6-4-26

Amid Opponent’s Attacks, Mayoral Candidate

Janeese Lewis George Stands Firm in Her Convictions

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Writer

Despite prodding from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie, the D.C. Council, once again, didn’t cast a vote on emergency curfew legislation.

The council’s weeks-long impasse is taking place amid a contentious Democratic mayoral primary that further intensified earlier this week with Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker’s endorsement of D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4). Parker, who succeeded McDuffie as

3 The D.C. Council’s weeks-long impasse on emergency youth curfew, is taking place amid a contentious Democratic mayoral primary with current frontrunners Kenyan McDuffie, who formerly served on the legislative body, and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George. (WI File Photo)

Roots Picnic 2026 Celebrates Black

Music, Emphasizes ‘There Will be a Brighter Day’

Weekend Highlights

‘D.C. in Philly,’ Power of Unity and Black Culture

By Micha Green and Demarco Rush

WI Managing Editor and WI Contributing Writer

The sun shone bright on Philadelphia as more than 80,000 people gathered for a celebration of Black music, culture and influ-

ence at Roots Picnic on May 3031 at Belmont Plateau, featuring chart-topping and legendary artists such as Jay-Z and The Roots, Brandy, T.I., Backyard Band, Wale and Black Thought in a J. Period Live Mixtape, and Erykah Badu.

Ward 5 council member in 2023, said Lewis George has what it takes to tackle public safety issues as mayor.

“I have found her to wrestle with the nuance of a lot of these policy decisions that is often lost when we try to drill things down to a soft-on-crimelike headline,” Parker said about Lewis George. “I think she will certainly have her work cut out for her to make the case to District residents, but her thoughtful, nuanced approach on the issues and a steady hand in governing will help keep a driving down [of] violent crime across the District.”

Parker endorsed Lewis George weeks after D.C. Council members Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Robert White (D-At large), and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) issued similar statements of support. D.C. Council members Anita Bonds (D-At large) and Wendell Felder

5 Wale and Black Thought perform a J. Period Live Mixtape set during the second day of Roots Picnic on May 31 at Philadelphia’s Belmont Plateau. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer) ROOTS PICNIC Page 32

Some Agreement among At-large Candidates about Dyana Forester and Candace Tiana Nelson

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Writer

In her two decades as an active member of D.C.’s Democratic Party, Candace Tiana Nelson has seen party members struggle to unite in the aftermath of an election.

Such was the case, she said, in 2010 when then-D.C Council Chair Vince Gray unleashed a campaign treasure chest to foil thenD.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s re-election bid.

PGCPS Selects Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph Set for Long-Term Leadership

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

wide search.

“I’m pleased to welcome Dr. Joseph home to Prince George’s County, and I look forward to partnering with him and the Board of Education to chart a positive path forward,” Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy said during a press conference on June 1. “This is a pivotal moment

Shawn Joseph, who has been serving as interim superintendent for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) since July 2025, will officially continue leading one of the 20 largest school systems in the U.S. with more than 130,000 students total, following a nation- JOSEPH Page 12

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WRITER; SKYLAR NELSON, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

John McClain, Music Titan and Michael Jackson Estate Co-Executor, Dies at 71

John McClain, the veteran music executive who helped transform Michael Jackson’s estate into one of the most profitable celebrity enterprises in entertainment history while shaping the careers of some of the biggest names in music, has died at 71.

McClain died May 26 in Los Angeles from complications following a fall, according to an obituary released by representatives close to the family. He was surrounded by friends and his nephew Warner Wright.

“I am profoundly grieved at the loss of my partner and brother John McClain,” said entertainment attorney John Branca, who serves as co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate with McClain. “One of the great innovators in the world of music and music marketing, John was a visionary, seeing past the mundane and into the future.”

Mya Trujillo, Environmental and International Reporter

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor

Roy Lewis, Jr.

Robert R. Roberts

Anthony Tilghman

Abdullah Konte

Cleveland Nelson

INTERNS

Keith Golden Jr., Spring Intern

Kree Anderson, Spring Intern

Sumaya Abdel-Motagaly, Spring Intern

McClain and Branca were named by Jackson as co-executors of his will in 2002, and since the King of

Pop’s death in 2009, the estate has generated billions through music publishing, licensing agreements, films, merchandise, Broadway productions, recordings, and global entertainment ventures.

“When we were named in Michael’s will, I knew that he would bring great insight into Michael’s music and that his friendship and dedication to Michael would underscore all the great projects that we could bring to the world,” Branca stated.

McClain’s death comes as Jackson’s global popularity has surged again through the success of the biopic “Michael,” starring Jaafar Jackson, and continuing interest in projects tied to the entertainer’s catalog and stage productions. With “Michael” soaring toward $1 billion at the box office and set to become the highest grossing biopic ever, the film has reconnected audiences with Jackson’s artistry and stage brilliance.

Page 44

Inside The Washington Commanders’ First Organized Team Activities Practice

The Washington Commanders opened their first Organized Team Activities (OTAs) practice on Wednesday, May 27, at the BigBear.ai Performance Center in Ashburn, Virginia, offering an early glimpse of a team determined to build momentum heading into the 2026 season. With quarterback Jayden Daniels back on the field, two new coordinators taking command on the field for the first time, a near-perfect veteran attendance, an upgraded defensive line taking shape, and a roster blending newly signed rookies, free agents, and key returners, the Commanders are already establishing a tone they hope will define the season ahead.

“Every year is a different year, so the standard has to be recaptured from the jump,” said cornerback Mike Sainristil. “You have to refocus yourself going into a new season –– whether you have a good year, whether you have a down year. For us, it’s just ‘how

3 Quarterback Jayden Daniels walking through drills at BigBear.ai Performance Center in Ashburn, Virginia, for the team's first Organized Team Activities practice on May 27. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

Grocery bills across the D.C. region continue climbing at a pace that is forcing many families to rethink how they eat, where they shop, and whether dining out is still affordable, as new federal data and economic reports show food prices rising faster than many wages.

A typical 16-item grocery basket tracked by Yahoo Finance now costs more than 44% higher than it did in 2019, with major increases tied to beef, coffee, tomatoes, and other staples Americans buy regularly.

“U.S. consumers have been battered by years of higher-than-expected inflation,” Yahoo Finance reported after the latest inflation numbers were released.

According to the U.S. Department of Agricul-

COMMANDERS Page 5

ture’s Food Price Outlook, food prices are expected to continue rising throughout 2026, with grocery store prices projected to increase another 2.4% and restaurant prices forecast to climb 3.6% this year. Beef and veal prices alone are projected to increase 5.5%.

In the District, the financial pressure is already evident. A single adult in Washington spends an average of about $625 a month on groceries, while the cost of living comfortably pushes food expenses closer to $730 monthly, or roughly $8,760 a year. Regional inflation has only intensified the burden.

The latest Consumer Price Index data for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria region showed overall food prices increasing 4.5% over the previous year,

PRICES Page 15

COMMANDERS from Page 4

can we form the best bond possible right now,’ so that when it comes to later in the season, we’re not worried about any potential cracks in culture, we’re worried about, ‘did we have a

good foundation set in the offseason?’ We’re just building those daily habits…and making sure that we put our best foot forward, each and every single day.”

Here’s a look inside the team’s first OTA Practice of 2026:

tion fatal crash statistics.

Urban planner Madalyn Smith said congestion ultimately comes down to the number of vehicles crowding roads at the same time and said reducing dependence on cars remains one of the few long-

term answers.

“The way to address traffic is to make cars less necessary,” Smith said. “You can really cut out a lot of cars by making shorter trips much more possible (without them).”

WI

healthy food for all

AROUND THE REGION

facts

June 4

1961 – Soul crooner El DeBarge, who became a star with his siblings in the early 1980s before enjoying a successful solo career, is born.

1972 – Angela Davis, famed civil rights activist and Black Panther Party affiliate, is acquitted by an all-white jury in San Jose, California, of conspiracy charges stemming from a 1970 courtroom shootout.

June 5

1945 – John Carlos, a Black American track and field athlete best known for raising a black gloved fist alongside Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics during the American national anthem after winning a bronze medal, is born.

1973 – Doris A. Davis is elected as mayor of Compton, California, making her the first-ever African-American woman elected mayor of a metropolitan city.

June 6

1944 – Tommie Smith, an American track and field gold medalist at the 1968 Olympics who raised a black gloved fist with fellow Black American John Carlos, is born.

1966 – James Meredith, the first African-American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi, is shot in Mississippi by a white man during a civil rights march.

2004 – Phylicia Rashad of "The Cosby Show" fame becomes the first Black actress to win a Tony for a leading dramatic role for her turn as Lena Younger in "A Raisin in the Sun."

June 7

1943 – Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator, is born in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1958 – Music legend Prince, who released 39 albums, won seven Grammy Awards, an Oscar and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is born in Minneapolis.

June 8

1953 – The Supreme Court rules that restaurants and bars in Washington, D.C., are required to serve African-American customers.

June 9

1845 – Businessman and politician James Napier, who served as Register of the U.S. Treasury under President William Taft, is born.

1934 – Legendary soul singer Jackie Wilson is born in Detroit.

June 10

1895 – Actress McDaniel, who in 1940 was the first African-American to win an Oscar for her role as Mammy in "Gone With the Wind," is born.

1946 – Famed boxer Johnson, the first African-American world heavyweight champion, dies. WI

AROUND THE REGION

view P INT

BY RICHARD ELLIOTT

What issue(s) would you like to see prioritized during the upcoming midterm elections?

JASON FOWLER

/ HUNTINGTOWN, MARYLAND

“Affordability. Rebirth of the American Dream.”

GREG HOLMES / BOWIE, MARYLAND

“The two most pressing issues our country faces are accountability and affordability. Our elected officials need to put targeted guardrails on corporations as they seek increasing profits at the expense of affordability for hard working people. The current track of rising costs is unsustainable and I believe voters are going to send a strong message to incumbents of both political parties that they have had enough!”

CHAKEIA BLOCKER / BRYANS ROAD, MARYLAND

“As we approach the midterm elections, I want to see a stronger focus on economic opportunity, workforce stability, Black maternal health, and mental health. As a former Biden-Harris appointee seeking employment since February, I understand firsthand the impact of economic uncertainty on families. After surviving a near-fatal childbirth experience in 2024, I am especially committed to shifting Black maternal health from crisis response to prevention, ensuring Black women receive comprehensive care, education, and support before, during, and after pregnancy.”

REGINALD MARTIN / FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND

“1. Affordability of Course. The average citizen is struggling to keep up with the cost of everyday living. Food, clothing, housing,utilities, gas, and health care. 2. Health care access. Special considerations must be given to mental health access.The time is long over due for universal health care. No American should be without coverage. 3. Jobs, we need the jobs that pay people a living wage. No more minimum wage, when we know what the actual cost to take care of one’s self and family far outpaces our federal minimum wage. No one should have to work multiple jobs just to get by. 4. Restoration of Due Process and the Rule of Law. The levels of lawlessness being displayed at the highest level of our government is astounding. I have never seen the Constitution under attack this way in my lifetime. From the First Amendment, to due process, voting rights, women’s reproductive rights and civil rights!”

CHEZIA CAGER / BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

“Affordability and protecting fundamental rights. Families are concerned about the rising cost of everyday necessities, from groceries to health care. At the same time, we must continue protecting civil rights, voting rights, and the freedoms that allow everyone to fully participate in our democracy and pursue opportunity.”

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

AROUND THE REGION

Pride Month kick-off

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, District officials, advocates, and community officially kicked off Pride Month with the annual LGBTQIA+ Flag Raising at the John A. Wilson Building on Monday, June 1.

“Washington, D.C. has never waited for the rest of the country to do the right thing — and that is espe-

cially true when it comes to protecting and celebrating our LGBTQIA+ community,” said Bowser.

The celebration also marked the 20th anniversary of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs (MOLGBTQA).

“For 20 years, the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs has been a nation-

al model for what it looks like when a city puts resources, policy, and commitment behind inclusion,” Bowser continued. “This Pride Month, we celebrate that legacy — and we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ Washingtonians who have made our city more visible, more vibrant, and more free.”

WI

GWUL Celebrates Project Steam Ahead Students

By Hamil Harris WI Contributing Writer

For the last eight weeks the headquarters of the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) in Northwest, D.C., has been a training ground for the next generation of computer programmers.

Through Project Steam Ahead,

youth ages 11-17 take introductory computer coding classes, not only to learn new skills, but tap into possibilities for the future.

“Somebody say ‘very well,’” the Rev. Kindred Curry, pastor Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church and chair of the GWUL Board of Directors told the crowd as part of the Project Steam Ahead showcase on May 9. “If you are willing to go very well, you can go well beyond here.”

During the culminating event, students presented original games and animated stories, sharing their newly acquired skills and hopes for next steps.

“In this program students combine critical thinking skills with creativity to produce animated stories and original video games,” said Dr. Lynn Nehemiah, chairwoman of GWUL’s youth education and development program. “Many know how to make computer games, animated software, and other electronic items.”

As part of the showcase, Shaunah Boone, a junior at Dunbar High School, was awarded a $40,000 scholarship from Linkedin and $8,000 from the Urban League for her project

“Polite Enough,” a simulation game that responds to various gender biases.

“Someone walks through life as a Black female,” the junior explained about her game.

She plans to use the funds toward next steps at George Washington University, where she will start a special five-year program next year.

“I plan to major in mechanical engineering,” Shaunah told The Informer.

Other participants included high school freshman Dylan Rowe, who created a game called “Collect The Stars.”

Danela Kabebe created the game “Bananas! A Monkey’s Life,” with a picture based on the character Curious George, tapping into her earlier years.

“When I was a child,” Danela, a high school freshman said, “I was raised on Curious George.”

Curry, who, in addition to pastoring, serves as an environmental consultant at the National Institutes of Health, offered advice for the participants.

“[Students should be] lifelong learners, systematic thinkers and critical problem solvers,” he said. WI

Justice Delayed in D.C.’s Overloaded Courts

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Washington’s court system is buckling under a crushing backlog of criminal and civil cases, with felony trials now being pushed years into the future as more than a quarter of D.C.’s judicial seats remain vacant.

This backlog leaves victims waiting for justice, defendants trapped in legal limbo, and families across the District facing mounting instability in housing, probate, custody, and other cases.

Court officials, defense attorneys, legal scholars, and advocates say the crisis has moved far beyond a bureaucratic inconvenience and into a constitutional emergency affecting nearly every corner of the city’s justice system. According to the D.C. Courts’ annual statistical summary, more than 106,000 cases were pending or available for disposition in Superior Court at the start of 2025.

Fewer than 61,000 were resolved during the year, leaving more than 40,000 unresolved heading into 2026. Criminal felony backlogs worsened sharply, growing from 2,198 pending felony cases at the beginning of 2025 to 3,438 by year’s end.

“When delays become so severe that victims cannot get closure, defendants cannot receive timely trials, witnesses disappear, and judges are forced to triage justice, the issue is no longer administrative,”

Tracy Velázquez, policy director at the Council for Court Excellence, told The Informer. “The right to a speedy trial is a constitutional guarantee, and courts are one of the core systems our communities rely on for accountability and fairness.”

The mounting delays have come as political pressure surrounding crime in Washington has intensified, even while violent crime and property crime statistics have declined in the District.

Data from D.C.’s Crime Cards dashboard and criminal justice agencies show major categories of violent crime have continued trending downward. At the same time, felony filings in D.C. Superior Court surged dramatically in 2025.

ods are contributing to rising jail populations even while crime falls. (Courtesy Photo/Council for Court Excellence)

The D.C. Sentencing Commission reported a 44% increase in felony cases filed compared with the previous year, with 1,275 additional felony cases entering the system. Half of all felony filings in 2025 occurred between September and December alone.

The numbers reveal a court system absorbing far more cases than it can resolve. In 2025, there were 6,501 adult felony arrests in the District, a 13% increase from the prior year and the highest number since the Sentencing Commission began tracking the data in 2018. Prosecutors “papered,” or formally charged, roughly 80% of those arrests, also an all-time high. The Sentencing Commission found that 53% of felony cases filed in 2025 were still pending disposition as of January 2026 because the courts could not move cases fast enough.

“Without a doubt, the political and media rhetoric around crime in D.C. has led to an increased pace of arrests and prosecutions,” Velázquez said. “Ironically with the biggest jump in the prosecutions being of minor misdemeanor charges and not more violent felonies.”

Defense attorneys and court

observers say the consequences are cascading throughout the system. Defendants who have not been convicted remain jailed for months or years awaiting trial or continue living under restrictive bail conditions while cases inch through the courts. Victims and witnesses often wait years for closure while evidence weakens and memories fade. Legal experts say delays increasingly create constitutional challenges that can lead to cases being dismissed altogether.

“As a criminal defense lawyer for over 36 years, with past experience as a Crown Prosecutor, I have personally seen the increase in backlogs and the manner a court system treats defendants pending a decision,” criminal defense attorney Michael Kruse said in a statement. “The strain placed on judges and prosecutors from excessive caseloads is having a serious impact on the justice system.”

Kruse said prolonged delays damage nearly every aspect of the legal process.

“The longer a file is inactive in a court system, the more weight the evidence loses for the purpose of proving the case and the colder it becomes for the lawyers who will be evaluating it for use later,” Kruse said. “Defense counsel can make an application to the court for the proceedings to be stayed or for the charges to be dismissed completely.”’

‘Court Vacancies

Affect the Entire City’

The D.C. Sentencing Commission’s latest report also showed that roughly 39% of adult felony arrests in 2025 did not result in a Superior Court conviction, either because cases were never formally prosecuted, were dismissed, or ended without conviction. At the same time, plea agreements dominated the system, accounting for 92% of felony case resolutions in 2025, while jury trials remained relatively rare.

The burden has spilled into the D.C. jail as well. Velázquez noted that increasing pretrial detention periods are contributing to rising jail populations even while crime DC COURTS Page 11

AROUND THE REGION

A harmonious celebration took over Franklin Park in Northwest as youth, educators, faith groups, and community leaders gathered for the HWPL Washington DC Youth Peace Festival on Saturday, May 30. Hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, and Restoration of Light (HWPL), the festival coincided with global celebrations honoring the 13th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Dr. Kwesi Daniels, head of architecture at Tuskegee University in Alabama, reads The Washington Informer during a trip to the National Building Museum. (Brenda Siler/The Washington Informer)

falls. She pointed to three inmate deaths already reported this year inside the D.C. jail.

Reports from attorneys, judges, and court officials paint a picture of a system stretched to its limits. Reportedly, some hearings have continued late into the night as judges struggle to manage overloaded dockets. Further, severe judicial shortages have delayed criminal proceedings and slowed nearly every division of the court system. D.C. Witness also documented warnings from judges and attorneys who said confirmation delays for judicial nominees have created an increasingly dangerous strain on the courts.

The impact extends far beyond criminal courtrooms. Velázquez said ordinary residents waiting on family court rulings, probate disputes, evictions, small claims, and custody hearings are also paying the price.

“Justice delayed in our local courts can mean prolonged instability in housing, finances, caregiving, and family life,” Velázquez said. “Court vacancies affect the entire city, not just high-profile criminal cases.”

Professor Matthew Fraidin of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law said the damage is especially severe for Black and low-income

families involved in D.C.’s child welfare system.

“Government intrusion in the lives of Black and low-income families is dangerous to begin with, and when it happens in secret, there is no accountability whatsoever,” Fraidin wrote in an email to The Informer, noting that child abuse and neglect proceedings are conducted behind closed doors with sealed records.

The Metropolitan Police Department declined to comment directly on the backlog crisis.

“We must refer you to the courts for comment on their operations and procedures,” MPD spokesperson Lee Lepe said in a statement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also declined comment.

The judicial vacancy crisis remains at the center of the growing emergency. Velázquez noted that D.C. stands alone nationally because its local trial court judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate rather than elected locally. Six nominees recommended by the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission are still awaiting Senate confirmation hearings.

“People outside the system hear ‘judicial vacancies’ and may see it as a procedural or political issue; but in reality it has serious, direct consequences on the lives of people in the District,”

Velázquez said. WI

AROUND THE REGION

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

4 After serving as interim since July 2025, Shawn Joseph is officially the superintendent for Prince George’s County Public Schools. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

JOSEPH from Page 1

for the school system and it’s an opportunity to reimagine what’s possible for our students and families.”

After a nationwide search led by the PGCPS Superintendent Search Committee, Braveboy said Joseph, who holds a doctoral degree in educational administration and policy studies from George Washington University, seemed like the best fit to move PGCPS further.

“One evaluator described him as an outstanding candidate who is both engaging and knowledgeable,” Braveboy said. “He listened to teachers. He listened to administrators. He listened to parents. He listened to everyone.”

Joseph, previously worked in the Nashville school system and is officially succeeding Millard House II, who resigned in June 2025 after a no-confidence vote by the Prince George’s County Education Association (PGCEA). Since serving as interim, Joseph has prioritized addressing the teacher vacancy rate and managing the budget amid shrinking local revenues.

“Positions are temporary. Purpose is enduring. Our legacy will not be measured by how long we served, but by what we changed because we served.” said Joseph. “I know the work ahead is not going to be easy. We face real fiscal, operational, and instructional challenges. We will meet them with honesty, discipline, transparency, and unity.”

Criticism About the Selection Process, Support for Joseph

“One evaluator described him as an outstanding candidate who is both engaging and knowledgeable,” Braveboy said. He listened to teachers. He listened to administrators. He listened to parents. He listened to everyone.”

While Prince George’s County leaders have spoken praises to Joseph, some residents have raised criticism regarding transparency in the superintendent search.

Before Joseph’s official announcement on June 1, Parents LEAD Coalition sent out a formal petition to PGCPS leadership in May, expressing concerns about how Prince Georgians were able to weigh in on the selection process.

“As of May 8, 2026, County Executive Braveboy already has the names of the three superintendent finalists. The selection deadline is June 1. No community forums have been scheduled. The finalist names are being kept secret. The community that was asked to shape this search is being shut out of it,” read an online petition

JOSEPH Page 13

JOSEPH from Page 12

signed by nearly 500 residents, including Board of Education member Jonathan Briggs (District 2).

The coalition argued this is a pattern of limited transparency, not an isolated incident.

“This is not the first time. This community has watched this administration operate without transparency: from the circumstances surrounding the interim superintendent appointment, to budget decisions that cut programs while protecting administrative costs, to a community confidence survey whose results were ignored,” the statement continued. “The pattern is not coincidental. It is a choice being made at the expense of our children and our schools.”

Despite concerns, others are excited about Joseph’s guidance in furthering Prince George’s County Public Schools.

“Joseph has forged a strong

partnership with PGCEA built on consistent communication and shared problem-solving during his time as interim superintendent, and we’re excited to see him take over the role in a more permanent capacity,” said PGCEA President Dr. Donna Christy. “Our schools work better when educators have a say in decision making, and he has worked hard to actively connect with educators through PGCEA.”

This represents the culmination of three decades of leadership experience in education for Joseph, who currently serves as one of the co-directors of Howard University’s Urban Superintendents Academy.

“With Dr. Joseph’s seasoned leadership and the Board’s unwavering commitment, PGCPS can improve outcomes in student achievement, strengthen employee relations, and enhance the overall educational experience,” the county executive said. WI

BUSINESS

Report Says Security Deposit Alternatives Leave Renters Paying More

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A new report from the National Consumer Law Center is warning that a growing number of renters across the country, including in the District, are being pulled into costly “security deposit alternative” programs that consumer advocates say strip tenants of legal protections while generating profits for property tech-

nology companies.

The report, “Tenant Insecurity: How Security Deposit ‘Alternatives’ Raise Tenants’ Costs and Erode Their Protections,” examines the rapid expansion of so-called PropTech products that landlords increasingly market as substitutes for traditional security deposits. Researchers say the products are often promoted as a way for renters to avoid paying large upfront deposits while moving into

apartments faster, but many tenants ultimately pay far more over time through nonrefundable monthly fees, debt collection efforts, automatic bank withdrawals, and disputed damage claims.

“Security deposit alternative products attempt to evade state laws designed to protect tenants,” April

3 A new report warns that renters across the District and nation are being pulled into costly programs that strip tenants of legal protections. (File Courtesy Photo)

attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “People pay and pay, but at the end of the lease none of the fees are refunded unlike a traditional security deposit. On top of that, they can face debt collection to reimburse the PropTech company or even have money removed from their bank account based on the landlord’s damage claims.”

Researchers documented complaints from tenants who said companies withdrew money directly from their accounts after landlords filed claims, sometimes causing overdraft fees.

Kuehnhoff, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and co-author of the report, said in a statement. “They are marketed as a helpful tool for renters struggling to raise the sizable fees required to move into a new apartment. But in reality, they’re just another way to extract profits from tenants with low incomes.”

In the District, where renters already face steep housing costs and aggressive move-in fees, the report raises additional concerns because D.C. law provides specific protections governing security deposits. Under District law, landlords generally cannot charge more than one month’s rent as a security deposit and must return deposits within 45 days or provide written notice explaining any deductions. Landlords also must provide itemized statements and pay interest on qualifying deposits. D.C. Tenant Security Deposit Information

The NCLC report argues that many security deposit alternative products are designed specifically to avoid those protections.

Instead of paying a refundable deposit directly to a landlord, tenants often pay monthly or annual fees to third-party companies offering “deposit-free” leasing programs. Researchers identified multiple companies operating in the market, including Rhino, Jetty, LeaseLock, Obligo, TheGuarantors, and others.

Unlike traditional deposits, the fees are usually nonrefundable even if the tenant leaves the apartment without causing damage. In many cases, the companies can still pursue tenants for damages or unpaid rent after already collecting years of fees.

“Security deposit alternative products make it more expensive to be a renter,” noted Steve Sharpe, senior

One tenant quoted in the report said: “My apartment complex messed up the final charge for the move out. Now [Obligo] is trying to charge me. … I have spent $150 in bank overdraft fees because of this.”

Another tenant reported paying hundreds of dollars in monthly fees only to still face large move-out bills. “I lived [at the property] for [two] years and paid over $400 in fees only to get charged my full deposit anyway,” the tenant said.

Black and Latino Renters Disproportionately Cost-Burdened, A Call to Action

The report also warns that households of color are more likely to suffer the consequences of these products because Black and Latino renters are already disproportionately burdened by housing costs and discriminatory tenant screening systems.

According to data cited from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 57% of Black renters and 54% of Hispanic renters are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities.

Researchers also raised concerns about “differential pricing,” where companies use credit scores, banking history, and proprietary algorithms to determine what tenants pay for these products. The report warns that those systems can deepen racial disparities because Black households historically face lower credit scores and lower accumulated wealth due to decades of discriminatory practices. WI

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from Page 4

with grocery prices, categorized as “food at home,” jumping 5.1%. Restaurant and dining costs also continued climbing, with food away from home rising 4.5% annually. Since 2019, restaurant prices across the District have surged nearly 31.8%.

Federal analysts and economists say several factors are driving the increases, including fuel costs, tariffs, supply-chain disruptions, drought conditions affecting cattle production, labor costs, and global conflicts affecting transportation and food production.

“Trade policy changes, persistent labor costs and uneven commodity volatility across categories” continue contributing to higher grocery prices, Brandon Warren, chief growth officer at The Barcode Group, told Yahoo Finance.

Amanda Oren, vice president of industry strategy for grocery North America at RELEX Solutions, added that inflation pressures remain embedded throughout the food

supply chain.

“Tariffs, climate-related disruptions and transportation challenges make it harder and more expensive to keep shelves stocked,” Oren said.

The USDA reported that nearly every major food category is becoming more expensive in 2026, particularly beef, pork, beverages, bakery products, sugar and sweets, and fresh produce. Coffee prices have more than doubled since the pandemic, while some snack foods have seen dramatic jumps, according to Yahoo Finance tracking data.

Additionally, the overall inflation picture continues worsening. New federal data released this month showed consumer prices rising 3.8% year-over-year, the sharpest increase in nearly three years, with food and energy costs remaining among the major drivers.

Consumers in the D.C. region are also confronting another reality unique to the area. While unprepared groceries remain exempt from the District’s general sales tax, prepared foods and restaurant meals carry a 10% tax. Economists

say the District’s longstanding culture of dining out, fueled partly by commuters and federal workers, has made Washington especially vulnerable to rising restaurant costs.

The economic strain is reaching beyond inconvenience. Regional studies estimate that roughly 37% of residents across the Washington metropolitan area have experienced food insecurity, with inflation forcing households to make difficult choices between food, housing, transportation, and healthcare.

Nationally, Americans are increasingly turning to debt just to keep food on the table. LendingTree data cited by Yahoo Finance showed that nearly 29% of buy now pay later users have used those services to purchase groceries, double the share reported two years ago.

“When nearly half of users say they’ve paid late, it shows how thin many households’ margins are right now,” said Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree. WI

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NATIONAL

Congressional Black Caucus Demands Corporate Action on Voting Rights

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) intensified pressure on corporate America this week, warning that companies that once publicly defended voting rights now face growing demands to prove those commitments were more than carefully crafted statements released during the racial justice protests of 2020.

In a letter led by CBC Chair Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) and signed by dozens of caucus mem-

bers, lawmakers accused Republican-controlled states across the South of escalating efforts to weaken Black voting strength following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais.

Other CBC members who signed the letter included: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas).

The caucus warned that the consequences reach far beyond politics

and directly affect Black communities’ access to health care, education, infrastructure, environmental pro-

tections, economic investment, and public safety resources.

“Free and fair elections are the foundation of American democracy and the basis upon which all other rights and opportunities rest,” the caucus wrote in the letter. “Black Americans are not merely stakeholders in this democracy— we have been among its fiercest defenders, often at tremendous personal cost.”

The lawmakers said generations of Black Americans “marched, organized, bled, and died” to secure voting protections now under renewed attack through court rulings and redistricting battles taking shape across Southern states ahead of the November elections.

Caucus members said corporations that benefited from African American consumers, workers, and communities now face a choice about whether they will publicly oppose efforts to dilute Black political representation or remain silent while voting protections are weakened. They reminded corporate leaders that more than 200 companies and business organizations publicly supported stronger voting rights protections five years ago and called on Congress to prevent voter discrimination and ensure equal ballot access for voters of color.

“Five years ago, corporations across America publicly affirmed

that democracy, racial equity, and voting rights matter,” Clarke said. “Today, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, those commitments are being tested in real time. Corporations that have profited from Black consumers, relied on Black workers, and benefited from Black communities cannot remain silent while Black political representation is dismantled in plain sight.”

The CBC urged companies to: issue public statements condemning efforts to weaken Black voting strength and dismantle Voting Rights Act protections; disclose political spending tied to officials or organizations supporting discriminatory redistricting efforts; engage directly with civil rights organizations and impacted communities; and participate in a national convening focused on defending voting rights and Black political power.

“Silence in this moment is not neutrality — it is complicity,” Clarke said. “The Congressional Black Caucus is calling on corporate America to publicly reaffirm its commitment to voting rights, equal representation, and the democratic principles so many companies pledged to uphold just a few years ago. Every institution that claims to believe in democracy has a responsibility to act like it.”

WI

REPORT from Page 1

(D-Ward 7) have endorsed McDuffie, as has former Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh.

For Parker, who’s in the midst of a re-election bid, his endorsement of Lewis George at this critical juncture in the Democratic mayoral primary boiled down to what her administration promises.

“Councilmember Lewis George is the superior choice,” Parker said. “She has laid out a vision for how we will move the District forward, how we will address widening inequality in terms of economics, and how we will address the plight of residents east of the river. These are long-standing issues and we cannot afford for the status quo to be the rubber stamp for the next four years.”

With Holistic Public Safety Vision, Lewis George Has Strong Showing in Polls

A May 20 poll conducted by CityCast DC showed Lewis George, one of seven mayoral candidates, dominating with a five-point lead over McDuffie in the first round of the new rankedchoice voting system. During the second round, McDuffie gained a 13 percentage point advantage.

In a subsequent poll conducted by public opinion research and political strategy firm GBAO, Lewis George led McDuffe in the first and second-round voting, by 14 and 12 percentage points respectively. Both polls came out in the aftermath of a televised Fox 5/Georgetown University debate where McDuffie called Lewis George weak on public safety matters.

In a polling memo, GBAO said its

findings vindicate the Ward 4 council member.

“[D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George] enjoys broad popularity in the District while McDuffie is now viewed negatively,” GBAO’s said in its polling memo. “Bottom line: the attacks from McDuffie and his allies have backfired. Lewis George has only gotten stronger as voters have gotten to know her while McDuffie's standing is moving in the wrong direction.”

If elected, Lewis George aims to turn schools and other government buildings across all eight wards into community hubs. She called this vision reminiscent of what the late Linda Harllee Harper actualized through Building Blocks DC, a past effort by the Bowser administration to address gun violence via a whole-of-government approach.

“It's a matter of just taking those [high risk] areas and giving them robust resources and supports and listening to those areas about what the needs are and then trying to meet the needs of those communities,” Lewis George told The Informer. “Building Blocks was a worthy mission that I think we should not have abandoned. For me, it would look like creating those building blocks again with key partners and putting all of our agencies on a task of providing the resources and creating the spaces that's necessary in these high-risk areas to do that work.”

Other aspects of Lewis George’s public safety plan include: the removal of illegal guns and strengthening of police training in constitutional stops; streamlining anti-truancy efforts into one agency; investing in after-school programs and more safe spaces for young people; further centering mental and behavioral health interventions in place of law enforcement; supporting

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NATIONAL

5 With efforts to weaken Black voting rights across Republican-controlled states, the Congressional Black Caucus is calling out corporate America to make good on commitments to justice during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)

the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement; and ending cooperation with ICE.

Though she didn’t speak directly to her mayoral aspirations, Lewis George said the future mayor and D.C. Council could employ preventative public safety measures in collaboration with District residents, elected officials, parent-teacher organizations, behavioral specialists, and other relevant parties.

“It looks like talking with not just the council members,” Lewis George told The Informer, “but talking with the ANC commissioners, talking with

community organizations who are on the ground doing the work, faith communities that are on the ground doing the work and identifying locations throughout the city where we see a dire need for that type of robust programming and spaces.”

Community Members

Weigh in on Youth Curfew Dilemma

On the evening of May 26, the GoGo Museum, a brain child of McDuffie supporter Ron Moten, hosted a Par-

ent & Youth Town Hall on its premises in conjunction with an entity known as Save DC.

The two-hour function, held in the Bundy Garden portion of the Anacostia property, included a parent panel moderated by Keith Alexander of Bloomberg Law and a youth panel by Lonnie Bee of Majic 102.3 FM. The Next Generation Krank Band later took to the stage, keeping an audience that included youth, At-large Councilmember White and D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto bouncing.

Khalil White, the founding lead mic of the Next Generation Krank, said the passion of the young singers and percussionists speaks to his vision he manifested in 2023.

“I've been helping, just keeping them motivated, keeping them going,” said White, 23. “[Telling them] ‘Y'all don't got to be out here doing stuff. Y'all can come and play music, play instruments, and perform in front of a crowd and do the right stuff.’”

Three years later, White, known to many as Wavy, said Gen Alpha is embracing go-go more than he could have imagined.

“Knowing that I played a part that would have them dancing and everything is just showing that we in the right place and we leading the youth in the right direction,” said White, a fan of UCB and TCB, among other go-go bands of the 1990s and 2000s. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 29-2026 BOND PROGRAM OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of Capital Programs (OCP) seeks a qualified Bond Program Owner’s Representative to manage the work of the developers and to ensure that each property meets the Authority’s unit and site renovation standards. The Authority will procure as Owner’s Representative an individual experienced in representing the “owner”, preparing budgets and schedules, overseeing the work of the developers, A&E firms, and general contractors, and managing multiple renovation projects simultaneously.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Friday, May 29, 2026, full solicitation documents will be posted to our e-procurement system Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocuremeNt.com/requests.html?company_id=506

Respondents must log in to view this RFP for all related documents. It is the respondent’s responsibility to check the Housing Agency Market Place site regularly to stay current on all available documents as this is the primary communication site solicitation.

PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, June 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

Email Deborah Barnes, Contract Specialist (OAS), at dybarnes@dchousing.org for additional information.

n Brochures

n Business Cards

n Banners

n Canvas Bags

n Color Copies

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The Stranger Who Stamped My Future

By Momodou Bojang

There is a window at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul where my life changed in less than ten minutes.

I was a young man from The Gambia with a small folder of paperwork, a story I had rehearsed too many times, and a mother who had borrowed money for my plane ticket because we did not have it ourselves. On the other side of the glass sat an American, a Foreign Service Officer whose name I never learned and whose face I can barely remember now. He had a stamp in his hand. He had a job to do. He had every reason to say no.

He said yes.

n Notary

That is the entire story. The yes.

I have spent over 20 years in the financial services industry, the last decade of it dedicated to guiding federal employees through retirement. I have built a wealth management practice, written a book, raised a family, and made a home in this country. But underneath all of it is that ten-minute conversation at a window I cannot find again.

I think about that officer more than I should admit. Not because of what he gave me, though he gave me everything, but because of what he probably did not understand he was giving. He was at work. He was processing applications. He had a quota and a lunch break and a supervisor and a commute back to whatever quarters the State Department had assigned him in Banjul. He went home that night and probably did not think of me again.

And yet his small, almost invisible act of belief, the willingness to stamp a paper for a kid he had no reason to trust became the foundation on which everything else in my life was built.

Why I Tell This Story Now

I tell this story for two reasons, and they matter to me in equal measure.

The first reason is that I owe him. Whomever he is, wherever he is, he is almost certainly retired now Foreign Service Officers earn the federal pensions I now help people like him manage. The arithmetic of that fact is not lost on me. The very kind of person I now serve every day the GS-13, the pre-retiree, the federal civil servant, the diplomat winding down a thirty-year career, the veteran starting a second

life after the uniform is the same kind of person who, in a small embassy window in West Africa, decided I deserved a chance. I cannot find him to thank him. So, I have built a practice around honoring him.

The second reason is that the people I work with, federal employees, veterans, immigrants from everywhere, the millions of us who came here believing that work and discipline could turn into something real, need to know that the next chapter is ours to write.

Most of us were told, growing up, that the goal was to come here and survive. To get the job. To send money home. To keep our heads down. And we have. We have built lives that our parents and grandparents could not imagine. But surviving was the first chapter. It cannot be the last.

The next chapter is harder, and quieter, and it is where most immigrant families get stuck. The next chapter is wealth. Not survival, wealth. Not making it, keeping it, growing it, passing it on. The kind of money that buys time, options, and freedom for your children and your children's children. The kind of money that lets you give back to the village you came from without having to choose between your future and theirs.

This is the chapter most of us were never taught to write.

What I Have Learned

I have learned that the difference

between a family that builds generational wealth and a family that doesn't is almost never about how much they earn. It is about what they do with what they earn.

I have learned that federal employees and military service members and Africans in America, who are disproportionately represented in both, are sitting on retirement benefits more valuable than almost any private-sector worker will ever touch, and most of them have no idea. The pension, the TSP, the survivor benefits, the health insurance into retirement and the VA benefits earned in service to name a few. These are not small things. They are wealth-building instruments that most countries on earth do not offer their citizens. And too many of us never maximize them because no one ever sat us down and explained them in a language that felt like home.

I have learned that the politicians write the tax laws, and they write the loopholes too. The wealthy know about the loopholes. The rest of us do not. This is not an accident. It is a feature of the system. And the only response is to learn the game, play it well, and teach the next generation to play it better.

I have learned, most of all, that almost everything I am, came from someone else's small decision to believe in me. The family who raised me when there wasn't enough. The teachers and elders who poured into me when I was young. The Foreign Service Officer at the window. And later, the first client who trusted me with her retirement savings when I was starting out and had nothing but a business card to show for myself.

Belief, it turns out, is the original capital. Everything else is just compound interest.

A Note to Every Federal Employee and Service Member, Somewhere

If you happen to be a federal employee or a service member reading this on your lunch break anywhere in this country, at any post overseas, in any agency or branch, at any grade or rank, I want you to know something. Your work matters more than you think.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

DIRECTOR CHARON P.W. HINES

Dear Seniors,   Happy Pride Month!

As we step into the month of June, I extend warm greetings to each of you and hope you are embracing the energy, joy, and connection that this season brings. June offers us a meaningful opportunity to celebrate community, honor identity, and continue building a District where all older adults can thrive.

As we celebrate Pride, we recognize and honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of our LGBTQ+ seniors. This month is a time to uplift love, affirm inclusion, and recommit ourselves to ensuring that every older adult in the District feels seen, valued, and respected.

While we reach the midpoint of the year, we continue to follow in Mayor Bowser’s foot-

Live Boldly –June 2026 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

steps and “Run Through the Tape.” Together, we have advocated for the needs of DC seniors, hosted meaningful celebrations, and expanded programs and resources that support you in living boldly and independently each day.

As we reflect on Older Americans Month in May, it was truly a month to remember. Guided by the 2026 theme, “Champion Your Health,” we hosted several events focused on wellness, connection, and active aging.

One highlight was our inaugural Roll, Stroll, and Run: Older and Bolder Walk, which brought over 100 seniors together in movement, fellowship, and celebration of aging with strength and pride.

We also extend our gratitude to everyone who attended Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Senior Fest. This annual event is always a fun one to close out Older Americans Month. I know that each of you had an incredible time engaging with our community partners and, most importantly, connecting with one another.

As we move through June, I encourage you to continue what we started by staying active, engaged, and connected through our upcoming events and programs. Your well-being remains at the center of our work, and we remain committed to supporting you every step of the way.

On Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., we invite you to the highly anticipated Ms. Senior DC Pageant at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Van Ness Campus, Theatre of the Arts. Join us as we celebrate elegance, talent, and leadership, and cheer on contestants competing for the title of Ms. Senior DC 2026. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/ms-

seniordc26tix or by contacting my office at 202-724-5626.

On Saturday, June 20, we invite you to stand with us as we celebrate our LGBTQ+ seniors at the Capital Pride Parade. We are proud to march alongside Mayor Bowser in our signature Senior Pride Trolley, demonstrating unity, visibility, and unwavering support for inclusivity across the District. This is a meaningful opportunity to honor

the contributions and legacy of our LGBTQ+ older adults. If you are interested in riding the trolley, please email us at dacl.communications@dc.gov or call us at 202724-5626.

During Pride Month, I invite you to engage with your community, learn from one another, and participate in the many events and celebrations taking place across the District. Together, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to equity, dignity, and inclusion for all older adults.  I look forward to seeing each of you this month and throughout the summer.

In Service, Charon P.W. Hines Director, Department of Aging and Community Living

HEALTH

By Mya Trujillo

WI Contributing Writer

In a city like Washington, where experts and advocates are working to improve air quality and build sustainable food systems, green spaces like urban agriculture sites are necessary. Since farms and gardens in the region help safeguard the environment, tackle food apartheid, and help residents reconnect to the land, local farmers are pushing to protect these spaces.

Urban agriculture, defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as encompass-

ing the cultivation, processing and distribution of agricultural produce in urban and suburban areas, often utilizes sustainable growing practices that benefit both the planet and its people. Some of these techniques include cover cropping, heirloom seed farming and biointensive growing methods.

“We are in a farming illiterate society,” Mchezaji “Che” Axum told The Informer, “because many of us [are] so many generations removed from the farm. Sometimes it takes one generation to be away from farming, [and] that particular family or people just forget about even knowing how

to do it.”

Axum is the director of the University of the District of Columbia’s (UDC) College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) and its Center for Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education (CUAGE). Since CAUSES was established in 2010 and CUAGE in 2013, they have been part of efforts to increase education about farming and to prioritize these agricultural spaces in the city.

CAUSE’s Firebird Research Farm, Van Ness Urban Food Hub, East Capitol Urban Farm, Lamond-Riggs Urban Food Hub and P.R. Urban Food Hub are just some of the 236 urban agriculture sites in the District.

Through local growers’ passion for creating access to food while conserving the region’s environmental health, the city inches closer to meeting its Sustainable D.C. 2.0 goal of adding 20 additional acres of land into cultivation for growing food by 2032. Since vegetation slows the heat-dependent reactions that form smog, achieving this goal could help the city mitigate its ozone pollution, which has been a hurdle when tackling air pollution.

Fulfilling this sustainability goal could also help tackle the food insecurity experienced by approximately 22% of the region’s households.

“It’s urgent work,” chef, filmmaker and farmer, Jamaica Kalika, told The Informer. “It's super necessary, especially in this day and age. You will always need food. [It] is an essential for everybody on this earth.”

Protecting Tomorrow with Yesterday’s Techniques

Ever since working in commercial kitchens, Kalika became interested in learning about the life cycle of food–where and how it grew and ended up in the kitchen and on people’s plates. One of the most critical components of food production is the soil, as its nutrients feed the plant and help it grow. This is why maintaining soil health is crucial.

As the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region (DMV) was part of the tobacco colonies in the 1600s, it suffered the consequences of monocropping– the practice of growing large quantities of a singular crop on the same land every year. Through this practice, soil erosion becomes more probable, which can release carbon back into the atmosphere and also cause particle pollution that can harm humans' and animals’ lungs.

To protect soil health, some growers have been looking into the past.

“I think a lot of Black farmers… are turning toward indigenous technologies and really ancestral ways and traditions of growing food that is better for the earth, for the environment and better in terms of the health of the food they’re growing and feeding people,” Kalika told The Informer.

One of these methods is planting cover crops, which are any crop grown with the intention of covering the soil in between growing seasons. These plants, such as rye, buckwheat, okra, clover and others, are meant to renew the soil after cash crops strip it of its nutrients. Some cover crops are

considered “nitrogen fixers,” meaning they can extract nitrogen from the air and administer it to the soil, increasing fertility and replacing nitrogen fertilizers.

This method could directly reduce ozone, because synthetic nitrogen from fertilizers can pollute the air if plants don’t completely utilize it in their growing process. When an excess of nitrogen is present in the air, ground-level ozone is more likely to form.

Many of the plants with nitrogen-fixing properties are perennialsplants that continue to grow each year without needing to be replanted. One of the many goals of the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance (UCFA), a nonprofit organization aimed at training people in heirloom seed growing, is to educate about the benefits of perennials.

“Nuts and berries [are] super good examples of perennial crops that keep Mama Earth covered, and she rewards us with some deliciousness,” Bonnetta Adeeb, one of UCFA’s founding members, told The Informer.

While speaking with The Informer, Adeeb began praising some blooming elderberries in her garden that had caught her eye. She said the plant was easy to propagate, which is the process of producing a new plant from an existing one. This reminded her of another plant she deems excellent to propagate.

“I have a fig tree that my uncle gave my mother 20 years ago,” Adeeb told The Informer. “You can take cuttings [throughout] the year, and those fig trees will reproduce from a cutting, SUSTAINABLE Page 22

Supporting Children’s Behavioral Health Through Early Interventions

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC)

Behavioral health is just as important as physical health in a child’s growth and development. From infancy through adolescence, children may face emotional, social, or behavioral challenges that may impact how they learn, interact, or express themselves. When these concerns are recognized early, parents and caregivers can access services and support that help children thrive.

What is behavioral health?

Behavioral health refers to a person’s mental, emotional, and social well-being.1 For children, this includes social skills and how they handle challenges at home, school, or in relationships. This can include certain mental health conditions in children, such as:2

• Anxiety

• Mood swings

• Depression

• Difficulty focusing or hyperactivity (ADHD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States has a diagnosed mental or behavioral health disorder.3

The role of early interventions

Early interventions are services designed to treat babies and young children with developmental delays or disabilities.4 These services, such as behavioral therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, help children build critical skills for everyday life. Early interventions can prevent long-term behavioral challenges and support a child’s social, emotional, and academic success.

How EPSDT supports behavioral health interventions

One important way children can access behavioral health services early is through Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT). EPSDT is a Medicaid benefit that ensures children receive comprehensive and preventive health services. These services often include regular checkups, screenings, and access to treatment, including behavioral health services. EPSDT services include:5

• Health screenings

• Vision and hearing services

• Dental services

• Lead screenings

• Vaccines

Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting their child’s behavioral health. Monitor your child’s behaviors and moods and share any concerns with their doctor. Be sure to attend all wellchild visits and ask specifically about your child’s behavioral health. If you notice any emotional or behavioral challenges, consider requesting EPSDT services.

Early interventions supported by EPSDT can make a difference in a child’s future. With timely care, every child can grow up healthy — emotionally and mentally.

Sources

1. “About Behavioral Health,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 8, 2024, https://web.archive.org/ web/20250119172140/https://www. cdc.gov/mental-health/about/about-behavioral-health.html, accessed June 10, 2025.

2. “Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage?” National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 2024 https://web.archive.org/ web/20250120090616/https://www. nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/children-and-mental-health, accessed June 10, 2025.

3. “Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 19, 2024, https://web.archive.org/ web/20250118050559/https://www. cdc.gov/children-mental-health/data-research/index.html, accessed June

10, 2025.

4. “What is Early Intervention?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,https://web.archive.org/ web/20250127184616/https://www. cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states. html, accessed June 10, 2025.

5. “Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment,” Medicaid.gov, https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/early-and-periodic-screening-diagnostic-and-treatment#:~:text=All%20children%20under%20 age%2021%20eligible%20for,Medicaid%2C%20uninsured%2C%20 underinsured%2C%20or%20Ameri-

can%20Indian/Alaska%20Native, accessed June 10, 2025.

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/articles/PMC12849346/, accessed March 23, 2026.

All images are submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia and are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

#BestMe Your Bright Start® to

Motherhood

Pregnancy and the period after you have your baby can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate these moments alone. AmeriHealth Caritas DC offers enrollees support through the Bright Start maternity care program. The Bright Start program is designed to help you stay healthy before and after your baby is born. Bright Start can connect you with a care manager who can guide you through every step of your journey.

Bright Start can help you:

• Find an OB/GYN, midwife, or doula.

• Schedule Lyft rides to your appointments at no cost.

• Get diapers, a car seat, breast pump, and other supplies.

• Create a birth plan.

• Sign up for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

• Sign up for home-delivered meals.

Taking care of yourself is the best way to care for your baby. Bright Start makes it easier to manage your health, get your questions answered, and connect with the support you need. To enroll in Bright Start or learn more, call 1-877759-6883, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

EARTH OUR

and as we teach those skills, it allows each one of us to do our part in sequestering carbon and reducing our footprint.”

UCFA chose to focus on heirloom seed-growing due to the practice’s sustainability. When an heirloom crop is planted, it grows and deposits a seed that a person can harvest and plant, eliminating the need to repurchase that plant as long as the cycle is continued. As the cycle progresses, the crops become more resilient against climate, preserve genetic biodiversity and become something to be treasured from the past, directly connecting people, especially Black and indigenous farmers, to their ancestral growing roots.

Adeeb sees that the continuation of these farming traditions is a way to honor the earth, increase food sovereignty and reclaim the agriculture industry.

“It’s Black power,” Adeeb told The Informer. “We’re living in a country that really isn’t our best friend. We have to be taking control of ourselves, our lives, our food, our education and our future.”

Another way of farming that connects people to historical growing traditions is biointensive agriculture, which maximizes the amount of

crops grown on a small plot of land only using soil, water, air, sun and hand tools. This type of agricultural practice produces more food that is nutrient-dense and biodiverse, benefitting both environmental and public health.

One of the biointensive practices taught on UDC’s agriculture sites that derives from the Guinean highland region of Fouta Djallon is sheet mulching, a no-digging gardening process in which gardeners make compost in the spot where they want new garden beds. This technique mitigates weed growth and encourages soil and plant health.

Axum hopes that through education with CAUSES and CUAGE, future Black farmers can be reminded that the community was farming long before enslavement, and that it’s something to cherish. He hopes that more land in the District will be used for cultivating healthy, accessible, sustainably-grown food.

“The first true sustainable urban agriculture was created in the Nile Valley, so we should be celebrated just for that,” Axum told The Informer. “We have a long history of farming, but it doesn't start with [enslavement]; it starts way before that. So the more we know that, I think the more we will embrace it.”

WI

EDUCATION

Zwe Spacetime Represents Prince George’s as a 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finalist

Informer Citywide Spelling Bee Winner Nora Baker Celebrates a Fruitful Journey

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Writer

For three days, Zwe Spacetime gave his all against several of the world’s best elementary and middle-school aged spellers, eventually reaching the final rounds of what’s known to many as the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Though he suffered defeat in the 12th round, Zwe walked off the stage with the full support of an audience that cheered him on throughout the competition. As he explained to The Informer, his ascent to the finals came with a deeper appreciation for his mastery of multisyllabic words.

“Anyone can become a good speller,” Zwe told The Informer. “The main difference between spellers and other people is that they know that English spelling [has] a lot of bizarre words. If you're like me and you actually try to understand why English spelling is the way it is, there’s always a reason for it. English spelling is logical, but not in the way that most people care about.”

Looking Back: Shrey Parikh Wins First Place at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

On the evening of May 28, Zwe, a homeschool student who lives in Fort Washington Maryland, aimed to become the first-ever African-American male national spelling bee winner. He competed against: Aiden Meng; Oliver Halkett; Shrey Parikh; Sarv Dharavane; Ishaan Gupta; Kushi Gottimukkala; Avishka Dudala, and Logan Bailey of Houston.

The group of finalists competed

round, which triggered the spell off that Shrey ultimately dominated.

Through it all, Shrey maintained a spirit of comradery.

“These past three days, it has been really fun talking to all the other spellers because we have a lot of interests alike,” Shrey told The Informer. “Being with your cohort and the people who are similar to you is amazing because it gives you a chance to de-stress and just have fun.”

A Moment With Nora Baker, Informer Citywide Spelling Bee Winner

before an audience that included Zwe’s older sister and 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde.

After two hours, and nearly a dozen rounds, Shrey was crowned first place winner of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Shrey, a two-time finalist, clinched victory during a 90 second spell-off against Ishaan where he correctly spelled 32 words, compared to Ishaan’s 25.

Despite what he described as the stress of competition, Shrey relished the opportunity to expand his mind and commune with other young peo ple.

“One part [of this journey] was learning so much about all these dif ferent fields and being exposed to so many different cultures and things through words,” Shrey told The In former. “Then another one was all this amazing community and all the great friends I've made throughout spelling who have supported me every step of the way.”

Rounds 10 and 11, the first two rounds of the finals, ended with all nine spellers standing tall. During the 12th round, Zwe, Aiden, Oliver, and Avishka suffered defeat. The 13th round went without a hitch before Logan, the youngest of the finalists, lost in the 14th round with his misspelling of a Quincke’s tube.

During the 15th round, Kushi lost when she mis spelled cara sposa. In the 17th round, Sarv lost with his misspelling of disa. Shrey and Ishaan held their own during the 18th

An audience that included spellers, parents, teachers and past national spelling bee champions filled the main auditorium at DAR Constitution Hall on the evening of May 28.

Before the finals kicked off, they heard from the likes of: National Scripps Company president and CEO Adam Symson, Lawrence Hamm, Jr., Event DC’s vice president of business development, and Faizan Zaki, 2025 national spelling bee champion.

In his remarks, Symson set the tone for what he described as a notable moment for students and educators alike.

“Tonight, millions will gather, separately in their own homes, but together as a nation to see these spellers shine a spotlight on learning and language,”

markable. And that this spotlight has continued to shine on the national stage for more than a century, truly incredible.”

Symson then gave a special message to the 247 spellers who gave it their all on May 26-28.

“I'd like to add my congratulations to the entire Bee Class of 2026,” he

said. “You are an amazing group and you have my respect and admiration.I know you've all worked very hard to get here, and my hope is that you found your time here at Bee Week rewarded, memorable, and a lot of fun.”

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Too Late, Too Tone Deaf

Democrats Gained Nothing by Reliving 2024 as Voters Shift Focus to 2026

The Democratic Party’s decision to release its long-delayed 2024 election autopsy now — amid a favorable political climate heading into the November midterms — is political malpractice disguised as self-reflection.

At a moment when economic uncertainty tied to the war in Iran, inflation fears, and voter fatigue with President Donald J. Trump are beginning to shift momentum back toward Democrats, party leaders somehow decided this was the ideal time to reopen old wounds, relitigate former Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss, and invite another month of circular finger-pointing. Why?

If Democrats truly believed an autopsy was necessary, it should have been released within weeks — or at most a couple of months — after the election. That is when parties traditionally assess failures, regroup, and move forward. Instead, Democrats waited nearly two years, only to release a flawed, incomplete, and internally disputed report into the political bloodstream just as the party finally had political winds at its back.

Even worse, the report reportedly omitted the two most glaring issues that dominated public discussion throughout 2024: President Joe

Biden’s age and the political fallout from the administration’s handling of Gaza and Palestinian civilians. Multiple news outlets highlighted this omission.

How does an honest autopsy ignore the central concern voters expressed from the start — whether Biden, then 81, should have run again? That debate consumed cable news, donor circles, editorial boards, and kitchen-table conversations for months. Pretending it was not decisive is an insult to voters’ intelligence.

Likewise, the omission of Gaza and Palestinian issues is astonishing. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called it “pretty unbelievable” that Gaza was not mentioned at all. Democratic strategist Steve Schale asked bluntly, “Why not say this in 2024?”

Instead of presenting a credible roadmap, Democrats released a report that many in their own party immediately dismissed as incomplete, rife with errors, and politically ill-timed. In doing so, they handed Republicans fresh ammunition. The report’s release has fueled media cycles dominated by Democratic infighting, ideological disputes, and retrospective finger-pointing.

Additionally, it has distracted attention from kitchen-table issues

and reinforced one of the party’s longstanding weaknesses: seeming more comfortable talking to itself than to voters.

For Democrats, the mission should now be simple: focus relentlessly on the economy, affordability, stability, and on winning back the House and possibly the Senate. Voters care far more about their grocery bills and retirement accounts than a recycled postmortem from 2024.

The autopsy may have been intended to provide closure, but it instead reopened doubts Democrats should have left buried. WI

Even worse, the report reportedly omitted the two most glaring issues that dominated public discussion throughout 2024: President Joe Biden’s age and the political fallout from the administration’s handling of Gaza and Palestinian civilians.

Metro Bus Riders Should Think Twice Before Attempting to Avoid Paying Their Fare

It’s been more than six years since Metrobus in D.C. suspended fare collection to reduce contact between drivers and passengers and required riders to board through the rear doors in March 2020. During the pandemic, the DC Circulator also suspended fares, making those buses free.

And while the “ride for free” policy ended on Jan. 3, 2021, you might not know it given the huge number of bus riders in D.C. who continue to board buses and take their seats without paying the fare.

Now, according to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) officials, the party is over with the agency recently launching a campaign aimed at cracking down on those who still

believe it’s okay to ride without paying.

Nearly 70% of riders are not paying fares, officials report, and it’s costing the transit system an estimated $50 million annually in lost revenue.

Still, many riders are taking their chances, playing Russian Roulette as they either hop Metrorail faregates or ignore the utterances of drivers who must now, often reluctantly, remind riders, “the fare is $2.25.”

For those who insist on bucking the system, you may find yourself being removed from the bus by local police, given a citation, which in D.C. is a $50 fine and civil offense, or a criminal violation in Maryland and Virginia with a fine

of up to $100 and the possibility of arrest.

And if you have an outstanding warrant, chances are you’ll be hauled off to jail.

Fare evaders are also being recorded by Metro Transit Police Department in efforts to ensure compliance, particularly on routes like Silver Spring, Anacostia, Minnesota Avenue, and New Carrollton, which officials have identified as high-evasion routes.

So, if you’re low on funds and don’t want to get a ticket, incur a fine, or get a one-way ride to jail, you may want to just stay home. Because the only free ride you can now count on, is a trip to the local hoosegow. WI

TO THE EDITOR

“Great story! It’s always inspiring to see people sharing their passion for chess and helping others appreciate the game.”

-Sapna Kumari (In reference to the article: “Chess Enthusiast Shows Love of the Game.”)

“Dollar Tree was my favorite place to shop but when their canned goods and many other food items went up to $1.25 and some to $1.50, I can buy them at Walmart for much less. Now they are bringing in items for $3 up to as much as $10 so I do all my shopping at Walmart. Last time I was in the Dollar Tree I purchased from the freezer box a grilled cheese for $4 and found the same box at Walmart for $3.79. Those pennies add up for us shoppers and that is the main reason your store is losing customers.”

-Elizabeth (In reference to the article: “Family Dollar to Shut Down Nearly 1,000 Stores Amid Economic Pressures.”

Still, many riders are taking their chances, playing Russian Roulette as they either hop Metrorail faregates or ignore the utterances of drivers who must now, often reluctantly, remind riders, “the fare is $2.25.”

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Ensuring the Freedom-Fighting Legacy of Dr. Clarence B. Jones

Rights Movement and the trusted lawyer and speechwriter for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The life and legacy of attorney Clarence Benjamin Jones (Jan. 9, 1931 – May 22, 2026) will always be remembered and respected as a champion freedom fighter for liberation, justice and equality in America and throughout the world. Clarence B. Jones, chairman emeritus of Spill the Honey, was an iconic leader of the Civil

I first met attorney Clarence Jones in 1962, when I was a teenage statewide youth coordinator for Dr. King and the SCLC in my home state of North Carolina. For more than 65 years, I have watched up close and admired Dr. Jones as a steadfast visionary and prophetic leader. Dr. King and Dr. Jones were more than civil rights

Guest Columnist

colleagues. They worked together as freedom-loving comrades and brothers.

Jones wisely stipulated, "Today, there are both challenges and opportunities to a successor generation of Dr. King and Rabbi Heschel." Yes, we need a new, vibrant and active generation of young Black and Jewish freedom fighters who work and win together.

In my last discussion with Clarence, while in San Francisco, he welcomed me and encouraged me to become the chairman of Spill

David L. Horne

The Politics of the New Civil Law Wars

In the continuing battle for political respect and inclusivity that Black folks in the U.S. have been immersed in since the end of the Civil War, a little bright bulb of hope and redemption just appeared in the southern sky.

A federal court in Alabama, of all places, has just rendered a stunning political defeat to the "polit-

Frederick Douglass once said, "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong." Words to live by. That means we will not stay silent when organizations dress up a bad deal as justice and ask Black kids to pay for it.

The fight started with the SCORE Act, a college sports bill meant to bring order to the chaos around

ical KKK'ers" who were already prematurely celebrating their supposed subjugation — again — of Black voting rights in Louisiana after the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, which upended the remaining significance of the Voting Rights Act that Dr. King and a host of other leaders had fought for.

The high court's ruling in that case focused on neighboring Louisiana but quickly opened the floodgates for white lawmakers across the South to try to rush to

redraw their own respective maps in time for this year's congressional voting.

The U.S. federal court in Alabama officially jumped into those debates on whether Alabama's unprecedented and quick redistricting efforts in the wake of the latest Supreme Court ruling in favor of Louisiana's remapping of its state voting districts were unlawful. The Alabama federal court decided that Alabama's quick attempt to follow Louisiana's lead was an illegal attempt to rob Alabama's

the Honey as he assumed the role of chairman emeritus. What an honor it was for me to be given the baton of leadership from Dr. Jones affectionately. Spill the Honey is a national nonprofit founded by Dr. Shari Rogers that focuses on public education about the transformative shared legacies between Blacks and Jews who worked together effectively during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

is a model of recovery from trauma and a messenger of hope. The nonprofit takes its name from his story — he was gifted a cup of honey from his mother the final day she would see him before being sent by the Nazis to five concentration camps. He came to understand the power of using his voice and telling his story to inspire others to not remain silent in the face of hate and dehumanization, while healing himself in the process.

NIL, transfers, athlete compensation, and conference rules. It had bipartisan support, including from some members of the Congressional Black Caucus who had voiced support for it, before politics swallowed the conversation. Then came the boycott demand.

The NAACP has urged Black athletes, alumni, and fans to put pressure on Southern schools over the fight on voting rights and redistricting. The CBC then reversed course on SCORE. Not because the basic college sports questions had changed,

but because of anger over the Voting Rights Act fight and the silence of college athletics leaders.

Separately, Sens. Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz, along with Sens. Eric Schmitt and Chris Coons, just introduced the Protect College Sports Act, which would let conferences pool their media rights under a new federally supervised structure. These are not small asks. They are demands that Black athletes in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi put their scholarships, their NIL earnings and their professional futures on the line

Black population of legal representation.

A mere two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court seemed to finish its determined aim of gutting what remained of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by overturning Section 2's last protection against radical racial gerrymandering in state voting laws, specifically in the Louisiana case, neighboring state Alabama — yes, that Alabama — tried to join the southern choir by attempting to immediately redistrict Black candidates and voters

for a Washington fight that, when you look at the actual numbers, does not deliver what its backers promise. They are being asked to gamble their futures on somebody else's leverage play. We will not stand by while that happens.

Nobody should pretend college sports are perfect. The system is messy, and athletes deserve clear rules, real opportunity and fair treatment. That is why Congress got involved in the first place. But the answer to a messy system is not to hand Washington a giant new lever over the conferences

CHAVIS Page 45

out of being able to participate in state voting of their choice, beginning in 2026.

But Katy barred the door. Specifically, a three-judge federal panel on Tuesday, May 26, blocked Alabama from using a new GOPled congressional map for this year's congressional elections that would have yielded the GOP an extra House seat.

A three-judge federal panel ruled that the proposed Alabama

that are actually creating opportunity for Black athletes and families. Black families across the South know what these programs mean. They have watched sons and daughters earn full scholarships, get access to elite training and medical facilities, national exposure and, for many, a path to a professional career that would not have existed otherwise. The SEC's revenue model, the one this legislation would pull apart and redistribute through a federal

The name "Spill the Honey" was inspired by the story of Eliezer Ayalon, a Holocaust survivor who ROLLING Page 45

Gov. Wes Moore's veto of SB 459 is a disappointing and misguided decision that overlooks both the capabilities of Maryland's local news organizations and the urgent need to strengthen the state's local information infrastructure.

The legislation was straightforward and practical: require Maryland state agencies to prioritize local news or-

Guest Columnist

Gov. Wes Moore's Veto of SB 459 Misses the Reality of Modern Local Media

ganizations (print, digital, radio and broadcast) for a portion of their advertising spending. It was revenue-neutral. It did not create a new tax, a new program, or a new bureaucracy. It simply ensured that more Maryland advertising dollars stayed in Maryland communities.

Lawmakers across the political spectrum understood that value. SB 459 passed unanimously in the Senate and with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House. Legislators from both parties recognized a simple truth: local news matters.

Guest Columnist

In vetoing the bill, Gov. Moore expressed concerns about costs and suggested that Maryland's local news organizations could not effectively deliver advertising to the audiences state agencies need to reach. That rationale fundamentally misunderstands today's local media landscape.

Maryland's local news organizations include digital-first outlets, public media organizations, commercial broadcasters, radio stations, community publications, and multimedia news platforms serving audiences across every region of the state.

Many operate full-service advertising agencies that can place any type of advertising needed, including national platforms. Collectively, they provide sophisticated advertising and communications services that rival — and often outperform — national platforms when it comes to reaching Maryland audiences.

Our members regularly execute highly targeted advertising campaigns using digital audience segmentation, programmatic advertising, email marketing, video, social amplification, sponsorships, direct mail, broadcast,

A 'Main Street' Bank Bill That Would Really Hurt Main Street

Most people never come close to that limit. Most small businesses do not either.

In Washington, the name on a bill is often the opposite of what it does.

The Main Street Depositor Protection Act is the latest example. The name sounds noble. The math is not.

Here is what the bill would change. The FDIC is the federal agency that pays you back if your bank closes its doors. Today, it covers up to $250,000 in each account.

Before diving into this column, I want to be clear: This is not a critique of any one school, district, or institution. This is a broader reflection — drawing on research, observation, and personal experience — on the current state of education for Black boys in America.

Many conversations about Black boys in schools and in the community

The bill would allow the FDIC to raise that limit to $5 million for business checking accounts that pay no interest. That is not a small bump. That is 20 times bigger.

Supporters say the change will help small community banks and the small businesses they serve. I wish that were true. It is not.

The current $250,000 limit already covers 99 out of every 100 bank accounts in this country. A

study by JPMorgan Chase found that the typical small business keeps about $12,100 in its account on a normal day. The new limit would be more than 400 times higher than that.

So who really gains from a $5 million guarantee? Not the corner bakery. Not the family barbershop. Not the small farm down the road. The gain goes to the biggest depositors at the biggest banks. The bill even covers banks with more than $100 billion to their name. Fewer than 1 in 100 banks in America are that big. No honest person would call them

Joy of Educating Black Boys

sometimes focus on the struggle. We hear statistics, discipline data, academic gaps and negative narratives. While those realities cannot be pushed to the side, they should not become the only story we tell about our Black boys. There is another side that deserves equal attention: the joy of educating Black boys. There is joy in watching a young Black boy discover awareness about himself. There is joy in seeing him come into my office and say, "You were right about how I emotionally reacted to that situation," or "Thank

you for supporting me throughout the years." Or when they see you in the community and share the positive things they are doing, such as going to school, working and serving. There is joy in seeing him raise his hand after once being afraid to speak. There is joy in hearing him read fluently after struggling with words. There is joy in seeing him walk across a graduation stage after others doubted his future. Educating Black boys is not just difficult or challenging work; it is meaningful and rewarding work that can shape generations.

radio, and event-based outreach. They work with businesses, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, universities, tourism agencies, and government entities every day to connect messages with precisely the audiences they intend to reach.

In fact, local media outlets often have a far deeper understanding of Maryland communities than national advertising platforms ever could. That matters because this debate is about more than advertising dollars. It

"small."

In other words, the bill takes the name of Main Street and hands the prize to Wall Street.

Here is the part that should worry every American. Insurance is not free. When the FDIC raises its guarantee, banks must pay more to fund it. When banks pay more, they lend less. When they lend less, the door closes hardest on the people who are already locked out.

Black-owned businesses are already turned down for loans 39% of the time. That is more than double the

18% rate for white-owned businesses.

Hispanic-owned businesses face a 29% denial rate. These are the dreamers most likely to hear "no" when they walk into a bank. A new cost on lending will make that "no" come faster and louder.

The economy runs on loans. When loans dry up, the trouble spreads. The Great Recession of 2008 began exactly that way. The people who pay the highest price are never

Page 46

Many Black boys enter schools already carrying labels: "too loud," "too difficult," "too far behind," or "unmotivated." Educators who take the time to learn about them see beyond behavior and begin to recognize gifts, leadership, creativity and brilliance. Sometimes the boy who asks too many questions is really a future leader. Sometimes the boy with endless energy simply needs purpose and direction.

I would honestly say that relationships are at the center of this joy. We must take the time to build and cultivate those relationships. Black boys

thrive when they know someone genuinely cares about them. Some examples include greeting them in the hallway, attending their game, checking on them after a difficult day, encouraging them during a setback, teaching them how to play chess and seeing how their weekend went, just to name a few.

The truth of the matter is — and what I learned as an educator — many Black boys are not looking for perfection. They are looking for con-

Page 46

LIFESTYLE

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s

‘Othello’ Offers ‘Gripping,’

Modern Take to Longtime Challenges

Wendell Pierce and Cast Bring Powerhouse Performances

By Micha Green and Brenda C. Siler WI Managing Editor and WI Contributing Writer

At a time of political division, war and threats to racial equity and civil rights, Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in Washington, D.C. is closing its 40th anniversary season with the Bard’s “Othello,” running now until June 28.

starring Tony Award-winning actor Wendell Pierce, creates a world that showcases love, joy, fun, diversity, hatred, manipulation and division, emphasizing life’s dichotomies and the beauty even in hard times.

production a truly special, must-see experience.

“It was wonderful to see Wendell Pierce in the role of Othello,” actress and comedian Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, a long time friend of Pierce, told The Washington Informer. “It was just wonderful to see the production, to see it visioned by Simon [Godwin] and the way he did it.”

Ben Turner, in an outstanding and nuanced performance, brings “Othello’s” antagonist Iago to life. With a gait resembling an almost snake-like slither, and an incredible command of the Elizabethan text, audiences are captivated, concerned and downright delightfully disgusted– as it’s entertainment— by how much his character will do to take down Othello, who he loathes.

While the show was first performed at the Royal Court more than 420 years ago, in November 1604, STC’s production of “Othello”— set in 2026 in a modern capital— reveals the pervasive challenges of racism, sexism and power-hungry people, while also highlighting the power of doing good, speaking out for what’s right, and working toward justice.

With a powerhouse cast and crew, Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Othello,” directed by Simon Godwin and

“The tragic can weirdly give us room for the joyous, because in the losing, we also discover the finding. In the absence, we discover the presence.

And in the devaluing of life and identity, we discover the opposite,” Godwin, STC’s artistic director, told the crowd after an opening night celebration on May 27. “Its your belief in theatre, it’s your belief in cooperation, your belief in shared stories that live to heal of all of us, that make nights like tonight possible.”

From the moment audiences walk into the theatre, actors are on stage for the pre-show, donning Army fatigues and quietly doing quotidian activities— grilling, interacting with one another when needed, and offering a peek into the mix of military and family life in “Othello.”

Then, with a quick bang and blackout, the William Shakespeare play begins, and for the next three hours the talented actors and crew bring the tragedy of Othello the Moor to life in a relatable, engaging, action-filled, and at times, funny, infuriating and heartbreaking play.

For Pierce, diving into “Othello” was about doing what all actors do when portraying roles.

“[You portray] the unsung heart songs of the common man who

never gets that voice, and that will be the lasting thing that takes you, hopefully, into the ages,” said Pierce, who is well known for his role as Detective William “Bunk” Moreland on HBO’s “The Wire” (2002-2008) and currently starring as Captain Wagner in the CBS show “Elsbeth,” after the Wednesday night performance.

In the title role, Pierce is captivating and powerful, while also tapping into the joyful, loving, and sensitive military officer that is Othello.

Pierce takes audiences on a journey– from a confident, strong and happy newlywed and military general, celebrating his nuptials to Desdemona (Olivia Cygan), to a confused, unwell and paranoid man, leading to a tragic ending.

Known for television and film, Pierce, a Juilliard trained actor, is no stranger to the stage, having garnered a Tony in 2012 for Bruce Norris’ “Clybourne Park” and a 2020 Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his work in the revival of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” After he wrapped shooting this season of “Elsbeth,” Pierce came to D.C. to start working on “Othello,” quickly transitioning from the silver screen to the stage.

“It's the same, but different muscles,” Pierce told The Informer in a post-show interview. “Theater is like a floodlight and film is the same, but it’s like a laser. That's why I went to school, to learn all the different ways of working. That, I think, is contributing to my longevity.”

A Powerhouse Cast

Alongside Pierce’s Othello is a phenomenal group of artists that make Shakespeare Theatre Company’s

Melanie Field plays the Emilia to Turner’s Iago, in a performance that creates a memorable and powerful Shakespearean heroine. She brings a funny, sexy, sassiness to Emilia that showcases her as more than Desdemona’s maid and Iago’s wife, but a brave woman who stands up to powerful men in a patriarchal society.

“I happened to like the ladies in the production in particular,” Stickney said. “They were really good.”

Cygan highlights the loyal, loving and fearless sides of Desdemona in her passionate portrayal. In an impressive performance, Cygan showcases Desdemona’s strength, intelligence and earnestness.

Further, Lucas Iverson as Cassio, Daniel Velez as Roderigo, and Giovanna Drummond as Bianca brilliantly and boldly bring layers of comedy and perfect chaos, offering memorable performances as they add to the action and face their own complex challenges.

Rounding off the wonderful cast are Joey Collins as Brabantio/Salarino, Derek Garza as Montano/ Senator Romano, Todd Scofield as the Duke of Venice, all of whom exceptionally portray their roles; and an excellent ensemble, who not only add to the environment, but through exciting choreography (Jonathan Goddard) and compositions (Shiloh Coke), beautifully assist with seamless transitions.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

FAME SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAM

FAMEmusic.org email: Summer@FAMEmusic.org

Resources for Buying a Home in D.C.

“Being a homeowner means taking financial responsibility by creating an investment into myself and future financial planning,” said Kelsi, a first-time homebuyer that used DC Open Doors (DCOD) to purchase her D C home

DCOD offers qualified buyers home purchase loans, down payment + closing cost assistance, and below-market interest rates for first trust mortgages

DC4ME provides D C government/government instrumentality employees a first trust mortgage at a reduced interest rate.

For more informat on vis t dchfa org/homeownership/

D

Things To Do, DMV!

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

Looking for the next outdoor adventure? How about a night of Motown nostalgia, brought to you by The Temptations and The Four Tops?

This weekend’s lineup has it all –– and then some.

Kick off June celebrating Black Music Month, and get a taste of the culture, creatives, and family-fun that the DMV has to offer. And remember, to keep up with all the buzz, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar.

Thursday, June 4

Lightree Film Festival

Tickets and festival passes are available for purchase

Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, 550 Penn Street, NE, Washington, D.C., 20002

The LightReel Film Festival, Washington, D.C.’s premier multicultural film festival, is hosting its seventh annual edition, taking place June 3–6 at

the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market.

Presented by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF), the LightReel Film Festival is the District’s largest multicultural film festival and a cornerstone platform for multicultural storytelling. With this year's theme: “From the District to the Diaspora,” LightReel showcases films from across the global diaspora alongside industry panels, special screenings, and community events.

Profs & Pints DC: Understanding Honor Violence 6 p.m. | $14.77

Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Honor-based violence and abuse often play a role in human trafficking, forced marriage, child marriage, visa-based coercion, and in the abandonment of families across international

TO DO from Page 30

borders. Yet too often it is underreported, misunderstood, or overlooked by people and institutions with the power to help its victims.

Learn how to spot and deal with honor-based violence in Profs and Pints DC’s “Understanding Honor Violence,” featuring former FBI Intelligence official Sasha K. Taylor. The discussion will center trauma-informed engagement, emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and empathetic response strategies that treat survivors with dignity and sensitivity.

Friday, June 5

African American Music Appreciation Month

5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Free Eastern Market Metro Park, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Come celebrate Black Music Month and African American culture and influence with amazing performances!

Through the end of the month, every Friday is being topped with exciting entertainers that showcase the rich cultural diversity of the Black community.

Get ready for a day filled with music, dance, food, and more –– kicking off June 5 with Love Station Band, R&B of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Sail Into Summer: Yacht Rock Concert

6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Free registration

The Sundeck at The Yards, 355 Water Street SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

The Yards, D.C.’s vibrant waterfront neighborhood for living, dining, shopping and gathering, is hosting the return of its fan-favorite, Sail Into Summer Yacht Rock Concert.

Guests can enjoy an evening of nostalgic soft rock hits from Got Yacht? and waterfront fun, including complimentary captain’s hats and branded sunglasses (while supplies last), pop-ups from retailers including Pacers and VIDA Fitness, and drinks available for purchase from District Winery.

Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and enjoy to-go offerings from restaurants throughout The Yards.

Saturday, June 6

Healthy at the Harbor 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Free National Harbor, 165 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

From Zumba, line dancing, and yoga, to kids’ recess, games and local entertainers, Healthy at the Harbor is promising free fun, fitness and preventive care along the waterfront.

Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. Meanwhile, a lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.

Armenian Food Festival Noon | Free Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816

Celebrate spring with the Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church’s annual Spring Food Festival.

Enjoy a festive afternoon fea turing authentic Armenian cui sine, delicious homemade des serts, children’s activities, folk dancing, and warm fellowship. Plus, experience the rich flavors and traditions of Armenian hos pitality.

Sunday, June 7

Taste of Wheaton 11 a.m. | Free Marian Fryer Plaza, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902

Celebrating community since 1996, this event highlights the rich cultural diversity, flavors, and entrepreneurial spirit that make Wheaton one of the region’s most vibrant places to eat and explore.

and performances representing a wide range of cultures.

The Temptations and The Four Tops

8 p.m. | $80.00+

The Theater at MGM National

Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave, Forest Heights, MD 20745

The Temptations and The Four Tops are co-headlining a massive 2026 tour, celebrating more than four decades of music, impact and Black excellence. This

nostalgic Motown experience features both legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame groups performing their timeless hits, showcasing The Temptations' signature choreography and The Four Tops' lush vocal harmonies. WI

HOSTED IN NORFOLK, VA

As downtown Wheaton comes alive with food, music, and cultural experiences from around the world, guests can enjoy dishes from local restaurants, discover small businesses, and experience live entertainment

LIFESTYLE

As the nation and world navigates war, the federal elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion and threats to civil rights, the weekend was about more than entertainment. It highlighted the beauty and power of Black culture and offered an important reminder from the words of Badu’s 2000 hit “Didn’t Cha Know.”

“There will be a brighter day. If you believe,” she sang, before speaking to the crowd. “See, it goes by what you think.”

In a spiritual, soul-stirring Sunday night performance, Badu sang classic songs such as “Bag Lady” (2000), “Window Seat” (2010), and brought out The Roots’ Black Thought for their collaboration on the 1999 song “You Got Me” in a show-stopping moment that beamed with Philadelphia pride.

During the Dallas-born artist’s set— performing under a full moon— she asked audience members to lift up one arm toward the sky in a moment of connection.

“What you’re feeling right now is the energy of this whole moon in this space— the full moon, the orange moon, the light inside of you. Right now, when you’re feeling the feeling that you’re feeling, you transcend race, you transcend sex, you transcend religion. You transcend height, weight, size, age,” the five-time Grammy-winner emphasized. “We are one.”

Even beyond Badu’s beautiful, bold close to the weekend and Jay-

Z’s trending performance— featuring a few disses, surprises and a new hair do— Roots Picnic was about unity: coming together in the name of music.

“Each year we get better. Each year we get wiser,” The Roots’ Questlove, told The Washington Informer on May 30, just two hours ahead of the band’s historic show with Jay-Z, featuring guests who performed as a tribute to Philadelphia, such as Jazmine Sullivan, Bilal, Meek Mill, and mini State Property reunion with members Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk and Young Gunz. “[It’s] a new day. It's taken us 19 years to get to the [Belmont Plateau] and here we are and I couldn't be happier.”

For Questlove, getting the 25time Grammy-winner to perform at the annual music festival was about years of building a connection with the barrier-breaking rapper.

“If I could ever offer sound advice to people, relationships are everything and you know, l've had a good, slow and steady cultivated friendship with Jay. l've asked him [something like] 17 times to do this festival and finally I wore him down,” Questlove, a sixtime Grammy-winner said. “This couldn't have come at a better moment.”

Hosted the last two days of May, right ahead of Black Music Month, the festival highlighted

such as Wale wowed the Roots Picnic crowd.

“I don't think any other city was able to showcase their culture and music at the Roots Picnic, like D.C.,” Noochie told The Informer.

While the DMV felt the love in Philadelphia, people local to the area, such as entrepreneur Dominique Shields, were also able to gain exposure beyond the music.

In her third year as a vendor at Roots Picnic, Shields, owner of Pretty Girls Cook, had a team preparing food with soul for festival attendees in the Belmont Lounge.

“This is my third year actually at the Roots Picnic. Belmont Lounge was something a little more chill, a little more vibey and that's kind of the thing that I like to do,” she said.

and the things that we (African Americans) like. I also tried to spice it up… do something different, try to be creative, because people like festival foods, outside foods, things that you can eat with your hands,” she told The Informer. “So, we just tried to make it a little bit of a lighter vibe.”

There were truly good and peaceful vibes all around, as magnificent music, the refreshing aroma of flavorful foods, and fun filled the atmosphere.

Haggins described the moment as a turning point in culture, which is extending to music.

the power of African American culture overall.

“Tapping into Black music, in the beginning of Black music month, it's important, it's a heritage.

We are the griots of our time. The songwriters, the creators, the music that we make is designed to change lives, save lives, heal, build,” two-time Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Carvin Haggins told The Informer on May 30, ahead of Jay-Z’s performance with The Roots. “Some make music to kill and destroy, right? So our goal is to make sure we exemplify Black excellence.

So that's what we do.”

It was truly a two-day festival of all things Black culture, with: thousands of people gathered, donning stylish fashions, many representing their “roots,” hundreds of vendors selling their wares and providing food and drinks, plus phenomenal performances on multiple stages.

“It’s the Black renaissance,” said the DMV’s own Raheem DeVaughn, a three-time Grammy-nominated artist and host of WHUR’s “The Original Quiet Storm.” “It’s culture.”

Highlighting D.C. and Black Culture

There was so much to take in during the two-day event, including: the exciting and outstanding

set from Jay-Z and The Roots, with the rapper taking lyrical shots at Drake, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West; Brandy surprising the audience with Monica; the 50th anniversary of go-go celebration with artists such as Noochie and Backyard Band; three-time Grammy winner Black Thought bringing out Big Daddy Kane; and Badu featuring lauded DJ and producer Alchemist.

For DeVaughn, the festival— attracting thousands of people from around the nation— was a reminder of The Roots’ influence on culture overall.

“I was a bona fide Roots supporter and fan before I ever worked with them. I say that The Roots are the hip-hop Rolling Stones,” DeVaughn told The Washington Informer. “To see what they've cultivated with the culture and how they’ve wrapped their arm around their city and [created] something, where their fellow artists can come out, while [showing] support for go-go here in Philly with Noochie and the Front Porch, it’s incredible.”

Rapper Noochie, the visionary behind the popular Front Porch series based in D.C., said being able to perform at Roots Picnic was a full circle moment.

“I remember sneaking into Roots Picnic, so to be on the lineup and be on the same lineup as Jay Z, Erica Badu, T.I., some of the greatest, and to be here celebrating 50 years of go-go, showcas-

ing D.C. in Philly [is everything],” said Noochie, who also performed alongside acts such as the legendary Backyard Band and Ms. Kim. In addition to the 50th anniversary of go-go tribute, DMV acts

Shields’ team prepared delicious made-to-order dishes such as charbroiled oysters, wings, cauliflower bites, toasted jalapenos, and truffle or seafood fries.

“I think that, for one, you should always stick to ‘the roots’

“I think right now, music is at a new beginning,” he said. “You got more of the stories of our struggle and our success, our fight and our wins, our losses, our victories. So it feels like now that the music is turning to something that people need to feel… The party's over. What do I feel?

So right now we're at that feeling place and that's what R&B and soul music do for you.”

WI

JUNE 6 AT 8:00PM JUNE 7 AT 5:00PM

review wi book

"Something We Said: Richard Pryor, A Notorious Word, and Me" By

Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor

c.2026, Simon & Schuster

$29

304 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Sticks and stones may break my bones.

You know the rest of that childhood rhyme, and you know it's not true: words have meaning, and they can cut like a knife. And yet, though sticks and stones and words are weapons, as in the new memoir, "Something We Said" by Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor, they can also hold people together.

The college lecture was supposed to have been about the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act.

It was supposed to have been a lively discourse and discussion but without intention, it quickly veered sideways. When a white student quoted a movie line featuring the N-word, the room went quiet and professor Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor panicked.

She'd grown up hearing that word, and seeing it, and she'd experienced the painful feelings attached to it. She knew who wrote that movie line. It was her father, Richard Pryor.

In her first few years, Pryor spent most of her time in a white world, hearing her mother's tales of her larger-than-life father, and trying to grasp meaning in her father's albums, peppered as they were with a word that was off-limits to her.

When she was 6, she met her father for the first time. She began to visit him regularly.

It was fun at her dad's house; though he was sometimes moody, he taught her to fish and play dominoes. She became close with her siblings, fearful of her great-grandmother, and confused about a word that her father's uncles threw around like a beach ball. It was a forbidden word at her mother's house, but her father used it. Differently. Often.

The word hurt. She knew firsthand that it did.

"The word became a degrading slur that shackled all Black people together into a single, inescapable tribe," she says.

So why was it OK if certain people said it?

Knowing that, in the years since Richard Pryor's accident and his death from multiple sclerosis, he's become somewhat of a legend is a very satisfying thing, isn't it? So is reading about him, especially from the viewpoint of one of his seven children. But his is not the only story you get inside "Something We Said."

Wrapped around the life of Richard Pryor is the life of a word that straddles a line between danger and provocation, a word that author Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor refuses to say or even print. As she tells readers about her father and her loving-but-difficult relationship with him, she warily circles that word, as if it might bite. You may cringe, but she weighs it carefully, helping readers see it as a chameleon before always bringing us back to her father, his work, and his life before and after her and that word.

It's a push-pull balance that holds readers fast, and keeps them there. It's perfect for fans of this genre, or Richard Pryor, or of language — and it's going to make you think. If you want a good memoir this week, one that may send you to your old album collection, "Something We Said" is rock-solid. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

JUNE 4 - 10, 2026

ARIES The reward you've been measuring in milestones is already present in the momentum — stop waiting for the marker to confirm what's already moving. A conversation you've been scripting in your head lands better when you abandon the script midway. Something that looked like a closed chapter still has a page or two left in it. Lucky Numbers: 5, 29, 63

TAURUS The impatience you're feeling isn't a flaw — it's information about what you've actually decided; follow the signal. An arrangement that stopped serving you months ago has a cleaner exit than you've been assuming. Someone watching your process from a distance sees something in it worth naming; let the feedback reach you. Lucky Numbers: 8, 36, 72

GEMINI The version of yourself you've been performing for a particular audience is exhausting and unnecessary — that audience has already made their call. A loose end you've been tolerating resurfaces this week with a clear resolution attached; take it. What felt like overcommitment last month has quietly become capacity. Lucky Numbers: 17, 43, 70

CANCER The hesitation you're framing as patience is worth examining more closely this week. A relationship that hit a rough patch in spring is finding its footing without much fanfare — don't press it for more than it's ready to give yet. Something you built in a previous season is still producing returns you haven't fully claimed. Lucky Numbers: 2, 37, 66

LEO The credit you've been waiting for won't come from where you've been looking — redirect the expectation and you redirect the frustration with it. A plan that's been sitting in rough draft is closer to ready than the draft looks. Someone in your corner this week is operating on your behalf without making a show of it; notice it. Lucky Numbers: 20, 54, 81

VIRGO The standard you're holding yourself to is useful until it becomes the reason nothing gets submitted — this week, submit. A boundary you've already drawn internally just needs to be said out loud. Something you analyzed past the point of useful is ready to be acted on with the information you have now. The collaboration being floated your way has more upside than your skepticism is currently giving it room for. Lucky Numbers: 4, 31, 68

LIBRA The balance you're chasing isn't a fixed state — it's a practice, and you're further along in it than your frustration is letting you see. An old obligation resurfaces this week lighter than you left it; address it now and close it out. Someone you haven't spoken to in a while is carrying a version of you from the last conversation — an update is overdue. What you're saving your full effort for is already here. Lucky Numbers: 13, 47, 76

SCORPIO The leverage you think you lack is sitting in a skill you've stopped counting because you've had it too long. A situation that's been drawing more energy than it returns is approaching a natural turning point — stay present for it rather than forcing the close. What you're calling stubbornness in someone else might be recognition of a pattern you share; look at it. Someone new earns a level of trust this week that surprises you and shouldn't. Lucky Numbers: 21, 49, 82

SAGITTARIUS The optimism that usually comes easily is working harder this week — let it work, and don't mistake the effort for doubt. A project with scattered pieces is ready to be consolidated; the throughline is more visible now than it was at the start. Something you let someone else define for you is ready to be reclaimed on your own terms. Lucky Numbers: 15, 40, 75

CAPRICORN The discipline you've applied quietly over the past several weeks is about to become visible in a way that rewards the patience it required. An assumption you've been operating on in a key relationship needs to be tested rather than extended further. What looks like someone else's advantage is built on a different set of trade-offs than you're seeing from the outside. The thing you keep postponing until conditions improve is what would improve the conditions. Lucky Numbers: 11, 53, 79

AQUARIUS The distance you've been keeping from a particular situation is not neutrality — it's a position, and this week it starts to cost you. A creative instinct you've been second-guessing had the right shape from the start. Something you were certain about three months ago deserves a second look now that more of the picture is in view. Lucky Numbers: 23, 42, 74

PISCES The sensitivity that sometimes feels like a liability this week operates as a precise instrument — use it. A resolution you thought required a dramatic moment arrives quietly and without ceremony; receive it anyway. Something someone said to you in passing last week was not in passing — return to it. The care you've been extending to everyone around you is not a drain if you stop treating it as one. Lucky Numbers: 6, 35, 65

SPORTS

She Is Athlete Camp Fuels Growth Of Girls Football In Addition To Local And National Expansion

By Skylar Nelson WI Contributing Writer

The Essence of Coaching Foundation hosted its first annual She Is Athlete Girls Football Camp on Saturday, May 16 at Ridge Road Recreation Center in Washington, D.C.

An initiative created through the Essence of Coaching Foundation, She is Athlete is dedicated to empowering female football and flag football players. The platform provides opportunities for development, mentorship, and exposure.

Founder of the Essence of Coaching Foundation and She Is Athlete Marcellus Riley Jr. shared that his daughter was the inspiration behind the girls football camp.

“I have a six-year-old daughter,” said Riley. “So that’s a part of the reason why I wanted to establish something for female athletes as well because of the nature of how she was raised. She was always on the field as a kid.

That was one of the biggest things of like how can something be created to truly impact not just my [daughter] but others as well that may enjoy the game.”

The free event welcomed girls in grades eight through 12 for an immersive training and evaluation, giving them the opportunity to sharpen their skills and showcase their talents.

Participants were tested in several key performance metrics, such as: the 40-yard dash, shuttle runs, L-drills, and a unique short-range 10-yard split assessment. The event also included on-field instruction and drills focused on wide receiver-running back route running, play calling, and seven-on-seven competition.

“I had a vision for the combine and the camp aspect because I’ve been on the camp circuit in the male space since 2022,” Riley told The Informer. “The vision for She Is Athlete is exactly what is occurring [in football] right now. We wanted

to setup a recruiting database.”

The event was held at a pivotal moment for the growth of women’s flag football across the country. Earlier this year, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) officially added women’s flag football as an emerging sport at the Division I level. This opened the door for colleges and universities to offer varsity programs and scholarships for girls flag football.

“We had two universities on site at our event, which was huge for us because it was the first time event,” said Riley. “First time ever in Washington, D.C. that [our] camp and combine structure is happening. Going from that is what led into the 16 young ladies being able to be invited up to Penn State Harrisburg on July 18 for an official visit.”

This momentum continues to build locally as well.

In Maryland girls flag football was sanctioned by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) as its 26th varsity championship sport. The inaugural state championship tournament is set to debut in fall 2026, with title games taking place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Meanwhile, in the District, the D.C. Public Schools Athletic Asso-

ciation (DCIAA) has been running strong in girls flag football for a while. In addition to this, the nation’s capital reached a historic milestone in girls flag football back in April. The DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA), in partnership with the Washington Commanders, officially recognized the women’s sport as a state championship program.

“[Girls football] has been stagnant [in the DMV] for a while,” said Riley. “A lot of people don’t even know that the D.C. Public School system has had female flag football as a sport for about four or five years now. So it’s

been going on for years, it’s just been stagnant… Because everyone is coming to the party right now, I believe that 2027 will be a huge year for [girls flag football in the DMV].”

Clarksburg Coyotes Celebrated at Northwest Stadium

The Commanders’ efforts in girls flag football is just getting started.

On Tuesday, May 19, the Washington franchise honored the Clarksburg High School Coyotes with a championship ring ceremony inside of the team’s locker room at Northwest Stadium.

Washington legend Gary Clark presented the rings to the team.

The Clarksburg Coyotes are now back-to-back state champions after finishing with a flawless 13-0, marking such an incredible run for the program and a memorable moment for years to come.

“This will be an unforgettable memory,” Grace Gentili said to WUSA9. “I will look back in 20, 30, 40 years and never forget the opportunities and experiences and friendships that flag football has brought into my life.”

WI

CAPTURE the moment

With support from Beats, Bars & Bourbon, and DC Decades, the 3rd Annual New Balance Appreciation Day took place on Saturday, May 30, at metrobar DC in Northeast. A community gathering-turned-day party, the event celebrated the deep cultural connection between New Balance sneakers and DMV culture.

(Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

Pope Leo XIV's First Encyclical Makes the Case for Humanity

In the World of

AI,

‘God Has Something to Say’

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

With the release of his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV is doubling down on a fight for human dignity that has defined his papacy from day one.

The first American pope has been making waves since donning his 42,300 word “Magnifica humanitas” on May 15, which took a clear stance on modern crises from

war and modern slavery, to technological development, wealth inequality, the erosion of democracy, and more.

Where Nate Tinner-Williams said he resonated most: centering humanity at the heart of progression, especially in the contemporary world of artificial intelligence (AI).

“When you look at these new issues, you have to have a critical eye, and be able to say, ‘Here's the

aspects of it that are good, here's the aspects that can be very dangerous, and how do we waive it to without completely rejecting the new development as something we should never touch,” said Tinner-Williams, co-founder and editor of the Black Catholic Messenger, “and I'm grateful that Pope Leo does not take that route.”

While appealing for truth, peace, and the safeguarding of dignity work, the pope’s arguably most controversial stance came from challenging artificial intelligence as it equates to human capacities.

In a candid call to “disarm” AI, he emphasized a need to prevent technology from replacing humanity, often driven by the pursuit of geopolitical and commercial capital.

“To disarm means discrediting the assumption that technical power automatically confers the right to govern,” read the document officially presented to the Vatican on May 25. “The true alternative is not between enthusiasm and fear, but between two paths of development: a progress that serves individuals and peoples, or a progress that subjects them to the mentality of power.”

Released on the 135th anniversary of the promulgation of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum, the encyclical included urges for clarity at every stage of the development process to shape adequate

encyclical as a blueprint for speaking truth to power.

“The Pope is a great example of the idea that cruelty is actually dumb and that kindness and openness come from intelligence. A great juxtaposition to the (techno) fascists of our time,” read one X user’s post on May 31. “It takes a mind to create a better world, it takes zero to destroy it.”

Amplifying Community Voices in Spirituality and Truth

As 2026 marks a year of midterm and special elections, Tinner-Williams said the next few months are a pivotal time to utilize the strength of the vote.

AI policies and legal frameworks, independent oversight, and user education.

For Tinner-Williams, the greater charge looks like all faith institutions coming together to move the needle on social justice.

“In this case, we have religious beliefs coming into play, where [Pope Leo is saying] God has something to say about the way that artificial intelligence affects our society, the Catholic Church has something to say,” he told The Informer, “and I think we should lean into that because it's going to take all the different resources that we have.”

Since the document’s release, Leo has continued to push the status quo by appointing Maria Montserrat Alvarado, current president of the U.S.-based Catholic media outlet, EWTN News, to lead the Vatican’s powerful communications department on June 2, marking the first lay woman to hold a top position in the governance of the Roman Catholic church.

Additionally, Tinner-Williams pointed out that the “Magnifica humanitas” served as the the first time a pope has officially acknowledged the Vatican's role in the Atlantic slave trade, which the pope embedded in a larger connection to the AI economy he considers "new forms of slavery."

Other supporters on X (formerly known as Twitter) amplified the

He backed his nationwide callto-action with reference to the growing threat of data centers across the nation, including parts of the DMV, which hold direct ties to the explosion of AI and environmental challenges prompted by large amounts of energy and water use.

“We've seen data centers get stopped by community members who just say, ‘No, we're not having this. We've seen the effects that these facilities have, and we're not going to have it in our community,’ and they stop it from [finishing construction], or in places where they don't necessarily have the power to… they get rid of the political leaders that greenlit the facility,” the co-founder continued. “Just getting out in our communities and making sure people know that they do have a voice, that they can respond to these things with their own civic duty.”

Meanwhile, he added the core responsibility of all people to not only read Pope Leo’s plea, but promote it “if you see things that are important to society right now.”

“It can't just be politics, it can't just be religion, but it should be all these different things that undergird how we assess right and wrong,” Tinner-Williams told The Informer. “AI is growing faster than we can track sometimes. It's important that we have grounding both spiritually and otherwise, to be able to respond effectively.”

WI

The road of faith and purpose is long, but we have a divine charge to keep. We must work until the day is done. In fact, we must work until the setting of the sun. As long as there is breath in our lungs, God has an assignment for our hands. We cannot let weariness or temporary delays cause us to abandon the path he has laid out before us.

A Vision Built on a Plan

To finish the work God has set before us, we must create a clear vision. Write down your vision, make a plan, and never deviate from this plan until your day is done. Consistency is the true vehicle of faith, turning a small seed into an abundance that can bless thousands.

I know the power of sticking to a plan firsthand through my own life's work. Years ago, I took under contract the management of a local annual festival and gala dinner. In the beginning, it was a modest, struggling gathering with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance. Many observers would have looked at those small numbers, assumed it was a failure, and given up on the project completely.

However, we had a blueprint and a stubborn faith. We refused to deviate from our mission. Year after year, we labored, refined our strategy, and stayed the course even when progress seemed slow. Because we didn't faint, God gave the ultimate increase. That very same event grew from those humble beginnings to host over 100,000 people. Consistency works when you stay committed to the plan.

The Divine Mandate to Work

Scripture explicitly commands us to stay active in our divine callings. Jesus

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

I Ain't Got Tired Yet the religion corner

modeled this precise urgency during his earthly ministry. He understood that our time to make a real impact on this earth is limited, urging us to treat every moment as an opportunity to serve.

• John 9:4: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."

• Galatians 6:9: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

• Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, nor the grave, whither thou goest."

Biblical Examples of Perseverance

The Bible is filled with individuals who refused to quit before their assignments were complete, proving that endurance is a requirement for God's favor.

• Nehemiah Rebuilding the Wall: Nehemiah faced intense mockery, physical threats and political sabotage from vicious enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah. Instead of stepping down from the scaffolding, he stayed focused on his blueprint. He famously declared, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." He worked tirelessly until the wall was completely finished.

• Noah Building the Ark: Noah labored on a massive ship for decades in the middle of dry land where rain had never been seen. Despite intense

public ridicule and the sheer physical exhaustion of the task, he never dropped his hammer. He stayed entirely obedient to God's exact dimensions until the day the rain started falling.

Secular Triumphs of Grit

History shows that great achievements belong to those who press past failure and stick to their course.

Henry Ford: Before changing the world with the Model T, Ford suffered multiple devastating business failures. His first automotive company went bankrupt, and his second ended in a bitter dispute. Yet he kept experimenting and working until he perfected the assembly line and revolutionized the modern motor industry.

Thomas Edison: He failed thousands of times while trying to invent the incandescent light bulb. He famously viewed those failures as just finding ways that would not work, laboring until he illuminated the world.

Col. Harland Sanders: He faced over 1,000 rejections for his recipe while living out of his car in his 60s, proving that retirement is not an option when you still have a plan to execute.

Keep Pressing Forward

Do not let exhaustion stall your purpose. Make your plan, anchor it in faith, and work it with everything you have. The setting sun will eventually come, but until it does, keep building, praying and serving. Your labor in the Lord is never in vain. WI

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

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

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

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “ The Rev. E. Bernard

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

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

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

2001 ADM 001128

Virginia Twyman Davis Decedent

Anna Nathanson Norris Law 600 14th St., NW, Fifth Floor Washington, DC 20005

Attorney

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

Walter E. Robinson Jr., whose address is 9850 Hopkins Loop, Manassas, VA 20110, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Virginia Twyman Davis who died on March 30, 2001 with a Will. 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 11/21/2026. 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 11/21/2026, 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: 5/21/2026

Walter E. Robinson 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 2026 ADM 000551

James V. Janifer Decedent

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

Cheryl LaRoche, whose address is 5333 Strathmore Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James V. Janifer who died on May 8, 2011 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 11/28/2026. 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 11/28/2026, 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: 5/28/2026

Cheryl LaRoche Personal Representative

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 FEP 000062

11/14/2024

Date of Death

Ethel L. Wade Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Charles B. Wade, Jr., whose address is 14300 Pollin Street, Accokeek, Maryland 20607 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ethel L. Wade, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on February 7, 2025.

Service of process may be made upon Lillian Kemp 3200 Walnut Street, Washington, DC 20018 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property:

3200 Walnut Street, Washington, DC 20018. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 5/21/2026

Charles B. Wade, Jr. Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000577

Joan Martin Decedent

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

Mathew Martin, whose address is 539 LeBaum Street SE, Washington DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joan Martin who died on 4/15/2026 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 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Mathew Martin 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

2026 ADM 000497

Erskine D. Burgin Sr. Decedent

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

Erika D. Burgin, whose address is 5137 South Dakota Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Erskine D. Burgin Sr. who died on October 26, 2025 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 11/28/2026. 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 11/28/2026, 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: 5/28/2026

Erika D. Burgin

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

2026 ADM 000558

Avena R. Tavlarides aka Avena Tavlarides Decedent

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

Adriane Lattimore, whose address is 16012 Wallingford Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20906, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Avena R. Tavlarides aka Avena Tavlarides who died on 8/17/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Adriane Lattimore 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

2026 ADM 000508

Lekitha Walker Decedent

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

Brantley Walker, whose address is 1405 Meridian Place, NW, Washington, DC 20010, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lekitha Walker who died on 3/10/2026 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 11/28/2026. 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 11/28/2026, 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: 5/28/2026

Brantley Walker Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2026 ADM 000523

Geraldine W. Drake aka Geraldine Drake Decedent

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

Donna Drake-Clark, whose address is 8113 Ellen Way, Savage MD 20763, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Geraldine W. Drake aka Geraldine Drake who died on December 9, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Donna Drake-Clark 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

2025 ADM 000753

Bruce Barth Decedent

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

Jeffrey Gordon, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bruce Barth who died on July 29, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/28/2026. 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 11/28/2026, 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: 5/28/2026

Jeffrey Gordon, Esq.

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

2026 ADM 000530

Gwendolyn E. Bonnick aka Gwendolyn Elizabeth Bonnick aka Gwendolyn Elizabeth Allen Bonnick Decedent

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

Cecil H. Allen, whose address is 14631 Deerhurst Terrace, #215-B, Silver Spring, MD 20906, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gwendolyn E. Bonnick aka Gwendolyn Elizabeth Bonnick aka Gwendolyn Elizabeth Allen Bonnick who died on 8/26/2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Cecil H. Allen

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

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

2026 ADM 000563

Jacqueline D. Thompson Decedent

Murray D. Scheel

DC Bar Pro Bono Center

901 4th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

Attorney

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

Deborah Bethel-Patterson, whose address is 1418 Allison Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jacqueline D. Thompson who died on March 4, 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 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Deborah Bethel-Patterson Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000492

Nejdeh Aslanian aka Nejdeh Aslanian Avanesians aka Nejdeh H. Aslanian aka Nejdeh A. Aslanian Decedent

Adam S. Abramowitz, Esq. 9711 Washingtonian Blvd., Ste 550 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Attorney

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

Fred I. Sahakian, whose address is 121 Aspen Drive, State College, PA 16827, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nejdeh Aslanian aka Nejdeh Aslanian Avanesians aka Nejdeh H. Aslanian aka Nejdeh A. Aslanian who died on 3/1/2023 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 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Fred I. Sahakian

Personal Representative

TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000515

Lillie Mae Wright aka Lillie M. Wright Decedent

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

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

Ethel Dean, whose address is 3108 Lyndale Place, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lillie Mae Wright aka Lillie M. Wright who died on May 30, 2018 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 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Ethel Dean 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

2026 ADM 000575

Paul James Lomax Decedent

Sharon Legall, Esq. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 Attorney

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

Gladys Lomax Thompson, whose address is 803 Maggie Walker Ave., Richmond VA 23222, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Paul James Lomax who died on July 2, 2019 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 12/4/2026. 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 12/4/2026, 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: 6/4/2026

Gladys Lomax Thompson

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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VOTING from Page 1

“Some people in the party were for Fenty, some people in the party were for Gray,” Nelson said. “It didn't seem like the party let people be free to choose. Some people were afraid, like ‘If I go over here, is this going to happen or not?’”

Last fall, Nelson threw her hat into the ring for the Democratic at-

Councilmember Anita Bonds (D-At large) had not yet announced her retreat from electoral politics. Months later, she has emerged as one of the more prominent at-large candidates, endorsed by two other contenders in an election year where voters can choose more than one option through ranked-choice voting.

MCCLAIN from Page 4

In addition, “Michael Jackson ONE” by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas continues drawing international audiences.

“He brought a passion and sense of conviction to all that he did and was the most generous of friends,” Branca continued. “It is difficult to imagine a world without him.”

From Musician to Music Mogul

Born in Los Angeles and raised by his aunt Helen, McClain began piano lessons at age 3 and studied classical composers including Bach and Rachmaninoff before gravitating toward the music of Jimi Hendrix. He later became close friends with Michael Jackson and the Jackson family.

Before becoming one of the most powerful executives in entertainment, McClain worked as a musician

Nelson, however, has yet to return the favor, opting instead to tout her 20 years of experience. On the campaign trail, she has focused primarily on housing, education and health care.

“If someone is going to have stable housing and preventative health care, that builds a strong individual, which then builds a community, which then builds a strong city,”

Nelson said. “A lot of what I’m hearing in and around education is making sure we’re focused on things for kids in need in terms of the funding and universal free food.”

To meet that goal, Nelson said she envisions allocation of public dollars to expand community programs throughout the District’s public and public charter schools. She said she can achieve that and more as a council member prepared to conduct oversight and build coalitions on day one.

“I call it the stable hand,” Nelson said. “I'm just looking forward to digging into oversight, digging into the budget,

preserving our city services, and amplifying the voices of everyone, especially our seniors and our youth.”

Nelson’s D.C. government experience, which spans five agencies, includes her creation of D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES)’ first agency performance plan, her part in the Mayor’s Office on African-American Affairs’ launch, and the streamlining of Medicaid, TANF and SNAP disbursements through District Direct.

As chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 4A, Nelson helped constituents and ANC colleagues alike tackle issues with D.C. government agencies. She counts among her most notable achievements collaboration with ANC 4C to secure the designation of the building formerly known as the Military Road School as swing space for Brightwood Elementary School.

If elected, Nelson aspires to bring a collaborative spirit in making the D.C. government work better for residents. Her priorities include: the creation of a civic tech platform to bolster council transparency; expansion of rent stabilization and strengthening the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act; working with the council to re-establish a standalone Committee on Education; increasing coordination and expanding funding to meet the needs

has clinched endorsements from labor

equity advocacy groups, Maryland Governor Wes

and U.S.

and session guitarist with artists including Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, and Shalamar.

His influence expanded dramatically in 1984 when he joined A&M Records as director of Black music and connected Janet Jackson with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their collaboration resulted in Jackson’s blockbuster albums “Control” and “Rhythm Nation.” McClain also helped guide projects involving Herb Alpert, Atlantic Starr, Human League, and Jesse Johnson.

In 1989, McClain joined Interscope Records, where he played a major role in financing and distributing Death Row Records after hearing Dr. Dre working on “The Chronic.” He later helped expand Interscope’s gospel and R&B footprint through deals involving Kirk Franklin and Teddy Riley.

Jimmy Iovine once told the Los Angeles Times that McClain “was vital to the inspiration, direction

of children with disabilities, and establishing the D.C. Department of Labor & Workers Rights.

“Good governance may not sound sexy or nice, but I think it is necessary,” Nelson told The Informer. “I got the government credibility, and do think that that is going to help me be effective in terms of getting us the change that we need because I think as we move forward to what we want the city to look like, the change can come.”

In Contentious Democratic Primary, Candace Tiana Nelson and Dyana Forester Emerge as Candidate Favorites

On June 16, the D.C. Board of Elections will facilitate rankedchoice voting, a process in races with more than two candidates where voters rank their preferences so no candidate wins without amassing at least 50% of the vote. Depending on the outcome, some races could go through more than one round, meaning it may take longer to announce a projected winner than in years past.

Some Democratic at-large D.C. Council candidates, like U.S. Shadow Representative Dr. Oye Owolewa, call ranked-choice voting a necessity.

“In the past, progressive candidates would oftentimes split each other's votes, and somebody who wasn't progressive would sneak through with less than 40, even 30% of the vote,” Owolewa told The In-

and spirit of Interscope.”

McClain later returned to A&M Records as president of Black music, where he worked with artists including Barry White and Ice Cube. At DreamWorks Records, he signed Ronald Isley, leading to the chart-topping “The Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley aka Mr. Biggs.” He also helped create the acclaimed Burt Bacharach and Ronald Isley collaboration “Here I Am.”

At the 2002 American Music Awards, Michael Jackson publicly thanked McClain during his acceptance speech.

“I like to thank people that are very important in my life, my mother and father, John McClain,” Jackson said. Under the leadership of McClain and Branca, Jackson’s estate released the posthumous albums “Michael” and “Xscape,” launched “MJ The Musical,” produced documentaries directed by Spike Lee, and oversaw

former. “I think now [ranked-choice voting] allows us to build stronger coalitions, [and] gives voters more options.”

During the latter part of May, Owoelwa endorsed Nelson, Kevin B. Chavous, Dyana Forester and Fred Hill as candidates who are of the people and not “the billionaire class and elected officials from other cities.”

His announcement came days after Greg Jackson, who’s endorsed by Opportunity DC, encouraged supporters to rank Nelson, Forester, Lisa Raymond, and Dwight Davis.

Jackson, a gun violence prevention specialist with local and federal government experience, said each of the candidates he endorsed possesses a special set of skills that would make them effective legislators.

“Lisa is someone who's worked in community service for 30 years, has really done some phenomenal work leading in the education space, and I think in a time where there's so many challenges facing our youth, it's important that we have an elected official who is willing to prioritize that and invest in future generations,” Jackson said. “With Candace, I've worked with her in the past when I was in D.C. government, and I've just been really impressed by her breadth of experience across multiple agencies… and when we think about oversight and getting the most out of our government agencies, she's definitely one of the strongest out of our campaign class.” WI

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projects including “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” and the record-breaking film “Michael.”

During his years at A&M, McClain once described his vision for Black music in language that many in the industry continued to associate with him throughout his career.

“You know, African Americans have always led the art form in terms of musicianship and playing in this country,” McClain said. “From blues to jazz to rock to pop – it all comes out of Black music.” WI

CHAVEZ from Page 26

Throughout the lives of Dr. Clarence Jones and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they used their voices and strengths to fight for civil rights, human rights and equality. The Black and Jewish leaders of the Civil Rights Movement taught millions of people the power of sharing our stories, using our collective voices to remind us of the strength of our alliances in bringing about social change, and of being effective in challenging antisemitism, racism and hate across the nation and globally.

Clarence Jones emphasized, "An example of a current initiative to restore this coalition is the Spill the Honey Foundation in Detroit. They seek to rebuild the historical coalition that existed between the African American and Jewish communities. Spill the Honey uses Holocaust education and ethical lessons learned from the Holocaust that contributed to the Civil Rights Movement."

HORNE from Page 26

redistricting attempt was intentionally discriminatory and could not be used in the 2026 election cycle, writing that elections should not proceed under the new plan, which was "tainted by intentional race-based discrimination." The

ROLLING from Page 26

board, is what pays for all of it.

Now here is where it falls apart. The boosters behind the pooling idea have promised a windfall, somewhere between $7 billion and $9 billion in new revenue, depending on whose projection you believe. An analysis commissioned by the SEC and Big Ten says that number is a fantasy. And history backs them up. After the Supreme Court struck down the NCAA's old game-pooling setup, the conferences tried a pooled arrangement once before, and it produced less money, not more. Schools pulled out, and the whole thing fell apart. So Washington wants to "fix" college sports by taking money from the programs that built the strongest platform Black athletes have ever had, and betting it on a theory no broadcaster has ever paid a premium for.

So who actually benefits? Not the athletes. Not the programs. Not the families in SEC country.

The Congressional Black Caucus

Under the vision of Dr. Shari Rogers, Spill the Honey has produced a powerful and timely documentary that revisits the enduring partnership between Black and Jewish communities during the Civil Rights Movement — and challenges us to reclaim that spirit today.

In the turbulent 1960s, a shared vision of justice brought these communities together, as Jewish leaders stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Clarence Jones and many others in the fight for racial equality. Yet in recent decades, this once-strong alliance has frayed, is often overlooked or is misunderstood.

Through rare archival footage and deeply personal interviews, "Shared Legacies" brings this history to life. The film features eyewitnesses, activists, Holocaust survivors and movement leaders, including Dr. Clarence Jones, Rep. John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Louis Gossett Jr., members of the King family, Dr. Susannah Heschel and others.

judges said Alabama lawmakers had deliberately diluted Black voting strength — echoing the concerns of voting rights advocates — despite previous court orders requiring fair representation. This latest federal court ruling was similar to a recent one that barred Virginia from using a Re-

wants you to believe it has earned the right to make this call. Its members will tell you they have stood in the gap on voting rights, on criminal justice, on economic equity. We do not have to pretend that record is spotless.

The CBC has been wrong before, on crime legislation that devastated Black communities, on trade, on education, on right to life. Being right on Democrat politics does not make you right on every bill that comes along. History is full of well-meaning policy that delivered the opposite of what it promised.

The moral framing here is familiar.

The policy underneath it is thin.

Douglass did not bow to institutions just because they claimed the mantle of justice. He asked the harder questions, he looked at outcomes, and he refused to let the language of liberation get used to dress up arrangements that served somebody else's interests. We are asking those same questions now.

When the NAACP calls for a boycott that puts kids' futures at risk over

At a time when division and hate are on the rise again, the film serves as both a reminder and a call to action. A new generation is stepping forward, committed to advancing justice, strengthening relationships and building bridges across differences.

"Shared Legacies" is ultimately a story of unity, empathy and partnership — affirming that freedom and equality can only be achieved when we come together. Our call to action is to ensure that the freedom-fighting legacy of Dr. Clarence Jones remains vibrant and impactful for the next generation of emerging leaders. Every public and private school should make "Shared Legacies" part of their annual academic curriculum.

Long live the freedom-fighting spirit, love and legacy of Clarence B. Jones. May our shared legacies become our shared futures for sustaining freedom, justice and equality for all of humanity. Leader Brother Clarence, Rest in Power (R.I.P.). WI

publican-led redistricting map earlier this month. So there does seem to be some effort to be fair on this voting rights issue. For now, the bipartisan playing field seems to be pretty even, but more battles are expected before November's midterms. We all better buckle up.

WI

a media rights dispute, we ask who benefits from that pressure. When the CBC demands that a conference take its side on voting legislation as the price of political goodwill, we ask what that has to do with college athletics. When CBC members who once backed the SCORE Act now treat the same debate as a weapon in a separate political fight, we ask who pays the price. The answer is not Washington. It is Black athletes, Black families, and Southern programs turned into collateral damage in a fight they did not choose.

We will not pretend those questions have comfortable answers.

The Frederick Douglass Freedom Alliance stands with Black athletes in the South, not with the politics of Washington, D.C., that would sacrifice them to score a point. We stand for the scholarships, the programs, and the investments that generations of Black athletes helped build. We will unite with anyone who wants to protect those things. We will not unite with those who want to use them.

WI

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SNYDER from Page 27

is about whether Maryland will invest in the civic infrastructure that keeps communities informed and connected.

Local journalism remains one of the few institutions dedicated to covering school boards, county governments, public safety, elections, housing, economic development, and the daily issues that shape residents' lives. When local news organizations disappear, communities lose accountability, civic participation declines, and misinformation fills the vacuum.

SB 459 recognized that state government advertising can serve two purposes at once: effectively communicate with Maryland residents and strengthen the trusted local institutions that help those residents stay informed.

The bill also acknowledged another important reality: local media outlets are often best positioned to reach underserved communities. Community

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the wealthiest. They are the families with the least cushion to fall back on.

The bill does offer a small shield to community banks under $10 billion. They would not pay the higher costs for 10 years. That is a kind gesture. But the wider damage to the loan market will not wait 10 years to arrive.

There is one more problem. Deposit insurance works in part because it has limits. Limits force big

sistency, care and belief.

The joy also comes from cultural affirmation. Black boys deserve to learn in environments where they see themselves reflected positively in books, leadership, conversations and curriculum. They have to know their history matters, their voice matters and their identity is not something that needs to be erased to succeed.

When I ran my boys' group and worked with Black boys, I realized that I needed to show them brilliance in the way I acted, what I read and listened to, and by bringing in speakers who shared their experiences and provided them with resources for growth.

Transformation is another powerful source of joy. There are a few examples I have witnessed: A student evolving over time. The quiet student becomes confident. The angry student begins healing emotionally. The disengaged

publications, local radio stations, ethnic media outlets, and regional digital publishers have built trust with audiences that are frequently overlooked by large national advertising buys. Supporting local media is not only smart economic policy; it is smart communications policy.

And economically, the argument is equally compelling.

Every year, Maryland spends taxpayer dollars on advertising campaigns intended to reach Maryland residents.

SB 459 simply sought to ensure that more of those dollars circulate through Maryland businesses, support Maryland jobs, and strengthen Maryland-based organizations rather than flowing almost entirely to out-of-state tech platforms and national advertising networks.

That is not protectionism. It is common sense.

Other jurisdictions across the country have already adopted similar approaches because they recognize that government advertising dollars

depositors to pay attention to where they put their money. That attention keeps banks honest. Take the limit away, and you take the watchdog away too. The taxpayer is left to clean up the mess.

The goal of helping Main Street is a good one. This bill is not the way to reach it.

If Congress wants to help small business, it should make loans easier and fairer to get. It should invest in the neighborhoods that banks have ignored for too long. It should knock

student becomes a leader.

These moments do not happen overnight. They happen through patience, accountability, structure, mentorship and love.

Joy is also found in community and brotherhood. Black boys flourish when schools intentionally create spaces for mentorship, leadership and positive peer relationships. They need environments where they are encouraged to celebrate each other's successes rather than compete against one another.

Brotherhood builds confidence, accountability and a sense of belonging.

How can schools and communities create an environment where Black boys can experience joy? Through mentorship programs and leadership groups; culturally relevant curriculum and books; spaces for creativity and innovation; strong school and family partnerships; and opportunities for Black boys to lead inside and outside the classroom.

can help sustain local media ecosystems without expanding government spending. Maryland had the opportunity to join them with a balanced, bipartisan solution.

Instead, the governor chose to veto it. We respect Gov. Moore's commitment to innovation and economic growth. But on this issue, the administration appears to have underestimated both the sophistication and the reach of Maryland's local media organizations.

This conversation should not end with a veto.

Marylanders benefit when they have access to strong local journalism. Communities benefit when trusted local outlets remain financially sustainable. And taxpayers benefit when state communications are delivered through organizations that understand Maryland audiences and communities. WI

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down the doors that have stayed shut for Black and Hispanic business owners for generations.

And if big corporations want extra protection for their millions, they can pay for it themselves. The taxpayer should not be asked to insure the comfort of the rich while the dreams of working families go unfunded. Read the name of a bill. Then read the math. The two should match. On the Main Street Depositor Protection Act, they do not.

WI

Black boys are not problems to fix. They are gifts to nurture and pour into. They bring creativity, humor, resilience, leadership and brilliance into classrooms every day. When schools focus only on correction and discipline, they miss the opportunity to experience the beauty of helping young men grow into purpose and focus on their calling in life.

Parents, educators, mentors, pastors, coaches and community leaders all have a role to play: Celebrate Black boys openly. Encourage their dreams. Speak life into them. Correct them with tough love. Give them an opportunity. Remind them constantly that they are capable of greatness.

Think about this: Do our schools create joyful learning experiences for Black boys? How do Black boys feel seen, valued and affirmed in our schools? What are you doing to impact a Black boy?

Let's rise together. WI

WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

Thanks to the support of our players, the Maryland Lottery contributed $667.2 million to Maryland’s schools, public health and safety initiatives and other state programs in Fiscal Year 2025. We also paid more than $1.67 billion in prizes to players. Not bad. We’d like to think we generated a few million smiles as well. When you play, everybody wins.

Learn how to play within your limits at mdlottery.com/playresponsibly. For help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 18 years or older to play.

Senator Raphael Warnock An

Evening with Friday, June 19 | 7pm

Join Washington National Cathedral for a conversation with Rev. Raphael Warnock on faith and the themes of his new book, The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America In person tickets include a copy of the book.

The Holy Eucharist in Commemoration of Juneteenth

Sunday, June 14 | 11:15am

Washington National Cathedral invites you to our Juneteenth service, celebrating freeedom through prayer, music and reflection

Guest Preacher

The Reverend Thomas L. Bowen

General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention

All Cathedral worship services are free and open to the public.