WI Web Staff
A consortium of public education advocacy groups, including the Ward Five Council on Education, Empower DC, and DC VOICE, are hosting two "Fork in the Road" candidate forums. A meeting on the At-Large Council member takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 at the Metropolitan Community Church, 474 Ridge St. in Northwest. Among the candidates are incumbents Michael Brown and Vincent Orange. Their challengers include Mary Brooks Beatty and David Grosso.
The forum regarding the Council chairperson is slated from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29 at Metropolitan Community Church. Phil Mendelson, who holds the interim post, is a candidate.
According to a statement issued by forum organizers, for five years the District of Columbia has engaged in an experiment that involved risky reform strategies, an unparalleled level of unilateral control at the top, a lack of transparency and accountability, and suspension of democratic checks and balances for which District residents have historically fought.
"When the School Reform Act of 2007 was passed, it called for a five-year evaluation in 2012, which never took place," organizers contend. "We need [and] demand a close look at what those reforms have accomplished, a clear decision to continue reforms that are working and consideration of a different road for those that are not."
Akosua Tyus, president of the D.C. Branch NAACP, has been honored with the 2012 Frances Hesselbein Next Leader of the Future Award. The award, which is given annually, recognizes emerging leaders age 30 and under.
Tyus, who was recognized for her significant contributions through the social justice work of the NAACP in the District of Columbia, received the award on Oct. 16.
"Frances Hesselbein is a phenomenal pioneer for women and diversity," said Tyus. "It is an honor to be recognized by Frances Hesselbein who exemplifies, 'to lead is to serve, to serve is to live.' I seek to embody the humble principles of service as Frances Hesselbein continues to foster leadership through service."
Previous award recipients include Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and General Peter W. Chiarelli.
Source: D.C. Branch NAACP
Former County Executive Launches New Ballot Committee
Friday, 19 October 2012 20:31 Published in Local
In a bid to convince Prince George’s County residents that voting "Yes" on Question 7 will provide them a wider array of economic opportunities, former County Executive Wayne Curry announced on Oct. 18, the formation of a new ballot committee.
Tagged Maryland First NOW, the committee is made up of community interests and business groups. Curry will serve as chairman and M.H. Jim Estepp, president and CEO of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, will serve as treasurer.
The committee was launched with a $500,000 contribution from the Peterson Companies and will raise additional funding from individuals and organizations in Prince George’s County who support Question 7.
"I’ve lived the dream in Prince George’s County and Maryland all my life," Curry said in a statement to The Washington Informer. "I’ve seen us flourish against all odds time and time again. This fall, I hear more and more support for the economic development, jobs and school revenue opportunities that come with passage of Question 7."
Curry added that it has become clear that "the unprecedented blitz of advertising" from a West Virginia casino has muddied the choice facing voters. To that end, he said that supporters of Question 7 need to come together to do everything they can to bring Maryland dollars back to Maryland.
"We have a chance for a major economic investment in Prince George’s County that will attract significant tourism and entertainment spending,” Estepp added. “Question 7 means too much, to too many people, for us not to do everything we can to advocate for it. A vote for Question 7 is a vote for Maryland jobs and Maryland schools. A vote against Question 7 is a vote for West Virginia jobs and West Virginia schools. We need to make sure that every Maryland voters understands that choice.”
Bernie McCain, the first program director for Radio One's WOL AM-1450, has died. He was 76.
McCain's broadcast career spanned 45-years, where he worked in several radio and television markets throughout the United States as well as abroad in Europe, South America and Africa.
McCain, who hosted afternoons on WOL, launched his radio career began in Newark, NJ, at WNJR, and eventually held a range of posts from news and music director to talk show host and general manager. He also helped launch WKIE in Richmond and 2DK in Antigua.
Talk show host Bev Smith described McCain, who died on Oct.12, an African-American legend.
"'Uncle Bernie' was the wise man in the community, the calming voice, and a man who could organize African American men like no other in that area," she said.
Source: Urban Radio Nation
City Officials, Keep Your Word
I really hope Mayor Gray follows through on his promises to the small businesses in the District of Columbia as stated in your article, "Gray Promises Reforms to Increase Opportunities for Small Businesses," by Denise R. Barnes, October 11, 2012.
The only other thing I wish he had stated would be that he wants to increase opportunities for small minority-owned businesses in the District. Our minority-owned businesses are being forced out at an alarming rate. Our restaurants, clothing stores, barbershops and beauty salons are all being put out of business by the gentrification in certain neighborhoods.
The city government talks a good game when it comes to saying what officials and agency heads will do to help small businesses, but I think D.C. government now pays more attention to those new businesses in gentrified areas. Those businesses enjoy increased police patrols, new and brighter streetlights and other city provided amenities.
Longtime District residents can see what the city is doing and who benefits. Our businesses, and even our churches, are being forced out of the city because we now have a city government with no backbone.
Robert K. Lawson
Washington, D.C.
Money Matters!
Once again you and your staff at the Informer have produced a wonderful informative piece of work, your annual "Financial Literacy Supplement." I appreciate your continued efforts to educate those of us in the community about these important issues. While there are so many in our community who are unemployed or underemployed, there are quite a few of us who are working with mortgages, credit card debt, student loans and car payments.
The articles in the Financial Literacy Supplement are very helpful in understanding ways to ensure that the money we earn works for us. The section that really caught my eye was "Healthy Money Tips for Families." They were very simple, but they were things I had not even thought of doing. Another interesting article was the one on buying or leasing a car. It really made some things clear to me. I could list more of the articles I found to be helpful, but I think you get the message.
I just want to thank the Informer for providing us with this supplement each year. It shows us that the Informer understands that while there is high unemployment in our community and a need for jobs, there is also a need for continuing education about financial matters for those of us who have jobs.
Sissy L. Underwood
Mount Rainier, Md.
Remembering Georgette Powell, Artist and Activist
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 22:28 Published in Life and Style
Friends and family gathered to pay tribute to the renowned artist and community activist Georgette Seabrooke Powell, at a memorial service held at the Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast on Sept. 30. Powell, who passed away at age 95 in December 2011, was honored for her work as an award-winning artist, art therapist, art educator and advocate.
A graduate of Howard University, Powell also founded Tomorrow's World Art Center, Inc. in 1975, and established "Art in the Park," a community event that featured the work of local artists. Powell's body of work has been displayed globally, but she's credited for breaking the color barrier at Harlem Hospital in New York where her mural "Recreation in Harlem" was finally accepted following a prolonged controversy over its "Negro subject matter." Powell's daughter, Phyllis Manson Washington, and son Richard Powell admire a framed collection of artifacts including Powell's infant pajamas, her birth certificate and other personal memorabilia.
Quick. Name the most common chronic illness in children
Diabetes?
Obesity?
Asthma?
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism?
Nope. The answer is tooth decay.
The U.S. Surgeon General reports tooth decay in children is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.
Students in the Howard University College of Dentistry and pre-dental students at the University have joined with other students across the city – and the nation – to address the challenge of tooth decay in children.
Howard students, along with pre-dental students at Georgetown and George Washington Universities and Friendship Collegiate Academy in Northwest, are now part of the Students United for America’s ToothFairy program. Students at American and Catholic universities are also working with the program.
The effort, one of the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation’s signature programs, encourages graduate, undergraduate and high school students to become oral health mentors to children and youth.
High schools and universities across the nation have created their own chapters with the purpose of eliminating pediatric dental disease.
“A major obstacle in tackling pediatric dental disease is getting the community to view oral health as an integral part of their overall health,” Tiereny Lloyd said. "Raising awareness of this silent but preventable epidemic has been my biggest campaign.”
Lloyd is manager of the D.C. Metropolitan Oral Health Zone and oversees all Students United for America’s ToothFairy programs in the D.C. area.
The “tooth fairies” go to community centers and schools where they teach children and youth positive oral hygiene techniques.
Howard University junior biology major Jessica Williams said the community service is more fun than work.
“It’s always really interesting when we do a presentation,” Williams said. “When kids hear we’re talking about healthcare, they think they don’t need to listen. They already know how to brush their teeth.”
But Williams and Laura Kaye, co-president of the George Washington University Pre-dental Society, enjoy how receptive and engaged students become when they discover that there is more to the mouth than simply brushing your teeth.
“Continuing to send the message of oral healthcare is very valuable and very important,” Kaye said.
According to Kaye and Williams, many people are shocked at how oral healthcare impacts the rest of the body. The program teaches those lessons through interactive activities, demonstrations and real-life experiences.
One of the most gripping stories is of Diamonte Driver, a 12-year old Prince George’s County boy who died in 2007 after a tooth infection spread to his brain.
“We inspire kids to change,” Williams said. “We explain to them why they should change, and even if they don’t, at least we’ve given them something to think about.”
The Howard University pre-dental chapter of the program plans to focus on doing more projects in the Shaw-Howard community and hope to become role models for the area.
“At the very least, we would like to provide an example of another career option that some students may have never even thought possible for people who look like them,” Williams said.
For more information onAmerica’s ToothFairy, visit www.americastoothfairy.org.
PGC School Board Member Admits Not Living in Her District
Tuesday, 16 October 2012 17:31 Published in Local
A veteran Prince George's County school board member who moved from Laurel to New Carrollton, has been accused of violating a Maryland state law that prohibits her and other board officials from living outside their districts.
Rosalind A. Johnson, 68, who represents District 1, admitted relocating in June to care for her dying mother, although she knew that state law requires board members to live in the districts they represent.
Johnson was elected in 2006 and plans on retiring soon from the board. She said she failed to step down because she was still needed on the board, and there was no guarantee anyone would be chosen to replace her.
Source:WJLA
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr., who has been out of the public eyes for the past four months due to illness, is now under investigation for alleged misuse of campaign funds. The money was reportedly used to redecorate his house.
The FBI began making inquiries surrounding the 47-year-old Illinois Democrat prior to his hospitalization in June for depression, according to a New York Times report -- which also states that Jackson, who won his first election in 1995, is seeking another term in office.
Jackson, the son of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, first came under federal scrutiny in 2008 after being mentioned in connection with the case of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of trying to sell the senate seat that Barack Obama vacated when he became president.
Jackson, who reportedly aspired to be mayor of Chicago or U.S. senator, was not charged in that case.
However, his efforts to join the senate have been part of an ongoing House ethics investigation looking into claims that a longtime friend and supporter of Jackson offered Blagojevich significant contributions to appoint him to the seat.
Meanwhile, Jackson's Republican opponent in the November election, Brian Woodworth, said in a statement that "there is a cloud that surrounds this man."
Said Woodworth: "It should matter. One cannot assume guilt of course, but the flip side is how perception affects the district and the state."
Source: The New York Times
Race to the Top marks a historic moment in American education. This initiative offers bold incentives to states willing to spur systemic reform to improve teaching and learning in America's schools. Race to the Top has ushered in significant change in our education system, particularly in raising standards and aligning policies and structures to the goal of college and career readiness. Race to the Top has helped drive states nationwide to pursue higher standards, improve teacher effectiveness, use data effectively in the classroom, and adopt new strategies to help struggling schools.
To date, President Obama's Race to the Top initiative has dedicated over $4 billion to 19 states that have created robust plans that address the four key areas of K-12 education reform as described below. These states serve 22 million students and employ 1.5 million teachers in 42,000 schools, representing 45 percent of all K-12 students and 42 percent of all low-income students nationwide. The four key areas of reform include:
•Development of rigorous standards and better assessments
•Adoption of better data systems to provide schools, teachers, and parents with information about student progress
•Support for teachers and school leaders to become more effective
•Increased emphasis and resources for the rigorous interventions needed to turn around the lowest-performing schools
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia submitted comprehensive reform plans to compete in the Race to the Top competition. While 19 states have received funding so far, 34 states modified state education laws or policies to facilitate needed change, and 48 states worked together to create a voluntary set of rigorous college- and career-ready standards.
Race to the Top – District competition
In 2012, the Obama Administration launched a Race to the Top competition at the school district level. Known as Race to the Top – District, this program will invest nearly $400 million in 2012 in schools to create new models to personalize learning for students, so that they can engage their interests and take responsibility for their success.
Inspired by the education reform taking place in state K-12 systems nationwide, this next phase of RTT will build on the four core principles of reform at the classroom level, supplying teachers with the strategies and tools they need to help every student learn and succeed. The Race to the Top – District competition will encourage transformative change within schools, targeted toward leveraging, enhancing, and improving classroom practices and resources.
Source: Whitehouse.gov
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