This Week's Edition - 9-10-26 by The Washington Informer

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Congressional Black Caucus

55th Annual Legislative Conference Special Edition / September 10, 2026 Schedule Inside THE WASHINGTON INFORMER CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION (CBCF) 55TH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE / SEPTEMBER 2026

Serving Our Community in the DMV•

Vol 61 No 48

3 D.C. Council member and Democratic mayoral nominee Janeese Lewis George offers brief remarks on Sept. 1 at Union Temple, the first stop on her “Building the People’s Government” listening tour. She called her priority of Ward 8 intentional in creating policy objectives. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

An Inside Look: Ward 8 Speaks to Democratic Mayoral Nominee Janeese Lewis George

Union Temple Serves as First Stop of ‘Building the People’s Government’ Listening Tour most historically underserved communities. Many of the Ward 8 residents, organizers, and affiliates who filled the pews and other rooms of Union Temple Ward 4 D.C. Council member and Democratic mayoral spent more than an hour pouring out their hearts about nominee Janeese Lewis George recently kicked off her month- the current state of affairs and what they would like to long, citywide listening tour at Union Temple Baptist Church, see in what Lewis George is calling “The People’s Gova well-regarded house of worship located in one of the District’s WARD 8 Page 9 By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Staff Writer

At 43 Years Old, KanKouran Positions Next Generation to Preserve African Dance and Culture Co-founder/Executive Artistic Director Eyes Eventual Launch of Permanent Space

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Staff Writer KanKouran Dance Company recently marked 43 years of existence with an annual concert that brought hundreds of revelers to Howard University’s (HU) Cramton Auditorium for hours of nonstop West African

drumming and dancing. During that evening, GenZer Lyric Hunte counted among the dozens of young people who showcased their artistic prowess on stage. As Lyric explained, preparation for 5 Lyric Hunte at Kankouran’s 2026 concert, this year’s concert allowed for themed “Sunugaal: Our Boat.” (Courtesy Photo/

KANKOURAN Page 43 Zama Cook)

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September 10 - 16, 2026

Once More With Culture: Afro Plus Fest Returns

Black Diaspora Comes Alive with Music, Food, Unity By Jada Ingleton, Micha Green, and DeMarco Rush WI Content Editor, WI Managing Editor and WI Contributing Writer Despite storm overcasts and last-minute pivots, Afro Plus Fest didn’t miss a beat in emulating the heart of the diaspora over Labor Day Weekend. As music, food, and fashions took over Prince George’s County, Maryland, Sept. 4-6, an estimated crowd

AFRO PLUS Page 12

5 Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Flythe Moore present Afro Plus Fest Founder and Executive Producer Michael Awosanya with a governor’s citation on the second day of the three-day festival at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. (Courtesy Photo/Polly Irungu, Office of the Governor)

SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH

Leaders of the New School

A New Sickle Cell Coalition Rises, This Time, They’re Doing It Themselves By Dr. Patrise Holden WI Contributing Writer The first thing Vanessa Finch wanted after her son died was simple: to continue to hear his name. Kahleeb Beckett, affectionately called Leebo, lived with sickle cell disease, genotype SS, for 23 years. As a concerned mother, Finch spent much of those years learning how to navigate a health care system that she found did not always listen. “Health care is a business, but for us, it is deeply personal,” she said. Having a chronically ill population from which billions are made, yet the treatment is unequal, means that those of us from

SICKLE CELL Page 20

5 In homage to the son she lost, Vanessa Finch teaches elementary school children a basic understanding of sickle cell disease. (Courtesy Photo/Leebo’s Sickle Cell Support Group)

Celebrating 61 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information. SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 1

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CONTENTS

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 3

wi hot topics

STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER; DEMARCO RUSH, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lonnie Bunch Leaves Smithsonian After Months of White House Pressure Over How America Tells its History Less than three weeks ago in Philadelphia, Lonnie G. Bunch III, as 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was surrounded by people who had devoted their careers to preserving Black history at the Association of African American Museums’ 48th annual conference Aug. 19-21. Then, he said “I’m doing the best I can,” at a moment when the country’s most powerful museum system was facing extraordinary pressure from the White House over what Americans should be told about their past. On Sept. 8, Bunch announced his retirement from his post and ending his tenure as the first African American secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, a role that requires him to oversee 21 museums, the In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

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:

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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, Multimedia Reporter PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor Roy Lewis, Jr. Robert R. Roberts Anthony Tilghman Abdullah Konte Cleveland Nelson

4 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

BUNCH Page 16

D.C. Kicks Off 10th Annual 202Creates Month

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

National Zoo, research centers and more. “I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been,” Bunch wrote, according to Smithsonian Magazine. “There is no place like the Smithsonian—it has been one of the great loves of my life, and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together.” In a statement, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who serves as the Smithsonian’s chancellor, said that Bunch had “pursued excellence in the telling of our nation’s story” and that the Smithsonian had “benefited greatly from his wisdom, vision and leadership.” The Smithsonian said Mr. Bunch was

5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at the 2025 launch of 202Creates Month at Planet World Museum in Northwest D.C. with LaToya Foster, director of the Office of Cable, Television, Film, Music and Entertainment. (WI FIle Photo/ Demarco Rush)

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) are kicking off the 10th annual 202Creates Month, a month-long celebration highlighting the artists, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and other creatives who contribute to the District’s cultural and economic landscape. Throughout September, 202Creates will feature programming across music, film, television, fashion, food, theater, visual arts, entrepreneurship and other creative industries. “People who know D.C., know that we are an arts city. We want more people to understand that part of our sto-

ry, and that’s part of the reason we launched 202Creates in 2016,” Bowser said. “Over the past decade, it’s grown into a tremendous celebration of DC arts and culture, a monthlong celebration with something for everyone.” Since its launch in 2016, 202Creates has expanded from a month-long celebration into a year-round platform supporting the people, businesses that make Washington, D.C., a creative hub. The District’s creative economy now generates roughly $15 billion. “202Creates started with a simple but powerful idea: D.C.’s creators deserve to be seen, supported and connected to opportunity,” said LaToya Foster, OCTFME director and D.C. Film Commissioner. “Ten years later, that commitment extends across an entire creative ecosystem, from filmmakers and musicians to designers, writers, performers, entrepreneurs, venues, and creative businesses.” The anniversary comes during a significant year for the District’s arts and culture scene, which also marks the 15th year of Art All Night and the 50th anniversary of go-go. Art All Night, one of 202Creates’ signature events, will return Sept. 11-12, transforming neighborhoods across all eight wards with visual art, live music, dance, film, fashion, installations and interactive experiences. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

First the Gulf, Now the Lake: Trump Renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ President Donald Trump took his fight with Canada to the water in late August. With the stroke of a pen in the Oval Office, Trump ordered the U.S. government to stop using the name Lake Ontario has borne for centuries and to begin calling it “Lake America,” turning one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes into the latest canvas for his aggressive America-first branding campaign. “We’re going to be changing the name of Lake Ontario, effective immediately, to Lake America,” Trump said before signing the executive order.

The declaration came as the trade war between the two countries intensified. The United States imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Canadian goods in late August. Canada is preparing its own dollar-for-dollar response on Sept. 8, with tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on American steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, paper, plastics and electronics. And now they are fighting over the name of a lake. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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D.C. Says Nonprofit Founder Took $125,000 Meant for Addiction Treatment, Then Paid Back Nothing By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer The money was supposed to reach people fighting addiction, people needing counseling, people living close enough to the edge that a nonprofit and a government grant could make the difference between getting help and going without it. Instead, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb says more than $125,000 flowed somewhere else. Into cash withdrawals. Into payments to nonprofit founder Allyson Abrams. To her spouse. To businesses connected to her real estate interests. And, according to a lawsuit filed by Schwalb's office, Abrams used falsified invoices and checks that employees never received to keep District grant money coming. “Nonprofit leaders cannot treat their organizations like personal slush funds,” Schwalb said. “Abrams misused government grant money and undermined efforts to support some of our community’s most vulnerable.” Now the District wants its money back. Schwalb has sued Abrams and the two organizations she founded, Empowerment Justice Center Corporation and Empowerment Liberation Cathedral, accusing them of breaking a settlement agreement that was supposed to resolve the government's investigation without a lawsuit. The 11-page complaint, filed in D.C. Superior Court, says Abrams agreed to pay the District $110,000 in 11 installments. Eight payment deadlines have passed, according to the lawsuit. The District says it has received nothing. The lawsuit turns what began as an investigation into the handling of public money into a fight over an agreement Abrams had already signed. From 2019 through 2025, the D.C. government paid Empowerment Justice Center and Empowerment Liberation Cathedral more

than $475,000 for outreach, counseling and addiction treatment. Those government grants supplied nearly all the organizations' funding during that period, according to the complaint. Empowerment Justice Center, a Maryland nonprofit formed in 2017, was created to provide mental health care, housing assistance, HIV/AIDS services, education and pastoral care to historically disenfranchised communities. It dissolved in 2025. Empowerment Liberation Cathedral, formed in the District in 2018, is a religious nonprofit. Abrams remains its leader. “Abrams reneged on a 2025 settlement to repay the diverted funds, give up control over EJC's funding, and step down from EJC's board,” Schwalb wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Enough is enough. We are suing to enforce the terms of the settlement, recover the illegally diverted funds, and hold Abrams accountable.”

AROUND THE REGION

ment invoices totaling more than $40,000. The employees, the government alleges, never got those checks. “In other words, the checks she wrote were fake, and staff members went unpaid by EJC,” the complaint states. Investigators further concluded that the nonprofit repeatedly paid a caseworker late and that Abrams falsely told the D.C. agency funding Empowerment Justice Center that she was not under investigation after she had responded to an OAG subpoena. The government's investigation also accused the nonprofits of not performing some of the most principal duties required of such organizations, including holding board

3 Allyson Abrams is being sued after accusations of breaking a settlement agreement that was supposed to resolve the government's investigation into her two nonprofit organizations without a lawsuit. (Courtesy Photo/Allyson Abrams, LinkedIn)

A Deal to Keep the Fight Out of Court

meetings and elections, keeping written records and maintaining proper oversight of money. “Both nonprofits also failed to uphold basic tenets of nonprofit governance,” Schwalb wrote on X.

The dispute appeared headed for resolution late last year. Abrams and the nonprofits entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the attorney general's office, effective Dec. 19, 2025. Under the agreement, Abrams was to pay $110,000 to the District, relinquish control of nonprofit money and comply with restrictions designed to keep her and her spouse away from the organizations' bank accounts. The settlement required the organizations to close their existing

NONPROFIT Page 8

The Money Trail

The attorney general's investigation began in 2024 and produced accusations that go well beyond sloppy bookkeeping. According to the complaint, Abrams used District grant money intended for addiction treatment to supplement her approved salary through cash withdrawals, bonuses, advances and transfers to herself, her spouse and companies associated with her real estate business. The amount above her approved salary exceeded $125,000, the District alleges. Investigators also say they found checks that existed on paper but apparently never reached the workers whose names appeared on them. Between January 2021 and February 2022, according to the lawsuit, Abrams wrote several checks from an Empowerment Justice Center account that purported to cover employee salaries. Copies were then submitted to the District as support for two reimburse-

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Lola Falana (left)

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1961 – Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, returns from exile to lead the country 1976 – Mordecai Johnson, the first Black president of Howard University, dies in Washington, D.C.

Sept. 11

1942 – Singer and actress Lola Falana is born in Camden, New Jersey. 1970 – Actress and Howard University alumna Taraji P. Henson, best known for the hit TV show "Empire," is born in Washington, D.C. 1977 – "Roots," the television miniseries based on Alex Haley's 1976 novel, wins nine awards at the 19th annual Emmys. 1987 – Reggae great Peter Tosh is murdered in Kingston, Jamaica, during a home invasion.

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SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

Mae Kemison (right)

to be admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, gains admittance to the Massachusetts Bar.

Sept. 15

1963 – Four African American girls are killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sept. 16

1889 – Claude Barnett, founder of the Associated Negro Press, is born in Sanford, Florida. 1925 – Legendary blues singer and guitarist B.B. King is born in Itta Bena, Mississippi. WI

Sept. 12

1913 – Four-time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens is born in Oakville, Alabama. 1977 – Steve Biko, famed anti-apartheid activist, dies in police custody in Pretoria, South Africa. 1992 – Astronaut Mae Jemison becomes the first African American woman to travel in space.

Sept. 13

1885 – Alain Locke, the first African American Rhodes Scholar and "Dean" of the Harlem Renaissance, is born in Philadelphia. 1996 – Rap great Tupac Shakur dies in Las Vegas after being shot six days earlier.

Sept. 14

1861 – Abolitionist John Rock, the first Black person

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5 Attorney General Brian Schwalb is holding nonprofit founder Allyson Abrams accountable for her alleged misuse of government grant money. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

NONPROFIT from Page 5

bank accounts and move remaining money into new accounts approved by the attorney general's office. Neither Abrams nor her spouse was to have access to those accounts for 10 years. Abrams could remain the leader of Empowerment Liberation Cathedral because it is a religious or-

ganization. What she could not do under the agreement was continue controlling its money. The District says it still has no proof that changed. And the missed payments kept piling up. Because two payment dates written into the agreement had already passed by the time it became effective, the complaint says Abrams' first actual deadline was Jan. 10. She was supposed to pay $10,000 and another $10,000 on the 10th of each month afterward. January passed. Then February. March. April. By the time the attorney general went to court, the government said eight payments had been missed and not one dollar of the $110,000 had been paid. The silence was not for lack of trying by the District. Between Jan. 5 and Aug. 21, the attorney general's office contacted Abrams 16 times, according to the complaint. The emails addressed upcoming deadlines, missed payments, instructions for paying and questions about donations Em-

powerment Liberation Cathedral continued soliciting online. Abrams responded on multiple occasions, the lawsuit says, promising that money was coming and that payments would be made within days, sometimes that very day. “Those promises have gone unfulfilled,” government lawyers wrote. There was another problem. Empowerment Justice Center had dissolved as a Maryland corporation in August 2025. Under the settlement, the organization was required to notify the attorney general if it dissolved and provide its articles of dissolution. The District says that never happened. Nor, according to the lawsuit, have Abrams and the nonprofits produced the banking information necessary to show that she and her spouse no longer control the charitable money. Meanwhile, Empowerment Liberation Cathedral continues soliciting donations from the public. Schwalb's office is asking a judge to order Abrams to pay the full $110,000, plus interest, and force the defendants to produce bank records showing where nonprofit funds are held and who controls them. The District also wants its attorneys' fees and costs covered. The allegations remain accusations in a civil complaint, and the defendants will have an opportunity to respond in court. In the meantime, Washingtonians are glad the Maryland resident and nonprofit owner is being held accountable and hope that more can be done to prevent another CEO like Abrams from receiving such funds. “D.C. needs much stronger oversight over its grants and contracts, part 87494” social media user and labor advocate Alex Taliadoros wrote on X in response to the attorney general’s announcement. For Schwalb, the case comes back to where the money originated and whom it was supposed to serve. “We’re holding her accountable,” he said, “and ensuring that she repays the District and its taxpayers the funds she unlawfully diverted.” WI

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AROUND THE REGION

5 The Rev. Dr. Anika Wilson-Brown introduces D.C. Council member and Democratic mayoral nominee Janeese Lewis George during the first stop of the “Building the People’s Government” listening session at Union Temple Baptist Church on Sept. 1. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

WARD 8 from Page 1 ernment.” “For so long, low-income people [were] warehoused,” said longtime Ward 8 resident Rufaro Jenkins. “The city is developing, but the people are not being developed…That’s where we fail a lot [by] not giving the people…. the necessities to survive.” In the late 2000s, Jenkins and other tenants of Parkway Overlook Apartments on Robinson Place SE formed a tenant association to fight for their return to an affordable dwelling undergoing revitalization. One decade and two mayoral administrations later, many of Jenkins’ neighbors made their way back to Parkway Overlook Apartments. Even with that victory, Jenkins says the fight continues to improve housing along other portions of Robinson Place SE, where tenants living under another management company are decrying subpar conditions. “The landlord [in the middle of the block] put up these two brandnew buildings, and then the buildings looked terrible,” Jenkins recounted to The Informer. “When you're taking people with vouchers…you get the city money, but you're not keeping your properties together. The landlord should be held accountable for that.” Jenkins counted among nearly 500 people who registered for the Sept. 1 listening session at Union Temple— the first of eight on Lewis George’s “Building the People’s Government” listening tour. While Jenkins and dozens of other attendees participated in a breakout session about housing, several other Ward 8 residents, spread out in groups throughout the basement and two levels of the church building, weighed in on the issues of: jobs, safe

communities, schools and child care, health care, and transportation. For Jenkins, the listening session affirmed what she respected about Lewis George, the two-term Ward 4 D.C. council member who she regards as a youth advocate. With some certainty of a Lewis George general election victory in a majority-Democratic city, Jenkins said she’s looking forward to a new era. “It’s not going to take one year to get things back together,” Jenkins said. “I also know that we have a council that has to [give her] these seven votes. I'm aware of all that, but I feel like I'm willing to give her an opportunity and a chance to at least show me that she's making every effort to fix what is wrong.”

“The Last Shall Be the First, and the First Shall Be the Last!”

While speaking with The Informer, and later Ward 8 residents at the listening session, Lewis George made a reference to Matthew 20:16 to make it known that, from the get-go, she’s aimed to put Ward 8 residents first. “What I heard when knocking doors and having meet-and-greets in Ward 8 is that Ward 8 has historically felt last in investment, last in basic government services working for them and responsiveness, last in just support across the board,” Lewis George told The Informer. “I wanted to be clear when I ran that I made a promise to Ward 8 that they would not be last and they would not be left behind and that I was going to be as intentional as I possibly could about making sure that the concerns of Ward 8 were a part of

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AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENt The group Luther S. Allison and Poises took the top prize of $15,000 for the DC JazzPrix at Union Stage on The Wharf in Southwest, as part of the 22nd annual DC JazzFest. Celebrating the moment is: Christie Dashiell, the event event host; pianist and composer Luther S. Allison, leader of the group Poiesis; and Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of DC Jazz Fest. (JaMon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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Emmet Cohen, pianist/ composer/bandleader and DC JazzFest artist-inresidence, reads The Washington Informer during the 2026 DC JazzFest. (JaMon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

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April Goggans, a 20-year Anacostia resident and longtime fixture in the police accountability space, said the “Building the People’s Government” listening tour differed from community forums of the past. For more than an hour, she sat around a table with her neighbors as they, from what she recalled, confronted their biases about crime and yielded to empirical data rather than emotion. “Some of my role could be [addressing] some of the things that people thought like the government wasn't doing or weren't out there [by saying] ‘Hey, here's this thing that actually already happened,’” said Goggans, a participant in the safe communities breakout session. “People could stop and think about the foundations of their arguments and then check in with how they feel, so that we're talking to make the distinction between what are our feelings and our anecdotal references to start thinking about systems and the goals of those systems.” Goggans credited breakout session facilitators with creating what she called the spirit of diversity and collaboration at Union Temple. She said such energy allowed for various viewpoints that added nuance to a conversation about public safety in Ward 8. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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be the voices that I heard from first, so that we could start getting to work and having Ward 8 feel that real impact as early as possible for my administration to make people feel heard and seen.” On Sept. 1, Lewis George kept her remarks brief before an audience that included: students from Statesmen College Preparatory Academy for Boys; D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8); D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) Representatives Dr. LaJoy Johnson-Law (Ward 8) and Dr. Jacque Patterson (At-large); and Ward 8 Democrats Chair Troy Donte Prestwood. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Jamila White and former Ward 8 SBOE representative Markus Batchelor fulfilled their duties as master facilitators. Curtis Powers-Watson III, an eighth grader at Statesmen College Preparatory Academy for Boys, also provided remarks on behalf of the youth. Earlier in the program, The Rev. Dr. Anika Wilson-Brown, executive pastor of Union Temple, spoke in support of Lewis George, who, general election notwithstanding, she had already crowned as the city executive. “This is our mayor-elect’s church home,” Wilson-Brown said. “Her mama is a deacon here. This is just going to be a very fruitful night where we get to hear your voices, and we get to bring your energy. We want you to bring your vision, your thoughts into the room.” Weeks prior, McDuffie and other members of D.C.’s Democratic Party rallied around Lewis George during a unity brunch. Batchelor, who counted among those in that number, gave a full-throated support of the Democratic nominee, telling community

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5 Curtis Powers-Watson III, an eighth grader at Statesmen College Preparatory Academy for Boys, delivers remarks at the beginning of the “Building the People’s Government” listening session at Union Temple on Sept. 1. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

my larger agenda.” On June 16, at the end of a tumultuous Democratic primary campaign season, Lewis George decisively defeated fellow frontrunner and former D.C. council member Kenyan McDuffie, taking every ward but Ward 3— the District’s most affluent jurisdiction located west of Rock Creek Park. Ward 8, where Lewis George had nearly 51% of the vote compared to McDuffie’s 35.64%, is home to the second-highest concentration of Black residents among any ward in the District. According to Census data, nearly one in three residents live below the poverty line, and child poverty rates are approaching 50%. Residents in Wards 7 and 8 have a life expectancy 15 years lower than residents in Ward 3, while the National Institutes of Health shows a strong correlation between inequitable food access and significantly higher levels of chronic illness among Ward 8 residents. For Lewis George, Ward 8’s maladies aren’t by happenstance, but an imbalance in investment that she’s aiming to rectify. “I don't think that equality and equity are the same thing,” Lewis George told The Informer. “Equity takes into account a history of…wrongdoings.” Other stops on the “Building the People’s Government” listening tour include: All Souls Church Unitarian in Ward 1 (Sept. 2); East Washington Heights Baptist Church in Ward 7 (Sept. 3); People’s Congregational United Church of Christ in Ward 4 (Sept. 8); Union Wesley AME Zion Church in Ward 5 (Sept. 10); Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Ward 3 (Sept. 24); Luther Place Memorial Church in Ward 2 (Sept. 30); and Capitol Hill United Methodist Church in Ward 6 (Oct. 1). As Lewis George explained on stage at Union Temple on Sept. 1, community members’ feedback, in tandem with survey data collected online and while canvassing this fall, will dictate five areas of focus for her mayoral administration. In speaking with The Informer earlier, Lewis George expressed a desire to place Ward 8 residents at the forefront of her vision. “It was important for me to start here, and to start organizing here, and to start building the framework for what will be a people-first government,” Lewis George said. “It was absolutely intentional that I started east of the river and that these voices would

members at Union Temple that their input would ensure a “decisive victory” in the fall. Later, in speaking with The Informer, Batchelor reiterated that point. “She’s not yet the mayor-elect, and so there's clearly an election to win in November,” he said. Batchelor went on to describe the “Building the People’s Government” listening tour as part of an effort to further consolidate support and ensure that Lewis George starts on the right foot, with as much resident buy-in as possible. “We know that there's going to be political battles that she's going to have to fight with a Congress that we hope is Democratic after November, with a president who's already declared war on her,” Batchelor told The Informer. “It was important that we show up in numbers on Nov. 3 to show that it wasn't just her working to achieve these goals that we were setting forth… and it wasn't just a fraction of the Democratic Party that wanted to see her succeed, but that a whole city was backing up this vision.”

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AFRO PLUS from Page 1 of 120,000 brought a taste of the communities continuously redefining culture. But more than a festival, India Farquharson says she saw a celebration that embodied the truths of the Black experience: boldness, defiance, and above all, unity. “No matter what part of Africa, the Caribbean, or America that you're from, we can come together. We're all celebrating the same thing; we're all repping our flags,” Farquharson, 25, told The Informer, as she proudly sported Jamaican and Belizean flags. “We have almost 55+ countries being represented right now, right here today. That's what this whole thing is showing people…that when push comes to shove, we're gonna be together at the end of the day.” While star-studded lineups usually

draw fans to festivals, Afro Plus Fest ventured into something beyond the music in many cases. From art installations and a newly added carnival to more than 100 food vendors, apparel shops, and Blackowned businesses, the encore event turned Northwest Stadium into an all-ages exploration of cultural excellence around the globe. “AfroPlus is a celebration of that. So much that the world continues to move on, continues to lift on… we have been its kings and queens,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told The Informer backstage Sept. 5. “It's not about changing anyone's opinions. It's about validating our own power…in what God has already given us, and what we've already contributed to the world. I mean, we have given so much.” With multicultural flags and ap-

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3 Held in Prince George’s County, Maryland, attendees move to the beat of Afrobeats, soca, R&B, hip-hop and more during the encore Afro Plus Fest Sept. 4-6. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

parel adorning the sold-out event, performers like Lil Baby, Latto, Chief Keef, Adekunle Gold, Olamide, Fridayy, and more demonstrated the legacies of Afrobeats, hip‑hop, soca, dancehall, R&B, and amapiano across two stages. Headliners Davido, Ayra Starr, Tems and returning performer WizKid capped each night with massive attendance, as German-Nigerian artist Odeal and D.C.’s own Yung Manny reflected on the weekend’s deeper purpose after their own performances. “This is [hopefully] the first of many, but very few events that cater to our demographics,” Odeal told The Informer on Sunday. “It’s more than just music, it’s really about legacy…and creating opportunities for everybody to be able to follow their dreams––for other creatives, other artists, other people of color who want to work in the industry.”

A Homecoming That ‘Belongs in the DMV’

It's safe to say the phrase “go big or go home” took on new meaning at the Prince George’s festival, which essentially did both. The 2025 inaugural debut –– held at the Festival Grounds at RFK Campus in Northeast D.C. –– brought a sold-out one-day show to 20,000 fans, and estimated $10 million in local economic impact. This year, drawing six times the crowd and three times the campus capacity, organizers expect up to $60 million back into the local economy, all the while forging diasporic ties that last well beyond Labor Day. “When people come [here], everyone’s been living their everyday lives, their everyday job, and [all] they see is their bubble. But this…it’s an oppor-

tunity for people to [be inspired]… have that unity between other folks like themselves,” Odeal told The Informer. “It's all about love and unity. At the end of the set, I want everyone to…look…at somebody else [who] felt that connection.” Featuring ‘Made in the DMV’ performers like Mannywellz, Foggie Raw, Flow & Friends, plus Shy Glizzy on Sept. 6, local pride was as prominent as the multicultural flags scouring the grounds. In its second year, Afro Plus Founder and Executive Producer Michael Awosanya championed Afro Plus Fest as a “homecoming” for Prince George’s. Meanwhile, County Executive Aisha Braveboy pointed to the festival as an example of everyday culture in one of the nation’s most Black affluent regions. After saluting her Grenadian and recently learned Nigerian lineage, she lauded the county’s undeniable presence of first-generation Americans descending from immigrants who built

this nation, noting that diversity and the motherland have historically influenced DMV DNA. “Our power is in our diversity. Our power is in the fact that we speak different languages, that we come from different places, but we all chose to live here in the county for a reason because this is the greatest county in the world,” Braveboy told The Informer, “and we represent the world.” During day two, and ahead of an electric set from Nigerian artist Tems, Moore emphasized that part of his role as Maryland’s governor is to embody what he believes people should lean on in the current political climate. By expanding outreach to the larger diaspora and continuing to invest in young people’s ideas––such as events like Afro Plus Fest––Maryland leaders are leaning on a forward strategy that Braveboy says is all about being “of and for the people.” As such, Moore noted that hosting the festival is not simply a big deal in the DMV, but it’s “the only place it belongs.” “This is a moment not where we have to be isolationist, but…when we really have to go and extend our hands to the entire global community,” the governor continued. “That's exactly what the United States needs to be doing.” WI

5 An estimated crowd of 120,000 celebrates the sounds and imprint of the Black diaspora during the second annual Afro Plus Fest, Sept. 4-6. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 13

BUSINESS

When Family Changes, Your Estate Plan Should Too The Intersection of Family Law and Estate Planning By Aimee D. Griffin, Esq Estate planning is about more than documents. It is about people, relationships, responsibilities, and the legacy we intend to leave behind. That is why family law and estate planning are often more closely connected than families realize. Marriage, divorce, remarriage, children, grandchildren, and family businesses can all affect an estate plan. A plan created for the family you had ten years ago may not serve the family you have today. Blended families provide one of the clearest examples. Consider a parent with children from a prior relationship who remarries. The parent wants the new spouse to be financially secure while ensuring that the children ultimately receive an inheritance. Leaving everything outright to the surviving spouse may not accomplish both goals. Once the assets belong to the surviving spouse, that spouse generally determines where they go next. The assets could ultimately pass to the spouse's children, a future spouse, or someone else. A trust can provide for the surviving spouse while preserving remaining assets for children and future generations. Stepchildren also require intentional planning. Someone you love and consider your child may not have the same inheritance rights as a biological or legally adopted child. Your estate plan should define your family rather than leaving that definition to state law. Almost every family has a story. Perhaps a child struggles with money, has significant creditors, is experiencing marital difficulties, or simply makes decisions that cause concern about receiving a substantial inheritance outright. The answer does not always have to be disinheritance. A properly structured trust can protect an inheritance while still providing for the beneficiary. It can establish standards for distributions, provide independent oversight, and preserve assets for future generations. The question becomes: How can I structure this gift so that it is a blessing rather than a burden? Sometimes treating our children fairly does not mean treating them identically. For business-owning families, the intersection of family law and estate planning becomes even more important. A business owner may have three children but only one working in the company. Should all three inherit equal ownership? What happens if a child who owns part of the business divorces? Who operates the business if the founder becomes disabled? Business succession planning should address what I call the 5 D's: Death, Disability, Divorce, Departure and Dissolution. The estate plan, operating agreement, shareholder agreement, marital agreement, and buy-sell provisions should work together. When they do not, the business—and potentially one of the family's most valuable assets—can become vulnerable. Multigenerational planning requires us to ask more than who inherits the business. We should consider who should own it, who is qualified to operate it, how children who do not participate in the business will be treated, and how the business will remain protected as the family grows. Families evolve. Our planning must evolve with them. Marriage changes families. Divorce changes families. Children and grandchildren arrive. Relationships change. Businesses and wealth grow. Estate planning should therefore not viewed as a transaction of bekeeping our completed once and placed on a shelf. Review your estate plan when your family circumstances change. More importantly, ask whether your plan merely informed! distributes your assets or supports thecommunity legacy you intend to create. Your legacy is not created by default. It is created by design and intentionality. www.washingtoninformer.com Instead of simply asking, “Who gets my stuff?” ask the more powerful question: “How can what I have built strengthen my family for generations to come?” Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. Life and Legacy Counselors 1401 Mercantile Lane, Ste 211, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 440 Washington, DC 20015 1100 N. Glebe Road, Ste 1010, Arlington, VA 22201 www.yourestateplanningattorney.us (855) 574-8481 connects all locations.

14 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

Black Museums Search for Financial Independence

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Behind the music, dancing, and family-reunion atmosphere that filled the Philadelphia Zoo on the night of Aug. 19, another conversation was taking place among the hundreds of Black museum leaders gathered from across the country. Money. Who will pay to preserve Black history as government support becomes less certain? Can individual donors and foundations fill the gap? Can small museums survive the financial pressures faced by institutions with larger endowments and donor bases? And can Black museums build something more valuable than another grant: financial independence? Those questions followed museum executives, historians, fundraisers and preservationists to Philadelphia for the 48th annual conference of the Association of African American Museums, which brought out 700 people through Sunday, Aug. 23.

For some institutions, the answer increasingly begins outside Washington. “We have not gotten a dime from federal funding,” said Jarred Howard, CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. Yet the planned museum has raised $55 million toward a $70 million capital campaign, leaving $15 million to go. “America is supportive of what we’re doing,” Howard said. “We’re really excited about that fact.” Howard’s numbers offer just one example of how a major Black cultural institution is assembling the money it needs without depending on Washington. The Texas Legislature has provided $11 million for the project, he said, and museum officials are already discussing additional state support. Howard said the institution would welcome federal funding but does not expect any in the current political climate.

MUSEUM Page 15

5 The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. As federal support to preserve Black history continues to decrease, leaders are collaborating to fill the gap, particularly through convenings like the 48th annual conference of the Association of African American Museums. (WI File Photo/Shevry Lassiter)

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5 Sylvia Cyrus, executive director of the D.C.-based Association for the Study of African American Life and History, says funding remains a major concern for organizations working to preserve Black history. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

MUSEUM from Page 14 “We would certainly love to have a contribution from the federal government,” Howard said. “But the state of things right now is such that we probably wouldn’t get it if we pursued it.” So, the museum is concentrating its energy where officials believe it can produce results. “We try to be strategically committed to those things that are going to produce outcomes for us,” Howard said. That strategy is increasingly important as Black museums confront an old financial problem under new political circumstances. President Donald Trump’s administration has targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government and has pushed for changes in how the Smithsonian presents race, slavery, and other aspects of American history. Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), attended the festivities, even as the institution he leads remains in the administration’s sights. “I’m doing the best I can,” Bunch, a historian who announced his retirement on Sept. 8, said.

LILI-ANNE BROWN

‘We’re Not Asking Anybody for Anything Anymore’

The emerging financial strategy is not simply about finding another foundation whenever a government grant disappears. Some Black Museum leaders are thinking much bigger. Deborah Omowale Jarmon, the CEO and director of the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM), described plans for a 103,000-square-foot cultural center that would include a hotel, speakeasy, event space, theater and auditorium. Those additions are not merely amenities but are potential revenue streams. “We’re not asking anybody for anything anymore,” she declared. “Because we just don’t want to be at the table. We want to own that table.” For some, the next major donor could be a foundation. For others, survival depends on memberships, admission revenue, partnerships, private contributions, or on persuading people who have never donated to a museum that preserving Black history is worth paying for. “It’s a story that resonates with everybody,” Howard said. WI

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NATIONAL BUNCH from Page 4 expected to depart at the end of the year. His departure comes after more than a year of escalating pressure from President Donald Trump and his administration over the Smithsonian’s treatment of slavery, race, immigration and other parts of American history. Trump has accused the institution of presenting the country too negatively, while his administration has demanded reviews of museum exhibitions and materials and accused the National Museum of American History of political activism. Bunch repeatedly defended the Smithsonian without turning his disagreements with the White

House into a personal fight with Trump. “It scares me when people aren’t brave enough to face their history,” Bunch said during a television interview this summer. The sentence captured much of the philosophy that guided Bunch through four decades in museums. History, in his telling, was never supposed to comfort everyone who encountered it. Nor was it meant to indict the country. Its value came from presenting enough of the truth for Americans to understand both what their nation had accomplished and whom it had failed. “We try to tell a complicated story that is driven by the best nonpartisan scholarship we have,”

16 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

3 Lonnie Bunch speaks at the National Portrait Gallery’s unveiling of Oprah Winfrey in 2023. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Bunch said in another television interview as criticism from the administration intensified.

Bunch v. Trump

The conflict had been building since Trump’s return to office in 2025. Trump signed an executive order in March of that year accusing the Smithsonian of advancing narratives that portray American

and Western values as “inherently harmful and oppressive.” The White House later began reviewing exhibitions and materials at several Smithsonian museums. By July 2026, the fight was no longer confined to bureaucratic correspondence. A 162-page White House report accused the National Museum of American History of “extreme political activism” and said the museum had turned history into an instrument to “divide, dispirit and discourage” Americans. Bunch responded in a message to Smithsonian employees that the report was “not a fair characterization” of the museum’s work. Trump later ordered warning signs placed at the National Museum of American History telling visitors that the museum did not, in his administration’s view, accurately portray the country’s history. Then, days before Bunch’s departure, the administration increased the pressure again. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley warned that federal agencies could withdraw cooperation with the Smithsonian under its current leadership, including artifact loans, procurement assistance and discretionary grants. “It is also concerning that the Smithsonian leadership's culture of ideological activism has not only corrupted the Institution but has spread across the country and corrupted the American Alliance for Museums- the primary organization and accrediting body for the museum profession-among others,” they wrote in an Aug. 26

letter. For Bunch, the fight reached the institution whose very existence became inseparable from his name. When he became founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in July 2005, there was no museum. There was one employee. No building, no collection, no site, and no substantial pool of money to make the dream real. Bunch spent the next 11 years changing that. The museum, which finally opened beside the Washington Monument in September 2016, became one of Washington’s most sought-after destinations. Its collection grew to roughly 40,000 objects, preserving everything from the brutality of slavery and segregation to Black achievement in politics, music, sports, military service, business and culture. Nearly 13 million people have visited since its opening. Bunch later described his improbable assignment in the title of his book, “A Fool’s Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump.” “So many experiences throughout my career had prepared me and positioned me for this, the grandest challenge of my life, what some have labeled my calling,” Bunch wrote in the 2019 book, according to an excerpt printed by CBS News.

BUNCH Page 44

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OUR

EARTH

Black Mayors: Climate Change is in America’s Top Five Crucial Issues

By Hazel Trice Edney Trice Edney News Wire

As the Trump administration continues to deny the reality and community impact of climate change, Black mayors have united to protect African-Americans and other people of color, who are increasingly and disparately in danger across the nation. “Even though we have an administration that doesn’t even believe that climate change is real, we’re smart and we know that it is real,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, president of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), in an interview with the Trice Edney News Wire. “People can see these storms that are causing flooding in areas that have never been flooded. People know it’s hotter. They can see that. What we’re doing now is just allowing ourselves to be prepared for the world that we know that we want.” Baltimore mayor since 2020, Scott has earned a reputation for using his power to actively prepare for the world that he envisions. For example, three years into his administration, he signed into law City Council Bill 21-0159, sponsored by Councilman Mark Conway, to help "facilitate a transition to zero emissions vehicles for the city’s administrative fleet. Under the law, by 2030, all procurements for the City’s administrative fleet – comprised of light-duty, standard-occupancy vehicles, including sedans, small pickups, and SUVs – will be required to be zero emission vehicles, mostly likely all electric," according to a press release describing the bill. This action followed the 2022 announcement of Scott's vision for a goal of 100% carbon neutrality by 2045. Among his earliest legislative actions, Scott also signed a bill requir-

ing the city’s three pension funds to divest from the fossil fuel industry. “My administration knows the critical importance of ensuring our city is able to confront the climate crisis head-on and do everything in our power to ensure Baltimore is leading the way in sustainability and climate resilience," he said in a press statement. "Doing so requires us to look at the steps city government can take to change the way it operates, and work to modernize our systems to be more climate conscious." In the interview, he said he wants Baltimore to lead the nation by example. "When you look at the milestones that we're setting for ourselves, that's how we're holding ourselves accountable." He said he hopes this vision will spread around the nation to mayors of AAMA as effects of climate change - including global warming, pandemics and other health crisis have historically affected Black and other people of color disparately. Scott represents the 641 African American mayors of the AAMA, an organization that grew out of the 50-year-old National Conference of Black Mayors, which merged with the AAMA in 2016. Black mayors represent 48 million citizens across the country. It has been widely reported by credible environmental agencies that climate change causes frequent and severe weather events, heavier than normal rainfalls, dangerous thunder and lightning storms, droughts and scorching heat waves such as those taking place this summer. Coupled with long time environmental racism in poor Black neighborhoods, climate issues have risen to crisis level. Among America’s worst recent environmental crises was the Flint, Michigan, water crisis from 20142019. Between 6-12,000 Flint chil-

dren were exposed to high levels of lead in Flint’s drinking water after residents complained about the taste, smell and appearance of the water for years. Lead affects the brain and central nervous system when consumed. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, mayor since 2019, is still dealing with the aftermath of the crisis. In an interview, he agreed with observers that Flint suffered the inattention that led to the crisis largely because the community was poor and Black. “We would not have had to experience the things that we are still currently experiencing had we been a community of not so many minority members of our society,” he said. Environmental racism doesn’t just impact physical health. The continued fear and mistrust of the government also impact mental health.

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“When we talk about the psychological and social impact that we've had, you know, there's a crisis of confidence, especially in government,” Neeley said. “Definitely the psychological impact is something that we cannot see and we have to really understand what that is. And so, segments of our community still believe that we're still in crisis.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com. 4 Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, president of the African American Mayors Association, says the organization and its members, representing 48 million citizens across the country, are working to combat climate change. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 17

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By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Elena Gutiérrez can send money from Washington to her grandmother in Havana. She cannot send electricity. She cannot keep the refrigerator running when another blackout spoils the food inside, make water flow from a dry faucet or guarantee that the cell tower will have enough power for her grandmother’s phone to ring. Sometimes Gutiérrez calls and gets nothing. “When we do connect, she is sitting in the dark in 90-degree heat with all her food spoiled,” said Gutiérrez, 34, a hospitality specialist who lives in Columbia Heights. “I work all day in D.C. sending money, but what good is cash when the stores are empty and there is literally no power to pump water?” More than 1,000 miles from Havana, Cuba’s unraveling has entered kitchens, workplaces and family conversations across the Washington region. Relatives here are trying to move money, medicine and necessities onto an island where fuel is scarce, blackouts can swallow hours or days, inflation has battered pensions and salaries, and a crippled electrical system has turned ordinary routines into daily calculations. At the same time, some of the decisions that could make life harder or easier for those families are being made only blocks from where Gutiérrez works. President Donald Trump has tightened the economic vise on Cuba, targeting oil, financial channels and government-linked enterprises as his administration tries to force concessions from Havana. Cuban officials say talks with Washington have effectively frozen. Inside Cuba, a government that spent generations restricting private capitalism is now opening portions of its economy to it, searching for money and investment as the country sinks deeper into crisis. For Washington’s Cuban community, there is little agreement over whom to blame. One side sees an exhausted Communist government finally confronting the consequences of decades of repression, central control and economic failure. The other sees Washington

5 Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez is accusing the United States of intensifying economic pressure while offering little through diplomatic contacts. (Courtesy Photo)

deliberately squeezing a population already struggling to keep food cold, hospitals operating and buses moving. Gutiérrez sees her grandmother sitting in darkness. “It feels like a slow-motion catastrophe,” she said, “and we are completely helpless watching it from here.”

‘It’s Time for Real Change’

Cuba’s problems now reach nearly every corner of daily life. Fuel shortages and repeated electrical failures have disrupted internet and telephone service, garbage collection, water delivery, transportation and businesses. Schools preparing for another academic year have struggled with teacher shortages and inadequate supplies. Factories cannot reliably operate when electricity disappears. The electrical grid has become one of the clearest measures of the country’s deterioration. Aging generating plants repeatedly break down. Cuba lacks enough fuel to keep other facilities operating at capacity. Years of insufficient investment have left little margin when another plant fails. Food can spoil before electricity returns. Water pumps stop. Cell service disappears. Businesses close their doors because equipment cannot operate. Carlos Miranda, 61, an Arlington

nonprofit director and human rights advocate, rejects the argument that Washington created the disaster. “The energy crisis is a result of decades of systemic mismanagement, not just external pressure,” Miranda said. “The people banging pots in the streets of Havana are screaming for freedom.” Miranda points to demonstrations in Cuba and protests outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington as evidence of something larger than frustration over electricity. Cubans have repeatedly taken to the streets demanding food, power and political freedom, while the government continues to imprison opponents and restrict dissent. “What we are seeing with the protests outside the Cuban Embassy and on the island is the final collapse of a failed dictatorship,” Miranda said. He wants Washington to continue pressuring Cuba’s leaders while creating ways to deliver assistance directly to citizens and political prisoners. “Washington needs to keep the pressure on the regime while finding direct ways to support the citizens and political prisoners who are dying for basic human rights,” Miranda said. “It’s time for real change.”

Restrictions in Cuba

Trump has shown little interest in easing that pressure. Since returning to the White House, his administration has restored and expanded restrictions on Cuba, including measures aimed at government officials, military-linked businesses, financial activity and energy. Cuba remains on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation with broad consequences for banking, investment and international transactions. The administration has also gone after Cuba’s access to oil, one of the commodities the island can least afford to lose. In June, Washington sanctioned Unión Cuba-Petróleo, Cuba’s stateowned oil company. The administration has accused Cuban leaders of protecting the government and military while ordinary citizens bear the consequences of shortages. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Don't Let Scammers Crash Back-to-School Season

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Today’s students and young adults are true digital natives, having grown up online, learning to navigate digital spaces as a normal part of daily life. As they transition to college, they turn to digital platforms and social media for everything from apartment hunting and job searches to shopping, banking and talking with friends. That familiarity, however, can create a false sense of security, making younger adults just as much of a target for fraud and scams as older individuals. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Americans ages 20–29 reported more than $500 million to internet-crime losses in 2025. As scammers become more sophisticated, including using AI, students need to be more vigilant than ever about fraud and scams. Understanding the most common ones can help you and your children avoid becoming victims.

Common scams targeting students (and the families supporting them) Online shopping and marketplace scams Whether your student is furnishing a dorm, moving into an apartment or buying textbooks-or you’re helping them pay for essentials—online deals and secondhand marketplaces can help you save money while also creating more opportunities for scammers. Buy from official and trusted retailers whenever possible, double check website URLs for misspellings or other red flags, and make sure the site uses https://. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true as well. Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or text messages, including fake "missed delivery" notifications that often lead to fraudulent websites or malware.

Job scams As students return to school this fall, some may be looking for parttime jobs or internships. Scammers target students with fake jobs offering high salaries, flexible schedules or jobs you can do from a residence hall, apartment or home. If your child receives a job offer by text, email, or direct message – be cautious, especially if they never applied to work at that company. Encourage them to use wellknown job boards and then apply directly through the company's official website. Rental and housing scams Scammers know student housing is in high demand. They’ll often post fake apartment listings or copy legitimate ones to trick potential renters (or their families) into sending money for a deposit. Rental prices that seem unusually low should raise a red flag. Use a reverse image search to see if photos of the property appear on a different website or in a different location. Research unfamiliar property managers or housing websites before sending money, and avoid paying deposits through wire transfers, gift cards or peer-topeer payment apps.

How to protect yourself (and your children)

No matter what type of scam you encounter, a few simple habits can go a long way toward reducing your risk: • Limit the personal informa-

tion you and your children share online and make social media profiles private whenever possible. • When you’re making a payment, use more protected methods, such as credit and debit cards, which generally offer stronger consumer protections than wire transfers, gift cards or peer-to-peer payment apps. • Scammers can spoof phone numbers to make calls look like they’re coming from your bank, law enforcement or another trusted organization. Don’t automatically trust your caller ID – if you get a call demanding immediate action or claiming there’s a problem with your account, hang up and call back directly using a verified phone number. • Don’t click links or download attachments from unexpected emails or text messages and avoid accessing your financial accounts or making online purchases on public Wi-Fi, where savvy cybercriminals can gain access to your login credentials. • Perhaps most importantly, slow down. Taking a few extra minutes to verify information can make the difference.

and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of

future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

For more financial health tips, visit chase.com/scamproof. For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 19

HEALTH SICKLE CELL from Page 1 within have to rise up to fight for better.” The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describe sickle cell disease (SCD) as an inherited blood disorder that causes the bone marrow to produce abnormal hemoglobin (blood cells). These abnormal blood cells are inflexible and are poor carriers of oxygen throughout the body, resulting in complications such as excruciating pain,

chronic anemia, organ failure, and shortened lifespan. Understanding the devastating complications of the disease firsthand, Finch— fueled by her grief for her son, who died in 2021— founded Leebo’s Sickle Cell Support Group in 2023. A national platform for education and advocacy, the nonprofit represents a broader shift in which patients, parents, and caregivers are no longer content to solely be the people discussed in medical of-

3 Activist DeMitrious Wyant educates on the power of nutrition and healthy life choices as one of the most effective ways to mitigate complications of chronic illness. (Courtesy Photo/The Rare Care Foundation)

fices, research meetings, and policy rooms. They are stepping up to lead the discussions themselves. “The new generation is adept at research; they were born with it at their fingertips. They question. We didn’t,” Finch, 56, explained.

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“However, our generation has lived experience, wisdom, honed instinct. Collectively, we are learning how to combine both approaches, and the result is a game changer.”

The Miseducated Become the Educators

For a community that has spent generations being told what to believe about its own disease, educating themselves is becoming a form of power. Dr. Shanetta Richardson, 47, president of the Sickle Cell Association of the National Capital Area (SCANCA), believes those living with SCD must be at the center of their own education because no medical journal can fully capture the reality of living inside the disease. “It is important that we are now doing the teaching and advocating because we are living with it every day, learning quickly, and adapting,” Richardson said. “It is very difficult for people, even medical personnel, to understand and speak to the unique experience of our entire population.” Those with sickle cell disease can experience vastly different symptoms, complications, and responses to treatment. Richardson learned early that navigating those differences required more than simply following a long series of medical instructions. “Spending so much time in a hospital system and noticing those who couldn’t advocate for themselves taught me early the power of one’s voice,” she said. That voice, she said, is growing louder at a moment when medical possibilities for sickle cell treatment are changing, too. Although there is no universal cure for sickle cell disease, curative and transfor-

mative therapies have introduced possibilities that previous generations were unable to even imagine. “At every appointment, sickle cell warriors used to be given a death sentence,” Richardson said. “Now, curative and transformative therapies are becoming part of the discussion.” For Richardson, the new conversation around treatment for sickle cell disease demands a new mindset: more education, more empathy, more resources and less judgment. “Now there is hope,” she continued, “and it is our responsibility to take that hope and build a future for ourselves that no one expected us to live long enough to realize.”

From Fragmented Voices to Collective Power

For all the progress being made, advocates say the sickle cell community still faces a fundamental obstacle: it has not always been organized into a single powerful voice. DeMitrious Wyant, 39, activist, believes that years of limited resources and fragmented efforts have made it harder for the public to see the people behind the disease. “To a degree, we have been divided,” said the executive director of The Rare Care Foundation. “We form mini entities that do similar things, so instead of major financing as a unit 50- to a 100,000strong, we have historically competed for the same resources but in much smaller groups.” Wyant believes sickle cell advocates must also begin presenting the public with something more impactful than individual organi-

SICKLE CELL Page 21

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SICKLE CELL from Page 20 zations: the human beings whose lives are shaped by the disease. “When people see sickle cell disease, they see an organization,” he said. “The people suffering from the disease are rarely shown.” Wyant, who lives with sickle cell disease, believes that fragmentation must give way to collective action, particularly for a population that has historically been expected to accept less. “When you see cancer, you see people, families, love, stories of courage, the tragedy of loss. That human understanding builds connection, draws people to rally for a cause,” he explained. “Sickle cell disease has never been positioned in this light, because we, as one powerful collective, have never created it.” Richardson also emphasized the importance of increasing visibility for those suffering from sickle cell disease. “Empathy starts when people

understand and can relate their struggle to yours,” she said. “It is impossible to empathize with a disease whose suffering remains unseen.” For Finch, a mother still early in grief from the loss of a son, sharing the faces, the names, and the stories of those now suffering, and those lost to sickle cell disease has now become her life’s mission. “We have lost too many too early to sickle cell disease,” she said. “We owe it to them to work together to ensure that fewer families continue to suffer such unimaginable loss.” As she works to encourage others to join in her advocacy, Finch offered a direct charge: “It’s time that the cure starts from within.” This reporter has genotype SS, the most aggressive form of sickle cell disease. She lectures and advocates nationally for the inclusion of mental health support and holistic and alternative medicine as treatment for those with chronic illnesses. WI

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Donate online today at wicharities.org Purchase an ad to support our education programs. Email rburke@washingtoninformer.com SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 21

EDUCATION

3 Prince George’s County Public Schools leaders and families alike are rallying after more than 10,000 students started the new school year without bus routes, causing major confusion. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

System, Families Rally After 10,000 Students Lack Bus Routes During PGCPS Opening Week Prince Georgians Express Transparency Concerns

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter More than 10,000 Prince George’s

County Public Schools (PGCPS) students started their first week of the 2026-2027 school year without clear bus routes. With a bus track-

22 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

ing app cited as having system failures across the county, the mishap caused a lot of confusion and forced many parents to drive their children

to school themselves. PGCPS Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph characterized this as a “leadership failure.” “This is about more than responding to the challenges of one week,” Joseph said in an Aug. 30 statement. “It is about building the systems, capacity and culture necessary to provide families with the reliable service they deserve.” Keba Baldwin, former PGCPS director of transportation, resigned from the post after the first week of classes. Now, Dr. Mark Fossett, a former chief operating officer for the school system, will serve as acting director and lead a new transportation transition team. “We will use this moment of setback to address longstanding issues within the Transportation Department, including customer service,” Joseph said. “We will begin working to automate our telephone systems so that when a parent calls, a response is provided promptly and we can better monitor how issues are being resolved. Our ombudsman will lead this initiative. It represents phase one of a broader customer service improvement effort that is needed throughout our school district.” “Now, our responsibility is to stabilize the system, strengthen customer service and address the underlying operational issues that contributed to the challenges we experienced during the opening of school,” Joseph continued. Dr. Charoscar Coleman, PGCPS chief operating officer, said the primary issue—10,000 students without a bus route— has been resolved. “Our priority this weekend was ensuring every student in the original backlog received a route,” Coleman said in a statement. “Clearing that backlog represents important progress, but our work is not finished. We will

continue deploying additional personnel and monitoring transportation operations closely as we stabilize routes and respond to the normal changes that occur during the opening of school.”

‘Our Families Deserve More Than an Explanation of What Failed’

Tonya Sweat, who is running for county executive in the midterm elections this November, was disturbed by the amount of students who were left behind amid transportation issues during the opening week. Despite reassurance from the school system, Sweat is still concerned for the future of Prince George’s County Public Schools. “I’m very disappointed that PGCPS, for the fourth year in a row, can’t get transportation correct and timely for our students,” she said. “Despite what they are telling the public, there is still a shortage of bus drivers. This is why this county needs a change in leadership, and this is why I’m running for county executive.” Sherman Hardy, a prominent member of the Citizens for Accountability in Government Facebook group, strongly criticized the ongoing transportation issues and a lack of transparency. “This has unfortunately become pretty standard in Prince George’s County. Every year I wait to see what color Shug [Avery] put on the walls, because somehow we continue with the same song and dance when school opens,” Hardy told The Informer. “PGCPS says the backlog has now been cleared, but that doesn’t erase the impact on thousands of families or the fact that, once again, we started our scholars off on the wrong foot.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Seenager Takeovers: DC Seniors Are Showing Us How It’s Done

By Thennie Freeman, Director, DC Department of Parks and Recreation

There’s been a lot of talk about “teen takeovers” this summer. But I have a takeover I’d much rather talk about. Seenager Takeovers. Our DC seniors have been taking over recreation centers, pools, parks, stages, baseball games, campgrounds and just about everywhere else this summer. They’ve been dancing, swimming, traveling, competing, laughing, learning, making new friends and reminding all of us that getting older does not mean slowing down. If anything, our “Seenagers” are just getting started. At the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), we believe recreation is for all. And our seniors have embraced that philosophy all summer long. The numbers tell part of the story. This summer, more than 1,100 senior enrollments have filled DPR programs across all eight wards with residents participating in aquatics, fitness, arts and one of our 27 senior day programs. Aquatics alone accounted for more than half of those enrollments, while hundreds more participated in fitness activities, including strength training, yoga, Pilates and cardio. But if you really want to understand what a Seenager Takeover looks like, you have to see them in action. This summer, more than 400 seniors participated in our Senior Drip pool parties, proving that style and confidence only get better with time. We took more than 100 seniors to Camp Riverview for two Senior Fun Camp sessions—overnight experiences designed especially for them. Think facials, bid whist, stargazing and live musical performances. This wasn’t your typical camping trip. It was a curated getaway where our seniors could relax, connect and have a little fun. We took 75 seniors out to a Washington Nationals game and another 35 to experience “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical” stage play at Arena Stage. Our enhancement trips served approximately 300 seniors, giving residents opportunities to explore, experience and enjoy destinations and activities throughout the region. Seniors also joined us for Jazz on the Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building, the Frankly & Beverly presentation at Hamilton Live. and our annual highly-anticipated Senior Cruise on the Potomac. And we aren’t done yet. When you’ve spent your summer moving and grooving, there’s no reason to stop when the weather starts to change. But here’s what makes me especially proud: These experiences aren’t isolated special events. They’re part of a larger commitment to keeping our seniors active, engaged and connected throughout the year. That’s what recreation can do. It can create a reason to get out of the house. It can introduce you to someone who becomes a new friend. It can give you something to look forward to on a Tuesday morning. It can help you discover a new activity, strengthen your body, stimulate your mind or simply have a good time. And sometimes, it can give you the confidence to try something you never thought you’d do. That’s why I love spending time with our seniors. At DPR events, you’ll often find me right there with them—laughing, line dancing, cheering them on and enjoying every minute. Their energy is contagious. Their stories are inspiring. And their enthusiasm reminds me why access to recreation matters at every stage of life. Now, as summer winds down, our Seenagers are getting ready for their next takeover: the DC Senior Games in September. This is serious business—and our seniors age 50 and over take it seriously. DC is a two-time National Senior Games champion, and our local Senior Games are an important opportunity for athletes to compete, challenge themselves and represent their city. We’re looking forward to celebrating this year’s champions and sending our DC representatives to the National Senior Games next summer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Whether you’re competing, cheering from the sidelines or simply finding a new way to stay active, there’s a place for you. That’s my message to our platinum residents: There is always a place for you at DPR. So here’s to the Seenagers. Keep taking over the dance floor. Keep taking over the pool. Keep taking over the trails, the

5 DPR Director Thennie Freeman in a Conga Line 4 Seenagers at a Senior Drip Pool Party

courts, the stages and the parks. Take over the room and influence the generations to come. Take over the conversation. Take over your health. And most importantly, take over your life. At DPR, we’re interested in creating more opportunities for you to live, move, connect and have fun. The Seenager Takeover is just getting started. And I wouldn’t miss it for the world. For all things seniors at DPR including DC Senior Games, visit dprseniors.splashthat.com/.

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 23

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EDITORIAL

When Enforcement Becomes Inhuman

The Death of a Haitian Student in Ohio is Another Devastating Reminder of the Human Cost of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown. There are moments when immigration policy ceases to be an abstraction and becomes painfully, tragically human. The apparent suicide of Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian-born honors student in Springfield, Ohio, is one such moment. Bel had recently graduated from Springfield High School and begun studying neuroscience at Wright State University. He was a JROTC member, a soccer player, and a young man with ambitions to become a doctor. But after the Trump administration terminated protections for thousands of Haitians, Bel lost his Temporary Protected Status and was placed under ICE supervision and fitted with a GPS ankle monitor. His family says the shame and humiliation he endured contributed to his despair. He died Monday after walking into traffic on Interstate 70. No government policy should be judged solely by its stated objective. We must also judge it by the human suffering it causes. There have been disturbing examples elsewhere. Earlier this year in Minnesota, immigration enforcement became so aggressive that residents feared seeking medical care. In one case,

federal agents arrested a Mexican immigrant, Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, whose skull was fractured during the arrest. He was taken to a Minneapolis emergency room, where nurses questioned the government's account of how his devastating injuries occurred. In another disturbing incident in Minnesota, ICE agents detained a mother and her young son after the child was taken to a hospital for medical care, fueling growing fear among immigrant families that even hospitals and doctors may no longer be safe places to seek help. This is what makes Bel's death so painful. Immigration enforcement has increasingly become not simply about enforcing the law but about creating an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and humiliation. The Trump administration has every right to enforce immigration laws, but it does not have the moral right to treat human beings as disposable. Behind every immigration case is a person with a family, a history, and hopes and dreams. Bel was not a statistic. He was a son, a student, and a young man who wanted to become a doctor. America can secure its borders

without destroying people's dignity. It can uphold the law without forcing vulnerable communities to live in terror. Pierre Damas Bel should have been preparing for medical school, not facing deportation and the stigma of wearing an ankle monitor. His death should compel America to confront a question we can no longer avoid: When does immigration enforcement stop being enforcement—and become cruelty? WI

No government policy should be judged solely by its stated objective. We must also judge it by the human suffering it causes.

For those too young to remember 9/11, its impact may not be as keenly felt as those who lived through it or who lost friends and loved ones.

Thousands were killed as four planes were hijacked with three hitting their marks: The Pentagon in Virginia and the Twin Towers in New York City. A fourth plane, whose intended target has never been verified, plummeted into a rural Pennsylvania field after several passengers and staff attempted, but failed, to regain control. For those too young to remember 9/11, its impact may not be as keenly felt as those who lived through it or who lost friends and loved ones. Then there are the countless others who were injured and affected mentally and physically by the tragic day. For today’s youth, 9/11 represents a chapter in history books. But like the Holocaust to the Jewish people, or the Middle Passage

“Absolutely powerful article and message. There is so much power in connection and collaboration. When Sickle Cell organizations, advocates, Warriors, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare partners share resources, amplify voices, and work together, our collective impact grows. We must continue building bridges that bring hope, improve lives today, and move us closer to a safe, accessible, and broadly available cure for all.” Tesha Samuels- (In reference to the article: “Leaders of the New School.”

Despite the Tragic Results, 9/11 Remains a Unique Day in U.S. History when the Only Colors that Mattered were Red, White, and Blue It’s been 25 years since America faced what some believed was virtually impossible – we were attacked on our own soil by terrorists hell bent on causing death and destruction.

TO THE EDITOR

to Black people, recollections about 9/11 provide an opportunity for all to recognize the potential extent of man’s inhumanity and perhaps suggest ways we avoid such outcomes. We can learn from history, from past mistakes, and become a better society – a better world. For one brief moment in time, on Sept. 11, 2001, Americans ignored the differences between us that are often used to justify prejudice, racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. For one shining moment, as Americans felt as if the sky was falling and that our darkest fears had come true, we came together, united and determined to protect our nation. Americans united under the ban-

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“Excellent article ! I'm going to do more about my own health care. It does not involve any rare conditions. But I can do better !” -Eric (In reference to the article: ‘‘You Look Fine’: Award-Winning Film Turns Invisible Illness Into a Call for Preventative Health.”)

ner of red, white, and blue, and we survived. The tragedy is, however, 25 years later, many have forgotten the service, commitment, and sacrifices of those who died on those planes or who lost their lives as first responders trying to save others. Those men, women, and children were not Black, white, Muslim, Jewish, or gay, or “radical left.” They were simply Americans. And for someone, they continue to be missed. We live in a perilous time when what our leaders point to each day

are not our similarities but our differences. The rhetoric on social media emphasizes conversations about them versus us. But WE are all Americans, aren’t we? As we pause on 9/11, to remember those who died and to honor those who bravely stepped forward without regard for their own safety, the words of Maya Angelou come to mind in her poem “Human Family.” “We are more alike than unalike, more alike than unalike, more alive than unalike.” WI

SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony

ICE Already Shocks America — Gloves Can't Hide Their Fingerprints!

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement that it would spend $20 million to equip ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) with electric shock gloves is indeed shocking. Equipping ICE with electric shock gloves is tantamount to equipping a wolf with a knife and fork to enter the hen house.

The only thing missing is a white napkin to wipe his mouth after completing his meal. The wolf has proven that he will bite, tear, rip and kill his prey with a ferocious efficiency. ICE has shown no accountability for any of its lethal actions. They are already well equipped and armed to the teeth. These mask-wearing, plainclothes, unmarked-car-driving agents of terror are currently armed with the following: • Nine-millimeter semi-automatic handguns, specialized SIG

Guest Columnist

Sauer P320 and the Glock 19, long guns, rifles and shotguns, M4 carbines/assault rifles, Remington 870 shotguns (for highrisk operations) • Specialized tactical firearms including machine guns such as the SIG MPX • Conducted energy devices (Tasers) • Chemical munitions, pepper spray (OC spray), tear gas canisters • Body armor designed to stop handguns and rifle-caliber rounds

• Gas masks and riot gear If ICE cannot function with this arsenal of autocracy, shame on them. Our tax dollars are going to equip a special masked militia accountable to no one other than Stephen Miller and President Donald Trump. They have proven that they cannot be trusted. They will lie and deceive, as revealed in various fatal incidents. Too often we hear the line, "They resisted arrest, and they tried to mow me down with their car."

Both eyewitness and citizen cameras have disproven their lies. They have not implemented body cameras for their agents. This past July, they committed $30.9 million to procure equipment from Axon. Only after a determined public outcry over the fatal killings of Ruben Ray Martinez in Texas, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero

ANTHONY Page 45

Emil Guillermo

Preserved by Purpose: Taking the Limits Off of God

The midterm elections are more important than ever as we fight back. And we all know "affordability" is the No. 1 issue in the U.S. So, how are you doing? A new survey says that, for a single person, being comfortable in California requires an income of $126,797. Or $302,682 for a family of four.

Did those numbers make you uncomfortable? A single person making just $102,794 could be comfortable in Utah. But wouldn't you rather just look at the Mormon Temple in Oakland from I-580? The survey defined "comfortable" as spending 50% of income on necessities, 30% on "like-tohaves" and putting 20% in savings. Are your percentages way out of whack? Like 100% on necessities? What if the car breaks down? What if the kids need x, y or z?

Guest Columnists

What if overtime gets cut back? What if Social Security goes bankrupt? Are you a democratic socialist yet? That's not where blues go red and turn communist. It's about a government that puts people before profits. And cares for all of us. Not just the billionaires. In last month's Florida primary, people around the country saw Florida legislator Angie Nixon win the Democratic U.S. Senate primary with a stunning upset

over Alex Vindman. Vindman was well-funded ($16.3 million to Nixon's $975,000) and well-connected nationally. But Nixon — an African American with state house cred, union organizing experience and a fighter who was arrested protesting Gov. Ron DeSantis' redistricting efforts — proved to be unbeatable. She's officially aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). That means Nixon, 42, believes in universal health care, also

known as "Medicare for All," taxing the wealthy and a minimum wage of $25 an hour. Think back to that comfort level survey. At 40 hours a week, $25 an hour is just $1,000 a week or $52,000 a year. It's not even half what that survey said was needed for a single person to be "comfortable" in California. We're forced to get three or four low-wage jobs. Nixon and the DSA want to set the floor, so no one sinks into

GUILLERMO Page 45

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Gabrielle Smith Finnie

Why Eliminating Workplace Diversity Data Threatens Black Workers

For more than 60 years, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has required all private sector employers with 100 or more employees and federal contractors with 50 or more employees to report racial, ethnic and gender demographics of their workforce through the EEO-1 form. This data — covering more than 50 million employees at

73,000 employers — enhances transparency and reveals employment trends in job categories. The collection and dissemination of detailed workforce demographic data is essential to fulfilling EEOC's mission of fair and inclusive workplaces with equal opportunity for all. In July, the EEOC voted to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to repeal the requirement for private sector employers and federal contractors to file an annual report detailing employees' race

26 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

and sex. The proposed rule would eliminate the only federally collected source of business-level data on employment by race, ethnicity, sex, and job category. This data is integral to examining if Black workers are represented in specific job categories which range from service workers to Executive or Senior Level Officials and Managers. If adopted, the proposed rule would make workplace discrimination and occupational segregation harder to detect and prove. At the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, we know

this because our organization has depended on this kind of data for over half a century. Since our founding, the Joint Center has built an extensive body of workforce research that shows why demographic data matters for contextualizing employment and workforce trends. Our State of the Dream 2026 report highlighted that 2025 was a year marked by rising Black unemployment and economic regression. Last year Black unemployment rose to 7.5 percent in December. The unemployment rate and shifts in the workforce were impacted

by attacks on policies and institutions historically intended to combat racial inequality. Without detailed demographic data, occupational segregation and systemic barriers remain invisible. And what remains invisible cannot be addressed. This is precisely why EEO-1 data is irreplaceable. Analyzing if Black workers are in specific job categories like executive, managerial, and other senior leadership roles is critical and provides a broader assess-

ASANTE/FINNIE Page 45

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Urgency to Decrease Energy Power Bills

Every month, mothers in Southeast Washington, D.C., as well as other mothers from across the nation, open their electric bill. They do the math they have done a hundred times before: What gets paid, and what gets pushed to next month. Throughout this country, in underserved Black, brown and white communities from Anacostia to Newark to

Raleigh-Durham to Detroit, St. Louis and Los Angeles, electricity costs are quietly becoming one of the most regressive taxes in America. And now is the time for the leaders who are best positioned to exercise carpe diem — "seize the day." That is why I have to say, as a lifelong Democrat and someone who has spent decades fighting for economic justice in underserved communities: our party must rethink its approach and put forward bold proposals that build the energy infrastructure this country needs. The Federal Energy

Guest Columnist

Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently voted, unanimously and on a bipartisan basis, to help address the rising electricity cost crisis. FERC's reform would modernize its "blanket certificate" program, a permitting shortcut that lets natural gas projects under a defined limit move forward without the yearslong case-by-case review required for major pipelines. The cost caps that define what counts as a blanket certificate project have not been updated since 2006. Construction costs have risen

dramatically since then. FERC's fix simply brings those caps in line with today's costs, so routine upgrades like compressor station expansions and storage improvements do not get stuck in the same slow lane as massive new pipelines. This is basic maintenance of a regulatory system that stopped making sense. Notably, it was not just Republican commissioners who signed off. Climate-focused commissioners — such as former Massachusetts undersecretary of energy and climate solutions, Judy Chang, nominated by President

Biden — voted for it too because she understands that getting more supply online, safely and efficiently, is part of how you keep prices in check for working families. Unfortunately, a group of Democratic attorneys general, led by Washington and Massachusetts, has filed comments opposing this reform. I understand their rationale and where they are coming from. Nobody wants to see corners cut on environmental review. I am also a lifelong advocate

CHAVIS Page 46

Pat Stevenson

34 Years, Thousands of Stories, One Enduring Love for Harlem

Thirty-four years ago, I began a journey that I could never have fully imagined would bring me to this moment. When I started publishing community newspapers in Harlem, I had a vision: to create a newspaper that would tell our stories, celebrate our people, inform our families and businesses, and make sure the positive

things happening in our community received the attention they deserved. Thirty-four years later, I am still here, still publishing, still believing in Harlem and still committed to what became our guiding philosophy: "Good News You Can Use." This anniversary is deeply personal for me. Harlem Community Newspapers has never simply been a business. It has been a major part of my life. Over these 34 years, I have watched Harlem change. Businesses have opened and closed. Buildings have ris-

Guest Columnist

en. New residents have arrived. Generations have grown up. Political and communty leadership has changed, and technology has completely transformed the way we communicate. Through all those changes, one thing has remained constant: our community deserves to have its own voice. That belief has kept me publishing.

Telling the Stories That Might Otherwise Go Untold

Throughout these years, we have covered the major events and institu-

tions that helped shape Harlem, but some of the stories that mean the most to me are those about everyday people doing extraordinary things. We have celebrated our seniors, young people, educators, clergy, entrepreneurs, artists, homeowners, nonprofit organizations and community advocates. We have promoted health information, educational opportunities, cultural celebrations and resources that could make a difference in someone's life. We have celebrated Black excellence when others overlooked it.

We have also documented Harlem as it changed before our eyes. That is one of the responsibilities of the Black Press that I appreciate even more today than I did when I started. A community newspaper does more than report what happened this week. We create a permanent record that says: We were here. This happened. These people mattered. At a time when Black history continues to be debated, challenged and, in some places, removed from class-

STEVENSON Page 46

Charlene Crowell

Despite Key Courtroom Defeats Over Fair Housing, HUD Seeks More Cuts

Despite getting slapped down by three courts over this summer, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) still plans to continue its efforts to hobble fair housing investigations and enforcement. In late August, a federal judge warned that Congress — not federal agencies — authorizes and

appropriates funding for programs and operations. Noting on Aug. 26 that HUD failed to make "a satisfactory explanation for its decision," Judge Myong J. Joun ruled, "It belies credulity to think that five awards alone could broaden and strengthen fair housing work across the nation, and excluding almost all existing fair housing organizations will certainly not strengthen fair housing work. I cannot ignore this disconnect." Judge Joun's ruling rejected

HUD's attempt to limit grant criteria to only organizations with annual budgets of $5 million or more. That move would have had the effect of shrinking over 100 fair housing organizations to only five nationwide. In March 2025, a court ordered HUD to reinstate Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grants it had terminated for more than 60 organizations. Later in June, yet another court ruled HUD must administer appropriated FHIP funds when the agency re-

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fused to disburse FHIP funds for the 2024 fiscal year. "When someone is wrongfully turned away from a housing opportunity because they have experienced domestic violence, because of a disability, their gender, or the color of their skin, they don't call Washington," said Lisa Rice, president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), reacting to the decision. "They call the fair housing organization in their community. HUD tried to shut the doors of

the frontline groups who fight housing injustice and today a federal court emphatically said 'no.'" Rice and other housing advocates still worry that this recent courtroom victory will be shortlived, as it only affects funding appropriated through the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30. For the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, HUD has already

CROWELL Page 46

SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 27

LIFESTYLE

3 The Silver Spring Jazz Festival (pictured in 2022) returns to Veterans Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 12, promising world-class talent and local favorites in the lineup. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206

Washington Informer Weekend Checklist WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV! By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and September is coming in hot! Dive into all things DMV this weekend, including multisensory storytelling and Broadway debuts. Plus, cultural celebrations, jazz festivals, and something fun for the Virgos.

For more fun, take a sneak peek at what the Washington Informer Calendar has to offer.

Thursday, Sept. 10

Whiskey & History: Black Broadway 7 p.m. | $65.30 Hard Rock Cafe Washington DC, 999 E Street NW, Washington, D.C.,

20463 Step into an immersive evening of history, cuisine, and storytelling, where guests will explore the people, events, and moments that have shaped the nation and its capital. With vivid storytelling, curated pairings, and interactive discussion, this multi-sensory experience fea-

FROM THE THE WORLD’S LEADING AUTHORITY ON THE ART FORM OF STEPPING

RHYTHM. RESILIENCE. REFLECTION.

NOW PLAYING

GET YOUR TICKETS!

ARENASTAGE.ORG/FRUITS | 202–488–3300 Photo by Jati Lindsay.

28 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

tures a three-course dinner paired with an expertly guided tasting experience and live historical narration, centered on the evening's featured topic. Whether examining influential figures, cultural movements, political scandals, local legends, or pivotal moments in history, guests will gain a unique opportunity to connect with history memorably and engagingly. ONE CALL World Premiere | Mental Health Awareness Film Screening 7 p.m. | Free Miracle Theatre, 535 8th Street SE, Washington, D.C., 20003 Join KOGA Faith Foundation and the Light of the Mind Project for the free world premiere of “ONE CALL,” a mental-health awareness short film written and directed by Jehoshua Otuya. Presented on World Suicide Prevention Day, the screening will be followed by an expert panel and facilitated community conversation exploring depression, PTSD, generational trauma, suicide prevention and pathways to healing. Featured panelists include: Dr. Erikk D. Bonner, assistant state superintendent and director for the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS); Gbenga Ogunjimi, founder and executive director of the Nigerian Center; Todd Clark of Television, Internet & Video Association of DC (TIVA-DC); PrimeMed Academy founder and CEO, Dr. Damien Myers; and Otuya.

Friday, Sept. 11

Something Wonderful: Broadway’s Leading Ladies 8 p.m. | $61.00 Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell

"Everything's Coming Up Roses" as chanteuse Tracy Lynn Olivera toasts the transcendent leading ladies from the Golden Age of Broadway. Tracy's delightful wit and gorgeous voice transport such classics as "Til There Was You," "I Have Confidence," and "The Party's Over" in a captivating tribute. From Ethel Merman to Julie Andrews, Mary Martin, Barbara Cook, Judy Holliday and more –– don’t miss out. The Grand Ethiopian New Year Celebration 8 p.m. | $64.63 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 820 L Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001 One New Year Grand Ethiopian Celebration in D.C. brings together the Ethiopian and East African community for a major New Year celebration. The night will feature special guests and live music, including Ethiopian rapper Lij Mic, plus more cultural performances, fashion, vendors and the SEBAT Ethiopian Diaspora Excellence Awards –– all leading to the traditional midnight Ethiopian New Year countdown.

Saturday, Sept. 12

Silver Spring Jazz Fest 3 p.m. | Free Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Get ready to groove at one of the region’s most beloved music festivals. The Silver Spring Jazz Festival returns this fall with an unforgettable lineup of world-class talent, local favorites, and community vibes that can’t be beat. Known for his Afro-Cuban funk style, Cimafunk serves as this year’s headliner, mixing Afro-Caribbean and Cuban music with hip-hop, funk, jazz, soul, and R&B. Additional event highlights include: food trucks, local vendors, pop-up experiences, and live performances by national jazz greats and hometown stars. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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LIFESTYLE

D.C. Artists Boldly React to Current Public Policy Actions

Exhibition Brings Cultural Meaning to Creative Process By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer When 1,500 artists in the Washington metropolitan area responded to The Phillips Collection’s request for art proposals in just two weeks, the staff knew that they were going to create something special. Out of the 1,500 respondents, 48 artists from DMV region were chosen for the exhibition “Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise: The Phillips Collection Juried Exhibition,” on display at The Phillips Collection until Sept. 20. Behind the massive regional undertaking are two co-curators: Tie Jojima, curator of global contemporary art at The Phillips Collection, and Tsedaye Makonnen, a guest curator, artist, designer and cultural producer. For the two visionaries, there was only one criterion for each artist: their submission had to be created after November of 2024. That meant artists were creating new works that reflected on the present moment. “In a time of uncertainty, these works offer ways of processing, grounding, and imagining otherwise,” said Makonnen. Together they reflect the power of creative practice to transform lived experiences.” The exhibition includes artists from 16 countries, representing the region’s role as a site of global exchange. The wide range of art created by the artists— many of whom do not do art

full-time— reflects the scope of their educational and professional backgrounds, including social work, art education, and international organizations.. “It was proof of how much this artistic community is present and thriving and extremely active in this area,” Jojima said.

Organizing ‘Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise’

Using a variety of media, “Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise” is organized around five themes: gazing, archiving, challenging, processing, and experimenting. Pulling from those focal points, the artists investigate a wide array of topics in their work, including personal trauma, political issues, materiality, memory, ecology and language. “We are reminded that artists are among our most essential witnesses, and this exhibition is a testament to their courage and conviction,” said Jonathan P. Binstock, Vradenburg, director and CEO of The Phillips Collection, said in a statement. Madyha Leghari’s “sick, stroke, sea, swell” are etchings on 10 slabs of pink rock salt, also known as “Himalayan” salt. The artist, originally from Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, now living in Hyattsville, Maryland, communicates about maternity care. The stages Leghari shows through her contribution are nausea (sick), touch (stroke), lactation (sea), and uterine expansion (swell).

Native Washingtonian Gail Shaw-Clemons created a colorful look at a skill no longer used in the workplace in her 12-panel hanging titled “Shorthand Revisited.” Shaw-Clemons’ mother was a clerk typist at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). During her career at the IRS, she never earned more than $20,000 a year. Using printmaking, Shaw-Clemons cuts, curls, twists, and layers to mimic shorthand. Kei Ito, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland, used a unique photo process to create “Sungazing Scroll.” Ito developed 108 letter-size prints on a 200-footlong scroll to honor his family history. On Aug. 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., Ito’s grandfather witnessed the devastation

that destroyed nearly everything in Hiroshima, Japan. This was the date the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city, killing an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 people. Ito’s grandfather survived, but lost many family members, then dedicated his life to opposing nuclear weaponry. Ito took 108 breaths to capture 108 prints for “Sungazing Scroll.” In Japanese Buddhism, at the New Year, temple bells are rung 108 times to rid people of evil passions and desires and purify souls. “The D.C. region is inherently global,” Jojima explained in a statement. “The artists in this exhibition reflect that reality, with work rooted in personal contexts while engaging broader global movements and ideas. Rather than a single narrative, the exhibition holds space for complexity and multiplicity.”

‘Championing the Artists of Our Community’

In addition this exhibit is about uplifting local artists, beyond offering a space for audiences to see their work. Since this is a juried exhibition, first-, second-, and honorable-mention designations, along with financial awards, are presented to five artists. Additionally, The Phillips will choose five works from this exhibition— not necessarily those that received a designated rank— to add to the museum's permanent collection. Further, exhibiting artists can sell their artworks included in this invitational and retain all proceeds. “At the Phillips, championing the artists of our community—in all their diversity of background, experience, and vision—is one of our most cherished responsibilities,” Binstock said. For more information on The Phillips Collection, located at 1600 21st Street, NW, visit phillipscollection.org. WI

MEET US AT

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) 55th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) EXPO HALL

Special Exhibit: Human Rights in Mental Health Walter E. Washington Convention Center Exhibit Hall BOOTH 736 September 16-19

5 Kei Ito’s “Sungazing Scroll” honors his family history. (Courtesy Photo/The Phillips Collection)

Citizens Commission on Human Rights National Affairs Office 1701 20th St. NW, Washington, DC www.CCHRNational.org

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 29

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wi book review "Curved Air: A Biography of Sickle Cell Anemia and the Quest to Cure the First Molecular Disease" By Kevin Davies c.2026, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press $29.95 / 338 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Four weeks of testing, and you're exhausted. Two gallons of blood, maybe three, have been removed, no lie. You've laid on tables, slid through machines, been scanned so much you lost count and finally, your doctors have a diagnosis. As in the new book "Curved Air" by Kevin Davies, you have hope there's a what next? Though the disease was known in parts of Africa and likely existed here in the United States for hundreds of years, sickle cell disease (SCD) is a relative newcomer in disease research. Says Davies, "Sickle cell was first identified more than 120 years ago" and it was considered as a "Black disease." Because of that, discrimination followed "sickle cell warriors" and research was scant, though white people can and do get SCD. With "agonizing" pain as a major symptom, "SCD is one of roughly seven thousand genetic diseases" currently known to science. When someone has SCD, a genetic mutation causes their red blood cells to curve and get stuck in blood vessels, rather than flowing freely as blood cells are supposed to do. This diminishes the oxygen supply "to various parts of the body … which causes inflammation and pain," jaundice, stroke, and damaged organs. Anemia, Davies says, can leave a patient with fatigue and shortness of breath. Anticipating pain crises causes anxiety and PTSD. Says Davies, "More than 40 million people carry" one copy of the genetic mutation that causes SCD, and "500,000 affected" babies are born with the disease per year, worldwide. Over decades, research was done, haphazardly. Papers were written, treatments were tried, used, or discarded. Doctors discovered that genetic testing could prevent new cases, a heartbreak for would-be parents. Researchers discovered that "a perfect storm" of confluence spread SCD: malaria, human population, and mosquitoes. There was always hope that someday, sickle cell disease might be cured. And then CRISPR gene editing therapy was approved by the FDA, and a brave volunteer named Victoria Gray stepped forward … So you want to — need to — learn more about sickle cell disease. It's imperative for you, and this is your book but there are things you'll want to know before you dive into "Curved Air." Because author Kevin Davies is the editor of The CRISPR Journal, you can expect up-to-date, cutting-edge information but that's a two-sided coin: the information is heavy-duty, not always easily grasped, and it's burdened by acronyms that are easily overwhelming. Yes, that'll inform you, but it may also send you elsewhere for further understanding, which really should've come from this book. And yet, if you or someone you love has SCD, this is your book. It explains where the disease came from, why it hasn't been completely cured yet, and what kind of hope you can hold. It's a good start on a path to comprehension. Also be aware that the narrative here is sometimes padded with journalistic fluff that might annoy you, if you're eager to get to the science. Indeed, "Curved Air" will teach you. Then again, it also might test you. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE SEPT. 10 - 16, 2026

ARIES A A parking spot opens up right when you need it most, saving a morning that felt destined to go sideways. An email you almost ignored turns out to matter more than the sender let on. A coworker borrows an idea of yours and gives you credit without being asked. Your patience with a slow-moving process finally pays off by Thursday. A short nap fixes a mood no amount of coffee could touch. By the weekend, a plan you'd written off quietly comes back together. Lucky Numbers: 7, 23, 48 TAURUS A grocery list you forgot at home turns into an excuse to try something new for dinner. Someone at work finally gives you a straight answer instead of the usual runaround. A playlist on shuffle picks the exact right song at the exact right moment. Tuesday's errands take twice as long, but you don't mind once you see why. A neighbor's small favor turns into an unexpected friendship. Saturday clears itself up just enough for a proper rest. Lucky Numbers: 6, 28, 41 GEMINI A typo in your own message accidentally makes a good point you hadn't planned to make. An old contact reappears with news that changes your week's plans for the better. A meeting you dreaded gets cancelled and nobody misses it. Wednesday brings a small win you'll want to mention later. A skill from years ago suddenly becomes useful again. The weekend rewards a spontaneous choice over a scheduled one. Lucky Numbers: 14, 33, 52 CANCER A phone call you'd been avoiding turns out shorter and easier than you feared. Someone you helped long ago returns the favor without being reminded. A leaky faucet gets fixed before it becomes a real problem. Midweek stirs up an old memory that lands softer than expected. A relative's offhand comment turns into useful advice. SLucky Numbers: 10, 26, 39 LEO A compliment from someone you barely know sticks with you longer than it should. A stalled project suddenly finds its footing this week. Thursday's traffic clears just when you need it to. Someone finally notices the effort you've been putting in quietly. A small risk this week turns out better than the safe option would have. The weekend hands you more free time than you planned for. Lucky Numbers: 9, 25, 57 VIRGO A mistake you caught early saves you a much bigger headache down the line. A friend's question turns out to be about more than it first seemed. A package you forgot about shows up right on time. An errand you kept postponing takes far less effort than expected. Someone else's slip-up teaches you something you'll use later. Sunday simplifies itself, leaving room to breathe. Lucky Numbers: 4, 20, 43 LIBRA An old inside joke resurfaces in a group chat and still lands. A rescheduled plan ends up suiting you better than the original. A small purchase you hesitated on proves worth it by week's end. A conversation with a neighbor teaches you something new about your own block. A minor compromise costs less than you braced for. The weekend brings an invite you'd nearly forgotten about. Lucky Numbers: 2, 19, 44 SCORPIO A gadget you rely on finally gives out, pushing you toward an upgrade you'll be glad for. Someone questions your opinion, and you end up seeing their point. A scheduling conflict resolves itself before you're forced to pick. Thursday's weather works out better than the forecast promised. A conversation you'd put off clears the air faster than you expected. A quiet compliment from a coworker stays with you the rest of the week. Lucky Numbers: 16, 34, 60 SAGITTARIUS A sudden change of plans lands you somewhere you wouldn't have picked yourself. You'll end up outdoors more this week than you intended. A message from an old friend arrives at just the right moment. Your to-do list shrinks when one item turns out unnecessary. Something learned by accident midweek shifts how you handle a bigger choice. A small risk taken early pays off sooner than expected. Lucky Numbers: 1, 27, 49 CAPRICORN A task you braced for takes far less time than expected. Someone above you notices work you assumed had gone overlooked. A bill comes in lower than you'd budgeted for. Sunday clears space for something you'd shelved weeks ago. Advice you brushed off earlier turns out to have been right after all. A small disagreement ends with an apology that actually helps. Lucky Numbers: 8, 30, 54 AQUARIUS A new tool saves you more time than you expected it to. An invitation somewhere unfamiliar turns out worth the discomfort. A disagreement turns out to be about timing, not substance. A younger relative teaches you something useful without meaning to. A plan you nearly skipped becomes the highlight of your week. Lucky Numbers: 5, 21, 47 PISCES A song on the radio shifts your mood for the better this week. Clearing out one drawer clears more mental space than physical. An old conversation crosses your mind and reads differently with time. A small kindness from a stranger stays with you longer than expected. A decision you second-guessed all week turns out to have been the right one. Lucky Numbers: 12, 37, 63

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 31

o i n s i f v o r e v D i C t c P e l u l b o l c i c r S u c o h s o i ols? d l i t u h b e t o s t c h s o n o o i l t s a a D s C r e ’ s h v c n o o m c W in community munity d eserv Join

What is the role of the school in the community?

What must we prioritize to make that vision a reality?

What qualities do we want in a DCPS Chancellor?

Ward 8

Thursday, Oct. 8th (North) Wednesday, Oct. 14th (South)

Ward 7

Thursday, Oct. 15th

Ward 6

Tuesday, Oct. 27th

Ward 5

n it

Tuesday, Oct. 20th

W it h :

Stud

ents

Parents Use the QR Code to register or https://bit.ly/wtuconversation

Ward 4

Thursday, Oct. 22nd

Ward 3

Thursday, Oct. 29th

Wards 1 & 2

Tuesday, Oct. 6th

All times and locations will be on the registration form Email Dylan Craig with any questions: dcraig@wtulocal6.net A

32 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Washington Teachers’ Union Community Conversations Laura Fuchs President of the Washington Teachers’ Union. Public schools are hubs of community. They are at the heart of neighborhoods, offering a productive and educational space for students, but also a sense of pride, service, and common good for the District as a whole. The importance of public schools as a locus for community and a common good for all is driving the Washington Teachers’ Union approach to contract bargaining this school year, starting with our Community Conversations being held in each Ward. Just like our labor union, we understand that communities are stronger when they organize together; but organizing together does not mean asking for support after the fact. It means actively building a vision and demands together, collectively imagining our goals and then pursuing them with a common voice. Through our Community Conversations in October, we want to hear from parents, students, educators, and various community stakeholders to collectively develop a vision of strong public education in the District. We will discuss challenges, solutions, and priorities regarding what will make our district one that DC's communities deserve, and we will explore the ways the WTU contract campaign can be used alongside community involvement to make strong demands that lead to transformational change. These sessions are to be true conversations that build a movement for a stronger public school system, not simply a space to share an idea and leave it in a suggestion box. The meetings will not open with pre-determined topics, but with food provided by the WTU, and time for the various community members to envision their ideal and any challenges or issues that are keeping us from reaching that ideal. We know that each community may have different priorities, and we want to honor that by creating a flexible agenda driven by participants. As a whole group, we can then narrow down which challenges to tackle that evening, recognizing that we have a limited time sharing a space and want it to be as productive as possible (though all ideas will be captured). From there, participants can choose which issue or challenge they want to brainstorm around, before a collective share-out and final discussion. Together, we can explore what it means to have healthy learning environments,

community resources, reasonable class sizes, appropriate testing, and much more depending on the various needs and ideas participants bring. These conversations are only the beginning. From our Community Conversations, we will be developing a report that will be shared with the community and that outlines the takeaways from the conversations, the priorities articulated, and the solutions proposed. This report will guide the next steps in our contract campaign - developing the advocacy strategy and the contract language we want to propose in our negotiations. We want to continue connecting with community members who want to be a part of developing our proposals at the bargaining table, and we want to continue to keep everyone informed and involved in the progress to make these proposals a reality. But we also know that these proposals will not become a reality without more organizing with the community, and we hope that with demands developed by and for everyday stakeholders, when it comes time to push the district to do what is right, we can all push together, knowing that we all have a voice and stake in the outcome. While this form of contract bargaining may be newer to DC, it is not a new strategy overall. Labor unions across the country have found strength in partnerships with the communities they serve, winning transformational changes that benefit workers and those the workers serve. The Washington Teachers’ Union firmly believes that educator working conditions are student learning conditions, and with the vital role our public schools play in the health of overall neighborhoods and communities, it is only natural to work with our parents, students, educators, and the myriad of additional stakeholders to fight for the changes we all want to see. If you would like to join or volunteer at one of our Community Conversations held throughout October, you can sign up at https://bit.ly/wtuconversation or scan the QR code on our flyer. We look forward to envisioning, building, and organizing with everyone this school year.

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 33

SPORTS 3 Terrapins wide receiver Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding breaks a tackle in Maryland’s 62-0 victory over Hampton University at SECU Stadium on Sept. 5. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

Maryland Terrapins Roll 62-0 Shutout In Season Opener By Skylar Nelson and Abdullah Konte WI Contributing Writer and WI Photographer The Maryland Terrapins opened the 2026 season in commanding fashion Saturday night, blanking the Hampton University Pirates 62-0 at SECU Stadium and marking the program’s first shutout victory since 2019. “That feeling, the energy that you get from everyone around you is something you can’t… replicate,” said University of Maryland quarterback Malik Washington, “so just getting out here and feeling that energy from everybody was really good.” The Terrapins leaned on a prolific run game, topping the board with 62 –– their highest point total since 2021 ––and a defense that kept the Pirates out of the end zone all night. Meanwhile, they earned their 19th consecutive win against a non-conference opponent and extended their streak of season-opening victories against non-conference teams to 16. The rushing attack, a major emphasis entering the season, quickly became the focal point of Offensive Coordinator Clint Trinkett’s program debut. Maryland finished the night with 365 yards accumulated on the ground and six rushing touchdowns. Running back DeJaun Williams set the tone for the Terrapins, breaking the game open with a 94-yard touchdown run. This marked the second-longest rush in program history. The redshirt sophomore went on to post a career-high of 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns to end the night. “We put a lot of emphasis on our ability to run the ball better,” said Maryland Head Coach Mike Locksley, “and watching DeJaun Williams throughout training camp, he’s a guy

[who] was injured early in his career. In high school, he missed most of his senior year, had the [ACL surgery]… and I see the explosiveness back.” As quarterback, Washington complemented the ground attack with 186 passing yards and a touchdown in his sophomore debut. He also reached 3,000 career passing yards in the season opener. Maryland accumulated 646 yards of offense, recording their highest game total since 2024. The Terrapins’ defense showed its dominance holding Hampton to 85 total yards, including 10 rushing yards, while recording five sacks and three interceptions. This set another milestone for the Maryland football program, holding a team to less than 100 yards for the first time since 2019. The Maryland Terrapins will take

their first trip of the season this week, traveling to Connecticut to face the UConn Huskies on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will air on CBS Network. “[We’re] still a young team, but we’re no longer inexperienced,” said Coach Locksley. “[The Maryland Terrapins] gained experience with how and what we’ve gone through. And so my perspective hasn’t changed. I feel pretty [strongly] that we have a good team. But at the end of the day, our work has to be louder than our words. [The team] has done the work so far.” WI 5 Maryland Terrapins’ linebacker and wide receiver Chris Dunn Jr. jukes a Pirates defender in the team’s 62-0 victory over Hampton at SECU Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer) 6 Running back Iverson Howard scoring a Terrapins touchdown at SECU Stadium. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

5 Quarterback Cardell Williams escapes a Pirates’ tackle for a long run in Maryland’s 62-0 victory over Hampton on Saturday, Sept. 5. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

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CAPTURE the moment

Longtime fans of the Washington football franchise flocked to Northeast, D.C. on Sept. 5, to celebrate history and look toward the future at RFK Legacy: A Tailgate Experience. During the Saturday afternoon event, fans from across the DMV region gathered at the Fields at RFK Campus to meet celebrated former and current players, support local vendors, and enjoy performances by Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs, Eastern High School Marching Band and Backyard Band. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 35

RELIGION

3 The Rev. Nicole Patrice Guns, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Gary, says the community and Black churches stepped in even before official aid did so as some residents went 17 days without electricity. (Courtesy Photo)

vestigation into Northern Indiana Public Service Co. to determine if the utility company, also known as NIPSCO, had been adequately prepared for the storm. Meanwhile, the company is facing a lawsuit for allegedly failing to adequately manage trees and vegetation around power lines. NIPSCO has denied negligence and said the storm caused historic damage, including destruction to hundreds of utility and transmission poles.

Gary Fell Into Darkness. Black Churches Refused to Leave It There By Rev. Dorothy Boulware Word in Black This article was originally published online with Word In Black, a collaboration of the nation's leading Black news publishers (of which The Washington Informer is a member) and slightly edited for clarity. When a powerful storm swept through the area in August, downing trees and snapping power lines, the city of Gary, Indiana, was plunged into darkness. It’s taken the better part of a month for some of the city’s lights to flicker back on, but the crisis isn’t over for some.

Without electricity for 17 days, some residents had to throw away spoiled food, leaving them staring at empty refrigerators and freezers. Others learned their homes needed hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of dollars in repairs before power could be restored. To the Rev. Nicole Patrice Guns, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Gary, the derecho that tore through Gary illustrated the stark disparity between her working-class city of 60,000 — a part of the state accustomed to being overlooked — and the rest of nearby Indiana, a state that is only around 10% white. “You go further into the state, and

power was restored,” Guns says. “But then you go to Gary, and it’s dark. It’s dark.” As residents waited for government agencies and the local utility company to catch up, however, Black churches in Gary and congregations across the country stepped into the gap. They’ve donated money, food, supplies and volunteer manpower into the city, reviving the Black church’s historic role as both sanctuary and first responder. “Jesus preached, and he taught, and he healed people, and he fed people,” says Guns. “The Black church has been on the front lines in Gary.”

‘It Was Pitch Black’

Still, as crews clear trees from the streets and repair power lines, Guns notes that Gary’s full recovery can not be addressed by simply flipping a switch. Decades of disinvestment, job loss, and blight have hamstrung the potential of a city that once powered the Hoosier State’s manufacturing economy. Guns says Gary may be down, but it’s definitely not out. “I see the resilience in the midst of hurt and devastation and poverty,” Guns says. “People love the city of Gary, and they’re not willing to just go down without a fight.” On Aug. 11, the derecho — a fast-moving, widespread line of severe thunderstorms that produces powerful, hurricane-force straightline winds over a large area — ripped across northern Indiana. The National Weather Service recorded a wind gust of 99 mph, comparable to the winds of a Category 2 hurricane. Guns described driving after the storm: streetlights burned in Chicago on the Illinois side of the interstate, but darkness swallowed the highway

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in Gary just over the Indiana state line. “It was pitch black,” she says. “This busy interstate with semi-trucks — I’ve never seen so many semi-trucks going through — and it’s dark.” As power lines fell during the storm, nearly 38,300 Gary customers lost electricity. But more than half of those customers were still waiting for service 10 days after the storm. Nevertheless, the massive storm and the lingering blackout in a Black Midwestern city received little national attention; Gary had been in the dark for about a week before much of the country noticed.

Gary’s Historic Legacy

That silence was especially painful in a city that has a rich history. A former steel town, Gary drew Black Southerners for mill jobs during the Great Migration and later became a center of Black culture, political power, and enterprise. It’s the hometown of Michael Jackson, the legendary King of Pop; it elected Richard Gordon Hatcher, one of the nation’s first Black big-city mayors, in 1967, and hosted the 1972 National Black Political Convention. But decades of economic hardship, including white flight and the wholesale outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, have scarred modern-day Gary. The city’s downtown is pocked with boarded theaters, abandoned department stores and vacant buildings that once housed Black-owned businesses. Outsiders see Gary as beset with crime, urban decay and administrative dysfunction. After hearing reports of slow power restoration, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton publicly called it “unacceptable” that thousands remained without electricity nearly two weeks after the derecho. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, ordered an in-

Trauma Hidden in the Dark

But Guns said NIPSCO’s delay in restoring electricity mattered. Elderly residents sat in dark homes for days. Families with critically ill loved ones struggled to preserve medicine and keep medical equipment functioning. Children started the new school year in the dark — another layer of trauma amid memories of tornado sirens, black skies and frightened classmates huddled in basements. Guns says the stereotypes about Gary and the hardships it faces overshadow residents’ love for their city and one another, an ethos the storm revealed. Before aid trucks and news cameras arrived, she says, restaurants fired up outdoor barbecue grills, cooked whatever food they had before it spoiled and gave it away. Neighbors helped neighbors haul away fallen trees. Churches handed out food, water, toiletries and other necessities. “‘If I have it, then you have it,’” Guns said, quoting the spirit of mutual aid in the wake of the storm. “Before the government came in to do anything, everyone just helped each other.” Guns’ own congregation, founded in 1908 and recognized as Gary’s oldest Black church, became one of the community’s relief centers. Guns, who will celebrate her first anniversary as pastor in October, said the disaster has pushed the congregation back toward its historic identity as a church “in and for the community. Then help began arriving from beyond Gary — much of it through the network of the Black church. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.cpm.

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the religion corner

RELIGION

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

The Living Gospel of Dolly Parton

Hello, readers! This week, my heart is overflowing with amazement and excitement as I reflect on a life that truly embodied the love of Jesus Christ. My family and I have been absolutely captivated by Dolly Parton from the very moment she first stepped onto the screen on "The Porter Wagoner Show" in the late 1960s. She stepped in after "pretty little Norma Jean" left. We watched her grow from a sweet, talented small-town girl into a global superstar. When Dolly recently went home to be with the Lord, the entire world stopped to mourn. But more importantly, the world stopped to remember how she lived. Before we dive into her incredible legacy, I must pause. Next Friday marks Sept. 11, the 25th anniversary of that historic, heartbreaking day that changed our nation forever. I want to extend my deepest, most heartfelt prayers and condolences to all of the families who lost loved ones on 9/11. This historic moment deserves a column of its own, but this week, I'm writing what's most prevalent in my spirit. We will never forget all of those who perished, and those who were left behind, and we lift you up in Christian love. Even in the face of tragedy and loss, we look to those who brought light into dark places. Dolly was a superstar of the highest order, but she didn't use her immense wealth to buy up a bunch of million-dollar mansions across the globe. No, honey! Decades ago, she and her beloved late husband, Carl Dean, bought a beautiful 60-acre ranch in Tennessee. And that was home. They stayed grounded, stayed

humble and stayed right there where their roots were. Dolly lived her life by a beautiful scriptural blueprint, specifically anchoring her actions in Galatians 6:2: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." She knew that when someone else was heavy-laden, it was her Christian duty to lift that weight. Look at how she handled her masterpiece, "I Will Always Love You." Dolly actually wrote that song back in 1973 as a soulful, heartfelt musical farewell to Porter Wagoner when she left his show to go solo. Decades later, when Whitney Houston took Dolly Parton's 1973 country ballad "I Will Always Love You" and turned it into an international pop anthem for the 1992 film "The Bodyguard," it generated roughly $10 million in royalties for Dolly. Instead of spending that windfall on personal luxuries, Dolly quietly used the money in 1997 to purchase an entire retail strip mall and office complex located in Sevier Park, a historically Black neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee. At a time when other commercial developers were ignoring the area, Dolly moved her own management offices into the building to intentionally invest in and support the surrounding Black families and businesses. She kept the purchase a secret for nearly 25 years until a 2021 interview with Andy Cohen, where she beautifully explained her reasoning, stating: "I thought, 'This is the perfect place for me to be,' considering it was Whitney … I'm just going to be down here with her people, who are my people as well. I love the fact that I spent that money on a complex, and I think, 'This is the house that Whitney built.'" Dolly was always finding creative ways to bear the burdens of our youth. In her hometown, high school dropout rates were a staggering 35%. To fix it, she started the Buddy Program. She put the chil-

dren in pairs and had them sign a contract promising to help each other graduate. If they both stuck it out and walked across that stage to get their diplomas, Dolly handed a $500 check to both buddies! That brilliant act of love and accountability dropped the dropout rate to an incredible 6%. Let me tell you about some of the blessings she poured out that most of us have never even heard of. Dolly had a deep, quiet love for the Black community. For decades, Dolly secretly and anonymously funded marching band instruments — many of whose bands posted on Facebook to thank her, showing footage of themselves performing — She purchased uniforms and equipment for underfunded, predominantly Black high schools across the South. She never put her name on it. No press releases, just a pure heart providing for children because it was needed. She even quietly directed portions of her massive royalties toward historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to support education. And we cannot forget her magnificent global ministry of literacy, a project she created in memory of her father who could not read or write, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which has gifted over 200 million free books to children! If you want to bless a child and support this beautiful mission, you can visit their official website at imaginationlibrary.com to make a donation or register a child in your neighborhood. My daughter just signed up for my newest grandson. His books will start coming soon! Beloved, I want to encourage you today to take a page out of Dolly Parton's book! You don't need millions of dollars to bear someone else's burden. You just need a heart full of love and a willingness to give back to your community. Let us live our lives out loud for God, but keep our giving quiet, just like Dolly. WI

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SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 37

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724 Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Joel R. Limerick Pastor

Rev. Dr. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

Service and Times In Person Worship: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. Streaming: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org Prayer & Study: Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M.

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

www.livingwatersmd.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. / Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301.899.8885 – Fax 301.899.2555 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship 8:00 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Tuesday: 7:00 PM – Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: 12:30 PM – Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00 PM – Evening Bible Study Baptism - 3rd Sunday – Communion 4th Sunday Free Food Giveaway – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm “We are One in the Spirit” www.ssbcmd.org | secretary@ssbcmd.org

Campbell AME Church

Rev. Dr. T. Ashby Banister, III Senior Pastor

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Senior Pastor

901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 7: 00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

All Nations Baptist Church

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness - Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland Assistant & Youth Pastor

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

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12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church Rev. Christopher L. Nichols Pastor 2409 Ainger Place SE Washington, DC 20020 / Office: (202) 678-0884 “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven! Service and Times Sunday: Worship Service – 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM 3rd Sunday: Unity Service – 11:00 AM (Only One Service) Sunday School: 10:00 AM Monday: Unity Bible Study – 5:00 PM Call-In Number: (646) 749-3112/ Access Code: 971155757 Tuesday: Prayer Service – 6:00 PM & Family Bible Study – 7:00 PM Call-In Number: (872) 240-3212/Access Code: 164695965 Wednesday: Noonday Worship – 12:00 PM Thursday: Adult Bible Study – 7:00 PM Call-In Number: (646) 749-3112/Access Code: 843069541 Friday: Impact Focus (Online) – 7:30 PM Saturday: Children's Church (Online) – 6:00 PM Website: www.ebcwdc.org

Third Street Church of God Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor 4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day Elder Jonathan M. Carson Senior Pastor

5701 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Phone: 301 559-5262 Service and Times Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Wednesday - Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Web: shiloh7thday.org Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com "A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Place your church ad here! Contact Ron Burke rburke@washingtoninformer.com

A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

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RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Israel Baptist Church Rev. Lance Aubert Senior Pastor

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

Rehoboth Baptist Church

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor 5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

“Where God is Praised, Christ is Obeyed, and People are Loved”

New Commandment Baptist Church Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

The Reverend Canon Michele Hagans Priest

621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Promised Land Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM Sunday School: 8:15 AM Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

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

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

602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 / Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday

Service and Times Adult Sunday School: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Youth/Young Adult Sunday School 12:00 PM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ." Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180

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Denise Rolark Barnes - Publisher of The Washington Informer WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 39

LEGAL NOTICES Phase 2 Declaration of Nationality Protocol In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Robert Anthony Garcia © ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ROBERT ANTHONY GARCIA ", corp.sole Dba.: " ROBERT A. GARCIA© ", , having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Robert Anthony Garcia© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " robert anthony garcia© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA : STATE FILE NUMBER, :19533018858 " ROBERT ANTHONY GARCIA© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " ROBERT ANTHONY GARCIA© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " robert anthony garcia© ", nom deguerre: " Robert Anthony Garcia© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " ROBERT ANTHONY GARCIA© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2025 ADM 001026

2026 ADM 000822

2026 ADM 000801

2026 ADM 000877

Beatrice Brown Decedent

Shirley J. Quander Decedent

Verline McFadden Decedent

Barbara Ann Boyd Decedent

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

Ciji Simmons and Kelvin Christian, whose addresses are 413 Prairie Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Beatrice Brown who died on 12/19/2022 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/27/2027. 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 2/27/2027, 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.

Marie A. Lambert, whose address is 7642 Buzz Aldrin Ln, Lanham MD 20706, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shirley J. Quander who died on 10/7/2023 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 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 2/27/2027. 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 2/27/2027, 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.

Michelle Lanchester, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 297 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney

Date of first publication: 8/27/2026 Ciji Simmons Kelvin Christian Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 8/27/2026 Marie A. Lambert Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Maya K. Little, whose address is 1611 8th St., NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Verline McFadden who died on 11/27/2023 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 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 2/27/2027. 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 2/27/2027, 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: 8/27/2026 Maya K. Little Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Christopher O’Donnell Boyd, whose address is 526 Nicholson Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Ann Boyd who died on March 21, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Christopher O’Donnell Boyd Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

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

2026 ADM 000887

2026 ADM 000565

2026 ADM 000840

2026 ADM 000866

2026 ADM 000867

Donne’ Micole Malloy Decedent

Gloria W. Clanton Decedent

Kenneth C. Darrell Jr. Decedent

Randle D. Richardson aka Randle Richardson Decedent

Thelma Herling Collins Decedent

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

Dari K. Malloy, whose address is 762 Brady Ave. Apt. 429 Bronx NY 10462, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Donne’ Micole Malloy who died on August 7, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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.

George D. Clanton and Gail A. Clanton, whose addresses are 15222 Baughman Dr., Silver Spring MD 20906 & 4519 Thoroughbred Dr., Upper Marlboro MD 20772, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Gloria W. Clanton who died on April 9, 2026 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 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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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.

Xenia Elvis, whose address is 5034 Black Chaw Street, Indian Head MD 20640, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kenneth C. Darrell Jr. who died on June 29, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Dari K. Malloy Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 9/3/2026 George D. Clanton Gail A. Clanton Personal Representative

Washington Informer

Xenia Elvis Personal Representative

Jerome Cavanaugh, whose address is 3833 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Randle D. Richardson aka Randle Richardson who died on July 23, 2026 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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Jerome Cavanaugh Personal Representative

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TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Date of first publication: 9/3/2026

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

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

40 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Cedric Charles Collins, whose address is 13307 Trumpeter Swan Court, Upper Marlboro MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Thelma Herling Collins who died on May 22, 2026 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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Cedric Charles Collins Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2026 ADM 000829

2026 ADM 000874

2026 ADM 000876

2026 ADM 000882

2026 ADM 000886

Xenthain Mathews Decedent

Anna Lydia Rodriguez Castro aka Lydia Castro Decedent

Donald Hoskins Decedent

Mary L. Tooks aka Mary Lee Tooks Decedent

Nancy H. Stewart Decedent

Edward M. Biggin 200A Monroe Street, Suite 110 Rockville, MD 20850 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Doraine Gordon, whose address is 12405 Cecily Ct., Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Xenthain Mathews who died on 5/9/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026

Lindsey M. Avedisian 5425 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 600 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lydia Castro-Perigo, whose address is 2918 Porter St., NW, Washington, DC 20008, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anna Lydia Rodriguez Castro aka Lydia Castro who died on 4/10/2023 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 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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026

Doraine Gordon Personal Representative

Lydia Castro-Perigo Personal Representative

Cecilia R. Jones, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ashley Hoskins, whose address is 1735 Hampshire Ave., NW, Apt. 402, Washington DC 20009, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Donald Hoskins who died on 12/22/2020 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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Ashley Hoskins Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alexia Lynn Tooks, whose address is 1221 Newton St. NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary L. Tooks aka Mary Lee Tooks who died on January 3, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Holley Stewart, whose address is 490 M Street, SW, W601, Washington DC 20024, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nancy H. Stewart who died on April 19, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Holley Stewart Personal Representative

Alexia Lynn Tooks Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

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

2026 FEP 000114

2026 ADM 000864

2026 ADM 000361

2026 ADM 000889

2026 ADM 000903

January 9, 2025 Date of Death

Thomas M. Williams, II Decedent

Robert Alan Kennedy Decedent

Ruth F. Matthews Name of Decedent

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

Jessie Payne aka Jessie E. Payne Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716 Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Michele Renee Bradley whose address is 11521 Maple Ridge Road, Reston VA 20190 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ruth F. Matthews, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on February 14, 2025. Service of process may be made upon William Froehlich; 600 14th Street NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20005 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: 9/3/2026 Michele Renee Bradley Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

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

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

Doris Elizabeth Payne, whose address is 4317 Russell Avenue, Apt. 2, Mt. Rainier MD 20712, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jessie Payne aka Jessie E. Payne who died on 10/17/1981 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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.

Bruce Kennedy, whose address is 2925 Carmel Street, Apt. #2, Oakland CA 96402, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert Alan Kennedy who died on May 23, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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.

Parran Manuel Offer, Jr. and Sherri Jenai Offer, whose addresses are 851 Hilltop Terrace, SE, Washington, DC 20019 and 8211 Billingsley Rd., White Plains, MD 20695, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Delores Arlene Offer who died on 2/5/2026 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 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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: 9/3/2026

Date of first publication: 9/10/2026

Doris Elizabeth Payne Personal Representative

Bruce Kennedy Personal Representative

Parran Manuel Offer, Jr. Sherri Jenai Offer Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Terri Merele Williams, whose address is 383 Grand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Thomas M. Williams, II who died on 7/15/2005 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 3/3/2027. 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 3/3/2027, 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: 9/3/2026 Terri Merele Williams Personal Representative

Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 41

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2026 ADM 000907

2026 ADM 000871

2026 ADM 000898

2026 ADM 000859

Susannah A. Koroma aka Susannah Ajuah Koroma Decedent

Richard Hines Decedent

Joyce Annette Strother aka Joyce Annette Strother Decedent

Jan Leslie More Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Dannia Koroma and Yonita Koroma, whose addresses are 4100 Massachusetts Ave., NW, #918, Washington, DC 20016 and 3807 Kings Lane, Dover, PA 17315, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Susannah A. Koroma aka Susannah Ajuah Koroma who died on May 4, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ernie Hines, whose address is 3102 Furman Lane, #402, Alexandria, VA 22306, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Richard Hines who died on May 1, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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: 9/10/2026

Date of first publication: 9/10/2026

Ernie Hines Personal Representative

Dannia Koroma Yonita Koroma Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Rene Patterson, whose address is 4710 15th Street, NW, Washington DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joyce Annette Strother aka Joyce Annette Strother who died on June 12, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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: 9/10/2026 Rene Patterson 4710 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Anita Stephen, whose address is 1411 Newton Street, NE, Washington DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jan Leslie More who died on April 24, 2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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: 9/10/2026 Anita Stephen 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 2026 ADM 000717 Gloria Mayberry aka Gloria J. Mayberry aka Gloria Jean Mayberry Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Johnette D. Brock, whose address is 301 35th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gloria Mayberry aka Gloria J. Mayberry aka Gloria Jean Mayberry who died on May 11, 2026 with a Will and will serve with 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 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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: 9/10/2026 Johnette D. Brock Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

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

2026 FEP 000117

2026 ADM 000872

2026 ADM 000954

2012 ADM 000960

October 28, 2025 Date of Death

Laurice J. Stewart Decedent

Estate of Curtis A. Bullock Sr.

Harriet C. White Decedent

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

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

Eugenia Tyner-Dawson Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Margaret Reeser whose address is 345234 E Highway US62, Meeker, OK 74855 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Eugenia Tyner-Dawson, deceased, by the District Court for Lincoln County, State of Oklahoma, on 2/26/2026. Service of process may be made upon Alexandra K. Holden of Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker LLP, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 1311 Delaware Ave., SW, S538, Washington, DC 20024. 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: 9/10/2026 Margaret Reeser Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Sonya J. Ali, whose address is 1818 Shepherd Street, NW, Washington DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laurice J. Stewart who died on 1/8/2026 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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.

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Curtis A. Bullock Jr 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.

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

Date of first publication: 9/10/2026

Curtis A. Bullock Jr. Joan M. Wilbon 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Petitioner/Attorney:

Sonya J. Ali Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Joanna Edwards, whose address is 1523 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harriet C. White who died on August 23, 2012 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 3/10/2027. 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 3/10/2027, 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.

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Date of first publication: 9/10/2026

Washington Informer

Joanna Edwards Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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: 9/10/2026

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

42 SEPTEMBE 10 - 16, 2026

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KANKOURAN from Page 1 growth in her role as a leader. “I would go into groups and help other people,” Lyric told The Informer. “Sometimes I would help people individually if they felt like they didn't have it. I just felt like I created a space where they felt comfortable enough to come to me if they felt like they needed help with anything, or if they felt like they still didn't have it after doing it a lot of times.” Lyric, granddaughter of longtime KanKouran youth dance instructor Veronica Hunte, has been a part of the dance company since the age of two. Currently, she’s at Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) where she’s currently studying dance with the goal of one day performing with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and launching her own venture. Just weeks into her sophomore year, Lyric said she continues to see the benefits of her KanKouran education. “I’m not ahead of everybody, but I kind of got a sense of it already because I have been at KanKouran and I have been exposed to [the need for] discipline and having to be at classes and rehearsals,” Lyric told The Informer. “Even at my school, if we have a show coming up, we might have extended rehearsals, and I already get out of school at 5 p.m, so I might be getting out at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. KanKouran has already formed that discipline so it's nothing new.” As Lyric, a member of KanKouran’s fourth generation of dancers and drummers, reflected on the recent concert, she expressed appreciation for her new role as a mentor to younger performers. She said she’s doing for them what’s been done for her years prior. “I was still getting to understand myself, so I would look at the people that were older than me and they would be good inspiration,” Lyric said. “Last year when we were rehearsing for the concert, we had a specific dance and the babies would do our dance behind us. So, full circle.”

Assane Konte Looks Back while Reaffirming His Vision

The title of KanKouran Dance Company’s 43rd annual concert was “Sunugaal: Our Boat,” which Assane Konte said draws parallels between the generations of KanKouran participants and the alliance that the Lebou, Serere and Walo-Walo kingdoms of modern-day Senegal formed to protect against foreign invasion. “The kids I used to teach, they're

teaching the kids now. And those different ethnic groups [in Senegal], they're connected together, have the same spiritual life, and are married,” said Konte, co-founder and executive artistic director of KanKouran. “That was the purpose of the theme, to be able to use that spiritual line between those different ethnic groups in Senegal...from the top all the way down. I still have people [who have] been with me since 1983 from the class. We raised so many generations, and some of them still come back after graduating college.” On the night of Sept. 5, Konte executed yet another concert with the help of his artistic director Sue Ann Forde; musical director Papa Assane M’Baye; and a team of nearly 80 dancers and drummers, all representing a lineage of KanKouran participation going back four generations. Nearly two dozen of those who graced the stage at Cramton Auditorium participated in community classes hosted by KanKouran throughout the year. This combination of talents and experiences culminated in a program that started with an ancestral call for blessings, and later a metaphorical excursion on a boat that took audience members to the Lebou and Serer in Dakar and Mbour, respectively. Other stops on the journey exposed the audience to Lebou and Wolof cultures in St. Louis, Senegal, and that of the Walo Walo in Dagana. The journey later ended in Dakar with a Wolof celebration. For Konte, the concert conveyed a message about what KanKouran has been able to accomplish in nearly half a century. “KanKouran was founded here, not in Africa, so we started here to go back home,” Konte told The Informer. “Africa is the oldest ground in the earth. That's the way everything started. It’s still part of who we are. It's a drum beat. When you go to church, you can listen to it. The music and the dancing are all connected together. We're the only ones who have that.” Konte and former music director Abdou Kounta founded KanKouran in 1983 shortly after Konte’s move to the District. By the time of the dance company’s inception, Konte had already been making a name for himself in shows across the U.S. In 1985, after two years of training dancers, KanKouran hosted its first full-length concert, “A Visit to Africa.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2026 43

BUNCH from Page 16

Bunch’s Long Commitment to Telling ‘Accurate History’

The museum also made Bunch something rare in Washington: a historian whose work crossed presidential administrations and partisan lines. President George W. Bush appointed him to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House in 2002. President Barack Obama reappointed him in 2010. The African American museum itself resulted from decades of advocacy and ultimately opened with Bush and Obama participating in its dedication. Three years later, in June 2019, Bunch became the Smithsonian’s 14th secretary. He assumed responsibility for 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, research centers and educational operations, while overseeing development of the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. His résumé reaches well beyond

President George W. Bush appointed him to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House in 2002. President Barack Obama reappointed him in 2010. The African American museum itself resulted from decades of advocacy and ultimately opened with Bush and Obama participating in its dedication. Washington. Bunch led the Chicago Historical Society from 2001 to 2005 and previously worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, where he rose to associate director for curatorial affairs. Earlier, at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, he curated exhibitions on Black Olympians and Black life in

Los Angeles. The Belleville, New Jersey, native earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from American University in Washington, and taught at American University, George Washington University, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His honors include France’s Legion of Honor, the W.E.B. Du

Bois Medal, the Freedom Medal from the Roosevelt Institute, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s National Equal Justice Award and lifetime achievement awards from the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of African American Museums. Yet the institution that will define his career sits on Constitution Avenue. Just eight days before Tuesday’s announcement, Bunch published a remembrance of building the African American history museum for its 10th anniversary. He recalled the September 2016 dedication, when four generations of the Bonner family rang a church bell once owned by a Black congregation founded in 1776. Ruth Bonner, then 99— whose father had been born enslaved— pulled the rope alongside her 7-yearold great-granddaughter. Bunch wrote that he could still remember looking across the Mall years earlier at the empty patch of land where the museum would eventually rise. “Ten years on,” he wrote, “I feel the same.” The battle surrounding the Smithsonian is ultimately about the subject

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that defined Bunch’s professional life — who gets remembered, what gets displayed and whether the ugliest chapters of American history belong beside its triumphs. Bunch addressed that question as the United States celebrated its 250th anniversary. “It’s really important that we have a commitment to telling the complete story of America,” he said. “Our job is to say, how do we tell an accurate history … that challenges America to live up to its ideals?” A decade earlier, as the African American history museum finally opened, Bunch stood on the National Mall and listened as former President George W. Bush offered a sentence that now follows Bunch out of the institution he led. “A great nation does not hide its history,” Bush demanded. Ten years later, Bunch is stepping down, having not only witnessed the success of the National Museum of African American History Culture, but as a barrier breaker. “I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy,” he said, “and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward.” WI

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ANTHONY from Page 26 in Maine did they relent. In combining ICE with Customs and Border Protection, at least 41 total shootings by immigration officials have been recorded since January 2025, resulting in 11 deaths. Between 10 and 20 individuals die annually in ICE custody. The American Immigration Council has noted that over 50 people died in ICE custody over a recent multi-month period, including medical emergencies in facilities like Delaney Hall in New Jersey. The Pulitzer Prize-winning organization Futuro Media has reported hundreds of immigrants being sexually abused in detention centers controlled by ICE. They report over 308 sexual assault and abuse complaints, filed nationwide between 2015 and 2021. A new set of gloves is not needed for ICE. It is a new standard of accountability for its illegal and unconstitutional actions. Even the scripture gives a clear analysis of America's current dilemma: "Every good tree brings forth good fruit. But a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit," Matthew 7:17.

GUILLERMO from Page 26 oblivion. Republicans would simply let us all sink. Nixon now goes up against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November. Florida's Republicans outnumber Dems by 1.5 million voters. And Nixon's DSA tag makes her a clear underdog, maybe even unelectable. But the Dems are sticking with

ASANTE/FINNIE from Page 26 ment of representation beyond employment. EEO-1 is one of the few sources that shows whether people of color are underrepresented at the management and leadership level — not just in the workforce overall. According to EEO-1 data submitted by large employers, workers of color make up more than 40 percent of the workforce but hold only one in five executive or senior-level positions. In 2023, Black women and men remained underrepresented in senior roles. The gap between who is employed and who is advancing is an example of workforce opportuni-

The tree of ICE is corrupt. All that can come from this tree is evil and more bad fruit. There must be a fair, congressionally approved, and monitored DHS. Its policies must be respectful of due process and the rule of law based on the following: • Truth and transparency • Enhanced training for all agents • Ineligibility for domestic abusers, violent lawbreakers and former fired or reassigned abusive police officers • Cultural and sensitivity training • Independent investigations of incidents involving lethal and nonlethal force (rubber bullets, electric shock, overextended restraints and pepper spray can both injure and, in some cases, result in death) America does not need a system of injustice modeled after non-democratic and authoritarian regimes. Electric gloves are reminiscent of the African American community of the ropes and chains used to control Blacks in America. Currently, those chains are being used as ankle bracelets to contain and control Haitians. This proposed policy is consis-

tent with what seems to be the sterilization and purification of America. The Trump Administration has indicated that certain immigrants are poisoning the blood of the nation. Yet over 6,500 white South Africans from a nation rooted in Apartheid have been admitted and welcomed into the U.S. Detaining 2,000 people per day, subject to deportation, is no more than human exploitation. People of goodwill must stand against this policy. Corporations and businesses must indicate to the Administration this is not good business. It has resulted in a decline in employment, fear of consumers shopping at small businesses, and a major reduction in tourism. Congress should investigate this proposal and block it. Courts must not allow this to go forward. The faith community must preach and teach against this evil corrupting the very soul of our nation. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? Shocking the life out of refugees seeking asylum in America today will lead to the same electric shock to peacefully protesting American citizens tomorrow. WI

her. Voters seem to be turning out for someone who will directly and boldly address affordability. Meanwhile, Trump is turning the Iran War, which has caused the oil price run-up and high inflation, into an economic war on the world. At the same time, he's declared a tariff war on our good ally, Canada, guaranteed to raise prices on imports to America. That could make Nixon the one in Florida in 2026. And it would

move Dems closer to flipping both houses of Congress, a vote for super normalcy. Trump is so far down in the polls, he's resorted to election disruption and voter suppression. But the antidote in Florida at least is Angie Nixon, a woman worth watching, who'll turn you into a democratic socialist if Donald Trump hasn't done so already. WI

ty gap that exist for Black workers in America. Joint Center Senior Fellow Eric Morrissette wrote, "the Civil Rights Act does not require proving that someone is personally racist. It requires proving that a policy creates measurable, disproportionate harm." Without the requirement for employers to file an annual report detailing workforce demographic data, including data by job category and sex and race or ethnicity, fewer measurable patterns of discrimination or occupational segregation being identified. This data collection serves as a crucial part of civil rights infrastructure as it provides essential evidence

to enforce civil rights law. For over 55 years, the Joint Center has believed that data is the precondition for justice. At a moment when Black workers face such acute vulnerability, stripping away the tools to identify occupational segregation and measure discrimination is unconscionable. We urge the EEOC to withdraw the proposed rule to rescind requirements for filing EEO demographic data collection reports, including the EEO-1 form. Reliable economic workforce data helps researchers, policymakers, advocates and industry leaders evaluate if our workforce systems are delivering on the promise of equal opportunity. WI

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for environmental justice. I take environmental matters seriously because pollution and infrastructure burdens have been borne disproportionately by underserved communities. In this case, a comprehensive look at the actual record is warranted. The reform keeps full environmental review in place for any major project. It only speeds up the routine work. And look at the results in the very states raising the alarm. Since 2020, residential electricity prices have risen 73.7% in Washington, D.C., 65.3% in Maine,

STEVENSON from Page 27 rooms and public institutions, preserving our own history has become even more important. The pages we have published over 34 years are part of that history.

The Journey Has Not Always Been Easy

I would not be truthful about my personal journey if I suggested that publishing an independent community newspaper for 34 years has been easy. It has not. There have been economic downturns, changing advertising markets, increasing printing and operating costs, and the enormous disruption of the digital age. We survived the

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made clear its intent to resume efforts to further diminish fair housing funding. Its budget request of $68 million for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) would continue recent fair housing cuts, this time by 21%. In 2024, Congress provided $86 million to fund FHEO, far below the $153 million needed to fully staff the division. As a result, FHEO now has only a third of the staff it had on Jan. 20, 2025. Two other fair housing programs targeted for cuts are the Private Enforcement Initiative, which pays for the investigations and testing that prove discrimination happened, and the Education and Outreach Initiative, which funds efforts to ensure people know they have rights in the first place. These and other regressive actions will continue to be legally challenged by NFHA and its consortium of more than 290

59.1% in California, 49.7% in Maryland and 43.7% in New York. These are almost entirely blue states, many of them home to the same officials now advocating, rightfully so, for faster infrastructure build-out. Meanwhile, Michigan, a swing state carrying real weight for working-class and Black families, has seen a painful 23.1% increase in electrical power costs. President Donald Trump's economic record has been a disaster for working families, from tariffs that raised costs on everyday goods to policies that have done nothing to bring

down the price of energy, housing or groceries. Democrats have a real opening to be the party that delivers affordability, not just the party that promises it. That means supporting a comprehensive and bold energy strategy — gas, renewables, nuclear and offshore wind — that gets supply moving to meet rising demand instead of an older model during a pre-technology era where being cautious against anything with the word "gas" in it had some merit. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

COVID-19 pandemic and continued finding ways to get important information to our readers during one of the most difficult periods our community has experienced. There have been many times when keeping the newspapers going required determination, sacrifice, creativity and faith. But every time someone tells me they saw an opportunity in our newspaper, attended an event because we publicized it, discovered a local business through our pages or saved an article about someone they knew, I am reminded why this work matters.

Harlem Has Given as Much to Me as I Have Given to Harlem

When I look back over 34 years, I realize that this newspaper has allowed me to meet some extraordinary people and witness history from a front-row seat. I have watched leaders emerge. I have watched small businesses grow. I have seen organizations fight for our community and families work to create better opportunities for the next generation. I have watched Harlem evolve while maintaining the culture, creativity and determination that make it unlike any other community in the world. And Harlem has embraced me and Harlem Community Newspapers along the way. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

private, nonprofit fair housing organizations; state and local civil rights agencies; and individuals throughout the United States. As it works to ensure every neighborhood has the resources people need to thrive and expand equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities, the organization also analyzes housing trends. For example, NFHA's most recent analysis of fair housing trends found that in 2024: • From 2023 to 2024, housing discrimination complaints based on color increased 26.2%. • Nationwide, 32,321 housing discrimination complaints were filed, one of the highest figures in more than two decades. • Nearly 75% of all housing discrimination complaints were investigated and filed by community-based local fair housing agencies. -• 83.56% of the year's complaints were rental-related. As only 44.7% of Blacks owned their homes in 2024, Black fam-

ilies are more likely to become rental victims of racial housing discrimination. The irony of these and other still unfolding events is that the agency designated to enforce the nation's fair housing law is clearly demonstrating its determination to roll back over 60 years of hard-won civil rights. NFHA's analysis aptly summarizes why the fight for fair housing must continue: "In the U.S., place is inextricably linked to opportunity: where we live determines our access to fresh air, clean water, well-resourced schools, healthcare facilities, reliable transportation, good jobs, quality internet service, and much more. Meanwhile, too many people are stuck in places that impede — rather than promote — their ability to thrive. Millions of Americans struggle under the weight of excessive housing costs, a dearth of affordable housing supply, and a lack of resources and amenities in the communities where they live." WI

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