Kalilah Wright, a Black immigrant woman and Brooklyn native, founded the customized T-shirt company Mess in the Bottle in 2016 to share positive messages and amplify Black voices in her community. Wright shares how she tackles entrepreneurship and motherhood while aiming to expand her brand and provide guidance to other Black women entrepreneurs.
Category: BUSINESS
Posted inBUSINESS
From vision to venture: Founders building with heart and hustle
Black business ownership is on the rise, with entrepreneurs like Anissa Truitt, Christina Sledge and Ceal Starks transforming personal missions into purpose-driven, community-centered ventures.
Posted inBaltimore News
Abell Foundation names Fagan Harris as new president and CEO
Fagan Harris, chief of staff to Governor Wes Moore, has been named the next president and CEO of the Abell Foundation. He will assume the role Jan. 5, 2026, becoming only the second leader in the foundation’s history after Robert C. Embry Jr., who served nearly 40 years.
Posted inBUSINESS
Innovation with intention: The power and diversity of Black-owned ventures
Black entrepreneurs across industries are redefining success by centering community, innovation and purpose. From holistic health to tech accelerators to campus digital transformation, these leaders are proving that entrepreneurship in the Black community is as diverse as it is resilient.
Posted inNews from Around the Web
Building sustainable Black businesses through training and teamwork
Black entrepreneurs face systemic challenges that can delay or derail full-time business ownership. Experts Omar Muhammad and Devon Corbin emphasize the importance of early paying customers, strategic partnerships and belief capital—the confidence founders have in their vision. Through comprehensive training and collaboration, they believe Black business owners can overcome barriers and build lasting economic empowerment in their communities.
Posted inEducation
BEYA and WOC launch Quantum Computing Executive Leadership Learning Track
The Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) STEM Conference has launched the Quantum Computing Executive Leadership Learning Track, led by Terrence R. Head, to prepare executive leaders and senior technologists for the rapidly evolving quantum era.
Posted inDMV News
5 Washingtonians spotlight beloved Black-owned businesses
By Nyame-Kye KondoSpecial to the AFRO The AFRO had the pleasure of catching up with some Washingtonians as they went about their daily lives. We asked five individuals to name their favorite Black-owned businesses in the area and their answers reflected both the shared culture and varied interests of the African-American community. Dezhane Moore – […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
AFRO’s Black Business Matters Expo debuts Power Pitch competition
By Tavon N. Thomasson AFRO Intern The AFRO-American Newspaper hosted its fifth annual Black Business Matters Expo on Aug. 14 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, debuting its first official AFRO Power Pitch competition. Kendrick Tilghman, a professional speaker and DJ, won the inaugural contest with his pitch […]
Posted inCommentary
August is ‘Make a Will Month’: Here’s why it should matter to every Marylander
Making a will is an important legal document that allows you to protect your family, your wishes and your legacy, and should be done by everyone regardless of age, marital status, or whether they have children.
Posted inAfro Events
Diversity on tap: How Maryland wine and beer makers are shifting the industry
Two Black-owned Maryland companies, Noir Sunshine Wines and Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company, are reshaping the craft wine and beer industries by embracing innovation and community engagement.
Posted inBaltimore News
​​Three key tips for newspapers to thrive for the next 100 years
AFRO leaders share three key tips for Black newspapers to thrive: balancing legacy, innovation, and engagement with younger generations amid industry challenges.
Posted inHealth
Thousands to lose in-network access to Johns Hopkins Medicine if UnitedHealthcare contract expires Aug. 24
Johns Hopkins Medicine and UnitedHealthcare are in a dispute over a new contract, which could result in 60,000 patients in the mid-Atlantic region losing in-network coverage if an agreement is not reached by August 24.