13-year-old Bron Echols has made history as the first author to publish a book about skincare for Black children. Wash Your “T” and Close Your Eyes, which he co-authored with his mom, Patrice Tartt Chappelle, is a delightful and educational book set to transform how children, particularly Black and brown children, perceive and practice skin care. […]
Courtesy of Prince William County Communications Linda Cheeks was recently named as a Foster Parent of the Year from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, or COG. COG recognizes foster parents from 10 local jurisdictions for their dedication to foster youth across the DC region. Cheeks has been opening her home to foster one or two children […]
by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury Democrats are finally talking about the Comstock Act — and they are finally trying to repeal it. The act is a dormant 19th century federal law that’s still technically on the books and could be used to implement a national abortion ban. Named for activist Anthony Comstock who pushed […]
Sponsored by Americans for Contraception As the nation prepares for the upcoming presidential debate, Americans for Contraception (AFC) aims to bring the critical issue of contraception rights to the forefront. The future of reproductive freedom hinges on this critical issue, and voters deserve to know where the candidates stand. “The preservation of contraception rights is […]
Courtesy of Prince William County Communications The Prince William County Department of Social Services is getting ready to relaunch its Fatherhood Initiative in an effort to help fathers more effectively engage with their children. The program was put on hold during the pandemic but is scheduled to resume later this year. The Department of Social […]
21-year-old Chicagoland native Kayla Austin is excited to introduce her patent-pending technology called “My Gun’s Been Moved” which provides responsible gun owners with 24/7 monitoring and notifications if their firearms have been moved, enhancing the safety of children and communities. Alongside this, Kayla has developed “My Safety Circle” to amplify responsible gun ownership, monitoring, and […]
Courtesy of Prince William County Communications The Crime Prevention Unit of the Police Department is hosting a Securing Your House of Worship training for faith-based organizations on Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Paul T. White Jr. Western District Station, 8900 Freedom Center Blvd., Manassas (20110). The informative session […]
by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury The Virginia Board of Education took another step on Friday to clarify how schools will be rated and student performance measured to better determine how to direct state resources. The board, on the superintendent’s recommendation, approved four performance descriptors: “Distinguished,” “On Track,” “Off Track” and “Needs Intensive Support.” Schools considered “distinguished” […]
Robert W. Sessoms, M.D., has released a new 32-page paperback STEM book for children of color entitled Uncle Julius and the Science Gang. He says that he wrote the book because only 6% of all medical students are African Americans and he wants to encourage more children of color to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, […]
The nonprofit, Virginia Women and Family Support Center (VAWFSC) provideslong-term housing to women and families experiencing homelessness. Virginia Women and Family Support Center (VAWFSC) is proud to announce the opening of its second house, which will house up to six women and their children at any given time. This new house is a result of […]
