President Biden has announced new efforts to reduce housing costs for Americans, including imposing rent caps on corporate landlords and building more affordable housing, in order to address the growing issue of high rents and housing costs.
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
A Prosperous Tomorrow empowers Baltimore residents with tech skills
Devin Jackson founded A Prosperous Tomorrow, an organization that provides digital literacy and technology career training to Baltimore residents, in order to combat the digital divide in the city and prepare young people for technology certifications.
Posted inHealth
Meet the Black man behind Wellpoint, one of Maryland’s largest Medicaid managed care organizations
Dr. Darrell Gray, CEO and President of Wellpoint, is committed to advancing health equity and reducing inequities in maternal health, and has set goals to expand the organization’s health care provider network and meet members in the community to address health issues.
Posted inEducation
D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) shows support for end of legacy admissions at District institutions
The D.C. State Board of Education has endorsed a call to cut deference to donor families and halt legacy admissions in the District’s private and public colleges, arguing that it stifles diversity and prevents low-income and Black and Brown students from accessing equitable opportunity.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Board of Education passes resolution in support of nixing legacy admissions
The D.C. State Board of Education has endorsed a call to eliminate legacy and donor preferences in college admissions, arguing that it stifles diversity and prevents low-income and Black and Brown students from accessing equitable opportunity.
Posted inENVIRONMENT
As wildfires intensify, climate change escalates
Wildfires are causing positive feedback loops that exacerbate global warming, leading to air quality issues, increased asthma rates, and loss of homes and communities.
Posted inHealth
Climate change’s toll on the health of Black communities
Black communities are 1.4 times more likely than their counterparts to be exposed to extreme heat due to historical and systemic practices such as redlining, which has led to health disparities and financial implications.
Posted inBUSINESS
Wells Fargo Foundation deploys $500,000 to housing nonprofits in D.C.
The Wells Fargo Foundation has granted $500,000 to five Washington, D.C. nonprofits to address systemic housing challenges and support the creation and preservation of generational wealth through homeownership.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. AG calls for continuance of FTC ban on ‘deceptive’ TurboTax ads
The Federal Trade Commission has prohibited Intuit from advertising its services as “free” unless they are free to all customers, and the D.C. Attorney General and Illinois Attorney General have filed a brief calling for the appeal to be rejected.
Posted inEducation
Harford County school board denies AP African American Studies course
Harford County Public School students will not be able to take AP African American Studies next year after the Board of Education voted against it becoming a permanent course in the district.
Posted inBUSINESS
A trusted voice: Preserving the future of the Black press
The National Newspaper Publishers Association is adapting to changing consumption patterns and technology to expand its business model and maintain its position as the trusted voice of the Black community.
Posted inBUSINESS
Hair Education and Beauty Summit to shine a spotlight on Black hair
Natural hair care founder Nicole Schuler is hosting the inaugural Hair Education and Beauty Summit on July 7-8 in Secaucus, NJ, featuring panel conversations, live demonstrations, workshops, musical performances, and competitions.