The family of Marcus-David Peters has called for a “MARCH FOR JUSTICE & REFORMATION” this Saturday, June 2, starting at 1 pm outside the VCU Siegel Center at 1200 W. Broad St. and ending at Richmond Police Department headquarters at 200 W. Grace St. A city permit has been obtained and the march will take place, rain or shine.

Click here for the full details on this tragic story.

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Gainesville, Virginia, was founded in 1877. During the early morning hours of August 10, 2012, the church caught fire and was deemed uninhabitable for the present time.  Subsequent investigations revealed that the church fire was deliberately set. Click here to read the history of the church and account of the fire.

Click here to view a flyer about a Yard Sale that the church is sponsoring to raise funds to rebuild.

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board will be hosting a public forum at the Prince William County Government Center – McCoart Building in Woodbridge to discuss seven regional transportation initiatives with residents to obtain feedback that can be included in our long-range transportation plan, Visualize 2045. Details of the forum can be viewed in English by clicking here and in Spanish by clicking here.

On Saturday, April 28, 2018 – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – the Prince William County Police Department and the Manassas City Police Department will join with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community groups to provide you with a safe and legal way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Simply bring them to the collection sites at

• Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center,
• Sentara Lake Ridge Ambulatory Care Center,
• Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center.
• Find more locations at  https://takebackday.dea.gov/

This nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft.

Did you know?

–Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused, or illegally sold. They can also leach into the ground, contaminating our soil and groundwater. Flushing unused drugs can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

–Unused or expired prescription medications are a public-safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.

–The majority of those abusing prescription drugs, including teens, get them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet.

Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs, but if a program is not available: –Take the meds out of their bottles; –Mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds; –Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw that away.

During this initiative, prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications (i.e. tablets and capsules) will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will also not be accepted during National Take-Back Day.

To protect your privacy you can use a marker to black out your personal information on the labels, if you are unable to peel them off, prior to turning them in.

For more information, please call the Prince William County Police Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270.

EJ Scott, the unit’s 1^st Vice President shared the following message and listing concerning job opportunities in the State of Virginia:

“In an effort to facilitate our community being aware of available jobs, I send out these announcements.    If you are qualified, please apply. Or if you know someone who is suitable for one of these positions, please pass along.  Let me know if you apply and what position(s) you apply for. Good luck!”

Click here for the list of jobs and here to contact Ms. Scott if you apply for one of these jobs.

You are invited to  attend a Panel Discussion at 3 pm and Reception at 5 pm on Saturday,  April 21 honoring the Life and Legacy of Barbara Johns. 

Civil Rights Panel Discussion at The Alexandria Black History Museum – 902 Wythe St, Alexandria, VA 22314, starts at 3 pm and Moderated by Senator (9th) Jennifer McClellan, will feature Members of the Johns Family; State Senator and Attorney Henry Marsh; Former Prince Edward student Ralph Smith; Prince William School Board Member Lillie Jessie. We’ll be joined by Councilman John Chapman and other elected officials. Panel is FREE and open to the public.

The Reception at Shiloh Baptist Church – 1401 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314 starts at 5 pm and will feature Justin E. Fairfax as the keynote speaker, and Delegate (46th) Charniele Herring and Members of the Johns’ Family. We will be joined by Keren Charles Dungo from the Tim Kaine campaign and other elected officials. You can RSVP to reserve your ticket by clicking here or contacting Danny Carroll at 804-895-7576.

ABOUT BARBARA JOHNS

On April 23, 1951 a student lead strike, organized largely by 16 year old Barbara Rose Johns in Farmville, Virginia, helped to change African American education in the United States. The black students at Robert Moton High School walked out in protest of the inferior conditions in their school as compared to the nearby whites only  Farmville High School in Prince Edward County.

While the strike was underway Barbara Johns and classmate Carrie Stokes sought legal counsel from the NAACP in Richmond. NAACP attorney, Oliver Hill, agreed to meet with the students. Hill promised that action would be taken on their behalf, with that, the students returned to school on May 7, 1951.  The strike lasted ten days. The lawsuit became part of the landmark Brown  v. The Board of Education in 1954.

Barbara Johns is remembered for her role in leading the school strike that signaled the start of the desegregation movement in America. She showed the world that one person can be a force for change. Johns was honored in 2008, when the Commonwealth of Virginia unveiled a monument of Barbara Johns in Richmond’s Capitol Square to commemorate her role in desegregating schools in this country.

When asked what gave her the courage to organize the walkout, Barbara Johns replied,

“It was time that Negroes were treated equally with whites, time that they had a decent school, time for the students themselves to do something about it. There wasn’t any fear.  I just thought — this is your moment. Seize it!”

The People for Change Coalition Inc.  a Maryland nonprofit organisation is hosting several April FREE workshops on “How to Start a Nonprofit” at 4 Maryland locations: Temple Hills, Hyattsville, Laurel and Bladensburg. The stated mission of the organization is: “Helping Nonprofits and Minority Businesses Grow”.  To attend one of these  workshops, you must click here to register.

The organization’s website can be reached through this link where you can view more details on this free workshops as well as other programs and member services provided by this organization  including an upcoming conference, details of which can be viewed at this link.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women PW County Chapter, Inc. is sponsoring a Diversity and Inclusion Community Forum on April 14th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, VA.  Click here and here for two additional  items detailing this important event. You are reminded to wear your NAACP T-shirts to the event.

There will be a Slave Cemetery Clean-up  on Saturday April 14, from  9:00 – 11:00am.  The cemetery is located  directly behind Dumfries Elementary School at 3990 Cameron Street Dumfries, Va. 22026

This cleanup will consist of raking leaves, removing dead limbs, picking up trash, and cutting back grass and brush so please dress appropriately for the weather and the work: long pants and long sleeves.

Please bring rakes, wheel barrows, shovels, hand tools, tarps and bug spray.

Please click here to  see and distribute a flyer describing this effort.