Washington Informer

Breast Cancer Awareness Advocate was a Personal Health Ambassador to Thousands of District Women

Mayor Vincent C. Gray released the following statement on the death of breast cancer advocate Zora Kramer Brown, who died on Sunday:

"I was saddened to learn of the passing of Zora Brown, a pioneer in advocating for breast-cancer awareness, research, treatment and support within underserved communities in the District and nationwide. I personally understand her journey with this disease that also touched my family, and I applaud Zora for her more than 25 years of tireless advocacy in the face of her own battle with the disease.

"Zora Brown, a breast-cancer survivor with a family history of deaths from breast and ovarian cancer, used her own experience to try and prevent the same suffering in other black women. Her outreach through churches in the District helped to educate residents about the need for regular medical care and to let them know that a cancer diagnosis was not an automatic death sentence.

"In the District, she founded the Breast Cancer Resource Committee, the Cancer Awareness Program Services and the Rise Sister Rise Saturday morning gatherings. Through these initiatives and others, Zora relentlessly pursued her mission to achieve a 50 percent drop in African-American breast cancer deaths by the end of the 20th century. Her approach was to inform minority women that breast cancer does not choose its victims by race, and that regular mammograms are the best path to both prevention and early detection. Her efforts received recognition from U.S. presidents and members of Congress.

"As we highlight the achievements of women during Women's History Month, Zora Kramer Brown stands out as a giant among women who persevered against the odds while helping others to persevere. My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones and the many whose lives she touched."

The District is among several of the nation's urban cities that have seen a decline in violent crime over the past several years. It's a topic of discussion among government officials who have turned to urban researchers to find out who deserves the credit.

Rightfully so, however, there is little if any credit being given to the community-based and nonprofit organizations that are embedded within the communities they serve and where the problems exist. Sure, the police have done their part, sometimes overzealously, and culprits of drugs and guns also took their toll. But for those who answered the call for mentoring and mediation and counseling, the community-based organizations were effective in providing hands-on intervention.

So no, groups like the Alliance of Concerned Men, Concerned Black Men, Peaceoholics and other grassroots community-based programs, locally, aren't being given their due. Rather than get angry about it or sulk because of it, there's a new objective these groups should be focusing on: education. Keeping children out of trouble is proving to be as difficult as getting them to go to school. But youth advocates, returning citizens and others should take that next step and lead the effort to end the city's high truancy rate. They still might not get credit for making sure more students graduate from high school, but they will benefit from their efforts just like the rest of us.

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The 3rd annual InterFaith (iFaith) Golf Tournament has been scheduled for April 16, and will once again be held at the beautiful Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Last year's event attracted an assortment of area churches who competed for the coveted iFaith Golf Cup and through their participation, a check for $1,000 was presented to the Capital Area Food Bank.

"We are thrilled that our last tournament allowed us to make a meaningful contribution toward the hard work that is being done by the Capital Area Food Bank," said tournament founder Lou Phillips.

The Tournament is designed to foster inter-denominational fellowship and stewardship.

"The game of golf is a perfect way of getting individuals to spend quality time together and thus encourage deep abiding fellowship," said the Rev. Dr. James L. Graham , honorary chairman, and pastor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, Va

Dr. Graham has a passion for international missions. He has been privileged to proclaim the Gospel in 26 different countries. Under his leadership, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church has established partnerships in thirteen countries, including Russia, Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria, India, Sudan, Benin, Ghana, and Liberia.

Graham is a native of Sumter, SC, and the son of Gardenia Graham and the late James L. Graham. He and his wife, Rev. Gloria Graham, have two children, Andrea and James. Dr. Graham is an avid golfer and is equally passionate about the mission of providing assistance to the growing number of people who find themselves suffering from food shortage.

For registration and other information on The Interfaith Golf Tournament, please visit www.ifaithgolf.com or contact Lou Phillips at 703-746-8138. Email inquiries can be sent to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, who was captured Thursday and brought to the United States, is scheduled to face charges in a New York City courtroom Friday morning for trying to kill Americans.

Sulaiman Abu Ghaith had served as a main spokesman for bin Laden, and was captured several days ago in Jordan, according to reports.

"No amount of distance or time will weaken our resolve to bring America's enemies to justice," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement Thursday. "To violent extremists who threaten the American people and seek to undermine our way of life, this arrest sends an unmistakable message: There is no corner of the world where you can escape from justice because we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

Abu Ghaith, who has been described as the voice of al Qaeda, is charged with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, the Department of Justice announced.

Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that Abu Ghaith was seized in Ankara "after a tipoff" from the CIA and was held for 33 days. A Turkish court decided to release him because he had not committed a crime in Turkey. He was considered "stateless" because Kuwait had stripped him of his citizenship after he appeared in videos supporting the 9/11 attacks, the report said.

Abu Ghaith entered Turkey illegally from Iran, so he could be deported to Iran or another country, the report said. After Iran did not accept him, Turkey decided to send him to Kuwait through Jordan. The CIA captured Abu Ghaith when he was passing from Jordan into Kuwait, the newspaper said.

The decision to transport Abu Ghaith to New York rather than to a detention facility at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba has roused questions over the treatment of individuals accused of making war or plotting against the United States.

"Our policy is that we will prosecute whenever feasible in the national security interests of the United States," department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said in a statement. "In this case, the president's national security team examined this matter and unanimously agreed that prosecution of (Abu) Ghaith in federal court will best protect the national security interests of the United States."

(Source: CNN)

The District is among several of the nation's urban cities that have seen a decline in violent crime over the past several years. It's a topic of discussion among government officials who have turned to urban researchers to find out who deserves the credit.

Rightfully so, however, there is little if any credit being given to the community-based and nonprofit organizations that are embedded within the communities they serve and where the problems exist. Sure, the police have done their part, sometimes overzealously, and culprits of drugs and guns also took their toll. But for those who answered the call for mentoring and mediation and counseling, the community-based organizations were effective in providing hands-on intervention.

So no, groups like the Alliance of Concerned Men, Concerned Black Men, Peaceoholics and other grassroots community-based programs, locally, aren't being given their due. Rather than get angry about it or sulk because of it, there's a new objective these groups should be focusing on: education. Keeping children out of trouble is proving to be as difficult as getting them to go to school. But youth advocates, returning citizens and others should take that next step and lead the effort to end the city's high truancy rate. They still might not get credit for making sure more students graduate from high school, but they will benefit from their efforts just like the rest of us.

The Shiloh Baptist Church Gospel Choir will perform its traditional Palm Sunday Praise Service in celebration of its 34th anniversary under the direction of Dr. Thomas Dixon Tyler.

"We Are Victorious" is the theme for the Gospel Choir's musical performance which will be preented at 4 p.m., March 24 in the sanctuary of the historic church. Tyler will be accompanied by renowned organist Evelyn Simpson Curenton and featured guest director Damon T. Gray, an anointed and skilled musician.

Gray, a native of Omaha, Neb.,has accompanied several world-renowned gospel artists, including James Cleveland, Daryl Coley, Kirk Franklin and Albertina Walker. His God-given talent at music was evident by the time he was two years old and started playing drums. At age nine, he began studying piano and soon gained a reputation for his talent as a musician.

Gray relocated to the Washington, DC area in 1998 and acquired a B.A. in performance from Bowie State University. He currently is the Music Department Chair at DuVal High School and serves as music coordinator at Jerusalem AME Church in Clinton, Maryland. Gray has been guest artist for the Washington Performing Arts Society's fall Children of The Gospel Concert and as an instructor for its summer camp. He also has been staff accompanist for the Historic Howard University Chapel Choir.

This year Shiloh Baptist is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its Christian witness in the nation's capital since its founding by former slaves.

"I Gave Up Everything to Follow Him" was the debut selection sung by the SBC Gospel Choir on March 25, 1979 to inaugurate its Palm Sunday Service. The choir was directed by noted church musician and gospel artist Andrew Rowe who composed and arranged the debut selection. Since then, the choir's repertoire has expanded to include anthems as well as standard and contemporary gospel music.

The community is invited to this free, special Palm Sunday performance at the Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 1500 Ninth St. in Northwest D.C.

The FBI has released 128 pages from its file on Whitney Houston, revealing details of an apparently successful blackmail plot, as well as an investigation into an obsessed fan.

Released in response to a freedom of information request, the FBI's documents cover 11 years of threats against the singer, from 1988 to 1999. But the pages are heavily redacted – in many cases, to the point of incomprehensibility.

Sometimes the redactions are tantalizing. In late 1992, an unidentified Chicago lawyer wrote to Houston's New Jersey-based production company stating that unless the singer paid $100,000 , his client planned to "reveal certain details of [Houston's] private life ... to several publications". Later the blackmail amount was boosted even higher, to $250,000.

According to the FBI, this was extortion. But when agents met with Houston and her father, the singer said she knew the woman who was making the threats, and that she was "a friend ... [who] would never do anything to embarrass her". Officers closed the case, even though Houston's father had apparently sent the blackmailer a confidentiality agreement and an unknown sum of money.

In addition to the extortion case, officers investigated several cases of over-devoted fans. One Vermont letter-writer claimed: "I start to shake ... when I think about you."

"Over the past 17 months, I have sent ... 66 letters to Miss Whitney," he wrote. "I have tried to stop writing the letters and to give up twice but after a few weeks I had to start writing again ... I have gotten mad at [Whitney] a few times [for not replying] ... it scares me that I might come up with some crazy or stupid or really dumb idea ... I might hurt someone with some crazy idea."

FBI agents eventually questioned Houston's one-sided pen-pal in 1988. They decided he was harmless. The same was true for a Dutch or Belgian correspondent who insisted he had written some of Houston's songs. The writer further claimed that he was the president of Europe and had purchased the country of Brazil.

After selling more than 200 million records worldwide, Houston drowned in a hotel bathtub in February 2012. She was 48.

(Source: The Guardian)

The National Weather Service has predicted 6- to 12 inches of snow for the D.C. metro area, with most of the region remaining under a winter storm warning until 3 a.m. Thursday.

More snow will accumulate west of Interstate 95, according to the weather service, and the snow will continue through the day and evening, tapering off after midnight. It will be heavy at times during the late morning and afternoon.

•Temperatures: nearly steady in the lower to mid 30s.

•Winds: northeast 15 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph especially this afternoon and evening.

•Impacts: Heavy wet snow and gusty winds will lead to power outages. Snow covered roads and poor visibilities in heavy snow will make driving difficult.

Recommended Actions

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only Travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight. Food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

(Source: National Weather Service)