By Brian C. Byrd Juneteenth is a day of celebration for the African American community, as it marks the daywhen slaves in Texas discovered they were officially free. Just as this day has become a nationalholiday, organizations such as the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund (TDJBCF) haveworked tirelessly to ensure that people of color also have freedom in their health. “Our vision isto […]
Young Readers: Stop and Start
By Kitty Felde Admit it. Our attention spans have shrunk in this era of social media. It’s even worse with kids. So how do you get a child to put down the phone and pick up a book? One solution, offered by our neighbors to the north, is perfect for […]
Amidon-Bowen Music Teacher Para Perry Retires With Rich Legacy
Scenes from the retirement celebration honoring Amidon-Bowen music and choir teacher Para Perry included (top, left) Perry dances with students; (top, right) DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferabee appreciates the Amidon-Bowen Step Team led by teacher Jacqueline Cook; (bottom, left) Perry accepts a ‘Grammy Award’ for Best In Southwest; (bottom, right) Fifth […]
Young Readers: Everybody’s an Actor!
By Kitty Felde We all played different roles in our lives – student, parent, worker bee, boss. It’s perhaps not as much fun as the role playing we did as kids when we could switch from astronaut to country western singer just by swapping helmets for hats. Cathy Rodriguez trains […]
Southwest Community Gardens to Hold Spring Kickoff April 27th
Neighbors at the Southwest Community Garden. Courtesy of the Author By Jessica Lai The Southwest Gardens will host its 11th Spring Kickoff on Saturday, April 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The event is open to the public and all are welcome. The garden is located in Lansburgh Park at […]
Young Readers: Cliffhangers
by Kitty Felde It’s a gimmick as old as Scheherazade: leave your audience desperate to know what happens next. You know the tale of the beautiful Scheherazade. She married a Sultan who killed off his brides the day after the wedding. Clever girl, she brought her sister along with her […]
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi Visits Jefferson Middle School Academy
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Jidé George, Sanaa Wilson, and Kimberly-Celeste “K.C.” Boyd. Courtesy of the Author. By Matthew Koehler In January, Jefferson Middle School Academy welcomed guest author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi’s new book, Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers, tells the story of Oluale Kossola, who was a survivor of […]