we re celebrating through a special series we re calling inspiring voices. there s so many black artists and journalists who have influenced my life, the lives of my colleagues and congressman elijah cummings was important to me. it s been more than two years since he passed away but his lessons are still with me. this is personal for me. congressman elijah cummings is one of the people who gives you keys. he s given me keys at different points throughout my life. for most of my life, he was representative of my community home district, maryland 7. i first met congressman cummings when i was 16 years old. he started this new youth program. a few students were chosen to travel to israel for close to a