The Nightlife Visionary Behind Some of D.C.’s Biggest Venues

I recently had the opportunity to walk and talk with Derek Owens, a key figure in Washington D.C.'s nightlife scene and the former owner of 2K9 Nightclub. Strategically located between two Metro entrances and just steps from the U Street Corridor, 2K9 was once one of the most prominent nightclubs in Shaw and a staple of the city’s vibrant party culture.

Among the many events Owens produced, one that stands out was a large-scale celebration specifically organized for members of the deaf community. It was an inclusive and high-energy gathering that left a lasting impression on attendees.

Owens also played a role in shaping other major venues. He was a co-owner of Oxygen the Venue, which now operates as Bliss Nightclub under different ownership. Bliss remains a well-known destination in the District's nightlife landscape.

His vision has extended beyond the D.C. city limits. At MGM National Harbor, Owens organized one of the DMV’s largest networking events in the Fête Room, a space that accommodates 600 people in a seated arrangement and up to 2,000 for receptions. The event reflected his ability to blend entertainment with meaningful community engagement on a large scale.

With deep ties to the music and entertainment industries, Derek Owens remains a powerful connector and creative force in the region. Judging by his track record, he shows no signs of slowing down.

Stay tuned for a full interview with Owens on his journey, his vision, and what’s next for nightlife in the D.C. area.

A Health Revolution: Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah’s Mission to Transform Communities Through Plant-Based Eating

Written By Kendesi Mohammed

For the past few days, I have been meeting with Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah, a visionary leader who has spent over 30 years advocating for healthier communities through plant-based nutrition. Our conversations have been enlightening, reaffirming my belief that what we eat and drink has a direct impact on our overall health and longevity.

Before these discussions, I worked in the Food and Nutrition Department at Washington, D.C.’s largest hospital for a year. There, I saw firsthand the devastating consequences of poor dietary choices. Many patients suffered from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer, conditions often linked to unhealthy eating habits. I also witnessed an alarming trend: a deep-rooted aversion to vegetables and water, while fast food and sugar remained dominant in many people’s diets. This unhealthy mindset, I realized, starts in childhood.

Dr. Baruch has long recognized this issue. As the CEO and founder of Everlasting Life Restaurants, he has made it his life’s mission to provide communities with healthy, plant-based alternatives. Since 1995, Everlasting Life has been a pillar in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, serving nutritious meals free from animal products. Dr. Baruch doesn’t just sell food. He educates people about the benefits of a plant-based diet, emphasizing its role in disease prevention and long-term health. His unwavering commitment to this cause makes him a crucial voice in the fight against diet-related illnesses.

His philosophy is clear. “We must reach the next generation.” If we are to break the cycle of poor eating habits, we must educate children early and provide access to healthy food options in schools, churches, and community spaces. I firmly believe that community leaders, educators, and churches should be engaging with Dr. Baruch to create a collective movement toward better health.

In the coming weeks, I plan to listen, learn, and absorb as much knowledge as possible from Dr. Baruch. His dedication to transforming lives through nutrition is inspiring, and his work deserves recognition and support. If more people embrace his philosophy, we can shift the health trajectory of our communities, reducing preventable diseases and fostering a culture of wellness.

As our conversation continues, one thing is clear. Our health is our greatest asset, and it starts with what we put on our plates. The time for change is now.

For more information on Everlasting Life Restaurants and Dr. Baruch’s work, visit Everlasting Life Restaurants.

Before the Black community can truly thrive, we must secure what is owed: reparations for the crime of slavery and the centuries of systemic oppression that followed. This is not merely about compensation. It is about restoration, healing, and economic justice. It is about building a stronger Black America, and in turn, a greater America for everyone.

Slavery wasn't just a stain on American history. It was a theft. A theft of bodies, of names, of languages, of legacies. For generations, Black people were brutalized, raped, lynched, and dehumanized. We were forbidden to read, to write, to learn, to own, to grow. That trauma didn't end with Emancipation. It evolved, woven into the fabric of policy, housing, education, and criminal justice systems.

We now know the long-term effects of this trauma. Modern psychology has confirmed what we've always felt in our bones. The absence of fathers, the breaking of families, the displacement from our homelands have lasting consequences. When children grow up without their fathers, often a direct result of targeted incarceration and systemic barriers, they face higher risks of poverty, poor education, mental health struggles, and incarceration themselves. These aren’t coincidences. They are the echoes of slavery.

So where do we go from here?

Reparations must be more than a check. They must be a strategy. Funds should flow directly into Black communities, rebuilding what was dismantled. Investments in education, housing, mental health services, business grants, and job creation can transform generations. It is not about charity. It is about equity. And yes, the entire country benefits when the Black community is no longer held back by the weight of injustice.

But money alone will not be enough. We must also invest in ourselves. Leverage our credit, build our businesses, support each other, and unify around a vision that does not center pain but power. We must educate ourselves and our children, eliminate internalized violence, and reclaim the narrative of what it means to be Black in America.

The conversation must shift from “Why reparations?” to “What comes next?” We need to stop centering fear, hate, and division and start building. Development must be the new revolution. When Black communities thrive, economies grow, crime drops, and hope rises not just for us, but for all.

And those who directly benefited from slavery, from corporations to institutions, must finally be held accountable. Not out of vengeance, but out of law and justice. Just as any crime comes with a fine, so too must this: the greatest crime in American history.

The path to reparations is not about rewriting history. It is about writing the future. A future where justice is not just spoken but delivered. A future we all deserve.