Lewis Ross Brown and Shamira A. Brown founded Virginia Environmental Action Network to address the growing environmental challenges in local communities, focusing on water pollution from toxic chemicals like PFAS and PCBs. Their efforts aim to hold government officials accountable and raise awareness about the dangers these contaminants pose to both human health and the environment.
Tag: AFRO
Posted inEducation
Pell Grants at peril: 7 million recipients face $9 billion program cut
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. In this piece, she examines how a House-passed FY 2026 budget proposal that cuts $9 billion from Pell Grant funding, threatens access to higher education for millions of low-income students by reducing grant amounts, tightening eligibility, and disproportionately impacting adult learners and students of color.
Posted inEducation
Keeping history alive: Tips for parents and teachers amid political pushbacks
Amid growing efforts to restrict Black history education, parents and teachers must preserve and share the true stories with Black youth.
Posted inJuneteenth
AFRO honors Maryland HBCUs at Juneteenth Breakfast
The AFRO hosted its third annual Juneteenth Breakfast on June 18, honoring Maryland’s HBCUs for their vital role in advancing Black education and leadership. Held at the Center Club in Baltimore, the event celebrated the legacy of institutions like Morgan State, Coppin State, and others, while also reflecting on the enduring significance of Juneteenth as a symbol of freedom, resilience, and progress.
Posted inBaltimore News
State of the People tour set to stop in Baltimore on Juneteenth
By Elijah QuallsAFRO Intern The State of the People National Assembly is coming to Baltimore to provide the framework for Black policy advocacy, impactful intergenerational leadership, and community empowerment. This National Assembly on June 19 will be the final stop of their State of the People POWER Tour. It is no coincidence that this tour […]
Posted inBUSINESS
A second chance: How Prince George’s County’s reentry work is changing lives
Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy made history by launching Maryland’s first Conviction and Sentencing Integrity Unit, part of her broader push to bring fairness and redemption into the justice system. As she prepares to become county executive, Braveboy says reentry support—especially for young adults and women—will remain a top priority.
Posted inBaltimore Events
‘Fifty Shades of Pride’ : Baltimore celebrates five decades of queer joy and resistance
As Baltimore Pride turns 50, this year’s festival honors the vibrant, diverse history of the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Organizers say it’s more than a celebration—it’s a movement grounded in visibility, legacy and real support.
Posted inNational News
Community mourns death of Morehouse College student Kyle Coleman
Friends and family of Kyle Coleman are mourning his untimely death. The Morehouse College freshman’s body was found on June 10 in a search carried out by authorities with the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia.
Posted inBaltimore Events
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum to host annual ‘Voices of History’ Street Fair
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum will host its annual “Voices of History” Street Fair on June 28, a celebration of Black history, East Baltimore pride and the power of arts and culture to promote healing. The festival, which will spotlight local youth and community joy, reflects the museum’s broader mission to tell the uncompromising truth about Black history and preserve it through education, creativity and celebration.
Posted inHBCU
AFRO to spotlight Maryland HBCUs at annual Juneteenth breakfast
Ahead of Juneteenth, the AFRO will honor Maryland HBCUs at its annual Juneteenth Breakfast on June 18. Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Baltimore will be recognized at the event for their vital role in advancing education and the state’s economy.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
FY26 budget oversight underway as D.C. Council weighs program cuts
This budget season, the D.C. Council is evaluating Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed $2.6 billion budget that cuts funding for essential city programs and shifts Medicaid recipients to a basic health plan.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Reparations aren’t a fad. They’re a bill that’s still due.
Michele Miller, who helped lead a municipal reparations initiative in Amherst, Massachusetts, that resulted in a $2 million fund for Black residents, argues that reparations are not a passing trend but a necessary and long-overdue response to centuries of systemic injustice against Black Americans, requiring real action and accountability from leaders at all levels.
