VIDEO: Kennedy Shrivers’ grandkids and Buddies storm Washington
Photos: DC Spotlight Newspaper/Joshua Lanier
November 1, 2012
By Nkechi Mogekwu, Staff Writer and
Wendy Thompson, Editor-in-Chief
Metro Link
As Maria Shriver bowed her head, smiled and pedaled through the archway labeled “Best Buddies Challenge,” it became apparent that autumn had begun and the annual Best Buddies Challenge was in full swing. For the “buddies” and participants who enjoy cycling, running or walking on a crisp October morning, it was the beginning of a beautiful fall event in the nation’s capital on the National Mall. [...]
DC Spotlight EXCLUSIVE – Meet Lawrence Jackson: The Man Behind the White House Photos
Photos by Lawrence Jackson, White House photographer
June 1, 2012
By Jordan Schatz/Wendy Thompson
In the Spotlight with Wendy Thompson
My new favorite [photograph] is the one of a little girl hugging the president. It’s such a quiet moment, and the girl has this look on her face that says, ‘I trust you. I love you.’ It’s such a sweet moment on her part, and you see the back of the president’s head. When I look at it, it always puts [...]
Meet Gregory Cendana, the future of DC politics
Photos: Demarcus Davis/DC Spotlight Newspaper
April 1, 2012
Jordan Schatz
Reporter/News writer
In the Spotlight with Wendy Thompson
On the second floor of the AFL-CIO building in downtown Washington, DC is the office of Gregory Cendana, the director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). His workplace is busy, laden with the mementos from the past year—an eventful one for the 25-year-old. He was elected in early March as a DC delegate to the Democratic National Convention, earning the most votes of anyone, including [...]
EXCLUSIVE: Somebody’s Daughter: Homeless women in Washington, D.C. expose conditions in Open Door shelter
Photos: DC Spotlight Newspaper
February 6, 2012
By Jordan Schatz and Wendy Thompson
Reporter/News Writer
Editor-in-Chief
In the Spotlight with Wendy Thompson
On a rainy, cold night in late October, under the dark shadows of the U. S. Capitol Building lies “Janet,” a 41-year-old woman and her service dog, Kilo, asleep on the wet concrete in front of the homeless shelter Open Doors. The fall chill is beginning to set in as winter approaches, but the harsh realities of life for Janet and other homeless women [...]
Meet Iyanla Vanzant: New, transformed and back on top
January 5, 2012
By Jordan Schatz
Reporter/News Writer
Limelight
On a rain-stricken evening in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Silver Spring, best-selling author, and inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant arrived at Metamorphosis Boutique for the signing of her latest book “Peace from Broken Peaces,” bearing gifts for her audience and wondering aloud how they can drive in such bad traffic on the Washington beltway.
This, of course, was the evolved Vanzant – the antithesis of Ronda Eva Harris, (her birth name) who grew up in a [...]
Top 10 (#1) Jeni Stepanek: Teaching courage, sharing Mattie’s hope
October 2, 2011
Wendy Thompson
Editor-in-Chief
DC Spotlight TV, Living the Life, Top 10 Most Interesting People 2011
When Jeni Stepanek looks back over her life, it’s often difficult to reflect on the past. On June 22, 2004, her fourth child, Mattie, lost his lifelong battle with a rare neuromuscular disease. As a result of the disease, Mattie relied on a ventilator to breathe and a wheelchair to get around. He would have been 21 years old on July 17 of [...]
Top 10 (#2) Evan Moss: Leaping past epilepsy to best-selling author
Photos: DC Spotlight Newspaper
October 1, 2011
By Jordan Schatz
Reporter/News Writer
Limelight, Top 10 Most Interesting People 2011
Evan Moss isn’t your ordinary seven-year-old. Lately, Evan, who lives with his family in a quiet Alexandria, Virginia neighborhood, has been the talk of the D.C. metro area and the feature of major news articles and magazine profiles since the July publication of his book, “My Seizure Dog.” The book became a national best-seller on Amazon.com.
Written and illustrated by Evan, the book tells the story [...]
Wounded Warrior Veterans take on D.C. Celebrities at Nationals Park
Photos: Mark Taylor/Wendy Thompson/DC Spotlight Newspaper
The Washington Nationals hosted the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team on Sunday, September 4th for their first Wounded Warrior Celebrity Softball Game. The squad will face a group of D.C.-area celebrities as part of an on-field exhibition following the conclusion of the post-game Kids Run the Bases event. The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team is comprised of veterans and active duty service members from across the United States, each of whom have lost limbs while serving [...]
Stacy Lattisaw: Before there was Brandy, there was Stacy
Photos: Mark Taylor/DC Spotlight Newspaper
August 11, 2011
By Jordan Schatz
Reporter/News Writer
In the Spotlight with Wendy Thompson
SILVER SPRING, MD — On location at Metamorphosis Boutique. As a child starlet from Washington D.C., Stacy Lattisaw experienced a childhood that notmany can top. Her adolescence was filled with one R&B chart topper after another, a singing career alongside Michael Jackson andeventually a life-changing career end that shaped Lattisaw into the woman she is today. “Life has taught me so much,” said Lattisaw, now [...]
Blast off: Behind the scenes of Endeavour’s final launch
June 1, 2011
Wendy Thompson
Editor-in-Chief
Behind the Scenes: Endeavour’s Final Launch
In the Spotlight with Wendy Thompson
“It’s in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore,” he said. “We must not stop. To all the millions watching today, including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for your support.”
– Mark Kelly, Endeavour astronaut
On the morning of May 16, 2011, the DC Spotlight crew of journalists arrived at NASA Goddard [...]
Iyanla Vanzant: A Rising Phoenix Coming Back after Death
April 5, 2011
Wendy Thompson
Editor-in-Chief
Iyanla Vanzant
Photos: Robert Romano/DC Spotlight Newspaper
…That day I realized, you’ve got to think about this differently…Your daughter dying ain’t about you. It’s about her and God. Your husband leaving ain’t about you. He changed his mind. Okay, so [what]. What is about you Iyanla? What is about you? And what I know is the gifts and work and the blessings that God has given me to do that I’ve done for the past 32 [...]
UPDATE: Harriet Tubman Statue Bill
March 19, 2011
Wendy Thompson
Editor-in-Chief
Lynette Long
(Photo above: Supporters of the Harriet Tubman statue, taken prior to the hearing in the House of Delegates)
UPDATE: Harriet Tubman Statue Bill
According to Linda Mahoney, president of Maryland NOW, the Washington Post is predicting a vote in the Senate committee soon. Mahoney stresses that “we need to contact the committee members – especially the Senate committee – today. The message should be that even if the committee member can’t personally support the legislation, [...]