Author: MoCoShow Sponsor

This is a monthly sponsored post by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq

We have been representing and advising numerous federal employees regarding the Reductions-in-Force (RIF) that have recently been issued by several different federal agencies.

As most people have started to realize, these RIF actions have not been thought out very well and have been designed for speed as opposed to accuracy or compliance with the meaning of law and regulation. The question now is what to do if you receive an RIF.

What is a Federal Employee RIF

Federal employee RIFs are simply notices which start the separation process for federal employees. RIFs are supposed to be issued due to restructuring, department elimination, or lack of funding or work. RIFs are also supposed to follow laws, rules, and regulations. A federal employee is also supposed to be given 60 days’ notice before separation.

What We Have Been Seeing Lately

In many of the cases we have seen, most federal employee RIF notices simply state that their entire competitive areas have been eliminated. These mass RIF actions were never anticipated when the laws and regulations governing them were issued. The rules were supposed to be based not on speed but rather on a thoughtful process of eliminating positions that were no longer needed when government funds were low or when an agency needed to restructure.

In reality, the RIFs appear to simply be a means of getting rid of as many federal employees as quickly as possible based on a directive from the President. In most of the notices we have seen, there has been no consideration for performance ratings, years of service, or prior military service. The federal agencies directed to conduct these RIFs have simply looked at cutting numbers and not needs or proper reorganization. This is extremely unfortunate.

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Visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to see the first-ever retrospective of Diné fiber artist DY Begay and experience the love she holds for her homelands, expressed through 48 inspired tapestries.

Bring the whole family and join an interactive experience for young visitors to understand the care and pride involved in weaving a Navajo rug. 

Weaving Family Threads
Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Free | National Mall

In support of the exhibit Sublime Light: Tapestry Art of DY Begay, fiber artist DY Begay (Diné) and her sisters, Berdina Charley and Berdine Begay will share their stories and talents with the public. There will be hands-on interactive demonstrations to share some of the processes involved with weaving, including carding (combing) wool and spinning wool into thread.

While you are at the museum, enjoy Indigenous-inspired cuisine at the Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe, open daily 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Major support provided by Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by The Coby Foundation, Ltd., and Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund. This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.

Visit AmericanIndian.si.edu for event updates.

Sign up for a Free 30 minute zoom class today!

355Code.com is a Computer Science School founded by Mr. Tim Yang, a Montgomery Blair High School and CMU alumnus.

The 355Code Curriculum includes:

• Javascript — Web Development | Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect 4, and Pac-Man student games
• Python — Data Structures, List Comprehension | Strings and Hangman student games
• AP — Computer Science A, Artificial Intelligence and Competitive Coding

Classes meet in-person for 2 hours on Saturdays at Pike & Rose/Rio Gaithersburg or virtually through zoom on weekdays from 6-8 p.m.

“Our son loves the classes, and he is learning a great deal — not just about coding but about math, problem-solving, and hard work as well. We attended the school STEM fair last night. He ran a Raspberry Pi machine learning setup found from Google’s Teachable Machines website, adapting their Python code to his setup. All made possible by your class — We’re grateful!” — Montgomery County Public School parent feedback

Class prices are $90/Week with one-on-one instruction from Ivy League instructors.

Learn more about 355Code by visiting 355Code.com or contact [email protected]!

Stay up to date with 355Code by following on Instagram @355code.

Enclave Coworking will open the company’s newest location, and second in the D.C. area, in Bethesda, Maryland!

The location will open early April at 4933 Auburn in downtown Bethesda, minutes away from Bethesda Row and the Metro.

Enclave offers Bethesda residents the opportunity to work in a professionally designed space close to — but not at — home. Enclave Bethesda features offices for executives, small businesses and others who require a more private environment. A business lounge is open to hybrid employees who simply want to get out of the house for a change of scenery and fewer distractions. Prices start at $120/month for lounge access and $720/month for a private office.

This is the 16th location for Enclave which operates 14 spaces in the Chicago area. Like the Chicago locations, Bethesda members will enjoy phone and meeting rooms, an elevated coworking lounge, high-speed internet, printing, monitor storage, and free coffee, tea, snacks, and soft drinks. For those members who join in March, Enclave is offering one month free for offices and discounted rates for lounge access. 

Jason Tuscher, an Enclave member, praised Enclave for helping him create some necessary separation between work and home.

“I have a home office, but if I’m in the house, it’s much harder to focus with the kids running around,” Jason said. 

Bethesda residents are invited to visit Enclave and sign up for a free 2-week trial!

“We are excited to offer Bethesda professionals a productive workspace close to home. Our tech-enabled space brings office space and a high end business lounge directly to Bethesda residents — no distractions, no commute.” — Jake Ganey, General Manager for the DMV

Learn more about the Bethesda location here.

About Enclave Coworking

Enclave Coworking is a coworking space and social lounge for suburban professionals. With 14 locations in Chicago and two in D.C., Enclave is the largest provider of suburban coworking space in the country.

Follow Enclave on Instagram @enclavecoworkingdmv.

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Two gowns worn by Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi [Blackfeet]/Nimiipuu [Nez Perce]) are on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

The special installation, “Making a Statement,” will be on view through March 2026.

Both gowns were a custom collaboration, designed by Gucci and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) of Ironhorse Quillwork. The gowns were worn by Gladstone the evening of March 10, 2024, to the 96th Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Gladstone was the first Native American nominated for best actress for her work in the film Killers of the Flower Moon.

Join us for these weekend programs:

Public Programs
Free | National Museum of the American Indian

Friday, March 14, 7 p.m.
After Hours: Celebrating Indigenous Fashion

The museum hosts a special after-hours event in celebration of “Making a Statement.” Visitors can see the special installation, appreciate contemporary Indigenous fashion with a unique showcase, participate in hands-on activities by visiting teaching carts, and enjoy music by DJ Jon Ray all evening. Light food and beverages (including beer and wine) available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Celebrating Indigenous Fashion

Celebrate the power and beauty of Indigenous fashion and design. Hear from Indigenous designers who create looks at the intersection of Indigenous tradition and contemporary fashion and support their work.

Visitors can get a close look at a first-of-its-kind collaboration between quillwork artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) and haute couture brand Gucci, and appreciate contemporary Indigenous fashion with a unique showcase.

Visit AmericanIndian.si.edu for event updates.

As summer approaches, many parents are looking to keep their kids engaged, learning, and having fun.

Summer computer coding camps offer a perfect blend of education and entertainment, equipping kids with valuable skills that will serve them well in the future. A local option that’s gaining popularity is the Panda Programmer coding camp!

Here’s five reasons why sending your child to a coding camp can be a game-changer:

1. Boost Problem-Solving Skills

Coding is all about breaking down a problem and finding the most efficient solution. At coding camps, kids learn how to think critically, troubleshoot issues, and approach challenges in a methodical way. These problem-solving translate to every aspect of life, from schoolwork to everyday decision-making.

2. Prepare for the Future

As technology continues to shape the world, understanding coding and the basics of computer science will only become more important. Sending your child to a coding camp helps them develop foundational skills that will help them throughout their life.

3. Ignite Creativity

Contrary to popular belief, coding isn’t just about math and logic — it’s also a highly creative process. The Panda Programmer curriculum is designed to let kids express themselves creatively while learning a valuable technical skill. It’s a fun, hands-on way to see their ideas come to life.

4. Socialize and Collaborate

While coding might seem like a solo activity, it’s often a collaborative effort. At Panda Programmer coding camps, kids work on projects in teams and collaborate with other students.

5. Have Fun

Coding camps offer a fun, interactive environment for kids to explore their interests and passions. Engaging instructors and hands-on projects make the experience educational and enjoyable. Plus, at Panda Programmer’s summer camp, the fun extends beyond coding. Campers have the option to participate in ukulele classes and chess tournaments and enjoy outdoor time as well.

A computer coding summer camp is more than just a way to keep your kids busy during the summer months — it’s an investment in their future. Computer coding is a skill that will continue to open doors for children in countless ways.

Connect with Panda Programmer on Facebook and Instagram today or email [email protected]. Panda Programmer has locations in Gaithersburg, Silver Spring and Bethesda. Visit www.pandaprogrammer.com to learn more.

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Take a step in a new direction.

When: Saturday, January 25 at 11 a.m.
Where: Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center | Montgomery College-Rockville Campus

This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen — they were all too busy.

Washington, D.C. area native, New York Times best-selling author, and Kennedy Center Next 50 leader Jason Reynolds conjures 10 tales (1 per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings.

10 blocks. 10 unique tales. There’s something for everyone across these 10 vignettes about identity, compassion, fear, and friendship — as told through puppetry, dance, music, projections, audience participation, kamishibai (paper theater), and more. This faithful stage adaptation of Reynolds’ award-winning book (Carnegie Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature finalist, and more) encourages audiences to look both ways not only when crossing the street, but also when acknowledging the people walking by.

This show is recommended for ages 10 and up!

For tickets and information, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/PAC or call the box office at 240-567-5301.

Written by New York Times Best-selling Author Jason Reynolds. This world premiere is a Co-production with Theater Alliance, adapted by El Chelito and Raymond O. Caldwell, and directed by Caldwell. 

Larry from Rockville, Maryland, couldn’t even walk through the door when he arrived at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center by ambulance.

The chest pain he was experiencing was unbearable, and he was terrified. Within minutes, the medical team at Shady Grove confirmed that he was having a heart attack.

The team quickly cleared the blocked artery and inserted a stent. However, the blockage had triggered an abnormal heart rhythm, requiring the response team to use the defibrillator paddles.

Thanks to their expertise and swift action, Larry’s life was saved that day. It wasn’t just their medical skill — it was their compassion that carried him through the darkest moments.

From the nurses holding his hand in the ICU to the physical therapists encouraging him to take his first steps after surgery, the team at Shady Grove became his lifeline. This is what a local community hospital is all about.

Today, Larry is back home with his family, able to celebrate the moments he thought he’d never see again. He expresses his gratitude to the team at Shady Grove and to the people in the community who support the hospital. Without them, he wouldn’t be here today.

The generosity of the community makes a real difference, and Larry is living proof of that. Please consider a tax-deductible charitable donation to Shady Grove Medical Center, your community hospital.

Together, we can ensure Shady Grove Medical Center remains a beacon of hope and healing for all who need it.

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December 25th Day of Service (D25) is the DMV’s largest volunteer event on Christmas Day.

Over 350 volunteers come out to pack homemade treats, deliver food packages, sing carols to hospice patients, play BINGO at nursing homes and homeless shelters, do crafts with children transitioning out of homelessness, and serve meals to folks in need. Now, in its 38th year, this is a Christmas tradition for individuals and families alike.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, we invite you to join us for a few hours to do something good and bring some warmth and cheer to people who may not have anyone else to wish them a merry Christmas. All instructions and supplies are provided, along with a volunteer lead to serve as point person for each site.

Choose your project based on location, type of activity, or time of day — we have something for people of all ages and abilities! Volunteer spots go fast but we still have a number of projects that need your help.

Along with sending teams of volunteers out to serve folks in need, we also host a blood drive at our community center, located in Dupont Circle.

Advance registration is required for all D25 volunteer projects, except the blood drive, although making an appointment to donate blood is highly encouraged.

We can all agree that the plunger is gross; figuring out what to do with it after clearing a clogged toilet is another matter.

You know what I am talking about, you plunge your toilet and then look at the plunger afterward and wonder: “Do I just put
it on the floor and hope the germs on it die on their own? Should I rinse it in the tub or sink and hope the germs aren’t transferred there?” Suffice it to say, regardless of what you do, the traditional plunger is a germ spreader.

But does it have to be that way?

That’s not what longtime Arlington resident and Schoon™ inventor Elaine Steele thinks!

The idea for Schoon came to Elaine one morning in January 2020 after plunging yet another clog in her bathroom in her old house in Arlington. A search of the internet for a plunger that has a way to clean itself yielded no results. After an exhaustive
search of the Patent and Trademark site to find an invention that solves this problem, she found that there were none. Elaine realized that a self-cleaning plunger did not exist.

Elaine approached her longtime friend, Pierre, about the idea of a self-cleaning plunger. Being a germaphobe, he was intrigued, and the two started collaborating on the idea that February. Several designs, a few prototypes, lots of testing, and a patent
application later, Schoon was born!

Making Schoon a reality required more elbow grease! Researching and dealing with several manufacturers, part suppliers, and assembly vendors to get a quality product at the right price point was a long journey.

So how does Schoon work? After unclogging your toilet, Schoon allows you to use the included wand to spray disinfectant over the top and the underneath of the plunger cup, cleaning the plunger immediately after use. You can also use Schoon to disinfect
the toilet and surrounding area. Elaine says, “Pierre and I intentionally created a sleek design, so that you can leave your Schoon out and at the ready for use when you need it.”

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