Portraits of DC 2010

These two portraits of mine were recently selected as part of the Portraits of DC Gallery sponsored by DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), FotoWeek DC and DC Counts Campaign to promote the 2010 Census. The 51 winners will be exhibited as a collection in places such as Social, a Columbia Heights restaurant, the Washington Convention Center and several other public venues. To view all of the winners, please visit: http://issuu.com/thedcarts/docs/portraitsofdc

Safeway Rally

February 15, 2010--Washington, DC City Council Member Harry Thomas, Jr., other civic and community leaders, residents and customers stage a rally in protest of the announced closing of a Safeway supermarket located in the Edgewood neighborhood of Northwest Washington.

Michael Jackson-June 26, 2009

Just happened to be in Los Angeles on business when the news of Michael Jackson's sudden death came across my blackberry. Within the hour thousands of people flocked to his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.

 

"Mississippi" in Hollywood

They call her "Mississippi." We met when she asked for change while I was walking along Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. She's been homeless in California for almost one year now, when she moved from her home state of Mississippi in search of her own California Dream. The money she collects goes to food for herself and her dog and weed. "California has the best weed in the country. Especially up around San Francisco." She says that it's not unusual that her dog gets more food daily than herself. She was soon joined by her friend, who called himself, Shoeshine. In spite of living on the street, she has a very upbeat spirit and positive outlook, as evidenced by her natural easy smile.

Rent-A-Center Makes Donation to Capital Area Food Bank

June 11, 2009 Rent-A-Center donates $10,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank. Executives Dwight Dumler and Xavier Dominicis of the Plano, Texas based company presented the check to Lynn Brantley, President & CEO of CAFB. During their visit, Dumler and Dominicis were greeted warmly by Ms. Brantley, Ms. Elizabeth Hodge, Senior Grants Manager and were given a tour of the facility, where they met CAFB staff, agency partners, clients and volunteers. For more information about the Capital Area Foodbank, visit their website, http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/ 

Michelle Obama Visits Public Charter School

May 4, 2009 First Lady Michelle Obama paid a visit to the Latin American Montessori Bilingual School in Washington, DC and participated in the school's Cinco de Mayo festivities. Mrs. Obama was enthusiatically greeted by Executive Board members, teachers, staff and students. She was presented with a special gift, entertained by dances and songs performed by the students and other area community organizations. Mrs. Obama spoke to these elementary school students about the importance of education and pursuing their dreams. At the conclusion of her remarks, the First Lady was mobbed with hugs by several children who could not contain their glee at this once in a lifetime opportunity. The smiles on their faces speak for themselves.

The Latin American Montessori Bilingual School(LAMB) is a charter school, free and open to all District of Columbia residents.

Students at LAMB work together in multi-age classrooms using a hands-on Montessori dual language immersion approach (English and Spanish). Half of LAMB's students come from Spanish language dominant families and half are from non-Spanish language dominant families. LAMB is the only dual-language Montessori public charter school in Washington, D.C., and one of just a handful in the United States.

LAMB students use Montessori materials that are developmentally appropriate, self-correcting, and ordered from simple to complex. Students will learn, master, and be able to apply academic content in language arts, mathematics, and science in two languages.

For more information on LAMB, visit their website, http://www.lambpcs.org/