By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writer Baltimore City Public Schools will host its City Schools’ Attendance Phone-A-Thon Sept. 14 to contact families of every student who has not attended classes since the school year started Aug. 25. The initiative is meant to fight truancy and provide resources to families who may need extra support getting their […]
Author Archives: Victoria Mejicanos
Posted inNational News
Sinclair Broadcast Group to pay $100k in race discrimination settlement
Sinclair Broadcast Group will pay $100,000 in back pay and compensatory and punitive damages to resolve a race discrimination claim filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Posted inBaltimore News
Jody Davis turns fashion passion into purpose with Orioles collaboration
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Intern From selling food out of her family’s front yard to winning a contest selling AFRO newspapers, Jody Davis grew up with an entrepreneurial spirit. Eventually, she combined that with her passion for fashion and opened her own boutique, Jody Davis Designs. A proud Baltimore native, she has most recently collaborated with […]
Posted inReligion
National Trust Offers $50K–$500K Grants to Preserve Historic Black Churches
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation is working to preserve Black churches across the nation.
Posted inEducation
How Black educators have experienced and managed burnout
Teachers across the nation are dealing with burnout, with symptoms ranging from fatigue to apathy about work and irritability in their time off.
Posted inBaltimore News
How Black businesses thrived in 1925 Baltimore—and what entrepreneurs can learn today
In honor of National Black Business Month, the AFRO takes a look at what it took to open a Black business 100 years ago and the lessons that can be learned by today’s entrepreneurs in 2025.
Posted inMaryland News
A symbol of safety: How Eric’s ID Law is changing police encounters for people with invisible disabilities
After a mother-son duo from Maryland turned advocacy into action, residents with autism and other hidden disabilities can now voluntarily self-identify on state IDs—paving the way for safer, more informed police interactions.
Posted inHealth
Beyond the bleeding: Experts urge holistic care for Black women battling uterine fibroids
Black women are disproportionately affected by uterine fibroids, and experts stress that treatment must include long-term lifestyle changes such as stress management, diet adjustments, and regular medical care. Doctors Nekia Barrow and Ashley Davis emphasize the roles of inflammation, endocrine disruptors, and systemic stress in fibroid growth, urging patients to remain proactive and find providers who truly listen.
Posted inHealth
Common yet unspoken: Uterine fibroids and their toll on Black women’s health
Lawmakers and advocates gathered on Capitol Hill to support the U-FIGHT Act, a legislative package aimed at advancing research, access to care, and early detection for uterine fibroids—a condition that disproportionately affects Black women. Supporters emphasized the urgent need for public awareness, better treatment options, and investment in women’s reproductive health to ensure no woman suffers in silence.
Posted inBaltimore County Government
Baltimore County redistricting plan faces opposition from Woodlawn coalition
The Westside Map Coalition is opposing Baltimore County’s proposed 2-2-5 redistricting plan, arguing it fractures Woodlawn and dilutes Black voting power. They’ve proposed an alternative “Woodlawn Approach” map, which they say better reflects census data and complies with the Voting Rights Act.
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland nonprofit offering legal aid to LGBTQ+ community loses more than $300,000 in grant funding
Free State Justice, a Black-led Maryland nonprofit providing legal aid to LGBTQ+ individuals, has lost over $300,000 in grant funding, threatening its ability to serve clients facing discrimination, criminal records, and legal barriers. Despite the setback, Executive Director Phillip Westry remains hopeful that community support and alternative funding can sustain their life-changing work for some of Maryland’s most marginalized residents.
Posted inHealth
McDonogh students host CPR training and other heart healthy workshops
McDonogh High School’s First Aid Club raised over $6,000 for the American Heart Association and led CPR and heart health workshops to educate younger students on life-saving skills. The initiative, led by student William Ashley III and supported by his father, emphasized empowering youth—especially in Black communities disproportionately affected by heart disease—to become advocates for their own health and that of their families.
