Washington

In Washington, Olena Zelenska Dressed for Ukraine

Published

3 years ago

July 21, 2022

In Washington, Olena Zelenska Dressed for Ukraine

On Wednesday, on the third leg of an unofficial three-day journey to Washington, D.C., Olena Zelenska, the spouse of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, turned the uncommon first woman to handle Congress.

However even though she had, on the preliminary two days of her journey, engaged in what may have been known as typical first woman issues — posing primly with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his workplace; warmly greeting President Biden and the primary woman, Jill Biden, who met her with a bouquet of flowers; sporting an array of clothes and fits by Ukrainian designers, with nods to the colours of the Ukrainian flag — she was not, as she stated in her speech, there to speak about typical first woman issues.

“Normally the wives of presidents are completely engaged in peaceable affairs,” she stated as she stood within the Capitol in a black go well with costume by the Ukrainian label AMG, a slice of white cloth bisecting one facet of the jacket. “Training, human rights, equality, accessibility.”

As a substitute of all that, she stated, she was there to ask for weapons, “weapons that won’t be used to wage a warfare on someone else’s land however to guard one’s house and the appropriate to make up a life in that house.”

It was an emotional, unapologetic enchantment, framed by pictures of the devastation in Ukraine, of youngsters who had been killed, or maimed, and given additional energy by the distinction between the acquainted, soft-focus optics of the lady standing in entrance of the legislators and the cruel phrases she was talking. The picture was a reminder in black and white (actually) of simply how a lot her job had modified due to warfare. That the “normalcy” of on a regular basis life, as she stated in her speech, was gone from Ukraine.

It was a reminder, too, that, simply as in peaceable occasions, the function of the primary woman is to behave because the symbolic mom (and hostess) of the nation, she continues to be, in occasions of violence, its human face; the bridge between the acquainted and the unfathomable.

In such a context, each alternative a primary woman makes, each gesture, turns into ammunition to be deployed on battlefield of public opinion, together with what she wears. Particularly, maybe, what she wears, since for a primary woman in her place, most viewers is not going to be celebration to her conversations with energy brokers, however they will see the photographs.

They’ll acknowledge, for instance, the “shared values” (as Ms. Zelenska termed them) between themselves and a civilian within the camouflage of a gently tailor-made skirt go well with, in a means they may not join with a soldier in precise camouflage.

It was apparent from the primary day of Ms. Zelenska’s go to that she understood the mission, right down to the smallest element. Although it has grow to be an unwritten a part of the job that first girls assist native designers, to advertise their enterprise and profile on the world stage, her wardrobe technique (as a result of that’s what it’s) went past merely boosterism.

Her olive inexperienced costume — sturdy shoulders, with an integral scarf on the neck — mirrored her husband’s signature uniform of olive inexperienced T-shirt, spoke to traditions of navy clothes, and symbolized a refugee story, all on the identical time. The designer, Lilia Litkovskaya (whose garments Ms. Zelenska has usually worn), had fled Kyiv together with her husband and small baby and is now in Paris the place she has been selling and supporting Ukrainian trend from afar.

Ms. Zelenska wore a pin on the costume that mirrored conventional Ukrainian flower embroidery. It was from the Ukrainian jewellery line Guzema, a part of a set known as Nezalezhna, or “Impartial”; her earrings had been a pair she had worn for her husband’s inauguration in 2019.

She wore the brooch once more the following day, when she met with the Bidens, this time on a lightweight lemon yellow skirt go well with by Ms. Litkovskaya, which she paired with mild blue footwear, in a nod to her nation’s colours.

(For anybody doubting that this was a little bit of first woman pageantry, think about that for the photograph op Dr. Biden selected a deep blue costume sprinkled in daisies, matched with brilliant yellow footwear. And that in a speech earlier this 12 months on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork, she stated that for the State of the Union she had sunflowers, the Ukrainian nationwide bloom, sewn on the sleeves of her blue costume as a result of “I used to be sending a message with out saying a phrase: that Ukraine was in our hearts — and that we stood with them.”)

After which there was Ms. Zelenska’s go well with, for the speech to Congress. Towards the soberness of the black jacket, the slash of white, lined in conventional Ukrainian embroidery, was unattainable to overlook. It was a pointed reminder beneath her phrases — “whereas Russia kills, America saves” — that, relying on what occurs subsequent, out of the darkness can come the sunshine. A map of hope, worn on the physique for all to see.

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Kandace Washington speaks following passing of son Kyren Lacy

Published

13 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Press Room

Kandace Washington speaks following passing of son Kyren Lacy

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Three weeks ago, Kandace Washington buried her eldest son LSU standout receiver Kyren Lacy who died by suicide. Sadly, this isn’t the first time Washington has experienced this type of tragedy.

Kandace Washington(WAFB)

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We sat down with Washington, who is a school counselor, to discuss how she’s using her story of strength and resilience to inspire others who may be struggling. She also explains how her voice has guided her through the darkest of times…including now.

Singing has been a saving grace for Washington. It’s how she coped with the loss of her father as a child and now her son Kyren, both dying by suicide.

“You never think that you’re going to bury your child, so in my mind I don’t think anything can get any worse and then this happened and I’m like…I don’t understand,” Washington said.

She adds, “Growing up when I was four or five unfortunately my father committed suicide and then when I was 13 my mom passed away from ALS.”

The void left her sister to run a household of four.

“My oldest sister was in college when my mom passed away. She actually had a scholarship to sing in the choir at Southern University and she left Southern to come and raise us after all that happened. So that was pretty tough growing up without parents,” Washington explained.

Washington became a parent herself at 17…giving birth to Kyren while still in high school. Now she’s a high school counselor in Texas.

“This new normal is just a part of my calling,” Washington said.

She plans to use her story to help her students find their way.

“We see it. A lot of students struggling with mental health. Different things that they’re going through at home. How to balance. How to juggle everything,” said Washington.

She is a counselor now offering unique insight on the subject of suicide.

“Just give them some hope, some light at the end of the tunnel. And I can share it, you know, from both perspectives you know. Because at one point it took me almost 40 years to even understand what my dad was going through because I was looking at it as, you know, you left. You didn’t think about me. You didn’t care about me. It took me over 40 years to just really have empathy and to understand that you know the weight of the world sometimes is a lot. And so now that I’m experiencing it with Karen again… I just have so much empathy. And then I’ve seen some of the things that he’s had to go thought and endure and I have a lot of empathy for my dad and Kyren.”

And she has advice for other parents.

“I would just encourage parents to talk to their kids, and to listen. To listen and to understand,” Washington said.

She also recommends talking to your children about the dangers of social media and bullying online.

“If you’re on social media and you’re commenting negative things and when you close your phone and you close your laptop and you feel good about yourself… something is wrong,” Washington said.

Kandace Washington holds up her son's jersey. — Kandace Washington holds up her son’s jersey.(WAFB)

Washington believes her son Kyren became a target after he was arrested in January after of being accused of driving recklessly and causing a deadly accident. She says the crash and all that followed pushed things over the edge.

“People go through things. They make mistakes. They make wrong decisions. Everybody has. They only difference with my son is everybody knew who he was,” Washington says.

Washington explained she still can’t fully comprehend what her son was feeling before his death but hopes time will bring clarity and healing.

“I believe that with time, everything will reveal itself, but right now it’s a lot of unanswered questions,” she said.

What Washington knows for certain is that her family, her faith, and her music will see her through as she returns to her job as a counselor in the fall. She hopes to preserve her son’s legacy by continuing his work to uplift the community.

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How to buy 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Washington D.C. tickets

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2025

Press Room

How to buy 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Washington D.C. tickets

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is headed to the Nation’s Capital in June with a handful of matches.

Set to be held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., the opening match for the venue is June 18 when Al Ain FC takes on Juventus FC.

The other teams set to play in Washington D.C. includes FC Salzburg, Al Hilal and Wydad AC. The site will host three group stage matches in total.

Soccer fans looking to witness a part of the action have plenty of options available as tickets are now available.

Here’s how to buy 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tickets in Washington D.C.

Shop 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Washington D.C. tickets

Washington 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tickets

GROUP STAGE: June 18 – Al Ain FC vs. Juventus FC – Shop tickets
GROUP STAGE: June 22 – FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal – Shop tickets
GROUP STAGE: June 26 – Wydad AC vs. Al Ain FC – Shop tickets

Shop 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tickets

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Washington Spirit Defender Rebeca Bernal Called Up to Mexico Women’s National Team

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2025

Press Room

Washington Spirit Defender Rebeca Bernal Called Up to Mexico Women’s National Team

Bernal will represent Mexico in upcoming friendlies against Uruguay

Washington, D.C. (05/17/2025) – Washington Spirit defender Rebeca Bernal has been called up to the Mexico Women’s National Team for the federation’s May/June friendlies, the Mexican Football Federation announced this week. The side will take on Uruguay in Puebla and Tlaxcala beginning later this month.

Bernal has appeared in over 60 matches, scoring eight goals for Mexico since making her senior team debut in 2017. The defender helped Mexico capture the gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile and was named to the tournament Best XI for her performance at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup. At the club level, Bernal helped C.F. Monterrey become the second-most decorated club in Liga MX Femenil with four trophies before winning the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup in her first match with the Washington Spirit.

Mexico’s May/June Friendly Schedule:

vs Uruguay | Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m. EDT (Estadio Olímpico BUAP, Puebla, Mexico)

vs Uruguay| Tuesday, June 3 at 8 p.m. EDT (Estadio Tlahuicole, Tlaxcala City, Mexico)

The Spirit will take the pitch at home again this Saturday, May 17 when the side faces off with Utah Royals FC in the club’s annual Salute to Service match. Single match tickets are available here. Fans can secure their spot to see the Spirit in all the team’s matches at Audi Field by becoming 2025 Season Ticket Members here.

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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