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Green Light was the theme of my day... ready to go right now... who's going? Lol 

 amazing time with so many colleagues and friends-  thank you @michelelawjawando  and #omidiyarnetwork 

And yes --- the last photo is my happy place -- Go Gamecocks!
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Thank you to my wonderful friends, thank you for coming out at the last minute to celebrate my birthday.! Special thanks to Bobette and Imani! 🎂🎂🎉🎉
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Happy Birthday to Maryland’s beautiful First Lady, @dawnflythemoore 

Maryland has been a part of my DNA for nearly my entire life. My family moved to Maryland from Cleveland when I was just nine months old, and from starting out in Columbia to the Eastern Shore, the crabs, the culture, the communities and our unique place right between Washington and the rest of the world, this state has helped shape who I am.

That’s why it means so much to see Maryland represented by a First Lady who leads with such warmth, style, kindness and a genuine connection to people. Dawn, you have a wonderful way of making public service feel personal. You encourage, you inspire, and you carry yourself with both strength and grace.

It was an honor and a privilege to be welcomed by you and @govwesmoore at Government House, and I remain so proud to see the two of you representing a state that means so much to me.

Wishing you the happiest birthday and a year ahead filled with continued purpose, joy, love and every blessing you deserve. Keep shining, First Lady. #Maryland is fortunate to have you.

Happy Birthday, Dawn! ❤️

Paul xx 

#DawnMoore 🎂
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Today is Juneteenth. And I think it’s time we tell more of our beautiful black stories.

Earlier this week I watched JD Vance sit on #TheView and when asked by @whoopigoldberg about this administration erasing Black history from museums, schools, and the minds of our children, he responded by talking about their commitment to reducing violent crime. Nobody asked about that. We were talking about our history. Our heroes. Our joy. Our sacrifice. Our contribution to this nation.

I don’t know of any other group of people whose history is so consistently made indistinguishable from violence. And that is not an accident. It is a choice. And it is wrong.

So in protest, in love, and in honor of Juneteenth, I am sharing one of my own beautiful black stories. 

When I was a kid, my Aunt Vera drove a green Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. She’d also burn rubber and do donuts in her C3 Corvette with side pipes and a 4 speed manual on the floor and her Porsche 928S4 that she let me drive when I was 10 years old but I digress (she was in the car!)! I was being bullied and the words that were hurled at me had a lot to do with us being the only black family in our neighborhood. So I confided in Aunt Vera after dinner one evening, I even remember the pajamas I was wearing. I felt a sense of unburdening and comfort come over me, I trusted Aunt Vera. Now she wasn’t much of a morning person so you can understand my surprise when I saw she was sitting outside our house to pick me up to take me to school the next morning in her Rolls Royce. She used that big beautiful imposing car as a shield of armor for me and I appreciated it.

Watch the video for more but this is one example of my black experience. Commitment. Community. Love. Showing up. Opening our homes and our hearts. Being our brother’s keeper. Music, food, joy, and an unshakeable sense of family that no administration, no policy, and no erasure can ever touch.

So if my story inspired you, share it with your people and also, share your #BeautifulBlackStory ✨ Maybe you had an Aunt Vera or maybe not, but for today, we can all share my Aunt Vera. Walk with #Pride and keep going.

PW xx

#Juneteenth #PaulWharton ✨
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