WI Web Staff
Trayvon Martin was killed one ago year on Tuesday by George Zimmerman, the volunteer neighborhood watch guard who claims to have shot the 16-year-old boy in self-defense. Zimmerman was charged with murder and remains in custody while awaiting trial.
To mark the first anniversary of their son's death, Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, will participate in a vigil Tuesday evening in Manhattan as they continue to crusade for stricter gun laws. Also on Tuesday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) re-introduced her bill to re-establish a popular federal grant program aimed at reducing racial profiling.
Norton's bill permits states to apply for grants to develop racial profiling laws, collect and maintain data on traffic stops, fashion programs to reduce racial profiling, and to train law enforcement officers.
Nearly half of the states participated in the program when it was in existence, which, Norton said, shows both the need and interest in tackling this civil rights issue.
Norton had the program included in the surface transportation law in 2005, but the program expired in 2009. Norton, a former chairperson of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will try to get her bill included in the surface transportation bill Congress will be writing during this congressional session.
Meanwhile, the case which went on to draw national attention, focusing in part, on race relations. In addition, more photos, evidence and a new lawsuit tied to the case have emerged in recent months.
Trayvon and Zimmerman's paths crossed on Feb. 26, 2012, as the unarmed teenager was walking along eating a bag of Skittles in the moderate Sanford, Fla., community where his father lived. He was approached by Zimmerman and a tussle ensued.
Attorneys for Trayvon's family have accused Zimmerman of racially profiling the youth and shooting him "in cold blood." Zimmerman, who has insisted that Trayvon attacked him, said he is a victim, and that he had no choice but to shoot him.
During an April 29 hearing, Zimmerman's attorney plans to invoke the Stand Your Ground law, where a Florida judge could determine if the law applied to Zimmerman, possibly granting him immunity and averting a criminal trial.
"We just want to have that trial, and let the jury decide," Fulton told CNN. "And whatever decision comes out of that, we're going to accept that. We may not like it, but we're going to accept it."
(Sources: CNN, Reuters), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's Statement)
Meeting Feb. 28 on Location of New Medical Center
Dimensions Healthcare System along with the University of Maryland Medical System, the state of Maryland, and Prince Georges County will hold a community meeting on Thursday Feb. 28 regarding possible locations for the new Regional Medical Center. The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Md.
The Regional Medical Center will be a state-of-the-art facility, which is being constructed as a part of a strategy to transform the county's healthcare system into an efficient, effective and financially viable healthcare delivery system, which will improve the health of residents of Prince Georges County and the Southern Maryland region.
To view the map of proposed locations, visit http://cms.princegeorgescountymd.gov/ExecutiveNews/Shared%20Documents/FourHospitalSites.pdf
Janet Jackson and billionaire businessman Wissam Al Mana announced on Monday that they have been officially married since last year. A statement posted on Jackson's website reads that:
"The rumours regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true. Last year we were married in a quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony. Our wedding gifts to one another were contributions to our respective favourite children's charities. We would appreciate that our privacy is respected and that we are allowed this time for celebration and joy. With love, Wissam and Janet"
The singer said the couple tied the knot in a "quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony," not the over-the-top affair that gossip sites reported would take place. Jackson added that "rumors regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true." There was speculation that Al Mana was planning to splash out millions on a lavish ceremony, even flying Jackson's large family to Qatar aboard private jets.
This is the third marriage number for Jackson, whose union with fellow singer James DeBarge was annulled in 1985. In 1991, she married dancer, songwriter and director Rene Elizondo Jr., but they kept their relationship a secret until their divorce in 2000.
(Source: Wire Reports)
African communities in the District of Columbia continue to face an onslaught of attacks on their public schools, which is essentially a continuation of the attack on African education.
School closures, privatization of public schools, and tracking for the nefarious school to prison pipeline are some of the significant reasons the D.C. chapter of the Black is Back Coalition (BIB) is actively organizing to put a halt to these vicious attacks, starting with the 2013 slated school closings. BIB is unequivocally committed to this issue.
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, the BIB coalition will be hosting a vastly important community town hall forum addressing the slated 2013 school closures. This forum will be on the campus of Howard University in the Blackburn Center Digital Auditorium.
We are inviting all concerned community members to attend this forum in an effort to strategize and organize around this vital issue. We must prevent the closing of these schools, as they would have myriad negative effects on students, as well as their families. D.C.'s government officials, including Public School Chancellor Kaya Henderson, continue to show no respect or regard for the youth in these communities and the negative impact the school closings would have on their families. BIB cares about the District's African-American community, which is why we are actively organizing to help stop these closures, as well as to prevent the charter school from metastasizing further within D.C.
For more information please contact us by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone (202) 681-7040.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Coming to Publick Playhouse
Monday, 25 February 2013 15:18 Published in Life and Style
CHEVERLY, MD—Dallas Black Dance Theatre returns for its 10th year in residence at the Prince George's Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts, presenting three dance concerts and a series of other programs for all ages.
Master Classes are offered to advanced dance students on Wednesday, April 24 in modern dance, and Thursday, April 25 in liturgical dance. Each master class which costs $15, runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and no observers are allowed.
A one-hour lecture/demo lead by Artistic Director Ann Williams with performances by the company will be presented to school groups on Thursday, April 25 at 10:15 am. Tickets: $7; $6/groups of 15.
The Playhouse Platinum Live series for senior citizens will present one-hour performances by Dallas Black at 12 noon on Thursday, April 25 at 11 a.m., Friday, April 26. Senior programs will include the exotic solo "Awassa Astrige/Ostrich" choreographed by Asada Dafora. Tickets: $7; $6/groups of 15.
Dance concerts will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27; and at 4 p.m. on Sunday Sunday, April 27.
Lamont Peterson holds up the IBF junior welterweight belt after he stopped Kendell Holt in the 8th round in their title bout at the Stadium Armory on Friday, Feb. 22.
President Barack Obama met on Thursday with African-American leaders from various organizations across the country to discuss growing concerns regarding the nation's economic crisis.
During the gathering which focused on inequalities that at tearing apart black communities, Obama restated his commitment to increasing employment opportunities for those affected strongest by the economic downturn.
Among leaders in attendance were Rev. Al Sharpton; Avis Jones-DeWeever, executive director, National Council of Negro Women; Ben Jealous, president, NAACP; Judith Browne Dianis, co-director, Advancement Project; Melanie Campbell, president, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation; Rev Derrick Harkins, 19th Street Baptist Church; Ralph Everett, president, Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies; Wade Henderson, president, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; and Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, executive director, National Black Justice Coalition.
In a statement, Rev. Sharpton commented on his meeting with the President, saying the group focused on voting rights:
"I and other leaders had a very significant discussion with the President about concerns in the African-American community and the civil rights community in general and most specifically about voting rights.
"Just yesterday the state of Virginia House of Delegates passed strict government photo ID requirements for voting. As states around the country engage in what we feel are voter suppression methods, next week the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about Section 5 of the Voting Rights act."
Alluding to the issues of gun control and unemployment, Sharpton said many black communities go unnoticed but suffer a disproportionate number of casualties from gun violence. "The President engaged us in a spirited conversation and seemed to be listening intently," he said.
Sharpton added that in dealing with unemployment, which disproportionately impacts African-American communities, "we must deal with job creation and job programs."
(Source: Newsone)
PGCC Health Center Prepares Students for High-Demand Careers
Saturday, 23 February 2013 00:22 Published in Local
Facility Expands Training for Nurses, Pharmacy Technicians, and Radiology Professionals
LARGO, Md. — Future healthcare professionals will be taking courses in the new Center for Health Studies at Prince George's Community College. The 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will offer education and training for more than 1,000 students in high-demand health care occupations in the Washington metropolitan area.
"The college partnered with state and county governments to create the Center for Health Studies in response to a growing demand for trained healthcare providers," said Angela Anderson, dean of health sciences. "Opening the new center allows the college to expand and enhance existing clinical programs and develop new areas of specialization to address workforce shortages," she added.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment career growth for those in the healthcare field will grow significantly between 2010 and 2020. Job opportunities are expected to grow by 26 percent for registered nurses, 32 percent for pharmacy technicians, 28 percent for radiologic technologists and 33 percent for emergency medical technicians. To address the marketplace demand for training students in a wide range of healthcare careers, the Center for Health Studies provides class and laboratory space for new programs including medical assistant, physician's assistant and surgical technology.
Students have access to 26 state-of-the-art simulation labs that prepare them for clinical experiences in real-world hospital settings. Virtual health care facilities include high-fidelity patient simulator manikins, critical care and long-term care beds, picture archiving communications system (PACS), electronic medical records system and sophisticated diagnostic and interventional equipment. Existing programs transferring to the new facility include health information management and medical coder/billing specialist, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified nursing assistant, radiography, respiratory therapy, nuclear medicine, emergency medical technician (basic, intermediate and paramedic), medical assistant, and pharmacy technician.
More than $43 million in funding was provided by the state of Maryland and Prince George's County for the construction project which began in July 2010. To outfit the new facility, the Prince George's Community College Foundation, Inc. and Prince George's Community College have raised more than $8 million as part of a $15 million, three-year strategic fundraising campaign, Purpose, People, Possibilities. Funds support academic and workforce development programs, state-of-the art teaching facilities and scholarships for diverse student populations.
(Source: PGCC Office Marketing and Creative Services)
D.C. Mayor Vince Gray wants the FBI to relocate to Southeast D.C. near the Anacostia metro station in a few years when the agency leaves the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover building in downtown.
FBI officials are looking to make the move from the 900 block of Pennsylvania Ave. in Northwest, across the river after citing poor conditions at the current location. Reports further state that the FBI's new home needs to be near a Metro site, but that the transit agency shouldn't become involved in the debate.
"We really do not pick sides when it comes to this stuff," Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said in a recent interview.
In addition to the District, Maryland -- which expressed interest for the bureau's relocation to Prince George's County two years ago -- and Virginia are also hoping to attract the FBI.
According to reports, the bureau's move to Southeast -- in the vicinity of I-295 and the Anacostia River -- would appear to have several advantages, including that the site would comply with criteria listed by both the FBI and the General Services Administration.
The 110-acre waterfront property which is already owned by the federal government, would also offer easy highway access.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray has announced the release of an initiative that ensures that the District is the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the nation.
"The Sustainable DC Plan," which encompasses several targets and goals, was introduced this week during an event at the Earth Conservation Corps Pump House at Diamond Teague Park on the Anacostia River. In support of the effort, Gray was joined by more than 100 people, including members of his Green Cabinet and Green Ribbon Committee.
"The release of the Sustainable DC Plan marks both the culmination of a major effort and the first step in a very important journey for the District," said Mayor Gray. "To me, creating a more sustainable District means improving the quality of life for every resident. We will grow the economy, improve our residents' health and enhance transportation, buildings, parks, and neighborhoods."
The Plan builds on the past 20 months of the Sustainable DC initiative's work and takes a comprehensive approach to addressing four key challenges: creating jobs and growing the District's economy; improving the health and wellness of residents; ensuring equity and diversity across the city; and improving the climate and the environment.
The Sustainable DC Initiative began in the summer of 2011 with the goal of developing and implementing a strategy to:
•Broaden and diversify the District?s economy and the range of available employment and business opportunities for residents;
•Reduce disparities related to income, health, employment and education across the city; and
•Ensure a high quality of life and a clean environment for our residents, workers, and visitors.
The Plan also calls for completing 37 miles of streetcar network and 100 miles of citywide bike lanes; establishing facilities to accept residential and commercial compost; and providing tens of millions of dollars in innovative financing to promote private-sector energy- and water-efficiency retrofits.
"The Sustainable DC plan is the playbook that the District's city government, private sector, and residents working together to move from Mayor Gray's Vision for a Sustainable DC to a reality," said Harriet Tregoning, director of the D.C. Office of Planning and co-leader of the Mayor'ss Sustainable DC Initiative. "It will ensure that sustainability remains an important factor in our decision-making as a city and will change the way we do business here."
Keith Anderson, acting director of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and Sustainable DC co-leader, talked about the Plan's potential for improving the health of residents and creating jobs. "[The Plan] is nothing short of remarkable," Anderson said. "Sustainability is about achieving multiple benefits with every dollar spent and every action undertaken."
A copy of the Sustainable DC Plan is available at www.sustainable.dc.gov/finalplan. For information on Mayor Gray's Sustainable DC initiative, visit www.sustainable.dc.gov.
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