The Washington Informer - February 17, 2022 by The Washington Informer

WINNER OF THREE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS Will NFL Address Lack of Black Head Coaches? Page 17 Vol. 57, No. 18 • February 17 - 23, 2022

Grand Opening Celebrated at BlackOwned Dealership in Prince George’s William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

5 Dozens of youth, all members of the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir led by Artistic Director Michelle Fowlin, come from around the DMV. They remain committed to a mission of celebrating diversity, securing justice for all and spreading love and hope through their music. (Photo courtesy Washington Performing Arts)

Even through a mask, David Harrington beamed with pride Friday celebrating the grand opening of a Black-owned dealership in Prince George’s County. Banister Ford of Marlow Heights represents two dealerships owned by Black men not only in the county but also located in the state of Maryland. “To have this dealership is another indication of the value we have in Prince George’s County for businesses of color,” said Harrington, president and CEO of the county’s Chamber of Commerce. “We celebrate this as another means of creating generational wealth. To celebrate this during Black History Month is even

Children’s Gospel Choir Fueled by Diversity and Creativity Michelle Fowlin, a native of Queens in New York City and the daughter of Jamaican parents, has always had an unquenchable passion for music. And while it’s been her bread and butter for the last 29 years as an instructor and choir director in the D.C. Public Schools, she said her greatest joy has come because of the work she does with a determined group of youth who have committed themselves to singing songs of praise and worship. In her role as the conductor and vocal coach, officially as the artistic director of the Washington

Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir, a position she’s held for 15 years, she has the opportunity to pass on her love of music to the next generation. But perhaps more important, she said it provides her with the awesome responsibility of helping to shape the minds, hearts and souls of children who live in the D.C. area as they prepare themselves to tackle the most pressing challenges faced by society – both now and in the future. And make no mistake, these children have a message that they intend to share in ways that illustrate their creativity, their dedication and their refusal to be denied their seat at the table.

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Several Dozen Youth Move on to Citywide Spelling Bee

For Washington Performing Arts, Young Singers Take the Lead D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor

more celebratory. It’s tremendous,” he said. Harrington joined at least six dozen people who attended a one-hour ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ford dealership owned by Dan Banister, who acquired the former Sheehy Ford in April from the family which owned the dealership seen along Branch Avenue for 52 years. Banister, joined by his wife, Beverly, and their two children, received valuable assistance while seeking to obtain the dealership in Prince George’s. He said Dr. Mike Freeman, pastor of Spirit of Faith Christian Center based in Temple Hills, offered not only spiritual guidance but also facilitated connections with people in Prince George’s.

Washington Informer Marks 40 Years as Competition’s Sponsor Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer After two days of intense competition, the pool of contestants for the citywide spelling bee has been whittled down to 33 young people. Each student successfully exhibited finesse in spelling multisyllabic and often 5 Nathaniel Ezra of St. Augustine Catholic phonetically deceiving words during a clusSchool was among dozens of D.C. students that ter bee held at THEARC in Southeast. competed in the D.C. City-Wide Cluster Bees The cluster bee, held Feb 9 and 10, preon Wednesday, February 9. The winners will cedes the annual citywide spelling bee. This go on to the city-wide bee in March. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

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SPELLING BEE Page 12 Celebrating 57 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area

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CONTENTS PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

BLACK FACTS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

LIFESTYLE

Around the Region........................................................................4-11 Prince George's County........................................................... 12-13 Business.......................................................................................... 14-15 National.......................................................................................... 16-17 International...................................................................................... 18 Health..................................................................................................20 OpEd............................................................................................. 23-25 Black History Month.................................................................27-36 Lifestyle........................................................................................ 37-43 Election '22........................................................................................44 Sports.................................................................................................. 45 Religion............................................................................................... 47

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COMPILED BY WILLIAM J. FORD, WI STAFF WRITER AND BRENDA C. SILER, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Harriet Tubman Contest to Honor Women’s History Month The Banneker Douglass Museum and Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture are sponsoring a video contest in honor of Harriet Tubman, born in Dorchester County in 1822. The groups invite youth and adults to submit videos based on three topics: “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” (the theme for Women’s History Month); “I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say – I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger;” and “Dear Ms. Tubman . . . ” All individual videos submitted must not run more than three minutes and those completed by two or more people cannot exceed four minutes. All contestants younger than 18 must receive parental consent. All videos must be submitted by March 4, 11:59 p.m. Go to https://bit.ly/3JxtBLv to read contest rules. For more information, call 410-216-6180. WI

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Edward Burroughs Becomes Youngest Member of Prince George’s Council

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark 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 $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Senior Editor, Copy Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Hamil Harris, Curtis Knowles, Daniel Kucin, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman

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Edward Burroughs III of Temple Hills became a member of the Prince George’s County Council on Tuesday, Feb 15. Burroughs, 29, won a special election to win the seat after former council member Monique Anderson-Walker resigned in November to focus on the Maryland gubernatorial election as a running mate with state Comptroller Peter Franchot. Burroughs, a former school board member, will represent District 8 in southern Prince George’s that includes Fort Washington, Marlow Heights and Oxon Hill. Because Anderson-Walker’s term didn’t expire until December, Burroughs must run again in the June 28 primary to win a four-year term on the 11-member board. WI

Johnnetta Cole Steps Down as National Council of Negro Women’s Leader One of the leading civil rights organizations, the National Council of Negro Women [NCNW], has named Thelma Thomas Daley as its 8th national president and chair. She succeeds Johnnetta Betsch Cole who served as national president and chair until January 31, 2022. The announcement was made recently by the Honorable Alexis Herman, a senior advisor to the NCNW executive committee. Daley moves to the top leadership position in NCNW from her vice president role and sworn in on Feb. 2. Daley has a long, impactful record with NCNW that has focused on the organization’s continued strategic growth, program impact and relevancy, building on the organization’s successes. Cole became NCNW national president and chair in November 2018. During her tenure, the 86-year-

old organization founded by Mary McLeod Bethune has increased its support for women’s health issues and against voter suppression. Cole previously served as the president of the only two historically Black colleges for women in the U.S., Spelman College and Bennett College for Women. She also served as director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and was the first African American to serve as chair of the board of United Way of America. Cole’s NCNW and career leadership was celebrated last October with an 85th birthday virtual celebration attended by hundreds of attendees. Daley, a trailblazer in the counseling profession, served as the first Black president of the American Counseling Association, the most prominent counseling association in the world. “My goal is to coalesce the total membership around the many needs to be fulfilled,” Daley said. “To reach our goals, we must break barriers, build bridges and climb mountains.” WI

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Ward 8 Residents Share Views on District's 2022-2023 Budget James Wright WI Staff Writer Conversations about the new budget have begun and Ward 8 residents say they’re anxious to see if their needs will be included in the 2022-2023 blueprint. “We need more grocery stores in Ward 8,” said Pamela Jones at the Giant Food supermarket located at The Shops at Park Village on Feb. 12. “I know we have a Safeway further up Alabama Avenue but it’s not convenient for most people in the ward,” Jones said. “A lot of people don’t have cars and have to depend on the bus or a friend to get to the grocery store. People come [here] because it is the one closest to them.” On Feb. 9, D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) held a virtual “Ward 8 Budget Conversation” where District government leaders talked about the budget process. During the session, acting D.C. Chief Financial Officer Fitzroy Lee said the city reported a $697 million surplus, its 25th consecutive clean audit, a Triple-A bond rating by Wall Street firms and has fully funded its pension obligations. However, despite the rosy picture painted by Lee, White said Ward 8 has many needs which the city’s budget should address. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will release her budget proposal on March 13 and the D.C. Council will vote on the final plan either in late May or June. In addition to grocery stores, Jones said public transportation, including the city-owned Circulator

Bus, needs a more flexible schedule. “The city needs to improve the bus service in this ward,” she said. “The service should be more frequent. People have to wait 30 minutes for a Metrobus and the Circulator and that’s not right.” Jones also said that while the opening of the St. Elizabeths East hospital will be good for residents, smaller health clinics throughout the ward would better serve people who now face multiple health challenges. “I don’t know whether it is the presence of COVID-19 but people are just not well,” she said. “We have the United Medical Center but we need more than just that. Mental health is also important. A lot of people are hurting inside because of all that is going on these days.” Tika McKeever, another shopper at the Giant, talked about how she thinks District leaders should budget “people’s tax dollars.” “The roads could be better,” McKeever said. “There are some streets where there are potholes that don’t seem to get fixed.” McKeever also believes the city should invest more money in youth programs. “It looks like to me that the schools and recreation centers are empty,” she said. “Schools and the recreations centers will give young people things to do instead of focusing on negativity.” She also said District leaders should put more money into supporting Black businesses, saying “it’s a good idea because there are not that many to begin with” and “Black businesses can hire people and put

D.C. Political Campaigns Adjust to COVID-19 James Wright WI Staff Writer The District’s primary election season has started and campaigns have adjusted to the ongoing presence of the coronavirus which has influenced how voters continue to be engaged. On Feb. 12, the mayoral campaign for Robert White directed Deputy Campaign Manager Zoe Ades to stand at the intersection of 10th and D Streets, N.E. and wait for volun-

teers as she secured materials to help the candidate get on the June 21 primary ballot. Ades said the team knows and remains adept at the traditional routine of campaigning: shaking hands, kissing babies and having intimate conversations with voters. But these tactics will be difficult to facilitate with the District still in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic.

money back into the community.” Stuart Anderson, a well-known civic and political activist, hopes the city leaders will build a new library. “The council should look into creating a new library in the Barry Farms neighborhood,” he said. “I know the expansion of the Parklands-Turner library branch is set with it moving to the new Malcolm X Elementary School development. The new branch in Barry Farms will help school kids in that area. It is too far for kids who live in that area to travel to the Anacostia, Parklands-Turner and William Lockridge/Bellevue branches for library services.” Anderson agrees with Jones that Ward 8 needs another grocery store. “The city should work with developers and entrepreneurs to build another grocery store in Barry Farms,” he said. “The closest grocery store for people who live near Barry Farms and the Anacostia Metro Station is the Giant Food at The Shops at Park Village. That’s really inconvenient for a lot of people to get there.” WI

5 A woman shopping at a grocery store. (Courtesy photo)

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black facts

FEB 17 - 23, 2022 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

1992 – John Singleton becomes the first Black director to be nominated for an Academy Award with his debut, "Boyz n the Hood."

FEB. 20

1895 – Famed social activist and abolitionist Frederick Douglass dies of a heart attack in Washington, D.C., at 70. 1900 – John Frederick Pickering receives patent for the airship. 1927 – Sidney Poitier, the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, is born in Miami. 1937 – Grammy-winning singer Nancy Wilson is born in Chillicothe, Ohio.

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1933 – Singer/songwriter and civil rights activist Nina Simone is born in Tryon, North Carolina. 1936 – Civil rights leader Barbara Jordan, the first Southern African American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives, is born in Houston. 1940 – John Lewis, longtime U.S. congressman and and renowned civil rights leader, is born in Troy, Alabama. 1961 – Inventor Otis Boykin patents an improved electronic resistor. 1965 – Civil rights activist Malcolm X is assassinated in the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan at 39.

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1936 – Pro football great and civil rights advocate Jim Brown is born in St. Simons, Georgia. 1942 – Political activist and Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton is born in Monroe, Louisiana. 1963 – Basketball legend Michael Jordan is born in New York's Brooklyn borough. 1982 – Influential jazz pianist Thelonious Monk dies of a stroke in Englewood, New Jersey, at 64.

FEB. 18

1931 – Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison (right) is born in Lorain, Ohio. 1965 – West African nation Gambia declares its independence from the United Kingdom. 1965 – Civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson is shot by an Alabama state trooper during a peaceful voting rights march rally in Marion, dying eight days later. 2006 – Speed skater Shani Davis becomes the first Black athlete to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

FEB. 22

1950 – Basketball icon Julius "Dr. J" Erving is born in East Meadow, New York. 1989 – DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince win the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for their hit song "Parents Just Don't Understand."

FEB. 23

1868 – W.E.B. Du Bois, author, sociologist and civil rights activist, is born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. 1942 – Haki Madhubuti, author, activist, and founder of the Third World Press, is born in Little Rock, Arkansas. 1979 – Frank E. Petersen Jr. is promoted to brigadier general, becoming the first African American general in the Marine Corps. WI

FEB. 19

1919 – W.E.B. Du Bois organizes the first Pan-African Congress. 1940 – Music legend Smokey Robinson is born in Detroit.

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The World According to Dominic D. Kevin McNeir / WI Senior Editor

Sometimes, ‘Uncomfortable Conversations’ Are the Best Ways to Deal with Injustice

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Black History Month often provides an opportunity for African Americans, and others, to pick up a book written by a Black author which addresses a subject of controversy or which seeks to provide insight to one of those lingering societal ills. And so, I recently picked up a first-person narrative written by a former NFL player, a brother of course, which had been sitting on my desk amidst a stack of other books that I had purchased months ago and which had accumulated more dust on its cover than I’d like to admit. “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,” penned by Nigerian American Emmanuel Acho, surprised me in more ways than one. I purchased the book thinking that it would be a tell-all about life from the perspective of a college football star who had made it to the pros before moving on to other ventures. Instead, “Conversations” serves as an exploration into what Acho describes as “our nation’s oldest disease – racism.” And while he clearly states that he wants to uncover a way to cure America of this hateful sickness, it’s his solution that took me by surprise.

Rather than point to a plethora of ideologies, philosophies or surefire cures, Acho posits that the best way to rid our nation of this centuries-old scourge is to begin with “a profound, revolutionary idea: actually talking to one another.” By connecting his own experiences with race and racism, factoring in his unique vantage point as the child of Nigerian parents born in America – and therefore forced to undergo the same kinds of prejudice and misguided assumptions about who he is because of the color of his skin – as well as his observances as a student in a white-majority prep school and majority-Black NFL locker rooms, he brings a unique perspective to the table. Acho, also employing lessons of history and culture and the wisdom of other Black voices, takes the reader on a fascinating journey. The result is an easy-to-read guide to the kinds of conversations he believes all Americans, regardless of race, should be having both to increase our understanding and to help us in the battle against racism. What’s most refreshing is Acho’s refusal to omit topics that may make some readers wiggle in their seats and shake in their boots. Those fighting against the latest controversy in education, critical race theory, will find his book highly offensive and disturbing because nothing is off the table.

The book is replete with honest reflections and conclusions that require action. It’s refreshing and informative from cover to cover. But it’s also raw. Are you ready for questions like, “why it’s not okay for white people to use the N-word?” What about, “does reverse-racism exist?” And try these two provocative questions: “Should you teach your kids to ‘see color’?” or “Why white privilege isn’t just for the wealthy?” Acho’s book should be required reading for all Americans – especially for anyone who honestly wants to both understand and eradicate racism. Each chapter includes a recommended list of essays or books for those who want to add more tools to their arsenal. In addition, the author begins every topic with a quotation from some of America’s greatest minds, race notwithstanding. Acho reminds us of a lesser-known but unarguably profound reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that I have since made one of my favorite. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” If we are honest about bringing an end to our nation’s oldest disease, then now, as Acho asserts, is the time to listen, to learn and to speak. There can be no further delay. WI

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Pierpont and Jeanette Mobley: Ain't Love Grand? James Wright WI Staff Writer Pierpont and Jeannette Mobley have established themselves for 54 years in the District as a civic-minded, politically-involved couple whose relationship relies on God and their friendship for sustenance. Their relationship started at a party in Southeast. “Some friends and I went to a party and Pierpont and one of his friends were standing across the room from us,” Jeannette said. “He came across the room and asked me to dance and I told him no. I eventually let him take me out. When we went out, that was it.” Pierpont said he ignored the fact that Jeannette didn’t hand dance the way many Black Washingtonians did in the middle of the 20th century. Jeannette had a trait that attracted him to her. “I liked that she didn’t use profanity,” he said. “In D.C., people regularly cursed and it was no big deal. That’s just the way we talked. It startled and delighted me when she used the word ‘gosh.’” During their marriage, both have distinguished themselves in their careers and community activities. Pierpont made history with his appointment as the first Black appointed to the White House Personnel Office. While serving in the personnel office of the Carter Administration, Pierpont wrote the first affirmative action plan for the White House and 11 executive offices of the President of the United States. He served 20 years in the D.C. National Guard and volunteers for D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Service Academy Board where District residents are appointed to the national military academies. Additionally, Pierpont has helped mediate hundreds of family disputes in the D.C. Superior Court. Jeannette has held numerous positions with companies such as Bell Atlantic, Verizon and AT&T. She founded an all-male Black mentoring and professional development association called the Development

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5Pierpont and Jeannette Mobley relaxing at home. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Roundtable for the Upward 54 Mobility of Male. She also worked for three years as the chief of staff for D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5). Jeannette was appointed to the Alcohol Beverage and Control Board under D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and the Local Opportunity Business Commission under D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams. She has held various positions with the D.C. Democratic Party and the Ward 5 Democrats. The couple operates a certified

“Some friends and I went to a party and Pierpont and one of his friends were standing across the room from us,” Jeannette said. “He came across the room and asked me to dance and I told him no.“

business enterprise company, The JPM Group, LLC., which focuses on consulting and training businesses in human resources matters. They’ve also been inducted into the Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C.. Despite their busy schedules throughout the years, the Mobleys have managed to raise two children and are proud grandparents. They said their children had a lenient household to live in but they had to perform their chores, go to church regularly and their choice of activities were monitored. The Mobleys said the keys to their success as a couple have to do with being spiritually grounded and having mutual respect. “You have to like people,” Jeannette said. “I know he is my best friend. You have to be forgiving and say I’m sorry. I have habits and he [has] habits too so we have learned to be tolerant and understanding of each other.” Pierpont said holding grudges doesn’t work in a marriage. “You have to forgive and forget,” he said. “We have found a way to resolve disputes. You don’t have to win all the time.” WI @JamesWrightJr10

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(L-R) Jane Lipton Cafritz, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Barbara Mullenex, managing principal at Perkins Eastman, and some of her staff, view the model for the Art Place being constructed as a creative and walkable destination in Fort Totten during the groundbreaking ceremony on February 12. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

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In-School Clinicians Explain How They Address Student Trauma

Among people of various ages, the pandemic increased feelings of withdrawal and isolation, loss of focus, mental fuzziness and anxiety about the future. Bazron cited an increase in marijuana use among young people during the pandemic, calling it a sign of stress. The agency has since taken various opportunities, including at a Metropolitan Police Department youth summit last year, to educate young people about the dangers of substance abuse. At CHEC, DBH clinical social worker Madelyn Keefe has a caseload of at least 20 students and an even longer waitlist. She collaborates with 14 mental health professionals from nearby Mary’s Center

CLINICIAN Page 51

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signs of suicide in friends and peers. Our clinical staff can be observant as much as we can [but] it’s helpful to have other eyes,” said Quinn who’s currently in his eighth year at the McKinley Tech campus. “We talk about the signs of depression that should concern you [and how] to get services,” Quinn said. “We show that there’s support and that it's helpful. It’s a big problem for sixth and seventh graders, but there are resources.”

Over the last few years, the District has invested $30 million to provide

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In the months since students returned to in-person learning, their social and emotional wellbeing has been an issue of concern in District public and public charter schools, so much so that District officials recently dedicated millions of dollars to the expansion of in-school behavioral health services. Throughout the school year, inschool clinicians across the District have been working in conjunction with counselors and other officials to address pandemic-induced mental trauma. Through various levels of support, they push into classrooms, disseminate vital information aod conduct one-on-one and group sessions to help students address underlying issues. At the Congress Heights and Capitol Hill campuses of Center City Public Charter School, Jasmine Tingling-Clemmons continues to collaborate with school counselors and implement grade-specific programming focused on conflict resolution. This follows sessions held last summer to address the way teachers were affected by the pandemic. For elementary students, Tingling-Clemmons often uses puppets to help young people verbalize feelings they can’t quite articulate. As students get older, she engages them in conversation about various topics. Students referred to her by staff members often received the same level of attention to make up for what they have been denied during the pandemic. “Students are looking for validation,” said Tingling-Clemmons, a clinical social worker who works for D.C. Department of Behavioral Health [DBH]. “It can be very lonely going through something [and] you not knowing how to explain it. The middle schoolers are making decisions [about going to high school] and they’re relieved when a clinician acknowledges that,” she said.

every public school with at least one mental health clinician. The influx of funds came in the midst of student activists, including those representing Black Swan Academy, pressing D.C. council members for the expansion of in-school mental health services. Oftentimes, in-school clinicians address social and emotional issues through classroom interventions, group sessions and, if needed, support that’s specifically tailored to individual students and their families. Even though he acknowledged the presence of clinicians within his school, a student featured in a previous Informer story lamented not being able to access mental health services. In responding to that concern, DBH Director Dr. Barbara J. Bazron insisted that students can see clinicians in their building at any time. She later cited community-based organizations and child service agencies that students can contact outside of school. On February 7, Bazron joined D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), DC Public Schools Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee and DC Public Charter School Board Executive Director Dr. Michelle J. Walker-Davis at Columbia Heights Educational Campus [CHEC] in Northwest to reveal increases in next year’s public education budget. In that $200 million increase, the public and public charter sectors will split a $36 million Recovery Fund to bolster academic and socio-emotional programming. Such funds would augment the work of Austin Quinn who, for the last several months, has coordinated programming at McKinley Technology Middle School and McKinley Technology High School to address suicidal ideation. Since the summertime, Quinn, a DBH clinical social worker, has been in discussions with administrators about what to anticipate once students return to campus. In speaking with young people, Quinn said he recognized that many continue to grapple with grief and loss, whether it's related to the pandemic or community violence. That’s why, in his role, Quinn has attempted to make suicide prevention an all-hands-on-deck activity. “We’re pushing in the middle and high school classrooms to give that preventative information [about] the

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Hogan Lifts Masks Requirements in State Buildings William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday, Feb. 14 state employees and visitors to state buildings won’t be required to wear masks or face coverings starting Tuesday, Feb. 22. The order goes into effect based on the state’s positivity coronavirus rate below 4% and hospitalizations at 715, according to state Health Department data released Tuesday, Feb. 15. “Given the dramatic declines in our health metrics, we are now able to take another step toward normalcy in state operations,” Hogan said in a statement.

“In addition, we continue to offer paid leave for state employees to get their booster shots, which provide critical protection against the virus and its variants. I want to thank all of our dedicated state employees for their tireless efforts that have helped make Maryland’s COVID-19 response a national model,” he said. In the meantime, the full House of Delegates reconvened Tuesday for the first time since they voted on the legislative redistricting plan Jan. 27. Masks will remain in effect for delegates when on the House floor, which has 141 members. Before the session began, House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Balti-

5 Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at a press briefing Feb. 8 in Annapolis. (FILE: William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

more County) reminded her colleagues masks are required on the floor which includes covering the nose. “We just have to be safer and lead by example,” said Del. Pam Queen (D-Montgomery County). “We’re only here for 90 days and we have a lot to get done. We do need to go that extra route to make sure we’re safe and do the people’s work.” House committees will continue to hold public hearings and conduct business online. The Senate, which has 47 members, allowed the public to attend

hearings in person Tuesday. But visitors must wear masks in committee rooms and not sit directly beside each other. Even though House members haven’t met in person as frequently as the Senate, Del. Nick Charles (D-District 25) of Forestville said about 1,400 bills are being reviewed and discussed. The Prince George’s County House Delegation, which Charles serves as chair, holds weekly sessions online and has nearly finished its work drafting county-focused bills. “Even when we aren’t on the

Maryland Lawmakers Discuss ARETHAClimate Solutions

Plan Includes Environmental Justice, Decrease in Emissions William J. Ford DISTRICT24 WI Staff Writer

5 Robin Lewis of Bowie speaks in support of climate change legislation at a press conference Feb. 15 at Lawyers’ Mall in Annapolis. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

12 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Environmental advocates rallied Tuesday to ensure Maryland lawmakers pass sweeping climate change legislation that proposes net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, conduct a study to assess jobs in the energy, building and transportation sectors and identify communities affected by climate change. “The time is now for Maryland to focus on helping those communities that are sacrificed and underserved but are the most impacted by climate and other environmental harm,” said Robin Lewis of Bowie, who serves as director for climate equity with Interfaith Power & Light DMV based in Northwest.

“These communities, our neighbors, deserve to be treated with respect and to have justice. We need a seat at the table so that investments in training, employment and other opportunities can equitably be directed within the Black and brown communities,” Lewis said. The rally took place outside at Lawyers’ Mall in Annapolis before a bill hearing on an ambitious plan called “Climate Solutions Now Act” sponsored by Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-District 22) of University Park. Pinsky didn’t attend the rally because he still remained on the Senate floor but in two words he summarized during a more than three-hour hearing, why the bill must pass immediately: “urgency”

CLIMATE Page 14

floor, we’re still making sure we get work done for the people,” he said. Hogan’s mask order also goes into effect on the same day the state Board of Education will meet to review the state’s mask requirements for public schools. The state board voted in August to implement a mask mandate in all 24 public school systems that would not exceed 180 days. Clarence Crawford, school board president, wrote in a letter Thursday to Hogan all COVID-19 metrics continue to be watched with “off-ramps” during the recent omicron variant surge. The letter noted school systems and local school boards can lift mask mandates based on the following provisions: At least 80% of the county population “is fully vaccinated.” A superintendent verifies 80% of school staff and students in a school system are fully vaccinated. If a county has sustained 14 consecutive days of moderate or low transmission rates of COVID-19 cases, based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Again, we deeply appreciate your strong leadership and support throughout this once in a century pandemic,” Crawford said. “We, too, share your desire not to let this pandemic distract us from aggressively addressing the learning loss and social emotional harm this pandemic has done to our children. We look forward to working with you and stakeholders across the state to provide an excellent and equitable education for every Maryland child.” As of Tuesday, the CDC rated Maryland’s community transmission as “high.” The federal agency labeled four counties as “substantial,” which sits just one step below high: Baltimore, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Queen Anne’s counties. In the meantime, Baltimore County lifted its mask mandate Feb. 7 and Frederick County health officials announced four days later masks are no longer required. The indoor mask requirement will tentatively be lifted in Montgomery County Monday, Feb. 21 and in Prince George’s County March 9 at 5 p.m. WI @WJFjabariwill

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DEALERSHIP from Page 1 After several conversations, Banister, who owns two Nissan dealerships in Virginia and resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, said he and Freeman became business partners. “I just know that it was God that put this dealership in my path,” Banister said. “This dealership used to be one of the top performing dealerships in the nation but in recent years, it hasn’t. It’s been underperforming and underrepresented and has not done well, in my opinion, for the community.” Banister worked with one of the church’s groups, No Lack Nation, to “help bless families with cars at no cost.” For the more than 80 employees at the dealership, he told them it would be closed on Sundays. Besides working during the coronavirus pandemic, he said working in the auto industry accrues a high divorce rate because of the working hours. “We want to make sure we have

enough time to spend with our families,” he said. “What we’re going to do is make sure we have such a good product, a good process and make the customers happy that they’re going to come when we’re open. I want you guys to get your rest and enjoy being with your families.” The couple has been married for 25 years and they have two children, Daniel Banister, Jr., 21, who attends Hampton University where he’s on the basketball team and daughter Jordan, a freshman at Regent University in Virginia Beach and a member of the volleyball team. “They trust in the Lord no matter what,” Jordan Banister said about her parents’ spiritual beliefs. “This has been really a blessing to all of us. We are just ready to help the community.” The other Black-owned dealership in the county, Nissan of Bowie, located along Route 301, has been owned by Damon Lester since April.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Lester, president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers [NAMAD] based in Largo, said in an interview last month out of the 1,200-minority owned dealerships nationwide, about 266 have Black owners. He constantly offers advice to NAMAD members. “What I have urged the members to do is do your own due diligence. You can’t rely on someone telling you how your store is,” said Lester, who’s also a certified public accountant. “Know your market and know the people in your store. The [auto] industry is competitive.” Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said two Black-owned dealerships in the county accentuates how the majority-Black jurisdiction represents as “the economic engine in this region.” “We are always happy to see businesses like Banister Ford that bolster, grow and support the local economy,” she said. WI @WJFjabariwill

5 Dan Banister joins his family and Dr. Mike Freeman, pastor of Spirit of Faith Christian Center, while holding scissors to cut the ribbon in front of Banister Ford of Marlow Heights. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

Countywide Curbside Organics Composting Collection is Here! Residents who receive County provided services AND opt-in the program will be able to mix their food scraps with their yard trim for the weekly Monday yard trim curbside collection. Food scraps must be placed inside the Organics cart. Only residents who opted-in and received the appropriate program materials may put food scraps curbside for collection. Plastic bags are not accepted. If you received a letter from DoE, Opt-In postcards are on the way! Detailed opt-in instructions are on the postcard. •

Use only one option listed to opt-in: 1. Scan the QR code on the postcard using a smart phone; OR 2. Call the telephone number and provide the requested information. 3. Complete the opt-in form online at www.toter.com/princegeorgescounty

Your program materials will be delivered during the Month of April, in celebration of Earth Month. Households will receive collection materials, including a 32-gallon wheeled cart, a 2-gallon kitchen mini bin, a How-To Guide, a refrigerator magnet, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). For additional information about food scraps composting email us at pgccomposts@co.pg.md.us or visit mypgc.us/compost.

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 13

BUSINESS STEMBoard Seeks to Increase Minority Imprint on Technology James Wright WI Staff Writer Aisha Bowe realizes the current STEM field has an insufficient number of minorities but through her company, STEMBoard, she hopes to make an impact in changing that dynamic. Bowe, a trained aerospace engineer, serves as the president and CEO of STEMBoard, a 20-employee, Arlington-based engineering company. The company’s charge – to provide its mainly federal government and private sector clientele with the capacity to “solve complex problems, enable integration of technology and mission at key points and provide actionable intelligence,” according to its website.

CLIMATE from Page 12 and “boldness.” “This legislation pushes the envelope,” said Pinsky, who chairs the Senate environmental committee. “It is also conscious of the ability to implement what’s in the bill. It’s a work in progress.” He pushed for a similar bill to pass last year that failed on the last day of the session. That’s why lawmakers began work on the bill last summer in order to gain traction and work on any differences with support from state leadership. Several other provisions in the legislation include: Reduce statewide greenhouse gas by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030. New construction of buildings to utilize electricity for hearing

14 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

In 2020, Bowe’s company received recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the U.S., ranking 2,284. STEMBoard operates as a certified economically disadvantaged women-owned small business and an 8(a) certified company with a top-secret facilities clearance. The company provides IT services, program and project management, data management and analytics with a bent on providing solutions for their clients. Additionally, STEMBoard works to close the educational achievement gap of minorities through STEM camps, partnerships with historically-Black colleges and universities and counseling youth on career opportunities. The National Society of Black and hot water as opposed to natural gas and oil. Commercial and residential buildings at least 25,000 square feet must reduce emissions to net zero in 18 years with a phase-in method. Several opponents including Melvin Thompson with the Restaurant Association of Maryland, said phasing out fossil fuels and installing all electric machinery would increase services, appliances and operating costs. “Restaurants rely on the efficiency and performance of gas for commer-

5 Aisha Bowe is the president and CEO of STEMBoard, a technology company. (Courtesy photo)

Engineers reported in 2015 that the percentage of STEM bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black women declined to 4%, down from 5% in 2006. The study also revealed that fewer than 1% of U.S. engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded went to Black females in 2015. Despite the hurdles, a milestone in aerospace engineering occurred in 2015 when Dr. Wendy Okolo became the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.

BOWE’S JOURNEY TO FORMING STEMBOARD

cial cooking,” said Thompson, who serves as vice president for government and public policy with the association. “Phasing out the use of gas will slow down the cooking process, reduce a chef’s control over the intensity of the heat and also affect the flavor and texture of finished food.” Erin Appel, representing the Maryland School Bus Contractors Association, spoke on a part of the bill that states by 2024, all local school boards cannot sign a new contract to purchase or use a school bus “that is not a zero-emission ve-

hicle.” The goal would be for all public schools to utilize electric vehicles. She said some school systems have already signed contracts with bus companies that are year-toyear, five years or even up to 15 years. “By prohibiting a school board from entering into a contract for the use of a diesel bus beginning in 2024, this bill would in essence be [impacting] huge portions of their school bus fleets,” she said. Del. Kumar Barve (D-Montgomery County), who chairs the House’s Environmental and Transportation Committee, will sponsor four separate bills in his chamber. “We want to have a big victory this year and we’re going to get a big victory,” he said. WI @WJFjabariwill

“This legislation pushes the envelope,” said Pinsky, who chairs the Senate environmental committee. “It is also conscious of the ability to implement what’s in the bill. It’s a work in progress.

Bowe, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., said when she embarked on an engineering career in high school, she received discouragement from her counselor and family members. “My high school counselor told me it would be better for me to study cosmetology,” she said. “I was told by my counselor that engineering would be too hard for

me. My family had doubts, too, saying I should get a job at the nearby Ford auto plant because Ford had good benefits.” “I didn’t listen to the advice and pursued my dream of being an engineer. I love science fiction and it fueled my interest in STEM fields,” she said. After high school, Bowe attended Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor and in two years received an associate degree. She transferred her credits to the University of Michigan where she earned her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering there. But not before she had to overcome a demanding curriculum and learn how to associate with more affluent, legacy classmates. Her perseverance paid off and she received her degree in 2008. A year later, she earned her master’s degree in space systems engineering, also from the University of Michigan. In 2009, she went to work at the NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley in the Flight Trajectory Dynamics and Controls Branch of the Aviation Systems Division as a missions engineer. She worked on satellites and air traffic management and received citations for her work. She also served as a mentor for young people of color interested in science and engineering careers. While she enjoyed her career at NASA, she decided to strike out on her own as an entrepreneur with STEMBoard which she founded in 2013. She left the government sector in 2015. “I started STEMBoard because I wanted to run a company,” she said. “That’s why I moved to the Washington, D.C. area. That is where the federal government is.” In order to assist youth, Bowe created STEMBoard’s LINGO project, a coding kit which teaches hardware and software design through self-paced lessons. The kit contains hardware, an instructional guide and instructional videos. “LINGO is available at Amazon, Walmart and Target and we have made connections to Bowie State University, General Electric and the Howard University Middle School,” Bowe said. “A lot of teachers use our kit. The feedback we get on it is tremendous. We want kids of color to look at this kit and use and think one day I could be an engineer.” WI @JamesWrightJr10

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Student Loan Debt Joins Conversation about Strengthening Black Churches Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer For heads of Black religious institutions, sustaining a pipeline of quality church leaders requires strengthening ties between historically Black theological institutions [HBTIs], churches and those aspiring to assume leadership roles in the future. Earlier this month, a group that includes HBTIs and Black denominational leaders convened a two-day meeting where participants committed to attracting more institutional support for HBTIs and conveyed the urgency of the student debt grappling so many seminary students. “We have to assist church leaders to understand the burden of debt. They agreed to take the message back to their congregations,” said Delores F. Brisbon, leader of The Gift of Black Theological Education & The Black Church Collaborative (also known as The Collaborative). The Collaborative held a twoday discussion about student loan debt at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture [NMAAHC], Feb. 9 – 10, which brought together students, deans, presidents and a denominational representative from each of the five participating HBTIs. It preceded a four-day conference scheduled for April during which church and seminary leaders will further explore how to prepare the pulpit for social action. “The Collaborative is a project to realign the schools with their denominations because enrollment in the past came from those churches,” Brisbon said. “We want to strengthen the pulpit to heal the trauma of the Black experience. It’s a movement to see social change through the lens of faith.” The Collaborative came out of a prior six-year assessment of the six historic Black theological schools, including Howard School of Divinity. It currently includes: Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University; Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina; Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, North Carolina; Payne

Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio; and Interdenominational Theological Center [ITC] in Atlanta. Several of those schools, Hood, Shaw University and Payne Theological, have longstanding ties with the African Methodist Episcopal [AME] Zion Church, Baptist Church, and AME Church, respectively. ITC represents five, Black Christian denominations, including Christian Methodist Episcopal and Church of God in Christ, while the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology grounds itself in African and African-American religious life and culture. During The Collaborative’s conference, students recounted their experiences with debt and how it not only affected the structure of their family but their ability to provide for their household with jobs that can’t help them comfortably pay back their loans. Research conducted by ATS estimated the average debt accumulated by Black seminary students at $43,000, an amount $10,000 greater than their white counterparts. The burden of student loan debt has been connected to Black pastors’ decisions to simultaneously pursue other vocations, personnel shortages at Black churches and Black generational poverty. At Hood Theological Seminary, The Rev. Lawrence Ganzy, Jr. continues to pursue his Master of Divinity, even as his debt from his graduate studies surpasses $40,000. However, with a burgeoning career as an admissions officer at another university, he hasn’t had much concern about how to pay back his loans. Ganzy, an ordained elder in the AME Zion Church for four years, sees his studies at Hood Theological Seminary as part of a larger plan to spread his ministry inside and outside the church. He said Black seminaries must inspire students to forge unique career paths within their ministry, whether it be in the church or other places where church officials can provide spiritual guidance to others. In espousing the need to encourage religious study at the undergraduate level, Ganzy ex-

plained why movements such as The Collaborative must make such advancements come to fruition. “We have to develop ways that theological education can receive the same support and resources

that other programs receive,” Ganzy said. “It’s a collaborative effort where we can work together so students can receive full rides to seminary with historically Black theological institutions. Even

though our HBCUs are receiving millions of dollars, our HBTIs can receive them too. We want to find ways to have our HBTI to survive, thrive and go to the next level.” WI @SamPKCollins

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 15

NATIONAL Kamau Bell is Wrong About Need to Talk with Cosby More Accurately, We Do Need to Talk About His Trials Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Writer Kamau Bell proclaimed Black America’s “need to talk about Bill Cosby” in his Showtime documentary that included comedians, educators, journalists, and those who have accused the iconic entertainer of sexual assault. Bell claimed that for the smart, funny, and politically aware at dinner parties, the conversation would have to center on Cosby. But for many others who declined to indulge in exploration and dissemination of another African American that mainstream media proved human, Bell missed the mark. Badly. “He may as well have worn Black face because the documentary is a minstrel show and as much as you may agree that Cosby is a hypocrite,

Bell can’t afford to look in the mirror,” said Lorenzo Simpkins, an actor who has appeared as an extra in multiple movies and television shows, including Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder’s “Stir Crazy.” “Bell is as misled and foolish as the knuckleheads who said, ‘Cosby admitted to drugging and raping women,’” Simpkins, 68, offered about the tired and wildly misreported civil deposition the entertainer sat for in a lawsuit brought in 2005 by Andrea Constand. During the deposition, Cosby acknowledges that he provided Quaaludes to women who would have sex. But Simpkins said that’s not his most significant problem with Bell’s one-sided documentary that didn’t include statements or appearances from anyone on Cosby’s team. “The biggest problem is that it’s a distraction that Showtime will use

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5 Bill Cosby (Courtesy photo)

to make money and to denigrate a Black man further, and they can say ‘look, it’s another Black man [Bell] doing the denigrating,” he asserted. Instead, Simpkins and others said Black Americans – men in particular – should most want to discuss the two trials of Cosby and the way they were handled and reported. Despite the defense not putting on a defense, the first trial ended with a hung jury. The second trial began with racial remarks hurled by an assistant district attorney toward the defense, a juror who proclaimed that Cosby was guilty before the start of the trial and Judge Steven O’Neill who allowed five women to present unproven allegations. The former district attorney, Bruce Castor, wasn’t allowed to testify about a deal he hammered out with Cosby and O’Neill allowed the use of Cosby’s infamous civil deposition. According to a report from the American Bar Association, the criminal justice system’s pervasive problems with racism start before the first contact and continue through pleas, conviction, incarceration, release, and beyond. The net effects of history’s injustices are staggering. According to statistics the NAACP examined, although Black people make up 13.4 percent of the population, they make up 47 percent of wrongful conviction

exonerations and 35 percent of individuals executed by the death penalty. Further, the Bar Association noted that African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at five times the rate of whites. In addition, black men face disproportionately harsh incarceration experiences than prisoners of other races. “The evidence of differential treatment and injustice in the ‘justice’ system is overwhelming,” Bar Association officials wrote. “Because the problems are historically rooted, pervasive, and ongoing, it is even more critical to take action now (and in the future).” Yet, Bell wants to focus on white media-driven allegations that a group of primarily non-Black individuals made against an African-American icon, Simpkins and others said. “Kamau Bell is the kind of guy that would be the funniest slave on the plantation. He would never have to work on weekends,” deadpanned Dr. Boyce Watkins. Nicole Lewis, the host of the podcast and YouTube program “Nicole’s View,” called Bell’s documentary “smut.” “No relevance to anything besides tearing down his achievements,” Nicole stated. “This is what Kamau Bell is pushing for us to converse about?” Further, in American culture “where sensationalism is what tends to sell, I knew it was only a matter of

time before our courtrooms would be inundated with personal opinion, public antics and trial by public in general,” said Phoenix Jackson, the chief communications officer at Phoenix Affect. “The Cosby trial displayed at its peak the type of sensationalism that perpetuates the classless culture in America,” Jackson said. “As a communications executive and celebrity publicist, I would never want my clients to experience a public trial. I would want an unbiased, clear-tothe-law trial for the best form of objectivity. No matter the circumstance or who is on trial. Everyone deserves that.” Dean Tong, a nationally-known defense expert in sex crimes cases, said it’s incumbent upon all parties who are potentially adverse to the African-American male accused of the unthinkable to be free from confirmation bias. “I was not at Bill Cosby’s trial but I was at Michael Jackson’s trial in 2005 in Santa Maria, California, and these allegations foster and exacerbate emotions on steroids which can supersede logic,” Tong said. “I’m not saying Cosby was or is innocent, although his conviction was reversed. All Black, white, Hispanic, Asian defendants must receive a fair and impartial trial by a jury of their peers. The Constitution has the last say so.” WI @StacyBrownMedia

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With Super Bowl Over, Will NFL Address Lack of Black Head Coaches? Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

In the National Football League players remain overwhelmingly Black And recently, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), joined a host of others demanding more representation in the front office of people who look like the athletes who take the gridiron each Sunday. “Even before Coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the National Football League claiming the league discriminated against Black coaches in their hiring practices, it was pretty clear that professional football has a race issue,” Dr. Chavis wrote in an oped at BlackPressUSA.com. The NFL’s halfhearted attempt nearly 20 years ago at diversity, the Rooney Rule, has failed miserably. The league enacted the measure in 2003 to mandate that any team seeking a head coach must interview at least one minority candidate. Four years ago, the league modified the rule but coaches of color still haven’t received the same opportunities as whites. Some argue the NFL did better before instituting the rule. Two years prior, the league had three African-American head coaches: Tony Dungy of the Tampa Bay Bucs, Herm Edwards of the New York Jets and Dennis Green of the Minnesota Vikings. At the start of 2021, the NFL still had three coaches: David Culley of the Houston Texans, Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Texans dismissed Culley at the end of the season as did Flores who received his walking papers from the Dolphins. Meanwhile, seven of the nine head coaching opportunities after the 2021 season went to white candidates. Flores called the Rooney Rule a sham because teams only provided interviews to potential Black head coaches as a ruse to satisfy the league’s requirement.

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5 Brian Flores (Courtesy photo)

“The league is rife with racism,” Flores alleged in his lawsuit. Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that the NFL “isn’t having the success we want.” “I find all allegations, whether they were based on racism or discrimination or the integrity of our game, all of those to me were very disturbing,” Goodell pronounced prior to Super Bowl LVI. “They are very serious matters to us on all levels and we need to make sure we get to the bottom of all of them,” he said. “I think that’s the core of the message that we’ve been talking about here is, OK, we’re not having this success we want with head coaches. How do we evolve that rule, or do we have to have a new rule? Do we need to figure out some other way of being able to achieve that outcome?” The league has reportedly met with Byron Allen, an African-American businessman, to determine his interest in purchasing the Denver Broncos. Dr. Chavis championed the potential interest of Robert F. Smith, the founder of Vista Equity Partners, who enjoys an estimated net worth of about $6.7 billion. “Putting aside Smith’s investing acumen and ability to grow emerging businesses, his up-fromthe-bootstraps story and expansive philanthropic work in the Black

community would go a long way to changing the make-up of NFL ownership from its traditional purview of stodgy, old white men,” Dr. Chavis decided. The belief remains that if more minorities buy teams – an admittedly difficult task for people of color to break into the exclusive ownership circle – opportunities for Black head coaches would become more plentiful. In the meantime, civil rights groups argue the NFL needs to strengthen its Rooney Rule and force current owners to consider Black candidates seriously. “However well-intentioned, the effect of the Rooney Rule has been for team decision-makers to regard interviews with candidates of color as an extraneous step, rather than an integral part of the hiring process,” National Urban League President/CEO Marc H. Morial said in a statement. “The gravity of the situation is long past the crisis point,” Morial declared. The Rooney Rule remains absent of intentionality, NAACP President/CEO Derrick Johnson said. “It’s not enough for the league to declare its good intentions. This is a long-standing crisis that must be confronted with diligence and rigor.” WI

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africa now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sudan’s Army Chief Denies Collaborating with Israel Sudan’s General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council denied growing cooperation between Sudan and Israel on security and intelligence after the two countries had exchanges of information. He made his comments in an interview with Sudan’s staterun TV which aired on Saturday, February 12. Burhan said such ties between the former adversaries were not of political nature, adding that only Sudanese security and intelligence officials paid visits to Israel. “Till this moment no prominent political figure paid any visit (to Israel),” he said. He added that this exchange of information allowed the country to arrest “many terrorist organizations that could have destabilized the security of Sudan.” However, he did not elaborate further on the issue. During recent weeks Sudanese and Israeli officials exchanged visits in various unannounced trips. The most recent visit was by a Sudanese security delegation in Tel Aviv last week and a previous visit by Israeli officials, including Mossad agents, to Khartoum in January. Last October, the then Sudanese justice minister, Nasredeen Abdulbari, and Israeli Cabinet ministers Idan Roll and Edawi Frej held a rare joint public meeting in the United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi. Sudan and Israel normalized ties in 2020 as part of a series of U.S.-brokered deals between Israel and four Arab countries. The agreement paved the way for Sudan to reintegrate into the international community after two decades of isolation under former autocratic President Omar al-Bashir. WI

caribbean now Jamaica to Observe National Day at World Expo Dubai The Jamaican delegation at World Expo 2020 Dubai will celebrate National Day with six days of activities which started February 14. The National Day celebration is one of the most prominent moments in any nation’s program of activities during the six-month-long Expo. Jamaica’s National Day is Friday, February 18. “Several ministries, departments and agencies have collaborated to bring together a cohesive program which we feel sure will leave a lasting and positive impression,” said Commissioner General of the Jamaica Pavilion at World Expo 2020 Dubai, Essie Gardner. She said the Jamaica National Day celebrations would begin with a flag-raising ceremony and playing of the National Anthem at the Stage of Nations in the Al Wasl Dome. Other events include a cultural performance coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, including a public concert within the Al Wasl Dome. Music and entertainment will be a central feature of the National Day celebrations with multiple pop-dance presentations, Gardner said. The launch of the first-ever Global Tourism Resilience Day by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, will also form part of the activities. In addition to the cultural performances and concerts, the Jamaican delegation in Dubai will also be engaged in bilateral meetings and will stage exhibits for Expo visitors. Visitors to the Jamaican Pavilion will get the opportunity to win prizes throughout the six days of activities and indulge in Jamaican cuisine such as ackee and saltfish and jerked chicken. Jamaicans in the diaspora and at home can view the celebrations on the JIS YouTube channel and on Expo TV at www.expo2020dubai.com/en/news/expo-tv on February 18. WI

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 19

HEALTH Despite Progress, HIV Disparities Among Races Persists Systemic and Social Factors Contribute to the Inequity Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer Ahead of National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day (Feb. 7), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] released data to highlight factors contributing to continuing HIV disparities. The agency said that despite overall progress in reducing HIV transmission in the U.S., HIV affects some groups more than others due to longstanding and ingrained barriers. According to CDC estimates, Black people account for a higher proportion of new HIV infections

than other races and ethnicities. Blacks accounted for 13% of the U.S. population but 40% of people with HIV in 2019. A CDC report published on Feb. 3 found that 52% of Black adults with diagnosed HIV resided in areas in the country with higher Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) scores – often residentially-segregated communities comprised predominantly of Black people. SVI refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such strains include natural or human-caused disasters or disease outbreaks. The report underscores the con-

(Courtesy of the National Aids Memorial)

tinuing, urgent need to address the social determinants that contribute to disparities and better deliver HIV prevention and care to people who need it most, said the CDC. “HIV disparities can and must end,” the CDC wrote. “Racism, longstanding systemic inequities, social and economic marginalization, residential segregation, unequal reach of HIV prevention and treatment and higher levels of HIV in some communities are among the factors that have contributed to these troubling and persistent disparities,” the CDC said. A separate report by New York State health officials and CDC

found that COVID-19 vaccination coverage was lower among adults with HIV than the general adult population and that Blacks with HIV were among groups with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination coverage. In addition, people engaged in HIV care were more likely to be vaccinated than people not involved in HIV care. The agency said it’s working with partners on many fronts and through the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, to focus resources on communities in need. “The advanced, highly-effective HIV prevention and treatment

tools and COVID-19 vaccines that have been accessed by some must be accessible to all,” said Demetre Daskalakis, director of CDC’s HIV Prevention Program. “While there is no simple solution to equity, our nation must finally tear down the wall of factors – systemic racism, homophobia, transphobia, HIV-related stigma, and other ingrained barriers – that still obstructs these tools against HIV and COVID-19 from equitably reaching the people who could benefit from them,” he said. The National AIDS Memorial marked Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with an online memorial honoring those who died of the virus. Available to view by the public by visiting www.aidsmemorial.org, a virtual exhibition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and engraved names in the National AIDS Memorial Grove honors those lost during 40 years of the pandemic and the continuing impact of HIV in the Black community today. “Our hope is that these online programs help raise greater awareness about the ongoing struggle with HIV and the impact systemic barriers have on positive health outcomes, particularly in the Black community,” CEO John Cunningham said. “This collection of powerful stories are part of the hope, healing and remembrance these two national treasures – the Grove and the Quilt – bring to our nation throughout the year,” he said. WI

Advocacy Continues for OTC Birth Control Pill Black Women Face Systemic Barriers to Prescription Contraceptives Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer According to one reproductive health non-profit, Black women face disproportionate barriers when it comes to accessing prescription birth control. Common barriers include: racism in the health care system; lack of insurance coverage; and the inability to take time off work or school to get to a doctor's appointment. Black women also remain less likely to discuss contraception with their healthcare providers than others. Due to those factors that have persisted for years, some reproductive health nonprofits are pushing for an

20 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

over-the-counter [OTC] birth control pill that's affordable and accessible for all ages. One of those nonprofits, Ibis Reproductive Health, currently operates the "Free The Pill" campaign. Since 2004, Free The Pill has acted as an advocacy organization working with clinicians and researchers to advance contraception for women to make it as simple as going to the drugstore and purchasing it like any other need. Victoria Nichols, Free The Pill project director, said the 17-year effort appears to be paying off. She added that two pharmaceutical companies, one

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EDITORIAL

No Masks, No Vaccines, Required While COVID Still Lingers D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser dealt District residents the decision they have long been waiting for. Effective Feb. 15, she removed the mandate requiring indoor venues to verify patrons are vaccinated. She went one step further. Beginning March 1, masks will only be needed for those businesses that require masks for their employees and customers. Bowser’s announcement this week reportedly caught legislators off guard after announcing one month ago the requirement for “three things needed before heading out.” Proof of vaccination (12 years +), proof of vaccination and photo ID (18 years +) and masks and proof of vaccination for restaurant, cafe and bar patrons. D.C. joins seven states to remove mask mandates this year, making it one of the last remaining states upholding the requirement. But politics continues to play a significant role in the mask debate. D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) announced Tuesday plans to introduce emergency legislation to reinstate the mask mandate. Along with At-Large Councilmembers Christina Henderson and Robert White, she was reportedly taken aback by Bowser’s surprise move. Politics aside, the CDC still recommends wearing masks. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], has expressed her warning that this is not the moment to start relaxing restrictions. In D.C., infection rates and deaths are declining but the CDC doesn’t feel the decline is low enough to relax mask requirements and vaccines. People are still getting COVID-19 or the Omicron variant, and many continue to die from it, as well. No matter what Bowser, the council, or the CDC suggests, local residents will continue to do what they feel is necessary to keep themselves and their families safe. There’s no shame in their game to get vaccinated, declare it to those who ask and wear masks anywhere folks are gathered. They should continue to regularly wash their hands and keep a reasonable 6-feet distance from others. There’s no doubt these mandates lead to confusion and the mixed signals result in a diminished view of a virus that has killed nearly 1 million people in the U.S. alone. We can only continue to urge readers to take every precaution to stay safe, including getting vaccinated and boosted and continuing to wear a mask. Do this for yourself and don’t be distracted by the bantering among politicians. With or without a mandate, COVID-19 is still here. Do what you feel you need to do to stay safe. WI

Will Inflation Be the Nail in the Coffin? As the world enters the third year of the still deadly coronavirus pandemic, Americans face yet another hurdle that could prove equally as challenging, if not devastating for millions of citizens. In one word – it’s called “inflation.” And the rate of inflation now hitting our pockets has reached a rate not seen in 40 years. Low-income workers have been hit the hardest with the gains they’ve experienced during the pandemic due to a long-awaited rise in the minimum wage, offset by prices that seem to just keep going up and up and up. But it’s not just low-income families and workers who are feeling the pinch. Members of the middle class are struggling too, pinching pennies and delaying all forms of gratification just to keep the lights and heat on. As for rent, well, that’s another hurdle for many families as the rent increase nationwide in 2021 rose by 14 percent. And while we must all eat, paying for quality groceries has suddenly required greater proficiency in balancing a budget than ever before. Anyone who’s gone to the supermarket knows that a dollar seems to be nearly worthless these days. The price for essentials like milk, juice, cheese, fresh fruit, eggs and meat have skyrocketed. Forget about planning meals based on your tastes or desires. If you hope to have any change left in your pocket, you’d better be willing to eat based on the prices for the week. If it’s on sale – and that’s a rarity – you may want to purchase that item and try to pretend to enjoy whatever it is. By the way, if you were hoping to finally purchase a used car, believing that you could save a few bucks, guess again. Recent reports indicate that the price for a used car is often higher than the cost of a brand new one – if you can find one, that is. Wealthier Americans have greater protections against inflation and rising prices,

TO THE EDITOR Condolences and Congrats

First, let me say rest peacefully to Hyattsville Mayor Kevin Ward. Also, sending congratulations to Dr. Monifa Knight, the new public school superintendent for Montgomery County. She’s the first Black woman to hold the position, and I know she will do exceedingly well with her pedigree. Charles Carroll Silver Spring, Md.

with substantial retirement savings and investments. Most of them also own their homes as well as one, if not several automobiles. But for the middle- and lower-class, it’s a very different situation. Those who rent their homes, already struggling to pay the bill in this third year of COVID-19, continue to see their rent increase. Stimulus benefits or child-tax

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Fixing Crime Begins at Home

The D.C. carjackings are out of control, and everybody’s afraid to say it — well, I’ll say it. These young people out on the streets committing these crimes come from homes that have failed them. There are no family units, present parents, structure in the house, none of that. They’re left to figure it out with nothing but bad influences in their face. I believe crime will diminish when the old values become new again. Richard Fenley Washington, D.C. credit payments have been spent months ago. And the cost of utilities, also increasing steadily, have people afraid that they won’t be able to keep the electricity and heat on for much longer. Can things get any worse? It’s hard to imagine but it’s possible. Americans are in trouble. WI

FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 23

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

The Congressional Black Caucus is the Conscience of the Congress

All too often, the Congressional Black Caucus gets a bad rap. What do they do, many ask. What have they recently accomplished? Are they leaning on their revolutionary origins, their founding in 1971, the once widely publicized People's Budget? Have they become go-along-to-get-along politicians as usual? These are reasonable questions that I often raise myself, often so frustrated by congressional inaction that I don't see the big picture, the lovely picture

of more than 50 Black members of Congress, when we once had only one at a time, and with the many ways that their collective action makes a difference. All too often, it is not what they do but what they prevent by working to stop the foolish impulses of some of the Republicans who would oppose our Black existence. I was reminded of the efficacy of the Congressional Black Caucus when I recently interviewed Dr. Sherice Jenaye Nelson, a Howard University-educated political scientist whose recent book, "The Congressional Black Caucus: Fifty Years of Fighting for Equality" (Archway Publishing, 2020), recounts

Guest Columnist

the history of Black political participation at the congressional level. This sister scholar has done meticulous work describing the many ways the Congressional Black Caucus has been enormously impactful. In our radio conversation, though, she also talked about the limitations that CBC members face because of their ideological diversity and their need to be reelected to make change. My idols are the activists like Reps. Maxine Waters (Calif.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Barbara Lee (Calif.), and Karen Bass (Calif.). Newcomers like Cori Bush (Mo.) and Lucy McBath

(Ga.) have also earned my admiration for their strong positions and willingness to go against the grain. At the same time, some will go nameless who don't much step up or speak up. Dr. Nelson reminded me that some of them don't have the freedom to speak, partly because they represent majority-white districts or aren't that radical, being elected because they are "moderates." Still, they can sometimes be counted to vote with their African American colleagues, and those are the votes that count. Writing them off can be counterproductive when we need to get things done. Don't get me wrong, we should call them on their racial

ambivalence when we need to. At the same time, during this Black History Month, I'm willing to dial back some of the criticism and look at the very many excellent things the Congressional Black Caucus has done. Dr. Sherise Jenaye Nelson's book is one worth reading. It speaks to the foreign policy the CBC has done historically, especially around Africa issues (Congressman Ron Dellyms' championship to the Free South Africa movement is notable) and Caribbean issues, especially around Haiti. Domestically,

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Marian Wright Edelman

Young Leaders Making a Difference

When President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Atlanta recently to address the urgent need for voting rights legislation, they chose to speak on the storied grounds of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, the home of historically Black institutions Clark University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and my alma mater, Spel-

man College. President Biden and Vice President Harris were introduced onstage by current Spelman senior Jillian Jackson, who is serving as the 80th president of Spelman's Student Government Association. I am so proud of Jillian and grateful for the current generation of young servant leaders like her who are busy making their schools, communities and world a better place. During Black History Month, it is especially fitting to celebrate today's and tomorrow's young Black leaders. Jillian, who is from Memphis, is a

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political science major and Spanish minor in Spelman's Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program. Besides serving in student government, she has been part of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, URGE (Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Fair Fight U, joining other students supporting Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight organization as they fight for free and fair elections, encourage voter participation and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. This is critical work for young

people. As Jillian introduced President Biden and Vice President Harris, she reminded her fellow students it was their "duty as campus leaders and change agents to combat voter discrimination on behalf of their peers and [their] community." Jillian described registering to vote at a NAACP voter drive right after she turned 18 during her first semester at Spelman and shared how excited she was to participate in her first election. But she also saw how many challenges hopeful voters face, including strict

absentee requirements, limited polling place access, long lines and rejections over technicalities like misspelled names or incorrect addresses. As Jillian said, these barriers "inhibit many citizens and their right to vote, especially within the Black community," and some of the same barriers that make voting harder for many people of color also make it harder for young people. July 2021 was the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the 26th Amend-

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Marc H. Morial

Coach Flores' Lawsuit Presents NFL With 'Opportunity to Engage in Substantive Change'

"More than half the players in the NFL are Black, and most coaches have played the game at some level. That would seem to be the perfect recipe for Black coaches to find success. But most NFL owners have been white men, and they have seldom been willing to let African Americans or Latinos call plays — either on the field or from the sidelines.

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This is no different from when franchises presumed that Black players weren't smart enough to play quarterback and lacked leadership skills to command men. The league's paltry record of hiring minority head coaches comes from the same mind-set. And its primary effort to address the problem has been a failure, because a policy can't compensate for ignorance." — Jemele Hill Three days before Brian Flores was scheduled to interview for the position of head coach with the New York Giants,

he received a text from New England Patriots general manager Bill Belichick congratulating him on getting the job. Except Belichick thought he was texting Brian Daboll. The Giants not only had decided to hire Daboll before even interviewing Flores, but already was sharing the information with others. Belichick's flub illuminated what has long been an open secret in the NFL: too often, complying with the "Rooney Rule," which requires league teams to interview candidates of color for head

coaching and senior football operation jobs, is an empty gesture — a fig leaf to conceal the owners' indifference to achieving racial parity among top coaching and executive positions. As head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Flores led the team out of a 20-year slump to consecutive winning seasons between 2020 and 2021. Rather than celebrate his success, Dolphin's owner Stephen M. Ross fired him. And rather than leap at the chance to hire Flores — or at least seriously consider

him — the Giants used his sham interview to create the false impression that a Black candidate had a legitimate chance at obtaining the job. Flores' lawsuit against the NFL, the Giants, the Dolphins and the Denver Broncos — whom he accuses of conducting a similar sham interview in 2019 — has brought to a head the league's shameful history of racial discrimination and persistent indifference

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Ben Jealous

Republican Party Makes Dangerous Bow to Trump's Insurrectionists

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is officially letting Americans know that it is more committed to former President Donald Trump than to democracy, the rule of law, and the truth. Some people might say Republicans have been letting us know that ever since Donald Trump became the party's standard-bearer in 2016. And there's some truth to that. Even so, the party reached a new low on

Feb. 4. The RNC accused the congressional committee investigating the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol of "persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse." It called the investigation an effort to "destroy President Trump." And it formally censured the two Republican members of the committee, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, cutting them off from any future support from the party. This is disgusting. It is also dangerous.

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Keep in mind that the insurrection was meant to stop Congress from confirming the results of the presidential election as they are required to do by the U.S. Constitution. Keep in mind that members of Congress were targets. They could easily have been among the dead if U.S. Capitol Police had not kept violent attackers from reaching them. And keep in mind that congressional Republicans had an opportunity to create and participate in a bipartisan commission to investigate what happened. But

Republican leaders didn't want an investigation that might reveal embarrassing truths about Trump, his allies and some of their Republican colleagues. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell may have criticized the recent RNC resolution, but that doesn't change the fact that he blocked the creation of a bipartisan commission to get at the truth. Fortunately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi then moved to create a special House committee to investigate the insurrection. We should all be grateful for her leadership. We

should all be grateful for the investigative work being carried out by the committee. And we should all be grateful to Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger. No matter how strongly we may disagree with their conservative positions, they have modeled an important principle: Some things are more important than partisan politics — like democracy and the rule of law. While the RNC resolution is disturbing, it's not exactly surprising.

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Sean Dugar

Ranking the Vote Equals Strengthening our Democracy

I’ve spent a lifetime ensuring Black people have unfettered access to the ballot box. My mom says I was born into it. She brought me to my first protest at just six months old, and by the first grade, my classmates and I had organized our first protest. In the fourth grade, I organized my classmates to walk off a school bus after the driver called us the "N"

word. At that age, I'm pretty sure I didn't know exactly what the word meant. But, I knew it was something bad enough to motivate us all to get off the bus and walk a mile and a half to our stop. My involvement in activism continued throughout high school and college. At the same time, I worked my way from NAACP member, to president of the college division, to working for the National NAACP where I was responsible for the operations and campaigns in nine states and 350

Guest Columnist

local units passing legislation in the bluest or blue and reddest of red states. Running parallel to this time with the NAACP, I got involved with the Democratic party, building organizations and working to get dozens of young Black candidates elected to public office. All this background is to say I became an early supporter of the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), a voting process that allows voters to rank their candidates so that their vote gets included in the final result. With Ranked Choice Voting

(RCV) I saw first-hand the equitable impact that it had on my community, the people I care about deeply. I started running Ranked Choice Voting candidate campaigns in Berkeley and Oakland, again, seeing the impact that it had on maintaining fair representation in communities that were drastically changing. The DC Council is considering the V.O.I.C.E. Act introduced by Councilmember Henderson and cosponsored by a majori-

ty of the Council, which would bring ranked choice voting here to Washington DC. More Voice DC is a non-profit dedicated to expanding the voice of Washingtonians in the political process and making sure that DC residents are educated about how to most effectively use their voice. I'm here to lend my expertise to this local grassroots effort. We are committed to the fact that voters have greater say in the electoral process.

lected nominee as unqualified. I remain amazed by their proclamations of accurate prognostication. Smells like BS to me! As an attorney, I claim a measure of understanding of these matters. I have seen the "list" of potential nominees and find all to be qualified and possessing the requisite experience necessary for consideration. Current circumstances only make me wonder what really makes the nomination of a Black woman so objectionable to the re-

actionary right. One thing is certain: An appointment under the Biden administration will NOT alter the philosophical balance of the current justices. The same majority of six conservative justices will remain against three liberals. No shift of power! No opportunity to protect the interests of progressive ideals or persons! In fact, the opposite is true. The continuing pro-

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E. Faye Williams

That Black Woman

In February 2020, few gave full thought or consideration to the pledge that then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden made to make a Black woman his first Supreme Court nominee. Of course, any comment made by candidate Biden was subject to political pushback by members of the Trump mob, but I'm not sure that

enough people thought he would win and have that pledge to keep — making that statement a huge issue. Here we are two years later. Joe Biden is President. Justice Stephen Breyer has announced his retirement from the Supreme Court. Albeit a thin one, Democrats control the confirming majority in the U.S. Senate. The nomination of a Black woman to the position of Supreme Court justice is imminent. The racists (Republicans)

can't stand it! Accordingly, they have responded to the certainty of the nomination of a Black woman with the expected litany of hypocritical and racist invectives. Inflammatory trigger words like "unqualified Black woman," "affirmative action selection," and "reverse racial discrimination" now fill the airwaves. Even before an actual selection is made, Republicans have made it their dedicated duty to denigrate and label the unidentified, unse-

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WILLIAMS Page 54 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 25

A BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONVERSATION

Ambassador Andrew Young Reflects on the Civil Rights Movement’s Impact on Affordable Housing and Generational Wealth By Austin R. Cooper, Jr. Our House Managing Editor I recently interviewed Ambassador Andrew J. Young. He played a significant role alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including the 1966 Chicago Freedom Movement to end slums and improve living conditions. As Mayor of the City of Atlanta, Georgia, affordable housing was at the top of Young’s agenda. We also discussed his views on building generational wealth among Black Americans and faith in the midst of so much hatred in the world.

LEARNING ABOUT AMBASSADOR YOUNG

I first learned of Young at age ten, having just completed a book on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While reading Black Enterprise in early 1975, I learned that Young had been elected to Congress the prior November from Atlanta, Georgia. He served in Congress for two terms before being appointed as the first Black U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. In January 1978, my father took me to a Black Ministers Breakfast. Young was the guest speaker. Riding home, I told my father, an Episcopal priest, “One day, I want to work for Ambassador Young.” He replied, “Well, maybe one day you will. You don’t know what God has planned for you.” After serving as Mayor of Atlanta, Young co-founded GoodWorks International, a global advisory firm. Joining the firm in 2005, I worked for him for eight years.

THE CHICAGO FREEDOM MOVEMENT

In January 1966, King announced plans to bring his crusade to Chicago, Illinois. Leaders of the Chicago Freedom Movement, a coalition of 44 civil rights organizations, invited King to help bring attention to the racist and discriminatory practices impacting Blacks in the North. Reflecting on that time, 55 years after the demonstrations in Chicago, Young graded their efforts: “Our efforts were A-plus.” However, he also acknowledges the many challenges King faced, including the shooting of James Meredith that June in Mississippi. “In addition to being overworked and overburdened, we got pulled into the war in Vietnam. And that divided us up all over the country. Yet almost everything we worked on had success. We managed to do everything, but not well.” One success Young acknowledged after Chicago in 1966 was the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. One week after King’s assassination in Memphis, President Lyndon B. Johnson used this national tragedy to mobilize support for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This legislation expanded the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the inclusion of Title VIII, known as the Fair Housing Act, which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended), and family status.

GENERATIONAL WEALTH

Young also speaks to generational wealth in the 1960s and today. Housing owned by White slumlords in Chicago in 1966, Young said, was their form of generational wealth: “But it was usually a form of generational wealth for them that they really didn’t need. That’s what created slums – taking out of a community and not reinvesting in a community.” When asked to define generational wealth, he answered, “Generational wealth is absolutely necessary and essential if possible. The first possibility of generational wealth is probably to own a home. If you can own a home and pass it on to your children, you’ve really done something.”

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5 The Hon. Andrew J. Young with Austin R. Cooper, Jr. / Photo courtesy Austin R. Cooper, Jr.

ADDRESSING HOUSING AS MAYOR OF ATLANTA

As Mayor of Atlanta, Young continued King’s work on affordable housing, including Black homeownership. “You know, shortly after Dr. King’s death, I became Mayor of Atlanta, and we did a lot of things that were creative. For example, we took buildings, homes, that were abandoned and not being used, and we passed an urban housing act which allowed us to sell these homes to individuals for $1.” These homes were sold to qualifying Atlanta residents through a lottery. Young agrees that much work needs to be done to address fair and affordable housing in America adequately. He also believes that it will take the combined efforts of federal, state, and local government and the private sector, and civil rights organizations to ensure that this becomes a reality for all Americans.

THE BURDEN OF HATRED AND HOPE THROUGH FAITH

Toward the end of the interview, the preacher in Young comes out as he remembers the words of King’s father, affectionately known as “Daddy” King. Daddy King often said, “Hate is too great a burden to bear. No man can make me hate him.” “It says to me there is a nonviolent tradition in the Black community that says that no matter what happens to us, we don’t hate anybody, and we work to overcome it,” said Young. Love of family, hatred of no one, and working toward equality for all will continue to sustain him as he celebrates his 90th birthday on March 12th and in the years ahead. To see the video: https://m.youtube. com/watch?v=EtnwJMJorhA

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BLACK HISTORY month

Black Athletes Who Paved the Way and Opened Doors Ed Hill WI Sports Writer The story of African-Americans in sports is tightly related to the rise of and continued fight for equal participation in U.S. culture and society. It illustrates an effort that accounts not only for on-field excellence but also for groundbreaking personalities and courageous fighters who have secured championships and earned statistical excellence. They have played for access and opportunity and the chance to thrive in places never accessed before, carving out new pathways in society. Here’s a look at some of the greatest athletes, moments and accomplishments in African-American sports history.

HU MEN WIN NATIONAL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

The school’s 1971 title, a 3-2 victory over perennial soccer powerhouse Saint Louis University, was vacated by the NCAA which alleged that Howard used ineligible players and subsequently banned the Bison from post-season competition for a season. Three years later, Howard would achieve redemption, reclaiming the title the school felt was rightfully theirs, in 1974, beating Saint Louis (again) in four thrilling overtimes. Howard became the first HBCU to win a national championship at the NCAA Division 1 level.

ALTHEA GIBSON BREAKS THE CEILING IN TENNIS

A groundbreaking athlete for both women and African Americans alike, Gibson, a Florida A&M University product, was one of the

first women to cross the color barrier in professional sports and became the first Black woman to win a Grand Slam title in tennis in the 1956 French Open. She would go on to capture a title at each of the Grand Slam tournaments for a total of 11 Grand Slam championships overall. She also completed on the LPGA Tour in 1964, becoming the first woman ever to compete professionally in both tennis and golf.

ART SHELL BECOMES NFL'S FIRST BLACK HEAD COACH

When the Los Angeles Raiders named Art Shell as their head coach in 1989, he became the first African-American to hold the role in the modern NFL, preceded only by Fritz Pollard who was co-head coach of the Akron Pros in 1921. An eighttime Pro Bowl selection as a player and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (from Maryland State University, now Maryland-Eastern Shore), Shell was named AFC Coach of the Year in 1990 when he guided the Raiders to a 12-4 record and the AFC West championship.

bledon, the US Open and Australian Open. In 1968, Ashe became the first Black man to be ranked as the world’s No. 1 player. When denied a visa to play in a tournament in South Africa, he dedicated himself to exposing the injustices of apartheid in the country and was arrested for protesting the treatment of Haitian refugees. After contracting AIDS during heart bypass surgery, he created a foundation for research on the disease. The Arthur Ashe Learning Center continues to fund various research to this day.

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Howard University soccer team with National Championship in 1974. (Courtesy photo)

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is proud to recognize the contributions of our African-American owned business partners. To learn more, visit www.mwaa.com/supplierdiversity

ARTHUR ASHE REACHES NO. 1 IN WORLD TENNIS RANKINGS

The definition of a barrier-breaker, Ashe shattered walls as an athlete and activist. He remains the first and only Black man to win Wim-

Reagan National Airport

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Dulles International Airport

Dulles Toll Road

Dulles Metrorail

Your Journey Begins with Us

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH TRAIL BLAZERS from Page 27

BILL RUSSELL – THE NBA’S FIRST MEGASTAR

The most prolific winner in professional sports history, Bill Russell captured an NBA championship in 11 of his 13 seasons. He was the NBA’s first African-American superstar and in 1966 he became the first Black head coach of a major professional sports team in the modern era when he became player/manager for the Boston Celtics. Two years later he became the first Black man to coach his team to a championship. Russell and Celtics teammate, K. C. Jones, also won back-to-back NCAA basketball championships with the University of San Francisco in 1957 and 1958, respectively.

BOB GIBSON – GREATEST BLACK PITCHER IN MLB HISTORY

A tremendous all-around athlete, Gibson averaged 22 points per game for Creighton as a college basketball player and also played for the Harlem Globetrotters for a year. But he shined the brightest on the pitching mound, where he would win 251 games and two World Series during a Hall of Fame career with the St. Louis Cardinals. The greatest African-American pitcher in MLB history, Gibson set the modern record with a 1.18 ERA in 1968, a year when he won the National League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards. In 1964, he became the first Black pitcher to ever win World Series MVP which he repeated in 1967.

ISRAEL BAPTIST CHURCH INTERIM PASTOR JOB VACANCY Israel Baptist Church 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20018 Israel Baptist Church is prayerfully seeking an Interim Pastor, who will be responsible for carrying out the ministerial duties of the congregation, as well as prepare the congregation for the individual that will be selected as the next Senior Pastor. If you are interested, please go the church’s website @ www. israelbaptistchurch.org and click on the Interim Pastoral Job Vacancy link for detailed information and to apply. Deadline: Opening Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Closing Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Have questions? Email Interimpastor@israelbaptistchurch.org 28 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

CHUCK COOPER, EARL LLOYD AND NAT CLIFTON BREAK NBA COLOR BARRIER

The integration of professional basketball was simultaneously accomplished by three individuals. In the 1950 NBA Draft, Chuck Cooper, Nate “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd were all selected and broke into the league in different capacities. Cooper, who attended HBCU West Virginia State before finishing his college career at Duquesne, was the first Black player drafted, going as the first pick in the second round. Due to the season’s schedule, Lloyd, who also played at West Virginia State, was the first to play in a game for the Washington Capitals, while Clifton was the first to sign a contract that season.

CITO GASTON BECOMES FIRST BLACK MANAGER TO WIN WORLD SERIES

In 1992, Cito Gaston guided the Toronto Blue Jays to the first of two consecutive World Series championships. In the process, he became the first Black manager to ever win a World Series. Between two terms of managing the Blue Jays between 1989 to 1997 and again from 2008 to 2020, Gaston won 894 games. Gaston has the rare distinction of winning the World Series in every season he reached the postseason in his career.

DEHART HUBBARD, JOHN TAYLOR FIRST BLACKS TO WIN OLYMPIC GOLD

DeHart Hubbard and John Taylor represent the first African-Americans to ever win Olympic gold medals in their respective sports. In 1908, Taylor became the first to strike gold as a member of the U.S. men’s relay team, running the third leg of the race. Sixteen years later, at the

1924 games, Hubbard became the first to win individual gold when he emerged victorious in the long jump.

DOUG WILLIAMS WINS SUPER BOWL XXII – FIRST BLACK QB

When Doug Williams took the helm for the then Washington Redskins at Super Bowl XXII, it marked the first time in the game’s history that a Black called the shots at quarterback. Williams, who played for legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University, did not disappoint, throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns, defeating the Denver Broncos, 42-10. Williams was named MVP of the game and would remain the only Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl for the next 26 years.

EDDIE ROBINSON BECOMES COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S WINNINGEST COACH

From 1941 to 1997, Eddie Robinson led the football program at Grambling State University. His tenure covered a period when African-Americans were blocked by segregation from playing at many Southern universities. In the process he converted his program into a powerhouse among historically black colleges and universities, owning a career record of 408165-15. He won 17 SWAC titles and nine Black college national championships and became the first collegiate football coach to ever reach 400 victories. Over 200 of his players went on to have professional careers.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR. RETIRES FROM BOXING UNDEFEATED

F l o y d Ma y we a t h er, Jr. made history of all sorts inside the boxing ring. He retired with a perfect 50-0 record, making him

the only fighter in history with as many fights to go undefeated with no ties. He’s also regarded by many as the greatest defensive fighter in history and he held titles in five different weight classes.

FRANK ROBINSON’S BASEBALL CAREER SPANS OVER SIX DECADES

Frank Robinson was a groundbreaking presence both on and off the diamond, during a career in baseball that touched seven decades. As a player, he hit 586 home runs, fourth-most all time when he retired. He also is the only player to ever be named MVP in both the National and American Leagues. In 1975, he became the first Black manager in MLB history. Robinson was also an outspoken activist for racial issues in the game and expanded the reach of the sport into African-American communities.

FRITZ POLLARD – THE ‘FIRST’ ON MANY FOOTBALL FRONTS

Fritz Pollard had a habit of making history throughout the early days of his career. In college he became both the first African-American football player at Brown and the first to be named to the Walter Camp All-American team. In 1920, along with Bobby Marshall, he became one of the first two Blacks in the NFL. In his second season, Pollard led the Akron Pros to their first championship and the following season was named their co-head coach, becoming the first African-American coach in pro sports history and was still an active player.

HANK AARON BECOMES ALL-TIME HOME RUN KING

Babe Ruth’s record of 714 career home runs stood as the premier record not only in baseball but in all of sports. But as Hank Aaron entered the 1974 season one shy of tying Ruth, it came on the heels of having spent the previous winter receiving all measures of racial hatred, hate mail and death threats. Many people did not want to see a Black man conquer Ruth’s hallowed mark. On April 8 in Atlanta, Aaron hit career home run No. 715

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett Participates in Black History Month Program Research Scientist Developed Life-Saving COVID-19 Vaccine William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett summarized her work in developing a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine which produced at least 94% efficacy and has saved millions of lives. But the 36-year-old award-winning scientist, researcher and Harvard University professor said during a Black History Month breakfast Saturday, Feb. 12, her most important work as a health care professional rests as a Black woman. “I’m from the rural south where elements such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes plagued communities like my own and even plagued my family, said the native of Hillsborough, North Carolina. “The one thing that remains true is that vaccines happen to be the most life-saving way to prevent disease in this world. They are thought to be the best public health intervention ever,” she said. Corbett served as keynote speaker for the 41stannual virtu-

al program hosted by Rep. Steny Hoyer representing the 5thCongressional District that represents portions of Prince George’s County and all three counties in Southern Maryland. Hoyer, who serves as House Majority Leader in Congress, also hosted last year’s program online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program’s first keynote speaker in 1981 featured the late Judge James Taylor, the first Black circuit court judge in Prince George’s County. “I am really sad that we cannot be together personally – that we cannot shake one another’s hands, giving one another a hug, a smile,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that this is good technology but it doesn’t replace the human interaction that we’ve had for 39 years. Hopefully we will get back to [that] very, very soon.” The program’s first keynote speaker in 1981 featured the late Judge James Taylor, the first Black circuit court judge in Prince George’s County. Other participants included: the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia); former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder;

5 Rep. Steny Hoyer hosted the 41st annual Black History Month breakfast Feb. 12. (Screen shot: photo courtesy of Rep. Steny Hoyer)

Librarian of Congress Carla D. Hayden; and Vice President Kamala Harris, who participated virtually. This year’s online program also highlighted Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Maryland) serving as co-chair to bring community leaders from the 4thCongressional District, which includes the remaining

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A welder uses heat and flame to join together metals. It is a highly skilled job and in high demand. Our next Career page highlights the job of a Welder. Each week, Kid Scoop brings students interactive games, activities, puzzles and more in a bright & bouncy, award-winning feature kids and their family members can enjoy together.

5 Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, gives keynote address Feb. 12 for the 41stannual Black History Month breakfast program hosted by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland). (Screen shot: photo courtesy of Rep. Steny Hoyer)

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PUBLICATION DATE HERE

Publication Date: 2-24-22

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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communities of Prince George’s and parts of Anne Arundel County. The celebration on Saturday also featured members of First Baptist Church of Highland Park of Landover who sang “Life Every Voice and Sing.” Thirkel Freeman, pastor of True Gospel Church Ministry in Waldorf, Charles County, offered the invocation. House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), the first Black legislator and first woman to hold the position, serves as leader of the state’s House of Delegates. “It’s important to remember that Black voters are American voters,” she said in pre-recorded remarks. “Black culture is American culture and Black History is American history. Not just in February but all throughout the year.” Corbett shared comments reflective of this year’s program

theme, “Black Health and Wellness.” She has several connections to Maryland, majoring in biology and sociology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County graduating in 2008. Six years later, she received a doctorate at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In 2020, she led a team of scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda to conduct trials for a coronavirus vaccine. Her work eventually led to the development of a Moderna vaccine which received worldwide accolades that included an award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. An awards tribute will take place Thursday, Feb. 17 during the association’s annual meeting. Corbett continues research and manages her own lab at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. As for COVID-19, she encourages Americans to become vaccinated and get a booster shot.

As we celebrate Black History Month in February, we recognize and honor the accomplishments of so many who have helped shape the face and future of our nation.

More than 900,000 Americans have died from the virus with 65% of the U.S. population fully vaccinated. “We need probably closer to 90% to start to see some real level of change [and] immunity in the

population,” Corbett said. “Black and brown people actually lag in those statistics but the truth is at some point, we will rise out of this pandemic.” WI @WJFjabarwill

5 Rep. Steny Hoyer (left) introduces Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Illinois) on Feb. 12 during the 41st annual Black History Month breakfast program. (Screen shot: photo courtesy of Rep. Steny Hoyer)

HARRIET TUBMAN FREDERICK DOUGLASS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR,

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D C W AT E R C E L E B R AT E S

BLACK HISTORY MONTH DC Water celebrates the heroes of Black History, who have championed equality and fought for a better future for all Americans. In this spirit, and under the leadership of CEO David Gadis, the Authority is leading the push towards water equity, both regionally and nationally. DC Water employees deliver equity for our community through the LeadFree DC program, which will eliminate lead service lines within the District by 2030 and expanded customer assistance programs that keep more families connected to water services during a

financial hardship. We deliver equity to our employees through inclusion programs and a diverse, world-class management team reflective of the employees they lead and communities they serve. We deliver economic equity through our apprenticeship programs and ensuring small, local, and disadvantaged businesses can compete for contracts with the Authority.

“To realize equality, we must first deliver equity.”

DC Water draws inspiration from the heroes of Black History and is committed to advancing equity within the Authority and across the water sector.

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 31

BLACK HISTORY MONTH TRAIL BLAZERS from Page 28 and moved to the top of the record book under the most extreme pressure, going on to finish his career in 1976 with 755 homers.

JACK JOHNSON – FIRST BLACK WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMP

In remembering and honoring our building namesake Max Robinson and his incredible legacy, we recommit in the present to serving community, ﬁghting stigma and creating safe and welcoming health care service for all. Thank you, Max Robinson, for being a hero and champion for equity and health.

Our Max Robinson Center provides: Primary Medical Care

Gender Afﬁrming Care

Mental & Behavioral Health

Substance Use Treatment Services

Dental Health

Legal Services

Insurance Navigation Services

Pharmacy

Learn more about our services at whitman-walker.org or call (202) 745-7000

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At the peak of the Jim Crow era in America, Jack Johnson emerged as one of the nation’s biggest stars. In 1908, the Galveston, Texas native defeated Tommy Burns in the 14th round, becoming the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion, a title he would hold for the next eight years.

JACKIE JOYNERKERSEE REACHES MEDAL STAND AT FOUR OLYMPICS

One of the most gifted and accomplished all-around athletes in history, Jackie Joyner-Kersee reached the medal stand at four different Olympic games. Overall, Kersee won six medals – three gold, one silver and two bronze – across her Olympic career. Joyner-Kersee set a still-standing record of 7,291 points in the heptathlon while earning one of the aforementioned bronze medals in 1996 with a pulled hamstring in the long jump. During her collegiate days at UCLA, she was an accomplished basketball player as well.

JACKIE ROBINSON BREAKS BASEBALL’S COLOR BARRIER

In a moment that transcended the ranks of sports and became one of the defining moments in American history, Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. After a brief minor league stint, Robinson debuted at first base with the Dodgers on April 15, 1947, becoming the first Black to play in the

majors since Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884. Robinson faced substantial pressure and racism but thrived all the same. He became baseball’s first Rookie of the Year and later became NL MVP, a six-time All-Star and a World Series champion over his 10year career.

JERRY RICE – MOST DOMINANT OFFENSIVE PLAYER IN NFL HISTORY

When it comes to the wide receiver position, there’s Jerry Rice and then there’s everybody else. Rice serves as the most dominant offensive player in the history of pro football, owning every significant record there is at the position. Rice rose from the ranks of a little known HBCU (Mississippi Valley State) – where he set 18 Division I-AA records – to become a three-time Super Bowl champion. A 13-time Pro Bowler, Rice scored more points than any other non-kicker in NFL history and counts as the only player to top 20,000 receiving yards.

JESSE OWENS WINS GOLD AT 1936 OLYMPICS, THEN SNUBBED BACK HOME

The 1936 Olympic Games, held in Berlin, G e r m a n y, were largely usurped by Adolf Hitler as a platform for his Nazi agenda and “superior” Aryan race. However, a speedy American sprinter named Jesse Owens stole the spotlight in one of the most significant athletic performances of all time. Owens ran past not only the Germans but also the rest of the world, capturing four gold medals in the 100m sprint, 200m sprint, long jump and 4x100 relay. However, when Owens returned victorious to the United States, he wasn’t even invited to meet the president.

JOE LOUIS – BLACK AMERICA’S ‘BROWN BOMBER’

The “Brown Bomber” was the first African-American athlete who truly crossed over to be appreciated by all

TRAIL BLAZERS Page 45

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Before your next f light, visit some of our African American owned or operated businesses.

And many more!

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Department of Supplier Diversity’s mission is to promote regional economic development through the maximum utilization of small, local, minority and women-owned businesses. For more information, contact their office at 703-417-8660.

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 33

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Show Me Love DMV -

Stephanie and Alexis Foo – Married Couple Embraces the Power of Love D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor It only takes a few moments to realize that Stephanie and Alexis Foo love one another in ways that songwriters often seek to describe. Of course, as two Black women in a same-gender marriage, some might assume that their relationship differs from the traditional, if not more acceptable form of love. But to draw such a narrow conclusion when attempting to understand the bond these two women – these two wives – share and the love they have for each other, would be a profound error. Just as God’s garden has an abundance of different kinds of flowers, Stephanie and Alexis illustrate how their love, while it may take a less common form, still exudes that indescribable beauty that only manifests itself

34 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

when true love exists. “I heard that Alexis had a crush on me back in high school but I was older than her and involved with someone else then,” Stephanie said. “But several years later, I looked her up on social media and shot her a note. I was curious. That’s how we started to get to know each other and then begin to date.” Was it love at first sight? It seems that was the case for Alexis. “Yes, I knew she was the one for me and I remember that I liked everything about her. She was neat and clean and took care of herself. She was funny and caring – she cared about people. That was important to me,” Alexis said. Stephanie and Alexis, after dating for six years, decided to marry – to make it “permanent.” Stephanie admits that marriage had not been on her mind as much as it

had been something which Alexis mentioned on occasion. But she had no objections. “I considered Alexis my forever girlfriend. And although I didn’t want to try to fit in a box or feel like we were following the cliched, married couple, I wanted to be with her. So, we got married on July 4th. In a way, it was the day that I gave up my independence. And I was willing to do it – for her,” Stephanie said. Naturally, the two sometimes disagree, like any couple does. But they said they have developed a way to overcome misunderstandings which keeps things from escalating. “I usually shut down pretty quickly when we argue. And I cry easily. But Stephanie knows that and so she’s quick to come to

FOO Page 36

5 Stephanie and Alexis Foo (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

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In New Documentary Fannie Lou Hamer Makes It Clear as the narrator in the documentary which features spirituals and protest songs powerfully fused with unfor“I'm sick and tired of being sick gettable scenes from the past. Hamer, the youngest of 20 children and tired” remains the immortal phrase spoken by Fannie Lou Ham- born to sharecropper parents, had a er as she expressed exasperation maternal grandmother who bore 23 about her work to improve the con- children. At age six, Hamer started picking cotton after being bribed by a dition of Black and poor people. “Fannie Lou Hamer's America” landowner, picking twice as much as premieres on PBS and WORLD he desired in order to receive her favorChannel beginning February 22 ite treats from a local store. Hamer soon realized that Blacks and will illustrate the roots which undergirded Hamer’s words and did not have as much food as whites and could not attend school. She sentiments. “The flag is draped with our blood asked her mother why? “You won't understand what I because, you see, we have never accepted slavery,” Hamer said both at am saying now. But there’s nothing the beginning and the conclusion of wrong with you being Black and I don't want you to forget that,” her the film. The Peabody Award-winning mother said. By the time she had entered her documentary kicks off the 10th season of “America ReFramed,” with early teens, Hammer had vowed producer Monica Land, Hamer's to devote her life to making things state of Misgreat-niece,Q2 and Joy Davenport, di- different in her home AMTRAK PRINT_Washington Informer_B-AA 3-1.pdf 1 1/25/22 4:12 rector. Hamer both sings and serves sissippi. Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In the 60s, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) arrived in Mississippi to train volunteers to register people to vote. Hamer was one of those volunteers. The statements from state, county and local leaders sounded like what we hear today when describing voter suppression tactics. The difference is that back in the 60s, those political leaders actually used the n-word on camera. "Fannie Lou Hamer's America" reminds us that the more things change, perhaps they don't. Though threatened repeatedly, SNCC volunteers rallied Mississippians to stay strong because they had a constitutional right to vote. Hamer would be severely beaten when a sheriff told two Black men to beat her with a Billy club. Th beating occurred in 1963 following Hamer’s arrest along with other Black volunteers after returning from a voter PM registration workshop.

5 Fannie Lou Hamer representing the Freedom Democratic Party at the 1964 Democratic National Convention from the documentary, “Fannie Lou Hamer's America,” premiers on PBS and WORLD Channel beginning February 22. (Photo courtesy George Ballis)

“It was teaching us how to tell other people how to pass the literacy test,” said Hamer in the documentary. The film airs at a period in history as more Black women step forward, like Hamer, to fight for voting rights which remain in peril due to heightened efforts at voter suppres-

sion targeting citizens of color. Hamer's famous quote still rings true: “Nobody's free until everybody's free.” To view the trailer for the documentary, visit https://worldchannel. org/episode/america-reframed-fannie-lou-hamers-america. WI

CMY

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 35

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FOO from Page 34 me and ask me what’s wrong. She wants us to come to some kind of resolution,” Alexis said. Stephanie agreed. “I don’t like to see her cry. So, I’m okay with saying she’s right – at that moment anyway. Yeah, I will let her win. But later, I usually return to the subject and try to convince her that I was right and to see it my way. I guess that’s kind of my personality. It works for us,” Stephanie said. Both agreed that love begins with loving oneself. “You have to love yourself before you can love someone else,” Alexis said. “Marriage is about two people. Both have to be self-assured. And both have to feel that they’re getting something positive from the relationship. But loving someone else is impossible if you don’t love yourself,” Stephanie concurred. Alexis said she learned about love by watching her family – for Stephanie it was a little different. But both agreed that love is both a precious gift and something worth fighting for. “My grandparents remained

36 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

married until death and my parents are still together, so I want that, too. But marriage requires making time for one another – time for fun. We still go on dates and we love to celebrate our anniversary. It’s a big event for us and we invite all of our friends and our family,” Alexis said. “My bank statement proves that we go on dates every weekend,” Stephanie said. “I like over the top kinds of things. Not the typical kinds of things people do for fun. And the two years before the pandemic, for our anniversary celebration we had 75 guests one year and 100 the next. We make sure that we do things together and have a good time together. We make sure we don’t take each other for granted.” “I know that a lot of people say that because they may have been raised in a broken home, or by a single parent, or grew up in a bad environment, that love is foreign to them. But for me that’s an excuse. You don’t have to allow negative cycles to continue from one generation to another. I wanted to make sure my love and my marriage were something that gave others hope and

inspired them,” Stephanie said. Stephanie and Alexis are now raising a little boy together and they said while they don’t agree on every method of childrearing, their differences remain compatible. “Stephanie is the teacher and I’m more of the nurturer. We’re a good team in that regard,” Alexis said. “We just want our son to be a good person and become the kind of person and man who does the right thing because he knows it’s the right thing to do.” How do they keep the fire burning? Both agreed – communication. “You have to listen to your partner. You have to talk. And you also should understand that it’s best to share your fears and doubts with your partner not with others. Because there are those who while they may seem to be in your corner or your friend, actually want to see your marriage fail. We were meant to be together and we were meant to be married. I feel safe with my wife and I know she’ll never let anything happen to me or to our son.” Alexis said. WI @mcneirdk

Editor’s Note: An old school song from the 70s by The Four Tops, reminds me of the love shared between Stephanie and Alexis. “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)” begins this way:

Every day the sun comes up around her She can make the birds sing harmony Every drop of rain is glad it found her Heaven must have made her just for me When she smiles so warm and tender A sight for sore eyes to see Ooh (ain't no woman like the one I've got) Oh, no, they don't come better (To make her happy doesn't take a lot) She don't ask for things, no diamond rings (So together, like a hand in glove) Like pages in a letter (Ain't no woman like the one I love)

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When the story being told is personal to the storyteller, it makes an emotional connection. And when their story is your story as well, then the connection is even stronger. Just say, “Black Experience,” into your Xfinity Voice Remote and enjoy the largest curated Independent Black Film Collection on demand, plus new and classic TV shows, blockbuster movies, and much more. Xfinity, where Black History is always on. Sign up today at xfinity.com/blackexperience

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Requires Xfinity TV with X1 and compatible TV box or Xfinity Flex and Xfinity Internet. ©2022 Comcast. All Rights Reserved. Based on review of curated content between September and December 2021.

9600

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Who tells the story makes the difference

LIFESTYLE BEE from Page 1 year’s spelling bee, scheduled for March 19, marks 40 years since The Washington Informer became a sponsor of the annual scholastic event. Throughout the cluster bee, more than 140 spelling bee champions from 47 public, public charter and private schools participated in four competitions that brought them face to face with peers from across the city. At the end of each round, at least seven young people rose to the occasion. “I look forward to greater competitors, people to meet and harder words [to spell],” said Nathaniel Ezra, an eighth grader at St.

Augustine Catholic School in Northwest. On the morning of Feb. 10, Nathaniel secured the top spot in his cluster bee when he correctly spelled the word “physicists.” He credited his study regimen as the main ingredient in his victory. “I prepare by going to my room where it’s silent, writing the words down and repeating them,” he said. “I do whatever it takes. I

wanted to win, win and win. I try to take part in anything that interests me. I think spelling is great [because] it helps with spelling tests and whenever I don’t know a word.” Contestants, whose grade level ranged from third to eighth, received words from the same list. If they spelled a word correctly, the moderator advised the contestant and they were allowed to return to their seat. The ring of a judge’s bell followed each incorrect spelling. From there, contestants left the stage while their peers, family members and others cheered them on for their efforts. By the third round, a handful of contestants in each competition remained on stage, regardless of whether they correctly spelled the word given to them. That group would eventually qualify for the citywide spelling bee. Schools represented at the cluster bee included Richard: Wright Public Charter School in Southwest; Savoy Elementary School in Southeast; Wheatley Education Campus in Northeast; and Whittier Education Campus, Roots

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Public Charter School, and National Presbyterian School, each in Northwest. Lafayette Elementary, Janney Elementary School in Northwest, St. Augustine Catholic School and National Presbyterian counted among the schools with more than one student moving to the citywide spelling bee. On Feb. 10, Nikoloz Dzimtseishvili said he looked at the cluster bee as just another day of fun. The fourth grader, a firsttime spelling been participant, held his own throughout much of the morning before coming in second to Nathaniel. He, too, recounted his study regimen as the Student Number Ryan Bohr 4 Costas Brinkerhoff-Molluzzo 5 Caiya Murray 11 Lena Voss 13 Hunter Paulson 4 Sara Negatu 16 Cecilia (CeCe) Wakely 21 Liam Stockton 5 Arabella Bernstein 13 Lake Angehr-Sun 15 Jasper Kaplan 20 Eli Trayner 21 Nina Keefe 22 Raviv Pogach 31 Nyima Ross 28 Tseyang Lhamo 32 Maleah Queen 4 Melat Abebe 5 Francisco Jijon* 16 Sophia Yoo 20 Marcus Capoccia 21 Nathaniel Ezra 27 Niko Dzimtseishvili 32 Ja'Kayla Duncan 37 Lena Kaufmann 1 Reva Kelly 9 Hundi Mulata 10 Ethan Crawford 12 Taras Tsyganok 21 Imanuel Brandon 24 Charlie Palmore 34 Noah Rowe 38 Abraham Latner 27

foundation of his victory. “I just had my mom read out the words and ask if I knew them,” said Nikoloz, a student at National Presbyterian School.“Sometimes, if I didn’t [know], I would try. Throughout the competition, I tried to have fun. I’m looking forward to having more fun, seeing one of my friends and winning,” he said. “I think spelling and competition in general, is a cool way to learn. I’m going to add some extra difficulty to my preparation for the citywide bee,” Nathaniel said. WI @SamPKCollins School Janney Elementary School Janney Elementary School Langdon EC Janney Elementary School Maury Elementary School Hyde Addison Elementary School Maury Elementary School Hearst Elementary School Lafayette Elementary School Lafayette Elementary School Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Lafayette Elementary School Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Marie Reed Elementary School Bruce Monroe Elementary School at Park View Bancroft Elementary School Tyler Elementary School St. Augustine Catholic School National Presbyterian School Stoddert Elementary School Ross Elementary School St. Augustine Catholic School National Presbyterian School Savoy Elementary School Holy Trinity School Washington Latin PCS Middle School MacFarland Middle School Columbia Heights Educational Campus Holy Trinity School Washington Latin PCS Middle School St. Alban's School for Boys MacFarland Middle School BASIS DC

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LIFESTYLE

Mavis Staples, a Voice Through the Ages, Still Delivers

Singer Returns to the D.C. Region for Three Performances Your seats are waiting.

Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer It may be difficult to believe but Mavis Staples has been on stages around the world for more than 70 years. Whether the genre – gospel, R&B or blues – her unmistakable raspy voice delivers messages relevant for the times. “Mavis has been a performer at our main Filene Center stage a few times but these are her first solo shows in our historic, intimate Barns venue,” said Sara Beesley, vice president, program and production at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Staples will perform February 21 – 23 at The Barns at Wolf Trap in in Vienna, Virginia. Staples has never stopped performing since she began singing with her family, The Staple Singers, in 1950. The family group consisted of patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples on guitar and children, Mavis, Cleotha, Pervis and from time to time, Yvonne. Performing gospel music at churches in their hometown of Chicago, the group's spirit-filled songs served as a cry for decency and equal treatment. “I'll Take You There” and “Respect Yourself” count as their biggest hits whose messages still resonate with audiences today. Staples continues to represent her father and the group, offering herself as an advocate for justice. Fans of The Staple Singers recently saw them in the documentary "Summer of Soul," released last year. Produced by The Roots co-founder Amir-Khalib “Questlove” Thompson, the documentary recently received an Oscar nomination for “Best Documentary Feature.” The 1969 movie about the Harlem Cultural Festival airs on February 20 on ABC television. Fellow performers recognize the power and influence of Staples’ voice. In recent years, she has collaborated with composers and singers, some even decades younger than her. One of her most famous collaborations:

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo 5 The legendary Mavis Staples performs at The Barns at Wolf Trap, February 21-23. She will sing from her gospel, R&B and blues catalog of hits. (Photo courtesy Myriam Santos)

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5 The legendary Mavis Staples performs at The Barns at Wolf Trap, February 21-23. She will sing from her gospel, R&B and blues catalog of hits. (Photo courtesy Myriam Santos)

Prince. Staples recorded two albums for his Paisley Park label. “She has previously shared the Wolf Trap Filene Center stage with Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Bob Dylan and Joe Jackson,” Beesley said. “Her recent collaborations with Ben Harper, Hozier and Wilco are a testament to her power as a performer.” Staples, a 2016 Kennedy Center Honors recipient and a 1999 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with The Staple Singers, turns 83 in July. She said she has long understood

her life’s calling: to speak and sing about freedom and peace. “I'm the messenger – that’s my job and it has been for my whole life. I can't just give up while the struggle's still alive,” she said when approaching her 80th birthday. “We've got more work to do, so I'm going to keep on getting stronger and keep on delivering my message every single day,’ she said. For ticket information, visit https:// www.wolftrap.org. WI

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Local Real Estate Developer and Chase Partner to Provide More Affordable Housing in the District Angela Swinson Lee Special To The Informer Buwa Binitie is big on quality of life. “If people are spending more than 50 percent of their income on housing, they’re not saving money,” Binitie said. “And if people spend 10 hours or more per week commuting, it takes away from other things.” Binitie knows first-hand the inconvenience of having to commute to work. He spent years working in one of the most expensive cities in the United States, New York City, and resided in a different state to afford the cost of living. He had a similar experience living in San Francisco and the District of Columbia. These experiences put Binitie on what has now been a 16 year journey to change that for others by bringing affordable housing to the District and now New York City. 5 Buwa Binitie is Managing As the Managing Principal at Dantes Partners, he Principal at Dantes Partners leads the effort to create new buildings and transform existing buildings into Luxury Affordable Housing® - a phrase coined by Binitie and now the standard for his company – for low to moderate income residents. Since 2006 Dantes Partners has financed and developed more than 3,700 affordable housing rental units in the District. “When we think about the quality of life, we think about the amount of money we can end up saving, schools our children will attend and community amenities available to us to make life enjoyable,” he said. “All of this plays a huge role in the quality of life, and affordable housing allows people to keep most of the money they make,” said Binitie. ““Healthy and vibrant communities need housing that’s affordable to individuals with a broad range of incomes, and everyone deserves access, to essential goods and services such as quality education, medical care, and healthy food,” added Lionel Lynch, Director of Chase Community Development Banking Capital Solutions. “We’re committed to increasing the amount of housing available in thriving neighborhoods that’s attainable to families of all incomes.” Once Binitie received a master’s degree in real estate from Johns Hopkins University, he set out to make luxury affordable housing in the District through JPMorgan Chase’s Community Development Banking which finances affordable housing developments. Chase has provided $14 billion in new loans, equity investments and other efforts to expand affordable housing in underserved communities across the U.S. The team supports real estate developers who are trying to make housing more affordable and accessible, especially in areas where someone with a moderate income might never be able to afford to live.

5 The common areas of the Todd A. Lee Building, such as the lobby, are intentionally designed with an upscale, urban character using clean yet durable finishes

Cynthia Lomax is a classic example of the impact Binitie has on the lives of many in the district. Lomax was homeless prior to moving to Todd A. Lee Senior Residences on Kennedy Street in Northwest for residents who are 55 and older. On her first night, she remembers going from room to room, enjoying her new space, and admiring the beautiful apartment. Then, she took a bubble bath. Lomax, said she applauds the developers for seeing the importance of building affordable housing. For Binitie, it’s stories like Lomax’s that make the work worthwhile. “I get satisfaction from seeing residents smiling,” he said. “It’s never been about the money. I found a job that allows me to make money by doing good by others.” The Todd A. Lee complex is developed specifically to be a senior community. It holds a special place to Binitie as the complex is developed and named to pay homage to his mentor Todd Lee, who recently passed away. Binitie says Todd believed in him when at times Binitie didn’t believe in himself. The building is in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood where it has been difficult for seniors to reside in the neighborhood because of rising real estate costs. With an expansive portfolio, Dantes Partners’ assets also include Cascade Park in Ward 8. The building had not been renovated since it was initially constructed over 40 years ago. One of the few buildings in the District with three and four bedrooms, Binitie wanted to change the inhumane conditions in which the families were living. Dantes Partners secured resources to acquire and renovate the community including LIHTC financing and debt financing from JPMorgan Chase. Upon completion, current residents will move back into newly renovated units at their current rents. The Hodge on 7th in the Shaw neighborhood is another community Chase helped Dantes Partners finance. The Hodge provides 90 units of affordable housing for seniors 55 and older in a high-cost neighborhood where rents are roughly half those of its market rate counterparts. The building contributes to a thriving community and allows its seniors to age-in-place within in a walkable community located directly above a grocery store and proximate to metro, restaurants, retail and recreational facilities. “For me, being able to put a smile on someone’s face is something money can’t buy,” he said. “That’s how I was raised, my parents instilled in us a sense of giving back.”

5 Todd A. Lee Senior Residences on Kennedy Street in Northwest for residents who are 55 and older.

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 41

What do you want to be when you grow up? If you like building things, have you ever thought about being a welder?

Replace the missing words.

SNOW CUP BALL HERO BIRD BUTTER TEA L MILK WAL SUPER PAPER

BLUE

Welders work with __________ and flames or very hot equipment. It takes a lot of heat to melt _________. A blowtorch is aimed at metal to ___________ high heat to melt metal. Sometimes, when watching a welder work you will see him or her surrounded by a shower of __________. Those sparks are little pieces of melted metal! They can burn clothing and skin, so _____________ is very important in welding. To be safe, welders wear special jackets, gloves and work shoes. They wear a helmet with a safety visor or safety glasses — sometimes both. They also make sure to have a fire extinguisher within ___________.

Wendy wants to be a welder someday like her Uncle Wesley. She drew pictures of some of the things she thinks required welding in order to be built. Cross out the things that were not welded together. Have a family member check your work.

make heat that allows a welder to mold and cut metal. It’s a dangerous tool and takes training and special safety equipment to use safely.

Blowtorch is a compound word—a word created by combining two smaller words. Draw lines to weld pairs of words to create compound words.

welder “welds” pieces of metal together. When you want to ___________ two pieces of paper together you could use glue, _______ or a stapler. But how do you get two pieces of metal to ________ and stay together? It takes some intense heat!

Welding Around Home

TOOL BOX TRIVIA: BLOWTORCH A blowtorch produces a very, very hot flame to

How can I become a welder?

Welders learn their trade by working in an apprenticeship training program. Circle every other letter to discover what an apprentice is.

SDOKMLEVOWNJEGWFHBOGLAEXANR P N C S YAO J F OY B T F V R H O I M L AT S F KO I R L J LT E R D G W U O H R B KC E T R A

Being a Welder is a Good Job! Replace the missing vowels to find out the many ways being a welder is a good career.

Welders h_lp p_ _ple by making th_ngs m_de with m_t_l be str_ng and s_fe. The p_y is v_ry g_ _d. The w_rk w_ld_rs do touches m_st ev_ryb_dy’s lives. There is a sh_rtage of w_ld_rs so th_re are m_ny j_b _penings.

BLOWTORCH SHORTAGE INTENSE TRAINING WELDER SPARKS SAFETY HELMET GLOVES VISOR METAL HEAT BURN MELT TOOL

WHY did th newspaper reporter to this event?

S K Y T E F A S T B

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WHY did th

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O R E D L E W R M A L A A T L T O T E I

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

Welders in the News Look through the newspaper for pictures or words that go with each of the words hot, hotter, and hottest. Paste these onto a blank sheet of paper and label each one. Repeat this activity for more adjectives such as cold, small, short, tall, funny, and other adjectives that can be used to compare nouns. Standards Link: Language Arts: Understand and identify antonyms.

Look through the newspaper for images that show things a welder might have made. Find 10 images and then group them into categories based on similarities. Come up with a name for each category. Standards Link: Write descriptively comparing past and present.

The Magic Key

One day, while walking down the street, I found a key. Every time I tried to open a lock it … Finish this story.

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wi book review "Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters" edited by Jessica P. Pryde c.2022, Berkley $17 263 pages Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Bodice-rippers. That's what they're sometimes called: you know, those romance books that feature a hard-bodied, handsome man on the cover, and he's holding the shoulders of a lovely, swooning woman wearing a dress with a ripped bodice. Steamy inside and out, but does the couple in question look like you? In the new book, "Black Love Matters," edited by Jessica P. Pryde, they might. For much of history, Black love didn't end in Happily Ever After (called "HEA" in several places in this book). Black love was controlled by someone else, or it was hard to keep, or it was just plain forbidden. As for Black literature, it was much the same — until the late 1800s, when poet and activist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper wrote what may be the first Black romance novel, "Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted." In the couple decades after Harper's book was released, fans might've seen Black romance stories in Black newspapers here and there. In the middle of the past century, readers could find magazines with spicy titles that featured kiss-and-tell stories. It wasn't until the 1980s that romance authors began writing specifically for a Black audience, and readers in the know learned to look for certain authors or publishers to find love literature. Seeing those books on the shelf, says contributor Allie Parker, is a what representation is all about; the characters in Black romance books show a reader that HEA is possible and "That people like you are worth rooting for." Carole V. Bell says romance novels are "inextricably bound in Black solidarity." Nicole M. Jackson says it's now very possible to find queer Black romances, if you want them. Jasmine Guillory says that readers shouldn't be surprised if there's lots of food involved because "When I love someone … I want to feed them." And yet, editor Pryde calls for integration. "We might want more black couples in our media," she says, "but not at the expense of the relationships those people were already in. Just give us more. Give us balance." It's about time, isn't it? Time that a book like "Black Love Matters" brings a rarely-talked-about subject to the forefront and asks why Black readers have had to wait to see themselves and their history inside the kinds of books that white readers take for granted. In this book, you'll learn the history of Black romance novels. Readers and writers weigh in on the delight they've felt when they've discovered Black romances on a shelf somewhere, the reason they sometimes hid those novels from others, and what's being done to promote Black love stories. The entire genre, overall, has often been dismissed as fluff but the contributors here explain why it's important to give Black love stories their own HEA. In the purest sense, this is a love letter to Black romance novels. The bonus is that romance readers will find lots of great recommendations, so bring your Must-Have List with you when you start "Black Love Matters. It's a book you'll rip through, quick. WI

horoscopes

FEB 17 - 23, 2022

ARIES When the week begins, your creative instincts kick into high gear. You'll be feeling more imaginative and more private, so you'll do well to lean into self-expression that feels therapeutic. Think of enjoying a favorite artistic outlet like journaling or painting. Later, it's challenging for you to get on the same page as your mate or a business colleague. Lucky Numbers: 24, 32, 46 TAURUS At the start of the week, you might find yourself craving even more one-on-one time with your significant other or dearest friend. Working together toward a shared goal, ideally one that allows for socializing and creative self-expression, can be especially productive and fulfilling during this transit. Later, you might need a time-out from the daily grind to focus on self-care. Lucky Numbers: 9, 17, 42 GEMINI Do your best to insulate yourself from other people's sensitive projections and outbursts early in the week. Confusion reigns supreme, so you might do well to take a step back from interpersonal and professional situations that are getting way too dramatic. It's OK to focus on your own needs at the moment. Later, you might have to make a last-minute change to your hectic schedule. Lucky Numbers: 9, 26, 37 CANCER In the beginning of the week, you'll want to find a way to put work on the back burner intermittently in order to prioritize playful, pleasure-seeking activities. Your instincts are to express what's in your heart and spend time going with the flow with loved ones now, so the more you can do that, the more fulfilled you'll feel. Later, the cosmos causes you to feel torn and pressured by expectations of family versus work. Lucky Numbers: 7, 11, 35 LEO You might feel tense and struggle to focus early in the week. This can be frustrating because you'll want to tackle both professional and personal tasks, but nervousness only serves to make it tougher to get ahead. See what you can to slow the pace of your daily grind now. Taking a step back might seem counterintuitive, but it could be exactly what you need to keep your energy up in the long term. Lucky Numbers: 8, 33, 52 VIRGO When the week starts, you'll be even more fired up than usual to exchange ideas with others and seek intellectual stimulation from friends, lovers, and colleagues. You might also enjoy going on short trips and connecting with siblings. Schedule a weekend getaway to an exciting nearby location, or make it a point to brainstorm creative ideas with colleagues to make the most of this vibe. Lucky Numbers: 4, 13, 51 LIBRA At the week's start, the cosmos amplifies your desire and ability to bring a more creative, personable approach to your work. One way this might play out is working with colleagues on a whimsical project. If you can blend your enjoyment of socializing with your professional goals, you'll take your earning potential to the next level. Later, you might be feeling irritable while interacting with your partner or a close friend. Lucky Numbers: 19, 30, 36 SCORPIO In the beginning of the week, you'll be drawn to self-pampering activities like getting a massage, taking your favorite yoga class, and planning a spa trip with your friends. At the same time, wanting to look and feel your best might be at the top of your mind, so you'll do well to try that hair makeover or shop for new clothes. You'll be more magnetic than ever. Lucky Numbers: 5, 7, 23 SAGITTARIUS When the week starts, privacy and solo time might feel more precious to you. You could feel like bowing out of those events you initially said yes to or spending time at home on a Friday night instead of hitting the town with your partner. This might seem somewhat foreign to you because you're generally the life of the party, but focusing on you this time is integral to continuing to fire on all cylinders. Lucky Numbers: 9, 21, 22 CAPRICORN Spending time with loved ones, colleagues, and other members of your inner and outer social circles might be particularly appealing when the week starts. In addition to sharing an intellectually stimulating conversation that brings you closer, you could bat around brilliant ideas that lend inspiration to your next big professional project. Later, your attention turns to your work/life balance, or the lack of it. Lucky Numbers: 5, 6, 15 AQUARIUS You'll want to take advantage of opportunities to pitch your most creative ideas early in the week. Higher-ups will be impressed by your unusual, innovative takes. Another way to make the most of this moment is to spend time with colleagues, share your ideas, and collaborate. Harnessing the powerful social energy can lead to a professional win. Lucky Numbers: 2, 15, 27 PISCES When the week starts, you'll be itching to expand your horizons mentally, physically, and emotionally. Signing up for a class or taking a trip that opens your eyes to uncharted territory is your priority now, and it can have you feeling spirited and alive in a whole new way. Later, you'll be focused on the give-and-take of your work. Lucky Numbers: 8, 18, 20

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 43

ELECTION 22 COVID from Page 5 “We are still holding events and reaching out to voters but in different way from the past,” she said. Campaigns in the District have had to adapt, utilizing virtual tools and following the city’s anti-coronavirus measures to reach voters with outdoor activities. However, these virtual tools have been combined with more traditional modes such as knocking on doors and canvassing neighborhoods in an effort to increase public awareness about the candidates. Ades said the White campaign has used Zoom meetings to connect their candidate with supporters and voters. “We hold meet-and-greet events on Zoom almost every night,” she said. “Robert talks about his vision for the city and what he wants to do as the next mayor and people get the chance to ask questions and offer comments.” White, an at-large councilmember, also canvasses neighborhoods with

volunteers while distributing literature to voters. Ades said the campaign has had success with door knocking, adding that people seem eager to engage with White on issues while remaining on their front porches or in their yards. Political observers note that White has emerged as one of the major challengers to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Meanwhile, in a statement obtained by the Informer, the Bowser campaign said it constantly communicates with voters asking them why the mayor should be re-elected for a third term. “We are working hard to engage voters about Mayor Bowser’s achievements and vision and we have been encouraged by the response,” the statement said. “We continue to find ways to engage volunteers and voters virtually ahead of the June 21st primary.” Political observers have also labeled

Cheh’s Departure Creates Opening for Ward 3 Seat James Wright WI Staff Writer Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh’s decision not to seek re-election to a fifth term has opened the door for some activists who wish to succeed her. On Feb. 11, Cheh cited a “revaluation” of her life during the coronavirus pandemic and her desire to spend more time with her family, particularly her granddaughter. “The past 16 years as the Ward 3 councilmember have been some of the most rewarding and valuable of my life, serving as your representative has been an honor,” Cheh wrote in a statement posted online. “With your support, the District has become a national climate leader and we have seen outstanding advances in our schools, expanded nutrition access and protections for the health and safety for all of our residents. It is time for someone else to pick up the

44 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

mantle and I am excited for the possibilities and future of Ward 3.” The D.C. Board of Election website reported three candidates, advisory neighborhood commissioner Monika Nemeth, former commissioner Deirdre Brown and Tricia Duncan, have each filed to run in the June 21 Democratic primary as of Feb. 13. Political activist Matthew Frumin declared for the seat hours after Cheh left the race. “I am excited to get in the race to represent Ward 3 on the D.C. Council,” he tweeted. “I am joining this race late after learning that Mary Cheh, who has so ably represented the ward for 16 years, has decided not to run.” Ward 3 remains the only ward in the District which has not been represented by an African American on the city council. Brown and potential candidate Phil Thomas, who chairs the Ward 3 Democrats, are both Black.WI @JamesWrightJr10

Trayon White, Sr., who serves as the Ward 8 councilmember, as another major challenger to Bowser. Trayon White’s campaign didn’t respond to an inquiry regarding his outreach strategy for voters at press time despite our speaking to a campaign aide about the request. In his bid to replace Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Gordon Fletcher said he has knocked on a lot of doors while maintaining his interactions with voters in accordance with recent COVID-19 mandates. “When I approach a resident’s house, I make sure I stay about six feet away when I am speaking with them,” Fletcher said. “I wear masks, along with my volunteers, to respect their space.” Fletcher said he uses social media, Zoom events and phone banking to reach voters. Patricia Briscoe serves as the chair of the Friends for Zachery Parker or-

5 Attorney General candidate Kenyan McDuffie. (Courtesy photo)

ganization. Parker also wants to win the Ward 5 seat. Briscoe said the Parker campaign has focused much of its energy on canvassing neighborhoods. “We walk the neighborhoods to talk about what Zachery wants to do if elected to the city council,” she said. “When we walk, we make sure that masks are worn.” Briscoe said when they’re door knocking, they make it a point to

At-Large Candidates Challenge to Challenge Incumbent Anita Bonds James Wright WI Staff Writer D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds wants to serve on the council for a third four-year term but she will have to defeat a field of eight candidates to secure the Democratic nomination on June 21. Bonds has served on the D.C. Council since 2012. She received the support of the D.C. Democratic State Committee in December 2012 to serve in the place of At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson, who won a special election to become the chairman of the legislative body that November. Bonds won the position permanently in a special election in 2013. She won re-election in 2014 and in 2018. On her website, Bonds said she wants to serve another term on the council “because I know there is still work to do.” “Every day I problem solve and develop reasonable solutions and opportunities to help neighborhoods, young

families, seniors, businesses and workers move forward in our rapidly changing city,” she said. Bonds’ challengers include: former Ward 8 advisory neighborhood commissioner Sharece Crawford; 5E advisory neighborhood commission chair Bradley Thomas; former D.C. shadow representative Nate Fleming; 3G01 advisory neighborhood commissioner Lisa Gore; former 7C04 advisory neighborhood commissioner Leniqua Dominique Jenkins; Ward 7 health care activist Ambrose Lane, Jr.; resident Charles Oh; and former D.C. Council staffer Dexter Williams in the Democratic primary. Giuseppe Niosi stands as the only candidate in the Republican Party primary. The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican and party candidates as well as independents in the November general election for the two at-large council seats. WI @JamesWrightJr10

greet residents at their doors and not go into the homes. Like many campaigns, social media has become a primary mode of communicating Parker’s message, she said. “We would like to do more outside but it has been so cold,” she said. Chuck Thies serves as the manager for McDuffie’s campaign for D.C. Attorney General. Thies said the McDuffie campaign has been both digital and virtual. “We have done a lot of meet-andgreets online via Zoom,” he said. “We find the virtual events to be more convenient. People don’t have to leave their home and drive across town or across the ward to attend. They can just log-in instead.” He said McDuffie and his volunteers have done extensive door knocking throughout the city and stand six feet from residents when interacting. But the McDuffie campaign hopes that as the omicron wave continues to wane, more face-to-face interaction will be possible soon. However, he notes the McDuffie campaign has held an outdoor event despite the chilly weather. “It was in December and we had 35-40 people in a large yard,” Thies said. “People wanted to come talk to Kenyan and the weather wasn’t going to stop them. We had outdoor heaters to keep everyone warm and had hot tea and cider to serve. The event was great and Kenyan said he was glad we did it. I will be glad when the weather gets better and we can really go out and campaign among the people.” WI @JamesWrightJr10

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SPORTS TRAIL BLAZERS from Page 32 in America. He held boxing’s heavyweight championship from 1937 to 1949, an astonishing run that covered a record 140 months and 25 title defenses. Louis amassed a 66-3 career record with 52 knockouts and beat all comers in the process, including a 124-second knockout of German Schmeling that made him a target of the Nazi party.

NEGRO LEAGUE’S DYNAMIC DUO, JOSH GIBSON AND SATCHEL PAIGE

The most potent bat and greatest arm to bless the ranks of Black baseball, Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige were the preeminent superstars of the Negro League. Gibson was a hulking catcher with a bat that was said to have produced nearly 900 home runs, including one that left Yankee Stadium completely. Meanwhile, Paige was the game’s greatest entertainer on the mound and had the stuff to back it up. The ageless wonder was said to have thrown 55 no-hitters and Joe DiMaggio said he was the “best and fastest pitcher” he ever faced.

LUCY DIGGS SLOWE – FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO WIN MAJOR SPORTS TITLE

In 1917, while a student at Howard University, Lucy Diggs Slowe accomplished what would go on to become a milestone in both African-American and women’s sports. In winning the American Tennis Association’s first tournament, she became the first Black woman to win a major sports title.

MICHAEL JORDAN – A REVOLUTIONARY ON AND OFF THE COURT

Michael Jordan revolutionized the game of basketball and business of being a professional athlete. His accomplishments on the basketball

court — sixfor-six in the NBA Finals, a five-time MVP and 10-time scoring champion — helped to redefine the earning potential for athletes off it. Jordan wrote the manuscript for athletes to follow in marketing and branding, as his many endorsements and partnerships with companies such as Nike, Gatorade, McDonalds and Wheaties made him the most famous athlete in the world. Even 17 years after his last game, his Jordan Brand shoe line still generates over $1 billion for Nike.

MUHAMMAD ALI – THE ‘GREATEST’

As fearless of an athlete who ever existed, Muhammad Ali was always destined to be far more than just an incredible boxer from Louisville, Kentucky. He remains the only three-time heavyweight champion in history, the class of division during the historical peak of the heavyweight division. He also counted as a man of principles who sacrificed the best years of his career during a battle with the U.S. government over his refusal to involve himself in a war in which he didn’t believe. He was a frontline voice during the civil rights movement and hero to the world over for decades afterward.

OLYMPIC STARS JOHN CARLOS AND TOMMIE SMITH RAISE FISTS IN PROTEST

One of the most defiant and memorable meetings of sports and civil rights history occurred on the medal stand during the 1968 Olympics. After receiving the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200m sprint, as the national anthem be-

5 Olympic stars John Carlos and Tommie Smith raise fists in protest. (Courtesy photo)

gan, Tommie Smith and John Carlos adorned black gloves and instead of putting their hands over their hearts, they raised them to the sky. Their fists signified the civil rights struggle for African-Americans and resoundingly ushered in the “Black Power” movement onto a global stage.

ROBERT JOHNSON BUYS THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

Robert Johnson has regularly placed himself on the frontline of significant firsts in business for African-Americans. He founded BET, the first Blackaimed television station in history. In the process, he became the first African-American billionaire in U.S. history. In 2002, he made another significant piece of history, when he became the first African-American owner in major American sports history by creating the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. He sold the Bobcats to Michael Jordan in 2010, meaning the Bobcats/ Hornets have had a Black majority owner for the past 18 years.

SIMONE BILES BECOMES MOST DECORATED AMERICAN GYMNAST IN HISTORY

With a total of 30 Olympic and world championship medals to her credit, Simone Biles is the most accomplished American gymnast of all

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time. At the age of 22, she is a five-time world allaround champion and became the most decorated female gymnast of all-time in 2019. Biles has regularly shown an ability to accomplish maneuvers that have previously been unapproachable by female competitors and could rightfully be considered among the greatest athletes of all time.

THE 1966 TEXAS WESTERN BASKETBALL TEAM

In 1966 the Texas Western men’s basketball team pulled off one of the most significant upsets in sports history. The Miners defeated the Kentucky Wildcats in the national championship game by the score of 72-65, marking the first time in history that an all-Black starting lineup claimed the national title. The impact of the victory carried even further significance, as the Wildcats roster remained without a Black player until three years later.

TIGER WOODS AND THE 1997 MASTERS

The 1997 Masters is remembered as the day that Tiger Woods arrived. Already the most watched and anticipated golfer in the world, Woods

produced the first signature performance of his pro career on his way to capturing his first major championship. After struggling early, Woods rallied to finish the tournament at 18 under par, matching the tournament record. The performance transformed Woods into an instant superstar, as an estimated 44 million tuned in for the final round to watch Woods become the first minority champion in Masters history.

BLACK COACHES TONY DUNGY VS. LOVIE SMITH IN SUPER BOWL XLI

As of Super Bowl XLI in 2006, no African-American head coach had guided a team to an NFL title. However, that was a piece of history that would be inevitably coming to an end, as Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith met in a historic matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. The Colts emerged victorious, 29-17, with Dungy becoming the first African-American Super Bowl cham-

TRAIL BLAZERS Page 52 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 45

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During the day, Fowlin, a child prodigy who began her musical studies on piano after being accepted into the Juilliard School’s pre-college program for aspiring young musicians at the age of nine, works with youth in Greenbelt, Maryland. Since 2009, she’s served as the director of choral programs at Eleanor Roosevelt High School while also teaching workshops and conducting various church choirs in the area. After moving to the District in 1990, she enhanced her skills by matriculating at Howard University where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance and pedagogy with a minor in piano. And while she has a long and impressive list of accomplishments to her credit, she said she’ll never forget one day in 1997 when she received a call inviting her to work with a local summer camp. It would mark her introduction to the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir [COTG], although at the time, she had no idea what the future would hold. “Kathy Brewington, who’s now the manager of operations for the choir, asked me to lead a group of over 200 students who were interested in singing gospel music,” she said, adding that they were rehearsing at Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest, where they still gather for practice. “I remember saying to myself, ‘one day I’m going to direct this choir.’ Several years later, in 2003, I returned and

BARRIERS from Page 20 identified as HRA Pharma, are expected to apply to the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] for an OTC birth control pill this year. "This is a really exciting moment," Nichols said. "They will submit to the FDA; the FDA will make a decision whether to approve it. We have an entire movement and coalition that's in support of this and we're also looking to make sure this isn't just about a birth control pill going over the counter but making sure it's truly equitable for the people that face the most barriers." (Free The Pill is not funded by pharmaceutical companies or the government and is not affiliated with or funded by any political party.) Nichols said OTC birth control pills have been slow to materialize due to normal challenges including like proper research and evidence. But with anticipated applications now going out to the FDA, they're hopeful for a positive

5 Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir. (Photo courtesy Washington Performing Arts)

began to lead the camp and to teach mobile workshops. In 2006, I took over as the artistic director,” she said. Since its founding in 1993, COTG has served as one of Washington Performing Arts’s resident ensembles, providing opportunities for youth in grades four through 12 in an environment that promotes self-confidence, teamwork and respect. Choir members come from D.C., Maryland and Virginia, ranging in age from nine to 18. And despite the current pandemic, Fowlin said they haven’t allowed the shutdowns or other unprecedented changes to deter them from their goals. “We’re finally beginning to experience a sense of normalcy and that’s been refreshing,” she said. “Children, like adults, need human connections. For artists, that’s what keeps us alive. But our children, around 45 in total,

found ways to remain active and engaged.” What’s on the agenda for the choir? Fowlin points to their annual concert which will take place at the Kennedy Center on April 10 and will feature the combined voices of Washington Performing Arts adult and children’s choirs. Their end of the season concert will take place June 11 at Prince George’s Community College Performing Arts Center. She said she’s been surprised at the children’s resilience. “They are such deep thinkers and social revolutionaries and have so much they want to share and to say about what’s taking place in the world today,” she said. “Somehow they tie everything into their own creativity and do it at a superior level so they’re

outcome this year. If the FDA should approve an OTC birth control pill, pharmaceutical companies will set the price and who will be eligible to purchase it. Nichols likened it to Levonorgestrel, the OTC emergency contraception, popularly known as Plan B, for women to take up to three days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. She said that the OTC birth control pill would likely function similarly to Plan B regarding purchase and consumption; however, those details are still to be determined. According to the CDC, between 2017-2019, 65% of women in the U.S. used some form of contraception, 14% of which, ages 15-49, used birth control pills. Though opponents of birth control have advocated against the contraceptive for religious reasons, opponents and supporters agree on one thing: though generally safe, birth control pills increase your risk of health problems.

Side effects include water retention, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, mood changes, irregular periods, the risk for certain cancers and even death in rare cases. Even with such risks, Nichols said, "birth control pills are one of the safest drugs out there." "It has decades of safety record that we look to, decades of research, and there's support from the medical provider community," she said. Nichols also wanted to note that Free The Pill's intent is not to stigmatize unplanned pregnancies but help the public make informed decisions about their reproductive health. "We never really want this to be about population control but choice and autonomy," she said. "Everyone deserves to have a choice and autonomy to become a parent, or to not become a parent. And not having access to birth control, equitable or easy access to birth control, can prevent someone from having a choice." WI

GOSPEL from Page 51

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Black Health & Wellness

On Friday, Feb. 18, my radio show guest will be Sylvia Y. Cyrus, executive director for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), who will introduce the new president of ASALH, Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney. In his Black History Month letter shown on the ASALH website, he shared this profound information. The theme of Black Health and Wellness also addresses the long history of how African Americans have dealt with their exclusion from the nation's hospitals and clinics. African Americans have had to establish their own hospitals, clinics, medical and nursing schools in cities such as Charleston; Chicago; Dallas; Nashville, Tenn.; St. Louis and Washington, D.C. This theme also shows how some of the nation's most important medical and scientific innovations were developed because African Americans in slavery and freedom were used literally as guinea pigs to help to develop the field of gynecology (e.g., the inhumane research of J. Marion Sims), to research cancer and polio (the cells of Henrietta Lacks) and the spread of syphilis (the Tuskegee experiment). But all has not been all negative. African Americans have contributed many medical and scientific innovations to the nation's health and wellness. For example, in 1721 during a smallpox outbreak in Boston, Onesimus, an enslaved African, taught his master the method of inoculation. In 1893, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a surgeon at Chicago's Provident Hospital, performed the first successful open heart surgery. During World War II, Dr. Charles Drew developed the method for pre-

serving blood plasma that has saved millions of lives. Most recently, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett led the team of scientists that developed the Moderna vaccine to immunize Americans against COVID-19. The theme of Black and Health Wellness not only addresses the history of health care in the African American community, it is also a historical examination of the financial and economic health and wellness of African Americans. Broadening and expanding the theme to address what some historians and health care professionals call the "social and economic determinants" of health and wellness allows us to show the interconnectedness of a number of historical, social and economic factors on Black Health and Wellness. According to The APM Research Lab, home to a team of researchers who inform the public with both original and curated research, facts and analysis, it shows how the African American community has been affected greatly by this pandemic, having lost more lives of Black, Indigenous and Latino Americans than any other. All have a COVID-19 death rate of triple or more than white Americans, who experience the lowest age-adjusted rates. Of the more than 240,000 U.S. deaths catalogued in this Color

of Coronavirus update, this is the number of deaths documented by group through Nov. 10, 2020: Asian (8,687), Black (46,211), Indigenous (2,251), Latino (46,912), Pacific Islander (334) and white (123,429). Readers, allow me to close this month out with tribute to my mother, Fannie Estelle Grant, who died in 2000 on Christmas Day. Talk about stress! When you hear me sound off at the end of my radio show each week, I always say "My people perish for the lack of knowledge." Now that I know what we can do to turn things around after a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, I cannot repeat these steps enough: lose weight, change your diet and exercise five days a week for 30 minutes. Tune in to Radio One, Spirit 1340, WYCB to hear Cyrus and Dulaney as we talk more about health and wellness in the African American community. My show airs at 6 p.m. every Friday (listen live at http://www.myspiritdc.com). What does Scripture say about our health? Jeremiah 33:6 NIV: "Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." And in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" WI

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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

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FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 47

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM

Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM

Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Blessed Word of Life Church

Church of Living Waters

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464 Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., / Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

Third Street Church of God

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

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

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 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

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

www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Campbell AME Church

Twelfth Street Christian Church

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

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School: 10:15 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM Children’s Church: 11:15 AM Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com

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

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”

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org

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 Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM

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

headline and photo for Mount Olivet LIF - MALCOLMXLutheran Church DAY John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

themcbc.org

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital”

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM

48 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

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

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

Crusader Baptist Church

Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com

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) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

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

Israel Baptist Church

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

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!

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: 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

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org

5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

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

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

New Commandment Baptist Church

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074

621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Service and Times Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am Sunday School: 9:00am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958

Shiloh Baptist Church

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

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

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

Christ Embassy DC

Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Peace Baptist Church

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 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

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor

9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288

602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 AM Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 AM and 10:55 AM Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 AM Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 PM

All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org

Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

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 “

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 49

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2021 ADM 1690

2021 ADM 001574

2022 ADM 000008

2021 ADM 001685

2022 ADM 000017

Wanda Barnes Decedent

Bertha L. Williams Decedent

Diane Della-Loggia Decedent

Lynda Jones Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Dewayne Barnes, whose address is 7107 Greenvale Parkway, Hyattsville, Maryland 20784, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wanda Barnes who died on March 3, 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 8/3/2022. 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 8/3/2022, 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.

Victoria L. Williams, whose address is 1330 S Street SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bertha L. Williams who died on February 20, 2019 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 August 3, 2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before August 3, 2022, 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: 2/3/2022

Date of first publication: February 3, 2022

Dewayne Barnes Personal Representative

Victoria L. Williams 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

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Ronald James Shermen Chrichlow© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “RONALD JAMES SHERMEN CHRICHLOW ", corp.sole Dba.: " RONALD CHRICHLOW© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: “ Ronald James Shermen Chrichlow ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ronald james shermen chrichlow ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF NEW YORK : STATE FILE NUMBER: 156-91-065171 " RONALD JAMES SHERMEN CHRICHLOW © ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to “Ronald Chrichlow Trust ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " ronald chrichlow, nom deguerre: " Ronald James Shermen Chrichlow", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : “Ronald Chrichlow Trust ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

2022 ADM 000018 Ernest W. Ghee, Jr. Decedent Donald R. Marlais, Esq. 411 10th Street NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Waltergerard Ghee, whose address is 1126 48th Street NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ernest W. Ghee, Jr. who died on August 25, 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 8/3/2022. 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 8/3/2022, 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: 2/3/2022 Waltergerard Ghee Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

50 FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022

Valerie Edwards, Esq. 1725 DeSales St., NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Nicholas A. Mueller, whose address is 21806 Princeton St., Hayward, CA 94541, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Diane Della-Loggia who died on September 23, 2020 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 8/3/2022. 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 8/3/2022, 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: 2/3/2022 Nicholas A. Mueller Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ade Soudan, whose address is 2356 Peachwood Cir, NE, Atlanta, GA 30345, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lynda Jones who died on 9/28/2021 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 8/3/2022. 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 8/3/2022, 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.

Yvonne Thorne Decedent Donald R. Marlais, Esq. 411 10th Street NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Korie Twiggs, whose address is 9401 Lanae Lane, Manassas Park, VA 20111, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Yvonne Thorne who died on May 7, 2004 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 8/3/2022. 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 8/3/2022, 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: 2/3/2022

Ade Soudan Personal Representative

Korie Twiggs Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: “Brittney Alexandra Chrichlow© ”, f.k.a., “ Brittney Alexandra English© ”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “BRITTNEY ALEXANDRA ENGLISH© ”, corp.sole Dba.: “BRITTNEY ENGLISH© ”, and “ “BRITTNEY ALEXANDRA CHRICHLOW © ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ BRITTNEY CHRICHLOW© ” having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare our tribal intention to be as our pedigree subscribes, as: Moorish Americans, but not a citizens of the United States. We declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim our nationality in good faith as: Moorish Americans. I am that I am: “ Brittney Alexandra Chrichlow© ”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ brittney chrichlow© from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ Brittney Chrichlow© ”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF NEW YORK : STATE FILE NUMBER: 136314, document registration no. 295 “ BRITTNEY ALEXANDRA CHRICHLOW© ”, is as a special deposit order conveyed to “Brittney Chrichlow Trust© ”. This is also a separate order to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Trustee: “ brittney chrichlow© ”, nom deguerre: “ Brittney Alexandra Chrichlow© ”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. this special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: “ Brittney Chrichlow Trust© ”, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust”, All deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee /debtor. All deposits are not limited to, but include: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2021 ADM 1616

2021 ADM 1552

Saul Shampain Decedent

Charles S. Grigsby aka Charles Grigsby aka Charles Sylvester Grigsby Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Julius Terrell 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Ste. 400 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

Washington Informer

Robert Shampain, whose address is 4050 20th Avenue, SW, Seattle, WA 98106, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Saul Shampain who died on September 19, 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 8/10/2022. 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 8/10/2022, 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: 2/10/2022 Robert Shampain Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Sehon Grigsby Edwards, whose address is 2208 R Street, NE, Washington DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles S. Grigsby aka Charles Grigsby aka Charles Sylvester Grigsby who died on 4/9/2013 with a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 8/10/2022. 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 8/10/2022, 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: 2/10/2022 Sehon Grigsby Edwards Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: “ Terrell De Von Green© ”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ TERRELL DE VON GREEN© ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ TERRELL D GREEN© ”, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: “Terrell De Von Green©”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “terrell de von green©”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF MARYLAND, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Division of Vital Records : State File Numbers: 1977 -22- 11549, & 1977 11549, “ TERRELL DE VON GREEN© ”, “TERRELL D GREEN© ”, “ TERRELL GREEN© ”, & “ GREEN, TERRELL DEVON ”, is as a special deposit order conveyed to “ Freed Ruach Trust© ”. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: “terrell de von green©”, nom deguerre: “Terrell De Von Green©”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: “Freed Ruach Trust©”, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2021 ADM 000379

2022 ADM 00013

2021 ADM 001183

Leonard L. Ledbetter aka Leonard L. Ledbetter Sr. aka Leonard Lenard Ledbetter Sr. Decedent

Levon H. Garabedian Decedent

Fred L. Simmons, Sr Decedent

Carolyn P. Vinson, Esq. Venable LLP 600 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

Pro Se Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Michele L. Simmons, whose address is 2628 Myrtle Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Fred L. Simmons, Sr. who died on 1/12/2021 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 (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 8/17/2022. 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 8/17/2022, 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.

Ronald Dixon Bynum & Jenkins 1010 Cameron St., Alexandria VA 22314 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ronald Dixon, whose address is Bynum & Jenkins 1010 Cameron St. Alex. VA 22314, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Leonard L. Ledbetter aka Leonard L. Ledbetter Sr. aka Leonard Lenard Ledbetter Sr. who died on 10/23/2018 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 (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 8/17/2022. 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 8/17/2022, 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: 2/17/2022 Ronald Dixon Personal Representative

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2022 ADM 000107 Estate of

Joseph L. Coleman NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Joseph Barrow 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 a supervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 2/17/2022 Joseph Barrow

25 Van Buren Street, NW Washington, DC 20012 Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens

2021 ADM 00481 Clarence J. Day Decedent Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Crystal Day, whose address is 9019 Elk Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Md 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Clarence J. Day who died on October 26, 2020 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 8/22/2022. 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 8/22/2022, 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: 2/17/2022 Crystal Day Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2021 ADM 001541 Harold Smith Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Tianna Marrow, whose address is 1403 Congress Pl, SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harold Smith who died on December 4, 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 8/17/2022. 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 8/17/2022, 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: 2/17/2022 Tianna Marrow Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

GOSPEL from Page 46 respected and not judged.” “And they’re using the platform of music so that people will listen to them, perhaps a bit more willingly. I respect that so much and their work and I’m very proud of them. Our children are Black, white, Hispanic and Indian and they are students and performers of all genres of music – not just gospel music.” “We want people across America to know about these children. Most important, we hope people will recognize what we already know – that they’re committed to becoming adults who have a love of and passion for music. And as they mature, they’re learning essential principles like self-discipline, timeliness, being prepared and present and perseverance. These are qualities they will be able to take with them no matter what they do with their lives.” “They want things to change and they know things can change so that diversity becomes something which all Americans will embrace. But they need adults to hear them and join them and support them,” Fowlin said. For more information, visit www. washingtonperformingarts.org or @childrenofthegospel on Twitter. WI

CLINICIANS from Page 11

Dean V. Shahinian, whose address is 8909 Captains Row, Alexandria, VA 22308, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Levon H. Garabedian who died on May 17, 2020 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 8/17/2022. 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 8/17/2022, 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: 2/17/2022 Dean V. Shahinian Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Date of first publication: 2/17/2022 Michele L. Simmons Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: ‘‘Jesus Felipe Familia Lugo© ’’, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: ‘‘LUGO, FELIPE FAMILIA LUGO© ’’, corp.sole Dba.: ‘‘JESUS FELIPE FAMILIA LUGO© ’’, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: ‘‘ Jesus Felipe Familia Lugo©’’, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: ‘‘jesus felipe familia lugo© ’’. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF DOMINICANA – REPUBLICA DOMINICANA – JUNTA CENTRAL ELECTORAL, STATE FILE NUMBER : 191-01191, ‘‘ JESUS FELIPE FAMILIA LUGO© ’’, to the depositor: ‘‘ jesus felipe familia lugo© ’’, nom deguerre: ‘‘ Jesus Felipe Familia Lugo© ’’. All property , of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: ‘‘ jesus felipe familia lugo© ’’, nom deguerre: ‘‘Jesus Felipe Familia Lugo© ’’, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : ‘‘Jesus Felipe Familia Lugo Trust© ’’, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank , nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction.

and Latin American Youth Center to ensure that students receive support in a manner that doesn’t disrupt their school day. Doing so, Keefe said, requires establishing rapport with teachers and administrators, most of whom she said has been supportive. Keefe hosts weekly and biweekly group sessions where, for 40 minutes at a time, participants gather and learn how to process grief and loss. Keefe uses what she described as trauma-informed, evidence-based curricula to guide her strategies in helping students navigate their feelings. “A lot of my students present with anxiety, depressive disorders and an array of things related to trauma and grief,” Keefe said. “We’re working on communication skills with family, peers and teachers [including] effective communication and using selfcare strategies to manage our feelings as they arise,” she said. “I feel lucky to work with high schoolers. We do work around thinking and the power and malleability of our brains to adapt and address problems.” WI @SamPKCollins

FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022 51

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TRAIL BLAZERS from Page 45 pion coach in NFL history.

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS DOMINATE TENNIS TOGETHER

No sibling duo in sports history has reached the heights of Venus and Serena Williams, both together and separately. The Compton-born sisters have combined for 30 Grand Slam titles as individuals and have met in Grand Slam finals nine times. They became the first duo in history to meet in four consecutive Grand Slam finals and have won 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles together. Each also has a singles title at the Olympics and three Olympic Doubles titles as well. All the while, they have been raising the bar to new heights for African-Americans and women, inspiring a new generation to follow in their footsteps.

WILLIE O'REE – FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE NHL

While Art Dorrington was the first Black player to sign an NHL contract in 1950, it was Willie O’Ree who first made it to the ice. On Jan. 18, 1958, O’Ree debuted for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first Black player in the league’s history. In his career, O’Ree would play 22 years between the NHL and minors. Since 1998, O’Ree, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, has been the NHL’s diversity ambassador, working in schools to promote the sport as well as diversity and inclusion.

WILMA RUDOLPH – FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO DOMINATE TRACK AND FIELD

In both the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, Wilma Rudolph dominated women’s track and field, capturing a total of four medals. At the 1960 games, she became the first woman to capture three gold medals at one Olympic Games. In the process, she became a pioneering hero for women the world over, a story all the more extraordinary considering she overcame leg braces, double pneumonia, polio and scarlet fever as a child. Rudolph, part of the legendary Tiger Bells track team at Tennessee State University under Ed Temple, was an ardent support of women in sports and amateur athletics for her entire life.

WILT CHAMBERLAIN SCORES 100 POINTS

At one point, Wilt Chamberlain owned 72 different NBA records. However, the one he accomplished on March 2, 1962, stands paramount above them all. On that night, Chamberlain scored an NBA-record 100 points during a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks. Chamberlain took 63 shots on the night, hitting 36, and he made 28 of 32 free throws. He added 25 rebounds for good measure. It was the peak performance in a season where he averaged a record 50.4 points per game. Only one player has come within 20 points of the effort in the 58 years since. WI

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5 Venus and Serena (left) Williams. (Courtesy photo)

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MALVEAUX from Page 24 Congressman James Clyburn's (S.C.) HBCU advocacy is laudable, as is Congresswoman Alma Adma's (N.C.) work forming the bicameral, bipartisan HBCU Caucus. There's more, and you'll have to read the book to get the whole story. I'm lifting these Black folk during this Black History Month because they deserve it. At the same time, I can't completely take my critic hat off. It is shameful that so many did not support HR 40 when Congressman John Conyers (Mich.) lived. It is commendable that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has taken the baton from him and championed the reparations cause, and with the help of organizations like NCOBRA (the National Coalition of Blacks for

EDELMAN from Page 24 ment lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. In a White House proclamation celebrating that anniversary, President Biden said: "Young Americans have been on the front lines in the fight to defend the right to vote and expand access to the ballot box for all eligible voters. Their civic engagement extends beyond voting — with young Americans leading the calls for racial justice, climate action, gun violence prevention, and immigration reform among many other issues." But 50 years after younger Americans were included as voters, we are at a very dangerous moment for voter suppression in our nation, and the same proclamation noted that "laws aimed at suppressing voter turnout in Black and brown com-

MORIAL from Page 24 to diversity, equity and inclusion. Civil rights leaders, including myself, met Monday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, challenging the league to establish specific recruiting and hiring procedures for executive and coaching positions, with meaningful consequences for teams that do not abide by the rules. We agreed to continue collaborating and advising the league to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the NFL and its member teams. The lawsuit cites some appalling statistics. While 70% of NFL players are Black, not one of its 32 team owners is Black. The only team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, employs a Black head coach. Only four teams employ a Black offensive coordinator — a position generally regarded as a steppingstone to head coach. Only 11 teams employ a Black defensive coordinator. As Flores lawsuit alleges, this is not by

Reparations in America) and NAARC (the National African American Reparations Commission, an organization sponsored by the Institute of the Black World), garnered 215 co-sponsors for the legislation. Why aren't more Black members of Congress more enthusiastic about economic justice and reparations? Political considerations notwithstanding, this is a just cause. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has annually sponsored a Phoenix Awards Dinner at its annual legislative forum. The awards reference the closing speech of Congressman George White, who was the African American post-Reconstruction member of Congress (1897-1901). He highlighted Black progress since enslavement and said that, like the phoenix, we would rise:

"We have 140,000 farms and homes, valued in the neighborhood of $750,000,000, and personal property valued about $170,000,000. We have raised about $11,000,000 for educational purposes. …We are operating successfully several banks, commercial enterprises among our people in the Southland, including one silk mill and one cotton factory. We have 32,000 teachers in the schools of the country; we have built, with the aid of our friends, about 20,000 churches, and support seven colleges." Congressman White spoke of progress. There is still much room for advancement. The Congressional Black Caucus members are agents of progress. Criticize them, if you will, but embrace them. They are the conscience of Congress. They are our champions. WI

munities also impact young voters." New attempts at installing residency and ID requirements can make it harder to vote for young people who do not have driver's licenses or items like utility bills in their own names. College students who attend school outside their home states may find it even harder to register and vote near their campuses, while efforts to limit absentee ballots and mail-in voting may make it more difficult for the same group of students to mail ballots home. But measures like automatic and same-day voter registration, no-excuse absentee ballots, and extending early access to in-person voting or making Election Day a holiday would improve access for young voters and everyone. Standing up for the right to vote is just one valuable way young people

like Jillian are making a difference. As Jillian gave her introduction, her high school English teacher Karen Garrison told a local reporter, "The superlatives for this remarkable scholar, Jillian Jackson, are too numerous to narrow down." "[She] embodies the attributes of a developing leader supported by solid family values and a personal work ethic," Garrison said. "Her social and political advocacy for meaningful change makes her an authentic influencer. … Get ready, world, this is only a rehearsal." Our nation and world are indeed more than ready for Jillian and many more young servant leaders like her. As Vice President Harris told her: "I can't wait to see what you do next!" WI

chance. A 2016 study of the NFL found that white assistant coaches were 114% more likely to get promoted to the coordinator position than coaches of color with the same experience, education, and track record. The study found that it takes nine years before a white coach has a greater than 50% chance of becoming a coordinator, compared with 14 years for a nonwhite coach. The authors estimated that over a 20-year career, a white coach is likely to earn over $20 million more than his nonwhite counterpart. These challenges are not insurmountable. Consider the success of a memorandum of understanding that telecom giant Comcast signed with the National Urban League and other civil rights organizations in 2010. Among other provisions, the memorandum committed Comcast to establish specific, measurable goals for diversity and inclusion in corporate governance, workforce retention and recruitment, procurement, programming, along with philanthropy

and community investments. According to Comcast's most recent report, people of color make up 44.3% of its workforce, 18.8% of whom are Black. As part of its effort to increase diversity among top executives, the company established a boot camp for mid-level vice president candidates, including no less than 80% diverse candidates. More than 22% of positions of vice president and above now are filled by people of color, and the company has committed to a goal of 33% people of color at every level of its workforce. There's no reason the NFL can't replicate this success. It simply requires a sincere commitment on the part of the owners and league executives. As Flores' legal team has said, his lawsuit presents the NFL with an "opportunity to engage in substantive change." The National Urban League and our sister civil rights groups will do everything in our power to make sure that opportunity is not squandered. WI

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Republican officials have desperately tried to deflect attention from the assault on our democracy by Trump, his lawyers, and his followers. Republican officials have actively tried to disrupt efforts to learn the truth. And they have resorted to lawbreaking — refusing to respond to congressional subpoenas — to resist any effort to hold Trump and his henchmen accountable. The latest RNC resolution is a sad indication of Trump's grip on the GOP. It demonstrates how few elected officials are willing to stand up to Trump and his supporters, even when they are promoting harmful lies and conspiracy theo-

ries. One Republican member of Congress went so far as to defend the RNC's resolution by equating the attack on the capital with racial justice protests that took place after the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Meanwhile, Trump is talking about pardoning the insurrectionists if he gets reelected. And rightwing Republicans are telling us what they'll do if they get congressional majorities in this year's elections. Not only will they stop the investigation of Jan. 6. They will instead use their power to promote conspiracy theories about the elections and the COVID-19 pandemic and target their political opponents. It's an election year. We have been warned. WI

DUGAR from Page 25 DC is a city with a rapidly-changing population and racial dynamic. I've seen this happen in other places like Oakland. Chocolate City is changing, but that doesn’t mean that fair representation has to. With Ranked Choice Voting in Oakland, voters have been able to consolidate Black power and elect Black leaders who speak to the entire population, in a way that hasn’t been seen before in Oakland's history. The same can be true for DC. As the demographics continue to change, you can have leadership that represents the heart and soul of the District. Some long-time DC residents worry that change to our system may result in inequitable outcomes, in a city that continues to feel the pain of economic and racial disparities, as well as cultural displacement as a result of gentrification. We hear this concern and

WILLIAMS from Page 25 tection of voter rights, the threat to reproductive rights, and the swing against protections against discriminatory behaviors are now all matters of grave concern. Is this pushback against the Biden nominee because of the pledge that the nominee will be a woman? I am inclined to think that to be a significant factor. Historically, only five of the 115 Supreme Court justices have been women. Is this pushback against the Biden nominee because of the pledge that the nominee will be a

are proactively building a local grassroots coalition inclusive of racial, geographic, generational, and ideological differences. Ranked Choice Voting will empower communities of color to vote freely for candidates who are dedicated to racial equity, cultural preservation, housing justice, and community safety without worrying about strategic voting or splitting the vote. We believe ranking the vote is just a step in strengthening our democracy. Ranked Choice Voting creates a fairer system that begins a conversation about how power works in our democracy and the District -- especially as we move closer to DC statehood. We need to reevaluate the ways our system works and how to make our democracy deeply meaningful. Who we elect as leaders determines our livelihoods, from how the budget is allocated to who has access to resources. One of the rea-

sons we have so many societal issues is because, under our current system, leaders do not have to be responsive to the needs of the majority of the people. Ranked choice voting ensures a fair and majority election outcome to equitably represent voters and address the needs of their communities. The More Voice DC coalition is also working in solidarity with Mutual Aids and community-focused groups because we believe systemic change happens by reforming democracy and meeting people’s basic needs. We've come far, but we have a long way to go. The fact that the senate cannot agree that communities of color have the right to vote without restrictions shows how much further we have to go. D.C. residents will have a chance to vote on the Voice Act during Election season. Please stay connected with us for updates at www. morevoice.org and on Facebook and Twitter. WI

Black woman? Combining those two factors I think that to be a more important factor. Historically, only three of the 115 Supreme Court justices have been persons of color. The self-hatred and antipathy of one of these three justices of color to the interests of people of color negate any expectation of the just application of laws to those he disdains. The Founders were wary of the decisions of the ultimate judicial authority resting on the shoulders of a single individual or a single judicial philosophy. The beauty of our judicial system as originally conceived is the concept of mul-

tiple justices bringing unique and diverse lived-experiences to the deliberative process. There is no doubt that any of the women who comprise the current list of Joe Biden's potential nominees will bring a fresh, heretofore nonexistent perspective to the deliberative process of the highest court in the land. She will illuminate the racist impact, if not intent, of their decisions. She will join the other liberal voices in urging an increased sense of humanity in the decisions of the court. That Black woman is welcomed. She is an essential element in a new court. WI

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The Washington Informer - February 17, 2022

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