Around The City

DC Justice Lab: Fighting to Evolve the District’s Criminal Justice System

Issues like solitary confinement and record expungement have long plagued the African-American community. The roots of these issues run deeper than just affecting the individuals taking on these burdens. The roots trickle down to their mothers, fathers, children, and in some cases their entire family. Luckily, a local organization–DC Justice Lab–works to research, organize, and …

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Achieving Academic Equity and Excellence for Black and Brown Boys

The crisis with our Black and Brown boys continues to exist. Their life trajectories are crippled by intergenerational trauma caused by implicit bias and systemic racism. Black and Brown boys are disproportionately affected by implicit bias, systemic racism, and a lack of trauma-informed community support systems. They experience trauma at a much higher rate than …

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Sheika Reid: Community Support Leader

Developing Deeper Connections Between the Community and DC Government Sheika Reid, local Ward 1 native, grew up in Columbia Heights and was born to parents looking to uplift not only their family, but also their community. This fueled Reid’s determination to service the underserved and to do everything she could to shine a light on …

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S-N-S Hobbies: Inspiration, Foundation, and Nostalgia 

Kojo Cross, owner of S-N-S Hobbies, does not just run a Black-owned toy store in Washington, D.C. He brings meaning to the words “inspiration, foundation and nostalgia.” Cross has utilized his childhood inspiration–watching his father’s entrepreneurship come to fruition–learning early on that what he liked mattered, and that he could pair that with something that …

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Organizations Blossoming the Youth of D.C. and Baltimore

SMYAL: Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders For nearly 40 years, LGBTQ+ individuals living in Washington, D.C. and needing an environment reminiscent of having familial support depend on SMYAL–Supporting and Mentoring Youth Leaders and Advocates–an organization supplying children and young adults leadership development opportunities, after-school programs, and counseling services.  Hancie Stokes, the organization’s communications …

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Affirmative Action: Reactions from DMV Students and Faculty

The school year ended on a horrible note in late June. The Supreme Court made a historic decision to strike down affirmative action in higher education in Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard. They declared that race and cultural background should not be a factor during the admissions process. The decision caused students and faculty …

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Updates on Ward 3E’s July 25th Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Meeting

On July 25th, Ward 3E’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions met virtually to discuss the future developments of the American University Park, Tenleytown, and Friendship Heights areas. Officers in attendance included Vice Chair Matthew Cohen, Secretary Amy B. Hall, Chairperson Jonathan Bender, and Treasurer Tom Quinn. Here are some updates from the meeting: Updates on Crime District …

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HR Records: A Mission in Music

Looking out like a sentinel over the interior of Brightwood Park’s HR Records is a complex and imposing mammoth of an art piece. Composed of acrylic, collaged images, found objects, polyurethane, vinyl, and cassette tapes, “33 and a Third of Soul” by local artist Ellington Robinson is as busy as it is meaningful. Naturally, the …

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Ma’at Sunz: A Local Health and Wellness Company

Healthy living and healthy eating have always been trending topics in society. Despite this, eating what “tastes good” and doing what “feels good” have still been hard habits for many to break. According to a 2020 Center for American Progress, report, 13.8 percent of African Americans reported having fair or poor health compared with 8.3 …

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Toasting a Top-Notch Talent with Tunnel Vision

Let’s get lost in thought.  Your job is hosting a black-tie gala at an exclusive hotel.  Celebrating the company’s successes with the coworkers that feels the most like family is highly important to you. Still, heavy reliance on a beauty troupe to make you feel the most beautiful you’ve ever been is just as vital.  …

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