCJF concerts, but the music is all over town.

D.C.’s own Corcoran Holt will perform at Takoma Station Tavern on Aug. 31, and there is a concert on Sept. 1 at The Anthem with Gregory Porter with more hometown talent The String Queens.

Young phenom and Grammy winner vocalist Samara Joy will perform on the Wharf on Sept. 2. Several free DCJF concerts are scheduled at The Parks at Walter Reed, the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center, and at Art to Go-Go Anacostia Arts & Culture District. For complete information about19th Annual DC JazzFest at https://www.dcjazzfest.org.

SPECIAL TICKET DEAL FOR WASHINGTON INFORMER READERS

For free Saturday and Sunday general admission tickets, visit: dcjazzfest.org using the code WINSAT and WINSUN, respectively.

Enter the discount code on the page where you provide your name and contact information. WI

Cut faster, breathe easy, and save.

5 The three bands competing in the 2023 DCJazzPrix™ will perform Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Union Stage on the Wharf. (Top) Birckhead from Baltimore, Maryland; (Middle) Ember from Brooklyn, New York; and (Bottom) New Jazz Underground from New York, New York (Courtesy photo/DC JazzFest)

Messages in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Still Keeps Eyes on Justice

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

The heart-wrenching play “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Kennedy Center is based on the novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. The backdrop is set between 1933-1935 in a fictitious town in Alabama. Though this play takes place one summer during the Depression, it was a startling reminder that we still have a long way to go to reach equal justice. There are too many parallels with headlines Americans are confronted with now.

A Black man, Tom Robinson, is arrested for raping a White woman, where little to no investigation is conducted. Tried before a White male jury, Robinson is found guilty and sentenced to 18 years in jail. He is a single father with two

kids and a housekeeper living a very modest life in the Alabama town. His rambunctious kids, daughter Scout and son Jem are smart, curious and know about right and wrong because that is how their father raised them. He listens to his children and answers their questions, sometimes tonguein-cheek. Another boy, Dill, befriends Scout and Jem. They all become fast buddies, having fun, but also being aware of the trial and lack of fairness that landed on Robinson.

Richard Thomas leads the Kennedy Center cast, and this is his second time in the leading role of Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Kennedy Center.

JUSTICE Page 38

5 “To Kill a Mockingbird” is at the Kennedy Center until Aug. 27. Justin Mark (“Jem Finch”), Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”), Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”), Maeve Moynihan (“Scout Finch”) and Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). (Courtesy

Photo/ Julieta Cervantes)

Uninterrupted Live Tour Offers Washingtonians Unfiltered Community Experience

By Andrew S. Jacobson Wi Contributing Writer

It's not often that one can walk into a room and find an all-encompassing blend of sports, culture, music, and candid conversation. Yet, that's precisely what Dock 5 boasted in Union Market on Aug. 16, as it hosted the second stop of the “The Shop UNINTERRUPTED Live Tour.” The tour, which was powered by Lexus, created an atmosphere not just dominated by star power, but buoyed by community spirit.

From the moment the doors opened at 4 p.m., lines were already wrapped around the block. The excitement signaled that D.C. was more than ready for this unique blend of talk and culture. Local vendors like Turning Natural, Seven Petals, and NuVegan added a marketplace vibe, transforming the venue into a veritable food hall-meets-cultural hub.

The air was electric as local DJs,

DJ Schemes and C-Stylez, took their turns at the decks, both before and after the panel talk; setting the tone for an evening that was both enlightening and electrifying.

The candid conversation featured Mav Carter, local rapper Wale, and Hall of Famer Ed Reed, who touched on themes ranging from the supplemental education (despite being a Hall of Fame football player) required to coach football, to the power of local music in shaping culture.

But it was not just the celebrities that shined; local businesses did too.

Seven Petals, a flower studio located in Northeast D.C., was one of the vendors that showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of the city.

"Seven Petals is about bringing creativity to life through floral arrangements. We specialize in custom orders, and we love doing creative things that reflect our community," Seven of Seven Petals told the Informer. She urged residents

to support local businesses and, "check us out at Seven Petals on Instagram or visit our website."

The event came to a close with a community block party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., but the sentiment reverberated long after.

It was a palpable feeling that here, in the midst of one of the nation's most politically charged cities, community still reigns supreme.

And perhaps that's the unspoken magic of The Shop UNINTERRUPTED Live Tour. It captures the essence of what happens when celebrity is not just something to be consumed but a platform to amplify the voices that often go unheard. It's not just about glitz and glamor; it's about authentic discussions that elevate community conversations to a national level.

If this stop was any indication, this tour is not just a passing event but a traveling movement — one that celebrates the power of community one stop at a time. WI

Photo by Taofik Oladipo

Spice Kitchen Offers Delicious Flavors with West African Twist

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Try a taste of dishes such as wings and salmon with a West African twist, at Brentwood’s Spice Kitchen.

Suya is one of Spice Kitchen’s main spices. While Suya originates in Northern Nigeria, it has become a unifying factor across the West African country’s ethnic groups and regions.

One of the most popular suya dishes in Nigeria is chicken suya with jollof rice and plantains, and some of their other best selling products are steak suya and spice honey wings.

The restaurant recently added suya burgers and suya lamb chops are available for a limited time.

Wings tossed in honey and suya spice, jollof rice and spinach-efo riro are some of the options on their menu that you won’t find in every restaurant and their social media presence gives a special view of just how their food is made and served.

On top of the restaurant’s personal take on West African cuisine, the Spice Kitchen team advertises both restaurant humor and delicious previews of their menu through Tik Tok and Instagram. Their TikTok account has nearly 50,000 followers and over 1.5 million likes.

“We have comments that are pushing for us to open new locations in different areas across the U.S., which really excites us about our future growth,” said owner Shokubi about the impact of his social media audience. “We implore all of our patrons to engage with resources and services that are rooted in community education, outreach, and accessibility. We hope to be such a resource, to lay a tangible hand on those who need it.”

For more information and to order online from Spice Kitchen visit spicekitchengrill.com.

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5 Brentwood’s Spice Kitchen offers dishes such as wings and salmon with a West African twist.

(Photo Credits: Anthony Tilghman/Washington Informer)

‘Live!Concert Series’ Returns to Wilson Plaza

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

While the typical downtown D.C., lunchtime soundtrack features cars, horns and conversations, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRBITC) is showcasing sounds from around the DMV and world. In its 22nd season, the Live! Concert Series is back at Woodrow Wilson Plaza, every weekday from noon to 1 p.m. until Sept. 15, offering free music, fresh air fun and diverse cultural experiences for the whole family.

“We started it back in 2000, really as a way to enhance the experience for downtown locals, the workforce, [and] visitors coming into town,” explained Jacie Lallis, vice president of marketing for

Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA), the exclusive managers of the trade center.

“[We wanted] to activate that plaza,” Lallis continued, “which really serves as a thoroughfare between the National Mall and the business district, and then offer that as a platform to showcase local artists and entertainers.”

The diversity of sounds and cultures in the District are on full display throughout the series.

“We really strive for a mix of genres, being the trade center,” Lallis said. “[There are] the typical genres, but also cultural music from around the world. So things like jazz, Latin, country, R&B, and of course go-go.”

As the official music of the District, the Live! Concert Series particularly highlights the “go-go swing.”

“Some of the bigger bands grace the stage this season,” Lallis told the Informer.

The go-go bands this year include: Still Familiar, which kicked off this year’s series on July 10; Backyard Band is scheduled to perform Sept. 1; Rare Essence is slated for Sept. 8, and the legendary group E.U. featuring Sugar Bear is set to take the stage on Sept. 15.

Beyond go-go, the series also aims to expose people from around the area and world to the wealth of music, artists and cultures in the District of Columbia,

“There’s a real focus on local tal-

JUSTICE

BELIEVABLE CAST

Thomas is outstanding as Atticus. He works the delicate balance of helping his children understand the times they live in with a little straight talk, and a few jokes, taking every opportunity to create teachable moments. The children get the same love and understanding from the housekeeper Calpurnia who has been with the family since Atticus’ wife died. Played by Jacqueline Williams, Calpurnia is the added voice of consciousness to give Atticus periodic “reality checks.” The children Maeve Moynihan as Scout, Justin Mark

ent here in the District.”

Local artists and bands such as DuPont Brass, are excited to heat up the stage and engage with old and new fans.

"We're very excited to perform in the long standing ‘Live! Concert Series’ and kick off our Summer Vibes Tour,” DuPont Brass said in a statement. “People should come out and see us because we literally have something in mind for every listener. Hope to see you there!"

In addition to jamming to the free music this summer, guests are also invited to “Play on the Plaza,” which offers supersized games for the whole family, including a giant Connect 4 and mega chess.

as Jem and Steven Lee Johnson as Dill serve as narrators for this play. Though having dealt with some of life’s harshness, their combination of astuteness with naivety has them blurting out commentary to the audience that we agree with.

Many have seen the award-winning movie “To Kill a Mockingbird,” starring Gregory Peck as Atticus. Those who have seen the movie have a sense of the environment of this Alabama town. There are residents who have good relationships with just about everyone. Then there are some who have very specific negative perceptions about Black people. A criminal lawyer is not what Atticus is,

“It is kind of an oversized play area with cornhole and different games that people can play… engaging people to stay and hang out and have fun on the plaza while they're there,” Lallis said.

With umbrellas, tables, chairs and loads of lunch spots in and around the trade center, D.C. natives and first-time visitors alike, can tap into the free fun and cultural experiences as part of the Live! Concert Series.

“Take in this quiet oasis of a plaza and the beautiful music– free music— that's happening on the stage,” Lallis said. “It’s a great destination.”

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but he is an honest and humane man.

Knowing it will be an uphill battle, he takes Robinson’s case.

The courtroom scenes are riveting. In his closing argument, Atticus delivers a statement like a preacher in the pulpit, “We have to heal the wound, or we’ll never stop bleeding.”That’s the theme of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and that is the theme of our lives.

This production is at the Kennedy Center until Aug. 27. Even if you have seen the movie, this play is worthy of your attention.

For ticket information, go to kennedy-center.org. WI

5 (Courtesy photo/Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center)

How did Sue nd this fossil?

“I was pretty lucky,” remembers Sue. “But it does take more than just luck,” she admits. Sue Hendrickson also knew the right kind of rock to explore.

Fossil Hunters Know Rocks

Different layers of rocks were formed at different times in the earth’s history. This chart, called a stratigraphic column, can help you discover in which kinds of rocks T. rex fossils could be found.

Time Rock Layer Description

Paleocene

56 to 65 million years ago

Cretaceous

66 to 144 million years ago

The Importance of Sue

Below is a drawing of Sue—the largest, most complete and best preserved fossil of a Tyrannosaurus rex ever found.

Why is this T. rex named Sue?

Because it was found by Sue Hendrickson. She found the fossilized bones of this amazing T. rex in the summer of 1990 when she was a fossil hunter for the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City, South Dakota.

Think I look good now? You should have seen me about 67 million years ago!

The first T. rex specimen was found in 1900. Since then, only a handful of ________ that are more than half complete have been discovered. Sue’s skeleton is 90 percent complete. Sue is the largest, most ___________, and best preserved T. rex ever found.

Most of Sue’s bones are in excellent condition and have a high ______ of surface detail. Sixty-seven million years after her death, it is still possible to see fine ______ showing where ________, tendons and other soft tissues rested against, or attached to, the bone.

Sue swiped some words out of this story. Can you gure out where each one belongs?

skeletons complete degree details

Copyright © The Field Museum

Standards Link: Life Science: Students know some kinds of organisms that once lived on Earth have completely disappeared.

Jurassic

145 to 199 million years ago

Triassic

200 to 251 million years ago

Paleozoic

252 to 541 million years ago

Mudstone— ood plain deposit, contains mammal fossils

Sandstone—river deposit

Shale—deep ocean deposit, contains ammonites, mosasaurs and plesiosaurs

Chalk—ocean deposit, contains marine reptiles

Sandstone—river deposit

Limestone—shallow ocean deposit, contains shells

• Color layers that could include T. rex fossils BLUE.

For amazing facts about Sue, visit: fieldmuseum.org/ blog/sue-t-rex

Where would you look?

Apply what you learned from the stratigraphic column to figure out where in this map you would look for dinosaur fossils.

Standards Link: Earth Science: Students know that fossils provide evidence about the animal that lived long ago.

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

News of Discovery

Look through the newspaper for an article that tells about a new discovery. Read the article and then identify who, what, when, where, why and how.

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Identify main idea and supporting details in a newspaper article.

• Color layers that do not contain T. rex fossils because they were deposited under an ocean YELLOW. Stratigraphic

Over millions of years, layers of rock build up, burying—and preserving— fossils.

In North America, Tyrannosaurus rex lived between 66 to 90 million years ago. They did not have wings to y or ns to swim.

Look through the newspaper and find 5 or more adjectives that would describe the T. rex called Sue. Put the adjectives in ABC order.

Standards Link: Spelling: Put words in alphabetic order.

Write an obituary about a favorite dinosaur.

Kid

© 2023 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Je Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 39, No. 40

"Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw: Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever"

By Eddie Ndopu

c.2023, Legacy Lit

$29 / 240 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

You really get around.

You're here, you're there, at all the best parties and all the biggest events. It seems like everyone knows you, too, and you call them all "friend." You're a mover and a shaker and you sure do get around — even if, as in the new book "Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw" by Eddie Ndopu, it's on four wheels.

He almost let it go.

In the days after receiving an acceptance letter from "the oldest university in the English-speaking world," Eddie Ndopu was stunned. The scholarship he'd landed from Oxford paid for his classes and room and board. He'd also get a stipend but the scholarship didn't include one essential thing: funds for his "disability-related needs."

Diagnosed at age two with spinal muscular atrophy, Ndopu was not expected to live beyond age five, but he defied the odds. Now his body required a wheelchair to get around, and help with his personal hygiene, bedtime, dressing, eating and drinking, and other day-to-day things he couldn't do himself. Not only was Oxford discluding money for that, but his regular caregiver, Lucky, was denied a visa provision.

That ultimately turned out for the better. Ndopu was in love with Lucky, who said he'd never be with another man but he suddenly was. Lucky's insincere vows broke Ndopu's heart and gave him impetus to seize the Oxford offer. Things could change. He'd figure it out.

He said yes, and began searching for a new caregiver who'd bring him from Johannesburg to London and stay to help — but before he even got to Oxford, he was passed between two people, one of whom told him that England had laws by which caretakers had to abide. Caretaker Four decided the job wasn't for him. "Five" was homophobic. "Six" embarrassed Ndopu. "Seven" had family issues to tend to. And then the final blow arrived: a £66,000 bill (about $84,000 U.S.) that Oxford University wanted for their help …

"Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw" is really quite the complexity. Author Eddie Ndopu has a lot to be proud of — his humanitarian work and activism on behalf of the disabled, his education, and his dogged wall-busting, to start — but only a fraction of this book is about those things. The rest is largely a good long rant about how a major institution colossally dropped the metaphoric ball, and about the individuals who disappointed Ndupo in ways large and small while time he was studying there. In that, Ndupo expresses outrage — righteous and right, when he's dismissed, denigrated, or lessened — but others are not always given that grace, and seem to be dismissed and judged. Complex, see? — and conflicting. Though readers will absolutely note the indignation and unfairness of what Ndopu endured, and may be compelled to act, don't look for a lot of joy in accomplishment inside this tale. Instead, it's an assertive, loud call for change at every level, and you should consider it as such. You'll like "Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw" if you can get around that. WI

horoscopes

ARIES Hard to know how the great pioneers of the modern world felt after they accomplished something great, but you have an inkling on Monday. And your recent successes are only going to beget even more success, but not necessarily overnight. On Tuesday and Wednesday, for example, you find yourself in an unlikely slump. Lucky Numbers: 3, 17, 33

TAURUS Nothing makes sense on Monday. Everyone's acting completely absurd. There's a strong chance no one means anything by it, and trying to decipher motives behind the madness will only drive you into further confusion. So, relax. Take everything with a grain of salt. Lucky Numbers: 4, 31, 58

GEMINI Strong as your opinions are, you're smart enough to be receptive to new ideas. A new idea comes your way on Monday and totally flattens you, in a terrific way. It changes everything. It's not every day that this happens, and it won't happen again for a while. Tuesday and Wednesday have nothing new to offer you (career worries are on your mind), and Thursday is spent in the company of people very familiar to you (good friends, maybe some coworkers). Lucky Numbers: 3, 5, 52

CANCER If you were running the lemonade stand all by yourself, you could set all the prices; but you're in this thing with someone else, and maintaining this relationship is just as important as making money. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you and you-know-who are more in tune with one another, and this could be a result of your willingness to be chill. Try to be chill on Thursday and Friday too. Lucky Numbers: 37, 44, 57

LEO It's wonderful to be loyal, but there's a difference between being loyal and being clingy, and it's a crucial difference on Monday. Be inventive about your solutions to the problems at hand. If there are any financial dealings at issue on Tuesday or Wednesday, it's best to table them for the time being. On Thursday through Saturday, you should be bold about placing yourself in the path of people who know more than you do, and then do your best impression of a sponge. Lucky Numbers: 13, 18, 22

VIRGO It's far more generous of you to offer what you would do if you were in you-know-who's shoes than to offer a critique of said shoes. Anyone can be a critic. Also, what you say is just as important as how you say it. The details of this person's situation are certainly more complicated than you realize, and coming on too strong will only diminish your position from where you can dispense advice (and it is certainly a position you enjoy). Lucky Numbers: 6, 36, 50

LIBRA Enough with the standard fare; you need something fresh and new. Monday's fun will come from an unlikely source, like an acquaintance you haven't invested much time in, a band you've never heard before, a book you've always meant to read. Tuesday and Wednesday have you maxed out and with little time for experimental pursuits, but Thursday and Friday offer plenty of social time. Lucky Numbers: 4, 7, 12

SCORPIO A radical change is on the horizon in your home life. You shouldn't regard this the same way you'd regard a storm on the horizon, though. Change is good, and this change will be great. Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Wednesday, your love life is great for whatever reason (perhaps you're in charge of designing the outings). You are drawing heavily on your imagination these days. Lucky Numbers: 23, 37, 43

SAGITTARIUS Connections come easily to you on Monday. You're able to finish the sentences of perfect strangers. This says something about your chemistry with these people, but it is also an indication of alertness on your part. Some of this alertness will be obscured on Tuesday and Wednesday by the metaphorical turn your thoughts take (the simplest anecdotes seem to have fable-like significance to you),l. Lucky Numbers: 18, 23, 57

CAPRICORN Your routine's starting to blend and blur and become sort of dull to you, but this is a routine that's treated you pretty well, all things considered. Monday sees you considering a change in style, a different approach to the same game. This is wise. Lucky Numbers: 6, 10, 59

AQUARIUS Your routine's starting to blend and blur and become sort of dull to you, but this is a routine that's treated you pretty well, all things considered. Monday sees you considering a change in style, a different approach to the same game. This is wise. Tuesday and Wednesday find you flexing your creativity in more overtly inspired ways Lucky Numbers: 5, 17, 44

PISCES The pressure of everyone else's problems weighs on you on Monday. Yes, it's good of you to spend so much time concocting solutions for quandaries that have little to do with you, but some days you need to give yourself a break. To whatever extent possible, try to make all your problem-solving efforts on Tuesday and Wednesday related to your own problems, and if you lack problems, well, hooray! Go to the movies! Unwind! Thursday through Saturday will wind you up again. Lucky Numbers: 3, 8, 46

Howard University Hosts Sports Management Camp

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

As sports and athletics have become more and more popular, it has created a greater demand for more young people to entertain an interest in the business behind the games.

Once mostly dominated by former athletes, coaches and media professionals, sports management has taken on a life of its own through the billions of dollars being spent on all levels: from youth sports, to the pros.

There is a saying "necessity is the mother of invention."

That is why Ricky Clemons came up with the idea of The Howard University Sport Management Camp, powered by Events DC and the HU Department of Health, Human Performance and Leisure Studies (HHPLS).

"During my time at Major League Baseball, I was involved with the RBI program," explains Clemons, a lecturer in the sport management program at Howard University. "I realized that there

was a need to get more Blacks and minorities in sports. When I came to Howard and started teaching, I saw where there was a need to take advantage of the sports opportunities for young people here in the DMV. I found out the D.C. Government had grants available for new or existing programs in sports for young people across the city. I applied for the grant and it was approved."

Using a team effort from the DC Parks and Recreation, Events DC and the HHPLS, Clemons was able to make the camp a reality.

Young people, ages 13 to 22, participated in a week-long camp that exposed the campers to the broad sport management field. The campers were introduced to speakers from the various sports entities on the opportunities from ticket sales, communications, catering security, athletic training and security among the many options.

The Howard Sport Management Camp, powered by Events DC was born to give students the

opportunity to see the behind-thescenes operations and things that make events successful.

"We are honored to have been a part of this venture," said Lawrence Hamm, senior Director for Business Development for sports and entertainment for Events DC. "The key to this was getting it off the ground. We are happy to be a part of turning Ricky's dream vision to reality."

In addition, the campers had an opportunity to visit or tour five major local athletic facilities: Capital One Arena; Audi Field; Nationals Park; Entertainment & Sports Arena and the Howard University Athletics facilities.

During the tours, the campers learned about career and job opportunities, ranging from game operations to concessions.

As a special bonus to the campers, Deborah Johnson introduced them to Esports, one of the fastest growing trends in sports gaming. They competed daily and had a chance to visit the Esports Facility at Capital One Arena.

"The combination of sport management and Esports exposed them to employment opportunities in such as sales and design," explained Johnson, who started the Esports program at Howard in 2021 and has been teaching at the University for over five decades. She goes on, "There are things like gaming codes, design and game management that they learn

through the paralleling of the two components (sport management and esports)."

"This was an amazing opportunity to learn about sports management and esports,” noted Queen Ogunshakin, one of the campers. "I learned so much about the Esports team at Howard University, and the various careers and industries that intersect with sports such as security, food and beverage, and sales. It was an honor to be a participant in this camp and I appreciate this experience whole-heartedly.”

Torry Dawkins is the father of Tyler, 17, a participant in the camp. For him, there were numerous benefits.

"My son was very impressed with the camp and what he was introduced to," said Dawkins, director of DMV Hoops Academy. "Each day he came home with new information that he learned. The camp gave the campers a different perspective and that is, that you do not have to be in the game, to be a part of the game."

For Zoren Carter, one of the youngest campers at 15, the experience holds special meaning for her.

"I plan on being the manager for my team schools this year," said Zoren Carter, a sophomore volleyball player at D.C. International. "My mother signed me up for it and I thought it would be good to see what it was all about. There were so many things that I learned

about sports and how things are done that I never thought of. The most impressive thing was the information that we got from the people who did the tours of the stadiums and arenas."

When assessing the first-year program, Clemons said that it took a team effort and he cites individuals like Salih Williams of Deanwood Recreation and Rob Nickens of Kennedy Recreation for being vital to the recruitment of the campers.

"Without Mr. (Salih) Williams getting the students from Ward 7 and Ward 8 and Coach Rob helping us out, we would not have been able to pull this off,” Clemens said.

"For it to be the first year and have 25 campers exceeded expectations. The campers were engaged and got more exposure than they could have imagined. We had participants from each quadrant of the city, including Wards 7 and 8. That was especially important to me personally because I know how important it is to include that into this plan. I have a personal vested interest as I live in Ward 7 and was recently the victim of a drive by shooting, but it never factored in my mission to start this program."

As for the future, Clemons said he hopes the program continues to grow.

"Next year, we plan to increase the numbers and add more to their experiences." WI

5 Howard University's Summer Sports Management Camp participants tour the Entertainment & Sports Arena. The one-week camp was designed to expose DCPS students to careers in sport management. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE

the moment

5 Back Yard Band perform during Chuck Brown Day. (Courtesy photo/ Yuletta Pringle)

5 The Chuck Brown Day Back to School Giveaway at Fort Dupont Park. (Courtesy photo/Brigette Waters-Turner)

4 DJ QuickSilva at Chuck Brown Day. (Courtesy photo/Brigette Waters-Turner)

6 Thousands gathered to celebrate Chuck Brown Day at Ft Dupont Park. (Courtesy photo/Yuletta Pringle)

5 Artist shows off paintings of Chuck Brown. (Courtesy photo/ Yuletta Pringle)

3 Percussionist JuJu House greets guests at Chuck Brown Day. (Courtesy photo/ Brigette Waters-Turner)

Bomb Threat at Masjid Muhammad, ‘The Nation’s Mosque,’ Rallies Community

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

The Jumu’ah prayer service at Masjid Muhammad, “The Nation’s Mosque was disrupted last Friday after Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived on the scene and told officials that the mosque was the target of a bomb threat.

MPD officers arrived at Masjid Muhammad around 1:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 during the congregational prayer service, and out of caution, the service was canceled and the building evacuated.

CIVIL RIGHTS from Page 1

portance of remembering the many leaders, churches and people, who, during the Civil Rights Movement and major demonstrations, led, fed, housed, protected and encouraged thousands.

THE REV. PERRY SMITH: FIGHTING RACISM FROM MARYLAND TO MISSISSIPPI

During his long career, Smith didn't hesitate to wage battles against injustice. After attending Howard University School of Divinity and being called to pastor First Baptist of North Brentwood, Smith plunged into activism.

“Racism abounded in Maryland as it did in Mississippi, and pastors were not only called to preach but to lead their community toward racial integration and desegregation,” Smith said in a previous interview.

In 1961, Smith was a member of a group of ministers who boarded a

Imam Talib Shareef, leader of the historic mosque said MPD officers searched the entire building and upon completion of a sweep the building was reopened and people returned to the building and resumed prayers.

Imam Shareef said Commander James M. Boteler Jr, of MPD’s 3rd District, told him that the incident was recorded as a “felony offense hate crime.”

“This type of incident was a first for our house of worship. It was also witnessed by our worldwide live-streaming audience,” Imam Shareef said adding. “We are grateful to Almighty

Greyhound bus to Tallahassee to integrate the segregated capital of Florida. He also worked with Robert F. Kennedy to implement Head Start and anti-poverty programs.

Smith was also part of a group of ministers, which included the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who broke away from the National Baptist Convention, USA in 1961 after it did not fully support the Civil Rights movement, and joined the newly formed Progressive National Baptist Convention.

Smith said the biggest inspiration in his life was his grandfather, Perry Smith, a business owner in Mississippi.

“During the Montgomery bus boycott, my grandfather took me to meet Dr. King,” Smith recalled. He said his grandfather was very politically active.

“He thought that everyone should have the right to vote. If someone wanted to vote, he would pay their poll tax and make sure that they were registered voters,” Smith said.

During the 1963 March on Washington, Smith was standing in the

G-d, Allah, there was no bomb, and we applaud the professionalism and timeliness of our police department as well as our Community’s Public Safety Team.”

“Many of our members remain shaken from the incident, which to be expected, caused a scare among the many fellow citizens, innocent men, women, elderly, and children that were present.”

Shareef said the incident took place during a visit by a diverse group of appointed and elected of-

shadows of the Lincoln Memorial when King delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech. At the time, Smith was president of the Prince George’s County chapter of the NAACP, which was waging its battles to integrate public schools, housing, and employment in the county.

The Rev. Walter Fauntroy: A Civil Rights Leader, Pastor and Politician

The Rev. Walter Fauntroy, the District’s first delegate to the House of Representatives, who also served as longtime pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, played a key role in organizing the March on Washington. While Fauntroy's ailing health prevented him from being interviewed, his son Marvin Fauntroy said his mother Dorothy Fauntroy, and father opened up their home and church to many leaders during the March.

In January of 1992, I interviewed Rev. Fauntroy, who was 58, shortly after his term in Congress was over.

At the time, he had lost a bid for mayor and was reflecting on his life. He said he explained his role as a Civil Rights activist as opposed to being "a

ficials from across the nation visiting as part of a program to learn more about our nation’s faith communities.

Thomas Bowen, director of the Mayor’s Office of Religious Affairs, said “We were saddened to hear about the recent threat and the need to evacuate during an important day of the week and that is Jumu’ah.”

“Imam Talib Shareef is part of the Mayor’s interfaith council and we will continue to support Masjid Muhammad in all that they do,”

traditional minister.”

"Religion is not something you preach from a pulpit," he said, "and then lock it up in a church with no relevance from Monday to Saturday."

Fauntroy said his church family "understood why I didn't visit the sick as much or do some of the things a pastor is required to do, because I had a broader ministry: the Civil Rights movement."

"They wanted to hear that when they went to the South, they didn't have to pack a greasy bag lunch anymore or explain to their children they couldn't stop at the restaurant or go to the toilet unless it said 'colored.' They understood that."

CHURCHES BECOME CENTRAL TO THE MOVEMENT

In 1963, Washington, D.C. was the epicenter for many of the largest churches in the country.

With dynamic leaders who migrated to the area from the South, these churches hosted many events where

Bowen added.

During the incident, a neighbor from across the street came over and helped to evacuate elderly members, and made bottled water and use of their restroom available.

“We greatly appreciate the numerous calls, texts, and emails we’ve received from neighbors, faith communities, and our partners locally and across the nation extending their regards, thoughts, and concerns for our well-being,” Shareef said.

WI

King and other leaders of the movement spoke.

There were dynamic preachers like the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, Fred Shuttlesworth, Wyatt T. Walker, C.T. Vivian, and Hosea Williams.

“The church has been vital in terms of social justice and today we must address the issues beyond the walls of the church at a time when churches are not as active as we were years ago unfortunately,” said Rev. Henry P. Davis, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Highland Park in an interview. “We have too many churches today who are not proud of their history and Civil Rights heritage and we have become way too passive.”

“Look at what Nat Turner Did. He was a minister who led a slave revolt for his people,” Davis said. “We have to speak truth to power and social justice ministry needs to be in every church more than ever.”

From 1953 to his death in 1968, King spoke at District churches, in-

5 (Courtesy photo)

First, let me say, I go way back to the early 1980s when the pastor at Bethesda Baptist Church was the late Rev. John Bussey. My former co-worker Diane Powell was a member. She invited me to programs there, and she was on committees with me. Rev. Bussey was a program participant for luncheons! But stop! Look what has happened to them — again!

Following a massive downpour across the DMV last week, most of the attention has been focused on flooding on Rhode Island Avenue Northeast and District Dogs Daycare, where 10 dogs died. Bureau Chief Sam Ford, News 7, sent cameras to Bethesda Baptist Church, located in Trinidad off New York Avenue, at the bottom of the hill. This church has been damaged again. Last time they had flooding, it cost $40,000. This time, with cost-of-living increases, expect that cost to escalate.

In Ivy City, stormwater mixed with sewage rose from storm drains outside Bethesda Baptist Church. The water would rise to almost 3 feet, stranding a car on nearby Mt. Olivet Road and pouring into the offices of the 100-year-old church.

The pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church, Rev. Michael Thompson, said when he arrived at home Monday night he saw news reports of flooding in Northeast D.C. Since the church had seen five previous floods, he grew concerned. The water had receded when he got back to the church, but the damage was done.

The water seeped into hallways and streamed into offices, including his. It ruined the carpet installed only two years ago after a similar flood in 2020, as well as copy machines that shorted out.

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Flood Waters Strike Bethesda Baptist

"Tile was completely covered with sewage, mud and debris," Thompson said. Here we go again, he thought.

Thompson said he has photographs showing how the flood waters "filled our church lot, covered cars up almost to the top of the vehicles, and made its way into the offices and sanctuary."

"We thought that the project was complete. We thought that this would not occur again. And, to come in and to see sewage inside the church is devastating, particularly considering that we have a homegoing celebration, a funeral that is scheduled for the weekend," Thompson said.

It is particularly upsetting, he said, because D.C. Water said a tunnel to handle stormwater would have been online by now. This is a city infrastructure problem, nothing we as a congregation can do to put an end to this flooding.

According to John Lisle, VP of D.C. Water, the tunnel that runs under Rhode Island Avenue affecting that flood is the same tunnel that runs under Ivy City, "and because of construction issues the tunnel will not open for use until late September."

Another source said it may be ready in October. Lisle said, once the tunnel goes online, it should alleviate flooding problems, since it will hold 90 million gallons of stormwater.

Churches are a support system for congregants and for the community. They bless new babies with christenings, bury the dead, conduct marriages, and support the community with food drives and more. It is difficult to do so when these infrastructure problems keep happening, and there is nothing the church can do about it.

"In the past 20 years, they've had several floods that have damaged the church," Thompson told me. "In this instance, there was about five inches of water inside the church."

Repairs from the 2020 flood cost the

church $40,000, which can no longer get flood insurance. Thompson said the last flood was difficult to overcome for the church, which has a working-class congregation with many worshippers living on fixed incomes.

"In the midst of this tragedy, we know testing produces faith; and faith produces perseverance and builds our character as a church," he said. "But I can tell you, folks are disheartened."

Thompson said because the church is unable to get flood insurance due to previous flooding, "it must rely on donations from those who attend it and others to pay for the repairs."

"We're hoping that the city will do better this time, after giving our church only $5,000, as if we were residents," he said. "If YOU would like to send a donation, make your check payable to Bethesda Baptist Church."

DC Water's Northeast Boundary Tunnel Project, which takes up a portion of the church's property, has been underway for several years.

"We would have loved to have been completed earlier. Perhaps this would not have happened," Thompson said.

Pastor Thompson further said "With much of the attention given to the devastating flooding on Rhode Island Avenue, he feels the Ivy City neighborhood was mostly ignored during this recent flood. He believes this area of the city, which is home to many low-income residents and sees higher crime rates, is at times forgotten by city leaders and others during events such as this.

The pastor said, "We would hope that much attention is given not only to the church, but also to other areas of the city that had been impacted beyond Rhode Island Avenue and District Dogs." WI

This is a reminder: Saturday, Aug. 26 is the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial, please go out and march for our rights!

RELIGION

301-350-2200 Fax: 301-499-8724

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor 700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM

Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism

Blessed Word

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors 4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax Service and Times

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

Mount Carmel

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032

(202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Services and Times

Sundays: 10:00am 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.covenantdc.org

Baptist Church Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

John

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM

Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net

Crusader Baptist Church Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703

Service and Times

Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday

Sunday School: 9:45 AM

Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM

Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment

E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net

www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “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

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018

Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM

Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM

Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon

Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM

“A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org

Fax (202) 682-9423

Service and Times

Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM

All Nations Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

Service and Times

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

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com

All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness Senior Pastor

Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland

Assistant & Youth Pastor 12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164

Service and Times

Sunday Worship 10:15 am

Sunday Church School 11:00 am

Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday

Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047#

Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm

“A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020

Adm. Office 202-678-2263

Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon,

Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM

“Reaching Up To Reach Out”

Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax

“Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . 100% Forgiven!

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM

Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor

5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011

Phone: 202-726-2220

Fax: 202-726-9089

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday

Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.)

Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold”

www.mtzbcdc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day

Service and Times

Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom

Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom

Wednesday Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom

Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom

Web: shiloh7thday.org

Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com

"A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Florida Avenue Baptist Church Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent

Senior Pastor 623 Florida Ave.. NW WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836

Home Study (301) 464-8211 Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM

Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM

Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM

Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor 4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184

Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM

The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011

Phone (202) 722-4940 Fax (202) 291-3773

Service and Times

9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

10:15 a.m. – Worship Service

Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study

7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study

Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday

Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47)

Israel Baptist Church

Pastor

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM

Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM

Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM

Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM

Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Service and Times

Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM

Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

and People are Loved”

Rev. Aubrey

Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton

Senior Pastor 1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003

Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 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

Damion M. Briggs Pastor 8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240 Service and Times

Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor 13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

Service and Times

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”

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell

“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM

Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM

Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Meeting: 7:45 PM

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500

Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM

Prayer Service Bible Study

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867

728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 Fax : 202-338-4958

Service and Times

Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns

Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org

Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

Service and Times

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm

Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Oran W. Young Pastor 602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM

Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM

Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM

Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org

Website: www.firstrising.org

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Rev.

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised Land Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor

Hosted by Denise Rolark Barnes

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000906

Age 76

Tanyna B. Saxton aka Tanyna Saxton

Decedent

Ronnie Thaxton, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW, Ste. 300 Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Larry B. Saxton, whose address is 3800 20th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Tanyna B. Saxton aka Tanyna Saxton who died on 4/15/2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) 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 2/10/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/10/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication:

8/10/2023

Larry B. Saxton 3800 20th St., NE Washington DC 20018

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 FEP 000077

December 5, 2006

Date of Death

Lymond Earl Williams, Sr.

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Anita G. W. Fogan whose address is 2216 Quincy Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018 was appointed personal represen

tative of the estate of Lymond Earl Williams, Sr., deceased, by the Superior Court for San Diego County, State of California, Case No. 37-2021-00040298-PR-LA-CTL, on 12/08/2021.

Service of process may be made upon Anita G. W. Fogan, 2216 Quincy Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate.

¼ interest in 5609 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication:

8/7/2023

Anita G. W. Fogan

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000856

Jacqueline Rizik

Decedent

Kathleen Chamberlin

2191 Defense Highway, Suite 316

Crofton, Maryland 21114

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Philip Joseph Rizik, whose address is 1630 33rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jacqueline Rizik who died on April 17, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) 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 2/10/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/10/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication:

8/10/2023

Philip Joseph Rizik Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2018 ADM 001465

Estate of Sumana Jayasundera aka Galhenage Sumana Jayasundera

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Duliip Andrew Jayasundera for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Admit to probate the will dated May 31, 2013 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise Appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 8/10/2023

Duliip Andrew Jayasundera

King County Council 516 Third Avenue, 12th Floor Seattle, WA 98104

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 541

Gloria R. LaMotte aka Gloria Ramona LaMotte aka Gloria L. Brown Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Nettie B. Nichols, whose address is 308 Oglethorpe Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gloria R. LaMotte aka Gloria Ramona LaMotte aka Gloria L. Brown who died on 4/30/2012 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, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/17/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/17/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/17/2023

Nettie B. Nichols Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 714

Louise Chandler Decedent

Julius P. Terrell 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 400

Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Akia Turner, P.R. for the Estate of Vester Chandler, whose address is 631 71st Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD 20743, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Louise Chandler who died on June 14, 2009 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 2/17/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/17/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/17/2023

Akia Turner Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001055

Richard D. Jackson aka Richard Donald Jackson Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Brenda Rhodes Jackson, whose address is 3922 5th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Richard D. Jackson aka Richard Donald Jackson who died on June 20, 2022 with/without a Will, and will serve with/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, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before . 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 , 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: 8/17/2023

Brenda Rhodes Jackson

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 593

Sharon Louise Strange Decedent

Pro SE Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Sherman L. Strange, whose address is 5802 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sharon Louise Strange who died on March 23, 2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/17/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/17/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/17/2023

Sherman L. Strange 5802 N. Illinois Street Indianapolis, IN 46208

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000915

Clifford L. House Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ruby L. House, whose address is 808 Bladensburg Rd., NE #227, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Clifford L. House who died on October 9, 2018 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, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/17/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/17/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/17/2023

Ruby L. House Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 FEP 000078

November 6, 2017

Date of Death

Lois H. Stratton

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

William R. Lenderking whose address is 145 Stow Road, Harvard, MA 01451 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Lois H. Stratton, deceased, by the Second Circuit Court for Haverhill County, State of New Hampshire, on March 29, 2019.

Service of process may be made upon Timothy A. Lenderking 2139 Wyoming Ave., NW, Apt. 22, Washington, DC 20008 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 8/17/2023

William R. Lenderking

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

DESIRE’E BLACKMON, Plaintiff, v.

GUY P. DAVIS Sr. et al, Defendants.

) ) Case No.: 2023-LIT-000008

) ) Judge: Hon. Leslie A. Meek ) ) Next Court Event:

) August 31, 2023 at 11:00 am

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

On March 1, 2023, Desire’e Blackmon, Plaintiff, filed a Complaint for Major Litigation, through Counsel. On April 25, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Extend Time for Service and for Service by Publication (“Motion to Extend Time”), requesting the Court permit Plaintiff to serve some of the defendants via publication pursuant to D.C. Code § 13-336 (a)(2).1 The Court held a hearing in this matter on June 9, 2023, at which time the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to provide service to those defendants for whom service was unsuccessful by way of publication pursuant to D.C. Code § 13-336. In accordance with D.C. Code § 13-336 (a) (2), Plaintiff has made diligent efforts to locate the Defendants' current addresses, last known addresses, and information from other people who know the Defendants. This case involves an action for the establishment of title to real estate by possession and, or the establishment of a lawful right claim or demand to or against real property situated in the District of Columbia: Square 4198, Lot 0808, also known as the property located at street address 3914 20th Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20018.

The Complaint states, among other things, that The Jesse L. Davis Revocable Trust was amended by The Jesse L. Davis Contract executed on November 17, 2018, which named Plaintiff DeSire’e Blackmon as a beneficiary for the real property situated at 3914 20th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20018. Pursuant to D.C. Code § 13-336 (a)(2), it is this 11th day of August 2023 hereby;

ORDERED that notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in the Daily Washington Law Reporter and The Washington Informer, both having a general circulation in the District of Columbia, once a week for three (3) successive weeks, notifying all persons interested in the real property described above to virtually appear in this Court on August 31, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. To log in to the virtual courtroom, please follow this link, https://dccourts.webex.com/meet/ctba49 or dial the toll-free number (202) 860-2110 or (844) 9924726. Access Code and Meeting ID 129 871 4883, then press # to enter the session.

SO ORDERED.

1 Plaintiff indicated that her attempts to serve Dion Davis, Ariel C. Davis, Jonathan Edmonds, Kimberly Davis and Rawn Davis Jr, were unsuccessful. See Mot. to Extend Time at ¶3.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000976

Estate of Fatima Hardcastle aka Fatima EL Bal

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Zoubida Altayib and Aicha EL Bal for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

Zoubida Altayib 631 Peace Chance Drive Havre de Grace, MD 21078

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000975

Estate of William A. Burnett aka William Aaron Burnett aka William Burnett

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Phyllis S. Burnett for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Order any interested person to show cause why the provisions of the lost or destroyed Will dated 3/22/2012 should not be admitted to probate as expressed in the petition

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

S. C. Hamilton 8601 Georgia Ave., Ste. 503 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 332

Audrey L. Francis aka Audrey Francis Decedent

Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 800 Maine Ave., SW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20024 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Dolores J. Nicholls, whose address is 5125 Duel Place, Capitol Heights, MD 20743, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Audrey L. Francis aka Audrey Francis who died on 5/16/2021 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, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

Dolores J. Nicholls

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 933

Sherrell Arguene Bridges

Decedent

Rocquelle A. Jeri

1419 Perrell Lane Bowie MD 20716 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Eric Bridges, whose address is 106 Stonecreek Dr., #C, Spartanburg, SC 29203, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sherrell Arguene Bridges who died on 1/1/2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication:

8/24/2023

Eric Bridges

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000939

Anthony Hammond Decedent

Brian L. Kass, Esq. 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 434

Washington, DC 20008

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ava Hammond, whose address is 11322-G Snow owl Place, Waldorf, MD 20603, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anthony Hammond who died on 12/25/2018 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication:

8/24/2023

Ava Hammond Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000959

Ronnie Bowman Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Gregory T. Bowman, whose address is 531 Sloan Rd., Columbia, SC 29223, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ronnie Bowman who died on December 3, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

Gregory T. Bowman Personal Representative

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 948

Billie J. Brooks

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

John L. Brooks, whose address is 7601 Thomas Grant Drive, Alexandria, VA 22315, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Billie J. Brooks who died on April 27, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

John L. Brooks Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 858

Raymond L. Branch Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Michael J. Branch, whose address is 9941 Lake Landing Road, Montgomery Village, MD 20886, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Raymond L. Branch who died on October 16, 2022 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, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

Michael J. Branch

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000950

Diane Jefferies

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Micheal Daniels, whose address is 11230 Holly Spring Rd., Nanjemoy, MD 20660, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Diane Jefferies who died on June 24, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication:

8/24/2023

Micheal Daniels

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

2023 NRT 000032

Minahan Brown

Anne

Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Anne Minahan Brown whose address was 1642 Primrose Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012 created a revocable trust on April 7th 2022, which remained in existence on the date of her death on January 8th, 2023, and Matthew David Sacco, whose address is 1642 Primrose Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Matthew David Sacco at 1642 Primrose Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012, w/ a copy to Peter D. Antonoplos at 1725 DeSales St., NW, #600, Washington, DC 20036.

The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.

Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 2/24/2024 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 1/8/2024, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) or (2) 2/24/2024 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.

The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification.

This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d).

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

2023 NRT 000033

Beatrice Cynthia Wright

Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Beatrice Cynthia Wright whose address was 602 Brandywine Street, SE, Washington, DC 20032, created a revocable trust on 8/22/2013, as amended on 5/20/16, which remained in existence on the date of her death on 11/11/2022, and Peter D. Antonoplos, whose address is 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Peter D. Antonoplos at 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036.

The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.

Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 02/24/2024 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 11/11/2023, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) or (2) 02/24/2024, (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.

The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification.

This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d).

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 969

Reginald Allen Groomes, Sr. Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Reginald Allen Groomes, Jr. whose address is 2900 Saint Clair Drive, Apt. 606, Temple Hills, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Reginald Allen Groomies, Sr. who died on May 24, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication:

8/24/2024

Reginald Allen Groomes, Jr. 2900 Saint Clair Drive, Apt. 606 Temple Hills, MD 20748

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

cluding: 10th Street Baptist Church, Vermont Avenue Baptist, New York Avenue Presbyterian, and the Washington National Cathedral.

Other popular churches that welcomed freedom fighters were places such as: Luther Place United Methodist, All Souls Unitarian Church, People’s Congregational United Church of Christ, and Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.

FAITH COMMUNITY AND AIRWAVES KEY TO THE FREEDOM FIGHT

Some of the most vocal ministers were not only active in the Civil Right Movement, but they had popular radio programs on outlets like WYCB, WOL-AM, and WUST. These men included Bishop Smallwood E. Williams, pastor of Bibleway Temple; Bishop Sherman Howard, pastor of the New Bethel Church of God in Christ; and Bishop C. L. Long, pastor of the Scriptural Cathedral that used to be at 9th and O streets Northwest.

Apostle Betty Peebles of Jericho City of Praise also used WYCB to spread messages on her programs.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000894

Sheron A. Wade

Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq.

1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Denise Kirksey, whose address is 13209 Dangelo Drive, Bowie, MD 20720, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sheron A. Wade who died on April 8, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

Denise Kirksey

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Date of First Publication: 8/24/2023

Matthew David Sacco

Signature of Trustee

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Date of First Publication: 8/24/2023

Peter D. Antonoplos

Signature of Trustee

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2023 ADM 000928

Andre M. Smith

Decedent

Julius P. Terrell, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Angel D. Williams, whose address is 5112 Hayes Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Andre M. Smith who died on November 19, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/24/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/24/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 8/24/2023

Angel D. Williams

Personal Representative

Radio Station owner Cathy Hughes played a huge role in hosting programs locally and she would go on to create Radio One and then TVOne.

It would be on WOL-AM that ministers like Fauntroy joined activists like Dick Gregory, Joe Madison, and others to prick the hearts of people in the nation's capital.

KING’S FINAL SUNDAY SERMON DELIVERED IN D.C.

On March 31, 1968, four days before the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, he preached his final Sunday sermon at the Washington National Cathedral. During his sermon, which was called “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” King warned people of the challenges still present in the world. He used the character of Rip Van Winkle, who slept for 20 years, and woke up to a place he knew nothing about.

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

"I must say this morning that racial injustice is still the Black man’s burden and the white man’s shame,” preached King, who, during the message, answered his critics for opposing the war in Vietnam.

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com wi

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BEN'S from Page 1 Wright noted the presence of the three Black women entrepreneurs on the stage and said they represented R.A.C.E., Resilience, Authenticity, Commitment and Excellence.

gentrification and the coronavirus pandemic. Ben Ali died in 2009, but his wife has continued to work for the company by coming to the U Street store primarily serving and chatting with customers. Ali has been credited as the force for keeping Ben’s in operation.

Praise for Icon Ali Johnson, 74, waited for the ceremony to begin in the back dining room with Hughes and other notables. When asked about Ali, she smiled broadly.

“You look at her right now,” said Johnson. “What is she doing? She is walking around the room, talking with her customers. That tells me a lot about her commitment and her value system.”

Shawn Townsend serves as the president of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), an interest organization on behalf of Washington, D.C. area eateries. Townsend, 39, said Ben’s Chili Bowl “is iconic.”

“This place is a civil rights history and Black history landmark,” he said. “The Ali family values community engagement, family presence. Mr. Ali must be looking down on us for keeping something going that he and his wife Virginia started. The family has carried on the legacy.”

Townsend also said Ben’s Chili Bowl had another asset.

“The food is good,” he said with a chuckle.

Etan Thomas came to the ceremony representing the organization that presently manages his former NBA team the Washington Wizards, Monumental Sports & Entertainment. During the ceremony, Thomas presented Ali with a jersey from the Washington Capitals, also owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Former Washington Wizards Michael Adams and Harvey Grant presented Ali with jerseys from the Washington Mystics and the Wizards, respectively.

Doug Williams, an executive with the Washington Commanders, sat on the dais with his team president Jason Wright. Williams achieved fame when he led the then Washington Redskins to a Super Bowl victory in 1988 as the first Black quarterback to start and win the league championship. Williams presented Ali with an autographed jersey.

Danita Johnson, president of business operations for DC United, also presented Ali with a jersey and said, “without you, I would not be here.”

D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) spoke at the ceremony on the importance of Ben’s Chili Bowl to U Street and noted the presence of her colleagues, Matt Frumin (D-Ward 3) and Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5). D.C. Former D.C. first lady Cora Masters Barry sat on the dais with Ali and spoke, and acting D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith delivered remarks.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) came to the ceremony towards the end and said Ben’s Chili Bowl and Ali “are true D.C. institutions.”

Ali spoke briefly at the end of the ceremony, thanking everyone for coming to the 65th celebration and urging people to get in line to get their free meal consisting of a half smoke or hotdog with chips and soda.

Jacqui Lucas, a resident of Alexandria, Virgina, waited to get into Ben’s Chili Bowl for her free meal since 9 a.m. The serving of food didn’t start until 1:30 p.m.

“I will love the free food,” Lucas, 69, said. “I have come to Ben’s many; many times and I love coming here because of the food and the atmosphere.” wi

@JamesWrightJr10

People will start to gather at 7 a.m. and the program will begin at 8 a.m., concluding at 1 p.m. when King III, Sharpton, and stage event organizers leaders will march from the Lincoln Memorial up Independence Avenue.

The program will include performances, an interfaith ecumenical prayer service with national clergy, and speakers from civil rights, voting rights, gun violence, labor, youth, and other organizations. In addition to NAN and the Dream Institute, the other co-chair organizations include the following:

• Asian American Advancing Justice

• Anti-Defamation League

• Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

• The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

• Legal Defense Fund

• NAACP

• National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

• National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)

• National Urban League

• UNIDOS

“This is a time of action and not just remembering history,” said Melanie Canpbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition of Voter Participation in an interview. “This is an opportunity to use a historic moment to focus on the issues of today. In addition to the March Today a number of groups will be holding strategy meeting while they are in Washington.”

King, III, chairman of the Drum Major Institute, said when the march was announced, “Despite the significant progress we have made over these six decades,

we need to rededicate ourselves to the mission my dad gave his life for.”

MARCH LOGISTICS

Weather and Hydration

Participants are asked to bring water, hydration, and other items to stay cool and nourished.

Americans Disability Act Shuttle.

Accommodations will be available for people with disabilities on a first-come, first-serve basis. Volunteers will have yellow neon vests and be on golf carts with ADA shuttles near the bus parking areas designated with signs on each cart.

People at the Lincoln Memorial grounds who need more information about accessing an area to rest can contact a volunteer with a yellow, neon vest and volunteer badge for more information.

Carshare Rides

Organizers ask that people be dropped as close as possible, considering road closures will occur. Securing a carshare ride after the March has been difficult in previous years. Please plan accordingly.

March Line-Up and Route

At the program's close, March lineup instructions will be announced from the stage, and all marching speakers and special guests will join the march- lineup. Attendees not marching should remain in place or depart from the Memorial once the program concludes.

The marchers will line up on Lincoln Circle NW and proceed South on 23rd St. crossing through the median onto the Southern portion of Independence Ave and conclude at West Potomac Park.

“Moments like these are crucial to keeping our mission alive across generations and around the country,” Sharpton emphasized.

“When so many of our hardfought civil rights gains are under renewed threat, our march will demonstrate a unified front against the vitriol, rise in hate crimes, regressive laws, and threats to democracy itself that are permeating society,” the NAN leader added. “As in years past, hundreds of thousands are expected to join us in D.C., make an impact, and influence history for years to come -- I hope that you will be one of them." WI

MARCH from Page 1

5 Virginia Ali, owner of Ben's Chili Bowl thanks the DC area for supporting the business over the years. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

(Courtesy photo)

He would later remember that on his way to start his freshman year he thought he had a flat tire and actually turned around and went home, but was surprised by what happened next: "When I got back to my house, my brothers and my sister had moved my bed out completely. I said, 'What's going on here?!' and they said, 'You're the first to go from high school to college and we want you to succeed.' I had no choice." He turned back around and he did indeed succeed, first at Stanford, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees, and then at Harvard Law School before beginning his long and storied career.

JACKSON from Page 30

ing privatized, even as costs soar and coverage declines.

When I ran for president in 1988, I called for a national health care plan — Medicare for all.

Bernie Sanders repeated the call when he ran in 2016 and 2020. Congressional progressives led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal have introduced legislation and held hearings on a sensible plan that would save money while covering more people and lowering costs to patients.

This issue isn't in the debate — but health care costs and the crisis of care are escalating rapidly, and it simply cannot be avoided.

Or consider the continuing scourge of children in poverty. The expanded Child Tax Credit that Joe Biden succeeded in passing as part of his American Rescue Plan reached

LA BELLE from Page 30 found that Black people were twice as likely as white people to die from diabetes.

Lots of things are making this true, but it doesn't have to be this way.

Living with diabetes has never been easier; insulin pumps talk directly to continuous glucose monitors and automatically deliver insulin, and you can keep a close eye on your glucose levels from your smartwatch or phone without pricking your finger — no one likes to do that!

But this amazing technology is still not in the hands of people in Black communities and communities of color. A recent survey of people with insulin-treated diabetes found that most believe they deserve

Just as he'd been a role model for his younger siblings, he became one for countless others.

Throughout it all he used his talents to help make sure other young people could also receive fair access to education and opportunity. He testified before Congress, wrote, and spoke often on the need for juvenile justice reform and positive interventions for at-risk children, and moderated a Children's Defense Fund conference panel around the shared mission of ending the Cradle to Prison Pipeline crisis.

As he said in one interview: "It's one thing to talk about trying to change the way we look at children. It's another thing to give it some teeth so that it makes a big difference … If we do this, if we really embrace this … we

more than 61 million children in 36 million households. Experts estimated that it reduced childhood poverty by 30 percent. Surely it makes more sense and costs less to invest in head start, childcare and day care at the front side of life than welfare and jail care on the backside. Yet, the expanded tax credit was ended after one year — and childhood poverty in America is worse than any other industrial country.

This list can go on. Inequality is at obscene extremes, but passing fair taxes that would enable us to strengthen Social Security and invest in public education faces a Republican Party that is universally opposed to lifting any taxes on the wealthy. College debt is higher than credit card debt and makes it harder for the young to afford marriage or a home. Efforts to reduce it have been blocked.

new technology to manage their disease, and I couldn't agree more.

Why are so many of us out here fighting diabetes with the same old tools that have been around since my aunt, uncle and mother were diagnosed? If today's health care system provided more coverage for (and access to) these technologies, millions of lives could be saved.

A 'DIVABETIC' ADVOCATING FOR OTHERS

Diabetes is often invisible to everyone except those living with it, and for too long, minorities have felt invisible in this country. They deserve to feel seen and heard. I am proof that you can not only live with Type 2 diabetes but also live

will save a generation of children from what others have experienced in the past, and we will create a generation of smart, healthy, excited, energetic, competent, and resourceful young leaders for tomorrow."

Charles Ogletree had a clear vision for how our nation could be better and more just for everyone, and he spent his life fighting for that vision and teaching others the tools they needed to join him. He often quoted one of his favorite gospel songs: I don't feel no ways tired, I've come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy, I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me. WI

Our military budget is at record heights, even as the Pentagon remains the greatest source of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. Yet our commitment to police the world — to maintain dominance in every region, on land, sea and space — demands even more. We have guided missiles but misguided leaders. The result is endless wars, constant conflict, and ever greater demands to spend ever more.

The sensible, the mad and the missing. Faced with the choice, Americans will no doubt vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump, the sensible over the mad and maddening. But it is the missing issues that will have the greatest impact on the daily lives of voters. The country desperately needs citizen movements and strong leaders who will expand the debate. WI

well with it. I am not a diabetic, I'm a divabetic! And I am proud of it. That is why this November, along with the Global Movement for Time in Range, I am sharing my story to amplify this important topic, and advocating for better access to diabetes technology and asking that decision-makers take action for communities of color to receive the care they need.

Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, care for someone with diabetes, or you simply believe that people with diabetes deserve better, you can take action too by joining the conversation at wheninrange.com.

It's time that we all truly #SeeDiabetes, because we can't help change what we cannot see. WI

WILLIAMS from Page 31

ple were applauding her for finding company for Trump — and not just the few I've named, but 18 co-conspirators!

One wonders what Trevian Kutti (the publicist) and Harrison Floyd (AKA Willie Lewis Floyd), bossman of Black Voices for Trump, were thinking. Supporting Trump was bad enough, but being willing to go to jail for him is a bit much when they should have known what Trump thinks about Black people — and what he has always done to harm us!

I hope they're hearing what Trump says about Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, Manhattan District Attor-

MORIAL from Page 31

State of Georgia, in other states, including, but not limited to, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and in the District of Columbia." Its members engaged in "various related criminal activities including, but not limited to, false statements and writings, impersonating a public officer, forgery, filing false documents, influencing witnesses, computer theft, computer trespass, computer invasion of privacy, conspiracy to defraud the state, acts involving theft, and

JEALOUS from Page 31

place. While they are happy to celebrate the clean energy jobs that are sprouting in their states, they continue to work against everything from limits on the carbon pollution that threatens the climate to the tax credits to encourage people and businesses to buy electric vehicles.

It's increasingly clear that Americans no longer must make a false choice between a vibrant economy and a safe, livable planet. There are more good jobs in nearly every state every day that are tied to clean companies.

The protectors of an unsustainable status quo the relies on dirty fuels and toxic waste want to fool the public into believing that is not a certainty. It's an old play, stoking fear to try to divide people enough to keep them from joining together in their own best interest.

We can let them know that we won't be fooled that way. We can read the score. WI

ney Alvin Bragg, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Judge Tanya Chutkan handling Trump's case in Washington, D.C. He's saying things out loud that no decent person would ever call such distinguished public officials. I wonder if Ms. Kutti and Mr. Floyd would like to hear what Trump thinks of them!

I haven't figured out why some Black people feel they must join people like Trump to do the dirty work against other Black people. I say dirty work because that is exactly what they knowingly did. With all the challenges we already face, it's a pity how some of our people allow themselves to be used against us to help elect him again! WI

perjury."

Omitted from the federal indictment was an alleged conspiracy to breach voting equipment and access voter data. "In Georgia, members of the enterprise stole data, including ballot images, voting equipment software, and personal voter information. The stolen data was then distributed to other members of the enterprise, including members in other states." Nor does the federal indictment refer to a bizarre plan, advocated by Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, to use the military to seize voting machines around the country and

I hope they're hearing what Trump says about Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Judge Tanya Chutkan handling Trump's case in Washington, D.C.

rerun parts of the election.

Future historians will rely on Fulton County's case, not the federal government's, for the full story of one of the darkest chapters in American history. The meticulous work of Willis and her team is all the more remarkable given the constant abuse and threats of violence, incited by Trump, that his supporters have hurled at them. Regardless of the outcome, Team Willis, as well as the witnesses and grand jurors whom MAGA extremists also have targeted, will emerge as the heroes.

WI

The protectors of an unsustainable status quo the relies on dirty fuels and toxic waste want to fool the public into believing that is not a certainty. It's an old play, stoking fear to try to divide people enough to keep them from joining together in their own best interest.

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