The Obama Foundation has opened applications for the 2026–2028 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, a program that supports 100 college students with financial aid, travel experiences, and leadership training. Backed by Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky, the scholarship offers up to $50,000 in tuition assistance, a funded summer work-travel “Voyage,” and long-term mentorship to help recipients pursue careers in public service.
Category: HBCU
Posted inHBCU
Pepsi National Battle of the Bands presents ‘The Best of the Battles’ in honor of Black History Month
The Pepsi National Battle of the Bands airs “The Best of the Battles” from Jan. 31 to March 1 in honor of Black History Month, highlighting 15 years of performances by more than 30 HBCU marching bands. The film revisits iconic moments from showcases across the country, including the 2026 event in The Palm Beaches, and celebrates the cultural impact and legacy of HBCU band tradition.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Howard U. students walk out of classes, join peaceful march against ICE’s deadly attacks on Americans
Hundreds of Howard University students walked out of classes on Jan. 30, 2026, marching to the White House to protest what they called the violent and inhumane actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Organizers said the youth-led demonstration, joined by students from other campuses, was meant to defend immigrant communities and demand protection of civil rights.
Posted inNEWS
10 films selected for inaugural HBCU Week NOW Film Festival
Ten award-winning short films by students and recent graduates of historically Black colleges and universities will premiere Jan. 27 as part of the inaugural HBCU Week NOW Student Film Festival. The selected films, representing multiple genres and institutions, will stream on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel, with each winning project receiving a $5,000 award.
Posted inBaltimore News
Historic $50,000 down payment assistance initiative helps faculty and alumni put down roots in West Baltimore’s historic Black neighborhoods.
Coppin State University’s Live Near the Nest program is making Maryland history by offering $50,000 in down payment assistance—the largest initiative of its kind in the state—to help faculty, staff and alumni achieve homeownership in West Baltimore’s historic Black neighborhoods. The program is already transforming lives by closing equity gaps, stabilizing communities and enabling participants to build generational wealth while deepening their ties to the neighborhoods where they live and work.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University choir honor MLK Day with community concert
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a powerful community concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Featuring the Morgan State University Choir, the program celebrated the civil rights leader and his legacy through music by Black composers.
Posted inArts & Culture
National Museum of African American History and Culture opens exhibition featuring collections from five HBCUs
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened a new exhibition, “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs,” celebrating the cultural, intellectual and artistic legacy preserved by historically Black colleges and universities. Featuring collections from five HBCUs, the exhibition highlights rare artifacts, artwork and archival materials before embarking on a national tour through 2029.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Morris Brown College President Dr. Kevin James removed by board
Dr. Kevin James was removed from his role as president of Morris Brown College after seven years, with the Board of Trustees citing gratitude for his service but providing no specific cause. Nzinga Shaw, a current trustee and co-chair of the Board’s Facilities Committee, will serve as interim president, while James criticized the timing and governance of the decision in a LinkedIn statement.
Posted inHBCU
Building trust, saving lives: HBCUs expand organ donation education in Georgia
LifeLink of Georgia’s Multicultural Donation Education Program has spent years partnering with historically Black institutions in Georgia to expand education around organ donation and transplantation. Program leaders say the effort builds trust, broadens medical career paths and increases donation awareness in underserved communities.
Posted inBaltimore News
Morgan State University celebrates student excellence at the annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast
Morgan State University hosted the 41st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship breakfast on Jan. 10 at the Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom. The event focused on a theme of “empowering the dream of growing our future,” and featured a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Robert Richard Allen Turner of The Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.
Posted inHBCU
HBCUs honor fall graduates with messages of resilience, legacy and community
Maryland’s HBCUs celebrated fall 2025 commencements at Morgan State University, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, honoring student achievement, resilience and community. Graduates and speakers highlighted the unique support HBCUs provide amid political and economic uncertainty, urging students to use their degrees to build legacy, uplift others and pursue lifelong learning.
Posted inBaltimore News
Morgan State University’s Magnificent Marching Machine to make Rose Bowl parade debut
By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Members of Morgan State University’s Magnificent Marching Machine will start the year off strong, proudly representing the historically Black institution at the 137th Tournament of Roses (Rose Bowl) parade on Jan. 1, 2026. The marching band of the National Treasure, led by Dr. Jorim Reid, will bring the flavor and […]
