SEPTEMBER 2026, Volume 94 Issue 78
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The Untold Stories
Certified Business Enterprise
Small Business, Serious Impact
What’s Changing East of the River?
THE BUSINESSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DO MORE THAN By Bloom Wilder SELL THINGS. THEY CREATE JOBS, BUILD COMMUNITY AND If you have lived east of the Anacostia River long enough, you have HELP DETERMINE WHERE OUR DOLLARS GO NEXT. probably heard some version of this sentence: Something big is coming.
By Bloom Wilder
A grocery store is coming. A restaurant is coming. New housing is coming. Retail is coming. Investment is coming.
There is a particular kind of magic in being a regular.
The carryout already knows your order. The barber knows not to push Sometimes it comes. your hairline forward another decade. The barista at the neighborhood coffee shop starts making your drink when you walk through the door. Sometimes we wait. The owner of the corner store asks about your mother. The woman at the beauty supply knows exactly which pack of hair you came in for. And wait. The restaurant owner remembers when your child was small enough to hide behind your leg. And then somebody unveils another rendering. continued on P2
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P2 COMMUNITY NEWS Small Business, Serious Impact from P1
an outfit or handle an errand, but their impact reaches much further than the transaction happening at the register. They employ our neighbors. They rent commercial spaces. They hire contractors. They purchase supplies. They sponsor youth teams, donate to community events and become gathering places where people exchange information almost as often as they exchange money. In Wards 7 and 8, where residents have long advocated for greater access to retail, restaurants and neighborhood services, supporting small businesses is not simply a feel-good slogan. It is an investment. Where We Spend Matters Most of us make dozens of purchasing decisions every week without thinking much about them. Coffee. Lunch. Hair. Groceries. Birthday gifts. Home repairs. Printing. Catering. Clothing. A last-minute run to the corner store for the one thing we forgot. Individually, those purchases may seem small. Collectively, they represent tremendous economic power. Choosing a neighborhood business when it makes sense gives a local entrepreneur another sale, but it can also help that business make payroll, hire another employee, expand its services or remain open on a commercial corridor that needs it. That does not mean residents have an obligation to support a business simply because it is local. Good service matters. Quality matters. Price matters. Businesses have to earn customers and keep them. But when a neighborhood business is doing those things well, becoming a regular can be one of the easiest ways to participate in the
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economic health of your own community.
Free workshops, counseling and technical assistance can be valuable before you sign Entrepreneurship Is Not the Easy Route a lease, borrow money or make a major Social media has made entrepreneurship look investment. suspiciously glamorous. And ask questions. There are laptops on beaches. Motivational quotes. Photos announcing somebody is now Lots of them. a CEO. Entrepreneurship already comes with enough What you see less often is the owner comparing surprises. There is no prize for learning invoices at midnight. everything the hard way. Small-business ownership can mean managing payroll, taxes, insurance, licenses, inventory, marketing and customer service, sometimes before the first customer walks through the door.
Where to Get Help
Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) For D.C. entrepreneurs, DSLBD is a good place to start. Its SmallBiz Assist program For neighborhood entrepreneurs, access to offers one-on-one meetings for D.C.-based capital can make that work even harder. entrepreneurs and businesses. Advisors can help with new business ideas, access to A great idea does not automatically come with capital through financing and grants, food a commercial lease, equipment, employees or businesses, e-commerce, regulatory questions enough cash to survive a slow month. and referrals to additional free programs and services. That is why access to technical assistance, financing, grants and business education SmallBiz Assist also brings one-on-one matters. Entrepreneurs should not have to assistance directly into neighborhood figure out every stage of building a company libraries. On September 15, 2026, from 10 through trial, error and expensive mistakes. a.m. to 6 p.m., SmallBiz Assist is scheduled to be at the Dorothy I. Height Library, 3935 And thankfully, they do not have to. Benning Road NE, giving Ward 7 residents a chance to connect with business resources Use the Help That Already Exists close to home. Washington has an ecosystem of organizations and public agencies designed to help DC Business Resource Center entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Operated by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the Business Resource The challenge is often knowing where to begin. Center helps aspiring and existing business owners navigate the less glamorous, but very Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs necessary, parts of entrepreneurship. That should look for assistance with the specific includes business registration, licensing, problem in front of them. Someone regulatory requirements and understanding developing an idea may need help creating a the steps required to legally operate a business business plan. An established company may in the District. The center also provides need financing. Another entrepreneur may training, consultations and free workshops. need assistance understanding certification, licensing, procurement or how to compete for DC Business Portal government contracts. For the person sitting at home thinking, I have an idea, but I have absolutely no idea what Do not wait until something has gone wrong comes next, start here. The District’s online to seek help. continued on P3
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Small Business, Serious Impact from P2
enough people knowing it exists.
Business Portal connects entrepreneurs with one-on-one assistance, small-business workshops and a downloadable Small Business Resources Guide. It also provides tools for navigating the process of starting and maintaining a business in D.C.
A Thriving Community Needs Both Sides of the Counter We often talk about wanting more amenities east of the river.
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Everybody has a part. The next time you discover a neighborhood business doing something well, tell somebody. Go back. Bring a friend.
More restaurants. More coffee shops. More D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Small Business grocery options. More retail. More services. Because a thriving commercial corridor is not More places to gather. More opportunities for built by one ribbon cutting. Legal Assistance Program Sometimes the question is not about entrepreneurs to build wealth. It is built transaction by transaction, customer marketing or money. It is about the lease you are about to sign, the contract somebody just But creating a thriving small-business by customer and business by business. handed you or whether you have structured community requires an ecosystem. And sometimes building a stronger your business correctly. The D.C. Bar Entrepreneurs need access to capital, neighborhood starts with something as Pro Bono Center provides free brief legal assistance to qualifying small-business owners affordable commercial space, technical ordinary as deciding where to spend twenty and prospective entrepreneurs. Volunteer assistance and customers. Residents deserve dollars. attorneys can provide guidance on issues businesses that provide quality products, fair including starting a business, commercial prices and good service. Government and leases, employment law, taxes, intellectual community institutions have a role in making sure local entrepreneurs can participate property and government contracts. as neighborhoods grow and investment You do not have to know exactly which increases. resource you need before asking for help. Start with the problem in front of you and let the experts point you toward the next step. We Can Build Customers, Too Supporting neighborhood business is not solely about spending money. Recommend the coffee shop where the staff always gets your order right. Tell your neighbor about the contractor who actually showed up when they said they would. Leave a thoughtful review for the restaurant that gave you great service. Share the caterer, photographer, stylist, mechanic or childcare provider who made your life easier. Tag a business when someone asks for a recommendation. Bring a friend the next time you visit. If your church, office or organization needs a service, consider whether a neighborhood company can provide it. For small businesses without enormous advertising budgets, word of mouth remains powerful. Sometimes the difference between a business you love surviving and disappearing is simply
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
Editor’s Letter: Back to Business The UnTold Stories Monthly Contributors: Amber Crowder Donald Isaac Phinis Jones Gene Lambey Monica Ray Shelley Rice Content Design & Editor: Sincerely Planned, LLC
Please email The Capital News Team with any comments, questions or concerns: thecapitalnewsdc@gmail.com Visit our website for current and past editions: https://issuu.com/capitalnewsdc If you would like to submit an opinion piece to the Capital News, email the article to thecapitalnewsdc@ gmail.com by the 15th to be considered for publishing. If you would like to place a small job listing, housing or automobile advertisement in the paper please email the information and the teamwill contact you about pricing for your ad.
By Avery Monroe September has always felt like a beginning disguised as the middle of the year. The long days of summer start getting shorter. Students return to classrooms. Vacations end, calendars fill up again and the pace of the city begins to change. There is a collective sense that it is time to get moving. So, this month at The Capital News, we are getting Back to Business.
(Photo: Getty Image)
And we mean much more than business in the September also gives us something valuable: a traditional sense. checkpoint. We are talking about the business of building stronger communities. The business of supporting neighborhood entrepreneurs. The business of creating opportunities for ourselves and our families. The business of taking care of our finances, our health and, perhaps most importantly, our time.
We still have four months left in 2026. Whatever January looked like, whatever plans changed along the way and whatever remains unfinished, there is still time to decide how we want to close out the year.
Maybe that means finally pursuing an opportunity you have been considering. For residents of Wards 7 and 8, these Maybe it means supporting a neighborhood conversations matter. business instead of automatically shopping somewhere else. Maybe it means getting Our communities are changing. New serious about a financial goal, protecting more development continues to arrive. Businesses of your time or simply paying closer attention are opening and growing. Residents are to what is happening on your block. pursuing new careers, launching companies and finding creative ways to build something Progress does not always arrive with a ribbon of their own. At the same time, families are cutting or a press conference. Sometimes it navigating the everyday realities of rising begins with one person making one different costs, demanding schedules and trying to decision. make sure opportunity reaches the people who have called these neighborhoods home This issue is about those decisions and the for generations. people, businesses and resources that can help us make them. That is why “Back to Business” is not simply about getting busy again. Summer was good to us. It is about being intentional about where we Now, let’s get back to business. put our energy and our dollars. It is about recognizing the resources that already exist Avery Monroe in our community and making sure our Editor, The Capital News neighbors know how to access them. It is about supporting the people doing good work right here in Wards 7 and 8.
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What’s Changing East of the River? from P1
How many jobs are being created?
COMMUNITY NEWS A community cannot live apartments and brunch alone.
on
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luxury
But across Wards 7 and 8, some of those renderings are finally becoming real buildings, Are neighborhood entrepreneurs getting And Then There Is RFK parks, homes and businesses. From Skyland to opportunities? Few projects have generated more conversation St. Elizabeths East, development is changing than the future of the RFK Stadium campus. the physical landscape of our neighborhoods. Can existing residents afford the housing? There is more on the horizon.
Those questions do not become less important once the ribbon is cut.
That makes this an important moment to pay attention, because development is not only St. Elizabeths East Is Becoming a Neighborhood of Its Own about what gets built. The transformation of the St. Elizabeths East campus in Ward 8 continues to be one of the It is about who gets to benefit from it. largest redevelopment stories east of the river.
The District is planning the redevelopment of roughly 180 acres along the Anacostia River, with a new stadium serving as one component of a much larger vision. The draft master plan released this summer envisions housing, retail, parks, recreation, entertainment and new connections to the waterfront.
Skyland Shows What Persistence Can Produce For years, Skyland Town Center was practically The historic campus has already become shorthand for delayed development in Ward home to housing, retail, entertainment and That is a tremendous amount of land. healthcare. 7. And a tremendous amount of opportunity. Residents heard about plans. Then new plans. The CareFirst Arena brings professional basketball and events to Congress Heights. For Ward 7 residents, however, the important Then delays. Sycamore & Oak provides space for food, retail conversation cannot stop at whether a stadium and community gatherings. The Whitman- gets built. Today, the story looks very different. Walker Max Robinson Center expanded Skyland now includes housing, restaurants, access to healthcare services. And Cedar Hill What happens around it? retail, a CVS, Chase Bank and the District’s Regional Medical Center represents a major How will surrounding neighborhoods be first Lidl grocery store. The development’s first healthcare investment in Ward 8. affected by traffic? phase delivered 263 apartments, including 79 Now another piece is moving forward. affordable homes, along with 84,000 square What kinds of businesses will have access to feet of retail. In June, the District celebrated a new joint the economic activity created there? The second phase brought additional retail development at the Congress Heights Metro station that will bring a 23,000-square-foot Will small and locally owned companies and restaurants. full-service neighborhood library and a receive contracts? And in May, the District celebrated the redesigned bus loop intended to improve opening of a new community park as part of connections across the St. Elizabeths East Will there be housing that working District residents can actually afford? Skyland’s third and final phase. That phase campus. also includes 126 for-sale townhomes, seven Will residents have access to the parks and of which are designated affordable, with That matters. waterfront? additional homeownership opportunities A library may not generate the same excitement planned. as a new restaurant or entertainment venue, And what happens to property values in the For residents who remember what stood there but neighborhood development needs civic surrounding neighborhoods? infrastructure, too. before, the transformation is significant. Those are not anti-development questions. Places to learn matter. But Skyland also provides a useful lesson. They are development questions. Transportation matters. Major neighborhood development takes time, and residents have every reason to keep asking Healthcare matters. questions throughout that process. What businesses are coming?
Public spaces matter.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
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What’s Changing East of the River? from P3
Restaurants.
Development Should Create Doors, Not Just Buildings Construction cranes are easy to see.
Retail.
Economic opportunity can be harder to measure.
Childcare. Entertainment.
A major project may represent hundreds of Personal services. millions of dollars in investment, but residents Professional services. experience development differently. A construction worker may see a job.
The goal should not simply be to bring businesses to Wards 7 and 8.
A small-business owner may see potential It should also be to grow businesses from customers. Wards 7 and 8. A homeowner may see rising property values. A renter may see rising rent.
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meeting when a major project is being discussed. Read community notices. Ask elected officials questions. Pay attention when developers present plans. And ask the question that matters: What does this mean for the people who already live here? We Deserve More Than a Front-Row Seat For decades, residents east of the river have asked for investment that other parts of Washington often take for granted. Quality grocery stores. Restaurants.
An entrepreneur may see a storefront opportunity.
That requires making sure entrepreneurs know about contracting opportunities, technical assistance and financing early enough to compete for them.
Another resident may look at that same storefront and wonder whether any locally owned business could afford the lease.
By the time the “Coming Soon” sign goes up, some of the biggest economic decisions may have already been made.
Safe public spaces.
All of those experiences can exist at the same time.
Residents Have a Role, Too It is easy to tune out development news.
Housing choices.
Retail. Healthcare.
Good transportation.
Places to work and build businesses. The terminology alone can send a perfectly That is why community conversations about development cannot be reduced to being alert person directly into a nap: RFPs, zoning, So investment itself should not be treated as land disposition agreements, comprehensive the enemy. either “for” or “against” change. plans, environmental reviews. But residents deserve more than the The better question is: What kind of change But those boring documents eventually opportunity to stand nearby and watch are we creating? become very real things. neighborhoods transform. Local Businesses Need a Seat at the Table If billions of dollars are going to be invested in They become the apartment building down communities east of the river over the coming the street. years, local businesses should not be watching all of that economic activity from the sidewalk. The grocery store you shop in. Development creates needs long before a building opens.
The road you drive on. The rent you pay.
Projects require construction companies, security, cleaning services, landscaping, transportation, The park where your children play. food service, printing, professional services and The business that opens on your block. dozens of other vendors.
We should be homeowners. Business owners. Contractors. Employees. Customers. Decision-makers. And beneficiaries. Because the most successful development will not simply change what Wards 7 and 8 look like.
It will expand what the people who already Once residents and visitors arrive, the Residents do not have to become urban call these communities home are able to build, planners to participate. Attend an ANC own and become. opportunities expand again.
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The Opportunity List: Your Next Move Might Be Closer Than You Think
By Nia Bennett Sometimes the hardest part of looking for a better opportunity is figuring out where to look. You hear that training is available. Somebody mentions an apprenticeship. A friend tells you about a certification program, but cannot remember the name. You search online and suddenly have 17 tabs open, three applications started and no idea which opportunity actually applies to you. So, let’s simplify things. If you are looking for work, considering a career change or trying to gain a skill that can increase your earning potential, there are programs available to District residents right now. And some of them are right here in our community.
Learn a Trade or Build a Career at CC Prep
Going back to school does not necessarily mean spending four years pursuing a degree. Community College Preparatory Academy Public Charter School (CC Prep) is a tuitionfree adult public charter school serving D.C. residents age 18 and older. Located at 1801 U Street SE in Ward 8, the school combines adult education with career-focused training designed for people who are ready to make their next move. Students can pursue a GED or explore career pathways in construction, healthcare, information technology, data and artificial intelligence, and administrative and office management. For someone interested in the trades, CC Prep’s current construction pathway includes Introduction to HVAC-R, an intensive course introducing students to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. Students
(Photo: Getty Image)
LOOKING FOR A JOB, A NEW SKILL OR A CAREER CHANGE? D.C. HAS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP RESIDENTS MAKE THEIR NEXT MOVE.
learn technical skills associated with installing, If you have been thinking about returning to servicing, repairing and maintaining HVAC-R school but traditional college does not fit your systems. life, your schedule or your career goals, this is an option worth exploring. The fall course runs from September 8 through December 11, 2026, with morning, Start here: Visit ccprep-academy.org, call afternoon and evening sessions available. 202-770-3252, or stop by 1801 U Street SE, Washington, DC 20020. And HVAC is not the only option. Current offerings at CC Prep also include courses in Microsoft Office and digital skills, entrepreneurship and personal financial literacy, QuickBooks and other careerfocused areas. Some courses prepare students to pursue industry-recognized certifications. The school is designed with adult life in mind. Flexible morning, afternoon and evening schedules are available, along with online and hybrid options for some programming. CC Prep also provides career coaching, résumé assistance, job-readiness training and networking opportunities.
Get Paid While You Learn Through Apprenticeship
One of the biggest obstacles to career training is simple: people still have bills while they are learning. Apprenticeships offer another model. Registered apprenticeships combine paid, onthe-job training with classroom instruction. Instead of completing training first and hoping to find work afterward, apprentices develop skills while earning a paycheck.
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The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) serves eligible low-income, Start here: Visit does.dc.gov and search unemployed District residents age 55 and “Project Empowerment,” or call the older. Department of Employment Services at 202724-7000. The program provides paid work experience while helping participants develop skills that The District also supports pre-apprenticeship Interested in Healthcare, Hospitality, IT or can lead to unsubsidized employment. programs designed to help adults develop Transportation? hands-on skills, work readiness and industryFor someone returning to work after an Keep an eye on IGNITE DC. recognized credentials before entering a extended absence or trying to reposition registered apprenticeship. The Department of Employment Services’ years of experience for today’s job market, Industry Driven Growth & New Income that combination of training and recent work That can be especially useful for someone through Training & Employment initiative, experience can be valuable. interested in a skilled career but unsure better known as IGNITE DC, connects whether they have the experience to walk residents with training aligned with industries Start here: Visit does.dc.gov and search directly into an apprenticeship. “Senior Community Service Employment where employers need workers. Program.” Start here: Visit apprenticeship.does.dc.gov. The initiative focuses on four sectors: The D.C. Department of Employment Services maintains an Apprenticeship Connect portal where job seekers can explore apprenticeship opportunities and connect with organizations looking for apprentices.
If Employment Has Been Difficult, Try Project Empowerment
Not every job seeker is starting from the same place. Some people are returning to the workforce after a long absence. Others are dealing with gaps in education, housing instability, limited work experience or other circumstances that can make traditional job searching more difficult. Project Empowerment, operated by the D.C. Department of Employment Services, is designed for unemployed District residents who face multiple barriers to employment. The program provides job-readiness and lifeskills training, employment coaching, limited vocational training, job-search assistance and connections to subsidized and unsubsidized employment.
requirements before applying.
Transportation and logistics Hospitality and tourism Healthcare services Information technology
Ages 16–24 and Not Currently in School?
Young adults who have left school are not out of options.
The District’s Out-of-School Program serves eligible young people ages 16 through 24 The model includes occupational training, who are no longer attending secondary or industry-recognized credentials, hands-on postsecondary school. experience, career navigation and connections Services can include occupational skills with employers. training, career counseling, work-readiness Programs like this are important because assistance, basic education, GED preparation, training should lead somewhere. A certificate internships and vocational training. becomes much more valuable when employers recognize it and there are employment That means a young person who did not follow the traditional high-school-to-college opportunities on the other side. path still has opportunities to build skills and Because enrollment opportunities and enter a career. participating providers can change, residents interested in IGNITE DC should check with Sometimes the next step is not going backward DOES for current training availability rather to recreate the path you thought you were than relying on an old application or social supposed to take. media post. It is finding a different one. Start here: Visit does.dc.gov or call 202-7247000 and ask about current occupational Before You Apply, Get Your House in Order training opportunities. Finding the opportunity is only step one.
Participants may also be connected with supportive services based on individual needs. This is not simply a résumé workshop. The goal is to help people who have struggled to connect with the workforce build the skills Over 55 and Looking for Work? There Is a Before applying, make sure you have the and support necessary to obtain and maintain basics ready. Program for That, Too. employment. Older workers sometimes find themselves overlooked in conversations about workforce Update your résumé. Create a professional Eligibility requirements apply, so residents development. continued on P11 should contact DOES or review current
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Your Money Has a Job, Too SEPTEMBER IS A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT WHERE YOUR MONEY HAS BEEN GOING AND DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO NEXT
By Lena Rose I checked my bank account the other day and had questions. Not accusations, exactly, but definitely questions. Somewhere between groceries, a few meals out, something I absolutely needed from Target and several tiny automatic charges I apparently agreed to in another lifetime, my money had been extremely busy. Everybody had gotten an assignment except me.
That is the funny thing about money. If you do not tell it where to go, it will absolutely find somewhere to go on its own. September is a good time to have that conversation with your dollars. We are far enough into the year to know which January promises survived and which ones quietly passed away sometime around Valentine’s Day, but we also have four months left in 2026. That is plenty of time to make a few changes without turning your life into a financial boot camp.
First, Find Out Where It Went
This part requires a little courage because you have to open the bank statement. All of it. Not just the checking-account balance you peek at through one eye before quickly closing the app.
(Photo: Getty Image)
when you thought you had three. Maybe your saying, “I set aside $100 to go out this weekend,” child’s activities have turned your checking and checking your account Monday morning account into an unwilling corporate sponsor. to discover that Saturday night apparently had venture-capital funding. The point is not to make yourself feel bad about what you spent. It is difficult to make a Start Saving Before You Feel Ready useful financial plan when you do not actually Financial advice loves a big number. Save know where the money is going. three months of expenses. Save six months.
Your Money Needs Instructions
Max this out. Invest that. All of that can be useful advice, but if you currently have $43 in savings, hearing that you should have $18,000 is not particularly motivating.
Once you know what is coming in and what is going out, decide what the rest of your money needs to accomplish. Bills already know their jobs, and they are extremely punctual Start smaller. Your first goal might be $100, Look at the last two or three months and see employees. Rent has never once forgotten to then $250, then $500. An emergency fund where your money actually went. Start with show up. is simply money standing between you and the obvious categories: housing, utilities, the next inconvenient thing life decides to groceries, transportation, childcare, debt, What we tend to forget is assigning jobs to throw through your window. It could be a flat entertainment, subscriptions, eating out and the money that remains. Some needs to go tire, a broken appliance, an unexpected trip, shopping. Then there is the miscellaneous toward savings. Some may need to go toward a copay or a child announcing at 9:17 p.m. category I personally call, “Well, apparently I debt. Some may need to be set aside for an that tomorrow is apparently the day everyone bought that.” upcoming expense. And yes, some of it can be needs to bring $37 and a poster board to for fun. school. Do not judge yourself while you are doing this. You are gathering information. You I refuse to participate in any financial plan Life is creative. may discover that the thing you assumed that suggests the key to prosperity is sitting in was ruining your budget really isn’t. Maybe a dark house eating unseasoned lentils while If you can automate a small amount every restaurants are not the problem, but delivery everybody else enjoys life. You are allowed to payday, do it. Ten dollars counts. Twentyfees are quietly eating you alive. Maybe enjoy your money. The goal is simply to decide five dollars counts. Fifty dollars counts. The groceries have increased more than you how much you can spend before you spend it. amount can increase as your circumstances realized. Maybe you have six subscriptions There is a considerable difference between continued on P16
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Getting the House Back in Order SEPTEMBER BRINGS SCHOOL, SCHEDULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ROARING BACK. A LITTLE ORGANIZATION CAN MAKE THE TRANSITION EASIER FOR THE ENTIRE By Avery Monroe September has a way of exposing every system in your household that stopped working sometime around June. The backpack that does not have a designated home. The permission slip that disappeared between the kitchen counter and the front door. The calendar nobody checked. The appointment someone forgot. The refrigerator containing three condiments, half an onion and absolutely nothing anyone can turn into dinner. Summer allows us to get away with a certain amount of improvisation. Fall is less forgiving. As children return to school and work schedules settle back into their regular rhythms, families are once again managing homework, practices, appointments, transportation, meals, household responsibilities and the dozens of small tasks required to keep a home functioning.
(Photo: Getty Image)
or a shared digital calendar. The system discarded. Put frequently used items where matters less than making sure everyone who people actually use them rather than where needs the information can actually see it. they theoretically “belong.”
For households with older children, this is also an opportunity to make them responsible for knowing their own schedules. If they are The goal is not to create a perfectly organized old enough to operate three social-media household. accounts and remember exactly when a new video game drops, they can probably learn to It is to create one that requires a little less check a calendar. work to run.
Start With the Week, Not the Whole Month
A packed monthly calendar can be overwhelming. Instead, take ten or fifteen minutes at the beginning of each week to figure out what is actually coming. Who has an appointment? Who needs to be picked up? What evenings are already committed? Is there a school event? A meeting? A practice? A deadline? Put everything in one place. That can be a paper calendar on the refrigerator, a dry-erase board in the kitchen
Organization is a life skill.
A system that nobody follows is just decoration. The best household organization usually happens when the easiest thing to do is also the right thing to do.
Make Mornings Boring
A boring morning is an achievement. Nobody is looking for a shoe. Nobody just Give the Important Things a Home remembered a project is due. Nobody is yelling Some household problems are not really from another floor asking whether anyone has organization problems. They are location seen their charger. problems. The secret to easier mornings is usually the If keys are constantly missing, give them one night before. place to live. The same goes for backpacks, shoes, chargers, mail, school papers and sports Pack backpacks. Charge devices. Choose equipment. clothes. Locate shoes. Prepare whatever can be prepared for breakfast and lunch. A basket near the door can prevent a surprising amount of morning chaos. Even ten minutes of preparation at night can remove several decisions from the morning. Create a place for papers that require action continued on P9 and another for papers that can be filed or
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The goal is not culinary excellence every Leave Some Empty Space Tuesday night. The goal is avoiding the 6:42 The temptation in September is to fill every This is particularly important for children who struggle with transitions. A predictable p.m. realization that everyone is hungry and available square on the calendar. School activity. routine can make getting out the door feel less nobody has a plan. Sports. like a daily emergency. A little preparation also helps reduce food Tutoring. waste. Buying groceries with specific meals Work event. And adults benefit from it, too. in mind is very different from wandering Community meeting. There is nothing noble about beginning every through the store collecting ingredients that Birthday party. Volunteer commitment. workday already exhausted from getting belong to five unrelated recipes. everybody else where they needed to go. Then suddenly your family needs a logistics Let Children Carry Some of the Load Stop Trying to Remember Everything Children live in the house. This may come as coordinator and a small fleet of vehicles. Your brain is not a filing cabinet. Not every open evening needs an activity. surprising news to some of them. Use reminders. Age-appropriate household responsibilities Children need downtime. Adults need Set the recurring phone alert for trash day. teach children that a home is something downtime. Families need evenings when Put the prescription refill on the calendar. everyone contributes to maintaining. everyone can eat, finish what they need to Schedule the next dental appointment before finish and exist in the same house without leaving the office. Set an automatic reminder a Younger children can put away toys, place immediately leaving again. few days before bills are due. dirty clothes in a hamper or help set the table. Older children can unload the dishwasher, Before adding something new to the schedule, If a task happens repeatedly, create a system take out trash, fold laundry, prepare simple look at what is already there. that repeatedly reminds you. meals or help keep shared spaces organized. Sometimes the most productive thing you can This is especially helpful when several people They will not always do it exactly the way you protect is an empty Tuesday. share responsibility for a household. One would. That is okay. A Household Is a Team person should not have to serve as the family’s There is no perfect system for managing a human notification system. The goal is not to create tiny unpaid household family because families are not machines. employees. It is to raise people who understand The invisible work of remembering how to take care of themselves and contribute Someone will still forget something. birthdays, school deadlines, grocery needs, to a shared space. And frankly, adults have The laundry will occasionally become a appointments, household supplies and enough to do. mountain. Dinner plans will collapse. everyone’s schedules is still work. Do a Ten-Minute Reset Share it. Not every household task requires an entire A child will remember at bedtime that Dinner Does Not Need a Five-Year something is required tomorrow morning. Saturday. Life will continue being life. Strategic Plan Meal planning has somehow become an Set a timer for ten minutes and reset one space. entire internet genre. It does not have to be Clear the kitchen counter. Sort the mail. But good household systems create a little Put away the shoes near the door. Clean out more room for those moments. They reduce complicated. the refrigerator shelf. Gather the items that the number of things we have to remember, the number of decisions we have to make and Before grocery shopping, decide what your somehow migrated into the living room. the amount of unnecessary stress we carry household will eat for several dinners that from one day into the next. week. Check what you already have. Make the Ten minutes will not transform your house. It will, however, make tomorrow morning shopping list from there. slightly easier. Those small resets accumulate. September is not about turning your home into a command center. Keep two or three easy meals available for They are particularly useful during busy weeks nights when everything goes sideways. Maybe that is rotisserie chicken and vegetables. when the idea of “cleaning the house” feels It is simply a chance to look at what makes Tacos. Breakfast for dinner. Sandwiches and impossible but living in complete disorder is your days harder than they need to be and fix a few of those things. soup. Something frozen that can go directly beginning to affect everyone’s mood. into the oven. Getting the House Back in Order from P14
P16 COMMUNITY NEWS Your Money Has a Job, Too P11
change. At the beginning, you are building the habit as much as you are building the balance.
Now, About That Debt
Debt has a way of becoming part of the scenery. You pay the minimum every month, the balance moves approximately eleven cents, and everybody agrees to meet again next month. Take a closer look. Write down your balances, minimum payments and interest rates, particularly on credit cards. If you have additional money available after necessities and some emergency savings, consider putting more toward the balances costing you the most in interest. Some people prefer paying the highest-interest debt first because it can save more money over time. Others prefer knocking out the smallest balance because there is something deeply satisfying about watching one entire bill disappear. Either approach can work. The important part is moving from “I have debt” to “I have a plan for this debt.” Those are two very different financial positions.
Check Your Credit Before Somebody Else Does
When was the last time you actually looked at your credit report? Not just your score, but the report itself. Consumers can access free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. Review yours for accounts you do not recognize, incorrect balances, inaccurate late payments or personal information that does not belong to you. If something is wrong, dispute it. Your credit can affect borrowing, housing and other financial opportunities, so it is better to know what is being reported before you desperately need somebody to approve you for something. Think of it as proofreading your financial résumé, except the typos can cost considerably more.
Christmas Is Coming. I Am Sorry.
I did not want to be the one to tell you. We were just at the cookout.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
the company, understand exactly what it is Nevertheless, the holidays are coming, and promising and know your rights. every year November somehow acts surprised that December is next. Do yourself a favor and Pick One Thing start thinking about holiday spending now. Here is where I am going to save you from making a beautiful financial plan that you Make a realistic list. Who are you buying never look at again: do one thing this week. gifts for? Are you traveling? Hosting dinner? Going to parties? Buying decorations? Buying Cancel one subscription. Transfer $25 into matching pajamas for seventeen people who savings. Pull your credit report. Make one will wear them exactly once? extra debt payment. Create the holiday list. Call about the bill you have been avoiding. Estimate what you can reasonably afford Open the savings account. Pick whichever and divide that amount by the number of task makes sense for your life and finish it. paychecks you have left before you need the money. Even if you cannot save the entire Then choose another. amount in advance, anything you set aside now is money you will not have to find later. Small financial decisions have a way of introducing themselves to one another. And please remember that you do not have to Twenty-five dollars becomes fifty. One paidgo into debt proving that you love people. A off balance frees up money for another. One child can survive without receiving every item month of tracking spending becomes three. on a Christmas list. An adult who loves you Eventually, you look up and realize your does not need you financing their gift until money is behaving differently because you are April. Your presence, thoughtfulness and time behaving differently with your money. count, too. And sometimes a gift card with a reasonable amount of money on it is exactly Let Your Money Work for You what the Lord intended. I do not believe every financial problem can be solved with better budgeting. Sometimes D.C. Has Financial Resources, Too the problem is simply that there is not enough If your finances need more than a September money coming in. Rent is expensive. Food cleanup, there are resources available. The DC is expensive. Childcare is expensive. Life is Department of Insurance, Securities and expensive. We should be able to acknowledge Banking (DISB) provides financial education that without pretending everyone can budget and consumer information for District their way out of every financial challenge. residents. Its Financially Fit DC resources cover topics including budgeting, saving, But wherever you do have choices, use them credit and debt. intentionally. Pay attention to where your money goes. Ask questions when you do not Residents dealing with housing-related understand something. Save what you can, financial concerns can also explore counseling work on the debt you can address and spend and assistance available through the DC some of your money on the things and people Department of Housing and Community that genuinely matter to you. Development and housing counseling organizations serving District residents. And while you are in your bank account, check those subscriptions. Somebody is probably in Be cautious about companies promising to there charging you $8.99 for something you erase debt or magically repair your credit. have not used since 2023. There are legitimate services available, but there are also plenty of people willing to We have four months left in 2026. Your money charge you money because you are worried already has a job. about money, and that math has never sat right with me. Before paying anyone, research Just make sure you’re the one who hired it.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
The Opportunity List from P11
email address if you do not already have one. Gather identification and proof of D.C. residency. Locate copies of certifications or transcripts you may need. Make sure your voicemail is set up and not full. And please answer the phone. That unfamiliar 202 number you keep sending directly to voicemail might actually be somebody trying to offer you an interview. If a program requires an information session or orientation, attend it. Ask about eligibility before assuming you do not qualify. If enrollment is currently closed, ask when the next cohort begins. Most importantly, do not disqualify yourself before somebody else has even reviewed your application.
Your Next Move Does Not Have to Be Your Last Move
There is enormous pressure to figure out exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life. Forget that for a minute. What is the next good move? Maybe it is learning HVAC. Maybe it is earning an industry certification. Maybe it is learning IT support, beginning an apprenticeship, finishing your GED or simply getting recent work experience back onto your résumé. One opportunity can lead to another. The job you take today can introduce you to an industry you never considered. A short-term training program can become a certification. A certification can become a better-paying position. A position can become a career. You do not need the entire map. Sometimes you just need to find the next door and walk through it.
Getting the House Back in Order from P15
Get the calendar together. Give the backpacks somewhere to live. Put something in the freezer for Wednesday. And leave yourself an evening with absolutely nowhere to be. Sometimes getting back to business begins by getting home back in order.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
The Capital News
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Religious Corner Allen Chapel A.M.E.Church
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave. SE WDC 20020 (202) 889-3296 “The Cathedral of Southeast DC” Sunday Worship 8:00am &11:00am Sunday School 9:15am www.acamec.org “Teaching God’s Word and Serving God’s Word”
Brighter Day Ministries
Rev. Tommy Murray, Pastor Multi-Location Church Visit our website: @ www.brighterdaydc.com
Congress Heights Campus
421 Alabama Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20032 11:00am Sunday Worship Sunday School 9:30am Office: 202/889-3660 Email: churchoffice@brighterdydc.org
Campbell A.M.E. Church
2568 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, WDC 20032 (202) 678-2263 Sunday Worship 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School 9:30am Prayer Service Wednesdays 6:30pm Bible Study Wednesday 12noon Bible Study Thursday 7:00pm
Christ Ministries
30 Atlantic Street, SE WDC 20032 Services: 11 am and 3pm
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
You can pick up your monthly issue of The Capital News at any of the locations below. If you would like to be included in the distribution please contact thecapitalnewsteam@gmail.com
Family Bible Study Tuesdays 7:00pm Prayer Service Tuesday 6:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchuurchdc.org
Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Archbishop Alfred D. Owens, Pastor Evangelist Susie Owens, Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Ave. NE WDC 20002 (202) 529-4547 “It doesn’t matter how you feel, God is still worthy to be praised” Sunday Worship 8:00am & 10:45am Super Sunday Service 3rd Sundays of month 6:00pm Wednesday Night Prayer 6:30pm Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm www.gmchc.org/
Israel Baptist
Rev. Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Pastor 1251 Saratoga Ave. NE WDC 20018 (202) 269-0288 “We Enter to Worship, We Depart to Serve” Sunday Worship 10:45am • Sunday School 9:15am Senior Bible Class Tuesday 10:30am Wednesday Prayer Noon & 6:30pm Bible Study Wednesday 7:00pm Holy Communion First Sunday 10:45am http://www.israelbaptistchurch.org/
Johnson Memorial Baptist Church Rev. Henry A. Gaston, Pastor 800 Ridge Rd. SE WDC 20019 (202) 581-1873 Sunday Worship 7:45a. & 11:15am Church School 9:30am Bible Study Wednesday 8:00pm Prayer Meeting Wednesday 7:00pm
Dr. Dennis and Christine Wiley, Co-Pastors 3845 South Capitol St. SW WDC 20032 (202) 562-5576 “Ministries for the Mind, Body and Spirit” Sunday Worship 10:00am Wednesday Bible Study 12noon & 6:30pm www.covenantbaptistucc.org
Kingdom Care Senior Village Place of Worship: Greater Fellowship/Gospel Baptist Church 814 Alabama Ave SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-561-5594
East Washington Heights Baptist Church
Macedonia Baptist Church
Rev. Kip Bernard Banks, Sr., Pastor 2220 Branch Ave. SE WDC 20020 (202) 582-4811– Office Sunday Worship 11:10am Sunday School 9:30am Devotional Service 10:45 am Bible Study Wednesday 6:30pm Children’s Church 2nd & 4th Sunday 11:00am www.ewhbc.org ewhbc@aol.com
Rev. Garfield Burton, Pastor 2625 Stanton Rd. SE WDC 20032 • (202) 678-8486
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Dr. C. Matthew Hudson Jr., Pastor 2616 MLK Ave. SE WDC 20020 (202) 889-3709 Office (202) 678-3304 Fax “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ” Sunday Worship 7:30am & 10:45am
Christopher L. Nichols, Pastor 2409 Ainger Pl., SE WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884-Office • (202) 678-0885– Fax “Moving Faith Forward” Sunday Worship 8:00am & 10:45am
SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
“A Church With a Living Hope in the Midst of Dying World”
Sunday Worship 10:00am Sunday School 9:00am Prayer & Bible Study Wednesday 7:00pm & 7:30pm Saturday Sacrificial Prayer 7:00am www.macedoniadc.org/
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
Church School 9:30am Prayer, Praise & Bible Study Wednesday 7:00pm Bible Study Saturday 11:00am Holy Communion 1st Sunday 10:45am
New Life Ministries DC Reverend Ernest D. Lyles, Sr.
2405 MLK Jr. Ave SE WDC 20020 Sunday Worship 10:00am https://newlifeministriesdc.org/ “A small church with a mega heart”
Phone: 202-304-2005 Email: joinus@nlmdc.org
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist
Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE WDC 20020 (202) 581-1500 “Committed to the Cause of Christ” Sunday Worship 10:45am • Sunday School 9:30am Adult Bible Study Mondays 7:00pm Young Adult Bible Study Tuesdays 7:00pm Bible Study Wednesday 6:30pm http://www.pabc-dc.org/
St. John C.M.E. Church
Reverend John A. Dillard III 2801 Stanton Rd. SE, Washington DC 20020 (202) 678-7788 Sunday Worship 11:00am Sunday School 9:00am http://www.stjohncmecdc.org/
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington, Pastor 1105 New Jersey Ave. SE WDC 20003 (202) 488-7298 “Striving to be more like Jesus with an emphasis on ‘Prayer’” Sunday Worship 9:05am • Sunday School 8:00am Bible Study Tuesday 7:30pm Prayer Meeting Tuesday 7:00pm Hold Communion 3rd Sunday Morning www.stmatthewsbaptist.com stmatthewbaptist@msn.com
Union Temple
Pastor Anika Wilson Brown 1225 W St SE, WDC, 20020 • (202) 678-8822 “It’s a family affair” Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Thursday Night Worship: 7:30pm www.uniontemple.com
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
Our Distribution Anacostia Library 1800 Good Hope Road SE Allen Chapel AME Church 2498 Alabama Ave, SE Andrews Federal Credit Union 1556 Alabama Ave, SE The Arc/ Parkland Community Center 1901 Mississippi Ave, SE Bar Sycamore & Oak, SE The Big Chair Coffee Shop 2102 MLK Jr. Ave, SE Brighter Day Ministries DC 421 Alabama Ave, SE Busboys & Poets 2004 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave, SE Campbell A.M.E. Church 2568 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE Cedar Hill Medical Center 2228 MLK Jr. Ave, SE Cedar Tree Academy 701 Howard Road, SE Chase Bank 2200 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE 2728 Marion Barry Ave, SE Christ Ministries 30 Atlantic Street, SE Clara Apartments 2323 MLK Ave Community College Preparatory Academy 18th & U st, SE Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center 3215 MLK JR. AVE, SE Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ 3845 South Capitol St. SW
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You can pick up your monthly issue of The Capital News at any of the locations below. If you would like to be included in the distribution please contact thecapitalnewsteam@gmail.com
CVS 2724 Good Hope Road, SE DCity Smokehouse 1301 Marion Barry Ave SE DHS Congress Heights Service Center Dept. of Human Services Child Care 4001 South Capitol St, SW East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave. SE Emmanuel Baptist Church 2409 Ainger Pl., SE Excel Care Pharmacy 3923- A South Capitol St, SW Fort Carroll Market 3705 MLK Jr. Ave, SE Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 610 Rhode Island Ave. NE Go-Go Museum 1920 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE Giant 1535 Alabama Ave, SE
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church 2616 MLK Ave. SE Park Southern Ave Apartments 800 Southern Ave, SE Parklands- Turner Neighborhood Library 1547 Alabama Ave, SE Pennsylvania Avenue Baptis Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE P.R Harris School 4600 Livingston Road, SE R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center 2730 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE The Roundtree Residences 2515 Alabama Ave, SE Safeway 2845 Alabama Avenue, SE Soufside Creative Sycamore & Oak, 1110 Oak Dr., SE Southeast Tennis Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave, SE St. Elizabeth’s Hospital 1100 Alabama Ave, SE
Industrial Bank 1800 Good Hope Road, SE 1800 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE
St. John C.M.E. Church 2801 Stanton Road, SE
Israel Baptist 1251 Saratoga Ave. NE
St. Matthews Baptist Church 1105 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Johnson Memorial Baptist Church 800 Ridge Rd. SE
Starbucks 2228 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE 2800 Alabama Ave, SE
Kingdom Care Senior Village 814 Alabama Ave, SE Macedonia Baptist Church 2625 Stanton Rd. SE Marion Barry Market 2317 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Union Temple 1225 W St, SE UPO/ Petey Greene Community Center 2907 MLK, Jr. Ave, SE
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
September Horoscopes SCORPIO
PISCES
(October 23 to November 21)
(February 19 to March 20)
Collaborate with professional networks
Form new alliances or commit
and community groups for big wins. Venus
deeply to an existing romantic or business
enters your sign on September 10, boosting
partner. Travel opportunities bring joy mid-
your romantic magnetism. A major
month. Pivot toward workplace efficiency
career opportunity emerges late-month.
and physical health as the month ends. ARIES
(March 21 to April 19)
Organize your workspace and fix daily wellness habits early on. Expect deep emotional or financial discussions mid-month. A massive surge of creative energy and passion arrives after September 27. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
Creative blocks clear up, paving the way for a major passion project. Romantic chemistry and relationship bonds intensify after September 10. End the month focusing on domestic harmony. GEMINI
(May 21 to June 20)
CANCER
(June 21 to July 22)
Expect a fast-paced month filled with meetings, local travel, and contract sorting. Relationships become deeply expressive after the 10th. Bold financial moves take priority at month’s end. LEO
SAGITTARIUS
(November 22 to December 21)
Capitalize on prime career energy to land promotions, launch businesses, or accept accolades. Balance public success with quiet family time, before a latemonth urge to travel or learn takes over.
(July 23 to August 22)
Audit your budget and secure new income streams early in the month. Family life becomes a peaceful sanctuary mid-month. Action-oriented Mars enters your sign on September 27, skyrocketing your energy. VIRGO
CAPRICORN
(December 22 to January 19)
Break out of your routine by booking travel or enrolling in advanced classes. Social connections bring financial insights mid-month. Shift your focus toward longterm investments as the month closes.
(August 23 to September 22)
AQUARIUS
Your personal new year brings a powerful reset for solo projects and identity
Focus heavily on home renovations, updates. Your social charm peaks middecluttering, and resolving family friction. month, followed by a natural pull Communication clears up mid-month, toward privacy and deep rest later on. leading to a late-month surge in mental drive, writing, and networking. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)
Prioritize mental health, rest, and closing old chapters during the first three weeks. Your energy returns fully when birthday season starts September 22, sparking a vibrant social life.
(January 20 to February 18)
Settle
outstanding
insurance assets
plans,
early
debts, and
on.
update
sort
shared
Intimacy
deepens
mid-month, but external relationship dynamics and
will
balance
require after
compromise
September
27.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78
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The Capital News
SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 94, Issue 78