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D.C. Welcomes Back Acclaimed Chef Kwame Onwuachi

Dreams can come true with the recent announcement that Chef Kwame Onwuachi returns to D.C. to create a new dining experience at Salamander Washington, the hotel owned by business leader Sheila Johnson. The restaurant will open later this year. Onwuachi currently owns Tatiana, rated as one of the best restaurants in New York City. He is also a best-selling author of several books, including the memoir “Notes from a Young Black Chef” and the cookbook “My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef.”

Onwuachi was executive chef at “Kith and Kin,” a successful D.C. restaurant. Like many dining establishments, that restaurant hit a rough patch with the pandemic. He left that restaurant expressing his desire for Black ownership of a restaurant, which was not the case at “Kith and Kin.”

“The time is right to return to D.C., and I can’t think of a more appropriate location to open a new restaurant that speaks to the character and lineage of D.C. than at this storied Salamander property,” said Onwuachi in a statement from Salamander. “As a child, I spent summers in D.C. with my grandfather, a professor of Pan-African studies at Howard University, who shared his passion for the city with me. I fell in love and can’t wait to return.”

The new restaurant builds on an existing relationship between Johnson and Onwuachi as they created “The Family Reunion,” a celebration of diversity within the hospitality industry. The event returns this year to Salamander Resort in Middleburg, Virginia, from August 17-20. WI

Carmelo Anthony: NBA Legend and Scoring Champ, Officially Retires

Ten-time All Star small forward Carmelo Anthony officially announced his retirement from the NBA following 19 seasons in the NBA on Monday, May 22.

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Touted as one of the top 75 players in NBA history, some of Anthony’s other accomplishments include six All-NBA selections and the 2013 scoring title.

“We look forward to seeing him in the Hall of Fame,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement following Anthony’s announcement.”

Anthony was a key leader on the U.S. Olympic teams that won gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016, helping the U.S. basketball squad to bounce back from a post-Dream Team slump. He holds the all-time record for appearances in Olympics men’s basketball games, at 31, and is fourth alltime in total scoring for the Denver Nuggets franchise.

“Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” said Commissioner Silver. “We congratulate him on a remarkable 19-year career.”

“I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream of something more,” Anthony said.

“But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong, my communities, the cities I represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way. I am forever grateful for those people and places because they made me Carmelo Anthony.” WI

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NAACP Issues Florida Travel Ban in Response to Governor’s ‘Hostility’ towards BIPOC & LGBTQ Groups

The NAACP Board of Directors has issued a formal travel advisory for the state of Florida.

According to a news release from the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the travel advisory comes in direct response to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”

The formal travel notice states, “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said he wanted the message to resonate.

“Let me be clear - failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all,” Johnson stated.

“Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon,” he continued.

“He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.”

WI

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