By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com Seated humbly in a chair on the platform of the Washington National Cathedral, former United Nations Ambassador and Congressman Andrew Young preached extemporaneously Jan. 14. King confidante, friend, collaborator and fellow pastor, Young is among a dwindling number of activists who worked and served full time in the Civil Rights […]
Category: COMMUNITY
Posted inTransportation
Baltimore City receives federal ‘Workforce Hub’ designation
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Baltimore has been one of five federally-designated Workforce Hubs across the United States for eight months now. President Joe Biden created the initiative as part of his Investing in America agenda to develop the requisite workforce for developments spurred by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Health care officials wrestle with ongoing racial health disparities in nation’s capital
By Helen BezunehSpecial to the AFRO As the U.S. confronts a fresh surge of COVID-19 infections this winter, the ongoing issue of racial health disparities in D.C. continues to show nagging gaps. While D.C. is home for some of the nation’s highest ranked medical centers, data from the District’s eight wards show uneven health outcomes. […]
Posted inCivil Rights
Michigan case offers an example of how public trust suffers when police officers lie
By Corey WilliamsThe Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — A Black man who was detained by police during an early morning walk in a quiet community northwest of Detroit says the White officer who threw him against a squad car, cuffed him and accused him of planning to break into a car also told a significant […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Sydney’s Ice Creams: bringing sweet treats to Belair-Edison neighborhood
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Newton, like so many others, found herself out of a job. She had been working as a server at The Capital Grille, but was laid off as restaurants were forced to shut down their dining rooms. The Northwood, Baltimore native became an […]
Posted inWomen's Rights
Associated Black Charities leads discussion on the vulnerability of Black women in the workplace
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Associated Black Charities (ABC), in partnership with Pastor Franklin Lance, hosted a Community Convo on “The Vulnerability of Black Women in Professional Spaces” at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church on Jan. 23. The guided dialogue offered Black women a safe space to share their personal challenges in the workplace and invited […]
Posted inWord In Black
Church fights to keep libraries from becoming detention centers
By Rev. Dorothy S. BoulwareWord In Black A student who misbehaves in Houston, Texas, might find himself in the library — or what used to be the library. Nowadays, students looking for reading resources from a library would find no librarian, only a few books, and the space occupied by students who are in trouble. […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
Here’s what you should know about the marijuana pardons from President Joe Biden
By Ashleigh FieldsAFRO Assistant Editorafields@afro.com Thousands of citizens now have the opportunity to clear their records of convictions relating to marijuana usage, to include simple and attempted possession charges. This new opportunity was announced by President Biden ahead of the Christmas holiday on Dec. 22 and applies to all cases federally and in the District […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
NNPA 2024 annual mid-winter conference to empower Black America
By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is gearing up for its 2024 Annual Mid-Winter Training Conference, which begins on Jan. 24, at the B Ocean Resort and Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Representing 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies in the United States, NNPA’s theme for this year’s conference […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Associated Black Charities launches Black Leadership Circle
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Associated Black Charities (ABC) has announced the launch of The Black Leadership Circle. The thought group aims to provide a progressive, inclusive and supportive safe space for African-American nonprofit and corporate executives in the Greater Baltimore area. Part of the motivation behind its formation is to create a pipeline for […]
Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield invests in West Baltimore as tenant in The Village at Mondawmin
On Jan. 23 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, announced plans to lease approximately 20,000 square feet of space at The Village at Mondawmin at Mondawmin Mall. The move is designed to double down on their investment in West Baltimore and workforce development initiatives. “We believe anchor institutions in […]
Posted inENVIRONMENT
District residents look forward to cleanup of toxic waterways
By Asha TaylorSpecial to the AFRO Washington, D.C. residents have struggled to enjoy their local waterways for years due to hazardous pollution. Following the enactment of the largest environmental settlement in D.C. history, the Potomac Electric Power Company, also known as Pepco, will be responsible for cleaning up the District’s local rivers, including the Potomac […]
