The Washington Informer - May 12, 2022 by The Washington Informer

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Vol. 57, No. 30 • May 12 - 18, 2022

Taraji P. Henson Highlights Power of Faith in Address to Howard University Grads

154th Commencement Convocation Brings Closure to an Eventful Year Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

5 Taraji P. Henson receives honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Howard University, presented by the school’s president Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, before delivering 2022 commencement address. (Photo courtesy Howard Universioty)

District Women React to Possible Gutting of Roe v. Wade James Wright WI Staff Writer Women in the District continue to express outrage over the possibility that the 1973 case, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, could be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court next month. “I am extremely shocked,” said Vicki WrightSmith, a former Ward 1 advisory neighborhood commissioner and an attorney practicing in the District. “Frankly, I never saw it coming. The justices really seem bent on overturning Roe v. Wade. I am holding out hope that doesn’t happen because it is not just abortion but other rights that are also at stake.”

DC ABORTION Page 20

4 A health official said Black youth were in crisis long before COVID-19 devastated the world but no national public health crisis was called. (Photo courtesy psycom.net)

For award-winning actress, filmmaker, philanthropist, entrepreneur and Howard University (HU) alumna Taraji P. Henson, the road to an HU fine arts diploma and future Hollywood stardom included an attempt at electrical engineering at North Carolina A& State University, an unexpected pregnancy and uncertainty about how she would complete her studies. As she reflected on her success, Henson recognized Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen for the scholarship they provided in their father’s name which paved the way for her 1995 graduation. She also thanked her late father Boris Henson who, along with legions of immediate and extended family members, encouraged her to take on Hollywood with her then-toddler son, Marcell Johnson, and just $700 to her name.

COMMENCEMENT Page 34

Teen Mental Health Crisis Continues to Alarm Medical Officials Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Mental health disorders stand as a significant challenge for American teenagers, according to researchers who said the pervasiveness of such illnesses failed to be a major concern decades ago. In fact, 30 years ago, most health experts reported that primary concerns about teens included pregnancy, smoking, drunk driving and binge drinking. But the latest statistics reveal that in 2019, 13 percent of adolescents reported having a major depressive episode, which the Pew Research noted equated to a 60 percent increase from 2007.

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AARP DC & The Washington Informer are pleased to host a VIRTUAL Mayoral Candidate Forum for the 2022 DC Primary June 21st.

Muriel E. Bowser

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fri day, May 20, 2022 @ 7:00pm Registration Li n k: https://aarp.cventevents.com/d/bkql3l/ Will also air live on Facebook @ facebook.com/aarpdc | facebook.com/WashingtonInformer 2 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

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Behavioral Health Unit Coming to MedStar Hospital in Clinton

5 House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, center holding scissors, participates in ribbon-cutting ceremony May 10 outside MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton. Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, third from left, stands alongside state and hospital officials. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton plans to open a behavioral health unit this month, a boost to improve overall health in Prince George’s County. Hospital, county, state and federal officials celebrated the achievement Tuesday, May 10, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the hospital. The $7.6 million project will provide 24 beds for inpatient care in a unit equipped with an examination room, dining area and a group/consult room. The project, conducted in two phases, received financial support with $925,000 in federal money and $840,000 in state funding. The second phase will provide outpatient services for those discharged from inpatient care. Psychiatrists, social workers, physician assistants, nurses and other staff will work with patients. “This is taxpayer money well spent and will truly benefit the members of our community,” said Dr. Stephen T. Michaels, who became president of the hospital Jan. 28. WI

D.C.’s Former First Lady, Cora Masters Barry, Treated to Birthday Bash

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $55 per year, two years $70. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Senior Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Jamila Bey, Digital Content Editor Austin Cooper, Our House Editor Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation Angel Johnson, Admin. Asst. REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Aja Beckham, Ed Hill, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Editor), Hamil Harris, Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler,Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson

4 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

Inclement weather did not stop longtime friends, family and elected officials from gathering on May 7 at the popular waterfront venue in Southwest, The Point, to wish Cora Masters Barry, D.C.’s former first lady, a happy 77th birthday. The celebration was hosted by Barry’s daughters, Lalanya Masters Abner, Tamara Wilds Lawson and her granddaughter, Zora Lawson. Barry, the dedicated founder and CEO of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center and Recreation Wish List Committee, remains at the helm of the state-ofthe-art tennis and learning facility located in Ward 8 that has provided service to more than 30,000 District youth. Guests at the birthday bash for Barry, named by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser as one of the District’s “Senior Influencers,” included some of the region’s most influential women: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser; Prince

AG Racine Initiates Action Against Tax Evaders Owning Vacant or Blighted Houses

AG Racine recently announced the first enforcement action brought by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) against owners of long-term vacant or blighted homes who made false claims to avoid paying the higher property taxes that the District imposes on empty or blighted properties. “Too many District residents are struggling to find safe and affordable places to live, while more than 3,000 homes sit vacant across the city,” Racine said. “The Council has imposed higher taxes on vacant and blighted houses to motivate owners to keep properties in use and in good repair. But instead of fixing up, renting out, or selling these homes, some owners repeatedly lie to avoid paying the tax-

5 Friends and family members feted Cora Masters Barry during her 77th birthday celebration at The Point on Saturday, May. 7. (Photo courtesy Donald G. Baker, Don Baker Photography Group.)

George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; AtLarge Councilmember Christina Henderson; Women’s and Justice Activist, Tamika D. Mallory; Melanie Campbell, president/CEO, The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable; and award-winning actress and dean, Howard University, College of Fine Arts, Phylicia Rashad. WI es they owe. That’s not acceptable and we’re putting owners on notice: if you own a vacant home, you must register it with the District and pay all required taxes. If you try to cheat the system, the Office of the Attorney General will hold you accountable.” “For years, this vacant property (located in Ward 6) has been a blight in our neighborhood and the owner has avoided paying their fair share of taxes,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Laura Gentile (6A05). “I’m grateful AG Racine is taking action to hold them accountable. Hopefully we’ll finally see this property put to good use.” Despite a booming real estate market, more than 3,000 residential properties in the District continue to sit vacant or blighted. When properties sit vacant, they reduce the supply of available housing and can attract drug activity and crime, affecting the safety and quality of life of nearby residents. WI

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At-Large Councilmember Candidates Address Concerns of D.C. Senior Citizens James Wright WI Staff Writer The Democratic at-large candidates for the D.C. Council participated in a candidates’ forum, co-hosted by the District chapter of AARP and the Washington Informer on May 4. D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds, seeking re-election to a third full-term, along with opponents Lisa Gore, Dexter Williams and Nate Fleming, discussed issues affecting senior citizens in the District. The four will face off in the June 21 primary with the winner advancing as the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 8 general election where they will vie for one of the two at-large seats up for grabs. AARP District of Columbia State Director Louis Davis, Jr. and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes served as the co-moderators of the forum. On the issue of food insecurity, the candidates each agreed that every senior should have access to healthy, nutritious food. Gore said the District government has a number of agencies that provide food to seniors but they don’t work in concert like they should. Bonds said the city has a robust meal for seniors program which many know little about. “It needs to be advertised more,” the councilmember said. “We should get the advisory neighbor-

hood commissioners involved in talking about the program.” Fleming said he would create an outreach team to go into the city to find out what seniors need as well as work to reduce age and income requirements which limit participation in food programs. Williams said seniors need a strong transportation network to get to food banks, farmers markets and other places that offer free or discounted food. The candidates also discussed senior healthcare. Fleming said seniors who live east of the Anacostia River don’t have easy access to a high-quality health care system and that needs to be fixed. Williams said healthcare workers need to undergo cultural competency training to better address the concerns of seniors. Gore said health clinics should be in neighborhoods that need them the most and seniors need a solid transportation network to get to appointments. Bonds agreed with Gore in that seniors need better access to healthcare clinics and added the District should provide funds to offset the high cost of prescription drugs. The candidates shared similar views on seniors’ access to housing. They all decried the displacement of seniors while many neighborhoods in the city continue to undergo gentrification. Common ideas among the candidates included property tax relief for seniors, incentives for developers to build senior housing

and housing vouchers. While the candidates agreed that access to broadband exists as an issue for seniors, they had different ways to solve the problem. Williams said he would work to create a comprehensive plan to address the issue. Gore said a dedicated committee on the council dealing mainly with senior issues should be able to hash out a solution to the broadband problem. Bonds said the D.C. Department of Aging has a program which distributes smartphone devices and training to any senior who wants it. Fleming said seniors should be able to get digital devices at reduced rates in the market and advocated classes for seniors to become digitally literate. WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Anita Bonds is running for re-election as a Democratic at-large member of the D.C. Council. (WI File Photo)

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 5

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MAY 12 -18, 2022 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

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1961 – A bus containing the first group of Freedom Riders is bombed and burned by segregationists outside Anniston, Alabama. The occupants escaped the bus before it burst into flames, but was then attacked by a surrounding mob.

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1955 – Chicago Cubs pitcher Sam "Toothpick" Jones no-hits the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first African American in Major League Baseball history to pitch a no-hitter. 1888 – The South American nation of Brazil formally abolishes slavery. 1914 – Boxing great Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber," is born in La Fayette, Alabama. 1950 – Music legend Stevie Wonder is born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan. 1985 – A police helicopter drops a bomb on a Philadelphia row house occupied by MOVE, a Black liberation group founded by John Africa, during a standoff. The explosion killed 11 MOVE members and destroyed 65 neighborhood houses.

1927 – William Harry Barnes becomes the first African American board-certified medical specialist. 1929 – Longtime Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) is born in Highland Park, Michigan. 1966 – Famed singer and actress Janet Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana. 1979 – A. Philip Randolph, a leader in the civil rights movement, the American labor movement, and socialist political parties, dies in New York City at 90. 1990 – Iconic entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. (top) dies in Beverly Hills, California, of throat cancer at 64.

MAY 17

1875 – African American jockey Oliver Lewis wins the first Kentucky Derby. 1954 – In the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that public school segregation is illegal. 1956 – Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard (bottom) is born in Wilmington, North Carolina.

MAY 18

1896 – The United States Supreme Court issues its infamous ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision declared the doctrine of "separate but equal" was constitutional. By doing so it, in effect, approved all Jim Crow or segregationist laws designed to degrade Blacks or keep them separate from whites. The ruling would stand until the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954. WI

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A few weeks ago, I was working on a feature story, reporting on the accomplishments of students at Archbishop Carroll High School who have reached tremendous heights as part of the Jim Vance Media Program. As I shared in the article, this year marks the first graduating class of students who have learned everything from video production and putting together public service announcement clips to the development of stories for both print and web outlets. At first, it was a bit sobering to realize that the youth with whom I was speaking were young enough to be my grandchildren. For them, life is just beginning while for me, I will soon reach the age where I’m considered a senior citizen. Where did the years go? It seems like it was just yesterday when I took my first steps on the campus of the University of Michigan or could stay up all night and still function effectively the next day – even with just an hour or two of sleep. Back then, it was nothing to jump in my Toyota Celica on a Friday afternoon and drive from Detroit to Atlanta, or to D.C., arriving just in time to make it to the club. Anyway, joining me at Archbishop Carroll were two other vet-

Call Us Seniors, Seasoned or Just Plain Old but Experience Still Makes the Difference “Where did the years go? It seems like it was just yesterday when I took my first steps on the campus of the University of Michigan or could stay up all night and still function effectively the next day – even with just an hour or two of sleep.“ erans of the media who work with me at the Informer: Roy Lewis, a highly-respected photographer from Natchez, Mississippi, whose portfolio has few rivals and who’s still making his mark at the “tender age” of 82; and Hamil Harris, 62, an award-winning reporter formerly with the Washington Post whose gift of gab and interviewing skills are tough to match. As for me, also 62, my God-given gift, recognized by my parents and teachers when I was quite young, has long been my ability to tell a good story and then transform it into the printed word. Yes, I serve as the senior editor for the Washington Informer but I also contribute features and news reports almost weekly. It’s not that I necessarily want to write. In truth, I write because I cannot “not” write. It’s part of my DNA. What amazed me most was how our trio worked together, almost seamlessly – often saying very little to one another yet knowing what the other two were doing and why. Sometimes it would only take a nod of the head, a change in the evening’s program, a few words shared in an impromptu fashion or an unexpected scene that propelled us into action. We were like a fine-tuned machine – primed and ready for the

task at hand. And it felt good! It felt natural. Our industry has changed and evolved in ways that none of us could have predicted when we began our careers back in the good old days – for Roy in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement – for Hamil and me, at a time when Black Power and affirmative action allowed us to enter doors once forbidden to Black men. It was a true gathering of old men but old only in the chronological sense. Our spirits and our innate abilities continue to inform the way we capture the news. And while we may not be experts on the latest social media applications or have less than an enviable number of followers on Twitter and Facebook, I realized something really important as the evening came to a close. There’s still no substitution for experience – for having failed and then learned how to overcome failure. It’s one thing to read about 9/11, the murder of Trayvon Martin or the Million Man March. But it’s another to have been there, to have walked with scores of other Black men, women and children, recording their thoughts or capturing their expressions so that future generations might also experience what we have – albeit vicariously. Three brothers joined forces one Saturday night on a routine assignment. But the ordinary became extraordinary. We were allowed the rare opportunity to bond as three proud Black men who have each weathered storms and seen rainbows evolve out of darkened skies. Even more, it was an evening which reminded us how much we love doing what we do. Doing it for the Black Press is the icing on the cake. WI

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“The career I never thought possible ... is possible.” 5 Janeese Lewis George represents Ward 4 on the D.C. Council. (WI File Photo)

Councilmember George Introduces D.C. Green New Deal Bills James Wright WI Staff Writer D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has introduced two bills that localize the national conversation on the Green New Deal which focuses on making the U.S. a more energy efficient country and better effectively dealing with climate change. Last month, George introduced the “Green New Deal for Housing Act” which would create sustainable, climate neutral social housing. According to George’s bill, social housing has garnered nationwide attention as publicly-owned, mixed-income housing for low- and middle-income earners. Rent payments, reinvested, would result in lower costs for tenants and allow more social housing units to be built in the District, based on her assessment. “Social housing is the critical missing piece in confronting our severe affordable housing crisis,” said George, a Ward 4 Democrat. “By putting the profits and the power in the hands of people, we can generate more of the afford-

able housing that is so desperately needed in D.C., while also aligning our housing policies with the urgent need to mitigate climate change.” The social housing legislation has been co-introduced by D.C. Councilmembers Trayon White, Sr., (D-Ward 8), Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) and Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1). George’s other bill, Green New Deal for a Lead-Free DC, would expedite the removal of hazardous lead water service lines on public and private land in the city, while expanding the lead remediation specialist workforce with a new job training program through the DC Infrastructure Academy. “We know the serious health risks of exposure to lead and the burden of removing lead pipes fall hardest on Black and brown residents,” the councilmember said. “Streamlining lead service line removal is a racial justice issue and can simultaneously deliver good green jobs that inject opportunity in our communities.” WI @JamesWrightJr10

— Quinton, Class of 2024

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Service sector workers from 32BJ SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 23 and UNITE HEAR Local 25 gathered at Franklin Square Park in Northwest on May 10 to thank Mayor Muriel Bowser for recent regulations helping keep hotels safe and sanitary. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

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Joshua Wiley Announces Run for State Board of Education

AROUND THE REGION

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

“There are so many mandates that take time away from teaching,” Wiley said. “We have tests every week and [the central office] doesn’t even use the PARCC test correctly. School leaders should have some autonomy and a fair evaluation system.”

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but other school leaders. Over the last few years, debate has emerged in the Wilson Building on whether to allow District public school teachers or administrators to run for SBOE seats. In the end, legislation championed by D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) garnered the support of SBOE members Jacque Patterson (Atlarge) and Frazier O’Leary (Ward 4), along with other education advocates. Wiley said he agrees with their sentiments, especially in efforts to ensure equity in a system in which the mayor has control over the affairs of public schools. “We need people in positions of power with experience or else you’ll see things going the way they shouldn’t,” he said. “Schools shouldn’t have leaky ceilings and inadequate heat. Schools shouldn’t be under-enrolled when you’re building a brand new school with a lot of lottery seats. Let’s put money into our neighborhood schools instead of trying to appease just one community.” WI @SamPKCollins

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finity for charter schools and her support of the STAR framework’s summative rating. Sutter told The Informer that she intends to file paperwork to run for reelection after the District primary. In regard to the summative rating, Wiley said student attendance and scores on assessments, both of which dictate the number of stars a school receives, don’t suffice in gauging quality of instruction. When it comes to charter schools, Wiley didn’t express an objection to their existence. However, he said public schools need more support and called on District officials to dedicate resources to building institutions that strengthen bonds between community members. That’s why Wiley expressed plans to address students’ concerns about the quality of school lunch. He also pointed to facilities issues like leaky ceilings and faulty HVAC systems that have plagued District schools. As an SBOE member, Wiley said he will use the larger platform and his knowledge as an administrator to directly address these issues, among others, that have not only affected him,

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Months after the passage of legislation allowing educators to run for the State Board of Education (SBOE), another DC Public Schools (DCPS) employee has thrown their hat into the ring. Joshua Wiley, an assistant principal at Whittier Elementary School in Northwest, took to Twitter on Monday morning to announce his run for the Ward 6 SBOE seat. He told The Informer that his campaign slogan, “Together with Wiley,” reflects his experience uniting people around a common cause. If elected, Wiley cited access to resources and teacher autonomy as his primary focus. He said a stringent curriculum and teacher evaluation system, along with disparities in technology access, have induced an exodus of teachers and students from District public schools. “There are so many mandates that take time away from teaching,” Wiley said. “We have tests every week and [the central office] doesn’t even use the PARCC test correctly. Students need some flexibility in their curriculum. School leaders should have some autonomy and a fair evaluation system. Granted, all of this is not in my purview but I could advocate for some of these things.” Earlier this year, Wiley commended the Bowser administration for tackling technological equity in the FY 2023 budget proposal. However, he lamented that more has not been done to bridge a socioeconomic divide which he witnessed at Whittier in the early days of the pandemic. Weeks before making his announcement, Wiley met with Ward 6 principals and community members who have had similar experiences. Wiley, who comes from a family of educators, brings a decade of experience as a teacher and administrator in DCPS, the District charter school system and Houston Independent School District. In differentiating himself from his opponent, Ward 6 SBOE Representative Jessica Sutter, he cited what he described as Sutter’s af-

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Morningside Mayor Bennard Cann. (Photo courtesy of Town of Morningside)

Prince George’s Municipalities Hold Local Elections WI Staff Report Prince George’s County will hold this year’s gubernatorial primary election July 19 but residents in seven of the jurisdiction’s 27 municipalities recently chose candidates in local races. The contests took place last week in the towns of Berwyn Heights, Capitol Heights, Cheverly, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Morningside and University Park with several incumbents seeking reelection while others decided to step down. Here are the results from each municipality.

BERWYN HEIGHTS

Mayor Pro Tem Jodie Kupla-Eddy will become the new mayor of the town of 3,000 residents. Former mayor Amanda Dewey, who served for the last two years, did not seek reelection. Council member Chris Brittan-Powell will serve as mayor pro tem and Jason Papanikolas will serve another two years on the five-member council. Two new members will join the body: Shinita Hembry and Faustino Menjivar.

They were sworn-in on Wednesday, May 11.

CAPITOL HEIGHTS

After the mayor’s office being vacant since May 4, 2021, Linda Monroe received 246 votes to become the town’s new mayor. She posted a flier on a Facebook page encouraging voters to choose her and four other candidates to serve on the town council.

Johnathan Medlock Sworn-In ARETHA on Prince George’s County Council William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

DISTRICT24

Former District Heights Mayor Johnathan Medlock officially

became a member of Prince George’s County Council on Monday, May 9. Medlock will serve through December on the 11-member body to complete the remaining four-year

5 Former District Heights Mayor Johnathan Medlock (left) is sworn-in by Mahasin El Amin, clerk of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, during a ceremony May 9, filling the vacant seat in District 6 until December. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

12 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

term of former council member Derrick Leon Davis, who resigned last month. “I feel excited. It’s a great day for myself and Prince George’s County and the District 6 residents,” he said after a nearly 30-minute swearing-in ceremony. “I’m looking forward to really getting in. We have a lot of work to do.” The biggest item he will jump into deals with the county’s proposed $5 billion fiscal year 2023. According to the council calendar, a spending plan could be adopted May 26. In the meantime, Medlock received support from his new colleagues, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, state officials and community leaders. He will represent the District 6 area that includes the city of District Heights, Forestville and Largo.

DISTRICT 6 Page 33

According to election results May 2, voters choose two of the individuals on Monroe’s slate: incumbent LaTonya Chew and Victor James. Voters chose four people to serve on the council including incumbent Faith T. Ford, Amanda Anderson, Anita Anderson and Ron Williams.

CHEVERLY

Approximately 543 voters participated in the May 2 election in the town where three of the current officials will remain in office. Mayor Kaycee Munyeneh easily won reelection with 433 votes. The town held special elections for Wards 4 and 5. Joseph Dalaker received 120 votes to maintain representation of Ward 4, defeating Jhonny A. Merino who received 105 votes. Incumbent Charly Garces, who ran unopposed in Ward 5, received four votes to remain on the council.

COLMAR MANOR

The voters in one of the municipalities that represents the Port Towns in Prince George’s elected a new mayor May 3. Monica Casańas garnered the most votes with 71, four more than Council member Melinda Mendoza. Doug Bowles came in third place with 60 votes and current Mayor Sadara Barrow received 46 votes. An election for the four council members representing four wards will take place in 2024.

COTTAGE CITY

Voters chose three incumbents May 2 to remain on the five-member council in Cottage City. Artis Moon Amarche and Wanda Wheatley received 40 votes each to continue representing Wards 2 and 3, respectively. Demetrius Givens garnered 38 votes to remain on the council.

MORNINGSIDE

On May 2, voters choose to keep Bennard Cann as the town’s mayor to serve another three-year term. John Anthony, Jr. and Sharon Fowler will serve on the four-member council for two years in the town of 2,000 residents.

UNIVERSITY PARK

Voters in the town situated in northern Prince George’s had four people ballot from which to choose in the May 3 election. Council member Joel Biermann, who represents Ward 1, will become the town’s mayor replacing Lenford Carey. Biermann will be replaced by Ralph O. Dubuya to represent Ward 1 on the seven-member council. Incumbent Laurie Morrisey will continue to represent Ward 3. Voters chose William E. Sweet to represent Ward 7 on the council, replacing Roland Stephen. The mayor and council members serve two-year terms but no one can serve in the same position for more than three consecutive terms. WI

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Women Pampered in Style During Mother’s Day Luncheon William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Naomi Smith relaxed in a chair while Tequila Butler filed her nails in a makeshift salon at Prince George’s Ballroom in Landover, Maryland. Smith joined 149 other women who received gifts that included toiletries, a catered lunch, shoes and even a fresh hairdo. The special treatment took place on Thursday, May 5, during an annual Mother’s Day event hosted by Anew Inspired Change with the theme, “She Rocks Anew Voice!” Smith and others currently live in various shelters including Oxford House, which has locations in both D.C. and Baltimore, as they make inroads in their recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. “I feel great,” said Smith, who has two adult daughters and a 10-year-old granddaughter to whom she refers as ‘my sunshine.’ “I’ve been at the Oxford House since 2018. But I don’t plan to stay there forever – I plan to get a nice place of my own.” The luncheon, now in its 11th year, occurred in person for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic gripped the state in March 2020. Porshia Everett of Clinton, program director for Anew Inspired Change, received assistance from major companies and other nonprofit organizations in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City. Anne Arundel County-based Amerigroup Maryland partnered with Anew and helped pay for the rental of the ballroom. Wegman’s donated food and employees from M&T Bank who helped decorate the more than two dozen tables. Some women received a massage from Healing Hands Physical Therapy Services, Inc., located in Southeast. Everett also received a helping hand from family members like her mother who registered attendees, her son operated the sound

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

system, her husband who served food and her sister, Tequila Butler, who donated her skills as a nail stylist. “It really does take a village to do all of this,” Everett said. “This

"This Mother’s Day event is so needed for everybody here. It boosts your spirits. This is so awesome.” is something all of these women deserve.” The women also received a undergarments and a bag of toiletries. Before departing, each woman would be allowed to select a dessert of their choice including a slice of a three-layered, chocolate cake with white icing or a cake popsicle. When Marjorie Gleaton looked at the table decorated with gold utensils, she remarked, “This is nice – somebody loves us.” For the past four years, Gleaton has lived at Hyacinth’s Place in Northeast which supports homeless women diagnosed with mental illnesses. The mother of two children and grandmother counted Thursday as her second time attending the event. “I attended pre-pandemic and missed this,” Gleaton said. “It’s a blessing to fellowship with other ladies going through similar circumstances. Being pampered is also a blessing. I’m thankful for this.” Marion Gray also expressed her thanks, particularly since regaining “a good relationship” with her son during her stay at the Oxford House. “It’s a haul – every day is a battle,” Gray said. “Some days I could use a drink. I fight it every day. This Mother’s Day event is so needed for everybody here. It boosts your spirits. This is so awesome.” WI @WJFjabariwill

5 Marion Gray strikes a pose on May 5 during an annual Mother’s Day luncheon at Prince George’s Ballroom in Landover. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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5 Porshia Everett, program director for Anew Inspired Change, talks with attendees and volunteers as they participate in a hula hoop contest May 5 during a Mother’s Day luncheon at Prince George’s Ballroom in Landover. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

MAY 12 - 18, 2022 13

BUSINESS Councilmember Henderson Sponsors Bill to Aid Food Insecure Residents James Wright WI Staff Writer D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson has authored a bill seeking to assist recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more often referred to as SNAP. Henderson, an at-large independent lawmaker, introduced the

“Give SNAP a Raise Amendment of 2021,” which would increase the program’s minimum monthly to recipients by providing city funds to match their federal benefits under the Low-Cost Food Plan set by the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, the bill would change the maximum benefit to 15% of the maximum

Elementary School Principal Employment Opportunity Position: St. Augustine Catholic School/Archdiocese of Washington Elementary/Middle School Principal Position Type: Full Time/Exempt/Salary Reports to: Pastor Hours: 8 hours (Hours may increase depending on job demands): • 7:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. (School hours) • 3:30p.m. to 6:00p.m. (After School programs) The elementary/middle school Principal serves as the educational leader of the school. The applicant must be a practicing Catholic. Requirements and skills · Previous experience as a principal or a similar role · Knowledge of school administrative processes and ADW policies · Hands-on experience with education management systems · Attention to detail · Great presentation and communication skills · Crisis management (demonstrate good decision making) · Ability to coach and inspire · A teaching license is preferred · Degree in Education; Master’s degree is a plus For further information or to submit resumes please email: skallen09@gmail.com

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allotment for a recipient’s family, as opposed to the current flat rate of $30. Henderson’s bill emerges as the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities reported in 2019 that about 94,000 residents – nearly one-in-eight – count as recipients of SNAP. District government statistics reveal that during the pandemic, the number of residents receiving SNAP benefits increased to more than 136,000 residents, with Blacks representing 24%, facing food insecurity. Whites only accounted for 2%. Henderson pointed out that the average SNAP benefit for a resident equated to $1.67 per meal in 2019. The legislator said that level of benefit leaves most recipients short each month by about $100 as they struggle to secure their food and dietary needs. She also noted that the present level of SNAP benefits fails to take into account residents who have specialized food needs and must often deal with higher grocery prices in the District. “We know the pandemic has exacerbated food inequities across the District and investing local dollars in SNAP is one way to combat this trend,” Henderson said. “We have an obligation to provide resources for participants to purchase the healthy and necessary food options for their families.” Beverly R. Wheeler, director of DC Hunger Solutions, praised

5 Christina Henderson serves as an independent lawmaker on the D.C. Council. (WI File Photo)

the bill, saying her organization “is grateful that Councilmember Henderson understands that over 136,000 D.C. residents, in particular, and the District economy, as a whole, will benefit from giving SNAP a raise.” D.C. Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Janeese Lew-

is George (D-Ward 4), Robert White (D-At Large), Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) and Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) have signed on as supporters of Henderson’s bill. The D.C. Council’s Committee on Human Services, chaired by Nadeau, held a hearing on the bill on April 28. WI @JamesWrightJr10

INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Concourse A/B Connector and Baggage Handling Project Your bid is due to Clark on or before June 15th, 2022 @ 5:00PM (EDT) for Bid Package #2 – Part 1 July 15th, 2022 @ 5:00 PM (EDT) for Bid Package #2 – Part 2 Project Description: This contract will involve all building trades and specialty work associated with airport facilities. Specific elements of the project include, but are not limited to, underground utilities; concrete pavement; reinforced concrete and structural steel; building envelope systems including architectural curtain wall; roofing systems, and skylights; interior architectural finishes; vertical transportation; industrial piping, ducts, and building automation system; fire protection and fire alarm systems; plumbing systems; electrical distribution; telecommunications, data, and security systems. INFORMATION ABOUT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS Drawings, Specifications, and Scope Information May Be Obtained From: Greg Jones at 410-598-6995 Bid documents can be viewed at: Online at our Building ConnectedTM website as of May 6th, 2022 CLARK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We request bids from small, disadvantaged, minority and Women-owned subcontractors and suppliers.

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BUSINESS

Embassy’s Open Their Doors to the Community Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

The University of the District of Columbia was recently the venue for diplomats from various embassies who rarely get a chance to show off food, art and cultural aspects of their countries. The diplomats from Libya , Uganda and Eritrea displayed a variety of items at the UDC Van Ness campus were part of the Around the World Embassy Tour and included other embassies along Massachusetts Avenue, Georgetown and other parts of the District. “This is our 15th year of being involved in the Around the World Embassy Tour,” said Steve Shulman, Executive Director of Cultural Tourism DC. “My hope for Passport DC is to help remind everyone that we are more alike than different, despite the multitude of cultures and beliefs.” On Saturday, the diplomats at UDC set up tables filled with art, food and fashion but Ronald Nnam who works in IT at Uganda Embassy showed a 30 foot replica of the “Peter the great battle cruiser.” Nnam said he built the replica of the ship because, “I want people to learn to appreciate hard work and to have the ability to think out of the box and be creative. That was the whole person of this project.” For many years the 4200 block Connecticut Avenue has been a gathering place for vendors from around the world on Saturday there were vendors from several countries. Shulman also said, “Washington

DC has unlike any other city in the US are different neighborhoods of embassies, we have the DuPont Circle area, up and down Mass Avenue and Some of the embassies on display had been on the US terrorist watch list or those who were led by dictators in the past like Idi Amin or Mormar Khadifi. The Lybians had one of the most popular tables because they served lamb, beans, coo coos and dates. One diplomat from Libya ia said that he was glad to have a chance to show Libya. Participating embassies included: The African Union, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bolivia, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mexico, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Uganda. Shulman said the event is more important than ever as nations around the world emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and the current state of international affairs is uncertain. As she passed out samples of bread, Seble Tsehaye, political officer for the Eritrean Embassy, said “There are a lot of people who don't know anything about Eritrea. We are showing a little bit about what the country is. Tsehaye, said “At one time Eritrea and Ethiopia were enemies and now we work together.” WI

3 Representatives from the Eritrean Embassy greet guests. (Hamil R. Harris/The Washington Informer)

Empowered 2 Prosper Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. I often say that I have the best job ever! As an estate planning attorney I have the opportunity to be intimately involved in legacy building plans. I have the privilege to serve as a trusted advisor as strategies are built. The greatest gift that I offer the people I serve is the reminder that each of us is empowered to prosper! It is so amazing to be able to impact the individuals and families with an opportunity encourage this perspective. As I confess that I am a person of faith, I share my vantage point that we are all indeed blessed. One of my favorite scriptures is III John 2, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (NKJV) It is with this foundational scripture that I have realized how many of us lose focus. Not only do we forget that it is God’s desire for us to survive but it is His plan that we prosper. We spend so much time on the realities of the struggle but not appreciating the skills, resources and the strength that we have acquired through the victories we have previously earned. We short sell our capacity. We short sell our resources. We short sell our opportunities. Another of my favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV) We often accept surviving as the ultimate goal as opposed to thriving and prospering to embrace abundant living. If we focus on survival, we will only see the opportunities to survive as opposed to thrive and prosper. If we accept the lower standard of simple survival, we settle for so much less than that which is available to us. I meet with people and hear their goals and vision for themselves and their families, I am often compelled to provide insight and inspiration on the opportunities to raise the standards. We are hosting a women’s conference Empowered 2 Prosper to convene amazing women to raise our vision on prosperity which includes physical, emotional, spiritual and economic health. This gathering will focus attention on prosperity, creating a circle of support that empowers, builds financial acuity as well as personal and professional development goals to thrive and enhances the entrepreneurial vision to conquer. Women are typically the caretakers of the family, office, church and community. We work hard to make sure that everyone else is taken care of and often manage self-care with left over energy and resources. While we intellectually know that we need to put our oxygen mask on first, we often make sure that there is enough oxygen to go around before we would put on a mask ourselves. We are indeed better together. Collectively, we build networks of support. Collectively, we dream dreams of fulfilling the purpose for which we are created. Collectively, we build strategic plans to prosper.

5 Executive Director of DC Tours and staff. (Hamil R. Harris/The Washington Informer)

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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

MAY 12 - 18, 2022 15

NATIONAL EPA Director Stays Focused on Clean Air and Water for Communities of Color Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan remains on a mission for justice. He believes President Biden’s historic bipartisan infrastructure bill provides an opportunity to finally rid America of poisonous lead pipes and free communities of color of the toxins that have polluted their neighborhoods for centuries.

“I’m the first Black man ever to lead this agency and the first to graduate from an historically Black college (North Carolina A&T) leading this agency,” Regan said during a recent visit to the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s headquarters at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Northwest. “We are passionate about the environment and public health,” he said. The bipartisan infrastructure law invests $3.5 billion in cleaning up

5 EPA Administrator Michael Regan. (Photo courtesy EPA)

superfund sites and addressing the nation’s legacy of pollution and delivers more than $50 billion to EPA to improve America’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. It also provides $15 billion to

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the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) for Lead Service Line Replacement, $4 billion to the Drinking Water SRF for Emerging Contaminants and $5 billion to Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Grants to address emerging contaminants. “There are still 6 to 10 million lead services lines in cities and towns across the country, many in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods,” Regan said. He recounted a visit to Lowndes County, Alabama, where he found homes in which people of color resided with malfunctioning septic systems that discharged untreated sewage into backyards where children played. “This is unacceptable,” he said. “Safe drinking water, safe sewer systems – this is a basic right. These individuals deserve what every American deserves: clean water and a safe environment.” On a visit to Wilkins Elementary School in Jackson, Mississippi, Regan described another difficult-to-stomach experience for young children of color. City officials declared a citywide mandate to boil water as Regan arrived because of the discovery of toxic chemicals. “It looked like a worksite and many of the kids had already been sent home because they couldn’t prepare food because of the water,” Regan said. “This is on the heels of a pandemic. But the kids who remained behind were so excited because they got to see someone who

looked like them in my position and someone who cared.” Regan said in each location he visits, he invites the media to accurately report what’s going on in communities across the nation. “The bipartisan infrastructure provides resources for our communities,” he said. “There are matching grants and forgivable loans, which means more of our communities have an opportunity to compete for these grants. We’re also making $50 million available for technical assistance to help our communities become more competitive. I’ve written a letter to every governor in the country outlining the criteria by which we believe those resources should be spent.” Regan said he developed a passion for public service as a young person. His father graduated from North Carolina A&T and served in Vietnam, working as an agricultural extension agent and with the national guard. For 40 years, Regan’s mother worked as a nurse. “I grew up with the desire to contribute to society because of what I saw in my home,” he said. Regan said EPA continues to prioritize addressing climate change with the focus and resources the crisis demands. “At EPA, we know both climate mitigation and adaptation are essential components of the strategy to reduce the threats and impact of climate change,” Regan said. “We will invest in programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including an additional $100 million for air quality grants to states and tribes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a local and regional scale.” He further acknowledged that the communities hardest hit by pollution and climate change are most often communities of color, indigenous communities, rural communities and poor communities. “For generations, many of these vulnerable communities have been overburdened with higher instances of polluted air, water, and land,” Regan said. “This inequity of environmental protection is not just an environmental justice issue but also a civil rights concern. Neither an individual’s skin color nor the wealth of their zip code should determine whether they have clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, or healthy environments in which their children can play.” “I am not afraid to enforce the laws on the books to make sure our children are breathing clean air,” he said. WI

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Erica Loewe Helps to Open Doors of the White House to the Black Press By Stacy M. Brown The Washington Informer As Karine Jean-Pierre prepares to make history as the first Black press secretary at the White House, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris continue to ensure that African Americans – particularly Black women, maintain the helm of crucial posts. Alongside Jean-Pierre, there’s principal deputy press secretary, Khanya Brann, chief of staff to Kate Bedingfield; outgoing press secretary Jen Psaki’s chief of staff, Amanda Finney and senior regional communications director, Rykia Dorsey. And then, there’s Erica Loewe. In Loewe’s important role as director of African American media, she continues to make sure that the Black Press and other media of color have been provided unprecedented access to the White House and top administration and cabinet officials. “President Biden and Vice President Harris promised an administration that looks like America and they have fulfilled that promise,” Loewe said during a recent visit to the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s headquarters at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Northwest. “Since day one, the Biden-Harris Administration has valued diversity, empowered Black voices and taken a whole-of-government approach to advance racial equity,” she said. Loewe, born in South Carolina, grew up in Miami. She attended the University of Florida and later interned at the White House for President Barack Obama. A prolific volunteer, she has worked as press secretary and deputy communications director for U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and as deputy communications director for Congressman James Clyburn (D-S.C.). “Jim Clyburn is one of my favorite bosses and he’s been very clear that I need to tell people that I’m from Charleston even though I grew up in Miami,” Loewe said. “He’s a great man and I’ve learned

5 Erica Loewe, the director of African American Media at the White House. (Photo courtesy University of Florida)

a lot from him.” Her parents, particularly her mother, as well as her grandparents, had a profound influence on her early development. Loewe’s father worked in the nonprofit sector and helped her gain a focus on economic empowerment and business development. Her mother worked for a city commissioner, allowing Loewe to spend time at City Hall. “I have always been around people who lead and serve, to some extent,” she said. “My parents split up but I lived with my mom and grandparents in a house full of love and laughter.” While working in the Obama White House, Loewe lived with her mother and worked under the director of African American media. Now, as the director of African American media, she said her life has come full circle. “I’m back at the White House and my mother lives with me,” she said. She said while her mother now

battles Alzheimer’s disease, “somewhere inside, she’s there, proud of me.” Loewe said she has enjoyed returning to the White House where she knows the best places to eat and often gets to even have fun with Secret Service agents. “We have fun. They take their jobs very seriously and we do as well,” Loewe said. However, she said providing access for Black media and the American public gives her a true sense of accomplishment. “There’s nothing like being able to grant access to the White House for the very first time,” Loewe said. “It’s a building people have seen on television but thought they may never get inside. Our job is to provide access to people.” She said the Biden-Harris team has allowed access never before experienced by the American public while also serving as the most inclusive administration in American history. “Never has there been an administration that has uplifted and supported Black women as much as President Biden and Vice President Harris,” Loewe said. “It’s just a fact. Numbers don’t lie. The Honorable Harris is a Black woman who has lived experiences not just as a Black face to look nice. She attended Howard University and she’s a member of the Divine Nine, the Black Church and an advocate for Black maternal health and accurate home appraisals for Black people.” “There are more Blacks in first time positions in the President’s cabinet. You have Gen. Lloyd Austin, the first Black to head the Department of Defense as well as Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – two Black people you see every day who are making sure we provide aid to Ukraine,” she said. Other Blacks in high level positions include Michael Regan, administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency and Marcia Fudge, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “These are not symbolic positions,” Loewe concluded. WI

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18 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

africa now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

UN Says Africa Facing Crisis Over Ukraine Conflict

Africa faces an “unprecedented” crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, particularly in regard to soaring food and fuel prices, United Nations (UN) officials said May 6. The conflict and Western sanctions on Moscow are disrupting supplies of wheat, fertilizer and other goods, compounding difficulties which Africa already faces due to climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, the New Age World reported on May 7. “This is an unprecedented crisis for the continent,” said Raymond Gilpin, a UN chief economist from Africa, during a press conference in Geneva. Gilpin, who spoke by video conference from New York, said there were risks from a widespread surge in inflation, particularly in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone. “We are seeing a reduction of GDP growth on the continent, supposed to rise slightly this year after COVID,” he said which he said puts millions of households at risk across Africa – a continent which includes many of the world’s poorest countries. “Tensions, particularly in urban area, low-income communities, could spill over and lead to violent protests and violent riots,” he said. Countries holding elections within the next several years remain particularly vulnerable. Many African countries depend heavily on food imports and fertilizer from Russia and Ukraine – two major exporters of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower oil. Rising oil prices from the war have also increased fuel and diesel costs. In some African countries, up to 80 percent of wheat came from Russia and Ukraine. “With the disruptions now happening, we’re seeing an urgent situation materialize. Where can these countries turn overnight for commodities?” said UN under-secretary general and African regional director, Ahunna Eziakonwa. She said the crisis could also impact debt for many African countries like Ghana with high borrowing rates. “There needs to be an effort by multilateral, bilateral institutions to really think about restructuring debt,” she said. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres recently said he has requested talks to bring back Ukrainian and Russian agriculture and fertilizer products into world markets to help end a “three-dimensional” crisis in developing nations. The International Monetary Fund said last month the war in Ukraine had already significantly impacted the Middle East and North Africa and warned that high prices may lead to social unrest in Africa. WI

caribbean now Bahamas Prime Minister is a Commencement Speaker at Middle Tennessee State University Bahamas Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip Davis (right) served as a commencement speaker at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) on May 7. Davis, who addressed graduating students during the first of three spring commencement ceremonies held inside MTSU’s Murphy Center, received an honorary doctorate degree along with former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee, a Bahamian, noted in a tweet on Friday: “We were honored today to welcome the Honorable Philip Edward Davis, prime minister of The Bahamas, to campus! The Bahamas is the third-largest provider of international students at MTSU!” During his tour of the MTSU campus, Davis also met with Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron, Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland and Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed, all of whom count as MTSU alumni. As Tennessee’s Murfreesboro Daily News Journal reported, “Reed presented Davis with a ceremonial key to her town in northern Rutherford County, specially made in part from locally-grown walnut trees.” Murfreesboro Mayor McFarland also presented Davis with a key to the city and Rutherford County Mayor Ketron presented him with a basket “containing several unique Tennessee products and items,” according to the Murfreesboro Daily News. WI

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May 2022 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living Directors Message

Director Laura Newland Department of Aging and Community Living Happy Older Americans Month! This year’s theme is Age My Way, celebrating the ways in which older adults choose to thrive in the communities they know and love. May is the month where we join the rest of the country in celebrating and honoring your accomplishments, service to your communities, and the ways in which you help all of us Thrive Together. For DACL, this is a personal mission our team works towards every day — but we call it Live Boldly! Every day, our team is working hard to reach the hardest to reach seniors and to ensure those who need resources and services receive them, making Washington, DC a place where all older adults can live and thrive in the communities they know and love. Just like in prior years, our Mayor continues to make significant investments in making

sure longtime DC residents like you can stay and thrive in DC. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget includes helping families pass on property from one generation to the next, lowering property taxes for seniors, and helping residents maintain their properties. As the Mayor has noted, so much of our city’s $5.7 billion health and human services budget is focused on seniors and making sure our older residents have access to world-class health care, housing, and opportunities. Older Americans Month couldn’t have come at a better time and that’s because DC is Open, which means more opportunities for us to gather, connect, and engage in-person. All month long, our wellness centers, community dining sites, and other community partners have tons of events planned to celebrate our city’s oldest residents. One of those events is the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Senior Fest! This year’s fest is taking place at the Gateway Pavilion in Ward 8 and we have so much in store for you. Music, live entertainment, exhibitors, health screenings, games, a great lunch and more. If you’re interested in attending, be sure to visit dpr. events.com to register! While Older Americans Month is all about taking the time to engage with you in the community, it’s also a time for us to reinforce our commitment of listening to what matters most to you. In my January column, I shared more about our newest initiative called the Future of Aging (FOA) Project. FOA is all about using your feedback to help redesign systems and programs around your insights, feelings, and experiences. Together, we can create a customer experience that we can all be proud of. If you’re interested in participating in some of these activities, please call 202715-7534 or email us at futureofaging@dc.gov. Keep living boldly!!!

While Older Americans Month is all about taking the time to engage with you in the community, it’s also a time for us to reinforce our commitment of listening to what matters most to you.

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 19

HEALTH DC ABORTION from Page 1

sent the final decision of the court. However, Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the draft’s authenticity and added it did reflect the court’s view on abortion legality. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a retired constitutional law scholar at the Georgetown University Law Center, said gutting Roe v. Wade spells trouble for District women. “I am horrified by the Supreme Court’s draft order,” Norton said. “Congress must immediately codify the right to abortion in federal law. The draft order is also a reminder to the country that D.C.’s lack of statehood means D.C. is subject to the whims of Congress. Republicans have repeatedly used D.C. to

In nearby Virginia on May 9, a youth group called Generation Ratify Virginia led a statewide walkout of 45 schools protesting the possible overturning of the landmark legislation. The walkouts lasted for 30 minutes. Student leaders said they will repeat their protest on May 14, WRC-TV (Channel 4) reported. Like millions of people across the country, Wright-Smith and Generation Ratify Virginia student activists have concerns about whether abortion will remain legal after Politico published a draft opinion circulating through the Supreme Court. Legal experts say the draft doesn’t repreWE DO IT ALL!

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20 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

with it because it would only apply to D.C. residents. They are wrong. We will never allow that to happen.” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, speaking at a Planned Parenthood location in Northeast on May 3, said the District counts as a prochoice city and will fight to remain so, regardless of which party holds the majority in Congress. Akosua Ali, president of the D.C. branch of the NAACP, said the draft opinion has become public as “reproductive healthcare in D.C. is in a crisis [while] D.C. residents are denied the autonomy to build our own healthcare systems and make our own choices about our bodies.” Ali said the District has the fifth worst overall maternal mortality rate in the nation,” she said. “Questioning a woman’s right to choose in 2022 is appalling and abhorrent. The potential of overturning Roe v. Wade should be an awakening for this country and a reminder that our votes matter. Many indifferent or infrequent voters who failed to vote in the midterm must now see the potential impact their votes have. This also reaffirms the need for statehood as a fundamental right to protect the rights of women in the District of Columbia.” D.C. Councilmembers said they will be proactive in responding to the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) has served as a speaker on behalf of District women at rallies that have taken

place in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Northwest. Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1), who chairs the Committee on Human Services, has sponsored a bill, The Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022, which would prevent the District from cooperating with investigations in furtherance of proceedings that seek to impose civil or criminal liability for people from other states who come to the city seeking abortions. Additionally, the bill will protect people from laws that allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps someone get an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The bill would also cover people marrying others of the same sex and gender-affirming healthcare in the District. Nadeau’s legislation has the support of D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7), Christina Henderson (I-At Large), George, Elissa Silverman (I-At Large), Robert White (D-At Large) and Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5). “With this legislation I am hoping we can solidify the rights of our own residents as well as those who may now be forced to travel here to preserve their own [right to an abortion],” Nadeau said. WI @JamesWrightJr10

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EDUCATION As School Year Winds Down, Teachers Maintain Mutual Support Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer With the end of the school year just weeks away, many District teachers continue to reflect on an academic year that has tested their resolve and intensified conversation about the institutional support needed for those entering the classroom in a post-pandemic world. At Barnard Elementary School in Northwest, teachers with less than five years of experience received mentorship and classroom supplies from members of the District of Columbia State Organization, Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International – an organization dedicated to fostering the professional growth of female educators. Sharon McCrea, a teacher at Barnard a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society who died in January, played an integral role in connecting the two entities. During a recent award ceremony, Delta Kappa Gamma Society honored McCrea’s memory and highlighted the achievements of several early career educators. Natasha Swinson, a Pre-K4 teacher who’s been teaching for four years, counted among those recognized on May 6 during the culmination of Teacher Appreciation Week. After spending half of her career in a pandemic, Swinson said she has developed a deeper appreciation for her students. “Delta Kappa Gamma has helped a lot as a support system and DC Public Schools is helping in the way they can but there’s still a lot on teachers’ plates,” Swinson said. “It’s hard to navigate the moving parts when we haven’t been through this before. In September, we were losing our minds. Teachers are dropping like flies, so making it to the end of the school year feels great.”

ADDRESSING TEACHER BURNOUT WITH A NEW MINDSET

Teacher Appreciation Week, which took place between May 2 and May 6, afforded teachers, administrators and staff members at District public and public charter schools the opportunity to celebrate colleagues who navigated COVID safety protocols, tackled learning loss and wrestled with sentiments that their voices had not been heard. On the evening of May 3, while the Office of the State Superintendent of Education honored 27 teachers at Gallaudet University’s Kellogg Conference Center in Northeast, District educator Teresa Lasley hosted an event at My Cake Theory in Southeast. During the event, she uplifted teachers and fostered discussion about how they could move forward in a career field that hasn’t adjusted to meet their evolving needs. As the founder of Instructional Gym, Lasley has spent three years creating spaces for teachers to collaborate, highlight their experiences and develop effective instructional models. Lasley has also focused on teacher burnout by supporting teachers so they can better understand their purpose. She plans to launch a program in the fall that will assist teachers in choosing an academic environment that can suit their needs and help them thrive in their profession. She said it reflects a change in the tide where many teachers are prioritizing their wellbeing. “A lot of teachers are in buildings that don’t align to their values and it becomes toxic when you’re at odds with the culture of the building and the structure of how things are

5 Pech Chhun, Pealine Humbles, Shaynita Blanchard, Dr. Judith Kelly and Geraldine Meredith at Barnard Elementary School in Northwest on May 6. (Photo courtesy Griselda Rutherford)

TEACHERS Page 39

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 21

Black DMV Homeowners Ban Together; Build Equity Through ‘Ownership Matters’ Group

Reaches 1,200 Black DMV Homeowners via GroupMe and 70,000 Nationwide Members via Clubhouse

up to $75,000 if their accessory apartment is approved. When White heard about the program, she reached out to the Ownership Matters’ GroupMe to ask for a referral to connect with a structural engineer, as she had noticed a slight crack Ownership Matters, a collective in the basement wall – the area which she plans to turn into for Black homeowners in the D.C. an accessory dwelling unit that meets the program’s standards. area, gather for photos each year The engineer recommended adding a pillar in the basement to on Juneteenth in front of Fredrick strengthen the structural integrity. Douglass’s historic home in SouthBefore joining the chat, she recalled hours of research and east. creating Excel spreadsheets to compare the prices, availability “About 150 folks came togethand average review rating. er in front of Fredrick Douglass’ “There's a lot of research that I did that I wouldn’t have had house [to] take a big group photo do had I known someone who had already walked through to,” said Gregory Jackson, founder the process,” White said. of Ownership Matters, referring to She represents the second in her family to own property. a celebration which started before In 2021, her 68-year-old grandmother became the first the pandemic and continues for its fourth year. “We created a space 5 Ownership Matters, a collective for Black homeowners in the D.C. area, gather for an an- homeowner in the family after moving from a $1,500 rental for people to network, and we all nual photoshoot in front of Fredrick Douglass’s historic Southeast D.C. home every Juneteenth. property in Oxon Hill, Maryland to a house in Waldorf, Maryland where she pays a $800 monthly mortgage payment. went out to brunch to take the community from the virtual to the real world. When White’s brother recently became COVID hit, a lot of the in-person stuff we had planned was derailed.” the third property owner in the famOwnership Matters, based in the District since 2018, builds a community of Black ily after purchasing an entire block homeowners, landowners and business owners across the U.S, sharing lessons, chalin Richmond, Virginia, where he will lenges and resources through virtual platforms including GroupMe, Clubhouse and build apartment housing for college Instagram. students. While the group intended to host in-person gatherings, it pivoted to virtual spaces Now, White’s helping her mother during the pandemic, reaching 1,200 Black DMV homeowners via GroupMe and become a homeowner. 70,000 current or aspiring property and business owners nationwide on Clubhouse. “My mom’s never made more than Some virtual offerings have included: ‘Becoming Debt Free,’ ‘House Versus Condo: minimum wage. I’m going to be honPros and Cons’ and for prospective homeowners, ‘Buying Your First Home.’ est, she’s never been able to afford a The homeownership rate for Blacks in the District stands at 34% compared to nearhome,” White said. “Now, I'm in the ly 49% for whites, according to a US Census 2019 American Community Survey. process of trying to get her into Home Ownership Matters wants to reduce the percentage gap between the two groups by Purchase Assistance, [a] first-time increasing the number of Black homeowners. homebuyers program in D.C. They Their mission statement reads as follows: We’re committed to building a community provide the closing cost and down of property and business owners across the world through education, counseling, facilpayment.” itating networking, referring professionals for services, and sharing financial resources Similar financial challenges remain and grants for aspiring homeowners. consistent for many Black residents in In 2018, Jackson started a group chat with about 20 friends during which they enD.C. couraged one another to build wealth and thrive through homeownership. Now there The average Black household inare a lot more chat users – mostly made up of a cadre of millennials averaging 30 years come in D.C. could afford just 8.4% of age. of District homes sold between 2016 Some serve as the first in their family to own property. Others, while not the first, and 2020; while the average white often rely on the platform for referrals to either renovate or repair their homes. 5 While the group intended for in-person gatherings, household could afford 71 percent of In 2020, Alexis White, 26, began the homebuying process for a multi-family propit pivoted to virtual spaces during the pandemic. Ownthe same homes, according to the Urerty valued at $750,0000 in Brookland. She joined Ownership Matters in 2022. Prior ership Matters reaches 1,200 Black DMV homeowners ban Institute. to Ownership Matters, she received guidance on the homebuying process from Neighvia GroupMe and 70,000 nationwide members via In an effort to include everyone in borhood Assistance Corporation of America. Clubhouse. the homeownership conversation, She said GroupMe helped her become financially-savvy by learning about equity Jackson is planning an Ownercon Conference in late June 2022. The intended auloans and business credit cards – instead of investing with personal savings and credit dience includes: those seeking to buy their first home or another property, real-estate cards, proper D.C. licensing to boost her income by renting via Airbnb and city-fundprofessionals, interior and exterior designers, developers, government agencies such as ed grants. D.C. Office of Planning. Panels and logistics are still in the planning phase. In March, Mayor Muriel Bowser an“I think it's important for homeowners of today to be the millionaires and billionnounced the Residential Accessory Apartaires of tomorrow,” Jackson said. “Hopefully, [we] will inspire folks to think ahead and ments Program, an affordable housing effort start to figure out if they want to buy a property and how they can invest in the future for District homeowners of single-family, of the city.” semi-detached, or rowhouses who can receive Aja Beckham WI Contributing Writer

22 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

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Americans are living longer than ever before — about 30 years longer, on average, than a century ago — according to leading scholars who participated the Longevity Project and the Stanford Center on Longevity’s December 2021 conference. Additionally, Living Longer: Historical and Projected Life Expectancy in the United States, 1960 to 2060, a report of population estimates and projections from the U.S Census, estimate increases in life expectancy to be larger for men than women, by 2060. The report’s authors, Lauren Medi5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) na, Shannon Sabo, and Jonathan Vespa issued their findings in February 2020, and noted that all racial and ethnic groups are projected to have longer life expectancies in coming decades, but the greatest gains will be to African American men and Native Americans. Currently, adults 50 and older represent 35 percent of the nation’s population and account for more than 50 percent of consumer spending. So, what does that mean for African Americans and their ability to age gracefully and vibrantly into their 80s? Well, despite the horrid precedence set by The Social Security Act of 1935, which while designed to secure respectable, livable incomes for the nation’s seniors, reinforced the racially divisive exclusion of agricultural and domestic workers, all is not lost. This legislation, signed by then-President Franklin Roosevelt, unilaterally removed the intended safety net for Black elderly, unemployed and disadvantaged Americans, and forced them to continue working into their twilight, to rely on charity, or depend on family members for care. Nearly 90 years later, and despite the Act’s volatility, African Americans continue to thrive and live their best lives. “There will always be issues of health disparities and wealth gaps, but there has also been an amazing amount of growth. African Americans are hardly ‘tragically Black,’ and without happiness,” psychologist Miranda Sedgwick told the Informer. “Not only are Black Americans living longer, but they are doing so happy, content, loved, and loving.” Sedgwick found that Black seniors were taking active roles in the world around them – from participating in protests and mentoring others, to returning to college, traveling, and taking on new and exciting hobbies. “Many Black seniors are taking the YOLO (You Only Live Once) phrase to a new level, investing in their own happiness and inspiring younger generations in the process,” Sedgwick said. “African American seniors are reinvigorating their sex lives, enjoying newfound companionship on social media and dating sites, and strengthening their marriages.” In this edition of The Washington Informer, we have gathered information on how best to live abundant and fulfilled lives over the age of 50, including tips and resources. Read, Learn, Grow. Dr. Shantella Sherman

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2022 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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Medicare Advantage Plans Send Pals to Seniors’ Homes for Companionship — And Profits By Phil Galewitz Kaiser Health News Tim Barrage stands next to Gloria Bailey outside her home in Akron, Ohio. Widowed and usually living alone, Gloria Bailey walks with a cane after two knee replacement surgeries and needs help with housekeeping. So, she was thrilled last summer when her Medicare Advantage plan, SummaCare, began sending a worker to her house in Akron, Ohio, to mop floors, clean dishes, and help with computer problems. Some days, they would spend the two-hour weekly visit just chatting at her kitchen table. “I love it,” she said of the free benefit. Bailey, 72, is one of thousands of seniors around the country being visited each week by employees of Papa Inc. Known as “Papa pals,” their primary aim is to provide companionship to seniors along with helping with errands and light housework duties. Since 2020, more than 65 Medicare Advantage plans nationwide have signed up with Papa, a Miami-based company, to address members’ loneliness — a problem exacerbated by the pandemic. “It’s the best thing ever” to counteract social isolation, said Anne Armao, a vice president at SummaCare. More than 12% of the company’s 23,000 Ohio Medicare members used the Papa benefit last year. But SummaCare and other health plans also stand to benefit by sending Papa pals into members’ homes. The workers can help the plans collect more money from Medicare by persuading members to get annual wellness exams, fill out personal health risk assessments, and undergo covered health screenings. Accomplishing these steps helps plans in two ways: By gleaning more information, plans may discover members have health issues that may earn higher reimbursement rates from Medicare. Plans can boost their star ratings, which are based on more than 40 performance measures, including cancer, diabetes, and blood pressure screenings; outcome measures such as controlling hypertension; and overall satisfaction with the plan. Plans that score at least four stars on a five-star scale receive bonuses from Medicare. Bonus payments from the star ratings make up an increasing share of federal payments to these private Medicare Advantage plans, which are an alternative to traditional Medicare. In 2021, Medicare paid plans $11.6 billion in bonus pay, double the amount in 2017. The federal government’s base pay for the plans is a monthly fee for each member, but it increases that amount based on the members’ health risks. So plans also get billions of dollars a year in extra payments by pinpointing members’ health problems through a variety of measures, including the health risk assessments. Yet federal investigators have found these diagnoses do not always result in additional treatment or follow-up care to beneficiaries. As a result, the federal government is probably overpaying the Medicare health plans and wasting billions in taxpayer dollars, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission that advises Congress. In a report last September, the Health and Human Services inspector general found 20 Medicare Advantage companies generated $5 billion in extra payments from the federal government for diagnoses identified through health risk assessments and chart reviews without documentation that the patients were treated for these issues. Nearly half of Medicare enrollees get their coverage through Medicare Advantage. David Lipschutz, associate director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, said Papa pals provide an important benefit to seniors by helping them with chores, reducing their loneliness, and getting them to medical appointments. But the benefit can also help the insurers’ bottom lines. “If there is one thing these plans are good at its maximizing their profit,” he said. Medicare Advantage plans often give doctors financial incentives to get patients to undergo health assessments. Plan workers repeatedly call patients with offers to send nurses or doctors to their homes to complete them. Lipschutz said health risk assessments are useful only if the health plans act on the information by making sure patients are getting treatment for those issues. Armao said the health risk assessment and annual wellness exam reminders are on the list of things Papa employees are told to ask about on visits. “They are our eyes and ears who can learn so much from members in their homes,” she explained. Pals look in refrigerators to see if members have enough to eat, check on how members are feeling, and remind them to take prescriptions. SummaCare even directs pals to ask whether members have urinary incontinence or are up to date on cancer screenings. Andrew Parker, who founded Papa in 2017 after finding a couple of college students to visit with his grandfather, take him to doctor appointments, and do other errands, said he estimates his company will provide more than a million hours of companionship in 2022. The Medicare plans pay Papa, a

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5 Tim Barrage, a “Papa pal,” takes a break from doing yardwork for Gloria Bailey outside her home in Akron, Ohio. Bailey’s Medicare Advantage health plan, SummaCare, contracts with Papa Inc., which provides workers to provide companionship, perform light housekeeping, and run errands. Barrage usually visits Bailey once a week for two hours. (JOHN TOMSICK)

for-profit company, a per-member fee monthly. “Papas [pals] are very proactive and will call you to see how you are feeling and, maybe not on the first day but over the course of the program, can ask, ‘Did you know your health plan would prefer if you had a wellness exam and it could help you with your health?’” he said. “A pal is a trusted adviser who can get them to think about benefits they do not know about.” He said insurers often don’t know a member is facing a health issue until they see a medical claim. “We can identify things they don’t know about,” he said. Until recently, Medicare rarely paid for non-health services. But Papa began working with Medicare Advantage plans in 2020, just one year after the program began allowing the private insurers to have more flexibility addressing members’ so-called social needs, such as transportation, housing, and food, which are not typically covered by Medicare but could influence health. Papa’s goal of addressing members’ loneliness took on even more significance during the pandemic when many seniors became socially isolated as they sought to reduce their risk of getting infected. Papa has more than 25,000 pals whose average age is mid-30s. Before being hired, pals must undergo a criminal background check and a driving record review as part of the vetting process. After being hired, pals are trained on empathy, cultural competency, and humility. Michael Walling, 22, who works as a Papa pal near his home in Port Huron, Michigan, said most seniors are receptive to getting help or a chance to talk to someone for a couple of hours. One of his clients has trouble walking so Walling helps vacuum and mop her trailer and take her to the grocery store. On Christmas Eve, he even took her out to lunch. “It was to be my day off, but I didn’t want her to be alone on the holiday,” he said. Tim Barrage, a former parole officer, who visits Bailey and about a dozen other seniors in the Akron area each week, turned to Papa because he was looking for a flexible part-time job to supplement income from his firearms safety training businesses. “I’ve done work in the garden, hanging up and taking down Christmas decorations, cleaning ovens or stovetops,” he said. Each time he arrives at a member’s home, Papa directs him to check to see how the member is feeling overall and then periodically ask about issues that can include the wellness exam and health risk assessment. At the end of the visit, he reports to Papa about what services he provided and how the member interacted with him. He alerts his supervisors at Papa to a member’s potential health issues, and Papa connects with the health plan to address them. Jennifer Kivi, manager of Medicare product development for Priority Health, a Michigan health plan, said members who have used the Papa service said it makes them feel less lonely. “If we can reduce their loneliness, it helps members feel better and their physical health will improve,” she said. The insurer doesn’t want its Papa pals to ask members a long list of health questions, but they can ask about cancer or diabetes screenings, which also can bolster a plan’s ratings. “What we have seen is you can have a doctor tell them and their insurance company tell them they need it, but a Papa pal can start to build that relationship with them, and it means a lot more coming from them,” she said.

MAY 2022 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Healthy Summer Tips Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia It’s May, and summer is just around the corner. Warmer weather brings with it more opportunities to get outdoors with friends and family. Here are some other ways we can help boost our health for the summer.

BE SUMMER SAVVY

Make the most of this time to get and stay healthy. Stay active in safe ways that make you feel good:1 • Beat the heat! If you exercise outside, be active in the early morning. Watch the sun come up while moving in place with exercises like stretches, jumping jacks, or skipping rope. • Sidewalks sizzling? Get moving indoors! Move your body in the privacy of your home with virtual fitness classes. • Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. Drink more water as the temperatures rise. • Fuel up. Help yourself stay active by getting lots of nutrients. Mix up your meals, using these healthy foods:

o Whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds o Fat-free or low-fat milk and cheese o Seafood, poultry, and eggs • Grow your own food! Start a small garden in your yard or use a plot in a community garden. It is rewarding to eat fruits and vegetables you planted yourself. Gardening can also be a great way to exercise and move your body.

STAYING SAFE ON THE PLAYGROUND

A warm, sunny day is the perfect opportunity to get your children out of the house and onto a playground. Play areas are a great place for kids to learn social skills, like playing with others, as well as use up some of that never-ending energy. Here are some tips on how to keep your child safe on the playground:2 • Check for hazards, such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. Report any hazards to the school or appropriate local office. • Dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses,

More Than A Sugar Rush scarves, or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a safety hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes. • Avoid playgrounds with non‒ impact-absorbing surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, grass, dirt, or gravel. Good alternatives are sand, pea gravel, wood chips, mulch, and shredded rubber. • Most importantly, keep an eye on your child at all times. Supervising your child is the easiest way to recognize potential safety issues and quickly respond if something happens. These articles are for educational purposes only. They are not intended to take the place of your primary care provider (PCP). If you have questions or are on a special diet prescribed by a provider, talk with your PCP before making any changes. Check with your PCP before starting any exercise program. If you think you need to see your PCP because of something you have read in this information, please contact your PCP. Never stop or wait to get medical attention because of something you have read in this information.

Type 1, Type 2, gestational, and prediabetes are all forms of diabetes that affect how the body processes blood sugar. These conditions can be dangerous if not managed properly. Check the list below to see if you are experiencing any warning signs of diabetes:3 • Feeling hungry and/or thirsty all the time • Going to the bathroom a lot • Blurred vision • Feeling very tired • Unexplained weight loss/gain • Cuts that heal slowly • Hands/feet feel numb or tingly • Having very dry skin

#BestMe Corner

Columbia (DC) offers virtual classes to help enrollees learn how to prevent hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, as well as ways to manage these conditions over time. Through weekly online classes, enrollees will learn from experts in the field during interactive sessions. Visit the AmeriHealth Caritas DC Diabetes Care Center webpage to learn more about these classes. For more information on diabetes, please visit www.diabetes.org.

Remember, you can still live a full and active life with diabetes. AmeriHealth Caritas District of Sources: 1. “Keep Active and Eat Healthy to Improve Well-being and Feel Great”” National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, https://www.niddk.nih. gov/health-information/weight-management/healthy-habits-summer. 2. “Playground Safety Tips,” Safe

Kids Worldwide, https://www.safekids. org/tip/playground-safety-tips. 3. “Diabetes Symptoms,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/ symptoms.html. All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. / Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmeriHealthCaritasDC.

www.washingtoninformer.com / MAY 2022 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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8 Great Activities to Strengthen Senior Minds Try a brain Training App

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer The days of elders sitting in the park feeding ducks has all but disappeared. Seniors have increasingly taken to more vigorous activities that enhance their physical agility and strengthen mental and intellectual acuity. And while the coronavirus forced many seniors to forego activities that required them to engage with large crowds, most adapted to indoor and hybrid activities that continued to keep them sharp and healthy.Here are some of the best ways to strengthen the minds of seniors.

As long as your elderly loved one has a mobile phone or tablet they will be able to download apps to help with brain training. Apps can improve concentration levels, visual-spatial skills and problem solving. A quick search in the app store will provide you with hundreds of brain training apps to choose from, like Lumosity, Peak, and BrainHQ.

Trivia Quizzes

Trivia is a great way to stimulate elderly adults’ minds, and it can also provide a good laugh. With the infinite amount of trivia topics available online, it is up to you to decide on which topic and whether or not it will be played in groups or individually.

Keep the hands and mind busy with arts & crafts

Arts and crafts are one of the best activities for the elderly to participate in as not only does it encourage the use of the mind, but it keeps the hands busy too. Using their hands helps to maintain dexterity and being able to explore their creative side helps with the use of the imagination. Making greeting cards, painting, drawing, knitting, word puzzles and scrapbooking.

Word Puzzles

Get your elderly loved one’s brain buzzing with enjoyable yet challenging word puzzles. Word puzzles are a fantastic way to keep elderly adults entertained and exercise their brain. Here are some word puzzles that are popular with seniors: word search, crosswords, hangman, and unscramble words.

Bingo

Bingo is an old favorite amongst the elderly community as it encourages social interaction, typically played in care homes, but it can still be enjoyed in your own home. While this is a fun and enjoyable game for the elderly, it also provides some essential health benefits.

Learn a New Language

Learning a new language might sound a little daunting, but challenging our brain is the best way to enhance brain health and reduce the impact of aging. Depending on your loved one’s physical and mental health condition, there are a variety of ways to learn a new language. Phone and tablet apps: DuoLingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone.

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MAY 2022 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Video Games

Jigsaw Puzzles If you want to start with a

simple activity to stimulate the mind, try completing a puzzle. While this might seem basic, there are a multitude of benefits for your elderly loved one, such as a slower breathing rate which aids in reducing anxiety and lowering blood pressure levels.

A lot of people believe that video games are played mostly by children and teenagers; however, they are a great activity for the elderly too. Playing video games is considered to be beneficial for older adults as it requires planning, quick responses, and a memory as to which buttons to use.

Brain Boosting Foods By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD (Safeway Corporate Dietitian) What you choose to eat and drink every day can boost your brainpower in the short term and long-term! Think you don’t need to worry about protecting your brain? Guess again! Cognitive decline is already taking effect in middle age — around age 45 — according to research from France. The brain is highly susceptible to oxidative damage and inflammation; for optimal brain health, start by emphasizing foods rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants help prevent oxidative stress in the body and may help delay effects of aging such as a decline in cognitive function. The antioxidant power peaks around two hours after the meal; keep a steady stream of powerful antioxidants in your blood stream by indulging in a variety of colorful plant foods! Colorful vegetables and fruits are antioxidant go-to foods, which include the following

fruits and vegetables: • Dark Green (kale, spinach, greens, green peppers, broccoli, asparagus) • Red/Purple (berries, red grapes, cherries, tomatoes, plums, beets, red cabbage, red pepper, eggplant) • Orange/Yellow (carrots, butternut squash,sweet potato, papaya, mango, cantaloupe, citrus fruits) Other high antioxidant foods include nuts, olives, beans, legumes, whole grains, garlic, onions, herbs, spices, and tea (especially green and white teas).

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY COMPOUNDS

While research in this area continues to develop and advance, dietary patterns with antiinflammatory activity seem to include eating plenty of: • Colorful vegetables and fruits • Nuts and legumes • Fish and plant sources of omega-3s (walnuts, ground flaxseed and canola oil) • Whole grains instead of refined grains

• Lean protein • Phytochemical-rich herbs and spices such as ginger and turmeric (used in curry powder) • Unsweetened Tea (particularly green/white), rich in bioactive phytochemicals Be sure to enjoy Berries There is growing evidence that eating berries at least several times a week may prevent age-related memory loss and other changes in brain function. Berries provide high levels of antioxidants, which help protect brain cells from damage. Foods bursting with polyphenol compounds, like berries and walnuts, may also help protect the brain by removing biochemical byproducts that accumulate in the brain. Nuts and Seeds Nuts and seeds come up as a brain boosting food due to several components. Walnuts are rich in plant omega-3s and polyphenol compounds (similar to berries) and nuts and seeds in general contribute polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, thought to

be helpful. But nuts and seeds are also the top food sources of vitamin E, a very potent antioxidant associated with brain health. In one study, people in the top 20th percentile of intake of vitamin E from food (around 11 IU a day) had a 70 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those in the bottom 20th percentile. If you include a cup of dark leafy greens or broccoli and a handful of nuts every day, you’ll likely hit this amount.

THE BRAIN IS BETTER WITH THE B’S

All of the B-vitamins are suspected to help neurons cope with aging and some experts suggest they may help protect the brain. More research is needed, but there is some evidence suggesting folic acid, B6 and B12 may play a role in healthy brain-aging, and that low levels of these vitamins can lead to quicker brain deterioration. B-vitamins are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fish (B12 is in animal products and some fortified foods). A British study suggest daily B-vitamin supplements may slow the decline in

mental function in people with mild cognitive impairment.

SWITCH TO MONOUNSATURATED FATS

New research suggests substituting bad fats with good fats could help prevent a decline in memory. Researchers found that the total amount of fat didn’t really matter but type of fat did. Over four years of testing, women over the age of 65 who consumed the highest amount of saturated fat had worse overall cognitive and verbal memory scores compared to women with the lowest amounts, whereas women who ate the most monounsaturated fat (found in nuts, extra virgin olive oil, olives, canola oil, avocados, etc.) had better cognitive scores over time. Making simple, deliberate choices when it comes to nutrition is important for each and every system in the body. Overall health depends on the things we put on our plates and in our stomachs. Choose healthy foods; it’s a no-brainer! Elaine Magee, MPH, RD is the author of 25 books on nutrition and healthy cooking and is currently the Wellness Services Corporate Dietitian for Safeway.

we put the pro in produce shop now at Safeway.com shop now at Safeway.com GL00181105_051222_WashingtonInformer_HalfPg

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organic & natural in every aisle

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Recent & Recommended Books about Aging Vibrantly By Lee Ross / WI Staff Writer Senior Tourism: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Aging and Traveling By Simone Francescato, Roberta Maierhofer, Valeria Minghetti, Eva-Maria Trinkaus This volume aims to bridge the disciplinary gap between tourism studies and aging studies. It investigates the intersections of tourism and aging from a variety of perspectives that focus on the many ways in which senior tourism is socially constructed and/or individually experienced. The essays tackle key topics ranging from the socio-economic aspects of post-retirement travel to the representations of the traveling elderly in literature, film and media, and the influence of travel on late-life creativity. Senior Citizens Writing: A Workshop and Anthology, with an Introduction and Guide for Workshop Leaders By W. Ross Winterowd In Senior Citizens Writing, renowned teacher and writer W. Ross Winterowd describes in his introduction how writing workshops for seniors not only provide an

Be a DC hero. Get vaccinated. For my health, for your health and for the health of all our DC families.

audience but also give them opportunities for the intellectual growth and engagement that everyone wants and needs. Included in this anthology are new poems, stories, and essays by workshop participants. Advanced Style By Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style is Ari Seth Cohen’s blogbased ode to the confidence, beauty, and fashion that can only be achieved through the experience of a life lived glamorously. It is a collection of street fashion unlike any seen before - focused on the over-60 set in the world’s most stylish locales. The (mostly) ladies of Advanced Style are enjoying their later years with grace and panache, marching to the beat of their own drummer. These timeless images and words of wisdom provide fashion inspiration for all ages and prove that age is nothing but a state of mind. Ari Seth Cohen started his blog inspired by his own grandmother’s unique personal style and his lifelong interest in the put-together fashion of vibrant seniors. Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex By Joan Price In Naked at Our Age, women and men, coupled and single, straight and gay talk candidly about how their sex lives and relationships have changed with age, and about how they see themselves, their partners, or their single life. Many of them are having unsatisfying sex, or no sex at all, and are seeking advice. Price presents their personal stories, and follows up with tips from sex therapists, health professionals, counselors, sex educators, and other knowledgeable experts. Naked at Our Age is an entertaining and indispensable guide to handling and understanding the issues of senior sex and relationships. Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning By Tom Vanderbilt Why do so many of us stop learning new skills as adults? Are we afraid to be bad at something? Have we forgotten the sheer pleasure of beginning from the ground up? Inspired by his young daughter’s insatiable curiosity, Tom Vanderbilt embarks on a yearlong quest of learning--purely for the sake of learning. He interviews dozens of experts about the fascinating psychology and science behind the benefits of becoming an adult beginner and shows how anyone can get better at beginning again--and, more importantly, why they should take those first awkward steps.

#VaxxedTogether

vaccinate.dc.gov

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Working together to support the healthcare needs of greater D.C. At Bank of America, we are committed to addressing access to health care and health care disparities in our local markets. Since 2021, we’ve invested more than $66 million to help support the communities we serve, including a new partnership with Bread for the City to provide preventative care and behavioral health treatment in the Anacostia community. Addressing barriers to equal access to healthcare is a critical step in helping communities move forward and realize true economic mobility.

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The Mental Health Crisis that is Impacting Pregnant People and New Parents Submitted by Amerigroup Maryland During the month of May, there is a focus on Mental Health Awareness. It is an especially important observance for the Black community, where more than 16 percent of those who identify as Black or African American have reported having a mental health illness in the past year. It is even more important when we narrow in on people who are pregnant, since one in five mothers meet the criteria for a mental health disorder during or after pregnancy. Many think of Mother’s Day, baby showers and happy beginnings when they think of May, but our country is still in the middle of a pandemic and financial crisis. The State of the

Nation’s Mental Health report unveils that the U.S. is experiencing a dramatic increase in mental health needs. The past year has been marked by uncertainty, isolation, grief and trauma from things such as human loss, divisive politics and police brutality. This has all taken a heavy toll on people who are pregnant or just had a baby, particularly because they also have to deal with the physical and emotional challenges that come naturally during and after pregnancy. Maternal mental health conditions are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. These conditions include depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar illness, substance use disorders, and even postpartum psychosis. If left

untreated, they can have long-term, negative impacts on parents, babies, families and society. Almost 40 percent of Black people who are pregnant and new moms experience these maternal mental health conditions – twice as many as white women, yet Black women are half as likely to receive treatment. Between the mental health crisis that has gripped our nation and the maternal mental health crisis that disproportionately impacts Black people, it is obvious that action is needed. That action has to start by raising awareness and initiating conversations. Amerigroup Maryland has made a commitment to starting these conversations and connecting entire communities with the education, information and resources needed to address issues. When Amerigroup becomes aware that a member is pregnant, outreach

Dedicated to your health. Dedicated to your community.

800-600-4441 (TTY 711)

myamerigroup.com/md

is conducted to share information about benefits, resources and supports. During this outreach, Amerigroup care managers use a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to screen for potential issues. Case managers also employ a method call motivational interviewing to open conversations about mental health and substance use issues. Amerigroup has also been leading campaigns to educate partnering providers and community advocates about tools and resources that can start conversations about mental health early enough to address concerns before they become life-threatening issues. And when Amerigroup can’t be the one to start the conversation, it hopes pregnant members start the conversation by reaching out to their healthcare providers or Amerigroup Member Services – even if it is just to let them know that they are pregnant. Amerigroup also urges friends and family of pregnant people to make an effort to initiate conversations about mental health during pregnancy and after birth. Social and cultural stigma are among the top reasons why pregnant and postpartum people do not access needed mental health and substance use disorder resources. Having candid conversations about feelings and emotions, or just checking in to ask a pregnant person how they are doing, could go a long way in breaking the stigma to start the process of getting help. Open ended questions should be asked, such as: “It must be

really hard transitioning to being a mom, so how is that going for you?” Personal experiences about being tired, lonely and depressed should be shared as ice breakers. Also, reminders should be given that not everyone has to follow the same pregnancy advice that is trending on social media, and that it is OK to get help from a professional. Amerigroup serves as one source of truth by offering evidence-based information and resources on its Pregnancy & Women’s Health page at https:// www.myamerigroup.com/md/care/ pregnancy-womens-health.html. And for those who prefer to get personalized health info, tips, resources and tools by phone, text or app, are encouraged to check out MyAdvocateHelps.com. Mental health is a critical component of a healthy pregnancy and healthy futures for new families. If awareness about maternal mental health is not raised and conversations are not started, we cannot make progress in getting past the mental health crisis that is plaguing our nation, the Black community, and pregnant/postnatal people. Mental Health Awareness month encourages everyone to take time to learn more about maternal mental health, to be empowered with awareness, and to start conversations that can improve and save lives. Take an initiative to do your part, and if you need help, start by visiting Amerigroup.com.

HealthChoice is a program of the Maryland Department of Health. 1022821MDCENAGP 08/21

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Recovery

is possible.

READY?

“As an addict, I lost 15 years of my life to the penal system. Today, I’m a business owner in grad school.”

TREATMENT WORKS. Connect with someone who’s been there and understands. No judgment, just help. See local stories of recovery and find a certified peer at MyRecoveryDC.org.

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LIVE

LONG

Saving lives from the opioid epidemic

Ebonee Givens, RN

Honoring our nurses The last 2 years have changed us. We mourn those we’ve lost to this pandemic, including the nurses who selflessly cared for those battling COVID-19. We see and feel things differently because of what we’ve experienced together — in health care and in our country. Through it all, the 65,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and more than 4 million nurses across our nation have reminded us what it means to heal, the importance of dignity and grace, and the power of hope. This National Nurses Month we recognize and celebrate our nurses — leaders, clinicians, researchers, innovators, and scientists. We see your long hours, deep compassion, and true humanity. Thank you for choosing to be a nurse, and for leading us through the last 2 years with your heart and professionalism. You honor those who came before you — and provide an example for those who will follow in your footsteps. With deep gratitude,

Greg A. Adams Chair and Chief Executive Officer Kaiser Permanente

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EDITORIAL

Works by Journalists Deserve Awards Even If It’s Not a Pulizter First, the five journalists of The Washington Informer editorial team wish to congratulate The Washington Post’s 100 journalists who contributed to the coverage of the January 6 riot in the U.S. Capital for which the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize. This week's announcement was significant enough for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to acknowledge the Post’s win during Tuesday's annual D.C. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards Luncheon. January 6, 2021, will go down in infamy as the day “Pro-Trump Protestors Storm U.S. Capital, Clash with Police,” the headline read on that day in the online story by The Washington Informer. Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes reached out to Senior Editor D. Kevin McNeir, demanding that a story go up online immediately, not realizing that he had already been in communication with National Reporter Stacy Brown, the late online reporter Dorothy Rowley and Prince George’s County Editor Will Ford who were working collectively on a story to go up that day on the web. Local officials, including Del. Jazz Lewis of Prince George’s County, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Morgan Cherry, a D.C. activist, among others, were contacted to offer statements about the horrifying sequence of events. Most daring was the work of freelance photographer/ videographer Anthony Tilghman who followed the rioters from the National Mall into the U.S. Capitol, capturing the violence and destruction and sharing it live on Twitter. It was an amazing day of natural journalistic prowess by The Washington Informer team that continues to cover the story from a local perspective. More continues to be written about it, including the deaths of local police officers, the arrests and trials of the convicted rioters, the fencing of the U.S. Capitol, and the reaction of local city officials whose responsibility it is to keep District residents safe. We give a thumbs up to the Post team for their hard work that deserves to be rewarded. And we are proud of our team of five, as well, who may not have sought a Pulitzer but are deserving just the same. We respect and appreciate the hard work of journalists, no matter where their stories are told, and share in the celebration of their achievements. Soon, we, too, will announce the awards our team will receive for telling untold stories about the communities we serve and how these honors inspire us all. WI

Biden Vows to Tackle Surging Gas Prices and Inflation But He Can’t Do It Alone It’s not a mirage and there’s nothing wrong with your eyes – gasoline prices in the D.C. area and across the U.S. are breaking record highs not seen since July 2008. And according to AAA, we can expect the current national average price per gallon, now hovering at $4, to continue to climb and hit an all-time high in the days ahead. The surging prices could not have come at a more inopportune time as more citizens venture outdoors and beyond their homes, buoyed by the optimism that the pandemic is seemingly under control. And with the Memorial Day weekend approaching and with schools poised to close for the summer, millions of Americans had hopes of heading to their favorite destinations for fun and relaxation. Economists say gas prices have been escalating in the past few months because of higher demand. However, the recent spike can be largely attributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which has led to concerns of oil supply deficits and disruptions. Everyone’s feeling the pain at the pump and while President Biden has promised to attack inflation and the unprecedented rise in prices for gasoline, food, rent and other essentials, he simply cannot wave a magic wand and resolve the situation. For the moment, if you live in the D.C. area, you may want to buy your gas in Maryland where the average price per gallon is a bit cheaper than in the District – but avoid Montgomery County which has the highest price in the state. Northern Virginia also appears to be a good bet with prices lower than both Maryland or the District – as long as you steer clear of Fairfax or Alexandria. You may also want to use an app like GasBuddy to find stations with the lowest prices near you. But unless Congress works with the president in a collaborative effort, these surging prices for gasoline and many other commodities and essentials, will be with us for some time. “I don't see this resolving itself until 2023 at the earliest, when more refining capacity comes online in the Middle East and Asia,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum

TO THE EDITOR Making the Right Choice I would like to see a Black woman president lead Howard University. However, I don’t know if that should be the leading call for a university in desperate need of dynamic leadership. Whoever is the next president must be qualified by any university’s standards. This should not be a political thing.

A Call to Arms I can’t believe we are in a position where the women of today may have fewer rights and bodily autonomy than women 50 years ago! It’s utterly disgusting that women may die due to nonviable pregnancies due to some unhinged thought that a mom’s life is just a “casualty” of birth. We must fight this. Leola Williams Arlington, Va.

Tatum Rice Washington, D.C. analysis at GasBuddy. Florida Governor Rick Scott recently suggested that Biden reverse some of the tax breaks for the middle-class in order to confront inflation. Clearly, he’s not in touch with the needs of or day-to-day challenges faced by the majority of Americans. As for those Americans who rejoiced following the increase in the minimum wage, their celebration has been derailed by surging costs. For the record, and contrary to prevalent myths that are floating around on social media, drilling for more oil in the U.S. would not lower gas prices because it’s the global price of oil which sets the price of gas. Second, the Biden Administration has issued more permits for drilling, around 34%

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more, than Trump did in his first year, so the rise in gas prices cannot be blamed on Biden banning oil drilling. It would also be incorrect to say that Biden’s cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline caused higher gas prices – a myth which Republicans continue to promote, as it would have taken years for KXL to be fully operational. And even if the U.S. were to increase its oil and gas production, we would still be far from becoming energy independent. The only answer to avoiding a fluctuating global oil market and soaring gas prices is to transition to clean energy sources and the electric vehicles which run on that clean energy. It’s time to remove politics from the equation and simply employ common sense. We sink or swim together. WI

MAY 12 - 18, 2022 23

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Julianne Malveaux

Our Disappearing Rights

When the Supreme Court overturned Section Five of the Voting Rights Act, it struck a blow to voting rights. No longer did states with a history of discrimination have to submit their plans to make electoral changes to the Department of Justice. Instead, voters and advocacy organizations that experienced limitations of their rights had to go to court to prove that discrimination. Though this placed a burden on voting rights advocates and litigators, the Transformative Justice

Coalition's Barbara Arnwine has gone from state to state fighting unequal, discriminatory voting laws and voter suppression. TJC first produced its Map of Shame in 2016, focusing on ways states change voting laws to keep voter turnout down. The 45th president's narrow victory over Hilary Clinton was partly a function of low voter turnout and a flawed Clinton campaign, but also a function of voter suppression. Voting rights activists and volunteers ensured President Biden's victory in 2020, and the result has been a more aggressive attempt to curtail voting rights. In Georgia, it is even illegal

Guest Columnists

to offer a bottle of water to someone standing in line for hours on a hot day! The effects of these curtailed rights will be seen in the 2022 midterm and 2024 presidential elections unless people push back with the same intensity as they did in 2020. Just as our voting rights are disappearing, so also are women's rights to comprehensive health care. Someone leaked a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. In 2018 Mississippi passed the Gestational Age Act, which banned abortion after 15 weeks. The Jackson Women's Health Organization, the only licensed abortion clinic in Mis-

sissippi, filed a lawsuit in federal court and requested a temporary restraining order to prevent lawmakers from enforcing the law. The restraining order was granted, so the State Health Officer, Thomas Dobbs, took the case to the Supreme Court. The Court is likely to overturn Roe v. Wade and decide that Mississippi's abortion restriction is constitutional. The court wants to go even further than that. In the leaked opinion, Justice Alito wrote, "We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled." He and four other conservative justices — Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett

— have been planning this moment since the 45th president appointed them to the court. Arguably Gorsuch and Kavanaugh could be charged with perjury and tried for lying under oath to the United States Senate as both of them acknowledged the precedent of Roe and pledged to honor its precedent. In reacting to the May 1 leak, Chief Justice John Roberts described it as a "singular and egregious breach of trust that is an effort to the Court and the community of public servants who work here." The first breach of trust came when Gorsuch and Kavanaugh

MALVEAUX Page 41

Kevin Beckford and Dominick Sanders

Black Men, Let’s Seize the Opportunity to Build Strong Futures for Black Boys in Education Am I supposed to be here? Do they even want me here? Beyond disciplinarians and curators of school cultures intended to break our Black and Brown babies down, what purpose do I, a Black man, serve as an educator? If you are a Black male who has ever spent time in a classroom, you have probably considered one, if not all, of the aforementioned questions. Any pontification on these questions could either lead you to the classroom, hoping to make a difference, or push you

out of education altogether. For most Black men, the answers we provide to these questions lead us out of the classroom or education altogether. Throughout its history, America has been consistent in its inability to adequately recognize the ecology of schooling for Black men and boys. Leading scholar Gloria Ladson-Billings asserts that America’s education debt is deeply tied to historical, economic, sociopolitical and moral components that have yet to be addressed. Lad-

Guest Columnist

son-Billings argues that the notion of achievement gaps among students of color essentially distracts us from the overarching problem – the nation’s accumulated debt to Black people and our brothers and sisters of color. Unfortunately, America is unlikely to ever account for the education debt it owes Black boys and men. Let’s dig deeper. There is great evidence confirming that the exclusion of Black people has been an intentional and historical project. After the Amer-

ican Revolution, white male political leaders committed themselves to creating a nation of disciplined citizens who would build a new democracy. These same leaders, with their exclusive understanding of civic democracy, denied Black men (many of whom fought in the war while enslaved) access to education as well as the spoils of citizenship that derived from education. For this reason, Black men and women had to engage in discreet, creative and often life-threatening

projects in order to learn. This dynamic has always existed for us. To navigate the realities of slavery and Jim Crow, Black people would have to pursue on our own to get our own. Our self-determination would actualize our destinies as we sought advancement and liberation. Secret reading circles, for example, were instrumental in our liberation as enslaved persons. Also, the creation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

BECKFORD/SANDERS Page 41

Marc H. Morial

Celebrate The Women Who Shape The Racial Justice Movement

"We've had to believe in something beyond what was readily available to us. We were always aware of our dignity, always aware of our worth, always aware of those things for our children and our community. We couldn't just accept what we were being told. So we push the country forward until they see things the way we do. It's a political moment

24 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

when you become a Black mother. There is something very politicizing about not only fighting for your own life, but for a life you hold dearer than your own." — Anna Malaika Tubbs It's always a blessing when my duties as president and CEO of the National Urban League take me to my hometown of New Orleans, as happened last week with a milestone celebration of one of our economic empowerment initiatives, and a pro-

fessional development conference for our hard-working affiliate CEOS. And the greatest blessing of being at home is spending time with my mother, Sybil Haydel Morial, an educator and civil rights activist who has shaped not only the lives of my siblings and myself, but of countless others – not only in New Orleans, but across the nation. It was my privilege on this trip to accompany my mother to dinner at the legendary Dookie Chase's restaurant.

There, we were joined by three other children of the movement: Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost and Gail Etienne, whose own mothers and fathers, along with the parents of Ruby Bridges, made the unimaginably courageous decision to desegregate New Orleans public schools in 1960. It was a stark reminder, just in time for Mother's Day, of the role that my mother and the other women of her generation have played in the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Born 67 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, my mother was the great-granddaughter of Victor Haydel, who was enslaved on the Whitney Plantation, in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. As the daughter of a Black physician growing up under American apartheid, my mother experienced a childhood that was uniquely privileged and oppressed. For example, she and her sis-

MORIAL Page 41

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

A Woman's World, Too!

Margaret Mitchell's famous/ infamous heroine/villainess (you choose) of "Gone With the Wind," Scarlett O'Hara, offered two memorable thoughts which she applied to her own circumstance. Scarlett said life was not easy, nor was it happy, but she did not expect life to be easy, and, if it was not happy, that was a woman's lot. She also acknowledged that it was "a man's world" and "accepted it as such."

"The man owned the property, and the woman managed it. The man took credit for the management, and the woman praised his cleverness." Today, women more rightly deserve the praise that Scarlett could have never earned or claimed. Increasing numbers of contemporary women live out the observation of James Brown when he sang, "This is a man's world, but it wouldn't be NOTHING without a woman or a girl." In Scarlett's era, it could be said, "War, war, war. This war

Guest Columnist

talk is spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. I got so bored I could scream." In today's Ukraine, women are not concerned about spoiling all of the fun. Women there are engaged and committed to bringing Putin's War to as swift an end as possible, ending the current suffering of all Ukrainians, and maintaining the spirit of nationalism that encourages and sustains Ukrainian resolve. Despite the apparent dangers, at the end of April, American actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Refugees Angelina

Jolie visited Ukraine as a witness to the immoral war Russia is prosecuting against its innocent neighbor. Although she did not pick up a gun, Angelina's presence gave comfort and emotional support to those defending their country. She could have remained in the safety of her home in the United States, but she chose action and went to Kyiv! Thank you, Angelina! Second in succession to the Office of the President of the United States, is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Evaluated

by friends and adversaries alike as one of the most effective and powerful speakers in the history of the United States, she endures the flame-throwing, blame games and the daily barrage of Republican misrepresentations (lies) as she works to improve our nation for all of our citizens. Like Jolie, Speaker Pelosi could have remained in the comfort and safety of her home. (Were it not for the lesson that the Republicans and their MAGA crew taught us on

WILLIAMS Page 42

Ben Jealous

Pay Attention to Roe v. Wade and the Far Right's Extreme Plans the country.

Things are about to get worse for millions of vulnerable people in our country. It looks like the far right-wing majority on the U.S. Supreme Court is getting ready to reverse Roe v. Wade, the 50-year-old ruling that recognized a pregnant person's right to have an abortion. Abortion is legal today, but pretty soon that will no longer be the case in most of

A leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling expected to be released in June indicates that the Court will rule that there is no constitutional protection for abortion. Bans will go into effect in many states immediately, and others will follow soon. That will leave millions of women and LGBTQ people — and their spouses and partners — less free and less in control of their own health, lives, and families. Like many laws and policy decisions handed down from on high,

Guest Columnists

the harm will fall hardest on those with the fewest resources and political power — people of color and low-income people. It is hard to take. How did this happen? In the long term, it happened because opponents on the right to choose spent decades building a movement to make it happen. They invested time and money to elect like-minded politicians. They pushed Republican presidents to fill federal courts with judges who were willing, if not eager, to restrict or ban legal access to abortion. They made it a top priority when deciding

whether and how to vote. In the short term, it happened because Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election. To energize the Republican Party's ideological base, Trump promised them judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade. They took the deal Trump offered. They turned out to vote. And with help from Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, Trump gave them kind of judges they wanted. And now that they have the power to impose their will, Americans' freedom will shrink and American families will suffer.

In fact, many are already suffering. Anti-choice activists have harassed and sometimes killed abortion providers. Judges have been letting state legislators pile on more and more restrictions on abortion care. As a result, in some states, the right to abortion care may exist in theory, but in reality, it is virtually nonexistent, because clinics and providers have disappeared. There are hard times and hard decisions ahead. There are also lessons to be

JEALOUS Page 42

Rev. Lionel Edmonds and D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto

Voting Rights Is the Civil Rights Struggle of Our Time. Mobile Voting Can Help The District of Columbia holds a unique place in the history of the Civil Rights movement. From demonstrations for women’s suffrage in the early 20th century to hosting the 1963 March on Washington, our nation’s capital is intrinsically linked to the struggle to expand the right to vote. Today, the District is poised to make civil rights history once again. With continued attacks on our

democracy and the right to vote, pending legislation at the D.C. Council would make the District the first jurisdiction in the nation to allow anyone in the electorate the right to vote from their mobile devices, enabling many historically underserved residents a simple way to participate in elections. If passed and signed into law, this expansion of voting options would represent a remarkable vic-

tory in the civil rights struggle of our day. We encourage residents of the District and fellow lawmakers who represent Washingtonians to support this historic expansion of the right to vote, especially amid the widespread assault on voting rights elsewhere in the United States. Thankfully, those attacks aren't happening here, but the past two years have vividly illustrated the need for more options to cast a ballot as

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well as the importance of making it easier for communities of color to be engaged and involved in the voting process. The 2020 election cycle had the highest voter turnout in decades in no small part because of mail-in and early voting — options that did not require people to stand in long lines at polling locations. As a lesson learned from the pandemic, D.C. now will continue to send mail-in bal-

lots to all voters. When there are more options to participate, more people vote. When more people vote, more voices are heard. When more voices are heard, our city gets closer to achieving our goal of being a truly representative body. Despite 2020’s increased turnout, important gaps remain among certain historically under-

EDMONDS/PINTO Page 42 MAY 12 - 18, 2022 25

LIFESTYLE Keith Killgo, Original Member of The Blackbyrds, Brings Road Lessons to the Classroom High School Students Learn the Finer Points of Potential Careers in Music Industry Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer Two music industry veterans have

done it all in their careers. As musicians, composers, producers, band leaders and educators, drummer/ vocalist Keith Killgo and saxophon-

ist/flutist Davey Yarborough remain committed to teaching students who seek to develop their musical skills. Both men attended D.C. Public Schools (DCPS), graduating together from Calvin Coolidge High School in Northwest. Each has spent decades teaching in DCPS during which they have incorporated their experiences from college, playing gigs on the road and recording into their lessons. In this feature, the first in a twopart series, we take a look at Killgo’s impressive career

ON THE ROAD WITH KEITH KILLGO

At Friendship Tech Prep Academy in Southeast, Killgo serves as the head of the Fine Arts Department. His innovative approach to teaching approach recently garnered him the distinction as “Teacher of the Year" at his D.C. Public Charter School.

We found him working with students in his classroom as they dissected the theme from "Phantom of the Opera" during which they shared their views about the soundtrack's mood in a robust, musical exercise. Killgo then challenged them with an impromptu singing encounter. While Killgo played the music for the song, "Everything Must Change," on the piano, Talaian Ball, a senior who lives in Ward 8, delivered a vocal interpretation. While steeped in jazz, Killgo, an original member of the chart-topping group The Blackbyrds, exposes his students to a variety of musical genres. He emphasizes learning as much as possible about all kinds of music, often moving the classroom beyond the four walls into concert halls located throughout the District. "You can make a living in music but it can't just be playing,” he said. “You have to combine it with education." Killgo's father, Harry Killgo, served as a pianist who recorded albums in the 1960s with the JFK Quintet – a group produced by internationally-acclaimed jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. Following in his father’s footsteps, Killgo began playing piano at the age of four, encountering a host of jazz musicians during his formative years. After graduating from high school, he attended Bradley University in Detroit, then Howard University, where famed trumpeter Donald Byrd served as the head of the jazz studies program. Through his father, Killgo met Byrd years before he returned to Howard to teach. Their reconnecting resulted in Killgo becoming one of the original members of The Blackbyrds in 1973. Considered a jazz/R&B group,

chart-topping hits for The Blackbyrds included the Grammy-nominated "Walking in Rhythm," "Happy Music" and a favorite among D.C. residents, "Rock Creek Park." Killgo has performed and recorded with artists including Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Gary Bartz, Milt Jackson, Carla Thomas, Gerald Albright, Roland Hanna, David "Fathead" Newman, Stanley Turrentine, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, James Moody and Patrice Rushen. He said because he has performed with so many artists in his career, he has learned that there's a stigma associated with jazz. "It's because of the name – as soon as you say it, the money goes down,” he said. “Jazz has not been fused into being just amazing, That same "G" note is in classical, gospel, reggae, country – whatever you want to call them. The labels only dictate the money and exposure." The current lineup of The Blackbyrds still performs in the D.C. area and worldwide. Killgo also performs with his band, the Thad Wilson Quartet, and other local jazz artists. On April 30, the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation recognized him as a "D.C. Leader in Jazz." Meanwhile, he’s also working on his autobiography. And while he juggles a lot of gigs, he said his passion for inspiring youth to learn about and appreciate different forms of music remains his top priority. In part two of this series, we speak with Killgo’s longtime friend, Davy Yarborough, former head of the jazz program at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and co-founder of the Washington Jazz Arts Institute. WI

5 Drummer Keith Killgo, head of Fine Arts at Friendship Prep Tech Academy in Southeast and an original member of The Blackbyrds, has his student Talaian Ball perform impromptu during class on April 20. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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LIFESTYLE

Strathmore and Woolly Mammoth Mentor Student Creative Projects Collaboration with Professionals Address Social Justice Issues Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

DEVELOPING A FUTURISTIC GLOBAL VIEWPOINT

MORTGAGE LOANS

Two D.C. area institutions are on a mission to train high school students to be leaders in the art and to support up-and-coming creative talent. Strathmore and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company are working with eight students as 2022 Arts and Social Justice Fellows. The six-month fellowship program was inspired by Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower," which recently had a two-night engagement at Strathmore. Music for the folk/rock/gospel operatic interpretation of the production was composed by Bernice Reagon Johnson and her daughter Toshi Reagon. Through biweekly meetings, the student cohort will meet with renowned arts professionals and other stu-

dents in similar creative settings. Butler planned to write six "Parable" novels but only completed two, "Parable of the Sower" and "Parable of the Talents." Butler’s "Parables" contained perspectives on gender, race, and human civilization's future in America. The Fellows attended a performance of "Parable of the Sower" to stimulate building individual or group projects from start to finish. "The art and Octavia's books in the show are the mothers of this fellowship," said Strathmore's Vice President of Education & Community Engagement, Lauren Campbell. "We hope this student fellowship will be an annual program."

Starting in February, the 2022 Arts and Social Justice Fellows began exploring social justice and

on a project, purchasing supplies, or donating to a relevant organization. Projects will be showcased at the end of the program in July. This inaugural class of Arts and Social Justice Fellows are high school students from the District and Maryland. They include Am-

PROJECTS Page 28

Two D.C. area institutions are on a mission to train high school students to be leaders in the art and to support up-and-coming creative talent.

5 (L-R) Strathmore Artistic Director/Vice President of Programming Joi Brown and Woolly Mammoth's Artistic Director Maria Manuela Goyanes lead a session during orientation for participants in the 2022 Arts and Social Justice Fellows. Strathmore and Woolly Mammoth created the initiative. Photo was taken at Strathmore. (Photo courtesy Jim Saah)

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SSB-107 Mortgage Print_9.875x5.5_WashInformer.indd 1

systems changes as Butler did through her books. Students are now building their individualized views about how they want to use their creative talents to interpret varying levels of crises worldwide. Each Fellow receives a $750 stipend, which can be used as they choose, including paying themselves or collaborators for work

MAY 12 - 18, 2022 27 1/13/2022 3:12:28 PM

LIFESTYLE

11th Street Bridge Park PUBLIC NOTICE

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) is considering a request for Federal assistance from Building Bridges Across the River and the District Department of Transportation to construct the Environmental Education Center and Kayak and Canoe Launch as part of the 11th Street Bridge Park Project. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), EDA is conducting an assessment of the potential of the proposed project to affect the environment and/or historic properties. Notice is hereby given that the project is proposed to be located in, or may affect, a floodplain and/or wetland as defined by Executive Order (EO) 11988 and/or EO 11990. The project 11th Street Bridge Park: The project consists of two major components, The Environmental Education Center and the 11th Street Bridge Park. The 11th Street Bridge Park will create a park spanning the Anacostia River by utilizing unused bridge piers from the old 11th Street Bridge. The Park will enhance the linkage of communities on either side of the River, create an outdoor park and space for events, and provide a space for an Environmental Education Center. The Environmental Education Center will complement initiatives for restoration of the river environment and wildlife by providing displays, tours and functions about the river’s environment and wildlife. This grant application seeks funds to help construct the Environmental Education Center, while the Bridge Park is funded through other means. The Environmental Education Center (EEC) will provide approximately 12,500 square feet of office and educational space including restrooms. This will be a new construction, two-story steel and glass building to be constructed to the east of the Bridge Park adjacent to Anacostia Drive. The occupants of the building will be Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS). Both AWS and BBAR will be using the second floor as office space, while the first floor will be used as an educational center for students within the DMV and beyond. The bridge park, which is not included in this grant application, will provide nearly 100,000 sf of programmable and landscaped areas. The proposed programmable spaces on the bridge have been community driven and planned in such a way to help improve social, health, environmental and economic aspects of the surrounding communities by bridging the gap between the two communities separated by the river. The bridge plan tapers, varying in width from 30 ft at the Navy Yard shore to 118 ft the Anacostia shore. In elevation, the bridge forms an X shape, through the use of sloped decks supported by a truss system. The project will be located at: Project information is available for review at Building Bridges Across the River’s main office at THEARC DC: 1901 Mississippi Avenue SE #101 Washington DC 20020. If you have any information regarding potential impacts to historic properties or environmental resources including wetlands or floodplains associated with this proposed project, please provide it in writing to: Regional Environmental Officer Economic Development Administration 900 Market Street, Room 602 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Comments received in the EDA Regional Office by 5:00 pm eastern on April 30, 2022 will be considered. A copy of the NEPA/NHPA decision document will be available upon request at the above EDA Regional Office.

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

28 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

5 2022 Arts and Social Justice Fellows, a collaborative initiative created by Strathmore and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company are led by Be Steadwell, a Strathmore artist-in-residence alumni. The exercise included 2022 Fellows, parents, donors and Strathmore staff. This Fellows cohort that began in February and ends in July, brings together high school students to create projects that address social justice and systems changes. Photo taken at Strathmore. (Photo courtesy Jim Saah)

PROJECTS from Page 28 bar Comdori-Boughton, an 11th grader at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the District; Rahimah Hagmagid, a 10th grader at George Washington University Online High School; Sophia Hall, an 11th grader at Holton Arms School in Bethesda, Md.; Rose Kepka, a 10th grader at Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Md.; Daniela (Dani) Klein, a 10th grader at Walt Whitman High School; Emily Liu, an 11th grader at Wootton High School in Rockville, Md.; Allison Sweeney, a 10th grader at Poolesville High School in Poolesville, Md.; and Corvid Thomas a 9th grader. Mentors and facilitators guide each Fellow in their area of interest. Cohort facilitators are Amoja Sumler, a poet, essayist and social advocate; Kita Marshall, an advocate for LGBTQ+ people, racial justice, intersectionality, diversity, and accessibility; and Amin Drew

Law, a teaching artist, poet, writing facilitator, teaching artist and vocalist. "In addition to the stipends the Fellows receive, they will get in-kind support for their productions," Campbell said. "I'm also there along with Kristen Jackson from Woolly Mammoth, a co-architect with me on this initiative." As the Fellows figure out their projects and take in coaching from mentors and facilitators, how final projects will be presented in July is still being defined. "It's kind of loosey-goosey," Campbell said about wrapping up the projects. "The process is not as linear as work students do in school. There is no, 'This is what it has to be,' but we're excited to see the outcome of this fellowship." Complete bios of the 2022 Arts and Social Justice Fellows and their facilitators are on the Strathmore website. Learn more about Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company on their website. WI

Mentors and facilitators guide each Fellow in their area of interest.

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 29

To find the question, cross out the words that ... start with the letter i

The Constitution of the United States has a Bill of Rights that lists the rights all Americans enjoy. Kid Scoop believes in a Bill of Rights for children that gives them the right to enjoy nature, spend time outdoors and have a fit and fun summer vacation.

Give yourself a star each time you complete one of the 10 outdoor activities listed here. Give yourself a cool reward for completing them all.

How many fish?

Visit a local lake, river, stream or a nearby ocean. Observe the wildlife around you and list them in your notebook with notes on where, when and what was happening.

Your sta te, city, tow ar discove ich heritage. D n or commun r some local hiso some researcity has that hav h to tory and e e v id en Take a p v hoto of ce of a rich cu isit locations ltur an o tree and do a rub ld building, staal past. bing or tu a sketch e or .

Swimming is great exercise and will improve muscle strength and flexibility. Your local pool will provide lessons throughout the summer months. If you can’t swim, sign up now. If you can swim, enjoy some time at a pool. Camping out takes organization. If you are going to a campground, you probably need to book your space. Make a list of the things you’ll need to take. If you can’t go away, camp in your backyard. Take time to look at the stars. Can you spot the North Star and the Big Dipper?

Sit quietly on the banks of a river, lake or stream. You may not catch a fish but what do you see? Are there tadpoles or frogs, water striders, dragonflies?

Find a local park with playground equipment. Take a picnic and enjoy the sunshine.

Playing on a team is a good way to make new friends and get some exercise. If there are no organized sports in your area, make your own team and create a game of Frisbee or catch.

Pick one feature of your outdoor summer and draw a picture showing the event. Mail it to a friend. Be a nature detective. Look at a field guide or go online to identify birds, wild flowers, insects and trees. List them in your notebook.

Each of these flashlights has an exact twin. Look closely and see if you can find them all.

Draw the other half of this butterfly.

Make a map of a local trail or bike path. As you follow the trail, mark points of interest along the trail. The next time you take that hike, see what’s changed at your points of interest. Which hiking boot print is different than all the others?

Scavenger Hunt Look through the newspaper to find: A picture of someone playing a sport A place to exercise A local park A fun place for the whole family to visit together

Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

rhyme with sips are the name of an insect contain the letter m Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow written directions.

SWIMMING NATURE FISHING GAME FIELD CAMP PARK BIKE BIRDS TRAIL STAR POOL HIKE PAST NOTEBOOK

S F P V W G L O L G

T T B A A N C F N K S T A M R Y A I A O

A R E R T K M E T O P A G K B M P L U B

F I S H I N G D R E

J L U W R B V H E T

K Q S B D L O O P O H I K E S K P L Z N Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Nature Journal

Collect articles from the newspaper about local parks and recreation areas in your area. List any special events and plan your summer vacation to include those activities. Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

Junkyard Sports Invent a game using something you would normally throw away. Turn trash into fun!

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Standard Unders

LIFESTYLE

wi book review "The New Black West" by Gabriela Hasbun, foreword by Jeff Douvel, Regional Coordinator, Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo c.2022, Chronicle Books $40 / 128 pages

horoscopes

MAY 12 - 18, 2022

ARIES When the week starts, you could be torn between what feels right intuitively and what makes sense on paper when it comes to a professional project. Confusion and technology glitches might also pop up everywhere you turn. Do your best to remember the moment will pass. And keep your cool. Lucky Numbers: 14, 17, 34 TAURUS At the start of the week, you'll be prepared to kick things off on a bright, optimistic note. Plot out ways you can enjoy eye-opening experiences, and take advantage of opportunities to socialize with both old and new friends. Your positive, gung-ho approach is infectious. Lucky Numbers: 2, 6, 9 GEMINI Though you're usually quite vocal about your desires, at the week's start you'll get a burst of confidence and lightheartedness that can amplify your voice while sharing fantasies with a partner. Whether you've been wanting to fulfill a long-held desire between the sheets or take your relationship to the next level in another way, this is a powerful time to get the wheels in motion. Lucky Numbers: 7, 12, 23

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

CANCER You'll kick off the week by enjoying a blast of confident energy that can easily be applied to making your dreamiest fantasies a reality. Assert your desires and they'll be even easier to fulfill. Lucky Numbers: 29, 34, 58

Things sure look different from five feet up. The first time, you might feel nervous to be there; the animal you're astride doesn't know you and you don't know what it'll do. But before long, you feel like you're in a rocking chair. You can almost see for miles and you begin to understand power. And in the new book "The New Black West" by Gabriela Hasbun, you see peek history between the ears of a horse. One hundred and sixty years ago, "more than eight thousand Black cowboys rode in the western cattle drives." They did everything that every other ranch hand and cowboy did back then but "their stories have largely been untold..." In 1984, a promoter named Lu Vason realized one day that the "granddaddy of them all," the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, was lacking Black cowpokes. Upon returning to his home in Denver, Vason began researching and raising funds to start the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, named after the "legendary" Bill Pickett, who cowboyed at the turn of the last century and was the first Black cowboy inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame. To this day, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, now held on the second weekend in July in Oakland, California, is the only touring Black rodeo in America. But it's not all ropin' and ridin'. Says Hasbun, the deep tradition of riding horses and roping calves is also passed on to youth in trouble, through participating stables and organizations. The rodeo is a chance to show off horse, saddle, boots, and bling, since you want to be "dressed to impress" if you're in the parade. It's a great excuse to spend a day with horses, and to share that love with rodeo watchers who want to learn, too. The rodeo is a challenge and a way to honor those who've accepted that challenge in the past. It's a way to "change the headlines." And the rodeo is family. For many readers, "The New Black West" may be like no other book you've had. There is not, first of all, much to actually read here. Author and photographer Gabriela Hasbun instead offers a nice "Artist's Statement" in which she explains African American cowboys in history and the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo's beginnings, and she writes short captions for the photos in this book, but that's about all there is to read. In that sense, Hasbun lets the illustrations speak for themselves. Brwse through this book and meet men and women who are grateful for the horse that turned their lives around. Look at the gorgeous parade-worthy clothing, the custom-made (designer!) saddles, and the (literal) snakeskin boots. Then don't be at all surprised if you find yourself looking for tickets, so you can see those things up-front and in person this summer. This is a book you'll page through again and again, and never get tired of doing so. It's one you can share with the kids and maybe inspire them. "The New Black West" is something that's delightfully different. WI

LEO When the week starts, if you've been putting your nose to the grindstone with your self-care and fitness efforts, you're sure to see a happy payoff now. Later, expressing what's in your heart is even more effortless than usual. You'll feel creative and driven to prioritize playful, pleasurable moments like magical date nights or chill time with your nearest and dearest friends, ideally anything that feels like it came right out of the script for a romantic comedy. Lucky Numbers: 5, 23, 34 VIRGO You'll be more inclined than usual to speak up, expressing what's in your heart in a creative way at the start of the week. There's a happy-go-lucky, playful vibe that can infuse your closest relationships with a magical, fortunate feeling. Planning a special date with your significant other or writing a heartfelt letter to a dear friend might be particularly fulfilling. Lucky Numbers: 11, 38, 55 LIBRA You'll have even more bandwidth and enthusiasm around connecting with loved ones on key, emotional conversations early in the week. Whether you've been meaning to take a walk down memory lane with your partner or have a crucial conversation about domestic matters (like moving, renovating, or tackling an ongoing family issue), now is a fortunate time to dive right in. Lucky Numbers: 8, 26, 40 SCORPIO You can look forward to kicking off the week with heartfelt, sexy, fun-loving moments. Prioritizing your fantasies and believing you deserve to turn them into reality can feel like a total game changer. Later, you'll be extra driven to pitch bold proposals to higher-ups or brainstorm alongside colleagues to come up with imaginative new game plans for earning. Lucky Numbers: 14, 18, 52 SAGITTARIUS You might have a little bit of space and time to think about an unusual direction you'd like to take in your career at the start of the week. Work alongside your significant other or a dear friend to craft your action plan. Later, while you're inspired to set powerful intentions and start making moves to bring them to fruition, you'll get extra support from the cosmos. Lucky Numbers: 2, 4, 9 CAPRICORN The start of the week could be filled with exciting, stimulating moments. You could be running into old connections, meeting new ones, and coming up with spontaneous, playful, creative plans for the coming months. Later, the stage is set for some big-time personal or professional growth of your choosing. Lucky Numbers: 2, 17, 56 AQUARIUS You'll do well to kick off the week with a brainstorm or meditation session around your main professional aspirations. You'll be able to identify your top objectives and then envision a plan for hitting them. Later, if you've been wanting to get ahead on fitness or other personal growth-related goals, you'd do well to join forces with friends and colleagues. Although you're a natural team player, you might be drawn to running the show more than usual. That said, doing your best to put that energy toward collaborative efforts is your best bet for scoring the results you desire. Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 6 PISCES As the week gets underway, you could find yourself dreaming about ways to hone your skill set or plan world view-shifting experiences like long-distance travel. Let your mind wander and fully embrace your most imaginative instincts! What you land on could inspire a successful new path. Later, it's an ideal time to brainstorm or share existing ideas with colleagues. You'll feed off of one another's creativity and motivation to create something together that's larger than life. In turn, you can fuel one another's success! Lucky Numbers: 25, 31, 33

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 31

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4/26/22 2:28 AM

CAPTURE the moment

For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com

Broccoli City Festival returned to the District of Columbia for its 10th Anniversary on May 7 and 8. Hosted by the DMV's own Gia Peppers and WPGC's Little Bacon Bear, the two-day festival brought in some of the best musical acts the world has to offer including Grammy awardwinning, international superstar Wizkid as well as Houston rapper Don Toliver and Atlanta's own Gunna. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

4 Atlanta's own Gunna performing his hit song "Pushin P in front of the buzzing crowd at D.C.'s Broccoli City Festival. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer) 4 Summer Walker (far right) would close out the night with select songs from her critically acclaimed catalog capping off an amazing weekend. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5 Gia Peppers and WPGC's Little Bacon Bear host the 2022 Broccoli City Fest on May 8. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

4 Grammy award-winning, International superstar Wizkid brought the energy to the stage performing hits like "Essence" with Nigerian singer Tems. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

DISTRICT 6 from Page 12 “Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with many mayors in this state. Each and every one of them brings their own unique talent and skills to the job,” said Maryland Senate President Pro Tem Melony Griffith (D-District 25) of Upper Marlboro. “What I saw in Johnathan Medlock when he took that office of [District Heights] commissioner first and then mayor is a public servant who understands the importance of partnership and collaboration.” Dr. Lamont Bunyon, president of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s

5 Houston rapper Don Toliver rocking the crowd during the 2022 Broccoli City Fest on May 8. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

County, said he first met Medlock six or seven years ago at a library in District Heights while Medlock read to children. “He wasn’t a member of the 100 at that time. He was just volunteering,” Bunyon said. “Later on, he became a member of our brotherhood that serves this county and he became one of our best leaders. This is a man of high integrity who lives by his motto: ‘It’s always forward. It’s never backwards.’” After all the pleasantries and handshakes, Medlock participated in his first meeting when council sat as the District Council to review cases on

land use matters and zoning. Then, council convened as a Committee of the Whole to review the police budget and law enforcement measures based on Maryland legislation approved last year. One of the public safety items all jurisdictions must establish deals with incorporating a police accountability board, slated as an independent body to receive and assess certain allegations of police misconduct. Council decided not to make any recommendations at the present and to continue the discussion. For the rest of the story, visit www. washingtoninformer.com WI

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 33

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Decades later, Henson offered similar words of encouragement in her address to HU’s class of 2022. She not only touched on the importance of mental wellness and self-assurance but pointed to how faith has propelled people to unconceivable heights. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase – it means your faith is bigger than your fears,” Henson said on Saturday, May 7 in HU’s Burr Gymnasium. “Fear is there to distract you – that’s its only purpose. It makes you waste time,” Henson added. “Fear makes you spin your wheels trying to figure out if you belong. But our faith is not static. Faith is whatever it means to you. It’s a moving, powerful force if we take it out of the background and put it in the center of our lives.” On Saturday morning, HU conferred honorary doctorate of humane letters to Henson along with historian and HU faculty member Dr. Elizabeth Clark-Lewis, former board member Robert L. Lumpkins, HU alumnus and former trustee board chairman Stacey J. Mobley and Jonelle Procope, president and chief executive of the Apollo Theater. Inclement weather forced a last-minute venue change for the commencement. While organizers had hoped to host activities on the Upper Quadrangle for the first time since 2019, graduates, faculty members, administrators, board mem-

bers and family members instead assembled in Burr Gymnasium. In his address to the graduates, HU President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick interpreted the rain as a sign of blessings for students who have endured everything from bomb threats to a global pandemic, all while completing classes, conducting service projects and establishing bonds with friends and faculty members. Those who garnered Frederick’s kudos included Henson, award-winning actor Anthony Anderson who received his degree after a decades-long journey and two 2022 graduates who founded an on-campus research organization. Frederick reflected on his experiences as an undergraduate when he, upon his arrival from Trinidad & Tobago, tackled both coursework and sickle cell anemia on his way to achieving the distinction of being a three-time HU alumnus. Those milestones, he said, bare striking similarities to what people of various backgrounds and circumstances, ethnicity notwithstanding, have been able to accomplish at Howard. “Your HU diploma should remind you of the confidence you carried with you at the Mecca,” he said. “I expect all of you to do what has never been done before in the face of unprecedented times and challenges. It is my hope that all of you will stop and take time to remember why you started doing this. No matter what degree you get, you have a responsibility to amplify the humanity of every person you come across.”

HU’s 154th commencement brought together graduates who completed academic and financial requirements in December 2021, this spring or will by summer’s end. Graduates hailed from HU School of Business, HU College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Chadwick A. Boseman School of Fine Arts, Cathy Hughes School of Communication, College of Engineering and Architecture, College of Nursing and School of Law. As Kathleen Calaro, a graduate of HU College of Medicine, noted on Saturday, the paths that graduates take will run the gamut. For those who have yet to determine their future path, she shared how her liberal arts postgraduate pursuits eventually led her to medicine. She credited HU’s rich cultural atmosphere with enriching her life, making her path clearer and helping her to recognize the beauty which often results when one dares to embrace the unconventional. “This brings me back to my question, where do we go from here? she asked. “Anywhere you want. Live your life as if it were a compass and not a clock. Bring your best no matter what it looks like.” “In seeing what makes a culturally rich and vibrant world, it’s the combined talents of the schools you’re graduating from today. Let us all proudly and unapologetically bring our talents, gifts, perspectives, experiences and voices. We are exactly what the world needs right now,” Calaro said. WI @SamPKCollins

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Life-Changing Principles: Auto-Suggestion/ Affirmations

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21 This week, we are teaching the third principle called auto-suggestion/affirmation. It teaches how to speak to yourself, and encourage yourself. When you repeat positive thoughts to influence your subconscious mind, you must speak in the present tense, and though you don't have it yet, the affirmation reprograms your thinking. If your goal is to build a successful small business, your affirmation would be, "Thank you, Lord, for my successful small business." As your plan becomes clearer you would say, "Everything is always working out for my business." Mark 11:23 reminds us we must "speak to our mountains." In fact, it states: "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." A good example is "Everything is always working out for me" a positive statement that I repeat several times each and every day, and you ought to say it too! It is a perfect example of what this topic is all about. See how these principles connect with the bible providing a plan to bring the principle of faith and auto suggestion/affirmation to life? Test the truth of His Word for yourself. Scripture says, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly

above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. This teaching will help you "Walk by faith, and not by sight!" Learn to live a life so "Your heart is not troubled." Understand exactly how to trust God and to live life by "praying without ceasing." More importantly, you'll learn how to apply this third principle of affirmation, speaking to your mountain. What should you say daily as your way of reinforcing the Word? Well, for one thing, you can simply repeat: "I know that He will make me the head and not the tail." You can say, "My God shall supply all of my needs, according to His riches in glory!" You can say, "The Word tells me that He will open up the windows of heaven and pour me out a blessing, I won't have room to receive." There's more: As you continue to recite the Word of God, add your own personal goals to your recitations. Write them out, and say something like this: "There is greatness within me." Or say, "I am beautifully and wonderfully made, chosen to come forth to do a work for the Lord." The Lord is my shepherd. When trouble comes, just say "This is temporary: because worrying is used to create what you don't want. Reach for a feeling of relief.

Promised Land Baptist Church Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ." Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

You are being cared for, because God loves you. Never leave yourself in a place where you're feeling bad. You've just got to tell a different story. Stop talking about those negative things that have shaped your life thus far. Let it go, that negativity is a curse. God has blessed you! It doesn't matter about your body, race, color or creed — you are perfect! Whether your hair is long or short, your skin color is light or dark, God did not make any mistakes! Make peace with who you are, and make peace with where you are. Live happy in the moment. All we have is today, tomorrow is not promised. But when you live happy in each day, you shape your future, and God can bless you in your next day. You will be showing Him that you are indeed walking by faith. Always remember that "life and death are in the power of the tongue." Speak life; don't talk about negative in your life — let it go. You made it through the storm, and you're still alive. You've got your right mind, and you're stronger because of the problems you've faced and have overcome. Life is a downstream journey, just go with the flow. When you fight against the currents, trying to go upstream, it's hard, it feels bad, it is not the norm. Repeat daily, "I always go with the flow!" WI

(301) 864-6070

www.jmlaw.net

(301) 864-6070

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

Adams Inspirational A.M.E.Church Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness / Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland / Assistant & Youth Pastor

12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

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MAY 12 - 18, 2022 35

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word of Life Church

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

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Church of Living Waters

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

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

St. Stephen Baptist Church

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

Third Street Church of God

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

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

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

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

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

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

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

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM 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

36 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

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 Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

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

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

800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703 Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”

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

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

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661 Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

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

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

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

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

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

themcbc.org

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital”

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor

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

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

Crusader Baptist Church

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

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

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

Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

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

All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Israel Baptist Church

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

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

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

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

623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

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

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

New Commandment Baptist Church

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM

Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

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

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shiloh Baptist Church

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church 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 “

4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Christ Embassy DC

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

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

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

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

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

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

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

MAY 12 - 18, 2022 37

LEGAL NOTICES In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: “ Shantá Shaniqua Chrichlow© ”, f.k.a., “ Shantá Shaniqua Erskine© ”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ SHANTA’ SHANIQUA ERSKINE© ”, corp. sole Dba.: “ SHANTA’ S ERSKINE© ”, and “ SHANTA’ SHANIQUA CHRICHLOW© ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ SHANTA’ S CHRICHLOW© ”, the natural clan mother of: “ King Chrichlow© ”, the beneficiary and heir of: “ KING CHRICHLOW© ”, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare our tribal intention to be as our pedigree subscribes, as: Moorish Americans, but not a citizens of the United States. We declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim our nationality in good faith as: Moorish Americans. I am that I am: “ Shantá Shaniqua Chrichlow© ”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ shantá chrichlow© ”, and “ King Chrichlow© ”, from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ king chrichlow© ”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF NEW YORK : STATE FILE NUMBER: 156-93-015212, “ SHANTA’ SHANIQUA ERSKINE© ”, is as a special deposit order conveyed to “ Shanta Chrichlow Trust© ”. This is also a separate order to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, City of New York: STATE FILE NUMBER: 156-21-001242, “ KING CHRICHLOW© ”, is as a special deposit order conveyed to: “ King Chrichlow Trust© ”, with a 50% interest retained by Trustee: “ gordon henry chrichlow jr© ”, &, a 50% interest retained by Trustee: “ shantá chrichlow© ”. All interest is to remain fully intact until the sole beneficiary, “ king chrichlow© ”, reaches the age of majority. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Trustee: “ shantá chrichlow© ”, nom deguerre: “ Shantá Shaniqua Chrichlow© ”, and/or, “ gordon henry chrichlow jr© ”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. Re: “ SHANTA’ SHANIQUA ERSKINE© ”, “ SHANTA’ S ERSKINE© ”, “ SHANTA’ SHANIQUA CHRICHLOW© ”, and, “ SHANTA’ S CHRICHLOW© ”, this special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: “ Shanta Chrichlow Trust© ”, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. Re: “ KING CHRICHLOW© ”, this special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: “ King Chrichlow Trust© ”, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. All deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee /debtor. All deposits are not limited to, but include: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2022 FEP 00045 January 31, 2020 Date of Death Susan T. Masters Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Loyd G. Coonrod III whose address is 5901 Mount Eagle Dr., Apt. 6, Alexandria VA 22303 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Susan T. Masters, deceased, by the Virginia Circuit Court for Frederick County, State of Virginia, on March 2, 2020. Service of process may be made upon Joyce Ann Williams 6101 16th St. NW, #926, Washington, DC 20011 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 4/28/2022 Loyd G. Coonrod III Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: "Mayah Mitchell©” fka, “Mayah Brooks©”, fka",”Malikita Brooks©” and any and all derivatives in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: "MITCHELL,MAYAH", corp. sole Dba: "MAYAH BROOKS©","MALIKATA BROOKS©","NABILAH AZAD EL©","THE COOKING CAMPUS©", “MALIKATA CAPEHART©",”JOSHUA KHALIL CAPEHART©", "MAYAH CAPEHART©", "MALIKATA HERBERT© ,”MISSY BROOKS©”, MISSY HERBERT©”, “MAYAH MITCHELL EL©”, “MALIKITA BROOKS©",: " As natural mother, and guardian of: "Joshua Khalil Capehart", the beneficiary and heir of: “CAPEHART, JOSHUA KHALIL ©”, corp. sole Dba.: "JOSHUA K CAPEHART”, “JOSHUA CAPEHART”, “CAPEHART JOSHUA”, “JOSH CAPEHART, “JOSH K CAPEHART”, “ JOSHUA KHALIL AZAD EL”. Having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: "Mayah Mitchell©”, fka, “Malikata Brooks©”,fka,”Malikita Brooks©” and any and all derivatives in full life from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "nabilah azad el”. My beloved son, "Joshua Khalil Capehart", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ joshua khalil azad el” . Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: State Registar Office of Vital Statistics and Registry : DBA : STATE OF NEW JERSEY: STATE FILE NUMBER, 129-084136, "MAYAH MITCHELL ©", "MAYAH BROOKS©","MALIKATA BROOKS©", “MALIKITA BROOKS©”, "NABILAH AZAD EL©","THE COOKING CAMPUS©", “MALIKATA CAPEHART©”, "JOSHUA KHALIL CAPEHART©", "MAYAH CAPEHART©", "MALIKATA HERBERT©” ,”MISSY BROOKS©”, “MISSY HERBERT©”, “MAYAH MITCHELL EL©”, “MALIKITA BROOKS©", & GEORGIA OFFICE OF HEALTH OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS: STATE FILE NUMBER, 110-06000043: "JOSHUA K CAPEHART”, “JOSHUA CAPEHART”, “CAPEHART JOSHUA”, “JOSH CAPEHART”, “JOSH K CAPEHART”, “ JOSHUA KHALIL AZAD EL” , is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " JoshZen 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 / Guardian: " nabilah azad el”, nom deguerre: "Mayah Mitchell©”, fka “Mayah Brooks©”, fka, “Malikata Brooks©", fka “Malikita Brooks©” and any and all derivatives in full life ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : "Prana Trust", or : JoshZen Trust", both Trusts being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. All Attorneys with a License from the BAR Association are explicitly prohibited from administering " Prana Trust and/or JoshZen Trust© ", property without handwritten consent from each and every trustee, after said Attorneys have furnished their nationality, and Principal for whom’s interest they are working, pursuant to [Public Law 75-583], to Trustees in plain writing. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente. 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. Deo volente. Notice of Reference: 0112358-13

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2022 FEP 000040 January 7, 2022 Date of Death Robert Tyrone Holbrook Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Shirley Boyd Holbrook whose address is 4604 Gage Road, Alexandria, VA 22309 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Robert Tyrone Holbrook, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Fairfax County, State of Virginia, on March 16, 2022. Service of process may be made upon James Larry Frazier, Esq., 918 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002 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. 821 Decatur Street NW, Washington, DC 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

LEGAL NOTICES

Shirley Boyd Holbrook Personal Representative

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

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

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

2022 ADM 000346

2022 ADM 197

Joseph German, Jr. Decedent

Levon H. Garabedian Name of Deceased Settlor

Laura Mae Turner Decedent

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Mary German, whose address is 202 Van Buren Street NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joseph German, Jr. who died on February 17, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/5/2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/5/2022, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 5/5/2022 Mary German Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Shawnee Turner, whose address is 545 Kentucky Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laura Mae Turner who died on September 21, 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 11/5/2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/5/2022, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 5/5/2022 Shawnee Turner Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

2022 NRT 000008

Levon H. Garabedian whose address was 1309 Juniper Street, NW, Washington DC 20012 created a revocable trust on June 15, 2018, which remained in existence on the date of his death on May 17, 2020, and Dean V. Shahinian and Berj D. Kalayjian, whose addresses are 8909 Captains Row, Alexandria, VA 22308 & 4323 Madison Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781, are the currently acting trustees, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to: Dean Shahinian at 8909 Captains Row, Alexandria VA 22308 The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before November 5, 2022 (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) May 17, 2021, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2), November 5, 2022 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: May 5, 2022 Dean V. Shahinian Berj D. Kalayjian Signature of Trustee TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 000430

2022 ADM 000364

2021 ADM 001462

Estate of Joseph Young

Brenda Miller Decedent

Florence H. Pendleton Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

Michelle Lanchester, Esq. 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 900, South Building Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

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

James A. Miller, whose address is 308 Madison Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Brenda Miller who died on October 26, 2013 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 11/05/2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/05/2022, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Oscar Pendleton, Jr. and Howard Pendleton, whose addresses are 2425 South Marshall Ave. Sanford FL 32771 and 4836 Roxbury Dr., Columbus GA 31907, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Florence H. Pendleton who died on 9/10/2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 11/5/2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/5/2022, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Lynnette Young 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 November 14, 2012 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise Date of first publication: 5/5/2022 Lynnette Young 2302 Colston Drive, #103 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Date of first publication: 5/5/2022 James A. Miller Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 4/28/2022

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

38 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

LEGAL NOTICES

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Date of first publication: May 5, 2022 Oscar Pendleton, Jr. Howard Pendleton Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2022 ADM 000365 Jacob A. Hasselgren Decedent Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K street, NW Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Dean A. Hasselgren, whose address is 10717 Manor Drive, St. John, IN 46373, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jacob A. Hasselgren who died on November 8, 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 11/05/2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/05/2022, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 5/5/2022 Dean A. Hasselgren Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: ‘‘ Allen Robert Johnson© ’’, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ JOHNSON, ALLEN ROBERT© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘ALLEN ROBERT JOHNSON© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘ALLEN JOHNSON© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘A. R. JOHNSON© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘R. A. JOHNSON© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘ROBERT ALLEN JOHNSON© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘ JOHNSON, ROBERT A.© ’’, and all derivatives of the name, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: ‘‘ Allen Robert Johnson© ’’, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: ‘‘ allen robert johnson© ’’. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA – DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, REGISTER FILE NUMBER : 051742-1970, ‘‘ ALLEN ROBERT JOHNSON© ’’, to the depositor: ‘‘ allen robert johnson© ’’, nom deguerre: ‘‘Allen Robert Johnson© ’’. 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: ‘‘ allen robert johnson© ’’, nom deguerre: ‘‘Allen Robert Johnson© ’’, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : ‘‘ Allen Robert Johnson 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. All Attorneys with a License from the Bar Association are explicitly prohibited from administering "ALLEN ROBERT JOHNSON TRUST©" property without handwritten consent from each and every trustee, after said Attorneys have furnished their nationality, and Principal for whom's interest they are working, pursuant to [Public Law 75-583], to Trustees in plain writing. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off etc., of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction.

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: Herman Mitchell Charles Prosper©, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: PROSPER, HERMAN MITCHELL CHARLES©, corp. sole Dba.: HERMAN MITCHELL CHARLES PROSPER©, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: Herman Mitchell Prosper©, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: herman-mitchell: prosper-el©. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: ISLAND TERRITORY OF CURACAO – REGISTRY OFFICE, REGISTER FILE NUMBER : 991., HERMAN MITCHELL CHARLES PROSPER©, to the depositor: herman-mitchell: prosper-el©, nom deguerre: Herman Mitchell Charles Prosper©. 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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION, REGISTER FILE NUMBER : 110652350., PETITION NO. 901747., ALIEN REGISTRATION NO A30 076 714 HERMAN MITCHELL PROSPER©, to the depositor: herman-mitchell: prosper-el©, nom deguerre: Herman Mitchell Prosper©. 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: herman-mitchell: prosper-el©, nom deguerre: Herman Mitchell Prosper©, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : Herman Mitchell Charles Prosper 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. All Attorneys with a License from the Bar Association are explicitly prohibited from administering HERMAN MITCHELL CHARLES PROSPER TRUST© and HERMAN MITCHELL PROSPER TRUST© property without handwritten consent from each and every trustee, after said Attorneys have furnished their nationality, and Principal for whom's interest they are working, pursuant to [Public Law 75-583], to Trustees in plain writing. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off etc., of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction.

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

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: ‘‘ Rigoberto Torres Batres© ’’, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ BATRES, RIGOBERTO TORRES© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘RIGOBERTO TORRES BATRES© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘RIGOBERTO BATRES© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘R. T. BATRES© ’’, and all derivatives of the name: As natural father, and guardian of: “Tony Mauricio Torres-Cortez” and “Abner Rigoberto Torres Cortez”, “Nain Ezequiel Torres Cortez”, the beneficiaries and heirs of: “ BATRES, RIGOBERTO TORRES© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘RIGOBERTO TORRES BATRES© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘RIGOBERTO BATRES© ’’, corp. sole Dba.: ‘‘R. T. BATRES© ’’, and all derivatives of the name. Having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: ‘‘ Rigoberto Torres Batres© ’’, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: ‘‘ rigoberto batres© ’’. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: REPUBLUCA DE EL SAVOADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL – DEPTO de USULUTÁN, CERTIFICA FILE NUMBER : Que a folio 225, del libro de partidas de nacimiento que esta oficina llevó en el afio de 1977, se encuentra la que literal-, ‘‘ Rigoberto Torres Batres© ’’, to the depositor: ‘‘ rigoberto bates© ’’, nom deguerre: ‘‘Rigoberto Torres Batres© ’’. 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, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, REGISTRATION OF BIRTH NUMBER: 132-2010-001473 “ABNER RIGOBERTO TORRES CORTEZ” “CORTEZ, ABNER RIGOBERTO TORRES”. 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, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, REGISTRATION OF BIRTH NUMBER: 2792, “TONY MAURICIO TORRES-CORTEZ” “TORRES-CORTEZ, TONY MAURICIO”. 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, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, VITAL RECORDS: “NAIN EZEQUIEL TORRES CORTEZ” “CORTEZ, NAIN EZEQUIEL TORRES”. 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: ‘‘ rigoberto batres© ’’, nom deguerre: ‘‘Rigoberto Torres Batres© ’’, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : ‘‘ Rigoberto Torres Batres 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. All Attorneys with a License from the Bar Association are explicitly prohibited from administering "RIGOBERTO TORRES BATRES TRUST©" property without handwritten consent from each and every trustee, after said Attorneys have furnished their nationality, and Principal for whom's interest they are working, pursuant to [Public Law 75-583], to Trustees in plain writing. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off etc., of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction.

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " King Chrichlow© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ KING CHRICHLOW ", corp.sole Dba.: " CHRICHLOW, KING© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " King Chrichlow© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " king chrichlow© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: THE CITY OF NEW YORK : STATE FILE NUMBER: 156-21001242: " KING CHRICHLOW© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " King Chrichlow Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " king chrichlow© ", nom deguerre: " King Chrichlow© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " King Chrichlow Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee /debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

In God We Trust: Notice of Special Appearance: Notice of Record of Live Birth Nativity. As a result of the holy matrimony of : alexis brown who will now go by original birth name xenesis salvana smith©, Age: 21 , tribal lineage corporeal hereditament : jamaican and cuban, and, keyshawn witherspoon©, Age 21 , tribal lineage corporeal hereditament : aniyunwiya; this civil union and beget at the planet commonly called Earth, near: [ Buffalo ] [ New York ], The united states of America, States of the Union; On [Tuesday, April 19, 2022]; Time: 13:10 pm.; allah [ god of gods ] saw it fit to allow a living soul to incarnate a flesh-blood-and bone body, as a natural baby boy, in full life; Weight : 5 Pounds, 9 Ounces; Length: 18 inches. Long live the living soul to be known in this life as : rein witherspoon-smith© ; nom deguerre REIN WITHERSPOON-SMITH

Washington Informer

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: “Noel Antony Livingston©”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “LIVINGSTON, NOEL ANTONY©:, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [United Nations Declaration on the 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: “Noel Antony Livingston©”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “noel livingston©”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and internationally Protected Person. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 46. 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: REPUBLIC OF JAMAICA – JAMAICA REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT – BUREAU OF STATISTICS, STATE FILE NUMBER: FC 339, “Noel Antony Livingston©”. All property, of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned full intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: “noel livingston”, nom deguerre: “Noel Antony Livingston©”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: “Noel Antony Livingston 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 / done / 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.

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LEGAL NOTICES

2022 ADM 000411 James Green Decedent Iris McCollum Green, Esquire 1714 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Daquan Green, whose address is 1219 Holbrook Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Green who died on December 21, 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 11/12/2022. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 11/12/2022, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 5/12/2022 Daquan Green Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

TEACHERS from Page 21 done,” Lasley said. “It’s another hurdle outside of the lesson and getting feedback to strengthen your pedagogical practice. There’s pressure from [people] in higher positions in the District that comes down on administrators and alters why we’re doing this work.”

TEACHERS CONTINUE TO DEMAND SUPPORT

By the end of 2021, District teachers had already shown signs of exhaustion. A survey of 640 educators across the District conducted by the Washington Teachers’ Union and EmpowerEd last December revealed that nearly 50 percent of respondents from public and public charter schools considered leaving the teaching profession. Out of that group, nearly 15 percent said they would most likely do so before the end of the school year. Many of the respondents cited frustrations with their school administration for their decision to leave the classroom. Since its inception, Delta Kappa Gamma Society’s Supporting Early Career Educator Program has established a presence at other District-area schools, including Whittier Elementary School in Northwest and Princeton Elementary School in Camp Springs, Maryland. In years past, Delta Kappa Gamma Society members, many of whom count as retired educators, have provided tutoring and facilitated a program known as Teacher on Call. Due to COVID safety protocols, Delta Kappa Gamma members were unable to enter Barnard Elementary throughout most of the school year, which the organization’s president, Dr. Judith Kelly, described as a pivotal time for teachers. “Early career teachers are leaving the field in droves,” Kelly said. “The pandemic set things back because the support wasn’t there to help teachers become grounded. They’re finding more fields that are more attractive and lucrative. They need that friendly, experienced ear that will help them navigate schools and school systems [for help] on what to do when they’re not meeting the needs of the students.” WI @SamPKCollins

MAY 12 - 18, 2022 39

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HEALTH from Page 1

The report reveals that emergency room visits by children and adolescents in that period also rose sharply for anxiety, mood disorders and self-harm. And for individuals ages 10 to 24, suicide rates, stable from 2000 to 2007, leaped nearly 60 percent by 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further, the mental health of Black American youth “was in crisis long before COVID-19 devastated the world but no national public health crisis was called,” Dr. Amanda Calhoun, an adult/child psychiatry resident at Yale Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine, wrote for Med Page Today.

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“In 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health released a report documenting the alarming increases in Black youth suicide rates,” Dr. Calhoun noted. “The suicide death rates among Black youth have been increasing faster than those of any other racial/ ethnic group in America and Black youth under 13 years old are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to their white peers.” Dr. Calhoun also cited preliminary federal data which noted the suicide rate for Black girls and women ages 10 to 24 increased more than 30 percent in 2020 and by 23 percent among Black boys and men in the same age group. “Yet, many suicide predictor models continue to list ‘white race’ as a factor that increases risk of suicide and the myth that Black youth do not commit suicide persists,” Dr. Calhoun reported. During the pandemic, children, adolescents and young adults have faced unprecedented challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed their world, including how they attend school, interact with friends and receive health care. According to a 52-page advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, children missed first days of school, months or even years of in-person schooling, graduation ceremonies, sports competitions, playdates and time with relatives. Reportedly, D.C. has the lowest prevalence of teens with demonstrated mental health challenges. With an 8.69% prevalence rate, the District counts way below the 11.06% national average, officials claim. Still, as of June 2021, more than 140,000 children in the U.S. had lost a parent or grandparent to COVID-19. Matt Richtel, a best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at the New York Times, spent more than a year interviewing adolescents and their families for a series on the mental health crisis. “In mid-April, I was speaking to the mother of a suicidal teenager whose struggles I’ve been closely following. I asked how her daughter was doing,” Richtel reported. “Not well,” the mother said. “If we can’t find something drastic to help this kid, this kid will not be here long-term.” Richtel said to the mother who began to cry.

“It’s out of our hands, it’s out of our control,” she said. “We’re trying everything. It’s like waiting for the end.” Over nearly 18 months of reporting, Richtel got to know many adolescents and their families and interviewed dozens of doctors, therapists, and experts in the science of adolescence, often hearing “wrenching stories of pain and uncertainty.” His finding only amplified what medical experts have broadcast. Since the pandemic began, there have been increases in the rates of psychological distress among young people, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. “The pandemic has been challenging for most people, yet the teenage population, particularly females, have suffered tremendously,” Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist, explained in a recent email. “Given the importance of social connections during adolescence, many teens have felt extremely isolated, lonely and depressed as a result of the constraining nature of the pandemic,” she said. “Many teens have turned to social media use for connection, yet social media has its own host of stressors and often increases anxiety and can foster low self-esteem.” And while many parents fear that talking about these issues may exacerbate the situation, Dr. Manly said, “in truth, teens – even the most independent ones – need their parents’ steady presence and gentle guidance.” Dr. Jeannette R. Craigfeld, a clinical psychologist at the Therapy Group of D.C. in Northwest, said friends and family must be willing to listen and to try to understand the thoughts of a loved one. “Let them know that you’re willing to listen whenever they want to talk and that you can also just sit with them if that’s what they need,” Dr. Craigfeld said. “Give your loved one permission to be wherever they’re at with their depression and anxiety and that they don’t need to force themselves to seem okay around you.” “Remember that there are no easy fixes for mental illness. It’s also important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as well since it’s hard to care for others if you’re not at your best first. Permit yourself to take time for yourself whenever you need to and do things that are soothing for you,” she said. WI

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MALVEAUX from Page 24 lied under oath. It is profoundly hypocritical for Roberts to speak of trust when defending liars. Poor women and women of color are most likely to be affected if Roe is overturned. Women outside Jackson now have to drive hundreds of miles to get to Mississippi's only abortion provider. In addition to the fee for abortion services, women may need to finance transportation, an overnight stay, and more. Wealthy women will get what they want, no matter what the law. Before Roe, these women went to Mexico or found their way around the law. Poor women have no such options. Restricting the right to comprehensive health care also constrains women's economic self-sufficiency. Research shows that the availability of

BECKFORD/SNADERS from Page 24 (HBCUs) during Jim Crow allowed for Black men and women to attain credentials, skills and degrees when public and private white institutions denied us admission. Nonetheless, when you consider the ecology of education for Black Americans, most notably for Black boys and men, a strong argument can be made that we have a long way to go and that in some ways we have been forced backwards. Consider the school-to-prison pipeline which disproportionately affects Black boys and men. According to the Government Accountability Office's review of

MORIAL from Page 24 ter Jean frequently accompanied their mother to opera performances at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium in the 1940s. But what she remembers most about those outings is not the beautiful music and costumes but the 103 steps they had to climb to the colored section of the auditorium. "When we reached the top, we bent over in exhaustion," she wrote. "Mother paused at every landing, and when she reached the top, she, too, was crippled from exhaustion — and anger, which faded only when the opera began." She began her teaching career in Newton, Massachusetts, intending to earn her master's degree at Boston University where she had completed her undergraduate studies. But in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled

contraception increases women's labor force participation, which is good for the economy. Now some conservatives are considering restricting access to contraception. But contraception makes women's investment in education and employment more likely. Emboldened by the many ways legislators have chipped away rights guaranteed by Roe and Casey, legislators in Mississippi are proposing laws to declare that life begins at conception, outlawing abortions after "life." In Louisiana, legislators are proposing laws to define abortion as murder. All of this anti-abortion legislation is an attack on women's rights. Most Americans support abortion rights, in many cases with some restrictions. The Supreme Court is tone-deaf to the people's sentiments and, more importantly, to 50-year precedents. Roe was decided based on privacy

rights, which keep the courts out of the bedroom and away from people's health status. Reversing Roe removes privacy rights, not just the right to choose. What's next? Marriage equality? Further erosion of voting rights? Interracial marriage? What else? The difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Democrats plan by presidential cycle, while Republicans plan for decades. This triumph of conservatism has been planned since Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980. Forty years later, hard-fought gains are being lost, and our rights are disappearing. We are moving back to the 1950s or, given our economic situation, perhaps the 1930s, moving backwards as surely as we did when parts of the Voting Rights Act were overturned. People are taking their anger and disappointment to the streets, but maybe a decade too late. WI

the U.S. Department of Education’s national civil rights statistics for the school year 2013-14 (the most recent data) Black students, males and those with disabilities were disproportionately punished (e.g., suspensions and expulsions) in K-12 public schools. Regardless of the sort of disciplinary action taken, the extent of school poverty, or the type of public school attended, these differences were both pervasive and continuous. For example, while Black pupils made up 15.5% of all public school students, they made up over 40% of those who were suspended from school. The majority of these students were boys. When you consider the reality that there

were 2,272 Black male inmates per 100,000 Black men in 2018, you can see that the imprisonment of Black men is a unique project that begins with the mistreatment of Black boys in school. The liberating empowerment we seek as a people will not come from the existing institutions of this nation because its sustenance is predicated upon our continued oppression. It will only come from us – Black people. America lacks the means or interest to extrapolate from its intricate racism and account for its historical, moral, political and economic indebtedness to Black people.

in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. "We talked about leaving the freedom of the North to return home and become involved in the changes," she wrote. "I don't think any of us knew exactly what that would entail, but we were determined. A large wall that had surrounded us all of our lives now had a good-sized chink in it, and we could envision it, like the walls of Jericho, tumbling down." In 1955, while my father, Ernest "Dutch" Morial, completer his military service at Holabird in Maryland, my mother was one of the first Black teachers assigned to integrate the faculty of Maryland's public schools. Upon their return to New Orleans, my parents became deeply involved in the civil rights movement. As someone who had been turned away from regis-

tering to vote because she "failed" the test of identifying her own eye color, my mother devoted herself to preparing other Black citizens to register. it is humbling, and often terrifying, to recall the extraordinary challenges my mother faced – from dismissal from her teaching job due to her membership in the NAACP and the Urban League to actual death threats. On this Mother's Day, I celebrate her courage and thank the other mothers who have shaped the direction of racial justice and equality – from Leah Chase, whose restaurant was a safe haven for civil rights workers like my parents … to my wife Michelle Miller, whose work as a journalist has earned numerous awards … to the many women of excellence who lead our Urban League affiliates throughout the country. WI

BECKFORD/SANDERS Page 42

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42 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

WILLIAMS from Page 25 Jan. 6, 2021, I would also suggest the comfort and safety of her Washington, D.C., office.) Yet, with all of the inherent dangers, Speaker Pelosi led a delegation to Kyiv to give Ukraine the reassurance of the support and solidarity with the United States. President Biden selected the Hon. Linda Thomas-Greenfield to represent the United States as the ambassador to the United Nations and as our representative on the U.N. Security Council. With grace and adept diplomacy, she clearly expresses the displeasure of our nation in all matters of conflict in Ukraine. Both she and I grew up in Louisiana under humble circumstances, but that didn't pre-

JEALOUS from Page 25 learned and acted on. One important lesson is that the Supreme Court has a big impact on our lives, even though most of us don't think about it in the day to day. We should all pay more attention. We should pay attention when the far right tells us what they plan to do with their political power. They have been loud and clear about their intent to overturn Roe v. Wade. But many Americans refused to believe that the threat to Roe v. Wade

EDMONDS/PINTO from Page 25 served groups, particularly Black and Brown voters, voters with disabilities, and young voters. Roughly half of eligible voters under age 30 did not vote in 2020. That includes almost 60 percent of voters aged 18–20. Participation by voters with disabilities was also 7 percent lower than voting by people without disabilities. Having more convenient voting options

BECKFORD/SNADERS from Page 41 Black men, we have to step up to the forefront if we want Black boys to win. We are ordained to help young Black male youth coming up today. It is in our DNA. From the onset of our habitation on this stolen land, we have had to pursue unorthodox, discrete projects of learning that challenged this nation’s unsalvageable historical and educational debt. There are efforts like Urban Prep Academies

President Biden selected the Hon. Linda Thomas-Greenfield to represent the United States as the ambassador to the United Nations and as our representative on the U.N. Security Council. vent either of us from caring about justice and ethical conduct or preparing ourselves to be engaged in the pursuit of world peace. Again, I quote Scarlett when she said, "Burdens are for the shoulders strong enough to carry them." I'm

sure Scarlett would be overjoyed to know that women of skill and character no longer have to stand in the shadows of men. We are not just their helpers. We are leaders in every aspect that God has given us the capability of serving. WI

was real. They just could not imagine a 21st-century America in which women and doctors are treated like criminals for seeking or providing abortion care. We no longer need to imagine that kind of scenario. We're about to live it. And that's why we also have to pay attention to the consequences of our voting behavior. For the most part, the judges who are letting states eliminate access to abortion are the same judges letting states limit voters' access to the ballot box. They're the same judges who

restrict the government's ability to regulate harmful corporate behavior. Many of them are the same judges who tried to deny millions of Americans access to health care provided by the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court justices and other federal judges who are put in place by the president and U.S. Senate have jobs for life. That means we are stuck with Trump's judges for many years to come. And that means we all need to think long and hard about who we vote for — and about ever passing up the opportunity to vote. WI

like mobile voting can bring the ballot box to these groups, allowing them to cast their vote privately and securely. In 21 pilots across seven states, mobile voting has been successfully tested among certain limited populations, making voting easier for people with disabilities, members of the military, and citizens living abroad. Not only have these pilot programs shown the technology exists to allow easier access to voting, but that it can be done se-

curely while increasing voter turnout as well. Residents of the District — especially people of color — have been historically disadvantaged by a lack of full representation in Congress. Mobile voting is a chance for us to expand access to the ballot box, while representing a small step toward greater self-determination for D.C. residents. It’s time for D.C. to be the leader in enfranchisement in the 21st century. WI

in Chicago, which show that Black male-led projects can work in conjunction with modern day realities to unapologetically and thoughtfully serve our needs as Black boys and men. Let us envision a learning reality in which the curriculum, visions and policies are not set forth by white women or men but by us. Let us create opportunities in which we are able to be affirmed as Black men in education while affirming young

Black boys in our classroom. Let us redesign what schools look like and what our roles are in them. Let us orient ourselves to a reality in which we are more than just the disciplinarians of white-informed school cultures when we are “let into” schools. Let us dare to dream and actualize a new reality in which we are the teachers, counselors, school leaders and mentors that our Black and brown boys need. WI

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MAYOR MARION BARRY, JR. LEGACY PUBLIC ART PROJECT CALL FOR ARTISTS ARTIST TEAMS DESIGNERS CURATORS The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is looking for qualified artists, artist teams, designers, or curators to create a new public art installation exemplifying the life and legacy of the late Mayor Marion Barry, Jr. Required elements of the project include a mural as the focal point of the installation, with supporting exhibits to facilitate an enhanced, interactive overview of the history of Washington, DC, and the contributions of Mayor Barry and others who shared his vision for the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the District. The project will be installed in the lobby of the newly renamed Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr. Building at 441 4th Street NW (formerly One Judiciary Square).

For more information and to submit an application, visit bit.ly/MayorBarryPublicArt

APPLY BY MAY 27, 2022 dcarts.dc.gov 44 MAY 12 - 18, 2022

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