Washington, D.C
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority returns to D.C. for 57th National Convention
Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Thousands of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority gathered in the nation’s capital for the organization’s 57th National Convention, celebrating more than 111 years of sisterhood, scholarship and service. The biennial event, held July 8-13, welcomed more than 20,000 attendees to Washington, D.C., where the sorority was founded in 1913.
Founded by 22 collegiate women on the campus of Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta is one of the largest historically Black sororities, with more than 350,000 initiated members and over 1,000 chapters worldwide. The return to its birthplace marked a meaningful homecoming for many members and served as a powerful reminder of the sorority’s legacy and continued impact.
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, the 27th international president and chair of the board of directors, welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the convention.
“This is Delta’s home, and I know for some of my D9 (Divine Nine) brothers and sisters, you’re at home too,” she said. “This convention is more than a convening — it’s a homecoming of strength and purpose. A sacred opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve built and the vision we carry forward as we continue to serve.”

The five-day event featured a mix of business sessions, service initiatives, educational forums and cultural celebrations. One of the highlights was the public meeting held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, featuring remarks from civic leaders, educators and national figures who applauded the sorority’s commitment to social action, economic development and public service.
Several awards were presented during the public meeting, but for the AFRO team, the Lillian Award stood out with deep personal significance.
Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the AFRO, received the Lillian Award. She is the granddaughter of the award’s namesake and a descendant of one of the sorority’s founders. The honor has been a part of her family’s legacy for generations. Dr. Draper shared a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother.

“‘Be strong. We’re not here to play, to dream, to drift. We have hard work to do and loads to lift.’ That hymn was my grandmother’s favorite — not just a melody, but a mandate,” Draper said. “She didn’t just hum it; she lived it. She leaned on those words through joy and heartbreak, from trials to triumph. She then passed that strength on to her family, her church and her beloved Delta Sigma Theta.”
Media personality Joy-Ann Reid, another recipient of the Lillian Award — named in honor of the sorority’s 15th national president, who championed the positive portrayal of African Americans — also spoke passionately about the power of Black storytelling.

“We have to call our own names. We have to tell our own stories. We have to assert our dignity on our own terms,” Reid said. “It is up to us to make sure that we don’t disappear, that our stories, our narrative, don’t disappear. Storytelling is how we do that, and I’m just honored to be in the business of telling our stories.”
The convention also brought significant economic impact to the region, generating an estimated $50 million for the District through hotel bookings, transportation and tourism.
“I am so delighted that you’re having your 57th national convention here,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I was happy to hear that this is your second largest convening. I promptly asked, ‘Well, what was the first?’ And it was right here in Washington, D.C.”

Credit: AFRO Photo/ Andrea Stevens
Mayor Bowser went on to thank the sorority for its long-standing political engagement and for choosing the nation’s capital as its convention site.
“Thank you for your advocacy in City Hall during ‘Delta Days’ every single year for budgets that affect us. Thank you for your advocacy on Capitol Hill. Your legislators must hear from you,” Bowser said. “We appreciate you for spending those long Delta dollars in the nation’s capital, but beyond that, thank you for choosing this city for your convention.”
Washington, D.C
Storm Team4 Forecast: Showers, cool temps to start off the workweek
4 things to know about the weather:
- Shower chance Monday morning
- Cooler Monday
- Midweek rain chance
- Warmer end to the week
Showers continue to move west with a cold front tonight. There will be a break in the rain overnight, but showers return for the start of the day on Monday. Monday afternoon will be dry, but noticeably cooler.
Sunshine returns Tuesday, but the break in the rain will be short-lived with rain chances on Wednesday
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
TONIGHT:
Showers early
Mostly cloudy
Wind: N 5-10 mph
LOW: Low 50s
MONDAY:
Morning shower chance
Wind: N 5-10 mph
HIGH: Upper 60s
TUESDAY:
Sunny
Wind: N 5-10 mph
HIGH: Near 70°
WEDNESDAY:
Shower chance
Wind: S 5-10 mph
Gusts at 20 mph
HIGH: Low 70s
SUNRISE: 5:59 a.m. SUNSET: 8:10 p.m.
AVERAGE HIGH: 75° AVERAGE LOW: 56°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
Washington, D.C
BXP Headquarters Shift Highlights Tenant Strategy And Washington DC Portfolio Choices
- BXP (NYSE:BXP) is relocating its regional headquarters to make room for major tenant the Washington Commanders in Foggy Bottom.
- The company is moving into a newly renovated downtown Washington, DC office building as part of this shift.
- The relocation aligns with recent leasing activity and capital deployment in the DC market.
For investors watching NYSE:BXP, this move ties directly to how the company is using its portfolio to support active leasing and tenant relationships. The stock last closed at $59.46, with a 15.0% return over the past 30 days and a 1.7% return over the past week, while the return over the past 5 years is a 27.4% decline. These mixed signals highlight why operational updates like this relocation can matter alongside price performance.
The decision to prioritize space for an NFL franchise tenant and occupy a freshly renovated downtown asset provides additional context on how BXP is positioning its DC footprint. As more details emerge on leasing terms, occupancy, and future capital plans around these properties, investors can use this event as another data point when assessing how the company is managing growth and risk in a key office market.
Stay updated on the most important news stories for BXP by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on BXP.
3 things going right for BXP that this headline doesn’t cover.
This headquarters move sits at the intersection of BXP’s tenant strategy and its capital deployment in Washington, DC. By giving the Washington Commanders a larger footprint in Foggy Bottom and shifting its own team into a recently refurbished, US$25 million downtown building, BXP is effectively using its portfolio as a tool to secure and retain high profile tenants. That matters for a company whose first quarter 2026 revenue of US$872.15 million and net income of US$101.58 million depend heavily on occupancy and long term leases. It also aligns with management’s comments about portfolio performance contributing to an increased full year 2026 EPS guidance range of US$2.15 to US$2.29 per diluted share, where gains on sales and operating trends both play a role.
How This Fits Into The BXP Narrative
- The relocation supports the narrative catalyst around a flight to quality, as BXP is concentrating activity in well located, premier DC assets that can appeal to blue chip tenants such as the Commanders.
- At the same time, shifting internal space and accommodating a large tenant concentrates exposure in a single market and property cluster, which could challenge assumptions about diversification and leasing flexibility if demand softens.
- This news adds detail on how BXP is using headquarters space as part of broader leasing negotiations, a nuance that may not be fully reflected in narrative discussions focused on development projects and capital recycling.
Knowing what a company is worth starts with understanding its story.
Check out one of the top narratives in the Simply Wall St Community for BXP to help decide what it’s worth to you.
The Risks and Rewards Investors Should Consider
- ⚠️ Higher tenant concentration in a single NFL franchise could increase earnings sensitivity to one lease, especially if sector headwinds or usage changes affect long term space needs.
- ⚠️ The move comes against a backdrop where analysts have flagged occupancy pressure and interest coverage as key risks, so additional capital tied to renovations and relocations may constrain flexibility if conditions tighten.
- 🎁 Hosting the Commanders in Foggy Bottom may support occupancy and brand appeal across nearby properties, which can help leasing in a competitive office market.
- 🎁 Moving into a newly renovated downtown office can signal confidence in DC as a core market and help BXP’s own staff operate closer to tenants and development activity.
What To Watch Going Forward
From here, keep an eye on leasing metrics and disclosed terms around the Commanders’ space, including remaining lease length, rent levels, and any associated capital commitments. It is also worth watching how occupancy and cash flow from the renovated downtown building show up in future quarterly results, alongside the company’s EPS guidance for 2026 of US$2.15 to US$2.29 per diluted share. Any commentary on additional relocations, asset sales, or redevelopment plans in DC will help you judge whether this move is part of a broader repositioning of the portfolio or a one off response to a single tenant opportunity.
To ensure you’re always in the loop on how the latest news impacts the investment narrative for BXP, head to the
community page for BXP to never miss an update on the top community narratives.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Valuation is complex, but we’re here to simplify it.
Discover if BXP might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
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Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Washington, D.C
Candidates for mayor and D.C. congressional delegate outline vision for District’s future
By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Washington Informer teamed up with the D.C. Democratic Party (DC Dems), the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ), the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) and the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) to host a debate for delegate and mayoral candidates in D.C. on May 2.
The debate covered critical issues, including housing affordability and displacement, education outcomes and economic equity.
Mayoral candidates debate how to balance growth with equity
The mayoral candidates included Councilman Vincent Orange, Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George, Gary Goodweather, Rini Sampath, and former at-large Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie.
Each drew clear distinction on how to balance economic growth with equity, particularly when it comes to housing education and access to opportunity for D.C. residents.
On economic policy and business investment, candidates debated whether the city’s challenges stem from revenue or how funds are managed. Sampath emphasized the need to grow the tax base by supporting businesses, arguing that social programs depend on economic strength.
“We need to be attracting businesses to Washington,” said Sampath. “We need to make sure it’s easier for them to thrive.”
Goodweather pointed to inefficiencies in city spending, proposing the creation of an equity map to track investments in D.C. residents and businesses.
“We’ve increased our budget 70 percent over the past seven years. Our economy is down 8.5 percent,” said Goodweather. “We need to take a look at the budget and double down on the services that are working. For the ones that aren’t, we need to reallocate those dollars somewhere else.”
Lewis George framed economic growth and affordability as interconnected, arguing that stabilizing residents ultimately benefits businesses.
“What we do is we set up a system in which we allow people to be able to afford to live here,” said Lewis George. “When people can afford child care, housing, groceries and utilities that means those people are going to patronize our businesses.”
Education also emerged as a key issue. All candidates said they would keep mayoral control over D.C. Public Schools.
McDuffie emphasized improving the quality of schools and workforce pathways.
“We’re going to address overcrowded schools West of the park by making better quality schools East of the park,” said McDuffie. “We’re going to make sure we focus on early literacy, trades and apprenticeships for our middle school students— giving them early access to jobs that are being created in projects across the District.”
Lewis George highlighted the need for stronger oversight and student engagement, particularly around attendance.
“I will also be addressing chronic absenteeism because if our students aren’t in school, we can’t close the literacy and math gap at all,” said Lewis George.
Orange proposed making the University of the District of Columbia tuition-free and doubled down on greater investment in workforce development for students.
“I will make sure that every agency in the District of Columbia has a paid youth apprenticeship program upon graduation from high school to make sure that our young people have health benefits, retirement benefits and entry level jobs and they will grow with the District of Columbia,” said Orange.
On housing and displacement, particularly around the planned redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site, candidates offered competing visions for ensuring longtime residents can remain in their communities.
Orange called for deeper affordability thresholds and community input.
“I’m not talking about 80 percent of the area median income, I’m down at 40 or 50 percent of the area median income,” said Orange.
Sampath stressed the need for stronger planning and renter protections, noting that of the 6,000 homes being developed under the project, only 30 percent are affordable.
“We need to make sure we’re protecting our renters rights in that region,” said Sampath. “Under my administration, we will have an equity plan that names exactly how we will do that.”

Delegate hopefuls outline priorities for statehood, housing and economy
D.C. delegate candidates are vying to succeed longtime D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who announced her retirement in January after more than three decades in Congress.
They include: Kinney Zalesne, former White House fellow, Councilman Robert White, Trent Holbrook, former senior legislative counsel to Norton; Greg Jaczko, former chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and Councilwoman Brooke Pinto.
On the question of D.C. statehood, White and Holbrook argued that it’s the right moment to finally push the decades-long effort across the finish line.
“People are hungry for a leader that can direct our energy and resources. I’m going to be that leader and build on top of what Congresswoman Norton did,” said White. “This is our time to get statehood.”
Zalesne, meanwhile, emphasized that advancing D.C.’s priorities will require broadening the city’s coalition of political allies and rethinking its economic strategy.
“We need to rethink our economy,” said Zalesne. “That wasn’t true for most of her leadership, but it is now because we’ve had a full frontal assault on our economy by this administration, and we need someone with business experience.”
Pinto also focused on economic transformation, particularly as it relates to adapting to emerging industries.
“I think the biggest difference we need to lean into is accepting new industries to come here,” said Pinto. “We are in an AI revolution, and if we don’t get this right and properly regulate it to keep residents safe, we’re going to miss the boat and wish we had done it sooner.”
On housing affordability, candidates largely agreed the crisis requires both federal intervention and local accountability. White argued for expanding federal involvement through land transfers to the District to support affordable housing development. Holbrook proposed reviving and adjusting a first-time homebuyers tax credit and increasing funding for public housing vouchers.
Jaczko emphasized expanding access to credit and restoring programs aimed at helping first-time buyers.
“One of the programs that’s been severely decimated by the Trump administration is an opportunity for alternative credit programs to allow people who may not have significant credit history to afford a home and to buy a home,” said Jaczko. “That’s an area that I will specifically focus on working to reestablish that program.”
Pinto highlighted her “Breaking Ground D.C.” plan, which includes repealing the federal Height Act and building housing above transit corridors and making rent tax-deductible.
Job displacement and the future of the federal workforce also emerged as a central concern, particularly amid federal layoffs and broader workforce reductions affecting Black and low-income communities.
Pinto argued that the next delegate must focus on both protecting federal workers and helping them transition into new careers.
“It is imperative that our congressional delegate is strong on supporting our federal workforce and on helping people upskill and learn other skills to be part of the economy in other places if they have lost their job,” said Pinto.
Zalense tied these shifts to the erosion of the Black middle class in D.C.
“The DOGE program was not about efficiency. We know that. It was about destroying the Black middle class, and we have got to take that personally,” said Zalense. “We have got to be outraged, and we’ve got to fight for those jobs to come back in a Democratic administration.
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