United Way of Central Maryland and Wellpoint Maryland recently partnered for a Read Across America Month event with scholars from Curtis Bay Elementary and Bay-Brook Elementary/Middle Schools in Baltimore City. More than 900 titles were donated, allowing students to choose which books they wanted to take home.
Category: LOCAL
Posted inBaltimore Community
Aging while Black: Seniors say listening is the first step to care
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com When discussing how to best serve older residents, it can be easy to get lost in statistics and policies. Experts and seniors alike say what’s most important when considering the aging Black population is communication. “When we think about seniors and look at the social determinants of health, I think […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Study finds disjointed youth crime data hinders public understanding
A recent Abell Foundation report finds Baltimore’s juvenile crime data is fragmented, making it hard for the public to track trends. Experts say a more cohesive, accessible system is needed for clarity and accountability.
Posted inBUSINESS
MCB Real Estate moves forward with $900 million Harborplace transformation
MCB Real Estate’s $900-million transformation of Harborplace is set to begin this fall, promising a reimagined waterfront with retail, dining, cultural spaces and green areas. The project aims to revitalize downtown Baltimore, boosting local businesses and restoring the Inner Harbor as a central gathering place for residents and visitors alike.
Posted inBaltimore Community
Advocates raise alarm over ICE operation, MOU and detention risks in Baltimore County
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com As U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) operations intensify nationwide, community organizations have become the eyes and ears of their neighborhoods—monitoring the agency’s presence and alerting residents to protect themselves and their neighbors. In Baltimore County, nonprofits like We Are CASA have observed a spectrum of enforcement actions. “We have […]
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball cuts ribbon on High Ridge Center, bringing new life to an important community building
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball joined the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Howard County to celebrate the reopening of the High Ridge Center in Ellicott City, creating what officials say may be the first facility in the nation to house all Divine Nine organizations and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. under one roof. The renovated 21,000-square-foot building will serve as a hub for service, leadership and collaboration, while continuing to house Head Start programs on its lower level.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore inspector general challenges city over limited access to records
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com Baltimore City Inspector General (IG) Isabel Mercedes Cumming has filed suit against Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Council after the city denied her office access to certain records and provided heavily redacted information in response to subpoenas. The suit seeks a court declaration confirming the Office of […]
Posted inHealth
Alpha Eta Phi: The sorority changing life for women with multiple sclerosis
Four women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) found each other through a sorority for women with chronic illnesses — and realized there was no space built specifically for women with MS to connect, heal and thrive. So they created their own, founding Alpha Eta Phi in 2021 as the first and only non-collegiate sorority dedicated to women navigating life with the disease.
Posted inBaltimore News
‘A Soldier’s Life’ writer and 6888 champion set to give author’s talk at Lewis Museum
Edna W. Cummings, retired army veteran, is set to host an author talk at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum on March 7 in honor of Women’s History Month.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Police Department releases body-cam video tied to Dwight Hawkins shooting
Baltimore police released body-worn camera footage at a Feb. 28 press conference showing the fatal police-involved shooting of 37-year-old Dwight Hawkins after officers encountered him near a store on the 3600 block of Belair Road on Feb. 24. The video shows Hawkins running from officers, then pulling out a weapon as well as the officers’ violent response, and it ends after he is handcuffed and the handgun is secured. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office said officers then rendered aid until EMS arrived; Hawkins later died at a hospital. Commissioner Richard Worley said the officers were in the area for crime suppression, and officials said involved officers remain on leave as the investigation continues.
Posted inObituaries - Baltimore
Alice Fitts, First Lady and longtime educator, dies at 80
Alice Louise Alston Fitts, longtime Baltimore City public school counselor and first lady of First Baptist Church, passed away Feb 2. 2026. She was 80 years old.
Posted inObituaries - Baltimore
Funeral set for Rev. Dr. Delores B. Dorsey, trailblazing minister and educator
The Rev. Dr. Delores B. Dorsey, a pioneering minister and longtime Baltimore City kindergarten teacher, died Feb. 8. In 1994, she became the first woman ordained at Wayland Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held Feb. 26 in Baltimore.