Comptroller Peter Franchot finds it regrettable that the cost of higher education prevents people from attending college and hopes that the student debt relief program can make college more affordable for eligible Marylanders. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com The deadline for Maryland’s student loan debt relief […]
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 Community
Artspace hosts premiere event for the redevelopment of the Ambassador Theater
Artspace purchased the Ambassador Theater back in 2019, and now the nonprofit is ready to invite the Baltimore community to learn more about the redevelopment of the historic theater into an arts and cultural community center. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Artspace on Monday will welcome […]
Posted inNEWS
Black-owned giving app hailed as one of the fastest growing companies
Wale Mafolasire founded Givelify to make it easier for people to donate to charitable organizations and places of worship. The app boasts over 70,000 organizations, which have raised over $3 billion. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member Msayles@afro.com In 2013, Wale Mafolasire launched Givelify, a Black-owned online giving […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Local beekeeper supplies raw honey to Baltimore community
Nikkia Rowe began her beekeeping journey in 2019 with the founding of the John Newman Honeybee Company. She now sells locally-raised, raw honey to Baltimore residents. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Everyone has a bee story. Most of the accounts involve buzzing and unpleasant stings, and […]
Posted inBUSINESS
One School provides free virtual portfolio programming for Black creatives
Associate Creative Director at Spotify Dominique Wynne serves as the school head at One School Atlanta. Her hope is that she can expose Black creatives to what’s available to them in the advertising industry. By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Although the advertising industry has begun to introduce more […]
Posted inBUSINESS
‘Where Are All The Black People’ to host its 11th diversity conference and career fair
Adrienne Lucas joined The One Club for Creativity as director of diversity, equity and inclusion in 2019. This is her third year working on the Where Are All The Black People conference.(Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Years ago, a young Black creative attended a Christmas party […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
A Kids Company About accumulates $7 million in funding to expand its brand
A Kids Book About has now expanded to A Kids Company About to include podcasts and classes for youth to tackle challenging and critical topics, including mental health, careers paths and social justice. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Back in 2018, Jelani Memory, a native of […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Online directory offers a one-stop shop for Black-owned brands
Cara Lawton, founder of Black Owned 365, created the company to make it easy to buy Black. The website offers affordable products with payment plans. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Following the protests after the murder of George Floyd, Cara Lawton noticed a surge in publications […]
Posted inBUSINESS
First Black New York Stock Exchange floor broker, Joseph L. Searles, dies at 79
Joseph L. Searles III made history in 1970 as the first Black man that traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (Courtesy of the AARegistry) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Joseph L. Searles III, the first African-American floor broker on the New York Stock Exchange, […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Chase for Business accelerates Black-owned businesses with mentorship program
Vanessa Savage (right) acts as CEO for her husband Frederick’s (left) company, Savage Technical Services. As one of the mentees in the program, Savage has learned new cash flow strategies and how to prepare for unexpected costs that arise during contracts. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Groundwork Kitchen brings culinary opportunity to Southwest Baltimore
Groundwork Kitchen’s 14,000 square-foot building features two levels. The full-service restaurant sits on top while the lower level serves as the space for the culinary program to take place. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com Nonprofit Paul’s Place has served the Southwest Baltimore community for over 30 […]
Posted inBUSINESS
STEMcx seeks to expose underserved communities in the Baltimore area to STEM opportunities
One of STEMcx’s programs this summer focused on teaching youth about coding. The camp utilized the Scratch programming language. (Courtesy Photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com The Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industry is ever growing, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting that the jobs […]