Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                              A CEREMONAL RESOLUTION

                                              25-228

                      IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                           May 7, 2024

To recognize and celebrate the Washington Informer for its 60th year anniversary.

        WHEREAS, the Washington Informer is a Black, woman-owned multi-media

organization serving the African American community in the Washington metropolitan area, and

is one of the District’s oldest Black-owned newspapers;

       WHEREAS, the Washington Informer newspaper was incorporated on October 16, 1964

by Dr. Calvin Rolark, Sr.;

       WHEREAS, the Washington Informer strives to educate, inform, and empower its 50,000

readers of the print edition in addition to its 30,000 plus unique visitors of its online edition;

        WHERAS, Dr. Calvin Rolark, Sr. moved from Texas in the early 1950s to the District,

and started the Washington Informer to cover positive news about Black people;

       WHEREAS, the Washington Informer is the official sponsor of the local Scripps National

Spelling Bee in the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County;

       WHEREAS, the Washington Informer is also the sponsor of the African American

Heritage Tour held in February in honor of Black History Month;

       WHEREAS, the Washington Informer Charities is a non-profit organization that

promotes 21st century literacy, sponsors writing competitions, internships, scholarships, and other

events promoting African American history, culture, and literature;

       WHEREAS, in 2015 the Washington Informer launched a print insert and video called

“The Bridge” which focuses on the Black art scene and music and serves as a lifestyle guide for

Black millennials in the Washington metropolitan area;

         WHEREAS, the Washington Informer headquarters on Martin Luther King Avenue in

Ward 8 houses its newspaper office upstairs and has a television studio with a green board on the

first floor;

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      WHEREAS, the Washington Informer is part of a consortium of 10 legacy Black

newspapers that are a part of the content-sharing website “Word in Black”;

      WHEREAS, the Washington Informer also has a YouTube channel WITV with the

weekly television show “Let’s Talk”, and the WIN daily newsletter;

       WHEREAS, Denise Rolark Barnes joined the newspaper in 1980 after graduating from

Howard Law School, succeeded her father Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. as publisher when he passed

in 1994, and is the current publisher and second-generation owner of the Washington Informer;

and

        WHEREAS, Denise Rolark Barnes was appointed as a columnist and youth editor of the

Washington Informer when she was a student at Rabaut Junior High in Northeast Washington by

her father Dr. Calvin Rolark, Sr.;

     WHEREAS, the Washington Informer’s motto is “EDUCATE, EMPOWER, and

INFORM”.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the “Washington Informer 60th Year Anniversary Recognition

Resolution of 2024”.

      Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors, recognizes, and celebrates the

Washington Informer for its 60th year anniversary.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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