WI Web Staff
'Understanding Obama' Course At Harvard Law School
Tuesday, 17 April 2012 17:20 Published in National
Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, who served as a mentor to both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama when they studied law at Harvard, will be teaching a course titled, "Understanding Obama," during the 2013 spring term.
According to a description outlined in the schools' course catalog, the class will focus on how race, religion and politics have impacted Barack Obama as a leader.
"We will explore his views as a biracial child, his time as a student at Harvard Law School, the successes and failures of his political campaigns, and the way religion and his views on faith nearly derailed his campaign. Finally, time will be spent analyzing the challenges he faces as president of the United States in establishing both his domestic and global policies," the description states.
Obama graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991 and Ogletree says his mentorship of the president during that time will not be part of the course, which has also been described as a reading group.
"They'll be reading both critical and positive issues about Obama — of what's happened in terms of the way the race and religion have been viewed during his candidacy, his presidency, and how it affects the larger country; and some other classic reading on issues of law and justice," Ogletree said in an interview.
This year's "Operation Pretty and Polished," an event that provides prom attire free of charge for students who plan on attending their high school prom, is bigger and better than ever with more than 1,200 selections from which to choose. To help prom-goers with their choices, local TV affiliates anchors will be on hand as personal shoppers.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 21 at the Boys & Girls Club, 4103 Benning Road in Northeast. For more information, 301-918-2347.
Metro Introduces Unlimited 7-Day Rail Pass on SmarTrip®
Monday, 16 April 2012 23:43 Published in Local
Metro enables Metrorail customers to use their SmarTrip® card as a 7-day unlimited rail pass. The $47 "Fast Pass" gives customers the ability to take unlimited rail trips for seven consecutive days from first use.
Previously, the pass was available only as a paper fare card. However, as of April 16, customers can load the Fast Pass onto a SmarTrip® card, either at a Metrorail station "Passes/Farecards" vending machine or online at smartrip.com.
The introduction of an unlimited pass is the latest in a series of enhancements Metro has made to SmarTrip.® In September, Metro launched "Online Reload," giving customers the ability to add value to their SmarTrip® account from their computer, and earlier this year, Metro introduced the ability to report lost or stolen cards, transfer balances to a replacement card and reset passwords online.
Bill Cosby, John Legend to Headline 'Keepers of Dream' Awards
Monday, 16 April 2012 23:00 Published in Arts & Entertainment
Richard Parsons, Denzel and Pauletta Washington, Doug Morris Among 14th Annual Award Recipients
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) will host the 14th Annual Keepers of the Dream Awards Wednesday, April 18 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
The awards, given each year in April to mark the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, honor those who have continued to advocate for the principles for which Dr. King gave his life. Last year, the event featured a special keynote address by the President Barack Obama.
The Keepers of the Dream awards are given by members of the civil rights community who have committed themselves to fairness and racial harmony. Among the honorees this year are Richard Parsons chairman of Citigroup and former chairman, CEO of Time Warner; actor Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta Washington; Karla Ballard, chief of Strategic Development, Media and National Partnerships One Economy ; and Doug Morris, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.
Special remarks will be provided by Bill Cosby and a special performance will be delivered by singer John Legend.
The Keepers of the Dream Awards are the highlight of NAN's annual convention. This year, NAN convened in Washington, D.C. April 11-14 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and featured a "Who's Who" in politics, civil rights, education, business, the Church, corporate America. The family of Trayvon Martin; Harvard University Professor Dr. Charles Ogletree; U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis; Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton; U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan; David Gregory (NBC's Meet the Press Moderator); U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson were among the participants.
Family & Health Lawyer Talib I. Karim Hosts First Show 3 p.m., April 19 on Trayvon Martin Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- On the day commemorating the end of slavery in the District of Columbia, local radio station WPFW and D.C.-based law firm, TEC Law Group, announces the launch of "Family & the Law." The one-hour radio program premieres from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, April 19, and is slated to air the same time every Thursday on WPFW 89.3 FM.
Seasoned family and health lawyer Talib I. Karim is the show's host and executive producer. Karim has been active in the D.C. region for the past 20 years as a lawyer, writer and political advisor. Karim's writings on legal and other issues are regularly featured in The Washington Informer and the AFRO-American newspapers.
"Everyone, no matter their race, religion, or creed, has at least two things in common," says Karim. "First, we all have a family -- and next, while we realize it or not, virtually every aspect of our individual and family life has a relationship with the law."
In the first episodes of Family & The Law, Karim plans to critically analyze a leading issue on the minds of parents: How to prevent our children from becoming the next Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman.
To help make sense of and find solutions from this case, Karim's first guest is noted author and psychiatrist, Dr. Francis Cress Welsing. From a public policy perspective, Dr. Welsing asserts that it's impossible to understand and prevent tragedies such as the killing of Trayvon without discussing race and racism.
"For all too long, lawyers and judges alike have attempted to divorce themselves of tackling racism in the justice system," asserts Welsing. As of today, justice is not blind."
Karim acknowledges this reality. In his nearly two decades of experience, Karim has seen first-hand, by representing clients and dealing with personal legal issues, that outcomes in the context of the law, have as much to do with a person's racial, financial, and even religious background as with the facts of the case.
"This is not the way our system of laws is designed to work, and I'm hopeful that Family & the Law can help create change, even if just small steps," Karim contends.
In addition to interviewing stimulating guests to tackle a central issue for the week, Karim's show intends to engage the public by taking questions by Facebook and Twitter.
About Family & The Law
Family & the Law is a program that seeks to provide legal and practical solutions to questions faced by people seeking to improve the quality of their individual and family life. The show's target audience includes parents, couples, seniors, individuals seeking to adopt, teachers, school administrators, lawyers, social workers, and health professionals in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region.
Family & the Law is produced for the TEC Law Group, a firm focused on serving families and businesses in the DC area. The program is staffed by a team of professionals working with TEC Relations, a public relations firm affiliated with the law firm. While the show is being broadcast live on radio, TEC Law Group will post the show's video on YouTube. For more information visit: www.TalibKarim.com.
The 6th annual International Children's Festival, an interactive, educational event for children to travel the world in a day, is coming to the District from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Sunday May 6.
During the daylong Festival -- which is free and will be held a the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center -- more than 20 embassies will host educational booths that highlight their countries' rich cultural heritage through hands-on activities, demonstrations, tastings, and a wide range of musical and dance performances.
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray serves as the Festival's honorary chair and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton is honorary patron. NBC4 anchorwoman Angie Goff will be mistress of ceremonies.
The Festival is hosted by Meridian International Center and THIS for Diplomats in partnership with Cultural Tourism DC and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
At-Large Council member Vincent B. Orange has been declared the official winner in the April 3 Democratic primary.
Orange had narrowly edged out his opponent Sekou Biddle by 543 votes when tallies were made 11 days ago, but due to ethics concerns a recount was held. The final decision regarding the D.C. Council seat was made by the Board of Elections and Ethics Friday evening after absentee and provisional votes were counted. The results garnered Orange a lead of 1,746 votes.
After learning the outcome of the recount, a jubilant Orange said it was time to put the matter behind and move forward. "I'm here standing today despite the strong opposition that I had. It's been a long struggle to get back to this point," he said in an interview. "But we're back and we have a great agenda."
Orange, who now turns his attention to winning the general election in November, also said that he'd receive a congratulatory message from Biddle.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray has announced the District's first city-wide Anti-Bullying Action Plan which will led by the D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR).
This comprehensive plan brings together D.C. government agencies, non-profit organizations, community partners and educators across the city to find solutions to confront and eradicate bullying across the District.
"When one in every five children is a target of bullying each day, and these events all too often lead to severe social and emotional crises for our youth, we must let our young people know that we hear them," Mayor Gray said. "We must come together – government, non-profits, advocates, teachers and parents – to eradicate bullying in the District and promote safe and inclusive schools."
In 2011, Mayor Gray proclaimed April 21 "Bully-Free D.C. Day."
The initiation of the Anti-Bullying Action Plan coincides with the 2nd annual Bully-Free D.C. Day and represents a significant step forward in ensuring an inclusive and ridicule-free city.
Bullying remains an endemic problem for youth and young adults across the country. While not a new phenomenon, the widespread use of social media has given youth a new platform on which to engage in hurtful – and often dangerous – bullying of their peers.
"The problem of bullying transcends the schoolyard. It is a fundamental issue of human rights, and requires the entire city to be present to promote solutions," said Gustavo Velasquez, director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights. "We need to investigate where bullying occurs in the city and what makes the District different from other cities in incidents of bullying so we can develop and implement solutions to best help our youth."
NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous said this week in an official statement surrounding the decision to charge George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in the death of Tryvon Martin:
"Forty-five days after Trayvon Martin's life came to a violent end, the wheels of justice have finally begun to turn. This is an important first step toward bringing justice for Trayvon and his family.
As we have seen, the system does not always work perfectly. But we have shown that when we stand together as a nation we can compel it to work. For the NAACP, this case has always been about the rule of law. We are encouraged by today's charges, but we know that this is just the beginning. We anticipate and expect a thorough federal investigation of the Sanford Police Department and their role in exacerbating this tragedy.
Trayvon's case moved the nation because it underscored the twin tragedies that affect so many of our young people: Trayvon was profiled because of his race -- looked upon as a threat rather than the loving son he was. And then, once he became a victim, he was neglected by the very police department tasked with protecting our communities and families. As a nation, we've got to address the issues of racial profiling and the valuation of black mens' lives by law enforcement. In the months... the NAACP and our allies in the civil rights community will continue to take these issues on as well as the urgent need to repeal stand your ground laws.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Trayvon's family. We are grateful for the courage and tenacity of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin that continue to help shape a national movement for justice for their son and for all of America's children."
Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito Jackson will come together for a tour this year that will hit more than 20 cities. In making the announcement on April 4, the Jackson brothers said they look forward to performing hits from the Jackson 5 discography while also honoring their brother, the late Michael Jackson.
"This is a dream coming true," Jackie Jackson said of the tour. "I can't believe this is finally happening. There's nothing like having all the brothers on stage at the same time. This will be exciting for our fans around the world -- and I know at each concert, MJ's spirit will be in the house with us."
The "Unity Tour 2012" is slated to begin June 18 and run through July 29. 2012 and scheduled through July 29. It marks the first time the brothers siblings have toured together since their groundbreaking Victory Tour in 1984.
Tickets for tour went on sale in select cities on April 6, with additional dates to be announced. The tour includes a performance Tuesday, July 3 in D.C. at DAR Constitution Hall.
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