By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) has issued a statement following city officials’ decision to terminate their contract with the arts and culture organization. BOPA raised concerns about the city’s plan to transition the quasi-government agency’s services in just 90 days and the risk it poses to the local arts community. 

The response came on Oct. 18, two days after the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office sent a letter to the organization, relaying its intent to cut ties as a result of BOPA’s financial instability. 

“We want to be transparent with you, our valued stakeholders, about the steps we have taken to ensure the organization’s stability and future success,” wrote BOPA leadership in the statement. “We also want to be clear about the concern we hold for how the decision to terminate the contract, without a clear plan of how to manage a 90-day transition, places our organization and the arts community at extreme risk.”

In the Oct. 16 letter sent to BOPA, Marvin James, chief of staff for Mayor Brandon M. Scott, explained that the organization’s financial instability cast doubt about its ability to meet obligations to the city and local arts community. 

Mayor Scott said in a statement that “ending the city’s contractual relationship with BOPA is not a decision taken lightly.” 

“We are taking this step after deep and careful consideration following several years of turmoil within the organization,” he said. 

BOPA had already been in talks with the officials within the Scott Administration since the organization’s cash troubles became public in recent months. 

“Members of our executive committee met with the Mayor’s Office and left with the understanding that the city no longer desired to continue its relationship with BOPA in its current form, largely due to public discussion surrounding our finances,” wrote BOPA in the statement. “We acknowledged that some elements of the city contract put a strain on stabilizing the organization, and we agreed a transition of services would be necessary. However, we explained that our cash position could be resolved if the city released payments aligned with the timing of our expenses, noting that the current quarterly payment structure was a contributing factor.” 

Hours before the Mayor’s Office sent the termination letter to BOPA, the organization held a board meeting, which ended in votes to execute layoffs and establish a transition taskforce to reassess the contract. In the statement, BOPA said during the meeting, it presented a balanced cash flow through the end of its contract term in June, which demonstrated a “proper” payment cycle and settled overdue receipts. 

The organization said it was alarmed by the timing of the city’s cancellation notice. 

“We are concerned by the timing of the city’s notification just hours after our board approved a responsible path forward, a path that was approved by the mayor’s representatives on our board,” said BOPA in the statement. “This reduces what could have been a productive and responsible 8-month transition to 90 days—without any indication of a plan on how to maintain the services provided by BOPA— places the arts community at significant risk and impacts the interim board’s ability to support a healthy transition in their volunteer capacity.” 

BOPA is charged with producing a number of Baltimore’s top events, including Artscape, the Baltimore Book Festival and Martin Luther King (MLK)  Jr. Day parade. It is also one of the main sources of funding and support for local creatives in the city, as it routinely deploys grants to artists and organizations. 

BOPA has encountered significant financial challenges in recent years. According to federal tax filings, the organization held more than $5.8 million in net assets in 2019. By 2022, after years of canceling events due to the public health emergency engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, that number declined to $1.5 million.

Its former leader, Donna Drew Sawyer, also publicly clashed with Mayor Brandon M. Scott in January 2023 following the organization’s attempt to cancel the MLK Jr. parade. She stepped down from her post after Scott told the board he lost confidence in her ability to lead the organization. 

Rachel D. Graham, former director of external relations for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, was named CEO in February 2024. She officially stepped into the role on March 15. BOPA also acquired a new interim board, which included representatives from the Mayor’s Office in March. 

The new leadership was charged with understanding the organization’s cash position and devising a long-term strategy for fiscal sustainability. This included hiring an outside accounting firm to review BOPA’s financials dating back to 2019. 

The cancellation of BOPA’s contract is subject to approval by the Baltimore City Board of Estimates on Nov. 6. If approved, BOPA will lose its quasi-government status but continue to operate as a private nonprofit organization. 

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By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

Homecoming services for Melvin L. Stukes were held Oct. 8 at the Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Randallstown, Maryland.  The former Baltimore City councilman and member of the Maryland House of Delegates died unexpectedly at his home in Pikesville during the morning of Sept. 21. He was 76.

Rev. Cordell E. Hunter Sr., presiding elder emeritus of the Baltimore Conference of the A.M.E. Church, officiated over the ceremonies. 

Several dignitaries, family members and friends attended the homegoing service for Stukes, including retired Maryland Supreme Court Chief Judge Robert Bell, former Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt, former Baltimore City Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm, Maryland lobbyist Bruce Bereano, House of Delegate member N. Scott Phillips, D-Dist. 10, and Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, D-Dist. 10.

Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller was introduced by the Speaker of the House of Delegates Adrienne Jones after she applauded the work of Stukes, a former delegate.  “He was a hard worker who cared about the people  he represented,” Jones said. 

Miller presented a citation to the family on behalf of Gov. Wes Moore, Jones and herself. The lieutenant governor, who also served alongside Stukes in the House of Delegates, also told stories that reminded people of the man they knew.  

“‘Pops’ is what we affectionately called him,” she said.  “I recall the many times that Pops was called to give a prayer in the House of Delegates. Everyone in the house chambers, including the reporters, the guests, the pages, the speaker of the House and all 141 delegates, braced ourselves, knowing what was coming next.”

“He had a way of turning a simple prayer into a lasting experience, one that compelled all of us to stand up [and] hold hands across the aisle during the entirety of his prayer,” she continued. “And those who know Pops know that Pops  was never short of words. It was classic Pops reminding that prayer isn’t just listened to, it is felt; and it moves through us, connecting us in ways that words alone cannot.  It was a simple but powerful gesture of touch that we were all in together; connected with a shared responsibility to lift each other up and not tear each other down despite our political differences. That was Pops.”

Bruce Bereano, a lobbyist in Annapolis, said, “I saw firsthand the commitment he had to his district, his dedication. He was all about service; that is why he was elected over and over again. May he rest in peace.” 

Councilwoman Felicia Porter, who represents the 10^th District of Baltimore, which Stukes also represented as a councilman and delegate, said, “I am here out of gratitude for the work he has done.  I have great respect for him. He was a dedicated public servant.”

Family members and friends, one by one, spoke of Stukes’ dedication to his community while he was in office and even after he retired from public service, including Peggy Jackson-Jobe, chair of the Cherry Hill Community Coalition.

Numerous citations were presented to the Stukes family from political and community leaders, among them Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Mayor Brandon Scott.

The sermon was delivered by Rev. Raymond F. Edmonds Jr., pastor of Union Bethel A.M.E. Church. That was followed by the interment at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery in Owings Mills, Maryland.

The post Former Baltimore lawmaker Melvin Stukes laid to rest appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Learn about ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) issues ahead of the 2024 election

United Way’s programs and services, as well as our advocacy work, supports equity, access, and opportunity for all—with a focus on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households.

People at or below the ALICE budget threshold struggle every day to pay for the basics—like housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and childcare. In Maryland, 39% of households—nearly one million—don’t bring in enough income to keep pace with the cost of living. 

A significant portion of Maryland’s workforce, including cashiers, cooks, restaurant staff, drivers, warehouse workers, health aides, childcare providers, office staff, and more, live as ALICE. A majority of these peopel are working in one or more jobs, and still live just one emergency away from financial crisis. 

Policy change is a powerful way to break down longstanding barriers and strengthen lives, communities, and our economy. As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial for voters to be aware of the challenges for ALICE households—which affect us all—at the ballot box. 

The Maryland State Association of United Ways’ #VoteForALICE social media campaign encourages voters to consider ALICE issues at the ballot box and prioritize policies that promote economic stability and opportunity for all.

Hundreds of thousands of workers in Maryland currently live below the ALICE threshold, including 36% of retail salespersons, 49% of cashiers, and 12% of the state’s registered nurses. These hardworking individuals contribute essential services to our communities, but their income can’t keep pace with the high cost of living in the state.

“As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial for eligible voters and policymakers to be aware of ALICE issues and consider the needs of ALICE households when voting,” said Franklyn Baker, President and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland. “Our Maryland State Association of United Ways stands united in our vision for healthy, thriving communities and work around the clock to tackle challenges in housing, childcare, transportation, digital access, and more that impact ALICE households—and policy change is often the first step in addressing inequities that prevent people from getting by—or even getting ahead.”

Want an easy way to stay informed on the issues and directly contact your elected officials? Sign up for Voter Voice, United Way’s advocacy platform that educates and mobilizes supporters, and does the work of reaching out to policy makers for you! 

“The Maryland State Board of Elections is committed to educating eligible voters about how to participate in the General Election and appreciates the Maryland State Association of United Ways and others’efforts to communicate with Marylanders around the upcoming election,” said Jared DeMarinis, StateAdministrator, Maryland State Board of Elections. “Marylanders should visit the VOTE MD website  for information on registering to vote and how to vote in this important election.”

Make your voice heard and take action today! UNITED, we can help improve the financial security and well-being of Maryland households that struggle to make ends meet.

To learn more about the challenges ALICE households face, to read the latest interactive ALICE Report, and to find helpful election resources so that you can vote to help ALICE households, visit uwcm.org/ALICE.

About United Ways in Maryland

United Ways in Maryland support and drive work in their respective regions to advance healthy communities, financial security, youth opportunity, and community resiliency.

The post United Way’s ALICE campaign highlights challenges for working families in Maryland appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ryan Coleman
Special to the AFRO

In 2024, 99 percent of Marylanders asked by the Gonzales poll said they pay enough or too much in taxes. A UMBC Institute of Politics poll shows over 76 percent oppose increases in state government services and taxes. They also express concern about their personal finances. The Tax Foundation ranks Maryland 45th for the state and local tax burden on residents. The verdict is in: No more taxes and fees.

According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation reached the highest levels since 1981 in 2022— putting everyday necessities like food, fuel and rent out of reach for many. And like most economic downturns, including the Great Recession and the pandemic, Black communities are disproportionately impacted. This means that Black households are now spending more of their post-tax income on necessities like food and energy, according to a new Bank of America report cited by Business Insider.

The middle class just isn’t what it used to be. The poor and the plummeting middle class are financially burdened enough with high inflation without having additional taxes and fees that lower their standard of living.

To get into Maryland’s middle class, a household has to have an income of at least $65,641. Compare that to the $35,323 middle class in Mississippi. Maryland residents’ purchasing power is down because it is costing consumers more money to buy the same products they bought a year ago. Black residents have to fight to get quality stores, high quality education and good customer service.

Over the last four years, the state budget has grown by a whopping 32 percent. In 2021, the total budget was $47.9 billion. The 2024 budget stands at $63.3 billion. Has your salary grown by 32 percent in four years?

Gov. Wes Moore balanced this year’s budget by fee increases, transferring funds from various balances, and taking money out of the Rainy Day Fund. 

Moore did not raise taxes–to his credit. But the General Assembly passed the Paint Tax, the Uber Tax, increases in the Cigarette Tax and vehicle registration fees – to name a few. The vehicle registration fee has upset every Marylander. It’s a fee that Marylanders must pay which is why it’s the hardest to swallow. While the governor did not propose them, neither did he veto them.

Former Gov. Martin O’ Malley is a friend of mine. However, he fell into the trap of raising too many fees which outstripped the appetite of Marylanders. His miscalculation ushered in a Republican governor for eight years. 

Gov. Moore, please do not fall into this trap. Do not raise any taxes, and veto any additional fees that affect the middle class.

The post Maryland’s middle class cannot afford any additional taxes or fees appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Supreme Court of Maryland visited Frederick Douglass High School, now situated at Northwestern High School’s former campus, on Oct. 2 to hold off-site oral arguments. Students from 15 Baltimore City public schools, private schools and universities attended the proceedings, including Baltimore City College High School, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Morgan State University and Forest Park High School.

This is the third time Maryland’s highest court has hosted oral arguments outside of its headquarters in Annapolis, Md.

“Last year, our court voted unanimously to find a sufficient cause to sit on a rotational basis at various locations across the state in order to provide an educational opportunity like this one to high school and college students,” said Justice Shirley M. Watts, who represents Baltimore City. “That I can find or document, this is the first time that this very court has ever sat in Baltimore City.”

Watts is the longest-serving justice on the court. She became the first Black woman judge on the Maryland Supreme Court in 2013 after being appointed by former Governor Martin O’Malley.

She noted that Frederick Douglass High School was a fitting location for the court to sit.

“Justice Thurgood Marshall was a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School,” said Watts. “Founded in 1883, Frederick Douglass High School was the first school in the state of Maryland to offer high school education to African-American students.”

The court heard oral arguments in two cases at the school: Homer Walton, et al. v. Premier Soccer Club, et al. and State of Maryland v. Dominick Scarboro.

The former involves whether a violation of Maryland’s concussion policy can be considered the main cause of a concussion injury. The latter surrounds whether an appellant is responsible for proving whether the closure of a courtroom is a significant enough issue that it violates their constitutional right to a public trial.

The oral arguments took place on the 57th anniversary of Marshall, being sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader said the event was an opportunity for justices to interact with the state’s young people.

“Holding oral arguments in the community, especially in schools, is an important part of the Maryland Judiciary’s community outreach efforts, which help further public understanding of the work of the courts,” said Fader in a statement. “Holding arguments outside of Annapolis provides an opportunity to bring civic education directly to students, teachers and the local community and to give the members of the court the opportunity to meet and engage with students.”

The post Maryland Supreme Court holds oral arguments at Frederick Douglass High School appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Start off your October with these free events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. 

Maryland 

Sweeten the Vote

Head to Sydney’ Ice Creams in Northeast Baltimore to register to vote and enjoy a free scoop upgrade. The Black-owned shop has teamed up with Black Girls Vote to make sure Baltimoreans are prepared to exercise their right on Nov. 5  

Date: Oct. 12

Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Sydney’s Ice Creams 

                  3432 Belair Rd. 

                  Baltimore, MD 21213 

Maryland Women’s Small Business Celebration 

October marks National Women’s Small Business Month. In honor of observance, the Maryland Governor’s Office of Small, Minority Women Business Affairs will host a celebration for the state’s women entrepreneurs. Diedre L. Windsor, founder of the Windsor Group, will serve as the keynote speaker and share tips on fostering healthy small business practices. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about state procurement opportunities.  

Date: Oct. 10

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Montgomery Park 

                 1800 Washington Boulevard 

                 Baltimore, MD 21230 

HUD-approved Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

To support those who have fallen behind on their mortgage or encountered challenges with their mortgage provider, the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center will lead a foreclosure prevention workshop. The session will feature counselors and legal experts approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Attendees will learn about the foreclosure timeline, opportunities for prevention, credit management and local resources. 

Date: Oct. 10 

Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. 

Location: St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center 

                 321 East 25th St. 

                 Baltimore, MD 21218

D.C. 

Zenith Gallery Presents: We Are Not Going Back

Sparked by Vice President Kamala Harris’ run for president and her selection of Governor Tim Walz as a running mate, this exhibit showcases artwork that’s been created to inspire hope for the future. The show features a range of media, including paintings, sculptures, mixed media and prints. 

Date: Daily through Oct. 12 

Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Location: Zenith Gallery 

                 1429 Iris St. NW 

                 Washington, DC 20012

A Speakeasy Evening 

The National Museum of African American History and Culture invites the Black community, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to an event honoring the 100th birthday of acclaimed writer James Baldwin. The event nods to the speakeasy clubs of the Harlem Renaissance. It explores the contribution of discos as an inclusive, safe space to dance and include a panel discussion, art-making, dancing and food. 

Date: Oct. 10

Time: 6:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Location: National Museum of African American History and Culture 

                 1400 Constitution Ave. NW 

                 Washington, DC 20001

Grounded: Plant Shop, Cafe, and Wellness Studio Grand Opening

Grounded welcomes all to their new space in Southeast D.C. It triples as a plant shop, wellness studio and cafe, making it the perfect place to wind down after a busy day. The grand opening will be filled with activities as visitors are invited to pick out plants,enjoy the cafe and engage in wellness activities.

Date: Oct. 12

Time: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Location: Grounded 

                 1913 Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast 

                 Washington, DC 20020

Atlanta Fine Art Print Fair

Black Art in America’s (BAIA) annual Atlanta Fine Art Print Fair makes its first appearance in Washington, D.C. The multi-day market presents works from legacy and contemporary African-American printmakers, including D.C.-based artists Percy Martin, Lou Stovall, Ed McCluney and David Driskell. Attendees can talk to the artists and attend a panel conversation on Oct. 12 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Date: Oct. 11 – Oct. 13

Time: 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Oct 12 and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 13

Location: 1201 K Street Northwest 

                 Washington, DC 20005 

2024 Free Women, Wellness and Wealth Conference 

Wealth strategist Deborah Short presents a summit addressing women’s financial and physical health. The Women, Wellness and Wealth Conference features conversations on retirement planning, mental health care, steps to take if a medical physician dismisses your concerns and creating generational wealth. Attendees have the chance to win door prizes, money bags and free manicures and pedicures.

Date: Oct. 19 

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: The Harborside Hotel 

                 6400 Oxon Hill Rd. 

                 Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Black on the Block D.C.

Join Black the Block D.C. at the Nationals Park Field Plaza and enjoy food, drinks, music, workshops and plenty of activations. There will be giveaways as well as special guests. The event is in collaboration with Walmart’s Black & Unlimited Shoutout and AT&T Dream in Black.

Date: Oct. 20

Time: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. 

Location: Nationals Park Field Plaza

                 1500 South Capitol Street SE 

                 Washington, DC 20003

Virginia 

Black Maternal Health Legislative Summit

The Virginia Black Maternal Health Caucus, Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott and Senator L. Louise Lucas take on the health crisis facing Black mothers across the country. The summit assembles legislators, experts and stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities in improving Black maternal health. 

Date: Oct. 18

Time: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Location: Virginia General Assembly 

                 1000 Bank St. 

                 Richmond, VA 23219

“Souls to the Polls”  by the Fairfax County Branch PAC Committee

FREE Fish dinner with “I Voted” Sticker

Date: Sunday, October 27th, 2024 

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Mount Vernon Governmental Center

2511 Parkers Ln

Alexandria, VA 22306

Hampton NAACP 4th Annual Souls to the Polls March and Celebration

Go early voting alongside your fellow citizens with the Hampton NAACP’s Annual Souls to the Polls Celebration. After marching to the Hampton Registrar’s Office, residents can enjoy live music, food and talks from guest speakers. Early voting ends Nov. 2 in Virginia. 

Date: Oct. 13

Time: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: First Baptist Church 

                 229 North King Street 

                 Hampton, VA 23669

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

By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

The Maryland Democratic Party collaborated with members of the Divine Nine (D9) – Black sororities and fraternities – to host a virtual get-out-the-vote rally for Vice President Kamala Harris and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Democratic candidates for the U.S. presidency and Senate, respectively. 

In attendance were members from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,  Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. These organizations have played a pivotal role in politics over the years and hope to help Harris, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Alsobrooks, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, get elected on Nov. 5.

Alsobrooks, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-4) also made appearances during the virtual rally.

Alsobrooks told attendees that the relationship between D9 fraternities and sororities is “very important.” 

“When we fight together, we’re going to win,” she said. 

That coordinated effort would be needed in what she called “the most consequential election of our time.” 

“We have the real profound obligation to ensure that we build a future that that really befits the dignity of our children and grandchildren and so many of the struggles that we have fought for…. Ensuring that our daughters and granddaughters have the right to enjoy reproductive freedom and that we are also building communities that are safe and affordable,” said the Prince George’s County executive.

“We know we have the power to make a change and we have the power that was instilled in us and passed on to us by our ancestors, the power to make the impossible possible.”

Following Alsobrooks’ remarks, Moore took center stage and told rally attendees that he is “beyond excited” about the upcoming election, adding, “It’s our time.”

He also emphasized the role of Black Greek organizations in ensuring that success. 

“The road to Washington [D.C.], it runs through the D9. The road to the White House, the road to the Senate seat, it runs through the D9,” said Moore. “This is a crew that moves mountains.”

If elected, Harris would make history as the first Black female president of the United States and Alsobrooks would become the first Black woman elected as a U.S. senator from Maryland, however, Moore said it’s not about making history.

“We love it [but] that’s not the assignment,” said the governor. “The reason we are going to make Kamala Harris the next president of the United States is because she is brilliant and she is the best. The reason we are going to make Angela Alsobrooks the next senator for the state of Maryland is because she is brilliant and because she’s the best and we care about our future and we’re going to protect it.”

Jeremiah Pope, the chairman of the African American Leadership Council, delivered remarks and urged fraternity and sorority members to get out and vote.

“I don’t have to say much because as D9 ambassadors, this is what we do. We always get out. We register people to vote. We always stay fired up,” said Pope. “As Michelle Obama says, ‘We always do something.’”

Lamont Riley, a D9 ambassador, said fraternities and sororities are “undeniably influential” and have made history in the past by helping Moore get elected. And, he added, they hope to do it again with Harris and Alsobrooks.  

“Remember we had a Divine Nine brother who started to run for governor of Maryland with just 1 percent name recognition. But what happened? We had the Divine Nine, our network, family, friends and neighbors who became a mobilizing force,” said Riley. “We’re going to do it again…. It’s time to activate and ensure Angela’s vision becomes a reality.”

Dasia Scott, digital director of the Maryland Democratic Party, then led a discussion on ways Divine Nine members can utilize social media to mobilize voters for Harris and Alsobrooks.

“We’ve created for you all different Divine Nine themed frames for you to utilize on your social media accounts and we made them based on the colors of different organizations,” she said.

Rev. Regina Clay, a member of the Maryland Democratic Party’s outreach team, discussed the important role that faith leaders play and why they need to use their platforms to ensure community members have a plan for Nov. 5.

“We have been educating our faith leaders, who sometimes get inhibited about talking about elections. We’ve been sharing with them that they need to have an operation voter turnout, an action plan,” said Clay. “We know that death and life are in the power of the tongue. So, we speak [voter turnout] into existence.”

The Maryland Democratic Party plans to host another event titled “Black Marylanders for Kamala and Angela” on Oct. 6.

The post Divine Nine groups in Maryland host virtual campaign rally supporting VP Harris, Angela Alsobrooks appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Vincent Leggett and Rhys Burns
Special to the AFRO

The Chesapeake Bay has long been a lifeline, nurturing the growth of Marylanders from the Piscataway people to European settlers, and continues to provide the seafood on dinner tables today. From the colonial era to the present, the Bay and its watersheds have offered beauty, sustenance, economic growth and employment, particularly to marginalized communities. 

Historically, the seafood and maritime industry along the Chesapeake has been dominated by African-American watermen and waterwomen. These individuals endured grueling physical labor and low wages to build a legacy for themselves and their families.

Watermen worked the boats and skipjacks, dredging for oysters and setting traps for crabs, while waterwomen labored in factories, shucking oysters, picking crabs and canning the products. They also worked in the kitchens of many Black-owned seafood restaurants that emerged along the Bay’s watershed communities in the early 1900s.

There are numerous African American-owned seafood companies across Maryland, but one prominent example is Crisfield Seafood in Crisfield, Somerset County. 

Crisfield proudly calls itself the “Crab Capital of the World.” At one point, the city had more than 20 crab packing houses. According to Pete Lesher, chief historian at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, “In 1938, Crisfield alone produced 13 percent of Maryland’s hard crab catch.” That year, the average catch was 25,949 barrels of crabs, each weighing about 100 pounds.

Local crab houses and restaurants relied on laborers to pick crab meat from the shell. Hundreds of crab pickers, mostly African-American women, worked long hours, often 12 to 16 hours a day. The work was demanding, with high quantities of meat expected to be picked quickly, and workers were paid by the gallon.

By April 1938, the people of Crisfield were in dire straits. The Great Depression had not yet lifted, and about 300 garment workers, mostly women, had lost their jobs two weeks earlier when two factories closed. A town official estimated that 90 percent of Crisfield’s workforce was unemployed. 

On April 4, 1938, the town’s crab picking companies cut workers’ wages from 35 cents per gallon to 25 cents per gallon. Company officials assumed the pickers would be grateful to still have jobs. Instead, two days later, 600 predominantly African-American women crab pickers went on a five-week strike. They demanded the wages be restored to 35 cents and that the companies recognize the Congress of Industrial Organizations Cannery Union (CIO) as their union. This strike brought the crabbing industry to a halt and caused ripples along the Eastern Shore.

As the strike continued, a White crowd of 100 to 300 people gathered near a Black section of town on North Fourth Street. They broke into several homes, searching for strike leaders Michael Howard and Martina Cooper, threatening to “ruin” them if found. Unable to locate the leaders, the crowd turned to Shiloh Church, where they overturned Howard’s car and set it on fire in front of the church.

After weeks of violence and significant profit losses, the packing companies conceded, restoring wages to 35 cents a gallon and officially recognizing the CIO Cannery Union as the workers’ bargaining agent. This historic strike led to explosive growth for the National Cannery Union, particularly among African Americans in the South and migrant workers in the West. 

More importantly, it ensured the continued success of African-American watermen and waterwomen. Through their efforts, today Maryland watermen like Lewis Carter can still work the Bay and provide fresh, local seafood that is exported worldwide, from Europe to Japan, and to local markets. 

The post From the Bay to the table: Black crabbing history in Maryland appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer 
abrent@afro.com

The disappearance of 24-year-old Tamika Huston opened the eyes of people across the nation when she first went missing in 2004–particularly, the meager news coverage of the South Carolina native’s  case compared to the full court press given to missing White women. 

Most recently, Huston’s disappearance and death was used to highlight how little publicity is given to cases of missing Black women in an ABC 20/20 special, “The Girl Who Looked Like Me.” However in 2008, it served as the inspiration for the founding of the Black and Missing Foundation (BAMFI), a Maryland-based organization focused on bringing awareness to missing Black people nationwide.  

BAMFI co-founder and CEO Natalie Wilson spoke with the AFRO about the organization’s origins, the epidemic of missing Black Americans, the importance of publicity and other means to combat this ongoing issue. 

AFRO: How and when did the Black and Missing Foundation get started?

NW: The Black and Missing Foundation started in May of 2008 and the inspiration behind it is a young lady by the name of Tamika Huston who went missing from my sister-in-law’s hometown of Spartanburg, S.C. We read about how Tamika’s aunt, Rebkah Howard, really struggled to get national media coverage around her beautiful niece who was missing. And the striking part for us is that Rebkah was a publicist and she had access to the media, and they weren’t telling her niece’s story. Some weeks after Tamika went missing, Lori Hacking disappeared and she dominated the news cycle. A year later, Natalie Holloway dominated the news cycle, and we were disheartened to learn that Rebkah reached out to those same reporters, same networks, same programs and she was met with silence. Following this we decided to do some research and my sister-in-law and I found that at that time, 30 percent of all persons missing were of color–primarily Black males. And  we said, let’s do something about it, let’s use our expertise–mine is in media relations, Dericca’s is in law enforcement, and those are the two critical professions needed to find and bring our missing home. And if you fast forward 16 years later, what keeps us going and what’s motivating us is that so many families are struggling and they’re desperately searching for their missing loved ones. They’re being turned away by the very institutions, media and law enforcement hat are sworn to help them. We want to even the playing field and we want our missing to be household names too, because it’s so critical to help find and bring them home.

AFRO: What is the mission of the organization?

NW: The mission of the organization is threefold. One is to bring awareness to missing people of color across the country. Two, is to educate our community on personal safety. And three, again, to bring awareness to this issue because it’s a human rights issue at this point.

AFRO: Have any of the people that you have reported or posted on your website been found?

NW: Absolutely. We have been instrumental in finding more than 500 people–whether they were found deceased or alive. Of course, we still have a lot more work to do because 40 percent of the missing population are people of color and we believe that the numbers are much higher. Because we know that there’s a sense of distrust between law enforcement and the minority community, a population could be not reporting these disappearances. Especially within the Hispanic community, they are not reporting for fear of deportation. In the FBI stats, they classify Hispanics as being White, however, at least 24 percent of Hispanics classify or associate themselves as Black.

AFRO:  You noted that 40 percent of missing people are Black. Do you know the numerical statistics for that ?

NW: The latest statistics show 40 percent of the population and that’s around 163,000 people of color under the age of 18. Let me break it down a bit. So in 2023, 224,706 persons of color were reported missing. Of that group, 162,755 or were under the age of 18.

AFRO: What demographic is making up the majority of those numbers ? So if 40 percent of the missing population is Black people– of those missing Black people is the majority women? Is it children? Is it men? 

NW: We’re seeing the numbers and it’s kind of neck and neck. It’s pretty even, but it’s still an issue because what we’re also finding is that our children tend to remain missing four times longer. They’re not getting the media coverage that’s need. And what we’re also finding is that law enforcement–at least for the cases that we see– nine out of the 10 cases they tend to classify these missing children as runaways. If you’re classified as a runaway, you do not receive the Amber Alert. You definitely do not get any type of media coverage at all.

AFRO: What is being done to tackle this issue both within your organization and on a national and  federal level ?

NW: Awareness is key. If our community isn’t aware that this issue is prevalent, then no one is really talking about it and that’s what we’re doing. We are out in the community. We have partnerships with local and national media platforms to sound the alarm that people of color are disappearing at an alarming rate and we need the community to be aware. And they’re disappearing for a number of reasons. Whether it’s sex trafficking or mental health. This is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Black women are disappearing at an alarming rate because of domestic violence. We need to look at the picture holistically and try to peel back the layers as to why this is happening and try to stem the issue. We recently issued a law enforcement guide to provide policies and procedures that law enforcement officials should follow when it comes to missing persons cases. As I explained, the classification runaway– we don’t use that term at all, and many law enforcement agencies don’t even have that in their policies and procedures. So then why are you classifying children as runaways when you issue the flier? We’re working with legislators to either implement or create laws to protect those that are most vulnerable. It’s the media, it’s law enforcement and the community that plays a great role in solving this issue. What we’re finding is that people tend to turn a blind eye to this issue because they’re not personally affected or they may not know the missing person. What we do is we vet every case and ensure that there’s a missing person report on file so that we won’t be liable for spreading false information. We have to do a better job of utilizing our faith based organizations and schools and medical facilities to really be on the lookout for cases of missing persons or abuse.

AFRO: What is the biggest issue that is fueling Black people going missing ?

NW: Well, there are a whole host of issues. As I mentioned, sex trafficking. There was a study done by the Urban Institute where they interviewed pimps and pedophiles, and their response to trafficking young girls and young Black women is that one, they know that no one would look for them, and two, if someone did look for them and they were caught, the penalty will not be as harsh. How disheartening is that? Sex trafficking, mental health issues, we are seeing an aging population that now have dementia or Alzheimer’s, and they are wandering away. We need to be mindful of that too and domestic violence, but we also have to be mindful of our children that are being preyed upon in foster care. Those that are homeless are overlooked and no one is really keeping track of our children that are in foster care or that are homeless. They’re being preyed upon by these predators and these pimps. 

The post AFRO Spotlight: The Black and Missing Foundation is shining a light on the alarming number of missing Black people appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

And

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Dockworkers and longshoremen of Baltimore have joined a strike taking place along the East and Gulf coasts. Protesters could be seen picketing and stopping car shipments from entering at the Port of Baltimore shortly after midnight on Oct. 1, when the union contract with the International Longshoremen Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) expired. Thousands of members of the ILA are protesting for a 77 percent pay increase over the next six years and job security as the use of automation is on the rise.

The ILA put out a statement the day the protest began, addressing the USMX and laying out why the two organizations couldn’t negotiate a new contract. 

“Many of our members are operating multi-million-dollar container-handling equipment for a mere $20 an hour. In some states, the minimum wage is already $15,” the statement read. “Furthermore, our members endure a grueling six-year wage progression before they can even reach the top wage tier, regardless of how many hours they work or the effort they put in.”

While the effects of the strike are expected to be felt nationwide, the work stoppage is sure to have a deeper impact for the Port of Baltimore, which already experienced a lengthy closure in 2024 due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the full reopening of the Port of Baltimore only months ago, on June 12.

As a result of the strike, consumers could face a lack of products on the shelves or higher prices. Using data from Oxford Economics, JPMorgan Chase reports that an estimated $4.5 billion to $7.5 billion could be lost per week.

Tinglong Dai, the Bernard T. Ferrari professor of business at John Hopkins Carey Business School, discussed what he believes the overall impact of the strike on businesses will be in the region.

“Costs for operations will be higher, which will cause more of a problem for small businesses. But products should be able to make it in time for the holidays,” he said. “Assuming that the strike does not last through November, there should be no big loss of items.”

Charm City’s dock workers and longshoremen play an integral role in both the local and national economy. Moore spoke on the matter after an Oct.1 press conference, sharing that he supports the workers. 

“We continue to not just monitor the situation and negotiations, but we also stand with our workers. We had a massive and deadly tragedy that took place six months ago with the collapse of the Key Bridge and every single day we were standing with our ILA members,” he said. 

“These are incredibly important parts of our community and society. We hope that these negotiations move quickly because we both need to make sure that our workers are taken care of and also make sure that we can keep American commerce going because our ports are crucially important to the greater American economy,” continued Moore.

Maryland’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, Angela Alsobrooks shared a statement expressing her support of ILA members as well. 

“The longshoremen and our dockworkers at the Port of Baltimore are essential workers who deserve a fair deal. I strongly urge the USMX to come to the table and negotiate a deal that respects the incredible contributions that these workers have on Maryland families, our community, and our economy,” she said.

On the condition of anonymity, the AFRO spoke with port workers in the Baltimore area about their thoughts on the strike and how it could impact them as consumers. Per union rules, members of the ILA could not identify themselves in photos or make comments in the media about the strike. 

“People are rebelling and protesting for various reasons,” said a Baltimore woman on Oct. 2. “At the end of the day, it’s greed.”

Another Baltimorean told the AFRO that port operators should “pay the people their money,” and “pay them what they deserve.”

Though the strike has been mostly peaceful across the nation, in Baltimore, violence broke out on night one. 

“Around 4 a.m., officers responded to an incident involving a driver and striking workers outside of the Dundalk Marine Terminal,” said an MDTA spokesperson. “The incident remains under investigation.”

MDTA said police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the strike at the Port of Baltimore.

Support for the strike flooded the internet nationwide as both ILA members and those closest to them made posts expressing their frustrations, concerns and demands from these workers and contracts. 

“No Justice, no sleep! As a dues-paying Member of #ILA I am a proponent of #WorkersRights, not Corporate greed,” said Lashonda “L.J.” Holloway, of Jacksonville, Fla on Facebook. “People feed families, not robots! Profit over people is unacceptable! We are fighting for #FAIRwages and against the encroachment of automation!”

Calls for understanding what ILA members are fighting for came from the family members of longshoremen, explaining that this strike is long overdue. 

“For those of you who don’t know– I am the granddaughter of a longshoreman. I am the cousin of a longshoreman. We must protect and support our hardworking families and friends who work hard 24/7 to give us what we need,” said Maria Venuto Bulone, of Brooklyn, N.Y. on Facebook. “Let’s stand by them all, let’s support them.”

As the strike continues, the ILA has been insistent that they will stand firmly in their fight for justice and better work conditions. 

“Our position is firm: we believe in the value our incredible rank-and-file members bring to this industry and to our great nation. They deserve a contract that recognizes their contributions, secures their jobs, and reflects the profits generated by their labor.”

The post United they stand: Dock workers and longshoremen in Baltimore join national strike for better wages and job security appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that they are awarding the Maryland Technology Development (TEDCO), an instrument of the state, $10 million to support small businesses.

With the funding, Maryland will create the Business Resource Information, Development and Guidance Ecosystem (BRIDGE) program. BRIDGE will provide specialized accounting, financial and legal advisory services to small businesses throughout the region.

During a Sept. 9 press call, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) acknowledged that it can be “difficult to become a successful entrepreneur.”

“When you start out, there are often more questions than answers,” said Moore. “How do you scale up a business model? How do you access the legal services that you need?”

He went on to emphasize that this initiative would help tackle those questions.

“It’s going to help us to create pathways for work, wages and wealth,” said Moore.

According to a 2023 Maryland small business profile by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, there are 639,789 small businesses in the state. Around 99 percent of Maryland businesses are small.

TEDCO plans to work with the University of Maryland to help the state develop and implement the new program. Both have already pledged to match almost $2.2 million to help support the initiative.

Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO’s chief executive officer, emphasized how the BRIDGE program will help entrepreneurs throughout the region.

“It will give them back a minute. It will give them access to talent that they need to grow and scale their enterprises,” said LeMaile-Stovall. “The whole TEDCO team and this ecosystem is excited about this opportunity to put these resources to work, to help make this region the economic powerhouse it can and should be.”

Though Maryland will lead BRIDGE, it will be done in partnership with Delaware, Virginia and Washington D.C.

The post Maryland receives $10 million to aid small businesses appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Amtrak’s multibillion Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program is in progress. The major infrastructure project intends to modernize a 10-mile section of the bustling Northeast Corridor and eliminate a rail bottleneck between D.C. and New Jersey.

The cornerstone of the development is the replacement of the aging Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel, which was built in 1873. The new tunnel is named for the Maryland-born abolitionist who became known around the world for his speeches and writings about his time in bondage and the vile institution of chattel slavery.

Residents from predominantly Black neighborhoods along the construction path have some concerns about the project’s impacts on their homes, health and safety.  

“There are all different kinds of issues. We have property rights issues both above and underneath the ground,” said Amy Petkovsek, executive director for the Community Law Center (CLC). “We have environmental issues now during construction with people who can’t breathe and concerns for after these tunnels are built with the ventilation facilities being next to schools.” 

CLC is representing 10 community groups from historic West Baltimore neighborhoods, including Edmondson, Matthew Henson, Reservoir Hill and Sandtown. Petkovsek is acting as lead counsel. 

The West Baltimore communities have historically been damaged by past urban  renewal policies and infrastructure projects, like the Highway to Nowhere, that have severed them from vital resources and services. 

As the Frederick Douglass Tunnel project is funded by the federal government, Amtrak must meet certain community engagement requirements. But, Petkovsek said the meetings have been “horrific.” She maintained that the national rail service has been demeaning to residents in conversations. 

“Before CLC got involved, they were telling every neighborhood association something different, which has been done here and other places historically,” said Petkovsek. “It’s really unhelpful. By having group representation we can speak with one voice.” 

In February, Amtrak announced that initial demolition had started, which included the razing of 47 residential and commercial properties in Baltimore. The company said it planned to begin large-scale construction in the summer timeframe. 

“Major construction is slated to begin later this year, including utility relocations and work for the first of five bridges,” said Amtrak on its website. “Throughout tunnel construction, Amtrak will continue to keep the community informed and updated, perform real-time monitoring and undertake other industry-leading activities to protect adjacent properties.”

The AFRO reached out to Amtrak for comment but did not hear back. 

Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, president of the Matthew Henson Neighborhood Association, said he believes the Amtrak project is one of the most threatening issues he’s encountered after living in Baltimore for more than 70 years. Rail will travel under several of the neighborhood’s blocks. 

“I’m really frightened by this because our houses are over 100 years old,”said Cheatham. 

He alleged that Amtrak has approached older residents and offered $7,000 in compensation if the project destroys their homes. 

“We’re fearful because very few of us own our houses, and they’re making offers if something were to happen,” said Cheatham. “It’s a ridiculous fee that can’t cover anything.” 

He’s particularly concerned about blocks on Monroe Street, McKean Avenue, Presbury Street and Fulton Avenue. Digging started on Monroe Street about a month and a half ago, according to Cheatham, but he said the community was not notified before it began. 

“What we’re saying is we want to be given all of the information that we can,” said Cheatham. 

The Reservoir Hill Association has also been outspoken about its reservations over the construction project. In April, the community group filed a civil rights complaint to the U.S. Department of Transportation, alleging that it would have inequitable impact on their neighborhood. 

The complaint contends that Amtrak could have reached its objectives for the project through alternatives that are less discriminatory to Black residents. It cites documented information from the Federal Railroad Administration that acknowledged the selected route would have disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority and low-income communities. 

A major element of their concern is the construction and operation of a ventilation facility directly across from Dorothy I. Height Elementary School, the neighborhood’s sole 21st Century School. 

“It serves pre-kindergartners,” said Carson Ward, B&P Working Group chair for the Reservoir Hill Association. “Think about how susceptible their little, young lungs would be to an incident of emergency. There’s also questions about non-emergent ventilation.” 

According to the Baltimore City Health Department,13.7 percent of Baltimore adults have asthma, compared to 9 percent across the state of Maryland. For high school students, this number jumps to 33.3 percent, compared to 25.9 percent statewide. 

The Reservoir Hill community worries the ventilation facility, which could give off pollutants, may exacerbate these conditions. In their complaint, the group requested that DOT open a Title VI investigation into the effects of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program on Black residents, during which construction of the tunnel and ventilation facility would be put on pause. 

“Our foundational concern was that the decision to choose the specific alignment and manner in which they are rebuilding the B&P Tunnel was not done through scientific measurement,” said Keondra Prier, president of the Reservoir Hill Association. “They didn’t sit down and say this is the best way to go about repairing this tunnel that will have the least impact on people and fulfill the goals of Amtrak.”

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By Sen. Cory V. McCray

Malcolm X once said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.” His words resonate deeply today, particularly when we reflect on how often Black women have been left out of the historical narrative. Despite their enormous contributions, women like Harriet Tubman, Maggie Lena Walker—the first African-American woman to charter a bank in the United States—and so many others have often been sidelined in history books, overshadowed by their male counterparts. This erasure has had profound consequences on how we remember our past and who we honor in our present.

In recent years, states have passed laws that censor or limit the teaching of Black history in schools. Framed as curriculum reform or anti-divisive measures, these laws do far more than adjust content—they distort history. Even locally, we see attempts to revise African-American studies, such as the recent effort in Harford County, Md., to remove critical parts of African-American history from the curriculum. By reducing or erasing the contributions of Black Americans, and particularly Black women, from textbooks and classrooms, this sanitization deprives future generations of a complete American history—one that includes the struggles, resilience, innovation and triumphs of women who fought against systemic oppression.

This erasure inspired me to take on a legislative effort initiated by Chanel Compton, executive director of the Banneker-Douglass Museum, and Del. Shaneka Henson (D-Md.-30A), who asked me to lead the charge in the Maryland State Senate. Together, we sought to honor the legacy of Dorchester County native Harriet Tubman during the 2024 Legislative Session with Senate Bill 341. 

Tubman’s name has long been synonymous with Black history and American history. The legislation renames the “Banneker-Douglass Museum” in Annapolis to the “Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.” Just a few blocks from the State House, the museum is dedicated to documenting, interpreting, and promoting African-American history and culture. The change is a deliberate recognition of the profound contributions Tubman made, alongside those of Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, to the fight for freedom, equality and justice in American history.

The debate over including Tubman’s name isn’t new. When the museum opened in 1984, there was extensive discussion about adding her name to the marquee. The fact that her name was omitted underscores the broader issue of Black women’s historical contributions being overlooked. I learned that this conversation spanned over five years, reflecting the persistent challenges in fully acknowledging the role of women in shaping our history. The decision to finally include Tubman’s name is a step toward rectifying that omission and ensuring that future generations understand the full scope of her contributions.

For me, the fight to pass this legislation was made meaningful by the phenomenal women who dedicated their time, voice and advocacy to SB 341. Chanel Compton, whose leadership in initiating the bill was instrumental, and Maya Davis, vice chair of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, both played critical roles in this journey. It was an honor to have them by my side as we testified before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Through the efforts of Chairman Brian Feldman (D-Md.-15) and Vice Chair Cheryl Kagan (D-Md.-17), the committee voted the legislation out immediately after their compelling words, delivered on the first day of Black History Month, which highlighted Tubman’s leadership during the Civil War and her freeing of 700 enslaved people.

On the House side, Del. Henson, of Anne Arundel County, cross-filed the legislation as House Bill 390, working tirelessly to ensure its passage. The bill was ultimately signed by Gov. Moore on April 9. Including Tubman’s name invites us to remember the full scope of her contributions—just as schools should strive to present a comprehensive history that includes all voices, especially those often marginalized. Both museums and schools serve as custodians of the collective memory. The decision to include Tubman’s name in the museum reflects the same responsibility we bear in our educational curricula. What stories do we highlight? Whose contributions do we emphasize?

In the end, what’s in a name? Everything. It’s our past and our future. It’s our history, identity, and commitment to telling the whole story. By honoring Harriet Tubman with this renaming, we are celebrating her incredible life and making a statement about who we are and who we strive to be—a nation that acknowledges and learns from its full history. Because if we don’t know where we’ve come from, how can we ever know where we’re going?

The post A name that tells the whole story appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

Melvin Stukes, the former Baltimore City Councilman and member of the Maryland House of Delegates died peacefully at his home in Pikesville on Saturday, September 21. Stukes was 76 years-old.  

Born March 15, 1948, Stukes was known for his work in the community and the church. 

He married his companion of sixteen years, Catherine DeFord Stukes, a retired principal, on December 31, 2022. 

“Because he heard God’s call to him, he willingly made his transition with a smile on his face,” said Mrs. Stukes. “It was an honor and privilege to be a part of his life for sixteen years. Melvin followed the footsteps that God provided for him.  He will be missed by all his family and friends. ‘Working together works’ was his theme,” she said.  

Former Baltimore City Mayor Kurt Schmoke, now president of the University of Baltimore, also recalled Stukes’ famous words.

“He lived by the philosophy that “working together works,” said Schmoke, speaking of Stukes, who was a member of the Baltimore City Council from 1991-2004 for District 6. 

Elected officials, community leaders, former constituents and friends were all saddened to learn of Stukes’ death. 

Sheila Dixon, former Baltimore City mayor and former president of the City Council, spoke to Stukes’ heart for the community.

“Melvin loved the people he served,” she said. “He was a true public servant who only wanted the best for the people of Baltimore and for the state of Maryland.  He fought hard for those who had challenges and was a superhero who was their biggest cheerleader.  He was a man of God.”

Former Comptroller for the City of Baltimore Joan Pratt agreed.

“Councilmember Stukes’ leadership was always about his constituency and he represented himself and his district well.  He was a pioneer.”

For eight years Melvin Stukes served in the Maryland House of Delegates, from 2007-2015.  

Retired State Senator Verna Jones, who served with Stukes, spoke with the AFRO about his time in office.

“Melvin was an authentic team player, committed to the economic stability of Baltimore and a fearless fighter for the City and the residents of our 44th District.  I am so honored to have served with him.” 

Stukes served three years in the United States Air Force from 1965-68 and was a member of the Prince Hall Masons Enterprise Lodge Number 3 in Baltimore.

A 1975 graduate of Morgan State University, Stukes worked for the State of Maryland from 1975 until his retirement holding positions in the Comptroller of the Treasury office and the Department of Transportation.

Even after retirement, he continued to serve the community and remained on numerous boards and commissions including the Cherry Hill Improvement Association where he was a founding member and president, the advisory board of the South Baltimore Learning Center and the Baltimore Education and Cultural Institute.  Stukes also stayed involved with the Leon Day Foundation, named in honor of Leon Day, who played for the Baltimore Black Sox in the Negro Baseball League.

“Melvin Stukes was a man for these times… a brother who exceeded the boundaries of devotion and service to  others throughout his life! Well done our good and faithful servant!  Rest in peace,” said Kwame Abayomi, the former Baltimore City Councilman known as Dr. Norman Handy Sr.

“Arrangements are currently being made,” said Catherine DeFord Stukes, adding that arrangements are being made with Wiley Funeral Home.  “There will be a day of tributes and we will inform the AFRO as we complete them.” 

Melvin Stukes is survived by his wife, Catherine DeFord Stukes, two daughters Tauraine and Marian, three sisters, Joan Stukes-Maurice, Sandra Chipungu and Mercedes Eugenia; Two stepchildren, Kevin DeFord and Sheila Cofield, and three grandchildren Dominique Pierre, Kenyetta and Andre Cofield.

Funeral Arrangements:

Viewing:

Monday, October 7, 2024, from 5-8 p.m. (Tributes begin at 7 p.m.)
Wylie Funeral Home
9200 Liberty Road
Randallstown, MD 21133

Funeral Service:

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Wake: 10 a.m.
Funeral: 11 a.m.
Union Bethel A.M.E. Church
8615 Church Lane
Randallstown, MD 21133

Livestream: https://unionbethelamec.org/media/livestream

Burial:

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Immediately following the funeral service
Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery
11501 Garrison Forest Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117

The post Melvin Stukes, former Maryland Delegate and Baltimore City, councilman dies at 76 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com 

At 86 years old, Hazel Cropper is a mother, grandmother and world champion crab picker. The crustaceans are a staple in Maryland, her home state, and she learned to pick them from her grandmother when she was just nine years old. Over the years, Cropper, who’s affectionately known as “Hurricane Hazel,” learned how to crack and clear a crab of meat in record-breaking time. 

Her family has a long history of crab picking. Some of her relatives were a part of the 1938 strike, in which 600 crab pickers— who were predominantly Black women— walked out of their jobs after packing houses in Crisfield, Md. announced wage cuts. 

“I’m no stranger to work,” said Cropper. 

She continues to pick crabs to this day. Cropper acknowledged that many older adults are set in their routines. She urged them to find ways to stay active. 

“If you sit down, at my age– you’re going to stay down,” said Cropper. “Sitting will kill you.” 

Sedentary lifestyles pose risks to all people. They increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, lead to muscle deterioration, slow down your metabolism and stifle mobility. Some studies have even linked prolonged inactivity to shorter life expectancy.

“Find something to do, and keep yourself motivated,” said Cropper. “I’m not going to sit down, as long as God tells me I can go.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

A September poll by Emerson College Polling, DC News Now and The Hill, revealed that Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) is leading her Republican opponent, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in the race for the U.S. Senate.

About 49 percent of voters polled said they’d choose Alsobrooks if the November election was “today,” while 42 percent said they’d vote for Hogan. Alsobrooks also has a 63 percentage point lead among Black voters.

“In this poll, 9 percent of the respondents are still undecided about the Senate race. Given that the margin of difference here is 7 percentage points, the outcome of how they vote will determine the winner,” said Nina Kasniunas, associate professor of political science at Goucher College. “What’s not clear from this poll is whether those voters are undecided because they need more information about who Alsobrooks or whether these are folks who previously supported Hogan as governor but are torn about supporting him for the Senate.”

While this seat would normally be a sure thing for Democrats, the stepping down of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in May 2023 opened up the door for Hogan, a Republican with enough popularity to potentially turn the normally blue seat to red. 

“The outcome of this race will be critical to determining which party controls the Senate,” said Kasniunas.

Democrats currently enjoy a slim majority in the Senate, which means the Maryland contest could tip the balance of power to either side of the aisle in the Congress’ upper chamber.

“Today’s poll demonstrates what we’ve known for a while: Marylanders understand we must defend our Democratic Senate majority to protect our freedoms, fight for safer communities, and lower costs so hardworking families can not just get by, but can thrive,” said Alsobrooks in a statement to the AFRO. “But we also know we still have a lot of work left to do, and this will be a tight race.”

With less than 50 days remaining in the election cycle

, Alsobrooks said she’ll continue “traveling to every corner of our state to remind Marylanders what exactly is at stake in this race – their futures.” 

In a May poll by Emerson College Polling, Alsobrooks got 48 percent in a hypothetical matchup of the November election, while Hogan got 38 percent. About 14 percent of registered voters were undecided.

Blake Kernen, campaign spokeswoman for Hogan, said “even in a poll like” this one “Hogan is gaining ground.”

“He’s working to win every vote and represent all Marylanders,” she said.

The September poll also found that the economy is a top issue for 40 percent of likely voters. Following the economy is crime (14 percent), housing affordability (14 percent), threats to democracy (8 percent), education (8 percent), immigration (5 percent), health care (5 percent) and abortion access (3 percent). 

The post Angela Alsobrooks leads Larry Hogan in September poll  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the Dali, the massive container ship that struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. The civil action came on Sept. 18 against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group, both based in Singapore. 

The DOJ is seeking more than $100 million for the disaster, which resulted in the death of six construction workers and significant disruption to economic activity. 

“This tragedy was entirely avoidable. The electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained and configured in a way that violated safety regulations and norms for international shipping,” stated the DOJ in the suit. “These problems precipitated a power loss and then a cascading series of failures that culminated in the allision.” 

A June National Transportation Safety Board report revealed that the Dali experienced multiple blackouts before striking the Key Bridge. The board later determined the outages were likely caused by a loose electrical cable. 

The DOJ said the Dali’s “unseaworthy” condition prevented it from avoiding or moderating the collision. The bridge collapse caused the Port of Baltimore, the United States’ leading port for automobiles, to temporarily close. The port did not return to full operation until June 10. 

After the catastrophe, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group moved to limit their liability to $44 million for the incident. The DOJ asked the court to deny this request and demand that the defendants pay punitive damages.

“Other vessel owners and operators must be deterred from engaging in such reckless and exceedingly harmful behavior in the United States’ navigable water,” stated the DOJ in the suit, adding the owners and operators of the Dali “need to be deterred because they continue to operate their vessels, including a sister ship to the Dali, in U.S. waters and benefit economically from those activities.” 

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By Brittany Marshall

First Lady Dawn Moore and the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) today announced the appointment of Lady Brion as Maryland’s 11th Poet Laureate. The first lady was joined by Maryland State Arts Council Executive Director Steven Skerritt-Davis and local members of the arts community in a ceremony at The Clifton House in Baltimore. 

“Lady Brion uses her voice to speak up for those who have gone overlooked and been left behind for too long. She is an ambassador for those who need hope, an advocate for those who need a fighter — and she will be a champion for all Marylanders, no matter their background, zip code, or personal story,” said First Lady Moore. 

“As First Lady, I am committed to working within the Moore-Miller administration to ensure that the arts are not just celebrated but are elevated in this state.”

Based in Baltimore City, Lady Brion is a spoken word artist, writer, cultural worker, and activist whose efforts focus on women’s empowerment and telling the story of the Black experience. The author of several written and recorded publications, Lady Brion is a mainstay in state, national and international spoken word scenes. In 2023, she performed before the inauguration ceremony of Governor Wes Moore and during the inauguration ceremony for Comptroller Brooke Lierman.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the appointment as Poet Laureate of Maryland, a role that allows me to pay homage to the extraordinary poet Lucille Clifton. It is my mission to build upon her legacy, using the power of words to spark dialogue while fostering greater creativity, empathy and understanding across the state of Maryland,” said Lady Brion. “Special thanks to Governor and First Lady Moore, as well as the Maryland State Arts Council, for selecting me.”

Appointed by Governor Wes Moore, Lady Brion will serve as Poet Laureate providing public readings and programs for the citizens of Maryland. The honorary state position was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1959. 

“Lady Brion exemplifies what it means to be Poet Laureate,” said Maryland State Arts Council Executive Director Skerritt-Davis. “Her talent, dedication to her craft and innate ability to engage people make her a natural fit for this prestigious role.”

For history of the Maryland Poet Laureate program and more details on Lady Brion’s role and booking information as Poet Laureate, visit msac.org/programs/poet-laureate.

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By Kevin D. McNair
Special to the AFRO

Members of the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus recently released a statement in response to reports about Larry Hogan allegedly dismissing the concerns of an LGBTQ+ Maryland voter who brought up his record of refusing to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights. 

“Larry Hogan is no friend to the LGBTQ+ community,” said District 3 Delegate and Chair of the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, Kris Fair. “As governor, he refused to take a stand on basic legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Marylanders from hate crimes, stop discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and patients, or eliminate the so-called ‘panic defense’ that allows criminals to evade culpability when they harm LGBTQ+ people.” 

District 17 State Delegate Joe Vogel said he wants more than empty promises and an illusion of support. 

“I want to know whether my next Senator will stand up for transgender Maryland and LGBTQ+ children against an onslaught of attacks from the far-right,” he said. “I want to know whether my next Senator will fight back against a Supreme Court intent on repealing the rights generations fought for — including the right to gay marriage.”  

Hogan, the former Maryland governor, who’s running for U.S. Senate as a moderate Republican, says he can work across political divides. But he seemed to evade questions on his record about LGBTQ+ rights during a recent town hall via telephone.

Hogan said he didn’t know what bills were being questioned and added that he didn’t oppose any that he could recall and that they became law anyway. Several pro-LGBTQ+ bills did become law without his signature during his two terms in office (2015 – 2023) and he did in fact oppose others. 

Hogan’s campaign website doesn’t include a section on LGBTQ+ issues. In contrast, his opponent, Angela Alsobrooks, does include on her site a section on “Equality,” which notes that as Prince George’s County executive, she appointed the county’s first LGBTQ+ liaison.

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The Associated Press

JOPPA, Md. (AP) — A student at a Maryland high school died after being shot by another student during an altercation on Sept. 6 in a school bathroom, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said.

Warren Curtis Grant, 15, died after the shooting at Joppatowne High School, the sheriff said at a media briefing.

A 16-year-old student whom police identified as the shooter fled shortly afterward but was caught minutes later nearby.

“He has yet to be charged, but will be charged, and at the time those charges are preferred as an adult, we will release the name of the suspect,” Gahler said.

Gahler also said that the sheriff’s office has had more than 10 incidents since 2022 “where the suspect was either the victim, witness or the suspect in an incident handled by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office,” adding that the investigation was in its early stages.

Shortly after the shooting, the sheriff’s office asked people to avoid the area, but emphasized that the confrontation was an “isolated incident, not an active shooter.” A parent-student reunification center was established at a nearby church. More than 100 personnel responded to the high school about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Baltimore, Gahler said.

The fight happened two days after a shooter whom authorities identified as a 14-year-old student killed four people at a high school outside Atlanta. The Sept. 4 attack renewed debate about safe storage laws for guns and had parents wondering how to talk to their children about school shootings and trauma.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

As Maryland businesses continue to recover from the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and the Baltimore Community Foundation have announced a new grant program to provide assistance. 

The Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Small Business Grants are deploying $5 million to nonprofit organizations supporting small businesses and communities impacted by the loss of the bridge. Interest letters are being accepted on a rolling basis.

“The investment we’re making now is for businesses where the absence of the Key Bridge has either restricted their access to communities or made it more complicated for them to do business with people who would normally frequent those communities,” Mark Anthony Thomas, CEO and president of GBC, told the AFRO. “We’ve put a call out for organizations that actually serve small businesses to send us their best ideas to help impacted businesses.” 

Prior to its collapse, the Key Bridge functioned as a critical connector for regional and national economic activity, particularly for industries linked to the Port of Baltimore. Although the port is now operating at full capacity, the effects of the commerce and transit interruption still linger. The impact has been especially significant for small businesses in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City communities. 

The Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Small Business Grants are designed to help these enterprises build long-term resilience and to strengthen the local economy. To be considered, nonprofit organizations must have a current or planned footprint in affected communities. Acceptable uses for the funds include providing technical assistance, expanding existing small business grant programs and investing in business districts. 

“There will be many years where we will not have a bridge. Businesses and commercial corridors have to adapt to the impact of that,” said Thomas. “This program eases that transition, and in some ways, it’s an opportunity to make the community stronger.” 

In partnership with BCF, GBC, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center Institute, Anne Arundel Development Corporation and Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development will review grant applications. 

This program builds on BCF’s cash assistance program for Baltimore port workers, which provided one-time payments of $1,000. The foundation manages the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, which is still accepting donations.

“In the immediate aftermath of the Key Bridge collapse, the Baltimore Community Foundation focused on providing much needed funds to support port workers and their families,” said Shanaysha M. Sauls, president and CEO of BCF, in a statement. “Now in collaboration with regional and statewide organizations, we turn our attention to building resilience and creating growth opportunities in the local impacted communities. We are here for these communities for the long haul.”

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By Senator Cory V. McCray

In recent years, Maryland’s landscape has undergone a profound transformation with the rapid proliferation of cannabis dispensaries and smoke shops. Today, more than 100 licensed establishments operate across the state, and with a new wave of licenses recently approved, this number is set to rise. As our government continues to pave the way for more cannabis businesses, we stand on the threshold of an even greater influx into our communities.

Just a year ago, my colleagues and I, in Annapolis, cast our votes in favor of the Cannabis Reform Act with the best of intentions. This legislation, which legalized recreational marijuana in Maryland, allowed individuals 21 and older to possess, use, or grow a small amount of cannabis. We viewed the legalization of recreational marijuana as a bold, progressive step forward—a necessary correction to the inequities of past policies that disproportionately targeted Black communities. I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of these penalties on families and neighborhoods, which is why I felt a deep sense of gratitude when the Moore-Miller Administration pardoned 175,000 cannabis possession convictions in Md. It was a powerful moment of redemption, a step toward righting historical wrongs.

Yet, as we debated the legalization of recreational cannabis, I found myself grappling with concerns about the potential emergence of problematic businesses. Under the medical cannabis framework, each legislative district was restricted to just two dispensaries. In my district, while one dispensary upheld the standards of the neighborhood, the other became a source of constant concern, generating a flood of emails and phone calls to my office. Despite my efforts to raise these issues during the hearings, it was disheartening to see that some lobbyists and a number of my colleagues who pushed the bill, did not view this as a priority.

In Cedmont, a community in the 45th Legislative District that I represent, the transformation is unmistakable. What was once a tranquil neighborhood—where children played freely and neighbors exchanged greetings during leisurely walks—now contends with long lines of unfamiliar faces stretching around the nearby cannabis dispensary. When I sought clarity from the oversight agency, the Maryland Cannabis Administration, they candidly admitted that they lacked the necessary tools to address the neighborhood concerns being raised. Their authority, they explained, extended only within the walls of the dispensary; beyond that, they were powerless to intervene. This response struck me as both unsuitable and deeply unsatisfactory, underscoring a critical gap in the system that demanded immediate attention.

Despite my initial frustrations, I became more determined than ever to find a solution. I began building coalitions with the Prince George’s Delegation, who shared similar concerns, and worked closely with the Maryland Cannabis Administration during the interim to craft a solution that would provide my constituents with a meaningful path forward. This collaboration ultimately led to the creation of Senate Bill 469, which was incorporated into House Bill 805 and signed by the governor on April 25, 2024. This legislation ensures that cannabis businesses are held to the same standards of accountability as any other business operating within our communities.

In this journey, I must also recognize the tireless efforts of Cedmont Vice President Qiana Heckstall. Her dedication to finding a resolution between the business and the community was nothing short of remarkable. Not only did she help craft the legislation, but she also testified on the bill and made her way to Annapolis to speak on its importance from the perspective of a community leader. Her voice and commitment played a pivotal role in ensuring that the concerns of her community were heard and addressed.

Senate Bill 469, now a part of House Bill 805, empowers citizens to voice their concerns by protesting the renewal of a cannabis license with the Maryland Cannabis Administration, the agency responsible for overseeing all aspects of marijuana in our state. To ensure fairness, certain restrictions are in place—protestors must live within 1,000 feet of the establishment and cannot hold or be applying for a cannabis license themselves—but the bill provides a crucial platform for community voices to be heard. Moreover, the legislation guides the Maryland Cannabis Administration in establishing clear standards and requirements for dispensary license renewals, rooted in community input.

Let me be clear: the goal of this bill is not to eradicate dispensaries from our neighborhoods. Rather, it is to ensure that these businesses act as responsible neighbors, contributing positively to the communities in which they operate. It is about striking a balance between embracing change and preserving the character of our neighborhoods. This process mirrors the way we consider community input and nuisance complaints during license renewals for bars and liquor stores.

As we navigate this new era of legalized cannabis in Maryland, we must remain vigilant and responsive to the needs of our communities. While the Cannabis Reform Act has ushered in positive change—from Governor Moore’s historic pardons to generating $1.1 billion in revenue for the state since legalization—we cannot ignore the voices of residents who are concerned about the impact these businesses are having on their neighborhoods. Senate Bill 469, now part of House Bill 805, represents a step toward ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of our community’s safety and integrity.

I encourage my fellow Marylanders to stay engaged in this ongoing conversation and to use the tools available to shape the future of their neighborhoods. Our commitment to progress must be matched by our commitment to protecting the places we call home.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Bowie State University (BSU) celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the $166-million Martin Luther King Jr. Center on Aug. 27. The new 192,000 square-foot building will be the home base for studies in communications and humanities, as well as for the historically Black college’s military science program. 

The hub notably displays a two-story likeness of late BSU student 1st Lt. Richard W. Collins III, who was killed on the University of Maryland’s (UMD) campus in 2017 just days before his graduation. Collins’ parents said they were thankful for the university’s commitment to honoring their son. 

“We are thrilled that the university continues to remember our son. What happened to him seven years ago is something no parent should ever have to endure,” said Dawn Collins. “My son was ready to give his life for this country, and to have his life taken away from him because someone viewed him as ‘other’ is despicable. It’s momentous that the university would do this, and it’s so befitting that it’s in the MLK center.” 

In the early hours of May 20, 2017, Collins was waiting for a ride-hailing service with friends when UMD student Sean Urbanski approached him. Urbanski, a white man, instructed Collins to “step left, if you know what’s good for you.” When he refused, Urbanski fatally stabbed him in the chest. The U.S. Army commissioned Collins as a second lieutenant shortly before his death and later promoted him to 1st lieutenant posthumously. 

Investigators discovered that Urbanski was a member of a Facebook group called “Alt-Reich: Nation,” a page known for sharing bigoted posts about African Americans and other groups. Although prosecutors argued that the killing was a hate crime, the judge dismissed the charge for lack of evidence. Urbanski was convicted of first-degree murder in December 2019 and subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. 

Following their son’s death, the Collins were thrust into advocacy. They quickly established the 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III Foundation to educate and empower young Americans who are dedicated to creating a hate-free society. 

The couple was also instrumental in the formation of the BSU-UMD Social Justice Alliance. As a result of their work, BSU and UMD began offering a new sociology course, “Hate Crimes in the U.S.: What Lt. Richard Collins III Can Teach Us About History, Hope and Healing,” this semester. The class is the first-of-its kind in the country. 

Collins’ father said his son would have been proud of the new portrait. 

“We’re proud of him, and he certainly would have been proud of the likeness and representation that he’ll forever have on his alma mater’s campus,” said Richard Collins Jr. “He was a young man who was full of life, intelligent, athletic, and he loved people. It’s a bittersweet moment for us because you never get over something as traumatic as what happened to our son, but it helps us to be energized around our active advocacy.” 

Aside from Collins’ image, the center’s main entrance displays abstract impressions of vocal sound waves from Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech. 

The building features a fitness center and outdoor training plaza for BSU’s ROTC students. Those studying communications have access to a podcast studio, two television studios, digital editing labs, a custom recording booth and an advanced digital screening room. 

The center also holds 18 general classrooms, a 1,500-seat auditorium and two lecture halls. 

“Every student receiving a BSU education will pass through this building at some point in their curriculum,” said BSU President Aminta H. Breaux in a statement. “The cutting-edge tools and resources found here will elevate instruction of the liberal arts and enable students to find their own voice and develop skills to navigate real-world challenges in their future careers.”

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By DaQuan Lawrence
AFRO International Writer
DLawrence@afro.com 

Students and families in Baltimore County and Baltimore City returned to school for the official first day of school on Aug. 26. As the school year kicks off, the AFRO spoke with Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises to get tips on how to properly return to classes.

At the top of the list? Sleep!

“Parents, grandparents and families– please make sure that young people are getting to bed at a decent time,” Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) CEO, Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises said, when asked to speak directly to returning families with back to school tips.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), students who are between six and 12 years of age need an average of nine to 12 hours of sleep every 24 hours. Scholars ages 13 to 18 are said to need between eight and 10 hours of sleep every night. 

Though sleep is necessary for all students, Santelises gave tips for every grade band.

“If your student is in high school make sure you are checking their schedule. Students should be coming home with schedules, if not please call their school and tell them that CEO Santelises said, ‘Your student needs to have their schedule that first day- no later than by the end of the first week of school.’” 

She also gave a bit of advice for families with middle school students.

“If your child is in middle or elementary school, make sure that they are in the classes that they need to be in. Make sure you understand from the teacher what the expectations are and attend Back to School Night events if you can,” Santelises said. “If you cannot attend back to school night, make sure you know where to get that information.”

City Schools has shared a checklist with families that helps prepare students for the new school year, including information on attendance policies, school bell times and school supplies lists. 

The district suggests setting routines to make the process of returning back to school and getting into the flow of classes a smooth process. 

“Set routines that your family sticks to every day and make sure the children in your family follow them. Have specific times for waking up, starting homework, and going to bed. Check in with your child in the evening to ask about her or his day at school,” suggest City Schools experts in their attendance guide. “Maintain contact with your child’s teachers to keep up with what’s being taught and to keep an eye on your child’s progress; you can also check your child’s attendance through Parent Portal. Be sure to let your child’s school know when he or she needs to miss school. And, don’t forget to update your contact information with your child’s school if your phone number or address changes.”

The number to the attendance hotline, open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is 410-396-8643.

Families and students can find more information about the upcoming school year at the City Schools website.

The district has information on how to access laptops and hotspots, where to find meals, and upcoming events available as well. Families or parents with questions, can call 410-545-1870.

“I think the biggest thing to remember is that the full year counts. School is a long-distance journey and I want our students to have a great 2024-2025 school year,”  Santelises said. We want a great start, but we want to make sure we are checking in with young people along the way.” 

While a few specific schools started classes in the past few weeks, most districts in Maryland welcomed all students back on Aug. 26. 

Students in Anne Arundel; Dorchester; Kent; Montgomery; Wicomico and Queen Anne’s Counties all have staggered returns, taking place between Aug. 26 and Sept. 3. 

Aside from the school districts in Baltimore, students in Allegany; Charles; Howard; Talbot and Washington Counties also returned in full on Aug. 26.

Calvert County students begin on Aug. 27. Caroline County schools will welcome all students on Aug. 28, and Carroll; Cecil; Garrett; Somerset and Worcester Counties are expecting all students to return on Sept. 3.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com 

The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) is preparing to deploy funding to organizations striving to tackle sex and labor trafficking. The agency recently released a request for proposal (RFP) for Fiscal Year 2025 Anti-Human Trafficking Grants.

Selected organizations will receive $50,000 or $25,000 grants to support trauma-informed services and programs that confront human trafficking and assist survivors of the crime in conjunction with the Baltimore City Human Trafficking Collaborative. 

“Baltimore’s comprehensive approach to public safety relies on strong relationships and community collaborators,” said Stefanie Mavronis, director of MONSE, in a Aug. 16 statement. “MONSE is proud to again make these grants available in fiscal year 2025 for organizations working to combat human trafficking. We are encouraging anti-human trafficking organizations to apply for this opportunity and serve as a co-producer of public safety.” 

Baltimore’s proximity to interstate highways and airports along with its prominent shipping and trucking industry heightens its risk for human trafficking. Across Maryland, the National Human Trafficking Hotline was contacted 501 times in 2023—153 of the signals came from victims or survivors of the crime. 

Under Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan (CVPP), broadening anti-human trafficking efforts has been identified as a priority for the city. MONSE’s grant opportunity for fiscal year 2025 builds on this endeavor. 

Interested organizations are required to have three letters of community support to qualify for the funding. Their proposals should address the impact of current initiatives, demographics on the populations they serve and their level of preparedness to take on referrals. 

MONSE will announce the grantees by early October.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

CLLCTIVLY, a Baltimore-based social change organization, is working in partnership with the Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS) at the University of Pennsylvania to launch a new fellowship program. The Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin Social Impact Fellowship is designed to arm social entrepreneurs with the tools and confidence they need to create social change in Baltimore. 

The first cohort will accept twelve social entrepreneurs who hail from Charm City. Applications are due by Aug. 30, and chosen entrepreneurs will be selected by Sep. 20. 

“This program not only honors the incredible legacy of Dr. Elmer and Joanne Martin but also invests in the future of Baltimore by equipping social entrepreneurs with the resources they need to lead transformative change,” said Jamye Wooten, founder of CLLCTIVLY, in a statement to the AFRO. “Dr. Yanique Redwood, CLLCTIVLY’s scholar-practitioner in residence, is supporting the development of the fellowship and is infusing liberatory leadership principles into the design of the program. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions and leadership that will emerge from this cohort.”  

The new fellowship will run from October 2024 to March 2025. Each cohort member will be given $2,000 per month to support them while they participate in the program. The fellowship will cover topics, including social impact strategy, business models for social enterprises and the role of digital media in social movement. Participants will also create a capstone project to present to an audience of potential supporters at the program’s end. 

In order to be considered for the fellowship, social entrepreneurs must lead an initiative, organization or project engineered to devise solutions for systemic social issues and challenges. They must also have a strategy to finance their work beyond obtaining grant funding and gifts. 

“I am so proud and excited that the Center for Social Impact Strategy will support this important and historic initiative,” said Ariel Schwartz, managing director of the center, in a statement to the AFRO. “I am thrilled to be working with CLLCTIVLY to provide tools, resources and a learning and engagement platform for the fellows to cultivate their social ventures and fill their own cups.” 

Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin started The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum with four wax figures purchased in 1980. By 1983 they couple had a storefront museum in Baltimore, operating the first African-American history wax museum in the country together as a dynamic husband and wife duo. Today, the Baltimore-based institution maintains nearly 150 figures of prominent African Americans who have made their mark in time. 

The Martins established the museum to fuel interest in Black history, while also supporting community organizations and advancing economic development in the East North Avenue corridor. 

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

When it comes to defying odds and blazing trails, Windsor Group knows a thing or two about it. Since starting in 2017, the Black, women and veteran- owned business has worked hard to continuously raise the bar in the world of business professional development. 

With a series of services offered including IT, project and program management, management consulting, staff augmentation and many more, the company is on the rise. 

Diedre Windsor, president and CEO of Windsor Group, spoke with the AFRO to discuss her ever-growing business, how it started, the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses and the role they played in providing funding opportunities from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to over 58,000 agriculturists. This week, Windsor’s company was listed on the Inc. 5000 list. According to information released by Inc.com, “companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth over the last three years. They generated 874,940 jobs, $317 billion in revenue, and show where the economy is going.”

Read below to learn more about this Black woman on the move and what she told the AFRO about discrimination when it comes to African-American entrepreneurship.

AFRO: Tell me about Windsor Group. When were you founded and what’s your purpose? 

DW: We registered in January of 2014, but I did not start the business until 2017. In 2016, I quit my job in the federal government. I was working at the U.S. Department of Justice. I left that job and decided to start the business full time. 

We are a professional services firm. Under the umbrella of professional services, we offer IT services, project and program management, management consulting, training, development and staff augmentation. We are 100 percent federal government contractors. 

AFRO: How did you get involved with the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program and what was that like? 

DW: Interestingly enough, in the federal government, they have what’s called a “multiple award schedule.” We’re on the schedule and last year I got a call from a large company that wanted to pursue this opportunity at the USDA. It’s the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. The program came from legislation 22007, of the Inflation Reduction Act, which required the USDA to provide 2.2 billion in financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who had been discriminated against. You had the national administrator, who was the final decision maker, but also the vendor that would make sure the checks were distributed. You also had the regional hubs and these vendors were responsible for making sure that we communicated this information. 

Our job was outreach and technical assistance. We needed to find the farmers and make sure they understood this information–that this financial assistance was available– and then help them with the application process. The application was 40 pages and that was daunting by itself. But that was our responsibility. They asked us if we were interested. We said “yes” and went forward. 

We ended up being awarded the contract to execute East of the Mississippi River and that was 26 or 27 states, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.There were 43,000 financial assistance awards made and 33,000 of those came from the East Coast. Our technical approach was successful because we were able to get over 58,000 applications. I’m sure some of them fell out for one reason or the other, but we were responsible for about 78 percent of the applications and we were responsible for about 72 percent of the awards that were distributed. The program was a huge success.

AFRO: What does discrimination within the agriculture industry look like? 

DW: It’s the same as what it looks like for me as a small business owner. 

For example, “Mr. Smith goes to the USDA and says ‘Hey, I have 15 acres and I want to do X,Y and Z,’” but then he is discriminated against: He can’t get the loan to do what he needs to do to progress on his land. That can result in him maybe having to sell the land because he has no money to keep it. 

The old saying goes, “You have to have some money, to make some money,”  and sometimes having money just means getting a small loan. You can only do so much borrowing from friends and family. Most of us don’t have friends and family that can lend us the type of money we need to actually get something like that off the ground. 

How are you going to make progress without getting the money that you need? 

There are people who told us they tried to get a loan, but couldn’t. When they didn’t get the loan they needed, they had their White neighbor go in and try to get the same loan. 

The neighbor got the loan. 

The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program addressed all forms of discrimination. 

AFRO: What’s next for Windsor Group?

DW: We’re looking to give back even more. 

For the last two years, we’ve been on the Washington Business Journal list of corporate philanthropists. I feel like the more we grow, the more we can give back. It’s made me think a lot about how I want to give back in the future because right now we help quite a few organizations. 

Right now, we are focused on a lot of veteran organizations. I try to stick to organizations where I know what kind of impact it will have on the person. 

As a Black woman veteran, I know the trials people like me deal with, and I know organizations that support that population. I want to support them, but I also want to support scholarships at HBCUs. I also want to support food insecurity. On the business side, we’re diversified within the government, and right now I’m looking at how we move beyond the government to the commercial space. In order to truly grow and scale, that’s going to take something different and I’m not 100 percent sure what that is yet. 

We’ve been very fortunate because we’ve grown every year. This week, we were notified we’re on the Inc. 5000 list– number 318. This is our fourth year in a row we’ve been on Inc. 5000 and that means that we’ve been consistently growing.

AFRO: Why is it important to support Black-owned businesses? 

DW: I think it’s critical. Sometimes it’s only us helping each other. I’m not saying other people don’t help us, but if we don’t help us—who’s going to help us? Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great philanthropic organizations and people out there that are helping us because “they don’t see color.” However, for me, it’s important that I help Black-owned companies, women-owned companies and veteran-owned companies.”

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

It’s been a little over a year since Marylanders, aged 21 and older, were permitted to possess recreational cannabis. The greenlight came after voters approved a referendum in 2022 that legalized the plant for adult use. 

As with any new law, the public has encountered some uncertainty around compliance and the implications of the legislation. The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) recently hosted a Cannabis Symposium to clear up confusion.

“Since the passage of this legislation, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights has noticed a plethora of misinformation about the law,” said Cleveland L. Horton II, acting director of the MCCR. “With that being stated, we provided an opportunity to educate the public regarding the state and federal laws surrounding cannabis.” 

Much of the information session’s focus was rooted in how cannabis use can impact a person’s hiring and employment. Under Maryland law, employers are authorized to test for the use of cannabis and to take action against employees who test positive for its use.

“There are some additional questions left unanswered, specifically as it pertains to employment,” he continued. “The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights deemed it necessary to start the dialogue to develop an educated approach and a plan to address the myriad of issues left unanswered since the passage of the referendum.” 

In its initial draft, the legalization legislation made clear that it did not prevent any employer from denying employment to or disciplining an employee for cannabis use. But, the section was later struck from the legislation. 

Delegate Nicole A. Williams (D-22) said this was in part because policymakers wanted to emulate the state’s laws for alcohol. 

“We basically treated it the same as alcohol, and that was our advice to employers across the state,” said Williams. “If you would not allow your employee to come to work drunk, then that would hold true in terms of them coming to work high from cannabis.” 

Williams also acknowledged that certain industries have voiced concerns since adult-use legalization. 

“Some of the industries that rely on safety and sobriety with their workers, like construction in particular, have worries about their employees partaking whether it’s for recreational or medical use and how that could affect them or others around them on a jobsite,” said Williams. 

There are also challenges around testing for cannabis impairment. Unlike alcohol, there is no standardized measurement for cannabis intoxication. The drug can also be detected in the body long after a person is sober. 

“You can do a blood test to get a level of THC per blood content, but that does not necessarily correlate with whether or not someone’s impaired in the moment,” said Andrew Garrison, chief of the office of policy and government affairs for the Maryland Cannabis Administration. “A lot of the instant impairment tests that are being developed are more so based on cognition and response time rather than any biological indicator of recent consumption.” 

This not only has implications for employment but also for driving under the influence. Williams says solutions are in the works for cannabis testing, but it’s unclear how effective they are. 

“There are some products out there, but they are still being vetted at this time,” said Williams. “I don’t think they have been certified as being as accurate as a breathalyzer at this point, but I know a number of companies are working on various types of technology to do a better job of testing for impairment.” 

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The Changemaker Challenge invests in diverse grassroots programs with that meet ongoing and new needs in our regio

United Way of Central Maryland works to find and support local, on-the-ground leaders, because they know they’re among the best equipped to drive real change within their communities. Working with its partners, United Way started the Changemaker Challenge in Howard County 2017 to spark new ideas for social change. Since then, it’s expanded across Greater Baltimore and fueled meaningful change across the region. 

The Changemaker Challenge amplifies the voices of diverse people and organizations and provides them with a compelling way to share their big ideas: ideas that will help close service and resource gaps and fuel positive change. 

After a public call for entries, finalists are selected to present their ideas at public events. This year’s finalists were eligible to win up to $30,000 to bring their ideas to life, including an Audience Choice award of $5,000.

In 2024, United Way received almost 200 ideas and awarded more than $600,000 to 29 people or groups across the region.

Many Black-led organizations received grants through the Changemaker Challenge. Here’s some of what they said about their experience:

“The support we’ve received from United Way has been invaluable. Their resources and staff have not only increased our knowledge and skills but also provided a greater sense of security in our work. The technical assistance, responsiveness of the staff, and their genuine support have made us feel both financially and morally supported, which means a lot to a grassroots organization like ours.” –Robert Cradle, Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation, Inc.

“Winning the Changemaker Challenge was a transformative experience for us. It allowed us to showcase our nonprofit on a bigger platform, and the opportunity to create a professional video pitch was an added bonus that will help us reach even more people. This experience has been truly wonderful and uplifting.” –Arkia Wade, Neighborhood Companions, Inc.

“The Changemaker Grant has been instrumental in propelling our organization forward, empowering us to innovate and inspire the next generation of future leaders in fashion and tech.” –Sabrina Thompson, STEMulating Art

Because United Way believes that every single concept to improve lives is important, all finalists received a $1,500 stipend and coaching leading up to the live presentation events.  

And supporting the Changemakers continues long after the distribution of the grants. Each recipient receives year-long access to The Lonely Entrepreneur platform, a learning community that provides group coaching and a one-stop shop for the knowledge, tools, and support needed to start or grow a business or big idea. Learn more at lonelyentrepreneur.com.

In addition, United Way will continue to share their stories to drive even more support for their big ideas. Changemaker Challenge grant recipients have been featured on Good Morning America and in many local media channels, as well as on United Way’s social channels and other public communications.

Learn more about the 2024 Changemaker Challenge grant recipients at
uwcm.org/changemakerchallenge .

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By Nancy Grimm
Special to the AFRO

Preparing for a custody proceeding can be overwhelming and scary. Here are several steps to make the process easier. 

Once you have filed or been served with a complaint for custody, it is important to begin preparing for your case as soon as possible. There are basic steps that you can take to prepare. 

One critical component is discovery – the process of getting information from the other party (your spouse) before trial. Discovery is a legal tool each party can use to strengthen their case. Through discovery you may request information and documents from your spouse to use as evidence at trial. Discovery can be acquired by requesting certain documents or by asking questions of the other party, either in writing (interrogatories) or in person (deposition). Below are some excellent links to assist you in preparing your case through the discovery process.

• Discovery in the Circuit Court (mdcourts.gov)

• Preparing Your Case (peoples-law.org)

• Court Proceedings: What to Know Before You Go (mvlslaw.org)

If you are seeking child custody, you should consider the following in preparation for your custody court proceedings:

Prepare a Parenting Plan 

This plan is required by the court and will help both parents determine how the children will spend their time with each parent following a divorce or separation. This plan is usually provided to the parents at the first court hearing. By reviewing the Maryland Parenting Plan Tool ahead of time, you can familiarize yourself with the various child custody schedules and consider what would be in the best interest of the children. See Parenting Plans (mdcourts.gov).

If there are contested issues, you may want to review the Joint Statement of The Parties Concerning Decision Making Authority and Parenting Time, which is also a requirement for filing. See CC-DR-110 (mdcourts.gov), which will assist the court in determining child access.

Establishing Child Support

The parent who has physical custody of the children will receive child support from the other parent. If you and your spouse do not agree on child support, you will need to provide the court with the following information about monthly income and expenses:

• Total income before taxes
• Child support paid for other children
• Alimony paid to former spouses
• Alimony received from former spouses
• Health insurance premium for your children
• Work-related child-care expenses
• Extraordinary health expenses
• School and transportation expenses

It is important that you consider income from all sources, including wages, tips, self-employment and government benefits (e.g., Social Security, unemployment, disability). You will need proof of each source of income, such as recent pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s or Social Security benefit reports. You should not include public assistance benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

“Extraordinary medical expenses” include any uninsured expenses over $250 per year, including things like orthodontia, medical care for chronic health conditions and mental health counseling. “School expenses” include only K-12 education that is required to meet the children’s particular educational needs. “Transportation expenses” include the anticipated cost of transporting the children between the homes of each parent. See CC-DR-030 (mdcourts.gov). 

To speak to an attorney about your situation or for help with completing forms, call the Maryland Family Law Hotline at 1-800-845-8550 or visit the Family Law Self Help Center located in the Maryland Circuit Court where you will open your case or file your response.

For additional information and court forms pertaining to child support, custody and visitation, and for instructions on how to complete the forms, visit Family Law Court Forms (mdcourts.gov), The People’s Law Library of Maryland (peoples-law.org) and the Maryland Custody & Divorce Client Workbook (peoples-law.org).

Nancy Grimm, Esq., is a family law attorney with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.

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By Deborah Jeon

“The past refuses to lie down quietly,” Archbishop Desmond Tutu famously said of the process of racial reconciliation in South Africa following the dismantling of apartheid. 

Renowned civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill echoes this sentiment in describing the shadow of past racial violence haunting Maryland’s Eastern Shore: 

“The terror visited upon African American communities … lives in the deep wells of distrust between Blacks and Whites in the sense that Blacks still must keep their place and that both Blacks and Whites must remain silent about this history of lynching.” In Wicomico County, site of one horrific lynching chronicled by Professor Ifill, the system of racial subjugation endures through an election plan that makes the votes of Black residents count less than those of their White neighbors.

Challenges to all-White political rule on the Eastern Shore began in the 1980s, when ACLU lawyer Chris Brown and civil rights leader Carl Snowden first engaged with Black voters to pursue a series of Voting Rights Act lawsuits. As a young sidekick to Brown and Snowden, my ACLU career was indelibly inspired by the extraordinary courage I witnessed in Black trailblazers who took on systematic disenfranchisement of Black voters across the Shore. These heroes of yesteryear – Honiss Cane, Fannie Birckhead, James Purnell and Billy Gene Jackson, among others – sparked transformative change that opened doors to Black representation in many Shore communities for the first time ever.

Now, more than three decades after those historic advances, the struggle to overcome racial oppression continues anew amid the Shore’s increasing racial diversification. In the Town of Federalsburg and in Wicomico County, Black voters aligning with the NAACP and Caucus of African American Leaders are rising up to tackle unfinished work of that earlier era.   

Discriminatory election structures enable the White majority to dilute votes and silence the voices of Black residents despite – or perhaps because of – their growing numbers. Voting patterns throughout the Shore are strongly polarized by race, meaning election preferences of Black and White voters consistently differ. And in general, White voters favor White candidates and oppose candidates of color, preventing Black candidates from attaining political office.

In Wicomico County, BIPOC residents make up 42 percent of the population, and a clear majority – 62 percent – of children in public schools. But because the election structure combines at-large and district components in a seven-member system, Black candidates are limited to just one majority-Black district in both County Council and School Board elections. Limiting such a large BIPOC population to a single representative is not only unacceptable, but blatantly illegal. 

Veteran activist Mary Ashanti, who came of age amid stark segregation and racism in Wicomico County, sees this as a calculated means of suppressing Black voices. She says it operates “just as it was designed to – keeping Black people in their place, confined to their one lonely opportunity” notwithstanding Black population growth.  

Consequences of this lack of fair representation are “profound,” says Wicomico NAACP President Monica Brooks. The effects include Black schoolchildren taunted by White classmates with racial slurs; Black Lives Matter protesters openly condemned by the local sheriff; NAACP officials refused entry to the County Office Building by the White county executive and the teenaged son of a White school board member posting video of himself with a scoped rifle threatening to shoot Black residents “for sport.”   

As a first step toward remedying these frightening injustices, Black Wicomico voters are asking a federal judge to invalidate the County’s discriminatory election system and order reform. A new system is needed that eliminates the at-large structure and expands Black election opportunities among the seven seats.

Last year, a similar lawsuit in Federalsburg achieved remarkable success after Black voters challenged the all-White municipal government that stayed in place for two centuries even as the community grew to half Black. Through court-ordered reforms, Federalsburg voters made history last September by electing two Black women as the first-ever Black officials in their town’s 200-year existence. What’s more, the Federalsburg plaintiffs went on to secure unprecedented restorative measures – including an official written apology for past racism – as part of their lawsuit’s settlement.

While the Federalsburg and Wicomico activists follow in the footsteps of the bold Eastern Shore voting rights crusaders who came before them, they are also charting a path of their own, highlighting and seizing opportunities for an overdue racial reckoning.  Perhaps this can, at long last, bring the reconciliation needed to vanquish the racial injustices of our past.  

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) spoke at a fireside chat on Maryland’s small businesses community and the future of the state’s economy on July 29.

“We have some of the best entrepreneurs in the country, here in our state. We have some of the top institutions of higher education. The problem is we have not had a strategic plan,” said Moore. “We frankly made it far too difficult for a lot of our small businesses to be able to succeed. It’s far too difficult in the way that people have to go through the permitting and regulatory process. It’s far too difficult when it comes to basic access to capital.”

Moore spoke on his work to help those striking out into business on their own.

“We’ve tried to put together that strategic plan and level the playing field. One of the first things we started doing was working on procurement reform,” continued Moore. “ had significant capital coming from the state, but we never were able to actually come up with real procurement policies.” 

Moore highlighted an issue within the state procurement process his administration is currently addressing.

“Oftentimes when come up with procurement goals we allow things like free waivers to go through and allow people to make excuses like ‘well I made a good faith effort to find someone I could work with.’ Good-faith effort is not good enough. You’ve got to work harder.”

According to a 2021 small business profile by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, Maryland has about 618,000 small businesses, 36 percent of them being minority-owned.

Moore was also asked how his administration is working to build wealth in minority communities. 

“The racial wealth gap has cost this country $16 trillion in GDP over the past two decades,” said Moore. “We have and have had a real focus to say if you actually want to have a growing economy, you’ve got to have a participatory economy.”

Moore highlighted the work he’s done in countering the impacts of racial policies that have held minorities back from attaining and maintaining wealth in Maryland. That work includes a massive housing package that he sponsored and signed into law this year and 175,000 pardons for convictions of possession of cannabis post-legalization in Maryland.

He went on to speak about how crucial it is for Maryland to begin receiving federal funds for the costs of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge this year. President Joe Biden (D) pledged that the federal government would cover the full costs of the bridge shortly after the collapse. 

“It’s imperative because the bridge is a crucial artery for the Port of Baltimore, and the Port of Baltimore is an absolute crucial element to our American economy,” said Moore. “If you’re buying spices or sugar or coal, chances are that’s coming through the Port of Baltimore.”

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, The Port of Baltimore handled about $7 billion worth of trade in April 2023, which was about 4.4 percent of all U.S. imports and 3.3 percent of all U.S. exports that month.

Moore also pointed out that hazmat materials and oil trucks are not able to go through tunnels which is the quickest alternative route for most vehicles right now. 

“The sole lane for them to go to the Port of Baltimore is now collapsed,” said Moore. 

“We have to get moving now,” said Moore. “If we can get this done with bipartisan support from Congress, we will have that bridge built in 2028. We’re going to do something so spectacular that the entire country is going to see just how Maryland moved and the entire country will be very proud about what Maryland got done.”

Maryland business owners Teara Strum, CEO of Strum Contracting, and Brendan McCulsky, founder of Trident Builders, commented on Moore’s efforts concerning small businesses in the state.

“The governor has often said that this is going to be Maryland’s decade and I think he’s right,” said McCulsky. “I think the governor’s leadership has been providing the framework to allow people like us to be successful.”

McCulsky continued saying the governor’s work has created an ecosystem where Maryland’s small business owners can feel comfortable leaping into various business ventures. 

“Some of the policies and the things that he’s creating at the state level are truly trickling down to the mom and pop small businesses we have here in Maryland today,” said Strum. 

She highlighted a project that Strum and Trident are working on together that was made possible in part through a state provided fund, which helps small businesses enter the cannabis industry.

“We have 26 subcontractors. Fifteen of them are minority and women-owned business enterprises,” said Strum. 

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By Brian Witte
The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s attorney general filed a civil lawsuit on July 19 against an Eastern Shore landlord and his company, alleging a pattern of gender-based housing discrimination involving sexual harassment and demands to exchange sex for rent.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Wicomico County Circuit Court, is the first case to be brought by the attorney general’s Civil Rights Division, which was formed in January.

“For too long predatory landlords have taken advantage of people in financial and housing crisis by abusing their power as housing providers to make sexual demands of tenants or prospective tenants – often low-income women and single mothers,” Attorney General Anthony Brown said. “In Maryland, that ends today.”

Jonathan Smith, who is chief of the attorney general’s Civil Rights Division, said the allegations began as early as 2018 in units that were “in deplorable conditions” that “targeted low-income and working people.”

Speaking at a news conference with Brown and other officials, Smith said five women came forward to assist the attorney general’s investigation.

The lawsuit has been filed against Eric Sessoms and Mt. Vernon Group, LLC for engaging in a pattern or practice of gender-based discrimination in housing, the attorney general’s office said.

“Our investigation uncovered evidence that Sessoms targeted women who were unhoused and at risk of homelessness,” Smith said.

An attorney for Sessoms in other legal matters said he was not representing him in this case. It was not immediately clear if Sessoms had legal representation in the civil lawsuit announced Friday.

The complaint alleges that Sessoms specifically preyed on vulnerable women who were either experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. For example, the complaint says he offered housing benefits, like reduced rent, in exchange for sexual favors.

“I want to echo Attorney General Brown’s commitment to women who are sexually harassed by their landlords. We have heard you, and we are taking action,” said Candace McLaren Lanham, chief deputy attorney general. “The women at the center of this case who bravely entrusted us with their harrowing stories are the reason we are able to seek justice today against defendant Eric Sessoms and his company Mt. Vernon Group, LLC.”

The complaint also alleges that he subjected women tenants and prospective tenants to unwanted sexual advances, unwelcome sexual contact, unsolicited sexual comments, and other egregious conduct in a discriminatory fashion on the basis of his tenants’ and prospective tenants’ gender.

Maryland Legal Aid, the state’s largest provider of free civil legal services, partnered with the attorney general’s office on the case.

“Maryland is already suffering from a tragic housing crisis, impacting so many families — primarily women with children — who are left with too few options. Landlords, like Sessoms, who take full advantage of women in desperate situations and broker in insidious, gender-based discrimination, cannot be tolerated,” said Vicki Schultz, the group’s executive director.

The attorney general’s office says other victims can contact investigators by calling 1-833-282-2977 or emailing mdvsessoms@oag.state.md.us.

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, restitution for tenants and prospective tenants, civil penalties, and the costs of the investigation and litigation.

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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, the fulfillment of a promise made by Moore during his campaign.

“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 group of graduates gathered 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 graduate Courtnei Wright 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, there are Democrats in this concourse and there are 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 class will begin on Sept. 11 and conclude in summer 2025. 

Nancy Noriega, an executive assistant at Asian American Center of Frederick, one of the host sites, shared that three of the four Corps 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.

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By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As weather patterns drastically shift and rising sea levels threaten whole communities and cities, climate change policies are becoming more crucial throughout America.

Maryland legislators and leaders are increasingly giving focus to the impacts of climate change, pushing for a better tomorrow through legislation.

“We are only on pace to reach about 7 percent solar energy by 2030, when we were supposed to meet 14-½ percent. We’re only on pace to maybe meet half of what our goal was,” said state Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D-Dist. 30) during a hearing on her solar energy bill during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session, emphasizing the importance of acting now.

Elfreth’s bill creates a Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program, establishes the Customer-Sited Solar Program in the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), makes changes to solar property tax incentives and more. 

“It extends a sunset for tax incentives for certain projects, serving low- and moderate-income communities in Maryland,” said Elfreth. “It makes sure we can meet our goals without leaving anyone behind–particularly when it comes to our friends in organized labor–by taking the federal standards for prevailing wage and layering them onto every large-scale solar project here in Maryland, so that we can pay family-sustaining wages to the folks who work on these projects.”

The legislation largely took effect on June 1, but provisions for the Customer-Sited Solar Program took effect July 1 and will terminate on June 30, 2027. Also, net metering provisions will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Property tax measures within the bill will apply to taxable years starting after June 30, 2024.

Maryland, like much of the U.S., has experienced heat wave after heat wave this summer, causing it to feel like it’s anywhere from 100 to 110 degrees most days.

In its 2021 annual report,  the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC)  reported that heat will be one of the first ways Maryland will be impacted by climate change. They said heat waves will be longer, more frequent and hotter. The commission also highlighted that disadvantaged communities, the elderly, and people with more than one medical condition will be impacted the most by this shift.

According to previous AFRO reporting, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced and signed a slew of climate change policies in June that would support Maryland’s climate goals and efforts to move away from fossil fuels. 

“It is bold and we will get it done,” said Moore to a crowd of Henderson-Hopkins School students, educators and state legislators in East Baltimore on June 4. “Today’s order ensures that the state of Maryland focuses on environmental justice and economic justice in all of our climate work. Climate justice is economic justice if you’re doing it right. We are going to craft policies that reflect that mindset.”

The “Implementing Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan” executive order directed the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to create new policies to decrease building emissions, direct the Maryland Energy Administration to develop a framework to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and enact new policies that include reducing energy use by imposing zero-emission heating standards.

In Baltimore in February, Moore announced a Zero-Emission Bus Pilot Program through the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).

The initiative was a part of the Administration’s plan to convert its buses to zero-emission vehicles. It added seven zero-emissions buses to the MTA’s local bus fleet, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the city.

To fund climate change initiatives, an in-depth report by the MDE last year said the state would need to come up with $1 billion annually.

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By Tashi McQueen and Madeline Seck 
AFRO Political Writer and AFRO Intern

At the 2024 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Convention in Baltimore on June 21, panelists discussed the importance of racial impact studies in public policy making, especially in an election season.

Panelists included Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), treasurer of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Captain Sonia Y. W. Pruitt (Ret.) of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland; Jiles H. Ship, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives New Jersey; and Special Agent Trevor Velinor (Ret.), police commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Police Department.

A racial impact study is a technique that the government can apply to look at how a policy or budgetary measure would affect different racial groups. 

“I work very closely with the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus and a number of other state legislators in the state of New Jersey. I will tell you, when the legislation is made and we’re not at that table, we’re probably on the menu. You need to be at that table,” said Ship. “One of the things we were able to do in New Jersey, any legislation that’s dealing with public safety that comes up, before any reports are signed by the governor, they have to have a racial impact study.”

On Jan. 21, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. This order reinforced preventable measures to ensure laws created have equal opportunities and equity for all. 

“Whoever is elected into office decides on what policy is going to be impacting you and your daily lives,” said Jiles, pushing the importance of getting out to vote. “Decisions being made right now on the U.S. Supreme Court going to impact everyone in this room’s daily lives.”

State Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41) was also in attendance and spoke to the AFRO afterward about the use of racial equity impact studies in Maryland and how effective they are for inclusive lawmaking.

Since 2021, the Maryland General Assembly has enacted a requirement for racial equity impact notes to reduce racial discrimination and inequities on significant criminal justice bills making their way through the Legislature. 

“It happened around the time the whole country seemingly woke up about the racial disparities in this country, it happened around the time of George Floyd,” said Carter. “Senators and the Senate president got together and we all discussed what are some of the ways that we can make this place more balanced racially. One of the suggestions was to have a racial impact note on every piece of legislation.”

Carter elaborated on how racial equity impact notes have supported her legislative efforts.

“There’s a lot of times, of course, when many people want to contend that issues don’t have a racial impact and that it’s only imagined by some Black people that it has a disparate impact on the Black community,” said Carter. “This helps us legitimize our arguments and helps us use data to show what percentage of Black people are impacted by a certain piece of legislation.

“I think every single legislature should have a racial impact study and note on every piece of major legislation,” continued Carter.

Though moves are being made in state and local legislatures to consider how policies will impact the Black community if enacted, Jiles encouraged African Americans to do their part to ensure Black people have a say in public policy.

“People come to us all the time complaining about policies that law enforcement have, agencies have in place. The first question I asked them was when was the last time you were at a council meeting when they were deciding what that policy was going to be?” said Jiles. “Do you know who your state representative is?”

He also encouraged the Black Press to help reach African Americans with the truth about policy-making, especially about policies that will directly impact the Black community.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), alongside several Maryland congressional delegation members, announced more than $15 million for Baltimore City’s Hanover Street Corridor revitalization project on June 26.

“While the Hanover Street Corridor has long been a critical route into Baltimore City from the south, it has also been an obstacle to progress for the communities it passes through,” they said in a joint statement. “We worked to deliver $15.5 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve transit, pedestrian walkways and other transportation options in South Baltimore. This investment will help realize a new vision for the corridor – a vision to bring neighborhoods together and promote equitable access to economic opportunity for the residents of South Baltimore.”

The 2.4-mile corridor is located between Interstate 95 and the Baltimore City boundary line with Anne Arundel County, Md.

The federal funding derives from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Some of the legislators wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in March supporting the city’s application for the funds.

“It is impossible to overstate just how critical the Hanover Street Corridor Revitalization Project is for Baltimoreans, particularly those residents in South Baltimore in neighborhoods like Cherry Hill and Curtis Bay who rely on the corridor for connection to the rest of the city,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) in a statement. “The importance only became heightened following the tragic collapse of the Key Bridge earlier this year, which limited other routes of travel and increased the amount of traffic utilizing the century-old Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. This federal grant will move this project forward fully with federal dollars and ensure that the Baltimoreans that need it most realize the benefits of this updated transportation corridor.”

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By Amber D. Dodd
Special to the AFRO
adodd@afro.com 

Amid a major heat wave, 35 teams further turned up the heat June 23 during the 32nd Annual Giant® National Capital Barbecue Battle, a delicious competition featuring categories such as pork, brisket, chicken and original sauce, which was held in downtown Washington, D.C. 

For the Good Googly Goo BBQ team, after a long day toiling over hot coals, their competitive fire waned—unlike the sun’s heat. Both a vendor and competitor, Norris “Syd” Sydnor, founder of Good Googly Goo, worked until he couldn’t.

“Last night, I was ready to throw the towel in on the competition,” Sydnor said. “It was 2 a.m., no sleep, just been in the hot sun all day. I dug down deep and got some willpower somewhere.”

The work paid off. Sydnor and the Good Googly Goo crew would be named the barbecue battle’s grand champion, earning their title by placing in a series of subcategories. 

“It means so much to get this championship right here in the nation’s capital,” said Sydnor, a Mitchellville, Md. native. 

During the Giant BBQ battle, Sydnor and other Black barbecue gurus sat down with the AFRO to talk about the Black history behind the beloved summer staple, and how slavery began the American tradition known as barbecue today. 

“It’s my ancestors that give me inspiration,” Sydnor said. “I didn’t see many people of color in these competitions yet, historically, we are the backbone of what started barbecue.”

According to Food Network, the etymology of barbecue is found in indigenous terminology like “barbacoa.” The Taino, the Caribbean Spanish indigenous group inhabiting Hispaniola, would prepare animals for meals by slowly roasting them and cooking them under fire.

Barbecue’s American roots begin in slavery when enslaved cooks would prepare meals for others on the plantation, using meat unwanted or unused by slave masters. 

“It was real tough cuts of meats, and they had to learn how to cook it,” Sydnor said.

Though the barbecue battle featured mostly mid-Atlantic competition teams, American barbecue’s Black, Southern roots did not go unnoticed, especially by festival goers such as Jordan Howard, an Athens, Ga. native. 

“I’m from the South; we eat a lot of pork, so seeing what different areas have good or bad barbecue, it’s a pretty fun time,” Howard said. “It’s cool to see that the South is this far north with our food influence.”

As a vendor, NC Ribs on Wheels presented North Carolina’s barbecue traditions. Its owner, lifelong cook Angus Thompson, has run the business for 14 years, competing in various barbecue competitions. 

“We always have barbecue battles down in Lexington, N.C., because it’s in the middle of the state,” Thompson said. “One of the unique things about North Carolina is ‘whole hog.’  We grew up cooking it on a metal bed frame. We’d dig a hole; we flattened the pig out.”

North Carolina’s barbecue features two different styles: vinegar-based and tomato-based. 

“The state is split right down the middle: the east is known for the vinegar-based barbecue, and the west is known for the ketchup-based,” Thompson said. 

Thompson, a Fairmont, N.C. native, prefers a vinegar-based barbecue, just like his mentor, his great-uncle Hayward Thompson. 

“People ask if we do a mustard-based sauce, I say ‘No, but I can give you some ketchup to put on a hot dog,’” Thompson joked. 

A self-proclaimed “old schooler,” he never strays away from North Carolina’s barbecue ways of his great- uncle. 

“He taught me to move the coals—don’t get them too hot, don’t get them too cold,” Angus Thompson recalled. “When I was growing up, he had a garden…we used to go and get the white vinegar and let it sit for six, seven, eight days.”

Awaiting the results from the barbecue judges, 82-year-old D.C. native Andrew Majett, owner of Ribs by Andy, sat close to the trophy table. Majett’s love for barbecue began with the freedom his grandmother Sadie Pankey granted him to cook whatever he wanted in her kitchen. Now, many years later, Majett has created his own dry rub for Ribs by Andy and won awards in grilling and smoking. He’s competed in  cooking contests for 30 years.

In the District’s edition of barbecue, Majett said it reflects the melting pot of the nation’s capital. 

“It’s a mix of different places, flavors and seasonings,” said Majett, who grew up in the Brightwood area. “ open my horizon up. You have people from all different cultures of life, and everybody eats food.” 

When discussing barbecue’s roots, Majett pointed to the history of Black American culture being appropriated and generalized as American culture, something he finds happening in barbecue culture often. 

“Barbecue actually started during slavery, most people don’t know that and won’t accept it because they don’t want to accept that Black people or people of color discovered anything,” Majett said. “You have people talking about ‘soul’ food, but you’re really talking about food only available to slaves.”

At the end of the award ceremony, Syndor and the Good Googly Goo Crew hoisted their trophy and claimed their prize as this year’s Giant BBQ Battle Grand Champion.

Sydnor gave thanks to his family members, including a friend of his who traveled from Atlanta with his son, and also recognized the historical importance of the Black barbecue community, tracing the ancestral culinary line in one of America’s favorite traditions. 

“Cooking this barbecue, it’s in our blood,” Sydnor said. “We don’t do just D.C. justice but our ancestors when they see us with achievements in barbecue knowing its backstory. It feels good.”

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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 Darren Sands
The Associated Press

CALVERTON, Md. (AP) — The Rev. Matthew L. Watley says it’s not happenstance his suburban Maryland congregation, part of the historically Black African Methodist Episcopal denomination, landed at the top of a list of the fastest-growing churches in America.

From hearing his call to ministry while dancing with his Step Afrika troupe in South Africa to giving up his law school aspirations and enrolling at Howard School of Divinity, all paths led to the pulpit — and eventually Kingdom Fellowship AME Church — for this son and grandson of AME ministers.

“There’s a phrase that says, ‘In America we believe in God, but in Africa, they depend on God,'” said Watley, who also met his wife, a lawyer and federal lobbyist, at Howard. “I had never seen faith like that before.”

In 2019, the year Kingdom Fellowship AME was founded, the church had about 3,000 members and an average weekly attendance of about 1,800 people, according to the church’s figures. Today, membership has swelled to nearly 8,000, and its weekly services draw about 2,500 attendees altogether.

On a recent Sunday morning, Watley, 50, preached to a packed sanctuary from the Gospel of Luke about Zacchaeus’ transformative meeting with Jesus. The short and corrupt tax collector changed his ways after climbing a tree to see Jesus over the crowd.

“When Zacchaeus climbed that tree, that was his way of doing what he needed to do to become whole — to become healed from the stuff he’d been carrying his whole life,” Watley said.

Afterward more than 20 people, some with tears in their eyes, retreated to an intake room for new members. Kingdom Fellowship is averaging about 110 additions per month, according to the church’s count.

Before Kingdom Fellowship, Watley built a robust following for years through a ministry called Power Lunch, the first of which drew about 300 people. These were midday worship hours held in the District of Columbia and the greater Washington metropolitan area that provided attendees with a to-go meal before they headed back to work.

Watley also brought a church to the people, taking note of the scores of Black Americans relocating from D.C. to the suburbs and in need of a place to worship. Although outside the District, Watley and Kingdom Fellowship have remained in the capital’s political orbit, sharing his pulpit with Baptist pastor and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.; and hosting Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff for the inaugural service in its new church building. They have also welcomed Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee challenging former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, among other politicians.

But Kingdom Fellowship still wants to be identified with its homespun hospitality and a culture that puts its members on equal footing regardless of what they do outside the church.

“We appreciate that you’re the CEO, whatever. We need some help on the parking lot. It’s great you’re … the head of the ER medical unit. We need somebody to hold this door. And that’s the culture,” Watley said.

Kingdom Fellowship began as a satellite campus of the growing Reid Temple AME Church in nearby Montgomery County, which is where Watley served as executive pastor, overseeing the budget, local ministries and its 132,000 square-foot-facility featuring a sanctuary, credit union and bookstore that was completed in 2004. Watley also served as the de facto chief of staff for Reid Temple’s senior pastor, the Rev. Lee Washington.

“He had a lot of ideas,” said Washington, who recently retired. “I gave him the freedom and the flexibility to do what he thought was best.”

With Washington’s blessing, those ideas included launching Reid Temple North with a small contingent of volunteers. They held the first worship service in 2006 in the Montgomery Blair High School cafeteria, where they met until 2010. The growing congregation moved into a renovated building in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Watley added a second Sunday service in 2011 and a third in 2013. The campus eventually became financially self-sufficient.

Instead of naming Watley his successor, Washington with an eye on retirement opted to spin-off Reid Temple North as an independent church. It was renamed Kingdom Fellowship AME and Watley became its inaugural senior pastor in 2019.

“Our church was growing by leaps and bounds, and I did not believe in hoarding,” Washington said. “I believe in sharing.”

Watley, even as a young leader, was noticed within the denomination for his maturity and strong opinions, said Bishop James Levert Davis, the presiding prelate for the AME district that includes Kingdom Fellowship. Davis has selected Watley to be part of his district’s delegation to the upcoming AME General Conference where the denomination’s ban on same-sex marriage is expected to be debated — an issue Watley hopes won’t cause a schism.

“I tease Matthew constantly telling him that he’s the oldest young person that I know,” Davis said. “Between his father and his grandfather, he has been anchored and nurtured by the best of who we are.”

Watley’s role as the first leader of Kingdom Fellowship also came with a nerve-wracking capital project — building a new worship center with sky-high ceilings and an amphitheater-style sanctuary. Not only was there a recent example of a similar project falling apart at another church in the region, but Kingdom Fellowship was preparing to break ground when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“I was very cognizant of that. Absolutely,” Watley said.

But no one pulled out: neither the bank nor the contractor or the congregation. Instead, members of Kingdom Fellowship increased their giving, and the congregation celebrated their first service in the new worship center in 2022 for Easter. Recently, Outreach magazine named the church the fastest growing, a ranking based on a self-reported Lifeway Research survey that compared average weekly, in-person attendance for February and March 2023 to 2022 numbers.

In the U.S., Black Protestants’ monthly church attendance declined 15 percent from 2019 to 2023, a larger drop than any other major religious group, according to a 2023 Pew Research study. They are also more likely than other groups to take in religious services online or on TV, with more than half (54 percent) saying they attend services virtually.

The pace of growth at Kingdom Fellowship AME has been rapid but seamless, said Sharon and Billy Watts, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. What has remained constant is the kindness and care of church staff, they said.

The couple previously attended Reid Temple North where they got to regularly witness Watley’s gift for preaching and reaching people. Watley inspires outside the church, too, said Sharon Watts, noting the speech the pastor gave at her husband’s retirement party that had the crowd of soon-to-be retirees wondering how and where they could hear Watley again.

“It’s something about that man and what he brings forth in his preaching,” said Sharon Watts, who first noticed Watley’s knack for drawing crowds in the Power Lunch days. “To me it seems like we’re called to bring the community together, to hear the word of God, to not just prepare them spiritually, but to prepare the whole person.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed an expansive executive order supporting Maryland’s climate goals and efforts to move away from fossil fuels. The order will impact all government agencies and buildings throughout the state.

“It is bold and we will get it done,” said Moore to a lively crowd of Henderson-Hopkins School students, educators and state legislators in East Baltimore. “Today’s order ensures that the state of Maryland focuses on environmental justice and economic justice in all of our climate work. Climate justice is economic justice if you’re doing it right. We are going to craft policies that reflect that mindset.”

The “Implementing Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan” executive order directs the Department of the Environment to develop new policies to decrease building emissions, direct the Maryland Energy Administration to create a framework to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and implement new policies that include reducing energy use by enforcing zero-emission heating standards.

The order also calls on all state agencies to submit a Climate Implementation Plan.

“Each plan is going to center on how we can meet our goals of cutting emissions by 60 percent by 2031 and achieving net zero in our state by 2045,” said Moore. “These proposals must be submitted by every single state agency because every single state agency is going to have a role to play and is going to have accountability measures we must meet.”

The Maryland Department of the Environment will be the center of the state’s whole-of-government approach to addressing climate. The Maryland Department of the Environment will submit an annual report directly to Moore about each agency’s progress on the climate change initiatives mentioned.

Moore said Henderson-Hopkins was chosen as the location for the executive order signing due to its Solar4Us project, which will provide solar power to 175 low—to moderate-income households in the school community and surrounding area.

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By Aja’ Mallory

Did you know that ground rent is a lease agreement for the use of the land a house sits on? With ground rent, a homeowner owns the house, but not the land it occupies. Therefore, the homeowner must pay rent to the owner of the land. 

A ground rent lease is usually for 99 years and renews indefinitely. Today, ground rent is an investment for ground rent holders who collect small amounts of rent either annually or biannually from multiple properties resulting in a good return on their investment. Read below to find out more about ground rent and how it can impact your wallet.

Does my property have ground rent? 

Maryland law requires that ground rent holders register ground rent leases on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation’s (SDAT) Ground Rent Registry to be able to legally collect them. Ground rent deeds are filed in the land records of the Circuit Court in the county where the property sits. A deed for multiple ground rents owned by one owner is the typical way that the deed will be written. If you are unsure that your property has a ground rent, you can search for a ground registration here: https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx. 

If you discover that there is no ground rent registered on your property, then there is nothing left for you to do. If you are contacted by a business claiming that you owe them ground rent payments, please contact Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service or any other legal service agency to help you. Why? This could potentially be a scam or the ground rent holder is attempting to illegally collect monies to which they are not entitled. 

Maryland law requires ground rent holders to register their ground rents. If a ground rent lease is not registered, the holder cannot (1) collect ground rent; (2) bring a civil action to enforce any rights under the ground rent lease; or (3) bring an ejection action against the homeowner. 

If you discover that your property has ground rent. You should contact the owner listed on the registration form to determine how much the ground rent will be yearly or inform the owner that you would like to redeem your ground rent. 

What happens if I do not pay my ground rent or fall behind? 

If you fall behind on your payments, the ground rent holder can sue to collect up to three years of outstanding payments and foreclose on your home. But they first must send you notices indicating the amount due and where to send the payment. If the ground rent holder obtains a ruling for possession, you have six months to pay what’s due, including late fees, interest, collection costs and expenses.

 What does it mean to “redeem” ground rent?

To “redeem” ground rent is to purchase the land (“ground”) your home sits on from the ground rent holder. You can redeem your ground rent unless a ground rent lease was executed before April 9, 1884, and the ground rent holder recorded a “Notice of Intention to Preserve Irredeemability” within the last 10 years. 

How much does it cost to redeem ground rent? 

The Maryland General Assembly determines this cost. So, you should not receive an arbitrary amount from the ground rent holder. 

An example of how ground rent is calculated is based on the legal formula below.

What steps should you take to redeem ground rent? 

• First, determine if the ground rent exists and whether it is redeemable/irredeemable. 
• Notify the ground rent holder so they can either provide you with the redemption amount and next steps or direct you to complete the application for redemption through SDAT. 
• If redeeming through SDAT, mail the items listed below to:  

SDAT Ground Rent Department                                                                                                                Department of Assessments and Taxation                                                                                                             301 West Preston Street, Room 801                                                                                                                Baltimore, MD 21201-2395 

1. Application: https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Ground-Rent.aspx 
2. Any recorded deed, deed of assignment or other document of transfer that establishes your interest in the property 
3. Any recorded document that establishes the existence of the ground rent         
4. A check made payable to SDAT to cover the processing fee of $20 (regular processing in nine weeks​) or $70 (expedited processing in five weeks) 

• 100 days after you receive notice that your application was approved, mail the following to the SDAT Ground Rent Department:
  1. Affidavit of Certificate​ of Redemption https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Ground-Rent.aspx 
  2. The lump-sum payment via certified check 

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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 Imuetinyan Ugiagbe 
Special to the AFRO 

The Maryland comptroller’s office has launched a multiphase effort to modernize the state’s 30-year-old tax system. The Maryland Tax Connect portal, introduced in February 2024 by Comptroller Brooke Lierman, the first woman to hold this position, is designed to simplify the tax filing process.

Lierman, Maryland’s 34th comptroller, is committed to transforming the office into an innovative, accessible, and transparent state agency. She explains that the Maryland Tax Connect online portal allows businesses to make payments, track payments and refunds, obtain business licenses, and more. The secure, cloud-based portal is designed to be more efficient.

While other states have updated their business portals, Maryland was among the few still using outdated technology. This upgrade is significantly easing the lives of business owners.

Emmalyne Head, the owner of Southern Belle Cleaners, started her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. “After an eight-year career in the automotive industry, I saw COVID sweeping the country and knew there was a need for quality janitorial services. So, after debating whether to purchase a franchise, I decided to start my own cleaning business.”

Southern Belle Cleaners provides commercial janitorial services for office buildings and post-construction sites and helps individuals declutter their homes to create healthier living environments.

Head met a representative from the comptroller’s office at a business expo. Before using the online portal, she had questions about business tax filing. The representative connected her to the Greenbelt office, where she was introduced to Maryland Tax Connect. She describes the 

portal as an “easy and secure method to handle my taxes.” She also uses the hotline and user guides to assist with the filing process.

Kimberly Royster, an accounting professional with over 20 years of experience, says the Maryland Tax Connect portal is a one-stop shop for many state tax payments. “I have seen many businesses thrive and many millionaires, but very few were minorities, and very few small businesses thrive beyond $1 million and beyond three years. With this data, I started working with small businesses to support them in growth and compliance through finances.”

Her six-year-old business, Kimberly Services LLC, offers services such as sales and use tax processing, payroll tax processing, W2 processing, registering new tax accounts and quarterly estimated taxes for minority small businesses.

Royster, who is part of Comptroller Lierman’s Board Advisory Work Group, first heard of Maryland Tax Connect and was excited to learn how the new software would address some of the business owners’ concerns. Before utilizing the online software, Royster had difficulties with reporting, tracking data and managing payments. She says the online platform “makes it easier to locate the information needed and provides great backup. There is one place to locate all of the processing.”

Businesses do not need to be licensed to access the portal, and there are numerous resources for those interested in using the services.

Comptroller Lierman encourages business owners to visit the comptroller’s office website to learn about the different business resources available. “We’re also trying to make sure people know how to use the system. So, we have personalized call center assistance, and business taxpayers can schedule an appointment to have a representative of our office call them and work with them to address questions and assist with tax filings. We also offer webinars where Maryland businesses can sign up to learn all about the functions of Maryland Tax Connect.”

Comptroller Lierman aims to enable all Maryland taxpayers to pay their state taxes through the Maryland Tax Connect portal by 2026.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski securing the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, consideration has begun on who would finish the rest of his four-year term and potentially succeed him.

One potential candidate named was the previous chair of the council, Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones (D-District 4).

“I’m humbled and honored that people would consider me,” said Jones, emphasizing that there is no current vacancy, so his focus is not on the potential opening at this time. “Right now, I’m just humbled and really focused on doing my job as being the best councilperson I can be for all the citizens of Baltimore County.”

The Charter of Baltimore County states that the county administrative officer would immediately be the interim county executive upon Olszewski’s resignation, but the County Council is left to make a definitive decision on who will finish his term. 

“I’m confident that my colleagues, as well as myself, will do what’s best for Baltimore County,” said Jones.

The council’s current chairman, Izzy Patoka (D-District 2), was also named.

“Quite a few people have reached out to me and asked me to consider that and I will be making some sort of decision towards my future at the end of this year,” said Patoka.

Matthew Crenson, professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University, said Patoka and Jones have both been vocal on the council and are more likely to get re-elected because they are Democrats.

“It’s critical that our next county executive continue to build on the foundational and transformative reforms we’ve put in place to open our government like never before, to further embed principles of equity and suitability into the culture of governing and to embrace data and innovation so that we can keep building a better Baltimore County for decades to come,” said Olszewski, when asked about his thoughts on who should succeed him.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ 2020 list of eligible active voters in Baltimore County, of the 566,408 people listed, 55 percent were registered as Democrats and 25 percent were Republicans.

Currently, on the County Council, there are four Democrats and three Republicans.

County Councilman David Marks (R-District 5) revealed the names of a few more potential persons that may run based on the county’s ability to either select a council member for the position or choose a “caretaker” to carry out the rest of the county executive’s term.

“If you follow what happened in 2018, when County Executive Kamenetz passed away, the council’s impulse was to appoint a caretaker who would serve until the next election,” said Marks. “I have a feeling that’s probably the direction the council is going to go.”

Marks said Barry Williams, former Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks director and State Senator Kathy Klausmeier (D-Md.-08) are among the names of potentially interested “caretakers.”

Williams worked for 16 years in the Baltimore County Government. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society and the Pikesville Armory Foundation. He has also worked in several overseeing positions in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County school systems.

Klausmeier has been a state senator for 21 years, during which she has co-led legislation to create the nation’s first Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a bill in 2018 to prohibit the use of gag clauses which prevent pharmacists from discussing lower drug prices with customers.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

At the fourth and final bill signing ceremony of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed several much anticipated and controversial public safety measures into law.

“When we entered office, we said that public safety was going to be our number one priority. In order to actually get the results we wanted it meant that we were going to have to move differently,” said Moore at the live-streamed bill signing on May 16. “Baltimore had endured over 300 homicides every year for eight straight years before we took office. The issue of public safety mattered too much to think that we could call on everyone else to take action without being willing to take action ourselves.”

That action includes passing several major public safety bills, including legislation to create the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, the Juvenile Law Reform, the Pava Marie LaPere Act and the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024.

“There was a challenging issue that we came into session this year dealing with youth who have committed crimes. It was an issue that we heard from constituents, from law enforcement, from defense attorneys, from the Department of Juvenile Services, that the juvenile service system was not working as effectively as possible,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Md.-46). “This is probably one of the most controversial and hard issues that we have because, at the end of the day, what we’re talking about are kids.”

“I am very proud of the work that we are going to be putting into law today to create greater accountability, rehabilitation and coordination, or ARC, within the juvenile justice system,” said Ferguson. 

The Juvenile Law Reform bill permits the juvenile court system expanded jurisdiction over 10 through 12-year-olds who have allegedly committed car theft, animal abuse, offenses involving firearms and third-degree sexual offenses. The law previously stated that no child under 13 can be charged with a crime.

The two LaPere bills are in homage to Baltimore Tech CEO Pava La Pere, who was allegedly murdered in her downtown apartment by a convicted repeat sex offender in September 2023. 

“Pava was a friend. You never forget meeting Pava,” said Moore. “She was an entrepreneur– someone who had a brilliant mind, someone who committed herself to building a brighter and a better future for all of us.”

“These two bills in concert do two things, they both make sure that the tragedy that happened to Pava never happens again,” said Moore. “They also celebrate the light that Pava was and that she still is.”

The governor’s office also released a list of vetoed bills from this session, including legislation that would have modernized the state’s public notice requirements concerning estate administration and a bill that would have allowed out-of-state RV dealers to temporarily participate in Maryland RV shows. 

In a letter to House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10), Moore said he vetoed the public notice bill because it did not adequately address the multifaceted issue of the current requirement, which costs the state a lot of money but helps local news stay alive and thriving in a time when they are dwindling throughout the country.

In a letter to Ferguson, Moore said he vetoed the RV bill because it would take business away from Maryland-licensed RV dealers without affording them the same opportunity as the bill did for licensed out-of-state RV dealers.

Moore also signed the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget into law. 

“By working together, we made significant investments in public safety, education, housing, child care,” said Moore. 

Moore also highlighted that state officials and legislators made these investments without raising personal income tax, corporate income tax, sales tax or state property tax.

Legislators were at odds in addressing the $761 million projected deficit for FY25. House delegates believed in raising taxes and fees to close the gap, while the Senate and the governor opposed raising taxes.

The House and Senate reconciled $257 million of revenues by increasing vehicle registration fees, generating a Transportation Network Company impact fee, an annual registration surcharge on owners of zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles, raising the dealer processing charges and raising fines for speeding in work zones.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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BALTIMORE – Following a nationwide search, the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has named Richelle Webb Dixon, FACHE, a veteran of more than 20 years in hospital operations, ambulatory care, medical education and community advocacy in a variety of settings, as the System’s new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Webb Dixon, who will also hold a Senior Vice President title, will be replacing Jon Burns, who is retiring this summer following a lengthy career in healthcare administration, including the last 18 years with UMMS.

Webb Dixon will serve as a key executive on the System’s Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for providing leadership, direction and operational effectiveness, working collaboratively with the UMMS executive management team in planning and executing initiatives both at the corporate and local hospital levels.

“Richelle has a proven track record of creating effective teams, innovating operations to improve

productivity and effectiveness, encouraging staff to embrace organizational priorities, demonstrating a commitment to advancing diversity and equality in healthcare and leading healthcare transformation initiatives,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of UMMS.

With a strong operational background and track record of improving productivity and efficiency,

Webb Dixon most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Froedtert Hospital, a 700-plus-bed academic medical center that’s the flagship hospital of Froedtert Health, which is affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin and includes eight hospitals, more than 2,000 physicians and more than 45 health centers and clinics. Her responsibilities included planning, development and oversight of the day-to-day operations of Froedtert Hospital, leading new operational initiatives; establishing best practices, operational standardization and optimization; and integrating health system initiatives.

Webb Dixon also collaborated closely with the Medical College of Wisconsin to advance its academic mission by fostering a learning environment that supports the educational and research experiences.

Prior, Webb Dixon worked in a variety of healthcare operations leadership roles for 17 years for Catholic Health Initiatives/CommonSpirit, one of the nation’s largest hospital and healthcare systems, operating 142 hospitals and more than 700 care sites across 21 states. Her positions included serving as System Vice President of Administration; System Vice President, Operations Integration and Structure; Vice President, Ambulatory Service Line; Assistant Vice President, Clinic Operations; National Director, Strategy and Operational Support and National Director, Advocacy and Community Health.

At UMMS, Webb Dixon’s responsibilities will be far-reaching, including oversight of key operational

areas such as Logistics, Information Services and Technology, Clinical Informatics, Supply Chain

and Strategic Sourcing, Corporate Operations, Data and Analytics, Innovation Center, Clinical Engineering and UMMS Real Estate Construction and Facilities.

“I am excited and humbled to join the University of Maryland Medical System, an organization whose mission and vision resonates deeply with my passion for creating a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities we serve,” Webb Dixon said. “UMMS is uniquely positioned to transform the delivery of equitable health care and I am eager to join a team of talented professionals who share a common goal: to improve health outcomes and enhance the quality of care for all.”

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Webb Dixon is a graduate of the University of Michigan, earning a Master of Health Services Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She also served as a national board member of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives and is a past national president of the National Association of Health Services Executives.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Nursing and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org

.

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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.

The post U.S. Rep. David Trone rallies behind PG County Exec. Angela Alsobrooks following Md. senate primary defeat   appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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.

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 Aja’ Mallory

How does ground rent work? 

Ground rent is a lease agreement for the use of the land a house sits on. With ground rent, a homeowner owns the house, but not the land it occupies. Therefore, the homeowner must pay rent to the owner of the land. 

A ground rent lease is usually for 99 years and renews indefinitely. Today, ground rent is an investment for ground rent holders who collect small amounts of rent either annually or biannually from multiple properties resulting in a good return on their investment.

Does my property have ground rent? 

Maryland law requires that ground rent holders register ground rent leases on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation’s (SDAT) Ground Rent Registry to be able to legally collect them. Ground rent deeds are filed in the land records of the Circuit Court in the county where the property sits. A deed for multiple ground rents owned by one owner is the typical way that the deed will be written. If you are unsure that your property has a ground rent, you can search for a ground registration here: https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx. 

If you discover that there is no ground rent registered on your property, then there is nothing left for you to do. If you are contacted by a business claiming that you owe them ground rent payments, please contact Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service or any other legal service agency to help you. Why? This could potentially be a scam or the ground rent holder is attempting to illegally collect monies to which they are not entitled. 

Maryland law requires ground rent holders to register their ground rents. If a ground rent lease is not registered, the holder cannot (1) collect ground rent; (2) bring a civil action to enforce any rights under the ground rent lease; or (3) bring an ejection action against the homeowner. 

If you discover that your property has ground rent. You should contact the owner listed on the registration form to determine how much the ground rent will be yearly or inform the owner that you would like to redeem your ground rent. 

What happens if I do not pay my ground rent or fall behind? 

If you fall behind on your payments, the ground rent holder can sue to collect up to three years of outstanding payments and foreclose on your home. But they first must send you notices indicating the amount due and where to send the payment. If the ground rent holder obtains a ruling for possession, you have six months to pay what’s due, including late fees, interest, collection costs and expenses.

 What does it mean to “redeem” ground rent?

To “redeem” ground rent is to purchase the land (“ground”) your home sits on from the ground rent holder. You can redeem your ground rent unless a ground rent lease was executed before April 9, 1884, and the ground rent holder recorded a “Notice of Intention to Preserve Irredeemability” within the last 10 years. 

How much does it cost to redeem ground rent? 

The Maryland General Assembly determines this cost. So, you should not receive an arbitrary amount from the ground rent holder. 

An example of how ground rent is calculated is based on the legal formula below.

What steps should you take to redeem ground rent? 

• First, determine if the ground rent exists and whether it is redeemable/irredeemable. 
• Notify the ground rent holder so they can either provide you with the redemption amount and next steps or direct you to complete the application for redemption through SDAT. 
• If redeeming through SDAT, mail the items listed below to:  

SDAT Ground Rent Department                                                                                                                Department of Assessments and Taxation                                                                                                             301 West Preston Street, Room 801                                                                                                                Baltimore, MD 21201-2395 

1. Application: https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Ground-Rent.aspx 
2. Any recorded deed, deed of assignment or other document of transfer that establishes your interest in the property 
3. Any recorded document that establishes the existence of the ground rent         
4. A check made payable to SDAT to cover the processing fee of $20 (regular processing in nine weeks​) or $70 (expedited processing in five weeks) 

• 100 days after you receive notice that your application was approved, mail the following to the SDAT Ground Rent Department:
  1. Affidavit of Certificate​ of Redemption https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Ground-Rent.aspx 
  2. The lump-sum payment via certified check 

Aja’ Mallory is a staff attorney at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Her practice focuses on housing and consumer issues for Marylanders of limited means.

The post Cracking the code on ground rent: A guide to understanding and managing it appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The body of the fifth victim in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has been recovered. Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49, of Glen Burnie, Md. was pulled from the Patapsco River more than one month after the Dali, a container ship, struck the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26, causing the structure to collapse. A total of six people lost their lives in the incident, which is under investigation. 

“We remain dedicated to the ongoing recovery operations while knowing behind each person lost in this tragedy lies a loving family,” said Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, in a news release. “Along with our local, state and federal partners, we ask that everyone extend their deepest sympathies and support to the families during this difficult time.”

The Unified Command’s salvage team discovered a missing construction vehicle and reported it to the Maryland Department of State Police.

Maryland State Police investigators, alongside Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers and the FBI, responded to the report and recovered Luna’s body in a red truck on May 1.

According to Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, Luna was an active member of CASA and came to the United States from El Salvador two decades ago in search of the American dream. CASA is an advocacy organization.

There is still one remaining construction worker missing.

In support of these recovery efforts, the Baltimore City Council voted to extend the city’s State of Emergency on May 1.

“Our council took action to ensure that the recovery effort at the Key Bridge can continue under the current mode of operation with all of the resources currently available,” said Council President Nick J. Mosby in a statement. “Without the council’s prompt action to extend the state of emergency, access to many of the resources would have lapsed.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Body of fifth Key Bridge victim recovered appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Catherine Pugh

Special to the AFRO 

The Reginald Lewis Museum, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, on April 25 held a memorable event in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education. The event honored Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black man to sit on the Supreme Court. Prior to joining the highest court in the land, Justice Marshall spearheaded the desegregation of schools across the country.

Speakers for the event included the renowned lawyer, professor and civil rights leader Larry Gibson, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) and National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Benjamin Chavis. Both Mfume and Chavis have served as head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore brought greetings and offered his thanks to the panelists for their work on behalf of civil rights, and to Terri Freeman, president of  the Reginald Lewis Museum, who served as moderator for the event.

Speaking on the life of Justice Thurgood Marshall and calling him a “gift,” Moore said, “We remember him. We thank God for him. And we remember that the assignment is to make sure that we take that gift. We never forget our power and we make sure that we can make it matter for generations to come.” 

Moore gave a special tribute to panelist Gibson, “calling him the architect” of many public officials who have won political office, including himself, and the leader in pushing for the Baltimore Washington International Airport to be named in honor of Thurgood Marshall.  

“Dr. Gibson, I am not here without you,” he said.

The panelists shared with the audience their encounters with Thurgood Marshall in his early years and the significance of his contribution to history and to them personally.

Attorney Gibson recalled two occasions: “The first was as an attorney in 1975. I went to his house late one night to try to get him to sign an emergency order in a case that I was handling to do with the schools superintendent, Dr. Roland Patterson,” he said. Gibson remembered he and his colleague getting lost and not arriving at Marshall’s house until 10 minutes after 11 p.m., thinking the worst that could happen was that he would “slam the door in his face.” 

Marshall’s sons answered the door; they were little boys then, Gibson told the audience. 

“The first thing that Thurgood Marshall said to me in my life was ‘Cousin, this has better be a criminal matter,’” Gibson said, to which he responded, “‘No, Mr. Justice, but it’s about a lawyer and Baltimore.’ He said, ‘Okay come on in.’”

It took about 15 minutes to take care of legal matters but he and his companion did not get out of the house until after  2 a.m. in the morning, Gibson said.  Justice Marshall became animated and asked many questions about people and buildings in Baltimore and growing up in the city.  

Gibson also recalled the last time he spoke with Justice Marshall and that was 10 years later during the celebration of the renaming of the Circuit Court of Baltimore after NAACP lobbyist Clarence Mitchell.  Gibson had gone over to take a picture with Marshall and recalled J.D. Howard, an Afro-American Newspaper photographer, grappled with his camera and it was taking a moment.  

“‘What am I supposed to do? Kiss you?’” Gibson recalled Marshall saying. “It was the last thing that Thurgood Marshall said to me.”

Congressman Mfume said he lived at 1834 Division St., two blocks from where Thurgood Marshall grew up in the 1600 Block of Division St.

“There were certain things about the community that were inescapable,” he told the audience. Number one was the Mitchell family and what they were doing in terms of civil rights. Number two was the Murphy family (owners of The AFRO) and what they were doing through publications. And number three, was the shadow of Thurgood Marshall, who had litigated a number of cases that changed civil rights in Baltimore and beyond.

Still, Mfume said, he succumbed to negative influences.

“I dropped out of school, was a member of several gangs and was on my way to hell in a handbasket,” he recalled about his childhood.

“Everyone said, ‘You can’t be this way because you’ve come out of different stuff.’” 

Eventually, Mfume turned his life around, graduating from college, working as a radio and television personality, serving several successful stints in city government and in Congress and as president and CEO of the NAACP.

Mfume met Justice Marshall around 1989 or ‘90.  

“He was a little grumpy by then,” he recalled.  “We talked for a few hours about Division Street (from their shared neighborhoods) and civil rights.  It was my last meeting with him.” 

Ben Chavis offered a broader view on Marshall and his influence on history. 

“To understand the impact of Justice Marshall’s perspective on the United States Constitution you have to examine how living in Baltimore shaped his life,” he told the audience.

Marshall was born July 2, 1908, to Norma Arica, a teacher, and William Canfield Marshall, an amateur writer, railcar waiter and later a chief steward at a ritzy club. On his free days, Mr. Marshall senior would often take his sons to court to observe legal proceedings, and the three would debate legal issues and current affairs together. Though his parents tried to shelter their sons from the overt racism of their time, Marshall still saw and experienced the racism discrimination that would inform his devotion to civil rights: being forced to attend racially segregated schools, barred from using Whites-only public bathrooms, living in a city where the death rate for Blacks was twice that of Whites, being denied entrance to his first college of choice, the University of Maryland Law School, and more.

Marshall was integral in changing that landscape to the relatively freer society that Blacks live in today.

“It is important that we remember how far we have come in these 70 years after Brown v. Topeka,” Chavis said. 

“We have made a lot of progress and it is up to us to share that with our younger people and generations to come our progress,” he added. “The forces of evil want to take us back to what they perceive should be the way of life.  We must instill in our young people they have to be eternally vigilant and to push back and to fight back.  They are more prepared to lead than we are willing to give them credit for.”

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, of which Thurgood Marshall was a member, hosted the reception prior to the discussion in his honor.

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By Steph Quinn
Capital News Service

Ja’Ka McKnight dances as she prepares to lead a procession to the street being named, on this April morning, after her late son, King Douglas. The crowd’s shouts rise in a gray morning that is slowly turning to spring sunshine.

“Long live King!” they sing out. “Long live King!”

It has been three years since her son’s murder and McKnight, 36, is trying to make those words true – to turn her child’s life into a hopeful legacy that will help others suffering the aftermath of gun violence in their Prince George’s County community. 

The worst thing that can happen, she says, is for people to put it out of their minds, to try and live with the pain by suppressing it. 

“People sweep it under the rug,” she says, “and so it affects them later on down the line. By that time, it’s too late.”

On this morning, she is turning the official street-naming ceremony into a celebration of King’s life. Every other day of the week, she is becoming a full-time community advocate, looking for every small way she can to help others confront the suffering. 

She invites more than a dozen kids over for movie nights, home-cooked meals and sleepovers. She helps them search for jobs and figure out what they want to do in life. McKnight said she’s like the “cool mom slash big sister.” She’s there for them to confide in, or when they want help doing the right thing.

She’s also become a sister to other moms who have lost sons.

“It’s just like a support group, where we’re supporting each other and just trying to just be there for one another,” she said. “It brings comfort to us to know that we’re not in it alone and that somebody just really understands us.”

This month marks the three-year anniversary of King’s death at 13, when he was fatally shot in a Prince George’s County parking lot near an arcade where McKnight had dropped him off to hang out with friends.

A 12-year-old boy confessed to shooting King during a fight with King’s friend over a girl. A judge ordered supervised probation for the boy, who said he didn’t mean to shoot King when his friend handed him a gun in that parking lot. But the sentence and the explanation provided no solace to McKnight.

In the years since King’s death,  McKnight has had more encounters with the justice system than she’d ever imagined possible. She has talked with police, applied for victims’ compensation and sat in court hearings – for the boy who shot King and for children in foster care, whom she represents as a court appointed special advocate. 

She has testified about her experience in committee hearings of the Maryland General Assembly. When lawmakers voted this month to expand the list of crimes that automatically send kids as young as 10 to the court system, McKnight agreed.

But that change wouldn’t have made much difference in the court hearing of her son’s killer, since violent crimes were already included on that list. And it wouldn’t have made it any easier for McKnight or King’s friends to find resources to work through what happened.

“It will help the next child, though,” McKnight said.

The street naming turned into a party to celebrate King’s life. There was a DJ onstage behind a giant photo of King surrounded by balloons. Facing the stage was a semicircle of tables, offering resources on kids’ mental health, job openings with the local fire department and information from a local crime victim’s advocacy organization.

McKnight has created her own support program – for other parents and children whose lives have been rocked by gun violence, and for her own healing – that is driven by a conviction that tragedy need not beget more tragedy.

“I’m dealing with the emotional trauma that they go through,” McKnight said. “Mental health awareness – it needs to be discussed more, and it’s not.”

McKnight started her mentoring outreach with King’s best friend, who was present the night of King’s killing and lost his father that same year.

Not all the kids touched by King’s death got therapy, even though parents wanted to get them help, so McKnight stepped in – “just talking to them, mentoring them, letting them know situations of what I’ve been around and what I went through as a child.”

“To see your friend get shot and killed laying on the ground at the age of 13 is traumatizing for any child,” McKnight said. “So if you don’t get them the proper help, then they’re going to act out in whichever way they know how to act out, to be able to let loose of the anger that they’re holding inside.”

Some of the kids McKnight mentors have been involved in robberies or carjacking and want to get on a better path.

“They’re trying to do right with their lives, but they are in situations where the home life is not well, or they’re around the wrong type of friends,” McKnight said.

And McKnight has bonded with a group of women who understood what she was going through.

“We feel like the world doesn’t know how we feel, how we function and how we’re making it on a day-to-day basis after losing our child,” said Tiffani Evans, 36, of Capitol Heights, who lost her son in August 2021.

Crystal McNeal, 39, of Washington, D.C., met McKnight at an event where they both shared memories of their children.

“We just keep on trying to motivate each other and keep on pushing,” said McNeal, who lost her son to gun violence in July 2020.

Tyeisha Lucas, 36, of Washington, D.C., said that after the death of her son in October 2022, the group of moms has helped her to be strong for her four other kids.

“I’m only at one year and six months in. They’re like two or three years in. So they keep me strong,” Lucas said.

When Lucas’s son was shot dead on a family member’s porch, victim’s compensation from the D.C. government covered the burial, but Lucas funded other needs, like plates for food, by calling around for donations. She wanted to move from the apartment where she was raising her son, but the assistance she received didn’t cover those expenses. And she waited seven months for her first therapy appointment to process her grief.

“I don’t wish this on nobody,” Lucas said.

The women are creating the support they and others need in the community.

“We don’t go looking for the support,” Evans said. “We just put the information out there so people know what we’re going through. Either they support it or they don’t. But at the end of the day, we know we’ve got the almighty power of God to get us through the tough times.”

Now that the Under King We Stand Foundation is registered as a nonprofit, McKnight plans to lease a mentoring center for kids, and where moms can do healing circles “and just release and find resources.” She wants to expand her work to help kids in Washington, D.C., too.

And she wants grieving families and kids – including those who have committed crimes – to have a place in lawmakers’ conversations about youth crime.

“In their eyes, from experiencing what I’ve experienced since King has passed, it (seems as if it) really doesn’t matter about my child or the next child that passes away because they no longer have life and a second chance,” McKnight said. “However, they can give a second chance to the person who committed these crimes.”

“We need resources,” she said. “We need help.” 

This article was originally published by Capital News Service.

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By AFRO Staff

Prince George’s County (PG County) Executive, Angela Alsobrooks, a life-long Prince Georgian, is running to be the Democratic nominee in the race for Maryland’s representative in the U.S. Senate. Alsobrooks is seeking a seat vacated by long-time Sen. Ben Cardin, who announced his retirement last May.

Alsobrooks is a native of Maryland and has dedicated nearly 30 years of service to families throughout the state in a variety of roles. During her time as PG County State’s Attorney, she says she learned how opportunities or resources often miss residents who eventually have run-ins with the law. With a new perspective and the power to provide change for these disadvantaged individuals, she has worked to improve healthcare, neighborhood safety, new schools and facilities that focused on addiction and mental health care.

The former State’s Attorney, who has been PG County Executive since 2018, has a platform that is centered around issues like education, reproductive health, gun violence, economic opportunity and affordable housing. Alsobrooks is promising to fight against matters that are disproportionately affecting minority communities across the nation. At the top of her agenda is women’s reproductive care, noting that she plans to pass legislation that will focus on not just proper access to abortion care but a woman’s right to privacy, access to contraception and funding for Planned Parenthood.

Alsobrooks told the AFRO she recognizes Marylanders have concerns around economic opportunities available, and she has promised to focus on bringing back infrastructure resources like transportation, and internet access in rural areas. Alsobrooks says the efforts are aimed at building a better economy and further qualifying Maryland as the perfect area for high paying jobs. She has already proven her ability to bring economic opportunity to Maryland, seen in her efforts to bring the FBI National headquarters back to Maryland.

Her work within the community has allowed her to pinpoint Marylanders biggest grievances, one of those being affordable housing. She is dedicated to lowering the cost of housing and making things such as healthcare more affordable so that families throughout the state can thrive.

After years of working directly with members of the community who have been disadvantaged she’s approaching this campaign with an understanding that those who are closest to the problem are usually closest to the solution as well. In knowing this, Alsobrooks has promised to create policies that are mindful of those it’s meant to benefit and serve.

The need for Black women’s representation in the U.S. Congress is evident, furthermore Alsobrooks qualifications for this position is equally apparent. She has a results-oriented record that speaks for itself and for this reason, along many others, the AFRO endorses Angela Alsobrooks as the Democratic nominee in the race for Maryland’s representative in the U.S. Congress. The Democratic primary election takes place on May 14, with early voting taking place May 2-9.

#Endorsements #AFROEndorsements #Election2024 #Primaryelection

#voters #Blackvoters #ElectionDay2024

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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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Special to the AFRO
By Ariyana Griffin 

WBAL-TV 11 and Maryland Public Television hosted two Democratic candidate primary election debates exclusive to Morgan State University students, facility and staff on April 17. The debate took place at the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center on the historically Black university’s campus.

The debate included current Mayor Brandon M. Scott, former mayor Sheila Dixon, Thiru Vignarajah and Bob Wallace. 

Juvenile crime

Candidates were asked to speak on the rise of juvenile crime in the city. Moderators brought up the Brooklyn Homes mass shooting last July, which resulted in the arrest of several juveniles. 

Thiru Vignarajah shared his background as a federal and city prosecutor.  

“Today carjackers, robbers, auto thefts committed by children, committed by youthful offenders are being treated like they’re stealing bubble gum from the cafeteria,” said Vignarajah.

Vignarajah stated that consequences for the crimes need to be put in place so that they do not continue occurring. 

“We’re gonna do very specific things, including a presumption of detention for violent crimes for 30 to 60 days, so we can evaluate what these kids need and get them back on track.”

Sheila Dixon explained that the issue stems from school truancy and needs a holistic approach when working with families and community members to solve the issue. 

“If we don’t get to the root of what’s happening in our community, we’re gonna be losing more residents to Baltimore County and other surrounding counties,” she said. 

Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized the work he has been doing with the Baltimore City Public schools and the Baltimore Police Department. 

“I’m the mayor that has invested more in the public education of our Baltimore City Public school students than anyone in history. No one can argue with that,” said Scott.  

“My police officers will continue to make the arrest of anybody that is committing a crime. I don’t care how old you are. What we have to do is continue to work with our parts of the state to modernize their assistance.” 

Bob Wallace had a similar approach, “It doesn’t matter how old the person is. If they’re old enough to commit the crime, they’re old enough at the time,” he said. He did, however, explain that young people need a foundation to make better decisions, and that parents need to be held accountable for negative behaviors. 

“Their parents also need to be held accountable because we cannot have a city that allows this lawlessness to continue and to hurt our citizens,” he said.

Affordable housing 

When it comes to affordable housing, Sheila Dixon explained that she wants to utilize her Land Bank concept, previously created but not used, to help with affordable housing. She also shared that she wants to create a new neighborhood redevelopment authority to leverage lenders and other institutions to help. 

“We can streamline the process in order to create neighborhoods and community– not just for affordable housing, but also the amenities that can go along with that,” Dixon said. 

Mayor Scott rebutted by stating, “We don’t need a land bank in Baltimore City. We have a housing department that has all those authorities.”

“I used a hundred million dollars to go into affordable housing projects,” he said. “We have a housing accelerated fund. We just gave out $30 million for folks who are creating these units.” 

Bob Wallace wants to use the vacant homes to Baltimore’s advantage.

 “Vacant land in Baltimore City is one of our biggest assets that we have,” he said. He explained that this can be a tool to attract businesses to the neighborhoods, and create a partnership where developers and investors have to build a certain amount of affordable housing. 

Thiru Vignarajah highlighted that although the amount of vacant homes are lowering, the amount of vacant lots are rising. He hopes to bring back the dollar homes program with a system that works for the community as well as increase property taxes on abandoned properties, a system modeled after Washington D.C. 

“If you’re an out-of-state developer, either do something with the property or sell it to someone who will,” he said. 

Food deserts 

According to the city of Baltimore Department of Planning, “one in four Baltimoreans lives in a food desert” which is an area “where residents lack access and sufficient economic resources to purchase healthy food.”

Thiru Vignarajah stated there are two things that will be accomplished on day one: making grocery stores profitable and creating low flat rates for food delivery services to residents living in food deserts. 

“One of the ways that we can increase the profitability of those grocery stores in food deserts is allow them, as many other states have done in food deserts, specifically to sell wine and beer, that ability to sell those products will dramatically increase their profitability,” said Vignarajah.  

Sheila Dixon spoke on her plans to address issues. 

“I’m gonna create a housing authority that will create a development authority that’s going to not only look at the vacant properties, but how we can attract amenities in those communities. But the first thing that we have to do is we have to deal with public safety in those neighborhoods.” 

Mayor Brandon Scott shared that building more grocery stores is in progress and  “Right across the street here at Millwood Shopping Center, we last year, brand new Lidl, there’s another one coming on Bel Road.” said Scott. “We’ll continue to do incentives. We’ll continue to do everything that we can from the city government to have the financial things that are needed there.” 

Bob Wallace shared he has met with leaders in the west coast to convince food market businesses to relocate or expand to Baltimore. “We have to minimize the risk of business investors,” said Wallace. 

The Baltimore Democratic City Council President Debate 

In addition to mayoral candidates, those in attendance heard from Zeke Cohen, current Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, and former councilwoman Shannon Sneed, all seeking to be city council president term in the next term.

Redlining and Transportation 

 Zeke Cohen expressed  that the Red Lining plan is an important project and was disappointed when the previous governor removed it, “setting Baltimore back at least a decade.” He said that transportation is essential for Baltimore community members and to have a walkable city. 

Shannon Sneed shared that she comes from a one car household and heavily relies on public transportation, although it is not reliable. 

“When you talk about public transportation, I’m the one that’s actually the one car household that has to get on public transportation that has to actually like most of my community, that has to rely on. So it absolutely should be better,” Sneed said. 

Nick Mosby mentioned that transportation is a majority priority. 

“The empirical data shows us that when we talk about the number one indicator of someone escaping poverty and being able to have access to upward mobility is through transit,” Mosby said, adding that the state of Baltimore’s mass transit system “is completely unacceptable.”

“It’s literally our Achilles heel to economic development,” he said.

School Board 

Shannon Sneed shared that parent involvement is important, however it is difficult because it is not accessible for working parents.

 “Stop having parent teacher conferences between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m. Most of our parents don’t get off of work until five o’clock and most of them have to get on a bus to even get there. Change those hours to make it more accessible to parents,” said Sneed. She also offered the idea of meeting via Zoom or on other digital platforms. 

Nick Mosby also weighed in.

“I think that we need smart leadership to really push this thing forward…taking local control of our school system,” said Mosby.

Zeke Cohen shared that Baltimore “should have universal pre-kindergarten, starting at age three.”  He also expressed that students who graduate need to be supported by the community. 

“On the other end of the spectrum, we cannot continue to graduate children into poverty,” he said. “Every single child in the city needs to have either a college or career plan. Not every kid needs a four year college–but they do need an apprenticeship. Something in the trades, some way to get into the middle class.” 

Early voting takes place May 2-9 and regular voting for the 2024 primary will take place on May 14th.

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com 

Community members filed into the Sollers Point Multipurpose Center in Dundalk, Md. on April 7 to see two of the top candidates in Maryland’s Congressional senate race face off against each other. However, most learned when they arrived that U.S. Representative David Trone had taken ill and was unable to meet his opponent, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, on the Southeast Baltimore prepared for them.

For two hours Alsobrooks answered numerous questions on her plans for the state, should she be elected to represent the state of Maryland in the U.S. Congress.

Hosted by the Baltimore County and Baltimore City Democratic Parties, the event was set to have a six-person panel, consisting of James Kraft, Charlotte Wood, Olivia M. Lomax, Braxton C. Street, Keisha Allen and moderator, Jayne Miller. Though a table was set for the panel to sit on stage, shortly before the event started the panelists gathered and took reserved seats in the audience, asking their questions with only Alsobrooks and Miller on the stage.

Topics discussed during the debate included crime and public safety, education, climate change and more. Before diving into the many questions the crowd had, Alsobrooks set the tone for the evening by sharing some of the things she’s accomplished throughout her political and judicial career, and how she plans to continue those efforts if elected as senator. 

“As U.S. Senator I will continue to work on prioritizing the families of Maryland and making sure we address the issues that are at your kitchen table,” she stated. 

Public safety 

When it came to crime and gun violence, Alsobrooks shared that she thinks the increasing amount of gun violence is a result of the lack of mental health resources and gun laws throughout the nation.

“We know that gun laws are safe, and we need to take action to put some sensible gun legislation in place. Ghost guns are a huge issue in our community. Gun violence is an epidemic and our children are dying,” Alsobrooks said. “Behavioral health is the number one health issue in multiple communities.We need access to mental health care so that people can have the opportunity to heal.”

Education

Alsobrooks noted that she looks forward to helping students receive equal opportunities to a proper education regardless of their neighborhood, socioeconomic background or learning disabilities. 

 “I’ll be fighting to ensure that we are increasing funding for programs like Title 1, which allows our children who are at a disadvantage in impoverished communities to have an excellent education,” Alsobrooks stated. “I’ll be fighting also for the individuals with disabilities. It is so heartbreaking to know how many of our children with disabilities are left behind.”

Further discussing her agenda for improving education, Alsobrooks addressed the current issues that are shaping our school systems and how it’s impacting our students.  

“Many of our local jurisdictions rely so heavily on local property taxes to fund education. We have created a system where your zip code determines the quality of your education and in my mind there is something so wrong with that,” she said. 

Health care 

When discussing the topic of healthcare Alsobrooks explained how the ever changing expense is both a necessity and a right to all people.  

“I believe every person in our community has a right to quality and affordable healthcare. It should not be a privilege to have health care,  it’s a right,” explained Alsobrooks. “The Affordable Care Act is what we have used to bring down the cost of healthcare. It’s allowed us to have 22 million additional people covered by insurance.” 

Going on to further explain why our nation needs The Affordable Care Act, Alsobrooks discussed some of the changes she’s looking to bring to health care and some of the  progressive efforts that have happened under the Biden administration such as lowering the out of pocket cost of insulin and Medicare’s negotiation with the pharmaceutical industry to cap the out of pocket cost for prescription drug medications.

“I’m looking to build on the Affordable Care Act. Things like dental care and vision care, all of those things added to the Affordable Care Act will bring down the cost of healthcare for our families—this is a huge issue for some families. I’m fighting for health care and to make sure it’s affordable for all families,”she stated. 

Members of the community who attended the event shared their thoughts following Alsobrooks’ impromptu town hall meeting. Some expressed concern for Trone for his absence, but noted that regardless of circumstance being present during your campaign in an election year is vital. 

“I hope that he is well, but I personally thought this was very important and sometimes you have to soldier up,” said Haki Ammi, a board member of the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation. “Sometimes you got to go through the minefield for our community and sometimes outside of true death, you soldier up to make things happen for our community. That’s just how I feel, if it were me I would have been wheeled out here.” 

Though a range of topics were discussed, one thing seemed to be at the forefront of people’s minds: the importance of voting.
“Register and vote. Just vote, get out there,” Lynda Rice, vice president of the Anne Arundel County, West County Democratic Club, told the AFRO. “Let your voice be heard. Please do not think it doesn’t matter. If you think your vote doesn’t matter, turn on the news and see that it does.”

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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 Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) unveiled the first-ever Investment Scorecard for the Region, establishing a benchmark to measure the area’s future economic growth. The scorecard presents data on Greater Baltimore’s investment and development deals, labor force and tax revenue. 

In 2023, the scorecard revealed that the region attracted 347 investment and development deals for a total of $4.19 billion. GBC predicts that these investments will create 23,000 new direct jobs, generating $1.7 billion in labor income. 

“One of the top things that people ask me is, how are we going to better tell the Baltimore region story?” said Mark Anthony Thomas, CEO and president of GBC. “What you find is it’s not just an ad or a commercial, how we better tell our story is in all these different ways. One is making sure the world knows that people are investing in Baltimore.” 

The scorecard examines data from seven jurisdictions in the region, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford and Howard Counties and Baltimore City. Of the 347 deals, 140 were development, totaling $3.4 billion, and 207 were investment, amounting to $800 million. 

Development deals are those that involve a physical component of growth, like real estate and companies opening or expanding in the region, whereas investment deals encompass venture capital and start-ups. The leading deal was the $500-million transformation of Harborplace, led by David Bramble at Baltimore-based MCB Real Estate. 

Thomas said as data continues to be collected on the scorecard, the region will have a better sense of its performance in drawing private sector investments. 

“There is no timeline that this is going to stop. It’s going to get better,” said Thomas. “We’re going to better understand how companies are investing and how foreign direct investments are flowing into our market, but today is about setting a baseline.” 

More broadly, the scorecard demonstrates the diversity of Greater Baltimore’s economy. Investments in 2023 came from life sciences, information technology, hospitality, manufacturing, business services, real estate, education, logistics, agriculture, artificial intelligence, energy and aerospace industries. 

At least 62 investments came from out of state, and five were international deals. GBC said these measures were likely undercounts. 

“We are not just focused on one or two sectors, and even our seven jurisdictions have so much diversity and strength within them,” said Nick Henniger-Ayoub, director of policy and research for GBC. “For that reason, we have a regional economy that we can be proud of— even when comparing to peer and competitor regions.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Governor Wes Moore shared progress updates on ongoing efforts to clear the Fort McHenry shipping channel and return the Port of Baltimore to full operational capacity at the Maryland Transportation Police Authority Headquarters on April 10. 

Since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, most vessel traffic has been suspended. The 984-foot Dali cargo ship, which struck the bridge, remains in the Patapsco River amongst the steel remains of the bridge. 

Two temporary passageways have been opened since the catastrophe, allowing smaller vessel traffic into the port. According to Moore, the respective 11- and 14-foot channels have experienced 58 commercial movements as of April 9— merely a fraction of the usual traffic that passes through the 50-foot channel.

“Let’s be clear, even with those 58 movements, we’re still only talking about 15 percent of what vessel traffic looked like before the collapse,” said Moore. “Even when you factor in vessels that are going to Tradepoint Atlantic, the economic activity is likely even lower than that 15 percent.” 

Tradepoint Atlantic, located in Sparrows Point, has ramped up its capacity to collect cargo and debris as docks inside of the wreckage wait for the Fort McHenry channel to fully reopen. Steel wreckage from the bridge is being taken to the logistics center, which has a 35-foot channel. 

Authorities are on track to open a 35-foot-deep, 280-foot wide channel by the end of the April, according to Moore. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are aiming to reopen the permanent channel by the end of May. 

As debris is cleared from the waterway, authorities are also working to remove containers from the Dali. As of April 9, 34 containers have been extracted. The present goal is to remove 178 in total before preparing to refloat the ship. 

“I want to be clear on that as well. That work is complicated, and that work is dangerous because just one empty container that’s sitting on the vessel can have a weight of over 1.5 tons,” said Moore. 

The governor called on the federal government to display bipartisan support and cooperation in the wake of the disaster. He highlighted their response after the 2007 collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis, Mn. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 13 people, with more than 100 others injured. 

“Members of Congress, of both parties, must come together again and act with the same level of urgency and partnership that they did in 2007,” said Moore. “This administration is ready and willing to work with anybody and everybody. 

At the time of the incident, Democrats controlled both the House and Senate under Republican President George W. Bush. Moore said they worked together to deploy $250 million in emergency funds the day after the bridge collapsed. Two days after the Key Bridge collapsed, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced $60 million in quick release emergency relief funds for the bridge’s reconstruction.  

Moore stressed the need for both political parties to come together again and display the same level of urgency and partnership in response to the Key Bridge collapse. 

“To members of the U.S. House and members of the U.S. Senate, my message is simple: Come to Maryland. Work with our congressional delegation. Sit down with me and my team. Get up close to the wreckage. See it for yourself. See what we’ve been seeing for two weeks. See what it looks like when a steel bridge falls on top of a shipping vessel that is the size of the Eiffel Tower,” Moore said. 

The loss of the bridge and interruption to the Baltimore port has impacted thousands of dock workers and shipping and trucking companies. Last week, the Biden-Harris administration announced an initial $3.5 million in dislocated worker grants to the state of Maryland. 

 On April 9, Moore signed the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act into law. The legislation will provide financial relief to affected workers and businesses. It also establishes a scholarship program for the children of roadside workers who are killed on the job. 

Mayor Brandon M. Scott released an Action Plan on April 10 to delineate Baltimore’s continual efforts to support port workers and businesses. The outline includes funds for rent and electricity and water bills. 

“I’ve directed the entire city government to provide workers impacted by the bridge collapse access to energy assistance through the Maryland Energy Assistance Program and water bill support through the city’s Water4All assistance program,” said Scott. “Additionally, we’ll be providing $500,000 into our ongoing rental assistance program, specifically for eligible port workers.”

Scott also said the city is considering deploying an additional $1 million in wage subsidies for impacted workers. 

“These two buckets of support will be going directly to city residents impacted by this tragedy to help address one of the biggest looming problems: bills coming due when there’s not much work to be had,” said Scott. 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member. 

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By Maliik Obee
Special to the AFRO

Spring football is underway across the country, as teams look to prepare for the 2024-25 collegiate season. With an opportunity to build on its in-state connection, the Morgan State welcomed Maryland to Hughes Stadium for a split-practice on April 6 in honor of “Baltimore Day,” recognized each year on April 10. The day is special because the April 10 date matches the area’s “410” area code when written numerically as “4/10.” 

Morgan State Coach Damon Wilson and Maryland Coach Mike Locksley are both natives of the Washington D.C. area, with Wilson starring as an All-CIAA tight end for Bowie State; and Locksley playing defensive back at Towson University (1988-1991) before joining the coaching staff in 1992. In-addition to sharing over two decades in coaching experience and a beltway connection, the two agreed on an idea to bring Locksley’s Football Bowl Subdivision program to Wilson’s historically-black campus to share the field with a rising Football Championship Subdivision program.

This practice marked day six of spring work for the Bears, who finished 4-6 in 2023, despite a defense that tied (Florida A&M) for the seventh-fewest touchdowns allowed (26) in 2023. Locksley’s Terrapins finished 7-5 in the regular season, before capturing a 31-13 victory over Auburn in the Transperfect Music City Bowl. 

The two teams split their sessions, with Morgan taking the field in the morning, and Maryland practicing in the afternoon. Yet the day symbolized much more than a random invite for a big-name program to practice at a black college. The inaugural event entitled “Baltimore Day” helped shorten the one-hour distance between the two universities for the football world  and local community.

“Having UMD come practice with us is major,” Morgan State senior Josh Graham said. “Especially for them to come from the   conference and their exposure, it shows that we are making some noise around the state. We just have to make noise worldwide. It’s a tall task, but I know we have everything we need to do what we said we want to do.”

The transfer portal has made it easier for players at different levels of collegiate football to move up or down, finding the best fit for themselves as student-athletes and individuals. 

This event provided a glimpse into Wilson’s budding program – and a history lesson about a team that boasts four inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Len Ford, Leroy Kelly, Willie Lanier, Rose Brown). 

It also served as a reminder of the deep roots of the Morgan coaching staff, and its desire to keep local talent in the state. 

It was Wilson and Bears defensive coordinator Antoine Sewell, both former stars on the football field for Bowie State, who joined forces as coaches to win three CIAA Championships (2018,2019, 2021) and make six NCAA Division II playoff appearances between 2015-2021. The event gave local high school talent from across Baltimore City and its neighboring counties a chance to see two of the best programs in the area at work.

Morgan hit the field with intention and purpose, with the sound of pads popping and echoing throughout the stadium. 

Graduate student and wideout Anthony James Jr. is one of several Bears to play elsewhere before joining the program, spending time at Marshall University. The Prince George’s County native (Potomac High) caught 20 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in 2023, as he looks to help the Bears claim the MEAC crown. James reflected on the opportunity to share the field with Maryland, and his thoughts on Morgan’s growth.

“I liked that Maryland came down to Morgan,” he said. “I think it’s always good to see the community come together. Over (the course of) my time here, I feel that the team is really becoming one, and we are getting one percent better everyday.”

The Bears remained on the field following their practice, serving as a gracious host. As the coaches and players shared words and posed for photos, the two Under Armour-sponsored programs helped usher in a new possible tradition for two major programs, in a city rich in football and culture.

“I appreciate Coach Wilson and Morgan State for partnering with us for Baltimore Day,” Locksley said in a statement released prior to the practice. “The Baltimore community means so much to both Maryland and Morgan so we’re thrilled to come together for this. We have so many loyal alumni and fans in the Baltimore area so to be able to provide an easy way for them to get out and watch us practice is important.”

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Reginald Williams
Special to the AFRO

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md) led a three-venue healthcare tour on March 23 to bring attention to the Day of Action and the anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010. 

Along with First Lady Shawna Watley of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, and healthcare advocates, Ivey’s first stop at DaVita’s Friendly Farm Home Dialysis in Fort Washington, Md., provided what were described as “eye-opening” revelations.  

“I had no idea that poor blood pressure could lead to kidney disease,” shared Watley.

High blood pressure, according to medical experts, is a prime reason for chronic kidney disease. 

Hypertension can lead to kidney disease, which can subsequently lead to more severe hypertension. According to the World Health Organization, kidney disease is one of the top 10 causes of death. Experts maintain that foods high in animal protein, dairy and sugar can cause kidney damage.

Many DaVita patients residing in southern Fort Washington revealed that they live in a food desert and often must purchase food from convenience stores. Watley suggested ways to support the community in combating declining health issues.  

“Why can’t we do a pop-up in southern Prince George’s where they have the Dollar Store?” Watley asked, rhetorically. “We can see about using that parking lot and providing fresh vegetables for the people. We need to figure out how we can meet their needs.”

A diet that consistently consumes fresh vegetables is one of the recommended habits to embrace when fighting chronic diseases like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. NuVegan Café, whose tagline is Nutritious Meals For Everyone, provides healthy food options to the citizens of Prince George’s County and the neighboring communities.

Dining on vegetables and plant-based lasagna, Ivey, a Rocky Mount, N.C. native, was excited about his meatless meal.

“We came here, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” said Ivey. “I’m an African-American male who grew up in the South–and still eat like it. But I can see myself making the transition after this today. The food is fantastic.”

Ivey understands the impact that food has on overall health.

“What you eat has an impact on how you live and how long you live. We started out at a dialysis clinic and one of the points made by the staff was that their patients have diabetes, high blood pressure and it’s starting to occur earlier and earlier. They have more younger people coming in than they did before. Changing what you eat makes a critical difference.”

Vegan and plant-based diets, according to several studies, produce sustainable health benefits. Vernon Woodland, the NuVegan owner, has been credited by many customers for assisting in their lifestyle transformations.

“I feel like my food impacts people in a good way,” explained Woodland. “We get a lot of testimonials from customers that come in because doctors told them they had to make lifestyle changes,” said Woodland, who owns eight NuVegan locations. “Like Mayor Adams , they come in and within two months or three months you can see the health changes. It starts with good food. It starts with education– and then having access to the food.”

Watley explained that, for her, “healthier eating is a ministry.” 

“It’s about teaching our community how to eat healthier,” she said. 

Woodland is thrilled to learn that NuVegan is helping customers who once suffered from health issues to change their lifestyles.

“When a customer pulls me to the side and says, ‘Hey Vernon, I just want to let you know that I don’t have diabetes anymore, or I don’t have high cholesterol’ – those things make me feel good,” said Woodland. “Hearing those testimonies makes me feel like what I do here at NuVegan is valuable.”

Ivey presented Woodland with a Congressional award for his health-conscious approach.

“I bestowed the Congressional Citation of Recognition to encourage the good work of keeping Marylanders healthy. Vernon Woodland is the type of entrepreneur we want our folks inside the Beltway to support,” said Ivey. “Fresh whole foods and alternatives to highly processed fast foods will help our communities avoid chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure.”

Ivey’s final tour stop was at the Riderwood Senior Community Living in Silver Spring, Md. where he spoke with an auditorium of seniors. 

According to Ivey’s office, the tour was an interconnected effort. The congressional office collaborated with entrepreneurs, health care facilities—dialysis and elder care—and health advocates for an integrated approach to holistic healing, starting with education.

Recognizing the 14th anniversary of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” Ivey reflected on former First Lady Michelle and President Barack Obama’s holistic mission.

“It’s funny because when you think about Barack and Michelle, Barack’s main goal and largest accomplishment was Obamacare– which provided coverage– but Michelle’s big push for eating right makes a difference,” explained Ivey. “They put the two together, which is what we are trying to do today because it makes a difference.”

Ivey’s tour followed President Joe Biden’s executive order requesting that several federal agencies expand and improve research on women’s health. In his 2024 State of the Union, Biden called for Congress to invest $12 billion in new funding for women’s health research.

Reginald Williams, the author of “A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised and 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 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 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

Businesses across the region are still reeling from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which has halted most vessel traffic to the Port of Baltimore. Since the catastrophe, local and federal officials and nonprofits have stepped in to provide aid to affected firms. 

At Governor Wes Moore’s request, the Small Business Administration (SBA) made an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the state of Maryland. Impacted business owners in Maryland and contiguous counties can now apply for low-interest loans for up to $2 million to cope with revenue losses brought on by the bridge collapse. 

“We know that the port was critical for so many products and services coming into the United States and going out,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman. “That’s going to affect large and small businesses, as well as their employees. It’s a pretty broad impact in the region and nationally.” 

More than 500 businesses have already applied for EIDLs, according to Guzman. The 30-year loans have interest rates as low as 4 percent for small businesses and 3.25 percent for nonprofits. The loan also allows businesses to defer payments and interest for up to 12 months after disbursement. 

The SBA opened two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to support business owners in completing EIDL applications. The first is located in Baltimore County at the Dundalk Renaissance, and the second is situated in Baltimore City at the CareFirst Engagement Center. 

Guzman said a few more BRCs will open in Maryland in the future. 

“We want to ensure that the Biden-Harris administration stands ready in the long term to continue to support efforts to rebuild and recover and to ensure that no one is left behind,” said Guzman. 

The city of Baltimore has also intervened to provide relief. On March 3, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that the Board of Estimates (BOE) unanimously approved $1 million in wage subsidies for businesses impacted by the partial closure of the Baltimore port. 

The capital will be transferred to the Baltimore Civic Fund for deployment, which managed a similar program for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During his announcement, Scott clarified that the program was not created to outshine any relief efforts that other local, state and federal officials are leading. 

“This is just an initial step that we can do to help start to fill the gaps, but it’s an important step,” said Scott. “In the coming days, we’ll be talking about more assistance that the city of Baltimore can help to offer, but we want to ensure, as always, that everyone is moving together.” 

In the philanthropic community, United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) launched the Bridging the Gap Fund to support afflicted communities with food access, eviction prevention services and other long-term needs that arise in the aftermath of the disaster. 

“We anticipate that the repercussions of this catastrophic event will play out in our communities over the next months, maybe years,” said UWCM president and CEO Franklyn Baker. “Our goals with the Bridging the Gap Fund is to provide support for immediate needs but also to support our neighbors and the neighborhoods they call home well into the future.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member. 

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By MDDC Staff

Seven journalism students have been selected as newsroom interns for the summer of 2024 through the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association’s Reese Cleghorn Internship program.  Funding for these internships was made possible by Betty Osborne, the Delaplaine Foundation, the Goldseker Foundation, The Nutting Family Foundation and many individual donors to MDDC, including former staffers of the Herald-Mail who contributed to the Jim Schurz Intern Fund.

The interns were selected from a pool of highly qualified applicants.  The intern selection committee, comprised of Ann LoLordo of Jhpiego, Chris Flood of Cape Gazette, Sam Davis of the Baltimore Sun, Tom Linthicum of MDDC Press Foundation, Walter Middlebrook of The Penn State University, freelance journalist Diana Sugg and Jamesetta Walker of Gannett, reviewed more than 20 initial applications, which included a personal essay, published clips and educational and professional references.  The committee narrowed the field and conducted a panel interview with each candidate. Each intern will be treated as a professional working journalist at his or her host newsroom, with the expectation of generating 35-40 published clips and real-world experience during their eight-week paid internship.  As part of the program, interns participate in a one-day briefing on how to get the most out of the internship.  MDDC will also hold its popular “Into the Newsroom” series, which brings together reporters, freelancers and interns from MDDC member organizations for skill building training sessions.  Interns will also be partnered with mentors, who will offer guidance outside the newsroom and coaches who will focus on writing skills.

The interns are (in alphabetical order): Sasha Allen, University of Maryland, College Park; Angelique Gingras, University of Maryland, College Park; Kiersten Hacker, University of Maryland, College Park; Apurva Mahajan, University of Maryland, College Park; DeMarco Rush, Penn State University; Tierra Stone, Morgan State University; Natalie Weger, University of Maryland, College Park. 

Sasha Allen

Sasha Allen is a junior at the University of Maryland who will intern with the Herald-Mail in Hagerstown. Sasha studied journalism and creative writing while also working as a staff writer at The Diamondback News Desk. Sasha has a budding passion for journalism, and one of her references remarked that “Sasha is an academic honors student. She’s excelled in her journalism courses, especially those in print journalism. She’s successfully navigated and balanced life as a student, office assistant and reporter/writer for a myriad of print publications.”

Angelique Gingras

Angelique Gingras is a senior at University of Maryland, College Park who will intern with The Annapolis Capital Gazette. Angelique studied journalism and history while also interning at The Washington Diplomat. She has a passion for print journalism, and one of her references remarked that “Angel is an exceptional worker, extremely well organized, very smart, a quick study and a collegial colleague. She takes both direction and criticism well, and while she’s stressed on deadline, it’s no more than anyone else would be at her journalism level.”

Kiersten Hacker

Kiersten Hacker is a senior at University of Maryland, College Park who will intern with The Baltimore Sun. Kiersten studied journalism and public leadership while also working at Trader Joe’s. She has a passion for newsroom work, and one of her references remarked that “Kiersten has a strong sense for what is a story and what isn’t, as reflected in her pitches. She enterprised her own stories in some cases, and also rose to the occasion on stories I assigned her. She took constructive criticism gracefully. She was professional and very communicative on ability to meet deadlines. She was generally professional in her conduct in the office and dealing with the community for stories.”

 (Image by DC Studio on Freepik)

Apurva Mahajan

Apurva Mahajan is a junior at University of Maryland, College Park who will intern with Frederick News Post. Apurva studied journalism, government and politics and geographic information sciences while also working at The Diamondback. He has a passion for journalism, and one of his references remarked that “He has done good and insightful work in the class while also taking a major leadership role at The Diamondback, the outstanding independent student newspaper here. I was very impressed that Apurva had a high-profile internship with Aviation Week, one of the top specialized news outlets in the country.”

DeMarco Rush

DeMarco Rush is a senior at Penn State University who will intern with The Washington Informer. DeMarco studied broadcast journalism and psychological science while also working as a radio DJ and runs WeTheNewEra, an e-commerce website. He has a passion for radio and journalism and one of his references remarked that “Demarco is always learning and getting involved in every aspect of the journalism field today. You will see from his resume that he has been involved in many print, online and broadcast content projects, and other creative writing endeavors including screenwriting. He is working all the time on various projects and does very well on deadline. He is also very willing to accept professional critiques and direction.”

Tierra Stone

Tierra Stone is a sophomore at Morgan State University who will intern with The AFRO. Tierra studied multimedia journalism while also working as a staff writer at The Spokesman. She has a passion for journalism and one of her main achievements thus far is “My article was submitted to WEAA, which is a public radio station that’s owned by Morgan State University. The WEAA website not only published my article, but they included my other pieces which include a video, and a podcast recording about my semester project as well.”

Natalie Wegner

Natalie Weger is a sophomore at University of Maryland, College Park who will intern with The Daily Record. Natalie studied journalism and information science while also working as a news staff writer at The Diamondback. She has a passion for journalism, and one of her references remarked that “Natalie was the centerspread section editor for our student newspaper. She also pursued journalism through multiple community organizations and outlets. In college, she studies journalism and writes for University of Maryland-College Park’s student newspaper.”

Congratulations to all the MDDC interns.  Interested in becoming an intern in 2025?  The application period is open from October to November.  Read more about the program here. The Reese Cleghorn internship program is part of the MDDC Press Foundation, which is funded in part through donations from private individuals.  Learn more or make a tax-deductible gift to the Foundation.

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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 AFRO Staff

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has issued an alert on Facebook and other social media platforms warning drivers to “avoid I-695 southeast corridor” as a portion of the I-695 Francis Scott Key Bridge suffered a “collapse due to ship strike.” 

The I-95 and I-895 tunnels are alternative routes to the Key Bridge.

Videos showing the scene immediately began to make rounds on social media. A ship can be seen striking a pillar of the bridge, causing a major portion of it to fall into the Baltimore Harbor in the early morning of March 26.

Emergency personnel have responded, as multiple cars can be seen actively using the bridge for travel at the moment it collapsed.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski commented on the incident via social media. 

“We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation at the Key Bridge,” said Olszewski to his followers on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. 

“I remain in contact with our emergency response team as well as state and local partners,” he said. “Response efforts are ongoing. Our prayers remain with all those impacted.” 

According to information released by MDTA, the Key Bridge opened in 1977 and was “the third longest continuous truss bridge in the world. With the main span stretching 1,200 feet.” 

Later in the morning, Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency due to the collapse.

“My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Gov. Wes Moore in a statement. “I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration.”

Moore continued, “We will remain in close contact with federal, state, and local entities that are conducting rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragedy.”

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman spoke out on the incident.

“It is truly horrific to see reports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse early this morning. I am praying for and thinking of all those people who were traveling on the bridge, as well as the crew of the cargo ship involved and their families,” said Lierman in a statement. “I am so grateful for the efforts of first responders from around the state assisting with the ongoing search for victims and survivors. I ask Marylanders to be alert as they make their way around the area today.”

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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 Tawanda W. Johnson
Special to the AFRO

Concerned about the education achievement gap in Howard County, a group of volunteers decided to form an organization to ensure that African-American children in the county are ready to succeed in kindergarten. 

Now, five years later, the group, known as the “Bronze Villagers,” is still fulfilling their mission to improve academic support for the students just beginning their time in the classroom. 

“The Bronze Villagers are excited to celebrate five years as an organization making a difference,” said Gerry B. Taylor, chair of the organization’s board of directors. “We have toddlers saying the sounds of the alphabet and three- and four-year-olds reading on first- and second-grade levels.”  

The Bronze Villagers meet virtually twice a month with parents of young, African-American children – birth to age five – to help them instill a love of learning and enhance school readiness within their children. Specifically, they help the parents instruct their children on topics such as understanding sounds for reading, recognizing math quantities and learning information about science and Black historical figures. 

The organization has 14 volunteers who regularly serve about 30 families with a total of nearly 60 children. The program is free and called Parents of African American Children Kollege (PACC Kollege). In addition to the learning activities, the program provides parents with resources that they can access to further aid their children. 

Rachel Cook, a volunteer with Bronze Villagers, is proud that her grandson Simon, age 3, is a participant in the school readiness program and now an advanced reader. During a recent community event showcasing the Bronze Villagers’ activities, she was thrilled to share important tips for parents to help educate their children. 

“You can use these basic words to help with reading activities,” said Cook, while pointing toward small placards that contained the words “head,” “nose,” and “eye.” She added that parents should consult the book, “The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children.” It features the latest scientific research on child development, learning, and brain growth and highlights the success stories of ordinary people. For example, the book includes the story of how a hardworking farmer taught his child math and science, despite their grueling lifestyle. 

Autumn L. Johnson, another volunteer, said she, too, enjoys coaching parents on reading activities to help their children. 

“It’s so wonderful to watch the children as they improve their literacy skills,” she said. “These foundational activities will go a long way in helping them to become successful not only in kindergarten but also later in life.” 

Dawnita Burton, another volunteer with the Bronze Villagers, also spoke about her experience. 

“It’s very rewarding to see the children grow and to watch their progress,” she said. 

During the Bronze Villagers community event, Burton demonstrated how household items, such as paper bags and cotton balls, can be used to design and teach children about their digestive system and other bodily functions. 

Rashidat Oliwo, a parent who attended the community event, said she was eager to learn how to help her children.

“I’m always looking for a way to engage my children,” she said. 

Taylor said parents play crucial roles in aiding their children’s educational development. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “by five years of age, our brains have grown to about 90 percent of their adult size, but it’s important to note that while a five-year-old’s brain may be 90 percent of adult size, this does not mean that a child’s brain is 90 percent finished developing by age five.”

Given that information, there’s little time to waste in preparing children for success in school. Taylor said that the Bronze Villagers want to see the educational achievement closed in Howard County.

“The parent is the first teacher in a child’s life,” she said. “We must begin at home.” 

To learn more about the Bronze Villagers, visit their website: https://bronzevillagers.org/

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) recently announced the passage of nearly $12 million in Community Project Funding through congressional appropriations legislation.  The money will benefit Montgomery County, Md. and Prince George’s County, Md.

“One of the things that became clear when we were speaking with community activists and leaders, is that they don’t have enough from a resource standpoint to do all that they can,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04).  “Burtonsville needed help with a parking lot for their commuter lot we got funding for gun violence reduction.”

The Burtonsville park-and-ride project will help construct a 500-space parking garage. The parking garage will provide secure and covered park-and-ride spaces. It will also allow for the conversion of the existing ground park-and-ride lot, which would free up the property for about 250 rental apartments and benefit low-income residents. 

The funding will assist with other projects including:

• $850,000 for Blackhawk Lane Replacement
• $850,000 for Burtonsville Park and Ride Improvements
• $725,000 for Digital Workforce Transformation by Black Data Processing Associates
• $963,000 for Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel Electrical Modernization
• $500,000 for Incentivizing Accessibility in Housing Rehabilitation and Development Projects
• $300,000 for Laurel Boys and Girls Club Window Repair/Replacement Project
• $963,000 for Rapid Innovation Accelerator (RIA) for Cybersecurity Research
• $850,000 for Renovation of the Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park in Laurel, Maryland
• $963,000 for Saturday Youth Justice Academy
• $1,616,279 for Saving Jobs, Eliminating Solid Waste, and Expanding Green Opportunities
• $275,000 for Violence Intervention Program
• $726,000 for Violence Reduction Research Initiative (VRRI)
• $1,600,000 for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission for Utility Services Project
• $500,000 for West Hyattsville Station, Street and Road Infrastructure Improvements

Ivey briefly outlined the process for selecting projects when it comes to federal funding.

“We open it up to the community for people to request the funds. We run it by the House Appropriations Committee, and they have a series of rules and guidelines that they issue as well that helps to trim down, who’s eligible and who’s not,” said Ivey. “Then, we put together the packet for the ones we are going to move forward with.”

“I thought we had a good cycle and we are very pleased with the way it worked,” he continued.

Ivey said the next round of federal funding will begin soon.

“It should be any day now,” said Ivey directing the public to keep an eye on his website for the announcement. “We expect that to be happening sometime this month.”

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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.

The post Making 2024 a year for military families  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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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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. 

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By Rob Maaddi 
AP Pro Football Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Accepting the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award in person was bittersweet for Lamar Jackson.

Jackson was a near-unanimous choice for his second MVP award announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 8 but the quarterback’s Baltimore Ravens fell one win short of playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“I’d rather send in a video to win the award,” Jackson said. “To be here for the award, it’s an honor but I’d rather be in the Super Bowl accepting this award.”

The All-Pro QB received 49 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of voters that includes media members who regularly cover the NFL, former players and coaches.

Jackson led the Ravens (14-5) to the NFL’s best record in the regular season, but they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. The 27-year-old Jackson is the fourth player to win his second MVP before turning 28, joining Patrick Mahomes (27), Brett Favre (27) and Jim Brown (22).

“It’s an honor. I guess I’m in elite company,” Jackson said.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey ran away with the AP Offensive Player of the Year award. He’ll try to add a Super Bowl ring to his trophy case when the 49ers take on the Chiefs on Feb. 11.

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett beat out T.J. Watt for AP Defensive Player of the Year. 

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in a landslide. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Stroud’s Houston teammate, won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, outgaining both Jalen Carter and Kobie Turner by two first-place votes.

The Browns took home four awards.

Quarterback Joe Flacco, who came off the couch to lead Cleveland to the playoffs, was named AP Comeback Player of the Year. Kevin Stefanski edged Houston’s DeMeco Ryans for AP Coach of the Year honors by one first-place vote. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz won the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award after guiding the league’s No. 1 ranked unit.

“It was a special year for a special team,” Garrett said about the Browns. “I think next year is going to be our year.”

Despite his disappointment over losing the AFC title game, it was also a special year for Jackson.

The one first-place MVP vote he didn’t receive went to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Jackson threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 821 yards and five scores while leading Baltimore to a record 10 wins over teams that finished with a winning record. He helped the Ravens rout Houston in the divisional round but struggled in a 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC title game.

McCaffrey, San Francisco’s All-Pro running back, received 39 of 50 first-place votes for OPOY, outpacing Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. A unanimous choice for All-Pro, McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 yards rushing and had 14 rushing TDs. He also had 564 yards receiving for seven scores.

“I feel so fortunate to be part of the best organization on the planet so thank you for believing in me,” McCaffrey said.

Garrett was equally as dominant on the other side of the ball. He received 23 first-place votes and 165 points to beat out Watt for DPOY. Despite constant double-teams, Garrett had 14 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and forced offensive coordinators to avoid his side of the field.

Stroud received 48 of 50 first-place votes for OROY with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua getting the other two. The No. 2 overall pick, Stroud threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and had a passer rating of 100.8, third-best by a rookie. He helped the Texans go from worst to first place in the AFC South and led them to a playoff win in the wild-card round.

“I’m the type of person who wonders what’s next and what I can do better but reflecting on the season, being my first, it’s special just to be in the NFL let alone on a winning team,” Stroud said.

Anderson and Stroud are the fourth teammates to win the offensive and defensive rookie awards in the same season. Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner swept the awards last year for the New York Jets.

“It means the absolute world,” Anderson said about him and Stroud winning. “Just watching how he comes to work every day, the preparation he put in and rebuilding the culture and being captains our rookie year, it’s special.”

Flacco beat out Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for the comeback award. He received 13 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes and eight thirds to finish with 151 points.

Hamlin returned to the NFL this season after collapsing on the field and needing to be resuscitated following a cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023. He played in five regular-season games. Hamlin received 21 first-place votes but appeared on 42 of 50 ballots while Flacco was on 47. He got seven second-place votes and 14 thirds for 140 points.

Flacco, the 39-year-old former Super Bowl MVP, was home in New Jersey with his family when Cleveland called him in November. He went 4-1 in five starts and passed for over 300 yards in four straight games with 13 touchdowns.

Stefanski led the Browns to their third playoff appearance since 1999 despite losing quarterback Deshaun Watson, star running back Nick Chubb and right tackle Jack Conklin to season-ending injuries and starting five QBs.

Cleveland’s Schwartz received 25 first-place votes and finished with 160 points, easily outpacing Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

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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.

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor 
dbailey@afro.com

At the end of the longest day of the Marilyn Mosby vs. the United States at the District Court House in Greenbelt, Md., the former Baltimore State’s Attorney’s fate now rests in the hands of the jury.  

Closing arguments on Feb. 5 extended well into the afternoon with U.S. government prosecutors and Mosby’s public defense attorney painting a striking contrast about Mosby and her motives in the purchase of the two Florida properties she purchased that are at the center of this case.  

“This is a case about lies and responsibility,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky who gave closing arguments for the prosecution.

Zelinsky portrayed Mosby as a skilled professional who knowingly orchestrated a series of alleged lies to secure a home purchased in Kissimmee, Florida and condominium at Longwood Key the following year. 

“This isn’t any regular person we’re talking about filling out those forms,” Zelinsky repeated throughout his closing argument. “This is an educated lawyer who runs a prosecutor’s office,” he said.

After repeating Moby’s education and status as “Baltimore’s top prosecutor” numerous times, he turned to a direct assault on both Marilyn Mosby’s character and that of her ex-husband, Nick Mosby, who testified for the defense last week. 

“Marilyn Mosby is a convicted federal perjurer,” Zelinksy said. “She is not credible because she is convicted of perjury and her story makes no sense,” Zelinsky jabbed. “Mr. Mosby is not exactly credible himself.” 

Maggie Grace, a member of Mosby’s public defense team, approached her description of Mosby and the events surrounding the purchase of the Florida properties with a different lens.

Grace cautioned jurors that it was their responsibility to consider, “the full picture, the full context” and the “evidence of good faith” that Grace said Mosby displayed throughout the process. She added that even though mistakes were made– Mosby was not intentionally misleading officials.

“Even a lawyer, even a state’s attorney, unless you are steeped in real estate would never know how to complete these forms,” Grace said as she held up a notebook-sized folder full of mortgage documents for jurors to see. 

Grace drilled down on the issue of the Mosby’s $45,000 tax debt, displaying evidence that Nick Mosby had entered an installment agreement for the tax bill and adding that, “She (Marilyn) did not knowingly hide the tax debt. Ms. Mosby believed they were on an installment plan,” she said. 

“We trust that you’ll find Ms. Mosby acted in good faith and didn’t knowingly make false statements,” Grace affirmed. 

As she headed out of the courtroom, Mosby was surrounded by more than one hundred supporters and friends, arriving from Baltimore in cars and a bus chartered by New Shiloh Baptist Church.  Her supporters and her two daughters, Aniyah and Nylyn walked Mosby in and out of the courthouse. 

Michael Eugene, lifelong activist, said “I’m here to support the process as well as Marilyn Mosby.  This is nothing more than a high tech lynching.”

“We want to let the federal government know we’re watching. At this point I am confident that she will be acquitted,” Eugene said.  

“I came to support Ms. Mosby because in the face of the government’s attempt to smear her name has happened to too many women in positions of power,” said Baltimorean Ertha Harris, host of the Tight Knit Connection radio program on WOLB. 

Others, like Sheena Smith, from Baltimore, have traveled to the Greenbelt courthouse for the past two weeks to stand guard throughout the trial. 

“I saw they were trying to assassinate her in the media,” said Sheena Smith, who has traveled to the courthouse daily with several friends.    

“This city would have burned down if she didn’t make the decisions she made after Freddie Gray was murdered,” Smith said. “The city would have burned. No other elected official stood up,” she said.

“Our former state’s attorney, Marilyn Mosby, is innocent,” Smith said. “She’s not lying. Marilyn had no knowledge of the tax debt.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As the Feb. 9 candidacy filing deadline approached, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) announced his bid for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District seat. He officially filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections on Jan. 31.

The campaign launch comes after U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) announced Jan. 26 that he won’t run for re-election. Ruppersberger has served in Congress for more than 21 years.

According to his website, Olszewski plans to run on gun safety, police reform and equity.

“Together, we have modernized Baltimore County’s government, made historic investments in

our schools, roads, parks and beyond and tackled issues like gun safety, police reform and

attainable housing,” said Olszewski, 42, in a statement. “I’m running for Congress so that we can help do the same in D.C. It’s time for a new generation of leaders in Washington who will defend our democracy, ensure Maryland remains a beacon of hope for women and choice, act with urgency to combat climate change and work to lower costs for our families.”

According to his campaign, he has already been able to raise over $400,000 within 48 hours of his announcement. Contributions came from all parts of the second district: Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Carroll County, Md.

“I am beyond humbled at the outpouring of support we have received since launching this

campaign two days ago,” said Olszewski on Feb. 1. “To everyone who has chipped in and who knows we can do better for our communities and our country, I want to say thank you.”

Before becoming the Baltimore County Executive in 2018, Olszewski served two terms  in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2006 to 2015.

As of Feb. 2, Olszewski will run against Jessica Sjoberg (D) of Baltimore County, Clint Spellman Jr. (D) of Baltimore County and Dave Wallace (R) of Carroll County for the congressional seat.

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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 Deborah Bailey
Contributing Editor

Marilyn Mosby, a former Baltimore City state’s attorney, will soon face a verdict in the second of two federal trials that will change the trajectory of her life.

The 44-year-old rose to power as the youngest state’s attorney of a major city in 2015.  Just months later, Mosby was thrust into the national spotlight when she led a controversial investigation and ultimately charged six Baltimore City police officers in Freddie Grey’s death.  

Now, the former Baltimore prosecutor is awaiting the verdict in a federal mortgage fraud trial held in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., that concluded on Feb. 1. Federal prosecutors have charged Mosby with making seven false statements to two mortgage companies during real estate transactions in Florida.

Mosby took the stand to testify in her own defense Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. When her attorney asked why she was willing to testify in the second of two trials about false statements to secure real estate in Florida she responded, “I regret not testifying before and I want this jury to hear my truth,” according to court transcripts.

Mosby was found guilty of two counts of perjury in her first trial before a U.S. District Court in November, for falsely claiming  Covid-19 hardships in making two withdrawals of $40,000 and $50,000 from her deferred compensation fund. 

Mosby’s second trial focuses on real estate fraud charges stemming from purchases of a house in Kissimmee, Florida, in September 2020 and a condominium in Longboat Key, Florida, in February 2021.

Prosecutors claimed Mosby lied on the mortgage application for the Florida properties by saying she had no tax liability, one of seven allegedly false statements made on the applications to secure the Florida home and condo. 

During her testimony, Mosby shared details about her climb to power as one of the youngest state’s attorneys in the nation at the time she won election to office in November 2013, and details of a stormy period in her marriage to City Council President Nick Mosby, who testified for the defense  in the second trial.

Nick Mosby – now the defendant’s ex-husband – testified that he lied about the then-couples’ tax liability, claiming he entered an installment agreement to repay the tax debt. He also made public statements insisting the $45,000 tax lien had been “taken care of” as he did during a press conference after his election as Baltimore City Council chairman in November 2020.

Marilyn Mosby filed for divorce from Nick Mosby in July 2023 after 17 years of marriage. The couple issued a joint statement after the filing saying: “After careful consideration and much prayer we have decided to end our marriage. Our dedication to our family and community remains unwavering.”

The divorce was finalized in November 2023. 

In her second day of testimony, Mosby said that her mortgage broker completed the forms needed to purchase the two homes in Florida. She stated that she was inexperienced in real estate transactions and relied on the mortgage broker to complete the forms. “My Easy Mortgage populated it,” she said about the mortgage documents that prosecutors claim contain several untrue statements, including concealment of the tax debt.

Mosby’s supporters from Baltimore filled the Greenbelt courtroom over the course of the second trial. 

“Spending a few days at the trial was an educational experience for myself and the many supporters,” said Baltimorean Hakki Ammi.

“Marilyn took the stand and expressed that she had been misled by the mortgage broker,” he added. 

The verdict in the second trial is expected next week, and is in all likelihood expected to be handed down on Feb. 5.  

Mosby’s supporters plan to be in the Greenbelt courtroom on Feb. 5 prepared for whatever happens.

Buses will depart from New Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 2100 N. Monroe St. in Baltimore, for the Greenbelt federal courthouse at 8:30 a.m., returning to the church at noon. “Lawyers, churches and civic groups should be present to observe this case. There needed to be a groundswell of supporters showing up,” said Ammi.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05) announced Jan. 9 that he will seek re-election in 2024, ending speculation that he would step down after representing the state for 23 terms in the House of Representatives.

In an interview with the AFRO, Hoyer said he sat down with his wife, Elaine C. Kamarck, to put some serious thought into whether he should run for re-election or not.

“We sat down and talked about it and the challenges to the country posed by the Trump candidacy and the support, sadly, that Trump has in the Republican Party and the threat that he poses to our democracy, Constitution and our values as a country,” said Hoyer. “The overall environment is a very concerning one for me and I felt that the priorities that I care a lot about are at risk. I wanted, therefore, to stay in the fight.”

Those priorities include securing the funding for the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Md. 

“Over the last 14 years, Angela Alsobrooks both as state’s attorney and as a county executive – we’ve both worked very hard to get the FBI to select ,” said Hoyer. “Now we want to fight very hard to make sure that we get the money to have it constructed.”

Hoyer has endorsed Alsobrooks to take the seat to be vacated by the retirement of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in 2025.

Hoyer is the longest-serving current representative in Maryland and was House majority leader during Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) term as House speaker.. 

Pelosi similarly announced her run for re-election via X back in September 2023.

“Now more than ever our city needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery,” said Pelosi. “Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL. That is why I am running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote.”

Hoyer, Pelosi and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.-06) stepped back from their longtime Democratic leadership positions in the House in 2022 to let younger leaders step forward for the Democratic party.

“I imagine it is a difficult call for congressional leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer about whether to retire or not given the stakes are so high right now about which party governs as the majority,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College.  “Pelosi and Hoyer have a lot of experience and fundraising prowess that can still benefit Democrats in Congress, while at the same time there is a push for the older members of Congress to step out and make room for younger leaders.”

Pelosi has been in office for 37 years and Clyburn for 30 years.

Hoyer was celebrated in 2023 at the Maryland Democratic Gala for his 50-plus years of political work.

Six candidates have officially filed for the 5th congressional district seat: Quincy Bareebe (D) of Anne Arundel County, Md., Andrea L. Crooms (D) of Prince George’s County, Md., Leonard “Lenny” Proctor (D) of Charles County, Md., Michelle Talkington (R) of Charles County, Md. and McKayla Wilkes (D) of Charles County, Md.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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The Associated Press

TIMONIUM, Md. (AP) — Maryland U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger announced Jan. 26 that he won’t seek a 12th term in Congress, meaning that at least three of the state’s eight U.S. House seats will be open on the November ballot.

The 77-year-old Democrat, who has represented the 2nd District since 2003, said in a video message that he will retire. His district includes parts of Baltimore County, Carroll County and the city of Baltimore.

“This election my name will not be on the ballot,” Ruppersberger said in a statement. “I’ve decided to retire to spend more time with my family. I want to thank them for all the sacrifices they have made over the years allowing me to serve our great community.”

As the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015, Ruppersberger used to be a member of the “Gang of Eight,” a group of congressional leaders that receives the most sensitive intelligence information. During his time on the committee, that included briefings on the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden and the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed four Americans in Libya.

Ruppersberger currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is a defense subcommittee member.

He said his decision to retire was difficult because Congress needs members like him “who care more about constituents and our country and less about cable news hits.”

“But it is time to pass the torch to a younger generation of leaders and I am looking forward to spending more time with my family,” he said.

Before his run for Congress, the Baltimore native served two terms as Baltimore County executive and on the county council.

In Maryland, Democrats hold seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, both Senate seats, as well as the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general and both chambers of the state legislature.

The 2nd District opening isn’t the only one for Maryland’s House delegation. In May, Rep. David Trone, a Democrat who represents the 6th District, announced a run for the U.S. Senate after Sen. Ben Cardin announced his retirement. Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat who has represented the 3rd District since 2007, announced in October that he won’t seek reelection and will return to other areas of public service.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Associated Black Charities (ABC) has announced the launch of The Black Leadership Circle. The thought group aims to provide a progressive, inclusive and supportive safe space for African-American nonprofit and corporate executives in the Greater Baltimore area. 

Part of the motivation behind its formation is to create a pipeline for Black professionals to access leadership positions. Although The Black Leadership Circle is not a subsidiary of ABC, the racial equity organization will power the group by providing infrastructure and operational support. 

“Associated Black Charities is already very unapologetically committed to breaking down barriers that present for Black people on the heels of racism,” said Chrissy Thornton, executive director of ABC and founding member of the Black Leadership Circle. “Having accomplished, powerful and committed voices behind that work and having the community see the Black Leadership Circle operate in unity and empowerment while advocating to create new opportunities for Black people is going to be a game changer.” 

The concept for the Black Leadership Circle arose out of brainstorming sessions between Thornton and Robyn Murphy, CEO of JRM Consultancy. As Thornton embarked on her new role at ABC in 2023, she sought the advice of other Black leaders to support her transition. One of the strategic thought partners was Murphy. 

In their conversations, the pair kept returning to the need for an initiative that would unite local Black corporate and nonprofit executives across all sectors. 

“The Black Leadership Circle should exist as a brain trust. It should exist as a peer-networking organization,” said Murphy, founding member of The Black Leadership Circle. “It should have the ability and extension to reach out to other community and elected leaders who are making decisions to see how we can be of support and how we and other Black businesses can be supported.” 

The Black Leadership Circle’s Advisory Council comprises local executives, like Deriece K. Harrington, government affairs director for PepsiCo; Mark Anthony Thomas, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee; and Shelonda Stokes, president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. 

Chris Simon, founder and CEO of BTST Services and co-owner of BLK Swan, will chair the council. 

“The Black Leadership Circle is not just about gathering professionals, it’s about empowering Black leaders with safe spaces to navigate professional landscapes, leverage their collective voices and drive meaningful change in our community and workplaces,” said Simon in a statement. 

Applications for general membership in The Black Leadership Circle will open in April. 

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer

Baltimore City’s Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE) hosted the first in a series of monthly meetings on digital inclusion for 2024 on Jan. 9. The session invited community members to learn more about the resources in Baltimore’s digital ecosystem and to share feedback on technology accessibility and affordability in the city. 

William Honablew, digital equity coordinator for Baltimore, led the meeting and started by addressing the city’s effort to distribute 30,000 Chromebooks to low-income households. 

“One of the challenges that we had at the end of last year was Pratt Library opened just under 20,000 appointments, and they were all taken. That’s a wonderful problem to have because it means people are actually accessing the resources that are available,” said Honablew. “On the flip side, a lot of people wanted more appointments, but they were not available. over the break Pratt pulled together some resources and opened up more appointments. ” 

Residents can schedule appointments to pick up a Chromebook on Enoch Pratt Free Library’s website. To qualify, they must have a photo ID and proof of Baltimore City residency. They must also have an income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, be enrolled in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program or participate in a government assistance program. 

Honablew highlighted Baltimore’s Digital Inclusion Strategy for 2024 to 2029, in which the city is setting out to provide reliable, high-speed internet, technology and device, digital skills training and technical support to residents across the city. 

He also discussed Baltimore’s public Wi-Fi initiative, FreeBmoreWiFi, which Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced in December. BDE will implement the program, which is set to provide residents with free internet access at recreation centers and senior centers across the city. 

He pointed out that 73 percent of White households have wired broadband in Baltimore compared to 50 percent of Black households and 46.4 percent of Hispanic households. 

“In our Digital Inclusion Strategy, we’re very focused on targeting those who are most often left behind in Baltimore,” said Honablew. “Baltimore City has highlighted four communities that we will be focusing the majority of our digital equity efforts on: racial and ethnic communities, individuals who are living with disabilities, older adults and those who are experiencing unstable housing or homelessness.” 

Representatives from NPower, the organization responsible for running Baltimore’s free community tech support desk, also shared resources during the meeting. Diamond Staley, alumni engagement manager for NPower, encouraged young adults, military veterans and their spouses to apply for its tuition-free programs, which encompass tech fundamentals, cybersecurity, cloud computing and IT support. 

“Participants have the opportunity to get paid internships and project-based learning experiences,” said Staley. “They also have the opportunity to gain industry-recognized certifications, such as CompTIA IT Fundamentals Plus and Google IT Support.” 

Craig Addison, national community help desk director for NPower, said residents should contact 

Baltimore’s tech support desk with any technical problems. Even if the desk does not have a solution offhand, he said they will research to resolve the issue. 

“You’ll rarely get a “no” from the help desk. If you have a question, we’re going to find an answer and resolution for you,” said Addison. “We can help you with everything from getting your printer connected to installing Smart TV apps. We have a very robust knowledge-based system.” 

Residents can contact the Baltimore community help desk at 410-724-1101 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. BDE will host the next virtual digital inclusion community meeting on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. 

Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member. 

msayles@afro.com

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By Ryan Coleman
Baltimore County NAACP President 

Legislators should listen to the people who say “Read my lips; no new taxes.” 

The poor and the plummeting middle class are financially burdened enough because of the lackluster economy without having additional taxes that lower their standard of living. 

According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation reached the highest levels since 1981 in 2022— putting everyday necessities like food, fuel and rent out of reach for many. And like most economic downturns, including the Great Recession and the pandemic, Black communities are disproportionately impacted. This means that Black households are now spending more of their post-tax income on necessities like food and energy, according to a new Bank of America report cited by Business Insider. 

Baltimore County residents’ purchasing power is down, because it is costing consumers more money to buy the same products they bought a year ago. Black residents have to fight to get quality stores, high quality education, and good customer service. On top of this we have to deal with the following taxes/ fee increases: 

1. Maryland’s tax on gasoline increased from 42.7 cents to 47 cents per gallon. The tax on diesel increased from 43.5 cents to 47.5 cents per gallon. The Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2013 indexed the state’s tax on diesel fuel and gasoline to the consumer price index. Prior to this, the tax was static and could be altered only through legislation. 

2. The Baltimore County Plastic Bag law requires retailers to charge five cents for paper bags. Whether we call it a tax or fee, it simply removes money from the working class and middle class pockets. 

3. The Public Service Commision approved BGE’s rate hike. The approved rates will result in average year-one bill increases of $4.08 a month for residential electric customers and $10.43 per month for residential gas customers in 2024. In 2025 and 2026 your BGE rates will increase to 68 cents a month for electric and $5.60 a month for gas. 

Analysts project the state will have to deal with a structural gap of $322 million in the coming legislative session. Projections show the gap continuing to grow in fiscal 2026 and 2027 to $376 million and $436 million respectively. By fiscal 2028, the gap would grow to nearly $1.8 billion followed by a nearly $2.1 billion deficit the following year. Lawmakers have three options to deal with the projected gaps between expected spending and projected revenues. 

The first is to reduce spending to sustainable levels. The second is to spend down the state’s so-called rainy-day fund. The final option would be to increase revenues through taxes and fees. The poor and middle class can’t stomach any new fees or taxes. 

Today, I write to the powers that be: 

Dear Gov. Moore and State Legislators in Annapolis, 

Please, do not raise taxes or fees on the working poor and middle class. 

These fees and taxes lower the quality of life of all Marylanders– especially Black residents. At some point local and state legislators’ actions must mirror their desire to help the working class and middle class. At some point, legislators must hold the line on fees and taxes. This will allow all residents a high quality of life, especially Black Marylanders. 

Ryan Coleman can be reached at randallstownnaacp@gmail.com 

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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. 

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By Ericka Alston Buck
Special to the AFRO

The Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) is making a grand return to Charm City Feb. 15-17 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The “Welcome Back to Baltimore” reception took place on Jan. 16 with a remarkable turnout, despite adverse weather conditions.

The organization last held their conference in Baltimore in 2010. The well-attended event symbolized the anticipation and excitement regarding the comeback of this prestigious conference to the city.

Amidst a snowstorm that had much of the city shut down, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture was filled with hundreds of attendees, including high-ranking military officials, corporate leaders, representatives from engineering firms, elected officials and aspiring young minds in the STEM industry. The evening commenced with accolades for Dr. Tyrone Taborn, chairman and CEO of Career Communications Group (CCG), and the driving force behind the 38-year success of BEYA.

The Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway expressed his pride as a partner and emphasized the significance of the new partnership between BEYA and the Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center. Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, a self-proclaimed “recovering engineer,” shared personal anecdotes of attending BEYA as a young student and presented Taborn with a citation for creating opportunities in the field. Mosby thanked Taborn for creating an opportunity in BEYA that allowed him as a student to  “explore the field, knowing that we were underrepresented.”

A representative from Congressman Mfume’s office, presented Taborn with a citation, thanking the CCG chairman for  his “steadfast commitment to STEM,”  and Mayor Brandon M. Scott  also acknowledged Taborn’s commitment to the field. 

“Everything Black and successful should be celebrated in our city– all the time,” said Scott, during his speech, which led to a standing ovation for CCG and the return of BEYA to Baltimore.

Taborn, in his closing remarks, reiterated the significance of BEYA in Baltimore, spotlighting its roots in the city. 

He spoke about the commitment of BEYA to teaching students in Baltimore. He also emphasized that BEYA is not just a conference but a trusted community partner. Taborn reminded all in attendance that BEYA originally stood for “Becoming Everything You Are.” 

“BEYA never left Baltimore, Baltimore is home, my office is and will be right across the street,” he said, speaking on his commitment to the city and the new partnership with Hathaway, which extends his reach to West Baltimore. 

Stephanie C. Hill, the highest-ranking Black woman at Lockheed Martin Corporation, reflected on the growth of BEYA over the years. Her words echoed the sentiment that BEYA has evolved into something truly remarkable, stating “ Seeing what BEYA has grown into in 38 years is nothing short of amazing.”

Organizer Larian Finney, of the Finn Group, pledged to raise $2 million to ensure that the conference remains in Baltimore, setting ambitious goals for the 40th-year celebration.

The return of BEYA to Baltimore marks a triumphant celebration of excellence in STEM. 

Taborn’s commitment, coupled with partnerships and enthusiastic support from the community, sets the stage for a promising future. As BEYA continues to evolve and adapt with the Digital Twin Experience, it remains a beacon of inspiration for the STEM community, both in Baltimore and beyond.

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By Jannette J. Witmyer
Special to the AFRO

Knicole Mosby-Taylor, founding and executive director of Empowering Minds of Maryland’s Youth (EMMY), planted the seeds of her mission to uplift Baltimore’s young people in 2003. At the time, she was organizing an informal mentoring program for nine young girls in the living room of her home. In 2009, EMMY officially became a 501(c)(3) organization, providing outreach programs for youth, mentorship programs, anti-bullying conferences, historically Black college and university (HBCU) tours, after school programs and a variety of other services.

Mosby-Taylor traces her passion for community service back to experiences as a child volunteering at church and organizations like Our Daily Bread, alongside her late mother and role model, Eunice Orange. She says that she began as most kids do: she did as she was told. But, after a while, she found that really enjoyed it. 

She attributes her interest in working with youth to another childhood experience: being bullied in middle school. She describes it as “relational aggression.”

“I always felt like I was an outsider and that really affected me,” said Mosby-Taylor. “Then, God just put something in my heart when I went to high school. I was able to not only stand up to the bullies for myself, but I also was able to stand up to them for other people.”

Mosby-Taylor, who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work, says EMMY has worked to address a variety of issues faced by young people, far beyond bullying.

“We started doing our anti-bullying campaign, where we hosted a one-day conference centered on anti-bullying,” Mosby-Taylor shared. “From there, we turned to dating and domestic violence and interpersonal relationships. We did a leadership symposium as well.”

“Right now, we’re in the process of planning our first annual cotillion on April 13. With the cotillion, we’re teaching the girls etiquette, poise, how to love themselves, how to truly love themselves, how to give back to others and things of that sort,” said Mosby-Taylor.

EMMY stresses the importance of role models and mentors to empower its girls, and in January 2023, the group traveled to Atlanta and participated in Marjorie Harvey’s Girls Who Rule the World Mentoring Program. Locally, in partnership with Inspiring Change Mental Health Services, EMMY created a retreat filled with activities ranging from archery to making prom dresses out of newspaper and holding workshops on self-esteem. The retreat ended with an affirmation and an open-flame ceremony, which allowed the girls to symbolically throw unwanted behaviors into the fire, leaving them behind. 

Mosby-Taylor takes great pride in the organization’s Annual Foster Care Drop-off Suitcase Drive, now in its third year, and how it allows EMMY to uplift youth in a sorely underserved community. 

“Foster-care youth go from home to home with trash bags. So, we wanted to bless them with a brand new suitcase that they can carry to make their travel and their transition just a little easier,” she explained.

She is especially appreciative of the support that the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation has provided for the past two years by partnering with EMMY for the drive and supporting its mission. The brainchild of EMMY board member Lorraine Hanson, the drive honors the memory of her mom, Delores Hanson, and aunt, Ella Mae Ford.

For Mosby-Taylor, it’s extremely important for the girls to see that they can succeed, and they’ve seen it firsthand when meeting and working with past EMMY participants like Cynthia Johnson, now a cosmetics engineer with her own company, Cindy J Labs. 

“Basically, we have been able to live up to our name by just empowering our youth, whatever that looks like, partnering with other organizations or doing it ourselves,” she said.

Mosby-Taylor wants their empowerment to translate into success.

 “The impact that I want to make on these young ladies is an everlasting opportunity to change some of their trajectories. To help them to be able to dream and realize that those dreams are nothing, if they don’t follow through,” she said. “We want to help them to be able to establish SMART goals, and we’re working to help them learn how to do that.”

To learn more about EMMY and its programs, visit their website at https://www.empoweringyouthusa.net/. 

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By Noah Trister
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) — Lamar Jackson had already done plenty of running by the time he reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Apparently, he still had quite a bit of energy, leaping past the photographers and disappearing into the tunnel in a celebration that seemed cathartic for the All-Pro quarterback.

Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, and the Baltimore Ravens pulled away in the second half for a 34-10 win over the Houston Texans on Jan. 20 to advance to the AFC championship game. It was only the second victory in five playoff games for Jackson, a fact he was well aware of.

“You know I heard that,” he said. “I don’t even got to hear it. I see it. But it is what it is. I really don’t care about what people say. … Those guys just had our team’s number in the past, but it’s a different team.”

Jackson made some more history Jan. 20 becoming the first quarterback since at least 1948 — in the regular season or playoffs — with at least two touchdown passes, two TD runs, 100 yards rushing and a 100 passer rating in the same game.

“Credit to Lamar,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He made a ton of great plays. That’s why he’s the MVP.”

The Ravens (14-4) dominated the second half after the teams finished the second quarter tied at 10. 

Jackson said he did most of the talking at halftime.

“A lot of cursing,” he said.

Jackson’s 15-yard scoring run put Baltimore ahead to stay. Although C.J. Stroud had a solid, composed first half for Houston, the Texans (11-8) ultimately couldn’t turn enough promising drives into points against an impressive Ravens defense.

Now Baltimore will host the AFC title game for the first time since January 1971, when the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders on their way to a Super Bowl championship. The Ravens will play in that semifinal round for the fifth time since their arrival in Baltimore. They’ll take on the winner of a Jan. 21 matchup between Buffalo and Kansas City.

“Our fans are going to get a chance to cheer just as loud or louder than they did in this game, and they were amazing,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I thought our fans were incredible. Man, it was deafening out there.”

Harbaugh’s brother Jim was on hand for the game, returning the favor after John went to watch Jim coach Michigan to college football’s national title earlier this month.

Ravens fans have been haunted by what happened in the playoffs four years ago, when Baltimore went 14-2 in the regular season but dropped its postseason opener to Tennessee. Houston did enough to create some anxiety, especially when Steven Sims returned a punt for a touchdown and Jackson struggled at times with the blitzing Texans defense.

But on the first possession of the second half, Jackson guided Baltimore 55 yards in six plays and scored on a run up the middle. Then, a 15-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely early in the fourth made it 24-10.

Jackson’s final touchdown came on an 8-yard run with 6:20 to play, and the fired up quarterback kept running right into the tunnel in that corner of the field.

Sims’ return was the only TD for the Texans, whose offense never did reach the end zone in 120 minutes against the Ravens this season. Houston lost 25-9 in its season opener at Baltimore.

Jackson rushed for 821 yards during the regular season, which is a big part of the case for his second MVP award. But he surpassed 100 yards on the ground only once. He ran for exactly 100 on Jan. 20 on 11 attempts. A 14-yard bootleg on fourth-and-1 near midfield led to the touchdown by Likely that gave the Ravens some breathing room.

Jackson also passed for 152 yards.

“Lamar is a dog. I’ve been a fan of his since high school,” Stroud said. “It’s really an honor to share the field with a player like that.”

Stroud threw for 175 yards and didn’t take a sack against a tough Baltimore defensive front, but the Texans dropped to 0-5 in the divisional round of the playoffs. They’re the only current franchise that hasn’t reached a conference championship game.

The Ravens led the NFL in sacks this season, but it was Jackson who was under pressure in the first half, when Houston got to him three times. Two of those sacks came back-to-back in the final minute of the second quarter after a missed field goal gave Baltimore decent field position.

Penalties held the Texans back all day — they ended up with 11 for 70 yards. After Justin Tucker opened the scoring for Baltimore with a 53-yard field goal, Houston appeared headed for points of its own before two false starts and an intentional grounding flag pushed the Texans out of range.

Houston did eventually tie it on a 50-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn, but the Ravens answered with a 76-yard march capped by Jackson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor.

Down 10-3, the Texans struck back on special teams. Sims, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster earlier in the week, broke free up the middle for a 67-yard touchdown.

ADJUSTMENTS

According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Jackson faced a career-high blitz rate of 75 percent and went 13 of 18 for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the blitz. He got rid of the ball in an average of 2.25 seconds in the second half, compared to 3.51 in the first.

ONE-DIMENSIONAL

The Ravens outrushed Houston 229-38, and eventually the Texans’ lack of any real ground attack caught up with them — even though they avoided any sacks and turnovers on the day.

UP NEXT

Texans: Houston’s rise this season included an AFC South title and a first-round playoff rout against Cleveland. The future looks bright with Stroud at quarterback.

Ravens: Baltimore is one win away from its first Super Bowl appearance in 11 years. The Ravens did not face the Bills or Chiefs during the regular season.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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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.

The post Maryland Black Caucus’s legislative agenda includes criminal justice reform and health appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Sabreen Dawud
Special to the AFRO

Monumental Sports Network will broadcast eight live basketball games for the second annual “Basketball Day in the DMV” event on Jan. 20. 

The basketball event will be presented by CarMax through a partnership with the Washington Wizards. Teams of varying status will be displayed during five high school games, two college games and the Washington Wizards vs. San Antonio Spurs game featured on the evening of Jan. 20. 

“Basketball Day in the DMV is a relatively new initiative that we concepted at Monumental that I think perfectly captures how we’ve fully integrated all of our assets across Monumental to create really big and powerful platforms that we think can be really great for the community,” said Zach Leonsis, president of Media and New Enterprises at Monumental Sports and Entertainment. 

With an emphasis on promoting local basketball talent, featured school teams will be broadcasted free of charge. The boys and girls high school lineup include Maryland teams such as Sandy Spring, Good Counsel, Largo, Bullis and Holy Child. Virginia high school players at South Lakes, Bishop O’Connell, Hayfield and Patriot will debut alongside St. John’s in Washington, D.C. 

Both men’s and women’s college basketball will be broadcasted as well with a Saint Louis vs. George Washington and Towson vs. Campbell game being showcased. 

“The DMV is a hotbed for amateur and youth level basketball. We think it’s one of our strategic advantages. If we rebuild the basketball team in the Wizards, we want to rebuild a team that the community can really rally about. So, to be able to get into high school gyms and local college arenas and whatnot and provide free production resources, we’re not charging any of the schools to broadcast these games, it’s a great way for us to highlight basketball in the DMV,” Leonsis said. 

Each game will be presented with a professional production experience, including on-air play-by-play, a color commentator and reporters on the sidelines. The event will be streamed via the Pay TV subscription on monumentalsportsnetwork.com. Those interested can also watch the game through the Monumental Sports Network streaming app. 

For more information on the Basketball Day in the DMV event, visit monumentalsports.com/news.

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University officials take issue with chief diversity officer’s definition of ‘privilege’ in ‘Diversity Digest’ newsletter

By Megan Sayles 
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Employees and students at Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) have sent a letter to President Kevin W. Sowers and Dean Theodore L. DeWeese expressing their disappointment over the institution’s response to its chief diversity officer’s definition of “privilege” in a monthly newsletter shared with the school community.  

In the January issue of JHM’s “Diversity Digest,” Dr. Sherita Hill Golden defined “privilege” as a “set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group.” She went on to list White people, males, Christians, heterosexuals and English-speaking people –among others– as part of those social groups. 

JHM’s leadership renounced this language, saying the definition ran counter to its values and commitment to serving everyone equally. 

“The January edition of the monthly newsletter from the Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity used language that contradicts the values of Johns Hopkins as an institution,” wrote a JHM spokesperson in an email to the AFRO. “Dr. Sherita Golden, Johns Hopkins Medicine’s chief diversity officer, has sincerely acknowledged this mistake and retracted the language used in the message.” 

According to the open letter, students and employees believe this retraction was provoked by pushback from individuals external to the JHM community who claimed that the definition was discriminatory. 

An account on X (formerly known as Twitter), titled “End Wokeness,” posted a screenshot of the newsletter on Jan. 10, drawing a number of negative comments about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and demands for Golden to be fired. Tesla Motors CEO and X owner Elon Musk quoted the post, writing “This must end,” in reference to the newsletter. Conservative-leaning tabloid the Daily Mail referred to the newsletter as a “diversity hit list.” 

“The pushback about the article was not part of a commitment to building an inclusive and fair community at Hopkins. Rather it was part of a strategic effort to disseminate disinformation about the importance of ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion at institutions of higher learning,” wrote JHM students and employees in the letter. 

They continued, taking issue with those responding to Golden’s statements with the line that “not all White men have privilege.” They clarified that Golden did not claim all or only White men have privilege– but that there are certain unearned privileges that accompany White and male identities. 

“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.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report For America Corps member. 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After much anticipation, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced his “aggressive” all-of-government approach to public safety, through his legislative priorities for 2024.

Moore recently announced three pieces of legislation that he will sponsor and potentially testify on behalf of during the hearings for the bills.

“We introduce the Victim Compensation Reform Act,” said Moore to members of the press gathered at the Maryland State House on Jan. 9. “This bill will ensure that victims of crimes can count on support when they need it most. When people feel safe and feel like justice will be served, then we have a better chance of getting a conviction and actually closing cases. By forming stronger bonds with victims of crime, we can help with the cycle of violence in our community.”

Moore said he’ll also introduce the Growing Apprenticeships and Public Safety Act (GAPS Act) this session.

“Law enforcement is vital to the safety of our communities. We have a responsibility to recruit, train, and retain quality law enforcement officers,” said Moore. “This legislation will build stronger pipelines to law enforcement jobs for all Marylanders, even those who do not pursue a four-year college degree.”

The third bill will create a new Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention in the Maryland Department of Health.

“We have got to confront this inexcusable fact that 75 percent of all homicides in Maryland are committed with a gun,” said Moore. “This is a public safety crisis, but it is also a public health crisis. We have got to get these illegal guns off of our streets, and we will. This legislation marks an important step forward to making that happen.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention organization, about 796 people die and 1,363 are wounded in Maryland by gunfire every year. The rate of gun deaths increased by 54 percent from 2012 to 2021, compared to a 39 percent increase nationally. Gun homicides increased 91 percent in Maryland compared to 73 percent throughout the U.S.

President Biden created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention a few months ago and encouraged other states to do the same.

“From suicide to domestic violence, mass shootings and everyday community violence, our communities are being torn apart,” said Rob Wilcox, deputy director of the White House office for gun violence prevention. “ led the way in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – a law that has funded the hiring and training of 14,000 new school counselors – 500 who will be in the state of Maryland.”

“What we need is an ecosystem where the federal government and agencies have partners at the state level partners at the local level so we can make sure important funding dollars and enforcing priorities get to where they need to go,” said Wilcox. 

Moore said he’ll also support moving crimes related to illegal guns from misdemeanors to felonies and lengthening probation for juveniles guilty of violent crimes.

“The hallmark of what I hope to see in any juvenile justice legislation that is going to make it to my desk can be summarized in one word: accountability. We need accountability for the kids that are repeatedly violating the law,” said Moore. “I believe in rehabilitation, but we need accountability for the young person who picked up a handgun and threatened the safety of their neighbors. You cannot destroy the lives of other people and believe there will be no consequences.”

Last year, Moore announced the release of $122 million to support local police departments, $11 million to the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, and $35 million for crime victims.

“He didn’t really embrace legislative ideas that would actually bring accountability,” said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready (R-Md.-05). “The rhetoric is great, and we agree that accountability needs to be the watchword and that the entire state government needs to be focused on accountability for criminal activity, but there’s still a lot of fluff and not real, concrete commitments to embrace legislation that will put more criminals behind bars.”

Republican legislators released a list of public safety legislation in November 2023 that they hope the governor will support this session.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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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.

The post Former Maryland state elections board member arrested on Jan. 6 insurrection crimes appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As Brooke Lierman’s first year as comptroller comes to a close, the AFRO reflects on her accomplishments and goals as Maryland’s chief financial officer and general accountant.

In 2023, the Comptroller’s Office of Maryland processed more than $2.7 million in tax returns and sent out $1.8 million in refunds valued at more than $2.25 billion.

Lierman said the Comptroller’s Office of Maryland was able to pass several bills that echoed her goals for the office.

“The themes of our legislation last year, and frankly this year again, were public engagement, transparency and modernization,” said Lierman. “We passed several bills, including HB 707/SB 660, to create the office of taxpayer advocate.”

“Unlike our neighboring states and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Maryland has no taxpayer advocate office. The legislation would broaden the scope of the existing ombudsman’s office, which is small, to help taxpayers resolve complex and sensitive problems,” continued Lierman. “We will be ready to hit the ground running as soon as we have the full staff in the fiscal year 2025 (FY 25) budget starting on July 1, 2024.

There were five other bills the agency was able to get passed and signed into law. The legislation will start planning for a new modern statewide accounting system and help the agency dispose of long-time abandoned property held by the Unclaimed Property division.

Another facet of Lierman’s priorities is improving opportunities for Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) by following up with businesses that have low MBE participation, asking for answers, better goals and results.

“I believe I’m an independent advocate looking out for the best value for taxpayer dollars. That means looking at our MBE percentage, at the sustainability of how we’re spending our dollars, at whether we’re working with partners based in Maryland and that whenever possible, we can be working with small businesses,” said Lierman. “Sometimes that means unbundling contracts so that we can work with smaller businesses around the state rather than just one large business.”

Lierman’s modernization efforts include improving the Financial Management Information System (FMIS), creating a new state-wide accounting system, and releasing a new tax system for all business taxes.

“We have one of the oldest systems in the nation right now,” said Lierman. 

Another big part of the agenda for 2024 is Maryland’s FY 25 budget, especially as the fiscal year is expected to face a $418 million structural deficit, according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services.

“We have low unemployment and high household wealth, but our economy is growing at a slower rate than the U.S. and our neighbors,” said Lierman. “We know there is a tax gap in Maryland, which is the gap between what is owed and what is paid. I want to make sure everybody is paying their fair share in Maryland.”

The Board of Revenue Estimates, which Lierman chairs, finalized their projections for FY 25 on Dec.14, which will help Gov. Wes Moore (D) create his proposed budget by Jan. 17, 2024.

January

Brooke Lierman was inaugurated as the 34th comptroller of Maryland on Jan. 16, becoming the first woman to be elected as comptroller in Maryland. One of her first initiatives was to announce agency budget priorities and top initiatives for the comptroller’s office, which included modernizing the office and ensuring financially stable families.

February

Comptroller Lierman urged Marylanders to sign up for health insurance during tax season. Maryland’s Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program allows Marylanders to check a box on their tax returns. The comptroller outlined three legislative priorities in February. The first bill would generate a directive to produce a new general accounting system for the entire state government, establish an Office of the State Taxpayer Advocate, and create a rebate program withheld from or paid due to Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments received in 2022.

March

Lierman appointed the first-ever chief information officer (CIO) for the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland on March 7. The CIO will oversee all technology functions for the office. The internal tax processing system was shut down for a week in March, which held up the processing of tax returns and direct debit and refund requests. The comptroller highlighted in a statement that the malfunction is an example of why the office needs modernization and updated information technology (IT) systems.

April

The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland urged residents to stay vigilant about fraudulent notices of property seizures due to unpaid debts. The office included a list of things the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nor the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland will not do if a person owes back taxes. In April, six agency bills were signed into law, which included a bill that allows the comptroller’s office to get rid of longtime abandoned property with no commercial worth and a bill to create a taxpayer advocate office in Maryland. April also marked Lierman’s first 100 days in office. 

May 

Lierman announced eleven new advisory councils and work groups to help guide the agency’s policies, new endeavors and priorities. The advisory councils include business, climate, financial literacy and labor. The work groups include information technology and tax practice. The groups will meet quarterly throughout their two-year terms, which were set to begin during the summer months.

June

The Comptroller engaged in PROTECT Week, a statewide education and awareness initiative focused on elder abuse and financial exploitation, alongside several state agencies. Lierman announced that people whose names are on the Unclaimed Property list could file a digital claim form through Maryland OneStop, a hub for state licenses, certificates, registrations and more. 

July 

Lierman joined Vice President Kamala Harris and the Maryland legislators to announce a $20 billion competition to stimulate the development of U.S. clean energy projects. The two competitions were created to help bring clean energy opportunities to all Americans through a nationwide clean energy financial network. 

August 

In August, Lierman made her rounds throughout the state for various events including the National Night Out, which recognizes law enforcement for the work they are doing in the community, and her Take a Look with Brooke Tour to meet county commissioners and businesses. She also helped authorize $204 million in state expenditures through the Board of Public Works, of which she is a member.

September 

Lierman released the FY 2023 Closeout Report, stating that the state’s economy remains stable but is experiencing some challenges, which include the effects of national inflation. She also shared that the budget ended with a $555 million budget surplus, meaning there is money left over at the end of the fiscal year according to treasury.gov.

October 

Lierman announced two new additions to her executive leadership team, Maria Robalino and Robyne McCullough. Robalino is the deputy comptroller for public engagement and communications and McCullough is the director of media relations. Comptroller Lierman also announced a new online engagement tool that will help inform and connect Marylanders through agency updates. 

November

Lierman attended the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation’s “Business Over Breakfast” event at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, where she spoke about the agency’s priorities to enhance opportunities for Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprises. Lierman announced tax relief for Maryland taxpayers impacted by the Hamas-Israel conflict. Eligible individuals and businesses can request penalties and interest be waived through the comptroller’s office.

December

Through the Board of Public Works, Lierman helped officiate a new lease of Camden Yards between the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) and the Orioles on Dec. 18. The lease will allow the Orioles to remain at Camden Yards for another 30 years. The Orioles have been at Camden Yards since 1992. The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland announced that Lierman’s Baltimore office will transition to 7 Saint Paul St. in January 2024, meaning some services will be provided at the new location and others at the old site – 301 West Preston St.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO

William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr. has invested $1 million dollars into the Gibson-Banks Center for Race and the Law, housed within the Francis King Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland. 

The school of law announced the new center in Fall 2023, with a goal of improving the lives of those affected by historical, systemic and current racial oppression. 

Murphy, a Carey Law alum,  said he took the initiative to help advance the center’s mission.  

“My goals for Black people now align with what the University of Maryland is about to do. I have known Larry since 1959. When the university decided to open the center and do it in the name of – among others– Larry Gibson, that was music to my ears,” said Murphy. 

Larry Gibson is a professor and legal historian who has written “one of the definitive biographies of Thurgood Marshall,” the law school’s website says. 

Murphy has long been a champion for justice and Black empowerment. He quickly grew to prominence as a criminal defense lawyer in Maryland in his early years practicing law. 

“I now have a vehicle for donating money that will have a legacy value for years to come. And it will advance the cause of justice for Blacks, Browns, women and others who have been mistreated because of their status or their color or nationality,” Murphy said. “The center is going to focus mainly on getting Black people to become full-fledged citizens in this country for the first time,” said Murphy, when asked why it was important for him to make this donation. 

The Gibson-Banks Center for Race and the Law is named after the University of Maryland’s first Black male and female tenured professors, Larry Gibson and Taunya Lovell Banks. 

“Larry Gibson became a member of the faculty in the ‘70s and has a distinguished reputation as a professor at the university. He has taught about every Black graduate who came out of the university. He taught evidence and criminal procedure and he has taught civil procedure. That man has been the ‘Chief Historian’ of Black lawyers in the United States,” said Murphy.

Carey Law professor and faculty director Michael Pinard reiterated the sentiment shown to Gibson and Banks, while also adding some insight on their legacy and impact to the school of law. 

Pinard said that Larry Gibson and Taunya Lovell Banks “devoted their careers and advocacy to addressing racial and intersectional oppression,” adding that “no other name would be appropriate,” for the law center.

In honor of the Gibson-Banks Center launch, Pinard penned a letter for what the center will achieve in the proceeding years. Pinard also shared that the students will see the importance of the center as the law school “deepens their commitment to addressing racial oppression.” 

Dean of Carey Law, Renée McDonald Hutchins, extended much praise to Murphy for his donation. 

“Billy Murphy’s gift was an absolutely transformative gift. One of the things we have said all along is that we want to make sure that the center is adequately funded at an endowment level so the good work of the center will continue no matter who is sitting in leadership chairs and Billy Murphy’s gift absolutely accomplishes that.” 

Carey is one of the most diverse law schools in the nation, and 39 percent of the 2023 incoming class were students of color.

As far as what impact the donation will have on students from the Dean’s prospective, Hutchins said that the center will be hiring student fellows and allowing law students to train in an area focused on civil rights law, which in her opinion is “absolutely central to the future of American democracy.” 

The center has already hired its first fellow and the Gibson-Banks Center is hitting the ground running. Last November, the center co-sponsored Professor Matiangai Sirleaf’s book launch and it will continue to roll forward with events after that, according to Hutchins. 

When asked what the future of the center looks like in the next 20 years or so, Hutchins painted a picture of philanthropy and progress. 

“Maryland Carey Law is already a thought leader in the state and in the nation. I would love to see the center lean into that legacy and become a thought leader on questions of race and democracy in America. I would love to see the center be the go to voice when we are wrestling with hard issues in this country and say, ‘Here’s a path forward. Here are some things that we need to consider and here are some things we need to investigate.’”

Hutchins ended by adding that Murphy is a “remarkable representation of the high quality attorney that the law school produces.” She added that Carey is very thankful for Murphy’s donation and proud of his success, as someone who has been practicing law for over five decades. 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) became the first Black man to lead the state of Maryland on Jan. 18, becoming only the third Black governor to be elected in U.S. history. 

Moore has spent his first year making good on campaign promises and funding initiatives throughout the state.

“In year two, we will keep saying ‘yes’ to many of the priorities that we focused on in year one. ‘Yes’ means continuing the all-out assault and bipartisan assault that this state needs to make on child poverty. In 12 months together, we have lifted over 34,000 Maryland children up the next rung on the economic ladder,” said Moore, at the live-streamed 2023 Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Winter Conference. “‘Yes,’ means elevating our state’s assets. For example, because of the investments that we have collectively made together, Baltimore is now a federal tech hub and a federal workforce hub, which will bring tens of millions of dollars into the city for infrastructure.”

Moore has also funded affordable internet access and authored and signed 10 bills through the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session, which includes a service year option for high school graduates.

In February, Moore set in motion a review of the state’s minority business enterprise (MBE) goals. He signed an executive order giving the 70 agencies affiliated with MBE 60 days to disclose their progress in meeting Maryland’s MBE procurement goal of 29 percent—a target that has not been hit in over a decade. 

The Moore administration revealed that the report was the first survey of MBE outreach plans, their strategies for engaging the MBE directly and indirectly and a more in-depth request for information that has been done before in Maryland for MBE goals. 

After examining each agency’s plan, the Moore administration will be able to determine which agencies are currently reaching MBE goals and then use their tactics on a larger scale with other state agencies. 

Moore also invested $122 million into police departments throughout Maryland to help with reducing crime. His plans include funds to bolster the correctional system, enforce parole and probation tactics by “following the data.” Though these investments were implemented, a detailed plan has not been released, nor has Moore outlined a specific youth crime reform plan, which is a top concern for Marylanders.

Towards the end of the year, he also had to deal with an impending statewide deficit.

Moore highlighted that in the last 20 state budgets, 17 needed cuts to stay balanced. 

“Since at least 2017, The Department of Legislative Services has forecasted a structural budget deficit,” he said.

Moore recognized that aid due to the COVID-19 pandemic and record highs in the stock market helped bring in tax revenue that kept the government afloat, but said that extra money in the short term is not the solution to the chronic deficit issue that the state faces.

“This year is going to be difficult, but I can tell you right now, we’re not flinching,” said Moore. “I know we enter this season of discipline. It will all be for the benefit of unlocking remarkable potential and future generations.”

January 

After being sworn into office on Jan. 18, Moore held a grand People’s Ball at the Baltimore Convention Center, bringing together more than 10,000 supporters. This move showed his well-articulated support for Baltimore, promising he would stand up for the city more than his predecessor, Larry Hogan (R). 

On Jan. 30, President Biden and Moore announced funding to replace the Baltimore-Potomac Tunnel through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On Jan. 31, Moore announced a $3.9 million award to Coppin State University for their broadband initiatives for students and the underserved portions of the West Baltimore community. 

February 

On Feb. 1, Moore gave his first State of the State Address, where he recognized Black History Month and the significance of being the first Black person to provide the State of the State Address in Maryland. He also highlighted legislation he sponsored throughout the 2023 Maryland General Assembly, including affordable child care and pre-k, a service year option for high school graduates and the Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act of 2023. 

On Feb. 3, Moore attended a public safety summit in Baltimore City alongside Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates and Morgan State University President David K. Wilson to discuss their part in the state’s public safety and potential future partnerships.

March

Moore announced that Home Chef, a meal kit company, will create about 500 jobs in Baltimore through their new distribution center at East Patapsco Avenue. On March 29, Moore committed to increasing clean energy vehicle usage by 2035 in Maryland. Moore also nominated the first Black person to lead the State police, Lt. Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., who was fully sworn in on April 11.

April

Moore began signing various bills as the Maryland General Assembly ended its 2023 session, including the ten bills he introduced, such as a service year program. Moore’s first 100 days in office was April 28. Moore announced $20 million in aid for Marylanders with COVID-19 water bill debt. Assistance was provided through 19 water systems that were awarded funding through the Water Assistance Relief Program. Moore proclaimed that Maryland would remain an abortion-access state a year after Roe V. Wade was repealed and state-wide restrictions throughout the U.S. increased. 

May 

In May, Moore signed hundreds of bills, including SB 858, Firearm Safety – Storage Requirement legislation, HB 186, the Victim Services Stabilization Act and HB 243, the Young Readers Program Act of 2023. Moore gave graduation speeches at several universities, including Coppin State University, Morehouse College and Howard Community College. 

June 

Throughout June, Moore held his first official meeting with Maryland’s federal legislators, focusing on federal funding plans for improved public safety across the state. He followed his promise to Baltimore leaders and residents that the Redline, which would connect East and West Baltimore like never before, would be reinstated.

July 

Moore presented $11.4 million in state funds to the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA). WNADA intends to use the money from the West North Avenue Corridor, which runs between Coppin State University and the Maryland Institute College of Art —to help expand the internet across the state through $268 million federal investments in broadband infrastructure.

August 

On Aug. 10, Moore announced that more jobs would come to Maryland through Early Charm, a venture studio that creates sustainable companies. The company opened a new production shop in Baltimore City, which plans to create 115 jobs in four years. Moore marked six months in office by touring Mountain Maryland with his cabinet. 

Moore announced $6.3 million to improve local police recruitment and retention efforts and protect Marylanders from hate crimes through the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. He held a town hall where he heard from Marylanders about their top concerns, including public safety, education and affordable housing. 

September

Moore, the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Baltimore Orioles finalized a memorandum that keeps the Orioles in Baltimore for at least 30 years, modernizes the facility operations and helps revitalize downtown Baltimore City.

October

Moore launched the first public service year program for high school graduates, housed by the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation. Program members will work at least 30 hours a week and earn $15 an hour while working with support coaches. Moore went to the Banneker-Douglass Museum to announce 2024 as the civil rights year for Maryland. Throughout the year, the museum will show programming to celebrate the milestone.

Baltimore is named a national tech hub for biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI). In October, Biden deemed 31 communities across the United States Regional Innovation and Technology hubs through the CHIPS and Science Act.

November 

Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller endorsed Angela Alsobrooks to succeed Sen. Ben Cardin in 2025. Moore shined a light on transportation investments in Baltimore. Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller continued their past few weeks of supporting Maryland and, specifically, Baltimore City’s workforce by signing an executive order on Nov. 17. 

December 

Moore introduced a portion of his 2024 legislative agenda that will significantly support military families if all bills are passed. Moore announced that there will be cuts to the Maryland Department of Transportation in fiscal year 2025 due to an expected $418 million deficit. 

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 Noah Trister
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) — In what may have been his final bid for the MVP award, Lamar Jackson threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, finishing with a perfect passer rating and helping the Baltimore Ravens clinch the top seed in the AFC with a 56-19 rout of the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 31.

Isaiah Likely caught two TDs for the Ravens, who won their sixth straight game and also wrapped up their first AFC North title since 2019, Jackson’s first MVP season. Now Baltimore (13-3) can rest Jackson — and anyone else it chooses — in the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.

Miami (11-5) is also postseason bound, but now the winner of next weekend’s Dolphins-Bills game will take the AFC East. Miami was without two offensive stars in receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle).

And now the Dolphins face another potentially significant injury. Linebacker Bradley Chubb — with his team down 30 points — had to be carted off with 3:05 remaining after hurting his knee.

Serenaded with periodic “MVP!” chants from the home crowd, Jackson went 18 of 21 passing, meaning he finished the game with more touchdown passes than incompletions. That’s a feat Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa also accomplished in a 70-20 win over Denver in Week 3.

Jackson also had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 against Miami in 2019. He joins Tom Brady (against Detroit) as the only quarterbacks with two perfect ratings against the same team, with a minimum of 20 attempts.

This matchup featured Miami’s top-ranked scoring offense and Baltimore’s top-ranked scoring defense. 

In the early going, the Dolphins had the upper hand. They scored on the game’s first drive when Tagovailoa threw an 8-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson Jr. Jackson answered with a 20-yard scoring strike to Justice Hill.

Miami would have had another touchdown on its second drive, but Tyreek Hill bobbled the ball in the end zone and the Dolphins kicked a field goal.

The Ravens took the lead for good in the second quarter when Gus Edwards capped an 89-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run. After another Miami field goal, Jackson immediately found Zay Flowers open deep for a 75-yard touchdown that made it 21-13.

The Ravens struck again 94 seconds later thanks to a pair of one-handed catches. The first was an interception by Roquan Smith, the second a 35-yard catch-and-run TD by Likely on fourth-and-7.

Justice Hill returned the second-half kickoff 78 yards, setting up Jackson’s 7-yard TD toss to Likely that made it 35-13.

Miami trailed 35-14 with under 13 minutes remaining last season before rallying to a 42-38 win over the Ravens. The Dolphins started the fourth quarter with a touchdown this time, a 1-yard pass from Tagovailoa to De’Von Achane, but it was Baltimore that closed strong.

The Ravens marched right back down the field and scored on Jackson’s 4-yard pass to Patrick Ricard to go up 42-19. Melvin Gordon III added a 7-yard touchdown run, and a Miami fumble led to another TD. 

Tyler Huntley threw a scoring pass to Charlie Kolar on third-and-goal from the 19.

INJURIES

The teams weren’t at full strength at the start, and the injuries continued throughout the game. Miami lost CB Xavien Howard (foot). Baltimore CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) went down as well. Ravens NT Michael Pierce and S Daryl Worley were each evaluated for a head injury.

UP NEXT

Dolphins: Host Buffalo next weekend.

Ravens: Host Pittsburgh next weekend.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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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.

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By Andrellos Mitchell

There shall be no abridgment of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Period!

On Nov. 21 a federal appeals court struck down Maryland’s licensing requirements for handgun owners, citing a 2022 landmark ruling by the conservative-majority US Supreme Court.

Maryland’s Firearm Safety Act of 2013, passed in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was deemed unconstitutional in the 2-1 ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

At issue were key parts of the state law, which imposes strict standards to qualify for a license to own a handgun.

Maryland law requires an applicant for a handgun license to meet four requirements. They must be at least 21 years old, a resident of the state, complete a gun safety course and undergo a background check to ensure they are not barred under federal or state law from owning a firearm.

The applicant must then complete an application, pay a processing fee and wait up to 30 days for a state official to issue a license.

The court of appeals judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, in a 2-1 ruling, found that the 30-day wait period was a violation of constitutional law and that the 30-day wait period could be a period in which the applicant faced danger to their life.

The court’s ruling was based in part on the 2022 Supreme Court decision in the case titled “New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen,” which it says “effected a sea change in Second Amendment law.” That ruling changed the guidelines judges are required to use when making decisions about gun ownership. The ruling essentially asserts that modern gun control laws are only constitutional if a similar or comparable law was in place at the founding of America. The appeals court on Nov. 21 found that Maryland’s handgun laws failed to meet the “historical” test defined in the Supreme Court’s decision.

U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan, an Obama appointee, dissented, calling the ruling a “hyper aggressive view of the Second Amendment” that would render the gun permit laws of most states unconstitutional. 

That’s exactly right. 

The Second Amendment does not say anything about 30-day waiting periods or background checks. It says: A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. The word infringed means: to act in a way that is against a law or that limits someone’s rights or freedom. 

So, you see, it’s very simple. Neither the state nor federal government can come up with laws to limit an American’s right to own a gun. Laws that infringe on our Second Amendment Rights are unconstitutional, and thus, illegal.

For the record, I am very proud of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and excited about his election. He’s a member of my brotherhood, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and I wish him the very best. Regarding the recent court decision on gun laws, Moore states that he will continue to fight for common sense gun laws. 

Well, that’s a part of the problem. Many Democrats lack common sense on issues of crime and gun laws– especially in the inner cities. Many of the people like Wes Moore and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser grew up in privileged, comfortable, safe environments. From what I’ve read, they don’t seem to have much common sense regarding the realities of violent crime in the inner city. They don’t have first-hand experience from places like Alabama Avenue or Southeast D.C.’s Shipley Terrace during the 1980s. Their biographical information indicates they didn’t grow up around drugs, guns, violence, daily crime and shootings. So, their answer to crime is always the same: hire more police. In reality, outside of television and the movies, in nearly all cases police do not stop crimes in progress. Police do clean-up and try to find the person or persons who committed the crime.

Common sense would tell the politicians that the police can’t be everywhere all the time. Thus, it only makes sense that citizens should be allowed to arm themselves for protection– in their homes and outside of their homes. 

Otherwise, the politicians and lawmakers continue to create a class of victims. These victims are disproportionately minorities, especially Black people in inner cities of so-called “Blue-States.” My younger brother was one of those victims. He was murdered by a criminal with a gun. It was a person who already had a criminal past that killed my brother. The prosecutor on the case told me it was only by “luck” that they caught my brother’s killer, due to his involvement in another unrelated crime. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I don’t want to rely on luck.

I want the right to keep and bear arms that is given to me in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. I want the same protection that Muriel Bowser and Wes Moore get from their armed security teams. The Constitution does not give me the right to a private or public security guard–but it does give me the right to bear arms. I want that right unabridged by the obstacles and requirements put in place by lawmakers that make it so difficult to own a gun, that the right is practically worthless. 

Moore says, “I am determined to do more than just give thoughts and prayers and attend funerals — and that’s why this law is vital to our administration’s commitment to keeping guns out of the wrong hands and saving lives.” With all due respect brother, that’s one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard a politician say. It’s a typical Democrat talking-point. Doesn’t he get it? Gun laws don’t stop criminals from getting guns. That’s why they are called criminals.

If a criminal wants to get a gun, the person is going to get it regardless of any gun laws. In fact, most guns used by criminals to commit crimes were not lawfully purchased by that criminal. Stop the gas-lighting. The gun laws pushed by Wes Moore, Muriel Bowser and other Democrat politicians in Blue States and in Washington, D.C., do absolutely nothing to stop criminals from getting guns. It’s all a political argument to make voters think the politicians are doing something to help stem the flow of crime.

It’s all done to make the voters and politicians feel good about their victimization. The only thing that is going to stem the flow of crime is when law-abiding-citizens are allowed to arm themselves and prove that self-defense is more than a quaint notion you hear about on television and in the movies. 

If Democrat politicians had common sense, they would know that by embracing criminal activity they create an environment of lawlessness.

When you give excuses for crime you embrace criminality. Being anti-police only encourages criminals to engage in more criminal activity. You can protect the civil rights of citizens from corrupt police officers without being anti-police. Black leadership has become anti-law and order and is embracing criminality– and it’s destroying the race. 

The most common-sense aspect of gun ownership is knowing that an unloaded gun is just a tool. In order for it to work, someone has to load it and use it. An unloaded gun by itself is not dangerous. You see, “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.” And it’s time for our politicians and leaders to stop making excuses for those killers, while trying to keep good citizens from owning guns. It’s that simple.

Like most D.C. residents, I’m a transplant– a proud Louisiana native who can’t stomach the rough climate due to asthma. I came to D.C. when I was four and a half years old, before politicians like Muriel Bowser were born. Some think that being born in D.C. alone is enough to qualify them for public office– it’s not. Elected officials must keep in mind that they work for the people– including those calling for more common-sense gun legislation. I’ve heard horror stories from D.C. residents who have tried to own a gun, and while there is a process for gun ownership in D.C., that process– like in Maryland– is designed to intimidate and discourage gun ownership. 

I don’t expect things will get better in D.C. In fact, I expect them to get a lot worse. The police chief seems clueless. Mayor Bowser’s main concern seems to be creating overpriced housing developments. She doesn’t seem to be concerned with finding effective, reasonable solutions to fighting crime, helping homeless people on the streets, and securing loans and grants for struggling small businesses, etc. I mean if you’re a part of her inner circle, it might not be so bad, but if you’re not- prepare for the daily struggle to survive in the violent, crime infested jungles of D.C.  

I like to give credit where it’s due. The mayor did a good job during the pandemic. I’ll give her that. However, a mayor should be able to function at a high level during non-health emergencies as well. D.C. residents aren’t getting what they deserve from its mayor and city council.

Even after the 4^th Circuit’s ruling, I expect more resistance from the liberal politicians. Maybe it’s time to move across the street to Maryland, where it might be easier to exercise my constitutional right to own a gun, and the criminals will know it might not be so easy to make law-abiding citizens their next victim.

Andrellos Mitchell can be reached at apexlegalcounsel@aol.com.

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By George Townsend 
Special to the AFRO

Your birth certificate is one of the most important identification documents you have – containing vital information about you, your birth and your family. It is important that your birth certificate has accurate information. Often, many Marylanders need to change some of the details on their birth certificate, either because of an error at the time the certificate was created or because of a subsequent change in their name or gender identity.

This article discusses common issues related to birth certificates and how to make changes to your important identification documents. 

Name Change

The most common change to a person’s birth certificate is when an individual legally changes their name or the name of their child. As a general rule, the quickest and easiest birth certificate changes are those that occur within one year of a child’s birth. Parents of a newborn child may change the name of their child one time within the first year after birth without having to obtain a court order. All parents listed on the child’s birth certificate must submit a written request to the Maryland Department of Health along with a sworn and notarized affidavit attesting that they are the child’s true parents and are making the name change of their own free will.

For adults and children over 1 year of age, the process to change a name on a birth certificate requires a court order. A petition must be filed in the Circuit Court of the county in which the person resides, accompanied by a copy of the birth certificate to be amended. There will be a time period for anyone to object to the name change, which will require a court hearing on whether the name change is proper. After the hearing, or after the objection period ends, if there is no objection the court will typically enter an order granting the name change. A name change will be denied if it was attempted for fraudulent purposes or to infringe on the rights of some other person.

For a parent attempting to change the name of a child over 1 year of age, additional documentation is required. The petition would require the consent of the other parent, if there is one on the birth certificate. If the child is over 10 years old, the child must also consent to the change.

Misspelled Name

When a name is misspelled on a birth certificate, the mistake can be corrected without having to hold a hearing. For a child under 7 years of age, the Vital Statistics Administration merely needs a notarized letter correcting the mistake, either from the parent, hospital or attendant at birth (or a notarized physician’s office record indicating the correct name). For a person 7 years of age or older, the correct spelling must be shown on at least two documents from a list of approved sources, including hospital, school or employment records.

Parent Information

Parental information may also be corrected in a manner similar to name changes. The Vital Statistics Administration merely needs to receive from the parent their birth certificate, church or school records, or some other pertinent record approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health.

Gender Change

A person may change the sex listed on their Maryland birth certificate by providing the Vital Statistics Administration with either 1) a signed statement from a licensed health care provider attesting that the person is receiving gender-affirming treatment or is intersex, or 2) a court order indicating that the person’s sex has been changed. In any case, the Vital Statistics Administration can only amend certificates for individuals born in Maryland. Maryland residents born elsewhere would need to review the requirements of the state that issued their original birth certificate.

Amending or correcting a birth certificate can be an important step in acquiring vital identification documents, accessing government or educational programs and affirming name and gender identities. If you have questions about the process, contact the Vital Statistics Administration or consult with an attorney about the options available to you.

George Townsend is a workforce development attorney at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. To learn more or get assistance, visit mvlslaw.org. 

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By Reginald Williams
Special to the AFRO

In front of an enthusiastic Cahill Recreation Center audience, Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced his decision to run for re-election on Nov. 18.

Scott was supported on stage by citizens like Kamrin Brown, a former squeegee kid; Gwen Levi, a returned citizen, failed by the judicial system; Rian Hargrave, founder of Onyx Development; Baltimore City councilpersons and state senators.  Scott thanked his supporters and shared his successes and reason why he’s seeking a second term.

“I’m here because I’m a son of Park Heights, which for me and young men who look like me means having been exposed to the best and worst that this city has to offer,” explained Scott. “Growing up, I was stopped, sat down on curbs and handcuffed by police simply for the crime of being Black and outside. As a young man of Baltimore, I’d been told over and over and over again by some that success wasn’t for us. Change wasn’t for us. Real leadership, positions and opportunities weren’t for us.”

“Nothing except handcuffs, trips to Central Booking and– ultimately– a trip to the morgue was ‘for us,’” said Scott, to those gathered. “I knew that wasn’t true and wanted to dedicate my life to proving those people wrong.”

Introduced by Patrick Daniels, director of speech debate at Baltimore City College and Scott’s former high school teacher, Daniels said his former student has a “campaign focused on the future.” 

“Brandon Scott is the real deal,” said Daniels. “Brandon is about service. He serves our city. That is his calling.”

In just three years, Scott has laid the groundwork for $6.5 billion to flow into Baltimore during the next decade.

Before the father-to-be entered the podium under the sound of Jadakiss’ hip-hop anthem, “We Gon’ Make It,” Brown, 21, of East Baltimore, shared how his mentor’s presence in his life was life-changing.  

“Let me say first, I was a squeegee kid,” Brown confessed. “Brandon plays a big role in my life. He’s been like a big brother. What more can I ask for? He’s given me time, effort, energy and the love I received was the best I could ask for. He helped me be a leader to the youth–helped me be an example.”

Elected on Nov. 3, 2020, as the 52nd mayor of Charm City, Scott, now 39, ran on a platform that vowed to restore citizens’ trust in the government and eradicate gun violence. His mission was to reduce homicides to less than 300.

Scott began his first term in the terror of a global pandemic and a city confronted by stubbornly high violence, more than 16,000 vacant buildings, trash and recycling collection issues– along with scandals usurping public trust. The city’s youngest mayor launched a campaign rooted in generational change, understanding that the old way wasn’t working to move Baltimore forward. 

Baltimore in 2021, one year after Scott took office, experienced 338 homicides and 726 shootings. In 2022, there were 688 non-fatal shootings and 333 homicides. However, in 2023, Baltimore is on pace to have fewer than 300 homicides for the first time in nine years. 

“Leadership is not easy. There are a number of distractions, and you have to stay focused—laser focus in order to get to the target,” said Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City-45). “But when we think about that public safety aspect, this is one of the first times we’ll see our city under 300 . Let me be clear–that happened under the leadership of Mayor Brandon Scott.”

According to Scott, his administration committed historical levels of investments to community-based violence prevention initiatives, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in homicides and a nine percent drop in non-fatal shootings. They changed how public safety operates and is viewed and renovated community recreation centers across the city. The effort included Cahill, Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center in Cherry Hill, Park Heights, with future renovations scheduled for Chick Webb, Gardenville and South Baltimore. The administration also offers career-altering programming for the youth to combat the 40-year squeegee crisis. 

“I know you remember. Every single night, hearing squeegee, squeegee, squeegee, squeegee, squeegee. When was the last time you heard it,” asked Scott. “It’s because those young people are connected. We’re putting our arms around them. We’re loving them.”

Scott’s administration made the largest investment into the Baltimore educational system and  pledged to shrink the wealth gap by investing $100 million to address Baltimore’s blight by facilitating new development in historical red-line neighborhoods.

“While unraveling the red-lining that started in Baltimore long ago will take decades to address, those of us close to the issue know that Mayor Scott’s administration is making the financial commitments that will outlast any mayoral term,” explained Hargraves.

Scott’s mission is to honor those Baltimoreans who have lived in the city in good and difficult times. 

The charge to shrink the wealth gap will “Help residents who have lived in our city through thick and then stay in their homes by removing owner-occupied from the tax sales,” said Scott. “ invested $16 million towards repair for legacy homeowners to age in place, in their homes with the dignity they deserve.”

Revitalizing the city also calls for the administration to address the decades-long vacancy dilemma. There were approximately 16,000 vacant homes when Scott took office. Now Baltimore can applaud having their lowest number of vacancies—under 14,000—in the past 20 years. 

“The work that he’s done with the build team at the GBC (Greater Baltimore Committee) really deserves to be mentioned and applauded. Brandon has committed billions—with a b—to work with the GBC to eradicate the vacant housing crisis,” explained Hargraves. She added: “My grandmother, who is here, talks about a Baltimore that is different than what we talk about today. One that was not plagued with crime. It was not riddled with vacants, and trash, and carjackings. When I think about Baltimore, I know that crime is directly related to the vacants.”

As Scott seeks to secure a second term, it’s his example that sparks the masses to believe in his leadership.

“As a teacher for 25 years, I’ve heard a lot of talk from City Hall about education being a priority. But never have I seen a mayor show up the way Mayor Scott does,” said Daniels. “He is everywhere. Schools. Sporting events. Graduation, you name it. You turn around, and he’s there. He leads from the front and shows us how to do it. He’s a role model.”

As Scott concluded his announcement and began his exit, the crowd chanted, “Four more years. Four more years.”

Aside from Scott, others have thrown their hat in the ring to become the next mayor of Charm City. On Sept. 7 Sheila Dixon announced that she was seeking to lead Baltimore as mayor once again. And on Oct. 12 Bob Wallace disclosed his intentions to become the next mayor of Baltimore City. 

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 Sen. Cory McCray

Concerns surrounding water have plagued cities and towns across our country. The 2014 water crisis in Flint, Mich. is one of many examples. A switch in Flint’s water source sickened dozens and exposed thousands to lead and other contaminants. Locally, last year, I, along with thousands of other Marylanders, learned that failing maintenance and infrastructure of Back River and Patapsco Wastewater Treatment facilities caused excessive amounts of bacteria to flow into the Bay.

It has been nearly 50 years since officials have analyzed the water agreements shared by Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and surrounding jurisdictions. Today, this agreement from the 1970’s impacts some 1.8 million users. In 1972, Baltimore City had a population of nearly 1 million, but in 2023, just under 600,000 people call Baltimore home. Meanwhile, Baltimore County continues to expand in population. Over the years, the region has seen rising water bills and failing infrastructure — jeopardizing the safety of the water we drink and use daily.

This past legislative session, I proposed Senate Bill 392 which would have provided local governments and operators with the funding and resources to assist with the maintenance and operations of our water facilities. However, the bill stalled in the Maryland House of Delegates this last session. The bill would have ensured that Maryland is not only a stakeholder in the success of capital projects for our wastewater treatment facilities but is active in the operations of these facilities.

However, from the last legislative session, the General Assembly did establish the Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force at the request of city and county officials. The task force’s purpose is to develop a new governance model for the regional water system that reflects the current state of change. In July, Senate President Bill Ferguson selected me to serve on this 13-member task force of individuals representing Baltimore City and County, the Governor’s Office, the General Assembly, and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

The task force held its first public meeting in September. At that time, we began the process of examining our current system. Under this system, Baltimore City bears the responsibility for the water supply and wastewater operations, including maintenance and capital investment. At the same time, Baltimore County and the surrounding jurisdictions are responsible for a proportionate share of these costs. These public meetings will be held several times throughout the year. Upon understanding the processes currently in place, the task force will look at the governance, make sound recommendations, and present them to our local and state bodies.

The state has a role in the safety of the water in the Baltimore region and in ensuring that it is operational. As communities construct new developments, we must analyze how these new infrastructures impact the system. I would be remiss if I did not mention that our neighbors across Baltimore City have been frustrated over the years due to water billing for city residents versus the charges for Baltimore County residents. It will be incumbent on this body to dig deep to understand the accuracy of billing. We also need to create a path forward that is transparent and accurate; a plan that articulates the facilitation of the billing and the distribution of water – especially for seniors and people within economically distressed situations. 

The writer represents the 45th District in the Maryland State Senate, which includes Northeast and East Baltimore City. He can be reached by email at cory.mccray@senate.state.md.us and followed on Twitter @SenatorMcCray

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

On Oct. 16, four leaders of Baltimore’s creative and cultural institutions gathered to share future plans for driving tourism and engaging city residents. The discussion took place during the Greater Baltimore Committee’s (GBC) transportation and economic opportunity summit and included executives from the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center and Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. 

John Racanelli, president and CEO of the National Aquarium, dubbed Baltimore a destination city due to its downtown attractions, but said its perceived lack of public safety is a hindrance to this identity. 

“We have what great destination cities should have. We have the attractions. Great destinations cities are welcoming, they’re safe and they’re perceived as safe,” said Racanelli. “I think that’s a place where we have some work to do. We need to be able to communicate that we are a safe place for a wonderful, memorable experience.” 

During the panel, he announced that the National Aquarium would bring Harbor Wetland to its campus in June 2024. The $14-million development will be free to the public and include 10,000 square feet of floating docks and man-made wetlands, which will provide a habitat for harbor species. Construction is set to start this November. 

Racanelli also highlighted the aquarium’s economic impact in Baltimore, which totaled $1.3 billion over the last four years. 

“One dollar of every $6 tourism-related dollars spent in Baltimore is directly attributable to the fact that the aquarium sits there quietly being the economic engine in our Inner Harbor and city,” said Racanelli. “That means $110 million in tax revenue to the city and the state, and on average, 2,600 jobs per year— although last year, it was more like 3,500 jobs.” 

Terri Lee Freeman, president of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, highlighted a new installation on Maryland’s lynching history, which will debut in the museum in August 2024. 

She also revealed plans to open a refurbished history exhibit in 2030 during its 25th anniversary. As the museum is a popular event venue, there are also talks of adding more floors to the museum to accommodate more guests. 

“We hope to open a newly renovated history exhibit, which is on our third floor. That exhibit has been in its current form since 2005, and we want to include more interactive opportunities and bring it up to date,” said Racanelli. “A whole lot of history has occurred over this time since we have been built.” 

Laurie Schwartz, executive director of the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, discussed what phase two of the Rash Field Park project will bring to the harbor. Phase one, completed in 2021, included a playground, skate park, pavilion, rain gardens and outdoor learning classrooms. 

“This first phase, on a typical day, attracts 3,000 people on average, and on the best day, a year ago in June, 6,000 people,” said Schwartz. “ It’s just remarkable to see all of the families coming to the harbor, while a high percentage are people who can walk to it, we see people from zip codes all across the city. We track that data, and the racial makeup of people using the park is a mirror of the city.” 

Phase two will provide Baltimoreans and visitors with soccer fields, a beach with volleyball courts, a nature garden and a plaza. There are also plans for kayaking trails, which residents will be able to use for leisure or commuting. 

“Along with the beach, we have planned the Baltimore Blueway. Everyone knows about bike trails and walking trails, we now have the beginnings of a kayaking trail around the Inner Harbor down to Middle Branch and Fort McHenry,” said Schwartz. “This creates safe zones where people can kayak along the shoreline. It’s a way of getting out on the water and taking advantage of what makes the harbor so unique and special.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Maryland Office of Social Equity (OSE) hosted an informational event on Oct. 16 in Prince George’s County to brief aspiring social equity applicants about the upcoming round of cannabis licensing. 

Since the legalization of adult-use cannabis, Maryland has become the first state in the country to exclusively earmark the first round of new cannabis licenses to social equity applicants. The program was created to ensure those disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs have opportunity in the industry. 

“The licensing round being held this fall is exclusive to social equity applicants. In order to apply, you have to have gone through the verification portal and been verified by the state as an eligible social equity applicant,” said Will Tilburg, acting director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). “We’ve got about 450 people who have been verified through the portal at this juncture, and I would recommend for those who haven’t to start the process as soon as possible.” 

Social equity applicants must have lived in a disproportionately impacted area for five of the last 10 years, attended a public school in a disproportionately impacted area for at least five years or attended a Maryland college where at least 40 percent of the students are eligible for a Pell Grant. The OSE has a map defining qualifying zip codes and schools on its website. 

Aspiring growers, processors and retailers have until Nov. 7 to become verified as social equity applicants. They must also be registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) before applying. The application process will open  from Nov. 13 to Dec. 12. 

The OSE is also set to host free writing clinics to help social equity applicants navigate the application process. The clinic schedule is to  be announced on OSE’s website. 

“We want to do a breakdown of the application. We’re going to include application requirements. We’re also going to go over the generational instructions, as well as license types,” said Chanel White, economic opportunity officer for OSE. “Everybody has been asking what is required in the detailed business plan. You’re going to find that out in the writing session along with the operational plan and the diversity plan.” 

The first round of licenses will be awarded by the MCA through a lottery supported by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Up to 179 licenses will be awarded. 

But, the licenses are conditional. Awardees have six months to raise the capital for starting their cannabis business as indicated on their applications. They also have 18 months to get their business up and running. 

“If selected in the lottery, you’ll undergo vetting. After being vetted, it’s the conditional award and license period,” said Tilburg. “That is 18 months in statute where if a business is not operational and does not reach the finish line, that license – under state law, is rescinded and goes back to the state to award to other businesses.” 

At this point in the process, presenters recommended that social equity applicants hold off on spending money or raising capital until they’ve received their license. They are not required to buy a building to house their business. 

“You don’t need to spend any money yet. Don’t spend any money besides the application fee,” said Hope Wiseman, founder and owner of Mary and Main, a Capitol Heights, Md. cannabis dispensary. “You may want to consult with an attorney and accountant just to start getting your wheels spinning. But, honestly, there’s so much information on the internet nowadays that I think until you know you’re going to win this license, I would just hold off.” 

For operating capital, Wiseman said, institutional funding and business loans will not be available, as cannabis remains a federal Schedule 1 drug. However, the Maryland Department of Commerce offers grants and loans through the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund. 

Its upcoming funding opportunity is the Social Equity Application Assistance Reimbursement Grant, which provides compensation for technical assistance used during the application process. The grant will amount to 50 percent of the eligible expenses up to $5,000, and applications will be accepted from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. 

“It’s for out-of-pocket costs associated with attorneys, certified public accountants, financial advisors or other providers of technical assistance in completing the cannabis business application for a license,” said Andy Fish, senior director of finance programs for the Maryland Department of Commerce. “If you have consulting or advisory fees associated with writing your business plan or operational plan, those will be eligible costs.”

The OSE will hold two more informational sessions  virtually on Oct. 30 from 1-3 p.m. and on Nov. 6 at Bowie State University from 5-7 p.m. 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member. 

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 #MORGANSTRONG

By AFRO Staff 

Though news of the Oct. 3 shooting on the campus of Morgan State University spread quickly across the nation, students and members of the Morgan community are hoping their message of strength, perseverance and unity is carried even farther. 

Students of the historically Black college were closing out their 2023 coronation activities when shots rang out. In total, one woman and four men were shot, but all of the victims sustained non-fatal injuries. Now, students find themselves trying to deal with the sting of gun violence, all while holding onto the precious memories of this year’s homecoming season– cut short by the violence.

“The coronation was a beautiful event. Well orchestrated and executed by our brilliant students and staff at Morgan,” said 18-year-old Gabrielle Hall. “The crowd was very vibrant and enthusiastic to celebrate our royal court. It was a very uplifting event and an amazing display of Black excellence. The atmosphere was filled with nothing but love and community.”

Tanajha Nazora, Miss Freshman for the 2023-2024 academic year, explained how grateful she is to have the support of the MSU community through this difficult time and how proud she is to stand with her fellow Morganites.

“I hopped into such a big position as a freshman and being the face of my class,” said Nazora, in a Facebook post, recapping the coronation ceremony. “Again, I’m just thankful. I ask that you guys please continue to keep my school in prayer. I love my Morgan State family. We will get through this.”

Classes were canceled on Oct. 4, along with the homecoming concert, the homecoming pep rally and parade. The silent concert planned and all activities related to a Lady Bear volleyball match were also called off. Only two activities were postponed instead of canceled, the highly anticipated football game against Stony Brook University and the MSU 39th Annual Gala.  

Though some students are staying away from the campus– of their own volition, or at the demand of parents– others say they will absolutely return. 

“Morgan State is a home away from home. Everyone is welcome and it provides amazing opportunities for all despite your background or academic history,” Hall told the AFRO. “I personally have been able to grow and find amazing people here that have encouraged me to be myself and step out of my comfort zone. The community at Morgan is like no other from the amazing staff, our many organizations, and even just average people you meet everyday.” 

“The Bears are a family and that’s something you will have even after you leave this institution,” she continued. 

Elected officials weighed in with their thoughts in the hours and days after the event.

“It sickens all of us that no place is safe from this type of gun violence. Mass shootings in Baltimore and this flagrant disregard for human life will never be allowed to become the norm,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07), an alum of the institution and chair of the Morgan State University Board of Regents. “Be assured that the vicious criminal(s) responsible for this will be convicted, punished, and removed from our streets. 

“We remain Morgan proud and Baltimore strong.” 

In a message to the MSU community on Oct. 4, David K. Wilson, Ed.D., president of the institution explained the decision to cancel events.

“Today, we unfortunately find ourselves navigating this tragic event during a time at which we should be celebrating our National Treasure during Homecoming. Please understand that the safety of our campus is of the utmost importance and our resolve in ensuring that we have a secure campus is paramount,” stated Wilson, in the letter. “In response to last evening’s events, we are aggressively increasing security measures on campus, further amplifying additional security measures that have been implemented in recent years.” 

“Regarding Homecoming, regrettably for the very first time in Morgan’s history all activities planned around Homecoming will be either canceled or postponed until the perpetrator(s) of this atrocity have been found and brought to justice,” explained Wilson.

“We arrived at this decision after very careful—and at times emotional—deliberation with key stakeholders within our University community including members of my administration, student leaders from SGA and our University Council,” he wrote. “In closing, I want to reiterate our unwavering commitment to delivering a safe campus for our entire Morgan family. We greatly appreciate the support of our larger community who have expressed their concern and support during this most trying time. As more details become available, please know that you will hear from me in the coming days.” 

For more information and updates visit Morgan.edu.

The post Morgan State University students and community strengthen resolve to push forward in wake of tragic shooting  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 Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a distinguished Harvard Law School professor, celebrated attorney, and leading civil rights advocate, has died at 70.
Ogletree, who had battled Alzheimer’s disease since 2015, reportedly died at his home in Maryland.
“Charles was a tireless advocate for civil rights, equality, human dignity, and social justice,” Harvard Law School Dean John F. Manning said, according to the Associated Press.
“He changed the world in so many ways, and he will be sorely missed in a world that very much needs him.”
Dorothy Roberts, a writer, social advocate, and professor at Penn Law, praised Ogletree’s impact at Harvard Law School.
She admired his role in inspiring confidence, promoting learning, and encouraging activism among Black students and future generations.
“When I started at Harvard Law School in 1977, Tree was a third-year student and president of the Black Law Students Association,” Roberts recalled in a tweet.
“Thank goodness he was there. He set a tone for me and the other Black students — then, and for generations to come — to be confident learners, lawyers, and activists. Rest in love and power.”
Affectionately known as “Tree,” Ogletree was born in California and graduated with a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1978.
He became an influential legal theorist and a prominent figure in the legal community.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ogletree actively contributed to the National Bar Association (NBA) and its affiliate, the Washington Bar Association (WBA).
In 2001, he received the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit from the Washington Bar Association.
Then, in 2010, he was inducted into the WBA Hall of Fame.
In a news release, the NBA remarked that Ogletree was known for his mentorship and service, in which he emphasized the need to use the law as “an instrument of social and political change” and “a tool to empower the dispossessed and disenfranchised.”
“Professor Ogletree was an invaluable member of our Association,” said NBA President Dominique D. Calhoun.
“His contributions toward the profession and efforts to advance reparations for our people left an indelible mark on the conscience of America for generations to come.”
Calhoun called Ogletree a visionary leader and vowed that the Bar Association would continue strides toward justice and equality.”
Ogletree’s work mainly centered around race, class, and criminal justice.
He served as the lead counsel to Anita Hill during her sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas, then a U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
His involvement provided legal counsel and helped Hill devise a media strategy, including a news conference to announce her successful lie detector test.
Ogletree credited much of his professional success to the opportunities afforded him due to the Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, which found segregated public schools unconstitutional.
He organized Harvard’s Criminal Justice Institute, establishing the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice and co-chairing the Reparations Coordinating Committee.
Many recounted how strongly he believed in using the law as a catalyst for social and political change, advocating for the empowerment of marginalized communities.
He led efforts to improve clinical training in public and indigent defense.
By establishing Harvard’s Criminal Justice Institute, Ogletree paved the way for students to gain valuable experience in Boston’s juvenile and district courts.
Additionally, he created the Saturday School program, supporting Black students on Harvard’s predominantly white campus.
The program featured several influential speakers, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, philosopher and now presidential candidate Cornel West, and actor Danny Glover.
One notable attendee of the Saturday School was Barack Obama, who considered Ogletree a mentor and sought his advice frequently, even during his presidency.
“Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend Charles Ogletree.,” Obama said in a statement.
“He took time on weekends to run something called ‘Saturday School” for Black students who didn’t necessarily have the support systems at home to get them through the difficult first years of law school,” Obama recalled.
The former president noted that the school had become so popular that students from every background began showing up to hear Ogletree explain subjects in a way they all could understand.
“It was an example of the kind of person Charles has always been unfailingly helpful, and driven by a genuine concern for others,” Obama asserted.
“He was an advocate for social justice, an incredible professor, and a mentor to many – including us.”
Ogletree is survived by his wife, Pamela Barnes, and his children, Charles Ogletree III and Rashida Ogletree.

This article originally published by NNPA Newswire

The post Renowned civil rights advocate Charles J. Ogletree Jr. dies, leaving a legacy of justice and empowerment appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Stacker

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Counties with the highest unemployment in Maryland

While significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, unemployment rates 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 May 2023, national unemployment is at 3.4%, with little change from April. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 1.9% in South Dakota to 5.4% in Nevada.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Maryland using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in May 2023, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

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#24. Carroll County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 95,225 people (1,682 unemployed)

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#23. Howard County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 188,688 people (3,395 unemployed)

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#22. Queen Anne’s County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
– Total labor force: 28,252 people (527 unemployed)

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#21. Anne Arundel County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 315,180 people (6,027 unemployed)

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#20. Calvert County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 49,637 people (986 unemployed)

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#19. Frederick County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 137,323 people (2,772 unemployed)

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#18. Montgomery County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 554,345 people (10,853 unemployed)

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#17. Garrett County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 15,149 people (318 unemployed)

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#16. Talbot County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 17,815 people (370 unemployed)

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#15. Caroline County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 17,890 people (377 unemployed)

Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#14. St. Mary’s County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 57,123 people (1,178 unemployed)

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#13. Harford County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 140,499 people (2,929 unemployed)

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#12. Cecil County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 54,831 people (1,209 unemployed)

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#11. Charles County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 86,745 people (1,931 unemployed)

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#10. Kent County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 10,002 people (226 unemployed)

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#9. Baltimore County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 445,868 people (10,199 unemployed)

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#8. Prince George’s County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 497,826 people (11,536 unemployed)

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#7. Dorchester County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 15,990 people (386 unemployed)

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#6. Washington County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 70,907 people (1,695 unemployed)

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#5. Wicomico County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 52,055 people (1,362 unemployed)

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#4. Worcester County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 25,449 people (707 unemployed)

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#3. Allegany County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 31,563 people (880 unemployed)

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#2. Baltimore city

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
— 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 273,903 people (8,183 unemployed)

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#1. Somerset County

– May unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
— 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,135 people (291 unemployed)

The post Counties with the highest unemployment in Maryland 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 Mylika Scatliffe
AFRO Women’s Health Writer

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD).  The annual event has been organized since 1995 by the United States Department of Health and Human Service to encourage people to regularly test for HIV, know their status, and seek care and treatment.

The 2023 theme for NHTD is “Take the Test & Take the Next Step,” focusing attention on testing for HIV, knowing your status, and knowing the options for staying healthy.

The AFRO recently spoke with Dr. Allison Agwu,  an infectious diseases expert specializing in HIV/AIDS in both children and adults at Johns Hopkins Hospital,  and Dr. David Griffith, the medical director of the Hopkins HIV Service County Program. Working in tandem, they emphasize HIV testing as routine health care. Agwu and Griffith spoke with the AFRO about the importance of testing and knowing your status.

“We need to normalize HIV testing so it’s as common as checking your blood pressure,” said Griffith.

Acquiring HIV in 2023 does not mean what it did 40 years ago. When HIV was first discovered in the early 1980s, it was considered an infection specific to gay, White men that would lead to an eventual prolonged and painful death.

“The good thing about HIV treatment today is that we have excellent medications. If someone starts on medication and they take it every day, they will have a near normal life expectancy,” said Griffith.

Hazel Greene is 37-years old. She lives in Baltimore, Md., owns her own cleaning company, and has been living with HIV all her life. Greene was born HIV positive in 1986, when the virus was passed to her by her mother during childbirth. 

Greene’s mother was an injection drug user who struggled with addiction.  She spoke with the AFRO on the condition that we use a pseudonym.

“I’m not ashamed of my status, but it’s also not for the world. My family and friends closest to me know my status and that’s who matters,” said Greene.

The AFRO asked Greene what she wanted everyone to know about living with HIV.

“It’s not a death sentence. I’ve been on this Earth almost 37 years and I live just as normal a life as anyone else,” she responded. Greene acknowledged it gets hard some days. Some days she gets depressed. Sometimes she doesn’t want to have to look at her medicine. “But then I say to myself when I take this pill every day that I’m living a day longer. I repeat that every day, every time I take the pill,” Greene said referring to the daily medication that keeps her viral load so low that it remains undetected in her system, which means she won’t pass the virus to anyone else. 

“Get tested,” encourages Greene. “Know your status.”

Testing is the key.

HIV is no longer considered only a gay, White man’s disease. The largest demographic of individuals in Baltimore City living with HIV are Black men who engage in male-to-male sexual contact. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy(NHAS) identifies the following priority populations disproportionately impacted by HIV:

• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, particularly Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native men

• Black women

• Transgender women

• Young people aged 13-24 years

• People who inject drugs

Agwu spoke about the disease in the Black community. 

“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Black women far outpace all other races of women in terms of diagnoses (for HIV),” said Agwu. “Many women are finding once a pregnancy is confirmed that they are HIV positive, when they never got tested before,” continued Agwu.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy(NHAS) Federal Implementation Plan has set a target for ending the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030, including a 75 percent reduction in new HIV infections by 2025, and a 90 percent reduction by 2025.  As outlined confirmed by hiv.gov, the Strategy focuses on four goals to achieve this vision; preventing new HIV infections, improving HIV health related outcomes of people with HIV, reducing HIV related disparities and health inequities, and achieving integrated , coordinated efforts that address the HIV epidemic among all partners and stakeholders.

Agwu is a strongly advocates for knowing your status as well as any other personal vital health statistic. “Dr. Griffith mentioned various methods where people have to specifically request testing like during a clinic or emergency room visit; I think we should be providing it like any other vital sign – blood pressure, blood sugar, and what have you,” Agwu said.  

HIV testing is often mentioned as an afterthought during routine health visits. “A lot of times its presented as ‘Oh we’ll check your cholesterol and then oh well if you want an HIV test you can have one, but HIV is prevalent enough in Baltimore and throughout Maryland that we should just be testing,” said Agwu.

Forty years after HIV/AIDS was discovered, there are still barriers to getting testing and treatment for HIV barriers.  Smartphones are mini computers that practically everyone carries these days and can be used at any time to locate a nearby testing location in minutes, or even seconds. But all barriers are not tangible.

The Black Aids Institute (BAI) is an organization dedicated to educating Black Americans about HIV/AIDS treatment and care. Its mission is to stop the AIDS epidemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront HIV.

“We’re exploring new programs and niches to grab people and have captive audiences, build their capacity to have conversations about HIV that are broad and applicable to build community health literacy regarding HIV,” said Deja Abdul-Haqq, communications director at the Institute.

“Is there stigma associated with getting tested? Yes, I think it’s the number one barrier. There is stigma associated with testing because there are fears. Fears because we’re not educated about what HIV is and what it isn’t, what the transmission modes are, what PrEP is and how it works, how to get engaged in care and keep your viral loads low if you are HIV positive,” said Abdul-Haqq.  Education arms communities with knowledge which will reduce fear and stigma, two of the greatest barriers to testing, according to Abdul-Haqq.

As confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV is passed from one person to another through anal or vaginal sex, sharing needles, syringes, and other means to inject drugs. There is little to no risk of acquiring HIV from oral sex (except if there are open sores on the mouth or genitals), blood donation, consuming food handled by someone with HIV, closed mouth kissing, touching, toilet seats, or through saliva.

“The federal plan is basically saying we have seven years to do what it took the last 40 to get right. We have to expedite the process with communication in rural areas like those in Mississippi or areas where sex isn’t talked about because in seven years there won’t be focus on us,” said Abdul-Haqq.

Recognizing the reservations Black people may have about the scientific world as it relates to medicine, Abdul-Haqq still emphasizes the need to take advantage of the opportunity to amplify science.

“I know the scientific world has done the Black community dirty a couple times. We understand that, but the difference between the period that happened during the Tuskegee experiment and when Henrietta Lacks was robbed of her DNA is we didn’t have as many Black people that were engaged on levels of science that impact those types of environments. Now we have epidemiologists, physicians, nurse practitioners, doctors involved in research that can help dispel the myths and misinformation at the barbershop and Sunday dinner table,” Abdul-Haqq continued.

The rate of HIV in Baltimore, in Jackson, Ms. where Abdul-Haqq is located, and nationwide is highest  among men having sex with men. “Men who have sex with men often engage in behavior that is the riskiest for transmitting HIV  – unprotected anal intercourse. “I think it’s really important to note that there isn’t a biological reason that Black men or gay men have such a high risk, rather it’s more a risk of behavior. Let’s remember that anal receptive sex is not exclusive to men,” said Agwu.

When considering testing and how to keep yourself healthy, we should remember it’s about behaviors we engage in, not necessarily any specific orientation, and we don’t want to get hung up in what we call people and questioning orientation.  “There may be men having sex with men, but do not consider themselves gay. And the receptive partner in anal intercourse is sometimes a woman,” Agwu continued.

Maintaining your health when considering HIV is not limited to testing and knowing your status. Each individual knows their level of risk for the activities in which they engage.  Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is medicine that reduces your chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. It is highly effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed, as confirmed by the CDC.

Greene has one single piece of advice for anyone. “I encourage everyone to get tested. Know your status.”

Read about the fight against HIV from Word in Black, here

Click here for CDC HIV surveillance reports

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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.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com 

This July, roughly 23 local public school educators are set to participate in the Maryland Chamber Foundation’s Teacher Externship Program. 

The four-week program, running from July 10 to Aug. 4, pairs high school teachers and counselors with leading Maryland businesses for hands-on learning experiences in industries associated with classroom subjects, and the chosen educators receive a stipend for their participation. 

“Who better to train than the trainers? We train the teachers, showing them what’s available and what’s happening at a business in their own backyard,” said Whitney Harmel, executive director of the Maryland Chamber Foundation. 

“They’re able to bring that [knowledge] back into their high school and share the knowledge not only with students but fellow teachers, parents, guidance counselors and career counselors to make people aware of what’s really going on in business.” 

The Maryland Chamber Foundation was first established in 1987, but the organization remained largely dormant for decades until it was revived in 2017. The nonprofit organization works to advance the research and educational aims of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.

Created in 2019, the Teacher Externship Program is the organization’s signature program. It started with just three teachers and has grown to serve more than 20 each year. 

Aside from the stipend and externship experience, educators also have the chance to obtain four professional development credits through the Maryland State Department of Education if they design a lesson plan after the externship and share the results. 

According to Harmel, a primary goal of the program is to expose educators and counselors to the catalog of livable wage opportunities that are available to youth once they graduate high school. 

“There’s just unlimited opportunity in this state, and we want to be able to share that with teachers so that they can share that with the masses back at their schools,” said Harmel. 

Host companies for the 2023 Teacher Externship Program include AstraZeneca, W.E. Bowers, Freestate Electrical Companies, Harris, DAP Global Inc., Hatzel & Buehler, Inc., the Baltimore Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), KCI Technologies, Rosendin Electric, Kaiser Permanente, United Healthcare and Whiting-Turner. 

Kaiser Permanente is participating in the program for the third year in a row. 

“Kaiser Permanente recognizes the vital role that teachers play in shaping the future of our workforce and communities, and the Teacher Externship Program provides a unique, invaluable way to build bridges with educators who can empower our future workforce with information about a variety of job opportunities, in-demand skill sets and fulfilling careers that await them,” said Gracelyn McDermott, vice president of marketing, sales and business development for Kaiser Permanente. 

“As a host company, we are able to promote our commitment to supporting education and professional development in our community, as well as grow partnerships with like-minded organizations.” 

Kaiser Permanente’s curriculum for the externship program focuses on the founding and origin of the healthcare organization, community impact and client engagement, the nonprofit’s integrated care delivery model and its national platform. 

Katisi Henderson, a counselor at Joppatowne High School in Harford County, Md., participated in the Teacher Externship Program last year. She was paired with BGE for the externship. 

During the program, Henderson primarily worked with BGE’s human resources department. She admired the level of open communication between the team there and how they helped one another to better perform their duties. 

Every meeting that the department held opened up with an obscure fact, so that employees could learn something new. Henderson said that the team also asked her to share her thoughts on how BGE could improve its workforce training programs for high school students. 

Before participating in the experience, Henderson said she wasn’t aware of how many workforce development opportunities were available to youth and young adults at BGE. She was able to share them not only with her students but their parents as well. 

“This program shows that as educators, we’re still learning, we care and we want to better ourselves,” said Henderson.

“We want to make sure that students are ready and equipped to launch out of high school or middle school to reach the next level, whatever that level is.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member. 

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By BRIAN WITTE. June 12, 2023

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Three people were killed and three wounded in a shooting Sunday night at a house in Maryland’s capital city, police said.

Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson told reporters at a media briefing that the shooting stemmed from what he described as an “interpersonal dispute” and that there was no further threat to the public.

“It’s a very active and fluid investigation. We’re still trying to determine everything that occurred. We’re still piecing it together. We have a lot more work to do,” Jackson said.

He declined to elaborate on the relationship between the people involved, but said those killed ranged in age from their 20s to their 50s. He said that authorities hadn’t established a firm motive for the shooting.

“It wasn’t random,” Jackson said, noting that the victims “died outside” the home.

Numerous police cars were seen in the residential area where the shooting happened south of the city center and near the waterfront. Jackson said officers responded to the shooting around 8 p.m.

This article was published by the Associated Press. 

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