The Washington Informer - January 26, 2023

Carper Introduces D.C. Statehood Bill in the U.S. Senate

James Wright WI Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware, has introduced a bill—The Washington, D.C. Admission Act-- that would allow the District of Columbia to become the 51 st state in the nation.

Carper made his announcement on Jan. 24 with his colleague Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) on Capitol Hill. The senator said the time has come for District residents to be recognized as full citizens by its federal government.

“We have been taught in school that when our founders built a new nation, they cried ‘no taxation without representation’—a slogan that

Mayors Discuss Small Business Outreach at Annual Forum

James Wright WI Staff Writer

While many of the elected and appointed municipal leaders from around the country who congregated at the Capitol Hilton Hotel in Northwest, D.C. at the 91st Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Winter Meeting from Jan. 17-20 talked about a wide range of issues such as climate change and public safety, helping small businesses prosper became a recurring theme in most discussions.

“Small businesses are the backbone of

our cities,” said Burnsville, Minnesota, Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz, at the conference’s workshop on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Help. “They drive our economy. They drive our talent. This workshop is designed to help you as mayors help the small businesses in your city.”

Kautz said many of the mayors across the country are grappling with how to aid their small businesses particularly since the coronavirus pandemic had an adverse economic effect on their local economy. She said mayors have had to deal with empty downtowns, the negative aspects of telework and a new reality for businesses that lost a stream of income they traditionally relied on pre-pandemic.

Out of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Help workshop came an idea pro-

Gray Challenges Misconceptions about Stroke Recovery

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Several months into his recovery from a mild stroke, D.C. Councilmember Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7), recently doubled down on his assertion that Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and others have erroneously and unfairly underestimated his cognitive abilities.

In his latest statement, Gray, 80, stood in solidarity with other stroke survivors who face discrimination in the workplace and other realms of public life because of communication challenges that spark doubts about their capabilities.

Formerly having served as D.C. mayor and chair of the council, Gray also vowed to embark on a crusade that guarantees stroke survivors receive reasonable accomoda-

5 Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware), chief sponsor of a D.C. statehood bill in the U.S.Senate and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) who has similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives held a joint press conference on Capitol Hill Jan. 24, announcing support of D.C. statehood with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland). (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Celebrating

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Theatre Roundup

See how plays go from pen to stage through these free offerings from Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Ford’s Theatre.

WOOLLY MAMMOTH

“A Mammoth Showcase: An Interdisciplinary Gathering of Native Artists,” is hosted at Woolly Mammoth on Jan. 29 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. This free one-day event allows producing partners to create long-term relationships with local Indigenous artists and communities. The evening includes D.C.-based intertribal Native American Northern drum group Uptown Singerz, a conversation with Rose Powhatan, a local Pamunkey Indian Tribe mixed-media artist, and much more.

Get free tickets at https://www.woollymammoth.net.

FORD’S THEATRE

From Feb. 2-4, the “Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions Festival: A First Look,” presents workshops and staged readings from playwrights Pearl Cleage, Dominic Taylor, and Rickerby Hinds. Ford’s Theatre commissioned each play from these African American creatives.

“Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard,” by Cleage looks at the legacy and election of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor. “Blackbox” by Hinds showcases the remarkable life of Henry Box Brown, an abolitionist, a magician, and an illusionist who mailed himself to freedom. “Young and Just” from Taylor explores the life of African American pioneer biologist Dr. Ernest Everett.

Reserve free tickets at https://fords.org WI

No Labels Names Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. as National Co-Chair

No Labels, a nonprofit think tank that describes itself as a national movement of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents working to solve the country’s most complex problems, has named Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. as its national co-chair.

The formal announcement occurred during a Zoom news conference on Jan. 22.

It included welcome messages from Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), and former Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, among others.

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

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REPORTERS

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Recording star Deborah Cox opened the introductory news conference by performing a spirited song about No Labels, who created the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus and an allied Senate group that led passage of some of the most important legislation of recent years, including the CHIPS Act, a

gun safety bill, and a rewrite of the Electoral Count Act in 2022.

The organization then played a tribute video that included Dr. Chavis’ family and his legendary career as a civil rights leader.

“I’m very pleased to join Sen. Lieberman and Gov. Hogan as co-chairs of No Labels,” Dr. Chavis exclaimed.

“As a veteran of the civil rights movement, during the last six decades, I’ve learned a few things about the importance of people working together across lines of race, ethnicity, language, geography, and the things that divide us…. I believe No Labels offers that opportunity but also that responsibility to move forward,” Dr. Chavis said. WI

Following More Mass Shootings Democrats Introduce Assault Weapons Ban

Two proposals aimed at curbing the spread of assault rifles were submitted Jan. 24 by Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California, and Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both of Connecticut.

The Assault Weapons Ban seeks to prohibit the commercialization, distribution, production and importation of assault rifles and other firearms designed for use in military operations, as well as high-capacity magazines and similar devices.

On Jan. 22, a gunman opened fire on a crowd celebrating the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, California, killing 11 and wounding 9.

The Democrats’ proposed Age 21 Act would make

it illegal to sell or buy an assault weapon to anybody under 21, bringing it in line with the legal age for purchasing handguns.

President Joe Biden has publicly stated his support for the legislation.

Biden said that the number of mass shootings declined during the decade that the Assault Weapons Ban was in effect.

“In the 10 years that the Assault Weapons Ban was on the books, mass shootings went down,” Biden remarked.

“After Republicans let the law expire in 2004 and those weapons were allowed to be sold again, mass shootings tripled,” he declared.

Both houses of Congress were urged to take quick action by the president.

According to Biden, “the majority of American people agree with this rational measure.” WI

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

D.C. Council Overrides

Mayor Bowser’s Veto of RCCA

D.C. Councilmember Trayon White the Sole "No" Vote

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

The District of Columbia Council recently voted 12 to 1 to override D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s veto of the Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA), with D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) being the sole “no” vote.

White, who didn't speak during Tuesday's legislative meeting, said he made his decision with the welfare of District residents, and particularly the youth, in mind.

While he expressed support for the spirit of the RCCA, the Ward 8 councilmember questioned whether legal reform alone would curb criminal activity in a city where so many people are in need of essential services and supports.

"The reality is that there are some comprehensive things that are always ignored like a real focus on trauma informed care, a quality education system, real pathways to jobs and economic opportunities," White said.

White, chairperson of the council's Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, also spoke about housing policy and took the Department of Parks and Recreation to task for not keeping recreation facilities open throughout last weekend.

"We know what works , but we don't know if these new laws drive down crime," White said. "It's 400 pages of amendments, but we absolutely know what has worked and spend little time, energy, and a real focus on that. It gives the notion that crime is okay as long as it happens to brown and Black people."

Shortly after the council's override, Bowser revealed plans to introduce legislation that addresses her concerns about the city's response to criminal activity. D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) made similar comments.

On Jan. 4, Bowser, a vocal critic of the RCCA, vetoed the legislation. Her concerns about the RCCA centered on youth crime and the activity of the local courts. A week later, Pinto and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) moved to override

D.C. Mayor Bowser’s veto.

Before the veto override went to a vote, most of Councilmember White's colleagues provided comments.

Those who spoke acknowledged the strong, citywide anti-crime sentiments that inspired Bowser’s veto. Even so, they expressed reluctance about overlooking the 16 years of deliberation that led to the revamp of the District’s criminal code.

D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At large), a legislator with experience in crafting anti-violence bills, went on to assert that the RCCA wouldn’t make the city less safe, all while imploring people not to fall for misinformation about the bill.

“All the fearmongering is totally and unnecessarily hyperbolic and counterproductive to anyone who wants to create safer and healthier communities in the District of Columbia,” McDuffie said. “I have worked for years as a council member to create healthier and safer communities. We poured so much into reforming laws and connecting people who need support to information and those opportunities.”

The RCCA now goes before Congress for approval.

Starting in 2025, the RCCA would revamp the District’s more-than-acentury-old criminal code to create more uniformity in how crimes are classified and how the court system determines criminal liability.

Such changes will lead to shorter

sentences for non-violent offenses while allowing prosecutors to seek harsher sentences for more serious offenses, including those involving the use of a firearm.

Other aspects of the RCCA include the elimination of mandatory minimums for criminal offenses and the implementation of jury trials for misdemeanors. Under the RCCA, those convicted of crimes at the age of 25 and older could also petition for sentence reduction under the Second Look Amendment Act.

In a letter Bowser sent to D.C. Council Chairperson Phil Mendelson (D) affirming her veto, she cited the reduction of penalties for offenses involving firearms, robberies, carjackings and home invasions. She also said the aspect of the RCCA involving jury trials for misdemeanors should’ve been introduced as a standalone bill so constituents can weigh in on it during hearings.

In the days following Bowser's veto, some constituents, and some media outlets, echoed Bowser’s sentiments.

Much to the chagrin of the DC Justice Lab executive director Patrice Sulton, the Washington Post editorial board published a rebuke of the RCCA over the weekend that she described as mostly filled with inaccuracies about the legislation. She has since attempted to secure a retraction, to no avail.

FitzGerald

PRESENTED BY:

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

5 Trayon White. (Courtesy Photo)

JAN. 26

1863 – U.S. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton authorizes the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Civil War. 1892 – Bessie Coleman, the first African American pilot, is born in Atlanta, Texas.

1944 – Political activist, academic scholar and author Angela Davis is born in Birmingham, Alabama. 1948 – Executive Order 9981 is issued by President Harry S. Truman, abolishing racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces.

1958 – R&B singer Anita Baker is born in Toledo, Ohio. 1990 – Elaine Weddington Steward is named assistant general manager of the Boston Red Sox, becoming the first-ever Black woman executive in Major League Baseball.

JAN. 27

1939 – Author and academic Julius Lester is born in St. Louis.

1961 – Renowned opera singer Leontyne Price makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

1972 – Gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson dies in Evergreen Park, Illinois, of heart failure and diabetes complications at age 60.

JAN. 28

1960 – Famed African American novelist Zora Neale Hurston, author of "Their Eyes Were Watching God," dies in Fort Pierce, Florida, at age 69 of complications from a stroke.

1970 – Tennis great Arthur Ashe is denied entry to compete on the U.S. team for the South African Open tennis championships due to his stance on South Africa's racial policies.

JAN. 29

JAN 19 - 25, 2023

1926 – Violette Neatley Anderson becomes the first African American woman to practice law at the U.S. Supreme Court.

1954 – Entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey is born in Kosciusko, Mississippi.

1966 – Charles Mahoney, the first Black American delegate to the United Nations, dies,

JAN. 30

1844 – Richard Theodore Greener, the first African American graduate of Harvard College and dean of the Howard University School of Law, is born in Philadelphia.

1944 – Former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt, the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major American city, is born in the District.

1979 – Franklin Thomas is named the first Black president of the Ford Foundation.

JAN. 31

1865 – The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which outlawed slavery and indentured servitude, is passed by the U.S. Congress.

1919 – Baseball great Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, is born in Cairo, Georgia.

1931 – Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame shortstop and first baseman known as "Mr. Cub," is born in Dallas.

1933 – Actress and singer Etta Moten becomes the first Black star to perform at the White House.

1961 – Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. becomes first African American to command a U.S. combat ship.

1988 – Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams becomes the first Black starting quarterback in a Super Bowl, winning MVP honors in Washington's 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.

FEB. 1

1902 – African American writer and social activist Langston Hughes is born in Joplin, Missouri.

1960 – The Greensboro sit-in, an act of nonviolent protest against a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., begins.

1965 – Alabama officials arrest 700 Blacks as they demonstrate against the state's voter registration requirements in Selma.

1976 – President Gerald Ford officially designates February as Black History Month in the United States.

1978 – The United States Postal Service issues the first stamp of the Black Heritage Series, honoring Harriet Tubman, abolitionist and Underground Railroad "conductor."

WI

ANGELA DAVIS

view

A new monument in Boston dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King titled ‘The Embrace’ has drawn controversy for its odd configuration. However, the artist explained the inspiration was from a photo of the Kings that the bronze figure depicts. What are your thoughts on the statue?

LATRICE DAVIS / NEW YORK, N.Y.

AROUND THE REGION

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

The sculpture is subject to misinterpretation without knowledge of the photo. I don’t doubt Thomas’ intentions, but it was a miss.

LAKEISHA WILLIAMS / MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

I think people need to grow up. The artist has explained his vision, and folks still attach some sexual meaning to it. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea; fine, that’s life. But all the extra outrage is overkill.

MARCUS JAMES / NEW YORK, N.Y

A lot of people don’t understand the artistic value of the statue. It’s fine the way it is. I’m going to take a trip to Boston to go see it.

WHITTAKER / TORONTO, ONTARIO

CLAIRE

It was poorly executed.

ED SNEED / FREDERICK, MARYLAND

I like it! It’s unique and shows how the artist expresses himself differently from other artistic ideals.

HU, DOD and U.S. Air Force Ink Multi-Million Dollar Research Deal

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

As tensions intensify between the U.S. and China, the federal government has enlisted Howard University’s (HU) help in the development of new-age defense technology that’s known as “tactical autonomy.”

Through tactical autonomy, the Department of Defense (DOD) can use automated technology to conduct short-term missions in the land, sky and air. This evolving tool promises to not only fulfill the nation’s long-term national security goals, but prevent U.S. troops from entering dangerous terrain.

The university recently inked a $90 million contract with both the DOD and U.S. Air Force to become a university-affiliated research center, or UARC. As a UARC, Howard will lead nine other historically Black colleges and universities in the research and development of tactical autonomy.

Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, the university’s president, said this arrangement will place the local HBCU among the nation's top research institutions.

"This is one of the things that represents a shining moment for Howard," Frederick said. "We anticipate this center can move us closer to our goals. This is the largest research contract signed by an HBCU in the history of HBCUs."

On Monday, Jan. 23, Frederick

5 Howard University recently inked a $90 million contract with DOD and U.S.

joined Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall in making this announcement. Hours before appearing at Howard’s Founders Library, the trio signed a document solidifying the deal. They later presented a plaque marking the occasion to an audience of faculty, ROTC cadets, airmen and other military personnel.

Howard University is the only HBCU among 15 universities that the Pentagon has designated as a UARC. The DOD and U.S Air Force will provide funding for basic, applied and tech-based research. The university will also lead a research consortium that includes Bowie State University, Delaware State University, Florida Memorial University, Tuskegee University and Jackson State University.

Austin, the nation’s first Black secretary of defense, marked this occasion by recognizing the medical and technological advancements made by HBCU graduates over the last couple centuries. With HU’s status as a UARC, he noted that U.S. troops will also benefit in the here and now.

“As we work to build enduring advantages for our [troops], we must build more bridges to the U.S.’ outstanding STEM community,” Austin said.

The barrier breaking secretary of defense also emphasized the impor-

tance of drawing from the skills and strengths of African American students, who will turn to professionals.

“HBCU graduates are the talent our country needs. HU’s new research center will protect our most precious asset: our men and women in uniform. Scientific advancements don’t happen in a vacuum. Each advancement opens up to more,” he said.

An April 2022 report compiled by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine revealed that HBCUs and other institutions that enrolled a significant number of non-white students didn’t see a substantial increase in federal research dollars -- even though Congress and the DOD expressed a desire since 2010 to make that change.

The DOD-sponsored study implored the need for long-term, strategic expansion of HBCU investments. The study said that such investments would help HBCUs reach R2 and R1 status, which are given to institutions with the highest levels of research activity.

No HBCUs currently have R1 status. Frederick said he wanted to break that glass ceiling; the DODU.S. Air Force contract puts Howard one step closer to doing so.

For the rest of the story visit www. washingtoninformer.com

Air Force to become a university-affiliated research center. University president Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick made this announcement at the school’s Founders Library on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

D.C. Auto Show Draws Large Crowds to See New Vehicles

James Wright WI Staff Writer

Thousands of people have visited the Washington, D.C. Auto Show 2023 since its opening on Jan. 20 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest to see the latest models on vehicles and learn developments in the automotive industry.

“The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is one of the most anticipated annual events on our convention’s center’s calendar,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Enthusiasts from around all eight wards of our city, our region, the country and in fact, the world, attend to keep up with the newest models of their favorite cars, brand new offerings, beautifully restored historic vehicles, and pioneering and avant-garde exhibits. They also appreciate conversations with fellow car aficionados eager to absorb and enjoy all that is new in transportation design, engineering and innovation.”

In the upper level of the convention center, automobile companies such as Ford, Subaru, Chevrolet, Toyota, Kia, Nissan and Stellantis showcased their latest models on lowly-elevated platforms with a com-

pany spokesperson explaining the buying of their vehicles. Nearby the showcased vehicle are other brand vehicles in which attendees could hop in, look at the dashboard and other offerings.

On the convention center’s lower level, companies such as Hyund ai, Lexus, Honda, Acura and Volvo showed their newest models. The level also featured such vendors as the Mustang Club, Cadillac-LaSalle Club as well as the Electric Vehicles Pavilion and a section dedicated to commercial vehicles. Outside of the convention center, companies such as Toyota had vehicles available for attendees to test drive.

Throughout the week, attendees had the chance to listen to speakers representing the automotive indus try discuss the latest developments in design and public policy.

Damien Tymes of Accokeek, Maryland, attended the auto show on Jan. 21 with his family, including a 1-year-old in a carriage.

“This is the perfect place to see the latest cars and the new models,” Tymes, 42, said. “So far, I am impressed with the Sequoia, the new Supra, the Genesis 380 and the BMW. I have been to a lot of auto shows, especially the one in Chicago,

but I have to say that I am impressed with this one. This one is packed with people.”

Tay Johnson, a resident of Northwest, D.C., also came to the auto show on Jan. 21 with her elementary

school aged children.

“I am here with my family,” Johnson, 34, said. “I like cars. My son also likes cars. I wanted to see what is available.”

Johnson spoke of wanting to pur-

chase a vehicle and like Tymes, complimented the attendance.

“I like the atmosphere here,” she said. “There are so many people.”

The auto show ends on Jan. 29. WI

WE NEED SOME R&R! NOT REST & RELAXATION, BUT RISK AND REGENERATION. PERHAPS EVEN RAGE & REPAIR.

EXPLORE & REGISTER

5 The Dodge Hornet is featured at the 2023 Washington, D.C. Auto Show. (D.R. Barnes/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

The Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) held an Expungement Clinic at the Time for Change Center in Southeast on Jan. 21 to help individuals seal their criminal records. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Who’s Reading the Informer?

Rev. Dr. E. Gail Holness reads the Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change… I’m changing the things I cannot accept.”

Union Station Amtrak Lounge Getting Makeover

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

The Union Station Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge closed for renovations this week.

Users were rerouted to a temporary enclosure through Gate D.

Officials anticipate reopening the lounge in February.

Amtrak claimed the renovations would improve the lounge for qualified guests as part of the Union Station concourse upgrade.

“It’s definitely the funkiest, smelliest, and most gloomy of all Amtrak lounges,” said Aaron Wilder, a passenger with Select Executive membership.

At big stations like D.C., Amtrak allows customers to wait for their train in a quiet space with complimentary snacks and food and workspaces.

Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Executive and Select Plus members, Acela First Class and private room guests, and same-day Single-Day Pass holders can utilize the lounges.

Amtrak Business Class day pass holders can access the lounge for $50.

The Metropolitan Lounge at Union Station will get a new kitchenette, a conference room with new furnishings, updated accent finishes at the entry and reception areas, refinished walls and floors, updated lighting, improved luggage storage, and adjusted PIDS placements.

Union Station has been a sore spot for travelers for years. It’s also proven scary for some to wait for a train or bus.

Approximately 40 stores and food stalls remain, but half the commercial premises at Union Station are empty.

Authorities have frequently sought to control the rising number of small and big crimes and homeless individuals at the station.

Meanwhile, Amtrak announced its Concourse Modernization Project would be Washington Union Station's 2nd Century Plan's initial enhancement.

The 2nd Century Plan aims to quadruple passenger and train ca-

pacity in 20 years through numerous projects.

The corporation claimed the initiative will improve passenger comfort and accessibility while adding natural light and architectural features.

WMATA’s new Metrorail stairway and First Street entrance would complete the western concourse’s passenger enhancements.

Officials claimed more Acela trains and more frequent service will accompany the planned enhancements.

Travelers like Wilder like the upgrades.

Wilder argued that New York’s renovated concourse and lounge should be the model.

“New York has fresh air, nice food, and a bar. D.C. deserves more,” Wilder stated.

One reviewer called New York's Metropolitan Lounge “the city’s hottest new bar.”

A news release revealed that New York Amtrak customers now get La Colombe coffee, alcoholic drinks, and a variety of complimentary sandwiches, foods and snacks.

“We are delighted to introduce this new amenity to our customers traveling in and out of New York City; it is another example of Amtrak's commitment to continually evaluate and improve the customer experience,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Roger Harris.

“Customers can now relax and have a drink in our flagship lounge before or after their train.”WI

@StacyBrownMedia

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Wes Moore Officially Sworn In As Maryland’s First Black Governor

Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Wes Moore and Aruna Miller made history on Jan. 18, having officially been sworn in as Maryland’s new Democratic governor and lieutenant governor. Following the official, private ceremony in the Senate Building with many electeds on hand, a more public ceremony was held outside of the State Capitol with thousands of attendees seated and standing there to take in a glimpse of the barrier-breaking moment. Moore is Maryland’s first Black Governor and Miller is Maryland’s first Asian-American and first immigrant Lieutenant Governor.

While overlooking the Lawyers’ Mall monument in honor of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Moore openly reflected on Maryland’s rich Black history and spoke of his promises for what his administration will do for Maryland.

“We have made uneven and unimaginable progress since then, history created by generations of people whose own history was lost, stolen, or never recorded,” he said.

The pre-inaugural ceremony featured the 229th Army Band, a Polynesian music and dance group, and performances by the Bowie Bulldogs Marching Band and Clarksburg High School’s chamber singers.

With thousands of attendees present to celebrate the day with roaring applause throughout the event, the swearing in began with a 19-gun salute and a jet flyover.

The inauguration festivities were star-studded with local officials and national celebrities.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, whom Moore called a “Maryland girl at heart,” presented the new governor before his speech. Winfrey worked as a co-anchor on WJZ-TV in her 20s before breaking out into superstardom in Chicago. “What a

joy to be back here in Maryland,” she said before explaining her path in the state. After moving from Nashville to Columbia, she found community and colleagues and opportunity in Maryland.

“Maryland is where I figured it out. The eight years I lived here were some of the most significant years of my life,” said Winfrey, who even met her best friend, Gayle King, in Maryland.

Winfrey first met Moore in 2010 while interviewing him about his best-selling book, “The Other Wes Moore,” and she was impressed by his wisdom, integrity and desire to serve. She closed by promising onlookers that just as she trusted his leadership and vision, they should as well.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder and Chelsea Clinton were also spotted at the inauguration.

Elected officials were also present for the monumental event. Prince George’s Councilmembers Sydney Harrison (D- District 9) and Jolene Ivey (D- District 5), Delegate Julian Ivey (D- District 47A), Greenbelt Councilmember Ric Gordon, and Laurel Councilmember Martin Mitchell were among those spotted walking into the swearing in.

Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee Vice Chair Antwan Brown, who had a leadership role for Moore during the general election, said he came out because he “wanted to be part of history,” and Councilmember Harrison said he is

particularly looking forward to what Moore and his administration will do for equity and inclusion in government.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) served as master of ceremonies.

Some of the loudest applause of Pittman’s opener were his account of his endorsement and Moore’s rise during the election. During his speech, Pittman gave an honest reckoning of his family history: one of his ancestors, Dr. Stewart, was an Anne Arundel politician and tobacco planter who made his fortune during slavery.

During the celebration, Moore said the racial wealth gap, school funding gaps and environmental racism are among some of the many challenges he and his administration hope to rectify. Building on Winfrey’s message, he pledges to ensure that Maryland better utilizes the opportunities on hand.

Moore’s tenure as the first Black governor of Maryland has begun, and many residents proclaimed they hold great pride with high expectations for his administration. Throughout the day, shuttles brought Marylanders from the Navy Stadium parking lot to the inauguration and many Black elders came from across the state to witness history. For those who had witnessed the intense segregation and racism of Maryland in the 1960s and prior, this was a particularly turning moment.

Maryland’s first Black governor is beginning his administration with a Democratic supermajority in both the State House and State Senate, which will make enacting his agenda and getting his cabinet picks confirmed easier. Moore has selected Black nominees for the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Veterans Affairs positions, and has created a new office of Opioid Recovery which will be headed by Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller (D).

Moore pledged to introduce a $15 minimum wage, a service year option for high school graduates, expanding clean energy, and simultaneously address violent crime and mass incarceration.

Since being sworn in, Moore has held meetings with Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) and U.S. Attorney Erek Barron (D), both of whom are also the first Black men to hold their position. Moore’s first orders in office have been to implement new ethical standards for state employees and highlighting the high vacancy rate in state government positions left following Hogan’s departure. He has also pledged additional funds for the Kirwan Commission to fund new specialists in schools.

For those traveling into Maryland, state signs are now adorned with the new governor’s name and his rallying call that he learned and adopted while serving in the U.S. Army: “Leave No One Behind.”

WI

5 Governor Wes Moore (D) made history as Maryland’s first Black governor. (Rob Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 Oprah Winfrey speaks at the swearing in festivities. (Rob Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Thousands of well-dressed people donned gowns, tuxedos and loads of pride as they descended upon the Baltimore Convention Center for “The People’s Ball,” the inaugural celebration for Maryland’s barrier-breaking leader Gov. Wes Moore, the first Black man to lead the state. Star-studded, with performances from the likes of Grammy-winning singer Maxwell and Club Quarantine’s DJ D-Nice, Moore didn’t hold back in throwing a major party before kicking off, what he promised to be, a term of hard work.

“I hope y’all wore comfortable shoes, because we’re about to party tonight. But, party responsibly, because tomorrow we get to work,” said Moore, who walked and danced on stage, greeting the crowd to the A Tribe Called Quest’s hit “Can I Kick It?” “Tomorrow Maryland’s decade begins, and it is our time to make this happen.”

About 12,000 folks deep, the celebration felt like one big family affair, where several people embraced as they ran into friends and loved ones, some who they hadn’t seen since before the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Don’t get it twisted, it was packed, but the joy of the7 history-making moment oozed from every corner of the hard-to-navigate room. The place was full of average Joe’s, hard workers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, businessmen, actors, television stars, and athletes alike.

From basketball star Carmelo Anthony, comedian Chris Tucker and political strategist, commentator and media personality Symone Sanders-Townsend, to everyday proud celebrators, people proudly marched through the convention center floor, marking the monumental occasion with victorious cheer.

“[There’s] so many good people here, so much great history. I’m going to come back and spend more time. This is a great place to be. Y’all should be proud of your state and your new governor. And you’ve got a young governor, you’ve got some

spark in office,” Tucker, 51, said of Moore, 44. “He’s going to bring some new ideas. He’s going to do some new things. About time this young generation takes over.”

A self-proclaimed “fan of Baltimore,” Charm City native Vernon Ross came from New York City to be part of the barrier-breaking moment.

“It makes me feel so proud, because Baltimore has a lot of areas and a lot of need for things to change,” Ross said. “I believe it’s going to happen, and with Wes Moore becoming the governor of Maryland, it’s an indication of that change and progress.

As singer Maxwell performed a swinging set jam packed with some of his biggest hits including, “Fortunate,” “Pretty Wings,” and “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” and DJ D-Nice spun, like the master he is on the ones and twos, people dined, drank and danced the night away, while emphasizing the weight of the moment of history.

“I’m here to celebrate the first African American governor of Maryland and wonderful human being, Wes Moore,” said Steve Loyka, who played football with the new governor, while they were students at Johns Hopkins.

Having followed his career, the governor’s former teammate, who works as a business consultant in Washington, D.C., is excited to see what Moore will do for Maryland.

“I know he’s interested in letting the people lead, so he’s going to listen to the citizens of Maryland and I know that’s going to drive his administration,” Loyka continued. “One of the best things I’ve ever heard him say is ‘governing is an open book test. We’re going to listen, we’re going to listen to the experts and we’re going to create better outcomes for the citizens of Maryland.’”

Moore has remained dedicated to his goal to “leave no one behind.”

“For us to win, it means we’ve got to win collectively, and it means we need everybody on board. And when I say leave no one behind, that does not mean only for the people who voted for us, it means, leave no one behind, and that is how we plan

on going.”

Looking ahead, Loyka sees Moore going on to do powerful things not only in the state, but the nation.

“His leadership qualities were evident from the very beginning, before he served in Afghanistan, before he was CEO of the largest anti-poverty foundation in the country, he’s just a tremendous human being. He’s going to go on and do great things, not only in the state of Maryland, but long term, I think for the United States.” WI

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BUSINESS briefs

James Wright WI Staff Writer

REPORT SHOWS D.C. HURTING FISCALLY WITHOUT STATEHOOD

The DC Fiscal Policy Institute released a report on Jan. 19 revealing the District loses billions of dollars annually due to its lack of statehood status.

The report—“The High Cost of Denying Statehood to the District of Columbia”—reveals the revenue forgone each year hovers around $3.2 billion because the city is denied full taxing authority. The $3.2 billion equates to about one-fifth of the District’s gross fund spending for fiscal year

2021; comes out to be more than three-fifths of what the city spent on human support services; and slightly more than the investment in schools that year. The report comes as the District prepares to celebrate 50 years of the Home Rule Act that gave its residents limited political, legislative and budget autonomy from the federal government.

The report said statehood would bring not only political and civic benefits to the District but also significant fiscal implications. With fewer restrictions and the over $3 billion in potential revenue statehood would offer, the District could take greater steps to minimize economic struggle, end displacement, house residents, guarantee jobs and income, and

advance reparative policy in our most neglected communities, according to the report.

Bo Shuff, the executive director of DC Vote, a pro-statehood advocacy group, agrees fully with the report’s conclusions.

“We at DC Vote have always framed the fight for full freedom as a taxation without representation issue, a right to self-determination issues and a racial justice issue but now, because of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute’s brilliant work, we can add statehood as an economic equality issue,” Shuff said.

“The 700,000 tax paying residents of the District have been calling for full democracy for more than 200 years and as we always say, the question has become more and more a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if.’ This report certainly strengthens that argument.”

the third annual round of cohort-based WeAspire training and pitch program.

“Our response to adversity our residents face defines the character of our city,” said Kristi Whitfield, director of DSLBD. “As a result of recognizing the unique challenges returning citizens face when starting a business, WeAspire has become a national model for training and developing successful small business owners as a result.”

This year, WeAspire plans to provide training for 30 returning citizen entrepreneurs, including new businesses and established business owners. The application period will close on Feb. 28.

To learn more about the program, visit dslbd.dc.gov/weaspire.

D.C. LAUNCHES

WEASPIRE 2023

The District Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) announced on Jan. 20 the launch of WeAspire 2023, the focus of the Aspire to Entrepreneurial program for the city’s returning citizen-led businesses.

Previously incarcerated District residents and or justice-involved are eligible to apply for the program. The program is designed to educate and encourage returning citizens to build and scale their businesses through cohort-based training and pitch competitions.

This is the eighth year the DSLBD has administered the program. Plus, this year marks

CAAB GETS $5K FROM THE MARIGOLD EFFECT

The Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) announced on Jan. 19 that it has received $5,000 in general operating funding from The Marigold Effect to support its work to address and close the racial and gender wealth gaps in the Washington, D.C. region.

The grant will enable CAAB to aid low-and-moderate-income Black and Latino individuals and families.

“We are honored to receive this grant from The Marigold Effect,” said Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, CAAB’s CEO & executive director.

“We are proudly focusing on intentionally addressing and closing the racial and gender wealth gaps in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. This grant from The Marigold Effect will assist us to advance this objective.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10

Digital Tools Can Help Kids Build Safe Money Habits

Submitted by JPMorgan Chase

The earlier kids start learning basic financial skills, the better their financial health in the long run, according to research.

When it comes to teaching kids about money, caregivers are asking for help. In fact, 32% of parents are uncomfortable speaking about finances with their own children and 46% are looking for additional resources to help encourage good financial habits, according to a Chase survey of parents across the U.S., with children aged 8–14.

Traditionally, kids learn about money from shopping with adults and having related conversations. While discussions are an important part of learning about finances, online shopping has changed how kids experience spending.

"Families are juggling so many more responsibilities today than ever before, so it's understandably more complicated to find opportunities to teach financial wellness to children or to find hands-on purchasing moments to talk about the value of money," said Matt Gromada, Head of Family, Student and Starter Banking at Chase.

Fortunately, new tools are helping meet the changing needs of parents and their children. For example, the free Chase First Banking account is designed to help families develop healthy financial

habits by putting parents in control and giving kids and teens the freedom to learn how to earn, spend and save money.

Through the Chase Mobile app, parents can assign chores and provide allowance, set amounts and locations of where kids can spend money using a debit card, and help children reach savings goals. Kids interact with the app on their end, too, checking off assigned chores when completed and seeing when their allowance is paid. They can also see how much they can spend and where, as well as their savings goals.

This type of digital tool makes financial literacy discussions easier and brings family money management into the digital age, engaging kids in meaningful ways. In addition to adopting useful tools, it's important to have ongoing conversations about finances. Gromada suggests starting with some rules for a family ‘contract’ when it comes to having access to an account:

1. I will spend responsibly and discuss what are acceptable purchases with my parent

2. I will make a savings goal, discuss it with my parent, and work toward it

3. I will not use my debit card on websites or at stores my parent does not approve of

4. I will always keep my card in a safe place and discuss the best place to keep it with my parent

5. I will not share my PIN number or account number with anyone

6. I will not post pictures of my card or app on social media or share them with my friends

7. I will never go to an ATM alone and will only use ATMs inside a bank

"These tools can help guide parents, so they have the confidence to teach kids about bank accounts and spending – it’s like an account with training wheels," says Gromada.

Combating the racial wealth divide

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

As part of our commitment, we are taking actions to help improve financial health and access to banking in Black, Latino and Hispanic communities.

Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

San Francisco Committee Recommends Massive Reparations for Black Residents

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Each Black inhabitant of San Francisco, including those arrested during the racist war on drugs, should receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $5 million from the African American Reparations Advisory Committee.

Assuming the city council approves the proposal, it would be the largest payment of reparations in American history.

In a draft proposal for reparations released this week, members of the San Francisco African American Reparations Advisory Committee noted, “We have ultimately established that the repercussions of numerous programmatic and policy actions by San Francisco’s administration have been generational and overlapping.”

Committee members asserted that the most prominent period that illustrates how the city and county of San Francisco as an institution contributed to the depletion of Black wealth and the forced relocation of its Black inhabitants was the period of urban renewal. Further, the committee concluded that “public and private entities facilitated and coddled the conditions that created near-exclusive Black communities within the city, limited political participation and representation, disinvested from academic and cultural institutions, and intentionally displaced Black communities from San Francisco through

targeted, sometimes violent actions”

San Francisco’s African American population grew rapidly between 1940 and 1963.

To address what the San Francisco Chronicle calls “a national racial reckoning,” the Board of Supervisors established the AARAC committee in December 2020.

The committee’s investigation determined that segregation, structural oppression, and racial prejudice developed from the institution of slavery had a tremendous impact on the development of the city, even though California was never formally a slave state.

Throughout the 20th century, the Chronicle reported, “San Francisco was a Ku Klux Klan stronghold, prohibited Black people from residing in particular districts, kept them out of city employment, and bulldozed the Fillmore,” a historically Black neighborhood and commercial center.

AARAC chair Eric McDonnell told the newspaper, “Centuries of devastation and destruction of Black lives, Black bodies, and Black communities should be met with centuries of restoration.”

This committee’s actions are consistent with those of other jurisdictions, where similar bodies have advocated for reparations for African Americans.

Residents must have self-identified as Black or African American on public documents for a minimum of ten years and be at least 18 years old when the committee’s plan is ap-

proved to receive the compensation.

Additionally, individuals may be required to show that they were born in San Francisco between 1940 and 1996, have been residents of the city for at least 13 years, and are either a former inmate themselves or a direct descendant of a former inmate who served time during the war on drugs.

The Chronicle said that “to put that in context,” the state reparations task panel believes Black Californians may be awarded $569 billion for housing discrimination alone between 1933 and 1977.

Evanston, Illinois, voted to pay $400,000 to select African Americans as part of the city’s vow to spend $10 million over a decade on reparations payments shortly after the San Francisco committee was founded.

The government of St. Paul, Minnesota, has apologized for its role in institutional and structural racism and formed a committee to investigate reparations.

A report detailing the committee’s proposed financial compensation for African Americans was subsequently made public.

A reparations task committee was established by the state of California last year, and its report from that year detailed the incalculable harm that slavery had caused to African Americans.

For the rest of the story visit www. washingtoninformer.com

5 A city committee in San Francisco has drafted a proposal for the most extensive reparations package for African Americans in U.S. history. (Fibonacci Blue/ Wikimedia commons)

Health Experts, Researchers See a Better COVID Winter This Year

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Approximately 196 (or 6.1%) of U.S. counties, districts, or territories reported a high COVID-19 community level as of Jan. 19, while 1,010 (31.4%) reported a medium community level.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 2,011 (62.5%) people had a low community level.

This winter, those figures have continued to fall, a significant improvement from the previous two years, when COVID-19 was the leading cause of respiratory disease in the United States.

While the flu, RSV and COVID-19 have strained healthcare systems this fall and winter, CDC officials are optimistic about the decline in coronavirus cases.

“What you’re seeing is a transition to ongoing transmission but much milder infections,” said Dr. Céline Gounder, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation, in a newsletter published by the New York Times.

According to health officials, the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant is involved

in roughly half of all COVID-19 cases in the United States.

However, a hybrid of two other Omicron sub-variants has grown in popularity, particularly in the northeast.

Nonetheless, the Times’ daily newsletter noted that “a comparable surge has yet to materialize on a comparable timeline this winter.”

“By now, hospitalizations, in particular, would have begun to rise sharply. However, data suggests that there has been more of a COVID bump than a surge, and recent hospitalization figures are much lower than in the past,” the newspaper reported.

More COVID hospitalizations have occurred in the South and Northeast in recent weeks, possibly because of the new Omicron subvariant.

Even so, hospitalization levels are “closer to the summer increase caused by the Delta variant in 2021 than to the following winter surge caused by the Omicron variant,” researchers wrote.

According to the researchers, hospitalization rates in some Western states are among the lowest they have been since the pandemic began.

“After years of winter surges, the absence of one translates to potentially tens of thousands fewer deaths and is worth celebrating,” they wrote.

The worst-case scenario in America has been avoided because people have developed immunity to the virus, the researchers declared.

Much of this is due to vaccines and boosters, but repeated exposure to the virus and infections have also played a role, health officials stated.

“Anecdotally, experts and others continue to report a lot of sickness around them — but no hospitalizations or deaths,” the researchers claim.

“This is the result you would expect to see with COVID in a population with higher levels of immunity: vaccines and previous infections appear to offer strong protection from the virus’s worst outcomes, but they don't fully prevent infection and milder disease.”

Health officials insisted that the good news does not mean that COVID is now a thing of the past.

Older people and those with weakened immune systems are still at risk.

More than 90% of Americans

5 While a new Omicron sub-variant remains troublesome, COVID has been relatively mild this fall and winter (Sklifosovsky Institute/ Wikimedia commons.)

who die today are 65 and up.

Hospitalizations are nearly five times higher among Americans aged 70 and up than among all Americans.

“If public health interventions helped tame COVID this winter, then too much relaxation could lead to a surge,” the researchers declared.

According to the researchers, experts do not expect a return to 2020-style lockdowns, masking or testing.

“Their recommendations are less strenuous: get boosters, isolate sick people, and wear masks in indoor public

places if the virus is rapidly spreading.”

In addition, medications such as Paxlovid should be available to those who are ill.

“We’ve made strides. We’re ahead of the game. People know what to do,” Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at George Mason University, wrote in a statement.

“However, it worries me because people use that progress as an excuse to be less vigilant and less serious.”

WI

@StacyBrownMedia

now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mozambique Government Bans Doubtful Churches, Including Johane Marange Sect

The Mozambican Ministry of Justice has banned, in the Central Province of Manica, a religious sect called “Johane Marange” for allegedly promoting child marriage and disrespecting health issues.

The church in question first emerged in neighboring Zimbabwe, where it has been operating since 2003.

According to the National Director of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs Albachir Macassar, who was interviewed by Radio Mozambique, the Ministry has also banned some religious institutions with “obscure purposes” in the southern Province of Inhambane.

“To discipline some behavior and excesses of certain religious denominations, a draft Law on Religious Freedom and Worship is under discussion to regulate the exercise of this activity in Mozambique,” the director said. Macassar argues that the State should act, not to interfere in the exercise of the activities of religious groupings, but to direct and discipline them.

“The new law will provide for the registration of a religious denomination with a minimum of 2,000 faithful, in contrast to the current law which recognizes any religious body with a minimum of 500 faithful,” Macassar said. According to the director, in order for the establishment of a new church, those who decide to leave an existing congregation must possess a letter of disaffiliation or recommendation, and their leaders must hold a certificate in theology.

“They must possess a letter of recommendation from the top leader of the previous religious grouping, attesting to their suitability to found another congregation,” he said. WI

Christine Kangaloo Elected President of Trinidad and Tobago

Former senate president Christine Kangaloo has been elected the next president of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. She received 48 votes, while opposing candidate Israel Rajah Khan received 22, when the Electoral College convened in Parliament on Friday, Jan. 20.

In a statement hours after the Electoral College gave her the nod as the seventh president of the Republic, Kangaloo said she had heard all the public commentary surrounding how the person holding the office should serve and would do her best to discharge her duties in a manner that will put all concerns to rest.

“I am humbled by my election to the Office of President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. “I am grateful to everyone who participated in the electoral process, and to Mr. Israel Khan SC in particular, who graciously offered himself to serve. I wish him the very best as he continues serving Trinidad and Tobago.”

President-elect Kangaloo also said she is grateful for the healthy public discourse that took place surrounding her election.

“The characteristics our citizens feel should be demonstrated by persons who aspire to hold the Office. Having heard all the concerns, I commit myself to discharging the duties of the Office of the President in a manner that will put those concerns to rest,” she said.

While she deferred official media interactions until she is presented with the “formal Instrument of Election,” Kangaloo said that she is also thankful to the media for their work in getting out information about the election and encouraging positive public discourse.

“Now that the election is over, I look forward to serving our country in the only way I know how—with love for all and with an unwavering belief in the innate goodness of our people.” WI

5 Members of the Johane Marange apostolic sect at a church gathering (Courtesy Photo)

5 Trinidad and Tobago President-elect Christine Kangaloo. (Courtesy Photo)

EARTH OUR

D.C. Clean Energy Summit: What You Should Know

Kayla Benjamin Climate & Environment Writer

Money and jobs were top priority at the second Clean Energy Summit, hosted by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC) on Jan. 18. Over the course of three panels, experts from across sectors discussed opportunities for the District to harness a clean energy transition for economic growth without exacerbating racial and income inequalities.

“There's an urgency to act on climate and the changing environment. And there's an urgency to act on environmental justice and equity. But I submit

to you that it's not an either/or proposition—that we can, and we must, advance both,” said Willie Phillips, acting chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in an address at the start of the summit.

In case watching four hours of clean energy panels isn’t your idea of fun, here are three key takeaways to know about.

BLACK LEADERSHIP DRIVES OUR REGION’S ENERGY SECTOR

All fifteen energy leaders who took the stage during the summit were Black. Willie Phillips, who kicked off the event with a keynote address, be-

came the first Black person to lead the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission when President Joe Biden tapped him for the job earlier this month.

D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie spoke, as did all three DCPSC commissioners. Other panelists and moderators hailed from federal and local government agencies, private companies and nonprofit organizations.

The Black leadership displayed at the summit was particularly striking in light of national and local underrepresentation throughout the clean

energy industry. D.C.’s workforce was 35% Black in 2020, but Black people made up just under 26% of employees in clean energy, according to a 2021 report compiled by six clean energy organizations.

LOWER ENERGY BILLS AND PAID JOB TRAINING

Panelists from the D.C. government touched on existing programs that aim to connect residents to clean

energy’s benefits. One such program is Solar for All, which helps low-income households access solar energy and lower their bills by up to 50%. The program provides some rooftop installations for homeowners, but most Solar for All participants are renters who sign up to receive energy from big community solar facilities across the city.

“We engage in the Solar for All program because we do not believe, and the District does not believe, that the benefits of clean energy should be for the privileged few,” Ernest Jolly, the newly selected head of the DC Sustainable Energy Utility, said at the summit.

The DC Infrastructure Academy also received attention at the summit. Located in Ward 8, the program partners with District utilities and other companies to provide paid training and on-the-job experience. Participants make $16.10 an hour while learning specialized skills and connecting with a variety of companies in the infrastructure field.

“You don't know that there's a job in solar panel installation if nobody in your neighborhood has solar panels,” said Arlen Herrell, deputy chief of innovation and partnerships at the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, during the day’s second panel. “There are pipelines that seem to be closed off to certain communities just because of a lack of exposure.”

GAS UTILITY REMAINS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Speakers at the summit addressed everything from e-bikes to hydrogen batteries, solar farms to home insulation. But the District’s current reliance on natural gas, or methane, went unmentioned. Half of D.C. households use gas to heat their homes and more than 60% have gas stoves, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

Burning natural gas produces far less carbon than other non-renewables, such as coal. But it’s still a fossil fuel. None of the panelists discussed how—or whether—continued use of gas fit into their vision of a sustainable D.C. energy future. It’s a touchy subject for the DCPSC, which regulates Washington Gas and has in the past approved its pricey improvement plans despite activists’ calls to phase out gas altogether.

WI

EDUCATION

Bus Service Cuts Highlight Woes of Special-Needs Students

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

From the moment Johnmeisha Currie’s daughter started attending Jefferson Middle School Academy, the Southeast youngster has enjoyed a 10-minute bus ride to and from school with other special-needs students.

Currie said the bus service, coordinated by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)’s Division of Transportation (DOT), has allowed her daughter to avoid the per-

ils of public transportation. It has also ensured that Currie could get to work on time every day without worry.

However, all of that ended on the morning of Jan. 9 when Currie’s daughter walked home from the bus stop to tell her mother that her bus never arrived. Days before that incident, OSSE announced a schedule change, due to a shortage of drivers, that would delay the arrival of the bus to the stop by 15 minutes.

Currie would eventually come to learn that the morning bus ser

vice had been terminated. Amid all the confusion, she secured Uber rides for her daughter’s morning commute while demanding clarity about when OSSE would reinstate the morning bus service.

Even with the strain on her pockets, Currie said she would do anything to make sure her child

makes it to school safely.

“I don’t want my daughter to be on the Metrobus and in the mix with other students,” Currie said. “There’s too much going on. I don’t mind taking her to school. I want her to get an education. There’s nothing that’s going to stop me, [but] OSSE needs to start hiring drivers.”

Amid the driver shortage and higher-than-average staff callouts, OSSEDOT has cut service to certain routes. The agency has also combined other routes and sent drivers and attendants to run routes consecutively.

For weeks, Currie and other parents have visited OSSE’s website for daily DOT updates. On Friday, Jan. 20, a dozen bus routes experienced delays of up to 90 minutes during afternoon pickup. OSSE-DOT also cut off service for two routes. Hours earlier, during the morning rush hour, two bus routes had also been canceled while students on more than 100 bus routes arrived at school well after the bell rang.

A significant portion of the 3,700 young people who ride the 600 buses and hundreds of bus routes throughout the District have experienced these scenarios since shortly after their return from winter break. They are eligible for reimbursement related to ride-sharing and self-travel to and from school.

Michael Riley, OSSE’s director of student transportation, said these problems aren’t unique to the District. In February, OSSE-DOT will host a hiring fair to address staffing issues. As of now, 25 drivers and attendants are in the last stages of pre-employment.

“Reports have estimated that nearly 90% of school districts nationwide are

experiencing bus driver shortages this school year,” Riley said. “As we continue to stabilize our routes as quickly as possible, we expect many routes to begin experiencing the consistency and reliability that [families] expect. However, due to our staffing challenges, we also expect some routes to continue to experience service delays for the foreseeable future.”

One out of five students are estimated to have an IEP, or individualized education program, in District schools -- which qualifies them to ride school buses dispatched by OSSE-DOT.

COUNCIL ENSURES PROPER ACCOMMODATIONS

Over the last several months, the D.C. Council has embarked on a journey to ensure that OSSE develops standards that ensure that special-needs students receive proper accommodations. On the latest juncture of that journey, D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At large) has focused on summer programming.

Henderson recently introduced the Out of School Time Special Education Inclusion and Standards Act, which would mandate OSSE to develop standards that out-of-school time providers would adhere to when serving students with IEPs.

In shaping this legislation, Henderson has spoken with officials within the Department of Parks and Recreation, District of Columbia Public Schools and OSSE. Henderson also recalled speaking with parents who recounted instances when program coordinators that couldn’t accommodate their special-needs children discouraged them from applying for a program or, in many cases, left their children to their own devices throughout the program’s duration.

Henderson said those conversations have revealed a deeper and more prevalent problem with how the District government interacts with special-needs students, whether they’re riding a bus on their daily commute or attempting to enter an out-of-school time program.

“Large public school systems have struggled with how to serve students with special needs without litigation, receivership and decrees,” Henderson said. “For any parent in D.C., finding a slot for out-of-school time programming is a challenge if you have a child with special needs. This is not a niche issue.”

WI @SamPKCollins

5 The District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Transportation is experiencing a driver shortage and higher-than-average staff callouts, requiring the office to cut service to certain routes. (Courtesy Photo)

Fighting for the 50+ in the District

By Louis Davis, Jr. AARP DC State Director

Earlier this month, the Mayor and DC Council were sworn in to begin a new term. The 2022 election and redistricting that happened after 2020 means you may have a new Councilmember representing your Ward. It is important to know how to be in touch with those who represent you, including the At-large Councilmembers. To find out if your Ward has changed and who your Councilmembers are, visit https://dccouncil.gov/, scroll to the bottom of the website and type in your address in the “Find your Councilmember” section. There you will also learn what committees they serve on and how to contact them.

As Councilmembers are busy in the Wilson Building working to craft a budget, AARP DC will continue to advocate for what is in the best interest of our 83,000 members and all District residents age 50+. We plan to fight for policies that help empower people to improve their lives and choose where and how they live as they age.

This year AARP DC is focusing our advocacy efforts on four main issues.

• Increased funding for senior nutrition programs - In 2020, more than 9 million Americans 50+ struggled to pay for and access healthy food, and the District has the highest rate of senior food insecurity in the country at 13.4%. AARP DC is advocating for more funding for senior nutrition services, including grocery support, community dining, and home delivered meals.

• Oversight

- Case management- DC’s Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) recently brought case management in-

house. During this term, AARP DC is calling on the Council to provide more oversight of this critical service for seniors to ensure they are well cared for and receiving the services they need.

- Transportation- Seniors and people with disabilities in the District need to be able to access transportation options more easily. The current process has become more cumbersome and confusing. We are fighting to ensure seniors have easy access to reliable and affordable transportation options.

• Increased funding to help seniors connect with their community - Many seniors continue to face social isolation. AARP DC is advocating for increased in-person activities and more virtual tools, such as internet access and iPads, for seniors to connect online.

• Ensure appropriate resources are available for grandparents caring for a child - Over 7,000 children under the age of 18 in the District live in grandparent-led households. We will continue to fight to ensure there is financial assistance available to help these caregivers through DC's Child and Family Services Agency’s Grandparent Caregiver Program. This important program provides financial assistance for low-income grandparents/grand-kin caring for their minor grandchildren by helping offset the costs of caring for children who may otherwise end up in the foster care system.

We can’t do this alone and need your help! There are many ways

for you to get involved with this important advocacy effort. Do you have a story about what these programs mean to you? Have you, your friends, or family benefitted from

one of these programs? We want to hear from you directly! Please email us at dcaarp@aarp.org or call 202-434-7700 and we will be in touch. You can also follow our

social media, Facebook.com/ aarpdc and twitter.com/aarpdc, where we will share updates and have more ways for you to get involved.

We're in Your Corner

People today can spend nearly half their lives over the age of 50. That’s a lot of living. So, it helps to have a wise friend and fierce defender like AARP in your community. Find us at aarp.org/dc.

Patient Engagement and Cultural Sensitivity Across Healthcare Spaces

NMA Study Highlights Existing Medical Injustices

Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Member

Amid the chaos prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic that rocked the economy, exacerbated hospital bed shortages, and presented a domino effect of challenges, the health crisis has heightened attention to the discriminatory health inequities that continue to weigh on Black people across the country.

The National Medical Association (NMA), which works to emphasize the need for a “culturally sensitive patient engagement approach,” when addressing treatment and health outcomes for the Black American population, conducted a survey featuring over one thousand patients. According to the final results of the NMA study, published in December 2022, despite adjustments made for social determinants of health, including comorbid illness, health insurance type and income, health outcomes remained more negative for Black people than their white counterparts.

Black American hospitalization rates during the April 2020 COVID surge ranked 3.3 times the rates of white people across the United States. Simultaneously, Black Americans reportedly hold the worst health outcomes irrespective of the specific diagnoses. When observing cardiovascular disease, for example, these patients rank less likely to undergo diagnostic tests and revascularization even after socioeconomic factors are under control.

The collective of researchers and physicians gathered further consensus from statements made by their various interviewees, with responses giving

possible answers to why there are these patterns across the Black population. Subjects overwhelmingly highlighted the common experience of negligent or incurious physicians. Interviewees, varying in age, shared the desire for genuine sensitivity to their health inquiries, empathy and respect in how their needs are being addressed as would anyone of any race, or socioeconomic background.

“These powerful [sentiments shared by our subjects] are saying, “Do you know me, do you know my historical background, do you understand the basis of my pain and my suffering? Do you possess the level of cultural sensitivity to comprehend who I am and what issues in my life are most important to me?” the editorial report says, as part of the NMA study.

The association’s study provides recommendations beneficial to both

5 According to a report by the National Medical Association health outcomes remain more negative for Black people than their white counterparts. (Courtesy Photo/ NMA)

Not a Difficult Ask: Let Trans People Live Their Lives in 2023

When Jasmine “Starr” Parker, a 36-year-old transgender woman, was killed in Ivy City earlier this month, the tragedy marked this year’s first violent death of a trans person in the U.S. As her family, friends and community here in D.C. mourned her passage, the national LGBTQ community mourned too. And they watched with dismay as a familiar story began in the new year.

In 2022, at least 36 transgender people—people whose gender is different from the sex they were assigned at birth—died in incidents of violence in the U.S. That included a trans man and a trans woman killed during a mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado the night before Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Transgender Americans face violence at more than twice the rate of cisgender Americans (those whose gender matches the sex assigned to them at birth). Black trans women like Jasmine face particularly high risks. And trans people, particularly Black trans people, face well-documented discrimination in employment, health care, and education.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers across the nation have made it a priority to make trans people’s lives harder. Legislators introduced more than 300 anti-trans bills, most of which centered on trans youth, in 2021 and 2022. Trans youth—who, by the way, make up less than 2% of all kids aged 13-17—have had their rights hotly debated on statehouse floors and TV shows. These laws attack basic needs, like the right to go to the bathroom. To play sports. To receive proper, medically-advised health care. In essence, their right to exist.

Black Americans know what it means to have their basic rights debated, as if shared humanity was some kind of political question. And Black history in this country makes it impossible to ignore how those rhetoric-filled arguments, where powerful people try and fail to hide hatred between the lines, fan the flames of very real harm. In 2023, it’s time to recognize that we can’t tolerate that for trans youth and adults in our country. And it’s time to protect Black trans women like Jasmine in our city. WI

Gray, Council Offer Lesson in Uplifting those Differently Abled

As he continues rehabilitative therapy after a stroke, District of Columbia Councilmember Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7), and the D. C. Council have been afforded a teachable moment in how to uplift those navigating life with different abilities.

The Washington Informer reported in a Jan. 4 article, that Gray, who formerly served as mayor and council chairman, didn’t like Chairman Phil Mendelson’s decision to strip him of his Committee on Health chairmanship. He was assigned to a new committee with less power: the Committee on Hospitals and Health Equity.

Despite reported concerns of his inability to effectively lead the health committee, Gray, 80, has maintained that his cognitive skills nor his ability to serve have been affected by the stroke.

“Nearly one-third of stroke survivors experience challenges with communication, but not intellect,” Gray said, noting recovery is a slow process that can extend for months or years. “People recovering from strokes or experiencing other health challenges are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the workplace. As chair of the newly formed Committee on Hospital and Health Equity, I will explore whether we have done enough in the District to codify and protect these rights,” said Gray.

In continuing to do the work, Gray (even to his chagrin with the demoted position) and the council have the ability to show the nation’s capital, and by extension, the world, how institutions and systems can effectively empower those with different abilities in positions of power.

As he continues speech therapy, Gray is opting on making statements and conducting interviews through email and, in-person, through a staff person to read his remarks.

In accommodating Gray, the council can learn effective ways of empowering those with special needs to lead and legislate in different ways. While acknowledging Gray’s reported eight-hour workday limitation, perhaps the council can find better ways to cover more ground in less time. In watching how the eldest councilmember newly navigates life, they can be educated on how to get work done by any means necessary.

Further, the Ward 7 councilmember is sending a message to the world about overcoming obstacles. Despite demotion and health challenges, Gray continues to serve, taking on peers and haters alike, doubting his abilities. Gray's continued service is a lesson in the power of perseverance.

WI

TO THE EDITOR

My heart is broken by the news of the death of teacher and father Keenan Anderson. Had it not been for the Washington Informer I would not have even known about it. This tragedy should make national headlines. I’m praying for justice for the family.

Terri Shelton Washington, DC

Readers' Mailbox

What a powerful photo on your cover last week of District citizens walking during the MLK parade. How awesome is it that so many people of all races, ages, and backgrounds braved the cold to honor the one and only Dr. King. His legacy lives on, and we must remember that the only way forward is together.

Rochelle Fisher Washington, DC

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

Guest Columnist

It's Time to Irrigate the Fallow Ground of Minority Media Ownership

I've fought for civil rights my entire career. In fact, in honor of my late mother, Vera Pearl Arnwine, I will tell you that my actual birth was amid a fight for justice and equality to desegregate a white hospital that refused to service the African-Americans in the nearby community.

After being driven past the white hospital during two previous labors,

my Mom was determined to force change. She purposefully waited until her contractions were advanced and called the ambulance, which seeing her state, took her to the nearest hospital, the white hospital. When the white nurses tried to refuse service, the examining doctor said it was too late and ordered, "We got to deliver this baby." Thus, my Mom defied the "whites only" designation and ultimately won as she gave birth to me, the first Black to force the integration of the now closed Seaside Hospital in Long Beach, California.

Being born a "civil rights protest baby" It is no wonder that I went on to graduate from Duke University School of Law and became president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where I served for more than 26 years.

That hospital story, of course relayed to me by my mother, is quite relevant during this season in which we not only celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but we escalate our commemoration of Black history. Now, as founder of the

Transformative Justice Coalition, I remain keenly focused on issues of justice from every walk of life.

In 2023, one aspect of civil rights and racial justice that barely remains addressed is racial inclusion in media ownership. It's high time to irrigate that fallow civil rights ground as America's access to trusted, credible and diverse local and national news sources is the key to democracy. There is far too much misinformation and non-inclusion out there; especially impacting communities of color.

An article by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, headlined, "The Abysmal State of Media Ownership Diversity in America," says, "Access to the media by the broadest sector of society is crucial to ensuring that diverse viewpoints are presented to the American people, but racial and gender disparities in media ownership that date back to the beginning of the civil rights era continue to persist. Diverse voices in the media

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Programs Bridging the Financial Equity Gap in D.C.

Friday, Jan. 27 is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, which can be seen as the launch of tax season. EITC is a refundable tax credit available to qualifying lower-wage workers and their families. Among states with a refundable EITC, the highest match rates are in the District of Columbia at 70%.

United Way of the National

Capital Area (United Way NCA) is leading a regional coalition of partners working on this effort including the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking to provide VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites throughout the DMV region, five of which are located in D.C. Trained and qualified IRS tax professionals are available to work free of charge with individuals with an annual income of $59,187 or less to determine if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to help them claim these tax credits, which can result in a larger tax refund.

Free VITA programs are also available through United Way NCA's regionwide powerful network of Financial Empowerment Centers (FECs), including referrals for VITA programming at the Greater Washington Urban League at Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, 3939 Benning Road NE, Washington, DC 20019. FECs also offer free

Teacher Shortages in High-Poverty Schools

to allow children to fall through the cracks. It starts by understanding how and why the systems are broken.

financial coaching, small business counseling, workshops and more year-round.

The IRS estimates that 20% of tax filers don't claim their EITC, which is why United Way NCA partners with the IRS' VITA program to ensure that our community members have access to qualified tax preparers who can ensure they have explored and applied for EITC credits. A motivating fact: In D.C., the average VITA tax refund is $1,490.

United Way NCA's Financial

Empowerment Centers (FEC) will offer free tax services until April 15, 2023. To learn more about EITC, community members are encouraged to register for the United Way NCA's Change Makers webinar "VITA/EITC Programs and Their Impact on Advancing Equity." The Change Makers Education Series convenes thought leaders in conversations focused on trends in the National Capital Area and solutions that advance equity in the region.

There is no way one can put a price on the value of a child's education.

Dr. Martin Luther King said, "Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary." Dr. King's words remind us that we must fix the root causes behind broken systems that continue

Experts trace the current teacher shortage to the 2008 Great Recession when the nation's public education system lost more than 120,000 teachers. When the economy rebounded, and schools started hiring again, many of those who had left were reluctant to return.

Teacher shortages are not uncommon around the nation, but it tends to hit high-poverty schools in rural areas the hardest. Researchers have

found that schools that serve a high percentage of minority students and students in poverty have more difficulty finding and retaining qualified teachers than white and more affluent schools. In many southern states, the long-standing problem continues to increase. The nature and severity of the teacher crisis will differ drastically from state to state, district to district, and even from school to school. In an attempt to understand the teacher shortage issue, data found that the problem is worst in Mississippi.

Communities throughout the Mis-

sissippi Delta are rich in community pride and history but are economically poor. As manufacturing jobs left the region and agriculture became more automated, it resulted in a decrease in population. Families who remain will send their children to deteriorating schools, which are difficult for officials to manage due to the dwindling tax base and a Mississippi state legislature that is reluctant to adequately fund schools at the per-student rate as required by law.

The message being sent by lawmakers is clear: Investing in the future of

children living in poverty doesn't merit meeting the state funding requirement.

At the request of state lawmakers, three small-town school districts merged to become one — West Bolivar Consolidated School District. West Bolivar Consolidated is 98% Black, while 100% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. West Bolivar High School in Rosedale, Mississippi, and McEvans School in Shaw, Mississippi, are 18

Guest Columnist

Rosie Allen-Herring

Barbara Arnwine

Guest Columnist

David W. Marshall

The Party of Lincoln?

and the 16th presidents, respectively.

There are many memories of my first years in school which remain etched in my mind. I remember learning the "Pledge of Allegiance" and the national anthem. Since I have always liked history, there are numerous persons and events that are in my memory cells. Like most students of that period, the first two presidents I learned about were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the first

George Washington "chopped down a cherry tree," led the Continental Army against the British, and became the new nation's first, but the reluctant president. For me, Lincoln was a little more interesting. He was a country kid, born into what can only be called poverty, reportedly was a hard worker, held a variety of jobs — both laborious and sedentary — became a country lawyer, honed his debating skills, became the first candidate elected to be president as a Republican, "freed the slaves," and was shot dead at Ford's Theater.

Chief among his accomplishments is that he remains known as "Honest Abe" and his legacy is circumscribed by his veracity in addition to having his name ascribed to the Republican Party as its founder. Among African Americans, his party, the party of the Great Emancipator, was the only political party worthy of their votes (those who could vote). Although there are fewer African Americans who retain this loyalty, many still vote without question for The Party of Lincoln. Unfortunately, if he were alive today, I am sure that he would attempt to reform them or

Marc H. Morial

completely disavow the deviants and devilments of "his" party.

The biography and resume of George Santos, the newly elected Republican congressman from New York, belies the ethic of truthfulness. He is the antithesis of Honest Abe! Santos has admitted to embellishing his biography with stories that are more akin to myths and fables than simple embellishments. His lies wind through a trail of life events that serve to endear him with the voters but have no remote connection to his personal experiences. He has fabricated so much of his resume that

there is some speculation that his real name may not really be George Santos. He has used at least one other name.

What is worse, he poses a threat to the good order of the House of Representatives and, through exposure to classified materials, our national security. In their attempt to retain power and maintain their slim margin of control, Speaker McCarthy and his conference have chosen to overlook this potential threat. What is more, they have chosen to

On 50th Anniversary of Landmark Abortion Decision, Legality Alone Isn't Enough

and futures.

"Overturning Roe and outlawing abortions will never make them go away. It only makes them more dangerous, especially for the poor and marginalized. People will die because of this decision. And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America." — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Fifty years ago, women across the country celebrated the infamous Roe v. Wade decision that recognized the constitutional right for people to have an abortion. Now, after decades of scheming, right-wing politicians finally have forced their unpopular agenda on the rest of America. They have decided that the government — not pregnant people and their doctors — should make a private health care decision and deny women the right to control their own bodies

Since the Supreme Court made its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization last June, nearly half the states in the country have either outlawed abortion services or placed heavy restrictions around abortion access. This decision put important health care decisions out of the reach of millions of women and violated their right to decide what happens to their own bodies. Access to safe abortion services have proven over time to discourage women from

exploring unsafe methods to end their pregnancies, a reality that has mostly impacted Black women and women in underserved communities.

Black women are four times more likely to die as a result of childbirth than white women, according to American Medical Association. Meanwhile, due to racialized income and wealth disparities, inequitable access to medical care, and the other insidious ways manifestations of structural racism, people of color are more likely to

DOJ Initiative Fights Redlining in Cyberspace and the Real World

As 2023 begins, a key anti-financial discrimination initiative is expanding million-dollar penalties and the kinds of businesses found to violate fair lending laws.

The Combatting Redlining Initiative that since 2021 has combined resources and efforts of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Consumer Financial Protection

Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is now holding a social media giant as well as another bank accountable for violations of fair credit and lending laws.

A Jan. 9 settlement with Meta Platforms — formerly Facebook, Inc. — marks the first time that a social media platform will be subject to court oversight for its advertising targeting and delivery system. As the world's largest social media platform, the enforcement action will affect its 264 million users in

the United States and Canada, as well as 10 million advertisers that in the third quarter of 2022 generated $27.71 billion in revenues.

According to settlement terms, Meta's new system will measure algorithmic discrimination that violates the Fair Housing Act. Meta will be subject to federal court oversight monitoring and regular reviews through June 26, 2026, to determine whether all terms of the settlement are honored. Guidehouse, Inc., an independent third-party reviewer will verify Me-

ta's adherence to settlement metrics. Meta must provide this monitor with regular compliance reports and any necessary information.

"Federal monitoring of Meta should send a strong signal to other tech companies that they too will be held accountable for failing to address algorithmic discrimination that runs afoul of our civil rights laws," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice's Civil Rights Division.

The Justice Department also continues to move against lenders

require abortion care and but are less likely to be able to afford outof-state travel to obtain care if it is outlawed in their state.

Forcing women to carry pregnancies against their will can have devastating and lasting consequences for them and their family and push women and families deeper into poverty. Our health care system already fails Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, and barriers to abortion care

who allow discrimination in their lending practices. On Jan. 12, Los Angeles-based City National Bank, with 58 California locations as well as branches in nine other states and the District of Columbia, reached a $31 million settlement with DOJ's Redlining Initiative, the largest such agreement in DOJ's history.

According to DOJ, from 2017 until at least 2020, City National failed to provide mortgage lending in Los Angeles County's major-

Guest Columnist

Charlene Crowell

E. Faye Williams

African, Caribbean and American Cuisine Under One Roof

Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

The District’s dining game is adding additional notches with

the opening of DC Capitol Square Bar and Grill. Located at 1500 East Capitol Street, the restaurant serves an eclectic combination of African, Caribbean and American

offerings in a bright white and orange decorated establishment– you would never know that the digs is a former barber shop that was completely gutted.

“Having something that is Black-owned that you can give to a generation of people has been our number one goal,” said Clayton Rosenberg, managing partner and general manager. “It’s a family-oriented vibe with the uniqueness of international food and an ambiance that brings folks together.”

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

The full menu has a section called “Taste of Africa and Caribbean.” From Nigeria there is a meat dish called suya, jollof rice, Nigerian pepper soup, and puff puff, which are light fluffy, deepfriend balls of dough. The Caribbean items on the menu include fish rolls, oxtails, plantain and egg stew, curry chicken, cassava leaves, plus so much more. The brunch menu has traditional American dishes like eggs benedict, chicken and waffles, omelets, grits, and avocado toast.

Soon DC Capitol Square will add African-inspired Suya pizza and sliders to the menu, again mixing cultures. There are also menus for breakfast and the weekend brunch.

During my recent visit, I sensed that the kitchen could accommodate whatever you are feeling. Two women sitting at the bar were having breakfast late on a Thursday afternoon.

On my first visit, which was for brunch, I had salmon with grits. The salmon was slightly overdone, but the grits were just the right consistency. On my second visit, I had the Capital Sq Jollof Rice made with tomatoes, scotch bonnets, onions and assorted spices. I admit that I could eat jollof rice every day. I topped my order with salmon that was prepared perfectly. I added an order of puff puff that came with a dipping sauce.

CREATING AN INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT

An international group of backers supported the opening of DC Capitol Square, sharing favorite foods from their cultural background and travels. That is partly how the menu evolved.

“We asked how we can create food that makes individuals from

around the world feel like it’s home?” said Rosenberg, a graduate of Eastern High School. “We have different chefs and cooks representing many nationalities. We want to be an international hub.”

The space at the restaurant is flexible. Upstairs can be rearranged for group functions or for music performances. Both upstairs and on the main street level of DC Capitol Square, there is a giant quad-screen television that creates a sports bar feel, but does not take away from the upscale, yet relaxed vibe.

A key member of the DC Capitol Square team is Folasade “Sade” Ogunfowora who oversees compliance. She ensures the restaurant operates properly under every policy and guideline that applies to their restaurant. A Mass Communications graduate from University of Maryland Global Campus, Ogunfowora knows maintaining an error-free record allows for growth of the business. Her pride comes from the staff they have hired.

“Every staff member has a different background. They have different ideas, and we are very open,” said the Nigerian native raised in Prince George’s County. “We want to hire more folks for our team.”

A RESTAURANT FOR EVERYONE

Rosenberg would like future patrons to understand that DC Capitol Square is accessible to everyone. It is a place where political leaders, families, and members of nearby churches can feel comfortable. The

5 Lead staff at DC Capitol Square Bar and Grill on East Capitol Street are (L-R) Managing Partner and General Manager Clayton Rosenberg and Folasade “Sade” Ogunfowora who oversees compliance matters. They are in a private room at the restaurant that can be reserved. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

National Building Museum Highlights D.C. Culture in 5th Annual Film Festival

Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Gentrification, redlining, housing, fashion, architecture, sustainability, and art— and where these topics intersect— will be some of the many themes explored at the fifth annual Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF). Kicking off Thursday, Jan. 26 with an open bar and film screening and wrapping up Sunday, Jan. 29 with a GoGo brunch and pop-up art exhibit, the ADFF features four days packed with activities that allow guests to examine how design influences culture from the arts, to economics, to social justice issues. And with the event held in the nation’s capital, many of the features will be unapologetically D.C.-centric.

“First and foremost, D.C. is our own home and it’s important for us to tell the story of our community. And, more broadly, our mission is really telling the stories of the places that we live, play and work- our built environment,” said Jacquelyn Sawyer, vice president of Education and Engagement at the National Building Museum. “The way that people understand the built environment is through their local experience. So we want to tell local stories that have those national throughlines.”

Sawyer noted that while the museum gets visitors from around the nation and world yearlong, uplifting local artists remains a top priority— allowing for people to connect D.C. stories to their own communities.

“That’s what we’re hoping for, for this one festival,” Sawyer explained.

During the Thursday night kickoff, which boasts an open bar and hors d'oeuvres, will be a showing of “Alice Street,” a documentary about a mural that brought together artists, leaders and two neighborhoods, emphasizing the power of public art. After the film screening is a Q&A featuring director Spencer Wilkinson and community organizer Laila Sandra Huen.

Happy Hours will begin the fun

Anacostia Community Museum Commemorates Black History Month

Melanie Adams, Roger Ferguson and Annette Nazareth Director

5 The National Building Museum will host the fifth annual Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF) Jan. 26-Jan. 29, featuring “Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington DC.” (Courtesy Photo)

on Friday and Saturday evening, with vendors from Little Minor Taco, Don Ciccio & Figli, Other Half Brewing and Silver Branch Brewing.

In addition to multiple films investigating international design, redlining and modern-day effects caused by discriminatory urban design, Friday evening includes a photography showcase featuring local artists James Singewald and Steven Cummings.

Saturday, sustainable fashion is the theme, with films, panels and a pop-up in the Great Hall with unique local vendors including Tribute Collective, Bitter Grace and Illicit Rag Vintage.

On Sunday funday, the National Building Museum will wrap ADFF programming with a Go-Go brunch that will feature tunes provided by celebrated band TOB and a pop-up exhibition with the work of photographer Dee Dwyer.

Dwyer said she jumped at the opportunity to showcase her work as part of the fifth annual ADFF.

“I was all game for it, especially when it comes to TOB being in the building. I’m a GoGo girl, I love it,” said Dwyer.

The native Washingtonian photographer, who has also been called the “visual voice of the people,” will be offering a glimpse into the District’s vibrant, Black culture and communities.

“I’ll be showing some images from my Chocolate City documentation,” she said. “D.C. was coined

As we enter February, many people will look for ways to commemorate Black History Month. Started back in the early 1920’s, Black History Month was created by Carter G. Woodson to bring to light the many contributions of African Americans to this country. While it was originally called, Negro History Week, Woodson did not design the program to be limited to that seven-day time period. Students spent all year learning about African American history and then spent that one week in February sharing what they learned in programs held throughout the community. Much like Carter G. Woodson, the Anacostia Community Museum also believes that African American History is something that should take place throughout the year, though we do participate in Black History month by providing opportunities for the community to celebrate, commemorate, and plan for a better future.

The museum is proud to welcome visitors to The Utopia Project: Inspiration for Creative Activism. This gallery experience asks visitors to imagine the world they want to live in and then provides them with the tools to make it a reality. Using the stories of historic African American changemakers such as Walter Pierce and Roach Brown and new changemakers such as artists Yetunda Sapp and Maps Glover, this experience encourages creativity to serve as the catalyst for actions that lead to positive change. As our Associate Director of Education says, Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't say “I have a five-point plan,” he said, “I have a dream.” Dreams are powerful and allow us to imagine a world where we live up to the words in our founding documents of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

In addition to The Utopia Project, the museum will have programs throughout the month encouraging visitors to learn more about African American history in the DC region. The museum believes it is important for everyone to feel welcome and have access to our programs so we planned programs that should appeal to a variety of audiences including families, artists and activists, and community historians. We work with community organizations and individuals to share their stories and highlight the good things happening East of the River. All of our programs are free and can be found on our website at anacostia.si.edu/events.

The DC Region is rich with opportunities for Black History Month programs. Even if you don’t attend a program at the Anacostia Community Museum (or one of our other Smithsonian museums), I hope you will take the time to commemorate and celebrate the contributions of African Americans. If not in February, then at some other point in year because African American history and culture should not be confined to 28 days a year.

that because of the high population of Black people, so I’ll be showcasing some of my images from my collection about Chocolate City.”

In addition to crunching from the brunching and cranking from the jamming, viewers will get a chance to view the critically acclaimed documentary “Barry Farm: Communi-

ty, Land and Justice in Washington DC.”

Following the screening will be a Q&A with filmmakers Samuel George and Sabiyha Prince.

Tickets for one day or the entire festival can be purchased at nbm. org.

As VP of education and engage-

ment, Sawyer said that the four-day festival is a “choose your own adventure,” event.

“We hope you join us for all four days, because all four days are different, all four days are going to bring their own vibe, and we want to share that with everyone.”

WI

5 Anacostia artist Yetunde Sapp painted this 8 x 12 ft. mural portrait of Breonna Taylor in Washington, DC’s Lafayette Square during Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. Credit: Justice for Breonna Taylor, Yetunde Sapp, 2020. Paint and spray paint on plywood. Photo by: Patrick Rogan, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Levita Mondie and Yetunde Sapp.

review wi book

horoscopes

Black History Month Books for Kids

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Your parents and your teachers try to tell you about the past. You like the stories they share, the things your grandparents did and the important celebrities that lived long ago. It's history and it's fun to know, so why not reach for these Black History Month books for kids ages 5 to 8?

Who doesn't love ice cream? If you do, then you'll love reading "Ice Cream Man" by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, illustrated by Keith Mallet (Random House Kids, $18.99). It's the story of Augustus Jackson, who was born a slave in Philadelphia and worked for a time at the White House, but he never forgot his dreams. Jackson wanted to give everyone a chance to have ice cream, which was then only available to rich people. How could he make the treat and get it to new neighborhoods without it melting into a sticky puddle? Kids will find the answer here.

The child who wants to be like his favorite hero will enjoy "Me and Muhammad Ali" by Jabari Asim, illustrated by AG Ford (Nancy Paulsen Books, $17.99). Here, young Langston is a big fan of boxer Muhammad Ali, in part because Ali's swagger gives Langston confidence. Like Ali, Langston wants to "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" but a chance to see his idol might fly away like a bird. Then a hero steps in and saves the day. Be sure to read the author's note at the end, for the full effect of this charming tale.

For the kid who wants a wider story with thrilling patriotism, there are two books to look for: first, "My Red, White, and Blue by Alana Tyson, illustrated by London Ladd (Philomel, $18.99) is the story of our flag and the time when it didn't seem to represent everyone in America. Once, the flag had a history of scars with the stars and strife with the stripes but all that changed when people began to use their voices. Today, the flag means diversity for all, especially for a brown child who loves the red, white, and blue — and especially for your child, who will love the thoughtful rhyme that makes this book.

Then, "An American Story" by Kwame Alexander, art by Dare Coulter (Little, Brown, $18.99) is a tale of freedom, equality, "yesterday's nightmare" and the courage to make today better. It's a story about a story, and how there are times when things aren't fair but people can work to make it better. This is a beautiful book but beware of one important thing: some of the words might be scary for very young children and the artwork, though gorgeous, can be harsh. Read it through once before reading it aloud.

And if these books aren't enough for your storytime, be sure to check with your librarian or bookseller. There are lots more Black History books to bring home and to enjoy with your 5-to-8-year old or for kids of any age, because Black History is American history, too.

WI

ARIES As the week begins, you could be inspired to dive deeper into a research project or game plan for advancing your professional path. Either way, you'll feel empowered to find time in your day to take steps that could lead to real evolution, change, and fulfillment. Lucky Numbers: 6, 10, 15

TAURUS If you've been craving sweet, joyful, spontaneous fun with loved ones and opportunities for self-expression, you'll get a green light to put work on the back burner in pursuit of pleasure and creativity at the start of the week. Finding ways to shake up your routine and broaden your horizons could actually bring you a sense of accomplishment and personal growth. Lucky Numbers: 5, 7, 9

GEMINI You could find yourself craving a deep, meaningful experience with loved ones as the week gets underway. Doing some soul searching and opening up about what's really on your mind and in your heart can help you connect with your nearest and dearest on a whole new level. It could feel transformative personally and for your bond. Lucky Numbers: 2, 4, 39

CANCER Your to-do list might feel extra long but also enlivening at the start of the week. This can be an exciting time to make new connections, strike up interesting conversations, or brainstorm thrilling big-picture proposals with colleagues. Lean in to the frenetic, cerebral vibe of the moment and you'll thrive, setting the stage for intellectual gratification down the road. Lucky Numbers: 16, 17, 36

LEO You might want to strike out on your own-and against the wishes of higher-ups or colleagues-as the week starts. Just make sure you think about the consequences before diving in. Later, it's a brilliant, beautiful time to get clear on your long-term financial goals and come up with a step-by-step action plan that will support your professional path and help you bring home well-deserved rewards. The more diligent and consistent you can be when keeping with this plan, the greater the rewards, not to mention transformation. Lucky Numbers: 15, 21, 45

VIRGO In the beginning of the week, you enjoy the opportunity to get clear on personal intentions and get the ball rolling on making them real. Finding your voice and owning your right to pleasure, fun, and joy will be integral to seeing results. Lucky Numbers: 18, 19, 57

LIBRA Taking a timeout from the daily grind to tune in to your heart and pay attention to your dreams might feel like a must as the week starts. Journaling or talking through what you find with a therapist or dear friend could prove enlightening and help you lay the groundwork for more emotional fulfillment down the road. This is a sweet time for planting seeds! Lucky Numbers: 10, 18, 35

SCORPIO You might feel like rebelling against your current situation on the job or in a close one-on-one relationship early in the week. Just be sure you've thought it through before making a potentially gasp-worthy plunge. Later, it's a fruitful time to initiate a team effort. Working with others not only feels fulfilling but is supported by the cosmos. Send out those emails, set up those meetings and brainstorms, and plan online meetings galore. Your hard work could lead to an exciting group win. Lucky Numbers: 11, 17, 29

SAGITTARIUS As the week starts, you'll be fired up to make moves on the job (think calling a meeting with higher-ups or researching a new position), not just for short-term aims but with your big-picture goals in mind. Though you might be more enthusiastic and self-assured than usual right now, taking it one step at a time can keep you grounded and set for steady achievement. Lucky Numbers: 3, 10, 34

CAPRICORN You'll be itching to break free of your usual routine and have an experience that's different, unique, and supportive of your personal growth when the week starts. Consider new ways to soak up knowledge, be it through online classes, meditation apps, or road trips. Whatever feels right is sure to be the best, most fulfilling way forward. Lucky Numbers: 7, 26, 55

AQUARIUS Connecting on a deeper level within your closest relationship can feel especially appealing and exciting in the beginning of the week. Take time to think about what you really want out of this bond, then feel free to speak from the heart. This could bring you even closer. Later, you'll be getting clear on the reciprocity that exists and that you want out of your nearest and dearest relationships. If it feels like you're giving more than you take, or vice versa, it might be time to rethink your approach and have a heart-to-heart talk that sets a healing, emotionally satisfying tone. Lucky Numbers: 15, 20, 33

PISCES Whether you've been dreaming of a new adventure with your sweetheart or wanting to open yourself up to meeting someone special, you'll have a lovely opportunity to key in on your vision as the week begins. Thanks to the cosmos, support from friends can make it even easier to turn your hopes into a reality. Later, you will do well to tread lightly when it comes to money issues, because a conflict around finances could be easily blown out of proportion. Lucky Numbers: 3, 12, 31

Jackson Reed Holds Theodore Roosevelt in Big Matchup

Edward Hill Jr. WI Contributing Writer

It was Washington, D.C. high school basketball at its finest. The two top teams in the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) in a showdown to see who had the upper hand.

Both came in undefeated in league play at 8-0. And there was a packed house that had not only the fans from both respective schools, but many who follow D.C. basketball.

In the end, Jackson Reed held off Theodore Roosevelt, 75-70 on Monday, Jan. 23, at The Milkhouse on the school campus.

One could feel the anticipation when entering the gym where many came early to ensure that they have a seat.

The pace started out fast and fu-

4 Students, parents and fans pack the stands at Roosevelt Sr. High School in Northwest to watch the Roosevelt and Jackson-Reed showdown. (Courtesy photo/Dr. Maurice Butler)

rious as the game went back and forth, The Tigers (21-6, 9-0 in the DCIAA) got the upper hand, 18-12 at the end of the first quarter, due to the play of their outstanding sophomore Jayden Fort, who led the way with seven of his team's points.

Jackson Reed, which has won the last two titles, threatened to extend its lead to double digits on four different occasions as Fort continued to display an array of basketball skills. But the scrappy Rough Riders (19-2, 8-1 in the DCIAA) refused to wilt as their senior guard Destontoy Cook and sophomore guard Ke'Mari Pointer combined to keep it close at 41-34 at intermission.

Jackson Reed then outscored Theodore Roosevelt, 25-16 in the third quarter to open what appeared to be a comfortable advantage at 66-50.

But the Rough Riders refused to wilt away. Led by Cook and Pointer, they went on a 13-1 run during a six-minute stretch to cut the deficit to 67-63 with a minute left on clock. Some of the fans who felt that the game was over, rushed back in to catch the exciting finish.

That is when the seasoned Tigers, who have played a number of national teams, including no. 1 ranked, John Marshall of Richmond, Virginia, regained its poise and converted on 8 of their last 10 to pull out the hard-fought win.

"Our guard hurt us during that (fourth quarter) stretch when they got back into the game," lamented Jackson Reed Head Coach David

"Little Tee" Johnson. "Our Achilles Heel all season has been the inability to close games. It is yet another lesson for us as we grow."

Rough Riders Head Coach Rob Nickens, the winningest coach in school history, had this to offer. "I am not one of those people into moral victories. But I can say that I am especially proud of the effort by this team. They refused to go away. That is the tradition here at Roosevelt. We will always play hard to the end, win or lose. This is surely something we can build on.”

Coming into the game, there was a lot of attention to Jackson Reed's junior guard, Robert Dockery, one of the top players in the

DMV. The 6 '7 talented junior got into early foul trouble and finished with only nine points before fouling out.

To that end, Fort, a 6 ‘8 sophomore, picked up the slack and displayed some scary talent for the future. In scoring a career-high 27 points, Fort was virtually unstoppable with his ability to handle the ball, dominate in the paint, using his length and an uncanny EuroStep move, and even a three pointer to his arsenal.

"We don't have anyone who can match up with him," admitted Nickens, whose tallest player is 6 '4. "Coming in, we knew we had to stop Dockery and him. Part of that worked, but we did not envision him having this kind of game."

Added Johnson, "I think the schedule we have played has helped him in his growth as you saw tonight. He has learned how to play against quality competition and be productive. That is what we saw tonight. We just want him to continue to improve."

Jackson Reed junior guard Joseph Mcrae added 10 points, including six for six from the free throw line down the stretch, while Theodore Roosevelt got a teamhigh 16 from Pointer and 10 from Brazil Hutchinson.

This is round one, and while the Tigers get the upper hand, the two could possibly meet in late February for the championship, which they have both dominated over the past decade. Stay tuned.

WI

5 KeMari Pointer (0) scores 16 of Roosevelt's team-high points during a loss to Jackson-Reed. (Courtesy photo/Dr. Maurice Butler)

CAPTURE

the moment

The inauguration of Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller on Jan. 18, under the motto "Leave No One Behind" brought out a diverse crowd including a few celebrities. (Photos

5 Veteran news anchor, Paul Berry, arrives at the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

4 Urban jazz armonicst Frédéric Yonnet attends the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

Informer)

5

3 Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) attends the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

4 Wanda Durant, mother of famed professional basketbally player, Kevin Durant, attends the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

by Robert R. Roberts/The Washington

5 Gov. Wes Moore and his wife Dawn making an entrance on the steps at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis during the inaguration ceremony and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

Susan Taylor with her husband Khephra Burns and April Ryan attend the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

3 Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele attends the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

Submitted by Washington Gas

If you visited The Wharf DC this winter, you probably saw giant snowflakes guiding you to a WAFF warming tent. As you watched the holiday boat parade, you might have enjoyed a freshly made s’more that helped support WAFF donations. You might have chatted with our volunteers at the Jan. 11 Rock the Rink while cheering on the Washington Capitals.

This past weekend, it was hard to miss our life-sized WAFF Ice House, constructed entirely from oversized ice blocks. As you enjoyed all that The Wharf DC offers during the winter, you might have noticed our logo and QR code posted across the District Pier.

These events and activities have sparked a lot of curiosity about WAFF. Thank you for so many fantastic questions!

TELL ME AGAIN.

WHAT IS WAFF?

WAFF stands for the Washington Area Fuel Fund program, the flagship community service program founded by Washington Gas in 1983. WAFF has one goal: to help area families who are having trouble heating their homes during the winter, even when other sources of assistance might not be available. On average, it takes $500 to warm a single household during the winter season.*

Approximately 16.5% of Washington D.C. households live at or below the poverty line.** However, as the COVID pandemic recently reminded us, sudden events can strike any household at any time. Doing without essentials like food and medicine just to have a warm home is a reality for thousands of local families. To date, WAFF has distributed over $33 million to more than 300,000 households for home heating.

Winter. Warmth. WAFF.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR WAFF?

Any household within the Washington Gas Service Territory (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia) that has already pursued existing federally funded assistance programs can apply for WAFF. You do not have to be a Washington Gas customer. Income, family size and residency help determine WAFF eligibility, and you may also qualify during emergencies where your heat is about to be or has been disconnected. No matter how you heat your home—natural gas, electricity, oil, coal, wood, kerosene or others—you can apply for WAFF.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Visit www.waffhelp.com and click Get Help, You can complete an online application now through May 31.

HOW CAN I HELP OTHERS THROUGH WAFF?

Just scan the orange WAFF house at the top right side of this page to go to the WAFF Give Help page. Every dollar you donate to WAFF goes directly to someone in need, and Washington Gas covers all program and administrative costs.

We gratefully accept donations year-round. When you visit the Give Help page, you will see several easy ways to give:

• Give when paying your bill online at http://www.washingtongas. com.

• Add a donation to your paper bill by marking the WAFF box on the stub and adding your contribution amount.

• Set up an automatic monthly pledge to your bill (cancel at any time).

• Donate when you pay your bill by phone at 703-750-7944.

Corporate sponsorships are also available throughout the year and are a great way to help WAFF while

enhancing your brand. For more information, please contact alexandra. alleyne@washgas.com.

WHAT EVENTS DOES WAFF HAVE PLANNED

IN 2023?

At Rock the Rink at The Wharf DC on Feb. 11, you can show your Washington Capitals pride while supporting WAFF! Visit our booth on the District Pier to buy raffle tickets for two club-level tickets to see the Caps take on the Florida Panthers on Feb. 16. You can also skate at the ice

rink and enjoy food and shopping before watching the Caps face the Boston Bruins on the Jumbotron. We are also finalizing a schedule of summer events later this year, so stay

tuned at http://www.waffhelp.com. We hope to see you in 2023!

*http://www.waffhelp.com **https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/DC

posed by Lou Mosca, executive vice president and chief operating officer of American Management Services.

Mosca proposed that the USCM produce a mayor’s publication to small businesses that can advise municipal chief executives how to engage the small business community and what resources are available to firms on the federal, state and local levels.

“This is city hall’s way of stepping up and saying to small businesses ‘we have resources for you’,” he said.

Many mayors have programs in place to aid small businesses and shared those with colleagues. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said his city has had a historic commitment to reach out to small, minority and women-owned firms and the effort continues presently.

“In Atlanta, we have a program where 35% of all of our city business is directed to disadvantaged business enterprises,” he said. “That program operates at our airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and with government agencies. We also encourage small businesses to do joint ventures with large companies.”

Dickens said his administration will create a virtual platform where large companies will find small business subcontractors to partner with on city projects. He spoke of weariness in hearing large firms complain that they couldn’t find small businesses who can handle the type of work needed on projects, saying the virtual platform should solve that problem.

Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin said his city’s Build-

from Page 1

tions in the workplace and protection under the Human Rights Act. “As chair of the newly formed Committee on Hospital and Health Equity, I will explore whether we have done enough in the District to codify and protect these rights,” Gray said on Monday.

“There will always be new frontiers to blaze in pursuit of equity,”he continued. “As well, issues that were seemingly settled sometimes require revisiting. Throughout my career, I have advocated for the rights of individuals who are often overlooked or taken advantage of. This chapter of my career will be no different.”

Earlier in January, Gray unsuccessfully argued before the council that Mendelson violated the Human Rights Act when he removed him from the helm of the Committee on

5 Birmingham, Ala. Mayor Randall Woodfin with Deniver Mayor Michael Hancock, addresses a luncheon at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 91st Winter Meeting. (Courtesy photo/US Conference

ing Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) program serves as a key program for small businesses that seek city contracts. Woodfin said BOLD has helped many struggling businesses during the pandemic get funds to continue their operations.

Robin Mack, the director of Business Development for the city of Mount Vernon, N.Y., said small businesses are being engaged by the administration of Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.

“We have found many small business owners have great ideas and skills but don’t have the technical knowledge on how to manage a business successfully,” Mack said. “We offer programs to help them get up to speed with their accounting, marketing, banking and e-commerce. If the plan for a business is to have a brickand-mortar operation, we can assist them with that also.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10

Health. The former council chairman made a motion, which he put before the body, but only had the support of D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8).

Shortly before the committee reassignments in December, Gray submitted a letter to the council saying that his doctors cleared him for work and related activities. Mendelson went on to change Gray’s committee assignment, after, what he described as, concerns he and others on the council had about their eldest colleague’s recovery.

Mendelson, speaking to the Informer earlier this month, argued that the Human Rights Act doesn’t apply to decisions about committee assignments because it’s not a matter of an employer-employee relationship. He added that though Gray’s doctors cleared him to work, they suggested

has stood the test of time,” Carper, 76, said. “Unfortunately, ‘taxation without representation’ is the current reality for nearly 700,000 citizens living in the District of Columbia. These citizens do not have a voting representative in either chamber of Congress. They pay more federal taxes per capita than citizens of any of the 50 states, but have no say in how these taxes are actually spent. They serve in the military and can be sent to battle in a war that had no say in fighting. This is wrong and not consistent with the values we hold dear as Americans.”

Carper said D.C. statehood is an issue that goes bipartisan beyond politics.

“This isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue—it’s an issue of fairness. I am proud to once again partner with Congresswoman Norton on this important issue and look forward to the work ahead to make D.C. statehood a reality,” he said.

Carper made his bill introduction as the new 118 th Congress, which started earlier this month, proceeded to conduct its business. Carper first introduced legislation to grant the District statehood in 2013 and has sponsored legislation in every congressional session since. In September 2014, Carper held the first hearing on D.C. statehood in decades as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In June 2021, Carper joined his colleague, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan), the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, in leading a hearing on the issue of D.C. Statehood.

they limit his work hours.

Though stroke rehabilitation differs from person to person, experts say that performance in the realms of mobility, speech and strength can significantly improve within a year to 18 months. Cognition is most likely to improve within the first three months of recovery, as that’s the period when the brain is actively attempting to repair itself.

After his mild stroke in late 2021, Gray spent much of last year engaging in physical therapy and speech therapy.

Despite his progress, Gray continues to experience challenges verbally communicating. In his recent letter, he said a staff member will accompany him while conducting council business to read his remarks. He also expressed plans to temporarily communicate through written statements.

Gray’s staff has spent several weeks

Carper has garnered 42 original cosponsors for his bill, all Democrats and independents. One of the original cosponsors, Van Hollen, said the District not being a state amounts to a “national scandal.”

“It is a national scandal that the people who live in the capital of the oldest democracy in the world have fewer political rights than those who live outside it,” Van Hollen, 64, said. “Simply put, denying the people of the District of Columbia the same rights to voting representation in the House and Senate enjoyed by other citizens is undemocratic. It’s time to grant the District statehood, end taxation without representation, and deliver equality and fairness to its residents.”

Norton, 85, picked up on the unfairness of taxation without representation and thanked Carper for his commitment to the D.C. statehood.

“The single idea of ‘taxation without representation’ that gave rise to the American revolution still resonates today,” she said, emphasizing the fact that Washingtonians pay the highest federal taxes per capita— an injustice also echoed by Mayor Bowser. “[D.C. residents pay] more federal taxes than 23 states, and the District has a bond

rating higher than 35 states. They’ve fought and died in every war since the Revolution, and they deserve voting representation in Congress and full self-government. Thank you to Senator Carper, our longtime ally, for leading the charge in the Senate.”

Carper didn’t speculate on when a Senate committee will consider his bill.

Presently, Norton has 173 cosponsors for her D.C. statehood bill, and previously led efforts for the House to pass her statehood bill in 2020 and 2021.

Mendelson, 70, said he realized that many Republicans oppose D.C. statehood because of the political demographic of the city.

“They say we are too liberal and too Democratic,” the chairman said. “Therefore, this has become a partisan issue.”

Mendelson said the District is penalized because of its lack of statehood noting that the D.C. Council could not send its laws to the Congress for review a few weeks ago because of the House’s stalemate in electing its speaker and Wall Street firms' ongoing concern about the city’s financial stability-- despite its well-regarded rating-- due to congressional uncertainty.

Charles Wilson, the chairman of the D.C. Democratic State Committee, attended the news conference. While Wilson expressed his satisfaction with Carper’s legislation, he said more work needs to be done in order to ensure the District joins the union.

“We have to win more elections,” he said. “The only way we are going to get statehood is to have a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate and a Democrat in the White House.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10

communicating with constituents to allay concerns about his health. Following his committee reassignment, residents, politicians and community organizers took to social media to support the political veteran and echo his concerns about human rights violations.

Gray has also found a supporter in Bishop Paula Clark, a stroke survivor hailing from Hillcrest who’s faced hurdles similar to the Ward 7 councilmember.

In early 2021, Clark moved to Chicago to serve a senior role in the Episcopal Church that places her before more than 120 congregations in Illinois, from Chicago to Peoria. Shortly after her move to the Windy City, Clark suffered a stroke that altered her speech and, for a brief moment, compelled some insecurity about her ability to

speak before 25,000 Episcopalians.

The Ward 7 native, who is also mother of WI Managing Editor Micha Green, said through it all, she continues to soldier on, using her stroke and subsequent recovery as an opportunity to grow stronger and more resilient. She said Gray will do the same in an environment where people have a surface-level understanding of what people with differing abilities can accomplish.

“We come out of these difficulties sounding differently but we’re stronger, intuitive and more reflective having gone through these trials,” Clark said. “Because we’re uninformed about people’s disabilities, we make erroneous assumptions that are hurtful. That’s why people need to give Councilmember Gray the benefit of the doubt and see what he’s made of.” WI

@SamPKCollins

of Mayors)

One of the original cosponsors, Van Hollen, said the District not being a state amounts to a “national scandal.”

D.C. Churches Challenged but not Giving Up, Working for Affordable Housing

Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

Having long been lauded as a spiritual hub for the Black community, Washington, D.C. has boasted congregations filled with African American members who intentionally come to the nation’s capital to worship every Sunday.

Today many of the larger churches are still open, however, a growing number of smaller churches have sold their property, moved to Maryland or have simply remained closed more than two years after the pandemic.

“This is a period where the African American churches are under great challenge,” said Terry Lynch, excutive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations. “Congregations are aging, facing physical and economic challenges.”

Sulton, who has been deeply involved in the development of the RCCA for years, said the legislation reorganizes and reclassifies criminal offenses so that the penalties more closely align with the severity of offenses.

Sulton went on to tell the Informer that, under the RCCA, the severity of penalties, including that for robbery and murder, take into account the conduct, result, circumstances and intent, including whether the person possessed or used a firearm.

Sulton added that the current statutes do not clearly, constitutionally and consistently define crime, which

Lynch said even though some churches need upgraded HVAC systems, “often they can’t take out loans of up to $250,000 for heating and air flow systems.”

This is part of a national trend. About 4,500 Protestant churches closed in 2019– the last year data was available— with approximately 3,000 new churches opening, according to Lifeway Research, an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The housing crisis and challenges churches are facing are hand in hand in the District.

Rev. Cheryl Sanders, pastor of the Third Street Church of God in Northwest, D.C., said the church doesn’t don’t plan to move and, instead, presenting more opportunities for the community to expand with the place of worship.

“We are not moving,” said

means that appellate court judges determine the meaning of the law. Amid all the discussion about the RCCA lowering penalties for gun crimes, she said that her aforementioned point often gets overlooked by people with a zeal for incarceration.

When it comes to each criminal case, Sulton said penalties should reflect the circumstances at hand. She noted that it can only happen when judges are allowed more flexibility in their sentencing.

Though she acknowledged the potential of the RCCA to address racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, Sulton said it’s not the end all, be all in reforming the system.

Sanders. “We are investing in the community.”

“We are building two affordable housing units,” Sanders added, noting that the process has been challenging, with the church located in an historic area.

In December, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a faith-based partnership to develop more affordable housing in the District. The program involves the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and other groups.

“Every day, houses of worship across D.C. step up to support our community in several ways,” Bowser said. “We know that there are faith-based partners who see the need for safe and affordable housing, and they want to help.”

Moreover, she lamented the likelihood that she might have squandered political goodwill needed for more radical campaigns because of misconceptions about the RCCA’s potency.

“We can have a principled debate about alternative solutions to gun violence violence prevention, mass decarceration, and limiting state violence,” Sulton said. “The bill doesn’t do that. It puts all the offenses and penalties in the order that it’s supposed to be, and people act like it’s a ‘get out of jail free’ card. Everyone’s painting it as some radical thing when it’s not. What we’ve done is make the statutes clear and consistent.” WI

@SamPKCollins

Rev. Joseph Williams, senior program manager for Enterprise Community Partners, said, “Faith leaders are seeing the need to rethink their footprint in the city, and we have many examples in the city in terms of incorporating property.”

The Rev. H. Lionel Edmonds, pastor of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, and the Rev. Joe Daniels, pastor of the Emory Fellowship: A United Methodist Congregation, have worked for years with the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) to bring affordable housing to the District. Now, they have branched out on their own.

“We in the faith community

applaud the Mayor and her dedicated work to make our city a place where anyone can own a home or have an affordable place to live,” said Edmonds. “We look forward as leaders in the religious community to continue our labor with the Mayor in this effort. We have worked together before; we can do it again.”

“We have always looked at salvation holistically. It has a spiritual base, but in addition, salvation is also mental, emotional and physical, and it is also financial,” Daniels said. “John 10:10 says the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus said that I have come so that they may have life abundantly.”

Daniels, whose church is located at 6100 Georgia Ave Northwest, said, “We opened the Beacon Center in March of 2019. Our church built 99 units of rental housing at 60 percent of the average income in the city. This was a 60 million project. Eight of the units are permanent supportive housing for those who are moving from homeless to permanent residency.”

He said they also renovated the sanctuary as a multipurpose facility.

“We also have a banquet space and half-court gym, and we are building a restaurant cafe to provide culinary training for returning citizens.” WI

5 Emery Fellowship on Georgia Avenue in Northwest, D.C. continues to stand and work to expand affordable housing in the District. (Courtesy Photo)

In

December, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced

a faithbased partnership to develop more affordable housing in the District. The program involves the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and other groups.

Historical documentation from the District of Columbia Office of Tourism and in particular, Marya Annette McQuirter, Ph.D., shows that African Americans have been a significant part of Washington, D.C.'s civic life and identity since the city was first declared the new nation’s capital in 1791. This is the first of a series that I’m writing about where we are today in the District of Columbia, as it relates to, for the most part, African-American churches. It is my intention to delve into other parts of our history, for example our largest job market, the federal government.

According to the most recent U.S. Census data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the racial composition of the District of Columbia was: Black or African American: 45.39%; and White: 41.07%. Let us take a look at how this all began for African Americans, here in Washington, D.C.

World Population View cites that the median age in Washington, D.C. is 33.8 years, with a slight gender gap of 52.5% female, and 47.5% male.

There are many religions and denominations represented in Washington, D.C., including Baptist (17%), Catholic (13%), Evangelical Protestant (6%), Methodist (4%), Episcopalian (3%), Jewish (2%), Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, Buddhist, Adventist, Lutheran, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu and Presbyterian.

Back in the year 1800, African Americans were 25% of the population, and the majority of them were enslaved. By 1830, however, most were free people. Yet slavery remained.

African Americans, of course, resisted slavery and injustice by organizing churches, private schools, aid societies, and businesses; by amassing wealth and property; by leaving the city; and by demanding abolition.

In 1848, 77 free and enslaved adults and children unsuccessfully attempted

the religion corner

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

History of African-Americans in Washington, D.C.: A Series

the nation's largest single escape aboard the schooner Pearl. On April 16, 1862, Congress passed the District of Columbia Emancipation Act, making Black Washingtonians the first freed in the nation, nine months before President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863.

Congress had the authority to pass the DC Emancipation Act because it was granted the power to "exercise exclusive legislation" over the federal district by the U.S. Constitution. This federal oversight has been a source of conflict throughout Washington's history.

During the Civil War (1861-1865) and Reconstruction (1865-1877), more than 25,000 African Americans moved to Washington. The fact that it was mostly pro-Union and the nation's capital made it a popular destination.

Through the passage of Congress's Reconstruction Act of 1867, the city's African American men gained the right to vote three years before the passage of the 15th amendment gave all men the right to vote.

(Women gained the right to vote in 1920.) The first Black municipal office holder was elected in 1868. When Washington briefly became a federal territory in 1871, African American men continued to make important decisions for the city. Lewis H. Douglass introduced the 1872 law making segregation in public accommodations illegal. But in 1874, in part because of growing Black political power, the territorial government was replaced by three presidentially appointed commissioners. This system survived until the civil rights movement of the 1960s brought a measure of self-government.

By 1900 Washington had the largest percentage of African Americans of any city in the nation. Many came because of opportunities for federal jobs. Others were attracted to the myriad educational institutions. Howard University, founded in 1867, was a magnet for professors and students and would become the "capstone of

Negro education" by 1930. The Preparatory School for Colored Youth, the city's first public high school, attracted college-bound students and teachers, many with advanced degrees. (Founded in 1870, the school became renowned as M Street High School, and later, Dunbar High School.) As far back as 1814, churches operated and supported schools and housed literary and historical societies that promoted critical thinking, reading, lecturing, and social justice. African Americans also created hundreds of Black-owned businesses and numerous business districts.

The Cultural Heritage Trail, cites that at the dawn of the 20th century, African Americans had created a cultural and intellectual capital. Washington had relatively few "Jim Crow" laws. However, segregation and racism were endemic. The few existing laws mandated segregation in the public schools and recreation facilities but not in the streetcars and public libraries. African Americans, therefore, reacted strongly to President Wilson's (1913-1921) institution of segregation in all of the federal government agencies.

There were clashes between African Americans and European Americans, which reached a fever pitch during the July 1919 race riot. During this time, women and men fought back against violent whites, giving another meaning to the term "New Negro," a term usually associated with the cultural renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s.

Read more next week for more information. WI

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor

9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM

Communion: 1st Sunday

Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon

Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM

Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com

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

Blessed Word of Life Church

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

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

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM

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

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

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

Service and Times

Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM

5th Sundays: 9:30 AM

3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Church of Living Waters

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

Service and Times

Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM

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

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., Pastor

2498 Alabama Ave., SE Washington D.C. 20020

Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 www.acamec.org

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM

Sunday Church School 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM

2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM

Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM

Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM

“The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

Third Street Church of God

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor

800 Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703

Service and Times

Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM

Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM

Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018

Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM

Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM

Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM

Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us...

Pastor

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032

(202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services

Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power

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

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555

Services and Times

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

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

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

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

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

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

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

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

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

Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop

& Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM

Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE

5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services

Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM

Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org

Dr. Raymond T. Matthews

Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews

St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wed. Noon Day prayer service

Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM

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

Turning Hearts Church

421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032

Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445

Sunday School: 10:15 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM

Children’s Church: 11:15 AM

Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM

Motto : “A Great Commitment to the

Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com

Reverend

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

Service and Times

Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM

Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM

Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM

Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Reverend John W. Davis

Pastor

5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011

Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Communion 10 a.m. 4th Sunday

Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.)

Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

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

Mt. Zion Baptist Church headline and photo for

John F. Johnson

Reverend Dr.

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

Service and Times

Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday

“Friendliest Church in the City”

Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

Crusader Baptist Church Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Reverend William Young IV

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

Campbell AME Church

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

4850 Blagdon Ave, NW Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773

Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study

7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor

1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

Service and Times

Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM

Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM

Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM

Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM

Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com

All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Israel Baptist Church

Rev. Lance Aubert

Imterim Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM

Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730

Service and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM

Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM

“Where Jesus is the King”

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor 1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002

202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org

Service and Times

Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

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

Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

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

Service and Times

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

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

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

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM

Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

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

New Commandment Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior

623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001

Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday

Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM

Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM

Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020

Office 202-889-3709 Fax 202-678-3304

Service and Times

Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM

Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM

Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM

Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM

“Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Peace Baptist Church

4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184

Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM

The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday

“…Giving Your Life a Meaning”

www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

Study: Tuesday @7:00pm

Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"

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

Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Damion M. Briggs Pastor

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

Service and Times

Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM

Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

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

Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

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

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

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

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

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

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

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

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

Promised Land Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836

Service and Times

Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM

“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor

3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500

Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM

Prayer Service Bible Study

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

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

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

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

Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times

Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM

Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM

Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM

Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

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

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018

Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738

Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

Christ Embassy DC

Rehoboth Baptist Church

St. Matthews Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

All Nations Baptist Church

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Pastor

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

Shabbath Commandment Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Eastern Community Baptist Church

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance: I am that am: "Daniel John Stein©", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “DANIEL JOHN STEIN", corp.sole Dba.: "DANIEL J. STEIN© ", DANIEL STEIN©”, “DANIEL JOHN©”, “DANIEL J. STEIN©”, “STEIN©”, “STEIN DANIEL J©”, “STEIN DANIEL JOHN©”, “D. STEIN©”, “MR DANIEL JOHN STEIN©”, “MR DANIEL STEIN©”, “MR DANIEL JOHN©”, “MR DANIEL J STEIN©”, “MR STEIN©”, “MR STEIN DANIEL J.©”, “MR STEIN DANIEL JOHN©”, “MR D. STEIN©”, having reached the age of majority, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: washingtonian, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, and all natural laws governing American Citizens, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: washingtonian. I am that I am: "Daniel John Stein©", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "daniel-john: stein© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of yhwh's covenant, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: STATE FILE NUMBER, #146-1959-043026 "DANIEL STEIN©”, “DANIEL JOHN©”, “DANIEL J. STEIN©”, “STEIN©”, “STEIN DANIEL J©”, “STEIN DANIEL JOHN©”, “D. STEIN©”, “MR DANIEL JOHN STEIN©”, “MR DANIEL STEIN©”, “MR DANIEL JOHN©”, “MR DANIEL J. STEIN©”, “MR STEIN©”, “MR STEIN DANIEL J.©”, “MR STEIN DANIEL JOHN©”, “MR D. STEIN©", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to "DANIEL JOHN STEIN 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: "daniel-john: stein©", nom deguerre: "Daniel John Stein©", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: "DANIEL JOHN STEIN 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

2022 ADM 1145

La’Shawn Woodson Decedent

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

Taylor Woodson, whose address is 1015 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of La’Shawn Woodson who died on February 26th, 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 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Taylor Woodson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 001208

Jesse L. Davis Decedent

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

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

Guy P. Davis, whose address is 703 Candle Ridge Ct., Fredericksburg, VA 22407, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jesse L. Davis who died on February 28, 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 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Guy P. Davis Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 000831

Doris Leslie Wright Decedent

Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

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

Karen Amanda Leslie Klopfer, whose address is 2922 Meadow View Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Doris Leslie Wright who died on May 6, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Karen Amanda Leslie Klopfer Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 1434

Blanche R. Hammond Decedent

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

Attorney

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

Marcia M. Linder, whose address is 65 Gallatin St., Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Blanche R. Hammond who died on January 27, 2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Marcia M. Linder

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

2022 ADM 000728

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

Alice Lumpkin and Lawanda Lumpkin, whose addresses are 301 M St., SW #904 Washington, DC 20024 & 8918 Simeon Ct., Upper Marlboro MD 20772, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Gregory Lumpkin who died on May 12, 2022 without a Will, and will serve with 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 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Alice

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

2022 ADM 001462

Alonzo Brown aka Alonzo F. Brown Decedent

Iris McCollum Green, Esquire 1714 15th Street, NW, Suite B Washington, DC 20009 Attorney

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

Kathryn Ward, whose address is 901 6th Street, SW, #414-A, Washington, DC 20024, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Alonzo Brown aka Alonzo F. Brown who died on 9/28/2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Kathryn Ward Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

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: " Paul Lawrence Morant Jr.© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ PAUL LAWRENCE MORANT JR. ", corp.sole Dba.: " PAUL L. MORANT JR.© ",  having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a:  Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a:  Moorish American. I am that I am: " Paul Lawrence Morant Jr.© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " huni sen hotep el © ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 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: Tennessee Office of vital records: STATE FILE NUMBER, 141-1976-022080 © ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " HUNI SEN HOTEP EL 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: " Lawrence morant bey © ", nom deguerre: " Paul Lawrence Morant Jr. © ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " Huni Sen Hotep El 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

2022 ADM 000906

Larry Darnell Campbell Decedent

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

Sheila O. Campbell, whose address is 20 Galveston Place SW Unit B, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Larry Darnell Campbell who died on December 12, 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 7/12/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/12/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/12/2023

Sheila O. Campbell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 001182

Thomas L. Sullivan Decedent

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

Brian K. Sullivan and Khristopher J. Perrin, whose addresses are 1127 Ring Bill Loop Upper Marlboro MD 20774/4165 Alabama Ave SE WDC 20019, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Thomas L. Sullivan who died on August 25, 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 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

Brian K. Sullivan Khristopher J. Perrin Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Gregory Lumpkin Decedent

Lumpkin Lawanda Lumpkin Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 000896

L. Helms Decedent

Ferguson Evans, Esq. 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 900 South Building Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

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

Ferris C. Helms, whose address is 4830 8th St., NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Claudette L. Helms who died on 10/17/2022 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 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

Ferris C. Helms Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001413

Douglas Edward Young Decedent

James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002

Attorney

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

DeAngelo Edward Young, whose address is 5626 Clay Place NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Douglas Edward Young who died on September 6, 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 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

Diane Adams Decedent

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

Dominick Adams, whose address is 701 Monroe Street NE, Apt 607, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Diane Adams who died on November 8, 2021 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

Adams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2022 ADM 001446

Albert Leon Avery Decedent

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

Vera M. Thomas, whose address is 315 Livingston Terrace SE #B, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Albert Leon Avery who died on 7/13/2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

Vera M. Thomas

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

I am giving this notice in accordance with UCC 1-202(Notice; Knowledge). In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance: I am, that I am: "Jeremy Lamond Henderson©", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: "JEREMY LAMOND HENDERSON", corp.sole, Doing Business As.: Copyright of trade name/trademark "JEREMY LAMOND HENDERSON©", including any and all derivatives and variations in the spelling, i.e NOT limited to all capitalized names: JEREMY LAMOND HENDERSON TRUST©, HENDERSON©, JLH©, JEREMY HENDERSON©, HENDERSON JEREMY JL©, JL HENDERSON©, and any derivatives thereof are under Copyright 1997, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the Northwestern and Southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes as a Moorish American National, and not a citizen of the United States Corporation - United States, Inc. or any·of its corporate subsidiaries, including the STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC, STATE OF NC, INC. or any similar derivatives associated with same.

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 Ill Section 2, The Uber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People], and all natural laws governing Moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a Moorish American National. I am, that I am: "Jeremy Lamond Henderson©", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality/ Status/ Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "ambassador jeremy lamond henderson, ttee©". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article Ill, as a Diplomatic Minister and Ambassador of The Moorish Empire and a Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47.

III

Notice (for publication)

This publication certifies the existence of one man assuming the role of head for his house. Notice the man to be mature and to act of sound mind as the bearer for all good deeds.  Notice “See” United States foreign relations manual 8 FAM 505.21 Endorsement Code

Procedures the Bearer IS ALSO KNOWN AS (K-A GIVEN NAMES) (K-A SURNAME).

Bearer uses an assumed name in addition to their legal name. Name KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II II

The address of the known place of business is 9801 Apollo dr. P.O Box #6101, Largo Maryland [20792]

note: I Kenneth Michael, of the Simmons come forth as the executor public and private for the name KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, perpetually.  The original known place of existence for the entity known as KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II is:  Adventist Health Care Shady Grove Medical Center, u9901 Medical Dr Rockville, 20850, the agent for this entity is a living, breathing and comprehensive man, notice am original to the land mass referenced by given names Maryland, America, and Amexem, North America.

Notice I the bearer, am that I am reflection of man. Having power of attorney in fact for Kenneth Michael Simmons II and for my new court commissioned named change as Mubaraq Tali El, in esse. Notice by this publication an act of good deeds I assume the role of executor, guardian, conservator, and power of attorney over the following names estates and trusts as caretaker for all legal names: KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS, KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II, KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS III, NAJAH KENNA SIMMONS, MARIAMA UMU BAYOH, HABBIE FOFANAH.

IV Copyright notice for stramineous homo. This copyright notice informs any potential use, usage, users, of any constructive use thereto any legal names created for my paramount use may be a direct violation for using the expressed intellectual property protected by this notice. Any user of the names expressed heron shall be protected by this notice intended to protect all intellectual property and not to interfere with any commercial activity regarding trafficking or employment thereto.

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 1484

Howard Haley, Esq. 7600 Georgia Ave., NW #416 Washington, DC 20012 Attorney

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

Angela Horne-Jackson, whose address is 65 Posting Way, Charles Town, WV 25414, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dorothy Loretta Mosley Horne who died on March 28, 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 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2023 ADM 000003

Lidia Dominga Gramajo Giron Decedent

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

Jeniffer A. Ochoa, whose address is 3126 Newton Street, NE Washington DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lidia Dominga Gramajo Giron who died on July 10, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/19/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/19/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/19/2023

Jeniffer A. Ochoa Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY

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, and to reserve all rights, titles, and interest, in the property, Re: THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES VITAL RECORDS CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH CERTIFICATE NUMBER: 1979-00-0046798 for "JEREMY LAMOND HENDERSON©" is a special deposit order, conveyed to "JEREMY LAMOND HENDERSON 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: "ambassador jeremy-lamond:henderson, ttee©", nom deguerre: "Jeremy Lamond Henderson©", as a special depositorder in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: "JEREMY LAMOND HENDERSON TRUST©", an Inter Vives Unincorporated Divine Granter 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 balances and liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit.

HOMESTEAD PUBLICATION

Be it known to All courts, institutions, cooperation’s, banks, tax collectors, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, STATE(s) OF, and all other artificial and commercial entities, this PUBLIC NOTICE is presented to All and is NOTICE to the world that One, :richard: :gillian:, do lawfully secure all interest, rights and title entitled me as Constitution Assignee, and One, perfects private status as UNEMBARRASSED FREEHOLDER. One, declares and proclaim full right of undisputable HOMESTEAD claim to distinct land within the seven square leagues in Los Angeles County, California Republic Constitutionally granted and protected by Law. The above is the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God. Any man, or woman who wishes to dispute this claim of rights must do so on their unlimited liability under the penalty of perjury.

VI

I intend to uplift humanity and help all my fellow mankind. In propria persona, sui juris, proprio solo, proprio heredes, in esse.  Notice any unauthorized use thereof hereon without my express, prior, written authorized permission signifies the users unauthorized users’ consent. Notice that use will imply your debt obligation to any injury, damages, loss, etcetera. In the amount of $500,000 per use, plus time material and additional cost. Notice this publication is not expressed to take advantage of anyone for anybody. redeem IAW 12 USC 411 and 412.

V Special indorsement grantee "accept" and "certify" that i am of sound mind over the age of majority. notice all parties living and robotic that i claim all proceeds exceeding $1 USD for good cause and for non-failure to state claim for which relief can be granted. Relief can be granted by thy appointing all public and private officials, officers, commissioners and each agent or employee fiduciarily responsible to settle this matter without recourse. Sincerely, manager, real party of interest, non-commercial, not trafficking, not understanding anything commercial. Notice I am not trading with the enemy nor am I an ally to any enemy of the state of the union, so be it.

Declaration of nationality

Notice of Special Appearance: am: simmons, kenneth michael © in full life, in proprio, by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: SIMMONS II, KENNETH MICHAEL© corp.sole Dba: KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II© having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and south-western shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly sworn, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as an: sharakhi shabtau Moorish American moslem national, but not a citizen of the United States. declare permanent, and inalienable, allegiance to the Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados / United States Republic, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Barbary Treaties, International Law, United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all Natural laws governing moors and herby Declare and Proclaim my nationality as an: sharakhi shabtau Moorish American moslem national. Any and all facts contained  in this publication, are fully applicable to any and all private tribal issue offspring of: simmons, kenneth michael©, my wives, Nunc pro Tunc, not limited to but including: 1. fofanah, habbie©, the beneficiary and heir of Fofanah, Habbie© corp sole, Dba: HABBIE FOFANAH© I am: simmons, kenneth michael© from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality /Status /Jurisdiction, shall be known as “el, mubaraq tali ©”. Notice of Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title and interest, in the property, Re: SIMMONS II,KENNETH MICHAEL© corp.sole DBA.: KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II©, Board of Trustees: simmons II  Chairman of the & Re: FOFANAH HABBIE©, corp sole Dba: HABBIE FOFANAH©, etc., to the depositor and or in the capacity as Guardian/: el, tali mubaraq© nom deguerre: simmons-ii, kenneth michael©. All property, of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor/ Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: el, mubaraq tali© nom deguerre: simmons, kenneth michael© as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is used exclusively for the benefit of: KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II TRUST, to be used exclusively for the benefit of THE BOOK OF KENNETH TRUST, a private foreign Islamism ecclesiastical trust. Notice, the direct living beneficiary in flesh as people and in person having rights in name(s): najah-kenna; mariama-umu bayoh, kenneth-michael simmons III of the house SIMMONS and now officially known as house of EL This deposit is not to commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary /trustee / agent /bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including discharge and set off, all outstanding liabilities accord and satisfaction. All that which provides for me also provides for my wives and offspring vice versa. In addition, common law copyright KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS, KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS II, MUBARAQ TALI EL, NAJAH KENNA SIMMONS, KENNETH MICHAEL SIMMONS III, HABBIE FOFANAH, MARIAMA UMU BAYOH, mubaraq tali el, kenneth michael simmons, kenneth michael simmons II, kenneth michael simmons III, najah kenna simmons, mariama umu bayoh, habbie fofanah ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © common law, in esse; Notice we are in union and good faith with the United States, the United States of America, and the United Nations we are not sovereign citizens.

Dominick

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Claudette

DeAngelo Edward Young Personal Representative

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Dorothy Loretta Mosley Horne Decedent

Dorothy Loretta Mosley Horne Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

20001-2131

Thelma Hatcher Greene Decedent

Stephanie L. Royal, Esquire

The Royal Legal Group, PLLC

5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

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

Karina M. Holland and Lawana Holland-Moore, whose addresses are 2718 Lewis & Clark Ave., Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 and 15720 Presswick Ln., Bowie, MD 20716, were appointed

Personal Representatives of the estate of Thelma Hatcher Greene who died on 8/3/2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/26/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/26/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 1/26/2023

M. Holland Lawana Holland-Moore Personal Representative

Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication.

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

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Rosenberg has been making the rounds in the neighborhood to introduce the restaurant to the community. One neighbor is the National Guard Armory. DC Capitol Square is now certified to go inside the armory, so the restaurant has a mini pop-up eatery for the soldiers. In appreciation to the surrounding community, with proper identification, the restaurant offers discounts to teachers, military personnel and residents living in the neighborhood.

Rosenberg is an ANC 8F05 Commissioner who has worked in nonprofits. He earned two master’s degrees, an MBA and a master’s in international business, from the University of Iowa. With the restaurant’s international group of backers, he feels well-equipped to grow DC Capitol Square.

Reservations for DC Capitol Square Bar and Grill can be made through Open Table. Visit the restaurant on Instagram @capitolsquarebar.

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@bcscomm

HEALTH from Page 22

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TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole

landscape help to ensure that diverse topics and perspectives are presented to counter disinformation and misinformation."

The article continues, "At a time when more people, particularly Black people, are distrustful of the media, diversity in media ownership has become more important than ever for the functioning of our democracy. Diversity in ownership is part of that solution."

This crucial issue is the reason that my good friends and colleagues in the current civil rights movement are going on the record in support of Standard General's application before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to acquire TEGNA, a media company which owns more than 60 television stations across the country. Those colleagues include Dr. Benjamin Cha-

ALLEN-HERRING from Page 24

To register for the Change Makers webinar and review the available resources, please visit https://unitedwaynca.org/changemakers.

Until we reach financial equity for all in the DMV, United Way

MARSHALL from Page 24 miles apart, but teachers for math, Spanish, and science are forced to split their class instruction time between the two campuses via Zoom. The geometry class at West Bolivar High has no teacher. Therefore students have to listen to a software program while in class. Chemistry students are often left to teach themselves. Those not reading at grade level will struggle to understand science lessons. The lack of funding results in neither school having a science lab, so students with plans to study science in college will be dreadfully underprepared.

The decision to shortchange funding to high-poverty schools can impact a generation of students. Consider the long-term consequences to Black students who are unprepared to acquire the job skills needed for future careers. The economic future of Black children should be an incentive to vote for state lawmakers who are willing to fight for adequate funding for high-poverty schools. As it is difficult to attract new teachers from outside West Bolivar Consolidated, many people who currently work there grew up in the region. Will today's students meet the minimum qualifications needed to

vis, president/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president/CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Standard General has a proven record of investing in local news and enhancing diversity with a goal to have newsrooms look like the communities they serve.

Enhancing media diversity is a primary objective at the FCC, but it has a lot of work to do. The FCC just reported that Blacks account for only 3% of majority interests in full-power TV stations with Asian Americans at only 1%. Now it has a chance to really show that it cares about this goal as the Standard General transaction would radically enhance minority media ownership of broadcast channels. Asian-American Soo Kim, Standard General's Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, has expressed commitment to helping newsrooms evolve and

NCA will continue to invest in IRS-trained professionals to help our residents receive free tax preparation services each year. We believe everyone should have access to financial professionals with the know-how to maximize tax credits, receive the largest tax refund possi-

return to West Bolivar Consolidated to serve as future teachers, counselors, principals, or administrators?

Teachers also need to be paid. Low teacher salaries reduce the attractiveness of the teaching profession and serve as another reason for teacher shortages. Teachers have always been underpaid compared to similarly educated workers in other occupations. The disparity is compounded when teachers in high-poverty schools are underpaid compared to their counterparts who teach in low-poverty schools.

It would seem that the challenging school environment would justify the higher compensation rather than lower pay. The climate in high-poverty schools is much more demoralizing for teachers. As teachers face more student absenteeism, class-cutting, student apathy, lack of parental involvement, poor student health, and issues regarding poverty in the lives of their students, it shows a lack of appreciation and respect in situations where they receive less pay. The tougher school environment results in more teachers suffering from high levels of stress and fears for their safety.

In many cases, teachers in high-poverty schools are not receiving the train-

stay relevant in this age of on-demand content.

One of my primary venues for taking stances on civil rights issues is my 8-year-old radio show, "Igniting Change with Barbara Arnwine," heard weekly on Tuesdays at noon on Radio One's WOL 1450 a.m. During the hourlong show, I have spent much time discussing voter participation and suppression. Based on the questions and concerns expressed by my listeners on the callin format, it is clear that preserving local news and making it better and more reflective of the changing faces of America will make our democracy stronger and produce more informed voters. We cannot get this done without aggressively irrigating and sowing into the now fallow ground of minority media ownership. This is a goal that we must all share and promote.

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ble, and guide residents on the best ways to use those funds to pay off debt, invest in a home, or contribute to generational wealth that can transform the future of their families. We truly believe that when none are ignored, all will thrive.

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ing, early career support, and professional development opportunities they need to succeed. This also makes it more difficult for them to remain in the profession. West Bolivar Consolidated has been plagued by high turnover, and many of the teachers it hires are new and lack the necessary training for the classes they are hired to teach. When measured on state assessments against other school districts throughout the state with more resources and fewer teacher vacancies, West Bolivar Consolidated finished near the bottom, receiving a D for its test scores.

The dismal test scores are just numbers. They don't tell the story behind the lives of the brightest students who are consistently failed by a broken system. Those students possess so much potential but are not sufficiently challenged due to the lack of school resources and personnel — those students who may never reach their full potential. The importance of qualified teachers cannot be taken for granted. Researchers have found that good teachers can influence the likelihood that children will graduate and how much they will learn throughout their lives. The stakes are high for students caught in the trap of underfunded schools with no teachers. WI

overlook the standards of integrity presumed for all House members. As an entity, Republican members have shown total disregard for the expectation of honorable service among their ranks.

However one wishes to analyze him, overwhelming evidence confirms that the preservation of the Union, and its traditions and democratic principles were primary concerns of Lincoln. Fueled by a malignant fear of "replacement," Lincoln's modern counterparts have shown themselves willing to accept any equally malignant distortion of government that allows them to subvert the will of the majority and impose their will upon the same. Gerrymandering and voter suppression, includ-

MORIAL from Page 25

make that worse.

As we continue to navigate this crisis, we must not settle for legality. Legality alone will not ensure everyone can get the abortion care they need. We must aim for abortion justice and fight for that justice in our communities, city halls, state legislatures, in Congress, and

CROWELL from Page 25

ity-Black and -Latino neighborhoods. Further, during more than 20 years when the bank either opened or acquired 11 additional branches, only one was located in a majority-minority neighborhood. And unlike branches located in majority-white areas, City National did not assign any employee at that one branch to generate mortgage lending.

"[E]nding redlining is a critical step to closing the widening gaps in homeownership and wealth, especially in a city as large and diverse as Los Angeles," said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. "It is unacceptable that redlining persists into the 21st century. … Through this agreement, we are taking a major step forward by removing unlawful and discriminatory barriers in residential mortgage lending, and meeting the credit needs in Los Angeles."

According to settlement terms, City National will now implement multiple and measurable actions in Los Angeles County that include:

ing draconian laws, which frighten and discourage lawful voters from exercising their rights have become the tools of choice for the "new" Republicans.

Like the petulant kid who owns the football, these "new" Republicans are threatening to blow up our national and international economies if the game is not played by their rules. Their enmity against all except the wealthy and well-connected illuminates their goal of institutionalizing their permanent power and creating a permanent underclass that they can manipulate and control.

Whatever faults Lincoln may have had, this is not the party of Lincoln. We will treat them with logic and measured reason at our future peril!

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the White House. We need bold solutions like the Women's Health Protection Act to codify the right to an abortion into federal law and ensure all pregnant persons can make personal health decisions without government interference.

So, this weekend, the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision, we stand with all women in solidarity in the fight to protect

• Opening a new branch in a majority-minority neighborhood staffed by at least four mortgage loan officers dedicated to serving Black and Latino neighborhoods, along with a full-time community lending manager who will oversee related lending development;

• Multiple targeted funds for these underserved communities that include a minimum $29.5 million loan subsidy fund for residents of majority-Black and -Latino neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, $750,000 minimum for the development of community partnerships and increased residential mortgage credit, and $500,000 minimum for advertising and outreach; and

• Research-based market study

women's rights. The devastating decision to overturn Roe will reverberate for future generations of women and girls who would need access to such an essential service. Abortion access is an economic and racial justice issue, and I am proud to say that the National Urban League will continue to fight for the reproductive rights of women and the civil rights of all of us. WI

that will identify financial service needs for majority-Black and -Latino census tracts in Los Angeles County.

The Redlining Initiative also reached a $20 million settlement with Trident Mortgage benefitting consumers in the Philadelphia metro area, and a $13 million settlement with Lakeland Bank located in Newark, Passaic, Somerset and other nearby communities.

"If we allow racist and discriminatory policies to persist, we will not live up to our country's ideals," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. "We need a fair housing market that is free from old forms of redlining, as well as new digital and algorithmic redlining."

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And unlike branches located in majority-white areas, City National did not assign any employee at that one branch to generate mortgage lending.

Like the petulant kid who owns the football, these "new" Republicans are threatening to blow up our national and international economies if the game is not played by their rules.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Feb. 7–12 Opera House

Season Premieres

Tue., Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. | Fri., Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Are You in Your Feelings? (Kyle Abraham) In a Sentimental Mood (Jamar Roberts)

DUET (Paul Taylor) Revelations (Alvin Ailey) Gala Program

Wed., Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Are You in Your Feelings? (Kyle Abraham) Unfold (Robert Battle) Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

Modern Masters

Thu., Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. | Sat., Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Roy’s Joys (Twyla Tharp) Survivors (Alvin Ailey & Mary Barnett) Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

All Ailey

Sat., Feb. 11 at 1:30 p.m. | Sun., Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m. Night Creature, Cry, The River, Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Jacquelin Harris.

Photo by Dario Calmese.

The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra is a unique all Black and Latin orchestra comprised of top professionals from around the country. The program includes Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, a moving work composed by Joel Thompson that quotes the last words of seven African-American men killed by police or authority figures.

A co-presentation of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts & Washington Performing Arts, in cooperation with The Washington Chorus.

Fortas Chamber Music Concerts

Sphinx Symphony Orchestra

Tito Muñoz, conductor

EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble

Eugene Rogers, Music Director

Aundi Marie Moore, soprano

Members of The Washington Chorus Eugene Rogers, Artistic Director

Jennifer Koh, Artistic Director

Thanks to our Sponsor: The Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas