WI Web Staff
Gray Announces Drivers Safety Act
Legislation Would Improve Public Safety, Help Alleviate Economic Hardships for Immigrant Families
Mayor Vincent C. Gray recently announced the District of Columbia Drivers Safety Amendment Act of 2013, which would enable the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a driver's license, learner's permit, or identification card to undocumented District residents who meet certain criteria.
"This legislation is the right thing to do for our undocumented residents and our entire community," Mayor Gray said in announcing the bill on May 2 to the D.C. Coiuncil "With this legislation, undocumented District residents will be able to obtain a driver's license by submitting the proper documentation and taking the same tests the DMV requires of all drivers. This promotes the safe operation of motor vehicles on our streets, and reduces incentives for criminals to sell fake IDs on the black market. Most importantly, it alleviates burdens on immigrants by opening the door to legal automobile ownership – an economic lifeline for many hard-working families."
• To obtain a credential, undocumented residents must:
• Show proof of residency for at least six months or more;
• Demonstrate they are ineligible to obtain a Social Security number;
• Obtain an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;
• Be unable to present documentation from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services authorizing his or her presence in this country; and
• Submit a valid unexpired passport from their home country or a foreign birth certificate.
In addition to ensuring that all residents can safely operate vehicles on the District's roadways, this legislation will also allow for the registration of insured vehicles.
Nai-Ni Chen, Ahn Trio at Publick Playhouse
Monday, 13 May 2013 15:30 Published in Arts & Entertainment
CHEVERLY, MD— Fusing modern dance with ancient traditions, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and the Ahn Trio perform the DC-area premiere of "Temptation of the Muses" at the Prince George's Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 18.
Created and choreographed by Nai-Ni Chen as a collaborative effort with hot composer Kenji Bunch and the stunning young Ahn Trio, the work was inspired by Latif Nazemi's poem that begins, "Let's kiss water, the root of civilization, a word for freedom."
"Temptation" is an electric ballet of contemporary artistry, where the dancers and musicians interact onstage throughout the performance. Brunch describes it as a "struggle for the existence of fluidity and natural beauty in an urban, industrial context."
Nai-Ni Chen is an innovative choreographer and artistic director who uses dance to "find ways to express the dynamic spirit of our changing world." Originally from China, she was a renowned traditional dancer with the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in Taiwan, from which she also served as a touring cultural ambassador for China. She came to America to seek her own voice in contemporary dance, and her award-winning company based in suburban New York is in its 25th season and has earned global acclaim.
The Ahn Trio is standing chamber music on its head and earning worldwide praise for performances of commissioned works by cutting-edge composers. Comprised of Lucia on piano, Angella on violin, and Maria on cello, The New York Times said the three sisters "have evidently decided to give their aged medium, the piano trio, a kick into the [21st] century". Born in Seoul, Korea, the Ahns were raised in New York and educated at Juilliard.
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company with the Ahn Trio
"Temptation of the Muses" area premiere
Saturday, May 18, 8 pm
Tickets: $20 - $25
Nai-Ni Chen Lecture/Demo
Friday, May 17, 10:15am and 12 noon
Tickets: $5
Nai-Ni Chen Master Class
Saturday, May 18, 10 am
For teachers and advanced students
Class fee: $15
Prince George's Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts is located at 5445 Landover Road in Cheverly
Box office: 301-277-1710; 301-277-0312 tty
For more information contact Playhouse Assistant Director Jenna Ward, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text71057 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 301-277-1711
The Cleveland, Ohio, man who has become a hero in the rescue of three young women who were held captive for 10 years, visited Ben's Chili Bowl Friday night.
Charles Ramsey, the neighbor who helped free the women -- Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight – who'd been held hostage for a decade by Ariel Castro, was in the District this past weekend to appear on the Rock Newman Show.
A video of Ramsey being interviewed on May 6 after the rescue, has gone viral and inspired mash-up music videos on youtube.com.
"She (Berry) said get me out of here. Who are you? Hurry up...he might be coming back," Ramsey recounted on the Rock Newman Show.
Castro now faces multiple kidnapping and rape charges, and if convicted, could face life in prison.
(Source: WJLA)
Lamell McMorris Named NDAC Chair of the American Red Cross
Saturday, 11 May 2013 20:51 Published in Business
On May 9 human rights activist and public affairs expert Lamell McMorris was appointed Chairman of the National Diversity Advisory Council (NDAC) of the American Red Cross.
Recommended by NDAC Sr. Vice President Floyd W. Pitts, McMoriss was selected for a one-year term.
McMorris is founder and CEO of Perennial Strategy Group, an advisory firm providing government relations and public affairs services to Fortune 500 companies, national non-profits, trade associations, and public-sector clients on a wide range of public-policy issues and corporate matters.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Lamell’s caliber appointed as our new Council Chairperson because he brings to our efforts substantial expertise in working with non-profits and a history of forward thinking,” said Pitts.
McMorris, enthusiastic about his new role said, “My task is to serve as a bridge, to help Pitts in his efforts to connect principles of diversity and inclusion to the mission and business objectives of the American Red Cross.”
Police in Mexico City, Mexico, are investigating the death of Malcolm Shabazz, the grandson of civil rights activist Malcolm X, as a homicide.
Shabazz, 29, died Thursday morning in a Mexico City hospital after suffering an apparent beating, according to a police report.
CNN reported that authorities were called to the scene of an injured man at 3:30 a.m. Thursday one block south of Plaza Garibaldi, a rough but famous patch of Mexico City known for its mariachis.
Shabazz, who reportedly had been trying to turn his life around, was transported to Mexico City's Balbuena General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
"He's really just a youngster, a very young man who was just struggling to get his life moving on a forward-looking track," said Abdur-Rashid. "He was always concerned about forging his own path. I'm just sad that things turned out the way they did."
"To all who knew him, he offered kindness, encouragement and hope for a better tomorrow," the Shabazz family said in a statement Friday. "Although his bright light and boundless potential are gone from this life, we are grateful that he now rests in peace in the arms of his grandparents and the safety of God."
"I was saddened, stunned, shocked, to read about the murder of young Malcolm," former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who had taken Shabazz under her wing and with whom he had traveled on a trip to Libya.
"Many of my closest associates have personal memories of their time with him and of his efforts to reach out to them for help," McKinney said. "He was writing a book."
Shabazz is survived by his three year old daughter, Ilyasah, his mother, Qubilah, and his closest aunt, Ilyasah, among others.
Shabazz was living with his grandmother Betty Shabazz, when he set fire to her Yonkers, N.Y. home in 1997. Mrs. Shabazz died from severe burns caused by the fire. Shabazz was just 12-years-old at the time. He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson and was sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile detention facility.
(Sources: CNN, Newsone)
Thanks for the Positive Coverage!
As a resident of Prince George's County I would like to thank The Washington Informer Newspaper for the coverage of events in and around our county. For years, I've read about the positive events taking place in the District of Columbia in The Informer, and now you are bringing residents of Prince George's County some of that same positive and inspiring news, as well.
I know there's a lot of work to be done in our county, but there are also a lot of good things taking place and they are things we can feel good about. Our county has made great strides over the past few years and if we continue to work hard and keep a positive attitude about ourselves, I think Prince George's County can be the best county in the state of Maryland.
Samuel K. McKnight
Fort Washington, Md.
A Simple Solution to the Redskins Controversy
I loved the photograph of RG III on the front-page of the May 2, 2013 edition. I'm a lifelong Washington Redskins fan and I can't wait for the season to begin. With that having been said, I'd like to add my two cents regarding the ongoing controversy about changing the name of the team.
When I attended the last Super Bowl the Skins were in, 1991, Skins versus the Bills in Minnesota, I noticed a group of Native Americans protesting the name of the team outside the stadium. At first, I didn't see anything wrong, but now I completely understand the Native Americans' objection.
So here is my solution: change the name to the "Washington Warriors" that way we can keep the native American symbols and the fight song, and of course, the burgundy and gold. During the football season if you made a chart of my blood pumping through my body, instead of the colors red and blue, mine would be burgundy and gold!
Johnny Walton
Oxon Hill, Md.
On Sunday, May 12, mothers will be celebrated for their hard work spent raising their children – and some who are not their own – as well as for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of their families. Motherhood is often considered a thankless job, but on Mother's Day, the cards and flowers, and kisses and hugs will contain heartfelt expressions of appreciation for what mothers have done for the ones they love.
Mother's Day is nearly a 100-year-old tradition in the U.S., and it is also celebrated in other parts of the world.
The concept of Mother's Day in the U.S. is said to have been initiated by the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Julia Ward Howe, who wanted mothers to come together to protest the killing of their sons who were engaged in the Civil War, and to call for peace.
Over the years, other women adopted Mother's Day-style celebrations, but it wasn't until 1914 when Woodrow Wilson signed into law the national observance, that the second Sunday in May was officially declared Mother's Day.
We want to take time to honor mothers and to express a special word of encouragement to those whose children were lost to senseless violence on our streets, in their schools and in their homes. Bringing a child into the world is most often a joyous occasion, but a mother's job of raising, caring and worrying about her children never ends -- it lasts a lifetime.
Like every U.S. holiday, the economic factors end up making them highly commercialized events. Mother's Day is one of those holidays that reap big bucks for retailers. Gifts are great and many mothers deserve the world if it could be given to them.
But what most mothers' want is quality time and words that simply say "Thank you for being my Mom." That means a whole lot.
Happy Mother's Day.
The nine-story Rana Plaza factory building in Bangladesh that housed nearly 3,000 garment workers collapsed last week making it the worst industrial accident to occur in the South Asian country ever. Over 500 workers are dead and the death toll continues to climb as rescuers work feverishly to aid the hundreds of injured and remove the bodies of others buried beneath the concrete rubbish.
There seems to be enough blame to go around in what has become the country's third garment district tragedy in the last six months. Just five months ago, 112 workers were killed in a garment factory fire. The incident led to more promises that improved safety standards would be followed or licenses would be pulled from factory owners who failed to comply.
Yet, in this most recent tragedy, there seems to be enough blame to go around to those who were clearly more concerned about financial gain over the loss of human capital. Fingers are being pointed at the building's owner and engineers who reportedly were aware of the dangerous structural conditions existing in the factory but failed to act. The mayor, who gave short shrift to the severity of the accident, was suspended while the government seeks to fend off accusations that its failure to enforce stricter safety standards played a part in the recent accident
None of the punitive actions, however, will replace the lives of mothers, fathers and possibly children who worked under these unsafe and onerous conditions just to eke out a living in a country where wages are the lowest in the world. And who's benefitting from their labor? Consumers in Europe and the U.S. who purchase clothing from retailers that produce their products in Bangladesh factories.
An article in The Guardian reported: "About 3.6 million people work in Bangladesh's garment industry, making it the world's second-largest clothing exporter after China. Some earn just $38 a month, conditions Pope Francis on Wednesday likened to slave labour."
This is yet another case that calls for greater action among U.S. workers to demand equitable pay and safety protections for all low-wage workers around the world. And, U.S. companies that manufacture products in Bangladesh, as well as other small countries, must stop giving lip service but push government to apply sanctions to those persons and countries that continue to exploit their workers.
Books that Promote Spiritual, Mental, Physical Well-Being
Thursday, 09 May 2013 20:30 Published in Health
BLESSED HEALTH
By Dr. Melody McCloud and Angela Ebron
Blessed Health offers African-American women the medical information and inspirational motivation they need to achieve total health -- a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Many Black women will go to church all day every Sunday but won't take one day out of the year to get a Pap test and mammogram done. Dr. Melody McCloud and Angela Ebron urge women not to wait until a health emergency happens before turning to their faith and their physicians. You can achieve optimal health by arming yourself with medical knowledge and a strong spiritual base. Research has proven that a well-nurtured spiritual self can help to replenish, rejuvenate, and safeguard your physical self.
FAITH, HEALTH, and HEALING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE
Edited by Stephanie Y. Mitchem, Emilie M. Townes
This book offers a better understanding of the varieties of religiously-based approaches to healing and alternative models of healing and health found in Black communities in the United States. Contributors address the communal aspects of faith and health and explore the contexts in which individuals make choices about their health, the roles that institutions play in shaping these decisions, and the practices individuals engage in seeking better health or coping with the health they have. By paying attention to the role of faith, spirit, and health, this book offers a fuller sense of the varieties of ways Black health and health care are perceived and addressed from an inter-religious perspective.
STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER: A CELEBRATION OF BLACK PRAYER
By The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
In this remarkable book, striking photographs and powerful prayers drawn from the unparalleled collections of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture span the broad spectrum of black religious traditions during the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. From the plaintive Yoruba prayer to "Look after us,/Look after our children" and the humble opening prayer of the Qur'ân to "Guide us on the right path" to W. E. B. Du Bois's prideful prayer to "Let [Thy children] grow in the capacity for worthy work...and may they in the end prove worthy of their great heritage," this extraordinary volume reflects the struggle, despair, determination, and triumph of the black experience through the ages. Drawing from faiths as diverse as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Vodou, the book also includes prayers from some of history's most powerful voices, among them Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
GIFTED HANDS
By Ben Carson
Ben Carson, M.D., works medical miracles. Today, he's one of the most celebrated neurosurgeons in the world. In Gifted Hands, he tells of his inspiring odyssey from his childhood in inner-city Detroit to his position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33. Ben Carson is a role model for anyone who attempts the seemingly impossible as he takes you into the operating room where he has saved countless lives. Filled with fascinating case histories, this is the dramatic and intimate story of Ben Carson's struggle to beat the odds -- and of the faith and genius that make him one of the greatest life-givers of the century.
#1 Cause of Stress among Americans is Job Pressure, which is described as disharmony between co-workers, bosses, or work overload:
77 The percentage of people who regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress
50 The percentage of Americans who cited Irritability or anger among the psychological effects experienced as a result of stress
61 The percentage of college students who pray at least weekly; 28 the percent of college students who pray daily.
2 to 3 The number of additional years added to the lives of those who attend regular (at least weekly) religious services.
79 The percent of U.S. adults that believe spiritual faith can help the and others recover from illness, injury, or disease
Data provided by the 2012 American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress Study
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