The Washington Informer - June 15, 2023

WINNER OF SIX SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS FOR 2022

Things to Do Around the DMV to Celebrate

Juneteenth 2023

White House Celebrates with Star-Studded Concert

By Stacy M. Brown and Milaka Saddler WI Senior Correspondent and WI Contributing Writer

Juneteenth, a significant holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, holds even greater importance this year after President Biden signed it into law in 2021, designating June 19 as the Juneteenth National Independence Day.

The historical origins of Juneteenth trace back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce to enslaved individuals that they were finally free. This momentous event occurred two and a half years af-

JUNETEENTH Page 33

Worries Remain While Wildfire Smoke Moves On

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Writer

As wildfire smoke from Canada engulfed the northeast U.S., the District of Columbia saw record-breaking levels of dangerous particle pollution in its air on June 7 and 8. Photos of D.C.’s famous monuments and landmarks shrouded in hazy smog circulated online as the city issued a Code Purple alert for “very unhealthy” air.

Most of the smoke has now moved out to the Atlantic, leaving D.C. with clear air. But wildfire smoke will likely become a more common experience for our region in the coming years as fossil fuel emissions continue to heat up the planet. And experts warn that even short-term exposure to toxic air can have long-lasting health impacts.

“What I try to tell people is that if you don't take air qual-

BREATHE Page 23

A Street to Soon be Named in Makiyah Wilson’s Honor

The Ceremonious Designation Honors Child Taken by Gun Violence

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

The D.C. Council recently approved a resolution that names a street in Northeast in honor of Makiyah Wilson, a child who lost her life to gun violence five years ago.

The resolution, unanimously approved by the D.C. Council on June 6, symbolically designates the 300 block of 53rd Street in Northeast as “Makiyah Wilson Way.” On July 16, 2018, Makiyah was shot and killed on that block, what many know as part of the Clay Terrace community.

In the years since Makiyah’s murder,

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

Makiyah’s mother Donnetta Wilson has worked to combat gun violence through the Makiyah Lee Wilson Foundation, which establishes relationships with community members and raises funds to support movements geared toward quelling gun violence and curbing homelessness.

Wilson and other members of the

MAKIYAH Page 33

Celebrating 58 Years - Vol. 58, No. 35 • June 15 - 21, 2023

5 Donnetta Wilson, the mother of the late Makiyah Wilson, stands next to a cutout board figure of the child who was murdered on July 16, 2018 in the Clay Terrace community in Northeast. The D.C. Council approved a resolution that ceremoniously designates the 300 block of 53rd Street in Northeast as “Makiyah Wilson Way.” (Courtesy Photo)

Fathers Day: Highlighting A Father of Gospel Music

5 Opal Lee, known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, was surprised when Vice President Kamala Harris invited her to the stage during the White House's first Juneteenth concert on June 13. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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Former President Trump Arrested, Booked, and Pleads Not Guilty to 37 Charges Tied to Alleged Mishandling of Classified Documents

In an almost surreal sequence of events that defied the once noble legacy of the U.S. presidency, former President Donald Trump, already marred by a litany of firsts throughout his political career, orchestrated a mesmerizing motorcade entrance, concealing the imminent arrest that awaited him in a Miami courtroom on serious federal criminal charges.

With crowds filling the area around the courthouse, the unprecedented scene unfolded as a symbolic embodiment of his remarkable knack for theatricality, further punctuating his notorious legacy as the first President twice impeached, to face civil sex harassment charges resulting in a lawsuit loss, and to be indicted on state criminal charges.

Now, another dark milestone joins this extensive list, as he becomes the first President to face federal charges, including allegations connected to the Espionage Act, leaving his supporters stunned and angry.

Trump made his first court appearance on Tuesday, June 13, entering a plea of not guilty to 37 charges related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents.

As he went through the booking process with deputy marshals, authorities took electronic copies of Trump’s fingerprints but omitted taking a mugshot due to his notoriety as ex-President.

The hearing marked the escalation of legal jeopardy for the 2024 GOP front-runner, with special counsel Jack Smith in attendance.

The charges brought forth by the Justice Department’s classified documents case against Trump include 37 felony counts.

The allegations involve the illegal retention of national defense information and the concealment of documents violating witness-tampering laws in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into these materials.

Trump’s close aide, Walt Nauta, was also indicted and faces charges related to a conspiracy to obstruct the federal investigation.

Nauta was also booked and arraigned. WI

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

‘All Up in the Biz’ With Biz Markie

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5Rapper Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie were hip-hop collaborators. Kane is featured in the documentary about Markie, “All Up in the Biz,” premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival this month. (Courtesy Photo/ Showtime)

“All Up in the Biz,” a documentary about the late rapper Biz Markie premieres on June 17 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The film gives us a wider view of the artist, who was best known for his mega-hit “Just a Friend.” Known as “The Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” Biz Markie was a beatbox wiz who shouted out comical rhymes in an upbeat,

whimsical style.

The documentary features never seen footage, animation, puppet reenactments and interviews with Biz Markie and other prominent figures. On-camera comments will be heard from Fat Joe, Nick Cannon, Tracy Morgan, and many others. Noted rap icons like Rakim and Big Daddy Kane credit Markie as an influence on their careers. Following the screening at Tribeca, the film will have its global premiere on Showtime in August.

Sacha Jenkins directed “All Up in the Biz.” He also cowrote the film with Andre Wilkins.

Jenkins has an extensive background working on productions about music figures. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for writing the docuseries “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men.” He was also nominated for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature for the film, “Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues.” WI

Bowser Celebrates McMillan Park Project Progress

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with members of her administration, community members and residents, gathered on June 13 to celebrate the progress of the McMillan redevelopment project in Northwest.

The Bowser administration has invested more than $100 million to support the transformational project which is expected to deliver a 17,000 square-foot community center with a pool and a 6.2-acre park. Two-thirds of the project is also being developed by a private entity and will include housing, a grocery store, and amenities.

“We are here today, celebrating this progress, because of the relentless, government-wide commitment to delivering a transformational project to Ward 5 and our entire city,” said Bowser, 50. “When we talk about the District’s comeback, this project is in so many ways what it looks like—creating jobs for our residents; eliminating amenity gaps and building more housing.”

McMillan was designated a historical site locally and nationally in 1991. Presently, about 60% of the community center has been developed and the park will include large play areas, a children’s playground, historic Memorial Fountain and Olmsted Walk, adult exercise stations, a plaza with splash pads and an amphitheater.

“The progress shows the dedication and commitment of Mayor Bowser, and the collaborative efforts of our team and residents,” said Delano Hunter, the director of the Department of General Services. “The park and community center are a tremendous investment in the community and will enhance the quality of life for residents.”

Additionally, most of the site is being developed by Vision McMillan Partners and will feature a full-service grocery store, restaurants, and retail, 146 for-sale townhouses, 467 rental apartments, and over one million square feet of healthcare facility space. The first townhouses are expected to be delivered in 2024. WI

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

Huge Open-Air Mall in Congress Heights Opens with 13 Local Businesses

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Writer and James Wright, WI Staff Writer

Inside a sunlight-filled, 22,000 square-foot wooden building on St. Elizabeth’s East, visitors can soon find everything from gym classes to beauty products to chicken wings. Thirteen of D.C.’s emerging entrepreneurs will offer their wares from inside Sycamore & Oak, an Interim Retail Village (IRV) that opened on Wednesday, June 14.

“This opportunity was just perfect for me to expand my business to retail,” said Yarné Glascoe, hairstylist and owner of Salon on the Ave. “It's right here in my own community and we’re investing in our living.”

Glascoe’s new shop, Vaya Beauty, will offer toxin-free beauty products from Black-owned brands.

The Sycamore & Oak project, led by developer Redbrick LMD and the Emerson Collective, aims to incubate community and retail concepts while providing employment opportunities for neighborhood residents.

It will remain in operation for three to five years, Emerson Collective program manager Dana Hall said. After that, the site’s development will continue on to a second, more permanent phase. The physical building—which is made of a modern building material called mass timber and incorporates several other eco-friendly elements—will be disassembled and rebuilt elsewhere.

MEET A FEW OF THE ENTREPENEURS

One of the business owners setting up shop in Sycamore & Oak is Joe Houston, owner of WeFitDC, a gym. Houston said his gym will offer fitness classes, personal training, and specialties such as yoga to customers.

“I feel really blessed to do this,” said Houston, 29. “St. Elizabeth’s is special to me because my mom was once here. I feel like this is a homecoming of sorts.”

WeFitDC will employ five personal trainers “including myself,” Houston said. He would not disclose how much he pays for monthly leasing but said “it is reasonable.”

Next to WeFitDC is the Congress Heights Community Training and

Development Corporation Center (CHCDT). The center, based in Ward 8 and led by businesswoman Monica Ray, is designed to train people for jobs, mainly those who reside in east of the Anacostia River neighborhoods.

The CHCDT trains over 100 residents a year for the Washington job market. Earlier this year, the center received $3.5 million from JP Morgan Chase to enhance its training and administrative operations.

The Museum, a clothing firm that specializes in informal casual street wares highlighting fashion and art in concert, operates its second store in the District at the IRV, next to the CHCDT. The Museum was co-founded by LeGreg Harrison and Muhammad Hill. Their first store stands on Rhode Island Avenue, NE. The Museum has conducted business with such entities as NBA star Steph Curry, sports apparel companies such as Under Armour and FILA and NFL teams such as Washington Commanders.

Harrison said the IRV store will carry such items as running shoes and polos. They have hired four residents of the neighborhood to work in the store.

“I want to thank the D.C. Department of Employment Services for helping to train our employees,” Harrison said.

Soon, Harrison said he would like to have some of his merchandise with the emblem “Great Day in Congress Heights,” which resembles “Great Day in Crenshaw” for that Los Angeles neighborhood and “Great Day in Harlem” for the legendary New York City area.

Other businesses in the IRV include Black Bella DC’s wellness shop specializing in herbal products and solutions for pain reduction, skincare, antiaging, weight loss and offering natural bath and body goods.

Dionne Reeder, a restaurateur, plans to continue her culinary pursuits by operating Dionne’s that will offer everyday cuisine.

William Passmore, a managing partner at Redbrick, said the initial concept for the site envisioned a “town center” for Congress Heights. The building’s design, comes from David Adjaye, the architect behind the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It features high

ceilings and lots of natural light.

“In Ward 8 and in Black neighborhoods across the country, we deserve something that looks like like this, that feels like this,” Hall said.

“CO-CREATED” ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY

During the design process for the building, Hall said, Emerson Collective sent out a survey asking the site’s Congress Heights neighbors what they wanted to see from the project. In addition to the restaurants and retail shops, the site includes a large event space with a stage and an outdoor play space for kids. Both of those features, Hall said, came from suggestions in the 350 survey responses the company received.

“We took all of that feedback, we analyzed it, and we incorporated it,” Hall said. “We think of this as a space

that was co-created with the neighborhood.”

Efforts to include community members in the process continued even after construction began—Hall said representatives have given more than 300 tours of the property over the last six months. Many of those tours went to curious passersby.

“I see people walking in from the metro pathway, they stop and they start taking pictures,” said David Odeis, Redbrick construction manager for the project. “They're excited about it, and you see a smile on their face.” WI

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

5The Sycamore & Oak interim retail village, designed by the architect behind the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

JUNE 15 - 21, 2023

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

daily newspaper in 1983 when he and his wife purchased The Oakland Tribune, is born.

1980 – Tennis great Venus Williams, the first Black American woman to be ranked No. 1 in the world during the Open era, is born.

JUNE 18

1899 – Inventor W.H. Richardson patents the "Baby Buggy," the first reversible stroller.

1968 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that it is a violation of the law to discriminate in selling or renting residential property.

JUNE 19

1865 – Blacks in Texas are notified of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued two years earlier, marking the beginning of "Juneteenth."

1918 – John H. Johnson, editor and publisher of Jet and Ebony magazines and founder of Johnson Publishing Company, is born.

1948 – Actress Phylicia Rashad, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable in "The Cosby Show," is born in Houston.

JUNE 20

HARRY BELAFONTE

JUNE 15

1877 – Homy Ossian Flipper, U.S. soldier and former slave, becomes the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army.

1913 – Effie O'Neal, the first Black woman to hold an executive position in the American Medical Association, is born.

1921 – Aviator Bessie Coleman becomes the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license and an international aviation license from the Fed6ration Aéronautique Internationale.

1969 – Rapper, actor and filmmaker Ice Cube, member of seminal hip-hop group N.W.A., is born in Los Angeles. 1996 – Iconic jazz chanteuse Ella Fitzgerald, also known as the "First Lady of Song," "Queen of Jazz" and "Lady Ella," dies in Beverly Hills.

JUNE 16

1942 – Eddie Levert, lead singer of the R&B group The O'Jays and father of Gerald and Sean Levert, is born in Bessemer, Alabama.

1971 – Iconic rapper and actor Tupac Shakur is born in the East Harlem section of Manhattan, New York.

1975 – Singer and actor Adam Wade becomes the first African American game show host, helming CBS's "Musical Chairs."

JUNE 17

1949 – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lionel Richie is born in Tuskegee, Alabama.

1960 – Harry Belafonte becomes the first African American to win an Emmy Award for his special "Tonight with Harry Belafonte."

1967 – Muhammad Ali is convicted in federal court of violating the Selective Service Act by refusing induction into the armed services. He was fined $10,000 and sentenced to five years in prison. Ali, who opposed the Vietnam War, refused to report for service on grounds of his religion of Islam.

JUNE 21

1927 – Former Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes, the first African American elected mayor of a major city, is born.

1945 – Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. becomes the first African American to command a U.S. Army Air Corps base. WI

1937 – Journalist Robert Maynard, who became the first African American owner of a major metropolitan ICE CUBE

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Former President Donald Trump has been federally indicted in a classified-documents probe on numerous felony charges. If convicted, Trump faces a maximum punishment of 400 years in prison.

What are your thoughts?

GWEN STANFORD / WASHINGTON, D.C.

Nothing will happen to Trump, and unfortunately, he could possibly be the next president. He has followers that are exactly like him. He lets us know that he’s the witch in the witch hunt that he’s forever speaking about!

DAMIEN H. / WASHINGTON, D.C.

He has a fairly good chance of being convicted. The only thing that would stop it is if Joe Biden decides to pardon him, and don’t be surprised if he does.

BARTHOL CAESAR / JENNINGS, LA.

I don’t believe anything is going to happen to this man.

WAYNE WILLIAMS / LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

After this guilty verdict, all MAGA Republicans should be voted out of office! They are also a threat to our national security and democracy.

HILDA VALMORE / LANCASTER, CALIF.

If Trump is found guilty and is charged with a felony, will he be able to run for president and still vote? In most states, anyone with a felony can’t vote. Why is it OK for Trump?

D.C. Council Approves Emergency Legislation to Lower Rent Increases

After May 30 Debacle, Lewis George, Parker, Nadeau and Pinto Reach Compromise

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

A months-long journey to counter a precedent-setting rent increase reached a significant milestone on Tuesday when the D.C. Council unanimously approved legislation intended to protect tenants living in the District’s rent-controlled units.

The finalized legislation, titled the Rent Stabilized Housing Inflation Protection Emergency Amendment Act, included a unanimously approved “amendment in the nature of a substitute” (ANS) that capped the annual rent adjustment at 6% for rent-controlled units from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2025.

The ANS also set a two-year cumulative cap of 10% for rent that was adjusted, starting this past May and up until June 30, 2025. In the case of elderly rent-controlled tenants and those with disabilities, the ANS capped the increase for this year at 4% and the two-year cumulative increase at 8%.

Overall, the legislation, initially introduced by D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-At large) and adjusted with the help of a few council colleagues, prevented what had been anticipated to be a cumulative rental increase of 18% over two years.

When White initially introduced his legislation on May 30, he set the rent

increase to 6.9%, instead of the 8.9% rate that had gone into effect at the beginning of that month.

The road to a finalized bill was paved with many bumps, including D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau’s unsuccessful attempt to introduce an amendment capping the two-year cumulative in-

crease at 10% for most rent-controlled tenants.

In her comments on the dais on June 6, Lewis George expressed gratitude to housing advocates, along with her staff and colleagues for ensuring that tenants would be protected, even if for the time being. However, she remained disappointed that the events of last week’s council meeting didn’t serve any benefit to working-class Washingtonians.

“Process is weaponized to block protections for working families,” Lewis George told the Informer earlier on Tuesday morning.

“That’s what happened earlier this year and last week when our amendment was blocked,” she continued. “I won’t let anyone silence me and silence the thousands of Black and brown residents who I represent. The only way around this is for some of my colleagues to start putting themselves in the shoes of everyday working people.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com

Alaunte Scott’s Family Joins National Effort to Strengthen Police Accountability Measures

Three Months Later, U.S. Marshals Say No Body Cam Footage Exists

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

On the evening of Feb. 28, just one week before TaiJoh'e Scott’s birthday, officers from the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed Alaunte Scott while executing a warrant. A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) spokesperson would later say that Alaunte Scott wielded a weapon during the chase, which compelled a U.S. Marshal to shoot him in the back seven times.

The identity of the federal law enforcement official who shot and killed Scott has yet to be revealed. By the time Scott’s family arrived on

SCOTT Page 15

5 (L-R) TaiJoh’e Scott, Marion Gray-Hopkins and Alanta Scott stood in front of the U.S. Department of Justice in demand of U.S. Marshals Service’s bodyworn camera footage from the police-involved shooting of Alaunte Scott (Sam P.K. Collins/The Washington Informer)

5 At-Large Councilmember Robert White (WI File Photo)

HBCU Students ‘Discover the Unexpected,’ Receive $18K

By WI Bridge Staff

Picture this: 10 super-talented students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. are about to dive into an epic summer internship. They’re gearing up for a 10-week deep dive into the world of marketing and communications with Chevrolet in Detroit.

This immersive gig isn’t just about coffee runs and photocopying. These fellows will create content and get up close and personal with the tech powering the auto industry. Plus, they’ll team up with National Newspaper Publication Association (NNPA) journalists and Chevy marketing peeps, testing out the all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax on a fantastic group road trip.

They’ll also document their journey on social media because what’s an adventure without some Instagram love, right? Chevy and the NNPA are hosting this hands-on experience for the seventh year, calling it Discover the Unexpected (DTU).

HBCU grads will mentor the students, sharing their pro tips and cheering them on every step of the way. Big names like the TV host, actor Terrence Jenkins, and STEM advocate Justin Shaifer are returning for their third year as DTU ambassadors. ESPN sports journalist and HBCU alum

Tiffany Greene will also join the mentorship crew.

Terrence J perfectly summed up the vibe: “Having support and opportunities during your college years is invaluable and will set you on a path of lifelong success. As a proud HBCU graduate, I am thrilled to collaborate with Chevrolet and the NNPA again to uplift the next generation of talented journalists, marketers, and content creators.”

AROUND THE REGION

The Power of Service: National Black MBA Association - DC Chapter and Raymond James Join Forces

Submitted by DC Black MBA

Service has the power to transform lives, create lasting change, and strengthen communities. When organizations come together with a shared commitment to giving back, the impact can be truly remarkable. One such partnership that exemplifies the power of service is the collaboration between the National Black MBA Association - DC Chapter and Raymond James, a leading financial services firm. Through their shared dedication to community engagement, they are making a significant difference in the lives of individuals and the overall prosperity of the African-American community.

Most recently, the two teamed up to make hygiene bags for the most vulnerable youth in the DMV area. They were able to partner with Sasha Bruce Youthwork and two middle schools – Sousa Middle School in DC and Ernest Just Middle School in Prince George’s County. This project to make 300 bags through the Raymond James Cares initiative turned into making over 500 bags across the three organizations.

Raymond James has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities in which they operate. Chris Reese, Operations Manager at Raymond James, explains, "Raymond James has always been committed to giving back to the communities in which we live and work." This commitment is evident in their active involvement in various charitable initiatives. When presented with the opportunity to create hygiene bags for local youth, Raymond James eagerly stepped up to the plate. Reese adds, "The response from our local associates was overwhelming." This initiative is part of Raymond James Cares Month, an annual event that allows

associates and advisors to join forces and give back to their communities. In 2022 alone, their volunteers dedicated nearly 7,100 hours of service to over 230 charitable organizations.

The partnership between Raymond James and the DC Black MBA Association is a testament to their shared values and mutual goals. Reese highlights the importance of this collaboration, stating, "The DC Black MBA Association does incredible work! Partnering with an organization committed to creating educational opportunities and economic growth for African-Americans aligns closely with our firm's Pledge to the Black Community." Raymond James' commitment to service, mentorship, and training is an essential part of their ongoing dedication to the African-American community. This partnership serves as a catalyst for positive change and demonstrates the power of collective action.

Moreover, Raymond James recognizes the significance of supporting programs like Juneteenth. Reese emphasizes, "Programs like Juneteenth are important in multiple ways to Raymond James." These programs not only align with the firm's Mosaic Inclusion Network and Black Financial Advisors Network but also reinforce the importance of giving back to local communities. By participating

in initiatives that celebrate African-American history and culture, Raymond James fosters a more inclusive environment and reinforces their commitment to community engagement.

The impact of the National Black MBA Association - DC Chapter and Raymond James partnership is far-reaching. Together, they create educational opportunities, support economic growth, and empower African-Americans to achieve their fullest potential. By leveraging their resources, expertise, and passion for service, they are driving meaningful change and inspiring others to get involved.

In a world where service has the power to transform lives, the collaboration between the National Black MBA Association - DC Chapter and Raymond James stands as a shining example. Through their shared commitment to service and community engagement, they are making a lasting difference. As they continue to work hand in hand, their impact will undoubtedly ripple through generations, leaving a legacy of empowerment, opportunity, and hope.

For more information, visit the website at www.dcblackmbaa.org

AROUND THE REGION

The Newsletter

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

DoorDash, Inc., an online food ordering and food delivery platform presented the District of Columbia $500,000 on June 7 after Mayor Bowser announced a public safety partnership with the company to make dashcams available to eligible drivers at no cost. The partnership is intended to deter crime and assist law enforcement with investigations. (L-R) John Horton, Salah Czapary, Alexis Squire, Will Moten, and Shayla L.). (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Who’s Reading the Informer?

James H. Simmons III and Tom Finan read the Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“If you haven't confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started. ”

– Marcus Garvey

Renowned Economist and Equity Advocate William Spriggs, Dead at 68

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia

William Spriggs, the prominent chief economist of the AFL-CIO and a vocal critic of the profession's approach to racial disparities in the United States, has died.

The death of Spriggs, 68, was announced by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Spriggs, who also served as a professor at Howard University, emerged as one of the most influential Black voices in the field and fearlessly confronted his colleagues about their handling of racial issues.

President Joe Biden expressed his deep sorrow at the loss of Bill Spriggs, praising him as a remarkable figure who contributed lasting brilliance to economics and brought joy to his friends and colleagues.

In a statement, President Biden said, “Bill was a towering figure in his field, a trailblazer who challenged the field's basic assumptions about racial discrimination in labor markets, pay equity, and worker empowerment. His work inspired countless economists, some of whom work for our administration, to join him in the pursuit of economic justice.”

Spriggs, who held the positions of Economics Department Chair at Howard University and Chief Economist for the AFL-CIO, was the first Black American to occupy the latter role.

Throughout his career, he tirelessly fought to ensure that the voices and needs of workers remained central to economic policymaking.

President Biden emphasized Spriggs' dedication to public service, noting that he held multiple economic policy positions under two presidential administrations in various federal government roles.

The President acknowledged Spriggs' exceptional contributions and achievements and remembered him for his kindness, warmth, and humility.

In 2020, following the tragic death of George Floyd, Spriggs penned an open letter to economists, cautioning that their methodologies were perpetuating the very issues they sought to address.

He urged them to reflect and reconsider their approach to studying racial disparities.

In more recent years, Spriggs, known as Bill to many, also voiced criticism of the Federal Reserve, arguing that aggressive monetary tightening would disproportionately harm Black workers without tackling the underlying causes of inflation.

Spriggs served as an advisor to the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, established in 2017 to examine economic disparities.

William Edward Spriggs was born in Washington, DC, on April 8, 1955.

He attended Williams College for his undergraduate studies before pursuing a master's and Ph.D. in economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

From 2009 to 2012, under President Obama, Spriggs served as an assistant policy secretary at the US Labor Department.

In 2005, he began his tenure as an economics professor at Howard University and later joined the AFL-CIO in 2012, a federation of labor unions representing 12.5 million workers.

Spriggs was widely recognized as a mentor and ally to numerous young Black economists.

Michelle Holder, an associate professor of economics at John Jay College, City University of New York, shared her experience, stating that Spriggs was among the first to extend support and connect her with a community of Black economists when she entered academia.

“To me, his legacy was really about making a stronger country by ensuring that Black people weren't left behind,” she said. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer. com.

5 William Spriggs. (Couteay photo)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Millard House II Named New PGCPS CEO

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

On June 7, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) announced Millard House II as the new Prince George's County Public Schools CEO.

House II served two years as Houston schools superintendent and has only been out of that role for six days. His tenure has been praised by both Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and teacher’s union leaders.

“Out of the superintendents I have worked with in Houston he was by far the best," said Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers.

The State of Texas is preparing for a state takeover of the Houston school district based on issues that predated his tenure.

“For the last few months, PGCPS has been conducting a national search for the next CEO of our school system,” said Alsobrooks. “It was national in scope and included both a search firm, and a search committee.”

PRINCE GEORGE’S WEEKLY UPDATES

Uber Tuition Assistance

Helps Local Resident, Commanders Host Clinic

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

UBER OFFERS TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR DRIVERS, FAMILIES

The rideshare company Uber has launched a partnership with Arizona State University to grant drivers and their families the opportunity to attend the university tuition free. 650 graduates were surprised on May 8 to know that they and their loved ones qualified for the tuition assistance.

One of those who qualified was Prince George’s County resident Shaunice Aikoo.

Shaunice Aikoo’s husband drives with Uber as he wanted to leave his career as a surgical technician and try something different. At the time he began driving, Shaunice was a stay-athome mom and had been out of the workforce for 10 years. Shaunice had always had plans to go back and get her degree, and had looked into ASU before knowing that Uber offered benefits to drivers and their families.

“Having Uber’s tuition assistance gave me a chance to finish college at an innovative and top-ranked school,” said Shaunice. “The desire to finish school has never subsided in my heart since I dropped out over 20 years ago. But in reality, I could not afford it, and accruing debt was not an option for

The search committee, selected by the governor and superintendent of Education, included Brigadier General Warner Sumpter, retired educator Aretha Bridgewater-Simms and former Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth. Courageous, collaborative and communicative were some of the main traits sought by educators in the next CEO.

House II will be replacing Dr. Monica Goldson, a 32-year veteran of PGCPS who was first ap -

me. So, I prayed to God, throughout the years for another opportunity to attend school for free and allow me to finish what I started. Unbeknownst to me that God would use an unlikely situation to answer my prayers - my husband began working for Uber in 2017. Uber was my answer from God.” Shaunice graduated from ASU with a BA in Organizational Leadership Project Management, and she is now working as a human resource specialist.

In order to be eligible, drivers must complete over 2,000 hours on the app. This is the seventh graduation year since the program began in 2018.

COMMANDERS HOST FLAG FOOTBALL CLINIC

On May 20, the Washington Commanders hosted the first ever Flag Football Clinic presented by OrthoVirginia at the newly-named OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park in partnership with RCX Sports and the Loudoun

pointed to CEO in 2019.

“My parents were educators who taught for 30 plus years in Tulsa Public Schools. I’m very indebted to the support I’ve had from my family,” he said at the press conference to announce his selection. “Why Prince George’s County? It came down to a conversation with Goldson. She indicated she was leaving to retire. It was also established that I was leaving Houston, and it became crystal clear I would make an attempt at this opportunity.”

County NFL FLAG Football League

OrthoVirginia physicians, youth flag football players, Washington Commanders coaches, legends, and current players including Pro Bowl Safety Jeremy Reaves and first-round draft pick Emmanuel Forbes were in attendance for a day of skills development and training for upcoming athletes.

This event was the first in-person event since the team announced its major partnership and naming rights agreement with OrthoVirginia, Official Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Partner of the Washington Commanders. Inside the Commanders’ practice bubble, over 200 local youth flag football players participated in skills and drills training with assistance from players from John R. Lewis High School’s Varsity Football Team. Over the course of the day, OrthoVirginia professionals led demonstrations on topics such as injury prevention and proper warm-up routines prior to exercise.

“We are so proud to partner with

Goldson reflected on her more than three decades with PGCPS.

“My career has taken me to heights I never dreamed possible when I walked across the stage in 1986 as a Potomac High School graduate,” Goldson wrote in a January letter announcing her intention to retire. “The children of this community are among the brightest and most innovative in the country. It has been an absolute honor to lead over 131,000 students in the place I call home.”

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OrthoVirginia to bring together young athletes, sports medicine professionals, and Commanders players and coaches,” said Jason Wright, Washington Commanders Team president. “I am thrilled that the Commanders community was able to join forces with the region’s top orthopedic professionals to provide a fun and educational day for young players here at the OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park.”

“Whether you are playing in the National Football League or a youth flag football league, it’s crucial that athletes learn how to prevent injuries and stay healthy,” said Dr. David Jevsevar, OrthoVirginia CEO. “OrthoVirginia and the Washington Commanders share a commitment to making an impact in the community, and today’s event underscored the exciting components of our partnership.”

The Commanders are amid a sale process for a record-setting $6 billion, the most ever for a North American sports franchise.

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3 Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks welcomes Millard House II, the new superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools. He will begin July 1. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)

5 Officials pose at the welcoming of Millard House II as new superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PGCPS) UPDATE

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Congressman Ivey Hosts Hyattsville Small Business Town Hall

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

On May 31, Congressman Glenn Ivey (D- District 4) held a small business town hall at Flavors Culinary Group in Hyattsville to gain insight directly from business owners about how his Congressional office, including his newly-hired Small Business Liaison Luis Murillo, can best help others get off the ground and continue to grow. The ten small business owners present had been through a Goldman Sachsled small business training program called 10,000 Small Business Voices, which invests into small businesses and provides them training.

“We are wrapping up National Small Business Month to acknowledge the resilience of small businesses and also to help you grow,” said program leader Jennifer Prosser to start the event. “The business owners that we work with are experts in their fields with great ideas, but who

don’t know how to run a business necessarily. Rather than working in their business, work on their business and become the CEO they can best be.”

“This is the best part of the day,” said the Congressman as he enjoyed his breakfast and listened to both the challenges and successes of the present business leaders.

While Ivey expressed he was proud of the local business talent, he also believes that more work can be done. One idea he suggested to anchor small business growth in Prince George’s is working with local partners such as Bowie State University and Prince George’s Community College.

“In the last Congress, we secured a large amount of funding for small businesses. It’s over a trillion dollars from the Biden Administration along with contract opportunities, so we need to make sure we’re getting you the information,” Ivey said when asked about Congress’ prog-

ress on small business assistance.

Ivey also said he worries that legal decisions which deem affirmative action unconstitutional may, in the long term, negatively affect business programs that aim to assist Black and women business owners.

Odessa Phillips, president of Assedo Consulting based in Prince George’s, was a graduate in the third cohort of the Sachs program. The biggest issue her firm has faced is difficulty in getting opportunities in government contracts, and the inaccessibility of some government websites to assist her business.

Chef Sharon, who prepared the banquet, stayed to listen. “I use Flavors as a licensed kitchen I can cook out of, and I was asked to prepare something for the event. I even learned about small business opportunities while present,” she said.

While the cohorts are based in Baltimore, about one-third of the graduates run businesses based in

Celebrate

Prince George’s. Over 600 Maryland businesses have already been assisted by this program.

Quarterly surveys, media engagement, policy advocacy and meetings with legislative leaders are the primary ways that the 10,000 Small

Business Voices program gauges the opinion of small business owners and lobby for policies that benefit them.

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Congressman Glenn Ivey (center) hosted a small business townhall in Hyattsville to hear from graduates of a Goldman Sachs-led program. (Richard Elliott/ The Washington Informer )

By James Wright / WI Staff Writer

BUSINESS briefs

CONGRESS HEIGHTS METRO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION STARTS

Standard Real Estate Investments, LP, announced recently that it has begun the first phase of the construction at its recently purchased property adjacent to the Congress Heights Metro Station site in Ward 8 in Southeast. Demolition of existing buildings on site will commence on June 19.

“We are incredibly honored to usher in a new era for this well-located site and the demolition of the existing buildings is just the

first step in importing economic activity, amenities, and jobs to the Congress Heights neighborhood,” said Jerome Nichols, president of Standard. “It’s been a complex process, and our partnership with Trammell Crow Company promises to create a new benchmark for development in the District as we unlock the potential of this site.”

The Trammell Crow Company (TCC) is a global real estate development firm that Standard has partnered with to execute on the leasing and development of up to 240,000 square feet of commercial office and retail space. The oneacre site at 1331 Alabama Avenue SE neighbors the MedStar Health

Performance Center, which is home to the Washington Mystics and Capital City Go-Go training facility and is proximate to the southern pedestrian entrance to the Congress Heights Metro Station.

“We are thrilled to start the development of this transformative project, which is already generating interest from a variety of commercial users that will drive job creation and nurture a sense of community,” said Tom Finan, principal at TCC. “Our successful development of the new Department of General Services headquarters a few miles north in Ward 7 has sparked a wave of interest from office and retail users, which will undoubtedly attract additional economic support throughout the community. The tireless efforts of our partners at Standard will bring a robust new economic engine to Ward 8, while furthering our multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitment to partnering with diverse sponsors and investing in diverse communities as part

of our firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative.”

The Standard-TCC partnership is designed to be a strong economic driver in the ward. Plus, the project represents another key milestone in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA also known as Metro) ongoing efforts to bring forth transit-oriented developments. Standard purchased a portion of the seven-property site assemblage from Metro in 2021.

“In addition to enhancing the

fabric of this community this project will enhance accessibility to transit in and around Congress Heights,” said Liz Price, vice president of real estate and development for Metro.

Construction completion is targeted for 2026 as the team begins demolition and finalizes the design and leasing campaign for the office and retail components.

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@JamesWrightJr10

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, t/a Events DC bid Opportunity

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, t/a Events DC, is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide professional Security Services primarily for Events DC’s Entertainment and Sports Arena located on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus in the Congress Heights area of Washington, DC, and as necessary, other designated Events DC venues.

This Request for Proposal (RFP) has a thirty-five percent (35%) set aside for a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) as required under the provisions of “The Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Amendment Act of 2014” (the “Act”), effective June 10, 2014.

Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-procurement website at www.wscapex.com.

Key Dates: RFP Release Date: 3:00PM, EST, Thursday, June 8, 2023

Pre-Proposal Conference/Site Visit: 2:00PM, EST, Friday, June 30, 2023

Questions Due Date: 5:00PM, EST, Friday, July 7, 2023

Proposal Due Date: 5:00PM, EST, Friday, July 21, 2023

Primary Contact Name: Gerald Green

Email: ggreen@eventsdc.com

Phone: (202) 249-3028

5 A rendering of a new building close to the entrance of the Congress Heights Metro. (Courtesy Photo)

Entrepreneur Talks Opportunities in the Trades

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

While big tech companies such as Facebook and Google are downsizing employees in large numbers, there remain a large number of spots in the trades. Wayne Samms saw the opportunity that entering the skilled trades could do and now, he runs Samms Maintenance Plus, a Lanham-based HVAC company that takes work in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.

“I was fortunate to have an uncle who spoke to me about the aspects of the HVAC business while I was incarcerated. I did my research on the industry, read many books pertaining to the subject, enrolled into an HVAC class, and received my certification required to work in the field. Then I applied for my EIN number, then applied for my LLC. Then I applied all of my knowledge gathered and invested into my business,” Samms told the Informer.

As a returning citizen, Samms said he believes that the state legislature should establish more pre-release programs and training possibilities in the trades.

The entrepreneur plans to ex-

pand his business by offering job opportunities and skills training, with a particular goal of partnering with municipalities in coming years.

“This opportunity will give mothers and fathers the chance to become employed in the community and allow our community to prosper from economic growth,” he said.

While Samms plans to expand over time, the pandemic and inflation have significantly raised the cost of living and the cost of the products he uses, all the while shrinking the wallets of his poten tial clients.

your targeted audience is key to becoming successful as well as remaining consistent and staying on task,” he said when asked what was his biggest lesson in building a business.

research to educate myself on the do’s and don'ts of the business, allowing me to become on target when the dream of building my business was presented to me.”

please email SammsMaintenan cePlus@gmail.com or call 202-7173374.

LEE MONTESSORI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Extended Day Programming

Lee Montessori Public Charter Schools (PCS) is seeking to procure the services of an organization capable of conducting before- and after-school programming for preschool through sixth grade. For a copy of the RFP, please contact:

Joshua McComas

joshua@leemontessori.org

202-779-9740 extension 3115

Bids are due by 5pm on July 7th, 2023

SCOTT from Page 5

the scene on Feb. 28, much of the perimeter surrounding the scene of the shooting had been blocked with tape.

As TaiJoh'e Scott recounted, dozens of federal and local police vehicles converged on the 4300 block of 3rd Street in Southeast. MPD”s investigative unit had also set up shop. Meanwhile, local law enforcement officers stood in front of the apartment building where the warrant had been executed questioning passersby about whether they lived there.

“Since my brother’s killing, we have gone down to the court building, protesting and screaming at the top of our lungs asking for information,” TaiJoh'e Scott told the Informer.

On Wednesday, Alanta Scott, TaiJoh'e Scott, and another Scott sibling stood alongside family members of other police shooting victims, advo-

cates and retired U.S. Marshal Chief Deputy Dr. Matthew Fogg in front of the U.S Department of Justice headquarters in Northwest to demand that President Joe Biden (D) and Attorney General Merrick Garland strengthen federal law enforcement accountability measures.

For TaiJoh'e Scott, it’s imperative that the U.S. Marshals Service is no longer able to hide behind its federal authority to sweep her brother’s death and that of other Black people under the rug.

“It makes no sense that every single life that’s been lost to police brutality has vanished with no trace,” she said. “It’s been more than 90 days and I have no clear understanding about what happened to my brother. We all deserve answers. I’m demanding someone tell us something.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com

FITS YOUR life

With our unique tub-over-tub liners, replacements, and tub-to-shower conversions we can complete your bathroom renovation in as little as a day. At Bath Fitter, we don’t just fit your bath, we fit your life. Why have over two million people brought Bath Fitter into their homes? It Just Fits.

5 Wayne Samms of Samms Maintenance Plus making sure an HVAC unit is ready to go before the summer heat fully sets in. (Photo Courtesy: Wayne Samms)

Disturbing Trend Reveals Young Adults Sentenced to Life without Parole

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

In a stunning revelation, a newly released report by The Sentencing Project brings to light the plight of emerging adults aged 25 and younger sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) in the United States.

The study examined the cases of nearly 30,000 individuals sentenced between 1995 and 2017. It exposed the harsh reality faced

by these young offenders deprived of a second chance despite their diminished capacity during their offenses.

The report highlights the case of William Florentino, who, at the age of 20, received an LWOP sentence in Massachusetts for his involvement in a robbery that ended in murder.

Despite not being the triggerman, a jury convicted Florentino of first-degree murder and armed robbery under the felony murder doctrine.

After spending 46 years behind bars, Florentino is elderly and has shown immense personal growth, earned a college degree, and become a trusted resident within the prison community.

His story exemplifies the urgent need to reevaluate the justice system’s treatment of young offenders.

The study emphasizes that the current legal framework, which treats individuals aged 18 and older as adults, needs to recognize the

unique phase of human development known as emerging adulthood.

The report, which draws from scientific research in neuroscience, sociology, and psychology, asserts that most individuals fully mature into adulthood in their mid-twenties.

Therefore, the arbitrary age of 18 as the threshold for full criminal accountability overlooks the developmental realities faced by emerging adults.

Disturbingly, the report reveals that, at the time of sentencing, two in five individuals sentenced to LWOP between 1995 and 2017 were 26 or younger.

States such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California saw nearly half of their LWOP sentences imposed on individuals under 26.

Alarmingly, the peak age at conviction was 23, which firmly falls within emerging adulthood.

Furthermore, the study highlights the racial disparities within the system, indicating that twothirds of young individuals sentenced to LWOP were Black, underscoring the disproportionate impact of extreme sentences on Black Americans.

The report notes that many states have begun to acknowledge the unique attributes of emerging adulthood and have introduced legislative reforms or jurisprudential restrictions to address the issue.

The researchers noted that the reforms could provide a second look at prison sentences for young offenders, considering their diminished capacity at the time of the offense.

Ashley Nellis, co-director of Research at The Sentencing Project, and lead author of the report, crit-

icized the outdated view that brain development is complete by age 18.

She called for overhauling the criminal legal system to ensure fair and just treatment of emerging adults who, despite committing severe crimes, possess immense potential for growth and rehabilitation.

“Our criminal legal system relies on an outdated and unscientific view that brain development is complete at age 18,” Nellis stated.

“Emerging adults share many key developmental characteristics with adolescents under age 18. Despite their serious crimes, these individuals have tremendous potential for growth and opportunity.”

The authors issued a list of recommendations to urgently address the issue.

It proposes eliminating the use of LWOP for emerging adults and imposing a sentence cap of 15 years for individuals aged 25 and younger.

The authors also advocated for periodic reviews within the first 10 years of sentencing for young offenders and the consideration of individual circumstances in determining appropriate sentences.

The Sentencing Project joined several national organizations in calling for a reorientation of the justice system, emphasizing punishments proportionate to the crime committed and the offender’s culpability.

“By implementing these reforms, society can foster a more equitable and humane approach to criminal justice, offering hope and opportunities for redemption to young individuals caught in the grip of the legal system,” the authors concluded. wi

@StacyBrownMedia

5 Two-thirds of young individuals sentenced to life without parole were Black, underscoring the disproportionate impact of extreme sentences on Black Americans. (Courtesy Photo/ Annie E. Casey Foundation)

Black Women Face Dire Consequences When Unemployment Rates Rise

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

In a setback to the progress made in narrowing the racial unemployment gap, an increase in joblessness among Black workers has raised concerns over the waning prospects for the Black labor force.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics revealed that the unemployment rate for Black individuals rose from 4.7% to 5.6% between April and May.

Earlier this year, unemployment rates among Black workers reached their lowest levels in over a year, narrowing the gap with their white counterparts.

However, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the economic fate of Black women in America provides compelling evidence of the enduring impact of gender and race discrimination on workers and families.

Researchers at the EPI found that employer practices and government policies have historically

disadvantaged Black women compared to white women and men, leading to unfavorable labor market positions.

Negative representations of Black womanhood have reinforced these discriminatory practices and policies.

Additionally, the EPI highlighted that the view of Black women as primary workers, dating back to the era of slavery, has contributed to their devaluation as mothers with caregiving responsibilities at home.

“The unique labor market history and current occupational status of African American women reflect these beliefs and practices,” concluded EPI researchers.

Black women have consistently exhibited the highest levels of labor market participation among all women in the United States, regardless of age, marital status, or the presence of children at home.

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@StacyBrownMedia

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the economic fate of Black women in America provides compelling evidence of the enduring impact of gender and race discrimination on workers and families. (Photo Training Industry.com)

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©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155,

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

European Leaders Wish to ‘Step Up’ Cooperation on Migrationwith Tunisia

European leaders visiting Tunisia Sunday, June 11, held out the promise of more than 1 billion euros in financial aid as well as investments in undersea data cables and renewable energy in an effort to stem migration from its shores to Europe and restore economic stability to the North African country.

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied hosted the leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Commission for talks aimed at smoothing the way for an international financial bailout of the increasingly troubled country. Support from President Saied is crucial to any European Union deal to curb migration.

On the eve of the talks, Saied made an unannounced visit to a migrant camp in the coastal city of Sfax, a central jumping-off point for boat journeys crossing the Mediterranean to Italy.

Saied spoke with families living in the camp, and pleaded for international aid for Africans who converge on Tunisia as a transit point to reach Europe. He added his country was not the keeper of Europe's borders.

His words, and sympathetic images posted on the president's Facebook page, contrasted sharply with Saied's stance earlier this year, when he stoked racist abuse of Black African migrants in Tunisia with a speech railing against a perceived plot to erase his country's Arab identity.

The president and Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

After the talks, von der Leyen announced a five-point program to support Tunisia, including up to €1.05 billion ($1.1 billion) in aid for Tunisia's indebted budget. The plan will be discussed with all 27 EU countries at their next summit on June 29 and 30, she said.

In addition to the budgetary aid, the EU is discussing investment in high-speed broadband and other digital infrastructure for Tunisia, and 300 million euros in hydrogen and other renewable energy projects, von der Leyen said.

The plan also includes 100 million euros for Tunisian authorities to carry out search-and-rescue operations for migrants and anti-smuggling operations, the Commission’s president said. Amid criticism from migrant advocacy groups about forced repatriations, von der Leyen and Rutte insisted the program would respect human rights.

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Vice President Kamala Harris’ Historic Trip to the Bahamas

Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to The Bahamas on Thursday, June 8, marked a significant step in the United States’ relationship with the Caribbean as it was both historic and consequential.

“She is the highest-ranking White House official to visit the Caribbean nation since John F. Kennedy in 1962,” said a White House senior official during a press call on background for Harris’ day-long trip.

The vice president’s visit, which included a meeting with Caribbean leaders, was accompanied by a string of announcements from the Biden-Harris administration, including more than $100 million in new assistance for the region for needs like getting access to banking and combating the climate crisis. The financial commitments are in direct response to needs communicated by Caribbean leaders to the U.S. in previous meetings hosted by Harris over the past year.

“Strengthening the U.S.-Caribbean relationship is a priority for me, as it is for President Joe Biden,” said Harris, who is of Jamaican descent, during Thursday’s U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting, co-hosted by Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis.

The Biden-Harris administration used Harris’ historic trip to announce $20 million toward the Caribbean Climate Investment Program to “incentivize” the private sector to develop clean energy technologies in the region. Additionally, the White House issued $15 million to support and strengthen emergency response efforts by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

The vice president announced she is also working with the World Bank to help Caribbean nations get more access to increased banking services, including low-cost concessional financing. Harris met with the World Bank’s new president, Ajay Banga, this week and helped coordinate his virtual attendance at Thursday’s meeting with Caribbean leaders.

5 Vice President Kamala Harris with Bahamas Prime Minister Philip E. Davis. (Courtesy Photo)

5 Tunisian civil society groups denounce anti-migrant rhetoric. (Courtesy Photo)

HEALTH

District Organizations Gain Resources to Address Health Disparities

Greater Washington Community Foundation Grants Millions Towards Health Equity

By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Writer

Another round of extensive funding is coming down the pike to local organizations supporting some of the District's most financially vulnerable residents. The Heath Equity Fund (HEF), in conjunction with Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF), is disbursing grant funding over five years to facilitate health equity and positive health outcomes for residents throughout the District of Columbia.

GWCF, a community cornerstone that connects concerned donors with nonprofits working to combat poor health outcomes, understands just how impactful socioeconomic disparities weigh on the overall well-being of individuals and families by large. The disheartening adversity faced by factions of residents inspired greater reason to allocate an initial amount of $9.2 million through the HEF, to help remedy the many crises that contribute to greater health disparities.

“Mindful that health and wealth are inextricably linked, the HEF’s first

round of grants is boldly investing in economic mobility and wealth building in D.C.’s historically underinvested communities,”said GWCF’s President and CEO Tonia Wellons. “Achieving this vision puts our city on a trajectory to improve and achieve optimal health outcomes for all D.C. residents.”

According to the Health Equity Summary Report for the District of Columbia (2018), 80% of the District’s health outcomes are driven by economic, social, and several other factors, compared to only 20% of health outcomes stemming from clinical care. With a current poverty rate of 17.48% as reported by World Population Review, the consequences of socioeconomic disparities are concentrated in greater quantities of households residing in the eastern wards of the city, southwest Prince George’s County, and pockets of northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryand. Hardships including homelessness, food insecurity, income, and employment play major roles in the causes and increase in serious health issues. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 Leaders from the Greater Washington Community Foundation, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the DC Health Equity Committee and the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking announced more than $12.5 million in grants from the Health Equity Fund to 14 DC-Area organizations working to advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change on June 13. (Courtesy photo/Robert Ambrose-The Greater Washington Community Foundation)

Rent-to-Own: New Housing Program Offers Rent with Option to Buy Program Provides Hope for Aspiring Homeowners

By Rodney Bennett WI Contributing Writer

In a real estate market that is seeing an ongoing affordability crisis—with homeownership is an elusive dream for many-- the concept of “rent with the option to buy” has emerged as a promising solution. This innovative approach offers aspiring homeowners an opportunity to rent a property with the potential to eventually purchase it.

The rent-to-own model has gained traction in recent years, providing individuals with a pathway to homeownership that is not only flexible but also very achievable. This innovative initiative combines the benefits of renting with the option to buy, presenting a viable path to home-

ownership for individuals and families struggling to break into the real estate market.

The traditional model of homeownership has long been viewed as the goal for many individuals, representing stability, investment potential and a sense of accomplishment. However, rising property prices and stagnant wages have made it increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to achieve this dream. Recognizing the need for an alternative approach, several real estate developers have introduced rent-to-own programs, aiming to bridge the gap between renting and buying.

One such program, developed by a collaboration between local housing authorities and private investors, provided tenants with the option to con-

vert their rental lease into a purchase agreement after a predetermined period. Usual timeframes for such agreements range from one to five years. During this time, a portion of the monthly rent is often allocated toward a future down payment or credited towards a purchase price. This system allows tenants to accumulate savings over time while building eq-

uity in the property in which they reside. Additionally, the agreed-upon purchase price remains fixed during the lease period, protecting tenants from potential market fluctuations.

For potential buyers, the advantages of a rent-to-own agreement are twofold. Firstly, it allows individuals to live in their desired home while they work towards securing financing or improving their credit profile. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced setbacks such as bankruptcy or foreclosure, as it provides an avenue to regain financial stability and demonstrate responsible homeownership.

Secondly, rent-to-own agreements grant prospective buyers the opportunity to test-drive the property before committing to its purchase. By living in the home for an extended period, tenants can assess its suitability, understand the neighborhood dynamics, and determine if it aligns with their long-term goals. This aspect of the arrangement reduces the risk of buyer’s remorse and fosters informed decisions about homeownership.

Furthermore, rent-to-own arrangements can often offer tenants the chance to negotiate favorable purchase terms with the property owner. Factors such as the purchase price, down payment amount, and length of the agreement can be subject to negotiation. This provides greater flexibility and can potentially enable buyers to secure a more affordable deal.

However, it is crucial for aspiring homeowners to approach rent-toown agreements with due diligence. It is advisable to seek legal counsel to ensure the terms of the agreement are fair and transparent. Buyers must carefully review the terms and condi-

tions; it is critical to understand the responsibilities and rights of both parties involved.

In recent years, the demand for rent-to-own opportunities has increased significantly as potential buyers seek alternative paths to homeownership. Real estate developers and investors have recognized this rising trend and have responded by offering more properties through rent-to-own agreements. As a result, a broader range of housing options had become accessible to individuals who may have previously been excluded from the traditional real estate market. While the rent-to-own model is not without its challenges, it has proven to be a viable option for individuals looking to transform from renting to owning a home. With its flexibility, potential for equity building, and the ability to test-drive a property, rent-to-own arrangement presents a pathway to homeownership. That can turn aspirations into a reality for any who would otherwise be unable to achieve the goal of homeownership.

In conclusion, rent-to-own programs represent a beacon of hope for those striving to achieve homeownership in today’s challenging real estate market. By offering tenants a flexible pathway to build equity and save for a down payment, these initiatives bridge the gap between renting and buying, empowering individuals and families to realize their dreams of owning a home.

As the demand for affordable housing options persists, it is crucial for policymakers, developers, and experts to work together to create a sustainable and inclusive housing market for all. WI

5 Amid a continued affordable housing crisis, the rent-to-own model has gained traction in recent years, providing individuals with a flexible, achievable pathway to homeownership. (Courtesy Photo)

ity serious, then you’re just cutting years off your life,” said Dr. Joseph L. Wilkins, a leading wildfire and air pollution expert and professor at Howard University.

Researchers can attribute between 5,000 and 8,000 yearly deaths in the U.S. to wildfire smoke, Wilkins said. People with heart and lung conditions, as well as seniors, children and pregnant people, face the highest risk of air pollution-related health issues. During sharp spikes in air pollution like the one D.C. experienced last week, these sensitive groups are more likely to experience acute, immediate symptoms than other parts of the population.

Vashad Neville, a 23-year-old DMV resident who works in home restoration (and son of Washington Informer bookkeeper Mable Neville), had to leave work the morning of June 8 after noticing tightness in his chest. Neville, who has asthma, began having trouble catching his breath as he went in and out of the house he was working on.

After getting home and using an asthma nebulizer machine, Neville felt okay. He stayed inside the rest of the day, and the next day, too.

“It was fine after that,” he said. “I stayed away, mostly, from my window.”

Neither George Washington University Hospital nor Children’s National saw an uptick in emergency room visits during the worst air quality days, representatives from both hospitals said. Tomi Adesogan, a representative from Impact DC Asthma Clinic at Children’s National, said that the clinic fielded some additional calls from families but most issues did not require patients to come into the clinic. Some patients, like Neville, needed to use an inhaler or nebulizer machine and then remain indoors.

Still, breathing in smoke isn’t just dangerous in the short-term. Polluted air increases risks for later developing heart conditions and breathing issues.

“Whether you're healthy or not, you're still putting things into your

perience particularly high risks for health harms due to air pollution spikes. That’s especially true because unhoused folks have higher levels of heart and lung conditions than the population at large.

Lichrisha, who has been homeless for about a year and asked to be identified only by her first name, noticed Thursday that her eyes felt irritated and she had a “terrible headache.”

lungs that you can't filter and that are eating away at your systems,” Wilkins said.

Even when polluted air descends upon a whole region, it doesn’t impact everyone equally.

Income plays a huge role in minimizing the impacts of severe air quality events.

“If you have money, you can do things like move away from an area,” Wilkins said. “You can buy air filters, you can buy really nice masks.”

The risks of exposure jump even higher for those who need to work outdoors, such as Neville.

When he had to leave work because he couldn’t breathe, Neville did not receive paid sick leave. He estimates that he lost out on $320 in wages during the two days he needed to remain at home.

And not all District residents have a home indoors to which they can return. Unhoused people ex-

“I had my head in my hands—I couldn’t stand it,” Lichrisha said.

Both Neville and Lichrisha spent large parts of June 7 outdoors. Neither heard anything that day about the city’s Code Red alert for “unhealthy” air.

The next morning, Neville noticed the haze in the air, but at first—like many D.C. residents—he thought it was just foggy out. When he called in to say he was having trouble breathing, Neville’s boss mentioned the air quality alert.

Lichrisha learned about the air quality alert on June 8, after seeing a sign about it outside the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.

“The libraries are very proactive,” she said. She praised the District for being “accommodating” and “inclusive” by using libraries to distribute information and providing access to both libraries and day shelters for an escape from the smoke.

But researchers say that municipal governments—particularly in the Northeast, where wildfire smoke events are not common—have struggled to communicate quickly about air quality alerts. Wilkins said that meteorologists can make predictions about air quality about as far out as they can forecast the weather, usually seven to 10 days in advance.

In the week before the Code Red and Purple alerts, the District experienced an unusual number of Code Orange days when the air quality posed a health risk to sensitive groups. Researchers knew, based on wind patterns, that more smoke would hit the region.

“We knew the smoke was coming, and we told people that it was on the way,” Wilkins said. “No one really reacted until it got here—until you see those crazy pictures of the orange skies, the red moon and all that stuff, no one really cared. So I don't think the city's pushed it seriously enough.” Public health communicators also struggle to convey the urgency of severe air quality events to the public, Wilkins said.

“If this was a tornado warning, or a hurricane warning, folks would be hunkering down,” he said. WI Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

5 Climate change is making wildfire seasons longer and more severe. (Josh O'Connor/USFWS)

BREATHE from Page 1

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Through Project UP, Comcast is committing one billion dollars to reach millions of people with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed in a digital world and build a future of unlimited possibilities.

Bill Expands Options for Infertility Treatment in D.C.

The violent and racist killing of George Floyd by the hands, or rather the knee, of a Minneapolis police officer while his colleagues looked on exposed the distrust Black Americans have long held with so-called trusted institutions across many sectors. Law enforcement is one of many institutions in which Black people have lost faith, and as a result, they suffer in silence while depriving themselves of the aid and support others receive for solvable problems that disproportionately impact their lives.

Stereotypes and stigma play a vital role, as well, particularly when it comes to accessing health care. And when it comes to reproductive health, Black women and men more often hide their problems, delay seeking help or abandon accessing healthcare options altogether because they can’t afford them. It’s an issue that AtLarge Councilmember Christina Henderson, chair of the DC Council’s Committee on Health, is seeking to address through legislation that will make access to diagnoses and treatment for the disproportionate number of District residents experiencing infertility.

Infertility impacts men and women. According to the National Institutes of Health, infertility impacts around 12% of women, but Black women may be twice as likely to experience infertility compared with white women; and they are 50% less likely to seek out care. On the other hand, Black men reportedly are less likely to donate sperm leading to a significant sperm shortage and a lack of choices for Black women seeking to have a child that looks Black like them.

The Expanding Access to Fertility Treatment Amendment Act of 2022 would require an individual health plan, group plan, or health insurer offering health insurance coverage through Medicaid and the D.C. Healthcare Alliance program to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

For D.C.’s Black community, this bill is a ray of hope for those who want and plan to grow their families but have been unable to do so for medical and financial reasons. While there will be some coverage limitations, the bill is scheduled to go into effect for Medicaid and the D.C. Health Alliance recipients in January 2024. It allows D.C. to join 19 states, including Maryland, to provide fertility insurance coverage for women who need it. WI

Juneteenth In Danger of Becoming Irrelevant

On June 19 of each year, millions of Americans, primarily Blacks, celebrate Juneteenth in remembrance of Union General Gordon Granger arriving on the shores of Galveston, Texas and declaring slavery illegal in the United States in 1865. For many years after, people celebrated the unofficial holiday by taking off work, hosting cookouts, attending services in churches and entertaining themselves at parties not only in Texas but other states as well. Texas became the first state to declare Juneteenth an official holiday and others followed. The movement to make Juneteenth a national holiday succeeded in 2021 when President Biden signed legislation to that effect.

Many organizations are using the holiday to perform community service. That is an admirable pursuit, but in these times of political extremism, primarily on the right, more needs to be done to recognize the true spirit of what Juneteenth means other than well-meaning, yet rote community work. As Juneteenth becomes more a part of the country’s yearly traditions, there is a danger that it will become irrelevant if people of goodwill don’t get involved in changing its course.

People should focus on what Juneteenth really means: freedom. The freedom not to be in bondage to another human being. The freedom of people to determine their own destiny. The freedom to vote for whomever or whatever one wants.

Juneteenth, in a broader sense, advocates for women to have the right to govern their own bodies, supports people of colors’ aspirations for first class American citizenship and the right for young people to have a voice in the governance of this country and the elderly to be respected for their wisdom and experience.

However, freedom is in danger presently. State legislatures, whether in the North or South, have passed laws making it more difficult to vote but easier to buy a gun. That isn’t right. Juneteenth should be a time for people to organize to confront government at every level to help those who are hurting and to ensure equity among all people and not just the chance to stuff their faces with barbecue. WI

Timely Info

I found the Homeownership Supplement very useful as I navigate selling my home and looking for a new one. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this position, so having some helpful information from a trusted source has been awesome. Thank you.

Marlene White Washington, D.C.

TO THE EDITOR

A Tragic Dispute

It’s so unfortunate about the crime committed against that Black mother in Florida over a dispute involving children and an iPad. I increasingly understand why my parents bought us a small-scale playground, and we could only play in the backyard. My heart goes out to those children who lost their mother, and may she receive justice.

Laila Khalil Silver Spring, Md.

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

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Ben Jealous

Ignoring the Fiction of a Nuclear Silver Bullet

newable, affordable energy for every community.

A growing chorus in Washington equates weaning our country off energy from killer fossil fuels to relying more heavily on new nuclear power plants. The same debates are happening in state capitals from Richmond to Raleigh, Springfield to Sacramento. This chorus distracts from the real work ahead of ensuring clean, re-

The risk of nuclear energy is an easy dividing line. To opponents, names like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima are all the evidence we need that a catastrophic event is unavoidable and unacceptable. For supporters, those events are a sign that disasters are few. Both are right – they happen infrequently, and when they do occur, they are cataclysmic.

The more compelling reasons

Guest Columnist

The day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who had announced his decision to run for President, gave a speech at the Cleveland City Club. He said that it was not a time for politics, but a time of "shame and sorrow," and he spoke on the "mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives":

"No one — no matter where he lives or what he does — can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on. … We seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire weapons and ammunition they desire."

Guest Columnist

we should drop the silver bullet thinking about nuclear power are its cost and its reliability. Since the mid-20th century when nuclear power entered the public imagination, the belief has been that energy is "free" – start the chain reaction make electricity. It's not, and it never has been (uranium must be mined and reactor fuel is consumable). We've reached a point where renewable sources like wind and solar power are cheaper, in part because they are quicker to come on line.

Lazard, a global investment bank and financial consultancy that reports annually on the "levelized cost of energy" from various sources, found that nuclear power is two to six times more costly per megawatt hour than wind and solar (which now cost the same per megawatt hour). The capital cost of large scale solar and wind is at least eight times lower. The time to get new wind and solar into the electricity grid is at least half the time for a new nuclear plant; history shows that anyone who es-

Marian Wright Edelman

Robert Kennedy continued: "When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies — to be met not with cooperation but with conquest, to be subjugated and mastered. We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not

David W. Marshall

a community, men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear — only a common desire to retreat from each other — only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force."

These words speak clearly to the moment in our nation today. At the time our dark, deep despair at Dr. King's death was leavened only by the fact that we still had Robert Kennedy. But two months after giving this speech, Robert Kennedy was shot by an assassin at the Ambassa-

Political Hypocrisy Should Come With a Political Price

When serving as then-President Donald Trump's attorney in 2018, Rudy Giuliani was a guest on the Sunday morning show "Meet the Press." During the interview with host Chuck Todd, Giuliani gave what appeared to have been a contradictory and confusing comment that explains how supporters of the former president

view the subject of truth. Giuliani said that "truth isn't truth" when explaining that he would not allow special counsel Robert Mueller to rush Trump into testifying because he doesn't want investigators to trap the president in a lie. Meaning Giuliani recognizes a Trump lie when he hears one. The same can be said about former Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Unlike lying to MAGA supporters, having Trump

lie to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators carried legal consequences that the Trump team sought to avoid.

On the one hand, where Giuliani brought confusion regarding truth, former FBI Director James Comey brought clarity when he responded via Twitter: "Truth exists and truth matters. Truth has always been the touchstone of our country's justice system and political life. People who lie are held accountable. If we are untethered to truth, our

justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves," Comey tweeted. Justice, as we know, must be based on the truth of what happened. The competing viewpoints illustrate how basic truth is under attack within our political and judicial systems. The one-sided culture war has distorted the truth. Elected lawmakers and appointed judges who place power, position, and prestige over the U.S. Constitution have blurred the truth.

"Truth isn't truth" is why some

timates the completion date for a new nuclear plant is wrong.

Unlike most industries that rely heavily on science and technology, the cost of building nuclear plants is rising over time. In Silicon Valley, they call it a reverse learning curve.

Supporters of nuclear power like to argue that nuclear plants are required for reliability, and that they can operate all the time. This ignores nuclear's vulnerability

JEALOUS Page 45

dor Hotel in Los Angeles. He died the next day, 55 years ago on my birthday, June 6, 1968. I never wore the beautiful bracelet my fiancé Peter Edelman, Robert Kennedy's legislative assistant, had bought at the Ambassador Hotel as a birthday present.

As I walked into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City where Robert Kennedy's body lay in state, a weeping Charles Evers, the brother of slain civil rights leader Medgar

EDELMAN Page 45

believe the pandemic was a hoax. "Truth isn't truth" is why people believe critical race theory (CRT) is taught in K-12 schools and needs to be banned. "Truth isn't truth" is why questions of ethics and conflicts of interest over Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas are characterized as a witch hunt. Republican Congressman George Santos, indicted by a federal grand jury on 13 charges ranging from wire

'The Mindless Menace of Violence'

Guest Columnist

No Systemic Racism?

I woke up a few days ago expecting, almost hoping, that my day would be sufficiently uneventful so as not to aggravate my spirit. Instead, while listening to "The View," I heard Sen. Tim Scott proclaim, "There is no systemic racism in America." He attempted to justify his assertion by using his home state of South Carolina as an example. He mentioned there being a Black police chief. Just one

time, he mentioned America having a Black President. Thoughtlessly, or maybe with full thought and consideration, he didn't mention President Obama as being only one president out of forty-six in 247 years.

To be fair to him, he named two or three other Black people as examples for his premise, but he was speaking on "The View" where the hosts knew better. His understanding of systemic racism was somewhere outside the realm of reality and Joy Behar told him so.

It was clear he was prepared for an adversarial response from Whoopi

Guest Columnist

Goldberg, and he seemed somewhat surprised that he was confronted by Sunny Hostin. She asked him to define what he believed to be systemic racism. Responding as I've come to expect, Scott gave a solid non-answer to her question, saying, "One of the things I think about, and one of the reasons I'm on this show, is because of the comments that were made, frankly, on this show that the only way for a young African American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception and not the rule." He went on to say, "That is a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message to

Marc H. Morial

send to our young people today, that the only way to succeed is by being the exception."

Scott's otherworldly understanding of systemic racism in American history obviously does not include nearly 250 years of enslavement or the empirical data which caused Republican President Nixon to establish the Federal Affirmative Action Program (E.O. 11478 – Aug. 8, 1969) to correct the ills of an uninterrupted pattern of racial discrimination in the Federal sector.

Scott has obviously ignored the history and patterns of personal Black

Pride Month Marred By Record Number of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills

The prejudice, ignorance, and fear of the present, however, have cast a dark shadow over this year's celebration.

"We are powerful because we have survived, and that is what it is all about- survival and growth." — Audre Lorde

Pride Month should be a time for celebrating love, the freedom to love whom we choose, and triumph over the prejudice, ignorance, and fear of the past.

In the past few years, there has been an astonishing increase in the bills restricting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning people of the community (LGBTQ+). In this legislative session alone, state legislators have introduced a record 491 proposals to undermine and weaken nondiscrimination laws, limiting access to books and performances like drag

Guest Columnist

shows, blocking medically-necessary and gender-affirming health care. Nearly half of the bills target our most vulnerable young people, attempting to prevent trans students from participating in school activities like sports, to force teachers to out students, and to censor any inschool discussions of LGBTQ people and issues.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills on May 17 as well as expanded on Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. This law has restricted sexual orientation and gender identity

The Woke Derangement Syndrome

platform, promising Americans a "war on woke."

discussions in the classroom from kindergarten to third grade. The updated law will expand the prohibited discussion to eighth grade. How will our youth express their authentic selves if it is illegal?

On June 28, 1969, in New York City, police raided a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn. Such raids were commonplace, as the expression of LGBTQ identity — cross-dressing, holding hands, kissing, or dancing with someone of the same sex — was illegal. This time, however, instead of complying, the crowd fought

American achievement in post-enslavement America. On one hand, are the "chosen few" — those Blacks whose demeanor, disposition, and/or unique circumstances present them as non-threatening to whites and acceptable for favorable treatment. On the other hand are those I characterize as indomitable — those who have the talent, courage, confidence, and perseverance to challenge any obstacle that confronts them. Either of these personality types achieves because of their exceptionalism. Unlike

WILLIAMS Page 46

back. This spark ignited a fire, which led to five days of rioting to defend LGBTQ rights in America.

History is being reversed. Politicians hoping to ride a wave of hatred and ignorance into higher office are driving the nation backward toward the dark days of shame before Stonewall.

Black, indigenous, and people of color LGBTQ individual experience far more discrimination than their white counterparts. They al-

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been touted as the presidential candidate who offers Trump without the drama, a Trump who can win rather than lose. He was supposedly able to forge a majority by uniting Trump's MAGA base with disaffected Republican suburbanites. In recent weeks, he's rolled out his presidential campaign

Say what? Americans face declining life expectancy — a product of a health care system that is failing despite costing about two times per person what other industrial countries spend. We suffer a debilitating inequality and increasingly pervasive corruption — a product of the big money that distorts our democracy. We face a literally existential threat in catastrophic climate change already costing lives and billions from

extreme weather. We lost over 1 million people to a pandemic and ended with a public health system more discredited than when we started. We've made college education and advanced training more and more unaffordable even as they are more and more important. We are threatened by over 12 mass shootings a week, with schools now doing drills on how to escape. We're spending more on our military than the next nine countries combined, and still find ourselves in wars without end and

without victory.

These are not, however, what DeSantis thinks ails America. Instead, he plagiarizes Winston Churchill taking on Hitler in World War II, saying: "We will fight the woke in education, we will fight the woke in the corporations, we will fight the woke in the halls of Congress. We will never, ever surrender…"

What is "woke?" Donald Trump complained that half the people who use the term don't know what it means. DeSantis' general coun-

sel, Ryan Newman, defined woke as "the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them," adding that DeSantis doesn't believe there are systemic injustices in American society. Really?

Those who were once sleep, are now "woke" because of the pressing issues affecting their lives. For example, people adjusted to watching "Amos and Andy" until they became acquainted with "The

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. JACKSON Page 46

E. Faye Williams MORIAL Page 46

Youth Showcase Talent in ‘Sew ‘N Know Runway Youngin’s Fashion Show’

From designing, sewing to strutting their fashions on the runway, youth from the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) participated in the “14th Annual Sew ‘N Know Youngin’s Fashion Show,” on Saturday, June 10.

Presented by former D.C. First Lady Cora Masters Barry (SETLC and Recreation Wish List Committee founder) and sponsored by the dedicated work of motherand-son duo Janice Rankins and Raji Rankins of Sewing Oppor-

tunity Never Ending, this year’s fashion show was themed “@ MET GALA,” and showcased the hard work of the young creatives.

“We have 25 young people that are in the fashion show. And so we have lots of wonderful, wonderful creations. We use a lot of lamé, a lot of glitz, a lot of glam,” said Janice Rankins, explaining some of the ensembles to support the Met Gala theme.

With about 250 guests in attendance, the 14th Annual Sew ‘N Know, brought out guests such as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. While the fashion and modeling are annual added bonuses, the overall purpose of the fashion show is to showcase the students’ talents.

“This is a unique fashion show,” Raji Rankins explained. “We create a great platform to give youth a meaningful art experience. We're bringing Southeast together to really just show what it is that Southeast kids have the capability of doing… This is our Southeast kids that are not only being on the runway, but they are creating styles and designs that they created themselves to then be able to display.” WI

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5 (Above top photos) Students who are part of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center walk the runway in the fashions they created for the 14th annual Sew ‘N Know Youngin’s Fashion Show held June 10. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

4 Raji and Janice Rankin, co-owners of Sewing Opportunity Never Ending helped students design the clothes modeled in the Sew ‘N Know fashion show. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D., Named UDC’s 10th President

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

An accomplished scientist, educator, and university administrator has been named the 10th President of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).

Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D. is set to succeed Ronald Mason Jr., J.D., UDC’s longest-serving president. Mason will end his tenure on July 31, 2023, but will remain a faculty member at the David A. Clarke School of Law, allowing for a smooth transition.

Edington will take the helm on August 1, bringing more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience. He most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Florida A&M University (FAMU). He comes to UDC with a proven track record of success in improving student retention and graduation rates.

Through his tenure at FAMU, Edington has served in several other roles, including the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and vice president for Strategic Planning, Analysis, and Institutional Effectiveness. He was also the founding dean of the FAMU College of Science and Technology. Edington's administrative experiences include serving as the director of the FAMU Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), chair of the FAMU Department of Chemistry, and director of the FAMU Office of Engineering and Science Support.

This presidential appointment results from an extensive seven-month search, guided by UDC’s Board of Trustees-appointed Presidential Search Committee and assisted by the executive search firm Greenwood Asher & Associates Executive Search.

"Dr. Edington's academic and leadership acumen, fundraising abilities, and passion for supporting students and faculty make him uniquely qualified to guide the University of the District of Columbia to the next level,” said Board of Trustees Chair Christopher D. Bell, Esq. “He will inher-

it an exceptional foundation that will grow the University into an even greater, more successful educational environment.”

Edington received his B.A. in chemistry from Fisk University and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Vanderbilt University. He completed his postdoctoral studies at Duke University, where he was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellow. He is married to Tonya Edington and is the father of Gabriella Edington, M.D.

UDC graduate Hilary Daniel, a local educator and performer, said that while she’ll miss Mason’s leadership she’s looking forward to the future of the University and trusts the board’s vision, which voted unanimously for Edington during their regular meeting on June 8.

“I love President Mason, so I’ll miss his direction. He’s so downto-earth and is a true Firebird,” Daniel told the Informer. “I’m excited for Dr. Edington, though. If the board voted on him unanimously, he must be onto something.” WI

Ryan Jamaal Swain of FX’s smash hit Pose

Justin Weaks Michael Kevin Darnall

S T A R R I N G

5 Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D., is named the 10th President of the University of the District of Columbia. (Courtesy Photo)

LIFESTYLE

African American Art Exhibition Created from Love

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

“Genesis: The African American Experience in Art” is the current exhibition at the Howard University Gallery of Art, featuring selected works from a $2.5 million gift from Patricia Turner Walters to Howard University from the Ronald and Patricia Turner Walters African American Collection. Added to works from the donated collection are several pieces of art in the exhibition from the private Walters collection in the exhibition.

The exhibition is a three-centu-

ry timeline of African American art where artists incorporated different approaches to chronicle historical moments and styles of art. Visitors will walk through the gallery to see oil and acrylic paintings, sculptures, printmaking, and mixed media that incorporate multiple techniques.

“I call this the sacred space because the way they curated, it is beyond awesome,” Walters said about how the Gallery installed the exhibition. “This is about three-quarters of the art from my donation. I am always on the verge of tears when I walk in here.”

SWEENEY IS BACK IN DC IN ALL OF HIS PIE-EATING, THROAT-SLITTING GLORY

Works from critically acclaimed African American artists like sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, painters Henry Ossawa Tanner, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Sam Gilliam, plus printmaking art by Faith Ringgold and Betye Saar are among what’s in the exhibition.

There are also up-and-coming artists in the “Genesis” exhibition, such as Mickalene Thomas, whose critically acclaimed print of former First Lady Michelle Obama has a feel of art by Andy Warhol. Kevin Williams is another artist growing in popularity with his large painting “Civil Unrest.” Painted in 2020, the scene shows a protest after the murder of George Floyd, incorporating social justice themes. Paintings from these two artists are in a section of the exhibition called “A Road to Black Lives Matter,” an intentional view about speaking out and moving the culture forward.

“Although I did not know about Williams, this has become one of my favorite pieces in the collection,” Walters said about the artist, whom she has not met. “It inspires me.”

Walters was deeply committed to including Howard University graduates or current students in the exhibition. An example is the 2018 acrylic and pen portrait of Harriet Tubman, which was created by Jessica Marie Hopkins, a Howard University alumna.

“There are quite a few in this exhibition,” Walters said about showcas-

ing Howard University artists. “They represent Howard’s strength in their fine arts department.”

Patricia Turner and Ron W. Wal-

ters, Ph.D. started building their art collection in the mid-1980s. Dr. Walters was chair of the Howard University Department of Political Science, a professor, an international political scholar, and an activist. Through her friendship with David Driskell, artist, scholar, curator, Howard University alumnus and professor, Patricia Walters built her knowledge about African American artists. Her multi-million donation of 152 pieces of art honors Howard University, her husband’s academic home for 25 years.

The Walters African American art was donated in 2020, and Howard University announced the establishment of the Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics.

“It was easy for me to gift this art to Howard,” Walters said. "I did the right thing for Ron and for his endowed chair, but I also did the right thing for Howard.”

“Genesis: The African American Experience in Art” will be on view until July 19 at the Howard University Gallery of Art in the Chadwick Boseman Fine Arts Building.

The gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. WI

5 (L-R) Phylicia Rashad, dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the inaugural holder of the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities with Patricia Turner Walters at the painting “Civil Unrest” by artist Kevin Williams. The painting is included in the exhibition “Genesis: The African American Experience in Art,” currently at the Howard University Gallery of Art. (Marckell Williams/The Washington Informer)

Photo of Nathaniel Stampley and Bryonha Marie by Christopher Mueller

5 Patricia Turner Walters, with a Harriet Tubman painting by Jessica Marie Hopkins, a Howard University alumna, is in the exhibition “Genesis: The African American Experience in Art,” currently at the Howard University Gallery of Art. (Marckell Williams/The Washington Informer)

New Children’s Book Teaches Young Ones About Juneteenth

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Lavaille Lavette, a New York Times best-selling author, said her greatest satisfaction is telling stories about people, places, things, and events that everyone should remember.

“Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise,” her most recent work, is a gorgeously illustrated “Little Golden Book” about a little boy’s first Juneteenth celebration.

The book aims to teach young readers about Juneteenth, a national holiday honoring the abolition of slavery in the United States.

“I wrote this book in the way that I imagine learning about Juneteenth for the first time as a child growing up in Louisiana,” Lavette stated in a news release. “It is important to keep the story of Juneteenth alive because it helps us remember the past while improving the present we live in as we build the future we seek.”

Lavette, who holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and accounting and a master’s degree in education management, has worked as both a teacher and a school administrator.

She has worked as a special advisor to the United States Secretary of Education and the president, publisher, and managing partner of One Street Books, Lavette Books, and Ebony Media Publishing LLC.

Lavette said an early pandemic conversation with her mother inspired “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise.”

“My mom told me that she grew up celebrating Juneteenth. Juneteenth was a big deal, doing her childhood, with fanfare that included zydeco music, two-step dancing, all types of food and treats, and fellowship with friends and family,” Lavette recalled.

“The tradition was spearheaded by my mother’s father, and when he died the tradition ended. I must admit that during my childhood,

Coming up at

we did not talk about Juneteenth. I knew very little about it growing up.”

She stated that she didn’t realize the Juneteenth celebrations and traditions until she went to Houston as an adult and elementary school teacher.

In Texas, elected leaders celebrated Juneteenth in schools and churches, and many African American business owners observed the day by closing their doors.

“Now, that was something special,” Lavette recalled.

She has pledged some of the proceeds from “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise” sales to the National Urban League’s youth programs.

Lavette characterized herself as an enthusiastic supporter of the National Urban League and its goals and expressed her desire to assist the organization in continuing to inspire young minds and effect lasting change.

Jayylen.com offers a free “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise” Teacher’s Resource Guide and Parent Guide to supplement the educational experience.

“Children’s books are not just for children,” stressed Lavette.

“I’m very intentional in introducing “Jayylen” as a Little Golden Book because Little Golden Books they’re 24 pages, usually between 700 and 1,000 words.

“That means you have to be very concise. You have to get a lot of information without a lot of words. So, you have to be very descriptive in how you present the stories. It makes it very entertaining and interesting for kids, but also for adults.”

Lavette said she’d had a lot of positive feedback on her Juneteenth book and other children’s biographies.

“Because a 1- or 2-year-old is not reading, that means the parent is going to read the book to the child,” Lavette concluded.

“So, the parent is going to learn something, as well. And that age group, I love that (age) 0 to 6 because it allows me to disseminate information, not only to the kid but also to the parent.” WI

@StacyBrownMedia

ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO

Thu, June 15

Visionary world music performer

STRATHMORE & STEP AFRIKA! PRESENT STEP XPLOSION

Mon, June 19

Celebrate Juneteenth

OCTAVIA E. BUTLER’S PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Music & Lyrics by Toshi Reagon & Bernice Johnson Reagon

Wed–Sat,

June 28–July 1

The Afrofuturist novel on stage

5 “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise,” is the newest work from New York Times best-selling author Lavaille Lavette. (Courtesy Photo)

Fabrice Mabillot

Jati Lindsay

Artwork by Justine Swindell

Dawn Richard Talks Afrofuturism, Empowerment, Hip Hop Caucus

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Dawn Richard has come a long way from being a MTV's Making the Band contestant, and member of Danity Kane and Diddy Dirty Money. In her almost two decades in the entertainment business, Richard continues to add to her artistry, now as an independent artist, re-inventing and innovating ways to present art and connect with the masses. Now, as a solo singer, animation artist and Artist Relations director for the Hip Hop Caucus, Richard is continuing to wow fans through her Afrofuturistic, New Orleans-inspired sound and her deep care about uplifting fellow artists.

“You don't realize it when you're in it, right? You're just working your hardest to make great art and to do the things that you love,” Richard, told the Informer in a WIN-TV Live interview the day before she took her talents to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on June 9.

“I just wanted to make this incredible piece of art that I could push past possibilities with the music that I've created,” Richard continued "to have the Smithsonian museum say, ‘You know what, yes, we see you… is exciting.”

Richard knows the grind it takes to be acknowledged for hard work and pays homage to the people and organizations that helped her on the road to success. More than 18 years ago, Richard, a New Orleans native, grappled with the horrors her hometown faced during Hurricane Katrina. While many organizations stepped in to help those affected by the devastating storm, Richard always remembered Hip Hop Caucus as lending a helping hand.

“I did not know then, some 18 years later, I would want to work for them,” Richard said. “But when the opportunity arose, I thought it was the universe and God's saying this is an opportunity for me to give back and to help our kids .”

5 Dawn Richard was featured in a discussion and Afrofuturism performance at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on June 10. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

ter President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Speaking at the bill signing ceremony, Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the day’s significance, stating, “We have come far, and we have far to go. But today is a day of celebration. It is not only a day of pride but a day to rededicate ourselves to action.”

Kicking off celebrations of the national holiday was a highly anticipated Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 13. The concert, which coincided with Black Music Month, featured a star-studded lineup including renowned artists such as Jennifer Hudson, Method Man, Audra McDonald, Step Afrika!, Colman Domingo, Ledisi, Patina Miller, and the Tennessee State University Marching Band’s Aristocrat of Bands.

The White House said it intends to uplift American art forms that resonate with the soul of the American experience.

Juneteenth’s historical significance as the day when the last enslaved individuals in the United States learned of their freedom holds a deep and powerful meaning.

“This is a day of profound weight and profound power, a day in which we remember the moral stain and the terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take,” President Biden remarked.

The president said with Juneteenth solidified as a federal holiday, commemorations and celebrations are poised to grow and evolve, as exemplified by events like the White House concert.

However, the White House isn’t the only place in the District acknowledging Juneteenth this week. People can tap into programming, expos, festivals and more throughout the Washington metropolitan region to celebrate the history of Juneteenth as well as focus on future goals for equity across Black communities.

Below are some of the many events happening across the DMV:

Juneteenth Honors 2023

(Thursday, June 15, 7:00 p.m., The Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, Washington, D.C.)

The Juneteenth Honors 2023 pays tribute to the formerly enslaved freed African Americans of 1865. Held at The Warner Theatre, in Northwest, D.C., audiences will be treated to an elegant display highlighting the achievements, history and Black distinction of African American leaders. The show will also include Grammy award-winning artists, Ashanti, Ja Rule, and many more.

Book and Bike Giveaway

(Friday, June 16, 9:00 a.m., Franklin Park, Washington, D.C.)

The Juneteenth Foundation will also host a Book and Bike Giveaway event, to highlight the importance of health and physical activity. It will be a funfilled day that will not only encourage fitness, but an opportunity to learn about the importance of literature as well.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Panel Discussion + Career Fair & The Freedom Festival Community Block Party

(Saturday, June 17, 10:00 a.m., Virtual and In-Person at the Conrad Hotel, 950 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C.)

If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore the job market, then sign up for the Juneteenth Career Fair. Job seekers will receive insight and resume and application advice. Access to support from industry experts will help job seekers explore their resources, discuss cultural challenges and get in-depth questions answered.

Freedom Festival Community Block Party:

(Saturday, June 17, 5:00 pm to 9:00 p.m., Franklin Park, 1332 I Street, N.W. Washington, D.C.)

The Juneteenth Foundation wraps up all the festivities with a family-friendly community block party that will supply a final dose of live music, games, activities and a good time. Franklin Park's newly renovated space provides room for all the community to take part in the vibes, and to create them as well. Celebrate all your hard work this year so far, and rejoice in the hard work of our ancestors! WI

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

Makiyah Lee Wilson Foundation also put plans in motion to memorialize Makiyah, primarily through petitioning the D.C. Council for the creation of Makiyah Wilson Way. Even after moving to Georgia in 2019, Wilson collaborated with community members in the District to collect signatures and garner council support.

“I wanted to keep Makiyah’s name alive and stop gun violence by putting a lot of different activities in the streets for youth to keep them busy with positive thoughts in their mind,” said Wilson, who’s also a hair stylist. “Makiyah was an angel on earth before [she became an angel] in heaven. The same thing happens in Georgia with little girls and boys being murdered, so I just try to help. We had a blanket drive and fed the homeless for Thanksgiving.”

COUNCILMEMBER GRAY COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THE DESIGNATION

Per the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982, people who have been deceased two years or longer are eligible for symbolic street designations with the suffixes “way” or “plaza” once the advisory neighborhood commission in which the street is located receives proper notice and the D.C. Council approves.

In May, the D.C. Council unanimously approved legislation that symbolically designates the 1400 block of Cedar Street in Southeast in honor of Davon T. McNeal III, a youth who died under circumstances similar to Makiyah’s on July 4, 2020 during an anti-violence cookout. That bill is currently under congressional review. Davon’s mother, Crystal McNeal,

didn't respond to the Informer’s email requesting comment.

Last fall, D.C. Councilmember Vincent C. Gray, along with seven other council members, introduced the Makiyah Wilson Way Designation Act, which Gray described as a statement about the need to end gun violence in the community. The Committee of the Whole held a hearing in December, but the bill made no movement.

In January, Gray introduced the bill again at the beginning of the council session, this time with D.C. Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D-At large), Matt Frumin (D-Ward 3), Christina Henderson (I-At large), Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), Kenyan McDuffie (I-At large), Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) and Robert White (D-At large) as co-sponsors.

Matthew Marcou, the D.C. Department of Transportation’s chief of staff testified on behalf of the office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), expressing no objection to the street designation. ANC Commissioner Yolanda Fields, whose single-member district includes the 300 block of 53rd Street, submitted testimony calling the street designation a “blessing to the [Wilson] family for years to come.”

On the morning of August 11, Gray is scheduled to conduct a ceremony officially commemorating the naming of Makiyah Wilson Way. In speaking about this milestone, Gray kept the Wilson family at the forefront of his mind.

"This occasion, first and foremost, is a celebration of life. Makiyah Wilson Way honors the memory of a beautiful girl and her family,” Gray said. “Sadly, we cannot memorialize Makiyah without remembering how she was taken from us. It is tragic beyond words and a reminder that violence ends precious lives too soon. Makiyah enriched everyone she touched. Her smile and energy

uplifted people.”

The Ward 7 council member went on to say, "There are other settings where we can talk about policy, public safety and why we are failing. This moment is not for that. I hope this memorial assists Makiyah's loved ones in healing. I want them to know we will never forget Makiyah or their tragic loss. The love and joy she shared is timeless."

Several Months of Court Proceedings and an Organizer’s One Wish

On June 13, a jury found Marquell Cobb guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and five other men -- Quentin Michals, Qujuan Thomas, Isaiah Murchison, Darrise Jeffers and Gregory Taylor -- guilty of Makiyah's murder.

The verdict wrapped up nearly three weeks of jury deliberations and a trial that started in February.

Authorities said Makiyah was a bystander in a shooting that was part of a longstanding beef between Clay Terrace and Wellington Park, the latter of which the six defendants represent.

Four other people, including Makiyah’s older sister Nyjhay Wilson, then 18, were caught in the crossfire at the 300 block of 53rd Street in Northeast. The sisters had been sitting on their front steps eating sunflower seeds and pickled eggs when a black Infiniti sedan pulled into Clay Terrace. Four men immediately opened fire upon exiting the vehicle.

Throughout her short life, Makiyah had been heavily engaged in basketball. She also developed an affinity for D.C. rapper Fat Trel and YouTube star CJ So Cool.

On May 31, family and friends in D.C. and Georgia celebrated what would’ve been Makiyah’s 15th birthday. In the days leading up to Makiyah's 15th birth anniversary, the jury heard closing statements in a trial of the Wellington Six. WI

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

MAKIYAH from Page 1

3 Singer, song writer, and talk show host Jennifer Hudson performs at the first Juneteenth Celebration at the White House on June 13. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 President Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden greet guests attending the first Juneteenth Celebration at the White House on June 13. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer)

sunlight swell and ll with blood.

Melanin grains are like a screen. They protect the body from the burning rays of sunlight. Everybody’s skin makes melanin. Melanin grains are brown. When your skin is exposed to the sun, it makes more melanin. That is why your skin gets darker when you play in the sunshine.

Tanya has a lot of melanin in her skin. Andy and Melody have a little. Amy has very little. Some parts of Amy’s body make more melanin than others. These dark spots are called freckles.

Find: banana bat watermelon bowling ball

What should you look for when you are getting too much sun? Cross out every letter that is printed twice on the innertube. The five letters left spell your answer!

moon crocodile dolphin ice cream car octopus • • • • • • • • • • Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple directions; identify common sight words. © 2023 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Je Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 39, No. 29

KID SCOOP IS SPONSORED BY

Andy Melody

OUCH!

too much

This turns the skin red and makes it hurt.

Everybody has tiny grains of color called melanin in their skin.

review wi book

Books for Father's Day by various authors and illustrators

c.2022, 2023, Various publishers

$17.99-18.99

Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer

WI Contributing Writer

Dads are pretty good people to have around.

They can make you laugh and make you behave. They teach you fun things and help you when you need it. Moms appreciate dads and you should, too. So why not look for these great books to share with your papa, dad, pa, father, or daddy …

For the brand-new dad who wants to start his child off right, "This is The First Book I Will Read to You" by Francesco Sedita, illustrated by Magenta Fox (Viking, $18.99) is a great gift. Meant for the youngest kid, it's a gentle tale full of amazement and love for a newborn baby, and it may be one of the sweetest books you'll read this week.

If Dad has a little helper around, "Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock" by Jesús Trejo, pictures by Eliza Kinkz (Minerva, $18.99) is a great summertime read. Little Jesús is going to help Papa today and right away, Papa puts Jesús in charge of a water jug that's also a magic clock. It's a big responsibility. Can Jesús handle it without getting fired from his job? Wrapped into this fun and lively story, there's a lesson here that's appealing to kids ages 3-to-6.

For the dad who does it all, "Daddy Dressed Me" by Michael & Ava Gardner, illustrated by Nadia Fisher (Simon & Schuster Kids, $18.99) is a biographical tale of a little girl who needed a special dress for a special day. Where would she ever get something like that? Kids ages 4-8 will be charmed to find out …

For the 4-to-9-year-old whose dad is deployed, "When Your Daddy's a Soldier" by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan, illustrated by EG Keller (Viking, $17.99) is the absolute perfect book to have around. It's a tale of saying goodbye too often, missing a parent so much it hurts, and how a child can support (and find support!) until Dad comes home again. For sure, this is one of those books that makes a great gift.

And finally, for the slightly older kid who appreciates an afternoon of baseball with Dad, "Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series" by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Arigon Starr (Kokila / Penguin, $18.99) is the right book for both. It was 1911, Shibe Park, Philadelphia, when pitcher Charles Bender of the White Earth Reservation went head-to-head with catcher John Meyers of the Cahuilla Reservation. Opposite teams. Two men who were pro baseball players. Both had faced a lot of discrimination to get to where they were. Who would win? Your 8-to-12 year old and your grown-up baseball fan will want to know …

If these great books for Dad don't quite fit him or your child, head to your favorite bookstore or library and ask for help. Your librarian and bookseller have access to millions of books, and they'll know how to find the exact thing you need for a happy read-aloud session or for sharing. Dads are pretty handy people to have around. A dad with a book is even better.

horoscopes

ARIES Don't hold back as the week begins. On Monday, you should follow the urge to let others know how you're feeling (especially women and family members). That emotional clearing could leave you feeling exceptionally energetic from Monday night through Wednesday. Use this boost in creativity and competitiveness to mix things up and make things happen. Lucky Numbers: 10, 24, 36

TAURUS Take a risk as the week begins, especially in romance. In any social situation, though, you can count on being rewarded for your daring on Monday. From Monday evening through Wednesday, you'll need to curb your more cantankerous side. Others might try to draw you into ego battles and power struggles, but a little diplomacy can go a long way. Lucky Numbers: 9, 12, 35

GEMINI You might not feel your good ol' adaptable self as the week begins, but try not to be too critical. Conflicting demands will make it difficult to be flexible on Monday. The situation should lighten up from Monday evening through Wednesday, as you find yourself the center of attention, surrounded by like-minded friends who want to have fun debating heady ideas. Lucky Numbers: 27, 38, 55

CANCER Expect your week to begin on an enthusiastic, energetic note. You'll have no shortage of drive or direction on Monday, and others will pitch in to help you accomplish anything you put your mind to. That extravagant energy should carry you well through Wednesday, so don't be bashful about taking risks right now. Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 11

LEO You're feeling exceptionally generous with your affection and attention as the week begins and that's a good thing. Your warmth and earnestness could help others accomplish a lot on Monday and you can expect to receive that same support returned to you in the days ahead. From Monday evening through Wednesday, you're the center of attention, and no effort of yours will go unaided. Lucky Numbers: 15, 26, 34

VIRGO Start your week by organizing something social and fun. That group energy can leave you feeling revved up on Monday and ready for anything. From Monday evening through Wednesday, you might start to feel overwhelmed by pesky details, but don't despair. With a little flexibility, you can help yourself and others get organized. Lucky Numbers: 1, 28, 49

LIBRA Keep your head down as the week begins. Events will conspire to disrupt your routine on Monday, but your easygoing nature (with an added dose of flexibility) can steer you clear. From Monday evening through Wednesday, others will look to you to take the lead, so be generous with your ideas and your optimistic attitude. Lucky Numbers: 6, 13, 30

SCORPIO As the week begins, don't be bashful about going after what you want. Monday should provide perfect opportunities for you to fulfill ambitions (and maybe even dream up some new ones). From Monday evening through Wednesday, you need to curb your ego if you want to avoid getting entangled in an unwelcome power struggle. Lucky Numbers: 22, 32, 48

SAGITTARIUS Follow your inquisitive mood as the week begins, even if it means asking tough questions. Monday begins with you digging in deep and looking for answers, but by Monday evening and on through Wednesday, you'll be back to your freewheeling, happy-go-lucky self. Luck is on your side, and you should take every attractive risk that comes along. Lucky Numbers: 2, 4, 55

CAPRICORN There's change in the air as the week begins. Watch out for new and challenging ideas on Monday. Even if others overreact, though, don't take any of the resulting debate personally. From late Monday and on through Wednesday, emotions could keep running high. You'll need to summon up your best diplomatic skills to mediate. . Lucky Numbers: 8, 12, 27

AQUARIUS Don't get riled up as the week begins! Everything might not be going your way on Monday, but take a deep breath and realize this is just a phase. By late Monday and continuing on through Wednesday, sudden shifts could change your current outlook completely, so don't hesitate to experiment and seek out bold, new discoveries. Lucky Numbers: 1, 10, 17

PISCES Celebrate the start of your week by creating something new, whether it's a new breakfast, a new friendship, or even a new theme song. Your week could get more difficult later on Monday (and on through Wednesday) as complicating details threaten to overwhelm you. If you can keep your head down, though, you can resist getting swept up in the demands and drama of others. On Thursday, Friday, and early Saturday, jump into action and don't worry about having all the facts first. Lucky Numbers: 2, 6, 28

Click. Save. Submit!

It’s not too late to go to college this fall! The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) will provide up to $10,000 a year to help cover tuition at participating colleges and universities.

To be eligible for DCTAG, you must be 26 or younger, a DC resident with a high school diploma or GED, and meet a few other requirements.

Click on dconeapp.dc.gov few documents, then submit! Apply by August 18, 2023.

Howard University Wraps

‘22-’23 Season with All-Sports Awards

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

To say that Howard University athletics had a banner 2022-2023 season would be a gross understatement. During the past season, Howard has an impressive list of outstanding accomplishments on the field, the courts and in the pool. The swimming and diving team graced the cover of Sports Illustrated; the football team captured a share of the MEAC conference regular season title for the first time in three decades; and the men’s basketball team won its first regular season and tournament title and trip to the NCAAs in more than 30 years.

Howard’s year of accomplishments were rewarded with the coveted AllSports Awards in both men’s and women’s sponsored sports for the first time since 1988.

Howard, who is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in sports (football, basketball, women’s volleyball, track and field, cross country, tennis, women’s bowling and softball) and with the Northeast Conference (NEC) in the others (swim and diving, golf, soccer and women’s lacrosse), has done more than at any time in school history.

“I am so proud of our coaches, student athletes, administration and support staff for these accomplishments,” said Howard Director of Athletics Kery Davis, in his eighth season at the helm. “The hard work and dedication they put in every day paid off and we look forward to continuing this success in 2023-’24.”

Dr. Paul Cotton has seen the journey in athletics at the university for more than 40 years. Cotton started out as a member of the wrestling team, then became one of the youngest head coaches in the country at 22 before the program was dropped in 2000.

“The goal back in 1978 was to cre-

ate a clean and competitive program,” said Cotton, who has also served on the Howard Board of Trustees and is regarded as one of the institution’s top historians. “There have certainly been moments of success and also a share of setbacks (NCAA rules violations). So, to see the program reach this level of success and consistency is a credit to the athletics department and the University’s commitment.”

The success has brought national attention to the golf program and the swimming and diving program, which graced the cover of Sports Illustrated for its success as the only swim and diving program in HBCUs.

It’s exciting for the University to receive this kind of recognition,” said Nic Askew, a former two-sport athlete who doubles as both swim and diving coach and leads the men’s and women’s tennis teams. “It is certainly beneficial when it comes to recruiting. It is an exciting time for athletics at Howard.”

Askew added that the recent success has boosted registration for the annual summer swim and diving camp held at the university. The demand has forced him to add two additional weeks due to the high demand and interest. For the first time, there are campers who come from as many as 11 different states.

In addition to the honors on the field, pools and courts, the program continues to lead the way in student athletes cited for academic excellence. One-hundred-thirty-five members of the MEAC sponsored sports were named to the Commissioner’s All-Academic team.

The awards are presented to the student athletes who score 3.0 or above in their respective majors. There were also a number of student athletes who were named to the NEC All-Academic team in their respective sports. WI

the moment CAPTURE

Celebrating LGBTQ+ Life and Fighting Against LGBTQ+ Challenges

Key Takeaways from the Capital Pride Alliance, Q&A with Ashley Smith

By Milaka Saddler WI Contributing Writer

Before the start of the Capital Pride Parade on June 10, the Capital Pride Alliance kicked off the celebrations with a press conference that encouraged the crowd to enjoy themselves and take pride in their identities, while also reminding them to use their voices to evoke change.

“Remember these words, peace, love and revolution,” emphasized Earline Budd, who spoke during the conference.

Budd is a long-time resident of D.C., founder of Transgender Health Empowerment, and an early historical leader and advocate for Black trans women. She was also celebrated during the Pride festivities and received a Capital Pride Super-Hero Award, representing recognition for her tireless efforts in serving the Black trans community. Well known for being outspoken and unapologetic about her stance with the LGBTQ+ community since the late 80s, Budd began fighting against bans on crossdressing, and has been a leader in the community ever since.

“Pride means hope, pride means change,” proclaimed Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, HHS, assistant secretary for Health, and the first highest-ranking openly transgender government official in U.S. history. WI

Don’t let asthma slow you down.

The Black community has higher rates and more serious complications from asthma. That includes being almost four times more likely than white people to be hospitalized because of asthma.

THE GOOD NEWS?

If you have asthma, you can take steps to control symptoms and lead a full and active life.

Talk

4 Mayor Muriel Bowser leads supporters in the Pride parade in the Dupont Circle neighborhood on June 10. (Shedrick Pelt/The Washington Informer)

5 Earline Budd, founder of Transgender Health Empowerment, during the Pride press conference on June 10. (Shedrick Pelt/The Washington Informer)

“Remember these words, peace, love and revolution.”

RELIGION

WI FANTASTIC FATHERS AND BLACK MUSIC MONTH

Spencer Taylor: A Father of Gospel Music ‘Still Singing God’s Praises’

Singing Quartet Music is Truly A Family Affair

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

For more than 70 years Spencer Taylor, as a member of The Highway Q.C.’s, has traveled across the country sporting fancy suits and singing toe tapping music with a caravan of groups like Sensational Nightingales, Mighty Clouds of Joy and The Soul Stirrers. While The Highway Q.C.’s are celebrated for launching the careers of several artists, Taylor continues to be celebrated as a father and inspiration, not only to his biological children, but throughout gospel music.

“I wanted to follow in my dads footsteps,” Lynn Taylor, Spencer Taylor’s son, told the Informer in an exclusive interview. “When you think of Spencer Taylor you think of other lead singers like Joe Ligon, Sam Cooke and others because these guys' legacies are so strong.”

Founded in Chicago in 1945, The Highway Q.C.’s helped launch the careers of several artists, including Johnnie Taylor and Sam Cooke.

Around the mid 1950s Spencer Taylor (no relation to Johnnie Taylor), who migrated to Chicago a decade earlier and was performing with a group called the Holy Wonders, began singing as the lead singer of The Highway Q.C.’s.

Under Spencer Taylor’s guidance the Q.C’.s released a string of hits via Vee-Jay Records including “He Said” (1960), “Do You Love Him” (1961) and “All Men Are Made By God” (1962). From 1975 to 1983,

the Q.C.’s recorded several albums for Savoy Records, including “You Don’t Know How Blessed You Are,” and “Something’s on My Mind (That’s Worrying Me).” The group is now on the Malaco/ 4Winds label, and still releasing music.

At 95, Taylor, who now lives in District Heights, Maryland, continues to serve as lead singer of The Highway Q.C.s.

“We are still singing God’s praises,” Taylor told WHUR’s Jacquie Gales Webb in a “HUR @ Home Inspiration,” episode on Sunday, June 11. The interview included Spencer Taylor, who was sitting with his son Lynn Taylor, and the Rev. Randy Walker Jr, The Highway Q.C.’s second leader and producer, who chimed in from his studio.

“I thank God for my papa,” Walker said about the legendary gospel musician affectionately.

WHUR’s Winston Chaney said: “Spencer Taylor has brought class, character and good music to gospel.”

In March 2017, Spencer Taylor received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Stellar Awards, with a Journal of Gospel Music (JGM) announcement calling him “The Godfather.”

“For Spencer Taylor to still be singing after all these years is really a testimony to his holding on and believing in what he sings about,”

Jerome Bell, 61, legendary gospel announcer, told the Informer. “The quartet genre is a fine example of

men working together that dates back before integration.”

Though a member of Sensational Nightingales, Horace Thompson, the group’s lead singer and bass player, said he has admired Spencer Taylor for many years.

“I have known Spencer Taylor for nearly 70 years,” said Thompson, a Bowie, Maryland resident. “He came to my hometown (Gainesville, Georgia), but my mission was to sing with the Nightingales and I accomplished my mission.”

MAKING QUARTET MUSIC A FAMILY AFFAIR

From The Highway Q.C.’s to the Sensational Nightingales, both quartets are well dressed groups with tight harmonies that know how to prioritize their families.

Thompson said when he was on the road he made sure he was a father who kept a close eye on his two children.

“There is a difference in being a dad and being a father,” Thompson said. ”A father sets certain standards and holds their children responsible. Every Monday when I came home we had a family meeting.”

As the years passed Thompson’s wife Rosetta Thompson took an in-

creased role in his career to become a singer and a top quartet promoter. Rosetta Thompson went from wielding a hot comb as a beauty shop owner to a gospel singer and promoter on the weekend.

“The joy of my life was seeing my wife, my son and daughter and my grandson singing,” Thompson said.

Spencer Taylor has also incorporated his children into the family business.

As one of Spencer Taylor’s five children, Lynn Taylor said singing with his father is more than special.

“To experience this with my dad and to see how much he is loved is such an experience because he is loved all over the world,” Lynn Taylor said.

The gospel legend’s namesake, Spencer Taylor III, who recently died, served as a drummer and

singer for The Highway Q.C.’s.

“JGM is saddened to learn of the passing of Spencer Bouvier Taylor III, drummer and singer with the legendary quartet The Highway Q.C.s,” the Journal of Gospel Music reported.

The service will take place Thursday, June 15 at Calvary Baptist Church in Lanham, Maryland.

When asked if there will be quartets performing, Lynn Taylor declared, “yes,” promising to follow the quartet music tradition.

“In the early days the quartets had a dress code and Dad was the man for the dress code. You had to have matching shoes, ties and shirts. My brother ‘Boo,’ took that role and now I take that role.”

The Highway Q.C.’s will perform June 27 in Annapolis at the Christian Center Church. WI

“I wanted to follow in my dads footsteps,” Lynn Taylor, Spencer Taylor’s son, told the Informer in an exclusive interview. “When you think of Spencer Taylor you think of other lead singers like Joe Ligon, Sam Cooke and others because these guys' legacies are so strong.”

5 (L-R) Stanley Richardson, Jordan Tyrone, Randy Walker Jr., Spencer Taylor Jr., Lynn Taylor, Spencer Bouvier Taylor III. (Courtesy photo/Facebook grab)

This principle teaches us the process of controlling your subconscious mind through auto-suggestion and positive thinking. The subconscious mind works day and night even while we are asleep.

Research which described a success formula during a 20-year period discovered by author Napoleon Hill teaches how one person can achieve success and another not.

In his study, he researched the formula whereby anyone who applies these principles can achieve success beyond their wildest expectations. In this chapter on the subconscious mind, Hill reminds us, get the other 10 principles down to a science first. We must begin utilizing every principle successfully before this principle will kick in.

Hill talks about using your mind to visualize your future as you want it to be. And, he talked about following your hunches — the messages that you get from your subconscious mind. The best way I can describe this chapter is to remind you of how the Holy Spirit works. It is also a reminder of how important it is for us to have faith. You will not visualize your future with confidence if you do not have faith.

The subconscious can be consciously programmed and controlled by the conscious mind. The subconscious mind is the source of insight, intuition, imagination and creativity. Garbage in, garbage out; positive affirmations in, you will

the religion corner WITH

LYNDIA GRANT

The Subconscious Mind

begin to see your future through faith.

The subconscious mind is also your direct link to universal consciousness, which is the source of all power and creativity. Amen, it is where the Holy Spirit operates!

Your subconscious mind is accessible only when you learn how to still the hyper activity of the conscious mind and hear the voice of the Lord speak to you. Meditation is an excellent technique to accomplish this control.

God works in different ways with different people. He spoke in different ways to Adam, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Samuel, Elijah, Mary and Paul. He speaks in different ways to us today too.

Just as the Holy Spirit decides to give different abilities to different people (1 Corinthians 12:11), He works with us in different ways, because He has different jobs for each person.

The Spirit (subconscious mind) shapes us in different ways, and as a result, we value different goals.

For some people, he speaks subtly, in general principles; for others, he must speak with unmistakable details. Each of us must listen in the way that God has made us, in the way that he chooses to deal with us. The important thing is that we listen — that we are ready and willing to hear what he says.

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day

We should be listening for his leadership rather than ignoring it.

One of my personal accounts is when the African American Civil War Memorial was scheduled to be unveiled in about a week. The site was unfinished, yet thousands had hotel rooms, plane tickets from around the world to attend the unveiling.

One night, after leaving my Reeves Center office, God led me to the site. I remember walking throughout the site, lifting my hands and praying that God would bless this site and help me and D.C. Councilman Frank Smith to get the project finished in time, since people were coming from around the world. I will forever remember the communication from God that night. He said into my spirit, "Everything will be just fine!" And it was. People came, the story was broadcast around the world, live on CNN and C-SPAN. It was broadcast on 183 national television stations and 64 local. It made front-page news on most major newspapers, including the Washington Post, New York Times and others.

I tell you, you've got to trust God; you've got to walk by faith and not by sight. And you've got to learn to use this principle called The Subconscious Mind, aka The Holy Spirit! Amen! WI

Inspirational A.M.E. Church

RELIGION

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor

9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743

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

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

Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com

Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com

Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word of Life Church

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011

(202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

Service and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Campbell AME 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

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

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

Services and Times

Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services

Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays

12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM)

Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power

“An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Twelfth Street Christian Church

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

Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr.

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

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 themcbc.org

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

11:00 AM

Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org

Street

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us...

Bishop

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

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

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

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

Mt.

Zion

Baptist Church

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

Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

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

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

Bishop

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

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

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

headline and photo for LIF - MALCOLMXDAY

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

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

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders,

Third

Church of God

Lanier C. Twyman,

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

Alfred A. Owens,

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

Zion Baptist Church

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

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

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim Pastor

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM

Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM

Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM

Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM

Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Park

Interim Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM

Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020

(202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax

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

Service and Times

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

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM

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

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

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

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

Pastor’s Bible Study:

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Apostolic Worship Services

11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM

Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM

Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

New Commandment Baptist Church

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 11 AM

Sunday School: 10 AM

Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor 2001 Brooks Drive  District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074

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"

Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com

Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Curtis l. Staley Pastor 621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032

P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

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

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

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Foggy Bottom Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037

Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958

Service and Times

Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns

Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org

Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

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

Promised Land Baptist Church

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

Service and Times

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Senior Pastor

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 Fax 202-678-3304

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM

Sunday School: 8:15 AM

Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon

Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

“Where God is Praised, Christ is Obeyed, and People are Loved”

Peace 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 “

Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor 602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001

Office:(202) 289-4480

Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times

Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM

Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM

Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM

Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org

Website: www.firstrising.org

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

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

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

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor 2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org

Website:www.mthoreb.org

For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

Rev. Richard B. Black

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Lincoln

United Methodist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Christ Embassy DC

Rev.

Mount

Rev.

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 375

Mehmet Bajin Decedent

Sean P. Hatley, Esq.

162 West Street Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Hayriye Ercin, whose address is 1740 Hickory Station Cir., Snellville, Georgia 30078, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mehmet Bajin who died on November 27, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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:

6/1/2023

Hayriye Ercin Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 559

Wallace Henry Dews

Decedent

Ethel Mitchell 8403 Coleville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Betty Jean Dews, whose address is 3010 8th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wallace Henry Dews who died on June 23, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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: 6/1/2023

Betty Jean Dews Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

ADM 00598

2023

Barbara Walls Decedent

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

Claudette Walls, whose address is 14106 Reverend Rainsford Ct., Upper Marlboro MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Walls who died on 1/4/2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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:

6/1/2023

Claudette Walls

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 577

Lois D. Saunders aka Lois E. Saunders Decedent

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

Robert Matthew Saunders, Jr., whose address is 2633 Marcey Rd., Arlington, VA 22207, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lois D. Saunders aka Lois E. Saunders who died on February 13, 2023 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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: 6/1/2023

Robert Matthew Saunders, Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

2023 NRT 000022

Juanita J. Moore Name of Deceased Settlor

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

Juanita J. Moore whose address was 1500 Oates Street, NE, Apt., 3, Washington, DC 20002 created a revocable trust on March 9, 2016, which remained in existence on the date of her death on February 21, 2023, and LaShawn Jackson, whose address is 7801 Regal Court, Clinton, MD 20735, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to LaShawn Jackson at 7801 Regal Court, Clinton, MD 20735.

The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances.

Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 12/1/2023 (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1), 2/21/2024 (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2), 12/1/2023 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding.

The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification.

This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d).

Date of First Publication: 6/1/2023

LaShawn Jackson

Signature of Trustee

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000598

Irene Neal Decedent

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

Ivy Neal Turner, Valerie Neal, Annette Neal Miles, whose addresses are 506 Garner Avenue, Waldorf, MD 20602, 2852 Vista St., NE, Washington, DC 20018 and 6114 Cabot St., District Heights, MD 20747, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Irene Neal who died on December 10, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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:

6/1/2023

Ivy Neal Turner Valerie Neal Annette Neal Miles

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 597

Mustafa Abdul-Rahim Decedent

Robinson Kirlew & Associates 7731 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt, MD 20781

Attorney

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

Teresa A. Waters, whose address is 507 Main St., Baltimore, MD 21222, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mustafa Abdul-Rahim who died on August 3, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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: 6/1/2023

Teresa Waters Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 611

Patricia S. Carroll Decedent

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

Kellie J. Carroll, whose address is 720 Alabama Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Patricia S. Carroll who died on November 15, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/1/2023. 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 12/1/2023, 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:

6/1/2023

Kellie J. Carroll

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Last Will and Testament of KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II© I go by KENNETH R.© declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I expressly revoke all prior Wills and Codicil. I leave all property to KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II TRUST©. I KENNETH R.© precisely leaves all property to KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II TRUST© All Rights Reserved Common law .I by Will and Codicil revoke all prior acts came to claim 2 of my children KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS III©, NAJAH KENNA SIMMONS© and I denied by Will hereon any Mothers, State, Union, Employee,  Associate,  Agent, Man, Women or child out there for taxing me giving me the authority on how to raise my offspring. I’m a man by plant by seed by blood adoption or marriage. These offspring are inherited to me and I claim them from here on. If any one has a claim higher than me rebut it in the next 21 days or this claim stands and I'm filing this in the local newspaper in the legal section. I claim to be the king of the estate first name KENNETH R. expressly dated. With 2 witnesses by my side I rise to claim all my prizes, possession and reproduction rights. I claim all inherit priority to myself as Man Hood. I claim these offspring as mine and claim all extensions of credit from the cradle to the grave. All extensions of credit exceeding one dollar go back to the man trust in KENNETH R.© name transfer all property to KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II TRUST© for concentration in ten dollars United States stamp and ten dollar piece of silver if anyone wish to rebut it do so under penalty and perjury reasonability like a prudent man otherwise this stands official.

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

2023 ADM 000673

Rudolph Von Kelly Sr. Decedent

Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

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

Stephanie Kelly, whose address is 1872 Bryant Street NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rudolph Von Kelly Sr., who died on September 19, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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: 6/8/2023

Stephanie Kelly Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 650

Mary Sazon Decedent

Ferguson Evans, Esq.

601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 900 South Bldg.

Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

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

Angela McClurkin, whose address is 11051 Fawn Creek Lane, Orland Park, IL 60467, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Sazon who died on 12/7/2020 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 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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:

6/8/2023

Angela McClurkin

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

COURT

SUPERIOR

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000623

Loretta T. Whitfield aka Loretta Whitfield Decedent

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

Melvin L. Whitfield, whose address is 4815 8th St., NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Loretta T. Whitfield aka Loretta Whitfield who died on December 27, 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 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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: 6/8/2023

Melvin L. Whitfield Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000582

Kirk Jerome Thomas, Sr. Decedent

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

Sandra Kay Pixley, whose address is 12600 Kingsview Street, Bowie MD 20721, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kirk Jerome Thomas, Sr., who died on 4/15/2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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: 6/8/2023

Sandra Kay Pixley Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000628

Kim Yeon Lee aka Kim Y. Lee Decedent

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

Xu Mei, whose address is 4110 Delancy Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20906, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kim Yeon Lee aka Kim Y. Lee who died on 6/20/2021 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 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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: 6/8/2023

Xu Mei Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000669

Karen Edwards Decedent

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

ShaDezz Edwards, whose address is 1200 Blair Mill Road, Apt. 610, Silver Spring, MD 20910, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Karen Edwards who died on April 25, 2023 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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: 6/8/2023

ShaDezz Edwards

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000621

Desrick Crooks

Decedent

Reshad Favors, Esq. 80 M Street, SE

Washington, DC 20003

Attorney

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

Tracy Crooks, whose address is 3904 Greencastle Ridge Terrace, Apt., 302 Burtonsville, MD 20866, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Desrick Crooks who died on April 18, 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 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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:

6/8/2023

Tracy Crooks Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2023 ADM 000634

Amanda Cunningham Decedent

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

Bianna Ine-Ryan, whose address is 11519 Lovejoy Street, Silver Spring, MD 20902, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Amanda Cunningham who died on 5/17/2021 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 12/8/2023. 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 12/8/2023, 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: 6/8/2023

Bianna Ine-Ryan 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

2022 FEP 132

November 28, 2018

Date of Death

Bertha High Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Anthony James whose address is 15804 Carlee Court, Accokeek, Maryland 20607 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Bertha High, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 10/24/2022.

Service of process may be made upon Bernadette James 4417 Sheriff Road NE, Washington DC 20019 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 4916 Arkansas Ave., Washington, DC 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 6/15/2023

Anthony James Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 001427

Edith H. Riley-Gottowy Decedent

Frederick D. Cooke, Jr. 1250 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Maximillian Riederer von Paar, whose address is 210 E. Franklin Street, Apt. C, Richmond, VA 23219, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edith H. Riley-Gottowy who died on March 9, 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 12/15/2023. 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 12/15/2023, 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: 6/15/2023

Maximillian Riederer von Paar Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

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

2023 ADM 000658

Juanita J. Moore

Decedent

Johnny M. Howard Houston & Howard 1001 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 402 Washington, DC 20036

Attorney

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

LaShawne Jackson, whose address is 7801 Regal Court, Clinton, MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Juanita J. Moore who died on 2/21/2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/15/2023. 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 12/15/2023, 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: 6/15/2023

LaShawne Jackson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000630

Kareen B. Wilson aka Kareen Burgess Wilson Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Sandra Wilson, whose address is 13036 Salford Ter., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kareen B. Wilson aka Kareen Burgess Wilson who died on April 27, 2023 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/15/2023. 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 12/15/2023, 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: 6/15/2023

Sandra Wilson

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 FEP 000048

April 23, 2020

Date of Death

Lynell Israel Halley, Sr. Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

John Halley whose address is 1520 W. North Avenue, Apt. 506, Baltimore, MD 21217 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Lynell Israel Halley, Sr., deceased, by the Orphans Court for Baltimore City, State of Maryland, on September 2, 2020.

Service of process may be made upon Iris McCollum Green, Esquire, Green & Foushee 1714 15th Street, NW, Suite B, Washington, DC 20009 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 6/15/2023

John Halley Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 0006577

Tawanda M. Joppy

Decedent

Sharon Legall 1325 G. Street NW Suite 500

Washington, DC 20005

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO

UNKNOWN HEIRS

Sarelle Joppy, whose address is 8702 Dulwick Court, Apt.32, Laurel MD 20708, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Tawanda

M. Joppy who died on 10/8/2020 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 12/15/2023. 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 12/15/2023, 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: 6/15/2023

Sarelle Joppy Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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to climate change: severe weather, extreme temperatures, and both floods and droughts have forced nuclear plants to shut down unexpectedly in recent years. Additionally, a reactor goes offline for routine maintenance at least every two years, which means a plant must have more total capacity to cover that maintenance routine. By comparison, wind and solar farms have much fewer operational problems.

EDELMAN from Page 26

Evers, clung to me asking over and over, "What are we going to do now?" Riding the train from New York City to Washington, D.C., bearing Robert Kennedy's body, I was deeply moved by the stricken faces of young and old, Black and white mourners who lined the train route and mirrored my stricken heart. The single most poignant moment for me was when the hearse carrying Robert Kennedy's body to rest near his brother John Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery crossed Memorial Bridge and paused for a brief time at the Lincoln Memorial, allowing the poor people still

MARSHALL from Page 26

fraud and money laundering, also played the witch hunt victim card. Distorting the truth by playing the victim allows current and future lies, misinformation, corruption, and injustice to thrive within sympathetic echo chambers. Playing the victim in Santos' case becomes a form of manipulating and misleading others by highlighting how much you are harassed and wrongly treated.

Yet, you leave out your own corruption that led to the scrutiny in the first place. Donald Trump has become the ultimate "victim."

In Trump, we have a former president twice impeached, found liable for sexual abuse, his company found guilty of tax evasion, and now he faces a 37-count federal indictment for retention of classified documents and conspiracy with a top aide to hide them from the government and his attorneys. "The ridiculous and baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponized department of injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our coun-

And battery backups have gotten faster than the gas power generation that nuclear plants often turn to meet peak demand.

It's time to confront nuclear's challenges — uranium mining, accident risk, cost, and climate vulnerability — and double down on the solutions we know will be central to our shift away from fossil fuels.

We can't afford the distraction of a fiction around nuclear power when burning fossil fuels threatens

in Resurrection City from the Poor People's Campaign to bid farewell while singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

In his speech in Cleveland, Robert Kennedy had also said: "There is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly, destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is a slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter … " He said for all of this there were no fi-

try," said Trump in his remarks to supporters in Georgia. Ironically, the criminal charges remind us that protecting classified material was part of Trump's political platform in his 2016 presidential campaign against Hillary Clinton. The hypocrisy is simply part of the overall corruption of a man who knows how to manipulate the emotions of his MAGA followers. Political hypocrisy should ultimately come with a political price of personal accountability. Therefore, if there is a willingness to avoid lying to a special counsel, there should be a willingness to avoid lying to the American people. Consequences should be paid in both cases. Trump has already vowed to stay in the race even if convicted. As a nation, we shouldn't be put in that situation. Even Richard Nixon had enough decency left within himself to resign, go away, and spare the country further pain.

We don't know how a federal indictment of a former president running for re-election will impact the upcoming presidential election. This is new territory for our nation. Despite how one

the health of millions around the world annually. Our focus must be on bringing the clean air, cost saving, and economic benefits of clean energy to communities across the country as quickly as we can. From home energy retrofits and rooftop solar to wind energy and battery storage, we have more and better ways than ever before to transform our energy systems from fossil fuels to energy that's actually clean, reliable and renewable. WI

nal answers, but we knew what we must do:

"We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of all. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge. Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land."

His work became our work, and 55 years later, the work goes on. WI

political party has gone to great lengths to deliberately set the stage where confusion over the clarity of the truth is the ultimate goal, no one could have predicted a former president being this corrupt, resulting in being charged with what amounts to treason. And yes, he is innocent until proven guilty. Now it leaves us to question if Aileen Cannon, the Trump-appointed judge assigned to preside over the case, will maintain allegiance to the man who placed her on the bench or allegiance to her duties to administer blind justice. Trial judges have a tremendous amount of power. They can impact the timing of cases, rule on motions to dismiss counts and decide what evidence is admitted or excluded. Can the American people trust Cannon's objectivity, or is she a "Truth isn't truth" appointee? Cannon has previously made controversial rulings in Trump's favor during the investigation into his possession of classified government documents. You must admit Mitch McConnell knew what he was doing when he made packing the courts and confirming conservative judges a primary focus. WI

WILLIAMS from Page 27

the chosen few, those who are indomitable achieve without willingly compromising their principles.

While success is not always measured by wealth or position, opportunity and access or lack thereof are prime considerations. Earl Graves, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Wes Moore ARE exceptions because of the obstacles they overcame.

Scott and his black-robed judicial counterpart, Clarence Thomas, exemplify the "chosen few." Scott echoes the talking points of his handlers and denies the obvious realities of those who must live through the hazards of racism. When appointed to coordinate with Corey Booker to create a bipartisan response to police

MORIAL from Page 27

ready face systemic hurdles in employment and the justice system. They also experience discrimination in situations that impact their basic needs: 24% reported discriminatory treatment from a health care provider, 44% share that discrimination has impacted them from renting or buying a home, and 48% have an income of less than $40,000 a year. While not all of the anti-LGBTQ

JACKSON from Page 27

Huxtables." Those who were told they could not vote became maladjusted until we were given the right to vote. Now we are voting with deliberate speed.

For DeSantis "waging war on woke" has entailed launching attacks on LGBTQ Americans, purging books from schools, distorting the teaching of history, and taking on businesses like Disney that disagree with him. He wants to cover up the history of slavery, put gays back in the closet, ship out some immigrants (not the Cuban Americans and Venezuelan-Americans who form part of his base), and outlaw acknowledgement of sexism, racism or nativism, much less doing anything about them. And he expects enough Americans to enlist in his war on woke to elect him president.

History, however, can't simply be erased. And reality can't simply be ignored. To deny that systemic injustices are part of the American reality is to demand that justice be blind, not equal.

violence, Scott initially spoke with knowing candor. Somewhere in the process, he was reined in and unyieldingly embraced the qualified immunity doctrine for police which effectively ended any bipartisan effort.

Since joining the Supreme Court, Thomas has espoused the destruction of the same affirmative action initiatives which provided the lift necessary for his professional development. All appearances suggest that these two "chosen ones" ignore any indignity or violence inflicted upon Blacks and other people of color or upon members of "other out-groups."

Maybe guilt prevents the senator from acknowledging his own complicity in the practices of systemic racism. WI

bills will become law, they all have a devastating effect.

In 2022, 41% of LGBTQ youth contemplated suicide. This rate is twice as high as the general population of youth. Further, 11% of white LGBTQ youth attempted suicide while double the amount of BIPOC LGBTQ attempted suicide.

The legislation that wishes to ban important conversations about the LGBTQ community will not

DeSantis' war on woke may succeed in dividing us, but it offers no answer to what ails us. Working people aren't the cause of our unaffordable health care system — insurance and drug companies are. LGBTQ Americans aren't the defenders of catastrophic climate change — Big Oil and King Coal are. Working people aren't losing ground because African Americans have gained civil rights, they are losing ground because corporations have shipped good jobs abroad with the aid of conservative politicians in both parties that they finance. Immigrants aren't the cause of the gun violence that terrorizes our children, the gun lobby and politicians like DeSantis, who oppose common sense gun reforms, are far more responsible. Those who object to racism, sexism or nativism don't cause the injustice; they seek to remedy it.

In the end, DeSantis' war on woke is an ugly con. He opposes investing in people, lifting the minimum wage, giving workers the right to organize, curbing big money in politics. He opposes tax-

Scott echoes the talking points of his handlers and denies the obvious realities of those who must live through the hazards of racism.

witness progress, only children's deaths.

Throughout history, figures such as Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, James Baldwin, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Gladys Bentley, Ron Oden, Lorraine Hansberry and Phill Wilson have paved a path of hope. They will continue to inspire today's LGBTQ youth of color and their needed allies. These icons will not be forgotten; we will fight for their history and our youth's futures. WI

ing the rich and corporations, rolling back subsidies to big oil, cracking down on pervasive corruption. As a congressman, he favored cutting Social Security and Medicare while defending tax breaks for the wealthy. He is the champion of the contented, the protector of the privileged.

That isn't exactly an attractive agenda. So, DeSantis offers up his war on the woke, seeking to turn us on one another, peddling a big lie in the name of truth, cruelty in the name of morality.

Despite his multimillion-dollar war chest, his campaign to date has been a dud. In Florida, parents are mobilizing against his attempt to censor the curriculum, ban books, and terrorize teachers. His assault on Disney cost the state thousands of jobs and gave his wealthy sponsors second thoughts. More importantly, voters don't seem to be buying what he's selling. Even as Trump's legal troubles deepen, DeSantis has lost ground in the polls. Perhaps Americans aren't as dumb as he thinks they are. Perhaps hate isn't as potent as hope. WI

Scott and his black-robed judicial counterpart, Clarence Thomas, exemplify the "chosen few."