Families at St. Stephen Baptist Church

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

July 20 was a hot day all across the DMV, and the Capital Area Food Bank teamed up with a local church to bring both food and drink to the community. Dozens of families and youth from St. Stephen Summer Camp gathered at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Camp Springs, Mary - land for food and some summer recreation.

Alexis Lahr, the senior director of Family Government Nutrition Programs, was on hand to assist the event. “It’s so important,” she said about the program.

“During the school year, kids rely on school meals as potentially their only source of nutritious food. That’s where the summer meals program comes in, and we’re here to bridge the gap with healthy and nutritious meals that give them the energy to keep learning throughout the summer and enjoy their vacation.”

St. Stephen is one of the roughly 28 meal sites across the DMV. Any family across the DMV is welcome to join and have a summer meal and a cool day of relaxation.

“I’ve been in this role for about five years, and we’ve operated for many years before,” said Lahr. “Some of our biggest accomplishments have been the events to ensure the community was aware of our outreach after

COVID. We saw a sharp increase in need and less people visiting our sites; we wanted them to know our sites were still open and operating for the community. We’ve seen a huge impact, and we plan to distribute 68,000 or more meals across the region just this summer.”

Kayla Sizemore, a Suitland resident, attended the giveaway and worked with the youth. At a nearby table, several students colored images of vegetables after finishing their meals.

“[We’re] just showing the kids what it is to be a leader, and how to help the community,” Sizemore said, taking in the day. “Macaroni and cheese was their favorite food today, and face painting was definitely their favorite activity.”

Elder Gwendolyn Gantt, Community Outreach director for St. Stephen is no stranger to distributing help to her neighbors.

“I’ve worked with Capital Area food Bank for about 15 years,” she said.

“We have a plethora of resources at our disposal. One has to be proactive in finding the programs. By word of mouth, we help to spread the word about what we're doing and what Capital Area Food Bank has to offer.”

The list of Capital Area Food Bank sites is available at capitalareafoodbank.org.

This week's Religion Corner is about a new, best-selling Amazon book, recently released by Christian, African-American women. It is a book of true stories; however, our book causes me to ponder. You've heard about it. In the news, The Associated Press said, "The Florida Board of Education voted last Wednesday to approve a revised Black history curriculum that matches legislation that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said is necessary to prevent liberal indoctrination." Vice President Kamala Harris went to Florida a few days ago to speak out about what is being done there in regard to education. Harris said.

Recounting her own schooling, the vice president said she was the product of a public school system where teachers provided the "full expanse of information," and encouraged students to "then reach their own conclusions and exercise critical thought in a way that was directly intended to nurture their leadership. It is because of that approach that I stand before you as vice president of the United States," she said.

The new curriculum focuses on skills learned rather than the terrible injustices, no pay, whippings, and forgetting that they fed the animals before they fed slaves. This curriculum is focused more in early grades on achievements of African Americans rather than the injustices they faced through slavery and segregation. It is always good to highlight the good deeds our people have done, but don't toss out the brutal sufferings that lasted more than 400 years!

I'm here to tell you about another outstanding book recently published this year by Dr. Alethia Tucker, written as an anthology by eight authors. These true stories, written by Jacqueline Scott, Pixie Lee, Dr. Pamela Lee,

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

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Additionally, motivational speaker, Dr. Alethia Tucker is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated screening of "Reinvented to Rise," an inspiring documentary that expands on the captivating stories told in the Amazon best-selling book, "Reinvented to Rise, Vol II: Stories of Perseverance, Strength and Courage." This extraordinary event will take place at the Alamo Cinema Draft House, 630 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, D.C., on Aug. 12, 2023, at 3 p.m.

The "Reinvented to Rise" documentary screening promises an afternoon filled with captivating, true stories, thought-provoking discussions, and the celebration of remarkable individuals who have triumphed over adversity.

The documentary delves deeper into the lives of the contributing authors and features interviews with trailblazers who have defied the odds. This powerful documentary brings together the voices of these incredible individuals, offering further insight into their personal journeys of reinvention and the profound transformations they have undergone.

Audiences will have the opportunity to witness the resilience and determination of the authors and trailblazers, gaining a deeper understanding of their stories, challenges, and triumphs. Through intimate interviews and powerful storytelling, the documentary provides a window into the lives of these extraordinary individuals, inspiring viewers to embrace their own paths of transformation. Following the screening, there will be a compelling panel discussion featuring the authors and trailblazers, sharing their unique perspectives and engaging with the audience.

"We are incredibly excited to bring 'Reinvented to Rise' to the big screen," said Alethia Tucker, project visionary. "This documentary offers a deeper look into the lives of the authors, their journeys, and the wisdom they have gained through their experiences. We believe that this event will ignite the spark of reinvention within our audience and empower them to rise above their own challenges." Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite: https:// bit.ly/3pJBSaM. To secure your seat at the "Reinvented to Rise" documentary screening, reserve your tickets today.