By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com When President Biden signed the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (ILJA) in 2021, much of the legislation addressed greener, more accessible transportation for all. Not only did the bill include the largest federal, public transit investment, $89.9 billion, in U.S. history, it set aside $7.5 billion […]
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 inBooks
‘Sammy the Saver’ comic book teaches children about financial literacy
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com Four years ago Carl Brown began writing a story about a young boy named Sammy. He was not a regular boy. Sammy possessed an alter ego with a superpower that helped him and his friends to make smart financial decisions. With the help of a Citi Foundation grant […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Chipotle will pay $300,000 to resolve allegations of child labor law violations in D.C.
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com After an investigation into allegations of D.C. child labor law violations, Chipotle Mexican Grill (Chipotle) has agreed to pay the city $322,400 and institute a new training and workplace compliance plan. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reportedly determined hundreds of instances of minors working more hours […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Cannabis Weeks begins with focus on educating African Americans on opportunities in the cannabis industry
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Monday through Thursday, virtual programs will be held to inform people about topics ranging from the history of the plant to health and wellness benefits to business-building. The week will culminate with in-person programming at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. On Sept. 22, Black Cannabis Week will host a […]
Posted in!Front Page Sports
Celebrity Charity PoloXJazz returns to Maryland with an all-Black team
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com The seventh annual Celebrity Charity PoloXJazz returns to the Congressional Polo Club in Poolesville, Md. on Sep. 23. This year’s event will be hosted by Judge Greg Mathis, who’s known for his Emmy-winning courtroom reality show. It will benefit the Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) and Latinas Leading Tomorrow (LLT). […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Investing 101: the basics of the stock market
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com It’s never too late to start investing in the stock market, but starting while you’re young gives your money more time to grow. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be rich to buy stocks. “The stock market is essentially a marketplace where people can buy […]
Posted inBUSINESS
TD Ready Challenge deploying $1-million grants to 10 organizations addressing affordable housing
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com TD Bank is awarding 10 $1-million grants to organizations across the country that are working to mitigate the housing affordability crisis. The sixth annual TD Ready Challenge targets nonprofits designing innovative solutions that address systemic barriers and increase access to affordable housing. Applications for the challenge close on […]
Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News
Baltimore Business Journal honors Power 10 leaders committed to making the city better
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com The Baltimore Business Journal hosted the CEO of the Year and Power 10 awards at the Center Club in Downtown Baltimore on Sept. 7. Sandy Hillman, known for transforming Baltimore’s tourism industry during the 1970s, was celebrated as CEO of the Year alongside 10 other local business leaders. […]
Posted inNEWS
Blue Line Corridor expected to spur economic growth for Black residents of Prince George’s County
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com Angela Alsobrooks became county executive of Prince George’s County, Md. in 2018 with an economic vision to grant Prince Georgians access to amenities that they had been missing for decades. Her objective was to create jobs, broaden the tax base, mitigate food deserts, provide capital access to small […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Set up for success: putting children on the payroll
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com It’s common for young adults to start thinking about retirement plans once they begin working full-time. But saving can start much earlier, especially if parents hire their children. Investment brokerages allow parents and legal guardians to open Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) on behalf of their children no matter their […]
Posted inEducation
Sammy the Saver: a superhero comic book teaching kids about financial literacy
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Four years ago, Carl Brown began writing a story about a young boy named Sammy. He was not a regular boy. Sammy possessed an alter ego with a superpower that helped him and his friends to make smart financial decisions. With the help of a Citi Foundation grant in 2023, […]
Posted in!Front Page Sports
Dunbar football coach arrested, charged with fraud by FBI
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com FBI agents arrested Dunbar High School football coach Lawrence Smith on Sept. 8. He was taken into custody on federal wire fraud charges pertaining to overtime fraud and filing a false tax return. Smith, who is also a police detective for the Baltimore City Public School Police, allegedly […]
