By Sponsored Content Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of the $248 million Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund, which will be administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support mortgage relief, home repairs, housing counseling, and legal services. “Across Maryland, there are homeowners who are struggling to keep up with […]
Category: Baltimore News
Posted inBaltimore News
Factuality is the board game giving players a 90-minute crash course on structural inequality in the U.S.
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com While working as a director of diversity at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Natalie Gillard was often tasked with developing diversity training for the school. She would find standard exercises online and run them in person, but they felt foreign to her. Even […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Wes Moore visits communities across Maryland ahead of November election
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report For America Corps Member After winning the Democratic primary on July 19, gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore now moves on to face Dan Cox, the Republican rival backed by former President Donald Trump, on Nov. 8. Moore is making his rounds throughout Maryland to engage with local communities and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Family grieves loss of beloved 15-fifteen-year old NyKayla Strawder
By Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO tchingarande@afro.com and Alexis Taylor, AFRO News Editor, ataylor@afro.com NyKayla Strawder was only 15 years old when she faced the evil of gun violence on the front porch of her West Baltimore home on Aug. 6. In an instant, a bullet stole the promise of her life and every […]
Posted inWord In Black
Baltimore schools prep for a school year with COVID-19, safety and teacher shortage concerns
By Kara Thompson, Special to the AFRO As August draws to a close, back-to-school preparations are kicking into high gear. Teachers and school systems across the country are making arrangements to welcome students back to the classroom, including Baltimore County and Baltimore City. At the start of the last school year, school systems in the […]
Posted inWord In Black
School Discipline in Black and White
By Maya Pottiger, Word In Black Even in a school year derailed by a pandemic, Black students were disciplined at higher rates than white students across the country. Using statewide discipline data from the 2019-2020 school year, Word in Black analyzed which students in California, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and Washington state were facing higher rates […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Kindergarten readiness- is your child prepared?
By Ama Brown, Special to the AFRO This week, the AFRO took a look at Kindergarten readiness for new students in the Baltimore City School System (BCPSS). We spoke with a few of the city’s early education teachers, Karan Greene, an early learning teacher at DaySpring Headstart’s Dukeland site, and Baltimore City Public Schools Teacher, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Guaranteed income pilot puts Baltimore at forefront of nation’s fight against poverty
By Fatiha Belfakir, Special to the AFRO This week Mayor Brandon Scott announced that Baltimore’s Guaranteed Income pilot program was officially depositing money into eligible bank accounts. A total of 200 families are participating in the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund’s initial cohort. Baltimore now joins the growing group of U.S. cities such as Chicago, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Moore says he will support ‘critical voices of community leaders’ pushing for West Baltimore food market
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report For America Corps Member Wes Moore addressed community leaders’ concerns over food deserts in Charm City this summer, agreeing to help them tackle the issue in West Baltimore and beyond. “Food deserts,” a long-established challenge for Baltimoreans, describes a community with little or no access to fresh and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
AFRO Gala draws elected officials, community leaders and Murphy descendants to 130th anniversary celebration
By Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO Mayor Scott, Congressman Mfume among those in attendance Elected leaders and supporters of the AFRO-American Newspaper convened for a lavish gala on Aug. 13 in Greenbelt, Md. to celebrate the publication’s 130th anniversary. The soiree included live entertainment and was hosted by comedian Tommy Davidson. All in attendance […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Chase Business Banking mentorship program offers one-one coaching to local minority entrepreneurs
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msaylesafro.com JPMorgan Chase’s senior business consultants in Baltimore, Beth Hehir and Hans Petit-Homme, hold more than 40 years of combined experience in commercial banking, business banking and financial services. Now, using their expertise, the pair has combined forces to mentor minority businesses across the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor Brandon M. Scott takes fight against ‘ghost guns’ directly to build-kit manufacturer, Polymer80
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report for America Corps Member As murders continue to rise in Baltimore, so persists the polarized view on guns. The impact of gun violence has taken a toll on the city, prompting elected officials to take action. Recently, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott began to take the fight directly […]