The Washington Informer - January 22, 2026

The 2026 MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Parade: A Moment for Reflection, Unity, Action

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Local Politics & Education Writer

For another year, hundreds of revelers participated in a peace walk and parade in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They did so with Nee Nee Taylor of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams serving as a grand marshal.

For Taylor, who just laid her brother, Ward 7 community leader John Fitzgerald Cotten, to rest, leading the 21st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Holiday DC Peace Walk and Parade took on a deeper meaning.

“This parade we've been doing since we were in elementary school,” Taylor told The Informer as she pointed to a pin on her jacket bearing Fitzgerald’s image. “That's why I brought him with me to the parade with me. We believe in the dream…that one day all of our people will be free.”

WALK Page 36

R. Roberts)

January 22 - 28, 2026

Doni Crawford: An Appointed At-large Councilmember That Unites Insiders and Outsiders

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Local Politics & Education Writer

In her seven years as a local fixture, Doni Crawford has garnered a reputation as a racial equity advocate with a strong command of fiscal policy matters. Time and time again, from inside and outside of the John A. Wilson Building, she’s effected change for the marginalized.

Now, as the D.C. Council’s newly appointed independent at-large council member, Crawford plans to

COLLINS REPORT Page 16

Luther King Supplement Center Section

Stronghold vs. Kennedy Street: The D.C. Native Battle for the Mayor’s Seat Begins

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Local Politics and Education Writer

With former D.C. council member Kenyan McDuffie now in the mayoral race, the battle to succeed D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has become a showdown between him and another child of the District, D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4).

As McDuffie and Lewis George continue to highlight their deep neighborhood ties and District coming-of-age stories, some voters, including Amanda Beale, are saying they look forward to seeing each candidate debate about more pressing topics in the coming days and weeks.

MAYOR'S SEAT Page 36

3Members of the National Guard at Union Station in August 2025. After an extension from the Trump administration and despite crime rates sitting at a 30-year low, Washington, D.C. will remain under an expanded National Guard presence through at least the end of 2026. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Trump Extends National Guard Deployment in D.C. Despite Low Crime and Local Objections

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Washington, D.C. will remain under an expanded National Guard presence through at least the end of 2026 after the Trump administration approved another extension of the mission, keeping roughly 2,600 Guard members

deployed across the city despite violent crime rates sitting at a 30-year low.

“And so it goes,” mused Tremaine Lackey, a Northeast, D.C. resident who works near Union Station. “The police state continues and the America that we once knew, the one where people put

GUARD Page 9

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $96 per year, two years $168. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to:

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032

Phone: 202 561-4100

Fax: 202 574-3785

news@washingtoninformer.com

www.washingtoninformer.com

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

PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Micha Green, Managing Editor

Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer

Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor

Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager

Jada Ingleton, Content Editor

REPORTERS

Stacy Brown, National Reporter

Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr., Political/Education Reporter

Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter

Ed Hill, Sports Reporter

Richard Elliott, Reporter

Skylar Nelson, Sports Reporter

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., Fall Intern

STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; MYA

January Jazz Jam Brings Live Music to Union Station, Highlights District Talent

held at Union Station’s The Stage every Tuesday and Wednesday this month. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Washingtonians, commuters, and people visiting the nation’s capital can unite in the name of music every Tuesday and Wednesday at Union Station, with January Jazz Jam, a live musical event highlighting District culture, presented by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

“Union Station is one of the busiest and most important gateways in our region, and we want people who come through the station or arrive here in D.C. to have a welcoming experience –and a uniquely D.C. experience,” Bowser said in a statement. “Jan-

uary Jazz Jam will bring live local music to residents, visitors, and commuters, and that’s a great way to start the New Year at Washington Union Station.”

Presented in collaboration with Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) and Sing for Hope, and sponsored by the D.C. Office of Cable, Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, January Jazz Jam features rotating performances from local musicians, highlighting the breadth of

From Las Vegas to the Potomac: Maryland Targets Second U.S. Sphere at National Harbor

On a stretch of river where tour buses idle, casino lights flicker, and families drift between restaurants and the water’s edge, Maryland officials confirmed plans on Sunday night to drop one of the most ambitious entertainment venues in the country onto National Harbor’s skyline.

The proposal would bring a Sphere venue to Prince George’s County— just minutes from Washington, D.C. — making it only the second in the United States and the first built on a smaller scale.

“Sphere is a new experiential medium,” said James L. Dolan, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Sphere Entertainment. “With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and

visitors, [Gov. Wes] Moore, County Executive [Aisha] Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate immersive experiences across the area.”

If approved, the venue would seat about 6,000 people and feature the same signature exterior LED surface that has turned the Las Vegas Sphere into a glowing landmark. The structure would rise along the Potomac River, placing a high-tech entertainment hub within a short drive of downtown D.C., Reagan National Airport, and major regional high-

DOS Suspends Immigration Visas for Nationals from 75 Countries

President Donald Trump and his administration have taken another step toward limiting who can legally immigrate to the United States, announcing that, as of Jan. 21, the distribution of visas for nationals from 75 countries, the majority of which are located in Africa and Asia, will be indefinitely paused.

“This decision will separate families and block workers who have followed the necessary steps to acquire permanent status in the United States,” Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), a national nonprofit founded in D.C. in 1991, wrote in a statement. “The pause disproportionately targets immigrants of color—yet another indication of the xenophobia and racism driving this administration’s policies.”

This notion will apply to categories that lead to lawful permanent residence and does not pertain to those classified as non-immigrant visas. In a Jan. 14 update on its website,

the Department of State (DOS) intends for the pause to remain active until it reevaluates its policies and regulations to guarantee that immigrants from the affected countries don’t become public charges, financially dependent on the U.S. government.

The administration’s reasoning is contradictory when considering the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, which remodeled the nation’s welfare system, restricted immigrant access and emphasized the need for immigration status verification from benefit-granting agencies. Most green card holders who can receive benefits aren’t able to do so until after five years of residing in the U.S.

“That means when you come to the U.S. with a green card, you get no Medicaid, you get no food stamps [and] you get no cash assistance,” said U.S. immigration lawyer

AROUND THE REGION

D.C. Courts and Public Safety Gain Stability in Federal Spending Deal, Limits on Local Control Remain

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Washington, D.C. would see new stability for its courts and public safety operations under a federal spending agreement unveiled this week, even as Congress maintains long-standing control over key aspects of the city’s governance.

A bipartisan appropriations package would increase funding for the federal judiciary, including court security and defender services that directly affect the District’s court system. The bill provides $892 million nationwide for courthouse protection and related services— a 19% increase— along with $1.766 billion for federal public defenders and court-appointed attorneys— a 22% boost intended to prevent staffing shortages and payment delays that have disrupted representation for indigent defendants in recent years.

“We thank our partners in Congress for including these critical provisions that will benefit Washington, D.C. — residents and visitors alike — and we urge Congress to

act swiftly to pass this legislation,”

District Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a published statement, citing the public safety and education funding included in the package.

The funding carries particular weight in the District, where the local courts and the D.C. Public Defender Service occupy a rare position. Both entities were created and are funded by Congress yet are not treated fully as federal agencies or as part of the District government. That structure has left employees vulnerable during budget standoffs and has contributed to staffing freezes and delayed payments during prior funding lapses.

The spending agreement reportedly follows warnings from judges and court officials nationwide about rising threats against members of the judiciary. Federal authorities tracked hundreds of threats against judges last year, with additional cases already logged in the current fiscal year, a trend lawmakers cited in support of increased security funding.

Alongside the spending deal, District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) has moved to address long-stand-

ing gaps in how Congress treats the District’s justice institutions. One bill she introduced would extend the protections of the District of Columbia Human Rights Act to employees of the D.C. courts and the Public Defender Service, ensuring broader safeguards against workplace discrimination than those provided under federal law alone. Norton said the legislation is needed because the courts and defender service sometimes fall outside clear regulatory authority despite their central role in the city’s justice system.

Norton has also reintroduced legislation aimed at expanding the District’s access to federal transportation and infrastructure grants. Her proposal would allow D.C. to compete for four programs currently reserved for states, including funding for buses, rail systems, roadway safety improvements, and environmental

projects affecting the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Norton said the bill reflects the reality that District residents pay federal taxes at higher per-capita rates than residents of any state.

While the appropriations package includes provisions designed to prevent a mid-cycle budget disruption, there remain several long-standing

congressional restrictions. Among them is the rider that continues to block the District from establishing a regulated recreational marijuana market, despite voter approval more than a decade ago.

“With this bill, House Republicans have intentionally committed nothing short of fiscal sabotage against D.C.,” Norton said. WI talent in the District.

“January Jazz Jam is a powerful example of how Mayor Muriel Bowser’s continued investment in D.C.’s creative economy comes to life…On our stages, in our neighborhoods, and through the artists who shape our city’s cultural identity, “ said OCTFME Director LaToya Foster. “At OCTFME, we support live music, artist opportunities, and community-centered events like this to strengthen a creative ecosystem that drives jobs, tourism, and cultural pride while ensuring that D.C.’s homegrown talent has the resources to thrive.”

Performers have included the Wesley Biles Trio, Herb Scott Trio, Miles Sam Trio, and Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Combo. Upcoming performances include the Alex Hamburger Trio (Jan. 20), Hot Mess Trio featuring Connor Holdridge and Gabriel Wallace (Jan. 21), Samuel Prather Trio (Jan. 27) and Simone Baron Duo/Trio (Jan. 28).

With performances on The Stage at Union Station on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m.- 6.m., USRC

hopes to engage people traveling throughout the building in a new and entertaining way.

“As part of USRC’s mission to modernize the historic Washington Union Station, USRC is proud to be hosting the January Jazz Jam to enhance the daily commuter’s experience,” said Jennifer Seo, program manager at Union Station Redevelopment Corporation.

Hosting the jams at the ever-buzzing travel hub was about more than drawing big crowds, but being able to offer the healing power of music to the masses.

"The arts are more than a luxury; they are a civic utility essential to the heartbeat of a city," said Sing for Hope Co-Founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora. "By bringing live music into public spaces, we transform a simple commute into a moment of shared humanity and creative welcome. Sing for Hope is honored to partner with Mayor Bowser and USRC to foster joy and connection right in the heart of our nation's capital."

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

AROUND THE REGION

Jan. 22

1906 – Aviator Willa Brown, the first African American woman to earn her pilot's license in the United States, is born in Glasgow, Kentucky.

1931 – Famed soul singer-songwriter Sam Cooke is born in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

1973 – George Foreman wins by second-round technical knockout over heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in a battle of unbeatens, most famous for announcer Howard Cosell's call, "Down goes Frazier!"

Jan. 23

1946 – Editor, writer and journalist Susan L. Taylor, who served as editor-in-chief of Essence magazine in the '80s and '90s, is born in New York City.

1976 – Renowned singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson dies in Philadelphia at 77 from complications of a stroke.

1977 – "Roots," a TV miniseries based on Alex Haley's 1976 novel, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," begins airing on ABC, the first of eight consecutive nights.

1993 – Gospel music legend Thomas Dorsey dies in Chicago at 93.

Jan. 24

1993 – Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court justice, dies of heart failure in Bethesda, Maryland, at 84.

Jan. 25

1938 – Famed soul singer Etta James is born in Los Angeles.

1950 – Novelist Gloria Naylor, best known for her book "The Women of Brewster Place," is born in New York City.

1972 – Shirley Chisholm formally announces her

bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, becoming the first Black presidential candidate for a major political party.

1980 – Black Entertainment Television (BET), a cable television network launched by Robert L. Johnson, begins broadcasting.

Jan. 26

1892 – Bessie Coleman, the first African American pilot, is born in Atlanta, Texas.

1944 – Political activist, academic scholar and author Angela Davis is born in Birmingham, Alabama.

1948 – Executive Order 9981 is issued by President Harry S. Truman, abolishing racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces.

1958 – R&B singer Anita Baker is born in Toledo, Ohio.

1990 – Elaine Weddington Steward is named assistant general manager of the Boston Red Sox, becoming the first-ever Black woman executive in Major League Baseball.

Jan. 27

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

1961 – Renowned opera singer Leontyne Price makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. 1972 – Gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson dies in Evergreen Park, Illinois, of heart failure and diabetes complications at age 60.

Jan. 28

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

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

AROUND THE REGION view P INT

BY HAMIL HARRIS

What are your thoughts on the proposed Sphere venue coming to National Harbor?

SHERMAN HARDY / CLINTON, MARYLAND

“I’m not opposed to new entertainment or development; I welcome it. But the real question isn’t whether a project looks impressive—it’s whether it belongs there, complements what already exists, fits the market and long-term plan, and delivers real value beyond the initial excitement.”

JUWAN

BLOCKER / BRYAN’S ROAD, MARYLAND

DAVID GROGAN / BOWIE, MARYLAND

“I’m not sold and I’m not opposed. I’m paying attention. The Sphere announcement sounds exciting, but excitement doesn’t replace transparency.Where did this project originate?Why now during election season? And why are basic questions being dodged?

Prince George’s County has heard “jobs” and “economic impact” before and residents are still waiting on results.”

“I am extremely thrilled to hear that the Sphere will be breaking ground at the MGM National Harbor. I think that the county as a whole, over the last year and a half, has taken an economic hit with Six Flags no longer operating and for us to usher in the Sphere at a time where technology continues to advance, I think this is a major win for the county economically and also for the job creation that will come from this project for residents.”

MICHELLE KNOX / LAUREL, MARYLAND

“I agree that power costs and economic equity are central concerns for Maryland's new Sphere. The project holds promise for Prince George's County, but its energy demand is significant and highlights a key infrastructure challenge for our region.”

D.C. Courts and Public Safety Gain Stability in Federal Spending Deal, Limits on Local Control Remain

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

A federal proposal moving through Washington now threatens to dismantle a traffic enforcement system that has shaped how the District polices its streets for more than two decades.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has sent a proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget that would prohibit Washington, D.C. from operating automated traffic enforcement cameras, including speed, red-light, and stop-sign cameras. The measure is tied to the upcoming surface transportation bill Congress is expected to consider this year and would strip the District of authority it has exercised since the late 1990s.

where there are

ate police contact during traffic stops.

National research supports the safety case. A large peer-reviewed study examining nearly 2,000 speed cameras in New York City found collisions declined by 30% and injuries dropped by 16% within seven months of installation, with speeding violations falling sharply as drivers adjusted behavior.

In Washington, however, the cameras have also produced unequal outcomes.

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.

If enacted, the proposal would eliminate nearly 550 active enforcement cameras across the city and remove a program that generated $267.3 million in fiscal year 2025 alone, according to the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The city collected $213.3 million in fiscal year 2024 and $139.5 million in fiscal year 2023, revenue that has supported transportation safety initiatives and other city services.

District officials and safety advocates warn the impact would extend beyond lost revenue.

“Traffic enforcement cameras are a critical tool in the work to save lives and make our streets safer,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters. “Re-

light cameras. A federal proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation would eliminate nearly 550 active traffic enforcement cameras across the District and remove a program that generated $267.3 million in fiscal year 2025 alone, according to the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer. (WI File Photo)

moving them would endanger people in our community.”

Bowser said traffic fatalities in Washington fell 52% last year, the lowest level since 2014, and warned that eliminating the cameras would also create a $1 billion gap in the city’s long-term financial plan, forcing cuts to everyday services.

The federal push has revived a long-running debate in the District, one that sits at the intersection of safety, race, and equity.

Washington’s automated traffic enforcement system began in 2001 with a speed camera program targeting dangerous corridors, school zones, and major roadways. After a warning period, citations followed. Early evaluations showed average vehicle speeds dropped by roughly 14%, and the share of drivers exceeding speed limits by more than 10 miles per hour fell by more than 80% compared with nearby jurisdictions.

The program expanded to include red-light and stop-sign cameras and later became a central component of the city’s Vision Zero initiative. Supporters argue automated enforcement reduces reckless driving without increasing police encounters, a point that could pose more issues in Black communities that have long experienced disproportion-

A 2018 analysis by the D.C. Policy Center found automated traffic enforcement is concentrated in predominantly Black neighborhoods, even where crash rates are similar to those in white areas. Drivers in Black-segregated census tracts received significantly more citations and higher fines per resident, while white-segregated tracts saw far fewer tickets. The study found drivers in Black neighborhoods were more than 17 times as likely to receive a moving violation as drivers in predominantly white areas.

Transportation advocates say those disparities reflect decades of infrastructure decisions. Many Black neighborhoods were built around wide, highspeed roads designed for commuter traffic rather than pedestrian safety, leaving residents more exposed to enforcement without corresponding investment in safer street design.

“If our only mechanism to make a street safer is to go out and have police out there or speed cameras, we’ve already failed at the design of the street,” Jacob Bason of All Walks DC said on the Kojo Nnamdi Show.

The federal proposal would remove the cameras without addressing those design failures, according to local officials, leaving communities with fewer tools to curb speeding and reckless driving.

“Traffic safety cameras are not only about revenues, they’re about accountability, prevention, and saving lives,” U.S. Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa stated. “Stripping the District of these tools without a comprehensive safety plan sends a dangerous signal that reckless driving will be tolerated.”

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

their lives at risk to come here, is no more. The extension of federal policing is not only unnecessary, but it provokes people and I guess that’s what our president wants.”

The decision, outlined in federal memos and confirmed by multiple reports, continues a deployment that began in August 2025 when President Donald Trump ordered the D.C. National Guard to mobilize in support of local and federal law enforcement.

The operation was later reinforced by Guard units from 11 states, most governed by Republicans, giving the president direct control over a force operating in a city whose residents lack voting representation in Congress.

Troops have been stationed near federal buildings, transit hubs, and major corridors, carrying out patrols and limited law enforcement support, while also taking on sanitation and public works assignments such as trash collection, park cleanups, and roadway maintenance.

The federal extension comes as D.C. residents and voting-rights advocates warn that the prolonged military presence is representative of the city’s fragile self-governance.

Under the Home Rule Act of 1973, District voters elect a mayor and council, but Congress retains authority to overturn local laws, budgets, and criminal justice policies.

In a December Washington Informer commentary, the founders of DC Statehood PAC and longtime advocates for District statehood, voting rights, and democracy, wrote that the continued use of federal power over the city aligns with a longtime campaign to weaken local control. They noted that Congress has moved repeatedly to override locally passed legislation and interfere with the city’s judicial and law enforcement authority.

“They are furiously trying to eliminate D.C.’s self-rule by repealing the Home Rule Act and imposing martial law on the people of the District, using the National Guard and our own police force,” the local leaders and activists wrote.

Republican governors have continued to extend deployments of their own Guard units to Washington. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently approved a 90-day extension for about 100 Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers first deployed in November 2025. Those troops, from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, are assigned to security patrols and law

AROUND THE REGION

sitting at a 30-year low, Washington, D.C. will remain under an expanded National Guard presence through at least the end of 2026. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

enforcement support roles in coordination with the D.C. National Guard.

“Under the Governor’s strong leadership, the Arkansas National Guard is proud to continue its support to the District of Columbia,” Arkansas Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges said in a statement announcing the extension.

Civil liberties groups have pushed back, arguing that the use of out-ofstate Guard units to police the nation’s capital raises constitutional and civil rights concerns. The Arkansas Civil Liberties Union warned that deploying troops in politically charged lawand-order operations risks eroding public trust and blurring the line between civilian governance and military authority.

District advocates argue that the push for members of the National Guard from 11 outside states— Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Louisiana and Arkansas— goes against values once lauded by conservative politicians.

“Republicans once argued that local problems are best addressed by the government closest to the people they govern,” the activists and local leaders wrote in the December commentary published by The Informer. “Those of us who call the District home know that solutions to D.C.’s challenges will not come from senators and representatives or other unelected officials from far-flung places…. who do not know the neighborhoods or the people of this great city (but are happy to uproot their citizens to mill often aimlessly on our streets, the Mall and other public spaces).”

In a December Washington Informer commentary, the founders of DC Statehood PAC and longtime advocates for District statehood, voting rights, and democracy, wrote that the continued use of federal power over the city aligns with a longtime campaign to weaken local control. They noted that Congress has moved repeatedly to override locally passed legislation and interfere with the city’s judicial and law enforcement authority.

The deployment has also faced legal challenges. A federal judge ruled in November that the Guard mission was unlawful and ordered it to end, but an appeals court allowed the operation to continue while the case proceeds, thus keeping troops in place for now.

“We in the District have fought hard for our limited democracy,” the advocates wrote in The Informer. “Congress should not destroy it.” WI

AROUND THE REGION

Following her keynote speech at the UNCF 43rd Annual MLK I Have a Dream Breakfast, Dr. Falecia D. Williams, president of Prince George's Community College, reads the latest edition of The Washington Informer. (Brenda C. Siler/ The Washington Informer)

“When times get tough, we don't give up. We get up.”

- President Barack Obama

BUSINESS

SPHERE from Page 4

ways.

Behind the spectacle are numbers that state and county leaders say would change the economic math for the region. The project would receive roughly $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. Construction is expected to create about 2,500 jobs, followed by another 4,750 positions once the venue opens. Annual economic impact is projected to exceed $1 billion.

“This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George’s County history,” said Moore. “We’re excited for what this means for our people, and how it will showcase the best of what Maryland has to offer to everyone who visits.”

Braveboy called the announcement a marker for where the county sees itself headed.

“This is a world-class win for Prince George’s County,” Braveboy said in published remarks. “As only the second Sphere venue in the United States, this project shows how we compete, how we win, and how we attract destinations that become flagship projects for our county, our state, and the entire region.”

National Harbor already draws more than 15 million visitors a year. Its mix of hotels, dining, conventions, gaming, and entertainment has turned the waterfront into one of the busiest tourism zones in the region. Officials said

the Sphere would add a year-round anchor, bringing concerts, original productions, and branded events to an area that already thrives on foot traffic and spectacle.

Inside, the venue would feature a 16K-by-16K interior display, billed as the highest-resolution LED screen in the world. The design includes immersive sound technology, haptic seating, and environmental effects intended to move air and vibration through the room, placing audiences inside the performance rather than in front of it. The exterior display, known as the Exosphere, would serve as a public-facing canvas visible well beyond the site itself.

Jon Peterson, chief executive officer of Peterson Companies, said the project fits squarely into National Harbor’s role as a regional destination.

“This project will reinforce National Harbor as the capital region’s premier destination for conventions, entertainment, retail, and dining,” Peterson said.

Final construction and operation remain dependent on completed agreements and required approvals from state and county officials. For now, the plan puts a bold new structure on the table, one that would sit across the river from the nation’s capital and promise something few venues can.

“Sphere is a venue where storytelling moves to a new level and transports audiences to places both real and imagined,” Dolan said. WI

3 Maryland officials are proposing bringing a Sphere venue to National Harbor's skyline. (Courtesy Photo/Sphere Entertainment and Peterson Companies)

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

General Contractor

Two Rivers PCS solicits proposals from a general contractor to complete capital project repairs. To request a copy of the RFP, email Gail Williams at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals are due by February 13, 2026.

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

KYOCERA Service Maintenance

Two Rivers PCS solicits proposals/price quotes from qualified, competent, certified KYOCERA service technicians to manage the copier fleet across 4 buildings. To request a copy of the RFP, email Gail Williams at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals are due by February 13, 2026.

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Commercial Painting Services

Two Rivers PCS is soliciting price quotes from painting companies to paint the common areas of 4 school buildings in June 2026. To request a copy of the RFP, email Gail Williams at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals are due by February 13, 2026.

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Electrician

Two Rivers PCS solicits proposals from a certified electrical construction services company to complete facilities upgrades in three school buildings by May, 2026. To request a copy of the RFP, email Gail Williams at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals are due by February 13, 2026.

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CCTV Camera Installation

Two Rivers PCS is soliciting proposals from a certified CCTV System designer and installer vendor to complete facilities upgrades in four school buildings by June 2026. To request a copy of the RFP, email Gail Williams at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals are due by February 13, 2026.

TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Commercial Flooring

Two Rivers PCS solicits proposals from an experienced commercial flooring company to complete facilities upgrades in three school buildings by June 2026. To request a copy of the RFP, email Gail Williams at procurement@tworiverspcs.org. Proposals are due by February 13, 2026.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

By Richard Elliott

WI Contributing Reporter

A flurry of legislative appointments at the state and local level are shuffling elected leaders to higher positions while adding a Bowie State University lobbyist and retired fire chief to the Maryland General Assembly.

Derrick Coley to Serve in House of Delegates

Representing District 24

Derrick Coley, a longtime member of the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee (DCC), was unanimously appointed to serve as the next delegate in District 24, a central county district stretching

Fills

from Glenn Dale to Edmonston along the D.C. border.

“I want to say thank you for allowing me to serve almost 12 years, among you pushing democratic principles throughout this county and throughout the great state of Maryland,” said Coley shortly after the vote on Jan. 5. “Let’s get to work.”

Coley’s competitors included Glenarden Councilmember Cashenna Cross and small business owner LaTasha Ward, who came in fourth during the 2022 Democratic primary for Delegate.

Ward has announced she plans to run for the seat in the 2026 primary election.

“I will be filing to run in the upcoming primary so that District 24

residents can decide directly who they want to represent them,” she told The Informer. “I planned to run regardless of the outcome. I believe the people showed in 2018 and 2022 that they like what I stand for. I appreciate all who came out for the appointment.”

Danielle Hunter Appointed to Council District 6 Vacancy

A seat opened after the appointment of Prince George’s County Councilmember Wala Blegay to fill an at-large vacancy following former Councilmember Calvin Hawkins’ retirement from the legislative body. Danielle Hunter, who served as the appointment liaison for County Executive Aisha Braveboy, was unanimously appointed to fill the vacancy.

“I want to congratulate Danielle Hunter on the unanimous vote, and I look forward to her joining the Council to serve with us,” said Council Chair Krystal Oriadha. “Her dedication, vision, and commitment to our county is invaluable as we start our new legislative session later this month.”

More than 20 County residents, including former Board of Education Member Belinda Queen Cunningham, applied and spoke during a virtual County Council meeting to discuss their qualifications and goals in the role.

“I am ready to get to work on behalf of the residents of District 6,” Hunter told the Council during Friday’s public selection process. “I had the opportunity to meet with residents of Cameron Grove, who expressed concerns about economic development initiatives, affordable housing, and public safety. I too share those concerns and am committed to working toward sound policy-based solutions to enhance the lives of our residents.”

Councilmember Ingrid Turner (D-District 4) announced that she will be stepping down from the Council, effective on Jan. 16, to serve as the President of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC). This will create a new vacancy, which the Council will also fill.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime serving the residents of Prince George’s County and District 4 as a member of the County Council, and I am deeply grateful for the trust my constituents placed in me,” said Council Member Watson. “My expansive career in public service has equipped me with invaluable experience in the economic development sector, enabling me to collaborate with developers and landowners to drive impactful new projects and cultivate a business-friendly environment in Prince George’s County. Leaving the Council is bittersweet, but I’m excited to continue this vital work in my new role.”

Moore Taps Darrell Odom Sr. for District 27

Maryland Gov. Moore selected Darrell Odom Sr., a veteran and retired fire chief, to fill the legislative vacancy in District 27A on Jan. 12. The vacancy was created following Kevin Harris’ recent appointment to the state Senate and the ascension of Michael Jackson to lead the Maryland State Police.

Sen. Kevin Harris (D- District 27), supported Odom Sr. during the Charles County Democratic Central Committee (DCC) meeting to fill the vacancy.

“Darrell is not just a candidate. He is a proven leader whose entire life has been defined by dedicated service to our nation and our communities,” said Harris during the Jan. 3 meeting. “He brings an unparalleled breadth of experience that is precious and is precise for what we need in Annapolis.”

Odom received 22 of the 24 votes from the Prince George’s County DCC, while Charles County Board of Education chair Yonelle Moore Lee received 12 of the 14 votes from the Charles County DCC.

“This is about an effort of us all,” said Odom, who has served on the DCC for several years, shortly after he received a majority vote to become the Prince George’s nominee. “I know this is only one phase in this process.” WI

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Moore Introduces Housing Agenda for Upcoming Legislative Session

Real Estate Director Celebrates Legislation as Start Toward Improving Housing Affordability, Addressing Challenges

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

With a goal of increasing affordability and real estate stock, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) has announced his housing agenda for the next legislative session, starting on Jan. 14, including: an end to minimum lot sizes, eliminating parking minimums for transit-oriented development, and promoting mixeduse development.

The three bills his administration will support are the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act of 2026, the Housing Certainty Act of 2026, and the Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026.

“We know that outdated zoning laws and bureaucratic red tape – they will limit housing supply, that they will cause a lack of affordability,” Moore said on Jan. 6. “That’s why you will see on Jan. 14, our administration will continue to implement the most aggressive housing policies this state has seen in a generation, and we will do it unapologetically.”

Moore made his housing announcement during a press conference alongside Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Brabeboy (D), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke, and Maryland Secretary of Housing and .Community Development Jake Day, revealing the Atlantic Pacific Companies will be adding roughly 300 homes and 10,000 square feet of retail near the Capitol Heights Metro. At least $17 million will be invested into this project.

“For too long, we have seen how this has been acres of asphalt, a parking lot that just sits empty while the demand for housing skyrockets,” Moore said.

The county executive welcomes the new economic and housing development to bolster Prince George’s long-term financial future.

“The investment in housing and commercial development that will be made here will help spur economic development all along the Blue

Line Corridor inside the beltway –and that's important, to say inside the beltway – because inside the beltway, there's so much potential,” said Braveboy.

Day emphasized the Housing Certainty Act of 2026 will also “remove unnecessary, government-created obstacles to building more housing.”

“With fewer homes available and high interest rates locking out new generations of homebuyers, too many young families and seniors are left with few viable options to call Maryland home,” Day explained.

“The Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026 would expand housing choices by enabling homes that are up to 30% less expensive than what’s currently available, unlocking homeownership for more Maryland families.”

Real Estate Director Says Legislation ‘Addresses Key Supply Constraints’

Phil Dawit, managing director of Quasar Real Estate, believes that Moore’s agenda is a start toward improving housing affordability and addressing other challenges.

“In the context of broader conversations about Maryland’s growth, senior leaders within our firm have engaged with Gov. Moore and senior officials in his administration. Gov. Moore has a sharp team. The housing framework they have introduced addresses key supply constraints,” he told The Informer. “The legislation they’ve put forward addresses many of the right levers for creating new housing supply, such as unlocking government-owned land for development and increasing density.”

Dawit explained what he views as necessary next steps to achieve affordable housing in Prince George’s County.

“Affordability doesn’t improve if we only focus on new supply while allowing existing housing to collapse. Preservation, in many cases, can be faster, cheaper, and far less disruptive than replacement,” he said. “We

need to pair strong supply-side state legislation with an equally strong county-level strategy to preserve and rehabilitate the housing we already have.”

Dawit, managing operator for Marylander Condominiums, a 200unit complex in Hyattsville, has witnessed the challenges with local housing up close and personal. He explained and has reported a variety of issues, including an ongoing lawsuit against prior management and a wrought-iron fence on the site that was damaged.

“Considering the large supply of aging communities in Prince George's County, the Marylander Condominiums crisis should be treated as a lesson, not a one-off,” he said. “The Marylander Condominiums in Prince George's Coun-

ty, however, shows the other side of the housing crisis that often gets overlooked. The Marylander was naturally affordable housing. Instead of being stabilized with coordinated public support, access to capital, and public safety interventions, it was allowed to deteriorate to the point of its crisis.”

Now residents of the condominiums are searching for answers, solutions, and safe housing.

“Once half of the property was declared unfit for habitation,” Dawit told The Informer, “private financing became impossible, conditions worsened, and 100 families are now at risk of displacement.”

NATIONAL

USPS Pays Homage to Muhammad Ali With Forever Stamp

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

While celebrated boxing legend Muhammad Ali died nearly a decade ago in June 2016, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is keeping the athlete’s legacy with Forever stamps, unveiled on Jan. 15— two days before what would have been the boxer’s 84th birthday.

The quick-witted boxer once said “I should be a postage stamp, because that's the only way I'll ever get licked,”

and with the dedicated work of USPS, Ali’s idea, though uttered in jest, has become a reality.

Officials, politicians, and members of the Ali family gathered last Thursday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky— the birthplace of the three-time heavyweight boxing champion and civil rights activist— to bear witness to two new stamps created to honor the athlete known as “The Greatest.”

“Beyond sports, [Ali’s] life was marked by extraordinary humanitarianism. As a global goodwill ambassador, he dedicated himself to service.

4 The Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp designed by U.S. Postal Service (USPS) art director Antonio Alcalá. The USPS unveiled the stamp on Jan. 15 in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. (Courtesy Photo/USPS)

He promoted peace and understanding across racial, religious and national lines,” said Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, during the unveiling ceremony. “As we dedicate these stamps, we remember Muhammad as a great boxer and a man who dared to be bold and used his fame to improve humanity.”

For USPS and the Ali family alike, the stamp was a long time coming.

“The whole process, from the assignment to the release date, took eight years,” said Antonio Alcalá, USPS art director. “Of course, the design process did not take the whole time. Like most stamp assignments, there are periods of intense activity followed by long periods for review.”

Alcalá adds paying homage to Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in January 1942, included a lot of critical details to ensure USPS did justice to the icon’s life and legacy.

“The first step is to do research to make sure I understand the person and their important contributions to American culture. Depending on the

LENEL ACCESS CONTROL MODERNIZATION AND INFASTRUCTURE UPGRADE SERVICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

Bid # 25-S-026

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide Lenel Access Control Modernization And Infrastructure Upgrade Services at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

This Request for Proposal (“RFP”) has a thirty-five percent (35%) set-aside for a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) as required under the provisions of “The Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Amendment Act of 2014” (the “Act”), effective June 10, 2014.

Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-Procurement website at https://eventsdc.com/about/procurement.

assignment, I may look for an iconic photo (like with the Ali stamp) or an artist to create an image of the individual. Many additional design considerations then affect the process: physical aspects such as the size or format of the stamp, determining appropriate typography, which colors to use, and then listening to the observations of the people who have a role in the review process,” Alcalá told The Informer about the process of creating Forever stamps. “Hopefully, these will all lead us to a successful solution.”

For the stamp of the champ, people close to the boxer, such as his widow Lonnie Ali, who was present in Louisville for the unveiling, played a role in the final design.

“We listen to [family members’] comments and try to accommodate suggested changes so that everyone has confidence in the stamp,” Alcalá continued. “The final Muhammad Ali pane does reflect some of their suggestions.”

After seeing the completed prod-

Boxer’s Widow Says Honor Highlights Ali’s ‘Commitment to Human Dignity and Respect’ Invitation for Bids – DCHFA-25-0087

Key Dates

RFP Release Date:  Thursday, January 22, 2026

RFP Pre-Proposal Conference: Monday, February 9, 2026; 12:00PM, EST

RFP Questions Due Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026; 5:00PM, EST

RFP Response Due Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026; 5:00PM, EST

Primary Contact

Name: Gerald Green / Deputy Director, Office of Contracts and Procurement Services

Email: ggreen@eventsdc.com / Phone: (202) 249-3028

ucts, the boxer’s widow, who also co-founded the Muhammad Ali Center, said she and her family were “deeply honored.”

“This historic recognition celebrates not only his extraordinary achievements,” she said, “but the values that defined his life of courage, compassion, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity and respect.”

For Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad, also known as Nation’s Mosque, who traveled from the D.C. to Louisville for the unveiling ceremony, the stamp stands as a significant symbol for the late Ali’s overall contributions to the nation and world.

“Muhammad Ali was far more than a boxing champion,” Shareef told The Informer in a statement. “He was a man of faith, conscience, and courage, whose life expanded the meaning of American greatness. This Forever stamp symbolizes that his legacy, rooted in justice, dignity, and service, will continue to inspire generations.” WI

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency seeks a contractor for Microsoft 365 Training and Consulting Services.

Details: http://www.DCHFA.org/about/business-opportunities

Bid deadline: Feb 2, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

Through February 15, 2026

March 21-July 5, 2026

INTERNATIONAL

n Booklets

n Brochures

n Business Cards

n Banners

n Canvas Bags

n Color Copies

n Contracts & Vouchers

n Church Fans

n Fax & Scan n Programs

n Posters & Signs

n Tithe Envelopes

n Tickets & Flyers n T-Shirts n Mugs & Glassware n Notary

Brad Bernstein in a video posted to Instagram. “Even after those five years, most benefits require a long U.S. work history.”

Almost every family-based immigrant needs an Affidavit of Support, which an individual signs to make themselves financially responsible for the applicant entering the U.S. The contract ensures that the immigrant will not need public benefits. If the sponsored immigrant uses means-tested public benefits, which are welfare programs based on income, then their sponsor is at risk of being held liable for paying the government agency back the costs of the aid received.

VISA from Page 4 date for the freeze, once it is lifted, U.S. embassies will require applicants to resubmit their documents, such as tax returns, police clearance, medical records and so forth. This elongates the process, which may have been almost complete, and means more money out of applicants’ pockets, even though immigrating to the U.S. already costs thousands of dollars.

5 The indefinite pause on immigration visas for nationals from 75 countries does not affect those holding non-immigrant visas, like B-1/B-2 visitors, F-1 and J-1 students and employment-based visa holders. (Courtesy Photo/Osint-Defender Intelligence Monitor, Instagram)

updated in December to include 20 additional countries.

Because of this, Bernstein believes the solution to preventing access to welfare is as simple as enforcing the laws against the sponsors, since they are the ones who legally bound themselves to this financial responsibility. As the PRWORA has already been in effect for almost 30 years, a means to ensure immigrants don’t become public charges already exists, which, advocates like Bernstein note, deems the pause and the supposed reasoning behind it unnecessary.

“This ban is not about fixing a loophole because there is no loophole,” Bernstein said. “This is a punishment. It’s anti-immigrant [and] its politics dressed as public charge enforcement.”

Deliberately Complicating the Immigration Process

Despite the current freeze, DOS is still allowing and advising people looking for permanent U.S. residency to apply for immigrant visas and attend interviews. The Department will still schedule these applicants for appointments, but as long as they are nationals of the list of countries affected, they will not be issued a visa.

During the time of the freeze, some immigration attorneys may advise their clients not to allow their application to reach the stage in which it is documentarily complete at the National Visa Center (NVC). After this stage is reached, the NVC coordinates with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate to schedule an interview appointment.

“The major disadvantage really has to do with the fact that they’re gonna place your case in what’s known as administrative process, which is an administrative hold, so to speak, and it’s indefinite,” said immigration lawyer LaToya McBean Pompy.

She said that since there is no set end

“It’s really unfair to have these individuals go all the way until the end, only to not give them their visas,” Pompy continued.

This pause comes after a year full of travel bans and immigration restrictions from Trump and his administration, further preventing people abroad from seeking better opportunities or reconnecting with their loved ones in the U.S. The travel ban list, first released in June, restricting entry into the U.S. of foreign nationals of 19 countries, was

COLLINS REPORT from Page 1

further utilize her talents in collaboration with her colleagues and D.C. residents. With an unpredictable budget season just weeks ahead, she will have more than enough opportunity to do so.

“For much of my career, I've been proud to do this work behind the scenes, but now, I'm ready to step up and step forward,” Crawford told reporters on Monday. “To take what I've learned and to put it directly to work for the residents of the District of Columbia. I know I must earn the trust of residents, and I'm ready to do that through listening, collaboration, and service.”

During a Tuesday afternoon legislative meeting, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a resolution solidifying Crawford’s appointment. Hours later, she kicked off her council term with a swearing-in ceremony that took place in council chambers.

Trump’s reasoning for these bans is to protect national security through increased screening and vetting procedures.

Advocates emphasize that continually suggesting immigrants threaten the nation’s safety can: lead to xenophobic ideals that endanger those from other countries; cause high tensions; and move away from the U.S. idea of a melting pot, proudly filled with different cultures and ethnicities.

“Policymakers should expand access to immigration and address root causes of poverty and displacement with dignity, not exclusion,” AAJC wrote in a statement. “We call on the administration to immediately reverse this decision and work with Congress to improve, and not curtail, our immigration system.” WI

That ceremony attracted the likes of local organizers, council staffers, and even former D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, under whom Crawford worked for four years as a senior policy advisor, legislative director, and more recently, a committee director.

Also sitting in Room 500 of the Wilson Building were: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Councilmembers Robert White (D-At large), Anita Bonds (D-At large), Christina Henderson (I-At large), Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), Matt Frumin (D-Ward 3), Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), and Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7).

The audience watched as Crawford walked into council chambers with family members who traveled from Maryland, New Jersey, and her hometown of Pittsburgh for the momentous occasion. Crawford’s uncle, the Rev. COLLINS REPORT Page 28

HEALTH

The seventh annual MLK Jr. Holiday DC Health and Wellness Fair held at the PNC Bank Parking Lot, brought the community together, promoting the importance of caring for one’s overall well-being. Vendors offered a wealth of information and engaging activities that not only emphasized wellness, but honored King’s legacy of service to all. (Shevry Lassiter and Adyn Davis/The Washington Informer)

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) / SOLICITATION NO.: 106-2025 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide professional, licensed Pest Control Services throughout various DCHA properties to support its Property Management Operations (PMO).

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Thursday, January 15, 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

To access files respondents are required to Register on the Housing Agency Market Place platform. 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, February 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM

Email LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist (OAS) at LMMCLEOD@dchousing.org for additional information.

EARTH OUR

MLK Day Community Cleanup: An Act of Service, Unity, Environmentalism

The Annual Cleanup Keeps Alive the Legacy MLK Left in the Fight Against Environmental Racism

By Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

As Washingtonians honored the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and flooded the Southeast, D.C. street named in his honor on Jan. 19, volunteers followed closely behind with reach extenders and large garbage bags in hand to clear the street of any litter they encountered.

Maurice Foushee co-chairs the cleanup held annually, either on or

before MLK Day— a staple in D.C.’s celebration of the holiday. By bringing the community together to perform an act of service that simultaneously beautifies the city and promotes environmentalism, this event works to immortalize the luminary’s legacy.

“Dr. King was a man of service– not just for a select few, but for everyone to contribute to a better community, so that’s why I do it,” Foushee told The Informer. “We're certainly not doing the work sanitation workers do, at

least not to the full extent that they do, but we’re helping out a little bit.”

MLK’s Contributions to Environmental Justice

While King was a prominent champion for racial equality, he also strongly championed environmental consciousness.

The day before his assassination in 1968, the faith leader was in Memphis supporting sanitation workers who were striking polluted and dangerous working conditions. This is where he delivered his speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” in which he outlined

the intersection between labor rights, racial justice and environmental health.

King encouraged the workers to keep fighting for their rights despite the trials and tribulations faced, leading to the strike’s success— a victory against environmental racism. His relentless advocacy, leadership and sophistication were catalysts for the passing of worker safety and environmental legislation, including the Occupational and Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974.

“I think it's important that we share the whole complexity of the man and

his ideas for people who have no idea who King is— no idea of the struggles that he faced while trying to bring justice into the world for black people,”

Stuart Anderson, co-chair of MLK Holiday DC, told The Informer.

During a time when environmental progress is at risk due to federal funding cuts and the nation is under a presidential administration that abets injustice, it is entirely crucial, now more than ever, that MLK’s legacy is kept alive in the same persistent manner he built it in.

DeJuan Mason, co-chair of the MLK Holiday DC Peace Rally, told The Informer that the struggle isn’t over and urges people across the world to unify and join the fight for peace.

“It’s oxymoronic that you have to say you have to fight for peace, but peace does not come easily,” she told The Informer, “and so the fight is still here. In 2026 we're still fighting for peace.”

WI

District Remembers Golf Legend Ray Savoy

‘He was a Special Guy to so Many’

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer

A legend on the green and throughout the District, Raymond A. Savoy, founder of the Langston Junior Boys and Girls Golf Club, has died. He was 83.

A native Washingtonian, Savoy was known as an icon at the Langston Golf Course in Northeast, D.C., and is being remembered for his legendary contributions to the District.

“I have known Ray Savoy since I was a kid. He was our coach, our friend and our big brother. I called him Uncle Ray because he paved the way for us,” the Rev. Anthony Motley told The Washington Informer.

From early childhood Savoy, who grew up in a large sports-loving family of four boys and four girls, thrived in athletics— from football, baseball, basketball and golf.

In high school, Savoy enrolled in Epiphany High School-College in Newburgh, New York, before coming back to D.C., where he graduated from Mackin High School, an all-boys Catholic high school, and then Minor Teachers College, which eventually evolved into University of the District of the Columbia.

D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation where he retired as director of city youth sports programs.

He once said in an interview that one of his goals was to teach young people how to perform under pressure and stress.

“We teach them about dealing with stress,” he said. “We teach them that all of the time they are not winners but they are winners through participation.”

A young Savoy excelled in baseball as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates; a semi-pro football player in the Northern Amateur Football League; and a sandlot football athlete with the Saints and Stonewalls 1967-1969 and later professionally with the Baltimore Broncos for five years. He also played basketball, competing against the likes of John Thompson, Dave Bing and other local legends.

Savoy’s success in golf came at a time when many doors were closed to people of color. Further, his love for the sport became a way to uplift others, educating hundreds of youth on the green.

Recognized by the U.S. Golf Teachers Federation (USGTF) Hall of Fame since 1995, Savoy often could be found at Langston, either teaching his students the game or holding court with the regulars that frequent the clubhouse, talking about his life and career, such as his desire at one time to become a Catholic priest.

“I always kept God first,” Savoy once said in a podcast interview.

For 32 years, Savoy worked for the

He also served as a certified clinician for the National Alliance for Youth Sports and 20-year volunteer at the NBC 4 “Health & Fitness Expo,” helping with golf programming.

With Langston Junior Boys and Girls Golf Club, a non-profit group that was originally established in 1989 under the umbrella of the national “Hook-A-Kid on Golf ” program, Savoy made a major mark, teaching students the importance of discipline, determination, and organization to improve their golf game and chances of success.

Operating from the historic Langston Golf Course, one of the three D.C. area courses owned by the National Park Service, young golfers were encouraged to adopt and uphold the organization’s core values, particularly to respect one’s self and others.

Through the Langston Junior Summer Program, more than 200 boys and girls participated for six weeks every year in free golf instruction.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

World's Leading Violin Experts Offer Free Evaluations in D.C.

Submitted by Tarisio Fine

Instruments and Bows

DC on February 2, 2026, offering complimentary evaluations of violins, violas, cellos and bows. These evaluations can lead to placement in Tarisio's year-round Private Sales or their record-breaking auctions.

“There is nothing I love more than meeting clients and learning about the history and story behind their instrument, their career, or their journey to coming into possession of these cultural artifacts. Every instrument has its own unique story and it's rewarding to be able to connect one steward to the next through these trips,” shares Gagnon.

Tarisio specialists have an unparalleled perspective on the market given the thousands of instruments and bows they examine every year. When they evaluate an instrument, they're considering the maker's identity and reputation, the condition and preservation, the provenance and historical significance and how similar instru-

Benjamin Gagnon, a specialist from Tarisio's New York office, will be conducting the appointments. With strong expertise in assessing and authenticating rare string instruments and bows, Gagnon offers DMV-area string players, collectors and dealers a chance to get professional insights from one of the industry's most respected authorities—without the trip to New York. What can you expect during an evaluation? Gagnon will examine your instrument or bow and discuss with you its origin, authenticity, condition and current market value. Whether you inherited a violin from a family member, bought an instrument years ago and are curious about its resale value, ready for an upgrade, or maybe you're just curious about what's been sitting in your attic. Whatever the situation, these evaluations give you the information you need to make informed decisions for the future.

ments have been selling recently.

When Tarisio was founded in 1999, it changed how the fine instrument world operates. The company brought together serious expertise,

Int erest ed in selling your instrument or bow?

We’re here to help.

Compliment

ar y evaluations DC Feb 2

operational efficiency and a commitment to doing business ethically. Today, they run the world's largest online auction platform dedicated exclusively to fine string instruments and bows, holding 15 auctions annually across New York, London and Berlin.

Over its 25-year history, Tarisio has handled some remarkable sales including Isaac Stern's estate collection, the 'Lady Blunt' Stradivarius of 1721, which sold for a world record $15.9 million, the 'da Vinci, ex-Seidel' Stradivarius of 1714 which sold for $15.3 million, the 'Molitor' Stradivarius of 1697 and the 'Maazel' Guadagnini of 1783. The list goes on.

Why get an evaluation? “Sometimes people just want to know more. Learning about your instrument's history and maker can change how you think about the music you're making with it. Many musicians play on instruments that they might like to learn more about, and I am always thrilled to provide the people I meet with more information,” says Gagnon.

Even if selling isn't on your mind,

understanding your instrument's value and authenticity is essential when you're making decisions about restoration, maintenance, insurance or upgrades.

If you are thinking about selling, Tarisio's specialists can tell you about timing and strategy for bringing your instrument to market through their industry-leading auction platform or year-round, discrete and carefully curated Private Sales. Regardless of your reason for wanting an evaluation, it is free, confidential and comes with no obligation.

To learn more about Tarisio's Washington DC visit or to schedule your evaluation with Benjamin Gagnon • email info@tarisio.com • or call (212) 307-7224

Tarisio also offers complimentary evaluations in other North American cities—contact them for details.

What Dr. King Would Tell Us at 97: Remember Who You Are—and Act

Dr. King’s Voice Still Calls Us to Courage, Conscience, and the Ballot Box

This year, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 97 on Jan. 15, and four days later— on the official Monday holiday recognizing the civil rights activist’s life— people across the District, nation, and world held programs and marches that not only celebrated his legacy, but offered calls to action.

King would remind us that moments of moral testing are not new—and that progress has never come without pressure, persistence, and participation.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” King warned in his 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” insisting that our fates are bound together.

The turbulence of our time— political division, economic anxiety, and assaults on truth—would not surprise the fallen faith leader. He would urge us not to grow weary or cynical, but to stay anchored in what he called “the fierce urgency of now,” words he uttered in the 1963 March on Washington.

The freedom fighter would

also speak to memory. We are, as a people, a resurrection people.

Our ancestors faced chattel slavery, lynching, segregation, disfranchisement, and terror—and they survived. They organized, prayed, marched, litigated, and voted. They bent history by refusing to surrender their dignity.

As Dr. King said in his 1960 address at Spelman College, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

The ancestors’ forward motion is our inheritance.

A son, father, husband and brother, King would caution against despair and dehumanization, and prioritize love. For Dr. King, love was not sentimentality; it was disciplined action—nonviolent, strategic, and relentless in the pursuit of justice.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” he said in his sermon “Loving Your Enemies,”

in the late 1950s, and included in his 1963 book “Strength to Love.”

Ever grounded in truth, King would be clear about democracy. King knew that protest and policy are partners. Marches open doors; ballots keep them open. He would remind us that the vote is not a gift but a tool—hard-won, often attacked, and always necessary. The celebrated activist would emphasize: to abstain is to abandon the field; to participate is to honor those who paid the price to make participation possible.

Ninety-seven years after his birthday, and 58 years after his assassination, King would advise us to remember who we are, keep moving forward, and translate moral conviction into civic action. That means organizing, serving, and showing up to vote so that the long “arc of the moral universe,” he spoke of in his last Sunday sermon— delivered at the Washington National Cathedral on March 31, 1968— continues to “bend toward justice.”

WI

Black Americans May Need to Once Again Become the Nation’s Firefighters and Douse the Flames

It’s a common saying regarding the U.S. and economic health on the global stage which surmises, “When America sneezes, the world catches a cold.”

And while this saying is often stated with little emphasis or background to support the claim, it does speak to the current state of affairs.

Recent actions and declarations from the White House seem to imply that America is, or at least should be, an island which exists alone. In fact, the rhetoric we’re hearing tells us that we do not need to work with allies or consider the needs of other nations.

We stand on the precipice of potential disaster or at the least have leaders who are paving the way for a paradigm shift of global proportions that could impact generations to come. We shudder to imagine the possibilities.

James Baldwin warned us in one of his final published works, that as Revelations promises, the tragedy which we bring on ourselves will be “the fire next time.”

So, both Rome and Revelations give us a head’s up – beware the fire. And certainly, there’s a fire raging throughout America.

TO THE EDITOR

“I truly enjoyed reading this article. It was so expertly written that it really was a pleasure reading about the amazing life of this larger than life personality and gentle soul.”

– (In reference to the article: “District Remembers Golf Legend Ray Savoy”)

We stand on the precipice of potential disaster or at the least have leaders who are paving the way for a paradigm shift of global proportions that could impact generations to come. is on fire.

“What a powerful tribute to a life lived in service to others. Coach Savoy’s commitment to opening doors in golf for Black youth, and his belief that participation itself builds character and resilience, reflects a legacy that will keep shaping the District for generations. His impact at Langston and beyond proves that sport, when guided by purpose, can truly change lives.”

- (In reference to the article: “District Remembers Golf Legend Ray Savoy”)

worked and toiled and built and healed and yet somehow survived. We were never compensated for our services.

Like the emperors of ancient Rome, our president and his political cronies falsely believe that we can solve our own financial, commercial, and economic problems on our own. Further, they are so confident in the mighty power of our armed forces that we can go anywhere and do anything –even take control of countries like Greenland, Venezuela, Columbia, and Mexico.

But history has lessons for us all. Remember, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

However, as Brandon Scott, the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, pointed out during a King Holiday 2026 prayer breakfast earlier this week, “The question is not if the house is on fire – we already know that. The question is who will put out the flames?”

Our ancestors were kidnapped and brought to America where we

And if history is to be repeated, and it always does if we refuse to learn from past experiences, it looks like we will have to step up to the plate and don a new role as firefighters.

Yes, the roof, the roof, the roof

However, African Americans can ill-afford to let the house burn. Because while we may still be denied the opportunity to own the house, we are “privileged” to live as tenants – sharecroppers huddled in the basement or perhaps the attic.

Yet, in some still small way, it’s still our house too. WI

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

Charlene Crowell

Coalition Calls for Halt to Wage Garnishment on Defaulted Student Loans

On behalf of the nearly 9 million people who are now in default on their student loans, a coalition of advocates from consumer, civil rights, and education organizations is appealing to the federal Education Department to halt its plans to begin garnishing borrowers' wages this month. Default status connotes borrowers are 270 days or more behind on their payments.

Citing new research from Protect Borrowers, formerly the Student Borrower Protection Center, the coalition advised Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a Jan. 7 letter that a new student loan default occurred every nine seconds in 2025. That escalating rate is unprecedented and is nearly three times worse than in 2019, the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, according to the advocates, the Trump administration's student loan policies are disproportionately harming Black and older borrowers.

Signing the joint letter of appeal were: Protect Borrowers, American Federation of Teachers, the Debt Collective, NAACP, National Education Association, the Student Debt Crisis Center, and Young Invincibles.

"Research shows that involuntary collections only exacerbate the economic challenges faced by defaulted borrowers, who are disproportionately seniors and Black borrowers," wrote the coalition. "In fact, of the borrowers already in default, roughly a third of them are older borrowers. Black graduates are additionally five times more

likely to default than their white peers."

Additionally, and according to Protect Borrowers, nearly two-thirds of the borrowers who defaulted during the Trump administration — more than 2.6 million people — live in states that President Trump won in the 2024 election. Among the states most severely affected were Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Texas, each of which saw 100,000 or more borrowers default last year.

"The decision to resume wage garnishment against millions of borrowers amidst a growing affordability crisis crushing working families is calloused

and unnecessary," continued the coalition. "The decision also comes at a time when struggling borrowers have been forced to wait amidst a nearly 1 million application backlog to enroll in an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan, and as mass layoffs at the Department have made it even harder for borrowers to get help with their student loans or if they are experiencing issues with their student loan servicer."

For Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, the nation's old-

Patrols, Secret Police, and the Capital: Why ICE Signals a New Enforcement Era and Why DC Statehood Matters

Since the inception of the United States, every expansion of state power has been presented as necessity. Yet however necessary these enforcement systems may seem, they carry dark histories with them. The current expansion of immigration enforcement, surveillance, and federal policing does not emerge from nowhere. It draws from two distinct lineages of carceral control: the slave patrol and the secret police, or gestapo.

Slave patrols functioned as a domestic technology of racial governance. Their work centered on population

As we enter 2026, Americans of all walks of life are witnessing the continuing political and cultural shifts in our nation. While these shifts began long before last year's presidential election, the return of the Trump administration to power has accelerated the pace of changes impacting our nation economically, politically and culturally. The way Americans interpret these changes will

management: restricting movement, breaking social ties, criminalizing presence, and preserving an economy built on coerced labor. Patrols were designed to terrorize while normalizing their dominion. And normalize, we did.

Secret police forces arose from the need to protect regimes via systems of surveillance, informant networks, bureaucratic detention, and political purification. Their power traveled through administrative channels just as viciously as through visible violence. Files, lists, violent interrogations, and disappearances characterized their reach and

application.

ICE fuses these two traditions into a new form of domestic terror. It governs racialized mobility through an administrative campaign of detention, disappearance, and armed force. The agency polices identity through surveilled databases, remote detention centers, and interagency information sharing, all backed by masked operations in cities across the country. Record numbers of deaths in ICE custody and during enforcement actions reveal what happens when explosive expansion meets collapsing accountability. At least four mi-

grants died in ICE custody in a single week in early 2026 following a record high of roughly thirty deaths in 2025, marking one of the deadliest back-toback years in detention in decades. Federal immigration enforcement has entered a dangerous new phase. Across 2025 and into 2026, immigration officers have fired weapons at people at least sixteen times during interior enforcement operations. These incidents have produced multiple deaths and life-altering injuries. They include unarmed people shot during Chicago-area raids where toddlers were zip

tied, a woman shot 5 times by border officers, a man killed while dropping his children at school, another father killed on New Year’s Eve, and a mother shot in the face 3 times during an operation in Minneapolis. These are not isolated breakdowns but the visible edge of an expanding law enforcement regime that is increasingly willing to use lethal force in civilian spaces. As federal deployments surge and emergency powers are openly discussed at the national level, the distinction be-

often come down to a person's political persuasion and alignment. Too often, politics will override sound Christian doctrine, economic vulnerability and racial identity.

The term "Make America Great Again" has a specific meaning when it is viewed through a racial and moral lens. For many throughout the Black community, MAGA is more than just a catchy phrase to excite a conservative movement. Through our moral lens, we see MAGA as a political movement whose immoral goal is to rebrand discriminatory laws, racial violence and sys-

temic barriers reminiscent of our nation's dark past. On the surface, we continue to hear the Christian talking points, but we refuse to be blind to the corruption, cruelty and hypocrisy underneath. We hear those who talk about salvation, but we don't see the Christ-like discipleship in defending the poor, oppressed and strangers (immigrants).

We hear the talk of strengthening the border, reviving the economy and developing an "America First" posture in foreign policy. But through our moral lens, we continue to see the unjust harassment and suffering of those within

the brown community. We see the way the killing of Renee Good in Minnesota at the hands of an ICE agent is being covered up and justified by Trump administration officials. Some conservatives will deny that racist intentions exist from the MAGA movement, but we hear claims of "reverse discrimination" from a U.S. president who tells us that civil rights-era protections have "hurt" white Americans.

In an interview with The New York Times, President Donald Trump stated, "White people were very badly treated, where they did extremely well and they

were not invited to go into a university to college," referencing affirmative action in college admissions. Vice President J.D. Vance has also backed the claim that DEI has hurt job prospects for white men. Recently, he shared an essay calling DEI "a deliberate program of discrimination primarily against white men." When they talk about reverse discrimination, they want to "Make America Great Again" by returning to a society where there will be little or no protections in place against all forms of discrimination

Guest Columnist

It Gets Worse!

Like many in the world, I'm wondering where we go from here. Fourteen months ago, I couldn't imagine Americans going to the polls and voting for anybody in the race for president and vice president except Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — but it happened and it's still hard to believe. Just listen to what's going on now that the same

people who ransacked the U.S. Capitol are still around. Those were Trump's friends breaking windows, trashing the Capitol, injuring and killing D.C. police, threatening members of Congress and calling to hang Mike Pence.

I think about how hard-working people have had their health plans put out of their reach because the man occupying the White House decided to take it away just because he could. Never mind Jan. 6 and how much damage had been done — up pops the man who now occupies the White House, calmly giving a message not to

Guest Columnist

the American people about what was going on, but assuring everything was OK with him, that he loved the rioters, and just asked them to go home now that they had done the job for him.

After ICE killed Renee Good, he led his staff to make up and tell an untrue story about why her death was justified. It's like they think we didn't see what happened the day Ms. Good was killed. Trump had already made it clear that we didn't see what we saw when ICE blew into Minnesota uninvited.

María Corina Machado, the opposition leader from Venezuela, came to

Rollback of Racial Justice Demands Urgent Action

When he signed the legislation that made the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a legal public holiday in 1983,

"Loose and easy language about equality, resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook. He remembers that with each modest advance the white population promptly raises the argument that the Negro has come far enough. Each step forward accents an ever-present tendency to backlash." — Martin Luther King Jr.

visit Trump at the White House, and what does he do? He takes her Nobel Peace Prize while threatening to take over Greenland and taking over her country.

I wonder how non-voting citizens explained everything about Trump since he urged people to destroy things, when they could have made a difference if they'd just voted last November or if they had voted against what we now have. What kind of man takes a woman's Nobel Peace Prize when she did the work to get it, while he was starting wars?

When asked about his invasion of Venezuela and whether anything limits his power to invade or coerce other countries, he brushed off international law and the very idea of accountability, saying: "Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It's the only thing that can stop me." We thought we had a democracy and worked hard to preserve it, praying that our country would ultimately overcome its racist past and present. We received a glimmer of hope when

WILLIAMS Page 38

made us believe that we could be better than we are and that someday we would be able to walk hand in hand together into a brighter tomorrow."

Guest Columnist

President Ronald Reagan called the Civil Rights Movement a "just cause" and said "as a democratic people, we can take pride in the knowledge that we Americans recognized a grave injustice and took action to correct it."

When he signed the legislation linking the holiday to national community service in 1994, President Bill Clinton said "[King's] vision was so great, his moral purpose was so strong that he

Since the inception of the United States, every expansion of state power has been presented as necessity. Yet however necessary these enforcement systems may seem, they carry dark histories with them. The current expansion of immigration enforcement, surveillance, and federal policing does not emerge from nowhere. It draws from two distinct lineages of carceral

Last week, President Donald Trump complained that the movement to create equal opportunity for Americans of color had made life harder for white people.

For more than four decades, MLK Day has been an occasion of national pride — an opportunity to celebrate the progress the nation has made in overcoming racial prejudice and discrimination, expanding opportunity.

This year it feels more like a dire warning and an urgent call to action against the radical rollback of racial justice and equal opportunity under the Trump administration.

On Thursday, Jan. 22, the National Urban League will reconvene the Demand Diversity Roundtable, bringing together a broad, cross-sector table of national leaders to assess the moment and chart a path forward. We launched the Roundtable in January 2025 in response to an unprecedented wave of federal actions targeting diversity, equity and inclusion across government,

the workforce and public life. One year later, these attacks have intensified, but so has the response, with an expanded group of civil and human rights organizations, civic engagement leaders, faith voices, business and economic institutions, media, academic leaders and democracy partners joining the table.

The event will stream live on NUL. org and @naturbanleague on Facebook and YouTube.

Far from seeking to eliminate what President Reagan called "traces of big-

MORIAL Page 38

Patrols, Secret Police, and the Capital: Why ICE Signals a New Enforcement Era and Why D.C. Statehood Matters

control: the slave patrol and the secret police, or Gestapo.

Slave patrols functioned as a domestic technology of racial governance. Their work centered on population management: restricting movement, breaking social ties, criminalizing presence, and preserving an economy built on coerced labor. Patrols were designed to terrorize while normalizing their dominion. And normalize, we did.

Secret police forces arose from the need to protect regimes via systems of

surveillance, informant networks, bureaucratic detention, and political purification. Their power traveled through administrative channels just as viciously as through visible violence. Files, lists, violent interrogations, and disappearances characterized their reach and application.

ICE fuses these two traditions into a new form of domestic terror. It governs racialized mobility through an administrative campaign of detention, disappearance, and armed force. The agency polices identity through surveilled databases, remote detention centers, and

interagency information sharing, all backed by masked operations in cities across the country. Record numbers of deaths in ICE custody and during enforcement actions reveal what happens when explosive expansion meets collapsing accountability. At least four migrants died in ICE custody in a single week in early 2026 following a record high of roughly 30 deaths in 2025, marking one of the deadliest back-toback years in detention in decades. Federal immigration enforcement has entered a dangerous new phase. Across 2025 and into 2026, immi-

gration officers have fired weapons at people at least 16 times during interior enforcement operations. These incidents have produced multiple deaths and life-altering injuries. They include unarmed people shot during Chicago-area raids where toddlers were zip tied, a woman shot five times by border officers, a man killed while dropping his children at school, another father killed on New Year's Eve, and a mother shot in the face three times during an operation in Minneapolis. These are

OWOLEWA/BOGAN Page 38

LIFESTYLE

4 Featuring objects from the museums and archives of five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including this untitled folk scene from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, “At the Vanguard” kicks off its national tribute to the rich history of HBCUs in Northwest, D.C. (Courtesy Photo/Smithsonian Institution)

Washington Informer Weekend Checklist

WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV!

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

From capturing the heart of historically Black institutions, to discussions surrounding spiritual healing and health equity, this weekend encompasses the breadth of community that thrives in the DMV–– plus some opportunities to laugh.

Explore a handful of the many events, and don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar to keep your outlook vibrant and social life lit.

Thursday, Jan. 22

“At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs”

10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Free (passes can be reserved)

National Museum of African American History and Culture at Concourse Level (C), Bank of America Special Exhibitions Gallery, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20560

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has launched a

powerful new exhibition celebrating the legacy of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

“At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs” spotlights groundbreaking collections from five HBCU museums and archives – Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University (FAMU), Jackson State University, Texas Southern University and Tuskegee University.

Bringing lesser-known stories to the National Mall in Northwest, D.C., this traveling exhibit blends artistry, ingenuity and resistance across more than 100 objects from the collections of the five universities, including artifacts, artwork, historical documents and multimedia.

Historic materials include first editions of acclaimed writer Margaret Walker’s 1966 novel “Jubilee” and poetry collection “For My People”

(1942), plus examples of Tuskegee Institute pottery and early scientific journals.

February 2: Grades 9-12

March 2: PK3 — Grade 8

Have questions or need help with your application?

(202) 888-6336 info.myschooldc@dc.gov

As for the archival photographs, HBCU-trained and/or staff photographers–– including Doris Derby, Chester Higgins, Earlie Hudnall Jr. and P.H. Polk–– are spotlighted through a series of work documenting student activism, campus life and African American cultural movements.

Additional highlights feature a selection of artwork collected by historically Black institutions, and one of the few known color videos of George Washington Carver, whose scientific ingenuity at Tuskegee revolutionized agricultural practices, will also be on display.

The exhibition will travel to at least five locations across the country through 2029. It will be on display at NMAAHC until July 19. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu/vanguard.

Friday, Jan. 23

OFFLINE: TRACING THE SOURCE

7 p.m. | Free with RSVP Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, 4318 Gallatin Street Hyattsville, MD 20781

Featuring hand pulled prints, 32 AI

generated giclees, ceramics, and textiles, Pyramid’s gallery will be layered with color, texture, and patterns as it showcases work by the multifaceted artist Hadiya Williams.

Curated by Anika Hobbs, “OFFLINE: TRACING THE SOURCE” invites viewers to consider how materiality, memory, and technology together expand the possibilities of modernism itself.

The collective project – officially opening with a two-hour reception on Jan. 23 – joins limited edition screenprints and one letterpress print with Williams’ digitally printed work, hand cut paper images, and ceramics, offering a visual bridge between mid-century modernist language and Afro-diasporic design traditions. Patterns, textures, and structures drawn from Black cultural archives are reconfigured through digital tools, then re-embodied by hand— asserting the tactile presence of Black creativity in a world increasingly mediated by code.

More than that, Williams’ artwork celebrates what it means to be a Black woman in this world, while exploring modern interpretations of art and design.

For more information and an

RSVP link, visit pyramidatlantic.org or call 301-608-9101.

Finesse Mitchell & Tisha Campbell ~ Special Event 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m. | $37.50+ Baltimore Comedy Factory, 5625 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore, MD

Actors and comedians Tisha Campbell and Finesse Mitchell will perform live at the Baltimore Comedy Factory for a special weekend of shows Jan. 23–25.

Campbell, known for her culture shaping roles on “Martin,” “My Wife and Kids,” among many others, is bringing the usual witty jokes and bold humor as she conquers the standup world.

Meanwhile, Mitchel— a Saturday Night Live alumnus with credits including Disney Channel's “A.N.T Farm” and NBC’S “Kenan”— promises a class in comedic timing to add to a growing list of entertainment specials and features.

Get your tickets and bask in an evening filled with joy, levity and nothing but laughs!

Saturday, Jan. 24

The W. Montague Cobb Institute Health Disparities Symposium 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Free Howard University Hospital - W. Lester Henry Towers Auditorium, 2041 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20060

Hosted in partnership with Howard University Hospital, the W. Montague Cobb Institute Health Disparities Symposium is a half-day educational program designed to bring together physicians, residents, medical students, researchers, and healthcare professionals committed to advancing health equity across education, clinical research, and patient care.

Kicking off with an evening opening reception and fireside conversation on Friday, Jan. 23, the symposium will examine systemic inequities in healthcare delivery, access to emerging treatments, the role of technology and artificial intelligence in care, and evolving approaches to medical education.

Through expert-led panel discussions, case studies, and interactive dialogue, participants will gain insights into strategies that support equitable outcomes for underserved and underrepresented populations.

Meet Cute: A Live Blind Date Comedy Show

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. | $17.10+

DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009

Find out what happens when a live blind date spins into pure comedy gold.

Meet Cute DC is an award-winning live blind date comedy experience where two real singles meet on stage and D.C.’s funniest comedians transform their conversation into pure hilarity.

Praised by USA Today and BBC News, there’s truly nothing else like it in the city.

Sunday, Jan. 25

Try Hockey for Free Day Noon - 1 p.m. | Free

The Wharf Ice Rink, 970 Wharf Street SW, Washington, D.C., 20024

The Washington Capitals Youth Hockey Development, or Caps Youth Hockey, is heading to The Wharf Ice Rink for the first-ever outdoor “Try Hockey for Free” event on Sunday, Jan. 25.

All players will be provided a hockey stick to use and must bring their own helmet (bike helmet works well) and warm winter gloves.

The event is open to kids ages 5 to 14 of all skill levels. Must be a D.C. resident or student of District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).

See you on the ice!

Spiritual Hygiene: The Inside Fix with Iyanla & Special Guest 4 p.m. | $55.80+

The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Avenue, Forest Heights, MD 20745

“Spiritual Hygiene: The Inside Fix with Iyanla Vanzant” invites audiences into a transformative evening of truth, healing, and self-reflection.

Celebrating her 2025 book “Spiritual Hygiene: A Practical Path for Clean Living, Inner Authority, and Divine Freedom,” the author shares powerful insights on releasing emotional debris, breaking unhealthy patterns, and doing the inner work required to live with clarity and purpose. This special book tour event blends heartfelt conversation, wisdom-filled storytelling, and practical tools for personal growth.

Expect laughter, honesty, and moments of deep connection as the revered life coach guides audiences toward spiritual renewal and emotional freedom.

WI

All Tickets On Sale Now

Virginia Opera Intelligence

Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.

A gripping true story of espionage, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom

Les Ballets Africains

THE NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA

A Performance for the World

Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.

Witness “sheer physical energy and beauty” (The New York Times)

MASON ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens

Sancturary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual

Sunday, Mar. 22 at 7 p.m.

“An exhilarating musical ride” (The San Francisco Chronical)

A range of accessibility services are available. Learn more at cfa.gmu.edu/accessibility.

Fairfax Campus, George Mason University

review wi book

"Destiny of the Diamond Princess"

By Sherri Winston

c.2026, Bloomsbury

$18.99

240 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

Dripping in jewels from head to foot.

If you were a princess or a queen, that's what you'd have. Jewels, gold, lux gowns and lush thrones, not to mention power and respect. It would be so much fun. It would mean a lot of work, too. And in the new book, "Destiny of the Diamond Princess" by Sherri Winston, it might include an ancient curse.

For her entire life, Zahara-Grace Jones had known that she was adopted. What she didn't know was that her life was a lie!

That whole time, her Mom claimed she didn't know a thing about Zhara-Grace's birth parents. She didn't even have names, she said, but on the evening of Zahara-Grace's 12th birthday, the truth was revealed. She'd known a lot about Zahara-Grace's birth; in fact, she was there right after Zahara-Grace entered the world, and she was given a mysterious box to give to Zahara-Grace on her 12th birthday.

Inside the box was a medallion, a statue, and a letter that said everything would make sense soon. Zahara-Grace put the medallion around her neck immediately, as she seethed with anger. Why did her mother keep such an important secret for so long? She hated to be mad at the people who loved her most, but she had so many questions.

And then there was more: As Zahara-Grace competed in her favorite school sport, equestrienne skills, there was a commotion on the sidelines. A tall, regal gentleman loudly announced that she was the granddaughter of the King of Maliwanda, and the descendant of Princess Fara – which meant that Zahara-Grace was a real-life, bona fide, honest-to-goodness princess!

What a shocker, right? Her BFFs were unfazed, her mother was nervous, and her G-Pop was gracious, but becoming royalty could seriously change a girl's life, starting with rumors of a curse, palace jealousy, and a poisoning, centuries ago.

Was Zahara-Grace the heir to that curse? And was it truly a coincidence that the mummies of her ancestors were about to be on display at a local art museum?

To your adult eyes, a mummy's curse novel might seem like old-school fiction. And it is, but it's also not, in this case. "Destiny of the Diamond Princess" has shades of 1932, but with a 2026 twist that's fresh as can be, and fun, too.

Author Sherri Winston's character, Zahara-Grace, is a great kid, kind and responsible, and her family is supportive of her interests, which widens the story and lets in more believability. On that same note, there's African history and mythology in the tale, which gives it a ring of truth that your child will love, but not so much that the story feels textbookish. What young readers will probably enjoy best, though, is the exciting Indiana-Jones-like tone that Winston uses in this book. It's thrilling and just a little scary, but safely so.

"Destiny of the Diamond Princess" is meant for kids ages 8-to-11 but slightly older children might enjoy it, too. As might an adult, because this book is a gem. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

JAN. 22 - 28, 2026

ARIES Strategic timing matters more than forceful action this week. Monday conversation requires diplomatic approach despite frustration with passive resistance. Partnership opportunity emerges through unexpected introduction---remain open to unconventional alliances. Physical activity becomes mental clarity tool rather than stress outlet alone. Lucky Numbers: 14, 38, 61

TAURUS Routine disruption Wednesday creates opportunity you'll initially resist. Someone's unconventional suggestion contains practical wisdom worth considering despite surface skepticism. Financial review reveals expense justifying immediate elimination. Comfort zone expansion happens through small consistent steps rather than dramatic leaps. Lucky Numbers: 6, 27, 53

GEMINI Focused execution outperforms scattered enthusiasm throughout week. Tuesday deadline requires completion over perfection standards. Someone needs concrete commitment rather than enthusiastic possibilities. Mental clarity arrives through movement instead of extended contemplation. Writing or communication project demands revision discipline you've been avoiding. Lucky Numbers: 19, 44, 67

CANCER Emotional honesty Wednesday strengthens connection you feared vulnerability would damage. Family boundary enforcement feels uncomfortable yet produces immediate respect. Past influence recognition helps release pattern maintaining current stagnation. Someone's withdrawal reflects their process rather than your inadequacy. Lucky Numbers: 3, 31, 58

LEO Genuine sharing attracts meaningful engagement more than curated presentation. Creative output improves when you prioritize expression over audience anticipation. Recognition delay frustrates yet persistence maintains momentum better than abandonment. Social selectivity preserves energy for connections offering mutual enrichment. Lucky Numbers: 17, 40, 65

VIRGO Professional advancement Thursday rewards competence you consider standard expectation. Authority figure recognizes capability you've been systematically downplaying. Perfectionist release happens through witnessing others' appreciation of adequate work. Delegation produces superior results compared to controlling execution personally. Public contribution stretches comfort zone while building justified confidence. Lucky Numbers: 10, 35, 63

LIBRA Personal conviction matters more than consensus validation this week. Educational opportunity requires commitment despite outcome uncertainty. Belief system examination reveals assumptions requiring independent verification. Tuesday outside perspective fundamentally shifts understanding you'd considered settled. Lucky Numbers: 21, 46, 70

SCORPIO Financial candor Wednesday prevents future resentment despite immediate discomfort. Shared responsibility requires honest acknowledgment of imbalanced effort distribution. Someone's unexpected vulnerability permanently transforms dynamic between you. Investigative instinct uncovers explanation resolving recent uncertainty. Lucky Numbers: 4, 26, 55

SAGITTARIUS Partnership assessment reveals required modification or natural ending point. Commitment understanding emerges through behavioral consistency rather than verbal declarations. Collaborative balance improves when contributions receive equivalent recognition. Romantic progression requires compromise preserving individual authenticity. Lucky Numbers: 15, 37, 62

CAPRICORN Professional efficiency gains through elimination rather than optimization of dysfunctional systems. Health enhancement manifests through sustainable adjustments instead of radical overhauls. Daily framework becomes energizing when excessive rigidity releases. Tuesday assistance request produces better outcomes than isolated effort. Lucky Numbers: 13, 43, 68

AQUARIUS Creative vision demands implementation beyond continued theoretical development. Romantic potential expands through emotional participation over intellectual observation. Younger viewpoint provides unexpected solution breakthrough. Previously dismissed interest suddenly feels essential for maintaining balance. Lucky Numbers: 1, 32, 59

PISCES Domestic resolution through practical intervention or emotional discussion happens Tuesday. Living environment modification creates nurturing sanctuary rather than depleting space. Housing decision benefits from intuitive awareness combined with practical patience. Family dynamic shifts when you prioritize functional health over comfortable dysfunction. Emotional stability strengthens through boundary implementation you've delayed. Relative demonstrates surprising understanding you hadn't anticipated receiving. Lucky Numbers: 23, 49, 72

MLK Run for Unity and Peace Pays Homage to King’s Commitment to Justice

17-Mile Trek in Honor of Historic ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech Promotes Health

As people around the District and nation honored the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), Sheik Ashan Khalid-Bey used the weekend to pay tribute to the civil rights activist by promoting health and physical fitness.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, Khalid-Bey kicked off his MLK Run for Unity and Peace, a 17-mile run in honor of the late freedom fighter. Starting on the National Mall, the run was also a tribute to the historic “I Have A Dream” speech King delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, in “17 powerful minutes that changed the course of history,” Khalid-Bey wrote in a statement posted to social media.

“As I run these 17 miles, I do so as a living tribute to his vision, his sacrifice, and his unwavering commitment to justice, love, and equality. I am deeply grateful to not only be a part of history, but to also help create history through this sacred act of remembrance. This is the first run of its kind dedicated to Dr.

King, and I step forward with humility, gratitude, and divine purpose,” he said.

While the run paid homage to King, Khalid-Bey used every step to honor others along the route.

“This 17-mile run is also lovingly dedicated to my brother… who is courageously fighting cancer. He is a fearless, intelligent, and beautiful spirit whose strength continues to inspire me and so many others around the world,” Khalid-Bey said. “My brother, it is an honor to honor you. Your faith, resilience, and will to fight are a testimony that cancer will not cancel you out. Continue to fight, my brother—I will be running and fighting right beside you in spirit.”

Finally, Khalid-Bey dedicated the run to the late Metropolitan Police Department Officer Terry Bennett, who was fatally injured in the line of duty. He was struck by a vehicle on Dec. 23 and died from his injuries on Jan. 7.

“You made a huge impact on your community and family and also your job,” he said.

COLLINS REPORT from Page 16

Tim Harris, later gave the benediction.

Soon after, Crawford took an oath of office, placing her left hand on the Bible owned by her late brother Donald, who she later acknowledged in her remarks. Other people she mentioned included supporters, fellow staffers, and Bowser.

She also gave a shoutout to McDuffie, the man she said gave her a chance.

“He saw my passion for equity and racial justice and brought me onto his staff, where I've spent the last four years working towards a more just and resilient D.C.,” Crawford said. “He entrusted me to serve as the committee director for the Committee on Business and Economic Development, where I had the privilege of helping advance policies to make it easier for small and local businesses to start, stay, and grow in D.C.”

As an at-large council member, Crawford now has until after the June primary to participate in performance and budget oversight hearings, weigh in on and introduce legislation, and collaborate with her council colleagues in shaping the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

With the primary five months away, Crawford hasn’t expressed a desire to participate in the contest that determines who will complete the rest of McDuffie’s term. As she told The Informer on Monday, she’s focused on the budgetary priorities of relevance to her role.

“I know that I'll be sitting on the Committee on the Judiciary and Pub-

lic Safety, so that’s definitely an area where I look to lean in and make sure that we can make the investments to keep District residents safe,” Crawford said. “I'm also sitting on the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, so [I will focus on] workforce investments. The Committee on Youth Affairs ties very nicely to the Judiciary Committee, and then the Committee on Transportation and the Environment.”

Crawford went on to tell reporters that any decision she makes will be informed by upcoming meetings with constituents.

“Within the first 30 days, I want to make sure I'm everywhere across all eight wards,” Crawford said. “They can hear from me. They should know that I'm accessible… I will be accessible, and I want to do everything I can to make sure that they believe in me, and they want to see me do a good job.”

A Choice that United Councilmembers and Organizers

Crawford counted among 47 people who, since before McDuffie announced his resignation, threw their hat into the ring for a process that went on for weeks. Former D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who was on that list, has since announced her run for the at-large seat in the June primary.

Mendelson, in speaking with The Informer, said that appointing Crawford was the easiest choice.

“I just want to emphasize that there

was broad support for her,” Mendelson said. “I also got a lot of favorable comments from the community, and she is experienced. I think she will be good, and she's authentic.”

In the days leading up to D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson’s announcement, Crawford’s name popped up on a shortlist alongside that of: Ward 7 D.C. State Board of Education Representative Eboni-Rose Thompson; organizational leadership specialist Amy Mauro; and government affairs consultant Tonya Vidal Kinlow. However, amid the untold hours of behind-the-scenes deliberations among council members about who Mendelson should appoint, a cadre of Black female organizers and advocates submitted a letter to the council in support of Crawford.

The Jan. 9 letter— signed by D.C. Democratic Party at-large committeewoman Chioma Iwuoha, organizer and youth advocate Samantha Davis, attorney Temi F. Bennett, and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams’ Nee Nee Taylor, among others— heralded Crawford as a “generalist” with broad expertise in racial justice, cannabis policy, economic development, finance and housing.

Moments before Crawford’s swearing in on Jan. 20, Iwuoha explained where she thought Crawford could take the council. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

CAPTURE the moment

The nation’s capital commemorated the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the 2026 MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Parade on Monday, Jan. 19. In its 21st annual celebration, the momentous event charged hundreds across Southeast with this year’s theme: “The Struggle is Real. THE FIGHT IS STILL!” (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) / SOLICITATION NO.: 07-2026

HVAC Preventive Maintenance, Repair Services and Water Treatment Servicesat Various DCHA Housing Developments

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide professional, Preventive Maintenance and Repair Services of HVAC Systems and Water Treatment at various DCHA public housing developments.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Thursday, January 15, 2026, 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, February 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM

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

MLK Holiday DC Celebrates Eighth Annual Prayer Breakfast

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

Featuring live performances, soul food, and some spiritual rejuvenation, a sold-out crowd of more than 200 gathered at Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ (UCC) in Southwest, D.C., for the Eighth Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 17.

A tradition of MLK Holiday DC, the event nodded to the enduring legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) by bringing local officials, residents,

and leaders of various faiths and backgrounds to celebrate a generational legacy of faith resistance and stewardship.

“We gather this morning from many traditions and walks of life, yet united by a longing for justice, safety, and healing in our communities,” said the Rev. Dr. Lloyd D. Gaines, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Ward 7. “We honor the life and legacy of [MLK] – whose courage challenged complacency, whose vision stretched beyond division, whose dreams still cause us to build a world where every

person can live free from fear and violence.”

Event highlights included the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, serving as the keynote speaker, and the announcement of the winners of the 12th Annual D.C. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Essay Contest. Amid the continued fight for justice and celebration of King’s legacy, Budde left the crowd with a call to action.

“[The question is] not what will happen to us when we step up in a time when violence is –once again – state-sanctioned, but what will happen to those in the greatest danger if we do not?” the bishop declared. “For all that King endured, he never lost that infinite hope. And…with God as our strength in the midst of circumstances we would never have chosen but find ourselves in, it is our task now to do the same.” WI

3

William Young IV, lead pastor of Covenant Baptist UCC in Southwest; and EDOW’s the Rev. Melanie Mullen

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation that felt less like a bridge-building exercise and more like a "descent into madness"? You offer facts and calm reasoning, yet the person across from you remains anchored to a narrative that seems entirely disconnected from reality. This weeks column came from a quote by Mark Twain, which says “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!

As Christians, we are called to be pursuers of truth, but we are also commanded to be stewards of our peace. Scripture offers clear guidance on this:

"Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." — 2 Timothy

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

When Wisdom Means Walking Away: Navigating Unreasonable Conflict the religion corner

2:23. The Heart of the Matter: Why Logic Isn't Always Enough. A common example of this frustration occurs when a husband or male friend expresses jealousy over a woman’s platonic friendship with a gay man. From a logical standpoint, the conflict seems unnecessary—the lack of romantic interest is a known fact. However, human emotions like jealousy rarely follow a syllogism. When a loved one reacts with what seems like "irrational" jealousy, it is often a symptom of something deeper than a lack of facts:

Insecurity vs. Logic: Jealousy is frequently rooted in a person’s own sense of inadequacy. Even when there is no "logical" threat, the emotional heart may feel a sense of competition for time, attention, and emotional intimacy.

• The Need for Validation: To the partner, the issue may not be the identity of the friend, but the intensity of the bond.

Choosing Peace Over Being

Right. While it is tempting to double down on "facts and statistics," the Bible encourages a different path. Proverbs 26:4 advises us, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him."

In this context, "folly" isn't just a lack of intelligence; it’s an emotional state that refuses to hear reason. When we descend into an irrational argument, we risk losing our own fruit of the Spirit—kindness, patience, and self-control.

The Path Forward: If you find yourself in a cycle of endless, baseless debate, consider that the most "Christian" response may be quiet disengagement. We can offer a truthful correction with love, but we are not required to stay in a circular argument that drains our spirit.

Sometimes, the best way to honor God in a difficult relationship is to stop arguing and start praying for the other person’s peace of mind—and your own.

WI

RELIGION

Service and Times

Person Worship:  Sunday @ 9:30 A.M.

Sunday @ 9:30 A.M.  www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

& Study:  Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00

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

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

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

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

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

Rev 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."

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

On Purpose

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 001387

Estate of Tamar Peli

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

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

Admit to probate the will dated 5/11/2022 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Date of first publication: 1/8/2026

Gretchyn G. Meinken, Esq. 616 N Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 001173

Ernestina Wiseman Decedent

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

Rachelle Wiseman, whose address is 149 58th Street SE, Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ernestina Wiseman who died on September 28, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/15/2026. 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 7/15/2026, 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: 1/15/2026

Rachelle Wiseman

149 58th St. SE Washington DC 20019

Personal Representative TRUE

Nicole

Register of Wills

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

2025 ADM 000970

Estate of Anna L. Jackson

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

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

Admit to probate the will dated September 24, 2024 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 1/8/2026

Devon Jackson 1411 Wynhurst Drive Waxhaw, NC 28173

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 FEP 000005

1/31/2023

Date of Death

Anita Tyler Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Brian Spern whose address is 3701 Old Court Road, Suite 24, Baltimore MD 21208 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Anita Tyler, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 9/10/2025. Service of process may be made upon Jamil Zouaoui - 2911 Arizona Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016 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 estate: 1221 50th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019. 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: January 22, 2026

Brian Spern Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 001321

Cecil Dunston Decedent

Cory A. Larkin 1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

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

Ashaki Dunston, Tabitha Mitchell and Danielle Dunston, whose addresses are 4302 10th St. NE, Washington DC 20017 & 1424 Clingmans Dome Dr., Frederick MD 21702, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Cecil Dunston who died on 5/25/2024 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 (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/8/2026. 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 7/8/2026, 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: 1/8/2026

Ashaki Dunston

Tabitha Mitchell

Danielle Dunston 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 001342

Edith Creech Decedent

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

Alvin Creech and Diann Hayes, whose addresses are 12811 Steam Mill Farms Dr., Brandywine MD 20613 & Diann Hayes 10 Light St., #722, Baltimore MD 21202, were appointed

Personal Representatives of the estate of Edith Creech who died on 1/4/2012 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/22/2026. 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 7/22/2026, 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: 1/22/2026

Alvin Creech Diann Hayes 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 FEP 000159

September 30, 2024

Date of Death

Eric A. Gordon Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Debra L. Gordon, whose address is 11424 Waesche Dr., Bowie MD 20721 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Eric A. Gordon, deceased, by the Register of Wills Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 11/15/2024.

Service of process may be made upon Anjel Morris 3400 10th Place SE, Washington DC 20032 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. 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: 1/8/2026

Debra L. Gordon Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 001312

Grace P. Henry aka Grace Pearl Andrews Henry Decedent

Sharon Legall 1325 G Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney

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

Derek D. Rucker, whose address is 14401 Traville Garden Circle, Apt. 212, Rockville MD 20850, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Grace P. Henry aka Grace Pearl Andrews Henry who died on 3/23/2012 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/22/2026. 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 7/22/2026, 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: 1/22/2026

Derek D. Rucker 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 001278

Mary Louise Alston

Decedent

Tina Smith Nelson, Esq. Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW

Washington DC 20049

Attorney

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

Marilyn Alston, whose address is 642 Burns Street, SE, Washington DC, 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Louise Alston who died on 8/7/2008 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/8/2026. 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 7/8/2026, 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: 1/8/2026

Marilyn Alston 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 001318

James A. Barmore Decedent

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

Nina R. Williams-Brooks, whose address is 4912 Just Street, NE Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James A. Barmore who died on July 13, 2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/22/2026. 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 7/22/2026, 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: 1/22/2026

Nina R. Williams-Brooks Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2025 ADM 001308

Yvonne Elaine Williams Decedent

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

Shantelle A. Smith, whose address is 4215 Wheeler Rd. SE, Washington DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Yvonne Elaine Williams who died on 1/27/2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/22/2026. 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 7/22/2026, 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: 1/22/2026

Shantelle A. Smith

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

CLASSIFIED

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

MEDIABIDS MISCELLANEOUS

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions are currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution

Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-420-7280 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/informer

Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T's Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! CALL 1-877-370-2155

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-855-402-3370

SAVE 67% PLUS 4 FREE BURGERS - The Favorite Feast - ONLY $49.99.   ORDER Today 1-888-3181190 Use Code 48643VFW or www.OmahaSteaks. com/ ffmb93

Do you know your Testosterone Levels? Call 888-692-5146 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural Testosterone Supplement

Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Bergamonte, a Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results. Call today and save 15 percent off your first bottle! 866-640-5982

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874

READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books) ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today! 1-866-680-1822

Any laptop repaired just $79. Macs too. REALLY! FREE Fedex shipping! $69 extra for screen or motherboard replacement. CALL Authorized Laptop Repair Specialists 1-866-437-6184

Ever Consider a Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & Increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888-420-4716

READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books) ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today! 1-866-680-1822

Personalized holiday gifts for Everyone on your list! Save 20 percent off qualifying products from Personal Creations! To redeem this offer, visit www. PersonalCreations.com/Beauty or Call 1-888-7320679

Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with fast acting results within 30 days. Call to hear about our special offer 866-640-5982

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. You WIN

CLASSIFIED

or Pay Us Nothing. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Today! BBB Accredited. Call For Your FREE Book & Consultation. 888-649-5110

Attention Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-760-5952 to try Hydraflexin RISK-FREE for 90 days.

HEAT YOUR HOME FOR 5¢ AN HOUR! Portable infrared iHeater heats 1000 sq. ft. Slashes your heating bills by 50%.  FREE Shipping too! Use claim code 6239 WAS $499 NOW $279 Call 1-866-784-5182

ACP CLASSIFIED NETWORK

AUTOS

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 800-245-0398

MISCELLANEOUS

TOP DOLLAR PAID for old vintage guitars! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Grecsch, Rickenbacker, Epiphone, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Call 866-433-8277

Reach millions of homes nationwide with one easy, affordable buy in the ADS Network! For more information www.communitypublishers.com/ category/all-products

Peace of mind & early detection - Now more than ever, it’s important to get screened for Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease risk. Life Line Screening is simple & painless. 833-970-4172

We buy houses for cash as is! No repairs or fuss. Any condition. Easy 3-step process: Call, get cash offer, get paid. Get your fair cash offer today. Liz Buys Houses: 844-877-5833

Portable oxygen concentrator may be covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence & mobility w/the compact design & long-lasting battery. Inogen One free info kit! 877-305-1535

Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as large carriers. No long-term contract or hidden fees, free activation. All plans unlimited talk & text starting at just $20/mo. 877-751-0866

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Free author`s guide 877-729-4998 or dorranceinfo. com/ads

No more cleaning gutters. Guaranteed! LeafFilter backed by no-clog guarantee & lifetime warranty. Call 1-833-610-1936 to schedule FREE inspection/ estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Military & Seniors get additional 10% off. Limited time. Restrictions apply, see rep for details.

Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles/multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited time offer up to 50% off install + additional 10% off install military, health & 1st responders. 833-370-1234

Inflation at 40-year highs. Interest rates are up. Credit cards, medical bills, car loans. Have $10k+ in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for much less than you owe! Free quote: 844-955-4930

Don't let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. AmeriGlide 833-399-3595

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don't wait! Protect your family, home, assets now for as little as 70¢/day! 833-890-1262

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as 1-day. Limited time, waving all installation costs! Additional terms apply. Subject to change & vary by dealer. Ends soon. 844-501-3208

Pest control: Protect your home from pests safely. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders & more. Locally owned & affordable. For service or inspection today! 833-860-0657 Have zip code ready!

MobileHelp America's premier mobile medical alert system. Home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts, free brochure! 888-489-3936

Aging roof? New homeowner? Storm damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. 833-640-4753 Have zip code ready when calling!

Water damage cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage in your home. Our trusted professionals do repairs to protect your family & home value! 833-887-0117. Have zip code ready!

Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 833-860-0811

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB games! Choice Pkg $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devic-es. HBO Max included for 3 mos w/ Choice Package or higher. No contract or hidden fees! Restrictions apply. IVS 866-859-0405

Wesley Financial Group, LLC timeshare cancellation experts over $50 million timeshare debt/fees cancelled in 2019. Free info package. Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

Bath & shower updates in as little as 1-day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189

Prepare for power outages today - Generac Home Standby Generator. Receive free 5-Year warranty w/ qualifying purchase. 855-948-6176 to schedule free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not a discount plan. Free info kit! 855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258

MID ATLANTIC COMMUNITY PAPERS ASSOCIATION CLASSIFIED NETWORK (MACNET)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Want more customers? Get your ad in front of 1.2 million local readers for just $100 a week in publications like this. One ad. Six states + D.C.. Countless new customers. Contact info@macpa.net or call Alyse at 484-269-6367

Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-877-327-0686 today!

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-866-482-1576 or visit dorranceinfo.com/macnet

AUTO DONATIONS/AUTOS WANTED

Get a break on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-844-320-2804 today!

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF and find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! FREE quote: Call 1-866-272-0492

FOR SALE, BUILDING MATERIALS - ROOFING MATERIAL

Burgundy Color, 36" Coverage Ag Panel, Metal Roofing & Siding, Winter Special $2.00 L.F. $.67 SQ.FT. Made in Ephrata Pa. Email; sales@7174455222. com 717445-5222

HEALTH/MEDICAL

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www. dental50plus.com/macnet #6258

Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today!  1-844-317-5246

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-833-356-1954

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-465-7624 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

No more cleaning out gutters. Guaranteed! LeafFilter is backed by a no-clog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty. Call today 1-855-791-1626 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Plus, Military & Seniors get an additional 10% off. Limited time only. Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details.

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer – up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-338-4807

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waiving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. (Offer ends 12/27/26.) Call 1-844-826-2535

MISCELLANEOUS

DIRECTV OVER INTERNET - Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84.99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-629-6086

Do you know what’s in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866996-1526

WANTED

WANTED! MOTORCYCLES & MINI BIKES! ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Triumph, BSA, and other foreign models. $$PAYING CA$H$$ 717-577-8206 KRMiller1965@yahoo.com

BUYING CLASSIC CARS, TRUCKS, SUVs **American and Foreign** Any Condition. Buying entire car collections. $$PAYING CA$H$$ Please call 717-5778206 KRMiller1965@yahoo.com

MARYLAND STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK

MISC. FOR SALE

Get Boost Infinite! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 855-977-5719

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-993-0969 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

REAL ESTATE OR REAL ESTATE TO BUY We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call,

“I would use that as my platform, but I wouldn't lean on that, because that's not necessary to run the city,” Beale, a Ward 8 resident and one-time civic leader, said about D.C. nativism. “Adrian Fenty and Muriel Bowser are people who were raised in D.C., and their interests weren't aligned with everybody in D.C. It was more about money and business.”

Beale, a fourth-generation Washingtonian, told The Informer that she’s seeking a mayoral candidate who demonstrates consistency and emotional maturity while engaging the Trump administration. She said that in acknowledgment of what she called Bowser’s prudent dealings with the White House.

“I think Muriel Bowser did a decent job with that,” Beale said. “This is the first time this has happened, at least in my lifetime, so it is a learning experience for everybody. But I do think someone who's very reasonable and doesn't act off emotion would be very important now.”

Beale, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner (ANC), has often brought attention to traffic safety issues affecting her children and other young people in Ward 8. As a resident, she still attends ANC meetings, all while mulling a future council run.

For the time being however, Beale counts among those demanding that the next mayor zeros in on Ward 8 a bit more. Days after Bowser’s visit to Fairlawn, Beale said she fell short in doing so.

“Obviously, you want to treat all the council members the same, but you can't,” Beale told The Informer. “There's a level of equity that doesn't exist on this side of town, you should be paying a little more attention to your vulnerable populations. I would like to see that from a mayor, not [to] just talk, but actually show up.”

A Question of Who Will Best

Serve a City Under Siege

McDuffie, who announced his resignation from the D.C. Council in December, changed his party affiliation from independent to Democrat and officially announced his candidacy on Jan. 14. His campaign launch video, filmed on the porch of his family home in the Stronghold community of Northeast, dropped hours before the start of Lewis George’s official campaign launch party at the Howard Theater in Northwest.

McDuffie now joins a field that includes Lewis George, a Democratic Socialist, along with Democrats Rob-

5 Former D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George are now in the race to succeed D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

ert L. Gross and Cody Birchfield, Republican contender Myrtle Alexander and independent candidate Rhonda Hamilton. His platform centers on creating a “safer, fairer, more affordable and inclusive D.C.” for residents across the District’s eight wards.

On Jan. 19, moments before he, Lewis George, and several other 2026 candidates, participated in the 21st annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade, McDuffie delved deeper into how he would bring his vision to fruition.

“Every single agency in the District of Columbia needs to be accountable to our residents. We need to make sure the city is more affordable, and we need to deliver a government that is for the people,” McDuffie told The Informer. “Regardless of the agency, from top to bottom, [the] government needs to be responsive and accountable to residents across all the eight wards. It doesn't matter if you live in Ward 8 in Congress Heights, or you live in Ward 3 in Friendship Heights.”

Within two days of his campaign launch, McDuffie reached the local fundraising threshold to qualify for fair election campaign financing. This milestone comes as Lewis George’s camp has nearly $1 million in campaign funds, which they attained by similar means.

McDuffie’s official leap into the race followed tweets over the last several days detailing his ascent from mail carrier to lawyer and civic leader, and finally the council. In what politicos saw as hints of greater aspirations, McDuffie took to social media as he made mention of his work on the council, as it relates to racial equity, violence interruption, and economic development.

As it relates to federal intrusion,

WALK from Page 1

As ICE and HSI wreak havoc on District residents and migrants, Taylor said that freedom has to be an all-hands-on-deck effort, and one in which frontline organizers highlight the sins of all law enforcement agencies, not just those under Department of Homeland Security.

“ICE is nothing but the slave patrols, but they’re not recognizing it as a slave patrol because when you think about the slave patrol, you think about Black people,” Taylor said. “They speak of it as if it's okay [to] just fight for the migrants. But the message is that [if] we have to get ICE out, it has to be all of them [agencies].”

It’s a matter of interconnectivity, Taylor told The Informer.

McDuffie told The Informer that his legal experience is a viable asset as the District deals with a new set of challenges.

“We made sure that our immigrant residents in places around this country had their civil rights protected when I was a trial attorney in President Obama's Justice Department,” McDuffie said. “And I'm going to have that same fight and deliver those same results: smart policies like our body-worn camera policy, like [the expansion of] Access to Justice to make sure that residents who are vulnerable…against slumlords had representation in the form of smart, hardworking, dedicated, justice-seeking lawyers.”

Longtime Ward 5 civic leader Robert Vinson Brannum calls McDuffie the ideal choice for D.C. mayor.

“I see Kenyan as one who is a bridge builder toward the future of the District of Columbia,” Vinson Brannum told The Informer. “Someone who has the skills, someone who is of Washington and knows the District of Columbia and has been able to walk the streets of the District of Columbia with the people.”

Vinson Brannum, chairman emeritus of the Ward 5 Democrats, boasts his deep rapport with McDuffie, telling The Informer that he encouraged the former council member to run for the Ward 5 seat in the early 2010s.

He said McDuffie has long demonstrated an ability to take the District to the next level, especially as residents reel from the effects of federal government layoffs, tariffs, restaurant closures, and the like. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

“Our struggles intersect,” she said, “so as you’re saying ‘ICE out,' say ‘Abolish all law enforcement.’”

Another Peace Walk & Parade for the Books

Throughout much of the morning and early afternoon on Jan. 19, community members stood on the sidewalks of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Anacostia as marching bands, public and public charter schools, D.C. government entities, Divine Nine organizations, political candidates, and everyone else in between marched behind Taylor and other grand marshals in honor of King.

Those other grand marshals included: Charles Gussom of Martha’s Table, King Holiday D.C. Peace Walk and Parade committee member Dejuan Mason; the Revs. Dennis W. and Christine Wiley, former pastors of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ; and Romeo Spaulding, founder of the D.C. Progressive Firefighters Association.

For Denise Rolark Barnes, co-chair of the King Holiday D.C. Peace Walk and Parade, the magic of the annual celebration lies in heavy involvement of youth, as seen in Gussom, who, long before becoming a grand marshal, participated in other ways.

“Charles marched in the parade when he was in elementary school. He won an essay contest when he was in middle school, and he marched in the parade with Ballou in high school,” Rolark Barnes said.

“Here he is now as a grand marshal. And the outreach work that he does at Martha's Table as director of community programs is symbolic of the work that Dr. King said we have to do for our communities.”

This year’s rally, walk and parade,

themed “The Struggle is Real, the Fight is Still,” started on Firth Sterling Avenue SE, near Barry Farm Recreation Center. Legions of participants, many standing on floats, and several more walking behind colorful banners, marched along Sumner Road SE before turning on the avenue named in honor of the late civil rights martyr. A significant portion of the festivities then took place along the major corridor, between Sumner Road and Marion Barry Avenue SE.

Near the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue and Marion Barry Avenue, revelers took part in a health and wellness fair. Rolark Barnes and retired journalist Sam Ford executed their duties as mistress and master of ceremonies as they brought to the stage: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser; Cora Masters Barry; Melanie Campbell of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, among others.

For Rolark Barnes, the speakers had a common message.

“They saw an outpouring of support from not only the Ward 8 community, but the community of D.C. residents,” Rolark Barnes said. “That gathering is symbolic of the unity that they want to see more of in D.C. as a reflection of Dr. King and what he strived for.”

On Jan. 15, 1979, what would have been King’s 50th birthday, Calvin Rolark, founder of The Washington Informer and Rolark Barnes’ late father, hosted the inaugural King parade in collaboration with his wife and thenWard 8 Councilmember Wilhelmina Rolark and radio personality Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene.

Around the time of the parade’s inception, D.C. counted among a growing number of cities and states leading the charge for a federal holiday in King’s honor. Thanks to Corretta Scott King, the late Michigan Rep. John Conyers (D), Stevie Wonder, and several others, that vision came to fruition in 1983 when President Ronald Reagan (R) signed a King holiday bill into law.

Veteran organizer Roger Glass still reflects on that moment.

“We earned it 50-plus years ago,” said Glass, a founding member of Concerned Black Men of D.C. and one of several people who marched alongside Wonder, comedian-activist Dick Gregory, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in pursuit of a federal King holiday.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

CROWELL from Page 22

est civil rights organization, the Trump administration policies are about financial rights.

"By garnishing wages for defaulted student loan borrowers, the Trump administration will only deepen financial hardship for working families and disproportionately harm Black bor-

GUEST COLUMN from Page 22

tween immigration enforcement and domestic military control continues to erode. The pattern is unmistakable, our enforcement authority is outpacing oversight and democratic restraint, producing a climate where state violence is normalized as an administrative tool.

Washington, DC has become prime terrain for this extreme shift to the right as well. The city concentrates one of the densest surveillance and federal law-enforcement environments in the country, embedded within a jurisdiction that lacks political autonomy. Congress controls the District’s budget and legislative authority as well, which enables federal agencies to expand their presence while leaving local reforms and democratic limits perpetually vulnerable.

This vulnerability carries consequences. DC was once over seventy percent Black. Today it remains a Black plurality city instead, as decades of displacement have reshaped our political leverage. Tens of thousands of Black residents have been priced out and pushed out of generational wealth. This trend has only been exacerbated by the recent federal job losses. Dozens of majority-Black neighborhoods have been gentrified, displacing Black equity for majority wealthy, White residence. Demographic change restructures leverage and as the Black share declines, so does the collective power to contest how public safety is defined, funded, and enforced on our streets. Majority-Black neighborhoods in DC have different ideas about how we want our communities run than what we are seeing happen currently in the District.

MARSHALL from Page 22

in both public and private institutions. Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, pushed back against Trump's claims of reverse discrimination. Johnson said there is "no evidence that white men were discriminated against as a result of the civil rights movement, the Civil Rights Act and efforts to rectify the long history of this country denying

rowers," Johnson said. "Millions are already struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty, and stripping wages will only push families further into financial crisis."

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, agreed with Johnson: "This is not about borrowers' responsibility; it's outright hostility to the young peo-

These shifts occur alongside one of the largest per-capita policing footprints in the country. Federal agencies, local police, transit police, park police, private security, and surveillance contractors operate within shared mandates. Security saturates our daily life. The capital increasingly resembles an occupation zone rather than a self-directing city.

Historically, communities have confronted similar architectures of power through a paired strategy: organizing for structural change while building mutual aid systems that reduce dependence on hostile institutions. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott for example, organizers constructed a citywide carpool network, maintenance system, and dispatch operation that allowed tens of thousands of people to move without having to submit to segregation. Civil rights organizing succeeded because logistical mutual aid sustained political resistance.

Black community survival programs facilitated food distribution, health clinics, childcare networks, and legal aid infrastructures that replaced the state’s claim to a monopoly over safety. Some communities are able to continue this tradition through rapid-response networks, court accompaniment, bail funds, community health collectives, and information hotlines. Practices that convert care into collective defense. Mutual aid can weaken enforcement power by shrinking the spaces where coercive systems can dominate our daily survival. This is the vision I have for DC.

Statehood changes the game under which traditional strategies operate. Admission as a state would grant DC full legislative authority, budget sovereignty, and constitutional standing.

access to people based on race in every measurable category," in a statement to The New York Times.

To those who are unfamiliar with the horrors of the Jim Crow era, the shift we are experiencing may not be a strong enough warning for what lies in the months and years ahead. Even worse, the MAGA misinformation and rebranding of history may become an effective strategy with young Blacks

ple trying to get ahead. The Trump administration is choosing to squeeze teachers, nurses and others while prices are increasing and families are struggling to stay afloat, ripping away wages and tax refunds when people need them most."

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Statehood would allow the District to set public safety priorities without congressional veto. It would expand the capacity to regulate surveillance, to negotiate federal presence, to fund housing and healthcare at scale, and to embed community-based safety infrastructures into durable policy. Not to mention the gain in Democratic voting demographics nationwide, DC could be a significant player in the future of our country.

Statehood would not dissolve enforcement institutions, but it would give residents leverage over them. It would shift DC from a managed territory toward a true political player. This shift would matter as ICE evolves into a hybrid force shaped by global counterinsurgency logics and domestic racial governance.

From slave patrols to secret police to contemporary enforcement agencies, control systems adapt to new political economies. DC is being reshaped by demographic change and the widening presence of surveillance technologies. Mutual aid and organizing remain key and statehood offers the structural capacity to carry those practices into law and long-term governance.

The future of the capital will either be administered or self-directed. We have the power to determine whether the city becomes a testing ground for enforcement or a center of democratic resistance. We must stay committed to DC statehood because anything less leaves our city vulnerable to congressional power that has repeatedly failed our communities. Statehood is how we secure the authority, dignity, and democratic power that DC residents have already earned.

WI

starting to believe and accept it. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, are we fulfilling his legacy? Are young Blacks drifting away from his messages and legacy? As our nation is shifting as a result of the conservative MAGA movement, how are we resisting the conservative shift?

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

AIRLINE CAREERS

WILLIAMS from Page 23

President Barack Obama was president, but it soon evaporated once he was out of office. Until we acquired the current man in the White House, we were taught that no one is above the law, not even the president.

Now, the one who is a multiple-time criminal is "investigating" Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — two of the many sane people trying to make

MORIAL from Page 23

otry" that "still mar America," from day one the Trump administration sought to dismantle 60 years of progress, subverting civil rights laws to entrench and reinforce historical inequities.

The administration has eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion offices and policies across the federal government, strong-armed universities and corporations to dismantle their own equity programs, encouraged "reverse discrimination" complaints and altered EEOC enforcement to prioritize claims by majority-group individuals.

OWOLEWA/BOGAN from Page 23

not isolated breakdowns but the visible edge of an expanding law enforcement regime that is increasingly willing to use lethal force in civilian spaces. As federal deployments surge and emergency powers are openly discussed at the national level, the distinction between immigration enforcement and domestic military control continues to erode. The pattern is unmistakable, our enforcement authority is outpacing oversight and democratic restraint, producing a climate where state violence is normalized as an administrative tool.

Washington, D.C., has become prime terrain for this extreme shift to the right as well. The city concentrates one of the densest surveillance and federal law-enforcement environments in the country, embedded within a jurisdiction that lacks political autonomy. Congress controls the District's budget and legislative authority as well, which enables federal agencies to expand their presence while leaving local reforms and democratic limits perpetually vulnerable.

This vulnerability carries consequences. D.C. was once over 70% Black. Today it remains a Black plurality city instead, as decades of displacement have reshaped our political leverage. Tens of thousands of Black residents have been priced out and pushed out of generational wealth. This

life better for their constituents. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela and their response to the ICE killing in Minneapolis and shootings in Oregon show that they believe themselves to be above the law. That is both anti-democratic and incredibly dangerous. Where are our Supreme Court, community leaders, Congress? Wherever they are, every one of us is still responsible. We must stop accepting this craziness as it gets worse. We must do something to hold

The truth is that white males are admitted to colleges at higher rates than every other group. White job applicants are more likely to be granted interviews. White people have an employment advantage at every level of educational attainment. White men are paid more. They are overrepresented in executive and management positions. According to one study, it will take 22 years for white women and 48 years for women of color to achieve parity in corporate senior leadership roles.

There simply is no evidence of "reverse discrimination" against white

trend has only been exacerbated by the recent federal job losses. Dozens of majority-Black neighborhoods have been gentrified, displacing Black equity for majority wealthy, white residents. Demographic change restructures leverage and as the Black share declines, so does the collective power to contest how public safety is defined, funded, and enforced on our streets. Majority-Black neighborhoods in D.C. have different ideas about how we want our communities run than what we are seeing happen currently in the District. These shifts occur alongside one of the largest per-capita policing footprints in the country. Federal agencies, local police, transit police, park police, private security, and surveillance contractors operate within shared mandates. Security saturates our daily life. The capital increasingly resembles an occupation zone rather than a self-directing city.

Historically, communities have confronted similar architectures of power through a paired strategy: organizing for structural change while building mutual aid systems that reduce dependence on hostile institutions. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott for example, organizers constructed a citywide carpool network, maintenance system, and dispatch operation that allowed tens of thousands of people to move without having to submit to segregation. Civil rights organizing

those in power and contributing to the chaos created by Trump and his minions accountable before more lives are put at risk. Trump has been rewarded, instead of punished, for his reckless disregard for the Constitution.

He was asked about his family's expanding business interests, from which he still profits. Here's what he said: "I found out nobody cared, and I'm allowed to." We, the people, must show him otherwise.

WI

men. Perhaps for some, a level playing field feels like an uphill climb.

On MLK Day, politicians who support anti-equity policies and oppose racial justice often twist Dr. King's words to justify their actions, as though judging people "by the content of their character" instead of "the color of their skin" means ignoring inequality.

Dr. King didn't advocate for a "color-blind" society, but one where diversity is cherished and embraced. The National Urban League and our partners in the Demand Diversity Roundtable remain committed to his vision.

WI

succeeded because logistical mutual aid sustained political resistance. Black community survival programs facilitated food distribution, health clinics, childcare networks, and legal aid infrastructures that replaced the state's claim to a monopoly over safety. Some communities are able to continue this tradition through rapid-response networks, court accompaniment, bail funds, community health collectives, and information hotlines. Practices that convert care into collective defense. Mutual aid can weaken enforcement power by shrinking the spaces where coercive systems can dominate our daily survival. This is the vision I have for D.C.

Statehood changes the game under which traditional strategies operate. Admission as a state would grant D.C. full legislative authority, budget sovereignty, and constitutional standing. Statehood would allow the District to set public safety priorities without congressional veto. It would expand the capacity to regulate surveillance, to negotiate federal presence, to fund housing and healthcare at scale, and to embed community-based safety infrastructures into durable policy. Not to mention the gain in Democratic voting demographics nationwide, D.C. could be a significant player in the future of our country.

WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com

For 155 years, Children’s National Hospital has delivered pediatric care with leading expertise and compassionate support. As the highest U.S. News–ranked children’s hospital in the DMV*, we’re here to celebrate every milestone and every brave step forward.