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The Rev. Derrick Harkins will lead the DNC's faith-based initiatives./ Courtesy PhotoThe Rev. Derrick Harkins has been appointed to head faith outreach for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In his latest capacity, Harkins, 52, pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in D.C., takes over the helm as the presidential campaigns pick up more speed. In doing so, the prominent evangelical activist will be instrumental shoring up support and turnout among black voters and white evangelicals who -- over past decades -- have voted largely along Republican Party lines.
Sandra Seegars has announced plans to run for the Ward 8 City Council seat that's currently held by veteran Councilmember Marion Barry.
In announcing her intention on Oct. 22 at Secrets of Nature in Southwest, Seegars added that Leo Alexander, a small business owner, will serve as her campaign manager.
According to Seegars, she has already spent $3,000 in an exploratory campaign to gather support for the 2012 race in which Barry also intends to compete.
Seegars said that Secrets of Nature, a natural food store and restaurant, is slated to be razed to make way for stores with offices and apartments.
"I think this is unfair to the businesses that are there now," Seegars said. "As [Ward 8] Council member, I would preserve the current businesses by renovating them with tax incentive programs. They would be reinforced to withstand offices/apartments built above them."
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department (PGFD) has joined the nationwide effort helping eradicate the devastating disease thorough its PGFD CARES project.
The project, which launched on Oct. 16, has been selling pink T-shirts that reflect the importance of breast cancer awareness, with participating fire and EMS workers have been donning the shirts in place of their service uniform.
"The color "pink" has become symbolic of breast cancer awareness," said Prince George's County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor. "[Through the end of October] I am authorizing the change in work uniforms during this time to help with awareness efforts."
Are minority youth "STEM-phobic" – fearful of studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics?
Determined to demystify these subjects and encourage District middle school students to study and prepare to enter these vital and lucrative careers, an unusual coalition of religious, educational, governmental, private and non-profit organizations have joined forces to host the "Percy Julian Morning of Discovery on Sat., Oct. 29 at Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 M St., in Northwest.
Metropolitan's community outreach arm -- the Daniel Alexander Payne Community Development Corporation (CDC) -- is collaborating with the American Chemical Society, National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and Howard University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences to host the inaugural event and jointly launch the Percy L. Julian Institute. Dr. Julian (l899--l973) was an award-winning African-American research scientist, who held more than 130 chemical patents.
"Minorities have historically been significantly underrepresented in the STEM fields," said the Rev. Ronald E. Braxton, senior pastor of Metropolitan. "They deserve to be able to pursue opportunities and be supported and encouraged to follow their dreams."
Targeting minority students from D.C. public and charter schools, the Morning of Discovery will provide parents with resources to nurture their children's interest in STEM subjects, as well to as counsel students on classes required to apply for college and major in STEM fields.
Sign-in and continental breakfast for the Morning of Discovery begins at 8 a.m. and the event starts at 9 a.m.
Offerings include talks on opportunities for women and minorities, active scientists leading hands-on experiments and scientists leading students in discovery sessions. They will take place at the American Chemical Society, located next door to Metropolitan at 1522 M St.
Former NFL player Roman Oben will offer his expertise on college recruitment at McKinley Tech./Courtesy PhotoDealing with the college athletic recruitment process can be an overwhelming undertaking for many student-athletes and families, and nobody understands this better than the NCSA Athletic Recruiting team.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, former New York Giant and NCSA athletic recruiting educational speaker Roman Oben will be at McKinley Technology High School to offer advice and guidance on how to maximize chances of receiving a college athletic scholarship. Admission is free for the acclaimed seminar titled, "College Recruiting Simplified."
The Occupy Movement is sprouting up all across the country -- even forcing its reality into the homes of corporate CEO's and bankers. And, as the Movement has grown, thousands of people have left the comforts of their homes in order to become participants.
But what drives people to do this? Why are they willing to sleep outside without the luxuries they are so accustom to? Why are folks willing to risk arrest?
A statement from R&B singer Boosty Collins comes to mind: "People have sold out and now we have to re-learn ourselves because we went for the almighty dollar," Collins said. "Now we've got to get a balance. I love money, a lot of people love money, but we worship it instead of worshiping God and spirit," he continued. "That's what we had, that's what we lost and we got to come back to it."
While CEOs are earning record-breaking salaries, many of the protesters believe that the almighty dollar has influenced a "give me more money" society where the rich conquer and the middle class and poor suffer.
According to a study by the Institute for Policy Studies, a District-based liberal think tank, the ratio between the average worker's salary and the average CEO's salary stands at 325-to-1. The study also found that among the nation's top firms, CEO's pay last year averaged more than $10 million - an increase of 27.8 percent over 2009. That is in comparison to the average American worker's pay in 2010, which was just over $33,000.
Citizens for Tax Justice, conducted a study on tax avoidance among the Fortune 500, and identified 12 corporations that have paid 1.5 percent on $171 billion in profits.
With behavior like this, we see why folks are fed up with a system that protects the rich and (continuosly) beats down the poor.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Missionary Baptist Ministers' Conference of Washington, D.C. and Vicinity recently hosted a Legislative Day with the City Council of the District of Columbia.
Several Council members participated in the Oct. 20 event, where topics of discussion included ethics reform; fiscal responsibility; government oversight and enforcement; education reform; and health care reform.
"It is our hope and earnest desire that this Legislative Day [has opened] new doors of communication between the pastors and the politicians of this city; rebuilding relationships that have eroded over the years, as the demographics of the Council have changed," said the Rev. Patrick J. Walker, Conference president. "It is time for us to join forces so that we can collectively improve the overall wellbeing of our city and all its citizens."
The Conference consists of a local body of clergy who are affiliated with several national Baptist conventions.
Organized in 1885, the Conference endeavors to advance the Kingdom of Christ as well as to strive for social, intellectual and moral improvements.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington, D.C. Hall of Fame Society (DCHOF) is renaming its Leadership Academy in honor of DCHOF inductee, Jack H. Olender for his on-going support helping students embark on pathways of successful careers. Olender is widely revered as one of the country's leading malpractice lawyers.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place during the Leadership Academy's high school mentor program on Oct. 26 at the Charles Sumner School, 1201 17th St. in Northwest. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rashad Young was city manager in Greensboro, NC, for two years./Courtesy Photo
ALEXANDRIA, VA - Alexandria officials are welcoming a new city manager who they say will begin working in December.
The City Council announced Monday (Oct. 24) that it has formally signed a contract with 35-year-old Rashad Young, who was the city manager for Greensboro, N.C., for two years. Young will begin work on Dec. 12 at an annual salary of $245,000.
Young succeeds James Hartmann, who left the post in May to work for Seminole County, Fla. The city's chief budget officer, Bruce Johnson, has been serving as acting city manager and will return to his old job.
Young is Alexandria's first African-American city manager.
WASHINGTON – Sulaimon Brown, the former District of Columbia government employee who accused Mayor Vincent Gray's administration of paying him to lash out against then-Mayor Adrian Fenty during last year's mayoral race, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving without a valid license.
Sulaimon Brown goes back to court in November./Courtesy PhotoBrown, who entered the plea on Oct. 25, will return to court next month for a jury trial.
He was arrested in September after officers pulled him over for an inoperable head light and discovered his Maryland driver's license was invalid. Because Brown lists his residence in D.C., he was ordered to acquire a District license prior to returning to court on Nov. 14.
Brown has also accused the Gray administration of abruptly firing him earlier this year from the high-paying job he said he was given as a result of his loyalty to the mayor's campaign.
A federal investigation remains ongoing surrounding Brown's allegations.
Washington, D.C. – Union attorney and community activist Renee Bowser has launched her campaign to unseat incumbent Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser [no relation] in the Democratic primary election next April.
Renee Bowser recently announced her intention to vie for the Ward 4 Council seat./Courtesy Photo
During an open house at her campaign office, just steps from the Georgia Ave. Petworth metro station, Renee Bowser outlined the major themes of her campaign in what is expected to be a competitive and closely watched race in one of the District's most prominent wards.
"With city services being cut and family paychecks being stretched to the max, it's critical for Ward 4 residents to have a representative on the D.C. Council who is capable and responsive to their needs," said Bowser. "Not just at election time, but every month, every week, in every neighborhood. We're not getting that kind of leadership now. Something has to change."
Bowser, who has been a resident of Ward 4 since 1989, is a former three-term Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and ANC chair.
WASHINGTON - A minor candidate in last year's District of Columbia mayoral race has told federal authorities that Mayor Vincent Gray handed him a list of talking points to use against the then-incumbent Adrian Fenty, according to a person with knowledge of the document.Sulaimon Brown boasts new allegations in probe./Courtesy Photo
The exchange of talking points would show that Sulaimon Brown and Gray worked closely together during last year's Democratic primary, though authorities would have to verify that Gray authored the document or handed it off. The document would also bolster Brown's claim that the Gray campaign essentially employed him to spout anti-Fenty rhetoric so that Gray could focus on his positive vision for the city.
Though the document by itself wouldn't constitute a crime, its existence would paint an unflattering portrait of back-room deal-making in the nation's capital.
Federal authorities are investigating Brown's allegations that members of Gray's campaign staff paid him thousands of dollars to stay in the race and promised him a job in the Gray administration if he won.
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