Ward 3 Housing Justice is pushing back against planned upzoning along Connecticut and Wisconsin avenues, saying new developments risk excluding low-income families despite promises of increased housing. The D.C. Office of Planning estimates the changes could add 10,000 new units, including 2,000 affordable under the Inclusionary Zoning Plus program, but community advocates say that doesn’t go far enough.
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Activists, politicians and celebrities hold alternatives to State of the Union address
In a historic display of legislative dissent, a coalition of more than 80 lawmakers bypassed the official presidential address to convene an “alternative union” on the National Mall, framing their absence as a rejection of executive rhetoric. The atmosphere inside the Capitol remained volatile, punctuated by the forced removal of a congressman protesting racial imagery and verbal clashes over the domestic consequences of immigration enforcement.
Posted inTech
Black tech leaders call for ownership, access and leadership
Black tech leaders in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., are urging greater ownership, access and representation as artificial intelligence reshapes industries and daily life. Through community-building, entrepreneurship and AI governance, they say Black professionals must move from consumers of technology to architects of the systems shaping the future.
Posted inBaltimore News
Elders call for ownership, mentorship and mindset shift to secure Black progress
Community elders say sustaining Black progress will require mentorship, economic literacy and resilience amid shifting diversity efforts. They urge the next wave of leaders to focus on ownership, mindset and long-term impact to strengthen future generations.
Posted inNational News
Blizzard warnings cascade across East Coast with winter storm’s approach
A major winter storm began hitting the East Coast on Feb. 22, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and blizzard conditions from Maryland to Massachusetts. Officials issued blizzard warnings, travel restrictions, and states of emergency as residents prepared for potentially historic snow accumulations and widespread disruptions.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Black Women’s Roundtable announces 15th Annual Women of Power National Summit
The Black Women’s Roundtable will host its 15th Annual Women of Power National Summit March 11–15, 2026, in Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C. Hundreds of Black women leaders and allies will convene for five days of organizing, policy advocacy, strategy, healing, and collective action to build political, economic, and community power.
Posted inD.C. Community
D.C. community holds candlelight vigil for Julian Bailey, man shot by U.S. Marshal
Activists, family members and friends are calling for justice in the shooting death of Julain Marquette Bailey, who was shot and killed by a U.S. Marshal on Feb. 11 in Washington, D.C.
Posted inBaltimore News
On the line with Jesse Jackson: Lessons from a voice that changed history
By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor I never imagined Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. would pick up the phone. It was 2012. On June 14 of that year, Adidas, the international shoe and sports apparel company, boldly unveiled a pair of sneakers that came complete with a pair of orange, plastic ankle bracelets. After public backlash to […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The man who stopped
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper More than forty years ago, in a crowded corridor in Nassau, Bahamas, I watched Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. do something small that revealed something immense: he stopped. My mother, Frances L. Murphy II—then publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper—and I were attending a conference where he was the keynote […]
Posted inCongressional Black Caucus (CBC)
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation kicks off 50th anniversary year
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has launched a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary under the theme “Rooted. Ready. Rising,” highlighting five decades of work advancing equity, leadership development and policy solutions for Black communities. The milestone will feature signature events, service initiatives in 50 cities, mini legislative conferences, and recognition of the AVOICE digital archive, all culminating in the Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., in September.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayors discuss impact of data centers in their cities
As data centers expand alongside the growth of artificial intelligence, mayors across the U.S. are weighing economic benefits against environmental and infrastructure concerns. Local leaders say clear standards are key as communities push back.
Posted inBlack Press
NABJ Town Hall condemns arrests of Black journalists, defends First Amendment
By Dr. Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) teamed up with veteran journalist Roland Martin, founder of Black Star Network, to host a two-hour, live-streamed event on Feb. 2 titled “Not On Our Watch: A National Town Hall on Press Freedom.” The session was prompted by the recent arrests of […]