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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-109
In the Council of the District of Columbia
September 22, 2015
To recognize and honor Denise Rolark Barnes on being elected Chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, her leadership of The Washington Informer Newspaper, and her accomplishments in the field of journalism.
WHEREAS, in 1964, The Washington Informer newspaper was founded by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, a civic and political activist in the District of Columbia;
WHEREAS, Denise Rolark Barnes, daughter of Dr. Calvin Rolark and Ms. Vera Abbott, and stepdaughter of the late Honorable Wilhelmina Rolark, attended Hampton Institute and graduated from Howard University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1976;
WHEREAS, after graduating from Howard University, Denise Rolark Barnes enrolled at the Howard University School of Law, where she served as editor of The Barrister, the law university’s student newspaper, before graduating in 1979;
WHEREAS, in 1979, Denise Rolark Barnes joined the staff of The Washington Informer and served as managing editor under the guidance of her father;
WHEREAS, in 1994, upon the passing of Dr. Calvin Rolark, Denise Rolark Barnes became publisher of The Washington Informer;
WHEREAS, in 2014, The Washington Informer celebrated 50 years of being the voice of the Black community;
WHEREAS, Denise Rolark Barnes has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland, Delaware, DC Press Association for 4 years;
WHEREAS, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (“NNPA”), founded 75 years ago, is a trade association of more than 200 African American-owned community newspapers from around the United States of America;
WHEREAS, NNPA has served as the largest and most influential Black-owned media resource in America, delivering news, information, and commentary to over 20 million people each week since its inception;
WHEREAS, Denise Rolark Barnes has been an active member of NNPA, serving as a past 2nd Vice Chair, and most recently an At-Large member of the Board of Directors and as Region I President under the leadership of Cloves C. Campbell, Jr.;
WHEREAS, on June 16-20, 2015, the National Newspaper Publishers Association celebrated its 75th anniversary and uplifted the theme: Empowering a New Generation of Leadership;
WHEREAS, on June 19, 2015, Denise Rolark Barnes was elected Chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association by its membership.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors Denise Rolark Barnes for her commitment to the field of journalism, and for her leadership in the Black Press for more than 30 years. We salute Denise Rolark Barnes as she takes the helm of NNPA, working to balance the news affecting Black communities here in the District of Columbia, and across the United States of America.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Denise Rolark Barnes Recognition Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
