Washington Informer

Following months of reports of financial discord which have resulted in faculty staff layoffs, the University of the District of Columbia's (UDC) board of trustees has voted to terminate the contract of president, Allen L. Sessoms.

During a closed session on Wednesday that lasted more than four hours, the board finalized its decision before making the announcement that comes more than four years after Sessoms assumed the helm.

In a Dec. 19 statement read by Board Chairwoman Elaine Crider, Sessoms was praised for his service as the university made plans surrounding its future.

"We thank Dr. Sessoms for his work in guiding the University over the past four years," said Crider. "But as we grapple with the challenges of reducing staff and programs, continuing to improve our physical plant and attracting new students, the board has decided to go in a different direction."

Sessoms served as president of Delaware State University and Queens College of New York City before coming to UDC in September 2008.

According to a statement issued by the school, during Sessoms' tenure, the University embarked on a significant upgrade in campus facilities and developed a comprehensive University strategic plan for academic, administrative and operational reform.

UDC spokesman Allen Etter said that although a temporary replacement will be soon be named, the board is seeking an interim president to take over while a national search to replace Sessoms is conducted.

Through a partnership in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, Tonei Triplett, owner of Kree8tive Techs in Forestville, Md., was able to obtain and donate computer monitors to the "Helping Other People Exceed (H.O.P.E.)" project, located on the campus of The International Graduate University in Southeast.

"I arranged for a donation of the monitors through a federal government excess program because I wanted to support other individuals that have a passion to teach or work in the Information Technology (IT) field," said Triplett said, who added that he's been blessed to start his own IT company that includes programming, setting up and repairing computer systems. "I started doing this at a relatively young age and have been successful. From my personal experience, I realize how important it is to follow your dreams. But, I also recall having opportunities afforded to me, which helped get me to where I am today. It is my goal to continue giving back, helping to make a positive difference, partnering with others and assisting to help other people excel."

H.O.P.E. is an IT training program dedicated to providing technical training and development for young adults. H.O.P.E. founder and President Raymond Bell said he launced the program in 2009 to assist individuals who have been faced with grim circumstances within the community.

"My training program is not only an outlet for them to learn about IT, but the knowledge they gain and the skills they develop as they progress through the program, provides them with hands-on experience,." Bell said. "Upon completing the training program, most of our graduates are placed in IT Helpdesk and Application Support positions -- federal government agencies to Fortune 500 companies."

For more information about these companies, visit www.kree8tivetechs.com and www.hopeprojectdc.org.

Prince George's County Council Member Karen R. Toles (D) - District 7, and Men Aiming Higher, a local non-profit organization, are partnering to provide toys to District 7 children during the holiday season.

The "District 7 Toys for Tots Giveaway," scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 19, marks the second year the partners have worked on the event. They will visit Hillcrest Heights, Overlook and Capitol Heights elementary schools to distribute toys to children and families in need.

Toles said the toy drive will help make the season brighter for children and families.

"I am excited for the opportunity to continue our partnership with Men Aiming Higher to serve our community," he said. "During this holiday season our mission is to touch the lives of District 7 families through the gift of giving."

Men Aiming Higher President Darryl Barnes said his organization is proud to again partner with Toles to make a difference in the lives of young people in District 7.

"We will be providing gifts to disadvantaged children with the hope that it reminds them that there are people who care,' Barnes said, "and also to provide an example of people reaching back to help those less fortunate with that faith that they will do the same someday."

The toys giveaway will be held Wednesday at these locations:

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. -- Hillcrest Heights Elementary, 4305 22nd Place, Temple Hills, MD 20748

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. -- Overlook Elementary, 3298 Curtis Drive, Temple Hills, MD 20748

1 p.m. to 2 p.m. -- Capitol Heights Elementary, 601 Suffolk Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD 20743

The United States Playing Card Company (USPC), makers of Bicycle® Playing Cards, is proud to announce the launch of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Playing Card Deck. Bicycle® Playing Cards has partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by donating $0.15 per deck sold.

"The mission of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is to help preserve the rich history of African American baseball and we are excited that Bicycle® has developed this deck to support our cause," said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. "With partnerships like this, we will be able to share this history with generations to come."

Roy Gifford, USPC vice president of marketing added that the partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, "not only gave us access to the iconic logos and photos from the Negro Leagues archives to create a beautiful deck of cards, but more importantly it allowed us to support an organization who is protecting the amazing story of the Negro Baseball Leagues."

To find out more online about Bicycle® and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum visit us at www.bicyclecards.com, www.nlbm.com, www.facebook.com/bicyclecards, and www.facebook.com/NegroLeaguesBaseballMuseum.

Source: PRNewswire-iReach

WASHINGTON -- The birth of Zuri Armani Green, who was born on 12/12/12 at Howard University Hospital, makes her one of the last "Millennium Babies" of this century.

Millennium babies are those born with repeating dates, such as 05/05/05, 10/10/10, 11/11/11/ or 10/10/10. Because there is no 13th month, there will be not be another millennium baby until Jan. 1, 2101.

Howard University Hospital obstetrician Dr. Jeffrey Sellers delivered Zuri at 1:06 p.m. to Zsaleth Green, 36, of Northeast Washington. She weighed a healthy 7 lbs. 2.1 oz.

This is Green's third delivery, but her first daughter. She has two sons, Devante Green, 20, and Demarco Green, 15.

The National Center for Children and Families partnered with Majic 102.3 to host the Dec. 14 "Miracle on U Street Toy Drive" at Ben's Chili Bown in Northwest.  Two Washington Redskins cheerleaders were on-hand to collect donations.

Click here to view U Street Toy Drive photo gallery. /Photos by Shevry Lassiter

More than 4,000 new and unwrapped toys were donated during the recent "Toys for Tots" drive that was spearheaded by The Yolanda Adams Morning Show, Praise 104.1. 

Listeners brought the toys to the Lowes Home Improvement store in Largo, Md., during the popular show's Dec. 14 broadcast. 

As the standing-room-only crowd gathered under an unheated Lowes tent to watch gospel performers Damita Haddon, Alexias Spight, James Fortune and others, they were greeted by Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Prince George's County Community College President Charlene Dukes and the Yolanda Adams Morning Show team -- to which a representative from County Executive Rushern Baker's office presented with a proclamation.

Click here to see photos from Yolanda Adams Morning Show Toy Drive. /Photos by Shevry Lassiter

President Barack Obama has expressed his condolences to the famlies who lost their children and other loved ones in the horrific shooting that occurred early Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Reportedly, at least 18 children and eight adults were killed.

During a White House press conference held in the afternoon, Obama -- who wiped away tears and referenced the recent mall shooting in Oregon and the theater massacre in Colorado -- made these remarks:

"We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years," the president said, noting that he was reacting as a parent -- and not as president. "I know there's not a parent in America that doesn't feel the same overwhelming grief as I do."

Obama,who said the children had their entire lives ahead of them, added:

"Our hearts are broken today for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children ... Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well."

In urging every parent to hug ther children a little tighter and to tell them they love them, he said, "While nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need."