Photo Credit: Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic Regions
Leaders and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® showcase baby and menstrual products AKA members donated to the Greater DC Diaper Bank at the sorority’s 118th Founders’ Day Celebration in National Harbor, MD, January 3, 2026. More than 13,000 items valued at $29,000 were donated. From left: Tracy Terrell; Melody Johnson Morales; Alpha Kappa Alpha North Atlantic Regional Director Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Nadine Vargas Stewart; Greater DC Diaper Bank Executive Director Liz Schurgin; Ashley Jones, Greater DC Diaper Bank; Jacqueline Jiles; Antionette Duncombe
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Donates More Than $29,000 to Support Community Service Efforts in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia
Donations of More Than 13,120 Items and In-Kind Support Valued at $29,000 Provided to Greater DC Diaper Bank; Appearance by Phylicia Rashad Highlighted the Founders’ Day Celebration with Thousands of DMV AKA Members
By RACINE TUCKER- HAMILTON
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated® North Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Regions
WASHINGTON (Jan. 3, 2025)—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® North Atlantic Regional Director Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq., and Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Nadine Vargas Stewart and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority gathered at the Joint Metropolitan Founders’ Day on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort & Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street in Oxon Hill, MD 20745.
Under the theme, “United in Sisterhood, Anchored in Legacy: Celebrating 118 Years,” accomplished actor and stage director Phylicia Rashad, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, was the speaker at the brunch program. Danette Anthony Reed, International President & CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Charletta Wilson Jacks, First Vice President of the sorority, also participated in the program.
A service project in partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank, themed Women Supporting Women—One Essential at a Time,” was the key focus of the Founders’ Day event. AKA members from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia joined in a collective effort to provide essential supplies for vulnerable families who are supported by two Diaper Bank programs: The Baby Pantry and The Monthly. Sorority members donated items, such as diapers, pacifiers and breast pumps to The Baby Pantry, and menstrual products to The Monthly.
Alpha Kappa Alpha members donated 13,120 items to both projects and provided in-kind contributions totaling $29,000. CeraVe, a subsidiary of L'Oreal, was an in-kind corporate sponsor and provided items for moms and babies in support of The Mommy Closet, one of the service initiatives.
According to Liz Schurgin, executive director of the Greater DC Diaper Bank, “We are so grateful for these donations. Now, more than ever our families need it. Over half the families in our region are struggling to access the diapers they need to keep their children healthy and dry. It is especially important that we start the year off with so much generosity,” said Schurgin. “This drive is historic for us in receiving donated items in-kind from a non-corporate community partner.”
“Gathering as sisters 118 years after Alpha Kappa Alpha’s founding at Howard University is a powerful testament to how we continue to advance our timeless mission to provide ‘Service to All Mankind,’” stated Spearman. “Through the critical act of collecting items that nurture and uplift our community, we honor our founders’ vision and reaffirm our commitment to caring for those who need us most.”
“Service is the heartbeat of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and our members consistently rise to meet the needs of women and children with extraordinary compassion,” said Stewart. “By giving generously, we not only provide essential resources for families today—we honor 118 years of a proud legacy rooted in uplifting our communities locally and across the globe. This is who we are, and this is the enduring impact of our founders’ vision.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® (AKA), an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. The sorority is comprised of more than 390,000 initiated members in more than 1,105 graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 14 nations and territories including the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, South Korea, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed of Dallas, Texas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, often is hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.”
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Councilmember Charles Colbert Appointed as New Mayor in the Town of Upper Marlboro
Derrick Brooks Also Appointed As Vice Mayor Following Recent Town Elections
By RAY FELDMANN
Town of Upper Marlboro
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (Jan. 5, 2026)—Councilman Charles Colbert has been appointed as the new Mayor in the Town of Upper Marlboro, Town Manager Clayton A. Anderson announced today. Additionally, Derrick Brooks was appointed as the municipality’s new Vice Mayor.
Mayor Colbert and Vice Mayor Brooks were both formally sworn into office last month and will serve through December 2027.
“I am honored to have been selected by my fellow Councilmembers to serve in this important role as your Mayor,” Colbert said. “I am eager to get to work as Mayor to make our town an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. We have made significant progress in recent years, especially in downtown economic development, infrastructure improvements, and expanding recreational opportunities for our residents.
“I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on the Council,” he added, “along with elected officials at the federal, state, county, and local levels, to continue the recent progress we have made.”
Colbert was the top vote-getter in the recently held Nov. 4 Town elections, finishing with 115 votes. Councilmember and former Mayor Sarah Franklin placed second with 108 votes, while Brooks was third with 107 votes. Incumbent Councilmember Karen Lott finished fourth with 103 votes, followed by fellow incumbent Joseph “Joe” Hourcle at 68.
Colbert is a Prince George’s County native and dedicated public servant. He first entered public service in 2022 as a Town Commissioner and later served as a Councilmember following the Town’s transition to a Council. In December 2025, he was selected by his fellow Councilmembers to serve as Mayor.
Colbert is committed to transparent governance, community engagement, and thoughtful growth that honors the Town’s rich history. Mayor Colbert focuses on advancing economic vitality, improving infrastructure, enhancing resident services, and ensuring the community has a strong voice in local government. Outside of office, he brings experience in business operations and government contracting, and is a devoted husband and father actively involved in the Upper Marlboro community.
Brooks is a lifelong resident of Maryland, born and raised in Calvert County. In 1990, Brooks relocated to Prince George’s County where he has resided for the past 36 years. Brooks has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to public service and community engagement. From 2023–2025, he served as one of the Commissioners for Upper Marlboro, gaining hands-on experience in local government and community leadership. He has worked collaboratively to support policies focused on community development, public safety, and resident engagement.
Professionally, Brooks has been employed by the Prince George’s County Circuit Court for 36 years in various capacities and has also served as a part-time employee at the Prince George’s Community College for over 23 years, helping the students navigate their way through the college experience.
“In this new role as Vice Mayor, I look forward to continuing to advocate for all town residents and make positive impacts everywhere I can,” Brooks said.
Per the Town Charter, the five Councilmembers met on the first Monday in December after the Nov. 4 election and selected Colbert and Brooks as Mayor and Vice Mayor, respectively.
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Governor Moore Announces Record Funding to Support Law Enforcement in Proposed FY 2027 Budget Amid Historic Drops in Violent Crime Statewide
By PRESS OFFICER
Office of the Governor
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Jan. 8, 2026)—Governor Wes Moore this morning announced a record $124.1 million in funding to support law enforcement in the governor’s proposed FY 2027 budget. Administered through the State Aid for Police Protection Program, the funding represents the Moore-Miller Administration’s continued commitment to making Maryland safer, as the state continues to see historic drops in violent crime.
“Our administration is committed to creating a safer state for every Marylander through an all-of-the-above approach that supports law enforcement, strengthens our communities, and invests in our people,” said Gov. Moore. “Our public safety strategy is delivering real results, but we are building on that progress with new investments so that every Marylander can live with the safety and dignity they deserve.”
Preliminary data indicate that in 2025:
• Homicides are down 25% statewide—the lowest in nearly 40 years.
• Non-fatal shootings are down 28% statewide compared to 2024.
• Robberies are down more than 25% statewide—extending a decades-long continuous drop in incidents.
Preliminary data indicate that since the Moore-Miller Administration took office:
• Homicides are down 44% across the state, down 58% in Baltimore City and down 39% in Prince George’s County.
• Non-fatal shootings are down 40% statewide.
Since Day One, the Moore-Miller Administration has engaged in an all-of-the-above approach to break the back of violent crime across Maryland. The administration’s public safety mission is defined by three core pillars: to provide the resources and support that law enforcement needs; to build stronger, more vibrant communities that leave no one behind; and to coordinate across all aspects of government to make our state safer.
To provide resources and support for law enforcement officials, the governor reinstated full investment in the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center—including the reintegration of Baltimore City into its operations—to enhance data and information sharing between federal, state, and local entities and drive significant improvements in closure rates. The administration has provided direct funding and grants to support new equipment and overtime; prioritized investment in the Office of the Public Defender; secured landmark investment in the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office; and continued investment with the U.S. Attorney through the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program to hold criminals accountable—all while working with state and local partners to develop re-entry programming to break the cycle of recidivism.
Most recently, Governor Moore reinstated state law enforcement resources to support Baltimore City law enforcement, marking the return to a true public safety partnership following the previous administration’s termination of similar efforts. The renewed collaboration continues to build upon the historic progress made to reduce violent crime in Baltimore City through enhanced collaboration and community resource deployment.
“Working together across jurisdictional boundaries is critical to the public safety services we provide throughout the state,” said Maryland State Police Acting Superintendent Colonel Michael A. Jackson. “At the direction of Governor Moore and working alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we are committed to building on our progress to keep Marylanders safe.”
To build stronger, more vibrant communities, the Moore-Miller Administration has been sharply focused on addressing the underlying and generational impacts of policies that not only fail to deter crime, but facilitate the circumstances that lead to it. Through the ENOUGH program, the governor continues to support community-driven action to tackle the root causes of poverty, providing grants to 28 communities; strengthened access to mental and behavioral health supports; and maintained support for nonprofit and faith-based organizations to help protect against hate crimes.
The administration has also instituted innovative agency-based initiatives to promote intervention, opportunity and education, including the first-ever formal interagency effort to help to families affected by crime and violence through the Safer Stronger Together project, The administration launched the THRIVE Academy to serve youth who are determined to be at a heightened risk for involvement in gun violence; championed initiatives like the Service Year Option to promote access to mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities; and worked hand-in-hand with partners in communities across the state to engage in initiatives to uplift men and boys.
“Governor Wes Moore’s partnership and commitment to public safety is real. It is an approach to public safety that has been instrumental to the historic 40% reduction in homicides we’ve achieved in Prince George’s County,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy. “The synergy between state and local governments is vital, and it’s clear that with today’s record funding announcement, in addition to strategic investments the governor and General Assembly have made, we share the view that public safety and economic development are intertwined. In Prince George’s County, we look forward to continuing our work with the Moore-Miller Administration to deliver safer, stronger, and more prosperous neighborhoods for county residents.”
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