The Washington Informer - October 17, 2024

Oversight Round Table Delves into Violence Interruption Grant Management

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

D.C. Councilmember Trayon White’s federal bribery indictment inspired, and even exacerbated, critique and scrutiny of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) from all directions over the last couple of months.

However, members of the violence prevention community who recently testified before the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety had just as much to say about

VIOLENCE Page 40

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Maurice Fitzgerald was looking through some old papers in his Prince George’s County home recently and came across a program celebrating the 50 th anniversary of The Washington Informer. “I looked at the program and I saw pictures of Roy Lewis, Victor Holt and Khalid Naji-Allah, all great photographers of The Washington Informer,” said Fitzgerald, 69, who was a freelance photographer for the District newspaper. “I said to myself ‘this is really cool.’ The Washington Informer has come a long way and survived a lot.”

The Washington Informer, founded by Dr. Calvin Rolark on October 16, 1964 as a weekly print newspaper, is celebrating 60 years of publishing news across multiple platforms. The focus of The Informer is providing positive news of the Black community, something that was often missing from other publications, whether white or Black owned, a point Rolark often stressed.

By Jada Ingleton WI Digital Equity Fellow

With the general election looming, racial disparities, and a divided nation, homecoming, particularly at historically Black colleges and HOMECOMING Page 22

5Howard University’s 100th homecoming celebration continues through Oct. 20, exemplifying the institution’s cultural contributions and legacy, and highlighting the week of programming as a place for African Americans to reflect, collaborate and foster the next generation of Black leaders. (WI File Photo/ Abdullah Konte)

Five Black Women ANC Candidates Form a Slate

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Robin McKinney officially launched her re-election bid in August, taking pride in the economic activity in Downtown Anacostia that she said she and the other Black women commissioners of ANC 8A encouraged – and even facilitated – in collaboration with the Anacostia Business Improvement District.

McKinney told The Informer that, if re-elected, she wants to maintain that spirit of collaboration,

5Dr. Calvin Rolark, founder and first publisher of The Washington Informer, with his daughter Denise Rolark Barnes, current publisher of the newspaper. (WI File Photo)

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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:

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In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W.

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Micha Green, Managing Editor

Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer

Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor

Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist

ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager

REPORTERS

Stacy Brown, National Reporter

Sam P.K. Collins, Political/Education Reporter

Zerline Hughes, Housing Reporter

Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter

Lindiwe Vilakazi, Health Reporter

Ed Hill, Sports Reporter

Jada Ingleton, WI Comcast Fellow, WIN Daily

Newsletter Editor

Eden Harris, Reporter

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor

Roy Lewis, Jr.

Robert R. Roberts

Anthony Tilghman

Abdullah Konte

Cleveland Nelson

INTERNS

Skylar Nelson, Howard University

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wi hot topics

BY STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; RICHARD ELLIOTT, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Black-Owned Dairy-Free Ice Cream Coming To Union Kitchen

Rhett Butler’s ice cream brand Jolie Gelato recently received funds from an investor and, as part of the Union Kitchen accelerator program, will be stocked in freezers across five Union Kitchen stores this month.

“It makes me feel great being a Black entrepreneur sending my products into the community,” said Butler. “I am doing this for us because, at the end of the day, we have to make sure what we are doing for the community is to take care of each other, and what our product does is solve the problems of those who are afflicted.”

Butler noted his ice cream targets people who might have lactose challenges, offering them an alternative and delicious option. He was motivated to start the brand nearly eight years ago after being dissatisfied with the available dairy-free options.

“We have a unique product that is made for folks who have a dairy allergy, anyone who has discomfort from eating dessert, we made this for you.”

He plans to open a brick and mortar store next summer.

WI

Trump Provides Voters A Conundrum: Can They Trust Someone Who Doesn’t Pay His Bills?

As former President Donald Trump campaigns to reclaim the White House, a pressing question may weigh on the minds of voters: Can America trust a leader who doesn’t pay his bills? Multiple cities are waiting on Trump to pay up.

During his third recent rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump left without paying—again. Erie city officials are still tabulating the costs from the September rally, but Trump already owes the city over $40,000 for past visits in 2018 and 2023.

Trump’s financial footprint extends well beyond Erie.

According to NBC News and the Erie Times-News, four other cities—El Paso, Texas; Spokane, Washington; Missoula County, Montana; and Mesa, Arizona— are waiting on a combined total of more than $750,000 in unpaid costs for local law enforcement and public safety services tied to Trump rallies. These outstanding bills, some dating back eight years, underscore the strain

on taxpayer-funded resources.

At his recent Erie rally, Trump brushed off concerns about paying for overtime, saying: “I wouldn’t pay.”

When questioned about the rally bills, Trump’s campaign directed responsibility to the Secret Service, which often coordinates local security support. However, a Secret Service spokesperson clarified to NBC News that the agency lacks a mechanism to reimburse local governments, emphasizing that this gap is a “critical need” under review by Congress. In addition to Trump, other candidates have unpaid bills. In Spokane, the Sanders and Clinton campaigns from 2016 also owe money, but their debts are significantly smaller by comparison.

With the election approaching, voters may weigh Trump’s history of unpaid debts and his approach to financial obligations.

“I hated to give overtime," Trump declared during his Erie rally. "I’d get other people in. I wouldn’t pay.” WI

‘Snowed In’ Candle Controversy: Bath & Body Works Apologizes After Claims of Klan Resemblance

Bath & Body Works is facing backlash after releasing its holiday themed “Snowed In” candle, which some social media users claim resembles imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The Columbus-based retailer swiftly apologized and announced it would be removing the candle from shelves.

The controversy erupted when a Reddit user posted an image of the candle featuring a close-up snowflake design set against a maroon background. Although intended as a winter motif, some users noted a striking resemblance to the pointed hoods associated with the KKK, leading to terms like “klandle” and “KKKandle” circulating online.

“I know it’s one of those paper snowflakes, but I can’t be the only one who sees ‘it,’ right?” asked the Reddit user. The post quickly gained traction, with users on platforms like X questioning how the design passed

quality checks.

“Wait, how did nobody at Bath & Body Works clock the klandle?” one user exclaimed.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Bath & Body Works stated: “We are committed to listening to our customers and to addressing mistakes, even those that are unintentional. We apologize to anyone we’ve offended and are working to remove this item from our stores while evaluating our process going forward.”

While some criticized the oversight as insensitive, others dismissed the controversy, arguing that society is becoming overly sensitive.

“This isn’t just a branding mistake; it’s a reminder of how sensitive cultural symbols can be,” commented one user. Another argued, “People see ‘racism’ in everything nowadays.”

Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

5 Jolie Gelato recently received funds from an investor and will be stocked in freezers across five Union Kitchen stores this month. (Courtesy Photo/ Jolie Gelato)

Skyland Workforce Center: New Graduates, New Digs

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Skyland Workforce Center celebrated its 10th anniversary and a “homecoming,” at its new location at Skyland Town Center. where almost 100 people participated in the activities highlighting the organization’s work and expansion on Oct. 3.

The center, a program of Building Bridges Across the River, primarily serves residents of Wards 7 & 8. It has placed more than 1,000 people in jobs and helped nearly 8,000 clients since 2014.

WC Smith and Rappaport, lead developers of the Skyland Town Center, founded the center in 2014 as an employment training resource for District residents seeking construction jobs for the development, which had broken ground earlier that year.

“It was started with two guys and a handshake, Chris Smith of the Smith Company and Gary Rappaport of Rappaport,” said Rahsaan Bernard, president of Building Bridges Across the River, at the center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the graduation.

The center provides workforce development programs designed to lead to work-ready employee candidates, career-focused job placement, economic self-sufficiency, and improved quality of life.

Skyland Workforce Center offers a construction training class with certifications in OSHA-30, CRP, and flagging. The ceremony highlighted the 36th cohort of students to take the class.

Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams Williams joined Bernard, Smith, Rappaport and members of the staff and students in the formal cutting of the ribbon, saying, “we are celebrating a very, very long milestone.”

CANDLE from Page 4

This incident is not Bath & Body Works' first brush with controversy. In 2022, the company faced criticism for a Black History Month collection featuring kente-cloth-inspired packaging, some considered cultural appropriation.

Bath & Body Works, which became an independent public compa-

THE GRADUATION CEREMONY

Christien Pone sat proudly in front of a crowd of 45 people at the Skyland Workforce Center graduation ceremony, smiling ear to ear.

Pone, 43, came to see her son, Mansur Sanchez graduate from the center’s workforce program. However, it wasn’t just Sanchez who received encouraging words from his proud mama.

“You better smile, you got a certificate,” she said loudly to one graduate, before saying to another, “Stand up straight girl, you made it!”

The graduation ceremony took place in a room inside of the center.

Anesa Saunders, the center’s program coordinator, welcomed the graduates, family, and friends to the facility and to the event.

The graduates sat in the front of the room wearing blue stoles with “2024” in white numbers.

Keith Hawkins, the center’s safety consultant, said he enjoys working at the center.

“I have been teaching here for four years,” Hawkins said. “It is good to help people who are looking for a fresh start.”

The alumni guest speaker was Damon Donelson-Bey, a recent graduate. Donelson-Bey said he was incarcerated for 26 years and needed something to turn his life around when he arrived back in the District 15 months ago.

“I am a proud alumnus of the Skyland Workforce Center,” Donelson-Bey, 46, said. “It is here that I learned that your network is your net worth. The Skyland Workforce Center gave me the confidence I needed to establish myself.”

Donelson-Bey said the center taught him job interview skills, resume writing and “helped me buy a suit.” He now works as a mentor for

ny in 2021 and operates over 1,850 locations across the U.S. and Canada, reported $7.4 billion in revenue last year.

The outlet has 25 stores in the D.C. area, including Pentagon City, The Mall at Prince Georges, and Tangers Outlets at National Harbor.

“Let’s hope they take this as a lesson in awareness and responsibility,” one user noted. WI

the nonprofit organization Life Pieces to Masterpieces and told The Informer he was selected for an internship in the office of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Alabama).

Donelson-Bey told the graduates to be proud of what they accomplished “because this is the first of many accomplishments.”

Pone said her son’s graduation is the result of her encouragement to choose a path post secondary school.

“When he graduated from high school, I told him he had options,” she said. “He could go to college, go to the military, participate in Job Corps or go get a job. He heard about this program and picked this.” WI

FAME JAZZ BAND PROGRAM

For all Middle and High School Music Students in the Greater Washington Region (DC, MD & VA) who are eager to grow in their artistic expression and maintain high academic standards.

For detailed information and registration requirements, visit FAMEmusic.org or Email at Auditions@FAMEMusic.org or call 240-929-6598.

AUDITIONS: OCTOBER 26, 2024

University of Maryland School of Music & Dr. Henry Wise High School

5Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams (fifth from left) and others at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Skyland Workforce Center on Oct. 3. (Courtesy Photo/Skyland Workforce Center)

AROUND THE REGION

facts

OCT. 17

1711 – Poet Jupiter Hammon, the first African American writer to be published in the present-day United States, is born in Long Island, New York.

1888 – Capital Savings Bank of Washington D.C. — one of the nation's first Black-owned banks — is opened.

1956 – Physician and astronaut Mae Jamison, the first African American woman to travel in space, is born in Decatur, Alabama.

1969 – Clifton R. Wharton is elected president of Michigan State University, becoming the first African American president of a major U.S. university.

OCT. 18

1926 – Pioneering guitarist and rock 'n' roll icon Chuck Berry is born in St. Louis.

1948 – Poet and playwright Ntozake Shange, author of "For Colored Girls…," is born in Trenton, New Jersey.

1951 – "Waiting to Exhale" author Terry McMillan is born in Port Huron, Michigan.

1968 – Athlete Bob Beamon sets the world record for the long jump — 29'2½" — a mark that would stand for decades.

OCT. 19

1936 – Johnnetta B. Cole, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the first African American female president of Spelman College,

0CT. 17 - 23, 2024

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

is born in Jacksonville, Florida.

1944 – The U.S. Navy begins accepting Black women for military service.

1944 – Reggae music legend Peter Tosh is born in Grange Hill, Jamaica.

OCT. 20

1898 – North Carolina Mutual and Provident Insurance Company is founded by John Merrick and associates in Durham as the first African American-owned insurance company.

1904 – Civil rights activist Enolia McMillan, the first female president of the NAACP, is born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

OCT. 21

1917 – Iconic jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie is born in Cheraw, South Carolina.

OCT. 22

1936 – Political activist and Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale is born in Liberty, Texas. 1953 – Clarence S. Green is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery as the first-ever African American neurosurgeon.

OCT. 23

1940 – Soccer legend Pelé is born in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

1947 – The NAACP issues a formal petition against racism in America to the United Nations.

1958 – Famed academic and author Michael Eric Dyson is born in Detroit. WI

view

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

October is dedicated to raising awareness for mental health, including World Mental Health Day and National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. In light of this, what strategies do you use to enhance your mental health?

ANNTOINETTE CHERY / OLYMPIA, WASH.

CATRINA MORGAN / CHICAGO, ILL.

I do not gossip, and I do not entertain gossip. By focusing on your own life and not getting involved in the affairs of others, you can achieve a significant level of calmness and serenity. Avoiding unnecessary drama and conflict gives you inner peace & better mental health. I also love to meditate and exercise.

Daily meditation! As well as affirmations, not just in the morning but throughout the day. Also, keeping a small but strong circle.

KIM GAY / CHICAGO, ILL.

DAME FURBUSH / AUSTIN, TEXAS

Afrobeats, meditation/reflection, solfeggio tones, working out, showing compassion and staying present.

Ask a casual acquaintance, “What’s going on in your life?” Then, truly listen without taking over! You will count your blessings.

SAGE ZWADI / WASHINGTON, D.C.

Coffee, exercise, talking to safe people, writing, scrolling, music, community.

AROUND THE REGION

Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true. Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.

AROUND THE REGION

Sustainable Housing Units Comes to Ward 8, Aims to Empower Community

By Demarco Rush WI Contributing Writer

As the District of Columbia encourages businesses and developers toward cleaner, energy efficient practices, DC Green Bank, Capital Impact Partners – whose Housing Equity Accelerator fellowship is funded by Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund – and Ayesha Hudson, of A-Peace LLC, held an opening ceremony to showcase new sustainable housing units in Ward 8 on Oct. 3.

The project includes all electric construction, as well as installation of solar panels on site to deliver clean, affordable energy for the residents in the community.

“Our mission at DC Green Bank is to advance inclusive prosperity. We provide affordable loans for projects that lower energy costs for residents, improve air and water quality across the District, deliver good green jobs, increase the amount of affordable housing, and extend equitable development,” said DC Green Bank’s CEO Trisha Miller.

DC Green Bank has invested nearly $60 million in climate and community impact projects throughout all eight of D.C.’s wards.

“We've invested in equitable solar access, supporting green developers, emerging businesses, and preserving large scale green, affordable housing,” Miller explained.

The investments align with the District’s sustainability plans outlined in Clean Energy DC, which work to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half and reduce energy consumption by the same mark by 2032.

Affordable and clean housing is a major priority for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. She aims to produce 36,000 new housing units and 12,000 affordable housing units by 2025.

“Affordable housing of all kinds is necessary, both the preservation of existing homes, that we're not displacing residents, and the opportunity to create spaces that are going to be sustainable, eco conscious, and are going to really help us ensure that they're here over the long term,” said Kelly Ann Kirkpatrick, Grants and Partnerships lead for Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund.

Clean, energy efficient housing will help decrease greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, lower utility bills and improve the overall health and wellness of District citizens through renewable energy.

The race toward a cleaner D.C. is underway.

“We see Green Finance having the power to transform communities and advance climate and community benefits,” said Miller.

NATIVE WASHINGTONIAN PLAYS CRITICAL ROLE IN NEW SUSTAINABLE HOUSING UNITS

Hudson, founder and CEO of A-Peace LLC, has been in real estate for more than 20 years and has taken on the challenge to provide clean, efficient units for D.C. residents. As a native Washingtonian and the developer behind the project, she was eager to tackle District clean energy and housing goals.

“D.C. has very aggressive clean energy goals so, once I became aware of that, I started learning about how the clean and clean energy industry works, I became more and more interested,” she explained.

Originally, Hudson was planning to sell the building that would eventually turn into sustainable housing units.

“In May 2021 I decided instead of putting the house on the market for rent, I should take advantage of the zoning and build an apartment building. It's taken about twoand-a-half years from start to finish,” Hudson told The Informer.

The developer received $3.3

HOUSING Page 9

5Leaders behind new sustainable housing in Ward 8 cut the ribbon before unveiling the units. (Demarco Rush/The Washington Informer)

HOUSING from Page 8

million in financial support for the new construction.

“Amazon is grateful for the opportunity to partner with DC Green Bank and Capital Impact Partners to bring more affordable housing to the D.C. metro area. We are working hand-in-hand to support and uplift emerging developers who are at the forefront of community development,” said Senthil Sankaran, managing principal for Amazon Housing Equity Fund, in a statement. “Ms. Hudson’s holistic approach to real estate development is not only creating sustainable and affordable homes, but also supporting overall health and wellbeing. Together, we are making a positive, long-lasting impact on communities in D.C.”

Hudson has big plans for how the property will be utilized.

“The plan is for the site to house college students and graduates that study real estate and have an interest in community development. We have a nonprofit that is in the works and it is community geared,” Hudson explained.

The program will seek to not only provide housing, but to propel students into the world of real estate.

“When we bring these young minds that are already interested in real estate, we're going to give them an ownership opportunity at one of our sister properties. We plan to allow the residents to participate in the development process of more affordable housing that they will then be able to purchase,” she said.

For Hudson and the project’s partners, the housing works toward the larger goal of opening doors for more developers of color in the District.

“In development, the reason why there aren't a lot of African American developers, specifically from my community, is the equity. It’s a stumbling block, folks aren’t able to bring the equity to the project. We're getting more shine but, these are communities that historically have been overlooked for development,” Hudson said.

Melissa Stallings, director of DMV Initiatives at Capital Impact Partners emphasized the importance of paving a path for District developers.

“I'm a native Washingtonian so this is really dear to my heart,” said Stallings. “Oftentimes in our city, we see development happening, but it's not inclusive of individuals who are of the community.” WI

AROUND THE REGION

5A look at the roof of the building, filled with energy efficient solar panels. (Demarco Rush/The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

“The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker must think for truth, not for fame.”

Du Bois

Blues Webb, Alivin White, Bvijan Fox, Benjie Porecki, and Brad Collins of the group Brothers From Other Mothers read The Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/TheWashington Informer)

WellWithAll CEO Desmond Martin, media mogul and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, Wintley Phipps, founder and president of U.S. Dream Academy, and Diane Wallace, CEO of U.S. Dream Academy pose at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest, D.C. on Oct. 10. Martin and Winfrey received awards at the U.S. Dream Academy’s celebration for their work and service. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

Ward 8 Council Write-In Candidates Debate Ward Issues

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

With less than a month before the Nov. 5 general election, writein Ward 8 D.C. Council candidates are working hard to reach voters and sway them to place ballots filled with their names in a few short weeks.

Write-in candidates Olivia Henderson and Khadijah Long, as well as Ciprian Ivanof, who was serving as a surrogate for Republican candidate Nate Derenge, took to Temple of Praise Church in Southeast, D.C. for an intimate candidate forum on Oct. 12, sponsored by Million Man Vote, Go-Go Vote and The Washington Informer.

“I want to see the masterpiece of Ward 8,” said Henderson, who spoke before 15 people, including six who wore her orange and white t-shirts.

Michael Brown, another writein candidate, did not participate.

Ambrose Lane Jr., a Ward 7 resident and chairman of the DC Health Alliance Network, moderated the forum and Lindiwe Vilakazi, health writer at The Informer, served as the media panelist asking questions of the candidates and Ivanof.

Henderson, Long, Brown and Derenge are working to unseat Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D), who was arrested in August and is currently embroiled in federal bribery charges and a Council investigation.

White secured the Democratic Party nomination and Derenge was declared the Republican nominee in the June primary and both will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Throughout the event, the candidates touted reasons they were best suited to represent Ward 8 on the council.

Henderson talked about her 14 years as an advisory neighborhood commissioner and her work to improve the quality of life in the ward.

“I am a 50-year resident of Ward 8,” said Henderson. "I’m right here, Ward 8. Ward 8 is hiring for the position. I am the best candidate for the job.”

As a longtime Ward 8 resident, Long told the crowd it was time for a shift in leadership.

“We need a change,” she declared.

When Lane asked why she didn’t run in the June primary for the council seat, Long said she was undergoing chemotherapy and could not get in the race.

Now on the road to recovery, Long discussed being a parent and foster parenthood. She also spoke about her deep love of the community.

“I am committed,” she said. “I will fight for you.”

Ivanof said Derenge thinks the primary problem Ward 8 residents face is the poor level of government services.

“Nate wants to change the bureaucracy to get what you want done, done,” he said.

Addressing Public Safety

The candidates and Ivanof said public safety is a top concern in Ward 8.

“We have a problem with the loitering law,” said Henderson. “People are standing and sitting in front of stores and apartment buildings, and nothing is being done about it.”

The longtime advisory neighborhood commissioner said “public safety is the key to the community being successful.” She pointed out the narrative Bowser administration officials often say, noting

that crime is down in the District.

“Crime may be down in D.C. but not in Ward 8,” Henderson added. “We need a plan that is particular to Ward 8.”

While agreeing that public safety is a top concern, Ivanof said Derenge thinks the number of residents buying sugary drinks is too high and “the result is a lot of residents getting diabetes.”

Plus, Ivanof said the ward’s schools are not safe and students are afraid to attend them.

“You are not going to get a decent job if you have no schooling,” he said.

Long said the issues young people face in Ward 8 drive the public safety problem.

“Many of these youth come from dysfunctional families,” Long said. “It’s hard [to stay focused] when you don’t know what is happening with your dad, or even your mom.”

Lane said the forum was critical because of the unique circumstances facing the ward poliitcally, given White’s legal problems.

“We wanted to make sure that some of the voices of the candidates were heard,” he said. “The low turn out showed that some people have checked out the Ward 8 race. There were good questions and interesting answers from the candidates who may not be elected otherwise.”WI

@JamesWrightJr10

5Olivia Henderson is a write-in candidate for the Ward 8 council seat up for grabs on Nov. 5. (Courtesy Photo/Olivia Henderson LinkedIn)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Alsobrooks and Hogan Spar in Only Debate of Close Senate Race

By Richard Elliott

WI Contributing Writer

With both kind words and sharp barbs throughout, U.S. Senate candidates Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) met on Oct. 10 for the sole debate in a race that may decide the partisan control of Congress’ upper chamber.

NBC4’s Tracee Wilkins, WBAL’s Deborah Weiner, and MPT’s Jeff Salkin served as the panelists during the debate, with CNN’s Chuck Todd as the main moderator.

Both Alsobrooks and Hogan thanked the audience for tuning in and offered pleasantries in their opening remarks, before showcasing key distinctions in their backgrounds. Alsobrooks spoke about her role as a mother to a teenage

(WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

daughter and as the caregiver to retired parents, while Hogan said his desire to run was sparked by frustrations with the direction of the nation.

nnell bragged about recruiting him as an effort to build a majority for Republicans in the Senate.”

While Alsobrooks proudly touted her close ties to Vice President Kamala Harris (D), Hogan tried to distance himself from former President Donald Trump (R), who endorsed the former governor in July, and other national Republicans.

REACTIONS TO THE DEBATE ACTION

Multiple times during the debate, Todd asked candidates for a direct answer and at one point called Hogan “intentionally obtuse” regarding a response.

Candidates discussed major topics, such as reproductive rights and inflation; however, the future of the Senate, Supreme Court and White House also were critical points, noting that the candidates will be in the process of confirming or blocking justices and cabinet nominees.

Alsobrooks spoke in favor of expanding the Supreme Court or enacting term limits on justices, while Hogan said he was opposed to changing the rules. Hogan has previously described the justices appointed during the Trump Administration as “incredible.”

As the debate drew on, each candidate offered stronger criticisms of their competitor’s record and goals for Washington.

“We’re going to hear a lot of this talk all night; that’s how they talk in Washington. Focusing on party is not what I’m going to do,” said Hogan. “You’re going to hear nothing but red vs. blue. I’ve been the leading voice in my party to stand up to the things you’re talking about, and your campaign is based on multiple things that are not true.”

Hogan promised to codify Roe early in the debate, but advocates and legislators have pointed out that he vetoed abortion funding and a bill that expanded access to abortion.

Todd noted that TV ads portraying Hogan as an “independent voice” are funded by national Republicans.

“If he wanted to be an independent, he should have run as one,” said Alsobrooks. “He accepted McConnell’s offer to come in. McCo-

Many people took to social media after the debate in support and criticism of both candidates. While Alsobrooks seemed a perceived overall favorite to many social media users, others showed support for Hogan. However, some conservative voters criticized the Republican candidate’s more independent leanings.

“Hogan is not ideal but better than the alternative, Alsobrooks. Hogan supports the Ukraine war… wants a balanced budget and no tax increases,” a social media user wrote on X.

Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen accused Hogan’s campaign of attempting to smear Alsobrooks’ name and touted her work in Prince George’s.

Other Maryland Democratic leaders, such as U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), weighed in on the county executive’s performance in the debate.

“I want to congratulate my dear friend, Angela Alsobrooks, on winning tonight’s debate against Larry Hogan. People in Prince George’s County know just how impressive of a leader Angela has been, and tonight, I’m so glad that Marylanders across the state got another chance to see the leadership she will bring to the Senate,” said Hoyer, an early endorser of the Alsobrooks campaign.

He encouraged Maryland voters to support Alsobrooks in hopes of strengthening the state and nation.

“By electing Angela Alsobrooks, we will defend our Democratic majority in the Senate and create new opportunities for Marylanders to get ahead,” Hoyer said. “I’m so proud to be in her corner.”

Alsobrooks has led in most polling since the primary election and is now leading by double digits.

WI

5 U.S. Senate candidates former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), pictured in a photo from 2022, met on Oct. 10 for the sole debate in a race that may decide the partisan control of Congress’ upper chamber.

Prince George’s County Local Updates

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

FORMER

PGCPS CEO

MONICA

GOLDSON

TO LEAD JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

GREATER WASHINGTON

Dr. Monica Goldson, former CEO of the Prince George’s County Public Schools, was unanimously selected to lead the Junior Achievement Greater Washington (JAGW), beginning on Dec. 2 of this year. She will be the first Black woman to lead this organization.

“In my new role as CEO and president of JAGW, my plans will revolve around driving strategic growth, expanding outreach, and deepening partnerships with educational institutions and the business community. My deep knowledge of Prince George’s County and exposure to the District of Columbia and Virginia will be a critical asset,” Goldson told The Informer. “I understand the unique challenges and opportunities in the Greater Washington area, which will enable us to support our students in an impactful and relevant way.”

Goldson began as a math teacher at Suitland High School before rising to the leadership of PGCPS, where she was noted for raising performance on Advanced Placement exams and expanding enrollment in dual credit programs. She also serves on the State Board of Education and was appointed to the Board of Advisors on HBCUs by President Joe Biden (D) in late March 2022.

“My existing relationships within Prince George’s County can help us quickly mobilize support and create a lasting, positive influence for JAGW,” she explained.

Greater Washington Junior Achievement Board of Directors Chair Kevin P. Smithson shared why Goldson is suited to lead the organization.

"Dr. Goldson is no stranger to Junior Achievement, and her dis-

tinguished career, spanning the highest levels of educational leadership, makes her the ideal choice to guide JA into its next phase of growth," said Smithson. "Her extensive experience, combined with her visionary approach, will elevate our organization to new levels of success, expanding our reach and deepening our impact with the students and communities we serve." WI

PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ADVOCATES PLANNING UPCOMING HEALTH, EXPUNGEMENT CLINICS

To help ensure residents can get health access in their own backyards, multiple local leaders are stepping up to organize free public events offering health and dental screenings, legal help, and more.

County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (D- At Large) partnered with Delegate Kent Roberson (D- District 25) to host the Wellness Without Limits: Health Resource Fair & Expo on Oct. 5 at the North Forestville Community Center on Ritchie Road.

“Join us for a day filled with valuable health resources and information to help you live your best life,” Hawkins said in an invitation, welcoming guests to the event.

Former Laurel Councilmember Martin Mitchell is planning an expungement clinic in Laurel on Oct. 26 at the Laurel Branch Library on Seventh Street.

“This is the 10th expungement clinic that community partners and I hosted in the community. Since the first one over three years ago, we have tried to do one every three to four months. This one is extremely special because we add several components to make the event also a holistic health wellness fair as well as the traditional know-your-rights and record clearing clinic,” Mitchell

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

told The Informer.

Mitchell also said the event will include entertainment for all.

“There will be free food, snacks, drinks, and services for members of the community. All are welcome to attend,” he said.

Health and research company Care Access is partnering with the City of District Heights to bring health screenings to the new Health and Research Center in the District Heights Senior Center.

The screenings will be offered as part of Care Access’s Future of Medicine program and will be provided at no-cost to the city of District Heights or County residents

“As part of our ongoing mission to expand access to health and research services outside of traditional healthcare venues, Care Access is always looking to establish permanent presences in communities,” said Glenn Schatz, vice president of Community Engagement. We’ve found that setting up these screenings directly within community anchor institutions goes a long way towards making research easy to access and engage in.”

Schatz emphasized the importance of various screenings in order to address health care needs.

“Participating in health screenings and research can provide benefits for you, your family, and your community. We’re excited to partner with the City of District Heights and help its residents learn more about their health needs.”

“Our community has been traditionally under-represented in the research happening for new medicines, and that’s led to a real lack of medical research infrastructure for our city,” said District Heights Mayor Cynthia Miller. “We chose to partner with Care Access because of their team’s expertise, experience, and success in engaging with local communities, especially Black communities, on health and research initiatives. This makes Care Access the perfect fit for the community engagement needed to make our Senior Center a future hub for community health and innovation.”

Disclaimer: Anthony Tilghman is a photographer with the Washington Informer.

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5 Dr. Monica Goldson, former CEO of the Prince George’s County Public Schools, will be the first Black woman to lead Junior Achievement Greater Washington. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)

BUSINESS

By James Wright / WI Staff Writer

MOORE

ANNOUNCES

$2.2M IN AID FOR BUSINESSES

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) announced $2.2 million in financial assistance to support small, minority, and veteran-owned business growth to help make Maryland more competitive.

The funding, which includes loans, loan guaranties, and equity investments from the Military Personnel and Veteran-Owned Small Business Loan Program and the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority, will help the businesses create 36 new jobs and retain 131 workers in the state.

“To make Maryland more competitive, we need to uplift our entrepreneurs. That's why we are working together to ensure

briefs

Maryland is the best state in the country to start, build, and grow a business," said Moore. “With help from these two programs, we are uplifting entrepreneurs of all backgrounds — and building new pathways to work, wages, and wealth. “

The Military Personnel and Veteran-Owned Small Business Loan Program provides no-interest loans of up to $100,000 for businesses owned by military reservists, veterans, and National Guard personnel, and for small businesses that employ or are owned by these individuals. The program is administered by the Maryland Commerce Department in consultation with the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families.

The Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority provides various financing assistance to small and minori-

No, Voting is not everything BUT, HOWEVER, FOR REAL,

It was certainly important and relevant to those who were opposed to Black citizens in America to participate in voting.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of untold Black people who saw any value in voting and were bold enough to exercise their right s were:

LYNCHED, BURNED ALIVE, MURDERED, RAPED, CASTRATED, DRAGGED BEHIND VEHICLES UNTIL DEATH, VISCIOUSLY TORTURED. THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE MURDERED, MUTILATED, JAILED & UNSPEAKABLY TORTURED, HOMES BURNED DOWN, DROWNED, HUNG, TEETH KNOCKED OUT WITH HAMMERS WHILE ALIVE: NAILED TO WOODEN STAKES AND LEFT IN THE HOT SUN UNTIL DEATH, THROWN IN RIVERS ALIVE WITH SNAKES, CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS, BOILED IN SCORTCHING HOT WATER, LIMBS WERE CUT OFF

Please honor their unknown names and register and vote in your local and national elections. Even if you don’t understand, do it in honor of ONE of them. Nia 2X Radio (The Voice of the People) @ www.BlackonBlackunity.com Thankyou.

ty-owned businesses throughout Maryland. The authority also distributes federal assistance through the State Small Business Credit Initiative and is managed by private contractor Meridian Management Group, a Baltimore-based professional asset manager for economic development and private equity funds.

The authority is supporting several businesses, including CannabizMD, an Annapolis organization dedicated to educating the public about Maryland's cannabis industry; Dress It Up Dressing, a Bethesda-based company offering olive oil-based salad dressings made with simple ingredients; Fishnet Baltimore, a community restaurant set to open in the city this fall; Hungry Harvest, a farmto-doorstep produce delivery service in Landover; Jollof on Point, a Frederick restaurant and catering service specializing in authentic Nigerian cuisine; and Rita's of Pikesville, an Italian ice chain serving delicious sweet treats.

“These programs are assisting the backbone of our economy –the small businesses that make up neighborhoods throughout our state," said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “We're proud to lend our support to these small, minority, and veteran-owned operations that continue to grow and add new jobs right here in Maryland."

To learn more about available financial incentives in Maryland, visit commerce.maryland.gov.

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NVBCC PARTNERS WITH SCORE

The Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (NVBCC) has established a partnership with the Washington, D.C. Chapter of SCORE (SCORE DC), aimed at enriching the educational experience for the Economic Evolution Accelerator Program graduates.

The NVBCC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to empower Black-owned businesses in Northern Virginia and promote the region's economic growth through education, advocacy, opportunities, and resources.

SCORE DC is part of a national non-profit organization that provides free, confidential mentoring and business workshops to small

businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs from expert entrepreneurs in various industries.

This collaboration will provide founders with vital mentorship from experienced business leaders, resources such as business planning tools, and ongoing education in the form of extended workshops and seminars for founders ready to grow and scale their businesses.

The EEAPF, developed by the NVBCC, is a comprehensive program that equips emerging Black entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge to flourish in the present competitive landscape.

The program covers strategic planning, marketing competitiveness, AI business tools, certifications and more.

SCORE’s extensive network and expertise will enhance the Accelerator’s impact on supporting founder graduates as they navigate growing their enterprises.

“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem for Black-owned businesses in Northern Virginia,” said LeAnn White, executive director at NVBCC. “By collaborating with SCORE, we’re ensuring our founders have access to valuable resources and mentorship that will empower them long after graduation.”

Jon Heimerman, chair of SCORE Washington, D.C., expressed excitement with the NVBCC partnership.

Tonya Poindexter, board chair of NVBCC also shared her joy in the collaboration, noting its importance in helping Black business owners.

“Partnerships like this are critical to driving lasting change in our community and expanding opportunities for Black business owners in Northern Virginia,” Poindexter said. “By collaborating with SCORE, we’re not just offering resources—we’re building a foundation for long-term business growth and success, ensuring that Black entrepreneurs are empowered to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the broader economy.”

For more information about the program and the NVBCC, visit northernvirginiabcc.org.

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5Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is a supporter of small and minority owned businesses. (WI File Photo)

5LeAnn White is the executive director of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy Photo/LeAnn White Linkedin)

DC Chamber Honors Noted Businesses and Leaders

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

Janene D. Jackson, recipient of the DC Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business Leader of the Year Award on Oct. 11, has spent most of her adult life supporting and advocating for the District's business ecosystem.

Jackson was tapped as the executive partner for the law firm of Holland & Knight in April. She has served in all three branches of the District government and is president of the DC Bankers Association.

Jackson also served on the boards of the Federal City Council, The Economic Club, the District of Columbia Building Industry Association and the National Building Museum, where she accepted her award on Oct. 11 at the 2024 Chamber Choice Awards & Gala.

“I see the work that has to be done,” said Jackson, who was joined by more than 700 guests at the gala. “I do not do the work to get awards. I do the work to help businesses in the District of Columbia.”

WUSA Channel 9 news anchor Lorenzo Hall served as the master of ceremonies for an event hosted to highlight the accomplishments and activities of District business leaders and businesses as well as raise funds for the organization.

Among the notables in the audience were D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Council members Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), Robert White (D-At Large) and Anita Bonds (D-At Large), as welll as Maryland State Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-District 22), motivational speaker Willie Jolley, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alexander K. Austin and Howard

University Hospital President Dr. Roger Mitchell.

Antwanye E. Ford, president of Enlightened Inc., a cybersecurity company based in Southeast, D.C., received the Community Impact Award.

Dr. Stephen Johnson, executive vice president for Events DC, the official events and sports agency of the District government, presented the award to Ford, noting Enlightened Inc., as “a highly respected company.”

Ford expressed his thanks for the honor.

“I am pleased to accept this award,” said Ford. “We believe that in order to have change in your community you must be involved.”

The Economic Impact Award went to the Hopkins Bloomberg Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Pepco was awarded Business of the Year.

Tonya V. Kinlow, a resident of Ward 8 and chair of the chamber’s board of directors, announced Yohannes Tafesse, who is the chair of

5 Brian Kenner, Amazon’s global head of Community Engagement, delivers remarks at the 2024 DC Chamber’s Choice Awards and Gala on Oct. 11. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

the technology subcommittee, as the recipient of the Chairwoman’s

Choice Award for his effort to enhance artificial intelligence at the organization.

Brian Kenner, the Global Head Community Engagement at Amazon and co-chair of the event, introduced the honorees for the Hometown Heroes: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Gallery Place/ Chinatown Task Force and Monumental Sports.

A Chamber’s Choice Award was given to Don Martin for his work as an employee of the chamber, noting his many hours and contributions to the organization, said Natalie Harris, chief of staff for the chamber. Angela Franco, the former president and CEO of the chamber who stepped down in August to lead the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce was also given a Chamber’s Choice Award.

She was honored for her years of service to the organization, Harris said.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve you,” Franco said.

WI

@JamesWrightJr10

The Future Depends on Us

Laying the groundwork for a brighter and cleaner tomorrow

DC PLUG is a multi-year project that is designed to protect the District’s most vulnerable power lines by placing them underground and improving grid resiliency where you work, live and play.

We are AFFIRMED: The 46th Annual National Black MBA Association Conference

Submitted by DC Black MBA

With Washington, D.C. as the backdrop for the 46th annual National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Conference, the city proved once again to be a hub for inspiration, opportunity, and growth.

The NBMBAA Conference was held from September 17-20, 2024, at the Washington Convention Center and served as a transformative experience that affirmed the power of collective impact and provided opportunities for Black professionals to careers pathways to professional development. The conference, a premier event for Black professionals, students, and early-career individuals, drew over 9,000 from across the country. It brought together an impressive array of companies, including Marriott, LVMH, Nationwide, FedEx, Navy Federal, McCormick’s, Constellation Brands, and Target, each eager to connect with and recruit top talent.

The slate of powerful keynotes designed to engage and empower conference attendees included the Stacey Abrams; Fawn Weaver of Uncle Nearest, Morgan Stanley’s Carla Harris, and JP Morgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon. Each speaker delivered a unique yet universal message of knowing who you are, what’s your value and what’s your why. “This was my second year at the conference, so I came with a game plan to tackle the career floor and making some strategic openings to attend the keynote luncheons” explained Lydia Dominique, a second year Howard University MBA student. “I was also able to co-present a meet up with some Rice University students based on a connection I made at conference.”

In addition to over 275 companies on the career expo floor and over a dozen panel discussions, the conference offered unparalleled networking opportunities through its career fair, leadership workshops, and industry-specific sessions. Attendees engaged with some of the country’s top business leaders and gain insights into leadership, financial growth, and entrepreneurship as well as each other.

The Washington, D.C. chapter of the NBMBAA, the host chapter for this year's conference, played a critical role in ensuring its success. Under the leadership of Chapter President Dr. Carletta S. Hurt, the D.C. chapter contributed over 1,000 volunteers, dedicating more than 500 hours of service to support the event. From registration to logistics, these volunteers were instrumental in providing a seamless experience for attendees.

“Our chapter was honored to host this year’s national conference,” Dr. Hurt shared. “It was a powerful moment for us to demonstrate the strength and resilience of our community. The balance of operations, combined with the dedication of our volunteers, staff, and the host committee, was truly the glue that held everything together. This is our version of a family reunion serving as an opportunity for professional advancement, along with community building and creating lasting connections that will push us forward.”

The conference also highlighted the role of Black professionals in industries where diversity is still a challenge, providing critical conversations around inclusion and pathways to leadership in corporate America. Several exhibitors, such as LVMH, Wells Fargo, and lululemon, hosted sessions on leadership and development, with an emphasis on creating pipelines for underrepresented groups.

“This conference was about more than just career advancement,” Dr. Hurt stated. “It was about showing the next generation that we belong in every boardroom, at every table, and that we have the skills, knowledge, and determination to lead.”

The NBMBAA conference remains the premiere event for Black professionals, serving as a reminder of the power of community and collective progress. The 2025 conference is theme Transformative and will take place in Houston, Texas.

VP Kamala Harris Unveils

Extensive Agenda for Black Men, Promises Wealth-Building and Opportunity as Election Nears

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has unveiled an extensive agenda designed to dismantle systemic barriers and foster new opportunities for Black men across America.

The agenda, announced on Oct. 14, spotlights wealth-building, health equity, criminal justice reform, and expanded education and job training access.

Her plan follows recent controversial remarks by former President Barack Obama, who addressed concerns about voter turnout among Black men and stressed the importance of participating in the election.

Harris’ plan aims to address the specific needs of Black men, with initiatives focused on financial empowerment, healthcare, and education.

FORGIVABLE LOANS AND WEALTH CREATION

Harris’ economic plan centers on wealth-building and supporting Black entrepreneurship. Her administration would provide one million forgivable loans, each up to $20,000, to help Black men and others who have faced significant barriers to starting a business.

She also plans to boost access to venture capital, low-interest loans, and incubators specifically for Blackowned businesses. Recognizing that Black entrepreneurs are frequently denied credit, Harris’ plan includes reforms to expand affordable banking services and crack down on hidden fees that inhibit wealth accumulation in Black communities.

PATHWAYS TO HIGH-DEMAND JOBS AND EXPANDED EDUCATION ACCESS

Harris’ agenda promotes education, training, and mentorship programs to equip Black men with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand fields. Her plan emphasizes registered apprenticeships and credentialing programs, which would provide hands-on training for jobs in sectors like cybersecurity, renewable energy, and healthcare. She also seeks to eliminate unnecessary college degree requirements for 500,000 federal jobs, making these roles more accessible to Black men who may not have pursued higher education.

To increase the representation of Black male teachers—a crucial role model for young Black students— Harris said she plans to invest in teacher training programs through the Department of Education. By collaborating with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), the Democratic presidential nominee hopes to build a pipeline for Black male educators, addressing the severe underrepresentation in this profession, where only 1% of teachers are Black men.

HEALTH EQUITY AND ADDRESSING MEDICAL DEBT

Health equity remains a cornerstone of Harris’ agenda. She has introduced a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black men, which would address high rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, prostate cancer,

5 Members of The Washington, D.C. chapter of the NBMBAA, which was the host chapter for this year's conference. Photo courtesy of Paris Henderson

and sickle cell disease.

Harris proposes capping insulin costs at $35 per month and limiting out-of-pocket expenses on prescription drugs to $2,000 annually. Additionally, she said she would expand funding for sickle cell research and build a national database to improve prevention and treatment.

To tackle the burden of medical debt, which disproportionately affects Black men, Harris proposes removing medical debt from credit reports and working with states to relieve outstanding medical debt. The effort would help Black men access better credit, opening doors for homeownership and business financing.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN LEGAL CANNABIS

The vice president also has committed to legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level, which she

argues will reduce incarceration rates for Black men and create economic opportunities in the emerging cannabis industry.

By working with Congress to ensure the safe cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana, Harris would remove long standing barriers that have disproportionately impacted Black men. Her plan would establish pathways for Black men to access licenses and jobs in the legal cannabis sector, providing a chance to build wealth in a market that has historically excluded them.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOMEOWNERSHIP, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY

Harris further proposes building three million affordable housing units during her first term to address the housing crisis.

Still, another facet of her plan would tackle racial bias in home appraisals, a pervasive issue that often results in undervalued properties in majority-Black neighborhoods. Her

WHEN WE VOTE, WE WIN.

When our rights are

on

proposal would mandate training and accountability measures for appraisers to ensure that Black homeowners receive fair property valuations, helping to close the racial wealth gap.

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OUTREACH

As part of her outreach to Black men, the Harris-Walz campaign is launching several community-centered events.

The “Black Men Huddle Up” initiative will feature NFL and NCAA watch parties in battleground states, where Black men can discuss the upcoming election and its implications for their communities.

In addition, the campaign will host a series of Economic Freedom Talks, with notable Black entrepreneurs discussing strategies for business growth and financial independence.

Harris’ team is ramping up its Shop Talk series, Brother to Brother canvass events, and launching new testimonial ads to reach Black voters in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.

The Democratic presidential nominee’s detailed plan appears to offer

the line we fight and when they’re on the ballot we vote, because we’re not going back.

The economy is on the ballot.

Health care is on the ballot.

Criminal justice reform is on the ballot.

Reproductive freedom is on the ballot.

Environmental justice is on the ballot.

The right to vote is on the ballot.

If we do our part and show up to the polls, we will make history (again)!

Let’s vote for progress and the future we deserve.

Vote for the leader who’s been fighting for us for years.

Election Day is November 5th.

Vote for Kamala Harris.

Black men a vision of leadership, opportunity, and economic empowerment, which she argues is essential for the future of Black communities. She believes investing in education, health, and wealth-building would help address systemic inequities and build a path to prosperity for Black men nationwide.

“Donald Trump could care less about equipping hardworking Amer-

icans with the tools needed to get ahead," campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond stated. "While Vice President Harris is promising to equip Black men with the tools needed to pursue our dreams and aspirations, Donald Trump is promising Black men in America a national nightmare.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Photo Credit: National Archives (Top)

5 Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an extensive agenda designed to dismantle systemic barriers and foster new opportunities for Black men across America. (WI File Photo/Cleveland Nelson)

INTERNATIONAL

Hundreds of people marched through Ghana's capital Accra on Friday, Oct. 11 in a peaceful protest against unlicensed gold mining, calling on authorities to act against the dangerous and environmentally damaging practice, according to Reuters.

Illegal small-scale gold mining, known as "galamsey" in Ghana, has picked up this year following an almost 30% rise in global gold prices.

Small-scale mines produced 1.2 million ounces of gold in the first seven months of this year, more than in the whole of 2023, according to data from Ghana's mining sector regulator.

But the boom in a practice that harms miners' health, pollutes waterways, destroys forests and cocoa farms, and fuels crime has spurred calls and protests to clamp down. It has also become a hot button electoral issue as Ghana heads to the polls on Dec. 7 for a general election. Hundreds took part in an "environmental prayer walk" against galamsey on Friday that involved handing a petition for a ban on informal mining to the president's office.

The march followed plans by labor unions for a nationwide strike against galamsey that were partially called off after the government made promising provisions, according to local media reports citing the organizers. The government is under pressure to appeal to voters that will elect the next president of the West African nation, known for producing gold and cocoa.

Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo has grappled with the country's worst economic crisis in a generation and a massive debt overhaul that has heavily impacted people's livelihoods.

About 40% of Ghana's total gold output comes from small-scale mines, as opposed to concessions operated by multinational firms. Some 70%-80% of the small mines are unlicensed.

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The Bahamas Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has announced the appointment of 15 Youth Ambassadors to represent the country at various forums, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Bahamas Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario K. Bowleg unveiled information about the National Youth Ambassadors Corp 2024-2026 (NYAC) last week.

“In their various portfolios, the NYAC aims to advocate and amplify the voices of Bahamian Youth,” said Bowleg.

The youth ambassadors were installed and received their credentials from Her Excellency Dame Cynthia Pratt, governor general of The Bahamas, at an Installation Ceremony held Oct. 7 at Government House.

Amber Turner, a youth activist in Grand Bahama who is youth ambassador to the United Nations, is dean of the NYAC, and Jordan Clarke, youth ambassador to the Commonwealth, serves as vice dean.

5Bahamas Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario K. Bowleg announced the appointment of 15 youth ambassadors to serve as members of the National Youth Ambassadors Corp 2024-2026. (Courtesy Photo/Bahamas Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture)

5 Peaceful protestors took to the streets to demonstrate against illegal mining, locally known as 'galamsey,’ in Accra, Ghana on Oct. 11. (Courtesy Photo/Christian Council of Ghana)

Get Money Back On Your Home

If you live in the District of Columbia and meet certain requirements*, then you could be eligible for up to $1,325 in your pocket through the District’s Homeowner and Rental Property Tax Credit.

What’s more, you have three years from the filing due date to claim the credit. If you qualified but did not file in the prior three years, you can still file.

❒ A resident from Jan 1. through Dec. 31, 2023

❒ A renter or homeowner who lived in your home during all of 2023

❒ Not residing in public housing or in a property exempt from real property tax

❒ Not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s federal, state, or DC income tax return (unless you reached age 65 on or before December 31, 2023)

❒ Had a 2023 federal adjusted gross income (AGI) that was $61,300 or less if you are under 70, or $83,700 or less if you are age 70 or older

AARP Foundation Property Tax-Aide is a no-cost service. Through the end of 2024, it is partnering with D.C. organizations that can help you assess your eligibility and submit your application. If you are not required to file a DC individual income tax return because your income falls below the filing threshold, then you are eligible for this no-cost service.

Contact us today!

Learn more at:

aarpfoundation.org/propertytaxaide

From American Dream to Addiction: Three D.C. Residents Seek Hope as Overdose Deaths Decline

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

As they gather at their morning “coffee spot” on thick pieces of cardboard placed strategically under a small concrete overpass adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, three residents—Avery, Monique, and Justice—once epitomized the American Dream.

Avery drove a Porsche and shared a three-bedroom home with his girlfriend. Monique, a single professional working at a Fortune 500 company, coowned a condo with a childhood friend and drove a late-model Nissan Rogue. Justice, a federal employee, shares twin daughters with his ex-wife. Now, each faces a devastating battle with addiction, having lost their homes, careers, and family connections in the process.

5 While the opioid crisis continues to grip the nation, preliminary data from the CDC suggests inroads are being made, with overdose deaths dropping 10% in 12 months, ending in April 2024, with just over 100,000 fatalities. (WI File Photo)

Their stories reflect the broader opioid crisis that continues to grip the nation.

Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that some inroads are being made. According to figures released this week, overdose deaths dropped by 10% in the 12 months ending in April 2024, with just over 100,000 fatalities. A significant portion of this decrease is due to a decline

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in opioid overdoses, which fell from their peak of more than 86,000 annual deaths last summer to an estimated 75,091 in the latest period. Though the figures remain grim, they represent a slowdown after years of relentless increases.

Even so, the situation is far from stable. The pace of opioid-related deaths remains significantly worse than before the pandemic when fatal overdoses numbered under 50,000 annually.

Fatalities from other drug groups, like cocaine and stimulants, are also trending down, but opioids continue to drive the bulk of overdose deaths. In several Northwestern states—including Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming—overdose rates remain near or above record highs.

At last month’s debate, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris pointed to her work as a prosecutor and her role in the Biden administration’s bipartisan efforts to address the crisis. She mentioned how Republican nominee Donald Trump blocked a proposed immigration bill that would have helped stop the flow of fentanyl.

icy, in a statement last month.

Psychology Today reports that more people who use drugs now carry naloxone, which reverses opioid overdoses, and friends of drug abusers are often prepared to administer the life-saving drug. Treatment programs, including medication-assisted treatments like buprenorphine and methadone, have reduced risks for those in recovery. Experts suggest that another factor in the declining death rates may be the toxic tranquilizer xylazine, which is sometimes mixed with fentanyl. While dangerous to users, xylazine can dilute fentanyl, potentially reducing its lethal impact.

The CDC’s provisional data reflects a complex and evolving crisis, with opioid overdose deaths dropping from 84,181 in 2022 to 81,083 in 2023. However, deaths linked to methamphetamine and cocaine rose during that period, underscoring the challenges of the drug epidemic.

Experts have warned that the United States, with nearly 100,000 overdose deaths annually, is uniquely vulnerable, as street drugs have become increasingly contaminated with fentanyl, methamphetamines, xylazine, and other dangerous substances.

For Avery, Monique, and Justice, these statistics resonate deeply. Avery, who has lost friends to overdoses, said he finds encouragement in the declining numbers.

“I know there are so many families watching tonight who have been personally affected by the surge of fentanyl in our country,” Harris said as she highlighted the administration’s continued focus on curbing the epidemic.

Biden administration officials have credited various measures, such as the FDA’s approval of over-the-counter sales of naloxone, the overdose-reversing nasal spray, for the reduction in deaths.

“Over the past four years, the Administration has taken unprecedented action to tackle this crisis head-on, and today’s data shows the largest decrease in overdose deaths on record,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Pol-

“To hear that deaths, or just overdosing, is declining warms my heart,” he said, sipping on black coffee on a relatively cool mid-morning in front of the Washington Convention Center. “I guess for me, it’s just more hope that I can do it, too.”

Monique, whom the trio agreed dubbed their current location the “coffee spot,” once caught in the throes of a $350-a-day heroin habit, reflected on how far she has come.

“I’ve seen people die right here on these mean streets. I don’t want to be one of them, and I am going to get my life back,” she said, with a determination that belies her struggles.

Justice, who dreams of reuniting with his daughters, acknowledges the progress while yearning for a more definitive end to the crisis.

“One of these days, maybe we won’t see anybody dying from this [junk]. One of these days, people will look at people like me and understand it’s not worth it,” he said. “Does it make me happy to hear you say overdoses are going down? No. It will make me happy when someone says overdoses don’t happen at all anymore and nobody is addicted to drugs anymore.” WI

Biden Announces Nationwide Push for Lead Pipe Replacement, Prioritizing Underserved Communities

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

President Joe Biden took a significant step this week toward ensuring access to clean drinking water for all Americans, announcing a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that mandates the replacement of lead service lines across the nation within 10 years.

Biden declared that his administration remains committed to “sprinting to the finish” in addressing environmental justice issues and securing clean water for historically marginalized communities.

Since day one, the president said his administration has prioritized the removal of lead pipes, committing, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, to replace all lead pipes within a decade. The effort, part of the administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, doubles down on their focus on protecting public health, particularly in underserved areas.

“No level of lead exposure is safe,” Biden emphasized, noting the devastating impacts of lead poisoning, especially on children and expectant mothers.

The NAACP recently released a report highlighting how unsafe drinking water affects Black communities disproportionately, using problems in Jackson, Mississippi, Baltimore Philadelphia and other cities as examples.

“Access to clean water is a fundamental human right,” the report stated, calling for immediate action from state legislators to enforce policies prioritizing clean water access in low-income and minority communities.

The report stressed that decisions on water infrastructure funding often occur at the state level,

leaving marginalized communities vulnerable when funding priorities are misaligned. The NAACP urges lawmakers to “allocate funds for the modernization and maintenance of water systems” in areas that have suffered from long-term neglect.

DISTRICT AND NATIONWIDE EFFORTS

In Milwaukee, Biden declared that the city is progressing significantly thanks to a $30 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With the funding, Milwaukee can replace its lead pipes within 10 years instead of the previously projected 60-year timeline.

The city also prioritizes disadvantaged communities in its lead pipe replacement efforts, partnering with other Midwest cities like Detroit to advance regional clean water initiatives.

“Milwaukee is now a leader in the region,” Biden added, noting the city’s partnership with Detroit through the Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership, which aims to accelerate lead pipe replacement across the Midwest.

The Biden administration’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will mandate lead pipe replacement across the country, making this the first-ever national requirement. Since the rule was first announced, Biden has secured $15 billion specifically for lead pipe replacement, along with an additional $11.7 billion that can be allocated to drinking water projects and lead pipe removal. The funds will be directed, in part, toward disadvantaged communities bearing the brunt of lead contamination. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5 President Joe Biden announced a new Environmental Protection Agency rule that mandates the replacement of lead service lines across the nation within 10 years. (WI File Photo)

EDUCATION

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universities (HBCUs), is a time to come together, create community and celebrate the past, present and future. As Howard University celebrates its 100th homecoming through Oct. 20, the annual gathering not only exemplifies the institution’s cultural contributions and legacy, but emphasizes a place for African Americans to reflect, collaborate, and foster the next generation of Black leaders.

“When you come back to an HBCU, you're coming back home. You can let your hair down again, you can be back in that safe space. You can celebrate, you can laugh, you can cry, you can just hug each other, and that's the entire culture,” said Jennifer Thomas, a former Miss Howard University.

Featuring fun festivities, such as games, concerts and parties, homecoming is a time for students, alumni and guests to gather in the collective celebration of school spirit, and at HBCUs, there’s the added celebration of uplifting Black excellence.

Thomas, who graduated from Howard in 1988, emphasized the importance of HBCU homecomings as a moment to celebrate the

institutions’ contributions to educating and building up historic, barrier-breaking Black thinkers and leaders.

“On the campuses of HBCUs, we were all founded with a similar goal, and that's to educate Black minds who otherwise would not have had an opportunity for education,” Thomas, an associate professor and director of the Annenberg Honors Program at the Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications, told The Informer. “So it's for us, by us, and now homecoming is a chance for us to celebrate those rich legacies, relationships and friendships and that stellar education that all HBCUs provide.”

According to a recent White House report, HBCUs produce a significant percentage of Black professionals in critical fields: 40% of engineers, 50% of teachers, 70% of doctors and dentists, and 80% of judges.

During homecomings, those Black professionals and notable alumni return to campus, sometimes bringing along their famous friends as well – such as in the case of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee and an alumna of

Howard University. Harris is visiting her alma mater with her running-mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a stop part of her HBCU homecoming tour.

While some people worry about the crowds Harris’ appearance might garner, her visit aligns with the purpose of alumni contributions to HBCU homecomings— returning back to campus, taking a pulse on the community, and giving back.

Howard University’s centennial celebration, themed “Yard

of Fame,” celebrates the millions who have walked the campus, or the ‘Yard,’ and contributed to the university’s reputation since its founding in 1867— having been recently recognized by Forbes as the No.1 HBCU in the nation.

“Howard is like a big family, it's a big community, and our home is on the Yard. We come back every fall as a community of Bison to gather, to catch up, to love one another, to encourage each other and to be reminded of the legacies that were created here,” Thomas explained. “Howard has such a rich legacy, and I can see the legacy of those who came before me, and now I can say I am part of that.”

HISTORY OF HOWARD’S HOMECOMING, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CULTURE

Homecoming has been a staple celebration for historically Black colleges and universities nationwide since the 1920s, though the exact date of the first HBCU homecoming is unknown.

In 1924, according to The Dig, Howard University alumni derived the homecoming concept from Ivy League colleges and in-

troduced a new flavorful, “entirely unique” tradition that would go on to shape the culture of Black institutions for years to come. What originally started out as a spirited football game has evolved into a multiday celebration of culture, community and academic achievement, plugged by the anticipation of step shows, concerts, tailgates, parades, and other beloved events.

Deborah Peaks Coleman described her freshman year homecoming in 1974 in eight words: “I thought I died and went to heaven.”

By the early 1970s, the weeklong series of spirited events was in motion, featuring memorable performances and packed with a theme of camaraderie that helped shape Coleman’s college experience and beyond.

Along with the annual parade and football game, which is set for Oct. 19 against Tennessee State University, favorable homecoming traditions at Howard include: the Royal Court Coronation, Greek Step Show, Student Fashion Show, Bison Madness pep rally, and the highly anticipated Yardfest, which has seen the likes of Tina Turner, Kanye West, Jay-Z and other high profile attendees in the past. WI

5 Howard University is commemorating its centennial homecoming celebration through Oct. 20 with events including the annual parade. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

HOMECOMING

5Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Robin McKinney, representing Single-Member District 8A06, officially launched her re-election bid in August and is running on an all-women slate with ANC 8A Chair Jamila White, and first-time ANC candidates Renée Moore, Fria Moore and Markita Bryant.

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particularly at a time when the racial and socioeconomic composition of Anacostia, and much of Ward 8, is changing.

For her, Ward 8’s future depends on each commissioner’s ability to unite residents and include their voices in discussions about quality-of-life issues.

“We need to make sure things are inclusive and remember that every voice counts,” said McKinney, a twoterm advisory neighborhood commissioner representing Single-Member District 8A06, which includes portions of Downtown Anacostia.

In early 2021, McKinney took an oath of office for the advisory neighborhood commission after defeating multimedia activist-mogul Aiyi'nah D. Ford, white supremacist organizer Isaac Smith, and real estate agent Kristina Leszczak in the 2020 election.

In 2022, McKinney won re-election unopposed and with more than 90% of the vote. This time around, she’s going toe-to-toe with Scott Thach, an energy equity proponent and Ward 8 resident of eight years.

As the general election on Nov. 5 approaches, McKinney continues to promote not only her campaign, but that of ANC 8A Chair Jamila White, and first-time ANC candidates Renée Moore, Fria Moore and Markita Bryant.

All of them, McKinney said, are running on an all-women slate, affirming their presence as longtime District residents who are best suited to represent communities east of the Anacostia River.

“There’s a history of ANCs that

have been in our community, building relationships between our constituents and government and policy makers.

I just want to be a good voice for the community, making it good for everyone, and not just some,” said McKinney, who counts Sandra Seegars, Anthony Muhammad and the late Mary Cuthburt among her greatest influences.

“Sometimes we forget those who are already there when everyone else is coming in,” McKinney continued.

“Residents who’ve been in Anacostia for 20 and 40 years should be able to enjoy it. They should be keeping that culture. We have to keep in mind to stay woke and work with all.”

JAMILA WHITE SUPPORTS FELLOW SLATE MEMBERS AS SHE FACES A RE-ELECTION CHALLENGE

On Nov. 5, the future of Ward 8 hangs in the balance in more ways than one.

First, a beleaguered D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) appears on the general election ballot alongside the increasingly perennial Republican candidate Nate Derenge. White also has a slew of write-in challengers aiming to replace him in the aftermath of his arrest and federal bribery charge that have triggered a D.C. Council ad-hoc investigation.

Meanwhile, McKinney and Renée Moore are campaigning in their single-member districts, respectively, against Thach and Tom Donohue, Jr., two white male Ward 8 residents.

In recent years, Donohue has garnered a reputation for surveilling Black youth and posting their photos on the Ward 8 Facebook page. That’s why, even as she faces a challenger in her re-election bid, ANC Chair White continues to canvas neighborhoods with McKinney and Moore to ensure that they stave off opposition she deems as detrimental to Ward 8 residents.

Perhaps more important to White, who notes that she’s not a Ward 8 native, is maintaining a healthy presence of commissioners who were born and raised in Ward 8, if not the District. She said that the comradery of McKinney and other native Washingtonians has made her work as a commissioner more impactful.

“We have to unite our community to progress in the ways we want to progress. That means not just thinking about ourselves, but how we can

work together with the resources we have,” White told The Informer as she mentioned Bryant, who’s also facing white conservative opposition in her ANC race. “We’re looking at the future and how we can unite across classes and across the Anacostia River [to] make sure we have people representing our

community who really do practice the values that Ward 8 residents have. That’s something I’m looking forward to.”

In 2021, White entered her role as commissioner of Single-Member District 8A05 after defeating public health and justice advocate Michael Grier in the 2020 general election. In 2022,

she ran unopposed and garnered more than 90% of the vote.

Further success, White said, will happen in collaboration with residents willing to let their creativity flow in their expectations for Ward 8. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com

Advancing care in our communities.

Together, we are a force for good. That’s why we invest in partnerships that advance equity in local Black communities by improving access to educational opportunities, healthcare and mental health support.

We’re proud to support the people, businesses and neighborhoods of Greater D.C. for over 50 years. Together, we’re creating a stronger, more inclusive economy for generations to come.

We’ve Made it 60 Years Committed to Our Mission and Prayer

When Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. and his wife, Wilhelmina J. Rolark, published the first edition of The Washington Informer on October 16, 1964, they were not only witnesses but also active participants in historic national and local movements advocating for civil rights, social justice, and D.C. Home Rule.

In 1963, they joined the thousands who gathered at the National Mall for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August. That year, they also grieved over the assassinations of Medgar Evers, NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, in June, and President John F. Kennedy in November. Additionally, they were steadfast advocates and foot soldiers in the ongoing fight for D.C. Home Rule.

In 1964, the year The Washington Informer was founded, their peers, including Marion Barry, Stokely Carmichael, Walter Fauntroy and so many others, participated in Freedom Summer and countless protests, which led to a significant increase of Black voters in Mississippi and significant civil rights advances across the country, including D.C. They applauded President Lyndon Johnson for signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and celebrated the ratification of the 24th Amendment, which abolished poll taxes in federal elections—a major barrier to African American voting rights. They also supported African American business owners and professionals, along the Florida Avenue and U Street corridors, which were the epicenters of Black economic power in D.C.

With so much happening, it was Dr. Rolark’s vision to create a publication that would keep local residents informed and highlight the issues and individuals working on behalf of the Black community. With $500 donated by his wife, an activist lawyer, and the help of a close friend who hand-drew the newspaper’s original masthead, the first issue of The Washington Informer rolled off the presses of a printer in LaPlata, Maryland. Dr. Rolark personally drove the 1,000 copies back to D.C. and distributed them to barber shops, beauty salons, churches, Safeway stores, and

by mail to subscribers who paid $10.

The Washington Informer is still here 60 years later, following the passage of the baton from my father that now rests in my hands. When asked how we’ve managed to publish for this long and how we continue to do it, I always answer: “Prayer.”

There’s no better explanation for how we’ve survived the hard times, such as the passing of Dr. Rolark on October 23, 1994, and thrived through the good times, of which there have been many.

The Washington Informer was born out of the civil rights movement, and its mission remains to “inform, inspire, educate, and empower the Black community by providing news and information about issues that matter to them.”

The publication strives to remain relevant and impactful while serving as a trusted source that aids our readers in making informed decisions affecting their daily lives.

Our staff is keenly aware of the challenges facing media organizations nationwide, from shutdowns to massive layoffs. We, too, face attacks from high places that challenge the trustworthiness of our work. However, we are journalists, and we are committed to upholding the principles of our profession because we know what’s at stake.

We are the Black Press, and we are deeply proud of it. Our legacy traces back 197 years to the founding of Freedom’s Journal, the nation’s first Black-owned newspaper, on March 16, 1827. Today, we stand among over 200 Blackowned newspaper publishers in the National Newspaper Publishers Association and with 10 legacy Blackowned newspapers through Word In Black.

As the publisher of The Washington Informer, I am deeply grateful to every writer, photographer, distributor, advertiser, subscriber, and all who have contributed to our longevity, growth, and sustainability over the past 60 years. Most importantly, I want to thank those who pray for us, who keep us in their thoughts, and who uplift us as their favorite newspaper.

WI

Last week’s issue was outstanding journalism – a nice mix of news and entertainment. Keep it coming!

Eddie Fairburn Washington, D.C.

TO THE EDITOR

I thoroughly enjoyed the financial literacy supplement! I will definitely keep it on hand to reference as needed. If we could get more of these kinds of materials out to our community, we’d all be better for it.

Charlie N. Milton Washington, D.C.

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Where Do You Get Your News From?

I was sitting on a bench outside Los Angeles Union Station, waiting for a friend to pick me up. I had taken a lovely and relaxing train ride from San Diego to Los Angeles and was basking in the afterglow of a few hours untethered to purpose, people-watching, ruminating and enjoying the higher-than-usual heat. I was all

spread out on the bench and startled when a seasoned sister asked if I minded moving my things so she could sit. So I moved them and she plopped down and began talking, even as I tried to read my book. Her monologue commanded attention, though, so I put my book aside to listen.

Sis talked about all the deals she got in the garment district and proceeded to show them to me. A purse she got for $8, a shawl and a romper for her granddaughter. Then she said, "I should not

be shopping, but it's better than drinking or drugging." OK. I look at her now, fully. She is walnut brown with snow-white hair. Just a few years older than me, I wonder if this is my future. Junk shopping and talking a mile a minute to a stranger.

She says she paid too much for the shawl she bought, and she really doesn't need it. I can buy it from her at a discount, she says, half of what she paid for it. I declined the offer and hoped the conversation would shut down,

but it did not. Sis got onto the subject of inflation and started talking about high prices. They are coming down, I say. Not enough, she says, and talks about the price of eggs, a sore point for everyone. In October 2014, egg prices averaged $1.95 a dozen. According to the St. Louis Fed, they peaked at $4.83 in January 2023. This August, they were $3.20 a dozen. I have enough sense to know that this sister does not want to hear about supply chains or economic trends, so I just listen, hoping my

friends will come soon. I was mentally drifting from the conversation when my seatmate jolts me to attention. "That's why I'm voting for Trump," she says. "He can handle 'the inflation' better than she can." Really? I say. What makes you think that. "Well, isn't she a communist," sister says. Where did you hear that from. "The news," she says. "Don't you watch the news?" I laugh. I watch the news nearly 24/7, I

MALVEAUX Page 45

Federal Review of Tulsa Race Massacre 'Will Prevent These Victims … From Being Lost to History'

"We acknowledge descendants of the survivors, and the victims continue to bear the trauma of this act of racial terrorism. We have no expectation that there are living perpetrators who could be criminally prosecuted by us or by the state. We honor the legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, Emmett Till, the Act that bears his name, this

Voting is one of our most fundamental rights. It's not just about having a say in the future of our country — it's about honoring the legacy of those who fought and sacrificed so that we could have a voice. As a voting rights lawyer, I've seen the impacts of voter suppression firsthand, and how deeply un-Amer-

country and the truth by conducting our own review and evaluation of the massacre. In the words of Ida B. Wells, one of this nation's most staunch antilynching advocates, 'The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.'" — Assistant U.S. Attorney for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke

For nearly 100 years, few Americans knew the story of one of the most heinous acts of racial terrorism in our history. Pages were ripped from surviving copies

of the local newspaper to erase it from the archives.

It was only in the past few years that Oklahoma public schools added the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre to the official curriculum.

Now, an official investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department will shine the light of the federal government on the massacre, bringing some measure of justice for the descendants of the victims.

The review is a long-overdue opportunity to confront the leg-

acy of racial terrorism and the enduring economic scars Black Americans bear to this day.

As many as 300 people were slaughtered, with 800 or more seriously injured. About 10,000 people were left homeless as houses, churches, schools and businesses were burned to the ground.

One of the nation's most affluent Black communities was wiped out, almost overnight, along with its wealth of about $200 million in today's dollars. No one was ever prosecuted, no restitution

was ever made.

The specter of shame hangs over this troubling chapter of history, but that's not the most likely reason it was so long suppressed. Critical race theory suggests that America's social and economic inequities are the result of deliberate policy choices, and that different policy choices could produce a more equitable society.

To recognize the Black wealth that was taken by force is to

ican it is when folks cannot vote because of arbitrary barriers put in place to make it harder.

I became a voting rights attorney because I believe the right to vote is preservative of all other rights. That's why we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. In Congress, I've been working to reinstate and modernize the Voting Rights Act to stop harmful voter suppression laws here in Texas and across the country.

To give more Texans a chance to participate in our democracy, we

must expand early voting, make Election Day a federal holiday and take steps like same-day voter registration that make voting more accessible, not create barriers that are harmful to our democracy. I've introduced legislation that would ensure integrity in our elections and protect our election workers. I stand by the words of my hero, Congressman John Lewis who said "The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democracy."

Despite these efforts, laws like S.B. 1 in Texas make it harder for Texans to vote by mail, limit the hours of early voting and have burdensome voter registration and voter ID provisions. This isn't who we are as Texans. The Voting Rights Act, championed by the civil rights movement, was signed into law by a great Texan, President Lyndon B. Johnson.

I think about other Texas icons like the late, great Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who fought fearlessly for our democracy. She

never shied away from challenging those who wanted to silence our communities and take away folks' voices in our democracy. She said it best: "What the people want is very simple — they want an America as good as its promise."

To live up to that promise, we must do better.

Ted Cruz wants to take our democracy backward, as we all saw on January 6, 2021, when he

Marc H. Morial

Colin Allred

Julianne Malveaux

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

Truth-Telling Lessons

Now I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for hearing some truth! Have you been listening to certain people who say things that aren't even close to true? Truth-telling isn't in their vocabulary.

Let's check out J.D. Vance, who called the man he's now working for Hitler. Vance is now supporting him with a straight face, lying for

him! We could hardly believe what he said recently when he claimed our Haitian brothers and sisters in Springfield Ohio, were eating people's cats and dogs! He went on to say if that's what he had to do to get people's attention, that's what he would do — or something like that! Weeks later, he's still doing it. He never once has said he was kidding! If he cared about truth and his constituents' well-being, he wouldn't play like that. He told this lie to people he was elected to serve in the U.S. Senate!

And what do you think about Dumbo who wants to be president again? He's had his chance to name just one thing he did to make our lives better! He's calling Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden despicable names that are more fitting of him. We are now told by his own White House staff that they aren't voting for him. He was choosing to commit crimes and enrich himself. Fortunately, some in his administration with integrity are now truth-tellers because they un-

Look to College Rankings That Value HBCUs

words — except in higher ed. It seems students, parents and alumni cling to the idea that the most prestigious names deliver the best education.

One of the most recent popular memes on TikTok involves a fictitious "boss and CEO" telling random people they've been promoted and are now one of her "elite employees!" Everyone is in on the joke that mocks the elitism concept.

In fact, authentic feelings and transparency are the new buzz-

For Black students, the desire to attend an "elite" institution appears to be even harder than before. Last year the Supreme Court ended what are called race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities. The consequences are real: Black students make up just 5% of MIT's incoming class; last year it was 15%. At Harvard, the

percentage of incoming Black students dropped from 18 to 14.

But what if we're looking at the situation through the wrong lens? What if most of the college rankings are just rewarding institutions for their wealth, fame and exclusivity?

America needs a new definition of higher education excellence, one that measures what colleges do for their country, instead of for themselves.

A better way to rank colleges is by evaluating them on their commit-

derstand the danger of having this person back in the White House who now has Vladimir Putin as his best buddy, to whom Dumbo was secretly sending COVID-19 test material needed for the people he was taking help away from, causing far too many people to die needlessly!

President Barack Obama, known as the world's most admired person, just took on Dumbo while speaking in Pennsylvania at a rally supporting Vice President Harris' campaign for president. I

hope you didn't miss that first lady Michelle Obama was right there next to him! I pray that President Obama will continue to tell the American people what they need to hear before they even think of voting for Dumbo — otherwise known as Donald John Trump, who is not getting the vote of many of his family members. His niece, Dr. Mary Trump, has long been trying to tell us who this person really is.

Indigenous Communities Continue to Lead in Some of Our Most Crucial Environmental Fights Guest Columnist

and the many Indigenous communities with similar stories.

Contamination from lead, arsenic, and the other toxins in Tar Creek in northeastern Oklahoma stole the potential of many children of the Quapaw Nation. As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish and the anger. As a lifelong activist for civil and human rights and the environment, I deeply admire the resilience of the Quapaw

The Tar Creek Superfund site is the first such site to have its cleanup efforts led by an Indigenous tribe. It sits in what was once the Tri-State Mining District, which supplied the lead and zinc for more than 75% of the American bullets and shells used in World Wars I and II.

Although all mining had been abandoned by the early 1970s, hundreds of mines and boreholes

were left open. When water filled the holes, it brought toxic heavy metals to the surface. That contaminated the creek, killed wildlife, and sickened the people who had once known the creek as a source of water and a gathering place. In 1979, the creek turned bright orange from the iron in the acid mine water reaching the surface. It was a major sign of the environmental damage that had been done and continued to persist.

The mining operations also left heaps of waste known as "chat,"

ment to three goals: social mobility, research, and public service. That's exactly what Washington Monthly magazine does in its College Guide. What we see is that colleges that serve non-wealthy students and their communities do exceedingly well with these metrics, including historically Black colleges and universities, such as the ones below:

National Universities (Institutions that award a significant number of doctoral degrees)

• Winston-Salem State University: #96

• Jackson State University: #102 (out of 438 institutions)

Master's Universities (Institutions that award a significant number of master's degrees but few or no doctoral degrees):

• Tuskegee University: #50 (out of 589)

Bachelor's Colleges: (Institutions that award almost exclusively bachelor's degrees)

DIGGS-BROWN Page 46

containing lead and other toxic heavy metals. More than 16 tons of chat were left behind for every ton of ore extracted. Before people in the area were aware of the dangers posed by this chat, children would ride their bikes over the chat piles. It even made its way into their sandboxes.

As late as the 1990s, testing by the Indian Health Service showed high blood lead levels in 35% of Native American children in the area. One study showed area school children had 11 times the

state average for elevated blood lead levels.

Rebecca Jim, who is Cherokee, came to work at the local school system in the Tar Creek area in 1978, the year before the creek turned orange. She recounts, "One of my students had been fishing the day before it happened. The next day all the fish were dead. It was a shock to see it ruined."

Jim was moved to action by

JEALOUS Page 46

WILLIAMS Page 46

Barbara Diggs-Brown

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

LIFESTYLE

WASHINGTON INFORMER WEEKEND CHECKLIST

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV!

By Rachelle Smith WI Intern

Check out a handful of the many events happening in the DMV this weekend, including theatrical adaptations, community engagement, and an afternoon of embracing creative writing with local multicultural writers, plus so much more.

To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar, and remember, there’s always something happening in the DMV to keep

your spirit-- and social life-- lit.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

Culture Series: Capital City Haunts

7 p.m. | Free Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20009

Wherever one falls on the spectrum of belief about spirits, ghost stories reveal much about how many people view both life and the afterlife.

Why are audiences so fascinated about stories of the dead and not quite gone? How do these stories vary across time and culture? How have these stories been used by the living, both intentionally and otherwise?

Come join author and tour guide Tim Krepp as he leads a panel discussion to explore these questions and so much more!

ASL Interpretation will be provided.

An Evening wIth Paleoartist Jay Matternes and Aithor Richard Milner

6:30 p.m. | Free with RSVP National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Ave. NW & 10th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20004

Jay Matternes’s contributions to art and science are being celebrated in a new book authored by Richard Milner. “Jay Matternes: Paleoartist and Wildlife Painter,” examines Matternes’ entire career and features many works never before published.

Celebrate National Fossil Day after hours this year with short talks from both Milner and Matternes, followed by a conversation with the National Museum of Natural History’s Sant Director Kirk Johnson. Copies of “Jay Matternes: Paleoartist and Wildlife Painter” will be available for purchase and signing after the discussion.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

Homecoming at Howard Family Reunion (All Ages)

2:30 p.m. | Free metrobar, 640 Rhode Island Avenue NE Washington, D.C. 20002

Join a fun-filled day packed with games, music, spirits, food trucks, and more.

While this is not an officially sanctioned Howard University event, the “Homecoming at Howard Family Reunion,” brings people of all ages together for a great time.

Please note: Children will not be admitted after 8 PM, but this is an all-ages event earlier in the day.

Outdoor Screening of Practical Magic

7 p.m. | Free with RSVP

The Boro Tysons, 8350 Broad Street Tysons, VA 22102

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a night out to celebrate the spooky season at The Boro! Guests, who will be treated to a drink ticket redeemable for one midnight margarita, are invited to enjoy readings from a palm reader and check out soaps and lotion and local vendor.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

“Glass Unlimited” at Gallery B Noon | Free Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue E Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Gallery B hosting The National Capital Art Glass Guild’s juried exhibition “Glass Unlimited.”

The exhibit will showcase work from 35 different Guild members including mosaic, fused, stained and blown glass.

D.C. United vs, Charlotte FC

6 p.m. | $28.00+ Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20024

Get ready for a day of sports and fun at Audi Field, as D.C. United competes against Charlotte FC.

SUNDAY, OCT. 20

Field of Screams Maryland

6:30 p.m. | $41.99+

OGBC Park, 4501 Olney Laytonsville Road Olney, MD 20832

Prepare for pure terror at Field of Screams Maryland.

Ranked No. 1 in USA Today’s Best Haunted Attractions in the country, Field of Screams Maryland is a production packed with hyper realistic sets, props, and custom sounds meticulously designed to deliver an intense fright experience.

Field of Screams Maryland features the famous Slaughter Factory Haunted House and 55 spine tingling attractions along the flagship Super Screams Haunted trail—a one-hour walk through dark, cold, sinister woods dotted with one pulse-pounding attraction after the next, including the new Steelhead Asylum, where the lingering spirits of madness remain eternally trapped in smoke and flames.

The 18-acre compound also features more than 30 bonfires, games, and tasty concessions.

Field of Screams Maryland is not appropriate for children under 12. Parental discretion is strongly advised.

Jazz @ Met

4:30 p.m. | Free Metropolitan Park, 1330 S Fair Street Arlington, VA 22202

Bring a picnic basket or grab some bites to-go from an area restaurant, select a spot on the green or bring a chair, and ease into the evening with musical performances at one of National Landing’s newest park spaces. Join in a free arts activity led by Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and take in some tunes as part of the institution’s “MoCA on the Move" program at Met Park.

WI

5On Saturday, Oct. 19, come out to the “Glass Unlimited” show at Gallery B to see beautiful glass art. (Courtesy Photo/Gallery B)

5Scary clowns, bloody nurses, and more are in store at the DMV’s No. 1 rated and largest haunting attraction Field of Screams in Olney, Maryland. (Courtesy Photo/ Field of Screams)

Rubell DC Unveils ‘American Vignettes: Symbols, Society, and Satire’ in Museum-Wide Reinstallation

By Andrew S. Jacobson WI Contributing Writer

The Rubell Museum DC recently unveiled a groundbreaking exhibition as part of a museum-wide reinstallation. Titled “American Vignettes: Symbols, Society, and Satire,” the exhibition opened on Sept. 27 and features nearly 100 works of contemporary art from more than 40 emerging and established artists.

Drawn from Rubell's renowned collection of over 7,700 works, the exhibition, free and open to the public, covers a broad spectrum of media including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.

Organized into three thematic sections, ”Symbols, Society, and Satire,” the exhibition presents individual vignettes that, when viewed together, paint a larger narrative of contemporary life in America. These narratives, explored by both American-born and immigrant artists, offer compelling and varied approaches to interpreting the nation's cultural and social landscapes.

“‘American Vignettes’ is a powerful reflection of the diversity and complexity of the American experience,” said Mera Rubell, co-founder of the museum that opened in 2022 as a hub for national and international artists to present work that engages pressing issues of the time. “We’re honored to champion these

artists and engage our visitors with their diverse perspectives, which reflect the variedness of American society.”

SYMBOLS

The exhibition begins with “Symbols” in the museum’s largest gallery, where iconic imagery—such as flags, eagles, and banners—is reimagined by artists who interpret and reframe these cultural markers. One of the standout works in this section is Sterling Ruby’s “Flag” (2014), a monumental work of bleached and dyed fabric and elastic that spans over 14 feet in length. The piece critiques the traditional symbolism of the American flag, juxtaposing reverence and reinterpretation.

SOCIETY

The central floor of the exhibition is dedicated to “Society,” exploring interpersonal relationships and community ties.

Among the highlights is Reginald O’Neal’s “As I Am” (2021), which juxtaposes historic black-and-white depictions of Black families in Miami with a modern-day figure. O’Neal’s mastery of storytelling through subtle details allows the viewer to experience the deep sense of time and continuity that defines community and cultural heritage. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5Henry Taylor’s “The Long Jump by Carl Lewis” depicts iconic African-American athlete Carl Lewis long jumping across the canvas via acrylic paint. (Courtesy Photo/ Rubell Museum DC)

Muneer Nasser’s Climb in Jazz Continues With New Music ‘Blue House Session’

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

The Muneer Nasser Quintet recently performed an evening of exceptional new jazz at Blues Alley from their latest CD, “Blue House Session.” Frontman trumpeter and flugelhornist Nasser was accompanied by pianist, composer and educator Allyn Johnson, Elijah Easton on tenor sax, James King Jr. on bass, and John Lamkin III on drums.

Nasser’s knowledge of jazz history informed the quintet's music. The set opened with “Caravan,” a jazz classic composed by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol. The closer for this album’s release event was Miles Davis’ “All Blues” from the legendary album “Kind of Blue.”

Between two memorable jazz classics, the bandleader's composition “Nasser’s Blues” displayed a beautiful blend of harmony between Easton on the tenor sax and

Nasser on the trumpet. “Cancel Culture,” another Nasser composition, allowed the audience to hear and see the range of Lamkin’s drumming skills. It was as if there were two musicians on the drums at once. The total use and rapidness of the drum set were mesmerizing.

This writer’s favorite number of the evening was the jazz-infused interpretation of the reggae composition “Black Disciple " by the group Burning Spear. The Nasser

Saturday, December 14, 2024 • 2-4pm

FAME is presenting its annual intergenerational community holiday concert. Join us and get the holiday season started with multiple spirited sounds of music and an unforgettable experience.

quintet previously performed their version at this year’s 20th Anniversary DC JazzFest. The rhythm flows naturally through their approach, taking its rightful place in a jazz environment.

Members of the Muneer Nasser Quintet are individual stars in their own right. During the evening, each was allowed to show their skills and commitment to the music and this new CD.

Johnson is well-known throughout jazz as a brilliant pianist, composer, and arranger. He is the director of the jazz program and big band at the University of the District of Columbia.

King Jr.’s career spans more

than 50 years. He has performed with many jazz greats, including Ella Fitzgerald, Gary Bartz, Elvin Jones, Stanley Turrentine, Sonny Fortune, Cedar Walton, Buck Hill, Frank Morgan, and more.

Easton is known as a powerhouse saxophonist. In addition to performing with the Nasser Quintet, he can be seen leading groups around the D.C. area.

Drummer Lamkin III is another outstanding musician who leads jazz groups around town.

With this talented group of musicians, audience will enjoy “Blue House Session.”

WI @bcscomm

5“Blue House Session” is the latest release from The Muneer Nasser Quintet. (Courtesy photo/Muneer Nasser)

he two friends have a lot of things in common, but they also have some differences. Do the math to complete this Venn diagram to discover what they have in common. If the answer is between 1 and 9, that’s something Agnes likes. If the answer is between 10 and 15, that’s something

After ipping a coin, they agreed to

Scary Search

Three

Funny Facts

Find two comic strips in the newspaper to compare. Make a Venn diagram that shows things they have in common and things that are different.

Standards Link: Use Venn diagrams to show similarities and differences.

Write

at Ghoul Night School.

Agnes hid some things in the cemetery for Edsel to nd. He needs your help to nd these items:

© 2024 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Je Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 40, No.

review wi book

Kids Books on Voting by Various Authors

c.2024, Various publishers

$18.99 each

Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

So, who will you vote for?

That's easy: nobody yet, because you're still a kid — but you have your opinions. Even so, how much do you know about this important grown-up job? Learn more by reading these three great books on voting...

It was a cold and rainy early November day when Mama said they had to go out. They had a job to do "that, by definition, no one can do for us..."

In "Show Up and Vote" by Ani Di Franco, illustrations by Rachelle Baker (Penguin Workshop), the job is done in a big, official building that's staffed by friendly people. Mama knew a lot of folks there because a lot of people come to vote, and "no matter the weather we do this together..."

Step by step, this book takes little readers from beginning to end of the voting process, showing them how important the "job" is and the many people involved. Adults will love the pride that oozes from these words; kids ages 3 to 5 will love the artwork.

Once was a time when the right to vote was shaky, at best. If your child needs to know that history, then "The Day Madear Voted" by Wade Hudson, illustrated by Don Tate (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin) is the book to find.

It's 1969, and Charlie and Ralph's Madear has been looking forward to this day for most of her life. Up until then, Black people had been turned away from the voting booth, but on this day, the boys' mom dresses up and heads out, taking them along. This is important!

It was "just like being at church" because people were dressed nicely and they were very excited! Most of them never thought they'd see the day they'd be allowed to vote. When it was over, Madear came out of the booth with the biggest smile on her face! Ralph and Charlie asked her what it felt like, and her words peek into the future.

This look at a chapter in American history is perfect for kids who are trying to grasp the realities and processes of voting, and the act's importance.

Your 5-to-7-year-old will love it.

Here's another story of a big milestone: "Leo's First Vote!" by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Isabel Roxas (Knopf).

Leo's Dad just became an American citizen and this fall, he'll be able to cast a vote for the President! Leo knows how great this is, and he's very excited — but there are a lot of things he doesn't understand. His teacher holds a mock election, which helps. Leo's father helps, too, as he tries to learn all about the issues that are important. Leo listens as the adults debate politics and oops! his dad almost didn't get registered, which is essential.

For parents of kids ages 5 to 7 who want to understand the process, so is this book.

If these aren't enough to satisfy your young reader, check with your librarian or bookseller for more. In this election year, these books should get your vote!

WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

OCT. 17 - 23, 2024

ARIES It's easy to get carried away by your wildest daydreams and most enticing fantasies early in the week. Spending time journaling, reflecting, meditating, or working on an artistic endeavor can feel especially satisfying now. Midweek, you'll feel driven to tackle a major project that requires honing your skill set. Diving in headfirst to a challenging undertaking like this feels empowering and enlivening. Lucky Numbers: 17, 26, 32

TAURUS When the week starts, you might be inspired to strike out on your own in a way that surprises even you. This is the beginning of a new personal cycle marked by asserting your independence and unique perspective. Leaning into any impulses to embrace quirkiness or get out of your comfort zone can serve you well now. Lucky Numbers: 5, 11, 46

GEMINI Getting outrageously creative on the job comes naturally when the week begins. You might actually have some trouble pinpointing the pragmatic path to turning your ideas into reality, but you can use this artistic energy and make quite the impression by taking advantage of your amplified imagination now. Later, you'll want to prioritize time with friends, colleagues, and your significant other. Lucky Numbers: 7, 10, 29

CANCER At the week's start, you'll be eager to explore the philosophical side of your relationships. This could mean having deep, spiritual conversations with a significant other or signing up for a class with a dear friend. Basically, moving beyond mundane, everyday subject matter is extra appealing now. Later, the cosmos spurs you to seek exciting new connections related to your work or social life. Lucky Numbers: 17, 25, 33

LEO You'll want to embrace a spontaneous, unusual game plan for connecting with a lover or dear friend early in the week. The energy can make you feel extra playful and inspired to do your best to stay in the present. Get in touch with your inner romantic daydreamer and you'll be blissed out. Later, you could find a new way to support your work/life balance. Lucky Numbers: 40, 44, 52

VIRGO If there was ever a time for letting go of your analytical tendencies and allowing yourself to be swept up in the moment, it would be early in the week. If you're single, you could meet someone who seems to resemble the partner you've been imagining. If you're attached, you could have an effortless time bonding with your significant other on a spiritual level. Lucky Numbers: 23, 32, 45

LIBRA If you've been wanting to talk to your significant other, close colleague, or dear friend about an emotional issue, you'll do well to take advantage of the self-confident energy early in the week. Although your social graces are generally unparalleled, you'll easily be able to put what's in your heart into powerful words and make the impact you've been hoping for. Lucky Numbers: 26, 28, 41

SCORPIO Embracing your most imaginative impulses feels natural and emotionally rejuvenating when the week starts. You'll do well to carve out time to express how you feel through your favorite art form or explore turning a long-held fantasy into a very real experience that rocks your senses. Later, it might be time for you to break free of any one-on-one bonds that haven't been serving you. Lucky Numbers: 23, 38, 53

SAGITTARIUS At the beginning of the week, your sense of security and home life could be challenged by confusing information. Or it might feel difficult to connect with your loved ones on subjects close to your heart. Rest assured that this moment will pass and you'll have clarity once more! Later, you feel reenergized and pumped to enjoy a spirited time with someone you love. Lucky Numbers: 10, 12, 34

CAPRICORN You might be inspired to steer away from cold, hard facts and logic for a moment in order to take a more imaginative, spiritually guided approach to connecting with friends and colleagues at the week's start. Allowing yourself to explore ideas without a pragmatic bent can be liberating and help you land on an exciting, creative proposal. LLucky Numbers: 2, 6, 48

AQUARIUS You could be drawn to even more outlandish, quirky, downright innovative ideas and business proposals than usual at the outset of the week. Colleagues and higher-ups could be impressed with your willingness to take a wild pitch and run with it! Just try not to get discouraged later if you lose some steam and confusion seems to prevent colleagues from getting on the same page. You'll get right back on the horse and your team brainstorms will be on fire! Lucky Numbers: 3, 23, 41

PISCES You'll be more apt to daydream and drawn to escapism even more than usual when the week starts. This can set a lovely tone for experimenting with creative self-expression, artistic idea generation, or getting out of your general mundane routine and setting up a breathtakingly romantic, nearly cinematic moment with someone special. Just try not to put reality entirely on the back burner. Later, you'll be fired up to make a play for more responsibility or an exciting assignment. Lucky Numbers: 7, 12, 30

SPORTS

Four Major Observations From Commanders 30-20 Loss to the Baltimore Ravens

By Skylar Nelson WI Intern

Sunday’s “Battle of the Beltway," in the matchup between the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens, was considered to be an unforgettable highlight within the NFL this season. In their first loss in a month, the Commanders were defeated by the Ravens 30-20 on Oct. 13.

Check out four takeaways from the game and how the Commanders (4-2) are working to bounce back in their next game against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 20.

COMMANDERS STRUGGLED IN THE RUN GAME

The Baltimore Ravens were ranked No.1 in rushing offense with a 211.2 rush yard average heading into Sunday’s game. The Commanders were

right behind them with a 178.4 rush yard average.

The Ravens met the standard of that identity, while the Commanders struggled to comply with that standard.

It was truly obvious that the Commanders struggled due to not having running back Brian Robinson Jr, after it was announced on Saturday that he would be ruled out due to a knee injury.

Jeremy Nichols and Austin Ekeler were still in fold for the Commanders, however, it is undeniably clear the value that Robinson brings to the run game.

Robinson’s explosive technique and navigation sets him apart. His absence was felt Sunday as the Commanders went 4-of-12 on third down. The running back is known for providing excellent yardage and even scoring in situations on third down.

ZAY FLOWERS AND DERRICK HENRY DOMINATED FOR THE RAVENS

The Baltimore Ravens kicked off Sunday’s game ranked the top team in the league with a statistical offense.

Although the Ravens did allow the Commanders to do some scoring on Sunday, they still managed to dominate offensively on nine drives accumulating 484 yards. The Commanders knew how dominant the Ravens are offensively, however, it was not enough to stop wide receiver Zay Flowers and running back Derrick Henry from moving the ball forward.

Flowers executed the run game for Baltimore, starting off with a play from 44 yards down the Commanders 20-yard line. He held the momentum throughout the entire game, catching all nine of his passes for 132 yards. In addition, Flowers was the Ravens top receiver, as seven of his catches led to first downs.

Although Flowers didn’t score in the game, his ability to move the ball off the field put the Ravens in scoring position. Flowers executed a play that drew a pass interference putting Henry in position to score a three-yard touchdown. Later in the game, Flowers had a 15-yard interception that put Baltimore back in the end zone and placed Mark Andrews in position to score a 13-yard touchdown.

Henry made huge contributions in the game, with his burst of domination and competitive nature evident against the Commanders. In the first half, Henry accumulated 38 yards out of the Ravens’ total of 51 yards.

In the second half 100 of Henry’s 132-yards of rushing drew big plays. He had a burst of five-to-seven-yard sprints that led to acquiring 30 of Baltimore’s 94-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter, scoring his second touchdown.

COMMANDERS BOBBY WAGNER WEIGHS IN ON DEFENSE ACCOUNTABILITY

Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner believes that execution and communication were two big factors that stopped Washington from dominating on defense. However, Wagner said he believes in the ability of taking accountability and that it will only make the Commanders stronger.

“Honestly it took games like this where you kinda hurt yourself a little bit whether it’s penalties, miscommunication, or things of that nature,” Wagner said. “You go back and hold yourself accountable and everybody gets back to the drawing board. Don’t hold your head down and just grow. And if every player can grow, it’s gonna make us that much better.”

THE COMMANDERS ARE READY TO IMPROVE, MOVE FORWARD

The Washington Commanders are ready to hit the ground running and continue the hard work heading into next week’s game.

Despite Sunday’s setback, wide receiver Terry McLaurin emphasized the Commanders’ growth this season.

“Losing sucks, but we don’t have a group of guys that are going to hang their heads. We have a group of guys who are just excited to get to work,” McLaurin said. “We are excited to look at the film tomorrow and see how we can be better going forward next week.”

McLaurin also shared ways he felt the team can improve.

“ I think, off of the top of my head, offensively we just gotta be able to find ways to stay on the field, being more third and manageable, and just convert better.”

The Washington Commanders will be back home at Northwest Stadium on Sunday Oct. 20 at 4:05pm to faceoff against the North Carolina Panthers.

WI

5Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels throws at M and T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Commanders lost to the Baltimore Ravens 30-23. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

5Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson evading a tackle from Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. during the Oct. 13 matchup, the “Battle of the Beltway,” at M&T Bank Stadium. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE the moment

DC African Restaurant Week Festival 2024 kicked off at Audi Field in Southwest, D.C. in the shadows of the Frederick Douglass Bridge. The festival featured vendors, food and music, and celebrated African culture. (Cleveland Nelson/ The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

Evangelicals for Harris: ‘She’s a Terrific Combination’

By Rev. Dorothy Boulware Word in Black

This article was originally published online with Word In Black, a collaboration of the nation's leading Black news publishers (of which the Informer is a member).

In his prime, the Rev. Billy Graham, the legendary Baptist minister and televangelist, was known as the “Pastor to Presidents.” Over nearly seven decades, Graham was a regular presence in the Oval Office, giving spiritual counsel to every sitting president from Harry Truman to Donald Trump.

Since entering politics in 2016, Trump himself has had the white evangelical Christian vote on lockdown. In the 2020 presidential election, for example, Trump’s tough brand of social conservatism led 70% of them to choose him over President Joe Biden.

Now, Evangelicals for Harris (EFH), a group of white evangelical pastors, want to break Trump’s political grip on the faithful. They are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, using Graham’s and Trump’s own words to make their case.

And Graham’s son, Franklin Graham — a staunch Trump supporter and an influential figure in conservative politics— isn’t happy about it.

The younger Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelist Association, has demanded EFH cease and desist their campaign, and vowed to sue if they don’t stop airing their ad.

In an interview with Premier Christian News, Franklin Graham slammed EFH, and condemned Harris — the first woman of color to occupy the vice presidency, the first to win a major party’s nomination for the presidency, and who is running neck-and-neck with Trump— as “anti-Christ in her positions.”

“They are trying to make it look like my father would have supported Vice President Harris,” Graham said. “My father was a strong conservative all of his life, theologically as well as politically. He would have never voted for or supported someone like Kamala Harris — someone who is almost anti-Christ in her positions. She has done nothing to support people of faith and what we believe

and what we stand for.”

But EFH is standing its ground.

“Our communications, our references to Billy Graham, and this larger discussion of our community’s values are absolutely critical to a healthy democracy,” according to a response to Graham’s threat.

At issue is the decades-long claim conservatives have on evangelical voters.

By definition, every Christian is an evangelical; the word simply signifies the belief in God as Creator and Jesus Christ as savior and signals a commitment to the gospel he taught when he was on Earth.

Controversy ensues when regular evangelical church goers unwaveringly support Trump — a boorish, twice-divorced convicted felon and purported sexual abuser with little familiarity of the Bible and no clear church affiliation.

Just recently, a group of evangelicals issued a call to return to Christianity’s basic tenets of faith and away from the political draw to Trump.

What seems to most upset Graham with Evangelicals for Harris is the video ad comparing his father’s words to Trump’s crude self-assessment.

For example, the ad begins with a video of Billy Graham preaching: “But you must realize that in the last days, the times will be full of danger, men will become utterly

self centered and greedy for money.”

Then, there’s a clip of Trump: ”My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy, I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy.”

The membership of EFH includes different races and varied faiths, and they claim credit for helping Biden reach the White House four years ago. Their platform cites the accomplishments of the current administration and Harris’ religious background; they argue she isn’t a newcomer to Christianity and has a platform aligned with Christian values.

“We keep surprising people,” the Rev. Jim Ball, founder and chair, said in a statement. “We helped Joe Biden win in 2020 and we’re helping Kamala Harris today,”

”Her policies are pro-family. As a former prosecutor and attorney general, she will defend our democracy, the rule of law and continue the drop in crime” he said.

“She’ll keep the government out of private family matters. She’s pro-environment and pro-climate action. And she will keep the economy growing and wages increasing, while continuing to bring prices down.

EFH is standing its ground.

“There is absolutely no basis to assert that the use of this footage constitutes copyright infringement or any other violation of your rights,” according to EFH’s

answer to the younger Graham. “Our ability to publicly discuss the moral failings of Donald Trump and how his behavior comports with the values espoused by evangelical leaders, including Billy Graham, is essential First Amendment expression.

“Our communications, our references to Billy Graham, and this larger discussion of our community’s values are absolutely critical to a healthy democracy,” according to the response

By definition, every Christian is actually an evangelical. It simply signifies the belief in God as Creator and Jesus Christ as savior and signals a commitment to the gospel he taught when he was on Earth. The line is drawn, however, when people who call themselves evangelicals, give their support to the Republican candidate for president, whose behavior and whose diatribe is totally the opposite of Jesus’ teaching.

”Kamala Harris knows how to stand up to and stare down bullies. We’re going to win, and she will make a terrific president,” Ball said. “Tough on bad guys. Compassionate for those in need. Ready to unite our country. She’s a terrific combination.”

Just recently, Evangelicals issued a call to return to Christianity’s basic tenets of faith and away from the political draw to Trump. WI

5Evangelicals for Harris, a group of white evangelical pastors, want to break former President Donald Trump’s political grip on the faithful by encouraging people to support Vice President Kamala Harris. (WI File Photo/Earl Gibson)

Sunday, Oct. 20, beginning at 10 a.m. is Women's Day at All Nations Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., where our pastor is the Rev. Dr. James Coleman. We invite you all to join us to hear a blessed message by our guest speaker, Rev. Mahogany Thomas, who heads up Bread for the City. Her passion for service and community knows no bounds. A dynamic preacher and woman of God, you don't want to miss her message, "The Changing Role of Women in the 21st Century."

The church's main entrance is located at 2 Rhode Island Ave. NE, and we invite all readers to come out and hear Rev. Thomas give a Word from the Lord! During the service, nine women will be honored for their many years of work in the community, including one honoree coming down from Pennsylvania. Honorees are:

• Dr. Alethia Tucker: Voted one of the "Top 25 Most Inspiring Women" by Called 2 Inspire Magazine, Tucker is a sought-after international keynote speaker, reinvention strategist and bestselling author. With over 30 years of experience in human resources, training and marketing, she empowers individuals and organizations to amplify courage, confidence and connection.

• Evangelist Beverly Goodwin: Professional and experienced broker, real estate agent helping to sell and buy homes. Celebrating more than 20 years of real estate experience! She is a businesswoman and woman of God, preaching the Word. Goodwin hosts programs to support and feed the homeless regularly, providing gospel singing, musicians and preached word to feed their soul!

• Rose Jackson, from Delaware County, Pennsylvania: She is an entrepreneur, selling sorority paraphernalia, working at conferences and conventions. Everyone is always

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Women's Day at All Nations Baptist Church the religion corner

excited about Jackson's store! She is an elementary school staff member, working with handicapped children in Pennsylvania. She is the co-chair historian for the Eastern Region, Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Inc., working beside me. I'm grateful to have her as my co-chair! You do good work, Soror Rose Jackson!

• Gloria Hightower, president/ CEO at Friends of Carter Barron · Founding president and chief executive officer lifetime member at Friends of Carter Barron Foundation of the Performing Arts. Hightower has been hosting fundraising events to support the Carter Barron Amphitheater over the past few years. Her shows have been planned at a scale which ranges from events held at the new Kennedy Center, Lincoln Theater and even at BET, and she brought in national talent, including the Temptations. Hightower and her distinguished board of directors are determined to do all they can to support the Carter Barron Amphitheater.

• Dr. Zetta Leftridge: 33-year career at MedStar Washington Hospital Center as a clinical pharmacist in Internal Medicine. Later promoted to the position of clinical coordinator for both the divisions of Internal Medicine / Behavioral Health and Cardiology. In this position she managed a team of 21 full-time pharmacists, six part-time pharmacists and provided clinical oversight for 15 inpatient units which housed more than 250 patients. As clinical coordinator, she was involved in the mentoring and coaching of pharmacists, pharmacy residents and students.

• Dr. Linda Powell: Retired from United States International Trade Commission after 40 years of service. She is extremely active in the community working as a member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Inc., and she is a co-host each Saturday with Sisters4Sisters Network, an organization that is looking for women who understand the power we have to ignite our community and enrich our lives professionally, financially and socially. The

weekly podcast show brings in guests each week to highlight successes and failures, and how to help others along the way!

• Dr. Cassandra Montgomery: Educator, CEO and religious leader. Montgomery has been able to obtain eight degrees while serving in her community. She is a lecturer, Christian-based counselor and pastoral temperament life coach. Many lives have been transformed, empowered and inspired by her gift of service. Montgomery is many things in one motion!

• Elder Angelia Oldes-Powell: Born, raised and educated in the Washington, D.C., area. She is a descendant of accomplished entrepreneurs; her late father and mother were entrepreneurs, and her younger brother is Bishop Vance Oldes, an accomplished pastor. She is an alumna of Bowie State University and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, currently employed as a mental health specialist. She is an author, a residential service expert and an ordained elder in the Christian faith, and she's known for feeding the homeless in the park for Thanksgiving and any time, just because they are in need. She and her team will go any weekend to feed those in need!

• Maude Holt: Administrator and health care ombudsman for the Office of Health Care Ombudsman and Bill of Rights for the District of Columbia's Department of Health Care Finance. Holt, a native of Alabama, brings over 25 years of experience in health care administration and management. Holt is an advocate for access to better health care and quality health services in the District of Columbia. Her distinguished career was highlighted when she was chosen to be a 2010 recipient of the Cafritz Award for Distinguished Services for District of Columbia employees. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

RELIGION

MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC

ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge

We invite tory and God, for the Women's Taylor, committee;

RELIGION

Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

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

Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

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."

www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “ The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson

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

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

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised Land Baptist Church

60TH from Page 5

One of The Informer’s earliest columnists was U.S. Rep. Wright Patman (D-Texas), who wrote weekly about national issues. Rolark, a native of Texarkana, Texas, knew Patman through his father, who served as the congressman’s automobile mechanic.

The Informer has served as a force for the annual parades and peace walks honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and is the official sponsor of the Scripps Spelling Bee in the District and Prince George’s County, Maryland.

In addition to the print edition, The Informer offers readers a website, newsletters and a social media presence on all the major channels.

The company broadcasts a weekly digital program, “Let’s Talk,” that airs on Fridays starting at noon.

Dr. Rolark died on October 23, 1994 and his wife, Wilhelmina, served as president of the company prior to her death on February 14, 2006.

Rolark’s motto, “If it is to be, it is up to me,” continues to serve as a guiding light for The Informer.

The company presently is led by Rolark’s daughter, Denise Rolark Barnes, as its publisher.

THE INFORMER’S IMPORTANCE, LEGACY

Fitzgerald said The Informer reminds him of a Black newspaper published during the antebellum period in the United States.

“The Informer is like Frederick Douglass and the North Star, the newspaper he published that fought slavery and fought for the rights of Blacks,” he said. “We are part of that. We have to keep it going.”

Winston Chaney, a board operator who worked with Dr. Rolark on his weekly radio show on WYCB-AM 1340, highlighted The Informer’s legacy of reporting positive Black news, accomplishments and achievements over the 60 years and emphasized that it must continue.

“Rolark was brilliant, and he was one of the greatest minds of our time,” said Chaney, 70, who said Rolark’s show ran through the early 1980s to his death in 1994. “He always stressed to me the importance of getting an education. I was glad to call him a friend. I remember closing his show saying "the only people who can save us is us.”

Chaney, an on-air gospel personality on WHUR-FM, said he was

fortunate to have worked with the radio hosts Rolark and Petey Green, a popular District personality known for his street humor and candor about the city’s people and its politics. He said The Informer has been around for decades because it “kept us informed on the issues.”

“The other newspapers, The [Washington] Post and The [Washington] Times, wrote about general issues, but The Informer brought light to what the Black community faced,” he said.

Virginia Ali is the co-founder of the Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant chain. Ben’s opened in 1958, a year prior to Dr. Rolark setting up a public relations firm, CW Rolark & Associates, in the District after working a few years in Richmond, Virginia.

“I met Calvin and Wilhelmina Rolark in the 1960s,” said Ali, 90. “When he set up his newspaper, people were very excited. Black people had another choice when it came to news.”

Ali said the Rolarks were a prominent political couple in the city. She said The Informer is “a service to the community and a big asset to Washington, D.C.”

VIOLENCE from Page 1

the local government they charged with never fully supporting ONSE from the start.

“It's clear that for whatever reason, prevention has never been a priority,” said Pastor Delonte Gholston in his lengthy, collegial exchange with D.C. Councilmembers Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) and Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) on the afternoon of Oct. 7.

Gholston, pastor of Peace Fellowship Church in Ward 7, was counted among dozens of public witnesses who flooded Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building in Northwest during an oversight round table intended to examine ONSE’s management of violence intervention grants. His appearance before the council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety followed meetings with District officials over the years that he said haven’t moved the dial on the implementation of an all-hands-on-deck violence prevention strategy.

The discussion about accountability has to happen on both sides.”

QUESTIONS ABOUT VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION REEMERGE AMID POLITICAL SCANDAL

In the wake of Ward 8 Councilmember White's bribery arrest, news outlets identified Life Deeds as Human Source #1 in the federal indictment alleging that the council member agreed to get government contracts diverted to the nonprofit. Per the indictment, White stood to make more than $150,000 from the scheme. He also allegedly accepted a total of $35,000 in cash payments for his efforts.

The allegations triggered not only Pinto's oversight ambitions, but the launch of a council ad-hoc committee to determine White's future on the D.C. Council.

Ali said Ben’s Chili Bowl advertised and helped the newspaper when and anyway it could.

“Throughout the years, The Informer has written articles about us and we appreciate that,” she said. “Those articles helped us keep our business alive.”

Ali said The Informer is part of a group of noted Black businesses that flourished during the 1960s, before the city became fully integrated.

“Black people had what we needed,” said Ali. “We had Black newspapers like The Informer, Black banks like Industrial and businesses such as Lee’s Flower Shop and others that sustained the Black community.”

Ben’s Chili Bowl celebrated its 75th anniversary in August 2023. As the publication celebrates its 60th year, Ali expressed confidence that The Informer will reach that milestone and continue to operate for years to come.

“I would tell The Informer to keep on going,” she said. “They are doing a great job. Denise is doing a great job. She has got it. Her dad taught her well.”

WI @JamesWrightJr10

“We had a plan,” Gholston told council judiciary committee members, eventually asking that they revisit and push for the full implementation of the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act. “Y’all asked us to come up with a plan on the Police Reform Commission. We had David Muhammad’s organization [National Council on Crime and Delinquency]. They had a plan. We don’t have any lack of proposals and plans in this city. We lack vision implementation and strategic coordination.”

For several minutes, Gholston leveraged his on-the-ground experience and political science background to question whether the government had provided ONSE and its partner institutions the resources essential for preventing violence. In his reflection, he touched on instances when, after learning that ONSE couldn’t provide housing relocation support, he and his pastoral colleagues pooled resources to place traumatized families in hotels and AirBNBs.

Gholston recounted making similar strides for ONSE grantees who had to wait weeks at a time for disbursement of funds.

“We got executive directors funded through ONSE and Cure the Streets who’ve had to come out of pocket to cover bills,” Gholston said. “They’re out here hustling to make sure these guys and ladies [in their programs] are paid on time. There's clearly a procurement problem in terms of how the resources are hitting the streets.

On Oct. 1, the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, ONSE extended Life Deeds’ contract for 30 more days while the agency brings on a new provider. Meanwhile, D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and D.C. Child and Family Services Agency didn’t renew Life Deeds for another fiscal year.

ONSE, in existence since 2019, provides a couple violence intervention and prevention grants per year. Kwelli D. Sneed currently serves as the interim director.

The agency’s formation was a key provision of the NEAR Act, which became law without D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s signature in 2018. Since its inception, it has established partnerships and implemented violence prevention strategies through the use of public health and public safety tools. The agency also engages D.C. residents who are most likely to be involved in gun violence through its Pathways Program. Last month, D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton wrote a letter demanding an evaluation, and possible defunding, of violence interruption programs, like what ONSE facilitates. On Sept. 30, Bowser, responding to an Informer inquiry, denied knowing about Pemberton’s letter. While she didn’t delve too deeply into her feelings about the NEAR Act, she touted the Pathways Program and violence interrupters as effective tools in driving down violence.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

5Kitty Chaney, Virginia Ali and Sonya Ali read The Washington Informer at Ben’s Chili Bowl. In its 60th year, Virginia Ali says The Washington Informer is an important publication that should keep going. (WI File Photo/ Roy Lewis)

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001115

George E. Belton Sr. Decedent

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

George E. Belton Jr. & Gia E. Lawrence, whose addresses are 3113 S. Dakota Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20018 & 2971 Brookwood Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of George E. Belton Sr. who died on 8/5/2024 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

George E. Belton Jr.

Gia E. Lawrence Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: "Henry Pirtle IV© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ HENRY PIRTLE IV ", corp.sole Dba.: " HENRY PIRTLE; PIRTLE IV, HENRY; PIRTLE, HENRY© ", 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 an: American Moor, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as an: American Moor. am that I am: " Henry Pirtle IV© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " kalifa pharoh bey© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk Office : STATE FILE NUMBER: 10481423374: " HENRY PIRTLE IV© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " Muuristic Empire 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: "Kalifa pharoh bey© ", nom deguerre: " Henry Pirtle IV© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " Muuristic Empire Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

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

2024 ADM 001139

Isadore Lane Decedent

Andre O. McDonald, Esq. 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 420 Columbia, MD 21044 Attorney

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

Kelechi J. Lane, whose address is 1420 Cowsill Drive, Severn, Maryland 21144, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Isadore Lane who died on 6/27/2024 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Kelechi J. Lane

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Maria Chevelli’a Caldwell© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ MARIA CHEVELLI’A CALDWELL ", corp.sole Dba.: " MARIA C CALDWELL; CALDWELL, MARIA C; CALDWELL, MARIA CHEVELLI’A© ", 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 an: American Moor, but not a citizen of the United States. declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as an: American Moor. I am that I am: " Maria Chevelli’a Caldwell© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " yemaya bey© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: The Wisconsin Vital Records Office : STATE FILE NUMBER: 1990066709: " MARIA CHEVELLIA CALDWELL© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " Goddess Warriors 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: "yemaya bey© ", nom deguerre: " Maria Chevelli’a Caldwell© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of " Goddess Warriors Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001124

Joyce Ann Wilson Decedent

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

Sherika J. Wilson, whose address is 1911 Savannah Street, SE Apt 203, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joyce Ann Wilson who died on July 27, 2024 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Sherika J. Wilson

1911 Savannah Street, SE, Apt 203 Washington, DC 20020

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001015

Catherine Ann Jackson Decedent

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

Wendell E. Jackson Jr., whose address is 521 K Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Catherine Ann Jackson who died on September 15, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Wendell E. Jackson Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 000915

Laverne Seegers Decedent

Donald Marlais, Esq. 411 10th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney

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

Catrice Simpson, whose address is 2800 Jasper Street SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laverne Seegers who died on 11/21/2010 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Catrice Simpson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 FEP 000110

December 31, 2023

Date of Death

Edward Garfield Jones aka Edward G. Jones Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Zaiafanice Jones Lipscomb whose address is 12507 Pleasant Prospect Road, Mitchellville, MD 20721 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Edward Garfield Jones aka Edward G. Jones, deceased, by the General Court of Justice Superior Court Div. Court for Caswell County, State of North Carolina, on March 19, 2024.

Service of process may be made upon Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. at 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #400, Washington, DC 20015 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 3704 26th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018. 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: 10/3/2024

Zaiafanice Jones Lipscomb Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 1122

Mack R. Walston Decedent

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

Gralan M. Walston, whose address is 2962 2nd Street #31, SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mack R. Walston 5120 Sargent Rd #305, Washington, DC 20017 who died on December 13, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Gralan M. Walston

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001160

Michaela Sylvia Godette Decedent

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

Pierre Michael Godette, whose address is 5418 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Michaela Sylvia Godette who died on February 14, 2024 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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:

10/3/2024

Pierre Michael Godette

Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001158

Jannie B. Holland Decedent

Robert Clayton Cooper 6856 Eastern Ave., NW Suite 350 Washington, DC 20012

Attorney

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

Jannie M. Latta, whose address is 821 Avis Drive, Largo, MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jannie B. Holland who died on April 20, 2018 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Jannie M. Latta Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2021 FEP 000004

August 9, 2020

Date of Death

Norris E. Millard aka Norris Edward Millard Jr. Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Andre K. Bland and Kevin Millard whose addresses are 3204 Accolade Dr., Clinton MD & 10500 Westwood Pl., Cheltenham MD were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Norris E. Millard aka Norris Edward Millard, Jr., deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on July 8, 2024. Service of process may be made upon Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., Life and Legacy Counselors, 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 3468 23rd Street SE, Washington, DC 20020. 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: 10/3/2024

Andre K. Bland Kevin Millard

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2024 ADM 001163

Deborah Lorraine Totten Decedent

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

Lakisha Totten, whose address is 6823 Hawthorne Street, Landover, Maryland 20785, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Deborah Lorraine Totten who died on July 12, 2024 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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Lakisha Totten Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001138

Roseline McKinney Decedent

Andre O. McDonald, Esq. 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 420 Columbia, Maryland 21044

Attorney

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

Jesse E. McKinney, whose address is 3436 Coach Lantern Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27587, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Roseline McKinney who died on May 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Jesse E. McKinney Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001153

Bernice Johnson Reagon Decedent

Michelle Lanchester, Esq. 9701 Apollo Dr., Suite 295 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney

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

Toshi Reagon, whose address is 315 Flatbush Ave., #131, Brooklyn, NY 11217, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bernice Johnson Reagon who died on July 16, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Toshi Reagon Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001136

Troy Nathaniel Bullock Decedent

Andre O. McDonald, Esq. 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 420 Columbia, Maryland 21044 Attorney

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

Troy N. Goode, whose address is 44 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Troy Nathaniel Bullock who died on December 7, 2022 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Troy N. Goode Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2024 ADM 001185

Carolyn W. Harrison Decedent

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

Lisa L. Williams, whose address is 5119 Astor Place, SE, Apt. 104, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Carolyn W. Harrison who died on March 20, 2024 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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Lisa L. Williams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 1143

Shelley D. Massey Decedent

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

Janice E. Hutton, whose address is 929 Bonifant Street, #1110, Silver Spring, MD 20910, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shelley D. Massey who died on 1/21/2024 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 4/3/2025. 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 4/3/2025, 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: 10/3/2024

Janice E. Hutton Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001155

Carolyn Matthews Decedent

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

Valerie Matthews and Wayne Matthews, whose addresses are 2727 Fairlawn Ave., SE #302, Washington, DC 20019 and 1459 Ridge Pl., SE, Washington, DC 20020, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Carolyn Matthews who died on July 18, 2024 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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Valerie Matthews

Wayne Matthews

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001159

Charles Marshall Holland Decedent

Robert Clayton Cooper, Esq. Cooper & Crickman, PLLC 6856 Eastern Ave., NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20012

Attorney

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

Jannie M. Latta, whose address is 821 Avis Drive, Largo, MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles Marshall Holland who died on March 18, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Jannie M. Latta

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 000818

So Ching Ng Decedent

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

Walter T. G. Lee and Julia Infante, whose addresses are 234 Santa Margarita Ave., Menlo Pk, CA 94025 and 1511 Baylor Ave., Rockville MD 20850, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of So Ching Ng who died on March 17, 2024 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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Walter T. G. Lee Julia Infante Personal Representative

TRUE

Nicole

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001228

Estate of Ferdinand W. Tolson

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Brian-Eric Henderson for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication:

October 10, 2024

Brian-Eric Henderson 4125 19th Street, NE Washington, DC 20018

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 1198

Mae S. Mills Decedent

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

Caneisha Mills, whose address is 5437 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mae S. Mills who died on August 14, 2024 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 4/17/2025. 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 4/17/2025, 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: 10/17/24

Caneisha Mills

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 1150

Dorothy L. Thornton Decedent

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

Terry L. Thornton, whose address is 743 Hobart Pl., NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dorothy L. Thornton who died on August 23, 2024 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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Terry L. Thornton Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 1205

Glenn A. Hill aka Glenn Hill Decedent

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

Rachel Fink, whose address is 36 T Street NE, #202, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Glenn A. Hill aka Glenn Hill who died on April 7, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/17/2025. 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 4/17/2025, 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: 10/17/2024

Rachel Fink Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 001161

Gracie Douglas Decedent

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

Leonard Douglas, whose address is 9519 Traverse Way, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gracie Douglas who died on September 23, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Leonard Douglas 9519 Traverse Way Fort Washington, MD 20744 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001178

Martha Powell aka Martha Gary Powell aka Martha G. Powell Decedent

Peggy A. Miller 5130 7th Street, NE Washington, DC 20011

Attorney

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

Janice Gary, whose address is 11008 Cross Laurel Drive, Germantown, MD 20876, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Martha Powell aka Martha Gary Powell aka Martha G. Powell who died on 7/20/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/17/2025. 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 4/17/2025, 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: 10/17/2024

Janice Gary Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2024 ADM 001171

Richard Grays Decedent

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

Donald R. Simpson and Gregory Grays, whose addresses are 9104 Friar Rd., FT. Washington, MD 20744 & 8105 Highland Meadows Dr., Clinton, MD 20735, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Richard Grays who died on May 29, 2024 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 4/10/2025. 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 4/10/2025, 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: 10/10/2024

Donald R. Simpson Gregory Grays

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2024 ADM 1179

Laura M. Shuler aka Laura Shuler Decedent

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

Sarah Shuler, whose address is 612 21st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laura M. Shuler aka Laura Shuler who died on 5/6/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/17/2025. 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 4/17/2025, 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: 10/17/2024

Sarah Shuler

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

MALVEAUX from Page 26

tell her. What do you watch? she asks. Mostly CNN and MSNBC, I say. "See, I watch Fox." Humph! I almost spit out my water. "And Tucker Carlson says she is a communist." Do you fact-check any of this, I ask. "Not really. They say it all the time, it must be true. Why would they lie?"

Exhale. I write down a couple of things for her to check out. I tell her they are lying. I ask if she voted for Kamala before, since she has been on a statewide ballot thrice, as attorney general twice and U.S. senator. My seatmate says, "Yes, I voted for her, but I did not know she was a communist." But she isn't, I exclaim, perhaps a bit loudly. "Well, if you are going to get mad, I am going to go sit someplace else." Stay, I say. My friends will be here soon. And I really want to understand why Fox is your primary source of news. We chat a

MORIAL from Page 26

recognize that a massive debt is owed. White resentment of Black Tulsa's wealth was the most likely the catalyst for the massacre, not the probably fictitious assault of a 17-year-old white girl by a 19-year-old Black shoeshiner.

According to the Chicago Defender, "A rumor has been extant for some time to the effect that it was the desire of white industry or of private citizens to appropriate the lands which the Race had gained possession of. Since the area had become a segregated district to them, the value had increased and white speculators saw a chance for immense profits if they could only drive the inhabitants out."

As a child of the Jim Crow South, I'm all too familiar with the suppression of the "hard history" of slavery, white supremacy and racial injustice, and the my-

bit more, but she is not budging. Fox tells her the vice president is a communist and she believes it. And talking to me isn't going to change her mind.

This reminds me of the obtuse Kellyanne Conway, the former Trump aide who said "we have our own facts" when caught in a lie. Or J.D. Vance who says he will make up stories about immigrants eating pets if it brings attention to the immigration crisis. Where do you get your news from? How does it shape your views? How will it affect your vote? And how many of us have the fortitude to enter into challenging conversations to debunk Fox lies? We have just a few weeks to get the facts out there.

My train station conversation reminded me of the gulf that separates so many of us. Two Black women of a certain age, with a very different lens on truth.

WI

thology of the Lost Cause — the fictitious claim that the Civil War was not fought over slavery, but against the encroachment of federal power.

The 1619 Project, the New York Times' acclaimed examination of slavery's role in shaping the American present, was met with hysterical backlash that fueled an insidious frenzy of censorship legislation.

The Department of Justice review of the Tulsa Massacre is being conducted under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which allows the Justice Department to investigate fatal civil rights crimes that occurred on or before Deccember 31, 1979.

Since the passage of the act, the department has opened at least 138 investigations and closed 122 of them.

Emmett Till's murder, and his mother's decision to allow the world to see his brutalized corpse,

ALLRED from Page 26 hard-won rights.

tried to overturn a free and fair election and disregard the will of the American people. Ted Cruz supports restrictive laws based on fear tactics about widespread voter fraud. He doesn't understand and doesn't care that voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, and he is trying to strip away our

This reminds me of the obtuse Kellyanne Conway, the former Trump aide who said "we have our own facts" when caught in a lie. Or J.D. Vance who says he will make up stories about immigrants eating pets if it brings attention to the immigration crisis.

galvanized the civil rights movement. Time magazine named it one of the 100 influential images of all time, writing, "For almost a century, African Americans were lynched with regularity and impunity. Now, thanks to a mother's determination to expose the barbarousness of the crime, the public could no longer pretend to ignore what they couldn't see."

The public no longer can pretend to ignore the Tulsa Massacre. Assistant U.S. Attorney for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke said there is "no expectation that there are living perpetrators who could be criminally prosecuted by us or by the state," but an official report on the investigation will "reflect the Justice Department's exhaustive efforts to seek justice, at bare minimum, [and] prevent these victims and the tragic ordeals they endured from being lost to history."

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History has shown us that elections can be decided by just a handful of votes.

Yet in Texas, only 42% of eligible voters turned out in 2022 and Texas, sadly, consistently ranks towards the bottom in the country in turnout numbers.

We have less than a month to turn out our family and friends

and ensure every eligible Texan casts their ballot. It's time to make a plan to vote, especially at a moment when folks like Ted Cruz want to threaten the principles our country was founded on. I often say if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. Voting is our power and our voice. Let's use it.

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One doesn't have to be a Democrat to know the danger of considering Dumbo. The sensible ones are voting against him and for Vice President Harris and Gov. Tim Walz because they've decided we need honest and competent people to lead our country. Admirable people like former Rep. Liz Cheney, her father Dick Cheney,

from Page 27

• Elizabeth City State University: #4

• Central State University: #24

• Bluefield State University: #28

Best Bang for the Buck— South: (The schools where students of modest means get the most for their money):

• Jackson State University: #18

• Paul Quinn College: #27

• Kentucky State University: #30

Best Bang for the Buck—Southeast:

• Elizabeth City State University: #12

• Winston-Salem State Universi-

JEALOUS from Page 27

the learning disabilities and other impacts of lead poisoning she witnessed. Her advocacy was key in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designating Tar Creek a Superfund site in 1983. Thirty years later, the Quapaw Nation itself would seize the reins in partnering with the EPA to remediate the site.

The efforts overseen by the Quapaw have removed over 7 million tons of mine waste and remediated more than 600 acres of land. That is according to Summer King with the Quapaw Nation Environmental Office. King said, "When the site was slated for remediation, the Quapaw Nation requested to conduct the work. Because of the cultural and historical importance to the Nation, they knew their own people were the best for the job."

Tar Creek is but one example of Indigenous-led efforts to clean up, stop, or prevent environmental disasters in Oklahoma alone. The Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations are leading opposition to a $3.1 billion hydropower project on Kiamichi River that would si-

the generals who worked for Dumbo and many more are voting for Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz.

President Obama reminded us that Dumbo is a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn't stopped whining and thinking about himself while selling you the Word of God Bible — Trump Edition, gold sneakers and $100,000 watches you don't need, as he enriches

ty: #13

• Bethune-Cookman University: #15

HBCUs offer incredible opportunities and support. Beyond HBCUs, regional public universities are too often overlooked, even though they graduate 60% of Black students with 4-year degrees.

U.S. News & World Report lists only three regional public schools among its top 100 national universities. In comparison, these regional public schools make it onto Washington Monthly's top 100: Fresno State (#22), Florida Atlantic University (#41), and Montclair State (#57).

However, in spite of these find-

phon billions of gallons of water from a sacred waterway. And local Indigenous activists like Okcate Evita Smith McCommas of the Mvskoke Creek Nation, who chairs the Green County Group of the Sierra Club's Oklahoma Chapter, are leading the fight to clean up the Arkansas River, which runs through Tulsa.

Cheyenne Skye Branscum, long active with the Sierra Club's Oklahoma Chapter, now serves as the national organization's Treasurer and is the first tribal citizen on its board of directors.

A Citizen Potawatomi Nation member, Branscum holds a deep responsibility to protect our water systems.

"For my people, the Creator entrusted the Kewk, women, to speak for and protect the Water. Protecting the Water is my sacred duty. The struggles over these waters are not relics of the past. They are the very real battles we are still fighting today. And while our lands and waters are threatened, we remain resilient, because the future of these rivers is the future of our people."

Indigenous leaders in these fights hold a mirror up to our

himself! He doesn't care about women's lives. Obama reminded his audience not to boo Dumbo — just vote because Dumbo doesn't hear your boos, but he will hear your vote! Continue to listen to President Obama's advice about Dumbo. You must vote November 5, 2024, and you will continue to know why, to preserve our freedom and democracy, you won't be voting for Dumbo! WI

ings, the Ivy Leagues still hold the public's imagination in terms of prestige. Yet, Professor David Kang reports that 14 of the 20 CEOs at the nation's biggest companies by revenue went to public colleges, not elite private programs.

It's very challenging to precisely figure out the value of higher ed. Just counting on one rating service can steer students the wrong way and could really dissuade them from going to college at all. Students should look at the rankings, highlighted in this column, that examine the value individual colleges offer to individual students and to the country as a whole.

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country and make us confront the nation's mistreatment of this land's Native peoples. These communities are powerful messengers in challenging the fossil fuel industry and all the industries that thrive on the destruction of our natural world. In many ways, they are our nation's conscience.

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's fight against the aging Line 5 pipeline in the Great Lakes region. The Nez Perce, Lummi, Yurok, and other Tribes' fight to restore the salmon populations that are so critical to their own way of life as well as orcas and entire ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. The Gwich'in people's fight to protect pristine Arctic wilderness from destructive fossil fuel extraction. The Standing Rock, Cheyenne River Lakota, and Rosebud Sioux's fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Those are just a few examples from across the country.

As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day this week and Native American Heritage Month in November, let us join America's Indigenous communities in making the protection of waters, lands, and wildlife our sacred duty. WI

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Together, these 10 HBCU students drive the summer internship of a lifetime with Black-owned newspapers

Imani Waters Howard University

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Mattie Moore North Carolina A&T University

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Harrison Buck Morehouse College

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Stefon Young-Rolle Alabama State University

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Juan Benn Jr. Howard University

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Kynnedi Jackson Southern University A&M College

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Kayla Hare North Carolina A&T University

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Amyah Fountain Clark Atlanta University

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Erinn Gardner Spelman College

NNPA Journalism Fellow

Joseph Tilaye Alabama A&M University

NNPA Journalism Fellow