The Washington Informer - March 9, 2023

Mendelson Brings Revised Criminal Code Act Back to D.C. Council

Council Chairman Acknowledges Failure to Communicate with District Residents

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

A swell of bipartisan support for a congressional resolution that strikes down the Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA) has, in part, compelled D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) to bring the law back to the D.C. Council for further review.

On Monday, Mendelson sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris (D) announcing his withdrawal of the RCCA from the congressional review

Study: D.C. Area White Neighborhoods Receive More Capital than Black Ones

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

A prestigious District-based think tank released a report stating that in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, white neighborhoods receive more capital flow than Black residential areas and leaders in academia, business and the nonprofit sectors believe they understand why and what are the c solutions.

The Urban Institute in Northwest published a study “The Promise and Pitfalls of the Washington, DC Region’s Strong Capital Flows,” researched and written by a team of staffers including lead Brett Theodos, a senior fellow and director of the Community Economic Development Hub. The study’s conclusions of white neighborhoods getting more capital flow than areas of color doesn’t come as a surprise to

CAPITAL Page 44

5Amid ongoing discussions about increasing the District’s affordable housing stock, D.C. resident counts among the chorus of voices in favor of expanding affordable housing to the affluent communities located west of Rock Creek Park. (Courtesy Photo)

process. In the letter, he told Harris that because the Senate had not yet voted on the legislation, he was able to make this move, per the Home Rule Act.

Last week, President Joe Biden (D) told Senate Democrats that he wouldn't veto the disapproval resolution should it make it to his desk. His subsequent tweet, in which he cited concerns about the D.C. Council's override of D.C. Mayor Muriel

CRIMINAL CODE Page 52

Advocates Eye Ward 3 for Expansion of Affordable Housing

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Ward 3 resident Kevin Bryan has come to appreciate the benefits of living in Cathedral Heights, a relatively secluded community in Ward 3 that’s not only known for its proximity to the National Cathedral, but a bevy of grocery stores and amenities within walking distance of residents’ homes.

More than a decade ago, Bryan moved to Ward 3 when he entered a lease for an apartment on Connecticut Avenue, not too far from where he worked as a policy consultant in Dupont Circle.

Long before a friend helped him secure that apartment at a price below market rate, Bryan, an alumnus of Howard University, lived in the Shaw neighborhood and later Fairfax Village in Southeast. Bryan said that hookup paved the way for the purchase of a condo that he currently shares with his wife.

That’s why, amid ongoing discussions about increasing the District’s

HOUSING Page 52

5 On Monday, Mendelson sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris (D) announcing his withdrawal of the RCCA from the congressional review process.

Congress Should Respect D.C. Council’s Right To Be Wrong

For the first time in 30 years, Congress votes to reject amendments to the D.C. Criminal Code.

Congress, the President, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and the Mayor have declared the amendments dangerous to the safety of government officials, residents and visitors to the Nation’s Capitol.

As a D.C. legislator who authored reforms that reduced crime, I agree.

Congress motivated by fear, and considering the national interest voted to reject the amendments. Congress should have confidence in democracy, as I do, that the Mayor, Council and D.C. residents will act together to pass a law to improve public safety.

Paid for by Bill Lightfoot, former D.C. Councilmember / blightfootdc@outlook.com

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Democrats Want Race Declared Public Health Crisis

U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Connecticut) has introduced legislation declaring racism a public health crisis. The Connecticut Democrat, who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has championed a House resolution since 2020.

Tony Cárdenas, a Congressional Hispanic Caucus member from California, joined Hayes in introducing the bill.

The legislation highlighted the effects of racism faced while seeking healthcare.

In her proposed bill, Hayes said barriers to accessing healthcare have led to a shorter life expectancy and poor health outcomes for Black and Brown Americans.

“Racial disparities have led to dangerous lapses in our healthcare system, compromising the safety and wellness of communities of color,” Hayes said.

“These deeply rooted inequities were magnified during the global pandemic, resulting in a disproportionate impact among racial and ethnic minorities.

“As our nation continues to heal from COVID-19, the

only path forward is one in which we finally acknowledge system failures for Black and Brown Americans.

“We can no longer ignore how profoundly embedded these disparities are.”

The resolution would encourage concrete action to prevent medical racism.

Connecticut passed similar legislation in 2021.

In 2022, Texas Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee introduced House Resolution 61, which would amend Title 18 of the United States Code to broaden the definition of hate crimes, to prevent and prosecute hate crimes motivated by white supremacy and conspiracy to commit such crimes.

The text of the bill reads as follows:

“A person commits a white supremacy-inspired hate crime when white supremacist ideology has motivated the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of actions that constituted a crime or were undertaken in furtherance of activity that, if effectuated, would have constituted a crime.” WI

Former Atlanta Fire Chief Says American Chattel Slavery Was God’s Plan

In a videotaped lecture that many called out as teeming with self-hate, a former Atlanta fire chief ridiculously opined that it was God’s divine plan that permitted Americans to enslave Africans.

NBC News reported that Kelvin J. Cochran, who is Black, lectured at a Georgia Department of Labor event honoring Black History Month.

The outlet noted that Cochran explained how his religious beliefs were consistent with the nation’s founding.

States, Cochran argued. The enslavement of Africans in the Americas was sanctioned by God, who “in his sovereignty” allowed it to happen, he asserted.

A social, spiritual, and economic famine was imminent in Africa, and it has persisted to this day, Cochran claimed without providing any evidence to support his rhetoric.

Hence, God was responsible for the Middle Passage slave trade that delivered six million Africans to the Americas, he said.

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The network reported that Cochran began “his patriotic speech” by claiming that the United States “has been a part of God’s divine plan from the beginning of time.”

Later, he mentions slavery, implying that the entirety of American history is “His story.”

God was not taken aback by slavery in the United

It also was God’s divine design to enslave the nation of Israel, as Cochran put it, and God’s sovereignty “enabled Africans to be brought to America in bondage.”

Cochran referred to the Bible, namely Genesis, where God foretold that Abraham’s offspring would be imprisoned and tormented for four hundred years. WI

Chris Rock Addresses the Will Smith Slap and Wokeness in Live Netflix Special internet

For the first time in history, Netflix streamed its first live event with comedian Chris Rock addressing the long-awaited, proverbial elephant that has been in the worldwide room— the notorious Will Smith Oscars slap.

When the 97th Academy Awards was set to air March 2022, Smith was already getting a lot of buzz for his role as the strict, no-nonsense dad Richard Williams. By the end of that show, at which he received the Best Actor award, Smith became infamous for slapping Rock, after he made a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith’s closely shaved haircut.

The actress had previously been public about having alopecia, an autoimmune disease that attacks the hair follicles.

Performing at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre, Rock worked his way up to the Smith slap by addressing a lot of subjects under the theme of the show, “Selective Outrage.”

From talking about wokeness, to abortions, celebrities

and his own family, Rock didn’t hold back punches.

“Anybody that says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” he said.

He made a major point of saying he didn’t want to offend anyone, “because you never know who you might get triggered,” particularly rappers.

Rock wrapped the special by offering his own diagnosis for Smith’s slap.

“Will Smith practices selective outrage,” he said. “I didn’t have nothing to do with that… I didn’t have any entanglements,” Rock added, referencing the publicly addressed relationship Pinkett Smith had with singer August Alsina.

The comedian said he didn’t retaliate because of how he was raised.

“And you know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people,” Rock said before dropping the microphone.

WI

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

Undeniable Conversations: Empowering Black Entrepreneurs Through Clothing and Community Building

By Chris Esme WI Bridge

Aiming to uphold its motto of “more than sneakers,” Footlocker hosted its “UNDENIABLE Conversations,” series.

Footlocker’s DMV event took place in its location in Mondawmin Mall, Baltimore, and featured a one-hour conversation with three successful Black entrepreneurs: Somos Thompson, co-owner of For The Fan; Jonathan White, creator of Cashland Apparel; and Kamirria Wallace, founder of Black & Scholared. Hosted by media personality Chey Parker, the discussion revolved around the themes of hard work, community investment, and support for historically black colleges.

The panelists built upon their ideas of why their businesses are more than just apparel; they provide opportunities for their communities.

“Collective community. Coming together to build,” said Wallace. “We are much better together than apart; we can collaborate. We don’t need to see each other as competition.”

Each speaker’s outreach approach diverged into different communities.

Black & Scholared maintains the theme of its clothing brand by funding scholarships and tuition reimbursements for HBCU students. White’s Cashland hosts annual Back to School drives in southwest Baltimore and provides clothing for newly released prisoners. Thompson’s For The Fan brand works with independent creatives, giving them the opportunity to work with their resources, alongside further plans for social impact programs for Baltimore and D.C.]\

Read the full story on wibridgedc.com

THE DC EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (DC EITC) is a special tax break, based on the federal EIC, designed specifically for low- and moderate-income workers.

NEW THIS YEAR, the DC EITC has been increased to 70% of the federal EIC. Additionally, individuals with qualifying children receiving the DC EITC will be paid differently than in previous years.

● Taxpayers will receive a refund equal to 40% of their federal EIC as usual after their return is processed.

● The balance of the EITC will be paid in equal monthly installments over the next 11 months.

5 For the Fan founder, Somos Thompson (center) speaks at the Footlocker presents “Undeniable Conversations” event held at Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore, alongside Jonathan White, creator of Cashland Apparel and Kamirria Wallace, founder of Black & Scholared. (Courtesy Photo)

black facts AROUND THE REGION

MAR 9 - 15, 2023

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

"Bird" Parker dies in New York City of complications from lobar pneumonia and other health issues at 34. 1964 – Malcolm X announced the establishment of Muslim Mosque, Inc., four days after his departure from the Nation of Islam.

1982 – Playwright Charles Fuller wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "A Soldier's Play," a story of a Black captain's search for the murderer of a Black sergeant on a Louisiana army base during World War II.

MARCH 13

1972 – Rapper and actor Common is born in Chicago.

1979 – Grenadian politician and revolutionary Maurice Bishop seizes power in a coup in 1979, serving as Prime Minister of the People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada until 1983, when he is overthrown and executed.

MARCH 14

1794 – Eli Whitney receives a patent for the cotton gin.

1933 – Famous music producer and composer Quincy Jones is born in Chicago.

MARCH 9

1841 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the African slaves who seized control of the Amistad slave ship had been illegally forced into slavery, and thus are free under American law.

1961 – African American corporate executive, educator and philanthropist Clifton R. Wharton is sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Norway.

1966 – Andrew F. Brimmer is sworn in as the first Black governor of the Federal Reserve Board.

1997 – Famed rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is shot and killed in Los Angeles at age 24.

MARCH 10

1849 – Hallie Quinn Brown, an African American educator, writer and activist, is born in Pittsburgh.

1913 – Iconic abolitionist and escaped Harriet Tubman dies of pneumonia in Auburn, New York.

1969 – James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and is sentenced to 99 years in prison.

MARCH 11

1959 – African American playwright Lorraine Hansberry opens "A Raisin in the Sun" at Barrymore Theatre in New York.

MARCH 12

1791 – Benjamin Banneker is commissioned by President George Washington as part of a team to survey the District of Columbia.

1955 – Influential bebop saxophonist Charlie

1977 – Fannie Lou Hamer, voting rights activist, civil rights leader and philanthropist, dies in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, of complications from hypertension and breast cancer at 59.

1999 – Chess player Maurice Ashley beat Adrian Negulescu to become the first Black International Grandmaster.

MARCH 15

1947 – Ensign John W. Lee Jr. becomes the first African American with a commission in the regular Navy and serves on board USS Kearsarge (CV 33).

1988 – Eugene Antonio Marino is named Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, becoming the first Black Catholic archbishop in the United States. WI

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Tyler Perry is reportedly in talks to buy a majority stake in BET as Paramount Global explores a sale. If it happens, it will again give the network majority-Black ownership. What are your thoughts?

JACQUELYN COOPER / TOLEDO, OHIO

I like that it would be owned mainly by a Black man but I would hope there would be more variety than just Tyler Perry stuff.

EBONY PAIGE / BALTIMORE MARYLAND

Saw this coming a mile away. BET+ is basically his station.

RICKEY WINTERS / WASHINGTON, DC

That would be great. That’s if Paramount would even sell it to him.

TRACI CAMPBELL / GREENWOOD, INDIANNA

Awesome. It shouldn’t have ever been sold in the first place.

JOI WILSON / WASHINGTON, DC

Good. By us for us!

With Revised Revenue Estimates, Budget Season Dialogue Intensifies

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

With only a couple weeks before D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s scheduled release of the FY-2024 budget, revised revenue estimates by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) have called into question what she will -- and won’t -- prioritize in her proposal.

OCFO’s Feb. 28 report revised the revenue estimates for the current fiscal year, increasing it by $128 million. That estimate however is followed by a projected loss of approximately $464 million for FY 2024-2026.

Shortly after the release of the report, Bowser issued a statement espousing the need for prudent budgeting.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) also weighed in, decrying OCFO’s report and what they described as the conspicuous omission of the free-fare bus program, for which funds had already been certified.

Allen, chair of the council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, has called for the freefare bus program to come to fruition as planned. He and Mendelson have since inquired about the legal basis of OCFO’s revenue estimate with the council’s general counsel and budget director.

5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is scheduled to release the FY-2024 budget in a couple of weeks, but based on revisions by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, there are now concerns what she will prioritize in her proposal. (WI File Photo)

In December, the D.C. Council approved the Fare-Free Bus Funding Emergency Act, which established fare-free Metrobus travel and expanded after-hours bus service in the District. The legislation also established a Fare-Free Bus Service Fund and Bus Service Enhancement Fund while directing excess revenue to both of them.

D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8) were absent during the final vote.

Reactions to the legislation ran the gamut, with many people expressing excitement about fare-free busing, and others, like a Bowser administration official speaking on background, lamenting how the program would affect District taxpayers.

During this budget season, D.C. council members, agencies and residents are vying for a piece of a $20 billion pie. Councilmember Gray recently introduced legislation that allows the mayor to fund local police recruitment and retention efforts. There have also been rumblings about reviving a movement around raising the minimum wage for sum-

mer youth employees who are under the age of 18.

As it relates to education, officials continue to mull how the District will secure funds for the ratified Washington Teachers’ Union contract, along with the matching funds for public charter school teachers. Amid the battle over adequate school funding, Bowser administration officials say that unpredictable enrollment impedes their ability to adhere to council legislation mandating a minimum funding level for each District public school.

Meanwhile, advocates in the teacher retention space are advancing their cause for flexible scheduling.

During a recent gathering of educators, students and education officials, leaders of local organization EmpowerEd said they would request $10 million for the launch of a pilot program that allows teachers more latitude in their daily commitments and expands the range of on-campus enrichment activities for students.

While Paul Kihn, deputy mayor for education, didn’t specify whether EmpowerEd’s budget request would be included in Bowser’s FY 2024 proposal, he said similar flexible scheduling programs have already been operating, in part because of the infusion of philanthropic dollars.

As the District attempts to move beyond COVID-19, the pivot back to normalcy has increased conversation about the new economic landscape, and what actions District officials should take, especially in light of OCFO’s revised revenue estimates.

In her Tuesday night statement, Bowser suggested that District officials stick to the regularly scheduled programming.

“With the ongoing impacts of telework and national political uncertainties, we face another significant test to our local economy,” Bowser said. “Given these challenges, it would be fiscally irresponsible to try to tax our way to sustainable, long-term growth. The District’s economy remains strong and rests on a solid financial footing. We must budget within our means and remain focused on the necessary investments to energize D.C.’s comeback.”

WI @SamPKCollins

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Trader Joe’s, which has several locations throughout the District of Columbia, including in the Southeast and Capitol Hill areas, has vowed never to install self-checkout lines.

The hierarchy of the popular grocery store that stocks a variety of signature items and produce said they “value people over machines.”

That stands in contrast to stores like Walmart, Target, and other outlets, which continue to install machines that tend to reduce employment.

“The bottom line here is that our people remain our most valued resource,” Tara Miller, Trader Joe’s vice president of marketing, said on the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast.

“While other retailers were cutting staff and adding things like self-checkout, curbside pickup, and outsourcing delivery options, we were hiring more crew, and we continue to do that,” Miller stated.

“Our crew will be in our stores to help you find your next favorite product, just as they’ve always been.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has said that “selected occupations are often used as examples of technological displacement that is or will become a more general problem” because AI and robots are causing people to worry about losing many jobs.

The BLS predicted a 7.4 percent decline in cashiers by 2029 because of technology like self-checkout machines.

Still, many applauded Trader Joe’s announcement.

Nick Mueller, the director of operations at Hawaiianislands. com, said when self-checkout kiosks first appeared, the intent was to serve individuals with only a few items. Mueller noted that it was a means for someone to get in and out of the store fast because they no longer had to wait in line behind someone with a full shopping cart.

“Now, with more stores installing more self-checkouts, there’s no longer the luxury of a quick in and out,” Mueller lamented. “Trader Joe’s decision to keep self-checkout machines out of their stores should be applauded.”.

“They’re keeping their customers’ experience as efficient and pleasant as possible by employing more staff instead of automating more processes,” Mueller continued.

Troy Portillo, the director of operations for the online tutoring service, StudyPool, called Trader Joe’s bold for standing behind its employees and pledging not to outsource their jobs to machines.

“Especially during a time when so many companies are looking for ways to downsize in this uncertain economy. Standing with their employees is likely going to gain them even more loyal customers than those they already have,” Portillo remarked.

“For a company to stand so firmly on their values is nice to see these days.”

Not everyone views it the same.

Josh Snead, the CEO of Rain-

walk Pet Insurance, said while active, engaged, and friendly customer service is part of Trader Joe’s brand, they might be making a mistake by ignoring self-checkout machines.

“They’re incredibly efficient in many ways,” Snead insisted. “They’re an express lane that’s always open, they’re much less expensive than a human cashier, and there are plenty of shy, introverted, or just plain busy people out there who just want to pay for their food and get on with their day rather than share their life story with an overly friendly cashier.” WI

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5 Trader Joe's will continue to hire on-site cashiers. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

The Newsletter

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Colonel Paris Davis, wearing the medal he received from President Biden, leaves the White House with his daughter Regan Davis Hooper after being honored during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 3, 2023. He received the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military for his actions as one of the nation's first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, almost 60 years after he was first recommended for the award. After his military career, he published the Metro Herald newspaper for 30 years in Alexandria, Va. (Michael McCoy for the Washington Informer)

Who’s Reading the Informer?

Cleveland Bryant reads the Washington Informer. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

“Nobody's

Walmart Store Closure in Downtown D.C. Generates Concern

By James Wright & Hamil Harris WI Staff Writer and WI Contributing Writer

The announcement by Walmart officials that the H Street NW location will close at the end of March has some District residents concerned about where they will shop for their groceries in addition to the economic well-being of the immediate neighborhood.

Terry Lynch, the executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, said many people shop at that Walmart because its prices are affordable for those who work, live or worship in the area. He said the store’s closure will have a profound effect on the neighborhood and its residents.

“This will leave a big economic hole and is yet another nail in the coffin on why working-class residents can’t afford to remain in the city,” Lynch said.

The H Street store closure comes as Walmart announced last month that it will shutter eight other stores in states such as Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Oregon and Arkansas. Company officials said the closing stores failed to meet financial expectations. Regarding the shuttering District store,

Felicia McCranie, the communications director for the company’s North and East U.S. divisions, issued a statement “we are grateful to the customers who have given us the privilege of serving them at our H Street store.”

“We look forward to serving them at our other stores in the surrounding communities and on Walmart.com,” she added.

The store’s pharmacy will close on March 17, with the whole facility discontinuing operations on March 31. Company officials said H Street employees will be able to transfer to one of three stores within a seven-mile radius.

Residents question H street closing

The Rev. Cheryl Sanders serves as the pastor of the Third Street Church of God in Northwest.

Sanders said the store’s closure makes her feel uneasy.

“My question is what were they expecting to happen in the first place,” she said. “The store was a lot to invest in and not give it time to grow.”

Sanders said when her church used to visit a campground in western Pennsylvania, they would shop at the Super Walmart there.

“When there I would think, we don’t have anything like this at home,” she said. “Then they built two Walmarts in my neighborhood on Riggs Road and Georgia Avenue about the same time the H Street store opened. You go from nothing to too many. My question is what were they expecting to happen.”

Alicia Harris, 25, works as a network television producer who resides in the neighborhood surrounding Capitol Hill. She said the closing of the Walmart “is so tragic.”

“Walmart is a staple for affordable groceries, and much of the middle class,” Harris said. “By eliminating Walmart, the option

for people is Giant and that isn’t really a good comparison. This was a Super Walmart that had groceries and household items.”

Harris said she looked forward to getting her fresh produce at an affordable price at Walmart.

“The next Super Walmart is five miles away,” she said. “Once again, the District is a food desert for many young professionals who want quality at affordable prices.”

Denise Reed said she liked to order her items online from Walmart’s website and pick them up at the H Street store.

“My building is located at the other end of H Street and I would order things and pick it up at that store,” Reed said. “Walmart is closing stores all over the country, so it’s not necessarily against the District. It was limited in selections and Walmart is a business. I often saw the police there because of thefts.”

Reed said the store was sufficient for her shopping needs even though she lamented that it didn’t have the space “to really be a Super Walmart.” WI

5 The H Street Walmart store will close on March 31. (Courtesy photo)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

College Park Mayor Arrested for Downloading, Possessing Child Exploitative Material

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

In College Park, Maryland, the mayor, Patrick Wojahn, was arrested by the police and charged with 40 counts of having exploitative material about children in his possession and 16 counts of giving out such material.

Wojahn, who is 47 years old, gave his resignation as mayor right away, and the city said in a state-

ment that a special election would be held to replace him.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children told the police, according to 7News in Maryland, that a social media account in the county was suspected of having child pornography and was sharing it.

On Feb. 17, investigators discovered the social media account belonged to Wojahn.

On Feb. 28, detectives served a

search warrant at Wojahn’s College Park home and recovered multiple cell phones, a storage device, a tablet, and a computer.

Authorities arrested the mayor early on Thursday, Mar. 2.

ABC-7 said that Wojahn was recently elected Chair of the National League of Cities (NLC) 2023 University Communities Council (UCC).

He ran for mayor in 2015 af-

Rent Stabilization Bill Passes, Foreclosure and Eviction Event Helps Homeowners

By Richard D. Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

ARETHA

DISTRICT24

Last week, District 7 Councilwoman Krystal Oriadha (D) successfully passed CB-07, which will cap rent increases to 3% over

the next year in an effort to maintain housing affordability for renters amid nationwide inflation and a winddown in national social programs.

The vote passed with only one “no” vote, coming from At-Large

Councilman Mel Franklin (D), who recently introduced a bill that would allow 20% rent increases. Councilmembers Hawkins and Harrison, who have co-sponsored Franklin’s bill, supported Oriadha’s legislation citing widespread community support.

“This bill is an opportunity for us to say loud and clear that renters matter. For too long the message has been that they don’t. Residents are suffering because of rent increases, and rent stabilization creates stability so renters know that they are not going to wake up and their rent is doubled. We want Prince Georgians to have access to affordable, habitable, and fair housing and this bill gets us closer to that goal,” Oriadha said.

Some of the municipal leaders who spoke at the press conference prior to the successful vote were Mount Rainier Mayor Celina Benitez (D), Hyattsville Councilman Danny Schaible (D), Laurel Councilman At Large Martin Mitchell (D), and Blad-

The City of College Park thanks Mayor Wojahn for his many years of dedicated service,” College Park officials said in a statement.

Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell will serve as presiding officer until a special election is held and a new mayor takes office.

The city’s charter mandates that officials hold the election within 65 days.

Wojahn’s resignation letter did not specify the charges against him, only acknowledging that he’s the subject of an “ongoing police investigation.”

ter serving eight years on the city council, according to his biography on the city’s website.

The city of College Park released a statement on the resignation of Wojahn:

“Last night, after business hours, Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn submitted his letter of resignation as Mayor of the City of College Park, effective immediately on Mar. 2.

“It has been a profound honor and privilege to serve the city of College Park since 2007 as a city council member and your mayor,” he wrote. “On Feb. 28, 2023, a search warrant was executed on my residence as part of an ongoing police investigation. I have cooperated fully, and will continue to cooperate, with law enforcement.”

The College Park politician explained that the investigation did not involve “official city business,” but that “it is in the best interest” of the community to “step aside and not serve as a distraction.”

He also said he was resigning for health reasons and solicited prayers from constituents.

ensburg Councilwoman Jocelyn Route (D).

Kia Jefferson, a Laurel resident who faced a $800 rent increase, also spoke in favor of the bill.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks also expressed appreciation for Oriadha’s leadership in pushing for rent stabilization.

“I want to thank Councilmember Oriadha for her leadership and compassion. I want to thank her and the other Councilmembers for demonstrating a true understanding of what many of our residents suffer each and every day. This legislation is extremely important to all of us. We refuse to let any Prince Georgian be priced out of their home, that’s what this is about,” Alsobrooks said.

According to a press release by the County Council, a work group on permanent rent control will be established alongside seeking other permanent solutions to address rising rents.

RENT Page 50

“I am stepping away to deal with my own mental health. I ask that you continue to keep me and my family in your prayers,” he said.

The politician said he had faith in the city’s current leaders.

“I have great trust in the ability of Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, the City Council, and our staff to carry forward what we have accomplished. Many of you have already reached out with well wishes and thoughts, and I am eternally grateful.”

Authorities ask anyone with information relevant to their investigation into Wojahn to call the Prince George’s County Police Department detectives at (301) 772-4930.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (Search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Please refer to case number 230009239.

WI @Stacy M. Brown

5 College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn booking photo/PGPD

5 Residents came from across Prince George’s County to the recent eviction and foreclosure workshop. (Courtesy Photo: Ramon Korinoff, Congressman Ivey’s Office)

MBE Night in Annapolis

WI Contributing Reporter

At the Westin Annapolis, hundreds of business owners, state officials and the first Black Governor of Maryland gathered for MBE night on February 28th. This was the first MBE night with Montgomery County Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (D) serving as Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. MBE Night in Annapolis was started by former Montgomery County Delegate Herman Taylor (D) as a way to improve minority participation in state contracts. Treasurer Dereck E. Davis (D), Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller (D), and State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) were also in attendance.

“We have a Governor who is committed to listening and taking action. Accountability is the message that rang loud and clear. Better access to real opportunities with real results under the Moore Administration”, remarked Sylvia Johnson after attending MBE night alongside an estimated 700 other Black business owners. Johnson runs JI-Solutions LLC, a biomedical consulting firm, and D.C. Technology Systems, another information technology firm focused on cybersecurity.

District 25 Delegate Nick Charles (D), who heads the Prince George’s County Delegation, attended MBE Night. He is a member of the Procurement Improvement Council (PIC) who is

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

seeking to pass legislation to add the Comptroller, or a proxy representative, to the PIC.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D), Governor Wes Moore (D) and Treasurer Dereck E. Davis (D) serve on the Board of Public Works. This board approves millions of dollars of state contracts, and the 29% minority business participation goal established for BPW has fallen short at 12% in recent years.

One proposal from Lierman’s transition team to reach the enterprise goal would be creating a one-stop portal for all stages and processes of state procurement, to make it easier for agencies to review contracts, vendors to track payments and Board of Public Works members to track compliance on MBE goals.

On February 16th, Governor Moore signed an executive order mandating state agencies to report data assessing the performance of the state’s Minority Business Enterprise program.

The order requires participating agencies that have not submitted mandatory MBE data for fiscal year 2022 to the administration to do so before March. The order also mandates that within 60 days, program participants must report certain procurement activity and outreach efforts since July 1, 2022, in addition to MBE goals and benchmarks.

WI

7:00pm

5 District 24 Delegate and Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D) joined Speaker Dereck Davis (D) and Comptorller Brooke Lierman (D) for a panel on the role of the Board of Public Works. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

2023 Sponsors and Partners

I’m Prince George’s Proud to tackle litter and illegal dumping in our County. I invite every Prince Georgian to join us in this fight.

I’m Prince George’s Proud to tackle litter and illegal dumping in our County. I invite every Prince Georgian’s to join us in this fight.

Tiaa Rutherford, Prince George’s County Litter Reduction Specialist

Tiaa Rutherford, Prince George’s County Litter Reduction Specialist

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

FIRST ANNUAL MBE ADVOCACY DAY IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

briefs

have had a great impact, but my goal is to grow that impact by expanding access, as well as growing the support infrastructure so that we can directly support more entrepreneurs.”

Playing the Long Game

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq.

Anyone who knows me will find it humorous that I am using a sports analogy to discuss the benefits and opportunities of estate planning. I have grown up in the midst of true sports fans. I have not inherited the love of sports (beyond the trash talking capacity). In any sport as well as business development we know that the success is often in the long game.

The first annual MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) Advocacy Day in Prince George’s County, Maryland will take place on March 28 in Downtown Largo at the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be hosted by County Council member Mel Franklin (D-At Large).

The MBE community in Prince George’s and its allies seek to advocate for the issues and interests of minority and women-owned businesses, Franklin said. Participants will have the opportunity to dialogue with Councilmembers and staffers, the Office of the County Executive, county procurement officers, state officials and others.

The event is free but registration is required. Fifty registered slots are reserved for minority or women-owned business owners in the county.

For more information, register at https://tinyurl.com/mbe-day-largo-2023.

BOWIE BUSINESS INNOVATION CENTER HAS NEW LEADER

The Bowie Business Innovation Center (BIC) has announced the appointment of June Lee Williams Evans as its new executive director.

The BIC is a nonprofit business accelerator located at Bowie State University. Its function is to provide entrepreneurs and small businesses located in the county the support needed to accelerate their revenue, growth, and ability to create jobs.

Evans started her leadership of the center in September 2022 after having served for 13 years leading the Center for Minority Business Development, Center for Entrepreneurial Development, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Innovation Hub at Prince George’s Community College. Evans said she is excited to lead BIC.

“I’m excited to be here,” said Evans. “The Bowie BIC is a small organization with award-winning programs that

Evans is expected to launch the 8(a) Government Contracting Center of Excellence, a new $3 million federal pilot program designed to deliver targeted resources to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities by helping disadvantaged companies fully participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program.

Evans, a resident of Bowie, Maryland, holds a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications from Loyola Marymount University. WI

GREATER WASHINGTON URBAN LEAGUE TO HOST ANNUAL EQUITY SUMMIT

The Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) announced on March 3 its 3rd Annual Equity in Black & White Summit. Centering around, “Trust in Equity—The New Standard of Excellence,” the summit will take place on April 28.

The GWUL has convened the summit to lead discussions, dialogue and offer a call to action to dismantle structural racism in the U.S. Past keynote speakers included Robert Smith, founder of VISTA Equity Partners, CNN Senior Legal Analyst Laura Coates and Oris Stuart, chief inclusion office for the National Basketball Association.

The summit is designed as a platform for C-suite and emerging executives to learn from their peers about the latest developments in their field. Sessions include topics on trust building, restoring Black wealth, the importance of equity in technology and equitable spending with Blackowned media.

For more information, contact Jael Louis at GWUL by email: Jlouis@gwul.org or visit http://GWUL. org or @GWUL365 on social media. WI

Defining what is long is dependent on the game. As we look to build our legacy our long game should be planning for at least three generations. For many people the concept of looking beyond the immediacy is challenging. For so many, survival is the focus. When we are focused on thriving, we look beyond. It is encouraging to think about the possibilities and the opportunities to build legacy for those who will come after us.

One of my favorite scriptures is Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV).

Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

It reminds me that we should have a vision that outlives us so that those who follow will have foundation, direction, and strategy.

A strong foundation creates capacity to build a high tower. I see an estate plan as an opportunity to build the foundation that provides strategy, resources and vision that can be enhanced and developed with each new generation. Just like with an airplane, the longer the runway, the greater the altitude that can be reached.

I encourage people, through estate planning, to create a vision for the upcoming generations that has definition and direction with the opportunity to grow. The vision will reflect the values of the grantor yet allows for the ability to enhance the vision beyond that which the grantor initially held. The initial grantor has the fundamental commitment to build. It is the hope that the grantor has instilled and incentivized the desire to grow the vision for those who come after.

There is no way to know what the future opportunities exist for our descendants. The world is changing in such a rapid pace that we cannot anticipate what will exist. Therefore, we do not want to limit their ability with a vision that is so prescribed with no opportunity to explore new horizons.

The legacy established through estate planning should provide the inspiration to explore while providing the tools with which to build. The vision should ignite the descendants desire to pursue greatness and excellence consistent with the mission and vision. The foundation does not have to be elaborate but creating an action plan and vision and be transformational.

As we think generations out, we are able to create a strategy for growth, personal and financial legacy building that is enhanced with each generation. We know we do not have to accomplish it all today but we can build with each generation to impact the greatness of that which comes after. We can use the blessing of time to accomplish the vision while continuing to refine that vision.

Estate planning is a great tool that not enough of us employ to strategize for the long game for the great win.

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., The Griffin Firm, PLLC

http://yourestateplanningattorney.com

(855) 574-8481

5335 Wisconsin Ave NW  Suite 440  Washington DC 20015

4041 Powder Mill Drive Suite 215 Beltsville MD 20705

100 International Drive 23rd Floor Baltimore MD 21202

4601 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 1200 Arlington, VA 22203

Amsterdam News Panel Encourages Community Action Against Gun Violence

By Richard D. Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

On Feb. 27, Elinor R. Tatum, publisher of the New York Amsterdam News hosted a Zoom forum about ongoing efforts to reduce gun violence from a community perspective titled “From Sorrow to Solutions”. Featuring a dynamic group of panelists, many of the speakers founded or currently lead community intervention programs that allow for civilians to offer support in situations rather than relying on law enforcement. Among the solutions highlighted were better access to mental healthcare, involving the faith community, reducing access to firearms and addressing incarceration issues.

“I don’t think solutions are dif-

ficult to find,” said Chief Equity Program Officer for the Hope and Heal Fund Refujio Rodriguez.

“Some of the best solutions have come from Black and Brown community organizations.”

Over the past 20 years, panelist Erica Ford, has been present for past efforts that have significantly improved safety in New York City. She noted that stop and frisk was a failure that caused instability in New York.

“Our city and our government doesn’t invest in people who need it the most,” she said about ongoing police spending amid budget cuts.

Hailing from Queens, Ford, founder of Life Camp, has been celebrated for her organization’s Peace Mobile, a 35-foot RV part of a mobile trauma unit that offers culturally responsive experiences and wellness practices for people

and communities in need.

Jackie Rowe-Adams, founder of Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., tragically lost two of her sons to gun violence. Following the death of her first son, she said “God brought me through, along with a lot of support from the community.” Following the passing of her second son, she said that she had a much better established support system to grieve. Her organization is now over 100 parents, and there is a chapter composed of fathers of gun violence as well. She strongly emphasized community takeback efforts– encouraging parents to assist their children personally.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- New York), a longtime friend of Tatum’s, provided

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a pre-recorded message about his experiences with constituents who have experienced loss. He was introduced to the concept of community intervention, and referenced people such as Ford and Rowe-Adams, as folks who make a major difference in protecting their community.

“It is people like Erica and Jackie who give me strength.”, Senator Schumer said, before pledging additional federal support for community intervention programs. “Community intervention shows people that a better path is there, and the data shows that it works.”

Larry Lee, publisher of the Sacramento Observer, spoke about recent gun violence in his area, along with the unfortunate loss of Tyre Nichols, a Sacramento native.

“There has been a lot of pain in Sacramento, and we’ve celebrated his actual life," he said. “He was a bright light to a lot of the people in Sacramento who enjoyed skateboarding and his friends before moving to Memphis.”

He later highlighted the strong link between domestic violence and gun violence– a correlation his outlet has not shied away from noting. “It’s critical for us as newsrooms to look at this.”

Kimberly Davis, co-founder of Protect Our Stolen Treasure, an organization that provides support for families who have experienced loss to gun violence, described her organization’s focus during.

“We help the families that have

had losses. We come together in fellowship, do community engagement to maintain awareness, and offer a support system,” she said, recommending financial support, emotional support and counseling as some important pillars to making a difference.

The panel also discussed racial disparities in access to life insurance as another trying issue.

Both Davis and Rowe-Adams suggested holding elected officials accountable.

“When the polls open, if they won’t pay attention to these meetings and fund these programs, vote them out”, Rowe-Adams said. She said her next focus is reducing the pipeline that gets guns in the hands of youth in the first place.

Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark-Barnes shared that while her children were growing up, there were some concerns of gun violence, but that gun violence has only gotten worse over time.

She brought up that gun violence in Black and Brown communities is itself an unfortunate economy, and that Black publishers have a particular role in properly covering gun violence by humanizing both victims and perpetrators.

“This is something I talked about with my sons as they were growing up”, she said. “They’re in their mid-30’s now, and I sadly think the problem has gotten worse.”

WI

5 Community residents continue to be outraged by gun violence and seek solutions to prevent homicides. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

D.C. Residents Head to Selma for 58th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

Photos By Akmal Muwwakkil

In the first weekend of March, several programs were held in Selma, Alabama, commemorating the 58th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the successful Selma to Montgomery march, which took place on March 7 and March 21, 1965, respectively. The events also celebrated the passing of the Voting Rights Act Of 1965.

Despite the more than 800 miles between the Alabama city and the nation’s capital, some District residents took to Selma for the celebrations. WI

3 The Rev. Mark Thompson and Nkechi Taifa, and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) discuss concern on African Americans’ health and welfare, voting rights and reparations during “Under the Bridge: The Need for Reparations in Selma and Beyond,” panel discussion.

4 Ayanna Gregory, soul singer, and daughter of the late, honorable Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory presented Washington based Atlantis Browder, educational consultant with the Freedom Flame Award, at the “Cross the Bridge; Be a Bridge,” event for Selma, during the 58th Anniversary of the Bloody Sunday March.

3 “Under the Bridge: The Need for Reparations in Selma and Beyond,” panel session, during the commemoration of the 58th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery March, and the Voting Rights Act.

4 Author, publisher, cultural historian, artist and Washington, D.C. based educational consultant, Anthony T. Browder, testified as an expert witness, on behalf of the people in a mock trial charging the State of Alabama on their legal practices against African Americans.

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Drought Situation in East Africa “At Crisis Level,” As Scottish Government Pledges Funding

The Scottish government has announced a £500,000 aid package to help countries struggling with drought in east Africa. Four charities are to each receive £125,000 from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund to tackle the food crisis in South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia caused by the ongoing drought, The Scotsman, Scotland's national newspaper, reported on Sunday, March 5.

The charities - Christian Aid, Mercy Corps, SCIAF and Tearfund - described how in some villages, families are left without any food for days, and warned people are resorting to “drastic measures to keep their families alive”.

East Africa is facing one of its most severe episodes of drought in decades, with the driest conditions seen in 40 years. The fifth consecutive rainy season is lower than expected and the forecast for the coming season is also set to be below average.

The extreme water shortages have resulted in massive losses of harvests, livestock, and income. Local commodity prices also remain at an all-time high, out of reach for many, while experts warn the combination of climate and conflict in the region is worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

The announcement comes days after the United Nations refugee arm, UNHCR, appealed for funding of $137 million for the 3.3 million refugees and internally displaced people in East Africa who have been forced to flee their homes. The funding will help aid workers distribute food packages, help improve access to clean water supplies and provide cash transfers to households in desperate need.

Alistair Dutton, chief executive of SCIAF, visited Ethiopia ten days ago, where he described the situation as “desperate”.

He said: “With riverbeds dry, we saw people digging shallow wells to unearth small pools of water to drink and water the cattle but even that isn’t possible away from the rivers.”

The SCIAF project in Ethiopia will provide food supplies and access to safe water in Dasenech Woreda, South Omo Zone. Under the scheme, 315 households will receive cash transfers for four months while the rehabilitation of shallow wells and water points, along with water purification materials, will improve access to safe water for 7,000 households.

He added: “The day before we arrived the local authority in South Omo had announced that the water in the river would only last another two weeks, and they urgently appealed for aid agencies to begin water trucking. In this chilling context the Scottish Government’s funding will make an enormous difference and allow SCIAF’s local partners to provide urgently needed services to people whose options are running out.”

Comissiong Calls on Residents to Support Bridgetown Initiative

Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong is calling on Barbadians to be proud of and support the Bridgetown Initiative, which seeks to establish a Global Climate Mitigation Trust consisting of trillions of dollars to help poor countries tackle climate change issues and deal with immediate debt crises, Barbados Today reported on Saturday, March 4.

According to the World Economic Forum, the Bridgetown Initiative is a proposal to reform the world of development finance, particularly as it relates to how rich countries help poor countries cope with and adapt to climate change.

Barbados sets out three key steps in the initiative, the first involving changing some of the terms around how funding is loaned and repaid. The aim is to stop developing nations from spiraling into debt crisis when their borrowing is forced up by successive disasters like floods, droughts and storms.

Speaking on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) Mornin’ Barbados show earlier in the week, Comissiong declared that the initiative is the first serious proposal to suggest a way of finding the trillions in investment to prevent climate change from becoming a catastrophic problem.

“So, especially our young people, we need to become environmentalists. This needs to be the call of our young people and you have the Bridgetown Initiative, a home-grown instrument that you can embrace to become some of the world’s foremost advocates for dealing with climate change,” he said.

Dear Seniors,

As the newly appointed Acting Director for the Department of Aging and Community Living, it is my pleasure to write my first Living Boldly column in the Senior Beacon. My name is Charon P.W. Hines, and I am a proud third-generation Washingtonian who has been serving our city for many years. Before I share a little more about me, I want to express my gratitude to Mayor Bowser for this appointment and her unwavering commitment to our city's prosperity. I am incredibly thankful for her leadership in ensuring our city continues to thrive and for entrusting me to serve all of you.

As I step into this critical position, I must honor the exceptional leaders who you have all come to know before me, including E. Veronica Pace, Jearline Williams, Dr. Clarence Brown, Donna Duntston, Dr. John Thompson, Brenda Donald, Laura Newland, and most recently, Jessica Smith. Their

March 2023 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

legacy is a testament to the importance of DACL's work in our communities.

My career has been defined by a deep commitment to service, particularly for those who are often underserved or marginalized. For the past four years, I had the privilege of serving our city's youngest residents as the Senior Advisor to the DC Public Schools Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. Before that, I was the Director of the Mayor's Office on Community Affairs, also affectionally known as MOCA, where I had the opportunity to serve all 700,000 residents of our city, including seniors.

As the daughter of a disabled Gulf War veteran, I have a personal connection to the programs and services DACL provides to

our residents and I want to ensure that older adults like you have access to information about senior housing, tax benefits/relief, transportation, nutrition, wellness, and social events. We want to keep you connected and engaged.

I recognize that there is much work to be done, but I assure you that our commitment to older residents has not and will not change. We will continue to ensure your most critical needs are met daily, while working together to build stronger communities for tomorrow. Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet many of you in your neighborhoods and at our senior wellness centers and community dining sites. In the weeks and months to come, I look for-

ward to meeting more of you and learning more about your priorities, ideas, and how we can serve you better. Until then, thank you for support and I cannot wait to

see all that we will achieve together.

Sincerely,

My career has been defined by a deep commitment to service, particularly for those who are often underserved or marginalized. For the past four years, I had the privilege of serving our city's youngest residents as the Senior Advisor to the DC Public Schools Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee.

Charon P.W. Hines

HEALTH

With Eli Lilly Capping Insulin Prices, Financial Burdens Could Ease for Diabetes Sufferers

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Individuals with diabetes received much-welcomed assistance when Eli Lilly announced it would lower the cost of insulin by 70% and cap what patients pay out-of-pocket at $35.

White House officials said the action, driven by the momentum from the Inflation Reduction Act, could benefit millions of Americans with diabetes in all fifty states and U.S. territories.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has continued calling on Congress to cap

costs at $35 for all Americans.

“While the current healthcare system provides access to insulin for most people with diabetes, it still does not provide affordable insulin for everyone, and that needs to change,” said David A. Ricks, Eli Lilly’s chairman, and CEO.

“The aggressive price cuts we’re announcing should make a real difference for Americans with diabetes,” he noted.

“Because these price cuts will take time for the insurance and pharmacy system to implement, we are taking the additional step to immediately cap out-of-pocket costs for patients who use Lilly insulin and are not covered by the recent Medicare Part D cap.”

The cost reduction should alleviate financial burdens in paying for insulin, particularly for many African Americans.

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study revealed that, in 2019, non-Hispanic Blacks were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.

In 2018, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have a physician diagnose them with diabetes.

Also, in 2019, non-Hispanic Blacks were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with diabetes and associated long-term complications than non-Hispanic whites.

Finally, the HHS report noted that non-Hispanic Blacks were 3.2 times more likely to receive an end-stage renal disease than non-Hispanic whites.

In addition to reducing the list price of its insulins, Eli Lilly said it is making it easier for more people with diabetes to get their insulins.

The company announced that effective immediately, it would automatically cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 at participating retail pharmacies for people with commercial insurance using Lilly insulin.

“We are driving for change in repricing older insulins, but we know that 7 out of 10 Americans don’t use Lilly insulin,” Ricks said.

“We are calling on policymakers, employers, and others to join us in making insulin more affordable,” he added.

diabetes are in control of their disease and can get the insulin they need.”

A January 2023 HHS report revealed that, in 2019, about 37 percent of insulin fills for people with Medicare required cost sharing exceeded $35 per fill, including 24 percent that exceeded $70 per fill.

Nationally, the average out-ofpocket cost was an insulin fill in 2019, typically for a 30-day supply.

On average, patients with private insurance or Medicare paid about $63 per fill.

Some of the findings from a previous study sent to Congress that looked at how important insulin is in treating diabetes were included in the report.

Researchers looked at evidence about how the price of insulin affects how well people stick with their insulin treatment and how it affects their health in the long run.

They also looked at policy efforts to make insulin more affordable.

tion Reduction Act’s provision capping the cost of insulin at $35 for a month’s supply for Medicare beneficiaries had been in place in 2020, 1.5 million seniors across the country would have saved an average of $500 on insulin for the year.

The insulin provisions of Biden’s new law went into effect on January 1, 2023, for Medicare Part D. Starting July 1, 2023, under MedicarePart B, beneficiary cost sharing will be limited to $35 for a month’s supply of insulin.

Researchers estimate that 1.5 million people with Medicare would have benefited from the Inflation Reduction Act insulin cost-sharing limits if they had been in effect in 2020, with total savings to beneficiaries of about $734 million in Part D and $27 million in Part B – an average savings of approximately $500 for those Medicare beneficiaries.

Publication Date 3-16- 23

Ricks continued: “For the past century, Lilly has focused on inventing new and improved insulins and other medicines that address the impact of diabetes and improve patient outcomes. Our work to discover new and better treatments is far from over.

“We won’t stop until all people with

Additionally, the January 2023 report also found that the states with the most people with Medicare projected to benefit from the new Inflation Reduction Act insulin cost savings are Texas (114,000 beneficiaries), California (108,000 beneficiaries) and Florida (90,000 beneficiaries). North Dakota ($805), Iowa ($725), and South Dakota ($725) have the highest average annual out-of-pocket savings.

The report shows that if the Infla-

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to lowering health care costs and increasing access to high-quality, affordable health care, and the Inflation Reduction Act is helping us do just that,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“Thanks to this historic law, people who get their insulin through Medicare won’t have to pay more than $35 for a month’s supply. No one should have to skip or ration their insulin because they can’t afford it.” WI

@StacyBrownMedia

5 Eli Lilly has capped the price of insulin at $35. (Wesalius via wikimedia commons)

Kid Scoop explains point of view in news reporting to readers while they read a silly story about which movie snack is the best. What is your point of view on that?

Each week, Kid Scoop brings students interactive games, activities, puzzles and more in a bright & bouncy, award-winning feature kids and their family members can enjoy together.

‘Below The Belt’ Chronicles The Battle Against Endometriosis

By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer

Physicians and women across the nation are lobbying for greater research and funding for endometriosis, a disorder that occurs when tissue grows outside of the uterine cavity, and impacts roughly 6.5 million women across the United States. Los Angeles-based obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Iris Orbach, alongside several activists, highlighted the debilitating aspects of the condition at the recent film screening for the documentary “Below The Belt.”

Held at the Senate Hart Building in Washington, D.C. on March 1, the screening examined the lives of Jenneh Rishe, Emily Hatch Manwaring, and Kyung Jeon-Miranda, among others who have lived with the crippling traits of the disorder. Some of the debilitating symptoms include painful menstrual cycles, painful urination and bowel movements, nausea, and an inability to function at work or enjoy day-to-day activities. Currently, there has been no specific cause known for endometriosis, and no cure has been determined.

“I have endometriosis, and my daughters have an increased risk of endometriosis, so this is a very personal film,” said the film’s director and producer, Sharon Cohn. “I first had symptoms at 16 but didn’t hear the word endometriosis until I was 29. So I spent 13 years searching for answers in a veritable revolving door of specialists, tests and medications.”

NIH estimates that endometriosis affects roughly 10 to 15 percent of women within reproductive ages (1544) , with an increased prevalence of up to 70 percent in women who experience chronic pelvic pain. However, numbers of women remain asymptomatic, causing a large rate of undiagnosed cases. Cohn interviewed Orbach who said that funding is critical.

“We know the lesions are inflammatory, [but] to understand how it systemically affects the body - we can then educate. We can pick up these patients right away so they don’t have these systemic longstanding, decade-long diagnoses,” said Orbach. “But, we still need to have an infrastructure for those who have

been suffering for a decade or two decades. The way my brain works is if I can understand where something comes from, then I can create a whole path forward to prevent this holistic, systemic disease, but we need funding,

we need money.”

Orbach’s approach is what she calls a head to toe perspective.

The documentary will premiere on PBSin the United States, on March 29 at 10 PM EST. WI

5 “Below the Belt,” shares the stories of physicians and women across the nation lobbying for greater research and funding for endometriosis. (Courtesy Photo)

EARTH OUR

Legislators and Green Groups Gather to Honor Late Congressman Donald McEachin

By Kayla Benjamin Climate & Environment Reporter

The last time Virginia Congresswoman-elect Jennifer McClellan (D) saw Rep. Donald McEachin (D) before his passing, it was for the unveiling of a new solar project, McClellan told the crowd at a tribute event for the late representative near the Hill on Tuesday. McEachin, a longtime public servant who died in November, spent much of his time in public office fighting for environmental and climate justice.

“He understood the importance of

environmental justice when no other members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus or the Congressional Black Caucus were talking about the environment,” McClellan said. “If he saw someone being discriminated against, if he saw injustice in any form, if he saw communities being marginalized—he would roar like a lion.”

Just a few weeks ago on Feb. 21, McClellan won a special election to succeed McEachin as a representative for Virginia’s 4th district, which includes Richmond. When she gets sworn in, the congresswoman-elect will become the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress.

5 Congresswoman-elect Jennifer McClellan pays tribute to her predecessor, the late Rep. Donald McEachin, at an event honoring McEachin’s environmental justice legacy held near Capitol Hill on Tuesday. (Anthony Tilghmann/ The Washington Informer)

McClellan spoke alongside Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D- Delaware), who served with McEachin on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Both women shared personal stories of their friend and political ally during the hour-long event, as did other leaders from environmental

Moore’s Nominee for Public Service Commissioner Withdraws After Pushback

By Kayla Benjamin Climate & Environment Reporter

Public Service Commissions, or small groups of appointed officials tasked with regulating states’ utility companies, rarely cross people’s minds. In recent years, though, environmental leaders have begun paying closer attention to the little-known regulatory bodies. That’s because they regulate both electricity and gas companies—both of which are crucial actors in any plans to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.

That’s why, when Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) announced his nominee for a new Public Service Commissioner, environmental groups quickly expressed concern. The nominee, Juan Alvarado, had spent more than a decade in various staff roles at the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). Currently, though, he serves as the senior director of energy analysis for the American Gas Association.

On Feb. 28, one day after the Washington Post published a story headlined “Maryland governor taps gas industry official to help regulate gas industry,” Moore’s office announced that Alvarado had withdrawn himself

Org and the Environmental Defense Fund—donated $3,000 to McEachin’s alma mater, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University in Richmond.

“The Black church is here today to honor one of our own: an ordained minister who loved the church, he had a theology that was not about pie in the sky, but about clean air and clean water here on a divinely ordered planet,” Carroll said.

During the event, two Virginia environmental activists also won the first-ever “Donald McEachin, Dream.Org Climate Action Award,” for their work opposing two power plants in their community. La’Veesha Allen Rollins and Rev. Wayne Henley, who helped found the group C5-Concerned Citizens of Charles City County, received the award and $2,500 each.

In addition to honoring McEachin, speakers at the event pushed for further action on climate and environmental justice issues.

groups, such as Black Millennials

4 Flint’s LaTricea Adams and Dr. Rev. Ambrose Carroll of Green the Church.

Many speakers focused on faith and its impact on McEachin’s work. At his family’s request, the event’s hosts— Climate Action Campaign, Dream.

from consideration.

“I think everybody was surprised by the nomination,” said Doug Siglin, an organizer with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network who has worked on successful campaigns in Montgomery County and D.C. aimed at phasing out gas infrastructure in new buildings.

“Clearly, given Maryland’s very aggressive climate goals, [such as] carbon neutrality by 2045, it just didn't make sense to have someone who was an employee at the American Gas Association in that key position at the Public Service Commission,” Siglin said.

It’s unclear who the governor might nominate instead, or when that announcement might come out.

The District’s PSC has also come under scrutiny from local climate groups, such as Extinction Rebellion D.C. and the D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club. The commission has so far greenlit the first two phases of Washington Gas’ 40-year, multi-billion dollar

“I think what Donald McEachin would say is that all of us have a responsibility to stay strong,” said the Delaware congresswoman. “Because the fight is not over to protect this planet. The fight is not over to get clean air and clean drinking water in areas that deserve it in our environmental justice communities.” WI

pipe replacement initiative, which climate advocates say only cements infrastructure that will make it impossible for the city to meet its stated climate goal of net-zero emissions by 2045.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) most recent pick for the District’s PSC, Ted Trabue, joined the commission in December. He received support from the D.C. Sierra Club, which pointed out the “deep background in energy efficiency and building decarbonization” Trabue gained as head of the D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility.

When asked about Moore’s nomination of Alvarado, Trabue described it as an "unforced error." He cites helping D.C. meet its climate goals as one of his top priorities as a commissioner.

“The first thing Mayor Bowser said when I sat down in her office was ‘what are the environmental groups going to say?’” said Trabue. “You do need their support. That wasn’t always the case, but it is now.”

WI

3 After concerns from environmental groups when Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) (pictured) tapped Juan Alvarado to lead the state’s Public Service Commission, the nominee withdrew himself from consideration. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

How JPMorgan’s Head of Advancing Black Pathways Celebrated Black History Month

Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

A Q&A with Byna Elliott

Last month we sat down with Byna Elliott, global head of Advancing Black Pathways at JPMorgan Chase, to discuss what Black History Month means to her, how the firm is advancing racial equity and Elliott’s goals are for 2023.

1) What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month is just that – a celebration and recognition of the reach, depth, and richness of the Black community’s global history – as well as its connection and intersection across others. I celebrated by participating in events uplifting that history and recognizing the changemakers among the community.

2) How is JPMorgan Chase making an impact to advance racial equity?

Diversity, equality and inclusion have been an important part of the culture at JPMorgan Chase and we wanted to take a look at what else we can be doing. While our work to advance racial equity has been longstanding, in October 2020, we made a $30 billion, five-year commitment to advance racial equity that took a look at additional ways to address affordable housing, small business, financial health, among other critical financial needs within unbanked and underbanked communities.

We’ve opened 14 Community Center branches across the country including, Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.

These branches feature locally-inspired art and built with extra space to host free community events and financial health workshops – across the country and hired nearly 150 Community Managers who connect community members with the resources we’ve created to provide free financial health education, first-time homebuyer education, and many other resources.

We also have a dedicated team of certified Senior Business Consultants around the country who provide free one-on-one coaching and advice to local Black, Hispanic, Latino and underbanked small business owners on everything from boosting creditworthiness to managing cash flow to effective marketing. Additionally, Chase Home Lending Advisors are available across the U.S. – whether you want to click, call, or visit inbranch – to help you prepare for homeownership, including identifying the right financing solutions and any down payment/housing assistance available.

3) How should other companies and individuals be thinking about advancing racial equity?

We all can make an effort to help advance racial equity within our community – including by investing in or shopping with local diverse-owned businesses, supporting philanthropic efforts in our commu-

nity, and participating in community events.

Consider looking for diverse initiatives and business resource groups within your company that focus on supporting underserved or underrepresented communities and asking if there are opportunities to support those initiatives or groups. For instance, JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways initiative works to support the economic empowerment of the Black community globally. Through our Global Supplier Diversity program, we’re using our purchasing power to build economic equity in diverse communities, foster the success of underrepresented busi-

ness owners, and promote equity, inclusion and sustainability across the wider business community. We also have initiatives focused on other communities, and business resource groups that share our company commitment to equity and equality and create opportunities for employees to be engaged.

4) What are your goals for this year, and/or, what are you looking forward to in 2023?

I’m looking forward to building upon the success of Advancing

Black Pathways, including taking our learnings since the initiative launched in 2019 and applying them to our work in communities globally. Last year, we added team members in Latin America and in the U.K., and I’m excited to work with them to ultimately support the economic development of communities in the respective regions. I’m also excited about continuing to reach as many people as we can with the resources and information created by JPMorgan Chase to support their overall financial health and dreams for the

Combating the racial wealth divide

JPMorgan Chase is building on our investments in Washington, D.C. and around the country to help close the racial wealth gap and build a more equitable future.

As part of our commitment, we are taking actions to help improve financial health and access to banking in Black, Latino and Hispanic communities. Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

EDUCATION

School Resources Officers Reemerge as a Polarizing Topic Some Councilmembers, Principals Demand Reversal of SRO Reduction

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

D.C. Councilmembers Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7), Trayon White (D-Ward 8) and Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) along with Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) recently introduced legislation that, if passed, halts and reverses a program that phases school resource officers out of District public and public charter schools.

This move follows a youth-centered D.C. Council hearing that White and Pinto hosted at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center in Southeast where some young people requested an on-campus police presence that was more in touch with the student community.

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and subsequent social justice protests that erupted across the country, the D.C. Council unanimously passed legislation incrementally phasing out school resource officer programs. Some of them, including Gray and White, have since changed course, at times

speaking about situations that their constituents encounter.

Gray said he introduced this legislation in response to public school and public charter school principals who have, in recent weeks, expressed concern about low staffing and their ability to mitigate conflicts between students that often turn violent.

However, some people, including Samantha Davis, have expressed a desire for more investment in the social services and other resources that address the root causes of youth violence.

"When it comes to addressing what happens in this city, people aren't committed to the public health part," said Davis, executive director of Black Swan Academy and a member of the Police Reform Commission whose recommendations included the gradual removal of school resource officers.

Over the next few weeks, Davis has her sights set on engaging parents, young people and the other nine council members about the merits of removing school resource

officers and what that means in the grand scheme of violence reduction.

"The shift from criminalizing youth to a public health approach means radically investing in social workers, teachers, librarians and counselors," Davis said. "The mayor and some on council are holding on to outdated and poor policy making that's reliant on policing."

PRINCIPALS OFFER AN ON-THE-GROUND PERSPECTIVE

Earlier this year, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) met with public school and public charter school principals, many of whom said their schools have gone into disarray since school resource officers have been removed.

Shortly after that meeting, she revealed plans to factor the reversal of the school resource officers' removal

in her budget proposal, scheduled to be released on March 22.

During a March 1 Committee of the Whole oversight hearing, representatives of IDEA Public Charter School in Northeast and KIPP DC Legacy Preparatory Public Charter School in Southeast, along with other schools, identified teacher retention and campus safety as two issues of concern.

Patrice Billups, principal of KIPP DC Legacy College Preparatory, said that the reduction in school resource officers left a vacuum in an on-the-ground violence mitigation strategy that has proven successful in the past. She called for a restoration of school resource officers to the levels seen during the 20212022 school year.

“School resource officers help students get to and from school, and serve as liaisons [between KIPP Legacy and Safe Passage workers]. They are also a much-needed connection between KIPP and other schools [in the area],” Billups said. “The phased reduction is making it hard for schools to keep students safe. There has been no substitute [and] school resource officers have training that police officers responding [to violence] don’t necessarily have.”

COUNCILMEMBERS REQUEST A SOLID UNDERSTANDING ABOUT SROS

On Monday, Mendelson echoed

Billups’ sentiments. In expressing his support for Gray's legislation, Mendelson said that those who've advocated for the removal of school resource officers have erroneously equated them with officers of the Metropolitan Police Department.

"There is a misunderstanding that school resource officers are there to arrest students," Mendelson said "They are valuable eyes and ears. They made a few arrests last year. From the standpoint of training, they are not the same as police officers."

White, who attended a vigil and funeral for teenagers over the last week, said that youth violence isn’t a cut-and-dry issue. In expressing why he co-sponsored Gray’s bill, White reflected on the testimony provided by Billups and cited the testimony of the youth who participated in the hearing he and Pinto conducted at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center.

That input, White told The Informer, showed him that addressing violence on school campuses requires a bevy of solutions.

“I would say young people want school resource officers,” White said. “We also need to have community members there. It’s not either, or, it’s both. We have to get wraparound services to deal with the trauma. Violence is escalating in the city. We are at a 20-year high.”

WI @SamPKCollins

5 The first line of security at most high schools in the District of Columbia are metal detectors and screening devices staffed by school resource officers. (WI File Photo/Shevry Lassiter)

Community Weighs in on Importance of a Duke Ellington Education

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

In the beginning of March, Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) principal Sandi Logan and The Ellington Fund, which is DESA’s charitable arm, hosted “The Ellington Experience,” a showcase of performances from students representing all eight of DESA’s art departments.

“The Ellington Experience” took place weeks after community members led a protest at the John A. Wilson Building in Northwest. The group gathered in opposition to an ongoing process that determines the conditions under which DESA will cede control of its affairs to DC Public Schools (DCPS).

Though she didn’t attend the protest, DESA community member Nana Malaya Rucker-Oparabe has espoused her support for DESA students, teachers and staff members. For her, the battle between DESA and DCPS brought to mind situations that leaders of successful majority-Black institutions often face after accumulating much success.

In the years since the death of DESA founder Peggy Cooper Cafritz, DESA community members have expressed concerns similar to Rucker-Oparabea’s about DCPS’ attempts to dismantle elements of the dual-curriculum program that has resulted in high attendance and graduation rates, and jump-started the careers of numerous alumni.

After failing to reach a consensus last year, DCPS and the DESA board known as the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project (DESAP) submitted proposals

about the updated terms of DCPS and DESA's relationship. Points of contention at that time included whether DCPS could support a funding model that covers arts faculty, administration, non-personnel spending and cost-of-living increases. DESAP also had questions about how DCPS could ensure equitable pay and predictable raises for teachers, regardless of certification.

Last month, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said that negotiations are scheduled to wrap up by May. Despite assurances that DESA will maintain the quality of its programming under DCPS control, Rucker-Oparabea and others say they plan to continue organizing around the maintenance of DESA’s autonomy.

Rucker-Oparabea, a lifelong artist known to many as “The Dancing Diplomat,” credits DESA for providing her children, Lamman Rucker and M’Balia Rucker, with the technical skills and resolve needed to excel in their careers.

Upon graduating from DESA in the 1990s, Lamman entered the film industry, accumulating numerous acting credits on films and television shows, including OWN’s Greenleaf. Meanwhile, M’Balia followed in her mother’s footsteps, carving out her niche in liturgical dance and modern dance.

Years after her children left DESA, Rucker-Oparabea briefly served as an instructor, counting among those including Stevie Wonder and the late Whitney Houston who conducted workshops at DESA. Nowadays, while out and about in the D.C. metropolitan area, Rucker-Oparabea of-

ten encounters DESA alumni who are working in theater, film and the arts.

Rucker-Oparabea said her affinity for DESA, and arts education in general, comes from what she has seen it do for young people. She recounted seeing the arts save lives, including that of her children and other DESA students who travel from all corners of the District to pursue their craft for several hours at a time under the watchful eye of experienced and talented instructors.

“It felt like my children were going to college,” Oparabea-Rucker said. “They had such a rigorous schedule and such discipline in the academics and arts. I knew they would do well in what they chose to do. People [at DESA] give their time and energy [when they visit] without any compensation. It’s for the love of the students. Some of these children who come from challenged communities in D.C. get out and pursue something. They are invested in what they want to learn.”

WI @SamPKCollins

5 Nana Malaya Rucker-Oparabea (r), a lifelong artist known to many as “The Dancing Diplomat,” credits DESA for providing her children, Lamman Rucker (center) and M’Balia Rucker (l), with the technical skills and resolve needed to excel in their career fields. (Courtesy Photo)

Flexible Scheduling for Teachers Emerges as a Budget Season Request

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Amid concerns about teacher burnout and students' wellbeing, administrators at Kramer Middle School in Southeast embraced what has been described as a flexible scheduling model.

Every Monday morning, students leave their classrooms to either participate in a town hall, engage in friendly athletic competitions, explore hydroponics and gardening in collaboration with the University of the District of Columbia, or visit District museums and landmarks.

Later in the day, students either leave school early or participate in extracurricular activities.

Meanwhile, as Rian Reed, a schoolwide enrichment teacher at Kramer explained, general education and special education teachers focus all of their attention on collaboratively addressing attendance issues.

While it has yet to be seen how the new scheduling model has affected teacher retention, Reed said no teachers have left so far this school year.

“In addition to participating in the town hall sessions, teachers had to go to meetings and professional development,” Reed said, as she explained a previous scheduling model that required teachers to concurrently balance several obligations.

“The rush of trying to push everything into a Monday was overwhelming," Reed said. "That’s why we shifted the model a little bit. It allows teachers more time to grade papers, do paper work and plan lessons uninterrupted.”

EMPOWERED DISCUSSES FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING

According to a survey conducted by local nonprofit EmpowerEd, 13% of District teachers work at a school that provides

some degree of scheduling flexibility. In the interim, District public and public charter schools have explored mid-winter break and the extension of holidays into four-day weekends as strategies in mitigating teacher and student burnout.

Leaders at EmpowerEd, which has been dedicated to tackling teacher retention, want to see what has been done in other workplaces replicated on school campuses. During a presentation in the latter part of February, EmpowerEd Executive Director Scott Goldstein called for a $10 million investment that would allow nearly 25 District schools to pilot flexible scheduling programs specific to needs of the school community.

Paul Kihn, D.C.’s deputy mayor of education and one of dozens who attended EmpowerEd’s presentation, didn’t specify whether D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) could fulfill EmpowerEd’s budgetary request. While he ac-

knowledged flexible scheduling has been a part of the conversation for years, he, as well as Goldstein, highlighted possible hurdles, including how to ensure students are able to fulfill the academic requirements set by the

Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Another concern, as indicated in the D.C. chief financial officer’s revised revenue estimates, involves how to, or even whether to, pilot flexible scheduling programs with so many priorities on the table.

Goldstein, and others who spoke at the EmpowerEd event called flexible scheduling a much-needed investment for teachers, and ultimately students. On the morning of Feb. 28, he made his case by showing data that designated Black female teachers over the age of 30 as flexible scheduling’s primary proponents.

Among teachers who were surveyed, flexible scheduling ranked among the top three factors in their decision to stay in the teaching profession.

Respondents described flexible scheduling as a way of tackling burnout and addressing conflicts that arise between demands of the job and familial obligations. The type of flexible scheduling that appealed to teachers involved them choosing their work hours during the week, or leaving school earlier.

In another popular scenario, administrators dedicate one day out of the week to enrichment

5 Administrators at Howard University Middle School Public Charter School put in place a bevy of scheduling changes for teachers, including four-day holiday weekends and early dismissals on Wednesdays for teacher self-care and differentiated professional development. (Photo by Marckell Williams)

8 Money Moves To Get Your Finances Ready For Homeownership

Marcia Griffin CEO/Founder HomeFree-USA  Homefreeusa.org

Buying a house can be an intimidating process – particularly if your finances aren’t right. But by taking the time to get your financial house in order, you’ll be ready to show any lender you’re on top of your game. Not sure what money moves you should make? Read on and take it step by step.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Financial education should be at the heart of any homebuying plan. Do you know what lenders are looking for from potential homebuyers? Do you know what credit score you need or how much money you should have in the bank? It’s ok if you don’t know -- you can’t be expected to know everything. That’s where a homebuying class comes in handy or how a Homebuying Advisor from a nonprofit homebuying organization like HomeFree-USA can be helpful. Once you know what lenders expect of you, you can make sure you meet those requirements.

SET YOURSELF UP TO GET FREE MONEY

Here’s another reason why you should work with a nonprofit organization like HomeFree-USA: they can let you know about programs that provide financial assistance to homebuyers. You also may qualify for financial assistance by taking a first-time homebuyer’s class. You may be able to get downpayment help or money to go toward your closing costs. Even if you’ve already saved enough money for a downpayment and closing costs, wouldn’t you rather keep that mon-

ey in your bank account or use it for something else?

FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CREDIT STANDS

Your credit score can make all the difference in whether your mortgage application is approved or denied. You can get a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also get copies of your credit score from the credit bureaus Experian, TransUnion or Equifax, or from MyFico.com. Your bank or credit card issuer may also allow you to monitor your credit score for free.

TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT

Once you know your credit score, you can put all of your energy toward improving it. There are a number of actions you can take that will make a difference. Among them:

• Make sure you pay all of your bills on time. Have your bill payments automatically deducted from your checking account if you have trouble remembering to pay.

• Check for mistakes. Sometimes there are mistakes on your credit report that cause your credit score to drop.

• Get help from a Homeownership Advisor. Contact HomeFree-USA and a Homeownership Advisor can help you come up with a plan to improve your credit.

FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO SAVE

Having savings in the bank can also come in handy when you’re buying a house. Even if you get downpayment assistance and don’t need a lot of cash to close, it’s helpful to have money in case something comes up that you

didn’t expect. Also, lenders like to see some cash reserves in your bank account so they know that you would be able to handle an emergency if one came up.

COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR YOUR DEBT

One of the best things you can do is eliminate as much debt as possible. If you have no debt, good for you. Try to keep it that way, at least until after you buy your house. If you do have some debt it’s ok. You may still be able to buy a house but you’ll be in a better financial situation the less debt you have.

ESTIMATE FUTURE EXPENSES

When you’re preparing to buy a house that’s also a good time to figure out how much you are likely to need each month when you’re a homeowner. For example, you’ll need to pay for homeowner’s insurance, utilities and maintenance. If the roof leaks or an

appliance breaks down you’ll need to pay for repairs. By anticipating your financial needs as a homeowner, you’ll be better equipped to face whatever expenses come your way.

KEEP YOUR FINANCES STABLE

When you know you’re on the path to homeownership, it’s a good idea to avoid running up huge debts. During the homeownership process, a lender will scrutinize your finances when determining whether to approve your loan. Some things you want to avoid

during the months leading up to your purchase if you can:

• Buying a car

• Changing jobs

• Running up a huge credit bill

• Applying for a new credit card

The homebuying process can be overwhelming but it can also run very smoothly. By making moves to get your finances ready for homeownership, you’ll put yourself on a solid foundation. Also know that you don’t have to do it alone. A HomeFree-USA Homeownership Advisor can help you come up with a plan that works perfectly for you.

– Melanie J.

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By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Happy Women’s History Month! Just as Black history is American history, women’s history, or “herstory,” for that matter, is key to history overall, our collective stories– “ourstory,” if you will.

...Informing you everyday in every way

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As we were planning this health supplement in March, covering Black women’s health was a natural fit. However, focusing on Black women’s health was more than a convenient way to uplift ladies in healthcare. Understanding and prioritizing Black women’s health is necessary in addressing challenges in the African American community.

I contend Black women are superheroes. While many live day in and day out as “strong Black women,” African American women face major health disparities.

As strong and resilient as Black women often are, between historic mistreatment of their bodies, environmental and social factors that detrimentally affect health, and racism in healthcare that persists today, Black women are being disproportionately affected at higher rates for diseases such as “anemia, cardiovascular disease and obesity,” according to “Health Equity Among Black Women in the United States,” a February 2021 study published in “Journal of Women’s Health.”

The journal, written by Juanita J. Chinn, Iman K. Martin and Nicole Redmond, notes Black women have shorter life expectancies and higher maternal mortality rates than other women in the United States.

“The higher burden of these chronic conditions reflects the structural inequities within and outside the health system that Black women experience throughout the life course,” the writers note. “The health inequities experienced by Black women are not merely a cross section of time or the result of a singular incident.”

Dr. Karenga Lemmons, who has worked as a physician for more than four decades, said with inequities in access to healthcare and other societal and structural challenges, Black women tend to face further overall challenges.

Often serving as givers versus receivers, Lemmons, who is also my cousin, said it is particularly imperative

that Black women prioritize their health in order to continue serving other people’s needs. Referencing Sophia A. Nelson’s 2022 book, “Be the One You Need: 21 Life Lessons I Learned While Taking Care of Everyone but Me,” Lemmons noted how unhealthy it can be when women don’t prioritize health first.

“Black women are often the providers, [but] it’s time to take care of your health,” Dr. Lemmons said. “As an individual, if you can’t take care of your health, you can’t take care of others.”

STRONG BLACK WOMAN VS. HEALTHY BLACK WOMAN

While “strong Black women,” should be celebrated, it’s also imperative that we emphasize the importance of “healthy Black women.” The strong Black woman stereotype, research shows, contributes to the implicit bias often seen in the medical industry when treating African American women patients.

“Research consistently has documented the continued impacts of systematic oppression, bias, and unequal treatment of Black women,” the journal notes.

Due to stereotypes, some doctors don’t always take African American women seriously.

“We also carry a lot of stigma as Black women. We’re too emotional, we’re overly aggressive and all these social factors go into how we are afraid to take care of our health,” said Lemmons.

In April 2021, my mother, the Rt. Reverend Paula Clark, experienced an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture in her cerebellum, causing bleeding in her brain. The AVM ruptured at a gym and though she was in a health crisis, she had to call emergency services herself, and her best friend, a Black woman physician in Chicago, had to insist doctors conduct imaging tests, which ultimately diagnosed the issue and saved her life. Initially doctors planned to send her packing with instructions to rest and eat.

My mother’s story isn’t isolated.

In the famous 1964 words of activist Fannie Lou Hamer, Black women are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” They deserve respect and just treatment when addressing health challenges.

It’s time to go beyond “strong Black women,” and help people appreciate the importance of “healthy Black women.” Prioritizing “healthy Black women,” will not only help in encouraging self-care and healthier living, but will offer wake up calls to practitioners who undermine Black wellness. Further, uplifting Black women’s health, by nature of womanhood, can put a stop to generational health challenges faced in African American communities.

WI

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

5 WI Managing Editor Micha Green considers the importance of Black women’s health. (Courtesy Photo)

Black Women Pioneers in Medicine: Stories of Perseverance

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

The first Black women to pursue careers in the health and medical professions often overcame great odds to become practitioners aiming to provide quality care for their patients who were often African Americans and the indigent.

Before the Civil War, Black women mainly served as informal, untrained medical caregivers whether working as domestics in the North and under their enslavers in the South. Formal medical training for African American women for the most part didn’t exist and they learned their trade from others. During the Civil War, some Black women nursed wounded Union soldiers.

After the Civil War, a small group of Black women decided to seek training to become licensed practitioners. Mary Eliza Mahoney, a Black woman from Dorchester, Massachusetts became the first Black woman to become a certified nurse, according to an article written by Latha Sushi Bhavani published in February 2021 by Auburn University. In 1879, she became the first African American to graduate from an American school of nursing, what is now known as the Dimock Community Health Center. Mahoney underwent a 16-month training program often working a 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. shift while attending classes and observing doctors performing their duties. After becoming certified she worked as a private care nurse.

A former nurse, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, has been recognized as the first Black female physician in the U.S., according to Dr. Lee Markel in a PBS.org piece, “Celebrating Rebecca Crumpler, first African American Woman Physician” in March 2016. Crumpler, a native of Massachusetts, attended a female prep school in the late 1840s. She moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts to work as a nurse in 1852. Crumpler applied to the New En -

gland Female College in 1860 and graduated in 1864 as its only Black graduate. The school closed in 1873. Crumpler practiced in Boston and post-Civil War Richmond. She lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood of New York City, but Markel said it isn’t clear whether she practiced medicine.

While there are no known images of her, Crumpler wrote a book, “A Book of Medical Discourses in Two Parts,” that was well-received for its commentary on Black maternal health. Crumpler begins the book with a dedication: “To mothers, nurses, and all who mitigate the afflictions of the human race. This book is prayerfully offered.”

The barrier-breaking Crumpler offered suggestions to approach motherhood, such as how to swaddle a baby.

“The face of an infant should never be covered when asleep, especially when in the bed with adults; it induces lung difficulties. The blood must pass through the heart and lungs, uninterrupted, day and night, in order to supply all parts of the body,” she said. I believe that all infants should be supplied with a light covering for the head day and night, until the hair grows out. The old style lace cap, for instance, deserves a conspicuous place among the relics of health preservers.”

When offering advice for a newborn’s first wash she said, “by using oil in the first cleaning, the temperature of the child’s body is not much changed.”

Ida Gray Nelson Rollins is known as the first Black female dentist in the nation, according to an Oregon Health & Science University article, “Women Who Inspire Us: Ida Gray Nelson Rollins.” Rollins was born in Tennessee in 1867 but moved with her family to Ohio. She worked in the dental office of Jonathan Taft as his assistant. When Taft became the first dean of the University of Michigan College of Dentistry, he was open to women coming into the profession and admitted Rollins. In 1890,

Rollins graduated from the dental school, becoming the first African American female to hold a doctorate of dental surgery in the country. She returned to Ohio to practice but moved with her husband to Chicago. Rollins resumed her practice in Chicago, where she died in 1953.

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@JamesWrightJr10

4 Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman physician in the U.S., wrote “A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts,” in 1883. (Courtesy Photo)

What You Put On Your Plate Matters: Three Small Changes To Create Lifelong Habits

By Rhonda Watson, Roots for Life Executive Director,  Amber Grant Winner for Female Entrepreneurs  info@roots-for-life.org

Most people want to have better eating habits, but sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. Change is hard but not impossible. Research tells us that it takes 66 days to create a habit on average. That means in a little more than two months, you can be on your way to a healthier, happier you.  Starting small and making additional adjustments along the way can turn new behaviors into lifelong habits.

At Roots for Life, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, our goal is to help you make incremental healthy changes by incorporating nutritious food into your day-to-day regimen. The more you know about nutrition, the better decisions you can make about your meals, the healthier you will be. On our website we share examples, instructions, and hands-on

opportunities to make changes easier to implement.

What you put on your plate matters. Your food  choices have long-term consequences on your health, and in fact eating more nutritiously can prevent many diet-related illnesses.

Choosing to be healthy is just that – a choice. While it’s not often viewed as the easiest, cheapest route, the fact is that eating better can be convenient and budget-friendly when you know what to look for and how to ease into it. Building balanced meals has ample benefits to your overall health. Not only does eating healthy keep you fuller longer, it also prevents spikes in your blood sugar and excessive weight gain.

Although changing the way you eat can sometimes feel intimidating, here are three ways to make it easier to get started:

1. Ask Yourself One Question During Each Meal

Roots for Life’s nutrition blogger, Kara Plyler, suggests you ask yourself one simple question at each meal:

How can I make this meal more balanced? What we know about diet and nutrition has evolved over the past 40 years. The good news is that the current rule of thumb for a balanced meal is as easy as it’s ever been: half of your plate should be filled with fruits or vegetables; proteins and whole grains should each take up a quarter of the remaining space. Try to add one or more healthy foods to each meal. Small adjustments at every meal can not only help your plate become more balanced, but it can also help turn these small changes into habitual practices. Plus, it’s delicious!

2. Focus On Your Macronutrients (Protein, Carbs, and Fat) Macronutrients are the cornerstone of your diet. In other words, these are the foods that comprise most of your daily nutrients and keep you healthy and fit. No healthy diet should exclude or seriously restrict any macronutrients. Instead, it’s important to choose the healthiest options for your wellbeing, many of which are easy on

your bank account, including:

• Carbohydrates: Starches including brown rice, whole wheat pasta; Veggies/greens including broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale,

• Protein: Beans, tuna, salmon, chicken breast

• Fat: Nuts, seeds, avocado, yogurt (including plant-based options)

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Spice It Up!

One key thing to remember: you should always enjoy your food! Using spices and seasonings according to your culture and taste preferences are major factors in turning a bland meal into a feast for the senses. If you’re like me, you’ve watched countless cooking shows and noted that chefs use salt generously in meal preparation. It’s important to note, however, that flavor enhancement does not have to come from salt. Health coach Dr.

Kelly Morgan states that all spices fall in the superfood category. Ginger and turmeric, for example, are two anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich spices that add heaps of flavor.

Gone are the days when all fat was considered bad and calorie counting was the peak of healthy living. Today, it’s about being intentional about your choices in creating healthy, balanced meals. If you can incorporate these three steps, you will not only create healthier lifelong habits, but your meals will be more nutritious - and delicious!

Visit our Roots for Life blog, which is packed with helpful tips and resources for creating and supporting a healthy lifestyle. Soon we will debut our video library of instructional cooking and gardening videos and other nutritional information. Let us know what you think!

Rhonda L. Watson, MPS, is the executive director of Roots for Life, a grassroots volunteer organization founded in 2017, and campaign manager for a leading national nonprofit focused on workplace giving. Rhonda was awarded the 2022 Amber Grant for Women Entrepreneurs by WomensNet. Connect with her by visiting https://www.roots-for-life.org/staff.

5 Roots for Life Executive Director, Rhonda Watson, and volunteers preparing to cook at the Markets & More Farmers’ Market.

By Stacy Brown WI Senior Staff Writer

Each year in the United States, about 700 people die during pregnancy or the year after.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), another 50,000 people each year have spontaneous labor and delivery outcomes with serious shortor long-term health consequences.

“Every pregnancy-related death is tragic, especially because two in three of them are preventable,” the CDC said.

In 2020, the CDC reported African American women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality with 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.9 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women and higher than the rate for Hispanic women. The 2020 report also showed the increase from 2019 to 2020 for non-Hispanic Black women was significant.

During Black Maternal Health Week (BHMW) in 2021, President Joseph Biden (D) acknowledged the issues affecting Black mothers.

“Vice President Harris and I are committed to pursuing systemic policies that provide comprehensive, holistic maternal healthcare that is free from bias and discrimination. The morbidity and mortality disparities that Black mothers face are not the results of isolated incidents,” Biden wrote in a proclamation on April 13, 2021. Our Nation must root out systemic racism everywhere it exists.”

Even tennis superstar Serena Williams described the undermining attitude of medical professionals when giving birth.

“I’ve suffered every injury imaginable, and I know my body,” Williams wrote in an essay for Elle Magazine. “Giving birth to my baby, it turned out, was a test for how loud and how often I would have to call out before I was finally heard.”

Williams recalled enjoying a “wonderful pregnancy” with her first child, Alexis Olympia, and even her epidural-free delivery had gone well – until it didn’t.

“By the next morning, the contractions were coming harder and faster. With each one, my baby’s heart rate plummeted. I was scared,” the 23-time Grand Slam winner wrote.

“Every time the baby’s heart rate dropped, the nurses would come in and tell me to turn onto my side. The baby’s heart rate would go back up, and everything seemed fine. Then, I’d have another contraction, and baby’s heart rate would drop again, but I’d turn over, and the rate would go back up, and so on and so forth.”

In an earlier report, the CDC noted significant disparities in the birthing experiences of Black women. The agency noted that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

The agency said that several things, such as differences in the quality of health care, long-term health problems, structural racism, and implicit bias causes these differences.

After an emergency cesarean, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis.

Afterward, she said she had to fight for her life.

Already classified as a high risk for blood clots, Williams inquired whether she should receive heparin, a blood thinner.

“The response was, ‘Well, we don’t really know if that’s what you need to be on right now,’” Williams wrote.

“No one was really listening to what I was saying.”

Despite excruciating pain, Williams continued to speak out to her healthcare providers. At one point, she felt paralyzed.

“I couldn’t move at all,” she re-

counted.

Aching and coughing to the point where her C-section stitches burst, Williams complained that she couldn’t breathe.

After four surgeries, doctors found a blood clot in one of her arteries, a hematoma in her abdomen, and other clots.

She said the nurse she had previously spoken with told her that the medicine was making her crazy. Had she gone along with the nurse’s assertions, Williams could have died.

“Being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me,” Williams asserted.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance, based in Atlanta, hosts Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) to combat challenges like Williams and others have faced. The weeklong campaign is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month and begins on April 11, which the United Nations recognizes as the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights. As part of BMHW, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which draws influence from the reproductive and birth justice movements, conducts activities to elevate the voices of “Black Mamas.” This year’s theme is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Autonomy and Joy!”

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MARCH 15, 2023 | 12:30PM TO 1:30PM HATTIE HOLMES SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER 324 KENNEDY STREET NW AND ONLINE WEBEX Join

adults aged 60 and above on mental health parity in the District. Hear from experts at DISB, the DC Department of B ehavioral Health, the DC B ehavioral Health Association, and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.

Learn

about:

X How to access mental health resources

X Mental Health

DISB.dc.gov/knowyourrights

5 Tennis star Serena Williams opened up about her challenges giving birth. Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality than their white counterparts.

Submitted by DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)

Opioid-related overdose deaths in the District have risen steadily in recent years and the pandemic exacerbated the problem, with lockdowns initially making it harder to access addiction services. In addition, a large portion of drugs — including heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine — are now being laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Last year, there were 427 opioid-related overdose deaths in the District. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 95% of those deaths included the presence of fentanyl.

DC’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and its community partners have announced the continued expansion of its naloxone distribution program and the launch of a new campaign to encourage treatment for those suffering from

Recovery Is Possible

addiction. Both initiatives are part of LIVE.LONG.DC. 2.0, the District’s strategic plan to reduce opioid use, misuse, and related deaths.

DBH makes naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid-related overdose, widely available and easy to get for free, without a prescription or ID required in pharmacies and at community sites. The program has grown from a handful of initial distribution sites to nearly 40 pharmacy locations and over 120 community organizations in all eight Wards.

In addition, in 2020, DBH launched a unique naloxone distribution service. By texting the words LiveLongDC to 888-811, District residents get a message back with a link to a map of the locations where they can pick up naloxone. Recently, an option for free home delivery and mail delivery was added to the service.

“Naloxone should be near at hand like any lifesaving medication. Family, friends, and others in

the community can use naloxone to save someone who is overdosing,” said Dr. Barbara J. Bazron, Director of the Department of Behavioral Health. “We want all District residents to be ready to save a life and carry naloxone.”

Recognizing that a substance use disorder is a disease and that users often must seek treatment multiple times as part of their recovery journey, DBH has launched a new public education campaign designed to encourage users to try again at treatment with the hope that “this time can be different.” The campaign highlights DBH’s comprehensive set of treatment supports, including:

• Free substance use disorder treatment, available seven days a week at sites across the District;

• Three medications (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone) proven effective at treating the disease of addiction;

• Enhanced care coordination so that individuals receive comprehen-

meth cocaine pills heroin

sive care;

• Peer counselors who have been there, and can support an individual through treatment and recovery; and

• Transportation, recovery housing and other support services.

“We need DC residents with substance use disorders to know that DBH has the services and supports to help them succeed,” said Bazron. “We know that treatment works, and recovery is possible.”

Information about the District’s recovery services is available online at MyRecoveryDC.org or by calling the 24-hour Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357 (7WE-HELP).

The Perfect Plate

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD Safeway Corporate Dietitian (@therecipedoctor and author of 25 books)

The Plate Method

“The Plate Method” is a simple, more visual way to help manage your blood sugars and control portion sizes. Start by filling half of your nineinch lunch or dinner plate with nonstarchy vegetables and a quarter each with starchy foods and protein-rich foods. No counting required! But here’s the catch: The starch section of your plate shouldn’t be much thicker than a deck of cards.

Let’s Do the Math:

One cup of most cooked whole grains and starchy foods, two slices of whole wheat bread or two, six inch tortillas each contribute around 25-35 grams of carbohydrates. The protein-rich lean meat or fish entree generally won’t add to this total but the half-a-plate of nonstarchy vegetables will add roughly 10 grams. In many cases, this will bring you to about 40 grams before

adding fruit or dairy. If your target meal is 45 grams, try saving your side of fruit or dairy for a snack.

What About Mixed Dishes?

Let’s be honest: Many of our favorite meals are mixed dishes. How do we use the plate method for these? For entrees like lasagna, about one cup will count as your meat and starch servings, according to the American Diabetes Association. For a hamburger, your whole wheat bun will count toward the starch section of your plate while your lean burger will count toward the protein section. The trick with mixed meals is to remember that each plate is made up of individual components, and these components contribute toward your overall daily intake of nutrients.

Balancing Act

Create a balanced, diabetes-friendly meal by including three of the following: Protein, nonstarchy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and fresh or frozen fruit.

Turkey Provolone Pesto Wrap

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

SERVINGS: 2

INGREDIENTS:

2 whole wheat flour tortillas

2 tablespoons basil pesto

3 ounces thinly sliced roasted turkey breast

4 thin slices 2% reduced fat provolone cheese

1 cup fresh baby spinach

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place tortillas on cutting board (microwave briefly if tortilla needs to be softened) and spread pesto evenly over the top of each. Place turkey breast evenly over pesto and top each with two slices of cheese down the center of the tortilla. Place spinach leaves evenly over the tops of the entire tortilla.

2. Roll up from the side without the cheese. Cut each in half and wrap in plastic wrap or serve with a toothpick to keep them rolled up.

3. Add a side of fruit to complete your plate.

Greek Yogurt Power Bowl

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

SERVINGS: 1

INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup non-fat, plain Greek yogurt

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon honey or 1. Teaspoons strawberry jam

½ banana, diced

1/3 cup fresh or frozen berries of choice

¼ cup whole grain granola of choice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add yogurt to a large, 1-serving bowl and stir in vanilla and honey or jam.

2. Top with diced banana and berries. If you are making this ahead, cover and keep in refrigerator until needed. Sprinkle granola over the top right before eating.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a seemingly healthy infant less than 1 year of age.1 SIDS is the most recognizable sudden, unexpected infant death (SUID) and has no known cause.2 For parents, not knowing what causes SIDS can be scary, but there are steps that you can take and factors to be aware of to reduce the chances of SIDS in your infant.

Factors That Increase the Risk of SIDS

SIDS is diagnosed after all other possible causes of death have been ruled out.3 There are several factors that can increase your baby’s risk for

SIDS. These factors include:1

• Sex.

Infant boys are slightly more likely to die from SIDS.

• Age.

Infants are most vulnerable to SIDS between two and four months.

• Family history.

Infants with siblings or cousins who passed away from SIDS are at a higher risk for SIDS.

• Premature birth.

Being born prematurely increases the likelihood that a baby’s brain has not matured completely, giving them less control over automatic processes, such as breathing and heart rate, increasing their risk for SIDS.

Creating a Safe Sleeping Environment for Your Baby

SIDS often takes place while the baby is asleep or in the area where the baby sleeps.4 About 3,500 infants die each year unexpectedly in their sleep, most of these deaths being due to SIDS.5 You can create a safe sleeping environment for your baby and reduce the chances of a sleep-related

death by:1,

• Placing your baby on their back for sleeping.

• Laying your baby on a firm, flat surface. A crib or bassinet with a firm surface is better for safe sleeping. A fluffy blanket or a soft mattress can block your baby’s airway.

• Placing your baby in their own crib for sleeping. It is recommended that you and your baby share a room at bedtime, however, their risk for SIDS increases if they sleep in the same bed as their parents or siblings.

• Making sure your baby’s sleeping environment is at a comfortable temperature. Overheating while sleeping can increase your baby’s risk for SIDS.

Other Prevention Methods

While there is no way to completely prevent SIDS, there are other methods that you can follow to lessen the chances of SIDS in your baby:6,7,8

• Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has many benefits when it comes to im-

proving the health of you and your baby. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding can reduce risks for SIDS by up to 64%.

• Pacifier use. Giving your baby a pacifier during naptime and bedtime may help reduce the risk of SIDS. However, you should not hang a pacifier around your baby’s neck or attach it to their clothes while they sleep.

• Staying smoke-free. Keeping your baby in a smoke-free environment reduces the risk of SIDS. This can mean limiting or quitting smoking altogether. Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of SIDS and other health problems. Mothers who smoke while they are pregnant also increase their baby’s risk for SIDS.

• Incorporate “tummy time.”

Giving your baby plenty of “tummy time,” or time spent lying on their stomach, is an important way to monitor your baby’s motor skills and movement. Supervised tummy time can help reduce the risk of SIDS and prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head.

The cause of SIDS remains unknown, which can create a frightening reality for parents and caregivers. If you are concerned about SIDS and its risks for your baby, contact your primary care physician about safe sleeping and other SIDS prevention methods.

Sources:

1. “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352800

2. “New Research on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),” Nationwide Children’s Hospital, https://www.nationwidechildrens. org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2022/08/new-sids-research

3. “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),” KidsHealth, https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ sids.html#:~:text=What%20Is%20

CONTINUED ON PAGE HS-11

For parents, not knowing what causes SIDS can be scary, but there are steps that you can take and factors to be aware of to reduce the chances of SIDS in your infant.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE HS-10

SIDS%3F,still%20called%20 %22crib%20death.%22

4. “About SUID and SIDS,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/sids/about/index.htm

5. “How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained,” Healthychildren.org, https://www.healthychildren.org/ English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/AParents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx

6. “Breastfeeding: AAP Policy Explained,” Healthychildren.org, https://www.healthychildren.org/ English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/ Pages/Where-We-Stand-Breastfeeding. aspx

7. “Pacifiers: Are They Good for Your Baby?” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/pacifiers/ art-20048140#:~:text=Sucking%20on%20a%20pacifier%20 might,reduce%20the%20risk%20 of%20SIDS%20.

8. “Ways to Reduce Baby’s Risk,” National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/ safesleepbasics/risk/reduce

All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

#BestMe Corner

Bright Start® and Maternal Care

AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) proudly offers special programs to ensure the health of enrollees, including our Bright Start program. Bright Start is a maternity care program designed to support you throughout your pregnancy and after you give birth. Bright Start is a safe place for you to ask questions and get the care you need for you and your baby.

Bright Start program members will be able to work with a Care Manager to help receive and use proper program services.

Bright Start can help you:

• Find an OB/GYN or midwife.

• Schedule transportation to and from your appointments.

• Get diapers, a car seat, a breast pump, and other supplies.

• Find breastfeeding support and childbirth classes.

• Create a birth plan.

• Sign up for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

• Find housing.

• Sign up for home-delivered meals and other nutrition programs.

To learn more about Bright Start, visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/member/eng/healthy-living/programs.aspx, or call 1-877-759-6883, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The

Washington Informer — We’re proud to support you

Bank of America has convened the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society and the University of Michigan School of Public Health for an innovative, signature initiative to improve health outcomes in communities of color. Since 2021, Bank of America has invested more than $66 million to address needs related to health in the communities it serves; addressing barriers to healthy eating and supporting mental health initiatives for people of color.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.

Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Families: A Q&A with Liz Jones of Greenwithin

By Kayla Benjamin Climate & Environment Writer

Liz Jones founded the nonprofit Greenwithin in 2020, to create sustainable food opportunities for underserved D.C. communities through local organic agriculture, plant based food and nutrition education. In 2021, the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund DMV selected her out of over 300 applicants to join the 10-person inaugural Black Justice Fellows cohort of local leaders.

The 34-year-old mother of two spoke with the Washington Informer’s Kayla Benjamin about her mission and why access to healthy, home-cooked food matters to her.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Kayla Benjamin: Tell me a little bit about what you do, and how you got into the food space.

Liz Jones: So, I’ve been cooking for the community since around 2014.

I started doing pop ups with vegan, plant-based food. And I started to realize that my demographic—they either just couldn’t afford the food or they didn’t see the importance in buying it. It wouldn’t be their first choice in a pop up. So I figured that there was just a lot of work that needed to be done on the education part. And it probably wouldn’t be smart for me to continue to charge people for food that they weren’t gonna buy. So in 2015, I kind of switched up my entire model and just started my nonprofit work, and I re-entered these spaces with free food that I will get the community, for the most part, to pay for. And over time, that just turned into me getting kind of out of the more for-profit spaces and just getting directly into the community. I started driving up and down, through Ward 8, with a whole bunch of my friends, just cooking every Sunday—delivering 200, 300 meals every weekend.

[We were] partnering with Elmira’s grocery store, over in Ward 8, partnering with local farms and farmers markets. And then in 2020, I was able to get my own farm [in Maryland]. So we’ve kind of been growing food for our community meals and trying to figure out really how

to just scale up that entire process.

KB: Why did you get into plant-based cooking to start with?

LJ: I grew up with my mom and my grandma, and my family’s from North Carolina. So I just always have been outside. I’ve always foraged, gardened—we had apple trees and just a bunch of stuff down on the land. I grew up in Takoma Park, and we’ve always gone to co-ops and cooked fresh stuff. And my mom’s family have a lot of Indigenous ancestry, and my mom got like the natural download of all healthy things. So she’s been like our shaman, you know, our holistic doctor. This has been my entire life. And so it really was getting back to that after kind of going to high school and just kind of falling off from what I know is right. And I’ve always been very aware of how food affects your mental and physical health.

After I had my kid, I think I realized that I can’t kind of BS it anymore. I was kind of the ‘unhealthy vegetarian’ that ate pizza and Chipotle all the time. And I was moving around a lot. I was living in New York, and when I came back to D.C. to have my kid, I moved back in with my grandmother. She was like my kitchen person—she taught me how to cook, how to navigate the kitchen, how to peel potatoes at like six years old.

KB: What, to you, defines healthy food?

LJ: I’m big on listening to my body. My mom has always just made us aware of how we’re energy beings—you’re introducing energy to your body in different ways. Every day you just have to be aware of how it impacts you. And so I started to notice, just how I would feel after eating certain things, how I feel after eating meals with my grandma that were really heavy.

I’m not into feeling guilty for eating anything, or restricting yourself. You know, it’s really about just figuring out what makes you feel good. You know what makes your skin glow. What gives you energy, what keeps your health in optimal shape.

And I feel like the earth just kind of tells you what’s healthy. We live in America where there’s a lot of fast, convenient type of stuff. But my grandmother cooked every day—we have

a huge family and she cooked every single day. I didn’t really grow up on fast food and didn’t grow up on TV dinners. We cooked fresh: we shucked corn in the kitchen, we snapped the ends off of string beans. So I would like to think that I was just lucky enough to never have broken my natural relationship with what is healthy. I feel like we are taught kind of the opposite of that—but I think we’ve just been kind of rooted in that as a family, and I’m very grateful for that.

KB: You mentioned an education component to your work. What barriers do you think people in the communities that you serve face when it comes to healthy cooking?

LJ: A lot of it is really generational. You see families that have just been making ends meet for generations. And it’s about accessibility—you can tell peo-

CONTINUED ON PAGE HS-14

5 Liz Jones (center), stands with volunteers and partners at a New Year’s celebration in front of Elmira’s Market, passing out free blackeyed Peas and greens. (Courtesy of Liz Jones)

Books about Black Women’s Body Image

By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

The last two apps you downloaded were for diets. Ugh.

Friends say that you’re perfect but you’d like to lose your flabby arms, your thick thighs, and a few inches from your belly. You imagine what you’d be like if you were a size 6. You wonder if you could wear skinny boots again. But before you download another app, read these books about Black women’s health and body image...

There are a few books out this year that encourage Black women to reclaim positive self-images about their bodies.

The following books, all by various authors, publishers and page counts, emphasize Black beauty from inside out.

“It’s Always Been Ours,” by eating disorder specialist Jessica Wilson (Go Hachette, $29.00), looks at the politics of Black women’s bodies. While you may know some of

the background, the true history of racism towards Black women, and the harm such negativity has done may still surprise you. Wilson also pulls in the works of novelists, friends, influencers, and others to get the best, most interesting look at the subject. If you want a call to action, this is it.

Along those lines, author Chrissy King says that body liberation is what Black women should strive for, and in “The Body Liberation Project” (Penguin Random House, $28.00), she also offers ways to achieve body freedom. What sets her book apart from the Wilson book is less history, more personal tales and thought-provoking question-pages to get readers thinking about how they’ve been thinking about their bodies. Again, there could be surprises in what you learn about yourself.

With these books, King and Wilson advocate for the individual as well as for all Black women and if it feels difficult to you

to pick between these two books, then don’t. Read them together or concurrently and you’ll be happier. But okay, you love your body. Your legs, your arms, your shoulders and hair and smile – so how do you keep all that gorgeousness healthy? You can start with “Black Women’s Wellness” by Melody T. McCloud, MD (Sounds True, $26.99) and learn. Indeed, even if you’re feeling well and looking great, this book explains how to keep yourself that way, starting with what looks healthy for a Black woman. From there, McCloud touches upon things like cancer, HIV, heart disease, and diabetes before moving on to reproductive health, sex, relationships, and mental health. It’s written in real language, and everything is in simple, easy-to-understand, authentic terms created for grown-ups.

Beware that “Black Women’s Wellness” isn’t a replacement for your doctor or clinic, but it’s a nice question-answerer and a good

launching point for knowing your body.

If these three books aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, be sure to ask your favorite librarian or bookseller. Admittedly, there aren’t a lot of modern, new books out there about body image for women of color, but a bookish person can help you find what you need. They’ll be able to put the book in your beautiful hands, your soft arms, for your gorgeous eyes.

There’s no app for that. WI

CONTINUED FROM PAGE HS-13

ple a lot, but when they go outside every day and there’s just like Chinese carry-outs and McDonald’s, even if you can provide that information, you lose it if you can’t use it.

It really comes down to just the mindsets in the households, the information that was passed down. How you witnessed your elders being able to eat, and your parents. Whether you have a mom that works every day and just can’t come home and cook, and if she just doesn’t know any better, or even if you do, just having access to be able to implement the things you learn.

I think the food culture in America genuinely does not revolve around being healthy, period. I think the ‘healthy food movement’ in America has become very capitalistic and gimmicky and unhealthy. There needs to be a wave of encouragement, to get people to even understand that it’s probably not your fault if you’re not eating healthy—and that you deserve to eat healthy.

KB: What are your top three tips for someone who says ‘I would like to get better about healthy cooking,’ either

for themselves or for their family?

LJ: I would say one, involve the whole family. Because the entire process of sitting down to plan a meal, going to the store to pick out the produce, taking it home, washing it, prepping it, cooking as a family, sitting down to eat—that’s a lot of time designated to something really positive and really healthy.

[Secondly], coming up with a few solid recipes that you just will take the time to get right, that you enjoy and you don’t mind eating a few times a week. People think that once you start eating healthy, it’s kind of limited, and in a way it may feel like that, especially if you’re trying to keep the cost low. Just making sure that you’re evolving the whole family, getting a few staple meals that you really just enjoy and can cook and prepare quality cooking you know quickly and easily [is important]. And also just kind of not being afraid to try new things. Your plate should just have a variety of colors. I try to get away from cans and stuff like that, just getting in the produce section, picking up new things. Buy new things that are seasonal and on sale.

Read the full interview on www. washingtoninformer.com. WI

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Ballou High School Needs To Be Renamed

The renaming of the Woodrow Wilson High School in Northwest’s Ward 3 to Jackson-Reed in 2022 reflects the growing sentiment in the District that its public elementary and secondary schools should be named after individuals who support diversity, inclusion and equality whether in education or other fields of endeavor. Wilson was a president who segregated federal workplaces based on race and harbored negative views of African Americans, whereas Edna Burke Jackson served as the first Black teacher at the school that partially bears her name and Vincent Reed worked there as its first African American principal.

The same process that took place for Jackson-Reed should be replicated for Frank W. Ballou High School in Southeast’s Ward 8. Ballou served as the superintendent of the District’s public schools from 1920 to 1943. He has been credited for building 60 new schools and raising teachers’ salaries. However, Ballou was known to support separate educational facilities for Blacks and whites. Plus, in 1939 Ballou denied famed African American singer Marian Anderson the chance to perform at Central High School, which was all-white, even though a few years earlier he approved her performing at Armstrong High School, which was all-Black. This is not the type of legacy Ballou High School students of today should be celebrating whether it is marching in Thanksgiving Day parades or receiving their diplomas.

While there was an effort to rename Ballou in honor of Marion S. Barry Jr.--who served as the District’s mayor and represented the ward on the board of education and in the D.C. Council-- that effort may have been replaced with plans to have Good Hope Road., SE bear his name. Noted late Ward 8 leaders such as Dr. Calvin Rolark, the founder of the Washington Informer or his wife, Council member Wilhelmina Rolark, activist James Bunn and child care leader Hannah Hawkins are some names that could replace Ballou’s name either singularly or in a combination. These Ward 8 residents supported civil and human rights and believed in fairness for all.

District residents, regardless of where they live, should communicate to the D.C. Board of Education, Ward 8 Council member Trayon White (D), and Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) that Ballou’s name should be removed. Whether the school’s name bears Barry, Rolark, Bunn, Hawkins singularly or in combination, they are better public service models for young people than a man who didn’t believe that Blacks and whites were equal. WI

What is the Soft Life and Why Black Women Are Embracing It

It’s Women’s History Month, and as the world celebrates groundbreaking women and womanhood overall – as it should– social media has offered a reminder to take a step back, relax and enjoy the moments.

Perhaps you’ve seen posts with a hashtag or reference to “soft life.” Many posts feature women living their best lives on vacation, treating themselves to baths, or even taking it easy at work, with the caption using the phrase “soft life.”

But what does soft life mean?

Women work hard. There’s a reason why barrier-breaking Grammy winner and superstar Beyoncé sang “Who run the world? Girls!”

While the respect for the grind is real, after the throws of the COVID-19 pandemic and years of watching hardworking women wear themselves thin, this generation is now introducing the idea of a soft life, where one intentionally works to avoid stress and embrace ease.

The idea of a soft life is easier said than done. I mean, how does one choose to live stress free with bills, babies, bosses, deadlines and more?

However, there’s something empowering in being conscious about how to react to and deal with life’s stress factors. It also can be uplifting when being deliberate about the decisions and activities that truly offer peace and joy.

Life be life-ing. Stress is inevitable, but there are little and big choices that can make a difference in how hard life hits when it punches– and how easy you fight back. Meditating, taking a long bath, going on that bucket list vacation, treating yourself to a solo date, or quitting that job that doesn’t serve you to pursue your dream business are all versions of the soft life.

Although it remains that there’s nothing like a “Strong Black Woman,” this March and forward, consider embracing aspects of the soft life. Make it a practice. You won’t regret it. WI

Valuable Tips

I really enjoy the Business Briefs section of the paper. It’s helpful and keeps the communities [aware] about tools, resources and opportunities available to us.

Linda Young Washington, D.C.

TO THE EDITOR

Be Prepared

I enjoyed the story about preparing for storms and knowing your flood risks. No one thinks it will happen to them until it does, and then they realize they don’t have flood protection or are in a flood zone. I’d encourage all from experience to do their due diligence in protecting their homes and possessions from the unpredictableness of Mother Nature.

Simeon Wells Washington, D.C.

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.

Guest Columnist

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Reregulation of Airlines Will Have Negative Impact on Travelers of Color

could enjoy.

Among the significant strides our country has made to create a more equitable society, air travel does not always come to mind. However, it was not long ago that air travel was only for the elite. Airfares were prohibitively expensive, and flying on commercial airlines was a privilege that almost exclusively upper-class, white Americans

Today, the vast majority of Americans from all income levels and walks of life are able to travel by air. According to an Ipsos survey, more than 90% of Americans have flown commercial in their lifetime — with 53% of Americans taking to the skies before the age of 16. It is hard to believe that only 50 years ago, fewer than half of Americans of all ages had experienced air travel.

What spurred this new reality of affordable airline fares and acces-

Guest Columnist

sibility? The answer is simple: the deregulation of the industry in the 1970s.

Today, there are some in the Biden administration and in Congress pushing to reregulate the airline industry — a decision that threatens to upend the progress our country has made to make air travel more accessible for all Americans.

In 1978, President Carter signed the bipartisan Airline Deregulation Act into law — ushering in a new age for air travel. This bill drove tremendous progress in improving the

accessibility of air travel, especially among low-income and diverse communities.

The bill introduced a free market in the commercial airline industry. Dozens of new airlines formed, and due to increased airline competition, more planes took to the skies every day, new routes were added, and fares plummeted, providing more and more passengers with the opportunity to take advantage of a fast and safe method of travel.

Today, two million passengers board planes across the U.S. every

day to visit friends, reunite with families, and meet with colleagues. These travelers are benefitting from an unprecedented amount of choice — more carriers to choose from, more flights and routes and varying ticket types that include more affordable options.

Two new carriers entered the market during the pandemic, offering new service to small communities and further spurring the fierce competition within the industry.

CHAVIS Page 53

Marc H. Morial

Crushing Student Loan Debt Hinders Black Homeownership, Feeds Racial Wealth Gap

“I woke up this morning with a lot on my mind, thinking about my own mother. And the history of Black Americans locked out of every major federal relief program from the Homestead Act to the GI Bill, targeted by redlining, denied the ability to build generational wealth because of policy violence, and so we borrow and default at higher rates. I woke up this morning, family, with

a lot on my mind. But when we start with the people, the policy is clear. The people demand and deserve student loan cancellation. Student loan debt cancellation will change and save lives.” — Rep.

American dream.

Ayanna Pressley

Homeownership is the primary driver of household wealth in the United States. It fosters educational achievement and civic participation, drives down crime rates and even improves health care outcomes. It remains, for good reason, a key component of the

Guest Columnist

Skyrocketing student debt is crushing the American dream and driving the racial wealth gap. President Biden's debt relief plan can restore the dream for millions of Americans, but the Supreme Court seems ready to snatch it away.

This week, six states asked the Court to permanently block the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness program — a program that will provide critical relief to over 40 million borrowers

most at risk of defaulting on their student loans when the repayment pause ends. In less than a month after the student debt relief application was available, 26 million people applied or were deemed automatically eligible for relief. The need and demand for this program has been undeniable. However, since the administration has been banned from implementing its program, the weight of student loan debt has continued to impact the lives of everyday Americans and has proven to have long-term

effects on other aspects of their lives including homeownership. When new graduates enter the workforce, some average $25,000 in student loan debt. Despite their qualifications, graduates often settle for lower-paying, lower-skill jobs just so they can start paying their loans right away. As a result, graduates in debt often miss out on the benefits that come with a degree. This is even truer for borrowers of color. Research from the

MORIAL Page 53

David W. Marshall

Will the Black Community Continue to Hold the Line?

the breaking point. I realized the broad implications and consequences behind his point.

A resident of Mississippi once told me that when it comes to his state, everything is about race. He described how his efforts toward voter engagement and turnout were often met with a sense of hopelessness. He talked about Blacks who had given up by concluding there was no need to vote because it didn't make a difference. He described people who had reached

The generational curses and suffering due to race are far worse in Mississippi than in states like Virginia or Maryland, also former slave states. Black people have always been people of hope despite the obstacles placed before us. Therefore, how a person responds to racial barriers will depend heavily upon the amount of hope, trust and expectations in democracy and the democratic process. The will to fight is gone if the hope is taken

away. Without hope, people will see no need to remain united and fight for what is rightfully theirs. Historically, slavery, Jim Crow and all forms of racial hatred and domestic terrorism were far worse in the Deep South. Mississippi has suffered an unfair amount of deep-seated racism resulting in current generations of Blacks having little or no hope. There will never be full American democracy until the famous words "We the People" becomes and remains all-inclusive.

When the Founders wrote the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, it

read, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic Tranquility (peace), provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity (children and grandchildren), do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The preamble represents a powerful introduction to the highest law of the land, but society's exclusionary actions often contradict the inclusive words of "We the People."

As Frederick Douglass noted about the Constitution, "its language is 'We the people,' not 'We the white people." He reminds us that people of all races have the right to claim every written word in the preamble. While slaves were considered property and not whole persons (Three-Fifth Clause), incremental steps of inclusion have been made toward citizenship and the rights of citizens. Those incremental steps, such as the 13th and 14th Amendments, the Civil

Guest Columnist

In Praise of Volunteers

The recent disgraceful derailment of the Norfolk Southern train in Palestine, Ohio, resulted from predatory capitalism on steroids. Railroads, given free land, have exploited the communities that journalist Robert Hennelly describes as "corridor communities" and endangered them with their unsafe practices. In the case of Palestine, while President

Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and others have visited the site of the carnage, the railroad's CEO, Alan Shaw, was late to visit and has avoided talking to the people who were affected by the derailment. People's property values have plummeted and, more importantly, their lives are imperiled by the toxic waste that has infected the air in Palestine.

An unexamined aspect of Palestine is how much that small (population of 4,700) community relies on volunteer firefighters. Bob

Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

Hennelly says that of 29,000 fire departments in the United States, the majority – 18,000 – are volunteer fire departments. Many do not have the proper equipment to protect their lungs in case of toxic spills like this one. Still, because they care about their communities, they continue to volunteer.

In many ways, volunteers are the backbone of civic life. One organization, SCLC Women (founded by civil rights icon Dr. Evelyn Lowery), is fully staffed by volunteers. The week of Bloody Sunday, the organization sponsors a civil

Svante Myrick

State Takeover Schemes Threaten Public Safety

Blue cities in red states, beware: conservatives in state government may be coming for your police department.

I's happening in Jackson, Mississippi, where state officials have a plan to stand up a new city police force that they would manage. And i's happening in St. Louis, Missouri, where an outstanding

young Black mayor — Tishaura Jones — is facing police unions and state legislators who want to wrest control of the police department from her. A state bill in the works would remove the city police force from city control and — you guessed it — put it under the control of a whiter, more conservative state government.

Full disclosure: I know Mayor Jones well, and I know she has been a reformer and a dedicated public servant her entire life. I know she is committed to improv-

Guest Columnist

ing policing and public safety in her city. Last year, her administration led a study that recommended numerous improvements including ending pretextual traffic stops and increasing unarmed responses. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence that the police unions and rightwing politicians are rebelling now. But what they are suggesting is not just an affront to Mayor Jones; life in politics is full of affronts. It is in fact deeply undemocratic, and indicative of profound problems. Police forces are supposed to

Jealous

Preserving Wildlife and a Way of Life

tion federal funding, we may finally have a chance to end the spiral toward extinction for all three.

rights bus tour (with four busses of youth) and exposes young people to the civil rights history that isn't taught in school. The board president, Patricia Ann Ford, notes that from their annual Drum Major Award to their programs for domestic violence victims, all services are provided by volunteers.

They aren't the only organization that depends on volunteers, but I lift them because, in this Women's History Month, the contribution that SCLC WOMEN (which stands for Women's Organizational Movement for

Equality Now) makes is critical. Whether in civil rights organizations, our libraries and schools, volunteer fire departments and environmental cleanup, or service to the homeless, and seniors, volunteers provide much-needed service that many organizations could not afford to pay for. Women are the majority of volunteers, and as more women have entered the labor force, with many juggling more than one job, the need for volunteers is acute. Yet

MALVEAUX Page 54

work for the people in the communities they serve. In this instance, those people elected Mayor Jones. To reject her leadership is to reject the judgment of the voters who chose it. Those voters chose a leader who ran on a progressive, reform platform: one that included decarceration, emphasizing unarmed responses to 911 calls, and working to better integrate police into the community — including incentives for them to actually livethere.

This last item is critical, be-

cause when officers do not live in the communities they serve, they become more like an occupying army. Often, racial disparities are a telltale sign of the mismatch. In St. Louis, as in many other large cities, the police force is far whiter than the city neighborhoods themselves.

And now the unions want out from under city control, and the bill that would accomplish that, Senate Bill 78, includes other

MYRICK Page 54

For decades, hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River have been killing off salmon that must traverse them to spawn, Southern Resident orcas that feed on salmon, and the cultures of tribal nations who consider the salmon their first food. Through an intersection of bipartisan interest that's unusual these days and once-in-a-genera-

Where millions of Chinook salmon would make the upstream journey from the Pacific to the Idaho habitat where they laid eggs before the dams were erected, in recent years that count has been in the thousands. The numbers are much worse for Coho and Sockeye salmon. Getting over the dams to the spawning grounds and back to the ocean has proven too much for fish who are able to travel a thou-

sand miles to spawn. The orcas have less to eat as a result and there were only 73 left last year. Not surprisingly, the dire situation exists in part because the dams were built ignoring the needs and the treaty rights of Indigenous people who consider the salmon sacred symbols of resilience and renewal. They have been fighting for the salmon with science and with litigation for years. Their treaties with the United States maintain their rights to fish in rivers of the Columbia Basin — a meaningless benefit

if there are no fish to harvest.

These species are endangered; we've spent more than $18 billion unsuccessfully over the years to bring back salmon populations alone with the dams in place. As a tribal leader told me last month, "the government agencies are managing our extinction." It's a story that's too familiar in so many communities that bear the brunt of choices that destroy the climate and pollute the planet from the cancer alley in Louisiana to hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico.

Those fighting for the salmon, the orcas, and the people who rely on the fish spiritually and economically got a new champion two years ago when Mike Simpson, the Republican Congressman who represents the eastern half of Idaho, unveiled a plan that includes breaching the four dams by removing the earthen berms that flank them to let the river run freely. He got a more favorable response from the Democratic governors in

JEALOUS Page 54

Ben

LIFESTYLE

‘Black Travel Across America’ Prepares You for Exciting Adventures

By Brenda Siler WI Contributing Writer

Martinique Lewis is an international travel maven. She has turned her love of travel and craving for cultural history into a business, building a following among travel enthusiasts. National Geographic Television took notice

and produced “Black Travel Across America,” a documentary currently airing on Hulu. Lewis has an ambitious goal at the top of her website.

“I have one mission, to change the face of tourism forever.”

The approach for this film was to go back to some of the cities listed in the “Negro Motorist

Green Book.” Published annually from 1936 to 1966, this was a must-have guidebook used by Black families and businesspeople listing hotels, rooming houses, and restaurants where Black trav-

elers were welcomed. Lewis and the leadership from National Geographic presented a screening of the documentary recently at Sixth and I in the Gallery Place/Chinatown area in D.C.

New York City, Kansas City, Missour, and Denver, Colorado are three cities where Lewis takes viewers. Though there is plenty of eating, the stops are more than checking out good restaurants. Lewis delves into the history of these locations. She talks to people who remember how Blacks used the Green Book.

“I’m thoroughly enthralled and entertained by what’s on the screen,” said William “Bill” Pinkney III, National Geographic producer, after the screening at Sixth & I. “It makes this much sweeter to get that level of education while you’re being entertained.”

One of the few places Blacks could stay in New York was the Hotel Theresa in Harlem. It was the place that hosted entertainers, politicians, and foreign leaders like Fidel Castro. Kansas City is the home of the Negro League Baseball Museum, which started in a one-room building, where players from the Negro League took turns paying the monthly rent for the space. The museum is now a sprawling, multi-room facility that properly honors pioneer Black baseball

players. Denver, Co. is close to Lewis’ heart because that is where her grandparents were from. Bennie Hooper was Lewis’ great uncle.

“He was a successful businessman and the unofficial mayor of the Five Points, a predominantly African American community in Denver,” Lewis said. “My great uncle was one of the many African Americans who quelled the myth that the wild west was entirely populated by a White population.”

Lewis’ international travel credentials have led her to become president of the Black Travel Alliance. She is also the creator of “The ABC Travel Greenbook,” regarded as the number one resource connecting travelers globally to the African Diaspora.

Since only three cities were featured in “Black Travel Across America,” there is room for this documentary to turn into a series. The blend of history with creating a new legacy of success is great viewing. The Sixth & I audience and the National Geographic team agreed.

To learn more about Lewis and her travel tips, visit her website at https://www.martysandiego.com

See a preview of “Black Travel Across America,” WI @bcscomm

5 Martinique Lewis, an international travel and diversity consultant is host of National Geographic’s “Black Travel in America,” now airing on Hulu. (Courtesy Photo/ Martinique Lewis)

“I have one mission, to change the face of tourism forever.”

Derrick Adams Takes on Gagosian, Globally

By Andrew S. Jacobson

Widely celebrated as one of the most influential and important living artists, icon Derrick Adams has signed a blockbuster worldwide agreement for representation by Gagosian Gallery. What does this mean?

Derrick Adams is one of the most celebrated living artists. He has works which have been acquired by numerous museums, including the Museum of Modern Art.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Adams attended the Pratt Institute and subsequently earned his Masters in Fine Arts from Columbia University. Presently, Adams creates globally lauded works of “Black joy.” His work focuses on imagery of Black culture and his practice is multi-disciplinary. Even with his busy schedule, Adams continues to teach at Brooklyn College.

Lawrence “Larry” Gagosian is the most significant force in contemporary art sales. His gallery, Gagosian Gallery, has sold billions of dollars worth of art across its 16 global locations. During the early 1980s, Gagosian represented Jean-Michel Basquiat at his Los Angeles gallery. He continued to represent the painter until his death in 1988.

The significance of this move, by Adams, is the transcendence of his iconicism.

“The move to a more established gallery allows for the time and space needed to focus solely on my art making,” said Adams. WI

5 Derrick Adams has signed a blockbuster agreement for representation by Gagosian Gallery. (Courtesy Photo/ Derrick Adams)

Three Rap Legends Set for D.C.’s Hip-Hop Museum's Grand Opening

CL Smooth, Special Ed, and Dres of Black Sheep Honored

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

This Saturday, March 11, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., the National Hip-Hop Museum, 1919 18th Street Northwest, will hold its “Grand Induction Ceremony x Grand Opening Event,” honoring legendary emcees CL Smooth, Special Ed, and Dres of Black Sheep.

The event will kick off at 4 p.m. with a live broadcast of "Master Gee’s Theatre," the museum’s executive director’s weekly SiriusXM Show, where guests will reminisce about the legendary emcees they grew up listening to.

Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio plans to read a proclamation at Mayor Muriel Bowser’s request.

“We felt like we would comple-

ment what was going on in New York down here in the DMV,” said Master Gee whose real name is Guy O’Brien.

Gee counts as one of the three members of the hip-hop trailblazer group, The Sugar Hill Gang, whose seminal hit “Rapper’s Delight” was the genre’s first hit.

“We had to put something in effect that would last over generations,” Gee said during an appearance on the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s morning news broadcast, Let It Be Known.

“Because we are the first commercially successful hip-hop group in the world, it made sense from a business standpoint for me to put those skills and abilities towards preserving the legacy of what we’re doing,” he stated. WI

@StacyBrownMedia

George “Ty” Simpson: Breaking Barriers with Ultimate Disc

By Andrew S. Jacobson

George “Ty” Simpson is a native Washingtonian ex-politico turned entrepreneur. He flies under the radar because he prefers it.

“It’s not time for me to be in the spotlight,” said Simpson, who rarely acknowledges his personal contribution to the incredible success of his 20-year-old company, Spectrum Management, which provides facility management, operations and maintenance, and real estate development services.

“I give all the credit to my employees. They are the backbone to our successes,” said the “ultimate,” entrepreneur.

The lowkey businessman is also owner of the DC Breeze, the nation’s most diverse Ultimate Disc team, which is part of the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL), a profes-

sional ultimate frisbee league based in North America.

The league was founded in 2012 and currently has 22 teams across the United States and two in Canada. The AUDL has implemented policies and programs to increase representation and accessibility for underrepresented communities, and the DC Breeze has followed suit.

The team’s original owner, Aaron Foreman, is an African American native Washingtonian that purchased the team from Craig’sList. His vision to have a D.C. based Ultimate team, in a predominantly white sport, made him the trendsetter. With the addition of two partners, Don Grage and Kellen Furness, they managed and developed the team for 10 years. Foreman asked Simpson to join the team in 2017.

Simpson had two main goals: 1) win a championship and 2) devel-

op District youth teams in Wards, 5,6,7,and 8. With the help of Rowan McDonald, 2018 AUDL MVP, they set out to create teams and host camps in Barry Farms, Fort Stanton and Turkey Thicket.

In 2020, the Breeze became the first AUDL team to hire a full-time African American head coach, Darryl Stanley, and the team regularly participates in club ultimate events to promote inclusion. While the AUDL, as a whole, has made strides towards diversity and inclusion, the DC Breeze stands out as a leader in promoting these values within the league.

“When the team started, players were carpooling and eating peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches,” he exclaimed. Now, DC Breeze has luxury bus transportation contracts, they fly to Boston, Toronto and Montreal and meals are ordered, compliments of the organization. The team has their eyes on a championship.

“We want to win a championship and treat our players as professional athletes,” Simpson proclaimed, as the team has lost three divisional finals in a five year span – one COVID year. “As a former athlete, the only thing I want to do is win vicariously through my team by putting them in the best position to execute,” Simpson continued.

The Breeze plays at Carlini Field at The Catholic University of America. With the new addition of two top 20 AUDL players, a top international player from the Netherlands, and Simpson’s ethos, the sport can poten-

tially attract a larger audience while transcending racial stereotypes.

“You don’t typically think of ultimate as a ‘Black’ sport, but it has the lowest barrier to entry. Girls and boys share the same athletic opportunity. All you need is a disc and space,” Simpson stated.

With ultimate only requiring the disc and a field, the sport can quickly gain popularity without barriers to entry, such as league fees and accessibility issues that sports such as soccer and basketball face.

Moreover, Simpson approaches ultimate frisbee, applying the same attitude he has in business.

“People don’t think about the

trades as being attractive, but if I can get to a young person and teach them HVAC mechanics, you can make $100,000 a year without taking any college,” Simpson exclaimed.

When 2018 MVP McDonald held a middle school youth tournament in 2020, Simpson said he was impressed by the young athletes’ skills. The owner is excited to continue such collaborations with local youth, applying the same model he has used in business to offer opportunities to young athletes.

“When we brought some kids out from the D.C. Department of Recreation, the athleticism was out of control,” he said. WI

5 George “Ty” Simpson is an owner of the DC Breeze, the District’s professional ultimate frisbee league. (Courtesy Photo)

Erica Elizabeth Carter

5/12/68 - 3/08/18

When God took Erica, he said don't worry or have pain she is here in heaven with everything to gain!!!

We Miss You - From The Family

NEA Jazz Masters Celebration Returns to DC

By Brenda Siler WI Contributing Writer

Four giants in jazz will be honored with the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters Fellowship in a series of free events in Washington, D.C., from March 30-April 1. This year’s honorees are violinist and educator Regina Carter, saxophonist, composer, arranger and bandleader Kenny Garrett, and drummer and bandleader Louis Hayes. Sue Mingus, who wore many hats in jazz, will be honored posthumously with the “A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy,” for her career as an author, archivist, band manager, educator, musical director, and record producer. Mingus was always a champion of her late husband’s legacy, bassist Charles Mingus, a jazz legend.

The highlight of this annual celebration of jazz will be a tribute concert on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 7:30

p.m. ET at the Kennedy Center. The concert will be live-streamed on a multitude of websites and radio stations.

Since 2020, all NEA Jazz Masters have been held through a combination of virtual and in-person events in San Francisco, California.

Leading up to the 2023 concert in D.C., will be a master class conducted by Garrett with Howard University student musicians on the campus on Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 12:30–2:00 p.m.

NPR will host an NEA Jazz Masters listening party on Saturday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. The event, hosted by NPR’s Felix Contreras, will include conversations with and about the 2023 NEA Jazz Masters, sharing the honorees’ music and life stories.

These events are free, but tickets must be ordered in advance. See details about the 2023 NEA Jazz Masters activities on the NEA website https://www.arts.gov. WI

@bcscomm

SCHEDULING from Page 26

and collaboration between new and veteran teachers. During his presentation, Goldstein highlighted these options in addition to others including two half-days a month, later start times for high school students and the inclusion of out-of-school time programming and high-impact tutoring that would better allow for flexible scheduling.

HU MIDDLE SCHOOL PCS RESPONDS TO TEACHERS’ DEMANDS

On Feb. 28, Kihn, along with Reed, Duke Ellington School of the Arts student April Kilpatrick, Howard University Middle School Public Charter School Ex-

ecutive Director Kathryn Procope, along with others, weighed in on the benefits of flexible scheduling.

Procope called flexible scheduling a matter of meeting teachers' needs so that they would be better able to help students who are still transitioning back to in-person learning.

Upon Howard University Middle School’s full return to in-person learning during the 2022-2023 school year, the DC Public School Charter Board denied Procope's appeal for one virtual learning day per week.

Procope recalled teachers, disappointed they would no longer enjoy the benefits of working from home, leaving the school soon after.

She said that inspired administrators to put in place a bevy of

changes, including four-day holiday weekends and early dismissals on Wednesdays for teacher selfcare and differentiated professional development.

For Procope, taking the lead on flexible scheduling required bold thinking and empathy toward teachers who are on the front lines.

“We had to think about the kinds of things that would support people’s lives and allow them to be effective educators," Procope said. "We managed the 180 days and found things we could do within the system to give teachers some of their time and make sure they had control. In education, people feel like they don’t have control so we wanted to give that back to them.”

WI @SamPKCollins

NOW THROUGH APRIL 9

5 The 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship will be awarded to Regina Carter, Kenny Garrett and Louis Hayes. Sue Mingus will be honored posthumously with the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy. (Courtesy photo /NEA)

In 1853, Japan faces an American expedition to force the isolationist country to open in Stephen Sondheim’s innovative musical

It’s Wait and See On Developing an Arts District in Anacostia

By Brenda Siler WI Contributing Writer

Last July, nearly $4 million from the D.C. government was allocated to the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) to develop the Anacostia Arts and Culture District. Recently, a discussion took place at THEARC in Southeast, D.C. about how those funds will be used and how the proposed arts entity will co-exist with gentrification. WAMU host Kojo Nnamdi moderated a panel of community, business and arts leaders to discuss these issues before a packed audience.

“Southeast, D.C. is a vibrant place for the arts, but the resources have not always matched the creative capital,” Nnamdi said in his opening statement for the event.

Panelists who participated were Kristina Noell, executive director of the Anacostia BID; Cora Masters Barry, community arts advocate and a commissioner on the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Jay Sun, a filmmaker,

musician and member of the Valley Place Arts Collaborative; and Mēlani N. Douglass, conceptual artist and founder of the Family Arts Museum.

Noell admitted that $4 million is not enough money to fund the planned arts district.

“I’m going to have to raise a lot more money,” Noell said. “I have the partners in this community and outside the community who will help figure it out.”

Several audience members made statements about ensuring the district has resources that will allow artists to remain and survive in Anacostia.

“To be a working artist is a convoluted process,” said Mia DuVall, a lead artist and muralist in D.C. “At the end of the day, it’s about the arts, and artists make art. What is the purpose if you are not here to support the artist community?”

A recording of the discussion is available on the WAMU website. https://bit.ly/KojoInOurCommunity_AnacostiaArts WI @bcscomm

FRIENDS OF CARTER BARRON FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Where Historic Preservation for The Carter Barron Amphitheatre and Education for DMV Performing Arts Youth Counts

FRIENDS OF CARTER BARRON in partnership with Erwin Pendergrast and DEO, CDC

Presents An Intimate Evening with The Legendary Temptations

IN SUPPORT OF THE REOPENING OF THE CARTER BARRON AMPHITHEATRE MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023

HOWARD THEATER

620 T STREET NW - WDC FOR TICKET INFO:  www.thehowardtheatre.com

Contact: 202-681-2744

SPONSORS:

The Council of the District of Columbia Earmark, DC Office of Cable, TV, Film, Media and Entertainment, EventsDC, Veterans Services Corp. and DDC, PEPCO, Woodbury Fund, Downtown BID and COMCAST, and Amy Jacques Garvey Institute

BLACK-TIE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND AWARDS AFFAIR

5 (L-R) WAMU program host Kojo Nnamdi moderated a panel about creating an Anacostia Arts and Culture District. On the platform were Kristina Noell, executive director of the Anacostia BID; Cora Masters Barry, community arts advocate and a commissioner on the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Jay Sun, a filmmaker, musician, and member of the Valley Place Arts Collaborative; and Mēlani N. Douglass, conceptual artist and founder of the Family Arts Museum. The event was held recently at THEARC in Southeast, D.C. (Courtesy Photo/ Meghaen Anderson-WAMU)

These kids are facing a decision about spending money. What would you do?

These ZING sneakers are super popular with the kids at my school. But they cost $69 a pair!

These generic sneakers cost $29. They’re not nearly as fancy as the ZING sneakers, though.

Which pair of sneakers should Kevin choose? Give at least two reasons to explain your choice.

A lot of young movie stars wear the jeans at left. They are $80. The generic ones in the middle are $30. And the used pair at right is $8 at the thrift store.

Which pair of jeans should Emma choose? Give at least two reasons for your choice.

Which is the best deal? The small can of fruit juice or the 64 ounce size?

BOTTLE: $3.50

The 64 ounce bottle contains 16 4 ounce cups of juice. The 12 ounce can contains three 4 ounce cups of juice.

CAN: $1.25

Can you add up all the coins you see on this page?

MONEY PUZZLES

PUZZLE 1

How much money would you save if you put a nickel in a jar every day for a year?

PUZZLE 2

How much money would you save in four weeks if you saved 5¢ a day the rst week, 10¢ a day the second week, 15¢ a day the third week and 20¢ a day the fourth week?

Best Food Deal

PUZZLE 3

How much money would you save using the plan in Puzzle 2 and kept increasing the savings amount by 5¢ each week for 12 weeks?

Can you come up with a family fun game night that costs $0?

It All Adds Up

PUZZLE 4

How much money would you save using the plan in Puzzle 3 and kept increasing the savings amount by 5¢ each week for 26 weeks?

Find four 4-digit numbers in the newspaper. Copy the numbers onto a piece of paper and add them together. Repeat with 5-digit and 6-digit numbers.

Use the grocery store ads to compare the cost of different food items. Find two or more of the same food items sold in different quantities. Figure out which is the best deal.

With a BLUE the coins amount coin purse. crayon to add up to on the Have a family your work. 5¢ left the

Riddle Roundup

review wi book

"I Am Debra Lee: A Memoir" By Debra Lee c.2023, Legacy Lit Books

$29

256 pages

By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Everybody's looking at you.

They're wondering what you're going to do next, because you often surprise them. They don't know what you're about to say because you're never predictable. So stand up, throw your shoulders back, let them watch and learn a thing or two. As in the new memoir, "I Am Debra Lee" by Debra Lee, represent.

Back when she was still in grade school, little Debra Lee's father decided that she would be a lawyer someday – and so she was. Though she often pushed the envelope and was her own person, it was hard to even think of disappointing the Major, a man who always admonished Lee to be a "nice girl."

Back then, Lee "lived and breathed Black culture," a feeling she carried through law school and into her first big job at a law firm that "treated its associates well," and where she instinctively found a mentor who helped her in her niche. He passed along to her a few choice clients, which eventually led Lee to a life-changing introduction to Bob Johnson, who was then the CEO of Black Entertainment Television, or BET.

It was a soul-searching time for Lee. Personally, she'd had a pregnancy she didn't want, and an abortion, then a marriage that failed. Professionally, the law firm she worked for was no longer a good fit. Johnson offered her a job and a title but it involved a considerable salary cut, which was tough to take. Still, Lee looked at the long picture and leapt at the opportunity.

The job had its downsides, specifically, eternally long hours and an overwhelming work load with no work-life balance whatsoever, but Lee was undaunted. She learned about the industry and herself, found her limits and sailed past them, and enjoyed the chance to befriend people whose names pepper the tabloids.

She never seriously considered reaching for the stars until she was named COO, with a public face to maintain, a reputation to uphold, and a list of things she'd never do.

And then she did one of them …

For readers who are unfamiliar with the whole story, let's just say that you'll want to be prepared. "I Am Debra Lee" contains a big ka-boom.

Leading up to that, though, is a treat: the inner mechanics of a media empire are told side-by-side here with the story of a long, exhausting journey and the personal sacrifices it demanded. It isn't presented as a burden, however; instead, author Debra Lee holds her tale with a steely grip and no apologies, making sure that she's clear on the extra work it took being a Black woman in a mostly man's world. There's not a single ounce of "poor me" in that but rather, a series of subtle lessons to accompany the outright advice that Lee scatters about.

And then there's that ka-boom. Read about it from this first-person point of view, and you won't be sorry. If you're ready for an absorbing, fascinating memoir that pulls no punches, "I Am Debra Lee" is absolutely worth a look. WI

horoscopes

ARIES One-on-one time with your significant other or someone else special is sure to be at the top of your mind in the beginning of the week. You might find it thrilling to recreate a trip or date night you enjoyed in the past. Lucky Numbers: 7, 9, 30

TAURUS Finding ways to weave your social life in with your health routine can feel gratifying when the week gets underway. Later, you might be feeling like you've put your needs on the back burner for far too long, in order to tend to others' needs. Instead of letting resentment brew, you'll do well to zero in on the actions that will best serve your mental and emotional health right now. Lucky Numbers: 1, 13, 32

GEMINI You'll be even more eager than usual to seek pleasurable, lighthearted, artistic endeavors and express what's in your heart at the start of the week. If you've been itching to jump into a creative project or share a heartwarming experience with a loved one, now can be a sweet time to do so. Lucky Numbers: 3, 35, 36

CANCER If you've been putting off addressing an ongoing emotional issue with a loved one, you might do well to finally have that necessary heart-to-heart talk at the start of the week. Putting your energy toward fostering-and perhaps in some cases repairing-familial bonds can prove undeniably and powerfully healing. Lucky Numbers: 10, 13, 39

LEO At the start of the week, you might feel like wires are constantly getting crossed, and it's extra challenging to accomplish everyday tasks that would otherwise be easy-breezy. Take a deep breath knowing that you don't have to check every box right now. You're doing your best, which is absolutely enough. Later, you could be called upon to step into the spotlight and step up your professional game in a way that feels daunting but also rewarding. Lucky Numbers: 8, 12, 50

VIRGO You'll be in a beneficial position to make a play for new clients, work projects, or any other professional opportunity that appeals to you in the beginning of the week. You'll come off as even more amiable and helpful than usual, which colleagues and higher-ups are sure to respond well to, so feel free to network your way to well-deserved financial rewards. Lucky Numbers: 3, 17, 23

LIBRA When the week starts, you'll be glowing from the inside out and charming just about anyone and everyone you interact with. This can be a wonderful time to make moves to grow your business or make your deep-rooted desires known to someone special. Pleasure, creativity, and bolstered relationships are all yours for the taking now. Lucky Numbers: 4, 21, 47

SCORPIO You might find yourself retracing your steps psychologically, whether that's by talking about old wounds in therapy or writing about recurring dreams in your journal at the start of the week. While this might feel uncomfortable initially, self-reflection can lead to a deeper understanding of your internal wiring, ultimately bolstering your emotional well-being. Lucky Numbers: 5, 18, 41

SAGITTARIUS You'll be fired up to pair up with colleagues, friends, or other members of your community as the week begins. This can also be a time in which you're especially capable of organizing others and helping everyone get on the same page. Take advantage of it by banding together to work toward a noble end game. Lucky Numbers: 20, 28, 40

CAPRICORN Going back to the drawing board in a professional endeavor could prove productive in the beginning of the week. Touch base with higher-ups to review your goals or do your best to tie up loose ends that could ultimately help you move the ball forward. This can be a helpful time for getting more organized and clearer on your long-term visions. Lucky Numbers: 21, 24, 53

AQUARIUS You might want to review a course to hone your skill set or research a trip you began planning that ended up on the back burner. Allowing yourself the room to follow your instincts, even if you don't have a specific big-picture goal in mind, can be good for your soul now. Lucky Numbers: 6, 13, 57

PISCES You'll be craving deep, transformative, heartfelt connection at the start of the week. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable with someone special or a significant other, wearing your heart on your sleeve, and sharing your deeply rooted emotions and daydreams can bolster your connection in an enlivening way. Later, it's possible you'll feel overwhelmed by a laundry list of to-dos. You could feel like you're at your wit's end, but you absolutely have the power to get centered now Lucky Numbers: 15, 20, 33

SPORTS

D.C. High School

Sports Roundup

By Edward Hill Jr. WI Contributing Writer

SIDWELL FRIENDS BOYS AND GIRLS REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS

It was like deja vu when the SidwIt was like deja vu when the Sidwell Friends boys team matched up with Jackson Reed in the DCSAA championship on Sunday at the Smith Center on the campus of George Washington University. Both teams had advanced to the championship game after battling their way through one of the most competitive tournaments since it began.

In the end, the result was the same. The Quakers pulled away to a 62-47 score (that was much closer than it appears). Before an overflow crowd, the game lived up to its expectations

as the neighborhood rivals went back and forth en route to a 25-22 advantage to Sidwell at halftime.

BARD BOYS WIN SECOND STRAIGHT

In what was arguably the most entertaining game on championship day, the Bard School-SEED DC School matchup had the crowd buzzing long after the game. Bard won its second straight DCSAA tournament, 67-64 with a strong comeback after trailing by 9, late in the fourth quarter.

"If someone had said to me two years ago that we would be in this position, I would have said no way," said Head Coach Malcolm Battle of the Southeast DC-based program which is playing in only its third year of competition. "These kids are tough. The neighborhoods where

they come from poses an everyday challenge to them. But they learned something from all of this. Not so long ago, you were the hunter; now you have become the hunted."

Bard recently won the DCIAA championship.

CARROLL GIRLS GARNER HISTORIC FIRST

In the girls DCSAA game, it was the Archbishop Carroll Lions holding off the Tigers of Jackson Reed, 39-31.

The Lions (20-10) jumped out to the early eight-point lead before the Tigers (21-8) regrouped to cut the margin to 10-8 at the end of the first quarter.

No one could take control through the second and third quarters until Carroll's Tiayo Adelekan and Heidi Williams took over and combined for all 10 of their team's last points to secure their first ever title. Ayva Tillmon led her team with 17 points and was named MVP.

"It is especially gratifying to see these young ladies work as hard as they have and see their efforts rewarded with this first championship," said Carroll Head Coach Edythe White. "To play for and win the state championship does a lot for the Carroll program as we move forward."

Jackson Reed was paced by junior guard Kryslynn Stewart, who led all scorers with 17. WI

Howard University Men’s Basketball Team Makes History

By Edward Hill Jr. WI Contributing Writer

The Howard University Men's basketball team did something that no other HU team has done in over 30 years: win the outright regular season MEAC conference title. In displaying one of the most dominant performances in recent memory, the Bison defeated Norfolk State, 87-67 on Thursday in Burr Gymnasium to claim the title and the top seed in the upcoming MEAC Tournament in Norfolk, VA, March 8-11.

In 1991-92, Howard finished as co- champions with Florida A&M with a 12-4 record. But in 199192, the team finished with a 25-5 record, best in school history and 13-1 in the MEAC which claimed the first-ever title.

This year's team was picked to

finish third overall in the pre-season predictions.

The Bison (19-13, 11-3 in the MEAC) jumped to an early lead and never looked back. The start featured a sizzling 61 percent shooting performance from the three-points line in the first 20 minutes. Using its two-platoon system of five starters and a second five off the bench, the Bison spread the minutes and the scoring as nine different players scored.

Howard came into the game, averaging 85 points over the last 11 games. Sharpshooters sophomore guard Marcus Dockery (Washington, D.C.) and junior forward Jordan Wood each scored 12 points on a combined 8 of 12 shooting from the three-point line.

Yet as important as their contributions were to the win, it was the

Bison reserves who did most of the damage. Sophomore guard and forward Bryce Harris had a career game tallying a career- and game-high 22 points on 9 of 11 shooting from the floor.

Senior guard Kahlil Robinson, a one-time starter, chipped in with 10 points, four assists and zero turnovers in 17 minutes of productive play. The Bison bench combined for 32 of the team's point total "We knew from the start that it would be important to start fast and set the tone," said Harris, who added a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. "We have been pushing toward this all season. To think that we are a part of something as special as being the first in 30-plus years, makes it even more gratifying.""

Others who contributed to the

team effort were sophomore guard Elijah Hawkins (9 points, 5 assists), red-shirt junior forward Steve Settle III (7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots) and graduate guard Jelani Williams.

A transfer from the University of Penn, Williams has been the leader of the team and has played a huge part in the team's success in a number of games that came down to the end.

"When I decided to transfer here, I was aware of the returning talents and some of the players who were coming in," says Williams, who attended Sidwell Friends High School in Washington, D.C. "There was no doubt in my mind that we could accomplish and be a part of something special. When you realize what it means to the program overall and to the many alums, former athletes and

supporters celebrating this moment, it makes it even more special."

The architect of it all is Howard Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney, who is in his fourth season.

"I am just so proud of these young men who have worked hard to achieve this accomplishment," said Blakeney. "The players, coaches, support staff and the administration all played a part in this. I am so happy for the Bison Nation which had to wait for this special moment."

Howard opens play on Wednesday, March 8 when it takes on South Carolina State, the Number 8 seed at 6 pm in the Norfolk Scope.

A win would advance to the semifinal round on Friday, with the championship on Saturday, March 11. The tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Bison made their last appearance in the NCAAs in 1992. WI

5 The Archbishop Carroll girls basketball team, led by Head Coach Edythe White, garnered a historic win against Jackson Reed (39-31). (Jonae Guest/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE the moment

The National Cherry Blossom Festival press conference held at the Conrad Hotel in Northwest, was a kick-offto the Cherry Blossom Season. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other District of Columbia government officials welcomed a Circulator Bus returning from a five-city bus tour. The National Park Service announced that the blossoms are expected to bloom to March 22 - 25.

5 A bus wrapped in the Cherry Blossom theme will be seen making runs on the Circulator route during the cherry blossom season. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

5 Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC government officials, and Cherry Blossom Festival officials were greeted with supporters waving pink pom-poms for the press conference at the Conrad Hotel in Northwest on March 1. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

5 The Dance4Life dance troupe out of Claymont, Delaware greeted guests as they arrived at the press conference held at the Conrad Hotel in Northwest on March 1. (Shevry Lassiter/ The Washington Informer)

6 National Park Service Superintendent Jeff Reinbold announces to March 22 - 25 as the date of bloom for the cherry blossoms during the press conference held at the Conrad Hotel in Northwest on March 1. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

5 (L-R) Diana Mayhew, president and CEO of the National Blossom Festival; Jeff Reinbold of the National Park Service; Angie Gates, president and CEO, EventsDC, David Moran, Chair, National Cherry Blossom Festival Board of Directors; Rachael Lighty, National Capital Region for Amazon; and, Koichi Ai, Minister and Head of Chancery, Minister for Public Affairs, Embassy of Japan. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

Ushers: A Critical Role in the Church

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

When Dorothy Fontenot wanted to become an usher at the First Baptist Church of Highland Park, she enrolled in a school that taught her about a critical job in many churches. Even though Fontenot, now 76, served as an usher growing up in Chicago, the retired school nurse and minister’s wife was excited for a deeper understanding of the importance of her work.

“We encourage our ushers to go to school,” she said.

The Rev. Henry P. Davis, pastor of First Baptist of Highland Park, said ushers are key to church operations.

CAPITAL from Page 1

Babatunde Oloyede, president and CEO of the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization in Ward 7 in Northeast.

“I agree with the assessment of the study,” Oloyede, 47, said. “This isn’t new. You can see that the flow of capital isn’t in Black neighborhoods when looking at homeownership rates, the number of libraries in white neighborhoods as opposed to Black neighborhoods. What this study does is provide more data about the flow of capital so that the conversation can move forward.”

SPECIFICS OF THE STUDY

The study said at its beginning that the Washington area thrives economically as a whole but has significant wealth and economic disparities. The study reported most District neighborhoods west of the Anacostia River had very high levels of invest-

“Most of our ushers are on the case, and they serve during all three services every weekend,” he said. “During the Pandemic, our ushers were vital and did not miss a beat.”

Fontenot noted ushers are the first to interact with parishioners and guests when they enter into worship space. “When people walk through the doors, and we smile, it makes a difference. The ushers set the tone for the church.”

She and her minister husband, the Rev. Albert Fontenot Jr., who also works for the Census Bureau, now serve together. The two were childhood friends, but after losing their spouses, got reacquainted at a church play, which sparked a relationship. They have now

ment between 2010 and 2020, in addition to areas in Maryland and Virginia close to the Potomac River. In contrast, District neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River and much of Prince George’s County, Maryland, received low investment per household. Overall, high-poverty neighborhoods in the Washington region receive less investment per household than low-poverty areas, the study reported.

Specifically, on average neighborhoods that are 80% white receive 2.3 times more investment than communities with the smallest share of white residents (20% or less). The study revealed on average in neighborhoods where Blacks make up less than 20% of the population receive 2.1 times more investment than areas that are more than 80% African American.

THE EXPERTS OFFER THEIR VIEWS

Oloyede said there must be an

17 years. The couple works together as part of the church divorce care and grief ministries.

“We try to help people deal with loss by giving suggestions, and this is one of the important aspects of the church,” Fontenot, who also coordinates the Junior and Young Adult Usher Ministry, said. “It shows that God can make a way out of no way.”

increase in the flow of capital to Black neighborhoods, but it must be done on purpose.

“There must be more intentionality in allocating resources to Black neighborhoods,” Oloyede said. “Government needs to offer incentives to businesses, banks and other financial institutions to put more resources into communities of color.”

He said legislation such as the Community Reinvestment Act that incentivizes commercial banks and savings associations to invest in low-and moderate-income neighborhoods and Opportunity Zones that allows certain investments in economically struggling neighborhoods to have tax advantages are helpful. However, Oloyede said Black residents have a role to play in increasing the capital where they live.

“People should hold elected officials accountable to see that more resources come to Black neighborhoods,” he said.

Carol Butler, a District resident and member of the First Baptist Church of Georgetown, has been attending the same church since she was a child.

Two of her favorite people were long-time church ushers and sisters Mabel Cooper and Mary Davise. They would station themselves in the vestibule and fold programs to give to people as they entered the historic African American church that is 160 years old

“We always try to greet people with a smile,” said Cooper, who was 83 at the time of an interview in 2012. Davis, who was then 85, said “This is the Lord’s work.”

Both sisters passed away a number of years ago, but Butler said she will never forget them.

Though he has many ministerial duties, sometimes Fontenot is able to even convince her husband to join in on usher duties, who explained that serving others keeps his wife going.

“Her focus and her love language is service,” he said. “She is a certified Christian counselor, and I am too. This is our ministry. Ministry is about reaching and helping people in every moment of their lives.”

Michael Fauntroy is the director of the Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University. Fauntroy said, “access to capital is governed by access to education.”

“Residential segregation and the flow of capital into white neighborhoods more than Black neighborhoods largely rests on the quality of the schools,” he said. “When you look at areas like Bethesda, Rockville and Potomac, you will see the high quality of schools located in those places.”

Fauntroy said high-performing schools tend to be in white neighborhoods because the property values tend to be higher. He said attempts by state governments to equalize funding for public schools regardless of the immediate neighborhoods’ income level have fallen short.

“The poor are locked into poverty and the poorer neighborhoods suffer because of the lack of capital flow,” he said.

Omar S. McKeithan, 42, a native of Prince George's County and resi-

“We have lost a lot in personal bonds and relationships,” said Butler, who has been inspired by church ushers to give back. “I loved cooking and sending the elderly home with food. That's what we did. We would serve whole meals to families after church.”

Now, Butler holds events and concerts in the banquet room of the Blue Dolphin in Gambrills, Maryland, which she explained as a way of continuing her ministry in uplifting other women.

“Last month, I held an event called the Queens of R&B, and I wanted to plan a gospel show.”

WI

dent of Ward 7 in the District, works as an associate with NAI Michael, a full service commercial real estate brokerage firm located in Lanham, Maryland.

“What is needed in African American neighborhoods are more mixeduse transit oriented central business districts where businesses can thrive,” he said. “These are areas around metro stations zoned for high density where businesses pay taxes, and customers can come to shop, conduct business, live, and in many cases, seek employment.:

McKeithan said some strong examples of central business districts are Bethesda and Silver Spring, but said it is lacking in Prince George’s County..

“The National Harbor was a great start, and hopefully we can use that model in places like Largo where we have demand drivers such as the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.”

WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Rev. Al Fontenot and his wife Usher Dorothy Fontenot. (Courtesy photo) been married for

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

— Romans 8:24-25 ESV

We must all face the dark, unpleasant experiences that are automatically a part of this life here on earth. In fact, most Christians and most world religions understand that "life is suffering." When encountering these moments of darkness, thankfully we can turn to the light of scripture to find hope and comfort. From the examples and guidance of biblical text, we find that we are not alone in dealing with the struggles of life. Perhaps we can even learn to appreciate the darkness, giving contrast and clarity to the light. Luckily, there are many Bible verses to find hope in the midst.

This column is written to encourage those of you who are going through some hard times right now. Maybe you've recently been diagnosed with some deadly disease, lost a loved one or lost a job, and you feel lost. Just because your doctor has given you a diagnosis, that is not necessarily the final word. However the diagnosis and healing does depend on your level of faith. Scripture reminds us, "For I say to every man that is among

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

It's Darkest Just Before Dawn

you, through the grace given unto me, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Never stop having faith and believing in God and His miracles!

It is indeed always darkest just before dawn. The sun will come up tomorrow — even if it is cloudy and raining, the sun is there behind the clouds. If the sun was not there, it would continue to remain dark, but God's mighty power shines through even the largest storms. It may get darker, but never totally dark as night. God's sun is shining behind those horrendous storms!

Here's what you must do, stop, meditate, pray and think about the blue skies and the bright sun, shining above the storm. Take your thoughts to a higher place, a place where you can allow God and His Holy Spirit to come into your heart.

He will surely give you peace, even in the midst of a storm. Begin to sing "Peace Be Still." When these tough times come along, increase your faith, and just as the word says turn it over to God, you will look around, and those hard times will have passed over, just like the storms of life.

How many of you remember the movie "Annie" where she sings about tomorrow, which goes like this: "The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun. …When I'm stuck with a day that's gray and lonely, I just stick up my chin and grin and say, oh, the sun will come out tomorrow. So you gotta hang on 'til tomorrow, come what may! Tomor-

row, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow. You're always a day away! Beautiful lyrics friends, it is a reminder that the sun is always shining. It may be raining or cloudy down here but take a plane ride, and watch what happens when the plane flies way up above those clouds. Clear skies and bright sunshine is all you will see. It is truly a remarkable moment, I always revel in God's mighty power, and reflect thinking of how we must hold on during the dark times, because it is truly darkest just before dawn. Perhaps we can even learn to appreciate the darkness, giving contrast and clarity to the light. Luckily, there are many Bible verses to find hope in the midst.

I remember when I was in high school, I stayed up studying, working hard to get an A on my test the next day. I sat and kept studying and working. It seemed like the night would never end, which was great for me, I was hoping to feel comfortable enough about my studies that I could get a quick nap. Every hour it seemed the darkness would crowd me in, and there was no light except from the street lights further down from our home. I found out that it really is true that it is darkest just before dawn.

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

11:00 AM

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

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

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Street

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

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us...

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

Bishop 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

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

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

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis

Pastor

1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851

P: (202) 726-5940

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun.

Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM

Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

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

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

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Rev. Richard B. Black 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"

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Eastern Community Baptist Church

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

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

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

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

Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

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

Baptist

Rev. 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

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.

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 Trinity United

Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 Fax 202-678-3304

Service and Times

Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM

New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM

Church School: 9:45 AM

Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study

Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM

Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM

“Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Peace Baptist Church

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

Promised Land Baptist Church

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

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 “

Christ Embassy DC

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday

“…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. 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 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org

Website:www.mthoreb.org

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

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Rehoboth

Church

Rev.

Dr.

Rev.

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000143

Austin Allen McFadden

Decedent

Suren G. Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC

4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Donna Hopewell, whose address is 3605 Daffney Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Austin Allen McFadden who died on November 24, 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 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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:

2/23/2023

Donna Hopewell 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 153

Randolph K. Milam Decedent

Andre O. McDonald, Esq. 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 420 Columbia, Maryland 21044 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Paul W. Milam, whose address is 4877 Pepperwood Court, White Plains, Maryland 20695, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Randolph K. Milam who died on October 28, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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: 2/23/2023

Paul W. Milam Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 FEP 000012

November 29, 2021

Date of Death

Hartmann Josef Schoebel aka Hartmann J. Schoebel Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Hartmann Axel Schoebel, whose address is 440 Sequoia Avenue, Palo Alto., CA 94306 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Hartmann Josef Schoebel aka Hartmann J. Schoebel, deceased, by the Probate Court for Cuyahoga County, State of Ohio, on 5/5/2022. Service of process may be made upon Katherine Curley 3934 Legation Street, NW Washington, DC 20015 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.

3705 Brandywine Street NW, Washington, DC 20016. 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: 2/23/2023

Hartmann Axel Schoebel

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000117

Joyce D. Warner-MacKall aka Joyce Warner-MacKall aka Joyce Warner aka Joyce Mackall Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Morris Warner Sr., whose address is 2319 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joyce D. Warner-Mackall aka Joyce Warner-MacKall aka Joyce Warner aka Joyce MacKall who died on 10/26/2022 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 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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: 2/23/2023

Morris Warner Sr.

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000086

Charles E. Lancaster, Jr. Decedent

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

Loryn M. Lancaster, whose address is 1706 Lang Place, NE Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles E. Lancaster, Jr. who died on March 23, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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: 2/23/2023

Loryn M. Lancaster 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 000142

Delores F. Rogers Decedent

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

Leroy Greer, whose address is 2726 Lorring Drive, Apt. 103, District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Delores F. Rogers who died on June 11, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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: 2/23/2023

Leroy Greer 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 ADM 000902

Joseph M. Duckett aka Joseph Maurice Duckett Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Worthie F.; LaVonde A. and Devon L Duckett, whose addresses are 1670 Fort Dupont Street SE, WDC 20020, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Joseph M. Duckett aka Joseph Maurice Duckett who died on April 10, 2016 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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: 2/23/2023

Worthie F. Duckett

LaVonde A. Duckett

Devon L. Duckett

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 0105

Thelma Green Decedent

Julius P. Terrell

1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 400

Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Kathy McDaniel, whose address is 7114 Chapparal Drive, District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Thelma Green who died on 12/21/22 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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: 2/23/2023

Kathy McDaniel 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 166

Estate of Veronica Wisdom

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Clarence Lee and Lorna L. Washinton for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Admit to probate the will dated June 24, 1996 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Date of first publication: 2/23/2023

Glenda M. Wheeler Allen, Esq.

Law Office of Glenda M. Wheeler 808 E Street, NE, Suite A

Washington, DC 20002

Petitioner/Attorney:

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 000157

Estate of Michael Shillingford

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Andrew Huff for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 02/23/2023

John Noble

451 Hungerford Dr. Rockville, MD 20850

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

III

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001143

Annie M. Davis

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Kiesha L. Davis, whose address is 4506 3rd Street SE, #D Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Annie M. Davis who died on March 15, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/23/2023. 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 8/23/2023, 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:

2/23/2023

Kiesha L. Davis

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of Whitc Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : am that I am: "Jermaine

DcEdward Lucas", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Ilaqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " JERMAINE DEEDWARD LUCAS corp.sole Dba.: "JERMAINE

D. LUCAS", [LUCAS, JERMAINE D., J., LUCAS, LUCAS„J., MAINGO, TOCOPACA INIIIA JERMAINE], having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to 'Ille Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, "Ihe Constitution for the united States of America, Article Ill Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, 'Ille Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples l, and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Jermaine I)eEdward Lucas ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “tocopaca iniha jcrmaine de lucas bey Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article Ill, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person.

Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV),

ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, '111LE 11, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF FLORIDA BUREAU of VITAL STATISTICS : STATE FILE NUMBER, 109-1984-019149 " JERMAINE DEEDWARD LUCAS ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to "Tocobaga Maroon Moorish American De Lucas Bey Trust All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor Beneficiary Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor:

" tocopaca iniha jermaine de lucas bey ", nom deguerre:" Jermaine DeEdward Lucas", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: " Tocobaga Maroon Moorish American De Lucas Bey Trust ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. 'Illis deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. "Illis deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 000363

Beverly McLaine Nickens Decedent

Antoine Wade, Esq. 440 Stamp Rd, Suite 207 Temple Hills, MD 20748 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Steven S. McLaine, whose address is 115 Burholme Dr., Hamilton, NJ 08691-3336, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Beverly McLaine Nickens who died on November 8, 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 9/2/2023. 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 9/2/2023, 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:

March 2, 2023

Steven S. McLaine Personal Representative TRUE

NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001007

Jacqueline M. Caul aka Jacqueline Mcrae Caul Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Tamica Flora, whose address is 200 Florida Avenue NE, #806, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jacqueline M. Caul aka Jacqueline Mcrae Caul who died on April 25, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/2/2023. 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 9/2/2023, 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: 3/2/2023

Tamica Flora Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Notice (for publication)

This publication certifies the existence of one man assuming the role of head for his house. Notice the man to be mature and to act of sound mind as the bearer for all good deeds.  Notice “See” United States foreign relations manual 8 FAM 505.2-1 Endorsement Code Procedures the Bearer IS ALSO KNOWN

AS (L-L GIVEN NAMES) (L-L SURNAME).

Bearer uses an assumed name in addition to their legal name.

Name LE VERN LAMONT LAWRENCE II

The address of the known place of business is Post Office Box 584, Lanham MD 20703

note:I Le Vern Lamont, of the Lawrence come forth as the executor public and private for the name LE VERN LAMONT LAWRENCE.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, perpetually.  The original known place of existence for the entity known as LE VERN LAMONT LAWRENCE is:  Prince Georges County Hospital, 3001 Hospital Dr, Maryland 20785, the agent for this entity is a living, breathing and comprehensive man, notice I am original to the land mass referenced by given names Maryland, America, and Amexem, North America.

Notice I the bearer, am that I am reflection of man. Having power of attorney in fact for Le Vern Lamont Lawrence and for my new court commissioned named change as Le Vern Lamont El, in esse. Notice by this publication an act of good deeds I assume the role of executor, guardian, conservator, and power of attorney over the following names estates and trusts as caretaker for all legal names: JAMARI LAMONT LAWRENCE, JOE’L NICHOLAS LAWRENCE, DESTINY ELISA LAWRENCE, CHANCE QUALEE LAWRENCE, NOAH TYRALL LAWRENCE, HARMANI LOVE LAMONTEE GLOVER, LAVENIA LA’RAYNE LAWRENCE.

IV Copyright notice for stramineous homo. This copyright notice informs any potential use, usage, users, of any constructive use thereto any legal names created for my paramount use may be a direct violation for using the expressed intellectual property protected by this notice. Any user of the names expressed heron shall be protected by this notice intended to protect all intellectual property and not to interfere with any commercial activity regarding trafficking or employment thereto. I intend to uplift humanity and help all my fellow mankind. In propria persona, sui juris, proprio solo, proprio heredes, in esse.  Notice any unauthorized use thereof hereon without my express, prior, written authorized permission signifies the users unauthorized users’ consent. Notice that use will imply your debt obligation to any injury, damages, loss, etcetera. In the amount of $500,000 per use, plus time material and additional cost. Notice this publication is not expressed to take advantage of anyone for anybody. I redeem IAW 12 USC 411 and 412.

V Special indorsement i grantee "accept" and "certify" that am of sound mind over the age of majority. I notice all parties living and robotic that claim all proceeds exceeding $1 USD for good cause and for non-failure to state claim for which relief can be granted. Relief can be granted by thy appointing all public and private officials, officers, commissioners and each agent or employee fiduciarily responsible to settle this matter without recourse. Sincerely, manager, real party of interest, non-commercial, not trafficking, not understanding anything commercial. Notice claim all extensions of credit from the cradle to the grave. All extensions of credit exceeding one dollar go back to LE VERN LAMONT LAWRENCE TRUST. Notice I am not trading with the enemy nor am I an ally to any enemy of the state of the union, so be it.

VI Declaration of nationality

Notice of Special Appearance: I am: lawrence, le vern lamont© in full life, in proprio, by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: LAWRENCE, LE VERN LAMONT© corp.sole Dba: LE VERN LAMONT LAWRENCE© having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the north Americas and south-western shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly sworn, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as an: shabtau Moorish American moslem national, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and inalienable, allegiance to the Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados / United States Republic, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Barbary Treaties, International Law, United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all Natural laws governing moors and herby Declare and Proclaim my nationality as an: shabtau Moorish American moslem national. Any and all facts contained  in this publication, are fully applicable to any and all private tribal issue offspring of: lawrence, le vern lamont©, my wives, Nunc pro Tunc, not limited to but including: 1. octavia cassandra, lawrence©, the beneficiary and heir of Noah Tyrell, Lavenia Le’Rayne, Oliyah Pearsall, Kasey Pearsall© corp sole, Dba: OCTAVIA LAWRENCE© I am: lawrence, le vern lamont© from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality /Status /Jurisdiction, shall be known as “le vern lamont le©”. Notice of Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title and interest, in the property, Re: LAWRENCE,LE VERN LAMONT© corp.sole DBA.: LEVERN LAMONT LAWRENCE TRUST©, Board of Trustees: L. Lawrence Chairman of the & Re: Noah Tyrell, La Venia Le’Rayne,Jamari Lawrence, Joe’l Lawrence, Destiny Lawrence, Chance Lawrence, Harmani Glover©,corp sole Dba: JAMARI LAWRENCE, JOE’L LAWRENCE, DESTINY LAWRENCE, CHANCE LAWRENCE, NOAH LAWRENCE, LA VENIA LAWRENCE, HARMANI GLOVER©, etc., to the depositor and or in the capacity as Guardian/: el, le vern lamont© nom deguerre: lawrence,le vern lamont©. All property, of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor/ Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal Creditor: el, Le Vern Lamont© nom deguerre: lawrence, le vern lawrence© as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is used exclusively for the benefit of: LE VERN

LAMONT LAWRENCE TRUST, to be used exclusively for the benefit of THE BOOK OF LEVERN TRUST, a private foreign Islamism ecclesiastical trust. Notice, the direct living beneficiary in flesh as people and in person having rights in name(s): octavia-cassandra; jamari lamont lawrence, joe’l nicholas lawrence, destiny elisa lawrence, chance qualee lawrence, noah tyrell lawrence, la venia le’rayne lawrence of the house Lawrence and now officially known as house of EL This deposit is not to commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary /trustee / agent /bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including discharge and set off, all outstanding liabilities accord and satisfaction. All that which provides for me also provides for my wives and offspring vice versa. In addition, common law copyright JAMARI LAMONT LAWRENCE, JOE’L NICHOLAS LAWRENCE, DESTINY ELISA LAWRENCE, CHANCE QUALEE LAWRENCE, NOAH TYRELL LAWRENCE, LA VENIA LE’RAYNE LAWRENCE, HARMANI LOVE-LAMONTEE GLOVER, KASEY MICHELLE PEARSALL, OLIYAH CALI PEARSALL, OCTAVIA CASSANDRA LAWRENCE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © common law, in esse; Notice we are in union and good faith with the United States, the United States of America, and the United Nations we are not sovereign citizens.

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001183

David Earl Griffin

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Aujah Griffin, whose address is 23377 Superstition Way, California, MD 20619, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of David Earl Griffin who died on 3/14/2022 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 9/2/2023. 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 9/2/2023, 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: 3/2/2023

Aujah Griffin

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 000127

August 3, 2020

Date of Death

Felicia Maurine Johnson aka Felicia Johnson Bradley Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Edward G. Varrone, Esq., whose address is 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20006 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Felicia Maurine Johnson aka Felicia Johnson Bradley, deceased, by the Register of Wills for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on February 26, 2021.

Service of process may be made upon Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20006 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.

441 Valley Avenue, SE; 208 Malcom X Avenue, SE; and 1130 47th Place, NE. 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: 3/2/2023

Edward G. Varrone, Esq. Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2019 ADM 000652

Jean Smith King Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jean Smith King who died on March 13, 2016 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/2/2023. 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 9/2/2023, 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: March 2, 2023

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 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 ADM 000663

Elsie Bessie Garner

Decedent

Chidinma Iwuji 419 7th Street, NW Suite 405 Washington, DC 20004

Attorney

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

David Garner, whose address is 6606 Lansdale St., District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elsie Bessie Garner who died on July 3, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 9/2/2023. 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 9/2/2023, 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: 3/2/2023

David Garner Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF DEFAULT & OPPORTUNITY TO CURE

OTICE TO PRINCIPLE IS NOTICE TO AGENT ; NOTICE TO AGENT IS

NOTICE TO PRINCIPLE

TO: New York State Attorney General, SSA OIG, Commissioner, HHS OIG/ Commissioner/Secretary/OCSE Commissioner, County of Bronx Family Chief and/or Clerks of court

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTICED that you are in default of an opportunity to respond to the PUBLIC ADS, PUBLIC RECORDS, COMMERCIAL AFFIDAVITS sent to you throughout 2/2023, 3/2023 by certified, registered mail. You were given the opportunity to rebut the claims made against you by your failure to answer said notices, declarations, AFFIDAVITS. You have consented and agreed to all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

This is a good faith effort in providing you an additional 30 (thirty) days to cure your default. If you do not remedy the default in the allotted time, I will seek further action to protect my rights.

A DEFAULT JUDGMENT is being sought against you having waived the right to answer by acquiescence tacit admission and failure to contest rejecting your due process opportunity.

IN ABSENCE of such response Affiant Charles Samuel, hereby inserts and records this NOTICE OF DEFAULT upon and against New York State Attorney General, Social Security Administration OIG, Commissioner, Health Human Services OIG/ Commissioner/ Secretary,/OCSE Commissioner, County of Bronx Family Chief and/or Clerks of court

Whereas such actions now shall be taken in accordance to the procedures set forth in the Commercial Affidavit defaulted.

I Charles of the family Samuel have personal knowledge of the above facts and competent to testify to the above facts and declared that the foregoing is true, correct and complete under the penalty of perjury. No blanket statement, send Affidavits to my email:Charles.s47@yahoo.com and/or for my physical mailing address. All my natural unalienable rights reserved. Real Land North America. 3/2/2023

LEGAL NOTICES

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Anthony Demetrice Hunt II© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ANTHONY DEMETRICE HUNT II ", corp.sole Dba.:

" ANTHONY D HUNT II© ", Anthony Hunt, Anthony Hunt Jr, Anthony D Hunt Jr, Anthony Hunt II, and any variation having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Anthony Demetrice Hunt II© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " anthony demetrice bey© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV),

ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records : 112-88-067895, " ANTHONY DEMETRICE HUNT II© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " Aledem Terseb Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor

/ Donor / Principal / Creditor: " anthony demetrice bey© ", nom deguerre: " Anthony Demetrice Hunt II© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " Aledem Terseb Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2023 ADM 000011

Bessie L. Davis

Decedent

Mark G. Griffin

Griffin, Murphy & Wiggins, LLP

1912 Sunderland Place, NW Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Janet A. Wilson, whose address is 24 Danbury Street, SE #2, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bessie L. Davis who died on May 10, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/9/2023. 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 9/9/2023, 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:

3/9/2023

Janet A. Wilson Personal Representative TRUE TEST

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 120

Mervin A. Snead

Decedent

Iris McCollum Green,Esq. 1714 15th Street, NW, Suite B Washington, DC 20009

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE

TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Kimberly Thorpe, whose address is 4020 20th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mervin A. Snead who died on November 13, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/9/2023. 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 9/9/2023, 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

COUNCIL ATTACKS FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION

On March 3, Congressman Glenn Ivey (D) and District 5 Councilwoman Jolene Ivey (D) hosted a Foreclosure and Eviction workshop at the First Baptist Church of Highland Park to inform County residents of available resources.Recently elected Sheriff John Carr (D), Josephine Mourning of Prince George’s Southern Christian Leader Conference, and Jessica Quincosa of Prince George’s Community Legal Services were some of the dynamic speakers featured at the event. Representatives from CASA, Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) Homes, Homefree USA, Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development, and Employ Prince George’s were also on hand to provide information.

Ana Rodríguez, a community organizer with CASA, attended the workshop.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001388

Michele Jeffery aka Michele Alloyce Tucker

Decedent

Ethel Mitchell Wills and Trusts LLC

8403 Colesville Rd., Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO

UNKNOWN HEIRS

Jason Jeffery, whose address is 6505 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Michele Jeffery aka Michele Alloyce Tucker who died on 6/20/2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 9/9/2023. 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 9/9/2023, 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:

3/9/2023

Jason Jeffery

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

2021 ADM 0000097

Helen Y. McWilliams Decedent

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

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq.,whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed

Personal Representative of the estate of Helen Y. McWilliams who died on April 24, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 9/9/2023. 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 9/9/2023, 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: 3/9/2023

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq.

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 000156

Magdalene J. Renfrow aka Magdalene Juanita Renfrow Decedent

Tabitha R. Brown, Esq. Law Offices of Tabitha R. Brown 1200 G Street SE, Suite A Washington DC 20003 Attorney

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

Angela Renfrow Brown, whose address is 6804 Pamela Lane, Clinton, MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Magdalene J. Renfrow aka Magdalene Juanita Renfrow who died on 11/20/2022 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 9/9/2023. 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 9/9/2023, 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: 3/9/2023

Angela Renfrow Brown

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

“The county is still helping with rental assistance but only for those people already in eviction proceedings. You must have a court judgment to apply for rental assistance,” she said. “CASA was there to give them the information that the people need to know and make them aware of the rent stabilization law that just passed. A lot of folks were not aware so it is important that they know about this 3% cap. ”

A representative of the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund, noted that “homeownership is the very foundation of generational wealth and we need to make sure we protect that.”

The Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund, the representative explained, is expected to expire in September 2026, or when funds “run out.” Established after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund offers temporary assistance to homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. This fund supports mortgage relief, weatherization, housing counseling and legal services for homeowners.

“If you are a homeowner and you are worried about foreclosure, you have to apply for this,” said Councilwoman Ivey during the town hall. She also suggested that constituents go to her website for further information, and that Saturday’s workshop was a bridge for those who don’t have digital access. WI

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affordable housing stock, Bryan, a Black D.C. resident, counts among the chorus of voices in favor of expanding affordable housing to the affluent communities located west of Rock Creek Park.

He called it a matter of addressing the elephant in the room.

“In a heterogeneous society, concentration of poverty is not good.” Bryan said. “So much of the polarization in our country is race driven, and that’s because our country is, more often than not, segregated in housing. D.C. is not that much different. We like to think we are but we’re not. Race and class are inextricably linked. You can’t talk about one and not the other, and not talking about either impacts our ability to relate to each other."

Advocating for the Affordable Housing Property Acquisition Fund

Ward 3, also known as Rock Creek West, has 1 percent of the District’s dedicated affordable housing, compared to the 30 percent located in the Southern portions of the District. In a survey conducted by the Bowser administration two years ago, 60 percent of respondents identified Ward 3 as the ideal location for affordable housing because of accessible transportation, quality schools and access to employment opportunities.

In late 2021, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) set a goal for more than 1,900 new affordable housing units in Ward 3 by 2025. There have since been questions of how that goal-- part of the Bowser administration’s vision for 36,000 new homes and more racially diverse and inclusive communities -will come to fruition.

For years, affiliates of the Ward 3 Housing Justice Working Group have suggested that the District purchase

Bowser's veto of the bill, incited fury among statehood advocates who said the president infringed on the District's Home Rule.

The Senate had been scheduled to vote on the RCCA disapproval resolution this week. The bill had already passed through the House with overwhelming Republican support and the votes of 31 Democrats. Though Democrats carry a slight majority in the Senate, a similar outcome was expected, especially since Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) and others said they would vote in support of the disapproval resolution.

council once again for public comment. In speaking about the RCCA over the last few weeks, Bowser said that constituents, particularly those affected by violent crime, didn’t have ample opportunity to provide feedback about the legislation.

As of March 6, the Metropolitan Police Department has recorded 38 homicides and more than 400 armed robberies for this year, an increase from what had been seen around the same time last year.

like Aristotle Theresa, say that the well-endowed nonprofits that are the frontlines of this fight have the potential to distort what has been a movement of significance to native Washingtonians.

and convert the former Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Woodley Park to affordable housing. The Bowser administration decided against that, opting instead to allow a developer to construct 900 units, 72 of which would be set aside as affordable housing.

Bowser revealed a similar move in February with the redevelopment of the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home on Western Avenue, which will produce 93 units of affordable senior housing.

However, such arrangements don’t suffice for the Ward 3 Housing Justice Working Group, a coalition composed of Empower DC members, the Wardman Hotel Strategy Group and the Northwest Opportunity Partners Community Development Corporation.

During a virtual Ward 3 budget forum in January, Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin (D) said he would encourage his colleagues on the D.C. Council’s Committee on Housing to pursue a $100 million allocation in Bowser’s FY 2024 budget toward the Affordable Housing Property Acquisition Fund.

During the budget forum, Deirdre Brown, a one-time Ward 3 D.C. Council candidate, implored Frumin to support the Affordable Housing Property Acquisition Fund, through which the funds would be used to purchase property that could be converted into affordable housing.

Though Frumin described the $100 million investment as the quickest way to meet Ward 3’s affordable housing goals, he acknowledged the District chief financial officer’s recently released revised revenue estimate might complicate efforts to secure those funds for the upcoming fiscal year.

Read the full story on www.washingtoninformer.com WI

Over the last few weeks, the RCCA attracted politicians eager to show their tough-on-crime stance. While some District residents viewed Biden’s comments as an affront to the statehood, others who had been apprehensive about the RCCA saw the president’s position as further confirmation of a progressive takeover that has turned the District into a violent city.

On Monday, Mendelson doubled down on his assertion that House and Senate Republicans derided the RCCA without any intimate knowledge of what's in the legislation. However, he acknowledged that council members must engage District residents, specifically those from communities affected by violent crime, about the specifics of the bill.

"We need better messaging when it comes to violent crime and comparisons with other states," Mendelson said. "Our current criminal code is considered one of the worst in the country and not modeled in best practices."

SENATE LEADERSHIP AND MAYOR BOWSER WEIGH IN

A Senate leadership aide reportedly said that the Senate vote will carry out as planned, despite Mendelson’s removal of the RCCA from the congressional review process.

The 16-year road to RCCA’s unanimous passage in the D.C. Council involved the formation of a commission and council hearings. Mendelson said that Bowser, a vocal critic of the RCCA, had ample opportunity to offer her input about the RCCA but hadn’t done so until the midnight hour.

After the D.C. Council overrode Bowser’s veto in January, she introduced legislation that would bring elements of the RCCA before the

On Wednesday, March 8, Bowser is scheduled to conduct a public safety walk along Georgia Avenue, on the same day that activists are converging on Union Station to stand up against congressional interference in District policy.

Bowser’s walk follows an announcement about the expansion of the Multiagency Public Safety Task Force, which, since last year, has collaborated with the Homicide Reduction Partnership to tackle violent crime in pockets of the city that accounted for more than 20 percent of citywide homicides in 2021. The task force, which had a presence along the U Street Corridor, Georgia Avenue, and Connecticut Avenue recently took on Adams Morgan as an additional nightlife site.

On Monday, Bowser said she shared Mendelson’s sentiment that the Senate vote shouldn’t happen. However, she declined to specify whether she and Mendelson discussed his removal of the RCCA from the congressional review process before he carried out that tactic.

A QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PEOPLE’S VIEWS WERE REPRESENTED

Since the start of the year, leadership within the DC Justice Lab, an ardent RCCA supporter, have fought toe to toe with what has been described as a misinformation campaign.

Last month, DC Justice Lab Executive Director Patrice Sulton told The Informer that the RCCA creates uniformity in how punishment is doled out for criminal offenses, and ensures that penalties are aligned with the degree of harm caused by the offender. In her recent response to Biden’s announcement, Sulton lamented how federal imposition sets D.C. back in achieving racial equity.

Amid ongoing efforts to tie the RCCA to the fight for D.C. statehood, some District residents,

Theresa, a Ward 8 resident and principal of Stoop Law, said he considered Republicans' RCCA disapproval resolution more of a home rule issue than one of statehood. For him, Bowser’s ascent to the national stage during the pandemic and 2020 election brought the District the national attention that fermented this current fight on Capitol Hill.

Theresa went on to criticize elected officials and nonprofit organizers who he described as out-of-touch with the valid fears of Washingtonians who are increasingly becoming victims of carjackings and random acts of violence.

As the D.C. Council prepares to reexamine the RCCA, Theresa expressed hope that council members take into consideration what Bowser said and give Washingtonians who don’t frequent the Wilson Building some assurance that their concerns are being heard as well. However, Theresa questions whether, for the time being, that’s likely to happen with organizers using a moment to bolster a polarizing political movement.

“Statehood has been an issue for a long time, and they take the criminal code revision, which divides us, and make it a statehood issue,” Theresa said. “That’s a pure nonprofit, strike-while-the-iron-is-hot agenda. It ends up fracturing a movement, and hopefully that doesn’t happen. I think it’s a definite setback.”

WI @SamPKCollins

5 Cathedral Heights apartments in Ward 3. (Courtesy photo)

CRIMINAL CODE from Page 1

HOUSING from Page 1

“On Monday, Mendelson doubled down on his assertion that House and Senate Republicans derided the RCCA without any intimate knowledge of what's in the legislation.

This, in turn, drives down fares — and improves the travel experience — as the carriers all vigorously compete for the same consumers.

The benefits of the Airline Deregulation Act are still felt throughout the country, with fares remaining remarkably affordable. In 2021, domestic air travel in the U.S. was 55 percent less expensive than it was in 1979. As a result, one-third of Americans boarding commercial aircraft in the U.S. had family incomes under $75,000.

Even as record-high inflation has affected businesses across the coun-

MORIAL from Page 30

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that after college graduation, white households receive wealth transfers from their family to help pay for things like the purchase of a home. Students of color are less likely to have wealth to finance either an education or a home purchase, leading to higher rates of loan debt. The different patterns of intergenerational transfers contribute to nearly three-quarters of Black borrowers' student loans having a higher balance today than they did when they first graduated, disproportionately limiting their homeownership possibilities.

Extensive evidence underscores how debt affects mortgage eligibility and credit score, erect clear barriers to homeownership; barri-

MARSHALL from Page 30

Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act, provided hope and progress toward a perfect Union.

Today's culture war is a continuation of centuries-old attempts to deny, take back or weaken the rights of citizens of color, which is why we will always be directly connected to our history.

Breaking the will of Black citizens and preventing their participation in the democratic process has long been a political strategy. It represents a fact that should unite instead of divide those within all segments of the Black community. I could never imagine Frederick Douglass reaching the breaking point and not caring.

The stakes are high next year with the White House, Senate, and Congress up for grabs. We must remain mindful and vigilant of the tactics and purpose behind the constant stream of

try, U.S. airlines have maintained these affordable airfares. For example, the price of jet fuel averaged 83 percent more in 2022 than in 2019, but in 2022, inflation-adjusted fares averaged 6.8 percent below 2019.

Thanks to a reduction in unnecessary, inefficient regulation, air travel is no longer a luxury. Instead, air travel is now an essential method of transportation for Americans of all races, cultures and incomes. However, potential action by the Biden administration could change that.

It is critical that the White House recognizes that their proposed pol-

ers that wouldn't exist without the anti-Black policies that have diminished wealth-building opportunities that accelerate economic and social mobility. The racial disparities in wealth and income alone force a disproportionate number of Black students to take on greater financial risks to pursue a higher education – risks that further widen the racial homeownership gap. This is especially true for Black women. As the most educated group in the United States, Black women are more likely to be saddled with student loan debt. A report by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) found that Black women amass an average of $41,466 of debt by college graduation, compared to the $33,851 held against white women and $19,500 held against white men. The numbers nearly

voting suppression bills/laws and the anti-woke movement.

State representatives are wasting no time setting their sights on the voting patterns for the 2024 elections based on the 2022 results. The Georgia Senate Ethics Committee recently passed a version of an election bill that might violate federal law and includes a last-minute ban on absentee drop boxes. If this bill successfully passes, it represents another attempt to make it harder for people of color to exercise their voting rights as citizens.

The motive behind banning absentee drop boxes is clear; we know from history that they will never give up. They want people of color to give up.

Georgia has stood tall by sending Raphael Warnock back to the U.S. Senate during last year's election. While Stacey Abrams did not win her last election for governor of Georgia, she helped develop a political infrastructure that increased voter turnout among Black,

icies to increase regulation of the airline industry could make it increasingly difficult for low-income Americans, and particularly those of color, to afford airline tickets. While regulation can sometimes be a useful tool, in the case of the airline industry, increased regulation can do more harm than good. Let’s not move backward and reregulate an industry that has made tremendous progress in accessibility and affordability. The people that will be harmed the most by more regulations are those from low-income and diverse communities of color.

double when you consider those who continue their education to attain their master's, Ph.D.s, and their doctorates. This issue is also further compounded by the nation's gender and racial pay gap. Currently, a Black woman only makes 63 cents compared to every dollar a white man makes, forcing Black women to take years to pay off their student loan debt.

On Tuesday, the National Urban League and other civil rights and social justice organizations led a rally outside the Supreme Court, lifting up the personal stories of those who are struggling under the weight of student debt. Many of them traveled hundreds of miles, standing for hours in the cold. The National Urban League will continue to stand with them until their voices are heard. WI

Asian, Latino, low-income and youth voters. It is an infrastructure holding the line with record turnouts even with the voting obstacles.

Can the success in Georgia ever be duplicated in Mississippi, which has a higher percentage of Black residents than Georgia? Georgia is approximately 33% Black, compared to 38% in Mississippi.

If Mississippi had a Georgia-type political infrastructure and a strong hope in the democratic process, Mike Espy would be in the U.S. Senate today. Espy's opponent was not only the Republican candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith but generations of deep-seated racial hate that caused people to lose hope. Georgia has provided Mississippi and other states with a winning blueprint. Unfortunately, the blueprint will not work until enough people accept that "We the People" applies to them and are willing to fight nonstop for the rights that belong to them. WI

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MALVEAUX

it seems that volunteers are more taken for granted than recognized. What would we do if they all disappeared?

In our very divided nation, volunteers remind us that we can come together for the common good of our communities. It doesn't matter if volunteer firefighters are Democrats or Republicans. It matters that they've stepped up to serve. It does not matter what religion they belong to because, as Bahai ancestor Abdu'l-Baha' said in his Divine Philosophy, "Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship." His quote suggests reasons a national service corps, designed as a year or two of mandatory service for young people, might allow us to see each other's

MYRICK from Page 31

things the unions want, too: substantial pay raises and additional positions. I get that. A lot of working families depend on police officer salaries; and in fact, a union representing Black officers in the city has come out in support of SB 78.

But returning to a Civil-War era system of state control over the city police — which is what this bill would do — is not the answer. That antiquated system was already rejected by voters statewide in 2012.

JEALOUS from Page 31

Washington and Oregon than from other Republicans in the Pacific Northwest.

humanity and needs despite the sharp political divide.

While I have always appreciated volunteers, I had no idea that so many firefighters are volunteers and that 62% of fire departments are staffed by volunteers. Exploring the role of volunteers in fire departments and organizations like SCLC Women gave me a new appreciation for how people choose to serve their communities. It also reminds me of the many organizations that might not exist were it not for volunteers. Statistics suggest that 25% to 33% of all Americans volunteer, with their collective work valued at more than $147 billion annually! But as more Americans have less free time, there is always a need for more people to step up.

We celebrate women during

The bigger question is whether this type of reactionary effort will spread. As a former elected official and as head of the nonprofit organization I now lead, I have studied and worked on this issue for many years — and I can tell you that local officials and residents know what they want and need. Community buy-in is essential to any successful effort to improve public safety, whether we want to fight crime or reduce the risk of violent encounters between residents and police. It makes no sense to move control of police to a higher level of gov-

Women's History Month, many of whose contributions have not been fully amplified. People know about Rev. Joseph Lowery and SCLC but less about Dr. Evelyn Lowery and SCLC Women. We know about programs that serve the homeless but little about the nameless people who are dishing up meals, gathering clothing, and doing other forms of service. As we interact with some of these organizations, we might ask people about their volunteer service and what motivates them. Or, we might try volunteering ourselves.

Volunteers deserve our praise, gratitude and recognition, although many are less interested in recognition than in service. What would we do without volunteers? I, for one, do not want to find out. WI

ernment. I's antithetical to what we know about the best way to manage public safety, which is to make it as local as possible. But now the threat exists, and can be dangled over the heads of local officials who want to enact progressive change.

That would be tragic, because there is so much we can do to improve public safety at the local level and to improve and save lives. The people who voted for Tishaura Jones know that; they deserve to reap the benefits of the reform they voted for. WI

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Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray (both Democrats from Washington) added their voices with their own joint report and recommendations around breaching. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also concluded that circumventing the dams must be "the centerpiece action" to restore salmon populations.

The new star in this political constellation is the Biden administration, who agreed to pause the long running litigation to look specifically at recovering salmon in the Columbia Basin, removing the lower Snake River dams, and meeting the treaty rights responsibilities. This new look at options comes along

with the historic infrastructure and inflation reduction packages that President Biden and Congress have approved since 2021. Simpson points to them as the way to pay for his $33 billion plan. Replacing the electricity generated by the dams can be done with renewable generation. So is replacing jobs and revitalizing state economies through greener industries and tourism tied to the outdoors.

There's a lot more work to be done, starting with the Biden administration joining Murray, Inslee and Simpson, making decisions that work for salmon, orca and Tribal Nations. Their proposals aren't perfect, but they are a usable framework to get work moving to deal with the dams.

Years ago, Colin Powell told me it's more important in a democracy to find the thing you can agree on with people who otherwise may be

political opponents than the many things you disagree about. "Figure that out and you can get a lot done," he told me. I see that playing out on the Snake River, and that can't come a moment too soon for wildlife and native cultures at the verge of disappearing forever. WI

TThere's a lot more work to be done, starting with the Biden administration joining Murray, Inslee and Simpson, making decisions that work for salmon, orca and Tribal Nations.

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