Nearly 1,200 guests gathered in Baltimore for the AFRO’s 2026 Baltimore Tea, celebrating Black excellence and honoring women leaders across corporate, nonprofit and civic spaces. The annual sold-out event highlighted the achievements of Black women in executive roles while fostering community, tradition and intergenerational connection.
Tag: Chrissy M. Thornton
Posted inBaltimore News
The AFRO’s Baltimore Tea returns with spotlight on women in the C-suite
The AFRO’s 2026 Baltimore Tea will be held April 25 at Martin’s West from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each year the event serves as a time to celebrate the Black community and bring together the best of Baltimore. Shown here, 2025 attendees Jade Madden (left), Michelle Johnson and Dikesha Robinson.
Posted inDMV News
Associated Black Charities expands Teen Financial Literacy Summit
By Associated Black Charities Baltimore, MD – Associated Black Charities (ABC) is proud to announce the return of its Teen Financial Literacy Summit, expanding both its reach and impact in 2026. The summit will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SECU Arena at Towson University, bringing together […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Associated Black Charities to continue community conversations, centering resident voices in 2026Â Â
Associated Black Charities (ABC) will continue their Community Convos in the Hamilton community on Jan. 22, to inform how resources are invested across Baltimore neighborhoods and to shape the organization’s priorities based on community input.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: ‘You will see me’: A Black woman CEO’s declaration
By Chrissy M. Thornton I have spent my career learning how to lead with vision, discipline, empathy and results. I believe I have earned my seat – through education, experience, sacrifice and outcomes. Yet still, as a Black woman CEO, I am routinely reminded that credentials do not inoculate you from dismissal; that power, in […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Associated Black Charities announces the state of Black America: A national virtual revival for faith leaders, activists and community
Associated Black Charities will host a national virtual revival that will unite faith leaders, activists and community members in a call for renewed purpose and justice. Attendees nationwide will join ABC in renewing their commitment to justice and will answer a collective call to action for a more equitable future.
Posted inBaltimore News
Civil rights, advocacy groups demand accountability after false AI alert leads to student detainment at Kenwood High
Black leaders are speaking out in support of Kenwood High School student Taki Allen, 16, who was handcuffed at gunpoint by members of the Baltimore County Police Department after an artificial intelligence surveillance system mistakenly identified his Doritos bag as a gun. Now, advocacy and civil rights groups, including Associated Black Charities and the Randallstown NAACP, are calling the incident a failure of leadership and systemic bias and urging accountability, AI audits and reforms to protect students of color.
Posted in!Front Page Maryland New
AI, fear and a bag of chips: How a Maryland teen became the latest victim of a broken system
by Frances Toni Draper, CEO and Publisher of the AFRO I keep thinking about a teenager—Black, 16, a student-athlete—who did what kids do after practice: he ate snacks with friends and waited for a ride. Minutes later, eight police cars rolled up to Kenwood High School in Baltimore County. Officers drew their guns, ordered him […]
Posted inCommentary
The power of giving: Proof that generosity can’t be confined
An incarcerated man at North Branch Correctional Institution in Maryland began making monthly donations to Associated Black Charities (ABC), inspiring two others to join him. Their small but consistent gifts highlight that generosity transcends privilege and circumstance, reminding us that philanthropy belongs to anyone with a heart to give and that even behind bars, humanity and hope endure.
Posted inBaltimore Events
Joy as resistance: Associated Black Charities hosts annual community cookout
Associated Black Charities hosted its second annual community cookout at The Village of Cross Keys, offering free resources, family fun, and fellowship to close out the summer. The event, launched in 2024, celebrates Black joy as resistance while connecting residents with food, school supplies, and local businesses.
Posted inOpinion
Coming full circle: How the Arc Baltimore defined who I became
Chrissy M. Thornton serves as president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. This week, she speaks on how her journey in public service started at The Arc Baltimore, which still today supports the community.
Posted inBaltimore Events
ABC’s The Cookout returns: Celebrating Black culture, community and equity in Baltimore
Associated Black Charities (ABC) announced the return of its signature event, The Cookout, on Sept. 13, 2025, at The Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore. Presented by SECU, the free, family-friendly celebration will feature a march and rally, children’s activities, game tournaments, live entertainment, food trucks, and a showcase of Black-owned businesses.
