After being diagnosed with kidney failure at 31, Sharron Rouse navigated years of uncertainty, dialysis, and ultimately a life-saving transplant before discovering her condition was caused by APOL1-mediated kidney disease, a genetic risk linked to African ancestry. Her journey from confusion and guilt to clarity and advocacy underscores the importance of genetic testing, personalized care, and awareness—especially for communities at higher risk.
Author Archives: Special Press Release
Posted inBaltimore Community
Love the Avenue Day’ – community revitalization in action
By West North Avenue Development Authority On Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA) will host “Love the Avenue Day,” a community-led initiative focused on clean-up, beautification, and activation of the corridor. This event will highlight: The event will take place on the 2800–2900 blocks of […]
Posted inTV and Film
Back from the brink: ‘Afropop’ season 18 to premiere in June
The season features Listen to Me, Kanika Harris and Stephanie Etienne’s urgent documentary on the Black maternal and infant mortality crisis, and This World Is Not My Own, Opendox’s visually striking film using animation about celebrated folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe, who turned her home and yard in Vinings, Georgia, into the fantastical creative world she called the Playhouse. Emmy Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba and Broadway veteran Amy Warren bring Rowe and her friend, gallery owner and arts patron Judith Alexander, to life through voice and movement. A third title, to be announced later this year, will premiere in November.
Posted inMaryland News
Dr. Carla Hayden and Dr. Kimberly Moffitt appointed to Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission
By Maryland Public Television Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has appointed Dr. Carla D. Hayden and Dr. Kimberly R. Moffitt to serve on the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) 11-member governing body. The Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission was created by statute in 1966 to establish and maintain a system of educational and cultural […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Revolve Fund to provide $20,000 to support food access efforts in Alabama Black Belt
Revolve Fund has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Black Belt Community Foundation to support food access initiatives in Alabama’s Black Belt, helping communities impacted by SNAP delays and rising food insecurity.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Delaware State University hosts third annual women’s conference, ‘Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future’
By Delaware State University Delaware State University’s Department of Human Services proudly hosted its third annual Women’s Conference, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” bringing together students, faculty and community leaders for a day of empowerment, dialogue and inspiration. Held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center, the conference focused on advancing […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Comptroller Brooke Lierman announces upcoming departure of Chief of Staff Rianna Matthews-Brown
By Office of the Maryland Comptroller Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman today announced that Chief of Staff Rianna Matthews-Brown will depart the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland on April 30, concluding her tenure as a senior leader in the agency during a period of significant transformation and growth. Matthews-Brown was the first African-American person to […]
Posted inElections 2026
Lawsuit filed against president’s mail-in voting executive order by Lawyers’ Committee, NAACP and Common Cause
Overview: On March 31, President Trump signed an executive order in another attempt to steer American elections. The order, among other things, would create lists of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote in each state and compel the U.S. Postal Service to send mail-in ballots to only those “verified” voters. WASHINGTON – The Lawyers […]
Posted inBlack History
7th Annual Black History Month Prayer Breakfast
By Kappa Alpha Psi Baltimore Alumni Chapter On Feb. 21, 2026, the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Metropolitan Baltimore (KAPFMB) hosted its seventh Annual Black History Month Prayer Breakfast (BHMPB) at the 5-Star Family Life Center on the campus of Morning Star Baptist Church in Gywnn Oak, Md. The Black History Month Prayer Breakfast franchise […]
Posted inBUSINESS
The Presidents’ RoundTable names Jennifer Wicks executive director
The Presidents’ RoundTable is proud to have Jennifer Wicks on board in the role of executive director
Posted inNational News
Obama Presidential Center announces grand opening celebrations: June 18-21
The Obama Presidential Center will hold its grand opening celebration June 18–21, featuring a dedication ceremony, public museum opening and community events highlighting the legacy of Barack Obama and the center’s mission to inspire civic engagement and social change.
Posted inBaltimore News
Ravens announce annual Youth Sports Grant
By Rachel RichardsBaltimore Ravens Public Relations Applications for the 2026 Ravens Youth Sports Grant opened March 3, continuing the organization’s longstanding commitment to strengthening youth athletics across the community. Applications will be accepted from March 3 through April 11, 2026. The grant program supports youth and high school sports programs across a wide range of […]