Mental health in the Black Community is a topic that many advocates say doesn’t get enough attention. During the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, families and advocates joined forces to share a powerful message. NewsVision’s Bria Patterson reports.
Capital Bikeshare Introduces E-Bikes
Capital Bikeshare, D.C.’s bike rental system, has added electric bikes to its fleet this week. Beginning Wednesday September 5th, 80 new Capital Bikesure Plus e-bikes will be available in its system and the addition is part of a plan to diversify the line by about 4,300 bikes in the Washington region, according to officials with the District Department of Transportation. In an era of ride sharing apps and electric scooters, Capital Bikeshare has struggled to remain competitive. Transportation officials anticipate e-bikes will make biking a more enticing option for commuters.
Unlike conventional bikes, the Plus bikes feature a motor that assists with pedaling. Users engage the motor by pedaling, unlike conventional motorbikes that feature a throttle. The bikes can go up to 18 miles per hour, but faster speed is possible by pedaling harder, making the bikes a good alternative to short commutes on ride hailing apps.
The e-bikes will run through November and are expected to work seamlessly with the existing bikeshare system. The bikes, black and sleek, are distinctly different from its signature red bikes. Much like the electric scooters that have gained popularity in the city, Capital Bikeshare hopes the bikes will become the transportation of choice for longer trips or for those who need the extra assistance to get around on two wheels.
However, electronic bikes have shaky regulations and were banned in New York despite their popularity overseas and in other parts of the country. The bikes have become synonymous with reckless driving on bike lanes and sidewalks, making them the bane of pedestrians and drivers alike. However, commuter and CityLab reporter Sarah Hilder, has different ideas.
“We’ve seen e-bikes in the city before with Uber’s JUMP bikes and I don’t think it’ll be a problem adding more,” she said. Uber’s JUMP bikes haven’t seen much popularity growth since being absorbed by Uber earlier this year, but the ride hailing app itself has played a big part in Capital Bikeshares new rollout. “It will be interesting to see if there is any opposition to it.”
“Cities like New York crack down on congestion formed by all the cars on the street,” Kim Lucas, manager of Capital Bikeshare’s system, referring to Uber and Lyft cars. “We always encourage Bikeshare as an alternative to calling a car, and hopefully this will give even more incentive.”
Capital Bikeshare is one of the oldest bikeshares in the country, and, despite regulations hindering their use on some suburban sidewalks throughout Maryland, many residents have come to depend on Bikeshare for commuting. Bikeshare is also a staple for tourists in the metro. “These bikes are going to add a level of excitement to our fleet and that’s what really matters,” said Lucas.
Our Schools, Our Communities and Our Responsibility: CBC Panel Seeks to Silence Gun Violence
From mass shootings at public schools to violence in the streets of America’s largest cities, the issue of gun violence was a focal point at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 48th Annual Legislative Conference.
NewsVision reporter Jenae Addison reports from the panel, “Our Schools, Our Communities, and Our Responsibility: Protecting Our Students from the Gun Violence Epidemic.”
Creating a Brighter Future Through Higher Education: CBCF Spouses Youth Issue Forum
Each year during the Congressional Black Caucus Forum’s Annual Legislative Conference, youth are provided the opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to them.
This year, they focused on the importance and impact of receiving a higher education. NewsVision’s Bre’onna Richardson has the story.
AME Rallies For Issues in The Black Community
To an outsider, it might seem as though today’s politics are backed by the church, but what church is speaking? On Thursday morning, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church organized a rally for the Black church in front of the White House to address certain concerns affecting the African American community.
“The black church, historically, has been the voice of the community. It has been where most of the major accomplishments in the black community have begun. We think back to Martin Luther King and some of the others – it all began in the Black Church,” said Bishop W. James Thomas of Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, Delaware.
The goal of the rally was to not only unite the second district AME, which is comprised of churches across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, but also the Black community as a whole behind these issues. These issues included criminal justice reform and economic equality.
“I know a lot of people say that the church is the most segregated organization in the land, however you feel better with your people. You can act better and work better with people who have gone through the same struggles as you,” said Sylvia Reed, the president of the Women’s Missionary Society at St. Paul AME Church in Columbus, Georgia. To further unite attendees, there was a wider variety of music. From live bands, to mainstream recordings, to hymnals.
Bishop Thomas believes it is crucial that the Black church takes time to address and include both the church and the Black community. When it comes to division within the church and the community, “most of those challenges are internal. I think we do have to come up with better ways to reach across different demographics. We have to come up with a better way to even address the concerns of our millennials,” said Thomas.
For many, like Arelis Davis, the wife of a bishop in the AME, next steps start at home. “First of all I am going to start with my family, and that is trying to inspire and motivate my grandchildren to know that when they get to the age of 18 they must register and vote…I would like for them to have a consciousness of the problems, of the ills of the society. And although they are one, one person can make a difference,” said Davis.
‘An American Hero’ : Public Pays Tribute to McCain at U.S. State Capitol
Hundreds stood in long lines to pay their respects to who they saw as a “true American hero” outside the Capitol Friday afternoon. Veterans and families with small children were among the diverse crowd who stood for hours in the sweltering heat waiting to pay their respects to decorated war hero, John McCain.
Once inside the Rotunda, small groups gathered around his flag-draped casket to say their final goodbyes. Flowers, sealed envelopes and other offerings were not allowed; but Everett Wills, a retired Gunnery Sergeant, brought something small yet special that built a common thread between both military veterans.
“I have a Montford Point Marine 75th anniversary coin. The Montford Point Marines are the first African Americans to join the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. The Marine Corp was the last branch to integrate and it was forced to integrate by Franklin Delano Roosevelt,” said Willis
The public deemed the six-time Arizona senator a hero who–like former president Barack Obama said had the “courage to put the greater good above our own.” D.C. resident Antoinette Robinson had similar sentiments as she waited in line with her family.
“I love John McCain because he is an American hero. When he was given the chance to be released as a POW, he chose not to. He made sure that all the men were released before him. He was a true true service person and served this country for over 60 years of his life. He should be honored and rewarded for that,” said Robinson.
George Nejmeh, a D.C. resident whose grandparents fled from Syria, praised McCain for his character which spoke to his integrity and strong moral principles.
“He was a man of all people. He had no prejudices. He loved everybody and that’s what we need in the world today. Tell me where you can find a lot of people like that? What people are willing to do that today? Not many. Not many. We need men like him.”
Mourners admired McCain for his bravery, patriotism and dedication to Americans.
Public and private memorial services celebrating the life and legacy of John McCain took place across the nation where he lied in state in both Washington D.C. and Phoenix ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday.
He died last Saturday of brain cancer at age 81.
Modern-day shoemaker works to give back to community
The Peter Bugs Shoe Repair Academy in Southeast D.C. is full of history, life, and opportunity for anyone who comes in.
A native to D.C., John “Peter Bugs” Matthews is like the modern-day sShoemaker who continuously gives back to his community.
Matthews did not have it easy early in life. He struggled in school and developed a stutter. He said he was mistreated by teachers and brushed aside.
“I could have been the president but I’d be the first person on the short bus., I had a stutter and they took us and put people like us in the basement,” he said.
Matthews said he felt like this for most of his grade school experience until high school when he said he thought he caught a break. Bugs was placed in regular classes only to be told by his counselor that he had to attend a trade school.
“Not even 17 years old and I’m being discriminated against because of their mentality,” he lamented.
He may not have wanted to attend a trade school, but he went on to attend Phelps Vocational High school where he ended up in the shoe repair shop. He studied under Guy Panofino, a retired cColonel and an Italian shoemaker.
Immediately they connected, and Matthews said he didn’t feel so alone because Panofino also had a stutter. In the 12th grade, Panofino helped him get a two-year scholarship for shoe repair and boot making at the University of Oklahoma.
He later attended Federal City College, which is now known as the University of the District of Columbia. Graduating with a degree in sociology and anthropology, Matthews says that life after college was difficult at first because he couldn’t find a good paying job.
Matthews found a few jobs but said he knew he never wanted to work under anyone again. In May of 1977, he opened the Peter Bugs Shoe Repair Academy where he taught young men in the neighborhood how to make and repair shoes and work with leather.
Matthews stated, “this was also a rebirth for me, that’s where the name Peter Bugs came from.”
Mike Banner, a former student, expressed his love for the program and how it pushed him in all aspects of life to become the absolute best version of himself. He said that working under Matthews, “deals with your soul and your potential.”
Matthews made such an impact in his community that a block on 13th Street Southeast was renamed as “Peterbug Matthews Way” in recognition of his work.
“He’s very education oriented and always looking to help the youth in any way that he can. It’s the way we were raised, he had adults that helped him and he’s carrying it on,” said Sandra Owens, an old friend of Matthews.
His alumni group Shoe Shop Boyz, now Men of Matthews Way, helped him throw the Peter Bugs Day Festival to raise money for children. Some students still come back to visit him and keep in contact.
“If you look a wheel, there are several spokes in the wheel and the hub (center). Peter Bugs has been the hub in the wheel of the community for 41 years…The humble beginnings, the spokes, all lead back to the hub,” Banner said.
The Woman Behind the Movement to End Youth Homelessness in D.C.
Deborah Shore, CEO, and founder of the Sasha Bruce Youth Work (SBY) dedicated her life to giving back to her community. Born and raised in Washington D.C., Shore explains how she’s “always felt a need to change the dynamic of the District.”
“My journey began over 44 years ago in an effort to help a friend heal from losing her oldest child. Now I live every day helping our next generation,” Shore said.
Jonathan Moore, a staff member at the Sasha Bruce House, said, “I’ve worked with Deborah for 13 years, and she gives her all every day. These kids mean the world to her and her spirit is full of love. God made this work just for her.”
The violent death of Alexandra Bruce, the daughter of esteemed socialite hostess Evangeline Bruce, sparked Shore’s passion for giving back. Alexandra, known as Sasha, was fatally shot in 1975 at the family estate. Police suspected Sasha’s husband of her killing, but he but fled the country and was not extradited to face charges.
Devastated, Evangeline Bruce enlisted the help of several friends to create the Sasha Bruce Youth Work organization. Among these friends was Shore, an individual that played a crucial role in getting the organization off the ground.
Shore stated, “In the beginning days we were just an outreach program. We would walk the streets of D.C. leaving no stone unturned finding children and teenagers in need of somewhere safe to stay for the night.”
While we used a church to house some of the children, I would go out and network to get more financial support for the non-profit. It wasn’t until a dear friend of mine, Evangeline Bruce, reached out to me in efforts to help us establish a real building, a dedicated space to help these children thrive,” Shore continued.
In 1977, Shore opened the Sasha Bruce Youth Work House. The organization was initially an outreach program. It later evolved into a youth shelter when Evangeline Bruce donated a building for the charity.
The District of Columbia saw an increase of 40.5% in homelessness– within the last decade alone, according to 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report done by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. From 2007-2017, D.C. saw a 142.7% increase of homeless people in families with children and teenagers, according to Shelters to Shutters.
Jasmine, a young woman in the program who declined to give her last name, said, “I was living at home with my parents, and I had been sexually abused by my step-father. The Sasha Bruce house saved me.” They took me in, and it was the warmth of being here. Deborah “truly is a mother figure.”
Jessica Bisqut, a former member of the clinic, said, “I was one of the first people ever in her clinic, and now I work for her."
"When I was 16, I remember thinking how someone could love someone like me. [Shore] cleaned me up put me in therapy for drug abuse and sexual assault and even helped me graduate,” Bisqut continued.
“They took me in, and it was the warmth of being here. Deborah truly is a mother figure,” Jasmine, the young woman living at the Sasha Bruce house, said.
“These kids need someone to be there when they feel they have nowhere else to turn. And I love being that person for them. I look to inspire these kids and ignite a community that helps one another. And I wouldn’t change a single thing,” Shore said.
“I want people to know our job isn’t easy,” black fire captain says
WASHINGTON – Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Captain Donnell Troy has served as a firefighter for 29 years. Being a first responder isn’t new to Captain Troy; his father served as a first responder for nearly 30 years.
Despite the family connection, Troy initially wanted to become an architect. In his last year of high school, he researched architecture programs but wasn't sure if his family had the financial means for college. His counselor suggested a program that trained young men to become firefighters. He grew up in the firehouse and decided to give firefighting a chance.
In his nearly three decades years of service, Troy worked his way up the ladder, eventually gaining the title of captain. He recently moved to DCFD Engine 28 Truck 14 in Ward 3. Troy has been awarded Company of the Year and Life Savior of the Year five years in a row.
Jesse Dubun, a firefighter of two years, said, “he’s very easy to work with and a hard worker. The best thing is to have a team that cares about you, as much as you care about them.”
Troy said he is grateful to continue doing his work, but said getting there wasn't easy.
Despite growing up in a firefighting family, the position didn’t fall in his lap. He and his partners studied five times a week from April to August for the state exam.
“It’s one thing to be in power. It’s another to be in power while being, you know … Black. There will always be a black and white issue, which comes from any individual but until they want to stop it, nothing will change.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, only 7.9% of firefighters are black, compared to the 81% who are white.
Being a minority in a workplace, Troy said that one of the hardest parts of his job was getting his coworkers to view him as the same.
“We all will have to do our job as one, so there’s no need to be separate,” Troy said.
“You have to genuinely care about people, you have to think quickly and have to know if this is something you really want to do,” Troy said.
“I think it takes a lot to do this job, but even as a black man you have to understand that there will always be someone looking out for themselves and not others, but that’s with any job,” he continued.
Troy emphasized that people wanting to become firefighters should be prepared well before graduating high school.
He continued saying, “I get a lot of people with the wrong mentality, and I don’t think it's their fault, especially our black boys. I think the school system failed them, but I know I can help them and my team knows the true meaning of this work and what it means to be a first responder.”
Josh Lord, an 11-year veteran firefighter, said, “he is a great veteran of the department.”
When asked what was next for himself, Troy stated that retirement was nowhere near the future and he does not know what he would do without firefighting.
Residents of Ward 5D upset with structure of ANC Meetings
Located in Ward 5 on 371 Morse Street N.E., the monthly 5D ANC meeting took place on June 13 at 7:00 pm.
The meeting followed the given itinerary until Commissioner Kathy Henderson got into a heated exchange with a resident of Ward 5 saying, “I vote to not give out any money because plenty of times money was stolen out of the account.”
“She says she won’t let people steal money, yet she was the main one doing it to buy her daughter and herself a new laptop and cell phone,” said resident Sydelle Moore.
Henderson was asked about these allegations and claimed they were false. “People lie, it’s in their nature,” Henderson said.
The meeting continued for nearly three hours. Some community members were hesitant to express their concerns, however, Juanita Diggs was not.
After D.C. Police Captain Duncan Bedlion finished giving updates on the neighborhood, Diggs immediately responded. Diggs is a resident of the area who has consistently complained about trespassing in her neighborhood without any help from local police. “They held a block party from 4:30 pm to 4:30 am with loud music and hundreds of people. There were so many people in the street cars could not get by, and I called twice, and nobody came,” she said.
Diggs expressed her concerns about the lack of policing because of a disabled neighbor who frequently requires medical assistance. She then expressed, “I dare you to do what you say you’re going to do because my concerns are never addressed properly,” directly to Captain Bedlion.
Commissioner Bernice Blacknell was also concerned by the number of times Metro Police Department had allegedly ignored them because she had also experienced trespassing in her neighborhood.
Although many of the residents were taken aback by the meeting's heated exchanges, many were glad to end the session off with brighter news.
The District of Columbia Delta Housing Development Organization presented to the commissioners and residents of Ward 5, a new location of the Delta Towers, the senior community housing. The Delta Towers currently house 150 senior citizens and provides affordable housing in Northeast Washington.
The President, Antoinette White-Richardson stated that it was vital for them to present this to the residents of Ward 5 because “we are concerned about this community and we want to continue to provide affordable long-term housing to residents of the District of Columbia.”
The new location will be located at 1400 Florida Ave NE. It will house 170 residents with additional recreational rooms. Construction is set to begin in August.