The Maryland Black Caucus Foundation hosted its 29th annual Legislative Weekend to discuss top issues for state lawmakers, including increasing minority, veteran and women business participation in the state’s procurement and contracting ecosystem.
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 inBUSINESS
Baltimore Together Summit highlights opportunities for young entrepreneurs and capital access for small business owners
The Baltimore Together Summit featured 10 break-out sessions on community revitalization, workforce development, youth entrepreneurship, and support for local small businesses, with a focus on the need for young entrepreneurs to have a “why” behind their business and the importance of capital access for Black business owners.
Posted inNational News
Outrage grows over Nordstrom employee’s death as family alleges negligence
Felicia Lee Ray-Jenkins, a Nordstrom employee, died at a California distribution center on Nov. 7 after her co-workers and supervisors allegedly left her lying on the ground without administering any life-saving measures.
Posted inBaltimore Community
Local entrepreneurs to bring popular flea market to Coppin State University
Brianne Mobley is hosting Blk Ass Friday on Nov. 29 at Coppin State University’s College of Business, featuring 50 Black-owned businesses, in an effort to encourage the circulation of the Black dollar in the community.
Posted inMaryland Government
Governor’s Minority and Small Business Outreach Summit addresses common mistakes in state contract bids
The Governor’s Minority and Small Business Outreach Summit provided over 800 women, minority and veteran business owners with insights into the state procurement process, highlighting the top 10 ways to lose a bid and recommendations for best practices.
Posted inBUSINESS
A complicated history: The Bray School’s role in educating free and enslaved children in Virginia
The Bray School, the oldest surviving building that formally educated free and enslaved African-American children, was identified by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and William & Mary in 2020 and is now being restored to be fully open to the public in Spring 2025.
Posted inVeterans
Army vets merge comic book culture with Ancient African history
Manuel and Geiszel Godoy, Army veterans and co-founders of Black Sands Entertainment, have created a publishing house to provide opportunities to Black creators, artists and writers and to tell stories that empower African-American youth.
Posted inVeterans
Meet Paris Love, the U.S. Army vet decluttering minds and lives
Former U.S. Army Sergeant Paris Love founded the Paris Love Productivity Institute to help professionals and families declutter their lives, and has now started the nonprofit Declutter Across America to serve women veterans with her services.
Posted inBUSINESS
Baltimore Together Summit to tackle community development and small business growth
The third annual Baltimore Together Summit, organized by the Baltimore Development Corporation, will be held at Baltimore Center Stage on Nov. 12 to discuss the city’s progress in fostering a stronger and more inclusive economy.
Posted inPrince George's County News
HomeFree USA and Wells Fargo hosts homeownership workshop for Bowie State students
HomeFree USA and Wells Fargo hosted a homebuyer workshop at Bowie State University to educate renters on the affordable homeownership process, emphasizing the importance of homeownership as a pathway to wealth.
Posted in2024 Elections
Uber, Lyft to offer free and discounted rides to polls on Election Day
The NAACP has partnered with Lyft to offer free and discounted trips to election polls across the country, while Uber is offering 50% off rides to polling places and 25% off food orders to watch election results.
Posted in2024 Elections
Angela Alsobrooks receives support from former Hogan voters
Former supporters of Larry Hogan are now backing Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in her bid for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat, citing her commitment to reproductive freedoms, economic growth, and public safety.