By Amaka Watson, Houston Defender Standardized testing plays an important role in America’s public schools. These tests provide a yardstick for teachers to evaluate the performance of schools and their students. Results of these tests can have a significant impact on school assessment, funding, a child’s class placement and grade promotion. That is a lot […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore News
Stillmeadow Peace Park: innovative environmental education at work
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO In a culture where childhood is defined for so many by electronic devices and video games played indoors, exposure to nature is limited to short walks from a building to a vehicle. Too many of our children know too little about the natural world. The generation at hand, […]
Posted inWord In Black
Black teachers want (and need) mentors
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black Schools don’t exist in a vacuum. They mirror the broader society and structures of power and privilege, of racism and inequality, are replicated within their walls. And so, the journey of a Black teacher is inherently different. It is marked by a unique set of challenges that white teachers, […]
Posted inWord In Black
Want to stop learning loss? Send your kid to summer camp
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black “I need you to be OK with failing.” This is the message Aquarius Cain gives to students on the first day of camp every summer. Cain is the co-owner and CEO of Achieve Success Tutoring, which hosts a variety of STEAM camps all summer long. “I love having that […]
Posted inWord In Black
It’s time to ‘go beyond grades’
By Tracie Potts, Word in Black New York’s Times Square is famous for its neon ads promoting anything from Broadway shows to consumer electronics and fancy cars. But this past month, there was a different kind of message among the sea of lights — an important appeal to parents: 90 percent of NYC parents think […]
Posted inSponsored Content
Small Business Owners – Catalysts for Economic Growth
Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co. Almost half of all U.S. employees work for small businesses, defined as companies with fewer than 500 employees, and a staggering 99 percent of all U.S. companies fall under the “small business” designation, according to the Small Business Association. Entrepreneurship can be a stepping stone to wealth generation. […]
Posted inSponsored Content
What is a Life Plan Community?
There’s a lot to consider in retirement. Where will you live? How will you spend your time? What will you do if your health needs change? Questions like these are common, and some may be surprised to know that many can be answered the same way: A Life Plan Community. Also known as Continuing Care […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: UMD student earns Fulbright scholarship
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer The term “Young, gifted and Black” is the phrase to describe 22-year-old Mariah Campbell. The Clarksville, Md. native is a recipient of the Fulbright scholarship for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. After completing her degree at the University of Maryland, College Park, (UMD) majoring in agricultural and natural resource […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Courageous and committed educators: Baltimore’s Mother Mary Lange and the Oblate Sisters of Providence
By Ralph E. Moore Jr., Special to the AFRO Although she went to her heavenly reward 141 years ago, Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, founder of the first order of religious women of African descent, has yet to be properly appreciated for who she was and what she did for others in education, social services and […]
Posted inSponsored Content
Owning a Home: Guidance from DMVs Community Home Lending Advisor
By Justin Cotton, Chase Senior Home Lending Advisor Are you considering buying your first home, but unsure where to start? Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make, and the path to ownership may feel confusing for many first-time buyers. In Chase Home Lending’s First-Time Homebuyer Study, 69% of […]
Posted inSponsored Content
The Need for a Racially Diverse Public Health Workforce
By Jasmine Leonard, MPH, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield At three years old, I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up to help my father, who experienced malpractice in healthcare. At four years old, I wanted to become a doctor because I wanted to heal my parents’ disabilities. For most of my adolescence, I ran […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Capturing the essence of Jill Scott’s ‘Words and Sounds Vol. 1’ Anniversary Tour
By Reuben Greene, Special to the AFRO As a photojournalist, I’ve had the privilege of documenting numerous musical performances throughout my career, but none have been as soul-stirring and electrifying as Jill Scott’s “Words and Sounds Vol. 1” Anniversary Tour. Stepping into The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., I could feel […]
