By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com This September, the Harbor Bank of Maryland (Harbor Bank) celebrated its 40th anniversary. Since 1982, the commercial bank has been serving Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia, offering checking and savings accounts; time deposits; credit and debit cards; and commercial real estate, personal, home […]
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
Realm Pictures International’s ‘Steal Away’ commits 10 percent of box office profits to HBCUs
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Los Angeles native Stephen Blake gained his fascination with film when he was just 9 years old. His uncle gifted him an 8mm movie camera, and he immediately began creating short films, casting his sisters and neighbors as the main characters. Eventually, his […]
Posted inBUSINESS
JPMorgan Chase and Women of Color and Capital to host free investment workshop for minority women
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com JPMorgan Chase, in collaboration with Women of Color and Capital, on Thursday will host a free workshop for Black and Brown women to gain more education surrounding investing. The event, Guide to Financial Freedom: Investing 101, will take place at the Bowen Building […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Baltimore accountant Arnold Williams honored with International Economic Development Council’s Citizen Leadership Award
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Baltimore native Arnold Williams, managing director and founding partner of Abrams, Foster, Nole & Williams Public Accounting (PA), on Monday received the Citizen Leadership Award from the International Economic Development Council. The award honors a community or business leader who plays a key […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Reginald F. Lewis Foundation hosts essay-writing contest for Baltimore City Public School students
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation is currently calling for submissions to its student writing contest. Baltimore City Public School (City School) students are encouraged to read or listen to “Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?” by Reginald F. Lewis and Blair […]
Posted inBUSINESS
O’Hara Development Partners unveils renderings for new community park in East Baltimore Midway neighborhood
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com O’Hara Development Partners (O’Hara), a Baltimore-based community development company, recently unveiled its renderings for a new park in the East Baltimore Midway neighborhood. The Ujamaa Cove Park will provide residents with a community garden, children’s play area, stage and ample green space for […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Top renovations to increase the value of your home
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Michael Washington started doing construction work when he was just 16 years old. His father was a musician, and although Washington also had a talent for music, he wanted to forge his own path. He was first introduced to the trade by a […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Women Elevating Women conference provides a collaborative platform where women can learn how to successfully grow and scale their businesses
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com The multi-cultural, multi-ethnic Women Elevating Women (WEW) conference, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, returned to D.C. this past weekend to bring women business owners and executives together to discuss and share strategies for success and economic empowerment. Launched in 2018, the conference cultivates a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Skewed figure: how biased appraisals are underestimating the value of Black homes
Baltimore couple’s home rises nearly $300,000 in value after White colleague stands in for appraisal By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business WriterReport for America Corps Membermsayles@afro.com and Kara Thompson, Special to the AFROkthompson@afro.com Nearly a year ago, Baltimore couple Nathan Connolly and Shani Mott decided that they would capitalize on the housing market’s historically low interest […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Real estate expert opinion: what to know before you buy a home
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com When it comes to building generational wealth and closing the racial wealth divide, homeownership has become a key pathway. Buying a home is a long-term investment, and because houses typically tend to appreciate, it’s one that pays off overtime. As homeowners pay off […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Jazmin Owens managed properties for seven years, now she’s starting her real estate career
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com After working in property management for nearly seven years, Baltimore native Jazmin Owens decided the next step in her career was becoming a real estate agent. She figured there would be some overlap between the professions, especially considering her experience with building robust […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Missy Conway left corporate America, and now, she’s running her own, independent real estate brokerage
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Before opening her Baltimore boutique real estate brokerage, Missy Conway was an actuary for an insurance company. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, she came to the U.S. in 1995 to attend Temple University for actuarial science, but she moved to the Baltimore area […]