The Washington Informer - November 3, 2022

Moment

The Latest Attack on Affirmative Action Heads to the Supreme Court

Maya Pottiger WI Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chants of “this is what democracy looks like” filled the air outside of the Supreme Court on Monday. Protestors lifted signs and donned blue shirts that read #DefendDiversity and Affirm Opportunity, Affirm Our Future.

This was the scene ahead of the Supreme Court hearing arguments that aim to reverse affirmative action, or the lawful practice of considering race as a factor in college admissions decisions.

More than 100 protestors were gathered outside the Supreme Court by 9 a.m., more than an hour before the arguments started — some local, others traveling from North Carolina and Massachusetts, to make their voices heard. Most appeared to be in support of affirmative action.

Mayah Emerson, the senior higher education access coordinator at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, says she was “saddened but not disheartened” to learn that the Court was hearing new arguments against affirmative action. She traveled to D.C. because her colleague was in the courtroom arguing “on behalf of students and

District Residents Demand Silverman Drop out of At-large Race Silverman Refutes Recent Campaign Finance Ruling

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Those who’ve rallied around D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) during this election cycle have gone toe-to-toe with supporters of the incumbent At-Large D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I), a self-described vanguard for government ethics and accountability.

In the aftermath of a D.C. Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) ruling that found Silverman in violation of campaign finance laws, some McDuffie’s sup porters have called for Silverman to drop out of the at-large race.

A Tuesday morning rally on the front steps of the John A. Wilson Building in Northwest attracted community mem bers and other At-large D.C. Council

Teacher Contract Negotiations at a Standstill

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Contract negotiations between the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) are at a standstill, even as public school administrators and other gov ernment employees have finalized their contracts with the city.

5 Students from universities in North Carolina joined demonstrators from across the country at the U.S. Supreme Court on October 31, 2022, while arguments were heard seeking to eliminate consideration of race in college admissions. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

5 Teachers with the Washington Teachers Union marched for a new contract in front of the Anacostia Metro Station. (Courtesy photo/WTU)

CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Jamila Bey, Digital Content Editor

Austin Cooper, Our House Editor

Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist

ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation

Angel

REPORTERS

Kayla

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry

wi hot topics

WRITERS BRENDA C. SILER, RICHARD D. ELLIOTT

Members of the D.C. community have not given up hope that eight-year-old Relisha Rudd, who went missing under unusual circumstances on March 1, 2014, will be found. The young child’s story riveted D.C. residents and launched a search that continues today. Saturday, October 29, was Reli sha’s 17th birthday. Family, friends, and those concerned about Relisha’s whereabouts and well-being held a candle-lighting ceremony where words of encouragement and prayers were shared asking for Relisha’s safe return. Relisha is listed on the registry of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Black and Missing Foun dation, Inc. She is among the 460,000 children reported missing every year by the FBI. If a child goes missing, call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. If anyone has information that may help with MPD’s ongoing investigation, call (220) 727-9099/text 50411. WI

UMD Announces $20 Million in Financial Aid for Maryland Residents

The University of Maryland- College Park announced last Tuesday a $20 million investment into need-based financial aid, the largest investment of its type in UMD history.

Darryl Pines, the first Black President of the UMD, said “Every Maryland student deserves an equal opportunity to attend the state’s flagship university, and the Terrapin Commitment program is one more measure we are taking to ensure that a University of Maryland education is af fordable to all residents of our state.”

According to the University, the goal of the Terrapin Commitment is to reduce the gap between a student’s total financial aid package and the cost of an education. “After covering tuition and fees, we will cover 50% of re maining unmet need, before loans, up to the cost of room and board,” the university detailed on its website about the program.

The program will begin in January 2023 and ensures that tuition and fees are fully covered for Pell Grant-el igible, in-state students, who are enrolled full time and have unmet financial need, thereby dramatically reducing the financial barriers to obtaining a higher education for low-income Marylanders.

Students who apply for the FAFSA will automatically be considered for the Terrapin Commitment. In order to qualify, students must be enrolled full-time and maintain a 2.0 GPA. This program is expected to assist over 3,000 students this year, and more in coming years.

UMD has seen a relative decline in Black students in past years. The freshman class of 2022 had just 344 Black students, only 7.3% of the freshman class, compared to 10.8% in the year prior.

According to the Hechinger Report, Black students made up 36% of Maryland’s public high school graduates in 2015, but they were just 12% of this university’s fresh man class that fall and only 6 states had flagship institu tions that were less representative of their population.

The on-campus murder of Lieutenant Richard Collins, a Black student from Bowie State who was visiting UMD, by a white supremacist is undoubtedly one of the factors impacting Black students’ decision to attend the Universi ty of Maryland. WI

Smoke and Water Damage Temporarily Close Blues Alley

Reports of a possi ble fire at Blues Alley in Georgetown sent shockwaves through out the District and jazz fans worldwide. News reports and social media images showed smoke com ing from the roof of the venerable historic jazz venue. Ten fire trucks were on the scene, dousing the rooftop to prevent the spread of a fire.

During a phone interview on October 31, DC Fire and EMS confirmed what happened at Blues Alley on October 25.

"Our fire investigators determined there was a significant fire that was accidental in nature due to work being in the attic,” said Vito Maggiolo, media affairs officer.

Arriving at the club the following afternoon, Harry Schnipper, executive director and owner of Blues Alley Jazz Club, talked about next steps.

“We’re getting ready to turn on the humidifiers and begin to remediate the water,” he said, referring to water damage from the fire department’s re sponse. “The only damage that occurred inside has been to our speakers, amplifiers, the console, and maybe our piano.”

According to Norelco Carroll, the club’s manager, the biweekly schedule for this historic club is now posted. Blues Alley will re-opened for performances on November 1.

Founded in 1965, Blues Alley is the nation's old est continuing jazz supper club. Known for hosting top music performers through the decades, like Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Phyllis Hyman, Bil ly Hart, John Pizzarelli, and Freda Payne, to name a few, the club hopes to re-open on Tuesday, October 31. Follow the club on Twitter (@BluesAlley) for the re-opening updates. WI

Memoriam

Calvin

Wilhelmina

In Search of Relisha Rudd

AROUND THE REGION

D.C. Democrats Bring Back Kennedys-King Dinner

James Wright WI Staff Writer

D.C. Democratic State Com mittee held its sold-out Kenne dys-King Dinner on Oct. 28 at the FIS Champions Club at Na tionals Park. It was a return of the anticipated event following a de cade-long hiatas.

“It is my privilege to welcome you back to the 2022 Kenned ys-King Dinner,” said Charles Wilson, the chairman of the D.C. Democratic State Committee and a resident of Ward 8. “For more than three decades, we have con vened this esteemed event to con nect our community, celebrate our party’s achievements, and honor Democratic champions.

“Tonight, we reflect on the en during legacies of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who stood on the right side of peace, justice, and equality for all,” Wilson continued. “As we rebuild and navigate beyond the challenges of the pandemic, now it is our turn to stand up and re-en gage around those lauded values.”

Democratic organizations have named their primary fundraising event after the Kennedy brothers and King throughout the country. Most organizations call their event “Kennedy-King,” but in the Dis trict, the Democrats selected Ken nedys-King to reflect both broth ers. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the event had been brought back after a nearly ten-year break.

SPEAKERS FOCUS ON DEMOCRATIC VALUES

Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who served as the guest speaker, talked about her father, Robert Kennedy, and his com mitment to civil rights. She told a story about the effort by James Meredith to integrate the Univer sity of Mississippi in 1962 as its first Black student and the behindthe-scenes maneuvering between Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett, her uncle, President Kennedy, and her

father as the U.S. attorney general. She later discussed the controversy that ensued when her father, then a U.S. senator from New York, accepted an invitation by Univer sity of Mississippi law students to speak on campus. Many people did not want Kennedy to speak, but he did on March 18, 1966.

Richard A. Fowler, a nationally syndicated radio show host, served as the event host. Fowler, who re sides in Ward 8’s Bellevue neigh borhood, said statehood should be a priority of Democrats.

“We need statehood,” Fowl er said. “This election matters. D.C. should have two senators and a voting representative in the House. If we had that, a lot of stuff that is going would not take place. Statehood should be important for D.C. Democrats, but for Demo crats nationwide.”

Fowler told the gathering to be skeptical of what polls are saying. Some polls say Democrats will lose control of the House and may not make any gains in the Senate.

“The polls count people who are likely voters,” he said. “That means people who voted in the last three elections. People who are Black, LGBTQ, and Latino tend not to be polled.”

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton stressed why Democrats need to hold on to the House and Senate for statehood bills to move forward.

“If the Republicans take control of the House, they will try to do everything they can to undermine Home Rule here in the District,” Norton said. “Sen. Ted Cruz has been a consistent meddler in the affairs of the District. I have been able to stop him, but it will be harder in the next Congress if the Republicans take control.”

Democrats party the night away

The notables attending the event included Industrial Bank president and CEO B. Doyle Mitchell, for mer D.C. Council member Bill Lightfoot, Ward 8 entrepreneur Phinis Jones, public relations rep resentative for the late District Mayor Marion S. Barry, and enter tainer Michael Jackson, Raymone Bain. Candidates in the Nov. 8

D.C. Council at-large race, such as Coun cil member Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), and in dependents Graham McLaughlin and Fred Hill, attended, as well. D.C. Coun cil members at the event included Chair man Phil Mendelson (D), Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), and Robert White (D-At Large). Ward 5 Democratic Coun cil nominee Zachary Parker also attended the event.

People dressed up for the occa sion, and many wore sneakers, as the event’s invitation requested. After the speeches, the attendees mingled and danced to the music played by The Experience Band & Show.

Wilson seemed pleased with the event’s turnout and the enthusi asm it appeared to generate.

“We are definitely doing this next year,” he said. “We will bring this back as an annual event.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10

5 Attendees at the Kennedys-King Dinner at Nationals Park hosted by the DC Democratic Satement Committee on Oct. 28. (Courtesy photo/Jeanette Mobley Facebook Grab)

NOV. 3

1868 – John Willis Menard of Louisiana becomes the first Black man ever elected to the U.S. House of Repre sentatives, though a challenge of the electoral results by his defeated foe prevents him from taking office.

1896 – J.H. Hunter, an African American inventor, pat ents the portable weighing scale.

1992 – Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois becomes the first African American woman to be elected to the United States Senate.

NOV. 4

1844 – Cathay Williams, the only known female Buffalo Soldier, is born in Independence, Missouri.

1879 – Inventor Thomas Elkins patents an improved re frigerator design.

1954 – Hulan Jack is elected borough president of Man hattan in New York City, becoming the highest-ranking African American municipal official at the time.

1969 – Entertainment and business mogul Sean "Did dy" Combs is born in Harlem, New York.

2008 – Barack Obama defeats John McCain to become the first Black president of the United States.

NOV. 5

1968 – Shirley Chisholm becomes the first Black woman elected to Congress, representing the 12th District in New York City.

1974 – George Brown and Mervyn Dymally are elected lieutenant governors of Colorado and California, respec tively, becoming the first two Blacks in the nation to hold

Shirley Verrett dies in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of heart failure at 79.

, the first African American to win a medal in the Olympic Games, is born in Han

is elected as Detroit's first

, abolitionist and newspaper editor, is killed by a pro-slavery mob in Alton, Illinois, out to destroy his press and abolitionist materials.

is elected as mayor of Cleveland, becoming the the first Black elected mayor of a ma

is elected as New York

1989 – L. Douglas Wilder is elected as governor of Virginia, becoming the nation's first elected

2020 – Kamala Harris is elected as vice presi dent of the United States, becoming the first-ever woman, African American and Asian American to hold the position.

NOV. 8

1938 – Crystal Bird Fauset is elected to the Pennsyl vania House of Representatives, becoming the nation's first Black woman to serve as a state legislator.

NOV. 9

1731 – Benjamin Banneker, inventor, mathemati cian and one of the planners of what is now Wash ington, D.C., is born in Baltimore County, Maryland. 1868 – The first classes begin at the Howard Universi ty College of Medicine.

1922 – Dorothy Dan dridge, famed actress, singer and dancer, is born in Cleveland. WI

SHIRLEY

view

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Twitter

billionaire

platform.

Musk,

they

LESTER HOLMES / CLEVELAND, OHIO

We need our own platforms to stop being at the mercy of others.

AROUND

Assurance

DELPHINE FAIRLEY / WASHINGTON, DC

They should leave. Why keep making that racist rich and being part of something that allows insults and lies against you? Karen Hunter has a platform. Move over there.

DEBRA FARMER / MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI

I left today! I don’t ever use it anyway. Certainly not paying for it.

ELLIOT TATE / WILMINGTON, DELEWARE

Letting an eccentric billionaire influence your decision to interact on a social media platform is quite telling. Zuck isn’t any better. Protect your peace by whatever means, but you’re better off blocking and keeping it moving.

NELSON VEALE / LEWISTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Join Fanbase if you decide to leave Twitter. Black-owned social media platform. I’m staying on Twitter until it gets too toxic.

D. BODDIE GRI, Broker Probate Specialist

DC Develops Small Area Plan for Congress Heights

James Wright WI Staff Writer

A plan for the future development of the Congress Heights neighbor hood in Southeast’s Ward 8 has been created by the District’s Office of Planning with input from residents to stimulate economic growth and support residential, educational and cultural activities.

“The residents said in the plan they want certain things in the community to remain stable,” said Anita Cozart, the director of the District’s Office of Planning. “There are some things they want to see changed. Residents said they would like more gathering space. They want places where culture and history can be highlighted and man ifest themselves. The residents also want to see more entrepreneurship in the community.”

The 59-page blueprint, formally known as the Draft Congress Heights Small Area Plan (CHSAP), will set the course for development in the neigh borhood for years to come, if approved by the D.C. Council. The CH SAP serves as an adjunct to the city’s Comprehensive Plan approved by the Council in recent years. A hearing on the CHSAP has been scheduled for Nov. 15. On Oct. 27, a discussion on the CHSAP occurred at the council’s Committee of the Whole, with D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Council member Trayon White (D-Ward 8) asking Cozart questions about the plan.

5 Congress Heights Small Area Plan. (Courtesy photo/DC Office of Planning)

SPECIFICS OF CHSAP

The study area of the CHSAP con sists of St. Elizabeths and Suitland Parkway to the north, Stanton Road SE to the east, Oxon Run Parkway SE and Atlantic Avenue SE to the south and 1-295 to the west. The plan in cludes on residents based on census data. For example, the CHSAP re ports the median household income of Congress Heights residents is $36,477 while in the District overall, it is nearly $86,000.

The CHSAP reports the average cost of a home in Congress Heights stands at $468,819 while in the city, $897,930. Demographically, Con gress Heights residents are 93.3% Black with 40% living below the pov erty line compared with 44% African American and 18% impoverished in the city.

Cozart said the report used the census data to get a sense of what challenges Congress Heights residents face and what they want to see in their neighborhood.

“We started talking to members of the community,” she said. “We want ed to know what residents wanted in the residential and commercial areas. After getting the feedback, we started writing the small area plan. With the draft, we have gotten feedback from the community and made refine ments.”

Cozart said major changes to the plan can’t take place presently by the residents because it is in the legislative process.

Cozart said Congress Heights res idents specifically want to utilize the St. Elizabeths East campus—noting it will serve as the place for the new Cedar Hill Regional Medical Cen ter, GW Health-- as a source of jobs and pathways to careers in the med ical field. She said residents would like to see a new library branch and recreation center. Cozart noted plans to build a new library branch on the St. Elizabeths campus have been an nounced and a new recreation center is scheduled to be completed by 2024.

Cozart said the CHSAP will serve as the guide for development in the neighborhood but noted the council wants to revisit the Comprehensive Plan in June 2027.

LOCAL LEADERS COMMENT ON THE CHSAP

Olivia Henderson serves as the advisory neighborhood commission er for single-member district 8D02. Henderson spoke of her earlier inter est in the development of the CHSAP but eventually walked away.

“I would attend the meetings and participate in the discussions,” Hen derson said. “But it became clear to me that the interest was in developing Congress Heights. Congress Heights and Washington Highlands, the area I represent, are closely aligned. The city showed no interest in Washington Highlands so I decided to stop partic ipating.”

However, Henderson said the pro cess looks productive to her. Salim Ad ofo, the chairman of advisory neigh borhood commission 8C in Congress Heights, said the CHSAP looks good to him so far.

“The redevelopment of the Main Streets is important to me,” Adofo said, alluding to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Alabama Avenue SE. “We need new business facades that will make Congress Heights look good aesthetically.”

However, Adofo had one com plaint.

“I think we should have had more participation from the residents,” he said. “People should talk about how they feel about what is going on in their neighborhood.”

candidates who reflected on similar situations where Black politicians and community organizers suffered the consequences of their actions.

“Should you choose to thrust your self [in politics], you have a height ened sense of responsibility and ac countability,” Attorney Dionna Maria Lewis said on Tuesday as she stood by community organizer Ron Moten and others on the steps of the Wilson Building.

“People are skeptical of politics and politicians. When you have a deter mination from the OCF that says the skepticism is right, that’s now another rung on a low ladder as citizens try to climb to the level of trust and integ rity.”

THE ETHICS OF A PRI MARY ELECTION POLL

Last week, OCF ordered Silverman, a participant in the District’s Fair Elec tion campaign financing program, to refund more than $6,000 after deter mining that she misspent campaign funds.

In August, Karim Marshall, anoth er independent at-large council candi date, filed a complaint against Silver man for commissioning a poll about a hotly contested Ward 3 Democratic primary race.

Weeks after Silverman released the results of the poll, Matthew Frumin, a former ANC commissioner she en dorsed, clinched the nomination. Eric Goulet, one of more-than-a-handful of Frumin’s opponents, said Silver man’s poll compelled three candidates -- Tricia Duncan, Ben Bergmann and Henry Cohen -- to drop out of the race and support Frumin.

At a DC Democrats event on Oc tober 28, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) alluded to the OCF ruling, urging

Democrats to stand up against misuse of public campaign finance funds.

Speaking about the ruling days lat er, D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) said, “Behind the scenes actions to influence an outcome are wrong and I hope it doesn't happen again.”

McDuffie also released a statement mentioning other instances, such as in 2013, when Silverman, as revealed in an email she released, encouraged Frumin to drop out of an at-large race in exchange for her future support in the Ward 3 council race. McDuffie then touched on the role he played in shaping the current campaign finance laws, saying that he wanted to bolster the public’s trust in government.

McDuffie didn’t return phone calls for comment.

Silverman recently revealed plans to appeal OCF’s ruling on the grounds that the Ward 3 poll had direct ties to her campaign goals.

“We made three major arguments [that the polling] would directly help me,” Silverman said.

“I wanted to see if Democrats for Education Reform was buying my race. The board said I can’t poll in an other race but the [Ward 3] race im pacts me and my electoral chances. I believe it’s well within the regulations given it directly and indirectly assists my campaign.”

A QUESTION OF WHO CAN UNIFY THE CITY

Two at-large council seats are up for grabs on November 8th. Voters can choose between the incumbents Silverman and Anita Bonds (D) or independent candidates McDuffie, Marshall, Fred E. Hill, and Graham McLaughlin. Other at-large candi

AROUND

5 Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie during a Get Out the Vote rally held on Oct. 29 in Northeast, to help mobilize voters across the District of Columbia. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

GIDDY UP! Charles Gatling brought his daughter to the Wash ington International Horse Show in Upper Marlboro on Oct. 28th during Kids Day. (Anthony Tilghman/ Washington Informer)

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“What I would advise, what I advised before the election, and what I will continue to advise after the election, is that elections matter; voting matters; organizing matters; being informed on the issues matter."

Reading the Informer?

Brianna Joaseus and Amari Roberts read the Washing ton Informer. (Roy Lewis/ The Washington Informer)

struggle on the stairs?

– Barack Obama

Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, Dies at 73

Hamil R. Harris

WI Contributing Writer

Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, the longtime pastor of New York’s Ab yssinian Baptist Church and former president of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, died Oct. 28. He was 73. New York officials said Butts died of cancer.

Abyssinian, founded in 1808, is still considered the largest and most prominent African American congre gation in New York, and Butts was the third pastor behind former Con gressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

“It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of our beloved pastor, Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, all, who peacefully transitioned in the early morning of October 28, 2022,” the Harlem church announced in a Twitter post. “The Butts Family and entire Abyssinian Baptist Church membership solicit your prayers.”

While Powell, who followed in his father’s steps to the pulpit, Butts blazed his own trail to pastoral leader ship. He will be eulogized this Friday, Nov. 4 at 2 pm. On Thursday, Nov. 3rd a viewing will take place at the church from 9 am to 7 pm.

On Sunday, Abyssinian was packed with church members who offered tributes to Butts, who led the church for more than three decades.

Calvin Butts IV, the preacher’s el dest son, thanked people on Sunday for the outpouring of support. “On behalf of my family, thank you,” he said. “We are OK.”

Butts was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1949 and moved to Queens, New York, with his family. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Morehouse College in Atlanta, a Master of Divinity degree from New York’s Union Theological Seminary in 1975, and a Doctorate of Ministry in church and public policy from Drew University. Butts joined Abyssinian during his seminary years, eventually becoming a youth minister and, in 1989, assistant pastor.

Butts founded the non-profit Ab yssinian Development Corporation, which grew into a multimillion-dollar economic advocacy organization for

the Harlem community, with more than $37 million in total revenue.

Butts also taught urban affairs and African studies as an adjunct professor at City College of New York, as well as Black Church history at Fordham University in the Bronx.

Butts was one the most outspo ken critics of policing tactics in Black communities in the 1990s. He was particularly critical of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s handling of the kill ing of Amadou Diallo at the hands of New York Police.

In a statement Friday, New York Mayor Eric Adams said Butts men tored him during some of the city's most challenging moments. "The City has lost a real giant," Adams said.

Rev. Al Sharpton, the Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN) issued the following statement on the death of Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III. shortly after his death.

“Rev. Butts was a major pillar in the Harlem community and is irreplace able. He was a dominant faith and ac ademic leader for decades,” Sharpton said. “We knew each other for more than 40 years, and while we did not always agree, we always came back

together. Over the last three years, he and I worked closely as co-chairs of the Choose Healthy Life national campaign to help the Black commu nity fight COVID. We spoke as late as a couple of weeks ago about this work, as he was still fighting cancer. He will be tremendously missed.”

Derrick Harkins, former Senior Vice President of Union Theologi cal Seminary, is now Director of the Center for Faith/Based and Neigh borhood Partnerships in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Harkins, former pastor of D.C.'s Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, who used to work for Butts, was also a student under him. “He epitomizes the power of the gospel to change lives and to challenge the power structure,” Harkins told the Informer in an inter view.

“Church members knew him as their pastor, and the community knew him as a voice for what was right and justice and fairness for ev eryone,” Harkins said. “Calvin Butts was always anchored in his faith.” Rev. Butts is survived by Patricia, his wife, three children, and six grand children. WI

5 Calvin O. Butts III (Courtesy photo)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Maryland Counties, Cities, Residents Provide Free Rides to Polls

Timothy Dashiell Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS– With early voting scheduled to kick off in Maryland Thursday, Oct. 27, and continue through Nov 3, counties, organizations and even individuals across Maryland are mobilizing initiatives to get as many residents to the polls as they can.

In some cases, they are using cars. In others, they are boarding prospective buses. Early voting sites are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

In Frederick County, free pick

up and drop-offs will be available on the 20 Connector to the early voting center at the Trinity Rec reation Center in Frederick, Md., from the start of early voting to Nov 3, when it ends.

Elsewhere, the Montgomery County Department of Transpor tation will have several bus routes available to transport voters to the 14 early voting centers located throughout the county.

Officials said it is a much-need ed service.

“In Montgomery County, a large portion of our population relies on public transportation for essential

5 Maryland counties, cities, residents will provide free rides to the polls during early voting. Rideshare Lyft will offer discounted rides to vote Election Day.

trips,” said Chris Conklin, direc tor of the county’s department of transportation.

Montgomery County seniors, residents with disabilities and stu dents can ride county buses for free if they qualify for a Senior SmartTrip Card, Metro Disability Card, or Youth Cruiser Card, said Emily DeTitta, a spokesperson for the transportation department.

“We wanted to work with our

citizens and with the board of elec tions to ensure as many opportu nities to reach the polls as possi ble,” DeTitta said.

In Prince George’s County, the Greenbelt Connection will pro vide free transportation to polling locations across the city. The city bus will also be making sched uled pick-ups after voters have cast their ballots at the Greenbelt Community Center.

Meanwhile, Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glendale, Md., is taking members via bus to polling locations inside Prince George’s County Sunday, Oct. 30, after morning service. The bus will leave after 9:30 a.m.

Rideshare service Lyft is launch ing its LyftUp Voting Access Pro gram. The program will provide discounted rides to polls on Elec tion Day across the country.

The rideshare service said in a press release it will also donate free or heavily discounted ride codes to its nonprofit partners, like the League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind, National Council on Aging and the NAACP, so they can pass them onto their clients who traditionally have difficulty getting to the polls.

In Baltimore County, Danita Tolson, president of the Balti more County NAACP, provides personal transportation so dozens of people can vote who might not otherwise.

Sometimes she uses her car to carry those without wheels, some times first-time voters, to the polls. On other occasions, she drives se niors, using the cars they are no longer able to navigate.

“It’s just something I do,”Tolson said. “I am very passionate about politics and making sure everyone exercises their right to vote.”

WI

At this point, even the circum stances of the delay has become a point of contention.

WTU President Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons said she remains adamant about securing a cost-of-living pay raise while preserving benefits and substan tial planning time for teachers. Mean while, Bowser continues to assert that she and DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee crafted a solid deal for the District’s more than 4,000 public school teachers.

“We have settled 10 [D.C. gov ernment employee] contracts,” said Bowser on Monday while standing next to Ferebee at Oyster-Adams Bi lingual School in Northwest. “What teachers and parents should know is that we're grateful for our teachers and I stand firm to make the pay increase,” Bowser continued. “We need one person [WTU President Pogue-Lyons] to say ‘yes’ for the teachers.”

Over the last few weeks, teachers

have gathered at Anacostia and Ten leytown metro stations to demand contracts that reflect their desires for higher pay, benefits and other protections. Part of their mission, as Pogue-Lyons describes, centers on raising awareness about a contract battle that started shortly after she took the helm of WTU.

As segments of the public school teacher population mull more ex treme measures to secure a contract, the WTU released the findings of a survey suggesting that four out of five teachers are dissatisfied with their jobs. Causes include high workload, teacher turnover and no raises or costof-living salary increase in three years.

This data comes amid teacher turn over estimated to stand between 20 percent and 35 percent, depending on the District public school.

Last week, nearly 100 teachers, principals, parents, advocates and community members signed up to testify before the D.C. Council about teacher and principal turn over. During the hearing, teachers’

comments centered on working conditions and what teachers did at the height of the pandemic to ensure continuity in student learning.

Pogue-Lyons said teachers’ com mitment to the profession continued during the return to in-person learn ing and throughout much of last year, when nearly all teachers received vaccinations, and a significant num ber contracted COVID during the pre-winter break surge.

That timeline of events, she noted,

lays to rest any notion that teachers are asking for too much.

“The mayor has been putting out this narrative about greedy teachers,” Pogue-Lyons said.

“We want what's fair. We shouldn't be asked to take far less than what ad ministrators have gotten,” she added.

“We've had inflation and teachers are between 25 and 39 years old and they can't afford to live in the District."

The collective bargaining agree ment reached with the Council of School Officers, which represents DCPS principals, assistant principals, administrators and service providers, includes a 2.5 percent pay raise for this fiscal year and the next one. Over the next four years, all members can expect a 12 percent salary increase along with an extra pay supplement.

Among D.C.-area private sector employees, pay has increased by 12.4 percent over the last three years. This happens at a time when some teach ers are eyeing career opportunities outside of the teaching profession.

For now, that doesn't seem to be

the case for Jewel Cauley, a DCPS teacher in her second year.

Cauley, a DCPS alumna and second grade teacher at Stanton El ementary School in Southeast, said she often thinks about what's at stake while juggling her obligations as an instructor, aftercare facilitator and cheerleading coach.

Though the work gets hard at times, Cauley said she can rely on the guidance of administrators and veter an teachers.

“I truly believe that teaching is my calling and that I was made to pos itively impact the youth, not only academically, but socially and emo tionally,” Cauley said.

“Watching them progress and grow throughout the year is motiva tion to show up every day. I would love to continue this impact as long as I could,” she added.

“As long as I am doing what I love; which is teaching, I believe that ev erything will work out in the end, as it has been.” WI

@SamPKCollins

“What teachers and parents should know is that we're grateful for our teachers and I stand firm to make the pay increase.”

– MAYOR BOWSER

““My childhood was defined by trauma and loss. But thanks to the support of my mother, I went on to be the first Black Rhodes Scholar from Johns Hopkins University, led soldiers in combat as a captain in the U.S. Army, and became the CEO of one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty organizations. Of the many titles I’ve held over the years though, I am most proud of son, husband, and father. My wife, Dawn, and I are raising our children right here in Maryland where I was born.”

WES MOORE’S AGENDA

→ Focus on work, wages, and wealth for every Marylander.

→ Make Maryland public schools and HBCUs the best in the nation.

→ Free pre-K for every child from a family in need.

→ Tackle the crime crisis with the urgency it requires.

→ Invest in minority owned small businesses.

HOW TO VOTE

Any registered voter may vote in person during early voting, on election day, or by mail-in ballot.

Early voting runs October 27, 2022 through Thursday, November 3, 2022. Each early voting center will be open continuously from 7 am to 8 pm each day.

Election Day is November 8, 2022. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.

Endorsed By

Scan the QR code to learn more about where and how to vote, on or before November 8, 2022.

Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement from the Department of Defense.

IAmW esMoo reE D Q

in fo@ WesMoo re .com

By Authority: Wes Moore For Maryland, Mary Tydings, Treasurer.

Upcoming Workshop to Explore Possibilities of Blockchain Technology

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

At a time when Black people are setting their sights on ownership and generational wealth, propo

nents of Blockchain technology continue to embrace what they de scribe as a means of meeting those goals. That mission continues at Ever lasting Life Vegan Cafe in Capitol

Heights, Maryland this weekend. Between November 4 through 6, participants can visit and gain a baseline understanding of Block

chain technology.

At the end of this experi ence, they will walk away with a non-fungible token, or NFT, they developed under the direction of a Blockchain expert. They would have also purchased cryptocurren cy.

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Blockchain technology, also known as Web 3.0, serves as the platform where exchange of cryp tocurrency and NFTs takes place.

Since its inception more than a decade ago, Blockchain technolo gy has been heralded as a tool that marginalized people can use to cir cumvent banks and other global entities on the road to collectively building wealth.

NFTs and cryptocurrency count among the numerous commod ities exchanged through Block chain technology. In recent years, governments across the globe have slowly embraced cryptocurrency. Even with a dip in value over the last few months, Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency still have stalwarts.

In the age of the metaverse, NFT counts as more of a recent creation.

In years past, content creators couldn't guarantee ownership of video and other media posted on social media platforms. Through Blockchain technology however, NFT creators certify their owner ship with non-replicable identifi ers.

Over the last couple years, peo ple of various ages have developed and generated millions of dollars from NFTs. They come in many forms, including songs and visual art.

That’s why Nile Ferrell, organizer

of the upcoming workshop, titled "Wealth in Web 3.0," continues to encourage Black people of various backgrounds to monetize their tal ent with Blockchain technology.

Over the last three years, Ferrell has learned about Blockchain tech nology, all while educating others about its benefits. He started ex ploring Blockchain after partici pating in a hack-a-thon where he helped African immigrants make digital cross-border payments without a bank account.

Even with concerns about the volatility of cryptocurrency and its environmental impact created by exorbitant amounts of energy utilized to operate Bitcoin mining machines, Ferrell endorses Block chain as a tool that Black people in the U.S. and abroad use in this day and age to secure their sovereignty. Ferrell went further to describe the apprehension about energy expenditure as an indictment on technology as a whole, not just Blockchain. He then expressed his hope that people would overcome those fears and see Blockchain's potential to facilitate entrepreneur ship and self-governance.

“This applies to any commodity, but more so groups and organiza tions that want to create a stamp of authenticity for their commodities without [being attached] to a cen tralized body, company or govern ment," said Ferrell, 23.

"We’re still in the early phases of blockchain. There's an opportunity for Black people to get ahead as long as we do the work, get the education and have some stock in blockchain early on,” Ferrell added. WI

@SamPKCollins

5 Nile Ferrell, 23, organizer of “Wealth in Web 3.0,”

scheduled for the weekend of November 4 at Everlasting Life Vegan Cafe in Capitol Heights, Maryland

business briefs

James Wright WI Staff Writer

Washington Commanders Partner with DC Apparel Store

The Washington Commanders an nounced recently a partnership with The Museum DC, a District Blackowned boutique that works to trans form fashion into art through its cloth ing line.

The owners of The Museum DC are LeGreg Harrison and Muhammed Hill. The store sits on Rhode Island Av enue in Northeast.

The partnership with the Command ers started on Oct. 9 with the focus to build community and enhance the streetwear fashion culture of the Washing ton, D.C. area.

“We wanted to make sure a piece of Washington, D.C. history stayed here,” said Harrison, WUSA-TV (Channel 9) reported. “It’s been a dream to do a collaboration.”

When the Commanders commissioned The Museum DC to design polo shirts for their guest services staff, Harrison said he almost cried. The deal with the Commanders makes The Museum DC the first local Black business to de sign guest services wear for an NFL franchise.

“It was surreal,” Harrison said. “I knew the city would be proud. We wanted the 1,500 to 2,000 employees at FedEx field to feel great wearing the product and looking fly while doing it.”

Star athletes such as Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry have won The Mu seum DC’s gear and Prince George’s County NBA product Kevin Durant re quested one of the brand’s letterman jackets.

Additionally, the Commanders are working with The Museum DC to sup port artists and entrepreneurs to hand-design helmets for the team, WUSA re ported. WI

Redbrick LMD Secures $142 Million Loan to Finance The Douglass

Redbrick LMD received a $142 mil lion loan to finance the construction of The Douglass, a 750-unit residential building at the Bridge District that in cludes about 40,000 square feet of retail and 80 affordable housing units.

The Bridge District sits at the foot of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge with eight acres of property and 2.5 million square feet of matter-ofright, mixed-use density.

Citizens Bank arranged the debt financing for the project. With a focus on health and wellness and easy access to services, retail and amenities, including ground floor retail offerings and underground parking, The Douglass will offer a lifestyle of convenience in an urban environment coupled with nature at the doorstep.

“This construction loan from our partners at Citizens during a challenging economic environment represents a significant vote of confidence in the future of the Bridge District,” said Tom Skinner, founder and managing partner of

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Redbrick LMD. “The Douglass will offer premier work-from-home res idences with sweeping views of the Washington skyline and a proximity to nature that comes from a riverside

location and adjacency to a national park.”

About 80 of the units have been deemed affordable. The first residen tial units are expected to be delivered

in late 2024, with construction com pletion estimated to be in mid-2025.

WI

NATIONAL

Record Number of Black Candidates Seek HistoryMaking Results During Midterm Elections

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

While some already are household names like Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Val Demings in Florida, and Anthony Brown in Maryland, others including Natalie James in Arkansas, Will Boyd in Alabama, and Stephanie Thomas in Connecticut, are upstarts.

All are among the approximately two dozen Black candidates seeking public office.

In some cases, a victory would make the individual the first African American to hold the top elected of fice in their state.

Here’s a breakdown of the candi dates and the offices they’re running for in each state.

Democrat Natalie James seeks to unseat Republican John Boozman in the U.S. Senate race out of Arkansas.

If elected, James would become the first Black Congress member from Ar kansas. The so-called “Natural State”

also would house its first Black gover nor if Democrat Chris Jones defeats Republican Sarah Sanders, the former White House Press Secretary under Donald Trump.

In Alabama, Democrat Yolanda

Flowers has run a relentless campaign for governor against GOP incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey.

Flowers already counts as the first Black woman to win a major party nomination for governor in Alabama.

A Nov. 8 victory would make her the first Black woman governor in the Cotton State.

Meanwhile, Democrat Will Boyd is seeking the U.S. Senate seat out of Alabama, making him the first Black person in state history to hold that of fice. Boyd faces off against Republican Katie Britt.

In California, Republican Angela Jacobs seeks to unseat Eleni Kounal akis as the state’s lieutenant governor. Jacobs would be the first Black wom an to hold that office.

In Connecticut, Democrat Steph anie Thomas faces off against Repub lican Dominic Rapini in the race for secretary of state. Thomas would be the first Black woman to hold that seat.

In Florida, Democratic Rep. Val Demings faces Republican Marco Rubio in the race for U.S. Senate. With a victory, Demings, Orlando’s first woman police chief, would be the

Vacuum Leaf Collection Program

How to Prepare for Leaf Vacuum Collection:

• Check the DPW website to confirm your area’s leaf collection dates;

• Move vehicles from curb lanes to help ease the leaf vacuum collection process;

• Rake leaves to the curbside or tree box at the front of the residence the Sunday before the scheduled leaf collection date;

• Remove all cans, bottles, sticks, toys and debris from your piles of leaves—these items can damage equipment and prevent safe and proper collection

more information, please visit

5 Democrat Yolanda Flowers campaigns for Alabama governor.(Courtesy photo)

Biden Administration Unveils

Vaccine Push in

Communities

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Following President Joe Biden’s an nouncement of additional efforts to get Americans updated COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the holidays, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) presented a multi cultural media briefing that included leaders of the Black Press of America, the National Association of Hispanic Publications, and other minority press.

The briefing took place on the BI POCXChange, a metaverse solution created by the Multicultural Media & Correspondents Association, a media advocacy organization that seeks to help Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) media increase own ership and control.

The President announced that more than 20 million Americans, in cluding nearly one in five seniors, have already received updated COVID-19 vaccines.

The White House noted that while COVID-19 no longer counts as the disruptive force it previously was, the virus continues to evolve.

Health officials said COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory illnesses spread more quickly in the winter as

people gather indoors. As the weather gets colder, Americans must take ac tion to stay protected.

“We have made extraordinary prog ress in the past two and a half years, and now, we have more tools than ever to help us make it through this pandemic,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said during the brief ing.

“From the beginning, we made eq uity the centerpiece of our approach to COVID-19, and we want people to continue to benefit from the life-sav ing vaccines and treatments,” Murthy stated.

He said the updated vaccine is specifically tailored to the dominant variant of COVID that’s currently cir culating.

“Now, and as we enter into the win ter, we are at an important moment to sustain the progress we have made by making sure people utilize these life-saving tools and get vaccinated,” Murthy asserted.

Dr. Cameron Webb, the senior ad visor to the White House COVID-19 Response Team, implored the BIPOC community that “we know that we can do this.”

“We know there is a path to making sure equity is centered in the vaccina

africa now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

South Africa’s First New Zulu King in 51 Years Crowned In Durban

Tens of thousands of people gathered at a football stadium in Durban on Saturday, October 29, to celebrate the coronation of South Africa’s Zulu king.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was to hand over the certificate to formally recognize the 48-year-old new ruler of the country’s richest and most influ ential traditional monarchy.

Misuzulu Zulu ascended the throne once held by his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, who died in March 2021 after a diabetes-related illness.

The crowning – the first South Africa has witnessed in more than 50 years – comes after a year of bitter feuding over the royal succession that has spilled into the courts.

Although the title of king does not bestow executive power, the monarchs wield great moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, who make up nearly a fifth of South Africa’s population.

Amabutho, royal regiments, clad in traditional skirts, sang songs of praise for their king.

Women wore brightly colored broad-brimmed Zulu hats and traditional wraps, while young girls in pleated skirts and beads danced on the terraces in the 85,000-seat Moses Mabhida stadium – which was built for the FIFA 2010 World Cup tournament.

Among the delegates were King Mswati III of Africa’s last absolute monarchy, Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, who is also uncle to the new Zulu king.

Zulu kings are descendants of Shaka, the 19th-century leader still revered for having united a large swath of the country as the Zulu nation, which fought bloody battles against British colonizers.

Zwelithini, who died after more than 50 years in charge, left six wives and at least 28 children.

Misuzulu is the first son of Zwelithini’s third wife, who he designated as regent in his will.

But the queen died suddenly a month after Zwelithini, leaving a will naming Misuzulu as the next king – a development that did not go down well with other family members.

The new monarch’s first name means “strengthening the Zulus”, but his path to the crown has not been smooth.

WI

Jamaica And UK Celebrate 60 Years Of Diplomatic Relations

As Jamaica and the United Kingdom (UK) mark 60 years of diplomatic ties, the countries are moving to strength en relations in the areas of climate change, security, and trade at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Leslie Campbell, made the disclosure as he addressed a recent ceremony at the Ministry’s downtown Kingston headquarters, to mark the occasion.

The two countries established diplomatic relations on August 2, 1962.

Senator Campbell said that Jamaica and the UK have a special relationship that has matured and transformed from centuries of colonial rule to one of mutual respect and understanding.

“The UK has stood with us over these many decades, providing vital support to sectors critical for Jamaica’s sustain able growth and development,” he noted.

Mr. Campbell said that the UK has offered “invaluable assistance” to Jamaica’s security and justice infrastructure.

He cited bilateral cooperation programs, valued at approximately 81.3 million pounds, which include support for at-risk youth, countering serious and organized crime, and the reintegration of offenders into society.

The State Minister said that Jamaica has also benefited from ongoing cooperation at the regional level in areas such as health, security, and disaster resilience and recovery.

“We are pleased that there are currently three regional programs in these areas valued at approximately 7.2 million pounds from which countries like Jamaica can benefit,” he added.

The ceremony to mark the diplomatic ties between Jamaica and the UK was among a series of events attended by the visiting British State Minister for the Americas and the Overseas Territories in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Right Hon. Jesse Norman, during a tour of the region.

WI

5 King Misuzulu Zulu, 48, waves to supporters as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on during the king's coronation at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on October 29, 2022. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP via Getty Images)

World Diabetes Day

Submitted by AmeriHealth Cari tas District of Columbia

In 1991, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) established November 14 as World Diabetes Day (WDD) to raise awareness about the growing health threat posed by diabetes.1 Currently, one in 10 people world wide are affected by diabetes.2 Luckily, there are resources avail able to help manage the condition.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a chronic health con dition that affects the body’s abili ty to turn food into energy — a process that requires the hormone insulin.3 There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin production. Of those with diabetes, approximately 5% – 10% have type 1.3,4

• Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body being unable to effective ly use insulin. Symptoms of type 2 can be hard to recognize, so if you are at high risk, it’s important to get your blood sugar tested regularly.3,4

• Gestational diabetes is diabe

AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) has programs to help enrollees manage their diabetes at no cost! These programs include:

• Active&Fit®. The program helps you stay active with daily workout class es, online videos, and a membership at participating fitness centers.

• Dietitian services. These services help eligible enrollees learn the most nutritious choices for managing their health.

• Healthy cooking classes. A nutri tionist will provide a hands-on cooking session for a healthy meal that you’ll get to enjoy.

• Howard University’s Diabetes Treatment Center classes. You can take a one-on-one or group class that will fo cus on healthy eating, weight-loss tips, and diabetes education.

• La Clínica del Pueblo classes. These sessions include diabetes educa tion to help you maintain your weight and nutrition while staying positive. Note these classes are in Spanish.

tes that develops in pregnant women.

Having gestational diabetes increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.3

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

According to the Centers for Dis ease Control and Prevention (CDC), common symptoms of diabetes in clude:5

• Urinating (peeing) often

• Feeling very thirsty

• Losing weight without trying

• Having blurry vision

• Having numb or tingling hands or feet

• Feeling very tired

• Having very dry skin

• Having more infections than usual

If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, see your primary care provider (PCP) about getting tested.

People with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms as a child, teen, or young adult. Their symptoms can de velop in a few weeks or months. Those with type 2 diabetes usually develop symptoms when they’re adults and symptoms can take years to appear.5

#BestMe

• Wellness Circles. These classes with health educators and wellness experts will teach you to manage your weight and improve your over all health.

• Home-delivered meals. Amer iHealth Caritas DC offers medically tailored home-delivered meals to enrollees with conditions for which nutrition is a major factor in healthy outcomes.

Visit https://www.amerihealthcari tasdc.com/member/eng/healthy-liv ing/programs.aspx for more infor mation, or contact the AmeriHealth Caritas DC Community Outreach Solutions team at 202-216-2318 to sign up for a program. You can also visit us at our Enrollee Wellness and Opportunity Center at 1209 Good Hope Road SE, Washington, DC 20020. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LIVING WITH DIABETES

As people with diabetes get older, they have a higher risk of complica tions, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.3 However, managing diabetes can help prevent or delay potential health problems. Try to focus on:6

• Eating nutritious foods that are high in fiber and low in fat and cal ories, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Ask your PCP about creating a diet plan with a dietitian.

• Getting regular exercise. Any physical activity — whether it’s a workout class, a walk, or cleaning the house — helps lower blood sugar. Talk with your PCP to create an exercise plan for you.

• Working with your PCP. They can help you create a diabetes treat ment plan, which may involve diet, exercise, and/or medication. They will also order blood tests to check your blood sugar levels.

The information in this article is to

help you learn more about this topic. It is not to take the place of your health care provider. If you have questions, talk with your health care provider. If you think you need to see your health care provider because of something you have read in this information, please contact your health care provider. Never stop or wait to get medical attention because of something you have read in this material.

Sources: 1.“About World Diabetes Day,” World Diabetes Day, https://worlddiabe tesday.org/about/

2.“Understanding Diabetes,” World Diabetes Day, https://worlddiabetesday. org/about/understandingdiabetes/

3.“What is Diabetes?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https:// www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes. html

4.“World Diabetes Day,” The United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/obser vances/diabetes-day

5.“Diabetes Symptoms,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/ symptoms.html

6. “Diabetes,” Mayo Clinic, https:// www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi tions/diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/ drc-20371451

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

us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/amerihealthcaritasdc.

HEALTH

Over the Counter Hearing Aids Now Available in Stores

The Change will Lower Costs and Remove Barriers to Access for People with Mild - to Moderate Hearing Loss, most of Whom are Seniors.

Kayla Benjamin WI Staff Writer

Millions of Americans with mild or moderate hearing loss can now pur chase hearing aids over the counter from major retailers like CVS, Wal

greens, Walmart, and Best Buy thanks to new Food and Drug Administra tion regulations implemented Octo ber 17.

“The vast numbers of people in the United States who actually have hearing loss that is not managed, that

(Courtesy photo/istock.com)

is not treated—that is a significant public health concern,” said Dr. Ishara Ramkissoon, an audiology professor and researcher at Gallaudet Universi ty. “When you have hearing difficulty, it impacts your communication. And as humans, communication defines us.”

Hearing aids range widely in cost, but over the counter options are likely to include significantly cheap er choices. Some retailers listed prices as low as $200; prescription hearing aids typically cost between $2,000 to $7,000, according to

healthcare company GoodRx.

“The price range is huge,” said Reem Mulla, another professor and researcher in Gallaudet’s audiology department. “The higher price over the counter devices might advertise as having more adjustability, more fine tuning that the user could do to fit themselves, or maybe a better return policy, or less visibility.”

Experts hope that the lower costs and more direct access will increase hearing aid use among the approxi mately 30 million American adults with hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss can have serious emotional and cognitive health impacts, such as social isolation and increased risk of demen tia.

“When the majority of people ex perience a vision loss, they very quick ly go and seek remediation services for that, but when an individual experi ences hearing difficulty, they wait and wait and wait,” Ramkissoon said.

Studies have found people wait an average of 10 years after first suspect ing they might have hearing issues before seeking out treatment. In addi tion to cost, many people cite stigma around hearing loss as a reason to pro crastinate.

Julia Wallace, who serves on the DC Area Black Deaf Advocates’ board of directors, said that this stigma can also impact people with severe hear ing loss or deafness, who can’t put off treatment.

“In the Deaf Black community, it's almost like, you know, some people say, ‘Oh, I have deaf family, but, you know, we don’t really talk about it,’” she said. “It's more hidden.”

estimates one in three Americans be tween the ages of 65 and 74 has some form of hearing loss. That number increases to nearly 50% in people older than 75. More than half of the District’s senior population is Black; there are almost 67,000 Black D.C. residents over the age of 60.

Age-related hearing loss impacts Americans about equally across rac es and ethnicities, Ramkissoon said. But access to care is not equal. In a 2020 study of Americans over the age of 70, Black seniors reported a much smaller increase in hearing aid ownership than White seniors over a seven-year period. Among older adults living below the federal pov erty level, hearing aid use actually decreased during that time frame.

“It comes back to the age-old chal lenges where certain communities have less ability to access health care services, they have fewer provisions on insurance or they may not have health insurance,” Ramkissoon said. “I am hopeful that having an over the counter hearing device category will improve accessibility for all.”

Still, both Ramkissoon and Mulla expressed concerns that consumers opting for over the counter options may miss out on the personal ized care that audiologists provide. Though it’s not required, they rec ommend that people get a profes sional hearing test done even if they plan to buy the hearing aid separate ly instead of from the audiologist.

Over the counter hearing aids will require users to adjust the devices themselves, a service that audiolo gists provide to patients getting pre scription hearing aids. The process involves someone tech savvy, and it can sometimes take a few months to get used to the new hearing aids.

“I am a little bit worried that a lot of people will end up going and spending the money and then end ing up with poorly fitting devices that they just shove in the drawer and don't use again,” Rakissoon said.

Consumer education will be cru cial in helping people decide if over the counter or prescription hearing aids will be a better choice for their specific hearing loss. Only adults with mild or moderate hearing loss are eligible for the over the counter devices.

HEARING AID ACCESSIBILITY ESPECIALLY EFFECTS BLACK SENIORS

The National Institutes of Health

“The OTCs are available now, and they're great for a certain pop ulation,” Mulla said. “But make sure that you have your hearing tested before you get them, and make sure you follow the criteria on the box.”

HEALTH

RSV Infections Make An Early Visit Are We Facing Increasing Cases?

Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writers

A frenzy of seasonal infections has struck nationwide, as hospi tals and medical centers in various parts of the country are reportedly overwhelmed with a severe uptick of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases. Likewise, childrens’ hospitals in the D.C., and Balti more areas are also reportedly near capacity.

The untimely respiratory infec tion shows rather mild levels of illness among adults, but heavier with potentially life-threatening cases of pneumonia and bronchi olitis in young children. Annually, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 58,00080,000 RSV-caused hospitaliza

tions of children younger than 5 years old, with 60,000 - 120,000 hospitalizations for adults 65 years and older. A decrease in appe tite, runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing, or wheezing signal early symptoms of the temporary mal ady.

With school back in full swing and reverting to formal on-cam pus learning, classrooms serve as a breeding ground for potentially dangerous infections as the viral surge has seen in classrooms across state lines in Connecticut, Penn sylvania, and Texas to name a few.

But despite national reports, local hospital staff members made mention (on background) of not actually witnessing an overwhelm ing load of RSV cases filling their facility or pediatric beds, outside

of what they have seen in the news. Similarly, District officials have re ported no communication of ur gency or request from local med ical centers to assist in addressing the reported RSV surge, also not ing that DC Health does not re quire hospitals to report RSV, or ILI cases.

A statement released from the Department of Health quells the concerning narratives addressing the uptick in pediatric beds across the nation and particularly, the DC Metropolitan region.

“DC Health has not received any notifications from area hos pitals, regarding any outbreaks or clusters of respiratory viruses. All cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rhino/enterovirus, influ enza like illnesses (ILE) and flu

(Courtesy photo/Envato)

reported to us were isolated,” the department said in a public state ment. “Normally in the case of an outbreak, hospitals and health cen ters will reach out directly to DC Health for support, but currently we haven’t received any requests.”

The Informer will continue to monitor the development of re spiratory viral cases as it affects the District, and particularly District students, in tandem with the pro gression of the school year.

WI

The Milkman Model Makes a Comeback: Reusable Grocery Packaging Hits the District

As of late October, shoppers at ten Giant Food stores in the Dis trict and Virginia can buy a bot tle of olive oil, use it up, and then drop it back off to be sanitized, re filled, and placed back on the shelf.

The grocery chain’s partnership with reusable packaging platform Loop represents a growing push from environmentalists to empha size the “reuse” part of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra.

“People remember the milkman, right? And that is an archetype of the reuse model,” said Tom Szacky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle, which runs the reusable packaging platform Loop. “But here’s the first time reuse has gone to any prod uct category. You have everything from ketchup to beard oil, from razor blades to hot sauce and bar becue sauce.”

The reusably-packaged options also featured granola and baby food in glass or metal containers. Giant execs said they expect the next product partnerships to in clude refrigerated items like milk.

A wholesale director from South Mountain Creamery, a regional dairy company, attended the Loop

partnership launch on October 20 at the Giant in Northwest’s Cathe dral Heights.

“Loop and Giant are helping the District to meet its waste goals,” Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh said at the launch. “Every time this packaging is used, one fewer item is sent to the landfill or the incinerator.”

The District’s waste goals are am bitious. Under the Sustainable DC plan, the city aims to divert 80% of waste from landfills or incinerators by 2032. But as of 2018, D.C. was diverting just over 25% of waste. Activists from the environmental group Sierra Club have argued for years that the city’s failure to prior itize major recycling and compost ing facilities has made it unlikely that the city will meet the 2032 goal.

Meanwhile, thousands of pounds of trash end up in the Po tomac and Anacostia Rivers each year. According to data from “trash traps” set up by the Anacostia Watershed Society, plastic bottles make up 65% of that trash.

(Courtesy photo/Giant)

Local and national companies are addressing the problem of plastic waste with packaging that can be borrowed and sent back for cleaning and reuse

when it ends up in a blue bin in stead, very little plastic waste can actually be recycled into new prod ucts, a Greenpeace study released last week found.

Environmental advocates are increasingly calling for a paradigm shift. Anukampa Freedom Gup ta-Fonner started the D.C.-based startup SpringEats because she wanted to be a part of that change.

The grocery delivery service, which is still in beta testing, will offer Dis trict residents the opportunity to buy fresh produce and pantry sta ples in 100% reusable packaging.

“Replacing one type of sin gle-use plastic with some type of single-use compostable—that’s a huge problem,” said Gupta-Fon ner. “I think of this as a deep sys tems issue. The moment you start reusing, you have cut down on

resource extraction at the source.”

Gupta-Fonner said a few dozen homes across the District are par ticipating in SpringEats’ beta test ing, which she and her spouse and co-founder run from their northern Virginia home. The pair has devel oped partnerships with local farmers who pack produce into packages such as reusable stainless steel clam shells, which customers receive, use, and return with the next delivery. The packages are then sanitized at a separate facility before being refilled and sent off again.

“We have so much garbage in our lives in the form of single-use packaging that we keep plundering natural resources for,” Gupta-Fon ner said. “The moment you cut down on that production of raw material, you can end that. You can fundamentally, structurally change the way the system was designed.”

WI

How Reusable Grocery Packaging Works at Giant Stores

STEP 1:

The customer buys a food item. It comes in packaging made of sturdy materials like glass or stainless steel. At Giant stores part nering with Loop, customers pay a refundable deposit per item for the container, usually between $0.50 and $3.00.

STEP 2:

The food gets used up, but instead of tossing the container, the buyer returns it to the seller. At Giant, customers put their empty bottles in a dropbox at the front of the store—that’s when they get the deposit back.

STEP 3:

Containers from the dropboxes are picked up and brought to a cleaning facility to be sanitized and inspected.

STEP 4:

The cleaned containers go back to the food suppliers to be re filled and returned to shelves or readied for delivery.

The Giant stores with Loop partnerships in the District are in north west’s Cathedral Heights and in Shaw; just across the border in Virginia, there’s one in Arlington and one in Potomac Yard.

w

OUR EARTH

Cedar Hill Urgent Care GW Health Is Open!

Cedar Hill Urgent Care GW Health is now ready to serve you and your family. You can walk right in without an appointment to access quality medical care, right in Anacostia.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) recently cut the ribbon on the new urgent care center. Cedar Hill Urgent Care is the first location to open as part of a partnership between the District and UHS to create a comprehen sive system of healthcare serving communities east of the Anacos tia River.

“We are thrilled to be embark ing on the development of these vital health services east of the Anacostia River,” says Kimberly Russo, MBA, MS, Group Vice President of the Washington, D.C. Region for UHS and Chief Executive Officer of GW Hospi tal. “Opening Cedar Hill Urgent Care is the next step in creating a comprehensive, academic med ical network which will enhance health access, equity and out comes and elevate healthcare in our nation’s capital.”

WALK RIGHT IN TODAY

Visit Cedar Hill Urgent Care when you can’t wait to see your doctor but your medical condi tion is not life-threatening. Severe or life-threatening conditions re quire an emergency room (ER) visit.

We know you’re busy. That’s why our goal is to deliver the medical care you need with con venience. We are open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cedar Hill Urgent Care is lo cated in D.C. at 2228 Martin Lu ther King Jr. Avenue, SE.

Patients are billed through Mid Atlantic Medicine. We ac cept most major health insurance plans.

URGENT CARE OR ER? HOW TO DECIDE.

It’s important to know where to seek medical care when the unex pected happens. Use the following as a guide when you need help de ciding where to go. If you are un sure what type of care to choose, call 911 or go to the nearest emer gency room, just in case.

Visit Cedar Hill Urgent Care for help with:

• Bronchitis and strep throat

• Colds and flus

• Ear infections

• Falls, minor sprains and strains

• Pink eye

• Minor cuts, burns and bug bites

• Seasonal allergies and asthma

• Sinus pressure and sinus infections (sinusitis)

• Urinary tract infections

We also provide basic radiology services like X-rays, as well as stan dard bloodwork and urinalysis. Go to the ER or Call 911 for help with:

• Abnormal bleeding

• Concussion/confusion

• Difficulty breathing

• Fever with rash

• Serious burns

• Severe cuts

• Signs of possible stroke (slurred speech, facial drooping on one side, etc.)

• Signs of possible heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.)

Remember! Certain medical conditions, like chest pain, are

simply too serious for urgent care centers. Get to the nearest ER or call 911 for emergencies like chest pain and symptoms of possible stroke.

It is also important to know that an urgent care center does not replace your primary care provider (PCP). You should have a PCP who can perform annual wellness exams, manage condi tions like diabetes and coordinate care with specialists.

READY TO TREAT YOU LIKE FAMILY

Whether you twist your ankle, come down with a bad cold or you think your child has pink eye, Cedar Hill Urgent Care is here to help.

You deserve quality care that is convenient and close to home. We look forward to serving you and your family.

Walk right in or call 202-715-4444.

Learn more at urgentcarecedarhill.com

Physicians and providers are not employees or agents of Cedar Hill Urgent Care GW Health. The urgent care shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians or providers. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.

Greater Washington Urban League Continues the Fight for Civil Rights with its Courage Under Fire Awards

Monday, October 24th at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The awards ceremony recognized cou rageous leaders in the Black community who fight for civil rights.

Our democracy is being challenged at every level. The federal courts have become partisan and grown apathetic or even hostile to civil rights.

The Washington Post reports that 65% of Black Americans say it is a “bad time” to be a Black person in America. In contrast, an astounding 77% of Black Americans believe it is a great time to be white. These num bers attest to the pain and inequity in our nation.

The GWUL has fought for the right to a decent life and equitable representation for 84 years. The Courage Under Fire Awards cele brates victories in that fight, hardwon by social justice champions. Previous awardees include Attorney Benjamin Crump; U.S. District Court Judge Nom inee, Attorney Jerry Blackwell; and re nowned immunolo gist, Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett.

This year’s event was hosted by the nationally acclaimed attorney and social critic, Michelle Denise Bernard. Bernard is a

political and social justice journalist, pundit and opinion maker, social critic, author, columnist, and public speaker. As the president & CEO of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, she focuses on domestic and foreign policy. In particular, she takes interest in the human rights of women and ethnic and religious minorities globally.

The recipients and awards for 2022 include:

BAKARI SELLERS, RECIPIENT OF THE BLACK BRILLIANCE IMPACT AWARD.

Sellers, a political analyst for CNN, rose to national fame as the youngest African American to serve in the South Carolina House of Representatives. At the tender age of 22, Sellers was elected to represent the 90th district, where he fought for voters’ rights. Now, the Howard graduate continues the fight on the world stage.

CHARLES BLOW, RECIPIENT OF THE BLACK BRILLIANCE IMPACT AWARD.

Blow, the esteemed New York Times Opinion columnist, is known for his insightful writing on the soul of America. The talented creative is also an award-winning graphic de signer whose images of 9-11 and the war in Iraq garnered international fame. This Grambling State Uni versity graduate is the author of the riveting book and play, Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

VIRGINIA ALI, RECIPIENT OF THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD.

Ali, owner of the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl, has provided invaluable service to the people of the District of Columbia for over 50 years. This Virginia-born beauty is loving ly known as the “Matriarch of U Street.” She serves on the boards of For Love of Children and the Thur good Marshall Center for Service and Heritage.

DENISE ROLARK BARNES, RECIPIENT OF THE LEGACY AWARD.

Barnes, owner of The Washing ton Informer, has devoted over 50 years of dedicated service in journal ism. This African American, wom an-owned business is a unique outlet that gives voice to the African Ameri can experience. This tenacious How ard University graduate also leads by

3 George Lambert - GWUL CEO, George H. Lambert, Jr., Received Surprise Legacy Award

3 GWUL BOD Member, Michelle Hagan Presents Humanitarian Award to Virginia Ali

5 C. Blow; B. Sellers and M. Bernard Discuss Implica tions of Current Political Climate

COURAGE from Page 24

example through her Washington Informer Charities, which promotes literacy through writing contests and scholarships.

GEORGE H. LAMBERT JR., RECIPIENT OF THE LEGACY LEADER AWARD.

Lambert Jr. was the surprise re cipient of this final award. Before stepping into the shoes of President of the Greater Washington Urban League, this native Washingtonian was a devoted leader of the GWUL. Under his leadership as president, the League has grown from a $25 million asset under management to a $100 million asset under manage ment agency, making the GWUL one of the largest Urban League af filiates in the nation.

This year’s prestigious award win ners fight in the realms of racial equity, social justice, civil liberties, economic parity, and/or politics and

have taken crucial steps towards re storing wholeness to our communi ty and nation.

At this year’s seminal event, the GWUL upheld its commitment to holding authentic conversations re garding social justice. The GWUL invited rising and seasoned advo cates to participate in the topic for the 2022 awards, Continuing the Equity Conversation. These advo cates called on the nation to make diversity, equity, and inclusion the benchmarks of success for compa nies and local communities.

The GWUL designed donation tiers for attendees of the Courage Under Fire Awards and was over whelmed by the generosity of sup porters. These contributions are cru cial to the League’s efforts. With the funds raised at this and other events, the GWUL provides the commu nity with housing services, finan cial therapy, emergency assistance, entrepreneurship development, educational assistance, and family wellness.

Since 1938, the Greater Wash

ington Urban League has touched more than five mil lion lives, serving as both a safety net and facilitator of opportunity in Washington D.C., Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County, Maryland. As one of the re gion’s longest-standing civil rights organizations, GWUL continues to carve a path to wards justice. WI

3 GWUL Board Members and Courage Under Fire Awardees 6 GWUL BOD Member, President Wrighton Presents Legacy Award to Denise Rolark Barnes

5 Black Brilliance Awardees Charles Blow and Bakari Sellers; Special Host, Michelle D. Barnard

3 Strong Representation by Thursday Network Young Professionals

EDUCATION

Parents Allege Child Abuse at Boone Elementary

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

A former Boone Elementary School student has entered his third week without setting foot on the campus, or any other for that matter, after suffering what fam ily members allege to be physical abuse at the hands of an art teacher.

Bertina Herndon said her sevenyear-old son entered her car on Oc tober 17 and showed her his but tonless shirt. He then recounted how the art teacher, Emily Henry, lined him and two of his classmates along a wall, took each of them in a closet, and violently shook them.

Herndon said her son hit his head while defending himself against Henry as she ripped the buttons off of his shirt.

Since the incident, the young man and his family have been see ing a therapist, a situation Hern don said further reveals the gravity of her son's situation.

“My son loved Boone. Since then, he doesn’t want to go to school and do art,” said Herndon,

a Ward 8 mother of six.

“He wants to be around his par ents all day. I didn’t have to worry about these types of questions. It has all been stressful for our family [because] our son has declined [to the point] where he’s not himself. He doesn’t even want to go to his room.”

For weeks, Herndon has at tempted to gather information about Henry from administrators at Boone Elementary and D.C. Public Schools, all to no avail.

On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Colum bia declined to execute a warrant for Henry. Days later, Herndon and mothers of the other involved students had been scheduled to re ceive documentation showing the charges issued and why the warrant couldn’t be executed.

A team, that includes the moth ers and Pastor Tony Herndon, Jr. of Grace Nation Ministry, revealed intentions to file a class-action lawsuit against Henry, Kimberly Douglas, principal of Boone Ele mentary School, and DC Public

Schools (DCPS).

Pastor Herndon, Bertina Hern don’s brother, said plaintiffs will in clude parents of at least five other students who can speak to Henry’s history of abuse.

"We are in contact with other parents who had similar situations with the same teacher," Pastor Herndon said. "It's unknown how far back it goes. We're struggling to find information about the teach er. Everything is being protected."

On Monday, DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee said the allega tions against Henry are still under investigation. The Informer con firmed that she is on leave, and the matter was referred to the Metro politan Police Department.

Douglas did not respond to The Informer’s inquiry about the events of October 17.

Toward the end of the last aca demic year, Douglas took a leave

of absence amid accusations from teachers and staff that she berated employees, sparked division, and ignored the concerns of teachers and parents.

Douglas replaced Dr. Carolyn Jackson-King, whose contract DCPS didn’t renew months shortly after the pandemic started in 2020.

Jackson-King, a widely popular principal credited with helping boost Boone’s academic standing, garnered a reputation as a staunch opponent of the Relay instruction al model that she said compelled teachers to impose militaristic tac tics on students.

Herndon’s family alleges that teachers at Boone are still imple menting Relay. DCPS didn't spec ify whether teachers at Boone still carry out that curriculum.

Terra Courtney likened the treatment her son recounted re ceiving to punishment that teach

ers doled out in the 1960s. She expressed disappointment that she heard about the incident from an other parent, not the administra tors at Boone.

Courtney further alleged that Boone administrators have target ed her son in recent weeks, even going as far as sending him home early for immunization compliance issues.

For this Ward 8 parent, her son's Boone experience didn't turn out the way she expected when she enrolled him with friends' encour agement.

"My son repeats the same story over and over again. You can tell that he's nervous," Courtney said.

"He even said that he didn't want to go to school. I heard a lot of good things about Boone from my friends. I didn't know they would have a lack of sympathy."

WI @SamPKCollins

(Courtesy photo/DCPS)

EDUCATION

During Symposium, Law Students Tackle Racial Inequity in Legal System

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

More than a dozen HBCU law stu dents spent 10 months conducting re search and learning from experienced attorneys in their endeavor to tackle racial inequity in the legal system.

Their work culminated in the de velopment of solutions they recently presented before an audience of their peers and advocates during the second annual Equity in Law Symposium.

Law students from D.C., Texas and Louisiana converged on the second floor of the Conrad Hotel in North west on Friday, October 28, to pres ent projects designed to tackle various manifestations of racial inequity in the legal system.

Issues addressed at the Equity in Law Symposium included transpar ency in real estate appraisals, Geor gia’s death penalty, marijuana arrests, school resource officers and how to make court appearances easier.

Alexus McNeal, a third-year law student at the University of the Dis trict of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law focused on diversifying law school casebooks so law students can study and analyze more landmark cases involving African Americans.

For McNeal, this particular solu tion highlighted a moral dilemma African-American lawyers face when they're navigating a legal system that upholds racial inequity while disre garding their unique outlook and experiences.

“Law is a discipline through which history can be charted through cases,” McNeal said. “By not putting cases that affect us in casebooks, we lack the chance to establish our record of achievement," she added.

McNeal and her peers represented the second cohort of the LexisNexis African Ancestry Network & Lexis Nexis Rule of Law Foundation Fel lowship.

Since its inception last year, the Lex isNexis African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship has advanced a mission to eliminate racial discrimination in the legal system. That work has been doc umented in "Increasing Equity in the Legal System," a collection of advoca

cy papers written by the 2022 fellows. Students representing member schools in the Historically Black Col leges and Universities Law School Consortium made presentations. Their presentation topics fell into one of 6 cohorts. After each cohort of presenters showcased their project, award-winning journalist and docu mentary producer Soledad O'Brien, moderator and keynote speaker at the Equity in Law Symposium, engaged them in discussion.

In his presentation, Edrius Stagg, a law student in his last year at South ern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana proposed using big data to diversify the jury pool and ensure it accurately reflects the de mographics of a jurisdiction where a defendant is facing trial.

For years, attorneys in Louisiana selected prospective adult jurors with no criminal record exclusively from voter and homeownership rolls. Stagg, referencing a criminal defen dant who pointed out the danger of this arrangement, said the status quo increased the likelihood of Black de fendants not standing before a jury of their peers.

Stagg added that without tap ping into readily available data, gov ernment officials in Louisiana and elsewhere would not be able to fully guarantee that the jury selection pool accurately represents a wide and di verse range of residents.

“One would think that’s intrusive but this information is public and it’s what people voluntarily give," Stagg said.

"It’s not as intrusive as it is a means to an end. We’re making sure that all accused persons are given the oppor tunity [to a fair jury trial]. It’s about creating a different avenue for the government to create this list and in crease the diversity.”

In her presentation, Brianna Joa seus highlighted Tate v. Austin, a court case in which a Black couple alleged racial discrimination in the home appraisal process. Her project, a checklist that targets biases and discriminatory practices, takes into account the gaps in the housing laws that appraisers and others have used to marginalize non-white homeown

ers.

WI @SamPKCollins

4 (From left seated) Adonica Black, direc tor of Global Talent and Inclusion for Lexis Nexis, Soledad O`Brien, and Ronda Moore, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer with LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation Fellows in Northwest on Oct. 28. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“This will substantially impact mi nority consumers to help them keep their land," said Joaseus, a third-year law student at Southern University Law Center. “The monumental part of my project is about generational wealth. This is hopefully a solution.”

of unlimited possibilities

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

Biden, What Have You Done For Me Lately?

With two weeks to go until the midterm elections, President Joe Biden took the stage last week at the Lincoln Theatre to encourage people to get to the polls and vote for the Democrats running nationally.

Before a crowd of reproductive rights advocates and Democratic operatives, Biden promised that if Democrats hold their majorities in the House and the Senate this No vember, the first bill he will send to Congress will protect abortion access at the federal level. Telling the crowd he will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by signing the law, he said, “Together we will restore the right to choose for every woman in every state in America.”

Although voters living in the District don’t get to cast ballots for Senators, voting con gressional representatives or governors, it’s imperative that we remind our friends and family in the rest of the country what’s at issue.

Celebrities such as rapper Killer Mike and Luke Campbell of 2 Live Crew fame have argued that supporting the Biden/Harris Administration and the democrats this fall is akin to ignoring Black men’s concerns. While it’s impossible to please every Black voter, it’s important to stress that the current GOP have resisted the Biden Administration’s aims to pass laws and policies that directly benefit Black people.

Here are highlights of just a few of the laws passed under this administration:`

H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan that cut Black child poverty by more than 33% overall. It made more Black families eligible for the child tax credit, and helped to feed 30 million children with the summer EBT program and expansion of WIC benefits.

H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that addresses climate change, health care costs, job creation and corporate taxes. But it also capped out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 for the 1.6 million to 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries taking insulin, and it limits out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs for seniors at $2,000 each year.

This bill also gives $3 billion in Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants to cut pollution and improve public health in communities that have suffered from long-standing environmental and health hazards. Sixty billion dollars worth of environ mental justice initiatives are now being funded through this act.

H.R. 55, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act that makes lynching a federal hate crime, and will impose fines and prision terms up to 30 years, on anyone who com mits a lynching.

While national polls reflect that voters are concerned right now about the economy and inflation issues that typically favor republicans, it’s important to keep in mind that this administration is far likelier to pass laws that benefit Black families. Voting for dem ocrats is also more likely to insure voter rights and access around the country. And surely, even the most disgruntled rap artist would agree.

WI

Affirmative Action is a Cure that Needs More Time

Race relations is the number one problem facing America. Some will admit it, but fewer are willing to commit to doing the work to end racism and discrimination that impacts almost all people of color. The victims of racism experience it on the job, on the street, in the doctor’s office, at the DMV, at the bank, in the grocery store, in the classroom and the courtroom, in college admissions, and anywhere else every American should expect equal and fair treatment.

In the early 1600s, when Africans were brought to the U.S. by force, laws were estab lished to ensure they would never be treated equally. The legacy of slavery remains, even though laws were created to protect Black people from inhumane treatment to provide equal protection under the law.

Are we there yet?

Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week regarding one of the protections Blacks and others lost their lives seeking. The movie Till is a reminder of what it took to force policymakers to pass laws that reinforced those protections and to create a system that promotes equal opportunities and fairness. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law laid the ground for affirmative action policies, which forced open doors to the “others” that were previously once open for Whites only.

Consistently, individuals and institutions decide to test the waters to see if the progress

What a powerful photo that was on the cover of the last edition of the Wash ington Informer. It was truly one of those moments worth a thousand words: the pink casket and the messages on the hoodie. We must bring attention to envi ronmental racism to our elected leaders and make them do their jobs.

Debra Gould Washington, DC

Blacks, in particular, have attained enough to do away with affirmative action policies. At Monday’s hearing, Harvard University and the University of North Carolina tested affir mative action mandates.

In some ways, it reduces the acclama tions of success Black people have experi enced. While they can point to numerous achievements they have made over the de cades, inequality and inequity continue to exist. There is no statistic one can point to

TO THE EDITOR

I cannot believe there are people in this country (Republicans) who have a problem with student loan relief. What sense does that make? And now a judge has temporar ily blocked the order. Why? What’s the dif ference between this loan forgiveness and the various other forgiveness programs? I can’t help but think it’s because of who will be positively impacted.

Karine Thomas Bowie, Md. that shows Blacks have significantly caught up with whites, suggesting affirmative action should be a thing of the past.

No, we are not there yet, and we won’t be as long as others have the power to decide when Black folks have been given enough. In this case, the decision rests with the nine jus tices that sit on the Supreme Court. And how did they get there? Think about that when you decide whether to vote on November 8. WI

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

'Give Light and People Will Find the Way'

Earlier this year, members of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools team and oth er colleagues had opportunity to attend a training session near the plantation on Maryland's Eastern Shore where Harriet Tubman was enslaved and where she returned again and again after her own es cape to lead others to freedom. The retreat's theme was "Give Light and

People Will Find the Way," the title indomitable civil rights movement justice warrior Ella Baker used for one of her training workshops at the Highlander Folk School in Tennes see. This message is relevant to the CDF Freedom Schools program's work today teaching young people they can make a difference in them selves, their families, their commu nities, their country, and their world with hope, education, and action, and the same message could also describe some of the inspiration the

Guest Columnist

team drew from Harriet Tubman's legacy.

During the retreat they visited the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Church Creek, Maryland and sites important in her life, including the plantation where her family was en slaved and the dry goods store where she was assaulted and suffered a traumatic brain injury as a child. She was standing inside that store when an enslaved boy ran in being chased by an overseer who ordered Harri

Artists Help Capture Our Political Chaos

et to help grab the boy. When she stood between the boy and the white man and did not move, the overseer hurled a lead weight at her head, leaving her bloody and unconscious. She suffered seizures, sleeping spells, and debilitating headaches the rest of her life, but also began experienc ing vivid dreams about God and vi sions and premonitions about escap ing slavery. Seeing these places and the land where she had to travel and hide reinforced how difficult her mission was and how much cour

age and determination she needed to possess in order to survive. Now, through the National Historical Park, a state park and visitor center, the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, and the Harri et Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway, a 125-mile trail that includes waterways and safe hous es she and others used as they fled towards freedom, these sites are pre served as a piece of American histo

Art can be a powerful tool for social change. Sometimes that threatens people in power.

Right now, some of America's greatest artists are contributing their time and creative talents to remind voters in Georgia what is at stake in this year's elections. And a couple of national billboard companies are refusing to let Peo ple For the American Way share some of those images with voters.

The Georgia billboards are part of a multimedia campaign to re mind voters — especially Black men — why Republican candi dates Brian Kemp and Herschel Walker are the wrong choices in this election. Georgia is ground zero for attacks on our democracy by MAGA extremists with agendas calculated to stop progress.

The billboard campaign is de signed to expose hard truths to voters in a way that makes these attacks real — and motivates peo ple to vote. "As artists, we can

create art that addresses the ills of systems that devastate the fabric of our families, our communities, and our nation," says renowned multimedia artist Carrie Mae Weems. "Artistic expression can inspire people to channel their en ergy into voting for a better future for everyone."

The billboard campaign is also part of a broader long-term proj ect to engage artists in making political and social change. As a longtime civil rights leader, I know that there is a long lineage of art ists whose music, poetry, spoken

word, and visual arts have helped energize our great social justice movements. Weems and other art ists participating in this campaign have taken their place in that hon orable history. They include Vic toria Cassinova, Shepard Fairey, Alyson Shotz, Deborah Kass and Cleon Peterson.

Shotz, whose art depicts the at tack on the U.S. Capitol by peo ple trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after Trump lost the 2020 election, notes that art played a crucial role in the nation al mobilization to defeat fascism in

the 1940s.

"Now this task is upon us again, to fight the power of authoritari ans and conspiracists, racists and nativists and fear-mongers," she says. "It falls to us, We the People, to save democracy, through our actions, through our art, through our votes."

Art can speak to our hearts. That's part of its power to pro voke thought, emotion, and ac tion. And that is why censorship is often a weapon wielded by those

I just saw the movie, “Till.”

If you need the inspiration to vote in the 2022 midterms, and in every election moving forward at the federal, state, and local levels of government, vote for Emmett Till.

Of course, it is not possible to lit erally vote for Till. At age 14, he was brutally murdered by a lynch mob on the night of August 28, 1955, while on vacation in Money, Mississippi.

What was the crime? Whistling at the owner of a convenience store, Carolyn Bryant Donham, a White woman. Her husband, Roy Bryant, was part of the lynch mob.

Years after Till’s death, as well as that of her husband and others who participated in the murder, Donham, the daughter of a plantation manager and nurse, recanted her story of that afternoon. During the 1955 trial, all charged with kidnapping and murder were acquitted by an all-white jury. Donham testified that Till grabbed

her hand, and waist, and proposi tioned her, saying he had been with “White women before.” However, in a 2008 interview with writer Timothy Tyson, he says Donham told him, “That part’s not true.”

She also admitted, “Nothing that boy did could ever justify what hap pened to him.”

No one served time for Till’s mur der. Not Roy Bryant. Not J.W. Milam. Not Donham. Bryant and Milam ad mitted to torturing and killing Till less than a year after the murder and trial

in an interview with Look Magazine, for which they were paid $4,000.

I am not aware of Look Magazine making any monetary payment to the Till family or the Civil Rights Move ment.

Bryant and Milam are deceased. Donham, 88, resides in North Caroli na.

Even after Till’s family members investigating his death discovered an unserved arrest warrant for Donham last August. A grand jury, after seven hours of deliberations, returned a “No

Bill” to charges of kidnapping and manslaughter.

The movie “Till” is the story of Ma mie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her son’s murder. Even if you know the story of this chapter of American history, it is still painful to watch. I wiped away tears when the actress portraying Till-Mobley, Danielle Deadwyler, screamed with a sorrow that can only come from a mother’s soul, upon seeing the crate

Ben Jealous

Marian Wright Edelman

Guest

Austin Cooper

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Giving Cannabis Access to Banks Will Improve Equity, Inclusion

Cannabis sales are legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and the list is growing. But legally li censed cannabis dispensaries are sit ting ducks for robberies and violence because federal law makes them predominantly cash-only businesses. They do not have full use of the U.S. banking system, which means they have limited access to credit or even credit cards as do other businesses. That needs to change. It’s great

news that President Biden has finally moved to address some of the racial wrongs of our nation’s failed war on cannabis. To keep progress moving forward, the U.S. Congress should pass the SAFE Banking Act this year to make cannabis sales safer by mak ing dispensaries less cash-heavy.

I opened Anacostia Organics in Washington, D.C., three years ago in one of our city’s most economical ly challenged communities. When I opened the dispensary, I looked for ward to helping my many neighbors and friends who needed cannabis

Guest Columnist

for medical reasons -- including se niors, veterans, and people with dis abilities. I had no idea that cannabis presented a minefield of challenges. Finding and leasing viable space was an ordeal. Licensing fees were exorbitant. Paying the high cost of insurance made operating almost unsustainable. My own credit was impacted. Grants and SBA loans are not accessible to cannabis business es. I couldn’t even use the equity in my Anacostia residence.

The threat of crime is also a prob lem. This year alone, Anacostia Or

Voters Must Decide Which Way to Go

or intimidate politicians who object ed to his behavior have deepened the divide.

Some early voting is already un derway in the 2022 elections. By all accounts, turnout is remarkably high; the partisan divide remarkably deep. The days when both parties were broad coalitions of liberals, moderates and conservatives are long gone. The partisan sorting-out began when Re publicans responded to the civil rights movement by seeking to capture the white vote in the South. Now, Trump's successful efforts to purge

Of course, candidates in both par ties often labor to blur the differences on key issues in the general election. Republicans, for example, ardently oppose abortion. Yet in many cam paigns, candidates who loudly sup ported banning abortions without exception in the primaries now claim to support exceptions of one sort or another in the general.

Similarly, campaign rhetoric and ads often distort or even smear op ponents. Republicans call Democrats

"socialists," claim they want to defund the police, let murderers loose on the streets, open the borders, "replace" white voters and take away all guns. The charges are so extreme they dis prove themselves, but they rouse var ious parts of the party's base. No one should be fooled. The real contrasts are clear and stark. For example:

On the economy. Republicans be lieve in trickle-down economics — tax cuts for the rich and the corporations, spending cuts for social services, and deregulation, particularly on protec tions for consumers and the environ ment. They oppose unions and raising

Voting Matters! It’s Not Too Late

The 2022 midterm elections are perhaps the most consequential in our lifetime. While similar declara tions are made every voting cycle, this is especially true this year. Whether abortion rights, criminal justice, hu man rights, health care, or a plethora of others, each election cycle has its share of issues that take prominence and precedence over others.

This year, none is more important

than the preservation of our democ racy. While we have major issues that demand our attention, it is quite pos sible that if we do not vote now to save our democracy, then we will have little or no hope for addressing any of the issues that are important to us, such as equal rights, equity, and yes, the economy. If we lose our democ racy, we have no hope of pursuing them through a democratic process.

Election deniers and suppressors are working overtime to ensure that our vote is nullified or diluted. We must respond in such large numbers

that we overwhelm and thwart their efforts, until we gain the political power to overturn their suppressive voter restrictions. Their goal is not to ensure governance through a demo cratic process, but to take control in an autocratic manner. While they shout about election abuse, their intent is to use abusive tactics to maintain con trol. Let's be clear, they are afraid of losing in open and fair elections.

As we continue declaring to the world that our lives matter, we must remind ourselves of the one fact that gives life to this declaration, it is the

ganics had two robbery attempts. Cannabis stores across the country are prime targets. A deadly shooting in Los Angeles County is one of the latest incidents. Dispensary robber ies are commonplace. Organized caravans of armed thieves have liter ally marauded cannabis businesses.

The U.S. Senate, which is located a short distance from my dispensa ry, is debating cannabis legislation. I agree with lawmakers such as Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) who believe the lack of equity and diversity in the cannabis industry is a big prob

lem. Like him, I support reforming the system to open the door of op portunity for those unjustly incar cerated or weighed down by crimi nal records.

But along with those changes, the Senate should give cannabis compa nies complete access to commercial bank services. The cash-heavy re quirements in the business today are unsustainable and outmoded.

That’s where the SAFE Banking Act comes in. As states continue

the minimum wage.

Democrats believe in middle-up economics. They want to empower workers to organize and raise the min imum wage. Under President Biden, they passed measures to rebuild our decrepit infrastructure, investments to regain our edge in research and devel opment, incentives to keep high-tech and alternative energy innovation here at home. They seek to pay for these things by raising taxes on the rich and on corporations.

On abortion, Republicans oppose abortion, and seek at the state and national level to restrict it as much as

possible. Democrats favor a woman's right over her own body and oppose the Supreme Court's decision that overturned that right.

On crime, Republicans oppose po lice reform. They tout gun rights and oppose gun control. Democrats favor reforming police, even if it requires more funding for training and more staffing. Democrats favor stronger gun control, while not challenging the right to own a gun.

On immigration, Republicans, since Trump, favor building the wall,

fact that voting still matters. Not just because many people died for the pre cious right to vote, though that alone is enough and worth fighting for, but voting still impacts the political deci sions which determine nearly every aspect of the quality of our lives.

According to a 2022 Pew Research Center article, “Key facts about Black eligible voters in 2022,” by Mohamad Moslimani, Black Americans are pro jected to account for 13.6% of all eli gible voters in the United States in the November elections. This is political power. Power to determine outcomes

in critical races.

The National Urban League de clares that “For African Americans, full voter participation isn’t a goal; it’s a necessity.” In the 2022 NUL State of Black America, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League wrote “… and since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the United States has seen a steady rise in disenfranchisement practices giving one party an edge over the other. But never before has

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

George H. Lambert, Jr.

Linda Mercado Greene

JACKSON

LIFESTYLE

Documentary Chronicles President Biden’s First Year Juggling Too Many Issues, An Understatement

Brenda C. Siler

WI Contributing Writer

“Year One: A Political Odyssey” examines the first year of President Biden’s administration. Premiering in October on HBO and HBO Max, the timing for the release of this documentary feels like it was positioned to help people under stand how government, especially foreign policy, works.

The opening scenes are from In auguration Day, January 20, 2021, focusing on the massive security that was in place around Capitol Hill and the White House. The se curity approach was to be expected due to the occasion, but with Jan

uary 6 seared in our recent collec tive memory, things were amped up several notches.

“A lot of steps and precautions were being taken. We couldn’t even get close enough to drive here on our first day,” former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said about getting to her office. “All the senior staff met at the zoo, then got on buses. We watched the inauguration on our phones.”

Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker John Maggio and ex ecutive produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist David Sanger, “Year One” looks at the work of key Biden staffers, tackling major is

sues, and the realization that even with an innovative, dynamic team, it still was not enough.

“You're gonna need a bigger boat,” the memorable line from the movie “Jaws” is the best anal ogy for what the 46th President of the United States encountered.

Sanger is more than an exec utive producer on “Year One.” He has covered the White House since the Clinton administration and worked on big national secu rity projects. His on-camera time looks at how key administration staff made tough decisions. Sanger also evaluates wins and missteps by the Biden White House.

“For Biden, the biggest chal lenge is to make clear that de mocracy could be a winning formula for everybody,” Sanger said. “To do that, he brought

“A lot of steps and precautions were being taken. We couldn’t even get close enough to drive here on our first day,” former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said about getting to her office. “All the senior staff met at the zoo, then got on buses. We watched the inauguration on our phones.”

back the people he knew best.”

To hit the ground running, the President brings to his cabinet and other strategic senior people he worked with during his Senate and Vice President roles. The initial team includes Chief of Staff Ron Klain, Secretary of State Antho ny Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, U.S. Special Pres idential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, National Security Advisor of the United States Jake Sullivan, Director of the Central Intelli gence Agency William Burns, and Counselor to the President and White House Coronavirus Re sponse Coordinator Jeff Zeints.

Going until the State of the Union in March 2022, “Year One” highlights many significant issues the current administration man ages. Everyone knew that tackling

COVID-19 would be number one. Not expected was the push back by Biden supporters toward the vaccine, CDC travel proto cols, and the Omicron variant.

Getting out of Afghanistan was ill-prepared, leading to disastrous results. The U.S. turned into a ping-pong ball in a taunting game between China and Russia. Un like Afghanistan, America seemed to be better prepared for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a conversation with his edi tor, it was easy for Sanger to sum marize what the President has en countered beyond the unexpected.

“Ukraine is going to be a con stant diplomatic effort. It will haunt the next three years of his presidency,” Sanger said in 2021. “What do you do if this ambi tious, deadly gambit by Putin succeeds? No one knows what the world will look like five or 10 or 15 years from now.”

Releasing “Year One” during October, right before the midterms, was probably considered strategic to show the Biden ad ministration’s accomplishments. Viewers may have different opin ions. “Year One: A Political Od yssey” is available on HBO and HBO Max. See the trailer at https://youtu.be/oBqYdSbz6_w. WI

LIFESTYLE

Meadows, Fernando, and Two Pianos – Just Sublime

Audience Received Joy From Talented Local Musicians

Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Surely, Mark G. Meadows and James Fernando spent many hours crafting their recent piano duo con cert at Strathmore’s AMP at Pike & Rose in Rockville. Planning for “Two Pianos,” the master pianists and composers exchanged several emails about what jazz pianists they liked. Their similar likes included Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jar rett, Oscar Peterson, and Thelonious Monk. Still using email, the pianists shared music compositions they liked. What the audience learned was that Meadows and Fernando met for the first time face-to-face at soundcheck the afternoon of their performance. No virtual meetings took place, probably a phone chat in advance, but a full multi-day, multihour rehearsal did not occur. That is how excellent they are.

“When you know, you know. That’s how it is with music,” Mead ows said about their approach for the concert. “The only thing left to say is ‘What key?’”

Beginning the set with each pluck ing their piano strings announced that the audience would see some thing different in this concert. It was a bit of improvisation. Then I heard Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train” emerged. Next, they played “Blue sette,” composed by jazz harmonicist Toots Thielemans followed by Chick

Corea’s “Humpty Dumpty.” There were other wonderful songs that used a “call and response” approach, showing Fernando and Meadows were souls in sync. Eye contact and nodding queues kept the two con nected.

Meadows and Fernando are also connected as both are alums of Strathmore’s Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program. Fernando was in the 2021 AIR class and is described as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist” by World Music Report. This Berklee College of Mu sic graduate is known for weaving jazz, classical and electronic sounds in his music. Fernando’s sixth CD, “Piano Poetry,” will be released in February.

“I recorded most of the music from my apartment,” Fernando said. “It’s a lot of short, sweet solo piano pieces with some electronics and col laborations.”

A native Washingtonian, Mead ows was in the AIR program several years before Fernando.

Meadows has become an accom plished top producer of whatever he sets out to do. He was the mu sic director for Signature Theatre’s production of “The Color Purple” musical. He also produces cabarets like his “Hotter Than July” event at Signature this past summer, fea turing the music of Stevie Wonder. The music director, composer, and

singer keeps a busy schedule. He did an outdoor concert a few months ago for Strathmore and recently brought his group to the music hall to take Montgomery County Public Schools fifth graders on a journey to learn about the blues.

Both artists are educators, training other musicians to sharpen their mu sical instincts. “Two Pianos” showed the audience that Meadows and Fer nando have sensibilities that deliv ered an impressive first-time concert collaboration.

Learn more about Mark G. Mead ows at https://www.markgmeadows. com. Find out more about James Fernando at http://www.jamesfer nando.com.

WI @bcscomm

5 “Two Pianos,” held recently at AMP at Pike & Rose, featured (L-R) James Fernando and Mark G. Meadows, master pianists/composers, for their first concert collaboration. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

Acclaimed Actor Pens Crime Thriller Series for Lavette Books

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

It’s one thing to write a crime thriller for the first time, but the next level is when none other than James Patterson praises the book in a preview.

That is the catbird seat where acclaimed actor and producer Eriq La Salle now sits.

The Emmy-nominated actor has released the first of a three-book deal with Lavette Books/The Poi soned Pen Books, imprints related to the Ebony Publishing family.

Laws of Depravity, the first of fering in the series, dropped on November 1.

La Salle will then release Laws of Wrath and then Laws of Annihila tion. Finally, a prequel follows the last offering.

The series takes place in New York in 2011 when authorities find a priest murdered.

“Detectives must track down a serial killer who continues to esca late his crimes, LaSalle explained during a recent appearance on the National Newspaper Publisher’s Association’s live morning news show, Let It Be Known.

He notes that the “Martyr Mak er” character has struck for 30 years, leaving behind a legacy of torture and fear.

“The detectives [Quincy Cava naugh and Phee Freeman], and FBI agent Janet Maclin, know that they have very little time to catch the killer because they know he’ll disappear forever,” La Salle stated.

According to a preview of the se ries, the investigation takes a more challenging turn when authorities discover that the seemingly un related clergymen are “anything but the symbols of godliness they would have their community be lieve.”

“All thriller, no filter,” Patterson exclaimed about La Salle’s series.

“A white-knuckled treat,” he re marked.

Traditional reviewers were just as excited.

“A delightfully twisting roll

er-coaster ride through light, dark, and the shades between,” Kirkus Reviews touted.

“A heart-pounding ride of ven geance, murder, and atonement,” opined Neal Baer, a former exec utive producer of Law and Order SVU.

Publishers Weekly called the se ries a “gritty crime thriller, spiritu al quest, and love story all woven into one compelling tale.”

“Unfortunately, there has his torically been a blatant underrep resentation of authors of color in the thriller/suspense genre,” re marked La Salle, who played Dr. Peter Benton on the hit television drama ER.

That role earned La Salle seven NAACP Image Award nomina tions and three wins, seven Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations and four wins, three Primetime Emmy nominations, and a Gold en Globe nod.

La Salle also starred in “Coming to America,” “One Hour Photo,” and “Logan,” among other films and television shows.

“I am both honored and elated to have my thriller series selected to help launch this incredible en deavor of showcasing universally compelling stories that exist be yond race and gender,” La Salle stated.

Stay Informed!

5 Eriq La Salle. (Photo courtesy Wikimedia commons)

LIFESTYLE Black Press Publishers Honor

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. with NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

When the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) re moved the interim president and CEO tag from Dr. Benjamin F. Cha vis Jr. in 2014, then NNPA Board Chair Cloves Campbell conveyed to the membership that the civil rights icon possessed the talent and contacts to make an immediate impact.

Campbell, the publisher of the Arizona Informant, also highlighted another of Chavis’ intangibles from which Black-owned media companies would benefit: energy.

Eight years later, and a decade after running the NNPA on an interim ba sis, Chavis, has continued to display the kind of energy seen primarily in individuals less than half his age.

He’s also led the NNPA, represent

ing the 195-year-old Black Press of America, to financial prosperity when newspapers and media companies universally struggle to keep the doors open.

Among the most recent accom plishments under Chavis, the Black Press finally received all-access to the White House.

It was Chavis leading a large con tingent of Black Press publishers to Charleston, South Carolina, during the 2020 primary season where they met with candidate Joe Biden.

At the time, Biden trailed might ily in the polls and needed a victory in Dixie to survive. Chavis’ interview with Biden went viral, the former vice president then received a crucial en dorsement from Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), won the primary, and his campaign rode the wave all the way to the White House.

Chavis also brokered deals with or strengthened partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, General Motors, Reynolds, AARP, American Petroleum Institute, and many others.

Three years ago, Chavis helped to shine a global spotlight on the NNPA when he began hosting “The Chavis Chronicles,” a weekly program on PBS-TV and PBS-World that’s carried in more than 90 million households.

As he traversed the globe – in pro tective gear – during the pandemic, Chavis, by his actions and deft deal making, often reminded publishers, partners, sponsors, employees, and others of the catchy slogan he’s lived by since he was a wide-eyed 14-yearold serving in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference under Dr.

5 Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, will receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in St. Thomas in February/Courtesy NNPA

CHAVIS

Major League Baseball’s Shameful Diversity Record: First World Series Without Black Player Since 1950 When Jim Crow Laws Ruled America

Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

On August 13, 1950, a white police officer murdered 22-year-old Hilliard Brooks Jr., a Black man, on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

The bus driver had called the po lice claiming that Brooks had caused a disturbance. Brooks’ crime: refusing to enter or exit the bus through the rear as Jim Crow laws demanded.

While similar incidents of brutal ity would continue, the Civil Rights Movement led to noticeable change. Only recently, perhaps in response to Barack Obama becoming the first Black U.S. President, has the strug gle against racial hatred and white supremacists in America gone back ward.

And as the slogan goes, baseball “is as American as Apple Pie.” It’s an escape from reality for many, and for some, it’s the one sport that’s sup posed to mirror wholesome Ameri can values.

As the Houston Astros and Phil adelphia Phillies battle in the 2022 edition – or the 181st- World Series,

the America baseball resembles is scary. The teams combined consisted of a group of white Americans and a sprinkling of [perhaps not as wel come] immigrants.

It’s the first World Series since 1950, two months after Brooks’ brutal murder, when the New York Yankees swept the Philadelphia Phil lies, that neither team has at least one African American player.

“Nah, don’t tell me that,” Houston Astros Manager Dusty Baker lament ed. “That’s terrible for the state of the game. Wow! Terrible. I’m ashamed of the game. Quote me. I am ashamed of the game,” reaffirmed Baker, an African American.

Tony Clark, the head of the Major League Baseball Players’ Union, said the reason there is no African Amer ican representation lies with years of inattention by the sport to U.S.-born Black people.

“It is truly unfortunate that any young Black player who may be watching these games tonight is not going to see someone that looks like them and, as a result, may make a decision against continuing to play

our great game and move on to something else,” Clark said just as the World Series kicked off in Houston.

“That is disappointing and dis heartening,” he insisted.

Clark said that the camaraderie among Black players is the reason why the World Series shutout hurts.

“When I first started playing, play ers made sure, Black players on your team and other teams made sure that you were encouraged and supported, recognizing that even at that time, the numbers weren’t as high, so you were less likely in a lot of ways to see someone that looked like you or

LIFESTYLE

Participation in the FAME Jazz Band Program (FJBP) is open to middle & high school students who are eager to grow in their artistic expression, as well as maintain high academic standards in the classroom. All Jazz Band instruments are invited. This is a tuition Free program.

Who: All middle and high school students. Applicants must be committed to playing their musical instrument and performing jazz music. Homeschooled students are encouraged to apply.

W h AT:

Instrumental instruction

Music theory

Academic tutoring

Music technology

College preparatory sessions

Summer enrichment programs

Live performances and recordings

And more!

W h EN: Audition Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022 Registration Open: Saturday, October 1, 2022 Registration Closes: Monday, October 31, 2022

W h ERE: In person, University of Maryland School of Music in College Park Maryland / Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School

ly No W: www.FAMEmusic.org

came from the same place that you did,” Clark remarked. “Toward the end, less and less of those conversa tions were being had because there were less of those players to have them with.”

While Black players made up about 18 percent of all MLB rosters when researchers from TIDES first began assessing the league’s demo graphic data in 1991, Black players represented only 7.2 percent of all MLB players at the start of the 2022 season.

Researchers at TIDES – The In stitute for Diversity and Ethics in

Sports – reported that the percentage of Black players “has been a serious concern for many years.”

TIDES reported that 38 percent of all players on Opening Day 2022 were players of color – approximately 28.5 percent Hispanic or Latino, 1.9 percent Asian, and less than 1 percent Hawaiian/Pacific Islander or Native American.

“Well, I don’t think that’s some thing that baseball should really be proud of,” Baker said. “It looks bad. It lets people know that it didn’t take a year, or even a decade, to get to this point.” WI

5 In 1970, neighborhood residents worked with Anacostia Community Museum staff to transform the vacant lot next to the museum into People’s Park. Painting murals on the walls and planting a community garden also helped to transform people’s lives. This is image is one of a handful from ACM’s collection that will be featured in “The Utopia Project” which seeks to deconstruct the reasons why social change happens and will utilize the stories of everyday people in the ACM collec tion to help remind us that the ingredients for change are in each of us. (Credit: People’s Park, 1970. Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution)

What is your Utopia?

By Trenda Davidson

Utopia…What comes to your mind when you hear that word? Do you think of peace? Do you think of a world where you have all the money in the world? Or do you think of what it would be like to have the perfect world, where there are no problems or hardships.

Here at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, we invite you to come and dream of what your Utopia would look like in our new in gallery experience, The Utopia Project: Inspiration for Creative Activism. This is a chance for you to come and get in touch with what you care about, visualize the future in our dream space, and learn the creative methods that create social change in today’s world. The purpose of The Utopia Project is to challenge the status quo and rethink the world we live in today. Between racism, hunger, poverty, and all the other problems of the world, what are some steps you can take to get one step closer to Utopia? The Utopia Project: Inspiration for Creative Activism will inspire you on ways you can go out and be the catalyst of change in our specially designed makerspace - outfitted with everything from cardboard and tape to Legos and sketch books.

The Utopia Project: Inspiration for Creative Activism is a unique exhibition that not only will challenge your reality but will motivate and influence you to want to be bet ter and do better for not only yourself, but for the people and the community around you. So if you want to be a change maker and start taking action then I invite you to come and check out The Utopia Project: Inspiration for Creative Ac tivism at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum and it is great for people of all ages, backgrounds, and creeds. The interactive experience runs through March 1, 2023. You can learn more at: https://anacostia.si.edu/utopiaproject

Black Adam, Super Hero or Not?

DB Bantino

WI Film Reviewer

The movie, Black Adam, is an ex citing, comical action-packed film that includes a mix of gods, super heroes, and humans that all serve the same purpose of saving a city called Khandaq. The city’s residents lived under military occupation for 27 years by a gang called Intergang, against whom they continuously fought for freedom.

Black Adam, the main character played by Dwayne Johnson, was imprisoned for five thousand years and was finally released by a citizen of Khandaq in hopes that he would save them from the Intergang. Once released, the members of The Justice Society, a league of superheroes, ar rive to protect the people from Black Adam. They believe that he would not be able to control his powers and would eventually destroy the city. As the story evolves, Black Adam and the Justice Society must learn to work together to protect Khandaq from its true enemies.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who also directed Jungle Cruise, Or phan, and many others, said he was inspired to direct this movie because of his belief that there are people still enslaved in this world. “We are all still fighting to receive the justice we de serve,” Serra explained.

In an interview, he states that he became a fan of the character Black Adam because he likes characters who are in between doing the right thing and doing what needs to be done. This is true for Black Adam, who was considered a hero and a threat by others.

Johnson, who also starred in Serra’s Jungle Cruise, played the character of Black Adam. Noah Cinteneo played Adam Smasher, a hero reminiscent of Antman from the Marvel Universe films. He is silly by nature while pos sessing the power to grow extraordi narily large, which can be helpful but annoying, clumsy, and often in the way.

Pierce Brosnan, who starred as James Bond in such films as Golden Eye and Tomorrow Never Dies, plays Dr. Fate. He is a member of the Jus tice Society and has unique powers, including telepathy, telekinesis, tele

portation, and various forms of spell casting. Aldis Hodge, from Straight Out of Compton and Hidden Fig ures, plays Hawkman. And Quintes sa Swindell, who starred in HBO’s Euphoria, plays the role of Cyclone, a hero that can control the wind with her mind.

The film has many jaw-dropping special effects that keep you on the edge of your seat. Thanks to designer duo Kurt and Bart, who also worked on films such as Deadpool 2 and Hunger Games, you’ll see great cos tume designs. The combination of highly creative costumes and effects resulted in beautiful scenery with so much detail it made a fictional loca tion seem real.

While my eyes were in a happy place, my ears were also satisfied by the soundtrack, which Lorn Balfe scored. It included original music consisting of heavy strings, choirs, and dark classical music. Several songs played in the movie were not included in the soundtrack, includ ing Kanye West’s Power which played at the perfect time.

I could tell the actors enjoyed play ing their roles in this film, making it much more enjoyable to watch. Noah Cinteneo, Hawkman, actually dislocated his arm twice on set and continued to do a great job.

If you like films such as 300 or Mad Max you will also enjoy this film. The director Jaume Collet - Ser ra compared Black Adam to Dirty Harry, a 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood. He said it was because of his similar methods of revenge. There are some similarities. I recommend you see this film and develop your own conclusion. WI

@DBBantino

LIFESTYLE

CHAVIS from Page 36

Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership.

“A luta continua” – or “the struggle continues.”

Because of his dedication and steadying hand, the historic all-Black woman board of the NNPA unani mously chose Chavis as the recipient of the NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

They will present the honor at a special gala during the NNPA’s annu al midwinter training conference in February 2023.

“Digital Innovation, Training, and Engagement of the Black Press of America,” is the conference theme that will convene on Feb. 1 at the brandnew Westin Beach Resort at French men’s Reef, Estate Bakkeroe, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

“I’m very honored to be consid ered by the NNPA for this esteemed award,” Chavis remarked.

“I do believe that, if anything, my life represents a life of a freedom fight er. However, I want to emphasize that accepting this award in no way should be interpreted as saying that the strug gle for freedom has been completely won.”

Chavis continued:

“We’ve made tremendous progress in the last 100 years, but we still have a lot of progress and freedom to fight for.

“If I’ve learned anything over my last 75 years, it’s that when you win freedom to any extent, you must fight to preserve that freedom. You must fight to protect that freedom, endow that freedom, and sustain that free dom.

“Thus, I’m not willing to retire from being a freedom fighter. So, I ac cept this award as an incentive to keep fighting for freedom for people of Af rican descent, Americans, and those worldwide.”

Chavis has a well-documented his tory.

The leader of the Wilmington 10 political prisoners, Chavis is also re nowned for his early fight for environ mental justice.

In the 1980s, he coined the term “environmental racism.”

Chavis has advised many prom inent politicians and entertainers –many like Hip Hop and Business Mo gul Russell Simmons, refer to Chavis as a mentor.

A former NAACP president, Cha vis organized the Million Man March and co-founded the Hip Hop Sum

mit with Simmons.

A younger generation of admirers still approaches Chavis in awe over his appearance in the hip hop classic mov ie drama, “Belly.”

Many of all ages continue to revere Chavis as a civil rights leader and a rev erend.

“Dr. Chavis has given meaning to the words of Micah 6:8 in the Bible,” said San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Publisher Dr. John Warren.

Quoting the King James Bible, Warren said of Chavis, “And what does the Lord thy God require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”

Chavis has served the NNPA and “the people of this country with hon esty, integrity, and selflessness, without looking for awards, recognition, or ac colades,” said NNPA Vice Chair and Atlanta Voice Publisher Janis Ware.

“Today, we celebrate a man who leads with heart, love for his God, and all people from all walks of life. He is truly a rare human being. One to go down in the annals of human history as special and one for the ages.”

NNPA Treasurer and Texas Metro News Publisher Cheryl Smith also praised Chavis for having “led a life of service.”

“He is a true servant leader who has his finger on the pulse of our people, our communities, and the world,” Smith asserted.

“I am so appreciative of his leader ship, wisdom, and support,” she add ed.

Katie Mariko Murray Cinderella Jake Loewenthal The Baker

Photo of Shayla S. Simmons by Christopher Mueller

Alex De Bard Little Red Riding Hood

Phylicia Rashad as the voice of The Giant

Payton

Witch Erin Weaver

Baker’s Wife

I’ve learned anything over my last 75 years, it’s that when you win freedom to any extent, you must fight to preserve that freedom. You must fight to pro

tect that freedom, endow that freedom, and sustain that freedom."

LIFESTYLE

NNPA Fund Chairman and Los Angeles Wave Publications CEO Pluria Marshall Jr. called Chavis a po tent and stabilizing force.

“For more than ten years, Ben has been a potent and stabilizing force for NNPA and its nonprofit NNPA Fund,” Marshall insisted.

“He is a visionary consensus builder and community advocate whose calm and deft communication skills have helped make the Black Press an even stronger media force in America.”

Marshall continued:

“From his longtime commitment to civil rights to his ardent passion for equity and justice, Ben has consistent ly proven himself to be the consum mate public servant.

“He is more than deserving of this lifetime achievement award, and I am pleased to endorse his selection to this prestigious honor.”

Chavis noted that those sentiments mean a great deal.

“This award is particularly signif icant because it comes from my col leagues, fellow publishers, journalists, editors, and writers,” Chavis said.

“It reminds me of what James Bald win reminded me of when he said the pen is mightier than the sword.”

“I’m thankful I’ve been able to use my pen as an instrument for freedom.

I accept this award on behalf of the Chavis family, a freedom-fighting family fighting for freedom worldwide for over 250 years.”

Westside Gazette Publisher Bobby Henry said it’d been some time since

someone has stood on the shoulders of history makers to demand freedom, justice, and equality for all, particularly for Black people after enduring suffer ing because of the fight.

“I am one to say, because of the strength, courage, and fortitude of the

Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the Black Press of America, the NNPA, and the world are better because of him,” Henry asserted.

“Congratulations, Dr. Chavis. A luta continua.”

While preparing for the conference, Chavis said he was far from finished.

“When I came to this job ten years ago, I came with a sense of optimism,” Chavis recalled.

“Now, ten years later, my optimism has increased exponentially because I see the potential of the Black Press. I’m very pleased to see so many young Generation Z journalists, writers, pho tographers, and content creators.”

“I think the future in this digital space … it’s not just that we should be in this space but leading the space forward. So, my optimism is still in

tact and has increased because I’ve seen not only the expansion and success of the Black Press over the last decade, but I’ve seen glimpses of the brighter future ahead.

“The biggest challenge is the eco nomic and equity question. We must work on that to sustain Black-owned businesses, particularly Black-owned media, economically and equitably. That’s the next hurdle, and I will live out my years making sure that we don’t miss a beat in improving the economic equity of Black-owned businesses and Black-owned media companies.”

For discounted resort rates for the NNPA Midwinter Training Con ference in St. Thomas, and for more information, visit www.nnpa-events. com.

WI

“I’m thankful I’ve been able to use my pen as an instrument for freedom.“

LIFESTYLE

horoscopes

"Someday, Maybe: A Novel"

By Onyi Nwabineli c.2022, Graydon House

reviewwi book Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

It's possible.

Not now, but probably later … if at all. The thing is, you're patient and you can wait. It'll happen eventually, one way or the other, and you're fine with things as they are in the meantime. You're good. Whatever you hope for, it's possible — except when, as in the new novel "Someday, Maybe" by Onyi Nwabineli, life has other plans.

She prayed that he hadn't read the last texts she sent to his phone.

Eve Ezenwa-Morrow had been angry at her husband, Quentin. She'd sent him a flurry of "where are you?" messages that escalated until she actually went to his photography studio to give him a piece of her mind — and found him lying in a pool of blood, dead.

This, clearly, was wrong. Young husbands are not supposed to kill them selves. They do not leave their wives to figure it out, to wonder why, to get on with life, to deal with his mother who blames the wife. Who always blamed the wife for everything.

Thank heaven Eve's parents were medical people; they gave her sedatives and watched over her. Thank heaven her sister, Gloria, was a lawyer who looked out for her as Eve lay in bed, unable to do anything but sleep and cry. Thank heavens her younger brother, Nate, didn't leave her alone — al though alone was what she really wanted.

Alone from her persistent Nigerian family, alone from her loony bosses at work, from her best friend, and especially, she wanted Aspen to stop calling. Eve had nothing to say to her husband's mother; Aspen would never have listened anyway. She was more focused on driving a wedge between Eve and Q that never quite stuck.

Why didn't Eve see that Q was unhappy if, indeed, that was why he com mitted suicide? Why didn't he say something, send her an email, try to talk it out with her, something? He didn't even leave her a note. No, instead, he left her something else that she wasn't really even sure she wanted …

If "Someday, Maybe" were alive, you would be compelled to pick it up, hold it to your shoulder, and pat it until it hiccuped raggedy breaths. You'd murmur comforting things. This book hurts in a way that's familiar to any one who's tragically lost someone close.

That bawling-til-you-can't-breathe feeling is front-and-center inside this book; in fact, it's large and overwhelming and it's almost a character in itself. And yet, author Onyi Nwabineli portrays grief so well that there's humor inside this tale, in those moments of completely inappropriate laughter that happen sometimes, making outsiders think the bereaved has lost her mind. These up-and-down emotions — humor that's not out-of-place, howling pain, and hope — are wrapped inside a family drama that you oughtn't even try to resist.

Readers shouldn't expect soggy tears forever but if you're fresh to grief, this book may be too much to bear right now. If you're good, though, you'll find that "Someday, Maybe" is, too. Will you love it?

Yeah, it's pretty possible. WI

ARIES If you feel like you've been misunderstood by your nearest and dearest and even those in your wider friend circle recently, you'll be able to smooth things in the beginning of the week. Getting clear on what you want and what you want to express to those around you will be integral to getting in sync. Lucky Numbers: 2, 16, 36

TAURUS You might have had to deal with delays around new investments and making progress with potential job opportunities, but you'll finally get the green light to move forward in this department at the start of the week. Your job now is to figure out what projects are worthy of your attention and energy and which might feel like a wrong fit now and in the future. Lucky Numbers: 8, 18, 26

GEMINI If you've been spending the past few weeks reflecting on your personal brand and how you want to be perceived out in the world but holding back on taking concrete action, you can put your most creative, lucrative ideas to work for yourself in the beginning of the week. You may realize that the more you practice self-love, the better the results. Lucky Numbers: 4, 14, 29

CANCER You've likely felt caught up in your fantasies and emotions for the past several weeks, but as this week starts, you could feel more at peace with this dreamy moment. Perhaps you'll have established a process for meditating on your deepest desires that truly serves you. Just know that you're still laying the groundwork for what's to come, and for now you're exactly where you need to be. Lucky Numbers: 18, 26, 38

LEO If you've been wanting to better wrap your head around what's really going on in your deepest rela tionships, you'll be able to take off the rose-colored glasses and see more clearly at the start of the week. This reality check can make it easier to decide what the future holds for you both, whether that's related to strengthening your romantic connection or making business moves together in order to achieve a shared financial goal. Lucky Numbers: 13, 17, 49

VIRGO When the week starts, you'll be able to see the forest for the trees when it comes to your closest one-on-one bonds. For instance, if a romantic relationship is lacking reciprocity, or you could stand to imbue your business partnership with more balance, this moment will open your eyes to that reality. Lucky Numbers: 5, 27, 45

LIBRA At the start of the week, you might have felt a bit blue about having to hit pause on dreaming big and making future, horizon-broadening plans. Thankfully, you'll have a couple weeks to dive into those waters once more. Self-assuredness and specificity can set you on a promising path. Lucky Num bers: 8, 11, 50

SCORPIO In the beginning of the week, you'll be able to gain more clarity around creative and relation ship pursuits. A more objective perspective can allow you to get a better grasp on how to make the most of your artistic, loving energy. Lucky Numbers: 5, 21, 42

SAGITTARIUS As the week starts, you'll be able to reconnect with a significant other, dear friend, or close colleague who you might have been struggling to get in sync with lately. Taking any realizations you've learned about your bond into consideration can make for even more harmony. Lucky Numbers: 22, 27, 59

CAPRICORN If you've been wanting to meet up with a colleague to discuss a major project or run a pro posal by higher-ups, the energy is ripe for a positive result as the week begins. Being sure to not only talk about the facts at hand but also share how you feel about them can help you make a lasting impression. Later, the cosmos cranks up your desire to redecorate and make plans with loved ones. Just watch out for the tendency to butt heads with relatives. Blow off steam by channeling any fiery, aggressive energy into ambitious projects around the house. Lucky Numbers: 25, 36, 40

AQUARIUS Lately, you've felt like you're moving through molasses while trying to set up or enjoy pleasurable activities, especially with your significant other or someone special. But in the beginning of the week, the cosmos makes it easier to express what's in your heart and embrace lighthearted, loving moments with your nearest and dearest. Lucky Numbers: 3, 9, 36

PISCES A little bit of illusion and escapism can make for creative magic, but there's a time and place for rational thinking as well, and that's exactly the message you'll be getting at the start of the week. The way you truly want to present yourself to the world comes into focus during this time, and you can use that realization to sharpen and perfect your image. Lucky Numbers: 12, 14, 17

a process called photosynthesis

During summer, plants take water up from their roots to their leaves. They absorb carbon dioxide from the air. These combine to make chlorophyll which makes plant leaves green.

Photosynthesis slows in fall as winter approaches. Trees and plants live o their stored food. The green chlorophyll disappears leaving red, orange and yellow leaves. The dry, brittle leaves soon drop from trees with the help of crisp autumn breezes.

Fall Syllables

Jack o’ lantern

Leaf Acorn Harvested

SPORTS

5 Taylor Heinicke (4) launches a pass downfield during a Command ers win over the Indianapolis Colts 17-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Oct. 30. (Abdullah Konte/ The Washington Informer)

5 Terry Mclaurin (17) runs down field during a Com manders win over the India napolis Colts 17-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Oct. 30. (Abdullah Konte/ The Washington Informer)

3 Curtis Samuel (10) looks for the open hole during a Commanders win over the Indianapolis Colts 17-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in India napolis on Oct. 30. (Abdul lah Konte/ The Washington Informer)

3 Antonio Gibson (24) runs past the goal line for the touchdown during a Commanders win over the Indianapolis Colts 17-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Oct. 30. (Abdullah Konte/ The Washington Informer)

6 Darrick Forrest (22) forces a fumble during a Commanders win over the Indianapolis Colts 17-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapo lis on Oct. 30. (Abdullah Konte/ The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE

For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com

3 Grandparents and parents of Maurica, Lloyd and Ivy Campbell with Shereen and Roncliff Manyan, attend the Walk for Justice on Oct. 28th, from Goodhope Road to the Anacostia Library in Southeast. (Roy Lewis/The Washing ton Informer)

5 Trees surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court signifies fall at its peak giving visitors in a long line hoping to enter the high court, the best focus. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

6 The picturesque fall foliage on Capitol Hill. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

54 Family and friends of Maurica Manyan, who was shot while training to become a library police officer, held a Walk for Justice on Oct. 28th, from Goodhope Road to the Anacostia Library in Southeast. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

The title of this column was also the title of a poem I wrote when I graduated from Central High School, located in a farming area near Golds boro, North Carolina. Back in the 1960s, all grades, from one through 12, attended the school, even though it was called a high school. In the eighth-grade year, we would graduate with a ceremony, then go to the high school section.

The year I graduated — 1964 — my entire family had relocated the family to Washington, D.C., due to the Great Migration. Farmers were leaving the South because of the ad vent of tobacco harvesters and other equipment which eliminated the need for Black people to work in the fields. The work had dried up, so blacks were leaving the South in droves, heading north to Washing ton, D.C., Baltimore, Pennsylvania, New York and Boston, and many other locations all along the way.

Today, I realize how that poem title alone has influenced my life. Having

the religion corner

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

The Higher the Climb, the Broader the View

been born into a Christian family, with preacher parents, a father who was a pastor, I realize through a young life being brought up in church that this Scripture is true. It says in Psalm 24:3-4, "Who may climb the moun tain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies."

We all know, none are perfect. Scripture says that, too — that's why the word of God is good news. No matter where in the Bible you read, you always read it in view of the whole of scripture. The good news being that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed our hands and given us pure hearts. It's Jesus that has made a way for us to "stand in his holy place."

Climb high for a broader view is true for your life down here on earth, where man has rules which govern our lives. When you climb high, and follow biblical principles, you will surely reach your destination, unless you were headed somewhere you did not belong.

Receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior makes you a climber, someone who is willing to scale the highest heights and suffer through some falls on their way to the summit of the Lord. There is only one other option for someone who doesn't want to climb; valley dwelling.

Brothers and sisters, if you have come to the mountain of the Lord

looking to escape the problems in life, just know this: The climb of a lifetime is more than just a way out, it's a way in. Faith in the creator is not a quick fix for what ails you in life.

The first thing you'll notice on your climb will be other mountain climbers. You will find some of the best people you will ever meet, many of whom will become your lifelong friends, you help them and they will help you.

There are millions on this same journey, from all walks of life. They've started out at differing seasons of life — some young, old, successful, des titute, imprisoned, etc. Some have just started climbing, some have been climbing for a while. However, one thing they all have in common is their aptitude for altitude. They want to come to know and grow in Jesus Christ, they no longer want to dwell in the valley, and they are committed to Christ.

They have left the pretenders be hind, they are no longer a slave to the flesh, and they are obedient to Christ. Make no mistake —these people are not climbing because they know they are imperfect. They are going to slip and fall and at times look very much like the "valley dweller" they used to be. What keeps us going is that inherently we know we are dif ferent in many ways from those who are content in the valley.

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

of

Pastors

Church

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

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

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”

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

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

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

Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop

& Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor

Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews

4001 14th

NW Washington, DC

265-6147 Office 1-800

Service

Voicemail/Fax

Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service:

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

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

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

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

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

“Friendliest

Crusader Baptist Church Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Third Street Church of God

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us...

Reverend

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

All Nations Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM

Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM

Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM

Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com

All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Israel Baptist Church

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim Pastor

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Rev. Daryl F. Bell

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

RELIGION

Service and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service: 11:00

Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM

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

“Where Jesus is the King”

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

Service and Times

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

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001

Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836

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

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday

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

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

Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM

Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

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

Services:

Study:

Bible Study:

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"

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

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”

Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 Fax 202-678-3304

Service and Times

Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM

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

Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study

Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM

Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM

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

Peace Baptist Church

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

Service and Times

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

Sunday School: 9:00 AM

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

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

Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Rev

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

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500

Service and Times

Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible

All

7:00 PM

Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

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

“Changing Lives On Purpose “

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

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

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018

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

Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM 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.

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Christ Embassy DC

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Florida Avenue Baptist Church Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Shabbath Commandment Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

Damion

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Eastern Community Baptist Church

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES 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: “ Clifford William Broughton ”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ”, corp. sole Dba.: “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON© ”, “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM© ” , “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFF EL© ”, “MTL PROPERTIES©”. As natural father, and guardian of: “ Olivia Denise Broughton ”, the beneficiary and heir of: “ BROUGHTON, OLIVIA DENISE ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ OLIVIA DENISE BROUGH TON© ”, “ OLIVIA D BROUGHTON©”, “ OLIVIA BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA EL©”, &, “Clifford William Broughton Jr”, the beneficiary and heir of: “BROUGHTON JR, CLIFFORD WILLIAM”, corp.sole Dba.: “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON JR©”, “CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON JR©”, “CLIFFORD BROUGHTON JR©”, “CJ BROUGHTON© “CJ EL©”. Having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare our tribal intention to be as our pedigree subscribes, as: Aniyunwiya Moorish American Moslem Nationals, but not citizens of the United States. We declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, Unit ed Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim our nationality in good faith as: Aniyunwiya Moorish American Moslem Nationals. I am that I am: “ Clifford William Broughton ”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality Status Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ cliff el ”. My beloved daughter, “ Olivia Denise Broughton ”, from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ olivia el ”. ”. My beloved son, “Clifford William Broughton Jr”, from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ cj el ”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “ hors de combat ”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as ministers of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Persons. 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: “ South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ”, DBA: STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA: STATE FILE NUMBER, 139-1982-024832: “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON© ”, “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ” , “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFF EL© ”, “ North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ”, DBA: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: CERTIFICATE NUMBER, 201518079 : As well as “ OLIVIA D BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA DENISE BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA EL© ”, all aforementioned entities are as a special deposit order, conveyed to “Olive Branch Trust ”, &, “North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services”, DBA: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: VOLUME NUMBER, 00092, PAGE NUMBER, 2465 : As well as “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON JR© ”, “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON JR© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGH TON JR© ”, “ CJ EL© ” all aforementioned entities are as a special deposit order, conveyed to “ Humble Trust ”. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Guardian: “ cliff el ”, nom deguerre: “ clifford william broughton ”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : “ CWBII 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. Notice of Reference: 0112358-13

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

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " ashley alexis wilson ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON. As natural can mother, and guardian of: " Jayonni Jaylin Payne, the beneficiary and heir of: “ JAYONNI JAYLIN PAYNE ”, corp.sole Dba.: " JAYONNI J PAYNE ". Having reached the age of ma jority, 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 inten tion 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, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Sec tion 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: " Ashley Alexis Wil son ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar ". My beloved son, " Jayonni Jaylin Payne ", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " shiloh bosci zohar ". 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 Equita ble Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 2013157439: " JAYONNI JAYLIN PAYNE ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Guardian: " ahshael ashmil zohar ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", is as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradiptiy ", both Trust being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These depos its are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

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

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " ashley alexis wilson ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON. As nat ural can mother, and guardian of: " Ariasha Rosaliz Payne, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ARIASHA ROSALIZ PAYNE ”, corp.sole Dba.: " ARIASHA R PAYNE ". Having reached the age of ma jority, 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 inten tion to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Sec tion 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 am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar ". My beloved daughter, " Ariasha Rosaliz Payne ", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ashirra bea zohar ". 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: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 2012019337: " ARIASHA ROSALIZ PAYNE ", & is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Guardian: " ahshael ashmil zohar ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", is as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradiptiy ", both Trust being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

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

Notice of Special Appearance : am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nation ality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar© ". 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: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 1990050636 : " ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity© ". 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: " ahshael ashmil zohar© ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradipity© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

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

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " ashley alexis wilson ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON. As natural can mother, and guardian of: " Sampson E'Lonnie Payne, the beneficiary and heir of: “ SAMPSON E'LONNIE PAYNE ”, corp.sole Dba.: " SAMPSON E PAYNE ". Having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continen tal Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare per manent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Arti cle 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 gov erning moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. am that am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar ". My beloved son, " Sampson E'Lonnie Payne ", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " sampson ellion zohar ". 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: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 2015155458: " SAMPSON E'LONNIE PAYNE ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor Principal / Creditor / Guardian: " ahshael ashmil zohar ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", is as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradiptiy ", both Trust being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. 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 001044

Ndubuisi Ahaghotu aka Vincent Ahaghotu Decedent

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

Mmiriaku Ahaghotu, whose address is 6113 7th Place, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ndubuisi Ahaghotu aka Vincent Ahaghotu who died on April 20, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Mmiriaku Ahaghotu 6113 7th Place, NW Washington, DC 20011

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 400

Jacqueline Yvette Fuller Banks aka Jacqueline F. Banks Decedent

Joan M. Wilbon 1629 K Street NW, Ste. 300 Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

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

Smith T. Banks, III, whose address is 1516 Mississippi Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jacqueline Yvette Fuller Banks aka Jacqueline F. Banks who died on 12/11/2021 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 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Smith T. Banks, II 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 1086

Lydia Priscilla Maynard Decedent

Kathy Brissette-Minus, Esq. Law Office of Kathy Brissette-Minus, LLC 9701 Apollo Dr., Suite 230 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney

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

James Worthen, whose address is 5722 Perrie Lane, Camp Springs, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lydia Priscilla Maynard who died on July 2, 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 (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

James Worthen 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 001092

Leon David Tyler Jr. Decedent

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

Patreese E. Lunsford, whose address is 1171 Bayview Vista Annapolis Maryland 21409, was appointed Personal Represen tative of the estate of Leon David Tyler Jr. who died on July 30, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/20/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Reg ister of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Patreese E. Lunsford Personal Representative

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 001119

Estate of Robert H. Faulkner

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Robyn Faulkner Barnes for standard probate, includ ing the appointment of one or more personal representatives.

Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Admit to probate the will dated September 2007 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise Appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 10/20/2022

Joan M. Wilbon 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 1070

Wade H. Skinner aka Wade Skinner Decedent

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

Sheila E. Skinner, whose address is 4122 Fairfax St., Landover Hills, Md 20784, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wade H. Skinner aka Wade Skinner who died on December 12, 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 April 20, 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 April 20, 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 with in 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: October 20, 2022

Sheila E. Skinner Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2021 ADM 000593

Lolita Charlene Hackerson Decedent

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

Thomas Hackerson, whose address is 5201 Hayes Street, Apt. 118, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lolita Charlene Hackerson who died on September 18, 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 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Thomas Hackerson Personal Representative

TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 001066

Theresa Lasal Banks Decedent

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

Barbara E. Johnson, Michelle A. Banks and Andrew Banks, whose addresses are 3213 Beaumont St., Temple Hills, Md 20748, 1739 Irving St., NW, Washington, DC 20016 & 6307 Crestwood Dr., Alexandria VA 22312, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Theresa Lasal Banks who died on 1/18/2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Barbara E. Johnson Michelle A. Banks Andrew Banks 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 2019 ADM 001290

Geraldine Wilson Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie, Esquire Probate Law DC 1308 Ninth Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

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

Lawrence W. Buck, Jr., whose address is 1112 Chaplin Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Geraldine Wilson who died on 11/28/2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Lawrence W. Buck, Jr.

Personal Representative

COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Informer

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

2022 ADM 000983

Joe Louis Koonce aka Joe Lewis Koonce Decedent

Suren G Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

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

Sharri C. Koonce, whose address is 2 Lakeside Drive, Marlton, NJ 08053, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joe Louis Koonce aka Joe Lewis Koonce who died on July 22, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Sharri C. Koonce Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

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

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that am: "Jeremy Dylan Creager©", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “JEREMY DYLAN CREAGER©", corp. sole Dba.: "JEREMY D CREAGER©", “JEREMY CREAGER©”, “CREAGER, JEREMY DYLAN©” having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Californian American, but not a citizen of the United States. 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: Californian American. am that I am: "Jeremy Dylan Creager©", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "jeremy dylan creager©". 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: Office of Vital Records/ STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: STATE FILE NUMBER: 80-393644: "JEREMY DYLAN CREAGER©", "JEREMY D CREAGER©", “JEREMY CREAGER©”, “CREAGER, JEREMY DYLAN©” is as a special deposit order, conveyed to "Divine Core Legacy 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: "jeremy dylan creager©", nom deguerre: "Jeremy Dylan Creager©", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: "Divine Core Legacy 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 001103

Joan H. Bishop aka Joan Helene Bishop Decedent

Stephen J. O’Connor, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

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

Robyn M. Bishop, whose address is 1544 Northgate Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joan H. Bishop aka Joan Helene Bishop who died on 5/20/2022 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/27/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Reg ister of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Robyn M. Bishop 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: am that I am: “Derrick Mahoney©”, in full life, in propia persona, sui juris, in solo propio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ DERRICK MAHONEY”, corp.sole Dba.: “DERRICK MAHONEY©”, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a Moorish American. I am that am: “Derrick Mahoney©”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality/ Status/ Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “cyrus ghaalib micah 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: STATE FILE NUMBER, South Carolina 139-1959-038823: DER RICK MAHONEY, MAHONEY, DERRICK©”, is as a special deposit order, conveyed to “ Destan Michael Trust©”. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be re turned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor/ Beneficiary/ Bailor/ Donor/ Principle/ Creditor: ” cyrus ghaalib micah el©”, nom deguerre: “DERRICK MAHONEY©”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : “ Destan Michael Trust©”, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Devine 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 000975

Hazel W. Banks Decedent

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

James R. Banks, Jr., whose address is 207 Anacostia Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representa tive of the estate of Hazel W. Banks who died on 5/28/2022 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 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

James R. Banks, Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

TRUE TEST COPY

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Civil Division

Edon v. James, et al., 2022 CA 002874 R(RP)

PAUL S. SCHLEIFMAN, Plaintiff Attorney 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22201

NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT

Notice is hereby given that a Complaint for Partition has been filed in this Court by Alvin Edon for partition of real property located at 3216 8th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017. Defendants, LaFaye O’Neal, Andrea O’Neal and Ricardo O’Neal, are hereby given notice that unless they respond to the Complaint a default may be entered against them. A Scheduling Conference is set for November 4, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 212.

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

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Mack Daniel Mims Jr © ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ MACK DANIEL MIMS JR ", corp.sole Dba.: " MACK D MIIMS © ", MACK MIMS, MACK DANIEL MIMS MACK MIMS JR, MACK D MIMS JR, MACK D. MIMS, JR, MACK MIMS ETAL, MACK MIMS ET AL, MIMS, MACK DANIEL, MACK DANIEL MIMS JR AND CRYSTAL NICOLE MIMS, MACK MIMS MIMS AND SON CONSTRUCTION,MACK MIMS I GOT DA HOOKAH , having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwest ern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moor ish 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 am: " Mack Daniel Mims Jr© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " maat shujaa shabazz© ".

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), ARTI CLE: 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 FLORIDA BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTIS

: STATE FILE NUMBER, 109- 1979-065532: " MACK DANIEL MIMS JR© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " BMSM 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: " maat shujaa shabazz © ", nom deguerre: " Mack Daniel Mims Jr© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " BMSM Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 001101

Gwendolyn Lucas Decedent

Iris McCollum Green, Esq. 1714 15th Street, NW Suite B Washington, DC 20009

Attorney

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

Chall Lucas, Jr., whose address is 3618 S. Dakota Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representa tive of the estate of Gwendolyn Lucas who died on March 3, 2022 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 5/3/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Reg ister of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 5/3/2023, 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: 11/3/2022

Chall Lucas, Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001162

Estate of Harold J. Sarbacher

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

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

Admit to probate the will dated August 8, 2010 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Date of first publication: 11/03/2022

Joseph Peter Drennan, Esquire 218 North Lee Street, Third Floor Alexandria VA 22314-2631

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 001087

Troy David White Decedent

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

Rosetta Frazier, whose address is 316 Peabody Street, NW Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Represen tative of the estate of Troy David White who died on July 11, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 5/3/2023. 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 5/3/2023, 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: 11/3/2022

Rosetta Frazier Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

first Black person to represent the Sun shine State in the U.S. Senate.

Also in Florida, Aramis Ayala is running against incumbent Republi can Ashley Moody in the state attor ney general’s race. A win would make Ayala Florida’s first Black attorney general.

In Georgia, Abrams continues to fight an uphill battle in her rematch with Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Abrams again attempts to become the first Black woman to govern the Peach State.

In Iowa, Deidre DeJear, a Demo crat, is trying to become the first Black woman governor in her race against incumbent Republican Kim Reyn olds.

Charles Booker, a Kentucky Dem ocrat, is trying to upset incumbent Re publican Rand Paul for the state’s U.S. Senate seat.

In Louisiana, Gary Chambers, a Democrat, is viewed as a longshot against incumbent Republican John Kennedy in the race for the Senate. Chambers would become the first Af rican American to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate.

In Maryland, Wes Moore seeks to become the state’s first Black governor. The Democrat faces off against Re publican Dan Cox.

has her sights on Massachusetts’ attor ney general’s office. Campbell would become the first Black woman to hold that seat in the state if she defeats Re publican Jay McMahon.

Republican Rayla Campbell, no re lation to Andrea, is seeking to unseat Democrat William Galvin to become the first Black woman to hold that of fice.

In North Carolina, Democrat Cheri Beasley squares off against Re publican Ted Budd for the U.S. Senate seat. Beasley is attempting to become the first Black woman in state history to win the election to that chamber.

New York Republican Joe Pinion, a Black man, is running against long time Democrat incumbent Chuck Schumer in the race for U.S. Senate. New York has never had a Black senator.

In Ohio, Democrat Chelsea Clark faces Republican Frank LaRose in the race for secretary of state. Ohio has never had a Black woman in that role.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has nev er had a Black lieutenant governor, something Democrat Austin Davis hopes to accomplish in his race against Republican Carrie DelRosso.

In South Carolina, Democrat Krys tle Matthews, a Black woman, faces incumbent Tim Scott for the U.S. Senate seat.

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

2021 ADM 000406

Christine Winston aka Callie Winston Decedent

Valerie Edwards 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036

Attorney

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

Shelia Winston-Graves, whose address is 711 Penn Road, Raleigh, NC 27604, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Christine Winston aka Callie Winston who died on November 27, 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 5/3/2023. 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 5/3/2023, 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: 11/3/2022

Shelia Winston-Graves Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown is running to become Maryland’s first Black attorney gener al. Republican Michael Peroutka is his opponent.

Former Boston City Council Pres ident Andrea Campbell, a Democrat,

A Black woman has never repre sented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

Mandela Barnes is attempting to become the first Black senator out of Wisconsin. Barnes, a Democrat, faces GOP Sen. Ron Johnson. WI

alumni to affirm diversity, to keep affirmative action the rule of law in this country, and to ensure that we have equal access to higher educa tion.”

“We are not tired of these fights,” Emerson says. “We are not surprised by the attacks that we get on equity in education. So, sad that we have to redo this, but in no way deterred, as you can see.”

Two separate arguments were heard, both led by Edward Blum, who is funded by conservative do nors and was instrumental in the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Blum has spent decades “scroll ing the internet and looking for someone to sue” over race-based laws that try to help repair historic inequities, ranging from education to voting rights. He’s filed Students for Fair Admissions v. University of NC (21-707) and Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard (20-1199). Blum is the president of Students for Fair Admis sions — SFFA.

In the Harvard case, SFFA argued that Asian American applicants are held to a higher academic standard than other prospective students and are admitted at lower rates than white applicants, even though they have higher test scores. In the UNC case, SFFA said the college discrimi nates against white applicants.

During the arguments, justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson challenged Patrick Straw bridge, the attorney for SFFA, who

seemed to be saying that affirmative action meant race could be the only factor in a student’s admission.

“They’re looking at the full person, with all these characteristics,” Jack son said during the argument.

Legacy admissions were also brought into Monday’s arguments. Though Harvard does not release official numbers of legacy admis sions, a survey by the Harvard Crim son found that about 15.5% of the class of 2025 are children of alumni, which is up from 12% in the previ ous freshman class.

Jackson described a scenario where two applicants are asking for their family backgrounds to be tak en into consideration. One student would be a fifth-generation legacy and wanted to honor his family in that way, where the other student’s family has also lived in the state for generations, but they were slaves and

did not have the opportunity to at tend higher education, so he wanted to honor his family in that way.

But without race-conscious ad missions rules, these applicants would have “dramatically different” chances to tell their stories, Jackson said. The first applicant’s background would be considered, but the second wouldn’t because it’s “bound up with his race and the race of his ancestors.”

“Why is telling him ‘No’ not an Equal Protection violation?” Jackson asked.

A decision is not expected until next year, but the Supreme Court is expected to rule in favor of SFFA, delivering a huge blow to the coun try’s education system.

A REASON FOR CONCERN

There is “definitely reason for con

cern,” says Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia University. Bollinger was president of the University of Mich igan in 2003 during the landmark Grutter v. Bollinger Supreme Court decision, which said colleges could consider race in a limited way as a factor for admissions. That case was the first time affirmative action was called a constitutional right.

In addition to several justices in dicating “skepticism or opposition to affirmative action in higher edu cation,” Bollinger says, “there’s the recent decision in Dobbs overruling Roe vs. Wade, which indicates a will ingness to discard prior precedents, and Grutter is really the landmark decision in this area.”

In 2016, the most recent year the data is available, only 15% of the college population in this country was Black, compared to 53% white.

And, in 2019, Black students made up the smallest percentage of high school graduates that were enrolled in college, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of Bollinger’s worries is that the fear of overruling Grutter is “mit

igated by an assumption that there are easy, other ways to do this, and the answer is there’s not. And we have proof of that. And we shouldn’t take this lightly.”

A misconception is that the 14th Amendment — which says states can’t make or enforce laws that limit the rights of citizens — only applies to state action, or public universities, Bollinger says. But the Equal Protec tion Clause means that, whatever the Supreme Court decides, anything in the context of public universities will apply to private universities.

“If we say it’s unconstitutional to consider race in higher education, that is a strong, potent message about our values, generally, and will lead to very significant backwards movement on the goal of Brown,” Bollinger says. “We would enter an era in which we would really fall back on the effort to achieve the ideals of Brown in the civil rights movement.”

“The result,” Bollinger says, “is a very substantial fall in the admissions of African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans.”

WI

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“Juntos Si Podemos,” is dedicated to increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake by building the public’s confidence in vaccines.

Officials also seek to educate people about the importance of getting vacci nated as soon as possible.

They also hope to inform them how and where they can get vaccinated by directing them to www.vaccines.gov.

Advocates noted that health eq uity was a fundamental value of the COVID-19 Public Education Cam paign.

“Our newest ads this week, geared at reaching Black and Latino audienc es, highlight the ‘We Can Do This’ Campaign’s commitment to health equity,” Georgeta Dragoiu, a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow at the HHS Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Public Affairs, said in a statement.

Dragoiu works on the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign.

“Advancing health equity has in formed every aspect of our campaign, including the decision to produce educational materials in 17 languag es, including English, Spanish, Can tonese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese – all available on our partner website,” said Dragoiu stated.

Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, the campaign has partnered with more than 1,000 organizations, most of which work with minority or rural communities.

During the BIPOC briefing, offi cials announced that the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign launched new national and local TV, radio, and print ads geared at reaching Black and

Latino audiences in more than 30 markets in English and Spanish.

“This work is ongoing, but it is im perative that we recognize the unique health disparities faced by people in minority populations and highlight the progress and importance of pro tecting those disproportionately im pacted by COVID-19,” said Dr. José R. Romero, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respi ratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Together with important media partners like you, we can help raise awareness, increase vaccinations, pro tect loved ones, and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in society,” Romero asserted.

To view the campaign ads and for more information, visit wecandothis. hhs.gov/ WI

Carollo Engineers, Inc. is seeking qualified Disadvan taged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firms to join our team for the DC Water DCFA#534A/B-Wastewater Treatment Facility Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). We are looking for firms that specialize in the following scope of service disciplines.

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Interested firms must hold a DBE/WBE certification from a recognized DC Water agency/organization as highlighted in the DC Water Business Development Program. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EST. For questions email Mikayla Clarke at mclarke@carollo.com or call 703-258-1344.

5 Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference Education Fund, talks to demonstrators on October 31 in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Northeast about her support for Affirmative Action and the progress of education in America. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

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dates include D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate David Schwartzman, and Republican candidate Guiseppe Niosi.

Earlier this year, McDuffie, a Democrat representing Ward 5 on the D.C. Council, changed his party affiliation and announced his run for the independent at-large council seat. This happened after a failed attempt to enter the Democratic attorney general primary race.

When asked about who they’re sup porting in the at-large race, Silverman and McDuffie’s council colleagues Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8) said they’re still giving it some thought.

White hinted at possibly revealing his decision in the coming days.

Meanwhile, D.C. Councilmem bers Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) and Charles Allen (Ward 6), along with D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, have espoused support for Silverman.

Silverman's other endorsements include the Washington Teachers' Union, D.C. Nurses Association, United Food & Commercial Work ers Local 400, and AFSCME District Council 20. Silverman said those endorsements speak to her appeal to working class Black voters.

People and groups in McDuffie's corner include D.C. Council Chair person Phil Mendelson (D), Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., former District deputy mayor for public safety, former labor secretary Tom Perez and District of Columbia Association of Realtors.

Chioma Iwuoha, a Ward 7 resident and McDuffie supporter, said the OCF ruling speaks to longstanding concerns that Black people across the District, and particularly east of the Anacostia River, have expressed about Silverman’s integrity and accountabili ty to Wards 7 and 8.

Though she has supported Silver man in past elections, Chioma said McDuffie has been more intentional about advancing legislation that di rectly helps Black residents.

I want you to speak our names and make legislation targeted to Black people.”

On Sunday, the group known as District influencers for Kenyan McDuffie rallied support for their candidate during an event at Union Market.

Moten also continues to sing Mc Duffie’s praises, saying that the current Ward 5 council member has a city wide appeal that makes him the ideal at-large candidate.

When it comes to Silverman how ever, Moten points to her apprehen sion about a street in Ward 8 in honor of the late former Ward 8 D.C. coun cilmember and “mayor for life” Mar ion Barry as one of several reasons for Black people, and other residents, to not support her.

He also touted other instances, such as efforts to curb funding for the arena on St. Elizabeths campus and the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, as indicators about Silverman’s priorities.

In regard to the recent OCF rul ing, Moten said it further confirms that Silverman has been protected by certain media forces throughout her tenure, even as she levies accusations of anti-semitism against residents who don’t support her re-election bid.

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“When Kenyan [legislated] the baby bonds, he talked about the racial wealth gap. When he provided mon ey for small business owners, he made sure he provided money for Black small business owners,” said Iwuoha, commissioner for ANC Single-Mem ber District 7B01.

“Kenyan created the Black Home ownership Fund,” she added. “That holds greater weight than someone introducing legislation [and] saying it would naturally help Black people.

“If Elissa Silverman goes on and wins and people don’t hold her ac countable, then Black people will lose trust in the whole electoral process,” Moten said.

“That’s dangerous. We’re not stu pid. It’s clear as day. Elissa has a pattern going back to 2013. We can’t have someone in office who manipulates the media and the vote, while using her religion to be divisive.”

WI @SamPKCollins

5 Elissa Silverman. (Courtesy photo)

EDELMAN from Page 30

ry that can teach and inspire young people today.

The importance and inspiration of teaching history was also central in the message the CDF Freedom Schools team heard when acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford joined the retreat for a conversation. Her books for children and young adults often revisit key moments and people in African American his tory, and one of her most loved is the lyrical, beautiful Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-win ning book "Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Free dom," illustrated by Kadir Nelson. During the meeting she asked her listeners to consider how Black his tory is often taught through a lens

JEALOUS from Page 30

who fear art's motivating power.

"The personal and political cha os in our world is a direct result of the violence against human beings in the name of power," says Peter son, whose art installations depict ing White supremacist gun vio lence and attacks on reproductive choice were rejected by billboard owners. "The art for these bill boards depicts the rawness and the terror of those struggles and I hope it's enough to move the people of Georgia to action in this midterm election."

Kass contributed an installation that includes the faces of five farright Supreme Court justices — a clear reminder that the courts and all the rights that depend on a fair and independent judiciary to up hold them — are at stake in this election.

People For the American Way

of enslavement and oppression. She then challenged them to consider this question: "Who taught us to be free?"

She continued, "You can't teach what you don't know, and you don't know what you weren't taught." She said as she wrote "Moses," she was in spired by the parallels between Har riet Tubman and the biblical Moses, who both took it upon themselves to free themselves and their people, and she challenged CDF Freedom Schools leaders with a charge to take up that call — teaching the next generation how to be free.

These are crucial lessons. Teach ing all children about our shared history by exposing them to books by excellent authors like Carole Bos ton Weatherford and others who are part of the CDF Freedom Schools

curriculum, and by taking them to visit important historical and cul tural sites like the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, are ways of giving children the light they will need to be prepared to plot their own fu tures. But this midterm election sea son reminds us yet again that many adults are fighting this idea today, and many are on ballots right now from school boards to statewide offices across the country. Educate yourself about the candidates seek ing to represent you and make sure you are prepared with a plan to vote. Once again, we can never take any office or any election for granted. Children cannot vote, but they des perately need parents, teachers, and leaders who will be lanterns, not adults who seek to dim the light. WI

Kass contributed an installation that includes the faces of five far-right Supreme Court justices — a clear reminder that the courts and all the rights that depend on a fair and independent judiciary to uphold them — are at stake in this election.

will use billboards and social me dia to bring the censored artwork to Georgia voters and to people around the country who care about the issues that are at stake in this year's elections.

There is no doubt that art ex pressing the harsh realities people face in their daily lives can be jar ring. But that is no reason to turn

away.

"There's a short line between the intense reactions to the art de pictions and the urgency that we carry to the ballot box," says my colleague Svante Myrick, executive director of People For the Ameri can Way. "If this artwork offends you, wait to see what happens if you don't vote." WI

COOPER from Page 30 carrying her son’s body when it arrived by train from Mississippi to his home town of Chicago.

The tears continued to flow as Deadwyler reacted to seeing Till’s dis figured body at the funeral parlor, lov ingly, through her tears, caressing his young body from his feet up to his un recognizable face. It was not enough for Bryant and Milan, and others, to beat the child. They removed his tongue and shot him in the head, be fore discarding his body in the Talla hatchie River.

Till-Mobley’s decision to “let the world see what Mississippi did to my

boy,” by allowing a Black photogra pher into the funeral parlor to pho tograph Emmett, publishing it in the Black press, and holding an open cas ket funeral, sparked the modern-day Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was signed into law on September 9th by President Dwight Eisenhower. The Act estab lished the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and em powered federal prosecutors to obtain court injunctions against interference with the right to vote.

I was blessed to meet Till-Mobley in the 1990s at a luncheon in New York. It was at this luncheon that I also met Myr lie Evers-Williams, the widow of Missis

sippi NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers, assassinated in the driveway of his Jackson home on June 12, 1963. Evers shepherded Till-Mobley during the 1955 trial for Emmett’s murder and led the investigation by the NAACP.

Till-Mobley, who passed in 2003, could not have been more gracious. I gave her a hug, apologized for her pain over losing Emmett, and thanked her for ensuring that his death was not in vain. She thanked me and said, “We all have a role to play in ensuring that Emmett’s painful death was not in vain by always voting.”

I have never forgotten her words. I will always vote for Emmett Till. So should you. WI

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to take the lead in legalizing medi cal and adult-use cannabis without waiting for the federal government, local banks and cannabis startups find themselves caught between state and federal regulatory regimes.

SAFE Banking wouldn’t legalize cannabis at the federal level, but it would end the industry’s cash-heavy predicament.

New federal banking rules would

JACKSON from Page 31

block citizenship for the Dreamers, and oppose comprehensive immigra tion reform. Democrats oppose the wall, support legal immigration, want the border enforced but higher legal immigration quotas, and support cit izenship for the Dreamers who have grown up here.

On Social Security and Medicare, Republicans seek to rollback both — either by raising the age of eligibility or privatizing or limiting benefits. They are now talking about using a fight over the debt ceiling to force cutbacks. Democrats strongly support Social Se curity and Medicare, and want to se cure them by lifting the lid on payroll taxes enjoyed by the rich. They voted to empower Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs; the Republicans opposed doing so.

On the right to vote, a majority of Republican candidates support Trump's Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen. They oppose renewing the

LAMBERT from Page 31

the nation seen such an insidious and coordinated campaign to obliterate the very principle of ‘one person, one vote’ from the political process.” NUL’s Reclaim Your Vote session ex amined the stakes and the opportuni ties for African Americans as this year’s election season enters its final stretch.

Here at the Greater Washington Urban League, we loudly and boldly urge Black, brown, marginalized and underserved persons everywhere, to vote. Through a discussion on our radio broadcast, and voter registration and participation messages through our auxiliaries, the Greater Washing ton Urban League Guild and Thurs day Network, we are using our voice to urge you to vote.

But here's what you can do! It's not too late for you to start your own get-out-the-vote effort! Here are four simple things you can do to be a part of this movement:

provide uniform guidelines for can nabis-related business accounts. De pository institutions would be legal ly protected from civil and criminal sanctions for providing financial services. This would go a long way toward helping cannabis firms im prove their credit ratings and qualify for loans.

Sen. Booker said at a recent Sen ate Judiciary Committee hearing that he was optimistic the right bal ance can be achieved when it comes

Voting Rights Act that Republican judges on the Supreme Court have disemboweled. They have made voting and registration more difficult in states they control. They oppose limits on dark money or on big money in our politics. Democrats favor the Voting Rights Act. They want to make regis tration and voting more accessible and seek ways to limit big money while en couraging small donations in elections. They obviously reject the Big Lie.

On climate change, Republicans largely stand with the fossil fuel in dustry, a leading source of campaign funds. Most no longer deny that cli mate change is real, but oppose doing much about it, and urge expanding production of oil and gas. Democrats have passed the first major legislation to support renewable energy and energy efficiency and support inter national efforts to meet the threat of catastrophic climate change.

On inflation, Republicans blame Biden, denouncing the stimulus plan that aided families during the pan

1. Cast your vote - if you have not already participated in local early voting, then start your campaign by declaring to yourself that nothing will stop you from voting whether through early voting (if it's still possi ble in your area), or on Election Day.

2. Urge your relatives and friends across the nation to votecontact your personal network and urged them to vote. While you can not vote in other communities across the nation where our vote is critical, you can and must contact persons in your own network who live in states with key races across the nation. Call a relative, call a friend, and ask them to vote.

3. Use your social media influence. You are an influencer and have followers who will be motivat ed by you to exercise their right to vote. Use your social media platform of choice - Tik Tok, Facebook, Insta gram, Twitter, to reach as many per sons as you can.

to combining banking reforms and financial fixes for the cannabis in dustry with needed equity and jus tice-related policy changes. We can no longer wait for action on both fronts.

The U.S. House of Representa tives has passed the SAFE Banking Act seven times. It is now the Sen ate’s turn to act. Sen. Booker has of fered a vision and solution to achiev ing a more diverse, equitable, safer approach to developing an entrepre

demic. Democrats blame the sup ply chain problems that came as the COVID economy reopened, the war in Ukraine that disrupts gas and food markets, droughts in China and the Midwest that impact food produc tion, and, most of all, the record prof its pocketed by corporate monopolies taking advantage of the crisis. So they passed incentives to move jobs home, to accelerate the transition to renew able energy and energy efficiency, to lower the cost of drugs, and to break up monopolies. They sought to sus tain the child tax credit to help work ing families with the cost of child care, paid for by taxing the record profits pocketed by the corporations. Repub licans voted no.

You can add to this list. You can quibble with my language or phras ing. But clearly, the parties are increas ingly united internally — and sharply divided from one another on central issues. This election offers a choice in direction. And now voters will decide which way we go. WI

4. Encourage every person in your network to conduct their own individual “get out the vote initiatives.” As you reach out to your family, friends and associates urging them to vote, ask them to take steps, two and three above, just as you will. Collectively, we can determine the outcome of critically close elections across the country.

Our strong appeal to you, is to urge every person you know to vote their interests. Tell them not to waste en ergy on candidates and organizations that have never shown an interest in our issues

Who are we, if we fail to carry the torch to save, not only ourselves, but future generations. We don't want to be that generation that failed to act to save our democracy, protect our rights, and end our ability to have control over our destiny. While not perfect, a less perfect union is unac ceptable!