Washington Informer

Mayor Vincent Gray and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson recently released a five-year strategic plan, "A Capital Commitment," designed to improve the traditional public schools.

The plan outlines five goals: improve struggling schools, increase student achievement, graduation rates, enrollment, and student satisfaction. The Chancellor believes the strategic plan will guide DCPS spending and programmatic decisions through 2017.

"Mayor Gray and Chancellor Henderson's intentions are proper and there is merit to support the overall goals of the five-year strategic plan," said WTU President Nathan Saunders. "However, it only amounts to half of what needs to be done. To improve the quality of education for all students, it is imperative for schools to spend more time on tasks and less time on testing.

"Schools must also provide more services for our returning special education students and every student must have the benefit of robust art, music, physical education and library/media services.

Saunders added: "We must all acknowledge that education not only happens in classrooms, but also in our homes and communities--making it essential to secure and maintain the support of teachers, parents and students as the plan is implemented over the next five years.

"I encourage Mayor Gray and Chancellor Henderson to work with us to achieve these goals and I look forward to developing the substance and sustainability of this plan to achieve long-term success. Mayor Gray and Chancellor Henderson, our appointment books are open and we're ready for the hard work ahead."

Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry, who ended up apologizing earlier this month to the Asian community over comments he made about the upkeep of their shops, made a subtle comparison to the establishments with charter schools during hearing Tuesday morning.

Barry stated that because admission to charter schools is gained by citywide lotteries, students who live in close proximity can't always attend them. As a result, parents are hard-pressed to pull their children out of low-performing public schools in the District, he reportedly said.

"I'm running into the same situation with these restaurants in Ward 8," Barry was quoted as saying to charter school officials. "Somebody said to me the other day, 'Well, if they don't treat you well there, why should I shop there?' The problem is, in some of our neighborhoods — in my neighborhood — there's no other place at 9 o'clock at night or 4 o'clock in the afternoon, except those carry outs."

The veteran council member, who easily retained his post in the April 3 Democratic primary, added that: "So, we're going to make sure that they're clean, they're decent places to come in to, they're conducive to eat [at], but also that the owners are contributing to this community. They're not going to come into the Ward 8 community and just take all our money."

Jennifer Hudson fought back tears April 23 during opening testimony in the case William Balfour, who is accused with murder in the deaths of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew four years ago in Chicago.

When handed a photo of her mother, the Grammy and Oscar winner broke down in tears. She said the family never like Balfour, who was married to her sister Julia Hudson --mother of the slain child. Julia and Balfour are divorced.

"Where he was, I tried not to be. So if I saw him, I separated myself," Hudson was quoted as saying of Balfour.

While both sisters have suggested that Balfour had been violent toward Julia, a clear motive for the murders has not been revealed. However, Julia who also testified Monday, indicated that jealousy had always been an issue.

According to Julia, her former husband became jealous when she got gifts from other people, including her son, who was told not to kiss his mother. Balfour's nickname for the middle school student was "the little monster," Julia said.

Reports state that Balfour had threatened several times to kill members of Hudson's family, and that had Hudson not joined David Otunga, (who has since become her fiancé) on a trip to Florida, she might have been at the family's home when her mother and brother were killed. Police believe Hudson's nephew was abducted from the home and murdered.

According to the Chicago Tribune News:

Dressed all in black and wearing little make-up, the Academy Award-winning actress struggled at times to maintain her composure during a half an hour on the witness stand.

Her voice cracked as she described how no one in the family wanted her sister, Julia, to marry Balfour.

A year after hitting No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart with "I Believe," a collaboration with James Fortune & FIYA and Shawn McLemore, Zacardi Cortez is bracing himself for another number one with the song, "One More Time." The down home plea for God's salvation features Cortez' musical godfather, John P. Kee, and has just risen to the Top 5 on the Nielsen BDS gospel chart this week. "We are pulling out all the stops," says Blacksmoke music CEO, Kerry Douglas, who discovered Cortez years ago and brought him into the Blacksmoke family of artists.

"We are partnering with radio stations and bloggers to help get this inspirational message out to people that no matter what they are going through, God can help them through it just one more time."

With the explosion of praise and worship music that is often sung as a vocal ensemble as opposed to as a soloist, gospel music has drifted away from real singers but Cortez is bringing the art of technique back with his raw vocal skills. Nowhere is this better exemplified than on "One More Time," a rousing ballad written by James Fortune and Terence Vaughn, who wrote Fortune's Top 10 hits "Encore," "I Wouldn't Know You," and the smash, "I Trust You," which spent 29 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Gospel chart. In the simple song, Cortez' second verse reads as a confession to God: "There's one thing that I know is true, When everything else fails I can count on you. With tears in my eyes, down on my knees. Can you do what you did before, Lord? I'm asking you please."

The legendary John P Kee, who Cortez has been singing with Kee since the age of 10, adds another level of passion and authenticity to this inspiring church melody. They play off of each other, finishing each other's vocal lines. "Oh Lord, I need you to heal my sister", Kee sings before Cortez jumps in to proclaim, "I'm depending on you to repair my broken heart too."

During the vamp, Cortez and Kee go head to head, testifying back and forth of the many times God has pulled them through the storms of life. It's the type of solid gospel song that artists don't record anymore, a pure church melody that blends the best of the past with the best of the future to create a classic that appeals to young and old alike.

"That's the message I'm getting out there," says Douglas. "Zacardi appeals to people across the board and I'm open to all ideas on how to make take Zacardi to the top and make him America's favorite gospel artist because he can do it alls. He's got the swag to hang with your R. Kellys, he's got the Sunday morning church style to hold his own with the Marvin Sapps and at the same time, he can be as smooth as Luther Vandross."

He displays all of these sides to his extraordinary talent on his forthcoming debut solo CD, "Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction"(Blacksmoke Media) that hits online and retail stores everywhere on May 22 with cameos by Lalah Hathaway, Kierra Sheard, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, The Williams Singers, James Fortune and Isaac Carree.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Stoddert Elementary School in Ward 3 has been named a Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, making it the first-ever public school in the District to earn the distinction.

Schools nationwide receiving the award were recognized for creating green environments, promoting healthy schools and working to provide environmental and outdoor education.

"I am so proud of the entire Stoddert Elementary School community for this prestigious recognition," said District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson. "Being green and teaching green makes our schools healthier and safer places for our students, while also saving money. Teaching our children early about the importance of the environment around them will make them smart, strong stewards of their communities."

Stoddert, which was modernized by the Department of General Services in 2010, received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and boasts a range of sustainability features. The school's green elements include: an extensive geothermal system under the athletics field that provides the building's heating and cooling; two green roofs; light shelves that improve day lighting, reduce solar heat gain in the summer, and allow winter sun to penetrate and heat the school as well as a comprehensive recycling program; glazing for improved insulation; individual lighting; and HVAC controls in every classroom.

"I'm delighted to see Stoddert Elementary recognized by the White House for being a green leader," said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. "My administration is committed to making the District the most green and livable city in the world, and our schools are already leading the way to that goal."

George Zimmerman, who has been charged with 2nd-degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin, has been released on bail.

Zimmerman, 28, admitted shooting 17-year-old Trayvon on Feb. 26 as the unarmed youth walked along a gated community in Sanford, Fla.

Zimmerman was seen leaving the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford over the weekend, headed for an undisclosed location. The neighborhood watch guard will remain in seclusion and out of touch with his family. He will also have to wear an ankle monitoring device.

Following a bond hearing on April 20, Zimmerman's family came up with the required $15,000 of his $150,000 bond, and will be free from jail until his trial.

Zimmerman offered his apologies to Trayvon's family, saying:

"I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. I thought he was a little bit younger than I was, and I did not know if he was armed or not."

The lives of music legends James Brown and Dick Clark will be celebrated on film Sunday, April 29 at the D.C.'s historic Howard Theatre.

The award winning film that details the life story of the "Godfather of Soul" will be told by one of his closest friends, the late great Dick Clark. Clark, recently died, hosted "American Bandstand," on which Brown appeared several times prior to the long-running teen-oriented TV show's demise in the early 1970s.

The hour long film, titled "James Brown: The Man, The Music, & The Message" features many musical icons like Michael Jackson, Little Richard and Aretha Franklin as well as video highlights of major concerts and performances.

Attendees will also hear and dance to the music of the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" with live performances from James Brown's drummer, Mousey Thompson and his all- star band, "The James Brown Experience".

During the film, the audiehce will also reflect upon memories of Clark, who like Brown, had more than 50 years of historic achievements in the entertainment industry.

According to the show's eecutive poducer Thomas Hart Jr., "James Brown and Dick Clark will be there in spirit to celebrate the reopening of the Howard Theatre."

Doors open at the Howard Theatre at 6 p.m. and showtime gets underway at 8 p.m. For additional information, contact OTP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202.898.0899. For tickets contact the Howard Theatre Box Office at www.thehowardtheatre.com or 202.803.2899.

The Dunbar High School marching band particpated in the "March throgh the Monuments" opening day ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in celebration of the150th anniversary of D.C. Emancipation Day, April 11, 2012.