By AFRO Staff

Nearly one thousand people attended the AFRO’s 2025 High Tea in Baltimore at Martin’s West on Saturday, April 26. 

In their fanciest tea attire, men and women of all walks of life joined with local leaders, legislators and members of the AFRO team to fellowship and network. 

“It was fabulous,” said Kara D. Beverly, an attorney that works as an equity compliance investigator. “This was my first time and it won’t be my last. It was like a family reunion, actually. There were so many people here that I knew– it was lovely. It was a nice celebration of organizations that are doing great work.” 

This year, the tea offered refreshments via a buffet, and guests were excited to get more time to shop. 

Shawn Millin, a veteran of the AFRO High Tea is a federal consultant. 

“This is amazing,” she said. “There were many changes and I’m very happy that there were – I will definitely come back.”

Each year the event serves as much more than a time to come together over tea sandwiches. 

“All of the details were so impressive, but what was most phenomenal was the convening of Black Baltimore,” said Chrissy Thornton, executive director of Associated Black Charities. “We needed this moment. We need to see Black joy– it is a form of resistance.”

  • Nearly 1,000 people attend the 2025 AFRO High Tea. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • Dawn Taylor (left) sits with Linda Carter; Jocelyn Grogan-Jones; Danielle Green O’Reilly; Kathe Hammond and La Keisha Purnell at the AFRO High Tea. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • Dr. Frances Murphy Draper presents an award to Laura Johnson, senior vice president and chief acceleration officer for United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM), and Kendra Parlock, an inaugural member of UWCM’s Philanthropic Women’s Leadership Development Program, alongside Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Congressman Johnny “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. (D-Md.- District 2). AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • Maryland’s First Lady Dawn Moore speaks to attendees at the AFRO High Tea. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • DJ Carrie Pierce provides some tunes for the dance floor for our AFRO High Tea attendees. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • Bonnie Finch (left) with Risa Augustus arrives in style. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • C. London Hilton (left) and Ivory Saunders arrive in their finest threads. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • Esther Kane Corbett offers her 360 photo booth experience to tea attendees. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
  • Jade Madden performs for the crowd at the 2025 High Tea. AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins

Dr. Toni Boulware Stackhouse, a licensed therapist, agreed that the fellowship that takes place at the tea is good for the soul.

“It brings us joy to come together and celebrate each other,” she said, adding that the tea is a chance to take “time out from the daily mundane activities that we all have to do,” such as family and work obligations. 

Honorees of this year’s event included the The DuBois Circle; The Women’s Civic League, Inc.; Baltimore Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc.; The Baltimore Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; The Links, Inc.; The Baltimore Alpha Wives, Inc.; The Baltimore Chapter of The Kappa Silhouettes and The Greater Baltimore Section of the National Council of Negro Women. 

Representatives of each organization took to the stage to receive a framed front page AFRO cover from Dr. Frances Murphy Draper, AFRO publisher; Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott; Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Congressman Johnny “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr.  (D-Md.- District 2). 

Visit here for sponsor, honoree videos and more pictures!

The AFRO’s D.C. High Tea, taking place Sept. 7 from 2 – 5 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, is already sold out. But the tea in Baltimore next year already has a date. The high society event will return to Martin’s West on Saturday, Apr 25, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Reserve your tickets here!