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Washington Informer “D.C. to me has been so great; my greatest inspiration has been this city” - Chuck Brown Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah.
Go-Go pioneer Chuck Brown is in the prime of his life: a music career that spans more than three decades and counting, the admiration and respect of local residents, and a new album that recently received a Grammy Award nomination.

Not bad for a man who once shined shoes for entertainers as a child and later had run-ins with the law.

Dressed in black from head to toe with his signature hat and gold-rimmed shades during a recent interview at Tryst Coffeehouse in Northwest, Brown smiled easily and spoke in a low, deep voice. Brown, 74, said he was grateful to still be around performing.

“D.C. to me has been so great; my greatest inspiration has been this city,” Brown said.

Brown’s newest album, “We Got This,” is a three-disc set featuring an album recorded in the studio, a live album, and a DVD of a live concert performance.
Thursday, 23 December 2010 01:22
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JANUARY
A 7.0 seismic earthquake hits Haiti, Jan. 12, causing massive devastation and death. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake: with an estimated 230,000 left dead, 300,000 injured and more than 1,000,000 left homeless. Locally, an outpouring of support came from residents who provided relief donations of clothing, non-perishable foods, and financial contributions. Prayer services for those who died and survivors of the quake took place throughout the city.

The Washington Informer co-sponsors the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk

FEBRUARY
A major snowstorm, nicknamed, “Snowpocalypse”, hits the metropolitan area Feb., 5. The storm stranded many motorists and caused thousands to lose power. Area grocers and supply stores quickly ran out of staples after two days of non-stop snow fall. The region was blanketed with more than 36 inches of snow.

MARCH
The health care bill that President Barack Obama vehemently fought for since Day One at the White House finally passed both houses of Congress and is headed to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for his signature. As Congressional Black Caucus members celebrated the 219-212 vote, the President put the historic moment into perspective on Sun., March 21.

Political and religious leaders in Prince George’s County endorsed a bill in the Maryland House of Delegates that will force lenders to meet with homeowners on the brink of losing their houses and devise a plan so that residents can stay in their homes.

Avery Coffey, an eighth grader at the Howard yUniversity Middle School of Mathematics and Science in Northwest won first place during the Washington Informer City-wide Spelling Bee. He successfully spelled the word “Plankton” to clinch the victory in this year’s competition.

APRIL
D.C. Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) officially kicked off his mayoral campaign, Sat., April 24 before hundreds of enthusiastic supporters who gathered at the Historical Society of Washington on K Street in Northwest. Gray resurrected his successful campaign slogan “One City” and called himself a leader who will bridge the racial and economic divide in the District.

Dorothy Height, the former chair and president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) died on April 20.

MAY
D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) has proposed a one-cent tax per ounce of soda and other sugary beverages sold in the District, with the intent of funding her recently passed Healthy School Acts of 2010 legislation. The legislation seeks to improve the nutrition and health of public school students by providing more affordable, healthier meals to students, establishing farm to table programs, and funding wellness and physical fitness programs.

JUNE
Washington Informer Speller, Avery Coffey, advances to Round 3 of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, June 2 through Fri., June 4. The intense competition and media attention did not rattle the Washington Informer’s speller, Avery, an eighth grader who attended Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science in Northwest.

The D.C. budget process, coupled with a host of new fees levied upon District residents, but required to balance the 2011 budget, have many crying foul and speculating about the possible return of a control board. D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty (D), attempted to close the budget gap for Fiscal Year 2010 by instituting a number of fees on residents and businesses that will carry over to the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. The fees include increasing the fine for passing a school bus while double parked from $50 to $500 and bumping the price of a barber or beautician license from its base fee of $75 by 10 percent, to name a few.

JULY
As British Petroleum’s deepwater well continues to discharge oil into the Gulf, the economic and public health effects are already being felt across coastal communities. From the bayous of southern Louisiana to the city of New Orleans, this disaster came to represent not only environmental devastation, but also cultural extinction of people who have made their livelihoods on the Gulf for generations.

Rosecroft Raceway, the 61-year-old racetrack in Prince George’s County, closed July 1 after struggling for years due to a lack of financial backing and a revolving door of owners. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) expressed regret at the news, saying he has asked Secretary of State John McDonough to work with stakeholders to find a way to protect positions at Rosecroft.

AUGUST
The “Restoring Honor” rally which took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., brought the issue of race back onto the national forefront. Spearheaded by Glenn Beck of Fox News, the event was viewed as racially divisive as Tea Partiers took to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the historic March on Washington, which was also held there in August 1963.

Civil rights and progressive organizations held a rally at Dunbar High School in Northwest and marched to the site of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the historic March on Washington on Sat., Aug. 28.  The activities, led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, were designed to “mobilize for political and social action. Young people should also know the history of the civil rights movement,” the minister said.

SEPTEMBER
Dorothy Height, the former chair and president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) who died on April 20, was the focus of the 25th annual National Black Family Reunion Celebration on Sat., Sept. 11 on the National Mall in Northwest. The Black Family Reunion is the signature program of the NCNW -- which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.


OCTOBER
Longtime health advocate and WOL–AM radio talk show host Brother Bey died on Sun., Oct. 2 at Stoddard Baptist Home in Northwest, surrounded by family and friends. He was 70.

Controversial D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee will step down from her job at the end of October and will be replaced by her deputy, Kaya Henderson as the interim chancellor. Rhee confirmed her departure at the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest on Oct. 13. Rhee said that D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray, the presumptive mayor-elect, has the right to select his own team.

NOVEMBER
Residents of the District of Columbia voted to elect the chairman of the D.C. Council as its next mayor during the general election on Tue., Nov. 2. D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray officially became the sixth elected mayor of the city since the advent of Home Rule in the 1970s.

The recent arrest of the Prince George’s County Executive and his wife has sent shockwaves throughout the jurisdiction as residents seek to understand what’s going on and what it means for the county. Jack Johnson, the Prince George’s county executive and his wife Leslie, who was recently elected to the Prince George’s County Council representing District 6, were arrested by FBI agents at their Mitchellville, Md., home on Fri., Nov. 12 for evidence tampering and destroying evidence in an ongoing investigation.

The District of Columbia City Council is considering a bill to outlaw cyber-bullying on public property. The Council joined a growing number of legislative bodies at the local, county, and state levels to address the problems of minors who are being harassed by their peers. The bill, “The Harassment and Intimidation Prevention Act of 2010” is sponsored by D.C. Council member Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5) and would mandate that the D.C. public schools, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the University of the District of Columbia, the charter schools and library system establish policies and prevention programs to discourage and address cyber-bullying and similar offensive behavior.

DECEMBER
The incoming county executive of Prince George’s County wants to build a stronger partnership with the District of Columbia and improve the economic viability of his jurisdiction. Prince George’s County Executive-elect Rushern Baker III, in an interview with the editorial staff of the Washington Informer Newspaper on Thu., Nov. 18 at his law office in Greenbelt, said that the District and Prince George’s County have not worked together. “We in Prince George’s County and in the District treat our border like it is the Berlin Wall,” Baker, 52, said.

The newly-inaugurated county executive of Prince George’s County used one word consistently throughout his address to county residents and interested observers: “greatness.” Rushern Baker addressed a crowd of hundreds on Mon., Dec. 6, who gathered in front of the County Administration Promenade in Upper Marlboro, Md., on a sunny, yet windy and cold morning to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
A controversial member of the Prince George’s County Council took the oath of office despite having to face serious federal charges sometime in the future. Prince George’s County Councilmember Leslie Johnson (D-District 6) took her oath during the inauguration of the new County Council which took place at the same time as the swearing-in of the new county executive, Rushern Baker III on Mon., Dec. 6. The Prince George’s County Council has since barred Johnson from chairing committees.
One of outgoing D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s most successful department heads decided to join the new mayoral administration. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has agreed to stay on her job. Her new boss, D.C. Mayor-elect Vincent Gray, was enthusiastic about keeping Lanier in her position and said so during a press conference at the Reeves Center in Northwest on Thu., Dec. 16. Gray said that Lanier, 43, has been charged with making community policing “an even higher priority.”
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 15:49
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Washington Informer Malik Yoba, Georgia Noone-Sherrod, Ruby Dee, Kevin E. Hooks, and Curtis King take a moment to pose for photographers as the TBAAL moves towards its 35th anniversary. Courtesy Photo
The Black Academy of Arts & Letters kicked off the holiday season in grand style with a special benefit hosted by jazz artist Art Sherrod Jr. and his wife Georgia Noone-Sherrod at the Gallery Serengeti in Capitol Heights, Md. Curtis King, Founder and President of TBAAL, welcomed the gathering of influential business leaders, community activists and philanthropists including Kevin E. Hooks, Executive Vice President of Weber Shandwick; Angie Gates, General Manager of The Warner Theatre; and Mike and Cheryl Miller.
Friday, 31 December 2010 03:35
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Washington InformerSherry Compton, the Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center's new project director.Photo by Robert Ridley
It’s an early afternoon in late November.

An energetic young woman walks at a brisk clip throughout the main floor of the Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center in Southeast. Every so often she stops, smiles and chats with the center’s clients who saunter at a leisurely pace. They share a laugh together and she asks how they’re doing, in an effort to build rapport and imbue the facility with a new perspective on health and wellness.

Meet Sherry Compton, the center’s new project director, a petite powerhouse with energy to spare. The native of Canton, Ohio, practices what she preaches by staying fit and focused. Right now, her mission is to provide continuity for the facility programs, while at the same time, preparing the wellness center for the future. Compton has worked in her new position with seniors in Southeast since October.

“I just think they’re a population that needs a lot of help -- a lot of resources, and I have a heart for them -- a heart to help them -- in this fast-moving, fast-paced world,” Compton said.

Compton, who is in her mid-30s, said that she moved to the District in 2002. During that same year, seniors, their health and wellness piqued her interest while working at the United States Postal Service Headquarters Fitness Center in Southwest where a significant number of clients happened to be older adults. She watched seniors transform their lives by lifting weights for the first time..

The Ward 8 resident said her personal motto is “servant leadership.”
“What is a servant? They’re going to do whatever needs to get done,” Compton said.

She also worked as a health promotions specialist at Providence Hospital in Northeast before being promoted to her current position. Today, Compton oversees a facility that has 600 active members, and continues to grow each month.

“As I’m learning more and more about the position, my job is to just make sure that the river flows,” Compton said.

This includes reaching out to the community to tell them about the center.

“I would say community outreach is a great part of the director position. I would say as a director, you have your hands in everything. You want people to feel like things are going to be okay. As a director, you answer all questions, you deal with all complaints. You’re a social worker, you’re a case manager; you just try to do everything that you can, within the population that you serve,” she said. The wellness center is managed by Providence Hospital and receives funding from the District of Columbia’s Office on Aging.
Seniors are treated to a variety of activities that include a fitness room, Pilates and yoga, a game room, a computer lab, and legal services, along with health, nutrition, and intergenerational programs.
“What we try to do is make sure we have something for everyone,” Compton said.

She feels that she’s been well-received by the center’s members.

“They’re very warm, loving and positive,” Compton said.

Alethea Campbell, 78, of Southeast said Compton is a no-nonsense director who maintains an active schedule. Campbell is also one of the founders of the wellness center.

“I love her, she’s very energetic,” Campbell said.

“She’s direct, she has a plan that she tries to follow, and when she asks you to do something, she expects you to do it,” Campbell said in terms of Compton’s leadership style.

Office on Aging Executive Director Clarence Brown, 62, said that his outlook is positive regarding the facility’s future.

“In the end what we want to do is make sure that the city’s residents, [specifically] at these wellness centers, that all sites will have highly beneficial and measurable outcomes in terms of health improvements for our seniors in the next five years,” Brown said.
In the future, Compton hopes to expand the wellness center, to meet the demands of an increasing membership.

“I think that for the Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center that we are at a place that is welcoming. If you are a D.C. resident and you’re 60 or older, and if you’re close by we’d be an aid. It would be a great place to come join us,” Compton said.
Friday, 31 December 2010 03:38
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Washington InformerCarolyn Malachi is a 2011 Grammy nominee for Best Urban/Alternative Performance Courtesy Photo
The Recording Academy recently named, Washington, D.C. native, Carolyn Malachi as one of the 2011 Grammy nominees. This prestigious award recognizes the best in the music industry.

Carolyn Malachi is a 2011 Grammy nominee for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for her single “Orion” from the Lions, Tigers & Squares EP. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California at the Staples Center and will air live on CBS. Malachi is among two other great recording artists who will represent Washington, DC: the godfather of go-go, Chuck Brown, and R&B sensation Raheem DeVaughn, who have also received Grammy nods this year in different categories.

Carolyn Malachi recently headlined at the legendary Blues Alley Jazz Supper Club, which was her first live performance since her official Grammy nomination announcement.

About Carolyn Malachi

Carolyn Malachi’s sound is a soothing genre-bending blend of jazz, pop, R&B, and spoken word. Malachi’s 2010 release of the “Lions, Fires & Squares” EP is composed of songs regarding relationships, love, and strength which bear influence of her recent tours in South Africa. The Washington Post describes Malachi’s infectious musical style as “Hard to put in words” and Urban Network raves, ”[Malachi] represents a warm yet challenging new presence – one not to be underestimated or denied”. With recent media comparisons to avant-garde soul/R&B artists such as: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, SADE and Janelle Monae, Carolyn Malachi is quickly becoming a popular international brand in jazz and soul.

For more information about Carolyn Malachi please visit www.CarolynMalachi.com
Friday, 31 December 2010 05:14
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Washington Informer Grammy-winning jazz pianist Dr. Billy Taylor's career as a composer, song writer, musician and civil rights advocate spanned more than 50 years. Courtesy Photo
Grammy-winning jazz pianist Dr. Billy Taylor, who wrote more than 350 songs including the civil rights anthem recorded by Nina Simone, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free", died of heart failure at the age of 89 December 28, 2010.

Taylor's career as a composer, song writer, musician and civil rights advocate spanned more than 50 years.  Since 1994, he was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Taylor, who played with legends like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and Miles Davis, was known for his efforts to save the homes and the lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians through the Jazz Foundation of America.

He founded the famed Jazzmobile, which brings jazz to city neighborhoods every summer.

Monday, 03 January 2011 14:03
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Washington Informer Creation Begins With You Courtesy Photo
Life is absolutely amazing! Here we are again in a brand new year. The energy of rebirth and re-commitment is very strong at this time of year. Many are resolving to make improvements in their lives. Are you one of them?

In a workshop that I conduct entitled, “Creating a Life That Works For You”, I teach the wonderful opportunity we have to use our creativity to build lives of power and purpose, and yes fun!

Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Monday, 03 January 2011 21:35
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Washington Informer
Oprah Winfrey continues to embody “the magic touch” in mass media. In an unprecedented deal, Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications launched OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, Sat., Jan. 1. The new multi-platform media venture is designed to entertain, inform and inspire viewers to live their best lives. OWN debuted in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com.

"Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a television network, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold," Oprah Winfrey said. Winfrey serves as chairman of OWN.
"For me, the launch of The Oprah Winfrey Network is the evolution of the work I've been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show."
Thursday, 06 January 2011 13:13
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Washington Informer Sweet Honey In The Rock
Washington’s Sweet Honey In The Rock® brings its unique brand of a cappella spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip-hop and jazz to People's Congregational Church for two children's concerts on Saturday, January 15 at 1:30 pm and 4 pm.

Now in its 37th season, the group tours throughout the country and remains true to its roots in the Civil Rights movement. Last June, Sweet Honey In The Rock issued a new release entitled Are we a nation? expressing its opinions about Arizona’s law SB-1070 in the hope of “stimulating interest in and conversation about the law and to foster an understanding if its broad implications.” Criticized by President Obama, the law, which the New York Times described as, “the broadest and strictest immigration measure in generations” would make the failure to carry immigration documents a crime and give the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.” “This law,” said Sweet Honey In The Rock, “encourages and creates opportunities for hatred, ignorance and prejudice to prevail… We believe we are a nation that can create laws that bind this nation together rather than tear this nation apart.”
Thursday, 06 January 2011 22:38
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Washington InformerJuan Williams, Fox TV News political analyst and Fox News Sunday panelist is the featured speaker for the 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program presented by Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum on Friday, Jan. 14 at 7pm. This free event takes place at the Baird Auditorium in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. Williams will also participate in a discussion with Essence magazine Washington correspondent Cynthia Gordy. Taratibu youth Association Steppers will perform. Courtesy Photo
The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will present Juan Williams, Fox TV News political analyst and Fox News Sunday panelist, as the featured speaker for the museum’s 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program Friday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m.


Williams’ remarks addressing the topic “King Alive: His Dream Lives on Today” will be followed by dialogue with Essence magazine’s Washington correspondent Cynthia Gordy at Baird Auditorium in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W.
The event includes a performance by Taratibu Youth Association Steppers, a pan-African performance group based in Washington. Two of Williams’ books will be available for sale and signing.
Friday, 07 January 2011 16:41
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Featured Poll

Do you agree with Mayor Vincent Gray’s decision to enable the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver's license, learner's permit, or identification card to undocumented District residents?