By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Marshall “Eddie” Conway, a former Black Panther Party member and prison reform advocate whose murder conviction was overturned after he spent 44 years in jail, died Feb. 13 in Long Beach, Calif. after a short illness. Services for him are to be held Feb. 25 at Homewood Friends […]
Author Archives: Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO
Posted inBaltimore News
Grove Park residents sound off about plans to turn abandoned school building into a nursing facility
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO If Grove Park community leaders have their way, the elementary school that was shut down five years ago won’t become the future site of a nursing home. Residents have been voicing their concerns about the derelict property and the plans to turn it into a nursing home run […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Wes Moore completes first week in office
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Governor Wes Moore wasted little time getting to work in his new role. The first Black man to lead the state of Maryland filled his first full day in office as Maryland’s 63rd governor with meetings– both public and private–press conferences and announcements. Moore signed the state’s Standards […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Best of Wes
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The inauguration of Maryland’s first African American governor was nothing short of spectacular. From the promenade of the state’s first family – Gov. Wes Moore, first lady Dawn Chante’ Flythe Moore, and children Mia and James Moore – from the pre-inauguration event to the podium, to his introduction […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore’s MLK Parade revived after initial cancellation
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO This would have been a third year without Baltimore’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, which had been cancelled two years in a row because of COVID-19 by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA). Until a miracle occurred. A tax-exempt organization, BOPA gets funds from […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Brown, first Black attorney general, targets disparities, bias in Maryland
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Anthony Brown, a seasoned veteran of national and state politics who was sworn in as the state’s first Black attorney general Jan. 3 in Annapolis, says he will tackle racial and economic disparities as the state’s 47th attorney general. “Maryland reflects where America is going,” he said, taking […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Out for Justice: how one Baltimore organization is making change for returning residents
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO As we focus on the change makers and thought leaders continuing the work of Martin Luther King Jr., the AFRO would like to salute the work of Nicole Hanson-Mundell, the executive director of Out for Justice. Recently, the Baltimore native sat down with the AFRO to discuss her […]
Posted inBaltimore News
We Our Us: a movement of consistent and collective action, moving boys and men to excellence
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Though Martin Luther King Jr.’s life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet, his work is continued through organizations and leaders across the world that have taken up his cause. The Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement (MOAAME), under the leadership of Dr. Andrey Bundley, has developed […]
Posted inNews
Kevin McCarthy named House majority party speaker after 15 rounds of voting
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO What does it take for Republicans to elect a Speaker? Apparently, in 2023, it takes 15 rounds of voting. Kevin McCarthy was finally sworn in as Speaker of the House in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, after arguments and even threats of physical violence were broadcast […]
Posted inNational News
Outgoing president of National Black Caucus of State Legislators reflects on time in office
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Rep. Billy Mitchell from the state of Georgia’s 88th District, is the outgoing president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL). He has served as its 14th president. Rep. Laura Hall will assume his post at the end of this month as the 15th president of […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Harris and Edwards key picks in Moore Administration
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Gov.-Elect Wes Moore has reached out to some incredibly talented individuals to become members of his front-line team. A couple of his top picks for leadership positions have strong ties to Baltimore City and have been a part of his inner circle for quite some time. Rhodes Scholar […]
Posted inBaltimore News
New Life Recovery: offering a hand to build new lives
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO This week, Vennieth McCormick will do what he has been doing monthly afor almost four years: provide hot meals for as many people as he can, until the food runs out. On Friday, December 23 the meals will be provided inside of his offices at 2017-19 W. Pratt […]