Dermell Brunson, founder of Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, is speaking publicly for the first time since former Baltimore City teachers sued his nonprofit and the school district over unpaid wages. Brunson said delayed payments from City Schools and other partners—compounded by outdated systems, tighter banking requirements for Black-led nonprofits, and post-COVID funding challenges—have created financial strain, though he stressed LTYC has acted in good faith.
Author Archives: Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer
Megan Sayles is a business reporter for The Baltimore Afro-American paper. Before this, Sayles interned with Baltimore Magazine, where she wrote feature stories about the city’s residents, nonprofits and initiatives. Her love of music inspired her to be a writer. At a young age she realized it was not the melody that she was so infatuated with, but the lyrics that made up the song and connected with listeners. Sayles grew up in Pasadena, Maryland, and is a 2021 graduate of the University of Maryland, where for her senior capstone project she reported on how the coronavirus and inequality intersected in Baltimore. She also worked as a staff writer and copy editor for campus publications, including Stories Beneath the Shell and The Black Explosion. Sayles teamed up with a partner to report on how the pandemic had put many more responsibilities on the oldest child in families. The Associated Press and other news organizations picked up her story.
Posted inBaltimore News
4th annual Baltimore Together Summit to spotlight strides in economic growth
The fourth annual Baltimore Together Summit will take place on Oct. 27, bringing together city leaders, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders to celebrate progress and discuss strategies for an inclusive economy. The gathering will spotlight achievements in Black-owned business growth, neighborhood revitalization and workforce development while unveiling the latest Baltimore Together 2025 Progress Report.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Bowser unveils ‘Talent Capital’ initiative to support displaced federal workers in Greater Washington
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has launched Talent Capital, a first-of-its-kind initiative leveraging artificial intelligence to help displaced federal workers navigate career transitions. The program offers free job-matching, re-skilling and training opportunities to retain top talent in the Greater Washington region amid widespread federal job cuts.
Posted inHealth
Too young for breast cancer? These stories prove otherwise
Constance “Connie” Chavis was just 36 when she learned she had stage 3 breast cancer, and Brianna Osofisan was only 21 when diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Their journeys reveal the challenges, resilience and hope of young adults facing a disease often thought to strike later in life.
Posted inBaltimore News
Refill, don’t landfill: Fran Ngong’s fight against single-use plastics
Baltimore native Fran Ngong is on a mission to cut single-use plastic waste through her eco-conscious store, FOBA Refillery. The shop lets customers refill household essentials like shampoo, deodorant and detergent while learning the value of sustainability and reducing waste.
Posted inHealth
Bringing diversity to the mat: Maryland studio owners work to make yoga more inclusive
Dana Smith and Kendra Blackett-Dibinga, two Maryland yoga instructors and studio owners, are working to make the practice more inclusive. Both women opened their studios to create welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds—especially Black communities—can see themselves represented in yoga.
Posted inBUSINESS
Comcast Flagship Lift Zone brings free Wi-fi and digital skills training to Ward 8
Ward 8 residents now have access to free Wi-Fi and upgraded technology at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) in Southeast Washington, D.C. Comcast invested $750,000 to launch a new Flagship Lift Zone at the campus, which also includes digital skills training and expanded workforce development support.
Posted inMaryland News
United Way of Central Maryland to celebrate centennial anniversary with benefit concert
United Way of Central Maryland, led by Franklyn Baker, is marking its 100th anniversary with a star-studded benefit concert on Oct. 11 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, featuring Common, CeCe Peniston, and Elyscia Jefferson. The celebration not only honors a century of impact but also calls on the community to continue supporting the organization’s mission to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods across Greater Baltimore.
Posted inBaltimore News
8th annual All Boobs Matter event returns to Pikesville
The eighth annual All Boobs Matter event in Pikesville, Md., will honor breast cancer survivors, fighters and their families with wellness activities, performances and community support on Oct. 19. This year, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance will receive the first-ever Pink Impact Award for its work supporting the breast cancer community.
Posted inCongressional Black Caucus (CBC)
Black creators discuss equity, compensation and community impact at CBCF Annual Legislative Conference
Black creators have long shaped culture through music, fashion, food, art and sports, yet they often face appropriation and limited economic gain. At a panel during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2025 Annual Legislative Conference, artists, entertainment professionals and digital creators discussed strategies for ownership, fair compensation and using cultural influence to empower Black communities.
Posted inBUSINESS
Harbor Bank of Maryland opens new branch in Silver Spring
The Harbor Bank of Maryland has opened a new branch in Silver Spring, marking its seventh location and a strategic expansion into the Montgomery County market. The community-focused bank celebrated the soft opening with a visit from Afrofuturist icon George Clinton, whose artwork is now on permanent display inside the branch.
Posted inPolitics
Black legislators link speak out on mass deportations and military occupations
During a panel at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, Congressman Maxwell Frost and policy experts warned that mass deportations and military deployments are targeting Black communities across the country. They emphasized that framing deportations as solely a Latinx issue is misleading and called on Black Americans to practice solidarity with all immigrant communities.