DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! Today is going to be extra-hot, with a heat index that could reach 110-115 degrees; stay hydrated, check on neighbors without air conditioning and take care out there.

‘I Claim Not To Have Controlled Events…’ – Ta-Nehisi Coates From a letter to President Lincoln: “Belair [Md.] Aug 25th 1864 Mr president It is my Desire to be free. to go to see my people on the eastern shore. my mistress wont let me you will please let me know if we are free.” (The Atlantic)

Keys to D.C.’s Confidence: Housing Market, Transience High consumer confidence in D.C. may be attributed to the city’s rising real estate prices and the optimism of new residents. (Washington City Paper)

This Is Your Brain on Summer Kids forget things over the summer, but summer learning loss has disproportionate effects. Low-income students lose two months’ worth of reading skills while higher-income students actually make slight gains during summer break. (The New York Times)

5 Ways to Bring Schools and the Community Together Simple suggestions for bridging the gap between a community and its schools. Steps include creating an internship program, hosting a community garden, becoming a big brother or sister, more. (networkedblogs.com)

Elderly black women may bear brunt of budget cuts “For African-American seniors…who live in high priced urban cities, the current average annual Social Security benefit of $10,680 barely covers their current standard of living. If the proposed .03 percent cut to Social Security is passed it may increase the longevity of the insurance fund but it may not increase the longevity of the seniors the fund was created to support.” (thegrio.com)