Maryland brought together state leaders and more than 800 entrepreneurs for the 10th annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit, focusing on future-ready strategies for growth. The event expanded its programming this year, adding new tracks for technology, emerging entrepreneurs, youth ventures and veteran-owned businesses.
Tag: Megan Sayles
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore sues MoneyLion over predatory paycheck advance loans
Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against fintech company MoneyLion, alleging the app traps residents in high-cost, short-term loans known as “Instacash.” City officials say the company’s misleading marketing and optional fees have disproportionately harmed the city’s most financially vulnerable residents.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Comcast Flagship Lift Zone brings free Wi-Fi and digital skills training to Ward 8
Ward 8 residents now have access to free Wi-Fi and upgraded technology at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) in Southeast Washington, D.C. Comcast invested $750,000 to launch a new Flagship Lift Zone at the campus, which also includes digital skills training and expanded workforce development support.
Posted inBaltimore News
West Baltimore students compete in spelling bee at Herbert Street Park
West Baltimore students from Robert W. Coleman Elementary School showcased their skills at a spelling bee held Oct. 10 at Herbert Street Community Park. The family-friendly event, hosted by the West North Avenue Development Authority and Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council, also featured an outdoor movie screening and food from Black-owned Concierge Catering.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Bowser unveils ‘Talent Capital’ initiative to support displaced federal workers in Greater Washington
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has launched Talent Capital, a first-of-its-kind initiative leveraging artificial intelligence to help displaced federal workers navigate career transitions. The program offers free job-matching, re-skilling and training opportunities to retain top talent in the Greater Washington region amid widespread federal job cuts.
Posted inBaltimore News
Refill, don’t landfill: Fran Ngong’s fight against single-use plastics
Baltimore native Fran Ngong is on a mission to cut single-use plastic waste through her eco-conscious store, FOBA Refillery. The shop lets customers refill household essentials like shampoo, deodorant and detergent while learning the value of sustainability and reducing waste.
Posted inBaltimore News
8th annual All Boobs Matter event returns to Pikesville
The eighth annual All Boobs Matter event in Pikesville, Md., will honor breast cancer survivors, fighters and their families with wellness activities, performances and community support on Oct. 19. This year, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance will receive the first-ever Pink Impact Award for its work supporting the breast cancer community.
Posted inBUSINESS
Harbor Bank of Maryland opens new branch in Silver Spring
The Harbor Bank of Maryland has opened a new branch in Silver Spring, marking its seventh location and a strategic expansion into the Montgomery County market. The community-focused bank celebrated the soft opening with a visit from Afrofuturist icon George Clinton, whose artwork is now on permanent display inside the branch.
Posted inEditorial
From Baltimore to D.C.: Building the next century of Black business
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO Black-owned businesses have always been a cornerstone of our communities—anchoring neighborhoods, creating jobs and proving that vision can thrive even in the face of economic headwinds. Last week, we celebrated companies across the country that have endured for a century or more, surviving depressions, recessions, and sweeping […]
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Changing the narrative: Black travel collectives redefine who ‘belongs’
For years, the mainstream travel industry has overlooked the needs and stories of Black travelers. But a growing number of Black-led travel groups are shifting the narrative—creating space for cultural connection, community and global exploration on their own terms.
Posted inBUSINESS
Beverly Richards launches family soap business to honor late mother
Baltimore native Beverly Richards launched MFrank Apothecary, a luxury goat milk soap company, to honor her late mother while creating a family legacy. Each bar is hand-poured with natural ingredients, crafted by Richards and her children and grandchildren to nourish skin and celebrate tradition, love and artistry.
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland’s forgotten victims: Shedding light on the state’s lynching legacy
Since 2018, the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project has worked to uncover the state’s legacy of racial terror, documenting dozens of lynchings that were long ignored or forgotten. Its leaders say reckoning with these truths is essential to healing—and to preventing history from repeating itself.