Washington Informer

We consider each and every finalist to be a winner, and our sponsors and partners have helped us to reward every one of them. We humbly ask that you support our sponsors, partners, and advertisers.

2013 Spelling Bee Sponsors and Partners

Amtrak

Coca Cola

Champion Trophy

DC Public Schools

Giant Food

Jack H Olender and Associates

McMillon Communications

NBC4

Pepco

The Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education Inc. (FAME)

The Nielsen Company

Southwest Air

Washington Gas

Washington Nationals

Wells Fargo

Lunch Provided by Inspire BBQ and Catering

Please feel free to contact The Washington Informer with any questions, concerns, suggestions for next year, or if you would like to personally thank any of our sponsors.

Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher

Ron Burke, Advertising and Marketing Director

The Washington Informer

3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE

Washington DC 20032

202-561-4100 FAX 202-574-3785

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Before the April 13th game (Saturday) vs. the Atlanta Braves at 1:05, the Nationals will honor the winners of the 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee. The Nationals are providing all winners and their families, complimentary tickets to the game, and will honor the following on the field before the game with a "Spirit Award" in front of the entire crowd.

• First Place - Donovan Rolle

• Second Place – Alex Togneri-Jones

• Third Place (tie) Justin Atwood and Eric Wright

Congratulations to all the winners and the participants and

please accept the souvenir playoff programs that have been provided.

The Washington Informer began sponsoring the D.C. City Wide Spelling Bee during the 1981-82 school year. The late Dr. Mary E. White, supervising director, D.C. Public Schools Division of Instructional Services, Department of English, sought participation for D.C. Public Schools students in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually in Washington, D.C. While Scripps was willing to include the District of Columbia in the national competition, it could not do so based upon its requirement that a daily newspaper must serve as the official sponsor of the local competition.

Many years prior, The Washington Daily News sponsored the local spelling bee. Subsequently, The Washington Star purchased the Daily News, and subsequently ceased sponsorship of the spelling bee. Thus, for more than 15 years, District of Columbia public, private and parochial school children could not participate in the national competition for lack of a sponsoring newspaper.

Dr. White solicited support from the Washington Post, hopeful that the publisher would agree to become the District's official sponsor. According to Dr. White, Post officials told her that since the daily newspaper was a regional publication; their sponsorship would have to include not only the District of Columbia, but suburban Maryland and Virginia, as well. However, at that, the Journal newspaper chain had served as the suburban sponsor for several years, resulting in the Post's refusal to sponsor the bee solely for students enrolled in District schools.

Dr. White then appealed to Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, a friend and supporter of the D.C. Public Schools, president and founder of the United Black Fund, Inc. and publisher of The Washington Informer newspaper. It was Dr. White's hope that Dr. Rolark would exercise his influence over the Post officials and persuade them to agree to sponsor the spelling bee. However, as publisher of a weekly newspaper, which served more than 25,000 readers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, Dr. Rolark volunteered his publication to serve as a sponsor. With that, he brought in his daughter, Denise Rolark, managing editor of The Washington Informer, to assist in coordinating the District's first spelling bee along with Dr. White and other D.C. Public Schools officials.

The first city-wide spelling bee was held at Backus Junior High School in March, 1982. The winner was a sixth grade student, John Krattenmaker, who attended Mann Elementary School. Unbeknownst to Dr. Rolark, John was not permitted to participate in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee held the following May because The Washington Informer was and still is not a daily newspaper.

As an officer of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a trade organization of nearly 200 African American-owned newspapers across the country, Dr. Rolark concluded that the Scripps National Spelling Bee was maintaining an inherently racist policy because there were and still are no African American-owned daily newspapers in the country. He argued that in a jurisdiction, like Washington, D.C., where the majority of the student population is African American, students who might otherwise be eligible to participate in the spelling bee would be precluded from doing so unless a white-owned daily agreed to become the official sponsor.

Dr. Rolark called in his legal counsel and wife, Attorney Wilhelmina J. Rolark, who threatened Scripps with an injunction that would forbid the national competition to take place in the District of Columbia until the court ruled on the merits of the case alleging discrimination. Scripps complied, and changed its rules allowing weekly newspapers sponsorship privileges in the national competition. That year, the Loudon County Times, a weekly newspaper based in Loudon County, Virginia and the only other weekly newspaper to participate along with the Informer in the national spelling bee that year, produced the national spelling bee winner.

Each year, more than 4,000 students enrolled in nearly 200 D.C. public, private, parochial, charter and home schools participate in the spelling bee. For the past 31 years, the City-Wide Spelling Bee has been held at the studios of NBC4, where it is taped and later aired for general viewership.

Purpose

Scripps, a diversified multi-media company, established the National Spelling Bee to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop correct English that will help them all their lives. Spellers experience the satisfaction of learning language not only for the sake of correct spelling but also for the sake of cultural and intellectual literacy.

The Washington Informer's participation in Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee helps to further the goals of Scripps in the District of Columbia and to address the issue of illiteracy, particularly among African American youth. "If we want to improve the quality of life for all Americans," the late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark said, "then we must begin by teaching our children to read, which they will not be able to achieve until they can learn to spell."

On April 4, 1968, while Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., a gunman fired a fatal shot with a rifle that ended King's life and what some believed would also end the non-violent movement for civil rights in the U.S.

Today, with the median age of males in the United States at 35.8 years old and females at 38.5, it's safe to say that more than half of the current population wasn't even born when King was assassinated, nor did they witness the reaction or experience the immediate impact of his death in America or across the globe. What they do in fact know, is that King is an icon, and that gun violence continues to wreak havoc in America. They know that the tragic murder of men, women and children due to the widespread access and use of guns and other more deadly semi-automatic weapons remains a prevalent issue in this country.

Thursday, April 4, will mark the 45th anniversary of King's assassination. It's a moment to reflect upon the work King was preparing for at the time of his death. He and other members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were preparing to hold a Poor People's March in the nation's capital. King had moved from the fight for civil rights to a struggle for "silver rights" and economic justice for poor people in America.

The Poor People's Campaign had already begun, by May 12, 1968, thousands of poor people from cities in both the North and South converged upon the National Mall and set up a shantytown called, "Resurrection City." They were there to tell America's leaders that the country's poor had grown weary of asking and now "demanded meaningful jobs at a living wage; [and] a secure and adequate income for all those unable to find jobs [along with] access to land for economic uses; [and] access to capital for poor people and minorities to promote their own businesses; and the ability for ordinary people to play a truly significant role in the government."

King's death didn't stop the Poor People's March from occurring. And, the march didn't eliminate the disparities that exist between the nation's rich and its poor, which is expanding daily. The generation of American's born after King's death, are experiencing first-hand the issues King fought so vehemently against. What a perfect history lesson for them on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline

In her March 18 story, Dorothy Rowley correctly highlighted how inadequate public school policies on truancy and discipline are helping place young black males in the school-to-prison pipeline. But [an individual], whom Ms. Rowley quoted, was seriously wrong to claim that 'for-profit' public charter schools are part of "a dangerous mix that is a direct attack on our little black boys."

Every chartered public school in the District of Columbia is, by law, not-for-profit. And D.C.'s charters serve a higher share of African-American students than the city's traditional school system. The key to ending the school-to-prison pipeline is high-school graduation and college. Some 77 percent of D.C. charter high school students graduate on time – a critical component of college acceptance – compared to 56 percent in the city's regular public high schools.

The District's chartered public schools, which are tuition-free and open to all D.C.-resident students, have taken pioneering steps to help make college affordable for boys of color. Some 195 students at District charters such as Friendship Collegiate Academy, Thurgood Marshall Academy and Maya Angelou PCS recently earned DC Achievers Scholarships, which pay up to $55,000 in tuition and other supports. D.C.'s chartered public schools are building a school-to-college pipeline.

Ramona H. Edelin, Ph.D.

Executive Director

DC Association of Chartered Public Schools

Washington, D.C.

Keeping Dreams Alive!

So many of our young people who have talent never get the positive re-enforcement they need and desire in order to feel confident enough to pursue their dreams. Those dreams quickly become passing thoughts for them as they search endlessly throughout their lives trying to find themselves.

Michelle Phipps-Evans article, "The Emergence of a Young Artist" in the March 21, 2013 edition, about the seven-year-old artist Aqeel Qasir was very healing to me. Many years ago, I once thought of myself as a young artist at the age of 10, but unlike Master Qasir, I didn't have the support of my family or friends. To others my talent for art was looked upon as just a childhood notion for passing the time away, and not to be taken seriously as a career possibility.

As I grew into manhood I struggled, not knowing who I was or what path I should take. It wasn't until some 20 years later while I was sitting at my part-time job doodling on a piece of paper that it occurred to me – "this is what I am suppose to be doing." From that day forward I started reconnecting with the creative spirit that lives in me. Today, my life has meaning and direction.

After reading the article I just had to share my story with you and let you know how important supportive family and friends, and especially a newspaper like The Washington Informer can be to a young creative person. Hopefully someday a mature, master artist, Aqeel Qasir will look back on this article and smile.

Vincent L. Stafford

Suitland, Md.

The wave of mayoral school takeovers across the country has Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker diving in, as well, as he makes plans to take control of the county school system, its budget and oversight of the superintendent.

Baker seems confident that his intervention will provide what is needed to improve the county's troubled school system. He hopes by taking control of the 125,000-student school system and its $1.7 billion budget that he will be able to improve the quality of education the county offers. Good schools, Baker suggests, are necessary to attract residents and businesses to the county.

The proposal presented to the state legislature last Saturday received significant pushback and the final bill introduced by lawmakers keeps the school system's budget in the hands of the school board. While Prince George's students are showing some academic progress, critics don't agree that a takeover by the county executive at this time will result in any significant improvements, at least not any time soon. For the first time in recent years, the county's 2013 budget saves teachers from furloughs and reportedly includes raises for teachers, greater flexibility in how principals can manage their budgets and provides for more programs for students in select schools. But the problem facing the schools, critics say, rests in the increasing population of low-income and special needs students. It will take time and additional resources to get these students up to speed, they say, and a takeover, does not address these issues or others.

So, why the urgency to control schools now? Many parents, teachers and education leaders want to know.

Like mayors in big city school districts including the District of Columbia, Boston, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, Baker is frustrated and he believes a takeover will do much to save children from under-performing schools. He's willing to let the responsibility rest with him when it comes to improving the county's schools.

But the jury is still out when it comes to determining the success of school districts controlled by mayors. Mayoral takeovers have, in select cases, resulted in more stable school districts with fewer superintendent turnovers and less derision from appointed school boards that replaced formerly elected school boards.

We agree with some who argue that Baker needs to present a plan and not just assume a takeover is needed because other jurisdictions are doing it. What do they have to show, not just in maintaining leadership but also in improved student academic achievement? That's what really matters. Are children matriculating through school better equipped academically under a mayoral or county controlled leadership? If so, why; if not, why not. That's what Prince George's Country residents want to know, and in order to garner their support; Baker needs to demonstrate he has a plan that will produce positive and significant results.

Pepco Region President Thomas H. Graham has been honored as one of the influential Marylanders in 2013 by the Daily Record newspaper.

The Daily Record reports on commerce, finance, law, business, construction and real estate, with a focus on Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Influential Marylanders was created in 2006 to honor individuals who have made a significant impact in their fields and are influential leaders in Maryland.

"It has been my privilege to work with Maryland's elected leaders and government officials in the realm of energy technology" said Thomas H. Graham, who was honored during a March 21 ceremony at the Grand Lodge in Cockeysville, Md. "Maryland's leadership is forward thinking in providing a sustainable energy future for its citizens, and it's an honor as Pepco Region President to play a role in that effort."

The editorial staff chose 50 honorees from 10 categories. Graham is one of the five winners in the "Technology" category.

Other notables who were honored with Graham are Ray Lewis of the NFL Baltimore Ravens, and trial attorney Peter Angelos, majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

Third Year of Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation

In its third year as an Arbor Day Foundation partner, Pepco is providing 2,000 free trees to customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia through the Energy-Saving Trees program.

Launched as a pilot initiative in 2011, the Energy-Saving Trees program conserves energy and reduces household electricity bills through strategic tree planting. Pepco customers can reserve their free trees today at www.arborday.org/pepco.

"The Energy-Saving Trees program saves money and the environment," said Thomas H. Graham, president, Pepco Region. "More than $380,000 in energy savings within 20 years is a substantial benefit to our customers and the region."

Within seconds of accessing the website, an online tool helps Pepco customers find the most strategic location for planting and estimates the annual savings that will result from the tree.

The Arbor Day Foundation calculates that the 2,000 trees are estimated to produce more than $380,000 in energy savings within 20 years. Customers can reserve up two trees per household and the program will continue until all 2,000 trees are reserved.

In exchange for the free trees, customers are expected to care for the trees and plant them in the location provided by the online tool. The two-to-four-foot trees will be delivered directly to the customer at an ideal time for planting.

The Energy-Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of the Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service's i-Tree Software to calculate estimated benefits.

For more information and updates, visit www.pepco.com, follow us on Facebook and Twitter at PepcoConnect, and download our mobile app at www.pepco.com/mobileapp.

"Stopping the Pipeline to Prison and Ending the Prison Industrial Complex Through Education, Jobs and Justice," is the theme of the Friday, March 29 "Silent March and Call to Action," designed to increase national awareness of the disproportionate rates of arrests and incarceration of African Americans.

Led by the historic Metropolitan AME Church (MAMEC) and its Mighty Men of Metropolitan, in partnership with the NAACP-DC, the Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO, and others, the Silent March is a passionate plea to build coalitions across the nation to put an end to the "Pipeline to Prison" and violence that plagues African American communities.

"African Americans are being imprisoned at four times the rate of other American citizens, largely because of a lucrative 'pipeline to prison system' fueled by a voracious multi-billion dollar 'prison-industrial' complex, and a biased criminal justice system that singles out African American people for prosecution," said the Rev. Ronald E. Braxton, MAMEC senior pastor.

The one-mile march begins at 1 p.m., from MAMEC where it will proceed to Freedom Plaza in downtown D.C. The march will also take place during a time when many Christians around the world will celebrate Good Friday, symbolizing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

A March 25 press conference was held at MAMEC to announce the event.

In addition to Braxton, other participants included Michael Eric Dyson (author, radio host and professor of sociology at Georgetown University) and Courtney Stewart, chairman, "The Reentry Network for Returning Citizens."

"The community needs to see the faces of those who are most affected, have been targeted and disenfranchised as a result of the school to prison pipeline," said Stewart. "Ex-offenders] don't have any money, we don't make laws, we don't control the media and many of us can't vote therefore are eliminated from the political process...so it is up to our faith leaders to support us and send a message to the public and city officials."

Dyson added that, subjecting people to the 'life sentence' of a criminal record in order to fill prisons and feed a greedy prison industry has earned America a 'gold medal.

"We're number one in the number of people we put into prison," said Dyson. "This 'cradle to prison' mentality assaults our humanity and is a shame to us as a people and as a nation."