Trigger Warning: This article covers the topic of suicide. For direct contact with a suicide hotline, please dial 988 or find more information here. National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month reignites various conversations about healing and tackling life’s complexities. Two stories are shared here. Donna Holland Barnes Donna Holland Barnes, founder of DHB Wellness, has spent nearly […]
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
Organizations Blossoming the Youth of D.C. and Baltimore Read More »
I can imagine that truly appreciating each of the sacrifices my parents have made for my sister and me over the years could take an entire lifetime. Nonetheless, to celebrate Father’s Day, I want to share a “thank you” to my dad. In doing so, I’d like to start by saying I’ve always considered my dad
With May saluting health, women, and mothers around the world, I wanted to interview my mom, as it’s been a bit of a difficult month for our family. As an educator and the head of her household, she’s carried the heavy weight of maintaining her responsibilities and independence for much of her life. If her
April’s serving of Autism Awareness Month makes room to celebrate the gallant endeavors of families and organizations dedicated to spreading advocacy on the developmental condition. Two stand-outs are highlighted here. Yetta Myrick Yetta Myrick is the Executive Director and President of DC Autism Parents (DCAP) and CDC Ambassador. The goal of DCAP focuses on presenting resources
America’s unappreciated hero is the Black woman. Often celebrated for being the first willing to protect, care, and give, the mental wellness of Black women is frequently corrupted by a false sense of autonomy – that everything maneuvered must be done so alone. Calling attention to how far we need to continue progressing doesn’t take
After doing extensive research on the key issues that face Ward 1, I found that the list extends much further than the average metropolitan could even imagine, and even further than the most educated government official’s knowledge base. I also realized that the specificity within each issue is crucial to explore because of all the
Public Health Institute’s Senior VP of HR Emphasizes the Importance of Self-Advocacy and Pushing Forward Where you intend to go and where life ultimately leads you almost never coincide, and in the case of Valerie McCann Woodson, the direction that stemmed from misdirection worked in her favor. A chemical engineer, a Howard University class of
The American news cycle has been buzzing for months with a particularly bizarre political story. As the nation faces record-high numbers of asylum seekers at the Southern border, three Republican governors—Greg Abbott of Texas, Doug Ducey of Arizona, and Ron DeSantis of Florida—have resorted to busing thousands of migrants to Democratic stronghold cities Washington, New
For the past four months, Republican governors transported migrants and asylum seekers from their states to Democratic-led “sanctuary” states. These migrants are primarily individuals from Venezuela who seek refuge in the States by crossing the Mexican border. Immigration is a significant topic in every election cycle. About 350 million people cross the US-Mexico border every
Republican Political Agenda Supersedes Human Rights Read More »
