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The DC State Society selected Alexis Johnson to represent DC in the 2009 National Cherry Blossom Festival NCSS Princess Program. Alexis, shown at right at the Lantern Ceremony on March 29, is a second-year student majoring in justice studies and psychology at North Carolina Wesleyan College where she sings with The Gospel Choir and tutors at the local elementary school. After graduation she would like to study law.
Pictured at right is Chief Three Feathers Kazemi who is the president of the District of Columbia State Society and the NCSS liaison for DC Community Affairs. Three Feathers reports that the DC State Society has been invited to join as a community host organization for a series of events in DC that have been scheduled for the Inaugural in January. If you would like to join the DC State Society, please email Chief Three Feathers Kazemi at feathers115@verizon.net or call her at 202-575-7773. The three main events are part of The People's Inaugural which is organized by a many grassroots and activist organizations.
On Jan. 18, the DC Statehood Fund and other groups will host The People's Inaugural Ball at the Historical Society of Washington, located in the beautiful and historic old Central Library Building at 801 K Street, NW. Other events honoring grassroots workers and community pride will take place on Jan. 16 and Jan. 17. For more information on the series of events, please call Kim Morton in Ward 7 at 202-210-2298.
Jennifer Corey will play hostess for princesses from
other states and countries while she represents the Nation's Capital as the 2008 District of Columbia Cherry Blossom Princess. Jennifer grew up in Long Island, New York and moved to DC in the fall of 2005 to study as a classical voice performer at the new Katzen Arts Center at American University. In 2007, Jennifer was a contestant in the Miss District of Columbia Pageant which is affiliated with the national Miss America organization. Jennifer was recommended to NCSS by Tricia Morrin Lloyd, President of the Miss DC Pageant.
According to a 2005 feature story about Jennifer in American Weekly, "Every summer, Jennifer Corey’s grandfather made her get up by 7 a.m. to muck out the stables. It was part of the deal. Unless Corey (and her two sisters and 13 cousins) did their share of the work on the 45-horse farm, they couldn’t ride. The threat of losing time on horseback was enough to get even a teenager up at dawn."
"Her grandfather has always owned horses, but a knee injury had caused him to look into an unusual breed, Paso Finos. The Spanish breed of New World horses is known for a gentle gait with almost no jarring up-and-down movement. Corey acquired the family love of the graceful breed and is now third place National Champion equestrian. Paso Fino riders are judged by such tests as their ability to carry a tray of wine without spilling."
"Most Paso Fino horses are imported, and their commands are in Spanish. Fittingly, Corey’s roommate is from Ecuador. Horses also have a role in helping her at AU, since she won the Paso Fino Horse Association Youth Scholarship. “I love it at AU,” Corey said."
