By Caley Fox Shannon

Early voting began Oct. 24 in Maryland, with some voters lining up before sunrise to cast their votes when the polls opened at 7 a.m. for president, Senate, House, ballot initiatives and various local races.

In Montgomery County, early birds formed a line at dawn outside the Silver Spring Civic Building.

Campaign volunteers set up tables on the plaza and unpacked sheafs of sample ballots to hand out. Inside, election judges plugged in ballot scanners, opened boxes of pens and laid out “I Voted” stickers.

“It’s a festive time,” Alan Bowser of Silver Spring told Capital News Service. Bowser was first in line at 6 a.m., and said he’s held that honor in every cycle since early voting became an option in Maryland.

Early voting began in the state in 2010 after Marylanders overwhelmingly favored a 2008 ballot question empowering lawmakers to write early balloting into law. In the intervening years, the Maryland General Assembly has voted four times to expand the number of early voting sites.

State Board of Elections Deputy Administrator Katherine Berry told CNS that as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, more than 90,000 voters had turned out to cast their ballots. That pacing is on par with early voting turnout in 2020, Berry said, but far higher than the 2024 primary.

Bowser, a precinct chair for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, told CNS the voters he speaks with are feeling motivated to elect the two women of color running close races at the top of the ticket: Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks for Senate.

Webb Smedley was out in the brisk morning sporting a Harris Walz cap in woodland camo, paired with an Alsobrooks t-shirt featuring the candidate’s portrait.

Smedley, who is retired, said that this is the first time he has volunteered for a campaign.

“I think that it’s the most important election of my lifetime, and I’ve voted since…for a long time,” he said.

Also on the Democratic ticket in Montgomery County is Rep. Jamie Raskin, who is running to keep his seat in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District.

Raskin arrived at the polls himself just after 7 a.m., greeting supporters with hugs and shaking hands with officials from the local board of elections. The Hill projects Raskin has a 99% chance of beating out Republican opponent Cheryl Riley to stay in Congress.

Walking in the front door of the polling place, Raskin told CNS, “I can’t wait to vote for Kamala.”

Of the many campaign signs dotting the parkway in front of the Civic Building, there was only one for Donald Trump, an unsurprising reality in deeply blue Montgomery County.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t Republicans at the polls in Silver Spring.

Michael Fletcher, a Republican from Olney, was reprising his role as a poll watcher, a designated individual approved to observe election activities.

Fletcher told CNS that he became interested in being a poll watcher after the 2020 election, when, in his words, “there were so many allegations and innuendo and things like that. So I thought I’d get more involved and see how the process worked.”

Although Trump continues to repeat false claims of fraud in the 2020 election, a lie spread by FOX News and prominent Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Fletcher said that he hasn’t seen anything concerning at the polls in his county.

“I think the Board of Elections in Montgomery County does a really good job of training their judges,” Fletcher said. “But I also like to think that just my presence here maybe makes everybody get up a little higher on the step, you know, do a little bit better job.”

For Montgomery County Board of Elections Secretary Amie Hoeber, a Republican, it’s frustrating that so many within her party continue to cast doubt on the voting process. She told CNS, “I find it fair and reasonable, and object to the people who consider it a problem.”

Hoeber has already cast her ballot by mail and wants to reassure the public that mail-in voting is another option that is “completely secure.”

Montgomery County Board of Elections President David Naimon said many voters like to wait until the last minute, but he urged the public to resist the “real human tendency to procrastinate.”

Polling places specially designated as early voting centers in Maryland are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Thursday October 31. More information about early voting can be found on the State Board of Elections website.

Catch AFRO’s Managing Editor, Alexis Taylor at an early voting location here!

The post Early balloting starts in Maryland, bringing out pre-dawn voters appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

These two women have consistently demonstrated their dedication not only to the Black community but to all constituents, regardless of their leadership roles.

Harris announced her candidacy for the presidency on July 27. A Howard University alumna and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Harris has a long history of public service. She joined the California Bar Association in 1990 and began her career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County. From there, she advanced to become the first woman elected as San Francisco district attorney, then served as California’s attorney general from 2011 to 2016. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2017, she represented California until joining the Biden administration as vice president.

During her time as vice president, Harris has been an influential advocate on issues such as reproductive rights and voting rights protections. She was instrumental in passing the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act and securing $16 billion in support for historically Black colleges and universities. Her advocacy extends to Black farmers, small business owners, and initiatives to reduce Black unemployment and increase generational wealth among Black entrepreneurs.

Similarly, Alsobrooks, a Maryland Democrat and distinguished member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is poised to make history. A win for Harris would make her the first woman president of the U.S., and a victory for Alsobrooks would mark Maryland’s first Black woman senator.

Alsobrooks faces former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. The AFRO endorsed Alsobrooks as the Democratic nominee in the Maryland primary and joins other prominent Maryland leaders, such as House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, in supporting her. Former President Barack Obama also recently endorsed her, highlighting her record on public safety.

The AFRO is proud to be in the number of supporters for Alsobrooks, which at one time included former Gov. Larry Hogan. 

In a 2022 live stream, still available on verified Youtube and Meta (Facebook) pages for the former state official, then Gov. Larry Hogan praised Alsobrooks for her “incredible leadership,” and even though his own father held the office of Prince George’s County executive from Dec. 1978 to Dec. 19, 1982, Hogan said “I can’t remember a better county executive than Angela Alsobrooks.” 

The outcome of this race could impact which party controls the U.S. Senate. Currently, Democrats hold 48 seats, and two independents caucus with them, while Republicans have 50 seats. Harris, as vice president, has the power to cast tie-breaking votes, giving Democrats a slim majority.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who endorsed Alsobrooks last October, praised her efforts to build schools and attract jobs to Prince George’s County.

 “In our Maryland, we have lowered homicides, made historic investments in education, brought record-low unemployment to the state, and signed some of the strongest laws in America to protect reproductive freedoms. Angela Alsobrooks has been a partner every step of the way,” Moore said.

Alsobrooks has supported economic development in her county and was instrumental in securing the new FBI headquarters bid last year.
For these reasons, the AFRO is proud to endorse both Kamala Harris for president and Angela Alsobrooks for the U.S. Senate. Remember to register to vote by Oct. 15 and plan to cast your ballot on Nov. 5.

The post The AFRO endorses Harris, Alsobrooks ahead of Election Day 2024 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ariyana Griffin
AFRO Staff Writer
agriffin@afro.com

Morgan State University’s campus newspaper, The Spokesman, hosted a forum on Sept. 24 for students and the public to hear from leading candidates in the race for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat. Both Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and Larry Hogan (R), former governor of Maryland, were invited, however Hogan did not join Alsobrooks on stage to speak with voters in attendance.

If elected, Alsobrooks will make history by becoming the first Black woman to represent the state of Maryland in the U.S. Senate. 

NBC Correspondent, Antonia Hylton, moderated the forum with three student reporters: Lillian Stephens, Aleisha Robinson and Tavon Thomasson.

Alsobrooks  said she was happy to attend the forum, which gave her another opportunity to introduce herself to voters. 

Gun violence 

Firearms were a crucial part of the discussion, as gun violence in the country is a growing concern among voters. 

The 2022 report by Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions stated that “since 2013, the gun death rate among children and teens (1–17) has increased 106 percent. Guns were the leading cause of death among children and teens, accounting for more deaths than car crashes, overdoses, or cancers.”

Data also shows that the fatalities linked to gun violence are higher in Black teens and children.

“In 2021, 46 percent of all gun deaths among children and teens involved Black victims, even though only 14 percent of the U.S. under 18 population that year was Black.” The study also stated that “both the number and rate of children and teens killed by gunfire in 2021 were higher than at any point since at least 1999.”

A panelist pointed out that the Morgan State University community is no stranger to the effects and loss of gun violence. Next month marks a year since the campus shooting that curtailed homecoming events. 

Alsobrooks shared that she was Prince George’s County’s first full-time domestic violence prosecutor, and the issue of gun violence is something that she cares about.

“It is unconscionable that we have had leaders who have been unwilling to make common sense changes that would prevent our children from dying of gun violence.”

According to the Office of Governor Wes Moore ,”Maryland ranks number 31 among the highest rate of gun deaths in the United States.”

Alsobrooks expressed that she has worked towards solving this issue, and as senator, she is going to sign legislation to help resolve the massive gun violence issue. 

“I will work to pass sensible gun legislation to make sure that we are working to ban assault weapons from our communities,” Alsobrooks said.

Reproductive rights 

The Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court case in 197 legalized abortion in the United States. However, it was overturned in 2022. Since then, more than 20 states have placed severe restrictions on abortion or outlawed the procedure all together. 

“It is important that women all over the country have access to reproductive freedoms,” Alsobrooks said. 

“The laws should be equal across the country, which is why I will be in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act.”

The Women’s Health Protection Act protects abortion access and, according to Congress, “prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services.” The act was introduced in 2023 by Wisconsin’s  democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Economic goals

Aside from gun violence and reproductive rights, the cost of living and inflation were also a key point in the conversation with Alsobrooks. 

She explained that her goal is to attract more companies and opportunities to the state, which would create jobs for the residents she hopes to represent.

“My goal is to attract investment to the state of Maryland that will help large technology companies and other companies that want to invest in the state so that we have six-figure jobs for our young people,” said Alsobrooks. “I’m going to be fighting hard to bring jobs to Maryland.”

Alsobrooks told those in attendance that she is hopeful about the outcome of this election, which will take place in less than 50 days. “I’m going to be a good senator,” said Alsobrooks. “I’m going to go there with not only experience I’ve had over the last 27 years as an executive, but I’m going to take my lived experience.”

Attendees left the forum feeling informed and more knowledgeable about Alsobrooks and her stances on important issues.

“I feel invigorated,” 71-year-old Faye Belt told the AFRO. “Now that we realize it’s all about our future – we can move in a way that we can save this [country].”

The post Angela Alsobrooks, top Democratic senate candidate in Maryland, speaks on economy, reproductive rights with HBCU students appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Alexis Taylor

AFRO Managing Editor

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore delivered electrifying speeches on day three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. A host of noted leaders and elected officials spoke straight to voters via live stream on the DNC’s official Youtube channel. Both implored voters to take part in the 2024 election and gave moving personal testimony to why they are in support of electing Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz into the positions of president and vice president, respectively.

“America is an ongoing project. It requires commitment. It requires being open to the hard work and the ‘heart work’ of democracy –and every now and then–it requires standing up to life’s bullies,” said Winfrey, on Aug. 21 at the Chicago-based convention. “I know this. I’ve lived in Mississippi, in Tennessee, in Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, California…and sweet home, Chicago, Ill.”

Winfrey told the crowd that she has “actually traveled this country from the Redwood Forest…to the Gulf Stream waters,” invoking the lyrics of Woody Guthrie’s 1956 song, “This Land Is Your Land.” 

“I’ve seen racism, and sexism, and income inequality and division. I’ve not only seen it at times I’ve been on the receiving end of it. But more often than not, what I’ve witnessed and experienced are human beings –both Conservative and Liberal– who may not agree with each other, but who’d still help you in a heartbeat if you were in trouble,” Winfrey continued. “These are the people who make me proud to say that ‘I am an American.’ They are the best of America, and despite what some would have you think, we are not so different from our neighbors.” 

Winfrey said that her message was for her fellow registered, independent voters and those who are still undecided. 

With less than four months left before Election Day 2024 on Nov. 5, time is quickly running out.

Winfrey said now is the time to decide “what we want our futures to look like.” 

“There are choices to be made when we cast our ballot,” she said, reminding voters that when it comes to the candidates up for election, “values and character matter most of all.”

Wes Moore spoke moments after Winfrey, and started his address with how Harris proved she was ready to be president when it came to the state of Maryland. 

“On March 26 at 1:30 in the morning a container ship the length of three football fields slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the bridge collapsed. A port that drives 13 percent of our state’s economy was now closed,” recalled Moore. “Thousands of workers were hours away from waking up and realizing they no longer had a job. Six Marylanders who had been on the bridge in the middle of the night fixing potholes lost their lives. And one of the first phone calls that I got that morning started with these three words ‘Gov. it’s Kamala.’ She said ‘I know you spoke to the president and I want you to know that we are here with you every step of the way.’” 

Moore said that his training and actual experience leading soldiers in combat in Afghanistan taught him that “you never learn anything about anybody when times are easy. You learn everything you need to know about somebody when times are hard and the temperature gets turned up.” 

“America, I saw that Kamala Harris is the right one to lead in this moment first hand,” he told the audience. “United, with the Almighty God’s grace, we brought closure to the families of the six victims and while many said that it could take 11 months to reopen the Port of Baltimore, we got it done in 11 weeks because that is the story of America. We are a nation of patriots who serve when the mission is hard and who serve when the destination is uncertain.” 

Moore spoke to voters who have become disillusioned. 

“I know our history isn’t perfect. The unevenness of the American journey has made some skeptical, but I’m not asking you to give up your skepticism. I just want that skepticism to be your companion and not your captor,” said Moore. “I’m asking that you join us in the work, because ‘making America great’ doesn’t mean telling people you’re not wanted. And loving your country does not mean lying about its history.” 

Moore said that Harris is a “prosecutor who defended our freedoms” that “had Maryland’s back” when the state “needed it most.”

“Now, MVP, we’ve got your back as well,” he said, before turning his attention to his “ fellow veteran,” Walz. 

“Tim knows that in the military you count the days towards mission completion. We have ‘75 days and a wake up’ until election day,” said Moore, using military terminology for how soldiers in combat count the days before they can wake up and head home. “Seventy-five days and a wake up for us to prove what Americans can do when the pressure is on; Seventy-five days and a wake up for us to show that true patriots do not whine and complain–we put our heads down and we get to work.”

“Seventy-five days and a wake up to build a future that those who came before us hoped for, and those who come after us deserve,” Moore continued, rousing the crowd. “Seventy-five days and a wake up to elect a leader who is willing to believe in the best of us and that leader is Kamala Harris, the next president of the United States.”

The post Oprah Winfrey, Gov. Wes Moore speak at 2024 Democratic National Convention appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com

Madeline Seck
AFRO Intern
mseck@afro.com

and

Lizzy Suber
AFRO Intern
lizzysuber@afro.com

* As severe weather is expected on Aug. 6, some 2024 National Night Out events may be rescheduled or canceled.

Every year since 1984, National Night Out (NNO) events give locals and law enforcement time to bridge the gap and come together to make connections with members who serve their communities. 2024 marks NNO’s 40th anniversary, as it is celebrated every first Tuesday in Aug.. The AFRO has compiled a list of NNO events happening in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia and surrounding areas to attend as summer winds down. Take a look to see what’s happening near you! 

Baltimore 

Baltimore City’s National Night Out

This city-wide event, encouraged by Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Police Department, will give residents and local law enforcement an opportunity to connect and come together. This event will have free food, games, giveaways and entertainment. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location:  Main Event: 

     1034 North Mount Street 

                 Baltimore, MD 21217 

Cost: Free

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland Baltimore Police Department, Campus Public Safety and the Community Engagement Center will host a National Night Out event, offering resources, free food and much more! 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: BioPark Lot, located 

                at the corner of West Baltimore

                and South Poppleton Street 

Cost: Free 

NNO with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Baltimore Alumnae Chapter 

Make sure to bring your family and friends to the Delta Community Center to speak with elected officials and learn more about the organization and their work in the community. The event will also feature face painting, games and book giveaways. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. 

Location: Delta Community Center 

                 2501 Springhill Avenue 

                 Baltimore, MD 21215 

Cost: Free 

NNO at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church

Join Mt. Sinai Baptist Church for a night of music, a bike raffle, fresh produce giveaways and snowballs to celebrate NNO with local community members. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church

    922 E. Preston Street

    Baltimore, MD 21202

Cost: Free

Howard County 

NNO with the Howard County Police Department

The Howard County Police Department will host their NNO event at Clarksville Commons. The occasion will feature police and fire displays, kid-friendly games and live entertainment. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Clarksville Commons 

                12230 and 12250 Clarksville Pike 

                Clarksville, MD 21029 

Cost: Free 

Winter Growth’s Front Porch 

On Aug. 6, the Winter Growth Assisted Living and Memory Care will host an NNO event where there will be family  games, snacks and refreshments. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 6 p.m – 8 p.m. 

Location: 5460 Ruth Keeton Way,

    Columbia, MD 21044

Cost: Free 

NNO with the Harper’s Choice Community Association

Connect with community members via the Harper’s Choice Community Association. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the activities while also learning about resources available to help the neighborhood. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Joseph Square,

    5440 Old Tucker Row

    Columbia, MD 21044 

Cost: Free

Montgomery County 

NNO in Olney

The Olney Chamber of Commerce’s NNO event promises fire prevention information, face painting, arts and crafts and police cruisers — something for everyone throughout the day. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Fair Hill 

                18100 Town Center Drive 

                Olney, MD 20832  

Cost: Free 

NNO with Montgomery County Police

Come out to downtown Silver Spring for a night of dancing, prizes from restaurants and stores, refreshments and more. Attendees are also encouraged to participate in police and fire safety and awareness activities while at the event.

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Ellsworth Place

    8661 Colesville Rd 

    Silver Spring, MD 20910

Cost: Free

Anne Arundel County  

NNO with the Anne Arundel County Police Department

The Anne Arundel County Police Department invites everyone to the National Night Out event that will give visitors the opportunity to enhance their relationship with neighbors and local law enforcement to truly understand the meaning of community. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Kinder Farm Park 

                1001 Kinder Farm Park Road 

                Millersville, MD, 21108 

Cost: Free

NNO with the Old Brooklyn Park Community Association

The Old Brooklyn Park Community Association presents their North County NNO. Along with games, prizes and free food, the event will also feature visits by police officers, firefighters and representatives from other county services such as the Department of Aging and the Office of Emergency Management.

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: 10th Avenue Ballpark

     320 10th Avenue 

     Brooklyn Park, MD 212245

Cost: Free

NNO at the Annapolis Library

Come to the Annapolis Library to enjoy a community-building NNO event as they work to connect neighborhoods with each other and the local police department through giveaways, free food and exciting games.

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p..m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Annapolis Library

    1410 West Street

    Annapolis, MD 21401

Cost: Free

Prince George’s County 

National Night Out Against Crime

Join the Bowie Police Department for NNO to connect with members of the city of Bowie and those who serve to protect the community. At this event, expect to have fun and learn about crime prevention resources.

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Allen Pond Park 

            3330 Northview Drive

     Bowie, MD 20716

Cost: Free 

City of Glenarden Police Department for NNO

The City of Glenarden invites residents to spend time outdoors for food, music and family-friendly fun. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Location: Glenarden Municipal Center

    8600 Glenarden Parkway 

    Glenarden, MD 20706 

Cost: Free 

City of College Park

The City of College Park, near the University of Maryland welcomes you to their night out celebration to raise awareness to prevent crime and increase safety. The festivities will include moon bounces, refreshments and more outdoor activities. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Duvall Field 

    9100 Rhode Island Ave 

    College Park, MD 20740

Cost: Free 

Washington, D.C. 

NNO with the Metropolitan Police Department 

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of the District of Columbia invites D.C. residents and community leaders to come together to advocate for crime and drug prevention and strengthen police and neighborhood relationships. The community will be open to events such as cookouts, block parties, candlelight vigils, athletic events and more.

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 4 p.m – 8 p.m. 

Location: Main event 

    Sycamore and Oak

    1110 Oak Drive, SE 

Cost: Free 

Lansburgh Park 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 5 p.m – 8 p.m. 

Location: 1098 Delaware Avenue, SW

Cost: Free 

Guy Mason Recreation Center

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 5 p.m – 8 p.m. 

Location:  3600 Calvert Street, NW

Cost: Free 

Kennedy Recreation Center 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 5:30 p.m – 8 p.m. 

Location: 1401 Seventh Street, NW

Cost: Free 

Edgewood Recreation Center 

Celebrate NNO at the Edgewood Recreation Center with a block show, cookout and visits with members of the local and police and fire departments. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 4  p.m – 7:30 p.m. 

Location: 300 Evarts Street, NE

Cost: Free 

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church invites residents young and old to fellowship, network and enjoy all that National Night Out has to offer.

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 3  p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Location: 3000 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Cost: Free 

Northern Virginia 

NNO with the Fairfax Police Department

Community members are invited to gather with the Fairfax Police Department’s Chief of Police for a night of anti-crime rallies, family-friendly activities and other special events.

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Location: Sully District Station

    12099 Government Center Parkway

    Fairfax, VA 22035

Cost: Free

Manassas City Police Department

Come join the Manassas City Police Department for police demonstrations, free food and games. 

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Location: Manassas Museum Lawn 

                9101 Prince William Street 

                Manassas, VA 20110 

Cost: Free 

NNO at Stonebridge Recreation Center

The Stonebridge Recreation Center will be hosting their night out event during the day where there will be entertainment by Brad Spivey and Eric Lee, vendors and free food. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Location: Stonebridge Recreation Center 

                 230 Karl Linn Drive 

                 Chesterfield, VA 23225 

Cost: Free 

NNO Neighborhood Bash

The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation will be hosting this community building event where there will be music and fun for the entire community. 

Date: Aug. 6 

Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Ettrick Park 

                20621 Woodpecker Road 

                South Chesterfield, VA 23803 

Cost: Free 

Bensley Park NNO Neighborhood Bash

The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation will host their community building event with music and fun for the entire family.

Date: Aug. 6

Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Location: Bensley Community Building 

                 2900 Drewrys Bluff Road 

                 Richmond, VA 23237 

Cost: Free

The post Upcoming National Night Out events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The AFRO has learned that Maryland Governor Wes Moore will endorse Kamala Harris today. 

According to sources, his intention to unequivocally endorse Harris was announced by Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore late last night on a Zoom call hosted by Win With Black Women. The meeting was closed to press and off the record for those present. 

More than 40,000 Black women were on the call, which began around 10 p.m. on June 21 and concluded after midnight on July 22. Attendees described the occasion as “electrifying” and “encouraging.” As a result, more than 1.5 million dollars were raised during the meeting. 

Dozens of prominent Black women, including elected officials and leaders of national organizations including the Divine Nine, spoke in support of Harris for president.  Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks gave comments, as well as CEO and President of the National Council of Negro Women President Shavon Arline-Bradley; Dr. Johnnetta Cole; Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif- 43); U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30); Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-3); Bernice King, who said this is the first time she’s ever publicly endorsed a presidential candidate, and Bishop Vashti McKenzie.  

The post Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to endorse Kamala Harris for president appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) spoke at the commencement for the first cohort of the Maryland Corps Service Year Option, a campaign promise of Moore’s.

“Keep doing you, keep serving, keep protecting each other. This is going to be a moment that people will remember for generations to come and they are going to remember you,” said Moore to the large cohort of graduates at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 16. “I want to thank you for being leaders and making your entire state proud.”

The program, which began in 2023, offers recent high school graduates, GED recipients or those with a school completion certificate, an opportunity to get exposed to different career paths and serve their community while earning at least $15 an hour. The first year of this program saw around 240 corps members graduate.

“The work all of us have done was not just to fulfill our duties, but to make a real difference in the lives of those around us,” said Courtnei Wright, Maryland Corps Service Year Option Graduate, to her peers on the sweltering hot day. “I especially want to extend my thanks to Governor Wes Moore and to the state of Maryland for providing us with this opportunity and experience like no other.”

Paul Monteiro, secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, emphasized the diversity among the cohort and how they were able to work together despite those differences.

“I am proud to say there are Republicans in this concourse, they’re Democrats in this concourse and they’re independents in this concourse,” said Monteiro. “I’m proud to say that we have almost every jurisdiction in this state in this concourse right now, and over 80 percent of this cohort, started the race and finished it together.”

About 500 people are expected to be in the 2024-2025 cohort. This new cohort will begin on September 11 and conclude in Summer 2025. 

Nancy Noriega, an executive assistant at one of the host sites for the members Asian American Center of Frederick, shared that three of the four members at her site will continue with her company after graduating.

“It’s great for us because they know the ins and outs and we’re excited that they want to continue servicing the community,” said Noriega. “We are a nonprofit, and we serve a lot of refugee and immigrant families that come to the U.S. We help them prepare with citizenship services, also English classes. The members that we have played a really big role in helping us reach out to the community, doing outreach with us for the different programs that we have.”

Noriega said her organization had a pleasant overall experience and are looking forward to welcoming the next group of cohort members in September.

The post Maryland leaders celebrate graduation of first cohort of Gov. Wes Moore’s service year program appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) alongside several top state officials and legislators announced a historical number of pardons, over 175,000, for convictions related to low-level marijuana offenses on June 17. 

To the sound of applause, Moore emphasized that Maryland must address the consequences of criminalization done in large part by the war on drugs, a legal effort meant to address illegal drug use by increasing the incarceration and penalties of convicted drug offenders.

“We know that legalization does not turn back the clock on decades of harm that was caused by the war on drugs. It doesn’t erase the fact that Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than White Marylanders,” said Moore. “Policy making is powerful. If you look at the past, you see how policies have been intentionally deployed to hold back entire communities. We are talking about tools that have led to the mass incarceration of Black men and boys.”

“To undo that kind of intentionality, we need to apply intentionality of our own,” said Moore. “Today, we take a big step enacting the kinds of policies that can reverse the harms of the past and to help us to work together to build a brighter future.”

Recreational cannabis use and possession was legalized in Maryland on July 1, 2023, for adults 21 and up.

Moore’s signing ceremony marked one of the largest state-level pardons in the country. The governor’s office said that an estimated 100,000 people will be impacted by the pardons.

In a virtual call ahead of the announcement, the governor’s office said there are no people currently incarcerated solely on misdemeanor charges in Maryland. Due to that, there will be no people released from jail exclusively due to these pardons.

“The legacy that the war on drugs has had on our city of Baltimore – and many places around the country like it – is still visceral and tangible. We still see and feel the wounds every day in the lives, families and communities that were disrupted and destroyed,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a statement after the ceremony. “For those receiving the pardons – which includes thousands upon thousands of Baltimoreans – it will be life-changing.”

Baltimore City is receiving an overwhelming 39,865 pardons, 22.77 percent, compared to Baltimore County’s 22,298, 12.74 percent, and Prince George’s County’s 21,080, 12.04 percent.

“I want to thank and commend Governor Moore for his commitment, compassion and love for the people who have been so impacted by this history,” continued Scott. “This action and our work together to overcome the dark legacy of our predecessors, will lay the foundation for a better, safer future for all of our residents.”

Now that the executive order has been signed, the Maryland Judiciary will make sure every individual court docket is updated, notifying those who were pardoned by Moore of their status. The process should take around two weeks according to the governor’s office.

Moore’s executive order pardoned misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis and misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. 

Through this order, more than 150,000 convictions were pardoned for simple possession of cannabis and over 18,000 convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. 

“This legislative session, we prioritized re-entry reform and transforming our system in our state of Maryland for returning citizens. We focused on expungement and expanding expungements and making them automatic,” said Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Chairwoman Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Md.-20), after the ceremony. “This is just really a true partnership in terms of the governor’s actions to absolve people of their crimes.”

When asked to respond to people who may not believe pardons for past marijuana convictions are necessary or helpful Wilkins said, “We know that it’s the right thing to do, and it moves us towards equity in our state.”

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

 Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) announced on June 5 that he has been appointed to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The decision to appoint the veteran congressman was made by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and was later unanimously approved by the U.S. House Democratic Caucus.

“From my time on the Baltimore City Council, fighting to divest city funds from the then-apartheid government of South Africa, to working alongside former President Bill Clinton to bring peace and order in Haiti, I have never shied away from using whatever platform I have had to find solutions to global problems,” stated Mfume.

While serving in this position Mfume will be responsible for oversight and legislation regarding national security developments affecting foreign policy; foreign assistance; the Peace Corps; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, treaties, executive agreements and the deployment and use of United States Armed Forces. He will also be lending his expertise to peacekeeping, peace enforcement; enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; arms control and disarmament issues and a plethora of other matters.

“This appointment is a tremendous honor and responsibility that I do not take lightly given today’s state of affairs. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to ensure the United States remains an advocate for peace, security, and equality both at home and abroad,” Mfume shared.

Although this role with the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs is Mfume’s most recent venture in the world of politics, he has a lengthy record when it comes to serving his community and our nation. He’s served as a member of Congress under five presidents, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, Donald J. Trump, and Joseph R. Biden. He is currently working in Congress as a member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and the Congressional Caribbean Caucus.

 In addition to this, he has witnessed and served through events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the first Gulf War, the Panamanian incursion (“Operation Just Cause”), U.S. intervention in Haiti (“Operation Uphold Democracy”), attempts to coordinate foreign interference in U.S. elections, the rise of global cyberthreats and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.

“From the famine in Africa to the strife in the Middle East, there are so many hotspots today that require strong voices for fairness. I have worked tirelessly throughout my life and in many different capacities to address global issues that impact our people,” Mfume shared. “I am eager to utilize my experiences and begin working now as the only Maryland congressperson appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO 

U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-Md lost his bid to become the Democratic nominee to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate after spending more than 60 million dollars on his campaign.

On May 14, the nation watched as Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks battled it out in the polls. Ultimately Maryland voters had the final say and casted their votes in favor of Alsobrooks.

Following the results, Trone hosted an election night celebration at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, located near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore City, where hundreds of his supporters attended. For a few hours Trone’s guests mixed and mingled while enjoying cocktails and small plates which included prime rib, mashed potatoes, shrimp and grits, egg rolls, assorted desserts and much more.

Towards the end of the night, Trone thanked his supporters in a speech and encouraged them to support Alsobrooks on Nov. 5.

“I wished the best of luck and I need all of you to come together to support the Democratic party,” said Trone. “We cannot let the party of Trump take our Senate. We also have to go out and take back the United States House.”

He concluded his speech by also rallying behind President Joe Biden.

“We need to re-elect Joe Biden,” said Trone. “We need to either put Donald Trump in retirement or maybe convict him–but, he’s got to go.”

Deni Taveras, a Maryland State Delegate told the AFRO that Alsobrooks won the primary election partly because her team capitalized on Trone’s use of the word “jigaboo,” a known racial slur, during a congressional hearing in March.

“They leveraged that and other things to help her win,” said Taveras.

David Grogan, a Prince George’s County resident, said in an interview with the AFRO that he is disappointed in the election results.

Grogan voted for Trone because he places “value in experience. If we don’t have experienced people in office, we put people in office to be figureheads.”

“I love David Trone’s tenacity, I love his grit, I love his experience and I love that he cares about all people including Black and brown people and that’s rare,” he said.

Alsobrooks will now go head to head with former Maryland Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan on Nov. 5.

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By D. Kevin McNeir 
and Stephanie Harper 
Special to the AFRO

Rep.  David Trone shelled out more than $61 million of his own money in his bid for the U.S. Senate, outspending his opponent, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks by a 10 to 1 margin. 

In the end, it wasn’t enough. 

Not only did Alsobrooks defeat the three-term congressman– she did it by a margin larger than experts had predicted on primary election day.

According to unofficial 2024 primary election results from the Maryland Board of Elections (BOE), as of 9:16  a.m. on May 16, Alsobrooks had captured 54.02 percent of 451,560 votes, with 243,952 residents selecting her name on the ballot. Trone received 189,101 votes, or 41.88 percent of all ballots cast. 

On the Republican side, former Maryland governor Larry Hogan easily defeated his opponents to secure his party’s nomination, garnering 61.88 percent of the votes, according to the Maryland BOE. And while he’s facing long odds in the deep blue state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, Hogan has shown that he can win, even among Democrats. In 2014 and 2018, Democrats chose him for governor at 25 percent and 28 percent, respectively. 

The primary election for U.S. Senate in Maryland gained national attention after Senator Ben Cardin (D), who has been in office since 2007 announced that he would not run for reelection, and then Hogan, with the prompting of several high profile Republicans, decided to enter the race. 

During his acceptance speech, Hogan, who has been one of the most outspoken Republicans when publicly criticizing Donald Trump, said he’s an independent thinker and promised Marylanders that he would support a women’s right to choose.  

To her credit, Alsobrooks’ campaign, with just $8 million in her war chest, relied on the more traditional grassroots approach, as she crisscrossed the state for nearly a year while strategically winning over a majority of the state’s political elite, racking in endorsements from Democrats that included Maryland Governor Wes Moore; U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (Md.); Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.); Rep. Glen Ivey (Md.); Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott and fellow Maryland county executives for Howard, Baltimore, Montgomery, Charles and Anne Arundel counties. 

Alsobrooks consolidated support from counties with significant Black voting populations, including Prince George’s and Charles counties and Baltimore City. More than half, or 56 percent, of the State’s African Americans live in two jurisdictions: Prince George’s County and Baltimore City.

While Trone engaged in campaign tactics some decried as negative, particularly in many of his commercials, Alsobrooks refused to do the same. Instead, she has taken a page out of the book of former first lady Michelle Obama, who has repeatedly advised Democrats, “when they go low, we go high.” 

Alsobrooks, who took the lion share of the vote among early voters, jumped out to an early lead less than 15 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday night and never looked back. 

Before speaking to her constituents, Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor and an ardent supporter of Alsobrooks, got a packed room of supporters in Greenbelt, MD, excited. 

“She’s been known to be the one to put things together and I can’t think of anyone else who will get the job done,” said Moore.

Then, Alsobrooks took the stage. 

“I have so many people to thank, but first I have to recognize my parents who raised me with deep faith, love and the belief that there was a place for me,” she said. “And Marylanders, there’s a place for you, too.”

She also thanked her “North Star” – her daughter. 

“My daughter is the reason that I ran because all of our children deserve the chance to live, to grow and to be safe,” she said. 

Then, as if she could hardly contain her excitement over what she and her team had accomplished, Alsobrooks said, “Tonight, we’ve made history.” 

The next few months will be crucial for Alsobrooks, as the general election day nears. 

She said that despite being a blue state, Maryland can ill-afford to take Hogan or the Democratic Party’s chance of winning for granted. Alsbrooks is determined to push forward.

“I am not weary and I hope in the next few months I have the opportunity to show all those that I am not weary,” she said. “There have been statements from the other side that I can’t do the job, but we know I can and will see Governor Hogan in November.”

Alsobrooks made it clear that, with her team, she is determined to take Maryland to the Senate with clear intentions and purpose. 

During his brief concession speech, Trone congratulated his opponent, although he never called her by name, and asked those who voted for him to give Alsobrooks their support. 

“We’ve got to hold the Senate,” he said. 

Should Alsobrooks defeat Hogan in the general election she will make history as the first Black person from Maryland to go to the Senate. 

If the people of Maryland choose her again in November, she will become only the third Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate in American history. Last year, California’s Laphonza Butler was appointed to replace the late Dianne Feinstein, but prior to that, Carole Moseley Braun served from 1993 to 1999 in Illinois, and Kamala Harris was elected to serve California from 2017 to 2021, before ascending to the seat of U.S. vice president. 

The AFRO spoke with Alsobrooks supporter, Wendy Finley, from Suitland, Md. 

“She was not only born and raised in Prince George’s County, but she connects with the people, understands the people, and is very involved. From what I see, she comes down to her community, especially her senior population, which supports her thoroughly,” said Finley. “She talks with them and I haven’t seen other county executives do something like that.”

Stephen Thomas, owner of Sweet Tooth Café and resident of Upper Marlboro, Md. also spoke with the AFRO.

“I remember Alsobrooks when she was the State Attorney and she had a reentry program for returning citizens. The program allowed them to complete their GEDs, have their records expunged and assist with job reentry,” said Thomas. “She proved that she has passion and concern for the people that live in her community. She stamped out violent crimes in her county by 50 percent and strived through COVID with her efforts.”

Chonya Johnson, Prince George’s County resident, told the AFRO that Alsobrooks has “been a friend and colleague of more than 20 years.”

“She has consistently proven herself as a leader that I would put my trust in. She represents the values and principles that I stand on,” said Johnson. 

Alsobrooks supporters shouted in jubilation at her victory and primary election night and attributed it to accomplishments such as advocating and winning the bid for the relocation of the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt, and securing $67 million from the state for a new cancer center. Celebrating well into the evening, the supporters, media, friends and family enjoyed the election victory and the party that followed. 

This article originally incorrectly stated the number of voters that cast a ballot for Angela Alsobrooks.  The error was made by the AFRO editorial team, not the author. The numbers and percentages have been updated with the most recent ballot results from the Maryland Board of Elections, as of May 16. 

The post Alsobrooks defeats Trone by decisive margin, wins Maryland Democratic primary for U.S. Senate   appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

NEWS:

The AFRO announced their full slate of endorsements for the 2024 campaign, including Angela Alsobrooks for U.S. Senate, Brandon M. Scott for Baltimore City mayor, Nick Mosby for president of the Baltimore City Council and more. The full list of endorsements includes:

• Angela Alsobrooks for U.S. Senate
• Brandon M. Scott for Mayor
• Nick Mosby for Baltimore City Council President
• President Biden and Vice President Harris for re-election 
• Kweisi Mfume for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District 
• John “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District 
• Mike Rogers for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District 
• Bill Henry for Baltimore City Comptroller

For Baltimore City Council Representatives

• District 1 No endorsement 
• District 2 Danielle McCray
• District 3 Margo Bruner-Settles
• District 4 Mark Conway
• District 5 Isaac Schleifer
• District 6 Sharon Green Middleton
• District 7 James Torrence
• District 8 Bilal Ali
• District 9 John T. Bullock
• District 10 Phylicia Porter
• District 11 Eric Costello
• District 12 Robert Stokes Sr.
• District 13 Antonio Glover
• District 14 Odette Ramos

For Baltimore County Circuit Court Judges

Vote to Retain 

• Judge Michael S. Barranco
• Judge Patricia M. DeMaio
• Judge Marc A. DeSimone Jr.
• Judge James Rhodes

Candidates secured the coveted endorsement after a robust process, through which candidates were vetted by the AFRO editorial team.

“Our endorsement process includes valuable input from community members, particularly individuals who have a finger on the pulse of the issues at the grassroots level” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO and publisher of the AFRO. 

#Endorsements #AFROEndorsements #Election2024 #Primaryelection

#voters #Blackvoters #ElectionDay2024

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., recently held a town hall meeting in the Turner Station community to address the needs of his constituents.

“Turner Station has a special place in my heart. That’s where I was born and grew up in my formative years,” Mfume told the AFRO.

On May 9, the congressman met with residents at the Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center in Dundalk to discuss various concerns, such as flooding following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, ending food deserts in the area and combating pollution that has led to increased rates of cancer, asthma, heart disease and lung disease. 

People want “to be heard” and to know that “people in elected office care,” Mfume said. 

Many residents expressed concern about structural damage and sediment remediation in the Patapsco River following the collapse of the Key Bridge on March 26 after a Dali ship rammed into the structure, killing six construction workers. The ship was en route to Sri Lanka when it lost power and crashed into the bridge, causing the throughway to plummet into the Patapsco River.  

“We want to make sure that sediments that are dug up do not find their way into water systems and drinking water,” Mfume said.  

As for the issue of food deserts in Turner Station, Mfume told the AFRO that residents have to travel to “Dundalk or over to Merritt Boulevard and find shopping centers where they can get quality food and fruits.”

The Maryland lawmaker added that he is “committed to trying to find a way to start the process of putting in place a compelling argument that would a supermarket in Turner Station.”

More than a year ago, due to redistricting, Turner Station joined Mfume’s 7^th Congressional district. He told the AFRO that it has been “gratifying.”

“It gives me a sense of ownership and familiarity that I wouldn’t have otherwise,” said the lawmaker. “Their problems are my problems.”

Mfume added that having talks with the community is essential, particularly in the wake of redistricting.

“I thought it was incumbent upon me to get out to communities that were not in the district previously so that they would know me and I would know them,” he said. He continued, “The best way to do that is to have regular conversations on all the topics that they care about and are impacted by and then try to find a way to put forward a plan of action in each case.”

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By AFRO Staff

Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. stands out when scrolling the list of candidates for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District.

As county executive, he has modernized Baltimore County’s government and addressed issues like police reform and gun safety. Though he is only 41, he is a veteran of politics, having served in political offices since he was 23.

Olszewski was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006, serving District 6 until 2015. While there, he served as chairman of the Baltimore County House Delegation, helping lead economic growth and school board reform efforts for the county. He was also in the House Economic Matters Committee and chaired the subcommittee on Banking, Economic Development, Science and Technology.

In the past month, Olszewski  has shown extraordinary leadership as state and local leaders plan and execute recovery efforts for the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in the early morning hours of March 26 after being struck by a container ship. The catastrophic event has been gracefully handled by Olszewski and an array of stakeholders.

Olszewski has served the community in a variety of ways over the years, including being a teacher in the Baltimore County Public School System, being a member of the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee and a delegate in the 2012 Democratic Party National Convention.

For all of these reasons, the AFRO endorses Olszewski as the Democratic nominee to represent 2nd Congressional District.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) made the issue of better housing his mission during the 2024 Maryland legislative session, working hard with legislators to ensure support for renters and homeowners in the state. 

On April 25, at his second bill signing after the 2024 session, Moore said there is a “shortage” of “a minimum of 96,000 units” in his state. 

“Thirty percent of younger Marylanders are considering leaving our state simply because of housing costs. You cannot have a growing state if people cannot afford to live here.”

More than 52 percent of Maryland renters spend 30 percent or more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result, Moore authored and signed the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024, the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 and the Housing and Community Development Financing Act.

“This was the year that we made the choice to put housing front and center because we knew this was an issue that could not wait,” said Moore, who identified the efforts as “legislation that is making our state more affordable.”

According to the governor’s office, between October 2021 and October 2023, the household income necessary to afford a median-priced home in Maryland increased by 56 percent, from $85,000 to $132,000. 

Moore also signed the Freedom to Read Act, which aims to prevent politically motivated book bans and ensure students have access to a range of viewpoints. House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10) spoke on the work being done to discourage discrimination and racism in Maryland.

“Over the past few years, I’ve seen anger and hate resurface as part of our political discourse. We’ve seen political discourse pull apart our communities, families and friends,” said Jones, adding that she was proud of the Freedom to Read Act because she “wanted to put some safeguards and best practices in place” to prevent hate “from taking further root in our state.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By D. Kevin McNeir 

Alex Ye, 18, of Rockville, Md., was charged on April 18, with threatening mass violence after collaborative investigations by state, county and federal officials uncovered multiple social media posts and a 129-page “manifesto” written by the youth, describing a desire to shoot up both a local elementary and high school. 

Following Ye’s arrest, Montgomery County Police Department Chief Marcus Jones led an April 19 news conference to update the community. 

Jones commended his colleagues for their collective efforts which prevented what could have resulted in a tragic outcome, further citing the significance of a witness who came forward alerting officials about Ye’s threats and other signs of mental instability. 

“Mr. Ye has been arrested for allegedly planning a school shooting and this situation highlights the critical importance of vigilance and community involvement in preventing potential tragedies,” Jones said. “Swift action and cooperation by members of the Montgomery County and Rockville Police departments, the FBI, Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Health and Human Services helped to prevent a potentially catastrophic event. However, it took considerable patience by all involved led by investigators whose advice we followed in not making any rash decisions.”

The schools alleged identified as Ye’s targets include Wootton High School and Lakewood Elementary School, both in Rockville. 

Jones was joined at the press conference by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich; FBI Special Agent Bill DelBagno; Montgomery County Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull; John McCarthy, State’s Attorney for Montgomery County; and Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, among others. 

Jones said in working with county schools for the past several years, their goal has been to deescalate situations, rather than making an arrest each time threats are made. 

“So far this year, we have received 140 threats to our schools in the county,” he said. “In those instances–particularly when it comes to threats of shooting or a bomb– when we have identified the student, we make visits to the family residence and speak to parents and the student to make sure the student is incapable of carrying out the threat. In those cases, no arrests were made, but the student was referred to the school system for further discipline.”

“This case was different. A concerned witness brought the matter to life and reported the manifesto to authorities. This underscores the importance of community engagement and the ‘see something-say something approach.’ We encourage anyone who has concerns about safety to report them right away. And we want to remind students, parents and staff that support services are available for anyone who may be affected. Finally, while this incident was thwarted, it serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant and proactive in preventing acts of violence,” said Jones who added that Ye’s threats, including his google account and his manifesto, have been part of a thorough investigation that dates back to March 5.  

Jones pointed to one sobering section of the 129-page memoir in which Ye, who alleges that it was merely fiction, said, in efforts to explain why he had included shooting up an elementary school, “little kids make easier targets.” 

Officials agree on need for increased mental health services 

During his comments, Elrich acknowledged the importance of being supportive of one another, particularly in times of distress.

“Because mass shootings have happened before, it’s not unreasonable to believe it could happen again,” Elrich said. “In this case, we know Alex was struggling with mental health issues. I want to commend the witness who came forward. When you see a friend going down a very dark path, you need to contact authorities – not to punish but to help the individual. For some, we hope this is a wake-up call to take things like this more seriously.

“Ye commented on his posts the difficulty he found in obtaining guns. Maryland has some of the toughest laws in the nation in terms of purchasing guns. Some may ask what difference does that make. We are here to say that it can and it does make a difference.” 

Jawando noted that the case involving Alex Ye should remind us that no one is immune to threats of violence which he said have become far too prevalent. 

“Ironically, before this press conference, I was at a hearing in my role as the chairman of education and culture committee for the Montgomery County Council where we were discussing funding for high school mental wellness centers and putting them on the path in our 25 high schools in the County,” he said adding that he wears another hat – as the father of four children, several of whom are now in Montgomery County schools.

“When we engage and connect with each other, that’s how we begin to heal. As a parent, I know you cannot run away from youth – you have to talk with them, even if what you’re discussing makes you afraid. Fortunately, in this case, we responded in a timely fashion. Hopefully, we can now get this young man and his family the help they need,” Jawando said.  

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By Brian Witte
The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced on April 12 the start of a program to help Port of Baltimore businesses retain employees in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

The $12.5 million program aims to prevent layoffs while recovery work continues. The program was created by executive order and authorized by emergency legislation the governor signed on April 9.

“We must do everything in our power to support the 8,000 Port workers whose jobs have been directly affected by the collapse of the Key Bridge — and the thousands more who have been touched by this crisis,” Moore, a Democrat, said in a news release.

The program is being run by the state’s labor department.

“The Worker Retention Program will keep Port businesses in operation and workers able to earn income and support their families as the U.S. Army Corps and others work to get the shipping channels reopened,” said Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu.

Under the program, entities eligible for up to $200,000 in grants include businesses that employ up to 500 workers, unions, trade associations, and organizations that have had operations hindered or completely halted by the port slowdown.

Up to $7,500 can be spent per worker on wages or other support.

Businesses that receive funding under the program must demonstrate an effort to the fullest extent to avoid layoffs and maintain workforce hours, rates of pay, and benefits that were in effect before the port’s reduced operations.

Allowable expenses include supportive services for workers, such as subsidizing child care and transportation costs as well as payroll expenses as part of participation in the Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program.

The governor’s office said other relief programs that were authorized by the legislation signed into law this week will start on April 22.

One of them provides grants of up to $100,000 to eligible businesses that have had operations impacted or shipments disrupted at the port. To be eligible, businesses must demonstrate economic and financial injury through a reduction in business revenue and activity, or increased costs to business operations.

The Department of Commerce: Port of Baltimore Emergency Business Assistance Program will begin accepting applications.

Another program will make a total of $15 million in loans and grants available to businesses that have been affected by a loss of revenue or increased costs, under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

The Small Business Grants Program will have $5 million to offer grants up to $50,000 to small businesses within a 5-mile radius of the Key Bridge, and the Business Loan Program will have $10 million to offer loans up to $500,000 to businesses impacted by the Key Bridge collapse or reduction in Port activity statewide.

The container ship Dali was leaving Baltimore, laden with cargo and headed for Sri Lanka, when it struck one of the bridge’s supporting columns last month, causing the span to collapse into the Patapsco River. 

Six members of a roadwork crew were killed.

—

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By Brennan Stewart 
Capital News Service

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that $206 million in funding will be allocated towards projects aimed at continuing the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. 

The historic levels of funding reflect the Biden administration’s increased investments in environmental programs and infrastructure projects. 

“For a long time, the EPA’s budget has been so small, roughly about $10 billion a year,” EPA Assistant Deputy Administrator Mark Rupp said during a ceremony at the recently-built Lubber Run Community Center here. “Between the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, there’s now over $100 billion flowing through our agency, and it really has been a game changer.” 

With $96 million of the funds coming from President Joe Biden’s so-called “Investing in America” agenda alone, the announcement marked the largest single contribution to the Chesapeake Bay Program in its 41-year history. 

Maryland is expected to receive over $14 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s share of the funds, which in turn makes up 40 individual grant projects.  

Grant recipients include the Baltimore Tree Trust, which plans to educate city residents about planting trees in their communities. 

The Severn River Association will be another recipient. The organization intends to increase and improve stormwater treatment practices on the Severn River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis. 

“Agendas matter, elected officials matter, vision matters,” Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, said. “For the sake of the country, thank God we have the 117th Congress and Joe Biden to sign those bills into law.” 

Attending the ceremony were not only federal officials and members of Congress but also legislators from state and local governments around the Chesapeake Bay.  

Libby Garvey, chair of the Arlington County Board, said funds are going to be used in her community on a small tributary called Grandma’s Creek. 

“(The Grandma’s Creek project) is a great example of community involvement and advocacy for a beloved neighborhood stream,” Garvey said. “This project is going to propose the installation of rain gardens to better manage stormwater and increase the protection of the creek.” 

In addition to rain gardens, the Arlington community will also have the opportunity to participate in organized tree plantings and pop-up educational events centered around nature, Garvey said. The funds for these projects will be derived from the Small Watershed Grants Program, one of three grant programs administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is to receive $193 million of the $206 million.  

The NFWF already has announced it will be giving $1 million to farmers in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, with the intention of implementing high-priority conservation practices that improve water quality. 

“There are 40,000 farms in Pennsylvania, and many of them contribute nutrients and sediment to the bay,” Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, said. “So anything we can do to get Pennsylvania on board with Maryland, Virginia and Delaware will be incredibly important.” 

The Chesapeake Bay Trust, another non-profit grant-making organization, will receive the remaining $13 million from the EPA. The trust will use the money to assist local organizations involved with improving the bay.  

This could include providing operational infrastructure like computers and other hardware, or funding employee training and professional development sessions. 

“We have to do better on agricultural runoff, and we have to do better on stormwater runoff. We do well on sewage treatment and on other point source pollution,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, told Capital News Service. “This $200 million is going to be heavily focused on grants that focus on non-point sources, and we should continue to see significant improvements.” 

This article was originally published by Capital News Service.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

No contamination has been found in the waterways where Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into the structure on March 26, officials said.  Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, members of the Unified Command and other officials recently announced that the waters of the Patapsco River had been tested for contamination and all results were negative.

“There’s no danger inside of the water right now, but we continue to monitor,” said Moore on April 3 about contamination concerns. 

Contamination was a significant concern early on, as parts of the bridge collapsing on the ship caused some containers to burst open and spill into the waterway.

Moore said the Unified Command will “still be out there making sure we’re capturing any type of residue.”

Suzanne Dorsey, the deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, said the number of containers in the water is unclear, but they are “continuing to sample to ensure the safety and health of the Patapsco River.”

On April 4, Moore announced the arrival of 75 containers to the Port of Baltimore through “creative” measures.

“Vessel traffic accounts for the vast majority of economic activity that takes place to and through the port, but to keep things moving we’ve got to get creative,” said Moore. “Over the last few days, a large vessel bound for the Port of Baltimore was rerouted to the Port of New York and New Jersey due to the collapse. I’ve been informed that as of this morning, 75 containers from the rerouted vessel arrived at the Seagirt Marine Terminal at the port of Baltimore.”

Those 75 containers represented less than 5 percent of the average number of containers the port processed daily before the collapse,” Moore added, but he promised, “We will get it back up to full capacity.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Catherine Pugh 

Special to the AFRO 

An office of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’  was broken into on April 5. The office is located at 8455 Colesville Road in Silver Spring, Md. 

Alsobrooks is in the running to represent Maryland in the United States Senate, replacing U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, who has announced he will not seek re-election. Major opponents in the race include David Trone and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

“I’m disappointed to see that our office seems to have been targeted,” said Alsobrooks. “Someone forced their way in, went through sensitive material, threw some of our campaign shirts in the trash and stole personal items from a staff member.” 

No one reportedly has been hurt and the office remains open to campaign workers and the public.  

Alsobrooks told the AFRO that she is not “deterred.”

“This only strengthens our resolve to run the kind of uplifting campaign we’ve been running since day one,” she said.

The election for United States Senate will take place in Maryland on May 14. The deadline to register to vote in the election is Tuesday, April 23. Early voting will begin on May 2.

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By Stephen Janis and Taya Graham 
Special to the AFRO

The small town of Federalsburg on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore for decades used a method of voting that systematically denied African Americans from holding elective office.

This week, the town did something that rarely happens: They issued a formal apology to the residents who had been harmed by that policy.

In what plaintiffs are describing as a landmark settlement, the town agreed to a formal apology which it will frame and display inside city hall. The agreement comes after Black residents, along with the ACLU, had sued the town in 2022, alleging the practice of electing council members “at large” rather than by district had prevented Black residents from being elected.

“The Town of Federalsburg formally acknowledges responsibility and expresses its deep regret for actions and inactions contributing to racial discrimination and exclusion of Black residents, including its use of an election system that prevented any Black person from holding a position on the Town Council over 200 years,” the apology states.

“As officials of the Town, we accept moral accountability for the harm these actions inflicted upon Black residents, their families, and ancestors before them.”

The town has also pledged to annually proclaim Sept. 26, as “Voting Rights Day” to commemorate the historic election of two Black council members. It will also create a Town Unity Committee to foster communications between Black and White residents with an eye to boosting civic engagement and ensuring future elections are conducted fairly. 

Federalsburg is a town of 2,800 residents roughly 30 miles north of Salisbury, Md. It has a four-member town council and a separate mayor’s office. 

Before the lawsuit, city officials were elected at large on odd-numbered years, not by district. The elections were staggered so that each council member was up for reelection every two years. 

Since the town had a slight majority of White residents, a Black councilperson had not been elected in Federalsburg’s roughly 200-year history. 

In 2022, both the ACLU of Maryland and the NAACP, along with several residents, sued the town, arguing the system violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The town initially denied the allegations, canceling the 2023 election. 

The suit was settled after U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled the city had violated The Voting Rights Act and ordered mediation between the opposing parties. The town then agreed to move to four single-member districts, which led to the election of two Black council members in September 2023.

Carl Snowden, the convener of the caucus of African-American leaders, called the settlement a historic win for the rights of Black voters on the Eastern Shore. 

“I commend the town of Federalsburg for settling this federal voting rights case and ensuring that the Black residents of their municipality will be given opportunities for generations to come to elect representatives of their choice,” Snowden said.

“We are particularly pleased that a permanent plaque will be erected to memorialize this important moment in history.” 

Here is the full apology which will be enshrined in a plaque in City Hall:

“By this writing, the Town of Federalsburg formally acknowledges responsibility and expresses its deep regret for actions and inactions contributing to racial discrimination and exclusion of Black residents, including its use of an election system that prevented any Black person from holding a position on the Town Council over 200 years. As officials of the Town, we accept moral accountability for the harms these actions inflicted upon Black residents, their families, and ancestors before them.

“Black residents have lived in Federalsburg since the Town’s founding in 1823, and today make up a much-valued share of our diverse community. In times past, however, the Town excluded Black residents from full participation in the Town’s political life, working a grave injustice for which we are deeply sorry. As officials and residents of the Town of Federalsburg, we have collective responsibility to build a community based firmly on the principle of equality of opportunity, regardless of one’s race or ethnic origin.

“Through this expression of regret to those who endured race-based hardship and injustice, we seek to turn the page on this shameful history, and to begin a process of reconciliation among all of the Town’s residents. Our deep sorrow for past wrongs inspires our unwavering commitment to build a better future for all Federalsburg residents. Going forward, we pledge to do all within our power to ensure that such injustices never happen here again, and to embrace all residents of our Town in an inclusive and vibrant community.”

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Maryland is conducting a disparity study intended to ascertain the presence of racial or gender discrimination within the markets in which the state does business. Business owners have until March 31 to participate in a 10-minute vendor questionnaire and share their encounters – if any – with discrimination and its effect on their ability to compete in Maryland’s marketplace. 

Studies like this enable the state to gather evidence that can provide justification for race- and gender-conscious procurement policies. 

Maryland commissioned MGT Consulting Group to lead the investigation. The firm will collect data on the presence of minority- and women-owned businesses in the state and their utilization as primes and subcontractors in Maryland’s procurement system. 

Aside from the vendor questionnaire, local business owners can email MGT at stateofmddisparitystudy@mgtconsulting.com to indicate their interest in participating in an in-depth interview or focus group. They can also submit comments about their experiences 24/7 using the same email address, calling 301-658-3440 or using the disparity study contact form.

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.

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By Angelique Gingras, Steph Quinn, Sapna Bansil, Lydia Hurley, Tyrah Burris, Kiersten Hacker and Emma Tufo

Capital News Service

A container ship leaving the Port of Baltimore sounded a mayday call just before plowing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early morning hours March 26, collapsing a fixture of the local landscape and prompting a rescue mission for an overnight road crew at work on the bridge at the time of the crash.

The last-minute warning likely saved countless lives by alerting officials to divert traffic away from the bridge, but rescue teams spent the entire day searching for at least six individuals who were part of the construction crew. 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who arrived in Baltimore Tuesday morning, said those aboard the ship alerted authorities they had a “power issue” shortly before the collision.

As a result of the last-minute warning, “local authorities were able to close the bridge to traffic before the bridge was struck, which undoubtedly saved lives,” President Joe Biden told reporters later that afternoon. 

Several road workers were fixing potholes on the bridge at the time of the collapse, according to Paul J. Wiedefeld, Maryland secretary of transportation. Two people were rescued from the water shortly after the collision, officials said.

While the investigation is just beginning, authorities said all signs point to an accident. An FBI spokesperson said there is no evidence this was an act of terrorism. The bridge, which opened 47 years ago this week, was fully up to code, according to Moore.

“To hear the words that the key bridge has collapsed, it’s shocking,” the governor told reporters. “The words that the key bridge is gone, it still shakes us …This is not just unprecedented, it’s heartbreaking.”

Biden addressed reporters Tuesday afternoon, calling on Congress to support reconstruction of the bridge with federal funding. The bridge is crucial for travel through Baltimore and throughout the country’s northeast corridor, he said, while the Port of Baltimore functions as a critical part of the nation’s economy. 

“We’re going to spend all the federal resources (the state) needs as we respond to this emergency. I mean, all federal resources,” said Biden. “We’re going to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible.”

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said the ship struck a column of the bridge in the 1 a.m. hour, causing a major portion of it to snap. Entrances to the bridge were immediately shut down and traffic on this span of I-695 was redirected through the I-95 and I-895 tunnels. 

Rescue efforts were then coordinated by several first responding agencies in the city of Baltimore and Harford County, along with the U.S. Coast Guard.

One patient from the incident was taken to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson confirmed with Capital News Service. 

Synergy Marine Group, the company responsible for the ship’s management, said in a statement that all crew members and two pilots were accounted for and no injuries were reported. 

Dundalk residents gathered along the highway leading to the bridge Tuesday afternoon. Many of them had woken up to the sound of rumbling in the early hours of the morning.

Harvey Brice, 73, of Dundalk, said he heard “a tremendous noise.”

“It kind of trembled the house a little bit,” said Brice.

Amanda Peters, 44, of Dundalk, heard what she said “sounded like this long thunder, but it didn’t make sense. It didn’t sound like a normal sound from the port. It just was a constant like, it’s hard to describe it. It was so loud but it continued for so long.”

Camille Sims, 23, of Glen Burnie, who works in Baltimore and frequently drives the bridge, said she was awake and felt her house shake after 1 a.m. 

“My house just started shaking a little bit. It wasn’t crazy, like earthquake shaking, it was just like moving and I was confused,” she said. 

Several government officials issued statements in response to the incident. 

“Having worked in that area most of my life, I understand the bridge’s vital role for Baltimore’s Port and commuters,” State Sen. Johnny Ray Salling, whose district includes the bridge, said in a statement. “Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast. We depend on the Port of Baltimore for transportation, travel, and commerce.”

State House Republicans also released a joint statement, saying “while this horrendous incident will require a full investigation, right now our focus must be on the victims, their families, and making sure they get the care and services they need. We must also take a moment to acknowledge the bravery of our heroic first responders currently working on rescue efforts.”

An investigation into the incident is now in the hands of the National Transportation Safety Board, who will evaluate what the conditions of both the vessel and the bridge were leading up to the collision. 

This article was originally published by Capital News Service.

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By Catherine Pugh 
Special to the AFRO

The Rev. Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the AFRO-American Newspapers, was surprised on the morning of March 20 by members of the Maryland State legislature.

Draper was invited to the Senate Chambers to give a prayer. Unbeknownst to her, she was giving an invocation — and receiving the Maryland Senate’s highest honor, the Maryland First Citizen’s Award.

As is tradition, the award presentation is described by the State Archivist, Elaine Rice Bachmann, on behalf of the President of the Senate William “Bill” Ferguson.

“Dr. Draper’s commitment to the community has been demonstrated throughout her career,” said Bachmann. “Dr. Toni Draper’s life and career embody the critical and historical intersection of the Black Church, the Black Press and civil rights. An integral partnership that has enabled the slow march toward a more equitable society.”

Draper had already returned to her seat next to President Ferguson, after giving the prayer. 

“It became obvious by the description that she was the awardee. We could see the smile and shock come over her face,” said Senator Antonio Hayes. “Well deserved,” he said.

“This is a beautiful award. Thank you President Ferguson and thank you to the members of the Senate,” said Dr. Draper. “I will cherish this forever. My name is on it and I appreciate that, but it belongs to team AFRO and to the citizens of Maryland— especially those who reside in Baltimore.”

The award is given annually to a citizen or citizens who have been dedicated and effective participants in the process of making government work for the benefit of all people.

The award is named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton and bares his image.  Carroll who as a Roman Catholic was barred from public office. In 1773 Carroll wrote a series of letters published in the Maryland Gazette under the name “First Citizen.” The letters urged the General Assembly to work for the benefit of all people.

A signer of the Declaration of Independence, Carroll’s letters led to a long career in public service and he helped shape Maryland’s First Constitution. Charles Carroll served in the State Senate, Continental Congress and U.S. Senate.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer 
msayles@afro.com

Dr. Sherita Hill Golden has exited her post as vice president and chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), according to an email sent by Dean and CEO Theodore L. DeWeese and Executive Vice President Kevin W. Sowers on March 4. As the medical institution prepares to conduct a national search for a new, permanent diversity lead, Chief Human Resources Officer Inez Stewart will assume the role in the interim. 

Golden’s departure comes after she received public criticism over her definition of “privilege” in an email sent out to the JHM community, which she later retracted. 

“We are writing to share the news that after a great deal of reflection, Dr. Sherita Golden has decided to step down from her role as vice president and chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine,” wrote DeWeese and Sowers in the email. “She has been a valuable member of the Johns Hopkins Medicine leadership team, and, like many of you, we wanted her to stay in her role, but we respect her decision.”

In a digital January newsletter, Golden defined privilege as “a set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group.” She proceeded to list White people, males, Christians, heterosexuals and able-bodied people—among others— as part of those groups. 

After the email was shared beyond the JHM community, an X account titled “End Wokeness” posted a screenshot referring to it as a “hit list of people automatically guilty of privilege whether they know it or not.” The viral post sparked a number of negative comments about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and calls for Golden to be fired. 

JHM rebuked the language used in Golden’s definition, saying it ran counter to its values and commitment to serving everyone equally. The medical institution said Golden acknowledged her mistake and retracted the definition. 

Students and employees of JHM expressed their disappointment over the renouncement in an open letter to DeWeese and Sowers. They contended that the pushback on the definition was a part of a broader effort to spread disinformation about the importance of DEI at colleges and universities. 

Golden is not the first Black woman to resign from a prominent position in higher education in the wake of public backlash this year. In January, Claudine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard University, resigned from her position after coming under fire for her response to questions about Anti-Semitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. 

“Surely discussions about privilege can be challenging. The word is easily misinterpreted or taken to mean that people who benefit from systems of advantage are immoral or unworthy,” wrote JHM students and employees.

“However, it is important for our institution to respond to assaults on our commitment to DEI with courage and conviction. In the face of bad-faith attacks, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins University must state clearly, loudly and proudly that we value diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

JHM leadership did not address the controversy in their announcement of Golden’s resignation. Instead, they praised her dedication to health equity and efforts to recruit and retain diverse talent across the institution. 

Golden will remain on JHM faculty as the Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member. 

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By Anthony Woods
Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs

In my office in Annapolis, Md. I proudly display one of my favorite mementos – the blue star flag that my mom hung in her window during my two deployments to Iraq. I keep it in my office as a reminder of the sacrifices our military families make. 

It wasn’t until I returned home from my second deployment and saw the look of fatigue in my mother’s eyes that I realized the toll my deployments had taken on her. She had no way of knowing when I was safe – or the rare moments I was in actual danger. To her, my two years in Iraq served as a constant source of stress and anxiety.

When I became secretary of veterans affairs for the state of Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore challenged me to think about how I could lean in and do more to empower military families, including veteran families, caregivers and survivors. 

This challenge – to leave no military family behind – resonated deeply with me. 

During discussions over the last year with members of the military-connected community, I got a better sense of the challenges they experience and the sacrifices they make while a loved one serves in uniform.

I heard from spouses whose careers took a back seat to their military service member’s; veteran caregivers providing a lifetime of support to a wounded warrior; military kids leaving friends behind and enrolling in yet another new school; Gold Star moms mustering the strength to lift up others in spite of their grief. 

These sacrifices are why Governor Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller launched our latest initiative, Maryland Joins Forces, which brings together government, corporate and nonprofit sectors to support military families, caregivers and survivors. The initiative has five focus areas – employment, education, food and housing insecurity, health and wellness, and service. 

We’ve been calling on all sectors to do their part, and on Dec. 13, the Moore-Miller Administration made it clear that Maryland is answering the call by declaring 2024 the “Year for Military Families” to celebrate and honor military families but also to back this pledge with action. 

We used that day to announce a suite of new bills we are championing with partners in the legislature. Two of these bills are being included in the Governor’s agenda for the current Maryland General Assembly, in support of promoting the administration’s efforts to make Maryland the state that serves.

The first, HB604/SB478 — the Families Serve Act — allows private-sector employers to implement preferential hiring for spouses of active duty service members; it also expands our state government’s current preferential hiring process for veterans to include military spouses. Maryland wants to recruit from this uniquely talented population to help make our government more responsive. 

The second, HB580/SB477 — the Time to Serve Act — doubles military leave available to state employees who serve in the National Guard or military reserves and gives service members enhanced flexibility to use their leave for personal purposes. 

These bills are among the administration’s top legislative priorities for 2024 and they’re essential to fulfilling our promise to leave no one behind in Maryland. 

By declaring 2024 the Year for Military Families, we make it clear that when we say “thank you for your service,” it’s more than just a nice sentiment here in Maryland; it’s backed by action. And when we talk about service in Maryland, it doesn’t just refer to those who wear a uniform. It also includes the family members who love and support those who wear a uniform.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D), Maryland’s first Black Governor, delivered his second State of the State address on Feb.7, highlighting partnership as a way to tackle state initiatives and challenges.

“One year ago, we began our work together. We knew our state had boundless opportunities and blinding potential,” said Moore. “One year later, we still have work to do. We learned a lot of lessons. Solving big problems can’t happen overnight, but change is happening.”

Similar to last year, Moore acknowledged Marylanders from the crowd he invited. Three of those he uplifted were Black women.

“Michelle works in a community health center that treats Marylanders who’ve been turned away by other providers,” said Moore. “She’s the mother of a beautiful daughter named Diamonique – and both of them are with us today.”

He also recognized Cleoda Walker, 82, of Cherry Hill in Baltimore.

“She sees the promise in every child. Her mission in life is to steer kids, youth and adults away from violence and toward opportunity,” said Moore. “She believes in the power of partnership and prevention – and her legacy will endure in the future leaders she has mentored, guided, and inspired.”

Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne of the University of Maryland School of Medicine was another.

“She loves teaching medicine, but she always wanted to be an entrepreneur. As a woman of color, she struggled to find capital to get her idea off the ground,” said Moore. “Eventually, she raised enough money to start her business and today, she is the founder and CEO of her own medical device company that’s focused on helping children and families.”

Moore described the state of Maryland as strong in 2024, citing the state having the lowest unemployment rates in the country for the fifth month in a row.

“Crime is down – and homicides in Baltimore City are the lowest they’ve been in nine years,” he said. 

Moore acknowledged the work he’d done on child poverty, which was part of his top initiatives in last year’s speech. 

“We launched a frontal assault on child poverty that will lift a combined 160,000 children to the

next rung on the economic ladder,” said Moore. “We returned stolen SNAP benefits to thousands of Marylanders living paycheck-to-paycheck.”

Moore highlighted the collaboration of the executive administration and the legislature.

“We can’t agree on everything, but we can – and will – work together toward common goals,” said Moore. 

Those goals include making Maryland safer, more affordable, competitive and “the state that serves.”

“Public safety remains our administration’s top priority,” said Moore. “Our administration will continue an all-of-the-above approach to public safety.”

Moore said he will listen to law enforcement, “the communities they protect,” the state’s attorneys, public defenders, elected officials and “local advocates” when addressing public safety in Maryland.

“This year, we’ve introduced legislation to ensure our firefighters receive the medical benefits

they deserve. We are working together to ensure that our military families aren’t forgotten,” said Moore. “This year, we will also double the number of Marylanders in the Service Year Option. To the people who said we need to continue making Maryland the state that serves: we hear you, and we’re moving.”

Moore highlighted the 16 pieces of legislation he authored this year, including the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Grant Program (ENOUGH Act) and a bill that would create a center for firearm violence prevention and intervention in the Maryland Department of Health.

Maryland legislators reflected on the governor’s speech.

“I strongly felt at home and at peace with hearing the governor speak about public safety. He’s heard directly from our citizens, and his legislation that is being proposed this session is speaking to those needs,” said Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Md.-37A), a member of the Judiciary Committee. “It’s not a perception of feeling public safety is an issue. It’s the reality of it.”

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R-Md.-36) spoke on the governor’s public safety legislative initiatives, acknowledging his talks of partnership.

“Hopefully, when it comes to our public safety and anti-crime agenda, we can get some support from the Democrats,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R-Md.-36). “I don’t think the governor’s legislative package regarding crime was robust enough to really move the needle.”

Moore briefly mentioned the state budget during his address. He acknowledged the projected budget deficit lightheartedly and highlighted what investments his administration made. The investments include a fully funded Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and an allocated $1.4 billion to small and minority-owned businesses through the Board of Public Works.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Antisemitism, Racism and Intolerance for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, submitted remarks into the official Congressional Record honoring Black Americans who have influenced Maryland and U.S foreign policy and highlighting the untold stories of Black Americans in celebration of Black History Month.

“Black History Month, like many of our cultural heritage months, should be a time to illuminate stories that may otherwise get lost. Overlooking such stories, especially in a state like Maryland, a place rich with Black history, would be a travesty,” said Chair Cardin.

A copy of the Chair’s full remarks has been provided below:

Last week marked the beginning of Black History Month. And so, I come to the floor today to celebrate the important roles Black Americans have played both in my home state of Maryland and in U.S. foreign policy.

Paying homage to our country’s rich Black heritage— including learning about the challenges Black Americans have overcome—makes our nation stronger, both at home and abroad. But in recent years, this history has become increasingly polarized and politicized.

The rise of the ‘war on woke’ has led to a growing hostility toward diversity and inclusivity. It has led to the re-writing, and even omitting, of brutal, but significant parts of our nation’s story.

We cannot allow this to overshadow our celebration. We must not shy away from studying our nation’s history with thoughtful critique. We should not settle for sanitized lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and others in America’s classrooms.

Because Black History Month, like many of our cultural heritage months, should be a time to illuminate stories that may otherwise get lost. Overlooking such stories, especially in a state like Maryland, a place rich with Black history, would be a travesty.

Maryland—the site of Kunta Kinte’s arrival at the docks in Annapolis, as told in Alex Haley’s “Roots.” Maryland—home to greats like Harriet Tubman and Thurgood Marshall. Maryland—where Black waterman have lived on the Eastern Shore for generations.

This week, I had the privilege of meeting with Black watermen and their families. Families who were some of the original stewards of the Chesapeake Bay. They were boat captains and admirals, fishermen and entrepreneurs, oyster shuckers and crab pickers.

They laid the foundation for the aquaculture and maritime industry that’s so heavily stitched in the fabric of Maryland’s culture. They were descendants of William Samuel Turner whose family owned and operated seafood processing enterprises that anchored Bellevue, a historic African American neighborhood on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Frederick Jewett—one of the first in the Chesapeake Bay to sell crabs and crabmeat and developed the crabmeat grading system that we still use today. Capt. Eldridge Meredith Sr.—a waterman and entrepreneur who was honored as the 101st Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay. And Downes Curtis, one of the country’s few Black sailmakers who was renowned for his skillful craftsmanship.

They were descendants of the often-overlooked Black women, like Hazel Cropper also known as “Hurricane Hazel,” who worked in the packing houses picking crabs. Women who became the backbone of Maryland’s crab meat industry.

These Black Marylanders left a legacy of progress and success, but their stories also echo a system of inequality that exists today. Many of Maryland’s Black watermen were redlined. They couldn’t get loans. They weren’t paid fairly. And they lacked access to capital to keep their businesses afloat when they suffered economic hardship.

Maryland’s Congressional Delegation has made federal investments in historic preservation to ensure that Maryland’s Black history is told because it has laid the foundation for Wes Moore, Maryland’s first Black Governor…Adrienne Jones, Maryland’s first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates…Anthony Brown Maryland’s first Black Attorney General…Dereck Davis, Maryland’s first Black State Treasurer…and Brandon Scott, Baltimore’s youngest Black Mayor.    

Of course, Black leaders have not only contributed to Maryland but to our nation like Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and OMB Director Shalanda Young.  And now, we are proud to have our first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson.

And, Black leaders have contributed around the world. And so, as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I also want to take a moment to highlight the incredible contributions of Black Americans in U.S. foreign policy.

Ebenezer Bassett the first Black diplomat who served as Ambassador to Haiti from 1869 to 1877…Nobel Laureate Dr. Ralph Bunche, who mediated the 1949 Egyptian-Israeli Armistice Agreement and fought for African independence…Ambassador Edward Perkins and Dr. Richard Hope, founders of the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship…

Valerie Dickson-Horton, one of the first Black women to serve as a USAID Mission Director and Assistant Administrator…Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams…And Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the UN. These are pioneers and visionaries who have advanced our national security.

The truth is that America’s diverse talent pool is one of the most valuable assets we have on the global stage. And yet, in the last twenty years the number of Black employees at the State Department has decreased.          

It is why the Department, USAID, DFC, Peace Corps and all of our international Affairs Agencies must expand their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. And, following the tremendous efforts of Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, I am awaiting the announcement of the State Department’s new Chief Diversity Officer.

Hard-won progress made thanks to the Rangel, Pickering, and Payne programs alongside paid internship programs must continue. Exchange programs and research partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities must grow. With four HBCUs in my state, I can personally attest to the brilliance and talent these institutions contribute to our nation’s global food, health, climate, economic, and other efforts which bolster national security.

With the appointment of Desirée Cormier Smith as our nation’s first Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice, our nation has also increased its efforts abroad. From the North American Partnership for Equity and Racial Justice Declaration to the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. Our country is playing an important role in protecting the rights and recognizing the contributions of African descendants across the globe.

At the Foreign Relations Committee, we now have our first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—Dr. Mischa Thompson—to help advance these efforts in the Senate, our international agencies, and across the globe. But we must all join this effort.

And so, as we celebrate Black History Month, let us all recommit to fighting to overcome prejudice and oppression. Let us never give up hope that with determination and commitment, we can build the world Dr. King dreamed of. A fair world…a just world…a better world.

We can do it as long as we remember what Ralph Bunche said, that “anything less than full equality is not enough.”

The post Cardin celebrates ‘Legacy of Progress,’ highlights Black Marylanders’ untold stories during Black History Month appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
And 
By Megan Sayles 
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

In celebration of Black History Month, the AFRO sat down with Governor Wes Moore, the first Black man to lead the great state of Maryland. 

Moore became the 63rd governor of the state on Jan. 18, 2023, in a historic ceremony outside of the Maryland State House with star guests, such as actress, author and producer Oprah Winfrey. Before becoming the executive leader he was a businessman, author and military man. 

He served as a U.S. Army captain with the 82nd Airborne Division and produced several books addressing racial plights and inequities including “Five Days,” a book about Baltimore in the days after the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. Now, Moore is doing the work of creating equity in Maryland by closing the racial wealth gap in the state, raising the minimum wage and requiring that minority business enterprise goals be met- not just considered. 

This week, Moore spoke on the Black men that paved the way for him, the strength of being “unapologetically Black” and the ancestors who have guided his path. 

Q: Is it a challenge to advocate for Black Marylanders as governor, in this current political climate?

A: I’m a Black governor. I was Black before I was governor. I’m not going to stop being who I am. I think the challenge would be for me to not . I am unapologetic about the fact that we are going to close this racial wealth gap. If people say to me, ‘Isn’t that focusing on a group?’ No. Over the past two decades, the racial wealth gap has cost this country $16 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP). We are never going to be able to address these issues with colorblind policies –we didn’t get here because of colorblind policies. The policies that got us here in the first place were very color tinted. 

I think we have to have a measure of intentionality if you actually want to increase economic growth that is going to, in turn, benefit the whole state. 

Q: Can you name a Black mentor that made a difference in your life and speak on the importance of Black youth having strong, Black mentors?

A: Kurt Schmoke. He’s just someone who has always been a North Star for me and has always given me clear, cogent and thoughtful, nonjudgmental advice. 

We unfortunately live in a society where people will almost force you to consistently justify your existence and your participation.

The beauty of Black male role models is I never had to justify who I was to them, because they saw me before I walked in the room. There’s power that comes with that and there’s empowerment from that. I feel protected because I know who’s protecting me. There’s a real power. 

I still call him to this day.

Q: What are the top Black novels that inspired you?

A: “The Fire Next Time.” I’m a big James Baldwin fan. I think it’s difficult to think about my favorite Baldwin work. If you gave me a second choice, I would say “Beloved,” by Toni Morrison.  

Q: What are your favorite Black films?

A: “I’m Not Your Negro” was fantastic. 

I think James Baldwin was brilliant. He was so unapologetic about who he was and I love that. He lived and he led with such a sense of fearlessness. He knew–in almost every classification of who he was– he was heard. He lived in a way that he was never going to be uncomfortable in your space because he was always going to be comfortable with himself. 

I don’t lack a sense of comfort anywhere that I am because there is nothing nor anybody that ever makes me flinch. I think we’re just built differently. 

I see who I’m surrounded by–I know who paved all these steps that we walk on and so I never ever feel a measure of intimidation or insufficiency. I just know that everything I do– it’s because there were people who were willing to sacrifice in a way that is incomprehensible, but they did it for the hope of me and all of us.

“Love and Basketball” is another one.  This article has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Tashi McQueen and Megan Sayles are Report For America corps members.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Nichelle Johnson is now the first minority business enterprise (MBE) ombudsman for the state of Maryland. Governor Wes Moore appointed her to the post in January. 

In her new role, Johnson will serve in the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs and work to enhance state procurement for MBEs. 

“I am grateful that Nichelle raised her hand to serve Maryland in this new leadership position,” said Moore, in a statement. “Our entire administration is confident in her ability to advocate for our minority-owned businesses and help us grow a more equitable economy.” 

A Baltimore native, Johnson grew up in the Lafayette projects, known today as Pleasant View Gardens. She became interested in entrepreneurship at a young age through watching her mother run businesses. 

In her most recent role, Johnson served as an MBE compliance manager in the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs. She was responsible for collecting annual and quarterly performance data from 70 state agencies, and she developed best practices for MBE compliance. 

The AFRO recently connected with Johnson to learn more about her new role. The responses below have been edited for length and clarity. 

Q: What is an ombudsman, and why is it significant that you’ve become Maryland’s first MBE ombudsman?

A: People like to say an ombudsman is a “fixer” or “problem solver.” I love that because I love to help people solve problems they’re having. It’s right up my alley. As the MBE ombudsman and– particularly, as Maryland’s first–I feel this position is very much needed by small, minority- and women-owned businesses. The reason why is because they have been experiencing some issues on state contracts.

Our office receives information from business owners, and we’re often at outreach events. In speaking with business owners, we hear about some of the troubles they’re having. I believe we have done a great job of assisting business owners when they need us to, but this position is specifically targeted to help them. My role primarily will be to work with prime contractors and MBEs to help resolve issues that arise on contracts with MBE goals and to develop policies that can assist state agencies in better implementing the MBE program. 

The other part of my role is helping small business owners navigate state procurement, whether they’re just getting started or they’re looking for resources. I feel very humbled and honored to have this opportunity, and I am excited because I know I can help them maneuver through this system better. 

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges MBEs are facing when it comes to the state procurement system?

A: What we hear often is access to capital. They want to know where the financial resources are and how they can get funding for their businesses. We provide training classes, and we do events where businesses come in and provide information on securing capital. Payment issues on contracts is another challenge. One of my main purposes is to resolve these issues. 

Opportunity is also a challenge. I’ll be collaborating with other state agencies, like the Office of State Procurement, to see what opportunities can be created for MBEs and what information can be gathered and given to business owners to make them aware of the opportunities they didn’t know existed. 

Q: How do you feel your background will shape the work you do in the role? 

A: I feel it gave me a perspective that no matter where you come from, you can do whatever you want as long as you put in the work. Yes, we need opportunity, but I think we’ve all heard the adage that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. That’s something I definitely want to speak to our business owners about. 

I want to make sure they are positioned to capitalize off of opportunities when they are presented. That way they can grow and scale their businesses, which is what we ultimately want our minority and small business owners to do. 

Q: How would you recommend MBEs learn more about state procurement and engage with your office? 

A: I definitely invite business owners to go to our website because we have a wealth of resources. They should also engage with our Training and Insights for Procurement Success Webinar Series. This is an excellent series that provides good information to business owners, like tips on writing a proposal, crafting a capability statement,  how to operate as a subcontractor and MBE rights and responsibilities. All of these trainings and workshops are available from our website.

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member. 

The post Meet Nichelle Johnson, Maryland’s first MBE ombudsman  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Brian Witte
The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Feb. 9 that he will run for U.S. Senate, giving Republicans a prominent candidate who is well-positioned to run a competitive campaign for the GOP in a state that hasn’t had a Republican U.S. senator in 37 years.

The decision marks a surprise turnaround for Hogan, a moderate who had considered a presidential bid. During Hogan’s tenure as governor, he became a national figure as one of the rare Republicans willing to criticize Donald Trump. Last month, Hogan stepped down from the leadership of the third-party movement No Labels.

“My fellow Marylanders: you know me,” Hogan begins in a video released by his Senate campaign. “For eight years, we proved that the toxic politics that divide our nation need not divide our state.”

The former governor added that he decided to run for Senate “not to serve one party, but to try to be part of the solution: to fix our nation’s broken politics and fight for Maryland.”

“That is what I did as your governor and it’s exactly how I’ll serve you in the United States Senate,” Hogan said.

GOP leaders are eager to pick up the seat as they try to wrest control of the Senate from Democrats, who hold a slim majority and are defending more seats than Republicans in 2024.

In 2022, Hogan rebuffed an aggressive push from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans to run against Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen.

When he announced his decision not to run for Senate two years ago, Hogan expressed confidence he could win. “But just because you can win a race, doesn’t mean that’s the job you should do if your heart’s not in it. And I just didn’t see myself being a U.S. senator,” he said then.

The former two-term governor who left office early last year will be running for an open seat due to the retirement of Sen. Ben Cardin. Hogan made his Senate bid known just hours before Maryland’s filing deadline.

Hogan announced in March that he would not challenge Trump for the GOP’s White House nomination. 

Last month, he squelched speculation of a third-party presidential run and endorsed former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the Republican nomination for president.

The rarely open Maryland Senate seat already has drawn U.S. Rep. David Trone into the Democratic primary, as well as Angela Alsobrooks, the county executive of Prince George’s County in the suburbs of the nation’s capital. Trone, the wealthy founder of a chain of liquor stores called Total Wine & More, has poured $23 million of his own money into his campaign so far.

Seven Republicans have filed to enter the GOP primary, but none is as well known as the former governor. Hogan was only the second Republican governor to ever win reelection in Maryland, a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.

He won his first term as governor in 2014 in an upset, using public campaign financing against a better-funded candidate. Running on fiscal concerns as a moderate Republican businessman, Hogan tapped into voter frustration over a series of tax and fee increases to defeat then-Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.

Hogan, who had never held elected office before, focused on pocketbook issues from the outset. He lowered tolls, an action he could take without approval from the General Assembly, long controlled by Democrats. But he also faced challenges, including unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015. Hogan sent the National Guard to help restore order.

In June of that year, Hogan was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma but continued working while receiving treatment. He has been in remission since November 2015.

Maryland’s last Republican U.S. senator was Charles Mathias, who served in the Senate from 1969 to 1987. Mathias was known as a liberal Republican who often clashed with his party over issues such as the Vietnam War and civil rights.

The post Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is running for the US Senate appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dayvon Love
Special to the AFRO

What is on the table during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly? To be clear– it is not whether a young person should be punished for committing heinous violent crimes. None of the legitimate advocates on juvenile justice issues believe that a young person should not be held accountable for the impact of their actions. 

What is on the table in the 2024 Maryland General Assembly is whether or not the ability to divert young people who are better served outside of the juvenile justice system should be curtailed. 

Sinclair Broadcasting and Fox 45 have engaged in a fairly explicit propaganda campaign to roll back specific juvenile justice laws in Maryland. Their claim is that the spike in criminal activity by young people is the result of juvenile justice reforms from 2022. This increase in crime committed by young people– especially auto theft related crimes– has spiked around the entire country during the same period. But Sinclair and Fox 45 have been able to put out messaging every day to amplify the worst stories of violence and crime committed by young people.

This creates a context where people are indoctrinated to believe that the juvenile justice reforms from 2022 make it impossible to hold young people accountable for those extreme examples of violence. The reality is that law enforcement has all of the laws it needs to impose consequences on young people who commit heinous acts. The issue is not the juvenile justice reform laws, the problem is that the systems tasked with serving our young people are frayed from years of disinvestment. 

What legislative leadership in Annapolis is proposing is a bill that expands crimes that are alleged to be committed by a young person, that requires them to be in contact with the system. If a young person is alleged to have had a gun, the leadership bill requires that young person to be committed to the Department of Juvenile Services. In the current system, social workers, community partners and other relevant agencies could make an assessment that the young person is not a threat to their community and decide not to process them. What opponents of the leadership bill take issue with is that it mostly eliminates the ability to provide space for these kinds of interventions when necessary. The proposed bill essentially eliminates the potential for meaningful diversion from the system. 

For example, this bill creates a situation where a young person who carries a gun for protection is automatically considered a “bad kid” and is put in contact with the system. Again, this does not preclude that young person from facing consequences, but this kind of pre-system assessment of the circumstances allows folks to ensure that the course of action is guided by what is best for the young person and their family, and not based on a societal fear that the youth is inherently violent and dangerous. Furthermore, this bill requires that young people that have formal or informal contact with the system, in many cases, must forward the information about the case to the State’s Attorney. This is problematic because this opens up a young person to more opportunities to be prosecuted– in spite of whatever diversion arrangement is established that best suits the child and the community. 

Ultimately, this bill widens the net that will draw more young people into the criminal justice system. These policies demonstrate an alignment with the weaponization of the criminal justice system against the humanity of Black youth.

Again, what is not on the table is whether or not young people who commit heinous crimes should be held accountable. Law enforcement and prosecutors have plenty of instruments in the law that can be used to levy consequences to those who harm people in the community. 

What is being proposed is to nearly eliminate the ability to divert young people from the system who are not the killers and thugs that certain, traditionally White media corporations project every day in the media. For every highly visible story of a violent crime by a young person, there are so many more stories of young people whose lives are irreparably harmed by their contact with the criminal justice system that will not be aired on television. 

Black youth are disposable in a way that proves the fact that this society is structured on the system of white supremacy. It is disappointing that Democrats in Maryland demonstrate that when it comes to Black children, that they have allowed themselves to be susceptible to Fox 45 and Sinclair Broadcasting propaganda. And too many people in our community are willing to undeservingly bury many Black kids under the criminal justice system in order to go after the handful that intend to cause havoc. 

If we really care about Black youth, let’s invest in the resources they need to navigate this toxic, White supremacist society, and hold the systems accountable that have failed them.

The post A look at the juvenile justice policy proposed in Maryland legislature   appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and other legislators across the city and state gathered in support of the new legislation, the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Grant Program (ENOUGH Act), SB482/HB694.

“As legislators, we get tens of hundreds of emails, sometimes tens of thousands of emails, that come into our inbox about resources needed for different families the violence that is erupting in our communities,” said Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter (D-District 10) on Jan. 29. “The ENOUGH Act provides us with the political will, action to make meaningful changes. Not only within our policy but within our people that serve you all every single day.”

The ENOUGH Act aims to eliminate poverty in Maryland communities by putting state money into impoverished neighborhoods and building partnerships based on data. The bill requires the governor to allocate $15 million to fund the initiative’s first year. 

“For most of our city’s history, as you all know, communities just like the one we’re in today in Brooklyn have been neglected, ignored, disinvested,” said Scott at L.I.F.E Church Ministries in Baltimore.

According to Moore, the median household income statewide is $98,000 but in Brooklyn, the median income is $35,000.

“We’ve always known that in order to fully tackle this effort of overcoming this historic disinvestment, we need to work together. We need to utilize every tool available to all of us, and we need to all share the same goal,” continued Scott. “I knew the moment that they declared victory for Governor Moore and his administration, that we finally have the type of partner in Annapolis, Md., that so many Baltimoreans have been waiting a lifetime for.”

Moore said what makes this bill unique is that it’s people-led.

“This legislation calls on community leaders to come together and create comprehensive plans on how to make their neighborhoods better,” said Moore. “Leaders in our communities will provide the vision, the state will provide the support and not the other way around.”

“The only way for a community to be able to participate in ENOUGH is if the leadership comes from them,” said Moore to reporters after the event. “They have to be the ones to submit the applications. They have to be the ones who initiate the partnerships.”

Moore said the state, through the Governor’s Office for Children, will assist interested community partners along the way.

“They don’t have to do this on their own,” said Moore.

Tashi Mcqueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post State and city leaders release bill to relieve impoverished neighborhoods  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.-03) recently announced his endorsement of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) for U.S. Senate.

Sarbanes said he sees Alsobrooks as “good for Maryland” and “terrific for our country.”

“It’s why I’m as motivated as I am in this moment to support her and her candidacy,” said Sarbanes. 

Maryland is primarily a Democratic state, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary election may likely be the overall winner. The Maryland primary is on May 14.

Alsobrooks has over 160 endorsements from local, state and national leaders and organizations. Gov. Wes Moore (D), U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball (D) are a few notables on that list.

“Thank you so much again, congressman, for your support today and for your leadership. We are just really grateful — 15 years pushing democracy at a time when people weren’t talking about it the way they are today, but you had the foresight to know that this moment was coming,” said Alsobrooks. 

Alongside the announcement was a roundtable discussion with Towson University (TU) students on protecting democracy and voting rights. Students asked questions about how to keep their friends and family engaged in politics and the importance of voting for Americans.

“Make a project of voting. Commit to it, be intentional about it,” said Sarbanes. “If people are trying to stop you from voting, get creative and figure out every single way to get around those obstacles. That kind of creativity, when it comes to democracy, can determine whether we hold on to this democracy or not.”

Alsobrooks encouraged the students to speak with their peers and make sure they are engaging and participating in the voting process. As well, she wanted them to remind their peers that “this is your country too” and that they have a stake in how it turns out.

Citiyana Amsalu, a criminal justice major and political science minor at TU, commented on the event.

“I would say that that was very refreshing,” said Amsalu. “My big thing is making sure that people who are running for Senate, or anything electoral, engage with voters. Making sure voters know moving forward, you can vote, it’s okay to go and there should be no fear. I think it was really great that we addressed this and had a talk about it.”

Shawn Bell, a political science major at TU, shared his thoughts on Alsobrooks.

“I’m lucky to be from Prince George’s County, Md., and she is just an outstanding individual who will be an amazing asset in Congress,” said Bell. 

Alsobrooks is running against U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.-06). Over 60 congressional members have endorsed him for his bid for U.S. senator, including U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-02) and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas-32). He has about 130 endorsements in total.

There are about 12 others in the race for U.S. senator, including John Thormann (R) of Baltimore County, Md., and Robert K. Houton (D) of Montgomery County, Md.

Tashi McQueen is a Report for America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore unveiled his fiscal year (FY) 2025 proposed budget on Jan. 17, highlighting his focus on public safety, with increased funding for police protection, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and a new statewide gun violence prevention center. 

Moore said that his goal is to “make Maryland safer, more affordable” and “more competitive” all while becoming “the state that serves.” 

“We will achieve each of these goals without raising taxes on Marylanders,” said Moore. “Our budget includes a record $127 million for local police agencies. That is a $5 million increase over the last year.”

According to Giffords, an advocacy organization for gun control, 79 percent of all homicides committed throughout Maryland are done with guns.

About $10 million is set to erect a new Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, an initiative encouraged by President Biden that Gov. Moore is supporting in the general assembly.

Moore said he “believes in accountability” and “consequences for people that break the law” but does not believe children should be put through a system that “makes them more likely to commit crime.”

“We’re doing it wrong. That’s why our budget provides an increase of $16 million to programs at the Department of Juvenile Services,” said Moore. 

The budget also prioritizes making Maryland more affordable with housing, education and economic development investments.

“Most Marylanders in rental properties put a third of their monthly paycheck towards rent. Mortgage interest rates have more than doubled over the past two years,” said Moore. “If we do not have enough homes, the prices go up. If we build more homes, the prices come down. This is why our budget includes an additional $115 million for housing and community revitalization initiatives under the Department of Housing and Community Development.”

Those initiatives include the Appraisal Gap (Homeownership Works) Program, the Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative, the National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund, Rental Housing Works, Statewide Strategic Demolition and the Project C.O.R.E (Creating Opportunities for Revitalization and Equity).

“Earlier this month, the comptroller released a report highlighting that as child care costs increase, overall female employment decreases by five percent,” said Moore. “In order to get this economy going, we’ve got to make it easier for people to actually participate in the economy.”

Throughout the state, child care can cost $13,000 to $35,000 a year, according to Secretary Helene T. Grady of the Department of Budget and Management. 

The Maryland Family Network, a non-profit family and child care advocacy organization, released a study in 2018 that gives greater context to the issue in the state.

“The Maryland Family Network, in 2018, estimated that Maryland lost more than $2 billion in lost wages, taxes and spending due to challenges with child care,” said Grady. “This budget provides $218 million additional general funds in FY 24, the current year, and $270 million in additional funds, new funding, in FY 25 to support the Child Care Scholarship program at MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education).”

Grady said this funding will also help sustain the program’s rapid growth over the past year.

According to the governor, his budget proposal reduces Maryland’s structural deficit by 34 percent, maintaining the Rainy Day Fund balance at 9.4 percent and overturning the state’s projected cash deficiency of $1.1 billion to a positive balance of over $100 million.

If passed by the general assembly as is, the projected deficit for FY25 would drop from $761 million to $502 million, according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services in December 2023.

Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Md.-40) believes the state is off to a great start with the governor’s proposed budget but said we have to consider the long-term impacts of this year’s budget.

“We got to think more so in the long term. I know we had to make some decisions and move some money to make us not have to raise taxes for this year, but we’re still going to have to figure out some revenue sources to make the budget work for the future,” said Amprey.

Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45), who is on the Budget and Taxation Committee in the general assembly, commented on the proposed budget transportation initiatives.

“Some of the things that I just want to monitor and make sure that we push the administration on is things like transportation,” said McCray. 

McCray said that though the state put forward $150 million to help cover some of the $3.3 billion that is planning to be cut from the state’s transportation budget, it’s not enough. 

“That’s a temporary fix for this fiscal year and transportation isn’t done on a year-by-year basis. We need to make sure that we close that gap in a six-year period versus a one-year period,” said McCray. 

The Maryland Transportation Administration’s FY 25 capital budget is $656 million, with $319 million, or 49 percent, of it coming from federal dollars.

Major projects funded under the proposed budget include a study for the Baltimore Red Line, $21 million, and the Purple Line Light rail construction in Prince George’s County, Md. and Montgomery County, Md., $95 million.

The post Wes Moore unveils proposed budget  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com 

Montgomery County recently announced a $100-million deal with United Therapeutics, a biotechnology public benefit corporation, that will pave the way for economic growth in downtown Silver Spring, Md. 

As part of the partnership, United Therapeutics will build a new public parking garage on Georgia Avenue, supply land and funding to Montgomery County for a state-of-the-art fiber hub and relocate the transportation department’s parking operations to a renovated facility on Brookville Road. The new parking garage will include space designated for future development of affordable housing in Silver Spring. 

“When this thing builds out, it’s going to provide a lot of job opportunities. It’s going to be another reason for people to look at Silver Spring as a potential location for life science jobs,” County Executive Marc Elrich told the AFRO. “We’ve got a healthy cluster between Bethesda and the Great Seneca Corridor up by Shady Grove, but we’ve not had the same level of activity on the East side of the county. Silver Spring being right on the metro line is an ideal location to start building a hub around.” 

Montgomery County is recognized as a leading life sciences and biotechnology hub. This partnership enables the county to build on this reputation. Under the agreement, once United Therapeutics constructs the new parking garage, the county will take over as owner. In return, United Therapeutics will become owner of the Spring Cameron Garage to accommodate its future growth. 

Montgomery County’s relationship with United Therapeutics dates back to 2002 when it first sold land to the biotechnology company for its headquarter’s construction in Silver Spring. In 2015, the county again sold land to United Therapeutics for its Unisphere project, the world’s largest net-zero energy office building.  

“Since our founding almost 30 years ago, we have been honored to be part of the downtown Silver Spring community,” said Thomas Kaufman, associate vice president of corporate real estate for United Therapeutics in a statement. “Montgomery County has been a key partner in supporting our growth during that time, and this agreement will allow us to continue our growth and support Silver Spring for years to come.” 

While this partnership is expected to advance downtown Silver Spring, Elrich said infrastructure challenges remain a hindrance to the county’s overall economic growth. 

“The biggest challenge the county faces is a lack of infrastructure,” said Elrich. 

He explained that Maryland’s tax system does not allow Montgomery County to levy the same amount of development impact fees that Virginia counties can. These charges are imposed on the private new commercial and residential developments in order to fund infrastructure improvements made necessary by the development. 

“If you look to Northern Virginia, you realize that they’ve got 30 to 40 cents above their base tax rate that’s levied on the private sector developers for construction of transportation projects. That money is walled off because they got authority from the state to have these special taxes to build transportation,” said Elrich. “Montgomery County has none of that.” 

He wants the state of Maryland to permit Montgomery County to model its tax system off of localities in Northern Virginia. 

“You hear all of this, ‘Look at Virginia this, and look at Virginia that.’ Conveniently, none of the people who point that out tell you that they tax the private sector far more than we do. They focus on income tax, and I’m looking at the tax on actual development, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars that we could access in the county,” said Elrich. “We are trying to model a tax system based on what they do in Northern Virginia so we can stay competitive.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member. 

The post Montgomery County partners with United Therapeutics for long-term economic growth in Silver Spring appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The much anticipated 2024 Maryland General Assembly commenced on Jan. 10. Though the first day is largely ceremonial, hundreds of pieces of legislation have already been filed and assigned to committees.

The 90-day session will feature policies aiming to reduce gun violence trauma, protect youth and hold them accountable for their actions and ensure legislators are executing their roles to the fullest.

“As we’re focused on addressing the issues around juvenile crime, I think that we have to be thoughtful on how we do it,” said Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Md.-40).  “I’m looking forward to figuring out how we can hold accountable, but at the same time, taking care of our young people holistically.”

Amprey pre-filed HB 121, which aims to limit the number of police training facilities near hospitals, school buildings, state correctional facilities and juvenile locations. 

“Training locations are next door to the prisons. When you are walking around in the yard on the premises, you can hear gunfire throughout the day,” said Amprey. “If they’re really trying to become better people and leave that life behind, hearing gunfire throughout the day is not going to help them.”

“We can’t fix it overnight and we’ll have to find those kinds of spaces somewhere else or move it indoors, but it’s going to cost money, and we don’t have a lot of money right now,” continued Amprey. “I think the ultimate fix is what can we do around firing range times to make sure those who are incarcerated either have earmuffs or they’re not outside. I’m up for any solution, but I know for a fact we cannot have repetitive gunfire around our prisons. That is just not humane.”

The first hearing on this legislation will be held on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Maryland House Appropriations Committee.

Amprey is re-introducing his artistic expression bill, which aims to prohibit creative work such as rap music from being used in criminal cases in Maryland.

“The Judiciary Committee had a heavy plate last session and I think that our bill just wasn’t a priority at the time. This year, they have a little bit of a lighter load as far as major bills,” said Amprey. “We’re looking forward to continuing to press on that matter and collect more people that have more information around how it truly impacts the state of Maryland.”

Del. Regina T. Boyce (D-Md.-43A) will be working to make HB 80 law, which she has been trying to do for the last five years. 

“ that an elected official cannot also be an elected central committee member,” said Boyce. “There’s no need for an elected official to be an organizing member of a party when the committee essentially works on behalf of a candidate from each party.”

Boyce said central committees are organizing bodies that help candidates aligned with a political party, such as Republicans and Democrats, garner votes and fundraise for their campaigns.

“As an elected official, there’s no reason for me to be on the committee. When it comes to organizing, doing the work, I’m not going to be available because I’m doing the work of being a delegate or a council member,” said Boyce.

This legislation was heard on  Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41) is re-introducing the NyKayla Strawder Memorial Act, SB 2.

NyKayla Strawder was a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed by a nine-year-old in Baltimore in 2022. Due to the juvenile justice reform law, the nine-year-old could not be charged with the crime. His grandmother, April Gaskins, has since been found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison for reckless endangerment and one year for firearm access by a minor, according to the Office of the State’s Attorney Baltimore City.

“After talking to the family and other people at the Department of Juvenile Services, it is my belief that we need to mandate that some type of evaluation and assessment of that nine-year-old,” said Carter.

Currently, a child in need of supervision (CINS) can be filed when an intake officer suspects a child needs guidance, but it’s not required. Carter aims to change this with her legislation.

“If a child commits a violent or a felonious act and they are not eligible for prosecution because they’re too young, then it would mandate that a CINS petition would automatically be filed,” said Carter.

Carter sponsored the Juvenile Justice Reform Act in 2022.

This legislation has been assigned to the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee but has not been given a hearing date yet.

Marylanders can keep up with what‘s happening in the general assembly, including bills introduced and hearing dates at mgaleg.maryland.gov .

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps member.

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By Brian Witte
The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Black Maryland lawmakers highlighted a package of measures on Jan. 18 that they are prioritizing to improve health, access to housing, minority business opportunities, education and criminal justice reforms.

Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, noted that the caucus includes 66 of the Maryland General Assembly’s 188 legislators, the largest caucus of its kind in the nation.

“Our agenda seeks to address health disparities and maternal health and cancer that plague our communities and lead to high mortality rates,” Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat, said at a news conference. “We will seek to increase access to housing and create a more stable environment for renters and Marylanders.”

Here’s a look at some of the measures that are being prioritized by the caucus:

HEALTH

The caucus is supporting a measure to improve the health of pregnant women by streamlining medical forms after they are discharged from hospitals and connecting patients with community-based services.

Black lawmakers also are adding their support to a bill to expand the authority of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set upper payment limits on prescription drugs statewide. The caucus also wants to do more to raise public awareness about the availability of cancer screening.

HOUSING

The caucus is backing a bill to give local governments the authority to require just cause to deny the renewal of leases and establish clear criteria for evictions to protect tenants. Another bill would restrict housing providers from discriminating against potential tenants who have criminal records by barring landlords from reviewing criminal history three years after release.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

The caucus is seeking to expand criminal record expungement laws. One measure would enable courts to decide whether a person’s record could be expunged, even if a crime falls outside of current statutory allowances. Supporters say that while the state has made progress on expungement rights, there are still a number of misdemeanors — like driving without a license or without insurance — that can’t be expunged.

The caucus also supports a bill to create an ombudsman’s office for the correctional system that would provide a voice for the incarcerated and their families about conditions in correctional facilities.

EDUCATION

A measure with caucus support would ensure that Maryland is not approving duplicative programs that already are being provided by the state’s four historically Black colleges and universities.

The caucus also expressed opposition to a proposal in Gov. Wes Moore’s budget proposal that would create a copayment of up to 7 percent of families’ income to participate in a child care scholarship program. Del. Stephanie Smith, a Baltimore Democrat, said the potential copays “could actually make the value of the scholarship program less potent.” The governor’s office said Moore is proud to have put forward the largest investment ever in the program, and that the governor looks forward to continuing conversations with lawmakers, local leaders and advocates.

MINORITY BUSINESS

The caucus highlighted a bill to increase transparency in the awarding of state contracts. One measure would create an interactive public dashboard for the state’s Board of Public Works, which approves most state contracts. Another measure would increase prime contracting opportunities for minority businesses.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Carlos Ayala, newly resigned member of the Maryland State Board of Elections, was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and breach of the U.S. Capitol.  The FBI arrested Ayala, 52, on Jan. 9 on civil disorder, a felony according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

Ayala is a Republican from Salisbury, Md. He was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Elections in 2023 by Gov. Wes Moore (D), recommended by the Maryland GOP.

“The Maryland GOP believes in the First Amendment and in the American principle that one is innocent until proven guilty,” said Nicole Beus Harris, chairwoman of the Maryland Republican Party. “That said, Mr. Ayala did choose to resign because he believes that the 2024 elections process and the State Board of Elections is extremely important and should not be muddied with distraction.”

The Moore administration declined to comment though Michael G. Summers, chairman of the Maryland State Board of Elections, provided a statement on Ayala’s arrest and resignation.

“As chair of the Maryland State Board of Elections, I have accepted the immediate resignation of Carlos Ayala,” stated Summers. “The Board is committed to maintaining the security and integrity of our elections in Maryland in a non-partisan manner. The state board will remain steadfast in our mission to oversee our elections process and serve as a trusted source of information for all Marylanders during this presidential election year.”

According to court documents, Ayala was allegedly identified among a group of rioters on restricted U.S. Capitol grounds near scaffolding erected for President Biden’s inauguration.

Ayala allegedly carried a flagpole that day bearing the words “We the People” and “DEFEND.” The flag also had repetitive images of an M-16-style rifle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Ayala is allegedly seen on video climbing over police barricades, waving his flag through a Capitol window and jabbing his flagpole at a Capitol officer.

Since Jan. 6, 2021, over 1,265 individuals have been charged in almost all 50 states for crimes relating to the U.S. Capitol attack. Around 440 individuals have faced felony charges of assaulting or obstruction of law enforcement.

Morgan Drayton, policy and engagement manager of the Common Cause Maryland, released a statement on the matter. The Common Cause Maryland is a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen democracy.

“It is sickening to think that Ayala was making decisions about our elections after allegedly participating in the attempted insurrection. His disrespect for the voices of Maryland voters and his disregard for the peaceful transfer of power stands in direct contrast to the duties of the Board of Elections. It is concerning that he was allowed to be a part of the Board, but we are grateful that he will be held accountable for his crimes, even if it is three years later,” said Drayton. “After the 2024 election, the General Assembly should seriously consider whether the process for selecting board members needs to be changed. This should be a wake-up call.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Though many new laws from the 2023 session of the Maryland General Assembly took effect in July and October, some will not apply until 2024.

Several new laws took effect on Jan. 1.

The Stop the Spam Calls Act of 2023 (SB90/HB37), which restricts mobile phone solicitations for non-charities, went into effect on Jan. 1. An individual who violates the law is guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, will be fined up to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for each subsequent violation. 

“Spam calls and calls that conceal the caller’s identity are on the rise. A report found that 123.8 million spam calls were made to Maryland residents in one month, January 2019, an average of almost 15 calls per person for every resident of the state,” said Marceline White, executive director of Economic Action Maryland, in written testimony. “Although there are some federal regulations related to spam calls and robocalls, they have been largely ineffective. The federal regulations provide a floor and SB 90 creates stronger state guardrails for Maryland residents by requiring affirmative consent to receive these calls.”

Several businesses that use similar call systems to reach their customers and potential clientele spoke against the new law.

“As written, SB90/HB37 would prohibit a person from making certain calls in a certain manner by restricting the methods, times and identifying information that the person making the call may utilize. Specifically, before a person has the ability to perform the telephone solicitation to a resident, they must first receive expressed written consent,” said Davion Percy in written testimony on behalf of the Retail Energy Supply Association. “For businesses seeking new customers by telephone, they would now be confronted with an unreasonable and unnecessary barrier that would ultimately require an additional form of solicitation from the resident.”

Another new law (SB805/HB1217) that has taken effect since Jan. 1 requires non-profit health service plans, insurers and health maintenance organizations in Maryland to provide coverage for biomarker testing. Biomarker testing helps doctors diagnose, treat, manage and monitor diseases according to the legislation.

When it comes to earnings on the job, the Fair Wage Act of 2023 (SB555/HB549), a law that requires all Maryland employers to increase the minimum wage to $15, went into effect on Jan. 1. The minimum wage in Maryland was $13.25 for employers with 15 employees or more and $12.80 for employers with 14 or fewer employees.

“Thanks to the Fair Wage Act, Maryland will ring in 2024 with a much-needed $15 minimum wage. It will help workers put food on the table, keep a roof overhead and boost the consumer spending that local businesses depend on,” said Holly Sklar, founder and CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. “Fairer wages also help businesses hire and retain employees and deliver the reliable service that leads to repeat customers instead of lost customers.”

Though the Fair Wage Act has gotten significant applause, several organizations are against the law.

“As a general proposition, the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) believes that wages should be commensurate with the cost of living. However, the minimum wage should be reassessed and reauthorized by the Maryland General Assembly regularly, rather than predetermined by a rigid formula with limited factors,” said the MMHA in a written testimony.

Later this year, another new law, SB760/HB1055,  will take effect on June 1. It will stop employers from hiring uncertified security guards and requires the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to identify or create training programs for security guards. The bill also requires that a security guard agency or employer submit a detailed report of any use of force incidents by a security guard while on the job within 48 hours after the altercation.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

Cable network anchor and Bowie High School graduate Abby Phillip reminded Bowie State University winter graduates Dec. 23 of the power of failure in life.

Phillip, anchor of “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” a Harvard graduate and a member of Bowie High School’s class of 2006, told the 405 graduates that the road to success is filled with redirection, difficulties and unavoidable pain. But even with life’s many obstacles, she assured the graduates, what is meant for you will come. 

“There has been nothing that was meant  for me that I did not receive or was given to someone else,” Phillip declared.  

Phillip cautioned students that “successful people have a high tolerance for adversity, for discomfort, for unhappiness, even,” as she recounted experiences in college and her career that were filled with rejection and experiences where she did not fit in. 

“I wish that someone had told me that bad things are going to happen to you. But the real question is, what do you do when that happens,” Phillip said.  

Phillip shared with graduates of the Maryland HBCU and their parents that it took her years to figure out that rejections are part of life, even when they are based on “unfairness.”  

 “There can be trauma associated with rejection, being left out, especially when you think there is unfairness at play,” Phillip said. 

“We have to start training our minds and our hearts to see the messages in rejection knowing that we can triumph over it. Sometimes we have to hear a loud and resounding ‘no’ in order to fight for yourself.”

The university’s winter graduation included a surprising 2023 fine arts graduate: Myles Frost, who won a Tony in 2022 for his portrayal of music icon Michael Jackson in “MJ the Musical.”  Frost entered the stage shouting out  ”We graduating baby” to his classmates before belting out a rendition of “Enjoy Yourself,” originally performed by the Jackson 5 in 1976. 

Frost ended his graduation appearance with a touching tribute to his 90-year-old grandmother, Hattie Strayhorn, who he said “is still walking and talking with style and grace.” Frost gave his grandmother flowers when she walked to the stage, assisted by his mother, Charmaine Strayhorn. 

Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux said Frost demonstrated “good character to pursue his hopes and dreams (on Broadway) while getting his education and being awarded his degree today.”  

The themes of family and resilience were woven throughout the Bowie State ceremony, which also highlighted five doctoral level graduates in computer science and educational leadership, as the institution is focused on moving toward a Carnegie Research Level II institution. 

Antuan Terrell Jemerson Sr., a newly minted graduate in business administration, personified the theme of resilience.  The Upper Marlboro, Md. business marketing major started his degree program in the 1990s and returned to BSU in 2021 after his son suggested he come back to the college classroom. 

“My kids are here; my son inspired me to come back to school. Today feels great, it’s exhilarating, I’m proud. Overall it feels amazing,” Jemerson said. 

Following the ceremony, Phillip expressed joy at addressing an audience “at home” in Bowie. In many ways, she said, she’d never left.

She also summed up the importance of the day and the occasion of an HBCU graduation ceremony.

“There would not be a Black middle class without HBCUs and this is so important,” she said. “HBCUs carry on the legacy of many in this country.” 

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By Megan Sayles 
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Mayor Brandon M. Scott, in partnership with the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), hosted the 49th annual Mayor’s Business Recognition Awards on Dec. 13. The ceremony celebrated 14 firms with an active presence in Baltimore, exemplary leadership and a commitment to improving Baltimoreans’ quality of life. 

The winners included the B&O Railroad Museum, Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Elocin Global Logistics, Hon’s Honey, No Struggle No Success, Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, Parity, Pimlico Merchants Association, TEDCO, The BIT Center, UnitedHealthcare, The Verve Partnership and Women of Valor. 

“This recognition has always sought to inspire leaders across the City of Baltimore to continue innovating ways to support their communities and help our city achieve its full potential,” said Scott in a statement. “Collectively, we can address Baltimore’s most pressing challenges, create opportunities for growth and continue to strengthen our connections to one another.” 

GBC reworked this year’s awards ceremony to highlight companies and organizations that align with its multi-year agenda, which seeks to propel the Greater Baltimore region toward a thriving future for equitable economic growth. 

The awardees were required to demonstrate at least one of five categories that comprised economic opportunity, acting as an ambassador for the Baltimore region, local investment, supporting safe and vibrant communities and community development. 

“The organizations celebrated with this year’s Mayor’s Business Recognition awards represent the type of transformation around economic opportunity that GBC has been working diligently toward fostering in the Baltimore region over the past 11 months,” Mark Anthony Thomas, president and CEO for GBC, told the AFRO. “We are honored to recognize these engaged civic institutions in concert with the Mayor’s Office and Baltimore Development Corporation and hope our platform amplifies awareness of the vital work they are doing to create a better Baltimore for all.” 

Parity, launched by Bree Jones in 2020, won for its community development work. The equitable development company is headquartered in West Baltimore and uses a block-by-block approach to rehabilitate abandoned homes and create affordable homeownership opportunities. 

In June, Parity unveiled its first two completed homes in the Harlem Park neighborhood, which is set to have 94 additional homes renovated over the next few years. 

“I appreciate GBC and the mayor for recognizing our small but mighty organization, working on the ground to tackle the vacancy issue while building wealth for Black homeowners,” Bree Jones, CEO and founder of Parity, told the AFRO.  

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.

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The Associated Press

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP) — A late-year storm unleashed heavy rain and gusty winds as it barreled up the East Coast on Dec. 17, forcing water rescues from flooded streets and the cancellation of some holiday celebrations.

Authorities rescued dozens of motorists stranded by floodwaters in South Carolina’s waterfront community of Georgetown, according to Jackie Broach, public information officer for Georgetown County, situated between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. More than 9 inches (22.9 centimeters) of rain fell in the area since late Dec. 16.

“It’s not just the areas that we normally see flooding, that are flood-prone,” Broach said. “It’s areas that we’re not really expecting to have flooding issues.”

Water rescues also took place on Kiawah and Seabrook islands, according to media outlets.

There were numerous road closures across South Carolina’s Lowcountry as the storm dumped heavy rain. The tide gauge at Charleston swelled to reach the city’s highest nontropical tide on record and the fourth-highest tide of all time, media outlets reported. Charleston was soaked by about 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain that tapered off by afternoon. Dozens of roads were closed, while stranded cars littered streets.

“It’s like a tropical storm, it just happens to be in December,” Broach said in a phone interview.

There were no reports of injuries or deaths in Georgetown County, she said. Gusty winds were strong enough to topple some signs and trees. Outdoor holiday decorations were tossed about, she said.

Farther up the coast, minor to moderate coastal flooding was expected Dec. 17, according to the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, North Carolina.

There were more than 31,000 power outages in South Carolina, according to PowerOutage.us, along with over 14,000 in North Carolina and more than 11,000 in Florida.

The storm was forecast to gain strength as it tracked along the Georgia and Carolina coasts, producing heavy rain and gusty winds, the weather service said. Wind gusts of 35 mph to 45 mph (56 kph to 72 kph) could bring down trees, especially on saturated ground.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned of a possible 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 centimeters) of rain, powerful winds and potential flooding in parts of the state. Flood watches were in effect in many locations in New York City, and high wind warnings were activated around the city and Long Island.

“We will get through this storm, but preparation is the key,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said. City officials told residents to expect several hours of rain and possible delays during the Dec. 18 commute.

The storm dumped up to 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) of rain across Florida, inundating streets and forcing the cancellation of boat parades and other holiday celebrations.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and minor flooding advisories for a wide swath of the state, from the southwest Gulf Coast to Jacksonville. Major airports remained open, however, at the start of the busy holiday travel season.

“Today is not the day to go swimming or boating!” Sheriff Carmine Marceno of Lee County, on Florida’s southwestern coast, said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Coastal advisories were issued for much of Florida as strong winds churned waters in the Gulf and along the north Atlantic coast.

The storm could be good news for residents in southwest Florida who have been facing water restrictions and drought conditions heading into what normally is the region’s dry season.

The weather service also warned of 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 centimeters) of rain in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, with the heaviest expected late Dec. 17, and possible urban and small stream flooding and at least minor flooding to some rivers through Dec. 18.

Forecasters also warned of strong winds in coastal areas, gale-force winds offshore, and moderate coastal flooding along Delaware Bay and widespread minor coastal flooding elsewhere.

The weather service said there is a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of New England through Monday morning, with the potential for flash flooding. Northern New England is expected to get the heaviest rain Dec. 18 through early Dec. 19.

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By Reginald Williams
Special to the AFRO

More than 200 Prince George’s County citizens filled the Bowie State University’s Student Center Ballroom on Nov. 28 to partake in the community forum on rising youth crime. Also in attendance were Prince George’s County law enforcement and local and state representatives.

Sponsored by Councilmember Ingrid Watson (D-District 4), the forum’s goals, according to the councilwoman, were:

• To hear from the panel experts on crime and learn its impact on communities;
• Share thoughts about solutions;
• Review proposed legislation to address those crimes;
• Connect with members of the community.

“This is an opportunity to create an action plan of how to move forward beyond the forum,” said Watson, who believes the forum is a start to creating solutions.

As in many communities nationwide, there is a rising concern amongst the residents regarding the escalation of violence. According to Circuit Court documents, from Jan. 1, 2019-Oct. 31, 2023, there were 450 carjackings in Prince George’s County. Violent crimes over the past 12 months increased 9 percent to 4,163 attacks (murder, sex offenses, robbery, assault and domestic violence) from 3,815 in 2022. 

Sen. Ronald L. Watson (D-Prince George’s County) and panelists introduced some aggressive legislation to address the problem.

Sen. Watson introduced five bills to the audience: The Violent Firearm Offender Act, Illegal and Stolen Firearms, Organized Retail Theft, Protection at the Pump, and Maryland Firearm Detection Platform Act.

Each bill, divided into five sections, is intended to address a different aspect of the crime problem.

“When Councilmember Watson asked what could I do, I said, ‘Let me bring Annapolis to Bowie. Let me show you how we get bills done. That’s what we’re going to do tonight. We’re going to get as many done as we can with the time that we have,'” explained Sen. Watson.

Before introducing the bills, Sen. Watson began his PowerPoint presentation by showing media clips and disturbing images of crime victims. 

“Are we there yet?” Sen. Watson repeatedly asked while sharing his year-end review of the county’s crime. “Have we reached the point where we are ready to demand action? Have we reached the point where we are ready to go to Annapolis by the busloads and keep the politicians in their seats until we are heard because the squeaky wheel still gets the grease?”

The panel of experts also included District Attorney Aisha Braveboy, Police Chief Malik Aziz and Prince George’s County School Superintendent Millard House II.

Tiffanie Colvin, a Bowie, Md., resident, attended the forum with a contingent of parents from Pointer Ridge Elementary, looking for some answers about the Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education program, found value in the councilwoman’s efforts but had issues with House II’s offering.

“I thought the forum was very informative. The ideas presented I did like, but I would like to have more information before I fully say yes, we should move forth,” explained Colvin. “I kind of like the direction, but the superintendent did not say much about school safety.”

Former police officer and Cheltenham Youth Detention Center mentor Richard Beckwith also held mixed feelings about the community discussion.

“I thought the turnout and the response was very good, but I still feel that the projects he’s proposing are programs the government has previously shut down—like Job Corp,” said the 77-year-old county resident. “The programs we had, the government decided weren’t good anymore. And they instituted restraints that make it difficult to discipline our children.”

Braveboy, a former Maryland House of Delegates member representing the 25th district, shared several initiatives her office is implementing to combat crime.

She also voiced her understanding of the mental health component that exacerbates the problem and that that violence was more encompassing, and could not be blamed entirely on youth.

“We must hold everyone accountable,” said Braveboy. “The children are getting the guns from somewhere. Who’s putting these guns in children’s hands? This is not all on the children.”

Beckwith believes the problems of violence are greater than just the children.

“We can’t compromise and discount all of the underlying circumstances that created this atmosphere amongst our juveniles,” Beckwith said. “If we want to reverse these problems, we can’t ignore the trauma that created it.”

In Sen. Watson’s opening, he said the plan to reduce crime wasn’t rooted in mass incarceration. However, much of what was offered revolved around policy and policing. 

But Aziz echoed in his presentation the need for more services to address the psychosocial needs of the youth. He ended his presentation by saying: “You throw away behaviors. We don’t throw away the people.”

Reginald Williams, the author of “A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised & Demonized” writes on Black men and holistic health concerns. Please email bookreggie@reginaldwilliams.org or visit amvonlinestore.com for more information.

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By Megan Sayles 
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Maryland residents living in historically redlined communities may now get a new chance at homeownership, thanks to a new program announced by Gov. Wes Moore on Dec. 4. 

Managed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Utilizing Progressive Lending Investments to Finance Transformation (UPLIFT) will tackle appraisal gaps and advance new construction and the restoration of quality affordable housing. Homeownership has long been considered a tool for wealth-building, and the program seeks to use it to close the racial wealth divide.

“Tackling the racial wealth gap is a priority of the Moore-Miller Administration. We must actively work to reverse decades of disinvestment through good policy decisions and innovative programs like this one,” said Moore in a statement. “Maryland will be a leader in these efforts, and we will continue to expand work, wages and wealth for all Maryland families.” 

Redlining’s legacy of disinvestment has caused homes in certain neighborhoods to appraise for less than the cost to build them. UPLIFT will finance the difference between the appraised value and the sales price. 

The program will then select developers to build, sell and rehabilitate housing in targeted neighborhoods, which will be identified using data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) low-income Census tract and Maryland’s Sustainable Communities.

Twenty-five percent of the homes will be earmarked for residents with incomes below the area median income. As new homes are constructed, the expectation is that UPLIFT will boost the housing markets in these communities and reduce the appraisal gaps that exist. 

UPLIFT’s initial round of funding amounts to $10 million, as allocated in Maryland’s budget for fiscal year 2024. The program expects to directly finance nearly 200 units in eight to 10 projects in its first phase. 

“Overall, our hope is that UPLIFT responds to two urgent, if long-delayed, priorities for Maryland. The first is to close gaps in household wealth across racial categories by elevating depressed property values in capital deficient neighborhoods, predominantly occupied by historically disadvantaged households,” DHCD Secretary Jake Day told the AFRO. “The second is to strengthen those neighborhoods so they effectively support the aspirations and well-being of those living within them.”

Photo courtesy Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD),

The origins of redlining date back to the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. At that time, the federal government established the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to address the housing crisis engendered by the Great Depression. 

The HOLC created “residential security maps” of major U.S. cities to categorize neighborhoods based on their perceived risk for mortgage loans. Hazardous or high-risk areas were shaded in red on the maps, and largely comprised Black neighborhoods. The FHA promoted the use of these maps to lenders, incorporating them in its handbook for underwriting. 

“Redlining is not just the story of banks that don’t lend. It’s also the story of the way the federal government taught banks how to create security maps that they used to redline. You have this government action that helps initiate redlining,” said Lawrence T. Brown, research scientist at the Center for Urban Health Equity at Morgan State University (MSU). “You also have the appraisal system. Even though they are not engaged in lending, they’re using these maps to devalue Black property, especially in Black neighborhoods.” 

Brown is the author behind “The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America.” In the book, he uses Baltimore as an example to examine the causes and effects of segregation and discriminatory policies, like redlining. 

He coined the term “Black Butterfly” to illustrate how predominantly Black and low-income neighborhoods make up the East and West side of the city, resembling the wings of a butterfly. 

“Research is continuously documenting that redlining is still taking place today nationwide,” said Brown. “Banks are at the heart of redlining, but you can see other entities engaged in it, like insurance companies. They’ll often charge more for insurance in Black neighborhoods.” 

He pointed to a 2019 Urban Institute study that reported that the average loan amount per household in neighborhoods where the population is more than 85 percent African American was $68,133 but in neighborhoods where less than 50 percent of the residents are African American the amount was $160,438. 

Brown thinks UPLIFT will benefit the chosen households, as they will not have to pay the difference created by appraisal gaps. However, he considered it a baby step in fixing a pervasive problem. 

“The phenomenon of redlining is so deep that $10 million won’t go very far. That’s my concern. It’s a great idea, but this should be the first baby step,” said Brown. “The appraisal system itself needs to be changed. If they’re only going to cover the gap in a system, where appraisers can continually devalue and undervalue homes in Black neighborhoods, we’re not really getting that far.” 

The current iteration of UPLIFT is DHCD’s first draft. The agency will be taking public comment on it until Dec. 29, and on Dec. 19 DHCD will host a virtual listening session from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

In January, DHCD will release UPLIFT’s final program guide, host an information session and start accepting applications. 

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.

The post Governor Moore announces ‘UPLIFT’ to accelerate homeownership in historically redlined communities appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Helen Bezuneh

Special to the AFRO

When Catherine Arthur, vice president of collections and chief curator at the Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC), first laid her eyes on “Abstract #1,” a quilt made by African-American folk artist Elizabeth Talford Scott, she knew it belonged at the MCHC.

“The general idea was we were supposed to borrow it and work with student curators in an exhibition development seminar to create this exhibition that would open in early 2024,” said Arthur. “I looked at it and it looked like a super cool, crazy quilt and I’m like ‘well that looks like ones that I know are already in our collection.’ I didn’t know any more than that other than, why wouldn’t we want this here permanently? We need to buy this.”

Before making the purchase, MCHC took a look at their own collection to determine if any artworks created by Talford Scott or her daughter, artist and sculptor Joyce Jane Scott, were already part of their collection. The answer was no, but what stood out even more prominently was the absence of any other fiber arts associated with African American creators, at least as far as they could tell.

“That was another driving point for us as an institution that has recently rebranded and reimagined our role in Baltimore and in the state of Maryland, and are really pushing to be more inclusive and to be more relevant and to be more in tune with the conversations that are happening around us,” said Katie Caljean, president and CEO of MCHC.

It was an easy and exciting choice, then, to finally purchase the quilt from Goya Contemporary in September, adding it to their collection of over 350,000 objects.

As a quilt-maker, Talford Scott’s legacy serves as a perpetual source of artistic inspiration for Jane Scott, who has an unwilting admiration for her mother.

“My mother and I lived together until she passed away at 95,” said Baltimore native, Jane Scott, who is currently represented by Goya Contemporary. “She was my first teacher. We quilted together and have exhibited and lectured together. My mother was a rascal and she did not believe that– in regard to her artwork– she should be denied or directed or told ‘this is the right way to do it’ or ‘this is real art and that’s something that negros do.’ My mother saw this as her vehicle and her best voice.”

Jane Scott described “Abstract #1” as “a festival of textures and colors and layers,” exemplary of her mother’s bright personality and commitment to her artistic autonomy.

“It’s a hip-hop song and a Black spiritual and something from Yiddish theater,” she said. “My mother was not consumed or subsumed in what technique was, she created techniques for herself.  People revel in the artwork because of the freedom. There’s an unabashed potential for this kind of work because it says ‘take a look, you may think it’s easy, it is not. You may think it’s silly cause it’s got something in there you would never use, but it’s not. I challenge you to see its worth.’”

“That piece, like many of her pieces, was someone who was just suave and swallowed in color and texture; playing with forms and re-edifying what form could be on this surface. She was specific in her improvisation,” said Jane Scott. “She was a singer in her life. She understood, like in this piece and others, that laying form next to form color next to color would make your eyes dance and soothe the savage beast in you. She understood that everybody didn’t have to have it written out for them, that they could find their way in her work that’s deemed to be abstract like this piece.”

Born in South Carolina, Talford Scott worked as a sharecropper with her family on the Blackstock Plantation, where her grandparents had been enslaved. Coming from a line of crafters and quilt-makers, she grew admiration for quilting and its storytelling capacities, like many other African Americans at the time.

“Quilt-making is one of those things that everybody did, but African Americans were specific because they were used in the Underground Railroad as flags and cautionary tales,” said Jane Scott. “The quilts have a long, long history of having many different stories and different personalities in their use. My mother was born in 1916, that means her father was born in the 1800s. And she knew her grandfather, who had been a slave. She inculcates all of these materials with those family songs and histories and that stuff is subliminal– you don’t even know you’re doing it half the time!” 

“Her quilts were unbound,” she added. “They were stories and they were reckonings about dreams, happenstance and things that may or may not happen. And they were done in a way that was not always figurative or uber-realistic. She believed in the realm of prayer and she believed that she could shape the viewer’s ideas by the way she laid down shapes and forms, hues, how dynamic they were, and her use of materials that were seen by others to be uncommon– like rock, button, beads and stone.”

“These quilts that are made by upscaled, upcycled, recycled things and that are stitched by hand, are diaries for preliterate people,” said Jane Scott. “One stitch is a word and stitches become sentences and paragraphs in that personal story and revelation that the person makes.”

In an era when African Americans were denied literacy and education, quilts were an opportune mode of self-expression, said Amy Raehse, executive director and partner at Goya Contemporary.

“Brilliant people were not necessarily always afforded the ability to learn to read and write,” said Raehse. “So if you didn’t have that skill set, how do you pass on the family story? Well, quilts did that.”

Talford Scott received some attention for her work at the time despite the common marginalization of craftspeople, and particularly Black craftspeople, in the realm of art, said Raehse. However, her work eventually went quiet, in part due to her declining health. She passed away in 2011, not too long before Goya Contemporary took over her estate in 2019.

“ started this long-term legacy plan to start thinking through how we might recontextualize and tell the stories of this incredible storyteller who truly did document the history of her time through visual practice,” said Raehse.

Many of Talford Scott’s works were accompanied by a poem or short story, helping viewers better understand them. “Abstract #1” comes along with words that describe what the quilt is made of.

“We had a material that was called butcher’s cloth,” Talford Scott wrote. “And that was what they packed food in. Flour, corn, sugar, anything. This is a family quilt, all something from the family. Everything that I didn’t wanna throw out, I saved a piece of it. These are the things that Joyce used to drag around with her doll.”

Talford Scott is likely referencing a blanket her daughter used to drag around as a child, Arthur told the AFRO. Though Jane Scott doesn’t remember if her blanket is indeed included in the piece, she is “sure it would be.”

“We recycled everything,” she said. “We lived in a house where there wasn’t a lot of money, that’s a story that a lot of Black people have. But nothing was tattered and torn. She always embroidered or quilted or beaded or did something on this odd work.”

As for MCHC’s acquisition of “Abstract #1”, Jane Scott said it’s “high time.”

“My mother and I both attended there, I’ve exhibited there and she did exhibit in the past,” she said. “I think that as one of the elders of this city, although she wasn’t born here, she lived here most of her adult life. And as an institution that talks about history and communities and in Baltimore city, I think they’re absolutely right to do this.”

The acquisition of the quilt speaks to the MCHC’s aspirations to diversify their collection.

“Since we are an institution that has been collecting since 1844, and oftentimes the collections that come to us are given to us,” said Caljean, “ to be more proactive in the types of materials that we are seeking out and connecting with communities to be able to tell stories more fully and to tell them from other perspectives rather than the staff that are currently at the institution.” 

“There’s no secret that museums historically have really not told the full story of our history. Even a museum of and about history has left out the stories of many people and many people in American history,” said Raehse. “Those who have been marginalized or left out typically have been either persons of color or women or, in the case of artists, artists who worked with materials that were more historically considered ‘craft-based.’” 

“That’s sort of a hidden language for ‘domestic’ and ‘female’ practices,” continued Raehse. “I think it’s really important that museums identify that this did occur in the past, and make the effort to actually actively make those changes.”

The post Maryland Center for History and Culture acquires quilt made by Elizabeth Talford Scott appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey, Ed.D 
Contributing Editor

Bowie State University Police received report of shots fired at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Oct.7 in the area of Henry Circle near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies. Two individuals were reported as injured and taken to the hospital. Their identity and condition are unknown at this time. 

The matter is under investigation by Prince George’s County Police Department.

Maryland State Police have confirmed that the two victims, both male,  age 19, are not students of at the university.  The students were shot in front of the Center for Business and Graduate Studies, according to a Maryland State Police alert issued Oct. 8.  The campus held its homecoming football game on Saturday. 

University officials met shortly after the pre-homecoming shooting at Morgan State University in Baltimore to advance security and prepare for the possibility of disruption. An increased presence of armed and unarmed officers were on campus during the Homecoming festivities and enhanced lighting was installed across campus. 

The campus sent an alert message to all members of the campus community late last night issuing a shelter in place order that was lifted early this morning.  It is not known at this time if the shooter has been apprehended. 

The post Two shot at Bowie State University appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

In 2022, Exelon, Pepco’s parent company, launched the RECF in partnership with RockCreek, one of the largest diverse-owned global-operated investment firms. This initiative aims to enhance financial opportunities for diverse businesses so they can create more jobs, grow their companies and reinvest in their neighborhoods and communities. The fund, totaling $36 million, offers affordable capital to enterprises that have historically faced challenges in accessing and securing funding due to systemic barriers.

Pepco is the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. They provide energy service to almost a million customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Three elected officials, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, and Maryland State Senator William C. Smith Jr., attended the press conference announcement to show their support and speak on the impact of this investment for the local community.

“A city as prosperous as ours can create more wealth and close wealth gaps in our communities. We know when our businesses grow, more DC residents are hired, more wealth is created and circulated in Washington D.C., and more businesses find opportunity,” said Mayor Bowser.

Councilmember McDuffie said, “We are a job city. We are a city that works. It’s going to work even better as we continue to make more investments like the one that’s being made today.”

As part of Exelon’s ongoing efforts to promote equity and economic opportunity in the diverse communities served by Pepco and its sister utilities, the RECF is making investments through debt and equity financing across Exelon’s service regions over the next three years.

“This is a shared mission driven initiative. It’s one of the highlights of my career to have you all here,” said Pepco Holdings CEO and President Tyler Anthony. “Pepco and our parent company, Exelon, are deeply connected to our communities we serve and committed to providing much more than energy by investing in opportunities that make our region thrive.”

RockCreek, a global investment firm with over $16 billion in assets, leads the RECF and makes the fund’s investment decisions.

“Capital is the fuel that allows companies to grow, create jobs, and strengthen communities. RockCreek is proud to partner with Exelon and Pepco to make investments here in D.C. to bring that critical fuel directly to minority-owned businesses,” said Afsaneh Beschloss, CEO of RockCreek. “These visionary founders and business leaders are helping to drive that change, in our community and across our country.”

Following the announcement by the four companies representing the energy, IT, workforce development and real estate fields, leaders from each participated in a panel discussion.

A $1 million equity investment was awarded to Gemini Energy Solutions, a Black-owned and led energy audit and cleantech company that strives to equitably scale energy efficiency to often overlooked small businesses and communities. The organization is currently working to connect businesses and churches in under-resourced communities with green energy solutions.

Public Sector Solutions Group (PS2G) received a $600,000 debt investment. PS2G is a technology driven Black-owned company providing IT consulting services and solutions to state and local government partners.

CJR Development Partners, LC is a minority, woman-owned small business that was awarded a $600,000 debt investment. They advise on public private partnerships and specialize in creating mixed use developments and affordable housing communities.

Escalate is a workforce development platform that provides support for frontline workers to drive retention and positive work environments. Based in Silver Spring, Md., Escalate is a majority-Black and woman-owned company and received $500,000 in equity investment.

“What you invest in minority businesses, Black businesses, it pays dividends …. Those are the numbers, just the raw data points. Think about the stories. Think about the jobs we are creating. Think about the tuition payments that are going to be made. Think about the homes that are going to be purchased. Think about those dreams that are going to be fulfilled,” said Senator Smith.

New RECF applications are open and accepted on a rolling basis. Minority businesses interested in funding may apply online or contact the fund manager, RockCreek, at RECFInquiries@therockcreekgroup.com for more information.

The post PRESS ROOM: Pepco and Exelon’s Racial Equity Capital Fund announces $2.7 million in investments to four local, minority-owned businesses in the District and Maryland appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey
Special to the AFRO

President Joe Biden spoke on the state of the country’s economy while visiting students at Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) on Sept. 14. While Republican lawmakers wrangled over the appropriations process late last week, Biden reached outside Capitol Hill’s fiscal fight and spoke to community college students, faculty and staff less than 20 miles from the White House. Biden discussed his economic vision,  branded as “Bidenomics” by the media.     

“As many of you know, my wife is a professor at a community college. As a matter of fact, she’s teaching today,” President Biden began to hearty applause from the PGCC audience. “She has an expression, ‘Any country that out-educates us will out-compete us.’ The work you’re doing here in preparing students to compete in the economy of the future is real, it matters.”

Biden’s visit was timely, as Congress is headed into a showdown over passing the federal government’s FY 2024 budget appropriation bill.  He was joined by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

“Growing economies are built from the middle out and the bottom up instead of the top down,” Biden said.  “When the middle class does well, the poor have a ladder up and the wealthy still do quite well.”

Biden pointed out statistics reflecting the success of his administration noting unemployment under 4 percent for 19 months which happened for the first time in U.S. history and the 13 million jobs that have been created in the economy since he took office.

Biden laid out a comparison between “Bidenomics” the economic policies and legislation touted by his administration and what he labeled as “MAGAnomics,” the budget plan supported by far-right and fiscally conservative Republicans, Biden said.    

According to the nonpartisan Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, total employment today, including private government employment, is now 3.8 million jobs higher than in February 2020. Today, there are more than 4 million jobs in private employment than before the pandemic. 

“You can’t have the strongest economy in the world without the best infrastructure in the world,” Biden said in defense of his landmark legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).   

Biden signed the measure into law in August 2022, providing a wide range of measures to raise revenue from corporations and individuals earning more than $400,000 while supporting the needs of average Americans with measures like reducing the price of prescription drugs.   

Biden said far right Republicans plan to raise the retirement age to 67, preventing one million disabled citizens from receiving Medicare subsidies and cutting Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and The Children’s Insurance Program (CHIP) by more than half.

“Biden’s economic message resonated with people like me who are juggling work, school and raising a family,” said PGCC student Najwah Fairweather, a patient care technician at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Howard County. “I feel like it was God sent for me to be here.”

Fairweather has been attending PGGG while raising 8 children. Then tragedy struck. Her son, Mikael Crier,  was killed at age 11 in  2021, after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bike.

 “The economic message that was supposed to be heard was definitely received,” Fairweather said.

Dr. Diana Wilkins, PGCC Manager of Experiential Learning, said she attended to see what plans Biden had for students, who face rising costs for school, family and work-related expenses. She liked the ideas Biden expressed, but remains concerned about obstacles on the road ahead for him on Capitol Hill.   

 “Joe Biden sincerely cares about young people,” Wilkins said. “He cares about the working class. But he has an uphill battle in fighting with Congress and lawmakers who have a different idea about the economy.” 

The post Biden speaks on economics at Prince George’s County Community College  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By AFRO Staff

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s  “I Have a Dream” speech and the March on Washington, the Caucus of African American Leaders (CAAL) and partners hosted a reenactment in Annapolis, Md., on Aug. 26.

The Morgan State Marching Band led the march, which began 10 a.m. Led by statewide civic and religious organizations the crowd bore signs advocating on civil rights issues of today.  The procession began at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, then proceeded to Clay Street, past the Banneker-Douglass Museum to view the mural, on to Church Circle and down Main Street before ending at the Annapolis City Dock.

A formal program was held at the Susan Campbell Park at noon, where 1963 March participants were honored and Morgan State University President David Wilson gave the keynote address. Willie Flowers, president of the NAACP Maryland State Conference, also made remarks.

The Aug. 26 event was part of a two-day commemoration. Sunday’s activities were expected to include a health resource fair and worship service.

The post Maryland commemorates March on Washington with 2-day event appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stacker

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7 percent experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, though experts’ views on a potential recession are mixed. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2007-2009—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of April 2023, national unemployment is at 3.4 percent, with little change from March. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 1.9 percent in South Dakota to 5.4 percent in Nevada.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Maryland using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in March 2023, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain.

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#24. Howard County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 189,374 people (3,434 unemployed)

Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#23. Queen Anne’s County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 28,803 people (548 unemployed)

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#22. Carroll County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 96,364 people (1,785 unemployed)

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#21. Calvert County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 50,016 people (1,007 unemployed)

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#20. Anne Arundel County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 316,867 people (6,301 unemployed)

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#19. Montgomery County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 555,185 people (10,965 unemployed)

Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#18. St. Mary’s County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
— 1 month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 58,254 people (1,240 unemployed)

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#17. Frederick County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 139,119 people (2,877 unemployed)

Chris Guy Jr // Shutterstock

#16. Caroline County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 18,179 people (404 unemployed)

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#15. Harford County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 141,700 people (3,054 unemployed)

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#14. Talbot County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 17,821 people (427 unemployed)

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#13. Cecil County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 55,431 people (1,318 unemployed)

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#12. Charles County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 87,731 people (2,067 unemployed)

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#11. Baltimore County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 448,315 people (10,761 unemployed)

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#10. Prince George’s County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 502,642 people (12,292 unemployed)

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#9. Kent County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5 percent
— 1 month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 10,489 people (263 unemployed)

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#8. Dorchester County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 16,171 people (433 unemployed)

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#7. Washington County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 72,466 people (1,928 unemployed)

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#6. Garrett County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8 percent
— 1 month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 15,733 people (447 unemployed)

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#5. Wicomico County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 3 percent
— 1 month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 51,422 people (1,555 unemployed)

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#4. Allegany County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 31,806 people (1,009 unemployed)

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#3. Baltimore city

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2 percent
— 1 month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 275,799 people (8,705 unemployed)

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#2. Somerset County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 1.2 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.6 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,328 people (316 unemployed)

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#1. Worcester County

– March unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4 percent
— 1 month change: Down 2.0 percentage points
— 1 year change: Down 1.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 25,525 people (1,135 unemployed)

The post Counties with the highest unemployment in Maryland appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

The Maryland Democratic Party Gala was a night of glitz and glam, joy and optimism for the state of the party. Attendees, including Baltimore City and County leaders, state legislators and national representatives, gathered at Martin’s West in Baltimore.

A main staple of the night was Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05), who was recognized for his work in politics since 1967, according to the Maryland Manual On-line.

“At the age of 35, you became the youngest president of the Maryland State Senate,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller in a testimonial video at the gala. “Congressman Hoyer, you’re also the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland in history as of June 4, 2007. You’re the first Marylander in history to serve as majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

“You will always be our leader because you have spent your life fighting to ensure every single Marylander has a fair shot. One of the first votes that you cast was to end the ban on interracial marriage,” Miller added. “While in Congress, you helped create jobs, fought to keep our bait clean and secured millions in investments to improve our infrastructure systems.”

Hoyer did not announce his election plans for 2024 during the gala as some had hoped. 

“I’m very honored that they’re recognizing me for some of the work I’ve done through the years,” Hoyer told the AFRO. “I’m a big fan of Yvette Lewis, who’s the chair of our party, and she has done an extraordinary job with our party.”

Hoyer, along with many democrats that night, continued to tout their success with the democratic sweep last year — when Governor Wes Moore, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and Attorney General Anthony Brown were elected.

“Steny Hoyer is a community champion, a legendary legislative leader, a voice for the voiceless, a defender of democracy,” said Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08). “Above all else, a mighty Maryland man who has dedicated his life to improving the health, the safety and the economic well-being of the people of this great state. I can tell you that Maryland and America are better off today because of Steny Hoyer’s service in the United States Congress.”

“You will always be our leader because you have spent your life fighting to ensure every single Marylander has a fair shot.”

Hoyer spoke of his support for Jeffries at least two times throughout the night.

Moore capped off the evening with a speech that echoed much of the attendees’ sentiments, but he added a personal encounter of his own with Hoyer. 

“[A] Maryland flag was sent to me at a time when we didn’t really receive many care packages,” said Moore about his time in the U.S. Army deployed in Afghanistan. “When you got a care package, that was a big deal. One day I received the care package, and in that care package was a Maryland flag. [It] came from Steny Hoyer.”

Moore described what the moment meant, at just 27 years old.

“[I] received an acknowledgment from a congressman simply saying I see you and we stand by you,” he recalled. “I’m forever grateful to this man.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps Member.

The post U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer recognized at MD Democratic Gala appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) led a roundtable discussion with Maryland’s minority- and women-owned businesses alongside Fearless CEO Delali Dzirasa in Baltimore on June 16.

During the conversation, Dzirasa asked Cardin about how policymakers can advance minority and women entrepreneurs through existing and emerging legislation, his contributions to these enterprises during his tenure and the challenges that these businesses face today.

Cohort members of Fearless’ Hutch program, which supports underrepresented entrepreneurs who are building government digital services firms, also had the opportunity to ask the senator some questions.

The AFRO compiled the most important topics from the roundtable for a Q&A below. The responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: You recently announced your retirement, which is set for next year. In terms of supporting small businesses, what are you most proud of in your career?

A:When you’re elected to the U.S. Senate, the majority leader asks what committees you want to serve on. I initially asked to serve on the Small Business Committee. I was the only new member in 2006 to specifically ask for that. Part of the reason was personal. My grandfather came to this country a long time ago and started a business in downtown Baltimore. It grew, and he created wealth for our family. I saw what entrepreneurship can mean.

In my first year, I brought the Small Business Administration (SBA) into my office to look at their numbers. I was appalled by the lack of diversity at the SBA’s programs. They were not reaching women, and they were not reaching minorities. The numbers were close to zero. 

I set a priority of joining the committee to open up opportunities. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do and it’s what America’s values are all about. Secondly, our economy depends upon everyone being engaged.

When COVID-19 hit, Republicans were sitting down with us to develop programs that help small businesses. They wanted to use conventional banks as a major source under the Paycheck Protection Program. I said that’s not going to work for a lot of small businesses that don’t have good relationships with banks. In the original legislation, I was able to include a commitment to reach traditionally underserved communities, and we engaged CDFIs and mission lenders to do that.

I was also able to set up a grant program for entrepreneurs at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that’s named after Parren J. Mitchell, who is my role model for small businesses. He was the first African-American congressman from Maryland, and he created the first set-asides on small business contracts for minorities.

Q:What can we expect from our representatives to continue to support and empower small, minority-owned businesses, and furthermore, are there any specific policies that we should be on the lookout for to ensure our sustained growth and success?

A: We have programs specifically aimed at underserved communities. The U.S. government is the largest purveyor of goods and services in the world, so doing business with the federal government presents opportunities. Twenty three percent of agencies’ procurement must go to small businesses. Not every agency is meeting those goals, but we’re doing very well under President Biden.

We have an 11 percent goal for small, disadvantaged small businesses. We exceeded that for the first time under President Biden. We’re also working on getting more prime contracts, instead of subcontracts, for these enterprises. That requires us to get agencies to make the contracts compact enough so that smaller companies can bid on the full contract.

In terms of capital, we are trying to strengthen the SBA’s Community Advantage program, which requires 60 percent of lenders’ loans to go to underserved communities. We’re also looking for ways to get grants to startup companies because a lot of them cannot afford to take on more loans.

Q: What initiatives or plans are there to address economic growth in lower-income communities?  [1] [2] [3] 

A: We’re working under certain court restrictions on how we can target SBA programs to lower-income communities. I wish we didn’t have to do that, and I disagree with that. We can target help based upon the income of the community, but we’re not allowed to directly target programs based upon gender or race. Those issues present a more difficult challenge for us in regard to the legal standing of such set asides.

Just to give you one example, when we set up the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, we initially targeted by race. The courts didn’t allow that. But, we have a lot of programs, like New Market Tax Credit, that set aside funding for lower-income communities. Our mission lenders also have to do that.

We want to see the relationship between serving lower-income communities and reaching traditionally underserved minority communities and women. We’re getting those numbers back, and quite frankly, there’s a strong correlation between helping lower-income communities and helping women and minorities.

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.

#smallbusiness #minoritybusiness #womenbusiness

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The AARP-sponsored event will honor local faith leaders and Black Baltimore historical institutions 

In celebration of Juneteenth, the AFRO is honored to host “We’ve Come This Far By Faith”, a breakfast recognizing faith leaders throughout Baltimore’s African-American community.

As the oldest Black-owned business in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, the AFRO plays a central role in the area’s Juneteenth celebration. As leaders in the Black community, the AFRO wishes to celebrate the faith leaders who guide us on our journey to freedom. 

Honorees include Rev. Dr. A.C.D. Vaughn (posthumously), Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Bishop Clifford Johnson, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, and Dr. Leah E. White. Additionally, Bishop McKenzie and Dr. Benjamin Chavis will serve as featured speakers for the event. Historical institutions honored will include the NAACP – Baltimore Chapter, the Urban League – Baltimore Chapter, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA).

“The AFRO truly believes that we’ve come this far by faith, yet we still have a long way to go,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO & publisher of The AFRO. “Juneteenth is meant to be a celebratory occasion, and we are excited to applaud a few of  the faith leaders, the civil rights organizations and the Black press that continue to guide us every day.”  

Lenora Howze, executive director for the AFRO, noted the company’s appreciation for AARP’s sponsorship of the event. 

“We are grateful for AARP’s support as our generous sponsor, and for their recognition of Juneteenth’s role in not just the Black community, but the entire American community,” said Howze.

Dr. Draper added, “Juneteenth is central to our community’s history, and we are thrilled that it is now a national holiday that is being celebrated by the entire country.”

The event will be held at The Pavilion in Baltimore, Md., beginning at 9 am. 

Individual tickets can be purchased for $65, via https://www.afrotix.live/e/baltimore-afro-annual-high-tea

To learn more about the AFRO, visit: https://afro.com

About the AFRO

The AFRO is the oldest Black-owned business in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and the 3rd-oldest in the United States. For over 130 years, the AFRO has offered a platform for images and stories that advance the Black community, fulfilling the vision of John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man who founded the publication with his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. Today, through the leadership of Murphy’s great-granddaughter, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, the AFRO remains the Black Media Authority, providing readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found.

Media Contact

Nick Jones
Abel Communications for the AFRO
nick@abelcommunications.com

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By Taya Graham and Stephen Janis

The Real News Network

Days before Todd Nock would become the first Black mayor of Pocomoke City, a small town on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore, he paused as he tried to express what the historic achievement meant—not just to him, but to the community he was preparing to serve. 

“I started sitting in the back of council meetings, then moving to the front, becoming first vice president, and now here we are,” Nock said. 

The former activist-turned-councilman, who was on the verge of assuming an office that had been held exclusively by White residents since the town’s inception, found it difficult to express the emotions prompted by the historic occasion.  

“I had no idea At the time,” in 2015, “I was an unemployed college dropout. I had just lost my jobs a couple weeks prior to that, I couldn’t afford to go back to school.”

For many people in the community, especially low-income and Black residents, prospects aren’t much better than they were for the young would-be mayor Nock years ago. Which is why Nock said he was committed to one priority: moving the town forward as quickly as possible.

“I said eight years ago, ‘We go along to get along,’ and, unfortunately, there were so many things we went along with. So there are things here that are going to take years to fix, years to repair,” he said.

Nock’s path to the mayor’s office was both winding and contentious. It started in 2015, when the town fired its first Black police chief, Kelvin Sewell.  

Sewell had been widely praised for lowering crime in the small community of roughly 4,000, evenly divided between Black and White residents. The former Baltimore homicide detective espoused community-style policing, ordering his officers to get out of their cars and walk.  

During his tenure, the city did not have a single homicide. But Sewell was ousted from his position under dubious circumstances. 

Sewell’s termination became the focal point of Nock’s activism. Nock worked with a group called The Citizens for a Better Pocomoke to demand answers from a city council unaccustomed to pushback from Black residents. 

At the time, despite the evenly split racial demographics, the town’s governing body was predominantly White. Even the city’s majority-Black 4th District was represented by a White police officer, who had run uncontested after a Black councilperson resigned and the city failed to post a public notice of the impending vacancy as required by the city charter.  

The years-long battle for political parity was documented in The Real News film The Friendliest Town. The film recounts in detail how The Citizens for a Better Pocomoke organized shortly after Sewell’s firing, and continued to push for change in a town resistant to it.

The group attended council meetings and even endorsed candidates for office. They also confronted the council—not just about the secrecy of Sewell’s dismissal, but about the Black community’s lack of voice in the city’s main governing body, Sewell’s firing was the subject of a major civil rights lawsuit. The suit contended Sewell was terminated after he refused to fire an officer who had filed an EEOC complaint alleging racist treatment by members of the Worcester County Drug Task Force.

The officer, Frank Savage, was subject to texts involving use of the n-word, a faux President Barack Obama-issued food stamp placed on his desk and a bloody deer tail placed on his car. Sewell’s suit led to a $650,000 settlement with the city, and to a consent decree between the city and the Department of Justice to ensure the city implements a policy to address racism in the workplace. 

The ACLU of Maryland, which led the lawsuit filed on behalf of Sewell, hailed Nock’s historic achievement as a step forward, both for the town and for the broader coalition of civil rights activists who have fought for equity on the Eastern Shore.

“Todd Nock’s historic election as Pocomoke City’s first Black mayor is a triumph—for the community, for Mayor Nock personally, and for the bold Black trailblazers of yesterday who forged the path leading to this moment,” said Debbie Jeon, legal director for the ACLU of Maryland. 

“This includes Chief Sewell,” Jeon continued, “who inspired so many Black residents of this community to activism, but it also dates back decades, to courageous individuals like Carl Snowden, Honiss Cane, and James Purnell, who fought for equal rights for Black voters and toppled all-White governments in Pocomoke City and Worcester County in the 1980s and 1990s.”

Sewell was also subject to an extensive investigation by the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor, which resulted in a conviction for his failure to charge a Black resident of Pocomoke for damaging two parked cars. The probe focused on the 2014 accident and commenced after Sewell was fired, leading to two separate trials after the Maryland Court of Special Appeals vacated his initial conviction.  

“I am happy to see Pocomoke City moving forward,” Sewell said. “I am so proud of Todd Nock becoming the first African-American mayor of Pocomoke.”

Nock has faced challenges on his path to the mayor’s office. 

In 2021, then-Mayor ​​Susan Marshall-Harrison refused to swear him in after he won a second term on the council. Marshall-Harrison used false accusations that Nock had only lived in his district since 2017. He was eventually sworn in by a fellow councilmember. Nock successfully ran for the mayoral seat unopposed this year and was sworn in by a county clerk on April 11.

As for the future, Nock told TRNN that among his top priorities are affordable housing, public safety, and the city’s faltering water system. 

But he also called for healing for a town that has struggled to overcome a past that still looms over the politics of the present.

“Always be mindful and ready for reconciliation,” Nock said. 

“Be more of a listener than a talker. Be true to yourself, be true to the people you represent.” 

This article was originally published by The Real News Network. 

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Governor Wes Moore’s inaugural celebration– the People’s Ball– was truly a spectacular affair, as Maryland’s First and Second Families made the night a perfect blend of culture and class. 

1. First lady Dawn Moore addresses the crowd gathered for the People’s Ball on Jan. 18 inside of the Baltimore Convention Center. 
2. Chris Tucker, who was spotted earlier in the day at Moore’s swearing-in ceremony, praised the great change that has come to Maryland at the People’s Ball. 
3. Internationally known artist Maxwell performs hits like “Bad Habits” and “Pretty Wings” for the crowd gathered to celebrate Maryland’s first Black governor. 
4. Governor Wes Moore makes his way through a sea of supporters just hours after being sworn in as the country’s only sitting Black governor. 
5. Governor Wes Moore had his son, James, by his side every step of the way on Jan. 18, sharing laughs and soft moments during both the swearing in ceremony and the evening ball.
6. Maryland’s First Lady and Governor, Dawn and Wes Moore, along with Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and her husband, David Miller. 

Moore was introduced by celebrity journalist and activist Oprah Winfrey, and throughout the day those who know the new governor personally spoke about his integrity and courage to make change. 

1. Governor Wes Moore is the only sitting Black governor in the country and only the third person to be elected to the highest state office. (Photos by James Fields)
2. Governor Wes Moore looks out on the crowd gathered for his swearing in ceremony with his wife, Dawn.
3. Internationally- known comedian Chris Tucker made an appearance at both Gov. Wes Moore’s swearing-in ceremony in Annapolis, Md. and the People’s Ball in Baltimore.
4. Parijita Bastola of Severna Park, Md. delivers the national anthem.
5. There’s a new First Family in the Maryland Governor’s Mansion in more ways than one. Shown here, Governor Wes Moore with his wife, Dawn, and children, James and Mia.  (Photos by James Fields)
6. Wes Moore is sworn into office as his wife, Dawn, holds the bible of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. (Photos by James Fields)

Baltimore designers curate inauguration look for Maryland Governor and First Lady Moore

1. Kevin Scott, the man responsible for Governor Wes Moore’s inauguration look, tends to his clothing on Jan. 18 as Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller looks on.
2. First Lady Dawn Moore with designer Jody Davis, creator of the unforgettable Winter white cream inauguration look.
3. Governor Wes Moore has worked closely with the talented Kevin Scott to create a classy, clean-cut look in the public eye. The designer owns a store in Baltimore on Park Avenue and first worked with the governor when Moore needed to be styled for his first commercial. 
4. Jodi Davis makes sure the First Lady is prepared to make a statement on inauguration day, draped in a stunning ensemble that was created from scratch over a six-week period. 

Photographs courtesy of the staff

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Because the pandemic decimated small businesses across the country, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot hopes this year’s tax-free week will boost recovery for surviving businesses. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
Report for America Corps Member
msayles@afro.com

Maryland’s annual tax-free week is upon us, and this year it’s more important now than ever to buy from small businesses. The arrival of COVID-19 forced numerous small businesses to close their doors, and Black and Brown business owners were disproportionately affected. Many are still in the process of recovering, and tax-free week gives Marylanders the opportunity to pour money into these businesses.

“The remaining small businesses need to have citizen support,” said Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot. “This tax-free shopping week is a shot in the arm for them, and it benefits all of our small businesses, even ones that are not selling clothing or shoe ware, because people are out shopping and spending money.”

During the week, the 6% sales tax will be forgiven for qualifying clothing and footwear items that cost $100 or less, and there is no limit to the number of items that can be exempt from the tax in the same transaction. If you purchase a backpack, the first $40 is also exempt from sales tax. This year, tax-free week will run from Aug. 8 to Aug. 14.

“It’s a small, much-appreciated tax break for Maryland consumers,” said Franchot. “Often, the 6% sales tax is greeted with other discounts from manufacturers and also some small businesses so you can end up with far more than just a 6% savings.”

The Maryland Retailers Association will also hold a contest during tax-free week to provide two students attending a Maryland university, college or trade school with a $1,000 and $500 scholarship. The University System of Maryland has agreed to match the scholarship if the winning students attend one of its institutions.

To participate in the competition, students must send in a creative video under 60 seconds displaying how they supported Maryland retailers during tax-free week. The winners will be chosen on Aug. 15.

As a result of the pandemic, most Maryland businesses have pivoted to incorporate e-commerce operations so shoppers have the option of buying virtually and remotely to take advantage of the tax break.

In particular, Franchot said that small businesses owned by African Americans and women have been damaged far more than their counterparts so he encourages shoppers to support them during the week.

“I would ask Marylanders to patronize the small, local businesses because they’re just coming out ,” said Franchot. “They’ve survived so far, but it’s not certain that they can survive until the end of the year without increased shopping.”

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In this May 21, 2021 file photo, a person holds a mask while walking outside in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

By Deborah Bailey
Special to the AFRO

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will continue a safety-first strategy as officials prepare to welcome students back to school in the midst of a new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

In an interview with NBC television, PGCPS Superintendent Monica Goldson recently said all students, faculty and staff will continue with required masking this Fall, a policy that has been in place for more than a year. “Masking will be required for all school personnel, students and visitors to PGCPS school sites, regardless of vaccination status,” emphasized a PGCPS school spokesperson.  

Goldson is strongly encouraging students to get vaccinated before the September 8 start of the Fall 2021 school year. “We were the hardest hit in the state of Maryland. Our numbers were extremely high for positivity rates. We remained in a virtual learning environment longer than any other district in the state of Maryland, “said Goldson. 

“What I want to do is make sure we don’t go back to that. And the best way to do that is through vaccinations and wearing a mask,” Goldson said recently.   

With rapidly rising positivity rates for the Delta variant hit, Prince George’s County officials are leaving nothing to chance as preparations are made for in-person learning this September.  Only half of all students eligible for vaccination in Prince George’s County have taken the shot.  School officials are concerned that too many students 12 and over remain unprotected from Covid-19.   

To try and increase the vaccination rate, PGCPS is hosting free vaccination clinics throughout the month of August in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health and Giant Foods. Vaccination sites will be held at elementary schools throughout the county. 

All PGCPS schools will be open for in-person instruction five days a week. However, Goldson has left the door open for virtual learning for a select group of students. “We understand that families of children who are not yet eligible for a vaccine may have concerns about sending their children back to school.” Goldson said to parents during a recent virtual town hall meeting. 

Parents and guardians of students in grades K-6 were invited to apply for a limited number of on-line learning spaces earlier this summer. The K-6 program will be evaluated at the end of the semester, depending on the availability of a vaccine for younger children. For grades 7-12, PGCPS will host an on-line campus, accommodating up to 700 students who “thrive in an on-line learning environment” according to the PGCPS website. 

National and state leaders have been pushing hard for students to return to full time, in-person instruction this Fall. “It’s our responsibility—as leaders and as educators—to do everything in our power to help our students not only catch up, but to excel,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona during a visit to Baltimore’s Graceland Park O’Donnell Heights Elementary-Middle School this week.  

“But to do this, we need to do everything we can to get as many students as possible back to learn in-person, full-time this fall,” Cardona added.

Gov. Larry Hogan, has not budged from his mandate last Spring for schools to return to in-person learning. “I will do everything I possibly can do within the law to push to get all of Maryland’s children back into the classrooms,” he said.  

Hogan has not re-instituted a state-wide mask mandate, even though Maryland has seen the sharpest rise in Covid-19 positive cases since May. “Get the damn vaccine,” he responded. 

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has re-instituted a mask mandate for the county starting Sunday August 8. The mandate extends to all indoor public locations at all times, regardless of vaccination status. The new mask mandate includes offices, restaurants, retail stores, entertainment spaces, and conference centers. 

The Prince George’s County Department of Public Health reported a 74.6% increase in new Covid-19 cases the week of July 25-31st. The Centers for Disease Control updated their mask guidance at the end of July recommending fully vaccinated persons resume wearing masks indoors in areas where there is substantial Covid-19 transmission. 

The Delta variant was responsible for more than 80% of new Covid-19 case by the end of July, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Delta is more virulent and transmissible than earlier variants of the virus. It has caused sickness and death primarily in unvaccinated persons, although a small number of breakthrough cases have been reported in vaccinated people across the US.

#AFROCoronavirusUpdate

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Prince Georges County Public Schools hold Summer School Graduation August 4 for 875 traditional and alternative high school students who completed requirements for graduation over the summer. PGCPS’ mask mandate was in place over the summer and will continue when students return to in-person learning this Fall. (Courtesy photo).

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(Courtesy photo)

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
AFRO Managing Editor

So here’s another of these articles they say I write so well; but I hate them so much. This one tells a story of a friend I’ve known since junior high school who, today, has preceded me in eternal life. I called him last week to host an event and received no response. Not his usual behavior. I found out later the same day that he was scheduled for heart surgery the next day.

This was one of the numerous medical interventions employed to sustain the heart of Bishop Douglas I. Miles, 72, a heart that worked so hard to sustain the faith and life of many others. A brilliant mind in the sciences and history, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, even he found it strange he couldn’t resist the call of heaven to become a minister of the gospel. He could have pursued many avenues of study and discovery, but the greatest draw for him was to see the lives of those he served become enriched and sustained by the grace of the God who’d drawn him to his life’s work.

We met in 1961 at Booker T. Washington Jr. High School in West Baltimore. We were in the accelerated program, which meant we’d finish three years of study in two years and then on to high school. When I listened to the future Bishop, his friend Jerome Pittman and my friend Toni Brown, I wondered how on earth I’d ended up in the same class with them. They were articulate and knowledgeable about many things. And they all wore glasses, which for me was the supreme mark of intelligence. Well, I was only 11. Anyway, we knew then that the good Bishop would go on from there to do great things. And we weren’t wrong.

Throughout the years, his voice has been prominent in the fight for justice on all fronts. His voice has sounded loudly as an alarm that signals a crossed boundary or a golden rule.

Throughout the years he’s taken pen to paper to record the injustices he’s witnessed to African Americans, to women, to children. And that work has overflowed beyond the church walls to the halls of justice, to the schools’ halls and the neighborhood gatherings.

When people complained about children being on the summer streets late at night, he opened the doors of Koinonia Church for midnight basketball, which gave the idle hands something to hold their attention and keep them out of trouble.

Working people needed a safe place for their children and Koinonia began a daycare program that has existed for many years.

He’s mentored teachers and preachers. He’s offered safe, acceptable places for people who were shunned every other place in their lives.

The sound of BUILD (Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development) reverberates with his name, because he helped establish it and nurtured it for many years. The work it has done has been phenomenal, including training for voter registration, teaching the operation of local governments and running Election Day dashboards and providing transportation so everyone could vote.

It’s a sad day in Baltimore. It’s a sad day for his wife, his sons, his grandchildren, nieces, nephews and all the saints of Koinonia. It’s a great day in Baltimore, a city that wouldn’t have been as great without his investment and that of his family and church members. It’s a sad day for those who’ve grown in relationship with him, who’ve labored alongside him and watched him minister with a heart to serve. It’s a great day in Baltimore to know that another ancestor has been elevated to that great cloud of witnesses in glory and cheers us on to the same reward.

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Ashanti Martinez, CASA Prince Georges County Policy Analyst For CASA speaks at a recent event to launch the PG County Housing Justice Coalition. (Courtesy Photo)

By Deborah Bailey
Special to the AFRO

Community-based organizations, non-profit organizations and advocates across Prince George’s County launched the Prince George’s County Housing Justice Coalition this week at CASA headquarters in Hyattsville.

The Coalition was founded to bring attention to affordable housing needs for immigrant and working class families of Prince George’s County. The group will also press the County for housing solutions that meet the needs of low and moderate income Prince George’s County residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and afterwards.

“We are not meeting the needs of housing for all of our residents,” said CASA Policy Analyst Ashanti Martinez, who kicked off the Housing Justice Coalition event.

“We are in desperate need not only to preserve the County’s current housing, but to invest in new housing and services for generations to come,” Martinez said.

Prince George’s County Council woman Jolene Ivey announced her intent to introduce a rent stabilization plan.

“Soon the pandemic State of Emergency may be lifted, but that won’t mean that every family’s and every rent-payer’s emergency will be over,” Ivey said.

Ivey is expecting the Prince George’s County Council to adopt measures similar to localities and states across the nation, like New York and California, who have implemented their own housing legislation to help low wealth and moderate income renters.

“Extending the moratorium on rent increases is the just and right thing to do at this time. I am proud to sponsor a bill and I thank my colleagues for their support,” Ivey promised.

The Centers for Disease Control initially issued a nationwide moratorium on rental evictions in September 2020. That moratorium has been extended four times and is currently expected to expire on July 31, 2021. The July deadline is not slated for further extension by the federal government.

As the deadline to end the federal moratorium on evictions for renters grows near, Ivey emphasized help is available for Prince George’s County residents.

“There have been federal funds available through the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program for both tenants and landlords who have lost income because of COVID. These funds are available to those who qualify, and who submit an application to the County’s Department of Housing and Community Development,” Ivey said.

“Twenty million dollars in emergency assistance has been dispersed in the County so far. It is important to emphasize that immigration status is not and will not be checked; what matters is that people receive the needed assistance and are not evicted,” she added.

Many tenants have reported federal assistance for renters has been slow in trickling down to the community level for tenants like Veronica Gutierrez, one of several community-based advocates and immigrants who spoke about how the reduction of hours on her job during the COVID-19 pandemic has left her struggling with rent.

Gutierrez echoed a familiar concern that many working families have testified to here in Prince George’s County and throughout the State of Maryland. How can families impacted by the pandemic who are already behind with rent ever catch up when rental costs keep going up?

“I demand public authorities and officials in our area to start supporting us and stop raising our rent,” Gutierrez proclaimed.

The Federal Rental Eviction Moratorium does not forgive unpaid rent. It provides resources to help pay overdue rent, based on completing appropriate paperwork. Once the moratorium ends, tenants must compensate landlords for all unpaid rent unless other arrangements have been made. Landlords are allowed to charge penalties and fees during the period a tenant did not pay rent on time.

“Become more involved in our communities. Get to know us directly and the necessities we need day by day. We deserve to live in dignity,” Gutierrez stated.

The Prince George’s for Housing Justice Coalition’s member organizations include:
• CASA
• Enterprise Community Partners
• Laurel Area Referral Services
• Independence Now
• New Day Maryland
• Neighborhood Design Center
• Prince Georges County
• PG Change Makers
• 1199 SEIU
• Tenants who have been directly impacted by housing insecurity.

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Rhanda Dormeus, mother of Korryn Gaines, stands with family attorney J. Wyndal Gordon, at a press conference Sept. 21. Gordon negotiated a deal that respects the humanity of Korryn Gaines while recognizing the challenges in the law due to the legislatively imposed limitations on damages. (Photo by Briahnna Brown)

J. Wyndal Gordon
Special to the AFRO

August 1 will mark five years since Korryn Gaines, the 23-year old mother of two, was gunned down from the back in her Randallstown apartment by Baltimore County police officer Cpl. Royce Ruby, while preparing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for her five-year old son Kodi. Ruby also shot Kodi in the face and arm as Kodi witnessed him slay his mother. Korryn’s killing was ruled a homicide by the State medical examiner. He was never criminally or administratively held accountable for his actions by Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, or the Baltimore County police department, respectively.

Ruby’s heinous actions left the Gaines family shattered and her minor son permanently injured physically and emotionally. Korryn Gaines was a loving mother, fiancé, business woman, homeowner under reconstruction, and all around phenomenal person who had a long list of accomplishments in her young life before it was cut short by Ruby’s sniper round from his M6 assault rifle. “Everyone who knew her called her a high performance, intelligent, friendly, and assertive go-getter, who adored her children,” said Gordon.

After years of volatile litigation, a favorable jury verdict, a trial judge’s abuse of discretion and reversal, the family of Korryn Gaines has settled most of their longstanding claims against Baltimore County, according to the family’s attorney J. Wyndal Gordon. Gordon and his assembled team of community advocates, activists, organizations, lawyers, and stakeholders facilitated a successful negotiation recently of which the financial terms have not been disclosed but will in the coming days. Ken Ravenell, Kodi Gaines’ attorney, is still in talks to negotiate the final terms of a settlement agreement and it is expected that they may reach some resolution as well.

“It’s an ‘amicable and responsible’ settlement, for both sides really, as it recognizes the legal challenges created by the caps on damages as well as the humanity of Korryn Gaines deserving of greater consideration and respect” said Gordon, a nationally recognized trial lawyer based in Baltimore. “All of these concerns had for too long created an impasse in our settlement discussions, but with community involvement, all of these concerns were overcome” said Gordon. “This settlement recognizes Baltimore County’s effort to do the right thing by honoring the voice of the jury and the dignity and humanity of Korryn Gaines,” Gordon said. “At the same time it also reflects the Gaines’ family’s understanding that the legal challenges we faced were very real and we were not comfortable entrusting these very important decisions to the assigned trial judge.”

The settlement may have resolved one chapter and verse of this tragic saga, however Gordon is determined to have Cpl. Royce Ruby held accountable criminally for the wrongful death of Korryn Gaines. “It was a violent, vicious, and ghastly homicide –plain and simple” said Gordon. Gordon is also campaigning to showcase Baltimore County State’s Attorney, Scott Shellenberger’s record of prosecuting “Blue crime” – his reference to police officers who commit criminal acts in the line of duty. “Shellenberger’s record is abysmal when it comes to prosecuting so-called ‘bad apples’ who occupy the otherwise outstanding Baltimore County police force”, Gordon lamented. Shellenberger’s old-fashion 80’s style of prosecuting crime is out-dated and unsuccessful in this age and era of progressive prosecutors and criminal justice reform; it’s time for him to retire – we must retire him.”

Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger declined to prosecute Ruby criminally for his misconduct responsible for Korryn’s death. His investigation was shoddy, and his conclusion that Ruby’s homicide was “justified” speaks to his disconnectedness and anachronistic advocacy.

“Shellenberger needs to be ousted, I am advocating for police reform and accountability, and I am specifically advocating for Ruby’s prosecution by the Department of Justice (DOJ),” Gordon said. “We’ve got to get Shellenberger out of office and we’ve got to prosecute cops that kill and violate the Constitutional rights of the citizens of Baltimore County.

In April, Gordon filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. “Since Shellenberger did not see fit to take any action against this killer cop, maybe the Department of Justice will,” Gordon said. “If that means I have to make my way to Washington to speak to my advocates and representatives, and Justice officials, down there, then Washington here I come.”

On Gordon and attorney Kenneth Ravenell, Kodi Gaines’ attorney, along with the National Action Network and many others have organized a rally for 6 p.m., Aug. 2, at Patriot Plaza in Towson to commemorate the life of Korryn Gaines and continue the fight for police reform and accountability and voting rights. The rally will feature appearances and comments by Lonita Baker, who is the attorney for Breonna Taylor’s family; Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor’s mother, Wendy Osefo a public affairs academic and one of the stars of the Real Housewives of the Potomac; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and others.

“We’re rallying to celebrate her (Korryn’s) life, that’s the main thing. But, we are also rallying to hold her killer accountable, prosecuted by way of the DOJ, police reform and voting rights,” Gordon said.

“We’re no longer going to be satisfied with partial justice for our people struck down by sadistic and misogynistic cops, we want the full measure of justice for Korryn Gaines, and nothing less will do.”

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American • 1531 S. Edgewood St. Baltimore, MD 21227 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

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Robert Thomas, former executive director of Baltimore City Public Markets Corp., hopes the markets can continue to grow and improve to achieve a broader reach and higher visibility and effectiveness. (Courtesy photo)

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
Report for America Corps Member
msayles@afro.com

After 24 years of serving Baltimore City’s public markets, Robert Thomas stepped down, July 8, from his executive director position, preferring to call liberation rather than retirement.

He grew up in Harlem Park, and was between jobs when he saw a classified ad for the position of assistant general manager for Lexington Market. That was in 1997.

“It worked out, so I just kind of got started, figured out the lay of the land and kept on going,” said Thomas. “But, to be there 24 years was not the original plan. The original plan was just to get a job.”

His first venture was to update the market’s management protocols and technology, as Lexington Market only possessed one computer at the time. Thomas worked on improving the market’s approach to receiving and vetting prospects for merchants, and he upgraded its phone and accounting systems.

He guaranteed that every person who joined the management team would be provided with a desktop computer, which at that time was uncommon. He also implemented new templates to improve the communication between management and merchants, and he installed security systems to defend the market.

In 2014, he was appointed by the board to become executive director of Baltimore Public Markets Corp., which oversees Lexington, Broadway, Cross Street, Hollins, Northeast and Avenue Market. In this position, Thomas again upgraded the technology used in the markets, and he enhanced human resources practices.

“Another thing that we ended up working on that is still continuing is bringing all six properties into 21st century mode, so we started the process of redeveloping each of the six markets,” said Thomas.

In 2016, Baltimore Public Markets Corp. executed a facelift for Northeast Market, and later, the corporation began a full refurbishment of Broadway and Hollins Market. Its latest project is the reconstruction of Lexington Market, which is the oldest public market in the United States. By early 2022, the market is projected to finish its transformation with a new South Market building and an outdoor plaza for farmers’ markets and public gatherings.

“All the markets will continue to be places where small businesses can start or expand and grow, and Lexington is taking this on in a big way through its new construction,” said Thomas. The updated market intends to draw on local talent, interest and finance to build a local customer base.

When the pandemic hit, Thomas was faced with the challenge of reducing expenses and cutting personnel. He also needed to find ways to keep the businesses at the markets afloat, so he helped them to pivot by implementing online ordering, curbside pick up and delivery.

Aside from the trials brought on by COVID-19, Thomas said his biggest obstacle on the job was finding capital; there were periods of time where the markets were running on fumes, but through teamwork they were able to recover.

Thomas said he was able to stay for so long because each day was new. He was never bored, and every day there was a new challenge to conquer. Since his “liberation,” Thomas has kept himself busy traveling with his wife, and said he plans to use his remaining years wisely.

“I learned long before I started working full-time that I should leave a place better than I found it,” said Thomas. “That’s been my operating motivation ever since, and especially at the markets.”

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Baltimore holds vigil for Representative John Lewis at Jubilee Arts Center, 1947 Pennsylvania Avenue. (Courtesy photo)

By J. K. Schmid
Special to the AFRO

50 activists gathered in Sandtown-Winchester, July 24.

The assembly was one of hundreds of “Good Trouble Vigils,” a nationwide marking of the
passing of Georgia Representative John Lewis. “Good trouble” is how Mr. Lewis termed his
struggles in civil disobedience that often found him at odds with police, mayors, governors and even U.S. Presidents.

Mr. Lewis, a lifelong champion of voting rights and racial justice, died July 17, 2020.

The Baltimore event was originally scheduled for July 17, but was delayed on account of severe rain and flood warnings. This delay made Baltimore’s event the last vigil in the action. The vigil took place at The Jubilee Arts Center, 1947 Pennsylvania Ave.

Since Shelby County v. Holder, a 2013 Supreme Court decision that rolled back critical
preclearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, voting rights for minorities and
marginalized communities have been undermined across the country.

While remembering John Lewis, the vigil also remembers that Mr. Lewis’s work is incomplete and must continue without him.

At issue today are two bills. First, HR1, the For the People Act, which in its current draft allows for many opportunities, including same day voter registration, preregistration, automatic registration and DC statehood. And second, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act which aims to expand the protections and enforcement capabilities of the Voting Rights Act nationwide.

In the glow of electric candlelight, the gathered keep watch during speeches and prayers. It’s somber, but not silent.

“I would say is not necessarily what we need,” Eean Logan told the AFRO. Mr. Logan is Baltimore Corps Democracy Fellow and Civic Culture Director at No Boundaries Coalition. “I think the follow up is what’s going to be the most important. Making sure that our representatives hear us, and that the folks here continue to lean on our representatives. I think, even drawing attention and awareness at this point is making some noise, even though it’s not the loudest.”

No Boundaries Coalition and Mr. Logan organized the vigil on the ground, with support from
Democracy and Be The Change. Shannon Sneed, former Baltimore City Councilwoman and
now Baltimore City Regional Director for the Senator’s office, spoke. Some attendees traveled from as far as Pennsylvania to join the cause.

Representative John Sarbanes gave the capstone speech at the vigil’s conclusion.

“We can get this done,” Mr. Sarbanes said. “If you’ve made 500 calls, make another hundred. If you send 250 emails, send another hundred. The temperature is high, lawmakers are hearing it. They know the people will not be denied.”

“I’ve been working on this for 15 years, so wherever two or more people are gathered, to
support these two critical pieces of legislation, I’m gonna do everything I can to get there,” Mr. Sarbanes told the AFRO after the event.

The AFRO asked why this bill has taken 15 years to pass, over the course of four presidential administrations and just as many Senate terms.

“It’s hard to get these kinds of things done in America,” Mr. Sarbanes said. “There are powerful forces that are fighting against this. Inside the Capitol, you have all the Republicans lined up against it, you’ve got these procedural rules that are stopping people from getting this over the finish line with a simple majority vote. So, it’s not easy to change these things, but it’s possible.”

While there are not hundreds of thousands marching on D.C., Mr. Sarbanes sees promise in the data reaching him and his colleagues.

“If you could measure, all of the activity that is happening, across the country, the phone calls, the emails, the social media shares, that level of energy, behind a set of democracy reforms, a set of legislative reforms, I haven’t seen anything like this in my 15 years,” Mr. Sarbanes told the AFRO. “We’re on the precipice of getting these critical reforms in place, that’s where we are, that’s the moment that we’re in. So, stay tuned.”

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Beginning Aug. 30, Dr. Branville Bard Jr. will oversee security operations for all Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine campuses and facilities worldwide, with the exception of the Applied Physics Laboratory. (Courtesy photo)

Branville Bard Jr., an experienced and community-oriented law enforcement leader who has earned a reputation as a vocal advocate for social justice, racial equity, and police reform, has been selected as Johns Hopkins’ new vice president for public safety. Beginning Aug. 30, Bard will oversee security operations for all Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine campuses and facilities worldwide, with the exception of the Applied Physics Laboratory.

“Dr. Bard has a stellar, decades-long track record as an effective, community-oriented law enforcement professional and as an outspoken and passionate advocate for social justice, racial equity, and police reform,” University President Ron Daniels, Johns Hopkins Health System President Kevin Sowers and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine Paul Rothman said in a message to the Johns Hopkins community. “His commitment to developing progressive approaches to public safety made him a clear choice.”

A committee of students, community members, faculty and staff identified Bard through a national search, informed by extensive outreach to internal and external stakeholders about the skills, experience, and perspective needed for this position.

“Throughout my career I have held to a simple but powerful belief that the most important responsibilities of police are to protect the public and to defend the individual constitutional rights of the citizenry they are sworn to serve,” Bard said. “We do not have to choose between being safer and sacrificing civil liberties. With a public safety system centered on procedural and social justice, and grounded in listening to the community’s needs, we can do both.”

Bard is currently police commissioner of Cambridge, Mass., where he has regularly encountered the issues and public safety challenges associated with campus environments and health care facilities. Among many noteworthy accomplishments during his tenure, he established the department’s family and social justice section to address the needs of vulnerable members of the community who are better served through a social justice approach, including juveniles, homeless individuals, the elderly, and those experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. He brought in the department’s first child psychologist to connect Cambridge youth and their families with mental health services, and its first recovery coach to help address challenges presented by the opioid epidemic.
Most recently, he launched a departmentwide effort to proactively monitor data on police-citizen interactions for indications of possible racial profiling or biased policing, and to make that information available through near real-time updates to a public dashboard.

“Commissioner Bard’s leadership is driven by his values and shaped by his life experiences,” said Massachusetts Representative Marjorie Decker (D-25th Middlesex). “His commitment to our community has been a fueled by a deep understanding that we when we collectively meet the need of our community and collaborate to respond to the social determinants of health we are a safer, kinder more inclusive community that sees individuals as valuable members of a community.”

Before joining the Cambridge department, Bard quickly ascended through the ranks of the police department in his native Philadelphia, culminating in the leadership of the city’s largest police district, where he oversaw both reductions in crime and improvements in police-community relations. He was subsequently recruited to serve as chief of police and director of public safety for the Philadelphia Housing Authority Police Department, the fourth-largest such agency in the nation.

Bard is also a respected national voice on police reform who has publicly called for a reckoning related to racial justice. In his role at Johns Hopkins, Bard will oversee the institution’s ongoing efforts to model best practices within its security workforce and play a leading role in the development and implementation of the Johns Hopkins Police Department. He will also help lead two recently announced public safety initiatives— the Innovation Fund for Community Safety, a four-year, $6 million commitment to support innovative, community-led programs designed to curb violence, and the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Initiative, an effort to better support students, faculty, staff, and community members who experience a behavioral health crisis on or near campus.

“During the next several months, Dr. Bard will begin building the relationships within the Johns Hopkins community and with our neighbors in Baltimore necessary to ensure that our public safety operation and the future JHPD live up to our commitments and values as an institution,” Daniels, Sowers and Rothman said in the community message.

Bard earned both a doctorate of public administration and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Valdosta State University where his dissertation focused on strategies to eliminate racial profiling. He also earned a master’s degree in public safety management from St. Joseph’s University. He has been recognized with numerous awards and citations.

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Baltimore County Public School students are encouraged to register for upcoming high school sports season. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli, File)Towson, MD – The fall sports season begins Aug. 11 in Baltimore County Public Schools, and BCPS is asking all students to register now for autumn athletics participation.

“I encourage all students to consider participating in interscholastic athletics,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Competing in sports is a great way to make friends, stay physically and mentally healthy, and strengthen discipline.”

“We are extremely excited about the return of our traditional fall athletic season on August 11,” said Michael Sye, BCPS coordinator of athletics. “Our athletic directors, and coaches are looking forward to our student athletes returning and taking part in our interscholastic program.”

The BCPS high school fall athletics season will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11, but online registration is open now for allied soccer, badminton, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, and volleyball.

The middle school fall athletics season will begin on Monday, Sept. 13. Online registration information for badminton and cross country is available now.

For all BCPS athletics, students must meet eligibility requirements and have a valid pre-participation physical. Questions should be directed to school athletic directors.

Athletics will continue to follow the BCPS mitigation plan in the 2021-22 school year. At this time, all athletes are eligible and strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find an updated list of providers and pre-register for an appointment near you at COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in Maryland. We continue to work with our health partners to examine practices to keep all students safe.

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Del. Erek Barron (D- District 24) was nominated by President Joe Biden as the next U.S. Attorney for Maryland. (Courtesy Photo)

By Micha Green
D.C. and Digital Editor
mgreen@afro.com

Prince George’s County Delegate Erek Barron (D-District 24) is on the verge of making history.  President Joe Biden nominated Barron, 47, to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for Maryland, a move that, if confirmed, would make the local politician the first Black person to hold the position as well as the first Democrat in the role in two decades.

Barron, who has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2015, was one of several history-making nominations by President Biden for U.S. Attorney positions.

“These individuals — many of whom are historic firsts — were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials in this field, their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all, and their commitment to the independence of the Department of Justice,” the White House said in a statement on July 26.

The District 24 Delegate worked with the man who nominated him for the position- President Biden. Barron worked as then Senator Biden’s counsel and policy adviser from 2007 to 2009. The attorney and politician also was part of the Obama-Biden transition team serving with the justice and civil rights review contingent.

Barron, a Bowie resident, spent his professional formative years and career in the D.M.V.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland College Park and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law Center.  

Before his service in Maryland’s House of Delegates in 2015, the defense attorney worked as a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and as a prosecutor in the Prince George’s and Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office. 

Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen (D) and Ben Cardin (D) celebrated Barron’s nomination as they were responsible for recommending the Delegate to the President.

“Our state must have a U.S. attorney who is fiercely committed to delivering equal justice under the law to every Marylander. Erek Barron’s tireless efforts to build a better, fairer justice system in Maryland, his years of experience serving our constituents, and his deep understanding of the challenges we face qualify him as an outstanding nomination for this position,” Sen. Van Hollen said in a statement. “Together with Senator Cardin, I was proud to recommend Erek to serve in this role, and I know he will work with us to improve public safety, address gun violence, uphold the City of Baltimore’s consent decree, and strengthen our justice system.”

Cardin noted Barron’s wealth of experiences in relation to the needs of the State, as the reason he and Sen. Van Hollen felt the District 24 Delegate would be the perfect candidate for the next U.S. Attorney for Maryland.

“Maryland needs a U.S. Attorney with integrity and independence, as well as the strength and experience to tackle the unacceptably high level of violent crime in Baltimore City. With Senator Van Hollen, I was proud to recommend Erek Barron for this position as a guardian of the civil rights and civil liberties of all Marylanders,” Maryland’s senior Senator said in a statement. “Erek has demonstrated a passion for public service throughout his entire career and he will bring to this position a unique set of professional experiences and skills that will serve Marylanders well. His track record of enacting reforms to the criminal justice system and serving as a federal and state prosecutor- including prosecuting cases in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County- make him well-positioned to take on this lead federal law enforcement role for our state.”

If confirmed Barron would fill the position held by U.S. Attorney Robert Hur, who resigned in February 2021. Jonathan Lenzner is currently serving as Acting U.S. Attorney for Maryland.

Both the junior and senior Maryland Senators thanked Lenzner for his service. “We thank Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner for his outstanding service.  In February, when Robert Hur retired, Jonathan stepped in seamlessly during the transition to become the Acting U.S. Attorney after serving as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for several years,” Van Hollen and Cardin said. “We particularly appreciate JOnathan’s focus on reducing violent crime in Baltimore through his close partnership with state and local officials in coordination with the Baltimore Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  Jonathan should be proud of his tireless work to improve the quality of life of Marylanders and uphold the rule of law, consistent with the highest ideals of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Dean Jackie Jones, second from the left, with Morgan State University students. (Courtesy photos)

BALTIMORE — Following a national search, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and current Assistant Dean for Programs Jackie Jones was selected by Morgan State University President David K. Wilson to serve as the next dean of Morgan’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC). Jones, who in addition to her role as assistant dean also serves as the chair of the Department of Multimedia Journalism, replaces DeWayne Wickham, the school’s inaugural dean, following his near decade of leadership. She will assume the role effective Aug. 1, becoming only the second person to lead SGJC.

Decorated Journalist Jackie Jones Selected to Replace Inaugural Dean DeWayne Wickham, Advancing the School’s Mission Into the Future. (Photo courtesy of Morgan State University)

“We searched the nation seeking a qualified and highly capable candidate to build upon the success that DeWayne Wickham began, and that search has led us right back to Morgan, where we found the best person, in the selection of Jackie Jones, to take over the leadership reins,” said President Wilson. “Jackie Jones has been a co-collaborator in the School of Global Journalism and Communication’s growth into a top destination for students seeking preparation for careers in a diverse and competitive communications field, and she was instrumental in navigating the school to attainment of its first-ever accreditation. In her, we’ve found the right person for the job.”

As dean, Jones will be responsible for management and oversight of 24 faculty members and more than 400 students. She will also oversee and coordinate the activities of SGJC’s three academic units (Department of Multimedia Journalism, Department of Multiplatform Production and Department of Strategic Communication) and the performance centers that provide students in these departments with opportunities to apply to real-world settings the things they learned in the classroom. Her responsibilities will also include leadership of the operation of WEAA-FM, the university’s NPR affiliate radio station, which has a small professional staff and serves as a learning lab for students.

In addition, she will be tasked with expanding experiential learning opportunities for SGJC’s undergraduate students and guiding the school through the launch of a master’s degree in Global Multimedia Journalism and Communication in Africa and the development of a Journalism and Mass Communication Ph.D. program.

CLICK TO REVIEW THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASE

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Mayor Brandon M. Scott (Courtesy Photo/https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/)

By Jessica Dortch
AFRO News Editor

The City of Baltimore is an ensemble of neighborhoods whose residents take pride in their communities but are no strangers to the devastation caused by violent crime. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created a unique set of challenges for cities across the country, for Baltimore, it seemed to only add fuel to the fire. 

Mayor Brandon Scott believes building a better and brighter Baltimore requires a new approach, especially in tackling the city’s top threats. In an exclusive interview with the AFRO, Mayor Scott and Shantay Jackson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, detailed their partnerships with residents and community organizations to create the city’s new first-ever holistic public safety plan.  

The Baltimore City Comprehensive Violence Prevention Program is a five year plan that offers a sustainable solution to gun violence by treating it as a matter of public health. By strategically addressing the needs of the individuals pulling the trigger, the city could see a 50% reduction in shootings, which would be a welcomed change for residents.   

Since the death of Freddie Gray in 2015, the city has seen an alarming increase in gun violence, with numbers over 1,000 shootings and a subsequent 300-plus homicides each year. At the time of this writing there have been 172 murders and 351 non-fatal shootings, both increased in comparison to what they were this time last year. To make matters worse, Baltimore City has landed in the top 10 list of the Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S. for decades. The problem is clear, yet, in the past, solutions have been either ineffective or poorly executed. 

An incredible amount of consideration went into crafting this plan and community members were at the forefront, actively working with the mayor’s office to come up with effective strategies to restore safety and provide residents with support. “What we see Mayor Scott doing is being innovative and thoughtful about what the reimagination of our city is going to take,” Jackson said. “We are facing adaptive challenges, not technical ones as it relates to violence prevention.”

This program, however, is a collaborative effort that divides the “work” into three key pillars: public health approach to violence; community engagement and interagency collaboration; and evaluation and accountability. 

“For many years we thought about violence as something only for police and law enforcement to deal with. We know that when you look at where violence happens in the city, it’s the same places that were redlined when redlining legislation was created,” Mayor Scott said. “It’s the same places that have health disparities, and that’s why it’s important for me to think about this in not just a policing standpoint, but in a total standpoint to make sure we are dealing with every single issue.”

Gun violence has to be addressed at its root. The city has formed strategic partnerships with national organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, to target gun trafficking which often ends in deadly violence. Mayor Scott is also soliciting the help of other mayors in piloting the guaranteed income strategy to provide residents with an income to deter them from engaging in illegal activity for a quick payday.  

Many residents face obstacles that stem from a lack of resources and economic stability is important. “Sometimes there are instances of violence in our communities because of desires for resources that aren’t readily available to folks,” Jackson explained. 

There is also the need for community healing between residents and law enforcement. The community’s relationship is rocky with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) because of their historical abuse of power and use of excessive force.

Law enforcement officers are sworn to serve and protect the community. In many cases, they have done more harm than good, especially in marginalized communities. In order to restore the trust in the delicate relationship between the community and law enforcement, the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) has to be accountable for their actions. This plan highlights the retraining of police officers, but also acknowledges that they receive an overwhelming number of 911 calls, all of which are not emergencies that a police officer is trained to handle. The 911 Diversion program will lessen the burden on BPD and ensure that the appropriate officers are responding to the calls they are best equipped to handle. 

Too many Baltimoreans are used to seeing the “yellow tape,” that sections off an area because it has become a crime scene. There is a strong need for community members to feel supported in the aftermath of a shooting or violent crime in their neighborhood. This program includes the implementation of a shooting response protocol that will directly support the residents and the community. There are also several other services outlined in the plan that will provide an opportunity for healing, including the dispatch of crisis responders to actively reach out to community members when tragedy strikes. 

As a native son of the city, Mayor Scott understands that Baltimoreans are resilient and our communities have been afflicted by crime that he describes as a deadly disease. “It’s really a cancer spreading throughout the neighborhoods and generations of families throughout our city. In order to make our city the best version of itself, we have to comprehensively deal with this cancer.” 

The Baltimore City Comprehensive Violence Prevention Program is a step in the right direction in the fight to curtail gun violence. The elements detailed in the plan represent an evidence-based approach to the benefit of empowering residents to take accountability for their communities and equipping them with the resources to do so. “We are losing the lives of those who can contribute to the promise of Baltimore City if given the opportunity to do so,” Jackson said. Gun violence has claimed the lives and livelihoods of too many Baltimoreans and now it is time to heal and do the work to become a better Baltimore.

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Baltimore Police Officer Eric Banks Jr. was charged with first and second degree murder and child abuse in the death of his stepson. (By Eva Carre via Shutterstock)

By Joshua Moore
Special to the AFRO

Baltimore Police Officer Eric Banks Jr. has been charged with first and second degree murder, along with child abuse, in the death of his stepson, Dasan Jones.

On July 6, Banks initially told the police that Jones wasn’t in the house, this led to a search of the house with consent from Banks. The police found the lifeless body of Jones.
The police tried to take Banks into custody, but he refused. According to an officer that wrote the charging report, it took five officers to get him down. He was charged with attempting to disarm a law officer, resisting arrest and assault.

Fast forward to July 14, charging documents obtained by WJZ indicate that Dasan had injuries to his face, neck and mouth. Also, his clothes were drenched in bleach. This led to Banks being charged with first and second degree murder. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation.

In a press conference July 14, Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad praised how the officers continued to search for the truth. With the case being active, it was not much that the chief could disclose to the public.

“I could not be more proud of our officers in their response in investigating this case,” Awad
said.

In a brief memoir of “DJ,” Awad said that he had just completed his freshman year and he
excelled in his academics. He was also a skilled violinist. Awad called on the community to uplift DJ’s mom, who continues to grieve the death of her son.

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