By Ericka Alston BuckSpecial to the AFRO On Nov. 1, the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall was filled with pride, reflection and gratitude as four of the city’s former mayors– Sheila Dixon, Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Catherine Pugh and Bernard “Jack” Young– joined Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott for the unveiling of their official portraits. […]
Category: LOCAL
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland Bankers Association, Coppin State address credit equity gaps
The Maryland Bankers Association and Coppin State University hosted a Community Conversation on Credit Equity to address financial literacy gaps in Baltimore. Students and community leaders emphasized accessible education and practical strategies for building credit and economic opportunity.
Posted inFood
Maryland’s SNAP-Ed program defunded at the expense of low-income families
By Sandra SmithCapital News Service As of Oct. 1, Maryland’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, or SNAP-Ed, has been defunded following President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” SNAP-Ed provides SNAP participants, low-income individuals who receive food assistance benefits and low-income families with nutrition education classes and partners with programs such as food pantries and farmers’ markets. […]
Posted inBaltimore News
West Baltimore students compete in spelling bee at Herbert Street Park
West Baltimore students from Robert W. Coleman Elementary School showcased their skills at a spelling bee held Oct. 10 at Herbert Street Community Park. The family-friendly event, hosted by the West North Avenue Development Authority and Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council, also featured an outdoor movie screening and food from Black-owned Concierge Catering.
Posted inBaltimore News
Coppin State University celebrates 125 Years of legacy, leadership and service
Coppin State University celebrated its 125th anniversary with a black-tie gala, honoring its legacy of resilience and brilliance, and raising over $500,000 to support scholarships and student success.
Posted inHBCU
Bowie State hosts 90th annual homecoming activities
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Bowie State University is currently hosting its 90th annual homecoming. Activities began on Oct. 26 and will take place through Nov. 2 under the theme “It’s Off the Chain!” The celebration brings together students, alumni and community members for a celebration “filled with pride, connection and Bulldog spirit,” according to […]
Posted inEducation
Students at Digital Pioneers Academy earn as they learn about financial literacy
By Dr. Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor This Fall, Digital Pioneers Academy Charter School in S.E. Washington will initiate the city’s first no strings attached, school-based direct financial support program for students, paying high school seniors 50 dollars cash per week. The public charter middle and high school opened in Southeast in Fall 2023 to support […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Civil rights, advocacy groups demand accountability after false AI alert leads to student detainment at Kenwood High
Black leaders are speaking out in support of Kenwood High School student Taki Allen, 16, who was handcuffed at gunpoint by members of the Baltimore County Police Department after an artificial intelligence surveillance system mistakenly identified his Doritos bag as a gun. Now, advocacy and civil rights groups, including Associated Black Charities and the Randallstown NAACP, are calling the incident a failure of leadership and systemic bias and urging accountability, AI audits and reforms to protect students of color.
Posted inBUSINESS
New PrattForm program supports Baltimore youth’s entrepreneurial goals
The Enoch Pratt Free Library is expanding its youth entrepreneurship efforts with PrattForm, a new year-round program that helps teens grow their business ideas with continued mentorship and support.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Fast Beauty Initiative aims to boost D.C.’s beauty industry
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has launched the District’s new Fast Beauty Initiative at Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, which aims to ease licensing requirements and help local entrepreneurs grow in the $60 billion beauty industry.
Posted inBaltimore News
Greater Baltimore Urban League builds pathways from classrooms to boardrooms
The Greater Baltimore Urban League is transforming lives by equipping youth and entrepreneurs with the tools to lead, succeed and build wealth. Through programs like the Saturday Leadership Program and hands-on business coaching, GBUL empowers future leaders with life skills, mentorship and access to real opportunities.
Posted inBUSINESS
Marylanders weigh in on their favorite local gems
Maryland ranks second in the U.S. for its share of Black-owned businesses, with 10 percent of companies owned by African Americans, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center report. To celebrate this entrepreneurial spirit, the AFRO spoke with residents about their favorite Black-owned businesses, highlighting local gems from bookstores to restaurants.