As summer swimming season begins, public health experts warn that Black children continue to face disproportionately high drowning rates, while proposed federal cuts threaten programs that track and prevent water-related deaths. Advocates say eliminating funding for the CDC’s drowning prevention efforts could weaken national safety strategies and worsen longstanding racial disparities rooted in segregation, unequal access to swim education and limited recreational resources.
Category: COMMUNITY
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore mother desperate for information on missing son with schizophrenia and epilepsy
It’s been more than a year since 22-year-old Tiyaun J. Leach went missing from West Baltimore, leaving his family desperate for answers. His mother, LaMonica Patton, continues to call hospitals, shelters and jails in a relentless search for her son, who struggles with schizophrenia and epilepsy.
Posted inOpinion
We can’t ignore the voices of foster care youth
Shantay Armstrong is a Black biracial mother of two and manager of the EMBRACE Project, an initiative to improve adoption rates of Black, Latino, LGBTQ and Indigenous children. EMBRACE Project is a program by Kidsave, an organization that promotes the adoption of older teens.
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Black Mothers March calls out racial disparities in child welfare system
More than 200 mostly Black mothers, fathers and children gathered in Washington, D.C., on Mother’s Day for the fifth annual Black Mothers March on the White House, calling attention to what organizers describe as racial and economic inequities within Child Protective Services. Advocates and former foster youth said CPS disproportionately targets Black families experiencing poverty, criminalizes parents instead of addressing systemic hardships and contributes to family separation and long-term trauma within Black communities.
Posted inCOMMUNITY
The hidden costs of being Black in America
Black consumers often face higher costs for everyday financial services, from banking fees to insurance premiums. Experts say those added expenses can quietly compound over time alongside the persistent, ever-growing racial wealth gap.
Posted inBaltimore News
Mfume secures $500k grant to expand job training for returning citizens
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com The National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) closed out national Second Chance Month with a $500,000 federal grant secured by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) during the federal appropriations process to support returning citizens and prevent recidivism. The funds, which were delivered on April 27, will be used for 50 […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Many retirees rely on Social Security—but confusion and delays can cost them
Many Black retirees rely on Social Security as a primary source of income, but experts say confusion about when to claim benefits and missing documentation can lead to reduced payments or delays.
Posted inWord In Black
EVENT: The action plan to get Black women back to work
By Shernay WilliamsWord In Black It’s been a year since economic reports started to reveal that as many as 600,000 Black women – many of them highly educated professionals – are out of work. So what now? Join a virtual planning session produced by Word In Black featuring entrepreneurs, community organizers and economic strategists who […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Women preserve legacy through shared family names
While “Jr.” and “Sr.” traditions have long defined lineage through men, these stories show how women preserve family history in their own ways. Across generations, they describe names as a lasting link to identity, ancestry and legacy.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
District leaders, residents and visitors celebrate Emancipation Day
By Patricia McDougallSpecial to the AFRO More than 100 years ago, on April 16, 1862, the Compensated Emancipation Act was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. On that day, slaves in the District of Columbia gained their freedom. More than a century later, the residents of D.C. gather on an annual basis to honor and celebrate […]
Posted inCOMMUNITY
The Food Project to host bi-annual Community Baby Shower to support local moms
The Food Project will host its bi-annual Community Baby Shower on April 26, providing free baby supplies, educational resources and support for new mothers.
Posted inDMV News
Associated Black Charities expands Teen Financial Literacy Summit
By Associated Black Charities Baltimore, MD – Associated Black Charities (ABC) is proud to announce the return of its Teen Financial Literacy Summit, expanding both its reach and impact in 2026. The summit will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SECU Arena at Towson University, bringing together […]